In This Body

What if your body isn’t a barrier to spirituality, but the place where the sacred actually meets you. This is the heart of the conversation with spiritual teacher and retreat leader Brandon Nappi, whose work weaves together Christian mysticism, Zen practice, and somatic healing. Together, we explore a spirituality that is grounded, honest, and lived through the body. Brandon shares how his underst...

In this episode of How To Be In This Body , we explore the fawn response as an adaptive survival strategy (not a character flaw) and trace a gentle path from self-abandonment back to self-contact. Dr. Ingrid Clayton, clinical psychologist and author, brings together clinical insight, lived experience, and practical tools for building internal safety and reducing shame. Together, Ailey and Ingrid u...

Join Ailey Jolie for a raw and personal solo episode of How To Be In This Body. In this New Year's reflection, Ailey shares what happened when her body stopped letting her perform; a year of health crises, the real story behind her viral posts, and the decision to focus her attention on her upcoming book and course INBODY.  In this episode, she explores what it means to let go of an identity...

Join Ailey Jolie for a tender and personal solo episode of In This Body, where she weaves a health update, insights from a sacred MRI, and listener questions into a nuanced meditation on embodiment. Ailey explores the delicate terrain between anxiety and intuition, the truth about hypervigilance and self-trust, and how regulation can sometimes be disguised compliance. She reflects on the role of a...

Join Ailey Jolie and Mariel Pastor, therapist, trainer, and creator of Character Mapping, on this episode of In This Body. The conversation moves through the heart of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy; exploring how self-energy, parts work, and somatic presence can bring us into deeper peace with ourselves and with one another. Mariel shares reflections on spiritual embodiment, cultural condit...

Join Ailey Jolie and Jambo Truong, bodyworker, yogi, clinician, and mystic, on this episode of In This Body. The conversation journeys into the rich intersection of yoga, trauma recovery, and spiritual ritual—exploring how forest yoga can become both a refuge and a catalyst for transforming self-loathing into embodied presence. Jambo shares his story of growing up between East and West, the healin...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Christy Gibson, physician, trauma educator, and author of Modern Trauma, on this rich and timely episode of In This Body. Together they explore how trauma lives not just in our minds but in our bodies, and how the pressures of modern life—from the climate crisis to constant digital exposure—shape our nervous systems in ways both visible and hidden. Dr. Gibson shares her vi...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Christine Pieton, physical therapist, Pilates instructor, and founder of Pieton Physical Therapy, on this illuminating episode of In This Body. Together they explore the often overlooked world of pelvic health—how our relationship to this part of the body shapes everything from intimacy and emotional wellbeing to physical freedom and self-trust. Christine shares her unexpe...

Join Ailey Jolie and Linda Hartley, somatic practitioner, author, and a teacher of The Discipline of Authentic Movement, on this contemplative episode of In This Body . Together, they explore embodiment as an evolving, relational journey—shaped by age, memory, and the quiet intelligence of the body itself. Linda shares her path from early dance to the development of a healing modality rooted in Bo...

Join Ailey Jolie and Andrea Juhan, psychotherapist, embodiment teacher, and co-founder of Open Floor International, on this expansive episode of In This Body . Together, they explore the healing potential of movement, not as performance, but as presence. Andrea shares her journey from Esalen bodyworker to somatic psychotherapist, weaving a life devoted to understanding how the body stores story, s...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Anita Johnston, clinical psychologist, storyteller, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon , on this episode of In This Body . Together, they explore the symbolic language of food and body image, revealing how struggles with eating are often expressions of deeper, unspoken hungers. Through myth, metaphor, and archetype, Dr. Johnston shares how reconnecting with the...

Join Ailey Jolie and Jaycee Gossett, movement artist and founding teacher of The Class, on this episode of In This Body . The conversation explores embodiment as a lifelong practice, the evolution from performance-based movement to somatic healing, and how the body can become a portal to truth, compassion, and vitality. Jaycee shares her personal journey through competitive dance, burnout, and rec...

Join Ailey Jolie and Jenna Ward, a feminine embodiment coach and founder of the School of Embodied Arts, on this episode of In This Body . Together, they explore the transformative path of returning to the body as a site of power, pleasure, and profound self-awareness. Jenna shares her journey from clinical pharmacist to embodiment practitioner, offering insight into how feminine embodiment became...

Join Ailey Jolie and Heidi Rose Robbins, a poet, astrologer, and author, on this episode of In This Body . Together, they explore the profound link between astrology, embodiment, and creative self-expression. Heidi shares how astrology serves as a tool for encouragement, self-awareness, and connection, highlighting its role in understanding both personal and collective shifts. The conversation tou...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Kate Balestrieri, a clinical psychologist, certified sex therapist, and author, on this episode of In This Body. The conversation explores how systemic oppression—particularly patriarchy—shapes our relationships with gender, sexuality, and embodiment. Dr. Balestrieri unpacks the misconceptions around patriarchy, the impact of gender essentialism, and how masculinity can be...

Join Ailey Jolie and Kristen Portney, a therapist and reproductive health specialist, on this episode of In This Body. Together, they explore the unconscious narratives surrounding reproductive health—how they are shaped by family systems, culture, and internalized beliefs, and how they manifest in the body. Kristen shares insights on navigating the complex emotions tied to pregnancy, abortion, an...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr Roger Kuhn, a Poarch Creek Two-Spirit Indigiqueer soma-cultural sex therapist, sexuality educator, writer, activist, and musician, on this episode of In This Body. Together they discuss the nuances behind embodiment, cultural identity, creativity, and liberation, exploring how systems—both personal and societal—shape our relationship with our bodies, the privilege of embodi...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, an author, speaker and thinking partner with a PhD in Social Psychology and specialisation in Sexuality, Relationships, and Intercultural Fluency, on this episode of In This Body . They discuss the Emergent Love Model, which identifies six essential ingredients for lasting relationships: attraction, respect, trust, compassion, shared vision, and loving be...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dawn Mauricio, a Buddhist Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher, Author, and Mentor, on this episode of In This Body . The conversation centers on the connection between embodiment and Vipassana meditation, with a focus on trauma sensitivity in meditation settings and the importance of approaching practice with compassionate curiosity. Dawn and Ailey explore the relationship betw...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Galit Atlas, a psychoanalyst, clinical supervisor, essayist, and author, on this episode of In This Body . Dr. Atlas explores her work on emotional inheritance and the connections between desire, sexuality, and trauma. The conversation delves into how body awareness shapes emotions, behaviors, relationships, and life choices. Topics include emotional inheritance, intergene...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Amy Meyers, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, professor, and prominent researcher on sibling abuse, in this enlightening episode of In This Body . Dr. Meyers delves into her extensive research, highlighting the emotional and developmental impacts of sibling abuse, how it distinctly differs from typical sibling rivalry, and the often-overlooked ramifications it can have on...

In this episode of In This Body , host Ailey Jolie welcomes back Giselle La Pompe-Moore—author, artist, speaker, slow living advocate, and creator of the Substack Be Difficult, Darling . Giselle discusses how deepening her connection with her body has guided her into alignment with her life, the importance of her relationships with women, and the value of centring an equitable lens within manifest...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr Emilia Thompson, a Registered Nutritionist, Educator, Mentor, and Meditation Teacher, on this episode of In This Body . Together, they explore the often-overlooked connection between embodiment, nutrition, and fitness while addressing pervasive myths spread by diet culture. The discussion delves into Emilia's personal experience with disordered eating, the transformati...

Join Ailey Jolie and Dr Darragh Stewart, a PhD graduate and co-founder of InwardBound who specialises in psychedelic retreats and men’s work, for this episode of In This Body. Ailey and Darragh explore the intersection of psychedelics and embodiment in the healing process, delving into ancestral traditions through the lens of Irish culture, intergenerational trauma, masculinity, and the importance...

Join Ailey Jolie and Deb Dana, a clinician, consultant, author, and international lecturer on polyvagal theory-informed work, for this episode of In This Body. The conversation explores Deb's contributions to adapting polyvagal theory for trauma therapy, emphasising the importance of understanding and befriending our nervous systems to enhance well-being. Listeners will gain a deeper understa...