That Wellness Podcast with Natalie Deering: Internal Family Systems (IFS) with a Twist

• The Many Faces of Identity: Sam Deering on Survival, Expression, and the Search for Belonging

  In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with my brother, Sam Deering, to explore the layered journey of identity—how it forms, evolves, fractures, and heals over a lifetime. Sam shares openly about his search for belonging through many identities. We dive into big questions like Who am I? and Where do I belong?, weaving in the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) to understand how parts of ourselves are shaped by survival, societal pressures, and the deep human need for connection. _________________________ We explore: What identity really means, and why it matters How society pressures us to exile parts of who we are The desperate human need for belonging and connection Sam’s identity journey How anger became a tool for survival and expression as a man Lessons the military taught him about values, boundaries, and self-trust Using creativity and boundaries to channel identity healthily How Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy sheds light on identity fragmentation and healing The power of acceptance, kindness, and making space for mistakes Why diversifying your identity is essential for resilience and wholeness Sam speaks with honesty, humor, and hard-won wisdom about how belonging isn't something we find "out there"—it's something we reclaim inside ourselves, one part at a time. ________________________ About Sam Deering Sam Deering is a potter living in the hills of southern New Hampshire, working with one of humanity’s oldest mediums: clay.  After leaving the military and enrolling in a college pottery class on the GI Bill, Sam found a new path—one rooted in simplicity, creativity, and grounded living. He apprenticed under master potter Kevin Crowe at Tye River Pottery in Virginia, and today he creates beautiful, functional pieces that make everyday life feel a little calmer, a little richer, and a little more human. _______________________________ Connect with Sam & See His Work: 🌐 Spotted Horse Pottery on Etsy 📸 @spottedhorse_pottery on Instagram   Tune in now for a conversation that’s honest, soulful, and full of insight about belonging, becoming, and the courage it takes to live as your whole self. _____________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below   Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*  

  --------  

  1:31:21
• Pushing Back on Healthcare: Chronic Illness, Healthcare Advocacy, and the Power of Agency with Dr. Jacob Kendall

  What happens when you’ve had two open-heart surgeries before the age of 40, and you’re still fighting the healthcare system—every single day? In this powerful and deeply human conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Jacob Kendall, healthcare advocate and metagerontologist, to talk about what it means to advocate like hell—for yourself, your loved ones, and the millions of people navigating chronic illness and a broken healthcare system. ______________________ We explore: - Jacob’s personal experience of having multiple heart surgeries and becoming a caregiver - How his life led him to multi-dimensional healthcare advocacy - The harms and complexity of the U.S. healthcare and insurance system - The internal debate among mental health professionals about whether to accept insurance - The debate between private and socialized medicine - The importance of honest conversations with providers and why doctors don’t always have all the answers - Why Jacob believes self-advocacy, assertiveness, and agency are the most essential tools we have Jacob speaks with radical clarity and lived experience about the intentional confusion of insurance, the need to normalize chronic disease, and how healing isn’t just medical—it’s emotional, systemic, and deeply personal. ________________________ About Dr. Jacob Kendall Dr. Jacob Kendall advocates like hell for people living with chronic illness, pain, and disability. Having undergone two open-heart surgeries and served as a caregiver for multiple family members, Jacob brings deep insight into the realities of the U.S. healthcare system. A metagerontologist with a broad background in biology, social work, public health, and theology, he blends science and soul in his work. Jacob is also the founder of TheSmartPatient.com, where he supports patients in navigating complex health systems and reclaiming their power. He currently lives on Mobile Bay in Alabama with his wife, son, and daughter. _______________________ Connect with Jacob & Learn More: 🌐 TheSmartPatient.com 💼 Jacob on LinkedIn   Tune in now for a conversation that’s honest, courageous, and full of clarity on what it means to show up for your health—and push back when the system fails you!  _________________________   Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below   Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*      

  --------  

  52:02
• No Bad Charts: Astrology-Informed IFS with Sarah Temel

  What if your birth chart could help you find the parts of you longing to be witnessed? What if the stars weren’t about prediction—but about reflection? In this rich and expansive conversation, I’m joined by Sarah Temel, licensed trauma therapist, IFS practitioner, and founder of No Bad Charts, to explore the deeply supportive intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and evolutionary astrology. ____________________________ We dive into: 🌙 How astrology-informed IFS uses the birth chart as a fluid map of your soul’s lesson plan 🌙 How to use chart placements to identify trailheads, parts, legacy burdens, and Self-energy 🌙 The meaning of the twelve Houses and how they reflect different areas of life and parts of the psyche 🌙 Why no chart is a bad chart, and how astrology can be a tool for self-reflection, compassion, and curiosity 🌙 Reflective questions that help integrate astrology and IFS in personal and clinical work   This episode is an invitation to meet your system with more clarity and compassion, using the ancient language of the stars with the grounded wisdom of IFS. Whether you’re astrology-curious or already fluent, Sarah’s insight will deepen your appreciation for both modalities!   Plus, Sarah uses my birth chart as examples during the conversation and no surprise, my mind was BLOWN away by what she shares.  I'm so excited for you to listen in!   ________________________ ✨ Meet Our Guest: Sarah Temel, LCSW Sarah is an IFS-trained, licensed trauma therapist passionate about the intersection of human spirituality and healing from adversity. She is the founder of No Bad Charts, where she teaches others to integrate IFS-inspired astrology into clinical and personal work. Sarah is also an EMDRIA-certified therapist, a consultant-in-training, and is pursuing credentialing in drama therapy. Through her New Jersey-based private practice, Imagine Healing, and her spiritual consulting platform Window-Within.com, Sarah offers individual sessions, workshops, and semi-private groups for clinicians and seekers alike. _____________________________ 🔗 Connect with Sarah Temel 🌐 NoBadCharts.com 🌐 ImagineHealingTrauma.com 📸 Instagram: @nobadcharts 🌿 Window-Within.com   _____________________________   Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below   Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*    

  --------  

  51:38
• The Parts of Us That Long: An IFS Exploration of Longing and Heartache with Susan Poznyansky

  Longing and heartache—two deeply human experiences that touch us all. In this conversation with Susan Poznyansky, LICSW (they/them), founder of Heart of Caldera (HOC), we explore the tender terrain of what it means to long, ache, and hold space for the parts of us that carry these emotions.   Susan and I share a love for lakes—their stillness, their depth—and reflect on the parts of us that feel more cautious around the vastness of the ocean.  From this imagery, we dive into the three major themes of longing and heartache: 🌿 Longing for connection – the deep yearning to be seen and held. 🌿 Longing for choices not made – the what-ifs, the parallel paths that remain unexplored. 🌿 Grief for what we have had but no longer hold – the ache of change, transition, and loss.   Throughout our conversation, we bring an Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens to longing and heartache, exploring: 🌀 The parts of us connected to longing—how they show up and what they need. 🌀 Polarizations within our system—how internal conflicts influence the way we experience longing and heartache. 🌀 Ways to be with longing rather than trying to fix, numb, or push it away.   This episode is an invitation to sit with your longing, honor your heartache, and listen to the wisdom within both. Whether you resonate with deep-seated yearning, nostalgia, or grief, you are not alone in these experiences. ___________________________ About Susan Susan Poznyansky is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Heart of Caldera (HOC), a social enterprise dedicated to holding space for individuals as they cultivate self-compassion and personal courage on their journey to living fully and authentically. Through HOC, Susan co-guides with people on their unique paths to wholeness in this precious life experience. Identifying as non-binary, queer, neurodivergent (ADHD), and a person living with a chronic illness, Susan brings a deeply personal and compassionate approach to their work. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, and the first generation of their family born in the U.S. to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Susan's love for nature was nurtured during summers spent in the Borscht Belt. Now residing on the breathtaking Olympic Peninsula, the ancestral land of the Skokomish people, Susan enjoys fishing, writing, swimming, hiking, mushroom foraging, watching Marvel movies, hammocking, and indulging in their favorite hobby: hurkle-durkling (a cozy state of lounging). Susan is also a proud member of Jewish Voice for Peace and continues to create spaces for reflection, healing, and transformation.   _______________________ Connect with Susan & Heart of Caldera 🌍 Website: ifswellness.com 📷 Instagram: @heart_of_caldera_ifs 📘 Facebook: Heart of Caldera IFS   💫 Explore Susan’s work, retreats, and offerings at Heart of Caldera—a space for deep healing, connection, and self-discovery. _______________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below   Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*  

  --------  

  1:10:29
• Fascial Awakening and Nervous System Regulation with Jessica Lichaa

  What if the key to clarity, aliveness, and deep relaxation was already within your body—waiting to be awakened? In this episode, I sit down with my long-time mentor and friend, Jessica Lichaa, a fascia and nervous system specialist, to explore the profound connection between fascia, stored energy, and nervous system regulation. We dive into the body’s role in healing, the impact of tension and unresolved energy, and how awakening the fascia can discharge stored trauma and restore balance. Jessica explains the difference between top-down vs. bottom-up processing, the significance of ventral vs. dorsal relaxation, and how we can work with fascia to shift from dysregulation to deep nervous system healing. To close the episode, Jessica guides us through a fascial awakening exercise designed to bring clarity, aliveness, and ventral relaxation, so you can experience this work firsthand. Whether you’re curious about somatic healing, looking for practical tools to regulate your nervous system, or just want to understand why fascia holds the key to transformation, this episode is packed with insights and embodiment practices you won’t want to miss! Topics Discussed: What is the body, really? How tension impacts the body and nervous system Fascia and its role in nervous system regulation The importance of fascial discharging and fascial awakening Top-down vs. bottom-up processing in healing How to invite fascial awakening & discharge into your practice Dorsal relaxation vs. ventral relaxation (and why it matters) Guided fascial awakening exercises for clarity, aliveness, and deep relaxation About Jessica Lichaa: Jessica Lichaa is a fascia and nervous system specialist dedicated to helping people release stored traumas, energetic imprints, and hormonal residues trapped in the body’s tissues. Through her Fascia Awakening method, she bridges fascia intelligence, nervous system regulation, and consciousness to support deep healing and transformation. With over 16 years of experience in yoga, energy healing, and somatic work, Jessica guides others in rewiring their body-mind connection for greater resilience, empowerment, and conscious awakening. Currently based in San Jose, CA, she will be relocating to Portland, Oregon, in April 2025. Connect with Jessica: 🌎 Website: www.fasciaawakening.com 📷 Instagram: @fasciaawakening ___________________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below   Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*    

  --------  

  1:20:25

More Health & Wellness podcasts

Trending Health & Wellness podcasts

About That Wellness Podcast with Natalie Deering: Internal Family Systems (IFS) with a Twist