Why does resting feel so uncomfortable? Why do so many of us feel guilty when we’re not being productive?

In this episode, Nikolas and Michael unpack one of the deepest cultural myths of modern society: the belief that our worth is defined by productivity. Starting from personal experiences of guilt, burnout, and career pauses, the conversation expands into capitalism, work identity, burnout culture, universal basic income, AI, and gender roles.

They explore how productivity becomes wired into our nervous systems, how fear and social pressure keep the system running without anyone holding a whip, and why many people feel lost when asked what gives their life meaning beyond work. Along the way, they touch on career gaps, tech culture, burnout at a young age, and what it takes to step off the hamster wheel.

This episode is an honest, reflective dialogue about rest, fear, meaning, and the courage it takes to question a system we’ve been trained not to question.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

00:41 – Feeling guilty for resting and the discomfort of doing nothing

01:59 – Productivity as self-worth and the need to produce to feel valuable

03:43 – Capitalism, vacations, and rest as a tool for productivity

05:16 – Productivity as a deeply ingrained social belief

06:56 – Advertising, money, and the illusion of happiness

09:15 – Making money as a substitute for meaning

11:22 – Universal basic income, AI, and meaningful work

13:54 – “I am enough”: nervous systems, burnout, and constant tension

16:52 – Work as identity and why “What do you do?” defines us

19:17 – Career gaps, lying about work, and the stigma of not working

22:56 – Tech culture, AI, and impossible job requirements

25:39 – Redefining success: time, meaning, and quality of life

28:28 – Productivity, masculinity, and gender role expectations

30:51 – Parenting, toys, and early gender conditioning

33:07 – Challenging rigid gender roles and societal power structures

36:49 – Sitting with discomfort and stepping away from stable careers

38:44 – Health, burnout, mortality, and choosing meaningful contribution

41:04 – Modeling alternative paths and undoing the productivity program

43:14 – Awareness as the first step and closing reflections

In this episode, Michael shares a deeply personal experience from his somatic therapy studies: feeling calm and articulate in small classes, yet anxious, self-critical, and dysregulated in larger group settings. Together with Nikolas, he explores this contrast through the lens of Polyvagal Theory, unpacking how the nervous system perceives safety, threat, and social connection.

The conversation moves beyond theory into lived experience—touching on fight-or-flight responses, faulty neuroception, self-regulation strategies, and why intellectual understanding alone often isn’t enough to calm the body. They discuss practical approaches such as breathing, leaving and re-entering situations, nervous system “priming,” vulnerability, co-regulation, and the limits of exposure-based methods.

A thoughtful, honest exploration of social anxiety, embodiment, and what it really takes to retrain the nervous system—especially when you already “know better,” but your body hasn’t caught up yet.

Timestamps

00:41 – Introduction and framing the episode

01:35 – Overview of Polyvagal Theory: ventral vagal, sympathetic, dorsal vagal

03:35 – Michael’s experience: small classes vs. large classes

05:35 – Nervous system threat perception and fight-or-flight in social settings

07:18 – Safety, self-monitoring, and why “just focusing outward” doesn’t work

09:54 – Breathing and self-regulation: what helps and what doesn’t

12:34 – Why self-soothing techniques can fail in high activation

14:53 – Leaving situations to reset the nervous system

16:50 – Priming before stressful situations (movement, yoga, routines)

19:39 – Hidden triggers: commuting stress and activating content before class

21:45 – Reducing shame through understanding nervous system patterns

23:35 – Designing an ideal program for social anxiety

25:22 – Exposure vs. skill deficits: where the real issue lies

27:04 – Does exposure actually teach safety to the nervous system?

28:38 – Relief after leaving situations and what the body learns

30:08 – Holding it together vs. genuine regulation

31:36 – Vulnerability as a way out of incongruence

34:22 – Acceptance vs. forceful self-regulation

35:55 – Co-regulation, empathy, and being seen in anxiety

37:02 – Behavioral therapy: when it helps and when it doesn’t

38:54 – Closing reflections and wrapping up

In this deep and insightful conversation, Michael and Nikolas revisit the intertwined themes of anxiety and people pleasing — exploring how childhood patterns, guilt, and hyper-empathy shape adult behavior.

They discuss why so many of us unconsciously take responsibility for others’ emotions, how this limits authenticity, and what it truly means to differentiate between our own feelings and those we absorb from others. Along the way, they weave in concepts from Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Nonviolent Communication, offering both psychological depth and practical pathways toward inner freedom.

Whether you identify as an empath, a recovering people pleaser, or someone navigating social anxiety, this episode provides a compassionate look at how to build emotional boundaries, practice forgiveness, and find peace in simply being yourself.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

00:41 – Welcome & revisiting the topics of anxiety and people pleasing

01:16 – Nikolas on authenticity vs. programming: realizing people-pleasing tendencies

02:48 – Michael’s experience as a “recovering people pleaser” and fear of rejection

04:36 – How childhood conditioning creates people-pleasing behavior

06:20 – The role of empathy and taking on others’ emotions

08:08 – Michael on emotional transference and childhood roots of empathy

11:54 – Guilt as the driving force and forgiveness as the antidote

13:12 – Michael on self-forgiveness and gratitude for old coping mechanisms

17:02 – Sensitivity, nervous system linkage, and emotional boundaries

19:40 – Setting intentions and emotional boundaries in social settings

22:14 – Connecting people pleasing and anxiety

24:06 – Nikolas’ theory: anxiety as “micro fear” and its biological purpose

25:52 – Michael on anxiety as a survival mechanism and faulty neuroception

31:38 – Group dynamics and why anxiety increases in larger settings

33:55 – Working on the root framework behind the behavior

34:59 – Internal Family Systems (IFS) as a tool for inner dialogue

36:22 – Michael on disowning vs. working with inner parts

38:43 – Rejecting vs. befriending anxiety and guilt

39:39 – Applying Nonviolent Communication to inner parts

43:26 – Nikolas on IFS as an accessible framework for everyone

44:22 – Exploring modalities and Michael’s 30-year journey with anxiety

46:42 – Nikolas on anxiety returning in cycles and self-understanding

49:00 – Acceptance, oscillation, and the role of suffering in growth

50:15 – Closing reflections and tools for inner healing

50:42 – Wrap-up

In this deep and vulnerable episode, Nik opens up about a recent plant medicine ceremony with his family that stirred up unresolved childhood memories, repressed anger, and a long-standing difficulty with trust. Together with Michael, they unpack the emotional weight of the experience, explore the sacred role of anger, and reflect on how early family dynamics and trauma can shape our adult boundaries and inner world.

They also discuss the challenges of integration, how plant medicine can illuminate deeply buried emotions, and the potential of healing through honest reflection, presence, and connection. Whether you’ve had similar experiences or are curious about the emotional depths of plant medicine journeys, this conversation offers raw insight and thoughtful perspectives.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

00:41 - Setting the context of the trip

01:36 - Tripping with family: Ceremony on Lionsgate

03:36 - The tarot cards: Shadow and death foreshadow intensity

05:15 - The trip begins: Visuals, nausea, and emotional overwhelm

06:56 - Childhood flashbacks and emotional looping

10:05 - Interpreting laughter as ridicule: Childhood wounds revisited

13:12 - Bottled-up emotions and misread social cues

16:00 - Post-trip confusion and anger

17:35 - The inherited fear of anger and destructive potential

20:00 - Can anger exist without an object? Exploring the nature of hate

22:45 - Anger as protection: Reframing its purpose

24:20 - Boundary issues and difficulty saying “no”

26:10 - Fatherhood, anger, and learning to defend oneself

28:15 - Acting on anger vs. feeling it

30:25 - Emotional projection and integration strategies

31:56 - Using physical expression (like push-ups) to embody boundaries

33:18 - How anger can prepare us for difficult conversations

35:00 - The protective role of anger for self and others

36:24 - Panic, fear, and the instinct to protect one's child

38:44 - Exploring “Urvertrauen” – primal trust in life

40:35 - Lack of trust and the burden of control

43:00 - Spirituality and psychedelics as tools to restore trust

46:00 - Manifestation and the fear of negative outcomes

47:56 - Can we trust ourselves to handle what’s coming?

48:45 - Anger as a sacred signal: What needs to be addressed

50:01 - Final reflections and emotional resolution

What does preparation really mean when you’re about to embark on a deep inner journey? In this episode, we explore how to set the stage — mentally, physically, and emotionally — for a transformative experience. From nutrition and fasting to intention setting, creating a safe space, and understanding possible challenges, we unpack everything you need to consider before diving in. Whether you’re planning a guided ceremony, exploring in nature, or simply curious about best practices, this conversation offers grounded insights, real-life anecdotes, and practical advice.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Why preparation matters

01:40 - The role of mindset and physical prep

02:40 - Diet and lifestyle changes before the experience

05:40 - Fasting and how it impacts sensitivity

06:40 - Mental preparation and media detox

08:40 - The importance of setting intentions

10:40 - What happens when the session goes off-script

13:40 - Respect, surrender, and managing expectations

15:40 - Choosing the right environment and people

17:40 - What can go wrong? Real risks and how to reduce them

21:40 - Trip sitters and emergency readiness

23:40 - Emotional overwhelm and getting "stuck"

25:40 - Meditative tools and calming techniques

27:40 - Psychological safety and risk of re-traumatization

28:40 - Natural ways to ground yourself

30:40 - The role of trip "exit tools" and one cautionary tale

33:40 - Clearing up myths about vitamin C and other helpers

34:40 - The power of ritual and creating sacred space

37:40 - Group dynamics and opening ceremonies

39:40 - Letting go after all the prep is done

40:40 - Time loops, internal clocks, and staying grounded

41:40 - Meditation, surrender, and final thoughts

42:40 - A word of encouragement and what’s coming next

Kara's Website:

https://www.karagoodwin.com/

Kara's Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@soulelevationpodcast

In this episode, we dive deep into a powerful and intimate conversation with Kara Goodwin — meditation teacher, podcaster, and author of Your Authentic Awakening. Kara shares the life-altering challenges that led her from a comfortable life in Italy into a profound spiritual awakening. We explore her mystical experiences during meditation, her work with sacred geometry, and the importance of spiritual maturity in navigating today’s world.

We also discuss synchronicity, consciousness, quantum connection, and how the unseen layers of reality impact our day-to-day lives. Whether you’re deep on your path or just awakening to these ideas, this conversation offers inspiration, tools, and a grounded perspective on expanding consciousness.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Expanding Consciousness Podcast, Michael and Nik explore the often-overlooked connection between physical symptoms and psychological causes. Is illness ever just physical? Can emotional trauma manifest in the body as pain or disease? They discuss everything from chronic pain and depression to cancer and scoliosis, shedding light on the psychosomatic landscape from both personal and clinical perspectives.

You’ll hear real-life examples, reflections on the shortcomings of traditional medicine, and why awareness and holistic approaches may hold the key to true healing. Whether you’re dealing with chronic illness or simply curious about the deeper meaning behind the body’s messages, this episode invites you to look at health in a whole new way.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction

00:41 - The blurred line between physical and psychological illness

01:41 - Organic vs. mental origins of psychological symptoms

03:41 - The complexity of diagnosis and the “ping-pong” between doctors

05:41 - The myth of neurotransmitter-based depression

07:41 - Miraculous healing stories and the role of belief

09:41 - Illness as the body's way of seeking balance

11:41 - Posture, emotions, and compensatory mechanisms

13:41 - Chronic conditions and personality traits

15:41 - The missing psychological layer in medical diagnosis

17:41 - The rigidity of the medical system and specialist silos

19:41 - Chronic pain, medical limitations, and the holistic gap

21:41 - Physical symptoms as psychological pointers

23:41 - Surrendering to symptoms as a path to healing

25:41 - The power of presence and awareness in resolving pain

27:41 - Vulnerability and humility on the healing journey

29:41 - Making mind-body connections more accessible to the public

31:41 - Stigma around psychosomatic illness

33:41 - The role of psychosomatic clinics and burnout

35:41 - Cancer, repressed emotions, and difficult truths

37:41 - Taking responsibility for your healing journey

38:41 - Final thoughts and key takeaways