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What does spirituality have to do with the brain, interoception, and nervous system regulation?

In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the connection between the brain, mind, body, and spirit—and why spirituality may be better understood through the broader human experience of transcendence, rather than religion alone.

Drawing connections between neuroscience, psychology, interoception, homeostasis, and spiritual experience, Tom and Ruth examine how the brain allows us to sense not only what is happening within our bodies, but also our connection to other people, nature, and something beyond ourselves.

In this episode:

• How interoception connects the brain, body, mind, and spirit
• The difference between spirituality, transcendence, and religion
• Why humans naturally seek meaning and connection beyond themselves
• How our nervous systems are affected by other people and collective experiences
• The relationship between psychology, spirituality, and whole-person wellness
• How rigid beliefs and perceived threats can become “enemies of the mind”

This conversation invites us to think differently about spirituality—not simply as a religious concept, but as part of the interconnected experience of being human.

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You can follow us on
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Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

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Send us Fan Mail

What’s happening beneath the surface of your conscious mind—and how might it be shaping your life without you realizing it?

In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation (AHA) Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the neuroscience of the unconscious mind, trauma, somatic healing, and nervous system regulation—and why true wellbeing may require us to look beneath the surface.

Drawing on the insights of Carl Jung and the emerging understanding of how the brain continues to process, learn, and problem-solve beyond our conscious awareness, they explore how unresolved experiences can influence our emotions, behaviors, and even our bodies.

From recurring dreams and somatization to hypnotherapy and AHA problem solving, Tom and Ruth discuss different ways of accessing what's happening beneath conscious awareness—and the role the brain may play in bringing those hidden experiences into the light.

What might change when we stop looking only outside ourselves and begin listening to the wisdom within?

Topics: Neuroscience • Unconscious Mind • Inner Work • Trauma Recovery • Somatic Healing • Nervous System Regulation • Interoception • Emotional Resilience • Homeostasis • Mind-Body Connection

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail

What does it really mean to be conscious—and what if we've misunderstood the relationship between the mind and the brain?

In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation (AHA) Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson go deeper into new neuroscience research showing that the brain continues to process language, learn, remember, and anticipate—even when the conscious mind is under anesthesia.

Together, they challenge our mind-centered understanding of consciousness and explore a provocative possibility: we don't simply have a brain—the brain has us.

From the hippocampus and enteric nervous system to interoception, memory, trauma, and homeostasis, Tom and Ruth explore what changes when we begin to trust the brain's remarkable capacity for wisdom, regulation, and problem solving.

Could shifting from a mind-centered to a brain-centered understanding of ourselves change how we approach stress, trauma recovery, emotional resilience, and wellbeing?

Topics: Neuroscience • Consciousness • Brain Health • Interoception • Nervous System Regulation • Trauma Recovery • Emotional Resilience • Homeostasis • Mind-Body Connection

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!