Real.Raw.Authentic Podcast

Caroline Middelsdorf
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

The Caroline Podcast is: Real, Raw, Authentic. Join your psychologist traveling to the homes of public figures, experts, and inspiring people, Caroline uncovers the untold stories of resilience, healing, and transformation. Each episode dives into personal journeys through struggles like trauma, mental health challenges, and life’s toughest moments, offering listeners inspiring insights and practical tools for their own growth and healing. This podcast is a safe place to feel seen, supported, and empowered, a reminder that no one has to struggle in silence. 

  1. Sep 18

    The Founder of Muse on Why Your Brain Won't Calm Down | Ariel Garten

    🎧 Try Muse S Athena: head to choosemuse.com/caroline and use code CAROLINE for up to $75 off / 15% off your first order.In this episode I sit down with Ariel Garten, psychotherapist and co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing headband that turns your own brainwaves into real-time sound. We go deep into what "regulation" actually means in the brain and body, why poor sleep predicts anxiety more than anxiety predicts poor sleep, and how tracking your own nervous system can change the way you show up in your relationships, your work, and your healing.We talk about: How Muse translates your brainwaves into sound so you can hear your mind focus and wander in real timeWhy sleep latency improved by 54% in clinical research, and what that means for anyone who struggles to fall asleepDeep Sleep Boost: how a subtle sound during your delta waves can deepen your most restorative sleepThe link between the vagus nerve, heart rate variability and trauma responsesHow neurofeedback supports trauma processing through metacognition and nervous system regulation, not just willpowerWhy athletes, Mayo Clinic doctors and Alzheimer's researchers are all using the same tool for very different reasonsHow Ariel used Muse to transform her own relationship of 20+ yearsThis is one of those conversations that gives you language for what your body has been doing all along, and a tool to actually work with it instead of against it.If this episode helped you understand your own nervous system a little better, share it with someone who needs it too.0:00 Intro1:07 What Is Muse?2:40 How Muse Was Invented & the Science of Brainwaves7:51 How Meditation With Muse Works10:22 Improving Sleep With Muse16:32 Live Muse Demo & Tracking Your Progress20:42 From Research Lab to Consumer Device22:56 Sleep, Anxiety & Emotional Regulation28:11 The Nervous System: Vagus Nerve & Heart Rate Variability29:57 Working Through Trauma With Muse36:18 Why Ariel Created Muse & What She's Seen38:46 The Studies: Mayo Clinic, Feelings & Heart Meditation42:15 The Future of Muse & Who Can Use It47:00 Relationships, Family & Everyday Use53:47 Closing Thoughts & Where to Get Muse

  2. Jul 9

    What Savant Syndrome Reveals About the Hidden Genius in All of Us | Dr. Jeremy Chapman

    Some people wake up from a head injury speaking fluent piano. Others draw entire cityscapes from memory after a single flight over a skyline. This week I'm sitting down with child and adolescent psychiatrist Jeremy Chapman, Medical Director of the SSM Health Treffert Center, the world's leading hub for understanding savant syndrome.  We go deep on what happens in the brain when extraordinary ability suddenly appears, whether someone is born with it, develops it after trauma, or simply wakes up one day changed. Jeremy has spent years working directly with savants and their families, and what he's learned raises a question far bigger than any one diagnosis: how much untapped capacity might be sitting inside every single one of us, waiting for the right door to open. This conversation touched something in me on a deeply personal level, and I think it will do the same for you. We talk about the line between disability and gift, what it means to build a life around a talent nobody trained you for, and why the brain might be far stranger and more capable than we've been taught to believe. If you've ever wondered what's really possible inside the human mind, this one will stay with you. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Don't miss the next episode of Real.Raw.Authentic.

    What Savant Syndrome Reveals About the Hidden Genius in All of Us | Dr. Jeremy Chapman

  3. Jul 3

    The Most Stubborn Man In The Car Industry | Victor Muller Founder and CEO of Spyker Cars

    Spyker is back at Le Mans... 23 years later. Victor Muller (Founder and CEO of Spyker Cars and former CEO of Saab Automobile) just told me what it really took to survive.... He built one of the most beautiful car brands in the world. Lost it. Lost it again. And is now bringing it back, with a crypto billionaire as his new partner and the racetrack calling his name.This is Victor Muller. Founder and CEO of Spyker Cars. The man they call the most stubborn man in the car industry, and after this conversation, you’ll understand why that’s a compliment.We sat down for a real, raw, unfiltered conversation about what it actually takes to keep believing in something the world has counted out twice. Two bankruptcies. A brand reduced to an “empty shell.” And still, Victor never let go of Spyker. This episode goes behind the boardroom headlines into the psychology of obsession, identity, and refusing to quit when quitting would be the easier, more rational choice.And the timing could not be more perfect. As this episode goes live, Spyker is racing at the Le Mans Classic (July 3–5, 2026), the brand’s first return to Le Mans in 23 years, driving the very chassis that raced there in 2002 and 2003. Just weeks earlier, Volodymyr Nosov, founder of WhiteBIT and W Group, one of Europe’s largest crypto exchanges, became co-owner of Spyker, folding the 140-year-old Dutch marque into a new venture called Spyker Digital, merging heritage engineering with blockchain and digital ownership. Old-world craftsmanship meets new-world capital. A car brand founded in 1880 now backed by crypto. In this episode we talk about:🏎️ Victor's mindset through two bankruptcies, and how he kept the vision alive when the brand became an "empty shell"🏎️ How he survived one of the hardest phases of his life at Saab — and what it taught him about identity beyond the company🏎️ What it actually means to be an entrepreneur, beneath the headlines and the highlight reel🏎️ The new partnership with Volodymyr Nosov and W Group, and what "Spyker Digital" really means for the brand's future🏎️ The 800hp Spyker C8 Preliator XXV and where Spyker is headed next🏎️ Spyker's return to Le Mans Classic 2026, 23 years after chassis 009 last raced there🏎️ A dream that survived two collapses, and what that costs — and protects — in a person 🎧 Also available wherever you listen to podcasts. Check: https://spykercars.com/ How to connect with Caroline Middelsdorf host and modern mental wellbeing voice? Check: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com#SpykerCars #VictorMuller #LeMansClassic #WhiteBIT #realrawauthentic  #CarIndustry #Comeback #Entrepreneurship

    The Most Stubborn Man In The Car Industry | Victor Muller Founder and CEO of Spyker Cars

  4. Jun 22

    What Men Really Need (But Never Say) | Jonathan Bouter - Ex-Soldier, Veteran & Prison Guard + Systemic Business Coach

    Every 43 seconds, someone in the world dies by suicide. Men make up 75-80% of them. In the US, men are nearly 4x more likely than women to die by suicide. In the UK and Canada, it's roughly 3x. This isn't a side statistic. It's a global mental health crisis, and almost nobody is talking about it the way we do in this episode. There's a paradox at the center of this: women report higher rates of depression and attempt suicide more often, yet men die by suicide at far higher rates, largely because men tend to use methods that leave less room for intervention or survival. And fewer than 20% of men seek professional mental health support in the year before a suicide, compared to roughly 35% of women. Men aren't struggling less. They're struggling silently, and that silence is costing lives. I sat down with Jonathan Bouter in Amsterdam, Dutch veteran, ex-prison guard, and now mindset and trauma coach. What came out of him was nothing like the "man up" conversations we're used to. We talked about the trauma men carry and never name. The silence men are trained into from childhood. What it actually costs a man to "be strong." And what men need, really need, that they almost never say out loud. We laughed. We got real. We both teared up. This is not a polished, clinical mental health talk. This is raw, honest, and unfiltered. If you're a man who's never had the words for what you're carrying, or you love a man who hasn't, this episode is for you 🤍 In this episode:  ✅ Why so few men seek help before it's too late  ✅ The trauma behind the "strong, silent" mask  ✅ How upbringing teaches men to disconnect from emotion  ✅ What it actually means for a man to "feel"  ✅ The honest, unscripted conversation most men never get to have Full episode of real.raw.authentic is live now. Link in bio. 🚨 If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Reach out to a crisis line in your country. US: 988, UK: 116 123 (Samaritans), Netherlands: 113 (113.nl), or visit findahelpline.com for global resources. real.raw.authentic, hosted by Caroline Middelsdorf who is traveling the world to sit down with guests who have a story, expertise and want to create positive impact.  Because healing happens out loud 🤍 #MensMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #MaleMentalHealth #TraumaHealing #RealRawAuthentic #VeteranMentalHealth #ComeHomeToYourself #HealedOutLoud

    What Men Really Need (But Never Say) | Jonathan Bouter - Ex-Soldier, Veteran & Prison Guard + Systemic Business Coach

  5. Jun 12

    Petr Čech On the Mindset That Defines a Legend

    I didn’t expect this conversation to go where it went.Petr Čech, one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, sitting across from me, talking about loss, fear, near-death, and what it actually costs to perform at the highest level for two decades.The Champions League final. His last game with Arsenal. A nurse telling a 10-year-old he’d never play again. A head injury that nearly took his life. The mental toll nobody sees from the outside.But also, the mindset that made him unbreakable. How he learned to perform under impossible pressure. Why confidence isn’t motivation, it’s preparation. And what separates the good from the truly great, on and off the pitch.This is the conversation about sport, mental health, and what it really means to be at the top of your game, that nobody was having loudly enough.This one stayed with me long after we stopped filming.🎙️ Real Raw Authentic with Caroline MiddelsdorfDon’t forget to like 👍🏻 subscribe and share with somone who needs to hear this Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Early Career Challenges00:53 - Interview Introduction: Peter Cech01:38 - Childhood in Czechoslovakia02:01 - Family Background and Sibling Loss03:04 - Parents' Occupations and Early Exposure to Sports04:09 - Growing Up with Sports05:35 - Choosing Football Over Ice Hockey07:03 - Passion for Football and Early Experiences08:06 - Becoming a Goalkeeper10:02 - First Major Injury and Its Impact13:15 - Dreaming of a Professional Career15:20 - Overcoming Negative Comments and Determination18:00 - Lessons from Sports: Failure and Teamwork20:13 - Dealing with Pressure as a Young Athlete24:01 - Developing a Mindset to Handle Stress27:22 - First National Team Call-Up28:36 - Inner Voice and Mindset Shift29:52 - Avoiding Regrets and Embracing Failure32:52 - Reflecting on Regrets and Burnout33:57 - Perspective from a Head Injury35:03 - Curiosity and Open-Mindedness36:39 - Confidence Through Preparation41:16 - Nervousness in New Environments42:18 - Human Challenges of Professional Athletes44:50 - Champions League Final Experiences46:00 - Mind and Body Alignment in Sports47:12 - Advice on Handling Anxiety and FailureIf you’re on the journey of healing emotional (often invisible) wounds, you’re in the right place 🤍My 3-month program Phoenix is here to gently support and guide you.Start with a free lesson here:https://carolinemiddelsdorf.comNot sure where to begin?My mini course will help you take the first steps:https://stan.store/carolinemiddeldorf/p/how-to-start-your-healing-journey-mini-course?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

  6. Jan 7

    The Tongue Never Lies - How Chinese Medicine Reveals Trauma & Anxiety

    Trauma and anxiety don’t just live in the mind — they live in the body. In this episode of Real, Raw & Authentic, recorded in Los Angeles, I talk to Jiaming Ju, founder of KUN Health and a second-generation licensed Chinese Medicine practitioner who specializes in chronic conditions. We talk about tongue diagnosis in Chinese Medicine and how the tongue can reveal long-term stress, anxiety, trauma patterns, nervous system dysregulation, and physical imbalance — in a grounded, body-based way, not something mystical or abstract. What stayed with me: • You can be high-functioning and still deeply dysregulated• You can be coping while your body remains in survival mode• The tongue often shows what someone has been carrying for years This episode is for anyone who struggles with anxiety, unresolved trauma, chronic stress, or physical symptoms that don’t fully make sense yet — and for anyone curious about mental health beyond just talking about it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing fine” mentally but your body tells a different story, this conversation may resonate. 🎧 Subscribe to Real, Raw & Authentic for honest conversations connecting trauma, mental health, and the body.

    The Tongue Never Lies - How Chinese Medicine Reveals Trauma & Anxiety

  7. 11/28/2025

    Are Psychdelics the Future of Trauma Therapy? | Ingmar de Gooijer

    In this episode of REAL. RAW. AUTHENTIC.🎙️ I sit down with Ingmar de Gooijer, founder of Magnolia in the Netherlands — one of the leading centers for ketamine therapy and psilocybin-supported journeys. Ingmar has years of experience guiding people through deeply transformative non-ordinary states of consciousness. At Magnolia, every journey begins with a careful medical and psychological screening and continues with a fully personalized program — whether it’s ketamine-assisted therapy under clinical supervision or psilocybin truffle experiences facilitated by psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, or experienced guides. In this conversation, we dive into the real questions people usually avoid: • Who ketamine therapy is for — especially individuals struggling with treatment-resistant depression who haven’t found relief through traditional methods. • Who benefits from psilocybin — people seeking deeper emotional insight, meaning, and the ability to gently access their inner healing intelligence. • How psychedelics can help unlock emotions — parts of yourself you’ve suppressed, avoided, or simply couldn’t reach through talk therapy alone. • How these experiences can bring forward what you might need to see in order to heal, shift, or finally process long-held patterns. • What psychedelics cannot do — and why they are not a magic bullet in trauma healing. • Why the real work begins after the session, during integration, grounding, and making sense of what came up. We talk honestly about safety, misconceptions, emotional breakthroughs, and how these substances can support your healing journey. I ask the curious, uncomfortable, and essential questions that everyone wonders about but rarely says out loud. This episode is for everyone: • Therapists, coaches, and people in the healing field • Anyone navigating trauma, depression, or emotional stuckness • People curious about psychedelic therapy • People who feel they’ve tried everything and still feel lost • Anyone wanting to understand how healing actually works beyond the surface Don't forget to share your main takeaway in the comments below and hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode. FYI: Magnolia is co-founded with Emilie Donders, MD, and supported by a team of psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, and experienced facilitators. Their work complies with Dutch healthcare regulations (Wkkgz), and the entire approach is grounded in safety, ethics, and high-quality medical care. How to connect with Ingmar de Gooijer & Magnolia: website: https://mymagnolia.nl/en/ linkedin Magnolia: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mymagnolia/ Linkedin Ingmar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingmardegooijer/ How to connect with host Caroline Middelsdorf: website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemiddelsdorf?igsh=MXd4M2pxZXlydmFmMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Real.Raw.Authentic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IJkwaEJc7xkPasLGcPt7h?si=PER-iPcTSuajMEP25VI4qA

  8. 11/27/2025

    Is this the Future of Trauma Therapy? | Ingmar de Gooijer

    In this episode of REAL. RAW. AUTHENTIC.🎙️ I sit down with Ingmar de Gooijer, founder of Magnolia in the Netherlands — one of the leading centers for ketamine therapy and psilocybin-supported journeys.Ingmar has years of experience guiding people through deeply transformative non-ordinary states of consciousness. At Magnolia, every journey begins with a careful medical and psychological screening and continues with a fully personalized program — whether it’s ketamine-assisted therapy under clinical supervision or psilocybin truffle experiences facilitated by psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, or experienced guides.In this conversation, we dive into the real questions people usually avoid:• Who ketamine therapy is for — especially individuals struggling with treatment-resistant depression who haven’t found relief through traditional methods.• Who benefits from psilocybin — people seeking deeper emotional insight, meaning, and the ability to gently access their inner healing intelligence.• How psychedelics can help unlock emotions — parts of yourself you’ve suppressed, avoided, or simply couldn’t reach through talk therapy alone.• How these experiences can bring forward what you might need to see in order to heal, shift, or finally process long-held patterns.• What psychedelics cannot do — and why they are not a magic bullet in trauma healing.• Why the real work begins after the session, during integration, grounding, and making sense of what came up.We talk honestly about safety, misconceptions, emotional breakthroughs, and how these substances can support your healing journey.  I ask the curious, uncomfortable, and essential questions that everyone wonders about but rarely says out loud.This episode is for everyone:• Therapists, coaches, and people in the healing field• Anyone navigating trauma, depression, or emotional stuckness• People curious about psychedelic therapy• People who feel they’ve tried everything and still feel lost• Anyone wanting to understand how healing actually works beyond the surfaceDon't forget to share your main takeaway in the comments below and hit the subscribe button to never miss an episode. FYI: Magnolia is co-founded with Emilie Donders, MD, and supported by a team of psychiatrists, physicians, psychologists, and experienced facilitators. Their work complies with Dutch healthcare regulations (Wkkgz), and the entire approach is grounded in safety, ethics, and high-quality medical care.How to connect with Ingmar de Gooijer & Magnolia: website: https://mymagnolia.nl/en/linkedin Magnolia: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mymagnolia/Linkedin Ingmar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingmardegooijer/How to connect with host and your psychologist Caroline Middelsdorf: website: www.carolinemiddelsdorf.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemiddelsdorf?igsh=MXd4M2pxZXlydmFmMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrReal.Raw.Authentic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrawauthenticpodcast?igsh=MTlnbzJiZHExOGFhYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qrWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MjtGi_7b9c4

    Is this the Future of Trauma Therapy? | Ingmar de Gooijer
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About

The Caroline Podcast is: Real, Raw, Authentic. Join your psychologist traveling to the homes of public figures, experts, and inspiring people, Caroline uncovers the untold stories of resilience, healing, and transformation. Each episode dives into personal journeys through struggles like trauma, mental health challenges, and life’s toughest moments, offering listeners inspiring insights and practical tools for their own growth and healing. This podcast is a safe place to feel seen, supported, and empowered, a reminder that no one has to struggle in silence. 

Information

  • Creator
    Caroline Middelsdorf
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Caroline Middelsdorf
  • Show Website
    Real.Raw.Authentic Podcast

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