Being Different Together

Nyssa Hanger
  • 5.0 (15)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Being Different Together explores the realms of relationship, entrepreneurship, and personal development through the lens of Real Dialogue, a set of principles, practices, and methods for healthy conflict as a means for growth.  In other words, just because we disagree, doesn’t mean we can’t get along.  Through this series, Nyssa and Kelly will bring their combined experience as holistic health practitioners to the table to share what they’ve learned through the process of integrating these skills in their lives.  This podcast is for all the people who want to make the world a better place and feel a little less alone doing it.

  1. 1D AGO

    #14 - What Is a Meditation Bell For? Benefits for Focus, Presence, and Communication

    In this episode, Nyssa and Dr. Kelly answer a listener question about one simple but powerful object: the meditation bell.  What is the purpose of a bell in your meditation space? They explore how a meditation bell (or singing bowl, chime, or timer bell) can mark transitions, create a ritual for mindfulness, and help you “come home” to yourself. From Thich Nhat Hanh’s bell of mindfulness to Insight Timer bells, church bells, traffic lights, and even phone notifications, they look at how sound can become a cue to pause, breathe, and pay intentional attention. They also extend the idea of the bell into everyday life and relationships—introducing the idea of a “relational bell” for when conversations get heated. You’ll hear about code words like “lunch meat,” using heart-rate monitors as a bell for conflict, and how sound, silence, and space can transform how we communicate.  If you’ve ever wondered how to use a bell in meditation, how sound and ritual can deepen your mindfulness practice, or how to build in gentle pauses in your relationships and conflict conversations, this episode offers playful, practical, and heartfelt ideas to try. Main Topics Covered: How a simple meditation bell can completely change the energy of a roomWhy humans seem wired to respond to bells, gongs, and chimes (and what that has to do with archetypes)The “bell of mindfulness” in Buddhist practice and what Thich Nhat Hanh teaches about coming home to yourselfTurning everyday sounds—traffic lights, phone dings, microwaves—into mindfulness cuesHow to create a simple, meaningful meditation space (even if you don’t have a whole room)What Nyssa’s stop sign, Kelly’s wooden pyramid timer, and acupuncture chimes all have in commonThe idea of a “relational bell” for pausing hard conversations before they blow upCode words like “lunch meat,” heart-rate watches, and other creative ways couples can de‑escalateWhy silence, rest, and space are just as important as sound in music, poetry, and relationshipsHow playfulness, humor, and a well-timed pause can shift you from “you’re my enemy” back to “you’re my person” Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    41 min

  2. MAR 19

    #13 - The Spring Equinox Episode: Peaches, Pruning, and Becoming More Yourself

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Nyssa and Kelly welcome the spring equinox by exploring what this turning point in the seasons can teach us about personal growth, relationships, and real dialogue.  Using the story of their unassuming little peach tree—hidden, pruned back hard, and now bursting with blossoms—they unpack the difference between cultivation and control, and why pruning (in your garden and your life) can feel painful but is often exactly what allows new growth to emerge.  Along the way, they touch on the meaning of the spring equinox, the symbolism of eggs and Easter, and how ancient rhythms of light and dark mirror our own inner seasons. Main Topics Covered: How the spring equinox mirrors the inner seasons of your own growth and changeWhy a scraggly little peach tree became a powerful symbol for self-discoveryThe surprising connection between pruning and becoming more of who you already areWhat Jungian individuation really means (and how it’s different from self‑improvement)How real dialogue “prunes” people-pleasing, politeness, and performative responsesSimple language shifts (like dropping “you” and “we”) that make conversations more honestThe idea of “karma farming” and how to plant seeds for the life you actually wantWhy measuring success by effort and conditions, not outcomes, changes everythingHow to hold commitment in relationships when you feel stuck in the same old patternsThe difference between cultivating growth and trying to control it—in gardens, goals, and loveReferenced Episodes Ep. #13 on “The Pen”Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    49 min

  3. MAR 12

    #12 - How to Use the Moon Phases for Goal Setting, Time Management, and Productivity

    Nyssa and Kelly explore how moon phases and lunar cycles can become a practical, soulful framework for goal setting, time management, and personal growth.  Nyssa shares how working with new moon intentions and full moon reflections helped her call in a conscious relationship, complete projects, and deepen her spiritual practice—plus the now-classic “have you seen this moon?” story.  If you’re curious about using the lunar cycle, astrology, and intuition to build a life that actually feels aligned, this episode is for you. Main Topics Covered: How a single new moon intention helped call in a conscious relationshipA simple way to use the lunar cycle as a framework for projects, from idea to completionWhy the full moon is not the finish line (and what phase actually gets ignored the most)What “creation cycle” means—and how it can help you finally complete what you startThe surprising link between moon phases, menstrual cycles, and emotional clarityHow a walk to a Zen meditation center under a full moon changed everythingThe playful edge where the sacred meets the profane (including an unforgettable mooning story)Using the moon for time management and productivity without losing the magicWhy Nyssa calls the moon her “forever teacher”and how to let it teach you, tooHow to tell if you’re in a waxing (build) or waning (edit/finish) season in your own life Links: Going Upward Newsletter – Join Nyssa’s list hereEssential Oil Moon Guide Books:  The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    22 min

  4. MAR 5

    #11 - How to Get What You Want (Without Toxic Positivity or Wishful Thinking)

    In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa break down one of Buddhism’s most practical (and misunderstood) teachings: emptiness—using the now-famous story of the pen. Is it a pen or a chew toy? It depends who’s looking.  Drawing from the Heart Sutra, the Diamond Sutra, and modern life at the kitchen table (complete with dog Poppy chewing pens), they explore how reality doesn’t come from objects themselves, but from the karmic seeds and meanings our minds project onto them. You’ll also learn a simple 4-step Buddhist-inspired method for “getting what you want”—whether that’s more money, better health, deeper love, or greater inner peace—without relying on empty affirmations or spiritual bypassing.  Instead of “toxic positivity,” they talk about intentional action, generosity, and planting seeds in your mind through how you treat others.  If you’ve ever wondered how karma really works, how to manifest change in a grounded way, or how ancient Buddhist philosophy can actually help your day-to-day life and relationships, this conversation is for you. Main Topics Covered: How a simple pen (and a chew-happy pup) can explain Buddhist emptinessWhy reality doesn’t come from things, but from you and your mind’s “seeds”The surprising link between karmic seeds, perception, and everyday reactionsWhat Buddhism actually means by “emptiness”(and why it’s not “nothing matters”)A 4-step Buddhist-inspired method to get what you want in lifeHow to use karma and generosity to attract more money, love, health, and peaceWhy affirmations and prayers alone don’t change your life—and what doesThe role of intention in shaping your reality (and why that makes humans unique)How to “water” the right seeds at night with a simple bedtime reflection practiceTurning your life into a karmic garden: becoming a “karma farmer” on purposeLinks Mentioned: Going Upward Newsletter – Join Nyssa’s list hereBooks: The Diamond Cutter by Gesha Michael RoachWomen Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    51 min

  5. FEB 26

    #10 - Perfectionism, Play, and Podcasting as a Couple

    If you’ve ever wondered how to start a creative project with your partner—or why it can feel so hard—you’ll feel right at home in this episode.  Kelly and Nyssa share the honest story behind launching their podcast: from the initial “we should record this” spark to choosing equipment, taking a podcast course, and dealing with all the resistance that shows up when you actually hit record and publish.  They talk about perfectionism, creative block, and resistance, drawing on influences like Seth Godin, Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, morning pages, and Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art to unpack what it really takes to keep creating. Main Topics Covered: How a four‑hour phone call and bed‑coffee chats slowly turned into a podcastWhy “done is better than perfect” might be the only way any episode gets madeSeth Godin on “talker’s block” and what it reveals about creative resistanceJulia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, morning pages, and why blocks often show up in midlifeThe hidden dynamics of co‑creating with your partner (and what birth order has to do with it)Projective identification, survival dances, and why so many couples just want to be “right”Turning conflict into a “play space” instead of a minefield in your relationshipSpreadsheets vs. creative flow: respecting wildly different work styles in a shared projectWhy they’re waiting for 100 audio episodes before adding video or YouTube“Constipated creativity,” soul‑murdering projects, and finding that sweet spot of challengeLinks: The Movement Maestro (Dr. Shanté Cofield) (Shante's program, Press Publish, is what got us started!) Books Mentioned: The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron The Practice – Seth Godin The War of Art – Steven Pressfield Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be – Steven Pressfield Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    52 min

  6. FEB 19

    #9 - How to Stay Grounded When the World Feels Like It’s Falling Apart

    Feeling overwhelmed by the news? In this episode, Kelly and Nyssa unpack how to cope with bad news, negativity bias, and constant stress without totally checking out.  They explore why our brains are wired to focus on threats, how the modern news cycle exploits that, and what happens when our stress cycles never fully complete—hello burnout, anxiety, and numbness. With a mix of psychology, mindfulness, and real-life stories, they share practical ways to stay informed without destroying your mental health: “titrating” your news intake like strong medicine, completing the stress cycle, grounding in everyday life, and making small but powerful community connections.  Drawing on ideas from Burnout, Four Thousand Weeks, Bare Bones Meditation, Rest Is Resistance, and Audre Lorde’s famous insight that self-care is political warfare, this conversation invites you to rethink your relationship with the news, your nervous system, and what “taking care of yourself” really means. Main Topics Covered: Why your brain is so obsessed with bad news (and what “negativity bias” really means in daily life)How much news is “enough” before it quietly turns toxic to your nervous systemThe surprising link between unfinished stress cycles, burnout, and doomscrollingWhat ancient humans got right about stress that modern life gets totally backwardsA simple metaphor that can change how you think about the unconscious (hint: lungs and vacuums)How tiny, mundane interactions—like chatting at the grocery store—protect your mental healthThe tension between wanting to stay informed and wanting to stay functionalWhy “self-care” has been co‑opted—and what Audre Lorde really pointed to as political self-preservationPractical ways to double down on what you can control when “the world” feels out of controlHow small, local actions and community connections quietly reshape big, broken systems Links: Workshops & Newsletter Partner Thai Massage Workshop – Sign up hereGoing Upward Newsletter – Join Nyssa’s list hereReferenced Episodes / Resources “Enemy Button” episode/resourceBooks Mentioned Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle – Emily & Amelia NagoskiFour Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals – Oliver BurkemanBuddha’s Brain – Rick HansonBare Bones Meditation – Joan TollifsonRest Is Resistance – Tricia HerseyReal Self-Care – Pooja LakshminWriters & Substacks Joan Tollifson’s Substack: https://joantollifson.substack.com/Polly’s Substack (on brain/consciousness): https://substack.com/@drpolly/p-185555303 Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    56 min

  7. FEB 12

    #8 - Healing in the Hot Room with Wes Bozeman from Gaze Hot Yoga

    In this episode, Wes Bozeman joins us at the kitchen table for a wide-ranging conversation about yoga, touch, teaching, and community. We talk about Ghosh yoga, Thai massage, authenticity in practice, and what it means to hold tension without trying to resolve it too quickly. The conversation moves between philosophy, lived experience, and the quiet moments where healing actually happens. Main Topics Covered: How a dad, yogi, and massage therapist became the founder of Gays Hot YogaThe double meaning behind the studio name “Gaze” and why mirrors matter so much“Silence interrupted 26 times by poses”: Wes’s take on the 26 & 2 practiceWhy Gaze Hot Yoga is hot, bright, and relentlessly honest—and how that changes peopleFrom massage table to mat: why Wes moved from hands-on therapy to teaching movementThe no-touch policy at Gaze: verbal cues, mirrors, and vulnerability instead of assistsGhosh yoga 101: Bishnu Ghosh, Paramahansa Yogananda, and the Bikram connectionWhat Bikram got terribly wrong—and what the lineage still offers students todayInside the first-ever Ghosh Yoga Festival coming to Tampa this SpringHow standing in front of a hot mirror helped Nyssa transform her post-COVID lifeThai massage as “lazy man’s yoga” and a “massage picnic” on the floorThe karmic chain: how one Thai massage training led Nyssa and Kelly to meetWhy “clear is kind” has become a guiding principle at Gaze Hot YogaIs Gaze the new modern-day ashram? Community, belonging, and daily practice in TampaThe three words Wes ends every class with—and why they never stop feeling profound Links: Thai Massage Workshop at Gaze Hot Yoga, Feb. 21, 2026: https://www.nyssahanger.com/workshops Gaze Hot Yoga: https://www.gazehotyogatampa.com/ Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    55 min

  8. FEB 5

    #7 - How Touch Shapes Our Relationships

    Touch is both essential and complicated. In this episode, Kelly and Nyssa explore touch as a human need—how it can be both deeply healing and highly charged.  The discussion moves through consent, subjectivity, non-sexual touch, and how cultural conditioning has shaped the way bodies relate to one another.  Drawing from bodywork, psychotherapy, Thai massage, and lived experience, the episode names touch as a form of communication that can support healing, connection, and dialogue. Main Topics Covered: Why touch is politicized, sexualized, and often misunderstood, especially in Western cultureThe importance of consent, communication, and clear boundaries in both professional and personal touchHow their work as a psychotherapist, acupuncturist, and massage therapist shapes the way they think about safe, attuned touchThe developmental impact of early touch (and lack of it), including attachment and our capacity for empathyThe philosophy and practice of Thai massage as a form of slow, negotiated, non-sexual touch that can deepen connection between partners, family members, and friendsHow expanding our “touch menu” can make it easier to ask for non-sexual touch and potentially even strengthen or “save” relationshipsLinks: Thai Massage Workshop at Gaze Hot Yoga, Feb. 21, 2026: https://www.nyssahanger.com/workshops Book: Constructing the Sexual Crucible by David Schnarch Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady

    46 min
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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Being Different Together explores the realms of relationship, entrepreneurship, and personal development through the lens of Real Dialogue, a set of principles, practices, and methods for healthy conflict as a means for growth.  In other words, just because we disagree, doesn’t mean we can’t get along.  Through this series, Nyssa and Kelly will bring their combined experience as holistic health practitioners to the table to share what they’ve learned through the process of integrating these skills in their lives.  This podcast is for all the people who want to make the world a better place and feel a little less alone doing it.

Information

  • Creator
    Nyssa Hanger
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Being Different Together
  • Show Website
    Being Different Together