Soften the Edges

This episode starts 400,000 years ago, on a cold winter night, with a tiny piece of pyrite and the discovery of fire.

I’ve been thinking about how humans forgot how to make fire, and how that feels a lot like the ways we forget ourselves now. How to rest when we’re tired. Eat when we’re hungry. Cry when we’re sad.

As the days get shorter, this is a gentle invitation to slow down and remember. I’ll share a simple somatic practice for warmth and orientation to safety: something small you can carry with you through the long, dark evenings.

Pull up close. The fire is crackling.

Reminder! We're going on a winter break but will be back January 7! If you want a special bonus episode in the meantime, sign up for the Weekly Magic here!

Join comics artist and professor Steenz and Mary as the chat all things creativity, kindness, and hope when the world is...the world. Mary leads a quick body-based practice specially chosen to bring some ease to your day. Find Steenz here and on IG @ohheysteenz. Snag a bonus episode of Soften the Edges and The Weekly Magic newsletter right here!

Join Mary and Laurie Brockhaus as they explore the breath as a tool for presence, mindfulness, and social justice. It's a glorious convo full of invitations to be here, now.

You'll leave this ep with a brand new somatic practice for being with the breath, as well as warm fuzzies (or at least a bit of ease) from reconnecting with yourself.

You can find Laurie's therapy practice right here.

Please visit Dreamin' and Schemin' to tell Mary what's on your mind - just 2 minutes of your time and she'll send you an exclusive soothing audio catered to your nervous system! Thanks!

Your nervous system has a secret: it remembers things you don't, and it's running survival patterns under the radar. Join Mary for the science behind these old programs and a quick somatic practice that brings you into the present so you can feel calmer, more resilient, and ready for the challenges life throws your way.

This week, Mary reveals a truth hiding in plain sight: you’re not just managing your own energy. You’re co-regulating with everyone around you, and your nervous system has been doing overtime.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why your emotions, energy, and capacity aren’t separate issues

• How the nervous system quietly shapes every interaction.

• A simple boundary-setting somatic practice you can use anytime to remind your body where you end and the world begins.

You’ll walk away with more clarity, more compassion for yourself, and a practical tool to reclaim some much-needed space in your body.

Want to feel steadier, more present, and more creative? Your body holds the key. Mary shares how our bodies store stress and simple, science backed ways to clear the stress and feel better, right in the middle of real life. There are three quick paths to nervous system regulation, and you'll do them right along with Mary so you can feel calmer and more resilient, nothing fancy or extra required.

Download your FREE 2-min nervous system soothing audios at marywissinger.com/softentheedges

You are too precious to be walking around sleep deprived. Make the 3am wakeup a thing of the past. Mary shares the science behind nighttime waking along with simple steps to sneak back into sleep. As always, we'll do a quick co-regulation practice so you'll walk away feeling calmer and more resilient, and you'll catch good Zs tonight!

Worthiness is a feeling, not an achievement. Delve into the surprising root of perfectionism and feeling unworthy. Plus, Mary guides you through a quick somatic practice to generate feelings of true worthiness from within so you can rise to the challenges in your life, exactly as you are.

You're not too sensitive - your nervous system is trying to protect you. Discover the simple science behind the "too much" sensory response, and easy practices to help you feel calmer, steadier, and less stressed.

What if stress isn’t a problem, but a message?

Your body isn’t out to sabotage you. It’s trying to keep you alive, but sometimes it's a little too good at its job.

In this episode of Soften the Edges, author, educator, and certified nervous system nerd Mary Wissinger unpacks what your body’s been saying all along: stress isn’t a flaw, it’s communication.

You’ll learn how to speak your body’s language, why logic can’t turn off stress, and how nervous system regulation is the key to real calm.

Press play, take a breath, and meet your brilliant body right where it is. Subscribe for your next exhale.