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Articles by Lesha Nelson
SheBirths: Safety, Spirit + Birth
One of the things I notice over and over in the birth world, especially here in America, is how separated everything is. You take a hospital class to learn what happens in labor. Maybe you find a breathing or hypnosis program for the mental side. You follow someone on Instagram for the evidence and statistics, someone else for the spiritual stuff, and if you’re lucky, somebody eventually mentions your nervous system. Each piece can be really valuable.
What Boundaries Reveal About Relationships
One of the healthiest things I have offered someone has also been the thing that ended the relationship, at least at first glance. For months I have been in deep contemplation, reflection, and self exploration into the dynamic of boundaries. For part of this process I have been reflecting about the time when my partner and I learned to be in a healthier relationship because of our willingness to explore boundaries within our partnership.
Birth is a Sequence
One of the concepts I talk about a lot in my work is that birth is a sequence. I originally learned this through my training in pre and perinatal somatics, and over time it has completely changed the way I look at birth, postpartum, babies, and honestly, some of the patterns we carry as adults too. A few years ago I gave a talk to a group of midwives about pre and perinatal somatics (PPN), and while I was preparing for it, I kept coming back to this idea of sequence.
Elite Sports, Postpartum, and Mothering Your Way.
When I invited Megan Harrod onto the podcast, I knew her story would challenge assumptions. She works in the world of elite ski racing, traveling internationally with one of the best athletes in the world. After each of her babies was born, she returned to that work far sooner than many people would expect. Her daughter traveled to World Cup races as a newborn. Her son joined her on the road just weeks after birth. Both children eventually traveled with her to the Olympics.
Raw & Rooted w/ Lesha Nelson
When I invited Jean Madson onto the podcast, I imagined we would spend most of our time talking about postpartum. Instead, what unfolded was a much bigger conversation about preparation, trust, and the unexpected ways our own identities shape the transition into parenthood.
Raw & Rooted w/ Lesha Nelson
Nurturing Resilience We Aren't The Same Everyday 1× 0:00 Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -1:20:52 -1:20:52 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. We Aren't The Same Everyday With Shara Jackson Harper There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from believing you should be able to function with the same energy, clarity, patience, and capacity every single day.
Raw & Rooted w/ Lesha Nelson
Hello! I am trying something new (yes again lol)….If you want to watch the video I have attached the same content in a youtube: If you’re a reader, ignore the youtube and read on….all the same information is here too below the video. Recently in my study group with Nurture Revolution Practitioner training one of my “study buddies” made the remark that we are in this for the long game.
Raw & Rooted w/ Lesha Nelson
There was a moment from my nurture neuroscience class from this past weekend that has stayed with me. Not because it was dramatic, but because of how much it revealed. On the surface, it sounded like a very reasonable question. But there was something under the surface that felt like a deeper question was being asked. A woman in the group questioned how much emphasis is being placed on repair in parenting.
Birth, Blame & the Myth of Spiritual Readiness
Greetings on the last day of the year! Of course I am sharing December’s podcast on the last possible day. But that is because this episode’s topic is near and dear to my heart and every time I would sit down to write about it, words would not come. How do I possibly write about the complexities of birth, spirituality, a mother’s preparation and the black and white rhetoric that is showing up in these spaces? How do I share that I too saw these things as black and white?
Healing Birth When it Doesn’t go as Planed w/ Briana Georjae
There are stories we can name and then there are stories our bodies carry, quietly, without words. Stories shaped by the first hour after birth, by whether or not we were held, seen, or welcomed skin-to-skin. These earliest imprints don’t live in our conscious memory, but they often ripple out into our nervous systems, our relationships, our sense of safety in the world. I often sit with the truth that birth is not only a physiological event, it’s also an imprinting experience.
This summer, I found myself among a group of friends who all happened to be talk therapists. I was new to many people in the group and as someone else new joined, one of the existing members began introducing each of us, pointing around the circle as she did: “Therapist. Therapist. Therapist. Therapist…” When she got to me, there was a slight pause. So slight that I was likely the only one who caught it, but long enough that I felt it in my body.
HTMA: Depletion and the work of Replishment
This moth on the podcast, I am so excited to introduce Sena Maria, who is my personal Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) practitioner. I have been working with Sena for almost two years and delighted to share her with you. For me, HTMA offers a portal into the interconnected worlds of physical vitality, emotional well-being, and spiritual grounding.
Clearing the Lymphatic Pathways
What if the key to healing isn’t adding more in but helping what’s already there move more freely? In this episode, I share my journey into the Perrin Technique, a gentle, hands-on method created by Dr. Raymond Perrin to support the body’s natural detox pathways through the lymphatic and glymphatic systems. These are the body’s hidden rivers, one cleansing the tissues, the other clearing the brain during sleep. And when they slow or stagnate, so do we.
Is Love Enough in a World So Divided?
Something I am asking often is how do we move through the world when it’s this intense? Lately, I find myself needing more space, more quiet and more slowness. Because the world? It feels loud. Not just in volume, but in urgency, contradiction, division and chaos. Everything is moving so fast and shouting so loudly that it’s hard to even feel what’s true anymore. There’s a kind of psychic static all around — a hum of anxiety that I feel in my body.
Blueprints of Healing:
Hello! Against all odds of getting a podcast out this month, I somehow did it. Andvwho cares that it’s the last day of the month? I am really happy to recording again after a long unplanned pause. This month I sat with Rachel of The Root Celler Co. to explore homeopathy through the lens of natural law, lineage, and the postpartum window. And while the topic itself is specific (and nerdy): tiny doses, structured water, similars and opposites, what we circled together felt enormous.
The Brain That Can't Rest
A few years ago, I went on a trip with my sister. At the time, she was working full-time, managing a household, and raising two young kids. She was exhausted, but what struck me most was that she could not rest. Even on vacation, with no demands on her, she cooked, she cleaned, she exercised, she woke at 4 a.m. I asked her gently, “What would you need to be able to relax? To just sit in stillness?” She looked at me with honesty and said, “I can’t. It would take days, maybe weeks for me to unwind.
The Weight of Dissonance: why tuning out is causing more nervous system fatigue.
I awoke the morning of July 4th, feeling the familiar tension of contradiction pulsing just beneath the surface. The day before, a sweeping bill had passed—one wrapped in policies that unsettled something deep in my body. My thoughts turned to Gaza, to the growing cruelty of immigration enforcement in this country, to the relentless weight of injustice pressing on so many. I sat with it—the sadness, the heaviness in my chest, the dissonance humming through my nervous system.
The Body Is the Portal: On Spiritual Seeking, Dissociation, and the Longing to Land
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we define healing—and how easily we confuse transformation with transcendence. There’s this tendency, especially in spiritual spaces, to equate feeling good with being healed. To treat feelings of expansion as evidence of evolution.
Maidens, Mentorship, and the Crisis of Shortcut Culture in Healing Work
There’s a pattern I keep seeing in healing spaces—one I’ve been hesitant to name out loud, and yet it continues to echo louder in my own bones and in the quiet conversations I have with colleagues behind the scenes. It goes something like this: someone takes one course, a six-hour class, or a weekend workshop in craniosacral therapy, somatic work, or trauma-informed care.
Unpacking Autism: Why our black and white thinking might be the problem.
This week, RFK Jr. gave a speech that lit a firestorm in the autism and disability communities. He said he would “find a cure” for autism by September. He described autism as something that “destroys families.” He claimed these children will “never pay taxes.” Let that sink in. This isn’t just harmful—it’s dangerously reductive. It flattens a nuanced, deeply human experience into a caricature.
Feeling Burned Out? This Episode is for You
As birth workers and caregivers, we pour so much of ourselves into the families we support. But what happens when we hit a wall—when the work we love starts to leave us feeling drained, overwhelmed, or disconnected? I’ve been there. In this week’s podcast episode, I’m opening up about my personal experience with burnout: how it crept into my life, the toll it took, and, most importantly, how I found my way back to alignment and sustainability.
What's up with all the tongue ties & oral restrictions
Greetings and welcome back to another episode of my podcast: Nurturing Resilience. Today we're diving into a fascinating topic that's been buzzing in both medical and alternative health circles: the rise in tongue-ties and changes in oral-facial development. Have you noticed more people talking about tongue-ties lately? Or maybe you've heard about changes in facial structures affecting breathing and sleep? Well, you're not alone.
Infant Sleep without Sleep Training
Hey there, sleepy moms! 🌙 Are you finding it impossible to catch some zzz's because your little one just won't settle down? Is your baby waking every two hours? Congratulations! You have a normal baby. In today’s podcast I interview Ali Guyer. Ali is a certified infant sleep specialist, an occupational therapist and a mom of one (very wakeful baby/toddler).
Unmasking Infertility: The Journey of IVF + IUI
Greetings! In this episode of the Nurturing Resilience Podcast I invited a special guest, Jaime Carroll, to delve into the emotionally charged and challenging topic of infertility. Jaime serves as an Education and Advocacy Coordinator at the Utah Infertility Resource Center and is courageously open about sharing her personal journey with primary and secondary infertility, multiple losses, and the joy of finally welcoming her two children into the world through IUI and IVF procedures.
Internal Family Systems
Hello and welcome to this months episode. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a type of psychotherapy that identifies and addresses multiple sub-personalities or families within each person’s mental system. These sub-personalities consist of wounded parts and painful emotions such as anger and shame, and parts that try to control and protect the person from the pain of the wounded parts.
A Journey of Healing: Somatic Experiencing and Self-Directed Neuroplasticity
Happy Spring! I just dropped a new episode with Michal Tolk that I am so excited to share with you. In this podcast episode, we delve into the healing power of somatic experiencing, self-directed neuroplasticity and unconditional love. What exactly somatic experiencing and self directed neuroplasticity? Somatic experiencing, a gentle, body-based approach to healing trauma.
Fertility Awareness Method
The Spring Equinox, a time when day and night are of equal length, symbolizes the start of a new season and a time of rebirth and renewal. This natural cycle mirrors the cycle of fertility, where life is continuously being created and nurtured. Just as the earth awakens from winter and begins its cycle of fertility, so too can we become aware of the intricate cycles of our own bodies. This understanding can lead us to a deeper connection with ourselves, our health, and the natural world around us.
From Shame to Serenity
Greetings! It has been awhile and I am so happy to be back producing podcasts again. I have missed sending these to your inbox and interacting with you. If you’d like to listen to a little life update, why there was a break in my podcasts (yes I am blaming Peru) and the future plans of this podcast and business you can do so here: And now onto the current episode with Melissa Armstrong.
Preeclampsia + Induction Prevention
Hello Friends! I am excited to be back to podcasting after an unplanned break. In this episode I am welcoming back Morley Robbins, creator of The Root Cause Protocol and author of Cure Your Fatigue. Morley is a pioneer in understanding the role of minerals in the body and how they play a role in pregnancy and postpartum. This is a continuation of our previous episode about better understanding oxidative stress.
You're NOT Anemic Part 1
For those of you that have been following me on Instagram for a bit, you know that I drastically changed my eating habits last year after blood work confirmed I was “anemic.” Rather than supplementing with iron as my Dr. wished, my journey included reading a book called Cure Your Fatigue and changing HOW I eat. I am so happy to be joined by Morley Robbins, creator of The Root Cause Protocol and author of Cure Your Fatigue on my podcast today.
Pre and Perinatal Somatics
Welcome to today's episode where I am excited to introduce one of my current teachers, Kate White. Kate White is an award-winning educator, advanced bodyworker and trauma resolution therapist. She is trained in somatic therapies, prenatal and perinatal health, lactation, brain development, infant mental health, and has specialized in parent-baby dyad care using somatic prevention and trauma healing approaches for over 20 years.
Baby Sleeping with Their Mouth Open?
As a parent, I am sure you want to ensure that your baby is getting the best possible sleep. One important factor that you might overlook is the way your baby is breathing during sleep. I know all those cute photos of your baby with their mouth open melts your heart, but there might an underline reason this is happening. And it might not necessarily be a good thing if your little one is constantly breathing through their mouth.
The Journey of Anxious to Secure
Jun 13 • 1HR 24M With Diana Eskander Open in playerListen on ); Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Welcome to the Nurturing Resilience podcast where your host, Lesha Nelsons weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energetics to nurture a deeper connection to yourself.
Attachment Theory 101
Hello and welcome today’s episode where I introduce and explore Attachment Theory! Relationships are challenging, but understanding Attachment Theory and where you sit on the attachment continuum can make them easier to navigate. By understanding our own attachment style and the attachment styles of those around us, we can better understand our own emotional needs and those of our loved ones.
Alchemizing Fear
I recently told a friend that I am planning to travel to Peru in August. Instead of being met with excitement (as I had hoped), he expressed his fears about everything that could go wrong and the potential lifelong impact that could have on my life. Don't get me wrong – when I made the decision to go, I weighed all the pros and cons of the trip. There was both fear and excitement, and those feelings still exist when I think about what I'm going to embark on this fall.
Freebirth + the Medicine Walk
It has been a moment but I am so happy about todays Episode with Cheleste Deveraux. The moment you meet Cheleste you feel seen. She has a way of holing space for you, that no matter where you are in your journey, you know you are not alone on your path. A seasoned "traditional" midwife, now a free birth facilitator, butcher, mountain mama, and tallow maker, it is an honor to be her friend.
Healing Through Embodiment
Apr 17 • 1HR 32M with Cami Talbot Open in playerListen on ); Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Welcome to the Nurturing Resilience podcast where your host, Lesha Nelsons weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energetics to nurture a deeper connection to yourself.
Craniosacral Therapy
Apr 3 • 47M Cranio What? And My Journey Open in playerListen on ); Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Welcome to the Nurturing Resilience podcast where your host, Lesha Nelsons weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energetics to nurture a deeper connection to yourself.
The Conception Choice
The choice to conceive. I am not sure what could be more taboo than admitting you don't want children for a cisgendered woman. But when my next guest Dr. Sarah Coxon publicly admitted this on a social media post, it was her most liked and commented post. In a vulnerable conversation, Sarah and I discuss our personal experiences in making this complex decision, and the societal pressures and expectations that come with it.
Your Sexuality Q&A
Welcome to Episode 3 in the short series of taboo topics, and what could be more taboo than sex and sexuality? In a world that shames so many aspects around sexuality I thought this would be the perfect place to introduce my next guest Melissa Hite. Melissa is a spiritual practitioner, massage therapist, life coach, and sexuality professional. She has a holistic sex educator certification from the Institute Of Sexual Education And Enlightenment (ISEE).
Normalizing Grief and Being a Human
Feb 22 • 1HR 30M with Alyssa Pressmann Open in playerListen on ); Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Welcome to the Nurturing Resilience podcast where your host, Lesha Nelsons weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energetics to nurture a deeper connection to yourself.
Women, Weight + Our Conditioning
Apr 21, 2022 • 47M A vulnerable share about your host Open in playerListen on ); Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Welcome to the Nurturing Resilience podcast where your host, Lesha Nelsons weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energetics to nurture a deeper connection to yourself.
I love Vjj's
You guessed it, episode 7 is all about Vaginas! Hopefully I don’t get kicked off social media for this one. In this episode I interview April Davis, owner and and creator of the Vagina Blog and the Vagina Blog Podcast. April is a compelling speaker, creative consultant, visual artist, and wordsmith who is featured in magazines, on podcasts, and on stage, sharing her wisdom, humor and knowledge.
What is Somatic Trauma Resolution?
Jul 14, 2022 • 42M A personal perspective Open in playerListen on ); Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Welcome to the Nurturing Resilience podcast where your host, Lesha Nelsons weaves together the worlds of somatics, science + energetics to nurture a deeper connection to yourself.
The Fire in my Belly
Hello Beloveds! I am so honored to introduce Yana on my podcast. Yana Fay Dzedze is an interdisciplinary artist, forever eager to marry the contradictions of life through her work. Her first book, "The Fire in my Belly", journeys a quest to belong in a world of cultural differences. Yana draws on her own life stories to bring a sense of poetic intimacy to those who engage with her.
The complex and not so complex relationship with prayer
Hello Loves, After doing a poll on instagram I decided to try something new. Most of you marked that you listen to content more than read content. So….the audio above is what you might read below. They are one in the same. Now you can decide to listen or read! Onto prayer. Prayer is something I’ve had a complex relationship with. Being raised Mormon prayer was something I did as a child to a God in heaven. I did it to be a “good girl”, to ask for help, and give thanks.
Untangling Weltschmerz + Saviorism.
Hello sweet friends, I have always been the kind of person who cares and constantly thinks about those who have less than me. I believe I came into the world this way, out of the womb and immediately checking in with everyone else to make sure there were ok before actually landing in my own body. When I was 16, I stood up to my soccer coach who was screaming at my team because one of the players, Shannon, was late. I spoke up and defended her because she unable to defend herself.
Reclaiming Our Medicine
Hello Loves, Just a reminder that the recording above is this newsletter below and today we start with a story: “My body is fertile ground.” I hear the words and start to recognize the freeze taking over my body. I start tapping my legs firmly with my fists, moving to my arms to keep my body awake. “My body is fertile ground.” I press my legs into the ground, close my eyes and allow the words to wash over me. I am safe, I tell myself. I keep pressing and tapping to counter the freeze state.
Correcting the Narrative
After taking a short break from my podcast, it feels exciting to be back….. As an artist, the mantra "we are the walking wounded" tremendously impacted Kaleigh Jo Atkinson's vision. The main influence on her work is one of selfless service. She believes documentary film, installation art and vulnerability through storytelling are powerful tools that advance the consciousness and compassion in humanity. It's an honor to have long time friend and filmmaker Kaleigh on my podcast.
Best of 2022
Greetings and welcome to 2023! A few weeks ago as 2022 was winding down I had the idea to highlight the top 4 most listened to guests on my podcast. The idea comes from Rich Roll, and even though my podcast is not at his caliber (yet), it felt fun to reflect back and share what moved all of YOU the most. As I listened to each episode again, the theme that presented itself was self efficacy.
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