Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy

Angie
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ARTS

Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy is a podcast for women ready to heal with hope, light, and laughter. Through honest conversations, playful practices, and uplifting stories, we explore how joy can be a powerful part of the healing journey.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep. 59 Finding Lightness While Healing Trauma: Season One Finale

    Show Notes: In this deeply personal and powerful season finale, host Angie Berrett reflects on the most impactful insights shared throughout Season One of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy. Drawing from her lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse, a registered nurse, a trauma-informed coach, and a movement and play expert, Angie revisits the guidance that resonated most with listeners navigating trauma and emotional overwhelm. This episode weaves together key moments and advice from across the season, offering practical, compassionate tools for finding lightness, safety, and hope while healing. Angie shares how play and movement became central to her own healing, how the nervous system responds to trauma, and why healing does not have to feel punishing or endlessly heavy. Listeners will hear clips and teachings focused on reconnecting with the body in ways that feel safe and empowering, releasing anger without harm, letting go of perfectionism, and learning how to move gently in and out of discomfort. Angie also explains why dissociation, rest, and small rhythmic movements are not failures but intelligent survival strategies, and how to build trust with yourself as you heal. This finale is both a reflection and an invitation: to protect your energy, to seek moments of joy, and to remember that even in a complicated and overwhelming world, healing can, and should, include play, movement, and hope. Listen to the full Episodes: Ep. 1 Angie Berrett Ep. 45 Breaking the Silence: Empowerment Through Shared Healing Journeys with Christella Ilunga Ep. 53 Holding Space for Survivors During the Epstein Files Ep. 56  When "Perfect" Falls Apart.  Learning to Heal through Mistakes Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

    31 min

  2. JAN 20

    Ep. 58 There Is No One Size Fits All Way to Heal: The Top 5 Episodes That Resonated Most in 2025

    Show Notes: In this special recap episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett reflects on an incredible year of meaningful conversations, global connection, and expanded awareness around trauma healing.  This episode highlights the Top Five most downloaded episodes as chosen by the listeners. With the podcast reaching audiences in more than forty eight countries and nearing ten thousand downloads, this milestone episode celebrates the voices, stories, and healing modalities that resonated most deeply with the community. Angie revisits powerful moments and insights from conversations that explore healing through play and movement, learning to reconnect with the body, and releasing what talking alone cannot reach.  The episode also sheds light on trauma in less discussed spaces such as coercive control in the workplace and the long term impact of emotionally unsafe professional environments. It explores how laughter and comedy can support nervous system regulation and reduce isolation by creating shared, embodied experiences of connection. The importance of rest is re-framed as a necessary and celebratory practice rather than a punishment in a productivity driven culture. Additional conversations highlight energy work, meditation, and alternative healing modalities that support emotional processing in ways that feel lighter and more accessible. A central theme woven throughout the episode is that healing is deeply individual. There is no hierarchy of trauma, no single correct modality, and no universal timeline. What matters most is finding approaches that bring safety, lightness, and a sense of agency back into the body. Featured Voices in This Episode Include: Amy Egan on quantum healing, presence, and possibility  Pat Romboletti on coercive control and trauma in professional environments Ben Brown on comedy, laughter, and collective healing  Erica Horowitz on rest, nervous system regulation, and reframing self-care  Gina Marie on pranic healing and her Colorful Clearing Method   Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

    26 min

  3. JAN 13

    Ep. 57 Healing Is Not One Size Fits All: A Season One Reflection

    Show Notes: Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy – Season One Wrap-Up In this special season one wrap-up episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett reflects on the powerful conversations, stories, and healing modalities shared throughout the season. As a trauma-informed coach, registered nurse, play expert, and survivor of childhood abuse, Angie shares how her own healing journey taught her a critical truth: there is no single path to healing. Trauma shows up differently for everyone, and healing often requires exploring multiple approaches before finding what truly resonates. This episode highlights key insights from several incredible guests, including survivors, healers, and leaders working across diverse modalities such as movement, play, journaling, shamanic practices, mindfulness, spiritual traditions, nonprofit advocacy, and holistic wellness. Together, their stories reinforce the idea that healing is deeply personal, nonlinear, and ongoing. You’ll hear reflections on topics such as repressed memories, childhood trauma versus adult trauma, the impact of trauma on the body and intimacy, soul and power loss, burnout and chronic illness, grief as a catalyst for purpose, and the importance of safe, supportive environments for healing. More than anything, this episode serves as a reminder that: You are not broken You are not alone Healing does not have to feel overwhelming or heavy There are many paths, tools, and resources available to support you Angie also shares how movement and play have been central to her own healing and offers listeners a free, short movement sequence designed to help regulate the nervous system when feeling overwhelmed. This recap is an invitation to explore, stay curious, and trust that your healing journey can include joy, color, and connection along the way. Join us next time for a special episode featuring the top five most popular episodes, as voted by listeners. Get the full episodes: Heather Miller - https://youtu.be/swFOAARgWwk Gina Marie - https://youtu.be/U4-gnMiJpv0 Barry Lipscomb - https://youtu.be/w_CeCFnd2H0 Elizabeth Munoz - https://youtu.be/nU9LWbMtEDk Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

    31 min

  4. JAN 6

    Ep. 56 When “Perfect” Falls Apart. Learning to Heal Through Mistakes

    Show Notes: In this powerful episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett explores perfectionism as a trauma coping strategy and what it truly means to become a recovering perfectionist. Drawing from her lived experience as a trauma survivor and registered nurse, Angie breaks down why perfectionism develops, how it creates an illusion of safety, and why it ultimately keeps survivors stuck in shame and self-criticism. Angie vulnerably shares a recent professional mistake that triggered an intense shame spiral and reflects on how trauma survivors often hold themselves to impossible standards while extending grace to everyone else. She explains how mistakes can become opportunities for growth rather than proof of failure, and why learning to tolerate discomfort is essential to healing. Listeners are guided through practical, body-based tools rooted in movement and play including Angie’s signature “octopus on roller skates” exercise designed to gently disrupt rigid patterns, regulate the nervous system, and build resilience without re-traumatization. This episode offers compassionate reminders to pause, step back, and prioritize safety as needed. Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed .

    31 min

  5. 12/30/2025

    Ep. 55 Childhood Trauma, Resilience, and the Five Rs of Healing with Kathleen Harnish McKune and Karen Dixon

    Show Notes: In this powerful episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett sits down with sisters Kathleen Harnish McKune and Karen Dixon, trauma survivors, authors, and founders of the nonprofit Remarkably Resilient. Kathleen and Karen share how discovering the neuroscience of trauma later in life transformed their understanding of childhood abuse, chronic health challenges, and long held survival patterns. Together, they explore how trauma responses such as fight, flight, freeze, dissociation, and people pleasing are not flaws, but adaptive coping strategies rooted in the nervous system. The conversation highlights the difference between trauma responses and one’s authentic self, re-framing healing as a process of uncovering who we are rather than fixing what is broken. Kathleen and Karen introduce their Five Rs of Resilience: relationships, regulation, response, recovery, and reflection, and explain how these principles guide their community based healing work. Listeners will also gain practical, accessible tools for emotional regulation that support healing without re-traumatization, along with insight into the power of community, compassion, and nervous system awareness on the healing journey. Kathleen’s Bio:   Kathleen Harnish McKune, MBA. Kathleen’s professional and personal work has always focused on empowering others. Professionally, she is co-founder and CEO of TeamTech, LLC, a Kansas City-based strategic facilitation and leadership training firm whose work embodies trauma-informed principles. Over the past 30 years, she has worked with two Kansas governors, most state agencies, many of the county governments in the state as well as nonprofits – all of whom serve the most vulnerable in our communities.  She is one of the authors of TeamTech’s leadership curriculum, “Everyone A Leader®,” teaching trauma-informed facilitative leadership skills at all levels of organizations.  Karen’s Bio: Karen is a co-author of the book,” Remarkably Resilient-Community Matters”, along with her two sisters. She is a former EMT/ER technician and is retired from her corporate IT and Engineering recruitment position.  To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/RemarkablyResilientTogether/ LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/remarkably-resilient Website:  Remarkably Resilient – It takes all of us to heal each of us. Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

    50 min

  6. 12/23/2025

    Ep. 54 Survivor Led Healing After Sexual and Emotional Abuse with Sophia Moreno

    Show Notes: In this episode of Healing Doesn’t Have To Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett is joined by survivor, author, and nonprofit founder Sophia Moreno for an honest and compassionate conversation about healing from complex trauma and finding your way forward. Sophia shares her lived experience with childhood sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse, along with the impact of victim blaming and narcissistic family dynamics. She reflects on the tools and support that helped her navigate her healing journey, including self education, journaling, and meaningful community connection, which ultimately led her to found Sophia’s Hope for a Safer Tomorrow, a survivor led nonprofit supporting others on similar paths. Angie and Sophia talk openly about narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, trauma bonds, and the lasting effects of emotional and financial control. They also explore the topic of forgiveness in a thoughtful, nuanced way, focusing on personal release, self choice, and allowing each survivor to define what healing looks like for them. Sophia also shares how writing became an important part of her process, resulting in two books that capture her story and offer support to others navigating trauma recovery. She speaks to the value of survivor led support groups, the role of community in reducing isolation, and the importance of honoring different healing approaches. This conversation offers connection, understanding, and encouragement for anyone who has felt alone in their healing. It reflects the heart of the podcast and the reminder that healing does not have to be heavy, and that moments of lightness and hope can exist alongside the work. Bio: Sophia is a dedicated local author and the founder of Sophia’s Hope for a Safer Tomorrow, Inc. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, which encompassed verbal, emotional, and financial abuse, she understands the profound impact of these experiences. After enduring years of emotional pain, Sophia made the courageous choice to “pay it forward” by channeling her struggles into a source of hope and healing. This powerful transformation inspired her to write impactful books and found her nonprofit organization. Her mission is clear: to empower individuals by showing them they are not alone in their battle against abuse and to provide essential resources for emotional recovery. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Facebook:  www.facebook.com/sophias hope for a safer tomorrow Website:  Sophia's Hope for a Safer Tomorrow | Domestic Violence Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

    36 min

  7. 12/16/2025

    Ep. 53 Holding Space for Survivors During the Epstein Files

    Show Notes: Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and the Epstein files. Please listen with care and take breaks as needed. In this deeply personal solo episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett gently holds space for survivors navigating an especially triggering moment in the collective conversation around child sexual abuse and the release of the Epstein files. Speaking as a registered nurse, trauma-informed coach, and survivor of child sex trafficking, Angie shares openly from her own experience while offering compassion, understanding, and support to those who may be feeling overwhelmed right now. Angie reminds listeners that being triggered does not mean you are failing at healing. In fact, it often means your nervous system is responding exactly as it was designed to. She explains, in a grounded and accessible way, how trauma lives in the body and why emotions like anger, shame, fear, disgust, and numbness can surface during times when past harm is echoed in the news and public discourse. Throughout the episode, Angie offers gentle tools to help listeners feel safer in their bodies. She shares a simple, play-based movement practice to release pent-up anger and emotional energy, along with grounding techniques that support coming back into the present moment. Sensory tools, touch, and self-compassion are woven throughout as reminders that regulation does not have to be forceful or perfect. This episode is an invitation to slow down, to listen to your body, and to give yourself permission to not be okay. Whether you are a survivor of child sexual abuse, someone with a trauma history, or simply feeling affected by the weight of the Epstein files and related news, Angie offers reassurance that your responses are valid, your survival skills make sense, and you are not alone. Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

    44 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    Ep. 52 Identity Healing and Self Discovery through Astrology with Lori Barnes

    Show Notes: In this episode, Angie sits down with astrologer, teacher, and former psychotherapist Lori Barnes to explore an unexpected but deeply insightful lens for healing: psychological astrology. Lori shares her powerful story of being adopted, growing up with unrecognized emotional disturbances, and eventually discovering that astrology helped her understand herself in ways traditional therapy never fully could. Lori blends astrology and psychology to help people understand the complex layers of who they are — beneath conditioning, expectations, and early-life experiences. Together, Angie and Lori explore: 💫 What “real” astrology actually is 💫 How astrology can reveal parts of the self that trauma may have fragmented or hidden 💫 Lori’s adoption journey 💫 Why astrology and psychology work beautifully together 💫 The role of body-based awareness in trauma healing 💫 How understanding your chart can bring compassion and clarity 💫 The freedom that comes from finally understanding who you really are Lori also shares her personal story of healing relationships with her adoptive family once she finally understood her own wiring, and how astrology helped her do it. Bio: Lori Barnes is a professional astrologer, licensed psychotherapist (LMFT), and marketing strategist with over 35 years of experience across industries. Based between Illinois and Rome, Italy, she brings a unique global perspective to her work, blending modern and traditional astrology with psychology, marketing, and AstroMapping techniques such as AstroCartoGraphy and Local Space. Lori’s expertise helps individuals and entrepreneurs align timing, place, and strategy to achieve their goals. Her academic background includes a BA in Business, an MA in Psychology, an MA in Marketing, and a Diploma in Astrology. She serves as Marketing Director for Kepler College and the Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA), and teaches classes on marketing, psychology, astrology, and AstroCartoGraphy. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/loribarnesastrology LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribarnesprofile/ Website:  https://www.loribarnesastrology.com/ 🎁Grab your Free Gift:  https://www.loribarnesastrology.com/astropsychologyplanets Connect with me: Website:  https://angieberrettmovement.com/ Instagram:  https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/  YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement  LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/  TikTok:       https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1 🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

    46 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy is a podcast for women ready to heal with hope, light, and laughter. Through honest conversations, playful practices, and uplifting stories, we explore how joy can be a powerful part of the healing journey.

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