The WellyWalk Podcast

In this episode we travel back to October 2024 — a time of giddiness, desperation, and secrets.

We meet one of my favourite psychopomps, Dr K (Healthy Gamer), and explore what he has to say about modern love and the surprisingly physical nature of our emotions.

I also give you a quick crash course on dopamine — what it is, how it works, and why understanding it might change your behaviour.

And finally, as promised, I reveal the superpower I’ve been honing this past year — the thing that can help you break a habit, build a habit, and maybe even manifest the life you actually want. It's at your fingertips already, you just need to learn how to use it.

Referenced in this episode:

• Dr K – Healthy Gamer
• Dr K on Diary of a CEO
• NPR – Mapping Emotions on the Body: Love Makes Us Warm All Over
• Healthy Minds Meditation App
• Sarah Davis – Finding What’s True (Substack)

We also touch on ideas from:

• Dr Tara Swart – The Source
• Julia Cameron – The Artist’s Way
• TJ Power – The DOSE Effect
• David Epstein – Range

Andrew Huberman also has some excellent podcast episodes on dopamine if you’d like to explore further.

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. You can find it here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

A quick check-in — a little hej and hejdå — on where I've been these past few months, deep in a stretch of burnout and challenge that brought a few unexpected insights about what happens when the going gets rougher.

In this short update I touch on ideas from

• TJ Power – The Dose Effect

• Julia Cameron – The Artist’s Way

• Ethan Kross – Chatter

• Kate Bradley (@nurtikatecooks)

Stay tuned for the next full episode, where we'll dive into wisdom from my psychopomp Dr K on why we aren't falling in love, the physicality of our emotions, what dopamine actually is (and what "dopaminergic" really means), and a surprising superpower you already have under your nose that can help you accomplish what you really want in life.

I'll be back soon. Watch this space.

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

In this episode of the WellyWalk Podcast, we return to the wisdom of David Epstein and his book Range, exploring how we learn better, how to find your “match fit,” and why we should embrace the idea of wicked learning.

These might all be clues to unearthing the mystical idea of purpose.

Along the way we connect a few dots — with Dr Tara Swart and her book The Source on the science of manifestation, and with Julia Cameron’s twelve-step creative recovery program in The Artist’s Way.

And then there’s the small matter of trying to write a novel while what I call “Bonkersville” is coming at me full tilt.

The answer might just lie in understanding the strange nature of wicked learning in a wicked world.

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

In this episode, I sail away from Sardinia in a new and promising direction. But can my excitement survive the maelstrom that awaits it back home?

We meet a new Psychopomp, David Epstein, exploring how we focus better.

We talk about the wonder of flow state and what is happening to our brain when we are in it. Science!

Finally, what exactly is a virtue trap masochist? (It could be you, and you and you... ) And how you might be self-sabotaging yourself from the moral high ground?

Get your boots on... Welly at the ready.

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

When someone you love is facing cancer, you find out fast how many barriers stand between patients and the care they need — and how helpless it can feel when so much is out of your hands.

I've had a little mystery on my mind, one that's brought out my inner Nancy Drew: I want to crack the case of a possible cancer cluster affecting people close to me.

But more than that, I want to break down the barriers standing between my amazing, brilliant, courageous friend and the treatment she deserves. There is something we can do to help — always and forever...

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

After not succeeding in my three month mission to find purpose, I attempt to slow my free fall, grabbing tight to the Artist's Way.

But then something miraculous happened...

Enter the Psychopomps, pointing, like neon signs in the direction I need to go.

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In this episode we travel to Sardinia, touch again upon Abundant v Lack Thinking, the chemicals fuelling them, and our need for Safety & Security, and finally, I reveal the second step we must take in order to really change.

We discuss...

Sarah Davis, who leads an Artist Way course and also has a magnificent podcast and a glorious substack, relating her own journey: Finding What's True

Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way

Dr Tara Swart's The Source

Miranda Cowley Heller's The Paper Palace

'Dr K' (Alok M. Kanojia), who I first heard as a guest on Diary of a CEO

Enjoy!

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

A children's book taught me more about habit change than any productivity guide ever has — and the small shift it inspired led to some awfully big rewards, not just for me.

It's the Easter Holidays here in the UK, which means nary a second to podcast — but I wanted to share the lesson of The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes by Du Bose Heyward before it got away from me.

We also discuss insights from David Epstein's Range, and the relationship between slow dopamine, serotonin, and doing hard things — and why that combination is so very good for us.

In the next episode, Psychopomp, we continue our journey through midlife... dare I say it... I know it sounds cheesy... but if it looks like a bunny and hops like a bunny... it's probably an awakening.

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

This episode leads us through the highs and lows of major surgery, via the race to find my 'Soul Purpose', to the top of the cliffs of confusion and dismay, but, do not fear, the universe is waiting in the wings with a new flight plan.

We discuss The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and The Source by Dr Tara Swart, beginning an exploration into neuroscience and Abundant v Lack Thinking. And you can find my friend Sarah at her website Finding What's True, for the Artist's Way, her podcast and substack too.

Enjoy!

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

Our story begins here. On a dark and stormy night, mid-life, when a little shell of a person found herself facing a diagnosis. But she would not go quietly... Nor would she go back to the way things had been.

She wanted change. She wanted something better. Not just surviving but eating it all up and exploding with some form of other worldly potentiality.

But how?

Come with me and I promise laughter, maybe some tears, mixed with heaping scoops of curious revelation. We are on a mission to understand those big ticket items: Purpose, Fulfilment, & Happiness.

Walk the walk, and let's put some Welly into it.

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side note: if any of this has you curious about developing your mind-body connection — Strength You Can Trust is where we get into the neuroscience and the why behind the Pilates method, not just the how. Connect with me here — ⁠https://lightwellpilates.com/strength⁠

Hi there, I'm Jennifer Palmer and this is the Welly Walk Podcast.

This podcast is for anyone looking for positive, empowering change in their life. We'll be discussing simple ways to build a stronger, more balanced picture of wellness, using gentle thoughts and actions, with the knowledge of science and up to date research.

I'm a creative writer, a Pilates Teacher, a mother and a partner, who recently experienced the throws of a c-shaped health crisis, which lead, predictably, to a mental health crisis, which joyfully exploded into a 'mid-life awakening'. Might sound cheesy, but I'm here to say it can happen and after hitting rock bottom it feels pretty glorious, a year later, to be here chatting with you about everything I've learned.

I want to share with all of you the path I've been walking, cultivating positive change and healing, leaving behind a life dominated by stress, frustration and anger for a life buoyed by happiness, motivation, contentment and joy.

Each week I'll present little digestible ideas for us to think on and experiment with; these subtle actions shift us mentally away from Survival Mode and into a mindset based in Abundance and Love. Again, it might sound cheesy, but this is what separates those annoying people who seem always happy and go-getting from those of us who seem perpetually glum and and on the back foot. The science proves we can change which side of this spectrum we live on. And it starts here.

Together we can pick ourselves up of the bottom of the priority list. We're not going to let modern life keep us down! Instead let's find a bigger, better, balance of wellness: mind, body, spirit, and also money.

Along these lines, if you are interested in the financial side, I will have a second podcast devoted to money mindset called 'WellyWealth'. Join me there as I attempt to go from financially dumb and useless to financially secure and thriving in a year.

And if you like this episode please LIKE, FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, SHARE. With your help I can grow the podcast and get some amazing guests on to discuss the ingredients of Positive Mindset and Change.

Thank you for being here and I hope to see you soon. Together let's walk, gently, easy does it, but let's put some welly in to it.