All Things Vagus

Episode 38: While You Were Sleeping

February 26th, 2026  |  38 mins 43 secs

adrenal glands, alzheimer's, blood sugar, blue zones, cortisol, dreams, loneliness, longevity, memory, natura, natura health and wellness, nervous system, neuroscience, nightmares, red willow learning center, rem sleep, sleep, the brain, the university of montana, wmt-ahec

In this episode, Kathy interviews Dr. Michael Smith and Dagny Deutchman from Natura Health and Wellness in Missoula. Topics around sleep health and hygiene include: dreaming, neuroscience of sleep, and how sleep affects the nervous system.

How to Tend to Your Winter Rest

January 29th, 2026  |  35 mins 28 secs

chronotype, dagney deutchman, kathy mangan, light therapy, mental health, michael smith, natura, natura health and wellness, neurotransmitters, red willow learning center, sad, seasonal affective disorder, sleep, the university of montana, wmt-ahec

In this episode, Kathy interviews Dagny Deutchman and Dr. Michael Smith from Natura Health and Wellness in Missoula. Topics include sleep hygiene, neurotransmitters, light therapy, and Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Episode 33: How to Reframe Your Bad Days

July 8th, 2025  |  27 mins 29 secs

anne martin, breathwork, emotional release, hypnotherapy, integrative trauma, kathleen managan, mental release, mindfulness, neuro-linguistic programming, overthinking, perception, post-traumatic growth, red willow learning center, stress, trauma, unconscious mind, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Anne Martin is an integrative trauma coach who specializes in working with first responders as well as motivated individuals looking to do better in their careers, their relationships, and in communications. She's trained in hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming, breathwork, and mental and emotional release. Her focus is to collaborate with clients and groups to create positive transformational changes to develop fulfillment, richness, and trust.

Episode 32: Why Change Is Hard

June 27th, 2025  |  28 mins 34 secs

anxiety, behavioral therapy, clinical hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, forgiveness, kathleen managan, mindfulness, overthinking, perception, red willow learning center, unconscious mind, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Betty Higgins has over 30 years of experience in business management, teaching, and coaching. She is a registered behavioral therapist, a master Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner, and is certified as a clinical hypnotherapist, cognitive behavioral therapist, as well as a life coach. Betty is also certified as an energy system practitioner for the last 20 years. Betty has had a private practice in Missoula, Montana.

Episode 31: Gardening—Nourishing Mind, Body & Soul

May 13th, 2025  |  27 mins 43 secs

connection, emotional health, farm ecology, farming, gardening, grief, kathleen managan, mental health, natural world, nature, philosophy, psychology, red willow learning center, resiliance, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Greg Price has degrees in philosophy and psychology and has been the River Road Farm Director for Garden City Harvest for 24 years. In addition to farming, he teaches classes on soil health, farm ecology, and farming/gardening best practices. He also has taught naturalist classes centered around bear ecology throughout western Montana.

Episode 30: The Power of the Present Moment

April 15th, 2025  |  28 mins 53 secs

bilateral stimulation, clinical mental health, emotional regulation, intentionality, jen racicot, kathleen managan, mental wellness, mindfulness, present moment, red willow learning center, somatic awareness, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Jen Racicot is a nationally certified counselor with her master's in clinical mental health from the University of Montana. Jen's life experiences as a fifth-generation non-Indigenous Montanan have been infused in teaching, service, and advocacy in Montana for over 20 years. She has worked with ages 3 through 70, counseling and traveling as a speaker and leading workshops on mental wellness. For more information on Jen's work, you can visit her website, at https://jenracicot.com/.

Episode 29: Mindfulness in Nature

March 20th, 2025  |  21 mins 43 secs

christine lustik, connection, grounding, kathleen managan, meditation, mindfulness, nature, red willow learning center, reflection, self-awareness, university of montana, vagal nerve, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Christine Lustik is a leadership coach and leadership development specialist focused on guiding authentic, caring, productive, and confident people managers. After earning her PhD, Christine focused on developing her own self-awareness. She obtained two mindfulness teacher certifications, including one from an organization called Awake in the Wild, which certifies teachers to guide mindfulness in nature classes and retreats. Christine has a labyrinth outside of Missoula where she offers retreats. For more information on Christine's work, you can visit her website, Mindfulness Organizations, at https://www.mindfulnessinorganizations.com.

Episode 28: Utilizing the Power of Plant Medicine

February 21st, 2025  |  25 mins 3 secs

adaptogens, elaine sheff, essential oils, green path herb school, herbalist, herbs, kathleen managan, nervines, plant medicine, red willow learning center, tea, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Elaine Sheff, a clinical herbalist and author of several books on herbal medicine and healing, has been passionate about sharing herbal knowledge for over 30 years. She is the co-director of Greenpath Herb School in Missoula, Montana, where she inspires and empowers students and clients to reconnect with the earth, plants, and their own healing journey. A professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, Elaine teaches workshops and speaks at conferences both nationally and internationally.

Episode 23: The Social Resilience Model

July 12th, 2024  |  37 mins 7 secs

all things vagus, kathy mangan, mental health, red willow learning center, social resilience, therapy, threshold global works

Laurie Leitch has been a practicing psychotherapist, clinical trainer, consultant, and researcher for over 25 years. She is the founder and director of Threshold Global Works, established in 2011. Threshold Global Works is dedicated to cultivating and enhancing natural resilience within communities, organizations, and individuals using the neuroscience-based Social Resilience Model. If you are interested in learning more about Laurie's work you can find her website below:
https://www.thresholdglobalworks.com/

Episode 21: Taking Yoga Off The Mat

May 3rd, 2024  |  21 mins 57 secs

julie mackiewicz, kathy mangan, meditation, red willow learning center, therapy, yoga

Julie Mackiewicz attended her first yoga class in 2001 and has been on this journey ever since. She completed her first teacher training in 2007 and began teaching that same year. For the past 15-plus years, she has continued on the concurrent paths of student and teacher, completing further training continually. Immersing herself in learning and sharing her deepening, expanding, and evolving understanding and experiences as a teacher. It is the unending depth and breadth of yogic studies that entices and inspires her to continue on this journey and experience the unfolding and uncovering of ourselves.

If you're interested in reaching out to Julie, her information can be found below:
Website: https://juliemackiewicz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemackiewicz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.mackiewicz.9/