The Body Beyond Belief with Arielle Estoria

What happens when you leave a belief system, but your body is still living by its rules?In this episode, Ailey sits down with poet and spoken word artist Arielle Estoria, author of The Unfolding, to explore faith deconstruction, embodiment, and the journey of coming home to yourself after years of being taught to be smaller.Arielle shares how embodiment became tangible through everyday choices, from embracing her natural hair to redefining movement, beauty, and self trust on her own terms. Together, she and Ailey explore the grief of losing community when belonging is tied to belief, and the freedom that can emerge when life expands beyond rigid definitions of right and wrong.The conversation also examines the nervous system impact of religious conditioning and how healing often happens through small, repeated experiences of safety, creativity, and authentic connection.Throughout the episode, Arielle offers practical tools for reconnecting with the body, including journaling, movement, interoception, self expression, and learning to trust your own inner knowing.If you are navigating religious trauma, self acceptance, or the challenge of trusting yourself again, this conversation offers language, permission, and a gentler path forward.In this episode:3:09 What Being In Your Body Means7:41 Growing Up Baptist And Feeling Small13:43 How Conditioning Shapes The Nervous System16:05 Artistry As A Way Home19:23 Faith Deconstruction And Conditional Belonging29:42 Being Loved Without Shrinking35:14 Telling Fear From A True No46:33 The Permission Slips She Wanted SoonerLearn more about Ailey Jolie:Find: WebsiteFollow: InstagramExplore: SubstackExperience: Insight TimerSign up: InBodyMethodEmail: [email protected] follow along with the In This Body podcast:Follow: InstagramFind: WebsiteEmail: [email protected]