The Big Silence Podcast

What does it truly mean to live with intention—from the food we eat, to the candles we burn, to how we heal our inner child? This week on The Big Silence, Karena sits down with sustainable living expert and “EcoBabe” Monica Richards for an eye-opening, heart-filling conversation about how sustainability is more than composting—it's a lifestyle of reverence, joy, and healing. Monica shares her journey from a farm girl in Michigan to a TV host, interior designer, and now powerful advocate for the planet and our mental wellness. From practical eco-hacks to personal stories of spiritual alchemy and boundary-setting, this episode is packed with accessible shifts you can make today to live a cleaner, more conscious life—from the inside out.

What does sustainability have to do with your self-worth and mental health?

Monica doesn’t just talk eco-living—she lives it through purpose, resilience, and healing. In this conversation, we explore how your outer world reflects your inner work—and why it all starts with intention.

(00:03:29) Starting Small with Sustainability: The All-or-Nothing Myth

• Sustainability is not about perfection—it’s about intention.
• Monica explains why the “cancel culture” in the eco-space is actually hurting the movement.
• Simple first steps: Start with one drawer, one habit, one food scrap bin.
• How petitions, composting apps, and even your shampoo bar can make a major impact.

(00:08:29) Building a Passion-Driven Life: Career, Risk & Freedom

• Monica opens up about struggling with finances and not always being understood by family.
• Why aligning your purpose with impact is worth every risk.
• The truth about entrepreneurship: sleepless nights, inner healing, and never really “clocking out.”
• Why Monica’s word for the year is “freedom”—and how she’s manifesting it.

(00:12:23) From Scarcity to Sovereignty: Inner Child Work & Alchemy Healing

• How Monica overcame a "play small" mindset around money and worth.
• A deep dive into her practice of alchemy—healing trauma through gratitude, trust, and love.
• A triggering moment with a stranger becomes a portal to growth.
• The unexpected power of talking to your inner child using a favorite childhood photo.

(00:27:12) Sustainable Interior Design & What’s Hiding In Your Home

• The toxic truth about candles, plastics, and your indoor air.
• Top 3 home changes Monica notices immediately (and how you can fix them).
• Favorite low-waste, clean beauty and personal care brands.
• How shampoo and conditioner bars can eliminate plastic and elevate your hair game.

(00:37:10) The Mental Health of Consumption & Conscious Media Detoxing

• How digital overload affects our energy and mental health.
• Monica shares why being selective about what you consume (including the news!) is self-care.
• What it means to create from your “inner space.”
• Final takeaway: Everything you create begins inside. Go inward, connect with your inner child, and start healing.

Thanks for the support from our partners, including: 

Fatty 15 I Fatty15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to help you live healthier, longer. Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/TBS and using code TBS at checkout!

Guest Info:

Website: ecobabe.co

Instagram:

What happens when the pain you’ve been running from becomes the very thing that sets you free? In this moving episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with somatic therapist and author Britt Piper to explore the transformative journey from trauma to healing. Britt shares her deeply personal story—of childhood abandonment, sexual assault, addiction, and eventual redemption—and how somatic therapy became the missing piece in her healing puzzle. Together, they dismantle the silence around pain, trauma, and recovery, while offering tangible tools to begin reconnecting with your body, your story, and your truth.

If you've ever felt like healing was out of reach or wondered if you'd ever be able to trust again—this conversation is your permission slip to begin.

Can We Ever Fully Heal From Trauma We Don’t Remember?

Britt answers this by redefining what healing actually looks like—and how the body always remembers, even when the mind does not.

00:01:13) Who Am I Without My Title? Britt’s Story Begins

• Britt shares how she’s choosing to define herself by her humanity, not her job.
• She opens up about being a survivor of complex trauma—and why authenticity matters now more than ever.
• Introduces somatic therapy and how it differs from traditional talk therapy.
• Describes the moment she realized trauma was stored in her body, not just her mind.

(00:05:50) Early Trauma, Numbing, and Rock Bottom in a Jail Cell

• Britt reflects on growing up in a household that ignored pain and buried emotion.
• She recounts the series of self-destructive behaviors that led to hospitalization and arrest.
• Shares how a judge’s unexpected words became a turning point: “You need to learn how to live with your pain.”
• Describes the raw, detox-like physical process of emotional release while in jail.

(00:13:55) The Healing Power of Somatics: Britt’s Transformation

• Britt explains how somatic experiencing changed her life—and how she got off meds as a result.
• She began training with pioneers like Dr. Peter Levine and launched her own trauma recovery program.
• Her book, Body First Healing, offers a blend of science and memoir to make trauma healing accessible.
• Emphasizes the body’s ability to heal when we stop bypassing it.

(00:17:30) Trust, Attachment & Finding Love After Trauma

• How Britt learned to trust again and build a relationship after abuse.
• She explores attachment styles and how her marriage helped her rewire old trauma.
• Her husband’s wisdom: “You need to learn to love yourself more than you love me.”
• Somatic tools for navigating relationships with grace, even when triggers arise.

(00:24:55) Inner Child Work, Co-Regulation & Somatic Love Language

• Britt breaks down “parts work” and how our younger selves show up in adult relationships.
• The science behind co-regulation and why calm nervous systems heal together.
• How to track body cues (like tightening or softening) to determine if something is a “yes.”
• The role of touch, consent, and boundary mapping in relational healing.

(00:26:48) Healing From Sexual Assault: Where to Start

• Why healing ≠ justice—and why survivors should never be pressured to report.
• Tools for reclaiming agency: from choosing how to share your story to developing a “support plan.”
• The Now What Workbook: Britt’s free guide to navigating life after sexual trauma.
• Key reminder: “You don’t need to relive it to heal it.”

(00:33:52) Motherhood, Panic Attacks & Intergenerational Healing

• How becoming a mom triggered Britt’s own unresolved early childhood trauma.
• The emotional and physical signals that led her to understand her anxiety...

What if your anxiety, gut issues, or chronic fatigue aren’t just “mental”—but messages from your body asking you to slow down, clean up, and tune in? In this powerful episode of The Big Silence, Mona Sharma—a former luxury beauty exec turned celebrity wellness expert—shares her personal journey from corporate burnout and heart surgeries to building an "at-home ashram" for healing. Mona breaks down how unresolved stress, toxic products, and hustle culture disconnect us from our own vitality, and how even small changes to your environment and routine can radically transform your health. This is not about all-or-nothing wellness—this is about reclaiming your body’s wisdom, one choice at a time.

Can You Really Heal Yourself By Cleaning Out Your Cabinet?

Mona believes you can. But it starts with understanding how clutter, chemicals, and cortisol create chaos in your body—and how to shift back to balance.

(00:00:00) Mona’s Breaking Point: From Fashion World to the ER Table

• Mona shares how corporate life and untreated stress led to two heart surgeries by age 24.
• Doctors offered no root-cause insight—just meds and more surgeries.
• A trip back to her childhood ashram helped her reconnect with the healing power of food, nature, and rest.
• “The doctors wanted to treat my symptoms, but not my story.”
• 
  

(00:12:18) Build Your Ashram at Home: Rituals, Food, and Space That Heal

• Rise with the sun, meditate, and simplify your schedule to support circadian rhythms.
• Use your home as a wellness sanctuary—starting with your kitchen, then skincare, then sleep space.
• “Eat like you love yourself”: whole foods, healthy swaps, and reduce toxins with apps like Yucca and EWG.
• Bonus: Herbal teas, salt-boosted hydration, and blackout curtains make a big impact.
• 
  

(00:22:33) From Hustle to Harmony: Rewiring the Nervous System

• Mona reveals how stress became her identity—and how letting go of hustle was the hardest part.
• She discusses the societal pressure to “do it all” and why honoring your energy is the new productivity.
• “Rest is scheduled at the ashram. Why isn’t it scheduled in your life?”
• Healing comes from permission: to pause, to not perform, and to prioritize joy.
• 
  

(00:29:57) Celebrity Wellness: How Mona Became Will Smith’s Private Chef

• Mona’s wellness career snowballed after a chance client connection—Jonathan from the Property Brothers.
• She later supported Will Smith, Jay Shetty, and Julianne Hough through holistic lifestyle overhauls.
• The root of her approach: personalized protocols that combine ancient wisdom with functional testing.
• “It’s not just about what you eat—it’s how you live, breathe, and rest.”
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(00:44:07) Start Here: Three Questions to Create Your Wellness Plan

• What are the 3 main imbalances you feel? What’s contributing to them?
• Use that insight to create your action plan—no overhaul needed.
• Ditch the diet fads and increase gut-friendly fiber from real, colorful foods.
• “There’s no red pill. Your diet should be as unique as your fingerprint.”
• 
  

Thanks for the support from our partners, including:

Ketone IQ | This episode is sponsored by Ketone-IQ. Save 30% off your first subscription order and receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ at ketone.com/TBS.

Guest Info:

• Website: monasharma.com
• Instagram:...

What if the chemicals in our food, water, and everyday products were silently impacting our mental health? This week on The Big Silence, I sit down with Dr. Aly Cohen, a board-certified rheumatologist, integrative medicine specialist, and environmental health expert, to explore the hidden connection between toxins and brain health. From the rise of autoimmune diseases to how endocrine-disrupting chemicals might be affecting our mood, weight, and overall well-being, Dr. Cohen breaks it all down in a way that’s practical and science-backed—without the fear factor. We also dive into her personal journey, why filtering your water is a game-changer, and how small, mindful swaps can make a huge difference. Plus, I put some of my own everyday products to the test—let’s just say I had some wake-up calls! If you’re ready to take small, powerful steps toward feeling your best, grab Dr. Cohen’s book Detoxify, follow The Smart Human, and start making changes without the overwhelm.

(00:00:00) Introductions

(00:03:01) How Everyday Toxins Impact Autoimmune Diseases, Hormones & Mental Health

(00:11:12) Detox Your Daily Life: Simple Swaps for a Healthier Home & Body

(00:22:53) The Hidden Links Between Toxins, Gut Health, & Mental Wellness

(00:35:29) Toxic or Safe? Breaking Down Everyday Products & Safer Swaps

Click here for full show notes

Guest Info:

• Website: alycohenmd.com

• Instagram: @thesmarthuman

• Read: Detoxify by Dr. Aly Cohen

Resources:

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

• Thank you to our partners! Go to thebigsilence.com/partners for special offers for our listeners

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Producer, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Mentioned in this episode:

Timeline Longevity | Timeline is offering 10% off your first order of Mitopure. Go to timeline.com/TBS.

FATTY15 | Fatty15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to help you live healthier, longer. Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/TBS and using code TBS at checkout!

Olympic gold medalist Jordyn Wieber Brooks knows the immense pressure of elite gymnastics—where fear-based coaching, emotional suppression, and relentless expectations shape young athletes. In this episode, she opens up about the resilience it took to unlearn those survival tactics and how retiring at just 18 forced her to redefine her identity beyond competition. Now the head coach at the University of Arkansas, Jordyn is reshaping gymnastics culture, creating a healthier environment where athletes can thrive without sacrificing their well-being. She shares her journey of healing from body image struggles, finding purpose in coaching, and preparing for motherhood. Jordyn also reflects on her experience on Special Forces, where she reached her mental and physical limits and made the powerful decision to step away for her mental health—proving that true strength lies in self-awareness, boundaries, and rewriting the rules for the next generation.

(00:00:00) Introductions

(00:03:34) Redefining Success in Sports: Building Resilience & Healthy Mindsets

(00:13:05) Jordyn’s Olympic Journey & Navigating Life After Retirement

(00:25:08) Healing Her Relationship with Food & Preparing for Motherhood

Click here for full show notes

Guest Info:

• Instagram: @jordyn_wieber

Resources:

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

• Thank you to our partners! Go to thebigsilence.com/partners for special offers for our listeners

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Producer, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Mentioned in this episode:

Ketone IQ | Visit ketone.com/TBS for 30% off your first subscription!