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In this episode, Jessa explores the part of personal growth no one talks about — the contraction that shows up right before everything changes. If you’ve been feeling resistance, fear, hesitation, or like you’re “backsliding” right when you’re about to move forward, this episode is for you.

You’ll learn why your nervous system doesn’t register expansion as growth — it registers it as uncertainty — and why that’s exactly why the moment before a breakthrough can feel like panic, doubt, and wanting to quit. Jessa shares how survival consciousness differs from creative consciousness, what actually builds capacity (hint: it’s not more healing), and how to keep going without forcing or bypassing yourself.

This is the moment most people quit.
But it might also be the moment your timeline is shifting.

0:00 Introduction: Embracing Authenticity

01:43 Understanding Contraction and Expansion

06:32 Creative Consciousness vs. Survival Mode

09:43 Building Capacity Through Experience

13:16 Navigating Fear and Desire

16:38 The Role of Contraction in Growth

19:47 Conclusion: Celebrating Your Journey

Connect with Jessa:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejessaverse
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejessaverse_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JessaBruno

Join the Return to Weird newsletter to receive occasional updates and reflections.

Disclaimer: The content provided by Return to Weird and its host, Jessa, is for educational, inspirational, and entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or mental health treatment.

By listening to this show, you agree that the host and guests are not responsible for any decisions made or actions taken based on the information provided. Please always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific health or psychological needs. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Jessa Bruno or the Return to Weird Podcast.

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In this episode of Return to Weird, Jessa sits down with Robert Falconer — pioneering IFS teacher, author of The Others Within Us, and one of the boldest voices expanding the boundaries of Internal Family Systems therapy.

They explore the porousness of mind, unattached burdens, ancestral and collective trauma, and the essential role of spirit in psychological healing. Falconer shares the moment he first encountered something “not from a client’s system” and how that experience changed the trajectory of his life and work.

00:00 What are Unattached Burdens?

08:30 How Robert Discovered the Porous Mind

13:17 Why Healing Is Always Relational

17:44 The Mind Isn’t Closed: Porosity Explained

25:24 Exploring the Inner Landscape

34:02 Interoception, Sensation, & Spiritual Experience

39:24 Trauma, Childhood, and Merciful Presence

42:49 Staying Connected to Spirit in Everyday Life

46:57 Active Imagination & Dialogue with Spirit

53:07 Ancestral Trauma & Nested Systems

58:55 Healing Through Collective Suffering

01:04:07 What’s Next: Spirit, Healing & Robert’s Upcoming Work

Connect with Robert Falconer: https://robertfalconer.us/

Connect with Jessa:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejessaverse
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejessaverse_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JessaBruno

Join the Return to Weird newsletter to receive occasional updates and reflections.

Disclaimer: The content provided by Return to Weird and its host, Jessa, is for educational, inspirational, and entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or mental health treatment.

By listening to this show, you agree that the host and guests are not responsible for any decisions made or actions taken based on the information provided. Please always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific health or psychological needs. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Jessa Bruno or the Return to Weird Podcast.