The Sovereign Shift™ | Nervous System Regulation, Spiritual Growth, Freedom, Personal Sovereignty

[Ep24] The Wealth Revolution No One Told Women About (Until Now) | Mel Dorman

If you’ve ever believed that wealth was “not for someone like you,” this episode will change everything.
This week on The Sovereign Shift, Chelsea sits down with real estate revolutionary, TEDx speaker, and former social worker Mel Dorman, whose life's work dismantles the biggest lie women have been sold:
👉 that financial freedom is reserved for the wealthy, privileged, perfectly-credentialed few.
Mel’s story is unbelievable—except it’s real.
From teaching orphans in Uganda, to working in psych wards and jails, to supporting women escaping sex trafficking in India… Mel spent her early life serving the margins.
But everything changed when her father developed Alzheimer’s and her family suddenly needed $7,000/month for his care—with no plan, no safety net, and no financial literacy to lean on.
What Mel did next became a blueprint for financial sovereignty:
She quit her job, studied real estate between inmate intakes, bought her first property for $500 out of pocket, and went on to build 34 rental units in five years—all using the method she now teaches:
✨ Seller Financing — a community-driven wealth transfer model that bypasses the banks, returns power to everyday people, and keeps money where it belongs: in communities, not corporations.
In this conversation we go deep into:
🔥 The Sovereignty Themes
Why traditional “love and light” spiritual bypassing keeps women broke
How financial instability creates nervous system dysregulation
Why seller financing is the most ethical, community-centered wealth model you’ve never heard of
How patriarchal conditioning shows up as money blocks, perfectionism, and fear of visibility
Why wealth-building isn’t capitalist—it’s self-care, self-respect, and self-sovereignty
🔥 The Wealth Disruption Pieces
How seller financing works (and why the banks don’t want you to know about it)
Why Boomers are the key to the next wave of ethical wealth transfer
How to buy real estate with little or no money down
The truth about amortization and why your mortgage is designed to keep you paying forever
Why the “American Dream” is dead—and what’s replacing it
🔥 The Personal Transformation
Mel opens up about:
Coming out after growing up in a conservative Christian environment
Releasing the fear of being seen—for who she is and for the wealth she now builds
How queerness became the foundation of her financial sovereignty
How choosing herself changed everything
🔥 If you’re someone who…
grew up financially illiterate
feels behind, unprepared, or unworthy of wealth
wants to build a business but feels trapped by money stress
wants to participate in the economy without feeding billionaires
feels called to sovereignty but doesn’t know where to begin
…then this episode is your turning point.
👑 Mel’s mission is simple:
Transfer wealth out of the billionaire class and back into the hands of everyday people—especially women.
And after this conversation, you’ll believe it’s possible too.
 
Segment Markers:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
00:11 Mel's Journey from Social Work to Real Estate
01:20 Personal Financial Struggles and Reprogramming Beliefs
02:15 Breathwork and Self-Reflection
03:16 Podcast Mission and Themes
04:23 Starting the Conversation with Mel
05:39 Mel's Path to Wealth Building
08:59 Discovering Seller Financing
13:12 Benefits of Seller Financing for Sellers
16:54 Overcoming Financial Literacy Barriers
20:35 Resistance and Challenges in Real Estate
23:33 Deconstructing Money Myths
27:35 Overcoming Internalized Oppression
28:51 Reprogramming Limiting Beliefs
31:00 Building Wealth Through Community
32:51 Transitioning to Full-Time Coaching
34:05 Practical Responses to Current Events
35:16 Success Stories and Financial Strategies
38:11 The Power of Seller Financing
44:32 Personal Sovereignty and Financial Literacy
45:42 Inspiring Story
51:38 Embracing Authenticity and Financial Empowerment
54:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
Connect with and learn from Mel:
Get Mel’s free book, Bank On Your Neighbor (the guide to ethical wealth-building without banks): https://www.meldorman.com/book
Follow Mel Dorman on Instagram for seller-financing education and community-driven wealth strategies: https://www.instagram.com/mel_dorman/
 
Connect with The Sovereign Shift™
Get the Magician’s Garden breathwork audio collection for littles and mama bears: https://thesovereignshift.ca/page/the-magicians-garden-collection
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesovereignshift/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesovereignshift/videos
Podbean: https://thesovereignshift.podbean.com/

[Ep23] Raising Regulated Kids in a Dysregulated World through Technology & Storytelling | Jacintha Field

What if technology could actually help our children regulate, connect, and feel safe in their bodies?
In this powerful and deeply human episode of The Sovereign Shift, Chelsea sits down with Jacintha Field—family and child counselor, art therapist, and founder of Happy Souls Kids, a global mental health platform on a mission to help children aged 5–12 navigate big emotions through storytelling, gamified tools, and the voices of real-life heroes.
After walking through the fire of domestic violence, single motherhood, and burnout, Jacintha turned survival into service—retraining in counseling, play therapy, and somatic healing to support her son through anxiety and dysregulation. When traditional systems failed, she built something the world needed: a safe digital space for emotional education.
Together, Chelsea and Jacintha explore:✨ The intersection of motherhood, trauma, and tech✨ What emotional regulation really looks like for kids (and their parents)✨ Why tech isn’t the enemy—but unawareness is✨ How children mirror our own unhealed patterns✨ Building resilience, safety, and sovereignty in a fast-moving world✨ The deeper purpose behind the Happy Souls Kids app—and how you can be part of it
This conversation is equal parts honest and hopeful. Whether you’re a mom, teacher, or someone reparenting your own inner child, it will remind you that healing doesn’t mean perfection—it means presence.
Segment Markers:
00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift
02:45 Welcome to The Sovereign Shift Podcast
03:52 Chelsea and Jacinta's Initial Conversation
05:58 Jacintha's Personal Journey and Challenges
09:51 Motherhood and Overcoming Alcohol Dependency
18:03 Navigating Technology and Parenting
19:14 The Importance of Educating Children About Technology
21:34 Balancing Tech Use and Real-World Interactions
24:22 Concerns About Social Media and Child Safety
27:00 Balancing Motherhood and Technology
28:13 The Unregulated World of Social Media
30:01 Introducing a Gamified Meditation App for Kids
33:36 The Importance of Emotional Regulation
41:50 Challenges of Co-Parenting
45:22 Self-Care and Finding Joy
47:41 Future Plans for Happy Souls Kids
51:26 Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Parents
 
🪶 About Jacinta Field
Jacintha Field is a Family and Child Counselor, Art Therapist, and Founder of Happy Souls Kids, a global mental health platform helping children regulate their emotions through storytelling and gamified tools featuring athletes and positive role models. Based in Australia, Jacintha’s mission is to reach 100,000 children by 2027, creating safe digital spaces for emotional education and healing.
 
Connect with Jacintha:🌏 https://www.happysoulskids.com/📧 hello@happysoulskids.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/happysoulskids/
 
Connect with The Sovereign Shift™
Get the Magician’s Garden breathwork audio collection for littles and mama bears: https://thesovereignshift.ca/page/the-magicians-garden-collection
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesovereignshift/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesovereignshift/videos
Podbean: https://thesovereignshift.podbean.com/

[Ep22] Remembering What Matters Most: Radical Responsibility, Sovereignty, and the Healer Within | Susan McNamara

What does it really mean to live in alignment with what matters most?
In this deeply honest and wide-ranging conversation, Chelsea sits down with Susan McNamara—holistic health counselor, Kripalu yoga teacher, shamanic practitioner, and founder of Remembering What Matters Most—to explore what it truly takes to return home to ourselves in a world that’s forgotten how to feel.
Together, they dive into:
Susan’s awakening journey from addiction and self-loathing to embodied sovereignty
The cultural sickness of disconnection, fear, and expert worship—and how to heal it
The difference between false calm and sovereign calm
How trauma, belonging, and the nervous system shape our search for safety
Why we’ve outsourced our inner authority—and how to reclaim it
The real cost of comfort and why radical responsibility is the medicine of our time
How to “remember what matters most” when technology, media, and modern life keep us numb
The power of direct experience—why lived wisdom matters more than borrowed knowledge
Her six-month immersion for women, The Healer Within, and how it helps participants return to the truth of who they are
This episode is a masterclass in embodied sovereignty and a mirror for our collective healing. It’s an invitation to slow down, feel more deeply, and take ownership of your life as the sacred thing it truly is.
If you’ve been feeling the tension between belonging and authenticity—or the pull to reclaim your health, your power, and your truth—this one’s for you.
Segment Markers:
00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift
00:03 Meet Susan McNamara: A Journey of Healing
01:44 Breathing Exercise: Prepare for the Transmission
02:44 Welcome to The Sovereign Shift Podcast
03:51 Susan's Transformative Journey Begins
06:56 Confronting Trauma and Awakening
08:48 Belonging and the Challenge of Transformation
11:10 The Power of Radical Responsibility
21:07 The Role of Fear and Sovereignty
30:36 Remembering What Matters Most
49:55 The Impact of Technology on Our Lives
52:34 Personal Responsibility and Sovereignty
53:50 The Six-Month Rule and Life Priorities
55:55 Addiction to Technology and Its Effects
58:46 The Influence of Parents on Children
01:12:30 The Importance of Direct Experience
01:21:01 Introducing 'The Healer Within' Program
01:29:59 Final Thoughts and Reflections
About Susan McNamara
Susan McNamara is the founder of Remembering What Matters Most, where she supports and educates others to live in health and according to the truth of who they are—so that together, we can create a world worth living for all.
She’s a certified holistic health counselor, Kripalu Yoga teacher, shamanic practitioner, and JourneyDance guide trained in somatics, energy medicine, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Susan holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and has studied at the doctoral level in clinical psychology.
Her signature six-month program, The Healer Within, helps women reconnect to their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and remember that their life is precious enough to care for.
 
Connect with Susan:
Visit Susan’s website: https://rememberingwhatmattersmost.com/
 
Connect with The Sovereign Shift™
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesovereignshift/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesovereignshift/videos
Podbean: https://thesovereignshift.podbean.com/

[Ep21] The Witchy One: Speaking with the Dead, Energy Healing, and Calling in Your Spirit Team | Tara Wiskow

This Halloween — or Samhain, the season when the veil is thinnest — we’re talking about rebirth, remembrance, and rising from the ashes with intuitive energy healer and life reinvention expert Tara Wiskow.
After losing 220 pounds, surviving trauma, addiction, and near-death moments, Tara awakened her spiritual gifts and now helps women break free from self-abandonment, people-pleasing, and the witch wound that’s kept generations of women small.
In this powerful and emotional episode, we talk about:✨ The ancestral roots of the witch wound and how it still shapes women’s worth today🌑 What happens when you stop piling on “fixes” and start unraveling who you were never meant to be🔥 How trauma lives in the body — and why real transformation begins at the nervous system level💫 The night Tara’s late sister opened her intuitive channel and changed her life forever🌕 A guided inner child healing meditation to help you reconnect with the part of you that still longs to be seen
Whether you’re walking your own path of awakening, or shedding old skins to remember who you are, this Samhain conversation is a homecoming to your power.
 
Tune in, breathe deeply, and let this transmission remind you that your healing is holy.
 
Segment Markers:
00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift
00:09 Meet Tara Wiskow: A Journey of Transformation
04:27 Tara's Early Life and Family Struggles
08:02 Battling Obesity and Finding Herself
09:24 Becoming a Single Mom and Weight Loss Victory
12:17 The Path to Intuitive Healing
22:12 Embracing the Role of a Healer
31:31 Connecting with Guides and Spiritual Awakening
37:27 Reflecting on Past Struggles
39:17 Understanding Discarnate Energy
43:00 Boundaries and Intuitive Healing
49:50 Personal Training and Intuitive Insights
53:55 Empowering Women Through Healing
59:58 Guided Meditation for Inner Child Healing
01:11:37 Future Plans and Contact Information
 
Connect with Tara:
Visit Tara’s website: https://tara-wiskow.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara.wiskow/
 
Connect with The Sovereign Shift™
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesovereignshift/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesovereignshift/videos
Podbean: https://thesovereignshift.podbean.com/

[Ep20] Trauma, Twin Flames, and Transcendence: Healing Through Lifetimes and Remembering Who You Really Are | Birgitta Visser

Birgitta Visser has lived a life that reads like a spiritual odyssey — from trauma and loving people with addiction to worldwide travels, soul awakenings, and profound channelings. In this deeply honest and cosmic conversation, she and Chelsea explore the healing path that begins with radical self-responsibility and ends with remembrance: of who you are, why you came, and how to reclaim the light you’ve always carried.
You’ll also experience a powerful light-language transmission—a channeled energetic activation that clears cellular memory and reconnects you to your divine architecture.
What you’ll hear inside:
Birgitta’s early awakening through trauma, loss, and global wandering
How twin-flame relationships act as mirrors for unhealed wounds
Healing addiction, body shame, and self-loathing through energy work
Past-life memories — from ancient Egypt to Atlantis — and what they teach us today
The truth about light language and why your soul already understands it
Channeling as sovereignty in action: remembering your own divinity
How the Earth’s evolution mirrors our own healing
A live light-language transmission (integration recommended afterward)
Key takeaways:
Healing trauma is the gateway to higher consciousness.
You cannot save anyone — only meet yourself in truth.
Sovereignty is radical self-love in practice.
You are both Earth and star, matter and memory.
Light language bypasses the mind to speak directly to your cells.
Segment Markers:
00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift
01:04 Meet Birgitta Visser: A Soul Empowerment Coach
05:11 Birgitta’s Early Life and Childhood Trauma
07:11 Struggles with Self-Worth and Bullying
10:04 Navigating Dysfunctional Relationships
13:08 The Turning Point: Embracing Healing Modalities
19:07 Rediscovering Spirituality and Self-Love
23:55 The Power of Plant Medicine and Healing
29:19 Reflections on Trauma and Healing
33:36 Influence of Birgitta’s Father and Spiritual Teachings
36:24 Continuing the Legacy
36:44 Connecting with Ancestral Spirits
36:53 Manifesting Future Moves
37:19 Healing Through Past Lives
38:06 Galactic and Historical Lives
41:33 Ancient Civilizations and Wisdom
46:13 Rebirthing and Transformation
51:11 Healing and Self-Love
53:06 Channeling Light Language
01:02:38 Connecting with Higher Beings
01:06:07 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
 
Connect with Birgitta:
Visit Birgitta’s website: https://www.powersoulhealing.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universallightwarriors/
 
Connect with The Sovereign Shift™
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesovereignshift/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesovereignshift/videos
Podbean: https://thesovereignshift.podbean.com/

[Ep19] Fallen Angels & Phoenix Souls: Healing Trauma Through Astrology’s 8th and 12th Houses | Carmen Turner-Schott

In this illuminating episode of The Sovereign Shift, Chelsea Eden Dubeau sits down with bestselling author and astrologer Carmen Turner-Schott for a deep dive into the hidden realms of astrology—the 8th and 12th houses, often called the houses of transformation, trauma, and spiritual awakening.
Carmen, a therapist and intuitive with over 30 years of experience, shares how astrology reveals the deeper purpose behind pain, loss, and sensitivity. She explains why 12th House souls often feel like fallen angels—deeply empathic beings carrying collective and ancestral wounds—and how 8th House souls embody the phoenix, rising again and again from the ashes of profound change.
Together, Chelsea and Carmen explore:✨ How your birth chart is a map of the soul and the key to self-healing✨ The difference between the 8th and 12th houses—and what they reveal about your past lives, trauma, and gifts✨ The spiritual link between astrology, addiction, and emotional sensitivity✨ Why 2025 is an astrologically unprecedented year of collective transformation✨ The science and spirituality behind astrology’s “hidden houses”✨ Carmen’s personal journey from trauma to spiritual service—and how understanding her chart helped her walk away from a 25-year government career to follow her true north node
If you’ve ever felt different, deeply sensitive, or drawn to unseen realms, this conversation will feel like home. Bring your birth chart, take a deep breath, and get ready to rediscover the sacred design behind your soul’s journey.
Segment Markers:
00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift
00:22 Meet Carmen Turner Shot: Astrologer and Therapist
00:58 Astrology's Impact on Daily Life
01:36 Carmen's Personal Journey with Astrology
01:51 Deep Dive into the Eighth and Twelfth Houses
02:09 Breathwork and Spiritual Practices
02:32 Chelsea's Introduction and Podcast Mission
04:22 Carmen's Early Experiences with Astrology
09:38 Understanding the Twelfth House
16:05 Astrology and Personal Healing
40:01 The Role of Transits in Astrology
49:37 Understanding 12th House Sensitivity
50:30 Pisces and Addiction Tendencies
52:02 Coping Mechanisms and Personal Stories
55:53 Astrology and Life Changes
01:02:14 Exploring Eighth House Energies
01:08:15 Astrological Elements and Balancing Energies
01:20:47 Mundane Astrology and World Events
01:32:40 Connecting with Carmen Turner
 
Listen to this episode if you’re searching for:
How astrology explains trauma and healing
The meaning of the 8th and 12th astrological houses
The link between astrology and addiction recovery
Spiritual awakening through astrology
Nervous system regulation and soul purpose
2025 astrological predictions
 
Connect with Carmen:
Visit Carmen’s website: https://carmenturnerschott.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmen_turner_schott_author/
 
Connect with The Sovereign Shift™
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesovereignshift/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesovereignshift/videos
Podbean: https://thesovereignshift.podbean.com/

[Ep18] Your Soul’s Mastery, Money Mindset, and the Age of Brilliance | Mynoo Maryel

Mynoo Maryel is a globally-recognized leadership mentor, author, spiritual mentor and channel whose work centres on dignity, flourishing leadership, and what she calls the Age of Brilliance (but all of this is just scratching the surface). She hosts weekly transmissions and leads immersive experiences for individuals and founders.
This episode offers a practical, spiritual, and nervous-system-savvy path to sovereignty. We unpack dignity as the key to flourishing, how to regulate your system for clarity and courage, what “Age of Brilliance” actually means, and how to work with money as a clean, generous energy. You will learn a 9-4-6 whole-brain breath you can start today, a simple “miracle lens” practice to end looping anxiety, and a clear way to name your work without vague spiritual jargon.
What we cover:
Sovereignty as flourishing, not shrinking
Dignity: honouring your worth so you can honour the worth in others
The “Age of Brilliance” and why synchronicities accelerate when you’re regulated
Two nervous system tools: long-exhale calm breath and the 9-4-6 whole-brain breath
The “miracle lens” to end anxious looping and return to the body
Soul’s Mastery vs autopilot saboteur, and how to choose differently
Money energy reframe: from command and control to gift and generosity
Founders, visibility, and why leadership is a nervous system job
Segment Markers:
00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift
00:12 Introducing Mynoo Maryel
02:09 The Power of Presence and Meditation
02:50 Welcome to The Sovereign Shift Podcast
05:09 Mynoo’s Journey to Sovereignty
08:35 The Concept of Dignity and Sovereignty
19:32 The Role of Breathwork and Nervous System Regulation
23:51 Connecting with Spirit Guides
29:30 Mynoo’s Books and Teachings
33:11 Empowering Founders and Leaders
39:40 Flourishing Leadership and Women's Sovereignty
40:04 Exploring the Age of Brilliance
42:11 Connecting to Your Unique Brilliance
49:08 Breathing Practices for Spiritual Connection
56:56 Understanding Miracles and Self-Love
01:02:15 Discovering Your Purpose and Soul's Mastery
01:12:16 The Sovereign Shift: Reclaiming Your Brilliance
01:19:24 Closing Thoughts and Future Opportunities
Connect with Mynoo Maryel:
Visit Mynoo’s website: https://mynoomaryel.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mynoomaryel/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mynoomaryel
Get the books: https://mynoomaryel.com/category/books/
Immersions: https://mynoomaryel.com/category/immersions/
Connect with The Sovereign Shift™
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Visit The POWER Lift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca/page/the-power-lift
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesovereignshift/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesovereignshift/videos
Podbean: https://thesovereignshift.podbean.com/

[Ep17] Women, Money & Power: Rewriting the Rules of Leadership | Sam Jump

What happens when women stop apologizing, stop carrying the weight of generations, and start rewriting the rules of leadership—with money, power, and sovereignty on their own terms?
In this episode of The Sovereign Shift, I sit down with Samantha Jump, founder of Powerhouses with Purpose, to talk about the unraveling—how women burn out under impossible expectations, what it means to walk away from inherited cycles of scarcity, and the courage it takes to lead from invincible self-trust.
This isn’t a soft conversation. It’s about the divine female rage that comes when you realize:
We were told to be homemakers and breadwinners, but never resourced to be both.
Our nervous systems are collapsing under systems designed for speed and extraction.
Money in the hands of sovereign women isn’t dangerous—it’s revolutionary.
Together we explore the messy middle of healing, the inherited burnout of our mothers and grandmothers, and how shifting our pace, values, and beliefs changes everything.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of being “too much,” the guilt of slowing down, or the shame of wanting more—you’ll find yourself in this conversation.
Because when women reclaim their sovereignty—body, mind, nervous system, and money—the world changes.
What we cover
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Guest Introduction: Samantha Jump
00:57 Setting the Stage for the Conversation
02:20 Breathwork and Sovereignty
04:00 Podcast Overview and Themes
05:07 Beginning the Interview with Samantha Jump
05:43 Sam's Journey: From Corporate to Coaching
09:42 The Process of Unraveling
14:35 Generational Patterns and Personal Growth
20:16 Balancing Expectations and Burnout
25:28 The Need for Speed and Societal Pressures
28:33 The Importance of Nervous System Regulation
28:54 The Conflict Between Our Bodies and Modern Systems
29:19 Chronic Stress and Its Impact on Health
30:24 The Guilt and Shame of Self-Advocacy
31:56 The Struggle for Employee Wellbeing
33:10 Generational Imprints and Personal Wellbeing
34:28 The Continuous Journey of Self-Care
36:35 The Intersection of Privilege and Burnout
37:25 The Power of Changing Limiting Beliefs
39:20 The Pain and Reward of Healing
40:22 Navigating Discomfort and Mentorship
42:52 The Role of Money in Women's Empowerment
49:17 Neutralizing the Symbolism of Money
50:10 The Impact of Identity and Success
53:01 The Power of Perspective and Compassion
54:42 Empowering Women Leaders and Business Owners
57:36 Final Thoughts and Resources
Connect
Visit Powerhouses With Purpose online: http://www.powerhouseswithpurpose.com
Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samjump/
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Follow The Sovereign Shift™ on IG and YouTube: @thesovereignshift

[Ep16] She Paired This “Toxic” Mushroom with Breathwork…What Happened Next Will Blow Your Mind | Jessica Love

Most of us grew up believing Amanita muscaria—the red-and-white mushroom from fairytales and emojis—was toxic, dangerous, even deadly. But what if that story was only half true?
In this episode of The Sovereign Shift, breath alchemist and ceremonialist Jessica Love shares her extraordinary journey of discovering this so-called “toxic” mushroom as a sacred teacher, and why pairing it with conscious connected breathwork changes everything.
Together we explore:
How Amanita muscaria kept mysteriously appearing until Jessica could no longer ignore its call
The surprising grandmother-like presence this mushroom carries—and how it guides deep ancestral healing
Why combining Amanita with breathwork creates safety, relaxation, and immediate integration
The shadow side: why reverence and preparation are essential with this misunderstood entheogen
The playful synchronicities and signs that appear when you open to its consciousness—before you ever ingest it
Jessica’s story flips the script: what’s been labeled “toxic” is often medicine in disguise. And when combined with the breath—the most sovereign healing technology we have—the results can feel nothing short of miraculous.
Whether you’re curious about plant and fungi allies, or simply want to remember the power that already lives within your breath, this conversation will expand your sense of what’s possible.
What we cover
00:00 Introduction and Deep Breathing Exercise
00:27 Guest Introduction: Jessica Love
01:07 Jessica Love's Journey with Amanita Muscaria
02:41 The Sovereign Shift Podcast Overview
03:47 Conversation with Jessica Love Begins
05:15 Discovering Amanita Muscaria
16:28 First Amanita Muscaria Ceremony
21:55 The Power of Breathwork and Amanita Muscaria
31:54 Synchronicities and Reverence for Amanita Muscaria
34:20 The Dual Nature of Amanita Muscaria
42:58 The Consciousness of Anitas
43:55 Respecting and Giving Back to Fungi Medicine
46:40 Family Foraging Adventures
50:05 The Importance of Proper Preparation
52:43 Breathwork and Plant Medicine Integration
01:05:05 The Amanita Maiden Journey
01:12:37 Future Plans and Mushroom Festivals
01:18:35 Connecting and Learning More
Connect
Visit Amanita Allies online: https://amanita-allies.com/
Follow Jessica on Instagram: @amanita_allies
Visit The Sovereign Shift™: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Follow The Sovereign Shift™ on IG and YouTube: @thesovereignshift

[Ep15] Use this "weird" method for trauma healing | Laurel van der Toorn

In this episode, host Chelsea Eden Dubeau sits down with therapist Laurel van der Toorn to explore EMDR as a body-informed, evidence-based path for processing trauma, and how high-achieving women can move from white-knuckling life to real integration. We talk about burnout myths, why a vacation won’t fix chronic depletion, and Laurel’s four-part framework for recovery that includes physical, behavioural, social, and spiritual health. We also touch feminist therapy, activist sustainability, and how singing in community can be a healing practice.
What we cover
00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift — setting the stage for breath, truth, and sovereignty00:03 Meet Laurel van der Toorn: Therapist and Healer — her background and why she blends science with spirituality00:38 Exploring EMDR Therapy — why it’s considered one of the most effective trauma treatments01:13 Breathing Exercise and Setting Intentions — a guided moment to ground before listening02:52 Feminist Therapy and Coping Strategies — centering women’s lived experiences in healing03:24 Podcast Introduction and Themes — sovereignty, nervous system regulation, and spiritual awakening04:35 Laurel's Journey and Professional Background — from grad school to leading Laurel Therapy Collective05:33 Understanding Trauma and EMDR — how trauma affects the brain and body08:19 The Process and Phases of EMDR — breaking down the 8-phase model10:45 The Power of EMDR in Healing Trauma — real outcomes and why it “feels weird but works”14:40 Uncovering Buried Memories with EMDR — using feeling states as entry points19:05 The Resilience of the Human Mind — how the brain strives toward self-healing19:57 High Achievers and EMDR Therapy — why achievement often masks deeper wounds23:36 Rising Burnout Rates and Coping Strategies — cultural reinforcements and the cost of productivity24:30 Debunking Burnout Myths — why time off won’t fix systemic depletion25:24 Effective Solutions for Burnout — lifestyle shifts vs quick fixes25:50 The Fourfold Approach to Burnout Recovery — medical, behavioral, social, and spiritual health27:58 The Importance of Social and Spiritual Health — building connection and meaning29:01 Incorporating Spirituality into Therapy — values, authenticity, and showing up whole30:18 Transpersonal Therapy and Its Impact — making space for the “woo” in healing32:06 Balancing Ambition and Well-being — holding ambition without sacrificing self33:44 The Pendulum of Progress — feminist progress and backlash cycles36:54 Sustainable Activism Through Music — Laurel’s social-justice women’s choir as community medicine40:37 Resources for EMDR and Therapy — free webinars and workbooks at laureltherapy.net42:42 Final Thoughts and Encouragement — small shifts and “improve the moment” practices
Takeaways
EMDR helps rewire how memories are stored, reducing the body’s charge while keeping the meaning.
If achievement has been your coping strategy, healing doesn’t end your success — it ends success at the cost of your well-being.
Burnout recovery is a lifestyle shift, not a two-week vacation. Begin with one small upgrade in medical, behavioral, social, or spiritual health.
Spirituality counts — whether through service, creativity, values, or connection to something larger.
Activism that nourishes (not depletes) you is sustainable activism.
Try this now
Choose one “improve the moment” action for the next 5 minutes: water, a song that settles you, three slow breaths with a long exhale, a quick text to someone you love
Audit your week using Laurel’s four domains and circle the easiest next step to upgrade
Guest
Laurel Vander Torn is a licensed marriage and family therapist and former Pepperdine graduate professor. She leads Laurel Therapy Collective and specializes in EMDR for trauma, anxiety, burnout, and couples. Her team serves clients online in California, Florida, Michigan, and Washington. Resources and a free EMDR webinar are at https://www.laureltherapy.net/
Resources mentioned
Free EMDR overview webinar and guides: https://www.laureltherapy.net/
The Sovereign Shift breathwork library and mini-courses: https://thesovereignshift.ca
Connect
Laurel Therapy Collective on IG (@laureltherapycollective)
The Sovereign Shift on IG and YouTube (@thesovereignshift)