#33: Your Body Isn't Broken: Trauma, Chronic Symptoms, and Nervous System Healing with Cindy Costley

#33: Your Body Isn't Broken: Trauma, Chronic Symptoms, and Nervous System Healing with Cindy Costley

Your body isn’t failing you, and it isn’t being dramatic. It might be trying to protect you the only way it knows how. In this powerful conversation, we talk with Cindy Costley, founder of The Underlying Answers and creator of the Electromagnetic Body Desensitization Technique (EBDT), about what it looks like to treat symptoms as meaningful signals instead of enemies to silence. Cindy shares her personal story of living for decades with extreme sensitivities and “allergies to everything,” and how a deeper look at trauma and the nervous system changed the entire trajectory of her health.  We get practical about nervous system regulation in a world that constantly feels unsafe. From negative news cycles to family conflict to the everyday pressure to push through, stressors stack up and keep the body in fight, flight, or freeze. Cindy explains how patterns form, why symptoms can become normalized, and how healing often starts by creating internal safety through stillness. We also explore how stillness does not always mean sitting quietly. For some of us, stillness starts as movement in silence, a slow walk in nature, or a guided grounding exercise that helps the mind unclench and the body settle.  We also weave together faith and science in a way that feels human and hopeful. Cindy shares how faith helped her reject the “incurable” story, how God can speak through the body’s signals, and why opening to multiple supports like Western medicine, Eastern practices, and spiritual care can make healing feel possible again. You’ll leave with simple next steps for body awareness, including how to ask better questions, notice patterns, and respond with compassion instead of fear.  Subscribe to Be Still and Live, share this with someone who feels stuck in symptoms, and please leave a review so more people can find these conversations about healing, safety, and stillness. Connect with Cindy: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/cindycostley5] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theunderlyinganswers/] Podcast: The Underlying Answers  New here? Start with episodes 1-3: “Take Back Your Life [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982355]”, "From Hustle to Healing [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982387]",  and “5 to Thrive [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17984167].”  *Start Fog to Freedom Here [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]* Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too. It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode! And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out! Let's Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sileocoaching/] sileocoaching.com [https://sileocoaching.com/] https://alyssabellisario.com/Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation ... [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]

#32: Successful But Unfulfilled? Finding Authenticity and Clarity with Kathrine Parnell

Success can be loud, public, and impressive, and still leave you feeling strangely far from yourself. We sit down with Kathrine Parnell, founder of Stone and Sky Retreats and author of Authenticity, Keeping It Real, to name what so many people carry in silence: the gap between achievement and alignment, and the quiet longing for something more true. Kathrine shares how running a multi-million dollar, multi-state mental health company shaped her view of responsibility, identity, and pressure, and how Scotland became an unexpected turning point. We talk about the West Highland Way, why a new environment can interrupt autopilot, and how “quiet” isn’t a luxury, it’s the place where clarity finally has room to land. Along the way we challenge common myths about mindfulness: a busy mind doesn’t mean you’re failing, and discomfort in stillness can be valuable information rather than something to avoid. We also get practical with values-based living, including how to identify three to five core values and use them as a simple filter for decisions at work, in marriage, and in family life. If your default coping skill is grabbing your phone the moment you feel anxious, we offer a more honest path: tiny pauses, better replacements, and a five-second practice that helps you begin again when everything feels like too much. If you’ve been feeling successful on paper but uncertain internally, press play, then share this with someone who needs more space. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what kind of quiet you’re willing to try this week. Connect with Kathrine: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kathrineparnell/] Website [ https://stoneandskyretreats.com/] New here? Start with episodes 1-3: “Take Back Your Life [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982355]”, "From Hustle to Healing [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982387]",  and “5 to Thrive [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17984167].”  *Start Fog to Freedom Here [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]* Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too. It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode! And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out! Let's Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sileocoaching/] sileocoaching.com [https://sileocoaching.com/] https://alyssabellisario.com/Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation ... [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]

#31: Digital Detox For Real Life: How Families Reclaim Calm From Screen Overload with Alicia Collette

A child hands you your phone and suddenly you realize it is not just a tool, it is part of how your family sees you. That moment sits at the center of my conversation with Alicia, a mental health professional and digital detox coach with 14+ years of experience helping families rebuild peace and connection. We talk about the quiet “slow drip” of screens and notifications into everyday life, and why so many homes feel full on paper but restless in the soul. We get practical about what’s happening in kids’ brains and bodies when screen time ramps up. Alicia explains how constant stimulation and dopamine loops can make the transition off a screen feel like a withdrawal, showing up as meltdowns, irritability, and poor emotional regulation. We also name what often gets missed: kids don’t just learn from what we allow them to watch, they learn from how we, as parents, use our own devices. If we want calmer kids, we have to start by reclaiming our attention. From there, we shift into real solutions that work in real life: device-free dinners, quiet mornings, reducing notifications, building “anchors” in your day, and setting boundaries with work messages without living in the apology and explanation cycle. We also go deeper into stillness, faith, and identity, because a meaningful life requires space to listen, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. If you’re ready to make a small change that creates a big ripple, press play, then share this with a parent who needs hope. Subscribe to Be Still and Live and leave a review so more families can find this path back to calm. Connect with Alicia:  Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/aliciacollettefoundations/?hl=en] New here? Start with episodes 1-3: “Take Back Your Life [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982355]”, "From Hustle to Healing [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982387]",  and “5 to Thrive [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17984167].”  *Start Fog to Freedom Here [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]* Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too. It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode! And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out! Let's Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sileocoaching/] sileocoaching.com [https://sileocoaching.com/] https://alyssabellisario.com/Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation ... [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]

#30: Return to the Source: Finding Peace, Purpose, and God’s Presence in a Noisy World with Jolien Sterre

A busy schedule can look fine on the outside while your mind feels like it never stops. When that “fog” rolls in, the instinct is to push harder, scroll longer, or search for the next solution. We go the other way and it is surprisingly practical: slow down, get honest, and return to the Source. I’m joined by Jolien Sterre, a worship leader and songwriter calling in from the Netherlands. We met years ago around World Youth Day, and reconnecting now feels like a reminder that calling does not have to be loud to be real. Jolien shares how she learned to guard her time with Jesus, how Scripture and prayer help her trace restlessness back to what needs attention, and why “quiet time” is often more relational than quiet. We also talk about humility, surrender, and the steady confidence that grows when you stop chasing answers externally and start listening again. Then we move into music, vocation, and spiritual freedom. Jolien opens up about the fragility of singing under judgment, the moment she knew worship leading was her true calling, and how His Voice Music grew out of simple obedience. You’ll hear a powerful story of a night where the set list changed, a broken heart returned to God, and worship became a space for healing, deliverance, and joy. We also reflect on grief, forgiveness, and what it means to choose love over fear when the world feels shaky. Jolene closes by singing “Reckless Love,” and it lands like a quiet blessing. If you’ve been feeling stretched, distracted, or spiritually dry, press play and take a breath with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs more space, and if you want a gentle next step, try Fog to Freedom and leave a review with what stood out to you most. New here? Start with episodes 1-3: “Take Back Your Life [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982355]”, "From Hustle to Healing [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982387]",  and “5 to Thrive [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17984167].”  *Start Fog to Freedom Here [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]* Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too. It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode! And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out! Let's Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sileocoaching/] sileocoaching.com [https://sileocoaching.com/] https://alyssabellisario.com/Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation ... [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]

#29: Regulate Your Nervous System: Simple Practices to Calm Your Body and Mind with Dr. Rochelle Vogt, Ph.D.

Fear is loud, fast, and contagious and our bodies are paying the price. If you’ve been waking up anxious, feeling wired but exhausted, or wondering why you’re suddenly more reactive than you used to be, you’re not alone. I’m joined by Dr. Rochelle “Dr. Roe” Vogt, a mindfulness researcher and trauma resolution specialist, to name what’s happening underneath the surface: nervous system dysregulation in a world built on urgency, overstimulation, and constant input. We get practical about the first five minutes of the day, especially for midlife women navigating sleep disruption, hormonal shifts, and that early-morning cortisol surge. We also talk about how reaching for your phone, scrolling headlines, and living on notifications can kick your brain straight into threat mode, and how a tiny pause can move you back toward clarity, choice, and steadiness. Dr. Roe shares simple tools you can actually use: self-touch and havening-style brushing, visualization you can speak out loud, breathwork, tapping, humming, cold water on the face, and other vagus nerve practices that tell the body “you are safe.” We also go deeper into the bigger theme: the nervous system as a portal that filters your relationships, identity, and spiritual life. When we stay in survival mode too long, we eventually hit a wall, but we’re not stuck there. We explore boundaries as a health intervention, the shift from fear to faith, hope, and love, and how regulated people become quiet leaders in their homes and communities. If you want a gentle next step, try the Fog to Freedom grounding exercise and check out Dr. Roe’s free “Healing Power of Presence” guide. Subscribe, share this with someone who feels maxed out, and leave a review so more people can find tools for nervous system regulation and trauma healing. Connect with Dr. Roe: Website [https://drrochellevogt.com/] Listeners can go to https://drrochellevogt.com/gift to get access to my guide, "The Healing Power of Presence: 3 Conscious Breathing Techniques That Tell your Nervous System You Are Safe." New here? Start with episodes 1-3: “Take Back Your Life [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982355]”, "From Hustle to Healing [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17982387]",  and “5 to Thrive [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520471/episodes/17984167].”  *Start Fog to Freedom Here [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]* Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too. It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode! And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out! Let's Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sileocoaching/] sileocoaching.com [https://sileocoaching.com/] https://alyssabellisario.com/Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation ... [https://gillian-gabryluk.mykajabi.com/opt-in?_gl=1%2Av96zdt%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEyMzc3NTc1My4xNjkyOTkyMjcz]