Mindful Humanship

Mindful Humanship

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Drawing from their work in mental health and equine-facilitated therapy, they share personal stories of how horses reflect our inner truth, challenge emotional masks, and help create a sense of safety without judgment. This conversation also clears up common misconceptions about equine therapy and explains the deeper, trauma-informed work they practice.

Oct 2

The Practice of Gratitude: Finding What Matters

In this episode of the Mindful Humanship Podcast, Angie Payne and Amy Monea explore gratitude, not simply as something we say, but as something we can intentionally notice, feel, and practice. With Canadian Thanksgiving approaching, Angie and Amy reflect on how easy it can be to become caught up in everything happening around us. When life and the world feel heavy, intentionally noticing what we are grateful for can help shift our perspective. They share personal gratitude practices, including taking time at the end of the day to recognize what they are thankful for, and explore the difference between simply thinking about gratitude and actually allowing yourself to feel it in your body. The conversation also moves into relationships, individuality, and appreciating the people who make up our own “inner herd.” Angie and Amy reflect on allowing others to follow their own journeys, recognizing the people who make us feel safe and supported, and remembering that not everyone needs a backstage pass to our hearts. Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to slow down, notice what is already present, and create space for gratitude in the middle of real life. In This Episode, you’ll explore: Gratitude as a Practice – Why gratitude can be more meaningful when we intentionally make space for it in everyday life.Changing Your Perspective – How noticing what we are grateful for can offer another perspective when the world around us feels heavy.Feeling Gratitude in the Body – Moving beyond thinking about gratitude and allowing ourselves to experience what it actually feels like.Simple Daily Practices – How small rituals, including reflecting on what you are grateful for at the end of the day, can help bring gratitude into everyday life.Honoring Individual Journeys – Remembering that each person gets to decide what their own journey looks like.Gratitude for the People We Love – Appreciating the individuality of the people in our lives and allowing them space to be themselves.Knowing Your Inner Herd – Recognizing the people who bring a sense of safety, connection, and relief when you need support.The Backstage Pass to Your Heart – Why not everyone needs access to the most vulnerable parts of who you are.Pausing Before Reacting – The value of taking a breath and considering how our words or actions might land before responding.Finding Gratitude in Real Life – Gratitude does not require life to be perfect. It can exist alongside difficult moments, uncertainty, and everything else we carry.“Not everyone gets a backstage pass to your heart.” May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/ Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1 Follow the Hosts Angie Payne Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichment Amy Monea Website: https://www.heardwellness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/
Sep 2

What Horses Teach Us About Change, Self-Awareness, and Being Yourself

In this episode, Amy Monea and Angie Payne reflect on change, self-awareness, relationships, and the lessons horses continue to teach them about themselves. From navigating fear and the urge to back out when things feel uncomfortable to embracing the parts of ourselves we once judged, they explore how awareness creates space for compassion, growth, and choice. Angie shares how working with Romeo has helped her recognize a tendency to “bail” when she doesn’t feel confident, and how noticing that pattern allows her to respond differently. Instead of criticizing the fearful part of herself, she can acknowledge it, offer compassion, and remind herself that she can still move forward even when something feels scary. Amy and Angie also explore how horses have an incredible ability to reveal what we carry beneath the surface. Tension, fear, uncertainty, and protective strategies may have served us at one point, but over time they can become deeply ingrained and begin “driving the bus.” Horses invite us back into our bodies, challenge incongruence, and encourage us to show up more authentically. The conversation then turns to relationships and self-care as Amy and Angie introduce their new Mindful Humanship card deck. Through prompts inspired by their book and their work with horses, the cards encourage reflection around safety, relationships, personal growth, and caring for ourselves so we can remain present for others. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that personal growth isn't about fixing ourselves. It's about becoming aware of what we carry, understanding why our strategies developed, and learning to meet ourselves with greater compassion along the way. In This Episode, you’ll explore: Navigating Change: Why even positive changes can feel difficult and what they can reveal about us.What Horses Teach Us About Ourselves: How horsemanship can expose patterns that extend far beyond the arena.The Urge to Bail: Recognizing what happens when fear or lack of confidence makes us want to avoid something difficult.Awareness Before Change: Why noticing our patterns is the first step toward responding differently.Compassion Over Criticism: Learning to speak to the fearful parts of ourselves with understanding instead of judgment.When Our Strategies Take Over: How protective behaviors can become deeply ingrained until they begin “driving the bus.”Embracing Who You Are: Letting go of shame around the awkward, sensitive, or imperfect parts of ourselves and recognizing how they can help us connect with others.Relationships That Grow With Us: Why healthy relationships require honesty, listening, repair, and space for each person to evolve.Leading Your Herd: Why prioritizing your own wellbeing isn't selfish and how taking care of yourself helps you show up for others.Growth as a Journey: Why healing and personal growth aren't destinations, but ongoing commitments to ourselves.“It’s not about fixing because we’re not broken. We’re just carrying pain and grief and hurt and don’t know what to do with it.” May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/ Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1 Follow the Hosts Angie Payne 🔗 Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichment Amy Monea 🔗 Website: https://www.heardwellness.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/
Aug 2

Healing in Community: Why Group Work Can Transform Your Journey

In this episode, Amy Monea and Angie Payne explore the unique power of group therapy and why healing doesn't always have to happen one-on-one. Drawing from over a decade of facilitating Mindful Humanship retreats, they share what makes group work so transformative, how horses help create deeper awareness, and why healing in the presence of others can be one of the most profound experiences a person has. Amy and Angie walk listeners through the different types of experiences they offer, from introductory horse encounters to intensive weekend retreats designed for deeper therapeutic work. They discuss how carefully creating a safe environment allows participants to become vulnerable at their own pace while being supported by both the group and their equine co-facilitators. The conversation highlights a powerful truth: many of our deepest wounds happen in relationships with other people, making healing in healthy relationships equally important. Through witnessing another person's story, offering compassion, and realizing we are not alone, participants often discover healing even when they aren't the one actively doing the work. Amy and Angie also explain why their retreats are different from traditional talk therapy. Rather than simply discussing past experiences, participants are invited to reconnect the head and the heart through experiential work with horses. Together, they explore the importance of regulation, emotional congruence, and creating a therapeutic container where every participant feels safe enough to be fully seen. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that healing doesn't happen in isolation. When we find the courage to sit in a circle, speak our truth, and allow ourselves to be witnessed with compassion, we often discover that belonging itself can become part of the healing process. In This Episode, you'll explore: Why Group Therapy Is Different: How healing in community creates opportunities that individual therapy often cannot.The Power of Being Witnessed: Why speaking your truth in a safe circle can transform shame into connection.Healing Through Relationships: How many attachment wounds can begin to heal in the presence of compassionate people.When You're Ready for Group Work: Understanding the role of safety, regulation, and vulnerability before stepping into a retreat.The Role of Horses: Why horses naturally guide people toward authenticity, emotional awareness, and congruence.Creating a Safe Therapeutic Container: How intentional opening and closing circles allow participants to do deep work without leaving overwhelmed.Learning Through Others' Stories: Why simply witnessing another person's healing can spark transformation in your own life.Beyond Talk Therapy: Exploring the journey from intellectual understanding to embodied healing.Community After the Retreat: How meaningful relationships often continue long after the weekend ends.Coming Home to Yourself: Why true healing begins when you feel safe enough to simply be who you are."When we're safe enough to speak our truth, and people don't run away, healing begins." May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/ Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1 Follow the Hosts Angie Payne 🔗 Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichment Amy Monea 🔗 Website: https://www.heardwellness.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/
Jul 2

Ranching, Rodeo, and the Power of Community | With Brett Monea

In this special episode, Amy Monea and Angie Payne welcome their first guest to the podcast: Brett Monea. Husband, father, rancher, journeyman carpenter, professional rodeo bullfighter, and the man behind much of the behind-the-scenes work that makes the ranch and Mindful Humanship possible. Brett shares his journey growing up on a cattle farm in Alberta, finding his way into professional rodeo, and building a life rooted in agriculture, family, and community. From protecting bull riders in the arena to raising cattle on the ranch, Brett offers a unique perspective on resilience, responsibility, and what it means to care deeply for both people and animals. The conversation explores the realities of rural life and mental health, including the challenges that come with farming, ranching, and a profession where injury is often a matter of "when, not if." Brett reflects on a recent rodeo injury, the importance of leaning on community, and how talking with others who share similar experiences has helped him navigate difficult seasons. Amy, Angie, and Brett also dive into the growing disconnect between urban and rural communities. Together, they discuss the misconceptions many people have about farming, food production, and animal care, while highlighting the shared values that connect us all: caring for our families, supporting our communities, and creating meaningful lives. At its heart, this episode is about community, connection, and the reminder that none of us are meant to carry life's challenges alone. In This Episode, you'll explore: Life Behind the Ranch Gates: Brett's journey from growing up on a cattle farm to becoming a professional rodeo bullfighter.What a Rodeo Bullfighter Really Does: The teamwork, courage, and split-second decision-making required to protect riders in the arena.When Injury Becomes Part of the Job: Brett's reflections on recovery, resilience, and navigating uncertainty after a serious rodeo accident.The Mental Health Challenges of Agriculture: Understanding the unique stresses faced by farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.The Importance of Community: How neighbors, family, and fellow ranchers step in when life becomes overwhelming.Finding Joy Amid the Hard Work: Why moments with cattle, horses, family, and the land make the challenges worthwhile.Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide: Breaking down misconceptions about farming, food production, and animal welfare.The Reality of Raising Food: What it means to care deeply for animals while also understanding their role in feeding people.Why Shared Experience Matters: How talking with people who truly understand your struggles can be one of the most powerful forms of support.Living a Meaningful Life: The values that connect us, regardless of where we live or what work we do."When things get really hard, I talk to other ranchers and realize I'm not alone. That's a huge one for me." May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/ Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1 Follow the Hosts Angie Payne 🔗 Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichment Amy Monea 🔗 Website: https://www.heardwellness.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/ Guest: Brett Monea 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brettmonea/ 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theultimatebullfightingexperience/
Jun 2

Partnerships, Trust, and the Courage to Stay

In this episode, Amy Monea and Angie Payne explore the realities of partnerships and relationships, why they can feel so challenging, and what actually makes them work. Drawing from their own 10+ year partnership, they share honest insights on trust, communication, conflict, and the courage it takes to stay connected when things get hard. From the very beginning of their relationship, Amy and Angie said “yes” before having all the answers, stepping into a partnership without fully knowing each other, but trusting the process. What started as a simple opportunity quickly became a deeply meaningful collaboration built over time. They reflect on the intentional work that helped shape their foundation: understanding each other’s values, communication styles, emotional triggers, and needs. Through both smooth seasons and challenging moments, they reveal that strong relationships aren’t built on perfection, but on honesty, repair, and a willingness to have the hard conversations. This episode also dives into one of the most common patterns that breaks relationships down, the tendency to stay silent. When things go unsaid, they don’t disappear… they build. And over time, they become bigger than they ever needed to be. At the heart of this conversation is trust, the kind that isn’t instant but built slowly through shared experiences, consistency, and showing up for each other again and again. It’s also about the unexplainable side of connection, the “something” that makes certain relationships feel aligned, safe, and like home. In This Episode, you’ll explore: Why Relationships Are So Hard: Understanding why connection is often the biggest challenge people bring into therapy.Saying Yes Before You’re Ready: How their partnership began with trust instead of certainty.Building a Strong Foundation: The importance of values, communication, and emotional awareness in relationships.The Danger of Silence: Why avoiding conversations leads to bigger problems over time.Vulnerability & Safety: The moment a relationship becomes a space where you can truly be yourself.Trust Over Time: How trust is built slowly through actions, not words.Navigating Conflict: Learning to work through tension instead of avoiding it.Balancing Differences: How opposite personalities can strengthen a partnership.The Mystery of Connection: Why some relationships work in ways we can’t fully explain.Love Comes With Risk: The reality that meaningful relationships require courage and vulnerability.“If you never want your heart broken, never get into a relationship… but is it worth it? 100% yes.” May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/ Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1 Follow the Hosts Angie Payne 🔗 Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichment Amy Monea 🔗 Website: https://www.heardwellness.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/
May 17

The Heart of Angie: Finding Your Voice, Owning Your Story

In this episode, Amy Monea turns the spotlight onto Angie Payne, inviting listeners into a deeply personal and powerful conversation about identity, resilience, and the journey of finding your voice. Angie shares her story of immigrating from London, England, to Canada at just six years old, leaving behind family, familiarity, and connection. What followed was a childhood marked by independence, loneliness, and quiet adaptation, experiences that would shape how she moved through the world for years to come. From navigating life as a young immigrant to building a career in the fast-paced oil and gas industry, Angie reflects on the people and moments that helped shape her path, including a mentor who believed in her when she didn’t yet believe in herself. The conversation takes a deeply emotional turn as Angie opens up about her journey to motherhood, the heartbreak of loss, the uncertainty of adoption, and the overwhelming love of finally becoming a mom. Through it all, she shares an honest truth: motherhood is both the hardest and most meaningful role she has ever taken on. At the core of this episode is Angie’s evolution from a woman who believed she should stay silent to someone who is continuously learning to speak her truth. She explores the “pendulum swing” from having no voice to having something to say about everything, and the ongoing work of finding balance, authenticity, and intention in how she shows up. This episode is a reminder that your value is not defined by external measures, but by who you are underneath it all, and that your voice matters more than you may have been taught to believe. In This Episode, you’ll explore: The Immigrant Experience: Moving countries as a child, navigating loneliness, and adapting without support systems.Childhood Resilience: Early independence and the emotional impact of growing up without extended family nearby.Mentorship & Opportunity: How one person’s belief can change the trajectory of your life.The Journey to Motherhood: Loss, adoption, and the reality that parenting is both challenging and deeply rewarding.Motherhood Truths: Why no parent gets it right all the time, and why repair matters more than perfection.Finding Your Voice: Breaking free from the belief that women should stay silent.The Pendulum of Expression: Moving from silence to overexpression and learning to find balance.Authenticity & Self-Worth: Understanding that your value lies in who you are, not what you achieve.Wisdom Across Generations: The importance of modeling self-worth, courage, and truth for children and grandchildren.“Who you are is enough. It is more than enough.” May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/ Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1 Follow the Hosts Angie Payne 🔗 Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichment Amy Monea 🔗 Website: https://www.heardwellness.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/
May 2

Amy Monea: Roots, Risk, and Living True to Yourself

In this episode, Angie Payne turns the spotlight onto Amy Monea, inviting listeners into a more personal and unfiltered conversation about who Amy is beyond her role as a therapist and equine facilitator. What unfolds is a rich, grounded story of growing up on a farm, embracing fear, and building a life rooted in authenticity, connection, and purpose. Amy shares what it was like to be raised in a farming family, surrounded by multiple generations, early mornings, and the rhythms of caring for animals. From dairy farming to a cow-calf operation, her upbringing shaped not only her work ethic but also her deep respect for both animals and the land. The conversation moves through pivotal moments in her life—from 4-H and public speaking to becoming a rodeo queen and even stepping into the arena as a rodeo clown (a lifelong dream she chose to face despite fear). Through humor and honesty, Amy reflects on how these experiences built confidence, resilience, and a willingness to try things that feel scary but meaningful. We also hear about love and partnership, including a memorable wedding moment where her husband surprised her with a live performance—highlighting the role of support, playfulness, and shared values in their relationship. At the heart of this episode is Amy’s philosophy on life: letting your “freak flag fly,” challenging traditional roles, and modeling authenticity for her children. Whether she’s talking about raising kids, working with clients, or caring for animals, Amy emphasizes presence, courage, and staying true to who you are. In This Episode, you’ll explore: Growing Up on the Farm: How multi-generational farm life shaped Amy’s values, independence, and connection to animals and land.The Impact of 4-H: Building communication, leadership, and confidence through hands-on learning and public speaking.Doing Scary Things Anyway: Amy’s experience becoming a rodeo clown and why leaning into fear can be life-changing.Love, Partnership, and Support: A story of connection, music, and showing up for each other in meaningful ways.Breaking Gender Roles: Teaching her children that identity and responsibility aren’t limited by traditional expectations.The Beauty of Farm Life: Finding purpose in caring for animals, feeding families, and living close to nature.Authenticity and Self-Expression: Embracing who you are fully and modeling that courage for others.Looking Ahead: Amy’s vision of aging, reflecting, and continuing to build a meaningful life rooted in relationships and purpose.May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/ Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1 Follow the Hosts Angie Payne 🔗 Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichment Amy Monea 🔗 Website: https://www.heardwellness.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/
Apr 14

Regulation, Co-Regulation, and the Power of Presence

In this episode, Amy Monea and Angie Payne explore the essential foundations of regulation and co-regulation, concepts that are as vital in the therapist's office as they are in the arena with horses. They break down what it actually means to "stay in your body" and why true connection only happens when our thinking brains are online. Drawing from their own experiences as therapists and horsewomen, Amy and Angie discuss how our nervous systems constantly interact with those around us, whether we’re parenting, working with a team, or even navigating road rage on the highway. From the intensity of a horse "blowing sideways" to the quiet strength of holding space for a client, this conversation highlights how leadership is often simply the ability to stay regulated a little longer than the person (or horse) next to you. In This Episode, you’ll explore: Defining Regulation: What it means to stay present, keep your "upstairs brain" on, and ensure your emotions haven’t hijacked your nervous system.The Reality of Dysregulation: A look at "flipping your lid" and why, in survival mode, we lose access to the best parts of ourselves and our learned strategies.The Magic of Co-Regulation: How one person’s regulated state can act as a lighthouse, drawing others and horses back to a state of calm and safety.Leadership in the Arena: Angie shares a powerful story about "Cowboy Matt" riding Romeo; a lesson in how presenting leadership, even when you feel fear, can prevent a situation from escalating.Regulation Over Strategies: Why coping skills only work when you are regulated, and why therapists prioritize state over "tools" in the early stages of healing.It’s Not an Emergency: Amy reflects on riding Ringo and how a leader’s ability to communicate that a situation is safe allows others to move from hysteria back into their skills.Presence Over Words: Why soft presence and "holding the feeling" inside you is far more effective than verbal instructions when someone is in a dysregulated state.May the horse always bring you home. Follow Mindful Humanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulhumanship/Mindful Humanship Book: https://a.co/d/96gsBL1Follow the Hosts Angie Payne 🔗 Website: https://www.equineenrichment.com🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineenrichmentAmy Monea 🔗 Website: https://www.heardwellness.com🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heardwellne55/

Drawing from their work in mental health and equine-facilitated therapy, they share personal stories of how horses reflect our inner truth, challenge emotional masks, and help create a sense of safety without judgment. This conversation also clears up common misconceptions about equine therapy and explains the deeper, trauma-informed work they practice.

Creator

Mindful Humanship
Years Active

2026
Episodes

13
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Mindful Humanship
Show Website

Mindful Humanship