Today we talk to Dr. Aimie Apigian, a trauma physician and bestselling author of The Biology of Trauma, that just landed on #6 on the USA Today Bestseller List.

Now, I’ll be honest — when I first saw the title of her book, I thought, oof, that sounds heavy. But then I got into it, and it wasn’t at all what I expected. This book completely reframed what I thought I knew about trauma. It’s not just about the big, obvious moments in life — it’s also the subtle, overlooked experiences that quietly shape our nervous systems and settle into our biology.

Dr. Aimie shares her personal story of adopting a son from the foster system and how that experience held a mirror up to her own past. She explains how trauma can live in the body long after our minds have “moved on,” and how even high performers unknowingly carry trauma responses like people-pleasing, burnout, and chronic fatigue.

But this conversation isn’t just about what trauma is — it’s about how to heal it. Dr. Amy offers a hopeful, practical framework to better understand our bodies, widen our capacity for stress, and show up for ourselves and others with more compassion.

Please enjoy, Dr. Aimie.

Key Takeaways

Trauma isn’t always what we think it is. It’s not just extreme events — trauma is anything that, at the time, overwhelms our ability to process and respond. And most of us are carrying more than we realize.

Our bodies remember. Even if we mentally “get over” something, our biology — at the cellular level — can still be holding onto past trauma in the form of chronic illness, fatigue, anxiety, or depression.

You don’t have to qualify for trauma. Comparing our experiences to others can stop us from acknowledging our own pain. But recognizing our own trauma is the first step toward healing.

Stress grows us, trauma breaks us. The difference is capacity. When a challenge pushes us just far enough, it strengthens us. But when it overwhelms our system, it can lead to shutdown or long-term damage.

The body sends signals before it burns out. Learning to recognize signs like tightness, shallow breathing, or adrenaline overload can help us avoid crossing into overwhelm.

Healing starts with support. Whether it’s creating pause, connecting with others, or simply listening to your own body — the key is not being alone in your stress.

Somatic practices are game changers. Dr. Amy walks us through a simple body-based exercise to show how movement can calm the nervous system and create a sense of safety.

Compassion is key. Whether reflecting on our past or parenting our children, we’re all doing the best we can with what we have. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s understanding, and growth.

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Dr. Aimie’s website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/

Dr. Aimie’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrAimieApigian

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draimie/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-aimie-apigian

Welcome to a solo episode on the fear of starting over.

I talk to people for a living, here on the pod but also in my coaching and speaking career. And in virtually every conversation, I talk to people that want to do something new.

And it’s scary as hell.

But in these conversations, something new emerges. It’s this fear of judgment that so many guests have talked about here on the podcast. So is it really your fear of starting over that’s holding you back, or is it the fear of people seeing you start over?

This topic has been a lightning bolt to the chest for me. So let’s talk about what it really is that’s holding us back, and I’ve come up with 3 specific habits we can build to move through it, and live the bigger life we deserve.

Key Takeaways

• Most of us aren’t afraid of starting over—we’re afraid of people seeing us start over.
• What feels like a huge leap to you might look like a natural next step to everyone else.
• Stories from past guests like Sensi Graves, Karl-Allen Muncy, PrettyLynne, and Greg Boyd remind us that reinvention is possible—and powerful.
• Confidence doesn’t come before action—it comes from action. The second time is always easier than the first.
• Try the Alyx Parks exercise: ask people how they’d describe you to someone else. It’s a humbling, inspiring way to see what others already believe about you.
• Judgment—especially self-judgment—is often the thing holding us back. As Sylvia Baffour says, start by writing for yourself and acting before you feel ready.
• The world sees more in you than you probably see in yourself. Let that build your conviction. Confidence will follow.

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Recommended Episodes

She’s Like the Wind with Sensi Graves

It’s Not Too Late to Create a Career You Love with Alyx Parks

Curiosity, Creativity & Connection with Sylvia Baffour

Throttle Therapy with Karl Allen-Muncey

What the Fxck are You Waiting For? With Greg Boyd

PrettyLynne: Soft Porn, Courage, Judgment and Finding Yourself

Today we talk to Alyx Parks — fly fishing guide, TV host, career coach, photographer, professor, and the self-proclaimed “girl who falls in frog ponds”.

For most of us, the idea of creating a career out of what we love is a promise we gave up on long ago. But Alyx is living proof it can be done. And she’s here to show us it’s not too late to shape a career — and a life — that actually feels like you.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of conviction over confidence, how to answer, “what do you do?” in a way that makes people pay attention, and her lessons from the river that guide her work and her life. We also dive into burnout, imposter syndrome, personal branding, and why we need to rethink our Mondays.

If you’ve ever felt like your job no longer fits, or maybe that you’re running out of time to finally find a career that suits you, this conversation is for you.

Please enjoy, Alyx Parks.

Key Takeaways:

• Conviction over confidence: You don’t need to feel confident to move forward — just have conviction in who you are and what lights you up. The confidence will follow.
• “I’m the girl who falls in frog ponds”: Alyx shares how reframing the way you introduce yourself can open doors and make people truly listen.
• The 'why tree' exercise: A powerful way to go deeper into your values and passions to build a more authentic personal brand — from the inside out.
• Say “okay,” not “yes”: You don’t need to feel 100% ready. Just be open. A lot of Alyx’s best adventures began with an “okay, I’ll try.”
• Lessons from the river: Fly fishing is full of metaphors — about uncertainty, learning by doing, casting even when you can’t see what’s under the surface.
• The power of “Mediocre Mondays”: You don’t have to crush it every Monday. Permission to show up as you are and reset.
• We only accept the love we think we deserve: A beautiful reminder to stop pushing away compliments and start seeing yourself the way others already do.
• You are the bubble: We often chase a feeling of safety, energy, or connection — but that feeling can come from you. Let people into your world.

Links and Resources:

Alyx on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyxparks/

Alyx’s website: https://www.ontarioflygirl.com/

Alyx on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontarioflygirl/?hl=en

Alyx on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk2DJldSE7hhQTU8rjNHeYw

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