In this episode, I sit down with Ronika Merl for a deep conversation about storytelling, trauma, and the messy, nonlinear path to healing. We talk about how sharing our stories helps us process pain, why acceptance is a huge part of personal growth, and the power of authentic connections.

Ronika shares her take on aging as a privilege and why freedom means living life at your own pace, without society’s expectations weighing you down. This conversation is a reminder that our experiences, both good and bad, shape who we are, and that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have for making sense of it all.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Authentic connections are more valuable than sales pitches.
• Storytelling is a fundamental aspect of human experience.
• Everyone has a unique and extraordinary life story.
• Trauma can shape our identities but does not define us.
• Healing is a journey that requires patience and self-love.
• Acceptance is a natural part of the healing process.
• Freedom is the ability to pursue life at your own pace.
• Aging should be seen as a privilege and an opportunity for growth.
• We can learn from our traumas and dance with them.
• Self-love can start with just 10 seconds of acceptance.

🔗 Links/Resources

• Learn more about Ronika: https://www.ronikamerl.com/

📖 Chapters

00:00 Authenticity in Connection

03:13 The Art of Storytelling

06:13 The Role of Trauma in Storytelling

09:23 The Healing Power of Storytelling

27:31 Navigating Trauma and Healing

30:49 The Dance with Trauma

36:40 Understanding Grief and Healing

41:58 The Tennis Ball Analogy of Grief

47:13 Embracing Grief as a Companion

48:40 Navigating Grief and Acceptance

52:12 The Challenge of Letting Go

54:23 The Journey of Self-Love

01:00:26 Defining Freedom

01:07:10 Embracing Life's Adventures

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In this episode, I chat with Dr. Lynne Banis, who has faced unimaginable loss—losing her mother, brother, and husband in a short span of time. She shares her personal experience with grief and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it, from the deep psychological impact to the unexpected ways it can reshape who we are. We talk about the importance of community support, the different ways people cope, and why finding your tribe is essential in the healing process. Dr. Banis also opens up about the journey of moving forward, how grief can redefine our identity, and the surprising personal growth that can come from profound loss.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Grief is a traumatic upset of the brain and emotions.
• It's important to define grief in personal terms.
• Life before grief can feel drastically different.
• Each loss can evoke different types of grief.
• Busy coping mechanisms can lead to burnout.
• Finding a supportive community is crucial.
• Avoiding hurtful phrases can help in conversations about grief.
• Offering genuine support can make a difference.
• Grief can be isolating; finding your tribe is essential.
• Moving forward does not mean forgetting the lost loved one.

📖 Chapters

00:00 Understanding Grief: A Personal Journey

03:34 The Nature of Grief and Its Impact

06:38 Navigating Loss: Different Types of Grief

09:37 Coping Mechanisms: Busy vs. Reflective

12:36 Finding Support: The Importance of Community

15:39 What Not to Say: Common Missteps in Grief Conversations

18:37 How to Support Someone in Grief

21:27 Creating Healing Memories

24:41 Moving Forward with Grief

27:36 Finding Your Tribe: Building a Support Network

31:44 Navigating Grief: Finding Hope and Healing

35:12 Rewiring the Mind: Adjusting to Loss

39:17 Shifting Mindsets: From Grief to Growth

44:50 The Complexity of Moving On

51:08 Honoring the Past: Living with Loss

55:28 Empowerment in Grief: Finding Your Strength

01:00:40 00.New Outro_2025.mp4



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💡 Key Takeaways

• Grief is a unique and sacred process for everyone.
• The five stages of grief are not a linear path.
• Healing through grief can lead to self-discovery.
• Support from others is crucial during the grieving process.
• It's important to acknowledge and honor one's grief.
• Grief can transform into gratitude and appreciation over time.
• Helping others can be a powerful part of healing.
• Coping mechanisms vary; it's essential to find what works for you.
• Relationships may change after a loss; some may grow stronger while others fade.
• Freedom comes from knowing who you are and what you want.

🔗 Links/Resources

Find all Angela's resources and offerings on her website, including the links to my weekly podcast, Awaken Your Soul's Journey: Embracing Grief as a Pathway to Transformation: https://www.healingenergy.world/

📖 Chapters

00:00 Understanding Grief: A Personal Journey

06:17 The Five Stages of Grief: A Misconception

10:41 Healing Through Grief: A New Perspective

14:24 Embracing Emotions: The Role of Sadness

19:43 Navigating Triggers: Finding Peace in Memories

22:46 Support Systems: Finding the Right Help

27:29 The Role of Grief Coaches

29:50 Navigating Support During Grief

32:10 Acknowledging Painful Days

33:57 Changing Relationships in Grief

35:54 Finding Balance in Grieving

37:17 Angela's Journey of Discovery

40:01 The Healing Power of Sharing Stories

42:12 Coping Mechanisms and Self-Discovery

45:11 The Journey Back to Self

49:07 Defining Freedom Through Grief

51:04 00.New Outro_2025.mp4

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Vasu Tolia, a former paediatrician and medical researcher who made the bold decision to leave her established career and pursue a life of creativity through art. We explore the intersection of medicine and creativity, how artistic expression can be a powerful tool for healing, and what it takes to embrace a second career later in life. Dr. Tolia shares how she overcame self-doubt, external criticism, and the fear of starting over, ultimately redefining her success on her own terms. Whether you're considering a big life change or simply want to tap into your creativity, this conversation will inspire you to take that leap.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Creativity is Everywhere: It’s not just about painting or music—problem-solving, cooking, and even making lists can be creative.
• Overcoming Self-Doubt: Reinventing yourself requires resilience and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.
• Healing Through Art: Creativity isn’t just an outlet—it can reduce stress, boost mental health, and foster personal growth.
• Aligning Passion with Purpose: True fulfillment comes from using your skills to serve both yourself and others.
• Freedom is a Mindset: Sometimes, the biggest barriers are internal, and breaking free requires courage.

🔗 Links/Resources

• Learn more about Vasu: https://www.vasutolia.art/

📖 Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Career Transitions and the Power of Creativity

00:46 Meet Dr. Vasu Tolia: From Medicine to Art

02:01 How Creativity Exists in Every Profession (Even Medicine)

04:04 What is Creativity? A Fresh Perspective

06:45 The Science Behind Art’s Healing Power

09:04 The Challenges of Reinventing Yourself

12:33 Letting Go of External Expectations

15:09 Success on Your Own Terms: Why Awards Aren’t Everything

18:26 How Art Helped Dr. Tolia Redefine Her Identity

20:34 Using Creativity to Navigate Stress and Life Transitions

25:02 Why Everyone Has Creativity (Even If You Think You Don’t)

28:56 The Mindset Shift Required for Reinvention

31:08 What Freedom Means to Dr. Tolia

36:03 Final Reflections: Actively Creating Your Own Freedom



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In this episode, I sit down with Mary Guerdoux-Harries, a core energy coach who helps women design a life they love without burning out. Mary shares her journey from working in corporate engineering to finding purpose in coaching, highlighting the wake-up calls that led her to reevaluate her path. We dive into how stress, overwhelm, and those little moments of "outbursting" can signal deeper misalignment in our lives, and she walks us through practical steps to reconnect with our values. Mary also opens up about her experience as an assault survivor, sharing how she found healing, reclaimed her story, and stepped into her power. This is an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about self-discovery, courage, and what it truly means to live a "free-range" life.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Signs of Burnout and Misalignment: How to recognize when your life needs a shift.
• The Power of Core Values: Aligning your choices with what truly matters.
• Reclaiming Your Story: The importance of owning your narrative in healing.
• Breaking Free from "Shoulds": Letting go of external expectations and guilt.
• Small Steps to Big Change: How to take action without feeling overwhelmed.

🔗 Links/Resources

• Try out Mary's energy profiler to get an understanding of how well your energy is working for you today: https://mary-liccsnha.scoreapp.com/

📖 Chapters

00:00 Introduction: No Editing Experiment & Episode Overview

02:15 Meet Mary Guerdoux-Harries: From Engineering to Coaching

05:29 The Wake-Up Call: Realizing Life Needed to Change

07:35 The Turning Point: From Corporate Burnout to a Free-Range Life

10:54 Identifying the Signs: When Stress and "Outbursting" Take Over

13:02 Why Some People Stay Stuck (and What Finally Pushes Them to Change)

16:26 Do You Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Change?

19:59 The Emotional and Physical Toll of Misalignment

21:21 Practical Questions to Identify What’s Really Going On

24:06 Should You Work with a Coach? How Outside Support Can Help

26:28 The Myth of "The Right Time" to Make a Change

30:45 Owning Your Story: Mary’s Journey to Speaking Publicly About Her Trauma

35:48 Healing After Trauma: How Somatic Therapy Helped Mary Move Forward

40:12 The Power of Speaking Your Truth and Sharing Your Story

45:22 Redefining Freedom and Designing a Life You Love

50:03 Final Reflections: Takeaways for Your Own Journey

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In this episode, I sit down with Kasia Makuch-Cole, a psychotherapist and founder of Balance Psychotherapy Clinic, to explore a refreshing, body-focused approach to mental health. Kasia challenges traditional therapy models that prioritize storytelling and diagnoses, advocating instead for working with body sensations and emotions to process trauma and find balance. We discuss how sensations in the body can reveal deeper emotions, the role of self-compassion, and why mental health isn’t just about the mind—it’s about the entire nervous system. If you’ve ever felt frustrated with conventional mental health approaches, this conversation will open your eyes to a whole new way of healing.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Mental Health is More Than the Mind: Healing involves the body, emotions, and nervous system.
• Trauma Lives in the Body: You don’t have to retell your story to heal from it.
• Self-Compassion is Key: A nurturing approach to emotions leads to deeper healing.
• Body Awareness Matters: Understanding sensations can help process emotions.
• Joy Over Happiness: Instead of chasing happiness, focus on cultivating lasting joy.

🔗 Links/Resources

• Check out Liz's app, Basic Psych: https://balancepsychotherapy.passion.io/. The app aims to help individuals live a life filled with meaning, purpose, and joy.

📖 Chapters

00:00 Introduction: A New Approach to Mental Health

02:12 Meet Kasia Makuch-Cole: Psychotherapist & Founder of Balance Psychotherapy Clinic

03:36 The Problem with Traditional Therapy Approaches

06:08 Trauma Lives in the Body—Not Just the Mind

09:26 The Role of Affect: Understanding Body Sensations

12:42 Why Naming Emotions Can Limit Healing

15:10 A Live Demonstration: Connecting with the Body’s Signals

21:14 How to Cultivate Self-Compassion and Emotional Safety

25:42 The Impact of Stress and the Nervous System

30:14 Healing Isn’t Just Psychological—It’s Biological Too

35:28 The Role of Diet and Physical Health in Mental Wellbeing

40:12 The Difference Between Joy and Happiness

45:26 How to Align with Your Values for a Simpler, More Meaningful Life

50:03 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways



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In this episode, I get real about burnout, feeling stuck, and how I’m recalibrating my life and this podcast. After months of pushing myself too hard, I’ve realised that two episodes a week isn’t sustainable, and it’s time to shift gears. I open up about the challenges I’ve been facing—being stuck in one place due to van troubles, financial stress, and questioning my direction. But instead of spiraling, I went back to my core values, an exercise I first shared in episode three, and I’m walking you through it again.

If you’re feeling stuck, lost, or just need a reset, this episode will help you realign with what truly matters so you can start making decisions that feel right for you.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Burnout and Recalibration: Recognizing when something isn’t working and adjusting.
• Feeling Stuck: Why it happens and how to shift your mindset.
• Core Values Exercise: A practical method for gaining clarity and direction.
• Letting Go of Expectations: Why we default to what’s familiar and how to break the cycle.
• Courage and Self-Belief: Making bold decisions that align with who you are.
• Taking Action: Small steps today lead to big changes in the future.

🔗 Links/Resources

• Listen to episode 3
• Follow me on TikTok: tiktok.com/@burraway
• Download a copy of the *free* PDF to uncover your core values: kookalini.kit.com/values

📖 Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Burnout and Feeling Stuck

00:43 The Reality of Podcast Burnout and Making Changes

02:24 Why I’m Scaling Back to One Episode a Week

03:18 Feeling Trapped: Van Troubles, Money Stress, and Doubt

04:42 Remembering Episode 3: My Own Advice on Feeling Stuck

06:25 Revisiting Core Values: Why It Matters

09:06 How to Identify Your Core Values (Step-by-Step)

12:38 Truth, Courage, and Self-Belief: My Updated Core Values

16:42 Recognizing When You’re Straying from Your Values

19:31 Small Actions to Start Walking in Alignment Today

22:55 Red Flags That Signal You’re Operating Outside Your Values

25:42 Finding Support: Who Can Hold You Accountable?

27:05 The Power of Decision-Making and Moving Forward

28:03 What’s Next: Big, Scary, Exciting Changes Ahead!



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I shaved all my hair off, live on TikTok.

What started as a spontaneous challenge turned into one of the most liberating experiences of my life. But what I didn’t expect were people assuming I was sick, having a meltdown, or that I would regret my decision.

In this episode, I share why I shaved it all off, the fears I had before doing it, and the surprising confidence boost that followed. Plus, we dive into the deeper societal beliefs around women and hair because, let’s be real, if I were a guy, no one would be asking if I was okay.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Sometimes, the things we think we “have to” do (like having long hair) are just habits we’ve never questioned.
• Fear of judgment often holds us back, but once we push through, we realize how little it actually matters.
• True confidence comes from feeling comfortable in yourself—not from fitting into beauty standards.
• People’s reactions say more about them than they do about you.
• Letting go of something you thought defined you can be incredibly freeing.

🔗 Links/Resources

• Follow me on TikTok

📖 Chapters

[00:00:44] Intro: It’s been a while since I did a solo episode!

[00:01:08] My complicated relationship with my hair.

[00:02:49] The realization: Why do I have to have hair at all?

[00:03:34] My biggest fear before shaving it off.

[00:04:24] The TikTok challenge that sealed my fate.

[00:04:49] The exhilarating experience of shaving my head live.

[00:06:11] The unexpected confidence boost I never saw coming.

[00:07:10] The wild reactions—cancer, mental breakdowns, and concern.

[00:09:26] The deep-rooted beliefs we hold about hair and identity.

[00:10:11] Why I love my shaved head and don’t plan on growing it back.

[00:11:17] Wrapping up: More solo episodes to come? Let me know!

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