EP 230: Mothering the Bones: Repairs, Reflections, and Radical Gathering with Elisa Mary Haggarty
Sex Birth Trauma with Kimberly Ann Johnson
Release Date: 07/03/2025
Sex Birth Trauma with Kimberly Ann Johnson
Bio Michel Odent, MD, is a French obstetrician trained as a general surgeon known for his tireless research on how environmental factors present during pregnancy and birth affect babies, children, and our communities. He is the founder of the Primal Health Research Centre and authored the first articles on the initiation of lactation and the use of birthing pools. He has authored 15 books and passed on August 19, 2025. What He Shares: Why birth is an important subject not only for birth workers, but for all people interested in the future of our species. Why the period of birth is a...
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In this episode, Kimberly and Sarah Wildeman dive into the importance of community and relational support and the experiences that led each of them to prioritize community building so centrally in each of their lives. Sarah shares her journey from a communal Christian upbringing to building her own “space of welcome” as an adult. Both Kimberly and Sarah emphasize the need for practical community-building practices, balancing personal needs with community support, and the challenges of maintaining a village in today’s world. Sarah's "Our Common Life" program offers a four-month course to...
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On this episode, Kimberly and, author, artist, and researcher, Jamie Mustard dive deep into Jamie’s childhood in Scientology and his healing and research quest to understand his complex childhood PTSI (Post-Traumatic Stress Injury). This conversation moves between Mustard’s autobiographical story, which features heavily in his upcoming novel Child X and graphic novel Hybred, in addition to his previous research into trauma that stemmed from a transformative experience with Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatment. After benefitting so deeply from the treatment, Jamie spent years researching...
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In this episode, Kimberly and Bethany discuss their reflections and experiences of attachment and mothering their adult children. Bethany describes changes in how she viewed herself and parenting while her daughter became an adult herself while Kimberly shares her experiences mothering her daughter who is about to move out of their home for the first time. They share challenges, frustrations, and confusing moments around their attachment and parenting, particularly as they age themselves. As most parenting content focuses on the early years, this conversation reveals the nuances of what...
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Summary In this episode, Kimberly interviews her favorite podcast guest–her daughter Cece! Cece’s last podcast episode was four years ago, so she shares her reflections around graduating highschool, her college application process, and her experiences as being Kimberly’s daughter. She also turns the mic back to Kimberly to ask Kimberly her own reflections on life’s various stages, single parenting, and what she wants her work to look like after Cece flies the nest. Bio Cece, Kimberly's daughter, is a 17 year old high school graduate and vocalist. What She Shares:...
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In this episode, Kimberly switches roles to be in the interviewee seat herself while Elisa asks and reflects about Kimberly’s Mothering the Bones retreats. They just finished one retreat in Wales and reflect on how moving and transformative it was for the gathering to be holding one another. They also discuss the origins of Mothering the Bones–how Kimberly came to this work and why she feels it is the apex of all of her expertise, knowledge, and purpose. Bio Elisa Mary Haggarty is an Executive and Conscious Leadership Coach, host of The Soul Podcast, and fellow jaguar. She coaches...
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In this episode, Kimberly and Alex discuss his extensive background in working with children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He spent much of those years taking a non-traditional approach from just behavioral to prioritizing fun and community. This work led him to keenly understanding the importance of local agriculture, nutrition, and the gut-brain connection, and eventually he began working as an animal butcher and supporting his wife’s work, The Wild Nutritionist. Aspects of their discussion are connected through the thread of the importance of holistic care for ASD individuals as...
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In this episode, Kimberly and Kathryn discuss Kathryn’s work in Jungian psychology, psychotherapy, embodiment, and body image. Kathryn walks us through her workbook which is designed to help women understand how much body image issues are distractions from feelings of anxiety and ambivalence about their lives. Instead, she describes how to create the capacity to unearth more deeply rooted thoughts, feelings, and sensations in our psyches and our bodies. Bio Kathryn Holt, PhD, LCSW, is a depth psychologist and writer. She completed her PhD in Jungian/Archetypal Studies at Pacifica...
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In this episode, Kimberly and Tyson discuss the magnitude of pornography including addiction, nervous system regulation, and recovery. Tyson describes his own personal journey being addicted to and then healing from porn addiction and how that informs his work with men and couples today. He discusses the prevalence of porn, how it functions with technology and AI, and how many men use it to either up-regulate or down-regulate their nervous systems. Rather than moralizing porn and porn addiction, Tyson describes how to find healing and freedom through channeling real life force as well as...
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Return guest Ash Robinson dives deep with Kimberly Ann Johnson into the challenges and opportunities for women in business amidst the current economic and technological climate. They discuss the role of AI on personal and professional life, the importance of financial stability, and the need for a clear vision and strategy, particularly for women. Ash emphasizes the significance of taking stock of one's current situation, identifying needs, and focusing on sustainable growth. They also touch on the role of professional resourcing, the balance between enduring and sacrificing, and the...
info_outlineIn this episode, Kimberly switches roles to be in the interviewee seat herself while Elisa asks and reflects about Kimberly’s Mothering the Bones retreats. They just finished one retreat in Wales and reflect on how moving and transformative it was for the gathering to be holding one another. They also discuss the origins of Mothering the Bones–how Kimberly came to this work and why she feels it is the apex of all of her expertise, knowledge, and purpose.
Bio
Elisa Mary Haggarty is an Executive and Conscious Leadership Coach, host of The Soul Podcast, and fellow jaguar. She coaches leaders to become more aware of how they are operating and the impact of how they relate to those around them through Conscious Leadership. She also has a diverse background in somatics and holistics and nutritional wellness. She is based in NYC but serves globally.
What She Shares:
–Mothering the Bones origins
–Nuances of session work in community
–Non-traditional approaches to gathering
–Making space for spontaneous emergence
What You’ll Hear:
–One week out from Mothering the Bones retreat
–Level of intimacy and vulnerability in Kimberly’s work
–Why Kimberly does Mothering the Bones
–Kimberly’s background in body work and nervous systems
–Session work in group
–Elise’s experience at Ghost Ranch
–Lay practitioner defined
–Taking care of people, people of place, and the land
–Range of grief and joy
–Meta-level analysis not needed when sessions occur
–Tactile practice has emerged
–Next step beyond ROLFing and body-work
–Holding the pelvis and witnessing
–Decentralizing role of practitioner
–Importance of witness space as recipient
–Conscientiousness about care and support
–Not all trauma work is intense
–Allow the body to be in blue
–Distributing weight of session with multiple people
–Pairing experts with novices
–Witnessing a freeze
–Repairing with other women’s presence
–Resourced to receive, give, and listen
–Burnout and unsustainability in community work
–Impossibility of birth work and community care in these times
–Value of midwives and second-generation births
–Upcoming book for Mothering the Bones work
–Touch, touching the pelvis non-sexually, sitting, consent
–Bringing whole self to bodywork
–Radical touch
–Listening, presence, story
–Value of artistry in trauma-work
–Non-traditional ways of learning
–Giving space for emerging creativity to come out
–Sexuality and birth require emergence and spontaneity
–Being responsive to group’s needs
–Loosening control in community gatherings
–Art of embodiment
–Opportunities to be spontaneous and surprised
–Tending to place and land of retreats
–Depth and saturation of place
–Different approaches to in-person versus online
–Bodies that need held the most
–Bone holding practice for presence and healing
Resources
Website: https://www.elisamaryhaggarty.com/
IG: @elisamaryhaggarty