
Gateless Academy Writers 2025

Sydney Craig I’m a restorative movement specialist and founder of Pilates Tonic and Pilates Tonic Online in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’ve been teaching and writing about human movement for over twenty years and love helping people discover how resilient their bodies truly are. I enjoy writing, but my writing has always been driven by copywriting and what needs to be said for the benefit of customers. I can’t wait to see what’s revealed when I let all that go and just write!

Kate Neufeld is an EMDR therapist who helps women heal anxiety and trauma (both big and small) so they can feel more joy and ease and create the life they most deeply want. A mom of two kids ages 6 and 9, she lives in Burlington, Vermont with her husband, a middle school science teacher. She has a MSW from Smith College and has worked in mental health for 13 years, and has a background as a yoga teacher and bodyworker. She is an insatiable learner with an interest in trauma, healing, spirituality, and transformation.

Candyce Ossefort-Russell, LPC-S offers accurate, empathic information and insights about grief and other painful emotions from a unique blend of personal and professional experience. Her first husband died suddenly when she was 30 years old; and she’s a psychotherapist, writer, trainer, and speaker in Austin, Texas. She’s extensively explored psychological, spiritual, and scientific perspectives of suffering and transformation for more than 30 years. She’s known for her warm, emotionally engaged writing and teaching style that creates a safe and connected atmosphere for growth and learning. She’s writing a book that weaves together science that validates the value of grief with existential wisdom about loss to guide grievers (and their helpers) toward bedrock-level healing.

Sandra Yin: I’m a recovering journalist, whose stories have appeared in places like the Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, The New York Times, and American Way magazine. I’ve covered topics ranging from the power of a stool transplant, picky eaters, and how to market to fast-growing demographics … to why dogs were acting skittish one winter in Manhattan. (Hint: Ungrounded wires + a salty sidewalk.)
These days I’m a ghostwriter in West Virginia.
While it’s been easy enough to write for others, I’ve resisted tackling my own writing projects.
For decades.
Ack. What’s up with that?

Jessica Kantor is a Los Angeles-based writer and interdisciplinary artist who explores the intersection of technology and culture through writing, immersive media, and experiential art. She was an artist-in-residence at Technicolor, a Google JUMP creator, and an Oculus VR for Good Fellow. JessicaJessica’sas has earned accolades such as a Webby Award and a finalist nod for the Producers Guild Interactive Award, and many of her projects have screened at festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival and the Arles International Photo Festival.
Her interactive exhibition, Be Water My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee, is currently on display at The Wing Luke Museum in Seattle. It allows visitors to explore Bruce Lee’s pLee’sal library and his path to self-mastery. Jessica’s romantic comedy screenplay, The Date Whisperer, produced by ReelOne Entertainment, is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
She also hosts Raising Cinephiles, a podcast featuring interviews with actors, writers, and directors. In it, she explores the profound impact of cinema on their lives and how they pass that passion on to the next generation.

Kristin Song became a fierce gun safety advocate after her 15-year-old son, Ethan, was tragically killed by an unsecured gun at a friend’s house. While the gun owner escaped charges, the 14-year-old boy involved was charged with manslaughter. Outraged by this injustice, Kristin championed the strengthening of Connecticut’s child access prevention law, shifting accountability to gun owners.
Now, she’s at the forefront of the national fight to pass Ethan’s Law, demanding mandatory safe gun storage when minors are present to protect other families from similar heartbreak. Kristin lives in Connecticut with her husband, Mike, while her children, Emily and Evan, live in Boston.

Annmarie McLaughlin has been a volunteer for PEN American’s Prison & Justice Writing Mentorship Program and had her personal essays and nonfiction published in the Eldorado Sun, Santa Fe Reporter, and Santa Fe.com in New Mexico. Her spoken word projects have been performed at the Armory for the Arts, the Santa Fe Playhouse and SITE Santa Fe, also in New Mexico.
She has two adult sons who are frequent early readers of her work and she cherishes time with the rest of her favorite people in aspen groves, on frothy rivers, and beneath clear night skies.
Annmarie studied film production at New York University in the dark, pre-internet, pre-digital age and currently supports her writing and wandering habits with a job in the northern New Mexico social sector.

Theresa Cantley: I’m Theresa! Former Laboratory Equipment Operations and Marketing Director turned CEO and high level business coach for Main Street CEO’s and leadership teams. After spending over 20 years in corporate America and working for entrepreneurs of Mid-Size small businesses I realized my life had a bigger purpose so I traded her high heels, suits and sales meetings for the world of entrepreneurship. While still working full time I started my first business in 2008, Armario, a boutique retail store with my best friend and in pivoted into a new business endeavor of coaching and consulting Main Street business owners. I have a PhD in experience scaling businesses to multiple 7 and 8 figures and my core belief is that adversity and diversity in your life gives you the chance to create your biggest innovations and ideas that can ultimately change the world. My passion is to make sure Main Street businesses thrive because that are the backbone of our economy. They keep communities thriving, provide jobs to local individuals and have the greatest impact on creating positive change in our society. My work with the CEO’s and leadership of these businesses centers around improving what’s inside businesses so we can change the world outside. I am also the creator of The Business Growth Formula™, a proprietary process that teaches small business owners to profitably scale to 7 and 8 figures, The Business Resilience Blueprint™ which is a proven system to help businesses on the brink of failure go from surviving to thriving. You can catch me weekly as the host of the The CSuite Mentor™ Podcast which centers around real-life experiences, solutions and coaching to help small business owners build more profitability into their business and freedom into their life.

Walli Höfinger
Born 1966 in Austria.
Walli Höfinger is an Austrian performance artist, voice performer and Roy Hart voice teacher, who lives and works at Gutshof Reichenow near Berlin. Her artistic work currently focuses on experimental work on the voice, writing her own texts as well as voice and piano compositions. She works equally solo and in various formations with artists from other disciplines in interdisciplinary projects, including Christiane Hommelsheim, Jonathan Hart-Makwaia, Biliana Voutchkova, Ingo Reulecke, Teresa Brayshaw, and others.
Walli Höfinger originally studied New Artistic Media with a focus on performance art with Prof. Ulrike Rosenbach at the HBK Saarbrücken, followed by a lateral move into contemporary dance. Since 1996 she has been developing her own performances with movement, aerial acrobatics, video installations, sound, voice and piano.
Since 1996 she gave numerous performances in the visual arts, dance or theatre context, she started teaching performance art at the HBK Saar, (99-01) won the SAARSTIP. in Berlin (01) as well as the Women’s Promotion Prize of the HBKsaar (02).
Since 2009 she has been an accredited Roy Hart voice teacher (Malérargues, France) and regularly teaches voice workshops in Germany and throughout Europe.
Walli Höfinger divides her time between Reichenow near Berlin, Germany, and the Roy Hart Centre in Malérargues, France. She speaks German, English and French.

Charlotte Coplin is a writer, astrologer, and author. Her first book, How to Be Fabulous, came out with Affirm Press in 2023. Having worked as a writer in various capacities, she is now focused on fulfilling her dream of becoming a novelist. Originally from New Zealand, she has since lived all over the world, and now resides in Hollywood with her husband.

Dr. Dympna Weil, MD is a board-certified OB/GYN, Physician Wellness Advocate, Writer, and Master Coach who has had the privilege of delivering hundreds of babies into the world. Now, she helps deliver doctors back to themselves by PRESCRIBING POSSIBILITY.
When intellect meets intuition, there is a sort of alchemy that occurs. As the Founder of The Physician Wayfinder, Dympna serves other doctors as they navigate their own seas of life – be it personal or professional – so that they may live their purpose with joy and ease.
It is time we reconnect our brilliant minds and our hearts.

Elizabeth Borton: I was a copywriter my whole career, working in advertising agencies as a writer/producer/account coordinator. In 1993, I started my own group called Write On Target, Inc. to serve the marketing/communication needs of HR departments by making benefits simple and easy to understand (seriously). In 2008, I ran the company remotely as my husband and I sailed our 42-foot Catalina from Lake Erie to the Florida Keys. That trip turned into a blog and a book called The Great Adventure. I sold the company in 2015, got divorced in ‘23 and now live in Key West

Vicki Gohl has worked in theater and film, owned a retail store and held every job from grunt to guru in catering and events. Since COVID she has been writing and working in NH municipal government. Her current goal is to complete the second draft of her novel in progress. Married to a musician (Teese) with two grown boys, they have lived in an old house in Walpole NH for almost 30 years along with her 97 year-young mother. Born and raised in NYC. MFA UCSD; BA Cornell University; finished high school at Friends School Saffron Walden, UK.

Darha Phillpot: On impulse, sometime late last spring, Darha clicked on a link that popped up on social media and tumbled, like Alice, into the gateless community. Darha is a land planner, supporting Indigenous communities in Northern Canada on conservation and community planning. She has a BFA in dance from Simon Fraser University and a Master’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia. She lives with her husband, her ten-year-old daughter and her red border collie named Chilli Dog in a small town in the northeast prairie region of Saskatchewan.

Jenny Goff lives with her husband and two daughters on Whidbey Island in Washington state. They raise animals and grow a variety of vegetables and fruit on their six-acre farmstead. She is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and private chef, as well as on the chef team at the literary non-profit Hedgebrook.
Before farming life, Jenny sailed over 35,000 nautical miles over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the Caribbean Sea. When she was twenty-five, she sailed with her partner from San Diego to New York City via the Panama Canal on their 32’ sloop. She subsequently worked on mega-yachts and sailboats and obtained her USCG Master’s license in 2011. In 2016 she raced a 23’ trimaran from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, Alaska, in the 2nd annual Race to Alaska (rules: no engine, no support)—and made it to the finish line!
Jenny is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and studied long-form journalism at Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. She has written for national magazines including SAIL and Cruising World, as well as regional newspapers and magazines including Whidbey Island Life, Working Waterfront, Beach and Bay Press, and The Bollard. She recently launched her children’s book, THANKFUL HARVEST, and is currently writing/editing novels based on her years at sea and escapades in the yachting industry. www.jennygoff.com

Julia Manlogon is happily retired from a 33-year career as a Licensed and Board Certified Electrologist in her multi-person practice. She served on the NH Electrolysis Association Board, Electrolysis Advisory Committee for the State of NH and was a Delegate to the American Electrology Association. She became a Financial Coach in 2018, helping her patients, friends and church members achieve their financial goals. Julia is also a co-manager of family summer rental properties in Maine. Writing has been a part of her life since 5th grade, whether it be poems, short stories, journaling, press releases, blog posts and a couple of nonfiction book ideas. Julia sees stories in the everyday and writes them.

Alexander Shearer: My childhood wishlist had three big things on it – genetically engineer organisms, have a great family, and write stuff other people read.
Did the first one, I am in the middle of the second one (which is awesome), and now I get to focus on that writing thing.
I have previously written for roleplaying games, a weekly gaming column, and the occasional comic script. Most recently my short story “Package Handed Directly to Resident” appeared in the Wrong Turn thriller anthology that (bonus points for coolness) has an audiobook version. I also recently had another short story accepted for the fiction wing of a gaming IP I adore, which is too cool for words.
My formal writing training is sparse, but the current work would be my fourth full-length manuscript. I’ve been shopping number three around to agents for a few years, and the first two were excellent practice. 🙂

Rose Andrez is a holistic healer, inspirational speaker and writer. She was trained in The Rubenfeld Synergy Method and her story was published in Healing Journeys – The Power of Rubenfeld Synergy.
She is an advocate for mental health and has raised considerable funds for the National Association on Mental Illness in NYC. Rose is looking forward to continue writing her first memoir about mental health in the Gateless Academy community.
Rose resides in Edgewater, NJ with her wonderful husband, Greg. They both love music and enjoy performing together in their duo group, Kisses from New York.

Heather Johnson Durocher is returning to the Academy for a second year as she works on her first novel. She is an award-winning journalist, writing for national and statewide newspapers, magazines and organizations for more than 25 years and specializing in parenting, health and wellness, business/financial services, and travel/outdoor recreation. She is a senior editor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, a position that allows her to travel and explore — and do research for her in-progress book that is set in part in the Upper Peninsula.
Heather writes from a beautiful small town on Lake Michigan in the state’s northern lower peninsula, where she and her husband Joe raised their three kids, ages 24, 22 and 18. Heather is also the publisher of the lifestyle website Michigan Runner Girl and through this has hosted a weekly podcast and created an annual women’s winter retreat that brings more than 50 women together for an active and restorative weekend in the woods. She is a contributor to an anthology about women and running and writes the Moving Through newsletter on Substack, where she explores midlife, long-term partnership and marriage, parenting adult children, and how to keep moving through it all.

Casey Erin Wood is a writer, coach, energy healer, Gateless trained teacher and founder of the Ruby Slipper School of Magic, where she helps women own their magic so they can change the mother-trucking world.
Casey has helped hundreds of women step into their ruby shoes and realize they’ve always had the power. Her work has been featured in places like HuffPost, The Muse, Scarry Mommy and The New York Times.
When she’s not championing women to shamelessly change the world, you’ll find her killing her darlings in her (oh-so-soon-to-be-finished) memoir, plotting (yet another) trip to Ireland or bingeing her latest television addiction (hint: anything with crackerjack character development).
Casey lives on the shores of Georgian Bay with her multiple-hat-wearing husband, her unabashedly sassy teenage daughter and her two very badly behaved French Bulldogs, Gus and Mabel.

Farrah Haidar has spent far too long being a closet creative and writer. Her siblings claim she acted out commercials in the mirror when young. She’s now taking that penchant for the dramatic and a lifelong commitment to creative work to start her career as a writer, voice actor, and podcast host.
My goal for my writing is to tell sharp, untamed stories that challenge the way people think about gender roles, life goals, and my Arab heritage. I write as a war survivor, a woman, and a Muslim, each identity takes a turn informing my work. I want people to walk away from my writing with questions that make them curious about the world around them and how they can defy it to find more joy and freedom.

Heather Lee Farrell: I live and wander in the mountains and open spaces of New Mexico. I love spending time outside creating earth art and earth alters out of foraged natural materials.
My professional background melds together healthcare and wellness with wilderness and body, stillness and breath-based practices. Lifelong, I’ve approached creative expression as a vital part of wellness and health. I infuse all my health and wellness programs with aspects of accessible nature.
You can read more at HeatherLeeFarrell.com. I’ve strayed away from social media, so my website is my online hub. (and a work in progress!)
I’ve always loved writing; but kept it private. It wasn’t until I wasn’t able to speak for a period of time while going through nine years of many surgeries due to a severe accident and adjunct medical issues that I truly embraced how powerful our words are. During that time, when I was well enough, I began writing almost as a devotion returning my voice to me. Creative energy felt renewing producing a unique regeneration of health and wellness. Writing helped me feel more resilient, healed, and empowered while I was still considered unwell and recovering from surgery to surgery. During that time, I decided to explore writing several books.
I first applied to Gateless as an act of bravery to claim becoming a writer. Joining Gateless has been transformative for me. I have been part of the Gateless Academy for almost four years as a writing student, learner and team member. I am writing my first book through Gateless right now!! I am excited to continue to learn, connect. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of this community of writers.

Stephanie Greene is an organizer of the Brattleboro Literary Festival and was a commentator on Vermont Public Radio for nine years.
She was Art Editor of Print Town: Brattleboro’s Legacy of Words, a history of local printing, publishing and writing, which won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Best Overall Design–Nonfiction.
Her fiction has appeared in Green Mountains Review, The New Guard, Sky Island Journal, Literally Stories, The Writing Disorder, Transform the World and Solstice. It has been nominated for Best of the Net and for a Pushcart Prize.
She lives in southern Vermont with her husband, writer Marshall Brooks.

Kate Chaney: I’m a writer of life. An emotional sponge that needs a place to wring myself out and make room for more. I pour my truest self onto the page – the one I keep veiled just enough to give the appearance of “having it all together.” Through writing, I explore the twists and turns of life that play out in my anxious mind.
A list of just the facts: Katie, Kansas City, grieving mother, wife, daughter, friend, survivor, education junkie, multi-career collector, including life coach, fitness trainer, and aspiring writer.

Denise Solar-Cox: After going from a stay-at-home-mom to award-winning activist filmmaker, Top 100 podcaster and sought-after international speaker, Denise Soler Cox uses her experience to produce inspiring conten that sparks meaningful and transformative dialog. In 2020 Denise was recognized as a “Featured Host” by Apple Podcast North America for her podcas “The Self-ish Latina” which has listeners in 32 countries. Denise has been invited to speak on over 400 stages including two TEDx talks and has worked with some of the world’s most recognized brands like Progressive, Microsoft, AARP, Facebook, LinkedIn, JP Morgan Chase, Salesforce, Procter & Gamble, Dow Jones, Eli Lilly, KPMG, Starbucks and VaynerMedia, SONY, to name a few. Her work with Project Eñye has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Forbes.com, CNN, NBC Latino, Chicago Tribune, Telemundo, Univision, Fox News Latino, HOLA and the Huffington Post. Denise is a distinguished member of the 4th Cohort of the Stanford Latino Leaders Entrepreneur Program and was a National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) 2017 Fellow. She was honored to be selected as the 2018 recipient of the “Bridge Builder Award in Education” from the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Simon & Schuster will be publishing Denise’s debut book, “What Will They Say?” in 2026.

Dr. Sarah Johnson is an American historian with twenty years of teaching experience in higher education and over ten years of experience in public history. She currently serves on the steering committee of a European Union research group, ACORSO through the University of Brighton, and is working on a manuscript project about the history of American mail order. She is an author and speaker on topics at the intersection of material culture, design/mass production history, and women’s labor history. She has worked and consulted for nonprofits, museum collections, and historical societies, and is about to launch a content creation business.

Helen Kweskin: I’m a retired high school English teacher (a career I loved for 45 years), and am now focusing on my own writing.
Born in England and spent my early years in Colombia and Venezuela; education in Philadelphia and Washington DC, before moving to Connecticut.
Married to a retired attorney; we have two adult children and six grandchildren (three of whom are growing up in Geneva, Switzerland).
For the past 15 years I have been involved with educational missions in Rwanda, East Africa. Am a very active person, stymied this year by knee issues, but packing my hiking poles for the cobbled streets of Cortona. Nothing will hold me back!

Melissa Dugan: Raised in Southern California, my journey took me to Boston where I earned a BA from Emerson College, enjoyed concerts, museums and getting lost in the city, on purpose (the best way to learn a new city). During my years in Boston, I worked in various media, hospitality and state agency positions. Career goals fell as life happened and I experienced vision issues but apparently now there’s a new story being created. Currently I live in Texas with my long-time boyfriend, I am grateful to have found Gateless and looking forward to being part of the Academy for the third time.

Jean Haynes writes at the intersection of family history and fiction.
Recent research into her family’s roots revealed stories of courageous female ancestors overcoming hardship, searching for identity, and developing agency in a man’s world. Set against a backdrop of family, faith, hope, and resilience, she believes their legacy can empower today’s women and girls as they create their own life stories.
Jean is a life-long learner, book lover, and history nerd. When she is not reading, writing, and researching, you’re likely to find her walking the beach, doing yoga, or playing with her grandchildren.

Kelly Anderson: “I’m an academic HIV physician, but I’ve always been drawn to intuitives and naturalists – people who understand something deeper about the world we live in, and can help unshackle the rest of us from the hustle and grind. I love to write elements, myth and literary love stories. I’ve guided thousands of women doctors through writing experiences at Understory (understory.me), my non-profit designed to bring women doctors back into their instincts. My writing has appeared in many books, including The Surprising Lives of Small-town Doctors (2016) and Pursuing Health (2018). I’ve published in Academic Medicine (2012), the Journal of Adolescent Health (2013), Social Medicine (2014), the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry (2014) and the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine (2012 and 2018), amongst others. I’m an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, teaching about community, ethics and belonging for over a decade. I spent my childhood on the beaches of British Columbia where most of my stories unfold.”

John Lincoln: “I’m just a guy trying to be the best man I can be in this world, who thinks about everything, lives life fully, loves to tell stories and likes to laugh ’till my eyes water. I have a wonderful partner, a pooch, a bald kitty, three parrots, a tortoise, a chameleon and some of the best people in my life a guy could wish for. I believe that we’re all unique and when we understand and lean into who we most authentically are, with honesty and vulnerability, we thrive infinitely. I coach people to do that – it’s the job I was born to do but could not do until I was ready.
I’ve done the corporate thing from dishwasher to Director, taken an intentional two-year sabbatical traveling the country on my “Travels with Pooter and Petunia Tour” in my Airstream trailer with my dog and cat, told stories on stage with Molly Ringwald, won a gold medal in men’s singles figure-skating at the Gay Games and tend to straighten pictures when they’re crooked. I am a lover of language and a linguistic lint-picker, thrilling at the power of the written word that stimulates my expanding mind, allowing me to will images into existence, in flights of fancy, grounded in truth.
Oh, and I am writing a memoir of my life.
Facebook: facebook.com/hjohnlincoln and facebook.com/groups/strengthsassessment
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCRhVAoa_jqFmTzskSzZhgGg
Blog: ponderablepostulations.blogspot.com

Camilla Royce read English at Southampton University and then completed classical theatre training in repertory at the Jermyn Street Theatre, off West End, London.
After a couple of years of touring, she went to Paris looking for inspiration. There, she worked as an assistant to veteran Hollywood actress Leslie Caron. Camilla went on to work in magazine publishing within events and for many years was a freelance events producer for corporate and experiential events in London, Middle East and Europe.
Camilla currently works with two film directors on script development, film production and digital art projects.
She is a master tarot reader, www.veritytarot.com, and is currently working on her debut novel – a historical thriller with esoteric and supernatural themes.

Jennifer Wilson is an author, playwright, accomplished actor, and dynamic speaker with a passion for storytelling. With a completed manuscript and several short plays performed on multiple stages, including The Actors Studio in Newburyport, MA, Jennifer brings compelling narratives to life on stage and page.
A celebrated Keynote speaker, Jennifer has inspired audiences at women’s networking events across the country, by blending her expertise with authenticity. Jennifer is also a champion of the story slam competition, showcasing her talent for captivating audiences with raw and relatable stories.

Carolina Fernandez: By day I lead a division for a building materials company. I am an engineer with a secret spiritual bend. I am an astrologer, Gene Keys guide and tarotista, too. I am on a mission to bring spirituality out of the closet and into the corporate world, to lessen the effects of greed, overwork, and disconnection.

Sonja McCord is a trailblazing dancer, artful narrator, and bold dreamer who blends her passions for dance, storytelling, and marketing to empower artists, writers, and entrepreneurs to amplify their voices, build impactful brands, and turn their dreams into thriving realities. With expertise in marketing and strategy, Sonja helps artists, writers, and entrepreneurs transform their vision into powerful, profitable brands.
A former dancer with training and performance experience at renowned companies such as Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Nashville Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Dance Theatre of Harlem, Sonja is now embarking on a daring comeback at 44. She chronicles her journey in her blog, Dear Starlets, and her forthcoming docuseries, Starring Sonja. Her story transcends dance, inspiring bold dreamers to rewrite their narratives, embrace big, wild dreams, and take center stage in their lives and careers.

Kristin Cassidy has always been driven by a deep desire to help others navigate life with less suffering and more joy. Her mission is to be a beacon of love in the world.
She is a Kripalu-certified yoga teacher with nearly 20 years of experience. In addition to yoga, she has worked as a Herbalist, Biofeedback Therapist, and Stress Management Consultant.
As a professionally trained Transformational Life Coach, Kristin helps individuals become more powerful versions of themselves by breaking through hidden barriers to create lives filled with greater joy, freedom, and success. She specializes in working with women, guiding them to rise into their brilliance. She can be found at www.crazytocalm.co
Kristin is working on a memoir that intertwines a love story with her journey through grief, loss, healing, and personal epiphanies. She is also a newlywed and devoted mother to two beloved (adult) children and two fur babies in Southern Vermont.

Maryam Mehrtash is a dynamic entertainment marketing executive with over a decade of experience blending storytelling and strategy to drive innovation in the media and technology industries. Most recently, as Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Brand Partnerships at Paramount and CBS Entertainment, she led the go-to-market advertising strategy for Paramount+, managing multi-million-dollar sponsorships with Fortune 500 companies like Google, General Motors, and VISA. Her work has supported iconic franchises and brands like Star Trek, The GRAMMYs, and Yellowstone, earning industry recognition and exceeding revenue targets. Prior to Paramount, Maryam drove digital monetization for KTLA 5 News and Tribune Media, crafting scalable advertising solutions and unlocking new revenue streams. Her diverse background includes producing several unscripted television shows and podcasts.
Maryam specializes in aligning diverse teams across sales, research, and creative to deliver high-impact campaigns that resonate globally. She is renowned for her ability to balance creative vision with operational excellence, consistently delivering ROI while safeguarding brand integrity. Her accolades include TV Week’s 40 Under 40 Award and the HotDocs Astral Media Emerging Filmmaker Award.
A daughter of immigrant entrepreneurs, Maryam brings resilience and ingenuity to her work, leveraging her personal journey as a foundation for innovative storytelling. She is a Business Fellow at WIF, an active member of Chief, and holds certifications in TV and Film writing and development from UCLA and The Writing Pad. With expertise spanning marketing strategy, global partnerships, creative writing and production, she continues to inspire teams, scale opportunities, and connect audiences with compelling narratives.

Shari Kaplan is an emerging writer whose work explores family, grief, hope, and love. Her memoir-in-process reflects on the transformative experiences of living with lifelong chronic illness and the losses of her parents, deepening her narrative to uncover beauty in loss and growth. A former science writer turned French teacher turned creative writer, Shari holds a BA in Journalism/Professional Writing from The College of New Jersey. She has honed her creative craft through programs like The Book Academy, The Memoir Project, and New Rules Studio. Shari lives in New Jersey with her husband and their four wildly adorable rescue cats.

Angie Gregory works in energy sustainability. She has a son and daughter-in-law and a grandson who brings joy to her life. She has been studying improv since 2022 and performs at a small theater in Chicago. Writing has always been a grounding form of self expression for her, and she is excited to join the Academy and bring her writing more into focus.

Monica Spoelstra helps boutique fitness studio owners, wellness practitioners, nutritionists, and women’s wellness brands transform their expertise into magnetic brand stories that attract premium clients and media attention. Drawing from her marketing experience with global brands like Nike and Disney — as well as public relations experience in the travel/tourism and hospitality sectors — Monica helps wellness entrepreneurs craft authentic narratives that drive business growth. Her strategic approach to brand storytelling integrates seamlessly across websites, PR pitches, social media, email sequences, and sales materials, helping wellness entrepreneurs build thriving businesses through a streamlined and sustainable marketing approach.
Based in Miami, Monica combines her passion for holistic wellness with deep marketing expertise. She holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and has certifications in Gateless Writing, health coaching, and nutrition. Learn more at monicaspoelstra.com.

Bethany Bilbrey is a first-time fiction novel author, but is not new to writing. She has had many careers which all contribute to her work. Her marketing and design career gave her an appreciation for the persuasiveness of words. Her law career gave her an awareness of detail and precision in writing. Life coaching gave her knowledge of a person’s limiting beliefs and personal growth track. She grew up in Massachusetts and New York but now lives in Colorado. Bethany finished the first draft of her first novel in 2024 and is looking forward to working on it in Gateless.

Natalie Schriefer, MFA is a freelance writer and academic editor. Her writing has appeared in Poets & Writers, HuffPost, CNN, Wired, Bloomberg, and more. She focuses on pop culture, health, and identity (particularly bisexuality). As an academic editor, Natalie supports students and faculty in the humanities and social sciences as they finish theses, dissertations, journal articles, and textbook manuscripts–which has allowed her to learn perpetually. When she isn’t at her desk, she’s often out walking or learning a new sport. You can find her online at www.natalieschriefer.com.

Sharon Helmstetter: Growing up in a military family and continuing the transplant trend into adulthood, I’ve lived in and traveled to many cities, states, and countries. Currently, I live with my family in Seattle and my day job is in the human resources field. Though I often write in my daily work, I expect writing as part of the Gateless Academy to be way more fun! I have been writing throughout my life – poems here and little stories there – but am excited about this new journey as part of the Gateless Academy.

Laura Hartnett has over 15 years of experience as a management consultant, litigation attorney for national and international law firms, and in-house counsel for a Fortune 100 company. Today, she combines all of that experience as a consultant for attorneys and their teams. She teaches lawyers how to redesign their practice of law from a human-centered approach, one that works better for both lawyers and clients.
But it wasn’t until the May 2024 Gateless retreat in France that she first called herself a writer. Last academic year, she lived in Madrid where she started writing a memoir about moving her family to Spain as well as a comic novel about a young woman practicing law and all of the field’s insanities. While she’s been published on legal consulting topics in American Bar Association books and magazines, she feels drawn to writing more fiction and personal essays.
When not writing or consulting, she is also a yoga addict, karaoke enthusiast, and proud mom of two creative girls. She will one day figure out how to regularly divide her time between Columbus, Ohio and Europe.

Jamie Broderick is an advocate for empowering women and building community. After 20 years in corporate accounting and tax, and another 20 in the entrepreneur networking and coaching space, she is entering Phase 3 with writing being a main player. She is married with two adult kids, splits her time between her homes in Doylestown PA and Bluffton SC, and is on a mission to teach mahjong to anyone willing to learn.

Juliet Cuming was raised in a 13th floor Manhattan apartment. Pink haired and safety pinned from the age of thirteen, she spent her nights sneaking out in fishnet stockings and secondhand stilettos to go dancing at New York’s iconic downtown nightclubs. Yet at twenty-six she decided to leave her creative, avant garde life and move herself to rural Vermont to construct—with no building experience whatsoever—one of the greenest homes in America. A groundbreaking solar- and wind-powered straw bale all-natural building, The Earth Sweet Home house pushed the envelope of natural building when it was first constructed in 1996, and it still does. The question is not only how she did it, but why?
Starting as an eighteen-year-old teenage fashion designer making clothes for 1980s club kids like herself—Juliet was profiled in Seventeen Magazine in an article entitled “New Wave Rags to Riches”—Juliet has never let lack of formal training or “rules” stand in her way. With neither family support nor money, her scrappy DIY entrepreneurialism was in keeping with that wild style decade from 1980 to 1990 when New York’s visionary innovators were found on the streets. At twenty-one with—against all odds—a degree from Columbia University, Juliet headed an entire fashion design team on Seventh Avenue. However, wanting more freedom and adventure, she decided to go out on her own and become a costumer and image consultant for rock ‘n’ roll bands and pop stars. By twenty-four, she was directing music videos and rockumentaries in New York and London for queer dance bands and platinum-selling heavy metal artists. At the same time, Juliet became a prominent Pro-Choice activist whose star-studded 1991 Creative Time video piece for MTV inspired millions and got Juliet targeted and doxxed by the Moral Majority and the Conservative Congressional Record.
And then, still in her twenties, she started to fall apart from a debilitating mystery illness not identified for over thirty years. Losing faith in a medical community that consistently gaslit and failed her, Juliet decided to take things into her own hands, as she had always done when the orthodox options were not working. She handcrafted a life to fit her needs, and a home to house her unique life.
Juliet’s Earth Sweet Home house in rural Vermont has been featured in design publications, newspapers, and books on natural building. After twenty-eight years of living off the grid, raising and loving two home-birthed homeschooled kids, and founding and running both the local homeschool community center and a fashion photo archive to pay the bills, Juliet is at long last slowing down. Still working as a climate and social justice activist—her performance art name is “The Queen of the Frozen North”—Juliet is now a divorced empty-nester with the time, and the freedom, to finally tell her story.
In sharing this tale of chronic over-achievement, feng shui, local foods, mysterious illness, feminism, dowsing, lactivism, stonewalling, attachment parenting, community building, straw baling, trauma recovery, plastering, and, finally, a fragile health, Juliet hopes to entertain and inspire readers to seek their own creative pathways to healing both themselves, and our collective Earth Sweet Home.

Tiffany Cook: I have considered myself a writer since I was fresh out of college (1992) but have yet to truly own that I am a writer. I freelanced for a local community paper. I write marketing copy for the law firm I work for and where I almost have the guts to propose a raw, real, out of the box campaign. I’m thinking this special Gateless community will be the tipping point. I am also a probate and family law paralegal. I journal almost every day. I write copy for small business owners. I read mostly non-fiction. I’m fascinated with the human condition – all the nooks and crannies. I want to write about loss and grief but in a way that isn’t dark and sad. I want to use my personal life stories to connect with people. I’m currently writing a book for my teenage daughter as she evolves into her own next chapter of life and I have two other book ideas on the back burner.
I am also the founder of a lifestyle brand, which I am clear is the channel for the written word, the message I want to share. The brand strikes a balance of grit and grace, which is the essence of life itself. I want to serve women by creating beautiful clothing and powerful words of connection. I want to inspire self-harmony and freedom. I want to help women be at ease with themselves.
I live in a coastal village of Connecticut with my daughter, who is a senior in high school. I have a son who is a sophomore in college in Boulder, CO and if I’m being real with myself, he likely will establish roots out there. His soul is happy out there. My daughter is waiting to hear back from school and so we are currently in the where-is-she-going-to-end-up phase. This I’m certain: I’m going to be an empty nester in August of 2025. Waves of panic but mostly, I am excited for my next life chapter. It’s the unknown that freaks me out. That, and reinventing myself, as a single mom turned single empty nester. So, I want to write about it because I know I can’t be the only one. I’m ready to get out of my own way.

Sibley Fleming: Coined the “Mouth of the South” as a tater tot, my voice amused adults.
An ‘innocent’ child, I spoke Truth. The adults found it refreshing and hilarious. My parents put me on show until they did not. Hence, I learned my reflections of ‘Reality’ reported by the spoken word, could be misconstrued and taken not as intended. Silenced, I stopped using these symbolic structures at the age of 8. Trapped inside I was forced to use a more covert language. I turned to the visual arts. I sculpted my physical manifestation, my body. Carving out my Truth, my medium, diets. By the age of 12, I was 5’9 and weighed 92 pounds. Emaciated. I covertly shared my tale.
In my 18th year of circling the sun I began to draw. This medium allowed me to breath again.
Now 49, I work as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at my private practice, Chosen Path Therapy.
Three years ago, they found a lump in my left breast. Jolted into my flesh, I began to use a new medium, the written word, to document the Shadows Of My Youth.
Three weeks later, I was told the mass was benign. I put the pen down.
Two weeks ago, I was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer. I will undergo a complete hysterectomy in January 2025 with the intention of removing all of it.
Today, I pick the pen back up.

Marianna Jordan: I’m Jordan, a storyteller and visionary women’s Integrative Leadership coach. I have cultivated deep knowledge of Integrative psychology and astrology over the years, and how that Presence helps us understand the most powerful universal energies in our everyday lives. My work for over a decade as a journalist with experience hosting radio and television shows, have opened me up to learning more about pressing women’s issues, cultural differences, traditional vs. modern practices. With a background as a Business Development executive for Forbes Top 100 company, I have a unique understanding of women’s leadership and visionary transformative skills. Counseling powerful women through healing and clarity is my work’s direction that brings up results and elegant solutions streaming from clients own Soul’s expressions.
I’m committed to connecting with clients on a deeper level and crafting meaningful experiences that leave a lasting impact.
I came to America as a young woman, who chose to leave behind my old life and existence to start from ground zero. From a radio and tv career, with M.S. in Journalism and PR, I moved across continents to follow a dream and a destiny. Landed in America with a little English and an ambition to make my way up. The only constant I had to hold onto during the journey was metaphysical in nature. Astrology was my savior. Studying Psychology helped me survive, while growing some new roots and making sense of the chaos. That became my own brand of AstroPsychology with Intuitive Energetic Codes – BoldStar Power. I’m currently working on a book about the BoldStar of Women’s Empowerment.

Karen Stewart is a mother, wife, friend and project manager. Her Tennessee Appalachian roots run deep although she has spent the majority of her adulthood “up North”. Her hero is Dolly Parton. Karen enjoys writing poetry, reading Man Booker Prize nominated books and quilting. She has contributed to Vermont Mom’s Blog with several personal essays. Her main focus of writing is about early mother loss, infertility and adoption.
Karen served in the federal and state governments for 15 years managing public health programs in rural health, biopreparedness and HIV/AIDS. She’s most proud of the work she did to launch the international public health program, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, paving the way for millions of people in developing countries to receive life-saving anti-retroviral drugs.

Tamara Saviano is an author, filmmaker and Grammy-winning producer. Her memoir, The MostBeautiful Girl: A True Story of a Dad, a Daughter and the Healing Power of Music made the 2014 ChicagoReview of Books Best Books of 2014 list. Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of GuyClark, won the 2017 Belmont Award from the International Country Music Conference for the best writing on country music. Tamara’s documentary, Without Getting Killed or Caught, is the winner of SXSW’s 2021 Louis Black Lonestar Award. Poets & Dreamers: My Life in Americana Music will be published in 2025.

Carrie Kenner is a writer, doula maven, and sacred feminine guide dedicated to creating more humane systems in birth, healthcare, food production, and work.
Carrie has trained over 2,500 doulas, supported 350+ families in birth, and written four books for doulas. She believes doulas are the antidote to patriarchal systems that favor technology over what we really need: love, compassion, attention, and respect. Carrie weaves family systems, racial and social justice, and sustainability into her work as a trainer and mentor. She lives in Washington state near her sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and loves reading, dancing, cooking, trees, silence, and sunshine.

Gillian Shure: For twenty years Gillian Shure worked as an actress in film, television and theatre. After dabbling in stand up for a couple years, she returned to school and recently graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing at Antioch University. Her work has appeared in The Paragon Press, Carbon Culture Review, On The Bus, The MacGuffin, and Side-Eye on the Apocalypse. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two kids.

Connie Bessette: My middle child of three has a rare genetic disorder. His issues as an infant led me into a labyrinth of medicine, anatomy and psychology which at age twenty I knew nothing about. I would learn about hardship and courage. As a mother of three I became well acquainted with hierarchies of power and how to navigate complex systems of medical teams and educators.
I later began college and earned my MSW.
In 1998 I left a career as a school social worker in a K through twelve district and began writing my memoir. Shortly thereafter I opened my psychotherapy practice. I specialize in early childhood trauma. I join my clients in realizing their years of suffering can be understood and reprocessed… insecurities can become strengths and self-loathing can become self-love. Survivors can self-actualize.
I was president of an international support organization (connected to my son’s disorder) where I brought researchers and parents together from across the globe. I wrote about genetically engineered mice and helped develop programs for parents.
I recently hiked the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Perhaps the most important thing to know about me is that a day does not pass when I do not laugh, feel sadness and have some fun. And I hate reptiles.

Dr. Lindsay Jernigan is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in couples therapy and personal empowerment work with women. In addition to her private practice, Lindsay runs retreats, trains other therapists, and writes for Psychology Today. She lives in Vermont, where she and her husband have raised their two daughters in the mountains and waters of the Mad River Valley. When she’s not working, writing, or parenting you can find her hunting for sunshine, taking way too many photos that will never live outside her phone, or trying to recruit a friend for a long walk on a dirt road.

Casey Pierce is a social scientist, educator and consultant. Her research and consulting focuses on the changing nature of work in the face of emerging technologies and digitization in organizations. She has been published in top journals, including Information Systems Research, Journal of Communication, the Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, and the Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. Her work has received multiple awards, including best dissertation and best paper awards from the Academy of Management and International Communication Association. Casey previously was a professor at the University of Michigan School of Information. She earned her Ph.D. from the Media, Technology, and Society program at Northwestern University, School of Communication and her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Southern California

Joan Johnson: I am a woman who has spent the majority of her life serving others. It has become a badge for so many of us, and sometimes it is not the badge we want it to be. I am now at a stage in my life where I am beginning to focus on my growth and development as an individual of enlightenment and grace.
I have lived a short 68 years on this planet in this human form. I will stay here as long as my health permits and my purpose allows.
As far as careers, I have had many, but none of extreme importance to most individuals. My family would probably be my most important career and passion. Learning to lead, grow and release is a talent that I hope will be my biggest accomplishment.
As a woman with a passion for learning I embrace any opportunity to expand my heart and mind.

Elizabeth Farren was born and raised in New York City, though she now lives in Rome, Italy, where she teaches creative writing at John Cabot and Loyola University. Elizabeth received her BA in English from Columbia University, and her MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars. Her work has been published in 7 Stories from Rome {Anthology}, Prick of a Spindle, The 13th Warrior Review, Verso, and The Columbia Review. She was chosen by Mary Gaitskill as a finalist for the Summer Literary Seminars, and her novel, Don’t Tell Them You’re American was a finalist in the Evening House Press Grassic Short Novel Prize.
She is deeply passionate about reading, writing, music, art, imagination, human rights, feminism, equal justice, and integrity.

Stacey Andon has walked through some of the most difficult life experiences and learned how to deeply heal and transform her life through a philosophy she calls “everyday enchantment”. This philosophy is grounded by the belief that life is way more fun and magical when we break up with life’s prescribed boxes in favor of our own mystical journey. Her unique blend of practical wisdom and intuitive insights offer a fresh perspective on personal growth and self-discovery that isn’t looking to transcend our humanity, but rather embrace it as our most unique superpower quietly hiding in plain sight.

Colleen K. Speroff: Ever since reading Oliver Twist as a child, I’ve been drawn to books that deal with the darker moments in the everyday lives of common people. I draw from my own heartbreaking experiences and also from family memories handed down and retold around the table. My stories weave in and out of truth. I let my wildest, craziest imaginations come to the surface, but the underlying truths that matter remain. I was born in Arkansas and raised in Oklahoma and have lived all over the country. I have three grown, wonderful children, two grandchildren, and a brilliant husband who finally landed at Vanderbilt in 1999. We settled in Franklin, Tennessee, a few miles south of Nashville in 2002, where I became the founding member of Writers in CAPS, which has seen most of its authors become published writers. I’ve attended writing conferences, retreats, and creative writing courses and I was active for years in the Williamson County Council for the Written Word. It’s been hard work but a lot of fun because I love being around writers and writing alongside them. I have one published short story, and there are three or four unfinished novels piled up around my desk waiting to be completed. When I contacted Suzanne, she graciously invited me to apply to Gateless. I am fortunate to have been accepted by the academy and there is now a fluttering of hope within me mixed with fear and trepidation that l will finish at least this one novel I feel so compelled to write.

Whitney Doherty: For work, I call myself a Chief Dot Connector with a 30+ year track record helping businesses expand their markets, amplify their revenue streams, and elevate their impact. I specialize in leveraging partnerships, innovative problem-solving, and high-level business development to unlock untapped growth potential. My experience spans consumer goods, retail, education and startups, giving my clients a unique advantage through cross-industry insights and proven approaches to brand expansion.
But the only thing I have ever really wanted to do consistently throughout my life is “read, write and talk to people”. Joining the Academy is a way to bring this closer into focus. My superpower lies in connecting the dots between people, ideas, and opportunities, but that is mostly a skill I use for others and haven’t been able to “earn my keep” doing only that for myself…YET.
I was raised in the smallest state in the country, within an alcoholic family, that ran a family business and attended an all girl’s Quaker school, so I have been imprinted heavily by old programming that is not mine. I write to try to untangle that, share my experiences and lessons learned and find new ways to be in this world that are most closely aligned with my truest self. Currently I am back living in Brooklyn, having retreated to a rural upstate life for 4 1/2 years during the Pandemic. I have lived in NYC for over 30 years which also has greatly impacted me and my worldview. I am really excited and grateful to be here and honor my writing of which I have taken for granted for too long.

Evelyn Wright: When I was young, my mother had these cute 1970’s woodcut alphabet prints for our initials. Hers was C is for Cat, with a fat tabby happily curled up on a cushion. I adored cats and wished I had that one, but mine was E is for Everything. The image was an attic stuffed with chairs, lamps, rollerskates, trunks, dollhouses, and every other thing. I was pretty nonplussed. But sometime in my 20s, my mother explained: “That was how I always saw you! You were so creative and curious, and interested in absolutely everything.”
Decades later I have to admit, my career resembles that remark. The many things I’ve done include studying quantum mechanics, analyzing climate policy, supporting local sustainable development, facilitating consensus decision-making, priestessing rituals, teaching economics, and managing local government. My current passion is supporting individual and collective healing with craniosacral therapy and nervous system education.
All of my efforts, and especially my writing, are driven by a thirst for learning and an inner compass trained on finding ways to free us all to thrive, or as liberation pedagogist Paolo Freire put it, “to create a world in which it is easier to love.”

Ashley Logan is a mother, daughter, sister, seeker, founder and instigator. She’s a doer, a dreamer, a believer and motivated by making a difference in the world by shining a light on all things, good, authentic and beautiful. As an entrepreneur and natural community builder, she’s had the privilege of building and leading multiple women’s organizations over the span of two decades. She is the founder and CEO of Yakkety Yak Marketing, a purpose-driven marketing agency. She is a reiki healer, sound practitioner, breathwork facilitator, journey guide and Miracle Way Facilitator. Ashley is also mother of three small children, host of the Unapologetically Yours Podcast, and a painter, music-maker, dreamer, and storyteller. She has a MSJ from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a BS in Creative Writing from University of Tennessee.

Shubha Venugopal holds a PhD in literature and an MFA in creative writing, and teaches at the California State University, Northridge. She has won numerous accolades including: two nominations for a Pushcart Prize; first place in The Southern Indiana Review’s competition; winner in The Masters Review competition; and placement in many other competitions. Three of her flash memoir pieces will appear in Letting Grief Speak, by Diane Zinna, (forthcoming in 2024, Columbia University Press). Her work has appeared in Brevity, The Southern Indiana Review, Nimrod, The Masters Review, WomenArts Quarterly, BANG! The New Guard, Literary Mama, Potomac Review, Kartika Review, Post Road Magazine, Storyglossia, Word Riot, Mslexia, and in A Stranger Among Us: Stories of Cross Cultural Collision and Connection; and The Robert Olen Butler Short Fiction Prize. She is currently working on a memoir. She has two beloved college-aged children and a rescue dog.

Krissi Driver is a lifelong learner and former English teacher. After spending more than a decade teaching in South Korea, in 2024, she decided to pivot and begin writing full-time. Her personal and reported essays have been published by Business Insider, FastCompany.com, The Guardian, and The New York Times. She is still living in Asia with her partner and currently working on her first novel.

My name is Mariska Montgomery Nicholson, and I am a fourth-generation Texas trailblazer. My great-grandfather put his family in covered wagons to blaze a trail from Virginia to the tip of south Texas to start a town. I am unquestionably a descendant of his intuitive, dream-following, trail-blazing, DNA + spirit.
I turned off my magic at three years old to protect myself and my family. At thirteen, I turned it back on; only it came on kind of strong, like a fireman’s hose. None of us knew what to do with it or how to stop it, mostly me. My sisters were always asking me why I couldn’t just do what they said to do. My answer was always, “I don’t know, I just can’t.”
My parents kicked me out of the house when I was seventeen with a thousand dollars and a bike. I made my way to NYC when I was twenty-one and lived there for 8 years. I broke an engagement to the heir of a Manhattan real estate family and left NY for the West Coast. My father told me to get on a plane and return to NY. He said, “You can get a divorce.” Poor Daddy, father of three girls, his patriarchal brain hijacking his knowing that his middle daughter could take care of herself.
In NY, I worked for Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. I was a wardrobe stylist in LA. I went to culinary school when I moved back to Texas. I had two amazing boys at home in my bed at ages 38 and 40. I have been married twice and left my second husband for a woman named Kelly, who I am currently with, and, God willing, will be by my side until I take my last breath. I am a writer, an artist, a teacher of kindness, an advocate of Pussy Power, and a student of the Gateless method.

Kimberly Escamilla is thrilled to return to the Gateless Academy as an alumni, where she wrote her first draft of her memoir in 2021-2022. She owns Between Breath and Sea, a wellness company, is a Gateless trained teacher and certified Pause Breathwork facilitator, offering 1:1 sessions, small group classes and retreats both near her home in Costa Rica and in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves combining Breathwork with Gateless Writing sessions. Before Gateless, Kimberly earned graduate degrees in composition, literature and poetry and published handfuls of poems and essays. As she is winding down her college teaching career after thirty years, she is ready to get her manuscript ready for publication and is falling in love with a new one that is emerging. Along with her partner Michael, autistic sons Harrison (25) and Lazlo (11), and four dogs, she loves the jungle life and returning to California to connect with friends and family.

Sarah Byrden has been an experiential educator, wilderness guide, storyteller and writer for over 25 years. She has more than 2500 hours of training in Western and Non-Western healing modalities, is a two-time TED-X presenter (with over 3 million views), a trained Gatleless Teacher (2015) and the founder of The Elemental Self (2013), an ecosystem of soul-centered work. Her work as an educator and guide spans from grassroots consent education and sexual-empowerment advocacy on college campuses, to sacred Daoist sexuality, international cross-cultural education, archetypal qigong, hands-on healing work, women’s backpacking trips, myth fairy tale, and facilitating artist/writer residencies and workshops.
Her life is an unfolding love affair with the poetics of land, story, body, movement, nature and word.
This is Sarah’s 3rd Gateless Academy and she is here with the intention of moving a decade of non-fiction writing and teaching into a published work/series of works.
She lives in Santa Fe and has called the Tewa lands of Northern New Mexico home for most of her adult life.

Meg Smith is a board-certified homeopath, published author, and avid collector of holistic health certifications, quickly outpacing her stash of yarn—no small feat. A recovering classical musician, she once schlepped an oboe around the globe before swapping reeds for remedy kits and a writing desk. These days, when not seeing clients, she’s hunkered down in her Vermont homestead, drafting two upcoming books—or surreptitiously dodging them by writing letters and blog posts instead. Gym stints and sauna time may also intermingle in the realm of procrastination.
As a former doula and periodic non-profit board member, she’s long been invested in nurturing others. During New England’s brief growing season, Meg coaxes food and herbs from the soil, and at heart, she’s devoted to both words and practices that help others (and, let’s face it, herself) heal. When not buried in research or tapping out words “in the flow,” you’ll likely find her ambling along a forest trail with some combination of two dogs, two teenagers, one patient partner, and a few paragraphs coming to life in her complicated brain.

Margaret Ryan: My passion lies in guiding individuals to uncover the stories that quietly shape their lives-the ones that keep them from stepping into their fullest potential. Coaching becomes a transformative journey where clients shift from being constrained by their old stories to becoming the authors of new, empowering ones. This transformation not only impacts their lives but also radiates into their relationships, careers, and sense of purpose, creating a ripple effect of change and possibility.
Currently I’m embarking on a soulful journey, exploring Europe while continuing to support my clients remotely. Let’s rewrite your story together, no matter where we are in the world.

Trez Thomas is an award-winning Executive Creative Director & Brand Strategist best known for turning global media brands into pop culture sensations. With a unique approach to creating addictive, buzz-worthy brands and a track record that includes Bravo, Lifetime, BET and ESPN, Trez has been instrumental in shaping the media and pop culture landscape.
Trez uses her entertainment-based method to show businesses how to build a cohesive, larger-than-life, binge-worthy brand that captivates audiences, connects digitally, IRL and experientially, converts fans into obsessed, brand evangelists who are eager to buy and make sure the buzz around a brand never ends.
At BRAVO Trez led creative and promotion across all platforms and led launches of TV’s buzziest shows including the franchises of global phenomenon The Real Housewives, Million Dollar Listing, Southern Charm, Below Deck, Top Chef, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Vanderpump Rules. So, if you’re obsessed with anything Bravo, that’s on her.
LIFETIME, ESPN & BET each have a portfolio of networks. Trez oversaw creative and strategy — just for more networks simultaneously.
Trez is more than just a suit at major networks. She’s been on both sides of the desk. As the Co-founder of the production company Air Force One, Trez created the identities of the SundanceTV and Nat Geo Worldwide, campaigns for clients like MTV, PBS, VH1, Nickelodeon, and HBO, wrote, sold, and directed several TV pilots, and directed commercials for Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Estée Lauder.
Trez is a Gateless Teacher & creator of Good Procrastination™ — the secret to spark unlimited creativity & add some random to you regular!

Kate Baldwin: I’ve been writing since I was a little child growing up on an island in Maine, making words into poems while the tide came in. I grew up to get my MFA from Vermont College and my MEd with a focus on literacy from Lesley University. I was trained in the inaugural Gateless Teacher Training in 2015. Since then I’ve worked as a development editor for Green Writers Press, Rockport Press and Islandport Press as their YA editor.
I run a multi-genre Gateless writing salon for women, as well as salons for kids and teens in the Greater Boston area. My favorite work is as a Senior Editor for Gateless, bringing Gateless authors into the world and editing all the public writing that comes out of Gateless Writing, Inc.
My own work has appeared in The Maine Review, Hunger Mountain, Soundings East, The Larcom Review and the Huffington Post among others. I believe my deepest education has come from a lifetime of reading (and now working on) beautiful books. When I am not walking my black lab Rosie in the woods in my hometown of Newburyport, Massachusetts, I am at work on my first novel.