In this episode of Authentically Connected, join me in a gentle exploration of Polyvagal Theory — the science of how our nervous system moves between safety, stress, and shutdown. I'll explain how to map your own “ladder,” understand your body’s signals, and find your way back to connection. From the wandering vagus nerve to the power of co-regulation and tiny steps out of overwhelm, this episode is a hopeful guide to reshaping your inner world one nervous-system moment at a time. Let this be an invitation to listen inward and rediscover your own rhythm of regulation.

In this episode, I sit down with Arielle Schmidt, my Thai yoga therapist, for a conversation about the body's energetic pathways, Chinese meridians, and the wisdom of the elements. We explore how somatic practices can support emotional release, what it means to listen to the body's subtle signals, and how spirituality weaves into healing. This is a gentle, grounding discussion about coming back into the body, connecting with our inner landscape, and remembering that healing is both physical and deeply soulful.   You can visit www.tranquilityrising.com to learn more about Arielle Schmidt and her Thai yoga therapy practice, Tranquility Rising, which is located in Blue Ash, Ohio.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Here's the list of healing modalities offered by Arielle that we refer to during this episode: Traditional Thai Yoga Bodywork (Northern & Southern style) Chinese Medicine Meridian Theory (12 Primary Meridians) Applied Functional Medicine for Trauma Healing Nervous System Regulation through NARM® (NeuroAffective Relational Model) Elemental Embodiment Coaching Reflexology & Gua Sha Structural and Emotional Repatterning through Aufstellung (Systemic Constellations) Movement-based somatic re-integration Trauma-informed bodywork for children and families Arielle also briefly mentions the extensive list of trainings she has completed. You can find this list on the Tranquility Rising website under the Our Team tab.   During this conversation, Arielle also mentions Ayurveda, which is a whole-body system of medicine that began in India over 3,000 years ago, and takes a natural approach to balancing and healing the body. 

In this episode, I open up about my personal journey to heal — a path shaped by the power of imagination, the gentle practice of self-compassion, and the transformative lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS). I share how learning to befriend my inner parts allowed deep emotional wounds to begin softening.Together, we’ll explore how visualization and imagination can become healing tools, how compassion toward our inner world changes everything, and how IFS offers a map back to the Self — the calm, wise, and loving center within us all.This episode is an invitation to slow down, turn inward, and remember that the power to heal has been inside you all along.

Welcome to the podcast! In this first episode, I share about my own healing journey and what inspired me to create this space. I talk about how Internal Family Systems (IFS) has changed my life — helping me see my inner world with compassion, curiosity, and love. My hope is that, as you listen, you’ll connect with your own inner parts and discover that healing is less about fixing yourself and more about coming home to who you truly are.