Quantum Mental Health

Kelli Ritter, PhD

Welcome to Quantum Mental Health—where science meets soul in the pursuit of true healing. This podcast is your guide to transforming anxiety and reclaiming vitality through groundbreaking insights in quantum biology, nutrition, and mental health. Join us to explore small yet powerful shifts that spark lasting change and help you live with joy, balance, and wellbeing. Ready to step into a new paradigm of healing? Let’s dive in!

  1. 4D AGO

    E48 You Can Be Regulated and Still Be Hurt with Dr. Kelli

    In this episode, I talk about something high-functioning women don’t say out loud enough: You can show up. Host the live. Make dinner. Keep functioning. And still feel tenderness underneath it all. We explore: ​ Why relational hurt registers as a safety signal​ How conflict costs mental bandwidth and energy​ The difference between suppressing emotion and metabolizing it​ Why needing space doesn’t mean you’re fragile Hurt doesn’t mean dysregulated. You can be steady… and still be affected. If you’re carrying something quietly today, you don’t need to explain it publicly. You just need to respect it privately. PRACTITIONERS: If you’re a practitioner listening to this and thinking, this is the kind of regulation I want to embody with my clients — that’s exactly why I created Foundations in Anxiety Recovery Coaching. We don’t just teach techniques. We train the kind of steady, grounded presence anxiety heals around. March enrollment is open if you’re ready to deepen your work. Enroll here; https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/mentorship-course Ready to go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

    18 min
  2. JAN 14

    E46 Motherhood, Mental Health & Circadian Safety with Nikko Kennedy

    Motherhood doesn’t begin at birth — and it doesn’t end when children grow up. It unfolds across seasons, shaped by light, rhythms, nervous system safety, and the lived experience of caring for other humans while staying connected to yourself. In this episode of the Quantum Mental Health Podcast, I’m joined by my dear friend and colleague Nikko Kennedy — a doula, circadian health expert, certified Applied Quantum Biology practitioner, and Research Director at the Institute of Applied Quantum Biology (IAQB). Together, we explore motherhood through a full developmental lens — from preparing the body before pregnancy, to supporting new moms, to navigating the mental and emotional landscape of raising children over decades. Nikko shares insights drawn from both research and lived experience as a mother of five. I reflect on motherhood from the perspective of having two grown sons — now 20 and 23 — and how nervous system safety, circadian rhythms, and emotional regulation continue to matter long after the early years. This is not just a fertility conversation. And it’s not only about new motherhood. It’s about how women can support their mental health and biological resilience across the entire arc of motherhood — hormonally, emotionally, and energetically. In this episode, we discuss: ​Why circadian rhythms are foundational for women’s mental health at every stage of motherhood​How light, darkness, sleep timing, and daily structure support mitochondrial health​Preparing the body before pregnancy — without pressure or perfection​Anxiety, nervous system load, and the role of safety signals in parenting​Practical, compassionate strategies for supporting new moms​How relational support and community care sustain mothers over time — not as obligation, but as shared humanity Nikko brings deep research and communicates it in a way that feels grounded, accessible, and deeply human. Together, we reflect honestly on what motherhood looks like in real life — not just in theory. ✨ This episode is for women who hope to become mothers, those in the thick of early parenting, moms with older children, helping professionals, and anyone interested in motherhood through a quantum mental health lens. Connect with Nikko: https://www.brighterdaysdarkernights.com https://substack.com/@nikkokennedy https://www.instagram.com/brighterdays.darkernights Want to learn more about quantum mental health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com Use Discount Code: NOURISHED10 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

    1h 20m
  3. JAN 8

    E45 An Unexpected Conversation: Grief, Suicide, and Doing Hard Things - A New Year Reflection with Pace Strickland

    Happy New Year, and welcome to the first episode of 2026 on the Quantum Mental Health Podcast. This episode didn’t go the way it was planned—and that feels important to name. I sat down with my podcast editor, Pace Strickland, intending to record a simple Q&A-style conversation. A few thoughtful questions. A light, reflective start to the year. Instead, we found ourselves in a very different—and very human—place. What unfolded was an unexpected conversation about grief, suicide, love, and what it actually takes to keep showing up to life when things have been unbearably hard. Pace shares about the loss of her brother to suicide, and together we explore how people carry grief, how they survive it, and how they find the courage to do hard things even when the nervous system wants to shut down. There are no graphic details in this episode, but suicide and loss are discussed. Please listen with gentle ears, and take care of yourself as you tune in. As we step into a new year, this conversation reflects the direction I’m feeling called toward in 2026—not just the expected mental health conversations, but the deeper, quieter, more honest ones. Conversations with people who are living consciously, intentionally, and truthfully—even when the path hasn’t been easy. This episode is about: • Grief that doesn’t follow a timeline • The invisible weight people carry • Doing hard things when you don’t feel “strong” • Staying present instead of numbing or bypassing pain • Allowing real conversations to unfold without forcing an agenda If you’ve ever loved someone who struggled… If you’ve ever had to keep going while your heart was broken… If you’re entering this year with tenderness rather than resolutions… You’re not alone here. Thank you for being part of this space, and for trusting these conversations—especially the unexpected ones. Connect with Dr. Kelli If this conversation resonated with you, you can explore more trauma-informed, body-based perspectives on anxiety, grief, and nervous system healing at: → Website: anxiety-recovery.com → Instagram: @dr_kelli Come as you are. Take what’s useful. Leave the rest. This podcast is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health care. If this episode brings up distress, please consider reaching out to a trusted person or a qualified mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent support, contact your local emergency services or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada: 988).

    59 min
  4. 12/17/2025

    E44 Cold Plunge, Clear Mind: Quantum Cold Exposure + Healing in Nature with Oksana Hansen

    In this episode, Dr. Kelli is joined by her friend and quantum health colleague Oksana Hansen, Founder of Quantum Lens Wellness, for a grounded, empowering conversation about cold plunging, quantum cold exposure, and why nature-based experiences and community matter deeply for nervous system healing. We explore cold exposure not as a badge of toughness, but as a biological conversation with the nervous system—one that can build resilience, mitochondrial signaling, and emotional regulation when done wisely and trauma-informed. This is about learning how to meet stress without overwhelming the system. Oksana also shares details about two powerful cold exposure–centered events we discuss in the episode: ​ Return to Nature — an immersive, nature-forward gathering she is hosting that integrates cold plunging, sauna, circadian rhythms, and community healing​ The Cold Plunge Research Institute Symposium — a science-rooted event bringing together researchers, practitioners, and leaders advancing the evidence-based understanding of cold exposure and human performance Together, we explore how science, nature, and lived experience can coexist—without turning healing into another extreme sport. In this episode, we discuss: ​ Cold plunging as nervous system training, not punishment​ Adaptive stress vs. overwhelm (and why anxious systems must know the difference)​ How cold exposure supports mitochondrial signaling and resilience​ Why healing accelerates in nature and safe community​ The importance of research-backed approaches to cold therapy​ What to expect from both upcoming cold exposure events About Oksana Hansen Oksana Hansen is the Founder of Quantum Lens Wellness, where she helps individuals reconnect with their biology through light, temperature, nature, and intentional living. Her work blends applied quantum biology with grounded, embodied practices that support nervous system resilience and cellular health. Events mentioned in this episode Return to Nature – Cold Exposure & Nature Gathering Hosted by Oksana Hansen Learn more: 👉 https://www.quantumlenswellness.com/retreat Cold Plunge Research Institute Symposium A science-forward symposium focused on cold exposure research, application, and innovation Learn more: 👉 https://www.morozkoforge.com/cold-plunge-research-institute Gentle reminder: Cold exposure is a powerful tool—but it’s not one-size-fits-all. If you have a history of panic, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation, start slowly and consult your healthcare provider. Healing happens through capacity, not force. ✨ CONNECT WITH DR. KELLI Instagram: @dr_kelli Website: www.anxiety-recovery.com Courses, tools, and resources for anxiety transformation.

    52 min
  5. 12/10/2025

    E43 Living Awake in Practice: Mitochondria, Frequency & the Humans We Serve with Dr. Kathleen Horstmeyer

    In today’s episode, Dr. Kelli sits down with Dr. Kathleen Horstmeyer—Director of Certification & Continuing Education for the Institute of Applied Quantum Biology and a deeply heart-centered practitioner whose work blends science, intuition, and lived experience. This conversation is nonlinear in the best way. Together, they explore: ​How Kathleen’s diverse background shaped her lens on healing​What she’s learned from facilitating hundreds of IAQB cohort and faculty calls​The themes emerging among quantum-informed practitioners​Why mitochondria receive and respond to our thoughts, tone, frequency, and presence​The importance of practitioners “living awake” in their own lives​The energetic and emotional dimensions of healing that traditional mental health often misses​Kathleen’s powerful story of trauma recovery after a horse injury—and how Havening Touch became a turning point for her healing​The role of mindset, safety, and resonance in mental and emotional restorationIf you’re curious about quantum health, emotional resilience, and what it means to serve humans at the deepest level, this conversation is rich, warm, and eye-opening. 🔗 RESOURCES ​Institute of Applied Quantum Biology (IAQB)​Havening Touch®​Dr. Kelli Ritter’s Anxiety Recovery Course (ARC)​Holiday Calm Bundle (Anxiety Relief Toolkit + Panic-Free Travel Guide)💛 CONNECT WITH DR. KATHLEEN HORSTMEYER www.Kathleenhorstmeyer.com Email: kathleenhorstmeyer@gmail.com   Socials LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-horstmeyer-9b9ab8377 FB https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.horstmeyer/  ✨ CONNECT WITH DR. KELLI Instagram: @dr_kelli Website: www.anxiety-recovery.com Courses, tools, and resources for anxiety transformation.

    58 min
  6. 11/20/2025

    E41 Stop Digging for the Root — Build the Container Instead with Dr. Kelli

    In this short, potent solo episode, Dr. Kelli unpacks one of the biggest misunderstandings in the anxiety recovery world: you don’t heal by finding “the root.” You heal by building the container that allows your emotional truth to rise and release. If you’ve been doing all the things — breathwork, mediation, supplements, yoga, light exposure, therapy — and still feel anxious, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Inside, Dr. Kelli breaks down: ​why anxiety lingers even when your habits are on point​what “container” actually means in trauma-informed + quantum health terms​how emotional material hides in plain sight (and why it often seems too “small” to matter)​why healing isn’t a mental excavation — it’s a felt experience​how numbing and addiction (even subtle forms) block emotional release​the tools that support emotional processing only when safety is present This episode reframes healing in the most compassionate, liberating way: you don’t have to dig for the root. You simply need the container, and your nervous system will do the rest. Dr. Kelli closes with: “The light in me sees and honors the light in you.” …a beautiful doorway into next week’s conversation. ✨ Explore Calm Alchemy If this resonates, explore Calm Alchemy: The Anxiety Reset Path — a curated 3-part bundle to help you stabilize your nervous system, decode your patterns, and build the emotional container your healing needs. 👉 Get the NEW BUNDLE (Flash Sale until Dec 11) Calm Alchemy: The Anxiety Reset Path Want to learn more about quantum health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW  LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com Use Discount Code: NOURISHED10  Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

    14 min
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to Quantum Mental Health—where science meets soul in the pursuit of true healing. This podcast is your guide to transforming anxiety and reclaiming vitality through groundbreaking insights in quantum biology, nutrition, and mental health. Join us to explore small yet powerful shifts that spark lasting change and help you live with joy, balance, and wellbeing. Ready to step into a new paradigm of healing? Let’s dive in!

You Might Also Like