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In this powerful episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, host Sean Fargo speaks with Francesca Maxime — Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, certified mindfulness teacher, journalist, and founder of ReRooted Healing.
Drawing from her lived experience as a Haitian-Dominican Italian-American and her career as a journalist, Francesca brings a deeply embodied, trauma-informed, and socially conscious approach to mindfulness. Together, she and Sean explore how mindfulness intersects with somatics, decolonization, racial justice, and collective healing.
With warmth and clarity, Francesca reminds us that mindfulness is not just a cognitive or “in-the-head” practice. True liberation requires us to reconnect with the body, acknowledge intergenerational trauma, and cultivate belonging for ourselves and our communities.
Whether you’re interested in healing from trauma, exploring the nervous system’s role in social change, or practicing mindfulness through a decolonized lens, this conversation offers both wisdom and practical guidance.
This episode is sponsored by the Mindfulness Exercises Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. Learn more about this unique, online, self-paced program at mindfulnessexercises.com/certify
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Show Notes:
Somatics and Mindfulness: Returning to the Body
Francesca explains how somatic awareness tuning into sensations and the nervous system is essential for trauma recovery. Rather than bypassing the body, she emphasizes returning to it as a foundation for healing and resilience.
Decolonizing Mindfulness
To decolonize mindfulness, Francesca argues, we must move beyond disembodied or purely cognitive practices. She highlights the importance of embodiment, cultural awareness, and inclusivity in mindfulness teaching and practice.
Intergenerational and Racialized Trauma
Trauma is not only personal, it can be carried across generations and shaped by systems of oppression. Francesca sheds light on how racialized trauma impacts the nervous system, and how mindfulness, paired with somatic tools, can help tend to these wounds.
Coping vs. Healing
While coping strategies can help us manage stress, Francesca differentiates this from true healing, which involves engaging with our bodies, emotions, and histories in a compassionate and intentional way.
Mindfulness in Movements for Justice
Francesca shares how mindfulness can strengthen collective care, social justice, and equity work. Rather than being an individual practice alone, mindfulness can become a resource for entire communities when rooted in compassion and embodied awareness.
Connect with Francesca Maxime
🌐 ReRooted Healing 📱 Instagram: @maximeclarity
