Content Warning: This episode includes mention of child sexual assault.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Dr. Peter Levine to discuss how trauma lives in the body and, more importantly, how the trauma cycle can be completed to restore a sense of inner peace.

They unpack the signs– persistent physical symptoms, repetitive relationship patterns, feeling disconnected from your own life– that point to the roots of your struggles, which are not just in your mind but etched into your physiology as intergenerational trauma. If any of this sounds familiar to you, this conversation will give you the guidance to take the next step in seeking support and releasing that held trauma.

About Dr. Peter Levine

Peter A Levine, Ph.D., is the developer of Somatic Experiencing® (SE™), a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma, which he has developed over the past 50 years. He holds a doctorate in Biophysics from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. He is the Founder and President of the Ergos Institute of Somatic Education and the Founder and Advisor for Somatic Experiencing International, where his work has been taught to over 30,000 healers in over 42 countries. He recently finished his Autobiography, An Autobiography of Trauma, A Healing Journey, and is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma; In an Unspoken Voice, How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness; and Trauma and Memory, Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• 80% of the information flowing through your vagus nerve is sensory, explaining why trauma is a visceral, bodily experience rather than just a “brain disease.”
• Trauma often manifests as chronic pain or tension and healing occurs by slowly and safely completing these defensive responses that were frozen in time.
• Trauma isn't just personal; it can be an "energetic pattern" passed down through generations.
• Recognizing our ancestral webs can help us resolve issues that seem to have no clear origin in our lives.
• Reconnecting with the body often requires the presence of a "connected, empathetic other" to help discharge stored energy safely.

Connect with Dr. Peter Levine

• Somatic Experiencing Website: https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/ or https://traumahealing.org/
• An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey is available at: Ergos Institute, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Amazon UK, Inner Traditio

Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.

A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.

Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by acupuncturist, health coach, and breathwork facilitator Amy Kuretsky to dive into the world of trauma-informed healing.

Together, they explore how active breathwork serves as “vibrational medicine” to complete interrupted trauma cycles, helping you move from a state of fight, flight, or freeze, back into a regulated, peaceful state.

About Amy

Amy Kuretsky is a licensed acupuncturist, board-certified health coach, and a seasoned breathwork facilitator with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance. As the co-owner of Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts, Amy bridges the gap between ancient healing traditions and modern trauma-informed care. She specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities of nervous system regulation and mental health, with a clinical focus on digestive disorders, chronic headaches, migraines, anxiety, and depression. By integrating her deep knowledge of East Asian medicine with somatic breathwork practices, Amy empowers individuals to move beyond "pushing through" and into a state of sustainable, embodied healing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• When stress is left trapped in the body, breathwork can act as a way to "shake out" this pent-up energy, allowing the nervous system to complete its natural cycle and release stress hormones.
• When you heal your nervous system, the benefits ripple both backward to your ancestors and forward to future generations.
• Expanding your "window of tolerance" through a regulated nervous system allows you to navigate life’s challenges with more resiliency and less reactivity.

Resources Mentioned

• Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine: https://shorturl.at/qPX8T
• The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk: https://shorturl.at/f9kYb
• The Tao of Trauma by Alaine Duncan: https://shorturl.at/Olo04
• Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski: https://www.burnoutbook.net/
• Eliza Kingsford | The Shift Program: https://www.elizakingsford.com/work-with-me
• HeartMath Institute: https://shorturl.at/MVj1n

Connect with Amy

• Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts: https://www.constellationacu.com/
• 7 Days of Breathwork: https://constellationacu.myflodesk.com/ixrx159c67

Connect with the Show

Do you have a story about your family that you would like to share? We want to hear from you!

• Website: justlikenana.com
• Share Your Story: If you have a family story or ancestral trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.

Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.

A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.

Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler sits down with author Mona Susan Power to discuss the complexities of cultural trauma, family history, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Together, they explore why many of us struggle with ancestral trauma and deep-seated personal shame without realizing these burdens aren’t entirely theirs to carry, how witnessing the “unspoken” stories of our ancestors can lead to profound personal growth, and so much more.

About Mona Susan Power

Mona Susan Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and an award-winning author whose work serves as "powerful good medicine." A graduate of Harvard Law School and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, she has received numerous prestigious honors, including the PEN/Hemingway Prize and the Minnesota Book Award. Her most recent novel, A Council of Dolls, was longlisted for the National Book Award. Mona’s writing is celebrated for its vulnerability and ability to explore the deep intersections of Indigenous history, resilience, and healing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• True healing requires more than just moving on; it requires a "witnessing" or a sincere hearing of the story without gaslighting or self-protection.
• Understanding the "why" behind the difficult choices of our parents and grandparents can help us move from a place of resentment to one of deep compassion.
• Breaking free from inherited scripts and shame can be a physical experience, a "heaviness" falling away, allowing you to step into a more stable version of yourself.

Resources Mentioned

• Harvard Magazine: Trails of Tears, and Hope: https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2008/03/trails-of-tears-and-hope-html
• The Basics of Complex Trauma | Tim Fletcher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IxEwPMqB-c

Connect with Mona Susan Power

• Website: https://www.monasusanpower.com/books
• A Council of Dolls Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-council-of-dolls-a-novel-mona-susan-power/4a8bb4a17e0fdf12?ean=9780063281103&next=t
• Bloodthread (Short Story): https://www.thegeorgiareview.com/posts/bloodthread/
• NY Times: After a Long and Painful Absence, Writing Her Way Home Again: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/books/mona-susan-power-council-of-dolls-indigenous-book.html

Connect with the Show

Do you have ancestors who want to be witnessed? Share their stories on Just Like Nana.

• Website: 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.

A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.

Theme music by Carter Penny.