Confessions of a Freebird - Midlife, Divorce, Heal, and Date Differently with Somatic Experiencing, Empty Nest, Well-Being, Happiness

Why does happiness sometimes feel out of reach even when you think you are doing everything right? You take steps forward, check the boxes, show up for the people you love, but underneath it all, something still feels unsettled. Life can start to feel rushed, full, or emotionally heavy, yet you can’t quite put your finger on it.

This is what happens when you’re not prioritizing the foundational keys to happiness and, in turn, living with a dysregulated nervous system. When your body stays in a constant threat response—do more, earn more, and achieve more is when your nervous system becomes overwhelmed. Sleep becomes harder, and when you do wake up, you feel exhausted.

In this solo episode of Confessions of a Freebird, I reflect on the work of Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor, host of The Happiness Lab, and one of the leading voices in positive psychology. Her research offers a grounded look at how to feel happier, and I add a somatic lens to the conversation, because happiness is not only a mindset issue–it happens when you have a regulated nervous system.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why chasing success before happiness has it backwards — and what the science actually shows
• The Somatic Experiencing perspective on each principle and why the body is the missing piece of the happiness conversation
• Why your nervous system state and learning nervous system regulation matter more than your mindset
• How self-compassion and emotional agility help feelings move through you with less shame and fear
• The 10 principles Dr. Santo says genuinely move the needle on human happiness, which include more human connection and social connection.
• What prosocial behavior does to your mood, and why the helper high matters more than you might think
• How to implement each principle with specific, research-backed practices.

This episode is for you if you've ever felt like you were doing everything right and still not feeling the way you thought you would. You are allowed to slow down, listen inward, and find your way back to what helps you feel more alive.

Much love,

Laurie

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

Dr. Laurie Santos: Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab podcast

The Happiness Lab Podcast: Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Somatic Experiencing: Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, PhD — a body-based approach to healing trauma and nervous system dysregulation

Researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky: Positive psychology research on happiness and success

The Harvard Study of Adult Development: One of the longest-running studies on happiness and relationships

Dr. Kristin Neff: Self-compassion researcher at UT Austin — kristinself.com

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Have You Ever Asked Yourself, "What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?"

I've asked myself that question more times than I can count — and especially after my kids left the nest and I felt that undeniable pull to reinvent myself once I became a freebird and left my marriage.

If you're feeling that same pull right now, you are not alone.

This week, I'm joined by Patricia Noel Drain, a business mentor, author, and podcaster who has made it her mission to support midlife women who are ready for a career pivot or a bold new chapter. Patricia helps women over 50 discover their gifts, reconnect with what matters most, and create work that feels both aligned and profitable.

Her own midlife career change led her into this work — and the conversation we have is one I know so many of you need to hear.

 In this episode, we cover:

• The 7 key ingredients you need to navigate midlife reinvention or second career to find more happiness in your next chapter
• How to recognize when you need a career change at 50 — and what that moment can actually feel like in your nervous system
• The emotional signs to watch for when you sense something needs to shift in your career or life
• How Patricia's framework can bring more clarity and confidence to your season of career reinvention
• What it really looks like to build a meaningful midlife career that fits who you are now — not who you used to be
• How to approach starting over at 50 in a way that feels manageable, realistic, and even exciting
• Why this work matters deeply for women changing careers in midlife
• How to think about careers after 50 in a way that feels expansive and fully aligned with the life you want to create

Whether you're seriously considering a second act career or simply listening to the whispers telling you something needs to change — there is still so much room for you to grow, evolve, and create the life you truly desire.

This one is for every woman who has ever wondered if it's too late to start again.

Spoiler: it's not.

Cheers to finding your freedom,

Laurie

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

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Connect with Patricia Noel Drain:
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Email: [email protected]
When Passion Meets Profit Podcast

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

You can command a boardroom, lead a team, and hold your own in the world — yet the moment you step back into your family home, something shifts. Old wounds resurface. You shrink. You react. You become a version of yourself you thought you'd outgrown. This regression is a sign that your internal conflicts are tethered to a hidden social architecture designed long ago.

And…you're not broken. You're responding to a blueprint that was written long before you had any say in it.

In this episode of Confessions of a Freebird, I sit down with therapist, author, and mental health advocate Minaa B. to unpack the hidden sibling relationship dynamics that quietly run our adult relationships. If you've ever wondered why sibling rivalry and parental favoritism  doesn't just disappear in adulthood — or why certain sibling conflicts still leave your nervous system dysregulated days later — this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why family systems are the primary containers that shape our lifelong attachment patterns.
• How to foster emotional attunement to understand your needs within difficult relationships.
• How parental favoritism and triangulation fuel chronic sibling conflict — and what to do about it
• The role of emotionally immature parents in fracturing sibling bonds and your sense of belonging
• How to decode your personal sibling blueprint and create relational safety — even with difficult family members
• The ways an emotionally immature parent can fuel sibling rivalry through triangulation.
• Improving your social skills by joining supportive community groups to practice active listening.
• The power of culture shifters who are willing to break generational dysfunction
• Why understanding the narcissistic spectrum can help you depersonalize a sibling's harmful behavior.
• How emotional reciprocity and horizontal relationships build the secure, balanced connections we all deserve

Whether you're healing from sibling parentification, working through emotional neglect, navigating blended family dynamics, or doing deeper generational trauma work — Minaa offers a compassionate, practical roadmap toward secure attachment in adulthood.

Much love,

Laurie

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

When midlife hits and your body changes and getting dressed can suddenly feel frustrating. Waistlines shift. Fabrics fit differently. Pieces that once felt effortless now feel off.

But here’s the truth: style in midlife doesn’t have to feel confusing and it definitely doesn’t have to feel defeating.

In this episode of Confessions of a Freebird, I’m joined by personal stylist and conscious fashion expert Renée Lara, who has over 20 years of experience helping women align their wardrobe with their values, lifestyle, and evolving bodies.

Renée’s path is anything but ordinary, from studying nursing to psychology, to a life-changing encounter with Mother Teresa, to ultimately following her calling into sustainable, soulful fashion. Her approach blends practicality, emotional well-being, and conscious consumption, especially for women navigating menopause and midlife transitions.

We talk about why fashion for women over 50 isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling supported, expressing who you are now, and choosing clothing that honors both your body and the planet. 

In this episode, we explore:

• Why midlife style is less about trends and more about personal alignment
• What to do when menopause body changes make it feel like nothing fits
• How you can embrace your shifting shape with confidence
• Mindset shifts to feel more at home in your clothes
• Why fabric, texture, and comfort matter more than ever, especial for gen x style
• How to build real-life Gen X outfits that work for casual or virtual days
• Compassionate style practices that support body changes without self-criticism
• The must-have pieces for a simple capsule wardrobe worth investing in for generation x fashion
• How accessories can instantly elevate your look and confidence

If you’ve been searching for fashion for women over 50, menopause fashion tips, Gen X style inspiration and a simple capsule wardrobe for midlife then this episode is your invitation to accept who you are now — and to get dressed with more ease, clarity, and confidence.

Much love,

Laurie

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise

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Connect with Renee:
https://www.reneelarastyle.com/
https://www.instagram.com/reneelarastyle/

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Do you get a pit in your stomach when you listen to the news? Maybe your body tightens, as each headline adds to the heaviness of the collective trauma we’re living through right now?

When institutions protect powerful people instead of holding them accountable, survivors can experience secondary victimization, as the harm continues instead of being addressed. If this is something you can  relate to you, support exists and emotional safety can be rebuilt.

In this episode, I’m covering:

• The visceral impact of the Epstein files and the patriarchy of protection.
• Startling statistics on the epidemic of childhood abuse and its link to trauma recovery.
• My personal healing journey and breaking the silence around family secrets.
• How to use somatic healing to discharge trapped energy that may be stored in your body.
• Four specific somatic practices to restore nervous system regulation.
• Why finding a community of survivor support is a vital lifeline when systems fail to protect us.

This conversation is a bridge to help you move from a state of freeze into a place of empowerment. By practicing these tools and increasing your body awareness, you can signal to your nervous system that you are safe in the here and now.

You are worthy of protection, 

Laurie

Call the DOJ Script

Click here to listen to my podcast on Overwhelm 

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Do you feel like the gap between you and your partner’s sexual desire is widening?

Has managing a home, raising kids, and building a career left you feeling disconnected from your body and from sexual pleasure?

You are not broken. And you are not alone.

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Dr. Maria Sophocles, board-certified OB/GYN, founder of Women’s Healthcare of Princeton, nationally recognized menopause expert, and author of The Bedroom Gap. With over 1.2 million views on her viral TED Talk, “What Happens to Sex in Midlife,” Dr. Sophocles is leading the conversation on female sexual health, perimenopause, and closing the intimacy gap in long-term and short-term relationships.

Together, we pull back the curtain on sexual health, menopause wellness, hormone therapy, vaginal health, and the cultural silence that has left so many women believing they’ve simply “outgrown” desire. You haven’t. Midlife intimacy is possible when you understand what your body actually needs.

When you realize that menopause wellness is about restoring what your body is missing (not pushing through discomfort), you can release the guilt and choose real support.

In this episode, we explore:

• Vaginal health and vaginal estrogen: how targeted treatments restore comfort, and support long and short-term relationship intimacy
• The truth about perimenopause and heart health and how estrogen therapy may help in early menopause
• Why Viagra widened the “bedroom gap” and what couples can do about it
• Bioidentical hormone therapy and menopause relief: what’s evidence-based, what’s marketing, and what actually works
• 3 practical ways to reduce painful intercourse
• Sexual dysfunction in women: causes, solutions, and when to seek support
• What current science says about hormone therapy so you can make informed decisions
• The connection between intimacy, longevity, and overall post menopausal health

You were never meant to outgrow sexual desire, you were taught to deprioritize it.

Your physical comfort matters. Your pleasure matters. And this next chapter of life can include confidence, connection, and vibrant intimacy.

If you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, low libido, painful sex, or relationship disconnection, this conversation will give you clarity, science-backed guidance, and hope.

Tune in to reclaim your anatomy, close the bedroom gap, and embrace midlife with confidence and heart.

Much love,

Laurie

Click here to listen to Dr. Maria Sophocles first podcast interveiw

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

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Dr. Maria Sophocles

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Purchase The Bedroom Gap

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Do your children really know who you are?
Not just the mother who managed schedules, emotions, and daily life—but the woman underneath it all?

Motherhood shifts in midlife—so do we. Maybe you’re navigating an empty nest, single motherhood, or a quieter new chapter—you may find yourself asking deeper questions about identity, inner peace, and how to stay meaningfully connected to the people you love most.

In this episode of Confessions of a Freebird, I sit down with Bernadette Catalana, author of Daughter Lessons and mother of two, for a heartfelt and honest conversation about mother–daughter relationships, generational healing, and leading by example.

Together, we explore what it means to love our children with intention while staying true to ourselves. Bernadette opens up about the weight of people-pleasing, the emotional realities of single motherhood, and how she carried her own mother’s sorrow before consciously choosing to break that cycle. We talk about family dynamics and how generational healing often happens in the most ordinary moments—and why finding happiness isn’t something we arrive at, but something we practice along the way.

This conversation is for any woman in midlife who is learning how to release old roles, speak her truth, and model emotional freedom for the next generation.

In this episode, you’ll hear us explore:

• Why truth-telling is a radical act for women raised to keep the peace
• How personal growth and identity shift in midlife—especially after children grow up
• What it really means to lead by example as a mother
• How emotional healing in parents breaks generational trauma from being passed down. 
• The unseen weight of single motherhood—and why it deserves more compassion
• How family dynamics and generational patterns show up in everyday life
• Why choosing contentment over performance can deepen your relationship with your children

You are still deeply needed. Your presence still matters.
 And this season of life holds more meaning, connection, and love than you may realize.

If you’re ready to embrace this next chapter with honesty and heart, I invite you to listen in and join us for this rich, reflective conversation.

Much love,

Laurie

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Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Have you ever felt like you were doing everything “right” on your healing journey—only to find yourself right back in your old pain on your personal growth journey?

Maybe you finally found a healing modality that worked. You felt grounded, regulated, even hopeful. And then one comment, one moment of disconnection, or one unexpected ending stirred something much deeper—bringing old wounds, loneliness, or abandonment back to the surface.

In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m reintroducing myself—not just as your host, but as a woman actively in the midst of her own healing.

I share openly about my recent breakup after a 3.5-year relationship, and how it activated an abandonment wound I’ve carried since childhood. Despite years of personal growth and trauma-informed work, I realized something important: healing isn’t about finding the right tool—it’s about going deeper into the body when old patterns resurface.

That realization led me back to Somatic Experiencing and Internal Family Systems (IFS)—two practices that helped me slow down, reconnect with my body, meet my protective parts with compassion, and begin rebuilding self-trust from the inside out and tend to an old abandonment wound that I’ve carried since childhood.

Because the truth is: the only way to find joy again… is to go through the pain.

In this episode, I share how nervous system regulation became the foundation for real trauma healing and helped me shift lifelong relationship patterns—how physical symptoms pointed the way forward, and how learning to stay with sensations (instead of avoiding it) expanded my capacity to feel, grieve, and eventually experience joy again.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What  somatic healing looks like in everyday life
• Why nervous system regulation is the gateway to deeper emotional healing
• How Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work helped me relate differently to the parts that once helped me survive
• How healing childhood trauma can restore your capacity for joy.
• Why building tolerance for physical sensations is essential to trauma recovery
• How healing after divorce laid the foundation for healing after this breakup.
• What it means to fully grieve, feel, and slowly reconnect with yourself

If you’re navigating heartbreak, grief, or the confusion of feeling “set back” on your healing journey, this episode is a gentle reminder: nothing is wrong with you. Healing is not linear. Your body remembers. And your pace matters.

Much love,

Laurie

Click here to fill out my Podcast survey for 2026.

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

Free Resources

Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

What if the patterns you keep repeating aren’t flaws or bad habits, but survival strategies your body learned long ago?

In this episode, I sit down with Riana Malia, a certified Neuro-Somatic practitioner whose work focuses on healing generational trauma through the unconscious mind, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed care.

Riana shares her powerful personal story of betrayal, loss, and the promise she made to her daughter, that the cycle of trauma would end with her. Together, we explore how the body holds experiences the mind can’t always explain, and how unhealed childhood wounds can quietly shape our relationships, choices, and sense of self well into adulthood.

We talk about why emotional regulation is the foundation of real change, how trauma responses often disguise themselves as personality traits or self-sabotage, and how Riana used quantum healing to shift lifelong pain, without having to relive every traumatic moment.

You’ll learn:

• Why certain relationship patterns keep repeating, even when you “know better”
• How trauma responses can disguise themselves as personality traits or self-sabotage 
• What somatic tools actually look like in everyday life, especially when things feel overwhelming
• The difference between emotional awareness and true embodied healing
• Why forgiveness is about reclaiming yourself, not excusing harm.
• What a practical, sustainable healing journey can look like after decades of stored trauma.
• How trauma-informed personal growth gives your nervous system a new story to follow
• How understanding your body creates emotional safety and resilience

If you’re carrying pain you can’t quite name, or if healing has felt confusing or out of reach, this episode offers a gentler, more embodied way forward.

Your body already knows the way. It just needs your attention, patience, and care.

Much love,

Laurie

Click here to fill out my Podcast survey for 2026.

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

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Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.

Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

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Connect with Riana Malia

https://rianamalia.com/

Click here to take Riana’s E.L.I. Assessment

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Do you notice the same patterns repeating in your life?
What if those patterns weren’t random but part of your astrological blueprint, offering guidance for your healing journey? 

In this light, New Year episode, I sit down with Remy Ramirez—astrologer, mental health coach, and host of the Patrauma Party podcast—for a grounded and expansive conversation on using astrology as a tool for self-awareness, emotional healing, and inner work.

We explore what’s ahead in 2026 astrology, including the rare Saturn–Neptune conjunction, and how this potent alignment may signal both a collective energetic shift and a deeply personal invitation to change and do the inner work. Rather than predicting fate, we discuss how astrology can help you understand your nervous system patterns, emotional responses, and subconscious themes—so you can move forward with greater clarity and compassion.

Remy also shares how receiving her own birth chart reading illuminated the roots of long-held wounds, softened her relationship with herself, and opened the door to lasting emotional healing. If you’ve been navigating self-love, energetic boundaries, or a season of transition, this episode offers insight, reassurance, and gentle encouragement.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the 2026 Saturn–Neptune conjunction may bring collectively and personally
• How astrology mirrors nervous system responses and emotional patterns
• Why somatic healing and subconscious work pair powerfully with astrology
• How astrology supports spiritual healing and growth
• The connection between your moon sign and mental health
• How your birth chart reveals emotional patterns
• The healing power of naming and understanding recurring patterns
• How to work intentionally with full moon and new moon energy
• Why astrology predictions are about awareness—not destiny
• The role of self-respect in healing and relationships
• How astrology can guide both your subconscious work and next steps with clarity

Whether you’re in a season of reflection, transition, or spiritual awakening, this conversation offers a reminder: healing doesn’t happen all at once. As you learn to trust yourself—and the divine timing of your path, clarity unfolds naturally.

Much love,

Laurie

Laurie’s episode on Patrauma Party with Remy Ramirez

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Free Resources

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Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”

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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.