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What if everything we thought we knew about the brain was only part of the story?

New neuroscience research is challenging how we understand the human brain, suggesting that the forebrain and hindbrain have distinct developmental origins. But what does this discovery mean for brain health, the gut-brain connection, and our body's remarkable capacity for homeostasis?

In this episode of the AHA (Autonomic Homeostasis Activation) Podcast, Tom and Ruth explore emerging brain research and its potential implications for understanding the nervous system, stress, trauma, and holistic wellness.

From the enteric nervous system (often called our "second brain") to the fascinating relationship between our brain, gut, and body, they unpack why wellness may be less about individual parts and more about how everything works together.

Along the way, they explore interoception, nervous system regulation, and the concept of the "Me-We"—the idea that individual systems thrive through connection and interdependence.

Could understanding the brain as an interconnected ecosystem change how we approach healing, resilience, and well-being?

Join Tom and Ruth for a thought-provoking conversation about neuroscience, the wisdom of the body, and what it means to move beyond simply surviving toward thriving.

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Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

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What does spirituality have to do with the brain, interoception, and nervous system regulation?

In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the connection between the brain, mind, body, and spirit—and why spirituality may be better understood through the broader human experience of transcendence, rather than religion alone.

Drawing connections between neuroscience, psychology, interoception, homeostasis, and spiritual experience, Tom and Ruth examine how the brain allows us to sense not only what is happening within our bodies, but also our connection to other people, nature, and something beyond ourselves.

In this episode:

• How interoception connects the brain, body, mind, and spirit
• The difference between spirituality, transcendence, and religion
• Why humans naturally seek meaning and connection beyond themselves
• How our nervous systems are affected by other people and collective experiences
• The relationship between psychology, spirituality, and whole-person wellness
• How rigid beliefs and perceived threats can become “enemies of the mind”

This conversation invites us to think differently about spirituality—not simply as a religious concept, but as part of the interconnected experience of being human.

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail

What’s happening beneath the surface of your conscious mind—and how might it be shaping your life without you realizing it?

In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation (AHA) Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the neuroscience of the unconscious mind, trauma, somatic healing, and nervous system regulation—and why true wellbeing may require us to look beneath the surface.

Drawing on the insights of Carl Jung and the emerging understanding of how the brain continues to process, learn, and problem-solve beyond our conscious awareness, they explore how unresolved experiences can influence our emotions, behaviors, and even our bodies.

From recurring dreams and somatization to hypnotherapy and AHA problem solving, Tom and Ruth discuss different ways of accessing what's happening beneath conscious awareness—and the role the brain may play in bringing those hidden experiences into the light.

What might change when we stop looking only outside ourselves and begin listening to the wisdom within?

Topics: Neuroscience • Unconscious Mind • Inner Work • Trauma Recovery • Somatic Healing • Nervous System Regulation • Interoception • Emotional Resilience • Homeostasis • Mind-Body Connection

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!