Pulling Threads, Weaving Authenticity

Divorce isn't just emotional — it's physiological. In this solo episode, Leslie walks you through whole-person healing → theloomlife.com Work with Leslie: → THROUGH (8-week divorce coaching program): theloomlife.com/through → Mindful Untangling Community: theloomlife.com/community → Book a 90-minute Power Session or Discovery Call: theloomlife.com — When clients first come to work with Leslie through divorce or a difficult breakup, they expect strategy sessions about their ex and the loss of the marriage. What surprises almost every one of them is that the real work — the work that determines whether they walk out grounded or limp out depleted — happens somewhere they didn't expect: in the body. Divorce is not primarily a legal event. It is not primarily an emotional event. It's a sustained physiological event your nervous system was never designed to carry for months or years. In this episode, Leslie pulls back the curtain on what she actually works on with clients — and why these are the conversations that change the outcome of a divorce, not just the experience of it. What you'll learn in this episode: • Why divorce is a physiological event — and what chronic cortisol does to your sleep, digestion, memory, and decision-making • The sleep, nutrition, and movement foundation that everything else stands on • Why pleasure and self-pleasure are nervous system co-regulation — not a distraction from healing • The honest question to ask yourself before you start dating again • Monkey branching: what it really means when your ex moves on quickly (and why it's not about you) • Why starting a new hobby literally rewires the brain during a rumination event • How to prepare for hard days — court dates, custody exchanges, first holidays — like an athlete prepares for competition This episode is for anyone going through a divorce or breakup, anyone preparing for one, and anyone who loves someone walking through it. It's for men. It's for women. It's for the friend in your group chat who is barely holding on. — RESOURCES MENTIONED • OMG Yes (women's pleasure education): omgyes.com • Blood work, hormone testing, and supplement support — talk to your own practitioner WORK WITH LESLIE • THROUGH — the 8-week divorce coaching program (small group or 1:1): theloomlife.com/through • Mindful Untangling — the divorce & breakup recovery community: theloomlife.com/community • 1:1 Coaching, 90-minute Power Sessions, and Discovery Calls: theloomlife.com • Therapy with Leslie (EMDR, IFS, trauma): loomlifetherapy.com • Leslie's main site: leslieellenmathews.com • Email: [email protected] FOLLOW & CONNECT • Instagram: @the.loom.life • TikTok: @leslieellenmathews • Podcast: Pulling Threads, Weaving Authenticity — wherever you listen — ABOUT LESLIE Leslie Mathews is a former attorney turned therapist and divorce coach, the founder of The Loom Life, and the host of Pulling Threads, Weaving Authenticity. Her work supports people moving through divorce, breakup, and post-divorce transformation with a whole-person approach: body, nervous system, mind, and identity. — If this episode resonated, the kindest thing you can do is subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps another person find this work. Keywords: divorce recovery, how to heal after divorce, divorce coaching for women, nervous system healing, whole-person divorce healing, divorce coaching program, life after divorce, healing podcast for women, mental health podcast for women, monkey branching, dating after divorce, rebuilding identity after divorce 00:00 Cold open — what clients are surprised we talk about 02:00 Welcome to Pulling Threads — episode intro 04:00 The reframe: divorce as a physiological event 07:00 What I assess first: your nervous system 09:00 Sleep is the foundation of everything else 11:30 Nutrition, hydration, and daily movement 14:00 The patterns I see in men vs. women 15:30 Supplements, blood work, and hormones 17:30 Pleasure & self-pleasure as nervous system co-regulation 21:30 Dating during divorce — what is it really for? 24:30 Monkey branching: when your ex moves on quickly 27:30 Why a new hobby literally rewires your brain 30:30 Preparing for hard days like an athlete 32:30 Recap — the body is the foundation 33:30 Work with Leslie: THROUGH, 1:1, Power Sessions

Burnout, manifesting & reinvention — Cassidy Gard shares her raw journey from Good Morning America to author & mother. 🔗 Pre-order Cosmic Goodness (May 12, 2026): https://amzn.to/4sTTAD3 🌐 Cassidy's website: https://www.cosmicgoodness.com 🌿 Work with Leslie: https://www.theloomlife.com | https://www.leslieellenmathews.com What happens when the version of success you worked your whole life for starts to feel like a cage? In this episode, Leslie sits down with Cassidy Gard — three-time Emmy Award–winning television producer, former Good Morning America on-air reporter, and debut author of Cosmic Goodness: Surrendering the Shadows to Live in the Light (Post Hill Press / Simon & Schuster, May 12, 2026). Cassidy's story is one of radical reinvention: moving from New York City to the mountains of Montana during the pandemic, reckoning with burnout and grief, navigating motherhood and postpartum rage, choosing a relationship outside of marriage, and — woven through all of it — trusting the force she calls "cosmic goodness" to guide her forward. This conversation goes deep on healing, identity, the invisible cost of hypervigilance, what it means to break generational cycles, and why authenticity is less about having it figured out and more about telling your truth even when it's uncomfortable. ✨ In This Episode: How Cassidy manifested her way from a small Florida town to the Good Morning America newsroom at 17 What "Saturn Return" burnout actually feels like from the inside — and what broke open first Growing up with an alcoholic parent and the grief of losing someone you were never close to What "cosmic goodness" means and how to recognize it in your own life Honest reflections on postpartum rage, motherhood, and the power dynamic of household labor Why she built her own sanctuary in Montana — and how it changed everything Her take on marriage, identity, and building a committed life on your own terms The non-traditional education path that nobody talks about enough 📚 About Cassidy's Book: Cosmic Goodness: Surrendering the Shadows to Live in the Light — out May 12, 2026 via Post Hill Press / Simon & Schuster. Featuring a foreword by Mariel Hemingway and advance praise from Mel Robbins and Marianne Williamson. Revealed exclusively in PEOPLE Magazine. Available now for pre-order: https://amzn.to/4sTTAD3 🔗 Connect with Cassidy Gard: Website: https://www.cosmicgoodness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassidygard 🌿 Work with Leslie: The Loom Life: https://www.theloomlife.com Leslie Ellen Mathews: https://www.leslieellenmathews.com Loom Life Therapy: https://www.loomlifetherapy.com Mindful Untangling Community: https://www.theloomlife.com/mindful-untangling THROUGH 8-Week Coaching Program: https://www.theloomlife.com/through Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life [email protected] ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome & Guest Introduction 02:00 Growing up in Florida, moving to NYC at 17 04:00 Astrology, human design & manifesting signs 07:00 Blake Lively stand-in on the Gossip Girl set 09:00 Building a career: red carpets, press junkets & domino-effect networking 11:00 Saturn Return, burnout & her father's terminal cancer 14:00 Lady Gaga press line & the energy cost of being hypervigilant 17:00 The pandemic reckoning & the decision to leave NYC 22:00 Moving to Montana & building Cosmic Goodness Ranch 28:00 Sobriety, growing up with an alcoholic parent & the patterns we carry 34:00 What manifesting really means + the power of journaling 39:00 Writing the book: seven parts, one honest story 44:00 Hyphenating last names, choosing partnership without marriage 49:00 Her partner's story & how they met 52:00 Montana as a sanctuary — and why every woman needs a world of her own 54:00 What "cosmic goodness" actually means 56:00 Inside the book: prologue, grief, burnout, love & motherhood 01:00:00 Grieving an estranged parent + breaking generational cycles 01:03:00 Pre-order Cosmic Goodness (May 12, 2026) 01:04:00 What authenticity means to Cassidy right now 01:05:00 What she's manifesting next: books 2 and 3 01:07:00 Non-traditional education + building your own path 🔔 Never miss an episode — subscribe and hit the bell! Keywords: burnout recovery for women, manifesting your life, healing from childhood trauma, reinvention after burnout, personal growth podcast, women's empowerment, Cassidy Gard, Cosmic Goodness book, Good Morning America, motherhood and identity #PullingThreadsPodcast #WomensEmpowerment #ManifestingLife #PersonalGrowthPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast

Why Divorce Loneliness Hits Men So Hard (And What's Actually Happening) This one is for the men. Specifically the men 40 to 60 who are coming out of a long marriage and don't have language for what their body is doing without her in it. Most of the content out there for divorced men is either selling you a playbook or pretending the loneliness will go away if you just download the apps. This is neither. This is the biology of what just happened to you, said plainly, by someone who actually likes you. We talk about: — Why the silence in the house is louder than you expected — Co-regulation: how your nervous system used your wife as an anchor for years without you knowing it — Why divorced men are statistically lonelier than widowed men and lonelier than divorced women — The 11pm trap (you know the one) — Why the next woman is probably going to look a lot like the last one if you skip the inner work — The three-part path back, none of it flashy This is Episode 1 of a new playlist called For the Boys. The next episode — How to Be a Man a Woman Feels Safe With — picks up where this one leaves off. If this is more relevant to a man in your life than to you, send it to him. That's how it gets where it needs to go. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Boys. Hi. Pull up a chair. 01:00 Why I'm making this episode (and a confession) 02:30 Why you're here 03:30 The hum that won't go away 05:00 Your wife was your nervous system's anchor 07:00 When the signal goes silent 09:00 The 11pm trap 10:30 The friend you don't have at 10pm 12:30 Why this is a life-and-death conversation 13:30 The instinct to find a new her 14:30 Why the next one will look like the last one 15:30 Three things that actually work 17:30 A different shape of man 18:00 You're not broken 18:45 What's coming in Episode 2 🧵 KEEP GOING Book a discovery call with Leslie: https://theloomlife.com/discovery-call?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_content=why-divorce-loneliness-hits-men-so-hard Read the written version on Substack: [insert your Substack URL here] Visit The LooM Life: https://theloomlife.com 📚 REFERENCED GS Youngblood — Masculine in Relationship (referenced in the Episode 2 tease) 🪡 ABOUT PULLING THREADS Pulling Threads is a podcast about attachment, nervous system regulation, and how human beings move through the big transitions — divorce, breakup, midlife, becoming. Hosted by Leslie of The LooM Life. 💬 I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU If you're a man who has been through this, drop a comment. Tell us how long it took. What helped. What didn't. What you wish someone had told you at the beginning. Other men will read it. #fortheboys #divorcedmen #postdivorce #menshealing #nervoussystem #attachmenttheory #midlifedivorce #mensmentalhealth #dating40s #loneliness

Free trauma regulation guidebook from Ashley Anne: substack.com/@gravitypointinstitute Work with Leslie: theloomlife.com What if trauma work didn’t have to feel like guesswork? In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie sits down with Ashley Anne, PhD — trauma specialist, neuro counselor, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Gravity Point® Institute — to unpack nearly 20 years of research into one of the most important distinctions in healing: self-care vs. self-regulation. Ashley grew up as a highly sensitive, neurodivergent child who looked fine on the outside and felt everything on the inside. She became a trauma therapist and burned out badly — despite doing yoga, journaling, therapy twice a week, and all the self-care. What she discovered in her research was that self-care and self-regulation are not the same thing. And that difference changed everything. In this conversation, Leslie and Ashley explore: • Why self-care alone can’t heal a dysregulated nervous system • The Gravity Point Method: a step-by-step process for resolving stress and trauma — not just managing it • How the body signals dysregulation before the mind catches up • The difference between a “true state” and a “trauma state” — and why divorce activates both • Why highly sensitive and neurodivergent people get stuck in toxic dynamics • How healing yourself is contagious — one nervous system at a time This episode is for anyone who has done “all the things” and still feels stuck, anyone navigating divorce trauma, and anyone curious about what it actually means to regulate — not just cope. [★ RESOURCES MENTIONED] ★ Ashley’s FREE Guidebook (download via Substack): substack.com/@gravitypointinstitute ★ Ashley’s Book: gravitypointinstitute.com/publications ★ Gravity Point® Institute: gravitypointinstitute.com ★ Follow Ashley: @gravitypointinstitute (Instagram, YouTube, all platforms) [★ WORK WITH LESLIE] ► The Loom Life (coaching, therapy & more): theloomlife.com ► Loom Life Therapy: loomlifetherapy.com ► THROUGH — Leslie’s 8-Week Divorce Coaching Program: https://theloomlife.com/throughdivorceprogram ► Mindful Untangling Community: https://theloomlife.com/community ► Follow Leslie on Instagram: @the.loom.life ► TikTok: @leslieellenmathews #PullingThreads #TraumaHealing #NervousSystemHealing #SelfRegulation #DivorceTroubleRecovery

What happens when the voice that was taken from you becomes the very thing that heals you? In this powerful episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie sits down with Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and vocal coach Demaree Hill — a Broadway performer, single mom, and the woman who recorded a duet with Dolly Parton — for a conversation about what it truly means to find your voice again, literally and emotionally. Demaree's story spans from singing as a two-and-a-half-year-old into a candlestick for her family, to performing in Les Misérables on Broadway at age eight, to navigating the silence that a controlling marriage placed over her music and her dreams. After her divorce, she found that words and journaling weren't enough — music became the medicine that unlocked what nothing else could reach. Now, through her "Finding Your Voice Again" workshops and one-on-one sessions at Story Studios, she helps women and men reclaim the voice that life tried to quiet. This episode covers: Why so many women are silenced — and how it starts in childhood The deep connection between your nervous system, your throat, and emotional healing How music creates somatic release that talk therapy alone can't always reach Demaree's full story: Broadway, a controlling marriage, COVID pneumonia, and how she ended up singing a duet with Dolly Parton The moment Dolly listened to Demaree's songs — and said "I want to record with you" Why you don't have to be a singer to heal through music Identifying the voices (internal and external) that made you play small Leslie's own story of the voice she sat down in sixth grade — and where that healing is taking her If you've ever been told your voice was too much, not enough, or that your dreams had an expiration date — this episode is for you. Connect with Demaree Hill: Website + workshops: www.demareemusic.com — workshop sign-up coming soon Instagram: @demareemusic Twitter / Threads / X: @demareemusic Facebook: Demaree Story Studios Instagram: @storystudiosnashville Email: [email protected] Work with Leslie & The Loom Life: Mindful Untangling (community): https://theloomlife.com/community THROUGH (8-week coaching program): https://theloomlife.com/throughdivorceprogram Loom Life Therapy: [email protected] Website: www.theloomlife.com Instagram: @the.loom.life TikTok: @leslieellenmathews #PullingThreads #FindingYourVoice #HealingThroughMusic #DivorceRecovery #TheLoomLife

Ready to do the real work? Join THROUGH: https://theloomlife.com/throughdivorceprogram or Book a call: theloomlife.com The divorce glow up is everywhere on TikTok right now. The before-and-after side-by-sides. The captions: "The divorce effect is real. No lab coat required." And honestly? I love them. But I want to tell you the part that doesn't make it into the 62-second clip — because that part is actually the most empowering thing I could say to you today. The glow up you see in those videos is real. But it takes real, non-linear, sometimes very painful work. And it's worth every bit of it. In this episode, I'm breaking down: • What's actually happening biologically, psychologically & somatically when someone exits a suppressive relationship • Why your nervous system dysregulation shows up in your body (cortisol, jaw tension, disrupted sleep) — and what recovery actually looks like • The Window of Tolerance and why the glow up doesn't just appear because you want it to • What doing "the work" really means in practice — somatic tracking, emotional processing, recovering the parts of yourself that went quiet • How to find yourself in the gap between who you were and who you're becoming If you're watching those videos from inside the hardest part of your story — if you don't feel like you've had your glow up yet — you're not doing it wrong. You're just in the middle. And the middle is exactly where transformation happens. The divorce effect that doesn't fit in TikTok is the one I care about most. It's the one I've lived. And it's the one I help women build every day. WORK WITH LESLIE: • THROUGH (8-week divorce coaching program): https://theloomlife.com/throughdivorceprogram • Mindful Untangling Community (launching May): https://theloomlife.com/community • 1:1 Coaching + Discovery Call: theloomlife.com • Loom Life Therapy: loomlifetherapy.com CONNECT: • Instagram: @the.loom.life • TikTok: @parandpeace • Email: [email protected] • Website: theloomlife.com 00:00:00 Hook: The Divorce Effect Is Trending 00:01:00 The Unpopular Opinion Inside All That Hope 00:02:00 Welcome to Pulling Threads ~00:02:30 What's Actually Happening in the Before & After Videos 00:03:00 Chronic Relational Stress, Cortisol & Your Nervous System 00:04:00 What the 62-Second Clip Can't Show You 00:05:00 The Highlight Reel vs. a Map 00:06:00 If You're in the Middle of the Process Right Now ~00:06:30 The Window of Tolerance — Why the Glow Up Takes Time 00:07:00 What the Real Work Looks Like in Practice 00:08:00 Tracking Sensations & Building Emotional Capacity ~00:08:30 Recovering the Parts of Yourself That Went Quiet 00:09:00 Tolerating the In-Between Space 00:10:00 The Truth Is More Hopeful Than a Shortcut 00:11:00 The Divorce Effect That Doesn't Fit in TikTok ~00:11:30 Leslie's Personal Story 00:12:00 Rock Bottom & the Work That Changed Everything 00:13:00 EMDR, Meditation & Learning to Trust Yourself ~00:13:30 How This Work Led Leslie to The Loom Life 00:14:00 THROUGH Program & Mindful Untangling Community 00:15:00 Discovery Call & What Support Looks Like 00:16:00 A Message for Women Earlier in Their Story 00:17:00 Thank You + Subscribe divorce glow up, divorce effect, how to heal after divorce, nervous system healing after divorce, somatic healing, window of tolerance, post-traumatic growth, divorce recovery, divorce coaching, healing after divorce #DivorceRecovery #DivorceGlowUp #HealingAfterDivorce #NervousSystemHealing #PullingThreads

Divorce financial planning starts before you hire a lawyer — and the team you build changes everything. 📖 Melissa's book — Divorce by Design: https://amzn.to/4e5znpU ───────────────────────────────────── What if divorce didn't have to feel like chaos? In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews sits down with Melissa Murphy Pavone — Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), and founder of Mindful Divorce Partners — to talk about what it really means to design your divorce instead of just reacting to it. Melissa explains why the first person you should call is NOT an attorney, how a well-built divorce team actually saves you money, and the most common financial mistake people make — which almost always involves the house. Whether you're quietly thinking about divorce, in the middle of the process, or rebuilding your life after signing the papers — this conversation will change how you think about divorce and money. 💡 In this episode: What a CDFA does — and how they differ from a forensic accountant Why your first call shouldn't be to a lawyer How a collaborative divorce team saves time AND money The #1 financial mistake in divorce (hint: it's usually the house) Why not all assets are equal — retirement vs. cash explained How your nervous system affects decisions in divorce meetings Post-divorce financial checklist: beneficiaries, insurance & more Melissa's Financial Clarity Package for anyone quietly considering divorce ───────────────────────────────────── 🌿 ABOUT MELISSA MURPHY PAVONE Melissa Murphy Pavone, CFP®, CDFA®, is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® with over a decade of experience helping individuals navigate divorce with clarity and confidence. As the founder of Mindful Divorce Partners, she specializes in collaborative divorce planning, financial education, and helping clients make informed decisions during one of life's most challenging transitions. 📧 [email protected] 📞 631-903-8282 🌐 mindfuldivorcepartners.com 📸 Instagram: @mindfuldivorcepartners 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissamurphypavone 🗓️ Free 30-min consultation with Melissa: mindfuldivorcepartners.com ───────────────────────────────────── ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome & Introduction — Meet Melissa Murphy Pavone 01:15 CDFA vs. Forensic Accountant: What's the Difference? 02:30 Financial Neutral vs. Advocate: How a CDFA Fits Your Divorce 03:15 Melissa's Story: Why She Pivoted to Divorce Financial Planning 04:30 No Two Divorces Look the Same — Customizing the Process 05:00 Mediation & Collaborative Divorce: When It Works 07:00 What Does It Mean to 'Design' a Divorce? 09:00 Why Emotional Support Comes Before Financial Planning 11:00 Leslie's Story: Fight-or-Flight & the Urge for Numbers 13:00 Nervous System Triggers in Divorce Meetings 15:00 How Divorce Teams Actually Get Assembled 17:00 Debunking the Myth: Having a Full Team Costs More 19:30 The #1 Financial Mistake: Keeping the Marital Home 22:00 Replacing Fear with Facts: Best & Worst Case Scenarios 24:00 When Emotions Hijack Financial Clarity 25:00 Not All Assets Are Equal — Understanding Tax Impact 45:00 Tracking Expenses & Lifestyle Analysis During Divorce* 53:00 Post-Divorce Financial Guidance: Building a New Team 55:00 The Post-Divorce Checklist Most People Miss 58:00 What Melissa Has Had to Unlearn in This Work 1:00:00 'Divorce Disruptors' — Changing the Landscape 1:01:30 Starting the Process: What to Know First 1:02:00 Melissa's Financial Clarity Package 1:03:30 A Note on Alimony Guidance 1:04:30 How to Find Melissa + Divorce by Design *Timestamp approximate — please adjust to actual video before publishing. ───────────────────────────────────── 🌿 ABOUT LESLIE & THE LOOM LIFE Leslie Mathews is a therapist, divorce coach, and host of Pulling Threads — a podcast about healing, personal growth, and the beautiful complexity of being human. Leslie specializes in supporting women navigating divorce through her Mindful Untangling community and THROUGH coaching program. 🌐 theloomlife.com 🌐 loomlifetherapy.com 🌐 leslieellenmathews.com 📸 Instagram: @the.loom.life #DivorceFinancialPlanning #MindfulDivorce #PullingThreads #DivorceRecovery #DivorceByDesign

When a friend gossips about your divorce or breakup, it's not just betrayal — it's trauma. Here's what the research says, and how to heal. 🔗 Work with Leslie: www.theloomlife.com There is a specific kind of pain that happens when you're going through the hardest thing in your life — a breakup, a divorce, infidelity — and the person you trusted to hold your story turns it into someone else's entertainment. This episode is personal. It's also one of the most important conversations we've had on Pulling Threads. Today Leslie — therapist, former attorney, coach, and founder of The Loom Life — unpacks why women gossip about each other during a crisis, what drives it neurologically and evolutionarily, and what it costs the person whose story is being shared. In this episode: The real definition of gossip — and the crucial line between healthy processing and harmful betrayal Why female connection is physiologically regulating (the UCLA tend-and-befriend study explained) The dopamine reward behind gossip and why it happens even without malicious intent Robin Dunbar's research on social grooming and what old wiring is doing to modern friendships What gossip does to your nervous system, your ability to trust, and your healing timeline Why betrayal by a friend during divorce can take longer to heal than the relationship itself What to do if you've been betrayed — and what to do if you've been the one who couldn't hold someone's story How Leslie used EMDR to process layered grief from both her divorce and a friend's betrayal Research cited: Dr. Brené Brown (trust and "hot gossip"), Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (betrayal trauma), Dr. Shelley Taylor (tend-and-befriend), Robin Dunbar (social grooming), Dr. Jennifer Freed (betrayal trauma), plus studies from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and the Journal of Psychological Science. CHAPTERS: 00:00 The episode that had to wait 01:05 Welcome to Pulling Threads 02:00 Why this episode is personal to Leslie 03:30 Defining gossip — what it is and isn't 06:00 The test: who does the sharing serve? 07:00 Why women need each other (the neuroscience) 09:00 Why we gossip: evolutionary roots 10:30 The dopamine hit from sharing someone else's story 12:00 Emotional offloading: when people can't hold your pain 13:30 Relational aggression and competition in female friendships 14:30 What gossip does to the person on the receiving end 16:30 Betrayal trauma and your nervous system 18:00 Shame, isolation, and delayed healing 19:30 Why friend betrayal often outlasts the relationship itself 21:00 If you've been betrayed: what to know and what you're allowed to do 22:30 Learning discernment — what safe friendship actually looks like 24:00 Using EMDR to process layered loss 25:00 If you've been the one who gossiped 26:30 How to repair, reflect, and do better 29:00 Leslie's personal experience with gossip during her divorce 31:00 Closing: let's hold each other's stories as sacred Mindful Untangling (divorce support community): https://theloomlife.com/community THROUGH (8-week divorce coaching program): https://theloomlife.com/throughdivorceprogram www.loomlifetherapy.com 📩 [email protected] | theloomlife.com Keywords: women gossip psychology, gossip and betrayal trauma, friend betrayal during divorce, healing after divorce, female friendship and trust, betrayal trauma recovery, gossip during crisis, emotional healing after betrayal, divorce recovery support, tend and befriend stress response

What do you do when you need to talk — but you're not looking for advice, just to be heard? Erin Snow is a Professional Listener and founder of The Unmuted Room, a first-of-its-kind confidential listening space in Newington, New Hampshire — also available virtually. Most people have no truly neutral place to speak: friends have opinions, family is too close, therapy is clinical, coaching is goal-driven. The Unmuted Room fills that gap. Sessions are private, confidential, and completely uninterrupted. No diagnosis. No advice. No agenda. Just skilled, steady listening from someone with nowhere to be except present. Erin built this space after 17 years as a trauma-informed legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking — and after knowing personally what it costs to have nowhere safe to say what is true. In June 2024 she left her career of 16+ years, and by August she had opened The Unmuted Room. In this episode: - What professional listening is — and what it is NOT - Why being truly heard is harder to find than it should be - How it differs from therapy, coaching, and confiding in a friend - The problem with 'just leave' culture — and what to ask instead - Why divorce grief is ongoing (and why people stop asking) - Erin's own divorce story, reinvention, and the answer to: do you regret it? 00:00 Introduction & Welcome 02:00 Erin's Personal Story — Why Being Heard Matters 08:00 The Beach Moment That Started The Unmuted Room 09:00 17 Years as a Domestic Violence Legal Advocate 12:00 What Professional Listening Looks Like in Practice 15:00 How It Differs from Therapy, Coaching & Friends 18:00 Why This Kind of Space Hasn't Existed Until Now 22:00 What Sessions Are Like & Who Reaches Out 42:00 Divorce Grief & What People Don't Talk About 45:00 The Problem with 'Just Leave' Culture 49:00 What People Actually Need: Asking vs. Assuming 50:00 Grief Is Ongoing — Keep Showing Up 57:00 Erin's Own Divorce, Reinvention & No Regrets 1:01:00 How to Find Erin & Book a Free Consult Free 10-minute consult with Erin: https://theunmutedroom.com/contact Website: https://theunmutedroom.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.unmutedroom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.unmutedroom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-snow-237998334/ Pulling Threads is hosted by Leslie Mathews of The Loom Life. Subscribe for new episodes every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. #PullingThreads #TheLoomLife #TheUnmutedRoom #ProfessionalListening #DivorceRecovery #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingPodcast #BeingHeard #DivorceSupport #WomensWellness

You expected grief. You expected rage. What you didn't expect was... nothing. In this episode, Leslie unpacks the science behind that strange, flat, disconnected feeling that so many women experience after betrayal and divorce — and why it's not emptiness, weakness, or avoidance. It's called dorsal vagal shutdown. And it might be the most protective thing your body has ever done for you. Learn what's happening in your nervous system, why it makes complete sense, and five gentle ways to begin finding your way back to yourself. You are not broken. You are protected. And you will feel again. The feeling of nothing has a name — and understanding it changes how you see yourself completely. When the threat is too large or too sustained, your nervous system doesn't always fight or fall apart. Sometimes it does something else entirely. It goes quiet. Flat. Still. And it does this not because something is wrong with you — but because something very right is happening inside your body. Polyvagal Theory & Your Three Nervous System States In this episode, Leslie introduces Polyvagal Theory — developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges — and explains the three states your nervous system moves between: Safe & Social (Ventral Vagal) — your home state. Connection, clarity, calm. Fight or Flight (Sympathetic) — mobilization. Rage, panic, hypervigilance. Shutdown (Dorsal Vagal) — the freeze-and-collapse response. Feeling nothing. Feeling flat. Feeling like you're watching your life from somewhere outside of it. Dorsal Vagal Shutdown: What's Actually Happening The dorsal vagus nerve is the oldest part of your autonomic nervous system. When it activates — especially after sustained or unsurvivable-feeling threat — it conserves your energy by going into a kind of protective stillness. This is not depression. This is not avoidance. This is armor. Leslie walks through what shutdown looks and feels like — including the signs you might recognize in yourself — and offers the reframe that so many women in this season need to hear: you are not broken. You are protected. Five Ways to Begin the Thaw The path out of shutdown is not through forcing yourself to feel. It's through gently, consistently offering your nervous system the message that it is safe enough to open. Leslie shares five low-bar, no-performance-required practices: Name what's happening — without judgment Warmth and gentle movement One small pleasurable thing (pleasure as medicine, not betrayal) Co-regulation — borrowing safety from a regulated nervous system Releasing the timeline — healing on your body's schedule, not the world's A Special Note on Betrayal Trauma Shutdown after divorce is one experience. But shutdown after betrayal — an affair, a double life, a public new relationship before yours is legally over — carries a different weight. Betrayal trauma activates the same threat-response centers as physical danger, and each new piece of information (a social media post, a legal document, a mutual friend's comment) is a fresh activation. Leslie speaks directly to the women carrying both at once — with honesty about what this requires and what's possible. Resources Mentioned Free guide — When You Feel Nothing (PDF): https://theloomlife.com/whenyoufeelnothing Mindful Untangling Community: https://theloomlife.com The Loom Life Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.loom.life 0:00 Cold Open — A post that stopped me in my tracks 1:10 Welcome to The Loom Life 2:15 Part 1 — Naming what nobody names 4:45 Part 2 — Polyvagal Theory & your three nervous system states 9:30 Part 3 — What's actually happening inside your body 12:45 Part 4 — Five ways to begin the thaw 15:50 Part 5 — A special note on betrayal trauma 17:30 Closing — You will feel again 18:45 Resources & how to find us A Note on Sharing If this episode spoke to you, the greatest gift you can give is to share it with a woman you know who's in this season. You don't have to say anything. Just send it. Sometimes the most important thing is knowing someone else has put your experience into words. About The Loom Life The Loom Life is a community and coaching space for women navigating divorce — from the first conversation with a lawyer to the first morning they wake up and feel like themselves again. Founded by Leslie Mathews, The Loom Life is rooted in trauma-informed care, nervous system education, and the belief that rebuilding is not just possible — it's the beginning of the most authentic chapter of your life. Mindful Untangling is our ongoing community — $99/month — where women in every stage of the divorce journey come together for education, connection, and support. Join us: https://theloomlife.com Link to Free Guide: https://theloomlife.com/whenyoufeelnothing

Burnt out, stuck & scared to make a move? LCSW + Women’s Empowerment Coach Liz Bakshi gets real about mom burnout, self-doubt, and what it actually takes for professional mothers to stop putting themselves last. ✨ WORK WITH LIZ BAKSHI 📲 Instagram: @lizbakshicoaching 👥 Free Facebook Community for Working Moms: Facebook.com/groups/LizBakshiCoaching 📅 Book a Free Consult Call: https://calendly.com/liz-lizbakshicoaching/30min ABOUT THIS EPISODE Liz Bakshi knows the burnout spiral from the inside. She was directing a foster care program in New York City when COVID hit — her toddler on the other side of the door while she managed crisis after crisis. Her story of slow-building burnout, the fear of making a change, and ultimately building a coaching practice from her lived experience will resonate deeply with any woman who has ever felt like she was holding everything together for everyone — except herself. IN THIS EPISODE: 🔸 What burnout actually feels like from the inside — and why it builds slowly before it breaks open 🔸 What keeps working moms stuck: fear, negative self-talk & generational messages about "soldiering on" 🔸 Therapy vs. coaching — what’s the real difference, and how do you know which one you need? 🔸 Identity shifts that happen when you become a mother — and why we don’t talk about them enough 🔸 Real self-care for high-achieving women: micro habits that work (no bubble baths required) 🔸 Setting boundaries, asking for help, and why resentment builds when we don’t 🔸 The sandwich generation: navigating kids, aging parents, career — and still finding yourself 🔸 One small step you can take TODAY to start shifting things Whether you’re a working mom running on empty, a woman on the edge of a big career change, or someone who’s been whispering “someday” to herself for years — this conversation is for you. 🔗 FIND LESLIE & THE LOOM LIFE 🌐 Website: www.loomlife.com 📸 Instagram: @the.loom.life 🎵 TikTok: @leslieellenmathews If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a comment below, and share it with a woman who needs to hear it. ♥️ #WorkingMomBurnout #TherapistPodcast #WomensEmpowerment #MentalHealthPodcast #PullingThreads

What happens when you leave a covert narcissist — but the war doesn't end? In this episode of Pulling Threads, I sit down with Trish Michael, author, publisher, and creator of trauma-informed books and courses for families healing from narcissistic abuse and high conflict divorce. Trish spent 20 years married to a covert narcissist and has been navigating co-parenting, court battles, and financial recovery for the eight years since. She didn't write her books to sell them — she wrote them to help her own kids survive. They've now sold in the tens of thousands. In this deeply honest conversation, we talk about what it actually looks like to heal — for yourself and your children — when the abuse doesn't stop just because the relationship did. In this episode: How covert narcissists make you look like the problem — even in court The golden child, the scapegoat, and how abuse lands differently on each child Why you can't treat PTSD when you're still on the battlefield What really happens in courtrooms (and why victims are often misread) Weaponizing differentiation in teenagers — and how narcs use independence against you Financial abuse: how narcissists keep you broke through endless litigation What Trish's Financial Freedom After Narcissistic Abuse™ program covers How Trish found a healthy relationship — and what inner work made that possible Breaking generational cycles of abuse Connect with Trish Michael: 🌐 www.trishmichael.com 📸 Discount Code for Pulling Threads listeners! Pullingthreads10 www.instagram.com/iamtrishmichael 📘 www.facebook.com/thetrishmichael 📧 [email protected] Connect with me: 🌐 www.theloomlife.com 📸 @the.loom.life Resources & Links 🌿 The LooM Life https://www.theloomlife.com 🌿 LooM Life Therapy https://www.loomlifetherapy.com 📅 Book a support call https://www.theloomlife.com 📱 Follow for more conversations about relationships, trauma healing, and life transitions: Instagram 🌿/ the.loom.life 💛 If this episode helped you, please leave a 5-star review — it helps more people find this show. #NarcissisticAbuseRecovery #HighConflictDivorce #HealingAfterNarcissisticAbuse #DivorceHealingJourney #TheLoomLife

Have you ever felt consumed by doubt about someone you love — and nothing happened to explain it? In this episode, I'm sharing something deeply personal: trust issues that surfaced out of nowhere, no trigger, no cause — just the feeling, growing louder. As a therapist and someone who has done years of her own healing work, I know how disorienting this can be. Because here's the question that changes everything: Is this your intuition telling you something true — or is it an old wound asking to be seen? In this video, I walk you through: → Why intuition and trauma response feel almost identical (the neuroscience) → 4 questions to help you tell the difference — including one most people never ask → How generational trauma shows up as doubt in your closest relationships → The real trust question underneath it all: do you trust yourself? → Why self-doubt surfaces exactly when abundance is trying to reach you → Somatic tools to regulate before you interpret This episode is for you if you have a history of trust wounds from past relationships or childhood, you're building something meaningful and keep finding yourself distracted by doubt, you struggle to receive love, money, or opportunity without bracing for it to disappear, or you've ever wondered whether your gut feeling was wisdom — or fear wearing a new costume. RESOURCES & LINKS To Work with Leslie: → Book a Free Discovery Call: https://theloomlife.com/discovery-call?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=youtube&utm_content=the-ghost-in-the-room-intuition-vs-old-wound → Visit The LooM Life: https://www.theloomlife.com → Visit LooM Life Therapy: https://www.loomlifetherapy.com ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 — When the doubt has no reason 2:15 — Why intuition and trauma feel the same (neuroscience) 6:00 — 4 questions to tell the difference 11:30 — What we inherited: generational trauma and the patterns we came here to break 15:00 — The real trust question underneath it all 19:00 — When self-doubt blocks abundance 21:30 — Somatic tools: regulate before you interpret 22:30 — Closing reflection LET'S CONNECT If this landed somewhere real for you, leave a comment below. I read every one. → Instagram: @the.loom.life → Substack: [INSERT LINK] ABOUT THE LOOM LIFE The LooM Life is a coaching and support space for women navigating divorce, breakup, and major life transitions. Our work is rooted in mindfulness, somatic healing, attachment theory, and the belief that clarity, peace, and abundance are not things you earn — they are things you remember. #intuitionvstrauma #trustissues #healingjourney #divorcerecovery #selftrustcoach #generationaltrauma #abundancemindset #traumahealing #somatichealing #womenhealing #attachmenttheory #innerchild #theloomlife #pullingthreads

Divorce trauma, family court, and emotional abuse are deeply connected — but almost no one prepares women for what actually happens inside the family court system. In this episode of Pulling Threads, therapist and divorce support specialist Leslie Mathews explains why many women leaving emotionally abusive marriages experience new trauma during divorce proceedings and what they can do to protect themselves emotionally, mentally, and legally. If you are navigating high-conflict divorce, coercive control, litigation abuse, or family court after emotional abuse, this episode will help you understand what is happening in your nervous system and how to prepare for one of the most stressful processes of your life. Leslie breaks down the science of trauma responses during divorce, the ways the family court system can unintentionally retraumatize survivors, and the strategies that help women stay regulated, clear-thinking, and prepared when navigating custody disputes, legal proceedings, and high-conflict ex-partners. You’ll also learn why understanding coercive control, nervous system regulation, documentation, and trauma-informed support can dramatically change your experience in divorce court. This conversation is honest, validating, and empowering — especially for women who feel overwhelmed, unheard, or retraumatized by the legal system. Resources & Links 🌿 The LooM Life https://www.theloomlife.com 🌿 LooM Life Therapy https://www.loomlifetherapy.com 📅 Book a support call https://www.theloomlife.com 📱 Follow for more conversations about relationships, trauma healing, and life transitions: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life #divorcesupport #emotionalabuse #highconflictdivorce #divorcerecovery #traumahealing

Turning 50 reflections on healing, divorce, mindfulness, and rebuilding life after losing yourself. In this special birthday episode of Pulling Threads, I’m sharing a deeply personal reflection as I step into my 50s. Over the last decade, my life completely transformed. Divorce, therapy, EMDR, mindfulness, and profound personal healing reshaped the way I understand relationships, identity, and what it means to truly live authentically. Ten years ago, I barely recognized the woman I had become. I had stepped away from my career, was navigating a difficult marriage, and felt disconnected from myself. My 40s became the decade where the fog slowly lifted and I began pulling the threads of my story apart to understand what was really driving my life. In this episode, I answer questions many women ask about divorce, healing trauma, mindfulness, relationships, and rediscovering your authentic self. I talk openly about staying in a marriage for 15 years, how childhood wounds can shape our adult relationships, and how mindfulness-based stress reduction helped me change my relationship with emotions, conflict, and love. If you’re navigating divorce, personal reinvention, or wondering whether it’s too late to rewrite your life story, this conversation is for you. Because healing doesn’t mean your past disappears. It means your past stops running your life. Turning 50_ Rewriting My Story … ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction – A different kind of episode 02:00 Losing myself in my 30s & early 40s 05:00 The moment I realized I wasn’t living authentically 09:00 Photography, presence, and discovering mindfulness 11:00 The retreat that changed everything 14:00 Why I stayed in my marriage for 15 years 20:00 Childhood wounds and attachment patterns 27:00 The unexpected heartbreak of divorce friendships 29:00 How mindfulness-based stress reduction changed my life 33:00 What I learned about love after divorce 38:00 Why I’m not afraid of turning 50 43:00 The biggest lesson from my 40s 🌿 About Pulling Threads Pulling Threads is a podcast about healing, authenticity, relationships, trauma recovery, and personal transformation. Each episode explores the emotional and psychological patterns that shape our lives so we can untangle what’s holding us back and create something new. Hosted by therapist and mindfulness practitioner Leslie Mathews, founder of The LooM Life. 🔗 Resources & Links 🌿 The LooM Life https://www.theloomlife.com 🌿 LooM Life Therapy https://loomlifetherapy.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life ❤️ If this episode resonated • Subscribe for weekly conversations on healing and relationships • Share this episode with someone who needs it • Comment below: What did your 40s teach you?

Nervous system regulation, co-regulation, and the window of tolerance aren’t just therapy buzzwords. They shape how we parent, partner, teach, and show up in conflict every single day. In this powerful episode of Pulling Threads, I sit down with Rosanne Carter, LMFT, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist and nervous system consultant, to explore how our nervous systems narrate our lives before we even realize it. We discuss: • What co-regulation actually means and what it doesn’t • Why your body reacts before your brain can think • The difference between being “triggered” and being activated • The window of tolerance, developed by Dr. Dan Siegel, explained clearly • Fawning vs. people-pleasing • Burnout in therapists, teachers, and attorneys • Sacred rage and setting boundaries after emotional immaturity • How to regulate yourself in the courtroom, classroom, or kitchen • A simple vagus nerve technique you can use immediately This conversation is especially relevant for: ✔ Therapists and helping professionals ✔ Parents navigating big emotions ✔ Women healing after divorce ✔ Teachers and attorneys experiencing burnout ✔ Anyone wanting to better understand trauma, activation, and emotional regulation Your nervous system holds stories, and when you learn to listen, everything shifts. 🔗 Connect with Rosanne Carter 🌐 www.kavana-consulting.com 🌐 www.rosannecartercoaching.com 💼 Rosanne Carter 📸 @msrosannecarter 🔗 Connect with Leslie Mathews and The LooM Life 🌿 The LooM Life (Coaching): https://www.theloomlife.com 🧠 Loom Life Therapy: www.loomlifetherapy.com 📸 Instagram: @the.loom.life 🎙 Podcast: Pulling Threads #DivorceRecovery #NervousSystemHealing #EmotionalRegulation #TraumaInformed #WomenHealing

If you’ve ever loved an avoidant man and felt confused, anxious, or emotionally exhausted, this episode is for you. In today’s deep dive into avoidant attachment, we unpack attachment theory, the anxious-avoidant dynamic, and what actually happens inside the nervous system when closeness triggers withdrawal. This is not a “fix him” episode — it’s about understanding attachment styles so you can make empowered, secure decisions in love. I break down the difference between dismissive avoidant vs. fearful avoidant attachment, why secure and anxious women are often magnetically drawn to avoidant partners, and how the push-pull cycle keeps repeating. You’ll also learn practical tools for navigating avoidant attachment dynamics without abandoning yourself. If you’re navigating anxious attachment, avoidant attachment in relationships, or wondering whether to stay or walk away, this conversation will give you clarity and grounded perspective. If you want deeper support around attachment, divorce recovery, relational healing, or nervous system regulation: 🌿 The LooM Life (Coaching & Courses): https://www.theloomlife.com 🧠 Loom Life Therapy (Florida residents): https://www.loomlifetherapy.com 📲 Instagram: @the.loom.life 🎙 Subscribe to Pulling Threads for weekly conversations on attachment, trauma-informed relationships, and mindful healing. If this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs language for what they’re feeling. #AvoidantAttachment #AttachmentTheory #AnxiousAvoidant #SecureAttachment #TheLoomLife

In this impromptu Valentine’s Day episode of Pulling Threads, I answer real relationship questions about attachment styles, commitment fears, love languages, anxious–avoidant dynamics, and even astrology compatibility Valentine’s Day Relationship Q&… . As a therapist, coach, and someone who has personally navigated divorce and attachment healing, I respond alongside insight from a male transformational coach offering the “reformed player” perspective. We explore why people push love away when they want it, how anxious and avoidant partners can actually make it work, when to walk away from a situationship, and how nervous system regulation changes everything in modern dating. If you’ve ever felt stuck in relationship limbo or confused about your attachment patterns, this episode is for you. ⏱ Timestamps / Chapters 00:00 Intro – Surprise Valentine’s Day Q&A 02:30 Why Do I Push People Away? (Avoidant Attachment) 08:45 Love Languages Conflict – Quality Time vs Physical Touch 14:10 Astrology Compatibility – Should You Trust It? 20:05 How Long Is Too Long to Wait for Commitment? 26:45 Is Anxious + Avoidant a Death Sentence? 34:00 Final Thoughts on Healing & Secure Attachment 🌿 Resources & Links ✨ The LooM Life (Coaching & Courses): https://www.theloomlife.com 🧠 LooM Life Therapy (Therapy Services): https://www.loomlifetherapy.com 🎙 Follow Pulling Threads: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life

Why does life look fine on the outside but feel overwhelming on the inside? In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie sits down with psychotherapist Maris Pasquale Doran to explore emotional reactivity, nervous system regulation, mindfulness, midlife transitions, grief, identity loss, and the quiet exhaustion so many women carry during divorce, separation, and major life change. This conversation speaks directly to women navigating divorce recovery, considering separation, or feeling disconnected in long term marriage. Even when there is no crisis happening, the body can stay in fight or flight. The nervous system holds unprocessed grief, suppressed anger, role collision, and identity confusion. Together they unpack: • Why high functioning women feel anxious and reactive even when life looks stable • How nervous system dysregulation impacts relationships and decision making • The hidden grief of midlife, motherhood, aging, and divorce • Why perimenopause is not the whole story • How mindfulness based stress reduction supports emotional regulation • How to shift from survival mode to grounded presence • The power of pause, breathwork, and body awareness • Breaking people pleasing patterns in marriage and relationships • Moving from reactivity to conscious response If divorce feels terrifying, if the marriage feels suffocating, if identity feels lost, this episode offers grounded psychological insight and practical nervous system tools for women seeking clarity, confidence, and emotional stability. This is for the woman lying awake at 2 AM questioning everything. The woman who looks strong on the outside but feels untethered within. The woman who wants peace without blowing up her life impulsively. Mindfulness, emotional awareness, and nervous system regulation are not luxury practices. They are survival skills during divorce and major life transitions. Healing begins with awareness.🤍 I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #DivorceRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #MindfulnessForWomen #MidlifeTransformation #HealingAfterDivorce

Reclaiming Your Voice: Healing Silence After Trauma, Criticism, and Emotional Harm What if you’re not afraid to speak up — but afraid of what happened when you did? In this episode of Pulling Threads, therapist, former attorney, and mindfulness teacher Leslie Mathews explores why so many thoughtful, capable people struggle to use their voice — even when they know their ideas matter. This isn’t about public speaking tips or “just being brave.” It’s about how silence becomes a survival strategy when speaking up once led to ridicule, punishment, emotional withdrawal, or subtle psychological harm. Drawing from personal experience, trauma-informed psychology, nervous system regulation, and years of therapeutic work, Leslie unpacks: How people lose their voice over time Why the body reacts before the mind How relationships and family dynamics reinforce silence What reclaiming your voice actually takes — layer by layer If you’ve ever: Tightened up when trying to speak your truth Second-guessed your words in certain relationships Felt “too much,” not articulate enough, or quietly dismissed Gone silent to keep the peace This conversation is for you. Reclaiming your voice is not about becoming louder. It’s about becoming safer inside yourself. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Why courage isn’t enough to reclaim your voice 01:00 – When speaking up once led to punishment or ridicule 02:00 – The deeper fear behind silence 03:00 – Growing up outspoken — and learning it wasn’t safe 04:00 – Mockery, sarcasm, and being “too much” 05:00 – Losing confidence after early performance experiences 06:00 – Subtle put-downs in intimate relationships 07:00 – Intelligence comparisons and self-monitoring speech 08:00 – From neuroscience to law: how self-doubt redirects lives 09:00 – How people actually lose their voice 10:00 – Silence as a learned nervous system response 11:00 – Trauma responses: tight throat, stammering, going blank 12:00 – Gender, power, and social penalties for speaking up 13:00 – Psychological harm in “quiet” relationships 14:00 – Awareness: recognizing where silence was learned 15:00 – Grieving the years you stayed small 16:00 – Your ideas aren’t gone — they’re waiting 17:00 – Experimenting with safer spaces to speak 18:00 – Therapy, coaching, and community support 19:00 – Regulation: staying present in your body 20:00 – Finding environments where your voice is welcomed 21:00 – Rebuilding self-trust 22:00 – When fear stops controlling you 23:00 – Teaching the nervous system it’s safe now 24:00 – Speaking without apology or performance 25:00 – Living authentically after silence 26:00 – Support, rebuilding, and next steps 27:00 – Closing reflections & invitation 🔗 Connect With Me Website: https://www.theloomlife.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloomlife Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloomlife Therapy Practice: Loom Life Therapy If this episode resonated, consider sharing it with someone who has gone quiet — not because they had nothing to say, but because it once wasn’t safe.

This conversation explores why love can feel overwhelming, painful, or confusing, especially for capable, intelligent women who appear put together on the outside but feel anxious or depleted in their relationships. Leslie sits down with Stephanie McPhail to unpack the subtle dynamics of toxic relationships, trauma bonding, and the unconscious patterns that keep people stuck long after they know something isn’t right. Together, they explore how early conditioning shapes what “love” feels like in the body, why intensity is often mistaken for intimacy, and how calm can feel unfamiliar or even unsafe after years of emotional chaos. Stephanie shares her personal story of surviving a long-term toxic marriage and the profound internal shifts that allowed her to rebuild her life, heal her nervous system, and create a relationship rooted in safety and mutual respect. This episode speaks directly to women who question their judgment, carry quiet shame, or feel torn between what they know logically and what their body feels emotionally. This is not about blame or labels. It’s about awareness, compassion, and learning to listen to yourself again so love no longer feels like something you have to survive. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #ToxicRelationshipHealing #TraumaBondRecovery #EmotionalSafety #RelationshipPatterns #HealingAfterAbuse

The Good Girl Syndrome Unraveled | People Pleasing, Trauma, and Reclaiming Your Authentic Self Have you ever said yes when every part of your body was screaming no? Do you apologize reflexively, avoid conflict at all costs, or feel responsible for everyone else’s comfort—while quietly burning out? In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews unravels Good Girl Syndrome—the deeply ingrained pattern of people pleasing, perfectionism, and self-abandonment that so many women carry without realizing it. This episode explores: What Good Girl Syndrome really is (and why it’s not a personality flaw) The neuroscience behind people pleasing and why setting boundaries can feel unsafe How conditional love and early socialization wire this pattern into the nervous system The physical and emotional toll of chronic self-abandonment (anxiety, burnout, exhaustion) Why being “nice” often blocks real intimacy and authenticity Signs you may be living behind the mask of perfection How awareness begins to rewire the brain Gentle, neuroscience-backed steps to start reclaiming your voice, needs, and boundaries Through trauma-informed insight, attachment theory, polyvagal theory, and lived experience, Leslie explains why disappointing others can trigger the same fear response as physical danger—and how learning to pause, name the pattern, and practice self-compassion creates real change. This episode is for you if: You struggle with people pleasing or setting boundaries You feel exhausted but can’t pinpoint why You’ve lost touch with who you are outside of being “the helper” You’re healing from trauma, burnout, or relational over-functioning You’re ready to stop performing and start living authentically The “good girl” once kept you safe. She doesn’t have to run your life anymore. 🎧 Listen now and start pulling the thread that leads back to yourself. Connect with Leslie / The LooM Life 🌿 Website: https://www.theloomlife.com 🎙️ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pulling-threads-weaving-authenticity/id1805667549 📸 Instagram: @theloomlife and @loomlifetherapy 📘 Facebook: The LooM Life 📺 YouTube: Pulling Threads with Leslie Mathews If this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, and share it with a woman who needs permission to choose herself. You’re not broken. You’re waking up. 💛

Divorce doesn’t just change your schedule, it activates your nervous system, your old conditioning, and the parts of you that learned to survive conflict. In this conversation, Leslie and parenting coach Mackenzie Kinmond unpack what happens to you (and your kids) when co-parenting brings up grief, anger, guilt, and the urge to control what you can’t control. You’ll hear real, compassionate guidance on: How divorce amplifies people-pleasing, perfectionism, over functioning, and self-sacrifice The difference between validating your child’s feelings and letting emotions run the house How to talk about an inconsistent co-parent without shaming your child’s experience Why kids form “stories” about divorce (and how to help them build a healthier narrative) Nervous system tools for high-conflict co-parenting—before, during, and after hard moments How to offer steadiness without pretending you’re “fine” If you’re parenting through divorce and trying to stay grounded, present, and emotionally safe for your kids—this episode will help you step out of survival mode and lead with calm authority and grace. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #DivorceParenting #CoParenting #HighConflictCoParenting #ParentingAfterDivorce #EmotionalRegulation

If you’re a therapist or coach who wants to start a podcast but keeps putting it off, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down the six biggest fears that stop helping professionals from pressing record — and gently debunking each one. In this episode, I’m not talking about microphones, editing software, or going viral. I’m talking about the real reasons therapists and coaches hesitate to use their voice publicly — fear of being seen, imposter syndrome, time, tech overwhelm, decision paralysis, and the quiet worry that no one will listen. As a therapist, coach, and host of the Pulling Threads podcast, I waited a long time to start my own show. What finally helped wasn’t more research — it was understanding what was actually holding me back and taking one small step at a time. If podcasting has been on your heart but something keeps stopping you, this conversation is meant to help you feel calmer, clearer, and more capable. In this episode, we cover: Why procrastination around podcasting is often protective, not laziness The truth about imposter syndrome for therapists and coaches Fear of visibility, judgment, and being misunderstood Why “I don’t have time” doesn’t mean what you think it means How consistency can look different (and still work) Why technology is no longer the barrier it used to be Decision paralysis around naming, format, and where to start The fear no one talks about: What if no one listens? Why podcasts aren’t about going viral — they’re about resonance How a podcast can support your practice, visibility, and referrals Who this is for: ✔ Therapists ✔ Coaches ✔ Helping professionals ✔ Anyone who’s thought “I want to start a podcast… but” About Press Record For more information about the cohort, go to https://theloomlife.com/podcast-course I created Press Record, a live 6-week cohort for therapists and coaches who want to launch a podcast together — with structure, support, and real accountability. The cohort includes: Weekly live meetings Step-by-step video lessons Marketing & YouTube templates AI tools to simplify editing and content A private community of therapists & coaches launching together If this episode helped your nervous system soften or your fear feel more manageable, that may be your cue. 👉 Learn more about Press Record: [ADD LINK] About Me I’m Leslie Mathews — therapist, coach, and host of the Pulling Threads podcast. I help therapists, coaches, and women in transition use their voice, untangle fear, and build aligned, sustainable paths forward. 🎙 Subscribe for more conversations on authenticity, visibility, nervous system regulation, and meaningful work.

In this episode of Pulling Threads, we explore the quiet unraveling that can happen inside a high-control marriage: the identity loss, the normalization of pain, the body symptoms that show up long before the mind is ready to listen. This is a deeply honest, unscripted conversation about staying because it “wasn’t that bad,” enduring for faith, vows, and children, and the moment validation finally breaks through the fog. We talk about how the nervous system holds truth, how faith can become complicated inside marriage, and what it looks like to surrender without losing yourself. You’ll hear reflections on rebuilding after separation, co-parenting with boundaries, trauma healing, mindfulness, EMDR, and the surprising peace that can come on the other side—especially learning to be alone without feeling lonely. This conversation is for anyone who feels high-functioning but exhausted, capable but disconnected, faithful but conflicted, and quietly wondering if there is more peace available than the life they’re currently enduring. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #DivorceRecovery #LifeAfterDivorce #DivorceHealing #CoParenting #NervousSystemHealing

What we are experiencing right now—as a country, as communities, and as individuals—is not normal. And your body knows it. In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie Mathews speaks directly to the collective nervous system response many of us are feeling but struggling to name. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted, angry, numb, tearful, or constantly on edge, this conversation offers language, validation, and practical support grounded in trauma-informed neuroscience. We explore what trauma researchers call Continuous Traumatic Stress—a state where the nervous system never gets a chance to complete the stress cycle because threat keeps coming. Leslie also names and explains moral injury, vicarious trauma, and anticipatory trauma, helping listeners understand why so many people feel exhausted, divided, and disconnected right now. This episode is not about politics or sides. It’s about what prolonged stress does to the human nervous system—and how trauma responses like fight, flight, freeze, and fawn can quietly fracture relationships, communities, and our ability to see one another clearly. You’ll learn: Why what you’re feeling is a normal human response to ongoing threat How continuous traumatic stress differs from PTSD What moral injury feels like in the body Why trauma increases division—even among people who care deeply How helplessness forms when systems themselves cause harm Trauma-informed tools to support nervous system regulation right now Leslie also offers practical regulation strategies, including: Pendulation and healthy boundaries with news and media Somatic release to complete the stress cycle Co-regulation and the power of presence Grounding practices for moments of overwhelm Finding small, aligned actions that restore agency This episode is a space to pause, breathe, and remember that your nervous system is not broken—it is trying to protect you. Healing and resilience don’t come from bypassing what’s happening, but from staying regulated enough to remain connected, compassionate, and human. If you’ve been feeling like something is deeply off, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it. Keywords / SEO tags: nervous system regulation, collective trauma, continuous traumatic stress, moral injury explained, vicarious trauma, anticipatory trauma, trauma informed podcast, mindfulness and trauma, somatic regulation, trauma and the nervous system, grounding techniques, emotional regulation, stress cycle, co regulation, healing during uncertain times Connect with Leslie & The LooM: 🌿 Website: https://www.theloomlife.com 🎙️ Podcast: Pulling Threads 📸 Instagram (Coaching & Content): @the.loom.life 🧠 Instagram (Therapy): @loomlifetherapy 🎥 YouTube: Pulling Threads 🎵 TikTok: @parandpeace If this episode supported you, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who might need it. Gentle conversations create ripples—and we move through this together.

In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie sits down with Courtney Carter for an intimate conversation about what happens when you grow up in a small town and later realize you’ve been postponing your voice. They talk about the unspoken rules many of us learned early: stay agreeable, don’t take up too much space, don’t say the dream out loud, don’t make anyone uncomfortable. And then adulthood arrives and something shifts. You move. You leave. You enter new rooms. You start seeing how much of your personality was protection. Courtney shares what it was like navigating identity as a biracial girl in a small, isolated environment, how stereotypes and expectations shape self-expression, and why boundaries can feel terrifying when you were trained to keep the peace. Together, they explore people-pleasing, perfectionism, communication, and the slow return to self-trust. If you’ve ever felt like you edited yourself to fit in, this one is for you.💛 I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #Boundaries #SelfTrust #Mindfulness #AuthenticLiving #NervousSystemRegulation

What if your divorce isn’t the end—but the beginning of your most aligned life? In this episode, I sit down with Amber Shaw, host of The Divorce Revolution Podcast and business coach for divorced women, for an honest conversation about turning pain into purpose, rebuilding confidence, and creating a business rooted in lived experience. Amber opens up about navigating the end of her marriage at 40, building her first online business while still working full-time, and how mentorship helped her scale to six figures—twice. We talk candidly about the real challenges divorced moms face, including time constraints, financial pressure, and the fear of getting it wrong when the stakes feel high. We also explore what it really means to “stay in your lane” as a coach, how to share your story without oversharing or creating conflict, and why authenticity—not perfection—is what truly attracts the right clients. Whether you’re considering divorce, in the middle of it, or rebuilding life and income on the other side, this conversation will help you reconnect with your confidence, clarity, and sense of identity. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Reframing divorce as a catalyst for reinvention Low-risk ways to start a coaching side hustle How mentorship shortens the learning curve and builds confidence Moving through fear and freeze with both courage and compassion Sharing your story safely while protecting your kids and peace The difference between therapy and coaching and why scope matters Knowing when to delegate so you can focus on what you do best Why you don’t need to be fully healed to help others—just a few steps ahead This episode is for women ready to stop waiting for permission and start building what’s next. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message on Instagram! I’m exploring a second February cohort. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life?igsh=ZHl3Nm1ibWd4dm1w Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19bKH1AGZ9/ #DivorceRecovery #WomenRebuilding #LifeAfterDivorce #PurposeDrivenBusiness #WomenSupportingWomen

Parenting can feel surprisingly hard, even when you love your kids deeply. In this episode of Pulling Threads, we talk about parental burnout, old conditioning, and the internal patterns that can quietly run in the background and drain your energy. I’m joined by Mackenzie Kinmond, a parenthood transformation coach and therapist who helps overwhelmed parents step out of survival mode and reconnect with daily joy. Together, we explore why your nervous system can react before your thinking brain has a chance to catch up, why certain ages and stages can activate old wounds, and how burnout is often less about “trying harder” and more about shifting what you’re carrying. We also talk about the “Four Horsemen” that show up in everyday parenting: people pleasing, perfectionism, over functioning, and self sacrifice. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, reactive, or disconnected from the parent you want to be, this conversation offers a compassionate path forward, with practical ways to start making small, doable changes that create real relief over time. In this episode, we cover: Why parenting can activate trauma at specific ages and stages Nervous system regulation and embodiment in real life parenting moments Blocked care, burnout, and why shame fuels dysregulation Repair after conflict and why it strengthens secure attachment Micro shifts, boundaries, and creating structure that lowers stress How to move from survival mode toward presence, clarity, and authenticity You can also listen to Pulling Threads on my podcast and watch on YouTube. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #ParentalBurnout #MindfulParenting #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalRegulation #ConsciousParenting

Welcome to the first episode of Authentic by Design, a transformative series about discovering your true self, reclaiming your life, and stepping off autopilot. If you’ve ever felt like you’re watching life happen to someone else, like life isn’t really yours, or like you’re aged-ahead while still waiting to feel alive, you’re in the right place. In this episode, I share a moment of awakening — sitting in my car in a Tampa parking garage, realizing the job, marriage, and identity I’d built wasn’t mine. I explore how we abandon ourselves to fit in, perform, succeed, and survive — and why that creates misalignment even at the height of achievement. 👉 If you’ve ever thought, “On paper my life looks great — but I don’t feel it inside” — this episode is for you. 🧠 In This Episode You’ll Learn: ✔ What it feels like when you’re living someone else’s life ✔ How childhood, culture, school, and social systems shape inauthentic paths ✔ The myth of success = happiness ✔ Why the “Sunday Scaries” may actually be your body telling you something is off ✔ How your nervous system signals misalignment ✔ A powerful invitation to listen to your body & inner knowing ✔ A roadmap for the rest of this 4-part series on authentic living 📍 Chapters / Timestamps 0:00 — Episode Intro: Awakening in Tampa 2:15 — What It Feels Like to Live a Life That’s Not Yours 5:40 — Why Achievement Doesn’t Always Equal Alignment 9:20 — Authenticity vs Performance (Therapy, Career, Culture) 12:55 — The Sunday Scaries: A Hidden Alarm System 15:42 — Invitation: Listening to Your Body 18:10 — Where Inauthenticity Begins — Childhood & Conditioning 23:00 — Systems That Teach Us to Abandon Ourselves 26:35 — People Most Susceptible to Losing Themselves 29:50 — The Four Pathways to Awakening 34:15 — Physical & Emotional Signs You’re Off-Course 39:40 — How to Know You’re Ready to Come Back 42:10 — Your First Invitation Toward Alignment 45:00 — Closing + What’s Coming Next in the Series ❤️ If This Resonated With You ✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss Episode 2 — where we dig into nervous system science + practical steps for returning to YOUR voice. 💬 Comment: What did you feel when you asked your body if you’re living your life? 👍 Like & Share with someone who needs to hear this. 🔗 Connect With Me 👉 Subscribe for all episodes & updates 👉 Follow on IG/TikTok for clips & reflections 👉 Join the conversation in the comments

What if peace isn’t something you find, but something you expand into? In Part 2 of this powerful Pulling Threads conversation, host Leslie Matthews continues her deeply honest and expansive dialogue with Liza Lounsbury, exploring what it truly means to outgrow old identities, regulate the nervous system, and rebuild life from the inside out. This episode dives into the uncomfortable but transformative seasons of life—identity loss, reinvention, grief, sobriety, divorce, and rebuilding after everything you thought your life would be falls apart. Together, Leslie and Liza unpack how subconscious programming, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and unprocessed trauma shape our reality—and how conscious awareness allows us to create something entirely new. You’ll hear a grounded, compassionate exploration of: Why your comfort zone determines your capacity for peace How identity shifts impact manifestation and aligned living Nervous system regulation as the foundation for resilience and abundance Letting go of labels like “divorced,” “addict,” or “failure” Processing grief, anger, and fear without resistance Living consciously instead of reacting on autopilot Creating inner safety regardless of external chaos Why embodiment, presence, and awareness change everything—from relationships to intimacy This episode is especially resonant for women navigating divorce, separation, sobriety, motherhood, burnout, or major life transitions. It’s an invitation to step out of survival mode and into conscious creation, self-trust, and emotional freedom. If you’re entering a new season, questioning who you are becoming, or learning how to live with more peace, clarity, and alignment—this conversation will meet you right where you are. ✨ A reminder: you are not broken, behind, or failing. You are evolving. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #HealingAfterDivorce #NervousSystemRegulation #MindfulnessForWomen #IdentityShifts #AlignedLife

✨ Endings, Beginnings, and Everything In-Between | Reflecting on 2025 & Welcoming 2026 As 2025 comes to a close, many of us feel a mix of exhaustion, gratitude, and quiet hope. In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews—therapist, coach, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teacher—dives deep into the emotions that surface at the end of a long year. We talk about what it means to release old versions of ourselves, honor the grief beneath “growth,” and find softer ways to begin again. If you’re tired of the “new year, new you” pressure and craving peace, reflection, and authenticity instead—this episode is for you. 🪶 In this episode: Why endings feel heavier this year (from a neuroscience & nervous-system lens) How astrology and human design mirror this collective shift Letting go of old identities & patterns that no longer fit The truth about “healing hustle” and toxic positivity Gentle reflection prompts to close your year with grace Why slowing down is the most radical form of self-care 💬 “You’re allowed to arrive slowly. You’re allowed to hope, even if it’s quiet.” 🌿 Connect with Leslie Mathews & The LooM Life: 🧵 Website: www.theloomlife.com 📸 Instagram (Coaching): @the.loom.life 💭 Instagram (Therapy): @loomlifetherapy 🎙️ Podcast: Pulling Threads on Apple Podcasts & Spotify 📹 YouTube: Pulling Threads Channel 📱 TikTok: @the.loom.life 📘 Facebook: The LooM Life

If you’ve been feeling the shift in the online business world, shorter attention spans, harder-to-earn trust, and marketing that doesn’t hit the way it used to, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I sit down with Carly Hill, a licensed clinical social worker turned seven-figure business mentor, Reiki Master, NLP practitioner, and author of Therapist Owner. We talk about what it really takes for therapists and helping professionals to build a sustainable, ethical coaching business without losing heart, integrity, or themselves in the process. We cover: ⦁ Why clients do not “just appear” and what it means to extend the invitation with clarity ⦁ The mindset shifts therapists often need around visibility, receiving, and money ⦁ Therapy vs coaching: how to add coaching ethically and confidently ⦁ Human Design in business (Projector vs Manifestor dynamics, energy, rest, and leadership) ⦁ Delegation that actually supports revenue and avoids common early hiring mistakes ⦁ How AI can support coaches with niche clarity, marketing plans, content, emails, webinars, and even sales call audits ⦁ Building a business model that supports freedom, motherhood, and real life If you’re a therapist, coach, or wellness professional who wants aligned growth, nervous system-safe marketing, and systems that support your work (instead of draining you), this episode is a grounded place to start. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message on Instagram! I’m exploring a second February cohort. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life?igsh=ZHl3Nm1ibWd4dm1w Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19bKH1AGZ9/ #TherapistToCoach #MindfulEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #MoneyMindset #HumanDesign

In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews sits down with Liza Lounsberry, creator of the Inside Out Success Coaching framework, for a deep and grounded conversation about the inner work that creates outer results. This conversation explores how true transformation begins inside the nervous system, belief system, and identity, and how alignment at that level shapes every area of life, from money and relationships to health, purpose, and fulfillment. Liza shares her personal journey from external success and internal emptiness to a life rooted in ease, clarity, and authentic abundance. Together, Leslie and Liza unpack powerful themes including: • Manifestation as a grounded, practical framework • Nervous system regulation and subconscious reprogramming • The role of awareness in breaking self-sabotage patterns • Trauma, identity, and internal dialogue • Why people struggle to receive what they desire • How alignment creates sustainable success • Living from intuition instead of anxiety • Gratitude, embodiment, and energetic consistency Liza also breaks down her five-step manifestation process, explaining how clarity, embodiment, belief, surrender, and repetition work together to create meaningful, lasting change, without bypassing emotions or forcing outcomes. This episode is especially relevant for those navigating personal growth, healing, career transitions, financial expansion, relationship alignment, or a desire to live with more purpose and ease. If you’re interested in manifestation without spiritual bypassing, inner alignment, nervous system healing, and conscious leadership, this conversation offers both insight and lived wisdom. _______________ I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message on Instagram! I’m exploring a second February cohort. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life?igsh=ZHl3Nm1ibWd4dm1w Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19bKH1AGZ9/ #InnerWork #Manifestation #NervousSystemHealing #PersonalGrowth #MindsetTransformation

Mindfulness isn’t woo-woo — it’s neuroscience. Most people check out the moment they hear the word mindfulness because they imagine crystals or chanting. But the truth? Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is one of the most researched, evidence-based programs for rewiring the brain, regulating the nervous system, and transforming the way we respond to stress, trauma, divorce, and everyday life. In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what MBSR really is, how it works in the brain, and why it changed my life during the most difficult season I’ve ever lived through — my divorce and a traumatic accident that left a friend in a coma. You’ll learn: 🧠 How MBSR literally reshapes the amygdala, prefrontal cortex & default mode network 💛 Why mindfulness strengthens emotional regulation and reduces rumination 🔥 Real-life examples of mindfulness in daily moments (triggering texts, hard conversations, morning coffee rituals) 🌿 Why MBSR in community is exponentially more powerful than going it alone 👣 What embodiment truly means and how it helps people in trauma 📚 The history & credibility of MBSR from Jon Kabat-Zinn and my training at Brown University And throughout the episode, you’ll hear exactly how these practices became the lifeline that helped me survive — and rebuild — my life. 🎙 ABOUT THIS EPISODE If you’ve ever wondered: Why does my anxiety take over even when I “know better”? How do I actually regulate my nervous system, not just talk about it? Why does mindfulness feel impossible when I’m stressed, overwhelmed, or going through a divorce? Can something as simple as breath and awareness really change my life? …this episode was made for you. This is not a meditation app. This is not “think positive thoughts.” This is a structured 8-week program proven through functional MRI research to create long-term change. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) 📥 Details & registration: [link] If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message! I’m exploring a second February cohort. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 – Mindfulness isn’t woo-woo: why people get it wrong 1:15 – Who I am & why this work matters 3:10 – What MBSR actually is (beyond meditation) 5:40 – How MBSR helped me survive divorce 8:10 – The traumatic accident & how mindfulness kept me grounded 12:25 – Understanding embodiment & PTSD signs 15:05 – Neuroscience: amygdala, PFC, default mode network 18:30 – Real-life mindfulness examples (texts, conflict, coffee ritual) 23:10 – Why group MBSR works: coregulation, resonance & accountability 27:40 – How MBSR strengthens intuition & emotional clarity 31:15 – Invitation to join the upcoming MBSR group 33:05 – Jon Kabat-Zinn’s quote: learning to surf the waves 34:00 – Outro & how to connect

Future of Therapy: AI Tools for Coaches and Therapists with Dr. Stephanie Thrower | Pulling Threads Podcast In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews, MSW sits down with Dr. Stephanie Thrower — a psychologist, business coach, and the visionary creator behind AI Tools for Change — to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of therapy and coaching. Together, they discuss how AI can enhance human connection, simplify business systems, and help heart-centered practitioners scale sustainably — without losing authenticity or burning out. Dr. Thrower shares her powerful journey from psychologist to AI innovator, explaining how her deep background in vocational and identity psychology intersects with technology, mindset, and soulful entrepreneurship. You’ll hear how she helps values-driven therapists and coaches build AI tools that generate revenue, attract ideal clients on autopilot, and create more freedom in their practices. ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How AI can enhance (not replace) human connection in therapy and coaching Practical ways to use AI for marketing, content creation, and client engagement Why understanding your mindset and messaging is key to scaling sustainably How to integrate AI ethically while protecting client trust and privacy The psychology of resistance to technology — and how to move through it The future of therapy, coaching, and entrepreneurship in an AI-driven world 🧠 This conversation weaves together vocational psychology, maternal mental health, and innovation — offering real tools and inspiration for therapists, coaches, and creatives ready to lead in a new era of helping work. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Pulling Threads 00:47 Meet Dr. Stephanie Thrower 01:38 Stephanie’s Journey from Psychologist to AI Innovator 03:20 The Intersection of AI and Vocational Psychology 03:58 AI in Course Creation and Client Engagement 05:36 Navigating Career Changes with AI 10:56 Building AI Tools for Therapists and Coaches 15:39 Ethics and Privacy in AI for Therapy 19:43 The AI Content Gym: Enhancing Marketing with AI 22:06 Exploring Human Design and AI Integration 23:37 Qualitative and Quantitative Assessments 24:24 Integrating AI with Traditional Assessments 25:27 Marketing and Entrepreneurship Insights 35:08 Navigating Technology Resistance 39:49 Future of Therapy and Coaching with AI 44:02 Work-Life Balance and AI 46:28 Closing Reflections & Contact Info 👩‍💻 Connect with Dr. Stephanie Thrower Website: coachingwithdrthrower.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @aitoolsforchangemakers Facebook Group: AI Tools for Change 💫 Connect with Pulling Threads & Leslie Mathews Website: www.theloomlife.com Instagram: @the.loom.life YouTube: Pulling Threads Podcast TikTok: @parandpeace Facebook: The LooM Life

Navigating Holidays Without Your Kids: Tips for Divorced Parents In this special pre-holiday episode, originally featured on both 'Pulling Threads' and the 'Women Navigating Divorce' Facebook group, we address the challenges of navigating holidays without your kids post-divorce. Understand the emotional complexities and gain tools to stay anchored, present, and connected to your children even when they're not physically with you. From mindfulness strategies to creating rituals of connection, learn how to cope with feelings of guilt and loneliness. Host Cindy shares personal insights and practical suggestions to support parents during this difficult transition. Stay tuned for additional resources, including a guided meditation to calm your nervous system. 00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Episode 01:02 Coping with Holiday Separation 02:55 Personal Experience and Empathy 04:34 Naming the Pain and Fears 06:57 Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques 08:31 Creating Rituals of Connection 11:01 Compassion and Self-Talk 12:14 Final Thoughts and Support

In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie Mathews, a therapist and coach, addresses women who feel lost in seemingly safe marriages. This is not an encouragement for divorce but a guide to help women rediscover themselves and make an informed decision about staying or leaving their relationships. Sharing personal experiences and professional insights, Leslie provides a heart-to-heart framework of discernment, steps for preparing to leave if necessary, and advice for both paths, emphasizing the importance of intentional choice, support, and self-trust throughout the journey. 00:00 Introduction: Feeling Lost in a Safe Marriage 01:02 About the Speaker: Therapist and Coach 02:08 Personal Journey: Struggles in Marriage 03:46 Insights for Women: Stay or Go? 04:52 Framework for Discernment 09:16 Exploring Career and Identity 15:18 Steps for Leaving: Practical Advice 30:07 Rebuilding After the Decision 32:42 Conclusion: Embracing Your New Path ✨ The LooM Life — Connect, Work With Me & Follow My Journey ✨ Weaving mind, body, and soul into a life you actually want to live. ► WORK WITH ME (Coaching & Programs) 📍 Explore The LooM Life Coaching & resources: www.theloomlife.com ► FOLLOW ON SOCIALS 📸 Instagram (Coaching, Mindfulness & Life After Divorce) https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life/ 💇‍♀️ Therapy Instagram (Mental Health, Trauma, Anxiety, Divorce Therapy) https://www.instagram.com/loomlifetherapy ⛳ TikTok | Golf, Mindful Living & “Par & Peace” @parandpeace 📍 Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/theloomlife/ ► ABOUT LESLIE MATHEWS, MSW Leslie Mathews is a holistic therapist, trauma-informed coach, and founder of The LooM Life. She helps women navigate divorce, heal attachment wounds, rebuild identity, and create aligned relationships through mindfulness, nervous-system-based healing, and emotional empowerment—all while weaving practical tools with spiritual insight. ► WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE ✓ Divorce healing & emotional recovery ✓ Nervous system + trauma education ✓ Mindfulness & somatic practices ✓ Dating after divorce & relationship skills ✓ Coaching for clarity, authenticity & alignment ✓ Golf as a mindfulness practice + lifestyle content ► BUSINESS & MEDIA INQUIRIES For speaking, podcast interviews, brand partnerships, or collaboration requests, contact: [email protected]

In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie welcomes Mary Eldridge, a licensed clinical social worker and coach who specializes in helping high-achieving women navigate and recover from toxic and abusive work environments. Mary shares her personal inspiration for this work and goes on to discuss the tools she uses to help women both thrive in their current positions or strategically transition out of toxic workplaces. They explore the curious challenge of distinguishing between a merely stressful and a truly toxic work environment, the systemic and personal impacts of such environments, and practical strategies for nervous system regulation and empowerment. Mary also highlights the importance of community support and the nuanced red flags to look for when seeking new employment. This episode is invaluable for anyone looking to understand and overcome the multifaceted issues related to toxic workplaces. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:49 Mary's Journey and Passion for Empowering Women 01:24 Helping Women in Toxic Work Environments 04:04 Recognizing and Regulating Toxic Workplaces 05:56 Challenges Faced by High Achieving Women 08:57 Sexism and Work-Life Balance 15:34 Healing and Setting Boundaries 23:14 Empowerment and Career Fulfillment 32:40 Final Thoughts and Resources

Food as Medicine: How Food Dyes, Chemicals, and Nutrition Shape Children’s Health & Behavior | Pulling Threads Podcast In this powerful episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews, MSW sits down with Dr. Kelly Cross, a board-certified pediatrician and integrative medicine practitioner, to explore how what we eat influences the mind, mood, and overall health — especially in children. 💬 Topics we cover: • The impact of food dyes, preservatives, and ultra-processed foods on behavior and attention • How chemical sensitivities can mimic symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, and mood swings • Dr. Cross’s journey from traditional pediatrics to integrative medicine • Practical ways parents can create healthier eating habits without spending a fortune • The connection between nutrition and mental health in kids and teens • Honest conversation about food system challenges, upcoming legislation, and the complex landscape of vaccines ✨ Key Moments: 00:00 Introduction to Pulling Threads 00:34 Meet Dr. Kelly Cross 02:07 Kelly’s Journey to Integrative Medicine 06:33 Balancing Traditional and Holistic Approaches 11:06 The Impact of Chemicals and Dyes on Health 17:52 Nutrition Tips for Kids and Teens 26:14 Affordable Organic Options (Aldi + Costco) 31:08 Diet and ADHD Connections 39:31 The Future of Food Safety & Policy 41:28 Vaccine Conversations 48:12 Practical Steps for Healthier Living If you’ve ever wondered how food choices shape our children’s mental and emotional health, this conversation will change the way you think about your plate — and your pantry. 👉 Subscribe for more episodes on mindfulness, holistic health, and emotional healing. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full video here on YouTube. 💬 Share your thoughts below — how have food choices impacted your family’s well-being? #FoodAsMedicine #IntegrativeMedicine #ChildrensHealth #FoodDyes #ADHD #NutritionAndMentalHealth #HolisticHealth #MindBodyConnection #PullingThreadsPodcast #LeslieMathewsMSW #DrKellyCross

Rebuilding Self-Trust & Finding Your Voice After Toxic Relationships & Narcissistic Abuse | Pulling Threads With guest Clarissa Stolte – Therapist & Toxic Relationship Coach In this emotionally resonant episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie dives into the journey of healing and transformation after toxic or narcissistic relationships. She’s joined by Clarissa Stolte, therapist and founder of The Reclaiming Her Voice Method, who shares her personal story of growing up in a narcissistic family system—and how she now helps women break cycles of self-doubt, restore self-trust, and reclaim their authentic voice. 🎙 What we cover: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Connection 01:18 Guest Introduction: Clarissa Stolte 02:12 Clarissa’s Background and Personal Story 03:53 The Impact of Narcissistic Family Systems 12:14 Healing Journey and Professional Experience 15:02 Misconceptions About Healing from Narcissistic Abuse 21:33 Rebuilding Self-Trust and Emotional Regulation 28:52 Overcoming Relationship Chaos 29:33 Setting Boundaries Without Guilt 32:58 The Importance of Self-Care 35:44 Rebuilding After Toxic Relationships 37:11 Navigating the Dating World 46:37 Finding Your Voice Again 51:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 🔗 Resources + Connect with Clarissa: LinkedIn ➤ www.linkedin.com/in/clarissa-stolte-reclaiming-her Instagram ➤ @clarissastolte Facebook ➤ facebook.com/share/1CccF1gE2K/?mibextid=wwXIfr ✨ About Clarissa: “I help women healing from narcissistic abuse break the cycle of toxic relationships, rebuild self-trust, and create a life of calm, confidence, and authentic connection through The Reclaiming Her Voice Method.” 🎧 Why listen? If you’ve experienced emotional or narcissistic abuse, feel stuck in self-doubt, struggle to trust your voice or set boundaries—or you’re simply ready to reclaim your authentic self and step into greater confidence—this episode offers heart-felt insights, practical steps, and a reminder that healing and authentic connection are absolutely possible. 📌 Don’t forget: Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and the BELL icon so you never miss an episode of Pulling Threads. Share this with someone who needs it. Leave us a comment: What’s one boundary you’re ready to set for your next chapter? #ToxicRelationships #NarcissisticAbuse #SelfTrust #Boundaries #AuthenticConnection #TraumaRecovery #WomensHealing #PullingThreadsPodcast

From Burnout to Deep Rest: Healing Women’s Sleep with Melissa Good | Pulling Threads Podcast Exhaustion. Overwhelm. Sleepless nights.So many ambitious, heart-centered women are running on empty — but rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews, MSW—therapist, coach, and founder of The LooM Life—sits down with Melissa Good, licensed therapist and sleep coach, for a transformative conversation on how to move from burnout and insomnia to true restoration. Melissa opens up about her journey from correctional officer to therapist and sleep coach, and how perfectionism, people-pleasing, and chronic stress quietly steal our rest. Together, Leslie and Melissa unpack:✨ The link between the nervous system and sleep✨ Myths that keep women stuck in exhaustion✨ How to navigate sleep changes during perimenopause and menopause✨ Simple, science-backed strategies for deep, lasting rest Whether you’re struggling with insomnia, waking up at 3 a.m., or just feeling disconnected from your body’s natural rhythms, this episode will help you understand your nervous system, regulate stress, and reclaim restorative sleep. 🪶 Join us to learn how rest becomes the most radical form of self-care. 🎧 Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome + Introduction 01:41 – Melissa’s Journey to Becoming a Sleep Coach 05:47 – The Importance of Sleep and Common Issues 08:09 – Myths & Misconceptions About Sleep 12:08 – Perfectionism, People Pleasing & Stress 16:10 – The Nervous System + Sleep Connection 19:38 – Behavioral Techniques for Better Rest 24:42 – Personal Struggles with Sleep 29:06 – Midlife, Perimenopause & Menopause Challenges 32:26 – Self-Advocacy and Women’s Health 37:13 – Practical Sleep Tips 40:51 – Join the Community for Better Sleep 45:28 – Final Thoughts + Connect with Melissa 💫 Follow Melissa Good Insta: @melissa__good ; Facebook: Melissa Good (melissagoodsleepcoach), LinkedIn: Melissa Good ; Website www.melissagood.com👉 Link to her Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/yourbestsleep 👉 Learn about her 8-week Better Sleep program 💛 Connect with Leslie Mathews + The LooM Life: Instagram: @the.loom.lifeand @loomlifetherapy TikTok: @parandpeace Podcast: [Pulling Threads on YouTube] YouTube Golf Channel: @ParandPeace Website: www.theloomlife.com

In this episode of Pulling Threads, we welcome Melanie Miller, a licensed professional counselor, to discuss the intricacies of parallel parenting in blended families and the journey of living an alcohol-free life. Melanie shares her personal journey and the challenges of dealing with adverse childhood experiences, emotional neglect, and parental substance use. She explores her transition into therapy and sobriety coaching, offering valuable insights on overcoming alcohol dependence and creating a sober community. The episode delves deeply into creating realistic expectations within blended families, setting boundaries in co-parenting and parallel parenting, and the profound impact of emotional regulation and mindset in navigating these transitions. Melanie also discusses her innovative 'Off the Rocks' sobriety program and shares advice for those considering an alcohol-free life. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on maintaining mental wellness, the importance of self-care, and developing resilience through life's toughest challenges. Don't miss this episode filled with practical advice, personal stories, and professional insights! You can contact, follow, and learn more about Melanie on her website, Facebook page, or Instagram. www.pratidanawellness.com https://www.facebook.com/PratidanaWellnessCoaching/ https://www.instagram.com/off.the.rocks.sober/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-miller-lpc/" 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:59 Melanie's Personal Journey 02:52 The Path to Sobriety 06:52 Challenges and Misconceptions of Sobriety 20:17 Switching Gears: Co-Parenting and Parallel Parenting 27:09 Creating a Safe Space for Children 27:51 The Importance of Self-Care for Parents 28:40 The Rollercoaster of Parenting 29:02 Challenges of Blended Families 31:05 Setting Realistic Expectations in Blended Families 32:32 Navigating Loyalty Conflicts in Children 42:04 The Impact of Alcohol on Co-Parenting 43:59 Mindset and Emotional Regulation 45:04 Creating a New Life Post-Divorce 50:35 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this Pulling Thread episode, we welcome Alina Reary, a licensed therapist and intuitive eating coach. We discuss the impact of diet culture, the journey to food freedom, and how women can reclaim their bodies and lives by trusting their instincts. Alina shares her insights on intuitive eating, overcoming food guilt, and the importance of community support in this transformative process. Listen for an empowering conversation on health, self-trust, and living life to the fullest. If you want to follow or work with Ellina, you can follow her on IG @eoc.coaching. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578176021050 and her Facebook Group: Intuitive Eating and Anti-Dieting Community 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:48 Swifties and Chiefs: A Fun Start 01:39 Ellina's Journey into Eating Disorder Therapy 04:08 Understanding Intuitive Eating 07:17 Diet Culture and Its Impact 09:49 Breaking Free from Diet Culture 24:56 The Role of Community in Healing 30:51 Empowering Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Understanding Why Women Stay in Unhappy Marriages | Pulling Threads Podcast In this episode of Pulling Threads, we dive deep into the complex reasons why women remain in marriages and relationships that are no longer fulfilling or safe. This podcast is dedicated to discussing the visible and hidden factors that keep women from leaving, including financial concerns, cultural expectations, trauma bonds, religious conditioning, and the bleak dating landscape. We touch on the challenges of discernment counseling, the psychological and neurological aspects of attachment, and the internal and external judgments faced by women contemplating divorce. Whether you're in the midst of this struggle or supporting someone who is, this episode aims to unpack the intricate layers of fear, hope, and survival. Subscribe for more episodes focusing on similar topics. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:40 Why Women Stay in Unhappy Marriages 02:14 Cultural and Societal Judgments 04:05 Financial and Emotional Barriers 07:38 Understanding Trauma Bonds 11:03 Religious Trauma and Conditioning 14:26 Fear of Loneliness and Stigma 16:40 Identity Collapse and Learned Helplessness 17:39 Hope and the Trap of Waiting 20:05 The Modern Dating Landscape 21:32 Personal Healing and Moving Forward 25:21 The Tipping Point and Final Thoughts

Do you avoid trying new things because fear tells you that you don’t belong? In this episode of Pulling Threads, I share how childhood trauma wired my nervous system for protection and how I used golf—yes, golf!—to rewrite that pattern. 🔬 We explore the science behind neuroplasticity—the brain’s incredible ability to reorganize itself and change its activity in response to experience ncbi.nlm.nih.gov verywellmind.com . Researchers note that the brain can create new neural pathways and adapt throughout life, and mindfulness practices have been shown to foster this plasticity. In other words, even after decades of trauma, your brain can heal. 🧠 I explain how fear of failure, societal narratives, and limiting beliefs kept me from trying new sports for years. With therapy, mindfulness, and lots of small, compassionate steps, I learned to take up space, swing a club with courage, and trust myself again. Key Takeaways: • What neuroplasticity is and why it matter • How trauma rewires the brain and fuels fear of new experiences • Simple, evidence‑based practices (therapy, mindfulness, gentle movement) to rebuild neural pathways • Why I chose golf as my healing tool, and how it became a metaphor for life • An invitation for you: What’s your “golf” — the activity you’ve wanted to try but felt too afraid? I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment or DM me on Instagram at @TheLoomLife or @ParInPeace. Remember: your brain is capable of change, and every brave little swing counts. 💛 Timestamps: 00:00 Intro – Where I’ve been & why 02:20 Why trauma makes trying new things scary 05:30 Brain science: neuroplasticity explained 08:45 Evidence‑based ways to rewire your brain 13:30 My golf story & the metaphors it taught me 22:45 Your invitation to try something new — Support: If this episode resonates, hit 👍 like, subscribe for future episodes, and share with a friend. Your stories mean everything to me.

Embracing Beauty: Rewriting the Narrative of Shame and Acceptance | Pulling Threads Podcast with Leslie In this heartfelt episode of Pulling Threads, trauma-informed therapist and coach Leslie Mathews explores the complex relationship between beauty, shame, and self-worth, especially for women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. From societal double standards to generational programming, Leslie unpacks how American culture, media, religion, and family dynamics have shaped women’s understanding of beauty—and how those outdated beliefs can be rewritten. Whether you grew up idolizing supermodels, navigating the silent pressure to stay small, or feeling confused about whether it’s okay to love your appearance, this episode offers validation, healing, and a new lens. 🎙️ Topics Covered: • The history of beauty as currency in America • The “mirror trap” and why women dim their light • How different generations experience beauty expectations • The role of therapy in healing body image wounds • 4 steps to reclaiming your beauty narrative • How to model healthy beauty for future generations 👁‍🗨 This episode is for every woman who has ever felt ashamed for caring too much or too little about how she looks. ✨ Beauty isn’t the enemy—shame is. Let’s start honoring our bodies, our choices, and our power. 🔔 Subscribe for more healing conversations: @pulling_threads 💌 Connect with Leslie at [Your Website or Link] 📸 Follow on Instagram: @the.loom.life 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & more.

Unveiling the Layers: Beauty, Medicine & Empowerment with Lisa Hahn | Pulling Threads Podcast Welcome back to Pulling Threads, where we unravel the deeper stories behind healing, growth, and the human experience. In this inspiring episode, host Leslie Mathews, therapist, coach, and founder of The LooM, sits down with Lisa Hahn, board-certified nurse practitioner and founder of Nueva Aesthetics in St. Petersburg, Florida. Together, they explore the transformative world of medical aesthetics—where science meets self-worth, and beauty becomes a tool for empowerment. 🌟 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • How Lisa transitioned from trauma ICU nursing to launching a boutique aesthetics practice • Why skin health and regenerative treatments are changing the face of beauty • The emotional and psychological layers behind seeking aesthetic treatments • How aesthetic care can boost self-confidence, mental health, and authenticity • What aging gracefully really means—and why ageless beauty is more than a trend • Future-forward insights on lasers, neurotoxins, skincare, and client empowerment 💡 Whether you’re curious about aesthetic procedures, exploring your own journey with aging and self-image, or just love hearing from women who are redefining what beauty means today—this episode is for you. 🔗 Connect with Lisa Hahn & Nueva Aesthetics Website: https://nuevaaesthetics.com Instagram: @nueva.aesthetics ✨ Follow Leslie & The LooM Instagram: @the.loom.life YouTube: @pulling_threads Website: https://theloom.life ⸻ 🎧 LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW, & SHARE If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s navigating their own beauty or healing journey. We love hearing from you—drop a comment, DM, or tag us in your reflections.

Breakups can leave us feeling emotionally raw, physically disconnected, and unsure of how to get our needs met. In this episode of Pulling Threads, trauma-informed therapist and coach Leslie Mathews shares real, practical strategies for meeting your emotional, physical, and sexual needs after a breakup—with compassion and clarity. You’ll learn: • 💔 How to regulate your nervous system and calm heartbreak • ✍️ How journaling, emotional rituals, and a “validation vault” can support emotional healing • 🛁 Creative ways to meet physical intimacy needs—like warm baths, massage, pets, and body doubling • 💖 Why self-pleasure is a powerful, healing tool for reclaiming your body and intimacy • 🌐 Go-to resources like OMGYes, Goop, and Sex with Emily • 💡 Tips for approaching casual sex with mindfulness and intention This episode is for anyone navigating post-breakup loneliness, confusion, or craving deeper self-connection. You can meet your needs without losing yourself—and this conversation will show you how. 👉 Subscribe for more trauma-informed, heart-centered content to help you heal, grow, and thrive. #BreakupRecovery #SelfCareAfterBreakup #EmotionalHealing #TraumaInformedTherapy #PullingThreadsPodcast

Why Do Breakups Hurt So Much? | Brain Science, Trauma & Healing After Heartbreak In this episode of Pulling Threads, therapist and coach Leslie unpacks why breakups feel so devastating—especially when you’re carrying unresolved trauma. From the brain science behind emotional pain to the impact of attachment styles, Leslie explores what really happens in our nervous system when a relationship ends—and why it can feel like your whole world is unraveling. You’ll learn: • The neuroscience of heartbreak and why it mimics physical pain • How childhood trauma and attachment wounds shape your breakup response • The stages of breakup grief (hint: they’re not linear!) • Common emotional “minefields” to watch for post-breakup • Real-life coping tools, grounding exercises, and emotional regulation strategies • How to turn heartbreak into a powerful opportunity for healing, clarity, and self-discovery Whether you’re reeling from a recent breakup or want to better understand the emotional aftermath of relationship endings, this episode is packed with insights, strategies, and encouragement to help you feel less alone—and more empowered. 🫖 Grab your tea, get comfy, and let’s untangle this together. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Why Breakups Hurt So Much 01:09 – Leslie’s Personal Breakup Story 04:43 – Brain Science of Heartbreak 07:25 – Attachment Styles & Breakup Impact 10:27 – Stages of Breakup Grief 17:02 – Navigating Post-Breakup Minefields 22:36 – Grounding Tools for Emotional Recovery 24:55 – Final Thoughts & Words of Support