Desire As Medicine Podcast

Brenda and Catherine
  • 4.7 (15)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Brenda & Catherine interview people and talk to each other about desire.  They always come back to us being 100% responsible for our desires. Contact us by email:desireasmedicine@gmail.comcatherine@catherinenavarro.comgoddessbrenda24@gmail.comInstagram: @desireasmedicine@CoachCatherineN @Brenda_Fredericks 

  1. 146 ~ Brenda & Catherine's Favorite Digestion Tools

    1d ago

    146 ~ Brenda & Catherine's Favorite Digestion Tools

    You know that feeling after something big happens and you should feel “fine,” but your body says otherwise? We get honest about what it actually looks like to digest life, from the most beautiful experiences to the hard ones, so they do not linger as anxiety, emotional charge, or nonstop mental replay. We share the practices we use to process and integrate what we live, and how following desire can be a grounded spiritual path rather than a constant chase.  We break down digestion into a simple, practical lanes: moving, talking, and stillness, plus direct and indirect ways to integrate. You’ll hear how we ask for support with clear consent, why crying in someone’s arms can be a complete nervous system reset, and how movement like dancing, walking, yoga, or even higher-intensity workouts can help metabolize what the mind cannot solve. We also talk about the quieter tools that work when you are overstimulated, including laying flat, napping, Yoga Nidra, and meditation.  Then we get into the unexpectedly powerful rituals: nature as a teacher of impermanence, pleasure and touch, showers and baths as energetic cleansing, grounding food, and cooking as a symbolic act of making something new. We also name writing as a way to capture insight after joy or grief, and we explore Seva, selfless service, as a spiritual practice that includes cleaning and caring for the space that holds you.  What’s your most reliable way to digest life when it hits? Some Episode gems bulleted:  • using a witness and clear asks with trusted friends   • releasing through tears, touch, hugs, and being held   • moving energy with dancing, walking, workouts, and yoga   • using stillness practices like laying flat, naps, Yoga Nidra, and meditation   • creating time and space in the calendar for integration   • grounding with nature, baths, showers, food, and cooking   • indirect digestion through light movies or calming shows   • writing gratitudes and reflections to capture insight   • organizing the home to clear the mind and reset perception   • practicing Seva as selfless service and cleaning as spiritual integration   Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    25 min
  2. 145 ~ Can I Be Done Yet? When You Are Tired of Digesting

    Jun 3

    145 ~ Can I Be Done Yet? When You Are Tired of Digesting

    The most annoying moment in growth is when you swear you are done, then the same old lesson taps you on the shoulder again. We honest about that “are you kidding me” feeling and why emotional digestion can feel heavy, irritating, and never-ending. We are deep in our digestion era, and we unpack what it really means to process an experience, metabolize the wisdom, and create space for more life.  We draw a clear line between being genuinely complete and using “I’m over it” as a shield. Sometimes you have reached neutrality: your body feels settled, the charge is gone, and the lesson is integrated. Other times, you're I'm done just means you're at capacity. We talk about slowing down to go fast, why forcing healing can become another form of overworking, and how to be responsible for your desire without shaming yourself into constant self-improvement.  As we tease apart completion vs avoidance, we offer simple ways to check in with our bodies so we can choose what to process now, later, or not at all.   Some practical self check-ins to guide your next step:  Do I still feel an emotional charge? Is there something I need to own? Am I avoiding a feeling? Am I complete for now? We shared real life examples, including grief that returns in layers across decades and the surprising truth that digestion can feel like a video game with new levels as we change. If you need permission to put something down, or clarity on when to lean in, this conversation gives you both.  What are you ready to digest, and what are you choosing to bookmark for later? Some episode bullet points:  • why the same lessons can circle back like groundhog day   • the difference between true completion and emotional avoidance   • how capacity and life seasons shape emotional processing   • letting digestion happen in layers without forcing it   • the risk of turning inner work into perfectionism   • bookmarking a painful topic until we have resources   • quick check-ins for emotional charge and responsibility   • grief as a long unwind across decades   • permission to opt in or opt out with intention   Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    19 min
  3. 144 ~ Revisiting Your Life With New Eyes

    May 27

    144 ~ Revisiting Your Life With New Eyes

    Some experiences don’t “process” just because time passes. Processing requires us to be willing to meet them again, and again with new eyes. We’ve been exploring digestion as a spiritual and practical practice: how we receive life, integrate it, and expand our capacity without getting overwhelmed or stuck in the (old) stories. We start with a simple, repeatable framework for emotional digestion that you can use after a fight, a breakup, a diagnosis, a parenting moment, or any turning point.  We ask:  What actually happened (the facts)? What did I make it mean then, and what do I want it to mean now? What did I feel at the time?What do I feel today? What is still living in my body? That embodiment piece is important, because your nervous system often holds what your mind tries to skip. Then we go deeper into how perspective evolves across the years. Brenda shares the layered reality of a 21-year marriage and divorce, including the delayed arrival of grief and the wisdom that comes from revisiting the past without getting trapped there. We also talk about the seductive comfort of blame and “rightness,” and what becomes possible when we choose responsibility without righteousness: more softness, more compassion, and a truer connection to our heart. We have been slowing down the idea of “digesting life”. We want to make digestion tangible by walking through the facts, meanings, feelings, and what the body still carries.  Episode Bullet points: • why reception requires digestion and presence   • starting with what happened and separating fact from story   • choosing the meaning you give an experience over time   • tracking feelings then versus now and noticing what lingers in the body   • how growth changes perspective and keeps digestion ongoing   • Brenda’s long marriage and the grief that arrives years later   • how blame and “being right” can keep you stuck   • taking responsibility with compassion and turning experience into wisdom   Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    22 min
  4. 143 ~ Why You Still Feel Unsatisfied (Even When Life Is Full)

    May 20

    143 ~ Why You Still Feel Unsatisfied (Even When Life Is Full)

    If your life is full but you still feel oddly unsatisfied, it might not be because you need more. It might be because you haven’t digested what you already have. We continue to talk about “digestion” as a real practice for modern life, especially in an instant gratification culture where everything is available now and the next dopamine hit is always one click away.  We explore what it means to receive what’s already here. As a grounded skill built through presence, intention, and self-care. We share a story about a high-performing mother who wants to “receive more” and what that reveals about overdoing, constant production mode, and the discomfort many of us feel when we stop. We also dig into why non-negotiable practices like body-based self-care can become the foundation for self-trust, intuition, and clearer boundaries.  One of the most practical ideas is relationship digestion: setting aside meaningful time to reflect on one child, one partner, or one important person at a time, long enough for remembrance and integration to happen. We look at how control blocks reception, why surrender makes room for surprise, and how autopilot can erase whole chapters of our lives if we never pause to take them in.  Let's keep exploring why so many of us keep chasing the next thing while missing the life we already have. Let's unpack “digesting” as a practice of presence that helps us receive love, relationships, and even our own accomplishments more fully.   Some bullet points from this episode are: • instant gratification and the cost of always being “on to the next”   • receiving what has already arrived beyond simple gratitude   • noticing overdoing and discomfort with stillness   • making self-care practices unconditional and non-negotiable   • digesting relationships through dedicated time and reflection   • presence and intention as prerequisites for reception   • loosening control to allow surprise and surrender   • getting off autopilot so we don’t miss the moments in between   Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    27 min
  5. 142 ~ Make Space To Receive

    May 13

    142 ~ Make Space To Receive

    If you keep asking for more but it never quite lands, the issue might not be your desire. It might be your capacity to receive. We’re going deep on a simple practice: digesting your experiences so the body, mind, and spirit has somewhere to put the good stuff. When we rush past moments, multitask through them, or stay “full” of undigested stress and emotion, there’s no room for a compliment to sink in, for love to feel safe, or for an opportunity to arrive without panic. We break down the difference between getting something externally and receiving it internally, including the tiny phrases that leaks your receiving like “thank you, ..."BUT"…” and the patterns behind them: nervous system overload, distrust, conditioning to minimize, and identity mismatch. We also talk about why over giving turns into control, why that creates resentment at home, and how boundaries and spaciousness can become a real spiritual practice. You’ll hear practical examples like avoiding double-booking, building recovery time into your calendar, and choosing presence over phone-scrolling so you can actually receive healing, connection, nature, and the life you’re already living. Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    33 min
  6. 141 ~ A Simple Practice to "Digest" Your Life (Tool Box Episode)

    May 6

    141 ~ A Simple Practice to "Digest" Your Life (Tool Box Episode)

    You can have the best night out, the biggest breakthrough, or the most meaningful creative project and still feel oddly unfinished afterward. That’s very human, and it’s usually a lack of integration. We built this toolbox episode for anyone who wants to “digest” real life so the wisdom actually lands, the nervous system settles, and desire becomes a steady inner compass instead of a passing high. We walk you through the behind-the-scenes debrief practice we use every single time we record. It’s a simple, structured reflection that mirrors physical digestion: take in the experience, metabolize what nourishes you, and let the rest go. Together we model the prompts using our own podcasting journey, including favorite moments, what has gone well, what could move from good to great, and the surprisingly powerful practice of naming where the other person shines. We also share where we see ourselves growing, especially around commitment, creative structure, and trusting our voice in conversation. The secret ingredient is restraint. This is a “nothing extra” process: we answer, we say thank you, and we move on. No processing, no planning, no turning it into a long therapy session. The result is clean integration, stronger collaboration, and more access to what we actually want. If you’re searching for desire practice, emotional digestion, nervous system support, reflective prompts, or a simple debrief you can do alone or with a partner, this one is for you. Debrief practice questions:  What was your favorite moment?  What went well?  What could go from good to great ? Where did your partner shine? Where did you shine?  A gratitude. We use these questions/prompts after every recording to digest experiences and integrate what we learn. The prompts keep reflection tight and grounded to help us integrate the experience, without anything extra.  Episode Bullets: • why digestion applies to life experiences, not just food   • how a “toolbox” practice creates integration after work, travel, retreats, parenting, or creative projects   • the exact debrief prompts: favorite moment, what went well, what could go from good to great   • noticing where the other person shines without turning it into a discussion   • naming where we see ourselves shine and building self-trust over time   • closing with gratitude and why we avoid processing or planning during the debrief   Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    18 min
  7. 140 ~ How to "Digest" Difficult Experiences

    Apr 29

    140 ~ How to "Digest" Difficult Experiences

    A bad meal, a ruined trip, a relationship ending, a fall down the stairs, a harsh comment you can’t stop replaying. The moment passes, but something stays. We call it undigested negative life, and it’s the hidden reason disappointment can turn into a full-blown identity story like “I’m unchosen,” “I’m not loved,” or “This always happens to me.”  We’re Brenda and Catherine, and we’re inviting you into a real, grounded conversation about emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and the spiritual practice of taking responsibility for our desire. We unpack how undigested experiences create distortion, why overthinking is not the same as integration, and how overcorrecting can look like shutting down, blaming, withdrawing, or trying to force a lesson before you’ve even felt the hurt.  You’ll hear practical tools for digesting what happened without making it mean you need a whole new life: slowing down, acknowledging sensations in the body, debriefing with honesty, asking what you can adjust next time, and also naming the moments when there’s nothing to “fix” because life is simply life. We talk emotional hangovers, repeating stories that signal resentment, and when it might be time to get support from a therapist, coach, or trusted friend who can help you see what your own filter can’t.  We talk through undigested negative life and why disappointment hurts most when we turn it into a story about our worth. We share ways to slow down, feel what’s true, and choose how the experience gets to live inside us.   Episode Bullets: • defining undigested negative life as pain plus stuck meaning   • noticing distortion like “I’m unlovable” or “I’m unchosen”   • spotting overcorrection through shutting down, blaming, or avoiding   • debriefing what happened with time and space   • feeling sensations first instead of hot-potato reactions   • asking what to adjust next time and what to accept   • deciding who we want to be in discomfort   • naming emotional hangovers from oversharing or moving too fast   • using walks, food, movement, and attention shifts for integration   • getting perspective from friends and seeking professional support when needed   • recognising resentment through repeated stories and recurring patterns   If you’ve been stuck in a loop, we hope this helps you come back to homeostasis and feel lighter on the other side. Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    26 min
  8. 139 ~ Why You Need to "Digest Your Life" (Not Just Live It)

    Apr 22

    139 ~ Why You Need to "Digest Your Life" (Not Just Live It)

    You know that confusing moment when something was amazing and then, the next day, you’re cranky, reactive, or reaching for caffeine, sugar, wine, or your phone like it’s oxygen? We’re naming that pattern for what it often is: undigested life. When experiences stack up faster than our bodies can integrate them, the mind starts inventing “problems” just to create a crash, a release, a valley. We don’t have to keep learning that lesson the hard way. We walk through the practice Brenda and I use every time we meet: a simple debrief that helps us metabolize what happened and turn high input into real nourishment. We talk about why modern speed sabotages nervous system regulation, how the “mental version of bad gut health” can look like overthinking, overdoing, disconnection from intuition, and picking fights, and why being “full” is often a sign of expansion, not failure. Then we get practical. We share ways to build integration and self care into real life: scheduling a digestion day, movement and yoga, walking in nature, hydration and food choices, journaling and gratitude, prayer, tears, and honest connection without crossing into emotional dumping. We also zoom out to the long game and how major transitions like divorce, career shifts, and parenting changes digest in layers until wisdom is what remains. Bullets for ~ In this episode:  • what we mean by a debrief and why we do it   • digestion as integration of experience, not just food   • why a fast culture makes it harder to process life   • the “mental health version” of gut health, including overthinking and disconnection from intuition   • signs you are too full, including irritability, reactivity, overeating, and craving numbing   • how peak experiences create expansion that needs recovery time   • practical tools: calendar downtime, movement, yoga, walks, journaling, gratitude, prayer, crying, connection, sex, rest   • the line between healthy sharing and emotional dumping   • how big life transitions digest over years into wisdom   If this hit home, subscribe, share this far and wide with those running on fumes. Support the show Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.  Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support. Book with Brenda  Book with Catherine  Email Us: desireasmedicine@gmail.com goddessbrenda24@gmail.com catherine@catherinenavarro.com Connect on Instagram:  @desireasmedicinepodcast @Brenda_Fredericks @CoachCatherineN

    40 min
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4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Brenda & Catherine interview people and talk to each other about desire.  They always come back to us being 100% responsible for our desires. Contact us by email:desireasmedicine@gmail.comcatherine@catherinenavarro.comgoddessbrenda24@gmail.comInstagram: @desireasmedicine@CoachCatherineN @Brenda_Fredericks 

Information

  • Creator
    Brenda and Catherine
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    146
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Desire As Medicine Podcast
  • Show Website
    Desire As Medicine Podcast

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