Join us in this enlightening episode of Just Breathe as we navigate the intricacies of the human nervous system and its profound impact on our overall well-being. I'm thrilled to introduce Kelly Luback, an expert in nervous system health and a dear friend who has profoundly influenced my own journey of healing and internal work. Kelly's extensive experience in coaching, shamanic healing, yoga, and mindfulness provides a rich backdrop as we explore how our brain, spinal cord, and autonomic functions govern essential bodily processes such as breathing, digestion, and hormone production.

Listen in as we unravel the delicate balance between the activating sympathetic nervous system, which can manifest as anxiety, and the calming parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for rest and digestion. We discuss the common disconnection many of us feel from our nervous system signals due to overwhelming sensations and how the increased awareness post-COVID has highlighted the need for maintaining flexibility within these states. Kelly shares practical insights and evidence-based techniques to support and calm our nervous system, including a simple method of crisscrossing arms and stroking from shoulders to elbows, beneficial for both adults and children.

Finally, we explore the intersection of our physical bodies and mental states, emphasizing the importance of integrating both to achieve a sense of calm and clarity. Through real-life examples, such as the responses of parents of LGBTQ children and the dynamics at a recent family graduation party, we highlight the importance of recognizing and validating various nervous system responses. This episode celebrates personal growth and resilience, encouraging open conversations and normalizing our natural reactions to stress.

Resources Mentioned:

Kelly Lubeck's website - https://www.kellylubeck.com/

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About our Guest:

Kelly Lubeck, MPH, is passionate about changing the world for the better, through individual, group and community-level healing programs that inspire health, embodied leadership, and heightened capacity for change. Kelly helps women leaders stay grounded and centered in their changemaking, so they can deliver and lead impactful work, enjoy meaningful relationships and deep connection with their purpose, without sacrificing body, mind and spirit to their mission. Kelly’s work happens at the intersection of deep and soulful coaching, science of the nervous system, shamanic healing, yoga, mindfulness and 25 years of experience leading service-based programs around the world.

https://www.kellylubeck.com/

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen explores connection, courage, and community for every concerned parent, mom, or ally navigating fear, grief, and bigotry with hope, resilience, and empathy. Through open-minded education, inclusive parenting guidance, and advocacy for mental health and safety, we support LGBTQ youth and stand for human rights and social justice. More Human. More Kind. empowers listeners to shift their mindset, embrace activism and allyship, and lead with kindness, healing, and purpose.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Blubrry - https://create.blubrry.com/resources/about-blubrry/privacy-policy