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What if the hardest things you’ve lived through could become your superpower? We sit down with Dr. Marnie Hartman—physical therapist, yoga teacher, author, and death doula—whose life moved from the precision of competitive gymnastics to the intimate, human work of helping a rural Alaska town heal. From Orange County’s boutique sports clubs to a basement room next to a utility closet in Haines, Marnie shares how discipline, empathy, and a bluebird pass day pulled her toward a different kind of success.

We explore the inflection points: launching a rehab program in a place where everyone knows your name; discovering pain science and realizing pain lives in the nervous system, not just in tissues; and using yoga as a bridge—breath, attention, and values—to change a person’s experience of pain. Marnie takes us inside the making of Pain Science Yoga Life, written to help clinicians and teachers integrate neuroscience and yoga in real-world care. She also opens the door to death doula work and Death Cafés, where tea, cake, and honest talk about mortality make room for presence, clarity, and gentler lives.

This is a story about foundations and falling, about compassion as a verb, and about letting joy be a measure of health. It’s also a love letter to Haines: the trust of small-town life, the courage to start something new, and the shared work of showing up for each other. If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate chronic pain without losing yourself, how to talk about death without shutting down, or how to choose play over perfection, this conversation will meet you where you are and invite you a step further.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for new Thursday drops, and leave a review to help more curious listeners find the show. What part of Marnie’s journey will you carry into your day?

Episode 12: Dr. Marnie Hartman; What If Your Hardest Struggles Become Your Superpower?