We've all Googled "does acupuncture actually work" at 2am—let's talk about it.

In this episode, Carrie sits down with acupuncturist and herbalist Autumn Bear to demystify one of the oldest healing practices on the planet.

Spoiler: those tiny needles aren't magic, but what they can do is pretty impressive.

What We Cover:

• What acupuncture actually is (and what it's not)
• How those 365 energetic points communicate with your organs and emotions
• The diagnostic process: tongue and pulse reading explained like you're a human, not a med student
• Real talk on bruising, bleeding, and whether it hurts (short answer: not really)
• How to incorporate acupuncture into your wellness routine—whether you're managing chronic issues or just trying not to fall apart
• Acupuncture for hangovers, Sunday scaries, athletic recovery, and more
• Why Western medicine is finally catching up to what's been working for 5,000 years

Common Myths We're Busting:

❌ "It's just placebo effect"

❌ "You have to believe in it for it to work"

❌ "It's going to hurt like hell"

❌ "It's only for pain management"

Autumn breaks down the eight diagnostic parameters of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), explains why your tongue says so much about your health, and gives us the honest truth about what acupuncture can (and can't) do. No wellness woo-woo, no miracle cure promises—just practical information from someone who's been doing this work for years.

Perfect for you if:

• You're acupuncture-curious but intimidated
• You've tried everything else and you're running out of options
• You want to understand how Chinese medicine actually works
• You're looking for preventative care that doesn't involve 47 supplements

Find Autumn Bear: https://www.autumnbear.com/

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.com

The Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/

Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/

TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok

About The Human Array: We cut through the holistic health chaos so you don't have to open all the tabs. Real research, honest conversations, zero BS about miracle cures.

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes where we actually explain this stuff 💬 Drop your acupuncture questions in the comments 👍 Hit like if you learned something (or if you can relate to Googling symptoms at 2am)

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new wellness practice.

Essential oils: do they actually work—or is it all hype?

In this episode of The Great Connect, host Carrie Allen sits down with Katie Hussong and Megan Schneider to break down what essential oils really are, how they work in the body, and how to use them safely and effectively as part of a holistic health approach.

Essential oils have become one of the most polarizing topics in wellness. Some people swear by them for stress relief, headaches, and immune support. Others dismiss them as pseudoscience. So what does the research actually say—and where does real-world experience matter?

This conversation cuts through the noise with a clear, evidence-informed, no-BS look at essential oils so you can decide what’s right for your body.

🌿 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ What essential oils actually are (steam-distilled plant extracts containing therapeutic compounds)

✔️ Why quality and purity matter for safety, effectiveness, and results

✔️ The three main ways to use essential oils:

✔️ Evidence-based uses for common concerns like stress, headaches, and digestion

✔️ How to get started safely without overwhelm

✔️ Why education and community matter when using essential oils

✔️ How doTERRA approaches purity testing and ethical sourcing

🧠 The Honest Truth

Essential oils aren’t a magic cure-all—and they’re not meant to replace medical care. But when you understand how they work and use high-quality products appropriately, they can be a powerful tool in your holistic health toolkit.

If you’ve ever felt confused, skeptical, curious, or overwhelmed by essential oils… this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Connect with Katie Hussong
  • Website
  • Instagram
• Connect with Megan Schneider
  • Website
  • Instagram
• Check out a Cō-Practice
• Discover which oils are best for you

💬 Join the Conversation

Have questions about essential oils? Curious about how to use them safely? Drop your questions in the comments—we read every one. 👍 If this episode helped you, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a friend who’s wellness-curious but hype-averse.

What if your health isn't just about what you eat—but also about light, sound, and electromagnetic fields?

In this episode, Dr. Catherine Clinton breaks down quantum biology: the emerging science of how waves of information impact your cells and create measurable biological action. We're talking natural light exposure, blue light blocking, sound frequencies, and why 2026 might be the year wellness gets simple again.

What we cover:

• What quantum biology actually means (and why it matters for your health)
• How light and sound create biological responses in your body
• Why natural light might be more important than supplements
• Practical blue light strategies that actually work
• Dr. Clinton's predictions for 2026 health trends
• Simple, non-invasive practices you can start today

Dr. Catherine Clinton is a licensed naturopathic physician with 17+ years of clinical experience and founder of the Quantum Biology Health Institute. After healing herself from two autoimmune conditions and Lyme disease, she's dedicated her career to teaching practitioners and health enthusiasts worldwide how to apply quantum biology principles for optimal health.

This conversation will change how you think about health.

Resources mentioned:

• Dr. Catherine Clinton's website: https://www.drcatherineclinton.com/
• Quantum Biology Health Institute: https://www.quantumbiologyhealthinstitute.org/
• "Optimize" book: https://www.drcatherineclinton.com/optimize

Connect with Dr. Catherine Clinton:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.catherineclinton/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.catherineclintonnd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.catherineclinton LinkedId: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-clinton-17b87b42/

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.comThe Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/ TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok

Four women. Four wake-up calls. One honest conversation about living “holistic-ish.”

This week on The Human Array Podcast, host Carrie Allen sits down with Amanda, Erin, Kristina, and Jeannette to get real about their holistic health journeys—the scary diagnoses, the family health crises, the 2am Google spirals, and the small changes that changed everything.

They share how autoimmune disease, cancer, natural birth, and Whole30 became unexpected teachers in learning to trust their bodies. You’ll also hear practical ways to start your own wellness journey (without the BS): sleeping better, reading ingredients, adding gentle movement, and embracing progress over perfection.

You'll hear:

• How an autoimmune disease diagnosis led to intermittent fasting, yoga, and finally feeling strong again
• How a family member's cancer survival through diet changed an entire family's approach to health
• How preparing for natural birth opened the door to understanding the body's capabilities
• How Whole 30 made us realize we had no idea what was in our food

As well as:

• The mind-body connection we couldn't ignore
• How to navigate Western medicine while exploring holistic alternatives
• Why finding supportive healthcare providers matters
• Practical advice for starting your own holistic-ish journey

Real talk: This isn't a "we have it all figured out" episode. We're living holistic-ish—not holistic perfect. Some days that's meal prepping organic everything. Some days it's surviving on coffee and spite. (Both are valid.)

If you're overwhelmed about where to start, pick one thing: sleep, movement, or reading ingredient labels. That's enough. —

Living Holistic-ish is our series about doing holistic health imperfectly, honestly, and without the BS.

A real‑talk therapist’s guide to holiday stress, gathering fatigue, festive comparison syndrome, and creating a season that actually feels good for your nervous system.​

In this episode, Carrie sits down with therapist and wellness educator Chloë Bean to unpack holiday stress, gathering fatigue, and what “festive comparison syndrome” is doing to your mental health and nervous system. You’ll hear practical somatic tools for when anxiety spikes at the dinner table, simple ways to set holiday boundaries without feeling like an asshole, and realistic self‑care practices that help you rest, regulate, and actually enjoy parts of the season on your own terms.​

We've all been there—mid-December, scrolling through picture-perfect holidays while juggling real-life chaos and complicated family dynamics.

Chloë shares grounded, actually-practical tools for navigating holiday overwhelm, holiday anxiety, and the people-pleasing patterns that tend to flare this time of year. Expect somatic support you can use on the spot, simple boundary-setting, and a more realistic take on holiday self-care.

What We Cover:

• Festive comparison syndrome
• Somatic tools for holiday anxiety
• Communicating boundaries without guilt
• A non-performative gratitude practice
• Gift giving without the stress
• Why rest counts as productivity

Resources Mentioned:

• Chloë’s Free People Pleaser Workbook
• Take Chloë’s Burnout Quiz

Real talk: You can’t control the season—but you can regulate through it. This episode helps you create a holiday that feels calmer, kinder, and more aligned with your nervous system.

Connect with Chloë Bean:

Website: https://www.chloebeantherapy.com/meet-chloe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloebeantherapy/

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.com

The Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/

Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/

TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok

In this episode, we sit down with registered dietitian and holistic health champion Lee Cotton to talk about how to release holiday food guilt, quiet diet‑culture ‘food noise,’ and honor mind–body–spirit at the holiday table. You’ll hear practical ways to listen to your hunger cues, navigate family traditions and ‘that person’ moments, keep your grounding routines while traveling or hosting, and enjoy nostalgic foods like pumpkin pie without betraying your body.

The holidays are here—which means the annual holiday food guilt spiral is lurking. You know the script: “Should I eat this?” “I’ll be good today.” “Well…I already blew it, might as well keep going.” “I’ll detox in January.”

Yeah. Let’s not do that this year.

This week, Carrie sits down with registered dietitian Lee Cotton to unpack where holiday eating without guilt actually begins (spoiler: generational patterns + diet culture and food noise)—and how to move through the season with more intuition, nourishment, and ease.

In this episode:

• How emotional eating during the holidays is real, valid, and often deeply nostalgic (hello pumpkin pie and family traditions)
• What intuitive eating during the holidays actually looks like, including tuning into your hunger cues and intuition
• Why keeping a normal eating routine matters during travel and holiday family dynamics
• How bringing a nutrient-dense dish is holiday stress + self-care, not moral superiority
• And yes…Lee’s controversial take on marshmallows on sweet potatoes

Meet Lee Cotton: Registered dietitian and author of A Nourishing Perspective, helping people build calm, confident, non-complicated relationships with food (especially during post-holiday food guilt season).

The holidays are chaotic enough without adding shame to your plate. Let’s move through the season with less guilt—and more pie.

Connect with Lee Cotton:

Website: leecottonnutrition.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecottonnutrition/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leecottonnutrition

Pre-order Lee Cotton's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Perspective-Reconnect-Harmonize-Relationship/dp/B0FSF9BBPJ

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.com

The Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/

Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/

TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok

We’ve opened all the tabs, tried all the things, and lived to tell the tale. In this episode of Living Holistic-ish, we’re sharing our favorite holistic health products that actually work—from red light masks that make your skin glow (and your hormones happy) to mushroom supplements that help you stay sane during the holidays.

No hype. No “this will cure everything.” Just honest reviews from people who’ve done the lived-research so you don’t have to.

Whether you’re shopping for someone else or finally treating yourself, this guide is full of gifts that genuinely support holistic health—without the wellness elitism.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Red light therapy masks
• Castor Oil Wrap Kits
• Ancestral Cosmetics tallow products
• Detoxification Balm (Hyaluxe)
• VivaRays blue light blocking glasses
• King of the Jungle (Farmacy for Life)
• Mushroom Coffee (Everyday Dose)
• BioLIght - Full Spectrum Lightbulb (Block Blue Light)
• Gua Sha & rose quartz rollers

Looking for a calmer way to navigate the sales season? Don’t miss our Nervous System–Friendly Black Friday Guide—packed with our top tips and picks for Black Friday (and holiday shopping in general) that won’t spike your stress.

What does “holistic health” actually mean—and what does it look like in real life—beyond the hashtags, buzzwords, and highlight reels?

We’re exploring just that—through our own (very personal) stories, struggles, and growth.

In this episode, Carrie Allen, founder of The Human Array, sits down with team members Kristina, Jeanette, Amanda, and Erin for an honest, unfiltered conversation about living holistic-ish.

Because here’s the thing: nobody’s doing this perfectly—and pretending otherwise is exhausting.

We get into it all:

• What holistic health actually means (beyond the Instagram version)
• Why "holistic-ish" gives you permission to be human
• Our personal health stories (the unfiltered versions)
• Living holistically in a world that thinks you're weird
• The connection between stress, autoimmune issues, and mental health
• How to set boundaries without losing your mind
• Why being a critical thinker matters more than following rules

Real humans. Real stories. Zero BS.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention, curiosity, and learning to laugh at the chaos while still caring for yourself.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by wellness advice, judged for your choices, or like you’re the only one still figuring it out—pull up a chair.

We’re all living holistic-ish. And that’s exactly the point.

🔗 Ready to dive in?

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform

📱 Download the Human Array app to join our community: bit.ly/JoinTheHumanArray

🔔 Subscribe for future episodes

🎙️The Great Connect Podcast

Where meaningful conversations spark real transformation. Subscribe for more catalyst spotlights and transformative conversations!

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.com

The Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/

Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/

TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok

Real talk: parenting is hard—and most of us are just trying not to mess up our kids too badly. In this conversation, Carrie sits down with life and health coach Lillian Murray, who's been there—from survival mode with a newborn to watching her own son parent in ways that made her rethink everything.

Lillian gets honest about her journey from “do what the doctor says” parenting to trusting her gut—literally and figuratively. She shares what it was like to advocate for herself and her kids when holistic health resources were nearly nonexistent, and how becoming a grandparent opened her eyes to a radical truth: maybe kids actually know what they need.

Together, they dive into what really matters: why deep listening beats perfect parenting advice, how play and nature are essential (not optional) for nervous system regulation, and what it looks like to trust your intuition when everyone else is telling you you’re doing it wrong. And yes, they go there—screens, overstimulation, and the myth of balance.

This isn’t about being the perfect Pinterest parent—it’s about being present. About remembering that kids are humans with their own wisdom, and that you deserve a support system that keeps you grounded, not burned out. Whether you’re parenting, grandparenting, or just trying to survive family gatherings, Lillian reminds us that the most holistic thing you can do might be the simplest: listen.

Spoiler: You don’t need all the answers—you just need to be willing to ask better questions.

🔗 Ready to dive in?

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform

📱 Download the Human Array app to join our community: bit.ly/JoinTheHumanArray

🔔 Subscribe for future episodes

🎙️The Great Connect Podcast

Where meaningful conversations spark real transformation. Subscribe for more catalyst spotlights and transformative conversations!

Connect with Lillian:

THA Profile: https://community.thehumanarray.com/spaces/13846246/page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianmurray_respiteplay

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.com

The Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/

Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/

TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok

Cold plunges and breathwork are getting plenty of attention these days—but stepping into the water, and your breath, is where the real transformation begins.

In this episode of The Great Connect, host Carrie Allen sits down with Rachel Lee, founder of Ice Bath Boston and Breath, to explore the profound effects of cold immersion and breathwork on mental and physical health.

Rachel shares her personal journey of navigating depression and anxiety, and how daily ice baths combined with breath practices enabled her to reduce her medication from four prescriptions to one in only three months. Her story highlights the potential of body-based practices to complement traditional therapeutic approaches and open new pathways to healing.

The conversation covers:

• The science and safety behind cold exposure therapy
• The AIR Method and how it reshapes your stress response
• Why these practices are especially valuable for high achievers, corporate leaders, and women in perimenopause
• The importance of adaptive coping strategies, intentional practice, and cultivating resilience through embodied methods

Whether you’re curious, cautious, or ready to take the plunge yourself, this episode offers grounded insights and an invitation to rethink what resilience can look like in your own life.

🔗 Ready to dive in?

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform

📱 Download the Human Array app to join our community: bit.ly/JoinTheHumanArray

🔔 Subscribe for future episodes

🎙️The Great Connect Podcast

Where meaningful conversations spark real transformation. Subscribe for more catalyst spotlights and transformative conversations!

Connect with Rachel:

THA Profile: https://community.thehumanarray.com/spaces/19714566/page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icebathboston/

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.com

The Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/

Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/

TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok