A Caring Conversation To Support HSPs with Dr. Judith Orloff

The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast with Julie Bjelland

In this heart-centered conversation, Dr. Judith Orloff returns to the podcast to talk with host Carol Roesler about the gifts of being a highly sensitive person, her new children’s book The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, the role of empathy in healing, and practical tools for emotional regulation, self-love, and hope in a chaotic world. The interview was recorded live on a full moon inside the Sensitive Empowerment Community.

🗣️ Key Topics Discussed

• ✨ The inspiration behind The Highly Sensitive Rabbit and how it helps children and adults embrace emotional sensitivity

• 🐇 Why Aurora the rabbit represents every sensitive child (and the inner child in adults)

• 📚 Behind-the-scenes stories from Dr. Orloff’s book tour and live readings with children

• ❤️ How sensitivity is a superpower—not a flaw—and why it must be protected, not shamed

• 🧘 Empathy practices for regulating overwhelm and emotional intensity

• 🧠 The heart vs. the mind: how they work together and how to lead from the heart

• 💔 Healing from childhood messages like “you’re too sensitive” or “crybaby”

• 🛑 The importance of boundaries for highly sensitive people (and why the skunk in the book teaches them!)

• 🌕 Rituals of connection, including sending heart energy to others in pain

• 🔬 How to handle skeptics who dismiss intuition, energy work, or emotional sensitivity

• 🕊️ The Dalai Lama’s connection to Dr. Orloff’s newest book, The Genius of Empathy

• 🌍 Finding hope and joy even when the world feels overwhelming

Books Mentioned

• The Highly Sensitive Rabbit — Children’s book for sensitive kids and adults

• The Genius of Empathy — Includes foreword by the Dalai Lama

• The Empath’s Survival Guide

• 365 Days of Self-Empathy

• Positive Energy

• Empath Empowerment Cards (Oracle deck)