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The Beauty in the Mess
Ep. 151 Healing Trauma Without Reliving the Past with Kristin Windsor
What if healing doesn’t require endlessly reliving your trauma?
In this powerful and deeply thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Kristin Windsor to talk about trauma, nervous system healing, chronic illness, memory loss, and the connection between the mind and body.
After experiencing severe childhood trauma, abusive relationships, traumatic brain injuries, and more than 100 debilitating health conditions, Kristin was told by doctors there was nothing more they could do. She had spent years searching for answers through traditional medicine, therapy, medications, and countless specialists, but nothing truly helped.
Then everything changed when she began studying neuroscience, nervous system regulation, trauma responses, and what she calls “parts work” and embodied healing.
Kristin shares how she taught herself to heal years of complex trauma, chronic illness, and even seven years of amnesia by learning how to reconnect with herself in a completely different way… without repeatedly revisiting painful memories.
We talk about:
· How Trauma affects the nervous system and body
· Why emotional wounds can show up physically
· The role of self-love and self-attunement in healing
· Affirmations and why they sometimes don’t “work”
· Nervous system dysregulation and chronic symptoms
· The power of presence, breathwork, and mirror practices
· And why healing may be less about “fixing yourself” and more about reconnecting with yourself
This conversation is emotional, fascinating, and filled with a completely different perspective on healing and transformation.
00:02:45 – Introduction to Kristin’s story
00:04:15 – Childhood trauma and over 100 diagnoses
00:06:30 – Hitting rock bottom and searching for answers
00:07:45 – Discovering neuroscience and trauma healing
00:09:45 – Healing without external guidance
00:11:15 – Tracking progress through memory loss and amnesia
00:13:15 – Why healing takes time and consistency
00:14:45 – Living without autobiographical memory
00:17:45 – Emotional healing as the foundation
00:19:45 – Why revisiting trauma can sometimes retraumatize
00:22:45 – Trauma stored in the body vs. the mind
00:24:15 – Breathwork, mindfulness, and vocal healing
00:25:45 – Mirror practices and reconnecting with yourself
00:28:45 – Why looking in the mirror feels uncomfortable
00:32:45 – Affirmations and the “inner critic”
00:36:45 – Healing unmet emotional needs
00:42:15 – Understanding “parts” of yourself
00:44:45 – The body’s wisdom and nervous system regulation
00:47:45 – First steps for someone beginning their healing journey
00:48:45 – Kristin’s mentorship and healing approach
00:50:45 – Where to connect with Kristin
✨Connect with Kristin Windsor:
- Free Guided Mirror Practice: https://kristinkarina.wixsite.com/consciousness
- 1:1 Mentorship & Offerings: https://kristinkarina.wixsite.com/healyourself
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinsquantumcatalyzers
✨ Connect with Michele Simms:
- Website: thebeautyinthemess.com
- Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess
- LinkedIn: Michele Simms
- Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast
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152. Ep. 152 Caregiver Burnout, Guilt, and Self-Care with Beth Meek
56:52||Season 5, Ep. 152Caregiving is one of the hardest, most emotionally exhausting roles a person can step into… and yet so many caregivers feel invisible while carrying the weight of everyone else’s needs. In this episode, I sit down with Beth Meek, holistic nutrition and health coach, to talk about the emotional, physical, and mental toll caregiving can take… especially on midlife women who are already balancing careers, relationships, changing health, and life transitions. After caring for her mother through Parkinson’s and dementia and later helping care for a close friend recovering from a stroke, Beth realized how easy it is for caregivers to lose themselves in the process. We talk about caregiver burnout, guilt, emotional eating, resentment, isolation, anticipatory grief, and why so many caregivers struggle to ask for help even when they desperately need it. Beth also shares practical ways to redefine self-care, so it actually fits into real life, not as another overwhelming task on the to-do list, but as small moments that help make caregiving sustainable. This conversation is honest, emotional, validating, and full of practical wisdom for anyone caring for a loved one, or anyone supporting someone who is. 00:02:47 – Introduction and Beth’s caregiving journey 00:03:47 – Caring for her mother through Parkinson’s and dementia 00:05:17 – Losing herself while caregiving 00:05:47 – Becoming passionate about helping caregivers 00:07:17 – Caring for a friend after a stroke 00:08:17 – Why traditional “self-care” doesn’t work for caregivers 00:09:47 – Caregiver guilt and societal expectations 00:10:47 – Emotional and physical exhaustion 00:11:47 – Why caregivers often don’t outlive the person they care for 00:13:17 – Boundaries, asking for help, and mindset shifts 00:15:17 – Isolation and losing connection with others 00:18:17 – Long-term health effects of caregiving stress 00:20:17 – Anxiety, grief, and waiting for the next phone call 00:22:17 – Anticipatory grief and emotional overload 00:24:17 – Midlife changes and caregiving pressure 00:26:17 – Finding hope and meaning in difficult seasons 00:28:17 – The beauty hidden inside caregiving 00:30:17 – What caregivers need to start doing for themselves 00:31:17 – Small moments of self-care that actually help 00:33:17 – Resentment, burnout, and emotional overload 00:35:17 – Habit stacking and realistic self-care 00:39:17 – Emotional eating and stress eating during caregiving 00:44:17 – How friends and family can truly help caregivers 00:48:17 – Beth’s resources and support for caregivers 00:50:17 – Where to connect with Beth ✨Connect with Beth Meek:Website: https://bethmeekcoach.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/balancedlife4caregivers· Daughterhood Circle: https://daughterhood.org/✨ Connect with Michele Simms:Website: thebeautyinthemess.comInstagram: @the.beauty.in.the.messLinkedIn: Michele SimmsFacebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & Review· Loved this episode? Please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend!
150. Ep. 150 From Barely Walking To Running Ultramarathons with Rita Marie Honeycutt
49:12||Season 5, Ep. 150What happens when your body suddenly forces you to slow down… and your entire life changes overnight? In this episode, I sit down with Rita Honeycutt, author, ultramarathon runner, Air Force veteran, and advocate for adaptive fitness, to talk about resilience, healing, and refusing to give up on yourself. After heart complications, a pacemaker, and a severe back injury left Rita barely able to walk at just 35 years old, she found herself battling chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and the fear that life would never feel normal again. But what started with simply trying to walk for 15 minutes slowly transformed into something much bigger. Today, Rita runs ultramarathons, competes in endurance events, and helps advocate for accessible fitness spaces for people with mobility challenges and disabilities. This conversation is honest, motivating, and deeply relatable for anyone who has ever felt stuck physically, mentally, or emotionally. We talk about:· rebuilding confidence after injury · overcoming mental roadblocks · body image and self-worth · why movement became medicine · nutrition and inflammation · creating sustainable habits · and learning to stop focusing only on the scale Most importantly, Rita reminds us that transformation doesn’t happen all at once. It starts with one small step… and the willingness to keep going. 00:02:40 – Rita’s backstory and health struggles begin 00:03:40 – Heart issues, pacemaker complications, and back injury 00:05:00 – Depression, anxiety, and losing mobility at 35 00:06:20 – The first steps toward recovery 00:07:10 – Walking her first 5K and rebuilding confidence 00:08:30 – Learning to create healthy habits 00:10:40 – “I’m not going to compete, I’m going to complete” 00:12:40 – Weight loss, strength training, and changing goals 00:14:30 – Living and competing with a pacemaker 00:16:00 – The ultramarathon experience 00:17:40 – Preparing for a triathlon 00:19:20 – Why Rita refuses to give up 00:21:00 – Building community through fitness 00:23:00 – Adaptive fitness and accessibility in gyms 00:25:00 – Why CrossFit isn’t what people think 00:28:20 – Realizing she was inspiring others 00:30:20 – The emotional side of body transformation 00:32:00 – Measuring progress beyond the scale 00:33:30 – Mental strength vs. physical strength 00:35:00 – Rita’s book and helping others through their journey 00:37:20 – Nutrition, inflammation, and healing the body 00:41:30 – Functional medicine and autoimmune healing 00:43:00 – Sweet potatoes, nutrition shifts, and healthier living 00:45:10 – Where to connect with Rita ✨Connect with Rita Honeycutt:Website: https://flufftotuff.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mudmaidens2/· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rita.Marie.Honeycutt✨ Connect with Michele Simms:Website: thebeautyinthemess.comInstagram: @the.beauty.in.the.messLinkedIn: Michele SimmsFacebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & Review· Loved this episode? Please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend!
149. Ep. 149 Why Having It All Still Isn't Enough with Michelle Dovey
41:12||Season 5, Ep. 149What if the life you built looks right on the outside… but doesn’t feel right on the inside? In this episode, I sit down with Michelle Dovey, artist and creator of The Naked Man Project, to talk about what it really means to reclaim yourself… especially in midlife. Michelle shares her deeply personal journey through divorce, identity shifts, and learning to give herself permission to explore the parts of herself she had been taught to hide. What started as an artistic project became something much bigger… a path back to her voice, her desires, and her sense of aliveness. This conversation goes beyond surface-level change. It’s about questioning the roles we’ve accepted, the rules we’ve followed, and the quiet ways we disconnect from ourselves over time. We talk about how to start listening to what you actually want, how to rebuild self-trust, and why the things that feel “taboo” or uncomfortable might actually be the doorway to freedom. If you’ve ever felt like something is missing, even when everything looks fine… this episode will hit home. 00:02:30 – Introduction to Michelle and her story 00:03:30 – Early experiences with art and hidden conditioning 00:05:00 – The moment that sparked The Naked Man Project 00:05:30 – Facing discomfort, resistance, and stepping into power 00:07:00 – Learning to ask for what you actually want 00:08:30 – Exploring taboo, freedom, and personal liberation 00:09:30 – Body shame in men vs. women 00:12:30 – Power dynamics, boundaries, and being seen 00:16:30 – Losing your voice in relationships 00:19:30 – Handling judgment and outside opinions 00:22:00 – Art as a form of healing and expression 00:24:00 – The “good girl” conditioning and internal voice 00:27:30 – Exploring the forbidden and creative expansion 00:30:00 – Trusting your desires as guidance 00:31:30 – Setting boundaries in everyday life 00:34:00 – Recognizing when you’ve crossed your own boundaries 00:36:30 – Quieting the inner critic 00:39:30 – Where to connect with Michelle ✨Connect with Michelle Dovey:Website: https://www.michelledovey.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelledoveyartis· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.dovey.10✨ Connect with Michele Simms:Website: thebeautyinthemess.comInstagram: @the.beauty.in.the.messLinkedIn: Michele SimmsFacebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & Review· Loved this episode? Please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend!
148. Ep. 148 Life and The Unexpected Ways We Heal with Dr. Lisa Thompson
57:19||Season 5, Ep. 148What would you do if your life changed in a single moment? In this deeply emotional and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Thompson, a best-selling author, healer, and speaker, who shares her raw and powerful story of loss after discovering her husband had taken his own life, completely out of the blue. We talk about the layers of grief that come with sudden loss, the unanswered questions, and what it really looks like to rebuild when everything you thought your life would be is gone. This conversation goes beyond traditional grief. Dr. Lisa shares how she processed trauma, set boundaries with others during her healing, and began to find meaning again. We also touch on her spiritual experiences, including signs, intuition, and beliefs that may feel outside the norm—but at the heart of it all is a very human journey of love, loss, and learning how to keep going. This episode may feel different than others, but if you’ve ever faced grief, identity shifts, or starting over… there is something here for you. Grief doesn’t come with a roadmap. There’s no perfect way to navigate it… only your way. If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who may need it. And as always, thank you for being here and finding the beauty… even in the mess. ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and may be difficult for some listeners. 2:37 – Introduction to Dr. Lisa & her story 3:10 – Discovering her husband’s sudden passing 5:00 – The unique challenges of grieving suicide 7:30 – Searching for answers and processing shock 10:37 – Signs, symbols, and feeling connection after loss 14:30 – Navigating grief while still showing up for life 18:37 – Setting boundaries with others during grief 23:30 – Trauma of discovery and emotional healing 28:30 – Letting go of guilt and unanswered questions 33:30 – Rebuilding life and allowing yourself to move forward 37:30 – Identity shifts after loss 41:30 – Finding meaning and purpose through pain 45:00 – Raising your energy and creating a new path 49:30 – Her healing method and helping others through grief 53:00 – Final thoughts: You can get through anything ✨Connect with Dr. Lisa Thompson:Website: https://drlisajthompson.comInstagram / Facebook: Dr. Lisa Thompson· Free Grief Resource: https://thelovethatremains.com ✨ Connect with Michele Simms:Website: thebeautyinthemess.comInstagram: @the.beauty.in.the.messLinkedIn: Michele SimmsFacebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & Review· Loved this episode? Please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend!
147. Ep. 147 How Trauma Shapes Your Patterns and How to Break Free with Genea Barnes
59:01||Season 5, Ep. 147Why do we keep ending up in the same situations… even when we want something different? In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, I sit down with Genea Barnes, mentor, coach, and speaker, to talk about the deeper patterns that quietly shape our lives. Patterns in relationships, work, and even how we see ourselves. Genea’s story is not an easy one. She experienced trauma, neglect, and instability at a young age, and like many, she carried those experiences into adulthood without fully realizing how much they were influencing her decisions. For years, she found herself repeating the same cycles. Things would get better for a while, then fall apart again. It wasn’t until she began to understand what she calls the “invisible cage” that things started to shift. We talk about how our early experiences shape our “frame of reality,” why the nervous system resists change, and how familiar patterns can feel safer than the unknown, even when they’re not serving us. Genea also shares what it actually takes to begin breaking those patterns and creating lasting change, not just temporary improvement. This is a deep, honest conversation about trauma, awareness, and what it really means to step outside of what’s familiar and build a life that feels like peace, joy, and freedom. 02:35 – Meet Genea Barnes and her journey into personal transformation 03:40 – Early trauma and the experiences that shaped her 05:35 – What the “invisible cage” is and how it forms 07:35 – Why we repeat patterns in relationships and life 09:35 – The role of the subconscious mind and familiarity 12:35 – How early experiences shape your “frame of reality” 15:35 – Why we tell ourselves we’re not enough 18:35 – What it feels like to step outside the cage 21:35 – Identity, self-sacrifice, and people pleasing 24:35 – Why major change often comes through crisis 27:35 – The collective “cage” and societal expectations 30:35 – Expanding what we believe is possible 33:35 – Healing modalities and what actually worked 36:35 – Helping others and deepening the work 39:35 – Why many people feel stuck or defeated 42:35 – Raising your frequency and what that really means 45:35 – Simple ways to access peace, joy, and freedom 48:35 – Recognizing different types of anxiety 51:35 – How to connect with Genea and her work ✨Connect with Genea Barnes:Website: https://bethewolfnow.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/genea.barnesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/genea.barnes✨ Connect with Michele Simms:Website: thebeautyinthemess.comInstagram: @the.beauty.in.the.messLinkedIn: Michele SimmsFacebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & Review· Loved this episode? Please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend!
146. Ep. 146 Why We Stay Too Long and How To Finally Choose Yourself with Aimi Green
52:06||Season 4, Ep. 146Some of the hardest decisions we make are the ones we already know the answer to… but we’re not ready to face yet. In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, I sit down with Aimi Green, a self-love and empowerment coach who helps women raise their standards in love and fully embrace who they truly are. But her work didn’t start with confidence. It started with a six-year relationship that slowly chipped away at her self-worth. Aimi shares her story of staying longer than she should have, hoping things would change, and the moment everything finally shifted. From catching her partner cheating to realizing she could not fix or save someone who wasn’t ready to change, she walks us through what it really takes to let go and choose yourself. We talk about why women stay in unhealthy relationships, the fear of starting over, and how our brains try to keep us stuck in what feels familiar. Aimi also breaks down the difference between chemistry and true compatibility, why self-worth is the foundation of healthy love, and how taking time to reconnect with yourself can completely change the relationships you choose moving forward. This is an honest, relatable conversation about breaking patterns, rebuilding confidence, and trusting yourself enough to walk away from what no longer serves you. 02:30 – Meet Aimi Green and her relationship background 04:30 – The six-year toxic relationship and staying too long 07:30 – The breaking point and catching him cheating 10:30 – Why women stay in unhealthy relationships 13:30 – Fear of the unknown vs comfort in what’s familiar 16:30 – Letting go of the life you thought you would have 19:30 – The role of self-worth in relationships 22:30 – Breaking patterns and choosing differently 25:30 – Taking time to reconnect with yourself 28:30 – Chemistry vs compatibility in relationships 31:30 – Important conversations before commitment 34:30 – Communication, expectations, and honesty 37:30 – Building a healthy, lasting relationship 44:30 – Advice for women who feel stuck✨Connect with Aimi Green:Website: https://www.aimigreen.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aimi.green✨ Connect with Michele Simms:Website: thebeautyinthemess.comInstagram: @the.beauty.in.the.messLinkedIn: Michele SimmsFacebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & Review· Loved this episode? Please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend!
145. Ep. 145 Overcoming Menstrual Inequity with Celeste Mergens
55:30||Season 4, Ep. 145In this episode of 'The Beauty In The Mess', host Michele sits down with Celeste Mergens, a renowned author and thought leader, who shares her inspiring journey from overcoming childhood poverty to becoming a global expert in menstrual and reproductive health. Celeste discusses the profound impact of period poverty on girls and communities worldwide and introduces her organization, Days for Girls, which provides sustainable menstrual health solutions. She also delves into personal narratives about dealing with trauma, the importance of mental and emotional well-being, and how little actions can lead to monumental societal changes. Tune in to explore how you too can be part of this impactful movement and learn the power of breaking stigma through awareness and cooperative effort.She has been featured in Oprah’s O Magazine and Forbes and been named Conscious Company Global Impact Entrepreneur Top Ten Women, and Women's Economic Forum's Woman of the Decade, to name a few. Her #1 bestselling new book, The Power of Days–A Story of Resilience, Dignity, and The Fight for Women's Equity, shares proof that we can all make a difference. 02:25 Introduction and Welcome02:40 Celeste's Journey and Early Life03:55 Global Work and Menstrual Equity05:48 Challenges and Sustainable Solutions07:24 Dealing with Overwhelming Need09:24 Starting Days for Girls13:59 Trauma and Epigenetics21:50 Mind the Gap Technique27:57 Questioning the Negative Voice28:59 The Power of Positivity and Its Pitfalls29:31 Transforming Nightmares into Empowerment32:06 The Impact of Unresolved Trauma34:20 Finding Purpose in Unexpected Places35:56 The Journey of Days for Girls46:45 Breaking the Stigma of Menstruation51:12 Conclusion and Call to ActionConnect with Celeste Mergenshttps://www.CelesteMergens.comhttps://www.facebook.com/celeste.mergenshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-mergenshttps://www.instagram.com/celestemergensLet's Connect!The Beauty In The Messhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/676609323457906https://thebeautyinthemess.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-simms-mba-a061b96a/
144. Ep. 144 Rocking Autism with Sam Mitchell
45:53||Season 4, Ep. 144Sam Mitchell joins me today. Sam was diagnosed at the age of 4 with high-functioning Autism. Sam wants people to know that he is not broken, and he doesn’t need to be fixed. He also wants people to know that there is no normal in this world. He embraces who he is and wants the same for everyone else. Period. Sam is a successful podcaster, an advocate for Autism, a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and blogger. He has even published a Ted Talk. He has made it to the top 10 in the People's Choice Podcast Awards, placed second in the state of Indiana for the JAG Entrepreneurship project, was selected as the best business at the CEO trade show in Indiana, and he is in the top 200 podcasts in all of Canada. Connect with Sam Mitchell:WebsitePodcast: Autism Rocks and Rolls Let's Connect!Facebook: The Beauty in the Mess podcast InstagramWebsite