EMBODY with Michelle Major
EMBODY explores real-life issues that cause stress, pain & trauma and how we can recover, repair and thrive through the challenges in our life.
Welcome to the conversation!
EMBODY is hosted by, Michelle Major, who is passionate about breaking the stigma attached to women's mental health and wellbeing through a trauma-informed lens.
Michelle founded The Sunshine Project in 2012 after a lengthy career in leadership roles within the financial services industry.
For almost 12-years, Michelle, has supported clients and groups with emotional resilience, stress management and emotional wellbeing.
Michelle is a Somatic Experiencing Trauma Practitioner, Senior Accredited NLP Practitioner, Somatic Educator and Trainer, specialising in stress, pain & trauma.
Michelle is a Professional Member of:
- ANLP – Association of Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioners (Gold Standard)
- IPMH International Accredited Training Provider
- Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists & Hypnotherapists (Senior Member)
- Somatic Experiencing® International
When Michelle isn't working, you'll find her on the beach somewhere on the North Coast of Northern Ireland where she lives with her 8-year old son.
Episodes
44 episodes
Announcement - Pressing Pause
Michelle is pressing pause on the podcast for a short time due to work commitments and an important work project that needs a final push to get over the line!Please remember to like & subscribe so you don't miss the episodes when we...
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14:24
S4; Ep 10: Changing Cycles with Joanne Callan
In this episode, Michelle, is joined by Joanne Callan. Joanne is a Holistic Therapist and Well Being Coach and a Relax Kids Coach in 2020 Joanne founded Changing Cycles a Social Enterprise that is focused on “creating a world where the cy...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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55:31
S4, Ep9: The problem with female empowerment culture
In this weeks episode, Michelle, shares her views on the female empowerment culture we see played out on social media platforms.Michelle shares:Why the female empowerment culture is not trauma-informed ...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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37:03
S4, Ep8: Reflections on Prioritising
On this weeks episode, Michelle, shares her reflections on prioritising commitments after a busy work schedule meant this weeks podcast was a day later than usual. Michelle shares:The importance of checking in w...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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28:09
S4, Ep 7: Men in the Arena - mental health, vulnerability & healing with Matt & Mike
On this weeks episode, Michelle, is joined my Matt Kovatchis & Mike David. Matt and David are co-hosts of 'Men in the Arena' Podcast and are based across the pond in Chicago.We chat about:Mens mental health...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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55:34
S4, Ep6: Self-love, toxic positivity & spiritual bypassing
In this episode, Michelle, shares her views on self-love in a culture that promotes toxic positivity and spiritual bypassing. When we are operating from an ego perspective acts of self-love can actually lead us to display traits of narci...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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34:31
S4, Ep 5: Spirituality, becoming a vegetarian and eating meat again after 17-years!
In this episode, Michelle, shares how her spiritual journey lead her to becoming a strict vegetarian in 2005. For 17-years, Michelle, refrained from eating any fish, chicken or meat. Then, after discovering somatics and becoming mor...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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32:49
S4, Ep 4: The Universal Language of Music with Louise Kelly
In this episode, Michelle, is joined by Music Therapist, Louise Kelly. Louise is also a single mum to a wonderful 17-year old son.Louise is a highly experienced Music Therapist with 24 years experience working as a HCPC Registere...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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51:08
S4, Ep 3: Why regulation isn't always regulating!
In this weeks episode, Michelle, explores the complexity of regulation and why some practices that promote regulation aren't always regulating!Michelle talks about:Somatics and what this word really means ...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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36:29
S4, Ep 2: Wise Up - Power, Wisdom & the Older Woman with Barbara Scully
In this weeks episode I am joined by Irish Broadcaster, Writer and Author, Barbara Scully.During this conversation we discuss Barbara's brilliant book, her life experiences and what inspired her to write her first book.We chat a...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:05:32
S4, Ep 1: Welcome to Season 4 - An Alternative New Year Offering!
We are kicking off Season 4 with a new year and a new perspective on all this 'new year, new year' noise that we are bombarded with on social media, our culture and society. Michelle shares:Why it's...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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21:49
S3, Ep 10: Puppy love, kindness & oxytocin
This is our last episode before the Christmas break. On this weeks episode I share the delight and joy of welcoming a new puppy into her wee family. I talk about:The grief and loss of other pets and why I dec...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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33:17
S3 Ep9: My Story - Starting over again after burnout, redundancy & divorce
My wellbeing story began in 2005 when I enrolled in a counselling skills course. I was 25-years old at the time, married and had a very successful career in financial services. I enjoyed all the external measures of success ...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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51:29
S3, Ep8: Self-Care at Christmas
In this episode, Michelle, shares her self-care tips for managing our wellbeing during the festive period.Michelle shares:The importance of giving ourselves permission to feel our feelingsSetting boundaries ...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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29:53
S3, Ep7: How to escape the comparison trap!
In this episode, Michelle, shares how social media primes us to compare ourselves with others. Michelle shares:The different types of compassion A photo has more than one storyHow our ner...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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41:41
S3, Ep6: Helping the Helper!
In this weeks episode, Michelle, explores why it's so important that we seek help and support in our helping roles.Michelle shares:The skill of holding spaceIncreasing our capacity to be with clients bigger emotions...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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30:57
S3, Ep5: Trauma in the newsroom with Leona O'Neill
In this weeks episode I am joined by Leona O'Neill, who is a Lecturer of Journalism at University of Ulster, Author and Tedx Speaker after spending 25-years as a news journalist in Northern Ireland.Leona co-edited 'Breaking: Traum...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:02:16
S3, Ep4: The Climb - Grief, Suicide, & Mount Kilimanjaro with Emma Mullan
In this weeks episode I am joined by entrepreneur & professional hiker, Emma Mullan. Emma held a Director role in HR for 14-years and served as President of Newry Chamber from 2019 - 2021. Along with her commitment to bu...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:20:26
S3, Ep3: Sexuality, Intimacy & the Nervous System with Dee Larsen
In this weeks episode I am joined by Dee Larsen - a Certified Sexuality Practitioner and founder of Body Conscious Studio based in Belfast. Dee offers one to one and couples sessions from her studio or online.“I believe that se...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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1:06:50
S3, Ep2: Creating space & rest during busy periods
During this episode, Michelle, explores how we can support our nervous system health during busy periods.Michelle shares: Cultural & societal norms V’s biological normsWidening our window of tolerance <...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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35:04
S3, Ep1: The Pain & Beauty of Intergenerational Trauma with Deirdre Nicole Heggarty
Welcome to Season 3 of EMBODY!To celebrate the start of another season, Michelle, was joined by Deirdre Nicole Heggarty, a Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, specialising in Play Therapy. Prior to this, Deirdre, was a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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1:02:18
Season 3 - launching Monday 9th October
I am beyond excited to announce Season 3 of EMBODY! We will kick off our next season on Monday 9th October with more fantastic professionals and interesting themes and topics.Remember to subscribe so you don't miss the episodes wh...
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3:19
S2, Ep10: Victim Blaming, Myths & Facts
In this weeks episode, Michelle, shares the harmful victim blaming that sadly still exists in our society surrounding domestic and sexual assault. Michelle shares:Statistics for numbers of reported crimes in th...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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29:35
S2, Ep9: The trauma of cancer, body shaming, and toxic positivity with Eilish Craig
In this weeks episode I am joined by the genuine and authentic, Eilish Craig. Eilish is a Counsellor & Mental Health Facilitator who's world came crashing down around her after a cancer diagnoses at 41-years old.In this open, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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1:20:43
S2, Ep8: Ocean Therapy - sea swimming, safety, breathing & free diving with Hannos Windisch
In this episode, Michelle, is joined by ocean expert, Hannos Windisch. Hannos is the founder of Free Dive Northern Ireland and is a Certified SSI Level Two Instructor. Hannos received training by the Italian national record ...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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1:17:09