Confessions of a Freebird - Midlife, Divorce, Heal, and Date Differently with Somatic Experiencing, Empty Nest, Well-Being, H

Laurie James - Podcaster, Author, Somatic Relationship Coach
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Hi, I’m Laurie James—author of Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, somatic relationship coach, mother of four adult daughters, divorcée, and recovering caregiver. I created Confessions of a Freebird as a heartfelt space for women navigating midlife transitions—divorce, empty nesting, loss, dating again, or simply wondering: “Is this all there is?” If you're longing for more authenticity, joy, freedom, and purpose, especially after years of putting everyone else first, you're in the right place. Each episode, I’ll share: Practical tools and somatic coaching strategiesRaw reflections and confessions from my own journeyExpert conversations on everything from sex, grief, trauma healing, and finances to dating, caregiving, and reinvention We'll explore what it means to come home to yourself through somatic practices—and how to design a life that feels aligned with who you are now, not who you were 20 years ago or who someone or society has told you to be.  Whether you’re in the sandwich generation, starting over after loss, or dreaming of your next chapter—Confessions of a Freebird is your midlife best friend. Think of it as a permission slip to evolve, heal, and fall in love with your life all over again. Because the most important relationship you’ll ever have… is the one you have with yourself. XO, Laurie  Connect with me: www.laurieejames.com  Purchase my book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, https://www.laurieejames.com/book  IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.james/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.james.79219754

  1. MAY 21

    How Surviving a Sudden Cardiac Arrest Taught Victoria Gustafson to Stop People-Pleasing and Start Listening to Her Body

    Heart disease in women is their number one killer — and most of us still don't know the signs. We've spent years worrying about the right things: the screenings, the genetics, the family history we carry quietly into every doctor's appointment. But women's heart health looks different than we've been taught. The symptoms are more subtle. The risk factors include ones nobody warned us about — like menopause, estrogen loss, and the emotional suppression when we carry our loved one’s pain.. My guest today, Victoria Gustafson — certified heart-centered life coach and speaker — knows this firsthand. In 2024, Victoria suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on a pickleball court. A bystander performed CPR and kept her alive until paramedics arrived. She is among the 1% of cardiac arrest survivors who walk away without brain damage. And she is here, sharing the wisdom that could genuinely change — or save — your life. This is not a scary episode. It's an empowering one. Why a healthy, active woman's heart stopped without warning — and how the split-second decisions by bystanders brought Victoria backThe difference between cardiac arrest vs. heart attack — and why understanding it is essential to how you advocate for yourself as a womanWhy heart disease in women so often goes undetected, and how women's symptoms can be more subtle and often get dismissed by the medical systemThe connection between menopause and heart health, and the critical role estrogen plays in protecting your cardiovascular systemWhy it's important to get a baseline heart testing work up — and the benefits of asking for a Holter monitor, an advanced lipid panel, or a coronary artery calcium scanHow body awareness and somatic healing connect to heart health — and what the body's whispers and nudges might be telling youThe link between people-pleasing, emotional suppression, and the physical body — and why the caretaking and peacekeeping so many of us do lives somewhere we can't seeWhat nervous system regulation has to do with how we protect ourselves — physically, emotionally, and spirituallyThe biggest takeaway from our conversation. Warning: it might make you feel lighter when you learn what it is.Your heart has been carrying so much. It's time to listen to the flutter, the fatigue, or the sense that something might be off. With love and freedom,   Laurie Links to heart related episodes mentioned: How Safe Hormone Therapy and Vaginal Health can Close the Bedroom Gap with Dr. Maria Sophocles Is Hormone Therapy Safe? The Science Behind HRT and Breast Cancer Risk with Dr. Maria Sophocles. Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”  Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me. Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing” Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise Website Connect with Victoria Gustafson: Victoria's website: heartcenteredlifecoach.com  Victoria on Instagram/Facebook: @alittlelucylove Victoria on LinkedIn: Victoria Gustafson Victoria's email: victorialg@icloud.com  Episodes mentioned: Dr. Maria Sophocles Episode 1 — Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe? The Science: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-hormone-replacement-therapy-safe-the-science/id1694026063?i=1000709404025 Dr. Maria Sophocles Episode 2 — How Safe Hormone Therapy and Vaginal Health Can Close the Bedroom Gap: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-safe-hormone-therapy-and-vaginal-health-can-close/id1694026063?i=1000749413636 Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    47 min

  2. MAY 14

    How to Regulate Your Emotions and Find Peace using Somatic Practices with Annmarie Chereso

    Have you ever found yourself reacting in a way that feels bigger than the situation in front of you… and then thought, “Why did I respond like that?” You’re not alone — and it’s not random. That disconnect — between what your mind wants to do and what your body actually does — is often where deeper emotional patterns, trauma responses, and nervous system reactions live. In this episode, I sit down with Annmarie Chereso, conscious relationship coach, to unpack what’s really happening beneath emotional triggers, relationship conflict patterns, and those moments when you feel like you “lose control” emotionally. We explore how awareness — not force — becomes the first step toward emotional regulation and lasting change. And Annmarie shares a fresh perspective on somatic healing practices and emotional regulation In this episode, we dive into: Why emotional triggers are often linked to deeper trauma responses and nervous system activationA new approach to relationship healing that doesn’t rely on forcing yourself to “be different”What somatic healing and emotional regulation actually look like in real lifeHow to begin building self-regulation skills when emotions feel overwhelming or intenseWhy noticing your patterns is more powerful than trying to fix themThis conversation reframes healing entirely — not as something you “achieve,” but as something you become aware of over time. Through that awareness, your relationship with yourself and others begins to shift. This isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about finally understanding what’s been happening beneath the surface all along. You don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need to start noticing. With love and freedom, Laurie Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”  Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me. Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing” Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise Website Connect with Annmarie Chereso Website Instagram Facebook RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Perfectly Imperfect Family: A book co-authored by Annmarie Chereso that shares personal stories and insights on navigating family dynamics and shifting internal states.  Martha Beck Wayfinder Coaching Program: The professional coaching training program where both the host and the guest completed their training.  Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    40 min

  3. MAY 7

    How Cultural Beliefs Shape Parenting Guilt and Shame for Mothers

    What if your motherhood guilt isn’t proof you failed, but a sign you’ve been carrying too much for too long?  You can give everything to your children and still hear that relentless inner critic whispering it wasn’t enough — and over time, that pressure can become maternal stress, emotional exhaustion, and even maternal burnout carried quietly beneath the surface. But what if that voice and the sensations associated with them aren’t telling you the truth? So much of what we believe about being a “good mother” is shaped by cultural beliefs and unexamined parenting beliefs — expectations that were never designed to be humanly sustainable. The pressure, the second-guessing, the ache of regret…it’s not random. And these thoughts can cause dis-ease in your body. In this solo episode, I’m talking about parenting guilt and shame, the stories so many mothers carry, and why they can be stored in the body.  We’ll look at motherhood through a compassionate somatic lens and make space for a gentler relationship with your maternal identity. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why old emotional patterns can feel so persistentHow the nervous system reinforces self-critismWhat having impossible standards can do to a mother’s body and sense of selfWhy exhaustion is often a sign that needs attention. It’s not a personal failureHow inherited messages shape the way you measure yourselfHow to stop mom guilt A body-based approach to without relying on willpowerWhy self compassion for moms is not indulgent, but essentialHow repair can create more honesty, connection, and healingIf you’ve been carrying the quiet belief that you should have done it differently… or that somehow you weren’t enough… You don’t have to keep relating to yourself through criticism and pressure. There is another way to meet yourself — one that includes more understanding, more space, and a different kind of strength. Cheers to finding your freedom, Laurie Click here to purchase my “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” it’s ON SALE for $19.99 Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Click here to watch the Barbie clip referenced in this podcast Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me. Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing” Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise Website RESOURCES MENTIONED: Sandwiched: A book written by Laurie James, detailing her experiences with the "sandwich generation" (raising children while caring for aging parents). The Voo Exercise: A vocalization technique used to tone the vagus nerve and discharge nervous system tension. Barbie the movie clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBqlDWHkdHk Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    40 min

  4. APR 23

    Who Are You When the Kids Leave? Reclaiming Your Identity as an Empty Nester with Jay Ramsden

    When your kids leave the nest and the caregiving finally stops — who are you? That question can stop you cold. And if you've been living it, you already know how disorienting that silence can be. This honest, heartfelt conversation is for every person standing in that in-between space, wondering who they are.  My guest today is Jay Ramsden — podcaster, empty nest coach, and someone who has lived this reckoning from the inside out. After a 30-year career in education and years as a primary caregiver, Jay didn't just adjust to the empty nest. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. He walked the Camino de Santiago. And somewhere between the altitude and the miles, he found a philosophy that changed everything: Mpole, Mpole — Swahili for slowly, slowly. One intentional step at a time. In this episode, Jay and I go deep on what it really takes to rebuild your identity, shed the roles that no longer fit, and step into a second act that finally feels like yours. In this episode you'll learn: Why pivoting your career can feel unsettling even when every part of you knows it's timeHow to rebuild your self-identity and what intentional living looks like day in and day out — not just in theoryHow to use "what's in the way" as your map toward more freedom and self-discoveryWhat Jay learned from getting comfortable with going slow — and why lasting personal reinvention requires exactly thatHow to recognize when caregiving has quietly become your whole identity, and what it takes to reclaim yourself from the inside outWhat JOMO is and how shifting your FOMO opens the door to truly liberated livingHow to start trusting yourself again to create a more meaningful, purpose-driven second actIf you've been feeling stretched between who you were and who you're becoming — this episode is your reminder that there is still so much of you left to discover. This chapter gets to belong to you too.  Cheers to more love and freedom, Laurie Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”  Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me. Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing” Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise Website Connect with Jay Ramsden Website Instagram Tiktok RESOURCES MENTIONED: Strength to Strength: A book by Arthur C. Brooks mentioned for its insights on managing life transitions and shifting focus from external achievements The Obstacle Is the Way: A book by Ryan Holiday that explores using challenges as opportunities for growth Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    35 min

  5. APR 9

    Finding Yourself After Caregiving: A Step-by-Step Guide to Prioritizing Self Care with Debbie Weiss

    What does it look like to wake up at fifty and finally ask, "What do I actually want?" For Debbie Weiss — bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Maybe I Can podcast — that question became the turning point that changed everything. In this deeply honest and vulnerable conversation, Debbie shares the emotional arc of her transformation: from decades of family caregiving that left her financially stressed, emotionally depleted, and disconnected from herself, to building an entirely new life through what she calls "sprinkles" — small, intentional shifts that slowly and powerfully rewrote her story. Her journey from identity loss to empowered living, including losing over 80 pounds, writing a bestselling memoir, and discovering that personal growth doesn't require a giant leap. It just requires one tiny step, taken consistently. In this episode, I sit down with Debbie Weiss, an author, speaker, and podcaster who spent thirty years navigating the intense caregiving burden of looking after her disabled father, a son with special needs, and a husband struggling with chronic illness. Debbie’s story is a powerful example of how midlife women can reclaim their lives, moving from a place of deep identity loss to one of purposeful, empowered living. In this episode you'll learn: How to recognize when you've slipped into victim mentality — and the first small step toward reclaiming your personal agencyHow to manage the physical and emotional toll of being the family caregiver without losing your spirit or your sense of selfWhy self-care is not a selfish luxury but the necessary foundation for showing up as your best self for the people you loveHow to approach a midlife career change or a new passion project by making "maybe I can" your new daily mantraThe role resilience building plays in moving through the stages of grief recovery after profound lossWhy sandwich generation women need to release the pressure of perfection and embrace the "1% more" rule for sustainable, lasting changeHow to begin your own personal growth journey by committing to just one doable, body-led goal at a timeThis episode is for every woman in the sandwich generation who has quietly wondered whether there is anything left for her on the other side of all that giving. There is. And Debbie is proof. A note from Laurie: The power to change your life has been within you all along — even when it feels completely buried. You are not alone in this journey. And it is never, ever too late to start choosing yourself. If this episode speaks to something you've been carrying quietly, share it with a woman in your life who needs to hear it. And if Debbie's story moves you, leave a review — it helps more women find this conversation when they need it most. . Much love, Laurie Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”  Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE i Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    48 min

  6. APR 2

    10 Science-Backed Keys to Happiness and How Somatic Healing Helps

    Why does happiness sometimes feel out of reach even when you think you are doing everything right? You take steps forward, check the boxes, show up for the people you love, but underneath it all, something still feels unsettled. Life can start to feel rushed, full, or emotionally heavy, yet you can’t quite put your finger on it. This is what happens when you’re not prioritizing the foundational keys to happiness and, in turn, living with a dysregulated nervous system. When your body stays in a constant threat response—do more, earn more, and achieve more is when your nervous system becomes overwhelmed. Sleep becomes harder, and when you do wake up, you feel exhausted. In this solo episode of Confessions of a Freebird, I reflect on the work of Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor, host of The Happiness Lab, and one of the leading voices in positive psychology. Her research offers a grounded look at how to feel happier, and I add a somatic lens to the conversation, because happiness is not only a mindset issue–it happens when you have a regulated nervous system. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why chasing success before happiness has it backwards — and what the science actually showsThe Somatic Experiencing perspective on each principle and why the body is the missing piece of the happiness conversationWhy your nervous system state and learning nervous system regulation matter more than your mindsetHow self-compassion and emotional agility help feelings move through you with less shame and fearThe 10 principles Dr. Santo says genuinely move the needle on human happiness, which include more human connection and social connection.What prosocial behavior does to your mood, and why the helper high matters more than you might thinkHow to implement each principle with specific, research-backed practices.This episode is for you if you've ever felt like you were doing everything right and still not feeling the way you thought you would. You are allowed to slow down, listen inward, and find your way back to what helps you feel more alive. Much love, Laurie Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”  Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me. Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing” Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise Website RESOURCES MENTIONED Dr. Laurie Santos: Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab podcast The Happiness Lab Podcast: Available wherever you listen to podcasts Somatic Experiencing: Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, PhD — a body-based approach to healing trauma and nervous system dysregulation Researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky: Positive psychology research on happiness and success The Harvard Study of Adult Development: One of the longest-running studies on happiness and relationships Dr. Kristin Neff: Self-compassion researcher at UT Austin — kristinself.com Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    44 min

  7. MAR 26

    Career Change at 50 and Beyond: How Midlife Women Can Start Again With Confidence with Patricia Noel Drain

    Have You Ever Asked Yourself, "What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?" I've asked myself that question more times than I can count — and especially after my kids left the nest and I felt that undeniable pull to reinvent myself once I became a freebird and left my marriage. If you're feeling that same pull right now, you are not alone. This week, I'm joined by Patricia Noel Drain, a business mentor, author, and podcaster who has made it her mission to support midlife women who are ready for a career pivot or a bold new chapter. Patricia helps women over 50 discover their gifts, reconnect with what matters most, and create work that feels both aligned and profitable. Her own midlife career change led her into this work — and the conversation we have is one I know so many of you need to hear.  In this episode, we cover: The 7 key ingredients you need to navigate midlife reinvention or second career to find more happiness in your next chapterHow to recognize when you need a career change at 50 — and what that moment can actually feel like in your nervous systemThe emotional signs to watch for when you sense something needs to shift in your career or lifeHow Patricia's framework can bring more clarity and confidence to your season of career reinventionWhat it really looks like to build a meaningful midlife career that fits who you are now — not who you used to beHow to approach starting over at 50 in a way that feels manageable, realistic, and even excitingWhy this work matters deeply for women changing careers in midlifeHow to think about careers after 50 in a way that feels expansive and fully aligned with the life you want to createWhether you're seriously considering a second act career or simply listening to the whispers telling you something needs to change — there is still so much room for you to grow, evolve, and create the life you truly desire. This one is for every woman who has ever wondered if it's too late to start again. Spoiler: it's not. Cheers to finding your freedom, Laurie Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”  Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me. Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing” Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise Website Connect with Patricia Noel Drain: Website Facebook Email: patricia@patriciadrain.com When Passion Meets Profit Podcast Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    43 min

  8. MAR 12

    How Sibling Relationships Keep Us Stuck and How to Build Healthy Adult Relationships with Minaa B

    You can command a boardroom, lead a team, and hold your own in the world — yet the moment you step back into your family home, something shifts. Old wounds resurface. You shrink. You react. You become a version of yourself you thought you'd outgrown. This regression is a sign that your internal conflicts are tethered to a hidden social architecture designed long ago. And…you're not broken. You're responding to a blueprint that was written long before you had any say in it. In this episode of Confessions of a Freebird, I sit down with therapist, author, and mental health advocate Minaa B. to unpack the hidden sibling relationship dynamics that quietly run our adult relationships. If you've ever wondered why sibling rivalry and parental favoritism  doesn't just disappear in adulthood — or why certain sibling conflicts still leave your nervous system dysregulated days later — this conversation is for you. In this episode, we talk about: Why family systems are the primary containers that shape our lifelong attachment patterns.How to foster emotional attunement to understand your needs within difficult relationships.How parental favoritism and triangulation fuel chronic sibling conflict — and what to do about itThe role of emotionally immature parents in fracturing sibling bonds and your sense of belongingHow to decode your personal sibling blueprint and create relational safety — even with difficult family membersThe ways an emotionally immature parent can fuel sibling rivalry through triangulation.Improving your social skills by joining supportive community groups to practice active listening.The power of culture shifters who are willing to break generational dysfunctionWhy understanding the narcissistic spectrum can help you depersonalize a sibling's harmful behavior.How emotional reciprocity and horizontal relationships build the secure, balanced connections we all deserveWhether you're healing from sibling parentification, working through emotional neglect, navigating blended family dynamics, or doing deeper generational trauma work — Minaa offers a compassionate, practical roadmap toward secure attachment in adulthood. Much love, Laurie Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”  Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go Free Resources Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me. Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing” Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise Website Connect with Mina B: Instagram Website Please leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email *********************** DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

    56 min
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About

Hi, I’m Laurie James—author of Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, somatic relationship coach, mother of four adult daughters, divorcée, and recovering caregiver. I created Confessions of a Freebird as a heartfelt space for women navigating midlife transitions—divorce, empty nesting, loss, dating again, or simply wondering: “Is this all there is?” If you're longing for more authenticity, joy, freedom, and purpose, especially after years of putting everyone else first, you're in the right place. Each episode, I’ll share: Practical tools and somatic coaching strategiesRaw reflections and confessions from my own journeyExpert conversations on everything from sex, grief, trauma healing, and finances to dating, caregiving, and reinvention We'll explore what it means to come home to yourself through somatic practices—and how to design a life that feels aligned with who you are now, not who you were 20 years ago or who someone or society has told you to be.  Whether you’re in the sandwich generation, starting over after loss, or dreaming of your next chapter—Confessions of a Freebird is your midlife best friend. Think of it as a permission slip to evolve, heal, and fall in love with your life all over again. Because the most important relationship you’ll ever have… is the one you have with yourself. XO, Laurie  Connect with me: www.laurieejames.com  Purchase my book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, https://www.laurieejames.com/book  IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.james/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.james.79219754

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