Sit Around the Fire

#052 The Power of Mindfulness in Trauma Recovery: Adrianne Lind's Journey

In this insightful conversation, Adrianne Lind shares her journey through trauma, healing, and the transformative power of mindfulness and yoga. Discover practical tools for managing PTSD, grief, and stress, and learn how to cultivate a resilient nervous system for a healthier, more balanced life. Topics Discussed: Trauma and PTSD recovery The role of yoga and mindfulness in healing Nervous system regulation and resilience Adrianne Lind Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Healing Conversations 01:24 The Message of Forgiveness 06:07 Understanding the Nervous System's Role 06:32 Yoga as a Healing Tool 11:39 Navigating Grief and Trauma 12:34 Mindfulness and Daily Life 17:15 Responding vs. Reacting 19:56 Incorporating Music and Meditation 22:05 Mindful Walking and Nature Connection 22:29 The Power of Breath and Posture 25:50 Yoga and Grief Management 29:30 Consistency in Mindfulness Practices 33:10 Breathwork Techniques for Everyday Life 35:54 Navigating Stress and Emotional Responses 38:31 The Connection Between Trauma and Physical Health 39:49 Closing Resources Yoga Nidra for PTSD - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313445/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313445/] Mindful Resilience Certification - https://yogaproject.org/mindful-resilience/ [https://yogaproject.org/mindful-resilience/] Adrianne Lind's Website & Books - https://adriannelind.com/ [https://adriannelind.com/] https://mybook.to/AdrianneLind [https://mybook.to/AdrianneLind]

#051 The Real Reason Willpower Isn't Working

Have you ever known exactly what you should do — and still found yourself repeating the same patterns anyway? That frustration isn't a character flaw. It's neuroscience. In this episode, Ashlea Dillard breaks down why the subconscious mind holds onto emotional patterns — even painful ones — and how modern hypnotherapy gives us a direct pathway to change them. Drawing on the foundational clinical work of Gil Boyne and the transpersonal frameworks of Matthew Brownstein, Ashlea explores how affect bridge techniques, neuroplasticity, and emotionally resonant imagery work together to create the kind of transformation that actually sticks. You'll walk away understanding: * Why your subconscious is protecting you, not sabotaging you — and why that matters for healing * How neuroplasticity works and why repetition, emotion, and focused attention are the real drivers of lasting change * Why intellectual insight alone often isn't enough — and what hypnotherapy does differently * The one reflection practice that can help you start identifying the stories keeping you stuck If you've ever felt like you're trying to change but something invisible keeps pulling you back — this episode is for you. 🔥 New episodes every week. Find all resources at sitaroundthefire.org [http://sitaroundthefire.org] and ashleadillard.com [http://ashleadillard.com].

#050 Why Constant Fixing Keeps You Trapped—Shift from Doing to Being ft. Mitch Webb

Are you exhausted from trying to fix yourself? More supplements, better routines, stricter discipline—and still your body feels like it's working against you.   In this episode, I sit down with Mitch Webb to talk about something most healing conversations miss: the idea that your body isn't broken—it's actually doing exactly what it was designed to do. Your symptoms, your anxiety, your need to control everything? Those aren't signs of failure. They're signs of a nervous system that learned to protect you.   Mitch gets raw and real about his own journey with control—how diet rules, rituals, and the relentless pursuit of perfection kept him stuck in a cycle of dysregulation. We trace how that need for certainty is rooted in early wounds, and why the path forward isn't about doing more—it's about finally learning to be.   In this episode, we explore: • Why your survival responses are signs of resilience, not failure • How control becomes a safety mechanism—and what it costs you • The link between trauma, attachment, and the need for certainty • How to build a flexible nervous system by creating new experiences of safety • Why vulnerability isn't weakness—it's your greatest healing tool • Practical ways to shift from doing to being and finally feel at home in your skin   This one isn't just for first responders or trauma survivors. It's for anyone exhausted by the endless chase for perfection and quick fixes. If you're ready to stop fighting your body and start trusting it, this episode is your permission slip.   Connect with Mitch Webb at his website and social channels for personalized coaching and community. @KMitchWebb www.mitchwebb.com [http://www.mitchwebb.com]   New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe so you never miss one.   🎧 Listen & subscribe: sitaroundthefire.org [http://sitaroundthefire.org] | ashleadillard.com [http://ashleadillard.com]

#049 The Hidden History of Hypnosis They Don't Teach You

What if everything you believe about yourself... isn't actually you? If you've ever felt stuck in the same patterns, overwhelmed by your own thoughts, or like healing is always just out of reach — this episode will change how you see your mind. In this powerful solo episode of Sit Around the Fire, we go deep into hypnosis, the subconscious mind, and emotional healing — exploring how this ancient, misunderstood practice is one of the most accessible tools for real, lasting transformation. You'll discover the surprising history of hypnosis — from ancient Egyptian sleep temples and Greek healing rituals to the revolutionary work of James Braid and Milton Erickson — and why it's always been a natural part of the human experience, not a stage trick. More importantly, you'll learn how your subconscious mind gets programmed through repetition, environment, and emotional experience — and how reprogramming those beliefs is the key to breaking free from overthinking, emotional patterns, and cycles that feel impossible to escape. You're not broken. You've been programmed. And that means you can change. ---------------------------------------- ✨ What you'll learn: * How hypnosis works and its role in mental health and emotional healing * The ancient roots of hypnosis across Egyptian, Greek, and shamanic traditions * How everyday trance states (driving, scrolling, daydreaming) are naturally hypnotic * Why your subconscious is shaped by repetition — not truth * How awareness becomes the first act of reprogramming and personal growth ---------------------------------------- 🔥 Quotable moments: * "Hypnosis is a natural, universal human experience" — and you're probably already doing it. * "You're not broken — you've been programmed" — which means the code can be rewritten. * "Your inner voice is a form of hypnotic suggestion" — so what has yours been telling you? ---------------------------------------- 🎧 Episode chapters: 00:00 — Understanding everyday hypnosis 03:50 — The historical context of hypnosis 15:58 — Hypnosis in everyday life 25:21 — Reprogramming the mind ---------------------------------------- 🔑 Keywords: hypnosis for emotional healing, subconscious mind reprogramming, how hypnosis works, mental health podcast, healing podcast, subconscious beliefs, reprogramming the mind, self-healing, trauma healing, hypnotherapy, nervous system regulation, inner transformation, behavior change, mindset shift, personal growth, how to stop overthinking, hypnosis explained, neuro-hypnotism, awareness practice, trance states, ancient healing practices ---------------------------------------- 🌐 Resources mentioned: * Ancient Egyptian sleep temples * Milton Erickson Foundation * James Braid and neuro-hypnotism * Franz Anton Mesmer and animal magnetism ---------------------------------------- Ready to rewire? If this episode hit home — share it with someone who's been stuck in the same loop. They need to hear this. And if you're ready to experience this work firsthand, visit ashleadillard.com [http://ashleadillard.com] to book a session or explore how hypnosis can help you break old patterns, shift your subconscious, and step into the life you actually want.

#048 From Combat to Civilian: Mental Health After the Military | Anthony Dyer

What happens when the mission ends — but the war inside doesn't? In this episode, Ashlea Dillard sits down with Anthony Dyer, a former Air Force combat missions aviator, to explore one of the most underrepresented conversations in military mental health: what it truly costs to serve, and what it takes to heal. Anthony opens up about his firsthand experience with trauma, survivor's guilt, and the identity crisis that so many veterans face when they transition to civilian life. He speaks candidly about his battle with alcoholism, the stigma around seeking help in the military, and how he ultimately found healing through community, purpose, and helping others. Whether you're a veteran navigating the transition out of service, a mental health professional working with military populations, or someone who loves a service member — this episode will meet you where you are. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why mental health stigma runs so deep in military culture — and how to push past it * The real impact of survivor's guilt on identity and daily life * How prolonged exposure therapy became a turning point in Anthony's recovery * Why "helping is healing" — and how serving others became his path forward * The story behind his book Moon Child and the inspiration it offers to others still fighting their own battles * "It's okay not to be okay." "Helping is healing." "It's not if, it's when that hits." Anthony's journey is one of raw honesty, hard-won perseverance, and the quiet power of community. This is a conversation that needed to be had. 🎧 Listen now — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. 🔗 Link to Anthony's Book Moon Child [https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Child-Special-Missions-Aviator/dp/B0DZMXBHJ4] ☎️ Ready to dive into your own work? Schedule your free 30 minute consultation and explore more at ashleadillard.com [www.ashleadillard.com] ---------------------------------------- Keywords: military mental health, veteran trauma, survivor's guilt, Air Force veteran, identity after military service, transition to civilian life, alcoholism recovery, healing and perseverance, veteran community support, Moon Child book Anthony Dyer