Many of us grew up absorbing quiet messages about who we’re allowed to be. Even after coming out, those messages can live on — shaping how we love, express, and even how we see ourselves.In this episode, we’re joined by therapist, author, and speaker Chris Tompkins (Raising LGBTQ Allies) for a conversation about internalized homophobia: how early shame becomes part of our identity, and how to begin unlearning it.We explore:The difference between what’s said — and what’s left unsaid — in childhoodHow internalized shame shows up in relationships, sex, and self-imageThe role of the body and nervous system in healing old beliefsWhy “safe play” and conscious exploration are essential in reclaiming joyHow affirming environments can interrupt cycles of silence and neglectThis episode is a reminder that there’s nothing wrong with you — and that healing begins the moment you start to believe that. 🌐 Join The Circle community → www.myembodiment.com

The Warrior archetype is one of the most iconic—and misunderstood—expressions of masculine energy. It’s the part of us that acts with courage, protects what’s sacred, and stays disciplined in pursuit of something greater than ourselves. But when disconnected from heart and purpose, the Warrior can turn destructive—hurting others or collapsing into self-erasure.In this episode of The Circle, Eric and Tim are joined by MJ Oshin—a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and active paramedic—to explore what it means to embody the Warrior with integrity. Together they unpack:The difference between strength and dominationThe shadow forms of the Warrior: Sadist and MasochistHow rhythm, movement, and discipline refine the Warrior’s energyWhat it takes to rebuild trust in healthy, heart-centered power—especially for queer menThis is a conversation about courage, purpose, and the art of taking right action.

In the final episode of our three-part Q&A series, we explore the often-overlooked topic of men’s intuition—what it is, how it works, and why it matters.Tim challenges the idea that intuition is gendered, reframing it as a universal human capacity rooted in embodied awareness. Together, we unpack how cultural conditioning teaches men to distrust their feelings, how gaslighting severs us from our body’s wisdom, and how embodiment practices help us rebuild that connection.Eric asks how “trusting your gut” actually functions in daily life, and Tim shares how sensations in the body—tightness in the chest, warmth in the gut, openness in the heart—can become reliable signals of intuitive knowing. The conversation closes with an invitation to practice: to notice, to feel, and to trust the subtle intelligence within.Short, honest, and grounded in lived experience, this episode invites you to see intuition not as magic—but as the language of the body learning to speak again.

This week on The Circle, we go all in on the Magician archetype through a queer lens with guest Stan Rain, founder of the Naked Dojo. Together we explore the Magician’s gifts of creativity, imagination, and transformation—and the shadow expressions of the manipulator and the innocent one—through real stories and Internal Family Systems. We also step into modern wizardry with Stan’s AI co-facilitator, TONI, and ask what it means to use powerful tools in service of intention rather than manipulation. This episode blends archetypal psychology, embodiment practice, consent-minded facilitation, and conscious technology to help you bring more clarity, play, and power to your Magician in daily life.Chapter Markers00:00 — Welcome and Intro to the Magician Archetype 02:00 — Meet Stan Rain 04:05 — Four archetypes overview and why they matter 07:18 — Painter’s palette metaphor for choice and balance 09:22 — Who is the Magician: creativity, imagination, manifesting 12:40 — Play as a practice: Lego blocks and adult tinkering 16:10 — Curiosity and experimentation in movement and art 18:45 — Shadow states: manipulator and innocent one 22:28 — Safety, queerness, and why shadow shows up 25:36 — IFS parts and relating to shadow without shame 28:30 — Using shadow skillfully and the Star Wars analogy 31:05 — Hypnotherapy as conscious influence and intention 34:02 — Awareness, intention, and skillful use of power 36:45 — Enter TONI: AI co-facilitator in a breathwork container 40:00 — How TONI runs timing, music, and context 42:30 — Boundaries: what AI should not say in a healing space 45:18 — Mirror effect of AI and why intention is everything 48:00 — Emptiness, projection, and staying grounded in purpose 50:35 — Practical takeaways: questions to invite your Magician 53:10 — Human creativity at the core, tech as a tool 56:05 — First steps for listeners new to archetypes 58:20 — Closing ritual and gratitude

In part two of our three part Q&A series, we turn to two of the biggest questions our listeners ask: what does it mean to be a man? And what do we mean when we say queer men?Tim shares how his definition of manhood has evolved from fear and rigidity to a more expansive, skillful, and authentic engagement with life. Together, we explore how gender expectations shape our experience, how queerness challenges cultural norms, and how men's work can offer a place to wrestle with these questions in community.Eric asks what it means to belong in a men's circle and how queer men bring unique gifts like fluidity between energies, expanded empathy, and a broader sense of masculinity to these spaces. Along the way, we remind ourselves that ideas of manhood are not fixed: they change across cultures, across history, and across our own lifetimes.Short, sharp, and from lived experience, this episode unpacks the evolving conversation about what it means to be a man and why queer perspectives matter in men's work.Chapter Markers0:00 – Welcome & Episode Framing Eric introduces part two of the Q&A series, focusing on what it means to be a man and what we mean by queer men.1:10 – Defining Manhood Tim reflects on how his understanding of being a man has evolved through men's work, healing, and lived experience.4:25 – Who Belongs in Men's Circles? Expanding inclusion: identity, nonbinary men, and working with the masculine aspects of self.7:05 – What Does Queer Mean? Tim shares why he embraces the word queer and how queer men experience masculinity differently than straight men.10:20 – Unique Gifts of Queer Men in Men's Work Queer men’s fluidity between energies, empathy, and expanded perspectives on relationships and masculinity.12:50 – Manhood Through Time & Culture Tim and Eric reflect on how cultural ideals of men shift over history and why authenticity matters more than rigidity.14:00 – Closing & Invitation Eric invites listeners to continue the conversation and join practices at myembodiment.com.