Escaping Survival Mode: Rewiring Stress & Overwhelm | Spotlight Convo

Bessel van der Kolk, legendary trauma expert and author of The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma reveals a revolutionary approach to healing trauma. Discover how trauma profoundly impacts the brain and body, making growth difficult by trapping us in past experiences. Explore potent mind-body practices like yoga, dance, and psychedelics that can unlock trauma's grip by igniting collective joy, self-compassion, and an expansive perspective on our vast human potential. Gain life-changing insights to feel truly alive again.You can find Bessel at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen Hendrikson about social anxiety.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you struggling to make lasting positive changes in your life? In this thought-provoking conversation, change philosopher Tamsen Webster unlocks the secrets to transformational change from her new book Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change. Discover how aligning your core beliefs with your desired identity is crucial for sustainable growth. Learn to recognize and leverage "disorienting dilemmas" that shatter limiting assumptions about what's possible. Webster shares candid stories from her own journey overcoming panic disorder and embracing a healthier lifestyle. Listen now for a fresh perspective to finally make changes that stick.You can find Tamsen at: Website | Instagram | The Compact Case™ | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Maya Shankar about how we change.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you feeling stuck in a life of predictability and safety? Chase Jarvis, author of Never Play It Safe: A Practical Guide to Freedom, Creativity, and a Life You Love, reveals how stepping out of your comfort zone unlocks creativity, authenticity, and joy. Discover powerful mindset shifts and practical tools to reshape your relationship with time, cultivate intuition, and direct your attention towards what truly matters. If you're craving more aliveness, meaning, and fulfillment, this insightful conversation provides an inspiring roadmap to the life you really want.You can find Chase at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Chase about finding your creative calling.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meghan Keane's Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner upends the cultural myth that romantic love is the ultimate source of fulfillment. This insightful conversation offers a refreshing perspective on embracing your single status, pursuing harmonious passions, and fostering an enriching community of platonic relationships. Meghan provides an empowering vision for radical self-acceptance, values-based living, and finding profound meaning beyond prescribed relationship narratives - a must-listen for anyone seeking to thrive authentically.You can find Meghan at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Kat Vellos about crafting adult friendships.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you stuck in an endless cycle of stress and burnout, constantly chasing new goals but never feeling fulfilled? Or do you struggle with focus, restlessness, and emotional intensity - perhaps signs of neurodivergence? In this powerful episode, our guests Romie Mushtaq, Aviva Romm, and Sasha Hamdani provide candid insights into breaking free from the "stress success cycle," managing overwhelm and survival mode, and embracing the unique wiring of ADHD. Prepare for an honest, hopeful discussion packed with practical strategies to rewire your busy brain, repair your body's stress response systems, and start living with more presence and inner peace.Episode TranscriptYou can find Dr. Romie at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with RomieYou can find Dr. Aviva at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with AvivaYou can find Dr. Sasha at: Focus Genie App | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with SashaCheck out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you trapped in a cycle of reactive busyness, constantly chasing other people's priorities? This powerful Unbusy Manifesto provides a roadmap to breaking free from that frantic pace through mindset shifts and daily practices. Learn intentional living strategies to reclaim your time, cultivate presence, and infuse more meaning into each day.And, by the way, in case you’d like to spend more time reading what you’re about to experience, I’ve posted a version of it over on my Awake at the Wheel newsletter.Episode TranscriptCheck out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the face of unimaginable grief and loss, author Cyndie Spiegel discovered the transformative power of "microjoys" - fleeting moments of lightness, delight, and hope that helped sustain her during life's darkest times. In her book Microjoys: Finding Hope (Especially) When Life Is Not Okay, Spiegel shares poignant stories and profound insights on holding space for both joy and sorrow simultaneously. This compelling conversation is an invitation to stay present, embrace the full spectrum of human emotions, and find glimmers of unexpected grace even when happiness feels most elusive.You can find Cyndie at: Website | Dear Grown Ass Women | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ocean Vuong about navigating struggle and making peace with his story.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you feeling stuck in your current systems and routines? Struggling to find a strategy for positive change? In this thought-provoking conversation, marketing visionary Seth Godin unpacks key insights from his book This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans on crafting an intentional life strategy. Discover how reframing time, understanding the "games" we play, and embracing tension can all be generative forces. Godin shares powerful perspectives on transcending default narratives to create the future you truly want. If you're craving more agency and fulfillment, this energizing dialogue will provide a philosophical blueprint for your next purposeful evolution.You can find Seth at: Website | Instagram | Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Seth about the power of significance.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you longing for a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling? In this insightful conversation, Ximena Vengoechea, author of The Life Audit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering Your Goals and Building the Life You Want, shares her powerful framework for gaining clarity on your deep desires and purposefully sculpting a life aligned with your core values. Through thought-provoking exercises like rapidly ideating 100 wishes and auditing your key relationships, Vengoechea provides a refreshingly practical roadmap to move from stuck and overwhelmed to confident and motivated action. If you're craving more authenticity, meaning and joy, this is a must-listen for learning how to embrace life as an iterative journey of experimentation and growth.You can find Ximena at: Website | Instagram | Letters from Ximena Substack | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love our episodes on the Good Life Buckets.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a high-achiever who feels overly invested in the outcomes of others? In this insightful episode, psychotherapist Terri Cole dives into the concept of "high-functioning codependency" from her book Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Codependency. Discover whether you exhibit signs like over-functioning, auto-advice giving, and excessive self-sacrifice. Terri provides powerful strategies to find balance, set boundaries, and reclaim your inner peace without compromising your caring nature.You can find Terri at: Website | Instagram | The HFC Toolkit | The Terri Cole Show podcast | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Terri about boundaries.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.