Just Like Nana

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by healer and social justice educator Joanna Kent Katz, as they explore how to move from inherited patterns of trauma and cultural assimilation toward a heart-centered state of collective liberation.Together they discuss how healing your personal lineage is a vital step in dismantling systemic oppression and understanding your belonging in the world.About Jo Kent KatzJo Kent Katz is an intuitive healer, social justice educator, and an ordained Kohenet (Hebrew Priestess) dedicated to the work of justice and healing. With a lineage rooted in Ashkenazi Jewish history across Russia, Romania, Ukraine, and Poland, Jo brings a deep understanding of how historical trauma and cultural assimilation impact our modern lives. She is the creator of "Transcending Jewish Trauma," a comprehensive resource that maps out inherited trauma patterns specifically for white Ashkenazi lineages. Jo also offers For Sacred Consideration, which are spiritual teachings Jo receives through channeling.  Jo bridges the gap between ritual support and social change, helping individuals navigate intergenerational healing to foster a deeper sense of communal and personal belonging.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:How your brain creates survival strategies based on ancestral fears.Why personal ancestral healing is a prerequisite for collective liberation. By addressing our own inherited trauma, we stop projecting survival patterns onto our community spaces and social justice work.The cost of "whiteness" and assimilation for those with immigrant lineages.How to map out the specific traumas of your lineage—such as displacement or systemic violence—to understand how they manifest in your nervous system today as hyper-vigilance or a sense of not enoughness.Connect with Jo Kent Katz     https://www.jokentkatz.com/     https://www.transcendingjewishtrauma.com/     https://www.patreon.com/SacredConsiderationResourcesBlintz information: https://chompies.com/the-history-of-the-blintz/Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/kaye-kantrowitz-melanieConnect with the ShowWe would love to hear your family stories.Website: justlikenana.comConnect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Savannah Brown, where they discuss the mental and emotional tolls of breaking generational trauma patterns. Together, they explore the reality that breaking trauma cycles isn't a clean, linear process—it's messy, imperfect, and requires an incredible amount of somatic awareness and radical self-honesty to move forward.About SavannahAn Army veteran and police officer, Savannah is also a student obtaining a Master’s in Social Work. She is the author of In the Wake of Wounds: A Soul's Revival, a raw and unfiltered look at her personal journey through grief and the complexities of family dynamics. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Recognize that breaking generational cycles isn't a "one and done" event. It involves navigating a confusing, non-linear path of grief, anger, and acceptance where the goal isn't perfection, but consistent effort and self-grace.Learn to listen to your body’s signals. Identifying physical sensations—like a racing heart or a gut feeling—is a critical first step in regulating your nervous system and stopping a trauma response before it takes over.Discover how the act of conscious parenting can actually accelerate your own healing. By choosing to react with patience instead of the autopilot of your past, you aren't just protecting your children; you are re-parenting yourself.Shift your perspective on relationships by prioritizing reciprocity and safety. Healing involves the difficult but necessary work of setting boundaries with people who do not support your peace or growth.Adopt a mindset of ancestral sovereignty. Even when you are breaking their cycles, you can carry the strength and resilience of those who came before you, entering every space with the confidence that you belong there.Resources MentionedTacMobilityThe Workout WitchI connected with Savannah on #PodMatch. Connect with SavannahIn The Wake of Wounds: A Soul’s RevivalInstagramConnect with the ShowDo you have a family story you want to share? We want to hear from you!Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Dr. Frances Champagne to delve into the world of epigenetics to discover how your environment and experiences shape your brain and behavior. This episode explores how understanding these interactive pathways can actually lead to greater resilience and personal agency, regardless of the past. About Dr. ChampagneAfter completing a B.A. in Psychology at Queen’s University (Canada), Dr. Frances Champange delved into the genetic and environmental risk factors in psychopathology at McGill University in the M.Sc. program in Psychiatry. She then started a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at McGill University examining the role of mother-infant interactions in shaping the brain. In 2004, Dr. Champagne received a fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to conduct postdoctoral research at Cambridge University (UK), examining the role of imprinted genes in development and social behavior. From 2006-2017, She was a faculty in the Department of Psychology at Columbia University and established a research group examining the epigenetic influence of early life experiences. Her interests focus on the interplay between genes and environment that shape neural and behavioral outcomes and the implications of this dynamic interplay for inheritance of traits. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Research shows that the quality of maternal care doesn't just affect the immediate offspring; it shapes the brain systems of generations to come.Beyond pure biology, trauma can be transmitted through family stories and learned behaviors, which eventually become "embodied" in our stress systems and nervous system reactivity.Despite the potential for transmitting stress, the most common biological response to adversity is resilience. Because the epigenetic system is designed to be malleable, there is always room for change and intervention.Resources MentionedAgouti mice: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2822875/Överkalix study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24552514/Odor study: https://news.emory.edu/stories/2013/12/smell_epigenetics_ressler/index.htmlConnect with Dr. ChampagneUniversity of Texas at Austin Department of Psychology Bio: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/fac752 Connect with the ShowWe would love to feature your family's story.  Please visit the website!Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Amy Pons to discuss the importance of reconnecting with one's soul blueprint and breaking generational trauma.Together they explore the benefits of finding a deep connection to your ancestors, the connection between the brain and nervous system as it responds to trauma, and the importance of listening to your soul’s truth.About AmyAmy Pons is the Founder and CEO of Unlock the Magic; Host of Women Making Moves; and Head of Marketing for End Workplace Abuse. Amy is a conqueror, a healer, a truth teller, and an activist. She's reached the highest of ladders in the corporate world realizing that the call toward creating for others was now hers to blaze. Amy is at the forefront of re-introducing the divine feminine to create the balance we've never seen in this lifetime. Through Amy's magic, you unlock your own and she guides you to walk in your highest path. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Healing is often a process of remembering rather than awakening. It is the act of tapping into the ancient wisdom stored in your bones and DNA that has been passed down through your lineage.You may have been born into a line of generational trauma, but you can choose to be the one who heals it on behalf of your ancestors. Recognizing that ancestors often did the best they could allows for healing without blame.Your brain is designed to keep you safe, not necessarily happy, and it often tells stories based on fear. True intuition often bypasses those stories, manifesting as a felt sense or a deep knowing in the gut or chest.We arrive with a "soul blueprint"—a purpose for being here at this specific time. Embracing personal sovereignty means trusting your own truth over the copy-paste expectations of society.Connect with AmyWebsite: https://www.unlockthemagic.org/@unlockthemagic_ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockthemagic_Women Making Moves Podcast: https://www.unlockthemagic.org/podcast@chicagosfavewitchycoach on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chicagosfavewitchycoachConnect with the ShowAre you curious about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Harriet Shearsmith to discuss the balance between honoring our ancestors and drawing firm boundaries around destructive behavior. Together, they explore how ancestral trauma is unintentionally passed down through generations, share stories of personal family estrangements, and dive deep into what it truly means to be a cycle breaker. About HarrietHarriet Shearsmith is an accredited empowerment and life coach, trainee therapist, best-selling author, and content creator of over 10 years. She specialises in working with clients who have experienced childhood trauma and are navigating estrangement or toxic family relationships. Harriet is an award-winning blogger and writer of Unfollowing Mum (2024) and Mummin’ It (2021), and has written for and been featured in publications like Happiful Mag, Guardian, Telegraph, BBC, Daily Express, Metro, Internet Matters and more. Harriet is also an award-winning blogger, content creator behind @unfollowing_mum and @harrietshearsmith, and podcaster with over 250,000 social media followers and 100,000 downloads. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Generational trauma often moves through sneaky messages that evolve with each generation but maintain the same underlying thread of "you aren't good enough".Estrangement is rarely a whim; it is often the result of one party repeatedly asking for changed behavior and being met with gaslighting or a lack of accountability.Becoming a parent often gives you what you need to recognize unhealthy patterns, as we realize we would never want our own children to experience what we endured.Being a cycle breaker doesn't mean never making mistakes; it means having the courage to apologize to your children, own your "stuff," and engage in the repair process that builds secure relationships.ResourcesDr. Emma Svanberg: https://dremmasvanberg.com/  Connect with HarrietWebsite: https://harrietshearsmith.com/ @harrietshearsmith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrietshearsmith/?hl=en Unfollowing Mum Podcast: https://harrietshearsmith.com/podcast/ @unfollowing_mum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfollowing_mum/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsharrietshearsmith Harriet’s Books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Harriet-Shearsmith/author/B08N6LV3ND?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1738847828&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Connect with the ShowDo you have a story about your family? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by licensed psychologist, Dr. Daphne Fatter to explore the world of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and its link to ancestral healing. They explore how trauma isn’t just a personal experience but a legacy burden that can be handed down through DNA, attachment patterns, and energetic imprints. The flip side is that we can also be the recipients of ancestral gifts.About Dr. Daphne FatterDr. Daphne Fatter is a licensed psychologist, clinical trainer, and international speaker specializing in integrative, trauma-informed therapies. As a certified practitioner in IFS, EMDR, and Ancestral Lineage Healing, she is a leading expert in resolving complex intergenerational and historical trauma. Dr. Fatter has authored significant works on these topics, including a book chapter on integrating IFS with ancestral healing and her own guide, Integrating Internal Family Systems into EMDR Therapy. Her work bridges the gap between evidence-based psychotherapy and the profound, often non-verbal realm of ancestral connection. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Trauma is multi-dimensional, including personal events as well as collective and ancestral traumas passed down through epigenetics. Ancestral trauma often shows up non-verbally as a sense of heaviness, unexplained dreams, or emotional reactions that feel "too big" for the situation at hand.You don't need a perfect family history to heal. By connecting with "well" ancestors, you can access a powerful support system.Integrating IFS with ancestral work encourages cultural humility, allowing us to recognize our place within a massive, nested system and treat ourselves and others with deeper curiosity and grace.Resources MentionedIFS Integration by Jenna Riemersma: https://a.co/d/08wsDuTj Dr. Daniel Foor: https://ancestralmedicine.org/bio/ Connect with Dr. Daphne FatterWebsite: https://www.daphnefatterphd.com/ Integrating IFS (Internal Family Systems) into EMDR Therapy: https://a.co/d/0dKkitKs Connect with the ShowAre you curious about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Reiki practitioner Erica Wallace Moore, as they explore how Reiki can help with “stuck” emotions or chronic stress caused by unintentionally carrying the energetic imprints from generations past. Together, they explore how empathy and intuition serve as spiritual superpowers to help you navigate trauma, dissolve gunky energy, and finally create a safe space your soul needs to rest and restore. About Erica Wallace MooreErica Wallace Moore is a Reiki Practitioner, Instructor, healer, and Akashic Records reader currently in practice at Wellness Paradigm, a wellness and healing collective in Minneapolis. Her Reiki journey began in 2014 after receiving the practice for the first time. As a mother of four, Erica found herself feeling frazzled, stressed, and disconnected from her body. Those initial sessions proved life-changing, helping her return to her center and grounding her in a way she hadn't experienced before. While it began as a personal tool for healing, Reiki quickly evolved into one of her essential daily spiritual practices. What started as curiosity has since transformed into higher vibrations of connection, compassion, love, and wisdom. Erica is particularly passionate about how Reiki and the Akashic Records expand energetic pathways for self-discovery, forgiveness, joy, and peace.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Reiki can be an incredible tool to dissolve "stuck" energy, allowing you to expel what no longer serves you and make room for new vitality.Recognizing that trauma is energetic information processed by our cells can help us understand why it often feels physically "trapped" in our central nervous system.We can carry the grief and hardships of our ancestors within our own energetic field, and healing involves raising our own vibration to move forward. Resources MentionedBig Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://a.co/d/028xQZJ1 Connect with Erica Wallace MooreWebsite: https://ericawallacemoorereiki.com/ Connect with the ShowAre you curious about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by “The Formidable Genealogist,” Jen Shaffer, to discuss how uncovering the histories of our ancestors allows us to move forward with empathy and understanding. They discuss how professional genealogy can be a powerful tool for exploring ancestral trauma and finding a path toward healing, and how you can get started uncovering your own family tree.About Jen Shaffer:Born in Iowa and currently residing in Minnesota, Jen Shaffer has had a lifelong passion for history, which she has channeled into a career as a professional genealogist. Jen is an active member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, where she also serves as the Booth Coordinator for both in-person and virtual industry events. She possesses a remarkably broad knowledge base covering diverse time periods, geographic locations, and languages. A graduate of St. Olaf College with two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Russian Language and Russian Studies, Jen particularly enjoys working with Slavic and Scandinavian records. Her linguistic background includes the formal study of Russian, Spanish, German, Latin, and Norwegian. She has developed a specialized talent for "brick wall" research, expertly distinguishing between individuals with identical names to identify the correct ancestor with precision.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Modern DNA testing can help break through long-standing “brick walls” to identify unknown ancestors and connect distant relatives.Genealogy is more than names and dates; it’s about learning the historical circumstances that shaped your ancestors’ lives and decisions. Genealogy is a team sport and collaborative tools can help you build a shared history with others. Resources MentionedMetamora Historical Society: https://metamorahistoricalsociety.org/ Ancestry.com WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/ Family Search Tree: https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/ Connect with Jen ShafferThe Formidable Genealogist: https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/ Discovering the Free Side of Ancestry.com [Free Research Guide]: https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/product-page/discovering-the-free-side-of-ancestry-com-pdf-research-guide Connect with the ShowDo you have stories about the "Elizabeths" or Nanas in your own family tree? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Kenlee Valleskey, as they discuss Internal Family Systems (IFS) as it relates to the weight of generational cycles and ancestral trauma. This work is so important in understanding how our internal world of wounded and protective parts is shaped by the experiences of our ancestors. About Kenlee:Kenlee Valleskey is a licensed professional counselor with extensive experience in Internal Family Systems (IFS). As a lover of questions and the intersections of our lives, she explores spaces that don't have neat, easy answers or a neat, easy arrival. From exploring the evolving terrain of grief and identity and deconstructing systemic narratives to learning what it means to love and trust ourselves in new ways, Kenlee has so much to teach us about accepting and working with all aspects of ourselves and our ancestors.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Every one of us has a core self, characterized by qualities like compassion, clarity, and courage, that remains inherently whole and safe, regardless of the trauma experienced.We also consist of “exiled” wounded parts that carry burdens and “protectors” that keep us from feeling pain.  Healing begins when a wound (whether our own or our ancestors’) is fully witnessed and acknowledged, rather than just managed. Resources MentionedNo Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz: https://a.co/d/08nxdmbU It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn: https://a.co/d/0gEpUOf7 IFS Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/ Dr. Gabor Maté: https://drgabormate.com/Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford: https://a.co/d/0cV34FW4 What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo: https://a.co/d/00MvSpSW Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson: https://a.co/d/06J3NKyQ Decolonizing Therapy by Jennifer Mullan: https://a.co/d/0cNaMrxT Francis Weller: https://www.francisweller.net/Harriet Lerner: https://www.harrietlerner.com/Mark Nepo: https://www.marknepo.com/Connect with Kenlee: Website: https://www.kenleevalleskey.com/ The Grief Room, St. Paul, MN: https://www.thegriefroom.com/ The Fallows: https://www.stayatfallows.com/ Connect with the ShowDo you have a story about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler sits down with Dr. Isabelle Mansuy, a Professor in Neuroepigenetics. They get to the root of ancestral trauma, starting with the groundbreaking science of epigenetics and the transgenerational effects of trauma. About Dr. Isabelle MansuyDr. Isabelle Mansuy is a leading expert in the field of neuroepigenetics and a professor based in Switzerland. Her pioneering research focuses on the biological mechanisms of how traumatic life experiences, particularly those occurring in early childhood, modify mental and physical health across generations. Through her extensive work with mouse models, Dr. Mansuy has provided some of the most compelling evidence to date that traumatic signals can be carried in the germline (sperm cells), affecting the behavior and physiology of offspring up to five generations later. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:While your DNA sequence (the hardware) is fixed, your epigenome (the software) is dynamic and can be modulated by both your life experiences and the life experiences of your ancestors.Early-life trauma creates epigenetic signals in sperm (germ) cells, which transmit the consequences of that trauma to future generations. Connect with Dr. Isabelle MansuyWebsite: https://www.mansuylab.ch/team/isabellemansuy Connect with the ShowAre you curious about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

Content Warning: This episode includes mention of child sexual assault. In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Dr. Peter Levine to discuss how trauma lives in the body and, more importantly, how the trauma cycle can be completed to restore a sense of inner peace. They unpack the signs– persistent physical symptoms, repetitive relationship patterns, feeling disconnected from your own life– that point to the roots of your struggles, which are not just in your mind but etched into your physiology as intergenerational trauma. If any of this sounds familiar to you, this conversation will give you the guidance to take the next step in seeking support and releasing that held trauma. About Dr. Peter LevinePeter A Levine, Ph.D., is the developer of Somatic Experiencing® (SE™), a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma, which he has developed over the past 50 years. He holds a doctorate in Biophysics from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. He is the Founder and President of the Ergos Institute of Somatic Education and the Founder and Advisor for Somatic Experiencing International, where his work has been taught to over 30,000 healers in over 42 countries. He recently finished his Autobiography, An Autobiography of Trauma, A Healing Journey, and is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma; In an Unspoken Voice, How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness; and Trauma and Memory, Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:80% of the information flowing through your vagus nerve is sensory, explaining why trauma is a visceral, bodily experience rather than just a “brain disease.”Trauma often manifests as chronic pain or tension and healing occurs by slowly and safely completing these defensive responses that were frozen in time.Trauma isn't just personal; it can be an "energetic pattern" passed down through generations. Recognizing our ancestral webs can help us resolve issues that seem to have no clear origin in our lives. Reconnecting with the body often requires the presence of a "connected, empathetic other" to help discharge stored energy safely.Connect with Dr. Peter LevineSomatic Experiencing Website: https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/ or https://traumahealing.org/ An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey is available at: Ergos Institute, Barnes & Noble, Inner Traditions, Books A Million, and Bookshop.orgConnect with the ShowAre you curious about theConnect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by acupuncturist, health coach, and breathwork facilitator Amy Kuretsky to dive into the world of trauma-informed healing. Together, they explore how active breathwork serves as “vibrational medicine” to complete interrupted trauma cycles, helping you move from a state of fight, flight, or freeze, back into a regulated, peaceful state. About AmyAmy Kuretsky is a licensed acupuncturist, board-certified health coach, and a seasoned breathwork facilitator with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance. As the co-owner of Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts, Amy bridges the gap between ancient healing traditions and modern trauma-informed care. She specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities of nervous system regulation and mental health, with a clinical focus on digestive disorders, chronic headaches, migraines, anxiety, and depression. By integrating her deep knowledge of East Asian medicine with somatic breathwork practices, Amy empowers individuals to move beyond "pushing through" and into a state of sustainable, embodied healing.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:When stress is left trapped in the body, breathwork can act as a way to "shake out" this pent-up energy, allowing the nervous system to complete its natural cycle and release stress hormones.When you heal your nervous system, the benefits ripple both backward to your ancestors and forward to future generations.Expanding your "window of tolerance" through a regulated nervous system allows you to navigate life’s challenges with more resiliency and less reactivity.Resources MentionedWaking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine: https://shorturl.at/qPX8T The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk: https://shorturl.at/f9kYb The Tao of Trauma by Alaine Duncan: https://shorturl.at/Olo04 Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski: https://www.burnoutbook.net/ Eliza Kingsford | The Shift Program: https://www.elizakingsford.com/work-with-me HeartMath Institute: https://shorturl.at/MVj1n Connect with AmyConstellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts: https://www.constellationacu.com/ 7 Days of Breathwork: https://constellationacu.myflodesk.com/ixrx159c67 Connect with the ShowDo you have a story about your family that you would like to share? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or ancestral trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler sits down with author Mona Susan Power to discuss the complexities of cultural trauma, family history, and the transformative power of storytelling. Together, they explore why many of us struggle with ancestral trauma and deep-seated personal shame without realizing these burdens aren’t entirely theirs to carry, how witnessing the “unspoken” stories of our ancestors can lead to profound personal growth, and so much more. About Mona Susan PowerMona Susan Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and an award-winning author whose work serves as "powerful good medicine." A graduate of Harvard Law School and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, she has received numerous prestigious honors, including the PEN/Hemingway Prize and the Minnesota Book Award. Her most recent novel, A Council of Dolls, was longlisted for the National Book Award. Mona’s writing is celebrated for its vulnerability and ability to explore the deep intersections of Indigenous history, resilience, and healing. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:True healing requires more than just moving on; it requires a "witnessing" or a sincere hearing of the story without gaslighting or self-protection.Understanding the "why" behind the difficult choices of our parents and grandparents can help us move from a place of resentment to one of deep compassion.Breaking free from inherited scripts and shame can be a physical experience, a "heaviness" falling away, allowing you to step into a more stable version of yourself.Resources MentionedHarvard Magazine: Trails of Tears, and Hope: https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2008/03/trails-of-tears-and-hope-html The Basics of Complex Trauma | Tim Fletcher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IxEwPMqB-c Connect with Mona Susan PowerWebsite: https://www.monasusanpower.com/books A Council of Dolls Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-council-of-dolls-a-novel-mona-susan-power/4a8bb4a17e0fdf12?ean=9780063281103&next=t Bloodthread (Short Story): https://www.thegeorgiareview.com/posts/bloodthread/ NY Times: After a Long and Painful Absence, Writing Her Way Home Again: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/books/mona-susan-power-council-of-dolls-indigenous-book.html Connect with the ShowDo you have ancestors who want to be witnessed?  Share their stories on Just Like Nana.Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler sits down with Sarah Lindsey, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who uses a trauma-informed and relational perspective in her work. Together, they unpack the concept of intergenerational trauma and, more importantly, intergenerational healing. They explore the profound idea that “pain runs through families until someone is resourced enough to feel it,” and so much more. If you’ve ever felt like the “cycle breaker” in your family, this conversation will provide you with the somatic tools and emotional validation you need to rewrite the story in your lineage–for you, your ancestors, and future generations. About SarahSarah Lindsey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who operates from a trauma-informed and relational perspective in her work. With a deep passion for the mind-body connection, Sarah integrates mindfulness and somatics into her work to bring about deep healing for the whole person. She is the co-founder of As You Are Therapy in the Twin Cities and is dedicated to creating "Grandma-energy" spaces where people can co-regulate and find psychological safety.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:The heart-opening journal prompt, “who loved you into being,” to identify the person who provided your “relational template” for safety. Trauma isn’t just a “Big T” event; it’s often the result of a lack of a compassionate witness and can be passed down through DNA and epigenetics. How to co-regulate with your ancestors, regardless of whether you knew them or not. How to embrace the practice of asking the hard questions to uncover your own family history. Connect with Sarah LindseyAs You Are Therapy: https://www.asyouaretherapymn.com/ Connect with the ShowDo you have a story of intergenerational trauma that you'd like to share on the podcast? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

In the debut episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler introduces us to the Elizabeth Room. In this space, generations of her ancestors gather to tell their stories. Amie shares her deeply personal journey of discovering 45 grandmothers named Elizabeth through DNA testing and genealogical research.The heart of this episode is a narrative reimagining of Amie’s fifth great-grandmother, Elisabetha Kaltwasser Simon. Set in Bavaria in 1823, we follow 12-year-old Betha as she navigates the rigid teachings of the church, the weight of family expectations, and a terrifying encounter with a wolf pack that reveals a forbidden power—one that carries the dangerous label of Hexe (witch).In This Episode, You’ll Learn:The Power of a Name: Why Amie’s middle name, Elizabeth, became the key to unlocking eight generations of family history.Bridging the Gap: How to connect with ancestors even when family dynamics or religious barriers have cut off access to certain branches of your tree.Elisabetha’s Story: A journey to 19th-century Bavaria involving blue ribbons, Napoleonic Wars, and the struggle to stay "pure" in the eyes of the church.The "Hexe" Legacy: The moment Elisabetha used her intuition to save a friend and the heavy price her mother paid to keep that secret safe.Healing the Future: Why telling these stories is the first step toward resolving generational trauma for ourselves and our children.Featured AncestorName: Elisabetha Kaltwasser SimonLived: 1811–1887Origin: Bavaria to IllinoisResources Ancestry.com: The platform used to build Amie's family tree.JustLikeNana.com: Connect with Amie and share your own family stories.Woodford County Historical Society: Great research support.Larsen, Celeste, Heal the Witch Wound (2023)Connect with the ShowDo you have stories about your "Elizabeths," Nanas, or ancestors? We want to hear from you!Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.

Welcome to Just Like Nana! Join host Amie Penny Sayler on a deeply personal and wildly curious journey into ancestral trauma and generational healing. In this trailer, Amie introduces her mission: exploring how the unresolved traumas of our ancestors continue to play out in our lives today, and how we can work toward resolution for ourselves, our descendants, and our ancestors.Discover what inspired Amie and what you can expect in future episodes, including:Fiction Stories: Research-based fictional stories about Amie’s Nanas and their experiences, such as her grandmother who moved from Bavaria to America with 10 children.Expert Interviews: Conversations with a variety of experts, including mental health practitioners and wellness facilitators, to explore healing modalities.Hear clips from some of the incredible guests you'll meet, including:Dr. Peter Levine, author of Waking the Tiger, discussing the connection between the body and trauma.Mona Susan Power, author of A Council of Dolls, sharing a physical experience of releasing generational shame.Amy Kuretsky, of Constellation Acupuncture, on the power of cultivating a regulated nervous system.The podcast is grounded in honoring ancestors and understanding your family dynamics without blame. Tune in every Friday to find your own path to healing!Connect with Just Like Nana's Website.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.Theme music by Carter Penny.