Making Meaning: Deep Conversations on Life, Purpose, and The Human Experience

by The Cohere Collective

The Sacred Art of Hunting: A Journey of the Land and the Self with Christie Green

Christie Green is the author of Moonlight Elk: One Woman’s Hunt for Food and Freedom published by The University of New Mexico Press (UNMP) in 2024. Christie is a land and water steward, landscape architect, local food activist, educator and hunter which attracts passionate audiences in these fields. She represents a fundamental missing bridge between polarized audiences and cultural extremes. During our conversation, Christie and I discussed the ethics of food consumerism, feminist hunting practices, and ways in which we all can take steps to become more aligned with the natural world. Green’s forthcoming book, Salmon Dreaming: Coming Home to Alaska will be released by UNMP in 2027 and her third book, The New Meridian: Undamming the West will be released by UNMP in 2029. Learn More about Christie Green: https://www.christiegreen.net/ Read Moonlight Elk: https://www.unmpress.com/9780826366726/moonlight-elk/#:~:text=Here, Follow Christie Green: https://www.instagram.com/radiclelandscape/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E80

Jul 14, 2026

1:45:39

How to Choose Yourself and Create Lifelong Evolution and Balance with Hakeem Bourne Mcfarlane

We’ve all heard, “put your own oxygen mask on first,” and yet, we still all struggle to do so, and to make space for others to do so too. Choosing yourself sounds self-centered. So why does it allow us to step into service and reverence with so much more presence? Hakeem Bourne Mcfarlane is a speaker, coach, and storyteller focused on harnessing his story of resilience, honesty, and accountability to help others recognize their power and choose themselves before life chooses for them. Hakeem isn’t worried about growing pains, questioning authority, or getting real. He confronts life’s challenges with humor, raw truth, and practical frameworks that empower himself and others to be self-centered, in the most Coherent sense of the word! In our conversation, we dive in to Hakeem’s story as an only child living inside addiction, instability, and silence, not from a lack of love, but from parents who were struggling to Choose Themselves. Becoming and older brother at 10 completely changed Hakeem, as did the lessons learned through athletics, but nothing seemed to be able to break him out of the prison of his own mind. Facing five knee surgeries, chronic pain, incarceration, and addiction, Hakeem found the thing that finally saved him: himself. A huge thank you to Hakeem for the time, presence, and energy during this conversation! Learn About the Choose Yourself Community: https://chooseyourself.info/ Follow Hakeem: https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamhakeem/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdreamhakeem Follow the Choose Yourself Community: https://www.instagram.com/chooseyourselfchannel/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/@ChooseYourselfChannel Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E79

Jun 30, 2026

1:41:21

The Power of Musicality in Connection, Transformation, and Meaning with Tigrilla Gardenia

Community has been a pressing need in the zeitgeist. But beyond the desire for human connection, there is a vast world of other-than-humans ready to connect and waiting for us to come home. Tigrilla Gardenia, B.M. M.S., Nature-Inspired Mentor, Certified Life Coach (ICF PCC), and World Ambassador for Plant Advocacy, empowers creative multipotentialites and nature-inspired professionals to confidently live authentic, purpose-driven lives in collaboration with the plant world. Tigrilla’s multifaceted experience allows her to connect with individuals and broad communities to remind us of truths we intuitively connect with and have always known. In our conversation, Tigrilla and I dive into her experience in the music industry, community living in Damanhur – one of the world’s largest spiritual eco-communities – and her intimate connection to the plant world. Now in her work, she uses the depth and breadth of her experience to empower creatives multipotentialities to take action with confidence and become the conscious leaders of their lives. Check Out Tigrilla Gardenia’s Work: https://tigrillagardenia.com/ Work with Tigrilla: https://tigrillagardenia.com/work-with-me-coaching/1to1-mentorship/ Follow Tigrilla: https://www.instagram.com/tigrillagardenia What’s Your Spirit Wild Plant?: https://tigrillagardenia.com/what-s-your-spirit-wild-plant/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E78

May 19, 2026

2:05:21

Stop Choosing Between Purpose and Security: Pursuing Purpose and Cultivating Vocation

Purpose and practicality rarely seem to work together in today’s world. But what if we could build our lives to support necessity, a baseline feeling of safety and security, and fulfill our deepest needs of fulfillment? It’s these questions of Purpose, passion, and Vocation that we dig into in today’s episode, and continually ask: how can I live more Coherently? A huge thank you to Florian Kemmerich for his time, energy, and expertise during this episode! Check out Florian’s Work: https://on-vocation.com/ Read On Vocation: https://on-vocation.com/books/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E77

May 5, 2026

1:34:50

Purpose is a Privilege: Creating Financial Freedom to Make Meaning

In a world where meaning is a privilege, how do you create the life of your dreams from a place of safety, security, and empowerment? Pursuing Purpose is a privilege, one that every human being deserves access to, but feels like a rarer and rarer possibility. In our current economic and socio-political world where systemic factors prevent so many from building a life of Purpose, where do we go from here? Of course, we can all use our voices, bring Space to power, and advocate and activate for change; while we get to work creating a life where all individuals have the Coherent right to self-determination, what can we do now to try and create as much financial independence and personal autonomy as possible? It’s these complex questions that we tackle in today’s episode. Learn more about David Nassief: https://onepagewealthcompass.com/ Read One Page Wealth Compass: https://onepagewealthcompass.com/#book Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E76

Apr 14, 2026

1:26:49

Unlock Your Soul’s Mission: Building Aligned Movements with Cailen Ascher

The time for your vision is now. So many of us feel the intuitive sense of Purpose seeded deep within us, but what does it look like to actually craft a life in alignment with our soul’s fulfillment? Cailen Ascher’s work is founded on the belief that soul-led women don’t just live their missions – they create movements. And the world needs you and your Purpose. Check Out Cailen Ascher’s Work: Free Training - Discover Your Soul-Led Business Plan: www.CailenAscher.com/shift Website: www.CailenAscher.com https://www.instagram.com/cailen.ascher/ Substack: https://cailenascher.substack.com/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E75

Mar 31, 2026

1:36:05

Release The Overwhelm of People Pleasing with Radical Self Acceptance with Christina Slaback

It's time to get unstuck! Christina Slaback is a life and business coach who helps people understand why they’re stuck, and what staying there is quietly costing them. With a background in psychology and business and over 15 years of leadership experience, she blends compassion with honest perspective to help clients outgrow patterns that once kept them safe but no longer fit. Her work is about clarity, agency, and intentional change. In this conversation, I sit down with Christina to talk about getting unstuck. As caregivers, we can often struggle with people-pleasing, burnout, and resentment. To become the persion you want to be, you have to first belive you are worthy of what that person deserves. Embracing change isn’t about shame, blame, or guilt, it’s about radical self acceptance and feeling into what brings you joy and alignment. Check Out Christina’s Work: https://christinaslaback.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaslaback/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cslaback?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnig_yENiqe3mWa8ZqtYfXmOZGJoVwTM6kmFijB8nJlZN8Ztk_emjfTy-i5Kg_aem_SEbxXFfv_eUMECEA6RLItg Intentional Reset Framework: https://70ddd865.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAJS6WNNerIX2UoXApqse6eJxgFMuNOQG9Z_1O5YxwE2NeqDhxefoDWPenKGB6XIu-sQSo0SrJqM1TYK8zMp5PjQGgML0ag6t0HqB0UpExeEdfpBYHkUMrMATE4OvujV83_XDDp81vEcnemfdhAgZ_4gvOoWE0nbM8JNaFrGG3BlwurGAm6d-MiqG5GOqOunSa6ufrl6fIeEd Strategic Alignment Reset: https://calendar.app.google/iypMk5auLhoyNgTJ7 Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E74

Mar 17, 2026

1:49:31

You Were Never Meant to be Separate from Nature with Julie Brams

Julie Brams IS your mother’s psychotherapist: Mother Gaia. An ANFT certified Forest Therapy Guide, meditation practitioner and teacher, and author of The Nature Embedded Mind, Brams works to help us all re-member our connection with nature and believes that through this sacred relationship, we can begin and deepen a restorative approach to environmental sustainability and social change. In our conversation, Brams shares her own journey into the forest and how an initmate connection with other-than-humans allows us to understand our own consciousness more deeply. Through recalling the language of nature (that we’ve always been able to speak and to understand) we can more deeply come into communion with the oh-so-alive world and with personal experience, allowing a deepening of trust in our individual, and universal, sovereignty. We’re facing a deep need to dismantle cultural systems and must begin by deconstructing these systems internally. This episode reminds us of the anthropocentric culture context we live in, and the power of storytelling in shaping our reality. Between the small acts of daily life, purpose is woven, and it is up to us to construct the future’s tapestry in the image of mutual care, restorative justice, and communal Coherence. A huge thank you to Julie Brams for her time, energy, and expertise in this episode! Read The Nature Embedded Mind: https://www.juliebrams.com/books Learn more about Julie’s work: https://www.juliebrams.com Follow Julie: https://www.instagram.com/juliebramslmft/?hl=en Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E73

Mar 3, 2026

1:41:06

Chiropractic Care is Deeper Than You Think: Healing Body, Mind, & Spirit with Dr. Trey McMahon

Join host Reese Brown as she sits down with Dr. Trey McMahon to discuss the intersection of physical health, mental health, and how the nervous system is the key to unlocking your body’s spectrum of wellbeing. A huge thank you to Dr. Trey McMahon for his time, energy, and expertise during this episode! Follow Dr. Trey McMahon: https://www.instagram.com/chirotrey/ Work with Dr. Trey McMahon: https://gocuris.com/providers/franklin-trey-mcmahon/ Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Reese

E72

Feb 17, 2026

1:31:00

Be Unapologetically ALIVE: Mental Health, Belonging, & Radical Self-Love with Lydia Shock

What happens when you stop shrinking yourself to fit into spaces that were never built for you? Content Warning: 6:03-10:28 and 44:43-46:01 Discussion of self-harm and suicidal ideation In this episode of Making Meaning, Lydia Shock shares her journey through depression, suicidal ideation, self-acceptance, and radical healing, and how learning to take up space quite literally saved her life. Together, we explore: Why being labeled “too much” is often a trauma response to patriarchy How mental health, identity, and belonging intersect in adolescence Why self-love isn’t indulgent, it’s disciplined Therapy as a lifelong skillset, not a crisis tool Feminism, dating, and why women are done settling Men’s mental health without excusing harmful behavior The power of tribe, chosen family, and asking for help This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt, too loud, too emotional, too intense, too much, or somehow never enough; You’re not broken. You’re becoming. A huge thank you to Lydia Shock for her time, energy, and openness during our conversation! Follow Lydia Shock and the Someone Should Know Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someone-should-know/id1830132865 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71YLzhr2I4mKZaYrgDYUN2?si=bdc629aab42e4075 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@someoneshouldknowpodcast https://www.instagram.com/someoneshouldknowpodcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@someone.should.know.pod Follow The Cohere Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support Follow Triston Morgan, the creator of Making Meaning's theme music: https://www.instagram.com/tristonmorgan/ Follow Nicole Oesterreicher, the creator of Making meaning's art and podcast cover: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleocreates/ https://www.instagram.com/nicoleodesign/ Thank you for being here! Smack, Lillian Reese Brown, MA, MCLC

E71

Dec 16, 2025

1:47:13

1 of 9