Riding The Trauma Train Podcast

In this episode of Riding the Trauma Train, Lydia welcomes mindset and emotional mastery coach Nikki Evans, founder of Mind Health School, for a grounded chat about emotional regulation, unresolved trauma, and the nervous system. Nikki shares how her short temper and anxiety were early signs something deeper needed attention, and how reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne became an unexpected turning point. Together, they explore why emotions can feel stuck, how dysregulation can show up as anger, people-pleasing or self-sabotage, and how to start processing feelings safely instead of pushing them down.

WHAT WE COVER
• Early signs: snappiness, frustration, anxiety, and how patterns can go unchecked
• Nikki’s turning point and the shift into coaching, NLP and trauma study
• Nervous system basics: fight/flight and how dysregulation shows up day to day
• The zero to 100 feeling when emotions have been suppressed for years
• The cost of suppression: resentment, burnout, conflict, people-pleasing
• Coping strategies like emotional eating, drinking, snapping, as short-term relief
• Why nervous system education, including Polyvagal Theory, supports long-term change
• Simple processing tools to move emotions through rather than hold them in

WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR
• If you go from calm to overwhelmed quickly
• If you were taught emotions were too much
• If you feel stressed before the day even starts
• If you people-please, then feel resentful later
• If stress triggers overeating, over-drinking, snapping, or an f it moment

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Awareness comes first. Strong emotions that return fast can signal something unprocessed.
• Suppressed emotions do not disappear. They leak into behaviour and relationships.
• Your nervous system scans for safety. Many adult reactions are learned protection strategies.
• Healing does not require confronting the person who hurt you. Support can include writing, voice notes, therapy or coaching.
• The goal is capacity and resilience, not eliminating stress completely.

GENTLE CONTENT NOTE / DISCLAIMERIncludes discussion of trauma, anger and rage, emotional suppression, and references to unsafe or violent households. Please take care as you listen. This podcast is for education and reflection and is not a replacement for professional support.

ABOUT THE GUEST: NIKKI EVANSNikki Evans is the founder of Mind Health School and an NLP practitioner and emotional mastery coach. She supports people to understand their nervous system, emotional patterns and mindset through courses, membership learning and coaching.
Instagram: @nikki.officially / @mindhealthschoolWebsite: mindhealthschool.com

CONNECT WITH LYDIA
Websites: www.ridingthetraumatrain.co.ukInstagram: @ridingthetraumatrain and @right.track.wellbeingEmail: [email protected]

If this episode resonated, share it and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. And if this feels tender, go gently. You do not have to do it alone.

In this episode of Riding the Trauma Train, Lydia is joined by her long-time friend Jen Bailey Hobbs , a woman who has rebuilt her life through breathwork, mindfulness and cold water therapy after years of living in survival mode. Jen shares what it was like to be a single parent carrying huge emotional pressure, how her mental health reached a breaking point when life finally became “safe”, and the practical tools that helped her come back home to herself.

Together, Lydia and Jen talk about nervous system regulation, anxiety and overwhelm, weight loss as a side effect of self-love (not punishment), and why real change starts with tiny, consistent steps.

What We Cover

•Jen’s story: single parenthood, years of “fight or flight”, and what happened when her body and mind finally forced her to stop

•How success on the outside can still feel like sadness and collapse on the inside

•Why mindfulness and meditation can feel impossible at first and why that’s normal

•Breathwork basics: nose breathing, slowing the exhale, and calming the nervous system

•Cold water therapy: why breath is essential, and how cold exposure can support mood and resilience

•Dopamine “hits” and why Jen sees cold water as an accessible, powerful option

•Anxiety, insomnia and “night anxiety”: why evenings can trigger dread and how to soothe it

•Jen’s platform and resources: BreathSource and “Come to Bed with Jen”

•Seedlings Retreats & Holidays: creating healing spaces in West Wales and Italy

•Weight loss, identity shifts and the truth about “it’s not about the loss , it’s about the gains”

•“No one likes a tired healer”: boundaries, prioritising self-care and sustainable wellbeing

Who This Episode Is For

•Anyone who feels like they’re constantly “on” and can’t properly switch off

•People living with overwhelm, anxiety, insomnia or low mood

•Women who are curious about breathwork, cold water and nervous system tools

•Anyone on a weight loss or wellbeing journey who wants compassion over punishment

•People who feel disconnected from their body and want to rebuild trust gently

Key Takeaways

•Living in survival mode for years can catch up with you when life finally becomes safe enough to feel.

•Breathwork is a simple, portable tool for nervous system regulation, especially when anxiety or overwhelm hits.

•Cold water isn’t about forcing yourself; it’s about learning safety in discomfort through breath and presence.

•Sustainable change often begins with self-love and boundaries, not willpower and shame.

•Your “best” changes day to day consistency doesn’t have to look perfect.

Content Note

This episode includes discussion of depression, anxiety/panic symptoms, insomnia, and body/weight-related experiences. Please take care of yourself as you listen, pause when needed, and reach out for professional support if anything feels activating.

About the Guest: Jen Bailey Hobbs

Jen Bailey Hobbs is a breathwork practitioner, retreat facilitator and Reiki Master, and the founder of Seedlings Retreats & Holidays in West Wales. After years of living in “fight or flight”, Jen began her own healing journey through breathwork, mindfulness and cold water therapy — and now creates safe spaces where others can reconnect to their bodies, calm their nervous systems and build strength from the inside out.

Find Jen:

•Seedlings Retreats & Holidays: Seedlings Retreats & Holidays | Wellness | Yoga | Ice Bath | Classes & Events | Luxury Holiday Accommodation

•Instagram: @breathe_move_bee, @seedlings_retreats_by_jen, @thesourceapp_

Connect with Lydia

Websites: ridingthetraumatrain.co.uk | righttrackwellbeing.co.uk

Instagram: @ridingthetraumatrain | @right.track.wellbeing

Email: [email protected]

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who’s carrying a lot right now. And if you try any of the tools Jen mentions , especially breathwork .DM Lydia on Instagram and tell her what shifted for you. You don’t have to travel this journey alone.

Lydia’s first guest on Riding the Trauma Train is the wonderful Lilli Badcock, a singer, choir leader and sound-healing practitioner. They met by chance when Lydia heard Lilli’s pop-up choir singing in a café and felt instantly drawn to join. In this warm, grounded conversation, they explore how sound healing and Sound Reiki may support people living with trauma, anxiety and grief, not as a “quick fix”, but as a way to access moments of calm, safety and inner peace. Lilli shares how her “calling” to Sound Reiki began, what can happen in the body during a sound bath, and why healing is rarely a straight line.

WHAT WE COVER

The serendipitous story of how Lydia and Lilli met through a café choir and instantly clicked.

Lilli’s journey from professional singer to Sound Reiki practitioner, including her lived experience of anxiety and grief.

What sound healing and Sound Reiki are in plain English, including vibration, resonance and why people often feel shifts during sessions.

How breathwork and voice can support nervous-system regulation and help the body come out of “stress mode”.

A trauma-informed chat about why healing isn’t linear, and why revisiting old wounds doesn’t mean you’re “back to square one”.

Acceptance, self-compassion and making space for peace even when trauma is still part of your story.

Practical tools you can try, including gentle breathing, humming, and using your own voice to self-soothe.

The cyclical nature of wellbeing, and why it’s okay to feel lost sometimes.

WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR

Survivors and people with lived experience of trauma or complex PTSD.

Anyone curious about sound baths, Sound Reiki, or how music and voice can support wellbeing.

Listeners who feel overwhelmed, anxious or disconnected and want gentle, non-judgemental tools to feel calmer.

Professionals, supporters and carers who want a more trauma-aware perspective on nervous-system regulation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Sound and vibration can be a supportive way to help the nervous system settle and feel calmer.

Breathwork matters. Slow, controlled breathing can help reduce anxiety and improve mood, even in a few minutes.

Healing isn’t linear. Recovery from trauma often moves in cycles, with progress and setbacks.

Acceptance brings peace. Lilli shares a shift from “fixing yourself” to walking alongside what you carry, while still choosing peace where possible.

Your voice can be a self-soothing tool. Gentle humming on the out-breath can feel grounding and regulating.

You’re not alone. Community and connection, including spaces like choir, can make the journey feel lighter.

CONTENT NOTE / TRIGGER WARNING

This episode includes discussion of anxiety, complex PTSD, grief, panic attacks and trauma triggers. If any part feels overwhelming, please pause, take a breath, and reach out to a mental-health professional or a trusted person. This podcast is for education and connection and is not a substitute for therapy.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Lilli Badcock is a singer, choir leader and sound-healing practitioner. She blends decades of vocal experience with Sound Reiki to create safe, inclusive spaces for people to rest, release and reconnect. Lilli runs a weekly pop-up choir, offers group and 1:1 sessions, and is passionate about making sound healing accessible for anyone who is curious.

CONNECT WITH LYDIA

Website: ridingthetraumatrain.co.uk

Instagram: @ridingthetraumatrain | @right.track.wellbeing

Email: [email protected]

CALL TO ACTION

If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who might benefit. DM Lydia on Instagram with your thoughts or a topic you’d love covered next. If you’re curious about sound baths or want to experience Lilli’s work, visit the link above for her upcoming events. Above all, ground yourself and reach out for support if you need it.

Have you ever been triggered and immediately thought, “I should be over this by now”?

In this solo episode, Lydia shares a recent real-life “wobble” where old feelings of being “too much” came rushing back, even after doing so much healing work. Together, we unpack why this happens, how the nervous system stores survival responses, and why healing is not a straight line. You’ll also be guided through a simple 60-second grounding practice you can use anywhere, plus gentle prompts to help you meet yourself with more compassion when the spiral shows up.

What we cover

Why getting triggered again does not mean you are failing

The “should” voice: where it comes from and why it’s so brutal

How the nervous system scans for danger, even when you logically know you are safe

A simple way to understand trauma: the event vs what happened inside you

Why healing is not linear (think spirals and layers, not straight lines)

Resources mentioned

Gabor Maté (trauma and the inner impact of what happened)

Polyvagal theory (nervous system states and survival responses)

Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score

References to conversations with Hannah Strange and Dana Grant (grounding, morning rituals)

Connect with Lydia

If this episode brought something up for you, or you recognised that “should” voice, Lydia would love to hear from you.

Instagram / TikTok / Facebook: Riding the Trauma Train

Email: [email protected]

Remember: you’re not on this journey alone.

Welcome to Riding the Trauma Train, hosted by Lydia. This podcast is for anyone healing from trauma, CPTSD, anxiety, burnout, and emotional overwhelm. We explore how the nervous system protects you, why triggers show up, and how to build safety in your body through grounding, self compassion, boundaries, and trauma informed practices. Featuring solo episodes and guest conversations with practitioners and specialists. If you have ever felt numb, stuck, or like you are “fine” but not okay, you belong here. Remember, you are not on this journey alone.