The Spiritually Curious Therapist

Jodi Silverman, LCSW

The Spiritually Curious Therapist is a podcast exploring the intersection of nervous system science, mental health, spirituality, and healing. Hosted by Jodi Silverman, LCSW, this show is for therapists, healers, and curious humans who sense that true healing happens below the level of insight alone. Through thoughtful conversations and solo reflections, we explore trauma, chronic pain and illness, altered states, regulation, meaning-making, and what it really takes to help the nervous system feel safe enough to change. This is a space for grounded mysticism, where evidence-based practice meets soul-level wisdom, and where healing is approached with curiosity, compassion, and respect for the body’s innate intelligence. Whether you’re a clinician expanding beyond talk therapy or someone on your own healing path, this podcast invites you to listen differently — to symptoms, to stories, and to what’s asking to be integrated.

  1. 5d ago

    From Ego to Embodiment: Spiritual Bodybuilding, Identity & the Search for Self with Nahum Vizakis

    In this follow-up conversation, Nahum Vizakis returns to The Spiritually Curious Therapist to go deeper into the philosophy behind his book, The Biohacker’s Guide to Spiritual Bodybuilding. If you missed part one (released April 20), I highly recommend going back and listening first. In that episode we explored Nahum’s story and the experiences that shaped his path. This time, we move into the deeper questions: What happens when the pursuit of strength is driven by pain? Where is the line between discipline and self-abandonment? And what changes when the body shifts from something we control… to something we listen to?Nahum shares his journey from competitive bodybuilding, military life, and performance enhancement into bodywork, somatic experiences, spirituality, and what he now calls spiritual bodybuilding—not building muscles, but building consciousness, embodiment, and self-mastery.  We explore: ✨ Ego versus embodiment in fitness culture  ✨ Bodybuilding as a hero’s journey  ✨ Identity, external validation, and the search for worth  ✨ Performance-enhancing drugs and their physical, emotional, and developmental impacts  ✨ Masculinity, body image, and social media pressures on young men  ✨ Somatic release, stored emotion, and the body as messenger  ✨ Learning to move from intellectual understanding into lived experience  ✨ Nervous system regulation and the importance of slowing down  ✨ Acceptance, self-mastery, and the path back to the heart  ✨ Why Nahum believes “spiritual bodybuilding” is really about mastering body, mind, and consciousness  This episode also touches on something I care deeply about in my own work: How we widen our capacity to be with discomfort, move toward fear instead of away from it, and learn to listen to what the body has been trying to say all along. Whether you come from the world of fitness, trauma healing, nervous system work, spirituality, or simply being human… there is something here. Links & Resources 📖 The Biohacker’s Guide to Spiritual Bodybuilding – Nahum Vizakis 🌐 Nahum’s website and socials: IG: Spiritual_Bodybuilder  Youtube: Spiritual Bodybuilder  Tiktok: Spiritual Bodybuilder Website: www.optimizinghuman.com 🎙️ Missed Part One? Go back to the episode released April 20 where we explore Nahum’s story and the experiences that shaped this work.  Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    1 hr
  2. May 13

    When Movement Becomes Healing: Trauma-Informed Embodiment with Emily Young, LCSW-C

    In this episode of The Spiritually Curious Therapist, I sit down with Emily Young, a trauma-informed personal trainer, somatic therapist, and founder of The Embodied Trainer, for a conversation about movement, embodiment, trauma, and the nervous system. This conversation explores something that feels increasingly important to me: the idea that healing cannot happen through the mind alone. Emily shares her own journey of integrating the worlds of therapy and personal training after experiencing burnout, chronic pain, and a growing realization that many people are deeply disconnected from their bodies, even while actively exercising them. Together, we talk about: what it actually means to be embodiedthe relationship between trauma and movementnervous system-informed fitnesschronic stress, chronic pain, and overtrainingwhy “pushing harder” can disconnect us further from ourselvesmind-muscle connection and interoceptionmovement as relationship rather than punishmentco-regulation, safety, and sustainable healinghow slowing down can actually expand capacityEmily also shares insights from her newly released book, Trauma-Informed Bodywork, co-authored with Chelsea Haverly, which explores trauma-responsive approaches to movement and body-based healing practices. One of the things I appreciated most about this conversation was the reminder that our bodies are not obstacles to overcome and that they are constantly communicating with us. If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, disconnection from your body, chronic symptoms, or a complicated relationship with exercise and performance, I think this episode will resonate deeply. You can connect with Emily at: TheEmbodiedTrainer.comInstagram: @theembodiedtrainerAnd if this conversation speaks to you, Emily encourages listeners to consider purchasing Trauma-Informed Bodywork through a local independent bookstore whenever possible. As always, thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of these conversations exploring the intersection of nervous system healing, embodiment, spirituality, and human experience. Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    47 min
  3. May 4

    Your Body Isn’t the Problem: Trauma, Fitness, and the Nervous System with Gabi Varga

    What if the way you’ve been trying to get healthy… is actually keeping your nervous system stuck? In this episode, I sit down with trauma-informed personal trainer Gabi Varga to explore the often-overlooked relationship between fitness, trauma, and the nervous system. Because here’s the thing, so many people are doing all the “right” things: working out, staying active, pushing themselves to be disciplined…but underneath it, their system doesn’t feel safe. And when that’s the starting point, even healthy behaviors can become part of a pattern of overdrive, disconnection, and burnout. Gabi shares her personal journey—from overtraining, unsafe patterns, and disconnection from her body… to discovering somatic work and building a completely different relationship with movement, health, and herself.  Together, we explore what it really means to be embodied and why that matters more than any workout plan. In this episode, we talk about:  Why over-exercising can reinforce nervous system dysregulation  The connection between trauma, validation, and body image  What “mind-muscle connection” actually means (and why many people don’t have it)  Dissociation and how it shows up in fitness and daily life  Why slowing down is often the key to real progress  The difference between pushing your body and listening to it  How embodiment leads to greater health, fulfillment, and connection  Why weight loss is a byproduct—not the goal A key takeaway: Your body isn’t working against you. It’s responding to patterns—many of which started long before you were aware of them.  And those patterns are changeable. Want to go deeper? If this conversation resonates, I’m hosting a workshop: ✨ Your Body Isn’t Broken: Understanding Neuroplastic Pain and Symptoms We’ll explore how the nervous system creates and maintains symptoms—and how to begin working with your body instead of against it. 👉 https://jsilverman.systeme.io/workshop Connect with Gabi: Website: thetraumainformedpt.com Instagram: @thetraumainformedpt Tik Tok: @thetraumainformed pt Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@thetraumainformedpt Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    44 min
  4. Apr 27

    When the Body Speaks: Decoding Symptoms Through Mind, Body, and Energy with Denise Schonwald

    In this episode, I sit down with Denise Schonwald, a nurse, mental health counselor, and author whose work bridges physical health, emotional healing, and spiritual awareness. We start with Denise’s journey, from 20 years as a critical care nurse to stepping into mental health, and how she began noticing something that would shape her entire approach: physical symptoms and emotional patterns are not separate. They tell a story together. From there, we explore the connection between mind, body, and energy, and what happens when we ignore the signals our system is constantly giving us.  We explore the chakra system, the mind-body connection, how unprocessed emotions show up as physical symptoms, and why your inner knowing is not the same thing as your anxious mind. If you've ever wondered whether that stomach issue, back pain, or fatigue might be connected to something deeper, this conversation is for you.  We talked about: How Denise went from ICU nurse to holistic mental health counselorWhy a psychiatrist who was also a shaman changed the direction of her careerHow unprocessed emotions show up in specific areas of the body through the chakra systemThe difference between the fearful mind and the quiet inner knowingWhy the language we use about our problems actually affects our nervous systemDenise's work bridges physical health, emotional healing, and spiritual awareness, and she has a gift for seeing how the body communicates what the mind has not yet processed. Learn more about Denise and her books at  deniseschonwald.com.  She is offering a free book to any listener who reaches out and mentions The Spiritually Curious Therapist podcast. You can also find Denise on her socials https://www.facebook.com/deniseschonwaldllc  https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-schonwald  https://www.instagram.com/deniseschonwald  https://www.youtube.com/@deniseschonwald/videos  Share what resonated for you Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    43 min
  5. Apr 20

    Biohacking and the Soul: Strength, Trauma, and Spiritual Bodybuilding with Nahum Vizakis

    This is one of those conversations that stays with you. In this episode, I sit down with Nahum Vizakis—combat veteran, bodybuilder, and healer—whose journey spans trauma, identity loss, nervous system overwhelm, and a deep dive into both physical and spiritual transformation. We explore what it actually means to “build” yourself… not just physically, but emotionally, neurologically, and spiritually. We talk about:  How early trauma and lack of safety shape the nervous system  The role of fear and how it can become a compass instead of something to avoid  The intersection of biohacking and nervous system regulation  Spiritual experiences, embodiment, and the importance of integration  What “spiritual bodybuilding” really means (and what it doesn’t) We also begin to unpack the ideas behind his book, The Biohacker’s Guide to Spiritual Bodybuilding—a framework that blends physical training, nervous system work, and inner transformation. This conversation opens a lot of doors… and we’re not done. We’ll be bringing Nahum back for a follow-up episode focused more deeply on the book—and we want to include your questions. 💬 Call for Questions  What are you curious about? After listening, what questions came up for you? We’re especially interested in exploring:  What does “spiritual bodybuilding” actually look like in real life?  Where is the line between growth and pushing too hard?  How do you work with fear without overwhelming your system?  Can biohacking support healing—or can it become another form of control?  How do we integrate intense experiences (physical or spiritual) in a grounded way? Send your questions to me at thespirituallycurioustherapist.com You can learn more about Nahum here: IG: Spiritual_Bodybuilder  Youtube: Spiritual Bodybuilder  Tiktok: Spiritual Bodybuilder Website: www.optimizinghuman.com Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    42 min
  6. Apr 13

    Psychodrama, Sand Tray & Tarot: Embodied Healing Beyond the Talking Cure with Karen Carnabucci, LCSW-TEP

    What happens when we stop talking about our inner world and start stepping into it? This week, I sit down with Karen Carnabucci, LCSW-TEP, therapist, trainer, and founder of the Lancaster School of Psychodrama, to explore the transformative power of action methods in healing. Karen shares how psychodrama, sand tray, family constellations, and tarot can reach places that insight and words alone cannot. Together, we explore how the nervous system responds to enacted experience just as powerfully as real-world events, and why that matters deeply for healing. In this episode: What psychodrama actually is (and why you don't need to be an actor)The nervous system science behind "do-overs" and enacted healingHow the "knowing field" in Family Constellations connects to somatic and ancestral experienceEpigenetics and what we carry from generations before usSand tray as a gentle on-ramp to embodied workUsing tarot as a therapeutic image tool — without the fortune-tellingPractical tips for therapists wanting to introduce more body-based workResources & Links: Karen's website: realtruekaren.comKaren's trainings: https://www.realtruekaren.com/training.htmlKaren's socials: www.facebook.com/lancasterpsychodrama www.instagram.com/realtruekaren www.threads.net/realtruekaren www.linkedin/in/karencarnabucci www.substack.com/@realtruekarenpsychodramacertification.org — find certified trainers nationwideShare what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    47 min
  7. Mar 30

    The Breath as a Pathway: From Regulation to Transformation with Blakey Hastings

    In this episode, I’m joined once again by Blakey Hastings - a mystic, yogi, and somatic practitioner whose work beautifully bridges the body, breath, and spiritual embodiment. If you heard our first conversation on craniosacral therapy, you’ll love where this one goes. Blakey shares how her work has evolved from hands-on healing into something even more empowering—helping people access their own healing through the breath. And this isn’t just about “taking a deep breath to calm down.” We explore the full spectrum of breathwork—from foundational functional breathing to expanded states of consciousness—and why building capacity, safety, and embodiment is essential for true transformation. This conversation weaves together nervous system science, somatic healing, and spiritual insight in a way that feels both grounding and expansive. We talk about:  Why breath is more than a regulation tool—it’s a pathway between body, mind, and soul The difference between release vs. true transformation Why safety and embodiment are required for healing to actually integrate  What it means to trust your felt experience as your inner authority How many of us are unknowingly breathing in ways that create anxiety The power of functional breathing as a foundation for deeper healing work  Why healing doesn’t come from analyzing the story—but from allowing the body to complete what’s unfinished One of my favorite takeaways:  👉 You already have everything you need inside of you. The breath is how you access it. 🌿 Work With Blakey Blakey is offering a 4-week Functional Breathwork Course starting in May—a live, guided experience where you’ll learn:  How to breathe in a way that actually supports your nervous system  The foundations of functional breathing (yes—most people are doing it wrong)  How to use your breath to shift your state—both up and down How to build the capacity needed for deeper somatic and transformational work This is not just a class—it’s a relationship with your breath. 👉 Learn more + sign up: https://www.northstarsomaticarts.com/group-sessions  Connect with Blakey https://www.northstarsomaticarts.com/ Facebook: northstarsomaticarts IG: northstarsomaticarts Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    50 min
  8. Mar 23

    Notice What You Notice: Curiosity, the Goddess, and the Intelligence of the Heart with Cynthia Abulafia

    In this deeply expansive and grounding conversation, I sit down with author, educator, and yoga therapist Cynthia Abulafia to explore what it truly means to come home to the heart. Cynthia’s work bridges sacred texts, embodiment practices, and the often-overlooked wisdom of the divine feminine. Her debut book, Embodying the Goddess: How to Awaken Curiosity and Reverence on the Spiritual Path, invites us to question the ways spirituality has been shaped by separation—and to rediscover a path rooted in wholeness, curiosity, and lived experience.  Together, we explore:  What non-duality actually means (beyond the buzzword)  Why many spiritual frameworks subtly reinforce a sense of separation and “not enoughness” The difference between being “triggered” vs. activated—and why language matters How curiosity becomes a healing force that allows us to slow down, feel, and integrate  The concept of “cleaning the instrument of the heart” as a living spiritual practice  How to recognize the difference between reverence and compulsion in our daily lives  The role of the body and the earth in reconnecting us to wholeness  Why so much of what we’re seeing right now—personally and collectively—is a breakdown of old paradigmsOne of my favorite takeaways from this conversation is Cynthia’s simple but powerful invitation: 👉 “Notice what you notice.” Because when we begin there—without judgment, without rushing to fix—we open the door to something deeper:  curiosity, presence, and ultimately, a return to the heart. This episode is for you if you’re:  Feeling disconnected from yourself and craving a deeper sense of embodiment Curious about the intersection of spirituality, nervous system work, and healing Ready to shift from striving and fixing into listening, sensing, and allowingYou can find Cynthia's, Embodying the Goddess: How to Awaken Curiosity and Reverence on the Spiritual Path book here Connect with Cynthia CynthiaAbulafia.com @embodyingthegoddessbook, @cynthiaabulafiayoga, (YouTube) Embodying the Goddess, (Substack) @embodyingthegoddess Share what resonated for you Thank you for listening to the Spiritually Curious Therapist Podcast.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review - it helps us grow and reach more listeners! You can find Jodi Silverman, LCSW at www.therachihealing.com www.journeywithkindredsouls.com Follow me on Socials: TikTok @spiritcurioustherapist Instagram @therachihealing Facebook @TheraChi Healing Stay up to date on our offerings by joining our newsletter here Are you interested in learning more about Reiki Assisted Psychotherapy? Join our facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/psychotherapeuticreikiforclinicians Are you a mental health professional with a spiritual edge and have something to share?  Complete this form to apply to be on the podcast

    47 min
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Spiritually Curious Therapist is a podcast exploring the intersection of nervous system science, mental health, spirituality, and healing. Hosted by Jodi Silverman, LCSW, this show is for therapists, healers, and curious humans who sense that true healing happens below the level of insight alone. Through thoughtful conversations and solo reflections, we explore trauma, chronic pain and illness, altered states, regulation, meaning-making, and what it really takes to help the nervous system feel safe enough to change. This is a space for grounded mysticism, where evidence-based practice meets soul-level wisdom, and where healing is approached with curiosity, compassion, and respect for the body’s innate intelligence. Whether you’re a clinician expanding beyond talk therapy or someone on your own healing path, this podcast invites you to listen differently — to symptoms, to stories, and to what’s asking to be integrated.

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