The Calming Ground Podcast

Elizabeth Mintun
  • 4.9 (16)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED DAILY

This podcast offers a space for busy people to go to for inspiration, wisdom, to learn from one another's struggles and transformations, as well as to receive actionable steps to relax, gain confidence, and move forward with the life they long to experience.

  1. 1D AGO

    139 - The Science of Nature & the Nervous System: How the Outdoors Restores Your Mind and Body

    There’s a reason your shoulders may drop when you step outside… A reason your breath may deepens near water… A reason something in you may relax a little when you pause beneath a tree. In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun explores what’s actually happening in your body and nervous system when you spend time in nature, and why something so simple can feel so profoundly restorative. Blending personal story, science, and soulful reflection, she shares a moment from my forest bathing training that changed how she understands presence, support, and what it means to be in relationship with the natural world. In addition, she dives into some of the research behind nature’s impact on stress, attention, and emotional regulation and, more importantly, what the natural world can teach us about rhythm, rest, and reclaiming a more human pace of living. This is an invitation to step out of constant doing… And remember how to simply be. Key Takeaways Nature regulates your nervous system. Even brief time outdoors can lower cortisol, reduce anxiety, and shift your body into a state of rest and repair.Attention matters. Nature restores your mental energy by engaging effortless attention and curiosity, allowing your overworked brain to replenish.You belong to the natural world. Reconnecting with nature is, in many ways, remembering who you already are. Resources  Previous episodes on forest bathing and nature to check out:  #9 - Forest Bathing for Replenished Energy #36 - Living Your Wild Soul Story: A Journey with Mary Reynolds Thompson Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend

    18 min

  2. APR 15

    138 - Why Slowing Down Feels So Hard: The Nervous System Science Behind Rest

    When was the last time you did absolutely nothing? Not scrolling. Not multitasking. Not “resting” while mentally running through your to-do list…. If that question makes you feel a little uneasy, you’re not alone. In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun explores why slowing down can feel uncomfortable, restless, or even threatening. Beneath the surface, this isn’t about discipline or willpower; it’s about your nervous system doing its job to keep you safe. Elizabeth unpacks the deeper reasons rest can feel so hard, what it’s actually costing you to stay in constant motion, and how to begin gently retraining your system to experience stillness as safe and full of ease again. Key Takeaways Your drive to stay busy is a deeply wired survival response shaped by evolution and reinforced by modern culture.Busyness often acts as a buffer against uncomfortable emotions like grief, uncertainty, or loneliness.Slowing down is a skill that can be practiced in small, accessible ways. It’s not an all-or-nothing lifestyle change.Even brief pauses (2–5 minutes) can begin to retrain your nervous system over time.Gentle, rhythmic movement (like walking or qigong) can be a powerful bridge into stillness for those who struggle to stop completely. Resources  Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!

    17 min

  3. APR 8

    137 - Yin Leadership, Edge Mapping & the Body: A Conversation with Jaye Marolla about Rethinking Power, Presence, and Growth

    Most of us have been taught that growth means pushing through, figuring it out, or getting it “right.” What if real growth comes from learning how to stay present at your edge? In this powerful conversation, host Elizabeth Mintun sits down with Jaye Marolla to explore a very different approach to leadership, growth, and self-awareness. Drawing from over a decade as a bodywork practitioner, Jaye shares how working with the body can expand our capacity to hold uncertainty, navigate conflict, and move through life with greater presence and resilience.  Together, they unpack the concept of yin-led leadership, challenge common cultural narratives around power and safety, and introduce the idea of edge mapping, a practice of meeting ourselves at the boundary between the known and the unknown. Key Takeaways Growth happens at the edge, through presence. Real transformation comes from staying with discomfort, curiosity, and the unknown rather than bypassing it.mYin leadership is deeply attuned and responsive. True leadership arises from listening, receiving, and being in relationship with what’s happening, rather than controlling it.Edge mapping expands your capacity. By gently exploring your edges (instead of pushing past them), you can build resilience, awareness, and flexibility.Yin and yang are not opposites - they are interdependent. True power comes from their integration: grounded, rooted yin giving rise to clear, intentional yang.Fulfillment is a natural part of life cycles. Knowing when something is complete (and having the awareness to release it) is essential for growth and new emergence. I’d love to hear what stood out to you in this conversation. What edge are you noticing in your own life right now? You can email me at elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com - I always love hearing what’s resonating. Resources  Jaye's website: https://www.thebodyinnate.com/ Jaye’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/thebodyinnate/ Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!

    49 min

  4. APR 1

    136 - The Missing Piece in Midlife Wellness: A Conversation with Daniela Hess about Our Bodies, Our Energy, & Our Aliveness

    If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s feeling exhausted, anxious, disconnected, or “not like yourself”… this episode might impact how you understand what’s happening. For example, what if it’s not just stress… or even your mindset? In this powerful conversation, host Elizabeth Mintun sits down with Daniela Hess, the co-founder, spiritual director, and lead educator of the organization Great Energy. Together, they explore the missing link in so many personal growth and spiritual conversations: your physical body. Daniela dives into why a regulated, relaxed body is essential for deeper healing and awareness, the concept of burnout and adrenal fatigue, and how metabolic and hormonal imbalances affect mood, nervous system regulation, energy levels, and relationships.  Key Takeaways Practice diaphragmatic (belly) breathing throughout the dayIncorporate gentle movement like Qigong or walkingMany "emotional issues” are actually physical imbalances. Hormones, nutrients, and metabolism play a significant role.  Resources  Daniella’s website: https://www.greatenergy.org/ Check out her free monthly offerings:Community Sunday (Qigong practice) Sacred Sunday (guided meditation + reflection) Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!

    47 min

  5. MAR 25

    135 - Spring Energy & the Wood Element: Ancient Chinese Medicine Meets the Living Body

    What if the restlessness, irritation, or quiet longing you’ve been feeling… isn’t random? In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun explores the deeper meaning of spring through the lens of ancient Chinese medicine - not just as a season, but as an internal shift happening within your body, emotions, and energy. She unpacks the Wood element; the energy of growth, movement, vision, and new beginnings, and gently guides you to understand how spring lives within you, perhaps influencing everything from your mood and motivation to your creativity and sense of direction. If you’ve been feeling frustrated, uninspired, or unsure of your next step, this episode offers a compassionate and empowering lens to understand why…and practical exercises to begin shifting. Key Takeaways You are not separate from nature - you move with its seasonsSpring can be a time of activation, growth, and forward momentum, both internally and externallySmall, intentional shifts can help restore flow, creativity, and direction Resources  Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here.  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!

    17 min

  6. MAR 18

    134 - A Conversation with Author Jean Culbertson Sutton on the Rituals that Ground Us: Finding Meaning in Everyday Moments

    “This book is an invitation: an invitation for you to find and adorn your own inner temple. To return to it again and again. To create rituals that speak your language, carry your symbols, and guide you through chaos and into clarity.” — Jean Culbertson Sutton, Ritual Well What if the small things you already do - lighting a candle, holding a meaningful object, pausing with a cup of tea - are actually powerful rituals? In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun welcomes back ritual practitioner and author Jean Culbertson Sutton to explore the power of ritual and how it can reconnect us with ourselves, each other, and the sacred within everyday life. Jean shares how rituals can emerge organically from our lives and become anchors during times of transition, grief, uncertainty, and growth. If you've ever felt drawn to meaningful practices but weren’t sure where to start, this conversation offers a beautiful doorway in. Key Takeaways Ritual helps externalize inner experiences. By interacting with physical objects, emotions like anxiety or grief can feel more tangible and workable.Ritual creates pauses in our lives. These moments of intentional stillness can reconnect us with our bodies, our values, and our sense of meaning.Community rituals deepen belonging. Even simple shared gestures can foster connection and respect among groups.You may already have rituals in your life. Becoming aware of them often deepens their impact. Resources  Jean’s book: Ritual Well Jean’s website: https://jeancsutton.weebly.com/ Find earlier Interview with Jean (episode #5) here Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!

    36 min

  7. MAR 11

    133 - Regulating Your Nervous System Through Assisted Stretching with Lisa Binkley

    What happens when we slow down enough to truly feel our bodies? In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun sits down with assisted stretch practitioner Lisa to explore the transformative potential of assisted stretching and body awareness. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in massage therapy and training in Thai yoga massage, Lisa shares how slow, supported stretching can help people reconnect with their bodies, regulate the nervous system, and release long-held tension. We talk about the difference between performing movement versus receiving movement, why many of us are disconnected from our bodies, and how intentional stretching can create space for both physical and emotional release. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at how practices that reconnect us to the body can shift not only how we move, but also how we live. Key Takeaways Assisted stretching can support nervous system regulation. Slow, guided stretching helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system - the part of the body responsible for rest and relaxation - allowing muscles to release tension and the body to settle.Fascia plays a major role in flexibility and tension. Fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds muscles and organs, can become tight and restricted over time due to stress, repetitive movement, or inactivity. Gentle stretching can help improve fascial mobility and overall movement.Reconnecting with the body can support emotional well-being. Many people store stress and emotional tension physically. Bodywork practices like assisted stretching can create space for relaxation, emotional release, and a deeper sense of grounding. Resources  Connect with Lisa:  - Instagram: Prostretchflex1  - Facebook: Pro Stretch & Flex -TikTok: @pro.stretch.and.f - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-binkley-21862b352 - Website: prostretchflex.com - Email: prostretchflex@gmail.com Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here.  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!

    38 min

  8. MAR 4

    132 - When Your Body Feels Stuck in Pain: A Mind-Body Conversation with Sarah Highland

    If you’re living with chronic pain or pelvic pain - but medical tests keep coming back “normal” - this episode is for you. In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun is joined by Sarah Highland, pelvic floor therapist and AASECT-certified sex counselor, to explore how chronic pain is created by the brain and nervous system, especially pain that doesn’t show up on scans. This conversation addressed the nervous system, central sensitization, shame, trauma, and why pain is always real - even when doctors can’t find a clear cause. If you’ve ever been told “nothing’s wrong” but your body says otherwise, this conversation will offer validation, clarity, and hope. Key Takeaways Pain is always real, even when tests show “nothing wrong.” Pain isn’t “in your head” - your nervous system interprets signals and creates the experience of pain, even without visible tissue damage.Healing often involves both mind and body. Trauma, stress, sleep, fear of movement, and medical experiences all influence chronic pain. Addressing these alongside physical care can be transformative.Hope exists even when pain feels hopeless. If you’ve tried medications or specialists without relief, exploring a biopsychosocial, nervous-system-informed approach can offer new pathways for healing. Resources  Sarah Highland’s website: https://www.pelvicfloorandmore.com/ Sarah’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/pelvicfloorandmore/ Resources Sarah mentioned in this episode: Noigroup Clinical Discussions - YouTube Home - Pelvic Global Directory Rachel Zoffness Pain Science Author An interesting study that speaks to the same topics: Association of Central Sensitization Inventory Scores With Pain Outcomes After Endometriosis Surgery | Obstetrics and Gynecology | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here.  Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!

    37 min
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4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

This podcast offers a space for busy people to go to for inspiration, wisdom, to learn from one another's struggles and transformations, as well as to receive actionable steps to relax, gain confidence, and move forward with the life they long to experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Elizabeth Mintun
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    139
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Calming Ground All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Calming Ground Podcast

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