No, Thank You: Rejecting Labels & Finding Yourself
MARCH 26TH, 2025
EPISODE 85: No, Thank You: Rejecting Labels & Finding Yourself with Dr Rae Johnson
Have you ever felt misunderstood? Like the world keeps trying to put you in a box that just doesn’t fit? Then this episode is for you.
Dr. Scott Lyons sits down with Dr. Rae Johnson, a leading researcher, professor, and author exploring the intersections of somatics, social justice, and identity. Rae’s work challenges us to reconnect with our bodies, question the systems that shape us, and embrace our full, unfiltered selves.
Together, Scott and Rae explore why we brace ourselves against misunderstanding, how validation changes our nervous system, and what it really means to be witnessed. Plus, they unpack how a simple shift in perspective—or the right words from a total stranger—can change everything.
Topics We Break Down:
Why we over-explain & brace for misunderstanding – The social conditioning that keeps us apologizing for who we are.
The ‘Validation Reflex’ – How being truly seen creates a physical release in the body.
Why strangers can sometimes know us better than our friends – The science behind why an outside perspective can feel so powerful.
The cost of authenticity – What we sacrifice to be fully ourselves—and why it’s worth it.
Witnessing & being witnessed – How deep presence can transform our relationships and sense of self.
✨ This is a conversation about freedom, embodiment, and breaking free from outdated stories—don’t miss it!
Show Notes
Episode Links:
Discount Codes:
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Special Guests
RAE JOHNSON
Rae Johnson, PhD, RSW, RSMT, BCC (they/them) is a board-certified coach, somatic movement therapist, and scholar/activist working at the intersections of embodiment and social justice. Rae is a professor of somatic psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies and played a key role in developing the first Embodied Social Justice Certificate, an online program that brought together hundreds of thought leaders, practitioners, and community change agents to help shape the emerging field of embodied social justice. They are the author of several books, including Embodied Social Justice (Routledge, 2018) and Embodied Activism (North Atlantic Books, 2023).
CONNECT WITH RAE
Website | Embodied Activism | Embodied Social Justice
Your Host
DR. SCOTT LYONS
Dr. Scott Lyons is a licensed holistic psychologist, educator and author of the book Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others, with Hachette publishing. Scott is also the host of The Gently Used Human Podcast, a delightfully depthful and often hilarious exploration of what it is to be human, to have lived life, and come out gently used.
As a renowned body-based trauma expert, Doctor of Osteopathy (Spain) and Mind-Body Medicine specialist, Scott helps people to break free from cycles of pain, limited beliefs, and trauma. Scott is an innovator in transformative wellness and trauma therapy, teaching over half a million people internationally over the past twenty years how to relieve stress and restore vitality. Scott has worked with many of the country’s top leaders and CEOs as an executive coach and wellness consultant.
Scott is the creator of The Embody Lab—the largest online learning platform for body-based trauma therapies—and developer of Somatic Stress Release™, a holistic process of restoring biological resilience, taught in over 20 countries. Scott is also the founder and progressive designer of Omala, a wellness brand dedicated to creating sustainably sourced tools for transformation.
About the Podcast
THE GENTLY USED HUMAN
Dr. Scott Lyons and his world renowned guests take us into the delightfully depthful and often hilarious exploration of what it is to be human, to have lived life, and come out gently used. From passion to pain, glory to defeat, comedy to drama to tragedy, we’ve all been through it. This show unpacks the psychology and humor needed to keep you thriving on the roller coaster of being human.
