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Episode 95: The Human Design of Being Seen: Visibility, Energy & the Art of Showing Up When It Feels Safer to Hide

There’s a quiet truth I keep coming back to: visibility isn’t about being louder — it’s about being braver with your energy.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it really means to be seen through the lens of Human Design — not as performance or exposure, but as recognition. Caitlan explores how visibility, nervous system safety, and energy alignment all weave together to help you show up without forcing it.

Because when your energy is right, recognition becomes inevitable.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The difference between being visible and performing
• How your Human Design type shapes your relationship with being seen
• Why your nervous system plays a bigger role in visibility than your content plan
• What aligned selling looks like when you stop chasing and start resonating

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t have to chase visibility. When you’re aligned, you are visibility.
• Self-recognition is your most magnetic sales strategy.
• Your energy, not your strategy, is what people actually respond to.

TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE BECOME A RETURN+ SUBSCRIBER HERE

If you were sitting across from me at the table, I’d probably tell you this:
the best sales energy doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from being seen in your truth.

We talk about how every energy type (Manifestor, Generator, MG, Projector, Reflector) has its own rhythm for visibility, and why the most potent marketing move you can make might just be grounding your nervous system before you hit “post.”

I also share a behind-the-scenes story about how I created a paid partnership for this podcast without pitching or performing — just trusting my Splenic nudges and letting my design lead.

Links & Resources:

• To listen to the full episode become a Return+ subscriber here
• Book a Human Design Reading + Integration to apply this to your own chart here
  
  
• Follow Caitlan on Instagram

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify.

That is a beautiful energetic exchange for Caitlan creating the show.

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Episode 94: Self-Energy, Skeptic Parts & Practical Alchemy

Today Caitlan is joined by Elizabeth Scott an IFS Level 1–trained psychotherapist, Reiki Master Practitioner, astrologer, certified nature-informed therapist, and Safe & Sound Protocol provider. Elizabeth blends Internal Family Systems, nervous system support, and intuitive modalities to help clients access their own inner wisdom and whole-brain healing. We get into self-energy (and why Maggie Rogers’ “Alaska” might be its anthem), how Reiki actually supports ventral vagal states, using astrology without the “higher/lower” moralism (hello burdened vs. unburdened expressions), legacy burdens, & more!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What Reiki is (in plain English) and how it tangibly supports your nervous system.
• How IFS, Reiki, and astrology weave together to create more access to Self.
• “Burdened vs. unburdened” expressions in astrology
• How legacy burdens show up—and a gentle path to unburdening.
• Practical ways to build a morning practice that actually fits your design and life

Chapters:

03:05 Elizabeth finds IFS: from psychodynamic & EMDR to parts work

05:26 Self as tuning fork: the ripple effect in families & relationship

18:44 What is Reiki?

22:50 Talking to skeptical parts + research notes for the left brain

24:45 Reiki as right-brain on-ramp to IFS (wonder, imagination, intuition)

26:16 Why Elizabeth added Reiki & astrology (and how it changed her work)

29:36 Charts as parts-maps: instant unblending through seeing

32:01 How IFS + Reiki + astrology integrate in session

34:32 Polyvagal lens: why nervous system regulation comes first

37:38 “Burdened vs. unburdened” expressions (credit: Sarah Temel)

41:40 What a session with Elizabeth looks like (therapy vs. coaching)

47:17 Elizabeth’s return-to-Self practice (30-minute morning meditation)

49:20 Tailoring practices to your Moon and nervous system

50:04 Return+ bonus: guided Reiki meditation (8–10 minutes)

50:35 How to work with Elizabeth + free “Reclaim Your Calm” meditation

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Elizabeth Scott:
  • Website
  • Instagram
  • Free meditation: Reclaim Your Calm
• Return+ Bonus
  • 🎧 Elizabeth’s Guided Reiki Meditation (8–10 min) — available for Return+ members

If this conversation helped you exhale and remember what’s already inside you, share it with a friend who needs a gentle nudge back to Self. Subscribe/follow Return, and if you want the guided Reiki meditation from Elizabeth plus deeper, behind-the-scenes episodes, join Return+ on Substack.

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify.

That is a beautiful energetic exchange for Caitlan creating the show.

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Episode 93: A Taylor Swift Human Design Chart Reading for Return+ Subscribers & How You Can Use Those Takeaways for Your Own Chart

In this solo episode, host Caitlan Siegenthaler explores the intersection of identity, visibility, and being SEEN through the lens of Taylor Swift’s Human Design chart and what it reveals about you. As a 5/1 Splenic Projector with the Left Angle Cross of Confrontation, Taylor mirrors the very tension so many of us feel: the desire to be seen while staying true to ourselves. Caitlan unpacks how understanding your own design Human Design Chart, your incarnation cross, profile, and open centers can help you move from living under others’ expectations to expressing your energy with clarity and confidence. Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift's chart breakdown helps you see the power of Human Design on Visibility.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How understanding your Incarnation Cross can illuminate your life purpose.
• Why the 5/1 profile often grapples with projection and visibility.
• The energetic influence of Left Angle Crosses and the role of confrontation in evolution.
• How open centers amplify collective emotion and influence.
• The paradox of being seen — as both a gift and a burden.
• How authentic expression challenges norms and creates deeper emotional connection.
• What Taylor Swift’s journey teaches us about redefining identity on your own terms.

Links & Resources:

• 💌 Subscribe to Return+ on Substack
• Find Out What Your Chart Says About Visibility & Book a Reading with Caitlan Here
  
  

If this story lights something up in you — maybe a reminder that your next “big moment” doesn’t have to be chased, forced, or perfectly prepared for, let us know.
Share your reflections with me on Instagram or Threads, and if you want the full, unfiltered dinner party version of this episode, join me inside Return+ on Substack. That’s where the tea is spilled.

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify.

That is a beautiful energetic exchange for Caitlan creating the show.

Send us a text

Episode 92: Visibility, Vulnerability & Why It Matters

In this kickoff to a new series on Being Seen, Caitlan Siegenthaler invites you into a real, layered conversation about what it actually means to be seen. From her grandmother’s quiet affirmation to the spirals of sharing your work online, Caitlan unpacks the human need for recognition and the very real fears that hold us back. She also shares personal updates—new IFS intensives, Human Design readings, and her brand-new membership space, Return+ before guiding you into reflection prompts that help you navigate the push-pull of wanting to be seen while also fearing exposure.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why being seen is a core human need and why it feels so risky.
• The cycles we get stuck in when we both crave and resist visibility.
• How Internal Family Systems (IFS) explains the parts of us that long for attention vs. the parts that want to hide.
• The difference between authentic visibility and performative “authenticity.”
• Why visibility ≠ validation, and how to define success by your own internal signals.
• How to work with polarization (the inner tug-of-war) to find safe, sustainable ways of showing up.

Chapters:

• 00:40 – Why visibility, why now: an overview of the new series
• 02:00 – Life + business updates: IFS intensives, HD readings, group program, and Return Plus
• 07:59 – The human ache to be seen
• 13:00 – Childhood roots of feeling witnessed
• 15:00 – The messy cycle of creating, hiding, and showing up again
• 17:30 – Visibility vs. the right visibility
• 19:30 – Vulnerability, authenticity & performative “realness”
• 21:30 – Reflection prompts: hiding, validation, boundaries
• 26:30 – Working with IFS polarizations: the part that wants to be seen vs. the part that doesn’t
• 29:00 – Where this series is headed on Return Plus

• 🌟 Subscribe to Return+ on Substack
  to access the full visibility series (essays + paid podcast episodes).
• ✨ Book an IFS Intensive
  (3- or 6-hour deep dives).
• 🔮 Book a Human Design Reading
• 📅 Join Undefined
  —the group program for Projectors, Manifestors & Reflectors (starting November 3rd).

FROM CAITLAN:
Thank you for being part of my own journey of being seen—I couldn’t do this without you. If today’s episode resonated, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next in the visibility series. And if you’re ready to dive deeper, join Return+ for exclusive essays, workshops, and behind-the-scenes conversations.

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts. Bonus: your review gets you a free 30-min session with me through The Dip. Book here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/1968a8cf/appointment/77001185/calendar/6030714?appointmentTypeIds[]=77001185

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Hi, hi, hi. I am literally sitting in a Chicago hotel room with a mini mic, fresh off the IFS conference, coffee in hand, and a brain buzzing with about a million things I could share. But instead of doing a full recap (that’ll come later), I kept feeling pulled to hit record on something simpler—something we all actually need right now: a five-minute reset.

This episode is not about more information, more learning, or more hustle. It’s about pausing. Coming back to yourself. Noticing your body, your surroundings, and the parts of you that are whispering (or maybe yelling) for attention. Think of it like me sitting on the edge of the hotel bed saying: “Hey, let’s just check in together for five minutes and see what comes up.”

What you’ll learn in this episode

• A quick, no-rules “meditation” that actually feels doable (no perfect posture required)
• Three guiding questions to carry into the rest of your day: What did you notice? What was that like? What do you need?
• Why embodiment and tiny, consistent check-ins matter more than cramming in more knowledge
• How slowing down for five minutes can shift the way you show up for work, family, and the world

Key takeaways:

• You don’t need fancy props or silence to return to yourself—standing, walking, lying down, coffee in hand, it all counts.
• Curiosity is your superpower. If a part of you rolls its eyes or says you’re doing it wrong, notice that too.
• Even five minutes of presence gives you real-time info you can use to make different choices.
• Returning to yourself isn’t just self-care—it’s how we become the kind of humans who can hold space for others.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Caitlan sets the scene: hotel room, IFS conference vibes
• 01:30 An Uber ride, Adele on repeat, and the magic of quiet connection
• 04:49 Why our bodies will “take us out” when we don’t pause
• 07:19 Invitation to a five-minute reset (don’t call it meditation)
• 09:04 Instructions: step away, get curious, let’s do this together
• 10:50 The guided check-in begins
• 15:02 Wrapping up the reset & Caitlan shares what came up for her
• 16:38 Embodiment = using the info to move through your day differently
• 18:24 Outro, invitation to share, and Return+ shout-out

Links & resources

• Become a Return+ subscriber on Substack for bonus pods, juicy essays, and discounts on Human Design Readings: Return+ on Substack
  
  
• Follow Caitlan on Instagram @caitlansiegenthaler
  for daily snippets and behind-the-scenes

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts. Bonus: your review gets you a free 30-min session with me through The Dip. Book here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/1968a8cf/appointment/77001185/calendar/6030714?appointmentTypeIds[]=77001185

Send us a text

Subscribe to Return+ on Substack for the full unfiltered episode and more: https://substack.com/@caitlansigenthaler

Episode 90: BTS of a Human Design Reading with Dr. Richard Schwartz — Invitations, Parts Work & Nervous System Prep

This one still feels surreal to say out loud: I gave a Human Design reading to Dr. Richard Schwartz, the founder of Internal Family Systems therapy.

In this episode, I’m inviting you into the messy, magical behind-the-scenes of how it all unfolded. From the invitations that landed in my lap, to the parts work it took to even say yes, to the nervous-system rituals I leaned on the day of, I’m sharing the real story — link snafus, panic moments, tears, and all.

I want you to hear not just what happened, but how I prepared, what I learned, and how this big moment is shaping the way I see expansion in my own life and business.

What You’ll Hear in This Return+ Episode:

• The wild (and very Human Design) way the invitation to read for Dr. Schwartz showed up.
• The parts that almost talked me out of saying yes — and how I worked with them.
• My rituals and nervous-system practices before the reading.
• The chaotic way it started (“you’re meeting my embarrassed part…”).
• What it was like to sit with Dr. Schwartz’s chart.
• The emotional crash that followed and why success doesn’t always feel shiny.
• The big takeaways I think will help you prepare for your next big opportunity.

Key Takeaways:

• Big moments aren’t about over-prepping; they’re about tending your system so you can show up as yourself.
• Expansion brings up as much fear as it does excitement and that’s normal.
• Self-energy in IFS is the living embodiment of Human Design.
• Receiving success is its own practice.

Links & Resources:

• Return Podcast Ep with Jalon Johnson: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mETBaanRdUlE0C2ctd7O5?si=e7bde47482494e26
• Subscribe to Return+ on Substack: https://substack.com/@caitlansigenthaler
• My work: caitlansiegenthaler.com
  
  

If this story lights something up in you — maybe a reminder that your next “big moment” doesn’t have to be chased, forced, or perfectly prepared for ...I’d love to hear about it. Share your reflections with me on Instagram or Threads, and if you want the full, unfiltered dinner party version of this episode, join me inside Return+ on Substack. That’s where I spill all the tea.

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts. Bonus: your review gets you a free 30-min session with me through The Dip. Book here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/1968a8cf/appointment/77001185/calendar/6030714?appointmentTypeIds[]=77001185

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Episode 89: Labels, Excuses & the Dark Side of Spiritual Systems

This episode is a pop culture–meets–self-growth breakdown, this time inspired by Love is Blind UK Season 2. After watching Human Design coach Patrick become the show’s accidental “villain,” Caitlan unpacks what happens when people hide behind spiritual systems instead of taking responsibility. This episode explores the “dark side” of Human Design, the dangers of boxing yourself in with labels, and how to use these tools as pathways to freedom, not excuses.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Patrick’s reliance on his “spleen” in Love is Blind rubbed people the wrong way
• The three big ways spiritual tools can go wrong: the cop-out problem, the box problem, and the authority problem
• How Human Design, astrology, and similar systems can expand your freedom instead of limit it
• Red flags to look out for when people use labels as excuses or shields
• Practical, compassionate ways to experiment with Human Design without outsourcing your power

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Love is Blind UK tea
04:50 – Team astrology vs. team skeptic (and why Caitlan isn’t on either)
07:10 – Patrick’s “spleen” problem: hiding behind jargon
09:16 – Why Human Design is a tool, not a life raft
14:00 – Freedom, alignment, and the danger of over-identifying
16:30 – The cop-out, box, and authority problems explained
18:53 – Editing vs. accountability: Patrick as a case study
21:20 – Personal example: why “waiting for the invitation” isn’t always it
23:45 – Red flags: when systems make you smaller instead of bigger
26:08 – How to use these tools well (curiosity + lived experience)
27:25 – Reflection questions

Links & Resources:

• Magic Mind
  – Podcast sponsor: mental performance shot with calm energy & adaptogens
• Next Level Decisions Free Podcast
  – 5-day audio series blending Human Design & IFS to help you stop outsourcing decisions and start trusting yourself
• Book a Deep Dive Session with Caitlan
  – 90 minutes of real-time Human Design & IFS exploration
• Return+ Substack
  – Bonus pods, juicy essays, and Parts & Purpose series where Human Design, IFS, and creativity collide

Thanks for listening to this episode of Return. If you’ve ever felt the ick from people hiding behind their design or caught yourself doing it, Caitlan wants to hear from you. DM or email her with your thoughts. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s special episode, where Caitlan spills the tea on reading the Human Design chart of a low-key famous guest.

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts. Bonus: your review gets you a free 30-min session with me through The Dip. Book here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/1968a8cf/appointment/77001185/calendar/6030714?appointmentTypeIds[]=77001185

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Episode 89: " Discernment is the missing link between overconsumption and authentic creation."

Virgo season always calls us back to the basics, and this week Caitlan is talking about one of the most underrated skills we can practice: discernment. In this episode of Return, Caitlan shares why learning to tell the difference between what’s truly for you and what’s just noise is everything.

Caitlan opens up about her own struggles with overconsumption (like binge-listening to too many podcasts for “inspiration” and ending up more confused than clear) and the endless scroll that can leave us feeling like everyone else has the answers. She also shares how she’s started asking one simple question before saying yes to anything: “Will this give me energy, or drain it?” That question alone has shifted how she works, how she commits, and even how she spends her mornings.

You’ll also hear about a few tools and resources that can help you practice discernment in your own life, including one of Caitlan’s favorite books, Essentialism. This conversation is for you if you’ve been feeling stretched too thin, overwhelmed by decisions, or like you’ve lost your ability to hear your own wisdom.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Virgo season is the perfect time to practice discernment
• How to catch yourself in overconsumption before it leads to burnout
• A simple way to tell if a decision is a true yes or a protective no
• Personal examples of where Caitlan has had to refine her choices to protect her energy
• Practical tools, including the book Essentialism, that will help you create more clarity and ease

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Episode Overview
01:21 – Why Discernment Matters
03:52 – Caitlan’s Struggles With Overconsumption
09:24 – How to Apply Discernment in Real Life
20:55 – Tools and Recommendations to Try
26:55 – Final Thoughts and Closing

Links & Resources:

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown
• 🥚 Bonus pods, juicy essays, and Caitlan’s Parts & Purpose series where Human Design, IFS, and creativity come together → Join Return+
• Feeling pulled in a million directions? Book a Deep Dive Session
  with Caitlan to cut through the noise and get clear on your next steps

Support the show

Produced by Caitlan Siegenthaler

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me. And if you really loved it, the best thank-you is a written review on Apple Podcasts. Bonus: your review gets you a free 30-min session with me through The Dip. Book here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/1968a8cf/appointment/77001185/calendar/6030714?appointmentTypeIds[]=77001185