Danie sits down with Elsa Valentine — artist, nutrition explorer and creator of the Innate mental health app — for a deep, practical conversation on nervous system regulation, cognitive reappraisal and rewriting the emotional stories that keep us stuck.
They explore the gut-brain connection, vagus nerve, pathologizing normal emotions, and how Innate helps users reflect forward, reframe pain and build emotional granularity for real empowerment.
If you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, or just want better self-awareness, this episode is packed with actionable insight and hope.
www.innate.love - sign up for early access!
⏱️ Full timestamps below — jump straight to cognitive reappraisal or the nervous system section.
0:00 - Intro: Nervous System Hyperarousal & Welcome to Elsa Valentine
1:10 - Dandan Flow Purpose: Human Stories & Consciousness
2:16 - Elsa’s Story: Commissioned Artist to Shark Research in California
5:47 - Horses, Cyprus, New Zealand & High Country Cattle Drives
7:56 - Innate Snacks Origin: Healthy Crisps, Supermarkets & Gut-Brain Focus
12:38 - Burnout Moment & Pivot: From Food Brand to Mental Health App
16:59 - Innate App Birth: Emotional Awareness & Future-Self Reflection
19:00 - Rumination Traps: Why Just “Thinking About It” Makes Things Worse
22:35 - Cognitive Reappraisal: How Innate Rewrites Stories & Heals Perspective
26:07 - State-Dependent Memory: Why Your Mood Changes What You Remember
29:58 - Pathologizing Normal Emotions vs Building Emotional Granularity
34:15 - Victim Mindset vs Self-Responsibility & True Forgiveness
39:57 - Nervous System, Vagus Nerve & Emotions’ Physical Impact
41:46 - Innate App Launch: Beta Access, Where to Find It & Closing Gratitude
To support the Show: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/RH7LHZU3R4Y8E
Youtube for clickable timestamps:
