What does a neuroscientist who treats trauma have in common with a 20th century Russian acting teacher? More than you would think.

In this episode, Brian Zane sits down with Jenna Pacelli - licensed therapist, molecular neuroscientist, and founder of The Holistic Neuroscientist - for a wide-ranging conversation about presence, the nervous system, trauma, creativity, and what it actually means to be in your body.

Jenna shares her journey from wilderness therapy with at-risk youth to somatic experiencing and nervous system regulation. She talks about why talk therapy alone was not enough, what dissociation actually looks like in the body, and how presence is not just a feeling but a trainable skill.

The conversation touches on sense memory vs. the subconscious approach in acting, the "1% less bad" technique for staying present in intense emotional states, and a surprising overlap between the Demidov technique and the foundations of somatic experiencing.

Featured guest: Jenna Pacelli - The Holistic Neuroscientist
Instagram: @theholisticneuroscientist
Website: https://www.jennapacelli.com/

The Actor's Nervous System explores the intersection of acting, embodiment, psychology, neuroscience, and the creative process.
Follow along on Instagram and Substack: @theactorsnervoussystem
Email us at: theactorsnervoussystempodcast@gmail.com
Music by Penguinmusic and QuietPhase from Pixabay.
Podcast created, hosted, and edited by Brian Zane.
Learn more: https://brianzane.com