Nurturing Resilience

Lesha Nelson

Welcome to Nurturing Resilience, where your host, Lesha Nelson weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energy to nurture a deeper connection to yourself. From guests storytelling rights of passage that catalyzed their resiliency, to nervous system + mind-body health education, to deep contemplation on topics such as cultivating connection to ourselves and others in a complex world. Lesha is an occupational therapist, somatic bodyworker, attachment specialist, and baby whisperer with over 20 years of experience with mind-body connection and supporting matrescence.

  1. 12/31/2025

    Birth, Blame & the Myth of Spiritual Readiness w/ Annalee Muse

    In this episode of Nurturing Resilience, host Lesha Nelson speaks with Annalee Muse, a birth worker and doula, about her journey through birth experiences, the impact of societal narratives on birthing individuals, and the importance of community and connection in the birthing process. They discuss the role of spirituality, the significance of birth story medicine, and the need for ritual and ceremony in navigating the complexities of motherhood. Annalee shares her insights on healing from birth trauma and offers advice for expecting mothers, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and learning in the postpartum period. Main Takeaways: Anna Lee's journey into birth work began after her own challenging birth experiences.The societal narrative often blames birthing individuals for outcomes that are beyond their control.Spirituality and preparation are important, but they cannot guarantee specific birth outcomes.Birth story medicine helps individuals process their experiences and find healing.Community support is crucial for navigating the complexities of birth and postpartum.Ritual and ceremony can play a significant role in honoring the birthing experience.Social media can create unrealistic expectations around birth and motherhood.Healing from birth trauma is a long process that requires time and self-compassion.Expecting mothers should focus on learning how to mother rather than performing perfectly.Acknowledging the gray areas in birth experiences can lead to deeper understanding and healing.Work with Annalee: https://musebirth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/muse.birth/ Work with Lesha: https://www.leshanelson.com https://www.instagram.com/lesha__nelson/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Anna Lee's Journey 02:04 Exploring Birth Experiences and Spirituality 04:05 The Complexity of Birth Narratives 05:57 Navigating Birth Expectations and Reality 09:56 Cultural Perspectives on Birth Outcomes 12:28 The Role of Birth Story Medicine 14:34 Understanding the Nuances of Birth Preparation 20:26 The Impact of Social Media on Birth Narratives 27:25 Earning Worthiness in Motherhood 35:28 Advice for New Mothers in Postpartum 38:44 The Influence of AI on Birth Support 42:30 Environmental Impact of AI and Human Connection 45:18 The Importance of Initiation and Knowledge in Birth 47:50 The Role of Ceremony and Ritual in Healing 49:47 Navigating Spiritual Practices in Birth 53:18 Presence and Authenticity in Rituals 56:17 Preparing for Birth: Personal Reflections and Insights 01:00:51 Processing Birth Trauma and Personal Growth 01:06:52 Unraveling Beliefs Around Birth Experiences 01:11:29 The Journey of Healing and Support in Birth

    1h 13m
  2. 11/19/2025

    The Golden Hour: Healing Birth When it Doesn’t go as Planned w/ Briana Georjae

    What happens when the golden hour is missed? When the first imprint we carry is one of separation and rupture- not safety or skin-to-skin? In this episode, we explore the blueprint of connection we’re born with and what’s possible when that blueprint is interrupted. I begin by sharing some personal reflections on being born via C-section and how that shaped my own attachment patterns. Then I’m joined by Briana Georjae, practitioner, doula, and guide, who shares her story of being separated from her mother at birth and the lifelong healing that followed. Together, we explore: When something goes out of plan, how can we shift our perspectives that something happened for us. Recognizing your power can transform experiences.There is a blueprint in nature that can guide us.The innate intelligence runs through all living things.Communication with our life force fosters resilience and understanding our connection to creation is vital.What it means to respond to rupture with power and presence This is a conversation about the places we begin, the patterns we inherit, and the possibility of reconnecting with our bodies, our babies, and the blueprints written in nature itself. About Briana: Briana Georjae serves from the critical need to preserve and foster the innate intelligence of women’s bodies. Within a traditional, intuitive, and woman-led container, she offers herbal consultations, holistic womb care, psychedelic integration, and doula services. Work with Briana: https://www.heirlooms.love/ Work with Lesha: https://www.leshanelson.com keywords: power, response, blueprint, innate intelligence, life force, nature, communication, self-awareness, creation, energy, golden hour, birth trauma resolution

    1h 28m
  3. 10/29/2024

    Tongue Ties & Oral Restrictions

    Welcome back to another episode of Nurturing Resilience where today we're diving into a fascinating topic that's been buzzing in both medical and alternative health circles: the rise in tongue-ties and changes in oral-facial development. Have you noticed more people talking about tongue-ties lately? Or maybe you've heard about changes in facial structures affecting breathing and sleep? Well, you're not alone. There's been a noticeable increase in these conditions, and today we're going to break down why I think this might be happening. Since my practice has opened 13 years ago I have definitely seen an increase in oral restrictions. I get asked all of the time "why is this happening?" If you know me, you know that I like to answer my clients with the best information I can, and so today I am sharing the top seven reasons (aka rabbit holes) I have found to hold true. In this episode I share the 7 reasons which include: - Processed diets lacking essential nutrients - Increased exposure to environmental toxins - Changes in breastfeeding practices - Genetic factors like MTHFR mutations and folic acid - More sedentary lifestyles - Increased awanress and diagnosis - Changes in our oral habits and development While the exact cause is not fully understood, it is clear the rise in tongue-ties and changes in oral-facial development likely result from a combination of modern lifestyle factors. I talk about what are the factors we can control and what to do to seek help if you are mom struggling with this issue. This is a nuanced topic and I did my best to highlight multiple perspectives and thoughts. The biggest take away is to get help! You do not need to struggle through this alone and there are many people trained specifically to address this topic. Remember, while we're seeing an increase in these conditions, understanding the potential causes empowers us to make positive changes that can affect future generations.

    44 min
  4. 09/27/2024

    Empowering Twin Birth w/ Anna Jones

    In today's episode, we welcome Anna Jones RN, BSN, not only because of her expertise in birth but to hear her lived experience birthing twins vaginally. Anna's journey as a twin mom who successfully delivered vaginally is not only inspiring but also educational. Her experience challenges the prevailing trends in twin births and offers valuable insights for all expectant mothers and birthing people, twins or not. To provide context, let's look at some statistics: According to the National Institute of Health, 3.4% of pregnancies are twin births. From 1995 to 2008, cesarean rates for twin births increased steadily from 53.4% to 75%. This means that currently, only about 25% of twin births are delivered vaginally, making Anna's experience relatively rare. Anna Jones a registered nurse, birth consultant, & mom of 4 wild boys with a passion for helping mothers feel informed & empowered in their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. After completing her senior capstone project in the antepartum/postpartum floor & then working as a nurse in labor & delivery, she saw the lack of birth education first hand every day. Seeing others have less than experiences simply because they “did not know” was the fuel behind the creation of her business & personal podcast “A Better Birth”. She is passionate about the enabling women and birthing people to empower themselves with information so they can make confident, informed decisions and have an experience that feels right to them. In this episode, we'll explore the factors that contributed to Anna's successful vaginal twin birth, discuss the current medical practices surrounding deliveries, and examine how informed decision-making can impact birth outcomes for everyone. Anna will share her personal story, including the challenges she faced and the strategies she employed to achieve her desired birth experience. Her story is particularly significant given the statistical trends, and offers a unique perspective on unmedicated birth. What struck me the most about Anna was her her ability to advocate for herself through the entire process. She incorporated food, movement, mindfulness and gratitude into her birth prep which led to the birth she desired. She also strongly advocates for choosing the people you want in the birth room which can make ALL the difference to your experience. Anna is all about empowering people with education and choices so they have the pregnancy, birth and postpartum they desire. You can hear her passion in our conversation and I hope it inspires you to educate and advocate for yourself in your own life and birth. You can reach out to her for consultation services as well as find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abetterbirth_/ as well as on her podcast: A Better Birth https://open.spotify.com/show/1Kx5qv9EwJLFhJdZekJ39F?si=12f7d373199e444a You can find me at www.leshanelson.com and https://www.instagram.com/lesha__nelson/ Feel free to reach out to me with any questions and comments and leave a review!

    1h 21m
5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to Nurturing Resilience, where your host, Lesha Nelson weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energy to nurture a deeper connection to yourself. From guests storytelling rights of passage that catalyzed their resiliency, to nervous system + mind-body health education, to deep contemplation on topics such as cultivating connection to ourselves and others in a complex world. Lesha is an occupational therapist, somatic bodyworker, attachment specialist, and baby whisperer with over 20 years of experience with mind-body connection and supporting matrescence.