Therapist and podcast host Malisa Hepner sits down with holistic transformation guide Christine Ruch to explore how grief and trauma impact the nervous system and emotional regulation. Together they discuss why dysregulation happens, how self-trust is rebuilt after loss, and how grief can become a powerful portal for personal growth. This conversation offers compassionate insights into healing, nervous system awareness, and developing a new relationship with your emotions.

When grief or trauma overwhelms your nervous system, pause and ask yourself: "What does my body need to feel safe right now?" Instead of forcing yourself to "move on," practice small moments of regulation—slow breathing, grounding in your surroundings, or naming the emotion you're experiencing. Healing begins when you respond to your nervous system with compassion rather than pressure.

Christine's links: Website, Insta, substack

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

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• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Jen Taylor Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=letters+to+myself+jen+taylor&crid=1AXVYUSWBVNKS&sprefix=letters+to+myself%2Caps%2C394&ref=nb_sb_ss_saint-en-refocus-candidate_1_17

https://www.instagram.com/jentay1231/

[email protected]

Therapist and host, Malisa Hepner, sits down again with Cheryl Stelte,spiritual coach, master healer & author, explore the sacred connection between breath, spirit, and healing, to explore chakra readings, intention setting, and the deep work of personal and collective healing. Together, they unpack how to release old patterns, navigate grief, and surrender to life's transitions with trust. This conversation weaves together spirituality, leadership, and emotional healing, offering insight into how vulnerability and authenticity create true transformation. Cheryl also shares a practical surrender practice to help you find peace and reconnect to yourself.

Notice where you are gripping for control. Ask yourself: What am I afraid will happen if I let this go? Then practice a small act of surrender—release the need to fix, prove, or control, and instead allow yourself to be present with what is. Healing often begins when we stop resisting our experience.

Cheryl's links: Meditations, website, Insta, Youtube

Links for Cheryl's last visit on Emotionally Unavailable: Spotify, Apple

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Jen Taylor Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=letters+to+myself+jen+taylor&crid=1AXVYUSWBVNKS&sprefix=letters+to+myself%2Caps%2C394&ref=nb_sb_ss_saint-en-refocus-candidate_1_17

https://www.instagram.com/jentay1231/

[email protected]

Therapist and host, Malisa Hepner, sits down with psychotherapist, yoga psychology and philosophy teacher, author, and mystic Catia Batalha to explore the journey from emotional disconnection to embodied love. Together, they unpack how early family dynamics shape emotional awareness, the role of love languages in relationships, and how intentional living can create deeper connection.

Catia shares insights on chakra work, energy dynamics, and how understanding your internal landscape can lead to greater self-awareness, empowerment, and emotional healing. This conversation offers a grounded and expansive look at how to navigate relationships, reconnect to yourself, and move through life with more presence, clarity, and love.

You don't have to fix your whole life to feel more connected — you just have to become aware of your energy.

Today, notice:

• Where you feel open vs. guarded in your body

• What drains your energy vs. what restores it

• How you give and receive love in small moments

Then ask yourself:

"What would it look like to respond from awareness instead of habit?"

Connection doesn't start with someone else.

It starts with how gently you come back to yourself.

Catia's links: Website (& Book), Insta, Youtube

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Contact Jen Taylor: [email protected]

Jen Taylor Books, Insta

In this conversation, therapist and host Malisa Hepner, and Kamini Wood, mom, trauma informed coach, speaker and podcast host, explore the realities of modern parenting through the lens of emotional intelligence, communication, and self-awareness. They unpack how perfectionism, past experiences, and family dynamics shape the way we show up for our children, and why connection—not control—is the foundation of healthy parenting.

Together, they discuss the importance of validating children's emotions while still holding clear, compassionate boundaries, and how parents can model emotional regulation rather than expect it. Kamini shares insights on building trust, navigating relationships with teachers and peers, and creating an environment where children feel safe to express themselves.

This episode also highlights the power of repair—showing that parenting isn't about getting it right all the time, but about returning, reconnecting, and growing alongside your child.

When your child is dysregulated, pause before correcting the behavior and focus on connection first.

Validation doesn't mean you agree—it means your child feels seen. From there, you can set boundaries and guide behavior without losing connection.

Parenting isn't about being perfect—it's about being present, repairing when needed, and modeling the emotional safety you want your child to learn.

Kamini's links: Website, Insta, Podcast

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Contact Jen Taylor: [email protected]

Jen Taylor Books, Insta

In this deeply reflective conversation, therapist and host Malisa Hepner sits down with Julie Cyvonne, a former attorney turned high-performance psychedelic coach, to explore the transformative intersections of grief, personal evolution, and plant medicine. Julie shares her journey of leaving a traditional career path to pursue deeper healing, offering insight into how psychedelics—particularly microdosing—can support emotional regulation, clarity, and sustainable growth.

Together, they unpack the nuanced experience of grief, the longing to feel seen in our pain, and the courage it takes to become emotionally visible. This conversation moves beyond surface-level healing, emphasizing the importance of integration, self-awareness, and navigating relationships with honesty and intention.

Through personal stories and grounded insight, this episode invites listeners into a deeper understanding of self-discovery, acceptance, and the ongoing process of becoming who we truly are—even in the aftermath of loss.

• Integration matters more than the experience. Whether using plant medicine or not, true healing happens in how you process, embody, and apply what you uncover.

• Emotional visibility is a practice. Being seen starts with allowing yourself to acknowledge what's true internally.

• Microdosing is not an escape—it's a tool. Sustainable growth comes from pairing insight with intentional daily practices.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Julie's Links: Should I Microdose - Quiz, Website, Insta

Contact Jen Taylor: [email protected]

Jen Taylor Books

Insta

In this honest and emotionally grounded conversation, therapist and host Malisa Hepner sits down again with Holli Howard, trauma-informed life coach, gentle guide, and founder of Positive Living Coaching, to explore the layered experience of grief, anger, and personal growth. Together, they unpack the role of vulnerability, the weight of the labels we carry, and how our inner narratives shape our emotional reality.

Malisa and Holli discuss the neuroscience behind habit formation, the impact of expectations on our well-being, and why self-compassion is essential when navigating grief and change. This conversation is a reminder that healing isn't about perfection—it's about awareness, softness, and learning how to meet yourself where you are.

Pay attention to one label you've given yourself (e.g., "I'm too emotional," "I'm not strong enough"). Gently question it: "Is this a fact, or is this a story I learned?"

Holli's Links: Website, Insta

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Spotify link for Holli's last visit on Emotionally Unavailable

Apple link for Holli's last visit on Emotionally Unavailable

Contact Jen Taylor: [email protected]

Jen Taylor Books

Jen Taylor Insta

Therapist and host, Malisa Hepner, and John Borden, Author, Ultramarathon runner, psychonaut, visionary, explore the complex intersection of psychedelics, trauma healing, and personal transformation. In this deeply reflective conversation, they discuss the importance of intention and guidance when working with altered states, the role of shame in shaping our internal world, and the courage it takes to confront unresolved pain.

Together, they examine how personal loss and grief can become catalysts for deeper self-awareness, and how mindset influences the way we experience both suffering and healing. This episode invites listeners to consider what it means to show up authentically in relationships, to release self-judgment, and to cultivate a deeper sense of self-love. Ultimately, it is a conversation about remembering who you are beneath the noise—and allowing that truth to guide your healing journey.

Actionable Takeaway:

Create a moment of intentional self-connection this week:

Ask yourself, "What am I avoiding feeling right now?"

Instead of trying to fix or analyze it, sit with the feeling for a few minutes.

Place a hand on your body, breathe, and remind yourself: "I can be with this."

Healing doesn't come from escaping discomfort—it comes from learning how to safely stay.

John's Website, Insta, youtube

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Contact Jen Taylor: [email protected]

Jen Taylor Books

Jen Taylor Insta

Therapist and host, Malisa Hepner, shares her lived experience of navigating grief after the loss of her son, Jake. She opens up about the waves of isolation, the disorienting nature of loss, and the quiet ways grief can reshape identity, connection, and daily life.

Malisa explores the challenge of asking for support while grieving, the importance of being seen and held by others, and how community can become a lifeline in moments of profound pain. She reflects on her evolving spiritual beliefs, the complexity of finding meaning after loss, and the tension between carrying deep sorrow while still allowing moments of joy.

This conversation offers an honest and compassionate look at grief—not as something to fix, but as something to be lived with—while gently guiding listeners toward connection, self-compassion, and intentional living.

Grief can make it incredibly hard to know what you need—let alone ask for it. But you deserve support that actually meets you where you are. If you don't know what to say, you can borrow these:

1. Ask for practical help

• "I'm overwhelmed—could you help me with groceries / a meal / a small task?"

2. Ask to not be rushed

• "I'm not trying to 'move on'—I'm learning to live with this."

3. Ask for grounding connection

• "Can we do something normal together? I need a break from the heaviness."

Ask even when it feels hard. You are not "too much." Your needs are not a burden. Asking is not weakness—it's how we stay connected when grief tries to isolate us.

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Jen Taylor Books:

Jen Taylor Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jentay1231/

Contact Jen Taylor [email protected]

Therapist and host Malisa Hepner sits down with Keegan Read, host of the Retrieving Sanity podcast, for an honest conversation about trauma, health, and emotional recovery.

Keegan shares his journey through childhood emotional abuse, family dynamics, autoimmune disease, substance use, and the long road toward self-discovery. Together, they explore how unresolved trauma impacts the body, how internalized beliefs shape identity, and why expressing emotion is essential for healing.

This episode unpacks:

• The mind-body connection in trauma recovery

• How emotional suppression can manifest physically

• The impact of family systems and shame

• Breaking free from internalized narratives

• The role of authenticity and storytelling in healing

• Practical tools for emotional awareness and self-care

If you've ever questioned how your past is affecting your body, your relationships, or your sense of self, this conversation offers grounded insight and hope.

Healing begins when we stop hiding from what hurts — and start listening to what it's trying to teach us.

Keegan's Links: Website, Spotify, Youtube

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Contact Jen Taylor: [email protected]

Jen Taylor Insta

Jen Taylor Books

In this powerful conversation, therapist and podcast host Malisa Hepner sits down with Angel Howard, Certified Somatic Therapist, Executive Coach, and inspirational speaker, to explore how somatic healing and movement can transform trauma. Angel shares her personal journey of resilience, uncovering family secrets, and using dance as a pathway to healing. Together, they discuss the role of the body in emotional expression, the importance of authenticity, and how movement supports nervous system regulation, communication, and personal growth.

Choose one small way to let your body speak this week. Instead of processing everything through words, set a timer for five minutes and move however your body wants—stretching, swaying, shaking, or dancing. Notice what emotions surface without trying to interpret or fix them. Healing doesn't always begin in the mind; sometimes it starts by giving the body permission to lead.

Angel's Website

Subscribe to Emotionally Unavailable's Patreon!

• $3-Become a friend of the show and support its mission

• $5-Ad free episodes

• $10-Benefits listed above and free access to monthly workbook

• $30- In addition to the above benefits, you can receive recurring ad space on episodes posted outside of Patreon. (Perfect for single owner/operator small business looking for low budget ad space)

https://patreon.com/Emotionallyunavailablepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Want to be a guest on Emotionally Unavailable? Send Malisa Hepner a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1739504718415772259d92bc1

https://linktr.ee/Mdhepner

Contact Jen Taylor: [email protected]

Jen Taylor Insta

Jen Taylor Books