In this insightful conversation, the hosts sit down with Michael Henry to discuss the transformative role of creative writing in mental health and community building. Michael, a passionate advocate for the arts, shares the origins and mission of Lighthouse Writers Workshop, a space where writers can explore vulnerability and self-expression. Through their conversation, they delve into how writing and storytelling can foster connection, healing, and personal growth, especially in communities facing mental health challenges.

The discussion highlights the importance of authenticity in writing, emphasizing how vulnerability can create deeper connections with audiences. Michael also explores the significant impact of community outreach programs at Lighthouse and their role in addressing mental health issues through creative means. From destigmatizing homelessness through storytelling to offering support for artists, this episode demonstrates how creative expression is more than just a craft—it’s a tool for societal change and personal healing. Tune in for insights on the power of self-acceptance, the creative process, and how art can be a catalyst for wellness in both individuals and communities.
Michael J. Henry, MFA currently serves as Executive Director of Lighthouse, where he also teaches poetry and memoir and essay workshops. A former recipient of a Colorado Council on the Arts Fellowship and a PlatteForum Fellowship, his work has appeared in such places as Copper Nickel, Threepenny Review, 5280 Magazine, Ekphrasis, Hippocampus, Many Mountains Moving, Pleiades, Red Rock Review, Rio Grande Review, GeorgetownReview, and Bloomsbury Review. He's collaborated with Garrett Ammon of Wonderbound to create three narrative poetry performances, When the Power Goes Out, Intersection, and Gone West.

Michael grew up in Buffalo, New York, received a BA in English from University of Rochester and an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. In 1997, he co-founded Lighthouse with Andrea Dupree, who serves as program director.

He's published two full-length collections of poetry, No Stranger Than My Own and Active Gods (Conundrum/Bower House), and a book of nonfiction, Mountain Biking the Colorado Trail(Bower House). In 2017, he was awarded a Livingston Fellowship from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation.

Links:

Connect w/ Michael + Lighthouse Writers Workshop

Colorado Resiliency Arts Lab

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠grittherapy.com

During the month of April 2025, we are supporting Colorado Doula Project. Please subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes. For each rating and review we receive in April 2025, we will donate $5 to Colorado Doula Project.

In this informative - and surprisingly fun - conversation, we're joined by guests Kanji Kawanabe and Alex Zervakos to dive into the world of AI in therapy with Theryo – an innovative AI-supported therapy tool. The conversation explores the challenges often encountered in mental health care, and how AI has the potential to enhance therapy by offering new ways of identifying patterns, supporting collaborative care, and addressing accessibility issues. From identifying biases in therapy to increasing the personalization of mental health care, the discussion sheds light onto the future of AI in therapy, the role of therapist development, and how AI can improve outcomes in mental health treatment.

Links: https://theryo.ai

During the month of March 2025, we are supporting the non-profit we mentioned in Dylan Stein's episode: Building Hope. Please rate, review, and subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes.

Learn more about Hey Birdie's Awakening Migration mentioned in the episode ⁠here⁠⁠. For AWHY listeners, Heather + Jess are offering a special discount of $111 if you register with a friend before 3/31. Use code AWHY at checkout.

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠grittherapy.com

Erica Bonham joins Are We Happy Yet? for another badass conversation that you do not want to miss. We discuss the launch of Erica's new book: Always Enough, Never Done. A guide to understanding trauma, healing, and personal growth, Erica unpacks the delicate balance between personal responsibility and the power of collective action. We dive deep into how healing isn't a destination, but an emergent process, and why joy, emotional regulation, and community are integral parts of the journey.

Erica shares her wisdom on the importance of nervous system regulation, and why it’s more than just about finding calmness—it’s about navigating the complexity of our emotional responses. The conversation highlights how healing requires both individual effort and collective solidarity, and why true change can only occur when we support one another.

Erica also emphasizes the crucial role of love and inherent worthiness in the healing process, inspiring listeners to reconnect with their emotions, their communities, and the healing potential within themselves.

Connect with Erica and learn more about Always Enough, Never Done: ⁠avoscounseling.com⁠

Purchase the book TODAY 3/18/25 for 99 cents ⁠HERE!

During the month of March 2025, we are supporting the non-profit we mentioned in Dylan Stein's episode: Building Hope. Please rate, review, and subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes.

Learn more about Hey Birdie's Awakening Migration mentioned in the episode here⁠. For AWHY listeners, Heather + Jess are offering a special discount of $111 if you register with a friend before 3/31. Use code AWHY at checkout.

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠

⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠

⁠grittherapy.com

In this episode of the podcast, Jane and Hannah sit down with Briana Fehringer, a tax attorney turned spiritual guide and wealth activator, to explore her remarkable journey of transformation. Briana shares how health struggles pushed her to reevaluate her life and career, leading her to embrace her spiritual gifts and intuitive powers. With an honest look at her evolution from corporate law to energy healing and personal growth, Briana discusses how money reflects our deeper beliefs and how self-reflection and transformation can bring us more joy, abundance, and balance. She also dives into the importance of embracing our authentic selves, having more fun, cultivating joy in everyday moments, and listening to our intuition as a guide for personal and financial growth. If you're ready to break free from societal definitions of success, burnout, and the endless list of goals to accomplish and find your own path to fulfillment, this episode is for you!

Help us make an impact! During the month of March 2025, we are supportingBuilding Hope. Building Hope Summit County is a community-wide initiative designed to create a more coordinated, effective and responsive mental health system that promotes emotional health, reduces stigma and improves access to care and support for everyone in Summit County, CO.Please rate, review, and subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes like Building Hope. We are able to donate $5 for each 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and $10 for each 5 star review on Apple Podcasts that we gain this month to Building Hope.

Connect w/ Briana viaIG, herpodcastand herofferings.

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

More information about the upcoming couples psychedelic retreat:⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com/2025retreat⁠

⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠

⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠

⁠grittherapy.com

In this insightful episode, Dylan Stein shares his personal journey from a traditional career to dedicating his life to mental health advocacy and community outreach. He talks about the challenges men face when it comes to emotional vulnerability, the damaging effects of hypermasculinity, and the societal pressures that shape how men express their feelings. Dylan also explores the complexities of consent in relationships, and why it's essential to have open, honest conversations about emotional needs. Throughout the discussion, he highlights the work of Building Hope, a nonprofit focused on improving mental health services in Summit County, Colorado and shares his experience creating a men’s group to provide a supportive space for guys to talk openly about their struggles. This episode dives into the evolving conversation around masculinity, mental health, and the importance of breaking down harmful gender norms.

Takeaways from the conversation include the impact of societal pressures on men’s mental health, the need for vulnerability in relationships, and the importance of creating spaces where men can openly express themselves. Dylan emphasizes that being vulnerable isn’t a weakness, but a strength, and that men need to challenge traditional ideas of masculinity in order to build healthier relationships with themselves and others.

Help us make an impact! During the month of March 2025, we are supporting the non-profit we mentioned in this episode: Building Hope. Building Hope Summit County is a community-wide initiative designed to create a more coordinated, effective and responsive mental health system that promotes emotional health, reduces stigma and improves access to care and support for everyone in Summit County.

Please rate, review, and subscribe to Are We Happy Yet? as this helps us reach more listeners and help provide financial support for important causes like Building Hope! We are able to donate $5 for each 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and $10 for each 5 star review on Apple Podcasts that we gain this month!

To connect with Dylan or to learn more about Building Hope: https://buildinghopesummit.org

To learn more about Dylan’s men's group, visit: https://www.arewehappyyetpodcast.com/episodes

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

More information about the upcoming couples psychedelic retreat: ⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com/2025retreat⁠

⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠

⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠

grittherapy.com

In this episode of the Are We Happy Yet? Podcast, Jane and Hannah are joined by Niya and Jen to discuss the experience of creating Fit Trip Adventures where they curate all inclusive fitness adventures for women. The conversation delves into the importance of building a strong mind-body connection and the role that flexibility, both in fitness goals and in life, plays in maintaining a positive relationship with exercise. They address the challenges women face in the fitness industry, including body image pressures and societal expectations, while highlighting the importance of supportive communities and accountability in fostering empowerment through movement.

We talk about the importance of finding joy in movement, prioritizing self-care, and listening to your body when establishing a fitness routine. The guests also touch on the challenges of overcoming body image issues and comparison, stressing the significance of creating spaces where women can connect and support one another in their fitness journeys. Ultimately, this episode champions the idea that fitness should be about strength, empowerment, and personal well-being, rather than just aesthetics.

This month we are donating $5 for each 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and $10 for each written review on Apple Podcasts to the ⁠720 Memorial Foundation⁠, an organization that supports communities impacted by mass tragedies. Please support us and the important organization by leaving a rating or review.

Links -

Connect w/ Jen + Niya via the FitTrip website, and IG.

Save $100 on an upcoming FitTrip w/ discount code SAVE100

Take Jen's class at Kettlebell + Co!

Check out Niya's new restaurant and music venue in Denver: Lot46 Music Bar

Follow @Colorado_FreeWorkouts

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

More information about the upcoming couples psychedelic retreat: ⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com/2025retreat⁠

⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠

alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠

⁠grittherapy.com

In this thought-provoking episode of Are We Happy Yet? hosts Hannah, Jane, and their guest Kelly Noble dive deep into the often-taboo topic of money, focusing on the unique financial challenges women face. They explore how childhood programming, societal pressures, and feelings of scarcity shape women's relationship with wealth, often leaving them feeling guilty for desiring more.

Throughout the episode, the hosts uncover the hidden dynamics that influence women's financial decisions, including the cultural norms around money and the guilt often tied to financial success. They discuss how business ownership and self-discovery are intertwined with the journey to financial empowerment, stressing that happiness and wealth are not just about making money, but about creating a life that aligns with one's values. By the end, listeners are encouraged to embrace their worth, invest in their future, and build a supportive community that nurtures their financial growth.

This month we are donating $5 for each 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and $10 for each written review on Apple Podcasts to the ⁠720 Memorial Foundation⁠, an organization that supports communities impacted by mass tragedies. Please support us and the important organization by leaving a rating or review.

Links -

Connect w/ Kelly via IG, her podcast and her offerings.

We Should All Be Millionaires - Rachel Rodgers

Financial Feminist - Tori Dunlap

The Witch's Way to Wealth - Jessie DaSilva

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind - T. Harv Eker

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch - Denise Duffield-Thomas

Learn more about the podcast, and the hosts Jane + Hannah:

More information about the upcoming couples psychedelic retreat: ⁠alchemytherapyandwellness.com/2025retreat⁠

⁠arewehappyyetpodcast.com⁠

alchemytherapyandwellness.com⁠

⁠grittherapy.com

In this episode, Jane and Hannah are joined by Sam Tramuta, attachment and addiction expert, to explore the complexities of attachment theory and its profound influence on relationships and mental health. They discuss the different attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful—and how early relationships shape adult behavior. The conversation highlights innovative therapeutic approaches, including corrective experiences and psychedelic-assisted therapy, that can help individuals break free from negative attachment patterns and heal emotional wounds.

This discussion helps connect the dots between attachment and addiction, while also covering the power of emotional vulnerability, and how vulnerability can foster greater self-worth and healthier interpersonal dynamics. Tune in for insights on the transformative role of therapy in emotional healing and relationship growth.

This month we are donating $5 for each 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and $10 for each written review on Apple Podcasts to the 720 Memorial Foundation, an organization that supports communities impacted by mass tragedies.

Links:

Connect w/ Sam: https://www.highergroundct.com

Attached, the resource Sam mentioned: https://www.attachedthebook.com

Learn more about Hannah + Sam's Couples Psychedelic Therapy Retreat: alchemytherapyandwellness.com/2025retreat