It feels like so many of us are just moving through life, pushing forward towards the next task and seemingly unaware of what we're feeling and why we're feeling a certain way. I know that for the majority of my life, this was my day to day and I didn't even stop to consider my emotions, much less give thought to my central nervous system.

Today I'm joined by Daryl Vale - she's a licensed mental health counsellor and substance-use therapist, in addition to creating The Regulated Life, a workbook dedicated to helping us recognise our physical responses to stress, reconnect the body and regulate the nervous system.

Daryl created the book following years of study and working to heal her own trauma behaviours following a difficult childhood which left her with patterns of protective responses that continued into young adulthood until a love of her studies gave her new insights and means of flipping the script on how she responded to stressors.

Moving into the therapy space and beyond helped Daryl to look at her origin story with new eyes and see things in a much wider context. While she could acknowledge and discuss issues from her formative years, she could see that she was becoming a new person that did not need to carry old behaviours into her present life.

Talking with candour and humour, Daryl shares her story and how it has informed both her work and the woman that she is today. Acknowledging that there are still struggles that need to be faced, this is not a basic story of moving from darkness into light but one of learning, growth and self-determination which shows that while we cannot choose page one of our story, we can certainly make sure that the later chapters contain the life we want.

Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=d61d48e2e0764994

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Daryl's work on the links below:

The Regulated Life Workbook: A Practical Guide to Nervous System Regulation, Stress Recovery, and Emotional Resilience: Amazon.co.uk: McInnis, Daryl L: 9798186402510: Books

Daryl L McInnis, Mental Health Counselor, Olympia, WA, 98501 | Psychology Today

Waves Counseling LLC: Daryl McInnis, MA, LMHC, SUDP

We regularly see alcohol in use across a number of settings - we look to wet the baby's head, the F1 driver douses himself in champagne, a cheeky pint after work. Then there are the advertisements - alcohol companies sponsor sporting events, the product placement throughout TV and film, even clothing has familiar brands splashed across it, all painting a glamorous picture of a social lubricant that's all about the fun. However, there's the side that isn't quite as endearing that you don't see models and athletes endorsing...

Today I'm joined by Jennifer Randall Young, public speaker and host of the podcast and YouTube channel Life With: an Alcoholic, a show that has honest - and often visceral - conversations about loving and living with an alcoholic partner, the impacts that this has on those around, the self-doubt that invades the thoughts and also the work needed to rebuild a life that has been filled with fear and uncertainty.

Jennifer talks openly about the man she fell in love with and the 'Mad Men' culture that encouraged and supported his drinking, watching him develop alcohol-related dementia, the efforts to promote a 'normal' life to outsiders and the stories that were kept hidden until after her husband's passing - including derision from those she thought of as friends and struggles with an insurance system that considered his illness a self-inflicted choice.

While there is undoubtedly a sad element to our conversation, Jennifer's positivity, determination to support others where she found struggle and willingness to leave no stone unturned is one of inspiration and renewal following years spent holding it together for the sake of her family.

Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=b8d9a18e91894b37

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Jennifer's work on the links below:

http://www.youtube.com/@the.lifewith

www.instagram.com/the.lifewith/

Home

Loneliness can take many forms and its' impacts are wide reaching - but how do we get to this state? And is being alone the same as loneliness? To talk further about this, I'm joined by Daphne Minks - she's a film-maker, former performer, complex trauma survivor and host of 'Dead Air Energies' - a show filmed at Daphne's home, the notoriously haunted Vortex 29.

Living in the Mojave Desert, miles from the nearest town sounds like a recipe for loneliness - but could it also be a means of escape and sanctuary for someone who feels like they need to step away from the world? Daphne talks openly about how she was stalked, had her life threatened and subsequently made choices in her traumatised state that she now sees did not serve her well.

Daphne's story has some uncomfortable chapters and some moments that are hard to hear but her optimism, belief in herself and resilience show a woman who has dealt with some incredible hardships and persevered to become a business owner, presenter and inspiration to anyone who feels as though fear is ruling their life. Talking with humour and a raw honesty that we seldom hear, Daphne details events that have changed her - for good and for bad - whilst also accepting that some of her own choices led her down paths that did not serve her well.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=5bb92bd558944e0e

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Daphne and her work on the links below:

Twisted Reels Productions - YouTube

Instagram

https://youtu.be/4zxKUuH8xPo?si=w5KpFzW4kTKqiyin

Men's mental health and wellbeing can be a polarising topic in certain spaces and my guest today can bear testament to this - particularly given the circumstances in which she meets the men she works with. I'm joined by Alison D'Vine of SagencyWA - a Perth-based behaviour change programme which supports men who have engaged in family harm.

With a cohort who many may shun, much less look at ways in which these men have come to the place they are it can be difficult to begin open and supportive conversations around a group who many have little sympathy for - but if the answer is to offer scorn, how do we look at addressing the presenting issues as well as the underlying causes in order to affect positive change?

With an unorthodox approach, an engaging personality and a force of will that one cannot help but be inspired by, Alison set up SagencyWA with a view to breaking the mould - her work seeks to engage and understand, become a mechanism for change and take no bullshit in the process. While this has made her a number of enemies, the results speak for themselves and while it may be a difficult path Alison and her team continue to support and encourage.

Speaking with honesty about her work, her own story and with a positivity that inspires and makes you want to sit up and listen - while the subject matter may not sit easily and is incredibly emotive, Alison is looking to make a change in the world when others readily turn their backs.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=1cf4fb050ec346d4

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Alison's work on the links below:

Perth Men's Behaviour Change Program - Sagency WA

Instagram

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/10-transforming-relationships-with-alison-dvine/id1713873681?i=1000654234854

Dr. Kristen Szabla is a neuroscientist, public speaker, author and founder of Transforming Pain Now - an organisation that utilises neuroplasticity to transform clients' lives from one of merely surviving to one of thriving. Having spent more than ten years examining neural pathways and brain circuitry, Dr. Szabla works to provide lasting solutions to a host of conditions including anxiety, depression, emotional regulation and so much more.

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and severe mental illness, Dr. Szabla understands firsthand the profound impact trauma can have on the brain, nervous system, identity, and overall well-being. Her personal healing journey led her to discover the transformative potential of neuroplasticity—the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize and create new neural pathways throughout life. This discovery became the foundation for Transforming Pain Now® and her mission to help others realize that healing, resilience, and authentic empowerment are biologically achievable.Speaking honestly about her own experiences and the path that brought her to this field of work, Dr. Szabla demonstrates how her methods work whilst interweaving parts of her own story in order to transform her own outcomes in order to help others.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=25f5015fba994bf5

Social Harmony - Time to Talk - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

To learn more about Dr. Szabla and her work, click links below:

Neuroplasticity-Based Trauma Resolution | Transforming Pain Now

Instagram

Harnessing Neuroplasticity | Dr. Kristen Szabla | TEDxDeer Park Women - YouTube

We're told that we can be anything that we want to be - work hard, play by the rules, study, get ahead. We're also told that everything is equal - gender is no barrier, we've never had it so good, level playing field...

Today I'm joined by Jessica King - she's a social worker, public speaker, entrepreneur and founder of ElderCARE Collaborative who has spent many years in corporate settings across a number of fields and has experienced what it's like to be viewed through a different lens due to being a woman. This was highlighted by a simple, spiteful comment but we soon see a number of subtle and blatantly overt ways in which women are taught to see themselves as "less than" despite the regular equality narratives.

Jessica uses her background to advocate for women and to highlight how women down the years have been subtly manipulated into feeling the need to overperform, to extend boundaries, to undervalue themselves and often feel gratitude for accepting less. By teaching women how to reclaim their sense of self-worth, to stand up for themselves and decipher different agendas, Jessica models a new way of showing up in the workplace - one based in self-awareness, clarity and confidence.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=0de8fff6ad2443ec

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Jessica's work on the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BT3oZdEQo/

ElderCARE Collaborative - Compassion.Advocacy.Resources.Empowerment Compassionate aging advocacy, empowering confident decisions. Everyone deserves a moment of care.

Jessica King Speaker One Sheet â•fi No Oneâ•Žs Shiny New Toy (2).pdf

At 20 years old, Cory Young had the world at his feet, an optimistic view on life and a love of the ocean that saw him out on his board at every opportunity. Carefree and with dreams of the future, things were good until a freak accident changed his life forever.

Coming back to shore after catching some waves Cory took a tumble and landed awkwardly, breaking his neck and face down in the water unable to move. A passing tourist found him and called for help, with Cory luckily being pulled from the water and taken to hospital.

Weeks later, having been stuck in a hospital bed and running the full gamut of emotions, Cory learned that he would not walk, not surf and have a much different life to the one he knew. Upon returning home, thhese changes played out in a number of ways including alcoholism, depression, divorce and even a man trying to set him on fire while visiting a local mall.

Drawing upon incredible resilience, Cory reframed his life and today inspires others by coaching and supporting with personal growth, adapting to change, goal setting and so much more. Using his own experiences as a springboard, Cory works with others looking to reframe, embrace change and live their best lives.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcast:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=5d4bedf1694a406d

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Cory and his work on the links below:

From Surfing to paralysis....... Some old surfing photos! - YouTube

https://au.linkedin.com/in/cory-young-26867597

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ipD8C2tiPKug8HxLtp9h2?si=idxXJsDvTVyyqYw_NAMc4A

https://c-young.systeme.io/freecall

In a landscape where mental health has become a regular talking point and many in both online and IRL spaces use 'therapy language' to categorise much of our daily experiences, it can be easy to trivialise the suffering that someone is going through when living in the shadow of a serious mental health condition.

My guest today is Dene Dubois, who lives with Borderline Personality Disorder and talks of his experiences from being a young child in incredibly traumatic and dysfunctional settings through to the man he is today and how he's trying to bring about wider understanding of what can be a very frightening and misunderstood diagnosis.

We discuss common misconceptions about BPD and those who suffer from its' effects - both as an individual with a diagnosis but also those who are in their orbit. While many seem to believe that BPD is an attention-seeking choice or perhaps a 'split-personality' condition, Dene debunks myths and false narratives to give a story of extremes of emotion and the abundance of love on offer, alongside behaviour patterns brought about by errant thought.

In recent months Dene has embarked on a journey to connect with others suffering from BPD as well as giving a voice of compassion and understanding, whilst looking to give insights into what life is like when you're living on the borderline.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=ac133e24278243d9

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Dene's work on the links below:

Facebook

What BPD Really Feels Like | Dene Dubois on Trust, Trauma, and Turning Pain Into Purpose - YouTube

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/195ME4S6K2/

On the face of it, things seem ordinary and run of the mill. An average family life with a loving marriage between two professional people, the usual trappings and nothing that would raise an eyebrow. However, things aren't always as they may appear and this was definitely the case for Christine Dillard - mother, business leader and author of 'The Truth She Showed Me'.

Many of us get into relationships and perhaps let the occasional incident slide "I don't want to be difficult", "It's not a big deal" or "oh that's just how he/she is" are typical stories that we tell ourselves and others as we want to make it work, don't want to be seen as uncooperative and sometimes we even gaslight ourselves.

Christine's story is one that many will relate to but often feel unable to talk about - one of coercive control, of putting on an act for others, of walking on eggshells constantly and of feeling trapped in a situation where one feels helpless. The place where we should feel safe really does become like the war at home - or feels like it constantly will be, with reasons that continually change.

This episode is for anyone who has felt trapped in a cycle of abuse as an example of hope, that it can change and that there is another way. Christine's story is unique in that it is her experience but her work has brought her into contact with many others who have felt the same level of fear, blame, shame and more - please know that you are not alone or that your neighbour, friend, colleague or whoever could be the one hiding a life of terror behind a painted-on smile.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=0dec9da29b814328

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Christine's work on the links below:

Amazon.com: The Truth She Showed Me: Choosing freedom when the cost of staying is you...: 9798995438601: Dillard, Christine: Books

Coercive Control, Gaslighting and the Long Road Back to Yourself - with Christine Dillard - Unspoken Emotions | Podcast on Spotify

(2) Facebook

Raising children is incredibly rewarding and ultimately what te species is here to do - but seldom do we hear about the work that goes into bringing up our children as well as the emotional toll, both individually and upon our relationships.

Sadly, societal norms down the years have left the lion's share of child-rearing to mothers, in addition to an expectation that domestic tasks will be covered and also being an attentive partner. While the tide has been turning in recent years, many mothers are struggling to keep up - particularly in a world that appears to prioritise the external optics that we see splashed across our social media highlight reels.

As a mother of three, owner of a production company and host of 'Mom'n Real Hard', Candace Ridley is very much aware of the stresses and strains - and also the great joys - of motherhood and family life. With this in mind, Candace provides a space for mothers to connect and come together in a place of safety and honesty with someone who 'gets it' and they can feel less alone.

In addition to this, Candace talks openly about the challenges of raising a child with autism and the 'differabilities' that present when parenting a child who views the world differently and encourages parents to let go of their previously-held expectations and take joy from life.

While parenting brings its' own challenges and rewards, it can be easier to fall into dutiful patterns and move away from a partner - another side-effect that can bring about a seperate set of issues. Candace and I talk openly about making time for one another, rituals that keep us connected and being truly present for one another - even in difficult times.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=7b3c784818414b6e

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Candace's work on the links below:

Facebook

https://open.spotify.com/show/2acQHvLIgnA7ymluLz082C?si=85399b36008c4a04

Mom'N Real Hard - YouTube