364. Working with Your Nervous System in Grief: An interview with Deb Dana
The Widowed Mom Podcast
Krista St-Germain
4.9 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 18 May 2026
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What if understanding your nervous system in grief could completely change how you experience loss, healing, and emotional overwhelm?
This week, I sit down with Deb Dana, a renowned clinician, author, and polyvagal expert, best known for translating Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory into practical, accessible tools for clinicians and the public.
Join us as we explore how grief impacts the nervous system and why so many widows feel stuck in survival states after loss. We unpack the role of polyvagal theory, nervous system regulation, and survival responses like fight, flight, and shutdown. You’ll also learn practical ways to work with your nervous system in grief, identify patterns of dysregulation, and find micro moments of safety through glimmers.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/364
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/
Check out Deb Dana's work here: https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Celebrate Turning 50 With Me!
As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforward
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before we jump into today's episode, I want to let you know that Mom Goes On offers needs-based |
| 0:05.8 | scholarships. If you've been wanting support but money feels like a barrier, please don't count |
| 0:11.2 | yourself out. Go to Coaching withcresta.com, click on the work with me tab, and when you apply for |
| 0:17.4 | Mom Goes On, check the box that says you're interested in a scholarship. |
| 0:21.6 | Now, on to the episode. |
| 0:25.5 | Welcome to the Widowed Mom podcast, episode 364, working with your nervous system and grief, |
| 0:33.2 | an interview with Deb, Dana. |
| 0:38.1 | Welcome to the Widowed Mom podcast, the only podcast that offers a proven process to help |
| 0:44.5 | you work through your grief to grow, evolve, and create a future you can truly look forward |
| 0:51.0 | to. |
| 0:52.1 | Here's your host, Master Certified Life Coach, Grief Expert, Widow, and Mom, |
| 0:58.0 | Krista St. Germain. Hey there, welcome to another episode of the podcast. I am delighted to bring |
| 1:06.5 | you an interview with the Deb Dana today. If you have never heard Deb's name, Deb is a clinician, |
| 1:13.7 | a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Her work is focused on using the lens of polyvagal theory |
| 1:19.5 | to understand and resolve the impact of trauma. And I know that sounds maybe a little boring, |
| 1:25.7 | but let me tell you. Deb understands the nervous |
| 1:28.9 | system. She is very well known for taking Stephen Porges's polyvagle theory, which is deep and heavy |
| 1:36.5 | and kind of hard to understand. And she's known for taking his work and translating it into a |
| 1:42.3 | language and an application that is clear and accessible, |
| 1:46.3 | something that many, many therapists would tell you they are grateful for Deb's work, |
| 1:50.4 | coaches like me who have followed her and appreciate her work. I could not be more excited |
| 1:55.8 | to bring her on the podcast. And also, though, it's not just her polyvagal theory understanding. It is the fact that |
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