00:00 — Body-based arrival practice: noticing the signals your body is sending
04:30 — Recognizing reactivity: when your body’s already loaded
09:10 — The “trigger” isn’t always what you think
13:45 — Steph’s story: when an innocent question lights a fuse
17:50 — Georgianna on preparing for rupture that hasn’t happened
22:40 — What’s yours, what’s theirs: how to tell the difference
27:20 — Physical cues of old pain showing up in the now
31:05 — Regulating before reacting: what to do instead of spiraling
36:50 — Real-life tools for relational repair and nervous system care
42:00 — Why awareness matters more than perfection
45:20 — Closing practice: softening the activation loop

In this episode of Wholehearted Loving, Georgianna and Steph unpack the real nature of triggers — and how owning what we bring into a moment can shift everything.

Steph shares a story about catching herself mid-spiral during a conversation with a friend, while Georgianna opens up about a subtle moment in a therapy session that helped her realize how often her body was bracing for impact before anyone even said a word. Together, they explore how unspoken tension, unfinished emotion, and even the way we sit in a chair can shape the outcomes of our conversations.

Drawing inspiration from Dr. Gabor Maté’s “loaded weapon” analogy, they break down the difference between blame and embodied ownership — and why nervous system awareness is the path to more honest, healing interactions.

Discover how:
- To separate what’s yours from what’s theirs in conflict

- Triggers can be invitations, not accusations

- Real body-based awareness changes how you show up

"Like finding gold." – Alma W."The best therapy I've ever done for myself." – Sanjeev B.

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Every episode begins and ends with a body-based self-connection practice, so you can grow your capacity to be with all that life brings. We also include self-reflection and journaling prompts each week, posted on our Instagram @wholeheartedloving. New episodes every Sunday at 10am PT.

Learn more about us and how you can practice with us LIVE at wholeheartedloving.com

With love,
Georgianna & Steph