In this episode of the Active Atlanta podcast, Doc Jake interviews Megan Gillespie, an executive coach and therapist, who helps entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders show up more authentically and intentionally in both their work and home lives. Megan emphasizes the importance of safety and regulation of the nervous system as the foundation for accessing positive states such as meaningful connections, curiosity, creativity, and purpose.

Megan discusses the three main states of the nervous system: ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal. The ventral vagal state is the optimal state, where one feels safe and connected. However, threats can trigger the sympathetic state, commonly known as the "fight or flight" response, which is characterized by anxiety symptoms like a racing heart. Getting stuck in the sympathetic state for an extended period of time can have negative consequences. On the other hand, the dorsal vagal state conserves energy and often leads to depression symptoms like hopelessness.

Dysregulation, according to Megan, occurs when individuals get stuck between these different states. The signs of dysregulation can manifest in various ways, such as illness, sleep and digestion issues, mood swings, and stress. Megan's work focuses on helping her clients understand these states and learn how to self-regulate.

Doc Jake and Megan discuss how stress impacts relationships and performance, both at home and in the workplace. They highlight the importance of co-regulation, as one person's state can affect others. Leaders, in particular, play a significant role in setting the tone and culture within a team or organization.

Megan shares portable practices that individuals can utilize to notice and address early signs of dysregulation. These practices include tuning into breath and body sensations and asking oneself questions like "who, what, when, and where" to identify calming activities, environments, and times for resetting.

The conversation also delves into the concept that both sympathetic and parasympathetic states are necessary, like the gas and brakes in a car. The goal is not to achieve perfection, but rather to cultivate flexibility and the ability to seamlessly transition between states.

The episode concludes with a discussion on burnout and how leaders can implement coaching and small environmental changes to help their teams function optimally through co-regulation. The overall takeaway from this episode is the importance of understanding body signals, cultivating self-awareness, and caring for oneself to positively impact others.