In this special endings episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Patti focuses on the grief and loss of the empty nest. Even though we often don't think about that time as one of mourning, the Inner Space Project opens our eyes so that we can allow ALL feelings to be explored.

May is the time of year when many parents are preparing for high school and college graduations. To help you walk through this paradoxical transition, Patti invited conscious parenting coach and recent "empty-nester," Stacie Lovato to the mic!

Together, they dive into the paradox of saying goodbye to our children, and the human challenges around loving and letting go. This episode focuses on how we navigate the complexities of the empty nest with grace and ease. Conscious parenting is Stacie's passion and life-long lived experience. You will feel so much better as you hear her voice and share her experiences.

Stacie is a mom to three incredible young men ages 20, 23, and 26, a lifelong educator, a devoted wife, daughter, sister, and friend. As a conscious parenting coach, Stacie is passionate about helping parents slow down, connect deeply, and raise emotionally resilient kids. She is the host of Mindful Mama Conversations, a podcast where she explores the idea of connecting to others through meaningful conversations. These days, she is also nannying—what she lovingly calls her "grandma-in-training."

In this heartfelt episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley welcomes longtime friend Patrick Wilson, founder of Balance Mind Coaching.

Patrick Wilson is an advocate and coach for people who are wanting to create change and navigate transition but are struggling with mental patterns that undermine their progress. He focuses on helping people practice and apply simple, practical strategies to work more effectively with both their mind and their body. His work also emphasizes identifying values and creating an action plan that aligns actions with those values. His motto is do more important stuff with less mental noise! For more information, you can visit his website at www.BalanceMindCoaching.com

Together, they dive into the “middle” of life—those messy, beautiful, and often confusing years where personal growth and transformation unfold. Dr. Ashley frames the conversation within her unique four-part structure: beginnings, middles, endings, and liminal spaces. This episode focuses on how we navigate the complexities of midlife transitions and the mental patterns that can either hold us back or help us evolve.

Patrick shares his journey of learning to work with his mind rather than against it, drawing from both personal experience and his work as a coach. With deep empathy and insight, he unpacks the ways overthinking, doubt, and control can disconnect us from the present—and how simple, practical strategies can restore balance.

Tune in for an honest, compassionate exploration of how we can align with our values, reconnect with our bodies, and move through life with more clarity and intention.

MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/

Patrick Wilson: www.BalanceMindCoaching.com⁠

Dr. Patti talks with family and community specialist Florence Ann Romano about the best practices for raising children in this polarized new world. Florence speaks to the pros and cons of digital media and the importance of being a good role model. She also gives parents permission to seek resources, keeping in mind that they are "learning on the job." She invites parents to be more intentional in how they speak to children in order to nurture respect and kindness. She also shares the importance of the "dirty" word failure, stating that children will spend most of their time as adults, and need to learn how to manage struggles growing up. That doesn't mean neglecting children, but rather teaching coping skills to better understand and regulate emotions.

Florence Ann Romano is the author of the best-selling book Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Every Stage of Life. She has been featured on over 500 national and local media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Home and Family, The Jenny McCarthy Show, Sirius XM, and more. She is an authority on childcare and has been referred to as "The Windy City Nanny." She draws on years of experience and expertise helping parents and families build strong communities to support her incredible philanthropic work today. She invites you to reach out to her anytime for support.

MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. Patti Ashley

https://pattiashley.com/

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Florence Ann Romano

https://florenceann.com/

In this liminal space podcast episode Dr. Patti talks with artist Tanya Torres about her art and the Mary Magdalen archetype. Tanya shares how art helps her get out of worry and into heart-brain coherence. Patti and Tanya introduce their new Magdalene Muses inspirational card deck that Patti created during the pandemic using Tanya's beautiful Mary Magdalen images. Patti reads messages about sensuality, creativity, heart, and hope from the cards.

Tanya and Patti share how they both first encountered the Mary Magdalene archetype reading the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and then further sought scholarly writings of Margaret Starbird, as well as other authors who've explored the archetype of the Divine Feminine as Mary Magdalene. Tanya views Mary Magdalen as a wise, powerful, and scholarly woman who was trusted by Jesus. Not a prostitute as she had been previously portrayed in the Bible. The archetype of Mary Magdalene to Patti is all about bringing more love and heart onto the planet. We need that now for sure!

Tanya Torres is a Puerto Rican artist and writer living and working in New York City. She graduated from the City College of New York, C.U.N.Y., with a B.A. in Art Education, and an M.F.A. in Printmaking and Painting. Her artwork has been presented at the United Nations Organization, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies Library, and the Prague Congress Centre and the Bronx Library Center NYPL, among other cultural and educational institutions.

In 2016, she published her book Painting Mary Magdalene, Little Miracles and Transformations Along the Creative Path. She also periodically creates an artistic event entitled The Mary Magdalene Celebration, where she brings together artists from different disciplines that explore the theme of Mary Magdalene in the context of a traditional Puerto Rican Offering. This project began in 2010 when she presented her first series of paintings on the subject of Mary Magdalene in conjunction with the musical compositions of Raquel Z. Rivera. On her blog and website, Magdalene.org, she explores the connection between creativity and spirituality through the theme of Mary Magdalene.

Cards decks available at magdalene.org

In this deeply personal episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley honors the 55th anniversary of her father’s sudden passing by taking you on a reflective journey through her life of loss, love, and healing. Unlike previous episodes, this is not an interview, but rather an intimate solo exploration of how losing a parent at a young age can leave a lasting imprint your heart and mind.

Dr. Ashley shares poignant memories that weave together grief and gratitude. Reading passages from her memoir Letters to Freedom: From Fear to Love to Grace, she shares with you some of the ways early loss shapes identity, relationships, and the pursuit of meaning in one's life. She offers listeners a compassionate space to reflect on their own experiences of heartbreak, love, and loss.

Through raw emotion, personal storytelling, and reflections on the transformative power of love, this episode is a tribute to the enduring connections we carry with those who have left us. Whether you’ve experienced loss yourself, or are seeking deeper insight into the journey of healing, Dr. Patti’s words offer comfort, wisdom, and hope.

Tune in for a moving conversation about grief, remembrance, and the ways in which love transcends.

You can also purchase her touching memoir Letters to Freedom: From fear to love to grace in written, kindle, or audio versions.

MORE INFORMATION:

https://pattiashley.com/

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In this episode of The Inner Space Project podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley welcomes Dr. Anita Johnston, a clinical psychologist, eating disorder specialist, and author of the bestselling book Eating in the Light of the Moon. Together, they dive into the complexities of disordered eating and recovery, exploring the tension between our innate drives for connection and authenticity. Dr. Johnston shares her profound insights on how early life patterns influence our relationships with food and body image, often creating a gap filled by disordered behaviors.

Listeners will learn about the transformative power of storytelling and metaphor in healing, as well as the vital balance between the masculine (logical, goal-oriented) and feminine (emotional, intuitive) principles in recovery. Dr. Johnston emphasizes that complete recovery is possible, offering tools like curiosity to navigate inner struggles and reclaim authenticity while connecting with others.

This episode also introduces the wealth of resources available through Dr. Johnston’s Light of the Moon Cafe, including free gifts, self-study courses, and interactive workshops. A must-listen for anyone seeking to better understand the intersection of psychology, eating disorders, and personal growth.

MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/

Dr. Anita Johnston: https://dranitajohnston.com/

https://lightofthemooncafe.com/

This heartfelt episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast highlights the beginnings of our lives and the importance of mental health care in the first 18 years of life. Host Dr. Patti Ashley welcomes her daughter, Elizabeth Herman, a seasoned school psychologist and mother of two, for an insightful discussion on the challenges and importance of mental health support in schools. Together, they delve into the day-to-day responsibilities of school psychologists, including psychological assessments, problem-solving meetings, and advocating for students with disabilities. Elizabeth sheds light on the critical but often overlooked role of school psychologists, the staffing shortages they face, and how parents can effectively advocate for their children’s needs within the education system.

The duo also highlights the collaborative efforts between psychologists and social workers, offering actionable advice for parents to tap into available resources. She shares her approach to connecting with students, from validating their emotions to empowering them to explore their inner world with curiosity and compassion.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about the intersection of education and mental health.

MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/moms-in-real-life/

In this episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, host Dr. Patti Ashley dives further into the concept of "liminal space"—a period of transition filled with uncertainty, yet rich with possibilities. Known for her heart-centered and authenticity-focused approach, Dr. Ashley defines liminal space as the "in-between" moments in life that challenge our need for control, inviting listeners to embrace both the fears and hopes that arise during these times. She also reflects on recent podcast segments, covering life’s beginnings, middles, and endings, including impactful conversations with guests like Zeynep Biringen, Laura Deal, and Karen Van Allen, who share stories of parenting, storytelling, and navigating grief. Dr. Ashley touches on her own experience of liminal space, both personally and professionally, and the importance of allowing inner growth to flourish in moments of the unknown.

MORE INFORMATION: https://pattiashley.com/