Pulling Threads, Weaving Authenticity

What if your divorce isn’t the end—but the beginning of your most aligned life? In this episode, I sit down with Amber Shaw, host of The Divorce Revolution Podcast and business coach for divorced women, for an honest conversation about turning pain into purpose, rebuilding confidence, and creating a business rooted in lived experience. Amber opens up about navigating the end of her marriage at 40,...

Parenting can feel surprisingly hard, even when you love your kids deeply. In this episode of Pulling Threads, we talk about parental burnout, old conditioning, and the internal patterns that can quietly run in the background and drain your energy. I’m joined by Mackenzie Kinmond, a parenthood transformation coach and therapist who helps overwhelmed parents step out of survival mode and reconnect...

Welcome to the first episode of Authentic by Design, a transformative series about discovering your true self, reclaiming your life, and stepping off autopilot. If you’ve ever felt like you’re watching life happen to someone else, like life isn’t really yours, or like you’re aged-ahead while still waiting to feel alive, you’re in the right place. In this episode, I share a moment of awakening — si...

What if peace isn’t something you find, but something you expand into? In Part 2 of this powerful Pulling Threads conversation, host Leslie Matthews continues her deeply honest and expansive dialogue with Liza Lounsbury, exploring what it truly means to outgrow old identities, regulate the nervous system, and rebuild life from the inside out. This episode dives into the uncomfortable but transform...

✨ Endings, Beginnings, and Everything In-Between | Reflecting on 2025 & Welcoming 2026 As 2025 comes to a close, many of us feel a mix of exhaustion, gratitude, and quiet hope. In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews—therapist, coach, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teacher—dives deep into the emotions that surface at the end of a long year. We talk about what it...

If you’ve been feeling the shift in the online business world, shorter attention spans, harder-to-earn trust, and marketing that doesn’t hit the way it used to, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I sit down with Carly Hill, a licensed clinical social worker turned seven-figure business mentor, Reiki Master, NLP practitioner, and author of Therapist Owner. We talk about what it really t...

In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews sits down with Liza Lounsberry, creator of the Inside Out Success Coaching framework, for a deep and grounded conversation about the inner work that creates outer results. This conversation explores how true transformation begins inside the nervous system, belief system, and identity, and how alignment at that level shapes every area of life,...

Mindfulness isn’t woo-woo — it’s neuroscience. Most people check out the moment they hear the word mindfulness because they imagine crystals or chanting. But the truth? Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is one of the most researched, evidence-based programs for rewiring the brain, regulating the nervous system, and transforming the way we respond to stress, trauma, divorce, and everyday li...

Future of Therapy: AI Tools for Coaches and Therapists with Dr. Stephanie Thrower | Pulling Threads Podcast In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews, MSW sits down with Dr. Stephanie Thrower — a psychologist, business coach, and the visionary creator behind AI Tools for Change — to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of therapy and coaching. Together, they di...

Navigating Holidays Without Your Kids: Tips for Divorced Parents In this special pre-holiday episode, originally featured on both 'Pulling Threads' and the 'Women Navigating Divorce' Facebook group, we address the challenges of navigating holidays without your kids post-divorce. Understand the emotional complexities and gain tools to stay anchored, present, and connected to your children even when...

In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie Mathews, a therapist and coach, addresses women who feel lost in seemingly safe marriages. This is not an encouragement for divorce but a guide to help women rediscover themselves and make an informed decision about staying or leaving their relationships. Sharing personal experiences and professional insights, Leslie provides a heart-to-heart framework of...

In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie welcomes Mary Eldridge, a licensed clinical social worker and coach who specializes in helping high-achieving women navigate and recover from toxic and abusive work environments. Mary shares her personal inspiration for this work and goes on to discuss the tools she uses to help women both thrive in their current positions or strategically transition...

Food as Medicine: How Food Dyes, Chemicals, and Nutrition Shape Children’s Health & Behavior | Pulling Threads Podcast In this powerful episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews, MSW sits down with Dr. Kelly Cross, a board-certified pediatrician and integrative medicine practitioner, to explore how what we eat influences the mind, mood, and overall health — especially in children. 💬 Top...

Rebuilding Self-Trust & Finding Your Voice After Toxic Relationships & Narcissistic Abuse | Pulling Threads With guest Clarissa Stolte – Therapist & Toxic Relationship Coach In this emotionally resonant episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie dives into the journey of healing and transformation after toxic or narcissistic relationships. She’s joined by Clarissa Stolte, therapist and fo...

From Burnout to Deep Rest: Healing Women’s Sleep with Melissa Good | Pulling Threads Podcast Exhaustion. Overwhelm. Sleepless nights. So many ambitious, heart-centered women are running on empty — but rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews, MSW—therapist, coach, and founder of The LooM Life—sits down with Melissa Good, licensed therapist and s...

In this episode of Pulling Threads, we welcome Melanie Miller, a licensed professional counselor, to discuss the intricacies of parallel parenting in blended families and the journey of living an alcohol-free life. Melanie shares her personal journey and the challenges of dealing with adverse childhood experiences, emotional neglect, and parental substance use. She explores her transition into the...

In this Pulling Thread episode, we welcome Alina Reary, a licensed therapist and intuitive eating coach. We discuss the impact of diet culture, the journey to food freedom, and how women can reclaim their bodies and lives by trusting their instincts. Alina shares her insights on intuitive eating, overcoming food guilt, and the importance of community support in this transformative process. Listen...

Understanding Why Women Stay in Unhappy Marriages | Pulling Threads Podcast In this episode of Pulling Threads, we dive deep into the complex reasons why women remain in marriages and relationships that are no longer fulfilling or safe. This podcast is dedicated to discussing the visible and hidden factors that keep women from leaving, including financial concerns, cultural expectations, trauma bo...

Do you avoid trying new things because fear tells you that you don’t belong? In this episode of Pulling Threads, I share how childhood trauma wired my nervous system for protection and how I used golf—yes, golf!—to rewrite that pattern. 🔬 We explore the science behind neuroplasticity—the brain’s incredible ability to reorganize itself and change its activity in response to experience ncbi.nlm.nih...

Embracing Beauty: Rewriting the Narrative of Shame and Acceptance | Pulling Threads Podcast with Leslie In this heartfelt episode of Pulling Threads, trauma-informed therapist and coach Leslie Mathews explores the complex relationship between beauty, shame, and self-worth, especially for women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. From societal double standards to generational programming, Leslie unpacks ho...

Unveiling the Layers: Beauty, Medicine & Empowerment with Lisa Hahn | Pulling Threads Podcast Welcome back to Pulling Threads, where we unravel the deeper stories behind healing, growth, and the human experience. In this inspiring episode, host Leslie Mathews, therapist, coach, and founder of The LooM, sits down with Lisa Hahn, board-certified nurse practitioner and founder of Nueva Aesthetics...

Breakups can leave us feeling emotionally raw, physically disconnected, and unsure of how to get our needs met. In this episode of Pulling Threads, trauma-informed therapist and coach Leslie Mathews shares real, practical strategies for meeting your emotional, physical, and sexual needs after a breakup—with compassion and clarity. You’ll learn: • 💔 How to regulate your nervous system and calm hea...

Why Do Breakups Hurt So Much? | Brain Science, Trauma & Healing After Heartbreak In this episode of Pulling Threads, therapist and coach Leslie unpacks why breakups feel so devastating—especially when you’re carrying unresolved trauma. From the brain science behind emotional pain to the impact of attachment styles, Leslie explores what really happens in our nervous system when a relationship e...

Why Even “Small Lies” Hurt So Much | The Psychology of Deception in Relationships In this powerful episode of Pulling Threads, therapist and coach Leslie unpacks the hidden damage caused by deception in relationships — from bold-faced lies to subtle omissions and half-truths. Why does it hurt so badly when we find out someone misled us? How does betrayal affect our mental health, self-worth, and a...

In this episode of Pulling Threads, we explore the complexities of personal growth, evolving past old patterns, and how to navigate relationships with those who may still see us through an outdated lens. We discuss the importance of allowing ourselves and others the space to grow, and when it might be necessary to set boundaries or even walk away to protect our progress. With examples from persona...