Leah Free and Pedro Jerez join Tori and Kyle to dive deep into the art of staying human through vocal liberation, self-expression, and authentic relationships. They discuss the challenges and gifts of living purposefully in an AI-driven world, the importance of generosity and courage in personal growth, and how their partnership supports their individual and shared journeys.

Are you sacrificing your humanity in the pursuit of perfection? In this episode of How to Stay Human, Tori and Kyle explore the profound impact that our defense mechanisms—whether that’s extreme rigidity or complete avoidance—have on our relationships, our success, and our overall well-being. They dive deep into the differences between type A and type B personalities, how our nervous systems adapt to create safety, and why embracing the "mess" is essential for true intimacy and abundance. From discussing the true cost of overworking to examining the role of AI in stripping away our humanity, Tori and Kyle challenge listeners to make the unconscious conscious. Discover how to build a life that accommodates life's inevitable uncertainties without losing your connection to yourself and those you love. Key Topics & Timestamps • [00:00 - 05:00] Welcome back: What we've been growing through and the desire for real, raw authenticity in a curated world. • [05:00 - 11:30] The cost of success: Examining the toll of extreme productivity and the realization that perfectionism can be a trauma response. • [11:30 - 18:00] Navigating different nervous systems: How Tori and Kyle's differing approaches to structure and messiness impact their relationship. • [18:00 - 25:00] The illusion of certainty: Why we crave control in an inherently uncertain world and the power of remaining open to life's surprises. • [25:00 - 32:00] AI and the loss of humanity: The danger of optimizing our lives to the point of losing genuine human connection. • [32:00 - 40:00] Breaking the cycle: Practical steps for perfectionists to let go of rigid routines and for messy individuals to embrace helpful structure. • [40:00 - 45:13] Making the unconscious conscious: How to stop letting your patterns control your life and start living intentionally. Sponsor Spotlight: Anywhere Clinic This episode is brought to you by Anywhere Clinic. In our journey to stay human, taking care of our mental health is paramount. Anywhere Clinic provides accessible, high-quality psychiatric care and therapy from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're navigating the pressures of perfectionism, dealing with anxiety, or simply looking for a supportive space to grow, their team of dedicated professionals is here to help you build a regulated and resilient nervous system. Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon to learn more and take the first step towards a healthier, more balanced you.   Join the Community Are you ready to do the deep work and build a solid foundation for your life and leadership? Join Tori inside GROUNDWORK. GROUNDWORK is a transformative space designed for high-performing leaders, founders, and creators who are ready to regulate their nervous systems, heal past patterns, and step into their most authentic power. Join us today at:  www.torigordon.com/groundwork Connect with Tori Stay connected and continue the conversation: • Instagram: @thetorigordon / @howtostayhumanpod • Website: www.torigordon.com • Book: ALTAR by Tori Gordon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of How to Stay Human, Tori Gordon and Kyle Herron explore why so many people feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsettled in today’s world—and what’s actually happening beneath the surface. From constant information overload to global uncertainty, we’re living in a time where the pace of change is faster than our nervous systems can process. The result is chronic stress, emotional fatigue, and a deep sense that something isn’t quite right. This conversation breaks down the real issue: not just what’s happening in the world, but how your body is responding to it. Tori shares how nervous system dysregulation shows up in high performers, why awareness alone isn’t enough to create change, and what it actually takes to feel safe, grounded, and in control again. Kyle offers a perspective on how to stay informed without becoming overwhelmed, and how to engage with the world in a way that creates impact instead of burnout. If you’ve been feeling off, stuck, or constantly on edge, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it. What we cover: Why everything feels more intense right now The link between anxiety, overwhelm, and the nervous system How constant information consumption impacts your body The difference between awareness and dysregulation Why high performers still feel stuck or exhausted How to build internal safety and resilience What it means to stay human in a rapidly changing world Sponsored by Anywhere Clinic Anywhere Clinic offers a modern, holistic approach to mental health, including psychiatry, therapy, ketamine treatment, TMS, and performance optimization. If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or burnout, their personalized care model is designed to support real, lasting change. Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon to book a consultation.  Ready to regulate your nervous system and build a new foundation? If this episode resonated, this is your next step. GROUNDWORK is Tori’s 6-week nervous system mastery program designed to help you: Feel safe in your body Break patterns of anxiety, burnout, and emotional overwhelm Build real internal stability and self-trust Expand your capacity for success, love, and leadership 👉 Join here:www.torigordon.com/groundwork Follow along for more: Instagram: @howtostayhumanpod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this very special edition of How to Stay Human, Tori Gordon sits down with co-host Kyle to discuss the release of her highly anticipated debut book, ALTAR: Modern Psalms for a New Earth. This episode explores the profound vulnerability of taking 34 years of private journaling, spiritual seeking, and internal processing, and placing it into the public sphere. Tori shares why she turned down a major book deal years ago, the necessity of honoring divine timing, and why the spiritual path is less about learning something new and more about unlearning what is false. They dive deep into the framework of the book—breaking down the ALTAR acronym (Abundance, Love, Truth, Awakening, and Remembrance)—and discuss how to navigate the thresholds of initiation required to drop our masks.  Tori also provides a live, grounded reading of Psalm 17, “For the One Who Seeks,” offering a powerful transmission for anyone who has outgrown traditional boxes but still hungers for something sacred. If you are a seeker carrying more questions than answers, this episode is your reminder that your restlessness is a sign of aliveness, your humanity is part of your divine design, and you are already on sacred ground.  Key Topics & Timestamps:  [00:00] Introduction & the story behind turning down a book deal to honor divine timing.  [05:00] Tori’s relationship with writing as the safest space for honest selfexpression.  [08:00] The vulnerability of sharing 34 years of private seeking with the world.  [11:00] Why the spiritual path is about unlearning falsehoods rather than acquiring new information.  [13:00] Breaking down the ALTAR acronym: Abundance, Love, Truth, Awakening, and Remembrance.  [16:00] Writing for those who have outgrown traditional dogma but still seek the sacred.  [19:00] How to engage with the book depending on where you are in your healing journey.  [25:00] A live, somatic reading of Psalm 17: “For the One Who Seeks.”  [30:00] How to access the ALTAR companion app for daily practices, AI reflections, and live sacred ceremonies.  [33:00] Closing thoughts: Why your humanity is not a block to your divinity, but the path to it.    Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Anywhere Clinic. Take control of your mental and physical well-being today. Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon to learn more and get started.  Pre-order Tori’s new book, ALTAR: Modern Psalms for a New Earth, available NOW! Get your copy here: torigordon.com/book  Connect with Tori: Website: www.torigordon.com  Instagram: @thetorigordon  Podcast: How to Stay Human  Substack: How to Stay Human on Substack  The ALTAR App: altar.torigordon.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’re feeling awfully human in this episode. Tori shares the heart behind her Substack piece “What I Wish Men Knew” — a love letter to men from a woman who loves men deeply — and opens up a raw conversation about what’s unfolding in our culture right now, including the way patriarchal conditioning has harmed women, men, and children. Kyle reflects on the paradox of our time: we live in a world historically dominated by men, and yet men are deeply struggling. We talk about why emotional suppression, isolation, and imbalance have become normalized, how numbness kills empathy, and why unregulated power is dangerous — not because men are bad, but because the system has trained men to equate masculinity with dominance, productivity, and disconnection from the heart. This isn’t a takedown of men. It’s a call forward. We explore what healthy masculinity looks like in 2026: integrity, accountability, emotional literacy, repair, devotion, and embodied leadership. We also name something many people feel but rarely say out loud: women are not only afraid of men’s anger — they’re afraid of men’s numbness, because numbness is where empathy goes to die. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by what’s coming to light in the world, or if you’ve felt the hunger for a new model of leadership, love, and partnership — this episode is for you. In this episode, we talk about: Why Tori wrote “What I Wish Men Knew” as a love letter to men The patriarchy as a system, not a villain The three primary wounds men carry: emotional suppression, loneliness, imbalance Why numbness is more dangerous than anger Why repair is the missing ingredient in so many relationships The difference between anger and boundaries What integrity looks like when no one is watching Why “success” without fulfillment collapses How men can rebuild: emotional literacy, men’s community, regulation, shadow integration How partners can support men without mothering them The future we believe is possible: men with strong spines and soft hearts Read Tori’s Substack piece: “What I Wish Men Knew” (a letter to men)https://torigordon.substack.com/p/what-i-wish-men-knew?r=5suqhm Follow the podcast: Instagram: @howtostayhumanpod Listen / Watch: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-stay-human/id1475408897 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e62a5zpupdFpkErMiEimz?si=796f176cadd14370 YouTube: https://youtu.be/7S0pRiUpZHE?si=Wg0dqtyvnqWqIa6A Want to go deeper with Tori? Explore Groundwork (nervous system literacy + regulation + emotional intelligence):www.torigordon.com/groundwork If this episode hit something in you, share it with a man you love — or a woman who’s tired of carrying the emotional weight alone. Sponsor: Anywhere Clinic Today’s episode is sponsored by Anywhere Clinic — a mental health clinic offering a holistic approach to wellbeing, including psychiatric care, medication management, ketamine therapy, TMS, talk therapy, and peak performance coaching. Anywhere Clinic supports individuals and families navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, insomnia, and more, with personalized care plans designed to help you find mental clarity, inner peace, and real momentum. To learn more, book a consultation or explore care options, visit www.Anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The world feels intense right now. From political shakeups to cultural instability, rapid AI acceleration to social unrest, many of us are asking the same question: How do we stay informed without becoming overwhelmed? How do we lead without burning out? How do we stay human in the chaos? In this episode of How to Stay Human, Tori Gordon and Kyle Herron explore the intersection of nervous system regulation, emotional intelligence, leadership, and sovereignty in a rapidly changing world. This is a conversation about nervous system mastery, high performance without burnout, and why the next generation of leaders must be regulated leaders. Tori shares the framework behind her 6-week transformational container, Groundwork, and explains why nervous system literacy is the foundation of sustainable success, emotional safety, intuitive leadership, and deep presence. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, constantly scanning for threat, or exhausted from pushing your way through life, this episode is for you. In This Episode, We Cover: How to balance staying informed with staying regulated Chronic threat detection and hypervigilance in the digital age Why hustle culture creates burnout and emotional disconnection The Human Experience Map and the “Red Zone” of dysregulation Emotional defense patterns: people pleasing, shutdown, lone wolf, stonewalling Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work explained simply How nervous system capacity expands abundance and opportunity Why the future belongs to regulated leaders Moving from survival mode to sovereignty Sponsors Anywhere Clinic Virtual psychiatric care from licensed providers, including medication management and ketamine therapy options (where eligible). Appointments can start as low as $120. Insurance may apply. Learn more: anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon Function Health Comprehensive lab testing that gives you real data on your health so you can make informed decisions about longevity, energy, and performance. Explore your biomarkers with Function Health. Use code TORIG25 for $25 off your membership  www.functionhealth.com/torigordon Ready to Go Deeper? If this episode resonated, it may be time to build your internal foundation. Groundwork is Tori Gordon’s 6-week nervous system mastery and emotional intelligence program designed for high performers, leaders, and impact-driven humans who are ready to move from survival to sovereignty. Inside Groundwork, you’ll learn: Nervous system literacy and stabilization Emotional intelligence and trigger archetypes Parts work and Internal Family Systems Intuition and inner authority development Practical tools to regulate in real time Start with the free Nervous System Defense Patterns Quiz: 👉 www.torigordon.com/groundwork Enrollment details and program information available at the same link. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everyone says they want community.But most people don’t have it.In this episode of How to Stay Human, Tori Gordon and Kyle Herron pick up where last week left off and break down why the word community has been diluted—and what it actually takes to build something real.Community is not a follower count.It’s not a group chat.It’s not “good vibes.”Real community is embodied, relational, and reciprocal. It requires participation, structure, boundaries, and repair. If it doesn’t ask anything from you, it’s not community—it’s proximity with branding.Kyle shares a practical framework for building communities that last (paid or unpaid), including mission/vision, agreements, member selection, leadership, feedback loops, and the containers that create trust over time. Tori breaks down the biggest myths that cause people to crave community while resenting the effort it requires.Because the future doesn’t need more online audiences.It needs villages.In this episode:Why “community” has been watered down in the digital ageThe truth: community is inconvenient by designWhy aligned communities still cost energy (and why that’s normal)The myth that a community should meet all your needsWhat makes communities fragile—and how to protect themA step-by-step framework to build a real community where you liveSponsorsAnywhere ClinicVirtual psychiatric care from the comfort of your home. Support includes medication management and ketamine therapy options (where eligible). Appointments can start as low as $120. Check if your insurance covers it.Visit: anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordonFunction HealthGet clear, comprehensive lab testing and real data on what’s happening inside your body so you can make smarter decisions with your health. USE CODE: TORIG25 for $25 off your membership. Learn more: FunctionHealth.com/torigordonFollow + ListenIf this episode hit, follow the show and share it with one person you want to go deeper with this year.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5CW60wbPxLzr5zOBRAB0jR?si=c1b37dab534a4704YouTube: https://youtu.be/jber8KlebnU?si=HKmU-nUFX_X9vLadApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-stay-human/id1475408897?i=1000747092963 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Loneliness is quietly shaping our health, our nervous systems, and our ability to thrive—especially in a world full of shallow connection. In this episode, Kyle and Tori break down the loneliness epidemic and share a practical framework (The Four Circles of Relationship) to help you build real friendships rooted in depth, vulnerability, reciprocity, and community.

If you’ve been feeling behind, stuck, or like your goals keep slipping through your fingers, this episode will reframe everything.Tori shares her original framework, The 7 Seasons of Becoming Human, to help you identify where you are right now and stop forcing strategies that don’t match your current season. Because growth isn’t linear. You don’t “graduate” into constant momentum. You cycle. You rebuild. You reorient. And when you learn to work with your season instead of fighting it, your life gets clearer and more easeful.Kyle joins as a student in the conversation, sharing real examples of moving through disruption, liminality, experimentation, devotion, and founding, and how seasons shape our ability to create goals that actually stick.At the end, Tori shares how to take the 7 Seasons quiz and where to go deeper with the Substack series.In this episode, we cover:- Why “linear growth” is a myth (and what’s actually true)- How to identify the season of life you’re in right now- Why you can be in different seasons across different areas (business, health, relationships, faith)The 7 Seasons breakdown:Comfort (belonging, structure, conformity)Disruption (initiation, rupture, awakening)Liminality (the in-between, surrender, identity dissolving)Discovery (curiosity, experimentation, aliveness)Decision/Devotion (choice, integrity, cutting off other paths)Founding (systems, discipline, sustainability)Stewardship (legacy, service, wisdom)- The question each season asks you (so you stop shaming yourself and start listening)- How to stop “swimming upstream” with your goals- Why your friends’ advice might be wrong for you (they’re often in a different season)- How to communicate your season to your partner, friends, and team for better supportResources mentioned:Take the 7 Seasons of Becoming Human Quiz: https://torigordon.com/seven-seasonsRead the 7 Seasons Substack series: https://torigordon.substack.comContact: [email protected] or [email protected]: Anywhere ClinicToday’s episode is sponsored by Anywhere Clinic — a mental health clinic offering a holistic approach to well-being with psychiatric care, medication management, ketamine therapy, TMS, talk therapy, and peak performance coaching. Anywhere Clinic supports anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, insomnia, and more, with personalized care plans across multiple U.S. states.If you’re looking for support that blends modern clinical care with a whole-human approach, check out Anywhere Clinic and explore their services.Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordonIf this episode helped you, subscribe for new weekly episodes of How to Stay Human.Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the full episode on YouTube.And if you take the quiz, share what season you’re in — it changes how you set goals in 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As 2025 comes to a close, Kyle and Tori invite you into a more human way to plan your next chapter—one that honors your energy, your nervous system, and the natural rhythm of life.We reflect on the state of humanity in 2025—polarization, system breakdowns, and the quiet revolution of people choosing a more conscious path. Then we shift into a practical framework for 2026: why New Year’s resolutions often fail, how winter is meant for reflection, and how to create goals that are simple, measurable, meaningful, and aligned with your inner authority.Kyle shares the SMART goal framework, breaks goal-setting into personal vs. professional, and maps personal goals through the seven energetic bodies (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, primal, social, financial) plus life logistics. Tori grounds the conversation with the core reminder: don’t follow the crowd—follow your truth, your body, and your season of life.If you’ve been forcing goals that don’t stick, this episode will give you a new map.What You’ll LearnHow to reflect on 2025 using themes (integration, not pressure)Why winter is for slowness, stillness, and intention-settingHow to create SMART goals that you can actually sustainThe seven energetic bodies goal framework (plus life logistics)How to balance maintenance and experimentationWhy inner authority matters more than dogmaHow to stop chasing someone else’s life and build your ownSponsor: Anywhere ClinicThis episode is sponsored by Anywhere Clinic, a mental health clinic with a holistic approach to care, including psychiatric care, medication management, ketamine therapy, TMS, talk therapy, and family counseling.Learn more / book a consult:  www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordonLinksSubstack: torigordon.substack.comInstagram: @howtostayhumanpod @thetorigordon @kyleaherronWebsite: torigordon.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.