Trust, Safety, and the Wisdom of the Heart: A Conversation with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

Meeting Sophie: An unexpected connection

When I sat down with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau — author, activist, and former Canadian television host — for this episode of Embodied, I knew we were going to explore trust in a profound way.

What I didn’t expect was just how alive and tender the conversation would feel. I’ve never met Sophie before, but the conversation felt like meeting up with an old friend — it was fun, honest, and so, so rich. She has a natural way of deeply connecting and creating a sense of belonging in the present moment, both in the conversation and in her company.

🎧 Want to dive right in? Listen to my full conversation with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau here. 

Closer Together: A book of science and soul

We talked about her book, Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other. I read it in preparation for the interview, and I was blown away. It is one of those rare works that is both deeply personal and rooted in science. Sophie writes and speaks with a beautiful balance of vulnerability and clarity. Each chapter begins with her own stories, followed by conversations with psychologists, neuroscientists, and other experts. The result is a book that is accessible to anyone, whether you’re 13 or 83, and that makes a bold claim: knowing ourselves is not a luxury — it’s a human right.

That statement landed with me. In the wellness world, self-knowledge can sometimes be packaged as an achievement, something reserved for those on a “spiritual path.” But Sophie shared that it’s much simpler, more grounded, and more universal than that. It’s about coming home to ourselves, feeling safe in our own skin, and building the kind of presence that allows us to truly see and be seen by others.

Why Sophie says safety is the root of trust

We discussed the importance of safety — not just the absence of threat, but also the presence of connection, which is a crucial distinction. 

Because it’s not just what has happened to us that creates a lack of safety within our bodies, it’s also what hasn’t happened, the bonds and closeness that never occurred. 

Without safety, trust can’t take root. And without trust, we stay in patterns of self-betrayal and disconnection. 

Sophie shared stories of parenting, grief, and learning to listen to her body. She even guided us through a powerful practice for moving through difficult emotions.

The heart as a center of intelligence

What struck me most was how she described our heart as not just a poetic metaphor for love — it is literally a center of intelligence in the body, with its own nervous system, its own way of knowing. 

Trusting ourselves, then, is not only about the mind. It’s about tuning into the wisdom of the heart and the body, and letting that guide how we love, connect, and live.

Living with trust and safety: Insights from Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

This conversation is rich, layered, and practical. If you’ve ever wondered how to deepen your trust in yourself, in others, and in life, I think you’ll find something here that speaks directly to your heart.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on your favourite podcast platform — or press play below to join the conversation.