The Caroline Middelsdorf Podcast

The Tongue Never Lies - How Chinese Medicine Reveals Trauma & Anxiety

Trauma and anxiety don’t just live in the mind — they live in the body. In this episode of Real, Raw & Authentic, recorded in Los Angeles, I talk to Jiaming Ju, founder of KUN Health and a second-generation licensed Chinese Medicine practitioner who specializes in chronic conditions. We talk about tongue diagnosis in Chinese Medicine and how the tongue can reveal long-term stress, anxiety, trauma patterns, nervous system dysregulation, and physical imbalance — in a grounded, body-based way, not something mystical or abstract. What stayed with me: • You can be high-functioning and still deeply dysregulated • You can be coping while your body remains in survival mode • The tongue often shows what someone has been carrying for years This episode is for anyone who struggles with anxiety, unresolved trauma, chronic stress, or physical symptoms that don’t fully make sense yet — and for anyone curious about mental health beyond just talking about it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing fine” mentally but your body tells a different story, this conversation may resonate. 🎧 Subscribe to Real, Raw & Authentic for honest conversations connecting trauma, mental health, and the body.

Is this the Future of Trauma Therapy? | Ingmar de Gooijer

In this episode of REAL. RAW. AUTHENTIC.🎙️ I sit down with Ingmar de Gooijer, founder of Magnolia in the Netherlands — one of the leading centers for ketamine therapy and psilocybin-supported journeys. Ingmar has years of experience guiding people through deeply transformative non-ordinary states of consciousness.  At Magnolia, every journey begins with a careful medical and psychological screening and continues with a fully personalized program — whether it’s ketamine-assisted therapy under clinical supervision or psilocybin truffle experiences facilitated by psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, or experienced guides. In this conversation, we dive into the real questions people usually avoid: • Who ketamine therapy is for — especially individuals struggling with treatment-resistant depression who haven’t found relief through traditional methods. • Who benefits from psilocybin — people seeking deeper emotional insight, meaning, and the ability to gently access their inner healing intelligence. • How psychedelics can help unlock emotions — parts of yourself you’ve suppressed, avoided, or simply couldn’t reach through talk therapy alone. • How these experiences can bring forward what you might need to see in order to heal, shift, or finally process long-held patterns. • What psychedelics cannot do — and why they are not a magic bullet in trauma healing. • Why the real work begins after the session, during integration, grounding, and making sense of what came up. We talk honestly about safety, misconceptions, emotional breakthroughs, and how these substances can support your healing journey.    I ask the curious, uncomfortable, and essential questions that everyone wonders about but rarely says out loud. This episode is for everyone: • Therapists, coaches, and people in the healing field • Anyone navigating trauma, depression, or emotional stuckness • People curious about psychedelic therapy • People who feel they’ve tried everything and still feel lost • Anyone wanting to understand how healing actually works beyond the surface Don't forget to share your main takeaway in the comments below and hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode.  FYI: Magnolia is co-founded with Emilie Donders, MD, and supported by a team of psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, and experienced facilitators. Their work complies with Dutch healthcare regulations (Wkkgz), and the entire approach is grounded in safety, ethics, and high-quality medical care. How to connect with Ingmar de Gooijer & Magnolia:  website: https://mymagnolia.nl/en/ linkedin Magnolia: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mymagnolia/ Linkedin Ingmar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingmardegooijer/ How to connect with host and your psychologist Caroline Middelsdorf:  website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemiddelsdorf?igsh=MXd4M2pxZXlydmFmMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Real.Raw.Authentic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MjtGi_7b9c4

The Master of the Journey Within | Shifu Zuan at Shaolin Temple Europe

We are all on a journey, searching for answers, meaning, and connection. Often, we’re trying to find ourselves, yet we don’t even know how or where to start. Many of us struggle with loneliness, numbness, and overwhelm. In this episode, I travel to the Shaolin Temple Europe in Otterberg, Germany, to meet Master Shifu  Zuan, a true guide on the path of self-realization, presence, and inner mastery. Filmed in one of the most inspiring and peaceful settings, this episode is not just something to listen to — it’s an invitation. An invitation to begin your own journey within, to awaken the wisdom, discipline, and peace that already live inside you. If you’ve ever felt lonely, lost, or disconnected, this conversation is especially for you — a reminder that the answers you seek are not outside of you, but within. As you listen, you will feel Shifu Zuan’s calming and powerful energy, grounding, centering, and expanding your awareness with every word. During my time at the temple, I experienced the annual Shaolin Festival, witnessing the graceful flow of Tai Chi, the strength and focus of Kung Fu, and the deep mind-body connection that moves like a dance within. I also experienced the stillness and reverence of a mindful tea ceremony, where each breath and movement became meditation. These moments revealed how inner mastery teaches us a new language — the language of the nervous system — where body, mind, and soul align in harmony. Shifu Zuan’s teachings are rooted in the traditional Chinese Arts, Philosophy, Daoism, and Buddhism, which he masterfully weaves into modern life. His expertise, wisdom, and presence have guided many to reconnect with their essence, find balance, and awaken their true nature. In this episode, we explore: 🥋 What it truly means to walk the path of self-realization 🥋 How to integrate Shaolin philosophy into daily life 🥋 The balance between discipline, surrender, and inner strength 🥋The language of the nervous system and the power of inner alignment 🥋Practical tools and insights to inspire your own journey within This conversation is real, raw, and authentic, filled with heart, humility, and timeless wisdom. It is not only about awareness, but about action, embodiment, and awakening. This episode will stay with you, opening your heart, calming your mind, and inviting you to discover the sacred alignment within yourself. You will feel Shifu Zuan’s serene presence throughout, and I cannot wait for another conversation with this remarkable teacher. ⬇️ Connect with Master Shifu Zuan (Shifu Zuan): Journey Into Oneself: https://www.journeyintooneself.world/shifu-zuan IG: [https://www.instagram.com/journeyintooneself.world?igsh=cmRldmpna2ZzeDVs] Shaolin.Online: https://shaolin.online.com  IG: [https://www.instagram.com/shaolin.online?igsh=bmpuZTR3enNjcDU3] Shaolintempleeurope: https://www.shaolintemple.eu IG: [https://www.instagram.com/shaolintempleeurope?igsh=N2ZzcjdocDk1dTI=] ⬇️ Connect with host Caroline Middelsdorf: Podcast Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] Website: [https://www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com] TikTok: [https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinemiddelsdorf] M At the end of the episode, I’d love to hear from you! Please subscribe 🔔, like 👍🏻 , and share ⏩ this video, and let me know in the comments:  👉🏼What was your main takeaway from this episode or what inspired you the most?

The Invisible Wounds Behind Perfectionism & Eating Disorders

🎙️ Welcome to Real. Raw. Authentic. — the podcast where I, psychologist Caroline Middelsdorf, travel the world to break the silence around invisible wounds, normalize vulnerability, and remind you that you are never alone. In this London episode, I sit down with model, professional surfer, athlete, and Love Island UK star Laura Crane.  Laura opens up about her journey through eating disorders, anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressures of being a female athlete o facing judgment on national TV and navigating life after Love Island— and how she found her way back to authenticity, courage, and self-love. ✨  This is an inspiring conversation about healing, fear, resilience, and what it really means to embrace who you are. Because we all have a story — and sharing it is what brings us together in a divided world. 💡 If this conversation resonates with you, don’t forget to subscribe and hit the like button — it helps us spread the message that no one has to walk their healing journey alone.  Find my guest Laura Crane on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraloucrane?igsh=MXJ3dmVhdDU2OHZhag==  ➡️Learn more about my work (Host: @carolinemiddelsdorf ):  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemid...  Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr  Website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com TikTok: @carolinemiddelsdorf Facebook: / 18utfd. . Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-m-b835b017a

Why Men Suffer In Silence

In this episode of Real, Raw & Authentic, I sit down in Los Angeles with Ben Smith - holistic wellness coach, athlete, ex-military, and trauma-informed retreat facilitator. Ben’s story is one of resilience, courage, and deep transformation. We dive into why so many men suffer in silence — carrying loneliness, shame, and unspoken struggles behind closed doors. Ben opens up about his own journey, the inner battles he faced, and the tools that helped him on his healing journey. 💡 We explore: ❤️‍🩹The unworthiness wound and how childhood pain shapes identity ❤️‍🩹How overthinking becomes a false safety net — and why so many stay stuck there ❤️‍🩹The silent battles men fight but rarely talk about (+ signs to look out for) ❤️‍🩹How somatic work, nervous system regulation, and feeling your body can change your life Choosing yourself and your healing - and how that changes the language within. This is a raw and vulnerable conversation about the parts of healing people rarely speak about — shame, identity, and self-worth. Ben shares openly, breaking the silence around men’s mental health and showing what’s possible when we choose to face our wounds instead of hiding them. If you’re curious about trauma healing, hearing a bit more about psychedelics, or understanding the hidden struggles men face, this episode will challenge the way you see yourself — and maybe even inspire your own healing journey. 🎧 Listen, feel, and be inspired. No fluff. No filters. Just real, raw, and authentic talk that invites you to explore your own healing. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations that open minds and hearts 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments — your story matters ❤️ Support my podcast by liking and sharing if this conversation resonates Connect with Ben Smith:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benveesmith?igsh=MTV0YzhzazZzNzNzbQ== Learn more about my work:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemiddelsdorf?igsh=MXd4M2pxZXlydmFmMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com TikTok:  @carolinemiddelsdorf   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18UtFDarjg/?mibextid=wwXIfr