Pulling Threads, Weaving Authenticity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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