And Now Love Podcast

Cynthia Marks
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Yearning for love that goes beyond fleeting emotions? Longing to unlock your true potential and build fulfilling relationships? Join Cynthia Marks on a transformative journey guided by the groundbreaking teachings of her late husband, Dr. Bernard Bail. Dr. Bail believed love was not just a feeling, but a cornerstone of human existence, woven into the very fabric of our dreams. Each episode delves into his ”Love, Dreams, Imprint” paradigm, offering a roadmap to navigate the emotional landscape and rewrite the limiting narratives ingrained within us. Dive into the mystical realm of dreams and decipher their hidden messages. Uncover the unconscious patterns, or ”imprints,” shaping your reality, and learn to break free from their hold. Renowned experts join Cynthia, illuminating love’s multifaceted nature, from self-love to romantic and familial bonds. Discover Dr. Bail’s practical tools for healing past wounds, cultivating joy, and forging connections that transcend distance and time. Together, we embark on a mission to rewrite the script of love, transforming it from a fleeting feeling into a potent force for personal and collective transformation. ”And Now, Love” is your sanctuary for exploration, your laboratory for growth. Find your haven, join the conversation, and embark on a journey with immeasurable rewards. Listen now and discover the love that has the power to rewrite your story.

  1. From Streets to Stability: Erika Hartman on Youth Housing Pathways

    5D AGO · VIDEO

    From Streets to Stability: Erika Hartman on Youth Housing Pathways

    In this urgent and hope-filled episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Erika Hartman, CEO of Safe Place for Youth (SPY), about the realities of youth homelessness in Los Angeles and what actually helps young people stabilize. Erika explains that around 3,000 young people experience homelessness on any given night in LA—many of them unsheltered and exposed to exploitation and danger. She shares a core truth: youth homelessness often begins with the absence of loving, supportive adults, including youth aging out of child welfare and LGBTQ+ youth rejected at home. Together they explore why “bootstraps” thinking fails—without safety, showers, sleep, and a place to store belongings, it’s nearly impossible to get a job or keep appointments. Erika walks through SPY’s wraparound model, from street outreach and drop-in services to emergency shelter and transitional housing, plus trauma-informed healing arts that build trust before therapy ever begins. The conversation also tackles policy: how systems can criminalize exploited minors, why youth funding set-asides matter, and why prevention is the only way to stop adult homelessness from growing. Ultimately, Erika’s message is clear—young people are resilient, and when we show up consistently with care, they can recalibrate, rebuild, and thrive.

    56 min
  2. Hope in the Unconscious and Symbols of Truth: A Dialogue with Dr. Lauren Dolinsky

    MAR 6 · VIDEO

    Hope in the Unconscious and Symbols of Truth: A Dialogue with Dr. Lauren Dolinsky

    Dr. Lauren Dolinsky returns to And Now Love for a conversation all about hope—especially the kind that shows up when we’re doing the harder inner work and feel tempted to give up. Together with Cynthia, she explores how the unconscious speaks in symbolic language, offering “messages of hope” alongside the darker material we’re often trying to heal. They unpack a striking dream of a small, angelic-looking woman in a white gown who simply promises, “I will do it,” as an image of support that bypasses the intellect and lands in the body as reassurance. The discussion turns toward what happens when we challenge a “false North Star”—old beliefs that once protected us, but later keep us stuck—and why fear can intensify right before real change. You’ll hear how dreams can mirror liberation: from the image of a “real feeling self” no longer smashed into a suitcase, to learning what it means to give yourself permission to be you. Lauren also shares poignant patient-dream snapshots—like a foundation being painted pink and a bowl of heart-shaped cereal floating in milk—as simple symbols that remind us we can take in love and rebuild from the inside out. The episode closes with a grounded invitation: look for the “gold” in your dreams, and let hope be part of the process—not a prize you earn at the end.

    54 min
  3. The Silent Killer of the American Dream: How "Systemic Erasure" Dictates Your Life with Sade Elhawary

    FEB 27 · VIDEO

    The Silent Killer of the American Dream: How "Systemic Erasure" Dictates Your Life with Sade Elhawary

    What if the way we write laws becomes the imprint that heals—not harms—the human soul? In this episode of And Now Love, host Cynthia Marks speaks with California Assemblywoman Sade Elhawary about the intersection of power, policy, and trauma in Los Angeles—especially Skid Row and the 57th District. Elhawary shares her path from South Central community organizing and education into the State Assembly, shaped by mentors like Mayor Karen Bass, and explains her office’s two pillars: wellness equity (mental health, substance use treatment, environmental justice, clean air/water/green space) and restorative justice (prevention, community intervention, alternatives to incarceration, parole reform, reentry, employment, and housing). She discusses foster care and family reunification through her experience as a foster mom to McKayla, arguing systems often remove children without adequately supporting parents’ underlying needs. Elhawary describes current challenges including state budget deficits, federal funding cuts, and threats to programs like Medicare and SNAP, emphasizing the human impact on families, childcare, students, immigrants, and farmworkers. She highlights the need for grassroots collaboration, revenue generation, and accountability for corporate greed and extreme wealth, and shares work on a bill addressing the mental health–homelessness intersection by centering Skid Row residents and service providers, including insights from the Skid Row Care Center. Elhawary also recounts the moment she decided to run for office after leaked racist LA City Council recordings, creating “I’m with the Blacks” solidarity t-shirts that led to her speaking publicly and being encouraged to lead. She closes by inviting community involvement in many forms and shares how to reach her on Instagram: @sadeelhawary   Host: Cynthia Marks, creator/host of And Now Love. Featured Guests: Sade Elhawary, member of the California State Assembly representing the 57th district. Core ideas: Systemic erasure, Mother’s imprint, Internal wandering, Punitive legacy, Wellness equity, The biology of policy, Radical trust, Restorative justice, Zip code destiny, Community-centered government, Overwriting incarceration, Human dignity Episode length: 00:50:08 Follow our socials: Instagram / / andnowlove.podcast Facebook / / And Now Love Podcast Youtube / /  @AndNowLovePodcast TikTok / / and.now.love.podc  #AndNowLove #SadeElhawary #SkidRow #SouthCentralLA #RestorativeJustice #MentalHealth #Homelessness #CommunityOrganizing #FosterCare #FamilyReunification #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalJustice #CaliforniaPolitics #WellnessEquity #Reentry #HousingJustice  Chapters: 00:00 Intro: Cynthia Marks, Dr. Bernard Bale, and “the mother’s imprint” 01:18 Meet Assemblywoman Sade Elhawary and the 57th District focus 02:10 Elhawary’s start: organizing in South Central and Mayor Karen Bass’s influence 04:40 From teaching to preventing the school-to-prison pipeline 06:34 Two pillars: Wellness Equity & Restorative Justice 08:52 State vs district work: budgets, resources, and centering community 10:35 Foster care story: McKayla, family instability, and system gaps 14:02 Why supporting parents matters and how reunification is shifting 16:40 Family court reforms and judges’ needed experience 19:00 Social safety net threats and federal priorities vs community needs 21:40 Childcare, education, and the real human toll 24:20 Fighting back at the state level: organizing, coalitions, and revenue 27:10 Skid Row: mental health supports, service providers, and scaling solutions 30:10 Skid Row Care Center and what collaborative solutions look like 32:10 Rejecting criminalization and addressing trauma cycles 34:05 Community involvement: housing, volunteering, rallies, and hard conversations 36:20 Why Elhawary ran: leaked LA City Council recordings and solidarity 39:10 “I’m with the Blacks” t-shirts and stepping into leadership 42:10 Closing reflection: legislating dignity, visibility, and agency 44:00 How to support: Instagram @sadeelhawary

    50 min

  4. FEB 20 · VIDEO

    Love, Trust, and Transformation: A Day at the Downtown Women's Center with Guest Amy Turk

    What If Homelessness Isn’t a Choice—But a Trauma We Refuse to See? What if the most dangerous myth about homelessness is that people choose it—or deserve it? In this powerful episode of the And Now Love podcast, Cynthia Marks (Holistic Psychoanalysis Foundation) speaks with Amy Turk, CEO of the Downtown Women’s Center, about women’s homelessness on Skid Row and how trauma-informed care, trust, and dignity create real change.  Amy shares how the Downtown Women’s Center began in 1978 after its founder met Rosa, a woman left without support after mental health institutions were defunded, and how the organization grew from a day center into housing, health services, employment pathways, and advocacy. They discuss why women’s homelessness is rising (about 30% of the unhoused population; ~22,000 women in LA on any given night), the role of gender-based violence and chronic trauma, and why “real change happens at the pace of trust.”  The conversation covers outreach strategies tailored to women’s safety, supportive housing that includes long-term clinical and medical support (with a 98% housing-retention rate), the social enterprise “Made by DWC,” and policy solutions like rent subsidies, prevention funding, and investing in affordable/public housing.  Amy also explains funding challenges (about 60% government-funded and increasingly precarious), why cuts may increase homelessness, and how listeners can help through volunteering, donating from the DWC wishlist, and calling elected officials to support housing.  Visit: downtownwomenscenter.org   Host: Cynthia Marks, creator/host of And Now Love. Featured Guests: Amy Turk, Chief Executive Officer at Downtown Women's Center   Core ideas: biomarkers, epigenetics, pregnancy and trauma research Episode length: 50:08   Follow our socials: Instagram / / andnowlove.podcast Facebook / / And Now Love Podcast Youtube / / @AndNowLovePodcast TikTok / / and.now.love.podc Timestamps: 00:00 Radical Care Meets Deep Psychology (Cynthia’s Introduction) 01:59 How the Downtown Women’s Center Began: Rosa, Skid Row & a Daytime Sanctuary 04:47 What Women Need Most: Trauma, Violence, and the Rising Numbers 06:46 Change Happens at the Pace of Trust: Trauma-Informed Support in Action 11:11 Advocacy & Systems Change: Taking the Fight Upstream to DC 16:38 Supportive Housing That Works: Long-Term Care + Health & Mental Health Services 17:58 Work as Healing: The ‘Made by DWC’ Social Enterprise & Employment Pathways 20:44 ‘It’s Not What’s Wrong With You’: Trauma-Informed Care, Therapy Options & Women’s Safety 25:31 Street Outreach That Actually Connects: Building Trust, One Woman at a Time 38:37 A Day at DWC: Breakfast, Showers, Case Management, and Community Activities 40:24 When the Day Center Closes: The Hardest Part Is Nightfall 41:51 Permanent Housing & Campus Expansion: 119 Units, 500 Supported, +97 More 42:52 How Homelessness Accelerates Aging: Stress, Trauma, and Health Decline 44:27 Day Programs That Create Exits: Financial Literacy, Certifications, and Dignity 46:38 Keeping Families Together: Kids, Reunification, and the Housing Bottleneck 50:36 Funding Cuts & Rising Need: Why More People Will Be Turned Away 53:46 Policy Fixes That Work: Rent Subsidies, Prevention, and Basic Income 56:55 Why Supportive Housing Sticks: Relationships, Healthcare, and Advocacy 01:00:53 Love as Leadership: Trauma-Informed Culture and Hiring the Right People 01:03:29 How You Can Help: Volunteering, Smart Donations, and Calling Officials 01:06:32 Rewriting Trust & Identity After Homelessness: Healing, Breathwork, and Hope 01:09:23 Final Thanks & How to Find Downtown Women’s Center

    1h 10m

  5. FEB 13 · VIDEO

    Biology of Trauma: Dr. Tracy Bale on Epigenetics, Mental Health, and the Maternal Imprint

    Does our emotional history begin at birth, or is it written in the womb? Join Cynthia Marks as she sits down with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Tracy Bale to explore the profound "Mother’s Imprint." While psychoanalysis has long discussed the psychological blueprint formed by the mother, Dr. Bale provides the groundbreaking biological evidence: how the emotional and physical state of expectant parents can create epigenetic "tags" that shape their offspring—influencing everything from stress responses to predispositions for mental health disorders. This episode bridges the gap between psychoanalytic theories and hard science, offering a fascinating look at the biological narrative behind our emotional lives. Discover the critical role of biomarkers in diagnosing mental health and the "mind-blowing" science of how we carry the stories of those who came before us.

    1h 25m
  6. Maternal Mental Health Now: The Truth About Perinatal Anxiety & Depression with Kelly O’Connor

    FEB 6 · VIDEO

    Maternal Mental Health Now: The Truth About Perinatal Anxiety & Depression with Kelly O’Connor

    In this essential episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Kelly O’Connor, Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health Now, about the reality—and treatability—of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Kelly shares her own early postpartum experience, from feeling disconnected and overwhelmed to the crushing pressure of breastfeeding expectations that left her feeling like she was “failing.” Together they unpack why this isn’t rare: perinatal depression and anxiety affect a significant portion of new parents, yet shame and silence keep many from getting help. Kelly explains common risk factors, and also why even “perfect on paper” support systems don’t guarantee protection. They discuss why the medical system often screens but can’t refer, and how cultural stigma and fear of child welfare involvement can prevent Black and Brown families from speaking up. Kelly outlines how Maternal Mental Health Now is changing the system through provider trainings, free online courses, and peer support programs like Sana Sana, including specialized groups for queer parents and Black NICU moms. The episode ends with a hopeful reframe: the goal isn’t perfection—it’s being a good enough parent, supported by community, education, and love.

    43 min
  7. Idealization: The Rose-Colored Glasses We Can’t Take Off with Dr. Loren Weiner

    JAN 30 · VIDEO

    Idealization: The Rose-Colored Glasses We Can’t Take Off with Dr. Loren Weiner

    In this episode, Cynthia Marks is joined again by Dr. Loren Weiner to explore idealization—the unconscious tendency to see people, institutions, and even leaders as far more perfect than they are. Loren explains that idealization is normal early in life because a baby must experience caregivers as “good enough” to feel safe, but it becomes a problem when we can’t tolerate truth, nuance, or ambivalence. Through Dr. Bernard Bail’s imprint theory, they describe how an infant takes in a mother’s unprocessed material and then wrongly concludes, “I caused it,” which fuels guilt and keeps parents on a pedestal. The conversation shows how idealization spreads beyond family into teachers, celebrities, partners, bosses, and political leaders—and how its flip side, devaluation, creates black-and-white thinking. Cynthia shares how she idealized her parents for decades and how dreamwork helped her open the door to reality without her world collapsing. Loren illustrates the pattern through vivid dream examples—rockstar parents in a limo, a missing phone, and being “too stoned” to feel—revealing how we stay disconnected from ourselves to keep the illusion intact. The takeaway is empowering: when you learn to read your dreams, you gain the flexibility to see the full picture and make healthier choices in love and life.

    52 min
  8. Casa de Los Angelitos: A Home for Pregnant Women in Crisis Featuring Rebecca Binny

    JAN 23 · VIDEO

    Casa de Los Angelitos: A Home for Pregnant Women in Crisis Featuring Rebecca Binny

    In this episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks welcomes Rebecca Binny, Vice President of Casa de Los Angelitos, a nonprofit maternity home supporting pregnant women in crisis since 1986. Rebecca explains how Casa began as a community-funded, five-bedroom home and why the need is immediate—many pregnant women facing homelessness, substance use, domestic violence, or trafficking have nowhere safe to go. They talk about what truly helps traumatized mothers in a short window of time: not “fixing” them, but creating a safe, dignified environment where community, mentorship, and consistent care can begin to soften the guardedness. Rebecca shares how Casa supports moms through pregnancy and the first months postpartum, including therapy requirements, sobriety expectations, and practical help like transportation, car seats, and newborn support. A powerful section explores reunification with children impacted by foster care and the deep pain of separation—along with the hope that long-term mentoring can bring families back together. The conversation widens into a bigger cultural message: women deserve respect, education, childcare support, and the confidence to advocate for themselves. They close by connecting empowerment to inner life—how slowing down, listening inward, and even beginning to notice dreams can help people reclaim their authentic selves.

    53 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Yearning for love that goes beyond fleeting emotions? Longing to unlock your true potential and build fulfilling relationships? Join Cynthia Marks on a transformative journey guided by the groundbreaking teachings of her late husband, Dr. Bernard Bail. Dr. Bail believed love was not just a feeling, but a cornerstone of human existence, woven into the very fabric of our dreams. Each episode delves into his ”Love, Dreams, Imprint” paradigm, offering a roadmap to navigate the emotional landscape and rewrite the limiting narratives ingrained within us. Dive into the mystical realm of dreams and decipher their hidden messages. Uncover the unconscious patterns, or ”imprints,” shaping your reality, and learn to break free from their hold. Renowned experts join Cynthia, illuminating love’s multifaceted nature, from self-love to romantic and familial bonds. Discover Dr. Bail’s practical tools for healing past wounds, cultivating joy, and forging connections that transcend distance and time. Together, we embark on a mission to rewrite the script of love, transforming it from a fleeting feeling into a potent force for personal and collective transformation. ”And Now, Love” is your sanctuary for exploration, your laboratory for growth. Find your haven, join the conversation, and embark on a journey with immeasurable rewards. Listen now and discover the love that has the power to rewrite your story.

Information

  • Creator
    Cynthia Marks
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    And Now Love Podcast