Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy

Angie

Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy is a podcast for women ready to heal with hope, light, and laughter. Through honest conversations, playful practices, and uplifting stories, we explore how joy can be a powerful part of the healing journey.

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#77
September 29 · 37 min
Ep. 77 Lead With a Dash of Play: Why Play Is a Leadership Skill
What does play have to do with healing, leadership, or teaching one of the heaviest subjects in human history? Everything, according to Mary Hendra. In this episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett sits down with Mary, host of the Lead with a Dash of Play podcast, whose career has spanned schools, government, corporate, and nonprofit work, including years spent teaching educators about genocide. Mary shares how people began noticing her playfulness even while she taught about the Holocaust and other genocides, and how painting and collaging at the end of each day helped her release the secondhand trauma so she could return the next morning with warmth and presence. She opens her art journals to show how torn paper, textured materials, and paint pounded onto the page help her transform anger, grief, and fear into something beautiful she actually wants to revisit. Angie and Mary also explore why play looks different for every person, why adults often feel embarrassed or vulnerable when they try to play, how LEGO Serious Play helps people turn abstract thoughts into something concrete, and where video games fit into the conversation. Mary explains why she believes play is a leadership skill that can prevent burnout and build healthier cultures, and she shares a preview of her upcoming book, Lead with a Dash of Play. Bio: Mary Hendra, host of the Lead with a Dash of Play podcast, fosters curiosity, compassion and play across a portfolio that includes C-Suite executive, entrepreneur, and author. Her career has ranged from co-leading an educational non-profit to guiding a tech-start-up through a fast-paced accelerator; from leadership in County government to victim-offender mediation to high school teaching. Redefining “play” for the modern, busy adult, her workshops and cohort programs foster self-reflection and build clarity for individuals and teams, so that they can move forward with grace. Her book about play as a leadership skill is expected in 2027. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-hendra/ Website: http://maryhendra.com Podcast: https://lead-with-a-dash-of-play.captivate.fm/episodes Join Mary’s newsletter to follow the book progress and hear about programs https://exceptional-designer-9807.kit.com/posts Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakO
S2 · E76
September 1 · 30 min
Ep. 76 Why Trauma Healing Is Not Linear (and What to Do When Old Wounds Resurface)
🚨Trigger warning: this episode references child abuse and domestic abuse without going into specifics. In this solo episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett opens up about a recent energy healing session that surfaced something she never expected: unprocessed wounds tied to her divorce nearly twenty years ago. What came up was not the emotional connection to her ex, which she had long released, but a deeper wound around leaving the Mormon faith and the way that choice validated the messages her childhood abusers had used to control her. Angie speaks candidly about the exhaustion of trauma healing and the discouragement of discovering a new layer when you thought you were done. She names the truth that healing is not linear. It loops back on itself, circles out, and returns to places you believed were already closed. For those who experienced childhood trauma, when the nervous system forms its earliest pathways under stress, this work can feel especially relentless. At the heart of the episode is her belief in play and movement as a way to release what talking and therapy cannot always reach. Angie walks through practical, body-based tools you can use when you feel overwhelmed or on edge. She talks about finding stillness near moving water, giving yourself permission to be pissy and to rest without guilt, and using imaginative movement to shift stuck energy. Picture yourself as a whale swimming through the ocean, a gentle stream, or a pterodactyl riding air currents, letting your body feel big and powerful instead of small and unworthy. She explains why the brain stacks layer upon layer of trauma on top of an original wound, and why each layer we release opens a freedom we could not have imagined before. This episode is a compassionate reminder that a setback is not a failure. It is evidence that you are reaching a deeper layer. Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E75
August 18 · 46 min
Ep. 75 Trauma Steals Your Imagination. Play Gives It Back with Steve Rix
Show Notes: In this episode, Angie sits down with Steve Rix, founder of Play Lab, for a conversation that is equal parts inspiring, hilarious, and quietly profound. Steve opens up about growing up believing something was wrong with him, and how it took him 47 years and two little kids on a Honolulu beach to discover the tool that would change everything. After 90 days stuck in victim mode with an emotional fuel tank running bone dry, a simple question from two children, "Hey mister, you wanna play?", cracked his whole world back open. Thirty minutes of dancing in the waves and building sandcastles left him electrically smiling, and he has never looked back. Together, Angie and Steve dig into why play is the ultimate bypass for trauma. When Angie shares that trauma is the loss of access to imagination, Steve calls it brilliant, and the two of them unpack how play rebuilds that bridge back to possibility. Angie stomps around as an elephant. Steve becomes a wave that never ends and a cloud that always sees the sunshine. Silly? Sure. Life-changing? Absolutely. You will hear the difference between the act of playing and the state of being playful, why you can run a work meeting or an inventory report in a state of play, and Steve's five ingredients for genuine playfulness: full presence, connection to imagination, free expression, connection to others, and zero ulterior motives. Steve also shares the mission behind Play Lab, tackling workplace burnout by turning offices into metaphoric playgrounds where people are playfully productive. And he gets real about the hard stuff too: the discomfort of that first drum-circle dance in Venice Beach, the exercise where his clients wrote their future selves as warrior princesses and space agents (ten of twelve are now living those stories), and his belief that transformation is never timely and change is never convenient, but it is always worth the journey. The big takeaway? Play never lets you down. Ever. Whether you use it as a respite from the work of healing or as the means of healing itself, your imagination is the gateway to the life you actually want. Bio: Meet Steve Rix, he has dedicated his life to becoming a Human Capital Wizard: He believes investing in the mental well being of people is the most important mandate of the coming years. Steve has spent three decades honing and developing his skills as an expert in employee engagement. From start-ups to fortune 100 companies, Steve has provided coaching and consulting in the development of people to perform at their highest levels. Through the ebbs and flows of his own entrepreneurial journey, his experience has provided invaluable insight to corporate leadership, organizational health, and cultural vitality. Some of you may remember him for starting Imagine That almost 10 years ago. During those years he has explored, researched and experimented with play in the workplace as the highest state of effectiveness and efficiency. From coaching and consulting, to focus groups and beta testing, over 250 unique case studies lead Steve to develop a particular set of experiments and experiences; that when delivered to a workplace culture undeniably facilitate useful changes in culture. During the pandemic he took a bold step in bringing in two partners and rebranded the business to Playlab. In the last year they haven released his first book, Play Saves the Day. Additionally they have acquired one company and working another. Behind the scenes the company has been designing a series of new tools to be used by all business professionals globally. The inspiration for all of this came from the dangerously alarming state of mental health in the workplace. Now more than ever companies have a moral mandate to take care of their human capital. Putting people over profits will unequivocally create more profit and happier people in the workplace. Play as a state of being is the most powerful foundation for human transformation. Steve is on a mission to be the prophet of play to help heal the global mental health pandemic. He is fun, he is passionate and will help anyone he can discover their personal playful path to transformation. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rixsteve/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steverix/ Website: www.experimentwithplay.com 🎁Grab an electronic copy of his book Play Saves the Day by emailing steve@experimentwithplay.com with "Angie's podcast" and "play saves the day" in the subject line. Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E74
August 11 · 42 min
Ep. 74 From Surviving Columbine to Finding Joy Again with Heidi Johnson
Show Notes: Trigger Warning: This episode discusses trauma, mental health, school shootings, gun violence, panic attacks, and survivor's guilt. Please listen with care. What happens when the worst day of your life becomes the story everyone expects you to carry forever? In this deeply moving episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett sits down with Heidi Johnson, a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting, to talk about trauma, survivor's guilt, healing, and what it truly means to reclaim your life. Heidi shares what it was like to survive one of the most devastating school shootings in American history, the pressure of living through a public tragedy, and how years of suppressing her pain eventually led to a complete emotional collapse. Rather than offering quick fixes, this conversation explores the long road of healing through therapy, self compassion, movement, boundaries, and choosing purpose instead of obligation. Together, Angie and Heidi discuss why trauma survivors do not need to earn their survival, how healing is never linear, and how joy becomes possible again after unimaginable loss. If you have ever struggled with trauma, anxiety, survivor's guilt, or the pressure to be "strong," this episode offers hope, honesty, and practical wisdom. Bio: Heidi Johnson is an international nonprofit leader, keynote speaker, and survivor of the Columbine High School shooting whose life and work have been shaped by resilience, purpose, and a deep commitment to serving others. She brings a rare perspective that combines lived experience with decades of leadership in global humanitarian work, inspiring audiences to find hope, purpose, and courage in the face of adversity. In the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy, Heidi became a national voice for healing. She traveled across the United States speaking to audiences ranging from schools and churches to community organizations and large public events, sometimes addressing crowds of more than 20,000 people. She has spoken in stadiums, at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and at countless events across the country. Her story has been featured by national and international media, including Dateline NBC, Daystar Television, and the Chicago Tribune, among many others. Today, Heidi serves as Associate Director of Marketing and Development for Healing Waters International, where she helps lead fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and global partnerships that bring sustainable safe water solutions to communities around the world. Previously, she served as Executive Director of Saving Moses, where she expanded programs into multiple countries, more than doubled the organization's donor base, and led initiatives serving vulnerable mothers and children. Her career has taken her across Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Philippines, developing programs that address some of the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. She holds an International MBA from the University of Denver and a Master's in Development Practice from Regis University, where her award-winning graduate research focused on improving maternal and neonatal healthcare in rural Angola. Heidi has also been featured on numerous podcasts discussing leadership, fundraising, resilience, and nonprofit innovation. Whether speaking about overcoming trauma, finding purpose after tragedy, leading through uncertainty, or creating lasting global impact, Heidi combines authenticity, practical wisdom, and compelling storytelling that resonates with audiences long after the event concludes. Her message is both deeply personal and universally relevant: while we cannot always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we respond—and that choice has the power to change not only our own lives but the lives of others. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlcortez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidi_jhnsn/ Website: http://healingwaters.org Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E73
August 4 · 50 min
Ep. 73 NEp. 73 Nurse Burnout Is Rising Here's What Every Healthcare Leader Needs to Know with Julie Watson
Show Notes: What happens when the people who spend their lives caring for everyone else forget to care for themselves? In this episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett welcomes Julie Watson, Executive Director of the Watson Caring Science Institute, to explore how self compassion, creativity, and authentic human connection can transform healing for caregivers, trauma survivors, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by the demands of life. Although Julie's work centers around nurses, this conversation reaches far beyond healthcare. Together, Angie and Julie discuss why caring for yourself is not selfish, how creativity helps process trauma, and why healing is never one size fits all. If you've ever struggled to put yourself first, felt burned out, or wondered why traditional self care doesn't always work, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on what true healing can look like. Bio: Julie Watson, BFA, MA, Caritas Coach®, FRSA Executive Director, Watson Caring Science Institute a 501c3 Non profit BFA, Bennington College, VT USA MA, Arts & Cultural Management - University of Sussex, UK Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) London Honorary Member, Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing The 10 Most Empowering Women in Business, Miami, 2023 and 24 Managing Editor, Lotus Library, an imprint of Watson Caring Science Institute To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WatsonCaringScienceInstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watsoncaring/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/watson-caring-science/ For Spanish Speakers https://www.facebook.com/WCSI.LatinoIberoamerica/ Website: http://www.watsoncaringscience.org 🎁free resources -videos and downloadables: https:www.watsoncaringscience.org/education/free-global-online-programs-2/ free online courses Caring Science Mindful Practice and Caring in the Digital World https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/education/free-global-online-programs/ Caritas Healing Connections - every 3rd Saturday; virtual 1 hour free: https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/caritas-healing-connections/ Caritas Consortia - see web page for details, on site/virtual free https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/about-wcsi/regional-caring-science-consortia/ Come to our Conference! Hosted by Vanderbilt University Nov 20/21, 2026 all welcome https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/programs/external-learning/science-and-soul/ Our most popular course 6 month virtual- open to all! Caritas Coach Education Program https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/education/caritas-coach-education-program-ccep/ Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E72
July 28 · 35 min
Ep. 72 Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Body: How Somatic Release Heals Childhood Trauma
Show Notes: What happens when you become a parent and realize you have no idea what unconditional love actually feels like? For Tammy Vincent, that moment arrived at seven months pregnant, reading a children's book that should have felt sweet and instead cracked her wide open. It became the catapult into a thirty year healing journey that took her from adult child of two alcoholic parents to trauma informed empowerment coach. In this episode, host Angie Berrett sits down with Tammy Vincent, a trauma informed ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics and dysfunctional families) empowerment coach who helps people who carry that quiet, unsettling feeling of not knowing who they are or where they are going. Tammy grew up inside chaos, with both parents struggling with addiction, mental illness in the home, and suicide attempts around her. She spent decades trying every tool she could find, secretly moving in and out of therapy for twenty five years while telling no one, including her husband, until recently. Angie and Tammy get honest about the parts of childhood trauma that rarely get named. They talk about the walls that keep the bad out while also keeping the joy and love out, and how rescuing a dog taught each of them what unconditional love could feel like with no earlier reference point for it. The heart of the conversation is somatics. Tammy credits Angie's work and one simple idea, get out of your mind and into your body, with the biggest daily shift in her healing. She no longer ruminates or spirals into shame because she has learned to ask where a feeling lives in her body, stay curious rather than judgmental, and breathe into that spot until it loosens. Angie shares the research that the body takes in around eleven million bits of sensory information per second while the conscious mind processes only a fraction, which is why the answers we need are often in the body long before they reach the mind. Tammy offers a caution worth hearing twice: there is no such thing as big T or little T trauma. If something happened to you, you did not process it, and it changed how you see yourself or the world, it deserves exploration and so do you. Free Gifts: Tammy is offering listeners a complimentary AO biofrequency voice scan, normally 250 dollars. Angie's Five Minute Freak Out Fix is a free movement sequence for moments when your nervous system tips into overwhelm. Both links are in the show notes. Connect with Tammy Vincent at TammyVincent.com for coaching, speaking, courses, and podcasting. Subscribe to Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy for more conversations on releasing trauma through play and movement. Content note: This episode discusses childhood abuse, substance abuse, suicide attempts, and sexual abuse. Please take care of yourself as you listen. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Website: https://www.tammyvincent.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammy.vincent.52 Podcast: Adult Child of Dysfunction Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E71
July 21 · 30 min
Ep. 71 The Transition Phase of Trauma Healing No One Talks About (And How to Get Through It)
Show Notes: Healing from trauma is not a straight line, and one of the least talked about parts of the journey is the transition phase. It's that in between space where your old coping strategies no longer fit, but your new way of living isn't fully established yet. In this episode, Angie Berrett opens up about her own experience moving through this phase right now, and why the discomfort you feel during this stage is not a sign that you're failing at healing. It's a sign that you're growing. Angie explains what happens in the body during the transition phase, including why your nervous system shifts into fight, flight, or freeze as a protective response to stepping into the unknown. She shares honestly about the irritability, the urge to escape, and the moments of numbing out that come with this territory, and why all of it is normal. She also talks into one of the hardest parts of the transition phase: outgrowing relationships. Angie shares her personal experience of walking away from a romantic relationship with someone she deeply loved, not because they were a bad person, but because their healing paths had diverged too far. She also discusses how her relationship with her parents changed as she set boundaries around the faith community connected to her abuse. Outgrowing relationships doesn't make you better or worse than anyone. It means you're on different paths, and that's okay. Then Angie gets practical, offering playful movement tools for each nervous system state. For fight energy, she shares drumming techniques using pillows and household items to release anger safely. For flight energy, she guides you through imaginative movement, including her favorite: pretending to be an octopus on roller skates. For freeze, she offers a gentle caterpillar in a cocoon visualization using small, rhythmic movements to slowly bring your body back online. If you're in the messy middle of your healing journey and wondering why everything feels so uncomfortable, this episode will help you understand what's happening and give you real tools to move through it. Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E70
July 14 · 34 min
Ep. 70 How Trauma Healing Changes Your Nervous System and Your Life
Show Notes: What does healing actually feel like? Many people believe that healing from trauma means you'll never struggle again. In this deeply personal solo episode, Angie Berrett shares an unexpected experience that challenged everything she thought she knew about trauma recovery. After her beloved service dog was diagnosed with cancer, Angie expected to spiral into panic and emotional overwhelm. Instead, she experienced something completely unfamiliar: a calm, regulated nervous system. That experience led to an important realization. Healing doesn't eliminate life's challenges. It changes how your body responds to them. Angie explores what nervous system regulation actually feels like, why trauma is often described as "the loss of imagination," and how play and movement can help release stored survival energy from the body. She also shares how a difficult recovery period reminded her that healing is not perfection. It is learning to move through life's inevitable ups and downs with greater compassion, resilience, and self awareness. If you've ever wondered whether healing is really possible or questioned your progress because you still have difficult days, this episode offers hope, practical insight, and reassurance that healing is a lifelong journey. Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E69
July 7 · 30 min
Ep. 69 Why the Right Trauma Specialist Can Change Your Healing Journey
Show Notes: Finding the right support for trauma healing can feel overwhelming, especially with so many therapists, coaches, and healing modalities available today. In this solo episode, Angie shares practical guidance for choosing the right trauma healing professional while avoiding common mistakes that can leave survivors feeling discouraged or unsupported. Drawing from both her professional background and personal healing journey, Angie explains why trauma informed care matters, why specialization is often more important than generalized experience, and what questions every survivor should ask before investing in therapy, coaching, or alternative healing practices. Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or looking for new support after feeling stuck, this episode offers actionable insights to help you make informed decisions with confidence. Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E68
June 30 · 38 min
Ep. 68 How Childhood Trauma Shapes Perfectionism and Self Worth with Shirin Eskandani
Show Notes: What happens when you achieve everything you've ever dreamed of and still don't feel worthy? In this heartfelt episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett welcomes Shirin Eskandani, coach, speaker, writer, and creator of the Wholehearted Coaching Certification, for an honest conversation about trauma, perfectionism, belonging, and healing. Born in Iran and raised in Canada after her family fled the Iran Iraq War, Shirin shares how music became her refuge during childhood and eventually led her to a successful career as an opera singer. But after achieving her lifelong dream of performing at the Metropolitan Opera, she realized external success could never heal the wounds of childhood trauma or replace true self worth. Together, Angie and Shirin explore the power of somatic healing, mindfulness, movement, identity, and compassionate self awareness. They also discuss why healing looks different for everyone, the importance of culturally inclusive coaching, and how reconnecting with our bodies can create lasting transformation. Whether you are healing from trauma, navigating perfectionism, or searching for a greater sense of belonging, this conversation offers hope, practical wisdom, and a reminder that healing does not have to be carried alone. Bio: Shirin Eskandani is the founder of Wholehearted Coaching and the Wholehearted Life Coaching Certification. A mentor, coach and public speaker, Shirin has been a featured wellness expert on the Today Show, The New York Times, Shape and Cosmopolitan Magazine. Prior to building her successful coaching business and certification, she was an award-winning opera singer, performing at Carnegie Hall and The Metropolitan Opera. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholeheartedcoaching/ Website: https://www.wholeheartedcertification.com/ Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
#67
June 23 · 37 min
Ep. 67 Reiki, Trauma Healing, and the Science Behind Energy Work with Linda Dieffenbach
Show Notes: In this powerful episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett sits down with trauma informed personal transformation coach and healing arts practitioner Linda Dieffenbach to explore the connection between trauma, energy, the chakra system, and self compassion. Linda shares her deeply personal story of surviving childhood abuse, being dismissed after a suicide attempt, and eventually discovering Reiki and chakra healing as transformational tools on her own healing journey. Together, Angie and Linda discuss how unresolved trauma becomes stored in the body, why survival patterns repeat themselves, and how healing happens layer by layer. They also dive into the science behind trauma responses, the role of the nervous system, and why self compassion is often the missing ingredient in recovery. Bio: Linda Dieffenbach, BSW, RMT, is a Personal Transformation Coach, Reiki Master Teacher, and founder of Wellness in Harmony. For more than 25 years, she has supported individuals on their healing journeys through a blend of trauma-informed coaching, energy healing, and practical self-awareness tools. Her work focuses on helping people understand the impact of childhood experiences and trauma on self-worth, relationships, boundaries, and personal growth so they can move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and connection to themselves. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.dieffenbach.5 https://www.facebook.com/WellnessInHarmony https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellnessinharmony LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindadieffenbach https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellness-in-harmony-llc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnessinharmony/ The Wellness Universe: https://www.thewellnessuniverse.com/world-changers/lindadieffenbach/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellnessInHarmony TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindadieffenbach Website: https://wellnessinharmony.com/ 🎁Soulful Self-Care Rituals five simple practices to help you reconnect with yourself, restore your energy, and create more space for healing in everyday life. These easy, accessible rituals are designed to bring greater balance, self awareness, and inner peace. https://systeme.io/dashboard/share?hash=6366894089a12609cffd20455cf6e68d880ac20&type=funnel Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
#66
June 16 · 30 min
Ep. 66 The Powerful Lesson a Baby Lamb Taught Me About Worthiness and Healing
Show Notes: Can healing come from the most unexpected places? In this deeply personal solo episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett shares the remarkable story of rescuing a newborn lamb while driving across Wyoming and how that experience unexpectedly opened the door to profound healing from childhood sexual abuse. What began as a roadside rescue quickly became a powerful mirror reflecting old wounds, beliefs about worthiness, and the patterns many trauma survivors revisit throughout their healing journeys. Angie explores how trauma lives in the body, why triggers continue to arise even after years of healing work, and how experiences that seem painful can ultimately become opportunities for transformation. Through the story of little Sophie the lamb, she reveals how healing often happens in layers and why being triggered does not mean you are moving backward. Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
#65
June 9 · 36 min
Ep. 65 Healing Trauma Through Fitness, Emotional Awareness and Body Code
Show Notes: In this episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett sits down with Jade Kaye, a functional fitness coach, emotion code and body code practitioner, and founder of GroovyBell Wellness. Jade shares her journey from welding school to fitness and emotional healing, highlighting how trauma, mental health struggles, and physical pain shaped her path. They dive deep into the intersection of physical fitness and emotional wellness, exploring the impact of emotional blocks on the body, the power of muscle testing, and how emotion code and body code can release trapped emotions that cause pain and anxiety. Jade offers practical guidance for integrating physical movement, emotional healing, and energy work to live a lighter, more joyful life. Bio: Jade Kaye is a functional fitness coach, Emotion Code/ Body Code practitioner, and founder of GroovyBell Wellness. She helps women lose body fat, build strength, heal emotionally, and reconnect with themselves through holistic wellness, nervous system support, and functional movement. Creator of The S.O.U.L. Protocol, Jade blends fitness, energy work, mindset, and real-life healing into a grounded, empowering approach to health. Known for her earthy style and bold perspective, she’s passionate about helping people take their health back into their own hands. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groovybellbabe Website: http://groovybellwellness.com 🎁Free 20 min emotion code session to any quest who listens. DM me or schedule right on Jade’s website Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E64
June 2 · 34 min
Ep. 64 Healing, Play, and Prevention: Breaking the Cycle of Child Abuse with Rosalia Rivera
Show Notes: In this powerful episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett sits down with child sexual abuse prevention specialist, educator, and advocate Rosalia Rivera for an eye-opening conversation about protecting children, breaking cycles of abuse, and creating a culture of consent. Rosalia shares her personal journey into advocacy, explaining how becoming a parent led her to confront her own family history of abuse and ultimately inspired her mission to educate parents about body safety, consent, and child protection. Together, Angie and Rosalia explore the critical role education plays in preventing abuse, discussing why most perpetrators are known and trusted by children rather than strangers, and how parents can empower their children through age-appropriate conversations, boundary-setting, and role-play. The conversation also highlights the connection between healing, play, and empowerment. Angie shares how play and movement helped her reconnect with her voice and sense of safety after surviving childhood abuse, while Rosalia explains how playful role-playing exercises can help children practice using their voices, setting boundaries, and responding confidently when something feels wrong. The episode tackles difficult but important topics, including rape culture, the impact of technology and AI on consent and bodily autonomy, and the urgent need for greater awareness and prevention efforts. Most importantly, Rosalia offers hope, emphasizing that research shows up to 90% of child sexual abuse can be prevented through education. Listeners will walk away with practical insights, renewed empowerment, and valuable resources to help create safer environments for children while supporting their own healing journeys. This is a conversation about courage, prevention, advocacy, and the transformative power of giving both children and adults the tools to reclaim their voices. Bio: Rosalia Rivera is a consent and child sexual abuse prevention specialist and educator as well as a child rights advocate. She is co-founder of the BRAVE Movement, a global survivor-led organization working to end childhood sexual violence worldwide, and founder of CONSENTparenting™, an online platform that educates parents about child sexual abuse and evidence-based prevention strategies. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram: @consentparenting 🎁Free access to my Grooming Prevention Masterclass https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/irnxl2r8fkcdk4009akgc/AMB1Iow_tgpIkLzI0YDGvAY?rlkey=5u0ndpr416jyh6i7d1fw3ksf5&e=1&st=qijrkjlz&dl=0 Website: www.consentparenting.com Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E63
May 26 · 34 min
Ep. 63 Why Healing Begins When You Finally Find the Words with Megan Rodriguez
Show Notes: In this episode of Healing Doesn't Have to Be Heavy, Angie sits down with Megan Rodriguez for an honest conversation about trauma, healing, reclaiming your voice, and learning that healing does not have to stay rooted in darkness forever. Megan shares her journey through a neglectful childhood and an abusive marriage, opening up about how emotional and verbal abuse shaped her sense of self and caused her to lose her voice. Together, Angie and Megan explore the hidden impact of trauma, discussing how the deepest wounds are often not just what happened to us, but the lack of support we had while navigating those experiences. Megan reveals a powerful realization that transformed her healing journey when she learned to identify her overwhelming emotional pain as grief, giving language to something that had previously felt impossible to describe. The conversation also dives into body based healing, somatic practices, intuitive listening, ritual work, and the importance of finding words, sounds, or sensory experiences that help survivors express what often feels inexpressible. This episode offers an honest look at healing, connection, and the power of finding safe people who can sit with you in your darkness without trying to fix or change it. If you have ever struggled to explain what you are feeling, felt isolated in your healing journey, or wondered if your voice could ever return, this episode offers understanding, hope, and a reminder that healing can create space for lightness, connection, and possibility. Bio: I’m Megan, the woman behind Wayfinding Rituals. In my young adult life, I spent 18 years in an abusive marriage, slowly learning to swallow my own needs and disappear from myself. Leaving that relationship taught me more about grief than I had words for, and the day I finally walked away, my body collapsed under the weight of everything I’d been holding. For a long time, I didn’t have language for what I was feeling. I only knew I wanted to heal whatever it was. I tried almost every modality and therapy I could find, read all the books, and did the “right” things, but nothing truly named what I was living through. It wasn’t until my soul-dog, Gaya, died in 2024, after carrying me through so much of my former life, that I finally recognized the shape of what I’d been feeling all along. It finally had a name: grief. Wayfinding Rituals grew out of that recognition. My work is rooted in lived experience, not formal credentials. I hold space for women walking with nameless emotions, grief that doesn’t always look like grief, anger and rage, deep sorrow, and even the strange tenderness of unexpected joy. My role is to witness, listen beneath the surface, and respond intuitively to what emerges, so you don’t have to move through it all alone. In ritual, I pay attention to what isn’t being said as much as what is. I work slowly and gently, creating spaces that feel like coming home to someone who has been waiting for you, calm, warm, and steady enough to hold whatever arrives. My hope is that being with me gives you permission to be exactly who you are, to feel what you actually feel, and to begin finding your own way through grief and change with more honesty and care. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be_excellent1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beexcellentcollection TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beexcellentcollection Website: http://www.beexcellent.biz Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E62
May 19 · 49 min
Ep. 62 Bottom-Up Healing: How Yoga Therapy Targets the Root of Trauma in Your Nervous System
Show Notes 🚨Trigger Warning This episode discusses childhood sexual abuse, PTSD, addiction, workplace bullying, and surviving house fires. Please take care of yourself while listening. Host Angie Berrett sits down with Australian yoga therapist and trauma survivor Liz Albanis for a rich conversation about healing trauma through body-based practices. Liz shares her personal journey from a childhood PTSD diagnosis following sexual abuse, to workplace bullying, two separate house fires, and misdiagnosis with bipolar disorder and how discovering yoga in 2011 became a turning point in her recovery. Together, Angie and Liz break down why talk therapy alone often isn't enough, how trauma lives in the body's fascia and muscles, and which yoga practices can help and which ones can actually make things worse. Bio: Liz Albanis is currently completing (nearly finished) her two-year studies to become qualified yoga therapist in Australia and internationally with the BioMedical Institute of Yoga and Meditation (BIYOME) in Australia. Further enhancing her ability to support individuals in their mental and physical well-beShe is a registered senior yoga teacher with Yoga Australia. She did her first 200 hour training with Byron Yoga Centre in 2012 and completed her 500 hours with them in 2013. She has also completed a second 200 hour with Power Living in 2020 (Power Vinyasa) She has also trained with several world renowned teachers such as, Bernie Clark, Dr Timothy McCall, Amy Weintraub, Judith Hanson Lasater, Sarah Powers, Jo Phee and online with Paul Grilley. However she is forever a student and hers students have been her best teachers. She also has experience teaching a variety of styles (general Hatha, Bikram) vinyasa flow, yin, myo-yin, restorative yoga and Lifeforce Yoga). She has completed trainings here in Australia, Bali (Indonesia), Canada and the USA. She is a certified Roll Model Instructor with Yoga Tune-Up. She is also a qualified personal trainer through her Diploma of Fitness. Plus a qualified Pilates (mat and equipment) and Barre Instructor. further enhancing her ability to support individuals in their mental and physical well-being. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizalbaniswellnessau YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lizalbaniswellnessau Website: https://www.lizalbaniswellness.com.au/ 🎁 Liz's Free Bee Breath Guide — https://www.lizalbaniswellness.com.au/freebies Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
S2 · E61
May 12 · 34 min
Ep. 61 Stop Numbing Your Emotions: How to Finally Feel and Heal With EFT Tapping with Sophia Graniela
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of trauma, substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Please take care of yourself and return when you feel ready. Show Notes: In this episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to be Heavy, Host Angie Berrett, trauma-informed coach, registered nurse, play expert, and child abuse survivor, sits down with Sophia Graniela, sobriety advocate, EFT tapping practitioner, and host of the Her Journey Home podcast. Sophia shares her raw, powerful story of growing up surrounded by alcoholism and loss, spending 15 years numbing her pain through substances and toxic relationships, and the moment at 29 she decided to choose herself. Together, Angie and Sophia explore how EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) tapping can help women release emotional blocks, reclaim their authentic voice, and come home to themselves. Bio: Sophia Noelle Graniela is an EFT practitioner, self-expression and podcast guide, and the host of Her Journey Home. After years of hiding her voice and trying to fit in, sobriety and personal transformation led her to start sharing her story online and launching her podcast. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiagraniela/ Podcast: Her Journey Home — available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Website: www.herjourneyhomeco.com 🎁 Sofia's Free Gift —join my Mic Drop circles every other Sunday- live EFT tapping to practice being witnessed & sharing their story in a safe & welcoming environment Mic Drop Circle Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
#60
May 5 · 28 min
Ep. 60 🎉I’m Back for Season 2! How to Move Forward When Trauma Triggers Hit Hard
Show Notes: Season 2 kicks off with a powerful and deeply personal solo episode from Angie Berrett, trauma-informed coach, registered nurse, and survivor. In this raw and honest conversation, Angie shares what happened behind the scenes when she stepped away from the podcast and hit a difficult emotional low triggered by global events (particularly the Epstein Files) and past trauma. She opens up about navigating functional freeze, confronting subconscious beliefs, and rebuilding from a place of compassion instead of shame. This episode is both a reality check and a lifeline for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or like they “should be further along” in their healing journey. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why trauma healing is not linear and why setbacks are part of growth What “functional freeze” is and how it silently impacts your daily life How triggers can reveal hidden subconscious beliefs that are holding you back The dangerous belief that suffering equals worth and how to break it Simple, practical ways to start moving forward when you feel stuck How small physical movement can help regulate your nervous system A unique strategy to re-engage your brain without forcing productivity Why self-compassion is essential for long-term healing Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix 👉https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
April 28 · 3 min
Healing Doesn't Have to be Heavy Season 2 Trailer
Season 2 of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy is here and it’s coming in strong. After an unplanned pause that turned into a powerful personal reset, host Angie Barrett is back with raw honesty, fresh perspective, and a renewed mission. This season opens with a real look at what happens when you get triggered on your healing journey and how to find your way back using play, movement, and self-connection. Expect deeply personal stories, inspiring conversations, and practical ways to release what’s weighing you down without making healing feel so hard. If you’re ready for more joy, more ease, and a new approach to healing that actually feels good, this season is for you. Get ready to experience healing in a whole new way. Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix: https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix
#59
January 27 · 31 min
Ep. 59 Finding Lightness While Healing Trauma: Season One Finale
Show Notes: In this deeply personal and powerful season finale, host Angie Berrett reflects on the most impactful insights shared throughout Season One of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy. Drawing from her lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse, a registered nurse, a trauma-informed coach, and a movement and play expert, Angie revisits the guidance that resonated most with listeners navigating trauma and emotional overwhelm. This episode weaves together key moments and advice from across the season, offering practical, compassionate tools for finding lightness, safety, and hope while healing. Angie shares how play and movement became central to her own healing, how the nervous system responds to trauma, and why healing does not have to feel punishing or endlessly heavy. Listeners will hear clips and teachings focused on reconnecting with the body in ways that feel safe and empowering, releasing anger without harm, letting go of perfectionism, and learning how to move gently in and out of discomfort. Angie also explains why dissociation, rest, and small rhythmic movements are not failures but intelligent survival strategies, and how to build trust with yourself as you heal. This finale is both a reflection and an invitation: to protect your energy, to seek moments of joy, and to remember that even in a complicated and overwhelming world, healing can, and should, include play, movement, and hope. Listen to the full Episodes: Ep. 1 Angie Berrett Ep. 45 Breaking the Silence: Empowerment Through Shared Healing Journeys with Christella Ilunga Ep. 53 Holding Space for Survivors During the Epstein Files Ep. 56 When "Perfect" Falls Apart. Learning to Heal through Mistakes Connect with me: Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Freak Out Fix: https://angie-berrett-movement.mykajabi.com/5-MinuteFreakOutFix

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