The Gently Used Human with Dr. Scott Lyons

What if one person’s safety is another person’s terror? Do we ever feel truly safe or are we always grappling with trauma's deceptive web, clouding our  innate sense of security and well-being? This week, Dr. Scott meets  with Deb Dana—clinician, consultant, speaker, author and beacon of hope as they navigate the complexities of trauma through the lens of polyvagal theory.

This episode unravels the fascinating rhythm of regulation, busts the myth of 'one size fits all' safety, and offers alternative perspectives for those who find the term 'safety' unsettling. Be ready to meet the 'Godmother of Glimmers' as we venture through danger, safety cues, and the influence of negativity bias on our ability to discern safety. With Deb's guidance, prepare to untangle the knots of hypervigilance and regulation, and comprehend why safety is often mistaken for familiarity. 

Topics We Break Down:

• The language of the nervous system.
• Qualifying safety.
• Overcoming negativity bias by recognizing safety cues.
• Regulation vs. hypervigilance
• Why safety and survival can’t coexist.

Is it ever possible to truly be authentic in an era where our lives are broadcast to the world?  At what point does our natural human desire to connect become a curated performance? And who must we become to keep the wheels of engagement spinning in a world of filtered realities?

On this week’s episode, Dr. Scott tackles the complex topic of authenticity with herbalist, writer, entrepreneur and podcast host, Olivia Amitrano (better known to her followers as Organic Olivia) to distinguish between the real deal and the polished-for-show version that Olivia calls 'authenticity porn.' Together, they'll tackle the tough questions like, is it even feasible to share our 'real selves' in a space where our sense of self is influenced by others' views? And how does our deep-rooted need to be seen and acknowledged turn into us becoming our social media persona? Scott and Olivia will also unpack how trauma impacts who you are in the world, how you present yourself to the world and how the world, in turn, gives you feedback about who you should be.  

Join us for this week’s candid episode as we navigate the tricky path of authenticity in a world where filters are the norm, not the exception.

Topics we break down:

• Deciphering our gut-brain connections
• Impact of stress and trauma on gut health
• The role of community in healing
• Understanding our social avatars or “cardboard cutouts”
• Social camouflage and self-curation
• Adam Grant versus Brené Brown: what even is authenticity?!

Connect with Olivia

Olivia Amitrano, or as most of us know her, Organic Olivia, has a massive fan base of over half a million followers for good reason. She is an herbalist, writer, entrepreneur, and podcast host with a mission to bridge the gap between Western medicine's gifts and traditional herbalism's wisdom. Her journey began when she experienced various debilitating health issues that no Western medical doctor could alleviate. As a young child, she knew that something was not quite right, but she couldn't put her finger on it - she sensed that her symptoms were interconnected at their root. For example, her anxiety and skin would flare up at the same time as her gastrointestinal pain. She decided to explore Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and consulted an herbalist. Her life transformed from that day forward.

Olivia's life's goal is to provide education, insights, and herbal blends that support individuals in achieving optimal health. She develops tinctures, elixirs, capsules, and teas that allow people worldwide to access medicinal herbs that enhance everything from sleep and digestion to energy and mood. Organic Olivia's mission is to genuinely change people's lives through plant remedies.

Organic Olivia |  Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Discount Codes:

Save 10% at Omala with offer code DRSCOTT10

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Have you ever wondered if there’s more to wellness than shivery ice baths, grueling exercise schedules, or the savory crunch of air-fried kale? Have you ever questioned whether a strong sense of community and deep connections might be more crucial to longevity than a diet or workout regimen? In this week’s lively discussion, Dr. Scott Lyons is joined by Colleen and Jason Wachob, the visionary co-founders of MindBodyGreen as they answer important questions such as: is wellness a cult, and what is the price of admission?  Together, they’ll redefine the concept of well-being - untangling it from the shackles of intensity and restriction and imbuing it with delight, purpose, and ease.

In this uplifting episode, Colleen and Jason introduce us to a refreshing perspective on wellness - one that celebrates joy and discards the austere regimes that have become social media’s darlings. As they walk us through the eight pillars of joyous well-being from their groundbreaking new book, prepare for a wellness revolution that urges us to relish in real food, move our bodies in harmony with our joy, and foster soul-nourishing connections. Get ready to discover a dynamic, adaptable, and gentle approach to ‘longevity for the 99%.’

Topics we break down:

• Urgency culture
• The importance of individual, good-enough wellness.
• The eight pillars of joyful well-being.
• Social media and the attention economy.
• Cultivating meaningful connections.

Connect with Colleen & Jason 

Jason Wachob is the founder and co-CEO of MindBodyGreen, the leading independent media brand dedicated to well-being with 15 million monthly unique visitors. He is also the host of the popular mindbodygreen podcast and the bestselling author of Wellth: How I Learned to Build a Life, Not a Resume. He has been featured in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, BoF, and Vogue, and has a BA in history from Columbia University, where he played varsity basketball for four years. He lives with his wife, co-founder, and co-ceo, Colleen, in Miami with their daughters, Ellie and Grace. In his spare time he loves walking to get hot black coffee. You can find him on Instagram at @jasonwachob.

Colleen Wachob is the co-founder and co-CEO at MindBodyGreen, the leading independent media brand dedicated to well-being with 15 million monthly unique visitors. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her husband, mindbodygreen founder and co-CEO Jason Wachob and their two girls, Ellie and Grace. She graduated from Stanford University with degrees in international relations and Spanish. She spent ten years working at Fortune 500 companies including Gap, Walmart, and Amazon before devoting her life’s work to mindbodygreen. Colleen has been a speaker at Fortune 500 companies and numerous trade conferences on well-being trends. Her new passion that brings her joy is pickleball. You can find her on Instagram at @colleenwachob

Connect with Dr. Scott 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Youtube | Addicted to Drama 

Resources

The Joy of Well-Being: A Practical Guide to a Happy, Healthy, and Long Life by Colleen and Jason Wachob

‘How a Sudden Pulmonary Embolism Forced Me to Reckon with My Health’

‘What Makes Online Content Viral?’

‘Association Between Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Risk of Mortality Among Middle-Aged Adults in France’

Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming by Paul Hawken

BYU Study on Loneliness as a Risk Factor for Mortality

Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100 by Marta Zaraska

‘The Roseto Effect: A 50-Year Comparison of Mortality Rates’

Dr. Lisa Miller

 Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others by Dr. Scott Lyons

Discount Codes

Save 10% at Omala with Offer Code DRSCOTT10

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What are trauma tingles, you ask? Oh, you know them. They're those wild, exciting, tantalizing, and misdirecting feelings that magnetize you into the same shitty relational dynamics you've been dealing with your whole life.

Oof, It's wild out there in the complex realm of relationships. Sometimes we find ourselves more interested in the chase than the embrace or confusing intensity for intimacy- all the while declaring that we want and need love. If red flags feel like home and you find yourself or people you know in the merry-go-round of relationship pains, welcome to the world of trauma tingles... Let's talk about it.

In this episode, Dr. Scott Lyons chats with Kai Cheng Thom and Nkem Ndefo about red flags in dating and why trauma tingles feel irresistible. If an ordinary life feels risky and red flags cause a buzz of excitement, don't worry—this is a normal part of being human and an adaptive response to trauma. Through witnessing patterns unfolding and learning how to form safer boundaries for ourselves and others, we can heal to the point that those trauma tingles become boring and unsexy- red flag couture no more!

Topics we break down:

• How trauma tingles relate to your attachment style.
• Why dating apps can be dehumanizing.
• Communicating your needs.
• Reconfiguring relationships.
• Maintaining boundaries.
• Choosing yourself.

Kai Cheng's work focuses on the intersection of social justice, pleasure activism, and transformative approaches to healing conflict.

Connect with Kai Cheng

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Arise Embodiment

Nkem is the founder of Lumos Transforms and the creator of the Resilience Toolkit.

Connect with Nkem

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

The Resilience Toolkit

Connect with Dr. Scott

Website | Instagram | TikTok

Addicted to Drama

Save 10% at OMALA with offer code DRSCOTT10

Save 10% on The Embody Lab with offer code GENTLYUSED10

Want to see the Rorschach Drawings? Head over to the episode page.

This is not your average wellness podcast. Its like if "Between Two Ferns" hooked up with "Wait Don't Tell Me" while whispering sweet nothings into each others ears about psychology, health, science, and well being - and postcoitally they drop some heavy wisdom.  

From passion to pain, glory to defeat, comedy to drama to trauma, we’ve all been through it. This show unpacks what you need to keep you thriving on the roller coaster of being human.

You can listen,  watch the episodes, read episode notes, and submit your questions for advice from a midwestern mom by going to gentlyused.com.