EP 358: The Neuroscience of Anxiety with Alex Nashton

In this episode, I'm joined by the wonderful Alex Nashton - a self-proclaimed neuroscience nerd, mindfulness practitioner, and coach who works deeply with both individuals and couples. She's also the host of the Mind Over Grey Matter podcast, where I had the pleasure of being a guest a couple of years ago. In this conversation, we dive into the science behind anxiety - not in an overwhelming way, but in a way that actually helps you understand what's happening in your brain and, more importantly, how change is truly possible. We explore neuroplasticity, the patterns that keep you stuck, and how to gently rewire your mind without falling into self-judgement. If you've ever felt frustrated that you "know better" but still feel stuck in anxious patterns, this episode will give you both clarity and hope. We talk about: What neuroplasticity means and how to maximise your brain's capacity for change at any age The neuroscience of anxiety: what's actually happening in the brain and why understanding it changes everything The mechanics of how old neural pathways dissolve and new ones take hold The self-judgement trap: why high-functioning women get caught in it and how to break the cycle Where to find Alex: Podcast: Mind Over Grey Matter Instagram: @alex_nashton 💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here

In this episode, Georgie invites you to set everything down - your to-do list, your responsibilities, the version of you that's been showing up and delivering all day - and simply let yourself be held. This isn't a lesson. There's nothing to take notes on and nothing to action. It's a guided experience created for the woman who has been carrying a lot, moving fast, and giving generously - and who is ready, finally, to exhale. Find somewhere comfortable, close your eyes, and let Georgie's voice bring you home. Drawing on her deep understanding of the nervous system and the anxious mind, this immersive guided rest returns you to a felt sense of safety and support - not through effort, but through receiving. Perfect for winding down after a full and demanding day, transitioning out of work mode, or simply giving your nervous system the rest it's quietly been asking for. You've done enough today. You are safe here. You are supported.   💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here

In this episode, I'm joined by eczema and skin specialist Zoe Hunt. If you've experienced the anxiety, stress, and loss of confidence that can come with chronic skin issues — or you're a parent supporting a child through it — this conversation will feel deeply validating and eye-opening. We explore the emotional toll of skin conditions, especially for parents, and the often-overlooked connection between the nervous system, stress, and the body's ability to heal. Zoe brings a compassionate, whole-body approach that goes far beyond just "fixing the skin." If you've been stuck in cycles of frustration, trying everything and still not seeing lasting change, this episode will help you see things in a completely new way. We talk about: How a skin specialist naturopath finally solved her own child's chronic eczema How watching your child suffer in their skin creates a specific kind of parental anxiety that's hard to put into words How stress and nervous system dysregulation in the parent can directly impact a child's skin and immune response Why "fixing the skin" is often the last piece — and what needs to come first Join Zoe's FREE masterclass this month: https://portal.sageandwell.co.nz/masterlcass Where to find Zoe: Website: https://www.sageandwell.co.nz Instagram: @sageandwell Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here

In this episode, Georgie shares something deeply personal - the internal conflict she navigated around becoming a mother, not because she didn't want children, but because something about the version of motherhood she'd witnessed didn't feel like something she could choose. She always knew she would be a mother. She knew she'd be good at it. And yet for a long time, she resisted the idea with everything she had - the loss of freedom, the structural lack of support for women once they step into that role, and the template she was given by her own mother. A woman who was truly wonderful, generous, and loving... and who seemed to disappear into motherhood entirely. Georgie unpacks what she finally discovered was underneath that resistance, because for many women, the question isn't really do I want to be a mother? It's: can I be a mother without losing myself? If that question lives in you too, this episode is going to mean something.   💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here

In this episode, I'm joined by the fabulous Hannah Gould, Melbourne University lecturer and author of How to Die in the 21st Century. Together, we explore a topic that many of us avoid, but in a way that feels gentle, grounded, and even a little bit light. We talk about what happens when we actually turn toward the idea of death instead of pushing it away, and how doing so can bring a surprising sense of calm. This conversation is an invitation to look at something often seen as heavy or uncomfortable and discover that it can actually create more peace, perspective, and presence in your life. If you've ever felt uneasy thinking about death, avoided the topic altogether, or struggled with loss and not knowing how to process it, this episode will support you in a really beautiful way. We talk about: Why talking about death can actually reduce anxiety, not increase it What "death neutral" means, and why it can feel like relief The hidden ways death avoidance shows up in high-functioning women How to talk about death and grieving when no one knows how Where to find Hannah: Website: https://www.hannahgould.com/ Instagram: @hrhgould 💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here

In this episode, Georgie explores what so many of us are feeling right now: the relentless weight of the news cycle, the uncertainty, the noise, and the low-grade anxiety that comes from trying to make sense of a world that feels increasingly unpredictable. Rather than offering false reassurance, Georgie gets honest about why this moment feels so intense, and then walks you through four grounding practices to help you reclaim your sense of self when everything outside of you feels unstable. From setting intentional boundaries around what you consume, to returning to the certainty that already lives within you, to questioning the narratives being handed to you and choosing where you direct your attention, this episode is a reminder that while you can't control the world, you are never without agency.   💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here    

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredibly inspiring Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Choose Love Movement. Scarlett is the mother of Jesse, who was tragically killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. When I first heard her speak about forgiving the shooter, I was deeply moved and I knew we had to have this conversation on the podcast. This episode explores how we navigate unimaginable shock and grief, and the profound choice we all have when faced with tragedy: to live from fear and anger, or to choose love. Scarlett shares how she found her way through the darkest moment of her life and how that journey became the foundation for a global movement teaching children and communities how to respond to challenges with courage, compassion, and connection. If you've ever experienced loss, supported someone through heartbreak, or wondered how healing and forgiveness are even possible after tragedy, this conversation will touch your heart and leave you feeling deeply inspired. We talk about: Moving through shock and grief, and finding your way back to real moments of joy How the Choose Love Movement is shaping the next generation of children Forgiveness as a practice that can give you your power back (without bypassing the pain) How to create meaning after loss, and let love become something you live and pass on Where to find Scarlett: Website: chooselovemovement.org Instagram: @chooselovemovement 💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Get instant access to The Nervous System Reset Workshop: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here

In this episode, Georgie shares an honest take on the nervous system regulation world, and why it can sometimes become so jargon-heavy that it pulls you further into your mind instead of back into your body. She explores the recent criticism and debate around Polyvagal Theory as a reminder to hold any framework lightly, and to stay connected to what actually helps you feel safer, steadier, and more like yourself. This conversation is about simplifying, trusting your instincts, and remembering that your body already has a deep intelligence for soothing and settling. You'll leave feeling less pressure to "do regulation right", and more confidence in listening to what works for you. 💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE The Nervous System Reset Workshop for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here    

In this episode, Georgie speaks to the experience of being in the in-between season, when the old way of life no longer fits but the next chapter hasn't fully arrived. She explores how to stay connected to yourself during the uncertainty, and why pushing for answers can sometimes create more friction in your system. You'll be guided into a more nervous-system-aware way of moving with life rather than against it, so this time becomes less frightening and more meaningful. It's an invitation to trust the unfolding, soften the inner pressure, and let this "void" shape you into more of who you're here to become.     💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here

In this episode, I'm joined by our resident Inner Voice Facilitator, Georgie Bryant. She leads our monthly Inner Voice classes inside the Calm Woman Collective, and she's also a dear friend of mine - we regularly meet to connect with each other's inner voices. If you've been feeling the pull to connect more deeply with your intuition, stop outsourcing your answers, and finally untangle the knots of an anxious mind, this episode is for you. There's never been a more important time to come back to your own inner knowing because anxiety softens when you start listening to the part of you that already knows. We talk about: What your inner voice actually is (and why it's not the same as anxious thoughts) How to tell the difference between intuition and fear How reconnecting to your inner voice builds instant self-trust Simple practices to hear yourself clearly again (even on busy days) Where to find Georgie Bryant: Instagram: @georgiebryantcoaching Website: georgiebryant.com.au --- 💫 Ready for a deeper transformation? Apply for a free Anxiety Relief call to chat to Georgie about joining The Calm Woman Collective: Click here 🎥 Watch my FREE Becoming A Calm Woman In 2026 Masterclass for women with high-functioning anxiety: Click here 📚 Get my books The Anxiety Reset Method and Master Your Relationship Anxiety: Click here