Woven: Soft Edges, Deep Roots

Episode 15: Amber Venner

Perimenopause, Postpartum & the Need for Community Support Description: In this episode, Sara and Amber explore the realities of perimenopause and the broader context of women’s life transitions. They discuss: * the lack of awareness and education around perimenopause * how symptoms can overlap with anxiety and depression * the parallels between perimenopause, postpartum, and other hormonal shifts * the absence of cultural rituals and community support for women The conversation also expands into: * midlife representation and evolving beauty standards * the importance of female friendships and support systems * shifting gender roles and the role of men in supporting women * modern parenting and the impact of technology This episode offers an honest and nuanced look at the challenges women face in midlife—and the importance of rebuilding supportive, community-based care models. Be sure to follow me: Patreon [https://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_contehttps://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinknt=copyLink]: @SolefulSara YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@SolefulSara] @SolefulSara Substack [https://substack.com/@solefulsara] @solefulSara Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @soleful_circles.stl Instagram Podcast [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @woven_soft.edges.deep.roots TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@sarasole88?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] @sarasole88

Woven Episode 14 Brittanie Zwart

Intuition, Systems & Reparenting Ourselves | Healing Beyond the Individual What if your intuition isn’t just personal — but political? In this episode, Sara sits down with Brittanie (therapist, long-time friend, and fellow systems-thinker) for a layered conversation about healing, intuition, and the systems that shape both. We explore: * Why healing spaces can feel inaccessible * Intuition — and how systemic oppression shapes what feels “true” * The political nature of somatic and body-based work * Caregiving vs. caretaking (especially in the sandwich generation) * How capitalism turns connection into transactions * Telehealth vs. in-person therapy — what actually predicts effectiveness * Reparenting and breaking intergenerational patterns * Generational trauma and emotional maturity * Why therapy outcomes hinge on safety and relationship We also discuss a future deep dive into Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson — and how emotional immaturity echoes through systems, families, and culture. This conversation weaves together personal stories (ADHD, motherhood, burnout, career calling) with larger questions: Are systems the problem?  Or are they also the solution? If you’re curious about reparenting, collective healing, intuition, attachment, or the intersection of therapy and culture — this is just the beginning. To connect with Brittanie:  www.brittaniezwart.com  BGZ Therapy LLC on FB Be sure to follow me: Patreon [https://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_contehttps://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinknt=copyLink]: @SolefulSara YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@SolefulSara] @SolefulSara Substack [https://substack.com/@solefulsara] @solefulSara Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @soleful_circles.stl Instagram Podcast [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @woven_soft.edges.deep.roots TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@sarasole88?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] @sarasole88

Woven Episode 13 Ashley Shears

Breath Care, Barefoot Massage & Nervous System Regulation | With Ashley Shears  What happens when two barefoot massage therapists start talking about language, breath, and the nervous system? This episode is a deep, nuanced conversation about: * Myofascial ashiatsu barefoot massage * Nervous system regulation beyond trendy buzzwords * Why we’re shifting from “breathwork” to breath care * The power of precise language (pain vs. discomfort) * Interoception and learning to describe sensation * Bridging relaxation massage and clinical practice * Chronic stress and simple, sustainable regulation practices * Why intake forms are relational tools — not paperwork Ashley shares how she blends spa and clinical massage approaches in California, integrating breath awareness and barefoot myofascial techniques to regulate the nervous system while delivering deeply effective bodywork. We unpack why language matters — how the word work changes a client’s experience, and why “breath care” creates a different somatic invitation than “breathwork.” We also talk about the current wave of nervous system trends — vagus nerve gadgets, fight-or-flight simplifications — and why real healing is less about products and more about education, interoception, and accessible daily tools. Plus:  Ashley shares about her upcoming self-care classes and sound baths  If you’re a massage therapist, bodyworker, clinician, or human navigating chronic stress — this one is for you. Be sure to follow me: Patreon [https://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_contehttps://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinknt=copyLink]: @SolefulSara YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@SolefulSara] @SolefulSara Substack [https://substack.com/@solefulsara] @solefulSara Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @soleful_circles.stl Instagram Podcast [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @woven_soft.edges.deep.roots TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@sarasole88?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] @sarasole88

Woven: Episode 12 Rachel Wolff

This episode is tender, unfiltered, and very real. We're recording live from St. Louis after attending a celebration of life for a dear friend. There's been crying and eating cookies for breakfast. Feeling puffy. Not sleeping. Processing grief in the moment and letting the body do exactly what it needs to do. We talk about: * Why crying makes your face swell (and why that might be wise) * The difference between funerals and celebrations of life * How ritual anchors grief in the body * Ambiguous and abstract loss * Why we need community to metabolize death * Dia de los Muertos and what it teaches us about joy, remembrance, and culture * Inviting the dead into our lives instead of pretending they’re gone * Oxytocin vs. dopamine (and why women especially need connection over consumption) * Grief massage and touch as ritual We reference the teachings of Stephen Jenkinson on grief and dying, and Perdita Finn, author of Take Back the Magic, who writes about inviting the dead into prayer and daily life. This conversation moves from marshmallow cry-face to death literacy to flower crown crafting as grief ritual. It’s honest. It’s embodied. It’s about remembering our people out loud. If you’re grieving—recently or abstractly—this one is for you. Be sure to follow me: Patreon [https://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_contehttps://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinknt=copyLink]: @SolefulSara YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@SolefulSara] @SolefulSara Substack [https://substack.com/@solefulsara] @solefulSara Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @soleful_circles.stl Instagram Podcast [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @woven_soft.edges.deep.roots TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@sarasole88?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] @sarasole88

WOVEN: Episode 11 Shecanna Seeley

What does it really mean to raise children with healthy habits—without fear, force, or perfectionism? In this conversation, Shecanna and Sara explore the delicate balance of teaching kids about food, emotions, and their bodies in a world shaped by speed, screens, and external pressures. From playful stories of children choosing joy over dinner, to honest reflections on how little most of us were taught about our own bodies, this episode invites curiosity instead of control. Together, they unpack how motherhood reshapes the way healing is practiced—how physical therapy, emotional support, intuition, and presence must coexist for real change to happen. This is a conversation about moving beyond linear, corrective healthcare models and returning to the art of healing: relational, responsive, and deeply human. If you’re a parent, practitioner, or someone longing for a more holistic way of caring—for children, clients, or yourself—this episode offers gentle insight and grounded hope. Be sure to follow me: Patreon [https://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_contehttps://patreon.com/SolefulSara?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinknt=copyLink]: @SolefulSara YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@SolefulSara] @SolefulSara Substack [https://substack.com/@solefulsara] @solefulSara Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @soleful_circles.stl Instagram Podcast [http://www.instagram.com/Soleful_circles.stl] @woven_soft.edges.deep.roots TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@sarasole88?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] @sarasole88