Between the Sessions

What keeps people from getting the care they actually need? In this episode of Between the Sessions , we break down the real barriers that stop people—especially military members and first responders—from booking a massage. It’s not always time or money. Sometimes it’s mindset. Sometimes it’s trust. Sometimes it’s just not knowing where to start. We talk through: • The most common objections peopl...

In this episode of Between the Sessions, we explore a powerful idea from the book The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk: trauma doesn’t just live in our memories — it lives in our bodies. The episode begins with the story of a Canadian couple who were caught in a massive highway pileup in Michigan. Although both survived the accident physically, their bodies reacted in completely dif...

Some weeks are heavier than others. In this short episode of Between the Sessions , Jason reflects on how life doesn’t always pause when something difficult happens. Work continues, responsibilities continue, and sometimes the only recovery we get is a quiet moment to breathe before the next thing begins. If you work in the military, first responder community, healthcare, or any demanding professi...

Sometimes the plan falls apart. Schedules slip. Life interrupts. And the reset you meant to record… almost doesn’t happen. In this short Mini Reset, I talk about those moments when life throws something heavy into the middle of your week — and why taking even a few minutes to pause, breathe, and reset still matters. Recovery doesn’t have to be perfect. Sometimes it’s just showing up again. Take a...

What do people think happens in a massage room… and what really happens between the sessions? In this episode, Jason from MilFirst and Woodhouse Day Spa in Gainesville pulls back the curtain on the real work of massage therapy — from anatomy and injury recovery to emotional decompression for first responders and veterans. We talk about: • The funniest myths clients believe 🤣 • The science of touc...

Where does stress hide when you say you’re “fine”? Tonight on Between the Sessions , Jason from Woodhouse Day Spa in Gainesville shares the three places stress shows up most on the massage table: • Jaw & temples • Shoulders & upper traps • Low back & hips These are the spots we see every week with first responders, veterans, parents, and anyone carrying more than they say out loud. You...

When the shift ends… the weight doesn’t always clock out. In this episode of Between the Sessions , we talk about what happens after the uniform comes off — when the adrenaline drops, the house gets quiet, and the body finally starts to speak. We’ll cover: • Why your nervous system doesn’t just “turn off” • The physical cost of carrying stress silently • A simple reset you can do in under 2 minute...

What actually happens in the body when someone lays on a massage table? In this episode of Between the Sessions , we break down the science of touch — what research says about how therapeutic touch affects the nervous system, stress hormones, pain perception, sleep, and emotional regulation. This isn’t fluff. This is physiology. You’ll learn: • How touch moves the body from fight-or-flight into re...

Today’s episode comes straight out of a long, physical day. The kind of day where your body is exhausted… but your mind is still on duty. We talk about why that happens, why so many first responders, veterans, athletes, and caregivers struggle to truly relax, and how recovery is a skill we have to practice, not something that happens automatically. I share a simple tool you can use tonight to help...

I spent six straight hours working on 17 student athletes at a George Mason track meet — runners, throwers, different events, different bodies. But by the end of the day, I realized I wasn’t treating 17 different problems. I was seeing the same two patterns over and over again. Runners with low back, hamstring, knee, and calf tension. Throwers with shoulder pain that actually started in the chest...

In this episode of Between the Sessions , Jason talks about a pattern he sees every single week on the massage table. A person who lifted too much snow. A mom who slipped down the stairs. An engineer sore from long hours at a desk. Different lives.  Different stories. Same strain in the body. We explore how shoulders, hips, and low backs end up telling the same story no matter the job, the acciden...

We talk a lot about freedom. We celebrate it. We assume it. But we rarely stop to ask — what did it cost, and who is still paying for it? In this episode of Between the Sessions, Jason shares a reflection on the unseen toll carried by military members, first responders, and veterans long after the headlines fade and the uniforms come off. This is not a political conversation. This is a human one....

No guest this week — just you and me. In this episode of Between the Sessions , I answer real questions people have asked in the treatment room and in chat about stress, recovery, and why your body feels like it’s carrying more than you realize. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix, or like you’re “holding it together” for everyone else -this episode is for you. MilFir...

In a longdistance race in Spain, an elite runner from Kenya was leading- until near the finish. Right behind him was a runner from Spain with the strength and opportunity to take the win. Instead of passing, he slowed down. He placed his hands on the other runner’s back and pushed him forward. When asked why, his answer was simple: “He deserved it. He had run the better race.” This episode unpacks...

In this episode of Between the Sessions, we close out Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett with a deep dive into Chapters 10–11: Emotions at Work, and the book’s final call to action: Creating an Emotion Revolution. We explore why emotions are the most powerful—yet most ignored—force shaping workplaces, leadership, and burnout. From emotional contagion and disengagement to compassionate leadership...

This midweek offering is a brief detour from our usual book review. Instead of analysis or instruction, this episode offers a simple mental load reset - built from everyday habits people already use when weeks get heavy. It’s not a lesson, method, or medical advice. Just a quiet pause to help you set something down for a moment, narrow your attention, and move through the rest of the day with a li...

This episode of Between the Sessions is a quiet walk through Chapter 9 of Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett. Chapter 9 focuses on what happens when emotions are ignored, dismissed, or left unnamed—and how that disconnect slowly shows up in our bodies, our relationships, and our work. In this episode, we talk about: • Why avoiding emotions doesn’t make them disappear • How unprocessed feelings of...

Before moving into the next season of Between the Sessions , this episode serves as a pause. A moment to acknowledge where the podcast is now, reflect on what has taken shape so far, and set direction for what’s ahead ,without rushing or recapping. Thank you to everyone who has listened along the way. Your time and attention matter. This podcast exists alongside MilFirst, a nonprofit supporting re...

We didn’t start this podcast in January. We started it when it needed to start. In this year-in-review episode, I reflect on why Between the Sessions began in October, what these first few months have taught me about burnout, permission, recovery, and why quiet conversations matter. No highlight reel. No big promises. Just an honest look at the beginning-and what I’m carrying forward. This space e...

In this MW episode of Between the Sessions , we continue our walk through Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, focusing on Chapter 8: Emotion Regulation. Emotion regulation isn’t about shutting feelings down or “handling it better.” It’s about understanding what emotions are asking of us — and responding with intention instead of reaction. In this episode, we explore: • What emotion regulation act...

Between the Sessions is where we explore the quiet work that happens before healing is ever visible. In this episode, I sit down with Lori, an educator who helps shape future massage therapists at the very start of their journey. We talk about what it really means to teach—not just techniques, but awareness, curiosity, responsibility, and respect for the stories bodies carry. This conversation div...

n this episode of Between the Sessions , we dive into Chapter 7 of Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett and explore an idea: Expressing Emotion . So often,especially in high-stress roles like military service, first response, healthcare, and caregiving—we’re taught to push through, diagnose quickly, or shut emotions down. But emotions are information. When we slow down enough to understand what we’...

Career paths aren’t always straight — and sometimes the right move is listening closely to what fits. In this episode of Between the Sessions , Jason sits down with Stephanie, a former high school student who made the courageous decision to change direction and pursue a career in esthetics. Stephanie shares what led her to pivot, the challenges of starting over, and how working hands-on in wellnes...

In this episode of Between the Sessions , we continue our review of Permission to Feel by Dr. Marc Brackett, focusing on Chapter 6 -the practice of naming emotions accurately without letting labels become limitations. We explore why emotional vocabulary matters, how vague labels like “fine” or “stressed” can keep us stuck, and why naming emotions is meant to create clarity, not identity. Drawing f...

In today’s episode of Between the Sessions, Jason sits down with Maria from Texas Roadhouse Manassas — a leader, a community builder, and someone whose heart for service has already made a huge impact on MilFirst. From supporting our Marine Corps Birthday Banquet to empowering local first responders, Maria brings a perspective on hospitality that goes far beyond food. In this conversation, we dive...