In this episode, I speak with Lauren Segalla, embodiment mentor, registered nurse, birth worker, and host of the Embodied Ecstasy podcast, about reclaiming the innate wisdom of the female body and embracing motherhood as one of life's greatest initiations. Drawing from her experience in both the medical system and the world of embodied healing, Lauren offers a refreshing perspective on trusting ourselves through every stage of transformation.

Lauren shares her journey from labor and delivery nurse to guiding women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. We explore how modern culture often disconnects women from their intuition and bodies, and why reconnecting with our emotional truth is essential for experiencing birth and motherhood as deeply transformative rites of passage.

Together, we discuss embodiment as a daily practice, the role of pleasure, presence, and nervous system awareness, and how honoring our own experiences creates a ripple effect that transforms families, communities, and future generations. Lauren reminds us that every threshold in a woman's life holds the opportunity for profound personal awakening.

You’ll also hear about:

(03:05) Lauren's personal journey into embodiment and feminine leadership

(10:42) Leaving the hospital system to support women more holistically

(18:17) Motherhood and birth as sacred rites of passage

(26:31) Rebuilding trust in the wisdom of the body

(35:54) The relationship between pleasure, presence, and healing

(46:28) Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum transformation

(55:46) Nervous system regulation and living from embodied truth

(01:06:20) Creating lasting change by honoring feminine wisdom

Don't miss Lauren's inspiring perspective on how reconnecting with our bodies can transform the way we experience motherhood, healing, and the many initiations of a woman's life.

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Follow Lauren Segalla:

• Learn more about Embodied Ecstasy
• Listen to Embodied Ecstasy podcast
• Subscribe to Lauren’s Substack

Follow Dr. Gertrude:

• Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
• Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
• Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
• Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”

In this episode, I speak with Carolyn Siegel, founder and executive director of If You Heard What I Heard, about the extraordinary power of storytelling to foster empathy, preserve history, and bridge divides. Inspired by her family's legacy as descendants of Holocaust survivors, Carolyn shares how personal stories have become the foundation of a movement dedicated to cultivating deeper human understanding.

Carolyn reflects on her unexpected journey from fashion marketing to nonprofit leadership, explaining how storytelling has remained the common thread throughout her career. She shares how the experiences and wisdom of her grandparents inspired her mission to ensure that future generations not only remember history, but also develop the empathy needed to prevent history from repeating itself.

Our conversation explores the transformative role of listening, the importance of preserving first-hand narratives, and how authentic human connection can challenge prejudice, dismantle assumptions, and inspire meaningful change. Carolyn offers a hopeful vision for creating a more compassionate world, one conversation and one story at a time.

You’ll also hear about:

(01:40) Carolyn's journey from fashion marketing to nonprofit leadership

(07:58) Growing up with the stories of Holocaust survivors

(15:43) The inspiration behind If You Heard What I Heard

(24:17) Why storytelling creates empathy more effectively than facts alone

(33:48) Preserving first-hand accounts for future generations

(43:21) Listening across differences with curiosity and compassion

(52:56) How personal stories challenge bias and build human connection

(01:02:14) Carolyn's hope for the future through shared understanding

Don't miss Carolyn's inspiring perspective on how listening deeply to another person's story can transform not only our understanding of history, but also our capacity for empathy and connection.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Follow Carolyn Siegel:

• Learn more about If You Heard What I Heard
• Listen to If You Heard What I Heard podcast

Follow Dr. Gertrude:

• Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
• Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
• Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
• Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”

In this episode, I speak with Perdita Finn, author, teacher, and spiritual guide, about her beautiful new book, Mothers of Magic, and the timeless wisdom of reclaiming mother energy as a force for healing, community, and transformation. Together, we explore the many ways motherhood extends far beyond biology, inviting us into a deeper relationship with ourselves, one another, and the unseen world.

Perdita shares the inspiration behind Mothers of Magic and reflects on the forgotten traditions of women gathering in community, honoring intuition, and embracing the sacred role of nurturing life in all its forms. Our conversation weaves together spirituality, storytelling, ancestry, and the profound importance of remembering the wisdom carried by generations of women.

We also discuss how modern culture has separated us from these ancient practices and why restoring community, ritual, and shared mothering is essential for both personal and collective healing. Perdita offers an expansive vision of motherhood that welcomes everyone into the practice of cultivating compassion, creativity, and connection.

You’ll also hear about:

(04:20) The inspiration behind Mothers of Magic

(10:48) Rediscovering the sacred traditions of women and community

(18:34) Why mother energy belongs to all of us

(27:16) Reclaiming intuition, storytelling, and ancestral wisdom

(36:42) The healing power of gathering in community

(49:51) Expanding motherhood beyond biology and family roles

(59:35) How remembering our spiritual lineage transforms the present

(01:03:40) Creating a future rooted in collective mothering and belonging

Don't miss Perdita's inspiring perspective on reclaiming the sacred power of mother energy and remembering the magic that has always lived within us.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Learn more about Perdita Finn:

• Follow Perdita on Instagram
• Subscribe to Perdita’s Substack
• Order Perdita’s books

Follow Dr. Gertrude:

• Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
• Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
• Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
• Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”