In this episode, Scott and Dan are joined by physiologist and human performance expert Dr. Mike T. Nelson to explore how trauma, chronic stress, and incarceration reshape the nervous system and body. The conversation challenges punishment-based justice models and asks what rehabilitation could look like if regulation, sleep, and dignity were treated as foundations rather than privileges.<br /><br /> Dr. Nelson explains how chronic fear and sleep deprivation dysregulate physiology, why harsh prison environments often increase recidivism, and how trauma almost always precedes criminal behavior. He also shares his personal strategies for staying regulated during stressful times, including routines around sleep, movement, light exposure, writing, and balancing information input with creative output.<br /><br /> The episode highlights the need for trauma-informed, physiology-aware approaches to justice—and why true public safety begins with helping people regain the capacity to feel safe, focused, and human.<br /><br /> Key Themes:<br />     •    Trauma and incarceration<br />     •    Nervous system dysregulation<br />     •    Sleep, stress, and recovery<br />     •    Regulation vs. punishment<br />     •    Writing, creativity, and balance<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/just-us-on-justice-and-other-things--5542256/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/just-us-on-justice-and-other-things--5542256/support</a>.