Circle This

CIRCLE THIS, The Anti-Small Talk Podcast. Deep, playful, and intimate conversations shedding light on how to create magic and meaning in our everyday lives. Andrea Bendewald invites her circle of friends which include innovators, authors, entrepreneurs, healers, and artists, to share their stories and practices for building and nurturing authentic relationships. These discussions, like circles, are an antidote to the loneliness epidemic, providing tangible evidence of our shared humanity, and guidance for cultivating deeper connections. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being a part of our expanding circle. Circle This is executive produced by Andrea Bendewald, and Emily Kratter. Edited, produced and distributed by Tracey Thomas and Good Mess media Photography by Cathrine White Stay connected with our Circle This Team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia @talkwithtrace

The Life You Were Built For with Julia Gabor 07/28/2026

The Courage to Trust Yourself with Rosa Blasi 07/14/2026

Demystifying Modern Men with Davide De Pierro 06/30/2026

The Power of Possibility: Healing the Stories That Shape Us with Jim Curtis 06/16/2026

The Power of Possibility: Healing the Stories That Shape Us with Jim Curtis In this episode, Dre sits down with transformational coach, hypnotist, and author Jim Curtis to explore how our subconscious stories shape the lives we create. Jim shares his own journey through chronic illness, heartbreak, isolation, and reinvention, revealing how some of life's most difficult moments became catalysts for profound transformation. Together, they explore how childhood experiences, inherited patterns, and unconscious beliefs influence everything from relationships and self-worth to connection, purpose, and possibility. They dive into the difference between meditation and hypnosis, the power of identity language, and why lasting change begins beneath the surface. The conversation touches on modern loneliness, particularly among men, the courage required to create community, and the role vulnerability plays in building meaningful connection. One theme keeps emerging: possibility. Not as wishful thinking, but as a practice. A willingness to loosen our grip on old identities, expand what we believe is available to us, and step into a new relationship with ourselves and our lives. Jim closes the episode with a BONUS guided hypnotic meditation designed to help listeners reconnect with calm, clarity, alignment, and the deeper truth beneath fear and conditioning. Jim's upcoming book, The Book of Possibility, arrives in September 2026 and offers readers an immersive journey into subconscious transformation, combining practical exercises, guided hypnosis, and the tools Jim uses in his one-on-one coaching work. Follow: @jimcurtis1 PreOrder The Book Of Possibility: https://www.bookofpossibility.com/ Learn More At: -- Stay connected with the Circle This team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia For sponsorship inquiries circlethispod@gmail.com /episode/index/show/d7d9a686-1c8e-4ec3-b930-4243226957c6/id/41641140

What Happens When Cops Sit In A Circle? With LAPD Officer Lyndon Barber 06/02/2026

What Happens When Cops Sit In A Circle? With LAPD Officer Lyndon Barber In this episode, Dre sits down with former LAPD officer Lyndon Barber for a conversation about policing, loneliness, vulnerability, nervous systems, and what happens when people trained to suppress emotion are finally given permission to speak honestly. They explore how council-based practices (think circle) are transforming law enforcement from the inside out. A 16-year veteran of the LAPD, including years in gang enforcement, Lyndon opens up about the hidden emotional toll of law enforcement, the “hero complex” inside police culture, surviving thyroid cancer in isolation, and the moment a council circle cracked something open in him. Lyndon now helps lead the POWER Program through Beyond Us & Them, bringing emotional regulation, mindfulness, and human connection into police units, prisons, and communities across the country. What started as a training he thought looked “cultish” became a practice that transformed the way he leads, listens, regulates stress, and relates to both his fellow officers and the communities he serves. Together, Dre and Lyndon explore: how circles dissolve labels and uniforms… why so many officers are silently struggling… how mindfulness can de-escalate violence in real time… and what becomes possible when people stop talking at each other and start listening human to human. Join Dre and Lyndon for an in person / CoEd Community Connection Circle at the Den Meditation Center in Los Angeles. Sunday June 14th, 9:45am. Sign up via link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soulful-sundays-the-london-weho-los-angeles-community-connection-circle-tickets-1987745089070 Follow: @beyondusandthem  Learn more: Beyond Us & Them -- Stay connected with the Circle This team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia @talkwithtrace For sponsorship inquiries, email: circlethispod@gmail.com /episode/index/show/d7d9a686-1c8e-4ec3-b930-4243226957c6/id/41501425

What the Dying Teach Us About Living with Olivia Bareham 05/19/2026

The Midlife Portal: Grief, Truth, and the Second Act with Constance Zimmer & Abby Epstein 05/05/2026

How To Stay Informed Without Spiraling with Jessica Yellin 04/21/2026

Proof of Miracles: Signs, Synchronicity & Everyday Magic with Dre & Em 04/07/2026

Quietly Quitting A Life That Doesn’t Fit: Reclaiming Self with Monica Corcoran Harel 03/31/2026

Beyond Us & Them: Circle Practices Transforming Prisons, Police & People with Jared Seide 03/24/2026

Beyond Us & Them: Circle Practices Transforming Prisons, Police & People with Jared Seide In this episode of Circle This, Dre sits down with Jared Seide, Executive Director of Beyond Us & Them, a groundbreaking nonprofit bringing compassion, connection, and real tools for transformation into some of the most unlikely places—prisons, law enforcement agencies, healthcare systems, and policy spaces. Through circle and council practices, along with mindfulness-based techniques, Jared and his team train individuals within these systems to develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and authentic connection. These programs go beyond “let’s all get along” energy, this is deep, embodied work that is actively shifting how humans relate to themselves and each other inside systems that are rooted in separation and “othering.” Together, they explore what happens when we interrupt the “us versus them” narrative and create spaces where people are truly seen, heard, and humanized. From incarcerated individuals experiencing profound connection to themselves and one another, to police officers learning resilience and relational intelligence, to communities finding their way back to belonging—this conversation reveals what becomes possible when there is an invitation to see beyond the mask and connect on the soul level. Jared shares the science behind circling and council, including measurable physiological changes that occur when we practice real listening and authentic expression. They unpack why social connection is as vital as food and water, and what it takes to bring this work into environments built on survival, hierarchy, and division. This is a conversation about re-humanization, choosing connection over contraction and remembering that we were never meant to do this alone. This conversation is filled with evidence of hope, that real change is possible through practical tools of connection and it all starts with sitting in a circle. Learn more and support the work at beyondusandthem.org Use code CIRCLE20 for 20% off their merchandise and help spread the message. Explore Jared’s book Where Compassion Begins for deeper practice. Sign up for the Beyond Us & Them newsletter and follow them on social media @beyondusandthem -- Stay connected with the Circle This team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia @talkwithtrace  For sponsorship inquiries, email: circlethispod@gmail.com /episode/index/show/d7d9a686-1c8e-4ec3-b930-4243226957c6/id/40578190

Representation Is the Remedy: Being Truly Seen with Jenna Laurenzo 03/17/2026

We’re Doing Death Wrong: What Facing Death Taught Me About Living with Dre & Em 03/10/2026

Inner Fire: Menopause, Micro-dosing & Midlife Sovereignty with Ashley Turner 03/03/2026

Second Marriage, Same Person: Love After The Earthquake with Odette & Dave Annable (Part 2) 02/24/2026

Unlocking the Truth About Love: Healing the Wound Beneath Conflict with Odette & Dave Annable (Part 1) 02/17/2026

The Village Is a State of Mind: Welcome Back with Dre & Em 02/10/2026

Thorns, Roses, and The Courage To Receive with Dre & Em 12/16/2025

Integrative Tools for Overwhelm: Breathwork, Embodiment, and the End of Spiritual Burnout with Natalie Kuhn 12/09/2025

What Adversity Reveals: Nyakio Grieco on Projection, Self-Awareness & Spiritual Strength 12/02/2025

Start Now, Why Wait: Gen Z Truth & Entrepreneurship with Strummer Rouse & Bonus Guest Jack Jiang 11/25/2025

Start Now, Why Wait: Gen Z Truth & Entrepreneurship with Strummer Rouse & Bonus Guest Jack Jiang In this special episode, Dre sits down with her 16-year-old son, the one and only Strummer James Rouse, for a tender, funny, and surprisingly profound look into the emotional world, entrepreneurial drive, and connection language of Gen Z. Later, they’re joined by Strummer’s friend and collaborator, 19-year-old entrepreneur Jack Jiang, for an eye-opening second chapter on credibility, reputation, and the real cost of building a brand at a young age. Sitting together in Tribeca, Dre and Strummer talk about everything from change-of-scenery magic (“even the rain lights me up”) to why his generation is struggling with loneliness, and how ego, emotional fear, and screen culture all play a role. For Strummer, texting has become a kind of safe frequency, a channel where vulnerability is easier, and where emotional truth feels less risky. Raised in circles and supported by a charter school that prioritized emotional intelligence over grades, Strummer shares the early trainings that shaped him: learning to listen, to sit in presence, to share from the heart. He reflects on Covid as a turning point, the blessing and complexity of screen-based connection, and how fashion, and the stories behind what we wear create belonging. Dre also takes us inside Strummer’s entrepreneurial world: Selling his first shoe at nine. Landing his first job at thirteen by boldly walking in and saying, “What’s it going to take for me to work here?” Understanding that people aren’t just buying clothes, they’re buying the story, the experience, the connection. Then Jack joins, sharp, vulnerable, and wise beyond his years. He talks about the pressure of growing up online, why reputation is everything, the art of paying attention to details, and how social credibility can make or break a business. He shares the story of opening his first appointment-only showroom at nineteen and explains the trend-based heartbeat of the fashion world. This episode is a window into Gen Z’s emotional landscape, their honesty, their hustle, their heart, and a reminder that connection really is the currency that never loses value. Follow: @strummer.rouse @saturdayservicepodcast @legossssssssss -- Stay connected with the Circle This team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia @talkwithtrace For sponsorship inquiries: circlethispod@gmail.com /episode/index/show/d7d9a686-1c8e-4ec3-b930-4243226957c6/id/39138115

The Unexpected Pregnancy & The Birth of a Conscious Community with Tylah Jordan 11/18/2025

The Unexpected Pregnancy & The Birth of a Conscious Community with Tylah Jordan In this episode, Dre welcomes storyteller and community-builder Tylah Jordan for full circle conversation about the unexpected pregnancy that changed the entire trajectory of her life. Tylah opens up about discovering she was pregnant just one month into a new relationship, while navigating the weight of secrecy, shame, and a religious upbringing where she had never known anyone who became a mother outside of marriage. What could have been an isolating chapter instead became the doorway into a new identity, a deeper spiritual maturity, and the beginnings of Unfiltered Motherhood, the platform she now uses to support and anchor mothers in a world that often leaves them feeling alone. Dre and Tylah circle around the real initiation of motherhood, the profound beauty, the need for connection and the parts rarely posted about, up until now. Tylah shares effortlessly about her earlier experiences that shaped her, moving to LA at 18, financial separation from family, surviving sexual assault, toxic overload, and a period of being stalked that rewired her sense of safety. These chapters became the soil of her spiritual awakening and the reason she felt drawn to women’s circles years before she became a mother herself. In one of the most beautiful full-circle moments, Tylah reveals how a meditation class she found on Instagram led her back to Dre, the same woman who facilitated her first-ever circle at The Den Meditation six years earlier, the circle that sparked her entire spiritual path. You couldn’t script a more FULL circle moment! This episode is a reminder that motherhood is not just about raising a child, it’s about meeting the woman you’re becoming. And that when one mother is supported, an entire family and the next generation is positively effected. --- Stay connected with the Circle This team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia @talkwithtrace For sponsorship inquiries: circlethispod@gmail.com /episode/index/show/d7d9a686-1c8e-4ec3-b930-4243226957c6/id/39064585

Sobriety, Self-Discovery & the Truth About “Fun” with Abby Calabrese 11/11/2025

Call To Connection: It’s Time To Take It Offline with Dre & Em 11/04/2025

No Permission Needed: Processing Pain through Creativity with Alicia Coppola 10/28/2025

Space, Grace & the Secret Sauce to Lifelong Friendship with Leigh Kilton Smith & Kristin Hahn 10/21/2025

The Art and Science of Circling: How Real Connection Can Heal Us with Dr. Avanti 10/14/2025

The Art and Science of Circling: How Real Connection Can Heal Us with Dr. Avanti In this powerful episode of The Healing Catalyst, Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh welcomes Dre, to explain the profound impact of women's circles on healing and connection, drawn from her two decades of facilitating these communal story-sharing experiences. Dre shares how this ancient practice is making a modern-day comeback, and why it's more essential than ever. The conversation explores the science behind communal experiences, such as the role of mirror neurons and the release of oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone,” which is released during emotionally safe, connected interactions. They describe how simply being in a circle can reduce stress and support emotional regulation, just through listening. Dre describes participating in her first women's circle as a "chemical shift," that ultimately inspired her to share the practice with others. Dre also explains how Circling differs from therapy, the guidelines and structure that make a circle feel safe and sacred, and how this kind of presence can function as a powerful form of re-parenting, offering the emotional attunement and validation many of us missed growing up. If you're curious about joining a circle, this episode is a powerful reminder that healing happens in community, and that listening itself can be medicine. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Order Dr. Avanti’s books: The Longevity Formula, The Health Catalyst Energy Fix Quiz: avantikumarsingh.com/quiz Explore more at avantikumarsingh.com -- Stay connected with the Circle This team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia @talkwithtrace  For sponsorship inquiries, email: circlethispod@gmail.com /episode/index/show/d7d9a686-1c8e-4ec3-b930-4243226957c6/id/38573275

Circle This: One Year, Infinite Ripples with Dre & Em 10/07/2025

Practical Magic & The Power of Re-patterning with Anne Emerson 09/30/2025

Practical Magic & The Power of Re-patterning with Anne Emerson In this episode, Dre circles with artist, intuitive coach, and spiritual midwife Anne Emerson to explore the power of re-patterning the beliefs that keep us stuck in old stories. For over five decades, Anne has guided people through Holographic Repatterning™, a therapeutic technology that uses applied kinesiology to trace issues and blockages that appear as problems in our present experience. These blocks can be emotional, mental and even physical, and seem impossible to unravel. The issues are anchored in our unconscious from past traumas, but appear in our present as goals that can’t be met, issues that don’t get resolved no matter how hard we try, negative patterns that occur again and again whenever there is stress in our lives. HR (Holographic Repatterning™) uses the technique of muscle checking to access the unconscious, and in a very accurate and non-dramatic way allows client and practitioner to trace the history of the present issue to its root in the past, and release it through the combination of awareness and vibrational healing techniques. By the end of a session, there is a noticeable release of tension around the issue(s) that are keeping the client stuck. The client can then move more easily in the direction of positive change, with more profound and permanent results. Together, Dre and Anne explore the ways our limiting beliefs show up as repeated patterns, how anger can actually be a sacred tool for transformation, and why our quirks often hold the keys to our superpowers. Anne invites us to meet the subtleties of our emotions—especially the ones we resist—and to embrace anger not as something to fear, but as a boundary-setting force that begins the process of transformation. They also circle around themes of astrology, human design, manifestation, and the myth of “purpose”—revealing how our true purpose isn’t about doing, but about being. -- This conversation is a reminder that when we clear the stories keeping us small, we return to our authentic selves—whole, free, and connected. Follow: @anneemersonart Learn more: thepassionatejourney.com -- Stay connected with the Circle This team: @andreabendewald @circlethispodcast @emkratter @goodmessmedia @talkwithtrace Sponsorships: circlethispod@gmail.com /episode/index/show/d7d9a686-1c8e-4ec3-b930-4243226957c6/id/38394520

The Truth Is Funny: Comedy, Courage & Creative Freedom with Manon Mathews 09/23/2025

Circle This

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