When Healing Isn't Linear: Breaking the Spiral and Letting Go of Control

IBS, Gut Health & the Nervous System: Healing Chronic Digestive Issues Through Functional Medicine with Kira Whitham

Have you been told your digestive symptoms are "just IBS" but still know something isn't right? In this episode of Rewriting the Illness Story, I sit down with holistic nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner Kira Whitham to explore the deeper root causes of chronic digestive issues. After decades of debilitating stomach pain, countless medical tests, and years of searching for answers, Kira discovered that healing wasn't just about food—it was about understanding the connection between the gut, nervous system, microbiome, and mind. Together we discuss why so many people become trapped in restrictive diets, the limitations of symptom-based care, and how functional medicine helped Kira and her family uncover answers that conventional medicine had missed. Whether you're struggling with IBS, constipation, SIBO, food fears, chronic inflammation, or unexplained digestive symptoms, this conversation offers hope and practical insight into approaching healing from a whole-person perspective. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why an IBS diagnosis often isn't the end of the story • The connection between the gut microbiome and chronic digestive symptoms • How stress and nervous system dysregulation affect digestion • Functional medicine vs. symptom management • Why food isn't always the root cause of digestive issues • Why restrictive diets sometimes stop working • Learning to trust your body instead of fearing food • The importance of bio-individuality in nutrition and healing • Daily practices that support nervous system regulation and gut health • Why self-advocacy is essential when searching for answers If you've ever felt dismissed, gaslit, or frustrated by ongoing digestive symptoms, this episode is a reminder to keep asking questions, trust your intuition, and remember that healing is often about much more than what's on your plate. Connect with Kira Whitham Website: https://www.anourishedlifenutrition.com [https://www.anourishedlifenutrition.com] Holistic Gut Healing Facebook Community https://m.facebook.com/groups/1271744879689905/?ref=share [https://m.facebook.com/groups/1271744879689905/?ref=share] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kira.tarasek? [https://www.facebook.com/kira.tarasek?] Kira cohosts a podcast! Listen here:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heal-yourself-podcast/id1771675521 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heal-yourself-podcast/id1771675521] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirawhitham.nd [https://www.instagram.com/kirawhitham.nd]  If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this conversation. Every share helps more people discover that they are not alone—and that they have the power to rewrite their illness story. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] OR  rewritingillness@gmail.com [rewritingillness@gmail.com] Music: Island Glow by Dirk Dealer Book with Meditation: You Are Not your Pain Book by Danny Penman and Vidyamala Burch (on Amazon).   https://amzn.to/3PIT118 [https://amzn.to/3PIT118] Disclaimer The conversations shared on Rewriting the Illness Story are intended to inspire curiosity, self-advocacy, and personal exploration. They are based on the lived experiences, perspectives, and opinions of the host and guests and are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast should be interpreted as medical, psychological, or professional healthcare advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health, medications, supplements, or treatment. Every healing journey is unique, and what works for one person may not be appropriate for another. We encourage you to listen with an open mind, use your own discernment, and make the choices that feel right for you in partnership with your healthc...

Breaking Free From Limiting Beliefs: Guests Explore Real Stories of Transformation Through Avatar

FROM LIMITING BELIEFS TO CONSCIOUS CREATION: REAL STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION THROUGH AVATAR (NEXT COURSE IS IN EARLY JULY 2026) In this episode of Rewriting the Illness Story, Paula sits down with three guests—Kayci Cavenah, Dianna Vagianos, and Ginger Rogers—to explore the profound personal transformations they experienced through the Avatar® course. Together, they share candid stories about overcoming limiting beliefs, releasing lifelong conditioning, and discovering what becomes possible when we take responsibility for our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. From healing relationships and shifting family dynamics to transforming careers, businesses, and even physical health challenges, this conversation offers an honest look at the journey from unconscious patterns to conscious creation. The discussion explores how deeply held beliefs—often formed in childhood and operating beneath our awareness—can shape every aspect of our lives until we learn to identify and transform them. The guests also discuss the power of personal responsibility, emotional freedom, compassion, self-awareness, and living with greater intention. Whether you're interested in personal growth, consciousness exploration, healing, mindset transformation, or simply curious about the Avatar experience, this episode offers powerful insights into what can happen when we challenge the stories we've been living and begin creating new possibilities. In This Episode: * What the Avatar course is and how each guest discovered it * Identifying and transforming limiting beliefs * The impact of childhood conditioning and indoctrination * Moving from reaction to conscious response * Creating healthier relationships and family dynamics * How consciousness affects healing and personal growth * Letting go of fear, blame, and victimhood * Finding greater freedom, peace, and self-trust * The connection between awareness and conscious creation * Real-life stories of transformation through Avatar Connect with Our Guests: Kayci Cavenah – Portland, Oregon Email= kaycicavenah@gmail.com [kaycicavenah@gmail.com] Website = Kaycicavenah.com [https://www.kaycicavenah.com/] Dianna Vagionos – Colorado, https://diannavagianosarmentrout.substack.com/ [https://diannavagianosarmentrout.substack.com/] http://www.frontrangehomeopathy.com [http://www.frontrangehomeopathy.com].            dianna@frontrangehomeopathy.com [dianna@frontrangehomeopathy.com]       720-446-8139 Ginger Rogers – Atlanta, Georgia, www.gingerrogerswellness.com [http://www.gingerrogerswellness.com] 770-940-3909 Avatar® is a registered trademark of Star’s Edge, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The viewpoints on this post are my own and do not represent Star Edge Inc. https://theavatarcourse.com/ [https://theavatarcourse.com/] Keywords: Avatar Course, Consciousness, Limiting Beliefs, Personal Growth, Self-Healing, Mindset Transformation, Conscious Creation, Emotional Healing, Spiritual Growth, Personal Responsibility, Self-Awareness, Transformation Stories, Rewriting the Illness Story Podcast, Manifestation, Healing Journey, Human Potential, Empowerment, Belief Systems, Conscious Living, Inner Freedom.  You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] OR  rewritingillness@gmail.com [rewritingillness@gmail.com] Music: Island Glow by Dirk Dealer Book with Meditation: You Are Not your Pain Book by Danny Penman and Vidyamala Burch (on Amazon).   https://amzn.to/3PIT118 [https://amzn.to/3PIT118] Disclaimer The conversations shared on Rewriting the Illness Story are intended to inspire curiosity, self-advocacy, and personal exploration. They are based on the lived experiences, perspectives, and opinions of the host and guests and are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast should be interpreted as medical, psychological, or professional healthcare advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health, medications, supplements, or treatment. Every healing journey is unique, and what works for one person may not be appropriate for another. We encourage you to listen with an open mind, use your own discernment, and make the choices that feel right for you in partnership with your healthc...

From Corporate Collapse to Heart Surgery, Healing Methodolgies & Purpose with Manu Khullar

HEALING TRAUMA WITH INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS) | MANU KHULLAR In this powerful episode of Rewriting the Illness Story, Paula sits down with Manu Khullar, an IFS Level 3 trauma-informed healing practitioner whose life was transformed by personal crisis, profound healing work, a life-threatening open-heart surgery and near death experiences (NDE). After spending more than 30 years in the corporate technology world, Manu experienced a devastating breakdown that led him on a quest to understand trauma, chronic stress, emotional pain, and the mind-body connection. His search for answers took him through numerous healing modalities, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Body Mirroring Systems, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Biofield Tuning, energy healing, and trauma recovery practices. Together, Paula and Manu explore how unresolved childhood experiences shape our nervous systems, relationships, self-worth, and physical health. They discuss the connection between trauma and chronic illness, the role of the inner child in healing, and why many people remain stuck in survival mode without realizing it. Manu also shares the remarkable story of his near-death experience during emergency open-heart surgery and how surrender, trust, and inner healing transformed not only his recovery but his entire perspective on life. If you've struggled with trauma, chronic pain, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or feeling disconnected from yourself, this conversation offers hope, insight, and practical wisdom for your healing journey. In This Episode: * What Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is and how it works * How childhood trauma shapes adult behavior and health * The connection between trauma, chronic pain, anxiety, and illness * Understanding the body's messages and symptoms * Biofield Tuning and the body's energetic field * NLP and how language reveals subconscious patterns * The difference between learning and true healing * Spiritual bypassing and why healing requires deeper work * How to move from survival mode into self-leadership * Manu's near-death experience and open-heart surgery recovery * Building self-compassion and creating lasting transformation About Manu Khullar Manu Khullar is an IFS Level 3 trained trauma-informed healing practitioner dedicated to helping people navigate fear, trauma, illness, and life's most difficult transitions. Drawing from decades of personal healing and professional experience, he combines Internal Family Systems, Biofield Tuning, NLP, and other transformative approaches to help clients reconnect with their authentic selves and create lasting change. Connect with Manu Website: GiveLifeToLive.com [https://www.givelifetolife.com] #InternalFamilySystems #IFS #TraumaHealing #ChronicPain #MindBodyConnection #AnxietyHealing #BiofieldTuning #NLP #InnerChildHealing #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemHealing #EmotionalHealing #ChronicIllness #SelfCompassion #HealingJourney #RewritingTheIllnessStory  You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] OR  rewritingillness@gmail.com [rewritingillness@gmail.com] Music: Island Glow by Dirk Dealer Book with Meditation: You Are Not your Pain Book by Danny Penman and Vidyamala Burch (on Amazon).   https://amzn.to/3PIT118 [https://amzn.to/3PIT118] Disclaimer The conversations shared on Rewriting the Illness Story are intended to inspire curiosity, self-advocacy, and personal exploration. They are based on the lived experiences, perspectives, and opinions of the host and guests and are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast should be interpreted as medical, psychological, or professional healthcare advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health, medications, supplements, or treatment. Every healing journey is unique, and what works for one person may not be appropriate for another. We encourage you to listen with an open mind, use your own discernment, and make the choices that feel right for you in partnership with your healthc...

Healing the Belief That You’re Not Enough: Religious Dogma, Perfectionism & Self-Love

In this episode of Rewriting the Illness Story, I’m sharing a deeply personal conversation about the beliefs I inherited growing up, how religious conditioning shaped my relationship with myself, and the perfectionism that followed. These were the stories I carried for years: that I needed to be better, do more, fix myself, and earn love. I explore how messages around religion, body image, shame, pleasure, and self-worth influenced the way I saw my body and my chronic illness journey. For a long time, I believed my pain meant I was doing something wrong. I thought if I could find the perfect answer, diet, practice, or solution, I could finally heal. But healing didn’t come through becoming more perfect. It came through learning to accept myself. We talk about: ✨ Religious conditioning and how childhood beliefs shape identity ✨ Perfectionism, chronic illness, and the belief that we are “not enough” ✨ Body shame, pleasure, and disconnecting from our own wisdom ✨ Moving from self-fixing to self-acceptance ✨ Shadow work and understanding difficult emotions ✨ Learning to trust yourself and your own unique path ✨ How belief systems influence healing and self-worth ✨ The role the Avatar Course played in my journey toward authenticity and responsibility This episode is not about rejecting faith. It’s about questioning inherited beliefs, exploring what still resonates, and creating space for a more loving relationship with ourselves. If you’ve ever felt like you needed to earn love, become someone else, or fix yourself before you could finally feel worthy, this conversation is for you. Resources Mentioned: • Avatar Course: www.theavatarcourse.com [http://www.theavatarcourse.com/] • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] • Email: rewritingillness@gmail.com [rewritingillness@gmail.com] If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who may need to hear it and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more people find Rewriting the Illness Story. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] OR  rewritingillness@gmail.com [rewritingillness@gmail.com] Music: Island Glow by Dirk Dealer Book with Meditation: You Are Not your Pain Book by Danny Penman and Vidyamala Burch (on Amazon).   https://amzn.to/3PIT118 [https://amzn.to/3PIT118] Disclaimer The conversations shared on Rewriting the Illness Story are intended to inspire curiosity, self-advocacy, and personal exploration. They are based on the lived experiences, perspectives, and opinions of the host and guests and are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast should be interpreted as medical, psychological, or professional healthcare advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health, medications, supplements, or treatment. Every healing journey is unique, and what works for one person may not be appropriate for another. We encourage you to listen with an open mind, use your own discernment, and make the choices that feel right for you in partnership with your healthc...

A STEM Scientist’s Journey Through Trauma, IBS, & Healing with Anna Hodshire PhD

Can unresolved trauma contribute to chronic illness? In this episode, Paula sits down with Dr. Anna Hodshire — atmospheric chemist, STEM mentor, professor, and host of the STEMdentity podcast — to discuss the powerful connection between IBS, stress, trauma, perfectionism, burnout, and nervous system healing.  After the traumatic loss of her father as a teenager, Anna began developing chronic digestive issues, anxiety, and symptoms later labeled as IBS. Like many people struggling with chronic illness, she found herself frustrated with the medical system and searching for deeper answers beyond medications and temporary fixes. Together, Paula and Anna explore: * IBS and the mind-body connection * Trauma stored in the body * Nervous system dysregulation * EMDR therapy and parts work * Hypnotherapy for IBS * Burnout and perfectionism in STEM careers * Chronic stress and inflammation * Somatic healing and emotional regulation * Self-worth, overachievement, and identity * Learning to trust yourself and your body again Anna also shares how healing her relationship with herself transformed not only her physical health, but also her career path and sense of purpose. Through therapy, nervous system work, mindset shifts, and self-awareness, she learned how to stop living in survival mode and begin creating a life that actually felt aligned. If you struggle with IBS, chronic illness, anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, or feeling disconnected from yourself, this episode offers a compassionate and empowering perspective on healing from the inside out. Topics Discussed: * IBS symptoms and chronic digestive issues * Trauma and chronic illness * Stress-related illness * Healing the nervous system * EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) * High-achiever burnout * Women in STEM * Emotional healing and self-compassion * Mindset shifts for healing * Personal growth and self-discovery Connect with Dr. Anna Hodshire  https://calendly.com/annahodshire/intro-work-audit-call [https://calendly.com/annahodshire/intro-work-audit-call] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stemdentity?igsh=dzRsbTNwd2Nsejk1 [https://www.instagram.com/stemdentity?igsh=dzRsbTNwd2Nsejk1] Podcast: STEMdentity https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stemdentity/id1856075481 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stemdentity/id1856075481] If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this conversation today. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/rewritingtheillnessstory?igsh=MWEzZDc2bWFyaXpyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] OR  rewritingillness@gmail.com [rewritingillness@gmail.com] Music: Island Glow by Dirk Dealer Book with Meditation: You Are Not your Pain Book by Danny Penman and Vidyamala Burch (on Amazon).   https://amzn.to/3PIT118 [https://amzn.to/3PIT118] Disclaimer The conversations shared on Rewriting the Illness Story are intended to inspire curiosity, self-advocacy, and personal exploration. They are based on the lived experiences, perspectives, and opinions of the host and guests and are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast should be interpreted as medical, psychological, or professional healthcare advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health, medications, supplements, or treatment. Every healing journey is unique, and what works for one person may not be appropriate for another. We encourage you to listen with an open mind, use your own discernment, and make the choices that feel right for you in partnership with your healthc...