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Bristol Baughan is a multidimensional force—a TED Fellow, Emmy-winning, and Oscar-Nominated film producer with a decade-long career crafting acclaimed works for HBO, Paramount, and Showtime at GOOD. She holds a B.A. in International Studies and an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology, blending her diverse education with her creative and leadership roles.

As the founder of Inner Astronauts, Bristol is dedicated to guiding individuals from an ego-centered to an ecological consciousness. Through 1:1 leadership coaching, she helps executives and entrepreneurs unearth their passion, pleasure, and purpose toward a regenerative future.

Bristol’s impactful keynote, “What Comes After Burnout?”, connects personal burnout to the broader context of climate change. She illuminates the shift required from an ego-centric to an ecological mindset, sharing her journey combating achievement addiction. From documenting Tibetan Monks to TED conferences and reconnecting with her roots, Bristol’s talk unveils a path toward genuine fulfillment and purposeful service, encouraging a fresh perspective on how to navigate life, work, and play in today’s world.

POH – FRANK

Where  are you currently – and does it feel like home ? 

BRISTOL 

I am currently on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores Portugal in a smaller town called Lagoa. And, my mother and I bought this house a year ago. Not even a year. Does it feel like home? I’m, you know, because I have moved quite a bit, especially in the last few years, a home is feeling less and less connected to place and I’m finding ways to find home wherever I am and not always 100% successfully.

But right now I’m surrounded by my things that we literally shipped across the world. And I do feel a sense of home. I’ve got my dog, I’ve got my mom, I’ve got a growing community. I’ve got my spiritual practice that feels like and I’ve got a routine and that piece does feel like home.

POH

Throughout your extensive travels around the world, is there one particular place that holds a special significance for you, perhaps where you’ve cherished a particularly memorable experience

BRISTOL 

The place that comes to mind where I felt connected was Mill Valley, California.

So when I lived in a shared home with five other people whom I really loved, nestled among the redwood trees of Northern California, it felt like the first time in my life that I actually wanted to forge a relationship with a place. Until then, I didn’t truly value getting to know the trees or the mountains—Mount Tam being the mountain I lived on.

I’m currently writing a memoir and I find myself quoting the mountain and the trees. Their essence is imprinted in my psyche; that place acts as a significant portal. Numerous remarkable individuals have lived in these redwood trees on Mount Tam, creating music, writing poetry, and pondering philosophy. It holds a unique significance, yet it’s shockingly expensive, making it challenging to maintain a home there.

Although it was a special time, I don’t harbor the desire to return. I had a three-year window of magical moments with the mountain, the trees, cherished friends, and the locale.

POH 

Your professional journey spans Emmy-winning films and TED talks. How has this diverse background shaped your approach to spiritual psychology and coaching?

BRISTOL 

I’d say I never felt like I had a choice. It was very much like I am here to make movies that change the world and inspire blah, blah, blah. And it was a beautiful experience. But it was really a deep sense of disconnection and loneliness that kind of forced me onto the spiritual path against the will of my ego in every possible way.

But it was, there was no choice. It was like : “I suffer” or “I open and surrender”.

That is really what forced me onto the spiritual path. And then it was this kind of unfolding adventure, surrender experiment that was beyond my control every step of the way for sure. But that work it’s kind of fascinating, like almost a decade in the film business, almost a decade now. It’s been a decade in the spiritual psych leadership coaching, personal transformation world. And now they’re starting to connect like I’m actually starting to play with storytelling and personal transformation world building science fiction, like combining these, I don’t even know what to call them – I’m using all the parts of myself. But it took over a decade. Like , I wasn’t combining them until just recently. So I’m grateful that I feel that competition.

POH 

Could you share a pivotal moment or experience that sparked your transition from film production to coaching and facilitating spiritual growth?

BRISTOL 

If you wanna know about one moment, there was one moment. I’ll never forget where I was at the Spirit Awards in Santa Monica. And one of the films had been nominated for the Emmy and I had no reaction. It was like a flat line inside and everybody’s around me going, yeah, cheers high fiving and it made me realize kind of how disconnected and lonely I was where the thing that would give me the only source of pleasure which was work or a sense of accomplishment or meaning stopped giving it to me. So that was terrifying because like any addiction right to a pharmaceutical where the brain just adapts and you have to take more like I’d been taking more and more and more, it had to be more accomplishment, more awards and then you start getting them and after a while they don’t even work and that scared me. I was just like, ok, wait, something’s not right now. I’m not even getting high.

POH 

And this was the starting point to your journey to create “ Inner Astronauts” your coaching business,  – can you tell us a little bit about  how you  support individuals in unlocking their passion and purpose?

BRISTOL 

It’s probably with a lot of people who coach, it’s like we’re literally just supporting people that are very similar to us – I feel like, it was not, again, not my choice. Not my idea.

I heard about the spiritual psych program from two women in Bali and they were just radiant. They seemed like they had something I did not. And I remember just being like, what are you people smoking? Like, I’m so intrigued and they were like, oh, we just did this, you know, master’s degree in spiritual psychology. And I remembered my mind was: ” what is that Woo-woo nonsense. Like I did not resonate at all, but they did. And so it took me a year of traveling around the world and feeling deeply alone and disconnected and trying out all kinds of modalities of yoga and Buddhism to come back to OK, what was that program again? And then I was ready. So I went to an information evening and it was all about me and me trying to reconnect, right, to myself, to my sense of source.

Years later, I had no idea about coaching in my head. I just had a best friend and she was like, “I’m starting a group for people who want to start coaching businesses. Do you want to join?” I said, no, hung up the phone, and then I was kind of, “..oh, wait, is that, is that something, is that next?”

I just had been writing and people just started calling, can I just come and talk to you? And I was like, yeah, what do you mean? Of course. And then all of a sudden it was like, oh, this is what’s emerging and I didn’t have language for it. I wasn’t able to notice what was coming up in my field – here’s the opportunity that’s arising, emerging for me.

I just have to catch up. And so that’s how it happened. And then I was literally writing in my office one day and I had the fully formed thought of the name  innerastronauts.com. I didn’t even have time to research.

POH 

I like the name – it’s like Places Of Healing – a name and a domain which was available and popped up. Besides your coaching and speaking engagements, you also host retreats. What inspired you to choose the Convento do Sao Francisco in Vila Franca do Campo, Azores, Portugal, as the location for your New Year’s Eve retreat?

BRISTOL 

Yeah, I’ve been really curious about monasteries lately. I found one here on the island in San Miguel that’s been around for a while, slowly rehabbing into a beautifully done boutique hotel. I wanted to create a retreat where each day starts with singing in its amazing acoustics. I’ve hired a local teacher who’s a beautiful singer to lead us. Mornings include movement, silent breakfast, and time for creative expression—writing, painting, or any creative pursuit. We gather for lunch, spend time in the stunning nature, continue our creative sessions, practice emergence, and end the day with dinner. This schedule stems from my desire to craft an experience I’d want—a balance of togetherness and solitude. It’s not heavily workshop-oriented; rather, it’s about creating a container for personal experiences. In these turbulent times, I’m exploring ways for people to find solace. I’m delving into historical figures like Hildegard Von Bingen, a mystic teacher from the 1100s, seeking inspiration for this unique retreat experience.

POH 

Hildegard von Bingen was a German abbess, mystic, composer, Hildegard is renowned for her mystical experiences, writings on theology, natural history, and her music compositions, which are still performed today.

BRISTOL 

She was writing operas, she was making paintings, she was writing political letters to male heads of church and state. I mean, this woman was doing things that women just didn’t do, and she was doing it from this place of illumination. That’s what she called her spiritual awakening. And to me, that’s what we’re here for. It’s like, and maybe not all of us, but I think most of us are here to just learn how to listen and to discover what makes us come alive and then clear the way for that aliveness, whatever conditioning, whatever beliefs, whatever gets in the way, so that we can show up for what that is. Like your project: Places of Healing . There’s a lineage of people showing up for beauty emerging and that’s what I want to play in. That’s what I’m in service to.

POH 

Within your retreat framework, how do you guide participants in reconnecting with their creative selves?

BRISTOL 

There will be a little bit of guidance? Yes, I’m doing some one-on-one sessions with people beforehand to help them get clear on what they want to spend their time on creatively, whether that’s just silence and journaling to see what wants to emerge or if they already have a book project. People are coming to work on their Ph.D.s, fiction novels, or just showing up to have a blank page and see what comes out. So, I’ll be doing some prep work with people to get them ready for that. Each day, I’m sure we’ll have some subtle guidance and messages in the yoga class and the chanting over breakfast. Everything is going to be kind of seamless, but I’m really careful not to bring too much information. Learning how to trust their own emergent process is key, but I’ll have some inspiring personalized books and things around to help them reconnect and potentially heal some relationships, and support their creative self.

POH 

What role do you see spiritual practices playing in aiding individuals to move their creative projects forward?

BRISTOL 

I feel like you need  a spiritual practice, some people can get away without – I don’t know them. And it’s not my experience like.  I need to continue to show up in some way, whether that’s just taking a walk, it’s not like I need to meditate for three hours or whatever some people actually can do, which is a gift.

But I have to prioritize movement meditation, making sure I  say NO to things that hijack my awareness for my creative expression. Saying NO to myself is probably the hardest one I’ve had to learn. And there’s that part that just wants to default to the comfort of, well, just watch something. I don’t need to write. I’ll just do nothing.

I practice Kundalini Yoga –  even just once a week, I can feel the difference in just keeping channels a little more clear. And that I’m so grateful for. You just go through your day and you kind of pick up energy and I’m not even one of those people who is looking for” boundaries, boundaries, boundaries”, I don’t really believe in that.

I feel like we have to be porous and just let things move through. But right now, it’s especially hard to  carve out that precious time for sacred practices and especially creativity. And so it’s reminding the mind daily, this is important, this is a priority and it is life changing. What about you though? I know you have a strong practice.

POH 

Yeah, I have to be careful not to fall into the trap of getting stressed out with too many spiritual practices. You get this spiritual practice anxiety, like a perfectionist who overdoes things. For me, it’s more about consistency than quantity. It’s not that one thing is better than the other; it’s an ongoing routine, similar to brushing your teeth. It’s not about overdoing or being perfect; it’s about regularity and not letting the pressure of perfectionism take over.

BRISTOL 

The spiritual process can become a distraction to the creative process. 

POH 

And it’s also a big industry, a big business. You see it, especially in places like L.A., California, this kaleidoscope of endless options. It’s like people don’t even work; they’re constantly immersed in wellness activities.( laughs)

BRISTOL 

Yeah, totally. No, I think that’s what my mother calls it, she’s a Ph.D. psychologist. She refers to it as spiritual shopping, like the shoppers. She’s been practicing therapy for 35+ years, and clients often come saying they’ll do a few sessions and then visit a psychic or another person. She emphasizes that’s not how therapy works. It’s fascinating to observe the culture, and that’s why curation is necessary. I’m grateful for what you’re doing because I don’t have time to weed through everything to find what resonates. Finding my people and having them curate helps me stay within my resonance, my social network of resonance.

POH 

But again, we’re all individuals, each on a different path in life, with diverse interests and desires. What resonates with some might not with others. You can offer choices and vetting instead of overwhelming floodgates, allowing people to pick and choose what suits them.

As for advice on embarking on a similar journey of self-exploration and inner connection, considering your transition from a high-stress entertainment world to a more introspective path, what guidance would you give to those feeling they’re not on the right journey or seeking inner fulfillment?

BRISTOL 

Yeah, oh yeah, read the Surrender Experiment. That’s one of the most helpful books for me. Initially, whatever lights you up, makes you come alive—it doesn’t have to be overtly spiritual. I was resistant to most spiritual things at first. I spent time with people I resonated with and then gradually delved into experimenting, calling it the “soup plantation of spirituality” to try things out.

I’ve always fantasized about having a Yelp for connection where people rate great places. In places of healing, maybe we can create our perfect Yelp for connection. For me, connection can be with old redwood trees, deep conversations, or with my dog. Carve out little bits of time for what makes you come alive amidst the stress of everyday life. Start with those things, people, or places that bring a little bit of aliveness, a bit of connection, even if it’s just tingles in your face—lean more into that feeling.

POH 

It seems like amidst the world’s challenges, there’s an abundance of tools for self-discovery, from meditation apps to various offerings. How do you envision the future of personal healing journeys integrating into everyday life or workspaces? Do you foresee a renaissance for spirituality?

BRISTOL 

I mean, this is where the community project I’ve had in mind for a few years comes in—a future where there’s a shared interest without everyone doing the same practices at the same time. It’s about acknowledging the importance of morning practice while supporting each other in our spiritual and creative pursuits, nurturing both ourselves and our environment.

I envision future communities where expressions of grief are woven into the culture, where one experiencing grief is acknowledged and supported by others in an open and accepting environment. These emotions are normalized and considered sacred. In a short story I’m writing called “Creative Monastery,” I explore this concept of a community committed to creativity and beauty. There’s a morning practice period and a diverse range of activities fostering embodiment and connection. Even those who may struggle to participate are encouraged and appreciated within the community.

POH 

 It seems like we’re reverting to a format of how humans used to live together.

It’s almost like an overexpansion into a non-committal, individualistic way, with everyone seeking something outward. Now, there’s this shift back inward, forming tighter, smaller communities that are likely closer to the human concept of living.

BRISTOL 

Hopefully, it’s more of a blend — a mix of found family and resonant connections rather than solely a sense of tribal identity, which is also important.

But it’s like, I mean, with my blood family and my people, and then we engage with the broader community. I think there’s hope in the community I envision for a level of diversity that might not have existed before. That could be a significant shift — returning to communal living but in a new way that could yield different results.

I love the idea too of filling monasteries with people that would never have been welcomed, right? It’s like we get to take over these places now and make them our own in a way that is really radically fresh and new. And we get to take these symbols and these things that have been given such power and meaning and treat them like art.

I mean, not everyone is ready for that, but that’s so exciting to me. It’s like, how do we create new rituals, new symbols, and maybe revere the old ones, but experience them in a different way.

POH 

Being the astronaut in an unfamiliar environment, you know, just exploring and finding.

BRISTOL 

Yeah, it’s interesting how the concept of being an inner astronaut or exploring inner space keeps resurfacing in various enjoyable ways. It feels like one of the last frontiers to explore apart from outer space, which we’re not fully prepared for yet. Inner space is incredibly vast and magical. I have a book here called “The Joyous Cosmology” that I haven’t read yet, but I borrowed it from Esalen. I’ll return it next year when I’m teaching there. It features Alan Watts, Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, and other legends diving into something ancient and making it their own through their unique perspectives and imaginations. That, to me, is a thrilling pursuit.

POH 

Thank you Bristol for your time – keep on exploring and please share what you find.

BRISTOL 

I feel like you need  a spiritual practice, some people can get away without – I don’t know them. And it’s not my experience like.  I need to continue to show up in some way, whether that’s just taking a walk, it’s not like I need to meditate for three hours or whatever some people actually can do, which is a gift.

But I have to prioritize movement meditation, making sure I  say NO to things that hijack my awareness for my creative expression. Saying NO to myself is probably the hardest one I’ve had to learn. And there’s that part that just wants to default to the comfort of, well, just watch something. I don’t need to write. I’ll just do nothing.

I practice Kundalini Yoga –  even just once a week, I can feel the difference in just keeping channels a little more clear. And that I’m so grateful for. You just go through your day and you kind of pick up energy and I’m not even one of those people who is looking for” boundaries, boundaries, boundaries”, I don’t really believe in that.

I feel like we have to be porous and just let things move through. But right now, it’s especially hard to  carve out that precious time for sacred practices and especially creativity. And so it’s reminding the mind daily, this is important, this is a priority and it is life changing. What about you though? I know you have a strong practice.

POH – FRANK

Yeah, I have to be careful not to fall into the trap of getting stressed out with too many spiritual practices. You get this spiritual practice anxiety, like a perfectionist who overdoes things. For me, it’s more about consistency than quantity. It’s not that one thing is better than the other; it’s an ongoing routine, similar to brushing your teeth. It’s not about overdoing or being perfect; it’s about regularity and not letting the pressure of perfectionism take over.

BRISTOL 

The spiritual process can become a distraction to the creative process. 

POH – FRANK

And it’s also a big industry, a big business. You see it, especially in places like L.A., California, this kaleidoscope of endless options. It’s like people don’t even work; they’re constantly immersed in wellness activities.( laughs)

BRISTOL 

Yeah, totally. No, I think that’s what my mother calls it, she’s a Ph.D. psychologist. She refers to it as spiritual shopping, like the shoppers. She’s been practicing therapy for 35+ years, and clients often come saying they’ll do a few sessions and then visit a psychic or another person. She emphasizes that’s not how therapy works. It’s fascinating to observe the culture, and that’s why curation is necessary. I’m grateful for what you’re doing because I don’t have time to weed through everything to find what resonates. Finding my people and having them curate helps me stay within my resonance, my social network of resonance.

POH – FRANK

But again, we’re all individuals, each on a different path in life, with diverse interests and desires. What resonates with some might not with others. You can offer choices and vetting instead of overwhelming floodgates, allowing people to pick and choose what suits them.

As for advice on embarking on a similar journey of self-exploration and inner connection, considering your transition from a high-stress entertainment world to a more introspective path, what guidance would you give to those feeling they’re not on the right journey or seeking inner fulfillment?

BRISTOL 

Yeah, oh yeah, read the Surrender Experiment. That’s one of the most helpful books for me. Initially, whatever lights you up, makes you come alive—it doesn’t have to be overtly spiritual. I was resistant to most spiritual things at first. I spent time with people I resonated with and then gradually delved into experimenting, calling it the “soup plantation of spirituality” to try things out.

I’ve always fantasized about having a Yelp for connection where people rate great places. In places of healing, maybe we can create our perfect Yelp for connection. For me, connection can be with old redwood trees, deep conversations, or with my dog. Carve out little bits of time for what makes you come alive amidst the stress of everyday life. Start with those things, people, or places that bring a little bit of aliveness, a bit of connection, even if it’s just tingles in your face—lean more into that feeling.

POH – FRANK

It seems like amidst the world’s challenges, there’s an abundance of tools for self-discovery, from meditation apps to various offerings. How do you envision the future of personal healing journeys integrating into everyday life or workspaces? Do you foresee a renaissance for spirituality?

BRISTOL 

I mean, this is where the community project I’ve had in mind for a few years comes in—a future where there’s a shared interest without everyone doing the same practices at the same time. It’s about acknowledging the importance of morning practice while supporting each other in our spiritual and creative pursuits, nurturing both ourselves and our environment.

I envision future communities where expressions of grief are woven into the culture, where one experiencing grief is acknowledged and supported by others in an open and accepting environment. These emotions are normalized and considered sacred. In a short story I’m writing called “Creative Monastery,” I explore this concept of a community committed to creativity and beauty. There’s a morning practice period and a diverse range of activities fostering embodiment and connection. Even those who may struggle to participate are encouraged and appreciated within the community.

POH – FRANK

 It seems like we’re reverting to a format of how humans used to live together.

It’s almost like an overexpansion into a non-committal, individualistic way, with everyone seeking something outward. Now, there’s this shift back inward, forming tighter, smaller communities that are likely closer to the human concept of living.

BRISTOL 

Hopefully, it’s more of a blend — a mix of found family and resonant connections rather than solely a sense of tribal identity, which is also important.

But it’s like, I mean, with my blood family and my people, and then we engage with the broader community. I think there’s hope in the community I envision for a level of diversity that might not have existed before. That could be a significant shift — returning to communal living but in a new way that could yield different results.

I love the idea too of filling monasteries with people that would never have been welcomed, right? It’s like we get to take over these places now and make them our own in a way that is really radically fresh and new. And we get to take these symbols and these things that have been given such power and meaning and treat them like art.

I mean, not everyone is ready for that, but that’s so exciting to me. It’s like, how do we create new rituals, new symbols, and maybe revere the old ones, but experience them in a different way.

POH – FRANK

Being the astronaut in an unfamiliar environment, you know, just exploring and finding.

BRISTOL 

Yeah, it’s interesting how the concept of being an inner astronaut or exploring inner space keeps resurfacing in various enjoyable ways. It feels like one of the last frontiers to explore apart from outer space, which we’re not fully prepared for yet. Inner space is incredibly vast and magical. I have a book here called “The Joyous Cosmology” that I haven’t read yet, but I borrowed it from Esalen. I’ll return it next year when I’m teaching there. It features Alan Watts, Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, and other legends diving into something ancient and making it their own through their unique perspectives and imaginations. That, to me, is a thrilling pursuit.

POH – FRANK

Thank you Bristol for your time – keep on exploring and please share what you find.

 

To get in touch with Bristol, visit her website: https://www.bristolbaughan.com/

Instagram: @bristolbaughan

Photo by Emma Johnson