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The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Founders Log #2 | Episode 011

In this special Founder’s Log, Melissa Kaye celebrates a major milestone, 10 episodes completed! She takes time to reflect on everything she’s learned about belonging, relationships, grief, leadership, and creating safe spaces.

But this time, the tables turn.

Melissa’s best friend Cassidy Patrick (aka Gurlflex) steps in to put her in the hot seat.

Follow Cassidy on Instagram @gurlflex

Together, they explore:

- What belonging really means
- Why foster youth aging out of care face a belonging crisis
- How losing a beloved dog brought belonging home
- The responsibility of creating safe spaces
- Why social media may be eroding real connection
- What designing cities around belonging could look like

You’ll hear raw vulnerability, bold dreams, laughter, and the powerful truth that:

“Belonging isn’t earned. It’s designed.”

Elev8 Villages is building more than housing. It’s building a village for youth aging out of foster care. Where belonging is protected, practiced, and intentional.

This episode isn’t just a reflection. It’s a call to start a movement.

Listen in. Reflect deeply. And ask yourself:

If we’re not creating belonging… why are we here?

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.

Send a text

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Natalie F. Masters | 010

Are we truly separate, or have we just designed our world that way? In this episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye sits down with Natalie F. Masters to explore how we can move from isolation to deep, systemic connection.

Natalie F. Masters (Director of Platform and Learning at nRhythm) explains why our modern institutions, from education to the corporate world, are failing us and how "Living Systems" offer a blueprint for a better future. Whether you are a leader, a community organizer, or someone looking for a deeper sense of home, this conversation provides the tools to redesign your environment for belonging.

What You’ll Learn:

✅The Myth of Separation: Why thinking we are "self-made" actually hinders our creative capacity.
✅The Forest Model: How trees communicate and share resources, and what humans can learn from "mycelial networks."
✅Designing for Conditions: Why you should stop trying to control outcomes and start shaping the environment
✅Safety & Curiosity: Why the brain cannot learn or collaborate without feeling safe first.
✅Co-Creating the Future: Understanding that you aren't just "in" a system, you ARE the system.

Featured Guest:
Natalie F. Masters is a global leader in regenerative design, helping organizations translate living systems principles into practical tools for growth and connection.

Follow Natalie F. Masters
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-f-masters/

Learn more about With Life
https://www.withlife.net/
You can join the With Life Community for FREE

https://www.linkedin.com/company/with-life
https://www.youtube.com/@With_Life_Community

Learn more about nRhythm

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nrhythm
https://www.youtube.com/@nrhythm6004

Learn more about Capital Institute:
https://capitalinstitute.org/


Learn more about Elev8 Villages: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit Here: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

Subscribe for more conversations on building a world where everyone belongs.

#belonging #communitybuilding #leadership #ScienceOfBelonging #regenerativedesign #mentalhealth #humanconnection #ThrivingCommunities #elev8villages #podcast #trending

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.

Send a text

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages with Jim Morris | 009

In this powerful episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages, Melissa Kaye sits down with TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and master human connector Jim Morris for a deeply honest conversation about love, belonging, and human connection in a distracted world.

Jim shares how belonging begins with loving yourself, why pretending to “fit in” keeps us disconnected, and how one relationship can change the trajectory of an entire life. From seasons of not belonging to discovering the courage to make bold asks, this episode explores what it truly means to come home to yourself and to each other.

Together, Melissa and Jim unpack:

• Why belonging starts with love (giving and receiving it)
• How to walk into any room and create belonging without pretending to be someone you’re not
• The moment Jim knew he didn’t belong and how love pulled him forward
• Why “We all need a Steve” (and how to be one for others)
• The power of bold asks and compassionate curiosity
• How micro-miracle moments restore hope and gratitude
• Why presence matters more than perfection in relationships
• What “Connect or Die” really means in the age of AI and distraction

This episode is an invitation to slow down, notice what truly matters, and remember that we were never meant to do life alone.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on belonging, connection, healing, and becoming human together.

💬 Join the Conversation

Share in the comments:

What does belonging mean to you right now?
Have you had a “Steve” in your life? Or been one for someone else?

You belong here.

Follow and learn about Jim Morris:

https://humantouchmarketing.ai/

https://7minutesofimpact.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realjimmorris/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realjimmorris/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealjimmorris

MORE JIM:

Jim’s TedX talk: https://youtu.be/yQ_GUJ09FEM?si=S4uo0nW5DBXfzPrG

Impact Effect Podcast: https://youtu.be/sH6NbYudeyU?si=17A5aXaHe4JQvg1o

Learn more about Elev8 Villages: https://www.elev8villages.org/

🔑 Keywords

belonging podcast
human connection
feeling like you belong
finding belonging
love and belonging
authentic connection
bold asks
community and belonging
emotional healing
personal growth podcast
connection in a digital world
Elev8 Villages
belonging and identity

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages 008 | Bryn Bamber

In this episode, Melissa Kaye sits down with Bryn Bamber, a somatics practitioner, to explore what it actually means to belong to yourself, not as an idea, but as a lived experience in the body. Together, they unpack how dissociation, anxiety, and perfectionism can be survival patterns rooted in early caregiving dynamics, and how the nervous system can misread everyday stress (like being five minutes late) as danger.

You’ll hear practical, grounded insights on:

• Somatics (soma = body) and how emotions like anger can become chronic tension in the shoulders, jaw, hips, and breath
• How to complete the stress cycle (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) through movement, social connection, laughter, and “small regulation” tools
• Why you can’t “delete” old patterns. Instead learn to build new neural pathways that gradually replace the old ones
• Bryn’s two-year experience living in an ashram and what it taught her about spirituality, community, individuality, and belonging vs. conformity
• How patriarchy and socialization shape our bodies and relationships and how “us vs. them” gets reinforced when domination replaces connection
• A powerful vision for community design (including Elev8 Villages): building cultures that are non-hierarchical, partnership-based, and skilled in healthy conflict repair

If you’ve ever felt like you have to perform to belong or you’ve learned to be “nice” at the expense of being real, this conversation will help you come back to yourself with more compassion, clarity, and choice.

Free resources from Bryn:

Somatics to Heal Money Blocks - ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/c43286760ab8/somatics4moneyblocks⁠⁠

Somatics to Heal Patriarchy - ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/a1b65a55768d/acn1s1b5e5⁠⁠

Free 15 minute assessment - ⁠⁠https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15832614&appointmentType=69098239

Follow Bryn on your favorite social channels:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bryn.bamber.5

⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryn-bamber-902639b4/

IG - https://www.instagram.com/bryn_bamber/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brynbamber

Keywords

somatics, belonging, disassociation, stress cycle, emotional healing, community, patriarchy, non-hierarchical, money, self-care, ashram, journey, self-development,

Appreciation and love to our patron, Dee Laughlin.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ELEV8 VILLAGES AND HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED:

https://www.elev8villages.org/

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.

The Belonging Podcast 007 – Leah Silvestre Franklin

The High Cost of Fitting Into Someone Else’s Box

A conversation about leadership, belonging, and coming home to yourself

In this episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye speaks with Leah Silvestre Franklin, a leadership coach and expert in organizational development. They explore the themes of belonging, authenticity, and the unique challenges women face in leadership roles. Leah shares her personal journey from corporate life to nonprofit work, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's values with their leadership style. The conversation delves into the framework for aligned leadership, the significance of self-care, and practical advice for women experiencing burnout. Leah's insights provide a roadmap for creating meaningful connections and fostering a sense of belonging in both personal and professional spheres.

Keywords:

belonging, leadership, women empowerment, authenticity, coaching, nonprofit, organizational development, self-care, community building, personal growth

FREE MEDITATION GIFT

leah@leadlovinglife.com

Email Leah the word “meditation” for her FREE 5 minute pause meditation

Lead Loving Life Podcast

Apple

Spotify

YouTube

Instagram:

@leadlovinglife

Website:

www.leadlovinglife.com

Want to learn more about working with Leah?

Book a free 30 minute connection call

Learn more about Elev8 Villages at:

https://www.elev8villages.org/

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.

The Belonging Podcast 006 – Angela Sage Larsen

Love is the Only Way Out

Prison, Refugees, and the Radical Power of Belonging

Love is not soft. It is not passive. And it is not optional.

In this powerful conversation, Melissa Kaye sits down with Angela Sage-Larson, a woman whose life and work are rooted in compassion, faith, and proximity to suffering.

Together, they explore:

• What belonging looks like after incarceration
• The devastating reality facing Burundian refugees forced out of camps
• Why systems built on power and dominance fail
• And why love may be the only path forward for a fractured world

Don’t miss the answer to the question, “Where did it all go wrong?”
This is not a conversation about fixing people.
It’s about seeing them.
And choosing love. Again and again.

🎧 Listen with an open heart.
📺 Subscribe for more conversations on belonging, humanity, and hope.

Keywords: belonging podcast, life after prison, refugee crisis, compassion and faith, reentry after incarceration, Divine Love, system breakdown, Where did it all go wrong,

Learn more about Angela:

https://www.godcolors.net/

https://www.facebook.com/angela.larsen

https://substack.com/@wblarsen

Follow Petalwink:

https://www.petalwink.com/

Learn more about how to be a part of Elev8 Villages:

https://www.elev8villages.org/

00:00 The Essence of Belonging

06:47 Understanding Returning Citizens

15:28 The Journey of Love and Compassion

22:45 Embracing Refugees

24:36 The Power of Love and Community

27:02 Challenges Faced by Refugees

32:57 The Role of Divine Love in Action

39:31 Historical Perspectives on Humanity and Religion

46:46 Self-Care as a Foundation for Helping Others

51:35 Messages of Love and Belonging

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.

Send a text

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages – 005 | Toy Jefferson

In this episode of the Belonging Podcast, we welcome Coach Toy Jefferson, a remarkable figure known for her resilience and leadership. The conversation delves into Toy's journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a mentor and coach who empowers others. Toy shares her experiences of feeling like an outsider during her teenage years and how she used those feelings to create a sense of belonging for herself and others.
The discussion highlights the importance of self-acceptance and the role of community in fostering belonging, emphasizing that true belonging starts from within.

To connect with Toy Jefferson:
ICC Life Coach Institute
www.icclifecoachingcertification.com

I Can't Coaching- Professional Development Firm
WWW.ICANTCOACHING.COM

Toy's Media Page
https://mbbx.org/coach-toy-s-media-page
IG: / icantcoaching
YouTube: / @icantcoachingllc9194

To learn more about Elev8 Villages:
https://www.elev8villages.org/

Help Elev8 launch The Belonging Tour:
https://www.elev8villages.org/Tour

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages -- 004 | Jill Valentine

In this episode of the Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages, host Melissa Kaye welcomes Jill Valentine, co-founder and impact coach of UGO Impact, an organization dedicated to transformational travel.
Jill shares her journey into the world of intentional travel, emphasizing how it can lead to personal growth and a deeper sense of belonging. She recounts her experiences volunteering in Uganda and the Philippines, which not only transformed her perspective but also inspired her to blend coaching with travel to help others find their purpose and connection to the world.
The conversation delves into the concept of belonging, exploring how personal experiences of rejection shaped Jill’s desire to create inclusive communities. She discusses the importance of intentionality in building relationships and fostering a sense of belonging, both within her coaching programs and in the communities they serve. Jill’s insights highlight the profound impact of shared experiences and service on personal transformation, encouraging listeners to embrace the unknown and seek deeper connections through travel and community engagement.

Many thanks to our patron: Deana Laughlin for making The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages possible.

Keywords: transformational travel, belonging, UGO Impact, personal growth, community service, coaching, travel experiences, volunteer abroad, intentional travel, Elev8 Villages, transformation,

Follow Jill Valentine here:
https://www.instagram.com/ugoimpact/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ugoimpactcoach/
https://www.tiktok.com/@jillvalentine952
https://www.facebook.com/UGOImpact

Travel to Nepal or Tanzania with Jill:
Nepal 2026: https://ugoimpact.com/our-programs/mountains-mudita-nepal-2026/
Tanzania 2027: https://ugoimpact.com/courage-community-kilimanjaro-2027/

Coach and grow with Jill:
Give & Grow Community: https://ugoimpact.com/membership/
More Me One on One Coaching: https://ugoimpact.com/more-me/

Learn more about Elev8 Villages: https://linktr.ee/elev8villages

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.