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Gabby Bernstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author and spiritual teacher, spent years in perimenopause without ever naming it, until menopause hit at 44 and she came out the other side in what she calls a kind of resurrection. In this episode, she and Jeff trace that path: the unraveling, the hormones, the strength training, and the spiritual reckoning underneath all of it. They get specific about the physical and the spiritual at once: hormones, muscle, and the inner work that made the rest possible. Perimenopause symptoms that often go unrecognized in your 30s and 40s Hormone optimization, HRT, and microdosing testosterone for women Strength training, protein, and protecting muscle as you age Internal Family Systems and healing core wounds through transition This episode is for anyone navigating menopause, rethinking women's hormone health, or looking for a grounded spiritual practice to move through a hard season. This episode was made possible by: LMNT: Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/commune. Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off our entire product line. Stemregen: Get 20% off your first order at stemregen.co/commune with the code COMMUNEPOD Vivobarefoot: Try Vivobarefoot risk-free with a 100-day return guarantee, and get 25% off your order at vivobarefoot.com/commune. Sunlighten: Visit sunlighten.com/commune Up to 2,100 off saunas and $50 off Red Light Products with code “COMMUNE”
Today’s episode is a special rebroadcast of one of my all-time favorite conversations on the B.rad Podcast! Every so often, I like to revisit episodes that made a profound impact on me personally and delivered tremendous value to listeners, and this conversation with Thais Gibson is absolutely one of those episodes. I am so pleased to introduce a fantastically awesome show with Thais Gibson, creator of the Personal Development School! When Thais first sent me an overview of what she wanted to discuss, I thought, "Sure, let's talk about it." But I have to tell you, I was completely blown away. This became one of my favorite shows I have ever recorded. Listeners, I truly believe this episode has the potential to be life-changing. I know it was for me. It probably helped that I unknowingly became the guinea pig for much of the conversation. What you'll hear is essentially a live coaching session where Thais demonstrates her expertise and methods using real-life examples from my own experiences—particularly the disconnect between my stated goals and some of my behavior patterns. We focused on the pursuit of wealth and financial security, an area where I occasionally feel frustrated or deficient, perhaps because of subconscious patterns operating beneath the surface. Thais explains the causes of self-sabotage and how to reprogram limiting thought patterns. One of the most fascinating parts of the discussion is when she explains that we're operating from our conscious mind only about three to five percent of the time. If you're someone who listens to podcasts, reads books, and continually educates yourself, your conscious mind may be doing a great job acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. But your subconscious needs and programming can still interfere and pull you off course. So in this episode, it's time for Brad to get processed, dig deep, and explore what's really happening when self-sabotage kicks in. Thais Gibson is a counselor, bestselling author of Learning Love, and co-founder of the Personal Development School. She holds a Ph.D. and more than 13 certifications in modalities including CBT, NLP, somatic experiencing, Internal Family Systems, shadow work, and hypnosis. After nearly a decade running a successful private practice, she founded The Personal Development School—an online learning platform designed to provide a more accessible and authentic way for people to transform their lives. In fact, after we finished this recording, I enrolled immediately. I encourage you to visit her website and explore what she offers. She offers a test run where you can see what it’s all about—check it out at personaldevelopmentschool.com. Enjoy this special rebroadcast with Thais Gibson! TIMESTAMPS: People may not always be aware that they are self-sabotaging because it usually occurs at a subconscious level. [00:53] Your conscious mind is responsible for roughly 3 to 5 percent of all of your beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions or decisions. Your subconscious is responsible for 95 to 97 percent. [04:48] We all have subconscious personality needs. [07:54] Thais uses Brad as an example to unpack what needs it relates to. She asks first, what does he do in his spare time? [09:34] Where does he spend his money? What does he like to learn about? [12:10] Our subconscious mind is also the host of all of our limiting beliefs. [19:46] There is a tool for how to pull up what your limiting beliefs are. [21:42] We're scared of something that's hidden in the periphery at a subconscious level of mind [24:29] Reconditioning is a tool for reprogramming. [26:25] Thais identifies characteristics of people who have been in a relationship with a narcissist. [30:41] Look for the things that trigger you. Plan your limiting belief and use its opposite. [33:02] Step one: What is your core belief and its opposite? Step two: what are 10 memories to support? They can be recent memories, really old memories, doesn't matter. 10 memories to support this new idea about yourself. I am, in fact, good enough. Step three: listen back for 21 days. [34:17] When thinking about financial security, many people struggle with their subconscious as in feeling they don’t deserve it or some parts of society that have a distaste for the inequitable distribution of wealth. [43:10] There are seven areas of life that need attention. Career, financial, mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and relationship. To ignore one area, we will pay for it later. [52:45] What specific things or set of things are you going to do on a daily basis to reprogram? [59:13] So much futile energy and effort toward change without addressing these core issues is going to be tough. [01:06:13] LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! B.rad Whey Protein Isolate + Creatine SUPERFUEL - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10% Learning Love Personal Development School Atomic Habits We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to podcast@bradventures.com. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. 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This week, Thomas sits down with historical trauma specialist Iya Affo for a deep conversation on how to navigate a dysregulated world and the cyclical nature of trauma healing.They share wisdom on how to tread the non-linear path of both individual and collective healing, exploring how to peel back the layers in the healing process, how to find healing modalities that work for you, and the nuances of nervous system regulation in a divisive and propaganda-heavy political climate.Iya also shares how grief and hardship can expand our capacity to love and offers profound hope for transforming our wounds into sources of empathy and service for others.✨ Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:
Send us a text message if you have a question you want answered on the podcast.As an LDS therapist, one of the most common things I hear from women is, "I feel torn inside." There' is a part of you that wants to be calm and faithful, and another part that's anxious, or exhausted, or just done. Both can be true on the same day. That's not hypocrisy. That's being human.In this episode, I sit down with JoAnna Bethea, an Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor and the very first therapist to join me at Aligned Counseling. JoAnna walks us through Internal Family Systems, the modality she uses with her clients, and shows how it weaves beautifully with the gospel and with the Mind Body Bridging work I already teach. She shares her own story of a four day anxiety attack the week her youngest son finished his last high school sport, and how that hard season led her into the most freeing work she's ever done.If you've ever felt torn in two, this one is for you._______________________________Get to know our guest:JoAnna Bethea is an Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Aligned Counseling Utah. She specializes in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and weaves it together with Mind Body Bridging and the gospel of Jesus Christ to help LDS women heal from anxiety, perfectionism, people pleasing, and the quiet identity loss that often shows up in motherhood and empty nesting. She is also the heart behind a brand new Instagram account, Teaching Them To Fly, for moms walking their kids (and themselves) into the next chapter.If you're in Utah and what JoAnna shared today felt like a light bulb moment for you, she's currently taking new clients at Aligned Counseling Utah. Website: AlignedCounselingUtah.comInstagram: @teachingthemtofly_______________________________Stick around for more Mental Health support & resources:
Desire To Trade Podcast | Forex Trading Tips & Interviews with Highly Successful Traders
Build An Unstoppable Trading Mindset In episode 562 of the Desire To Trade Podcast, you will be listening to an interview with elite trading psychologist Mandi Pour Rafsendjani as she discusses how to build an unstoppable trading mindset. She breaks down why smart traders still struggle to follow their own rules and shares real examples of traders who kept repeating the same mistakes. They uncovered what was really driving their decisions. The conversation dives into trading psychology, self-trust, and why consistency often has less to do with strategy than most traders think. The video is also available for you to watch on YouTube. >> Watch the video recording! Topics Covered In This Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:08 What's new with Mandi Pour Rafsendjani 04:08 The role of AI in trading psychology 06:57 Understanding trader behavior and mindset 08:56 The impact of childhood experiences on trading 10:13 Transforming trader mindsets 16:27 How to deal with hesitation in trading 19:15 Overcoming self-doubt using "Internal Family Systems" 23:55 Continuous learning in trading psychology 30:01 Connecting with traders and building relationships 33:55 Where to find Mandi Pour Rafsendjani What did you like best in this podcast episode? Let's talk in the comments below, or join me in the Facebook group! Desire To Trade's Top Resources DesireToTRADE Forex Trader Community (free group!) Complete Price Action Strategy Checklist One-Page Trading Plan (free template) Recommended brokers: EightCap (preferred Crypto and FX Broker) AxiTrader (use our link to get a special bonus) Desire To TRADE Academy Get a copy of Prop Trading Secrets (Author: Kathy Lien & Etienne Crete) About The Desire To Trade Podcast Subscribe via iTunes (take 2 seconds and leave the podcast a review!) Subscribe via Stitcher Subscribe via TuneIn Subscribe via Google Play See all podcast episodes How to find Mandi Pour Rafsendjani highperformancetrading.com.au X/Twitter: @mpx_trader What one thing will you implement after listening to this podcast episode? Leave a comment below, or join me in the Facebook group!
We are excited to celebrate the launch of IFS Collected Wisdom: Conversations with Experienced Voices in Internal Family Systems a book that brings together voices, reflections, and lived experience from across the IFS community. This book was created from a desire to honor those voices, and to acknowledge that wisdom in IFS doesn't live in one place or one person. It lives in relationship, in experience, and in the field as it evolves. Thank you for being a listener, for being part of this community, and for continuing to explore what becomes possible when Self leads. We hope that IFS Collected Wisdom can become a companion in your IFS journey. Here is a link to the IFS Collected Wisdom book contents. The Role of Uncertainty in Mental Health with Sarah Bergenfeld and Martha SweezyIn this episode, we welcome two leading voices in Internal Family Systems therapy for a conversation that bridges neuroscience, sensory experience, and healing. Sarah Bergenfield is a certified Level 3 IFS practitioner, writer, and educator specializing in autistic individuals and couples. Autistic herself, Sarah weaves together IFS, polyvagal theory, predictive processing, and sensory science in her clinical and consultation work. She teaches internationally for clinicians working with neurodiverse clients, and her work reframes autism not as a deficit, but as a condition of sensory surplus. Martha Sweezy is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, program consultant and supervisor at the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at Cambridge Health Alliance, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Northampton, Massachusetts. She teaches IFS nationally and internationally and has authored and co-edited numerous books on the model, including Internal Family Systems Therapy, Second Edition (with Richard Schwartz), Intimacy from the Inside Out (with Toni Herbine-Blank), and Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt.Together, Sarah and Martha are co-authors of Wired to Feel: Autism as a Condition of Sensory Surplus.In this episode, we explore the role of uncertainty in mental health: how it can quietly drive distress and shame, and how IFS offers a path toward resolution. While the conversation has special relevance for autistic systems, the insights apply across all neurologies.
What if the very thing driving your success is quietly breaking you? Brooke Taylor, Enneagram Three, career coach, and author of Healing the Success Wound, joins me for a searingly honest conversation about achievement, identity, and spiritual hunger.. Brooke grew up in Silicon Valley where worth was measured in gold stars, landed at Google by her early twenties, and found herself drowning in a success she couldn't feel. We talk about the success wound which, as Brooke describes it, is the pain that comes from mistaking productivity and achievement for self-worth — the deeply installed belief that the more you produce and achieve, the more worthy of love and belonging you become. This wound isn't just for Enneagram Threes. It's a human condition — and it shows up differently depending on your type, your culture, your family system, and what "success" looks like in your particular world. We talk through Brooke's five types of unfulfilled achievers — the grinder, the hider, the seeker, the work-hard-play-hard, and the pleaser — and I couldn't help mapping those to the Enneagram types in real time. We also get into the distinction between the true self, the wounded self, and the socialized (or protector) self — a framework rooted in Internal Family Systems and gestalt psychology that I think will resonate deeply with longtime Typology listeners. Whether you're a Three or you love one, this episode is for you. Guest Bio: Brooke Taylor is a certified career coach, speaker, and the author of Healing the Success Wound. A self-identified Enneagram Three, Brooke built her coaching practice specifically for women navigating the intersection of ambition, identity, and fulfillment — though her framework applies broadly across genders. Her research includes a survey of more than 5,000 high-achieving professionals who identified as unfulfilled, which forms the empirical backbone of her five-type model of the unfulfilled achiever. A veteran of Google and a long-term member of recovery communities, Brooke brings both lived experience and rigorous research to her work. She is the founder of the Lined Ambition framework and writes and coaches at the crossroads of psychology, spirituality, and career development. Learn more at brooketaylor.co. Healing the Success Wound is available now wherever books are sold. Find Brooke at https://brooketaylorcoaching.com.
Marsha Zaritsky is a licensed mental health therapist certified in Internal Family Systems. She joins us to explain how her experience with polypharmacy and psychiatric drug withdrawal has changed and informed how she practices. *** Thank you for being with us to listen to the podcast and read our articles this year. MIA is funded entirely by reader donations. If you value MIA, please help us continue to survive and grow. https://www.madinamerica.com/donate/ To find the Mad in America podcast on your preferred podcast player, click here: https://pod.link/1212789850 © Mad in America 2026. Produced by James Moore https://www.jmaudio.org
This week, Thomas sits down with Dr. Ruth Lanius, a renowned clinical researcher and psychiatry professor, for a fascinating discussion on the neuroscience of trauma healing and the critical link between the brain's physical balance system and our emotional safety and stability.Dr. Lanius shares groundbreaking brain-imaging research revealing how trauma creates a profound brain-body disconnect, and explains how her "Finding Solid Ground" therapy helps highly dissociative individuals restore internal synchrony, embodiment, and self-compassion.It's an inspiring exploration into the science of individual and collective healing, the importance of attunement in healing relationships, and the hopeful reality that our brains and bodies can recover from trauma.How do you find your purpose in times of turmoil, upheaval, and change? Join Thomas on Wednesday, June 3rd, to explore this topic in a free, live event: ✨ Your Karmic Blueprint:The Key to Building a Purposeful Life. ✨Uncover the hidden architecture shaping your life and get inspired to forge your path forward with greater clarity, groundedness, and confidence.Sign up for free here
At a time when tools for ‘nervous system regulation' are everywhere we look, it's easy to forget that we aren't meant to always be “regulated.” In this episode, I'm joined by Nkem Ndefo, trauma therapist, nurse-midwife, somatic practitioner, and founder of the Resilience Toolkit. Nkem brings a rare synthesis of biological training, lived experience, social activism, disability and systems thinking to their work. We dig into the limits of nervous system regulation as a panacea, the politics of the word "dysregulation," what birth and midwifery taught Nkem about intergenerational trauma, and why understanding just how interwoven physical and emotional healing are can be life-saving. We also explore the modality of Emotional Transformation Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and we even talk about the healing quality of colors.In this episode we discuss:Nkem's journey from community organizer and needle exchange worker, to nurse-midwife, to trauma therapist and somatic practitionerWhat birth taught her about the “long arms of intergenerational and historical trauma”Why medicine's hyper-specialization keeps people trapped in cycles of sufferingThe link between trauma, autoimmunity, and conditions like mast cell activation and why the "hardest to treat" psychiatric presentations may have an immunological rootWhy Nkem is moving away from the word "dysregulation" and toward the concept of “coherence”Utilizing light, color, and bilateral stimulation for rapid transformationWhat collective healing looks like when systems themselves are treated as organismsNkem Ndefo is foremost an alchemist and also a disabled Black midwife, facilitator, coach, and strategist. She is the founder of Lumos Transforms and creator of the Resilience Toolkit, vehicles for healing and liberatory change across borders and at all scales. Her work builds embodied capacity to stabilize the impacts of personal and collective trauma and catalyze structural transformation. Nkem has led multi-year initiatives in embodied antiracism, healing justice, and resilience capacity building across the U.S., the UK, and Palestine, and directs several certification and professional training programs internationally.Links: https://lumostransforms.com/https://theresiliencetoolkit.co/Resources:Find videos and bonus episodes: DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COMGet the book: Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental HealthBecome a member: The Institute for the Development of Human ArtsTrain with us: Transformative Mental Health Core CurriculumSessions & Information about the host: JazmineRussell.comDisclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.
What if success meant living authentically rather than chasing the next milestone? Anna Lundberg sits down with Nick Whitnell - coach, writer, and host of nature-based gatherings - to explore how he re-engineered his work and life around values, self-compassion, and real human connection, all while still paying the bills and putting the bins out. Key Takeaways Success as authenticity, not achievement: Nick shares how he moved from measuring success by salary and status to defining it as living truthfully and treating himself and others with compassion. Re-engineering income and lifestyle: Instead of scaling up to match a growing salary, Nick worked backwards - asking what he actually needed to live well, and building his work around that. The fringe business model: Coaching, nature-based gatherings, monthly events at Patch in Bournemouth, and a weekly newsletter - Nick refuses to fit into a neat marketing box, and explains why that's a deliberate choice. Building trust through depth, not performance: Why consistency, credibility, and showing up as yourself beats algorithm-chasing every time, even if growth is slower. Working with the parts of you that hold you back: Drawing on Internal Family Systems, Nick explains how procrastination and people-pleasing often have good intentions - and what happens when you stop shaming those parts. If this conversation has you rethinking how your business is set up, let's talk. Book a free call to explore what a more authentic, sustainable model could look like for you - onestepoutside.com/call.
Aycee Brown is a psychic channel, medium, spiritual guide, and teacher dedicated to helping people unlock their most magical lives. Known as the "Voice of Truth" for her ability to connect individuals with their divine source, Aycee works with those at life's crossroads, guiding them to find clarity, meaning, and a path forward. Her expertise on the role human design, spirituality, and astrology play in relationships has been featured in major outlets like Cosmopolitan, Brides, and Bustle. In February 2026, she shared her profound insights with a wider audience through the release of her debut book, Embody Your Magic, a powerful blueprint for breaking free from conditioning and embracing one's most authentic self. Rooted in a lifetime of spiritual discovery — including gifts she traces back to childhood — Aycee has also explored her healing gifts through the podcast Is My Aura On Straight?. In this episode, host Shay Beider and Aycee Brown explore the profound tools and teachings Aycee has gathered across a lifetime of spiritual work — insights now woven throughout Embody Your Magic. Aycee shares her concept of "The Canyon," a framework for shadow work that isn't a one-time destination but a place we return to throughout life's biggest transitions, and she explains why knowing your story — including what was happening in your family long before you arrived — is the most powerful starting point for any healing journey. The duo discuss psychic channeling, mediumship, and the idea that we all have access to our higher selves and passed loved ones, as well as practical tools like human design, astrology, life path numbers, automatic writing, and Internal Family Systems therapy. Together, Shay and Aycee reflect on how healing asks us first to tell the truth, how our "I am" shapes our destiny, and how embracing our full selves — every part, every lineage, every wound — is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of living our magic. Listen to the complete episode by clicking the player above. Transcripts for this episode are available at: https://www.integrativetouch.org/conversations-on-healing Show Notes: Learn more about Aycee Brown here Read Aycee's debut book Embody Your Magic Read Aycee's book Your Soul Map: Liberation, Human Design, and the BIPOC Experience Listen to Aycee's podcast Is My Aura On Straight? Learn about The International Association of Near Death Studies Listen to the James Doty's podcast here Read Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James Doty Read Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything by James Doty Read You Are the One You've Been Waiting For (Internal Family Systems) by Richard Schwartz Read No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model by Richard Schwartz Read It Begins with You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life Download the My Human App here This podcast was created by Integrative Touch (InTouch), which is changing healthcare through human connectivity. A leader in the field of integrative medicine, InTouch exists to alleviate pain and isolation for anyone affected by illness, disability or trauma. This includes kids and adults with cancers, genetic conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic stress, and other serious health issues. The founder, Shay Beider, pioneered a new therapy called Integrative Touch™Therapy that supports healing from trauma and serious illness. The organization provides proven integrative medicine therapies, education and support that fill critical healthcare gaps. Their success is driven by deep compassion, community and integrity. Each year, InTouch reaches thousands of people at the Integrative Touch Healing Center, both in person and through Telehealth. Thanks to the incredible support of volunteers and contributors, InTouch created a unique scholarship model called Heal it Forward that brings services to people in need at little or no cost to them. To learn more or donate to Heal it Forward, please visit IntegrativeTouch.org
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4022: Ingrid Y. Helander explores how fear of returning depression can quietly intensify anxiety and emotional shutdown, especially during the summer when sadness feels harder to hide. Drawing from Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems, she offers simple ways to shift your nervous system toward safety, connection, and emotional balance so you can move through difficult feelings with more confidence and self-compassion. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/hack-your-nervous-system-to-prevent-summer-blues/ Quotes to ponder: “Any energy (even fear) is actually a great way to move out of symptoms that feel depressing.” “When you get overly anxious about becoming depressed and push those old feelings away, you are actually more likely to fall back into a depression.” “Breathe and recognize that you shift up and down between these portions of your nervous system all the time every day.” Episode references: Internal Family Systems: https://ifs-institute.com/ Polyvagal Theory: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the anxiety, overthinking, people pleasing, emotional shutdown, hypervigilance, burnout, and relationship struggles you experience today… were never actually "you" to begin with? In this deeply personal and profoundly eye-opening solo episode, Darin Olien dives into the hidden nervous system programming formed between the ages of 0 and 8 that silently shapes our adult lives. Drawing from neuroscience, trauma research, attachment theory, epigenetics, somatic healing, and his own emotional breakthroughs, Darin explores how childhood experiences become subconscious operating systems that influence everything from relationships and stress responses to chronic disease and self-worth. This episode is a powerful roadmap toward healing. Darin breaks down the science behind trauma, the ACE study, nervous system dysregulation, emotional patterning, and neuroplasticity, while also sharing practical tools like somatic experiencing, expressive writing, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems to help listeners begin rewiring their emotional lives from the inside out. What You'll Learn How childhood experiences program the nervous system Why most adult emotional reactions are subconscious survival patterns The connection between trauma, stress hormones, and chronic disease How the nervous system stores emotional experiences in the body Why people pleasing, hypervigilance, burnout, and emotional shutdown develop The science behind neuroplasticity and rewiring the brain What the ACE Study revealed about childhood trauma and adult health How trauma impacts the amygdala, hippocampus, and stress-response systems Why emotional patterns are adaptations, not character flaws How epigenetics can pass trauma responses across generations The role of somatic experiencing in trauma healing Practical tools for emotional regulation and nervous system repair Chapters 00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife 00:00:32 – Sponsor: Bite Toothpaste and eliminating toxic plastic exposure 00:02:47 – Darin introduces emotional reactions and nervous system triggers 00:03:15 – A personal story about reacting vs responding in conflict 00:03:50 – Emotional shutdowns, rage, withdrawal, people pleasing, and overcorrection 00:04:19 – Darin's physical pain journey and emotional discoveries in 2025 00:04:42 – Birth trauma, childhood conditioning, and nervous system programming 00:05:04 – Why the ages of 0–8 are the most neurologically influential years 00:05:18 – Theta and delta brainwave states during childhood 00:05:55 – How children absorb emotional patterns without filters 00:06:22 – Childhood experiences becoming subconscious operating systems 00:06:44 – Adults unknowingly living through a 5-year-old nervous system 00:07:12 – Why this episode became deeply personal for Darin 00:07:35 – The neuroscience behind stress responses and emotional conditioning 00:08:17 – Brain development, neuroplasticity, and subconscious programming 00:09:13 – How the HPA axis, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex are shaped early in life 00:09:45 – Core childhood questions that program the nervous system 00:10:29 – Why adult stress responses originate in childhood environments 00:11:05 – Research showing childhood adversity alters brain structure and chemistry 00:11:18 – The ACE Study explained 00:11:49 – Why patients losing weight became emotionally overwhelmed 00:12:18 – The ten categories of adverse childhood experiences 00:13:02 – "The health crisis of America begins in childhood" 00:13:36 – How adverse childhood experiences increase disease risk 00:14:03 – Suicide, alcoholism, autoimmune disease, depression, and trauma correlations 00:14:37 – Chronic disease as a nervous system issue 00:15:04 – Survival mode, inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and emotional scarcity 00:15:42 – Self-sabotage and emotional coping patterns explained 00:16:02 – Why your emotional patterns are not character flaws 00:16:22 – Childhood survival adaptations and nervous system intelligence 00:16:52 – Hypervigilance, people pleasing, rage, emotional shutdown, and fear 00:17:05 – Sponsor: Manna Vitality and frequency-based wellness 00:18:59 – Epigenetics and inherited trauma responses 00:19:22 – Cortisol regulation genes and hyperactive stress responses 00:19:51 – Holocaust survivors, inherited trauma, and generational nervous systems 00:20:19 – Why healing requires nervous system awareness—not just intellectual understanding 00:20:45 – "You were never supposed to get over it—you were supposed to heal from it" 00:21:01 – Real-life examples of subconscious nervous system programming 00:21:16 – Why receiving compliments can feel unsafe 00:21:30 – Darin's personal struggle with overachievement and scarcity programming 00:22:03 – Emotional neglect, chronic striving, and feeling "not enough" 00:22:16 – The nervous system roots of burnout and exhaustion 00:22:23 – Hair-trigger emotional reactions and hyperactive amygdala responses 00:22:38 – Chronic self-abandonment and losing personal boundaries 00:22:52 – Fear of intimacy, trust issues, and emotional safety 00:23:02 – "The body keeps the score" explained 00:23:22 – Trauma stored in posture, breath, digestion, immunity, and emotional regulation 00:23:43 – Harvard research on trauma-related brain changes 00:24:19 – The radical power of neuroplasticity and nervous system rewiring 00:24:48 – Why healing requires conscious participation 00:25:01 – Darin shares how healing changed decades of emotional pain 00:25:33 – Somatic Experiencing and Peter Levine's trauma work 00:25:57 – How animals discharge stress naturally 00:26:23 – Trauma as incomplete physiological responses frozen in the body 00:26:42 – Why humans suppress emotional discharge 00:27:16 – PTSD research and the effectiveness of somatic experiencing 00:27:41 – A step-by-step somatic grounding practice 00:28:14 – Why healing is more powerful with a regulated person beside you 00:28:38 – EMDR and reprocessing traumatic experiences 00:28:55 – Internal Family Systems and the "parts" inside the psyche 00:29:13 – Inner critics, overachievers, and nervous system adaptations 00:29:39 – Compassionately listening to emotional parts instead of suppressing them 00:29:51 – Expressive writing as a trauma healing practice 00:30:22 – The neuroscience behind emotional journaling 00:30:48 – A four-day expressive writing protocol for healing 00:31:05 – "You are not broken" 00:31:16 – Reprogramming the nervous system through love and safety 00:31:37 – Why deep healing happens in the presence of another regulated person 00:31:52 – Darin considers creating a future healing workshop 00:32:04 – Final reflections: "You are not what happened to you" 00:32:12 – Peace. Love. SuperLife. Thank You to Our Sponsors Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order. Join the SuperLife Patreon: This is where Darin now shares the deeper work: - weekly voice notes - ingredient trackers - wellness challenges - extended conversations - community accountability - sovereignty practices Join now for only $7.49/month at https://patreon.com/darinolien Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness Key Takeaway "The emotional patterns, fears, reactions, and coping mechanisms that run your adult life are often survival adaptations created by your nervous system during childhood. They are not your identity. They are not permanent. And through awareness, somatic healing, emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and conscious repetition, those deeply rooted patterns can be rewritten into something healthier, freer, and more aligned with who you truly are." Bibliography/Sources Neuroscience & Early Programming Agorastos, A., Pervanidou, P., Chrousos, G. P., & Baker, D. G. (2019). Developmental trajectories of early life stress and trauma: A narrative review on neurobiological aspects beyond stress system dysregulation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 118. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00118 Bolton, J. L., Short, A. K., Simeone, K. A., Daglian, J., & Baram, T. Z. (2019). Programming of stress-sensitive neurons and circuits by early-life experiences. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 13, Article 30. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00030 Shonkoff, J. P., & Boyce, W. T. (2024). Toxic stress and developmental programming of the HPA axis. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology. https://www.annualreviews.org/journal/devpsych Teicher, M. H., & Ohashi, K. (2023). Childhood trauma and reduced hippocampal, anterior cingulate, and corpus callosum volumes. JAMA Psychiatry. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking / Penguin. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313183/the-body-keeps-the-score-by-bessel-van-der-kolk-md/ ACE Study & Adverse Childhood Experiences Felitti, V. J. (2002). The relation between adverse childhood experiences and adult health: Turning gold into lead. The Permanente Journal, 6(1), 44–47. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6112216/ Felitti, V. J., & Anda, R. F. (2010). The relationship of adverse childhood experiences to adult health, well-being, social function, and healthcare. In R. Lanius, E. Vermetten, & C. Pain (Eds.), The impact of early life trauma on health and disease (pp. 77–87). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511777042 Hillis, S., Mercy, J., Amobi, A., & Kress, H. (2023). Economic burden of health conditions associated with adverse childhood experiences among U.S. adults. JAMA Network Open, 6(12). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen Liu, Y., Croft, J. B., Chapman, D. P., et al. (2013). Associations between adverse childhood experiences and health outcomes in adults aged 18–59 years. PLOS ONE, 8(3), e58625. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058625 Epigenetics & Trauma Baratta, M. V., et al. (2021). Epigenetics of childhood trauma: Long term sequelae and potential for treatment. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 132, 1049–1063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.043 Jiang, S., Postovit, L., Cattaneo, A., Binder, E. B., & Aitchison, K. J. (2019). Epigenetic modifications in stress response genes associated with childhood trauma. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 808. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00808 Provençal, N., & Binder, E. B. (2015). The effects of early life stress on the epigenome: From the womb to adulthood and even before. Experimental Neurology, 268, 10–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.12.001 Healing Modalities — Research Brom, D., Stokar, Y., Lawi, C., et al. (2017). Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled outcome study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(3), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22189 Fratarolli, J. (2006). Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(6), 823–865. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.823 Gilbert, P. (2009). The compassionate mind: A new approach to life's challenges. New Harbinger Publications. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781572248403/the-compassionate-mind/ Justice Resource Institute. (2022). Evaluation of the efficacy of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy for trauma-related symptoms among complexly traumatized adults. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05155930. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05155930 Kuhfuß, M., Maldei, T., Hetmanek, A., & Baumann, N. (2021). Somatic experiencing — effectiveness and key factors of a body-oriented trauma therapy. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), Article 1929023. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1929023 Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books. https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/in-an-unspoken-voice/ Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the Mindful Self-Compassion Program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21923 Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. Psychological Science, 8(3), 162–166. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00403.x Rodenburg, R., Benjamin, A., de Roos, C., Meijer, A. M., & Stams, G. J. (2009). Efficacy of EMDR in children: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(7), 599–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.008 Schwartz, R. C. (2021). No bad parts: Healing trauma and restoring wholeness with the Internal Family Systems model. Sounds True. https://www.soundstrue.com/products/no-bad-parts Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Eye-Movement-Desensitization-and-Reprocessing/Francine-Shapiro/9781462532766
Before we dive in: the breakdown of this episode includes a discussion of sexual assault. Please take care while listening. You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today I'm joined by Rebecca Geshuri to talk about something that shows up in motherhood whether we realize it or not: all of our different parts. We get into Internal Family Systems, or IFS, and how the different parts of us—like the anxious part, the perfectionist part, or the “I'm not good enough” part—can take over in parenting. We talk about why motherhood brings these parts to the surface so quickly, how social and internal pressures amplify them, and what it actually looks like to meet those parts with curiosity instead of trying to push them away. This conversation is about understanding yourself in a deeper way so you can show up with more calm, more compassion, and more connection, both for your kids and for yourself. Alright folks, let's dive in. Connect with Rebecca: Instagram: @rebeccageshurilmft Website: rebeccageshurilmft.com, secondstreetcollective.org Order the book: When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide For Transforming Guilt, Anxiety, and Anger into Compassion, Confidence, and Connectedness Postpartum Support International (PSI): https://postpartum.net Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now! Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4022: Ingrid Y. Helander explores how fear of returning depression can quietly intensify anxiety and emotional shutdown, especially during the summer when sadness feels harder to hide. Drawing from Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems, she offers simple ways to shift your nervous system toward safety, connection, and emotional balance so you can move through difficult feelings with more confidence and self-compassion. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/hack-your-nervous-system-to-prevent-summer-blues/ Quotes to ponder: “Any energy (even fear) is actually a great way to move out of symptoms that feel depressing.” “When you get overly anxious about becoming depressed and push those old feelings away, you are actually more likely to fall back into a depression.” “Breathe and recognize that you shift up and down between these portions of your nervous system all the time every day.” Episode references: Internal Family Systems: https://ifs-institute.com/ Polyvagal Theory: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
An episode about Internal Family Systems. The psychology framework to identify the different parts of ourselves and how they interplay (or sabotage) us.Join me inside Becoming Her - the group where self-aware women who are ready to go deeper than therapy come to liberate themselves from their wounds and patterns and into magnetism and mature love.Live workshop June 7thLive Q&A July 14thAccess the 21 day Foundations Path50+ somatic exercises-and more! First 7 Days Free >> Join Us
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4022: Ingrid Y. Helander explores how fear of returning depression can quietly intensify anxiety and emotional shutdown, especially during the summer when sadness feels harder to hide. Drawing from Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems, she offers simple ways to shift your nervous system toward safety, connection, and emotional balance so you can move through difficult feelings with more confidence and self-compassion. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/hack-your-nervous-system-to-prevent-summer-blues/ Quotes to ponder: “Any energy (even fear) is actually a great way to move out of symptoms that feel depressing.” “When you get overly anxious about becoming depressed and push those old feelings away, you are actually more likely to fall back into a depression.” “Breathe and recognize that you shift up and down between these portions of your nervous system all the time every day.” Episode references: Internal Family Systems: https://ifs-institute.com/ Polyvagal Theory: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Inner child healing isn't easy work. For people living with complex trauma, it can be one of the most neurobiologically specific processes in trauma recovery. And the version most people have been handed doesn't come close to touching it.In this episode we get into what inner child healing actually is, what the young part is really doing in your nervous system, and what reparenting actually looks like and what might get in the way.In this episode:Why the inner child wound shows up as exhaustion, automatic accommodation, and disconnection from your own needs more often than it shows up as a recognizable emotional reactionWhat emotional flashbacks are and why the inner critic is often the young part's most audible signalThe difference between toxic shame and regular shame, and why that distinction matters for healingWhy insight dissolves after therapy sessions and what's actually happening when the healing doesn't landWhat reparenting actually is at the neurological level, including the grief piece that most content skips entirelyFour body-based practices for building a real relationship with the young part of you that never got what it neededIf your nervous system is chronically dysregulated and you want somewhere to start, grab the free Dysregulation SOS Toolkit here.It's a practical, body-based resource for getting out of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn in real time.Clinical frameworks referenced in this episode include Janina Fisher's structural dissociation model, Internal Family Systems, and Pete Walker's work on complex PTSD and emotional flashbacks.Thanks for listening to The Complex Trauma Podcast!Be sure to follow, share and give us a review on your favorite podcast platform.Follow on Instagram: @sarahherstichlcsw Follow on TikTok: @sarahherstichlcswLearn more about EMDR & trauma therapy in Pennsylvania with Reclaim TherapyThis podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or nutritional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Remember, I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. Nothing in this podcast is meant to replace actual therapy or treatment. If you're in crisis or things feel really unsafe right now, please reach out to someone. You can call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, text them, or head to your nearest ER.The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the opinions of any organizations or institutions. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.
Beyond The Outer Realm welcomes Author and Therapist Kelly Ann Street Date: May 19th, 2026 EP: 720 TOPIC - Kelly is a liscenced professional counsellor who works with adults and couples to navigate life's darkest moments. She will be talking about her Book “ Embrace The Dark”, where she encourages people to gain an understanding, while delving into the darkest parts of themselves, to get on to heir path to finding healing. Tonight we will explore Shadow Work, what it really means and how it can help you . Contact for the show - theouterrealmcontact@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/michelledesrochers_ Please support us by Liking, Subscribing, Sharing and Commenting. Thank you all !!! About Kelly Ann: - KELLY ANN STREET, MS, LPC (Minneapolis, MN) is a licensed professional counselor who works with adults and couples to navigate life's darkest moments. She is also the owner of the small business Happy Rebel, which sells lifestyle products and her therapy courses. Kelly's goal in her business, therapy practice, and life is to help people step forward into their own stories and experiences of the dark and light within life. WEBSITE: www.KellyAnnStreet.com. ABOUT The BOOK: Embrace the Dark Transform Your Shadows into Strength - Sharing inspiring stories, psychological insights, and hands-on practices, therapist Kelly Ann Street, MS, LPC, shows you how to pull back the parts of yourself that were cast aside and use them to heal and better understand yourself. Your darkness can provide immense gifts—even when it seems impossible. Embrace the Dark is your companion for turning life's most challenging moments—those times we call "dark nights of the soul"—into powerful opportunities for personal growth. Kelly walks you through ten areas of life, using personal and client stories as guideposts for processing your experiences. For each of those ten areas, Kelly offers a practice that will help you come back to yourself. The book is organized by shadow work for ten areas of life: health and body, adventures, personal growth, finances, spirituality, relationships, environment, career, emotions, and love. This approach combines psychological insights and therapeutic tools, including Internal Family Systems therapy and spiritual healing techniques, empowering readers to identify and understand their shadow side through practical exercises. AMAZON: https://a.co/d/0i1Sh9DA If you enjoy the content on the channel, please support us by subscribing: Thank you All A formal disclosure: The opinions and information presented or expressed by guests on The Outer Realm Radio and Beyond The Outer Realm are not necessarily those of the TOR, BTOR Hosts, Sponsors, or the United Public Radio Network and its producers. Although the content may be interesting, it is deemed "For Entertainment Purposes" . We are always respectful and courteous to all involved. Thank you, we appreciate you all! United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com
This week, Thomas explores how true health and healing come from an alignment across the full spectrum of your being: body, mind, emotions, relationships, environment, and spirit.He shares the importance of embracing an integrated and holistic approach to health so we can be more regulated as we deal with the stresses of modern life and recognize our relational wellbeing as an extension of our immune system.Tune in to understand the interdependence of our physical, emotional, and spiritual health, and why it's important to shift from individualized focus to collective healing.✨ Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:
That Wellness Podcast with Natalie Deering: Internal Family Systems with a Twist
What if your sensitivity was never the problem? In this podcast episode I sit down with Dr. Steve Chee to explore sensitivity, intuition, Internal Family Systems, and what becomes possible when we stop pathologizing the parts of ourselves we've been taught are “too much.” Together, we unpack the experience of being a highly sensitive person and the power of finally naming it. Dr. Steve shares insights on how sensitivity often develops within the relational field—how we learn to sense, adapt, perform, protect, and belong in response to the emotional environments around us. We explore the important distinction between sensitivity and intuition, and how many people bury the gift of sensitivity because of family systems, cultural beliefs, or experiences of being misunderstood. In this episode, we discuss: - What it means to be a highly sensitive person—and the relief of naming it - Sensitivity and the relational field - The difference between sensitivity and intuition - How family and cultural messages can bury sensitivity as a gift - Feeling like you are “too much” for others - Masking, performing, and adapting to belong - Protective parts that temper emotion (including my own “Ice Queen” part) - The gifts hidden beneath burdens and survival strategies - What happens when your “too muchness” isn't actually too much - Field awareness and relational sensitivity - Dr. Steve's upcoming book, The Field-Aware Soul Dr. Steve offers such a compassionate and paradigm-shifting perspective for sensitives, mystics, helpers, and anyone whose gifts bent toward survival before they had the chance to fully emerge. This conversation is an invitation to wonder: What if your sensitivity isn't something to fix—but something to understand, honor, and reclaim? About Dr. Steve Chee Dr. Steve Chee is an Integrative East–West Physician and Certified IFS Therapist, most recently the creator of the IFS Institute's Continuity Program, The Sacred Nervous System, and originator of The Field-Aware Soul Ecology—a relational framework for people whose sensitivity arrived early and became recruited into caretaking, performing, and belonging at a cost. His work centers around a powerful question: What if field sensitivity isn't a wound to heal, but a relational capacity waiting to be met? He works with sensitives, mystics, and those who were told they were “too much”—helping people reclaim gifts that once bent toward survival and transform them into deeper connection, authenticity, and belonging. Learn more: https://drstevechee.com/ ________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________ Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here! You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!
In New Book, Ph.D. Psychologist Asks How Tightly We Should Hold Any Belief—Whether Religious, Spiritual, or Personal—and Finds the Answer Is Less Than You Think What if the issue isn't what we believe, but how tightly we hold our beliefs? At a time when so many people are questioning inherited frameworks, exploring mindfulness or psychedelics, and looking for meaning outside rigid institutions, quantitative psychologist Joshua Pritikin, Ph.D., offers a thought-provoking perspective: that growth and insight may depend less on finding the “right” beliefs than on learning to relate to belief itself with more openness and flexibility. His new book Religion Unburdened by Belief: The Way of Open Inquiry explores how tightly held beliefs can shape identity, emotional reactions, and even our sense of reality — and how loosening that grip can create space for greater clarity, resilience, and personal transformation. Drawing from psychology, spirituality, and Internal Family Systems, he offers a framework for examining beliefs without discarding the search for meaning. Other points he can speak to include: 3 ways to adjust your beliefs for greater clarity, growth, and insight 5 rules for exploring consciousness safely Why we want AI to be conscious (and what it says about us) Tired of asking “what's true?” Stop fact-checking and do this instead. If this is of interest, I'd be glad to connect you with Joshua for an interview tailored to your audience. WHAT IF OUR PROBLEM ISN'T WHAT WE BELIEVE, BUT HOW FIRMLY WE BELIEVE IT? A New Book Asks How Tightly We Should Hold Any Belief—Whether Religious, Spiritual, or Personal—and Finds the Answer Is Less Than You Think Religion Unburdened by Belief: The Way of Open Inquiry, by Joshua Pritikin, Ph.D., Praised by Kirkus Reviews as “counterintuitive yet compelling” Releases June 15, 2026 There's increasing recognition that the beliefs we hold—about ourselves, what we're striving for, and even reality—may be quietly limiting how we think, feel, and grow. But while much has been said about what to believe or disbelieve, far less attention has been paid to a more fundamental question: how tightly should we hold any belief at all? Pritikin argues that a minimal set of beliefs is still needed—but only those that make exploration possible. In his new book Religion Unburdened by Belief: The Way of Open Inquiry, quantitative psychologist Joshua Pritikin, Ph.D., offers a provocative framework for doing exactly that. Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and the study of consciousness, Pritikin challenges a deeply ingrained assumption: that personal growth, insight, and meaning come from finding and holding onto the “right” ideas. Instead, he argues, transformation comes not from adopting the right beliefs, but from loosening our attachment to belief itself—and learning to navigate experience with disciplined, open inquiry. The result is a shift not just in what we think, but in how we relate to our thoughts, emotions, and sense of self. Beliefs held too tightly can narrow perception, reinforce identity, and amplify emotional reactions. But when approached with flexibility, they can be examined, tested, and even strategically adjusted—opening the door to new ways of thinking, feeling, and experiencing the world. The book introduces a structured yet accessible method for exploring this idea in practice. Borrowing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Pritikin shows how different “parts” of the mind hold different beliefs—often as a way to protect us. By understanding and working with these parts, readers can begin to shift beliefs in a way that feels safe, intentional, and sustainable.
It's easy to believe the part of us that pulls us toward porn addiction is evil. We condemn it, suppress it, shame it, and try to control it. But often, that inner war only keeps the cycle of porn cravings, relapse, and self-hatred alive.In this episode, I sit down with Conor McMillen to discuss how IFS for porn addiction can help men understand the addictive part of the mind with more calm, curiosity, and compassion.IFS, or Internal Family Systems, teaches that the mind is made up of different “parts.” Some parts try to manage our lives through discipline, control, perfectionism, or self-criticism. Other parts rush in to numb pain through porn, fantasy, food, video games, work, scrolling, or other escape routes. These parts may use destructive strategies, but they are often trying to protect us from deeper wounds.We discuss parts work for addiction, protector parts, firefighter parts, exiled parts, shame and porn addiction, emotional regulation, sexual shame, and why porn is often a coping mechanism for deeper pain like loneliness, worthlessness, rejection, fear, abandonment, and the belief that we are not enough.Conor also guides me through a live parts-work process around attraction, arousal, shame, and old beliefs about sexuality. What comes up is powerful: beneath distorted sexual craving, there can be innocent desires for connection, joy, beauty, play, emotional safety, and healthy relationship with the feminine.This conversation is not about excusing porn or minimizing the damage addiction causes. It is about learning how to take responsibility without self-hatred. It is about understanding the root cause of porn addiction so we can stop simply managing behavior and start healing from the inside out.If you've wondered why you keep going back to porn, why shame doesn't create lasting sobriety, or how to work with cravings instead of being controlled by them, this episode will give you a practical, compassionate framework for recovery through Self-leadership, emotional healing, and deeper inner integration.Connect with Conor: InternalFamilySystems.org ConorMcMillen.com Men's backpacking retreats: conor@internalfamilysystems.orgLink to Blog Article for this EpisodeVisit No More Desire Tools for Recovery for recovery tools and training, including my free eBook, Workshop, The RAIL Method ™ and more to help you break free from porn.If you're tired of trying to quit porn on your own, the No More Desire Academy gives you a structured path to recovery through coaching, brotherhood, practical tools, and step-by-step training. Learn more about the Academy.If you want deeper, more personalized support, I also offer 1-on-1 porn addiction recovery coaching. We'll work directly on your patterns, emotional triggers, recovery plan, and long-term growth. Apply here to explore coaching with Jake Kastleman.Support the showNo More Desire
This week, Thomas sits down with Kosha Joubert, a longtime collaborator and the CEO of the Pocket Project, for a conversation exploring the global architecture of collective healing and how we can expand beyond the lens of individual therapy to address deeply rooted collective and ancestral trauma.With their combined years of experience working in trauma-informed care, leadership, and global healing, they share their thoughts on the next steps for humanity to address the invisible, frozen structures of trauma that inhibit our evolution and contribute to systems of harm and oppression.By integrating top-down governance with bottom-up grassroots initiatives, Thomas and Kosha believe that communities can melt the "permafrost" of the past to liberate creative energy and agency, overcome widespread disengagement, and co-create a more integrated and resilient world.✨ Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:
Send us Fan MailLevi works with breathwork, trauma-informed coaching, and tools drawn from Internal Family Systems, attachment theory, Nonviolent Communication, and somatic awareness, alongside my own lived experience.Since 2020, he has facilitated individual and group journeys across Israel and abroad. I have completed Level 1, 2, and 3 training in Nonviolent Communication, a six month trauma-informed Compassionate Coaching certification through The Soul Institute, and certification as a breathwork facilitator. He is currently studying at the Hakomi International School of Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy.https://levisaada.com/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------https://wig-guru.com - Use Code 'Brainstorm' For 10% Offhttps://www.thevillagerecovery.org/Email: Brainstormwithsony@gmail.com-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more Brainstorm go to...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aPCiuzsIoNKYt5jjv7RFT?si=67dfa56d4e764ee0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brainstorm-with-sony-perlman/id1596925257Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brainstormwithsonyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainstormwithsony
Join Chef AJ's Exclusive Plant-Based Community. Become part of the inner circle, start simplifying plant-based living - with easy recipes & expert health guidance: https://community.chefaj.com/ ORDER MY NEW BOOK SWEET INDULGENCE!!! https://www.amazon.com/Chef-AJs-Sweet-Indulgence-Guilt-Free/dp/1570674248 or https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144514092?ean=9781570674242 FREE INSTANT POT COOKBOOK: https://www.chefaj.com/instant-pot-download BEST SELLING WEIGHT LOSS BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1570674086?tag=onamzchefajsh-20&linkCode=ssc&creativeASIN=1570674086&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1GNPDCAG4A86S Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The content of this podcast is provided for informational or educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health issue without consulting your doctor. Always seek medical advice before making any lifestyle changes. Dr. Lissa Rankin, New York Times bestselling author, doctor, researcher, and teacher. Lissa has published 7 books, 3 of which include Internal Family Systems. Her 8th book, Relationsick, about the health impacts of narcissistic abuse, will come out in the Fall of 2026, and she just signed a book deal for her 9th book, about IFS and boundaries. She writes a Substack The Body Is A Trailhead about relationships, narcissistic abuse, healthy boundaries, recovering from spiritual abuse, healing from spiritual bypassing, and relational recovery: https://lissarankinmd.substack.com/ She's drip-releasing two unpublished full book manuscripts for her paid subscribers and deeply appreciates anyone willing to patronize her writing. Lissa offers two IFS-informed ongoing online programs. The Writer's Calling : https://courses.lissarankin.com/the-writers-calling, is a soulful, trauma-informed, IFS-rooted continuity community of brave-hearted truth-tellers, muse-led creatives, and memoir and self-help writers devoted to living their calling and using their words to change lives. She also leads Love School: https://courses.lissarankin.com/love-school for couples and singles committed to healing relational trauma, practicing relational recovery, preparing to either heal their relationships or get ready for healthier relationships, and holding each other accountable for healing their own “parts,” engaging in peer-to-peer parts processing, participating in group healing, expressing themselves in creative process, learning IFS-informed meditation, and approaching relationships as the most advanced and challenging spiritual practice. Lissa became an IFS therapy client in 2014 and started a daily peer-to-peer parts processing practice with her friend Emma in 2018, a practice she now teaches to others who can't access or afford one-on-one IFS therapy or want to deepen their practice between therapy sessions. Lissa's next workshop is titled IFS For Self Healing, A Trauma-Informed Practice For Healing Yourself. https://courses.lissarankin.com/ish-ifs-for-self-healing-weekend This program teaches the basics with simple step-by-step instructions on how to make this process accessible and a safe daily practice. This November, Lissa will also be hosting IFS For Self-Healing - Peer to Peer Processing, a weekend training for those interested in doing “parts work” using the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model.https://courses.lissarankin.com/peer-to-peer-home Lissa has starred in two National Public Television specials, her TEDx talks have been viewed over 6 million times, and she leads workshops, both online and at retreat centers like Esalen, 1440, Omega, and Kripalu. Lissa lives in Sonoma County with her partner Jeffrey Rediger, her daughter Mira, when she's not at art school in NYC, and their dog Gaia, also known as "The Moose." More information can be found here: https://lissarankin.com/
This week, Thomas shares a teaching on awareness and perception, exploring how we can shift the way we understand our healing journey, spiritual practices, and each other.It starts with recognizing the lenses that filter the information we receive and how they're shaped by personal and collective trauma. Thomas shares spiritual and meditative practices that can help open these lenses, allowing us to integrate difficult but necessary elements into our consciousness.By expanding our perception and breaking free of limiting frameworks, we can step into a more expansive, intimate, and deeply connected reality.✨ Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:
Send us Fan MailConnect with ChelseaWork with ChelseaInternal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful therapeutic approach that helps you understand the different “parts” of your inner world.Joined by Chelsea Owens, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Northern California, we break down IFS in a way that's approachable, relatable, and deeply human. Chelsea is the cohost of the Parts and Charts Podcast and brings a unique blend of warmth, humor, and depth to her work as a therapist, artist, and lifelong student.Together, we unpack how connecting with your inner parts—and your core Self—can lead to more clarity, compassion, and healing in your relationships and everyday life.You'll learn:What Internal Family Systems (IFS) actually is—in plain EnglishThe concept of “parts” and why we all have themWhat the “Self” is and how it differs from your partsHow IFS compares to traditional talk therapyThe Inner System ExplainedThe roles of protectors and exilesWhy certain parts form (especially in response to trauma)Real-life examples of parts you might recognize in yourselfEveryday AwarenessHow your parts show up in relationships, work, and conflictWhy you might feel like you're “overreacting”What's happening internally when you get triggered Practical IFS ToolsBeginner-friendly ways to start working with your partsHow to respond to difficult emotions with curiosity instead of reactivityWhy the goal isn't to eliminate parts—but to transform your relationship with themEnjoy!Please rate and review the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you listen!Enroll in ARCANA today: https://aguaastrology.teachable.com/p/arcanaSee our faces on YouTube!Want to book a reading with Gabrielle? Please visit her website www.aguaastrology.comFollow us on Instagram @thespirtualsisterspodcast Follow Gabrielle on Instagram @aguaastrology (She will NEVER DM you for readings! Watch out for scammers!)Follow Brianna on Instagram @Brianna_mcferonSubscribe to Gabrielle's YouTube Channel Agua AstrologyJoin Soul Reading MethodMini Tarot Readings with Gabrielle: https://www.etsy.com/shop/IntuitiveGabrielle
Deification: A secret in the Catholic Church that really shouldn't be a secret. Join Dr. Gerry Crete, Dr Matthew Tsakanikas, professor of theology at Christendom College, and Dr. Peter for a wide-ranging discussion of the glory, the adventure, the awe of partaking of God's divine nature with the entirety of our being – our hearts, souls, minds, bodies, innermost selves, and all our parts, from a perspective informed by Internal Family Systems and grounded in a Catholic anthropology and metaphysics. What does it really mean for all of you to be a beloved little son or beloved little daughter of God? Books by Dr. Matthew Tsakanikas:2025 A Catechesis on Deification, Transfiguration & the Luminous Mysteries: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DX1HZMLM/2026 Meditations on Deification and the Luminous Mysteries: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0GWVYQGPPCheck out our sister podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ScriptureForYourInnerOutcasts The Resilient Catholics Community is about to reopen for new members in June. If you are a Catholic who wants to overcome the natural level obstacles to sharing deeply in God's divine nature as his beloved little son or beloved little daughter, and are into parts and systems thinking, consider applying to the RCC at www.soulsandhearts.com/rcc.Online Workshop for those Catholic Formators new to IFS, “Catholic Parts Work in Human Formation” will be on June 10, 2026 from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM Eastern, register at https://members.soulsandhearts.com/Catholic-parts-workThe Formation for Formators Retreat is August 10-13, 2026 in Bloomington Indiana. The theme is “Authentic Being and Authentic Relating.” This retreat focuses on you finding and loving you in more of your parts, including parts you have not yet encountered – your exiles – more at www.soulsandhearts.com/FFF Conversation Hours with Dr. Peter are every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time on his cell at 317.567.9594 – it's an opportunity to discuss themes from this podcat or any of the materials generated by Souls and Hearts. Key Moments12:00 What is deification/theosis/divinization? Being made a son or daughter of God means sharing in God's nature. 15:00 Ephesians chapter 1 reveals God's plan from before the foundation of the world to makes us sons in the Son. 16:52 Dr. Gerry's objections to the IFS conceptualization of “Self”21:01 The image of God within us is dynamic – the “capax Dei” 21:50 How Adam and Eve lost their interior integration with the Fall and how Jesus opens the way for re-integration.27:05 Satan to Adam and Eve “Ye shall become like gods….” 30:30 How do we receive the love of God? 34:20 The internal battle: “Parts of me are drawn to receive God's love and parts of me are not…”41:19 The necessity of entering into a loving relationship with Jesus for interior integration43:40 God's wills that you flourish in all domains and in all your parts48:40 Divinization and the human body53:00 Divinization is “too hot to handle” for many Christians – but it's the essential framework for all of the Catholic life, it's the essential story that holds all the other stories. 1:02:00 The importance of accepting all of my parts as they are right now. God accepts all parts as they are, so I need to as well. Acceptance of a part does not mean endorsing that part's disordered desires, impulses, and emotions1:08:35 Sometimes parts find it easier to tolerate being loved by someone other than God at first, and that lesser loves can help parts open up to God's direct love1:25:01 Dr. Tsakanikas' key takeaway: Love makes the lover want to make the beloved equal to himself,1:26:28 Dr, Gerry's takeaway: It's important for us to evangelize each of our own parts1:27:54 Dr. Peter's takeaway: Real love is given freely. But in our fallen human states, in our fallen human condition, it's not received without a cost to our parts.
What if the parts of yourself you've been avoiding hold the key to your greatest growth? Tune in for an inspiring discussion Kelly Ann Street on her new book Embrace the Dark: Heal & Find Balance in Life's Deepest ShadowsMoments with Marianne Radio Show airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate! https://www.kmet1490am.comKelly Ann Street is a licensed therapist, author, and speaker whose work focuses on trauma, grief, and major life transitions. She integrates depth psychology, Internal Family Systems (parts work), psychedelic-informed perspectives, and intuitive practices to help people navigate dark nights of the soul and reconnect to their bodies, minds, and spirits with clarity and self-trust. She is the author of Embrace the Dark and host of the Embrace the Dark & the Light podcast. https://embracethedarkandthelight.com Order on Amazon: https://a.co/d/03IjzP6G To learn more about the show and interview opportunities contact us at: https://www.mariannepestana.com
In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Post to explore a simple yet powerful idea: that all behavior arises from a state of stress, and beneath that stress is either fear or love. What stood out to me in this conversation is how Bryan's work and model aligns with IFS, Motivational Interviewing and EMDR. There is an understanding through all of this work how healing does not happens just through technique, but through presence. As we process distress, we are able to bring more awareness and love to our inner systems. Bryan and I explore how trauma becomes interwoven with our personality and shapes the states of being we move through in our daily lives. These states influence how we perceive ourselves, others, and the world. How we react to a given situation is usually based more on past experiences than on the present moment. Bryan speaks of the importance of relationship and co-regulation in the healing process. Love is something that becomes the most powerful change agent. He defines this love as presence and breath. This conversation holds a beautiful invitation for us to slow down, and become more aware of how we can move from fear to love in our lives. Themes Trauma as a state of prolonged stress Fear and love as core organizing forces How trauma becomes embedded in personality and state of being The role of co-regulation and relationship in healing Breath and awareness as pathways to connection About Bryan Post Bryan Post is a clinician, author, and expert in trauma-informed care, known for his development of the Stress Model. His work focuses on helping children, adults, and families understand how stress and trauma shape behavior, and how healing can occur through relationship, awareness, and connection. Resources & Links Bryan Post's website: bryanpost.com LEAF Wraparound program: leafwraparound.com Fear to Love program: feartolove.com Bondify AI (relational AI platform): bondify.ai Bryan Post's books include From Fear to Love The Great Behavior Breakdown Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control (and many more) Empowered Through Compassion is a podcast exploring the integration of Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing. Through these compassionate conversations, we aim to deepen our understanding of trauma and healing. We hope that information here can inspire connection and support to both clinicians and individuals.
This week on the Agents of Recovery Podcast Coach Wendell and Coach Blu welcome AOR first guest, Drew Boa, a leading expert in overcoming pornography addiction from The Husband Material Academy, sharing his personal journey, therapeutic approaches like Internal Family Systems, and practical tools for recovery. Discover how understanding inner parts, healing childhood wounds, and embracing sexuality can transform lives and relationships. This is a powerful episode! Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Agents of Recovery Podcast01:14 Welcoming Drew Boa: The First Guest02:30 Drew's Journey: From Struggle to Healing04:35 Understanding the Inner Child12:02 The Impact of Early Exposure to Pornography14:54 The Power of Internal Family Systems21:55 Healing Through Self-Compassion24:32 The Ripple Effect of Healing on Relationships28:14 Creating Safe Spaces for Open Conversations30:32 Understanding Sexual Arousal and Desire31:51 The Impact of Pornography on Relationships33:52 Navigating Shame and Deception in Relationships35:57 The Need for Equal Support in Healing39:00 Healing After Betrayal: A Threefold Approach41:47 Validating Feelings and Finding Freedom45:52 The Transformative Power of Community and Support47:53 Introducing Husband Material: A Movement for Change54:06 The Journey of Recovery and EmpowermentFor More ResourcesOutgrow Porn Book - https://outgrowporn.comHusband Material Program - https://husbandmaterial.comHusband Material Book - https://outgrowporn.comSam Jolman - The Sex Talk You Never Got - https://samjolman.com guest linksWebsite - https://husbandmaterial.comInstagram - https://instagram.com/drewboa
Have you ever felt curious or confused about IFS (Internal Family Systems) and how it can help you outgrow porn? Patrick Cagle offers the perfect introduction: the 3 types of parts within you, the 9 Cs of your authentic self, and the highly practical 6 Fs to connect with a part of you that feels activated, triggered, or sexually tempted.Patrick Cagle is an IFS Level 2–trained therapist, a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) candidate, and a Pastoral Sex Addiction Professional (PSAP). Based in Alabama, he serves as an associate-level counselor devoted to helping individuals find freedom from unwanted sexual behaviors and supporting partners healing from betrayal trauma.With compassion, clarity, and a deep respect for each client's inner world, Patrick integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS) to uncover and heal the underlying wounds that drive addiction. His approach helps clients move beyond shame, restore connection with their authentic self, and experience lasting recovery and transformation.Connect with Patrick at (334) 602-4112.Check out Patrick's Psychology Today Profile here.Join Patrick's drop-in discussion group: "Men's Internal Family Systems & Sexual Integrity" on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM Pacific Time here.Mentioned in this episode:The 9 C's of IFS (credit to Cece Sykes)The 6 F's of IFS by Dr. Richard SchwartzThe SIBAM Model by Dr. Peter Levine Support the showTake the Husband Material Journey...Step 1: Listen to this podcast or watch on YouTubeStep 2: Join the private Husband Material CommunityStep 3: Take the free mini-course: How To Outgrow PornStep 4: Try the all-in-one program: Husband Material AcademyThanks for listening!
What we are obsessed with! We are OBSESSED with all things self-care and the wonderful products at COZY EARTH- that include the best bed sheets ever (JULIE IS OBSESSED) and the warmest, most indulgent robes (MIKA IS OBSESSED). Visit their website http://www.cozyearth.com use the code OBSESSED, and save 20%. — — — In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Silvia Araya joins hosts Julie Lokun and Mika Altidor in a deeply personal and insightful conversation where numerology, anxiety, and panic attacks intersect, revealing how emotional patterns, sensitivity, and lived experiences shape the way we respond to the world. As a trauma-informed practitioner and numerologist, Silvia shares how decoding these patterns can open the door to healing and self-understanding. This conversation moves beyond surface-level explanations of anxiety, uncovering how trauma, emotional triggers, and sensitivity influence the nervous system and daily behaviors. Silvia explains how tendencies like overthinking and control or rigidity are not flaws but learned responses that can be softened through awareness and nervous system regulation. By reframing panic attacks as signals rather than threats, she offers a grounded and compassionate path toward healing and long-term emotional balance. In this episode, we discuss: How numerology reveals patterns in sensitivity and emotional triggers that influence anxiety The connection between sensitivity and the onset of anxiety and panic attacks Understanding numerology as both a scientific and intuitive tool for self-discovery How numerology provides clarity and helps reduce overthinking by making patterns visible The role of nervous system regulation in managing anxiety and preventing panic responses How control or rigidity and overthinking contribute to anxiety when patterns become unbalanced Reframing panic attacks as non-dangerous experiences and part of a deeper healing process ABOUT THE GUEST Silvia Araya is a trauma-informed practitioner, numerologist, and Internal Family Systems practitioner who helps individuals understand and heal the root causes of anxiety and panic attacks. Her work is deeply shaped by her own journey of overcoming debilitating anxiety, which once limited her daily life. Through years of therapy, self-discovery, and holistic practices, she discovered that unresolved trauma often sits at the core of these experiences. She integrates numerology with trauma-informed care and nervous system awareness to help clients uncover emotional patterns, reduce overthinking, and create lasting change. Today, Silvia guides individuals toward greater self-understanding, emotional balance, and a deeper sense of inner safety. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: (Book) The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748 CONNECT WITH SILVIA ARAYA: Website: https://silviaaraya.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silvia.araya.psy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviafischerpmpcsm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvia_araya_psy Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@silviaaraya.com X (Twitter): https://x.com/TrustAndNoPanic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@silviaaraya Pinterest: https://cl.pinterest.com/silviaaraya/ ABOUT GET OBSESSED Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com Partner With US! http://www.getobsessedpod.com The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future. LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE - Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life - Podcast - Apple Podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This week, Thomas sits down with Pat McCabe (Woman Stands Shining), an Indigenous leader, speaker, teacher, and global ceremonialist, for a conversation exploring Indigenous perspectives on gender through the concepts of the Men's Nation and Women's Nation.Pat shares Diné and Lakota wisdom on the spiritual aspect of gender roles and biology, and how the specific process of what some cultures refer to as “moon time” is actually an important and unique capacity that creates a deeper connection to the spirit world.She and Thomas also discuss the spiritual implications of our tech-obsessed world and critique the modern “power-over” paradigm that isolates men and forces them into destructive competition. By contrast, Pat envisions a thriving life paradigm where the sacred masculine acts as a protective and supportive force instead of a dominating one, and we return to an “earth economy” rooted in radical abundance and fearless generosity.✨ Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:
Ministry can stir up all kinds of feelings, especially when we're dealing with conflict, with grief, with change. And the better we understand what's happening beneath the surface, the better we can lead ourselves—and our people—more thoughtfully and more effectively.In this episode, I'm speaking with Dr. Audrey Davidheiser, a licensed psychologist and the author of Grieving Wholeheartedly. Audrey helps us understand something called Internal Family Systems—IFS—a powerful way of thinking about our inner world and all those “parts” of us that can get in the way of effective leadership.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Audrey Davidheiser explains what drew her to Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.Internal Family Systems is a psychological model that views people as having multiple internal "parts."Parts of yourself often express themselves in day-to-day decisions, sometimes even in conflict with each other.Markus Watson clarifies that having "parts" is different from dissociative identity disorder or multiple personalities.Audrey Davidheiser explains the difference between parts in IFS and the rigid, unaware system found in Dissociative Identity Disorder.Internal Family Systems builds on the foundation of family systems theory, adapting it to the internal world.Inside everyone are parts that take on different roles, often formed in response to significant experiences, such as trauma or relational wounds.Markus Watson illustrates the concept with the example of feeling different internal responses to everyday situations like going to a late-night movie.Every person has both helpful and challenging internal parts, such as critics, achievers, or comfort-seekers, and these parts influence behavior.Audrey Davidheiser introduces three types of parts in IFS: exiles (hurt parts), managers (protective parts), and firefighters (distracting/soothing parts).Parts are not inherently bad; even when their actions are destructive, they are typically trying to protect us or relieve pain.Markus Watson inquires about the relationship between sin and IFS, prompting Audrey Davidheiser to articulate how parts can miss the mark despite good intentions.Pastors can benefit from understanding their own internal parts, especially when reacting to challenging questions or situations in ministry.Audrey Davidheiser suggests the practice of being "unblended"—letting the true Self, rather than an emotional part, lead when responding to others.Leaders who operate from their "Self" (instead of from a part) can foster healthier responses and guide their communities through change with greater empathy and wisdom.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Audrey DavidheiserAim For Breakthrough websiteBooks mentioned:Grieving Wholeheartedly, by Audrey DavidheiserRelated Episodes:262: From Fired to Flourishing, with Chuck DeGroat254: Endless Expectations and Emotional Exhaustion206: The Healing Power of Pilgrimage, with Jon HuckinsSend me a text! I'd love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.
In this episode, we perceive a moment of clarity at the end of a dilemma, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 245, penned by Madurai Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse presents surprising details about a particular animal in this domain. ‘உயிரினும் சிறந்த ஒண் பொருள் தருமார்நன்று புரி காட்சியர் சென்றனர், அவர்’ எனமனை வலித்து ஒழியும் மதுகையள் ஆதல்நீ நற்கு அறிந்தனைஆயின், நீங்கி,மழை பெயல் மறந்த கழை திரங்கு இயவில்,செல் சாத்து எறியும் பண்பு இல் வாழ்க்கைவல் வில் இளையர் தலைவர், எல் உற,வரி கிளர் பணைத் தோள், வயிறு அணி திதலை,அரியலாட்டியர் அல்கு மனை வரைப்பில்,மகிழ் நொடை பெறாஅராகி, நனை கவுள்கான யானை வெண் கோடு சுட்டி,மன்று ஓடு புதல்வன் புன் தலை நீவும்அரு முனைப் பாக்கத்து அல்கி, வைகுற,நிழல் படக் கவின்ற நீள்அரை இலவத்துஅழல் அகைந்தன்ன அலங்குசினை ஒண் பூக்குழல் இசைத் தும்பி ஆர்க்கும் ஆங்கண்,குறும் பொறை உணங்கும் ததர் வெள் என்புகடுங் கால் ஒட்டகத்து அல்கு பசி தீர்க்கும்கல் நெடுங் கவலைய கானம் நீந்தி,அம் மா அரிவை ஒழிய,சென்மோ நெஞ்சம்! வாரலென் யானே. In this trip to this harsh domain, we get to glimpse at many unique sights, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart: “If you know very well that she has the strength to say, ‘Wishing to bring back that radiant thing, which has more worth than life, having the wisdom to do the right things, he has left', and remain at home, then, parting away, you may go, O heart, to those spaces, which the rains have forsaken and where dried bamboos abound. And here, attacking merchants, who tread these paths, those men with sturdy bows live a life lacking culture. When night falls, their leader reaches the gates of homes, which belong to maiden, with thick bamboo-like arms having radiant lines, and bellies with beauty spots many, who sell filtered toddy. Not finding that drink of ecstasy, he would return home, and pointing to the white tusk, which had come from a wild elephant with moistened cheeks, he would caress the coarse-haired head of his son, playing around the house. In such a wild community, stay the night, and leave by morning, to those places, where upon the swaying branches of the silk-cotton tree, with a thick trunk, one which renders an exquisite shade, radiant flowers bloom, akin to flames fluttering, and bees buzz around like flutes. Nearby upon a short boulder, lies drying white bones, which satisfies the deep hunger of camels with fast legs. Traversing these stony, long paths in the scrub jungle, leaving that beautiful, dark-skinned maiden here, you may go, O heart! I shan't come!” Let’s walk on and explore those barren spaces! The man starts with an ‘if clause’ to his heart. He tells his heart, ‘If you know one thing for sure, you may leave, and that is if you know the lady has the ability to remain at home and understand the logic and importance of the journey to be taken in search of wealth’. Then, he launches into a description of the place where he is asking his heart to leave, and to do that, he focuses on the denizens of the said place. First, we catch a glimpse of merchants walking here and then robbers attacking them. The man decides to zoom on the leader of this rowdy gang and follows him as he walks in the late evening hour, towards the home of toddy sellers, who happen to be women with bamboo-like arms and beautiful bellies. Here’s a subtle indicator that women had a hand in handling trade in those times. Returning, we learn that all that toddy is sold out and the man returns home, and he points to the white tusk, which he had taken for the barter, which had come from an elephant in musth, and caresses the head of his young son, as a way of inspiring the lad to aim for great things in life, like hunting down an elephant. Leaving aside the animal rights implications, let’s just appreciate this moment of bonding between a robber father and his son. The man had been telling this story only to predict that the heart would end up staying in such a community, and then in the morning, it would leave to a place, where silk-cotton trees were in full bloom, and their flowers would appear like spots of flames atop the branches. When we are delighting, ‘Oh! What a pretty sight!’, the man turns our attention to some white bones lying scattered on nearby rocks. Remember how some merchants got attacked in the beginning of this tale? Perhaps all the scavengers have had their fill and only the drying, white bones of those dead merchants are left. Now the man talks about something fascinating. He says a camel would come that way and feed on those bones to allay its burning hunger. Here lies not one but two things that stunned me no end! My first question was, ‘What is a camel doing in South India?’. Next question, okay maybe there’s some reason that there are camels, but aren’t they herbivores and why is this verse saying they are eating bones? Surely the Sangam folk must have got their animals mixed up! Turns out they have not! Though it’s true that camels are not native to Tamil land, it shows evidence of trade with other regions, and it seems like a sound idea of those merchants to bring this animal with steady legs for their journeys through the drylands. Next, coming to the bones, I learnt that camels do eat bones and assorted other things like leather and skin, whenever their calcium and phosphorus levels dip down. Apparently, it’s a phenomenon called ‘osteophagia’. As it is these animals are wandering about desert landscapes and guess it makes sense that these animals have to make do with what they get and not be strict about their vegan diets! Back from our consorting with camels, we see that the man has been talking to his heart, asking it to leave to such arid landscapes, leaving the lady, and concluding that he was not planning on accompanying his heart. In essence, a clear decision in favour of staying at home, against the nudge of his heart, which was pushing him to part with the lady. This is yet another case of the man separating his heart from himself! What is the heart if not a part in the man’s mind, which was provoking him to choose a different path? This demarcation of the man and his heart in two thousand year old poem makes me connect the same principle to modern psychological techniques like ‘Internal Family Systems’, which ask the ‘Self’ in the mind to separate from the emotional parts to truly understand what’s going on in the psyche! A valuable lesson in dealing with dilemmas, as sensed intuitively by our ancestors with their deep understanding of the human mind!
In this episode, we explore the nature of grief through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) with senior trainer Einat Bronstein. Drawing on the work of Francis Weller and other key grief theorists, we reflect on grief not as a problem to solve, but as a deeply human experience that calls for presence, witnessing, and integration. We discuss how cultural expectations and “collective burdens” shape the way grief is experienced, often leading to blocked or frozen processes. From an IFS perspective, grief is understood as a complex, non-linear experience carried by different parts of the internal system, particularly exiles. The conversation explores topics like: How IFS differs from stage-based and task-oriented models of grief - such as those of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, John Bowlby, J. William Worden, and Robert NeimeyerWhat happens internally when we experience loss, and the roles of different parts in the grieving processWhy grief may feel stuck, and how Self-led witnessing can allow transformation and healingThe connection between present grief and earlier, unresolved lossesThe role of psychoeducation, ritual, and embodied expression in supporting griefWhat it means to “integrate” a loss within the IFS framework We also reflect on common pitfalls therapists may encounter when working with grief, and the deeper wisdom that can emerge from loss, about love, attachment, and the enduring presence of those we have lost. This episode is an invitation to approach grief with curiosity, compassion, and openness, honoring it as a doorway to connection, meaning, and inner transformation. We are excited to celebrate the launch of IFS Collected Wisdom: Conversations with Experienced Voices in Internal Family Systems a book that brings together voices, reflections, and lived experience from across the IFS community. This book was created from a desire to honor those voices, and to acknowledge that wisdom in IFS doesn't live in one place or one person. It lives in relationship, in experience, and in the field as it evolves. Thank you for being a listener, for being part of this community, and for continuing to explore what becomes possible when Self leads. We hope that IFS Collected Wisdom can become a companion in your IFS journey. Here is a link to the IFS Collected Wisdom book contents.
SYNOPSIS:This episode explores the idea that creativity is fundamentally embodied rather than purely mental. Gary describes the body as an “interface” or instrument through which creative energy flows, emphasizing that without the body, expression itself wouldn't be possible. Creativity is framed as a collaborative process – between body, mind, and a larger “divine” or universal intelligence – rather than something generated solely by individual effort. Gary and host, Ali Mezey, challenge the common mind-body split and reframe the body as an active participant in creative expression, not just a vessel.A central theme is the role of somatic practices (movement, breathwork, dance) in unlocking creativity. Gary shares his personal journey from disconnection and shame around the body to rediscovering it as a source of intelligence and creative flow. Through somatic work, he was able to release stored tension, trauma, and self-judgment, which had previously blocked his creative expression. The conversation highlights how presence in the body – rather than over-identification with thoughts or past experiences – can open access to what is often described as “the zone” or a flow state.The discussion also touches on identity, trauma, and how experiences are “held” in the body. While both Ali and Gary acknowledge that emotions and trauma can manifest physically, they question simplistic or overly rigid interpretations of this idea. They emphasize the importance of approaching the body with curiosity and presence rather than trying to “fix” it. The body is seen as intelligent and self-organizing, capable of healing when given the right conditions, though not everything can or needs to be resolved.Finally, the conversation addresses the practical side of creativity – discipline, skill, and sharing work with others. While creativity may flow naturally, bringing it into the world often requires structure, support, and persistence. Gary reframes discipline as something that can be supported through somatic awareness and addressing internal resistance (like the inner critic). Ultimately, creativity is portrayed as both a deeply personal and relational process – one that involves not only expression but also connection, refinement, and, for many, the courage to be seen. MORE ALI MEZEY:Website: www.alimezey.comBody Mapping Video LibraryPersonal Geometry® and the Magic of Mat Work Course information:www.alimezey.com/personal-geometry-foundationsTransgenerational Healing Films: www.constellationarts.comConstellation Work is a highly effective method to delve into healing transgenerational trauma, unburdening consequent generations from the influences of traumas which can be transmitted epigenetically.MORE GARY GOTTSELIG:GARY BIO: Gary Gottselig is a Creative Ignition Coach, author of #1 Amazon Best-selling poetry book, A Legacy of Rainbows and creator of Unleashed Somatic Dance.He works with writers, poets, and creatives who know they have a book inside them but keep getting stuck. Through somatic practices, breathwork, and movement, he helps them burn through self-judgment so they can finally write the book that's been waiting to come through them.He is deeply passionate about embodied liberation and how it unlocks deeper creativity and authentic self-expression.GARY LINKS:STARTS TOMORROW (April 28th) SO JOIN NOW!Blaze Across the Page: 7 Day Challenge to Burn through Self-Judgment So You Can Start Writing(Launches Tuesday, April 28th. Doors close Friday, May 1st at midnight)Book a Creative Breakthrough Call with GaryFor writers who've been putting their book off and are ready to startInstagram: @garyunleashedGet a Copy of His Poetry BookIf you would like to receive a link to watch/listen to Gary's guided somatic process to unleash more of your creativity, please write: connect@thebrilliantbodypodcast.com and we'll send it! Due to copyright issues, we couldn't do it otherwise.More show notes on the way!
In this episode of Empowered Through Compassion, I sit down with Sarah Cameron to explore the heart of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and how it comes alive not just as a technique, but as a way of being. Our conversation moves beyond skills and into something deeper, "the spirit", and how it parallels "Self-energy" in Internal Family Systems. We talk about Sarah's work at Amiga and her passion for helping clinicians embody the spirit of PACE in real-world conversations. This is a feeling of Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion and Empowerment, which is foundational for MI. We discuss how these words are not just "check boxes" we have to fill out and "do", but rather, that are qualities that we continue to access and live throughout our lives. MI can be added to IFS-informed EMDR, not as a competing model, but as a complementary path that adds more dimensions of what can be possible through therapy. I share my own journey with MI, and how it provided me with a language which opened up space for me to really listen and reflect change as it was happening in the therapy space. Sarah and I connected around what it means to build bridges across models, and disrupt feelings of being in a community without integration might feel siloed. This conversation is about presence, about hope, and about what becomes possible when we begin to embody the spirit of the work we are doing. Themes of episode The spirit of Motivational Interviewing as reflected in P.A.C.E. MI as a way of being, not just a set of techniques Parallels between MI spirit and Self energy in IFS “Lending hope” becoming a “hope merchant” two ways of communicating something extremely valuable Integration of MI, IFS, and EMDR in clinical practice Moving toward collaborative frameworks Suggesting there are some discussions and spaces where the focus on change talk might not fit. About Sarah Sarah Cameron is a Motivational Interviewing trainer and leader within the MINT community. She is deeply involved in advancing MI as a developmental and relational practice, helping clinicians move beyond technique into embodiment of MI spirit. Through her work with Amiga, she focuses on cultivating real-world application of MI in a way that is sustainable, human, and transformative. Sarah's books Sarah has contributed to several important works in the field of Motivational Interviewing: Becoming MI introduces the MI Metamorphosis Map and reframes MI as a developmental journey, offering guidance for trainers, supervisors, and clinicians to meet people where they are and support growth over time. The Aspirational Spirit of Motivational Interviewing explores how the true depth of MI lies not just in mastering techniques, but in embodying its spirit as an ongoing, evolving process. Ask-Offer-Ask: Bringing Motivational Interviewing to Life in Child Welfare offers a practical framework for navigating difficult conversations, especially in high-pressure environments, using a simple and effective MI-informed structure. Resources Amiga: https://amigallc.com/ Sarah website: https://www.ignitingchangeco.com/ Empowered Through Compassion is a podcast exploring the integration of Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing. Through these compassionate conversations, we aim to deepen our understanding of trauma and healing. We hope that information here can inspire connection and support to both clinicians and individuals.
Once again, I am talking about Internal Family Systems, a therapy created by Dr. Richard Schwartz, and its connection to ecosystem health. Our minds are organized much like an ecosystem, and heal and defend themselves in similar ways, too. I also reference the book The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, whose description of the afterlife realms has mirrored the explorations of the depths of my mind. Reach out to Eryn! Support the show
In this episode, Dick Schwartz and Toni Herbine -Blank join Eli to discuss the future of Internal Family Systems therapy. This conversation will explore how the model continues to evolve—shaping trauma treatment, couples work, and the broader psychotherapy landscape.
What if the pain you've carried your whole life didn't begin with you? Tami Simon speaks with Richard Schwartz—founder of Internal Family Systems—and psychotherapist and IFS lead trainer Tamala Floyd, author of Listening: When Parts Speak, about the intersection of IFS and ancestral wisdom, and how healing legacy burdens can liberate not only ourselves, but the generations that come after us.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
That Wellness Podcast with Natalie Deering: Internal Family Systems with a Twist
In this conversation I'm joined by Andrea Tessier—self-trust coach, IFS practitioner, and author—for a rich discussion on what it truly means to trust yourself from the inside out. We explore how self-trust is an inward-facing relationship, while confidence is often the outward expression of that trust. Andrea shares how intuition can become a practical daily guide, including her practice of asking, “What should I do today?” and learning to trust what naturally arises. Together, we talk about the internal barriers to self-trust—the protective parts that carry fear, doubt, or hesitation—and how these “gatekeepers” can actually become allies when approached with compassion through an Internal Family Systems lens. We also discuss: The difference between self-trust and confidence How protective parts can block or guard self-trust Ways to nurture and cultivate trust in yourself over time Practicing openness to receive intuitive guidance How to discern between protective parts and intuitive knowing Recognizing the unique ways intuition speaks to each of us Why IFS can be seen as a practice of intuition Nature as a powerful pathway back to inner knowing The first step to strengthening your intuition Andrea's new book, The Self-Trust Journal Andrea's work is rooted in The Self-Trust Blueprint™, an IFS-informed framework that supports ambitious non-conformists standing at the threshold of something new—guiding them from self-doubt into genuine self-led living. If you've been craving deeper trust in yourself, your path, or your inner voice, this episode is for you. Connect with Andrea Tessier Instagram: @andreatessiercoaching Free Self-Trust Discovery Session: https://andreatessiercoaching.as.me/Discovery The Self-Trust Journal (Amazon): https://a.co/d/0gZgwb9f The Audio Experience: Nothing Is Wrong With You: For the woman at a threshold and wants to trust herself in it https://www.andreatessier.com/nothing-is-wrong-with-you ____________________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________ Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here! You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!
In this episode, Dr. Nicole LePera discusses her book on how to reparenting your inner child can transform your life heal old wounds. She explores how childhood experiences create implicit emotional memories that shape adult behaviors and nervous system responses. Dr. Nicole also introduces her Individual Development Model, covering five developmental spheres, and explains how “parenting yourself” means becoming your own nurturing caregiver. The conversation addresses shame, resilience, and why change feels uncomfortable before it feels better, emphasizing that small, consistent actions build self-trust and create lasting transformation. Exciting News!! My new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life, is now available!! Key Takeaways: The concept of the inner child and its impact on adult behavior. The psychological and biological basis of childhood adaptations. Implicit emotional memories and their influence on current behaviors. The Individual Development Model and its five spheres of development. The process of “parenting the inner child” and its practical applications. The role of shame in personal identity and its development. Strategies for breaking the shame cycle and fostering self-compassion. The importance of small, consistent actions in personal change and healing. The definition of resilience as the ability to process emotions and adapt to life's challenges. For full show notes: click here! Connect with Dr. Nicole LePera: Website | Instagram | LinkedInIf you enjoyed this conversation with Nicole LePera, check out these other episodes: Internal Family Systems with Richard Schwartz How to Find Your Path to Healing and Post-Traumatic Growth with Ralph De La Rosa By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed, and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you! This episode is sponsored by: Alma has a directory of 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Visit helloalma.com to learn more! Brodo Broth: Shop the best broth on the planet with Brodo. Head to Brodo.com/TOYF for 20% off your first subscription order and use code TOYF for an additional $10 off. Quince: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to Quince.com/feed for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at rocketmoney.com/feed. Pebl – an AI-powered platform that helps companies hire and manage global teams in 185+ countries. Get a free estimate at hipebl.ai Hello Fresh – Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. David Protein bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to www.davidprotein.com/FEED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast)
In this episode, I sit down with Sol Kennedy — software developer, founder of the co-parenting app Best Interest, host of the Co-parenting Beyond Conflict podcast, and a man who built the thing he needed most during one of the hardest seasons of his life. Sol grew up watching a codependent father and a controlling mother, and spent years of his adult life repeating that dynamic — giving up his power in relationships, avoiding conflict at all costs, and calling the absence of fighting a good marriage. It took a divorce, his first therapy session at 38, and laying awake next to his girlfriend at 2am feeling that familiar anxiety spike when his phone pinged from his ex for Sol to finally build something different. We dig into the psychology behind why co-parenting is so emotionally explosive — the trapped emotions, the triggers, the courtroom-ready anger that destroys custody cases — and Sol walks us through exactly how the Best Interest app works. It acts as an AI-powered filter between you and your ex, stripping inflammatory language before it reaches you, flagging your own reactive messages before you send them, and letting you set communication boundaries without needing your co-parent's cooperation. It's essentially a bodyguard for your inbox — and for your peace of mind. We also get into the practical stuff: why you should start with a divorce coach, not a bulldog attorney; why anger in the courtroom is the fastest way to lose custody; and why therapy isn't optional if you want to actually show up well for your kids on the other side of a divorce. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] The moment that sparked Best Interest — lying in bed next to his girlfriend, anxiety spiking at every notification from his ex [2:23] What Our Family Wizard is and how co-parenting apps work [4:28] Why co-parenting is so hard — you're still in a relationship with someone you divorced [7:52] Sol's origin story — the codependent father, the controlling mother, and the name he chose for himself [9:22] Stepping into therapy at 38 for the first time — learning what "triggered" and "boundary" meant [13:05] Who Sol Kennedy is — founder of Best Interest, host of Co-parenting Beyond Conflict [14:30] How Sol's childhood shaped the relationships he sought out as an adult [19:47] The golden child, the scapegoat, and a marriage that never had real depth [23:29] How divorce changed what he was attracted to — and the intimacy he found on the other side [26:59] The catalyst for the divorce — a year and a half of therapy, a repetitive cycle, and his wife leaving just before the Covid lockdowns [29:26] How Best Interest differs from Our Family Wizard — shifting from a court-ready mindset to a conflict-prevention mindset [31:49] How the AI filter works in practice — stripping inflammatory language before it reaches you [33:29] How it protects you from yourself — reviewing your outgoing messages before you send something you'll regret [35:44] The only co-parenting app you can use solo — no co-parent buy-in required [36:46] Setting message frequency limits — Sol's solution to the 30-messages-a-day ex [38:25] The AI bodyguard — how Best Interest changes lives one filtered message at a time [41:14] Why men specifically get themselves in trouble — anger in the courtroom is the fastest way to lose custody [43:47] What newly separated men need to know — start with a divorce coach, not a bulldog attorney [45:19] Get to therapy now — learning where you feel stress in your body is not soft, it's survival [46:41] Internal Family Systems and somatic work — why trapped emotions show up as physical sensations Five Key Takeaways Co-parenting is still a relationship — and without the right tools, the same patterns that broke the marriage will destroy the co-parenting dynamic too. Anger in the courtroom costs men custody. If you haven't done the work to regulate your emotions before you walk in, all the advice in the world won't save you in that moment. The best co-parenting boundaries are the ones you can enforce yourself — without needing your ex to cooperate or agree to anything. Start with a divorce coach, not a bulldog attorney. A good divorce coach will save you money, reduce conflict, and help you avoid the court system altogether where possible. Therapy is not optional. Learning where you feel stress in your body, understanding your triggers, and processing trapped emotions isn't soft — it's what lets you show up as the parent your kids need. Links & Resources Dad Edge Business Boardroom: https://thedadedge.com/boardroom The Men's Forge: https://themensforge.com Best Interest Co-parenting App: Available on the App Store and Google Play — search "Best Interest" Co-parenting Beyond Conflict Podcast with Sol Kennedy: Available wherever you get your podcasts Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1466): https://thedadedge.com/1466 Closing If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: you don't have to let your ex's words reach you unfiltered — and you don't have to send your worst ones either. Sol Kennedy built the thing he needed most when he needed it most. And what he built is now changing the daily lives of co-parents who are trying to stay grounded, protect their kids from the fallout, and build a new chapter without letting the old one keep pulling them back under. If you're co-parenting right now, or you know someone who is, share this episode. It might be the most practical thing they hear all year. Go out and live legendary.
This episode of the podcast is going to explore an intersection of psychotherapy and spirituality. Specifically, we are going to be exploring the intersection between Internal Family Systems, spiritual healing, and the work of 16c Christian philosopher and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. Our guests are Bob Falconer, Chelsea Odhner, and Jonathan Rose. What You'll Learn About:
Today I welcome to the podcast Drs. Risa Adams, Robin Beardsley, and Elizabeth Parsons. They are family physicians turned psychotherapists who came together during the pandemic to write, find community, and speak for their parts. What they found in that process and wrote about in their new book, It Doesn't Have To Be This Way: A Physician's Guide To Radical Self Care (by three physicians who've been there), is something most caregivers, doctors, healthcare workers, therapists, parents, partners, anyone who finds their worth in being needed, will recognize. In This Episode The parts that helped you survive by taking care of everyone else Why fear and shame rarely get spoken out loud in medicine, or anywhere caregiving happens What finally broke each of them, and what helped Writing as a way to let parts be witnessed for the first time Why belonging and helping got tangled together so early Takeaways Helper parts learned that helping was the price of belonging The parts that make you good at caring for others are often the same parts driving burnout Burnout is a signal that the strategy has run out of space Being witnessed by people who get it can reach parts that have never been spoken out loud The culture around caregiving, in medicine and elsewhere, rewards the helper and punishes the one who needs This episode is for anyone who has ever made themselves smaller so there would be room to help. Links: Book: It Doesn't Have to Be This Way: A Physician's Guide to Radical Self-Care IFS Canadian Community Conference: A two-day online gathering for professionals using Internal Family Systems in their work, and for those exploring how IFS may support their professional practice. June 5-6, 2026, online. About the guests: Risa Adams, MD, CCFP, is a family physician with a focused practice in perinatal mental health and complex PTSD. She is a Certified IFS Therapist, Approved Clinical Consultant and Trainer with the IFS Institute. Through her own travels with mental health she has come to appreciate the complexity of being a human while being a physician, with a special interest in intergenerational trauma. Risa lives in Elora, Ontario, with her partner and two children, and hopes to help bring IFS to doctors, patients and her own communities. Robin Beardsley, MD, FCFP, a Family Physician with over 35 years' experience of comprehensive family medicine practice and psychotherapy with a focus on care for the caregiver. She is a certified IFS-I Therapist, approved Clinical Consultant, with extensive training in the Satir Model and is a trained teacher of Mindful Self Compassion. She also works with learners, as a faculty member of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and teaches Self Compassion for Health Care Communities. These experiences of working with and healing from empathic distress in medical communities with IFS and Self-Compassion, along with her own journey of being a caregiver, personally and professionally, has given her a greater understanding of the complexity and multiplicity of our systems. She lives in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband and adult children nearby. Elizabeth Parsons, MD, FCFP, has been a physician for over 25 years, practicing psychotherapy since 2007. She is a Certified IFS therapist and an Approved Clinical Consultant with the IFS Institute. In addition to IFS, Elizabeth is trained in trauma therapy and has been facilitating psychotherapy groups since 2010. Her interest in physician well being goes back to residency, when she surveyed medical residents on their coping strategies. She has been closely involved with the Medical Psychotherapy Association Canada since 2007, launching a self-care retreat for physicians that has run annually since 2012. Elizabeth lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and 3 children. About The One Inside I started this podcast to help spread IFS out into the world and make the model more accessible to everyone. Seven years later, that's still at the heart of all we do. Join The One Inside Substack community for bonus conversations, extended interviews, meditations, and more. Find Self-Led merch at The One Inside store. Listen to episodes and watch clips on YouTube. Follow me on Instagram @ifstammy or on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger. I co-create The One Inside with Jeff Schrum, a Level 2 IFS practitioner and coach. Resources New to IFS? My book, The One Inside: Thirty Days to Your Authentic Self, is a great place to start. Want a free meditation? Sign up for my email list and get "Get to Know a Should Part" right away. Sponsorship Want to sponsor an episode of The One Inside? Email Tammy.
Four Catholic therapists and four Catholic philosophers take on the most frequently asked metaphysical questions about grounding Internal Family Systems in a Catholic worldview. Join Elizabeth Galanti, Dr. Anthony Flood, Dr. Andrea Messineo, Dr. Gerry Crete, Dr. Monty De La Torre, Fr. Thomas Berg, and Dr. Peter Malinoski for a spirited discussion of: 1) the relationship between IFS and the Catholic Church; 2) problems with the IFS conceptualization of “Self'; 3) the importance of the Catholic IFS clinician staying true to the teachings of the Church; 4) distinguishing between parts and demons in IFS work; 5) how can we prevent parts work from opening the door to demons? 6) what does it mean to say that all parts are good?; 7) how does ordered self-love differ from selfishness?; 8) is there a danger of creating an endless nesting of parts within parts within parts, an “infinite regress” of parts?; and 9) How does the Catholic understanding of conscience related to parts in IFS? Fr. Thomas Berg's books: Hurting in the Church: A Way Forward for Wounded Catholics: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hurting-in-the-church-fr-thomas-berg/1124597873Choosing Forgiveness: Unleash the Power of God's Gracee: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/choosing-forgiveness-fr-thomas-berg/1140395384?ean=9781681926537 Dr. Andrea Messineo's book “Alone in Church”: https://www.amazon.com/ALONE-CHURCH-Andrea-Messineo/dp/1732054290Check out Dr. Messineo's website at Andreamessineolpcc.comDr. Anthony Flood's books: The Root of Friendship: Self-Love and Self-Governance in Aquinas https://www.cuapress.org/9780813226057/the-root-of-friendship/ The Metaphysical Foundations of Love: Aquinas on Participation, Unity, and Union: https://www.cuapress.org/9780813234205/the-metaphysical-foundations-of-love/Dr. Gerry Crete's book, “Litanies of the Heart”: https://www.amazon.com/Litanies-Heart-Gerry-Ken-Crete-ebook/dp/B0CSKSCMPP?ref_=ast_author_mpbElizabeth Galanti's practice: https://www.elizabethgalanti.com/Dr. Monty De La Torre's recent reflections: https://www.soulsandhearts.com/blog/the-metaphysics-of-parts-part-i-the-soul-the-faculties-and-the-senses/https://www.soulsandhearts.com/blog/intellect-knowledge-judgement-reasoning-and-parts-the-metaphysics-of-parts-part-ii/Check out our Resilient Catholics Community (RCC) here: https://www.soulsandhearts.com/rccCheck out our Formation for Formators (FFF) Community here: https://www.soulsandhearts.com/fffKey moments12:28 "What does the Catholic Church have to say about IFS, and is IFS OK for Catholics?" "How can we make sure that our IFS-informed parts work is fully Catholic?”19:50 Problems with the IFS conceptualization of “Self” and how to modify the idea of the inmost self so that it harmonizes with a Catholic understanding of the human person23:30 The importance of the IFS Catholic clinician staying true to all Catholic doctrine25:20 "How can I tell if I'm connecting with a part or a with a demon? How do we keep our parts work from creating vulnerabilities toward demonic influences?"35:55 "Why do we say in IFS that there are no bad parts, that all parts are welcome? It certainly seems that some of my parts are urging me to do bad or sinful things, and that I have to resist them."50:00 "From a parts perspective, how does ordered self-love differ from selfishness?"59:00 According to St. Thomas Aquinas, there is no part of you that by itself has hegemony over the role of goodness. Each part has a goodness or proper functioning that is nested in the good of the person as a whole. That is why when willing goods to oneself, you must will goods in a way that is respectful of all of you, not just some of you.1:06:50 "What if I create an endless number of parts? Or, a part, that has a part, that has a part, etc...? " -- the “infinite regress” of parts1:21:50 How does the Catholic understanding of conscience related to parts in IFS?