Unravel with Elaine Clark

In this episode, I’m joined by cognitive scientist, author, and professor John Vervaeke for a profound conversation about the modern meaning crisis, mindfulness, flow states, loneliness, and the deep human longing for connection.Together, we explore why so many people feel empty in the age of constant stimulation and digital connection, and how practices like mindfulness, contemplation, and self-awareness can help us reconnect to what is truly meaningful. John also shares insights from cognitive science, philosophy, and psychology to help us better understand consciousness, self-deception, intuition, wisdom, and the patterns shaping modern life.In this episode, we unravel:🧠 What the “meaning crisis” really is📱 Why social media can leave us feeling more disconnected🌱 The difference between pleasure, happiness, and meaning🫁 How mindfulness helps us become aware of unconscious patterns⚡ What flow states are and why they feel so meaningful🔄 Why insight and transformation require cognitive flexibility💭 The relationship between self-awareness and human connection✨ How wisdom is cultivated through relationship, presence, and practiceStay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

Maybe your nervous system is not asking for more discipline right now. Maybe it is asking for a different relationship to life. In this episode, I explore the connection between the nervous system and nature, and why time in natural environments may support stress recovery, emotional regulation, and a greater sense of inner settling. Drawing from both personal reflection and research, I speak about rumination, restoration, awe, and the quiet ways the body can begin to soften when it feels less overexposed and more rooted. This is an episode about healing, environment, and remembering that regulation is not just psychological — it is physiological too. In this episode, you’ll learn: How nature may support the nervous system in shifting out of chronic activation  What research suggests about rumination, stress recovery, and time spent in natural settings  Why awe, slowness, and sensory contact with the natural world can feel regulating  How to begin noticing which environments help your body soften and settle  Why regulation is not laziness, and rest is not disengagement Referenced Research & Resources Antonelli, M., Barbieri, G., & Donelli, D. (2019). Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Biometeorology, 63(8), 1117–1134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01717-xKobayashi, H., Song, C., Ikei, H., Park, B. J., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2019). Combined effect of walking and forest environment on salivary cortisol concentration. Frontiers in Public Health, 7, 376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00376Park, B. J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2010). The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): Evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(1), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567–8572. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1510459112Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7Stay Connected 🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_ 📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio 🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Romith Naug, a dually board-certified family physician practicing psychotherapy and hospital medicine, for a thoughtful conversation about cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and the power of reshaping our inner world. Together, we explore how thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical sensations are deeply interconnected, and how CBT can help us become more aware of the patterns that shape our lives. He also shares his own adapted CBT model, offering a practical and compassionate framework for understanding emotional spirals, building awareness, and creating meaningful change. In this episode, we unravel:🧠 What cognitive behavioural therapy is and how it works🔄 The relationship between thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical reactions🌱 How awareness can interrupt negative thought spirals💭 Why thoughts are not always facts🫁 The connection between breath, mindfulness, and emotional regulation⚡ The difference between false resilience and true resilience🛠️ How CBT can help build agency, flexibility, and self-understanding✨ Why small shifts in perspective can create meaningful changeStay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at ⁠www.elaineclark.ca

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Robyn Murphy, a naturopathic doctor and scientific advisor for DNA Labs Canada, for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of genetics and mental health. Dr. Murphy has worked alongside medical geneticists to develop lifestyle genetic panels and is deeply passionate about translating complex genetic research into practical tools that can support people’s health.Together, we explore the long-standing debate of nature versus nurture, the emerging science of epigenetics, and how our genes may influence everything from stress sensitivity to neurotransmitter function. We also discuss how lifestyle, environment, and daily habits interact with our genetic blueprint—and why your genes are not your destiny.We dive into the concept of “genetic scars,” how experiences can shape gene expression across generations, and how genetic testing is beginning to inform more personalized approaches to mental health treatment.This conversation blends science with empowering insights that can help us better understand our bodies, our brains, and the choices that shape our health.In this episode, we unravel:🧬 The difference between genetics, gene expression, and epigenetics ⚖️ The debate of nature vs. nurture in shaping health and personality 🧠 How genes may influence stress sensitivity, depression, and anxiety 💡 The role of dopamine, serotonin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mental health 🌿 Why lifestyle choices can influence how genes are expressed 🔬 What genetic testing can reveal about mental health and medication response 💊 How pharmacogenomics may help personalize mental health treatment 🌱 Why understanding your genetics can be empowering rather than limiting🎧 Stay Connected 🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_ 📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio 🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

In this special anniversary episode of Unravel, I’m reflecting on one year of the podcast and the journey that has unfolded since the very first episode.Over the past year, Unravel has released 23 episodes and reached listeners in 41 countries around the world, with conversations exploring trauma, addiction, nervous system healing, relationships, meditation, psychedelics, and the science of happiness.This episode is a moment to pause and look back on the insights that have emerged from conversations with psychologists, neuroscientists, therapists, authors, and practitioners who are helping us better understand the human experience.In this episode:✨ Reflections on the biggest themes that emerged from a year of conversations✨ Why healing is rarely linear—and what that means for growth✨ The powerful role the nervous system plays in trauma and recovery✨ Why curiosity, compassion, and connection are essential to healing✨ What’s ahead for the next chapter of UnravelStay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

What happens when the body becomes a place we don’t feel safe to inhabit?In this episode, I’m joined by Hala Khouri—author, trauma-informed yoga teacher, somatic counsellor, and co-founder of Off the Mat Into the World—for an honest conversation about trauma, anxiety, embodiment, and what it truly means to come home to the body.Hala shares her personal story of growing up as an immigrant after fleeing war in Lebanon, how early experiences of instability and protection shaped her understanding of trauma, and why dissociation is often a brilliant survival strategy—until it becomes a limitation. Together, we explore how the body holds memory, why stillness can feel intolerable for trauma survivors, and how somatic practices can gently restore a sense of safety, agency, and trust in ourselves.We also dive into Hala’s book Peace from Anxiety, written after her own unexpected encounter with anxiety in midlife, and how anxiety can be a powerful invitation into deeper healing rather than something to “fix” or eliminate.This conversation weaves together lived experience, trauma science, yoga, and somatic therapy—and offers practical tools you can use right now.In this episode, we unravel:🧠 Why the body can feel overwhelming or unsafe after trauma 🫥 How dissociation protects us—and how to gently reconnect 🧘‍♀️ The difference between performing yoga and truly embodying it 🌿 How somatic experiencing reframes trauma healing 🌬️ Simple grounding and orienting practices for anxiety and panic 🌀 Why we can’t force relaxation (and what actually helps instead) 🤍 How helpers and practitioners can prevent compassion fatigue 💞 What it means to let the heart break open rather than shut down📘 Book: Peace from Anxiety by Hala Khouri A compassionate, body-based guide to understanding anxiety, building resilience, and staying connected amidst uncertainty.🎧 Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

In this episode, I’m joined by world-renowned psychiatrist, mind-body medicine pioneer, and trauma expert Dr. James Gordon, founder and executive director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine.With over five decades of clinical experience, Dr. Gordon has been at the forefront of trauma healing—working with individuals, communities, war-affected populations, and children across the globe. Together, we explore trauma not as a pathology, but as a universal human experience and one that holds the potential for healing and post-traumatic growth.This conversation weaves neuroscience, physiology, psychology, and humanity as we unpack how trauma impacts the nervous system, the body, relationships, and the gut, and what actually helps restore balance.In this episode, we unravel:🧠 What trauma really is and why it looks different for everyone🌍 Why trauma is a universal part of being human, not something that only happens to “other people”⚡ The two core trauma responses (fight/flight and freeze) and how they shape adult patterns🌬️ Why slow, deep breathing is one of the most powerful antidotes to trauma💃 How movement, shaking, and dancing help thaw freeze responses and restore vitality🧩 Groundbreaking research on mind-body group interventions for war-traumatized children🦠 How trauma disrupts the gut microbiome and why healing the gut is essential for nervous system repair🌿 The role of diet, inflammation, and the vagus nerve in trauma recovery📖 What readers can expect from Dr. Gordon’s book Transforming Trauma: The Path to Hope and HealingThis episode is an invitation to reframe trauma with compassion, curiosity, and possibility and to remember that healing doesn’t happen through insight alone, but through the body.🔗 Learn more about Dr. James Gordon & the Center for Mind-Body MedicineWebsite: https://cmbm.org📘 Transforming Trauma: The Path to Hope and HealingAvailable wherever books are sold (link in show notes)🎧 Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

What if happiness isn’t something you arrive at—but something you practice?As we step into a new year, many of us find ourselves chasing happiness through goals, achievements, or self-improvement plans. But decades of research tell a very different story.In this episode of Unravel, I’m joined by Dr. Gillian Mandich, health science researcher, two-time TEDx speaker, and founder of the International Happiness Institute of Health Science Research. Together, we explore happiness not as a destination, but as a daily, embodied practice shaped by our thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and nervous systems.We unpack why happiness doesn’t come from money, success, or achievement, and what actually sustains wellbeing over a lifetime.In this conversation, we unravel:✨ Why happiness is deeply personal—and why many of us struggle to define what truly makes us happy 🧠 The science behind happiness as a practice, not a personality trait 🥧 The “happiness pie chart” and what portion of wellbeing is actually within our influence 🔁 The myth of a fixed happiness set point—and whether lasting change is possible 🌿 Evidence-based happiness hygiene practices, including gratitude, meditation, and small daily habits that make a big difference 💛 How embodiment, awareness, and meaning play a role in sustained wellbeingThis episode is an invitation to explore what happiness feels like for you, and how you might begin practicing it in small, realistic ways.If you’re ready to approach happiness differently this year, this conversation is for you.🔗 Connect with Dr. Gillian MandichWebsite: https://www.gillianmandich.com 🎧 Stay Connected 🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_ 📩 Email: [email protected] 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio 🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca📚 Research ReferenceThe Harvard Study of Adult DevelopmentA longitudinal study spanning more than 75 years, examining what predicts health, happiness, and longevity across the lifespan.Learn more: https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/

In this short and meaningful mini-episode, I’m sharing one powerful insight I learned at a trauma and addictions conference in Las Vegas—one that completely reframed how I think about human connection.As we shift into the winter season and naturally spend more time indoors, this episode offers a gentle reminder about the role connection plays in our emotional wellbeing, and why cultivating it intentionally matters more than we realize.In this episode: ✨ A surprising fact about loneliness that stopped me in my tracks✨ Why adult friendships feel harder—and what we often overlook✨ The quiet power of vulnerability and shared presence✨ How our nervous system responds to real, face-to-face interactionStay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

What if the calm you feel after yoga or meditation isn’t just emotional—but structural?In this episode, world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Sara Lazar joins me to explore how meditation and yoga create measurable changes in the brain. Dr. Lazar was one of the first researchers to use brain imaging to understand mindfulness—and her findings have shaped the global conversation on mental health, neuroplasticity, and the power of presence.We dive into her personal story of walking into a yoga class purely for physical therapy (and very skeptically), only to discover that something far deeper was happening—something that sparked a 25-year career in contemplative neuroscience.Together, we unravel:🧠 How meditation and yoga change brain structure and function🌿 Why neuroplasticity makes healing possible at any age🌀 The default mode network and why a wandering mind fuels anxiety, rumination, and low mood🔥 How stress shrinks certain regions of the brain—and how mindfulness can reverse those effects💛 Why mindfulness increases emotional regulation, compassion, and resilience✨ Whether yoga or meditation is “better,” and how to choose the practice that fits your nervous system⏰ How much practice you actually need to see changes (hint: even small doses matter)Whether you’re new to mindfulness or deep in your practice, this conversation offers both scientific insight and grounded encouragement—showing how everyday practices can literally reshape the brain toward calm, clarity, and wellbeing.🔗 Connect with Dr. Sara LazarTED Talk: How Meditation Can Reshape Our Brainshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rRzTtP7Tc Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

What if your mood swings, anxiety, or fatigue weren’t just emotional—but biochemical?In this episode, award-winning nutritionist, bestselling author, and TV personality Julie Daniluk joins me to explore the deep connection between sugar, mental health, and emotional regulation. Together, we unravel how chronic sugar spikes affect mood, inflammation, and the brain–gut axis, and why emotional eating so often masks deeper needs for safety and soothing.Julie shares her personal journey from eating disorders and digestive illness to radiant health, along with evidence-based insights on:The biochemical link between sugar, dopamine, and anxietyHow intermittent fasting and balanced blood sugar can stabilize moodThe role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in aging and inflammationSimple swaps and sugar alternatives that support brain and gut healthPractical ways to replace sugar with real pleasure and nourishmentWhether you’re navigating sugar cravings, burnout, or emotional eating, this conversation reminds us how nutrition can be a powerful gateway to emotional balance and embodied healing.🔗 Connect with Julie Daniluk🌐 Website: https://www.juliedaniluk.com/💫 Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

What does it mean to inhabit your body as consciousness itself? And how might that change how we heal from trauma, connect with others, and experience intimacy?In this episode, Judith Blackstone—psychotherapist, spiritual teacher, and founder of The Realization Process—joins me to explore the transformative power of embodied awareness. Drawing from over 30 years of practice, Judith shares how trauma-based constrictions form in the body’s fascia, how they shape our emotional and relational patterns, and how reconnecting to what she calls fundamental consciousness allows deep psychological and spiritual integration.We discuss the intersection of embodiment and awakening, how to reclaim the “uninjured” part of the self, and what it really means to connect core to core—within ourselves and in relationship with others.Episode HighlightsThe origins and principles of The Realization ProcessHow trauma lives in the body’s connective tissue (fascia)Reclaiming wholeness by attuning to fundamental consciousnessHealing boundaries: connection without absorptionCultivating intimacy and resonance through embodied presenceSimple practices to reconnect with your coreJudith Blackstone is the founder of The Realization Process, a method for embodied psychological and relational healing and non-dual spiritual awakening. She’s the author of Trauma and the Unbound Body, Belonging Here, The Enlightenment Process, and The Fullness of the Ground.🔗 Connect with Judith Blackstone:🌐 realizationprocess.org💫 Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

After a season of travel, celebration, and teaching, I returned home feeling what so many of us know well — that post-burnout fog where the mind wants to rest but the body doesn’t quite remember how.In this episode, I explore what I call “the slow rebuild” — the process of relearning safety, energy, and trust after prolonged output or stress.In this episode, you’ll learn:How the HPA axis and chronic cortisol elevation create the physiology of burnoutWhy women experience stronger emotional ripple effects from jet lagWhat neuroplasticity and “micro-moments of safety” teach us about rebuilding trust in the bodyFour science-backed steps to restore energy, focus, and calmWhy safety, not productivity, is the ultimate measure of healingReferenced Research & ResourcesMcEwen, B. S. (1998). Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. The New England Journal of Medicine, 338(3), 171–179. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199801153380307 Czeisler, C. A., Duffy, J. F., Shanahan, T. L., Brown, E. N., Mitchell, J. F., Rimmer, D. W., Ronda, J. M., Silva, E. J., Allan, J. S., Emens, J. S., Dijk, D. J., & Kronauer, R. E. (1999). Stability, precision, and near-24-hour period of the human circadian pacemaker. Science, 284(5423), 2177–2181. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.284.5423.2177 Walton, J. C., Bumgarner, J. R., & Nelson, R. J. (2022). Sex differences in circadian rhythms. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 14(7), a039107. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a039107 Sims, S. (2019, September 23). Women are not small men: A paradigm shift in the science of women’s health [Video]. TEDx Talks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5LYGzKUPlE💫 Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

Psychedelic medicines aren’t "one-dose miracles" —they’re tools that can deepen the therapeutic process when used with skill, intention, and integration. In this episode, Dr. Anne Wagner—clinical psychologist, treatment-development researcher, and founder of Remedy and Remedy Institute— explores how MDMA-assisted therapy is being studied in relational contexts, especially for PTSD and couples work.We talk about why MDMA is not a curative agent, how non-ordinary states can surface what’s ready to be worked with, and why preparation and integration matter as much as the medicine itself. Dr. Wagner shares insights from her team’s pilot trials (and a randomized study) combining evidence-based therapies with MDMA, plus what clinicians and couples should know before considering this pathway.Episode HighlightsWhy MDMA is a catalyst—not a cure—and what effective integration looks likeHow non-ordinary states can amplify curiosity, compassion, and emotional toleranceThe promise of couples-based MDMA protocols for PTSD: communication, safety, and staying with difficult emotionsCommon misconceptions (the “one-dose miracle”) and the importance of context, preparation, and supportExperiential training for therapists and what it could mean for empathy, burnout, and clinical presenceBringing the learnings back home: practicing honest conversations without the medicineDr. Anne Wagner is a clinical psychologist and researcher based in Toronto. She is the founder of Remedy, a mental health innovation community, and Remedy Institute, its research and charitable arm. Dr. Wagner has led pilot trials combining cognitive processing therapy and cognitive behavioural conjoint therapy for PTSD with MDMA-assisted therapy, with a new randomized study on the horizon.🔗 Connect with Dr. Anne Wagner: REMEDY - Ph.D., Psychologist & Founder🌐 Website: https://remedycentre.ca/team/anne-wagner/💫 Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

Addiction is often misunderstood as a symptom of trauma, a sign of moral failure, or a secondary issue that will resolve once underlying emotions are treated. But what if addiction is its own disease process, driven by powerful neurobiological loops?In this episode of Unravel, I’m joined by Dr. Anna Lembke, bestselling author of Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A renowned psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Lembke brings decades of experience treating addiction to illuminate what’s truly happening in the brain and nervous system when we become addicted—and how to find our way back to balance.We explore why addiction is not always rooted in trauma, how dopamine shapes compulsive behaviours, and why storytelling alone can keep us stuck. Dr. Lembke shares practical, evidence-based tools for breaking free from addictive cycles and explains her DOPAMINE framework—a step-by-step approach for resetting the reward system and reclaiming pleasure from everyday life.Episode Highlights:Why addiction is a brain-based disease, not just a symptom of traumaThe myth of self-medication: when anxiety and depression aren’t the causeUnderstanding dopamine’s role in addiction—and how it rewires our reward pathwaysHow to recognize the signs of addiction (tolerance, craving, withdrawal, and more)Self-binding strategies to reduce access to addictive behavioursThe power of 30-day dopamine fasts, mindfulness, and somatic practices in recoveryWhy honesty and “radical truth-telling” are essential for healing🔗 Connect with Dr. Anna Lembke:📘 Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence🌐 Website: https://www.annalembke.com💫 Stay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

Marriage is more than a partnership—it’s a commitment to transformation. In this episode of Unravel, I’m joined by Veronica Foster, a seasoned marriage and family therapist with over 17 years of experience working with trauma, substance misuse, anxiety, and relational wounds. Together, we explore what it takes to build safe and empowered relationships.Veronica shares her personal journey into marriage and family therapy, rooted in her own intergenerational experiences, cultural heritage, and lived challenges in long-term partnership. We dive deep into the realities of marriage as both painful and rewarding, discussing rupture and repair, the role of boundaries, and how personal growth is essential for healthy intimacy.Episode Highlights:Why marriage is a catalyst for personal transformationThe impact of intergenerational and cultural trauma on relationshipsRupture and repair: navigating conflict as a path to deeper intimacyPractical tools for regulation, including mindfulness, nervous system practices, and the “STIC” methodThe role of therapy in rebuilding trust and reshaping relational patternsBoundaries as safety and respect—and how to set them consciouslyHow attachment styles shape intimacy and conflict dynamicsThree key lessons for self-discovery in relationships: self-love, growth, and letting go🔗 Connect with Veronica Foster:📲 Instagram: @healingmindandheart🌐 Website: https://theseawithin.me/💫 Stay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

It’s not just the psychedelic that heals—it’s the context, the care, and the meaning we make of it.In this episode of Unravel, I’m joined by Andrew Penn—psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychedelic researcher, and co-founder of Open Nurses. Together, we explore the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and how substances like MDMA and psilocybin are being studied for their potential to transform treatment for PTSD, depression, and beyond.We dive into the neuroscience of trauma, the cultural evolution of psychedelics, and the essential role of integration. Andrew offers grounded insight into what these medicines can—and can’t—do, cutting through the hype to highlight why safety, preparation, and skilled support are non-negotiable in this work.Episode Highlights:The promise and limitations of MDMA and psilocybin in trauma healingHow PTSD impacts the nervous system and window of toleranceWhy integration is the heart of psychedelic therapy—not an afterthoughtThe cultural history and ethical complexity of Western psychedelic useThe neuroscience of rumination, depression, and neural “resets”What professionals and seekers alike need to know before engaging🔗 Connect with Andrew Penn:🌐 Website: openurses.org📄 Article: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies – American Journal of Nursing💫 Stay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

Feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode? In this episode, we explore how to support your nervous system through small, science-backed practices I call “micro-doses of safety.”You’ll learn:• What stress really is—and how it impacts your hormones, brain, and body• Why your nervous system operates like a bank account (and what happens when it’s overdrawn)• 5 simple practices you can use today to regulate and replenish• The role of cortisol, vagal tone, and sensory pathways in healing• Why stepping away from the grind is essential for nervous system health I also share about Somatic Waves, my upcoming training retreat in Costa Rica where we explore the art and science of embodied healing. Whether you're a therapist, teacher, coach, or simply on your own healing journey—you can apply now at elaineclark.ca.Let this episode be your reminder: regulation doesn’t have to be big or complicated. Small steps can shift your state—and your life.Stay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Listen + Subscribe to Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts & Spotify💫 Learn more or apply for the Somatic Waves retreat: www.elaineclark.caShow NotesHarvard Study: https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/29407593/5022094.pdf?sequence=1PubMed Central: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5022094 

What if the emotions we carry—and the beliefs that shape our lives—aren’t entirely our own?In this episode, I’m joined by Judy Wilkins-Smith: author, motivational speaker, and expert in decoding multigenerational patterns. Judy’s groundbreaking book, Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint, explores how inherited emotional DNA silently shapes our behaviours, beliefs, and limitations—and how we can transform those patterns into possibility.Together, we explore epigenetics and systemic constellations, how family systems subtly influence our choices, and why our most significant breakthroughs often emerge from emotional storms. Judy shares her powerful insights on breaking unconscious loyalties, rewriting internal narratives, and claiming the life we’re truly meant to live.Episode Highlights:What emotional DNA is—and why it matters more than we thinkHow inherited trauma and unconscious family patterns impact mental healthThe science of epigenetics, neuroplasticity, and transformationHow to begin mapping your own emotional blueprintA breakdown of systemic constellations and their therapeutic powerThe difference between your truth and the truth—and how to shift itWhy we’re not “train wrecks,” just waiting for the right question🔗 Connect with Judy Wilkins-Smith:🌐 Website: www.judywilkins-smith.com📘 Book: Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint💫 Stay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more: www.elaineclark.ca

What if conflict wasn’t something to fear—but something to work with? In this episode, I’m joined by David Cooley, conflict resolution specialist and creator of the Restorative Relationship Conversation (RRC) model. Together, we explore how attachment styles, nervous system responses, and relational patterns shape the way we move through rupture and repair.David shares his personal journey from working in restorative justice to developing a powerful framework for couples navigating relational pain. We unpack why conflict often feels life-threatening, how childhood wounds resurface in adult intimacy, and what it takes to transform those moments into meaningful growth.Episode Highlights:Why conflict triggers a fight-or-flight response in close relationshipsHow attachment styles replay childhood patterns in adult intimacyThe link between nervous system dysregulation and emotional shutdownHow consent and structure create safety during hard conversationsA step-by-step overview of the RRC modelThe role of mindfulness and somatic awareness in repairing connectionWhy conflict is a profound opportunity for intimacy and growth🔗 Connect with David Cooley:🌐 Website: www.restorativerelationship.com📩 Email: [email protected]💫 Stay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca

Dr. Christopher Willard is a clinical psychologist, Harvard Medical School faculty member, and internationally renowned mindfulness educator. In this episode, we explore how we can transform pain into resilience, drawing from his latest book, How We Grow Through What We Go Through.Blending neuroscience, lived experience, and compassion-based practices, Chris shares how post-traumatic growth is not only possible but deeply human. He speaks candidly about addiction, grief, and the healing journey, while offering tangible tools to tend and befriend our inner worlds.Episode Highlights:What post-traumatic growth is—and how it differs from post-traumatic stressThe story behind writing his book during his mother’s final daysWhy self-compassion accelerates healing and recoveryThe “language of addiction” and how it hijacks our nervous systemHow to regulate emotions through posture, breath, and embodimentThe neurobiology of physical touch and self-soothing practicesWhy community, humility, and hope are essential for long-term changeThe role of mindfulness in healing trauma and transforming relationshipsPractical tools for moving through crisis with courage and careConnect with Dr. Christopher Willard:📖 Book: How We Grow Through What We Go Through📲 Instagram: @drchriswillard🌐 Website: www.drchristopherwillard.comStay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Listen + Subscribe to Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & Spotify💫 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more resources and offerings

Liana Werner-Gray is a best-selling author, certified nutritionist, and cancer survivor who is passionate about the healing power of food. In this episode, she joins Elaine to explore the direct relationship between what we eat and how we feel, drawing from her book, Anxiety Free with Food.Blending personal experience, Indigenous wisdom, and functional nutrition, Liana dives into the science behind anxiogenic (anxiety-producing) and anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) foods. She shares how neurotoxic ingredients can disrupt the gut, brain, and nervous system, while offering hopeful, practical tools to reclaim emotional and mental well-being through nutrition.Episode Highlights:Liana’s personal healing journey—from tumour and chronic fatigue to vibrant healthWhat inspired Anxiety Free with Food, and how omega-3s changed everythingWhy food is more than calories—it’s biological information that shapes mood, genes, and hormonesThe top anxiety-inducing foods (and why they’re called “neurotoxic”)What neurotoxic actually means and how it impacts your endocrine and nervous systems10 proven anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) foods that support the brain and gutThe emotional and financial myths about healthy eatingA sneak peek at Liana’s 7-Day Anxiety-Free PlanThe creation of Liana’s “Anxiety Free” supplement—and how it supports focus and calmConnect with Liana Werner-Gray:📖 Book: Anxiety Free with Food📲 Instagram: @lianawernergray🌐 Website: www.lianas.usStay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Listen + Subscribe to Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & Spotify💫 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more resources and offerings

Dr. Christiane Wolf is a physician-turned-mindfulness teacher, authorized Buddhist instructor in the Insight (Vipassana) tradition, and a global retreat leader. In this episode, she joins Elaine to explore how mindfulness and self-compassion can help transform our relationship with chronic pain.Drawing from her powerful book Outsmart Your Pain, Dr. Wolf unpacks the neuroscience of suffering, the role of early life experiences, and why all pain—physical or emotional—is valid and real. With both scientific depth and compassionate presence, she guides listeners toward embodied strategies for healing and relief.Episode Highlights:Dr. Wolf’s journey from medicine to mindfulnessCore teachings from Outsmart Your Pain: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion to Help You Leave Chronic Pain BehindWhy “all pain is real pain”Understanding the 3 components of painAcute vs. chronic pain: what’s the difference?How we can “outsmart” pain through awareness and compassionThe role of somatic practices in pain reductionThe healing power of physical touchHow Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) shape chronic pain patterns Connect with Dr. Christiane Wolf:📖 Book: Outsmart Your Pain📲 Instagram: @christianewolfmindfulnessStay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Listen + Subscribe to Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & Spotify💫 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more resources and offerings

Dr. Judith Grisel is a behavioural neuroscientist, TEDx speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction. In this episode, Dr. Grisel joins Elaine to explore how addiction rewires the brain, why some people are more vulnerable to substance use, and how long-term healing is not only possible but deeply human.With both scientific clarity and personal insight drawn from her journey through addiction and recovery, Dr. Grisel sheds light on the powerful interplay between biology, trauma, and choice. Episode Highlights:Dr. Grisel’s powerful personal journey through addiction and long-term sobriety“The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety—it’s choice.”The science and story behind her bestselling book Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of AddictionWhy the solution to addiction lies beyond medication aloneThe essential role of human connection in recoveryHow early substance use affects the developing brain—and increases long-term riskWhy young adults are more vulnerable, yet also more capable of transformationA look inside the addicted brain: what actually changes with substance useUnderstanding the “debt” addiction creates in our neurobiologyKey signs of dependence and how to recognize themHow to compassionately support a loved one battling addictionExploring the metaphor of the “hungry little ghosts” that fuel cravingWhy movement and embodied practices are crucial for brain healingHopeful insights for those who can’t yet envision a brighter future.Connect with Dr. Judith Grisel: 📖 Book: Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction🎙️ TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/judy_grisel_never_enough_the_neuroscience_and_experience_of_addictionStay Connected: 🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Listen + Subscribe to Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts & Spotify💫 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more resources and offerings

Anxiety isn’t just in your head—it lives in the body, in our patterns, and in our past. In this episode of Unravel, I walk you through 3 science-backed steps to help you break the cycle of anxiety and return to a sense of groundedness in your body, your relationships, and your life.Step 1: Drop-InStep 2: DiscernStep 3: DisarmWe explore:• How anxiety shows up somatically—tight chest, shallow breath, restlessness• The role of the amygdala, neuroplasticity, and inherited sensitivity• A simple, powerful breath practice to reset your nervous system• Why emotional boundaries are essential for nervous system regulation• The neuroscience of walking and how it mirrors EMDR• How social connection and co-regulation calm the release of tachykinins This episode is for anyone who’s felt the inner buzz of anxiety and wants to experience it in a more compassionate, embodied way.Let this be your reminder: you don’t have to live in a constant survival mode. Stay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Listen + Subscribe to Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts & Spotify💫 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more resources and offerings

Blake D. Bauer, international bestselling author of You Were Not Born To Suffer, is a world-renowned teacher and speaker with a background in psychology, traditional healing, alternative medicine, nutrition, and mindfulness meditation. In this conversation, he shares wisdom from his journey and offers practical insights on moving beyond pain, shame, and self-neglect to reclaim a life rooted in self-love and self-respect.In this episode, we explore what it truly means to value ourselves, recognize how we unconsciously choose self-pity over self-worth, and take radical responsibility for our healing. We dive into how trauma is held in the body, the role of generational pain, and how forgiveness and love play a central role in our path to wholeness.Episode Highlights:Insights from his book You Were Not Born To SufferBlake’s personal healing journeyHow stuck energy, blood, and emotion hold trauma in the bodyChoosing self-respect over self-pityRecognizing a victim mentality in ourselvesTaking personal responsibility for how we’re not valuing ourselvesGenerational trauma and how to break the cycleTwo important steps we can take in our healingWhy forgiveness is essentialGiving and receiving “good, healthy love”The Butterfly metaphor and the beauty of becoming. This is a powerful conversation about softening, seeing ourselves clearly, and remembering our worth. Connect with Blake D. Bauer:🌍 Website: www.blakedbauer.com📖 Book: You Were Not Born To Suffer ✨ Instagram: @blakedbauerStay Connected:🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Listen + Subscribe to Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts & Spotify💫 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more resources and offerings

In this episode, Elaine Clark explores the complexities of narcissism with Wendy Behary, author of the international bestseller Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self-Absorbed. Wendy shares a step-by-step guide to navigating relationships with narcissists, setting boundaries, and breaking free from self-blame.Episode Highlights:What narcissism really is and how it manifests.The difference between overt and covert narcissists.Why empathic confrontation is key to effective communication.The reality of being in a relationship with a narcissist.Red flags and traits to watch out for.How narcissism develops: The most common paths.Establishing healthy boundaries without guilt.Breaking the cycle of self-blame, shame, and self-sacrifice.Tools to disarm a narcissist’s control.Why professional intervention is often necessary for change.Understanding Schema Therapy and its role in healing.The dysfunctional dance between codependents and narcissists—and how to step away. Join us as we unravel the truth behind narcissism and discover ways to reclaim your power.Connect with Wendy Behary:🌍 Website: www.disarmingthenarcissist.com✨ Instagram: @donsanddivasExplore Her Book:📖 Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self-Absorbed – Amazon Link✨ Follow the show on Instagram: @elaineclark_📩 Email the show at [email protected]🎙️ Subscribe or Follow Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify📖 Find resources mentioned in the episode show notes🌍 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more offerings

Dr. Patti Ashley is a Psychotherapist, international speaker, and the author of three books. In this episode, she shares her wisdom on grief, shame, and vulnerability. This conversation delves into how grief and shame intertwine, the role of vulnerability in the healing process, and how self-compassion can become a powerful tool for transformation. Drawing from both her personal experience and professional expertise, Dr. Patti Ashley offers profound insights on navigating grief with resilience, tenderness, and authenticity.Episode Highlights:Dr. Patti Ashley's personal experience of loss & griefInsights from her book Letters to FreedomThe phases of grief and how they impact emotional healingVulnerability without shameThe importance of somatic practices in the healing journeyConnect with Dr. Patti Ashley:🌍 Website: ⁠⁠pattiashley.com⁠⁠📷 Instagram: ⁠⁠@pashleyphd⁠⁠Explore Dr. Patti Ashley's Books:📖 Living in the Shadow of the Too-Good Mother Archetype📖 Shame-Informed Therapy📖 Letters to Freedom The Unravel Podcast🎙️ Subscribe or Follow Unravel with Elaine Clark on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio 🌍 Visit www.elaineclark.ca for more offerings 📩 Email the show at [email protected]✨ Follow the show on Instagram: @elaineclark_