In this powerful episode, Anna sits down with Lindsay Pinchuk—award-winning entrepreneur, marketing consultant, and host of the top 2% podcast Dear FoundHer…—for a conversation about growing your business without compromising your values, your nervous system, or your story.
Lindsay built a seven-figure business from a $500 investment, grew a thriving community that reached millions monthly, and led her company through a successful acquisition—all while showing up as herself. Today, she helps women founders cut through the noise and grow with intention, authenticity, and community.
Whether you're building a business or simply learning to show up more fully in your life, this conversation will help you rethink visibility as a form of connection, not performance—and remind you that vulnerability, when grounded, can be your greatest marketing tool.
✨ In this episode, we explore:
If you're a sensitive entrepreneur, coach, or creative who wants to grow without burning out, this one’s for you.
🔗 Connect with Lindsay:
💌 Want support growing your heart-led business with more ease and alignment?
Work with Anna: annaholtzman.comFollow on IG: @anna_holtzmanEmail: anna@annaholtzman.com
This week marks ten months since I pivoted How to Trust Yourself from its original focus on chronic pain to the deeper work that had been calling me all along: nervous-system-safe visibility.
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what that transition has really been like—the messy, nonlinear, beautifully human process of finding clarity through action.
I share how I started speaking my new direction into being before I felt “ready,” what it’s taught me about fear as a heat map to intuition, and why visibility isn’t something you master once—it’s something you practice, gently and consistently, as you grow.
You’ll hear:
And finally, I share the offer that grew directly from this season of unraveling: Your Story, Out Loud — a two-session coaching intensive for sensitive creatives, coaches, and entrepreneurs who are ready to find their voice and share it safely, gently, and powerfully.
✨ Learn more at www.annaholtzman.com/yourstory
Thank you for walking this path with me—through the pivots, the fear, and the evolution.
This next chapter of How to Trust Yourself is about what happens when we trust ourselves enough to be seen.
Episode Summary:
In this powerful conversation, Anna sits down with internationally renowned speaker, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, and author Brittany Piper to explore how we begin to rebuild self-trust after trauma—not just cognitively, but somatically. Brittany shares insights from her own healing journey as a rape survivor and from over a decade of work in trauma-informed care, including her transformative Body-First Healing framework.
They talk about the science and soul of nervous system recovery, the fear of being seen, and the courage it takes to step into your voice and visibility after trauma. Brittany also offers a behind-the-scenes look at her new book, Body-First Healing: A Revolutionary Guide to Nervous System Recovery—a practical and compassionate guide to reclaiming safety, regulation, and vitality in your body and life.
Whether you're in the early stages of your healing or years into the process, this episode offers deeply validating, body-centered wisdom to support you on the path of self-trust and recovery.
In this episode, Brittany and Anna discuss:
Connect with Brittany Piper:
🌿 Instagram: @healwithbritt
🌿 Website & Programs: www.bodyfirsthealing.com
📘 Book: Body-First Healing: A Revolutionary Guide to Nervous System Recovery (available now!)
Connect with Anna:
🌿 Website: www.annaholtzman.com
🌿 Instagram: @anna_holtzman
📧 Email: anna@annaholtzman.com
Episode Description / Show Notes:
I’ve been getting this question a lot lately: what’s the difference between coaching and traditional talk therapy? In this episode, I break it down using a client story (pseudonym: “Kathy”) that illustrates common patterns of hesitation, fear, and overthinking.
You’ll hear how coaching is different: we don’t just talk—we take action. I share how taking the first step, even when you don’t feel ready, opens the door to real progress, how processing fear in real time supports sustainable growth, and why nervous-system-informed guidance is essential for stepping into visibility without burning out.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Who This Episode is For:
Sensitive creatives, healers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who want to take aligned action, show up authentically, and move past patterns of freeze or hesitation.
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Follow & Connect:
In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Anna talks with Lauren Smallcomb—a certified mind-body practitioner, trauma-informed healer, and author of the forthcoming memoir Golden Child: My Descent to Scapegoat and Rise to Freedom (coming September 2025).
Lauren shares her story of growing up as the golden child in a conservative Christian family system—and the painful unraveling that led her to reclaim her autonomy, identity, and voice. We talk about the hidden cost of perfectionism, the complexities of family estrangement, and the grief and liberation that come with choosing your own wholeness over external approval.
If you’ve ever wrestled with the question, “How much of my story should I share?” or struggled to reconcile your need for connection with your need for authenticity—this episode will speak to your soul.
We explore:
✨ Connect with Lauren:
🌀 Want support building self-trust in your own creative or entrepreneurial journey?Work with Anna 1:1, join a live workshop, or explore resources at annaholtzman.comFollow Anna on Instagram: @anna_holtzmanEmail: anna@annaholtzman.com
Have you ever had a moment where being visible suddenly felt… dangerous?
In this episode, I share a story I’ve never forgotten—from second grade, when I was the eager kid raising her hand… until my teacher said something that made me shrink. It was one sentence that planted a seed of shame and taught me that being seen might not be safe.
That moment became what I now call a visibility wound—an early experience where being visible led to shame, rejection, or punishment. And the thing is: those wounds don’t stay in childhood. They resurface every time we go to share something that feels vulnerable and meaningful.
Whether it’s launching an offer, posting on Instagram, speaking up in a meeting, or just sharing your voice in a group—you might notice fear, procrastination, or even total shutdown. That doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means your nervous system is doing its job to protect you.
But the good news is: visibility wounds can be healed. Not through pushing harder—but through compassion, safety, and gentle, consistent practice.
In this episode, I talk about:
If you've ever frozen at the first step, ghosted your own goals, or judged yourself for not being more confident—this episode is for you.
🌱 Want Support Healing Your Visibility Wounds?
💻 Watch the free workshop:
Let Yourself Be Seen — a nervous-system-safe approach to being visible without burning out or abandoning yourself. www.annaholtzman.com/beseen
👥 Join the membership:
Seen & Safe — our cozy group coaching circle where you’ll get biweekly support, practical tools, and a safe place to melt fear and take meaningful steps toward your next creative or business leap. www.annaholtzman.com/seenandsafe
In this heartfelt and revealing episode, Anna sits down with New York City-based psychotherapist Sean Hershey, LCSW, to explore what it really means to heal—from chronic pain, from emotional repression, and from the lifelong habit of hiding parts of yourself to survive.
Sean is the host of the podcast Mind-Body Medicine for Chronic Pain, where he brings raw honesty, depth, and humor to the complex world of chronic symptom recovery. In today’s conversation, he shares what led him to this work, how his own experiences with pain and identity shape his approach as a therapist, and why expressing your truth—even when it’s scary—is a crucial part of healing.
We talk about:
If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide parts of yourself to get through life, or if you’re on your own healing path and looking for inspiration to keep going, this episode will speak directly to you.
Learn more about Sean and his work:
Work with Anna
If you’re a sensitive, purpose-driven human—like a coach, creative, or entrepreneur—who wants to build a life and business that feels deeply aligned (without overriding your nervous system), I’d love to support you.
✨ Learn more and apply to work with me, visit annaholtzman.com or find me on Instagram @anna_holtzman
Episode Description / Show Notes:
Ever feel like your story is messy, scattered, or unclear—and that’s holding you back from stepping fully into your purpose? In this episode, I share a metaphor from my 10 years working in reality TV—soft scripting—and how it taught me to find the through threads in the chaos.
I’ll break down how this concept applies to your life and work:
Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, stepping into visibility as a sensitive creative, or exploring a new identity, soft scripting is a practical, nervous-system-friendly approach to clarifying your purpose and showing up authentically.
I also share a new opportunity to practice this in community: my Seen & Safe group membership, a supportive space for sensitive creatives, coaches, and entrepreneurs to grow in visibility without burning out.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Who This Episode is For:
Sensitive creatives, coaches, healers, and entrepreneurs who want to show up authentically, discover their voice, and step into purpose without burning out.
Follow & Connect:
In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Febuary—trauma-informed writing coach, embodiment teacher, founder of For Women Who Roar, and author of Brave the Page: How Writing Our Hard Stories Brings Healing and Wholeness. Megan shares her journey into storytelling as a healing practice and how writing from a trauma-informed lens can transform not only the stories we tell but who we become in the process.
We dive into concepts like “creative consensuality,” how to approach writing with compassion and care, and why it’s not about the end product but the healing that happens along the way. If you’ve been curious about using writing to process trauma, find your voice, or build creative community, this conversation offers gentle guidance and inspiration.
Connect with Megan Febuary:
Connect with Anna Holtzman:
In this episode, I get real about what it’s like to have a sensitive nervous system—and how that sensitivity, while it can sometimes derail your day, is actually a source of creativity, intuition, and connection. I share a recent experience with our cat, Billie, whose vet visit turned into a spiral of worry about her dental health. Through journaling, self-compassion, and nervous system regulation, I navigated the overwhelm and found my way back into flow—and discovered how even the most challenging moments can inform and inspire our work.
If you often feel sensitive, overstimulated, or “derailed” by small daily stressors, this episode is for you. I’ll show you why taking care of your nervous system isn’t wasted time—it’s a key part of doing meaningful work, showing up authentically, and fueling your creativity.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Join Me Live for My Workshop:
I also invite you to join my free live workshop, Let Yourself Be Seen, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 1pm ET. This is for sensitive creatives and entrepreneurs who want to share their work without losing themselves. We’ll explore how to:
Sign up here: www.annaholtzman.com/beseen
If you've ever looked around at your life and thought, "Is this it?"—this episode is your wake-up call. Speaker, author, and "aliveness evangelist" Jodi Wellman joins me for a bold, funny, and deeply honest conversation about what it means to really live before we die.
We talk about what snapped her out of autopilot, how grief cracked her open to a more vibrant life, and why facing our mortality can actually be the most life-affirming move we can make. Jodi shares stories and strategies from her new book, You Only Die Once, and we explore how trusting yourself and embracing your aliveness are deeply intertwined.
Whether you're feeling stuck in a life that looks great on paper but feels flat, or you're just craving more zing in your everyday, this conversation is packed with perspective, humor, and permission to want more out of your time above ground.
We talk about:
More from Jodi Wellman:
Work with me:
If this episode stirred something in you—if you're craving more boldness, more clarity, more you in your life and work—I’d love to support you. I help sensitive, ambitious humans like you overcome fear and visibility blocks so you can share your voice and build a business that feels aligned and alive. Learn more and book a free call here: https://www.annaholtzman.com/breakthrough
Subscribe + Share:
If you loved this episode, subscribe to How to Trust Yourself on your favorite podcast app and share it with a friend who’s ready to stop sleepwalking and start really living.
Ever had a moment where everything felt fine… until it wasn’t?
In this episode, I share a deeply personal story about an emotional blow-up with my husband—how it unfolded, what it triggered, and what it taught me about fear, shame, and self-protection.
This isn't just a story about relationships. It’s a mirror for what so many of us experience in business, creativity, and visibility:
That moment when a hidden landmine gets tripped, and before we even know we’re in a fear response, we’ve shut down, disappeared, or lit a match to something we care about.
I talk about:
If you’ve ever ghosted your own dreams after a hit of self-doubt, or found yourself in a freeze state without knowing why—this episode will speak to you.
And if you’re ready to move through fear without burning out or abandoning yourself…
→ Download the free workshop Let Yourself Be Seen: www.annaholtzman.com/beseen
→ Join the waitlist for 1:1 coaching here: www.annaholtzman.com
Spots open this September and waitlisters get first dibs.
Welcome back, dear listener. I am so thrilled to share today’s episode with someone who has had a really meaningful presence in my own journey—Liz Kimball.
Liz and I met about ten years ago in a coaching certification program, and I really looked up to her. She had already been coaching for years and brought this grounded, wise, creative energy to everything she did. After the course ended, I got to work with her as a client, and it was a pretty magical experience for me. So, reconnecting with her for this conversation felt like a full-circle moment.
Liz is a creativity catalyst and transformational coach for visionary creators. She’s the founder of The Creative15 and The Expansion Project Creative Development Lab, and her work is all about helping women and girls free their voices and bring their brave creative work into the world—without burning themselves out in the process. Her work has been featured on TEDx, Oprah.com, The Guggenheim, and at universities and institutions throughout the country. She’s also a mother and, as she says, a nonlinear duck—more on that in the episode.
In our conversation, we talked about the importance of having a safe, de-pressurized space for the creative process to unfold—something Liz creates so beautifully for her clients. As she put it, she needed “a de-pressurized environment to hear the sound of me,” and I think so many of us can relate to that.
We also talked about her nonlinear path to coaching—how she started long before coaching was a buzzword—and how she’s followed the quiet tugs of her inner voice, often before she could see the full picture.
This one’s for anyone who’s feeling the call to create something, even if it doesn’t all make sense yet. I hope you love it as much as I did.
You can find Liz at:
lizkimball.com
https://www.instagram.com/lizkimball/
And you can find me at:
Instagram: @anna_holtzman
Email: anna@annaholtzman.com
Website: www.annaholtzman.com
In today’s episode, I’m getting personal and sharing a story that I honestly find a little embarrassing. I’m not always graceful with transitions—especially when it comes to slowing down. Summer is usually a time when my energy and my business naturally slow down, but even though I know it’s good for me, I can resist it pretty intensely.
I know this isn’t just me. I see it in my clients and in myself: there’s this tension between wanting to slow down and the nervous system’s resistance to it. We often push ourselves through that resistance and feel frustrated when we can’t just “switch off” or enjoy the downtime we think we should be having.
I’m sharing my experience with you because I want to remind you that you're not alone in this struggle. Slowing down can feel awkward, frustrating, and even a little depressing. But it doesn’t have to be perfect to be valuable. I’ve been learning that, and I want to offer you some tools that are helping me navigate this transition, like my mantra Slow Summer and some simple self-regulation practices.
In this episode, I dive into:
If you’re feeling stuck in a similar transition or struggling with the pressure to “do more,” I invite you to consider how embracing slow can actually help you feel more aligned. And if you need support along the way, I’d love to help.
Ready to slow down but need support?
I’m opening up my one-on-one coaching for the fall. If you’re tired of pushing through and want to create more space for what feels good, I’d love to help you do that. You can learn more and join the waitlist at www.annaholtzman.com. Feel free to email me directly at anna@annaholtzman.com or connect with me on Instagram at @anna_holtzman.
Thank you for listening! If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend or leave a review. Your support means the world to me and helps me keep showing up in this space.
Welcome back, dear listener. Today’s guest is someone whose work radiates beauty, intention, and a deep reverence for the natural world—and whose journey as a creative and entrepreneur is a powerful testament to the role self-trust plays in bringing a vision to life.
Angela Monaco is a Philadelphia-based jewelry designer and the founder of Angela Monaco Jewelry, a fine jewelry brand and storefront that centers intuition, spirituality, creativity, and connection. Through handcrafted talismans made of gold, silver, and earth-toned gems, Angela’s pieces tell stories—both ancient and personal. They’re more than jewelry; they’re invitations to connect more deeply with yourself and the world around you.
In this conversation, Angela shares how she built her business from the ground up, how she continues to navigate the unknown with courage and creativity, and how she’s learned to trust her own instincts along the way—even when she didn’t have all the answers. We talk about the illusion that anyone “has it all figured out,” the creative power of curiosity, and what it really means to follow your own path.
If you're someone who struggles with perfectionism, comparison, or feeling like you’re not ready yet—this episode will remind you that no one starts out knowing what they’re doing… and that’s exactly where the magic begins. Let’s get into it.
You can find Angela at:
https://www.instagram.com/angelamonacojewelry/
https://angelamonacojewelry.com/
And you can find me at:Instagram: @anna_holtzmanEmail: anna@annaholtzman.comWebsite: www.annaholtzman.com
In this solo episode, Anna reflects on what it means to stay visible and grounded in your work—especially when the world feels chaotic, polarized, and uncertain.
If you’ve been wondering, “Who am I to say anything right now?” or feeling tempted to freeze, shrink, or disappear… this episode is a loving call back into your voice, your visibility, and your creative leadership.
Anna explores:
Whether you're a creative, coach, healer, or heart-centered entrepreneur, this episode will help you reconnect to your purpose and show up—not in spite of the chaos, but because of it.
✨ Connect with Anna:
🌐 www.annaholtzman.com
📸 Instagram: @anna_holtzman
📬 Email: anna@annaholtzman.com
Today’s conversation is funny, real, and unapologetically human—with someone I’ve admired for a long time.
My guest is Laura Belgray: award-winning copywriter, founder of Talking Shrimp, co-creator of The Copy Cure with Marie Forleo, and author of the hilariously honest and wildly relatable memoir, Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You're the F-ing Worst.
In this episode, we talk about:
✨ How Laura went from “professional avoider of ambition” to creative business owner and bestselling author
✨ Why she proudly claims the title of “lazy” — and how that’s been one of her greatest strengths
✨ What it really means to “get paid to be yourself” (and how to start)
✨ How to balance wanting to be liked with not giving a f*ck
✨ Why perfectionism is overrated, overworking is unnecessary, and being fully yourself is your best asset
If you’ve ever felt like you’re too messy, too late, or too lazy to succeed, Laura’s story is here to remind you: you’re not too anything. In fact, the very things you think disqualify you might just be your magic.
Whether you're a creative entrepreneur, writer, late bloomer, or simply someone who’s tired of trying to do it all right, this episode is a permission slip to be more you.
🎧 Listen in and learn how to:
📚 Learn more about Laura:
💌 Want to work with me or stay connected?
If you loved this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing it with a friend who needs to hear that it’s okay to be delightfully, messily human.
In this heartful and informative episode, I’m joined by Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson—therapists, educators, partners in both life and business, and the voices behind The Mind-Body Couple Podcast.
Together, they run Pain Psychotherapy Canada, a clinic dedicated to helping clients reduce or eliminate chronic pain through mind-body approaches, and MBody Community, an online space for chronic pain recovery education and support.
We explore:
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, alone, or stuck in your symptoms—or if you’re curious about how nervous system work can support deeper healing—this episode is a must-listen.
✨ Connect with Tanner & Anne:
Website: mbodycommunity.com
Therapy Clinic: painpsychotherapy.ca
Instagram: @painpsychotherapy
YouTube: Pain Psychotherapy
Podcast: The Mind-Body Couple
🌿 Want support on your own healing or visibility journey?
If you're a sensitive, purpose-driven human who’s ready to show up more boldly and trust yourself more deeply—whether in your business or your body—I’d love to work with you.
Learn more and apply to coach with me here: www.annaholtzman.com
Welcome back, dear listener. Today, we’re diving into a conversation about the power of community, creativity, and connection—and how they can transform not just our work and creative endeavors, but our lives.
My guest is Michael Averill, an award-winning speaker, musician, and community builder who has spent over 20 years fostering deep connections across teams, organizations, and even entire countries—literally. He once walked 4,000 miles across Canada, using music and storytelling to bring people together. His work is all about helping people move beyond the limitations of going it alone and into the magic of collaboration.
In this episode, we explore why trying to do everything yourself leads to burnout, what happens when you let go of control and invite others into your vision, and how embracing community can take your work further than you ever imagined. Michael shares powerful stories from his own journey—both on stage and on the road—that will leave you feeling inspired to lean into connection in new ways.
Let’s get into it!
You can find Michael at:
https://www.michaelaverillproductions.com/
https://www.instagram.com/michaelaverillmusic/
And you can find me at:
Instagram: @anna_holtzman
Email: anna@annaholtzman.com
Website: www.annaholtzman.com
✨ Episode Summary:
In this solo episode, Anna dives into four powerful and recurring questions that come up with her coaching clients — sensitive creatives, coaches, and entrepreneurs navigating the tender terrain of putting their work into the world. Whether you're launching a business, writing a book, or simply stepping into more visibility, this episode will resonate deeply if you've ever wondered:
Using a mind-body approach grounded in nervous system wisdom, Anna explores each question with nuance, compassion, and practical insight. You'll learn why emotional safety is essential for sharing vulnerably, how to listen to your body when deciding what to reveal, and why those “vulnerability hangovers” after being visible are not signs you're doing it wrong — but signs you’re on the right track.
🧠 What You'll Learn:
💬 Favorite Quote:
“When you’re out of connection with yourself, your audience won’t feel safe connecting with you either.”
🌱 Resources & Links:
🎧 Subscribe & Review:
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to the show and leave a review. It helps the podcast reach more folks who need it — and it means so much!
