NeuroAlchemy: The Brain-Body Healing podcast

Dr. Sarah Young
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NeuroAlchemy: The Brain-Body Healing Podcast explores the science and soul of real-life healing. Hosted by integrative neuro clinician Dr. Sarah Young, this podcast bridges neuroscience, nervous system regulation, integrative medicine, and spiritual insight to help listeners understand how true healing happens when the brain, body, emotions, and life experiences begin working together again. Many people living with chronic or invisible health challenges feel dismissed, overwhelmed by conflicting advice, or stuck searching for answers that traditional approaches have not fully provided. NeuroAlchemy offers a different perspective. Instead of treating symptoms in isolation, this podcast explores how the nervous system, physiology, emotions, and daily life interact as one interconnected system. Through clear explanations and compassionate guidance, Dr. Sarah translates complex neuroscience into practical tools that support real-world healing. Listeners will learn about neuroplasticity, nervous system regulation, sleep and brain repair, stress physiology, emotional resilience, trauma-informed healing, and integrative approaches to brain and body health. Episodes include both solo teaching and conversations with practitioners and thought leaders who are exploring innovative approaches to healing. Topics often include brain health, chronic illness recovery, functional and integrative medicine, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and the powerful connection between neuroscience and spirituality. NeuroAlchemy is designed for curious, thoughtful listeners who sense that healing involves more than just treating symptoms. Whether you are navigating stress, burnout, trauma recovery, neurological challenges, or complex health conditions, this podcast offers insights that help you reconnect with your body’s natural capacity for regulation and change. At the heart of NeuroAlchemy is the understanding that healing is not only biological. It is emotional, relational, and meaningful. When the nervous system begins to feel safe and supported, the brain and body can reorganize in powerful ways. This process is known as neuroplasticity, and it reminds us that change and recovery remain possible throughout life. If you are interested in nervous system healing, neuroscience and spirituality, trauma-informed care, or integrative approaches to brain and body health, NeuroAlchemy invites you into a deeper conversation about transformation. Here, science and soul come together to illuminate the path toward clarity, resilience, and real-life healing.

  1. 4d ago

    Rewriting Your Story Through Movement: Neuroplasticity & Embodiment with Lavinia Plonka

    What if your body has been telling your story long before you had the words to explain it? The way we breathe, move, stand, and hold tension can reflect how the nervous system has learned to respond to stress, emotion, relationships, and the world around us. In this episode of NeuroAlchemy: The Brain-Body Healing Podcast, Dr. Sarah Young welcomes Feldenkrais® practitioner, movement educator, author, and body language expert Lavinia Plonka. Lavinia shares how her career as a mime and physical theater performer led her to explore the relationship between movement, pain, emotion, and human potential. After years of chronic back pain and shoulder tension, one gentle Feldenkrais lesson changed how she understood her body and opened an entirely new path. Together, Dr. Sarah and Lavinia explore how mindful movement can support neuroplasticity, proprioception, emotional regulation, self-awareness, and connection. This conversation invites us to stop treating the body as a problem to overcome and begin listening to it as a living, adaptable source of information. In this episode, you’ll explore: What the Feldenkrais Method® is and how it differs from traditional movement practicesHow movement, sensation, emotion, and thought influence one anotherWhy neuroplasticity can reinforce helpful and unhelpful patternsHow posture and gesture can reflect the stories we carryHow breathing patterns communicate with the nervous systemWhy connecting with ourselves can deepen our connection with othersHow self-compassion creates space for learning and changeWhy “no pain, no gain” can interfere with meaningful movementHow small, curious movements may support pain, tension, fatigue, and limited mobilityMicro-Practice Invitation Lavinia guides listeners through a gentle shoulder-awareness practice: Rest your arms comfortably and notice the space between each ear and shoulder.Observe whether one shoulder feels higher, closer, heavier, or farther forward.Choose one shoulder and slowly begin lifting it toward your ear.Notice what happens in your breathing, face, jaw, tongue, ribs, and the rest of your body.Pause within a comfortable range, then slowly lower the shoulder.Repeat a few times and compare how the two sides feel.When you are ready, gently explore the other shoulder.There is no perfect way to do this practice. Move slowly, stay within a comfortable range, and approach what you notice with curiosity rather than judgment. About Lavinia Lavinia Plonka is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner, body language expert, author, and internationally recognized teacher. For more than 40 years, she has helped people explore the connections among posture, movement, emotion, behavior, and the mind. She is also the creator of Kinēsa®, an experiential process integrating movement, sensory awareness, emotional exploration, modern science, and ancient wisdom traditions. Connect with Lavinia: Website: https://laviniaplonka.com/ Explore Kinēsa®: https://laviniaplonka.com/kinesa/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/laviniaplonka Healing does not always begin with pushing harder. Sometimes it begins with slowing down, becoming curious, and discovering that another way is possible. You’re not broken. You are becoming.

    Rewriting Your Story Through Movement: Neuroplasticity & Embodiment with Lavinia Plonka

  2. Sep 25

    You Are Not Broken: Understanding the Subconscious Mind, Self-Worth, and Emotional Healing with Mike Woods

    In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Mike Woods for a powerful conversation about the subconscious mind, emotional healing, self-worth, and why so many people mistakenly believe they are broken. Mike shares his deeply personal journey of growing up with an undiagnosed form of dyslexia, graduating with a second-grade reading level, and carrying years of anxiety, shame, and self-criticism before discovering that the patterns driving his life were not character flaws—they were protective programs created by the subconscious mind. Together, Sarah and Mike explore how childhood experiences shape lifelong beliefs, why the subconscious mind is designed to protect us, and how awareness creates the opportunity to rewrite old patterns. They discuss neuroplasticity, observer consciousness, forgiveness, gratitude, and practical ways to begin shifting from survival mode toward greater peace and resilience. Throughout the conversation, Mike reminds listeners that healing begins when we stop asking, "What's wrong with me?" and start understanding how our minds and nervous systems have been trying to protect us all along. Topics explored include: • the role of the subconscious mind in everyday life • protective survival patterns and emotional programming • anxiety, self-criticism, and negative thought loops • childhood experiences and core beliefs • observer consciousness and awareness • neuroplasticity and repetition in healing • gratitude as a tool for nervous system regulation • forgiveness, self-compassion, and emotional resilience • dyslexia, identity, and overcoming shame 🌿 Micro Practice Invitation: Daily Gratitude Mike invites listeners to spend 5–10 minutes each day writing down what they are genuinely grateful for. Rather than keeping gratitude as a passing thought, write it on paper or speak it aloud. Start with simple things—a warm shower, your health, a loved one, fresh air, or the ability to see, hear, or move. Over time, this consistent practice helps shift attention away from fear and scarcity toward abundance, strengthening new neural pathways and supporting a calmer, more regulated nervous system. 🧠 Learn More About Mike Woods Website: https://learntolovebeingyou.com Coming Soon: One Brave Breath: The Owner's Manual for Being Human 🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://www.neurosynergyhealth.com https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That's how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most. You are not broken. You are becoming.

    You Are Not Broken: Understanding the Subconscious Mind, Self-Worth, and Emotional Healing with Mike Woods

  3. Sep 11

    Jazz for Peace: Music, Consciousness, and Human Transformation with Rick DellaRatta

    In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with internationally acclaimed jazz artist and Jazz for Peace founder Rick DellaRatta for a conversation exploring music, creativity, consciousness, healing, and human connection. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Rick's life took an unexpected turn that eventually led to the creation of Jazz for Peace, a global initiative supporting nonprofits, humanitarian causes, and communities through the power of music. Together, Sarah and Rick discuss improvisation, creativity, music as a healing force, human consciousness, emotional regulation, purpose, and the role of participation in creating positive change. Topics explored include: • music and human consciousness • improvisation and creative flow • creativity as healing • purpose and transformation • vibration, music, and emotion • collective healing and connection • service and contribution • the mission of Jazz for Peace 🌿 Micro Practice Invitation: Participate Rick's invitation is simple: Participate. For the next seven days, identify: • a philosophy that works for you • a hobby that works for you • an activity that works for you • a goal that works for you • personal and social interactions that work for you Then intentionally make space for those experiences each day. Learn more: "What Makes You Happy?" https://jazzforpeace.org/whatmakesyouhappy.pdf 🌎 Six Easy Ways to Participate As part of the Jazz for Peace 25th Anniversary Celebration, Rick invites listeners to explore six simple ways to support peace-centered initiatives: https://jazzforpeace.org/easyways.pdf 🎵 Twenty-Five Years of Unprecedented Achievements Learn more about the seven unprecedented accomplishments achieved through Jazz for Peace: https://jazzforpeace.org/unprecedented.pdf 🎹 Connect with Rick DellaRatta https://www.facebook.com/rick.dellaratta/ https://www.facebook.com/rick.dellaratta.1/ https://www.jazzforpeace.org 🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young http://www.neurosynergyhealth.com https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it, subscribing, and leaving a review. You are not broken. You are becoming.

    Jazz for Peace: Music, Consciousness, and Human Transformation with Rick DellaRatta

  4. Sep 4

    Ritual, Earth Wisdom, and Collective Healing: Remembering Ourselves with Naomi Katz

    In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Naomi Katz for a grounding conversation about ritual, collective healing, earth wisdom, grief, belonging, and our need for connection in an increasingly fragmented world. Naomi is an ordained ritualist, lineage holder in the tradition of Carmen Vicente, and guide whose work explores how ancient ceremonial practices can be renewed within modern life in accessible, embodied, and deeply human ways. Together, Dr. Sarah and Naomi explore how ritual differs from routine, why intention changes how an action is experienced, and how ceremony can support regulation, authenticity, emotional safety, and connection. Naomi shares how modern culture can reinforce isolation, overstimulation, and disconnection from ourselves, one another, and the natural world. Ritual offers a gentle way to restore relationship, meaning, rhythm, and belonging. The conversation also explores grief, spirituality, cyclical living, water as a healing relationship, and the understanding that humans are never separate from the web of life sustaining us. Topics include: • Ritual versus routine • Collective healing and relational health • Nervous system regulation through ceremony • Grief rituals and remembrance • Earth wisdom and cyclical living • Belonging, witnessing, and emotional safety • Spirituality beyond religious dogma • Isolation and disconnection • Water as a healing relationship • Healing through community At the heart of this conversation is a reminder: None of us heals entirely alone. We are shaped by relationship, sustained by connection, and woven into something much larger than ourselves. 🌿 MICRO PRACTICE: RECONNECTING WITH WATER Each morning, begin with a glass of water. Before drinking it, offer a small amount to the earth, a plant, or the natural world around you. Pause and remember your relationship with the web of life. The same water moving through your body has moved through rivers, oceans, rain, clouds, plants, animals, and generations before you. Then drink the remaining water slowly and with intention. You may hold a prayer, gratitude, or simple awareness as you drink. This gentle ritual can help cultivate grounding, presence, and connection to the relationships that sustain life. 🌿 RETURN TO YOUR ANIMAL BODY This episode arrives while doors are open to Naomi’s women’s collective, Return to Your Animal Body. Enrollment opens only three times each year. If Naomi’s reflections on ritual, embodiment, earth wisdom, and collective healing resonate with you, learn more here: https://www.naomikatz.com/womens-collective 🧠 LEARN MORE ABOUT NAOMI Website: https://www.naomikatz.com Free Grief Ritual Guide: https://www.naomikatz.com/free-grief-guide Women’s Collective: https://www.naomikatz.com/womens-collective 🌿 CONNECT WITH DR. SARAH YOUNG NeuroSynergy Integrative Health: https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and subscribe. That is how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most. You are not broken. You are becoming.

    Ritual, Earth Wisdom, and Collective Healing: Remembering Ourselves with Naomi Katz

  5. Aug 28

    Reconnecting with Your Authentic Self Through Nature Therapy and Inner Wisdom with Katie Asmus

    In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Katie Asmus, founder of Somatic Nature Therapy, for a grounded and deeply human conversation about authenticity, self-trust, inner wisdom, and the healing relationship between people and the natural world. Rather than approaching healing as something to force or fix, Katie invites listeners into a different relationship with themselves — one rooted in slowing down, listening inwardly, and reconnecting with the wisdom already present within the body and the living world around us. Together, Sarah and Katie explore healing as a rite of passage rather than a problem to solve, and discuss how nature can become a powerful partner in emotional healing, reflection, grounding, and transformation. Topics explored include: • reconnecting with your authentic self • healing through relationship with nature • inner wisdom and self-trust • healing as a rite of passage • slowing down and listening inwardly • practical tools for emotional grounding • short-term support and long-term transformation • reconnecting with meaning, intuition, and authenticity At the heart of this conversation is a reminder: Healing is not about becoming someone different. It is about returning to what is most true within you. 🌿 Micro Practice Invitation: Conversations with the Natural World Bring an open-ended question about your life, healing, or emotional experience into nature. Notice what naturally draws your attention — a tree, bird, cloud, stone, or another part of the living world. Ask your question quietly and remain open to whatever thoughts, emotions, images, or insights arise. Spend a few minutes listening, observing, and journaling what emerges. This gentle practice helps cultivate grounding, reflection, intuition, and connection. 🌱 Connect with Katie Asmus Somatic Nature Therapy: https://www.somaticnaturetherapy.com/ Freebie: Resourced Place in Nature Meditation: https://www.somaticnaturetherapy.com/meditation-freebie 🧠 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most. You are not broken. You are becoming.

    Reconnecting with Your Authentic Self Through Nature Therapy and Inner Wisdom with Katie Asmus

  6. Aug 21

    The Missing Links in Womens Health. Cycles, Lineage, Trauma and the Neurobiology of Becoming Whole with Vanina Grisoni

    In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Vanina Grisoni for a profound conversation exploring the intersections of women’s health, cyclical intelligence, nervous system regulation, trauma, lineage healing, and feminine embodiment. Together, Sarah and Vanina examine the possibility that many symptoms women experience are not isolated malfunctions to suppress, but meaningful signals carrying information about stress, emotional overwhelm, hormonal rhythms, nervous system adaptation, and inherited survival patterns across generations. This conversation moves beyond reductionistic approaches to women’s health and invites listeners into a more integrated understanding of healing — one that includes physiology, emotional experience, nervous system safety, relational history, and the wisdom carried within the body itself. Vanina shares how cyclical intelligence can help women better understand emotional shifts, energy fluctuations, hormonal transitions, and the body’s natural rhythms rather than constantly overriding them in the name of productivity or survival. Sarah and Vanina also explore how rites of passage such as menstruation, motherhood, perimenopause, and menopause are not simply biological events, but major neurological and emotional transitions that deeply affect the nervous system and sense of identity. Topics explored include: • cyclical intelligence and nervous system regulation • symptoms as messages rather than malfunctions • trauma, stress, and hormonal disruption • ancestral imprint and generational patterns • nervous system mapping and emotional expression • the neurological impact of women’s life transitions • healing versus symptom management • reconnecting with feminine intuition and inner authority • coherence, regulation, and embodied safety • why many women feel disconnected from their bodies At the heart of this conversation is a reminder: The body is not working against you. It is communicating with you. And healing often begins when we stop fighting our physiology and start listening to it with curiosity, compassion, and respect. 🌿 Micro Practice Invitation: Heart-Womb River Place one hand on your chest and take a few slow breaths, gently lengthening the exhale. When you feel ready, place your other hand on your lower belly and bring your awareness there. Notice the breath expanding this space. Then begin connecting the two areas together: inhale from belly to chest, exhale from chest to belly. Imagine a river of energy flowing between heart and womb, circulating warmth, awareness, and connection. This practice is honored across multiple healing traditions, including Chinese medicine and yogic lineages, as a way of cultivating feminine vitality, nervous system regulation, grounding, and embodied connection. Even a few breaths each day can begin rebuilding safety, coherence, and relationship with the body. 🧠 Learn More About Vanina Grisoni and Bindu Institute https://www.binduinstitute.org/ Master’s in Holistic Health Sciences: https://www.binduinstitute.org/masters 🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most. You are not broken. You are becoming.

    The Missing Links in Womens Health. Cycles, Lineage, Trauma and the Neurobiology of Becoming Whole with Vanina Grisoni

  7. Aug 13

    How Early Nervous System Safety Shapes a Child’s Future: Thriving Foundations for Newborns with Erin Carroll-Manning

    In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Erin Carol Manning for a thoughtful and deeply important conversation exploring newborn nervous system development, co-regulation, attachment, and the ways early experiences shape lifelong emotional and neurological patterns. Erin is a master newborn care specialist whose work focuses on helping families move beyond survival mode and into a more connected, attuned, and regulated beginning for both caregivers and babies. Together, Sarah and Erin explore how newborns communicate from the very beginning through subtle nervous system cues, body language, rhythms, and responsiveness long before language develops. This conversation also highlights the profound role that co-regulation, caregiver presence, emotional attunement, and parental healing play in shaping a child’s developing sense of safety, trust, and connection. Erin shares powerful insights about how babies are constantly learning from the environments around them — not only through feeding and physical care, but through tone of voice, emotional energy, touch, rhythm, responsiveness, and nervous system safety. Sarah and Erin also discuss how many adults are unknowingly carrying nervous system patterns that began forming in infancy and early childhood, and how healing those patterns can shift generational trajectories for future children and families. Topics explored include: • nervous system development in early infancy • thriving versus surviving in newborn care • newborn communication and attachment cues • co-regulation and emotional safety • the role of caregiver nervous systems • signs of nervous system safety in infants • parental healing and generational trauma • beyond weight gain: indicators of true well-being • stress physiology and infant regulation • the long-term impact of early attachment experiences At the heart of this conversation is a reminder: Safety is not something children are simply told. It is something their nervous systems learn through relationship, rhythm, presence, and connection. 🌿 Micro Practice Invitation: Nervous System Reflection for Caregivers Erin invites caregivers to spend a few quiet moments each morning or evening checking in with themselves and reflecting on how they moved through the day. Rather than criticizing or judging yourself, simply notice: • How did I respond to stress today? • What was happening in my body or nervous system? • Did I react from overwhelm or from regulation? • What might I do differently next time? This practice is not about perfection. It is about building self-awareness, mindfulness, and nervous system insight so caregivers can better support both themselves and the children in their lives. Erin reminds listeners that healing and regulation often begin with small moments of awareness and reflection. 🧠 Learn More About Erin Carol Manning Website: https://gentlegiraffes.com Instagram: @gentlegiraffesnewborncare 🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most. You are not broken. You are becoming.

    How Early Nervous System Safety Shapes a Child’s Future: Thriving Foundations for Newborns with Erin Carroll-Manning

  8. Aug 7

    Embodied Safety & Spiritual Coherence: Healing the Nervous System with Suzanne Wells

    In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Suzanne Wells for a grounded and compassionate conversation about nervous system regulation, embodied safety, intuition, and reconnecting with yourself after chronic stress, overwhelm, or survival mode. Suzanne is a somatic, trauma-informed coach whose work blends nervous system science, intuitive awareness, and emotional healing to help people return to a deeper sense of safety and self-connection. Together, Sarah and Suzanne explore how many behaviors people try to “fix” are actually nervous system responses rooted in protection rather than failure. They discuss survival mode, intuition, alcohol-free clarity, emotional regulation, and what it means to feel safe in your body again. Topics explored include: • embodied safety and nervous system healing • survival responses and emotional regulation • intuition and inner knowing • stress, anxiety, and dysregulation • trauma-informed healing approaches • alcohol and nervous system clarity • self-worth and emotional awareness • compassionate first steps toward healing At the heart of this conversation is a reminder: Safety is not something we force. It is something we slowly learn to feel again. 🌿 Micro Practice Invitation Suzanne shares a gentle nervous system practice called butterfly tapping. Cross your arms over your chest so each hand rests on the opposite shoulder or upper arm. Slowly alternate tapping one side at a time while breathing gently and noticing your body. You can also pair this with journaling or a calming breath practice to help regulate nervous system activation and reconnect with safety in the present moment. This simple practice can help create grounding, emotional awareness, and a greater sense of internal steadiness throughout the day. 🧠 Connect with Suzanne Wells Website: https://suzannewells.com Instagram: @suzienicolewells LinkedIn: Suzanne Wells | LinkedIn Facebook: SuzanneWellsmua Facebook Group: Glow With Your Gut | Facebook 🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most. You are not broken. You are becoming.

    Embodied Safety & Spiritual Coherence: Healing the Nervous System with Suzanne Wells
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NeuroAlchemy: The Brain-Body Healing Podcast explores the science and soul of real-life healing. Hosted by integrative neuro clinician Dr. Sarah Young, this podcast bridges neuroscience, nervous system regulation, integrative medicine, and spiritual insight to help listeners understand how true healing happens when the brain, body, emotions, and life experiences begin working together again. Many people living with chronic or invisible health challenges feel dismissed, overwhelmed by conflicting advice, or stuck searching for answers that traditional approaches have not fully provided. NeuroAlchemy offers a different perspective. Instead of treating symptoms in isolation, this podcast explores how the nervous system, physiology, emotions, and daily life interact as one interconnected system. Through clear explanations and compassionate guidance, Dr. Sarah translates complex neuroscience into practical tools that support real-world healing. Listeners will learn about neuroplasticity, nervous system regulation, sleep and brain repair, stress physiology, emotional resilience, trauma-informed healing, and integrative approaches to brain and body health. Episodes include both solo teaching and conversations with practitioners and thought leaders who are exploring innovative approaches to healing. Topics often include brain health, chronic illness recovery, functional and integrative medicine, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and the powerful connection between neuroscience and spirituality. NeuroAlchemy is designed for curious, thoughtful listeners who sense that healing involves more than just treating symptoms. Whether you are navigating stress, burnout, trauma recovery, neurological challenges, or complex health conditions, this podcast offers insights that help you reconnect with your body’s natural capacity for regulation and change. At the heart of NeuroAlchemy is the understanding that healing is not only biological. It is emotional, relational, and meaningful. When the nervous system begins to feel safe and supported, the brain and body can reorganize in powerful ways. This process is known as neuroplasticity, and it reminds us that change and recovery remain possible throughout life. If you are interested in nervous system healing, neuroscience and spirituality, trauma-informed care, or integrative approaches to brain and body health, NeuroAlchemy invites you into a deeper conversation about transformation. Here, science and soul come together to illuminate the path toward clarity, resilience, and real-life healing.

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