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PODCAST

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast

Thomas Pals and Ruth Lorensson

Hosted by Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson, the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast (AHA Podcast) explores how activating the brain engages the body’s interoceptive awareness and natural homeostatic processes, helping restore nervous system balance and support healing from stress.Grounded in neuroscience and the body’s innate intelligence, each episode offers practical strategies, scientific insights, and real conversations to help you build whole-person wellness—physically, emotionally, and

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All Episodes

37:22

Maslow's Last Lesson: Transcendence

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/11/15

Send us a text In this illuminating episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the rarely discussed—but profoundly important—final stage of Maslow’s thinking: transcendence. Most people know Maslow for the “hierarchy of needs” pyramid, but as Tom reveals, Maslow never created a pyramid at all. And he certainly never stopped at self-actualization. At the end of his career, Maslow emphasized something deeper: a movement beyond the self into a st...

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36:37

Self-Actualization — The Me-We of Wellness

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/11/02

Send us a text In this special birthday episode, Tom and Ruth explore what it really means to thrive as a whole human being. Building on their series about the fundamentals of wellness and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, they dive into the top of the hierarchy—self-actualization—and why it’s never just about “me.” Together they unpack how homeostasis—that dynamic state of balance in body, mind, and spirit—is both personal and collective. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, somatic practice, a...

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34:58

The Heart of Esteem: Seeing Ourselves and Others Clearly

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/10/19

Send us a text In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson continue their exploration of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs through the lens of wellness and trauma-informed wholeness. Focusing on esteem, they unpack what it truly means to “appraise” value—both in ourselves and in others—and how unmet needs and trauma can distort our perception of worth and significance. Through rich conversation and powerful metaphors—like Tom’s image of humans as unc...

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33:24

Change as Life: How the Brain Navigates Transformation

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/10/06

Send us a text In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the profound connection between change, homeostasis, and wellness. They unpack why change isn’t something to resist but to embrace—because homeostasis itself is change, the constant dynamic adjustment that keeps us alive and well. Drawing on neuroscience, Tom explains how the brain perceives change through the amygdala, either as a threat (activating the sympathetic fight-...

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28:49

Beyond Stress: Finding Real Love and Belonging

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/09/13

Send us a text In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson continue their Fundamentals of Wellness series with a deep dive into the third level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: love and belonging. Together they explore the universal ache for connection, community, and healing felt across society today and ask an essential question: what kind of love and belonging truly nurtures wellness and mental health? Drawing a distinction between the “tsuna...

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43:59

AHA Therapy: Changing the Conversation within the Body

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/08/24

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Ruth Lorensson and Thomas Pals welcome back Scott Turner, renowned physiologist and expert on homeostasis, cognition, and superorganisms, for a deep dive into the science and mystery behind Autonomic Homeostasis Activation (AHA). Together, they explore the fascinating intersection of interoception, homeostasis, and the autonomic nervous system, unpacking how AHA may help reframe conditions like P...

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39:19

Purposeful Homeostasis: Agency, Adaptation, and the...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/08/10

Send us a text In this thought-provoking conversation, Ruth Lorensson and Thomas Pals welcome back Scott Turner, author of Purpose and Desire, to explore the fascinating intersections of niche construction theory, homeostasis, and human wellness. Together, they unpack how living systems—down to the cellular level—act with agency, intentionally shaping and being shaped by their environments. From Walter Cannon’s classic definition of homeostasis to Aristotle’s ideas on purposefulness, the disc...

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39:24

Purpose, Desire, and the Design of Life: Introducing...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/07/26

Send us a text In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Ruth Lorensson and Tom Pals introduce listeners to the foundational ideas behind AHA—and to the influential voice of biologist and author Scott Turner. Although technical glitches kept Scott’s voice from being captured in this recording, his words and insights remain at the heart of the conversation. Together, Ruth and Tom unpack the shift from mechanistic models of the human body to a living systems approach—one ...

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40:26

Why You Don’t Feel Safe (Even When You Are)

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/06/21

Send us a text In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Ruth Lorensson and Tom Pals explore why safety is a non-negotiable foundation for true wellness. Building on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, they unpack how feeling safe—both physically and psychologically—is essential before we can access higher states like love, connection, and self-actualization. Tom offers a deep dive into the neurobiology of safety, explaining how our autonomic nervous system processes both real...

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34:13

Brainfulness: Achieving Optimal Homeostasis in Body,...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/05/24

Send us a text In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Ruth Lorensson and Tom Pals dive deep into the fascinating relationship between the brain and the mind, unpacking how they work together to achieve wellness in body, mind, and spirit. They explore how the brain functions as a powerful sensory tool—capable of guiding us toward homeostasis and healing—while the mind shapes our experiences and perceptions. Tom explains the crucial distinction between the brain's wisd...

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41:52

Beneficial or Detrimental? The Five P’s of Wellness

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/05/10

Send us a text Are the people, habits, and perspectives in your life fueling your flourishing—or quietly draining it? In this candid conversation, Ruth and Tom unpack a deceptively simple filter that can transform every choice: beneficial vs. detrimental. From there, they reveal the Five P’s that either propel us toward thriving or pull us back into mere survival: People – Why the company you keep (including you) shapes every other dimension of health.Purpose – How clarifying “why I’m here” g...

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40:03

Wellness on the Clock: From Fight-or-Flight to...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/04/27

Send us a text Personal wellness does not happen in isolation. In this Fundamentals of Wellness episode, Tom and Ruth examine how health is shaped by both individual habits and our shared environment. Using the recent Fort Collins mall incident as a case study, they address: Vicarious trauma – why events you only hear about can still activate your stress response.Me-We homeostasis – the science of co-regulation and how supportive communities shift us from fight-or-flight to rest-and-recovery....

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40:28

Pain: Your Body's Secret Healing Language

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/04/13

Send us a text In this eye‑opening installment of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson peel back the layers of a sense most of us never knew we had—interoception, the brain’s moment‑to‑moment read‑out of everything happening inside the body. Moving beyond Aristotle’s famous “five senses,” Tom explains why modern neuroscience recognizes at least 21 human senses and argues that interoception is the one that lets us feel all the others. Together they explore:...

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28:00

Don't Scratch the Itch: Working with Your Body's...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/03/30

Send us a text In this enlightening episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson dive deep into the fascinating world of bodily healing and homeostasis. Challenging conventional wisdom about wellness, they explore the counterintuitive concept of "not scratching the itch" - both literally and metaphorically. Discover why those uncomfortable sensations like itching, pain, and fever might actually be your body's intelligent healing mechanisms at work. Lea...

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35:56

The Truth About Homeostasis: Why Balance is a Myth

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/03/08

Send us a text Is achieving balance really the key to wellness? Or have we misunderstood homeostasis all along? In this eye-opening episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson dive deep into the science of homeostasis and uncover why true wellness isn’t about achieving perfect equilibrium—it’s about thriving in dynamic disequilibrium. They break down the history of homeostasis, from Walter Cannon’s groundbreaking research to modern-day misunderst...

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26:30

The Well Within: Drawing from the Deep Source of...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/02/23

Send us a text In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the true essence of wellness—what it means, where it comes from, and how to cultivate it in daily life. They dive into the origins of the word well, linking it to ancient water sources and the fundamental human need for nourishment, both physically and emotionally. Through rich conversation and insightful reflections, they outline five key elements of wellness: love, self-...

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32:20

Wellness vs. Illness: Trusting Your Brain’s Innate...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/02/08

Send us a text Join Tom Pals and co-host Ruth Lorensson as they explore the often-overlooked ways our brains naturally work to restore balance—body, mind, and spirit. Learn why discomforts like itching, pain, and even unexpected emotional responses aren’t always signs of illness, but can be signals of a deeper healing process. Discover practical insights into how our brains orchestrate homeostasis, and why redefining “symptoms” can help us live with greater ease and confidence. If you’re read...

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38:01

Brain-Informed Wellness: The Foundations of AHA

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/01/25

Send us a textIn this episode of the AHA Podcast, Ruth Lorensson and Thomas Pals introduce the groundbreaking concept of brain-informed wellness as part of their new series, The Fundamentals of Wellness. As the new year begins, many of us look to reset and embrace healthier habits, but what if the key to wellness isn’t about adding more to your plate, but about tapping into the innate wisdom of your brain?Join Ruth and Tom as they discuss the difference between traditional wellness approaches...

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38:04

Wellness: The Ground Beneath our Feet on the Path to...

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2025/01/18

Send us a textReady to dive into wellness? 🌱 Join hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson as they kick off an exciting new season, The Fundamentals of Wellness, a fresh exploration of what it means to thrive in body, mind, and spirit.In this debut episode, Tom shares his transformative journey from trauma survivor to psychotherapist, and now certified wellness coach. He reveals how he integrates cutting-edge autonomic homeostasis activation (AHA) with a holistic coaching approach to support

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32:22

Christmas Special 2024 - Light, Love & Life

The Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast ·

2024/12/27

Send us a text🎄 AHA Podcast Christmas Special: Light, Love, and Life 🎄As the Christmas season unfolds, Ruth and Tom delve into the heart and soul of what makes this time of year truly special. From cherished traditions and the joy of Christmas lights to the deeper meaning of connection, they explore what truly lights up this time of year.Hear heartwarming stories—from Tom's magical visit to the Denver Zoo Lights with his granddaughter to Ruth's moving experience singing carols in Fort

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