In this powerful episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Hurt, April and Andrea dive deep into one of the hardest skills most of us will ever learn: setting boundaries without guilt. What does it really mean to say “no”—and actually mean it? Why does the word feel so intimidating, especially for people-pleasers, over-givers, and caretakers?

Drawing from real experiences, childhood conditioning, and nervous system insight, they unpack why boundaries often feel “mean,” why so many of us fear disappointing others, and how to finally shift from people-pleasing to true emotional safety.

The conversation explores:

• Why “no” is not only a full sentence—but an act of self-protection

• How boundaries keep us safe (not change others)

• What to do when people push back against your new limits

• Why guilt isn’t guilt—it’s discomfort

• How worthiness and nervous system regulation connect to boundary-setting

• Scripts, examples, and language to make boundaries easier in real life

• The “Coke Machine Response”—and why people push harder when you change

With honesty, humor, and practical tools, April and Andrea remind us that boundaries aren’t about controlling others—they’re about choosing you. And the more you practice, the safer, stronger, and more empowered you’ll feel.

In this episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Hurt, April and Andrea dive into two very real—and very different—experiences: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). Through laughter, honesty, and personal stories, they explore how each one shows up in daily life, how they affect our relationships, and what’s happening in the brain and body when either takes over.

Andrea shares what it’s like to constantly chase connection and opportunity, fearing she’ll miss a moment of joy, while April opens up about finding comfort—and sometimes avoidance—in staying home and protecting her energy. Together, they unpack how both extremes can lead to burnout, disconnection, or overwhelm, and how finding the middle ground is what truly supports emotional safety.

With grounding exercises like the Wayne Cook regulation technique, reflections on childhood experiences, and compassionate insight into overstimulation vs. loneliness, this episode helps listeners discover their own balance between saying yes and honoring no.

And of course… it ends with a joke you won’t want to miss. 🍅😂

In this episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Hurt, April and Andrea dive deep into the world of emotions. What it really means to be “in your feelings,” and why that’s not a bad thing.

They explore the difference between having feelings and being dysregulated, and how our emotions serve as powerful information about our needs, boundaries, and alignment. From childhood messages like “suck it up” to the ways we’ve learned to apologize for our emotions, this conversation unpacks why so many of us struggle to sit with what we feel.

April and Andrea also share practical, body-based tools to help you recognize, regulate, and express emotions safely, including grounding holds, breathwork, and even a “peacemaker” technique to calm the nervous system.

This episode is a gentle reminder: feeling deeply doesn’t mean you’re broken, it means you’re human.