GOD NEVER LEFT

Welcome back to the Smile Spa Podcast! I’m Dr. Aimee Russo-Mounger — and each week, I sit down with amazing guests to talk about personal growth, mindset, and whole-body wellness. My goal is to help you feel beautiful, balanced, and at peace — inside and out. 💗This episode is one of the most personal and sacred conversations I’ve ever shared.I sat down with my dear friend Angela Bertone, a woman whose life has been marked by profound suffering — and even greater miracles. We talk openly about addiction, homelessness, psychosis, grief, and the moments where everything feels completely out of control as a parent… and yet God still shows up.Angela shares her journey walking her son through a 14-year battle with addiction, the miracles she witnessed while enduring her own darkest season, and how neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and faith beautifully intersect. We talk about how the brain remembers trauma, how the body holds pain, and how healing doesn’t come from numbing symptoms — but from restoring connection.This conversation reminded me that some of the worst seasons of our lives can coexist with extraordinary miracles. If you’re a parent walking through fear, shame, grief, or exhaustion — this episode is for you. You are not alone. There is hope. And healing is possible.🔥 WHAT YOU’LL LEARNWhy addiction is often rooted in unresolved pain and traumaHow the brain can rewire itself through neuroplasticityThe connection between fight-or-flight, inflammation, and chronic diseaseWhy grief and trauma live in the body — not just the mindHow non-pharmaceutical neurotechnology can support healingWhat it means to truly “know” God through sufferingHow parents can release shame and reclaim hope⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – A mysterious encounter and divine protection 04:10 – Parenting through addiction and fear 09:45 – Shame, survival, and surrender 14:30 – Addiction, psychosis, and the brain 18:40 – Neuroplasticity explained simply 24:00 – Faith, science, and miracles colliding 31:20 – Fight-or-flight and emotional healing 38:00 – Grief, trauma, and restoring peace 44:10 – Rethinking medication and advocacy 50:00 – Hope for parents and final reflections 📌 CONNECT WITH US🌐 Website: https://www.thesmilespa.com🌐 Website: https://www.thesmilespawellness.com🌐 Make Wellness: https://meet.makewellness.com/?referral=512320🎧 Spotify: The Smile Spa Podcast🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-smile-spa-podcast/id1842164674📸 Instagram: @the_smilespa👍 Facebook: The Smile Spa Baton Rouge🎙 GUEST INFOAngela BertoneNeurofeedback practitioner, spiritual mentor, and advocate for brain-based healing🌐 Website: www.angelabertone.com📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/angelaqbertone/👍 Facebook: www.facebook.com/angela.q.bertone/