Ep 43: When the Body Speaks — Healing Through Touch and Story with Audrey Burke

What if your body remembers more than your mind ever could?In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Audrey Burke — a somatic experiencing practitioner, transforming touch practitioner, and licensed massage therapist based in Durham, NC.Audrey shares her deeply personal journey through confusing diagnoses, chronic digestive symptoms, amenorrhea, and mysterious illness flares — and how they ultimately led her to the world of somatic work and touch therapy.Together we explore how trauma stories live in the body long before we can speak them, and why touch is often the missing piece in nervous system healing.🌿 What You’ll Discover:✨ Why talk therapy isn’t always enough (and when touch becomes crucial)✨ Audrey’s story of IBS, mold illness, and learning to listen to her body✨ How developmental trauma shapes our physical symptoms — even before birth✨ The delicate balance of self-compassion, boundaries, and discernment✨ Why you don’t need to "know the story" cognitively to heal somatically✨ The importance of ancestral trauma and epigenetic influences on illness✨ Reclaiming intuitive eating after years of food fear and hyper-control✨ The dance between internal vs. external locus of control on the healing pathWhether you're just starting your healing journey or deep in the work of reclaiming your body’s wisdom, this episode is a reminder that healing is not about fixing — it’s about listening.⏳ Timestamps:00:00 Intro + guest welcome02:00 Audrey’s story: Italy, IBS, and searching for answers10:00 Trying everything: diets, yoga, Vipassana, and beyond17:00 Finally finding somatic experiencing and touch therapy24:00 How visceral work transformed her relationship with food27:00 The unexpected medicine in mold illness32:00 Ancestral trauma and inherited patterns39:00 Food trauma, intuitive eating, and rebuilding trust with the body43:00 Boundaries, people-pleasing, and embodying discernment50:00 Navigating a world that doesn’t feel safe54:00 Who Audrey’s illness invited her to become57:00 Closing reflections and ways to connect with Audrey🔮 Connect with Audrey:→ Website: https://www.restorativepresence.com/→ Instagram: @somaticswithaudrey💫 Join the Sacred Illness™ Membership:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness💸 Use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month→ Apply to be a podcast guest:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest→ Follow on Substack:https://drerinhayford.substack.com🎶 Music by: “Instructions for Living a Life” by Savfkwww.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredillness.substack.com/subscribe