Trigger Warning: In this episode of the SOVEREIGN Magazine® Podcast, host Nicole George connects with Ashley Dahlem, SOVEREIGN Magazine®’s Birthwork, Body Wisdom & Cyclical Care Columnist, to explore the September New Moon theme of Surrendering to the Unknown through Ashley’s article “Surrender Is Not Collapse.”
Ashley shares how she once rejected the word “surrender,” associating it with being walked on and feeling armored, and how her birth experiences reshaped surrender into trust without gripping, allowing missteps and growth.
They discuss parenthood as a practice of release, learning to say “I’m not okay,” asking for help, and letting go of grief, anger, fatigue, and perfectionism through safety and community support. Ashley offers a grounding practice of crossing arms, leaning back, breathing, and vocalizing to feel held, and closes with guidance on creating a supportive birth space so the body can stay open.
Timestamps:
01:07 Meet Ashley Dahlem
02:19 Why Surrender Felt Unsafe
03:45 Surrender as Trust
05:00 Parenthood and Release
05:45 Learning to Ask for Help
07:44 Grounding Rituals and Presence
10:09 Steps to Your Sovereign Self
10:46 Breath Practice to Feel Held
14:27 Birth Space and Openness
15:48 Wrap Up and Where to Connect
Connect with Ashley Dahlem
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Producer’s credits:
- Nicole George - Podcast Host | CEO/Founder SOVEREIGN Magazine® | Editor-in-Chief
- Ariane Lim - Podcast Producer + Engineer
- Sara Wagle - Audio Efficiency & Flow Manager
- Marielle Setenta - Enterprise Assistant
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