20 Questions with Kierstan Streber

1. What’s your favorite place in the entire world? 

I have no idea! I would say sitting at a dinner table, outside under bistro lights, set for 12. With good friends, family, wine, conversation and the biggest cheese board I’ve ever made. 

2. What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever received? 

Kid’s are resilient.  ;)  But the most important thing I’ve learned is that the best thing I can do for my child is create a safe holding space for him to be seen, validated and curious.  I don’t have to be perfect.  The greatest thing I can be for him is to show him that I am human.  

3. Do you have any pets? 

We do.  Sort of.  We have a dog Rosie.  She is a ‘California Brown Dog.’ She moved in with my sister and her boyfriend in 2018 when we left to travel the world full time.  Last year we moved to Philadelphia because Rosie was evicted from their apartment.  Then when they moved to Denver and asked for Rosie to come back, we saw the green light to travel again and took it.  

Right now we have a cat named Pica.  She lives in our house in Mexico.  We have a guest house.  And we say she is the ‘house’s cat.’  She spends each night rotating whose bed she sleeps in.  She is the coolest pet for a non-cat person.  My son taught her to go down the slide!

4. What is something you are grateful for today?

So much.  In the Mayan Tradition they give thanks to Kichigonai, the creator of the day.  I don’t know how much I subscribe to any organized belief system but I found that when I frame my mind taking the lessons and the gifts of the Mayan tradition I am a grateful happier person.  So today I am thankful for the day.  It doesn’t much matter if it was created or if it came to be on its own. I’m just excited I get to be here, enjoying it and along for the ride.  

On a bigger note of gratitude…I am thankful for my little family.  I can’t believe that I am married to someone that also sees the world as being as big as I do, who created a life with me, that has so much space for me to be entirely who I am meant to be, even as I evolve and how we live according to our true north and not what society tells us to do.  My gratitude isn’t possibly big enough to fully appreciate something so rad.

5. First thing you do in the morning? 

COFFEE.  Ok, I lie.  I check my phone.  Bad, Kierstan.  Then I think about coffee.  Then I get it.  

6. What is your biggest goal right now? 

To share and serve plant medicine.  I’ve been a therapist for 14 years, both individually and with couples.  This year I have opened my eyes to the gift of plant medicine to expand our minds, open our hearts and more fully engage in life and connections.  It has the power to facilitate inner child work, self-compassion and heal trauma.  I am stoked to offer retreats in my home in Mexico this summer..

7. Last person you hugged? 

I hugged my husband.  And then my 4 year old saw me and then he hugged me.

8. What did you want to be when you were a kid? 

Whatever I thought my parent’s wanted me to be.  Whatever I thought would get the best reaction from adults when I told them.  It ranged from garbage person to astronaut.  It took me until I was 23 to listen to my own voice.

9. What is your claim to fame? 

My claim to fame isn’t just that I am the International Therapist, but that I actually was able to get that domain. ;) 

10. What are you saving money for right now? 

To build a retreat center in Mexico.  And we bought a VW combi van that we are renovating.  It is costing way more than we thought ;) 

11. What’s your favorite brunch item? 

Mimosas and eggs Benedict with spinach not ham.

12. Who has been the most influential person in your life?

 (No answer provided) 

13. What’s your biggest day-to-day challenge? 

Being truly present for each of my clients, my husband, my child and my support system, in the same way and in a way that is worthy to their importance in my life. 

14. When have you given up on something?

After a year, I gave up on law school.  

15. What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday? 

Not having to jump out of bed.  Drinking coffee in bed reading my kindle.  Usually my husband is reading his as well.  Our kid is playing with toys or my phone on our bed (don’t judge!).  Our cat or foster pup is on our bed.  Then the nanny comes and my husband and I do a trail run.  Afterwards we go to brunch and enjoy a beer.  We then grab our kid and go on adventure, either for a walk or to a playground.  Maybe we grab a coffee.  Then we go to a restaurant or make dinner at home.  We are usually in bed by 10.

16. How did you meet your best friends? 

All over and everywhere.  When I was in San Francisco I started a meet up running group and met some of my closest friends there.  I love other runners.  Then I started a running group from the dog shelter and really honed in on ‘my people.’  When you meet other’s who will take a giant, untrained, pent-up giant husky or pittie in a group down the streets of San Francisco you know that you found the best people in the world.  My closest friends now are people who showed up to my house when I advertised a running group and yoga class from my house in Mexico.

17. Do you think you could live in another country? 

Yes, I do.  I have raised my kid traveling almost his whole life.  We left San Francisco when he was 18 months old and he has been to 46 countries.  We have no plans to return to the US.

18. What gift have you received that you will always treasure? 

When I was in High School I was part of a retreat that asked my entire family to write letters to me.  My mother had just passed away after a pretty bad struggle with alcoholism.  Everyone in my family wrote me a really personal special letter.  I have over 15 of those letters in the top of my closet.  Some of the authors of those letters have since passed on.  It is indeed my greatest material object.

19. Night owl or morning person? 

Morning person for sure.  (If only I could wake up early)

20. Favorite music genre? 

Singer-songwriter.