Who’s Driving Your Bus? Navigating the Internal Family System

Have you ever felt like there’s a literal argument going on inside your head? One part of you is ready to conquer the world, while another is whispering that you’re a fraud, and a third just wants to hide under the covers with a bag of Hershey’s kisses.

I’ve been there. In fact, I’m 73, and I’m still figuring out who’s actually behind the wheel.

In this episode of The Long Strange Trip, I sit down with Tammy Sollenberger, a gifted Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, to talk about why we do the "stupid" things we do—and how to stop vilifying ourselves for it. We dive deep into the "multiplicity of the mind" and why "No Bad Parts" isn't just a catchy book title, but a way to find actual internal peace.

We explore:

The Internal Family: Why your mind is less like a single person and more like a crowded dinner party (and yes, sometimes it’s rowdy).
Managers vs. Firefighters: How our protective parts try to keep us "likable" or "numb" to avoid the pain of our inner exiles.
The "C" Qualities: How to access your Authentic Self—that core of calm, curiosity, and compassion that’s often buried under the noise.
The Skiing Dilemma: A personal look at my own struggle with aging and the conflicting voices that crop up when life forces a transition.

If you’ve ever felt "stuck," "ineffective," or just plain curious about why your brain works the way it does, this conversation is for you. We aren't just talking psychology; we're talking about how to become a more integrated, self-led human