Rooted and Rising

What if the most productive thing you do this week... is protect your peace first?

In this week's Sunday Seeds of Thought, Dr. Carmela Maxell explores the quiet ways we lose ourselves before the workday even begins. From checking emails before getting out of bed to measuring our worth by how busy we are, we've normalized living in a constant state of reaction.

But what if peace isn't something you find—what if it's something you practice protecting?

Join Dr. Maxell for a thoughtful conversation about burnout, boundaries, nervous system health, and why the healthiest version of you will always accomplish more than the busiest one.

Take a deep breath. Slow down. Your inbox can wait.

🌱 New Sunday Seeds of Thought episodes release every Sunday.
🎙️ Full-length Rooted & Rising episodes release every Tuesday.

If this episode speaks to you, follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little more peace this week.

#MentalHealth #Burnout #SelfCare #Productivity #Mindfulness #MentalWellness #SundaySeeds #RootedAndRising #Psychology #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #NervousSystem #EmotionalWellness

The Body Remembers: The Physical & Physiological Effects of Trauma — Especially for Women of Color

What happens when you’ve been “strong” for so long that your body finally says, enough?

In this powerful episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell sits down with author, speaker, and wellness advocate Dee Mosley for an honest conversation about the ways trauma can live far beyond our thoughts.

They explore what happens when survival mode becomes a way of life—and when the nervous system becomes accustomed to being constantly on alert.

For women of color, and Black women in particular, the expectation to be strong can carry an enormous cost. Carmela and Dee unpack the pressure to keep performing, caring for everyone else, pushing through exhaustion, and appearing okay even when the body is signaling otherwise.

Together, they discuss the connection between trauma and the body, chronic stress and exhaustion, the complicated relationship many women have with rest, faith and mental health care, workplace expectations, generational patterns, and the difference between being resilient and simply becoming very good at surviving.

Dee also shares her own journey of reaching a point where her body could no longer keep pace with what she was asking of it—and how that experience ultimately became part of her healing journey and her book, Grace & Glow.

This conversation asks an important question:

What if the strongest thing you can do is stop proving how much you can endure?

If you have ever been the dependable one, the high performer, the caregiver, the person everyone calls because “you can handle it”—this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell
Featuring Dee Mosley
📅 Streaming August 4, 2026
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.

📖 Read Dee Mosley’s Book

Dee Mosley is the author of Grace & Glow: My Nervous Breakdown Was Never Going to Win Against Me.

Get Grace & Glow on Amazon

And if this episode resonates with you, follow, subscribe, rate, and share Rooted & Rising with someone who has spent far too long being “the strong one.”

Sometimes the body remembers what we've spent years trying to push through. ❤️

We've all met one.

The person who has absolutely no idea what they're talking about...but somehow has the most to say about it. 😂

But before we start pointing fingers, there's an uncomfortable truth:

Sometimes Karen is us.

In this episode of Sunday's Seeds of Thoughts, Dr. Carmela Maxell takes a witty—but psychologically grounded—look at what happens when confidence outruns competence. From workplace know-it-alls and unsolicited experts to social media comment sections and our own occasional inability to simply say "I don't know," we're talking about why humans overestimate what they know, underestimate what they don't, and sometimes wander confidently into lanes where we have absolutely no business driving.

We'll explore overconfidence, self-awareness, intellectual humility, and why actual expertise often comes with something surprising: the ability to admit what you don't know.

Because confidence isn't competence.

A strong opinion isn't expertise.

And occasionally, the smartest sentence in the room is:

"I don't know enough about this to have an informed opinion."

Yes, we're talking about those people.

But don't get too comfortable.

We're also talking about you. And me.

A quick truth for the soul.
Real talk. Every Sunday.

Sunday's Seeds of Thoughts | Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell
Sundays at 4 PM PST.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Grow.
❤️ Like. Follow. Subscribe. And please—know your lane. 

"Your tests are normal."

For millions of people, those four words don't bring relief—they mark the beginning of years spent questioning their own body, memory, and sanity. In this deeply personal special episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Carmela Maxell shares her own eight-year journey to a diagnosis of adenomyosis after years of debilitating pain, medical dismissal, and being told to "wait." Blending personal testimony with psychological research, she explores the hidden consequences of medical gaslighting: how repeated dismissal can erode self-trust, create medical trauma, and fundamentally change the way we relate to our own bodies.

This episode also examines why women, people of color, children, and individuals living with chronic illness are disproportionately affected by medical dismissal, while acknowledging the many compassionate healthcare professionals who advocate tirelessly for their patients every day. Medical gaslighting is rarely about individual malice—it is often the result of systemic biases, time pressures, and gaps in knowledge that can leave patients feeling unseen.

Whether you've spent years searching for answers, love someone navigating a chronic illness, work in healthcare, or simply want to better understand the psychological impact of not being believed, this conversation is for you.

Because normal test results should never invalidate real suffering.

Disclaimer: This episode is intended for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing concerning symptoms, seek care from a qualified healthcare professional. If you feel your concerns are not being heard, remember that seeking a second opinion is a reasonable and appropriate part of advocating for your health.

Resources

Patient Advocate Foundation
Free case management and advocacy services for patients navigating healthcare, insurance, and treatment barriers.
https://www.patientadvocate.org

The Joint Commission – Speak Up™ Initiative
Tools and guidance to help patients become active participants in their healthcare.
https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/for-consumers/speak-up-campaigns/

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Articles exploring diagnostic bias, patient trust, and improving clinician-patient communication.
https://www.aamc.org

Mayo Clinic
Evidence-based information on chronic pain, women's health, and conditions that are often difficult to diagnose.
https://www.mayoclinic.org

Endometriosis Foundation of America
Education, advocacy, and patient resources.
https://www.endofound.org

The Endometriosis Association
Support, education, and research updates.
https://endometriosisassn.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Education, support groups, and mental health resources.
https://www.nami.org

The Post-It Note Effect: Why Planning Isn't Progress

How many sticky notes are sitting on your desk right now?

If you're anything like Dr. Carmela Maxell, you've probably filled planners, color-coded calendars, downloaded productivity apps, and written countless to-do lists—all in the name of staying organized. But what if the very systems we create to help us move forward are sometimes keeping us stuck?

In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Dr. Maxell explores the psychology behind productivity, why our brains often mistake planning for progress, and how preparation can quietly become procrastination. Through humor, personal stories, and cognitive psychology concepts like the Zeigarnik Effect, she examines why unfinished tasks linger in our minds, why checking off a to-do list feels so satisfying, and how we can stop managing our lives long enough to actually live them.

If you've ever felt busy but unfulfilled, overwhelmed by your planner, or frustrated that your goals never seem to move from paper into reality, this episode is for you.

It's time to stop collecting Post-it notes... and start collecting momentum.

🎙️ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and review Rooted & Rising with Dr. Carmela Maxell. Share it with someone who needs a reminder that the first step forward is always more powerful than the perfect plan.

#RootedAndRising #DrCarmelaMaxell #Productivity #Psychology #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #CognitivePsychology #TimeManagement #ZeigarnikEffect #Mindset #SuccessHabits #Wellness #Podcast #MentalWellness #GrowthMindset #ProgressNotPerfection #SundaySeeds #Habits #Motivation