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In this episode, we explore: ● Why the triune brain model is outdated and what network neuroscience reveals about brain function ● How survival states reorganize emotional, relational, and cognitive capacities ● Why neural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 [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

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 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 [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

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

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 [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

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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

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 contact the 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 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 [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

_:empty]:hidden">

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 [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

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

🧠 Start your FREE two-week Rewire Trial Learn the same neurosomatic tools discussed throughout the podcast and begin training your nervous system with live classes, expert guidance, and an extensive on-demand library. https://www.rewiretrial.com

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.

🌿 Sacred Synapse Explore Jennifer's educational videos on psychedelic neuroscience, 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 embody insight and create lasting change. https://stan.store/illuminated

Connect with Us

🌐 Website https://www.traumarewired.com

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/trauma.rewired

👥 Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846

Exclusive Offer

🥬 Receive a FREE bottle of AG1 with your subscription.

https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

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.

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. Decisionsregarding 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.

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 [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

Traumatic brain injuries are incredibly common, yet many mild TBIs and concussions go unrecognized. And when the symptoms of a brain injury overlap with the effects of complex trauma, it can become difficult to understand what is actually driving changes in cognition, emotional regulation, behavior, energy, and capacity.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Amanda Smith, certified brain injury specialist, applied neurology pain and performance coach, NSI educator, and founder of Amanda's Way, to explore the intersection of traumatic brain injury and complex trauma.

Amanda shares her own experience recovering from concussion and whiplash and explains why symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, irritability, emotional reactivity, poor concentration, sleep disruption, sensory sensitivity, and reduced capacity can easily be attributed to trauma, anxiety, depression, or stress when an underlying brain injury may also be contributing.

Together, they explore how TBI can change the brain's ability to process visual, vestibular, sensory, and cognitive information; why everyday inputs can require significantly more resources after injury; and how reduced fuel and capacity can affect everything from relationships and work to emotional regulation and rehabilitation.

The conversation also examines why practitioners working with trauma and the nervous system need a foundational understanding of concussion and TBI—and why those working with brain injury populations benefit from understanding the effects of complex trauma, chronic stress, and nervous system patterns.

Rather than pushing through symptoms, recovery begins with understanding what the nervous system is actually experiencing, assessing capacity, working with the minimum effective dose, and recognizing when additional rehabilitation, referral, or collaborative care may be needed.

In This Episode

• What traumatic brain injury and mild TBI can look like

• Why many concussions and mild TBIs go undiagnosed

• The overlap between TBI, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma symptoms

• How brain injury can affect emotional regulation, cognition, memory, vision, and behavior

• Why irritability, withdrawal, overwhelm, and reduced capacity may emerge after concussion

• The relationship between complex trauma and persistent post-concussion symptoms

• Why women and other vulnerable populations may experience additional barriers to recovery

• How TBI can increase the energetic demands placed on the brain

• Visual, vestibular, sensory, and cognitive processing after brain injury

• Why pushing through symptoms can create diminishing returns

• Fuel, capacity, assessment, reassessment, and the minimum effective dose

• How Neurosomatic Intelligence can support individualized nervous system work

• Why practitioners need to recognize when referral or collaborative care is appropriate

• Beginning with simple awareness of breath, energy expenditure, restoration, and capacity

• The importance of compassion for ourselves and others when we cannot see what another nervous system has experienced

Featured in This Episode

BECOMING TBI & CONCUSSION INFORMED — LIVE WORKSHOP

If you work with the nervous system, understanding concussion and traumatic brain injury is essential. Post-concussion symptoms can present as fatigue, overwhelm, emotional reactivity, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to sound or light, inconsistent progress, or reduced capacity for stress.

Join Amanda Smith on September 17 for Becoming TBI and Concussion Informed, a live workshop designed to help practitioners understand how a history of concussion, mild TBI, or head and neck trauma may be affecting what they observe in their clients.

Learn to ask better questions, adapt your approach, recognize when referral or collaboration is needed, and work with greater clarity and confidence.

neurosomatic.com/concussion

Amanda Smith is a certified brain injury specialist, applied neurology pain and performance coach, founder of Amanda's Way, and educator in the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification. Her work integrates applied neurology, nervous system education, and rehabilitation to support people navigating traumatic brain injury and persistent post-concussion symptoms.

Offerings & Resources

START HERE — FREE NERVOUS SYSTEM TRAINING

Begin learning how to work with your nervous system with our free two-week Rewire Trial:

rewiretrial.com

NEUROSOMATIC INTELLIGENCE COACHING CERTIFICATION

Learn to work with the nervous system through an integrative framework combining applied neurology, somatics, trauma-informed education, and nervous system assessment.

neurosomaticintelligence.com

WATCH TRAUMA REWIRED ON YOUTUBE

YouTube: youtube.com/@TraumaRewired

EXPLORE JENNIFER'S WORK

Explore psychedelic neuroscience, nervous system preparation and integration, neuroplasticity, and harm reduction with Jennifer on Sacred Synapse:

youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

www.illuminatedwithjennifer.com

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Connect with the Trauma Rewired community on Facebook:

facebook.com/groups/761101225132846

CONNECT WITH TRAUMA REWIRED

Instagram: instagram.com/trauma.rewired

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 [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

Episode Summary

Why do you know you're safe logically, but your body still reacts as though you're in danger?

Emotional regulation isn't about staying calm, avoiding difficult emotions, or suppressing how you feel. It's about your brain and nervous system working together to accurately interpret what's happening inside and around you so you can respond with flexibility instead of survival.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by NSI educator Matt Bush to explore the neuroscience of emotional regulation through the lens of brain integration, interoception, sensory processing, and neuroplasticity.

Together they unpack why trauma disrupts communication between key brain networks, how chronic stress creates fragmented emotional processing, and why many people remain stuck in cycles of overwhelm, shutdown, perfectionism, dissociation, binge eating, emotional flooding, or emotional numbness despite years of personal development or therapy.

The conversation also explores why emotional regulation is a trainable neurological skill, how simple nervous system practices improve brain integration, why sensory mismatch contributes to chronic stress, and how properly preparing the nervous system creates safer, more effective emotional processing—including during psychedelic experiences.

If you've ever wondered why insight alone doesn't create lasting change, why your emotions sometimes feel bigger than the situation, or why your body seems to react before your mind can catch up, this episode offers a neuroscience-based roadmap toward regulation, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.

In This Episode We Discuss

• What emotional regulation actually is—and what it is not

• Why emotional regulation depends on brain integration

• The roles of the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex

• How trauma disrupts communication between brain networks

• Why chronic stress creates fragmented emotional processing

• The relationship between interoception, proprioception, and emotional regulation

• Sensory mismatch and its hidden impact on nervous system health

• Emotional flooding, shutdown, perfectionism, binge eating, and dissociation

• Why "fake it until you make it" comes with a physiological cost

• The neuroscience behind predictive coding and emotional interpretation

• Why emotions are physiological—not simply psychological

• How movement, vocalization, and nervous system regulation support emotional processing

• Brain-body integration and the limits of insight alone

• Emotional regulation during psychedelic and peak somatic experiences

• Building nervous system capacity through daily regulation practices

• Practical neuroscience tools that support resilience and post-traumatic growth

Featured in This Episode

NSI Foundations Bundle

Learn the foundational neuroscience and practical nervous system tools behind everything taught inside the NeuroSomatic Intelligence Certification.

https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/foundations

Start Here

FREE 2-Week Rewire Trial

https://www.rewiretrial.com

Learn More About NeuroSomatic Intelligence

https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com

Watch More Trauma Rewired Episodes

YouTube Channel:

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

https://illuminatedwithjennifer.com

Sacred Synapse with Jennifer Wallace

Learn more about psychedelic neuroscience, applied neurology, Neurosomatic Intelligence, and nervous system-informed psychedelic preparation and integration through educational, harm reduction content.

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

The Wayfinder Journal

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

https://stan.store/illuminated

Connect With Us

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/trauma.rewired

Facebook Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846

Exclusive Offer

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

https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

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 contact the 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 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 [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

Most people think boundaries are about saying "no," protecting themselves, or keeping others at a distance. But from a nervous system perspective, boundaries are something much deeper. They are not walls that separate us from connection—they are the foundation that makes authentic connection possible.

In this episode, Jennifer Wallace, Elisabeth Kristof, and returning guest Margie Faltin explore boundaries through the lens of neuroscience, attachment, co-regulation, and post-traumatic growth.

Together they examine why boundaries can feel so threatening after trauma, why receiving someone else's boundary can activate abandonment, and how early attachment experiences shape the way we relate to authenticity, conflict, and connection throughout our lives.

Whether you've struggled with people-pleasing, over-functioning, conflict avoidance, or feeling guilty for putting your needs first, this conversation offers a compassionate, science-backed framework for understanding boundaries as an expression of nervous system health rather than emotional distance.

Together they explore why boundaries become easier as nervous system capacity grows, how self-attunement changes the way we communicate our needs, why authenticity requires safety, and how learning to both set and receive boundaries creates stronger relationships, greater resilience, and lasting post-traumatic growth.

Key Takeaways

• Why boundaries are a nervous system skill—not simply communication techniques.

• How attachment patterns shape the way we set and receive boundaries.

• Why receiving a boundary can feel like abandonment after trauma.

• The neuroscience of oxytocin, co-regulation, and the "tend-and-befriend" stress response.

• Why people-pleasing and fawning are survival adaptations rather than personality traits.

• The difference between reactive boundaries and boundaries rooted in regulation.

• Why self-attunement is foundational to authentic relationships.

• How rupture and repair help build secure attachment over time.

• Practical nervous system exercises for strengthening boundary capacity.

• Why authentic connection requires truth—not performance, perfection, or self-abandonment.

If you've ever worried that speaking your truth would cost you love, feared disappointing others, or found yourself constantly prioritizing everyone else's needs above your own, this episode offers another perspective: healthy boundaries are not about pushing people away. They are about creating the safety, authenticity, and nervous system capacity that allow genuine connection to grow.

Resources

🧠 Start Your Nervous System Journey — FREE for Two Weeks https://rewiretrial.com

🌿 NeuroSomatic Intelligence (NSI) Certification https://neurosomaticintelligence.com

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 with Jennifer Wallace https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse

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

📖 The Wayfinder Journal https://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 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.

The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.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 [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

Why do so many trauma survivors say "yes" when every part of their body is saying "no"?

In this deeply compassionate episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by somatic educator Luis Mojica to explore one of the least understood trauma adaptations: sexual fawning.

While many people recognize fawning as people-pleasing, sexual fawning often remains hidden beneath shame, confusion, and self-blame. Together, they unpack how the nervous system can mistake compliance for safety, why intimacy can become intertwined with survival, and how early developmental experiences shape adult relationships.

You'll learn why fawning is not a personality trait but an intelligent physiological adaptation, how developmental trauma creates "over-couplings" between fear and pleasure, and why healing begins not with forcing different behaviors, but by learning to recognize the body's earliest protective signals.

This conversation also explores the relationship between attachment wounds, body boundaries, shame, freeze responses, compassion, and nervous system capacity—offering a new framework for understanding sexuality through the lens of neuroscience, somatics, and post-traumatic growth.

Whether you've experienced childhood trauma, struggle to maintain boundaries, or simply want a deeper understanding of how survival responses influence intimacy, this episode offers practical insights and profound hope for healing.

In This Episode

• What the fawn response actually is—and why it's far more than people-pleasing
• The difference between fawning and sexual fawning
• How developmental trauma couples fear, shame, and arousal
• Why sexual fawning often occurs inside loving, committed relationships
• The physiology behind compliance, dissociation, and body boundaries
• How freeze and fawn work together during traumatic experiences
• Why shame is a physiological state—not a character flaw
• Understanding over-coupling and how the nervous system learns survival
• The difference between present danger and nervous system triggers
• How to recognize the first body signals before a fawn response occurs
• Why compassion can feel threatening to a traumatized nervous system
• The relationship between chronic people-pleasing, chronic illness, and nervous system capacity
• Practical somatic practices for interrupting the fawn response and rebuilding body trust

Start Here

If today's conversation resonated with you, these resources are a powerful next step:

🧠 The Nervous System Rewire Mini Course Learn the foundational practices for regulating your nervous system and creating lasting change. https://rewirecourse.com

🧠 Try Brain-Based Membership Free for Two Weeks Join Jennifer and Elisabeth for live nervous system training. https://rewiretrial.com

🧠 NSI Foundations Begin understanding how applied neurology and Neurosomatic Intelligence create lasting nervous system change. https://www.rewiretrial.com

Watch More Trauma Rewired Episodes

If this conversation resonated, continue exploring these related episodes:

• Understanding the Fawn Response
• Why Boundaries Feel Like Rejection After Trauma
• From Shame to Self-Expression: Healing Body Boundaries After Trauma
• Emotional Flashbacks and Complex Trauma
• Why Being Yourself Can Feel Dangerous After Trauma
• The Freeze Response Explained
• Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn: Understanding Survival States

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.

If you're interested in the intersection of neuroscience, psychedelics, interoception, and nervous system preparation, explore Jennifer's educational YouTube channel:

Sacred Synapse https://www.youtube.com/@SacredSynapse

New videos every week exploring applied neurology, neuroplasticity, trauma physiology, and psychedelic harm reduction.

The Wayfinder Journal

Healing doesn't happen through insight alone.

The Wayfinder Journal was designed to help you develop greater self-awareness, nervous system attunement, and embodied reflection between sessions and episodes.

Explore the journal here: https://stan.store/traumarewired

Exclusive Offer

🥬 Receive a FREE bottle of AG1 with your subscription.

https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

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.

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. Decisionsregarding 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.

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 [email protected]

All rights in our content are reserved

The fawn response is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—trauma adaptations. While many people recognize it as people-pleasing, saying yes too often, or avoiding conflict, fawning is far more than a personality trait. It is a deeply wired survival response designed to preserve attachment, reduce threat, and maintain connection when the nervous system believes belonging is at risk.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof explore the neuroscience of the fawn response, explaining why so many people learn to abandon themselves in order to maintain relationships. They examine how developmental trauma teaches children to prioritize attachment over authenticity, why boundaries can feel physically threatening, and how chronic self-sacrifice eventually disconnects us from our own needs, emotions, and body.

Jennifer also shares deeply personal reflections on her own healing journey, including how fawning shaped her relationships, her experience of people-pleasing, and her recovery after surviving a kidnapping for the purpose of sex trafficking. Together, Jennifer and Elisabeth distinguish between acute survival fawning during life-threatening events and the chronic relational fawning that quietly shapes everyday interactions, work, friendships, and intimate relationships.

The conversation also explores sexual fawning—one of the least discussed trauma adaptations—and how nervous system dysregulation can cause people to override their body's own signals in order to preserve attachment, avoid conflict, or maintain connection. They discuss why these patterns often continue inside loving relationships, how dissociation disconnects us from authentic consent, and why rebuilding trust with our own body becomes one of the most important parts of healing.

Rather than viewing fawning as weakness or codependency, Jennifer and Elisabeth invite listeners to understand it as an intelligent biological adaptation that once protected survival. Healing isn't about becoming less caring or less connected. It's about expanding nervous system capacity so connection no longer requires self-abandonment.

Key Takeaways

• What the fawn response really is and why it is a biological survival adaptation rather than a personality trait.

• The difference between acute survival fawning and chronic relational fawning.

• Why people-pleasing, caretaking, and self-sacrifice are often nervous system responses rather than conscious choices.

• How developmental trauma teaches us to choose attachment over authenticity.

• Why boundaries often feel dangerous to the nervous system.

• The neuroscience of attachment, co-regulation, and social survival.

• Why connection is a regulated nervous system state—not simply an emotion.

• How chronic fawning contributes to emotional suppression, shame, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation.

• How false connection develops through self-abandonment.

• Jennifer's personal reflections on surviving kidnapping and how fawning functioned during an acute survival experience.

• The hidden dynamics of sexual fawning and why it often persists inside loving relationships.

• How dissociation disconnects us from our body's "yes" and "no."

• Why emotional processing helps restore authentic boundaries and self-expression.

• Practical ways to begin rewiring the fawn response through daily nervous system practice.

If you've ever struggled to say no, felt responsible for everyone else's emotions, or found yourself losing your voice in order to keep the peace, this episode offers a compassionate, neuroscience-informed understanding of why those patterns developed—and how they can begin to change. Healing starts by recognizing that your nervous system was protecting you. Recovery begins when your body learns that authentic connection no longer requires self-abandonment

Resources

🧠 Start Your Nervous System Journey — FREE for Two Weeks https://rewiretrial.com

🌿 NeuroSomatic Intelligence (NSI) Certification https://neurosomaticintelligence.com

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 with Jennifer Wallace https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse

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

📖 The Wayfinder Journal https://stan.store/illuminated

Disclaimer

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

We share our experiences and explore trauma, nervous system health, emotional processing, 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 listening if these conversations are having a negative impact on your health or well-being.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. If someone's life is in immediate danger, call 911.

We do our best to stay current with scientific research, but older episodes remain available and may not reflect the latest findings. We do not warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate, or up-to-date information. It is important to consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual needs, as we are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information shared in this podcast.

We occasionally invite guests to share their expertise and lived experiences. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Trauma Rewired or our organization. We do not independently verify every statement made by our guests and do not endorse third-party content.

We discuss neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and somatic health for a broad audience, but every nervous system is unique. The information shared is educational in nature and should not replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic care.

We are not physicians or licensed medical professionals. We are certified Neurosomatic practitioners, educators, and nervous system coaches. This podcast is not a substitute for working with a qualified healthcare provider who understands your individual history and needs.

Brain Based and Rewire Trial provide educational resources focused on nervous system health, stress processing, and somatic practices. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition and are not appropriate substitutes for emergency or crisis care.

Any examples shared throughout this podcast are for educational and illustrative purposes. When based on real events, identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy 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 psychedelic substances are appropriate for any individual. Decisions regarding psychedelic use should always be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals and in accordance with applicable laws.

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