Science & Magic with Amanda

Why is it so hard for high-achieving women to set boundaries? Often your sense of worth is tied to what you produce, so every no feels risky in your body.In this episode, I explain why "just say no" rarely sticks, and share three body-first ways to set boundaries that hold, through the lens of your nervous system: real-time awareness of your body's signals, a drains and replenishers inventory, and shifting out of survival mode so you can pause before the automatic yes.We also get into people pleasing patterns from childhood, discernment (when a yes is worth it even when you're tired), and internal boundaries: becoming the woman who is no longer a match for overexplaining, gossip, or people disrespecting her time.FREE SCIENCE & MAGIC APP:Download for iPhoneDownload for AndroidWORK WITH ME:Apply for CoachingApply for a Connection CallCONNECT WITH ME:Science & Magic Facebook GroupInstagram Broadcast ChannelJoin My Text ListMORE:Read the full articleWatch on YouTubeCHAPTERS:0:00 Women do a lot0:24 What a boundary is0:48 When your worth is tied to doing1:29 Childhood patterns and people pleasing2:43 Loving people3:13 Living on autopilot3:41 Step 1: Real-time awareness7:50 Step 2: Drains and replenishers10:45 Step 3: Shift out of survival mode12:28 Discernment13:24 Internal boundaries and identity16:11 Wrap upIf this one landed, follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and tell me which boundary you're working on.

Can your attachment style actually change?  One of my private coaching clients went from anxious to secure attachment after 6 months of nervous system work, and she never expected it."I went from anxious to secure through all of the amazing nervous system work I did with her… I NEVER thought that would be an output of the work."If you know the waiting for a text, the overthinking, the body on high alert in your relationship even when nothing is wrong, this episode is for you. Most attachment advice works on the story. I work with the body, because so much of anxious attachment is a nervous system that learned to stay activated around connection.In this episode:What anxious attachment feels like in your bodyHow nervous system regulation helps build earned secure attachmentWhat opens up when you feel secure in loveSCIENCE & MAGIC AP:Download NowWORK WITH ME:Apply For CoachingCONNECT WITH ME:⁣Science & Magic Facebook GroupInstagram Broadcast ChannelJoin My Text List

How do you build and run a successful business without burning yourself out?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brenda Brummond, an Executive Coach who helps high-achieving women overcome burnout, imposter syndrome, and chronic stress so they can create a more sustainable, fulfilling version of success.Dr. Brenda shares her powerful story of rebuilding her life after a profound betrayal and how that journey transformed her understanding of identity, healing, and leadership. In this episode, we discuss:• Why high-achieving women are especially vulnerable to burnout and self-doubt.• How childhood experiences shape our identity and drive for achievement.• The difference between leading from the ego versus your authentic self.• What divine feminine leadership looks like in business and in life.• How nervous system regulation, intuition, and embodiment support sustainable success.Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or simply navigating a season of growth, this conversation offers practical insights and a refreshing perspective on creating success without sacrificing your health, relationships, or yourself.Topics: burnout recovery, nervous system regulation, women entrepreneurs, imposter syndrome, authentic leadership, feminine leadership, psychology, emotional resilience, embodiment, personal growth, mindset, stress management, business leadership.SCIENCE & MAGIC AP:Download NowCONNECT WITH DR. BRENDA:WebsiteInstagramCONNECT WITH AMANDA:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety

There’s a lot of conversation right now about creating a “soft life.”  But what if ease isn’t about making life easy?In this episode, I explore the difference between ease and easy, and how true softness comes from inner strength, not external control.We talk about nervous system resilience, feminine energy, and why challenge is not something to avoid… but something that shapes you.If you’ve ever felt like something is wrong because life feels hard, this is your reminder:  You’re not doing it wrong, you’re growing.SCIENCE & MAGIC AP:Download NowWORK WITH ME:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety CONNECT WITH ME:⁣Science & Magic Facebook GroupInstagram Broadcast ChannelJoin My Text List

Your attention is one of the most powerful forces shaping your life.In this video, we explore how where you place your focus quite literally rewires your brain and influences what unfolds in your reality. If you’ve been looping old stories, fixating on what’s missing, or feeling stuck, this is an invitation to reclaim your energy.You always have access to your attention.  The question is… where is it going?SCIENCE & MAGIC AP:Download NowIf you are interested in building an ap for your business, book a call with Vyten for a free mock up.WORK WITH AMANDA:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety 

Darcie spent decades living with chronic pain while pushing herself as a lifelong high achiever. In this episode, she shares how learning to regulate her nervous system through breathwork, meditation, yin yoga, and identity shifting helped her release years of tension and finally experience relief.SCIENCE & MAGIC AP:Download NowIf you are interested in building an ap for your business, book a call with Vyten for a free mock up.WORK WITH AMANDA:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety 

In this episode, I explore why letting go of control feels so difficult, especially for high achievers, and what's really driving the grip.  Drawing on nervous system science, I unpack how our biology and ego-driven identities keep us clinging to external validation for safety and worth. I share personal stories of identity shifts I've navigated, from motherhood to divorce to unexpected career changes, and offer a powerful, accessible tool for releasing control in the body: yin yoga.  If you're ready to soften your grip and source your sense of security from within, this episode will show you how.  A must watch for high achieving women!SCIENCE & MAGIC AP:Download NowIf you are interested in building an ap for your business, book a call with Vyten for a free mock up.WORK WITH AMANDA:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety 

This episode was inspired by what we’re all living through here in Minnesota right now - a time of deep political tension and community hurt after a surge of federal immigration enforcement and the fatal shootings of civilians by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, events that have shaken many and sparked protests statewide. I sit down with Somatic Experiencing practitioner Kevin McCarthy to talk about what nervous system activation might feel like in moments like this, how stress and chronic threat show up in the body, and what it takes to stay regulated when everything around you feels unpredictable.We begin the conversation with a deep breath, continue with exploring tools for staying resourced in real time, and close with a hopeful reminder that joy doesn’t take away from this work - it is the fuel. Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by unnecessary expression of power and brutality, both in our community and worldwide.SCIENCE & MAGIC AP:Download NowIf you are interested in building an ap for your business, book a call with Vyten for a free mock up.WORK WITH KEVIN:Book a sessionListen to Another Episode WORK WITH AMANDA:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety SUPPORT MINNESOTA IMMIGRANTS:Resources page

Burnout isn’t a personal failure, it’s a systems problem. In this conversation with Dr. Derek Porter, we explore how leaders and faculty can build sustainable cultures, support nervous system health, and prevent burnout before it starts.SOOTHE YOU NERVOUS SYSTEM:Nervous System Massage MeditationWORK WITH DR. DEREK PORTER:Connect on LinkedinBook a ConsultationWORK WITH AMANDA:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety CONNECT WITH AMANDA:⁣Science & Magic Facebook GroupInstagram Broadcast ChannelJoin My Text ListSCIENCE AND MAGIC PORTAL (now free!!)Explore here

What does it really mean to be unbothered?  In this episode, I explore the difference between true self sovereignty and emotional shutdown. I unpack healthy detachment as an embodied practice that allows you to stay grounded, heart centered, and connected rather than disconnected or avoidant.Through a nervous system lens, I discusses emotional regulation, triggers, self soothing, and the importance of boundaries and discernment in relationships. This conversation invites you to take responsibility for your emotional responses while remaining open, regulated, and deeply human.WORK WITH ME:Apply For CoachingSoften Course: From Survival to Safety CONNECT WITH ME:⁣Science & Magic Facebook GroupInstagram Broadcast ChannelJoin My Text ListSCIENCE AND MAGIC PORTAL (now free!!)Explore here