What does it really mean to be relational — beyond simply having relationships?

In this episode, I explore what it means to value connection, belonging, and collective safety in a world that often prioritizes hierarchy, control, and individual success. Through an Imago- and nervous-system-informed lens, we look at how relationship itself can be a pathway toward healing — not only in our personal lives, but in our communities and the broader world we share.

This conversation invites a shift from “power over” to “power with,” from certainty to curiosity, and from dysregulation to dialogue. Drawing on polyvagal theory, I reflect on how we are not isolated nervous systems, but interconnected ones — constantly shaping and being shaped by one another. When safety breaks down for one or many, the impact ripples through the whole system.

Rather than focusing on blame or ideology, this episode centers our shared humanity. It asks what becomes possible when we understand violence, polarization, and disconnection not only as moral or political failures, but also as signs of collective nervous system wounding — and when we respond by creating safety, not more threat.

This is an episode about relationship as a foundation for real and lasting change.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it means to be relational, not just relationally skilled
• The shift from hierarchy to mutual, relational connection, as supported by Imago theory
• How polyvagal theory helps us understand interconnected nervous systems
• The idea of a collective nervous system — and what happens when it’s wounded
• Why fear and unsafety fuel disconnection and dehumanization
• How violence can be understood as a nervous system response at scale
• Why peace doesn’t require agreement, but does require safety
• How relational presence and dialogue create conditions for healing

This episode is an invitation to slow down, soften certainty, and remember that every moment of connection — however small — contributes to the world we are shaping together.

If you and your partner are ready to co-create the roadmap to the relationship of your dreams, join us for the next in-person "Getting the Love You Want" Weekend Couples Retreat!

For support in how to have deeper connections and better communication in the relationships that matter most in your life, follow the host, Trish Sanders on Instagram , Bluesky or LinkedIn.