Empathy By Design

Designing for Resonance: Nervous System Healing in Sound and Leadership

Here’s a single, merged narrative you can drop into your show page:
Empathy by Design is where trauma-informed practice meets innovation, leadership, and human connection. Hosted by Julie Johnson and produced by the Integrate Trauma-Informed Network, the show explores how understanding trauma reshapes the spaces we create and the systems we lead—helping leaders, educators, and product designers integrate empathy from the inside out. In this episode, Julie is joined by longtime collaborator
Jenna Little—registered dietitian, trauma-informed yoga teacher, therapist, and creator of the Embodied Sound approach—to trace an East-meets-West path from nervous-system science to spiritual integration.
Please check out Jenna's Embodied Sound Training launching January 9
Together, they unpack why sound has surged as a gentle, precise tool for shifting state; how peak experiences and tiny moments both matter; and why “every sound is a signal of safety, and every pause an invitation for integration.”
You’ll hear how a sound journey arcs from Signal → Flow → Integration → Transmission; what resonance really means (accuracy and congruence, not just vibe); and how facilitators “lean back,” building buffers and resources so people can witness themselves—even when grief, parts work, or ancestral threads arise.
Jenna shares practical maps (the five elements, body–soul–spirit framing), playlist curation principles, and post-journey practices for carrying regulation into work, family, and leadership.
If you’re ready to go deeper, the award-winning Let’s Integrate App offers nervous-system practices, 30-minute Spiral Flows, and immersive workshops to build safety, emotional intelligence, and resilient teams—your spiral pathway to trauma-informed leadership and wellness. Lead with confidence.
Design with care. Live with intention. Visit letsintegrate.live. Because empathy isn’t just a feeling—it’s a design principle.
 
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: 

On Courage, Confidence and Connection with Janice Debo

Empathy by Design welcomes Janice Debo, a confidence, courage, and connection coach, for a deep dive into the art of trauma-informed leadership and personal development. Host Julie Johnson and Janice explore how empathy, courage, and confidence intertwine in both personal and professional growth. They discuss the cyclical nature of building confidence, overcoming people-pleasing, setting boundaries, and the importance of understanding your elemental personality in leadership. The conversation is filled with practical tools, personal stories, and inspiration for anyone seeking to lead with intention and authenticity.
Whether you’re a leader, educator, or creative, this episode offers actionable insights on integrating empathy into your systems, habits, and daily life. Plus, discover resources like the Courage, Confidence, and Connections Journal and the Let’s Integrate App to support your journey.
Read Janice's Blog
 
Learn more about Janice's Work
 
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction: Empathy by Design & the power of trauma-informed practices
00:31 – What to expect from the podcast: Stories, strategies, and the Let’s Integrate App
01:47 – Meet Janice Debo: Courage, confidence, and connection coaching
03:19 – The practice of confidence: Personal stories and early career reflections
04:56 – Building courage: Moving through challenges and life transitions
07:44 – The cycle of courage, confidence, and connection
10:40 – Empathy vs. sympathy: Defining and practicing empathy
13:32 – People-pleasing, boundaries, and the shadow side of empathy
16:53 – Tools for change: Assessments, vision, strengths, and weaknesses
20:00 – Elemental personalities: Water, wind, fire, and earth in leadership
23:00 – Habits, motivation, and the importance of small steps
27:53 – Writing memoirs, family history, and the role of empathy in understanding others
32:25 – The power of imagination and creativity in personal growth
34:45 – Where to find Janice: Website, journal, and resources
36:55 – Closing thoughts: Building confidence and connection through practice

Building Empathy-Centered Systems with HR4U Founder, Chason Forehand

What does it look like to design human-centered systems—from the inside out?
In this episode of The By Design Podcast, Julie Johnson sits down with Chasen Forehand, Executive Director of HR4U, to explore how empathy, trauma awareness, and community can transform both workplaces and lives.
Chasen shares his deeply personal journey from trauma and addiction to founding HR4U and Transformation Kitchen—a program that breaks cycles of poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity through living-wage jobs, emotional wellness, and reskilling.
Together, Julie and Chaso unpack:
What “empathy by design” looks like in real-world HR systems
How trauma and overwhelm shape behavior (and how we can meet that with compassion)
Why “hand up, not handout” changes everything
The link between DBT, Tiny Habits, and sustainable recovery
The power of reskilling as both healing and empowerment
💛 Because healing systems starts with healing people—and every spiral forward begins with empathy.
Listen now on The Empathy By Design Podcast wherever you tune in.
Follow Chason Forehand on LinkedIn
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Start Small, Spiral Deeper: Tiny Signals, DBT and the Nervous System

Short description (for Apple/Spotify)
Tiny, well-placed practices—what we call Tiny Signals—can gently rewire the nervous system. In this episode, Julie and therapist Sarah O’Brien, LCSW blend BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits, polyvagal theory, and DBT to show how micro-moments become durable skills for self-soothing, boundaries, and repair. Expect clear examples you can use today, from a one-breath phone pause to a hum on the exhale after tough calls.
Full episode description
If 2017–2024 was the era of boundaries, let 2025 be the year of rupture and repair—with ourselves and each other. Julie introduces Tiny Signals, micro-practices anchored to daily routines that cue “safe enough” in the body. Guest Sarah O’Brien, LCSW maps those signals onto DBT—Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness—showing why validation and predictability matter more than motivation. Learn how to insert 30-second resets into real life (inbox urgency, co-parenting calls, late-night doom-scrolling) and why great digital health design must go beyond content libraries to scaffold behavior change.
You’ll learn:
Why predictability wires safety better than willpower
How DBT validation keeps the learning channel open
Two plug-and-play practices: the phone pause breath and a post-call hum
A 7-day Tiny Signals Starter Pack you can begin tonight
How to hold boundaries without absorbing other people’s urgency
Try it now: Place a hand on chest and belly. Inhale through the nose, hum the exhale. Whisper: “Yes. I have time.”
Chapter guide
00:00 Welcome & why “start small, spiral deeper”02:05 Tiny Signals & roots in Tiny Habits (+ Ayurvedic daily rhythms)07:40 Polyvagal 101: safety, threat, shutdown12:10 DBT in four skill families (and why validation is the intervention)18:30 Where Tiny Signals + DBT meet25:15 Two micro-practices you can anchor today31:20 Boundaries in urgent systems: “Their urgency ≠ my emergency”38:10 Harm reduction: pairing a healthy cue with an old coping pattern44:25 Designing digital health beyond content libraries52:00 7-Day Tiny Signals Starter Pack57:30 Resources & next episode teaser (HR + nervous-system lens)
Transcript
Guest
Sarah O’Brien, LCSW is a trauma-informed therapist, writer, and trainer based in Virginia specializing in anxiety, substance use, and trauma-related disorders, with deep experience delivering and teaching DBT.
Who this episode is for
People with lived trauma experience, clinicians, educators, HR/benefits leaders, and anyone who wants nervous-system care that is doable, ethical, and compassionate.
Links & CTAs
Explore Daily Tiny Signals, Flows, and Immersives in the Integrate app
Find Sarah O’Brien, LCSW via the Integrate Affinity Group or her site.
Subscribe to Empathy by Design for more trauma-informed, behavior-design conversations.
Keywords: Tiny Habits, Polyvagal Theory, DBT, Trauma-Informed, Nervous System, Behavior Design, Validation, Distress Tolerance, Boundaries, Digital Health Design

Apps and Nervous System: Both Are About Signal

 
What do app design and the human nervous system have in common? More than you think.
In this episode, I explore why the real challenge in digital health isn’t access to tools, but creating *behavior change that lasts.* We’ll look at how tiny habits — like a single breath, a hum, or a moment with nature — can build trust and regulation, and why layering content like a curriculum helps people move from awareness → application → integration.
Drawing from behavior science, trauma-informed design, and empathic AI, I share how we’ve been building the **Nervous System Journey** inside the Integrate app: starting small, scaffolding gradually, and moving toward immersive practices that repair, restore, and rebuild resilience.
✨ Key themes in this episode:
* Why structure and pacing matter more than sheer content* How tiny habits reduce overwhelm and spark change* Trauma-informed design as the foundation for safety-enough digital spaces* Moving from micro-moments to integration rituals
Healing doesn’t happen in straight lines — it happens in spirals. And when apps mirror how nervous systems actually learn and adapt, they can become more than tools. They can become trusted guides for resilience.
👉 Tune in, and let’s rethink digital health through the lens of empathy, behavior change, and nervous system design.
 

From Concept to Culture: Trauma-Informed Practices in Tech and Beyond

On this episode of the Empathy by Design podcast, host Julie Johnson is joined by Sarah O'Brien, Katie Kurtz, and community manager Fihmiya Hamdan for an insightful conversation on embodying trauma-informed leadership in a fast-paced, ever-changing world. Together, they explore the essence of leading with authenticity, building resilience, and fostering inclusion within organizational culture.
Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on shifting leadership frameworks to prioritize trust and safety, starting with the fundamental question, “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?” The discussion dives into how authenticity becomes the bedrock of impactful leadership and how aligning actions with values creates thriving, connected teams.
Katie Kurtz sheds light on redefining resilience—not as endurance, but as nervous system care and co-regulation practices that strengthen both individuals and organizations. The episode also touches on the balance between technological innovation and genuine human connection, emphasizing the importance of intentionality and usability in mental health-focused initiatives.
Concluding with actionable insights on shaping inclusive, psychologically safe cultures, this conversation is a must-listen for leaders who aim to foster belonging while navigating complexity. Subscribe to Empathy by Design to join the movement of leadership that empowers both people and purpose.
Follow our Guests: Katie Kurtz, Sarah O'Brien
Transcript

Navigating Grief Through Somatic Experiencing with Sarit Z. Rogers

 
In this episode of Empathy By Design, host Julie welcomes Sarit Zimmerman Rogers, a body-based somatic experiencing practitioner. They discuss the upcoming monthly workshop 'Unpacking Loss' on June 28th, which will explore working through grief with a somatic and trauma-informed lens. The conversation delves into various methods of addressing grief, highlighting the importance of empathy, body-based techniques, and emotional intelligence. They also talk about how different approaches, including yoga and sound healing, come together to support individuals navigating grief and loss. Listeners are encouraged to join the workshop and take advantage of available financial assistance if needed.
00:00 Introduction to Empathy By Design00:09 Upcoming Workshop Details01:41 Podcast Overview and Intentions02:18 Unpacking Loss Workshop03:08 Interview with Sari tZimmerman Rogers03:29 Exploring Somatic Experiencing10:12 The Role of Empathy in Grief Work21:24 Final Thoughts and Reflections27:56 Conclusion and Workshop Invitation
Episode Transcript
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Navigating The Landscape of Grief with Karla Helbert

Navigating Grief: Insights and Practices with Karla Halbert In this episode of 'Empathy By Design,' host Julie Johnson engages in a profound discussion with grief activist and yoga therapist Carla Halbert. They dive into the unique facets of grief, including how it intertwines with trauma, and explore how practices such as yoga, chakra work, and somatic exercises can help in navigating the complex emotional landscape of loss. Karla also shares details about an upcoming workshop on June 28th, 2025, focused on grieving through mind, body, and energetic lenses. They delve into personal stories, the importance of safe spaces for healing, and the broader cultural challenges of addressing grief. The episode is richly layered with insights on creating supportive environments, using intuitive practices like herbalism, and fostering ongoing relationships with the departed. 00:00 Introduction and Workshop
Announcement 01:48
Welcome to Empathy By Design 02:34 Introducing
Karla Halbert
03:25 Karla's Work and Philosophy on Grief
05:48 Creating Safe Spaces for Grief
09:24 The Importance of Sensory and Safe Environments
12:09 Exploring Somatics and Sensory Engagement
19:23 The Impact of Grief on the Nervous System
24:28 Reorienting After Loss 28:30 Navigating Personal Grief
29:35 The Individuality of Grief 31:02 Safe Spaces for Grief
34:58 Understanding Fear and Anxiety
44:01 The Healing Power of Herbs
53:13 Connecting with Nature
55:36 Upcoming Events and Resources
Episode Transcript
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Constructing Compassionate Spaces with Katie Kurtz

Description
In this episode of the Empathy By Design Podcast, we discuss the importance of creating trauma-informed spaces and the skills necessary for effective trauma-informed care. The featured guest, Katie Kurtz, a trauma-informed care expert and member of the Affinity Group, shares her journey and expertise in trauma-informed leadership and training. Katie emphasizes the importance of understanding human experiences, the nervous system, and the implementation of actionable strategies and skills. She also highlights how the context of the world, capacity of individuals, and fostering trust and adaptability are crucial in implementing trauma-informed principles. The conversation touches on the evolution of trauma-informed practices, critical thinking, and the role of self-regulation. Katie also mentions her upcoming projects, including the introduction of a Trauma-Informed Leadership Workshop and Training Institute.
Check out Katie's Work
Katie's Podcat: A Trauma Informed Future
More about our Affinity Group
Katie is a valued member of our Trauma-Informed Leadership Affinity Group, a unique community dedicated to advancing trauma-informed care and leadership skills. If you’ve been looking for a space to grow alongside like-minded professionals, we’d love to welcome you!
Our next Live Training for the Trauma-Informed Leadership Course Certification begins August 8th. This program is designed to fit your needs, offering a fast-track option that allows you to complete the course in just 4-6 weeks. Prefer to go at your own pace? We also offer a self-paced version, giving you up to six months to complete the course from the date of purchase.
By becoming a part of the Affinity Group, you’ll join our premier community of practice, where members actively work together to apply the trauma-informed skills taught in our course. Members also enjoy exclusive opportunities to serve as facilitators and class instructors within our app, deepening their expertise while contributing to this meaningful work
 

Co-Design and Empathy: Revolutionizing Educational Leadership

In this episode of 'Empathy by Design' by the Integrate Trauma-informed Network, host Julie explores how empathy can be integrated into systems with guests Dr. Ram Zieganfuss and Brianna Young from Moravian University. They discuss their Doctor of Education program focused on transformational leadership, co-design, and human-centered approaches. Dr. Zieganfuss explains the program's emphasis on experiential learning, flat hierarchies, and community belonging. Brianna shares her journey as a student, highlighting the importance of vulnerability, reflective practices, and leveraging diverse assets for authentic leadership transformation. The episode underscores the value of creating a psychologically safe environment and fostering empathy-driven design for educational and organizational growth.
00:00 Introduction to Empathy by Design
00:50 Meet Dr. Ram Zhu and Brianna Young
02:11 Dr. Zieganfuss's Vision for Transformational Leadership
04:44 Brianna Young's Journey in Education
07:56 Co-Design and Human-Centered Leadership
11:28 Building a Collaborative Learning Community
20:08 Navigating Discomfort and Growth in Education
23:23 Exploring the Kaleidoscope Concept
23:39 Gifts and Assets in Learning
24:06 Collaborative Learning and Community Building
25:14 Action Research and Iterative Learning