In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Christine reflects on one of the most transformative experiences of her life: losing her mother at 37 weeks pregnant while simultaneously preparing to become a mother herself.

What began as a conversation about motherhood became a reflection on something much larger, the human capacity to hold seemingly opposite experiences at the same time, grief and joy. Love and loss. Expansion and heartbreak.

Through stories from her own journey, lessons from Chinese medicine, and reflections on nervous system health, Dr. Christine explores why emotional complexity isn’t something to fix, avoid, or simplify. Instead, it may be one of the greatest gifts of being human.

This episode is an invitation to rethink what it means to be resilient, to question the idea that regulation means always feeling calm, and to consider the possibility that some of life’s most difficult moments are also the ones that expand our capacity for love, depth, and presence.

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In This Episode:

• The experience of losing a mother while becoming a mother
• Why life rarely asks us to feel one thing at a time
• The surprising gift of discovering our capacity to hold opposing experiences
• Grief, pregnancy, and the fear of “doing it wrong” emotionally
• A powerful conversation with a midwife that changed everything
• Why witnessing human emotion can be healthy and healing for children
• The difference between suppressing emotions and allowing them to move through us
• How grief helped shape Dr. Christine’s perspective on life and motherhood
• A Chinese medicine perspective on emotions and health
• Why nervous system regulation is about capacity, not constant calm
• The role of challenge, loss, and uncertainty in personal growth
• What “plot twists” can teach us about resilience and adaptability
• The importance of making space for life’s complexity and nuance
• Why humans are built for more emotional depth than we often realize
• The concept that “the intensity of life is a gift”
• How difficult seasons can expand our ability to love, connect, and be present

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://thedaoofhumaning.buzzsprout.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1869811351

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/79Llx5Um3cDSJqXG0JIsVL

RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2574021.rss

Support & Connect
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchristine.sanmiquel/

Produced by: Reese Leanne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shot_by_reese/

In this episode, Dr. Christine shares reflections from attending a patient’s embryo transfer and explores the emotional, energetic, and deeply human aspects of fertility that often get overlooked.

While fertility conversations are frequently centered around hormones, timelines, testing, and outcomes, the reality is that the journey to parenthood is also one of uncertainty, transformation, surrender, hope, disappointment, joy, and growth. Through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this episode explores the connection between the heart and the womb, the role of emotional well-being in reproductive health, and why supporting the whole person matters just as much as supporting the physical body.

Dr. Christine also shares a powerful patient story about anxiety, fertility, unexpected surprises, and the profound transformation that occurs as we move through the journey of becoming parents.

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In This Episode:

• Why fertility is about much more than hormones, timelines, and test results
• The emotional and spiritual aspects of trying to conceive
• How Chinese medicine supports fertility beyond the physical body
• The value of having a space where all emotions are welcome during a fertility journey
• Why more fertility clinics are recognizing the benefits of integrative care
• What it looks like to receive acupuncture before and after embryo transfer
• A patient story about fertility struggles, anxiety, and an unexpected pregnancy
• The journey from embryo retrieval to transfer and everything in between
• A Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective on the heart-womb connection
• The role of joy, openness, and emotional nourishment in reproductive health
• How motherhood transforms us long before a baby arrives
• Learning to live with uncertainty, surrender, and trust
• Holding multiple emotions at the same time during fertility and parenthood
• Why perfectionism often shows up during fertility and motherhood
• The importance of repair, grace, and embracing our humanity as parents
• How support systems can look different for every individual and every fertility journey
• Finding the balance between structure, control, and flexibility during fertility treatment
• Why whole-person support can make a meaningful difference throughout the fertility experience

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://thedaoofhumaning.buzzsprout.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1869811351

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/79Llx5Um3cDSJqXG0JIsVL

RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2574021.rss

Support & Connect
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchristine.sanmiquel/

Produced by: Reese Leanne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shot_by_reese/

In this episode, Dr. Christine explores the phenomenon lovingly known as “Mayvember”: that unique stretch of the year where family schedules explode with school events, sports, performances, celebrations, and all the end-of-year chaos that somehow arrives all at once.

Through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Wood element of spring, this conversation reframes May not as something to survive perfectly, but as a season to move with more intentionally. Rather than trying to stop the momentum, the goal becomes creating more flow within it.

This episode explores movement, self-awareness, creativity, nervous system support, perfectionism, humor, and the importance of allowing space for rest and regrouping after intense seasons of life. It’s a grounded and honest conversation about navigating busy seasons with more grace, flexibility, and connection to what actually nourishes us.

In This Episode:

• What “Mayvember” is and why this season feels uniquely chaotic
• How spring and the Wood element relate to movement, growth, and momentum
• Why the goal isn’t to stop the chaos — but to keep energy flowing smoothly through it
• Using movement and routine as support during busy seasons
• The difference between fighting the season vs. working with it
• A conversation about being a “Type C mom” and embracing flexibility
• Letting go of perfectionism and making more space for grace
• Why self-awareness is protective during intense seasons of life
• Learning to recognize when you need movement vs. when you need rest
• How nourishment includes more than just food in Chinese medicine
• The impact of what we consume through our eyes, ears, and attention
• Why humor, laughter, and joy are powerful nervous system supports
• The role of creativity as a form of energy movement and inspiration
• Redefining creativity beyond traditional artistic expression
• Why intense seasons often highlight our desire for control
• The importance of regrouping and reflecting after periods of activation
• Creating intentional check-ins as we transition into a new season

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://thedaoofhumaning.buzzsprout.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1869811351

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/79Llx5Um3cDSJqXG0JIsVL

RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2574021.rss

Support & Connect
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchristine.sanmiquel/

Produced by: Reese Leanne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shot_by_reese/