Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Utley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Taylor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I grew up under a lot of traumatic circumstances and had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and CPTSD, for years I have struggled with addiction, depression, anxiety, and codependency while on the surface level getting multiple degrees and overworking as well as overspending to keep up appearances for myself. A couple years ago I read a book for work (was working as a school administrator & college professor) about the neuroscience of behavior. I made a lot of personal connections and became obsessed with understanding the brain and how it is impacted by trauma, this led me to the world of plant medicine as a treatment for PTSD. I started out by trying ketamine therapy and after about a year worked up the nerve to do a guided heroic journey with mushrooms. I had a profound experience that allowed me to grapple with a long held subconscious truth and released a lot of anger and grief. I kept going and did 3 more journeys within 6 months. Each time I set an intention and was able to make dramatic changes in my life that were making me miserable. Before I left my career of 15 years, I had quit binge drinking and using cannabis for my anxiety. I realized my only hobbies were really going out drinking or buying things. I wanted to change that so I made a list of potential hobbies. I thought about what I naturally enjoyed doing and realized I loved talking to interesting people about ideas and concepts that were interesting to me. I decided podcasting was the perfect hobby for me. It started out as a podcast about trauma and healing. In my fourth mushroom journey, I had another incredible experience that sparked what I would call my spiritual awakening. Now my podcast has evolved to unpacking the complexities of the human experience by having guests tell their unique stories for others to connect through shared experience or through understanding another human’s perspective who may be different from them, all with the ultimate goal of reconnecting humanity with one another. I am getting ready to start a series where I interview healers, both traditional and non traditional and have began my own training in the intuitive arts. Embracing this journey and looking forward to seeing how it evolves.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I want to demystify spirituality, making it more accessible to those that may not resonate with some of the new age ways in which it is often presented. Ancient spiritual wisdom evidenced in metaphors found across all organized religions and is supported in many ways by current scientific research. It is also relevant to us in modern times because it provides a blueprint of how to return to ourselves and find the most illusive, yet valuable asset once can possess…inner peace.

You don’t have to sell your belongings, quit washing your hair, or get a nose ring to be spiritual. You also do not have to depend on some sort of “chosen” few to access the “magic” of it, it is inside each of us and with the right tools, it can be unlocked.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to give people the tools to truly heal themselves and unlock their inner power and potential. We are truly our own healers and do not have to remain reliant on practitioners to heal us, but rather look for teachers that will show you the tools you need to lead yourself, following your own intuition, on your healing journey.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Formerly, I was really attached to having “things” to make me feel good about myself. After leaving my career that I was extremely burned out from, I decided to invest in everything I needed to start my podcast. I did this in part, by selling all of my designer bags and accessories online. In a way it was letting go of former things that I felt an unhealthy attachment to.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @unpluggedwithtaylor @Taylor.michelle8
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unpluggedwithtaylor
• Other: TikTok: @unpluggedwithtaylor

Image Credits

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