8. The Masks That Are Killing Us With Lia Mix & Omani Carson Live in Boulder

The masks we wear to survive can become prisons. And the same patterns that drove us to achieve can quietly disconnect us from love, joy, and the people we care about most.

In this live episode recorded in Boulder, Colorado, Steve is joined by Lia Mix and Omani Carson for a raw conversation about trauma, leadership, vulnerability, and what happens when we finally take off the armor. Emceed by Samantha Warren.

Together, they explore how childhood survival patterns show up in high achievers, why avoiding pain blocks connection, and how psychedelics, when integrated with intention and community, can help us move from survival mode into presence and purpose.

This is an invitation to stop waiting. You're already on your hero's journey. And healing doesn't happen alone.

In this episode:

 ⬛ Why vulnerability is courage, not weakness

⬛ The link between childhood trauma and perfectionism

 ⬛ How avoiding pain blocks love and connection 

⬛ What happens when leaders succeed but feel empty 

⬛ Nervous system regulation as a foundation for leadership 

⬛ Psychedelics as a tool for healing, not a shortcut 

⬛ Why community is medicine

Chapters:
00:00 Live introduction
01:25 Vulnerability and the armor we wear
02:45 Childhood trauma and survival patterns
05:01 When avoiding pain blocks love
06:57 Introducing Omani and shared journeys
09:32 From fear to love and abundance
13:24 Trauma, nervous system, and healing
15:25 Psychedelics and liberation from trauma
18:21 Vulnerability and intimacy
23:11 Lia’s journey into honesty
27:07 The danger of masks
33:08 Community as medicine
37:21 Psychedelics and societal healing
49:46 An evolutionary shift
53:13 Leading from the heart
01:02:28 A wish for humanity
01:06:49 Closing reflections
About Steve:
Steve is an entrepreneur and storyteller who spent decades achieving external success while privately navigating the impact of childhood trauma. Through therapy, nervous system work and psychedelic healing, he rebuilt his life from the inside out. The Neuro’s Journey is his mission to explore courage, healing and the human experience with honesty and depth.
Follow Steve:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theneurosjourney/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@theneurosjourney
About Lia:
Lia is Founder and CEO of DELPHI, a healthcare innovation leader and trauma-informed guide who brings deep emotional awareness and grounded wisdom to her work. 

Follow Lia:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamix/

About Omani Carson:
Omani is the founder of the Carson Group and the leader of OMIA, a conscious community devoted to healing, connection, and harmony with nature. His work bridges leadership, trauma healing, and collective transformation.
Follow Omani:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/omanirosecarson/
Website https://www.carsongroup.com/
About Samantha Warren:
Samantha Warren is a public speaker, podcast host and teaches impact driven coaches, podcasters and entrepreneurs how to confidently share their story, spread their message, get on stages, make more money and make a name for themselves.
Follow Samantha:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesamanthawarren
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@voiceandvisibility

Resources Mentioned

California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS) - Psychedelic therapy training program

Conscious Capitalism movement (John Mackey and Raj Sisodia)

Heartland Gathering - Omani and Jeannie's community healing event in Nebraska

The Hero's Journey framework