How to Stay Human

Welcome to a very special episode of How to Stay Human — the first to feature guests! Tori Gordon and Kyle are joined by two soul family members and vibrant spirits: Leah Free, a vocal liberation artist known for her soulful sound and expressive presence, and Pedro Jerez, an entrepreneur and devoted man embodying integrity and divine masculine energy.

Together, they unpack what it means to live fully alive in a world flooded with noise and technology. Leah shares her origin story of finding safety and freedom in nature and voice, cultivating a unique soundscape that connects deeply with self and others. Pedro reflects on his journey from childhood dreams of success to embracing spiritual surrender and generosity as the foundation for transformation.

The conversation flows through themes of courage, self-mastery, and the power of “throwing darts” — taking messy, imperfect steps toward authentic expression. They explore how technology, especially AI, challenges and expands human creativity and connection, emphasizing the need to come back to the body, community, and nature.

Leah and Pedro also reveal the tender dynamics of their relationship — how respect, autonomy, and love create a spacious container for growth, play, and vulnerability. They discuss boundaries, the dance between work and presence, and the importance of nurturing intimacy in a high-demand world.

This episode is a heartfelt invitation to embrace your unique voice, lean into your edges, and cultivate connection in an era of rapid change. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your creative journey, relationship, or personal growth, Leah and Pedro’s wisdom will leave you feeling seen, supported, and ready to stay human.

 

Guest Introductions:

•Leah Free is a vocal liberation artist and experiential guide who helps people connect to their soul through sound and self-expression. Known for her vibrant spirit and soulful presence, Leah blends nature, improvisation, and play to inspire authentic living. Find her at @leahlivefree.

•Pedro Jerez is an entrepreneur and founder dedicated to walking the path of integrity and divine masculine energy. With a background in business and a deep commitment to personal growth, Pedro is pioneering new ways to accelerate breakthroughs in people’s lives through his platform Kochi. Discover more at kochi.coach.

 

Sponsor Spotlight: Anywhere ClinicThis episode is brought to you by Anywhere Clinic.In our journey to stay human, taking care of our mental health is paramount. Anywhere Clinic provides accessible, high-quality psychiatric care and therapy from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're navigating the pressures of perfectionism, dealing with anxiety, or simply looking for a supportive space to grow, their team of dedicated professionals is here to help you build a regulated and resilient nervous system. Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon to learn more and take the first step towards a healthier, more balanced you.

 

Timestamped Chapters:

•00:00 – Welcome to How to Stay Human and the first guest episode

•00:29 – Meet Leah Free and Pedro Jerez

•01:46 – Pedro’s introduction, partnership energy, and soul-family connection

•04:34 – Pedro’s origin story: entrepreneurship, ambition, and early self-belief

•08:09 – Curiosity, creativity, faith, and learning to nurture what has always been there

•12:01 – Leah Free’s origin story: voice, nature, and becoming herself

•17:51 – Roots over symptoms: regulation, happiness, and deep self-work

•22:09 – Self-expression in a noisy world and the strange gift of feeling known through technology

•24:47 – Practicing expression: reps, flops, edges, and creative courage

•29:20 – Comedy, performance, and stepping into the ultimate creative edge

•34:17 – How Leah expands Pedro’s play, movement, and embodied expression

•40:08 – Founders, high performance, AI, and the new era of achievement

•43:28 – Partnership as a supportive container for success and humanity

•49:33 – Transitioning from work mode into presence, intimacy, and connection

•54:38 – Trust, surrender, vulnerability, and being guided through partnership

•59:51 – Brain-heavy culture, overdrive, and the need for nervous-system regulation

•64:55 – High performance, boundaries, and coming back to the body

•69:48 – Technology, AI, and a hopeful future where people do the work

•74:50 – “Touch grass”: nature, play, dancing, and community as balance

•76:08 – Where to find Leah and Pedro

•80:01 – Closing reminder: stay hopeful and stay human

 

Key Takeaways:

•Authentic self-expression requires courage, generosity, and willingness to be messy and imperfect.

•Technology and AI can amplify human creativity but also demand conscious boundaries and presence.

•Partnerships rooted in respect, autonomy, and love create space for vulnerability and growth.

•Returning to nature, the body, and community is essential for staying grounded in a hyper-digital world.

•Embracing emotional masculine vulnerability deepens intimacy and connection.

•Setting “bare-ass minimums” (BAMs) and healthy boundaries supports sustainable success and wellbeing.

•The future holds unprecedented opportunities for self-work and purpose-driven living as technology evolves.

 

Resources Mentioned:

•The Untethered Soul (Book referenced by Pedro)

•Kochi Platform for real-time coaching and breakthrough acceleration: kochi.coach

 

Guest Links Mentioned:

•Leah Free Instagram: @leahlivefree

•Pedro Jerez’s platform Kochi: kochi.coach

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Are you sacrificing your humanity in the pursuit of perfection? In this episode of How to Stay Human, Tori and Kyle explore the profound impact that our defense mechanisms—whether that’s extreme rigidity or complete avoidance—have on our relationships, our success, and our overall well-being. They dive deep into the differences between type A and type B personalities, how our nervous systems adapt to create safety, and why embracing the "mess" is essential for true intimacy and abundance.

From discussing the true cost of overworking to examining the role of AI in stripping away our humanity, Tori and Kyle challenge listeners to make the unconscious conscious. Discover how to build a life that accommodates life's inevitable uncertainties without losing your connection to yourself and those you love.

Key Topics & Timestamps

• [00:00 - 05:00] Welcome back: What we've been growing through and the desire for real, raw authenticity in a curated world.

• [05:00 - 11:30] The cost of success: Examining the toll of extreme productivity and the realization that perfectionism can be a trauma response.

• [11:30 - 18:00] Navigating different nervous systems: How Tori and Kyle's differing approaches to structure and messiness impact their relationship.

• [18:00 - 25:00] The illusion of certainty: Why we crave control in an inherently uncertain world and the power of remaining open to life's surprises.

• [25:00 - 32:00] AI and the loss of humanity: The danger of optimizing our lives to the point of losing genuine human connection.

• [32:00 - 40:00] Breaking the cycle: Practical steps for perfectionists to let go of rigid routines and for messy individuals to embrace helpful structure.

• [40:00 - 45:13] Making the unconscious conscious: How to stop letting your patterns control your life and start living intentionally.

Sponsor Spotlight: Anywhere Clinic

This episode is brought to you by Anywhere Clinic. In our journey to stay human, taking care of our mental health is paramount. Anywhere Clinic provides accessible, high-quality psychiatric care and therapy from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're navigating the pressures of perfectionism, dealing with anxiety, or simply looking for a supportive space to grow, their team of dedicated professionals is here to help you build a regulated and resilient nervous system.

Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon to learn more and take the first step towards a healthier, more balanced you.

 

Join the Community

Are you ready to do the deep work and build a solid foundation for your life and leadership? Join Tori inside GROUNDWORK. GROUNDWORK is a transformative space designed for high-performing leaders, founders, and creators who are ready to regulate their nervous systems, heal past patterns, and step into their most authentic power.

Join us today at:  www.torigordon.com/groundwork

Connect with Tori

Stay connected and continue the conversation:

• Instagram: @thetorigordon / @howtostayhumanpod

• Website: www.torigordon.com

• Book: ALTAR by Tori Gordon

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In this episode of How to Stay Human, Tori Gordon and Kyle Herron explore why so many people feel overwhelmed, anxious, and unsettled in today’s world—and what’s actually happening beneath the surface.

From constant information overload to global uncertainty, we’re living in a time where the pace of change is faster than our nervous systems can process. The result is chronic stress, emotional fatigue, and a deep sense that something isn’t quite right.

This conversation breaks down the real issue: not just what’s happening in the world, but how your body is responding to it.

Tori shares how nervous system dysregulation shows up in high performers, why awareness alone isn’t enough to create change, and what it actually takes to feel safe, grounded, and in control again.

Kyle offers a perspective on how to stay informed without becoming overwhelmed, and how to engage with the world in a way that creates impact instead of burnout.

If you’ve been feeling off, stuck, or constantly on edge, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it.

What we cover:

Why everything feels more intense right now

The link between anxiety, overwhelm, and the nervous system

How constant information consumption impacts your body

The difference between awareness and dysregulation

Why high performers still feel stuck or exhausted

How to build internal safety and resilience

What it means to stay human in a rapidly changing world

Sponsored by Anywhere Clinic

Anywhere Clinic offers a modern, holistic approach to mental health, including psychiatry, therapy, ketamine treatment, TMS, and performance optimization. If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or burnout, their personalized care model is designed to support real, lasting change.

Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon to book a consultation. 

Ready to regulate your nervous system and build a new foundation?

If this episode resonated, this is your next step.

GROUNDWORK is Tori’s 6-week nervous system mastery program designed to help you:

Feel safe in your body

Break patterns of anxiety, burnout, and emotional overwhelm

Build real internal stability and self-trust

Expand your capacity for success, love, and leadership

👉 Join here:
www.torigordon.com/groundwork

Follow along for more:

Instagram: @howtostayhumanpod

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In this very special edition of How to Stay Human, Tori Gordon sits down with co-host Kyle to discuss the release of her highly anticipated debut book, ALTAR: Modern Psalms for a New Earth. This episode explores the profound vulnerability of taking 34 years of private journaling, spiritual seeking, and internal processing, and placing it into the public sphere. Tori shares why she turned down a major book deal years ago, the necessity of honoring divine timing, and why the spiritual path is less about learning something new and more about unlearning what is false. They dive deep into the framework of the book—breaking down the ALTAR acronym (Abundance, Love, Truth, Awakening, and Remembrance)—and discuss how to navigate the thresholds of initiation required to drop our masks. 

Tori also provides a live, grounded reading of Psalm 17, “For the One Who Seeks,” offering a powerful transmission for anyone who has outgrown traditional boxes but still hungers for something sacred. If you are a seeker carrying more questions than answers, this episode is your reminder that your restlessness is a sign of aliveness, your humanity is part of your divine design, and you are already on sacred ground. 

Key Topics & Timestamps: 

[00:00] Introduction & the story behind turning down a book deal to honor divine timing. 

[05:00] Tori’s relationship with writing as the safest space for honest selfexpression. 

[08:00] The vulnerability of sharing 34 years of private seeking with the world. 

[11:00] Why the spiritual path is about unlearning falsehoods rather than acquiring new information. 

[13:00] Breaking down the ALTAR acronym: Abundance, Love, Truth, Awakening, and Remembrance. 

[16:00] Writing for those who have outgrown traditional dogma but still seek the sacred. 

[19:00] How to engage with the book depending on where you are in your healing journey. 

[25:00] A live, somatic reading of Psalm 17: “For the One Who Seeks.” 

[30:00] How to access the ALTAR companion app for daily practices, AI reflections, and live sacred ceremonies. 

[33:00] Closing thoughts: Why your humanity is not a block to your divinity, but the path to it. 

 

Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Anywhere Clinic. Take control of your mental and physical well-being today. Visit www.anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon to learn more and get started. 

Pre-order Tori’s new book, ALTAR: Modern Psalms for a New Earth, available NOW! Get your copy here: torigordon.com/book 

Connect with Tori: Website: www.torigordon.com 

Instagram: @thetorigordon 

Podcast: How to Stay Human 

Substack: How to Stay Human on Substack 

The ALTAR App: altar.torigordon.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’re feeling awfully human in this episode.

Tori shares the heart behind her Substack piece “What I Wish Men Knew” — a love letter to men from a woman who loves men deeply — and opens up a raw conversation about what’s unfolding in our culture right now, including the way patriarchal conditioning has harmed women, men, and children.

Kyle reflects on the paradox of our time: we live in a world historically dominated by men, and yet men are deeply struggling. We talk about why emotional suppression, isolation, and imbalance have become normalized, how numbness kills empathy, and why unregulated power is dangerous — not because men are bad, but because the system has trained men to equate masculinity with dominance, productivity, and disconnection from the heart.

This isn’t a takedown of men. It’s a call forward.

We explore what healthy masculinity looks like in 2026: integrity, accountability, emotional literacy, repair, devotion, and embodied leadership. We also name something many people feel but rarely say out loud: women are not only afraid of men’s anger — they’re afraid of men’s numbness, because numbness is where empathy goes to die.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by what’s coming to light in the world, or if you’ve felt the hunger for a new model of leadership, love, and partnership — this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why Tori wrote “What I Wish Men Knew” as a love letter to men

The patriarchy as a system, not a villain

The three primary wounds men carry: emotional suppression, loneliness, imbalance

Why numbness is more dangerous than anger

Why repair is the missing ingredient in so many relationships

The difference between anger and boundaries

What integrity looks like when no one is watching

Why “success” without fulfillment collapses

How men can rebuild: emotional literacy, men’s community, regulation, shadow integration

How partners can support men without mothering them

The future we believe is possible: men with strong spines and soft hearts

Read Tori’s Substack piece:

“What I Wish Men Knew” (a letter to men)
https://torigordon.substack.com/p/what-i-wish-men-knew?r=5suqhm

Follow the podcast:

Instagram: @howtostayhumanpod

Listen / Watch:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-stay-human/id1475408897

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e62a5zpupdFpkErMiEimz?si=796f176cadd14370

YouTube: https://youtu.be/7S0pRiUpZHE?si=Wg0dqtyvnqWqIa6A

Want to go deeper with Tori?

Explore Groundwork (nervous system literacy + regulation + emotional intelligence):
www.torigordon.com/groundwork

If this episode hit something in you, share it with a man you love — or a woman who’s tired of carrying the emotional weight alone.

Sponsor: Anywhere Clinic

Today’s episode is sponsored by Anywhere Clinic — a mental health clinic offering a holistic approach to wellbeing, including psychiatric care, medication management, ketamine therapy, TMS, talk therapy, and peak performance coaching. Anywhere Clinic supports individuals and families navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, insomnia, and more, with personalized care plans designed to help you find mental clarity, inner peace, and real momentum.

To learn more, book a consultation or explore care options, visit www.Anywhereclinic.com/tori-gordon 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.