Pulling Threads, Weaving Authenticity

Welcome to the first episode of Authentic by Design, a transformative series about discovering your true self, reclaiming your life, and stepping off autopilot. If you’ve ever felt like you’re watching life happen to someone else, like life isn’t really yours, or like you’re aged-ahead while still waiting to feel alive, you’re in the right place.In this episode, I share a moment of awakening — sitting in my car in a Tampa parking garage, realizing the job, marriage, and identity I’d built wasn’t mine. I explore how we abandon ourselves to fit in, perform, succeed, and survive — and why that creates misalignment even at the height of achievement.👉 If you’ve ever thought, “On paper my life looks great — but I don’t feel it inside” — this episode is for you.🧠 In This Episode You’ll Learn:✔ What it feels like when you’re living someone else’s life✔ How childhood, culture, school, and social systems shape inauthentic paths✔ The myth of success = happiness✔ Why the “Sunday Scaries” may actually be your body telling you something is off✔ How your nervous system signals misalignment✔ A powerful invitation to listen to your body & inner knowing✔ A roadmap for the rest of this 4-part series on authentic living📍 Chapters / Timestamps0:00 — Episode Intro: Awakening in Tampa2:15 — What It Feels Like to Live a Life That’s Not Yours5:40 — Why Achievement Doesn’t Always Equal Alignment9:20 — Authenticity vs Performance (Therapy, Career, Culture)12:55 — The Sunday Scaries: A Hidden Alarm System15:42 — Invitation: Listening to Your Body18:10 — Where Inauthenticity Begins — Childhood & Conditioning23:00 — Systems That Teach Us to Abandon Ourselves26:35 — People Most Susceptible to Losing Themselves29:50 — The Four Pathways to Awakening34:15 — Physical & Emotional Signs You’re Off-Course39:40 — How to Know You’re Ready to Come Back42:10 — Your First Invitation Toward Alignment45:00 — Closing + What’s Coming Next in the Series❤️ If This Resonated With You✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss Episode 2 — where we dig into nervous system science + practical steps for returning to YOUR voice.💬 Comment: What did you feel when you asked your body if you’re living your life?👍 Like & Share with someone who needs to hear this.🔗 Connect With Me👉 Subscribe for all episodes & updates👉 Follow on IG/TikTok for clips & reflections👉 Join the conversation in the comments

What if peace isn’t something you find, but something you expand into?In Part 2 of this powerful Pulling Threads conversation, host Leslie Matthews continues her deeply honest and expansive dialogue with Liza Lounsbury, exploring what it truly means to outgrow old identities, regulate the nervous system, and rebuild life from the inside out.This episode dives into the uncomfortable but transformative seasons of life—identity loss, reinvention, grief, sobriety, divorce, and rebuilding after everything you thought your life would be falls apart. Together, Leslie and Liza unpack how subconscious programming, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and unprocessed trauma shape our reality—and how conscious awareness allows us to create something entirely new.You’ll hear a grounded, compassionate exploration of:Why your comfort zone determines your capacity for peaceHow identity shifts impact manifestation and aligned livingNervous system regulation as the foundation for resilience and abundanceLetting go of labels like “divorced,” “addict,” or “failure”Processing grief, anger, and fear without resistanceLiving consciously instead of reacting on autopilotCreating inner safety regardless of external chaosWhy embodiment, presence, and awareness change everything—from relationships to intimacyThis episode is especially resonant for women navigating divorce, separation, sobriety, motherhood, burnout, or major life transitions. It’s an invitation to step out of survival mode and into conscious creation, self-trust, and emotional freedom.If you’re entering a new season, questioning who you are becoming, or learning how to live with more peace, clarity, and alignment—this conversation will meet you right where you are.✨ A reminder: you are not broken, behind, or failing. You are evolving.I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention.🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUPMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & BreakupsWhere neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise.📅 Starts late January🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women)#HealingAfterDivorce#NervousSystemRegulation#MindfulnessForWomen#IdentityShifts#AlignedLife

✨ Endings, Beginnings, and Everything In-Between | Reflecting on 2025 & Welcoming 2026As 2025 comes to a close, many of us feel a mix of exhaustion, gratitude, and quiet hope. In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews—therapist, coach, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teacher—dives deep into the emotions that surface at the end of a long year.We talk about what it means to release old versions of ourselves, honor the grief beneath “growth,” and find softer ways to begin again. If you’re tired of the “new year, new you” pressure and craving peace, reflection, and authenticity instead—this episode is for you.🪶 In this episode:Why endings feel heavier this year (from a neuroscience & nervous-system lens)How astrology and human design mirror this collective shiftLetting go of old identities & patterns that no longer fitThe truth about “healing hustle” and toxic positivityGentle reflection prompts to close your year with graceWhy slowing down is the most radical form of self-care💬 “You’re allowed to arrive slowly. You’re allowed to hope, even if it’s quiet.”🌿 Connect with Leslie Mathews & The LooM Life:🧵 Website: www.theloomlife.com📸 Instagram (Coaching): @the.loom.life💭 Instagram (Therapy): @loomlifetherapy🎙️ Podcast: Pulling Threads on Apple Podcasts & Spotify📹 YouTube: Pulling Threads Channel📱 TikTok: @the.loom.life📘 Facebook: The LooM Life

If you’ve been feeling the shift in the online business world, shorter attention spans, harder-to-earn trust, and marketing that doesn’t hit the way it used to, this conversation is for you.In this episode, I sit down with Carly Hill, a licensed clinical social worker turned seven-figure business mentor, Reiki Master, NLP practitioner, and author of Therapist Owner. We talk about what it really takes for therapists and helping professionals to build a sustainable, ethical coaching business without losing heart, integrity, or themselves in the process.We cover:⦁ Why clients do not “just appear” and what it means to extend the invitation with clarity⦁ The mindset shifts therapists often need around visibility, receiving, and money⦁ Therapy vs coaching: how to add coaching ethically and confidently⦁ Human Design in business (Projector vs Manifestor dynamics, energy, rest, and leadership)⦁ Delegation that actually supports revenue and avoids common early hiring mistakes⦁ How AI can support coaches with niche clarity, marketing plans, content, emails, webinars, and even sales call audits⦁ Building a business model that supports freedom, motherhood, and real lifeIf you’re a therapist, coach, or wellness professional who wants aligned growth, nervous system-safe marketing, and systems that support your work (instead of draining you), this episode is a grounded place to start.I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention.🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUPMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & BreakupsWhere neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise.📅 Starts late January🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women)If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message on Instagram! I’m exploring a second February cohort.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life?igsh=ZHl3Nm1ibWd4dm1wFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19bKH1AGZ9/#TherapistToCoach #MindfulEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #MoneyMindset #HumanDesign

In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews sits down with Liza Lounsberry, creator of the Inside Out Success Coaching framework, for a deep and grounded conversation about the inner work that creates outer results.This conversation explores how true transformation begins inside the nervous system, belief system, and identity, and how alignment at that level shapes every area of life, from money and relationships to health, purpose, and fulfillment.Liza shares her personal journey from external success and internal emptiness to a life rooted in ease, clarity, and authentic abundance.Together, Leslie and Liza unpack powerful themes including:• Manifestation as a grounded, practical framework• Nervous system regulation and subconscious reprogramming• The role of awareness in breaking self-sabotage patterns• Trauma, identity, and internal dialogue• Why people struggle to receive what they desire• How alignment creates sustainable success• Living from intuition instead of anxiety• Gratitude, embodiment, and energetic consistencyLiza also breaks down her five-step manifestation process, explaining how clarity, embodiment, belief, surrender, and repetition work together to create meaningful, lasting change, without bypassing emotions or forcing outcomes.This episode is especially relevant for those navigating personal growth, healing, career transitions, financial expansion, relationship alignment, or a desire to live with more purpose and ease.If you’re interested in manifestation without spiritual bypassing, inner alignment, nervous system healing, and conscious leadership, this conversation offers both insight and lived wisdom._______________I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention.🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUPMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & BreakupsWhere neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise.📅 Starts late January🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women)If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message on Instagram! I’m exploring a second February cohort.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life?igsh=ZHl3Nm1ibWd4dm1wFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19bKH1AGZ9/#InnerWork #Manifestation #NervousSystemHealing #PersonalGrowth #MindsetTransformation

Mindfulness isn’t woo-woo — it’s neuroscience.Most people check out the moment they hear the word mindfulness because they imagine crystals or chanting. But the truth? Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is one of the most researched, evidence-based programs for rewiring the brain, regulating the nervous system, and transforming the way we respond to stress, trauma, divorce, and everyday life.In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what MBSR really is, how it works in the brain, and why it changed my life during the most difficult season I’ve ever lived through — my divorce and a traumatic accident that left a friend in a coma.You’ll learn:🧠 How MBSR literally reshapes the amygdala, prefrontal cortex & default mode network💛 Why mindfulness strengthens emotional regulation and reduces rumination🔥 Real-life examples of mindfulness in daily moments (triggering texts, hard conversations, morning coffee rituals)🌿 Why MBSR in community is exponentially more powerful than going it alone👣 What embodiment truly means and how it helps people in trauma📚 The history & credibility of MBSR from Jon Kabat-Zinn and my training at Brown UniversityAnd throughout the episode, you’ll hear exactly how these practices became the lifeline that helped me survive — and rebuild — my life.🎙 ABOUT THIS EPISODEIf you’ve ever wondered:Why does my anxiety take over even when I “know better”?How do I actually regulate my nervous system, not just talk about it?Why does mindfulness feel impossible when I’m stressed, overwhelmed, or going through a divorce?Can something as simple as breath and awareness really change my life?…this episode was made for you.This is not a meditation app.This is not “think positive thoughts.”This is a structured 8-week program proven through functional MRI research to create long-term change.I trained in the official MBSR lineage at Brown University, continuing the work of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the original MBSR program at UMass Medical Center. And now I’m bringing this transformative framework to women navigating divorce, separation, heartbreak, and reinvention.🧡 JOIN THE UPCOMING MBSR GROUPMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Women Navigating Separation, Divorce & BreakupsWhere neuroscience meets self-compassion to help you regulate, rebuild, and rise.📅 Starts late January🌐 Virtual (Florida-based, open to all women)📥 Details & registration: [link]If you're NOT navigating divorce but are interested in another MBSR group, send me a message! I’m exploring a second February cohort.⏱ CHAPTERS0:00 – Mindfulness isn’t woo-woo: why people get it wrong1:15 – Who I am & why this work matters3:10 – What MBSR actually is (beyond meditation)5:40 – How MBSR helped me survive divorce8:10 – The traumatic accident & how mindfulness kept me grounded12:25 – Understanding embodiment & PTSD signs15:05 – Neuroscience: amygdala, PFC, default mode network18:30 – Real-life mindfulness examples (texts, conflict, coffee ritual)23:10 – Why group MBSR works: coregulation, resonance & accountability27:40 – How MBSR strengthens intuition & emotional clarity31:15 – Invitation to join the upcoming MBSR group33:05 – Jon Kabat-Zinn’s quote: learning to surf the waves34:00 – Outro & how to connect

Future of Therapy: AI Tools for Coaches and Therapists with Dr. Stephanie Thrower | Pulling Threads PodcastIn this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie Mathews, MSW sits down with Dr. Stephanie Thrower — a psychologist, business coach, and the visionary creator behind AI Tools for Change — to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of therapy and coaching.Together, they discuss how AI can enhance human connection, simplify business systems, and help heart-centered practitioners scale sustainably — without losing authenticity or burning out.Dr. Thrower shares her powerful journey from psychologist to AI innovator, explaining how her deep background in vocational and identity psychology intersects with technology, mindset, and soulful entrepreneurship. You’ll hear how she helps values-driven therapists and coaches build AI tools that generate revenue, attract ideal clients on autopilot, and create more freedom in their practices.✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How AI can enhance (not replace) human connection in therapy and coachingPractical ways to use AI for marketing, content creation, and client engagementWhy understanding your mindset and messaging is key to scaling sustainablyHow to integrate AI ethically while protecting client trust and privacyThe psychology of resistance to technology — and how to move through itThe future of therapy, coaching, and entrepreneurship in an AI-driven world🧠 This conversation weaves together vocational psychology, maternal mental health, and innovation — offering real tools and inspiration for therapists, coaches, and creatives ready to lead in a new era of helping work.⏱ Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Pulling Threads00:47 Meet Dr. Stephanie Thrower01:38 Stephanie’s Journey from Psychologist to AI Innovator03:20 The Intersection of AI and Vocational Psychology03:58 AI in Course Creation and Client Engagement05:36 Navigating Career Changes with AI10:56 Building AI Tools for Therapists and Coaches15:39 Ethics and Privacy in AI for Therapy19:43 The AI Content Gym: Enhancing Marketing with AI22:06 Exploring Human Design and AI Integration23:37 Qualitative and Quantitative Assessments24:24 Integrating AI with Traditional Assessments25:27 Marketing and Entrepreneurship Insights35:08 Navigating Technology Resistance39:49 Future of Therapy and Coaching with AI44:02 Work-Life Balance and AI46:28 Closing Reflections & Contact Info👩‍💻 Connect with Dr. Stephanie ThrowerWebsite: coachingwithdrthrower.comEmail: stephanie@coachingwithdrthrower.comInstagram: @aitoolsforchangemakersFacebook Group: AI Tools for Change💫 Connect with Pulling Threads & Leslie MathewsWebsite: www.theloomlife.comInstagram: @the.loom.lifeYouTube: Pulling Threads PodcastTikTok: @parandpeaceFacebook: The LooM Life

Navigating Holidays Without Your Kids: Tips for Divorced ParentsIn this special pre-holiday episode, originally featured on both 'Pulling Threads' and the 'Women Navigating Divorce' Facebook group, we address the challenges of navigating holidays without your kids post-divorce. Understand the emotional complexities and gain tools to stay anchored, present, and connected to your children even when they're not physically with you. From mindfulness strategies to creating rituals of connection, learn how to cope with feelings of guilt and loneliness. Host Cindy shares personal insights and practical suggestions to support parents during this difficult transition. Stay tuned for additional resources, including a guided meditation to calm your nervous system.00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Episode01:02 Coping with Holiday Separation02:55 Personal Experience and Empathy04:34 Naming the Pain and Fears06:57 Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques08:31 Creating Rituals of Connection11:01 Compassion and Self-Talk12:14 Final Thoughts and Support

In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie Mathews, a therapist and coach, addresses women who feel lost in seemingly safe marriages. This is not an encouragement for divorce but a guide to help women rediscover themselves and make an informed decision about staying or leaving their relationships. Sharing personal experiences and professional insights, Leslie provides a heart-to-heart framework of discernment, steps for preparing to leave if necessary, and advice for both paths, emphasizing the importance of intentional choice, support, and self-trust throughout the journey.00:00 Introduction: Feeling Lost in a Safe Marriage01:02 About the Speaker: Therapist and Coach02:08 Personal Journey: Struggles in Marriage03:46 Insights for Women: Stay or Go?04:52 Framework for Discernment09:16 Exploring Career and Identity15:18 Steps for Leaving: Practical Advice30:07 Rebuilding After the Decision32:42 Conclusion: Embracing Your New Path✨ The LooM Life — Connect, Work With Me & Follow My Journey ✨Weaving mind, body, and soul into a life you actually want to live.► WORK WITH ME (Coaching & Programs)📍 Explore The LooM Life Coaching & resources:www.theloomlife.com► FOLLOW ON SOCIALS📸 Instagram (Coaching, Mindfulness & Life After Divorce)https://www.instagram.com/the.loom.life/💇‍♀️ Therapy Instagram (Mental Health, Trauma, Anxiety, Divorce Therapy)https://www.instagram.com/loomlifetherapy⛳ TikTok | Golf, Mindful Living & “Par & Peace”@parandpeace📍 Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/theloomlife/► ABOUT LESLIE MATHEWS, MSWLeslie Mathews is a holistic therapist, trauma-informed coach, and founder of The LooM Life. She helps women navigate divorce, heal attachment wounds, rebuild identity, and create aligned relationships through mindfulness, nervous-system-based healing, and emotional empowerment—all while weaving practical tools with spiritual insight.► WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE✓ Divorce healing & emotional recovery✓ Nervous system + trauma education✓ Mindfulness & somatic practices✓ Dating after divorce & relationship skills✓ Coaching for clarity, authenticity & alignment✓ Golf as a mindfulness practice + lifestyle content► BUSINESS & MEDIA INQUIRIESFor speaking, podcast interviews, brand partnerships, or collaboration requests, contact: hello@theloomlife.com

In this episode of Pulling Threads, host Leslie welcomes Mary Eldridge, a licensed clinical social worker and coach who specializes in helping high-achieving women navigate and recover from toxic and abusive work environments. Mary shares her personal inspiration for this work and goes on to discuss the tools she uses to help women both thrive in their current positions or strategically transition out of toxic workplaces. They explore the curious challenge of distinguishing between a merely stressful and a truly toxic work environment, the systemic and personal impacts of such environments, and practical strategies for nervous system regulation and empowerment. Mary also highlights the importance of community support and the nuanced red flags to look for when seeking new employment. This episode is invaluable for anyone looking to understand and overcome the multifaceted issues related to toxic workplaces.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:49 Mary's Journey and Passion for Empowering Women01:24 Helping Women in Toxic Work Environments04:04 Recognizing and Regulating Toxic Workplaces05:56 Challenges Faced by High Achieving Women08:57 Sexism and Work-Life Balance15:34 Healing and Setting Boundaries23:14 Empowerment and Career Fulfillment32:40 Final Thoughts and Resources