The calendar fills. Group chats buzz. The season starts to feel like a performance instead of a celebration. In this episode, we pause to name what drains our joy this time of year: Obligation.

We explore how obligation shows up as invisible labor, full of emotional management, and conditioned yes responses. A tight chest. Shallow breath. Subtle self abandonment. We talk about how resentment builds and how to notice the signs early.

We speak honestly about conditioning, especially for women taught to nurture first. Beneath the doing often sits a simple desire for connection, recognition, or belonging. When those needs get chased through overspending or over functioning, disappointment follows. We reframe responsibility with small children as a values based choice rather than a life ruled by musts. We also name the line between loving care and scorekeeping. Using Byron Katie’s question, Is it true?, we separate facts from stories so decisions stop running on guilt and habit.

Then we move into the body. A true yes feels open and breathable. A no feels compressed or heavy. We share fast somatic resets like a short walk, a stretch, or a song that brings you back into your hips so clarity returns quickly. We offer scripts to enroll help without control. Appreciate the effort. Name the help you want. Repeat. Done and not done by me becomes the seasonal mantra.

We close with a reimagining of tradition. Fewer tasks. More presence. Boundaries that stay clear and kind.

Episode Highlights

• naming obligation energy and self abandonment
• separating facts from stories using Byron Katie’s question
• recognizing body cues for yes and no
• unpacking conditioning and invisible labor
• reframing responsibility with small children
• enrolling help through clear requests and repetition
• simplifying gifts and traditions for connection
• somatic resets to stop pushing through
• practical checkpoints before saying yes
• setting boundaries without guilt

Share this episode with someone who needs permission to say a clean no. You can find our handles in the show notes. We'd love to hear from you.

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Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
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catherine@catherinenavarro.com

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@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN

What if rest wasn’t a prize you earn after burning out, but the source of your creativity, clarity and kindness? We pull apart the tangled beliefs that keep us sprinting from the fear of losing momentum, the scarcity around time, and the nagging worry that energy might never return and offer a grounded way to choose rest before the crash.

Together, we map the difference between sick rest and restorative rest, and why both matter. You’ll hear candid stories about pushing past limits, learning to read the body’s early signals, and the surprising relief that comes from canceling plans without guilt. We get practical: simple rituals for low-input restoration, a candle-and-oil wind-down that nourishes the senses, and a quiet-leaning approach for those who crave silence. We also share a quick energy audit to build evidence that rest “works,” helping you trust your body over the loud "shoulds".

Rest isn’t always stillness. Sometimes movement is the medicine. From an unhurried walk, to free dancing (with or without music), to gentle somatic practice that helps emotions metabolize. We offer a litmus test to decide: Is your body truly tired, or are you tired of feeling emotions/feelings? That distinction unlocks momentum without self-abandonment. We also look at how boredom primes the mind for creativity, why sustainable pacing changes with age, and how honoring your cycles protects your relationships, your work, and your health.

We explore rest for rest’s sake... We invite you to do the same.

Here are some episode highlights:
• difference between sick rest and restorative rest
• age, energy capacity and letting go of the push
• daily rest rituals and low‑input options
• human design nuances and pacing styles
• emotional fatigue versus physical fatigue
• evidence‑based energy audits to test what works
• boredom as a doorway to creativity
• when rest invites big feelings and what to do
• choosing between rest or movement each day
• protecting relationships by resourcing early

an added note: When using grounding as a rest method, a minimum of 15 minutes is required to impact the viscosity of our blood. So for example, that means we need a minimum of 15 minutes of barefoot/palm contact when on grass/sand, in water, or when touching a tree.

Support the show

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Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

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@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN

What if you stopped waiting for an invitation and started treating life like it matters today? Catherine and Brenda explore the power of ritual, the medicine of desire, and the steady courage it takes to create meaning in your own life. From the circle of the Grand Ole Opry to a candlelit bill paying session at a kitchen table, they look at how a small shift in attention changes everything.

They explore the trap of waiting for the perfect moment and offer a grounded reframe. Work with what is here right now. Brenda shares simple practices that steady her each day and shift her energy and her relationships in real time. Catherine explores the pressure to say yes in communities where sacrifice is praised and how clear boundaries become a form of self-respect.

Perception becomes a practical tool. They look at how algorithms shape mood and how choosing beauty and kindness can expand possibility. They offer simple ways to bring ceremony to chores. Music, soft lighting, a favorite glass, or a comfortable robe. The task stays the same but the experience shifts, along with the willingness to keep showing up. The idea of every day as a holiday becomes a map. It's up to us to you make our own life feel meaningful.

They explore how ritual and perception shape ordinary moments and why waiting for an invitation keeps people outside the lives they want. They share daily practices, boundary setting, and practical ways to make hard tasks pleasurable.

Episode Highlights

• ceremony and ritual as daily tools for meaning
• creating your own drum roll
• moving from future wish to present action
• speaking your true yes and a true no with courage
• simple morning rituals that fuel joy and change perspective
• perception as practice and curating your algorithm
• turning chores into pleasure with design and attention
• honoring impermanence and celebrating small wins

Like, share, comment, or leave a review. It's the best way to supports this work! Please know this type of support is so deeply appreciated.

Support the show

Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.

Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support.

Book with Brenda

Book with Catherine

Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

Connect on Instagram:
@desireasmedicinepodcast
@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN

The holidays can really speed up your life. Catherine and Brenda invite listeners to treat Thanksgiving as a time for gratitude. They explore gratitude as a perception practice. They bring in the Chinese parable of maybe, maybe not and the mantra if I am not winning, I am learning to show how progress grows through honest reflection.

They examine the fine line between positivity and bypass. They focus on how intent shapes perception and how the right lens supports either momentum or shortfall. They share how releasing perfection creates room for risk. Speaking up before knowing the result or trying improv both strengthen a desire led life. They also share a gratitude exercise, "name what you have today that a past version of you wanted". The courage to begin something new counts toward building capacity.

Catherine and Brenda honor their listeners and talk about love and grief as signs of meaning. They invite everyone to slow down, choose a focus, and acknowledge progress. Bring this to your Thanksgiving table. Ask real questions. Take small risks. Let gratitude sink in.

Here are the Episode Highlights:
• The Chinese parable of "Maybe, Maybe Not"
• Perception as a lever for experience
• Avoiding positivity as bypass
• Choosing lenses for mood
• Win or learn as a living mantra
• Releasing perfection to take risks
• Love, grief, and meaning

Wishing our listeners a wonderful Thanksgiving and an extended warm hug. Thank you for listening and for all of your messages and insights about what you enjoyed from our episodes. We are grateful for you!

Support the show

Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.

Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support.

Book with Brenda

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Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

Connect on Instagram:
@desireasmedicinepodcast
@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN

A tour through GraceLand in Nashville was created to be a fun excursion. But became something much bigger: a clear view of how much has changed; and how much we take for granted when it comes to voice, rights, and real creative freedom.

Standing where Elvis needed producers, radio slots, and physical pressings to be heard, we realized we can open a laptop, hit record, and publish without permission. That contrast sparked a conversation about gratitude, responsibility, and the quiet privileges woven into everyday life.

Episode Highlights:
• contrast between legacy music gatekeepers and today’s creator tools
• creative control as modern privilege and responsibility
• women’s financial and legal milestones expanding choice
• tradeoffs of single vs double income households
• self‑actualization across generations and parenting timelines
• regulating the nervous system to make clear choices
• celebrating small wins as daily practice
• reframing success markers around alignment

Support the show

Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.

Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support.

Book with Brenda

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Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

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@desireasmedicinepodcast
@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN

Ever feel like your calendar runs your life and your heart gets whatever scraps are left? This week, we dig into what it truly takes to stay connected to yourself while navigating love, work, and the relentless pull of everyday demands. From body-based practices to smart scheduling, we map out how to reclaim attention, set honest boundaries, and make choices you can stand behind.

We start with the core truth: the most important relationship you have is with yourself.

We share how to stop losing yourself in love, work, and life by building a daily relationship with your body, your attention, and your truth. We offer practical tools to find your yes and no, use your calendar as support, and return faster when you drift.

Highlights:
• Self-connection as your most important relationship
• Tools we share: body scans, breathwork and somatic practices to reconnect
• How to use systems and calendars that protect rest and fun
• Spaciousness versus stillness as different pathways
• Learning your true yes and no through experiments
• Reducing cleanup by pausing before commitments
• Building five-minute daily touch points that stick
• How to recover faster after disconnection and compression

We are available to support you in a one-to-one capacity. Click the links to message us to inquire about working with either one of us.

Like, share, subscribe to our podcast. It is the best way that you can show us love and support. Thank you for listening!

Support the show

Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work.

Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support.

Book with Brenda

Book with Catherine

Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

Connect on Instagram:
@desireasmedicinepodcast
@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN

Catherine & Brenda guide a Body Scan that turns stress into clear signals and shows how somatic awareness supports desire-led choices. Breathwork, curiosity, and small resourcing moves help you feel safer, softer, and more honest with yourself.

Episode Highlights:
• why a five-minute body scan builds self-trust
• naming sensations to separate signals from stories
• lengthening breath to calm the nervous system
• breathing into tension and letting it speak
• using humming, hand-to-heart, and grounding as resourcing
• choosing a one percent action for support
• integrating presence into daily decisions and desire

You can find our links to book calls with us if you're interested in working one-on-one with either one of us. Links to message us are in the show notes. We would love to hear from you xoxo

Support the show

Like, Rate, Review and Share this episode. Thanks in advance for your support.

Click the links below for 1:1 support.

Book with Brenda

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Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

Connect on Instagram:
@desireasmedicinepodcast
@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN

When the mind gets loud and the body goes into alert, thinking harder does not calm anything. Brenda and Catherine guide listeners to slow down. They introduce a gentle body scan practice to shift awareness into regulation. One breath. One sensation. One small shift. These small shifts build trust in the body’s signals.

They share how to use a body scan daily. Before checking a bank balance, during an argument, while parenting, when our inner alarm system fires without a clear cause. Listeners learn what to notice, how to track changes before and after, and simple resources like water, breath, movement, journaling, and truth-telling. Brenda introduces a Qoya movement practice.

This episode supports anyone who feels tired and wired, stuck in comparison, or unsure how to hear the body. Better choices grow from a rooted place. Stronger relationships grow from presence. A connected body keeps you from self-abandonment.

Episode Highlights
• What a body scan is and why it works
• Signs of dysregulation and the runaway train feeling
• Curiosity and compassion instead of fixing
• Practical cues to track during a scan
• Using the scan during money stress, relationship conflict, and busy days
• Movement and nature as pathways back to yourself
• Ego wants versus true desire
• One percent resourcing and integration
• How regulation deepens intimacy and choice

The upcoming episode #115 will be a toolbox episode, with the full guided body scan practice.

If you resonated with anything that we spoke about today, please subscribe to our podcast, like, share with a fried, rate and review. It is the best way for you to support this podcast. Book a call through the show note links to explore one-to-one support.

Support the show

Like, Rate, Review and Share this episode. Thanks in advance for your support.

Click the links below for 1:1 support.

Book with Brenda

Book with Catherine

Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

Connect on Instagram:
@desireasmedicinepodcast
@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN