Conversations for the Moving Self

Conversations for the Moving Self
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Hello, I am Megan, a lifelong movement artist and facilitator. Each week I invite you inside of the honest conversations I have been having with incredibly inspiring movement and wellbeing practitioners, as we unpack the beautiful rollercoaster it is pursuing a lifestyle that is built around movement and wellbeing. Join us as we share and reflect on the moments where movement lights your soul on fire, to the situations where you begin to question everything.

  1. APR 18 ·  BONUS

    Episode 22 - BONUS Episode with Host, Megan Bader on Caring for the Human, Injury, and Being Informed by Different Movement Practices

    Our host, Megan Bader, jumps on a special bonus episode today to answer some of the questions she normally asks her guests as well as unpacks overcoming injury and how it can shape your journey as a movement artist, and does not have to be the end of the story.

    32 min

  2. MAR 21

    Episode 21 - Emily Bufferd on Employing Curiousity in Training Spaces, Spaces Built Around Humanity, and Navigating Pressure

    In this episode, Megan sits down with NYC-based dancer, choreographer, educator, and producer Emily Bufferd for a wide-ranging conversation on dance education, artistic practice, and the realities of sustaining a life in the field.Together they explore the relationship between teaching and performing, the importance of practicing what we ask of our students, and how curiosity and explanation can deepen the learning process. Emily shares insights from her work with dancers of all ages, discussing the value of offering students the “why” behind movement and creating environments where dancers feel safe enough to ask questions, take risks, and explore their artistry.They also reflect on the evolving landscape of dance education - from balancing high standards with thoughtful support, to navigating the pressures of competition culture, to adapting teaching practices as our understanding of the body continues to grow. Throughout the conversation, both Megan and Emily return to a shared belief: that dance spaces should center respect, humanity, and curiosity just as much as technique.

    1h 8m

  3. FEB 28

    Episode 20 - Kelly Lynch on Curiosity, Listening, and Balance

    In this episode, Megan welcomed American professional dancer and movement educator Kelly Lynch to discuss her journey in dance and her approach to teaching and recovery. Kelly shared her experiences transitioning from a classical ballet background to exploring modern dance and performance art, including her time with companies like Streb Extreme Action and her work as a health coach. They discussed the importance of curiosity, self-care, and listening to one's body in dance and movement practices. Kelly emphasized the need for dancers to challenge their instincts and make choices that align with their personal goals and well-being. The conversation also explored autonomy within structured training environments, the perception of discipline in ballet, and how teachers can balance technical rigor with emotional expression and anatomical awareness. Kelly spoke about supporting dancers through mental health challenges, cyclic hormonal changes, and injury recovery, offering practical strategies that foster resilience and longevity. Together, they reflected on balancing high-level training with genuine care, and the importance of creating adaptable, supportive spaces where dancers can thrive — both in the studio and beyond it.

    1h 6m

  4. FEB 21

    Episode 19 - Shelley Kyne on Memory within the Body, Sharing Movement Values with Children, Trust, and Energy Exchange

    In this episode, Megan sits down with Shelley Kyne, British movement and wellbeing practitioner, former professional dancer, personal trainer and Level 5 sports massage therapist, for an open and honest conversation about sustaining a life in movement. Together, they reflect on Shelley’s journey from a 15-year professional dance career into personal training and massage therapy, and how her relationship with movement has evolved as it shifted from passion to profession. They speak about returning to fast-paced environments like London, the challenges of maintaining self-care in demanding industries, and the importance of creating small, achievable rituals — like short morning movement practices — to stay connected to the body. The conversation explores the contrast between the perfectionism often ingrained in dance and the adaptability and softness found in practices like yoga, alongside a deeper look into the realities of sports massage, building trust with clients, and working holistically with performers and athletes. Shelley shares insight into balancing freelance life with motherhood, and how movement can become a powerful tool for resilience, autonomy, and emotional wellbeing — especially for children growing up in a comparison-driven world. This episode is a grounded, thoughtful reflection on self-care beyond the surface — for performers, practitioners, parents, and anyone navigating high-performance spaces while trying to stay human.

    1h 8m

  5. FEB 14

    Episode 18 - Ricardo Ludgero Souza on Prioritising Joy and Care within Freelancing and Social Structures Today

    In this episode, Megan is joined by Ricardo, a professional dancer and creative working across stage, film and commercial performance, for an honest conversation about sustainability, authenticity and care within a demanding freelance dance career.Ricardo shares his journey into dance, from early training and time on the Centre of Advanced Training Programme at The Place to performing in Wicked and creating his own short dance film, Shattering Conceptions. Together, they explore what it means to stay connected to joy and self-expression in an industry that often prioritises output, speed and visibility.The conversation moves through themes of self-care and mental health, including journaling, therapy, emotional regulation and taking intentional breaks to prevent burnout. Megan and Ricardo reflect on empathy in creative work, the pressure to prioritise others, and how sustainable practices can look different across seasons of life.They also discuss navigating freelance structures — finding the right agent, managing multiple projects, and building supportive professional relationships — alongside broader reflections on the commercialization of dance and the importance of returning to its roots.Throughout the episode, Ricardo speaks candidly about vulnerability, resilience and showing up authentically, offering a reminder that longevity in dance is built not just on discipline, but on care, presence and honesty.

    1h 7m

  6. FEB 7

    Episode 17 - Alethia Antonia on Balancing Rigor and Care, Different Seasons of Life, and Creating Spaces that Support Growth

    In this episode, Megan is joined by Alethia, a British Caribbean choreographer, performer, teacher and researcher based in the UK, for a wide-ranging conversation on sustainability, authorship and care within contemporary dance practice. Together, they reflect on their respective journeys into movement, from early training to their current work across choreography, teaching and research. The conversation moves through questions of balance — between rigor and rest, planning and intuition, holding space for others while tending to one’s own capacity — particularly within freelance life. Alethia shares candidly about navigating burnout, energy management, and how living with ME has reshaped the way they approach creation, rehearsal structures and long-term projects. Megan and Alethia also explore dancer empowerment in the studio, the value of trust and risk-taking in process, and the often unseen labour behind choreography. The episode closes with reflections on inhabiting dual identities as choreographer and performer, the grief and growth that come with changing physical capacities, and a shared call for greater accessibility and inclusivity within dance spaces and theatres.

    57 min

  7. JAN 23

    Episode 16 - Rose Aida Sall Sao On Training, Touring, and Devotion

    In this episode, Megan is joined by Rose, a Dutch–Senegalese independent dance artist based in London, for a rich conversation on training, creativity, and navigating constant change as a freelance artist. Rose shares how practices such as Kalaripayattu and other movement forms have shaped her relationship to discipline, devotion, and artistic freedom, and how she balances rigorous technique with poetic expression. Together, they explore routines and solitude as anchors while touring, the dialogue between training and creativity, and how cultural exchange, risk-taking, and embodied presence continue to inform Rose’s evolving practice as a performer, choreographer, and teacher.

    43 min

  8. JAN 17

    Episode 15 - Megan Castro on Commitment to Practice, Choreographic Processes, and Barriers to Continuing a Personal Movement Practice

    In this episode, our host Megan, is joined by Megan Castro, a freelance dancer originally from South Carolina and currently based in Utah. Megan shares an intimate reflection on improvisation as both a creative practice and a way of listening to the body through sharing insight into a daily movement journal practice that she began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together they explore how the practice has evolved into a personal archive that continues to shape her relationship to dance, documentation, and self-trust. The conversation explores authenticity in movement, navigating time constraints in choreographic processes, and using improvisation as a tool for stripping away habit and expectation. They also explore the difference between letting the people involved shape the work and adhering to strict choreographic structures that may reduce individual expression. Megan discusses how sharing her personal movement journal practice on social media has informed her approach to the platform as a reflective space, and how this connects to cultivating a more sustainable relationship with the body as an artist.

    1h 4m
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About

Hello, I am Megan, a lifelong movement artist and facilitator. Each week I invite you inside of the honest conversations I have been having with incredibly inspiring movement and wellbeing practitioners, as we unpack the beautiful rollercoaster it is pursuing a lifestyle that is built around movement and wellbeing. Join us as we share and reflect on the moments where movement lights your soul on fire, to the situations where you begin to question everything.

Information

  • Creator
    Conversations for the Moving Self
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Conversations for the Moving Self
  • Show Website
    Conversations for the Moving Self