What if the key to anxiety, ADHD, sleep struggles, and even how we breathe lies in reflexes most of us don’t know we still have?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Bahar Esmaili sits down with Pamela Curlee — co-founder of the MNRI® Method — to explore how unintegrated primitive reflexes shape everything from childhood development to adult trauma responses. Pamela shares insights from 30+ years working alongside Dr. Masgutova, revealing how the brainstem, sensory processing, and early movement patterns set the foundation for emotional regulation, posture, speech, breathing, and the feeling of safety inside our own bodies. Together, they walk through real cases, lived experiences, and surprising connections between reflex integration and sleep, ADHD, autism, PTSD, mouth development, and overall human function.

Key Themes

This episode is a must-listen for parents, clinicians, educators, and anyone curious about the hidden blueprint of human development — and the hope that comes with understanding it. Tune in, take notes, and rediscover the body’s innate capacity to heal.

How unintegrated reflexes affect breathing, sleep, posture, and anxiety Why many children with ADHD or autism show retained primitive reflex patterns The relationship between trauma, safety, and the brainstem’s “stuck” responses How reflex integration can transform behavior, movement, and emotional regulation Why it’s never too late to re-pattern the nervous system

The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for professional medical guidance.