Welcome to EmotionAL Support - the unfiltered space where mental health meets motherhood, identity, and everything in between.
Hosted by Actress, Mental Health Advocate and Lady’s Mom, Alessandra Torresani , EmotionAL Support dives deep into the real, raw, and often hilarious parts of being human. Whether you’re navigating postpartum emotions, reimagining your identity, or just trying to keep it together with a toddler on your hip—this podcast is your trusted place to feel it all.
Each week, Alessandra brings heart-centered conversations with psychologists, authors, comedians, and fellow moms to explore topics like: • Mental health & emotional wellness • Motherhood & identity • Anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence • Self-care that goes beyond the bubble bath • Honest, funny, and powerful personal stories
No toxic positivity. No filters. Just real talk, real feelings, and real connection.
If you’re looking for a community that gets it and isn’t afraid to laugh through the chaos, you’ve found your people.
✨ Subscribe now for your weekly dose of EmotionAL Support.
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Données mises à jour le 13/10/2026
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Beauty is Nature's Code for Survival : Healing Our Kids' Mental Health with Louie Schwartzberg (Disney's Wings of Life, Soarin' Around the World, Fantastic Fungi, Moving Art)
Saison 6
mardi 7 juillet 2026 • Durée 51:34
Can nature actually be used as medicine for our mental health? In a world dominated by overstimulating screens, digital anxiety, and "nature deficit disorder," finding a sense of calm feels harder than ever - especially for our kids.
This week on EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with award-winning filmmaker and visual artist Louie Schwartzberg (Moving Art, Fantastic Fungi, Wings of Life). Louie has dedicated his life to capturing the breathtaking, slow-motion rhythm of the natural world to help us slow down, breathe, and heal.
Alessandra and Louie dive deep into the science of awe and wonder, explaining how visual storytelling can completely shift our nervous systems from fear to compassion. They discuss the critical impact of digital media on child development, sensory processing in autism, and how changing what our kids watch can drastically improve their emotional regulation. Plus, Louie reveals the evolutionary secrets behind beauty and the mind-expanding world of fungi and plant medicine.
If you are a parent looking to balance screen time, someone struggling with stress, or simply wanting to inject more gratitude into your daily routine, this beautiful conversation is your ultimate guide to reconnecting with the Earth.
"Wonder and awe are gateways to compassion. Beauty is nature's code for survival." — Louie Schwartzberg
🕒 Inside This Episode:
00:00 - The Healing Power of Nature & Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder
12:31 - Mindfulness, Stress Reduction, and Emotional Regulation
24:01 - Rethinking Screen Time: Fear vs. Wonder in Children's Content
25:29 - The Evolutionary Power of Beauty and Visual Art
29:53 - Nature’s Crucial Role in Child Development & Sensory Processing in Autism
35:27 - Micro-Mindfulness and Gratitude Practices for Busy Families
39:47 - Exploring the Mind-Bending World of Mushrooms and Fungi
47:05 - Moving Art: Shifting Human Consciousness Through Filmmaking
Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to support the show!
Beauty is Nature's Code for Survival : Healing Our Kids' Mental Health with Louie Schwartzberg (Disney's Wings of Life, Soarin' Around the World, Fantastic Fungi, Moving Art)
Saison 6
mardi 7 juillet 2026 • Durée 51:34
Can nature actually be used as medicine for our mental health? In a world dominated by overstimulating screens, digital anxiety, and "nature deficit disorder," finding a sense of calm feels harder than ever - especially for our kids.
This week on EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with award-winning filmmaker and visual artist Louie Schwartzberg (Moving Art, Fantastic Fungi, Wings of Life). Louie has dedicated his life to capturing the breathtaking, slow-motion rhythm of the natural world to help us slow down, breathe, and heal.
Alessandra and Louie dive deep into the science of awe and wonder, explaining how visual storytelling can completely shift our nervous systems from fear to compassion. They discuss the critical impact of digital media on child development, sensory processing in autism, and how changing what our kids watch can drastically improve their emotional regulation. Plus, Louie reveals the evolutionary secrets behind beauty and the mind-expanding world of fungi and plant medicine.
If you are a parent looking to balance screen time, someone struggling with stress, or simply wanting to inject more gratitude into your daily routine, this beautiful conversation is your ultimate guide to reconnecting with the Earth.
"Wonder and awe are gateways to compassion. Beauty is nature's code for survival." — Louie Schwartzberg
🕒 Inside This Episode:
00:00 - The Healing Power of Nature & Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder
12:31 - Mindfulness, Stress Reduction, and Emotional Regulation
24:01 - Rethinking Screen Time: Fear vs. Wonder in Children's Content
25:29 - The Evolutionary Power of Beauty and Visual Art
Maternal Mental Health: Navigating Postpartum Depression and Family Healing with Pooja Makhijani
Saison 1
mardi 30 juin 2026 • Durée 36:29
Today on EmotionAL Support, I’m joined by author and journalist Pooja Makhijani.
Pooja’s forthcoming picture book, Together for Mama, was inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression and explores a conversation that so many families face but rarely know how to talk about: what happens when a parent is struggling with their mental health?
We often discuss postpartum depression through the lens of the mother experiencing it, but we don’t talk enough about how it affects the entire family—or how children make sense of changes they see in the adults they love most. As someone who has been incredibly open about my own maternal mental health journey, I know firsthand how important it is to reduce stigma, seek support, and create honest conversations around these experiences.
In this deeply educational and heartfelt interview, Pooja and I dive into the realities of postpartum anxiety, parenting through difficult seasons, and breaking generational cycles of silence. We also discuss how children's literature and storytelling can give families the tools they need to navigate conversations that sometimes feel impossible to start.
Whether you are a parent currently navigating your own emotional health, a family member looking to provide better community support, or someone passionate about breaking mental health stigma, this episode is a reminder that you are never alone.
03:04 – The Impact of Maternal Mental Health on Families and Children
05:56 – The Journey to Seeking Help & Overcoming Stigma
08:58 – The Crucial Role of Community and Multigenerational Support
11:51 – Writing as a Healing Process
15:00 – Creating Together for Mama: A Children's Book on Mental Health
Maternal Mental Health: Navigating Postpartum Depression and Family Healing with Pooja Makhijani (author/journalist)
Saison 6
mardi 30 juin 2026 • Durée 36:29
Today on EmotionAL Support, I’m joined by author and journalist Pooja Makhijani.
Pooja’s forthcoming picture book, Together for Mama, was inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression and explores a conversation that so many families face but rarely know how to talk about: what happens when a parent is struggling with their mental health?
We often discuss postpartum depression through the lens of the mother experiencing it, but we don’t talk enough about how it affects the entire family—or how children make sense of changes they see in the adults they love most. As someone who has been incredibly open about my own maternal mental health journey, I know firsthand how important it is to reduce stigma, seek support, and create honest conversations around these experiences.
In this deeply educational and heartfelt interview, Pooja and I dive into the realities of postpartum anxiety, parenting through difficult seasons, and breaking generational cycles of silence. We also discuss how children's literature and storytelling can give families the tools they need to navigate conversations that sometimes feel impossible to start.
Whether you are a parent currently navigating your own emotional health, a family member looking to provide better community support, or someone passionate about breaking mental health stigma, this episode is a reminder that you are never alone.
03:04 – The Impact of Maternal Mental Health on Families and Children
05:56 – The Journey to Seeking Help & Overcoming Stigma
08:58 – The Crucial Role of Community and Multigenerational Support
– Writing as a Healing Process
Blue’s Clues Co-Creator Angela Santomero on Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids, Building Confidence & Why Slow Childhood Matters
Saison 1
mardi 23 juin 2026 • Durée 51:10
What if the shows our children watch could help them become more resilient, emotionally intelligent, and confident?
This week on EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Angela Santomero, the Emmy Award-winning creator behind Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why!, and Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things.
Angela shares the intentional philosophy behind creating some of the most beloved children’s programs of all time and why slowing things down, encouraging imagination, and treating children with respect became the foundation for programming that continues to resonate with families decades later.
Together, Angela and Alessandra explore how children’s media shapes emotional development, self-esteem, resilience, and critical thinking—and why kindness should never be underestimated as a superpower.
They discuss the importance of diverse representation, fostering creativity in a screen-saturated world, the emotional impact of Steve’s viral Blue’s Clues farewell message, and practical ways parents can nurture confidence, curiosity, and emotional intelligence in everyday life.
Angela also shares insights from her newest franchise, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things, a whimsical series designed to help children build empathy, resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills through imaginative storytelling.
Whether you’re raising young children, creating content, or simply interested in how we shape the next generation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that what we teach our children today becomes who they are tomorrow.
In This Episode:
Blue’s Clues Co-Creator Angela Santomero on Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids, Building Confidence & Why Slow Childhood Matters
Saison 6
mardi 23 juin 2026 • Durée 51:10
What if the shows our children watch could help them become more resilient, emotionally intelligent, and confident?
This week on EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Angela Santomero, the Emmy Award-winning creator behind Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why!, and Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things.
Angela shares the intentional philosophy behind creating some of the most beloved children’s programs of all time and why slowing things down, encouraging imagination, and treating children with respect became the foundation for programming that continues to resonate with families decades later.
Together, Angela and Alessandra explore how children’s media shapes emotional development, self-esteem, resilience, and critical thinking—and why kindness should never be underestimated as a superpower.
They discuss the importance of diverse representation, fostering creativity in a screen-saturated world, the emotional impact of Steve’s viral Blue’s Clues farewell message, and practical ways parents can nurture confidence, curiosity, and emotional intelligence in everyday life.
Angela also shares insights from her newest franchise, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things, a whimsical series designed to help children build empathy, resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills through imaginative storytelling.
Whether you’re raising young children, creating content, or simply interested in how we shape the next generation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that what we teach our children today becomes who they are tomorrow.
In This Episode:
The Science of Ayahuasca: Dr. Jeff McNairy on Trauma Recovery, PTSD, Addiction & Psychedelic Healing
Saison 6 · Épisode 1
mardi 16 juin 2026 • Durée 49:39
What happens when traditional mental health treatments aren’t enough?
In this powerful episode of EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Dr. Jeff McNairy, Psy.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer of Rythmia and one of the leading voices in psychedelic-assisted healing and trauma recovery.
With more than 25 years of experience in psychology, addiction treatment, and mental health care, Dr. Jeff shares how unresolved trauma can become trapped in the body and brain—and why many people struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, addiction, and emotional pain continue searching for answers long after conventional treatments have failed.
Together, they explore:
✨ The neuroscience of trauma and emotional memory
✨ How the brain stores unresolved experiences
✨ The growing role of ayahuasca and psychedelic-assisted therapy in mental health treatment
✨ Why emotional healing often requires more than symptom management
✨ The connection between trauma, addiction, depression, and the nervous system
✨ What thousands of patient transformations have taught him about recovery
✨ The future of mental health and psychedelic medicine
Whether you’re curious about plant medicine, trauma recovery, emotional wellness, or the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how healing may be possible in ways many people never imagined.
The Science of Ayahuasca: Dr. Jeff McNairy on Trauma Recovery, PTSD, Addiction & Psychedelic Healing
Saison 6 · Épisode 4
mardi 16 juin 2026 • Durée 49:39
What happens when traditional mental health treatments aren’t enough?
In this powerful episode of EmotionAL Support, Alessandra Torresani sits down with Dr. Jeff McNairy, Psy.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer of Rythmia and one of the leading voices in psychedelic-assisted healing and trauma recovery.
With more than 25 years of experience in psychology, addiction treatment, and mental health care, Dr. Jeff shares how unresolved trauma can become trapped in the body and brain—and why many people struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, addiction, and emotional pain continue searching for answers long after conventional treatments have failed.
Together, they explore:
✨ The neuroscience of trauma and emotional memory
✨ How the brain stores unresolved experiences
✨ The growing role of ayahuasca and psychedelic-assisted therapy in mental health treatment
✨ Why emotional healing often requires more than symptom management
✨ The connection between trauma, addiction, depression, and the nervous system
✨ What thousands of patient transformations have taught him about recovery
✨ The future of mental health and psychedelic medicine
Whether you’re curious about plant medicine, trauma recovery, emotional wellness, or the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how healing may be possible in ways many people never imagined.
From Abuse to Independence: Angela Harger Thompson on Surviving, Reinventing Yourself & Finding Purpose | Quarantine at Sea
lundi 8 juin 2026 • Durée 42:59
What happens when the life you planned disappears overnight—and you’re forced to discover who you really are?
This week on EmotionAL Support, actress, filmmaker, author, and storyteller Angela Harger Thompson joins Alessandra for a deeply honest conversation about surviving abuse, finding independence, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to create a life that is truly your own.
Angela shares the incredible true story behind her documentary Quarantine at Sea, documenting the moment she found herself stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with nowhere to land and no idea what the future would hold. But beyond the adventure is a much deeper story of resilience, faith, healing, and personal transformation.
Together, Angela and Alessandra discuss:
• Overcoming emotional abuse and reclaiming your voice
• Building independence after difficult relationships
• Learning to trust yourself again
• The power of storytelling as a path to healing
• Reinventing your life in your 30s and beyond
• Turning pain into purpose
• Following God-given dreams and creating a future that feels aligned with who you are
• The making of the documentary Quarantine at Sea
• Angela’s powerful new memoir, Worst Tits Ever
• Why every person’s story matters
Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, rebuilding after trauma, seeking greater independence, or stepping into your own “second act,” this conversation is a reminder that your past does not define your future.
Overcoming Abuse, Finding Independence & Rebuilding Your Life with Angela Harger Thompson | Quarantine at Sea
Saison 6 · Épisode 1
lundi 8 juin 2026 • Durée 42:59
What happens when the life you planned disappears overnight—and you’re forced to discover who you really are?
This week on EmotionAL Support, actress, filmmaker, author, and storyteller Angela Harger Thompson joins Alessandra for a deeply honest conversation about surviving abuse, finding independence, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to create a life that is truly your own.
Angela shares the incredible true story behind her documentary Quarantine at Sea, documenting the moment she found herself stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with nowhere to land and no idea what the future would hold. But beyond the adventure is a much deeper story of resilience, faith, healing, and personal transformation.
Together, Angela and Alessandra discuss:
• Overcoming emotional abuse and reclaiming your voice
• Building independence after difficult relationships
• Learning to trust yourself again
• The power of storytelling as a path to healing
• Reinventing your life in your 30s and beyond
• Turning pain into purpose
• Following God-given dreams and creating a future that feels aligned with who you are
• The making of the documentary Quarantine at Sea
• Angela’s powerful new memoir, Worst Tits Ever
• Why every person’s story matters
Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, rebuilding after trauma, seeking greater independence, or stepping into your own “second act,” this conversation is a reminder that your past does not define your future.
29:53 - Nature’s Crucial Role in Child Development & Sensory Processing in Autism
35:27 - Micro-Mindfulness and Gratitude Practices for Busy Families
39:47 - Exploring the Mind-Bending World of Mushrooms and Fungi
47:05 - Moving Art: Shifting Human Consciousness Through Filmmaking
Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
• The surprising philosophy behind the success of Blue’s Clues
• Why slower-paced content supports emotional development
• How children’s media influences confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
• The importance of diverse representation and inclusive storytelling
• Why emotional intelligence is one of the most valuable skills a child can develop
• How parents can foster critical thinking and curiosity at home
• The lasting impact of Steve’s farewell message on an entire generation
• Angela’s newest project, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things
• Simple ways parents can raise kind, creative, resilient kids
• Why community, collaboration, and creativity matter more than ever
About Angela Santomero
Angela Santomero is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning creator, producer, and author whose work has helped shape generations of children through educational and emotionally intelligent storytelling. She is the co-creator of Blue’s Clues, creator of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Super Why!, and the creator of Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things. Her work focuses on helping children develop empathy, resilience, creativity, curiosity, and confidence through research-backed media and storytelling.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who believes in raising kind, confident, emotionally healthy kids.
• The surprising philosophy behind the success of Blue’s Clues
• Why slower-paced content supports emotional development
• How children’s media influences confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
• The importance of diverse representation and inclusive storytelling
• Why emotional intelligence is one of the most valuable skills a child can develop
• How parents can foster critical thinking and curiosity at home
• The lasting impact of Steve’s farewell message on an entire generation
• Angela’s newest project, Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things
• Simple ways parents can raise kind, creative, resilient kids
• Why community, collaboration, and creativity matter more than ever
About Angela Santomero
Angela Santomero is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning creator, producer, and author whose work has helped shape generations of children through educational and emotionally intelligent storytelling. She is the co-creator of Blue’s Clues, creator of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Super Why!, and the creator of Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things. Her work focuses on helping children develop empathy, resilience, creativity, curiosity, and confidence through research-backed media and storytelling.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who believes in raising kind, confident, emotionally healthy kids.
Angela Harger Thompson is an actress, filmmaker, author, and founder of The Storytell Initiative. She directed, produced, and starred in the documentary Quarantine at Sea, chronicling her unexpected months stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the global pandemic. Her memoir, Worst Tits Ever, expands on the personal journey behind the film and explores themes of faith, resilience, healing, and self-discovery.
Follow Angela and learn more about her work through The Storytell Initiative.
About Angela Harger Thompson
Angela Harger Thompson is an actress, filmmaker, author, and founder of The Storytell Initiative. She directed, produced, and starred in the documentary Quarantine at Sea, chronicling her unexpected months stranded in the Pacific Ocean during the global pandemic. Her memoir, Worst Tits Ever, expands on the personal journey behind the film and explores themes of faith, resilience, healing, and self-discovery.
Follow Angela and learn more about her work through The Storytell Initiative.
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