EP 10- Forest Therapy for Nervous System Regulation & Better Leadership | Laura London

What if spending time in nature could help you regulate your nervous system, reduce stress, slow down, and become a more grounded leader? In this episode of Deep Work Out Loud, Julie Harris Oliver welcomes Laura London, leadership strategist, executive coach, and founder of Calocedrus Partners, for a thought-provoking conversation about forest therapy, nervous system regulation, sensory awareness, and leadership. Laura explains what forest therapy actually is—and why it goes beyond simply taking a walk in the woods. Together, Julie and Laura explore how engaging our senses, slowing down, and becoming more present can help us notice what is happening in our bodies and create greater capacity for calm, clarity, and connection. The conversation also gets personal. Laura shares how her family's experience with sensory processing disorder helped deepen her understanding of sensory awareness and regulation. Julie brings her own skepticism about nature and shares a powerful story about feeling unsafe outdoors, creating an opportunity to explore how protective stories can sometimes shape the way we experience the world. For leaders, this conversation offers an important reminder: a regulated leader can influence the emotional environment around them. Learning to pause, notice, recover, and create space may not be wasted time—it can be part of leading effectively. 🌲 In This Episode: → What is forest therapy and how is it different from forest bathing? → How nature and sensory awareness can support nervous system regulation → Why slowing down can feel uncomfortable in a high-pressure world → Laura's personal connection to sensory processing and nature → The 5-4-3-2-1 sensory practice for becoming more present → How protective stories can influence our experience of nature and safety → Why quiet and presence can be powerful leadership practices → How walking without headphones can create opportunities for awareness → Why regulated leaders can positively influence the people around them → Practical ways to bring more nature, quiet, and recovery into everyday life ⏰ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Deep Work Out Loud + Meet Laura London 01:13 Laura's Journey: From Early Work Curiosity to McKinsey & Coaching 04:28 What Is Forest Therapy & Why Does It Matter? 05:53 Senses, Nervous System Regulation & the AI Age 08:42 Laura's Personal Story: Authenticity & Finding Relief in Nature 10:50 Sensory Processing & the 5-4-3-2-1 Nature Practice 15:01 Forest Bathing vs. Forest Therapy 18:24 Julie's Skepticism: "Nature Will Try to Kill You" 21:22 Protection vs. Limitation: Reframing Our Stories 27:50 Small Experiments: Walking Without Headphones 31:31 Leadership Takeaways: Regulation, Presence & Emotional Contagion 35:31 Where to Find Laura + Final Invitation 👤 About Laura London Laura London is a leadership strategist and executive coach, founder of Calocedrus Partners, and a former McKinsey leader. Her work explores transformation, leadership, human behavior, and practical approaches to creating greater awareness and effectiveness. 👤 About Julie Harris Oliver Julie Harris Oliver is an Executive Coach, Leadership Development Professional, and host of Deep Work Out Loud. Through conversations with coaches, leaders, and subject-matter experts, Julie explores leadership development, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, career transitions, workplace culture, personal growth, and meaningful professional development. Each episode invites you to think more deeply about yourself, your work, your relationships, and how you show up as a leader. 🔔 Subscribe to Deep Work Out Loud for more conversations about leadership, executive coaching, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, mindset, workplace culture, and personal growth. 🌐 Julie Harris Oliver: https://julieharrisoliver.com 💬 If this conversation resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway in the comments: What could you do this week to create more space, presence, or recovery in your life? #ForestTherapy #NervousSystemRegulation #LeadershipDevelopment