Ever wonder why you get a bad vibe from someone you just met, or why certain places just feel “off” (or totally comforting) for reasons you can’t quite name? In this episode of Thrive the Podcast, trauma therapist, author, and yoga teacher Rebecca Kase unpacks the fascinating science of neuroception—a key principle from Polyvagal Theory introduced by Dr. Stephen Porges. Discover how your nervous system is always scanning your environment to detect safety and danger—without you even realizing it.

Join Rebecca as she explains how neuroception influences intuition, relationships, and emotional regulation, and learn practical tools to tune into your body’s cues and foster a greater sense of safety. You’ll walk away with insights on how to navigate triggers, shift your awareness to cues of safety, and leverage your body’s natural wisdom for healing and growth.

Key topics covered:

• What neuroception is, and why it matters for trauma healing and everyday life
• How your body interprets signals of safety or danger (often before your mind catches on)
• The three domains of neuroception: people, places, and your internal environment
• Practical exercises and tips to increase nervous system regulation and resilience
• Stories from Rebecca’s professional and personal experience, plus a sneak peek at her upcoming book, The Polyvagal Solution

If you’re seeking to understand the hidden language of your nervous system, and move from surviving to thriving, you’ll love this episode!

Subscribe to Thrive the Podcast for more neuroscience, psychology, and practical inspiration from Rebecca Kase.

Unlock the Secrets of Your Autonomic Nervous System—Fight, Flight, and Freeze Explained

Curious about how your nervous system shapes your mood, stress responses, and healing journey? In this essential episode of The Thrive Podcast with Rebecca Kase, trauma therapist, author, and yoga teacher Rebecca guides you through the science and spirit of the three key pathways—fight, flight, and freeze—that define the autonomic nervous system. Whether you’re a trauma therapist, healer, yogi, or anyone seeking nervous system regulation and lasting resilience, this episode reveals actionable insights to help you thrive—not just survive.

Discover:

• Polyvagal theory explained: How your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work and what the vagus nerve means for your emotional health.
• Physiological state decoded: Learn how your body’s state influences anxiety, depression, shutdown, or thriving, and why “fight, flight, and freeze” aren’t just buzzwords—they’re your biology in action.
• Why neuroception matters: Unlock how subconscious threat detection shapes emotion, behavior, and healing, plus how you can intervene for greater safety and presence.
• Real tools for nervous system regulation: Simple tips (breath work, movement, finding moments of safety and joy) to activate your ventral vagal pathway and shift from survival mode to grounded thriving.
• Science meets spirituality: Blending neuroscience with lived experience, Rebecca offers hope, neuroplasticity insights, and micro-practices for lasting transformation.

If you’re recovering from trauma, supporting others through healing, or simply searching for more balance and connection in life, tune in for empowering strategies you can use today.

Don’t miss Rebecca’s new book "The Polyvagal Solution"—explore even more powerful tools for nervous system healing, coming soon from New Harbinger.

🧠 Listen and thrive:
The Thrive Podcast with Rebecca Kase

Keywords: polyvagal theory, autonomic nervous system, fight flight freeze, vagus nerve, trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, neuroscience, emotional health, ventral vagal, neuroplasticity, Rebecca Kase, mental health podcast, healing, resilience

Ready to thrive—not just survive? In this episode of Thrive the Podcast, I break down the science of polyvagal theory in a practical, approachable way.

Learn how your vagus nerve and autonomic nervous system impact your emotions, relationships, and daily stress. Explore core concepts like neuroception, the social engagement system, and the vagal paradox—and learn how understanding these can empower trauma therapists, wellness professionals, and healing humans alike.

Whether you're curious about nervous system regulation, mental health, or how to find balance in a chaotic world, this episode offers insights and tools you can use right now.

Discover how working with your biology—not against it—can be the key to lasting transformation.

Thrive On,

Rebecca