Healing Dojo Podcast | HIR Wellness HIR Wellness Institute

Welcome relatives and listeners to our “From Boys to Men, Healing the Patriarchy Within Series” Series, where our CAM Cohort interview and put praxis into action as they learn from men about their stories and experiences at the frontline of healing intergenerational roots as they address toxic masculinity and address patriarchal challenges. We recognize and celebrate that both the masculine and feminine should be celebrated and honored in harmony. In this Part 2, we continue to have healing conversation and teachings from J. Carlos Rivera around his experience with healing relationships, and how he applies his energy into healing our Indigenous relatives through his work, and with his organization Generation Red Road.  To learn more about Carlos, please read a brief bio below and visit the links at the bottom of this description. 

Hosts: Alexis C. and Fondé

J. Carlos Rivera is a member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians and of Mexican descent. He is a dear friend and relative to HIR Wellness and our CEO and Founder, Lea Denny. He is a sensational human being, and we are grateful for his continued connection. Carlos completed his chemical dependency studies and Human Services at the American River College and is a graduate of the Duke University Non-profit management course. Previously, Carlos served as a substance abuse treatment provider for ten years at the Sacramento Native American Health and he was appointed to the State Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency by Governor Jerry Brown in 2011 and served the state for almost four years. Carlos was previously a trainer for the Wellbriety Training Institute, and later a former Executive Director of White Bison, Inc. in California for over 5 years. Currently, Carlos serves as the founder and CEO of Generation Red Road and South Dakota and Chief Cultural Officer at American Indian Health and Services in Santa Barbara, CA. He is one of the owners of JRiv Consulting, LLC and The Homies Taco Truck, a food truck that provides street tacos with a little California flavor. 



If you are looking to engage in the conversation and reflect for yourself, come along with us as we free-think and activate our medicine together. Come as you are!


Learn more about the non-profit ⁠Generation Red Road here,⁠ and more about ⁠CEO & Director Carlos here⁠. The Mission of Generation Red Road, Inc. is to revitalize and promote inter-generational healing by utilizing Indigenous teachings that provide harmony for individuals, families, and communities.
Follow Generation Red Road on ⁠Instagram here⁠, and ⁠Facebook here⁠.
⁠Watch Carlos in this video⁠, as he shared some of his story in this teaching at Recovery Reinvented in 2017.
Read a Personal Story here⁠, and more about the Red Road for Native Americans from Carlos.
You can find ⁠Carlos on LinkedIn⁠ to follow and keep up with Generation Red Road and all things Carlos. 

Welcome relatives and listeners to our “From Boys to Men, Healing the Patriarchy Within Series” Series, where our CAM Cohort interviews and puts praxis into action as they learn from men about their stories and experiences at the frontline of healing intergenerational roots as they address toxic masculinity and address patriarchal challenges. We recognize and celebrate that both the masculine and feminine should be celebrated and honored in harmony. In this Part 1, we get introduced to Carlo’s story and journey as a man of illness and recovery, his agreements, and we explore the intergenerational trauma impacts on Boys and Men of color today. To learn more about Carlos, please read a brief bio below and visit the links at the bottom of this description. 

Hosts: Alexis C. and Fondé

J. Carlos Rivera is a member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Mexican descent. He is a dear friend and relative to HIR Wellness and our CEO and Founder, Lea Denny. He is sensational, and we are grateful for his continued connection. Carlos completed his chemical dependency studies and Human Services at the American River College and graduated from the Duke University Non-profit management course. Previously, Carlos served as a substance abuse treatment provider for ten years at the Sacramento Native American Health. Governor Jerry Brown appointed him to the State Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency in 2011, and he served the state for almost four years. Carlos was previously a trainer for the Wellbriety Training Institute, and later a former Executive Director of White Bison, Inc. in California for over five years. Currently, Carlos serves as the founder and CEO of Generation Red Road and South Dakota and Chief Cultural Officer at American Indian Health and Services in Santa Barbara, CA. He co-owns JRiv Consulting, LLC, and The Homies Taco Truck, a food truck that provides street tacos with a little California flavor. 


If you are looking to engage in the conversation and reflect for yourself, come along with us as we free-think and activate our medicine together. Come as you are! 

Learn more about the non-profit ⁠⁠Generation Red Road here,⁠⁠ and more about ⁠⁠CEO & Director Carlos here⁠⁠. The Mission of Generation Red Road, Inc. is to revitalize and promote inter-generational healing by utilizing Indigenous teachings that provide harmony for individuals, families, and communities. 
Follow Generation Red Road on ⁠⁠Instagram here⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Facebook here⁠⁠. 
⁠⁠Watch Carlos in this video⁠⁠, as he shared some of his story in this teaching at Recovery Reinvented in 2017. 
⁠Read a Personal Story here⁠⁠, and more about the Red Road for Native Americans from Carlos. 
You can find ⁠⁠Carlos on LinkedIn⁠⁠ to follow and keep up with Generation Red Road and all things Carlos.

Welcome relatives and listeners to our “From Boys to Men, Healing the Patriarchy Within Series” Series, where our CAM Cohort interview and put praxis into action as they learn from men about their stories and experiences at the frontline of healing intergenerational roots as they address toxic masculinity and address patriarchal challenges. We recognize and celebrate that both the masculine and feminine should be celebrated and honored in harmony. In this episode, we learn from Sammy Rangel, the Life Technician, and his mission to leave no one behind lost in suffering, his early experiences, and his pride as a father. Sammy is the founder of Formers Anonymous and co-founder of Life After Hate; he is dedicated to the people looking to leave a life of crime and violence. Sammy is a strongt friend to HIR Wellness and our founder, Lea Denny. Please visit the links at the bottom of this description to learn more about Sammy.

Hosts: Kay and Fondé

If you are looking to engage in the conversation and reflect for yourself, come along with us as we free-think and activate our medicine together. Come as you are!


Learn more about Sammy on his website, and what a Life Technician is all about.
Check out his YouTube Channel here where he has many talks to watch and listen to.
Explore The Lift Technician Podcast here. 
You can find and follow Sammy Rangel on Linkedin too!

Welcome relatives and listeners to our “From Boys to Men, Healing the Patriarchy Within Series” Series, where our CAM Cohort interview and put praxis into action as they learn from men about their stories and experiences at the frontline of healing intergenerational roots as they address toxic masculinity and address patriarchal challenges. We recognize and celebrate that both the masculine and feminine should be celebrated and honored in harmony. In this episode, we learn from Fondé Bridges, the head chef and literary savant who found Healthy Words, bringing his work to schools and spaces throughout Milwaukee and worldwide. Fondé is a fabulous friend to HIR Wellness and a lifelong confidante to our founder, Lea Denny. To learn more about Fondé, please visit the links at the bottom of this description.

Hosts: Tiffany & Xavier

If you are looking to engage in the conversation and reflect for yourself, come along with us as we free-think and activate our medicine together. Come as you are!


What are Healthy Words? Healthy Words are positive, beneficial, and nutritious vocabulary -Fondé Bridges
Watch and listen to Fondé share more about Healthy Words and why they matter in this video 
Check out his work with the Carrorism initiative and Nasreen Ameri, and more about his work on the Healthy Words page. Be sure to check out his recent work with “The Orchard of Inspiration”

Instagram? Healthwordsfonde and Carrorism_in_schools 

Welcome relatives and listeners to our “From Boys to Men, Healing the Patriarchy Within Series” Series, where our CAM Cohort interview and put praxis into action as they learn from men about their stories and experiences at the frontline of healing intergenerational roots as they address toxic masculinity and address patriarchal challenges. We recognize and celebrate that both the masculine and feminine should be celebrated and honored in harmony. In this episode, we learn from Michael O’Bryan and his journey in becoming the Director of Learning at the Village of Arts and Humanities, the founder of Humanature, a proud Philadelphian, and so much more. Michael is a treasured friend to HIR Wellness and our founder, Lea Denny. To learn more about Michael, please visit the links provided at the bottom of this description.

Hosts: Jasmine and Fondé

If you want to engage in the conversation and reflect for yourself, come along as we free-think and activate our medicine together. Come as you are!


Read this sweet article about Michael, the Modern Humanitarian
Explore more about his firm, Humanature, and their works towards supporting organizations in their understanding of humanity and equity
You will find many videos and resource on Michael, but here is a recently recorded session with Michael on the The Village of Arts and Humanities to experience his energy
Learn more about The Village here and the unique, critical work they do in Philadelphia
You can find and follow Michael on LinkedIn too!

Welcome relatives and listeners to our “From Boys to Men, Healing the Patriarchy Within Series” Series, where our CAM  Cohort interview and put praxis into action as they learn from men about their stories and experiences at the frontline of healing intergenerational roots as they address toxic masculinity and address patriarchal challenges. We recognize and celebrate that both the masculine and feminine should be celebrated and honored in harmony. In this episode, we learn from Steve Sawyer a bit about the journey that has led him to his influential work with wilderness therapy co-founding New Vision Wilderness Therapy, as a passionate trainer in Brainspotting and HeartMath, and being a licensed clinician with a breadth of experience in mental health and AODA. Steve is an exceptional partner and friend to HIR Wellness and our founder, Lea Denny. Please visit the links at the bottom of this description to learn more about Steve.

Hosts: Liz and Fondé
If you want to engage in the conversation and reflect for yourself, come along as we free-think and activate our medicine together. Come as you are!


Check out this video of Steve in the field with New Vision Wilderness Therapy, and he shares more about NVW’s commitment to Trauma-Informed Care here. 
Learn more about wilderness therapy and the New Vision Wilderness Programs on their website
You can find Steve on LinkedIn too!