Welcome to My Podcast: Healing Through Connection

I started a podcast after a very challenging time at the beginning of summer. I was overwhelmed by old symptoms that I thought were gone or at least quiet for now, but they resurfaced, demanding my attention and drawing me back into that victimhood mentality that sneaks up on me when I least expect it. This time, I anticipated it, especially after a recent event had left me feeling depressed and anxious—a mixed cocktail I do not recommend. I found myself on the couch for several days, paralyzed by the realization that this event had pushed my nervous system to both accelerate and brake at the same time, leaving me in a constant state of panic.

After speaking with a close and trusted friend, I discovered how soothing it was to simply chat and connect. Hearing how others find healing in their surroundings was uplifting. I realized that my single event symbolized the oppression I witness daily through the news. This trigger had been building up inside me, a somatic awareness of the evil that oppresses vulnerable people. I recognized that a lack of financial resources for basic needs, partly due to the recent event, was at the core of my distress.

I noticed my frozen state beginning to melt as I engaged with more friends who shared about their art projects or films. I recalled a time when I was closer to a friend, a fellow medical mom, and we joked about starting a podcast. There’s something healing about having conversations and catching up, and I wanted to capture that experience. Throughout my various life phases, I've been fortunate to connect with people focused on healing, many of whom are artists and activists. I wanted to share their stories with the world. Thus, I started a podcast without a name. After recording the first episode, my husband and I laughed at the idea of naming it after my opening statement: "Welcome to my podcast." We shared a good laugh, and then it clicked—that would be the name. Laughter and jokes are also important parts of my healing process.

I quickly found myself back in my writing chair instead of stuck on the couch as I made a list of people I’d love to interview. I now have a library of four interviews and it's growing with inspirational conversations. This process has lifted me out of my panic state and into a world of confidence and comfort, allowing me to face the horrors in the world and in my own backyard.

This podcast is a small breath of fresh air in a storm of chaos, and I hope it serves its intended purpose: to offer tiny pockets of peace in trying times. It keeps me grounded and helps me deepen my trauma therapy work and coaching practice. I am grateful for the time I've spent with those I’ve known and met through the podcast. I also hope this project inspires others to lean into their creativity—whether it's through gardening, singing in the shower, doodling, mentoring youth, joining a book club, or picking up photography again. Sometimes, we don't have words for what we're experiencing, and creativity, coupled with community, can offer the healing we need.