Welcome to the third season of Back From the Abyss.

I'm Dr. Craig Hecock.

I'm really happy that you've joined us.

Chris and I've been working hard on a whole new batch of stories that I think will touch each of you in some meaningful way.

We're kicking off this season with an episode that highlights some of my deepest interests.

I am totally fascinated with the dialectic between, as Jonathan Haidt described it in his

must-read book, The Righteous Mind. This dialectic between humans as tribal primates versus

humans as honeybees. This innate pull we all have toward allegiance to the small family clan,

and at the same time, the often irresistible lure of losing ourselves into the greater buzzing hive of a purpose much larger

than ourselves. This story also explores how trauma either heals or festers in the complex

scaffolding of a person's past and their

future. This story highlights the power of running and friendship and psilocybin and self-compassion

to heal the wounds of sexual trauma. Jamie, our guest today, reached out to me a few months ago

saying that, well, she might

have a story for the podcast.

And holy Batman, does she have a story?

So thanks again, Jamie, for reaching out to me.

And a question for each of you to ponder as you listen to Jamie's story.

How and when in your life did you become a honeybee?

When have you lost yourself in the greater group? What have you been willing to sacrifice to feel

the ecstatic connection and purpose of the hive?

I grew up in the gym, actually. So I was a gymnast and all of my memories until I was 13, for the most part, revolve around gymnastics, until we were driving in the car. I was like 12 and looked at my parents and kind of just felt like, huh, I wonder what else there is?

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