Stay ConnectedLaura Milliken is a Certified Master Splankna Practitioner dedicated to encouraging her clients through lasting change. She started this podcast determined to teach people about Splankna, a faith based inner-healing modality that helps you achieve emotional peace and Godly freedom.
Laura is a Tik-Tok Influencer who guides women through the intricate challenges of motherhood, marriage, emotional regulation, and spiritual maturation. You can follow Laura at https://www.tiktok.com/@laura_milliken
Copyright: © 2024 Embolden Label 2023
📖 Episode Summary
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken sits down with Dr. David Pendergrass, a pastor, biblical scholar, and experienced pastoral counselor, to explore something that can be incredibly confusing in relationships: what's really happening beneath the emotional defenses of men?
Why do some men shut down when conversations become emotional?
Why does vulnerability sometimes come out as anger, defensiveness, sarcasm, or dismissal?
And why can it feel so difficult to get the men we love to talk about what's really going on inside?
After decades of walking alongside individuals and couples, David has noticed something important: when men finally feel safe enough to talk honestly, the emotions beneath their defenses often look remarkably similar to those experienced by women.
Fear. Shame. Inadequacy. Sadness. Anxiety.
But many men have learned, through their upbringing, cultural expectations, or personal experiences, that expressing these emotions is unsafe or unacceptable.
So instead of admitting fear, they get angry. Instead of acknowledging shame, they become defensive. Instead of revealing insecurity, they rationalize, dismiss, or make a joke.
And often, the people closest to them are left feeling rejected, frustrated, or emotionally disconnected.
Laura and David discuss how these patterns develop, why emotional vulnerability can feel threatening to men, and how understanding what's happening beneath the surface can change the way we approach difficult conversations.
But they also make an important distinction:
Understanding someone's emotional defenses doesn't mean excusing hurtful behavior.
Compassion and healthy boundaries can—and should—exist together.
This conversation is for men who want to better understand themselves, women who want to better understand the men they love, and anyone hoping to build relationships marked by greater emotional safety, honesty, and connection.
In this episode:Why many men struggle to identify and express their emotions
The fear, shame, anxiety, and inadequacy that may exist beneath emotional defenses
Why anger can sometimes feel safer than vulnerability
How men learn to protect themselves through dismissiveness, rationalization, humor, and emotional withdrawal
The difference between emotional avoidance and emotional regulation
Why a man may become defensive when his spouse brings up a concern
How childhood experiences and cultural expectations can shape emotional expression
Why emotional numbness can create distance in marriage and other relationships
How understanding someone's defenses can help us respond with greater compassion
Why creating emotional safety matters for honest communication
The importance of accountability and healthy boundaries
Why understanding the reason behind inappropriate behavior doesn't make that behavior acceptable
How men can begin recognizing the emotions beneath their reactions
What women can learn about approaching emotionally difficult conversations
How greater emotional awareness can support stronger marriages, healthier relationships, and deeper connection
One of David's most important observations is this:
"It's safer to feel angry than it does to feel vulnerable."
And perhaps one of the most important reminders from this conversation is that the behavior we see on the surface doesn't always tell us the whole story.
Sometimes anger is covering fear.
Sometimes dismissiveness is protecting shame.
Sometimes emotional distance is a form of self-protection.
Recognizing those possibilities doesn't remove personal responsibility, but it can help us approach one another with greater understanding.
The goal isn't to excuse emotional defenses. It's to understand them well enough that we can begin responding differently.
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🌿 Join Us for Our Women's Retreat! | January 21–22, 2027Laura Milliken and Lisa Bruton of Arise Sanctuary are hosting a special two-day women's retreat in Nebraska!
This isn't your typical women's retreat. It's an intimate, Jesus-centered experience designed to help women hear God's voice, experience emotional freedom, let go of what's been keeping them stuck, and connect more deeply with the Lord.
Expect meaningful teaching, guided inner work, laughter, community, and intentional time in God's presence.
Space is limited to just 40 women!
✨ Dates: January 21–22, 2027 ✨ Location: Sonlit Retreats, Nebraska ✨ Registration closes: December 30, 2026
Learn more and register at www.LauraMilliken.com under Upcoming Retreat.
_______________________________________________________
🎟️ Want To Become a Splankna Practitioner?Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
🎟️ Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the HostLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here:
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners there—trusted Master's Certified practitioners Laura personally knows and confidently recommends.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own — and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If The Energy to Heal has encouraged you, helped you grow, or supported you in your journey, consider joining the community and helping support the continued production of the show.
https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
Patreon members receive:
Behind-the-scenes content and opportunities to meet on Zoom with Laura, the Host of the Podcast
Opportunities to vote on future episode topics
Dr. David W. Pendergrass, Ph.D., is a pastor, biblical scholar, author, educator, pastoral counselor, and leadership consultant with nearly 30 years of experience in Christian ministry and leadership.
David earned his Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Baylor University, along with a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Gardner-Webb University.
Throughout his career, he has served as a senior pastor, college professor, counselor, and ministry leader, combining biblical scholarship with practical guidance for emotional, relational, and spiritual growth.
With more than 20 years of experience providing pastoral counseling, David has worked with individuals and couples navigating marriage difficulties, communication challenges, emotional struggles, boundaries, and personal growth.
His approach emphasizes honest conversations, emotional awareness, healthy relationships, and practical Christian discipleship.
David is passionate about helping people understand themselves and others more deeply while learning to navigate difficult emotions and relationships with wisdom, compassion, and accountability.
Learn more about David, his books, biblical teaching, and pastoral counseling at:
https://www.davidpendergrass.com
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
📖 Episode Summary
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken welcomes her friend Lisa Bruton, founder of Arise Sanctuary, for a beautiful conversation about hearing God's voice, emotional freedom, stepping into your calling, and learning to live without fear of what other people think.
Have you ever wondered if God is speaking to you? Or perhaps you've felt a nudge, a thought, or an impression but weren't sure whether it was really Him?
Lisa grew up in a Christian environment where Scripture and community were deeply valued, but personally hearing God's voice wasn't something she was taught to expect. That began to change during an ordinary shift waitressing at Sizzler, when two missionaries walked into her section and shared a message that would forever change the direction of her life.
What followed was an unexpected journey of learning to recognize God's voice, stepping out in faith, and discovering that His plans often unfold differently than we imagine.
Laura and Lisa explore what it means to recognize God's leading, how fear of man can keep women from living freely, and why God isn't asking us to perform, impress, or become someone else before He can use us.
Lisa also guides listeners through a simple, Jesus-centered prayer exercise inviting them to examine their hearts and bring areas of disappointment, shame, unforgiveness, and emotional pain before the Lord.
And there's a special announcement! Laura and Lisa are hosting their first women's retreat together in Omaha, Nebraska, January 21–22, 2027. This intimate, two-day experience will focus on hearing God's voice, inner healing, emotional freedom, and meaningful connection with other women.
In this episode:How Lisa first began learning to recognize God's voice
The unexpected encounter with two missionaries that changed her life
How to begin discerning God's leading in ordinary, everyday moments
Why hearing God doesn't always look the way we expect
An invitation for this week: Set aside 20 quiet minutes with Jesus. Ask Him to reveal anything you've been carrying that may be affecting your ability to experience His love, peace, and freedom. Bring whatever comes to mind before Him, testing your impressions against Scripture rather than feeling pressured to hear something specific.
Sometimes the most meaningful moments with God happen when we stop striving and simply make room to listen.
🌿 Join Us for Our Women's Retreat!January 21–22, 2027 | Omaha, Nebraska
Laura Milliken and Lisa Bruton are coming together for a unique, intimate, two-day women's retreat focused on hearing God's voice, emotional freedom, inner healing, and connecting more deeply with Jesus.
This isn't your typical women's conference. With a limited group of 40 women, the experience is intentionally designed to create space for meaningful connection, laughter, rest, personal reflection, and Spirit-led ministry.
Whether you're longing to recognize God's voice more clearly, process what has been weighing on your heart, or simply spend intentional time in His presence, we'd love to have you join us.
Visit www.LauraMilliken.com for retreat details and registration information.
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner?Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
🎟️ Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the HostLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here:
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners there—trusted Master's Certified practitioners Laura personally knows and confidently recommends.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own — and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If The Energy to Heal has encouraged you, helped you grow, or supported you in your journey, consider joining the community and helping support the continued production of the show.
https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
Patreon members receive:
Behind-the-scenes content
Opportunities to vote on future episode topics
Lisa Bruton is the founder of Arise Sanctuary and a passionate advocate for helping women recognize God's voice, embrace their God-given identity, and step confidently into their calling.
Originally from Australia, Lisa's journey has taken her into international ministry, work with children in India, and leading women's retreats in beautiful destinations around the world, including Italy, Morocco, the Philippines, and Tanzania.
Through Arise Sanctuary, Lisa creates meaningful spaces where women can step away from everyday pressures, connect with God, and rediscover the freedom to be fully themselves.
Her heart is especially drawn toward helping women overcome fear, people-pleasing, and the belief that they are somehow not doing enough for God. Whether through retreats, prayer, or opportunities for women to share their voices, Lisa encourages women to recognize that they don't have to earn their place or prove their worth.
https://www.arisesanctuary.com.au/
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken sits down with Angie Richie for a conversation about attachment theory—and how the relationships we experienced early in life can continue shaping the way we connect, communicate, and feel safe with other people as adults.
Have you ever wondered why you crave closeness in a relationship while someone else seems to pull away from it?
Why conflict can make one person desperately want to talk while the other person needs distance?
Or why you can know someone loves you and still struggle to feel secure in the relationship?
Some of those patterns may have roots that began much earlier than we realize.
Laura and Angie unpack the basics of attachment theory and explore how our earliest experiences of connection, safety, responsiveness, and trust can influence the way we approach marriage, friendships, family relationships, and emotional intimacy later in life.
Understanding your attachment style isn't about blaming your parents or putting yourself into another psychological box. It's about becoming curious about why you respond the way you do—and recognizing patterns that may no longer be serving you or your relationships.
This conversation also offers hope: your earliest experiences may have shaped you, but they don't have to dictate the way you relate to people forever.
In this episode:What attachment theory is and why it matters
How our earliest relationships can influence adult connection
The different ways people respond to closeness, distance, and vulnerability
Why some people crave reassurance while others instinctively pull away
How attachment patterns can show up in marriage and romantic relationships
Why emotional intimacy can feel natural for some people and threatening for others
Why your attachment style is information—not your identity
The hope of learning new ways to experience safety, trust, and connection in relationships
The goal isn't to find another label for yourself.
It's to understand yourself well enough to recognize:
Why do I respond this way when connection feels threatened?
And perhaps even more importantly:
Is this response helping me build the kind of relationship I actually want?
Want To Become a Practitioner?Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
🎟️ Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com.
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the HostLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here:
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners there—trusted Master's Certified practitioners Laura personally knows and confidently recommends.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Join Our Patreon Community!Join the Inner Circle Community on Patreon and get access to additional content, and once a month zoom calls with Laura and other Inner-circle members, we'd love to have you there!
https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
Patreon members receive:
Behind-the-scenes content
Opportunities to vote on future episode topics
Dr. Angie Richey, Ph.D., LMFT, is the 11th President of Life Pacific University, a Christ-centered, Spirit-filled Christian university in San Dimas, California. With more than 25 years of experience in education, Angie has served in faculty, staff, executive leadership, and presidential roles and has become a recognized voice in Christian higher education.
Angie is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive experience supporting individuals, couples, and families. She holds a Master's in Education, a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies with a concentration in Life Coaching.
Her work brings together faith, emotional health, relationships, leadership, and personal growth. In addition to her university leadership, Angie has worked with individuals and families as well as business executives, ministry leaders, and public figures, helping people develop greater self-awareness, emotional wellness, and healthier relationships.
Angie is also an ordained minister and a frequent speaker at conferences, churches, retreats, and other events. Her passion for helping people understand themselves, experience greater emotional freedom, and develop healthy relationships makes her uniquely equipped for today's conversation about attachment theory and the ways our earliest relationships can continue influencing us as adults.
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
Content Note: This episode contains discussion of childhood trauma and references to emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse, including SRA. Specific graphic details are not discussed. Please use discretion when deciding when and where to listen.
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken sits down with a longtime client who is sharing her story anonymously—a story marked by profound trauma, years of searching for answers, and ultimately, a testimony centered on the faithfulness of Jesus.
For many years, today's guest knew there were parts of her story that continued to affect her, even after spending significant time in counseling and trying to understand her past. Her history included childhood emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse, including experiences she identifies as SRA.
When she was first introduced to Splankna, she was skeptical.
But over time, working through her story in a way that incorporated her faith, emotions, body, and past experiences became an important part of her personal journey toward greater freedom.
In this deeply personal conversation, Laura and her guest talk less about the details of what happened to her and more about what Jesus has done in her life since.
This is not an episode about giving darkness center stage.
It's a story about what can happen when someone who has lived through tremendous pain begins to experience safety, connection, hope, and freedom—and discovers that her past does not get the final word.
In this episode:What it can feel like to know something from your past is still affecting you without fully understanding why
Her early experiences with counseling and why she continued searching for additional support
Why she was initially skeptical of Splankna
What helped her eventually feel safe enough to engage with deeper parts of her story
The complexity of processing childhood trauma after many years
Throughout this conversation, Laura's guest shares her own personal experience. Her story is not intended to suggest that every person with a trauma history will have the same experience or outcome.
Above all, this episode is a testimony of redemption.
Trauma may be part of her story. It is not the end of her story.
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner?Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
🎟️ Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com.
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the HostLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here:
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners there—trusted Master's Certified practitioners Laura personally knows and confidently recommends.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own — and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If The Energy to Heal has encouraged you or helped you grow, consider joining the community and supporting the continued production of the show.
https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
Patreon members receive:
Behind-the-scenes content
Opportunities to vote on future episode topics
Today's guest is a longtime client of Laura's who has chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect her privacy.
She generously shares portions of her personal story and her experience processing a significant history of childhood trauma, including emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse.
Her testimony is shared in the hope that others carrying painful stories will know that their past does not have to become their identity—and that even after tremendous suffering, hope, connection, faith, and freedom are still possible.
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
📖 Episode Summary
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken explores one of the most practical skills in emotional intelligence: learning to separate what actually happened from the story you're telling yourself about what happened.
Someone doesn't text you back.
Your spouse seems irritated.
Your child has an attitude.
Someone walks past you without saying hello.
Your boss sends a short email.
Those are the facts. But almost immediately, our brains begin filling in the blanks:
They're mad at me.
I did something wrong.
They don't respect me.
They don't care.
I'm failing.
And suddenly, we're no longer responding to what actually happened. We're responding to the meaning we've assigned to it.
In this solo episode, Laura talks about becoming more emotionally intelligent by learning to recognize those internal narratives before they determine our emotions, reactions, and relationships.
Along the way, Laura shares stories from a recent trip with her spirited 89-year-old grandma—including karaoke, family dinners, and plenty of opportunities to practice staying present and choosing joy.
The goal isn't to become emotionless or pretend difficult things don't bother us. It's to become more aware of what's happening inside of us so that we can respond intentionally instead of automatically.
TBN Info:
If you want to watch Laura and Mason's "Praise" episode on TBN: Tune in at 7pm CST (OR 10PM CST) on the TBN network. Or Download the TBN+ App on your phone. The show will be live on the app as well as recorded and posted for you to watch at your convenience. To watch online: https://www.tbn.org/programs/praise
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner?Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
🎟️ Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com.
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the HostLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here:
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners there—trusted Master's Certified practitioners Laura personally knows and confidently recommends.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonIf The Energy to Heal has encouraged you or helped you grow, consider joining the community and supporting the continued production of the show.
https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
Patreon members receive:
Behind-the-scenes content
Opportunities to vote on future episode topics
Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
📖 Episode Summary
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken sits down with Splankna practitioner Noelle Leonhardt to talk about what happens when you feel called to something—and then walk away from it.
Noelle's story begins long before Splankna. After coming to faith at 19 with no church background, she found herself drawn into Bible college, missions, and ministry. A life-changing mission trip to Romania helped her recognize a deep calling to care for the brokenhearted, a theme that would continue to follow her through eight years of missions, massage therapy, prayer ministry, and hospital crisis care.
Eventually, Noelle discovered Splankna and attended CORE training in 2023. She came home excited and ready to begin—but then the overwhelm set in.
The practice hours felt daunting. Life was busy. Fear and inadequacy began creeping in. Eventually, the Splankna materials ended up packed away in the garage, and years began to pass.
But God wasn't finished with the story.
In this conversation, Noelle shares what eventually made her return to Splankna, why she chose to attend CORE training a second time, and the simple advice that changed everything:
Build momentum.
One safe practice session became five. Five became more. Confidence grew. Clients appeared. And somewhere along the way, Noelle realized that she didn't have to carry the pressure of producing someone's breakthrough.
Her job was simply to show up.
Together, Laura and Noelle talk honestly about calling, fear, overwhelm, inadequacy, business pressure, and the temptation to make ourselves responsible for work that ultimately belongs to Jesus.
Noelle's story is a reminder that setting something down doesn't necessarily mean the story is over. Sometimes God brings us back when we're finally ready to approach the calling differently—not through striving, but through surrender.
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner?Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained
🎟️ Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com.
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the HostLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here:
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners there—trusted Master's Certified practitioners Laura personally knows and confidently recommends.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own — and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If The Energy to Heal has encouraged you, helped you grow, or supported you in your journey, consider joining the community and helping support the continued production of the show.
https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
Patreon members receive:
Behind-the-scenes content
Opportunities to vote on future episode topics
Noelle Leonhardt is a Splankna practitioner whose journey into emotional freedom and ministry began when she became a Christian at 19 years old.
After Bible college and a formative mission trip to Romania, Noelle spent eight years serving in missions before eventually moving into massage therapy and hospital ministry involving prayer and crisis care.
She first attended Splankna CORE training in 2023 but stepped away when the process of completing her practice hours began to feel overwhelming. Years later, a renewed sense of calling brought her back to CORE training and eventually into Advanced training.
Today, Noelle approaches her work with a radically different perspective: releasing the pressure to create the outcome herself and instead trusting Jesus with the process.
As she puts it:
"I am a watcher of miracles."
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
Did you find The Energy to Heal after seeing Laura and Mason on TBN's Praise? Welcome! We're so glad you're here. This episode is a great place to start.
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken is joined by her husband, Mason Millican, for a deeply personal conversation about surrender, emotional healing, marriage, business, and what it actually looks like to stop white-knuckling your life and trust God with the outcome.
What happens when you've prayed, worked, strategized, worried, and tried everything you know to do—and you still can't control what happens next?
Laura and Mason explore the difference between simply saying we trust God and reaching the point where we're genuinely willing to release the outcome to Him. They discuss how attachments—to people, money, success, our children, our reputation, or even the future we've imagined—can quietly begin controlling our emotions and stealing our peace.
Mason shares a defining moment from his own entrepreneurial journey when his company was $70,000 short on a Friday and he finally confronted the reality that he couldn't keep carrying the weight of the business himself. What happened next became a powerful lesson in surrender.
Laura also explains how unresolved trauma and subconscious beliefs can create emotional reactions we don't fully understand. Through examples from Splankna sessions, marriage, parenting, business, and everyday relationships, Laura and Mason explore how going beneath the surface can reveal what we're actually afraid to lose.
In this episode:
Laura and Mason close with two questions worth sitting with in prayer:
What am I holding on to?
What line am I unwilling to cross?
Sometimes the thing we're fighting hardest to control is the very thing God is asking us to place back into His hands.
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner?Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
🎟️ Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the HostLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here:
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners there—trusted Master's Certified Splankna Practitioners Laura personally knows and confidently recommends.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support The Energy to HealUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own — and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If The Energy to Heal has encouraged you or helped you grow, consider joining the community and supporting the continued production of the show.
👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
Patreon members receive:
Mason Milliken is Laura's husband of 17 years, an entrepreneur, and the father of their five children. He is the founder of DoSpace, an interior remodeling platform that allows your to turn your inspo pictures into shoppable pics of your actual rooms.
In this conversation, Mason shares openly about the pressure of entrepreneurship, the emotional and spiritual cost of trying to control outcomes, and the lessons God has taught him through years of uncertainty.
Laura and Mason also share how learning to identify attachments, pursue deeper emotional freedom, and surrender outcomes to God has impacted their marriage, parenting, family, and approach to life.
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken explores one of the greatest invitations of the Christian life: living free from the opinions, expectations, and approval of other people.
So many of us unknowingly build our emotional stability around circumstances we can't control—whether it's how people treat us, whether they approve of us, or whether life unfolds the way we hoped. But Jesus offers something radically different.
In this episode, Laura unpacks what it means to live from an inside-out peace that is rooted in Christ rather than external circumstances. Drawing from Scripture and practical examples, she explains how the fruits of the Spirit naturally grow from intimacy with God—not from trying harder—and how believers can begin breaking free from people-pleasing, fear of man, and emotional reactivity.
In this episode, you'll learn:
If you've ever felt emotionally hijacked by other people's opinions, this episode will help you discover what it looks like to live with a peace that cannot be stolen.
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com.
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the Host – Laura MillikenLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
👉 Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here: www.LauraMilliken.com
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners on her website—trusted Master's Certified practitioners she knows and confidently refers others to.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own—and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If this podcast has encouraged you, helped you grow, or supported you in your journey, your support would mean the world.
Join the community here:
👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
As a Patreon member, you'll receive:
Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
Watch the podcast playlist here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken welcomes Miya Martin, a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner, to share her remarkable journey from personal brokenness to emotional freedom through Christ-centered inner healing.
Together, Laura and Miya explore one of the most fascinating areas of emotional health: womb work and prenatal experiences. They discuss how experiences before birth and during early childhood can influence our emotional patterns later in life, and how God can bring restoration to places we don't consciously remember.
Miya also shares her own story of walking through postpartum depression, discovering Splankna, and watching the Lord use her greatest struggles to shape her calling. Throughout the conversation, she explains how creativity, neuroplasticity, and faith work together to help renew the mind and support emotional freedom.
In this episode, they discuss:
Whether you're a parent, practitioner, or someone seeking greater emotional freedom, this episode offers hope that God can restore even the earliest places of hurt.
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com.
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the Host – Laura MillikenLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
👉 Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here: www.LauraMilliken.com
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners on her website—trusted Master's Certified practitioners she knows and confidently refers others to.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own—and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If this podcast has encouraged you, helped you grow, or supported you in your journey, your support would mean the world.
Join the community here:
👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
As a Patreon member, you'll receive:
Miya Martin is a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner who is passionate about helping people discover emotional freedom through a Christ-centered approach to trauma recovery and personal growth.
After experiencing profound transformation in her own life—including freedom from postpartum depression—Miya now helps others explore the connection between emotional wounds, prenatal experiences, creativity, and renewed thinking. She has a special interest in womb work, neuroplasticity, and partnering with God to bring restoration to the deepest places of the heart. All her contact info is found at LauraMilliken.com
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
Watch the playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Splankna protocol is a unique, faith-based modality, and individual experiences will vary. While many people report breakthrough and emotional freedom, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or timelines. Some individuals experience change quickly, while others notice gradual shifts over time. This modality is not a substitute for professional medical or psychiatric treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that results are personal and not assured.
This is The Energy to Heal, your resource for all things Splankna, the faith-based inner healing modality that will help you achieve emotional freedom. In this episode, Laura Milliken welcomes Heather Hughes, co-founder of Splankna and a Master Trainer who has spent more than two decades helping individuals and families find emotional freedom through Christ-centered trauma work.
If you've ever wondered why your child seems to overreact, struggles with anxiety, has frequent meltdowns, or repeats the same difficult behaviors despite your best parenting efforts, this episode offers a refreshing perspective.
Heather shares how childhood experiences shape the beliefs children carry about themselves, God, and the world around them—and how those beliefs often continue into adulthood if left unaddressed. Together, Laura and Heather discuss how understanding emotional wounds can transform the way we parent, replacing frustration with compassion and helping parents build stronger, healthier relationships with their children.
In this episode you'll learn:
Whether you're parenting toddlers, teenagers, or simply wanting to understand your own childhood more deeply, this episode will equip you with practical tools and hope for breaking unhealthy family patterns.
🎟️ Want To Become a Practitioner? You don't need a background in any certain field to be trained!
Use promo code: PODCAST when you register for training to get a discount on your training cost at Splankna.com.
(This discount is only applicable for the CORE training.)
🌟 About the Host – Laura MillikenLaura Milliken is the host of The Energy to Heal and a Master's Certified Splankna Practitioner. She is a registered nurse, a mom of five, and a passionate advocate for emotional freedom, healthy relationships, and faith-based personal growth.
👉 Learn more about Laura, Splankna and all things podcast here: www.LauraMilliken.com
You can also find Laura's featured practitioners on her website—trusted Master's Certified practitioners she knows and confidently refers others to.
📧 TheEnergyToHeal@gmail.com
🤍 Support the Podcast on PatreonUp until this point, Laura has carried the majority of the costs of producing this podcast on her own—and that is no longer financially sustainable.
If this podcast has encouraged you, helped you grow, or supported you in your journey, your support would mean the world.
Join the community: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/LauraMilliken
As a Patreon member, you'll receive:
Heather Hughes is the co-founder of Splankna and has served as a practitioner, trainer, and leader within the Splankna community for more than 20 years. She has helped shape the protocol alongside founder Sarah J. Thiessen and has trained practitioners around the world in this Christ-centered approach to emotional freedom.
Heather is passionate about helping families understand the connection between childhood experiences, emotional regulation, and healthy relationships. Her practical wisdom, biblical perspective, and decades of experience have impacted thousands of practitioners and clients alike.
▶️ The Energy to Heal is on YouTube!Please show your support for this mission by subscribing, rating the show, and commenting on whatever platform you hear it on!
Watch the podcast playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhcKzqnllgmJX7HH9Qyr9CnRMUTKU-oR
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