It Starts at Vagus: Holistic Tips to Manage Stress and Anxiety
Welcome to It Starts at Vagus – the ultimate podcast for women ready to reclaim their calm and reset their health, starting from the root cause: the vagus nerve. Here, we dive deep into holistic strategies, natural remedies, and actionable tips to support your body's natural healing process. Whether you’re managing stress, anxiety, or just looking to improve your overall well-being, our expert insights and practical advice are designed to help you feel empowered and connected.
Subscribe for weekly content on the mind-body connection, lifestyle tips, and simple yet effective practices to bring more peace, relaxation, and balance into your life. It all starts here – with your vagus nerve.
Episodes
25 episodes
Why Is Resting Hard?
Ever finally sit down after a long day only to find yourself more tense than before? Your racing mind and clenched jaw aren't signs of failure—they're evidence of your body's remarkable survival system working overtime. The truth a...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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8:21
Mental Load Fatigue: The Invisible Source of Women's Stress
The quiet background hum of your mental to-do list gets louder right when you're trying to relax—that's mental load fatigue, and it's hitting women particularly hard. This phenomenon isn't about a lack of organization or efficiency; it's the in...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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12:45
How Survival Mode is Shutting Down Your Digestion
Anxiety manifests physically throughout your body, affecting everything from swallowing to nutrient absorption when your nervous system gets stuck in survival mode. We explore how stress creates a domino effect in your digestive system and shar...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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10:44
Melissa K.'s Stress & Anxiety Journey
The path to healing often begins when we feel safe—when our nervous system can finally relax and let down its guard. In this intimate conversation, I sit down with my dear friend and fellow massage therapist Melissa Kary to explore the transfor...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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28:47
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The Silent Burnout: My Journey to Healing
Have you ever felt "fine" while your body was silently screaming for help? That was my reality – the calm, high-functioning massage therapist whose world came crashing down with a debilitating gallbladder attack on Thanksgiving Day.
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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20:32
Toxic People, Tense Bodies: How Negativity Affects Your Nervous System
Your nervous system has a hidden vulnerability that few people discuss: the company you keep. When you surround yourself with chronically negative people, your body's emotional radar—neuroception—picks up subtle cues that trigger a low-level th...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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12:08
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Clearing Brain Fog: A Nervous System Reset
That moment when you've read the same paragraph three times and still can't remember what it said? Your brain isn't broken - it's likely in low power mode, signaling your nervous system needs attention. Brain fog manifests as that ...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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10:44
Voice Tone: A Vagus Nerve Approach to Social Anxiety
Voice tone, controlled by the vagus nerve, plays a crucial role in how we experience social anxiety and how others perceive our emotional state in conversations.• The polyvagal theory explains how our autonomic nervous system regulates ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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15:12
How to Listen to Your Body and Restore Balance
Unlock the secrets of your body in this episode as we delve into the intriguing messages sent by your nervous system. Learn how to recognize and respond to the signs of nervous system dysregulation and the simple yet transformative changes you ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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19:09
3 Mental Health Myths
Unlock the secrets of holistic health as Emily, a passionate massage therapist, challenge the myths surrounding mental health. Ever thought mental health issues stop at the brain? Think again. Join me to explore how the vagus nerve ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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13:07
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Sneaky Stress: How It Silently Hijacks Your Health
Is stress silently sabotaging your health without you even knowing it? Discover the surprising ways sneaky stress infiltrates our daily lives and takes a toll on our well-being. This episode of "It Starts at Vagus" with your host Emily uncovers...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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14:58
Stress, Your Immune System & the Vagus Nerve
This episode highlights the intricate relationship between stress, immunity, and the vagus nerve, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy vagal tone for overall well-being. Practical techniques including deep breathing, singing, and...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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14:22
Real Life & the Polyvagal Nerve
Explore the profound insights of the polyvagal theory, which connects our nervous system responses to emotional states. Recognizing signs of dysregulation and learning practical techniques can empower listeners to shift toward calmness a...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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11:23
Brain & Mental Health: Part 2
Unlock the secrets to nurturing your brain through the power of social connections, movement, and sunlight. Join me, Emily, as we uncover how these elements activate the vagus nerve, fostering a state of calm and enhancing cognitiv...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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19:00
Brain & Mental Health: Part 1
This episode focuses on how sleep quality, modern screen time habits, and background noise affect brain & mental health and overall well-being. We discuss actionable strategies for improving sleep routines and minimizing distractions to enh...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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20:55
Adjust Posture for a Stress-Free Life
This episode explores the significant connection between posture and stress levels, revealing how our alignment impacts mental and emotional well-being. We discuss the anatomical position, the function of the vagus nerve, and provide practical ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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16:15
Influence Your Nervous System: Journey to Tranquility
This episode focuses on the power of the autonomic nervous system and how we can influence it for better health. The discussion highlights breathing techniques, the role of the vagus nerve, and practical approaches to reduce stress and promote ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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26:23
Evening Routines for Tomorrow's Calm
Struggling to find peace in the chaos of everyday life? Discover how small, intentional routines can transform your evenings and prepare you for a successful tomorrow. Join me, Emily, as we uncover the secret power of the Vagus Nerve in mitigat...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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12:35
The Grinch & the Vagus Nerve Connection
This episode delves into how the Grinch's behaviors stem from disconnection and isolation, exploring the impact of supporting the vagus nerve for social engagement and emotional well-being. We discuss practical exercises that can help foster jo...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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12:06
5 Tips to Calm Christmas Chaos
🎄Can you transform holiday chaos into a serene and joyful experience? Discover the answers in our latest episode, where we unlock five transformative strategies to harness the body's natural tools, especially the power of the vagus nerve, turni...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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14:59
Christmas Traditions & Mental Health
Can holiday traditions really calm your nerves and boost your mental well-being? Join me, Emily, as we explore the magical impact of Christmas rituals on our emotional health. Discover how the simple acts of setting up a Christmas tree, baking ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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14:20
Getting Sciency about the Vagus Nerve
Unlock the secrets of your body's ultimate key to calm and connection! Join me, Emily, as we journey into the intricate world of the vagus nerve and discover its profound impact on our well-being. Inspired by the illuminating book "Accessing th...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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12:37
The Vagus Nerve: The FAST Way to Calm
Unlock the secret to a calm and connected life by harnessing the transformative power of your vagus nerve. Imagine starting your day with a sense of peace rather than stress; this episode promises to teach you a simple yet powerful exercise tha...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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10:34
Check to See the Anxiety & the Vagus Nerve Connection
Discover how muscle tension is more than just a physical strain—it's a key player in perpetuating anxiety. Join me, Emily, a neuromuscular massage therapist, as we unravel the intricate relationship between stress, tension, and the fight-or-fli...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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9:33