Just Like Nana

Amie Penny Sayler
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Dive into the journey of Just Like Nana, a podcast passionately exploring ancestral trauma, generational healing, and the profound ways our family's past shapes our present mental and holistic health. Amie Penny Sayler shares captivating, research-based fiction stories of her grandmothers' lives and features insightful interviews with leading mental health and wellness practitioners.  Learn how to break cycles of trauma passed down through generations, understand family dynamics, and cultivate a regulated nervous system. Ground yourself in your history, honor your ancestors, and find your own path to trauma healing.  New episodes every Friday. Learn more at https://justlikenana.com/ 

Episodes

  1. Erica Wallace Moore

    4D AGO

    Erica Wallace Moore

    In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Reiki practitioner Erica Wallace Moore, as they explore how Reiki can help with “stuck” emotions or chronic stress caused by unintentionally carrying the energetic imprints from generations past.  Together, they explore how empathy and intuition serve as spiritual superpowers to help you navigate trauma, dissolve gunky energy, and finally create a safe space your soul needs to rest and restore.  About Erica Wallace Moore Erica Wallace Moore is a Reiki Practitioner, Instructor, healer, and Akashic Records reader currently in practice at Wellness Paradigm, a wellness and healing collective in Minneapolis. Her Reiki journey began in 2014 after receiving the practice for the first time. As a mother of four, Erica found herself feeling frazzled, stressed, and disconnected from her body. Those initial sessions proved life-changing, helping her return to her center and grounding her in a way she hadn't experienced before. While it began as a personal tool for healing, Reiki quickly evolved into one of her essential daily spiritual practices. What started as curiosity has since transformed into higher vibrations of connection, compassion, love, and wisdom. Erica is particularly passionate about how Reiki and the Akashic Records expand energetic pathways for self-discovery, forgiveness, joy, and peace. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Reiki can be an incredible tool to dissolve "stuck" energy, allowing you to expel what no longer serves you and make room for new vitality.Recognizing that trauma is energetic information processed by our cells can help us understand why it often feels physically "trapped" in our central nervous system.We can carry the grief and hardships of our ancestors within our own energetic field, and healing involves raising our own vibration to move forward.  Resources Mentioned Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://a.co/d/028xQZJ1  Connect with Erica Wallace Moore Website: https://ericawallacemoorereiki.com/  Connect with the Show Are you curious about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you! Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    28 min
  2. Jen Shaffer

    MAR 13

    Jen Shaffer

    In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by “The Formidable Genealogist,” Jen Shaffer, to discuss how uncovering the histories of our ancestors allows us to move forward with empathy and understanding.  They discuss how professional genealogy can be a powerful tool for exploring ancestral trauma and finding a path toward healing, and how you can get started uncovering your own family tree. About Jen Shaffer: Born in Iowa and currently residing in Minnesota, Jen Shaffer has had a lifelong passion for history, which she has channeled into a career as a professional genealogist. Jen is an active member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, where she also serves as the Booth Coordinator for both in-person and virtual industry events. She possesses a remarkably broad knowledge base covering diverse time periods, geographic locations, and languages. A graduate of St. Olaf College with two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Russian Language and Russian Studies, Jen particularly enjoys working with Slavic and Scandinavian records. Her linguistic background includes the formal study of Russian, Spanish, German, Latin, and Norwegian. She has developed a specialized talent for "brick wall" research, expertly distinguishing between individuals with identical names to identify the correct ancestor with precision. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Modern DNA testing can help break through long-standing “brick walls” to identify unknown ancestors and connect distant relatives.Genealogy is more than names and dates; it’s about learning the historical circumstances that shaped your ancestors’ lives and decisions. Genealogy is a team sport and collaborative tools can help you build a shared history with others.  Resources Mentioned Metamora Historical Society: https://metamorahistoricalsociety.org/ Ancestry.com WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/ Family Search Tree: https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/  Connect with Jen Shaffer The Formidable Genealogist: https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/ Discovering the Free Side of Ancestry.com [Free Research Guide]: https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/product-page/discovering-the-free-side-of-ancestry-com-pdf-research-guide  Connect with the Show Do you have stories about the "Elizabeths" or Nanas in your own family tree? We want to hear from you! Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    24 min
  3. Kenlee Valleskey

    MAR 6

    Kenlee Valleskey

    In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Kenlee Valleskey, as they discuss Internal Family Systems (IFS) as it relates to the weight of generational cycles and ancestral trauma. This work is so important in understanding how our internal world of wounded and protective parts is shaped by the experiences of our ancestors.  About Kenlee: Kenlee Valleskey is a licensed professional counselor with extensive experience in Internal Family Systems (IFS). As a lover of questions and the intersections of our lives, she explores spaces that don't have neat, easy answers or a neat, easy arrival. From exploring the evolving terrain of grief and identity and deconstructing systemic narratives to learning what it means to love and trust ourselves in new ways, Kenlee has so much to teach us about accepting and working with all aspects of ourselves and our ancestors. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Every one of us has a core self, characterized by qualities like compassion, clarity, and courage, that remains inherently whole and safe, regardless of the trauma experienced.We also consist of “exiled” wounded parts that carry burdens and “protectors” that keep us from feeling pain.  Healing begins when a wound (whether our own or our ancestors’) is fully witnessed and acknowledged, rather than just managed.  Resources Mentioned No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz: https://a.co/d/08nxdmbU It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn: https://a.co/d/0gEpUOf7 IFS Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/ Dr. Gabor Maté: https://drgabormate.com/Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford: https://a.co/d/0cV34FW4 What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo: https://a.co/d/00MvSpSW Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson: https://a.co/d/06J3NKyQ Decolonizing Therapy by Jennifer Mullan: https://a.co/d/0cNaMrxT Francis Weller: https://www.francisweller.net/Harriet Lerner: https://www.harrietlerner.com/Mark Nepo: https://www.marknepo.com/Connect with Kenlee:  Website: https://www.kenleevalleskey.com/ The Grief Room, St. Paul, MN: https://www.thegriefroom.com/ The Fallows: https://www.stayatfallows.com/  Connect with the Show Do you have a story about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you! Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    42 min
  4. Dr. Isabelle Mansuy

    FEB 27

    Dr. Isabelle Mansuy

    In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler sits down with Dr. Isabelle Mansuy, a Professor in Neuroepigenetics. They get to the root of ancestral trauma, starting with the groundbreaking science of epigenetics and the transgenerational effects of trauma.  About Dr. Isabelle Mansuy Dr. Isabelle Mansuy is a leading expert in the field of neuroepigenetics and a professor based in Switzerland. Her pioneering research focuses on the biological mechanisms of how traumatic life experiences, particularly those occurring in early childhood, modify mental and physical health across generations. Through her extensive work with mouse models, Dr. Mansuy has provided some of the most compelling evidence to date that traumatic signals can be carried in the germline (sperm cells), affecting the behavior and physiology of offspring up to five generations later.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: While your DNA sequence (the hardware) is fixed, your epigenome (the software) is dynamic and can be modulated by both your life experiences and the life experiences of your ancestors.Early-life trauma creates epigenetic signals in sperm (germ) cells, which transmit the consequences of that trauma to future generations.  Connect with Dr. Isabelle Mansuy Website: https://www.mansuylab.ch/team/isabellemansuy  Connect with the Show Are you curious about the "Elizabeths" in your own family tree? We want to hear from you! Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    34 min
  5. Dr. Peter Levine

    FEB 20

    Dr. Peter Levine

    Content Warning: This episode includes mention of child sexual assault.  In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by Dr. Peter Levine to discuss how trauma lives in the body and, more importantly, how the trauma cycle can be completed to restore a sense of inner peace.  They unpack the signs– persistent physical symptoms, repetitive relationship patterns, feeling disconnected from your own life– that point to the roots of your struggles, which are not just in your mind but etched into your physiology as intergenerational trauma. If any of this sounds familiar to you, this conversation will give you the guidance to take the next step in seeking support and releasing that held trauma.  About Dr. Peter Levine Peter A Levine, Ph.D., is the developer of Somatic Experiencing® (SE™), a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma, which he has developed over the past 50 years. He holds a doctorate in Biophysics from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. He is the Founder and President of the Ergos Institute of Somatic Education and the Founder and Advisor for Somatic Experiencing International, where his work has been taught to over 30,000 healers in over 42 countries. He recently finished his Autobiography, An Autobiography of Trauma, A Healing Journey, and is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma; In an Unspoken Voice, How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness; and Trauma and Memory, Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: 80% of the information flowing through your vagus nerve is sensory, explaining why trauma is a visceral, bodily experience rather than just a “brain disease.”Trauma often manifests as chronic pain or tension and healing occurs by slowly and safely completing these defensive responses that were frozen in time.Trauma isn't just personal; it can be an "energetic pattern" passed down through generations. Recognizing our ancestral webs can help us resolve issues that seem to have no clear origin in our lives. Reconnecting with the body often requires the presence of a "connected, empathetic other" to help discharge stored energy safely. Connect with Dr. Peter Levine Somatic Experiencing Website: https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/ or https://traumahealing.org/ An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey is available at: Ergos Institute, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Amazon UK, Inner TraditionsConnect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    37 min
  6. Amy Kuretsky

    FEB 13

    Amy Kuretsky

    In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler is joined by acupuncturist, health coach, and breathwork facilitator Amy Kuretsky to dive into the world of trauma-informed healing.  Together, they explore how active breathwork serves as “vibrational medicine” to complete interrupted trauma cycles, helping you move from a state of fight, flight, or freeze, back into a regulated, peaceful state.  About Amy Amy Kuretsky is a licensed acupuncturist, board-certified health coach, and a seasoned breathwork facilitator with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance. As the co-owner of Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts, Amy bridges the gap between ancient healing traditions and modern trauma-informed care. She specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities of nervous system regulation and mental health, with a clinical focus on digestive disorders, chronic headaches, migraines, anxiety, and depression. By integrating her deep knowledge of East Asian medicine with somatic breathwork practices, Amy empowers individuals to move beyond "pushing through" and into a state of sustainable, embodied healing. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: When stress is left trapped in the body, breathwork can act as a way to "shake out" this pent-up energy, allowing the nervous system to complete its natural cycle and release stress hormones.When you heal your nervous system, the benefits ripple both backward to your ancestors and forward to future generations.Expanding your "window of tolerance" through a regulated nervous system allows you to navigate life’s challenges with more resiliency and less reactivity. Resources Mentioned Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine: https://shorturl.at/qPX8T The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk: https://shorturl.at/f9kYb The Tao of Trauma by Alaine Duncan: https://shorturl.at/Olo04 Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski: https://www.burnoutbook.net/ Eliza Kingsford | The Shift Program: https://www.elizakingsford.com/work-with-me HeartMath Institute: https://shorturl.at/MVj1n  Connect with Amy Constellation Acupuncture and Healing Arts: https://www.constellationacu.com/ 7 Days of Breathwork: https://constellationacu.myflodesk.com/ixrx159c67  Connect with the Show Do you have a story about your family that you would like to share? We want to hear from you! Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or ancestral trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed. Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    47 min
  7. Mona Susan Power

    FEB 6

    Mona Susan Power

    In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler sits down with author Mona Susan Power to discuss the complexities of cultural trauma, family history, and the transformative power of storytelling.  Together, they explore why many of us struggle with ancestral trauma and deep-seated personal shame without realizing these burdens aren’t entirely theirs to carry, how witnessing the “unspoken” stories of our ancestors can lead to profound personal growth, and so much more.  About Mona Susan Power Mona Susan Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and an award-winning author whose work serves as "powerful good medicine." A graduate of Harvard Law School and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, she has received numerous prestigious honors, including the PEN/Hemingway Prize and the Minnesota Book Award. Her most recent novel, A Council of Dolls, was longlisted for the National Book Award. Mona’s writing is celebrated for its vulnerability and ability to explore the deep intersections of Indigenous history, resilience, and healing.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: True healing requires more than just moving on; it requires a "witnessing" or a sincere hearing of the story without gaslighting or self-protection.Understanding the "why" behind the difficult choices of our parents and grandparents can help us move from a place of resentment to one of deep compassion.Breaking free from inherited scripts and shame can be a physical experience, a "heaviness" falling away, allowing you to step into a more stable version of yourself. Resources Mentioned Harvard Magazine: Trails of Tears, and Hope: https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2008/03/trails-of-tears-and-hope-html The Basics of Complex Trauma | Tim Fletcher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IxEwPMqB-c  Connect with Mona Susan Power Website: https://www.monasusanpower.com/books A Council of Dolls Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-council-of-dolls-a-novel-mona-susan-power/4a8bb4a17e0fdf12?ean=9780063281103&next=t Bloodthread (Short Story): https://www.thegeorgiareview.com/posts/bloodthread/ NY Times: After a Long and Painful Absence, Writing Her Way Home Again: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/books/mona-susan-power-council-of-dolls-indigenous-book.html  Connect with the Show Do you have ancestors who want to be witnessed?  Share their stories on Just Like Nana. Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    50 min
  8. Sarah Lindsey

    JAN 30

    Sarah Lindsey

    In this episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler sits down with Sarah Lindsey, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who uses a trauma-informed and relational perspective in her work. Together, they unpack the concept of intergenerational trauma and, more importantly, intergenerational healing.  They explore the profound idea that “pain runs through families until someone is resourced enough to feel it,” and so much more. If you’ve ever felt like the “cycle breaker” in your family, this conversation will provide you with the somatic tools and emotional validation you need to rewrite the story in your lineage–for you, your ancestors, and future generations.  About Sarah Sarah Lindsey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who operates from a trauma-informed and relational perspective in her work. With a deep passion for the mind-body connection, Sarah integrates mindfulness and somatics into her work to bring about deep healing for the whole person. She is the co-founder of As You Are Therapy in the Twin Cities and is dedicated to creating "Grandma-energy" spaces where people can co-regulate and find psychological safety. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The heart-opening journal prompt, “who loved you into being,” to identify the person who provided your “relational template” for safety. Trauma isn’t just a “Big T” event; it’s often the result of a lack of a compassionate witness and can be passed down through DNA and epigenetics. How to co-regulate with your ancestors, regardless of whether you knew them or not. How to embrace the practice of asking the hard questions to uncover your own family history.  Connect with Sarah Lindsey As You Are Therapy: https://www.asyouaretherapymn.com/  Connect with the Show Do you have a story of intergenerational trauma that you'd like to share on the podcast? We want to hear from you! Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed. Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    46 min
  9. Elisabetha Kaltwasser Simon

    JAN 30

    Elisabetha Kaltwasser Simon

    In the debut episode of Just Like Nana, host Amie (Elizabeth) Penny Sayler introduces us to the Elizabeth Room. In this space, generations of her ancestors gather to tell their stories. Amie shares her deeply personal journey of discovering 45 grandmothers named Elizabeth through DNA testing and genealogical research. The heart of this episode is a narrative reimagining of Amie’s fifth great-grandmother, Elisabetha Kaltwasser Simon. Set in Bavaria in 1823, we follow 12-year-old Betha as she navigates the rigid teachings of the church, the weight of family expectations, and a terrifying encounter with a wolf pack that reveals a forbidden power—one that carries the dangerous label of Hexe (witch). In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Power of a Name: Why Amie’s middle name, Elizabeth, became the key to unlocking eight generations of family history.Bridging the Gap: How to connect with ancestors even when family dynamics or religious barriers have cut off access to certain branches of your tree.Elisabetha’s Story: A journey to 19th-century Bavaria involving blue ribbons, Napoleonic Wars, and the struggle to stay "pure" in the eyes of the church.The "Hexe" Legacy: The moment Elisabetha used her intuition to save a friend and the heavy price her mother paid to keep that secret safe.Healing the Future: Why telling these stories is the first step toward resolving generational trauma for ourselves and our children. Featured Ancestor Name: Elisabetha Kaltwasser SimonLived: 1811–1887Origin: Bavaria to Illinois Resources  Ancestry.com: The platform used to build Amie's family tree.JustLikeNana.com: Connect with Amie and share your own family stories.Woodford County Historical Society: Great research support.Larsen, Celeste, Heal the Witch Wound (2023) Connect with the Show Do you have stories about your "Elizabeths," Nanas, or ancestors? We want to hear from you! Website: justlikenana.comShare Your Story: If you have a family story or trauma you’re exploring, reach out via our website for a chance to be interviewed.Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    23 min

  10. JAN 23

    Welcome to Just Like Nana

    Welcome to Just Like Nana! Join host Amie Penny Sayler on a deeply personal and wildly curious journey into ancestral trauma and generational healing. In this trailer, Amie introduces her mission: exploring how the unresolved traumas of our ancestors continue to play out in our lives today, and how we can work toward resolution for ourselves, our descendants, and our ancestors. Discover what inspired Amie and what you can expect in future episodes, including: Fiction Stories: Research-based fictional stories about Amie’s Nanas and their experiences, such as her grandmother who moved from Bavaria to America with 10 children.Expert Interviews: Conversations with a variety of experts, including mental health practitioners and wellness facilitators, to explore healing modalities.Hear clips from some of the incredible guests you'll meet, including: Dr. Peter Levine, author of Waking the Tiger, discussing the connection between the body and trauma.Mona Susan Power, author of A Council of Dolls, sharing a physical experience of releasing generational shame.Amy Kuretsky, of Constellation Acupuncture, on the power of cultivating a regulated nervous system.The podcast is grounded in honoring ancestors and understanding your family dynamics without blame. Tune in every Friday to find your own path to healing! Connect with Just Like Nana's Website. A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective. Theme music by Carter Penny.

    10 min

Trailer

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out of 5
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About

Dive into the journey of Just Like Nana, a podcast passionately exploring ancestral trauma, generational healing, and the profound ways our family's past shapes our present mental and holistic health. Amie Penny Sayler shares captivating, research-based fiction stories of her grandmothers' lives and features insightful interviews with leading mental health and wellness practitioners.  Learn how to break cycles of trauma passed down through generations, understand family dynamics, and cultivate a regulated nervous system. Ground yourself in your history, honor your ancestors, and find your own path to trauma healing.  New episodes every Friday. Learn more at https://justlikenana.com/ 

Information

  • Creator
    Amie Penny Sayler
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Just Like Nana
  • Show Website
    Just Like Nana