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We’re Moving YouTube Content to Substack

Youtube

Dear friends of the Mindful Ecotherapy Center,

Our YouTube content is moving to Substack! We are announcing that, effective November 1, 2025, we will transition our primary online platform from YouTube to Substack. This decision is about integrity, equity, and ensuring our content is shared in a space aligned with our values of inclusion, ecological healing, and relational community.

What prompted this move

While YouTube has been immensely useful for building our community and sharing guided ecotherapy content, there is growing evidence that the platform systematically treats LGBTQ+ voices and related content in ways that conflict with our mission. Below are some of the key issues we find incompatible with our commitment to inclusive healing.

Demonetization and algorithmic suppression of LGBTQ+ content

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A significant investigation found that videos with LGBTQ‑related vocabulary in titles such as “gay”, “lesbian”, or “transgender” were disproportionately flagged for advertiser‑unfriendly status even when they contained non‑sexual, educational material. For instance, one study noted that 33% of a small sample of queer‑titled videos were demonetized by YouTube’s automated system. The Independent | The Verge
Such suppression means that LGBTQ+ – friendly creators and educational voices can lose revenue or reach not because of content quality, but because of identity or subject matter.

Restricted discoverability and youth access limitations

YouTube’s “Restricted Mode” has been shown to hide even benign LGBTQ+ videos from younger audiences precisely when access to affirming representation matters most. One analysis noted that educational LGBTQ‐themed videos were being flagged or hidden under age or content restrictions even when they lacked explicit sexual content. Gnovis Journal | mastersofmedia.hum.uva.nl
For the work of the Mindful Ecotherapy Center, which often reaches people seeking connection, healing, and authenticity, such limitations create a barrier to access and undermine our inclusive community goals.

Unequal enforcement of harassment and viewpoint bias

Though YouTube’s public hate‑speech policy lists “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” as protected classes, in practice, creators and commentators have raised concerns that harassment directed at LGBTQ+ people is not consistently or effectively challenged, while automated systems penalize non‑harassing queer content. A class‑action style lawsuit alleged that YouTube “systemically” discriminated against LGBTQ+ creators by suppressing their content while allowing hostile materials to persist. Google Help | classaction.org
For an organization like ours, committed to relational community and mindful ecological healing, this dynamic is simply unacceptable.

Lack of transparency and accountability

Because many decisions around monetization, filtering, and recommendations on YouTube are driven by opaque algorithms, creators often cannot even understand why their videos are restricted or suppressed. Research warns that such algorithmic discrimination is real and structural. PubMed
We believe the platforms that host our work should be transparent and aligned with the ethics of inclusivity, not opaque gatekeepers.

What Substack offers us

Moving to Substack allows us to reclaim more control over distribution, monetization, and community access. Specifically, we will:

  • Ensure that content related to queer ecology, inclusive healing, and relational practice is treated equitably, without hidden restrictions tied to identity or keywords.
  • Provide direct access to our community without relying on hidden algorithms that decide who sees what.
  • Offer a platform where creators and members can engage safely, with fewer intermediary commercial constraints and clearer transparency.
  • Build a relational, intentional space rather than relying on broad‑reach broadcast models that may de-prioritize marginalized voices.

What this means for you

  • Starting Nov 1, 2025, all new guided sessions, interviews, reflections, and video content that were formerly posted on YouTube will be hosted on our Substack channel.
  • Existing YouTube content will remain accessible for the transition period; however, we encourage you to subscribe to our new Substack channel to ensure you don’t miss anything.
  • You’ll receive email notifications and be able to access posts, videos, and community dialogue in one place on our Substack feed. This means you won’t have to log in to a separate YouTube account to view our video content.

We invite you to join us!

Thank you for being part of this community grounded in mindful ecotherapy, relational healing, and inclusive belonging. This platform shift is a commitment to you, to our creators, and to the Mindful Ecotherapy Center’s values of equity and access.

Please subscribe here:

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With gratitude,
The Mindful Ecotherapy Center Team

Share Your Thoughts!

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New Hosting Service Coming Soon!

New hosting service coming soon

The Mindful Ecotherapy Center, LLC is excited to announce a significant change that will enhance the overall experience of our clients and students: we are switching to a new hosting service. This decision marks an important step toward ensuring the quality, security, and reliability of our online courses and other digital offerings. In today’s increasingly online world, the platforms we use to deliver content are as important as the content itself, and we believe this transition will benefit everyone who interacts with our services.

Why We’re Making the Change

The primary reason for switching hosting providers is to improve the quality of our clients’ online experience. As our center has grown, so has our community of users who rely on our courses and resources for professional development, personal growth, and continuing education. While our previous hosting service served us well for many years, we began to notice some challenges as our client base expanded. Some of you may have experienced difficulties logging in or difficulties downloading materials. With our new hosting service such difficulties should be a thing of the past.

Increased Demand on the Platform

Our online courses, webinars, and digital products have seen a significant rise in demand, with more students enrolling each year. This rapid growth placed increased pressure on our existing hosting infrastructure, resulting in slower load times and occasional technical glitches. As we strive to provide a smooth, stress-free learning environment, we knew we needed a more robust hosting service to keep up with the increasing demand.

Security Concerns

In the age of cyber threats, ensuring the security of our clients’ data is paramount. Although we pride ourselves on the fact that since we were founded in 2007 we’ve never had a security breach, our new hosting service will provide extra security. Our former hosting platform was secure, but we realized the need for more advanced protection as new security risks emerged. Sensitive information, such as client login details, payment data, and personal progress reports, must be protected with the latest security protocols. The new hosting service will offer enhanced encryption and additional security layers, ensuring that all transactions and personal data are as safe as possible.

Technical Support and Reliability

Reliable and efficient technical support is essential, especially when our students depend on us for timely assistance during their learning journeys. Although our previous hosting provider offered some technical support, response times were not always as fast as we would have liked. In contrast, our new hosting service has a reputation for exceptional customer support, with 24/7 availability and a team that is dedicated to resolving issues quickly. This means our clients will experience fewer disruptions and quicker resolutions if problems arise.

The Benefits of the New Hosting Service

We carefully selected our new hosting provider to offer key improvements in several areas, and we’re confident that these changes will translate to a better experience for all users of the Mindful Ecotherapy Center’s digital resources.

Improved Performance and Speed

One of the most noticeable benefits of the new hosting service will be improved performance. Faster load times and more efficient course delivery will enhance the user experience, particularly for those accessing courses on mobile devices or slower internet connections. This upgrade will ensure that all users can access our content seamlessly, whether they are downloading course materials, watching videos, or participating in live webinars.

Enhanced Security Features

The new hosting provider is equipped with cutting-edge security protocols, including advanced firewalls, secure socket layer (SSL) encryption, and frequent security audits. These measures will safeguard client data from hacking attempts and unauthorized access. Additionally, our new provider offers secure payment gateways, adding another layer of protection for those purchasing our courses or other products.

Scalability for Future Growth

Our new hosting service is designed to scale with us as we continue to grow. Whether we add new courses, integrate new technologies like virtual classrooms, or expand our offerings, this hosting provider will allow us to do so seamlessly. This means we won’t outgrow our platform anytime soon, and we can focus on expanding the quality of our services without worrying about technical limitations.

Improved User Interface and Accessibility

The platform we’ve chosen offers a more intuitive user interface, making it easier for clients to navigate the site and access the resources they need. We’ll be improving site navigation until the first of the year, making it easier to find what you’re looking for. Whether you’re enrolling in a new course, tracking your progress, or downloading materials, the experience will be smoother and more user-friendly. Additionally, the new hosting service offers enhanced accessibility features, ensuring that our courses are easy to use for individuals with disabilities or those who rely on assistive technology.

What This Means for You

For our current students and clients, the transition to the new hosting platform will be smooth and seamless. We’ve worked closely with the new provider to ensure that no data or progress will be lost during the transition, and you will not need to re-register or recreate your accounts. You can continue accessing your courses as usual, and any changes will be communicated clearly through email and our website. There may be brief outages during low-traffic times, but these will be announced in the blog should they occur.

In terms of user experience, you can expect faster load times, better security, and improved reliability. Our goal is to make your learning journey as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, and we believe this new hosting service will help us achieve that goal.

Looking Ahead

This switch to a new hosting service is just one part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the Mindful Ecotherapy Center’s offerings. As we look ahead, we are committed to continuing our tradition of providing high-quality, accessible education and resources in the field of mindful ecotherapy. Whether you’re a returning student or new to our center, we’re confident that the improvements to our platform will enrich your learning experience.

Thank you for your continued support as we make this transition. We’re excited about the opportunities this new hosting service will provide, and we look forward to growing with you in the years to come.