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Welcome to The Anxiety Compass Podcast, where we help you navigate the messy, magical, and maddening world of anxiety. We believe anxiety isn’t a defect but a teacher — a compass pointing you back to your True North.
Hosted by Clinical Nutritionists Sammy Barnett (author of Anxiety: The Best Teacher You Never Asked For) and Natalie Antoine, this show goes beyond quick fixes to explore the real roots of anxiety. Each week we explore a different point of the compass:
🌿 Chemical & Nutritional
💬 Emotional
⚡ Nervous System
🌀 Hormonal
🌍 Environmental
💪 Physical
✨ Spiritual
Through personal stories, humour, and practical tools, we show how anxiety is not a problem to “fix” but an invitation to slow down, listen, and reconnect with yourself. If you’re ready to see anxiety in a new light, learn real-life strategies, and feel less alone in the messy middle, this podcast is for you.
25 Episodes
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Send a text Running your own business is challenging enough. Add anxiety into the mix, and suddenly your nervous system has a seat at every meeting. In this episode, Sammy and Natalie talk honestly about what it’s really like to build and run a business when you’re overly anxious. The invisible pressure, the constant decision-making, the fear of getting it wrong, and the emotional load that doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet. This is a real conversation about business sustainability when your b...
Send a text Anxiety doesn’t just show up when things are wrong. It often shows up when things are changing. Even good change. Holidays, healing, growth, new routines, new seasons of life... all of these can trigger anxiety, not because you’re failing, but because your nervous system prefers what’s familiar. In this conversation, we explore why anxiety spikes during transitions and why “I should be fine by now” is one of the most unhelpful stories we tell ourselves. We discuss: Why the nervous...
Send a text In this episode of The Anxiety Compass, we explore something surprisingly simple and incredibly powerful. Regulation doesn’t come from massive routines, perfect mornings, or pushing yourself harder. It comes from micro choices. Those tiny, often overlooked decisions you make throughout the day that quietly tell your nervous system: You’re safe. I’m listening. I’ve got you. In this conversation, Natalie and Sammy unpack why consistency, not intensity, is what actually brings the bo...
Send a text In this episode we talk about something that doesn’t get said enough… the anxiety hangover that can linger after being sick. After recently having the flu (hello Japan travel germs), Sammy and Nat share what it’s like when your body is technically “better”… but your nervous system is still in overdrive. This episode is a gentle, honest conversation about those in-between days when you want to be back at full capacity, but your body needs a slower re-entry. We explore: ...
Send a text In this episode we dive into The Great Unwiring... what it actually means to break free from the survival patterns your nervous system learnt years (or decades) ago. So many of us live with a brain that’s stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, running the same old protective programs on loop. These patterns often come from childhood, trauma, overwhelm, or seasons of life where our body had to adapt fast… and never switched back. In this episode, we unpack: ✨ Why your nervou...
Send a text In this episode, we explore why humans are basically walking Wi-Fi routers, constantly broadcasting emotional signals, syncing with each other’s nervous systems, and accidentally connecting to energy we don’t even want. We break down co-regulation in a way that actually makes sense: ✨ Your body is always sending out a “signal” ✨ Other people’s bodies pick it up instantly ✨ Kids and teens borrow YOUR nervous system state ✨ Why you auto-connect (Bluetooth-sty...
Send a text Why do we say yes when every cell in our body is screaming NO? In this episode, Nat and Sammy dive into the messy, very human world of people pleasing... the survival strategy so many anxious, sensitive humans master without even meaning to. We explore the real root of people pleasing through the lens of the nervous system, childhood patterns, fear of conflict, and that deep desire to keep the peace… even at the cost of your own needs. This episode is honest, spicy, validating and...
Send a text Welcome to Part 2 of our nervous system nutrition episode! In part 1, we unpacked the foundations... blood sugar, gut–brain, hormones, protein anchors and healthy fats. In part 2, we’re diving into the rest of the puzzle… the part that brings everything together. Nat and Sammy explore how carbs, nutrients, portion sizes and meal structure can either calm your nervous system or leave it feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated and spinning. It's practical, reassuring and full of “ohhh t...
Send a text Did you know your lunch, your hormones, your sensitivity levels, and even your breakfast choice can change the way anxiety feels? In this two-part series, Nat and Sammy dive deep into how food affects the nervous system... starting with the foundations your body absolutely depends on to stay calm. In Part 1, we break down why certain foods steady your inner compass… while others spin the needle wildly. This episode gives you the science, the reassurance, and the practi...
Send a text Every year, as the clock strikes midnight, we’re hit with the same message: “New year, new you!” And honestly… that pressure can send even the calmest nervous system into a spiral. In this episode, Natalie and Sammy unpack why the start of a new year can feel overwhelming, emotional and strangely anxiety-fuelled... especially when it feels like everyone else is suddenly reinventing themselves. This one is grounding, honest and full of relief, a reminder that you don’t...
Send a text Ever feel a bit… strange between Christmas and New Year? That foggy, floaty, unmotivated, slightly “off” feeling is more common than you think (and no, there’s nothing wrong with you!) In this episode, Nat and Sammy dive into what actually happens to your body and brain in the “in-between days” of the year. You’ll hear: • why your nervous system feels ungrounded after Christmas • how sugar, sleep changes, alcohol and leftovers mess with your mood • the emotional...
Send a text We all know the Christmas season comes with twinkly lights, carols… and a whole lot of hidden anxiety triggers no one warns you about. In this episode, Nat and Sammy unpack the five biggest holiday anxiety triggers and why your body might feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, or one mince pie away from combusting. You’ll hear: 🎄 The family dynamics that fire up your nervous system 💸 Why money pressures and expectations hit harder in December 🍗 How food comments, overeating...
Send a text We’ve all had that moment...when your body goes into full panic mode at the worst possible time...like in the middle of a supermarket!! In this episode, Nat and Sammy share what happens inside the body during a panic attack especially when you’re surrounded by fluorescent lights, background chatter, and discount signs. You’ll hear: What triggered our attacksHow to recognise the body isn't broken...it is just trying to protect usThe tools we used to calm our nervous system And...
Send a text In this episode, we unpack one of our favourite minerals: magnesium. Magnesium is a true game-changer for anxiety, stress, and low mood. We’ll cover: Why it's often called “nature’s chill pill”.The different forms of magnesium and how to pick the right one for your needs.How magnesium supports sleep, muscle relaxation, and mental calm.Why food sources matter just as much as supplements.What happens if you take too much!! With equal parts science, storytelling, and humour, thi...
Send a text In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on your digestive drama club where your gut microbes are all part of the cast. We explore: How your microbes create brain chemicals like serotonin and GABA that shape mood and calm.Why your gut is more like a first brain than a second brain.What your poop can reveal about your microbial “cast members” (and why stool testing isn’t always the first step).Simple ways to start supporting gut healing without breaking the bank.If you’ve ev...
Send a text In this episode, we crack open one of the messiest and most human parts of living with anxiety... that feeling of going a little bit cuckoo. From the spiral of overthinking to the weird physical sensations that make you question your sanity, we share the raw reality behind the word “crazy.” You’ll hear: Why anxiety can make even the most grounded people feel unhinged How we learnt to spot the difference between “cuckoo brain” and actual dangerThe tools we use now to laugh at ...
Send a text Ever feel like you’re running on pure adrenaline, as if your nervous system is sipping on a triple shot of espresso all day long? In this episode, we dive into the world of “Stresspresso”... that wired-but-tired state where stress keeps you buzzing but also slowly burns you out. We'll unpack what’s really happening in your body when you live in this mode, why it leaves you jittery, anxious, and exhausted, and how to step off the stress-fuelled hamster wheel. You’ll learn: The surp...
Send a text When life gets overwhelming, it’s tempting to believe the only way to heal is to escape... book a retreat, run away to a spa, or fly off on holiday. But here’s the truth: healing doesn’t just happen when you leave your life… it happens when you live it. In this episode, Sammy & Natalie unpack why the small, everyday choices matter more than the once-a-year getaway. We share: ✨ How to create moments of healing in your daily routine ✨ Why chasing “the perfect holiday...
Send a text Ever rush through your meals and wonder why you feel bloated, tired, or stressed after? In this episode, Sammy and Natalie break down (literally) why chewing your food is one of the most underrated superpowers for your body. They explore: How chewing jump-starts digestion and nutrient absorptionThe surprising link between chewing, your nervous system, and stressSimple mindful eating hacks you can use at home, at work, or with kidsWhy slowing down at the table can completely change...
Send a text What if the direction you’ve been searching for isn’t out there at all but already within you? In this episode, we unpack the idea of true north and why it’s not something you’ll ever find on Google Maps (or from gurus, apps, or the next wellness trend). Instead, it’s about tuning into your body’s compass (the subtle signals, sensations, and yes, even anxiety) that can reroute you back to yourself. We’ll explore: Why anxiety isn’t a broken GPS but a guide pointing you toward align...
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