What happens when a Southern Baptist single mom trades perfectionism for Maya wisdom?

Jan Capps discovered that the secret to a fulfilling life isn't found in climbing to the top; it's woven into the beautiful tapestry of community, creation, and embracing our gloriously imperfect humanity.

In this week's episode, Jan shares her transformative journey from small-town North Carolina to the highlands of Guatemala, where she spent decades working in healthcare and learning from Mayan culture.

Jan takes us through:

- How collaborative, imperfect gods gave Jan permission to embrace mistakes

- Why Maya women weave multiple roles, businesses, and dreams into one integrated life

- How the concept of "Susto" (soul loss) offers profound insights into healing

- A revolutionary approach to values-based living

- Why "everyone has a roof" in Guatemala and what Americans can learn about true interconnectedness

And so much more!

Jan Capps has been a public health advocate for immigrants, farmworkers, domestic violence victims, and people of color in the US, Guatemala, and Mexico for over thirty years, focusing on building local capacity and health equity.

During her two stints living in Guatemala, she organized and trained community health workers and midwives, managed a medical clinic, and studied the Maya Tz’utujil language. She has presented, trained, and written for national audiences.

Her greatest joy and most humbling experiences have been being a mother and watching her glorious daughter grow and launch into the world. Jan splits her time between Seattle, Washington, and North Carolina.

Connect with Jan:

Website: www.jancapps.com

Check out her memoir: Bird's Eye View: A Tapestry of Maya Mythology, Motherhood, and Making Life Anew

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if shame isn’t a flaw, but a signal that something essential in you has been pushed away? In this week’s episode, Aimee sits with David Bedrick, therapist, author of The Unshaming Way, and a passionate advocate for psychological truth-telling.

They explore how shame disconnects us from our experience, distorts our emotions, and shapes our identities from the inside out. Through somatic awareness, storytelling, and radical compassion, David invites us into the process of unshaming—not fixing ourselves, but fully witnessing and embracing the parts we've exiled.

David takes us through:

- Why shame cuts us off from empathy, truth, and genuine accountability

- How trauma and unacknowledged pain become embedded in the body

- The power of somatic language to access “unshamed experience”

- What it means to witness, rather than fix, someone in pain

- Why reclaiming emotion, desire, and personal narrative is essential to healing

- How unshaming returns us to wholeness and expands our capacity to love, feel, and act

And so much more!

David Bedrick, JD, Dipl. PW, is a teacher, counselor, and attorney. He grew up in a family marked by violence. While his father’s brutality was physical and verbal, his mother’s denial and gaslighting had its own covert power. This formative context introduced David early to the etiology of shame and instilled an urge to unshame.

Professionally, he was on the faculty for the University of Phoenix and the Process Work Institute in the U.S. and Poland, and is the founder of the Santa Fe Institute for Shame-based Studies, where he trains therapists, coaches, and healers and offers workshops for individuals to further their own personal development.

David writes for Psychology Today and is the author of three books: Talking Back to Dr. Phil: Alternatives to Mainstream Psychology and Revisioning Activism: Bringing Depth, Dialogue, and Diversity to Individual and Social Change. His new book is You Can’t Judge a Body by Its Cover: 17 Women’s Stories of Hunger, Body Shame and Redemption.

His new book, The Unshaming Way, was published by North Atlantic books in November 2024.

Connect with David:

Website: https://www.davidbedrick.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david.bedrick/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DBedrick

Order The Unshaming Way: https://a.co/d/dYTwNa7

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/contributors/david-bedrick-jd-dipl-pw

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

Have you ever wondered what your pet is really thinking behind those adorable eyes? What if grooming your pet was more than a task, but a sacred exchange of trust and care?

In this week’s episode, Aimee sits down with Cassondra Smith, CEO of Club Pawsh and host of The Unlimited Groomer podcast. Cassondra shares her inspiring journey from music industry professional to animal wellness educator, speaker, and grooming expert.

Whether you’re a pet parent, an animal professional, or simply someone who believes in care-centered living, this conversation will expand your heart and perspective.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

- Cassondra’s journey from cubicles to canines, and finding her true calling

- How grooming is about more than looks, it’s about trust, healing & communication

- The concept of Fear Free grooming and why it’s changing the industry

- Why understanding animal behavior matters more than ever

- How somatic awareness applies to animals and what they teach us about energy

- The emotional impact of trauma (for pets and humans) and how to rebuild the connection

And so much more!

Cassondra Renee FFCP-G, AMCP, founder and CEO of Club Pawsh, is described as the only All-Luxury & Fear Free Certified Mobile Groomer in Buffalo, New York. She is a seasoned groomer with over 10 years of experience in in-home, mobile, and salon settings.

Cassondra has also held corporate roles overseeing hundreds of groomers, where she developed a passion for coaching and advising others in the industry to achieve success financially and personally. Her background includes personal development, a collegiate background in psychology, and a Bachelor's of Science in Music Business Management.

Cassondra's expertise and empowerment coaching have been featured in various media outlets, including Reader's Digest, television news, and animal sanctuary organizations. She also educates on platforms and podcasts within the grooming industry. Alongside her podcast, "The Unlimited Groomer," she offers business coaching tailored to pet industry professionals and is available for speaking engagements.

Additionally, she runs Pawscious Memories, which creates handmade pet keepsakes incorporating hair and cremains. Outside of her professional life, Cassondra has five pets, is involved in WINC (an organization supporting women in business), practices yoga and meditation, and enjoys dancing, reading, roller skating, and traveling.

Connect with Cassondra:

Socials: @clubpawsh, @unlimitedgroomer

Website: clubpawsh.com

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What does it really mean to say yes to healing?

In today’s episode, Aimee Takaya sits down with Jessica Glose, a somatic breathwork practitioner, yoga teacher trainer, and wellness retreat leader, for a deep dive into the power of retreats, nervous system regulation, and honoring the full spectrum of human emotion.

Together, they explore the nuances of personal healing, the importance of facing discomfort, and how our bodies hold the keys to releasing old patterns.

Jessica takes us through:

- Her journey from small-town beginnings to world traveler and wellness facilitator

- How saying “yes” to retreat initiates deep personal transformation

- How retreat experiences create neurological expansion and lasting transformation

- The parallels between childbirth and personal healing journeys

- Why uncomfortable emotions surface during transformative experiences

- The connection between somatics, nervous system regulation, and emotional release

- Jessica's approach to holding space for others through breathwork and retreats

And so much more!

Jessica is a certified Somatic Breathwork Practitioner with over a decade of experience helping people reconnect with their bodies and breath. Her workshops offer a safe and transformative space for participants to release stress, regulate their nervous systems, and tap into emotional and energetic healing. With her holistic approach, Jessica blends breathwork, sound healing, and mindfulness practices to create an immersive experience that nurtures both mind and body.

Beyond her breathwork expertise, Jessica is also a yoga teacher trainer, spiritual wellness retreat leader, and luxury travel designer, curating transformative journeys that inspire connection, exploration, and growth. Whether guiding a somatic healing workshop or crafting a retreat in an exotic location, Jessica’s passion lies in creating supportive, intentional spaces where people can thrive.

As a mama of three, Birth and Postpartum Doula, and Reiki practitioner, Jessica understands the importance of balancing life’s demands with mindful self-care. Her workshops are designed to meet you exactly where you are, offering tools to help you feel grounded, empowered, and aligned.

Connect with Jessica:

IG: jessica_glose & beyond_wanderlust_travel

FB: Jessica Glose

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if your shame wasn't yours to begin with? What if the heaviness you've carried in your body for decades was an energetic inheritance, silently passed down without a single word spoken?

In this week’s episode, Aimee sits down with Natalie Vires, intimacy coach and creator of The Blowjob Queen course, to explore the often taboo connections between our relationships with our fathers, our sexuality, and our sense of self-worth.

Natalie takes us through:

- How silent shame and childhood dynamics shape sexual boundaries

- The energetic impact of parents’ emotions and behaviors

- Reclaiming your voice; literally and metaphorically

- Why pleasure, consent, and self-connection matter in intimacy

- How vocal somatics and humming can regulate anxiety and emotion

- The power of retreats, coaching, and community in healing the self

And so much more!

Natalie Vires is a transformational coach, retreat facilitator, and voice liberation guide who helps people reclaim their sensuality, confidence, and authentic expression. Her work combines inner relationship healing, somatic embodiment, and vocal practices to guide clients into deeper self-trust, intimacy, and joy. Whether through 1:1 coaching or immersive retreats in places like Mexico, Natalie creates spaces where people feel safe to drop their masks, feel sexy in their own skin, and speak with the full frequency of who they are.

Connect with Natalie:

Follow her on Facebook: Natalie Vires

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if nourishment wasn’t something you had to earn or chase, but a way of being?

In this week’s episode, Aimee Takaya sits with Isabel Chiara, intuitive guide, author, and creator of the Nourishment App, to explore what it means to reclaim your inner power through deep self-connection, embodied awareness, and emotional healing.

Together, they discuss how our relationship with food, our emotions, and even our past traumas can either limit or liberate us.

Isabel takes us through:

- Why nourishment is a path, not a goal

- How emotional patterns shape our relationship with food and self-worth

- The power of body scans, inner dialogue, and intuitive somatic practices

- Using triggers as invitations for growth and self-acceptance

- Why denying your emotions can block both healing and joy

- How Isabel’s Nourishment App supports transformational healing from the inside out

And so much more!

ISABEL CHIARA, creator of “The Life Actualization Process,” has been a guide, mentor, and leader throughout her entire life. Over the last thirty years, she has honed her expertise in extensive studies and practices of transformational energy modalities.

As a professional intuitive guide, Isabel activates unlimited potential for her clients, helping them to ignite their most liberated, passionate, and empowered life path, full of prosperity, miracles, and magic.

https://www.facebook.com/isabel.chiari.50 https://www.instagram.com/nourish_isabelchiara/ https://isabel-chiara.com/

Free 30 Days on the Nourishment App:https://isabel-chiara.com/podcast-gift/

AIMEE

Follow Aimee Takaya on: IG: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

Are you feeling overstimulated and disconnected from yourself?

If you’re looking to slow down, tune into your body, and rediscover the joy of being alive through movement, nature, and deep self-awareness, this one’s for you!

In this week’s episode, Aimee Takaya sits down with Jai Knight and Saewon to explore how modern life affects our nervous systems—and how reconnecting with nature and somatic practices can bring us back into balance.

Together, they take us through:

• - How overstimulation fuels anxiety and impacts our well-being

• - How nature and somatics can calm an overstimulated nervous system

• - Jai Knight’s shift from toxic art materials to natural alternatives for healing

• - Saewon’s deep connection to flower essences and intuitive plant wisdom

• - Why intuition and embodiment are more powerful than memorization

• - Aimee’s personal transformation through somatic movement

• And so much more!

  
  

  SAEWON

  Short bio for podcast:

  Saewon is an artist, energy worker, flower essence maker, hypnotherapist, and founder of Sun Song, an embodied research and ritual lab that explores the intersections of plant, human, and planetary consciousness through vibrational essence therapy.

  shop-sunsong.com

  
  

  JAI

  Short Bio for podcast:

  Jai is a land-based interdisciplinary artist exploring transformation through collaborative ritual, immersive experiences, hand-poke tattoo ceremony, and visual art. Their practice bridges personal and collective memory while engaging with environmental and spiritual connections grounded in sensory and emotional experience.

  jaimeschmidtarts.com

  
  

  AIMEE

  Follow Aimee Takaya on: IG: @aimeetakaya

  Facebook: Aimee Takaya

  Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠
  

How does the language you use impact your connection to your body? Today, Aimee Takaya unpacks the profound impact of words on bodily awareness, healing, and self-acceptance.

She shares her journey as a yoga teacher and somatic educator, revealing how shifting from impersonal to personal language transformed the way she relates to her students—and herself.

Tune in to explore:

- Why "the body doesn’t exist" and what that really means

- How language creates connection or disconnection with your body

- The power of saying "your body" instead of "the body"

- How words influence somatic healing and emotional release

- Simple ways to shift your language and deepen body awareness

And so much more!

Follow Aimee Takaya on: IG: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠