In this solo episode, Katie reflects on a quote by London-based psychotherapist Sirit Chawla:

Katie shares how this perspective shapes her work as a trauma and chronic stress coach. She explores why true healing isn’t about being “fixed” by an expert but about building connection, safety, and understanding.

She also discusses the pressure providers feel to have all the answers, how shame keeps people stuck, and why authenticity and compassion are essential in any healing relationship.

• Healing happens through connection, not fixing.
• Providers don’t need to have it all together to be effective.
• Speaking shame aloud with understanding is deeply healing.
• Growth requires patience, guidance, and honest connection.

Follow along on Instagram @katieostresscoaching and online at www.oakmountainmh.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartfelt and hilariously honest episode, Katie O’Leary sits down with Amber Grimmett, founder of Fierce, Not Fragile.

Together, they dive into the beauty and chaos of personal growth, the power of owning your story, and how laughter can transform even the toughest seasons. This is an episode full of warmth, truth, and the kind of friendship that reminds you healing doesn’t have to be quiet or perfect. 💛

• How Amber built Fierce, Not Fragile to empower women to reclaim their strength
• Why humor and authenticity are essential tools for healing
• Letting go of perfection and showing up as your real self
• The gift of friendship and creative collaboration

Amber Grimmett is the founder of Fierce, Not Fragile, dedicated to helping women step into their confidence, own their stories, and live boldly. She is a head coach who is a passionate advocate for women embracing their strength.

You can connect with Amber on Instagram @fierce.not.fragile and Katie is on Instagram as @katieostresscoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this raw and deeply honest episode, Katie sits down with powerlifting coach & clinician, John Flagg. The very first person who helped her find and use her voice during one of the hardest seasons of her life. What follows is a conversation that pulls no punches. Touching on trauma, the power of presence, emotional regulation, and what it really means to hold space for someone without trying to fix them.

Together, they explore:

• The moment John unknowingly became the catalyst for this very podcast
• Why saying “I’m proud of you” might land the wrong way.. and what to say instead
• How to support someone through pain without needing to fix or rescue them
• Reframing emotions as messages, not problems
• The underrated magic of curiosity over judgment
• Using the barbell as a mirror for emotional and mental health
• The phrase that helps re-center when things feel out of control: “Control the controllables”

If you're someone trying to show up more fully for yourself and the people you love, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you listen, how you lead, and how you heal.

• Instagram: @john.rebuild_stronger
• Website: https://rebuildstronger.net

• Instagram: @katieostresscoaching
• Website: www.oakmountainmh.com

If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to share it with someone you love or leave a review!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been told to “just be more confident” — but no matter how many affirmations you say in the mirror, it just doesn’t feel true? That’s because confidence, healing, and self-worth can’t live in the mind alone. In this episode, Katie dives deep into why the body is essential in trauma healing — and what happens when we focus only on talk therapy and cognitive awareness without including the body.

Katie breaks down the difference between narrative memory (what we know happened) and procedural memory (what the body remembers), showing how trauma responses like freezing, pleasing, or shutting down are rooted in the body’s learned survival mechanisms.

You’ll hear real client examples, learn what it means to “update” the body’s memory, and discover how integrating somatic (body-based) techniques — like pendulation and bilateral stimulation — can help you truly feel safety, confidence, and trust from the inside out.

Don't forget to subscribe and follow along on Instagram @katieostresscoaching.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Katie sits down with Dr. Jocelyn Wallace—a pelvic health coach who helps women heal from hysterectomies, pelvic floor injuries, and chronic gynecological conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis.

Together, they explore the connection between childhood trauma, body image, and long-term health, and how survival responses from early life often shape our relationship with food, our bodies, and the healthcare system.

Jocelyn shares her personal story of growing up with severe fibroids, navigating bullying, emotional suppression, disordered eating, and the eventual turning point that led her to reclaim her body through strength training and health coaching.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s struggled with trusting their body, has a history of chronic stress or trauma, or wants to understand how deeper emotional wounds can manifest physically—and how healing is still possible.

• Instagram: @drjocelynwallace
• Website: www.drjocelynwallace.com

• Instagram: @katieostresscoaching
• Website: www.oakmountainmh.com

If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to share it with someone you love or leave a review!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the complex tension between individual needs and relationship needs—the "I" and the "We." It's not always clear when to put yourself first or when to show up for the relationship, and for many, especially trauma survivors, this can feel overwhelming and confusing.

We unpack why this dynamic is so challenging, how past experiences shape our instincts to either self-abandon or self-protect, and what it looks like to navigate this gray space with more awareness and intention.

You’ll hear real-life examples (like saying no to social events or supporting a partner through a tough time) and be guided through two core reflection questions that help clarify what should be prioritized in a given moment. We also discuss how honest communication can prevent resentment and strengthen connection over time.

Ultimately, this conversation is about building flexibility, self-trust, and curiosity—so we can better honor both ourselves and the relationships we care about.

Reflection prompts from this episode:

• Will prioritizing my need here strengthen or weaken the relationship long-term?
• Will prioritizing the relationship here cause me to betray myself?

This episode invites you to notice where you lean—toward the “I” or the “We”—and how to find more balance in the in-between. Don't forget to follow on Instagram @katieostresscoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Part 2 of our powerful and heartfelt conversation on resilience with the incredible Jared Maynard. Jared is a physiotherapist, coach, and founder of Unbreakable Strength. If you listened to Part 1, you know Jared’s story is one of deep personal and physical transformation. In this follow-up, we go even deeper.

Together, we unpack what resilience really means. Not just grit or toughness, but the ability to break, bend, rebuild, and receive help. Jared opens up about the moment he realized the version of himself he once knew was gone, and what it took to begin again.

We talk about:

• Why resilience isn’t about bypassing or avoiding pain
• Mental toughness vs. durability and how they're different
• What it really feels like to “lose” your identity after trauma
• How vulnerability, grief, and letting go are essential to rebuilding
• The power of connection, community, and receiving love
• Jared’s raw story of waking up in the ICU after life support
• Why sometimes, resilience starts with simply accepting help
• And the life-altering moment a mentor told him: “Let yourself be loved.”
• 
  

This is more than a conversation about physical recovery, it’s about emotional survival, personal transformation, and the kind of strength that’s built when everything else falls away.

Guest Info:

Jared Maynard

Founder of Unbreakable Strength

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jared.unbreakable/

Book A Call With Jared HERE

Connect with Katie:

Katie O'Leary Trauma & Chronic Stress Coaching

IG: https://www.instagram.com/katieostresscoaching/

Book A Call With Katie HERE

Missed Part 1 of Jared’s story? Go back and listen to how this journey began — from life-threatening illness to inner awakening.

🔗 Listen to Part 1 here

If this episode moved you, made you pause, or made you feel seen, please share it. Tag us and let us know your biggest takeaway. And don’t forget to subscribe for more honest, heart-led conversations on healing, strength, and what it means to be human.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Stress Mess, Laughing Through Trauma, Katie sits down with Jared Maynard — a physio, strength coach, dad, and all-around inspiring human — to dive into the nuanced and sometimes messy world of resilience.

Jared shares his deeply personal journey from being the “fat kid” hiding during recess to becoming a confident, grounded leader in the strength and coaching space. He opens up about his experiences with Kung Fu, football, bodybuilding, and eventually powerlifting — and how the barbell became a catalyst for self-trust, discipline, and transformation.

Together, Katie and Jared explore:

• What resilience really means beyond the buzzword
• Why failure can be a powerful teacher (even if it sucks)
• How chosen hardship (like lifting weights) builds inner strength
• The tension between perfectionism and self-compassion
• Parenting moments that are both hilarious and humbling
• What it means to stay grounded in your values when “the shit hits the fan”

This episode is equal parts real talk, personal storytelling, and practical wisdom for anyone navigating adversity — whether you're lifting heavy in the gym, raising little humans, or just trying to get through a tough week.

Notable Quotes:

🗣️ “Resilience is how you keep going with and for the things and people that matter to you.”

🗣️ “The barbell doesn't care what kind of day you’ve had. It teaches you how to fail — and how to come back stronger.”

🗣️ “You don’t have to act on every emotion. But you do need to listen to them.”

Guest Info:

🎧 Jared Maynard

Founder of Unbreakable Strength

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jared.unbreakable/

Book A Call With Jared HERE

Connect with Katie:

Katie O'Leary Trauma & Chronic Stress Coaching

IG: https://www.instagram.com/katieostresscoaching/

Book A Call With Katie HERE

Rate & Review:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend and leave a review! It helps more people find the pod and join the conversation around stress, strength, and showing up as your full self.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If one more person tells me, ‘Just try again—they didn’t mean it,’ I don’t know what I’ll do…”

In this deeply personal and raw episode, we dive into the complicated emotions around reconnection, estrangement, and healing—especially when the harm is minimized, dismissed, or repeated.

Through an honest reflection on childhood wounds, family estrangement, and the long road of unlearning harmful dynamics, we explore critical questions:

• How do you know when a connection is no longer healthy?
• What are the signs it might be okay—or even healing—to try again?
• And what happens when everyone else is pressuring you to reconcile, but your body is screaming “No”?

Part storytelling, part therapeutic unpacking, this episode invites you into an intimate session that blends vulnerability, insight, and somatic wisdom. If you've ever felt guilted into repairing a relationship that still hurts, or questioned whether you’re the “problem” for walking away, this one’s for you.

Topics Include:

• The myth of “just try again”
• Body cues that tell us the truth
• Signs of unsafe vs. safe reconnection
• Rewriting internalized shame from childhood
• Permission to honor your boundaries—even if others don't understand

This episode isn’t just about letting go, it’s about reclaiming your right to choose who gets to stay in your life.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! You can catch me on instagram @katieostresscoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we continue an important conversation with Laura, a Certified Somatic Relationship Coach and Board-Certified Sexologist. We'll dive into the complex topics of low desire, erotic aliveness, and communication within relationships. The episode covers everything from the personal beliefs shaping our sexuality to the importance of embodiment and how couples can reconnect with their desires in a safe and open way. Topics covered include:

• Low Desire Causes: Lara explains that low sexual desire in women often stems from emotional or relational dynamics (intimacy, body connection, unresolved resentment, hormones), not just medical issues.
• Gender and Desire: Men are more likely to be treated with medications for low desire, while women often receive therapy-focused advice, reflecting societal attitudes toward gender and sexuality.
• Medication Impact: Medications like antidepressants and conditions such as diabetes can affect libido, but this is often overlooked in medical care.
• Shame and Sexuality: Societal norms, like purity culture, have shamed women’s sexual desire. Lara stresses the importance of overcoming shame to embrace one's sexuality without judgment.
• Body Connection: Lara encourages reconnecting with one's body through sensory experiences, which fosters greater erotic awareness and pleasure.
• Dating Yourself: Katie suggests "dating yourself" for a month to tune into your personal desires, similar to Lara’s approach of reconnecting with needs in daily life.
• Shame and Taboo: Normalizing shame in sexual exploration creates a safe space for individuals to express their desires, promoting empowerment and acceptance.
• Core Erotic Desires & Blueprints: Understanding core sexual needs (e.g., being seen or cherished) and erotic blueprints (romantic, kinky, energetic) helps partners communicate and connect better.
• Fantasies & Boundaries: Exploring fantasies (romantic, kinky, energetic) and setting clear boundaries ensures consensual, empowering sexual exploration.

Highlights:

• The importance of embodiment in reconnecting with desires.
• The role of belief systems and shame in shaping sexual experiences.
• A deep dive into exploring erotic desires through core desires and blueprints.
• A conversation about consent, agency, and the power of boundaries in healthy sexual relationships.
• And more

This episode is a powerful reminder that sexual desire is complex and multifaceted. By exploring our beliefs, reconnecting with our bodies, and openly communicating with our partners, we can reignite erotic aliveness and cultivate healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

Resources:

• If you're curious about exploring this topic further, reach out to Lara on Instagram @lara_lark_coaching to help you navigate these conversations
• For more information about Katie's coaching program, follow and reach out on Instagram @katieostresscoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.