Unravel with Elaine Clark

Sometimes, you can understand a pattern intellectually, but your body still reacts as if nothing has changed.  In this episode, I explore the concept of associative learning through a somatic lens—how experiences, emotions, bodily sensations, and expected outcomes can become connected over time. We unravel:  • Why insight alone may not be enough to change an established pattern • How emotional and...

In this episode, I’m joined by registered clinical counsellor, author, and adoption advocate Catherine Moore for a tender and deeply insightful conversation about adoption, abandonment, belonging, and healing the nervous system. Catherine brings a unique perspective as an adoptee, adoptive mother, counsellor, and co-director of We Are Adopted. Together, we explore the emotional complexity of adopt...

Burnout does not always begin with collapse. It often begins quietly, while we are still functioning, still showing up, still getting things done, and still being praised for the very behaviours that are disconnecting us from ourselves. In this episode, I explore the early signs of burnout. I discuss how burnout can hide inside over-functioning, responsibility, productivity, and being the person e...

In this episode, I’m joined by author and podcast host Menaka Raman-Wilms for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, writing, loneliness, and the long process of bringing a story to life. Together, we explore the inspiration behind her novel The Rooftop Garden , how her time in Berlin shaped the book, and what it takes to stay connected to a creative project over many years. Menaka also share...

In this episode, I’m joined by cognitive scientist, author, and professor John Vervaeke for a profound conversation about the modern meaning crisis, mindfulness, flow states, loneliness, and the deep human longing for connection. Together, we explore why so many people feel empty in the age of constant stimulation and digital connection, and how practices like mindfulness, contemplation, and self-...

Maybe your nervous system is not asking for more discipline right now. Maybe it is asking for a different relationship to life. In this episode, I explore the connection between the nervous system and nature, and why time in natural environments may support stress recovery, emotional regulation, and a greater sense of inner settling. Drawing from both personal reflection and research, I speak abou...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Romith Naug, a dually board-certified family physician practicing psychotherapy and hospital medicine, for a thoughtful conversation about cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and the power of reshaping our inner world.  Together, we explore how thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical sensations are deeply interconnected, and how CBT can help us become more a...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Robyn Murphy, a naturopathic doctor and scientific advisor for DNA Labs Canada, for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of genetics and mental health.  Dr. Murphy has worked alongside medical geneticists to develop lifestyle genetic panels and is deeply passionate about translating complex genetic research into practical tools that can support peopl...

In this special anniversary episode of Unravel, I’m reflecting on one year of the podcast and the journey that has unfolded since the very first episode. Over the past year, Unravel has released 23 episodes and reached listeners in 41 countries around the world, with conversations exploring trauma, addiction, nervous system healing, relationships, meditation, psychedelics, and the science of happi...

What happens when the body becomes a place we don’t feel safe to inhabit? In this episode, I’m joined by Hala Khouri—author, trauma-informed yoga teacher, somatic counsellor, and co-founder of Off the Mat Into the World—for an honest conversation about trauma, anxiety, embodiment, and what it truly means to come home to the body. Hala shares her personal story of growing up as an immigrant after f...

In this episode, I’m joined by world-renowned psychiatrist, mind-body medicine pioneer, and trauma expert Dr. James Gordon, founder and executive director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. With over five decades of clinical experience, Dr. Gordon has been at the forefront of trauma healing—working with individuals, communities, war-affected populations, and children across the globe. Together,...

What if happiness isn’t something you arrive at—but something you practice? As we step into a new year, many of us find ourselves chasing happiness through goals, achievements, or self-improvement plans. But decades of research tell a very different story. In this episode of Unravel , I’m joined by Dr. Gillian Mandich, health science researcher, two-time TEDx speaker, and founder of the Internatio...

In this short and meaningful mini-episode, I’m sharing one powerful insight I learned at a trauma and addictions conference in Las Vegas—one that completely reframed how I think about human connection. As we shift into the winter season and naturally spend more time indoors, this episode offers a gentle reminder about the role connection plays in our emotional wellbeing, and why cultivating it int...

What if the calm you feel after yoga or meditation isn’t just emotional—but structural? In this episode, world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Sara Lazar joins me to explore how meditation and yoga create measurable changes in the brain. Dr. Lazar was one of the first researchers to use brain imaging to understand mindfulness—and her findings have shaped the global conversation on mental health, neuro...

What if your mood swings, anxiety, or fatigue weren’t just emotional—but biochemical? In this episode, award-winning nutritionist, bestselling author, and TV personality Julie Daniluk joins me to explore the deep connection between sugar, mental health, and emotional regulation. Together, we unravel how chronic sugar spikes affect mood, inflammation, and the brain–gut axis, and why emotional eatin...

What does it mean to inhabit your body as consciousness itself? And how might that change how we heal from trauma, connect with others, and experience intimacy? In this episode, Judith Blackstone—psychotherapist, spiritual teacher, and founder of The Realization Process—joins me to explore the transformative power of embodied awareness. Drawing from over 30 years of practice, Judith shares how tra...

After a season of travel, celebration, and teaching, I returned home feeling what so many of us know well — that post-burnout fog where the mind wants to rest but the body doesn’t quite remember how. In this episode, I explore what I call “the slow rebuild” — the process of relearning safety, energy, and trust after prolonged output or stress. In this episode, you’ll learn: How the HPA axis and ch...

Psychedelic medicines aren’t "one-dose miracles" —they’re tools that can deepen the therapeutic process when used with skill, intention, and integration. In this episode, Dr. Anne Wagner—clinical psychologist, treatment-development researcher, and founder of Remedy and Remedy Institute— explores how MDMA-assisted therapy is being studied in relational contexts, especially for PTSD and co...

Addiction is often misunderstood as a symptom of trauma, a sign of moral failure, or a secondary issue that will resolve once underlying emotions are treated. But what if addiction is its own disease process, driven by powerful neurobiological loops? In this episode of Unravel, I’m joined by Dr. Anna Lembke, bestselling author of Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence and Chief...

Marriage is more than a partnership—it’s a commitment to transformation. In this episode of Unravel, I’m joined by Veronica Foster, a seasoned marriage and family therapist with over 17 years of experience working with trauma, substance misuse, anxiety, and relational wounds. Together, we explore what it takes to build safe and empowered relationships. Veronica shares her personal journey into mar...

It’s not just the psychedelic that heals—it’s the context, the care, and the meaning we make of it. In this episode of Unravel, I’m joined by Andrew Penn—psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychedelic researcher, and co-founder of Open Nurses. Together, we explore the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and how substances like MDMA and psilocybin are being studied for their potential to tr...

Feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode? In this episode, we explore how to support your nervous system through small, science-backed practices I call “micro-doses of safety.” You’ll learn: • What stress really is—and how it impacts your hormones, brain, and body • Why your nervous system operates like a bank account (and what happens when it’s overdrawn) • 5 simple practices you...

What if the emotions we carry—and the beliefs that shape our lives—aren’t entirely our own? In this episode, I’m joined by Judy Wilkins-Smith: author, motivational speaker, and expert in decoding multigenerational patterns. Judy’s groundbreaking book, Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint, explores how inherited emotional DNA silently shapes our behaviours, beliefs, and limitations—and how we can tran...

What if conflict wasn’t something to fear—but something to work with? In this episode, I’m joined by David Cooley, conflict resolution specialist and creator of the Restorative Relationship Conversation (RRC) model. Together, we explore how attachment styles, nervous system responses, and relational patterns shape the way we move through rupture and repair. David shares his personal journey from w...

Dr. Christopher Willard is a clinical psychologist, Harvard Medical School faculty member, and internationally renowned mindfulness educator. In this episode, we explore how we can transform pain into resilience, drawing from his latest book, How We Grow Through What We Go Through . Blending neuroscience, lived experience, and compassion-based practices, Chris shares how post-traumatic growth is n...