You were not failing at your diet. Your nervous system was doing exactly what it learned to do to survive.

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof go deep on one of the most personal and most pervasive patterns they have both lived through: the disordered relationship with food and the body. Building on their recent conversation with Luis Mojica, this is the episode where they go further, bringing the neuroscience, the lived experience, and the practical path forward into a single, honest conversation.

Both hosts have a long history with binge eating disorder. For decades, food was the primary regulation strategy, the way the nervous system found relief from stress it had no other tools to process, the way the body found pleasure when pleasure felt dangerous, and the way a dysregulated system managed to keep functioning. They are not talking about this from the outside. They are talking about it from the other side.

The conversation moves through several layers. First, why food behaviors are regulation strategies, not character flaws, and why disordered eating works, at least until it doesn't. Then into interoception, the brain's ability to sense internal body signals, and how disrupted interoceptive awareness drives everything from not knowing you're full to being unable to feel your own emotional states. They trace how visual processing deficits can distort body image and increase stress load, how the default mode network gets locked into self-referential rumination and body obsession, and how the salience network learns to flag the body itself as a threat.

Elisabeth breaks down what is actually happening neurologically when the obsessive loop runs, why insight alone does not stop it, and what actually interrupts it: sensory anchoring, movement, proprioceptive tools, and the slow building of emotional processing capacity over time. Jennifer brings it back to the body and the breath, to shame, to the secret eating and the shame spirals that followed, and to what it actually felt like to slowly, gradually come out of that.

The episode closes with one of the most important reframes in the whole conversation: healing your relationship with food and your body is not about getting the food right. It is a portal into self-attunement, emotional processing, and relational capacity that ripples into every area of life. It is post-traumatic growth.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why food behaviors are nervous system regulation strategies, not willpower failures

• How the absence of early co-regulation leads to using food as a modulation tool

• Why diets fail without somatic and nervous system support in place

• How interoceptive deficits drive disordered eating, emotional disconnection, and body image distortion

• How visual processing issues can compound stress load and body dysmorphia

• What the default mode network and salience network have to do with food obsession and body rumination

• Why psychedelics can soften rigid thought loops temporarily but cannot rewire them without nervous system preparation and integration

• How to interrupt the rumination loop using sensory anchoring, orienting, movement, and proprioception

• Why shame is harder to metabolize than any food behavior and how to begin working with it somatically

• How uncoupling pleasure from shame is a critical and often overlooked part of healing the relationship with food and body

• Why healing the food relationship is one of the deepest portals to relational health and post-traumatic growth

Chapter Markers

0:00 - Food as Energy, Rest, and the High Performer Trap 01:08 - Welcome: Moving From Control to Self-Attunement 03:20 - Six Years of Conversations About Food and How Far We Have Come 06:24 - Every Diet Failed. Here Is Why. 08:31 - Food Behaviors Are Regulation Strategies, Not Character Flaws 11:29 - Safety Has to Come Before Pattern Change 14:19 - Perfectionism, the Inner Critic, and Controlling Appearance as a Stress Response 15:43 - How Vision Training Changed Body Image 19:50 - Interoception: The Missing Piece in Food and Body Healing 23:56 - Physical Hunger vs Emotional Need: Learning to Tell the Difference 28:13 - Interrupting the Pattern in Real Time 30:28 - Building Emotional Processing as a Skill 36:56 - The Default Mode Network and Why the Obsessive Loop Runs 40:05 - The Salience Network: When Your Brain Learns Your Body Is a Threat 41:58 - How to Interrupt the Loop: Sensory Anchoring, Movement, and Proprioception 53:14 - Shame, Secret Eating, and How They Get Woven Together 56:12 - Uncoupling Pleasure From Shame: A Portal Back to the Body 1:01:32 - Food as One of the Deepest Portals to Post-Traumatic Growth

Ways to Engage with Neurosomatics

Join us inside Rewire: This is where you actually experience the practices Jennifer and Elisabeth talk about on the podcast that brought us freedom, self-attunement, a new relationship with food and our body. rewiretrial.com

Explore the neurosomatics of boundaries: boundaryrewire.com

Introduction to neurosomatics for practitioners, coaches and therapists - The NSI foundations Bundle: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/workshops/

Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence: https://stan.store/illuminated

Join Jennifer on Sacred Synapse to explore the intersection of neurosomatics and Psychedelic neuroscience: https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

Resources and Research

Feusner, Jamie D., et al.

"Abnormalities of Object Visual Processing in Body Dysmorphic Disorder."

Psychological Medicine, vol. 41, no. 11, 2011, pp. 2385–2397.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21557897/

Feusner, Jamie D., et al.

"Abnormalities of Visual Processing and Frontostriatal Systems in Body Dysmorphic Disorder."

Archives of General Psychiatry, 2010.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2853756/

Madsen, Sarah K., et al.

"Visual Processing in Anorexia Nervosa and Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Review."

Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2013.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3786585/

Dhir, S., et al.

"Parameters of Visual Processing Abnormalities in Adults with Body Dysmorphic Disorder."

PLOS ONE, 2018.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6261110/

​​Khalsa, Sahib S., et al. "Interoceptive Awareness in Anorexia Nervosa: Disturbances in Body Awareness." Biological Psychiatry, vol. 75, no. 4, 2014, pp. 275–281. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24090776/

Pollatos, Olga, et al.

"Reduced Perception of Bodily Signals in Anorexia Nervosa."

Eating Behaviors, vol. 9, no. 4, 2008, pp. 381–388.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18928907/

Jenkinson, Paul M., et al.

"Interoceptive Sensitivity and Eating Disorder Psychopathology: A Meta-Analysis."

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 92, 2018, pp. 387–397.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29935263/

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.

We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.

We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional.

The BrainBased.com site and Rewiretrail.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

Food is not just fuel. It is one of the most powerful ways your nervous system regulates stress, emotion, and survival.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by somatic practitioner and author Luis Mojica to explore the hidden relationship between trauma, cravings, and the nervous system.

Together, they unpack why food can become a coping strategy for unprocessed emotion, how certain foods can increase or decrease your stress response, and why cravings are not a lack of discipline—but a signal from the body.

This conversation breaks down how stimulants like sugar and caffeine can drive anxiety through adrenaline and blood sugar spikes, while heavier, processed foods can temporarily numb overwhelming emotional states—creating a cycle of activation and shutdown that many people mistake for "addiction."

You'll learn how food impacts your nervous system 24/7—often more than any therapy session—and why true healing is not about restriction, but about understanding what your body is trying to regulate.

This episode also introduces a new way of relating to food through a nervous system lens—moving beyond "healthy vs. unhealthy" into understanding foods as stimulants, depressants, or balancers that shape your emotional and physiological state.

If you've ever felt stuck, ashamed, or confused in your relationship with food, this episode will help you see your patterns through a completely new lens—one rooted in compassion, biology, and nervous system awareness.

What You'll Learn:

• Why cravings are signals for unmet emotional, relational, or physical needs

• How food can activate or calm your stress response

• The connection between trauma, emotional repression, and eating patterns

• Why willpower fails and nervous system support works

• How to begin shifting your relationship with food without restriction This is not about fixing your relationship with food.

It's about understanding the nervous system underneath it. #traumarewired #nervoussystem #emotionaleating #traumahealing #mentalhealth

Chapter Markers

00:00 - Food Is Not About Eating Less. It Is About Eating Differently. 00:43 - Welcome: Food as a Portal Into the Nervous System 01:56 - Introducing Luis Mojica and the Chocolate at 4 p.m. Story 04:36 - Why Food Belongs in the Trauma Conversation 06:46 - Cravings as a Compass: The Three Unmet Needs Behind Every Food Behavior 08:07 - Why Diets Fail Without Somatics 09:21 - What Happens When You Understand What Your Cravings Actually Mean 14:33 - Food Induced Stress: How What You Eat Can Keep You in Fight or Flight 16:28 - Stimulants, Depressants, and Balancers: The Three Categories 21:55 - Seesaw Regulation: How the Body Unconsciously Alchemizes With Food 28:35 - It Is a Loop. It Was Always a Loop. 32:00 - Food Sobriety and Why Balancers Make You Feel More, Not Less 37:26 - How to Weave Balancers In Without Taking Anything Away 43:18 - The Quiet Diet: Creating Space to Actually Feel

Connect with Luis:

Get Luis Mojica's new book Food Therapy: A powerful deep dive into how food, trauma, and the nervous system are all connected—and how to work with your body instead of against it. https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/the-book

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic.life.navigation/

Ways to Engage with Neurosomatics:

Join us inside Rewire: This is where you actually experience the practices Jennifer and Elisabeth talk about on the podcast that brought us freedom, self-attunement, a new relationship with food and our body. rewiretrial.com

Introduction to neurosomatics for practitioners, coaches and therapists - The NSI foundations Bundle: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/workshops/

Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence: https://stan.store/illuminated

Join Jennifer on Sacred Synapse to explore the intersection of neurosomatics and Psychedelic neuroscience: https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

The mother wound is not just about your mother. It is about the first nervous system that shaped yours—the earliest relational field that told you whether you were safe, wanted, and free to take up space. And it lives in the body long before it lives in the story.

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Brooke Wolfe, somatic voice activation coach, musician of 20 years, and a dear friend of both hosts. Brooke's work lives at the intersection of nervous system safety, vocal expression, and the parts of the feminine that have been suppressed, exiled, and told they are too much. Together, they explore the mother wound as an attachment and nervous system imprint—one that shows up not just in relationships, but in how you breathe, how you move, whether you feel permission to make noise, and whether you have ever truly learned to receive.

Brooke brings a perspective that is both poetic and grounded. She shares the pelvis–throat connection as a place where early disconnection shows up physically, how the voice becomes a tool for masking rather than connecting, and how her lifelong asthma reflected a nervous system that never felt safe to exhale. She also speaks to how heroin use in her teenage years neurologically mirrored the flooding and crashing of disorganized attachment.

Elisabeth shares how emotional neglect and a mother's absence shaped a deep sense of childhood loneliness, and why co-regulation with other humans became genuinely difficult. Jennifer names the fear of her own power, the experience of moving through life in a quiet tiptoe, and the inner critic that still carries someone else's voice.

This conversation expands the mother wound beyond the personal and into the collective—naming how disconnection from the body, voice, and feminine expression is not just individual, but patterned across generations.

The episode closes on something both honest and hopeful: healing the mother wound does not always require repairing the external relationship. It requires taking your sovereignty back, learning to mother yourself, and finding the safe spaces and relationships that can hold your depth. What was ruptured in relationship must be repaired in relationship—and sometimes that begins with the earth.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How the mother wound forms as an attachment and nervous system imprint, not a single event but a pattern

• How prenatal maternal stress can shape fetal stress system development through cortisol and epigenetic mechanisms

• Why birth is the first moment of separation and how birth trauma shapes early nervous system patterns

• How rupture in the feminine shows up in the body, the breath, the pelvis, the throat, and the voice

• Why the voice so often becomes a tool for masking rather than connecting, and how somatic voice work can change that

• How disorganized attachment patterns in childhood can drive substance use and self-regulation strategies in adolescence and adulthood

• Why co-regulation with other humans can feel deeply threatening and how to begin building that skill incrementally

• How the inner critic often carries the voice of a primary caregiver, and what that means neurologically

• What it looks like to heal the mother wound internally without requiring external repair of the relationship

• Why the fertile void, the emptiness left by the wound, can become a creative source rather than something to fill

Chapter Markers

0:00 - Sending Healing Back Down the Mother Line 1:45 - Welcome: The Mother Wound as Nervous System Imprint 4:00 - Introducing Brooke Wolfe and Why This Work Called Her 7:45 - How Rupture in the Feminine Shows Up in the Body and Voice 13:00 - Birth as the First Separation and the Roots of the Wound 18:00 - Prenatal Stress, Cortisol, and How the Stress System Is Shaped Before Birth 20:00 - The Pelvis, Throat, and Diaphragm: Where Bracing Patterns Live 27:00 - Don't Take Up Space, Don't Be Too Much: The Feminine Conditioning 33:00 - Attachment, Addiction, and the Nervous System Logic Behind It All 49:00 - The Void: What Brooke's Mother Wound Actually Is, and What She Found There 55:00 - The Inner Critic as Internalized Mother Voice 1:01:00 - Healing the Mother Wound From the Inside Out

Explore Neurosomatic Voice Activation:

Liberate your voice and create somatic safety and self-attunement in the Neurosomatic Voice Activation Course with Brooke and Elisabeth: https://www.brookewolfe.com/trauma-rewired

Get 15% off with code: TRAUMAREWIRED

Brooke on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookewolfe_/

Ways to Engage with Neurosomatics:

• Capacity Gap: Free BrainBased workshop for entrepreneurs, leaders and high-performers: rewirecapacity.com

• Two week trail of BrainBased membership for neurosomatic practices and nervous system rehabilitation and health: rewiretrial.com

• Introduction to NSI for practitioners, coaches and therapists - The NSI foundations Bundle: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/workshops/

• Watch Trauma Rewired on YouTube - Subscribe here

• Learn more about psychedelic neuroscience and neurosomatics on Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace

  https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

Resources and Links

Oberlander, T. F., et al. (2008). Prenatal depression, NR3C1 methylation, and infant cortisol response. Epigenetics.

Weaver, I. C. G., et al. (2004). Maternal care and epigenetic regulation of stress response (animal study). Nature Neuroscience.

Seckl, J. R., & Holmes, M. C. (2007). Placental cortisol buffering and fetal stress system development. Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Yehuda, R., et al. (2016). Intergenerational effects of trauma on FKBP5 methylation. Biological Psychiatry.

O'Donnell, K. J., & Meaney, M. J. (2017). Fetal origins of mental health and stress regulation. American Journal of Psychiatry.

Sapolsky, R. M., et al. (2000). How stress hormones influence the body and brain. Endocrine Reviews.

What if healing from trauma is not just a psychological process, but a fundamentally creative one?

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Laura Dawn, a psychedelic-informed author, researcher, and mentor who has spent more than two decades exploring how altered states can open creative pathways, support trauma recovery, and reconnect people with vision and possibility.

Laura opens by naming something most people carry but rarely say out loud: the moment someone told them they were not creative. Research by Brené Brown suggests that around 80% of people had an experience in childhood that planted a limiting belief about themselves—and for half of them, it was about creativity.

From there, the conversation expands into something much bigger: a reframing of creativity itself. Not as a talent or personality trait, but as a fundamental function of being human.

Drawing on her graduate research and the Five P's of creativity framework, Laura maps creativity onto the arc of healing. She shows how psychological flexibility—one of the strongest predictors of post-traumatic growth—is also directly linked to creative capacity. The connection between trauma, recovery, psychedelics, and creativity is not metaphorical. It is neurological.

Together, they explore how trauma narrows perception into rigid patterns, and how healing—through nervous system regulation, somatic work, and in some cases psychedelic-assisted therapy—reopens the mind to new ideas, new narratives, and new ways of being.

The conversation also challenges the culture of speed and optimization, reframing slow living as a deep psychological restructuring rather than an aesthetic. And it asks a larger question: what becomes possible, individually and collectively, when we begin to value creativity and beauty as much as we value productivity and output?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why creativity is not a personality trait but a fundamental dimension of what it means to be human

• How the industrial education system planted limiting beliefs about creativity that still shape adults today

• The five P's of creativity framework and how it maps onto psychedelic preparation and integration

• Why psychological flexibility is a predictor of both post-traumatic growth and creative achievement

• How the default mode network drives self-referential rumination in trauma and addiction, and how psychedelics disrupt that loop

• Why nervous system preparation before a psychedelic journey changes what becomes possible in and after the experience

• The surprising connection between compassion, forgiveness, and creative capacity

• Why slow living is actually a profound re-patterning of how we relate to time, not a lifestyle trend

• What creativity looks like as a mechanism for healing complex trauma, not just as an outcome of it

Chapters

0:00 - The Healing Journey as a Creative Act 01:32 - Welcome and Introducing Laura Dawn 03:07 - What Is Creativity? A Word Association Game and the Limiting Beliefs We Carry 07:59 - The Five P's of Creativity and How They Map Onto the Healing Arc 17:45 - What Would the World Look Like If Artists Believed in Themselves? 21:30 - Collective Creativity, North Stars, and What We Are Actually Building Toward 26:37 - Survival Culture, Speed, and Why Slow Living Is Harder Than It Looks 33:36 - Complex Trauma, Neurodivergence, and the Creative Gifts Within the Wound 38:55 - Psychological Flexibility: The Bridge Between Trauma, Psychedelics, and Creativity 43:08 - The Hamster Wheel, the Default Mode Network, and Psychedelics as Pattern Disruptors 50:36 - Preparation, Embodiment, and Why One Good Rep Has to Be Whole-System 51:36 - Compassion, Forgiveness, and Why That Is Where Creativity Actually Comes Online

Ways to Engage with Neurosomatics

• FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Two week trail of BrainBased membership for neurosomatic practices and nervous system rehabilitation and health: rewiretrial.com

• Introduction to NSI for practitioners, coaches and therapists - The NSI foundations Bundle: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/workshops/

• Connect with Laura Dawn: livefreelaurad.com

• Watch Trauma Rewired on YouTube - Subscribe here

• Learn more about psychedelic neuroscience and neurosomatics on Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace

• Capacity Gap: Free BrainBased workshop for entrepreneurs, leaders and high-performers: rewirecapacity.com

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Oren Shai, organizational psychologist, somatic executive coach, and NSI-certified practitioner, for a conversation about what happens when nervous system literacy meets the corporate world.

After years working inside large organizations, including LinkedIn, Oren kept seeing the same pattern: all the right strategies, all the right tactics, and none of the essential human work getting done.

What if the quality of your leadership isn't determined by your intelligence, experience, or decision-making frameworks—but by your nervous system's capacity to feel?

In this conversation, we explore how emotional repression, trauma patterns, and chronic stress shape leadership, team dynamics, and organizational culture—and why so many high performers are operating at a hidden cost to their health, relationships, and sense of self.

This episode is for leaders, entrepreneurs, practitioners, and anyone who has ever found themselves doing everything "right" professionally, while feeling depleted, disconnected, or like they're holding it all together behind the scenes.

Because leadership isn't just about what you do. It's about what your nervous system can hold.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why the quality of leadership is tied directly to nervous system capacity

• Why high performers are often high performers because of trauma, not despite it

• The difference between nervous system regulation as coping versus as a foundation for aligned action

• Why leaders are emotionally contagious, and what that means for organizational health

• What embodied leadership looks like, and why it changes everything for teams

Chapters

0:00 - The Doorway Into the Real Conversation: Co-Founders and What Goes Unnamed 1:08 - Welcome: What Leadership Capacity Actually Requires 2:51 - Introducing Oren Shai: From the Tech World to Somatic Executive Coaching 7:10 - What Elisabeth Hears from Women Executives When No One Else Is Listening 11:43 - Organizations Have a Nervous System Too 13:31 - Leaders Are Emotionally Contagious: The Ripple Effect of Embodied Leadership 22:39 - How Oren Opens the Conversation with Leadership Teams 30:14 - Most Careers Are Fueled by Coffee and Trauma 37:25 - Why Individual Work Alone Cannot Create Organizational Change 43:45 - Slowing Down Enough to Remember What Aliveness Feels Like 51:35 - Moving From Nervous System Regulation as Coping to Capacity as a Daily Practice 57:50 - Closing Reflection: Start Close In

Ways to Engage with Neurosomatics

• Capacity Gap: Free BrainBased workshop for entrepreneurs, leaders and high-performers: rewirecapacity.com

• Two week trail of BrainBased membership for neurosomatic practices and nervous system rehabilitation and health: rewiretrial.com

• Introduction to NSI for practitioners, coaches and therapists - The NSI foundations Bundle: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/workshops/

• Connect with Oren Shai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oshai/

• Watch Trauma Rewired on YouTube - Subscribe here

• Learn more about psychedelic neuroscience and neurosomatics on Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

This week on Trauma Rewired we step into a big and important conversation about how racism, historical trauma and systemic oppression impact nervous system health.

Racism is often framed as a social or ideological issue, but neuroscience tells us something deeper. Chronic exposure to discrimination functions as a persistent threat signal to the nervous system. Over time, that threat shapes stress hormones, inflammatory responses, emotional regulation and even pain perception. These are not abstract ideas. They are biological adaptations to sustained social stress.

In this episode we are joined by Lovey Bradley, a NeuroSomatic Intelligence certified practitioner, NSI community facilitator and co-facilitator of the NSI BIPOC Affinity Group. Together we explore how systemic forces shape physiology, how ancestral stress patterns can live in the body, and how chronic exposure to inequity affects both individual nervous systems and the collective nervous system of our culture.

This conversation is real and imperfect. It is one small part of a much larger dialogue. We share research, personal experience and reflections from our work in nervous system education spaces. Our intention is not to represent every perspective, but to open a thoughtful conversation about embodiment, representation, safety and the capacity to stay present with complexity.

From a neurosomatic lens, post-traumatic growth is not about bypassing trauma. It is about expanding nervous system capacity so we can remain embodied in difficult conversations, process rupture rather than avoiding it, and build the relational tolerance required for collective healing.

Topics Covered

• How racism functions as a chronic threat signal that reshapes the nervous system, not just belief or behavior

• What the HPA axis, cortisol, and progesterone have to do with racial stress and women's health outcomes

• How suppressed expression contributes to physical disease in melanated bodies

• What Resmaa Menakem's framework adds to neuro somatic approaches to racialized trauma

• Why white supremacy culture traits like urgency and perfectionism map directly onto chronic stress behaviors

• How the urgency to fix or regulate can itself become a form of bypassing in healing spaces

• What post-traumatic growth looks like at a collective level, not just an individual one

• Why witnessing state violence on social media is a genuine nervous system stressor, even for those not directly targeted

• How Dr. Levy's community for melanated women came to life and what it is building toward

Chapter Markers

0:00 - Why This Conversation Had to Happen 01:57 - Welcome: Racial Trauma, the Nervous System, and Post-Traumatic Growth 07:25 - What Racial Stress Looks Like in the Body, for White and Melanated Bodies 10:44 - Post-Traumatic Growth at the Collective Level: What It Actually Requires 15:35 - The Danger of Regulating Out of Activation Before the Cycle Completes 18:09 - The Neuroscience: HPA Axis, Allostatic Load, and Chronic Racial Threat 24:27 - How Racial Stress Shows Up in Hormones, Cycles, and Women's Health 29:25 - Resmaa Menakem, White Supremacy Culture, and the Nervous System 38:42 - Dr. Levy's Community for Melanated Women and What It Is Building 41:35 - Witnessing Violence at Scale: What It Does to All Nervous Systems 49:11 - What This Work Has Made Possible: Dr. Levy on Choosing to Create a Different World 51:59 - Closing Reflection: What Post-Traumatic Growth Requires of Us Collectively

Ways to Engage with Neurosomatics:

• Neurosomatic Intelligence is now enrolling : https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification

• Join us for a two week trial of neurosomatic practices at rewiretrial.com

• Free BrainBased neurosomatic workshop for entrepreneurs at rewirecapacity.com

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Learn to work with Boundaries at the level of the body and nervous system at https://www.boundaryrewire.com

Resources:

Brave Heart, Maria Yellow Horse. "The Historical Trauma Response Among Natives and Its Relationship with Substance Abuse: A Lakota Illustration." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 35, no. 1, 2003, pp. 7–13.

Brave Heart, Maria Yellow Horse, and Eduardo Duran. "Healing the Soul Wound: Counseling with American Indians and Other Native Peoples." Teachers College Press, 1995.

DeGruy, Joy. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing. Joy DeGruy Publications Inc., 2005.

Hobson, J. M., M. D. Moody, R. E. Sorge, and B. R. Goodin. "The Neurobiology of Social Stress Resulting from Racism." Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, vol. 17, no. 2, 2022, pp. 181–191.

Hicken, Margaret T., et al. "Everyday Discrimination, Chronic Stress, and Cardiovascular Health." American Journal of Epidemiology, 2014.

Geronimus, Arline T. "Weathering and the Health of African-American Women." Ethnicity & Disease, 2006.

Menakem, Resmaa. My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies. Central Recovery Press, 2017.

Okun, Tema. "White Supremacy Culture." Dismantling Racism Works, originally published 1999, revised 2021.

Williams, Monnica T. "Racial Trauma: Theory, Research, and Healing." American Psychologist, vol. 74, no. 1, 2019, pp. 33–42.

The wound between women is not just interpersonal. It is neurobiological, historical, and deeply rooted in systems that were designed to divide us.

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Dr. Lovey Bradley, Msc.D., NSI certified practitioner, BrainBased facilitator, and facilitator of the NSI BIPOC Affinity Group, whose work sits at the intersection of female hormone health, nervous system regulation, and somatic approaches to trauma. Together, they go deep on one of the most underexplored dimensions of collective healing: the feminine wound, and specifically the racial fracture at its root.

Lovey shares her own experience of dissociation in a predominantly white healing space during her NCAI certification, and what that revealed about epigenetic nervous system patterns that have nothing to do with individual will and everything to do with what our bodies have inherited and learned to expect. Jennifer and Elisabeth reflect honestly on their own experiences, including what it takes for white bodied women to pause, stop fixing, and actually listen without collapsing into shame or urgency.

The conversation also traces the science behind why relational stress hits the female nervous system so hard, why oxytocin can amplify threat as much as it buffers it when relationships are unsafe, and how chronic cortisol dysregulation suppresses progesterone and drives the health outcomes so many women are navigating.

Topic Include:

• Why the feminine wound cannot be fully healed without naming its racial roots

• How the nervous system adapts to chronic relational threat in female coded spaces

• What social baseline theory tells us about why disconnection between women is a physiological load, not just an emotional one

• How early experiences of exclusion, relational aggression, and peer victimization become nervous system prediction patterns in adulthood

• Why oxytocin amplifies relational stress when social environments are unsafe

• How high cortisol suppresses progesterone and drives inflammation, infertility, and hormonal dysregulation

• What it looks like for white bodied women to stay present without defaulting to shame, urgency, or over-repair

• Why healing within cultures must precede healing across them

• What a real path forward looks like, starting at the individual level

Chapters

0:00 - Why Racial Trauma Is the Root We Are Not Talking About 1:05 - Welcome: The Feminine Wound Through a Nervous System Lens 3:48 - Introducing Dr. Lovey Bradley and Why This Conversation Matters 7:00 - How the Sister Wound Shows Up in Friendships, Workplaces, and Healing Spaces 10:21 - Dr. Lovey's Personal Story: Dissociating in a Predominantly White Healing Space 17:11 - Social Baseline Theory and the Neurobiology of Relational Disconnection 24:54 - The Historical Root: White Women, Racial Hierarchy, and the Fractured Sisterhood 27:26 - What It Takes for White Bodied Women to Listen Without Collapsing 34:14 - Colorism, Division Within Cultures, and Where Trust Has to Begin 43:08 - Early Developmental Roots: How Relational Threat Shapes the Nervous System 46:52 - Oxytocin, Cortisol, Progesterone, and the Female Hormone Connection 49:56 - A Path Forward: Building Trust One Relationship at a Time

Ways to Engage with Neurosomatics:

• Neurosomatic Intelligence is now enrolling : https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification

• Join us for a two week trial of neurosomatic practices at rewiretrial.com

• Free BrainBased neurosomatic workshop for entrepreneurs at rewirecapacity.com

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Learn to work with Boundaries at the level of the body and nervous system at https://www.boundaryrewire.com

Resources that inform this episode:

Coan, James A., Hillary S. Schaefer, and Richard J. Davidson. "Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat." Psychological Science, vol. 17, no. 12, 2006, pp. 1032–1039.

Crick, Nicki R., and Jennifer K. Grotpeter. "Relational Aggression, Gender, and Social-Psychological Adjustment." Child Development, vol. 66, no. 3, 1995, pp. 710–722.

Holt-Lunstad, Julianne, Timothy B. Smith, and J. Bradley Layton. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-Analytic Review." PLOS Medicine, vol. 7, no. 7, 2010, e1000316.

Miller, Jean Baker. Toward a New Psychology of Women. Beacon Press, 1976. Wellesley Centers for Women ed., 2012.

Prinstein, Mitchell J., et al. "Peer Victimization, Friendship, and the Stress Response." Development and Psychopathology, vol. 17, no. 4, 2005, pp. 1017–1038.

Rimé, Bernard. "Emotion Elicits the Social Sharing of Emotion: Theory and Empirical Review." Emotion Review, vol. 1, no. 1, 2009, pp. 60–85.

Shamay-Tsoory, Simone G., and Ahmad Abu-Akel. "The Social Salience Hypothesis of Oxytocin." Biological Psychiatry, vol. 79, no. 3, 2016, pp. 194–202.

Taylor, Shelley E., et al. "Biobehavioral Responses to Stress in Females: Tend-and-Befriend, Not Fight-or-Flight." Psychological Review, vol. 107, no. 3, 2000, pp. 411–429.

Taylor, Shelley E. "Tend and Befriend: Biobehavioral Bases of Affiliation under Stress." Current Directions in Psychological Science, vol. 15, no. 6, 2006, pp. 273–277.

Tedeschi, Richard G., and Lawrence G. Calhoun. "Posttraumatic Growth: Conceptual Foundations and Empirical Evidence." Psychological Inquiry, vol. 15, no. 1, 2004, pp. 1–18.

Uchino, Bert N. "Social Support and Health: A Review of Physiological Processes Potentially Underlying Links to Disease Outcomes." Journal of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 29, no. 4, 2006, pp. 377–387.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

What if authenticity isn't a personality trait — but a measurable marker of nervous system capacity?

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, we explore authenticity and forgiveness through the lens of post-traumatic growth. We unpack why telling the truth can feel physiologically threatening after trauma, how masking and performance develop as protective strategies, and why forgiveness is not a mindset shift — but a capacity that grows through regulation, integration, and self-attunement.

Authenticity is not about oversharing or abandoning discernment. It's the ability to feel the truth in your body and stay connected while expressing it. That requires nervous system flexibility — not willpower.

Topics Covered:

• Why authenticity is a marker of nervous system capacity

• How trauma wires masking, performance, and self-editing

• Why telling the truth can feel physiologically threatening

• Small lies as protective regulation strategies

• Masking, perfectionism, and increased allostatic load

• The difference between visibility and authentic expression

• Why psychedelic honesty is a state shift, not a skill

• Oversharing and vulnerability hangovers as capacity issues

• Why forcing forgiveness reinforces threat patterns

• Self-forgiveness as a neuroplastic learning process

• Attunement, interoception, and emotional tolerance

• Rupture and repair as mechanisms of growth

• Forgiveness without bypassing accountability

• Rumination, grievance, and sympathetic dominance

• Why post-traumatic growth reflects the capacity to hold truth and connection at the same time

Chapters:

00:00 – Authenticity as Nervous System Capacity 04:30 – Why Truth Feels Like Threat 09:45 – Masking, Performance & Conditional Safety 17:10 – Psychedelics, Peak States & Integration 23:40 – Visibility vs Authentic Expression 29:50 – Self-Forgiveness & Capacity Building 36:15 – Attunement, Shame & Neuroplasticity 41:20 – Forgiving Others Without Bypassing 47:30 – Forgiveness, Faith & Staying Connected

Calls to Action:

• Neurosomatic Intelligence is now enrolling : https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

• Learn to work with Boundaries at the level of the body and nervous system at https://www.boundaryrewire.com

• Get a two-week free trial of neurosomatic training at https://rewiretrial.com

Psychedelics are having a cultural moment. Research is promising. Stories of healing are everywhere. But here's the truth: these experiences aren't magic cures. And they aren't right for every nervous system at every time.

In this episode, Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace slow the conversation down. Instead of asking, "Do psychedelics heal trauma?" They explore a more grounded question: What becomes possible when psychedelic or peak somatic experiences are approached through the lens of nervous system safety, preparation, and integration?

If you've been curious about psychedelics, already had experiences, or feel unsure whether they're right for you, this episode offers nuance, research, and deep nervous system perspective.

Because post-traumatic growth isn't about becoming someone new.

It's about becoming more available to the life that's already waiting for you.

Topic Covered

• Why psychedelics may reorganize meaning, not just reduce symptoms

• How trauma fragments narrative and how safety allows integration

• The science of psychological flexibility and why it predicts long-term outcomes

• What "somatic journeying" is and why it can feel disorienting

• The importance of preparation, titration, and facilitator trust

• Why intensity does not equal healing

• Psychedelics vs antidepressants in research on connectedness

• Default Mode Network (DMN), identity rigidity, and belief updating

• Why creativity often emerges when survival softens

• The risks of over-reliance and "chasing the medicine"

• Why discernment and self-trust matter more than hype

Chapters

00:00 – Psychedelics Aren't Magic Cures 03:00 – Meaning-Making & Narrative Reorganization 08:58 – Psychological Flexibility & Emotional Capacity 17:00 – Preparation, Somatic Journeying & Integration 23:29 – Connectedness & Relational Repair 34:33 – Identity, Neuro Tags & the Default Mode Network 41:03 – Creativity as a Byproduct of Safety 48:14 – Discernment, Industry Hype & Self-Trust

Calls to Action:

• Neurosomatic Intelligence is now enrolling : https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

• Learn to work with Boundaries at the level of the body and nervous system at https://www.boundaryrewire.com

• Get a two-week free trial of neurosomatic training at https://rewiretrial.com

Sources:

Amada, N., et al. "The Transformative Potential of Psychedelic Experiences: A Qualitative Analysis of Meaning-Making and Narrative Reorganization." Journal of Consciousness Studies, vol. 27, no. 7–8, 2020, pp. 122–150.

Carhart-Harris, Robin L., et al. "Neural Correlates of the Psychedelic State as Determined by fMRI Studies with Psilocybin." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 109, no. 6, 2012, pp. 2138–2143.

Carhart-Harris, Robin L., et al. "The Entropic Brain: A Theory of Conscious States Informed by Neuroimaging Research with Psychedelic Drugs." Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 8, 2014, article 20.

Carhart-Harris, Robin L., et al. "Psilocybin with Psychological Support for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Six-Month Follow-Up." Psychopharmacology, vol. 235, no. 2, 2018, pp. 399–408.

Davis, Alan K., Roland R. Griffiths, and Frederick S. Barrett. "Psychological Flexibility Mediates the Relations between Acute Psychedelic Effects and Subjective Decreases in Depression and Anxiety." Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, vol. 15, 2020, pp. 39–45.

Davis, Alan K., et al. "Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 78, no. 5, 2021, pp. 481–489.

Erritzoe, David, et al. "Effects of Psilocybin Therapy versus Escitalopram on Depression and Emotional Connectedness in Major Depressive Disorder." The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 384, 2021, pp. 1402–1411.

Griffiths, Roland R., et al. "Psilocybin Produces Substantial and Sustained Decreases in Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Life-Threatening Cancer: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial." Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 30, no. 12, 2016, pp. 1181–1197.

MacLean, Katherine A., Matthew W. Johnson, and Roland R. Griffiths. "Mystical Experiences Occasioned by the Hallucinogen Psilocybin Lead to Increases in the Personality Domain of Openness." Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 25, no. 11, 2011, pp. 1453–1461.

Watts, Rosalind, et al. "Patients' Accounts of Increased 'Connectedness' and 'Acceptance' after Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression." Journal of Humanistic Psychology, vol. 57, no. 5, 2017, pp. 520–564.

Weiss, B., et al. "Associations between Naturalistic Psychedelic Use, Psychological Insight, and Changes in Social Connectedness and Personality." Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, 2021, article 667987.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in a mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof welcome author, speaker, and embodiment coach Preston Smiles for a powerful conversation on the Father Wound — and how paternal presence or absence shapes the nervous system.

Together, they explore how a father's regulation, emotional availability, and play patterns influence brain development, stress physiology, attachment, intimacy, and leadership. Drawing from both lived experience and developmental research, this episode examines the real impact of masculine containment — not through blame, but through understanding.

From childhood patterning to adult relationships, parenting, and community repair, this conversation offers grounded insight, somatic depth, and a hopeful path toward nervous system healing.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Intro/The Good Boy Pattern

• 08:00 – The Father Wound

• 17:30 – Play and Masculine Energy

• 33:30 – Shame and Reclaiming the Masculine

• 52:30 – Capacity and Embodied Partnership

Key Takeaways:

• The fatherwound isn't just emotional, it's neurological and somatic, shaping how we regulate stress, relate, and play.

• Healthy masculine presence supports brain development through movement, physical play, safety, and co-regulation.

• Many relational patterns come from what was never modeled, not from personal failure.

• Healing happens through embodied experience, safe relationships, and repeated nervous system repair, not just insight.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Bridge Method – Workshops led by Preston Smiles: https://www.thebridgemethod.org/

• Spiritual Millionaire, by Preston Smiles: https://preston-davis.mykajabi.com/book

• Instagram: @PrestonSmiles: https://www.instagram.com/prestonsmiles/

Call to Action:

• Neurosomatic Intelligence is now enrolling : https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification

• Learn to work with Boundaries at the level of the body and nervous system at https://www.boundaryrewire.com

• Get a two-week free trial of neurosomatic training at https://rewiretrial.com

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

Sources:

Flinn, M. V. & England, B. G. (2003). Social economics of childhood glucocorticoid stress response and health.

Laurent, H. K. et al. (2013). Synchrony of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in parents and infants.

Feldman, R. et al. (2010). Parent–infant synchrony and the construction of shared timing.

Amato, P. R. & Gilbreth, J. G. (1999). Nonresident fathers and children's well-being.

Ellis, B. J. et al. (1999). Quality of early family relationships and timing of puberty.

Meaney, M. J. & Szyf, M. (2005). Environmental programming of stress responses through DNA methylation.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.