Growing Tall Poppies : Thrive After Trauma

Dr Nat Green
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Growing Tall Poppies: Thrive After Trauma is the podcast for anyone ready to heal from trauma, reclaim their power, and step into post-traumatic growth. Hosted by trauma therapist, coach, and author Dr. Natalie (Nat) Green, this empowering podcast blends real-life survivor stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you move beyond pain and create a life filled with purpose, resilience, and joy. Each episode dives deep into the psychological and emotional journey of thriving after trauma—exploring identity, values, nervous system healing, resilience, and renewed purpose. You’ll hear how others overcame adversity, plus learn tools you can use to regulate your nervous system, rewire your mindset, and accelerate your growth journey. What You’ll Gain from Growing Tall Poppies: Thrive After Trauma 🌱 Real Stories of Resilience – Inspiring conversations with survivors who turned trauma into strength and transformation. 🧠 Expert Guidance & Healing Tools – Proven strategies from leading professionals on trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, and mental health. ✨ Empowering Insights – Explore the mindsets, practices, and Trauma Archetypes that unlock post-traumatic growth and freedom. 💡 Psychology Meets Coaching – Innovative approaches that bridge science, therapy, and coaching to fast-track healing and thriving. With over 35 years’ experience and her own lived journey of trauma and growth, Dr. Nat Green—creator of the ABS Method® and Archetypes of Transformation—is dedicated to ending trauma-associated suffering. Through her podcast, bestselling books, and transformative programs, she guides survivors and professionals alike to rediscover their identity, align with their values, and shine brightly beyond adversity. If you’re ready to not just survive trauma but truly thrive after it, this podcast is your roadmap to resilience, healing, and post-traumatic growth.

  1. You’re Too Bold to Stay Silent: Healing Trauma, Shame & Identity with Dr Louise Hayes

    5D AGO

    You’re Too Bold to Stay Silent: Healing Trauma, Shame & Identity with Dr Louise Hayes

    Send us a Message to connect What if the very parts of your story you’ve hidden… are the exact parts that hold your power? In this deeply moving and honest conversation, I’m joined by Dr Louise Hayes — clinical psychologist, author, educator, and meditation teacher — as she shares her extraordinary journey from childhood trauma, poverty, and shame… to becoming a global leader in psychology and human connection. This episode is a powerful reminder that post-traumatic growth isn’t about erasing your past — it’s about transforming your relationship with it. We explore:  How trauma shapes identity (and how to reclaim it)  The hidden cost of shame and silence  Why vulnerability creates deeper connection and healing  The role of values in guiding a meaningful life  How small, consistent steps create profound transformation  The difference between “head knowledge” and embodied healing  Why community and connection are essential for recovery Dr Louise’s story is raw, real, and deeply inspiring — and a beautiful example of what it means to rise, not in spite of your past, but because of it. 🔑 Key Takeaways  You don’t need to “have it all together” to make an impact  Healing happens in connection, not isolation  Your story is not something to hide — it’s something to integrate  Growth doesn’t come from giant leaps, but from one small step at a time The nervous system doesn’t need more pressure — it needs safety  True transformation happens when we reconnect with the head, heart, and gut💬 Powerful Quotes from This Episode  “You’re too bold to live in the closet. You have too much to share.”  “I really thought I had made it… but only on the outside.”  “It wasn’t instant — it was a drip feed of becoming more myself.”  “You make stronger relationships when you let people see you.”  “All of this starts with one small step.”  “We need to find a way to be together.” 🌏 About Dr Louise Hayes Dr Louise Hayes is a clinical psychologist, author, educator, and internationally recognised trainer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is passionate about helping individuals and professionals reconnect with what truly matters and live in alignment with their values. Through her work — including transformational retreats in Nepal — she supports people to move beyond survival and into meaningful, connected living. 💛 Resources & Links  Website: Learn more about Dr Louise Hayes: https://www.louisehayes.com.au  Pearl Lotus Fund (supporting education in Nepal) details hereIf this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    49 min
  2. When Old Trauma Resurfaces: Identity Shifts, Nervous System Memory & The Invisible Ceiling

    MAR 16

    When Old Trauma Resurfaces: Identity Shifts, Nervous System Memory & The Invisible Ceiling

    Send us a Message to connect Have you ever done years of personal development or therapy… and still found old patterns resurfacing when life becomes challenging again? In this episode of the Growing Tall Poppies podcast, Dr Nat Green explores why past experiences can suddenly reactivate — even when you’ve already done significant healing work. Through a deeply personal story about her own health crisis and her children’s recent ankle injuries, Nat shares how the nervous system stores experiences in the body and why old protective patterns can quietly shape our decisions, identity, and sense of safety. You’ll learn why high-functioning people can still feel blocked despite years of growth work — and how understanding your three internal intelligence systems can help you reconnect with your deeper knowing. This episode is part of the Hidden Cost of Protection mini-series exploring identity fractures, nervous system protection patterns, and the invisible ceilings that can quietly limit our expansion. If you’ve ever felt like something inside you knows the next step… but another part of you quietly holds the brakes — this episode will deeply resonate. In This Episode We Explore • Why old trauma and past experiences can resurface years later  • How the nervous system stores memories in the body  • What happens when we override our gut instincts  • The concept of identity shifts and the identity gap • Why high-capacity people often silence their own internal knowing • The three intelligence systems within the body: head, heart and gut • How protective patterns can quietly create what Dr Nat calls the Invisible Ceiling Key Takeaway Sometimes the next phase of growth isn't about pushing harder or understanding more. It's about helping your nervous system feel safe enough to release the protective patterns it learned during earlier experiences. Reflection Question Where in your life might you be overriding your own inner knowing? And what might change if you began listening to that deeper intelligence again? Resources Mentioned 🎧 Episode 63 – Dr Nat’s personal health journey 🎧 Episode 95 – The Hidden Cost of Protection (Part 1) Connect with Dr Nat If this episode resonated with you, you can connect with Dr Nat here: Instagram Facebook Or join the weekly newsletter for reflections and tools on identity, nervous system integration, and post-traumatic growth. If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    22 min
  3. The Hidden Cost of Always Being the Strong One (Identity Fractures Explained)

    MAR 9

    The Hidden Cost of Always Being the Strong One (Identity Fractures Explained)

    Send us a Message to connect Many high-functioning and high-achieving women are known as “the strong one.” The capable one.  The reliable one.  The person everyone else depends on. From the outside, it can look like strength, success, and resilience. But underneath that identity, many people quietly experience something else. A constant sense of effort.  A feeling that different parts of them don’t quite line up.  The sense that one part wants to expand… while another part holds the brakes. In this episode of the Growing Tall Poppies Podcast, Dr Nat Green explores the hidden cost of always being the strong one and how this identity can form what she calls an Identity Fracture. An Identity Fracture occurs when our nervous system adapts to situations where being fully ourselves didn’t feel safe. Over time, these adaptations can shape how we lead, relate, and expand in the world. Left unexamined, these patterns can create what Dr Nat calls The Invisible Ceiling — a subtle internal limit that appears right at the edge of growth. In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why the identity of “the strong one” forms  • How Identity Fractures develop and shape behaviour  • The quiet emotional cost of constantly holding everything together  • Why high-functioning people can still feel stuck after years of personal growth work  • How the nervous system can create invisible limits to expansion This episode is the first in a new mini-series exploring The Hidden Cost of Protection and how patterns formed for survival can eventually begin limiting growth. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking: “I know what I need to do… but something in me holds back.” This conversation may resonate deeply. 🎧 Listen now and discover why strength isn’t the same as carrying everything alone. If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    18 min
  4. From High-Achiever to “I Can’t Load the Dishwasher”: Healing Burnout, Adrenal Fatigue & Identity Alignment

    MAR 2

    From High-Achiever to “I Can’t Load the Dishwasher”: Healing Burnout, Adrenal Fatigue & Identity Alignment

    Send us a Message to connect What if you’re not “unmotivated”… you’re depleted?  In this week’s episode of Growing Tall Poppies, Dr. Nat Green sits down with Dr. Heather Clark—existential coach and creator of Divinely Structured Success—to unpack what burnout actually looks like on the inside, why it can feel terrifyingly physical, and how recovery begins when you close the identity gap between who you really are and how you’ve learned to operate for safety. Heather shares her personal journey from pharmacy and high-achievement to a sudden collapse where even a shower required a lie-down—followed by years of searching for answers, navigating the “it’s all in your head” loop, and finally rebuilding her capacity from the ground up. Together, Nat and Heather explore the intersection of science and spirit, nervous system realities, and the practical framework Heather teaches clients to prevent the slide back into exhaustion: Goals, Roles, and Resource Flow. In this episode, we explore: The difference between “tired” and true burnout exhaustion (the kind sleep doesn’t fix)Why high-achievers can be great at their job… and still be deeply misalignedThe long, costly road of searching for answers when tests say “you’re fine”Adrenal fatigue: what it can look like and why it made sense physiologically for HeatherThe “identity gap” and how it shrinks your capacity to access vitality and energyWhy recovery accelerates when you own who you are (instead of performing who you should be)Burnout risk factors for conscientious, impact-driven, neurodivergent “justice-wired” humansThe power of saying no (and how people-pleasing is often a survival strategy)A practical self-leadership tool: Goals → Roles → Resource FlowWhy self-care shouldn’t become another obligation—and how to build your personal “self-care menu”A grounding reminder: you are not broken—there’s nothing to fixHeather’s practical framework (take this with you): 1) Goals: What do I actually want right now (be honest)? 2) Roles: What is my role here—and what isn’t mine to carry? 3) Resource Flow: Am I resourced enough (time, energy, executive function) to do this well today? Connect with Dr. Heather Clark: Website: vibrantagain.com Instagram LinkedIn If this episode landed for you, share it with someone who looks fine on the outside—but is quietly running on fumes. And if you’re ready to close the identity gap and rebuild capacity from the inside out… this one is for you. Subscribe, rate & review Growing Tall Poppies on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps more people find these conversations. If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    54 min
  5. If Not Now, Then When: Midlife Reinvention After Grief, Chronic Pain & Menopause

    FEB 23

    If Not Now, Then When: Midlife Reinvention After Grief, Chronic Pain & Menopause

    Send us a Message to connect In this latest powerful and moving episode Kellie Burns is back — and this conversation goes deeper than ever. In Episode 12, Kellie shared her powerful trauma story and the loss of her beloved brother, Sean. Today, we pick up from the next moment that changed everything: a major back injury, the fear of a three-level spinal fusion, and the wake-up call that became a turning point. Together, Dr Nat and Kellie explore the real relationship between physical pain and mental health, why midlife can feel like an identity earthquake (hello empty nest + perimenopause), and what it actually takes to rebuild yourself when life forces you to evolve. This is a raw and empowering conversation about reclaiming agency, choosing what matters, letting go of old identities, and creating sustainable wellbeing through movement, nourishment, nervous system support, and community. In this episode, we cover: Kellie’s update since Episode 12 — and why life demanded a new chapterPostnatal depression, the “radical” advice that helped, and why movement mattersGrief, trauma, and the long shadow of losing a sibling to suicideChronic pain and mental health: why your physiology shapes your mindsetThe moment before surgery: fear, despair, and the line between coping and breakingWhat it means to stop trying to “get back to who you were” — and evolve insteadPsychological flexibility as a key predictor of peace and future happinessMidlife identity shifts: empty nesting, menopause, agency, and reinvention“Grey divorce,” relationship re-negotiation, and the courage to choose yourselfMuscle, bone density, and why strength is protective as we ageThe hidden mental health signal: screen time, numbing, and nervous system overloadCommunity as medicine: “In order to have a village, you need to be a villager”Guest spotlight: Kellie Burns Kellie Burns is a successful real estate agent and business owner, mum of two young adults, and a fully qualified health coach. She holds a Diploma of Counselling, Certificate III in Fitness, and Certificate IV in Nutrition, and has a special interest in the powerful connection between emotional wellbeing, physical health, movement, and nutrition — especially for midlife women. How to work with Kellie: Instagram: @kellieburnscoachWebsite: If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    1h 2m
  6. From Trauma to Healing: How Our Animals Mirror, Hold, and Help us Heal

    FEB 16

    From Trauma to Healing: How Our Animals Mirror, Hold, and Help us Heal

    Send us a Message to connect What if the animals in our lives are more than companions? What if they are part of our healing? In this deeply moving and thought-provoking episode of Growing Tall Poppies, Dr. Nat Green is joined by animal communicator and psychosomatic practitioner Katherine Luna Sol, whose life journey bridges trauma, intuition, science, and the profound connection between humans and animals. Katherine shares how early childhood trauma, sensitivity, and survival shaped her path — and how an extraordinary bond with her first horse became the catalyst for healing, identity discovery, and ultimately her life’s work. Through loss, grief, and relentless searching for answers, Katherine immersed herself in multiple healing modalities, blending traditional animal care, somatic awareness, and energy-based approaches to support both animals and their humans. This conversation explores the powerful ways animals can: Reflect our emotional worldSupport nervous system healingHelp us reconnect with identity after traumaWalk beside us as we move from survival into growthWhether you’re an animal lover, trauma survivor, or someone navigating your own healing journey, this episode invites you to consider connection, hope, and healing from a completely new perspective. 🌿 In This Episode, We Explore: ✔ How trauma can shape identity — and how healing can reshape it  ✔ The deep emotional bonds between humans and animals during times of adversity  ✔ Why animals often become anchors of safety, regulation, and connection  ✔ Katherine’s journey from pre-veterinary training to psychosomatic and intuitive healing work  ✔ The role of somatic healing, emotional release, and inner work in post-traumatic growth  ✔ How grief, loss, and resilience can open unexpected pathways to purpose  ✔ The importance of hope, tenacity, and following even the smallest spark forward  ✔ Moving from codependency to what Katherine calls “sovereignty and union” in relationships — with animals and ourselves 🌟 Key Takeaways - Healing doesn’t always arrive logically.  - Sometimes it begins with connection.  - Sometimes it begins with loss.  - And sometimes, it begins with the quiet presence of an animal who helps us feel safe enough to come back to ourselves. 🔗 Connect with Katherine Luna Sol Instagram Facebook If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    53 min
  7. When Life Is Finally Safe.... But You Still Feel Stuck Inside

    FEB 9

    When Life Is Finally Safe.... But You Still Feel Stuck Inside

    Send us a Message to connect Have you ever found yourself thinking: “I’ve done so much work on myself…  So why do I still feel stuck sometimes?” You’ve been to therapy.  You’ve read the books.  You understand your patterns.  You’ve grown. And yet… There can still be moments where something inside you feels slightly braced and on edge. Like you’re doing well in life… but not fully relaxed inside it. In this deeply honest episode, Dr Nat Green explores one of the least talked about stages of trauma healing: 👉 When your life is safe…  👉 But your body is still catching up. This episode explains — in simple, real language — why you can understand your healing journey mentally, but still feel tension, hesitation, or fear in your body. And most importantly: Why this is not failure. Why this is not you being broken. Why this is actually incredibly normal after trauma and chronic stress. 🌿 What You’ll Learn In This Episode • Why you can feel stuck even after years of therapy or personal development  • The difference between understanding your trauma and your body feeling safe  • Why your nervous system can still react to old danger — even when life is different now  • How early survival patterns can show up as perfectionism, overworking, hyper-independence or overthinking  • Why body-based healing approaches (like TRE — Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) can help release stored stress patterns  • What real “moving forward” often feels like (and why it’s usually quiet, not dramatic) 💛 Who This Episode Is For This episode is especially for you if you: ✔ Have done therapy or deep personal development work  ✔ Consider yourself self-aware and reflective  ✔ Are high-functioning but still feel tension or “brace” in your life  ✔ Feel confused about why growth doesn’t always feel easier  ✔ Want trauma healing explained in real, relatable language  ✔ Are curious about nervous system healing and body-based approaches  ✔ Are ready for healing that feels safe, not forced 🌱 About Body-Based Healing & TRE This episode also introduces the idea that trauma and stress aren’t just stored in thoughts — they can be stored in the body. Dr Nat gently explains how approaches like TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) help the body release long-held stress and survival tension safely and naturally. No forcing.  No rehashing your story.  Just allowing the body to let go of what it no longer needs to hold. If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    25 min
  8. Why Insight Isn’t Enough: The Nervous System Reason You Still Feel Stuck (Invisible Ceiling Pt. 2)

    FEB 2

    Why Insight Isn’t Enough: The Nervous System Reason You Still Feel Stuck (Invisible Ceiling Pt. 2)

    Send us a Message to connect Have you ever thought…  “I understand the pattern… so why does it still feel so hard to change?” In this second episode of The Invisible Ceiling mini-series, Dr. Nat Green explores the missing link that so many high-functioning, self-aware people overlook: Insight alone doesn’t create transformation — your nervous system must feel safe enough to come with you. Because survival patterns aren’t stored only in the mind… They live in the body. In your breath. In your bracing. In your over-functioning. In the way your system tightens at the edge of visibility, success, rest, or receiving. This episode is a compassionate deep-dive into the nervous-system foundations of the Invisible Ceiling — and why expansion can feel like threat, even when life is different now. In This Episode, We Explore: ✨ Why awareness doesn’t always equal change  ✨ How trauma responses are physiological — not just psychological  ✨ The nervous system’s primary job: protection, not expansion  ✨ Why visibility, ease, rest, and receiving can feel unsafe  ✨ The truth about “self-sabotage” (it’s often self-protection) High-Functioning Survival Strategies (That Aren’t Personality Traits) Many people aren’t collapsing… They’re coping through high-functioning protection, such as: Over-functioning and carrying everything aloneConstant productivity and inability to slow downPerfectionism and fear of mistakesHyper-independence and difficulty receiving supportAlways being “the strong one”Chronic urgency and nervous system rushingOverthinking as a form of threat preventionEmotional containment and staying tightly composedThese aren’t flaws. They are adaptive nervous system strategies — often rooted in what Dr. Nat calls an Identity Fracture: an early agreement about who it was safe to be. Why Expansion Can Feel Like a Threat Here’s what surprises so many people: The threat is not fear of failure. The threat is often: Being seenRestEaseReceivingGrowthBecause the nervous system prefers what is familiar… Even when the familiar is exhausting. The Somatic Path Forward (TRE + Nervous System Completion) This episode also introduces the power of somatic healing, including: TRE — Trauma & Tension Release Exercises TRE is a gentle mind–body practice that supports the nervous system in discharging stored survival tension through the body’s natural tremor mechanism. Not through forcing. Not through reliving the story. But through safe physiological release. Guided Reflection: Where Are You Still Bracing? To close, Dr. Nat offers a short embodied scan and reflection: Where in your life are you still holding tension?What happens in your body as you approach expansion?What would it feel like to meet your protectoIf this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

    24 min
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Growing Tall Poppies: Thrive After Trauma is the podcast for anyone ready to heal from trauma, reclaim their power, and step into post-traumatic growth. Hosted by trauma therapist, coach, and author Dr. Natalie (Nat) Green, this empowering podcast blends real-life survivor stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you move beyond pain and create a life filled with purpose, resilience, and joy. Each episode dives deep into the psychological and emotional journey of thriving after trauma—exploring identity, values, nervous system healing, resilience, and renewed purpose. You’ll hear how others overcame adversity, plus learn tools you can use to regulate your nervous system, rewire your mindset, and accelerate your growth journey. What You’ll Gain from Growing Tall Poppies: Thrive After Trauma 🌱 Real Stories of Resilience – Inspiring conversations with survivors who turned trauma into strength and transformation. 🧠 Expert Guidance & Healing Tools – Proven strategies from leading professionals on trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, and mental health. ✨ Empowering Insights – Explore the mindsets, practices, and Trauma Archetypes that unlock post-traumatic growth and freedom. 💡 Psychology Meets Coaching – Innovative approaches that bridge science, therapy, and coaching to fast-track healing and thriving. With over 35 years’ experience and her own lived journey of trauma and growth, Dr. Nat Green—creator of the ABS Method® and Archetypes of Transformation—is dedicated to ending trauma-associated suffering. Through her podcast, bestselling books, and transformative programs, she guides survivors and professionals alike to rediscover their identity, align with their values, and shine brightly beyond adversity. If you’re ready to not just survive trauma but truly thrive after it, this podcast is your roadmap to resilience, healing, and post-traumatic growth.

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