Aligned Living with Dr. Autumn

You want to be a person of your word. So why do you keep saying "I'm going to…" and then not doing it? In this episode of Aligned Living, Dr. Autumn uses a viral basketball moment to reveal what really happens between intention and action, and why "try harder" isn't the answer. She breaks down the biological, emotional, relational, and spiritual reasons we don't follow through, and introduces the...

We all have good intentions—to eat healthier, exercise consistently, strengthen our relationships, spend more time with God, be more present, or finally pursue the things that matter most. So why is it often so difficult to follow through? In this episode of Aligned Living , Dr. Autumn explores the idea that we don’t rise to our intentions; we fall to our systems. And those systems go far beyond r...

What if the relationships in your life are shaping your health more than you realize? Dr. Autumn sits down with therapist, social worker, and doctoral researcher Heydie Orr to unpack relational resilience — our capacity to grow through healthy, mutually supportive relationships. They talk about why independence isn't the same as wholeness, why being surrounded by people doesn't mean you're truly c...

What if the interruptions we work so hard to avoid are actually invitations to become more present, resilient, and fully human? In this episode, Dr. Autumn sits down with Chrissy Weeks, Executive Director of DC127, to explore what it means to live an interruptible life. In a culture that ties our value to productivity and constant accessibility, Chrissy challenges us to consider what our response...

Prayer and Scripture get most of the credit for spiritual growth, but Dr. Autumn unpacks a piece we usually skip: the body. This episode makes the case that sleep, emotional health, relationships, and daily rhythms aren't distractions from discipleship, they're part of how the Holy Spirit actually forms us. The payoff is practical too: the self-control and discernment we need to live out what we a...

Most of us know what we should do—so why don't we do it? Because beneath our choices are stories. Exhaustion is normal. My value comes from achievement. Busy means important. These narratives quietly shape our health, relationships, leadership, and well-being in ways we rarely examine. In this episode, Dr. Autumn helps you identify the hidden stories running your life—and what it lo...

You're sleeping. Eating well. Taking the supplements. And still — you're exhausted. In this episode, Dr. Autumn breaks down why energy isn't just physical, and why no amount of sleep will fix a nervous system that's overloaded, a mind full of clutter, or emotions you haven't had the chance to process. She unpacks the hidden forces quietly draining you, including disrupted sleep rhythms, dehydratio...

In this episode of Aligned Living, Dr. Autumn speaks with Joshua Symonette—pastor of Hopeville in Baltimore, nonprofit leader, husband of 23 years, and father of four—to explore the hidden cost of unprocessed emotions in leadership and everyday life. Joshua shares a vulnerable turning point when an unexpected emotional breakdown revealed he had been living in constant problem-solving mode—running...

Ever whispered, “God… what is happening?” In this episode, Dr. Autumn speaks to the seasons that rattle your certainty — heartbreak, disappointment, unanswered prayers, emotional exhaustion — and shows you how to walk through them without losing your faith, your nervous system, or your integrity. Blending biblical lament, nervous system regulation, and the principles of Aligned Living, she reframe...

In the series finale of Aligned Living with Dr. Autumn, we break down why making wise choices isn’t just about discipline or willpower. It’s about whether your mind and body feel regulated enough to support good decision-making. This episode explains how emotions provide important information, how a calm nervous system keeps the brain’s decision-making center (the prefrontal cortex) functioning, a...

In this episode, Dr. Autumn sits down with spoken word artist Cookie B, who discovered her gift through a reluctant college assignment—and later had to fight to reclaim it. Together they explore what it means to walk in your God-given gifts, heal from what silences you, and find freedom in creativity and faith. Through personal stories and powerful poetry, Cookie reminds us: when you live out your...

In this episode of Aligned Living with Dr. Autumn, Dr. Autumn talks with Cindy Lamb—trauma-transformation therapist and founder of the Human Liberation and Balance Institute—about how both childhood and adult traumas shape the brain and body. Together, they explore how healing happens when we unlearn old survival patterns and relearn how to live from a place of safety, freedom, and authentici...

What if wisdom—not certainty—is the key to a deeper, stronger faith? In this episode, Dr. Autumn unpacks why spiritual growth isn’t about rigid rules or black‑and‑white answers, but about holy curiosity, discernment, and courage. Through her own story of wrestling with tough decisions and rethinking inherited beliefs, Autumn reframes “deconstruction” as something better: faith evolution. She shows...

What if your workout could sharpen your mind, regulate your emotions, and rewire your brain? Fitness expert Dylan Novak joins Aligned Living with Dr. Autumn to unpack how intentional movement—like dynamic stretching and progressive strength training—not only builds physical power but also boosts mental clarity, emotional stability, and long-term health. You’ll learn how fitness impacts your longev...

In this special episode of Aligned Living with Dr. Autumn, Coach Autumn invites you behind the scenes of her membership platform with a raw and impactful teaching on emotional health. What began as a course recording turned into a heartfelt message about why emotional regulation and maturity are essential to making progress in every area of life—whether it’s your health, relationships, or spiritua...

What if rest—not hustle—is the key to creativity? In this episode of the Aligned Living Podcast, Dr. Autumn sits down with Nashville-based artist Wes Harris to talk music, healing, and living with intention. From growing up as a pastor’s kid to using music as a tool for emotional and other forms of holistic wellness, Wes shares how he's learned to say “no” with purpose, embrace stillness, and prot...

In this episode of Aligned Living , Autumn Swain chats with Alexis Browning, a former healthcare professional turned nonprofit leader, on the power of authentic community. Inspired by a mission trip to Kenya, Alexis left medicine to foster meaningful connections. They dive into why social well-being is essential to overall health and how vulnerability and proximity create deeper relationships. Ale...

Dr. Autumn challenges conventional wisdom about motivation, revealing that it's often a result of action rather than its catalyst. She explores how our decision-making is shaped by emotions, hormones, and physical states, offering practical strategies to align our choices with long-term goals. By understanding the complex interplay between brain and body, listeners learn to make better decisions e...

In this episode, artist Lionel Daniels reveals the transformative power of aligning passion with purpose. By courageously leaving a six-figure job to pursue art full-time, he demonstrates how trusting one's intuition and maintaining a deep spiritual connection can unlock extraordinary personal and professional fulfillment. Through resilience, prayer, and a commitment to personal growth, Lionel sho...

In this episode of the Aligned Living podcast, Dr. Autumn explores the power of asking good questions, and its potential to transform our lives. She explains how the right questions can unlock personal and professional growth, while the wrong ones—or avoiding questions altogether—can keep us stuck in frustration. Acknowledging the resistance many feel toward questioning familiar beliefs and habits...

Ready to thrive, even when life gets tough? In this episode of the Aligned Living podcast, Dr. Autumn reveals how to not just survive, but grow through challenges. She shares her powerful method of how to "sit in the suck”, but do it well—including preparing yourself holistically before life throws its hardest punches. Packed with real-life stories and game-changing tips, this episode is a must-li...

In this episode of Aligned Living, Dr. Reverend Alex Gee, a transformative community leader, CEO, pastor, podcast host, husband, and father, shares insights from his 40-year journey of integrating holistic wellness into his leadership. Dr. Gee opens up about the challenges and struggles he faced along the way, and how they significantly influenced his personal transformation, which not only improv...

In this episode of the Aligned Living podcast, Dr. Autumn unpacks the power of emotions and their impact on our lives, challenging the notion that they are just fleeting feelings. She reveals how emotions shape our decisions, influence our well-being, and why embracing them is an often overlooked key to personal growth. You'll also learn some practical tools for building emotional resilience, plus...

In this episode of the Aligned Living podcast, Coach Autumn explores the role of social wellness on our journey to wholeness. She breaks down the difference between individualism and self-improvement, showing how a self-centered approach can have long-term negative effects. With insights from her own research, Dr. Autumn reveals how our hyper-individualistic culture fosters unhealthy behaviors and...

Feeling overwhelmed by the vast amount of health and fitness information available at your fingertips and struggling to know exactly what steps to take? Coach Autumn gets it! That's why in this episode of the Aligned Living podcast, she shares how you can take a holistic (less stressful!) approach to working out. You'll learn how to break down the essentials into three main "buckets" of...