Podcast Episode
Sensory Reset: Soft Stories of Joy, Belonging, and Healing Inner Child Live from Essence Fest

About this episode
Sensory Reset: Rediscover Inner Joy — a live recording from the "Unbothered and Well" Activation during Essence Fest (New Orleans, July 4th, 2026). Timestamps: 0:41 — Session context: recorded live at Essence Fest's Unbothered and Well Activation 1:42 — Zaakirah shares her story as a childhood eye cancer survivor 2:48 — Learning to breathe, unclench the jaw, and reset the nervous system 4:03 — Reconnecting with your inner child through travel, art, and music 5:13 — Erica Chidi welcomes the room to the Talking Circle and explains Unbothered 7:02 — Explaining the "keeper" and "anchor" roles in the circle 8:14 — Zaakirah opens the guided sensory reset practice 8:36 — "When's the last time you had a safe space to say I'm not okay?" 9:03 — Circle members share moments of true belonging 10:32 — Group discussion: what helps you thrive (not just survive) 15:26 — Reconnecting with who you were before the world told you who to be 17:30 — Love languages and sensory needs 19:15 — Empathy for invisible disabilities and accessibility needs 20:41 — "What is a story you have not shared publicly yet?" 22:19 — A participant shares her story about caregiving and retirement 23:23 — Closing reflections: keep breathing, keep choosing you Intro Music by Derek of Northern Lights Connect with Zaakirah Website: http://zaakirahnayyar.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illuminousone/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illuminousone/ Listen to more episodes on your favorite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2NYapeh Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2TdAZ87 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/33gUj9j Pandora: https://pdora.co/2PLMUXo