That's What She Said

Episode 24: What Is Reiki?

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2403770/open_sms] Have you ever been in a country where you don’t speak the language — and somehow still got your point across? That’s energy healing. You’re already doing it. Reiki just teaches you to speak it fluently. In this episode, we’re diving deep into one of my most passionate topics: **Reiki.** What it actually is, what the science says, and why I believe this practice belongs in every single person’s life. Whether you’re brand new to the concept or you’ve been curious for years, this one’s for you. I’m also sharing details about my upcoming **April 11th & 12th Reiki trainings** — and why I think you should be there What We Cover - The analogy that finally makes Reiki *click* — think: traveling abroad, language barriers, and a 603 area code - What Reiki actually is — the history, the Japanese roots, and how it works - The science behind energy healing (yes, there are real studies — we go there) - **Reiki I vs. Reiki II:** what each level is really about and why we never rush the process - Why you might already be doing energy healing without knowing it - The truth about energetic transference — and why training protects you - Myth-busting: Does it require belief? Is it religious? Can you hurt someone? - The 5 Reiki Principles — a simple daily practice that can shift everything Science & Studies Mentioned - Research on **electromagnetic fields emitted from practitioners’ hands** — measured in the same frequency range (0.3–30 Hz) used by medical PEMF devices - **2019 meta-analysis** in the *Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine* — Reiki shown more effective than placebo for pain, anxiety, fatigue, and mood - **2010 study** in the *Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine* — Reiki produced significant reductions in anxiety and improvements in heart rate variability - The **NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health** recognizes Reiki research - Reiki programs at **Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center**  Upcoming Reiki Trainings I would love to see you in person this April. These are small, intimate trainings — you’ll receive your attunement, practice with the group, and leave with a manual and a practice you can use that same night. **Reiki I — Self Healing**  April 11th + April 12th *Perfect for beginners. No experience needed. This level is all about you — learning to practice Reiki on yourself for healing, grounding, and self-care.* REGISTER HERE  [https://www.amandabryantherapy.com/products/p/usui-reiki-i-foundations-of-reiki-self-practice] Questions? Just DM me — I mean it. I’d rather answer a hundred questions than have you talk yourself out of something that could change your life. Connect With Me - Instagram: @amandabryantherapy - Website: https://www.amandabryantherapy.com/ [https://www.amandabryantherapy.com/] - Email: amanda@amandabryantherapy.com Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2403770/support]

Episode 23: Collective Trauma, Self-Healing, and Returning to Humanity

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2403770/open_sms] We are not living in normal times—and your body knows it. In this episode, Amanda explores collective trauma: what it is, why so many of us feel anxious, reactive, or exhausted, and how prolonged stress impacts the nervous system and our sense of safety. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, come back into the body, and take responsibility for our own healing in the most loving, compassionate way. Through personal stories, energetic insight, and grounded spiritual wisdom, Amanda shares how what we see on the outside is often a reflection of what’s happening within, why self-healing practices like Reiki matter more than ever, and how tending to our own energy is an act of both personal and collective care. This episode also explores the role of selfless service—a core teaching found across ancient traditions—as a path back to meaning, connection, and true happiness. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to stay human in an inhumane world, this episode is for you. In This Episode, We Explore: * What collective trauma is and how it shows up in daily life * Why so many people feel on edge, anxious, or emotionally raw right now * How trauma lives in the body—not just the mind * The connection between energy, personal responsibility, and lived experience * Why Reiki and self-healing practices help regulate the nervous system * How embodiment supports healing during uncertain times * The role of selfless service in restoring meaning and connection * Why returning to our roots—community, ritual, presence, humanity—matters Key Takeaways: * You are not broken—you are responding normally to abnormal conditions * Healing doesn’t require fixing yourself, but listening to yourself * Nervous system regulation is essential in times of collective stress * What we tend internally shapes how we experience the external world * Acts of compassion and service are powerful medicine—for ourselves and others Resources & Offerings Mentioned: * Reiki & self-healing practices * Embodiment and nervous system regulation * Ongoing workshops and healing spaces with Amanda  (Details shared at the end of the episode) Reflection Prompt for Listeners: Where in your life are you being invited to slow down, come back into your body, and take loving responsibility for your own well-being? Closing Reminder: Healing the collective begins with tending the self—gently, honestly, and with compassion. Learn More about Lucy and Violet: https://violetleclaire.com/ [https://violetleclaire.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2403770/support]

Episode 22: Raising Intuitive Kids: Spirituality Beyond Religion

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2403770/open_sms] In this episode, Amanda dives into one of the most common questions she hears from parents: “If we don’t practice a religion… what do we teach our kids about life, death, intuition, and meaning?” Whether you’re spiritual-but-not-religious, deconstructing old beliefs, or simply wanting to raise emotionally intelligent, intuitive children in a grounded way — this episode will give you clarity, language, and confidence. Amanda explores the developmental psychology behind intuitive children, how to talk about spirituality without fear or dogma, and how nature can become a family’s greatest teacher. She shares personal stories from her own children, practical tools for grounding intuitive kids, and guidance on breaking your own inherited religious fear cycle. This is a warm, grounding episode filled with wisdom, real-life examples, and permission to let your child trust themselves.  IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: * The developmental stages that support spiritual openness * Why kids are naturally connected to intuition, energy, and symbolism * How adults unintentionally close that channel  How to talk to kids when you don’t follow a religion * Explaining beliefs using the “paths on a mountain” metaphor * Teaching children all belief systems instead of choosing one * Encouraging kids to trust what resonates with their soul  Nature & love as a spiritual foundation * How Amanda uses gardening, seasons, and cycles to teach her children about life and death * Real conversations Amanda has had with her kids about grief, heaven, and reincarnation What psychology says about children’s spirituality * How kids understand big concepts before age 12 * Why imagination, symbolism, and sensory experience help them feel safe * How to support spiritual development without indoctrination Practical tools for grounding intuitive kids * Language to normalize intuition * Supporting kids who sense energy or feel other people’s emotions * How to respond when they say they’re scared or “felt something”  Breaking your own fear cycle * How your religious upbringing affects your parenting * Moving from fear-based to curiosity-based spirituality * Giving kids permission to evolve their beliefs over time A guided grounding moment (perfect to replay with your kids!)  27:00 – Guided grounding practice RESOURCES & LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Books Mentioned: * Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution — Cat Bohannon https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706822/eve-by-cat-bohannon/ * Who Cooked the Last Supper? The Women’s History of the World — Rosalind Miles https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117073/who-cooked-the-last-supper-by-rosalind-miles/ Amanda’s Yoga Studio + Offerings: * https://www.amandabryantherapy.com [https://www.amandabryantherapy.com/] * https://www.sonewyoga.com [https://mysite.vagaro.com/sonewyogallc/home] ENJOYING THE PODCAST? If this episode supported you, please share it with another intuitive parent or someone raising children in this new era of consciousness. Your shares help this show grow and help other families feel seen, supported, and empowered. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2403770/support]

Episode 21: Sitting with Grief and Gratitude

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2403770/open_sms] In this heartfelt return to the podcast, Amanda opens up about life’s recent heaviness, the overwhelm of the world, and the deep grief of losing her beloved Reiki master, Lourdes Grey. She shares the powerful impact Lourdes and her husband John Grey (one of Hawayo Takata’s original Reiki students) had on her spiritual path and how their teachings continue to shape her work today. Amanda speaks openly about what she experiences as a medium — what really happens when we die, why our souls choose to come to Earth, and the beautiful frequency of the other side. She explores how grounding in nature and practicing gratitude can raise our vibration, making it easier to feel the presence of loved ones who have passed. This episode includes a gentle guided meditation to help you sit with grief, soften your heart, and allow gratitude to rise. Topics include: • Grief, loss, and spiritual lineage • What mediums experience about the afterlife • How gratitude lifts our vibration • Nature as a grounding anchor • Feeling loved ones in higher frequency • A guided meditation for grief + gratitude Perfect for anyone navigating grief, seeking grounding, or craving a deeper understanding of the soul’s journey. https://www.amandabryantherapy.com/ [https://www.amandabryantherapy.com/] https://www.youtube.com/@amandabryan2326 [https://www.youtube.com/@amandabryan2326] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2403770/support]

Episode 20: Lilith Rising — Women Reclaiming Power

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2403770/open_sms] Welcome back to That’s What She Said! In this episode, I dive into what I’m calling the Lilith Era—a time when women are no longer shrinking into “little lady” stereotypes, but reclaiming our power as creators, leaders, and warriors. We’ll explore:  ✨ Who Lilith really was—and why her story was rewritten to demonize feminine power.  ✨ The biology of women’s strength, endurance, and emotional intelligence under pressure.  ✨ Historical and modern societies that flourished under female leadership.  ✨ The myth of “fragile, emotional women” vs. the reality of emotional intelligence in leadership.  ✨ Real examples of women warriors—from Vikings to the Dahomey Amazons to resistance fighters.  ✨ How reclaiming feminine energy could rebalance politics, culture, and community today. I’ll also share personal reflections on strength, community, and what it means to truly step into your Lilith energy. Resources & References 📚 Books * Rosalind Miles, Who Cooked the Last Supper? The Women’s History of the World * Cat Bohannon, Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution 📰 Articles & Research * Washington Post – Why women may be stronger than you think [https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/05/31/women-strength-performance-endurance-recovery/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Harvard Business Review – Research: Women are better leaders during a crisis [https://hbr.org/2020/12/research-women-are-better-leaders-during-a-crisis?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * PMC Study – Stress and decision-making: gender differences [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3324572/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Duke CE – Women perform well under pressure [https://www.dukece.com/insights/women-perform-well-under-pressure/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 🌍 Cultural & Historical References * Mosuo society, China (Kingdom of Women) * Minangkabau, Indonesia – world’s largest matrilineal society * Iroquois Confederacy – Clan Mothers * Viking warrior woman discovery, Birka, Sweden [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/170907-viking-warrior-woman-archaeology?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Dahomey Amazons (Agojie) 🎙️ Past Episode Connection * That’s What She Said Podcast Archive Connect with Me 🌐 amandabryantherapy.com [https://www.amandabryantherapy.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 🌐 sonewyoga.com [https://sonewyoga.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 📸 Instagram: @amandabryantherapy [https://instagram.com/amandabryantherapy?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 🕊️ Bluesky: @amandabryantherapy ✨ If this episode inspired you, share it with someone who needs a reminder of their power. And if you’re local to Merrimack, come join me in the studio—we’re building community, strength, and healing together. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2403770/support]