[Ep14] From Worms to World Peace: Alchemy, Joy, and the Nervous System Revolution | Cathy Nesbitt

What do worms and laughter have to do with sovereignty? More than you might think.

In this joyful and eye-opening episode of The Sovereign Shift™, Chelsea Eden Dubeau sits down with multi-award-winning environmental innovator and laughter yoga teacher Cathy Nesbitt. From founding Cathy’s Crawly Composters to leading laughter clubs across the world, Cathy has spent decades transforming what we throw away—whether scraps of food or scraps of stress—into life-giving medicine.

Together, we explore: ✨ Worms as alchemists of the Earth—and what they can teach us about sovereignty, sustainability, and the soil as Gaia’s microbiome. ✨ The sacred link between soil and soul—how healthy ground mirrors our inner terrain. ✨ Laughter as nervous system regulation—why the body can’t tell the difference between real and simulated laughter, and how joy rewires stress loops instantly. ✨ Sovereignty through joy—why reclaiming play, childlike wonder, and breath-infused laughter is a radical act of freedom in a world addicted to seriousness and stress.

This conversation is both grounding and elevating, reminding us that sovereignty doesn’t always come through force or effort—it can also come through compost, cycles, and the simple choice to laugh.

🌀 Cathy invites you into her free online Laughter Club and shares how laughter yoga can dissolve fear, rewire the nervous system, and reconnect us with each other. If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate more joy, play, and regenerative practices into your path of sovereignty, this episode will spark your curiosity, soften your body, and maybe even make you laugh out loud.

 

00:00 Introduction to The Sovereign Shift

00:05 Meet Kathy Nesbitt: Worm Advocate and Laughter Yoga Teacher

00:59 Breath Work and Nervous System Regulation

03:44 The Sovereign Shift Podcast Overview

05:23 Kathy's Journey: From Worms to Laughter Yoga

06:49 The Importance of Composting and Worms

08:38 Challenges and Lessons in Worm Composting

12:40 The Microbiome of Soil and Human Health

27:41 Laughter Yoga: A Path to Joy and Health

34:41 The Power of Laughter: Shifting Your State Instantly

36:00 Laughter Yoga: A Practical Session

38:18 Tapping Techniques for Stress Relief

41:51 Laughter Yoga Games and Exercises

43:53 The Science Behind Laughter and Stress

48:17 Personal Stories and Experiences with Laughter Yoga

49:43 Integrating Laughter into Daily Life

58:59 Kathy's Journey and Contact Information

01:03:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🌐 Connect with Cathy: https://cathynesbitt.com/ 🌿 Explore breathwork, workshops, and sovereignty tools: https://thesovereignshift.ca