Room to Evolve

Jessica Goulding

Room to Evolve is a contemplative podcast for pilgrims, seekers, yogis, creatives—and for those standing at a threshold without words yet. Rooted in yoga, contemplative, and spiritual practice, it offers a quiet place to listen, notice what is stirring, and discern what comes next. Each month features intimate conversations, and a Labyrinth Companion for reflective, intentional walking. Hosted by Jessica Goulding. Read, practice, and learn more at roomtoevolve.com

  1. Jul 14

    The Nervous System Responds to a Whisper: Polyvagal Wisdom, Bodywork, and the Art of Gentle Healing— A Conversation with Danielle Evans, LMT

    What if your favorite massage style says more about your nervous system than your muscles? In this episode of Room to Evolve, Jessica Goulding sits down with Austin-based licensed massage therapist Danielle Evans to explore Polyvagal Manual Therapy, the subtle language of the nervous system, and why healing begins with invitation rather than force. Danielle shares how the body holds the stories of our lives, from our earliest experiences onward, and invites us to consider the skin as the outermost part of the brain. Together, Jessica and Danielle consider what it means to remember our intrinsic well-being, why the nervous system responds to a whisper, and how a state of hypervigilance can leave us less connected to the wisdom of our own bodies.Their conversation weaves together neuroscience, embodied wisdom, compassion, and the surprising power of gentleness. In This Episode The difference between sympathetic activation, rest and repair, and social connectionSensitivity as a spectrumHow the nervous system communicates more than we realizeWhat it means to "remember intrinsic well-being"Why permission, not pressure, creates the conditions for healingWhy Danielle believes the only healer is the selfHow understanding the nervous system can deepen compassion for ourselves and othersWhy the body responds to very gentle pressureDanielle's threshold of grief and loss About Danielle Danielle Evans, LMT, believes healing is invitational. Since graduating from the Lauterstein-Conway School of Massage in 2012, she has provided therapeutic bodywork informed by an interwoven lineage of teachers, mentors, and modalities.Drawing from Polyvagal Manual Therapy, craniosacral therapy, shiatsu, Thai bodywork, Swedish massage, sports massage, and neuromuscular therapy, Danielle meets each client with an approach tailored to their unique needs. In recent years, her work has become increasingly focused on nervous system function and the body's remarkable capacity for resilience.Rather than using force or heavy pressure, Danielle creates space for the body to unravel from the inside and remember its intrinsic well-being. Learn More Website: https://balancing-bodywork.square.site/ Instagram: @sistermoonshadow If you're in the Austin area, Danielle is offering 20% off your first session when you mention this episode. Stay Connected Visit Room to Evolve for weekly reflections, contemplative practices, podcast episodes, and upcoming retreats:https://roomtoevolve.com Subscribe to receive new essays, guided practices, and resources for living with greater presence, curiosity, and intention.

    The Nervous System Responds to a Whisper: Polyvagal Wisdom, Bodywork, and the Art of Gentle Healing— A Conversation with Danielle Evans, LMT
  2. Jun 1

    Core Connection and Whole Body Health: Creating Ease from the Inside Out — A Conversation with Dr. Sandi Russom

    In this episode of Room to Evolve, Jessica Goulding sits down with Dr. Sandi Russom to explore core connection, pelvic floor health, and whole body wellness through the lens of movement, breath, posture, and nervous system regulation. Together, they discuss how the deep core influences stability, pain reduction, balance, and overall well-being, and why creating support from the inside out can lead to greater ease in everyday life. This conversation weaves together yoga therapy, embodied healing, functional movement, mindfulness, and the deeper relationship between physical alignment and emotional grounding. In this episode, we explore: • Core connection and whole body health• Pelvic floor support and nervous system regulation• Breath, posture, and functional movement• Creating stability, strength, and ease• Healing chronic tension and imbalance• Yoga therapy and embodied wellness practices• Returning to your center through awareness and support If you’re interested in yoga therapy, holistic wellness, mindful movement, nervous system healing, pelvic floor health, or sustainable practices for whole body support, this episode offers practical insight and thoughtful reflection. Dr. Sandi Lynn Russom, PT, DPT, C-IAYT (she/her) Dr. Sandi believes deeply in the transformative power of yoga. She has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. In that time, she became a yoga teacher, certified yoga therapist, a licensed massage therapist, and completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at UTMB. She began teaching yoga at Yoga Yoga in Austin in 2005 where she met Donna Farhi, who continues to be her primary teacher. Currently, she is founding faculty of the yoga therapy program at Practice Yoga Austin and runs a private yoga therapy practice called Dr. Sandi. She resides in south Austin with her partner, their two daughters, and approximately 30 potted plants. Sandi is currently launching a summer virtual course: Core Connection. It focuses on establishing and maintaining a truly supportive core for whole body health. Because when the core is healthy, a thousand things just fall into place. Her main goal is to make the tools and practices that she offers in one-on-one therapy sessions more accessible. So you can practice in your own space, at your own pace.  Discount Code for 20% off: ROOMTOEVOLVE20 Website: drsandi.yoga Contact Dr. Sandi: drsandi.yoga/contact

    Core Connection and Whole Body Health: Creating Ease from the Inside Out — A Conversation with Dr. Sandi Russom
  3. Apr 15

    The Enneagram and Yoga Therapy: Why We Do What We Do — A Conversation with Abi Robins

    What if the way you move through the world is shaped by something deeper than you realize? In this episode of Room to Evolve, Jessica Goulding sits down with Abi Robins, certified Enneagram teacher and yoga therapist, to explore the Enneagram as a path of self-understanding, compassion, and transformation. Together, they explore the Enneagram not as a personality label, but as a living system—one that reveals the deeper motivations, patterns, and unconscious fears that shape how we show up in our lives. Abi shares how the Enneagram and yoga therapy intersect, offering both insight and embodied practice. In this episode, you’ll hear:~ What the Enneagram actually is (and what it isn’t)~The difference between behavior and motivation~How unconscious patterns shape our relationships~Why compassion is essential for real change~How to begin working with your patterns This conversation is an invitation to become more curious about your inner world—and to meet yourself with greater awareness and compassion. Continue the journey:A labyrinth walk companion inspired by this conversation is coming next. About Abi Robins (they/them):Abi Robins is a certified Enneagram Teacher who studied with Helen Palmer, Marion Gilbert, Peter O’Hanrahan and others through The Narrative Enneagram. They are also a CIAYT Yoga Therapist. Abi’s teaching combines the deep and transformative insight of the Enneagram with the holistic and down to earth practices of Yoga Therapy. Learn more:www.consciousenneagram.com www.abirobins.substack.com www.instagram.com/consciousenneagram www.instagram.com/queergravel

    The Enneagram and Yoga Therapy: Why We Do What We Do — A Conversation with Abi Robins
  4. Mar 27

    WISDOM OF NATURE: A labyrinth Walk Companion

    This Labyrinth Walk Companion, Wisdom of Nature, invites you to slow down, listen, and reconnect with the quiet intelligence of the natural world. It is inspired by my conversation with Nancy Herlin on the recent episode, Sacred Places and Eco-Spirituality. Through breath, reflection, poetry, and the rhythm of the labyrinth, this practice opens space for insight, subtle awareness, and a deeper sense of connection. Step into the walk and discover what nature might be communicating to you. Whether you are tracing a handheld or printed labyrinth, or walking one of the thousands of labyrinths around the world, these recordings are here to help you pause, reflect on what life is calling you into right now, and meet yourself exactly where you are before taking the first step. You might also use them as meditation prompts, or as preparation for a yoga or movement practice. You will begin with centering and breath, open the labyrinth with awareness, and step forward with reflective guidance to accompany you. If you are practicing from home, you can download a printable tracing labyrinth below. Paid subscribers to Room to Evolve receive access to downloadable Labyrinth Walk Companion Guides. May your walks in nature be a conversation, and may that conversation bring you wisdom and insights for your journey ahead. Much love, Jessica Locate a labyrinth near you at labyrinthlocator.com, hosted by The Labyrinth Society and Veriditas: HERE Order a handheld labyrinth from Veriditas: HERE. Download a printable tracing labyrinth PDF: HERE Access this episode’s Labyrinth Walk Companion Guide by becoming a paid subscriber.   Thank you!

    WISDOM OF NATURE: A labyrinth Walk Companion
  5. Feb 25

    AT THE THRESHOLD: A Labyrinth Walk Companion

    Following our recent conversation with Jill Geoffrion, it’s time to explore the theme of thresholds in our own lives in an embodied way. This episode is the first of a series of podcasts that will follow our interviews each month on the Room to Evolve podcast. They are called Labyrinth Walk Companions. In this Labyrinth Walk Companion episode of Room to Evolve, we explore the theme At the Threshold. This guided walk invites you to pause before taking the first step and notice what life is calling you into right now. Whether you are tracing a handheld or printed labyrinth, or walking one of the thousands of labyrinths around the world, these recordings are here to help you pause, reflect on what life is calling you into right now, and meet yourself exactly where you are before taking the first step. You might also use them as meditation prompts, or as preparation for a yoga or movement practice. You will begin with centering and breath, open the labyrinth with awareness, and step forward with reflective guidance to accompany you. If you are practicing from home, you can download a printable tracing labyrinth below. Paid subscribers to Room to Evolve receive access to downloadable Labyrinth Walk Companion Guides. May your life’s thresholds be blessings, and your walk sure-footed. Much love, Jessica The inspired reading for this episode is Blessing the Threshold, © Jan Richardson from How the Stars Get in Your Bones: A Book of Blessings. janrichardson.com ... Locate a labyrinth near you at labyrinthlocator.com, hosted by The Labyrinth Society and Veriditas: HERE Order a handheld labyrinth from Veriditas: HERE. Download a printable tracing labyrinth PDF: HERE Access this episode’s Labyrinth Walk Companion Guide by becoming a paid subscriber.

    AT THE THRESHOLD: A Labyrinth Walk Companion

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Room to Evolve is a contemplative podcast for pilgrims, seekers, yogis, creatives—and for those standing at a threshold without words yet. Rooted in yoga, contemplative, and spiritual practice, it offers a quiet place to listen, notice what is stirring, and discern what comes next. Each month features intimate conversations, and a Labyrinth Companion for reflective, intentional walking. Hosted by Jessica Goulding. Read, practice, and learn more at roomtoevolve.com