Rise Together

Positivity isn’t the answer to everything—and in this episode, we unpack why. We explore the difference between “just being positive” and truly finding meaning in adversity. From understanding your inner voice to building self-trust and community, this is a grounded conversation on doing the real work of resilience.

What if resilience isn’t something you build alone—but something that emerges through how you relate to life?In this episode, we reflect on the conversation with Marisa Valle and explore the science behind gratitude, awe, connection, and adversity. Through five key relationships—life, challenge, others, the inner voice, and the body—we uncover how resilience is shaped not just by mindset, but by biology, emotion, and connection.From the neuroscience of gratitude to the role of oxytocin in bonding, this episode bridges science and lived experience to reveal a powerful truth: even in difficulty, there is space for beauty, growth, and belonging.

In this deeply moving episode of Rise, Valentina sits down with educator and social-emotional learning expert Isabel Perez to explore a more honest, human definition of resilience.Through Isabel’s powerful personal story—navigating a life-altering diagnosis, multiple surgeries, and visible change—this conversation reframes resilience not as pushing through or “being strong,” but as the ability to return to yourself, again and again.Together, they unpack how resilience is built through connection, vulnerability, and community—not isolation. They reflect on the wisdom of children, the role of our inner voice, and how we lose (and can reclaim) our natural capacity to be open, present, and self-compassionate.This episode is an invitation to:Rethink what resilience really meansReconnect with your inner childFind beauty in unexpected placesAnd become a kinder companion to yourselfBecause resilience isn’t about becoming who you once were—it’s about embracing who you are now.

In this reflective closing episode, Valentina & Inma invite listeners into a quiet, intentional pause to honor the natural cycles that shape our lives—beginnings, middles, and endings. Through a simple five-minute guided ceremony, she encourages us to step out of constant motion and gently locate ourselves within a current personal cycle, whether in work, relationships, or inner growth.By tuning into the body, breath, and present moment, listeners are guided to ask: Where am I right now, and what is needed from me here? The practice emphasises responding with qualities like courage, patience, or release, depending on the phase we’re in.Ultimately, the episode is a reminder that life unfolds rhythmically. When we slow down to acknowledge and move with these cycles—rather than rushing ahead—we cultivate greater ease, presence, and fulfilment.

In this deeply personal and reflective episode, we explore the reality of living through cycles—both internal and external—and what it truly means to stay resilient when you're in the middle of uncertainty.Valentina shares her journey of navigating months of job searching, the emotional toll of silence and rejection, and the strange adjustment that comes with finally reaching the end of a long-awaited cycle. Together, we unpack how difficult it is to trust that things will change when you’re stuck in the “nothingness” phase—and why awareness alone doesn’t make cycles easier to handle.We dive into the complexity of experiencing multiple cycles at once—from career transitions to family life to hormonal and emotional rhythms—and how overwhelming it can feel to respond to all of them at the same time. Inma brings in both scientific and holistic perspectives, explaining neurochemical cycles like dopamine drops, stress responses, and the importance of recovery phases that we often resist.The conversation also explores:The inner seasons of the menstrual cycle and how they shape emotions, energy, and self-perceptionThe role of the inner critic, especially during more challenging phasesWhy closure matters—and how unfinished cycles create mental “noise”The power of reframing discomfort as information rather than failureHow practices like journaling, self-awareness, and community support can help us move through cycles more consciouslyUltimately, this episode is a reminder that cycles aren’t meant to be perfectly managed or beautifully lived at all times. Resilience isn’t about getting it right—it’s about continuing to show up, learning from each phase, and allowing both the highs and lows to have their place.And as always, we close by honouring that even this conversation is part of a cycle—one that we’ll intentionally complete in the next episode.

This month on Rise, we’ve been exploring cycles — in nature, in our work, in our bodies, and in our lives. In this episode, Dr. Inma takes us deeper into the science behind those rhythms.Drawing from ecology, psychology, and neuroscience, she explores why cycles are not just metaphors but fundamental biological patterns that shape how humans function. Ecosystems move through phases of growth, conservation, release, and renewal — and humans follow similar rhythms in our careers, identities, creativity, and emotional lives.You’ll hear about the biology of circadian rhythms, the brain’s 90-minute focus cycles, and the neuroscience behind the post-achievement dip that can follow major accomplishments. The episode also explores how emotions complete their own cycles, how experiences can echo across generations through learning and epigenetics, and why community plays a crucial role in resilience.Seasonal light patterns influence hormones, sleep, and mood, reminding us that even in modern life our bodies remain connected to the rhythms of the natural world. Ultimately, resilience isn’t about escaping change or maintaining constant productivity. It’s about recognizing the cycles we live within and learning to move with them.Because just like nature, life doesn’t move in straight lines — it moves in rhythms.Amabile, T. M., & Kramer, S. J. (2011). The power of small wins. Harvard Business Review, 89(5), 70–80.Dopico, X. C., et al. (2015). Widespread seasonal gene expression reveals annual differences in human immunity and physiology. Nature Communications, 6, 7000.https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8000Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 1–26.https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2014.940781Hastings, M. H., Maywood, E. S., & Brancaccio, M. (2018). Generation of circadian rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19, 453–469.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-018-0026-zHolling, C. S. (2001). Understanding the complexity of economic, ecological, and social systems. Ecosystems, 4(5), 390–405.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-001-0101-5Kleitman, N. (1982). Basic rest-activity cycle—22 years later. Sleep, 5(4), 311–317.https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/5.4.311McEwen, B. S. (1998). Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. New England Journal of Medicine, 338(3), 171–179.https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199801153380307Rosenthal, N. E., et al. (1984). Seasonal affective disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41(1), 72–80.https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1984.01790120076010References

In this deeply reflective conversation, Valentina sits down with Carla—now Shakti—plant medicine practitioner and healer, to explore the powerful relationship between nature, feminine cycles, and personal transformation.After experiencing profound loss and rebirth, Shakti shares how observing the rhythms of nature helped her understand the human experience: beginnings and endings, growth and decay, attachment and release. From the menstrual cycle to menopause, from grief to renewal, this episode dives into how awareness of our internal and external seasons can free us from resistance and reconnect us to our power.Together, they explore:Why suffering often comes from resisting changeThe wisdom of the menstrual cycle and its four phasesMenopause as a rite of passage and rebirthHow community and shared experience build resilienceBreathing as a metaphor for trust, surrender, and renewalThis episode is an invitation to observe, accept, and honor the cycles within you—because spring always follows winter, and every ending carries the seed of a new beginning.You are not alone. You are nature. And resilience grows where awareness begins.

In this deeply reflective conversation, Valentina sits down with Carla—now Shakti—plant medicine practitioner and healer, to explore the powerful relationship between nature, feminine cycles, and personal transformation.After experiencing profound loss and rebirth, Shakti shares how observing the rhythms of nature helped her understand the human experience: beginnings and endings, growth and decay, attachment and release. From the menstrual cycle to menopause, from grief to renewal, this episode dives into how awareness of our internal and external seasons can free us from resistance and reconnect us to our power.Together, they explore:Why suffering often comes from resisting changeThe wisdom of the menstrual cycle and its four phasesMenopause as a rite of passage and rebirthHow community and shared experience build resilienceBreathing as a metaphor for trust, surrender, and renewalThis episode is an invitation to observe, accept, and honor the cycles within you—because spring always follows winter, and every ending carries the seed of a new beginning.You are not alone. You are nature. And resilience grows where awareness begins.

In this opening episode of the second month of Rise, Valentina invites us to rethink what resilience really means. Instead of pushing through at all costs, she explores the power of living in alignment with life’s natural cycles — of effort and rest, expansion and contraction.Through a series of reflective questions, Valentina guides listeners to consider the “season” they’re currently in across different areas of life: personal growth, relationships, work, and the body. She encourages us to notice where we may be resisting necessary pauses, endings, or moments of inward focus, and what might shift if we trusted these rhythms instead of fighting them.This episode is a gentle, grounding invitation to slow down, tune in, and honor the phase you’re in — because you’re not behind, and you’re not failing. You’re simply in a season.Take a breath, get curious, and begin the journey of rising one cycle at a time.

Before we move forward, we pause.In this special closing ceremony of the month, Valentina and Inma guide you through a gentle ritual on support — how we receive it, how we resist it, and how we resource ourselves through it.This episode is not a discussion. It is a practice.Together, you’ll move through four intentional stages: presence, letting go, and letting in. You’ll be invited to ground into your body, soften your jaw and shoulders, feel your feet on the earth, and reconnect with your breath. From there, you’ll release the expectations, stories, and patterns that may have shaped your relationship with support — the belief that you must always be strong, that support must look a certain way, that receiving help means losing agency.Through imagery rooted in the elements — fire, water, wind, earth — you’ll be guided to consciously let go.Then comes the harvest.What if support doesn’t have to be loud?What if it isn’t about fixing — but restoring capacity?What if being resourced allows you to support everything that comes your way?This ceremony is an invitation to close the month with gratitude, compassion, and openness. To acknowledge what was present, what was missing, and what is now ready to grow.Take this time for yourself. Pause. Release. Receive.And step into the next cycle resourced.

Why is it so hard to ask for help — and why does it change everything when we do?In this reflective closing episode of the month, Valentina and Inma explore what support really means — not just intellectually, but emotionally, relationally, and physically.From launching the podcast and navigating uncertainty, to sitting in a living room asking parents for help, this conversation unpacks the vulnerability of saying “I need support” — and the surprising power that follows. They explore why high achievers and leaders often struggle to ask for help, how cultural and gender expectations shape the way we give and receive support, and why emotional regulation begins in the body.You’ll hear:Why asking for help can feel like a threat to our self-worthHow support regulates the nervous system (yes — even measurable in your data)The difference between emotional, instrumental, and informational supportWhy we often forget to include ourselves in our own support networkA powerful reframe: you are in a lifelong relationship with the person underneath your skinThis episode is an invitation to notice the support already around you — and within you. To listen more. To observe more. To speak with intention. And to remember: resilience is rarely built alone.As the month closes, one truth remains clear — being held and learning to hold yourself may be one of the most important skills of all.

The Science of Support: Why We’re Not Meant to Be Resilient AloneIn this episode of Rise, we explore the science behind support — and why it’s one of the most powerful vehicles for resilience.Building on our previous conversations about what support feels like and how to ask for it, we now step into the research. From the stress-buffering hypothesis to polyvagal theory, we unpack what actually happens in the body and brain when we feel supported.Support doesn’t remove difficulty. It changes how we respond to it.We explore how:Support regulates the nervous system and reduces stress responsesFeeling understood lowers cortisol and helps us recover fasterIdentity and belonging shape whether support feels safe or threateningOxytocin strengthens trust and groundingResilience is not independence — it’s connectionThis episode challenges the cultural myth that strength means coping alone. The science is clear: support doesn’t remove agency. It restores capacity.A reflective and research-backed conversation on why rising together is not a slogan — it’s how we’re wired to thrive.

What does real support actually look like—and why does it matter so much for resilience?In this episode of Rise, Inma is joined by Emma Keith, Group Captain in the Royal Air Force and Commandant of the RAF Leadership Academy, for a deeply human conversation about support, leadership, and resilience.Drawing on her experience leading in high-responsibility environments—and navigating profound personal loss—Emma reframes support as more than something we receive. She explores how support flows both ways, why leaders need support too, and how resilience rarely grows in isolation. Together, they unpack the visible and invisible forms of support, from mentoring and workplace culture to friendship, family, and self-support.Emma shares powerful reflections on grief, burnout, gender expectations, and the importance of investing in relationships—not just professional success. She also offers practical wisdom on recognising when support is needed, asking for the right kind of help, and creating cultures of care, both externally and within ourselves.A grounding reminder for anyone carrying responsibility: slowing down, reflecting, and building meaningful support systems may be the strongest leadership skills of all.

Support is often something we expect from others — but what if it’s also something we can offer ourselves?In this opening episode of Rise, Inma introduces the theme of the month: support. Through gentle reflection and inquiry, she explores how we give, receive, resist, and long for support across different areas of our lives — at work, at home, in relationships, and within ourselves.Rather than offering answers, this episode invites you into a series of thoughtful questions: What kind of support do you actually need? How does your body respond to asking for help? Who do you turn to — and who don’t you? How have culture, gender, and early experiences shaped your relationship with support?This is an invitation to notice support as a living conversation — imperfect, contextual, and deeply human — and to begin the month with curiosity, compassion, and awareness.

In the first episode of Rise, Valentina and Inma unpack the quiet, often messy reality of feeling “not ready” — and why waiting for confidence or clarity can keep us stuck. Together, they challenge the performative idea of resilience and reframe it as a lived, relational practice: showing up imperfectly, listening to our bodies, and responding with honesty rather than force. Blending life experience, psychology, and soulful reflection, Rise invites you to stop chasing readiness and start building it — one intentional resilient step at a time.