Relearning support: how the body remembers safety | Betsy Polatin | #036 Mastering Change
What does it feel like to live without support – not emotionally, but physically, in your body? This week on Mastering Change, Betsy Polatin, somatic educator and breathwork specialist, explores how trauma takes away our sense of being supported – and how to reconnect with the forces that hold us. “Trauma takes away our universal support. When we feel ourselves be supported, we don’t need to hold ourselves up on our own.” Betsy explains how clients often describe the absence of support as tension in the shoulders – and walks us through a grounding exercise to begin rebuilding that felt sense of safety. We also explore: What “support” feels like in the body How trauma changes posture and breathing patterns Reconnecting with the physical environment to regulate the nervous system The power of letting go – and allowing yourself to be held Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.
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Split-second unlearning: rethinking fear and stress | Matt Hudson | #035 Mastering Change
Imagine if fear wasn’t something we needed to manage – but something we could unlearn? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Matt Hudson, creator of Split-Second Unlearning, about fear, hypnotic states, and how to interrupt patterns held in the body and mind. He explains why he aims to spark curiosity rather than reinforce fear, and how state shifts open the door to different choices. He also challenges the way we talk about stress – arguing that it isn’t the cause, but the symptom that follows an event. We explore: How Split-Second Unlearning targets fear at the moment it forms Curiosity as a lever for state and behaviour change How hypnotic states show up in everyday life and how to “de-hypnotise” Why looking at stress as a symptom reframes assessment and intervention Practical takeaways for clients and practitioners Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Edit: Since the time of recording, there have been developments in Matt Hudson’s work. Please see the latest materials and website below.Matt Hudson | Split-Second Unlearning™️ & MindReset™️Matt Hudson is a behavioural specialist and researcher who created Split-Second Unlearning™️ and MindReset™️ — breakthrough methods for resolving undiagnosed trauma without revisiting the past. His discovery of the Emotional Memory Image (EMI) — a sensory imprint formed at the moment of threat — reveals how unseen memories drive anxiety, burnout and psychosomatic distress.By tracking eye movements, Split-Second Unlearning™️ dissolves the EMI’s charge in seconds, while the MindReset™️app brings this process to users worldwide.Matt’s research reframes trauma as protection, not pathology, reshaping approaches to health, education and leadership. matthudson.comCurrent Projects (2025–2026)MindReset™️ App – A private, self-guided digital tool that applies Split-Second Unlearning™️ through eye-tracking and brief guided sessions to dissolve stress, anxiety and emotional overwhelm in under two minutes.Practitioner Learning & Development Pathway – A structured training and supervision programme for professionals integrating Split-Second Unlearning™️ within coaching, therapy and healthcare.ReNova Retreat (Spain, January 2026) – A women’s medical-wellness retreat combining Split-Second Unlearning™️ with integrative medicine to support emotional regulation, hormonal balance and nervous system renewal.Research & Publications – Ongoing peer-reviewed studies examining the psychophysiology of perception and the resolution of undiagnosed trauma through the Split-Second Unlearning™️ model, including investigations into the link between dysmenorrhea and undiagnosed trauma.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.
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Sugar, stress and the mind-body connection | Sophie Hascher | #034 Mastering Change
When we talk about mental health, we often forget one major ingredient – sugar. In this episode of Mastering Change, neuroscientist Sophie Hascher joins us to explore how sugar addiction affects emotional wellbeing – and what happens when we start reconnecting to the body. Sophie shares research showing that people higher on the sugar addiction scale are much more likely to experience anxiety, depression and chronic stress. She explains how sugar impacts the brain’s reward system and why we need to look beyond willpower and into biology. “When we talk about mental health, we need to include the body – the mind, brain and biochemistry all work together.” We discuss the benefits of reducing sugar, how the nervous system begins to recalibrate, and why drugs like Ozempic may reduce appetite but miss the deeper causes of imbalance. Sophie offers a grounded, evidence-based perspective on healing that goes beyond restriction – one that’s about understanding the whole system and coming back into relationship with yourself. We also explore: How sugar affects dopamine, mood and focus The connection between sugar, anxiety and depression Why mental health isn’t just in the mind, but in the body The limits of Ozempic and why there’s no “silver bullet” for healing Practical ways to reconnect with your body’s natural cues Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive topics related to addiction, food and mental health. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.
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Intensive relationship therapy: moving through discomfort, not around it | Priscilla Short | #033 Mastering Change
The traditional model of therapy tends to be one hour, once a week. But how effective is this? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with psychotherapist Priscilla Short, who’s challenging the way we think about relationship and trauma therapy. She introduces us to the world of intensive therapy – where months of work are condensed into a few focused days. It’s immersive, honest and allows both clients and therapists to stay with what’s uncomfortable long enough for real change to happen. “It’s called intensive therapy” says Priscilla, “but I actually find it far less intense. You’re not constantly restarting – you can stay in it, work through it and watch people transform in front of you.” She explains why this model can help couples move beyond patterns that weekly sessions can’t reach, and why the depth of connection it creates can be life-changing – for both clients and therapists. We explore Why traditional weekly therapy may slow down deep relational change How intensives allow clients to move through discomfort, not around it What happens when therapists fully step into the relational dynamic Why it can feel less intense for practitioners, not more Research showing stronger, longer-lasting outcomes for couples who do intensives Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.
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Breaking the silence: Healing from racial trauma | Ashley McGirt | #032 Mastering Change
What happens when silence becomes a survival strategy – and healing means finding your voice again? This week on Mastering Change, we speak with therapist, author and founder of the Washington Therapy Fund Foundation Ashley McGirt about the impact of racial and intergenerational trauma. Ashley shares how trauma rooted in racism and injustice can echo through generations, shaping families, relationships and self-worth – and how healing begins when we start to name what was once unspeakable. “Just saying it out loud is healing. Naming it takes away some of its power.” We explore How racial trauma lives in the body and is passed through generations The role of silence and survival in Black families and communities Why healing requires being witnessed in our pain How storytelling and community care can transform collective wounds This conversation is both grounding and liberating – a reminder that breaking silence isn’t just about telling your story, but reclaiming your power. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast Follow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltd Visit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.
About Mastering Change | The trauma, mental health & wellbeing podcast
Welcome to Mastering Change, a podcast co-hosted by Emma and Araminta, where we engage in meaningful conversations centred around healing. In this series, we bring together leading experts, innovative thinkers, and emerging voices to connect knowledge with real-world impact in the areas of trauma, mental health and wellbeing. Each episode features insightful discussions with respected figures as well as promising new contributors to the field. We explore a range of topics with a focus on making this knowledge available for anyone interested in supporting their own healing journey or that of others. At Mastering Change, we understand the significance of conversation as a means of fostering understanding and growth. Our aim is to create a ripple effect, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and establishing a community where impactful voices are heard. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the field, we invite you to engage in thoughtful discussions that can inspire meaningful change in your practice and personal life. Join us as we explore critical insights and perspectives, encouraging a shared commitment to healing trauma.
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