Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered-

By Dr. Jen & Dr. MelAlternative Health Health & Fitness

Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered- episodes

October 08Finding Your Voice After Years of People-Pleasing—with Sharon Costianes
Episode 70: Finding Your Voice After Years of People-Pleasing—with Sharon Costianes
In this conversation, Dr. Jen and Dr. Mel talk with Sharon Costianes, GCFP, founder of Resonant Knowing, about how movement, voice, and nervous system regulation shape the way we heal, express ourselves, and build safety in our bodies. They explore why chronic pain, people pleasing, and emotional suppression often show up as physical patterns and how small, intentional movement can help interrupt them. Sharon shares practical insight from Feldenkrais work, somatic education, and trauma informed coaching, including a live example of how subtle movement shifts can change posture, reduce tension, and support new patterns of safety.

Key topics
In this episode, Sharon explains her background as a guild certified Feldenkrais practitioner, trauma informed somatic voice coach, and founder of Resonant Knowing.
The conversation centers on the gap between knowing what you need and actually being able to express it, especially for women used to carrying everyone else’s needs.
Sharon breaks down how habit patterns in the nervous system can contribute to chronic pain, shoulder tension, low back pain, and asymmetry.
She explains Feldenkrais as a method that uses tiny, verbally guided movement lessons to help the nervous system relearn more efficient patterns.
The hosts discuss how safety, consent, and pacing are essential in any body based work.
Sharon describes why results can happen quickly, even though the movements are small, because the brain and body respond to new information fast.
A live demo shows how a simple cross body movement pattern can reduce tension and shift the organization of the shoulder, neck, and eye.
The episode digs into people pleasing as both a thought habit and a physical pattern that lives in the body.
Sharon explains the stress cycle, including fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, and why completing activation matters instead of just calming down.
They discuss how women often suppress emotion, interrupt stress responses, and lose access to what safety feels like.
Sharon shares her own daily regulation routine, including meditation, movement, Feldenkrais practice, and phone reminders to check in with her body.
The episode closes with a reflection on coming home to yourself as a core part of healing.

Timestamps
00:00 - Why speaking up feels hard even when you know what you need
00:30 - Sharon Costianes and the work of Resonant Knowing
03:19 - How neuroidentity, habits, and body patterns overlap
04:22 - Why early movement patterns can shape adult pain
07:19 - What a Feldenkrais session actually looks like
09:02 - Using touch and movement to reveal hidden tension patterns
10:35 - Safety, consent, and why small movements matter
12:53 - How quickly the nervous system can change
13:23 - Sharon’s own low back pain breakthrough
15:09 - Why new movement patterns don’t always stick outside the session
16:46 - Working with children and when intervention matters
17:32 - Why typically developing kids are often best left alone
21:45 - What somatic therapy means in practice
22:27 - Somatic education for pain relief and performance
23:43 - How body patterns connect to mindset and self talk
25:25 - People pleasing as a learned pattern in body and mind
26:48 - A live example of a people pleasing body pattern
28:32 - Using crossed movement to shift tension and posture
31:11 - What to do before a hard conversation
32:20 - Regulating the nervous system in a way that fits you
33:33 - How to build a felt sense of safety
35:59 - Why regulation is not the same as calming down
39:35 - What the stress cycle is and why it matters
40:19 - Fight or flight, threat response, and body chemistry
42:13 - How movement helps complete the cycle
43:27 - Why unprocessed stress can show up as chronic illness
44:07 - Sharon’s personal nervous system support routine
46:28 - Why caregivers need regulation too
47:28 - Learning safety through relationship and presence
49:16 - Sharon’s upcoming Homecoming workshop

Connect with the Hosts & Guests!
📱Sharon Costianes | Founder, Resonant Knowing LLC
[email protected] | www.resonantknowing.com

Direct link for Sharon's Homecoming

📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
52 min
October 01Yo, Yo, Yo! It’s the brain!
Episode 69: Yo, Yo, Yo! It’s the brain!

Dr. Jen and Dr. Mel unpack how the words you use about your body, symptoms, and future can shape what your nervous system predicts and how your body responds. This episode turns a vague idea like “positive thinking” into something more useful: noticing the stories you repeat, especially when pain, stress, or fear are involved.They also keep it grounded. This is not about toxic positivity or pretending symptoms are not real. It is about awareness, curiosity, and learning how to interrupt unhelpful loops without gaslighting yourself.

Key topics
How language and internal self-talk influence health, especially through the nervous system.
Why the brain is constantly predicting and interpreting sensations, not simply reacting to them.
How common identity statements like “my body is failing me,” “I always get sick,” “I can’t handle stress,” and “my back is terrible” can reinforce threat.
How meaning can change the body’s response—for example, interpreting a racing heart as danger versus nervous system activation after poor sleep.
The connection between chronic pain, perceived threat, fear, and pain reprocessing therapy.
Why this approach does not dismiss real symptoms or replace medical evaluation and care.
How to become a non-judgmental observer: notice a thought without immediately believing it or forcing a fake affirmation.
Why replacing a thought with something you do not believe can feel like avoidance.
How to use language that feels true but leaves room for change, such as adding “yet” or asking whether a belief is happening now or is only a prediction.
Practical ways to interrupt rumination, including singing a song in your head, shifting attention, and reconnecting with the body through movement and dance.

Timestamps
(0:00) Opening the conversation around language, health, and the brain
(1:19) The body hears the stories you tell about symptoms
(2:45) Family language, inherited beliefs, and “my body is failing me”
(3:35) Thoughts are opinions, not facts
(4:10) The brain as a prediction-making machine
(5:00) Same sensation, different interpretation, different response
(5:26) Threat signals, cortisol, adrenaline, and stress physiology
(6:23) Why “I’m healthy” can become hollow toxic positivity
(7:42) Becoming the non-judgmental observer
(8:46) Why silence and presence can feel uncomfortable
(9:44) Chronic pain, neuroplasticity, and pain reprocessing therapy
(10:14) What the brain believes a sensation means
(11:41) When pain is severe, care first, curiosity later
(12:31) Changing perceived threat can change pain experience
(13:33) The environment you create inside yourself matters
(14:04) Not gaslighting real disease or structural issues
(14:58) A seven-day practice: investigate your language
(15:22) Why fake affirmations do not work
(16:31) A real-life example of reprogramming a belief about productivity and fun
(17:52) “Hmm, that’s interesting” as a better first response
(18:51) Using “yet” to keep the door open for change
(19:23) Repeating a new pathway until it strengthens
(20:05) Avoiding hypervigilance and thought policing
(21:06) Thoughts are options, not facts
(21:58) Observing the language other people use
(22:33) The “bitches in my head” and using songs to interrupt rumination
(23:30) Replacing spirals with a song to reset the nervous system
(24:27) Get curious, create space, and get back into your body

Connect with the Hosts!
📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
27 min
September 24Protein Isn’t Just for Gym People
Episode 68: Protein Isn’t Just for Gym People
In this episode, Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel break down why protein is not just a gym nutrient, especially for women in midlife. They explain how protein supports muscle, hormones, immunity, digestion, and healthy aging, and why many people need to be more intentional about getting enough. The conversation is practical, honest, and specific to perimenopause and aging bodies. It also covers common concerns like meat aversion, digestion issues, kidney myths, and how to increase protein without overwhelming your system.

Key topics
Protein is for everyone, not just athletes or bodybuilders
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and 9 are essential from food
Protein supports muscle, skin, hair, nails, connective tissue, and organs
It helps produce enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and immune cells
Midlife women may need more protein because estrogen changes affect muscle, recovery, sleep, and insulin sensitivity
Older muscles may need a stronger protein signal due to anabolic resistance
Protein needs to be paired with resistance training when possible
Many people under-eat protein at breakfast and spread too little across the day
Not all protein sources digest the same, and fat content can affect symptoms
Kidney and liver fears are often overstated for people with healthy organs

Timestamps
00:00 - Why protein matters for women who do not work out
01:25 - Protein is a basic body material, not just a gym supplement
03:18 - What protein is made of: amino acids and essential amino acids
04:16 - Complete proteins and how plant proteins can still work
05:37 - What protein actually does beyond building muscle
07:03 - Protein’s role in enzymes, energy, DNA repair, and hormones
08:31 - Neurotransmitters, immune function, and why illness increases needs
10:24 - Why inactivity does not make protein less important
11:50 - GLP-1s, muscle loss, and the need to protect lean tissue
13:16 - Anabolic resistance and why midlife bodies need stronger signals
14:42 - Why many protein bars are not enough on their own
15:39 - Finding protein that actually tastes good and fits your body
18:00 - Perimenopause, hormones, bone health, and aging well
20:49 - Why restrictive eating can backfire in midlife
22:15 - Protein intake targets for midlife women
24:40 - Why most meals need more than a token amount of protein
25:59 - Digestive support for high protein meals
27:24 - When meat aversion is real versus when the food itself is the issue
31:05 - Alpha Gal syndrome and true meat reactions
32:22 - How to eat in a way that supports digestion
35:18 - Using digestive aids and alternative protein sources
38:41 - Protein myths about kidneys and liver
42:22 - How to increase protein gradually without overwhelming digestion
45:09 - Small resistance training plus enough protein for long-term health
46:08 - Final takeaway: protein supports nearly every system in the body

Notable quotes
“Protein is not a luxury nutrient.”
“The better question is am I giving my body enough material to maintain itself?”
“Protein is not just for athletes.”
💪 Give your protein routine a boost with Equip! We’re excited to share our Health In Motion discount with you.
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Equip Foods Discount link!

Connect with the Hosts!
📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
48 min
September 17Your Subconscious Mind Is Running More Of Your Health Than You Think
Episode 67: Your Subconscious Mind Is Running More Of Your Health Than You Think
In this episode, Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel unpack how subconscious patterns shape health, behavior, stress, and even physical symptoms. Using a real life scare as a vivid example, we explain why awareness matters more than self blame when you keep repeating the same reactions. We discuss how the brain builds automatic protective programs early in life, why change can feel threatening even when it is good for you, and how observing your patterns without judgment can help you start to shift them.

Key topics
Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel open with a real time example of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn style responses after a frightening car accident at their office
The subconscious mind is defined as the processes happening outside immediate awareness, including habits, beliefs, emotional reactions, and learned associations
Many repeated behaviors like people pleasing, overworking, hypervigilance, suppressing emotions, and feeling responsible for everyone else can become automatic
Past experiences, childhood conditioning, and even family dynamics shape what the nervous system learns is safe
The brain prefers predictability, even when the predictable option is harmful or outdated
Positive change can still feel dangerous if it threatens identity, control, or familiar coping patterns
Emotional suppression is connected to physical tension, stress, and symptoms, especially when feelings never complete their cycle
Awareness without judgment is emphasized as the first step toward change
A practical reflection exercise is offered: identify what you consciously want, then ask what your nervous system fears would happen if you got it
Dr. Jen encourages listeners to revisit their younger self with compassion instead of criticism

Timestamps
(00:00) Opening with a scary office incident and stress response
(02:02) Why subconscious patterns affect health and behavior
(03:22) The problem with self blame and feeling stuck
(04:48) Healing starts with noticing automatic patterns
(07:11) Defining the subconscious mind
(08:36) Conditioning, habits, and learned emotional responses
(10:00) How automatic behaviors form through repetition
(11:52) The subconscious as a protector, not an enemy
(12:50) Common beliefs that drive overcontrol and overfunctioning
(13:50) Why positive change can trigger fear
(15:39) Why the brain prefers the devil you know
(16:39) Childhood programming and inherited beliefs
(18:09) How beliefs about stress, fragility, and responsibility shape choices
(19:36) Replaying conversations in your head as a protection mechanism
(21:30) Exercise, pain, and conditioned danger responses
(22:59) Suppressed anger and the health cost of not feeling
(24:29) How families train children to avoid big feelings
(26:39) Emotions as energy in motion
(27:34) Helping a child complete an emotional loop
(28:59) Tracking emotional recovery and heart rate variability
(30:47) Why attention and interoception matter in healing
(32:12) Observing pain without forcing positivity
(33:36) A reflection exercise for uncovering subconscious beliefs
(35:30) Mindset, nervous system safety, and whole person healing
(36:58) Morning fight or flight and the shift to nonjudgmental awareness
(38:22) Returning compassion to the younger self

Action items
Pick one area where you feel stuck
Finish this sentence: I consciously want
Then ask: what might my nervous system believe could happen if I actually got that
Write down the fear without judging it
Practice observing your reactions before trying to fix them
Notice where your body feels tension, shutdown, or urgency during the day
Offer compassion to the younger version of yourself that learned the pattern

Connect with the Hosts!
📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
41 min
September 10You Moved On. Did your nervous system? with Special Guest Ginger Steadwell-Smith
Episode 66: You Moved On. Did your nervous system? with Special Guest Ginger Steadwell-Smith

Dr. Mel & Dr. Jen welcome Ginger Steadwell-Smith, a board-certified family nurse practitioner with 20 years in conventional medicine, including cardiology, ICU, hospital medicine, and specialty units. Ginger shares how her experience with patients who had unresolved symptoms pushed her toward functional medicine, NET, and a more whole-body approach to healing. This conversation focuses on the gap between crisis care and long-term healing, plus how neuroemotional technique can help identify and clear stress patterns that may be driving symptoms, pain, and emotional strain.

Key topics
Ginger shares how 20 years in conventional medicine, especially cardiology, showed her the limits of a model built for crisis care
In this episode, she explains why patients with brain fog, unexplained symptoms, and negative workups often fall through the cracks
She discusses the difference between conventional medicine and holistic or functional medicine, and why she believes both have a place
Ginger describes the resistance she faced from colleagues when she left cardiology to pursue functional medicine
We discuss how expectations for primary care, specialty care, and functional providers are often mismatched
Ginger explains what NET is, how she first encountered it, and why she calls it a stress reduction technique
She breaks down neuroemotional complexes, or NECs, as the combination of a trigger and the body’s physical stress response
Ginger walks through how NET uses muscle testing, meridian-based assessment, and the nervous system to identify stress patterns
She shares how unresolved stress can remain stored in the body from childhood or trauma and continue influencing adult health
Ginger references studies connecting NET with changes in pain, inflammation, and PTSD-related symptoms
The conversation also covers practical access, including telehealth in Indiana and Florida and how to find an NET practitioner

Timestamps
00:00 - Ginger’s background in cardiology, ICU, and hospital medicine
01:26 - Why unresolved symptoms led her toward functional medicine
02:33 - Faith, purpose, and the shift into a broader view of healing
05:01 - Leaving cardiology and stepping into holistic medicine
06:28 - Facing skepticism from conventional colleagues
07:45 - Why conventional and holistic medicine both matter
09:26 - The frustration caused by mismatched patient expectations
11:12 - Conventional medicine as crisis care, not long-term treatment
12:45 - Why PCPs usually cannot do functional medicine work
14:51 - How Ginger was introduced to NET
16:39 - Her first NET session and what it felt like emotionally
18:50 - Why NET can release emotion without reliving the whole trauma
20:59 - What happens in a NET session
21:57 - Defining neuroemotional complexes
23:17 - How muscle testing reflects the stress response
25:57 - Meridian points, emotions, and how NET finds the stressor
27:18 - How unresolved stress gets stored in the nervous system
29:39 - Whether NET can help with chronic PTSD patterns
30:09 - Functional MRI research on PTSD and NET
32:43 - A real-life case where grief showed up as hip pain relief
35:02 - Studies on chronic back pain, inflammation, and NET
36:22 - Chronic pelvic pain research and emotion processing
38:41 - Who can work with Ginger and how to find an NET practitioner
39:37 - In-person vs virtual NET sessions
40:54 - Closing thoughts and takeaways

📱 Ginger Steadwell-Smith FNP-C, FMACP, NET Certified Practitioner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerFM/
Instagram: ginger.functional.medicine
TikTok: @ginger.functional

📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel

Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
43 min
September 03Soberish Sips: Tasting Non Alcoholic Drinks and Reframing the Ritual
Episode 65: Soberish Sips: Tasting Non Alcoholic Drinks and Reframing the Ritual
Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel talk through a lively tasting of non alcoholic drinks, comparing what actually tastes good, what burns going down, and which options feel like a real treat. The conversation also gets into why both speakers have been cutting back on alcohol, especially around brain health, sleep, HRV, and feeling better day to day. In this episode, the Docs share a practical, funny look at soberish living without pretending it is all or nothing. The takeaway is that you can keep the ritual and celebration while changing what is in the glass.
Key topics
Dr. Jen and Dr. Mel taste and rate several non alcoholic drinks, starting with Aplos Umi, which gets the highest score
They compare hop waters from Lagunitas, Partake Brewing, and Hoppy Hour, noting that some feel crisp and fruity while others are just too bubbly or too plain
They discuss why Aplos feels more like a special occasion drink, especially when served in a nice glass with fruit or a cinnamon stick
The conversation covers why both speakers have cut back on alcohol, including feeling horrible after drinking, protecting brain health, and wanting better sleep
They talk about how alcohol affects HRV, anxiety, irritability, migraines, cravings, and next-day energy
Dating comes up as a real-life challenge, especially when alcohol used to be part of first dates and social looseness
They compare soberish choices with THC edibles and psychedelics, and why unpredictability is a dealbreaker for planners and parents
The episode closes with the idea that less drinking does not mean less fun, just a different ritual
Listeners are encouraged to try a new non alcoholic drink and share what actually tastes good
Timestamps
00:00 - Soberish tasting session begins with Aplos and the search for good non alcoholic drinks
00:55 - Why most non alcoholic wines have been disappointing
02:06 - The white tea, grapefruit, and herbal notes in Aplos Umi
03:30 - First hop water taste test with Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
05:47 - Why alcohol feels worse now and the decision to protect brain health
06:47 - When occasional drinking still feels worth it for a special moment
08:40 - Looking back at old drinking habits with a different perspective
09:54 - The cultural shift toward sobriety and why this episode is not about addiction treatment
11:15 - Dating without defaulting to alcohol as the social buffer
13:08 - Testing Partake Brewing Hop Twist and why it ranks low
15:12 - How alcohol hits HRV, sleep, anxiety, and cravings
17:36 - Tasting Hoppy Hour mango peach and comparing hop waters
19:20 - Why non alcoholic drinks feel fancy when served well
21:47 - Interest in non alcoholic tequila and more complex mocktail options
23:06 - Why THC and edibles feel too unpredictable for a parent and planner
24:26 - Mud Water, Ticino, and the limits of coffee alternatives
25:24 - What makes non alcoholic wine so unsatisfying for both speakers
26:21 - The biggest takeaway: keep the ritual, change the drink
27:21 - Why clear mind, sleep, and workouts matter more with perimenopause, MS, and parenting

Connect with the Hosts!

📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
29 min
August 27The Boundary Is What You Do Next
Episode 64: The Boundary Is What You Do Next
In this episode of Gut Feelings Life Unfiltered, Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel unpack the real meaning of boundaries and why they’re so hard for people pleasers, perfectionists, and anyone who learned to stay agreeable to stay safe. The conversation focuses on the difference between a request, a boundary, and an ultimatum, plus how nervous system dysregulation, codependency, and overexplaining can keep people stuck.

Key topics
The core boundary definition: a limit that protects your physical, emotional, relational, financial, sexual, or energetic well-being
Why a boundary is not what someone else is told not to do, but what you will do if a line is crossed
How people pleasing and perfectionism make boundaries feel threatening, especially for women trained to maintain connection by being agreeable
Why boundaries often trigger nervous system shutdown, freeze, and self-abandonment
The difference between a request, a boundary, and an ultimatum
Why follow-through matters more than the announcement of the boundary itself
How overexplaining turns a simple no into a negotiation and gives unsafe people more room to push back
Why your feelings, choices, and consequences belong to you, while other adults are responsible for their own emotional reactions
How childhood modeling shapes boundary behavior, especially when adults around us did not set or respect them
Why healthy boundaries can actually improve relationships by creating clarity, self-trust, and consistency

Timestamps
00:00 - Why boundaries are so misunderstood
04:02 - Freezing, gaslighting, and nervous system shutdown
06:57 - A retreat example of saying no and holding the line
08:45 - What a boundary really is
11:57 - Request vs boundary vs ultimatum
16:16 - A boundary is not punishment
20:35 - Consequences as follow-through, not revenge
22:26 - How overexplaining weakens your no
26:44 - When explaining helps and when it becomes anxiety
31:58 - Why you are not responsible for managing other adults' feelings
39:39 - Responsibility and blame are not the same thing
42:42 - The simple boundary formula: when this happens, I will do this
44:24 - The main takeaway: stop abandoning yourself

Connect with the Hosts!

📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
50 min
August 25You Don’t Have to Nearly Lose Your Life to Start Choosing It with special guest Abby Brassfield
Episode 63: You Don’t Have to Nearly Lose Your Life to Start Choosing It

In this episode Dr. Jen opens with a personal update about the loss of her dog, a grief-filled reminder that healing often requires stepping back. The episode then shifts into an interview with Abby Brassfield, who shares the story of her sudden flu complication, 75 days in ICU, a medically induced coma, and the long process of rebuilding her body, nervous system, and sense of self.We discuss what it means to survive something life-altering and then return to a life that no longer fits the old version of you. Abby also shares how faith, community, breath work, therapy, and daily self-advocacy helped her recover and eventually build a new path as a CrossFit coach and consultant.

Key topics
Jenette and her co-host reflect on the grief of losing a beloved dog and the specific, non-transferable love that comes with that kind of bond
Abby Brassfield introduces herself as a wife, mother of three boys, athlete, nature lover, writer, speaker, coach, and founder of On the Horizon Consulting
Abby describes life before illness as busy, stressed, boundary less, and operating in a constant low-grade fight-or-flight state
She explains how grief, winter illness, and burnout seemed to set the stage for a flu infection that rapidly turned into necrotizing pneumonia
Abby shares the emergency timeline from flu diagnosis to ER admission, ventilator support, helicopter transfer, and medically induced coma
She recounts vivid coma dreams and a near-death experience involving searching for her family, seeing deceased loved ones, and feeling a choice to return
Abby describes being placed on ECMO and later transferred to a specialized hospital in Northern Virginia for ongoing ICU care
She reflects on the emotional shock of being told she needed a double lung transplant after waking up with only 23 percent lung function
Abby explains the mindset shift that led her to write, “I’m gonna get better and go home to my family”
She details the long recovery process, including relearning how to walk, pulmonary rehab, PT, OT, oxygen support, and rebuilding strength
Abby talks about learning to ask for help, receive community support, and stop apologizing for needing care
She shares the nervous system tools that supported her healing, including CBT, IFS, yoga, breath work, acupuncture, walking, meditation, and CrossFit
Abby explains how becoming a CrossFit coach and starting a consulting firm helped her rebuild identity, purpose, and flexibility after illness
The conversation closes with a focus on self-prioritization, micro moments of care, and trusting that small daily choices matter

Timestamps
00:00 - Opening the show with a reminder to slow down and take care of yourself
00:28 - Why Jenette and her co-host took a week off
00:53 - Jenette shares the emotional story of her dog Osita’s decline and death
02:44 - Vet visits, testing, and the moment they thought it might be something treatable
04:40 - Grief, pet loss, and the non-transferable love we carry for specific beings
07:05 - Why taking a week off was necessary and why rest matters
09:25 - Introducing Abby Brassfield and previewing her ICU survival story
11:18 - Abby describes who she was before illness: busy, stressed, and living in fight-or-flight
13:40 - Grief, a rapid flu infection, and the start of pneumonia
14:38 - Emergency hospitalization, ventilator support, and helicopter transfer
16:30 - Medical coma, tracheotomy, and vivid coma dreams
18:26 - The near-death experience and the feeling of being told to go back
21:23 - ECMO life support and transfer to a specialized ICU
23:17 - What the near-death experience felt like and why it changed her perspective
24:15 - How surviving changed Abby’s outlook on life and purpose
25:14 - Whether trauma was necessary and how the experience reshaped her trajectory
26:59 - Community prayer, support, and the feeling of being pulled back to life
27:57 - Waking up, hearing the doctors’ plan, and fighting for her recovery
29:24 - Being told she was being evaluated for a double lung transplant
30:20 - Writing “I’m gonna get better and go home to my family”
31:18 - Learning to walk again and using visualization as part of healing
33:50 - The grief and adjustment of going home after ICU
34:19 - ICU to step-down transition and the reality of ongoing recovery
35:13 - Life at home on oxygen, in a recliner, with help from friends and caregivers
36:07 - Learning to ask for help and unlearning perfectionism
39:04 - Nervous system recovery and the tools that helped
41:29 - Becoming a CrossFit coach and finding purpose after illness
43:21 - Starting a consulting firm and rebuilding life around joy and flexibility
44:20 - How to put yourself on the list without making it all-or-nothing
45:20 - Micro moments of self-care and making time during everyday routines
46:46 - Building trust with your body through small, consistent choices
47:42 - The power of deciding to live and not giving up on yourself
48:41 - Abby’s plan to write a book and closing gratitude

Connect with the Hosts & Guest!

📱 Abby Brassfield:
Instagram: @abbeybrassfield
Email: abbey@onthehorizonconsults.com

📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
50 min
August 06 When Your Symptoms Have Something to Say: IFS, Parts Work, and the Nervous System
Episode 62: When Your Symptoms Have Something to Say: IFS, Parts Work, and the Nervous System
In this episode, Claire Schiemer, a licensed professional counselor and internal family systems (IFS) expert, shares how understanding our internal parts can transform our mental and physical health. We explore practical ways to connect with and heal these parts, including addressing trauma, chronic symptoms, and grief.

Main Topics:
Understanding internal parts and their roles
How trauma creates protective parts
Using IFS to address chronic symptoms
Connecting with the body's wisdom
Healing grief through parts work
The four-step process to dialogue with parts
Accessing your true self and inner calm
The importance of self-compassion in healing

Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Claire Schiemer and the episode
01:53 What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
03:47 Trauma and the formation of protective parts
05:55 Talking to your body and symptoms using IFS
07:53 Case studies: Rheumatoid arthritis and healing
09:47 Understanding the different parts: Exiles, Protectors, Firefighters
12:10 Using IFS to address chronic health issues
15:05 Connecting with your true self and accessing calm
17:58 How to dialogue with parts and validate their needs
21:04 Healing grief and loss with parts work
23:46 Creating safety and self-compassion in healing
27:02 Practical steps to connect with your inner parts
30:01 Working with parts remotely and finding practitioners
33:01 The role of patience and self-love in healing
35:55 The impact of parts work on relationships and boundaries
38:45 Success stories: Rapid healing with IFS
41:49 Integrating parts work into daily life
45:02 Final thoughts and encouragement for listeners

Connect with the Hosts & Guest!
📱 Claire Schiemer:
Email: https://www.revelationlifecoaching.com/

📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!

49 min
July 30The Cost of Keeping the Peace: How Self-Abandonment Affects Your Health
Episode 61: The Cost of Keeping the Peace: How Self-Abandonment Affects Your Health
This episode dives deep into the concept of self-abandonment, exploring how disconnecting from our needs and boundaries affects our mental, emotional, and physical health. Hosted by Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel, it shares personal stories and practical insights on recognizing patterns and restoring self-trust.

Key topics - 5-10 bullets:
Understanding self-abandonment as disconnecting from personal needs, boundaries, and inner truth
How self-abandonment manifests physically: tension, fatigue, digestion issues, and pain
The nervous system’s role: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses triggered by self-neglect
Connection between chronic stress, autoimmune conditions, and self-abandonment
Recognizing symptoms like guilt, resentment, over-explaining, and needing reassurance
Strategies for healing: pausing before responding, asking your body what it needs, small boundaries, and self-compassion
Reframing symptoms as communication from the body rather than punishments or enemies
The importance of integrity and living authentically to foster safety and ease
How to rebuild self-trust through micro-actions and awareness
The role of neuroplasticity: rewiring survival patterns for more loving self-relationship

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Personal story of self-abandonment and emotional aftermath
00:33 - How self-abandonment affects emotional states like rage and anger suppression
01:20 - An awkward conversation with a chiropractor highlights ego and disrespect triggers
02:20 - Physical responses to self-abandonment: chest tightness, increased heart rate, anxious sensations
03:20 - Recognizing the guilt and fear of disappointing others while honoring oneself
04:17 - Pattern of entitlement and condescension in certain male chiropractors reflects triggering dynamics
05:12 - How nervous system responses (freeze, rage) connect with health impacts like blood pressure
06:09 - Emotions of shame and anger tied to not standing up for oneself; triggers for women like injustice
07:06 - The importance of pausing and not responding impulsively to avoid self-abandonment
08:22 - Defining self-abandonment: disconnecting from needs, truth, and body signals to avoid conflict or gain approval
09:48 - Childhood patterns of avoiding difficulties and disappointing others contribute to adult self-abandonment
10:39 - The impact on health: immune system, hormones, digestion, and autoimmune conditions
11:30 - How chronic stress from self-abandonment influences body systems and overall health
12:13 - Recognizing symptoms like anger, tension, and digestive issues as signals, not punishments
13:41 - Connection between self-abandonment and pain, tension, shallow breathing, and poor digestion
15:06 - Healing begins with awareness, safety, and rewiring survival patterns through neuroplasticity
16:31 - Rebuilding trust in the body to reduce anger and foster self-trust
17:24 - Living with integrity reduces internal conflict and external triggers
18:47 - Response reframe: responding authentically from a place of safety instead of shame
20:09 - Detaching from outcomes and trusting the body's wisdom
21:08 - Impact of chronic stress on hormones, sleep, immune function, and energy levels
22:38 - Sleep disturbances due to unresolved emotional and nervous system activation
23:35 - Physical signs of tension and holding patterns as indicators of self-abandonment
24:34 - Acknowledging survival strategies rooted in childhood that served us then, now needing rewiring
25:33 - The power of neuroplasticity: rewiring old survival patterns and creating safety
26:54 - Common signs of self-abandonment in daily life and relationships
27:55 - Resentment as a symptom of unmet needs and boundary violations
29:25 - Navigating triggers by controlling what we can: ourselves and our responses
30:51 - Viewing symptoms as communication from the body, not enemies or punishments
31:21 - Embracing living authentically as a form of self-love and healing
32:45 - The importance of pausing, asking your body what it needs, and responding with compassion
34:37 - How to avoid resentment by setting small boundaries and keeping promises to oneself
36:28 - Expect discomfort when healing, and moving slowly to build capacity
37:24 - Accepting that healing involves loss and change, and that’s part of growth
38:49 - Small, consistent actions to rebuild self-trust and safety in your nervous system
39:47 - Recognizing that self-abandonment, health issues, and emotional patterns are interconnected
41:37 - Practicing mindfulness: observing cues and offering yourself love and validation
42:03 - Final encouragement: healing is about tiny steps, awareness, and authenticity

Connect with the Hosts!

📱 Dr. Mel's Social Media
Instagram: Blossom Integrative
Facebook: Blossom Integrative Health
YouTube: Blossom Integrative Health

📱 Dr. Jen's Social Media
Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic
Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com

Our YOUTUBE channel:
www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y

💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!
44 min

About Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered-

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered

Are you a high-functioning woman who looks like you have it all together—but inside, you’re exhausted, bloated, anxious, and wondering, “Why do I feel…