The Light Within: Embodied Nervous System Healing for Spiritual Women
The Light Within is a podcast for high-functioning, spiritually curious women who are ready to stop abandoning themselves and step into embodied self-leadership.
Hosted by Leslie Draffin - trauma-informed somatic practitioner, psychedelic microdosing guide, and former television news anchor - this show explores what it actually takes to heal your nervous system, rebuild self-trust, and reclaim your embodied power.
Because many successful women look calm and capable on the outside… while their nervous system is quietly living in survival mode.
Inside these short, powerful episodes we explore:
• nervous system healing for women
• burnout and the hidden patterns of self-abandonment
• somatic practices for emotional regulation
• womb wisdom and feminine embodiment
• intuition, expansion, and sacred psychedelic medicine
You’ll also hear conversations with therapists, healers, coaches, and thought leaders exploring the messy, beautiful, and sometimes taboo ways women reclaim their embodied sovereign power.
This show isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about remembering who the f*ck you are and learning how to trust your body again.
Welcome to The Light Within.
Episodes
238 episodes
237. Why Healing Isn’t Working: The Missing Piece in Nervous System Regulation
If you’ve tried therapy, mindset work, or healing practices… but still feel stuck in the same patterns… then this episode will help you understand what might be missing.Because healing isn’t just about awareness. Your nervous system has ...
236. Is Your Productivity a Trauma Response? The Nervous System Pattern No One Talks About
If you constantly feel the need to stay busy, productive, or “on top of things”… then this episode will help you understand why slowing down can feel so uncomfortable.Because for many women, productivity isn’t just a habit. It’s a nervou...
235. From News Anchor to Nervous System Guide: My Story of Burnout + Healing
In this episode, I’m sharing my personal story. From being a high-performing news anchor… to burnout, anxiety, and realizing something deeper needed to change. Because what looked like success on the outside didn’t match how my body actually fe...
234. Why High-Functioning Women Struggle to Receive Support (Even When They Want It)
If you’re used to being the strong one… the capable one… the one who handles everything… then this episode will help you understand why receiving support can feel so uncomfortable.Because for many high-functioning women, doing everything...
233. Why It Doesn’t Feel Safe to Be Seen: The Nervous System + Visibility Connection
If you’ve ever held back from speaking up, sharing your ideas, or fully expressing yourself… even when you know you’re capable… then this episode will help you understand what’s really happening.Because the fear of being seen isn’t just ...
232. Talking About Trauma Isn’t Healing: Why Your Nervous System Still Feels Stuck
If you’ve done therapy, read the books, and understand your trauma… but your nervous system still feels anxious, reactive, or stuck… then this episode will help you understand why.Because insight isn’t the same as healing. And for many w...
231. Self-Trust vs Self-Love: Why Your Nervous System Needs Trust to Heal
Self-love is everywhere. But if your nervous system still feels anxious, overwhelmed, or reactive… this episode will help you understand what’s actually missing.Because you can love yourself… and still override yourself. And your nervous...
230. Why You Can’t Relax: When Your Nervous System Doesn’t Feel Safe to Rest
If you’ve ever tried to relax… and your brain won’t stop racing… your body feels restless… or you somehow end up reaching for your phone instead… then this episode will help you understand why.Because for many high-functioning women, res...
229. Self-Abandonment: The Subtle Ways High-Functioning Women Betray Themselves Daily
If you feel like your body is always on… always thinking… always anticipating the next thing… then this episode will help you understand why it’s so hard to actually relax.Because for many high-functioning women, constant activation isn’...
228. Why High-Functioning Women Get Stuck in Fight-or-Flight (Even When Life Looks Fine)
If you feel like your body is always on edge… always anticipating the next thing… or like you can’t fully relax even when life looks “fine”… then this episode will help you understand why.Because survival mode isn’t always loud. Sometime...
227. The Trauma of Being “The Strong One”: Why High-Functioning Women Burn Out
If you’ve always been the strong one… the reliable one… the one everyone leans on… then this episode will help you understand the nervous system cost of that role.Because being “the strong one” isn’t just a personality trait. For many wo...
226. Burnout in High-Functioning Women: The Hidden Pattern Driving Your Overwhelm
Welcome to Season 6 of The Light Within. This season we're focusing on embodied nervous system healing for spiritual women just like you. There will be a mix of solo episodes with certified trauma-informed Somatic Practitioner & Psychedelic...
225. Root Cause Healing with Chelsea McLeod
In this episode, Leslie sits down with Chelsea McLeod — a corporate dropout turned Integrative Health Practitioner and hormone coach for high-achieving women — to talk about the hidden cost of hustle and how to finally feel amazing in yo...
224. From CEO to Soulful Guide with Sara Byers
In this episode, Leslie welcomes Sara Byers — CEO, thought leader, poet, and co-host of The Collecting Insight Podcast — for a heartfelt conversation on leadership, intuition, and what it really means to live with joy and purpos...
223. How to Break Relationship Patterns & Build Real Intimacy with Christian de le Huerta
In this episode, Leslie welcomes Christian de la Huerta — transformational coach, award-winning author, and TEDx speaker — for a powerful conversation on love, power, and the spiritual evolution of relationships.With over 30 years...
222. Why Diets Fail & the Key to Lasting Health with Sherry Shaban
In this episode, Leslie sits down with Sherry Shaban, a Montreal-based fitness and life coach, osteopath, and host of Make Peace with Food, to explore how true transformation begins from the inside out.After surviving two...
221. Spiritual Awakening after a Near-Death Experience with Josias Abriel
In this episode, Josias Abriel talks openly and honestly about their near-death experience, including how it helped them stop fearing death & brought them closer to the divine. We offer a trigger warning for listeners - because this epis...
220. Reiki for Womb Healing & Fertility with Carolina Sotomayor
In this episode, Womb Healer Carolina Sotomayor talks about how reiki helped her conceive her son and how she's helped over 100 women conceive through reiki. We also discuss why everything leads back to the womb - and how healing wounds within ...
219. This is why you FAWN & How to Stop with Tara Wiskow
TRIGGER WARNING: this episode includes real, raw and open conversations around eating disorders and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode, Tara Wiskow breaks down the fawn survival state and how it impacts women s...
218. Hypnosis for Self-Worth with Nic Nierras
This week Nic Nierras shares with us how hypnosis can help you redefine your worth, heal success wounds and reclaim your power. Nic's Links:Website
217. The Power of No with Catherine Crestani
On this episode, Catherine Crestani talks all about living from your heart and learning to understand the sacred power of your 'no'. If you have trouble understanding or setting boundaries this conversation is for you.Catherine's Bio:
216. Self-Care for Chaotic Times with Laura Hoorweg
On this week's episode, Laura Hoorweg joins us to talk about spiritual counseling, mediumship and self-care for chaotic times.Laura's Bio:Laura Hoorweg is a gifted spiritual counselor, intuitive coach, and psychic medium known for...
215. Tantra & Sacred Sluttiness: The Path to Sensual Liberation with Hani Cheng
In this episode, Hani Cheng shares how tantra and the path to becoming a sacred slut helped her heal from shame and embrace her body.Bio: Hani Cheng is an Intimacy Transformation Facilitator, bestselling author and founder of the YUMM Se...
214. This is Why You Can't Get Turned On with Dr. Diane Mueller
In this episode, Dr. Diana Mueller shares science-backed reasons why it's hard for you to get turned on & ways to keep the spark alive in your long-term relationship. Bio: Dr. Diane Mueller, ND, DAOM, is a board certified sexolo...