Beyond The Surface Podcast

Why can two people experience similar childhoods, do similar healing work, make similar lifestyle changes, and yet have completely different experiences when it comes to stress, anxiety, burnout, energy and recovery?
In this episode, Belinda sits down with epigenetic longevity strategist Chris Barnes to explore how our genes, biology and environment influence the way we experience stress, anxiety, burnout, energy, recovery and healthy ageing.
Chris shares his personal journey with chronic anxiety, sleep issues and night terrors, and how understanding his own genetics helped him realise that what he once believed was a character flaw was actually his biology needing different support.
Together, they explore what epigenetics actually means, why our genes are not our destiny, and how our daily choices - from nervous system regulation, sleep and movement to food, sunlight, relationships and environment can influence the way our genes are expressed.

What we cover:
What epigenetics is and why it matters
The difference between genetics and epigenetics
Why two people can experience stress, anxiety and healing so differently
How biology can influence mood, energy, dopamine and serotonin
Why one-size-fits-all health advice doesn’t work for everyone
The role of genetic testing in understanding your body
How lifestyle choices can influence gene expression
The difference between biological age and chronological age
Why health span and quality of life matter more than simply living longer

This episode is a reminder that healing isn’t always about trying harder or doing more. Sometimes, the missing piece is understanding your biology, getting curious about what your body actually needs, and making small daily choices that support your long-term health and wellbeing.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Chris:
Website: https://chrisbarneswellness.com.au/

In this episode, Belinda sits down with Keri Krieger, a registered acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine to talk about perimenopause, burnout, hormones and the midlife changes so many women experience but don’t always understand.
 
Keri shares why symptoms like exhaustion, anxiety, sleep disruption, weight gain, hot flushes, overwhelm and feeling “not like yourself” are often connected to changes in our hormones, nervous system and overall health, not simply getting older.
 
Together, they explore why women have been conditioned to push through for so long, why quick fixes don’t always work, and how this season of life can become an invitation to slow down, listen to your body and support yourself differently.
 
What we cover:
• What perimenopause is and when it can begin
• The signs and symptoms many women don’t realise are connected to perimenopause
• Why burnout in earlier years can show up more strongly in midlife
• The connection between hormones, stress, anxiety and the nervous system
• Why sleep, energy and weight often change during this stage of life
• How Traditional Chinese Medicine views women’s health and ageing
• Why HRT can be helpful, but isn’t always the full picture
• Small, practical ways to better support your body through this transition
 
This episode is a reminder that you’re not broken, failing or imagining what you’re feeling. Perimenopause can feel confusing and confronting, but it can also become an opportunity to better understand your body, support your health and move into the next season of life with greater awareness, confidence and self-trust. 
 
Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.
 
Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau
 
Connect with Kerri:
Website: https://kerikrieger.com/acupuncture/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerikrieger

Belinda sits down with Christy Quinn for a beautiful and honest conversation about surrogacy, motherhood, neurodivergence, relationships and choosing joy through it all.
Currently pregnant as a surrogate, Christy shares what led her to carry a baby for another family, the realities of IVF, surrogacy and pregnancy, and how she and her husband have navigated the journey alongside raising their two sons.
We also talk about life inside a neurodivergent family, and what happens when everyone experiences the world a little differently. Christy shares the challenges, the lessons, and the incredible gifts that come with raising children who think and feel deeply.

What we cover:
Christy’s journey into altruistic surrogacy and what made her say yes
The realities of IVF, surrogacy and carrying a baby for another family
How she explained surrogacy to her two sons
Raising children in a neurodivergent family
The lessons she’s learned through motherhood, healing and forgiveness
Why dancing, joy and connection are such a big part of how Christy moves through life

Whether you’re curious about surrogacy, navigating neurodivergence, raising children or simply trying to parent in a way that honours who your child truly is, this conversation offers insight, compassion and a fresh perspective on doing life differently.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Christy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christy_quinn_motherhood/

In this episode, Belinda sits down with Karlye Williamson, a Mental Health Occupational Therapist who helps people better understand what is happening in their body when they feel anxious, overwhelmed, tense, disconnected or caught in patterns of overthinking.
Karlye shares how her own experience with chronic back pain after having her first child led her to discover Stretch Therapy, a turning point that completely changed the way she understood pain, movement, mental health and the nervous system.
Together, Belinda and Karlye break down nervous system regulation in a simple, practical and easy-to-understand way. They explore why regulation isn’t about being calm all the time, how to recognise when your body is in fight, flight or shutdown, and the small everyday tools that can help you feel safer, more connected and better equipped to handle life’s challenges.
They also discuss why talk therapy alone is not always enough, the growing understanding of body-based approaches to healing, and practical strategies for managing overthinking, stress and nervous system dysregulation.

What we cover:
What nervous system regulation actually means and why it’s not about being calm all the time
How to recognise when you’re in fight, flight or shutdown
Why awareness is often the first step before any tool can be effective
The connection between chronic pain, stress and the nervous system
Why the body needs to feel safe before the mind can fully process and heal
Practical strategies for overthinking, including interrupting the loop, naming the circuit and giving your brain a job
How Stretch Therapy, breathwork, movement and sensory awareness can support regulation
What safety anchors are and how to identify your own
The powerful influence our environment has on our nervous system
Why healing isn’t always about thinking differently, but also about what needs to happen in the body

Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, overwhelm, overthinking or simply want a better understanding of how your nervous system works, this episode is packed with practical tools and insights you can start using immediately.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Karlye:
Website: https://regulatemindandbody.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regulatemindandbody/

In this powerful conversation, Belinda sits down with Megan Coburn to explore her journey through breast cancer, chronic illness, childhood sexual abuse, and profound personal healing.
Megan shares what it was like discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36, undergoing a double mastectomy, and later navigating lupus and a series of serious health challenges that forced her to completely rethink the way she was living.
She also opens up about the resurfacing of childhood sexual abuse memories in adulthood, the impact of living in survival mode for decades, and the connection between emotional wellbeing, stress, and physical health.
This episode is a powerful reminder of the body’s wisdom, the importance of self-advocacy, and how healing often begins when we stop pushing through and start listening to ourselves.

What we cover:
Discovering the BRCA1 gene mutation and being diagnosed with breast cancer at 36
Undergoing a double mastectomy and later choosing implant removal
Living with lupus and navigating chronic illness
The resurfacing of childhood sexual abuse memories in adulthood
Growing up around significant family illness and becoming “the strong one”
The impact of stress, suppressed emotions, and living in survival mode
Learning to advocate for herself and take ownership of her healing journey
Moving to the Gold Coast and rebuilding life after adversity
The role of self-compassion, healing, and personal growth

Please note: This episode includes discussions about childhood sexual abuse, cancer, chronic illness, and mental health challenges. Please listen with care.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Megan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megscob/