Pulling Threads, Weaving Authenticity

Leslie Mathews
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Pulling Threads is a podcast for women navigating life, career, past and current trauma, breakups and divorce, motherhood, reinvention, and the brave work of becoming who they’re meant to be. Hosted by therapist, coach, and founder of The LooM Life, Leslie Mathews, JD, MSW, this show blends trauma-informed guidance, nervous system education, and meaningful conversations about the patterns that shape our relationships, identity, and purpose. Each episode explores the complicated places where life asks us to grow — healing from emotional abuse, rebuilding after divorce, midlife identity shifts, attachment wounds, dating again, motherhood, and rediscovering your voice. Many guests share their own stories of reinvention, entrepreneurship, career pivots, and stepping into authenticity, offering inspiration and practical wisdom for women building new chapters. Through expert interviews, personal storytelling, and mindfulness-based tools, Pulling Threads supports women who are healing, expanding, and creating aligned lives and businesses. It’s a space for those navigating toxic dynamics, strengthening emotional regulation, or following the pull toward something more authentic and more fulfilling. If you’re ready to untangle old patterns, trust your intuition, and weave a life — and identity — that feels grounded, empowered, and true, this podcast is where your next chapter begins.

  1. 5D AGO

    Confronting Therapists’ Podcasting Fears

    If you’re a therapist or coach who wants to start a podcast but keeps putting it off, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down the six biggest fears that stop helping professionals from pressing record — and gently debunking each one. In this episode, I’m not talking about microphones, editing software, or going viral. I’m talking about the real reasons therapists and coaches hesitate to use their voice publicly — fear of being seen, imposter syndrome, time, tech overwhelm, decision paralysis, and the quiet worry that no one will listen. As a therapist, coach, and host of the Pulling Threads podcast, I waited a long time to start my own show. What finally helped wasn’t more research — it was understanding what was actually holding me back and taking one small step at a time. If podcasting has been on your heart but something keeps stopping you, this conversation is meant to help you feel calmer, clearer, and more capable. In this episode, we cover: Why procrastination around podcasting is often protective, not laziness The truth about imposter syndrome for therapists and coaches Fear of visibility, judgment, and being misunderstood Why “I don’t have time” doesn’t mean what you think it means How consistency can look different (and still work) Why technology is no longer the barrier it used to be Decision paralysis around naming, format, and where to start The fear no one talks about: What if no one listens? Why podcasts aren’t about going viral — they’re about resonance How a podcast can support your practice, visibility, and referrals Who this is for: ✔ Therapists ✔ Coaches ✔ Helping professionals ✔ Anyone who’s thought “I want to start a podcast… but” About Press Record For more information about the cohort, go to https://theloomlife.com/podcast-course I created Press Record, a live 6-week cohort for therapists and coaches who want to launch a podcast together — with structure, support, and real accountability. The cohort includes: Weekly live meetings Step-by-step video lessons Marketing & YouTube templates AI tools to simplify editing and content A private community of therapists & coaches launching together If this episode helped your nervous system soften or your fear feel more manageable, that may be your cue. 👉 Learn more about Press Record: [ADD LINK] About Me I’m Leslie Mathews — therapist, coach, and host of the Pulling Threads podcast. I help therapists, coaches, and women in transition use their voice, untangle fear, and build aligned, sustainable paths forward. 🎙 Subscribe for more conversations on authenticity, visibility, nervous system regulation, and meaningful work.

    22 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Divorce After a High-Control Marriage: Identity Loss, Faith, and Finding Yourself Again

    In this episode of Pulling Threads, we explore the quiet unraveling that can happen inside a high-control marriage: the identity loss, the normalization of pain, the body symptoms that show up long before the mind is ready to listen. This is a deeply honest, unscripted conversation about staying because it “wasn’t that bad,” enduring for faith, vows, and children, and the moment validation finally breaks through the fog. We talk about how the nervous system holds truth, how faith can become complicated inside marriage, and what it looks like to surrender without losing yourself. You’ll hear reflections on rebuilding after separation, co-parenting with boundaries, trauma healing, mindfulness, EMDR, and the surprising peace that can come on the other side—especially learning to be alone without feeling lonely. This conversation is for anyone who feels high-functioning but exhausted, capable but disconnected, faithful but conflicted, and quietly wondering if there is more peace available than the life they’re currently enduring. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #DivorceRecovery #LifeAfterDivorce #DivorceHealing #CoParenting #NervousSystemHealing

    1h 12m

  3. JAN 25

    Trauma and Regulation in Turbulent Times

    What we are experiencing right now—as a country, as communities, and as individuals—is not normal. And your body knows it. In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie Mathews speaks directly to the collective nervous system response many of us are feeling but struggling to name. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted, angry, numb, tearful, or constantly on edge, this conversation offers language, validation, and practical support grounded in trauma-informed neuroscience. We explore what trauma researchers call Continuous Traumatic Stress—a state where the nervous system never gets a chance to complete the stress cycle because threat keeps coming. Leslie also names and explains moral injury, vicarious trauma, and anticipatory trauma, helping listeners understand why so many people feel exhausted, divided, and disconnected right now. This episode is not about politics or sides. It’s about what prolonged stress does to the human nervous system—and how trauma responses like fight, flight, freeze, and fawn can quietly fracture relationships, communities, and our ability to see one another clearly. You’ll learn: Why what you’re feeling is a normal human response to ongoing threat How continuous traumatic stress differs from PTSD What moral injury feels like in the body Why trauma increases division—even among people who care deeply How helplessness forms when systems themselves cause harm Trauma-informed tools to support nervous system regulation right now Leslie also offers practical regulation strategies, including: Pendulation and healthy boundaries with news and media Somatic release to complete the stress cycle Co-regulation and the power of presence Grounding practices for moments of overwhelm Finding small, aligned actions that restore agency This episode is a space to pause, breathe, and remember that your nervous system is not broken—it is trying to protect you. Healing and resilience don’t come from bypassing what’s happening, but from staying regulated enough to remain connected, compassionate, and human. If you’ve been feeling like something is deeply off, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it. Keywords / SEO tags: nervous system regulation, collective trauma, continuous traumatic stress, moral injury explained, vicarious trauma, anticipatory trauma, trauma informed podcast, mindfulness and trauma, somatic regulation, trauma and the nervous system, grounding techniques, emotional regulation, stress cycle, co regulation, healing during uncertain times Connect with Leslie & The LooM: 🌿 Website: https://www.theloomlife.com 🎙️ Podcast: Pulling Threads 📸 Instagram (Coaching & Content): @the.loom.life 🧠 Instagram (Therapy): @loomlifetherapy 🎥 YouTube: Pulling Threads 🎵 TikTok: @parandpeace If this episode supported you, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who might need it. Gentle conversations create ripples—and we move through this together.

    20 min

  4. JAN 20

    Finding Strength in Voice: A Conversation on Identity and Growth

    In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie sits down with Courtney Carter for an intimate conversation about what happens when you grow up in a small town and later realize you’ve been postponing your voice. They talk about the unspoken rules many of us learned early: stay agreeable, don’t take up too much space, don’t say the dream out loud, don’t make anyone uncomfortable. And then adulthood arrives and something shifts. You move. You leave. You enter new rooms. You start seeing how much of your personality was protection. Courtney shares what it was like navigating identity as a biracial girl in a small, isolated environment, how stereotypes and expectations shape self-expression, and why boundaries can feel terrifying when you were trained to keep the peace. Together, they explore people-pleasing, perfectionism, communication, and the slow return to self-trust. If you’ve ever felt like you edited yourself to fit in, this one is for you.💛 I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #Boundaries #SelfTrust #Mindfulness #AuthenticLiving #NervousSystemRegulation

    1h 8m

  5. JAN 13

    Redefining Life After Divorce: Lessons from Amber Shaw

    What if your divorce isn’t the end—but the beginning of your most aligned life? In this episode, I sit down with Amber Shaw, host of The Divorce Revolution Podcast and business coach for divorced women, for an honest conversation about turning pain into purpose, rebuilding confidence, and creating a business rooted in lived experience. Amber opens up about navigating the end of her marriage at 40, building her first online business while still working full-time, and how mentorship helped her scale to six figures—twice. We talk candidly about the real challenges divorced moms face, including time constraints, financial pressure, and the fear of getting it wrong when the stakes feel high. We also explore what it really means to “stay in your lane” as a coach, how to share your story without oversharing or creating conflict, and why authenticity—not perfection—is what truly attracts the right clients. Whether you’re considering divorce, in the middle of it, or rebuilding life and income on the other side, this conversation will help you reconnect with your confidence, clarity, and sense of identity. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Reframing divorce as a catalyst for reinvention Low-risk ways to start a coaching side hustle How mentorship shortens the learning curve and builds confidence Moving through fear and freeze with both courage and compassion Sharing your story safely while protecting your kids and peace The difference between therapy and coaching and why scope matters Knowing when to delegate so you can focus on what you do best Why you don’t need to be fully healed to help others—just a few steps ahead This episode is for women ready to stop waiting for permission and start building what’s next. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message on Instagram! I’m exploring a second February cohort. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life?igsh=ZHl3Nm1ibWd4dm1w Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19bKH1AGZ9/ #DivorceRecovery #WomenRebuilding #LifeAfterDivorce #PurposeDrivenBusiness #WomenSupportingWomen

    56 min

  6. JAN 6

    People-Pleasing, Perfectionism & Parental Burnout: How to Feel Present Again | Mackenzie Kinmond

    Parenting can feel surprisingly hard, even when you love your kids deeply. In this episode of Pulling Threads, we talk about parental burnout, old conditioning, and the internal patterns that can quietly run in the background and drain your energy. I’m joined by Mackenzie Kinmond, a parenthood transformation coach and therapist who helps overwhelmed parents step out of survival mode and reconnect with daily joy. Together, we explore why your nervous system can react before your thinking brain has a chance to catch up, why certain ages and stages can activate old wounds, and how burnout is often less about “trying harder” and more about shifting what you’re carrying. We also talk about the “Four Horsemen” that show up in everyday parenting: people pleasing, perfectionism, over functioning, and self sacrifice. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, reactive, or disconnected from the parent you want to be, this conversation offers a compassionate path forward, with practical ways to start making small, doable changes that create real relief over time. In this episode, we cover: Why parenting can activate trauma at specific ages and stages Nervous system regulation and embodiment in real life parenting moments Blocked care, burnout, and why shame fuels dysregulation Repair after conflict and why it strengthens secure attachment Micro shifts, boundaries, and creating structure that lowers stress How to move from survival mode toward presence, clarity, and authenticity You can also listen to Pulling Threads on my podcast and watch on YouTube. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #ParentalBurnout #MindfulParenting #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalRegulation #ConsciousParenting

    57 min

  7. JAN 1

    Part I: Lost Alignment and Authenticity

    Welcome to the first episode of Authentic by Design, a transformative series about discovering your true self, reclaiming your life, and stepping off autopilot. If you’ve ever felt like you’re watching life happen to someone else, like life isn’t really yours, or like you’re aged-ahead while still waiting to feel alive, you’re in the right place. In this episode, I share a moment of awakening — sitting in my car in a Tampa parking garage, realizing the job, marriage, and identity I’d built wasn’t mine. I explore how we abandon ourselves to fit in, perform, succeed, and survive — and why that creates misalignment even at the height of achievement. 👉 If you’ve ever thought, “On paper my life looks great — but I don’t feel it inside” — this episode is for you. 🧠 In This Episode You’ll Learn: ✔ What it feels like when you’re living someone else’s life ✔ How childhood, culture, school, and social systems shape inauthentic paths ✔ The myth of success = happiness ✔ Why the “Sunday Scaries” may actually be your body telling you something is off ✔ How your nervous system signals misalignment ✔ A powerful invitation to listen to your body & inner knowing ✔ A roadmap for the rest of this 4-part series on authentic living 📍 Chapters / Timestamps 0:00 — Episode Intro: Awakening in Tampa 2:15 — What It Feels Like to Live a Life That’s Not Yours 5:40 — Why Achievement Doesn’t Always Equal Alignment 9:20 — Authenticity vs Performance (Therapy, Career, Culture) 12:55 — The Sunday Scaries: A Hidden Alarm System 15:42 — Invitation: Listening to Your Body 18:10 — Where Inauthenticity Begins — Childhood & Conditioning 23:00 — Systems That Teach Us to Abandon Ourselves 26:35 — People Most Susceptible to Losing Themselves 29:50 — The Four Pathways to Awakening 34:15 — Physical & Emotional Signs You’re Off-Course 39:40 — How to Know You’re Ready to Come Back 42:10 — Your First Invitation Toward Alignment 45:00 — Closing + What’s Coming Next in the Series ❤️ If This Resonated With You ✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss Episode 2 — where we dig into nervous system science + practical steps for returning to YOUR voice. 💬 Comment: What did you feel when you asked your body if you’re living your life? 👍 Like & Share with someone who needs to hear this. 🔗 Connect With Me 👉 Subscribe for all episodes & updates 👉 Follow on IG/TikTok for clips & reflections 👉 Join the conversation in the comments

    38 min

  8. 12/30/2025

    Manifestation That Actually Works: Identity, Nervous System & Aligned Action| Liza Lounsberry Part 2

    What if peace isn’t something you find, but something you expand into? In Part 2 of this powerful Pulling Threads conversation, host Leslie Matthews continues her deeply honest and expansive dialogue with Liza Lounsbury, exploring what it truly means to outgrow old identities, regulate the nervous system, and rebuild life from the inside out. This episode dives into the uncomfortable but transformative seasons of life—identity loss, reinvention, grief, sobriety, divorce, and rebuilding after everything you thought your life would be falls apart. Together, Leslie and Liza unpack how subconscious programming, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and unprocessed trauma shape our reality—and how conscious awareness allows us to create something entirely new. You’ll hear a grounded, compassionate exploration of: Why your comfort zone determines your capacity for peace How identity shifts impact manifestation and aligned living Nervous system regulation as the foundation for resilience and abundance Letting go of labels like “divorced,” “addict,” or “failure” Processing grief, anger, and fear without resistance Living consciously instead of reacting on autopilot Creating inner safety regardless of external chaos Why embodiment, presence, and awareness change everything—from relationships to intimacy This episode is especially resonant for women navigating divorce, separation, sobriety, motherhood, burnout, or major life transitions. It’s an invitation to step out of survival mode and into conscious creation, self-trust, and emotional freedom. If you’re entering a new season, questioning who you are becoming, or learning how to live with more peace, clarity, and alignment—this conversation will meet you right where you are. ✨ A reminder: you are not broken, behind, or failing. You are evolving. I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention. 🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUP Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & Breakups Where neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise. 📅 Starts late January 🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women) #HealingAfterDivorce #NervousSystemRegulation #MindfulnessForWomen #IdentityShifts #AlignedLife

    54 min
See All (42)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Pulling Threads is a podcast for women navigating life, career, past and current trauma, breakups and divorce, motherhood, reinvention, and the brave work of becoming who they’re meant to be. Hosted by therapist, coach, and founder of The LooM Life, Leslie Mathews, JD, MSW, this show blends trauma-informed guidance, nervous system education, and meaningful conversations about the patterns that shape our relationships, identity, and purpose. Each episode explores the complicated places where life asks us to grow — healing from emotional abuse, rebuilding after divorce, midlife identity shifts, attachment wounds, dating again, motherhood, and rediscovering your voice. Many guests share their own stories of reinvention, entrepreneurship, career pivots, and stepping into authenticity, offering inspiration and practical wisdom for women building new chapters. Through expert interviews, personal storytelling, and mindfulness-based tools, Pulling Threads supports women who are healing, expanding, and creating aligned lives and businesses. It’s a space for those navigating toxic dynamics, strengthening emotional regulation, or following the pull toward something more authentic and more fulfilling. If you’re ready to untangle old patterns, trust your intuition, and weave a life — and identity — that feels grounded, empowered, and true, this podcast is where your next chapter begins.

Information