Stress Mess: Laughing Through Trauma

Have you ever been told to “just be more confident” — but no matter how many affirmations you say in the mirror, it just doesn’t feel true? That’s because confidence, healing, and self-worth can’t live in the mind alone. In this episode, Katie dives deep into why the body is essential in trauma healing — and what happens when we focus only on talk therapy and cognitive awareness without including...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Katie sits down with Dr. Jocelyn Wallace—a pelvic health coach who helps women heal from hysterectomies, pelvic floor injuries, and chronic gynecological conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis. Together, they explore the connection between childhood trauma , body image , and long-term health , and how survival responses from early life often sha...

This episode explores the complex tension between individual needs and relationship needs—the "I" and the "We." It's not always clear when to put yourself first or when to show up for the relationship, and for many, especially trauma survivors, this can feel overwhelming and confusing. We unpack why this dynamic is so challenging, how past experiences shape our instincts to either self-abandon or...

Welcome back to Part 2 of our powerful and heartfelt conversation on resilience with the incredible Jared Maynard. Jared is a physiotherapist, coach, and founder of Unbreakable Strength. If you listened to Part 1, you know Jared’s story is one of deep personal and physical transformation. In this follow-up, we go even deeper. Together, we unpack what resilience really means. Not just grit or tough...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Stress Mess, Laughing Through Trauma, Katie sits down with Jared Maynard — a physio, strength coach, dad, and all-around inspiring human — to dive into the nuanced and sometimes messy world of resilience . Jared shares his deeply personal journey from being the “fat kid” hiding during recess to becoming a confident, grounded leader in the strength and coac...

“If one more person tells me, ‘Just try again—they didn’t mean it,’ I don’t know what I’ll do…” In this deeply personal and raw episode, we dive into the complicated emotions around reconnection, estrangement, and healing—especially when the harm is minimized, dismissed, or repeated. Through an honest reflection on childhood wounds, family estrangement, and the long road of unlearning harmful dyna...

In this episode we continue an important conversation with Laura, a Certified Somatic Relationship Coach and Board-Certified Sexologist. We'll dive into the complex topics of low desire, erotic aliveness, and communication within relationships. The episode covers everything from the personal beliefs shaping our sexuality to the importance of embodiment and how couples can reconnect with their desi...

In this episode, we sits down with somatic relationship and intimacy coach, and board-certified sexologist, Lara Lark . Together, they explore the messy intersection of stress, intimacy, and connection — from navigating emotional challenges to embracing physical closeness with more presence and ease. Lara opens up about her own journey of overcoming relationship struggles, what drew her into intim...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking,  “I’m too much... I’m being dramatic... I should tone it down” ? You’re not alone — and more importantly,  you’re not too much . In this episode, we dive deep into the origins of the  “I’m too much”  narrative — how many of us were conditioned to believe that big feelings meant we were wrong, dramatic, or overwhelming. From childhood mess...

In this raw and honest episode, we dive deep into the beautiful chaos of juggling motherhood, entrepreneurship, and friendship with our incredible guest, Dr. Liana Sved (@the_jawpaindoc). Together, we pull back the curtain on what it really looks like to show up every day as moms, business owners, and women trying to do it all. From chaotic mornings filled with cereal spills and toddler meltdowns...

In this episode, we're unpacking what safety really means—beyond just physical security. Emotional, cognitive, and relational safety are often overlooked, yet they deeply shape how we move through life, especially as trauma survivors. We cover: The 4 types of safety: physical, emotional, cognitive, relational Why you might feel “unsafe” even if you had a “good” childhood How trauma teaches us to o...

In today’s episode, Katie is joined once again by the insightful and ever-curious Taylor Goldberg. A chiropractor turned virtual hypermobility coach to unpack a buzzword we hear  everywhere  in the chronic illness world:  “root cause.” Is there really  one  root cause for chronic symptoms? What does that term even mean and is it helping or hurting the healing journey? Toge...

When we think about trauma healing, it’s easy to imagine we need to dive headfirst into the hardest parts like reliving stories, unpacking everything at once, and somehow healing fast . But what if real healing starts with something much simpler? In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, I talk about the quiet power of small habits. The daily actions that rebuild self-trust, confidence, and connec...

In this episode, Katie sits down with Dr. McKinsey Cummings (@‌dr.mckinseycummings), a chiropractor who specializes in chronic pain and illness management for women. Blending personal experience with professional expertise, Dr. McKinsey shares powerful insights into the healing journey and what it truly means to support the body—and mind—through chronic health challenges. Together, they explore th...

In this heartfelt solo episode, we kick things off with a real-life mom moment — potty training, body check-ins, and a little one reminding us what it truly means to listen to our bodies . From that sweet story, we dive into a deep reflection on a word that's everywhere these days: Regulation . Katie unpacks the pressures we often attach to regulating “perfectly,” and how the concept has become mo...

Welcome to Season 3 of Stress Mess: Laughing Through Trauma ! This season we're diving back in with heart, humor, and honesty, while naming the stressors that have been creeping in under the radar. In this premiere episode, we explore the invisible pressures that fuel chronic stress and trauma but are often overlooked because they’ve become normalized . From the mental load of daily life (think pl...

After a short hiatus, Katie back with a deeply personal and raw solo episode to close out Season 2 of Stress Mess . In this episode, we unpack what happened when life took an unexpected—and very real—turn: an unplanned early induction, a whirlwind of medical decisions, and ultimately, the birth of baby Eleanor via C-section. From navigating the stress of medical uncertainty to confronting internal...

In this raw and candid episode, we dive into the often overlooked reality of healing and mental health. Society, social media, and even popular culture often portray mental health as something neat and tidy—like flipping to Chapter 15 of your self-help book and following a clear set of steps to fix everything. But the truth is, healing is messy. It's emotional flare-ups, triggered states, and mome...

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of resilience and how it helps us navigate life's toughest moments. We kick things off by recognizing that trauma survivors are already resilient by nature, having developed survival techniques along the way. But even the most resilient can feel overwhelmed by stressors, leading to a state of "freeze mode" where everything feels like it's too much to...

On this episode of Stress Mess, Laughing Through Trauma, we welcome fellow Oak Mountain Coach, Kate Tokarski, who will help us dive into the understanding of Chronic Stress & Trauma along with the realities of living with lifelong challenges of chronic illnesses. We explore the emotional and psychological impact of chronic illness and trauma, acknowledging the often overlooked grief, stress, a...

In this episode, we dive deep into the growing obsession with stress management and the overwhelming pressure society places on "reducing stress." We explore how wellness professionals, social media, and even doctors can often make us feel like stress is something to eradicate completely, leading to confusion, guilt, and shame. Is stress really something we need to eliminate, or is it simply a nat...

In this episode, we'll explore the delicate dance between feeling and distracting when it comes to our emotional experiences. If you've been in therapy or mental health support for years, you might find yourself intellectually understanding your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but still feeling stuck or overwhelmed so today we'll dive into the concept of intellectualizing feelings—where we over...

On today's episode, we dive into the often misunderstood and stigmatized journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We welcome special guests Kelsey Castek, DPT and Lisa Becker-Schmall, DPT, as they break down the pressures, expectations, and self-doubt that many women face along the way. From navigating the physical and mental challenges of pregnancy to embracing the postpartum experience and b...

In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of health, healing, and what it truly means to be "healed." Many people approach coaching or therapy with the goal of healing—hoping for an absence of pain, trauma, or difficult emotions. But is healing about perfection, or is it a continual process of choices and self-awareness? We explore the idea that healing isn’t the absence of struggle, but...

In this episode, we're diving deep into the topic of choices —a word that can feel both empowering and overwhelming. We'll explore how trauma and chronic stress can cloud our ability to recognize the choices we actually have, often making us feel stuck or powerless. Using insights from The Four Agreements , we discuss how we can become "auto-domesticated" by unconscious beliefs and societal "laws"...