In this transformative episode, Scott Lyons is joined by Nicole Sachs, LCSW, a renowned therapist, author, and expert in mind-body healing. Nicole is the creator of the JournalSpeak method, a groundbreaking practice that helps people uncover and release suppressed emotions that manifest as chronic pain. With over two decades of experience, Nicole has dedicated her career to helping people heal by teaching them to understand the mind-body connection and transform their relationship with pain.

Nicole shares her personal journey with chronic back pain, which began in college and led her down a path of medical consultations, surgeries, and prescriptions. However, it wasn’t until she discovered the work of Dr. John Sarno that she began to understand how emotional repression and nervous system dysregulation were contributing to her pain. Nicole’s own healing experience inspired her to create the JournalSpeak method, and she has since guided thousands of people worldwide in using this powerful tool to find lasting relief.

Throughout the conversation, Scott and Nicole explore how pain is often a signal from the body, protecting us from perceived emotional threats rather than just a physical condition. Nicole offers profound insights on how we can begin to change our relationship with pain by embracing curiosity instead of fear and turning toward the emotions we’ve been suppressing.

She introduces the concept of JournalSpeak as a way to safely release emotional energy, and emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and patience on the healing journey. By addressing the emotional roots of pain, Nicole has helped people reclaim their lives from conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, back pain, and more.

Topics We Break Down:

• How the nervous system creates pain to protect us from perceived emotional threats
• The JournalSpeak method: A powerful tool for releasing suppressed emotions and healing pain
• The mind-body connection and how emotional stimuli can manifest as physical pain
• How pain is often a sign of emotional repression, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation
• The importance of validating pain and recognizing its emotional origins
• Building self-compassion and patience in the process of healing
• Inner child work and its role in uncovering deep emotional wounds
• How curiosity and wonder can help shift fear and open new possibilities for healing
• Real-life success stories from people who have healed chronic pain using JournalSpeak

In this deeply moving episode, Dr Scott is joined by Michelle Boulé, a celebrated dancer, choreographer, teacher, and life coach whose transformative journey has been shaped by the interplay of art, movement, and healing. Michelle’s expansive career has taken her from stages across the world to the realm of personal development, where she now helps others unlock their potential through somatic practices, energy work, and emotional movement. Together, Scott and Michelle reflect on their 22-year-long connection, starting when Scott first witnessed Michelle’s magnetic performance in New York City, sparking a journey of personal and creative evolution for them both.

Their conversation delves into Michelle’s personal story, highlighting how significant injuries during her dance career led her to explore somatic healing and energy work, helping her break free from physical and emotional limitations. She shares how these pivotal moments opened new pathways not only in her dance practice but in her coaching work, guiding others toward healing through the body. Michelle and Scott explore the themes of creativity, vulnerability, and resilience—how embracing challenges, whether through physical injury or personal trauma, can lead to profound transformation and greater self-awareness.

The dialogue flows through the broader topics of creativity and purpose, emphasizing the importance of remaining present and curious in the face of life’s uncertainties. They discuss the role of community and support systems in moments of vulnerability, and how letting go of control can open doors to deeper healing and connection. Michelle’s philosophy that “life is our greatest creation” resonates throughout the conversation, encouraging listeners to tap into their own potential for change, no matter the obstacles.

Topics We Break Down:

• The transformative power of creativity and how it fosters presence and awe
• How trauma and obstacles can serve as doorways to growth, fostering resilience and a renewed sense of purpose
• The importance of improvisation in dance and life, allowing for flexibility in navigating uncertainty
• The role of permission in allowing ourselves to fully express and embody our experiences
• Surrendering control and finding freedom through yielding, both in physical movement and emotional processes
• Building emotional capacity through mindful practices and how that leads to more harmony and flow in life
• The importance of community, support systems, and the vulnerability required to truly be held by others

In this compelling episode of The Gently Used Human, Dr. Scott Lyons sits down with Rainier Wylde, a gifted writer, teacher, and guide known for his candid and insightful approach to life’s toughest questions. Rainier has dedicated his life to helping others awaken to their truest selves through the power of honest reflection, creativity, and storytelling. He leads by example, drawing from his own experiences of profound personal loss and transformation to show us how we, too, can break free from the habits of sleepwalking through life.

Rainier’s approach blends wisdom from ancient traditions with a modern understanding of life’s impermanence, challenging us to confront our fears, embrace discomfort, and cultivate the strength to be fully present. Together, he and Dr. Scott unpack what it means to embrace life in all its fleeting beauty, exploring topics like the connection between joy and grief, the need for community, and how we can reclaim the central role in our own lives. This conversation is an invitation to dive deep into the journey of self-discovery, to live with intention, and to find the courage to show up for the life we truly want.

So, find a quiet space, tune in, and let this conversation inspire you to live more fully, bravely, and joyfully.

Topics We Break Down:

• Awakening from “sleepwalking” and learning to live fully
• The importance of facing mortality to enhance presence
• Savoring life’s impermanent moments as a path to joy
• Finding solace and strength through grief and personal loss
• Becoming the main character in our own lives
• Understanding joy versus fleeting happiness
• Using artistry and creativity as tools for healing and transformation