The five sides of self and identity work

This podcast is made possible by our listeners and viewers. If this show has brought you value, you can support it by becoming a member of The Way Forward, our platform designed to help you find the health and freedom community (people, practitioners, schools, farms, and more) near you. Your membership directly supports the podcast and the work we do.

You’re not running your life… your belief system is.

Today I’m joined by Josh Trent, an identity transformation architect and the host of the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast. For nearly a decade, his work has centered on helping driven, burnt-out achievers unwind the emotional and belief patterns that run their lives.

Identity under pressure reveals how much of who we are was shaped long before we had a choice, with unconscious beliefs tracing back far beyond our own lived experiences. Nervous system regulation, money stories, and lineage show up as an interconnected web that influences how daily life is experienced and navigated. Addiction and self-abandonment surface as signals of deeper disconnection. Responsibility for the inner world becomes less about fixing what’s wrong and more about seeing what’s beneath the surface.

This episode speaks to anyone sensing that forward movement isn’t about more tactics, but by understanding the forces shaping personal choices, accumulated stress, and the kind of freedom that feels earned rather than chased.

You’ll Learn:

[00:00] Introduction

[06:30] Breaking down the old identity: the practices Josh used for transformation

[19:02] Is plant medicine a necessity when it comes to transformation?

[34:07] Getting to your root beliefs with the BTFA practice: a breathwork walkthrough

[58:45] Traditional talk therapy vs somatic approaches

[01:11:23] Understanding addiction as disconnection and the trap of trading one addiction for another

[01:27:05] Facing your biggest fear in real-time: how Alec nearly shut down his podcast

[01:41:24] Emotional epigenetics and unconsciously passing patterns down through generations

[01:53:58] The single most powerful practice: emotional inventory

Related The Way Forward Episodes:

Health Freedom for Humanity with Josh Trent | Spotify or Apple

Resources Mentioned:

The Great Unlearn with Cal Callahan | Website

Fearful Memories Passed Down to Mouse Descendants by Callaway E. | Article

Self Liberation Blueprint + The Liberated Life Tribe Free Community:

The Self Liberation Blueprint is a 10-day jumpstart and free tribe access that's perfect for the person who feels stuck, and they don't know why. See Why: You're not broken, you're just bio-energetically burdened

Emotional Epigenetics™: You're Not Broken, You're Bio-Energetically Burdened:

Understanding and breaking free from your inherited unconscious beliefs, emotional patterns, and environmental expression will change the fabric and fruits of your life. In this video, Josh Trent uncovers the Science + Spiritual Truth of Emotional Epigenetics™  to show you how.

Wellness + Wisdom Podcast: 

See life through a different lens™ to nourish the 5 sides of SELF: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual & financial ⬟ with Josh Trent on the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast

Learn more from Josh:

Wellness + Wisdom | Website

Find more from Alec:

Alec Zeck | Instagram

Alec Zeck | X

The Way Forward | Instagram

The Way Forward is Sponsored By:

Paleovalley is 100% Grass-Fed Bone Broth Protein is a nutrient-dense, easy-to-digest source of collagen and essential amino acids. Sourced from grass-fed cows, this protein powder provides the building blocks for healthy joints, skin, and gut function—without fillers or artificial ingredients. Support the show and claim 15% off your PaleoValley order!

New Biology Clinic: Redefine Health from the Ground Up

Experience tailored terrain-based health services with consults, livestreams, movement classes, and more. Visit www.NewBiologyClinic.com and use code THEWAYFORWARD (case sensitive) for $50 off activation. Members get the $150 fee waived