Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

What does it take to raise confident, emotionally resilient kids in a world that feels louder, harsher, and more disconnected than ever? In this powerful episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Marine Officer, leadership mentor, and children’s author Olaolu Ogunyemi to talk about insecurity, identity, discipline, and why leadership always starts at home.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 4.5 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to normalize unfiltered conversations about mental health, trauma, and emotional survival.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here:

https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

 

Mental Health Quote

“You’re good enough as you are.” — Olaolu Ogunyemi

Episode Description

Before he became a Marine Officer, leadership mentor, and award-winning children’s author, Olaolu Ogunyemi was a kid who didn’t feel like he fit in. Growing up as the son of Nigerian immigrants in Louisiana, struggling with insecurity about his name, his appearance, and his identity, Olaolu found himself acting out just to belong.

In this honest and heartfelt conversation, he shares how rebellion turned into resilience — and how those early struggles shaped his mission to help parents raise confident, emotionally strong children.

G-Rex and Dirty Skittles dig into the real stuff: why discipline isn’t about punishment, how insecurity shows up in kids (and adults), the pressure boys feel to hide pain, and why connection at home is the foundation for leadership everywhere else. Olaolu opens up about fatherhood, military life, his son’s health challenges, and the hard lesson of learning you can’t control everything.

This episode is for the parents who want to do better than what they were taught. For the dads who want to lead with empathy. For the moms raising boys to be emotionally aware men. And for anyone who needed to hear, at 12 years old, “You’re already enough.”

Because raising resilient kids doesn’t start with control.
It starts with connection.

Keywords: Olaolu Ogunyemi, emotionally resilient children, confident kids, parenting tips, mental health, fatherhood, emotional intelligence, discipline vs punishment, leadership at home, raising boys, identity development, self-worth, resilience, family connection, positive parenting

Meet Our Guest — Olaolu Ogunyemi

Olaolu Ogunyemi is a Marine Officer, leadership mentor, parenting advocate, and award-winning children’s book author. As the founder of Parent-Child-Connect and author of Crow From the Shadow, Billy Dipper’s Time to Shine, and Horace the Horsefly, he equips parents with practical tools to build connection, confidence, and character in their children. His upcoming book, Lead Last, continues his mission to develop service-driven leaders at home and beyond.

Website: https://parent-child-connect.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olaolu.ogunyemi
X: https://x.com/Olaolu_Ogunyemi
Pinterest: https://pin.it/3heBVMv
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@olaoluogunyemi?si=zL0_VWAq81g2B5hK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olaolu.ogunyemi/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olaolu-ogunyemi-465ba453

Key Takeaways

Discipline should build connection, not fear.

Insecurity in kids often shows up as rebellion.

Boys need emotional permission, not just toughness.

You can’t control everything — and trying to will exhaust you.

Leadership begins in the home, long before it shows up in the workplace.

Actionable Items

Tell your child one thing you genuinely admire about who they are — not what they achieve.

Replace “Why did you do that?” with “Help me understand what was going on for you.”

Schedule 15 minutes this week to enter your child’s world — their game, their hobby, their music. No correcting. Just connecting.

References Mentioned

Parent-Child-Connect: https://parent-child-connect.com/

Important Chapters

00:01:00 – Who is Olaolu Ogunyemi? From insecurity to impact

00:12:00 – Why fitting in nearly derailed his future

00:20:00 – The real meaning of discipline

00:30:00 – Military systems vs emotional intelligence

00:35:00 – Parenting through health scares and letting go of control

00:45:00 – Advice to his 12-year-old self

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #EmotionallyResilientKids #ParentingTips #ConfidentChildren #FatherhoodMatters #PositiveParenting #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #RaisingBoys #FamilyConnection #IdentityAndSelfWorth #ResilientFamilies #ParentingPodcast

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If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the anxiety, control, and burnout you’re battling aren’t flaws — but outdated survival strategies from childhood? In this powerful episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Yvonne Trost to unpack subconscious programming, inner child healing, and what it really takes to escape the success trap and finally feel emotionally free.

About the Show + Vote

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to normalize unfiltered conversations about mental health, trauma, and emotional survival.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

Help Us Bring This Award Home
We’re incredibly honored to share that Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads has been shortlisted for the Podcast Awards – Best Mental Health Podcast.

If this show has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or helped you understand your mental health a little better, we’d be grateful for your vote.
Voting is quick and easy:

You do not need to sign up for Patreon
Once you hit submit, your vote is sent

Vote here: https://shorturl.at/mpReA

Winners will be announced on February 28th, 2026. Thank you for being part of this community and helping us break stigma one conversation at a time.

Mental Health Quote

“You have a mind, but you are not your mind — and you don’t have to let it slap you around anymore.” — Yvonne Trost

Episode Description

For 25 years, Yvonne Trost thrived in high-pressure corporate leadership roles. On paper, she had the success. The title. The image. The achievement. But underneath it all? She was running on empty.

In this raw and honest conversation, Yvonne shares how her divorce became the wake-up call that forced her to confront the subconscious beliefs driving her perfectionism, control, and constant need to prove her worth. What she discovered changed everything: most of the “shit that goes on in our heads” was programmed before we were 10.

Together, we talk about subconscious reprogramming, hypnotherapy, inner child healing, fear of failure, fear of success, and how anxiety often shows up as protection — not weakness. Yvonne introduces her three-step framework: Realize, Recode, Rewrite — a process designed to help high achievers stop operating from outdated survival scripts and start living from intention and emotional freedom.

If you’ve ever felt trapped in the success trap — chasing achievement while secretly feeling unfulfilled — this episode is your permission slip to upgrade your internal operating system.

Because real success isn’t about the title. It’s about how free you feel inside.

Keywords: Yvonne Trost, inner child healing, subconscious reprogramming, hypnotherapy, anxiety recovery, emotional freedom, burnout recovery, perfectionism, fear of success, fear of failure, corporate burnout, mindset transformation, nervous system regulation, self-worth, high achievers

Meet Our Guest — Yvonne Trost

Yvonne Trost is a Mindset Transformation Expert, speaker, and co-founder of LimitlessYou, a transformational coaching company helping high-achieving professionals break free from subconscious limitations. With 25 years of experience in corporate leadership and business transformation, Yvonne now guides entrepreneurs and leaders through neuroscience-backed subconscious reprogramming, hypnosis, and coaching to create lives rooted in confidence, peace, and authenticity.

Website: https://unlocklimitlessyou.com/why-us/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlocklimitlessyou/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unlocklimitlessyou/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlockLimitlessYou

Key Takeaways

Most anxiety and control patterns are subconscious survival strategies formed before age 10.

You are not your thoughts — you can retrain your mind.

Depression and burnout are often protective responses, not personal failures.

Compassion + curiosity are more powerful than judgment.

Real freedom starts with healing your inner child.

Actionable Items

Try mirror work: Tell your younger self what you’re proud of, what you’re releasing, and what you’re committing to.

Notice when fear, doubt, judgment, or self-pity show up — pause and ask what your body is trying to protect you from.

Shift from “Why is this happening to me?” to “How is this happening for me?”

References Mentioned

Unlock Limitless You: https://unlocklimitlessyou.com/why-us/
Self-Love Quiz: https://unlocklimitlessyou.com/

Important Chapters

00:02:30 – The “Door to Anywhere” metaphor and breaking small-town limitations

00:07:00 – Why control is your subconscious mind trying to protect you

00:18:30 – Fear of success vs. fear of failure

00:24:00 – The Unfabulous Four: fear, judgment, doubt, and self-pity

00:34:00 – E = MC² redefined: Mindful thinking, compassion, and curiosity

00:44:00 – Mirror work and reconnecting with your inner child

00:48:50 – Favorite word: Breathe. Least favorite word: Fair.

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #InnerChildHealing #SubconsciousMind #AnxietyRecovery #BurnoutRecovery #EmotionalFreedom #MindsetShift #NervousSystemRegulation #CorporateBurnout #HighAchievers #SelfWorth #Hypnotherapy #PersonalGrowth #HealingJourney
***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if buying a house wasn’t just a transaction—but a transformation? In this powerful episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Scott Harris to talk about addiction recovery, ADHD, emotional growth, and why finding a home is deeply tied to our mental health.

 
Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to normalize unfiltered conversations about mental health, trauma, and emotional survival.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

 
Help Us Bring This Award Home

We’re incredibly honored to share that Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads has been shortlisted for the Podcast Awards – Best Mental Health Podcast.

If this show has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or helped you understand your mental health a little better, we’d be grateful for your vote.
Voting is quick and easy:

You do not need to sign up for Patreon

Once you hit submit, your vote is sent

Vote here: https://shorturl.at/mpReA

Winners will be announced on February 28th, 2026. Thank you for being part of this community and helping us break stigma one conversation at a time.
 

Mental Health Quote

“You don’t have to do this alone. The moment you stop trying to be the hero is the moment everything changes.” — Scott Harris

Episode Description

When Scott Harris woke up on May 19, 2019, after drinking too much tequila, he made a decision that would change everything: he was done. Not because he hit rock bottom—but because he was tired of the anxiety, the noise in his head, and the feeling that he wasn’t living up to his potential.

In this honest and unexpectedly emotional conversation, Scott joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about addiction recovery, ADHD, leadership, and the surprising mental health journey behind buying a home. As a top New York City real estate broker and author of The Pursuit of Home, Scott explains why purchasing a house is rarely “just a deal.” It’s a transition—one that tests relationships, communication styles, identity, and self-trust.

Scott shares how alcohol once helped him self-medicate his ADHD and social anxiety, and how sobriety opened the door to clarity, vulnerability, and writing his bestselling book. Together, the trio unpacks the emotional rollercoaster of house hunting, why communication can make or break both marriages and real estate deals, and how the right support system changes everything.

This episode is about more than property. It’s about healing, connection, courage, and learning that you don’t have to go through life—or recovery—alone.

Keywords: Scott Harris, addiction recovery, ADHD, sobriety journey, mental health podcast, buying a home, emotional intelligence, anxiety recovery, leadership vulnerability, personal growth, real estate psychology, The Pursuit of Home, communication in relationships, life transitions

Meet Our Guest — Scott Harris

Scott Harris is a nationally bestselling author and top New York City real estate broker who has sold nearly $2 billion in residential property. Founder of MAGNETIC and creator of The Magnetic Method, Scott empowers clients to align their real estate decisions with their personal growth. His book, The Pursuit of Home: A Real Estate Guide to Achieving the American Dream, blends practical strategy with emotional insight.

Connect with Scott:

Website (Book): https://pursueyourhome.com

Company: https://magneticre.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottieharris/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisresidential/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottHarrisResidentialTeam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@magneticre

X: https://x.com/scottieharris

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scottharrisfindinghome?lang=en

Substack: https://thepursuitofhome.substack.com/

Key Takeaways

Sobriety can unlock clarity, leadership, and untapped potential.

ADHD isn’t a flaw—it’s energy that needs direction and awareness.

Buying a home is a psychological and emotional transition, not just paperwork.

Communication styles matter—especially between partners during big life decisions.

The right support system can steady you during life’s most stressful moments.

You don’t have to be the hero. Connection heals.

 

Actionable Items

Before making a major life decision, ask: Who’s in my support circle—and are they truly supportive?

If you’re house hunting, clarify your communication style and share it with your partner and agent.

If alcohol or another habit is quieting anxiety temporarily, explore what it might be covering—and consider reaching out for support.

 

References Mentioned

The Pursuit of Home — https://pursueyourhome.com

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — https://988lifeline.org/

Global Crisis Resources — https://findahelpline.com

Important Chapters

00:02:00 – Scott’s sobriety wake-up call

00:07:00 – ADHD, self-medication, and anxiety

00:15:00 – Writing The Pursuit of Home at 5 AM

00:22:00 – Why buying a home is emotionally intense

00:30:00 – Communication styles and relationship stress

00:40:00 – The house that contributed to a divorce

00:44:00 – Why you shouldn’t go through big transitions alone

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #AddictionRecovery #ADHDAwareness #SobrietyJourney #AnxietyRecovery #EmotionalWellness #HomeBuyingJourney #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #LifeTransitions #CommunicationSkills #RecoveryIsPossible #RealEstateLife #HealingThroughConnection #ThePursuitOfHome

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If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part 2 of this powerful two-part conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles continue their deep dive with Greg Vorst and Michael Nolan of Embodied Recovery — and this one hits straight at the heart of parenting, anxiety, emotional regulation, and breaking generational trauma cycles.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to normalize unfiltered conversations about mental health, trauma, and emotional survival.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a
 

Help Us Bring This Award Home

We’re incredibly honored to share that Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads has been shortlisted for the Podcast Awards – Best Mental Health Podcast.
If this show has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or helped you understand your mental health a little better, we’d be grateful for your vote.

Voting is quick and easy:

You do not need to sign up for Patreon

Once you hit submit, your vote is sent

Vote here:
https://shorturl.at/mpReA
Winners will be announced on February 28th, 2026. Thank you for being part of this community and helping us break stigma one conversation at a time.

 

“It’s okay to be who you are.” — Michael Nolan

Episode Description

if Episode 1 was about personal recovery, Episode 2 is about what happens when that recovery starts shaping the next generation.

Greg and Michael open up about parenting through the lens of emotional awareness, breaking generational trauma, and refusing to pass down unprocessed wounds. They talk honestly about anxiety, codependency, setting boundaries, and how to validate your child’s emotions without minimizing them — even when it feels uncomfortable.

The conversation moves into leadership, accountability, and the hard truth that good intentions don’t always land the way we hope. From inner child healing to conscious parenting and staying “unhooked” from others’ reactions, this episode is about doing the inner work so your kids don’t have to undo it later.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I parent differently than I was parented?” — this episode is your starting point.

Keywords: Greg Vorst, Michael Nolan, Embodied Recovery, parenting and mental health, generational trauma, anxiety management, codependency recovery, conscious parenting, emotional regulation, inner child healing, addiction recovery podcast, trauma-informed parenting, boundaries in families, mental health leadership

Meet Our Guests — Greg Vorst & Michael Nolan

Greg Vorst, LMFT is Co-Founder and CEO of Embodied Recovery in Los Gatos, California. Drawing from psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems, humanistic psychology, and Korean Taoist breathwork (SunDo), Greg helps clients transform addiction and trauma into embodied living and spiritual growth. His personal healing journey began after a failed surgery left him in prolonged suffering, ultimately guiding him into therapy, inner child work, and decades of spiritual practice.

Website: https://www.embodiedrecovery.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedrecoverycenters/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embodiedrecoverycenters
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@embodiedrecoverycenters

Michael Nolan, CADC-II, ICADC is Co-Founder and COO of Embodied Recovery. Sober since August 8, 2007, Michael’s recovery began in Alcoholics Anonymous and evolved into a life of service. Through years of addiction counseling and deep personal work, he now supports clients in integrating accountability, humility, and embodied peace into their recovery journey.

Key Takeaways

You cannot break generational trauma without doing your own inner work.

Emotional literacy must be modeled before it can be taught.

Boundaries are not rejection — they are protection.

Children need validation before correction.

Staying “unhooked” keeps you from projecting your past onto the present.

Recovery shapes families, not just individuals.

Actionable Items

When your child (or partner) expresses a big emotion, validate it before solving it.

Notice where your reactions may be tied to your childhood experiences.

Practice one clear boundary this week without apologizing for having it.

References Mentioned

Embodied Recovery — https://www.embodiedrecovery.com/
Melos Center (Nonprofit Partner) — https://meloscenter.org
Alcoholics Anonymous — https://www.aa.org/
NAMI — https://www.nami.org/
SAMHSA — https://www.samhsa.gov/

Important Chapters

00:01:00 – Daily anxiety tools and grounding practices

00:10:00 – Inner child work and expressive healing

00:20:00 – Parenting differently than you were parented

00:32:00 – Breaking generational trauma cycles

00:40:00 – Leadership, accountability, and staying unhooked

00:50:00 – Words matter: favorite and least favorite words

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

 

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #ParentingAndMentalHealth #GenerationalTrauma #ConsciousParenting #InnerChildHealing #CodependencyRecovery #AnxietyManagement #EmotionalRegulation #AddictionRecovery #BoundariesMatter #TraumaHealing #HealingGenerations #RecoveryJourney #MentalHealthLeadership

podscan_kAnSuShcgs1b3mdEgys8N1z7XDPUQXFn

***************************************************************************
If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When recovery becomes more than just staying sober — when it becomes embodied, lived, and deeply felt — everything changes. In Part 1 of this powerful two-part conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Greg Vorst and Michael Nolan to unpack addiction, inner child healing, breathwork, and what real transformation actually looks like.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to normalize unfiltered conversations about mental health, trauma, and emotional survival.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us written or voice feedback here:
https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a
 

Help Us Bring This Award Home

We’re incredibly honored to share that Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads has been shortlisted for the Podcast Awards – Best Mental Health Podcast.
If this show has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or helped you understand your mental health a little better, we’d be grateful for your vote.

Voting is quick and easy:

You do not need to sign up for Patreon

Once you hit submit, your vote is sent

Vote here:
https://shorturl.at/mpReA
Winners will be announced on February 28th, 2026. Thank you for being part of this community and helping us break stigma one conversation at a time.

 

“You don’t have to believe everything you think.” — Greg & Michael

Episode Description

In this first half of our conversation, Greg Vorst and Michael Nolan, co-founders of Embodied Recovery in Northern California, share how their personal journeys through addiction, anxiety, trauma, and spiritual crisis led them to build a treatment center rooted in lived experience — not just theory.

Michael opens up about entering treatment at 20 and the humility of 12-step recovery. Greg shares his unexpected transition from opera singer to therapist after a failed surgery triggered years of physical and emotional suffering. Together, they unpack the wounded healer model and why authentic recovery requires more than clinical knowledge — it requires doing your own work.

We talk about codependency, emotional regulation, nervous system healing, and the Korean Taoist breathwork practice SunDo — a cornerstone of their daily lives and programming. This episode dives deep into inner child work, identity, validation, and the courage it takes to stop performing and start living.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re surviving instead of embodying your life, this conversation will hit home.

Keywords: Greg Vorst, Michael Nolan, Embodied Recovery, addiction recovery, trauma healing, inner child work, breathwork, SunDo meditation, codependency recovery, 12-step program, mental health podcast, anxiety recovery, nervous system regulation, emotional healing

Meet Our Guests — Greg Vorst & Michael Nolan

Greg Vorst, LMFT is Co-Founder and CEO of Embodied Recovery in Los Gatos, California. Drawing from psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems, humanistic psychology, and Korean Taoist breathwork (SunDo), Greg helps clients transform addiction and trauma into embodied living and spiritual growth. His personal healing journey began after a failed surgery left him in prolonged suffering, ultimately guiding him into therapy, inner child work, and decades of spiritual practice.

Website: https://www.embodiedrecovery.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedrecoverycenters/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embodiedrecoverycenters
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@embodiedrecoverycenters

Michael Nolan, CADC-II, ICADC is Co-Founder and COO of Embodied Recovery. Sober since August 8, 2007, Michael’s recovery began in Alcoholics Anonymous and evolved into a life of service. Through years of addiction counseling and deep personal work, he now supports clients in integrating accountability, humility, and embodied peace into their recovery journey.

Key Takeaways

Recovery is not just about abstinence — it’s about embodiment.

You don’t have to believe every thought that runs through your mind.

Codependency drains helpers faster than addiction drains users.

Inner child work isn’t optional — it’s foundational.

Daily practices create lasting emotional regulation.

Healing requires accountability AND compassion.

Actionable Items

Try box breathing or diaphragmatic breathing when anxiety spikes.

Notice one self-critical thought today and practice not attaching to it.

Identify one daily practice (gratitude, breathwork, journaling) and commit to it for 30 days.

References Mentioned

Embodied Recovery — https://www.embodiedrecovery.com/
Melos Center (Nonprofit Partner) — https://meloscenter.org
Alcoholics Anonymous — https://www.aa.org/
NAMI — https://www.nami.org/
SAMHSA — https://www.samhsa.gov/

Important Chapters

00:00 – Welcome + how Greg & Michael met

09:00 – Michael’s early addiction and entering treatment

16:00 – Greg’s spiritual crisis and opera-to-therapy journey

25:00 – Codependency and the wounded healer

35:00 – SunDo breathwork and nervous system regulation

45:00 – Inner child work and reclaiming authenticity

Closing CTA

Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
Remember to subscribe for more inspiring stories. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our Website:
https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

 

#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #AddictionRecovery #TraumaHealing #InnerChildWork #EmbodiedRecovery #CodependencyHealing #12StepRecovery #AnxietyRecovery #BreathworkHealing #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalWellness #SobrietyJourney #HealingIsPossible #RecoveryCommunity #MentalHealthMatters

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If You Need Support, Reach Out
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.
United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
Worldwide: Find a Helpline
Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub
Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
Join Our Newsletter: (https://grexanddirtyskittles.substack.com/)
Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop
Audio Editing by NJz Audio

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