The ReProgram

Today's guest is someone whose work lands like a soul-level exhale in a world that so often asks us to numb, bypass, or carry our grief alone.Holly Truhlar is a politicized grief-tender, collapse-aware therapist, and soul activist who invites us into the sacred, communal, and often uncomfortable work of feeling—really feeling—what our culture has long asked us to suppress. She's collaborated closely with grief elder Francis Weller in training over a thousand people in communal grief rituals and cultural repair. Her work blends depth psychology, systems thinking, and spirituality to tend not just the individual psyche, but our collective soul wounds.Holly challenges the myth of personal pathology and instead helps us see how our sorrow, rage, and burnout are intelligent responses to systems that were never built for our thriving. In a world fraying at the edges, she invites us back to what's essential: community, ritual, remembrance, and relational repair.If you are a mother, a healer, or a human walking through the long dark asking, “Is it just me?”—this conversation is your answer. It's not just you. And there are ways through.You can access more of Holly's work and online offerings and training at her website: https://hollytruhlar.com/

The masculinity conversation continues! Whip smart researcher, journalist, and the author of Emotional Labor: The Invisible Work Shaping Our Lives and How to Reclaim Our Power, is back on the pod to talk about her upcoming book, Men Too: How a Myth of Male Victimhood Ushered in a New Era of Extremism, and How to Liberate Ourselves From It.This one's for all the cyclebreaking mamas raising sons, partnered with men — or just navigating what it means to mother in a culture still tangled in old scripts.We talk about the invisible weight women carry in relationships — not just the logistics, but the emotional tracking, the repair, the soothing. The labor that goes unnamed and unshared.We explore how boys are often raised inside a narrow box of masculinity that teaches them to disconnect from their feelings, and how that disconnection has real consequences for their relationships — and their inner lives.We name the reality that so many of our kids are growing up in a world that is digitally overstimulated and relationally undernourished — and how that's affecting emotional development.And we ground the whole conversation in hope: that change doesn't require perfection, just connection. That our softness is not weakness. That vulnerability is the beginning of healing — and that you modeling this work, even imperfectly, matters.You are not just raising children. You're shifting culture.Big love,AnnYou can connect with Rose Hackman and her incredible work and insights at @rosehackwoman on Instagram and her book Emotional Labor; The Invisible Work Shaping Our Lives and How to Reclaim Our Power can be purchased anywhere books are sold!

Ooooo this one is so good! Like a breath of fresh air. Like sitting in on a conversation between wise women who have lived, learned, and care a whole lot upleveling themselves (and the Collective) with ease, alignment and flow. This, is what we need now, this is what we do now. I sat down (for the second time) with Laura Cardwell and Meghan O'Malley to talk about what it really means to live and lead from the body, and from how we are uniquely designed to operate. Meghan and Laura are mamas, mental health professionals, BEST FRIENDS/PLATONIC WIVES, and business owners. I always giggle and learn things when I hang out with them, you will too. We cover somatic healing, nervous system safety, human design, emotional congruence, and what happens when we finally stop white-knuckling through relationships and start building ones that are sustainable, honest, and nourishing. These women are teachers and expanders for me, and this conversation touched some many topics that have been swimming around in my head and have served me so extremely in my new, mostly-regulated life. We also talk about the evolution of family — how chosen family and collective care are reshaping the way we live, parent, and connect. This episode is a love letter to authenticity, interdependence, and the quiet power of being seen as your full, unfiltered self.Laura and Meghan are the creators of Embodied Leadership by Design, and anyone can benefit from their unique way of using Human Design and the mechanics of these brilliant bodies to find ease and efficacy in their lives. As we mentioned in the episode, you can get your Human Design Type for free and then go off to the races with discovering (and validating!) how you operate in this world. Life-changing. Truly. Meghan O'Malley is a former psychotherapist turned coach, writer, teacher and speaker, and Laura Cardwell is a mystic neuroscientist trained in neurofeedback. They both just finished their first book, and they're just, fabulous. Their website is here: https://www.embodiedleadershipbydesign.com/

Y'all I found the calmest person in the internet and she's here to talk to us about Adolescence, the show, the phase, all of it. In this episode, we explore the complexities of parenting adolescents in today's cultural landscape. Kristina and I discussed the Netflix show Adolescence, what we noticed as clinicians, and points we wanted to highlight for parents who have also watched the show and of course, want so desperately be protective of and connected to their teens. We discuss the impact of technology on teen development, the importance of emotional education, and the role of parents in fostering secure attachments. Kristina highlights the need for parents to connect with their children authentically, addressing past traumas and understanding the nuances of shame and guilt. Kristina talks about the uniqueness of the teen brain, the importance of emotional regulation, recognizing when to seek help, and the significance of connection before correction. Kristina is a warm, wise, licensed clinician in Asheville. As I was reviewing the conversation before posting it, I was struck by just how slow and calm and grounded she is, what a gift when we're tackling such a tricky topic. XoIf you live in the Asheville area and are interested in working with Kristina, her website is here: https://theblueridgecenter.com/55-2/63-2/

I had the absolute gift of a conversation with Dr. Doug Bolton—clinical psychologist, educational leader, and just an all-around wise, compassionate soul. We talked about something we both care deeply about: supporting kids who are struggling beneath the behavior.Doug has spent 25+ years walking alongside kids with emotional and behavioral challenges, and his insights hit me right in the nervous system. In this conversation, he reminds us that regulation is everything—and that so many behaviors we try to fix are actually signs of pain, often rooted in early adversity.He shared the Circle of Courage—a powerful framework that names four core human needs: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. When those needs aren't met, kids let us know. Not with words, but with their bodies, their big feelings, their pushback. Sounds about right ;)And Doug? He's all about connection over control. Repair over punishment. Curiosity instead of consequences. (YES PLEASE.)We also talked about how overparenting and overscheduling can backfire, and how unstructured play is not optional—it's where real growth and regulation happen.Doug's upcoming book "Untethered" is going to be such a gift for parents and educators. It's not just about managing behavior—it's about creating spaces where kids feel safe, seen, and able to thrive. If you'd like to buy Doug's book, you can do so here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735689/untethered-by-doug-bolton-phd/

Teacher, author, and psychological activist David Bedrick is here to talk about breaking free from shame to live a life of freedom, health and vitality, as he elaborates in his beautiful book "The Unshaming Way."I know I know, we all know about shame these days, but the way David talks about this topic is truly deep, gentle and illuminating. I have learned so much from his book, and keep going back to this simple concept "Shame robs us of an inner lover and protector," and of course, the opposite of this is to internalize love and protection in our system. We both share our insights and stories of working with shame from our childhoods, more illuminating and effective than any stats or statements I find. David is a lovely human and this was such an essential conversation in our journey back home to ourselves. If you want to get involved with his work and get your hands on his incredible book which I highly recommend: https://www.davidbedrick.com/Takeaways*Shame obstructs our deeper experiences and self-awareness.*The greatest injury of shame is making ourselves invisible.*People pleasing is often a trauma response, not a personality trait.*Parents' unfulfilled lives can shape their children's paths.*Healing involves reclaiming our authentic selves and stories.*Witnessing and integrating our experiences is crucial for healing.*The quality of relationships is key to emotional health.*Vulnerability in leadership fosters genuine connections.*There is inherent goodness beneath our coping mechanisms.*Self-accompaniment and compassion are vital for personal growth.

Clinician and author, mother and daughter Katherine Fabrizio is on the pod to tell us all about the archetype of the Good Daughter that she discovered in her thirty years working clinically with women. This award-winning book names so beautifully the issue of being an empathic daughter being raised by narcissistic, borderline and difficult mothers, and how to individuate and change the dynamic no matter our age.In this conversation, we cover why guilt is the #1 emotion keeping daughters trapped in this dynamic, how to know whether the relationship is workable or not , how to start with small boundaries and gather data, why physiologically holding boundaries and being in this dynamic is so scary and feels so unavailable, ways this dynamic affects every area of our lives, ways we can give and receive care to our little inner ones around this wounding and how aging, cultural and generational factors contribute to this issue. Katherine is so warm and wise, she has devoted her career to this issue and literally wrote the book on it. I loved this conversation and know that it will serve so many of you, whatever degree this dynamic may be in your life. This is such a good one y'all!If you want to access Katherine's book and learn more about her work, her website is here: https://daughtersrising.info/

I sat down with author, mother, sister and daughter Gina Demillo Wagner to discuss her beautiful memoir "Forces of Nature," where she recounts with such wisdom and warmth her experience growing up in an abusive household, having a special needs sibling, and mourning his sudden death in adulthood. While the details of her life story are specific to her, we zoom out into the complexity of grieving a relationship that never had repair, closure, and had both harm and love in it. I've been noticing how much our generation of parents is grappling with (or will soon grapple with) our parents aging and dying, and if this is you and your story this episode is hopefully healing and expanding to put in your brain and body. We also discuss relational trauma, and how we both have found healing and reframing in nature, small gestures, and the relationships around us that don't come in the form of the ones that harmed us. This was such a beautiful, deep and lovely conversation with such a wise woman. Highly recommend and hope it touches your beautiful heart!If you'd like to connect further with Gina and her beautiful writing, you can go to her website: https://ginadwagner.com/

I am beyond happy (wink) to have author, researcher, speaker and general wonderful human Stephanie Harrison on the pod today to illuminate the ways this culture has brainwashed us and the ways we can get free. Stephanie has been researching happiness for the past decade, and with her internationally bestselling book, "The New Happy" she's here to teach us how to get happiness right in a world that got it wrong. In this conversation, Stephanie illuminates how our society's broken understanding of happiness is a root cause of all of the problems that we are collectively facing. She explores the concept of 'Old Happy,' which is shaped by individualism, capitalism, and domination, and how these forces contribute to collective unhappiness. We touch into the challenges of modern parenting, the impact of societal pressures on relationships, and the importance of connection in healing. Stephanie tells us the truest simplest definition for happiness that she has found, and truly, there's no better place to live this way than in the context of parenting. It's just too gals who care a lot and have spent their adult career learning about what makes us healthy and happy and have come to similar conclusions. This was an excellent episode!You can access Stephanie's book and work on her website: https://www.thenewhappy.com/And you can gain so much from her Instagram: stephaniehson

The deeply wise and playful somatic coach, host of the Radio Somonaut Podcast, choreographer and mama Whitney Dawn Pyles is here today to deepen our understanding of these bodies and how we can put them in places, spaces and positions to bring forward our highest healing and expression of Self. I met Whitney at a retreat we did at the top of the year, noticed her instantly (you'll hear about that!) and she provided us with a *tranformative* dance experience in a Yurt that we go into in-depth here!Whitney deeply understands the body and what it needs, she talks so gorgeously about her process with hers and teaches us so much about the need for compassion and intuitive movement in our lives, and she gives us tangible tools to use in the teeny tiny moments we have free in our day to widen our capacity and deepen our relationship with safety. This is a long one, because we get into dance, and her process of developing her "Inner Child Dance Party" that absolutely unlocked something in me, that was one of the most powerful and joyful healing experiences I've ever had. She goes into the details of this process, and you can absolutely steal some of these moves and do them in your living room. And also! In March, she is doing "Free Movement Mondays" virtually so you can get a low-stakes taste of her goodness and the general, life-changing, power of making movement a part of your life. Link here: https://www.whitneydawn.com/event-details-registration/free-movement-mondays-2025-03-03-09-30She also offers a free 30 minute consult call to new peeps curious about working with her, you can find that here:https://www.whitneydawn.com/booking-calendar/free-connection-chatAnd her IG she announces and teaches and shows us how she works with her beautiful magical body so you can learn more about yours: https://www.whitneydawn.com/I know you'll get so much from her. Thanks for listening love!

Artist, father, professor, co-founder of the Conscious Center for Living and Dying, and Mankind Project member Brent Skidmore is here with us today to talk about all things healing, community, healthy masculinity and actually, life and death. He's a multi-faceted man and we are here for it. For those of you who are expanding your definition of the masculine (what is possible, what healthy *free* support can look like), for those of you worrying that you came to healing too late, and for those of you wanting to be renewed in some hope, this episode is for you. In this conversation, he discusses his work with the Center for Conscious Living and Dying, the documentary 'The Last Ecstatic Days,' and his involvement in the Mankind Project and Journeyman, which mentors young boys. Brent reflects on his personal transformation, the significance of rituals, and the need for safe spaces for men to connect and heal. The conversation highlights the interconnectedness of life and death, the impact of racial trauma, and the journey towards self-acceptance and love.You can learn more about the ManKind Project here: https://mankindproject.org/You can learn about the Jounreymen Program: https://journeymenasheville.org/You can learn more about the Conscious Center for Living and Dying here: https://www.ccld.community/And the film he references "The Last Ecstatic Days": https://www.ccld.community/the-last-ecstatic-daysYou can see his art on his website: https://www.brentskidmore.com/

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of "Till Stress Do Us Part" Elizabeth Earnshaw @lizlistens deeply understands the unique challenges couples are facing at this time and how our nervous systems and unconscious are running the show. This episode will create so many lightbulb moments for you-- especially regarding how we can upwardly edit the stress in our lives, the ways we lie to ourselves about the stress that we can remove, the unique stress of the Gentle Parenting movement on our marriages, the Legacy dreams that we're unconsciously keeping (causing us disconnection and resentment with our partners and dissatisfaction in our lives), and at the core of this conversation, we can't stress (see what I did there?

Award-winning singer-songwriter Ruby Rose Fox is here for a fascinating conversation about all things our nervous systems. Ruby is the author of "Superplay: Your Instrument is You" a Polyvagal-inspired revolution for harnessing stage fright and deshaming your nervous system. While I know most of us aren't trying to write a Grammy-winning song (we're just trying to get these kids to school without meltdowns and our own shame hangover!) this conversation is so soothing, illuminating, and because of her orientation as an artist, she gives so many helpful examples (naming the dog! you'll love it) and a new vantage point for our biology. We talk about the dopamine system, nervous system supremacy in our culture and religious systems, mothering our nervous systems, David Lynch, metaphors for ourselves and our lives that serve us (the ocean, the spaceship), emotional congruence as a superpower, and throughout she delivers little tips and tidbits she gives her clients. I LOVED this conversation with this passionate wise woman, and gained so much from it myself. You can find Ruby on IG: musclemusic__/ or her website: https://www.muscle-music.com/

This is a big one y'all. Sam Kelly teaches women how to break the cycle of motherhood burnout by empowering their kids to be proactive contributors in the home and sharing the mental load with the whole family. I knowwww. She's a therapist turned feminist coach, mother of three, and as a working mother and a wife, she has been living in the current gender inequities of our time, and decided to change the game in her marriage and then had a lightbulb moment that she needed to empower, educate, and create a new culture in her home with her kids to break this cycle for good! This episode is full of validation, insights and IDEAS on her tried and true system she developed called "Notice and Do," that her her kids and hundreds of others of all ages around the country picking up the slack without even being asked. I KNOW. And! Here are the accounts she pointed her husband to so he can get schooled by other people: Zach Watson @zachmentalloadcoach Paige Connell @sheisapaigeturner Laura Danger @thatdarnchat You can get into Sam Kelly's world on Instagram at @samkelly_world and you can access her FREE GUIDE to get started teaching your kids HOW to Notice and Do in your home:  https://samkelly.myflodesk.com/vvnkiwt0mr

We have a special treat for you today: one of our "Founding Mothers" from the first cohort of our Nurtured Mama Group is on the pod with me and my co-facilitator Maggie Viers to reflect on the experience, the shifts, and the turbo-charged magic that occurs when a group of women come together to heal.  If you're Nurtured Mama Curious, or just want to learn more about this whole healing and Cycle Starting thing, highly recommend giving this episode a listen! More information about the program is here: https://tidy-forest-73543.myflodesk.com/zotkmbe38qWe start on Jan. 29th!

I am so happy to share my conversation with somatic fitness trainer Lizzy Zima with you today, she is doing something really unique, needed, and I am obsessed with it. Lizzie has in-person and an online studio where she provides ritual fitness and somatic self-care for women so they can "build strength, process their emotions and align with their highest selves." Lizzy has connected the dots with her training and lived experience, that in order to embody our true feminine power, we must own our worth, heal our trauma, and reclaim the self-care practices that keep us connected to our inner strength and guidance. Her online studio is intentionally grouped around emotions so that women can listen to their bodies, meet the need, and then move into their lives with strength inside to handle what is outside of them. She combines weight training, pilates-inspired movement, EFT tapping, meditation and free dance to meet all the needs! She's a safe, attuned cheerleader for women and I could not love her work and her more! She is offering a free month of access to her online studio to all of us, you can access it here and use the code REPROGRAM. https://www.empowerbodymindsoul.com/ Chapters 1:51 The Journey into Somatic and Nervous System Coaching 4:39 Healing Trauma and Building Relationships 6:33 The Importance of Strength Training for Women 9:25 Reconnecting with the Body and Inner Guidance 10:48 The Role of Women as Wise Elders 11:56 Cultural Perspectives on Aging and Wisdom 13:20 Creating Relational Safety and Authenticity 15:19 The Shift from Appearance to Experience in Fitness 19:41 The Power of Authentic Connection Among Women 21:55 Building Community and Sisterhood in Fitness 24:50 Creating Transformative Experiences in Classes 29:23 Intuitive Movement and Self-Trust 34:55 Holding Space for Emotional Needs 36:22 Reconnecting with Our Body's Cues 37:48 The Role of Spiritual Support in Healing 39:53 Centering Practices for Daily Connection 44:33 Building Self-Trust Through Daily Practices 56:55 Embracing the Divine Feminine in Leadership 1:07:29The Importance of Self-Care for Mothers

My colleague and friend Kathleen Fleming is on the pod today to delve into the complexities of postpartum mental health, the importance of emotional regulation, and the need for community support for mothers. We discuss the significance of understanding anger as a valid emotion (I know, again....we can't stop won't stop talking about anger!), the role of attachment in parenting, and the cultural challenges that new mothers face. And brilliantly, through the nervous system, we can time travel and meet those needs that were missed in the early days. Kathleen shares her journey into postpartum support and introduces her upcoming live group course, 'What the Fuck is Postpartum,' aimed at educating and empowering mothers (and all caretakers). Her offering starts on Feb. 6th at 12pm for 6 weeks, and listened get a 10% discount with the code REPROGRAM. You can locate this offering on her website: https://www.majesticunicorn.biz/wtfispostpartum This discussion emphasizes the need for safe spaces where mothers can express their feelings and connect with others, ultimately fostering a healthier environment for both mothers and their children. Yes please! We also reference Kathleen's viral blog post about anger, just GO READ IT. So important and healing: https://www.majesticunicorn.biz/blog/2015/10/20/broken-things Takeaways Postpartum is a critical period that requires support and understanding. Anger is a valid emotion that mothers need to express. Isolation can have detrimental effects on new mothers' mental health. Attachment theory plays a crucial role in child development. Cultural norms often overlook the emotional needs of mothers. Naming feelings can help in emotional regulation. Community support is essential for new mothers. Mothers need to prioritize their own well-being to care for their children effectively. The postpartum experience can awaken unresolved trauma. Creating safe spaces for mothers fosters healing and connection. Enjoy the episode. Love y'all!

Asheville artist, icon, and emerging comedienne Robin Plemmons is on the pod today to make us giggle, open our hearts, and show us what it looks like when we're stepping into our mastery. She's this insane combination of Brene Brown and Dave Chapelle, and everyone needs to know her and what she's doing. Robin did her first comedy show in Asheville earlier this year called "Spread Eagle at the Grey Eagle," where she hilariously and heart-feltly tackled the topics of trauma, healing and her ridonculous experience with Crohn's Disease and fistula in her nether-regions. Her next show is called "LOL SOB," (and is Dec. 26th in Asheville!) and touches on Helene, parenting, trauma, the election, and all the things swirling around her brilliant comedic brain. In this conversation, Robin and I discuss the power of vulnerability in comedy, and the importance of breaking the silence around personal health challenges and shame. We delight in how humor can be a tool for healing and connection, especially in the context of Robin's experiences with Crohn's disease and the support of her medical team. The conversation also touches on the legacy of Southern culture, the role of music in personal empowerment, and the joy of embracing one's inner child. We discuss the power of music to uplift spirits, the importance of celebrating unseen acts of bravery, the challenges of navigating grief, and the necessity of finding joy amidst crises. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of connection, support, and honoring all parts of ourselves, especially in the face of life's relentless challenges. *We also cuss a lot in this convo, we were feelin extra free and silly, so make sure little ears aren't around ;)

I am so happy to share this beautiful conversation between me and Jessica Jocelyn, a deeply wise, vulnerable, relatable poet who has published 5 books on healing, cyclebreaking and mothering. I knowwww. This conversation centers on her latest book called "Stars at Last," about the healing she has found in finally having a daughter juxtaposed by the recent loss of her mother's life due to untreated mental illness. We discuss the poems in her gorgeous book that hit me the hardest, and we discuss her (and some of my) experience with grief, healing, holding almost equal amounts of anger towards and compassion for the wounded parent, inner child healing, and holding the tension between being where we've been and going where we're going. My goal is always for you to feel seen and expanded from these conversations, and Jessica does it in spades. You can connect with Jessica and her beautiful work on her IG: @letterstoanna, and also her 5 books of poems on loving an addict, inner child healing, discovering late-in-life neurodivergence and childhood trauma and pregnancy and motherhood here: https://linktr.ee/jessicajocelyn?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabSINyyLscHL-ydb1IApBYZe-hBLsoq4d42SmekYdy24PQgdfFyk0UP7Lo_aem_dfW-wChUSmrqx_AswF9-6w Chapters: 04:13 Exploring Childhood Trauma and Its Impact 07:20 Navigating Grief and Loss 10:23 The Healing Power of Connection 13:18 Transforming Pain into Wisdom 16:07 The Role of Touch in Healing 19:11 Understanding Childhood Memories and Validation 22:05 The Complexity of Grieving a Parent 25:18 Finding Hope and Moving Forward 27:52 The Gift of Compassion and Understanding 31:04 Creating New Narratives from Pain 40:31 Processing Grief and Emotional Support 42:56 Motherhood Reflections and Healing 47:30 Navigating Parenting Triggers and Growth 55:32 Reparenting the Inner Child 59:22 Breaking Generational Patterns 01:02:28 Empowerment and Community Among Women 

Dutch Psychologist Barlas Gunay is back and he's here to go all into boundaries with me! We've both noticed that boundaries is a concept the average person is more familiar with than ever before (yay), but we both see in our clinical work that there's a surface level behavior-based knowledge, that isn't moving the needle for most of us Cyclestarters as we have a lot of development to catch up first.  As Barlas explains, People-pleasers, self-sacrificers, etc. often already know they need to set boundaries, say no, and express their needs more clearly. But as healers and teachers, if we tell them to “just do it” without acknowledging the deep inner work involved, we mislead them. You can't break lifelong people-pleasing patterns without understanding why you people-please in the first place—why you're so afraid of saying no and prioritizing your true self. In this conversation we discuss the difference between too porous and rigid boundaries, the essential role of protecting the inner child, quiet boundaries that don't require anyone else's knowledge or buy-in, how we can unconsciously not hold boundaries to avoid our own work, and the essential role of befriending and listening to our anger.  This episode includes concepts and I offer examples from my own life, I was still in the middle of the Helene experience during this recording so I had many thoughts on how I was protecting myself and my energy during such a challenging time! Barlas is a Dutch Psychologist of the powerful and insightful Instagram account @acceptandact, and his episode from February on "Anger and The Inner Child" remains my most listened-to episode! He is clear, kind and powerful in his multi-faceted effort to help us reparent and heal from inter-generational experiences that have caused us to cope and leave our authentic healthy selves. Enjoy the episode!

Hello Loves! Our dear friend Alli Monday interviewed me on her podcast "Sex & Somatics" during my Hurricane Helene experience, and I felt called to share it here too! This is me, digesting and sharing and exploring what I know, and what I'm learning in real time. There is so much I didn't get the chance to say here-- about the epic tantrums and expressions of feeling I witnessed my children have (and did my absolute best to hold space for), about the incredible mutual aid work their father got to do with undocumented Spanish-speaking communities because I had the children, the outside support from agencies, individuals, other therapists and the federal and local government that has poured in, how fascinating it was to be the subject of mainstream media and see first-hand the false narratives that were being spun and also the secondary-trauma that occurs when we witness through our phones devastation and heartbreak that isn't actually in front of us, and and and. Thank you Alli for being such a safe person for me, and the people she works with. Alli is a fine art nude and somatic photographer, a deeply wise healer and a dear friend. And please, if you feel called, donate to Beloved Asheville, https://www.belovedasheville.com/ Shop from local Asheville stores for the Holidays if you can, and listen to Londrelle when to need to dose yourself in gratitude, https://open.spotify.com/track/6VWCeBktNMGdTTy5LxHj69?si=253116a4308842bd  

Marriage and Family Therapist and Childhood Trauma specialist Amber Trejo is here to illuminate the ways untreated childhood trauma shows up in our parenting, and MAN, will you have some lightbulb moments in this episode. Amber explains the symptoms of childhood trauma that often become activated by becoming a parent (catastrophizing, emotional flashbacks, over-reacting to age appropriate behavior in our children, overly seeking and relying on outside guidance and information and feeling powerless and out of control). Yup. Yes. Ok. Amber and I provide examples of how this showed up for us in our journeys so you can fully grasp onto these concepts and feel so seen and not alone in them. We also talk about how the current parenting culture is another version of the 1950's housewife rules, the tension between the rising feminine and the wounded masculine, how trauma shows up in our relationship with our co-parent, and of course, you guessed it, inner child healing. This episode is SO GOOD. Amber is such a gentle wise self-aware clinician, and I want to press this conversation into the ears of every parent out there. We need to know what we're dealing with to get out of it, this episode is a huge step in the right direction. If you'd like to connect more with Amber, her Instagram is @Intagrativetraumatherapist, and her website is https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/

Our Somatic Sex, Love, and Relationship bestie Faith Laux is back on the pod to go even deeper (haha, wink wink) into the topic of sex, connection, safety and liberation. Yes yes yes. Get ready for lots of giggles and stop-you-in-your-tracks statements from this incredible woman. In this conversation, Faith and I explore the intricate relationship between healing, pleasure, and sexuality. We discuss why relational safety is essential for a healthy sex life, the impact of shame on sexual experiences, self-pleasure as a powerful tool for healing, and the journey of self-discovery and true self-(and life) acceptance through the teachings of the ancient wisdom tradition of tantra. Faith emphasizes the essential need for open communication in our partnerships (and how this impacts our physiology), how a man's arousal is different than a woman's and how we can (*finally*) talk about this with our partner in a scientific way, our "four brains" and how we can be listen to them in the bedroom for optimal pleasure and healing, and so so much more. Ultimately, this conversation serves as a reminder of the urgency to live fully and authentically, passing on a legacy of aliveness to future generations. Also, we say the "P word" like a zillion times, so FYI for little ears and your own comfort level with that (hello programming!). I am so proud to share this aspect of our healing with you as I am walking this particular journey in real time right now. I got pretty candid with my own process here-- feeling a twinge of a vulnerability hangover but mainly pride because I know I'm being really brave and touching on something important when I feel that. As a friend told me recently, she said that she loves my podcast because I am touching on all facets of what it means to be a mother and a woman in this time, and this episode may not seem like it assists your parenting, but our liberation, our lightness, and our expansion serves ALL. Also, you deserve great sex. Faith is such a safe, wise, attuned, playful advocate as we timidly come back home to ourselves in this sexual realm. If you want to connect with her and her work further, her website is: https://www.faithlaux.com/ And you can find her in IG: @faithlaux Enjoy the episode!!!

I am so happy to share this timely episode on two topics pressing for my WNC community right now, and also for all of us as we heal and live these lives. Kadhi is a transformational counselor trained in the Hakomi Mindfulness-Centered Somatic Psychotherapy, and is also an old family friend who was the first embodied woman I ever saw in my twenties. Kadhi talks about shifting our orientation to life from victim to beneficiary, and the way of the Spiritual & Emotional Alchemist that uses every experience as a vehicle for transformation. Kadhi and I both share illuminating stories of our own dances with grief (quite literally, you'll see), and insights on how to navigate loss and transformation, emphasizing the importance of somatic experiences and the power of emotional expression, music and movement. I am so proud of this episode. Kadhi has always been a wayshower for me, and talking about these deep complex topics with her was such a gift. If you'd like to learn more about Kadhi Bo and her work, her website is here: https://www.kadhibo.com/about and her illuminating IG here: @kahdi.bo Takeaways *Grief is a profound teacher that can lead to transformation. *Emotional alchemy involves using all experiences for personal growth. *Navigating loss requires a blend of pain and celebration. *Parenting is an opportunity to allow children to explore their authenticity. *Self-discovery often involves reparenting our inner child. *Somatic experiences can unlock deeper emotional truths. *Agency in our choices leads to empowerment in daily life. *The complexity of human relationships requires compassion and understanding. *Healing is a collective effort that benefits the community. *Embracing our emotions can lead to greater vitality and creativity.

We have fine art nude and somatic photographer and worshiper of women Alli Monday back on the pod today to help us shift our mindset from "work to receiving" for our highest healing and thriving. Sounds good right? It is. Alli recovered from Complex PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, and sexual assault through deep somatic healing understanding and practices. She tells us her story, provides some examples of her practices, and doses us with the compassion and safety she has reclaimed for herself. This conversation itself is illuminating and healing (and she even leads us in an embodiment experience towards the end), and it's how we're launching our Live Body Blessing Offering that occurs on Oct. 17th at 12pm, and the price is just $10. And yes if you can't make it Live you can still receive and it's just as healing and impactful. The body doesn't know time, remember? ;) Alli and I are passionate ambassadors bringing you back into your bodies, and this is such a gentle, easy entry point. Just show up, lay down, receive, and watch what happens. Link to the Body Blessing here: https://www.iamladygroove.com/shop/p/body-blessing-online And to connect more deeply with Alli's work, you can find her at her IG: @ladygroove or her website: https://www.iamladygroove.com/

I LOVED this conversation so much, and think it's an essential piece for those of us in partnership with men, male bodies, and raising boys. Kieran Pollitt, British emotional release and trauma coach (and champion of inner child healing, you know I love it!) illuminates so beautifully the complexity of masculinity today, how cultural conditioning impacts men's ability to emotional express, the problems this causes to men and their relationships, and the necessity of safe spaces for vulnerability. This is a collective need and will take a collective effort to shift the tides of the toxic telephone game of culture that has kept our men trapped inside of themselves and away from others for far too long. So grateful for this conversation and Kieran's work! You can connect with Kieran further on his IG: @ ⁠kieranpollitt_ Takeaways *Masculinity is being redefined in today's society. *Creating safety is essential for emotional healing. *Anger can be a gateway to deeper emotions. *Somatic work helps release stored emotions in the body. *Inner child work is crucial for healing past traumas. *Healthy relationships require emotional safety and connection. *Self-expression is vital for personal growth and authenticity. *Community support enhances the healing journey. *Trusting the process of healing leads to transformation. Chapters 00:00 Addressing Toxic Masculinity and the Need for Inner Child Work 08:00 Creating Safety for Emotional Expression 11:25 Completing the Energetic Cycle of Emotions 18:47 De-Shaming Emotions and Exploring Techniques for Emotional Release 35:21 Introduction to Inner Child Work 41:31 Creating a Safe and Accepting Space for Inner Parts 49:52 The Transformative Nature of Visualization in Healing 53:19 The Power of Embracing Resistance 57:38 Reorienting to Authenticity and True Self 01:06:55 The Vulnerability of Connecting to the Heart

I've been wanting my colleague Dr. Catherine Tucker to come on the pod for awhile now to discuss Theraplay, a therapeutic modality that utilizes the child-parent relationship to foster secure attachment through play-based activities. Catherine illuminates this modality, where the Practitioner guides the parent and child through playful, fun games, developmentally challenging activities, and tender, nurturing activities that helps the parent regulate the child's behavior and communicate love, joy, and safety to the child. Connecting in this way helps the child feel secure, cared for, connected and worthy. Who doesn't want that? We also talk about the power of presence, the concept of cycle starting, healing intergenerational trauma, and and the role of play in emotional regulation. We also discuss the embracing imperfection in parenting and focusing on connection over control in our relationships with our children. One of my goals in my work is to empower parents to be conscious and educated consumers as seek support for their child and themselves. You can find more information about Theraplay here: https://theraplay.org/the-theraplay-institute/ And here you can look for a Theraplay practitioner in your area: https://community.theraplay.org/search/custom.asp?id=7042 If you are local to Asheville and want to work with Catherine directly, you can locate her practice here! https://drcatherinetucker.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwooq3BhB3EiwAYqYoEjKhpoc7C-GL4rfow9TicXeqgFgLgObUgdUAj1Zds19o0jkCjDfNexoC2TcQAvD_BwE

TedX Speaker, author and mother of 4 Katie Kimball is on the pod today to discuss the concept of picky eating and how it is not solely about the food! What?? I know. She introduces the five P's that contribute to picky eating: palate, pain, processing, pressure, and power. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the physiological and sensory aspects of eating, as well as the impact of pressure and power dynamics in the parent-child relationship. This episode will unlock so much powerful info for parents in this battle. Even if you don't have a "picky eater," you have an eater. In this conversation Katie and I talk about how to support our children in listening to their bodies, making their own choices when it comes to food (with boundaries!) and helping them to build a healthy exploratory relationship between themselves and the food. What a gift to give them! This episode was a wealth of information on a topic I know we all struggle with daily, I got so much out of it and I know you will too! Takeaways Picky eating is not solely about the food; it is influenced by various factors such as palate, pain, processing, pressure, and power. Understanding the physiological and sensory aspects of eating can help parents address picky eating behaviors. Pressure and power dynamics in the parent-child relationship can contribute to picky eating. Allowing children to listen to their bodies and make their own choices when it comes to food is important for developing a healthy relationship with food. Parents should focus on praising the process rather than the results when it comes to eating. Set boundaries and provide structure around meal times to teach kids to listen to their bodies and make healthy food choices. Establish snack time boundaries and say no to certain foods to create a balanced approach to eating. Teach kids to eat well by preparing the space, leading with healthy options, and maintaining a poker face. Exposure to a variety of foods is important, and it may take multiple attempts for a child to develop a taste for certain foods. Avoid short order cooking and catering to picky preferences, as it can exacerbate the problem. Cooking with kids builds their confidence, develops life skills, and creates positive associations with food. You can connect further with Katie's incredible work and resources at https://www.kitchenstewardship.com/ and her Instagram @katiekimballkidscook

I am so excited to finally bring to you Veronica Rotman, a somatic nervous system healing practitioner and teacher to discuss with me the importance of somatics in parenting and the impact of the nervous system on our experiences. This conversation encompasses everything I have learned and believe that parents need to know to get free from the invisible prisons of performance, perfectionism and pain that they find themselves in.  Veronica is not only an expert in the nervous system, but she specializes in the female nervous system, and she explains how the lack of maternal support specifically impacts our differently wired systems, as well as how females are wired differently than males. This is like a supportive mini masterclass, full of so much information, but also advice, encouragement, and empathy as we too as mothers fully know what it's like to be in these bodies in this time in history. And like me, she has found through her training, work with parents and from her lives experience, that when we do the somatic trauma healing work from the events in our lives (especially the relational trauma that is rampant in our culture), parenting can "flow from an intuitive place." This is everything I want for you all. Enjoy this breath of fresh air and this further nudge into this life-altering work. Takeaways Move beyond the cultural narrative of simply asking 'how do you feel?' and explore and be present with our sensations and emotions. The female nervous system is primed for relationship and co-regulation, and this is crucial in parenting. Neuroception is the autonomic nervous system's ability to scan our environment for signs of safety or threat. Prioritize oxytocin over dopamine in our culture to support regulation and well-being. New mothers often experience isolation and lack of support, which can impact their nervous system and mental health. Embodiment, regulation, and co-regulation are essential in parenting and fostering secure attachment. Interrupt the cycle of dysregulation and reactivity through open curiosity and self-awareness. Modeling emotional regulation is essential for children to learn how to regulate their own emotions. Creating coherence between our feelings, words, actions, and beliefs is important for building secure relationships. Healing and rewiring our attachment patterns is crucial for our own well-being and for providing secure attachment to our children. Nature can be a powerful co-regulator and can help us establish a sense of safety and connection. Anger is a natural emotion and can be a healthy part of our relationships when expressed and followed by repair. Accountability and embodiment are key in creating healthy dynamics and relationships. You can connect with Veronica and her work on Instagram at @wakingwomb or her website https://waking-womb.com/ to see more about her retreats and offerings. Happy Listening and Learning Loves!

I have been wanting Occupational Therapist and Parent Coach Maggie Viers on the podcast for ages and today is the dayyyy! Maggie and I are so aligned with our approaches and the conclusions we have drawn from knowing, living and teaching the science of attachment and parenting. She is brilliant, down-to-earth, and my professional twin. Today, Maggie and I are so excited to bring to you Our first Group Coaching experience, and the guiding principles we have both come to in our separate parenting and professional journeys. Even if you're not considering joining this cohort, there is so much reframing, validation, and information embedded in this episode. We discuss our personal journeys as parents and the overlooked essentialness of self-healing and self-care in parenting, and we touch on the various topics we'll be covering in The Nurtured Mama. Sound Bites "Stop teaching and start relieving the pressure" "We are learning how to be human and our kids" "From cycle breaker to cycle starter" "How do we give ourselves compassion? How do we repair with ourselves so then we can repair with our children from a grounded, embodied place?" "It is nervous system revolutionizing to allow our inner child to tantrum and spit and scream and say exactly what hurt them." "The women are really leading this revolution of consciousness, of repatterning, of cycle starting. We really are on the front lines, the mothers." If you're called to do this program or share it with someone you love, information here! https://tidy-forest-73543.myflodesk.com/zotkmbe38q

I am so fired up to present this conversation to you today with Jessica Elefante, the author of "Living Well, Raising Hell: Freedom from Influence in a World Where Everyone Wants Something from You," co-chair of Mothers Against Media Addiction, mother, & tech critic at the heart of modernity & humanity. I devoured Jessica's book where she furthers her work to open people's eyes on the topics of technology, capitalism, influence, and motherhood. I devoured Jessica's book where she furthers her work to open people's eyes on the topics of technology, capitalism, influence, and motherhood. In our conversation shares her personal journey as a former brand strategist in the tech industry and how it led her to a devotion to activism. Jessica is a wealth of knowledge in this space, in this conversation she emphasizes the importance of creating boundaries and balance with technology and highlights the work of Moms Against Media Addiction (MAMA) in advocating for change. She also discusses the impact of technology on children's mental health and the need for regulation and guardrails to protect them. Our conversation revolves around the importance of creating a sense of safety and regulating the nervous system in adults and children (of course!). We talk about the many evidence-based negative impacts of excessive device use and the need for human connection and co-regulation. We discuss strategies that we both use as mothers, and our conversation ends on a much-needed hopeful note-- Jessica is in this work so deeply, and is noticing a swelling tide of parents and researchers dedicated to protect children and implement policy that does so. We touch on Jonathan Haidt's work, you can learn more about him and his book "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness" here: https://jonathanhaidt.com/ You can find Jessica and more about her passionate and ever-evolving work here: https://jessicaelefante.com/ And you can learn about and get involved in MAMA's work here: https://www.joinmama.org/ Sound Bites "I have never seen anything like it." "This stuff is not designed to have a healthy relationship with it." "That's what an addict says when they've become sober for the first time." "Through understanding how the nervous system is actually working, learning just enough and learning how to send signals of safety to your own system." "It's like empty dopamine. It's trick dopamine." "This culture isn't raising my children. Companies are not raising my children." 01:54 The Influence of Technology 09:46 Protecting Children in the Digital Age 14:14 The Role of Moms Against Media Addiction 27:19 The Need for Regulation and Guardrails 30:38 Creating Safety and Regulating the Nervous System 35:26 Protecting Children from the Harmful Effects of Technology 36:55 Setting Boundaries and Providing Alternative Activities for Children 49:39 The Power of Collective Action and Advocacy

We're gonna keep learning about this Nervous System, and today we're doing it with the gentle, wise and loving somatic practitioner Elena Dominguez. You'll just love her. In this conversation we discuss the role of play in our nervous system and what we can learn from the dog park, how to reparent the body, how to reprogram the nervous system with compassion and patience, how to parent a healthy nervous system, how to open pathways for stress discharge, and how to work with the body and the subconscious for our highest healing. This conversation is a beautiful way to continue the learning process we're in to better understand these precious protective bodies that are always available for healing. I can't wait to have Elena back to tell us more, she provides such a safe space for learning. You can see her work and offerings at her Instagram: @loveyourwholelife or her website, https://return-to-rhythm.com/ And you can purchase her incredible book, "Return to Rhythm: Learn Your Nervous System Rhythm to Restore Resilience in Your Body, Deepen Your Relationships, and Ignite an Embodied Spiritual Awakening" here: https://www.amazon.com/Return-Rhythm-Resilience-Relationships-Spiritual/dp/B0BMSQN378

Ruthie Lindsey is an author, speaker, and healer who is on a mission to help us access the truest, most liberated version of ourselves by becoming endeared to our lives, bodies, & souls ✨ Ruthie has answered the call to healing in a way that isn't common in our culture, which is so deeply nourishing, healing and a beautiful thing to witness. She has been a guiding light for me for years on my healing journey, and I am so honored to have her here for us! In this conversation, we discuss the extreme events that led to Ruthie's healing journey, how she daily attunes to her Inner Child, the barriers to embodiment and how she comes back home to her body even as it holds chronic pain, how she works with her spirituality to stay really grounded in her human experience, and how she works with her Shadow to embrace all parts of herself. This episode is full of take-aways and tips, but more than that, you can *feel* the love and safety Ruthie has reclaimed within and with herself, and this conversation gives you an experience of being so held and loved, as well as a glimpse of what's possible for all of us called to this level of liberation. Ruthie can be found on Instagram at @ruthielindsey where you can access her various evolving offerings, including her excellent Substack (which I am a grateful member of!), where she has monthly classes and trainings on various topics for our thriving. Her book, "There I Am," I also highly recommend and it can be found here: https://www.ruthielindsey.com/book

New brains for everyone! Paloma and Danny, The Founders of In the Cortex, are here to teach us how we can go back in time and give our brain the experiences it needs to repair and reorder, no matter our chronological age.Brain reorganization is a non-invasive method of completing lower brain development by re-creating the movements that we might have missed as babies.I am really excited about the work these incredible women are doing! This conversation is full of openness, invitations, reflections and insights into how we can access our truest sense of our humanity.There are just so many ways to heal.We also discuss how they work with subconscious reprogramming in the body, and our take on the sneaky barriers to healing.Their work is exciting and essential for those of us ready to do the repair work at the most foundational level. If you're interested in this work you can check out their website to learn about their programs: inthecortex.com They also have a wonderful podcast called "In The Cortex" on Spotify and Apple. Happy Learning Loves!

On Wednesdays, we talk about Codependency. And we're doing it with Erika Wright, a codependency and spiritual counselor who — with blunt straightforwardness, loving kindness, and a strong Boston accent — helps people get out of their own way and have a better life. Codependency is confusing, nebulous, and everywhere (including inside our bodies). We can't talk and learn about it enough as we ushed in this New Paradigm of Interdependence. Erika and I discuss the cultural legacy that shaped our codependent society, how to heal our relationship with reality, how to release attachment to outcome and shaping others, internalizing unconditional love, learning to accept multiple opposing truths, uncovering authenticity and trust, the power of choice and the privilege of healing. I loved talking about one of my favorite topics with this wise woman, she is so solid, self-reflective and relatable. Speaking of relatable, we did throw in some F Bombs in this one, so make sure you listen to it your adult time (because I am sure your children have never heard the F word come out of your mouth)! Erika and all of her wonderful work can be found on her IG: @erikawrighthcd

STOP EVERYTHING, EVERYONE...Jennifer Kolari IS ON THE POD TODAYYYY!The brilliant and generous Canadian therapist, author, speaker and brain/heart behind the Connected Parenting Model is here to teach us about how our brains and bodies work, and to give us so many actionable steps to take to uplevel our ability to dose our children with the protective neurochemicals that bring out the best feelings and learning from all of us. Probably no therapist has affected me, my parenting, and my career as much as Jennifer Kolari. In her grounded wonderful way, she illuminates SO much we experience in the Target aisle and our precious bodies and provides the most effective and concrete ways for maximum parenting impact and general life sustainability. In this episode she explains how she came to develop the CALM Technique through working with traumatized youth in Toronto, she explains the core tenants of the CALM Technique, how to become a healthy authority figure, limbic bonding and adrenaline play, how to de-escalate any situation with mirroring and empathy, and how to heal and reparent our inner child in micro moments throughout the day. Jennifer is this perfect bridge between the old and the new. She is such a visionary and innovator, but she is incredibly grounded and practical. She changed my life and brain years ago, and I am so excited for her to impact yours!Jennifer Kolari has her own podcast "Connected Parenting," where she doles out 15-20 minutes episodes on various topics to put her knowledge in the hands of parents for free all over the world. Her books, "Connected Parenting" and "You're Ruining My Life! Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting" are both essential guidebooks for our parenting years. She has a therapy practice in Toronto and San Diego, and trains therapists in how to become a Connected Parenting Facilitator. All of her goodness can be found on her website connectedparenting.comHappy Learning Loves!

We have another Neurologist on the pod today to help us understand what is happening beneath our skin. Let's geek out on the science of healing and living! Laura Cardwell is a Neurologist, mother, trainer and speaker who expertly explains many topics for us including the body as the subconscious mind and why change needs to happen there, healing the mind-body connection, the role of energy and frequency and the cultural historical reasons why science has only recently been going there, and quantum physics to top it all off! She gives concrete tips on how to master our energy and bodies, but most importantly, this episode is gives so much insight into how we operate with the latest scientific research that hasn't hit the culture yet (remember it takes about 17 years). If you'd like to learn more Laura and her work, you can do so on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lauracardwellqiw/ Happy Learning Loves!

*Or, alternate title: "How to Consciously Parent the Toddler that is our Body." Yes, I know. Allow us to explain: Seasononed psychotherapist turned Intuitive, Embodiment, and Relationship Coach Meaghan O'Malley is on the pod today to further de-mystify somatics, embodiment and how to be in relationship with our bodies as the ultimate vehicle for healing. In this episode we talk about how to cultivate intuition through trusting the body, how to honor sensation and build a sense of safety in the body, how our body is essentially a toddler that needs to seen, accepted, trusted and soothed, the many ways the body talks to us, and how we can start to live a more aligned life when we are working with ourselves on this level. Meghan's approach to healing is both deeply grounded and empowering (with a sprinkle of magic), the combination we all need as we navigate these turbulent changing times. I loved this conversation! You can connect with Meghan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/meghanomalleymagic/ and get more goodness from her!

The soft, wise, grounded Kirsten CoBabe is on the pod today to support and teach us how to attune to our teens (and ourselves!) as we navigate this dicey and impactful chapter in our parenting journey. This podcast got very big, deep and philosophical, but I think that's what we must do when parenting teens? Oh the bigness required!What I especially love about the teen years (and Kirsten and I want everyone to know this!) is that the brain undergoes significant growth and development, including a pruning process that removes unused connections and strengthens others. So if we were struggling in their toddler years, if we didn't have the knowledge or the healthy nervous system to support them, we get a second chance to deeply positively impact them in the teen years. YESWe discuss the developmental growth happening in the teenage body and brain that is widely misunderstood by the culture-- which includes the heightened necessity of our own attunement and resonance, how to empower them to express their needs, how to lean into the self-involvement that is a developmentally necessity, how to connect with them, and how to support ourselves in this entire process (always!). This is one of my favorite conversations, Kirsten is a wise delight and you will be soothed and inspired whether you're IN the teen zone or it's comin' for you. Kirsten lives in Hawaii where she has her Teen and Parent Whispering Practice, and supports families all over the globe. Her Instagram is @kirstencobabe where you can find her gentle wisdom for parents in this pivotal chapter.

Brilliant, articulate fellow therapist Sarah Ann Saeger is here to help us learn to navigate what it means to be the first generation breaking free from the unhealthy and unhelpful ways we were parented, while also parenting and reparenting. This rich episode touches on the impact of childhood trauma on our parenting, understanding the inner child, attachment styles and healing our own attachment to Self, how to practice inner attunement, how to navigate the moving target of holding boundaries with our parents and why she is no longer referring to families as dysfunctional. Sarah's training is in Internal Family Systems, and we both share our wisdom earned and passion shared for supporting adults in reclaiming what was lost in childhood. Sarah Ann Saeger is a trauma-informed licensed counselor, writer and somatic practitioner, and fellow traveler. She helps individuals become the healthy adult their inner child needs after attachment trauma and discover healing in relationship. You can connect with her, her wisdom and offerings at her Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/sarahanntherapy/

James' wisdom is both ancient and forward-thinking. He reconnects us to the teachings of the past while helping us see the agency we have in our day-to-day lives to create the future we want to see. In this discussion, we cover how to harness our intuition and how creativity is essentially bringing into being something we haven't seen yet. The parallels to our parenting abound--how can we have faith in ourselves enough to trust the rightness we feel in the moment, and be buoyed by the belief that just because what we're building (whether that's writing a book or creating security in our attachments) can't be seen yet, it doesn't mean we aren't creating it.  I joke that James is a "New Paradigm Preacher," and to me he really is. I deeply feel that we are being fire hosed in the face with information, and we need leadership and inspiration to adopt guiding principles that reframe our sense of ourselves and this world we live in. James' work affected my healing journey profoundly years ago, and I am honored to bring his work and wisdom to you.  James is the author of "Sh*t Your Ego Says," "How to Laugh in Ironic Amusement at Your Existential Crisis," and the recently published "The Art of You; The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity." James is a meme poet, thought leader, and digital mystic, and you can find his daily doses of humor, wit and wisdom at his Instagram account @wordsarevibrations. 

We can dream right? Actually, we can parent in a way around screens and tech in a way that builds connections, awareness, and self-regulation in our kiddos around tech and Ash Brandin is here to help us learn how to do it.  Ash Brandin has been a teacher for the past 13 years and has blended their love and knowledge of children and tech on their instagram account @thegameeducator, where they provide the soothing much-needed messaging on how we can navigate screens, behavior and *our own needs* as parents.  There are ten million questions we have about the tech, and while this conversation only answers some of them (like parental controls, dopamine hits, fast screen changes, risk factors for tech addiction), what it really provides is a much-needed guiding principle on how to shift our view of the tech (that ain't going anywhere y'all) and to focus on how we can support our children in learning how to navigate it while also balancing our own needs as parents in this village-less world.  This, is what we must, do now. I hope this conversation provides some empowerment and a bit of an exhale around this tricky tricky topic! You can access Ash's work and helpful goodness here: https://thegamereducator.com/ And here is the link to guide to make your child safer on Youtube: https://thegamereducator.com/2023/03/26/how-to-keep-kids-safer-on-youtube/

Child Neurologist Dr. Jorina Elbers is here to teach us how we can move ourselves into heart consciousness for our optimal nervous system health and impact in our parenting and lives. This work hits to the core of our Reprogramming, I could not be more aligned with her message and research. Dr. Elbers brings us the latest research from the HeartMath Institute, an organization that has been scientifically researching the healing power of heart, so that individuals, families and organizations can enhance their life experiences using tools that enable them to better recognize and access their intuitive insights and heart intelligence. HeartMath tools are being used by top performance athletes, CEO's, and mental health professionals to optimize their performance, functioning, and health, and now we're bringing this goodness to parents! This episode explains how our nervous system thrives, and how we can access that state in our moment to moment lives. Dr. Elbers also recently developed a parenting course for HeartMath, so this episode has her insights and recommendations on how to support our children's nervous system in the heat of hard moments. This is one of my favorite episodes to date, I am so excited to bring these tools and insights to the parenting space and to you today. Let's all do our work to "Feed the Field!" (you'll know what this means after listening). If you ate interested in HeartMath's work, their website can be found here: https://www.heartmath.org/about-us/ Their parenting course can be found here: https://www.heartmath.com/training/heartmath-for-parents/ Dr. Elbers has a Holistic Integrative medical practice in Santa Cruz California, if you would like to learn more about her work: https://drelbers.com/

The incomparable Mary Van Geffen is here to help us parent our Spicy Ones, or know if we secretly are one too! Mary deeply understands the science of attachment and parenting, and provides such a soothing dose of wisdom, honesty, self-awareness and humor that can make you feel a little braver in whatever you're navigating in your body and in your relationships. We talk about how our spiciest challenges in whatever form they come, are often the biggest invitation back Home to Ourselves, because that is truly where we have our greatest power and influence. We talk about embodiment practices that we use, she provides journal prompts, we talk about tools to soothe nervous system (donkey breaths!), and even how she hacked her physiology on her lawn to prove her husband wrong. Mary is such a light and this conversations GIVES. If you feel called to work with her, she has many incredible offerings and ways to work with her on her website: https://www.maryvangeffen.com/ If you want to find out if you are parenting a Spicy One, take her quiz! https://www.maryvangeffen.com/quiz You can also learn so much from her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryvangeffen/

What if there was an evidence-based way to discipline and parent our children that builds their brains, their capacity for problem-solving, strengthens our attachment relationship and also reduced our mental load?? Y'ALL. Not even kidding, this exists, and Dr. Tamara Soles is here to tell us all about it. I heard her on a podcast in 2018 and it literally changed my life-- I started implementing these principles in my relationships with my own children (and the families that I work with). This approach shifts us out of power struggles, indecision, and places a healthy amount of agency and power in our children's hands because children don't learn by being told what to do, they learn by making decisions. This approach prioritizes connection and collaboration, while holding high warmth and high boundaries. Dr. Tamara Soles is a Psychologist, Parent Coach, Podcaster and mother of twins, who deeply understands child development and the brain, and honors all of this while holding in mind our capacity as modern parents with limited support and time. Her approach is refreshingly loving and sustainable, while also empowering us to support our children in becoming the confident, internally driven intuitive adults they are meant to become. I am so excited to share her and her work with you! If you would like to connect more with Dr. Tamara Soles, her website is https://drtamarasoles.com/

Today on the podcast we are going deep into aggression and how to support our children when their behavior manifests as such. Tosha deeply understands the neuroscience of safety, and how we can provide the felt experience first in our bodies and then in our relationship with our child. This episode provides insights, empathy and many ideas that you can start to implement today for your sweet child who is struggling with aggression.  Tosha is a parent coach, mom, author and runs her program Parenting Boys Peacefully, where she has laser focused in on how to support this specific highly challenging behavior. Tosha has collaborated with Dr. Shefali and has worked with families all over the world. If you feel called to work with Tosha, she is having a FREE Workshop called "Stop the Aggression," on March 12, link below: https://parentingboyspeacefully.com/free-workshop/?affiliate=thereprogrammedparent I know how hard aggressive behavior can be to manage and support. I've never seen anyone focus in on this topic quite like Toscha, she gives this area the attention, tools and support it deserves!

If you are into two women in black turtlenecks talking about the healing power of dance, embodiment and spirituality, then you are going to love this episode with Asheville Icon, Misa Terral. The more I learn about trauma and the nervous system, the more I value somatic expression--and there is no method quite like music plus dance plus community. Misa is at the helm of Soulpower Dance, where she incorporates conscious choreography, energetic awareness and heart expanding moves inviting fun and freedom while digging deeper into embodiment, emotional wholeness and the spirit within. She creates safe playful spaces where we can emote, feel our power, move our anger, integrate our shadow, and experience the psychological phenomenon of Collective Joy. Dancing to move and experience emotion has been pivotal in my healing and returning to Self, and I have had profound shifts in Misa's classes. I am so excited to have her wise grounded presence on the podcast today to explain how her work works, how she came to it, and what she feels about life. She is a wise one y'all. If you are not local to Asheville and feel drawn to work with her, Misa offers coaching as well and you can find that information here: https://www.soulpowerliving.com/coaching Her IG is @soulpowerdance where she keeps us informed of her endless offerings that vary in topic but always return to the theme of accessing and embodying our highest selves.

Dutch Psychologist Barlas Gunay of the powerful and insightful Instagram account @acceptandact is here to go deep into all the things we Cyclebreakers need to know to heal, reclaim our power, and find peace and ease in our lives. We talk about anger and why women struggle the most with this (and it's consequences), we talk about nervous system self-regulation, we talk about inner child work, shadow work, and the trends that he sees culturally that give him so much hope about the healing possible for everyone in this Age of Information. If you notice me covering the same topics over and over again at times, it's because I am! We can't learn enough about nervous system health, inner child work and Shadow work, and I absolutely love the way Barlas explains it all, how passionate he is, and how he is embodying the healthy masculine energy we all need. If you would like to connect with Barlas, his IG is @acceptandact, there you can join his Patreon and get connected to his Cyclebreaking community and support group. If you would like to connect with me on IG: I am @the.reprogrammed.parent I see you, I celebrate you, I'm with you, I am you. XO

Fellow therapist, coach and Instagram co-worker Shenikka Moore-Clarke is here today to explain many healing concepts that we all need to know about now, such as attachment, projection, somatics, cyclebreaking while parenting and The Safe and Sound Protocol, a nervous system healing tool that seems like it comes straight out of Star Trek. This is an informative conversation between two clinicians and mamas who are living the work, who found their way back home to themselves in similar ways and are eager to teach others about what they've learned. Shenikka is a long licensed clinician who had a health crisis land at her doorstep, and pushed her to move into somatic and nervous system healing work for her own healing. Shenikka is my favorite kind of clinician, one who humbly guides her clients back towards their bodies and themselves. If you would like to connect with Shenikka, follow her informative and funny IG at @the.healingvibe. If you would like to find a clinician in your area who offers the Safe and Sound Protocol, you can look at this website: https://integratedlistening.com/products/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign={campaign}&utm_content={content}&hsa_acc=2148588241&hsa_cam=15801363830&hsa_grp=152522012308&hsa_ad=638351133499&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=dsa-1922928373574&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8YyuBhBSEiwA5R3-E9qRNYAjOlSdWUFAiXaSRdEhaxVWyZFWRSH43ww1IOe5nxwcpY91ThoC3fUQAvD_BwE

OK y'all, I know I am the Queen of Hyperbole, but are you ready to be forever changed?? This episode with journalist and author Rose Hackman will make you pissed, empowered, and will lift the veil (once again, because that's what we do now!) on what Emotional Labor is, how you're (probably) doing most of it, and how the people in your lives (cough cough, men) are absolutely able to do it as well.  I have a hunch that Emotional Labor is a term you've heard whiffs of on Instagram, but you're not quite sure what it is. Rose Hackman literally wrote the book on it and spent years heavily researching the topic, how it plays out in our society, and how we can move our way out of the insidious expectations on women that are robbing us of our energy, influence, and making us feel so damn resentful. There is tenderness and hope here-- I'm very intentionally not wanting to man-bash here, but I deeply believe we do need to understand these dynamics so we can see them, and then change them. This is a potent episode and you will not want to miss it! Rose Hackman is the author of Emotional Labor; The Invisible Work Shaping Our Lives and How to Claim our Power, which you can purchase here: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/emotional-labor/ You can also access more of her work on IG at: https://www.instagram.com/rose.hackwoman/

This POWERFUL episode with researcher, author and teacher Sarah Peyton had me taking notes and crying, because she explains what hurts us and what can heal us in the most validating scientific and soothing way possible. Unlike anyone else I have yet to meet, Sarah has gone deep into the research of our brains and how not only our early attachment wounds and non-verbal messages have impacted us, but also that "the brain is forever available for resonant support and accompaniment." In this episode we discuss the unconscious contracts we make with our parents to make ourselves bad instead of them, the socially normalized traumatized default mode network (that's the part of our brain that goes offline when we do psychedelics), how we can move unintegrated painful experiences into a different part of brain so we are no longer activated by present day similar experience, the dark insula, and how we can time travel using our imagination to reorganize and heal our brains. This episode shifted so much for my awareness as a mother, human, and healer, and you deserve to be empowered and inspired by such information as well. Enjoy! Sarah's books, courses, mediations and trainings for clinical professionals can be found on her website at https://sarahpeyton.com/ If you would like to connect further with me, my website is annodom.org and my IG is: @the.reprogrammed.parent