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The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastIt's Good to be the King: Reclaiming small joys, emotional freedom, and the power of choosing your own internal weather.🎧 Intro – Why I’m Still Talking
Hi everyone. I’m Leah Burkhart, and welcome back to The Healthy Sensitive—a podcast for sensitive souls trying to live awake in a world that’s still half-asleep.
This is a space for those of us who don’t just want to get through life—we want to feel it.
We’re the kind of people who tend to live like everything is a miracle, to borrow the quote often attributed to Einstein.
We notice the way light changes in a room. The shift in someone’s tone. The way our own...2025-06-1719 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastEmbracing Grief and Finding Meaning in LossIn this episode of The Healthy Sensitive, Leah navigates the poignant journey of grief and loss, drawing from her personal experiences. Following the loss of her cherished cat Sasha, Leah offers an exploration into the process of grieving, examining the varied forms and stages of grief as described by experts like Brené Brown and David Kessler.
Delving into the profound words of Thomas More's Dark Night of the Soul, she draws a parallel between her personal growth and the transformative power of profound grief. Leah also touches on the concept of post-traumatic growth, demonstrating how sensitive individuals c...2024-03-2533 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastEmbracing Grief and Finding Meaning in LossIn this episode of The Healthy Sensitive, Leah navigates the poignant journey of grief and loss, drawing from her personal experiences. Following the loss of her cherished cat Sasha, Leah offers an exploration into the process of grieving, examining the varied forms and stages of grief as described by experts like Brené Brown and David Kessler.
Delving into the profound words of Thomas More's Dark Night of the Soul, she draws a parallel between her personal growth and the transformative power of profound grief. Leah also touches on the concept of post-traumatic growth, demonstrating how sensitive individuals c...2024-03-2533 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Dark Side of Purposeful Living: High Sensitivity and WorkaholismIn this episode of The Healthy Sensitive, Leah Burkhart delves deep into the intriguing relationship between high sensitivity and workaholism. Primarily focusing on highly sensitive people, she sheds light on their profound depth of processing, which often leads to extended work hours, perfectionism, and excessive preparation for tasks. This life-altering conversation illuminates the positive and negative effects of this overwhelming drive on their lives.
Highlighting the innate empathy and responsiveness of highly sensitive individuals, Leah elucidates how these traits can spiral into workaholism. Such individuals tend to absorb the emotional needs of others around them, inevitably adding...2024-03-1521 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Dark Side of Purposeful Living: High Sensitivity and WorkaholismIn this episode of The Healthy Sensitive, Leah Burkhart delves deep into the intriguing relationship between high sensitivity and workaholism. Primarily focusing on highly sensitive people, she sheds light on their profound depth of processing, which often leads to extended work hours, perfectionism, and excessive preparation for tasks. This life-altering conversation illuminates the positive and negative effects of this overwhelming drive on their lives.
Highlighting the innate empathy and responsiveness of highly sensitive individuals, Leah elucidates how these traits can spiral into workaholism. Such individuals tend to absorb the emotional needs of others around them, inevitably adding...2024-03-1521 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow Having Purpose Affects Motivation and ResilienceIn this episode of the Healthy Sensitive, Leah explores the profound impact of purpose on motivation and resilience. The discussion offers an extensive study on how appreciating your unique purpose can elevate your motivation, direct your life towards your goals, and enhance your stress tolerance. Leah elucidates the intriguing relationship between 'purpose', 'meaning', and our resilience, edging on the realm of neuroscience to portray how 'the seeking system' and dopamine pathways of our brain govern motivation.
She enlightens listeners with a variety of unconventional strategies known to stimulate dopamine production aiming to boost motivation. Insights from Joshua...2024-03-0621 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow Having Purpose Affects Motivation and ResilienceIn this episode of the Healthy Sensitive, Leah explores the profound impact of purpose on motivation and resilience. The discussion offers an extensive study on how appreciating your unique purpose can elevate your motivation, direct your life towards your goals, and enhance your stress tolerance. Leah elucidates the intriguing relationship between 'purpose', 'meaning', and our resilience, edging on the realm of neuroscience to portray how 'the seeking system' and dopamine pathways of our brain govern motivation.
She enlightens listeners with a variety of unconventional strategies known to stimulate dopamine production aiming to boost motivation. Insights from Joshua...2024-03-0621 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow to Clarify Our Purpose (and Why It Matters)Our latest episode of The Healthy Sensitive takes you on a journey to discover your purpose. We help you comprehend the legacy you wish to leave behind by identifying problems you enjoy solving and people you love helping. Through an 'expansion and experimentation' mindset, we explore realms you are eager to delve into and learn from. Join us in this self-discovery journey as we navigate through curiosity, risk, trust, pleasure, and spirituality to identify the purpose that makes you come alive.
Resources and Links:
If you are interested in diving more deeply into t...2024-03-0318 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow to Clarify Our Purpose (and Why It Matters)Our latest episode of The Healthy Sensitive takes you on a journey to discover your purpose. We help you comprehend the legacy you wish to leave behind by identifying problems you enjoy solving and people you love helping. Through an 'expansion and experimentation' mindset, we explore realms you are eager to delve into and learn from. Join us in this self-discovery journey as we navigate through curiosity, risk, trust, pleasure, and spirituality to identify the purpose that makes you come alive.
Resources and Links:
If you are interested in diving more deeply into t...2024-03-0318 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastA New Era: A Season IntroWelcome back to the Healthy Sensitive podcast where we navigate high sensitivity and everything that comes along with it. This episode explores the host's journey with her own high sensitivity, her bouts with creative seasons, her struggles with consistency, and her passion for sharing informative content. She reflects on her many roles, from a clinical health educator to an entrepreneur, and relates to listeners who also thrive on a portfolio model of work.
This episode gives a sneak peek into exciting new elements being introduced to the podcast and the broader Healthy Sensitive community. The host shares...2024-03-0313 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastA New Era: A Season IntroWelcome back to the Healthy Sensitive podcast where we navigate high sensitivity and everything that comes along with it. This episode explores the host's journey with her own high sensitivity, her bouts with creative seasons, her struggles with consistency, and her passion for sharing informative content. She reflects on her many roles, from a clinical health educator to an entrepreneur, and relates to listeners who also thrive on a portfolio model of work.
This episode gives a sneak peek into exciting new elements being introduced to the podcast and the broader Healthy Sensitive community. The host shares...2024-03-0313 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastImposter Syndrome: Why Are So Many of Us HSP’s Prone To It?In today's episode, I'll talk about:
The Types of Imposter Syndrome:
The Perfectionist: This person sets extremely high standards for themselves and feels like any mistake is a sign of failure.
The Expert: This individual believes they need to know everything before taking on a task and fears being exposed for not knowing something.
The Soloist: This type prefers to work alone, as they believe seeking help would reveal their lack of ability.
The Natural Genius: This person believes that their success should come naturally, and any struggle or...2023-08-1950 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBoundaries - What Are They REALLY And How Do We Set Them?In this episode, we talk about:
What boundaries are
Types of boundaries
Why boundaries are important to highly sensitive people in particular
Why they are important to our health
How to build boundaries
How to communicate our boundaries with others (without being a jerk)
2023-08-081h 11
Doing DifferentlyEpisode 6: Supporting Highly Sensitive People, A Conversation with Leah Burkhart.In this episode, Marcel speaks with Leah Burkhart, a wellness coach, life coach, and educator. Over the past seven years, Leah has maintained a daily Yoga practice and studied Yoga with Marcel. Leah created The Healthy Sensitive- a practice where she guides highly sensitive people like herself and helps them to manage their feelings and become more effective in their own lives. Leah and Marcel share revelations from their own experiences of being highly sensitive people and discuss strategies that work for supporting and relating to highly sensitive people. 2022-07-0141 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Right Amount of RiskIn today's episode, I discuss:
The current risks I am taking on
How we define risk
Intuition vs. Impulse
Highly Sensitive People and Risk
HSP's and an inverted pyramid of needs
Culture and risk
What is worth doing even if we fail?
Being creative with how we build our lives
Trickster vs. Martyr
How to create an ecosystem that supports a healthy response to risk/failure
If ever you want support, you can reach Leah at www.thehealthysensitive.com or you can email her at leah@thehealthysensitive.com
2022-06-251h 00The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Right Amount of RiskIn today's episode, I discuss:
The current risks I am taking on
How we define risk
Intuition vs. Impulse
Highly Sensitive People and Risk
HSP's and an inverted pyramid of needs
Culture and risk
What is worth doing even if we fail?
Being creative with how we build our lives
Trickster vs. Martyr
How to create an ecosystem that supports a healthy response to risk/failure
If ever you want support, you can reach Leah at www.thehealthysensitive.com or you can email her at leah@thehealthysensitive.com
2022-06-251h 00The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastSeven Mindful Questions - Interview with Lisa NezneskiLisa is a pharmacist as well as a certified mindfulness teacher. She has authored two books: “Grounded in Chaos - Leaning into adversity and learning joy” and 7 Mindful Questions: Stop wasting time. Redirect your mind. Focus on what matters.”
In our conversation, we touch on a number of things.
We talk about her personal and professional journey.
We discuss the value of integrating tools from western modern medicine along with traditional modalities and mindfulness practices.
We talk about the importance of living in alignment with our values.
We, of course, spe...2021-07-281h 03The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastInterview with Andy Mort on The Gentle Rebel in today’s episode, I had the privilege of speaking with a long-time podcaster, musician, and coach who also works with highly sensitive people.
His name is Andy Mort. He has been a host of the podcast “The Gentle Rebel” for a number of years. He has a plethora of resources dedicated to highly sensitive people…and in particular…highly sensitive creatives.
You can download his podcast (again…the Gentle Rebel) anywhere you access your podcasts. You can also find him at his website www.andymort.com .
In our conversation, we covered a number of to...2021-07-211h 00The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastInterview with Megan Murk (A Leader in the Health Coaching Space)Megan Murk is one of those individuals who is irritatingly good at just about whatever she tries. The worst part is that she is also incredibly likable. She is both knowledgeable and wise. She's confident and humble. It's part of why she continues to be an effective leader. She has taken that energy and applied it to helping mold the field of health and wellness coaching. Her hope is to help provide more legitimacy in the coaching space and help others who are interested in becoming coaches to have a reliable standard we can all follow. Where she excels, in pa...2021-07-121h 03The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastTaking the Leap and Building Purposeful Work as an HSPIn this episode, I had the privilege of interviewing Andrea Shoun. Andrea is a health educator, author, and network marketing team leader. She is also...quite simply...a phenomenal person. Anyone who meets her walks away feeling better than when they arrived. Anyone who has the privilege of working with her (as I do in multiple capacities) finds themselves feeling like they aren't at work, but are in the sandbox building sand castles. But like...really pretty sand castles. Andrea will share with us how she has built a professional life that allows her to balance her creative cravings, he...2021-05-0646 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastPost Traumatic GrowthPlenty of people have heard about post traumatic stress disorder. But did you know that stress is not the only possible side-effect of adversity and trauma? It turns out that some (roughly 50 - 70 percent of people, in fact) go through trauma and walk away from it stronger than before.
There are a couple of questions I had. First...do we have to experience trauma to gleam these benefits? Could we, for example, create a deliberate exercise to help us grow and increase our capacity even if we haven't endured a horrific event? Second - let's say I have e...2021-04-1354 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastEmbracing Your Inner Trickster: Reframing AdversityHighly sensitive people are often more deeply affected by adversity. They feel all the feels...so it's natural they would feel pain more acutely. BUT - highly sensitive people tend to also be more creative and more resilient than the average person. They are able to take difficult circumstances and create something beautiful from the ashes.
In this episode, I'm not going to talk about stress management. Instead, I'm going to talk about how to reframe adversity so that you have an entirely different relationship with it. In honor of April Fool's Day, I am centering the...2021-04-0137 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastPatriotism, Nationalism and BiasWith the aftermath of the D.C. riots, many of us are left scared, angry and eager for someone to take some accountability. In today's episode, I wanted to do a deep dive into a few areas so as to provide some context for what is currently happening and what it means for us all.
I do a brief overview of the U.S. government and how it is structured. I talk about the concept of patriotism and how that differs from nationalism. I talk about the options those in our legislative branch of government are mulling o...2021-01-111h 34The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastFinding Your Purpose in Dark TimesIn my last episode, I talked about the importance of having a "something larger" to appeal to during difficult times. After my podcast, my boyfriend asked "but how does one go about finding their "something larger?" I promised I would think on it. A few days later, I facilitated a workshop on "navigating burnout" for HSP's. After the workshop, someone asked..."yeah...but what if I have been DOING all those things you said are good for me, and I'm STILL burned out?" I realized that while each question was asked in a separate context (and were seemingly unrelated...2020-12-281h 22The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastSomething LargerThese are strange times (understatement of the century). And many of us are feeling the strain not just of isolation or fatigue....but also the strain of feeling empty. Of feeling like the wells we are used to drawing water from are dry or blocked off. During times like these, one thing that keeps popping up in the research as being important for our wellbeing is a sense that we are connected to something larger than ourselves. In this episode I talk about faith (and the lack of it). I talk about the challenge of discerning what our "something...2020-12-0942 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWhat Denmark Has to Teach UsDenmark is, apparently, one of the happiest countries in the world. What are they getting right that we could learn from? What are some of the criticisms that come up as a rebuttal? And regardless of where you live or your policy preferences or lifestyle preferences...what do YOU think a meaningful looks like? Is it more important to strive for happiness? or Meaning?
2020-10-2734 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBurnoutEveryone I know is saying basically the same thing: I'm tired. Not just that...but everyone I know is telling me that everyone they know is running on fumes. From loneliness. From not enough time alone. From too much stimulation. From boredom. We are all losing it (and all secretly wondering what it is, exactly, that we lost). In this episode, I'll talk about what burnout is, both its definition as well as the biophysical elements at play. I'll also talk about practical actions we can all take to navigate it and assuage the impact of burnout.
2020-10-201h 00The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWhat Are You FOR?We are living in really contentious times right now. There is a pandemic, an election, ecological disruptions, and civil unrest. It's tempting to spend the bulk of our time to talking about what we are against. But in this episode, I want to move away from that. I talk about why only speaking to what we are against isn't effective, and I talk about what it might look like to, instead, center our conversations on what we stand FOR.
2020-10-0446 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHaving HopeHope is the sense that we are moving toward something better. It is the belief or expectation that things will get better if only we can hang on....
But when the world feels like it's falling apart...it can be challenging to stay hopeful. It might even feel like a superfluous luxury for children.
In this podcast, I talk about the importance of having hope. I talk about the tangible benefits of hope and how believing in a better future can even improve our present. And for those who are struggling to amass hope, I t...2020-09-1042 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastPersonal Response AbilityWe often talk about the idea of responsibility. We need to take "personal responsibility" for our lives and improve them on our own. The thing is, though...that sort of assumes we have free will. Research on how our systems work indicates we might not actually have free will. If that is the case...can we really be held responsible for our actions? In this podcast, rather than talk about "personal responsibility" in the sense that we have "control" over our actions, I go into a bit more nuance and talk about "personal response ability" ...as in...our ability to...2020-09-0149 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastNon-NegotiableHighly sensitive people have a tendency to be adaptable. Copacetic. Harmonious. Why? Because we hate conflict. Duh. But sometimes, in life, we really need to be able to stand firm and be clear about what our needs are. This podcast is about identifying what our non-negotiable are and finding ways to articulate them effectively.
2020-08-2554 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastFrictionHighly sensitive people and introverts tend to like harmony. Calm. Pleasant and low-stimulus environments. Friction and conflict? No thanks. But might there be value in being willing to stand firm and endure the discomfort of friction? Is it possible that friction is a necessary ingredient for a meaningful life? For meaningful relationships? In this episode I'll talk about how friction benefits our environment, our political landscapes, our relationships...and even can lead to personal growth within ourselves.
2020-08-181h 03The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Power of HonestyHonesty is the best policy. That's what we are told. Except...is it? People who are honest appear to have better relationships and better health outcomes. But are there occasions when honesty is not the best policy? Should we all just be saying what we think at all times? Unfiltered? In this episode, we'll cover the benefits of being honest...with ourselves and with others. We'll also talk about the key ingredients you need to be both honest and effective.
2020-08-1054 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWhy Anger is Helpful for HSPMany highly sensitive people I have met have said they are extremely uncomfortable with angry (uncomfortable when others express it and even more uncomfortable expressing it themselves). I find that intriguing. So when I recently experienced an episode of anger, I thought it a perfect opportunity to explore it. Anger, it turns out, is extremely useful and healthy...so long as it is expressed appropriately. In this episode, I'll discuss what an emotion is...and discuss how anger is defined more specifically. I'll talk about the benefits of anger and how to go about integrating it in our lives...2020-08-0352 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWhat is the Right Amount of News?With a world trying to acclimate to a new normal with Covid, economic concerns, and in the case of the United States...an election...it's tempting to keep hitting the "refresh" button on our news feed. But to what degree is that helpful? Is it better to just avoid the news altogether? Or is there a sweet spot we can reach where we are informed enough to do what we need to do...but not so inundated with information that we feel paralyzed by it?
2020-07-2738 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Challenges of Being a Highly Sensitive ManDid you know that the trait "sensory processing sensitivity" is found in both women AND men? Not just that...it's found in equal numbers. Sensitivity is not linked with our sex. I talk a lot about the challenge of being a highly sensitive person, but I thought it might be useful to highlight this fact (that it's not correlated with either sex). I thought it especially important given the climate we all live in right now...where it is easy to assume that men have all the power. It turns out, men are struggling, too. Just in different ways....2020-07-1942 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHard ConversationsWe all seem to be in agreement in this country that what we need is to stop pointing fingers and start being willing to have hard conversations and compromise. But...are we willing to walk our talk? Highly sensitive people often struggle with this very thing - the willingness to be assertive and have difficult conversations. In this episode, I'll divulge some of my personal challenges in this area. I'll describe some of the events I've been exposed to more recently that have forced ME to be willing to be more assertive and honest and engage in conversations that...2020-07-121h 01The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastTangible Strategies for Building ContentmentAs we close the month of May (Mental Health Awareness Month) It feels fitting to do a summary of strategies (evidence based, of course) that are known to help foster contentment (irrespective of what may be going on around us). In this episode, I cover specific, actionable steps we can all take to cultivate our best selves.
2020-05-3148 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastS is for Sensitive (Not for "Special")When I say I work with "highly sensitive people" I often get one of two responses. I either get "oooohhh...that's super cool! You mean those super special people that are unique and awesome?" OR I get "Eewwwwwe. That sounds gross. Is it contagious?"
My aim with this podcast is to simply create a conversation about what it is to have a more vigilant nervous system...one that NEUTRALIZES the trait. It comes with some perks as well as some pitfalls.
In this episode, I try and demystify what it is to have "sensory processing se...2020-05-2457 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastOn Being a Healthy and PRODUCTIVE SensitiveHighly sensitive people, contrary to what others might think, tend to be extremely productive. They are creative, intuitive, and capable homo-sapiens, I can assure you. The catch is that they really need to find systems for organizing themselves and their time that honors their specific needs and temperament. In this episode, I'll cover a wide variety of examples that highly productive people have used in order to get a lot done, without feeling overwhelmed. I'll also talk about how HSP's can hack their system and get a lot done while keeping their health intact.
Link to...2020-05-1741 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastCollaboration and LeadershipWhat makes a country...GREAT.
In looking at this pandemic meets economic question mark, I've definitely been preoccupied with that idea. It's easy for some of us to look to countries like China and say "daaaang. They really know how to pandemic. Why can't we do that?!?" But does that mean China is the best country in general? I would argue not...but I'm also biased.
But shifting gears, is America the greatest? We certainly have the strongest military. We have a pretty strong economy (well...for now). We celebrate the individual and I would argue...2020-04-1646 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBeing a Part of the SolutionThere is no doubt that we are in uncertain times right now...but the thing is - WE ALWAYS WERE. It's just that now it is being presented to us directly. So how can we navigate these times effectively (not just surviving it, but being a part of the solution). And beyond that, how can we carry the lessons we learn from this experience into the future so that we can navigate uncertainty in ANY situation? In this episode I'll talk about practical tips and tools you can employ to not just protect yourself, but ARM yourself. You will...2020-04-0242 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastNavigating Coronavirus OverloadI'm sure everyone is feeling saturated with information about the coronavirus. But is anyone talking about the impact all this is having on us in our everyday lives? In this episode, I'll discuss a bit of information regarding the virus, and why everyone is so worried about it (but also trying not to incite any panic around it). I'll spend an even GREATER amount of time talking about how navigating decisions around the virus alongside decisions regarding the economy is leaving most of us feeling a low-grade level of tapped out and overwhelmed. I'll talk about the challenge of...2020-03-191h 04The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWork with a Capital "W"David Whyte, in his book The Three Marriages, talks about how there are three commitments we hold as central in our lives: our work, a relationship to a significant other, and the relationship we foster within ourselves. In this episode, we will talk about that first one - our work. I invite you to consider what it is you love doing enough that you're willing to put up with all the crap that comes with it. I discuss my own work marriage (my marriage with my writing) and share some of my work to give as an example. Ultimately...2020-02-1039 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastMindfulnessWhen we think about being "mindful" we often think about being calm. Kind. Compassionate. All that might be a byproduct of mindfulness but that isn't mindfulness, itself. In fact, sometimes being mindful might require being assertive. Sharp. Even cruel on the surface of things. Come as I turn some of our most beloved assumptions about mindfulness on their head.
2020-02-0433 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastPacing Our CreativityIf you want to run a marathon, you can't do it by sprinting all 26.2 miles of it. You need to know how to pace yourself. You need to know when you can push, and when you need to dial back. You need to know when you have to stop at the rest table and get a sip of water, and when you can push past them and get to the next rest stop.
It turns out the same applies to our work. Even (perhaps especially) our capital "W" work. Our passion project. Our practice. Our dharma. Highly se...2020-01-2743 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWalk That Talk - Conversation with Katie HodgesSo often when we see people going off and daring greatly...we only see the fruits of their labor LOOOONG after they are a big success. We don't see the long process it took to get there. We don't see the trials and errors. In this episode, Katie Hodges (an entrepreneur, coach, mother, and bold leader in her community) jumps on the podcast with me to talk about living a creative life, being brave, and most importantly...being willing to be vulnerable and messy in the service of building something new. She's my she-ro and I feel tremendously grateful...2020-01-211h 01The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastMaking Failure a PracticeI'm all about supporting my fellow HSP's and Introverts who want to live BIG...live their BEST lives (the trick being finding a way to do it that doesn't drive your health to the pavement). But there is one complication that needs discussion: failure. As in...what if I put myself out there and fail?
Avoiding failure doesn't really seem like a viable option. Any time you take a risk, you're going to experience failure AT SOME POINT. Most people understand this. But HSP's tend to have a particularly hard time with failure and criticism.
So...2020-01-1435 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastDiscipline, Independence and DetachmentResolutions. Goals. Achievements. Dreams.
It's lovely to talk about them and imagine what it might be like to bring them to life. But what does it really take to make it happen? And what if you work and toil only to discover that the goals you put in motion don't manifest the way you thought they would? Or what if they don't provide the joy you thought they would?
In this episode I'll talk about how discipline can lead, counter-intuitively to freedom; and how the best way to achieve a dream may be to completely de...2020-01-0659 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastGoalsIt's not only a new year, but a whole new decade...not to mention an election year. It seems like a great opportunity to try new challenges. There is just one problem...did you know that 80 percent of people who have New Years fail to maintain them by February of that same year?
Sooo...what is that other 20 percent doing differently? How might you learn from their success?
Come and find out!
2019-12-3130 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastChristmasMany highly sensitive people report feeling ambivalent during the Christmas holiday. This is true regardless of whether one actually celebrates it. It makes sense. It's an awful lot of sensory overload. Music and lights and traffic and shopping extravaganzas. It can feel a bit much. In this episode, I fess up to my personal ambivalence about Christmas. I also speak to the history of Christmas. You might be interested to know that celebrating in over-the-top ways has been a things for years. As in...hundreds of years. Long before we were celebrating as "Christmas." If you are looking to...2019-12-2435 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastLonelinessEverywhere you turn, now, people are talking about "loneliness." Not only is it a problem...apparently it's a full blown epidemic!
In this episode I'll talk in more detail about what loneliness actually is. I'll discuss how it relates to our health and longevity. I'll talk about how this relates to HSP's in particular. Finally, I'll talk about some of the things I have tried, personally, to reduce the sensation of loneliness when it arises (as well as the research that backs up its efficacy).
2019-12-1730 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Shadow Side of SensitivityYou've probably heard it at least once: "You're too sensitive."
Can one actually be too sensitive?
In this episode, I discuss some of the shadow traits of many people with sensory processing sensitivity. I talk about why those traits are so common with HSP's and what we can do to offset some of those less desirable characteristics and make improvements on how we navigate the world.
2019-12-1045 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastEmotionsWe all know the story. In our brains, we are constantly fighting between our emotions and our rationality. It's why we find instant gratification so alluring (our emotional brain is trying to win out). It's why we are enamored with characters like Spock (he's beaten out his emotions). But what if we are wrong? What if everything we thought was true about emotions and the way we express them are ...false? What would this mean for research on highly sensitive people? In this episode, we'll talk about Lisa Feldman Barrett's research and her book "How Emotions are Made." We'll...2019-12-0336 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastLabelsWho are you?
That's a question that has been plaguing philosophers for years (and one that still pulls at us even now). In this episode, I talk about the kinds of labels we use to describe ourselves (gender, race, class). I invite listeners to gently challenge the idea that any label can fully encapsulate what it means to be you. This is even true for the label of "highly sensitive person." Use labels only so long as they are useful...and be willing to hold them very lightly.
2019-11-2637 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow to Network as an HSPOkay...you're an HSP. You're an introvert. Or maybe you're both. You've decided that you've got the stamina (emotional...intellectual...physical) to be an entrepreneur. Or to go after your big D "Dream" job. You've amassed all the education you need. Now if you could just find a way to get the word out...
Or maybe you've simply decided that your life is lovely and mellow enough that you'd really like to invite some new people into it. Maybe you want a new partner. Or you just want to create a more robust tribe.
My...2019-11-1941 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBuilding Community as an HSP/IntrovertMany people (even some of us HSP's) mistakenly think that community is not as important for highly sensitive people and introverts as it might be for extroverted types. But that just isn't true. We might relish quiet time and solitude, but that doesn't mean we don't also need connection. So how do we satisfy both of these needs? How do we embrace what it means to be an introvert while also engaging in social events? How do we gently push the boundaries of our solitude bubble without feeling inauthentic when we do? In this episode we'll discuss the challenges we f...2019-11-1255 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWeight Management for HSP'sWhat does it really take to lose weight and keep it off? Is it really as simple as "eat less and move more?" Is anyone ever successful at weight loss? What are the specific challenges that introverts and HSP's face with weight loss? What assets do they bring to the table? These are the questions we cover in this week's episode.
2019-11-0528 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastI'm Just Curious...Many self help books talk about how to get "happy," but ironically...sometimes chasing happiness leads to more of its opposite. Instead, it can be more affective to look at how to develop a meaningful life. One that is rich with purpose. One that is interesting. In this episode, I'll discuss how and why curiosity may just be the secret ingredient to having a truly rich life (and specifically why that might be important for HSP).
2019-10-2944 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow to Travel Like an HSP ProDo you ever find yourself in that weird conundrum where you WANT to travel...but you just cringe at the thought of what it will require of you? Well I have good news. You don't actually have to get completely wiped out in exchange for a few days in a new place. You can even end up feeling relaxed at the end of the journey rather than merely exhausted. Come find out how (I'll also share some of the tidbits I learned on my most recent conference trip in Boston!)
2019-10-2240 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastSetting BoundariesIt's great to be open...vulnerable...available. But sometimes being too open can be a serious liability. It can lead us to feel overwhelmed. Overcommitted. Resentful. It leaves others around us feeling confused. What did they do? Why are you so upset? You never complained about doing this before...
This episode is about setting healthy boundaries so that you feel more productive, less stressed and so that you can have much more fulfilling relationships with other people.
2019-10-0942 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHustle: HSP StyleWe hear all the time that if you work hard, you will become successful. If you are successful, you will be happy. Well...sort of. Except that it's kinda backwards. In this episode, I cover what assets HSP bring to the workforce (and what liabilities). I also talk about why they tend to be a good fit for entrepreneurship. These are topics I've covered before (particularly in my episode on "work") BUT - in this episode I go into a bit more detail about what it means to "hustle" and how to go about doing that like an HSP...2019-10-0133 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHSP's as LeadersHighly sensitive people can do just fine in the workplace. They are fun to have as friends. But what about leadership? Are they any good at that? Could they be? Or is it something highly sensitive people would do best to steer away from? In this episode we'll talk about how highly sensitive people who want to be leaders can do it in a way that is supportive to those they are aiming to lead as well as sustainable for themselves.
2019-09-2442 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHighly Sensitive People at WorkHighly sensitive people have some special challenges when it comes to the workforce. It's not that they aren't productive or valuable. It's just that finding a balance where one can be both emotionally satisfied with the work they do, financially stable, and sane...can be tricky. In this episode I'll talk about the unique struggles HSP contend with at work and some strategies that might help create a workflow that lets you upgrade your life.
2019-08-3146 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastEpisode 37: ResilienceYou hear this buzzword all the time. RESILIENCE. But what is it? How is it linked with success? And why is it important for highly sensitive people? In this podcast, I argue that HSP's and introverts are desperately needed in this world...but they just need to find a way to serve that doesn't zap all their vitality and energy. This podcast shares tools aimed at helping HSP's develop resilience so they can keep their health while sharing their gifts with the world.
Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YfqSwt7Q6mO8_bsobvAQesKLdsyc30ycMTKymMGaNOE/edit
2019-08-1641 minThe Healthy Sensitive's Podcast10 Common HSP MythsThere are a lot of assumptions people have about what it means to be a "highly sensitive person." Even highly sensitive people, themselves, cary some of these mistaken assumptions. This episode is intended to debunk some of the common misconceptions people have about HSP and provide a bit of a reality check.
2019-08-0724 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastIntuition: When Should We Trust It?We often hear that we should "trust our instincts" or "follow our intuition." But is that always true? Are there times we should challenge our instincts? As highly sensitive people, we tend to get pretty potent "intuitive" messages from our bodies. But we are a conscientious and neurotic lot. So we also have a tendency to challenge our assumptions. How might we move in a way that both honors our intuition...but also use our natural inclination to challenge our thoughts in a way that is effective?
2019-01-2122 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWhen Should You "Push Through" And When Should You "Pull Back?"We are often encouraged by high-performing motivational speakers to want success as badly as we want to breathe. If we are willing to sacrifice even our sleep only THEN will we be as successful as we claim to want to be. But then...maybe not. Arriana Huffington, for example, claims she did just that only to discover the importance of rest (and sleep in particular).
This is a hard equation to solve even for non-HSP's. But add in a sensitive nervous system and a sprinkling of introversion and you've REALLY got a complicated puzzle.
So ho...2019-01-1441 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBuilding Emotional FitnessThere are some people out there who seem to have an endless capacity for bravery in their lives. How do they do it? Are they just born with it? Or can we build it? I make the argument in this episode that just as we can engage in behaviors that build our physical strength...so too can we engage in behaviors that build on our emotional resilience and capacity. And when we do that, we are able to make massive shifts in our lives. We really can do anything.
2019-01-0744 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastRomanceNo matter how confident we may feel about ourselves...when it comes to romance, we can all be a little bit dumb. Something about undressing (literally and metaphorically) for a partner unstitches us. This is only MORE true for highly sensitive people and introverts. So what can we do? How do develop a healthy relationship with another person...how do we go about developing a relationship with love itself?
2018-12-2943 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastCan We Talk About Sex?We have some assumptions about sex and sexuality - especially as it relates to how men and women are supposed to feel about their sexuality AND how they are supposed to behave. This is particularly true for heterosexual men and women. But are those assumptions true? Is it true, for example, that women aren't actually that interested in sex? For those women who ARE interested...are all those women hyper-extrovert sexual butterflies? I'd argue that the answer is no. And I want to break apart some of these assumptions and start a larger conversation about why women (and introverted...2018-12-2218 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Value of Thickening our Highly Sensitive SkinHighly sensitive people are often dubbed "thin-skinned" by those with a slightly rougher hide. We are told we need to toughen up. For a long time, I have resisted (and many of those I know who are highly sensitive tend to resist this idea as well). But are we maybe missing an opportunity? Is there, perhaps, something to be gained by getting a thicker skin?
2018-11-1227 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Right Kind of ProblemsWe often lament about the challenges in our lives. But it might be worth stopping to consider the possibility that a good life doesn't come without problems. Rather, a good life simply means having the right kind of problems
2018-07-2323 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastCan You Be TOO Adaptable?An instructor I was observing while leading a class gave the group a quote: "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." It made me think about how I, myself, tend to be really adaptable. I find that most highly sensitive people are. It's probably something we picked up while trying to blend into a not-so-sensitive world. It's a muscle I'm proud to have developed. BUT - when is "adaptable" simply "weak-minded" Is that even a thing?
2018-06-1026 minThe Healthy Sensitive's Podcast10 Powerful Take-Aways from Susan Cain's Book "Quiet"A few years ago, Susan Cain wrote a book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking." She researched not only what it means to be an introvert, but also what it means to be a highly sensitive person, and a sensation seeker. She covers how all these things speak to each other, and how we might better create systems to honor the gifts that each has to offer. In this podcast, we'll review some of the biggest take-aways from her book and how these ideas might inform the way we live if we want to...2018-06-0334 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow HSP Can Alleviate Anxiety and DepressionHighly sensitive people are capable of being extremely productive. The downside? They are also more prone to both anxiety and depression. The good news is that there are tools available to help reduce the frequency (and intensity) of these experiences and live a more fulfilled life.
2018-05-2738 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow Highly Sensitive People Can Successfully Lose (and Keep Off) WeightAfter publishing a recent survey for highly sensitive people, I tried to sift out what health concerns they seem to be most interested in geting information about. Weight loss consistently came up at the top of the list. So today's episode is about how highly sensitive people can capitalize on some of their greatest strengths and lose weight...without feeling deprived.
2018-05-2052 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastTop Ten Health Challenges of Highly Sensitive PeopleOddly enough, there isn't a great deal of research that specifically speaks to physical health challenges that highly sensitive people are proned to. As a health coach who works primarily with this group, that is something I'm working to correct. In the meantime, this episode covers the top ten health concerns that I have seen in my private practice working with highly sensitive people.
2018-05-1328 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBecoming Your BEST Self (Stage 7: Self Actualization)Moslow designed a framework to explore what a pathway to self-actualization might look like (for anyone interested in cultivating that in themselves). Great! But what does self actualization look like? In this episode, we explore the common characteristics of a person who has reached this stage of development.
2018-02-1833 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBecoming your BEST Self (Stage 6: the Need for Beauty and Balance)In today's podcast, we'll talk about how beauty contributes to self actualiation. In particular, we'll be talking about the power of creativity and beauty that we can create for ourselves and the impact that observing other people's designs and forms of art can have on us. We'll talk a bit about the health benefits of art and beauty as well.
2018-02-0321 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBecoming Your BEST Self (Stage 5: Cognitive Needs)In today's episode, we will talk about Moslow's fifth level of needs one must meet in order to reach one's full potential.
We start by doing a review of the four levels we talked about leading up to this point.
Next, we talk a bit about what has been happening in my life (and why there has been a long pause between my last episode and today's episode AND how it's relevant to this whole topic overall).
Finally, we talk about today's topic...the fifth level of Moslow's hierarchy of needs...Cogn...2018-01-2135 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBecoming Your BEST Self (Step 4: Esteem)Moslow's fourth need (esteem) was originally focusing on the esteem we crave from our piers. The idea was that once we have a sense of belonging (step 3) we kinda want to know where we fit in within the group. We will take this in a slightly different angle. HSP, after all, don't often struggle with getting esteem from others. We are pretty good at figuring out what other people need and producing it. Where we struggle is with self esteem. Come and listen in as we explore how we figure out what self esteem really is, how we can cu...2017-10-0935 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHSP, Love and RelationshipsMoving up the ladder of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, in today's episode, we talk about how HSP handle love and relationships. Like anyone else, we need connection. In fact, we seem to thrive on it. But we also have a bit of ambivalence around it. What's that about? Listen in and find out why we are equal parts drawn to and challenged by relationships with others.
2017-09-2530 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBecoming Your BEST Self (Step 2: Speak Up!)It's no secret that Highly Sensitive People don't like conflict. But being able to self-advocate and stay safe is essential. In today's episode, Constance Bravos - licensed therapist and martial arts practitioner - walks us through how we can stay safe in challenging situations and engage in healthy conflict calmly and effectively. Being clear about what you want and what you need to feel secure and safe isn't just a right - it's our obligation.
2017-09-1851 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastBecoming Your BEST Self (Step 1: Take Care of Your Body)It's natural for anyone (highly sensitive or no) to want to develop into their BEST self. You want to feel energized. Alive. You want to feel like you have purpose. And you want to feel like you're giving back to the world in meaningful ways. In the upcoming series, we will talk about how to do that step-by-step. In this episode, we will start with the body, and talk about simple tips to optimize your capacity and lay the foundation for more energy, vitality and resilience.
2017-09-1044 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastStaying Safe as an HSPHighly sensitive people are often drawn to work which allows them to help others. They tend to be very good at noticing someone who is in pain and knowing how best to help. But it can set us up to be taken advantage of. How do we balance between staying open enough to connect in meaningful ways...but while also staying vigilant enough to know when we might be in danger (either physically or emotionall?) Listen in to find out!
2017-09-0335 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHealth Tips for the Highly Sensitive MillennialHighly sensitive people of all ages are having to develop some survival strategies/techniques to thrive in our modern-day highly stimulating world...but millennials have some unique challenges. It is the first generation to have unlimited access to Google (it's the first generation for whom "google" is a regularly used verb). We are a generation who has needed to be particularly adaptable to massive changes in an economy that has just now started to get back on its feet. How do we create a life that is meaningful and flexible? How can we thrive at work and in our rela...2017-08-2435 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Upside to Getting Sick as an HSPMost people hate getting sick. It feels lousy. BUT - as an HSP, there are benefits of illness. Often, being highly sensitive means that our system is more likely to fall prey to a cold or flu when we are living a life that is too stimulating. Why might that be good? Because we can use illness as information. We can correct our behaviors faster and move back to a healthy state more efficiently. AND - in allowing illness to come and having gratitude for the signals its sending, we can use illness as an opportunity to slow down.
2017-06-0121 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastRolling with the Punches (How to Cope When Things Don't Go to Plan)Highly Sensitive People prefer to plan before they act. They don't wanna just "wing it." Often that is a good thing, as it increases the likelihood that we produce good quality work. BUT - the one downside is that it can stimmy progress and growth. We can spend all our time planning and doing little actual ACTION. This podcast is about how to respond to situations when they don't go to plan. Can we be okay with being done instead of being perfect?
2017-05-1812 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastWellness Tips for HSP Who are ALSO High Sensation SeekingIt's challenging enough to be a highly sensitive person. Try having that quality while ALSO being a high sensation seeker. Not only is your ceiling of optimal stimulation low...but you ALSO have a floor that is higher off the ground. In this episode - learn how to stay healthy when you are balancing between these two extremes
2017-04-3017 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Importance of Rest for HSPWe live in a culture that is constantly telling us to speed up. Crush it. Move faster. Get it DONE. But the reality is that when we rest, we often are more efficient. When we rest, we are also more effective. Today's podcast is about ways you can incorporate rest into your life.
2017-04-2025 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastCould Less Really Be More?We are constantly encouraged (dare I say...pushed?) to do more...consume MORE. But has that added more value to our lives? I am not so sure. Join me as I talk about how we might actually find ourselves physically healthier, mentally happier, and finacially more secure if we simply learned how to embrace "less" in favor of a tyrannical "more."
2017-04-1318 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastStop Being So NICEThe word "Nice" is defined using words like "pleasant, satisfactory, and agreeable. Maybe you knew that. But did you know that it is ROOTED in the words "stupid and ignorant?" In today's episode, I talk about why being too "nice" might actually be a detriment to your personal health as well as the health of your relationships.
2017-04-0731 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastPerfectly Imperfect - How and Why HSP Should Let Go of PerfectionismHighly sensitive people tend to be disproportionately perfectionistic. What's that about? In today's podcast I'll talk about why we tend toward perfectionism. I'll also talk about why it's a problem (and in what contexts). Finally I'll go over some possible strategies for moving forward and keeping perfectionism at bay.
2017-03-2336 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastOvercoming OverwhelmAdulting is hard for everyone, but we HSP have a tendancy to get overwhelmed pretty easily. When we HSP are overwhelmed, it can be all-consuming. We often tend to berate ourselves for not doing the tasks we need to get done. Or we are frustrated because we can't hear our own inner voice. This episode talks about strategies that can help you move through periods that feel overwhelming.
2017-03-1618 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastRecruiting SupportHighly Sensitive People tend to be great at self-care and self-sufficiency. But sometimes, we are better served reaching out for help. This podcast is about why and how to do that in a way that serves you and those who love you and want provide some assistance.
2017-03-0927 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastCoping With the Unexpected - How to Stay Healthy When Things Go Off TrackHappiness = Reality - Expectations.
In other words, if you want to stay happy and healthy, one of the best things you can do is work on removing your expectations about how things should go. But how do we do that? And what about when things go REALLY unexpectedly. How do we move through challenging times and stay healthy?
2017-03-0234 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastNutrition Tips for Highly Sensitive PeopleIn this episode, we'll explore strategies that will help you to keep your blood sugar (and by extension, your overall state) balanced and grounded through simple nutrition upgrades. Highly sensitive peeople are not necessarily in need of special diets...they just do ESPECIALLY well when they follow a healthy approach.
2017-02-2319 min
The Healthy Sensitive's PodcastHow Highly Sensitive People Can Learn to Regulate Their EmotionsDespite the fact that Highly Sensitive People tend to be highly self aware...that doesn't always translate into effective emotional regulation. When we are high...the highs are great! But when we are low...we are challenged with how to move through it well. This episode will explore some practical strategies that HSP can use in hard emotional times.
2017-02-1635 minThe Healthy Sensitive's PodcastThe Healthy Sensitive - IntroductionIn this introductory episode, I talk about what it means to be a highly sensitive person. I briefly cover some of the advantages of being highly sensitive (especially as it pertains to overall health and wellness) as well as the challenges that come with being highly sensitive.
2017-02-0915 min