
S3 Episode 5: Meltdowns to Mastery: Unlocking the Power of The Vagus Nerve with Dr. Carrie Rigoni
03/20/25 • 64 min
In this transformative episode, Lucia dives into one of the body's most critical systems: the Vagus nerve. She is joined by Dr. Carrie Rigoni, a leading chiropractor, applied kinesiologist, and Vagus nerve educator, specialising in children’s health.
Episode Summary
The Vagus nerve is essential for regulating stress, digestion, sleep, and mood, acting as the body's brake system to bring us back to calm. Lucia and Dr. Carrie discuss how understanding and strengthening Vagus nerve function can unlock self-healing, particularly for children facing developmental, behavioural, and learning challenges.
Dr. Carrie shares practical strategies to boost vagal tone and explains how parents’ nervous system health directly impacts their children. From co-regulation techniques to resolving retained primitive reflexes, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to promote whole-family wellness.
Key Takeaways
- The Vagus Nerve’s Role: How it regulates critical bodily functions and influences overall well-being.
- Signs of Low Vagal Tone: Poor stress recovery, digestive issues, poor sleep, and more.
- Parent-Child Connection: How parents’ stress responses influence their child’s nervous system health.
- Primitive Reflexes: The link between retained reflexes and vagus nerve development.
- Practical Strategies: Tips to improve vagal tone, such as breathwork, cold exposure, and co-regulation.
Resources:
- Dr. Carrie Rigoni’s website: www.drcarrierigoni.com.au
- Upcoming Course: Positive Transformation: A Whole-Child Multidisciplinary Approach to Healing launching January.
Ready to take the next step? Visit thebrainhealthmovement.com to download a free guide packed with actionable tips from this episode, including a nervous system checklist.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, share it with a friend, and subscribe to the podcast for more expert insights.
Resource Links:
- Enrol now for the NEW Complete Course - "Positive Transformation: A Whole Child, Multi-Disciplinary Roadmap to Healing":
Complete Course Enrolment
- Enrol in The Taster Course - "Discover the Root Cause of your Child’s Attention, Behaviour and Learning Difficulties" :
Taster Course Enrolment (thebrainhealthmovement.com)
- Download your FREE Guides now:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/free-guides
- Take a look at our other Resources:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/resources
- Join The Brain Health Movement's Private Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebrainhealthmovement/
- Follow Us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thebrainhealthmovement/
- The Brain Health Movement's Website:
https://www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/ ...
In this transformative episode, Lucia dives into one of the body's most critical systems: the Vagus nerve. She is joined by Dr. Carrie Rigoni, a leading chiropractor, applied kinesiologist, and Vagus nerve educator, specialising in children’s health.
Episode Summary
The Vagus nerve is essential for regulating stress, digestion, sleep, and mood, acting as the body's brake system to bring us back to calm. Lucia and Dr. Carrie discuss how understanding and strengthening Vagus nerve function can unlock self-healing, particularly for children facing developmental, behavioural, and learning challenges.
Dr. Carrie shares practical strategies to boost vagal tone and explains how parents’ nervous system health directly impacts their children. From co-regulation techniques to resolving retained primitive reflexes, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to promote whole-family wellness.
Key Takeaways
- The Vagus Nerve’s Role: How it regulates critical bodily functions and influences overall well-being.
- Signs of Low Vagal Tone: Poor stress recovery, digestive issues, poor sleep, and more.
- Parent-Child Connection: How parents’ stress responses influence their child’s nervous system health.
- Primitive Reflexes: The link between retained reflexes and vagus nerve development.
- Practical Strategies: Tips to improve vagal tone, such as breathwork, cold exposure, and co-regulation.
Resources:
- Dr. Carrie Rigoni’s website: www.drcarrierigoni.com.au
- Upcoming Course: Positive Transformation: A Whole-Child Multidisciplinary Approach to Healing launching January.
Ready to take the next step? Visit thebrainhealthmovement.com to download a free guide packed with actionable tips from this episode, including a nervous system checklist.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, share it with a friend, and subscribe to the podcast for more expert insights.
Resource Links:
- Enrol now for the NEW Complete Course - "Positive Transformation: A Whole Child, Multi-Disciplinary Roadmap to Healing":
Complete Course Enrolment
- Enrol in The Taster Course - "Discover the Root Cause of your Child’s Attention, Behaviour and Learning Difficulties" :
Taster Course Enrolment (thebrainhealthmovement.com)
- Download your FREE Guides now:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/free-guides
- Take a look at our other Resources:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/resources
- Join The Brain Health Movement's Private Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebrainhealthmovement/
- Follow Us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thebrainhealthmovement/
- The Brain Health Movement's Website:
https://www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/ ...
Previous Episode

S3 Episode 4: Inside the World of a Neuro-Development Specialist with AnneMarie Smellie
Welcome to My Mighty Quinn!
I’m your host, Lucia Silver, founder of the Brain Health Movement and proud mother of the Mighty Quinn. In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Anne Marie Smellie, a neurodevelopmental specialist with over 20 years of experience helping children and families uncover the root causes of developmental, learning, and behavioral challenges.
Episode Summary
We dive into the critical gaps in conventional healthcare when addressing symptoms like anxiety, ADHD, autism, sensory sensitivities, and more. Anne Marie shares her holistic approach, integrating retained primitive reflex therapy, auditory processing interventions, nutrition, and emotional support to transform lives. You’ll learn how understanding the “why” behind symptoms can unlock powerful tools to help your child thrive.
Top Takeaways:
- Root Cause Focus: Addressing retained primitive reflexes, auditory sensitivities, and nutritional deficiencies is key to effective interventions.
- Collaboration is Key: Parents play a central role in implementing home strategies like reflex integration exercises and dietary changes.
- The Role of Play: Activities like tag or climbing are essential for integrating reflexes and building core strength.
- Empathy Without Overwhelm: Teach children to balance caring for others without absorbing their emotions.
- Auditory Processing Matters: Addressing how the brain interprets sound can significantly impact learning and behavior.
Resources for Parents:
- Learn more about Anne Marie Smellie: Quester Therapies Website
- Free Resource Download: Access Anne Marie’s curated list of flower remedies for emotional stability and anxiety support in our cheat sheet here.
- Recommended Reading:
- Hearing Equals Behavior by Dr. Guy Berard
- The Well-Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith
Get Involved:
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who might need it. Don’t forget to leave us a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Visit our website for your free cheat sheet and connect with Anne Marie to explore holistic support for your child’s unique needs. Let’s work together to create a brighte
Resource Links:
- Enrol now for the NEW Complete Course - "Positive Transformation: A Whole Child, Multi-Disciplinary Roadmap to Healing":
Complete Course Enrolment
- Enrol in The Taster Course - "Discover the Root Cause of your Child’s Attention, Behaviour and Learning Difficulties" :
Taster Course Enrolment (thebrainhealthmovement.com)
- Download your FREE Guides now:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/free-guides
- Take a look at our other Resources:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/resources
- Join The Brain Health Movement's Private Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebrainhealthmovement/
- Follow Us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thebrainhealthmovement/
- The Brain Health Movement's Website:
https://www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/ ...
Next Episode

S2 Episode 6: Healing Thousands: The Man Responsible for Transforming Children's Lives with Dr Robert Melillo
Hi, I’m Lucia Silver, and welcome to 'My Mighty Quinn.' Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Robert Melillo, a pioneer in child brain health. We’ll dive deep into understanding neurological imbalances and the groundbreaking methods that have helped countless children, including my son, Quinn. This episode is packed with insights that can guide you toward meaningful solutions.
Episode Summary
Lucia Silver is joined by Dr. Robert Melillo, a world-renowned clinician, researcher, and author specializing in child neurological disorders. The discussion explores how the Melillo Method has transformed lives by addressing root causes of conditions like ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Lucia shares her story of Quinn’s journey to health. Topics include brain imbalances, the role of primitive reflexes, and practical solutions parents can use at home. The episode also touches on misconceptions about medication and screens, emphasizing holistic approaches.
Key Takeaways
- Understand Root Causes: Addressing neurological imbalances leads to more effective and lasting improvements.
- The Power of Movement: Physical activity and sensory engagement are essential for brain development.
- Practical Solutions at Home: Parents can use strategies like primitive reflex integration and motor coordination exercises.
- Avoid Overmedication: Medications increasing dopamine may worsen issues; holistic approaches are often better.
- Family Resilience: Supporting a child can lead to collective growth and resilience.
Thank you so much for joining us today on 'My Mighty Quinn.' I hope this episode offered new insights and hope for your child's journey. If you found this conversation helpful, please share it with others and leave a review. For more on Dr. Melillo’s work, visit his website: www.drrobertmelillo.com and follow him on social media.
You can also download a free guide from this episode here: www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/brain-balance-free-guide
Let's keep this movement growing together!
Resource Links:
- Enrol now for the NEW Complete Course - "Positive Transformation: A Whole Child, Multi-Disciplinary Roadmap to Healing":
Complete Course Enrolment
- Enrol in The Taster Course - "Discover the Root Cause of your Child’s Attention, Behaviour and Learning Difficulties" :
Taster Course Enrolment (thebrainhealthmovement.com)
- Download your FREE Guides now:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/free-guides
- Take a look at our other Resources:
www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/resources
- Join The Brain Health Movement's Private Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebrainhealthmovement/
- Follow Us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thebrainhealthmovement/
- The Brain Health Movement's Website:
https://www.thebrainhealthmovement.com/ ...
"My Mighty Quinn" - From Tics, Turbulence, Distraction and Disconnection to Calm, Confident and Connected" - S3 Episode 5: Meltdowns to Mastery: Unlocking the Power of The Vagus Nerve with Dr. Carrie Rigoni
Transcript
[00:00:00] Lucia Silver: So welcome to another episode of the Brain Health Movement podcast. My name is Lucia Silva, and I am the CEO, founder of the Brain Health Movement and the very proud mama of my son, my mighty Quinn. Here, our mission is to bring you the devoted parents, carers, educators, and healthcare practitioners, the world leading pediatric and neuro developmental experts, who in turn bring their multidisciplinary science, research, and expertise to a whole child,
If you like this episode you’ll love
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