Desire As Medicine Podcast

Your desire can be clear, your vision can be strong, and you can still feel stuck. We’re talking about the making space to receive. When life moves fast, we inhale experiences like junk food, then wonder why we feel swollen with stress and starved for meaning. Digestion and nervous system regulation are not side quests for “wellness people.” They’re the foundations that let desire become lived reality.

We reflect on why we devoted so much time to these themes, from how our culture trains us to rush through meals, emotions, and milestones to how dys-regulation makes us...

You know that moment when you’re thinking, “I shouldn’t feel this,” or “I need to be further along than I am”? That tightening, that self-editing, that rush to get to the other side is often the very thing keeping you stuck. This toolbox mini episode brings you a simple but challenging practice that can change how you move through emotions, relationships, and the messy middle of real life.

We dig into permission as a form of self-leadership: permission to feel what you feel, permission to be who you are right now, and permission to be exactly wher...

Four short phrases can feel almost too simple until you try them slowly and notice your body change. We bring you a “toolbox” mini episode built around Ho’oponopono, a forgiveness and reconciliation practice with roots in ancient Hawaiian community repair and a widely shared modern adaptation for personal healing. If your nervous system runs tired and wired, or you feel stuck in a loop of resentment, self-blame, or mental replay, this is a grounded way to come back to center.

We talk through the two lenses of the practice: the traditional form, held in community with an eld...

Control can feel like safety, until it turns into the thing that drains you. When we’re overwhelmed, stuck in a relationship snag, or facing uncertainty we can’t “think” our way out of, we need a reset that brings us back to our bodies. We share one of our favorite toolbox practices for doing exactly that: the Serenity Prayer, used as a simple daily ritual for reset and clarity.

We walk through the the prayer parts step by step, turning familiar words into a lived mindfulness and emotional regulation practice. We slow down at acceptance and get hone...

Your body knows when you’re off. We are inviting you to listen to that feeling and do a reset. Brenda guide's you through a short nature meditation practice, that resets your nervous system by letting nature do what it does best: regulate, steady, and soften you back into the present.

She starts with breath and a quick check-in. She invite's you to choose an ideal place in nature, whatever feels most beautiful right now. Beach, mountains, woods, lake, backyard, garden, it all works. From there, she builds a vivid, calming nature visualization where she move's slowly th...

That gap between logic and sensation is where so many of our reactions begin, especially in relationships, work pressure, and moments that threaten belonging, love, or safety. We sit down for a quick toolbox mini episode to slow everything down and give you a simple way back to steadiness. 

We walk through the nervous system’s automatic responses, including fight, flight, freeze, fawn and the less-talked-about flop, the moment the system collapses from overwhelm. Then we connect activation to the drama triangle, where we can snap into victim, villain, or rescuer roles, and we name the real goa...

Your breath is the one tool that never leaves you, and it might be the fastest way to change how you feel. We recorded a short “reset tool” you can use. If you’ve ever felt like you need an assist to get grounded, you can try this reset immediately.

We walk you through a gentle breathing practice designed for nervous system regulation and real life emotional moments. You’ll be guided to notice whether you’re accidentally holding your breath, then return to a simple rhythm that fits your body, including an optional inhale for five and exhale...

Your nervous system already has a favorite move. When anxiety spikes, when you feel overwhelmed, when loneliness lands, when anger or grief shows up, you reach for something fast. The question is whether that “something” is actually regulating you or simply getting you through the moment.

We share a quick toolbox-style practice built around one golden question: What’s the perfect regulation tool? Our honest take is simple: the best tool is the one you’ll use. Then we push it a step further, because using a tool isn’t the same as being supported by it. Through a...

Your body is not being dramatic. It is being protective. When everything feels like too much, the answer is rarely “push harder” and almost always “come back to center.”

Brenda and Catherine share a toolbox of their favorite nervous system regulation practices for modern overload, from constant phone input to the pressure of always being “on.” We talk about why dysregulation is a normal part of the human experience, and how regulation is less about perfection and more about returning to yourself again and again with small, repeatable supports.

You will get practical options you can try imme...

Your nervous system is not failing you. It is doing what it was designed to do: search for relief, steadiness, and homeostasis, even if the tools you reach for are messy. We unpack nervous system regulation as the everyday attempt to change how we feel and why “I just need to feel different” drives everything from scrolling and snacking to overworking and isolating.

We get practical and honest about what dysregulation can look like: anxiety, irritability, people pleasing, controlling, numbing, overthinking, and especially avoidance. Then we offer a simple question you can use right away: is this help...

Your phone is not just a tool, it’s a reflex. We catch ourselves reaching for it in the bathroom, at red lights, in elevators, and in the tiny pauses where life used to breathe. So we slow the moment down and ask the question that changes everything: when I pick up my phone, what am I actually looking for? Connection, comfort, validation, entertainment, a micro-escape, or relief from loneliness and uncertainty? 

We talk about the attention economy and how easy it is to slip into habitual pickups, “making the rounds” through apps, and chasing quick dopamine hits th...

Your life can be more “connected” than ever and still feel lonely. We sit down as two women who care deeply about desire, mental health, and real belonging, and we name what a lot of people feel but rarely say out loud: the attention economy is slicing our focus into tiny pieces, and the cost shows up in our bodies, our relationships, and our sense of meaning.

We talk about why humans were never meant to heal in isolation. Long before therapy-speak, coaching programs, and search bars, people processed life through community, movement, stories, shared meals, and ritu...

Loneliness can hit hard in a world where you can reach anyone in milliseconds. We’re looking straight at that modern paradox: more texts, more DMs, more Zooms, more “friends” online, and somehow a deeper sense of disconnection for so many of us. We talk about why humans are wired for connection, why belonging is a biological need, and how curated digital life can quietly train us to settle for contact instead of intimacy. 

Catherine share's a personal story of being surrounded by thousands of people on New Year’s Eve and still feeling empty. Then we unpack wh...

AI can give you an answer in seconds, but it cannot live your life for you. We sit down as two coaches who love personal growth and are genuinely curious about the crossroads between artificial intelligence and human development, because something strange is happening: information has never been more accessible, yet so many people still feel stuck, dysregulated, or unsure of what’s true for them.

We talk about what it means when the value of information collapses and the value of wisdom rises. When “knowledge is power” turns into “knowing isn’t doing,” the real work becomes embo...

When you’re so full of life that everything feels like a no, the usual advice can sound impossible. Journal it out. Move it out. Talk it out. Feel it all. But what if you can’t stand being with yourself for one more minute and even a “gratitude practice” feels like emotional spam? We go straight into that moment and name it for what it is: fullness, a real nervous system state that can make your whole body feel packed to the brim. 

We share a tool that surprised us too: put your attention out. Not as avoida...

Some experiences end, but they don’t actually feel over. The relationship is done, the job is finished, the course is complete and yet your body still feels full, reactive, foggy, or strangely tender. We call that “undigested life,” and it can quietly run your choices until you slow down long enough to process what happened.

We share a toolbox-style practice for emotional digestion that you can do on your own or with a trusted partner or friend. We talk about why intention matters more than the perfect method, and how digestion can happen through movement, stillness, journa...

You know that feeling after something big happens and you should feel “fine,” but your body says otherwise? We get honest about what it actually looks like to digest life, from the most beautiful experiences to the hard ones, so they do not linger as anxiety, emotional charge, or nonstop mental replay. We share the practices we use to process and integrate what we live, and how following desire can be a grounded spiritual path rather than a constant chase. 

We break down digestion into a simple, practical lanes: moving, talking, and stillness, plus direct and indirect ways...

The most annoying moment in growth is when you swear you are done, then the same old lesson taps you on the shoulder again. We honest about that “are you kidding me” feeling and why emotional digestion can feel heavy, irritating, and never-ending. We are deep in our digestion era, and we unpack what it really means to process an experience, metabolize the wisdom, and create space for more life. 

We draw a clear line between being genuinely complete and using “I’m over it” as a shield. Sometimes you have reached neutrality: your body feels settled, the charge...

Some experiences don’t “process” just because time passes. Processing requires us to be willing to meet them again, and again with new eyes. We’ve been exploring digestion as a spiritual and practical practice: how we receive life, integrate it, and expand our capacity without getting overwhelmed or stuck in the (old) stories.

We start with a simple, repeatable framework for emotional digestion that you can use after a fight, a breakup, a diagnosis, a parenting moment, or any turning point. 

We ask: 

If your life is full but you still feel oddly unsatisfied, it might not be because you need more. It might be because you haven’t digested what you already have. We continue to talk about “digestion” as a real practice for modern life, especially in an instant gratification culture where everything is available now and the next dopamine hit is always one click away. 

We explore what it means to receive what’s already here. As a grounded skill built through presence, intention, and self-care. We share a story about a high-performing mother who wants to “receive mor...

If you keep asking for more but it never quite lands, the issue might not be your desire. It might be your capacity to receive.

We’re going deep on a simple practice: digesting your experiences so the body, mind, and spirit has somewhere to put the good stuff. When we rush past moments, multitask through them, or stay “full” of undigested stress and emotion, there’s no room for a compliment to sink in, for love to feel safe, or for an opportunity to arrive without panic. We break down the difference between getting something externally and rece...

You can have the best night out, the biggest breakthrough, or the most meaningful creative project and still feel oddly unfinished afterward. That’s very human, and it’s usually a lack of integration. We built this toolbox episode for anyone who wants to “digest” real life so the wisdom actually lands, the nervous system settles, and desire becomes a steady inner compass instead of a passing high.

We walk you through the behind-the-scenes debrief practice we use every single time we record. It’s a simple, structured reflection that mirrors physical digestion: take in the experience, metabolize...

A bad meal, a ruined trip, a relationship ending, a fall down the stairs, a harsh comment you can’t stop replaying. The moment passes, but something stays. We call it undigested negative life, and it’s the hidden reason disappointment can turn into a full-blown identity story like “I’m unchosen,” “I’m not loved,” or “This always happens to me.” 

We’re Brenda and Catherine, and we’re inviting you into a real, grounded conversation about emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and the spiritual practice of taking responsibility for our desire. We unpack how undigested experiences create distor...

You know that confusing moment when something was amazing and then, the next day, you’re cranky, reactive, or reaching for caffeine, sugar, wine, or your phone like it’s oxygen? We’re naming that pattern for what it often is: undigested life. When experiences stack up faster than our bodies can integrate them, the mind starts inventing “problems” just to create a crash, a release, a valley. We don’t have to keep learning that lesson the hard way.

We walk through the practice Brenda and I use every time we meet: a simple debrief that helps us met...

You know that line we all say when we’re overwhelmed and hungry for more: “I just want everything.” We go right at it. Not to shame the desire, but to tell the truth about why wanting it all can keep you stuck, scattered, and secretly resentful. If your goals include more money, better health, deeper love, or real freedom, the missing piece is rarely another vision board. It’s commitment, responsibility, and the choices you repeat when the sparkle wears off. 

We introduce Brenda’s “Value Fountain” practice, a simple metaphor with teeth: every aligned action is a coin you d...

Desire can feel crystal clear in your head and completely impossible in your body. That tension is what we’re naming out loud here, because “trust yourself” doesn’t help much when fear shows up at the exact same time as the thing you want.

We talk about what seems missing in the market around desire and personal growth: the bridge between desire and daily life. Not just big concepts from psychology or spirituality, but the lived experience of wanting something while craving safety, feeling your nervous system shut down, or mistaking anxiety for a sign to push har...

Wanting sounds simple until you try to say what you want out loud. We keep hearing people name the big dreams, then freeze on the small choices that would train the muscle of desire every day. So we recorded this toolbox mini-episode that is almost absurdly practical: order a tea or coffee with precision, then notice what happens in your body, your mind, and your heart.

We walk you through the Tea/Coffee Practice as a precision practice in real time. We slow down the default “whatever is fine” response and replace it with clear questions: Do I wa...

Getting called “too much” can feel like a warning label, but we think it’s often a sign that you’re finally getting clear. We’re digging into precision in desire: what it looks like to know what you want, say it plainly, and stop shrinking yourself to keep the peace. If you’ve been told you’re picky, high maintenance, or “hard to please,” this conversation offers a different lens that’s rooted in self-trust, feminine clarity, and responsibility for your own needs.

We walk through everyday examples (food orders, restaurant plans, social threads full of “I don’t know”) to show...

Ever get stuck in the “What do I want?” loop and feel your brain and desires go blank? We’ve been there, and we built a short, punchy toolbox to create more clarity around what you want. Using the Wheel of Life, map your world into clear slices: career, money, health, relationships, creativity, environment, spirituality, etc. Then use a rating system from 1-10 as 10 being the most satisfied and 1 the least satisfied. If you do it on paper you can create a circle with the pie slices labeled with your categories. (you can also just google "wheel of life"). Be sur...

What if your most persistent complaints could be used as a compass pointing to what you truly want... We invited listeners into a playful “complainathon” and turned it into a playful practice for clarity, calm, and follow-through. Rather than making venting wrong, lets make it fun and purposeful. Let's capture every gripe on paper or in a voice note and treat it as data about desire. Then for each line, we ask, “Is this within my control?” Yes/No answers with no story.

When the answer is no, we explore surrender and acceptance as active choices. You stop arg...

What if January isn’t your starting gun? We take on the “new year, new you” myth and offer a saner approach to growth: listen to your body, respect the season you’re in, and choose go time when you’re truly resourced. From Brenda’s love of winter hibernation to Catherine’s focus on boundaries and a personal resource bank, we explore how sustainable change comes from timing and capacity, not from a date on the calendar.

Across the hour, we map out the many ways a year can begin—Lunar New Year, the spring equinox, school-year rese...

What if the pattern that keeps draining you is also your best teacher? We go straight into the messy middle from money spirals, to relationship loops, and those same arguments we swear we won’t enter again to show how to mine them for real, usable gold. Instead of blame or self-loathing, we practice a value-neutral “incident report”: what happened, where we went unconscious, and which hook pulled us in. That simple lens reveals consent with conflict, we don’t have to accept every invitation to argue and anchors the “hula hoop” rule of staying in our own circle of control.<...

What if security isn’t a number in your bank account but the self-trust to meet whatever comes? We open up about living a desire-led life, the paradox of wanting more while craving safety, and why “clean desire” matter and equal responsible choices, braver conversations, and structures that support the soul’s pull without blowing up your life. 

We revisit the bedrock of yes/no clarity and how it reshaped the recent series on boundaries, self-love, sisterhood, and embodiment. From dismantling the myth that more is selfish to reframing security as the practice of backing yourself, we map the d...

Ready or not, you’ve made it through the last 9 year cycle. We invite you to breathe into that truth, drop into your body, and walk a guided path through the arc from 2016 to 2025—closing loops, blessings, lessons, and letting desire shape a brighter 2026 with our guest Alee Reina Hoffman.

We move year by year turning memory into medicine. 2016 receives a hug for the brave beginner. 2017 becomes a scene watched with wisdom and compassion. 2018 asks which thoughts still serve. 2019’s gentle nudge at your back reorients you. In 2020, unseen support is revealed and thanked. 2021’s shadows lift as withh...

Ever feel like you were brave, did the “right” things, and still hit bottom? We dive into the anatomy of a nine year cycle—2016 to 2025—and why so many of us are feeling the urge to complete, cleanly. With author and Akashic Records guide Alee Reina Hoffman, we unpack how to receive a cycle instead of chasing the next milestone: honoring what really happened, metabolizing grief and disappointment, and allowing endings to end so you can start without residue.

Alee shares an unflinching personal story—career peaks, sudden illness from mold exposure, the death of her grandmother, and the sh...

What if the things we cling to for safety: money, titles, degrees, even a stacked calendar, are just polished props? We go straight at the myth of external security and make a case for the kind of wealth you can’t lose: alignment, capacity, and self-trust. Along the way, we revisit an idea from a recent guest "money is the happy byproduct of alignment" and get honest about how that actually looks in real life when you’re budgeting, meal planning, or trying not to derail your goals at the checkout line.

We define alignment as the mome...

Ever wonder why money won’t land no matter how hard you hustle? We sat down with conscious wealth mentor Karen Baines to flip the script: alignment isn’t about efforting; it’s about how your daily choices broadcast your value to the universe. Karen maps out her Wheel of Alignment—money, time, and you—and makes a surprising case that money is usually the least misaligned area. The friction starts upstream with how you spend time and how you hold boundaries, and the fix is refreshingly practical.

We dig into the difference between soul desires that linger and...

Want a new year with resolutions that doesn’t fall apart by February? Go straight to sustainable change by making peace with right now so your goals have solid ground. Instead of forcing quick wins that fade, we explore how acceptance turns desire into a steady practice. True growth feels like a spiral, where you revisit old patterns with new wisdom, not the same you.

Together we unpack the difference between change and transformation, sharing candid stories from our health and money journeys. Catherine talks about the cost of an easeful retirement and how intentional systems beat im...

The moments that change our lives rarely shout; they whisper through breath, pulse, tightness, and ease. We designed this guided mini toolbox to help you hear those whispers and turn them into choices you trust.

Across a calm, grounded practice, we slow down your nervous system, contrast the felt sense of yes versus no, and translate sensation into a clean, honest response you can act on today.

This episode is a guided meditation designed to help you feel the difference between a true yes and no. You get to practice slowing down and putting your...

Ever feel that automatic yes come out of your mouth, before you've really had the chance to think about it? We’ve been there, and we built a simple, reliable toolkit to help you answer with clarity instead of obligation or auto-response.

We walk through five practical tools you can use today. The pause that interrupts people-pleasing, a body check that reads expansion or contraction, a desire filter that reveals whether you’re avoiding or creating, clean scripts for yes and no, and a future self check to test how you'll feel tomorrow about the choice. We shar...