Make Some Noise with Andrea Owen

I’m joined by Irina Vlada for an honest conversation about healing, nervous system regulation, and what real integration actually looks like when working with psychedelics and other therapeutic tools. Irina helps people navigate transformation at the intersection of psychedelics, spirituality, psychology, and wellness. I met her earlier this year at Rythmia, and after spending time with her and diving deeper into her work, I knew I had to bring her on the show. Irina has over a decade of experience as a coach and facilitator, and from 2020 to 2022, she worked as an Integration Coach with Mindbloom, guiding more than 200 clients through preparation and integration for ketamine-assisted therapy. In our conversation, she’s clear about one thing: psychedelic medicine isn’t the work itself. Real transformation happens afterward, through integration, embodiment, and taking actionable steps that rewire habits, thoughts, and the nervous system. Without that process, insight can fade just as quickly as it arrives. We also talk about why ancient practices like breathwork and meditation are such powerful tools for healing trauma, regulating the nervous system, and expanding awareness, often without needing altered states at all. And for anyone curious but skeptical about psychedelics, Irina emphasizes the importance of safety, education, preparation, and the willingness to surrender to the process. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Irina bridges psychedelics, spirituality, psychology, and wellness through lived experience and ethical practice (4:05) Her personal path to self-awareness and healing, including trauma and the long road of recovery (5:47) What ketamine-assisted therapy involves, why integration matters, and how insight without action quickly fades (17:21) How meditation, breathwork, yoga, and nervous system regulation create real, lasting change without psychedelics (25:06) What Irina emphasizes for people who feel skeptical or unsure about psychedelics from a therapeutic standpoint (44:39) Resources from this episode:  Write Your Way Through It Come see me in Costa Rica at Rythmia Ayahuasca Retreat in January! Irina on Instagram Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: http://andreaowen.com/podcast/708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The free workshop: Live Like You Give a Damn (As the World Burns) is happening tomorrow! Tomorrow, December 18th at 3 p.m. Eastern, I’ll walk you through how to keep your heart open, grounded, and intact during hard seasons of life, so you can live like you give a damn. I’ll add the link for you below so you can join us live. And in case you missed it, my new book Live Like You Give a Damn is officially out in the world — and I can’t wait for you to read it. In this episode, we’re taking a look at what it means to shed before we step into a new year. Since 2025 is the Year of the Snake and 2026 is the Year of the Horse, this moment naturally invites both release and momentum. I’m walking you through the questions, stories, and real-life moments that help you recognize what’s ready to fall away — and how that clearing creates space for aligned action. In this episode, you’ll hear: How the symbolism of the Snake (shedding) and the Horse (movement) can guide your personal reflection What shedding actually looks like in everyday life — with examples you’ll definitely recognize Why release is essential before you start planning or taking action for the new year The most important questions to ask yourself as you move toward 2026 How to free up emotional and energetic space without forcing resolutions A reminder that growth doesn’t require a full reinvention — just honesty and willingness As you listen, I hope you let yourself soften, get curious, and notice what’s quietly asking to be released. Sometimes the smallest things we put down make the biggest difference in how we step forward. PS: I’ll be guest speaking at Rhythmia Life Advancement Center in January, and if you’re interested in attending, click HERE.  Resources from this episode:  Free workshop and grab your copy of LLYGAD Download your free PDF that accompanies this workshop Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: http://andreaowen.com/podcast/707 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re talking about what it feels like to live in a world that just won’t let up and how to stay connected to yourself when everything around you feels chaotic. Returning guest Kate Swoboda is here to dig into fear, overwhelm, and the emotional fallout of constant crisis. Kate is the creator of YourCourageousLife.com, Director of the ICF-accredited Certified Life Coach Collective, and author of The Courage Habit. She’s spent years helping people break fear patterns and practice courage in real, everyday ways and she brings that wisdom straight into this conversation. Together, we unpack the toll nonstop stress takes on your nervous system, why doomscrolling feels like quicksand, and how courage has nothing to do with muscling through. Instead, it’s about capacity, self-regulation, and the internal stories that shape how you move through the world. Kate and I also talk about overwhelm, somatic support, and why the smallest emotional shifts often end up being the most life-changing. In this episode, you’ll hear: How to stay informed about a messy world without getting emotionally pulled under (3:44) What it really takes to build resilience and courage in daily life (14:53) Where to start when overwhelm takes over and you can’t see a way out of the spiral (21:01) What to consider if you’re drawn to becoming a life coach during your own growth journey (31:57) Resources from this episode:  Join me for my workshop: Live Like You Give a Damn (As the World Burns) Certified Life Coach Collective (CLCC) Insight Timer Kate’s website Kate on Instagram Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: http://andreaowen.com/podcast/706 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My new book, Live Like You Give a Damn, comes out December 9th, and I’m so excited for you to finally read it. And right after that, on December 18th, I’m teaching a free workshop to help you reset, reconnect with yourself, and head into the new year with clarity. In today’s episode, we’re digging into communication; specifically the two paths you have when things get tricky: the courageous, connection-building path of hard conversations, and the protective, peace-preserving path of grey rocking. Knowing which one to choose is the skill. In This Episode You'll Hear: Why hard conversations matter and how they’re the backbone of healthy relationships How to recognize when connection is possible versus when self-protection needs to come first What grey rocking actually is and why it’s not “cold,” it’s strategic How to choose the right communication lane instead of defaulting to old patterns An example of grey rocking with a difficult family member during gatherings Communication isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s about discernment. Some relationships deserve your clarity, vulnerability, and effort. Others require neutrality, distance, and zero emotional investment. The magic is learning the difference and choosing the approach that keeps you grounded, sane, and true to yourself. Resources from this episode:  Pre-order my new book, Live Like You Give a Damn and sign up for my free workshop!  Amy Smith’s podcast Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/705 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re talking about stress and the body, the kind that simmers under the surface until something forces you to finally pay attention. This week’s guest, Stacey Garcia, knows that story intimately. After a lifetime of movement through dance, wellness, and “doing everything right,” she was hit with a breast cancer diagnosis that changed the way she thought about stress, healing, intuition, and what it really means to care for yourself. What unfolds in this conversation is an honest look at how stress wakes things up in the body (and not necessarily in a good way), why so many women minimize their symptoms, and how energy healing, daily practices, and self-advocacy become lifelines when your world tilts. Stacey, a dancer, trainer, Reiki practitioner, and host of Never Miss a Monday, brings a grounded wisdom to this episode that I know will stay with you long after it ends. In this episode, you’ll hear: Stacey shares how dance, wellness, and a breast cancer diagnosis shaped the work she does today (4:14) Why chronic stress often shows up right before a major diagnosis and how Stacey began to recognize her own patterns (10:38) What Reiki actually is, how it works, and the emotional releases people experience during sessions (16:09) The one belief about food and bodies Stacey wishes we would retire for good (21:49) Simple ways to tiptoe into spiritual or nervous system practices without overwhelm (24:15) Why becoming the CEO of your own health matters, especially when doctors dismiss you (34:01) Her evolving relationship with control and how energy work helped her surrender during treatment (40:46) Resources from this episode:  Join me for my workshop: Live Like You Give a Damn As the World Burns Never Miss a Monday podcast Stacey on Instagram Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/704 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices