Motherhood doesn’t begin at birth — and it doesn’t end when children grow up.

It unfolds across seasons, shaped by light, rhythms, nervous system safety, and the lived experience of caring for other humans while staying connected to yourself.

In this episode of the Quantum Mental Health Podcast, I’m joined by my dear friend and colleague Nikko Kennedy — a doula, circadian health expert, certified Applied Quantum Biology practitioner, and Research Director at the Institute of Applied Quantum Biology (IAQB).

Together, we explore motherhood through a full developmental lens — from preparing the body before pregnancy, to supporting new moms, to navigating the mental and emotional landscape of raising children over decades.

Nikko shares insights drawn from both research and lived experience as a mother of five. I reflect on motherhood from the perspective of having two grown sons — now 20 and 23 — and how nervous system safety, circadian rhythms, and emotional regulation continue to matter long after the early years.

This is not just a fertility conversation.

And it’s not only about new motherhood.

It’s about how women can support their mental health and biological resilience across the entire arc of motherhood — hormonally, emotionally, and energetically.

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​Why circadian rhythms are foundational for women’s mental health at every stage of motherhood
• ​How light, darkness, sleep timing, and daily structure support mitochondrial health
• ​Preparing the body before pregnancy — without pressure or perfection
• ​Anxiety, nervous system load, and the role of safety signals in parenting
• ​Practical, compassionate strategies for supporting new moms
• ​How relational support and community care sustain mothers over time — not as obligation, but as shared humanity

Nikko brings deep research and communicates it in a way that feels grounded, accessible, and deeply human. Together, we reflect honestly on what motherhood looks like in real life — not just in theory.

✨ This episode is for women who hope to become mothers, those in the thick of early parenting, moms with older children, helping professionals, and anyone interested in motherhood through a quantum mental health lens.

Connect with Nikko:

https://www.brighterdaysdarkernights.com

https://substack.com/@nikkokennedy

https://www.instagram.com/brighterdays.darkernights

Want to learn more about quantum mental health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses

Connect with Kelli

https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli

Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

Happy New Year, and welcome to the first episode of 2026 on the Quantum Mental Health Podcast.

This episode didn’t go the way it was planned—and that feels important to name.

I sat down with my podcast editor, Pace Strickland, intending to record a simple Q&A-style conversation. A few thoughtful questions. A light, reflective start to the year.

Instead, we found ourselves in a very different—and very human—place.

What unfolded was an unexpected conversation about grief, suicide, love, and what it actually takes to keep showing up to life when things have been unbearably hard. Pace shares about the loss of her brother to suicide, and together we explore how people carry grief, how they survive it, and how they find the courage to do hard things even when the nervous system wants to shut down.

There are no graphic details in this episode, but suicide and loss are discussed.

Please listen with gentle ears, and take care of yourself as you tune in.

As we step into a new year, this conversation reflects the direction I’m feeling called toward in 2026—not just the expected mental health conversations, but the deeper, quieter, more honest ones. Conversations with people who are living consciously, intentionally, and truthfully—even when the path hasn’t been easy.

This episode is about:

• Grief that doesn’t follow a timeline

• The invisible weight people carry

• Doing hard things when you don’t feel “strong”

• Staying present instead of numbing or bypassing pain

• Allowing real conversations to unfold without forcing an agenda

If you’ve ever loved someone who struggled…

If you’ve ever had to keep going while your heart was broken…

If you’re entering this year with tenderness rather than resolutions…

You’re not alone here.

Thank you for being part of this space, and for trusting these conversations—especially the unexpected ones.

Connect with Dr. Kelli

If this conversation resonated with you, you can explore more trauma-informed, body-based perspectives on anxiety, grief, and nervous system healing at:

→ Website: anxiety-recovery.com

→ Instagram: @dr_kelli

Come as you are. Take what’s useful. Leave the rest.

This podcast is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health care.

If this episode brings up distress, please consider reaching out to a trusted person or a qualified mental health professional.

If you are in immediate danger or need urgent support, contact your local emergency services or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada: 988).

In this episode, Dr. Kelli is joined by her friend and quantum health colleague Oksana Hansen, Founder of Quantum Lens Wellness, for a grounded, empowering conversation about cold plunging, quantum cold exposure, and why nature-based experiences and community matter deeply for nervous system healing.

We explore cold exposure not as a badge of toughness, but as a biological conversation with the nervous system—one that can build resilience, mitochondrial signaling, and emotional regulation when done wisely and trauma-informed. This is about learning how to meet stress without overwhelming the system.

Oksana also shares details about two powerful cold exposure–centered events we discuss in the episode:

• ​ Return to Nature — an immersive, nature-forward gathering she is hosting that integrates cold plunging, sauna, circadian rhythms, and community healing
• ​ The Cold Plunge Research Institute Symposium — a science-rooted event bringing together researchers, practitioners, and leaders advancing the evidence-based understanding of cold exposure and human performance

Together, we explore how science, nature, and lived experience can coexist—without turning healing into another extreme sport.

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​ Cold plunging as nervous system training, not punishment
• ​ Adaptive stress vs. overwhelm (and why anxious systems must know the difference)
• ​ How cold exposure supports mitochondrial signaling and resilience
• ​ Why healing accelerates in nature and safe community
• ​ The importance of research-backed approaches to cold therapy
• ​ What to expect from both upcoming cold exposure events

About Oksana Hansen

Oksana Hansen is the Founder of Quantum Lens Wellness, where she helps individuals reconnect with their biology through light, temperature, nature, and intentional living. Her work blends applied quantum biology with grounded, embodied practices that support nervous system resilience and cellular health.

Events mentioned in this episode

Return to Nature – Cold Exposure & Nature Gathering

Hosted by Oksana Hansen

Learn more:

👉 https://www.quantumlenswellness.com/retreat

Cold Plunge Research Institute Symposium

A science-forward symposium focused on cold exposure research, application, and innovation

Learn more:

👉 https://www.morozkoforge.com/cold-plunge-research-institute

Gentle reminder:

Cold exposure is a powerful tool—but it’s not one-size-fits-all. If you have a history of panic, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation, start slowly and consult your healthcare provider. Healing happens through capacity, not force.

✨ CONNECT WITH DR. KELLI

Instagram: @dr_kelli

Website: www.anxiety-recovery.com

Courses, tools, and resources for anxiety transformation.

In today’s episode, Dr. Kelli sits down with Dr. Kathleen Horstmeyer—Director of Certification & Continuing Education for the Institute of Applied Quantum Biology and a deeply heart-centered practitioner whose work blends science, intuition, and lived experience.

This conversation is nonlinear in the best way.

Together, they explore:

• ​How Kathleen’s diverse background shaped her lens on healing
• ​What she’s learned from facilitating hundreds of IAQB cohort and faculty calls
• ​The themes emerging among quantum-informed practitioners
• ​Why mitochondria receive and respond to our thoughts, tone, frequency, and presence
• ​The importance of practitioners “living awake” in their own lives
• ​The energetic and emotional dimensions of healing that traditional mental health often misses
• ​Kathleen’s powerful story of trauma recovery after a horse injury—and how Havening Touch became a turning point for her healing
• ​The role of mindset, safety, and resonance in mental and emotional restoration

If you’re curious about quantum health, emotional resilience, and what it means to serve humans at the deepest level, this conversation is rich, warm, and eye-opening.

🔗 RESOURCES

• ​Institute of Applied Quantum Biology (IAQB)
• ​Havening Touch®
• ​Dr. Kelli Ritter’s Anxiety Recovery Course (ARC)
• ​Holiday Calm Bundle (Anxiety Relief Toolkit + Panic-Free Travel Guide)

💛 CONNECT WITH DR. KATHLEEN HORSTMEYER

www.Kathleenhorstmeyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Socials

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-horstmeyer-9b9ab8377

FB https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.horstmeyer/

 ✨ CONNECT WITH DR. KELLI

Instagram: @dr_kelli

Website: www.anxiety-recovery.com

Courses, tools, and resources for anxiety transformation.

👉 Get the NEW HOLIDAY CALM BUNDLE (Just $19 until Jan 5)

In this short solo episode, Dr. Kelli shares the two simple daily habits that helped her “clean her brain” long before she ever understood the science of applied quantum biology.

If this episode resonates, explore Calm Alchemy: The Anxiety Reset Path — a curated 3-part bundle to help you stabilize your nervous system, decode your patterns, and build the emotional container your healing needs. ✨ Explore Calm Alchemy

Calm Alchemy: The Anxiety Reset Path

Want to learn more about quantum health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Digital Tools & Courses ⁠https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses⁠

Connect with Kelli ⁠https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli⁠

Visit ⁠https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/⁠

SUPPORT THE SHOW 

LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: ⁠https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter⁠

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Discount Code: KELLI1

Midwest Red Light Therapy ⁠https://midwestredlighttherapy.com⁠

Use Discount Code: NOURISHED10 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

In this short, potent solo episode, Dr. Kelli unpacks one of the biggest misunderstandings in the anxiety recovery world:

you don’t heal by finding “the root.”

You heal by building the container that allows your emotional truth to rise and release.

If you’ve been doing all the things — breathwork, mediation, supplements, yoga, light exposure, therapy — and still feel anxious, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

Inside, Dr. Kelli breaks down:

• ​why anxiety lingers even when your habits are on point
• ​what “container” actually means in trauma-informed + quantum health terms
• ​how emotional material hides in plain sight (and why it often seems too “small” to matter)
• ​why healing isn’t a mental excavation — it’s a felt experience
• ​how numbing and addiction (even subtle forms) block emotional release
• ​the tools that support emotional processing only when safety is present

This episode reframes healing in the most compassionate, liberating way:

you don’t have to dig for the root.

You simply need the container, and your nervous system will do the rest.

Dr. Kelli closes with:

“The light in me sees and honors the light in you.”

…a beautiful doorway into next week’s conversation.

✨ Explore Calm Alchemy

If this resonates, explore Calm Alchemy: The Anxiety Reset Path — a curated 3-part bundle to help you stabilize your nervous system, decode your patterns, and build the emotional container your healing needs.

👉 Get the NEW BUNDLE (Flash Sale until Dec 11)

Calm Alchemy: The Anxiety Reset Path

Want to learn more about quantum health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses

Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli

Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW 

LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter

Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666

Discount Code: KELLI1

Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com

Use Discount Code: NOURISHED10 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

If you’ve ever felt your heart race before a trip—or found yourself tense and wired even after the plane lands—you’re not crazy, and you’re not broken. Your travel anxiety isn’t just “in your head”… it’s in your cells.

In this solo episode, Dr. Kelli unpacks the real, biological roots of travel anxiety through the lens of quantum mental health—from disrupted circadian rhythms and dehydration to mitochondrial stress and sensory overload. You’ll learn how to support your body’s electrical system so your mind can actually rest.

Because freedom shouldn’t feel like fear. When your cells feel safe, you feel safe. 🌍

💡 Mentioned in this episode:

• ​Panic-Free Travel Protocol — your 10-day prep for calm, grounded travel
• ​Anxiety-Recovery.com for free guides + resources

Counting calories and chasing macros might make sense for body composition but when it comes to mental health, that approach can fall short.

In this solo episode, Dr. Kelli breaks down why nutrition for your brain and nervous system is far more nuanced than any one-size-fits-all plan.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why calorie counting can disrupt your body’s sense of safety and intuition

✨ The real role of protein, fat, and carbs in supporting mood and neurotransmitters

✨ Why animal-based amino acids are superior building blocks for mental clarity and calm

✨ How dietary fats protect your brain, hormones, and nervous system

✨ What makes “mental-health macros” different from “weight-loss macros”

This is nourishment that honors biology, not diet culture ~ because your brain deserves better fuel than numbers on a label.

💡 Mentioned in this episode:

Dive deeper inside The Food-Mood Course, your self-paced guide to using nutrition and circadian alignment for true anxiety recovery.

🎧 Use code PODCAST for 20% off at https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/food-mood-anxiety-solutions

Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli

Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/

SUPPORT THE SHOW 

LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter

Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666

Discount Code: KELLI1

Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com

Use Discount Code: NOURISHED10 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations. 

Can red light therapy help your pet heal, recover, and thrive?

In this illuminating finale to the Red Light Therapy Series, Dr. Kelli is joined by her friend and fellow quantum health practitioner Jackie Jolie, founder of EquiSol™, to explore how light-based technology is transforming animal wellness.

Together they discuss:

✨ How animals naturally respond to light and frequency

✨ The science behind red and near-infrared light for tissue repair, inflammation, and performance

✨ Everyday ways to support your pets with light exposure — from sunrise walks to the innovative DogSol™ Blanket

✨ How red light therapy is enhancing recovery for dogs, cats, and even high-performance horses

✨ Why honoring circadian rhythms isn’t just human biology — it’s universal biology

This conversation will leave you inspired to see light as a form of love — one that bridges species and helps every living being reconnect to its innate healing intelligence. 🌞🐾

Connect with Jackie Jolie & EquiSol™:

🌐 www.equisol.life

📸 Instagram: @equi__sol

How much red light is just right?

In this second episode of my Red Light Therapy Series, I’m joined again by my friend and fellow quantum health practitioner Kelly Bento, founder of Soleil-Well Red Light, whose devices are among the best in the industry. Together, we unpack one of the most common questions people have about red light therapy—how to dose it properly.

Whether you’re using red light for energy, skin health, hormone balance, or recovery, this episode will help you move beyond guesswork into grounded science.

We discuss:

✨ The difference between red and near-infrared light—and why both matter

✨ How too much light can actually backfire (yep, there’s a sweet spot)

✨ How to find your ideal exposure time based on your goals

✨ Real-life examples of dosing for mood, mitochondria, and menopause

✨ What makes Soleil-Well devices different—and worth the investment

If you’ve ever wondered how long, how often, or how close you should be to your device, this is your go-to guide for getting real healing results without overdoing it.

💡 Listen to Episode 1: Red Light, Real Healing: How It Boosted My Energy, Clarity & Vision

💡 Stay tuned for Episode 3: Red Light Therapy for Pets with Jackie Jolie

🔗 Connect with Kelly Bento and Soleil-Well:

https://soleilwell.com

https://www.instagram.com/soleilwell

🔗 Resources & Links

Ready to heal anxiety at the root? Explore Dr. Kelli’s Anxiety Recovery Resources: https://www.anxiety-recovery.com

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW

Please rate and share the show. Leave a comment if you liked this episode!

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Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs.