Trauma Rewired

Latest Episodes:

More Than Regulation: What Nervous System Healing Is Really About Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Nervous system regulation has become part of the everyday conversation, from therapy and coaching to wellness culture and social media. But as the language spreads, it gets simplified. Regulation gets framed as staying calm all the time, activation becomes a sign that something is wrong, and "reset your nervous system" promises a quick return to some original setting. Living systems don't work that way.

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof unpack what regulation actually means and why they often prefer the word modulation: the flexibility to move through activation, rest, and recovery rather than flatlining into calm. They push back on the idea that nervous system work is about suppressing emotion, explaining how building capacity is often what makes a rich emotional life possible in the first place.

They also talk about why they don't hand out one-off tools online, why "drop into your body" isn't the right starting point for everyone, and why there's no single tool for anxiety when two people with the same symptoms can have completely different root drivers. Elisabeth shares how sensory mismatch and chronic hyperventilation were behind her own anxiety, and Jennifer reflects on years of re-patterning that changed her relationship with shame and her inner critic.

The conversation closes with the differences between trauma informed, trauma sensitive, and trauma attuned practice, the risks of spiritual bypassing in medicine and spiritual spaces, and why nervous system work was never meant to be an individual project. Healing isn't one and done. The deeper possibility is becoming more able to move, feel, rest, and stay present in relationship with each other and the world.

Start training your nervous system with Elisabeth and the team of Neuro Somatic Intelligence certified practitioners. Get a free two week trial with five live classes a week plus an on demand practice library at rewiretrial.com

Learn about neurotags and how to assess the nervous system in the new NSI workshop with Elisabeth and Matt: https://neurosomatic.com/neurotag

If this conversation resonated, subscribe to Trauma Rewired and share it with someone navigating this work.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro 04:25 What nervous system regulation actually means 11:49 Nervous system work is not emotional suppression 18:21 Why we don't share tools online 27:19 The problem with "resetting" your nervous system 38:47 No single tool for anxiety: finding the root drivers 45:17 Trauma informed, trauma sensitive, and trauma attuned 51:24 Co-regulation and moving beyond the healing loop

Featured in This Episode

📚 NSI Neurotags Workshop

Why can a pattern continue even after you understand where it came from? In this new

NeuroSomatic Intelligence workshop, Matt Bush and Elisabeth Kristof explore neurotags, how these networks become highly practiced, what may maintain them, and how targeted sensory input can help create new options. Designed for coaches, practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding how the nervous system learns and changes.

Learn more and register:

neurosomatic.com/neurotag

NeuroSomatic Resources

🧠 Train your nervous system through live applied neurology and somatic practices designed to

build greater capacity, adaptability, and resilience.

Get two free weeks

https://www.rewiretrial.com

↗️ Watch Trauma Rewired on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@traumarewired

🌱 WORK WITH JENNIFER

Education & Neurosomatic psychedelic preparation, integration, and private mentorship

illuminatedwithjennifer.com

️

Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace

Explore the intersection of psychedelics, neuroscience, complex trauma, and the nervous system

through education grounded in preparation, integration, and harm reduction.

https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

📖 The Wayfinder Journal

A guided psychedelic preparation and integration journal designed to help you explore your nervous system, intentions, experience, and the changes you want to carry forward.

https://www.stan.store/illuminated

Podcast Disclaimer

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical,

psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical

professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you

hear.

We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you

become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when

needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health

and well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you

are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone's life is in danger,

immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't

warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's

very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible

for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements.

Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily

represent the views of our organization.

We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are

conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised

to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners

and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional

and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for

working with a professional.

The BrainBased.com site and Rewiretrail.com is a membership site for general nervous system

health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the

appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real

events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

Discussions related to psychedelics are provided solely for educational and harm reduction

purposes. Nothing shared on this podcast or through Sacred Synapse should be interpreted as

medical advice, encouragement to use illegal substances, or a recommendation that psychedelics

are appropriate for any individual. Decisions regarding psychedelic use should be made in

consultation with qualified healthcare professionals and in accordance with applicable laws.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others,

however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at

traumarewired@gmail.com

All rights in our content are reserved

Beyond the Triune Brain: The Neuroscience of Prediction, Emotion and Change Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

What if your brain isn't divided into separate systems for survival, emotion, and rational thought? And what if understanding how the brain actually works could change the way you think about your patterns, your identity, and your capacity for change?

For decades, the triune brain model shaped how we understood human behavior, suggesting that our reptilian, emotional, and thinking brains operate as distinct layers. While this model helped make neuroscience accessible, modern research offers a more integrated picture: the brain operates through dynamic, interconnected networks that continuously influence how we perceive, predict, feel, and respond to the world.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof welcome back applied neurology educator and Next Level Neuro founder Matt Bush to explore network neuroscience, predictive processing, and the emerging science of how our experiences are constructed.

Together, they examine why survival doesn't simply shut down our higher capacities, but can reorganize how those capacities are used. They explore how patterns propagate through neural networks, how sensory experiences help update predictions, and why emotions, beliefs, and even our sense of identity emerge from the interaction of multiple systems rather than isolated brain regions.

You'll also discover why meaningful change requires more than cognitive insight or finding the perfect nervous system tool. Through repeated sensory experiences and individualized neurosomatic practices, we can begin reorganizing established patterns and creating new possibilities for how we experience ourselves and the world.

The conversation expands beyond individual healing to consider how increased nervous system capacity influences relationships, communities, and collective change. When our patterns change, the way we participate in the world can change, too.

In this episode, we explore: ● Why the triune brain model is outdated and what network neuroscience reveals about brain function ● How survival states reorganize emotional, relational, and cognitive capacities ● Why neural networks operate through prediction rather than isolated brain regions ● How protective and adaptive patterns propagate throughout the nervous system

● The role of interoception, sensory input, and constructed emotion in updating predictions ● How emergence and neurotags help explain complex emotional and behavioral experiences ● Why there is no single nervous system tool for anxiety, shame, or other patterned responses ● How greater capacity can support agency, connection, and changes in our environments ● Why individual nervous system change has implications for our larger relational and social networks

Featured in This Episode

📚 NSI Neurotags Workshop

Why can a pattern continue even after you understand where it came from? In this new NeuroSomatic Intelligence workshop, Matt Bush and Elisabeth Kristof explore neurotags, how these networks become highly practiced, what may maintain them, and how targeted sensory input can help create new options. Designed for coaches, practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding how the nervous system learns and changes.

Learn more and register: www.neurosomatic.com/neurotag

NeuroSomatic Resources

🧠 Train your nervous system through live applied neurology and somatic practices designed to build greater capacity, adaptability, and resilience. Get two free weeks https://www.rewiretrial.com

↗️ Watch Trauma Rewired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@traumarewired

🌱 WORK WITH JENNIFER Neurosomatic psychedelic preparation, integration, and private mentorship www.illuminatedwithjennifer.com

️ Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace Explore the intersection of psychedelics, neuroscience, complex trauma, and the nervous system through education grounded in preparation, integration, and harm reduction.

https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

📖 The Wayfinder Journal A guided psychedelic preparation and integration journal designed to help you explore your nervous system, intentions, experience, and the changes you want to carry forward.

https://www.stan.store/illuminated

Podcast Disclaimer Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911. We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast. We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.

We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs. We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional.

The BrainBased.com site and Rewiretrail.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis. Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

Discussions related to psychedelics are provided solely for educational and harm reduction purposes. Nothing shared on this podcast or through Sacred Synapse should be interpreted as medical advice, encouragement to use illegal substances, or a recommendation that psychedelics are appropriate for any individual. Decisions regarding psychedelic use should be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals and in accordance with applicable laws. We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at traumarewired@gmail.com

All rights in our content are reserved

We Are Shaping Each Other: The Science of Co-Regulation Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

Co-regulation has become almost synonymous with calm: the steady voice, the safe person, the nervous system that helps another nervous system settle. But what if that definition is far too small?

We are always co-regulating. The question is: what are we organizing around?

In the Season 6 premiere of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof welcome back applied neurology expert Matt Bush to explore what actually happens when nervous systems interact. Eye contact can prime neural networks involved in learning. The presence of someone we trust can change the brain's response to threat without changing the threat itself. And repeated patterns between people can eventually shape the expectations of families, workplaces, communities, and cultures.

Through the science of synchrony, hyperscanning, predictive processing, attachment, and social baseline theory, this conversation moves co-regulation beyond "helping someone calm down" and toward a much bigger question:

If our nervous systems are continually shaping one another, what are we creating together?

Key Takeaways

Why co-regulation is much more than feeling calm with another person.
How other people become sensory input that influences prediction, interpretation, and nervous system response.
What hyperscanning research reveals about neural synchrony during human interaction.
How eye contact can influence neural network activation and learning.
Why co-regulation can increase activation and threat as well as connection and calm.
How attachment patterns can be understood as learned predictions and responses rather than fixed identities.
Why insight alone may not be enough to change a deeply practiced nervous system pattern.
How social baseline theory helps explain why trusted relationships can function as resources when we encounter stress.
Why self-attunement helps us remain connected to ourselves while connecting with someone else.
How a practitioner's nervous system can influence the relational environment of an intervention.
How repeated patterns within groups can begin shaping workplaces, communities, and cultures.
Why discernment matters when choosing the people, groups, and environments that influence your nervous system.

The nervous system is continually learning in relationship. And because those patterns can change, our relationships can become places where new predictions, new responses, and new possibilities are built. The work we do with our own nervous system does not stop with us. It changes how we participate with other people and what we contribute to the environments we create together.

Featured in This Episode

📚 NSI Neurotags Workshop Why can a pattern continue even after you understand where it came from? In this new NeuroSomatic Intelligence workshop, Matt Bush and Elisabeth Kristof explore neurotags, how these networks become highly practiced, what may maintain them, and how targeted sensory input can help create new options. Designed for coaches, practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding how the nervous system learns and changes.

Learn more and register: neurosomatic.com/neurotag

NeuroSomatic Resources

🧠 Train your nervous system through live applied neurology and somatic practices designed to build greater capacity, adaptability, and resilience. Get two free weeks

https://www.rewiretrial.com

↗️ Watch Trauma Rewired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@traumarewired

🌱 WORK WITH JENNIFER Neurosomatic psychedelic preparation, integration, and private mentorship illuminatedwithjennifer.com

🎙️ Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace

Explore the intersection of psychedelics, neuroscience, complex trauma, and the nervous system through education grounded in preparation, integration, and harm reduction.

https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

📖 The Wayfinder Journal

A guided psychedelic preparation and integration journal designed to help you explore your nervous system, intentions, experience, and the changes you want to carry forward.

https://www.stan.store/illuminated

Podcast Disclaimer

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.

We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at traumarewired@gmail.com

All rights in our content are reserved

Why Safety Matters More Than Intensity in Psychedelic Healing Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Peak somatic experiences can create profound shifts in awareness, emotion, and perception—but intensity alone does not create healing.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof explore why preparation, nervous system capacity, and integration matter far more than the intensity of any psychedelic or peak somatic experience. Through the lens of Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI), they explain how psychedelics influence neuroplasticity, emotional processing, interoception, and implicit memory while also addressing the often-overlooked risks for individuals living with complex trauma, chronic dissociation, or nervous system dysregulation.

Rather than promoting psychedelic experiences as a universal solution, this conversation offers a trauma-informed perspective on who may benefit, who should proceed with caution, and why lasting transformation happens after the experience—not during it.

Whether you're curious about psychedelic healing, preparing for a peak somatic experience, or simply wanting to better understand how trauma is stored and processed in the body, this episode provides a balanced, neuroscience-informed foundation.

In This Episode

What defines a peak somatic experience through the lens of Neurosomatic Intelligence
How psychedelics influence neuroplasticity and brain function
Why increased neuroplasticity can strengthen both helpful and unhelpful patterns
The role of the Default Mode Network in psychedelic experiences
How trauma changes emotional processing and implicit memory
Why somatic memories may emerge without conscious recollection
The relationship between interoception, embodiment, and healing
Why complex trauma and chronic dissociation require additional caution
How preparation increases nervous system capacity before a psychedelic experience
Why integration—not intensity—is what creates lasting change
The importance of working with trauma-informed practitioners
Why "more medicine" is not always more therapeutic
How emotional breakthroughs become lasting nervous system change
The collective responsibility of healing beyond individual transformation

Featured in This Episode 🌿 Work with Jennifer Wallace

Jennifer specializes in Neurosomatic Intelligence-informed psychedelic preparation, nervous system education, and integration support, helping individuals develop the capacity to safely receive, process, and embody transformational experiences.

Are you ready to become the woman who can carry the vision?

Discover nervous system education, preparation, integration, and resources to support your journey at illuminatedwithjennifer.com.

🎥 Sacred Synapse

Looking for deeper conversations about psychedelic neuroscience, nervous system healing, preparation, and integration?

Subscribe to Jennifer's YouTube channel, Sacred Synapse, for educational content rooted in neuroscience, harm reduction, and embodied transformation.

https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

📖 The Wayfinder Journal

The Wayfinder Journal is Jennifer's guided psychedelic preparation and integration companion, designed to help you cultivate insight before, during, and after peak somatic experiences.

Download your copy here:

https://stan.store/illuminated

🧠 Start with Nervous System Training

Build regulation, resilience, and capacity with the FREE 2-week Neurosomatic Intelligence trial.

https://www.rewiretrial.com

🎓 Become NSI Certified

Learn how to assess and work with the nervous system through the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification.

https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com

Podcast Discalimer

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

All rights in our content are reserved

Why Post-Traumatic Growth Requires Nervous System Reorganization Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

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Post-traumatic growth is often described as finding meaning after adversity, but insight alone does not reorganize a nervous system that is still predicting threat.

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Matt Bush, lead educator for Neurosomatic Intelligence, to explore post-traumatic growth through the lens of neuroplasticity, sensory processing, relational healing and nervous system reorganization.

Together they examine why trauma can persist long after an experience has ended, how protective patterns can become intertwined with identity and why repeatedly revisiting trauma without changing the underlying nervous system patterns may keep us caught in cycles of healing without creating lasting change.

They also explore the deeply relational nature of post-traumatic growth. Trauma can disrupt trust, belonging and our capacity to co-regulate, while safe connection provides powerful biological signals that help regulate stress and support nervous system repair. From oxytocin and social synchronization to community, shared rituals and relational safety, this conversation looks at why humans evolved to endure stress together rather than alone.

Jennifer, Elisabeth and Matt break down what neuroplasticity actually means, how repeated sensory and emotional experiences shape neural pathways and why safety and repetition matter when we are building new patterns. They also explore peak somatic experiences and psychedelics as potential openings into greater flexibility while emphasizing that an opening is not the same as integration. Lasting change requires us to live and practice new patterns after the insight or experience has occurred.

Post-traumatic growth is not about forcing gratitude, forgiveness or meaning onto painful experiences. It is about creating the conditions that allow the brain and body to reorganize around greater safety, connection, possibility and choice.

In This Episode We Discuss

• What post-traumatic growth actually means and why it is more than a mindset shift

• How trauma shapes the brain's predictions of safety, threat and identity

• Why forcing forgiveness, gratitude or meaning too soon can lead to suppression and bypassing

• The role of relational healing, co-regulation and belonging in post-traumatic growth

• How oxytocin and social connection help regulate the human stress response

• Why connection itself can feel threatening after trauma

• How sensory inputs influence nervous system regulation and threat prediction

• Why repeatedly revisiting trauma does not necessarily create healing

• How healing itself can become an identity that keeps us caught in a cycle of continually searching for the next breakthrough

• What neuroplasticity actually means and how repetition strengthens new neural pathways

• Why old protective patterns can reappear without erasing the growth that has already occurred

• Peak somatic experiences, psychedelics and the difference between an opening and integration

• How sleep, digestion, pain, mood and other nervous system outputs can help us recognize whether change is actually occurring

• Why humans may have an intrinsic orientation toward growth while still requiring the right conditions for that growth to emerge

Resources

🧠 Featured in This Episode

NSI Foundations Bundle

Explore the foundations of applied neurology and somatics and learn how the brain and body develop patterns of protection, how to safely work with the nervous system and how to begin creating embodied change.

The bundle includes three self-paced, on-demand workshops designed for coaches, therapists and practitioners who want to begin integrating nervous system-informed tools into their work. Lifetime access is $37.

neurosomaticintelligence.com/foundations

🎯 Start Here

FREE 2-week nervous system training:

rewiretrial.com

Learn more about Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching:

Neurosomatic Intelligence

📺 Watch More Trauma Rewired Episodes

YouTube Channel:

Trauma Rewired on YouTube

🧠 Learn more about Jennifer's work

illuminatedwithjennifer.com

Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace

Learn more about psychedelic neuroscience, applied neurology and Neurosomatic Intelligence through educational, harm reduction content.

Sacred Synapse on YouTube

📓 The Wayfinder Journal

A guided journal designed to help you track nervous system patterns, deepen self-awareness and support psychedelic preparation and integration.

The Wayfinder Journal

🤝 Connect with Us

Instagram:

Trauma Rewired on Instagram

Facebook Group:

Trauma Rewired Facebook Group

🌱 Exclusive Offer

FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from AG1:

AG1 Trauma Rewired Offer

Disclaimer

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We talk about general neuroscience and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neurosomatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. BrainBased.com and RewireTrial.com are membership sites for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. They are not substitutes for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Jennifer Wallace is also the founder of Sacred Synapse, an educational platform exploring psychedelic neuroscience, applied neurology, Neurosomatic Intelligence, and nervous system-informed psychedelic preparation and integration. Any discussion of psychedelics is provided for educational and harm reduction purposes only. Sacred Synapse does not encourage or promote illegal substance use. Psychedelic experiences carry significant psychological and physiological risks and are not appropriate for every nervous system. Always consult qualified medical professionals and follow the laws applicable where you live before making decisions related to psychedelic use.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others. If you have any concerns regarding our content, please contact us at traumarewired@gmail.com.

All rights in our content are reserved.

_:empty]:hidden">

How Trauma Creates High Achievers: Fight Response, Perfectionism & Burnout Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Success can become a survival strategy when the nervous system learns that achievement equals safety.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by entrepreneur and Brain Based partner Margy Feldhun to explore how unresolved trauma can drive perfectionism, relentless productivity, emotional repression, and eventual burnout. Together, they unpack why so many high achievers feel successful on the outside while feeling disconnected, numb, or chronically stressed on the inside.

You'll learn how the fight response can masquerade as ambition, why emotional repression often fuels performance until it no longer can, and how nervous system regulation allows success to become something you can actually experience instead of constantly chasing.

If you've ever felt like you're accomplishing everything yet still can't relax, this conversation will help you understand why—and show you a different path toward sustainable achievement, healthier relationships, and authentic fulfillment.

In This Episode

Why high achievement is often rooted in nervous system survival rather than true capacity
How the fight response fuels perfectionism, overworking, and burnout
The hidden cost of emotional repression in business, leadership, and relationships
Why external success cannot create internal safety
How perfectionism, shame, and hypervigilance become performance strategies
The difference between emotional repression and emotional suppression
Why high performers often experience burnout despite outward success
How emotional processing improves leadership, decision-making, and resilience
The connection between chronic stress, migraines, pain, and emotional repression
Why nervous system regulation creates sustainable success instead of survival-driven achievement
How learning to process emotions leads to greater presence, authenticity, and healthier relationships
Practical first steps for rewiring achievement patterns through Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI).

Featured in This Episode

🧠 The 15-Day Nervous System Rewire A guided introduction to nervous system regulation through 15 progressive practices designed to help you build self-attunement, regulate overwhelm, and begin creating lasting change. https://rewirecourse.com

🎁 Try Brain Based Free for Two Weeks Experience daily applied neurology exercises, emotional processing practices, and nervous system training inside the Brain Based membership. https://rewiretrial.com

🎓 Become NSI Certified Learn the neuroscience and practical application of Neurosomatic Intelligence through our professional certification program. https://neurosomaticintelligence.com

Watch More Trauma Rewired Episodes

Watch full episodes and subscribe on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@traumarewired

Are you ready to become the woman who can carry the vision? Discover nervous system education, preparation, integration, and resources to support your journey at

illuminatedwithjennifer.com

Sacred Synapse

Interested in the neuroscience of psychedelics, neuroplasticity, and nervous system preparation?

Explore Jennifer Wallace's educational YouTube channel dedicated to evidence-informed psychedelic education and harm reduction.

https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse

The Wayfinder Journal

Develop greater nervous system awareness through guided reflections, emotional processing prompts, and practical regulation exercises.

https://stan.store/illuminated

Disclaimer

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute

medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a

qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any

decisions based on what you hear.We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health anddisease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seekprofessional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations arehaving a negative impact on your health and well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health

crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If

someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We

don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date

information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual

needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you

hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their

statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our

guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.

We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique.

These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and

you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic

practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor

or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This

podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional.

The BrainBased.com site and Rewiretrail.com is a membership site for general nervous

system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for

medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Discussions related to psychedelics are provided solely for educational and harm

reduction purposes. Nothing shared on this podcast or through Sacred Synapse should

be interpreted as medical advice, encouragement to use illegal substances, or a

recommendation that psychedelics are appropriate for any individual. Decisions regarding psychedelic use should be made in consultation with qualified healthcare

professionals and in accordance with applicable laws.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are

based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those

involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of

others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us

at traumarewired@gmail.com

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Why Trauma Changes the Brain: Complex Trauma, Inflammation & Neuroplasticity Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Trauma doesn't just shape your memories. It changes how your brain predicts, interprets, and responds to the world.

In this episode, Jennifer and Elisabeth sit down with clinical neuroscientist Dr. Mbemba Jabbi to explore the biology of complex trauma through the lens of neurogenetics, affective neuroscience, inflammation, and neuroplasticity. Together they unpack how early adversity reshapes emotional brain networks, why survival adaptations become deeply encoded, and what current neuroscience reveals about the connection between trauma, chronic disease, and healing.

From the anterior insula and amygdala to inflammatory biomarkers like C-reactive protein, this conversation bridges cutting-edge neuroscience with practical understanding for survivors and practitioners alike. Most importantly, it offers hope: the brain remains plastic throughout life, and healing is possible.

In This Episode

Why trauma is an ongoing conversation between the brain, body, and environment—not simply a past event.
How the brain's emotional networks continuously evaluate safety through sensory input.
The role of the anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and amygdala in emotional regulation and threat detection.
Why many trauma responses are adaptive suppressions rather than deficits.
How survival patterns formed during childhood often repeat throughout adulthood.
The relationship between chronic trauma, inflammation, and long-term physical health.
What C-reactive protein may reveal about the biological impact of childhood trauma.
Why early childhood sexual trauma produces distinct biological effects compared with other forms of adversity.
How genetics and environment interact to shape emotional health without determining destiny.
Why neuroplasticity gives us the capacity to build new patterns throughout life.
How nervous system training, supportive relationships, and therapeutic interventions help create lasting change.
Why emotions are not separate from the body—they are deeply integrated with every system involved in survival and wellbeing.

Featured in This Episode

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RESOURCES

✨ Are you ready to become the woman who can carry the vision? Discover nervous system education, preparation, integration, and resources to support your journey at illuminatedwithjennifer.com.

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📖 The Wayfinder Journal A guided psychedelic preparation and integration journal designed to help you embody insight and create lasting change. https://stan.store/illuminated

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Podcast Disclaimer

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute

medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a

qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any

decisions based on what you hear.

We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and

disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek

professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are

having a negative impact on your health and well-being.