Wisdom Without The Guru

Regina Sayer
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Behind every pivot, loss, career shift, trauma or reinvention is a story. Wisdom Without the Guru grew from my belief that growth is something we live, not something we’re taught from a pedestal. Through grounded, real-world conversations, I explore how people rebuild, adapt, and rediscover purpose after trauma, change and conflict — in work, health, relationships, and identity. My guests are coaches, authors, healers, social workers, therapists and everyday people who’ve turned lived experience into practical insight. Together, we look at what awareness, authenticity, and being human really mean when life gets complex.

  1. 1D AGO

    Learning to Feel Safe and Trust Your Body with Cori Myka

    What if fear isn’t something to push through—but something to understand? Cori Myka shares how her early experiences with mistrust, fear, and childhood trauma shaped not only her relationship with water but also her understanding of how the body holds and responds to experience. Despite initially resisting traditional swim instruction, Cori taught herself how to swim—and later built a swim school based on a completely different approach: one that prioritises nervous system regulation, trust, and individual pacing over performance. The conversation moves beyond swimming. It explores how fear is experienced in the body, how internal narratives form early, and how those patterns can quietly shape behaviour, relationships, and choices. Cori also shares how working with people living with HIV/AIDS after leaving university shifted her perspective on identity, compassion, and seeing beyond surface-level assumptions. At the core of this conversation is a simple but often overlooked idea: Real change doesn’t happen by forcing the body forward—it happens by learning how to feel safe enough to move at all. Key Takeaways Fear is often rooted in early experiences, not present realityThe body can react even when the mind understands something is safeTrust is built through experience, not instruction Internal narratives shape behaviour more than external ability Learning requires psychological safety, not pressure Disassociation can become a long-term coping pattern Performance does not equal comfort or confidence Slowing down can be more effective than pushing through The nervous system plays a central role in learning and change Exposure without safety can reinforce fear rather than resolve it Compassion—for others and self—can shift perception and behaviour Healing often happens gradually, not through a single breakthroughAbout: Cori Myka is the founder of Calm Within Adult Swim, with over 25 years of experience in adult swim education. She specialises in helping adults overcome their fear of water through a unique blend of mental and physical training techniques. Her mission is to empower individuals to become confident swimmers and embrace personal growth by working with students and certifying instructors. Connect at: IG, YouTube, Website We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏  Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    1h 41m

  2. MAR 12

    From Shame and Self-Destruction to Faith with Samantha Stewartz

    Samantha Stewartz’s story doesn’t follow a simple arc of struggle and recovery. It unfolds through years of internal conflict, self-destructive patterns, and moments that forced her to question everything she believed about herself. Growing up in what appeared to be a stable household, Samantha nevertheless felt like an outsider in her own family. Early experiences with bullying and being labelled “the fat kid” shaped how she saw herself for years. By adolescence, those feelings deepened into loneliness, emotional eating, and thoughts of suicide following the death of the one person she felt truly understood by — her grandfather. In college, alcohol became a way to escape the pain she didn’t know how to process. Waking up in a bush after a night of drinking forced her to confront the trajectory she was on and led her toward building a career in fitness. Yet success on the outside didn’t resolve what was happening internally. Patterns of binge behaviour, unhealthy relationships, and emotional turmoil continued to surface. Samantha shares openly about divorce, emotional abuse, and the moment she nearly ended her life before an experience she describes as hearing her niece’s voice calling her back to life. A long process of therapy, personal development, and eventually a deep spiritual transformation reshaped how she understands healing, identity, and purpose. In this conversation, Samantha reflects on the patterns that shaped her life, the tools she used to understand herself, and the practices — including video journaling — that helped her process experiences and rebuild a sense of connection. Key Takeaways Early feelings of not belonging can shape identity and self-worth for years.Coping patterns such as binge eating, drinking, overworking, or excessive exercise can develop as ways to avoid emotional pain.Outward success doesn’t always reflect what someone is experiencing internally.Moments of crisis can become turning points that force deeper self-reflection.Therapy and personal development can help uncover long-standing behavioral patterns.Tools like video journaling can provide a practical way to observe thoughts, behaviors, and communication patterns more objectively.About: Samantha Stewartz is a Wholistic Fitness Coach helping business women condition all parts of themselves so they're more effective in their work and live happier lives. She teaches women how to be their own best-support for well-being and equips them to carry that strength into their professional and personal settings. Her invitation is to women who want a Life of Harmony; in their families, communities, and marketplace.  Connect: Website, IG -  updated since those mentioned in the interview We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏 Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    1h 32m

  3. MAR 6

    Growing Up With Family Conflict with Tenya Eickenberg

    What happens when the environment you grow up in leaves emotional patterns that follow you well into adulthood? Tenya Eickenberg shares the story of growing up in a military family where frequent moves, family conflict, and a mother struggling with mental illness shaped her early life. Tenya describes childhood experiences that included relocating across countries, separation from siblings, and living in a household marked by tension and unpredictability. As she entered adolescence, those early experiences showed up in ways she didn’t fully understand at the time — people-pleasing, hiding parts of herself, and searching for stability in relationships. After becoming a young mother, Tenya focused on raising her children and creating a different environment for her family. But years later, once her children left home, unresolved emotions resurfaced as anxiety and depression. That turning point eventually led her to therapy, a diagnosis of complex PTSD, and an exploration of holistic emotional healing practices. Key Takeaways How frequent moves during childhood can shape a person’s ability to adapt while also affecting their sense of stability and belonging.How growing up in a household affected by mental illness and conflict can influence the roles children take on within a family.How early family experiences can lead people to develop coping behaviours such as accommodating others or keeping parts of themselves hidden.Why people sometimes try to create a different environment for their own children than the one they experienced growing up.How unresolved experiences from earlier life can surface years later as anxiety or depression, particularly during major life transitions.How seeking professional support can help identify underlying patterns and open the door to different approaches to emotional healing.About: Tenya Eickenberg is an energy healer, certified self-care coach, and host of The Metamorphosis Project Podcast. After navigating her own experiences with anxiety and depression, she began exploring holistic approaches focused on emotional wellbeing and energy work. Today she supports individuals and groups through private sessions, healing circles, and her Design Your Existence programs. Through her work and podcast, Tenya shares conversations and tools that encourage emotional awareness, self-care, and personal growth. She is currently writing a book titled Self-Care Is a Frequency. Connect at IG, FB, Podcast, Website We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏 Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    1h 37m

  4. FEB 26

    Addiction, Identity, and Recovery - The Disease of Me with Michael Bugary

    Michael Bugary, a former elite baseball player whose life shifted after injury, addiction, and serious illness changed his direction, reflects on growing up in a military family, finding structure and recognition through baseball, and progressing through college athletics into professional baseball. He speaks openly about prescription stimulant use, injury, and the end of his playing career. Following his release from professional baseball, Michael describes cycles of substance use, repeated attempts to return to the sport, and a family intervention that led him into treatment. He later received a diagnosis of a rare adult brain cancer and underwent multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. After surviving cancer, Michael was left with chronic nerve damage and persistent pain. As part of his recovery, he began exploring meditation, intentional movement, and nervous system retraining. He also speaks about the role of his therapy dog, Lingo, whose presence became a stabilising and meaningful part of his healing and later advocacy work. Today, Michael shares his story as a speaker and therapy dog advocate, reflecting on addiction, identity loss, recovery, and what it means to rebuild life beyond former definitions of success while remaining accountable. Key Takeaways Identity built on performance alone is fragileAddiction often begins long before substances enter the pictureSuccess can mask distress — and delay interventionInjury and illness can expose unresolved emotional patternsRecovery requires honesty, not just abstinenceHealing can be physical, psychological, and behaviouralPurpose often emerges only after old identities fall awaySupport systems matter — even when they’re uncomfortableAbout: Michael Bugary is a former Division-I and professional athlete, playing baseball for the University of California, Berkeley and for the Boston Red Sox organisation. He is also a recovering addict and brain cancer survivor. Today, as a motivational speaker, he shares his story with the hope of helping others who face challenging times.  Connect at: IG, FB, Website We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏 Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    1h 37m

  5. FEB 19

    Childhood Trauma, Healing, and Intuition with Natasha Randolph

    Natasha Randolph shares her experience of growing up with instability, neglect, and abuse, alongside the early emergence in childhood of an intuitive and sensory awareness she didn’t yet have language for. Much of Natasha’s childhood was spent without consistent adult supervision. She describes being passed between caretakers, navigating bullying, food insecurity, and abuse, and learning early how to stay quiet, adapt, and rely on herself and her sister. At school, this showed up as a stutter, difficulties with reading, and periods of withdrawal that were often misunderstood. During the same years, Natasha began experiencing vivid dreams, sensing energy, and seeing spirits. With no guidance or framework, she searched for explanations on her own, experimenting with protection, ritual, and grounding — sometimes helpfully, sometimes not.  Later, she walked away from a promising nursing career after recognising how deeply she absorbed others’ pain.  Key topics Growing up without protection or emotional safetyThe overlap between trauma, hyper-vigilance, and intuitive perceptionUsing spiritual ability as control during adolescence — and the consequencesA crisis at sixteen that forced a choice between continuing to self-destruct or taking responsibility for healingWalking away from a medical career after recognising how deeply she absorbed others’ painGradually building a grounded, ethical, and legally registered spiritual practiceAbout: Natasha Randolph is a professional psychic medium, Usui Reiki Master, and eclectic pagan witch helping others reclaim their power on their spiritual and healing journey. Through spiritual education, private sessions, and events, she guides others to connect with their spirit team, higher self, and inner child. As the founder of Psychic Medium Natasha LLC, she empowers empaths, witches, healers, and seekers through accessible teachings and transformational experiences. Connect at: YouTube, FB, Website If you want to show your appreciation, please do leave a comment or give us a feedback. And best of all, share the show We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏 Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    1h 42m

  6. FEB 17

    Inside The Way Through Chronic Pain: A Conversation with Author Elizabeth Kipp

    Elizabeth Kipp returns for a focused conversation on her book The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power. In this special episode, Elizabeth explains why she chose to write the book after being told she would never heal from chronic pain—and how the writing process itself became part of her ongoing recovery. Rather than focusing on memoir, the book explores the lived inner experience of chronic pain, the neurological stress patterns that sustain it, and the practical tools she used to interrupt those patterns.  Elizabeth also discusses what she has learned since the book’s publication through years of client work. This episode is for people living with chronic pain, those supporting them, and practitioners who want a clearer understanding of what chronic pain sufferers are actually navigating internally. Key Takeaways Chronic pain is often maintained by long-term nervous system stress patterns Avoidance, numbing, and resistance can reinforce pain rather than resolve it Meditation and breathwork can support neurological recalibration Safety perception plays a central role in pain reactivity Daily practice matters more than occasional intervention Healing involves identity shifts, not just symptom relief Ancestral and inherited stress patterns may contribute to chronic pain Recovery is an ongoing relationship, not a one-time fixAbout: Elizabeth Kipp is a Stress Management, Historical Trauma Specialist, and Addiction Recovery and Betrayal Trauma Coach. She healed from over 40 years of chronic pain, including betrayal trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, and addiction. Now, in long-term recovery, she helps others tap into their healing potential, discover freedom from suffering, and lead a thriving life. She is the international best-selling author of “The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power.”  Connect at: IG, LinkedIn, Website We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏 Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    40 min

  7. FEB 12

    Rethinking Chronic Pain: Stress, Trauma & Nervous System Recovery with Elizabeth Kipp

    What if chronic pain isn’t only physical? In this episode, Elizabeth Kipp shares how she lived with chronic pain, anxiety, and panic attacks for over 40 years — including 32 years on prescription medication and multiple spinal surgeries — before finding a path to recovery. But this episode is not just about back pain. Elizabeth reframes chronic pain as a nervous system condition — one shaped by trauma, hypervigilance, stress response dysregulation, ancestral imprinting, and long-standing patterns in the brain. Born into early trauma, raised in instability, and living through Cold War fear and family dysfunction, Elizabeth explains how chronic stress became wired into her system long before her physical injury. We explore:  • Why chronic pain is often a stress-response condition  • The limits of a purely physical medical model  • Detoxing after decades on opiates and anti-anxiety medication  • Meditation, breathwork, Qigong, EFT tapping, and ancestral clearing  • The moment she realised she had a role in her healing This conversation bridges science, trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, and spiritual experience — without bypassing the realities of medical intervention. If you’ve ever been told to “just live with it,” this episode offers a broader perspective on what healing might mean. Key Takeaways Chronic pain is not only physical; it is often a nervous system condition shaped by stress and traumaThe brain processes emotional, physical, and psychological pain through similar pathwaysHypervigilance in childhood can become chronic stress in adulthood.Medication can mask pain while reinforcing the stress response underneath itYou cannot think your way out of chronic pain; you must regulate your nervous systemMeditation becomes powerful when the stress chemistry is addressedAncestral patterns may influence stress physiologyPain is information — and can become a catalyst for transformationHealing requires participation, not passive treatmentDaily nervous system practices sustain recoveryAbout: Elizabeth Kipp is a Stress Management, Historical Trauma Specialist, and Addiction Recovery and Betrayal Trauma Coach. She healed from over 40 years of chronic pain, including betrayal trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, and addiction. Now, in long-term recovery, she helps others tap into their healing potential, discover freedom from suffering, and lead a thriving life. She is the international best-selling author of “The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power.”  Connect at: IG, LinkedIn, Website We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏 Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    1h 35m

  8. FEB 4

    Childhood Trauma, Policing, and PTSD: Breaking the Silence as a First Responder with Laverne Friesen

    What happens when the environment that raises you is also the source of harm? In this episode I speak with Laverne Friesen, a former Canadian law enforcement officer who grew up in an ultra-conservative, closed religious community in rural Alberta. From early childhood, Laverne experienced violence, scapegoating, fear-based control, and profound betrayal — including sexual assault that was never properly addressed because the church insisted on “handling it internally.” Laverne eventually left the community as a teenager and built a career in policing and emergency response. But the nervous system that grows up in chaos doesn’t simply reset. Over time, the hypervigilance, emotional suppression, workplace toxicity, and untreated trauma began to surface — culminating in severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and the realisation that the culture around him had no language for honest support. This is also a conversation about what actually helps: the difference a trauma-informed therapist can make, the power of hearing “you are not alone,” and the importance of holding space — not fixing, not performing, simply being present. Key Takeaways Trauma is not only what happens, but what happens when no one protects you afterward. Closed systems thrive on silence, fear, and social control. The nervous system adapts to chaos and later mistakes it for normal. First responder culture often rewards toughness, not honesty. Emotional suppression doesn’t remove pain — it delays it. Burnout is often the final stage of long-term unacknowledged stress. Healing often begins with safety, connection, and being truly seen. Support doesn’t require perfect words — it requires presence. Recovery includes boundaries, change, and redefining what peace looks like. Speaking openly becomes part of breaking the cycle for others.About: Laverne Friesen is a former law enforcement officer in Canada with a background marked by personal adversity and professional intensity. Nowadays, he is a single father focused on building a life defined by peace rather than adrenaline. He's also a trauma advocate, peer support leader, podcast host and public speaker who brings a voice of experience to conversations around childhood trauma, mental health and healing.  Connect at: FB, IG  We'd love to hear from you 🥰. Support the show ✔️ Like, Comment & Subscribe ✔️ Share with someone who needs this message ✔️ Leave a review on your podcast app ✔️ Subscribe and support here or here ☕ 🙏 Follow us for video clips and more: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

    1h 36m
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About

Behind every pivot, loss, career shift, trauma or reinvention is a story. Wisdom Without the Guru grew from my belief that growth is something we live, not something we’re taught from a pedestal. Through grounded, real-world conversations, I explore how people rebuild, adapt, and rediscover purpose after trauma, change and conflict — in work, health, relationships, and identity. My guests are coaches, authors, healers, social workers, therapists and everyday people who’ve turned lived experience into practical insight. Together, we look at what awareness, authenticity, and being human really mean when life gets complex.

Information

  • Creator
    Regina Sayer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Wisdom Without The Guru
  • Show Website
    Wisdom Without The Guru