Fearless Presence Melanie Weller

HighlightsIntro 0:01Weller and Radtke discuss contrast, storytelling, and fearlessness in midlife.Melanie and Pam reflect on learning to listen and be present in their lives as they age.Women's experiences with judgment, trauma, and healing through sharing secrets and vulnerabilities. 4:10Melanie observes that people often try to control one aspect of their life during difficult times, such as keeping a clean house during a messy divorce.Melanie notes that there is a lot of judgment among mothers and that this judgment can be damaging to relationships.Melanie Weller shares her healing journey with a group of women, including stories of rape and abuse.Pam joins a private Facebook group for women over 40 to share their secrets and vulnerabilities.Trust issues, self-doubt, and healing through personal growth. 9:11Pam and Melanie share experiences of self-doubt and mistrust, rooted in societal expectations and personal experiences.Melanie Weller shares her journey of healing and trusting herself after being gaslit by her mother.Pam relates to Melanie's experience, acknowledging the difficulty of trusting oneself and the societal pressure to conform.Gender roles, expectations, and the impact on mental health. 13:20Melanie shares her perspective on the importance of family meals, citing them as a way to stay attached to the herd and avoid feelings of isolation.Melanie reflects on her childhood experiences with family meals, noting that her parents' messages about being part of the family were often at odds with their actions, leading her to prioritize connection and survival through shared meals.Societal attitudes towards aging and sexuality. 18:02Women's sexuality and desire are often marginalized or dismissed in society.Melanie and Pam discuss societal attitudes towards aging women, including the stigma against older women's sexuality and the importance of community and support for women over 50.Gender roles, leadership, and personal growth after divorce. 21:49Women over 50 can change the world with united leadership.Pam reflects on 30 years of marriage and realizes she missed her 20s while prioritizing work and family.Pam's friends and family helped them realize there were alternatives to their limited perspective on life.Pam learned about human rights, women's rights, and trans rights through her daughters.Marriage and aging. 27:55Melanie shares her insights on long-term relationships, revealing the challenges and lessons learned from her own marriage.Pam reflects on her journey of self-discovery after her marriage ended, highlighting the importance of difficult conversations in relationships.Pam reflects on their journey from journalist to novelist, sharing insights on creative writing and self-discovery.Identity and marriage. 33:29Weller emphasizes importance of self-discovery in long-term relationships.Melanie Weller shares her struggles with balancing work and personal life as a school mom, feeling excluded from social circles and struggling with loneliness.Pam discusses her experience as a Gemini, feeling like they have two different personalities depending on the situation.Gender roles, identity, and relationships. 38:03Middle-aged women navigating identity and relationships in a spiritual revolution.Melanie Weller discusses how our fears and habits are not just our own, but are also passed down through generations.Societal beauty standards and their impact on self-esteem. 44:39Pam shares personal experiences with cultural beliefs around beauty and body image, feeling inadequate and unvalued.Melanie discusses the fear of women owning their sexuality and the power structures that exist to maintain control.Pam reflects on mother's past experiences and how they may have influenced her upbringing.Pam finds solace in meditation and slowing down her life to appreciate things more.Meditation, contrast, and holding opposites as true. 50:20Melanie Weller suggests that people with Body Dysmorphia have difficulty seeing themselves

HighlightsSnowboarding accident and recovery with Nick Prefontaine. 0:01Nick Prefontaine shares his inspiring story of overcoming a life-threatening snowboarding accident.Nick excitedly describes their experience snowboarding at a mountain, mentioning the terrain park and the jump they attempted.Nick recounts the moment he caught the edge of his snowboard while approaching the jump, causing him to wipe out.Near-fatal snowboarding accident and recovery journey. 3:42Nick's near-fatal accident led to intubation by a paramedic who saved his life.Doctors induced coma to reduce swelling.Nick went to UMass Memorial Medical Center two years after his accident to speak at a groundbreaking ceremony, where he visited the ICU where he received initial care.Nick had no conscious memory of his time in the ICU, but he felt like everything and everyone in the hospital was familiar to him.Using energy and support for recovery after a near-death experience. 10:49Nick overheard parents discussing recovery plan with doctors. His mother wouldn't let them discuss the negatives around Nick's unconscious body.Nick trusted his inner voice and followed it to make a full recovery, which later led to his current work helping others.Nick's parents had someone perform Reiki on them while in a partially induced coma.Nick's advocate helped him get off medication and drugs as soon as they were clear to walk, allowing his body to heal naturally.Overcoming trauma and building resilience through persistence and training. 16:53Nick overcomes trauma and achieves goal of "running out of hospital" after persistent effort.Nick struggles with returning to school after coma and snowboarding accident.Nick starts his career in real estate by knocking on doors of homeowners who had missed mortgage payments, without proper training or support.Nick finds a mentor and starts to perform well in his new career.Inner voice and trauma recovery with a former real estate agent. 22:33Melanie Weller: impressed by mother's positive attitude after coma, credits her for not limiting Nick's potential.Nick: Believes everyone has inner voice and stresses how important it is.Nick grew up in a real estate family and got his real estate license in 2008.Nick helped his dad market and sell investment properties, shifting their income from real estate to investing.Helping renters and homebuyers remove doubt and build trust through a process. 30:10Nick helps renters remove doubt and build trust in themselves and the process, leading to successful homeownership.Nick's systems and tools help associates across the country achieve similar success, sharing his story from the stage and helping others overcome challenges.Voice in the back of his head disappeared after connecting with mentor, Tricia Brooke.Integrating natural and modern medicine for healing. 36:35Melanie shares her experience with Reiki and cranial sacral therapy, discussing their impact on her life and family.Nick believes his recovery was possible because of a combination of modern medicine and natural therapies, including acupuncture, colonics, and Tui Na massage.Voice issues after an accident and subsequent treatments with Botox and other therapies. 41:54Nick discussed his journey with voice issues and various treatments, including Botox and natural therapies.Doctor noted improvement in Nick's voice despite needing more Botox treatments, suggesting natural therapies were effective.Optimizing energy and recovery after a stroke using affirmations, therapy, and self-care. 47:23Nick recalls how social activities, like lunch with friends, helped him enter therapy sessions in a better mental state.Nick describes how affirmations in his hospital room helped keep his energy high and motivated him to work towards his goals.Nick struggled with doubts about his ability to walk again, but his mother's support helped him stay positive and focused on his recovery.Nick recounts journey with voice issues, including Botox treatments and a half ma

Show NotesFinding pleasure and joy through core trauma transformation. 0:01 Dr. Tara Perry helps clients find pleasure, joy, and freedom through core trauma transformation.Transitioning from in-person to virtual therapy and healing. 1:50 Dr. Tara Perry discusses transition from acupuncture to hypnosis, working virtually, and the impact of trauma on mental health.The power of the subconscious mind and its impact on our well-being. 4:05 Dr. Tara Perry explains that the subconscious mind processes 40 million bits of information per second, compared to the conscious brain's 40 bits per second. Dr. Tara Perry and Melanie Weller discuss the idea that the subconscious mind drives the train, with the conscious mind only processing a small percentage of information. Dr. Tara Perry highlights the complexity of the human body's internal systems and the importance of meditation in connecting with one's own intelligence and regulating homeostasis. Dr. Tara Perry and Melanie Weller discuss the potential benefits of meditation in resolving issues and returning to a more optimal state of being.Hypnosis effectiveness and practitioner dependence. 9:51 Melanie Weller shares her experience with hypnotherapy and the importance of finding the right practitioner for the desired outcome. Dr. Tara Perry discusses the practitioner-dependent nature of hypnosis and acupuncture, and the importance of looking at outcomes when selecting a practitioner.Emotional harmony, Chinese medicine, and practitioner effectiveness. 12:54 Dr. Tara Perry shares insights on the power of heart and brain coherence in healing, citing Dr. Joe Dispenza's work. Melanie Weller discusses the importance of acceptance and social anxiety, explaining why people may stay in unhealthy relationships or fear public speaking. Chinese medicine views emotional disharmony as a blockage in the body's energy flow, leading to disease.Healing, hypnosis, and brain science. 17:38 Dr. Tara Perry found deeper healing through connecting with subconscious rather than relying on practitioner's magic. Melanie Weller discusses the importance of changing habits and beliefs to achieve personal growth. She references Tony Robbins' teachings on the need to change and the brain's preference for familiar habits, highlighting the importance of making a conscious effort to shift towards what you want. Dr. Tara Perry helps people confront and change deep-seated fears and beliefs that have been holding them back, using techniques such as neuroplasticity and archetypes. Melanie Weller agrees that the brain is more malleable than previously thought, and that changing one's personality and consciousness is possible through various methods.Personal growth, mindset, and critical thinking. 23:48 Melanie Weller and Dr. Tara Perry discuss the importance of asking better questions to achieve success and happiness. Dr. Tara Perry emphasizes the need to be mindful of biased research studies with financial interests at play.Subconscious mind healing and sustaining results. 26:42 Dr. Tara Perry shares stories of people experiencing significant relief from chronic pain, migraines, and panic attacks through rewiring their subconscious minds. The root of these issues is often found in our interpretations of ourselves, the world, and other people, rather than the events themselves. Dr. Tara Perry describes common emotional struggles in therapy intake forms, seeking peace, freedom, and joy. Melanie Weller and Dr. Tara Perry discuss the concept of contrast in the nervous system, with Melanie explaining how contrast is necessary for learning and growth, and Dr. Tara Perry agreeing that contrast is a fundamental law of life. Dr. Tara Perry uses the analogy of a stock market to explain how life is full of ups and downs, but with the right tools, people can learn to navigate these changes and sustain their progress over time.Unconscious mind and healing with Dr. Tara Perry. 32:42 Dr. Tara Perry explains that the key to solving person

You won't find Mary Henlin's extraordinary addiction recovery story anywhere else. From federal arrest and massive physical wounds to getting clean, you will be inspired and in awe of how Mary Magdalene showed up every step of the way. It will leave you asking how Mary Magdelene is alive in your life.



Connect with Mary on Instagram @MaryHenlin 

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Show Notes:


Art, spirituality, and personal growth with an artist. 3:48

Mary Henlin creates beautiful Black Madonna and dark goddess statues and figurines.
Melanie Weller and Mary Henlin reflect on their transformative journey through India, sharing stories of resilience and spiritual growth.


Art, addiction, and recovery. 7:22

In the late 90s, the Mary started their art journey by creating a controversial piece on Mary Magdalene, which led to attention and a scholarship.
Mary moved to the Bay Area to study fine art photography at Academy of Art University, where they lived above a DIY music venue and collaborated with artists and musicians.
Mary Henlin recounts a harrowing experience at a metal festival in Germany, where they fell off a platform and was rushed to a hospital without their passport or ID.
Mary Henlin hitchhiked back to the festival and later learned that the tour promoter had died in a car crash on the autobahn.
Mary Henlin describes their experience with opioid addiction, starting with a fractured spine and subsequent surgery, and how they became addicted to prescription painkillers and eventually turned to illegal drugs.
Mary Henlin's addiction led to a decline in their academic performance and photography career, and they eventually became bedridden due to their addiction.


Addiction, rehab, and recovery. 15:46

Mary describes their addiction to prescription medication and rehab experience.
Mary describes feeling lost and depressed after moving to a new house in a remote area, with numb limbs and a lack of interest in life.
Mary's symptoms improve after months, with their hands suddenly pouring sweat in the kitchen.


Addiction and recovery in Portland, Oregon. 19:58

Mary describes feeling numb and disconnected from their 20s due to addiction, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Mary moves out of their parents' house and back into the city, where they face new temptations and old habits.
Mary describes their experience with addiction in a small town, including the availability of drugs and the impact on their family.
Mary moves to Portland, Oregon to escape their past and find new opportunities, citing the city's reputation for vice and debauchery.


Addiction and mental health in Portland, Oregon. 25:58

Portland, OR has become an "open air asylum" with untreated mental health issues and drug abuse, despite making money from these issues.
Melanie Weller asks Mary Henlin about their experience in rehab and the gap between what was offered and what they needed.


Addiction, loneliness, and spirituality. 29:40

Mary Henlin describes their home as "a hoarder house of antique statues and roses" and how it became overtaken by their collection during a time of loneliness and addiction.
Mary Henlin shares experiences of being robbed and kidnapped multiple times during this period, highlighting the dangerous and unpredictable nature of their situation.


Kidnapping, addiction, and self-harm. 32:53

Mary Henlin describes being kidnapped and held captive by a man who was a gambling addict, who would force them to give him money and take their business.
Mary Henlin eventually escaped and barricaded themselves in their house, feeling traumatized and scared of everyone.
Mary Henlin describes experiencing severe foot wounds that were not healing properly, causing intense pain and discomfort.
Mary Henlin tried going to

Qigong as a nervous system regulation tool. 0:01
Melanie Weller and Scott discuss Qi Gong as a nervous system regulation tool, with a focus on energy channels and their function in modern exercise.
Melanie Weller discovers parallels between her nervous system regulation teachings and traditional Chinese energetic practices, despite politics and cultural shifts in China.
Melanie Weller and Scott discuss how art and meditation can become a threat to those in power, citing examples from history.
Exercise and its role in modern society. 6:38
Exercise may not solve the underlying problems of modern society, despite being good for mental health.
Scott highlights the importance of exercise for those who are not moving much, citing the potential negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle on the human body.
Scott expresses surprise at the high cost of some exercise classes, such as a cycling class in San Francisco, and questions the value of paying for a structured exercise session when a gym membership can provide similar benefits at a lower cost.
Idolizing a 20-year-old coach on a bicycle, revealing a lack of connectivity in society.
Exercise, loneliness, and vision with a focus on nervous system regulation. 13:05
Exercise and nature connection can alleviate loneliness and improve mental health.
Melanie Weller reflects on the impact of her surroundings on her vision, wondering if living in a different environment would have affected her need for glasses as she ages.
Weller's husband's classmate creates makeshift glasses for people in Africa, highlighting the accessibility issue for those without proper vision care.
Exercises impact five sensory systems: visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, somatosensory, and interoceptive.
Dantian and joint mobility in Qi Gong and Tai Chi. 19:42
Dantian is a concept in Qi Gong and Tai Chi, referring to a storehouse of qi in the body.
Melanie Weller discusses the importance of joint mobility in maintaining body health, citing examples from her visceral mobile mobilization training.
Scott explains that stuck qi in joints can cause pain and limit the body's functioning, and provides examples of joint mobility exercises to open up the chi flow.
Body movement and energy flow in Chinese philosophy and meditation. 24:11
Melanie Weller explains how Tai Chi movements can help treat trauma by increasing shock absorption and resolving stuckness in the body.
Master Zhang's response to his students' concerns about training after retirement is to continue doing circles, which involves moving the body in various planes to keep the energy flowing.
Melanie Weller explains how the Chinese philosophy views the body as consisting of different planes, including the coronal plane, which is involved in movement and posture.
Scott discusses the microcosmic orbit meditation practice in the secret meditative tradition, which involves moving awareness up and down the body's energy channels for optimal health and awareness.
Weller finds geometric patterns in body & cosmos, connecting alignment to cosmic rhythms.
Vedic philosophy and alignment with spirit. 31:54
Scott discusses alignment with self, family, community, nation, world, and spirit as key to achieving bliss and well-being.
Guru's plea for people's rights leads to his death by boiling.
Enlightened state is achieved when one aligns with spirit, losing desire for external things.
Melanie Weller discusses the concept of contrast in our lives, how it can be both positive and negative, and how it affects our ability to find meaning and pleasure.
Weller and Scott explore how seeking pleasure can sometimes lead to more painful experiences, and how finding healthy contrast can help us enjoy life more fully.
Spirituality, contrast, and nervous system regulation. 42:22
Scott suggests that contrast and the contrast of the collective can be soothing to the nervous system, potentially reducing drama in one's life.
Scott and Melanie discuss the idea that karma

What we bring to what we see and why. 0:01 Astrology is just a framework. Libra and Aries are opposite energies in one way, but in another way, they are very similar astrologically. Astrology has been so valuable in terms of helping with pattern recognition. There is an interplay between the pattern and what the pattern is doing over and over again. Everything is energy. The fundamental difference in yin and yang is not a pattern.
How do you shift your perspective on your story? 7:20 We are all wired for what is familiar, not what is right for us. Aries and libra are associated with the cingulate gyrus and the amygdala. Chinese medicine associates the kidneys with fear and the interplay between initiating something different and doing what is safe for you. Aries and Libra bring us to two major turning points in our earth's relationship with the rest of the universe and with our sun and the universe. Astrology of the West. Aries and Libra are very different, but they are also very alike. At each equinox, we are moving towards the light or the darkness of the great mystery. Libra is full of baggage.
Aries libra interplay and balance. 14:56 Aries and libra interplay and how they show up in her life and how she is seeing it in her charts right now. The cultural myth that Libra is the one who makes things happen. Letting go of vision boards and manifesting strategies to focus on doing something. Justice is a big word right now. Justice is a puzzle. It's a paradox. As a libra, aries feel like they are often in the balance equally with all the people they care about. Native americans had a strong principle of reciprocity in their culture.
Astrology of the West vs. Vedic astrology. 21:37 Sometimes things can come back into reciprocity or balance if at the moment one side is doing more than the other side. Egyptian and Vedic astrology The parallel energy structures that are held in different patterns by different gods like Jupiter, vishnu, shiva and Dionysus. The astrology of the west and the western way of thinking. If one wants to change the world, they have to change themselves. Astrology can help us do that. Every person on earth goes back to one mother, the mitochondrial eve.
High contrast trauma. 29:07 Our nervous systems are always seeking contrast, but the nervous system will not let you live a boring story story, one without contrast. The universe is always whacking you upside the head with a two by four. War can take people to a different and yet similar kind of edge. Dionysus and the age of terror.
Libra scales. 35:01 For a set of libra scales, there would be four platforms on it versus two, because all humans experience change through alertness, awareness, reward and rest. Nerve firing is a contrast. Aries and libra are the two spots in the zodiac where there are two times of equal balance, the equinox and the full moon. The path to wellness at all levels.
The sun is associated with the thalamus. 40:57 The sun is associated with the thalamus, the center of the brain, and is the relay station for everything. The sun fuses together two elements, hydrogen and helium. Nerve cells in the thalamus are associated with the water that is in all of the cells and that fills all of us. Neurotransmitters break down into water when fired. Full moons are the only two celestial bodies that are here on the earth without the moon to stabilize orbit and regulate the waters.
What happens when the neuron fires? 47:03 A full moon is a chance for everything to have a different stimulus and to clean house and release patterns that have been holding on to. 10 neurotransmitters do 99% of all functions, but it's more about how they cycle through them than how they live statically. Being present with the cycle is what being present is. The hardest thing as a parent is letting the child live out their own karmic journey and not trying to intervene in it. Holding the tension of the opposites is a contrast.