Annie Brook

Melissa Taylor

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Melissa Taylor, a mental health provider who's deeply versed in cultural nuances and intergenerational trauma, to discuss seeking ancestral wisdom as part of healing. They also dive into the impact of systemic oppression on family dynamics and the importance of recognizing and validating individual experiences. About Melissa Navigating both physical and virtual spaces, Melissa is a third-culture individual deeply versed in cultural nuances and intergenerational trauma. Driven by a mission to reconnect with her ancestors and to help others on their own journeys of reconnection, she specializes in addressing relational and intergenerational trauma as well as oppression. Melissa’s practice is grounded in principles of anti-racism, anti-oppressive practices, and Black feminism. She’s committed to working with individuals impacted by colonization, enslavement, and 2SLGTBQ+ oppression. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * Ancestors are not just biological; they can include community members, writers, artists, or even elements of nature like a specific lake or river that provides a felt sense of connection. * We don't just inherit intergenerational wounds; we also inherit intergenerational wisdom—skills, ways of knowing, and a capacity for playfulness that can anchor us during difficult times. * Healing often begins with a sensation rather than a thought. Look for glimmers of okayness or a settlement in the body, even if it only lasts for a few seconds. * Individual trauma is often inseparable from systemic oppression, including racism, misogyny, and the patriarchy. Recognizing these external forces helps take the pathology off the individual. Resources Mentioned * Ancestral Memory Therapy’s blog [https://www.ancestralmemorytherapy.com/blog/] Connect with Melissa Taylor * Ancestral Memory Therapy: https://www.ancestralmemorytherapy.com/ [https://www.ancestralmemorytherapy.com/] Connect with the Show * Website: justlikenana.com [http://justlikenana.com] * Share Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed. Connect with Just Like Nana's Website [https://justlikenana.com/]. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective [https://feministpodcasterscollective.com/]. Theme music by Carter Penny.

Annie Brook

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by psychologist and educator Annie Brook to discuss how the nervous system stores trauma, and what we can do to release those chemicals and emotions and ground back into our bodies. Together they explore pre-cognitive memories and how we can metabolize emotional distress. About Annie Annie Brook is a psychologist, educator, and author whose work focuses on trauma healing, birth imprint therapy, and applied neuroplasticity. Through The Brook Institute she teaches practical body mind tools that help therapists, parents, and individuals heal early developmental trauma and build healthier relationships. For more information visit https://anniebrook.com [https://anniebrook.com/]. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * While the mind can analyze trauma, the nervous system is what stores it. Healing requires moving into the felt sense to release energy that talk therapy alone often cannot reach. * How experiences from the womb and birth—moments before we have language—create foundational blueprints in our bodies. Recognizing these early imprints can be helpful in understanding unexplained adult anxiety or shut-down. * How to identify when your system has entered a freeze or existential shock state. Annie explains how dissociation serves as a survival mechanism and provides tools to safely bring your awareness back into your body. * How to use sensory feedback and somatic techniques to finish incomplete trauma responses. Whether it’s reclaiming a birth push or moving through ancestral grief, these tools help your body understand that the danger is in the past. * To develop a compassionate witness within yourself. By replacing self-attack thinking with curious body awareness, you create the internal safety necessary for deep integration and personal growth. Resources Mentioned * Annie’s PDF Library: https://www.anniebrook.com/pdf-library [https://www.anniebrook.com/pdf-library] * Annie’s “Blink Blink” video: https://www.instagram.com/p/C35qUqMOZ7T/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/C35qUqMOZ7T/] * Molecules of Emotion [https://bookshop.org/p/books/molecules-of-emotion-the-science-behind-mind-body-medicine-candace-b-pert-ph-d/72da14861c8ec2df?ean=9780684846347&next=t] by Candace Pert, PhD * There’s No Such Thing As a Dragon [https://bookshop.org/p/books/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-dragon-jack-kent/2af0245f08ed3383?ean=9780375851377&next=t] by Jack Kent Connect with Annie Brook Instagram: @anniebrooktherapy [https://www.instagram.com/anniebrooktherapy] Website: https://www.anniebrook.com [https://www.anniebrook.com] Connect with the Show * Website: justlikenana.com [http://justlikenana.com] * Share Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed. Connect with Just Like Nana's Website [https://justlikenana.com/]. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective [https://feministpodcasterscollective.com/]. Theme music by Carter Penny.

Erica Bonham

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Erica Bonham, a licensed counselor and embodied leadership coach, where they explore a “badass nervous system”, emotional alchemy, and tips for listening to your body. About Erica Erica Bonham is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, best selling author and embodied leadership coach. Her work bridges individual transformation and collective healing. She leads trainings on EMDR, ancestral trauma, and embodied, heart-led leadership. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * The difference between fake resiliency, a high-functioning trauma response rooted in fear, and true capacity. * How to stay present with difficult emotions. Instead of avoiding the hard things, learn to use them as fuel for your growth and leadership. * Moving beyond repeating affirmations like "I am worthy." Shift into an embodied practice where your value is something you feel in your cells, not just something you think in your head. * Explore the intersection of the body, the heart, and the mind. When you unwind the patterns in all three areas, you stop playing small and start trusting your own intuition and impact. * Why setting boundaries isn't just a social skill, but a physiological requirement for your nervous system. Strengthening your capacity to say "no" increases your capacity. Resources Mentioned * Kim Krans The Wild Archetypes Deck [https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Archetypes-Deck-Guidebook/dp/0062871773?ref_=ast_author_dp] * Kasia Urbaniack’s Book, Unbound [https://www.kasiaurbaniak.com/unbound-book] Connect with Erica Bonham Website: https://www.avoscounseling.com [https://www.avoscounseling.com/] Embodied and Unstoppable Workshop [https://www.avoscounseling.com/embodied-and-unstoppable-workshop] Nervous System Reset Toolkit [https://www.avoscounseling.com/freebie] Erica’s Book: Always Enough, Never Done [https://www.avoscounseling.com/always-enough] Connect with the Show * Website: justlikenana.com [http://justlikenana.com] * Share Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed. Connect with Just Like Nana's Website [https://justlikenana.com/]. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective [https://feministpodcasterscollective.com/]. Theme music by Carter Penny.

Bee Doyle

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Bee Doyle, a  nurse practitioner, intuitive healer, and spiritual teacher, to discuss moving out of survival states into a journey of healing and thriving. Together, they explore the non-linear nature of healing, ways to regulate your nervous system, tapping into ancestral resilience, and more. About Bee Bee Doyle is a nurse practitioner, intuitive healer, and spiritual teacher who uniquely bridges the worlds of medicine and metaphysics. As a combat veteran, her own path to wellness began after returning from a tour in Afghanistan, where she navigated the complexities of post-traumatic stress and a lost sense of purpose.Today, she is the owner of Double Libra Astrology, where she blends her medical background with evolutionary astrology, ancestral healing, and embodiment practices to guide others toward a holistic state of empowered living.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * Healing is never a linear path from A to Z; it is a journey full of twists and turns that requires self-grace when you feel you’ve taken a step backward . * True healing often remains stuck if your body doesn't feel safe. Learning to move out of high-alert states—like fight, flight, or freeze—is the essential foundation for any deep ancestral or trauma work. * Use the "Heavy vs. Light" tool to build your intuition like a muscle. Pay attention to how your body physically reacts to truths (feeling "light" or expansive) versus untruths (feeling "heavy" or restricted) to guide your daily decisions . * While we often focus on ancestral wounds, our lineage also contains the "resilience and positive tools" that allowed our ancestors to survive. Reclaiming these gifts is just as vital as healing the trauma . * Showing up for yourself with softness and compassion creates a ripple effect, softening the world around you and positively impacting your community and future generations. Resources Mentioned * What is Somatic Therapy?: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-somatic-therapy-202307072951 [https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-somatic-therapy-202307072951]  Connect with Bee Bee’s Upcoming Book, Keepers of the Light: https://publishizer.com/keepers-of-the-light/ [https://publishizer.com/keepers-of-the-light/] Website: https://doublelibraastrology.com/ [https://doublelibraastrology.com/] Instagram: @doublelibracoaching Connect with the Show * Website: justlikenana.com [http://justlikenana.com] * Share Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed. Connect with Just Like Nana's Website [https://justlikenana.com/]. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective [https://feministpodcasterscollective.com/]. Theme music by Carter Penny.

Dr. Erika Yourdan

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Dr. Erika Yourdan, a licensed therapist and counselor, where they discuss how to use systemic thinking and nature-based healing to bridge the gap between your past and your present, helping you claim your rightful place as a cycle breaker.  Together they explore the feeling of psychological homelessness, where the fractures in our family history leave us feeling disconnected from our roots and our sense of belonging.  About Dr. Erika Yourdan Dr. Erika Yourdan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, addiction counselor, and certified EMDR practitioner based in Abilene, Texas. As a systemic thinker, Dr. Yourdan specializes in looking beyond individual symptoms to uncover the complex web of relational and ancestral transmissions that shape our lives. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * Understand Psychological Homelessness: Recognize that the feeling of not fitting in often stems from a lack of emotional or ancestral safety. Healing begins when we acknowledge this displacement and start building an internal sense of home. * The Power of Relational Transmission: Learn how trauma isn't just an event, but a vibe or way of relating that is passed down through generations. By identifying these systemic patterns, you can stop the copy-paste of trauma in your own life. * Regulate Your Nervous System with Eco-Therapy: Discover how connecting with nature—whether through a hike or simply sitting with a tree—can help ground your felt senses and provide the safety your brain needs to process difficult family histories. * The Logic of Safety: Move beyond the just do it scared mentality. Dr. Yourdan explains how to logic your way into safety by reminding your brain that the current environment is secure, allowing you to take steps forward, sideways, or even back with grace. * Embrace Your Role as a Cycle Breaker: Accept your calling as a disruptor or transitional character. You don't have to heal generations of wounds in one day; even a single, small step is enough to start changing the story for your descendants. Resources Mentioned * What is Polyvagal Theory? [https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory] * Dr. Laurel Thorton [https://www.wholebrainsolutionswv.com/laurel-oneal-thornton] Connect with Dr. Erika Yourdan https://thesumofyoucounseling.com/ [https://thesumofyoucounseling.com/] Connect with the Show * Website: justlikenana.com [http://justlikenana.com] * Share Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed. Connect with Just Like Nana's Website [https://justlikenana.com/]. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective [https://feministpodcasterscollective.com/]. Theme music by Carter Penny.