The Loving Forward Podcast

Conversations on Shadow Work and Living with Greater Awareness

Welcome to The Loving Forward Podcast, where we explore the transformative path of shadow work and the lifelong journey of becoming more deeply connected to ourselves, others, and life. Hosted by Jacob Albritton, shadow work, breathwork, and men's work facilitator and founder of Moon Mountain Healing, this podcast offers conversations on the unconscious patterns that shape our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behaviors—and how bringing conscious awareness to them can become a catalyst for healing, growth, and greater freedom. Through reflections, teachings, stories, and practical tools, we'll explore topics including shadow work, emotional regulation, embodiment, relationships, masculinity, spirituality, breathwork, purpose, grief, and the wisdom of the nervous system. This isn't a podcast about fixing yourself. It's about learning to turn toward the parts of yourself that have been hidden, disowned, or forgotten with curiosity, compassion, and courage. Because when we bring awareness to what lives in the shadows, we create the possibility for greater authenticity, deeper relationships, and a more meaningful way of moving through the world. Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or have been walking this path for years, I hope these episodes help you discover something true within yourself and inspire you to keep loving forward. ohlalbritton.substack.com

  1. Apr 22

    The Path of Closing Chapters & Returning to Center w/ Myself

    In this solo episode, I share a real and honest update on what’s been unfolding in my life, my work, and the Loving Forward community. I’m gearing up for a trip, and after months of deep creation and output, I feel a sense of stepping into a new chapter—one that includes slowing down, finding balance, and allowing space for restoration. I talk about my decision to shift the podcast to a biweekly rhythm and why honoring that shift feels important. With an upcoming trip to Guatemala, I reflect on the power of stepping out of our normal environments—how travel brings us into presence, reconnects us to the magic of life, and creates space for both connection through intentional disconnection. I also open up about my own patterns—especially around over-giving—and how I’m learning to trust that my presence is enough. There’s a deeper layer here around wounds becoming gifts, and what it means to truly live in alignment with the work I’m here to do. Along the way, I share updates on:– The Breath of Awakening 6-week program– Upcoming free breathwork webinars– The evolution of a men’s work offering here in Eugene– My continued passion for shadow work and breathwork as tools for transformation This episode is a reflection on transition, integration, and the courage to listen inward—even when it asks you to slow down. If you’re navigating your own shifts, closing chapters, or feeling the call to reconnect with yourself… this one’s for you. Get full access to Jacob at ohlalbritton.substack.com/subscribe

    The Path of Closing Chapters & Returning to Center w/ Myself
  2. Apr 15

    The Path of Truthful Expression w/ Sophia

    In this episode, I sit down with Sophia for a conversation that moves from light, playful moments… into some very real and grounded explorations of truth, the body, and what it actually means to be in relationship—with ourselves and with others. We talk about: – Learning how to speak your needs clearly (and what it takes to get there) – The difference between complaining vs. being proactive in your life – How honesty creates real trust and connection – What happens in the body when we feel shame, feedback, or discomfort – The role of the nervous system, fascia, and the “gut feeling” in how we relate – Breathwork, energy sensitivity, and experiencing the body as something much more alive than we’re taught Sophia shares her path of going “full send” into truth-telling—what that disrupted, what it created, and how it shaped the way she moves through relationships today. This conversation weaves between grounded science, lived experience, and the more subtle layers of being human—without trying to land on one “right” answer. It’s honest. It’s a little messy. And it’s very real. If you’ve ever felt the tension between what’s true for you… and what feels safe to say— this one will meet you there. Referenced — Michael McMahon at movingmountaininstitute.com, Meredith Woods at meredithwoods.com, and A World Appears by Michael Pollan To work with Sophia MacMillan, LMT, you can go to Mobility Project Physical Therapy’s website mobilityprojectpt.com. Reach out to me at onehappylife@moonmountainhealing.com if you would like to be supported in breathwork or shadow work. Available online and in person. Get full access to Jacob at ohlalbritton.substack.com/subscribe

    The Path of Truthful Expression w/ Sophia
  3. Mar 30

    The Path of the Resilient Heart w/ Katie Rose

    In this episode, I sit down with Katie Rose for a real, honest conversation about what it actually looks like to meet ourselves in the deeper layers of healing. This is Katie Rose’s first time on a podcast, and what unfolds is not a performance — it’s a lived, embodied exploration. We move through her experience with chronic sleep challenges that lasted for years, the hormonal imbalances that surfaced, and the deeper layers of childhood trauma that were quietly living underneath it all. Not as something to fix, but as something that needed to be met, listened to, and given space. There’s a powerful thread here around anger — not as something to suppress, but as a life force. A signal. A boundary. A movement of energy that, when allowed, can actually support healing. Katie Rose shares about the courage it took to speak her truth in her family, and how that moment became a turning point — not because it “solved everything,” but because it shifted her relationship to herself. We talk about somatic experiencing, resourcing, and what it means to actually feel grounded in your body — not as an idea, but as something lived and practiced over time. There’s also an honest look at resistance, fear, and the reality of doing this work while also holding space for others. The balance of being human and being in a role of support. Toward the end, Katie Rose shares about her group mentorship, The Thriving Path, and how learning to trust flow — instead of controlling everything — continues to stretch and shape her. This conversation isn’t about arriving somewhere. It’s about learning how to be with what’s here. The messy parts.The powerful parts.The parts that are still unfolding. Check out Katie Rose’s website vibrant-way.com to learn more about her and her offerings. If something in this conversation resonates with you…if you’re noticing there’s more beneath the surface that wants to be felt, explored, and understood… I offer 1:1 shadow work sessions and breathwork experiencesto support you in connecting with your body, your emotions, and the deeper layers of yourself. You can reach out to me directly,or explore more at moonmountainhealing.com Get full access to Jacob at ohlalbritton.substack.com/subscribe

    The Path of the Resilient Heart w/ Katie Rose
  4. Mar 24

    The Path to the 10,000 Human Points w/ Nathan

    In this episode, I sit down with Nathan for a real, alive conversation that moves between play, depth, and honest reflection on what it means to be human. We explore this idea of “becoming more human” — not as something to achieve or perfect, but as something we allow ourselves to soften into. The messy parts. The uncertain parts. The parts that still feel, still react, still don’t have it all figured out. Along the way, we play with this idea of a “10,000 point human scale” — a lighthearted but surprisingly revealing way of looking at growth. Not as a finish line, but as an ongoing unfolding… where being more human doesn’t mean being perfect, but actually allowing more of your full experience to be here. There’s a thread here around the desire to be “done” — to be healed, to be clear, to arrive somewhere — and the quiet realization that maybe the path isn’t about getting there at all. Maybe it’s about learning how to be here. We move through reflections on: * Letting go of perfection and the pressure to “arrive” * What “doing the work” actually means — and how it can become a weapon or a doorway * The role of teachers, mentors, and learning to trust your own inner authority * Accountability, self-awareness, and the felt sense of embodiment * Sitting with not knowing, instead of reaching to escape it There are moments of laughter, moments of pause, and moments where something deeper comes through — the kind of conversation that doesn’t try to perform, but instead lets itself unfold naturally. At the core of it all: You don’t need fixing.You don’t need to become someone else. This is about learning how to be with yourself as you are—feeling what’s here,staying present,and living from a more honest, connected place. Get full access to Jacob at ohlalbritton.substack.com/subscribe

    The Path to the 10,000 Human Points w/ Nathan
  5. Mar 16

    The Path of Embodied Shadow Work w/ Arin

    In this episode of the Loving Forward Podcast, I sit down with my dear brother Arin for a heartfelt and wide-ranging conversation about shadow work, somatic awareness, and what it truly means to grow as a human being. Aaron and I first connected through the Heart of Shadow program with Luke Adler and Jason Lange, and through that work we discovered a shared passion for exploring the deeper layers of the human experience. In this conversation we reflect on that journey and what continues to unfold through it. We talk about the importance of reconnecting with the body in a world that encourages us to live almost entirely in the mind. So often we try to think our way through life, but the body is constantly offering us information, guidance, and truth if we are willing to listen. We also explore the role of shadow work in becoming more whole — not as a path toward perfection, but as a practice of becoming more aware, more honest, and more compassionate with ourselves. The work is not about fixing who we are. It’s about unveiling the truth of who we are. Throughout the conversation we reflect on the tension between striving to grow and learning to appreciate the stage of the journey we are currently in. The path of this work asks us to continually meet ourselves where we are — even when that place is uncertain, uncomfortable, or humbling. Ultimately, we come back again and again to the heart of the matter:the more we learn to meet our own shadows with awareness and compassion, the more capacity we develop to meet the world — and each other — with Love. This is a conversation about the process of becoming more human, more present, and more connected to the life that is already here. If you feel called to explore this kind of work more deeply, you can connect with me below. Explore the work:moonmountainhealing.com Subscribe to the Loving Forward Chronicles:ohlalbritton.substack.com Email:onehappylife@moonmountainhealing.com If this episode resonates, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone who might benefit from the conversation. Get full access to Jacob at ohlalbritton.substack.com/subscribe

    The Path of Embodied Shadow Work w/ Arin
  6. Mar 8

    The Path of The Integrated Man w/ Dustin

    In this episode, I sit down with Dustin for a deep and honest exploration of men’s work, shadow integration, and what it means to move toward wholeness. We begin with some light conversation and laughter, but before long we move into meaningful territory. We talk about how the younger parts of ourselves — even our three-year-old selves — continue shaping our relationships and behaviors today. We explore the difference between personal power and institutional power, and how many of the patterns we live inside of are ones we learned long ago and repeat until they are finally brought into Love and awareness. Dustin shares about his recent experience at Heart of Shadow, including a powerful moment where he connected with his three-year-old self in a way he hadn’t before. From there we reflect on what it means to be sensitive people in this world — and how empathy and sensitivity, which can sometimes feel like burdens, are actually deep sources of strength and guidance. We also talk openly about intimate relationships — the caregiver and receiver dynamic, how we often attract partners that mirror the parts of ourselves that need attention or healing, and the important distinction between feeling shame about something we’ve done versus believing that we are shame itself. A big part of the conversation centers around men’s groups and why they can be such powerful spaces. When men are truly witnessed without judgment, something begins to soften. Many men experience, sometimes for the first time in decades, what it feels like to be seen, heard, and allowed to feel. Throughout the conversation we return to something I believe deeply: healing isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about remembering yourself. It’s about turning toward the parts that were abandoned, bringing them back into relationship, and learning to meet the shadow with curiosity and compassion rather than resistance. We also touch on the larger picture — how consciousness seems to be expanding, how the work we do now ripples into future generations, and how so often the only way forward is to move directly through what we’ve been avoiding. If you feel called to explore this kind of work more deeply, you can connect with me below. Work with me:moonmountainhealing.com Subscribe to the Loving Forward Chronicles:substack.com/@moonmountainhealing Email:onehappylife@moonmountainhealing.com If this episode resonates, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone who might benefit from the conversation. Get full access to Jacob at ohlalbritton.substack.com/subscribe

    The Path of The Integrated Man w/ Dustin

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Loving Forward Podcast, where we explore the transformative path of shadow work and the lifelong journey of becoming more deeply connected to ourselves, others, and life. Hosted by Jacob Albritton, shadow work, breathwork, and men's work facilitator and founder of Moon Mountain Healing, this podcast offers conversations on the unconscious patterns that shape our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behaviors—and how bringing conscious awareness to them can become a catalyst for healing, growth, and greater freedom. Through reflections, teachings, stories, and practical tools, we'll explore topics including shadow work, emotional regulation, embodiment, relationships, masculinity, spirituality, breathwork, purpose, grief, and the wisdom of the nervous system. This isn't a podcast about fixing yourself. It's about learning to turn toward the parts of yourself that have been hidden, disowned, or forgotten with curiosity, compassion, and courage. Because when we bring awareness to what lives in the shadows, we create the possibility for greater authenticity, deeper relationships, and a more meaningful way of moving through the world. Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or have been walking this path for years, I hope these episodes help you discover something true within yourself and inspire you to keep loving forward. ohlalbritton.substack.com