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A protective part shows up mid-session — the fear, the overwhelm, the inner critic — and most of us are taught to treat it as an interruption. Mallory Burggraaf has learned to ask it what it knows.
In this episode, Alex sits down with his longtime Red Beard Somatic Therapy colleague Mallory Burggraaf to trace that arc: how a curious social worker found her way into Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, and DARe attachment work; why Juliane "Jules" Taylor Shore's STAIR Method — Self-Trust And Integrated Resilience — felt less like a new modality and more like the bow that ties them all together; what it means to "differentiate and link" so a part becomes a sliver of the pie instead of the whole pie; how witnessing becomes "undoing aloneness"; and why holding activation and regulation at the same time is where new learning — and real change — gets to happen.
Mallory Burggraaf is a licensed therapist and somatic practitioner who has worked in the healing profession for over eleven years. She holds a master's degree in clinical social work and has trained extensively in Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, and DARe attachment-focused work, now integrated through the STAIR Method with Juliane Taylor Shore. Based in Denver, Colorado, she works with clients online through Red Beard Somatic Therapy, specializing in relational and developmental trauma with a kind, consent-oriented approach. Learn more at https://www.redbeardsomatictherapy.com/
⏱ KEY HIGHLIGHTS
0:00 Welcome & introductions
2:06 From social work to somatic therapy — Mallory's path
5:05 Self-Trust And Integrated Resilience: what STAIR stands for
7:07 Parts work and the witnessing mind
8:55 When a protector shows up, it knows something
11:26 Fear, overwhelm & the inner judge — protectors we all meet
15:11 Differentiate and link: how the brain moves toward integration
17:35 "We want to feel felt" — attunement and resonance
19:14 Undoing aloneness
21:10 Power-with: "You are the authority of you"
23:45 What a STAIR-informed session actually looks like
25:49 Weaving in sensation: the somatic layer
29:08 Holding space for the helpers and the givers
33:21 Micro-moments of self-acceptance
36:07 Invites, not homework
40:48 Brain science made approachable: the okay / not-okay list
44:05 Memory reconsolidation and the window for change
49:24 Closing reflections
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS
Connect with Mallory: Licensed therapist & somatic practitioner in Denver, Colorado, working with clients online through Red Beard Somatic Therapy → https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/a265ffb6/appointment/56810478/calendar/6466800?categories%5B%5D=Free+Consultation
Also mentioned: Juliane "Jules" Taylor Shore (creator of the STAIR Method), Dan Siegel (interpersonal neurobiology), Internal Family Systems (Richard Schwartz), Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine), DARe attachment work (Diane Poole Heller), and the research on memory reconsolidation and coherence therapy. (Full links in the internal notes below.)
🔗 Book a session with the Red Beard team → https://www.redbeardsomatictherapy.com/ ✉️
📍 FIND US ONLINE
Red Beard Somatic Therapy: https://www.redbeardsomatictherapy.com/ Instagram: @redbeardsomatictherapy
What does it feel like when your body starts moving before your mind has any idea why?
For Mike Maher, the answer came in the basement of a hotel in Poland — lights off, a room full of strangers, thirty rhythmic breaths — and then tears, trembling, and a release he couldn't explain. That single session with Wim Hof lit a fire that eventually became the Take a Deep Breath YouTube channel, one of the largest breathwork communities on the planet, and a decade-long exploration into what breath can actually do for the human nervous system.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Mike for a wide-ranging conversation about breathwork as a complete system — not a single technique, but a full toolkit for nervous system regulation. Together they trace Mike's journey from stressed corporate professional to one of the field's most trusted educators, exploring his RESET framework, what he learned from training breath holds underwater with the world record holder, the 90-day CO2 documentary he's launching, and why the simplest ancestral practices — bare feet on soil, morning light, quiet air — might carry more physiological weight than any sophisticated technique. And along the way, they wander into the territory closest to home for the NI community: the intersection of breathwork and TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) — and what happens when the body starts tremoring during a breath session and you finally stop fighting it. If you've ever wondered how breathwork and TRE relate, or felt both practices pulling toward the same place in the body, this conversation is for you.
Mike Maher is a breathwork coach, educator, and content creator who spent 12 years in the corporate world before a sequence of transformational experiences — a Wim Hof retreat, Tony Robbins events, and walking the Camino de Santiago — set him on a different path. Drawing on a background in video production and storytelling, he built the Take A Deep Breath YouTube channel into one of the largest breathwork platforms in the world, with 300,000+ subscribers and 42 million views. His podcast has featured deep conversations with James Nestor, Patrick McKeown, Dr. Belisa Vranich, and many others at the frontier of breathing, trauma, and performance. He works with clients one-on-one, leads group programs, and teaches a full-spectrum approach that blends functional technique with nervous system science and genuine embodied practice. Mike is also currently a student in the Neurogenic Integration TRE Certification program, deepening his understanding of how neurogenic tremoring and breathwork can work together as complementary pathways to nervous system regulation.
⏱ KEY HIGHLIGHTS
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED
Mary Gitau, a psychologist and suicide prevention specialist based in Nairobi, shares how she's bringing TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) to communities across Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan affected by conflict and war. She discusses her personal healing breakthrough with TRE and how body-based approaches can reach populations where traditional talk therapy cannot—particularly in cultures where men don't openly discuss emotions. This conversation explores the intersection of TRE with Somatic Experiencing, bioenergetics, and EMDR, the critical importance of cultural adaptation, and both the opportunities and challenges of making trauma healing accessible across diverse communities.
In this episode, Mary shares stories of working with Somali and Sudanese men who experienced profound healing through the tremor mechanism, her journey integrating multiple somatic modalities, and practical wisdom on contextualizing TRE for different cultural settings. She also addresses the challenges of people misusing TRE through online videos and her vision for making trauma healing accessible through free group classes at her organization, the Center for Suicide Research and Intervention (CSRI).
Listen to the full episode to hear Mary's inspiring journey bringing body-based trauma healing to East African communities.
Links & Resources Mentioned
Center for Suicide Research and Intervention (CSRI) https://csricentre.org/
Episode Timestamps
00:01 - TRE Training in Kenya with Dr. Berceli
00:04 - Childhood Trauma and Becoming a Psychologist
00:06 - Why Talk Therapy Wasn't Enough for Trauma Clients
00:09 - From Bioenergetics to Trauma Releasing Exercises
00:12 - Personal Breakthrough: Releasing Pelvic Trauma Through TRE
00:18 - First TRE Session with Somali Refugees in Nairobi
00:22 - Working with Men Who Don't Talk About Emotions
00:28 - Integrating Somatic Experiencing and TRE in Practice
00:35 - Cultural Adaptation: Avoiding Exorcism Misconceptions
00:40 - Dangers of Self-Guided TRE from Online Videos
00:45 - Making Trauma Healing Accessible and Affordable
00:47 - Teaching Children and Families TRE at Home
00:48 - Bringing TRE to Conflict Zones in East Africa
In this enlightening episode, host Alex Greene sits down with Dr. Keith Motes, founder of Shaking Medicine and a PhD in quantum physics, to explore the fascinating intersection of science, spirituality, and therapeutic tremoring. Broadcasting from Thailand, Dr. Motes shares his remarkable journey from quantum computing researcher in Australia to becoming a pioneer in teaching neurogenic tremoring. The conversation weaves through multiple lenses—from quantum physics and polyvagal theory to Kundalini yoga, Qigong, and indigenous shamanic practices of the Kalahari Bushmen.
Dr. Motes reveals how his initial discovery of spontaneous movement came through a profound plant medicine experience that catalyzed his departure from academia to pursue full-time somatic healing work. Alex and Keith dive deep into the complementary relationship between psychedelic therapy and tremoring practices, discussing how embodied practitioners can better navigate medicine journeys and integrate trauma release. They explore the power of combining bodywork with neurogenic tremoring, emphasizing the importance of practitioners first embodying the work themselves. This episode offers invaluable insights for TRE practitioners, bodyworkers, and anyone interested in the deeper dimensions of somatic healing and nervous system regulation.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Dr. Bradford Keeney - Work with Kalahari Bushmen: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Way-of-the-Bushman/Bradford-Keeney/9781591432050
Shaking Medicine Teacher Training: https://www.shakingmedicine.com/shaking-medicine-teacher-training
Zen Shiatsu Bodywork
Connect with Dr. Keith Motes:
Shaking Medicine website: https://www.shakingmedicine.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakingmedicine/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shakingmedicinefoundation/
Find us Online:
Red Beard Somatic Therapy:
Instagram: @redbeardsomatictherapy
Facebook: @RedBeardSomaticTherapy
In this episode, host Alex Greene sits down with Lindsay Wolff, a certified health coach and mentor with the Primal Trust Program. Lindsay shares her powerful journey from experiencing debilitating chronic illness—including chronic fatigue, Lyme disease, and severe pain—to discovering the transformative power of nervous system regulation and somatic practices. After spending nearly a decade navigating the medical system without lasting relief, Lindsay found healing through a comprehensive approach that integrates bottom-up nervous system practices, trauma processing, and reconnection with nature.
Lindsay introduces listeners to the Primal Trust framework, explaining how it differs from other brain retraining programs through its three-level curriculum that begins with foundational practices like TRE (Trauma Release Exercises), functional neurology, and breathwork before moving into deeper emotional processing and parts work. She discusses the importance of titrating these practices for sensitive nervous systems, creating safety through gradual exposure, and building capacity over time. The conversation explores how chronic illness often stems from nervous system dysregulation following stress or trauma, and how practices like neurogenic tremoring can help discharge survival energy stored in the body.
Join our Upcoming Workshop: December 18, 2025 - Nervous System Regulation for Chronic Pain & Illness with Lindsay Wolff: https://neurogenic-integration.com/product/nervous-system-healing-with-primal-trust-regulation-tools-by-lindsay-wolff/
Key Highlights & Timestamps
Resources & Links Mentioned
Red Beard Somatic Therapy:
Instagram: @redbeardsomatictherapy
Facebook: @RedBeardSomaticTherapy
What happens when a trauma survivor discovers TRE and becomes the practitioner she needed? Alex Greene speaks with Svava Brooks, a TRE practitioner in Reykjavik, Iceland, who has mastered integrating neurogenic tremoring with mindful self-compassion and polyvagal theory. Svava didn't set out to become a provider—she entered the training for her own healing. But what she discovered transformed not only her life but her approach to holding space for others.
As a complex trauma survivor in functional freeze, Svava shares practical wisdom from taking "a thousand tiny steps" into social engagement. She reveals why TRE alone wasn't enough—she needed self-compassion practices to befriend her body and build the safe attachment capacity she'd never experienced. She discusses why she teaches the "hand on heart" practice first, how to work with freeze patterns during tremoring, and why going "slower than slow" creates lasting change. Now bringing TRE to every town in Iceland, Svava offers insights on sustainable healing practices, integrating somatic work with other modalities, and creating compassionate containers where bodies feel safe to release.
Key Highlights:
Resources Mentioned:
Find us Online:
Neurogenic Integration: https://neurogenic-integration.com/
Instagram: @neurogenicintegration
Alex Greene welcomes back Liza Kimble for an exciting follow-up conversation about her groundbreaking experience at the Fascia Congress in New Orleans. Fresh from her travels, Liza shares how she introduced TRE and neurogenic tremoring to the international fascia research community, where over 100 attendees experienced tremoring for the first time. The congress brought together leading voices in nervous system work, including Stephen Porges, Robert Schleip, and Gil Hedley, creating a unique convergence of scientific research and therapeutic practice that validated the deep connection between fascia, trauma, and the autonomic nervous system.
Liza takes listeners behind the scenes of this transformative event, sharing insights from keynote presentations on the fascia-nervous system connection, Gil Hedley's emotional vagus nerve dissection, and conversations about consciousness within connective tissue. She discusses the positive reception to her TRE demonstration with Professor Werner Klingler, the power of vagal activation through sound and voice work, and her growing passion for integrating indigenous healing wisdom—including Sami yoiking traditions—with somatic practices. This conversation illuminates the exciting frontier where ancient healing methods, cutting-edge fascia research, and neurogenic tremoring converge to offer new pathways for trauma healing and embodied wellness.
Listen to the full episode to discover how the fascia world is embracing neurogenic tremoring and what this means for the future of trauma healing and somatic therapy.
Key Highlights:
00:04 - Introduction and Congress Overview
03:10 - Robert Schleip on Fascia
05:29 - Fascia Responds to Stress
08:45 - Fabiana de Silva's Vagal Resets
11:17 - Self-Help Grounding Through Squeezing
12:18 - Gil Hedley's Vagus Dissection
14:01 - Sounding and Vagal Activation
18:06 - Fascia, Consciousness, and Soul
21:28 - Meeting Stephen Porges
25:32 - Traumatic Brain Injury Insights
30:00 - Liza's TRE Presentation Experience
32:51 - 100 People Experience Tremoring
40:00 - Future Congress Plans
42:40 - Sami Yoiking Healing Songs
48:34 - Human Algorithm Workshop Preview
Resources Mentioned:
Find us Online:
Website: https://www.redbeardsomatictherapy.com/
Instagram: @redbeardsomatictherapy
Facebook: @RedBeardSomaticTherapy
Alex Greene speaks with Bonnie Pariser, a TRE provider and yoga therapist who runs Yoga Loca studio in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Bonnie shares how she transformed her yoga therapy practice by integrating TRE (Tension & Trauma Release Exercises) with traditional yoga approaches. Her unique journey from fashion design to embodiment work led her to discover that tremoring can dramatically improve outcomes for clients with chronic tension, anxiety, and trauma.
Bonnie explains how tremoring prepares the nervous system for yoga practices, especially for clients who are too activated to benefit from conventional stretching or meditation. She uses the Ayurvedic dosha framework to understand different nervous system states: vata (anxiety/bracing), pitta (hypervigilance), and kapha (shutdown). This approach works with the body's natural healing mechanisms rather than against them.
The conversation covers practical applications including emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and spiritual practice preparation. Bonnie shares examples from her classes and one-on-one sessions, showing how clients move from seeking physical relief to developing life management skills. Her integration of ancient wisdom with modern trauma approaches demonstrates how nervous system regulation can transform both therapy outcomes and daily life.
Listen to the full episode to discover how this powerful combination of TRE and yoga can transform your approach to nervous system regulation and embodiment practices.
Key Highlights:
Links and Resources:
Find us Online:
Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about the power of embodiment:
https://www.redbeardsomatictherapy.com/
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBeardSomaticTherapy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbeardsomatictherapy
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermgreene
Join Alex as he sits down with longtime colleague Anders Totten, a structural integration bodywork therapist specializing in Tom Myers' Anatomy Trains approach. Anders shares his journey from massage school in Madison, Wisconsin to becoming a deep student of fascial work and structural integration. This conversation explores the fascinating world of fascia, from Ida Rolf's pioneering work in the 1940s-50s to cutting-edge research being presented at the upcoming Fascia Congress in New Orleans.
The discussion covers the collaborative nature of structural integration work, the profound experiences Anders had in cadaver labs touching actual anatomy trains, and the emerging connections between fascial work and emotional regulation through the nervous system. Anders reflects on his training with Polish bodywork wizard Jarek Kakowski and shares mystical experiences from working with cadavers, including the profound sensations of holding different organs.
Throughout the conversation, both practitioners emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in somatic work, moving beyond tribal thinking to embrace the convergence of fascial research, polyvagal theory, and embodied trauma healing approaches.
Ready to dive deeper into the world of structural integration and fascial healing? Listen to the complete conversation to hear Anders' full journey and insights into this transformative bodywork approach.
Key Highlights:
Links & Resources
Find us Online:
Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about the power of embodiment:
https://www.redbeardsomatictherapy.com/
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBeardSomaticTherapy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbeardsomatictherapy
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermgreene
Alex Greene talks with Liza Kimble, a body therapist from South Africa who combines TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) with gentle touch work. Liza has worked with bodies for 32 years and discovered that lighter touch often works better than deep, painful massage. She works with both people and horses, teaching them how to release tension through natural tremoring.
Liza shares how she went from doing very intense massage work to learning gentler approaches that help the nervous system feel safe. Her work with horses taught her important lessons about healing - when horses feel comfortable, they naturally start to shake and release stored stress. She's excited to present her work at a big research conference in New Orleans.
The conversation covers how to combine different healing methods, why therapists need to take care of themselves, and Liza's interest in ancient wisdom about human behavior patterns. This episode helps both therapists and regular people understand how gentle body work can help heal trauma and calm the nervous system.
Key Highlights:
Links and Resources:
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