R.I.C.H. by Design Podcast with Heather

About R.I.C.H. by Design Podcast with Heather

For the woman who's done all the work and still feels stuck. Exploring SSP, Human Design & money patterns so you can become R.I.C.H.™: Regulated, Integrated & with the Capacity to Hold more money, visibility, leadership & life. heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Heather E | R.I.C.H. by Design

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 May 2026

Latest episode

30 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Oct 2026

   #12 I’ve Done the Work. Why Does This Still Feel So Hard?

   You’ve been doing the work. Maybe you’ve gone through the Safe and Sound Protocol. Then life happens, big feelings show up, and you wonder: “Shouldn’t I be handling this better by now?” I’m recording this episode while moving through some big emotions myself. And I want to have an honest conversation about the expectations we bring to nervous system work—especially the idea that feeling better means we’ll stop having hard days. We’re talking about what SSP may support, what it cannot promise, and how to recognize progress even when life still feels difficult. In this episode, we explore: * Why having a regulated nervous system doesn’t mean feeling calm all the time. * What SSP may help with—and why it can’t prevent grief, uncertainty, or painful experiences. * How progress might show up in everyday moments, including difficult conversations and asking for support. * Why familiar feelings don’t automatically mean you’re back at the beginning. * Why feeling worse isn’t proof that SSP is working, and when to check in with your provider. * Why relationships, practical support, and other care still matter after the listening is finished. If you’ve been wondering whether you’re doing something wrong because you’re still struggling, this conversation leaves room for both your progress and what’s hard right now. Curious about SSP? The Safe and Sound Protocol is a listening intervention developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and informed by Polyvagal Theory. It uses specially filtered music with guidance from a certified SSP provider to support nervous system regulation. Experiences and results vary. To explore whether SSP might be an appropriate support for you, book a Designed for More Clarity call (https://link.heathere.com/widget/bookings/breakthroughintrocall): (https://link.heathere.com/widget/bookings/breakthroughintrocall) Get full access to Heather E | R.I.C.H. by Design at heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   #11 Sounds Like Music. So What Makes SSP Different?

   “How is this any different from listening to classical music in my car?” When a client asked me that about the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), I knew it deserved its own episode. Because when you put on headphones and hear music, it’s fair to wonder what’s actually happening. In this episode of RICH by Design, I explain the Safe and Sound Protocol in everyday language, including: * The three pathways: Connect, Core, and Balance. * What makes SSP Core different from a regular playlist. * The theory behind how filtered sound supports nervous system regulation. * Why your listening pace matters. I also share why SSP became a foundation of my client work after twenty years of exploring therapy, coaching, and personal development—and experiencing shifts in patterns I’d understood for years but still struggled to change. Have you done so much work on yourself and still feel stuck? Book a Designed for More Clarity Call. We’ll talk about what you’ve tried, what you’d like to feel different, and whether working together feels like a good fit. Book your call here (https://heathere.com/designedformore) Get full access to Heather E | R.I.C.H. by Design at heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   #10 What If Success Felt Safer? Courtney Boyer on Visibility, Capacity & Self-Trust

   What If Success Felt Safer? Courtney Boyer on Visibility, Capacity & Self-TrustWhat happens when your life and business are expanding—but your nervous system doesn’t quite feel safe holding it all? In this episode of RICH by Design, I’m talking with sex and relationship coach, author, speaker, and somatic retreat curator Courtney Boyer about her experience with the Safe and Sound Protocol and Designed to Rise. When Courtney’s second book launched, her visibility skyrocketed—with major media features, interviews, and a whole lot more attention. But behind the scenes, she was exhausted, anxious, and struggling with what happened after being seen: criticism, unwanted messages, being misunderstood, and the pressure to keep performing. We talk about what’s shifted since she began SSP, including: Less urgency and need to immediately fix or control things More peace, self-trust, and capacity to receive Caring less about followers, book sales, and vanity metrics Understanding her patterns through Human Design and Sacred Money Archetypes Discovering how she is designed to manifest—without pushing or obsessing The difference between regulating your nervous system and actually expanding its capacity Courtney also shares something I think so many high-achieving women will relate to: realizing she had become really good at accomplishing things…but not necessarily at enjoying the life she had created. This conversation is a beautiful look at what nervous system work can actually look like in real life—not never feeling stressed or activated again, but having more space to experience life without immediately bracing, controlling, pushing, or shutting down. Connect with Courtney:CourtneyBoyerCoaching.com (http://CourtneyBoyerCoaching.com) Get full access to Heather E | R.I.C.H. by Design at heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   14 Sept 2026

   He Wasn’t Sober….But That’s Not the Story

   Recently, I found myself in a situation that would have completely rattled an older version of me. And while I definitely had some BIG feelings about what happened, I noticed something was very different in how I moved through it. It got me thinking about what nervous system regulation actually looks like in real life — because being regulated does NOT mean being calm and unbothered all the time. In this episode, I’m talking about: * The experience that made me realize just how differently I respond now * Healthy vs. dysregulated fight, flight, freeze & fawn * Why having big feelings doesn’t mean you’re dysregulated * The difference between feeling a nervous system response and being hijacked by it * What I’ve noticed in myself since doing the Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) * Why nervous system capacity isn’t about feeling less — it’s about having more access to yourself when life gets messy Resources Discover Your Sacred Money Archetypes (https://www.heathere.com/smaquiz) Book a Designed for More Clarity Call (https://heathere.com/designedformore) Get full access to Heather E | R.I.C.H. by Design at heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatheresposito.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   14 Aug 2026

   #08 What Happens When Your Voice Starts to Feel Safe?

   Do you ever know exactly what you want to say...but still struggle to say it? Maybe you keep quiet because you’re afraid of being misunderstood. You rehearse conversations, over-explain your decisions, struggle to ask for what you need—or wait until something is perfect before you let yourself be seen. What if some of that isn’t a confidence problem, but a nervous system trying to keep you safe? In this episode, I’m exploring the connection between your nervous system and your voice—and how Human Design can help you understand the communication gifts that are already there underneath the protective patterns. I’ll also share what I’ve noticed in myself and my SSP clients as more safety has become available: speaking up, asking for what we need, setting boundaries, explaining less, and becoming more comfortable being seen imperfectly. Because maybe your voice doesn’t need to be fixed or found. Maybe it simply needs enough safety to come through. If you’re curious about SSP and what greater nervous system capacity could make possible for you, schedule a complimentary call with me here: Click Here to Schedule Your Call (https://heathere.com/rise_clarity_call) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   7 Aug 2026

   #07 Your Voice Was Never the Problem

   Why can you know exactly what you want to say...and still struggle to say it? Why can you be funny, expressive, and completely yourself with certain people—then freeze, overthink, over-explain, or disappear when you feel watched? A client recently asked me why I’m so passionate about pairing the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) with Human Design, and it led to a conversation about something I’ve personally experienced in a BIG way: My voice was always there. I just didn’t always feel safe enough to use it. Since completing SSP, I’ve noticed myself becoming more willing to put myself into the world—to restart my podcast, record more videos, join groups, attend events, share what I really think, and trust that what I’ve learned and experienced may actually help someone. That shift got me thinking about the connection between our nervous system, the Social Engagement System, visibility, and our voice. In this episode, I talk about: * Why speaking up isn’t always a confidence or communication problem * How fight, flight, freeze, and fawn can show up through your voice * The connection between the nervous system and feeling safe being seen and heard * How SSP supports the Social Engagement System * Why I’ve experienced “more of me being available” since SSP * How Human Design can help you recognize your natural way of communicating * Why understanding your design doesn’t necessarily mean your nervous system feels safe enough to live it * Why I believe SSP + Human Design create such a powerful combination of safety and self-recognition One of the biggest realizations for me has been this: Human Design shows you the voice that is naturally yours.SSP helps create the nervous system conditions that allow you to use it. You may not need to “find your voice.” It may have been there all along. You may simply need to understand it—and create enough safety in your body to stop hiding it. Voice by Design Workshop If this conversation hits home, I’m going deeper into it inside my upcoming Voice by Design workshop. We’ll use your Human Design to explore how you’re uniquely designed to communicate, including your Communication/Throat Center, your natural Voice Style, and the Profile energy that adds its own flavor to how you speak, lead, connect, and create impact. We’ll explore whether your voice naturally: Creates clarity.Ignites change.Leads.Or transforms your experiences into wisdom and stories. And we’ll look at the nervous system piece underneath it all—because knowing how you’re designed to communicate and feeling safe enough to actually communicate that way are two very different things. Voice by Design📅 Thursday, August 13🕛 Noon–3:00 PM EST💻 Live on Zoom📼 Replay included💰$44 Click here to register (https://www.heathere.com/voice_by_design) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   31 Jul 2026

   #06 There Has to Be Another Way:

   For more than 30 years, I wrestled with suicidal thoughts. I changed my diet.Studied countless healing modalities.Read the books.Did the inner work. Each piece helped—but I still found myself asking: Why does my body keep ending up here? In this episode, I share how the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), Human Design, and years of searching for the root of suffering have completely changed the way I understand healing. This isn’t really an episode about suicide. It’s an episode about hope. About why I believe you were never meant to simply survive... You were meant to come alive. In this episode, we explore: • Why changing your circumstances doesn’t always heal your suffering• The surprising role your nervous system plays in how you experience life• The Human Design insight that helped me understand my life’s work• Why I believe there is more life inside each of us than we can often feel• What it really means to become R.I.C.H. by Design Resources Mentioned ✨ Safe to ReceiveA Free Nervous System Assessment to Discover Why Success Still Feels Hard If you’ve ever wondered why you know what to do... but still struggle to do it, this free assessment will help you discover whether your nervous system may be protecting you from the very life you’re trying to create. 👉 (https://www.heathere.com/safe_to_receive)Download the assessment here (https://www.heathere.com/safe_to_receive) ✨ Want to go deeper? Book a complimentary Money Energy Blueprint Call where we’ll explore your nervous system, Human Design, and Sacred Money Archetypes to create a personalized roadmap for your next season of growth. 👉 (https://www.heathere.com/money_energy_blueprint_call)Book your call (https://www.heathere.com/money_energy_blueprint_call) Connect with Heather Website (http://heathere.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/heather_m_esposito?igsh=MWVhMWV4ZDdpbnNxNg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/heather.esposito.507) Substack: (https://substack.com/@heatheresposito) Reflection Questions Where in my life am I merely surviving instead of truly living? When do I feel most like myself? What parts of me have I had to disconnect from in order to feel safe? If my nervous system felt just 10% safer, what might become possible? What would “coming alive” actually look like for me? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   10 Jul 2026

   #05 She Lost Seven Figures...But That's Not the Story

   When somatic practitioner Barbie K. started the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), she wasn’t expecting much. After years of studying the nervous system and helping others regulate theirs, she wasn’t convinced listening to filtered music would make a noticeable difference. What she experienced wasn’t dramatic—it was subtle. In this conversation, we talk about the quiet shifts that added up to a profound change: increased patience, greater capacity to handle stress, waking up without her usual morning sadness, and realizing that things simply didn’t get to her the way they used to. We also share an important story about why the SSP should always be done under the guidance of a certified provider and why every nervous system needs its own pace. If you’ve ever wondered whether nervous system healing can really change your day-to-day life, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we discuss: * Why Barbie was skeptical about SSP * The subtle shifts that changed everything * What increased nervous system capacity actually feels like * Why journaling helped her recognize her progress * An important lesson about individualized SSP delivery I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

9. 

   3 Jul 2026

   #04 The Day Money Stopped Feeling So Heavy.

   What if the problem isn’t that you’re bad with money... What if your nervous system has simply learned that money isn’t safe? For years, I thought I had a money problem. I avoided looking at my bank account. I’d put off tracking my numbers. And whenever I did look, I’d find myself caught in a familiar cycle of disappointment, shame, and avoidance. I wasn’t lacking information. I’d taken the money courses. I’d learned the budgeting systems. I’d worked on my mindset. I’d even taken nervous system courses that taught me what to do after I became dysregulated. But no one had taught me how to become someone who didn’t become dysregulated so quickly in the first place. In this episode, I share how going through the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) quietly changed my relationship with money—not because it taught me better financial strategies, but because it expanded my capacity to stay present with my finances. I also share how understanding my Sacred Money Archetypes and Human Design helped me stop fighting myself and start working with the way I’m uniquely designed. In this episode, we explore: * Why money avoidance is often a nervous system response—not a character flaw. * The shame cycle I couldn’t think my way out of. * How my Connector Sacred Money Archetype helped me understand why I’d rather avoid money altogether. * Why I don’t believe one modality is enough anymore. * The difference between learning regulation tools and increasing your window of tolerance. * How the Safe and Sound Protocol changed my relationship with my bank account. * Why Human Design gives me a map and Sacred Money Archetypes help me understand my patterns. * How my custom GPT, Myra, helps me move through money shame and disappointment with more compassion and self-awareness. * Why I believe money is a mirror, revealing the places our nervous system still longs for safety. Want to know what your top 3 Sacred Money Archetypes are? Click here to take the quiz! (https://www.heathere.com/smaquiz) My Biggest Takeaway Money didn’t change. My capacity did. And when my capacity changed, my relationship with money changed too. That’s why I believe transformation isn’t about forcing yourself to become someone else. It’s about creating enough safety in your nervous system that you can finally become more of who you’ve always been. Memorable Quotes “I didn’t need another money course. I needed a nervous system that could stay present with my money.” “Money didn’t change. My capacity did.” “I’m not here to teach women how to manage money. I’m here to help them become women who have the capacity to manage money.” Ready to Become R.I.C.H. by Design? My mission is to help women become R.I.C.H. by Design: Regulated.Integrated.With the Capacity to Hold More. More money. More visibility. More leadership. Without abandoning themselves in the process. If this episode resonated with you and you’re curious whether the combination of SSP, Human Design, and Sacred Money Archetypes could support your journey, I’d love to have a conversation. You don’t have to keep forcing your way forward. Sometimes the greatest shift isn’t learning another strategy. It’s expanding your capacity to hold the life you’re already working so hard to create.Want to know what your top 3 Sacred Money Archetypes are? Click here to take the quiz! (https://www.heathere.com/smaquiz) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

10. 

    25 Jun 2026

    #03: The Breakup That Should Have Destroyed Me

    Episode Description: What happens when the relationship you thought would break you... doesn’t? In this episode, I get personal about a breakup that, by all accounts, should have wrecked me — and why it didn’t. This isn’t a story about becoming numb or not caring. It’s a story about what it actually looks like when your nervous system has more capacity to hold life. In This Episode: * The story of James — a crush from age 14 who reappeared decades later and became one of the most meaningful relationships of my adult life * The heartbreak that followed when he ghosted me last October — and why my response surprised even me * The difference between grief that moves through you vs. grief that becomes your entire identity * Why healing isn’t about feeling less — it’s about being able to feel without falling apart * How the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) quietly expanded my window of tolerance in ways I didn’t fully see until life tested me * What it really means to be R.I.C.H. by Design: Regulated, Integrated, with the Capacity to Hold More Key Takeaway: We spend so much time trying to eliminate discomfort. But the goal isn’t to eliminate it — it’s to become someone who can hold more of life without collapsing under its weight. More uncertainty. More joy. More grief. More love. The full spectrum of being human, without abandoning yourself in the process. Mentioned in This Episode: * Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) — developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, rooted in Polyvagal Theory; an audio therapy that resets and retunes the nervous system baseline * Human Design — how understanding energy types brought a fun and grounding dynamic to the relationship * R.I.C.H. by Design framework: Regulated · Integrated · Capacity to · Hold More Connect + Continue the Conversation: I’d love to hear from you — reply or reach out and let me know: * Does your nervous system feel like it could use an upgrade so you can handle life when life… lifes? * Have you heard of or tried SSP? If so, what was your experience? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

11. 

    19 Jun 2026

    #02 Episode 3: The Day I Realized the Suicidal Thoughts Were Gone

    Episode 3: The Day I Realized the Suicidal Thoughts Were Gone In this episode, I share the moment I finally realized the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) was working—and it wasn't because of a dramatic breakthrough or life-changing "aha" moment. In fact, I almost thought it wasn't working at all. Then one day I noticed something that had been happening for more than 20 years... wasn't happening anymore. For decades, eating sugar would reliably trigger a spiral of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts within 24 hours. It was a pattern I knew well. But while going through SSP, I found myself eating way more Christmas cookies than usual and suddenly realized: The cookies were there. The thoughts weren't. In this episode, I share: >> Why I was skeptical about SSP in the beginning >> The subtle shifts I almost missed >> The connection between nervous system states and the stories our minds create >> Why some struggles aren't mindset problems >> How dysregulation can masquerade as reality >> The difference between dramatic breakthroughs and meaningful change >> Why we often miss our own progress >> What I mean when I say "the change isn't always what appears—sometimes it's what quietly disappears" I also share why SSP has become one of the foundational pieces of my work alongside Human Design and Sacred Money Archetypes as I help women become R.I.C.H. by Design: Regulated.Integrated with the Capacity to Hold More. More visibility.More leadership.More money.More success.More joy. Without abandoning themselves in the process. Memorable Quote "Just because a thought feels true doesn't mean it is true. Sometimes it's a nervous system state masquerading as reality." Connect With Me If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Do you feel like your nervous system could use an upgrade? Have you heard of or tried the Safe and Sound Protocol? Come find me on Substack and let me know. And until next time, keep becoming R.I.C.H. by Design. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

12. 

    11 Jun 2026

    #01 Why Women Who Want More Money, Visibility, and Ease Are Becoming Obsessed With This

    It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been obsessed with something in the healing world. But here we are. In this episode, I’m sharing why I’ve become so fascinated by the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), what it is, why I was skeptical at first, and some of the subtle-but-significant ways it’s changed my life. Things like: • More patience• More confidence• Less bracing• More fun• A completely different relationship with time None of these changes happened overnight. But together they’ve changed how it feels to be me. If you’ve done a lot of healing work and still feel like something is missing, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation. 🎧 Listen now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

13. 

    26 May 2026

    #00 You Are Designed to Be R.I.C.H.

    You don’t need more information. You need more capacity. Because if your nervous system doesn’t feel safe with more money, visibility, support, leadership, or success... you’ll unconsciously resist the very things you say you want. That realization changed the direction of my work—and my life.I truly believe we are all meant to be R.I.C.H. by Design ~ that’s what I’m talking about in todays episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heatheresposito.substack.com (https://heatheresposito.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

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