Who Thought We'd Be Here?
Both seeking answers from the Universe as they turned 30, co-hosts and longtime pals Steven Aigner and John Pugh found themselves improving in ways their younger and much more wild selves could have never seen coming. They began conquering and healing their past selves with unfamiliar mindfulness tools like meditation, yoga, breath-work, journaling, reading transformative books, and experimenting with mind expanding remedies.
Ignited by a passion to help others struggling with complex problems of their own and a desire to create a new narrative surrounding men's mental health in today's modern society, they created their first collaborative podcast "Who Thought We'd Be Here?" This podcast is all about exploring the boundless potential within ourselves, and to inspire each and every one of us to be fearless in our own unique human experience.
Their goal is to make mindfulness more accessible for folks all around the world, and express the genuine benefits of redesigning your life in a more thoughtful way.
We'd love for you to join us on this spiritual journey, as we try to shine a little light into what it really and truly means to be a good human in this Universe.
NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!!!
A mental health podcast with two guys who never would have thought they'd be here podcasting. Hosted by Steven Aigner (@_itssteve__) & John Pugh (@jay_pugh).
Find all of our full length episodes and content here:
https://linktr.ee/whothoughtwedbeherepod
Who Thought We'd Be Here?
How to Shift Your Life from Survival Mode to Self Love w/ Trauma Informed Therapist & Reiki Healer Katie Parent | EP067
In this episode, we sit down with Katie Parent, a licensed therapist and holistic healer, to explore what healing really means—beyond talk therapy and into the body, the nervous system, and lived experience.
Katie shares how she combines traditional mental health practices with somatic tools, nervous system regulation, and energy work like Reiki to support people through trauma, burnout, and the messy process of becoming more whole. We discuss the difference between survival mode and true self-awareness, how trauma often lives in the body long after the mind thinks it’s healed, and why so many people are stuck in patterns that aren't their fault—but are their responsibility to shift.
She also opens up about her own healing path, including childhood trauma, divorce, and what it means to show up as a therapist who’s still doing the work. We dive into addiction as an expression of unmet needs, the impact of little-t trauma, and why healing doesn't happen in isolation—it happens in connection.
If you've ever felt burned out, numb, overly responsible, or like you're doing all the "right" things and still not feeling better, this one’s for you
00:00:00 – Meet Katie: therapist, healer, space holder
00:01:00 – Therapy, energy work & bridging science with spirituality
00:05:00 – Trauma in the body vs. talk therapy
00:10:00 – The nervous system, survival mode & burnout
00:17:00 – Chronic stress, digestion & trauma in the organs
00:22:00 – Childhood patterns, anxiety & confidence
00:30:00 – Relationships, parenting, and healing through connection
00:38:00 – Katie’s personal trauma & therapist identity
00:44:00 – Shame, addiction, self-talk & emotional reparenting
00:53:00 – Root-cause healing & readiness for change
01:00:00 – Reiki, emotional pain & asking for help
01:10:00 – Daily practices: hydration, cold showers, nervous system care
01:15:00 – Where to find Katie + what’s coming next
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Shout out to our favorite neighborhood screen printer JOKER INK https://www.jokerink.com/
NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!
"Who Thought We'd Be Here?" is hosted by Steven Aigner and John Pugh.
https://linktr.ee/whothoughtwedbeherepod
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