Episode 68 - The Body Keeps The Score

In this episode, Denise and Jackie catch up on a week of heavy emotions, tech snafus, and running on vapors. The mother-daughter duo opens up about somatic grief and how the body holds onto trauma, reflecting on the anniversary of a family loss and the lingering sadness that surfaces even when we don't consciously expect it. They share honest experiences with "sandwich generation" stress, from navigating aging parents' hospital visits to managing daily household overwhelm.

The conversation shifts into reimagining the world we want to live in, exploring everything from Scandinavian park cabins and accessible "third spaces" to day raves, women's sports energy, and Housing First policies. They discuss the importance of gentleness when mental health makes simple tasks like laundry or brushing your teeth feel monumental, and how early recovery routines helped shape healthier boundaries around daily life.

Ultimately, they encourage listeners to move beyond passive observation and show up for the causes they care about, closing with their signature gratitude practice and a grounding reminder to honor what your body and soul need this week.

Key Times:

• 00:02:15 Somatic grief: How the body remembers trauma and loss
• 00:06:02 The "sandwich generation" week: Hospital visits, broken AC, and running on vapors
• 00:08:12 Community, Ginger's ice cream runs, and the healing power of water
• 00:15:04 World-building: Scandinavian park cabins and humanizing public spaces
• 00:22:44 Day raves, third spaces, and the shift in women's sports energy
• 00:27:40 Housing First policies, systemic trauma, and daily bandwidth
• 00:30:08 Early recovery routines: How sponsors, schedules, and laundry shape habits
• 00:34:53 Self-compassion for imperfect days: "At least I folded three shirts"
• 00:38:28 Action over "thoughts and prayers": Showing up for community change

Topics Covered:

• Re-recording tech mishaps and navigating user error
• Somatic memory, anniversary grief, and The Body Keeps the Score
• Navigating "sandwich generation" burnout and practicing self-kindness
• Reimagining public spaces, third spaces, and community connections
• Women's sports vs. traditional sports energy (Angel City FC & Daisy Chain Festival)
• Housing First policies, trauma, and mental health bandwidth for daily chores
• Early recovery routines, sponsor accountability, and decluttering habits
• Examining privilege, systemic support, and taking direct civic action

Follow Us:

• Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone
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