Positive Disintegration

In episode 78, we continued our rich and engaging conversation with Autum Romano, an educator, bodyworker, and author from Colorado Springs, CO. This is the second in a two-part conversation exploring polyvagal theory and its relevance to personality development, healing, and human connection.We deepen our exploration of polyvagal theory and its connections with developmental experience, neurodivergence, and positive disintegration.Together, we unpack:* How neuroception and energetic sensitivity shape relational dynamics* The intersection of PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), trauma, and cues of safety* How overexcitabilities can become dynamisms that help us grow in relationship* The role of relationships in co-regulation, especially for intense and neurodivergent individuals* Why true connection is essential to healing and development—and how hard it is to cultivate in unsafe environmentsChris reflects on their own experience as a gifted PDAer, highlighting how sensitivity to energy and autonomy needs has shaped their emotional regulation and social interactions. Autum and Emma both offer powerful insights about learning to tune into not just how others affect us, but how we impact them, too.This episode is rich with hard-earned wisdom about nervous system safety, embodied growth, and the power of safe, attuned relationships. If you’ve ever felt “too much,” struggled with co-regulation, or wondered how to find the green zone in your life—this one’s for you.Links from this episodeAutum’s websiteBody Wisdom and the Polyvagal Theory (Autum’s book)PDA: Resistance and Resilience podcast with Marni Kammersell and Chris WellsEpisode 56: Autoethnography for Personal GrowthLiving with IntensityPDA North AmericaIntense World TheoryDr. Stephen Porges, Safe and Sound ProtocolConnect with us* Positive Disintegration on Substack* Visit the Dabrowski Center website* Facebook* Instagram* The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel* Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook* The Tragic Gift blog by Emma* Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com* Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.* Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 77, Chris and Emma were joined by Autum Romano, an educator, bodyworker, and author from Colorado Springs, CO. This is the first in a two-part conversation exploring polyvagal theory and its relevance to personality development, healing, and human connection.Autum brings 28+ years of experience in the healing arts and a rich understanding of the nervous system. Together, we dive into the basics of polyvagal theory—including the three autonomic states (ventral, sympathetic, and dorsal), neuroception, and co-regulation—and connect it with Dąbrowski’s theory of positive disintegration.Topics include:* How our nervous system shapes our experience and reactions* Using body-based tools for nervous system regulation* Understanding fight, flight, and freeze responses in relationships* Recognizing your dominant pattern and learning to move between states* How safety, connection, and emotional healing are intertwined* The overlap between polyvagal theory and Dabrowskian development* Personal stories about trauma responses, self-awareness, and growthAutum’s insights offer a compassionate, grounded lens on how to support development—not by avoiding dysregulation, but by learning to move through it with awareness. Whether you’re new to polyvagal theory or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode offers something valuable.Stay tuned for Part 2, where the conversation continues.Links from this episodeAutum’s websiteBody Wisdom and the Polyvagal TheoryConnect with us* Positive Disintegration on Substack* Visit the Dabrowski Center website* Facebook* Instagram* The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel* Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook* The Tragic Gift blog by Emma* Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com* Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.* Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In this special crossover episode, we’re sharing Episode 3 of cosmic cheer squad—our new podcast from the Positive Disintegration Network. Chris and Bee are joined by a very special guest: Emma Nicholson, co-host of Positive Disintegration, for an in-person, around-the-table conversation recorded in Madison, Wisconsin.Together, they reflect on:* How they became friends and collaborators through the theory of positive disintegration* The idea of cosmic pockets as a way to hold intense feelings until it’s safe to process them* Inner critics, intrusive thoughts, and how to rewrite old narratives* Parenting yourself while raising others* Emotional trampolines, anti-cults, and resisting illegitimate authority* Why the Gravitron might be the perfect metaphor for developmentPlus: Bee’s legendary toffee, Aussie accent jokes, trench coat metaphors, and the beginnings of a truly cozy counterculture.💫 It’s part reunion, part origin story, and all heart. Come sit with us.Links from this episodeFind Emma online:* Tragic Gift (blog)* Adults with Overexcitabilities (YouTube)* Adults with Overexcitabilities (Facebook group)* Positive Disintegration (Instagram)We referenced:* Cosmic Pocket* Sneaky StimmingPositive Disintegration:* Episode 33: A Personal Journey of Self-Discovery, with David Sweeney* Episode 37: Self-Directed Education with Marni Kammersell This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

Gordon Smith, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor from Asheville, specializes in supporting gifted adolescents and adults. In this engaging conversation, he reveals how rediscovering his giftedness reshaped his life and practice. Gordon emphasizes the power of community and creativity in fostering authenticity and self-expression. He introduces his innovative "Magnum Opus" exercise, using poetry as a tool for emotional release. The discussion touches on unmasking in safe spaces, navigating grief, and the essential role of mutual support in personal growth.

Episode 74 includes Part 2 of our very first in-person podcast special. After years of collaborating across continents, Chris and Emma finally sat down together face-to-face in Madison, Wisconsin. In this spontaneous, laughter-filled continuation, we’re joined by Bee Mayhew and Pam Ryan for a warm and off-the-cuff conversation about friendship, imagination, healing, and what it really means to be ourselves.In this episode:* The power of community and co-regulation for people who’ve long felt “too much”* What happens when deep thinkers stop masking and start mirroring each other* A kitchen full of neurodivergent magic and mirroring* Finding safety, resonance, and spiritual alignment in community* From shared values to shaping new realities—how our friendships have become frameworksWe reflect on how much we’ve grown, how much we’ve healed, and how profoundly we’ve changed by allowing ourselves to show up as our true selves, together.Big news: Chris and Bee have launched a brand new podcast together—✨ cosmic cheer squad ✨ Visit cosmic cheer squad on SubstackFollow @cosmiccheersquad on InstagramIt’s a show blending resistance, storytelling, transformation, and soul-friend energy.Links from this episodeBee’s Substack:* Pragmagination Pam’s groups on Facebook:* Rogue Valley Brainery & Ludoteca* Voodoodleydooers Connect with us* Positive Disintegration on Substack* Visit the Dabrowski Center website* Facebook* Instagram* The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel* Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook* The Tragic Gift blog by Emma* Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com* Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.* Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

Welcome to a very special episode of Positive Disintegration! For the first time ever, Chris and Emma sat down together in person to record—not virtually, not over Zoom or SquadCast, but face to face in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin. In this warm and unscripted special, we reflect on our friendship, the podcast’s evolution, and the joy (and awkwardness!) of finally being in the same room after three years of collaboration.In this episode:* Behind-the-scenes stories from Emma’s trip to the U.S.* Meeting Michael Piechowski and getting hosted with tea and cookies* Visiting the Henry Vilas Zoo, hanging out with James, Jason, and Jack—and, of course, the infamous hound dog, Champ* Reflections on growth, healing, and laying new paths* Creating the Positive Disintegration Network and dreaming forward into 2025* How their work and friendship have evolved over years of podcasting together* Early glimpses of new projects: cosmic cheer squad and PDA: Resistance and Resilience✨ This is part one of a two-part special to our listeners—an intimate conversation full of laughter, reflection, and visioning for what’s next.Links from this episodeTragic GiftAdults with OverexcitabilitiesUpcoming podcasts Chris mentioned:The cosmic cheer squad podcast is coming soon with Bee Mayhew from pragmaginationPDA: Resistance & Resilience is coming later this spring with Marni Kammersell from Wandering BrightlyConnect with us* Positive Disintegration on Substack* Visit the Dabrowski Center website* Facebook* Instagram* The Positive Disintegration YouTube Channel* Adults with Overexcitabilities group on Facebook* The Tragic Gift blog by Emma* Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com* Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.* Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

Dr. Lil Jedynak, a memoir writing coach and gifted adult, shares her transformative journey of self-discovery and healing through writing. She discusses how early experiences shaped her understanding of giftedness and the benefits of autoethnography in revealing personal narratives. Lil highlights the complexities of societal expectations and the emotional toll of performance, emphasizing the power of storytelling in embracing one's unique identity. Listeners are inspired to explore writing as a tool for personal growth and authentic self-expression.

*Content Warning: This episode contains a discussion about suicide, which may be distressing to some listeners. Click here for resources.In episode 71, Chris and Emma continue the conversation with Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, a suicidologist, therapist, author, and professor at the University of Denver. In this second installment, we delve deeper into the complexities of suicidality, exploring chronic suicidal thoughts and the stigma surrounding suicide. We talk more about what to say and what not to say to someone who is suicidal and how to support those in emotional pain. Stacey shares valuable insights and practical resources for those navigating these challenging experiences. Chris and Emma reflect on their personal journeys and the power of connection in moments of despair. This candid discussion provides essential perspectives for anyone seeking to better understand suicide, reduce stigma, and foster compassion.Resources from this EpisodeSpeaking of SuicideStaceyFreedenthal.comHelping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals (book for professionals)Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do (book for laypeople)Frank King, A Matter of Laugh or Death (YouTube)r/SuicideWatch (Reddit)ChronicSuicideSupport.comAlternatives to SuicideWarmLineWildflower AllianceLive Through ThisChris’s story on Live Through This (Interview date: February 26, 2015, Denver, CO)Connect with usPositive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

*Content Warning: This episode contains a discussion about suicide, which may be distressing to some listeners. Click here for resources. In episode 70, Chris and Emma talk with Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, a suicidologist, therapist, author, and professor at the University of Denver. We discuss the deeply important but often stigmatized topic of suicide. This is part one of a two-part series that explores the intersection of suicide and Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration, offering listeners tools for empathy and connection in the face of despair.Stacey shares her personal journey with suicidality, the experiences that led her to dedicate her career to this work, and the insights she’s gained through her research, teaching, and practice.Together, we explore the stigma surrounding suicidal thoughts, the ways people can hide their pain, and how well-intentioned responses often fall short. Stacey emphasizes the need for what she calls “brave listening”—creating a safe space for honest conversations without judgment or quick fixes. Chris and Emma also reflect on their own experiences and share perspectives on navigating these tough but crucial discussions.Resources from this episodeSpeaking of Suicide StaceyFreedenthal.com Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals (book for professionals)Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do (book for laypeople)A Suicide Therapist’s Secret Past (NY Times article mentioned, behind paywall. Click for PDF)Stacey mentioned the following image from her book’s cover.We mentioned Episode 8: Surviving DisintegrationThomas Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (Wikipedia)Connect with usPositive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe

In episode 69, Chris and Emma talked with Lian Brook-Tyler, shamanic healer, teacher of unity, podcaster, and co-founder of the Be Mythical podcast. In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, we dive into the intersections of mysticism, neurodivergence, spirituality, transformation, and awakenings—connecting these profound experiences to Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration. We explore:* How neurodivergence can shape mystical and spiritual experiences.* The connection between shamanic practices, inner work, and positive disintegration.* The importance of doing the work of inner transformation and embracing the unknown.* The parallels between psychological and spiritual frameworks in understanding human development.Lian’s mythical journey truly began when she was ruptured open to Spirit with the sudden death of her father—which led to her mysteriously recovering from 15 years of chronic pain, panic attacks and anxiety. That inexplicable transformation inspired her to leave a leadership role in the corporate world to immerse herself in discovering what creates pain and struggle, and conversely, how to create a life overflowing with love, magic, beauty and truthLian also shares how her work at Be Mythical, together with co-founder Jonathan Wilkinson, supports old souls and visionaries on initiatory journeys of self-discovery, using myth and ancient wisdom to find purpose and truth. Their work, Be Mythical, is an alchemy of ancient ways for modern days. It weaves together eclectic wisdom teachings and natural traditions such as rewilding, magic and animist spirituality, embodiment, and self-illumination into a soul-led, heart-centred, sovereign path of reclaiming your wildness, actualising your deepest gifts, to live fully and die complete.Here is the Tree of Life image Lian discussed during the episodeLinks from this episodeBe Mythical websiteBe Mythical podcastBe Mythical episodes we mentioned:* “Over-excitability”: A more truthful and constructive perspective on neurodivergence? (episode with Chris)* How to know if you're really "Doing The Work"? Sara J. Sanderson interviews Lian Brook-Tyler Positive Disintegration Episode 29: The Disintegrating DuckCourses: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeperFree fb group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1694264587546957Fb page: https://www.facebook.com/bemythicalYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeMythicalInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/be.mythical/Moonly Newsletter: https://www.bemythical.com/moonlyConnect with usPositive Disintegration on SubstackVisit the Dabrowski Center websiteFacebookInstagramThe Positive Disintegration YouTube ChannelAdults with Overexcitabilities group on FacebookThe Tragic Gift blog by EmmaEmail us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.comPlease consider supporting the podcast to help fund this work through the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Find Positive Disintegration MerchIf you enjoyed this episode on Apple or Spotify, please remember to click on the stars and leave a rating or write a review. Thank you!Tuesday, December 10, 2024, is Colorado Gives Day. Please consider donating to the Dabrowski Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and help support the Dabrowski Congress, other events, and our archive. This year, a generous anonymous donor has pledged to match gifts up to $2,500 USD. Thank you for supporting our work! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.positivedisintegration.org/subscribe