Love You More Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jennifer McDaniel
As a dietitian who works in behavior change, I've noticed a common theme in my work: the need for people to give themselves permission for true self care. But, sometimes, the world makes us feel like self-care should be ONE more thing we strive for leaving us feeling like we even fail at this! The Love You More podcast is here to support you in your personal journey towards being there for THE most important person in your life: YOU.
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July 30, 2026
Love You More
Ep 85: That was Interesting!
Episode summary:
Sometimes the lessons we need don't arrive the way we expect them to. In this episode, Jen shares the surprising story of accidentally being served an alcoholic beer after more than three and a half years without alcohol. What could have become a source of guilt or fear instead became an opportunity for curiosity, reflection, and a deeper understanding of how she's changed.
Together, we explore what happens when we let go of all or nothing thinking, trust our own experiences instead of rigid labels, and allow ourselves to evolve. Jen also shares updates on her writing, the changes to Here in Human Wellness, and why creating space, both in silence and in everyday life, can reveal what truly matters.
Favorite Quotes:
"It was really a total non-issue. It was just interesting. That's all I can say. It was interesting."
"When you go into something in this curious space where there's kind of not a wrong or a right, there's just a, 'I wonder what's going to happen.'"
"I'm also grateful for the time of having that alcohol-free phase of season of life."
"When things come naturally and somewhat easily, that seems to be the reminder here that that's the direction to continue on."
"There's something really lovely with being with others and not feeling like you have to fill space."
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
2026 Silent Retreat
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
June 15, 2026
Love You More
Ep 84: An Invitation to Silence
Episode summary:
Summer has a way of feeling anything but relaxing, and in this episode, Jen shares how the busyness of parenting and everyday life has her craving something many of us rarely experience: true silence. She talks about her own life changing experience at a silent retreat and why she's now creating a space for other women to slow down, step away from the noise, and simply be.
Jen also answers some of the most common questions about silent retreats, from what happens during the day to whether you have to meditate or sit still for hours (spoiler: you don't!). If you've ever wondered what it might feel like to unplug, quiet your mind, and reconnect with yourself, this episode offers a glimpse into the beauty and possibility of slowing down.
Favorite Quotes:
"You don't really realize how much noise exists in your life until you step away from it."
"It was just so lovely to have no one that needed my attention except for me."
"The mind sort of settles down a little bit, and there's less attention to thoughts, less caring about thoughts, and more about just the raw experience of what I was in."
"Sometimes the water on the surface is calm. Sometimes it's choppy. Sometimes it's big old surfing waves. But underneath, everything is just still and quiet."
"You sense a different nervous system. You sense a knowing, and it makes it easier to access even in the strong waves of summer."
"If you're alive and you think you would benefit from just some time in quiet, then that's the skill set you need to have."
"Silence for me has very little hesitation."
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
2026 Silent Retreat
Feldenkrais Website
Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening
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Send us Fan Mail
June 2, 2026
Love You More
Ep 83: The Difference Between Thinking and Looking
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen explores the difference between thinking and truly looking. Through personal stories about running, body image, productivity, and everyday habits, she reflects on what can happen when we pause long enough to question the beliefs and assumptions that quietly shape our lives.
Jen also shares how this practice of deeper inquiry shows up in her work with clients, particularly around body image and self-judgment. Drawing on the work of Byron Katie, she offers a gentle invitation to examine the thoughts that create suffering and discover what becomes possible when we see them in a new way.
Favorite Quotes:
"Looking is questioning."
"I don't believe once we see something, we can necessarily unsee it."
"We start to see it when we see that we're managing something and we're noticing that we're moving from discomfort."
"Only you can do this work. Only you can explore things in a deeper way."
"We get a wider lens on things, and we might have a shift in seeing something that would have never occurred if we didn't stop and pause and look at this stuff and ask more questions."
"The thoughts that need to be questioned the most are probably the ones that cause the most suffering."
"I think it's really fun to look at stuff in a new way and to maybe break free from some of these cages that we don't even realize we're in."
"Life feels a little more rich and I'm in it more. I feel like I'm noticing the birds more."
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
2026 Silent Retreat
The Work of Byron Katie
Dr. Amy Johnson’s Website
Changeable Podcast
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
May 5, 2026
Love You More
Ep 82: A Different Way to Approach Gut Issues
Episode summary:
Jen shares a personal reflection on gut health, running, and her experience navigating IBS-related symptoms like bloating, urgency, food sensitivities, and the strong link between stress and digestion. She discusses identifying triggers, exploring FODMAPs, and noticing how quickly the mind can become focused on trying to “fix” symptoms. The episode looks beyond food alone, highlighting the role of the nervous system, mindfulness, and reducing stress around symptoms, and offers a grounded reminder that healing often involves less control and more curiosity, awareness, and a softer relationship with what feels unresolved.
Jen is also offering a four-day, three-night silent retreat this September (September 10-13) at Kindred Forest in the Missouri Ozarks, a space intentionally designed for deep rest, reflection, and nervous system support. Through shared silence, nourishing meals, time in nature, and gentle practices like sound baths and Feldenkrais, the retreat creates an opportunity to step away from constant input and reconnect with what’s already present.
Favorite Quotes:
“When nutrition and lifestyle changes don’t fully resolve gut symptoms, there’s often a missing piece.”
“The mind and the gut are intricately connected… when we are stressed, we feel that in our gut.”
“I noticed that my attention was going to this a lot… trying to fix this problem.”
“When the mind gets so heavily involved, it really does disrupt the way that the gut contracts and relaxes.”
“There’s a difference between ‘this has to get better’ and curiosity.”
“There is wisdom in recognizing that we might be trying too hard.”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
2026 Silent Retreat
The Gut Health Podcast
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
April 14, 2026
Love You More
Ep 81: A Conversation on the Wisdom of the Wild with Jo Pang
Episode summary
This week, Jen is joined by Jo Pang, certified forest therapy guide and co founder of Kindred Forest, for a conversation that gently invites us back into connection with nature, with our bodies, and with ourselves. Together, they explore how stepping outside of fast paced, productivity driven living can open the door to a more aligned and grounded way of being, where self care becomes less reactive and more integrated into everyday life.
From forest bathing to silent retreats, Jo shares how intentional time in nature and in stillness can support nervous system regulation, deepen self awareness, and reconnect us to a sense of wonder. This episode is a reminder that even small moments of presence, whether outside or within our own homes, can have a meaningful impact on our well being and our relationship to the world around us.
To learn more about Jo’s work, upcoming retreats, or opportunities to get involved as a steward at Kindred Forest, connect via Instagram or reach out directly using the links below.
More about Jo Pang
Jo Pang is a certified forest therapy guide and co founder of Kindred Forest, a nature based retreat space in the Ozark Highlands. After leaving a decade long corporate career, he followed a deep pull toward a more grounded and connected way of living.
Jo now guides forest bathing experiences that invite people to slow down, engage their senses, and reconnect with both nature and themselves. He is also involved in ecological restoration, helping to bring greater biodiversity back to the land while cultivating a lifestyle rooted in simplicity, presence, and connection.
Favorite Quotes
“So much of self care for me is some of these larger life choices that then make self care just kind of integrated with everything.” -Jo Pang
“There was something awakening in me that deeply longed to be actually connected to the more than human world.” -Jo Pang
“Nature is still actually our native habitat… our bodies are still of the bodies that our ancestors were.” -Jo Pang
“It’s not just about restoring the land, it’s about seeing how the restoration of the land and the restoration of humans are interrelated journeys.” -Jo Pang
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
2026 Silent Retreat
Kindred Forest Instagram
Kindred Forest Email: kindredforestmo@gmail.com
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
April 7, 2026
Love You More
Ep 80: Spring Cleaning Your Thoughts About Your Body
Episode summary:
This week, Jen briefly reflects on the busyness of spring before turning to the heart of the episode: body image. As routines shift and layers come off, she explores how this season can bring up more comparison and self-judgment, offering a timely invitation to notice what’s coming up internally.
Through the lens of “spring cleaning” our thoughts, Jen reminds us that body image struggles are shaped by lifelong conditioning not personal failure. She gently unpacks the difference between our direct experience and the thoughts we attach to it, while also touching on clothing, social media, and the shift toward valuing body function over appearance. The conversation encourages a more compassionate, aware relationship with our bodies, one rooted in curiosity rather than criticism.
Favorite Quotes:
“We don’t have control over the thoughts that come in.”
“Is the suffering actually coming from reality, or is it coming from the thoughts that are in my mind?”
“My body is functioning well. My body is comfortable. I’m safe.”
“Sometimes spending too much time on social media creates more insecurity around our own knowing.”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
2026 Silent Retreat
Mindful Closet Website
Unflattering- Dacy’s Substack
Dacy’s Instagram
Erin Grumley, LPC Website
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
March 10, 2026
Love You More
Ep 79: Undermining Urgency
Episode summary:
Jen reflects on the quiet but persistent sense of urgency that can shape our days without us fully realizing it. She shares how constant input from phones, messages, podcasts, and the everyday rhythm of parenting and work can keep the nervous system activated. Even small pockets of potential stillness often get filled automatically. Jen begins experimenting with simple shifts such as letting space remain empty, delaying the impulse to respond or order something right away, and allowing moments of boredom, quiet, or daydreaming to unfold.
As she notices how urgency feels in her body, Jen explores the deeper desire behind these changes, which is cultivating more inner calm and spaciousness. She reflects on the pull of productivity and the identity that can form around always being responsive. The conversation closes with a reading from The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo and a gentle reminder that when everything feels urgent, slowing down may be exactly what we need.
Favorite Quotes:
“There’s lots of actual opportunity for white space in my day, but I never let it be white space. I always fill it.”
“There’s opportunity that presents for stillness, for quiet, for calm, but I don’t really give myself that chance.”
“I’m just so tired of being run around by productivity.”
“I’m wanting more inner calm. I’m wanting more inner stillness.”
“The mind is always scanning, always scanning, like what should you be doing?”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
Sober Sisters in St Louis Substack
Sober Sisters in St Louis Website
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Book: The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo
Book: Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr
Spring Fling: Style, Silence & Understanding Urges
2026 Silent Retreat
Support the show
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February 24, 2026
Love You More
Ep 78: A Compassionate Conversation About GLP-1s
Episode summary:
Jen steps into a nuanced and compassionate conversation about GLP-1 medications and the very real complexity surrounding weight, health, and body image. With honesty and care, she explores the different experiences she’s seen in her practice, from clients who have found meaningful metabolic improvements to those who struggled with side effects, strength loss, or a muted relationship with food and life. Rather than taking a pro or anti stance, she centers the discussion on neutrality, evidence, and deep respect for individual choice.
She also unpacks the concept of “food noise,” inviting listeners to consider where mental chatter about food and body might be coming from and whether medication is the only path to relief. Jen offers thoughtful guidance on what to look for in a provider, the importance of strength training and adequate nourishment, and how to tune out messaging that creates fear or shame. It’s an empowering reminder that your body is not a problem to fix, and that support should always feel safe, informed, and aligned with your values.
Favorite Quotes:
“We are not pro-diet by any stretch of the imagination. But what we are, we are pro-people.”
“If your doctor tells you just to stop eating, I think I'd get the hell out of her office.”
“There are a lot of things that go into the size, the shape of a body and it’s not just diet and exercise.”
“You are not going to do well from a health span perspective if you take the medication but you don’t move your body in terms of strength training.”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
Sober Sisters in St Louis Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
February 3, 2026
Love You More
Ep 77: A Conversation on Sobriety and Freedom with Sam Goldfinch
Episode summary:
Jen sits down with Sam Goldfinch for an honest conversation about sobriety, freedom, and the inner worlds we learn to live inside. Sam shares his personal journey with alcohol in a way that moves beyond labels and shame, offering a compassionate perspective on addiction, curiosity, and what it really means to feel free. Rather than prescribing a single path, he invites listeners to notice what is no longer working and to imagine what else might be possible.
Together, Jen and Sam explore the myth that alcohol is required for connection, confidence, or joy. They talk about intuition, social ease, and learning to trust yourself again, especially in moments of discomfort or change. This episode is a reminder that growth is rarely linear, insight often comes through detours, and you are never truly starting over, just becoming more honest with yourself.
Sam's Bio:
Sam spent 15 years immersed in what he calls cliché spirituality, training as a yoga teacher, traveling to India, and spending hours in meditation. Yet beneath it all, he was still seeking and living with deep anxiety that had been present since childhood. In trying to escape that anxiety, he became attached to anything he believed might save him, from substances to intense spiritual practice.
A few years ago, a simple but profound understanding shifted everything. Sam saw that his anxiety was not a problem and not his identity. That realization opened him to a depth of feeling and freedom he never knew existed. Today, he invites others to uncover the rebel spirit that is already within them, reminding us that wisdom does not follow rules and it may be time to break some.
Favorite Quotes:
“I just want people to be able to live their best life. It’s not my fight. I’m not trying to rid the world of alcohol. I want it to be so not a thing for people that it doesn’t even make sense to hate it.” -Sam Goldfinch
“I don’t think we ever really go back to square one. That just doesn’t look true to me. You don’t unlearn what you’ve seen.” -Sam Goldfinch
“Most of the nights we think were great because of alcohol were actually great because we were connecting. We just gave alcohol the credit.” -Sam Goldfinch
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
Sober Sisters in St Louis Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Sam's Website
Rebel Spirituality
Sam's Substack
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
January 27, 2025
Love You More
Ep 76: The Wisdom of Walking
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen talks about how walking has become an important and enjoyable part of her routine. After an injury shifted her relationship with running, she found herself returning to walking as a simple, accessible way to move, think, and reset. From cold mornings to family trips and quiet neighborhood streets, walking becomes a steady presence that supports both physical health and mental clarity.
She also reflects on habits, expectations, and the subtle pressure that can come with tracking movement and hitting goals. With honesty and warmth, Jenn explores what it means to move in ways that feel supportive rather than demanding, reminding listeners that consistency, curiosity, and kindness toward ourselves matter just as much as intensity.
Favorite Quotes:
“Walking is just literally enjoying the process.”
“Running and walking absolutely give me material, give me content, give me ideas, solutions.”
“I know that I can absolutely be a healthy, worthy person without hitting that number of steps in a day.”
“There’s always silver lining. No one wants an injury or a surgery, but when we have time to do life differently, there is always something that comes from it.”
“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” -Nietzsche
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
Sober Sisters in St Louis Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
My Body Science Website
The Feldenkrais Project
Feldenkrais Method Website
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
January 13, 2025
Love You More
Ep 75: A New Season for McDaniel Nutrition
Episode summary:
Jen reflects on a tender season of transition as she shares the story behind selling McDaniel Nutrition after more than a decade of building it with heart and intention. What began as a small, deeply personal practice is now moving into new hands in a way that still honors the people, values, and care that have always defined it.
Along the way, Jen shares how this decision came together, from early hesitation to a deep sense of trust in the timing and the people involved. She talks about what it means to step back without disappearing, to care for the team who helped build the practice, and to allow the business to continue growing in a way that feels aligned and supportive for everyone.
Favorite Quotes:
“I wasn’t looking for anybody to purchase McDaniel Nutrition because I’m perfectly happy doing what I was doing.”
“There just wasn’t this clinging of a need to have a story of Jennifer very much anymore.”
“I have no resistance to letting go of this whole thing right now. None.”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Salvadore Poe
Dr. Amy Johnson’s Website
Changeable Podcast
My OR Website
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
December 30, 2025
Love You More
Ep 74: Sober Curiosity as Self Care with Casey McGuire Davidson
Episode summary:
Jen welcomes sobriety coach and Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women host Casey McGuire Davidson for an honest, compassionate conversation about alcohol, self care, and nervous system regulation. Casey shares her personal journey from high achieving, wine every night corporate life to ten years alcohol free, unpacking how drinking quietly fueled anxiety, poor sleep, and emotional overwhelm and how stopping changed everything.
Together, Jen and Casey explore Dry January, sober curiosity, and why taking a longer break from alcohol can be transformational rather than restrictive. Casey reframes self care as emotional awareness, boundaries, and meeting your needs without numbing, offering practical insight for anyone curious about how life, relationships, and joy can expand when alcohol is no longer the default coping tool.
Casey McGuire Davidson's Bio
Casey McGuire Davidson is a Life & Sobriety Coach, speaker + host of the Top 100 Mental Health Podcast The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women.
Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, NPR, The New York Times, HuffPost, CNN, NBC News + hundreds of sobriety, mental health and parenting podcasts.
As an ex-red wine girl who spent 20 years climbing the corporate ladder while drinking a bottle of wine a night, Casey stopped drinking 10 years ago + is passionate about helping busy women change their relationship with alcohol.
Favorite Quotes:
“Self care for me means monitoring my emotions, my mind, my body, and just trying to bring myself into a good space on a daily basis.” - Casey
“I used to think alcohol made me happier for two hours a day and made my life worse for twenty two hours.” - Casey
“Quitting drinking was literally my worst nightmare and it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened in my life.” - Casey
Resources
Casey’s Website
Free 30-Day Sober Guide
The Sobriety Starter Kit Program
Casey’s Podcast
Casey's Instagram
Casey's Facebook
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
December 16, 2025
Love You More
Ep 73: A Season of Healing, Movement, and Compassion
Episode summary:
Jen shares a deeply personal update on her recovery from pelvic floor sling surgery and what it has taught her about aging, body changes, and caring for herself with more compassion. From laughing at her attempts to manage forehead wrinkles to finding unexpected joy in slow morning walks, she opens up about the honest, unfiltered moments that have shaped this season of healing.
She also walks us through the physical and emotional journey of stepping away from running, rebuilding strength, and finally experiencing the freedom of staying dry on her first runs back. Jen reflects on the wisdom that comes with age, listening to her body, moving with intention, and letting go of old pressures around performance. This episode is an encouraging, relatable companion for anyone facing recovery, navigating midlife changes, or learning to meet their body with patience and grace.
Favorite Quotes:
“With aging comes so much wisdom and listening to ourselves and slowing down and paying attention.”
“It is wonderful to go out and be a runner that feels like everybody else.”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
My Body Science Website
The Feldenkrais Project
Feldenkrais Method Website
Support the show
Send us Fan Mail
December 2, 2025
Love You More
Ep 72: Finding Her Stride: A Life Update
Episode summary:
Jen is solo today bringing us some life updates. From bladder surgery to her running journey to how Feldenkrais and sober curiosity changed her outlook, Jen fills us in on what’s been on her mind and calendar lately.
Jen opens up about her journey through a challenging injury at Boston, some unexpected bladder issues, and how a simple Instagram post led her to discover Feldenkrais. She also explores the surprising connection she found between her running journey, Feldenkrais, and her decision to stop drinking.
And on that note, Jen’s new group Sober Sisters, a welcoming space for women to show up as they are and connect in an alcohol-free environment, would love to see you at their next event on Thursday 12/11! It’s free and it’s Feldenkrais!
As always, we'd love to hear from you, so please send any feedback or episode requests our way!
Favorite Quotes:
“Feldenkrais is the antithesis to pushing and striving.”
“If I do start noticing that my old patterns might be creeping back into my body, I know that I can go to Feldenkrais and I can kind of unwind myself to a degree and get back into better form.”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Podcast Episode with Sandy Weiss
Upcoming Sober Sister Events
My Body Science Website
The Feldenkrais Project
Feldenkrais Method Website
Support the show
Send us a text
November 18, 2025
Love You More
Ep 71: A Conversation with Grace Bell on Loving What Is
Episode summary
In this heartwarming episode, Jen welcomes Grace to share her journey of helping people find peace through questioning their thoughts. Grace discovered this transformative approach through Byron Katie's work, which taught her that suffering comes from believing our thoughts as the single origin of truth.
The conversation flows naturally as Jen and Grace swap notes on how they each work with clients, diving into how thoughts contribute to suffering. Grace opens up about the delicate balance in her practice—combining factual education with compassionate support for people's relationship to their suffering, especially with issues like body image. They talk through what it's like to work with Grace and how she helps clients discover the peace that comes from loving what is. It's an authentic, relatable conversation between two people who genuinely get it.
Favorite Quotes
“Something difficult happens. That happens once, but how many times more did it happen in your own mind?” - Grace
“Reality is kinder than the mind makes it out to be.” - Grace
“Who would you be without your story?” - Grace
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Work with Grace Website
Byron Katie
Tiny Habits (BJ Fogg)
Support the show
Send us a text
November 4, 2025
Love You More
Ep 70: ADHD Coach Juliet O'Rourke Helps Women Navigate the ADHD Brain
Episode summary:
ADHD Coach Juliet O'Rourke joins Jen all the way from the UK to talk about her work with women who have been diagnosed with ADHD. After her own diagnosis at age 50, Juliet was called to help other women change their relationship with their thoughts and to help them find ways to support themselves and celebrate the amazing things that the neurodivergent brain can do.
Juliet opens up about her struggle to accept and understand herself before her diagnosis and how she adapted to the new way of thinking about herself since finding out that she has ADHD. There was a certain grief and sadness knowing that she had hated herself for 50 years. It's through this lens and personal experience that she views the women she works with.
This episode is a must listen for anyone who feels like they may be neurodivergent, has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, or has someone with ADHD in their life. It's full of vulnerable insights and helpful morsels of information.
More about Juliet
After a lifetime of believing she was intrinsically flawed, Juliet was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 50. Following her diagnosis, she embarked on an intense journey of discovery about ADHD. At that point, she had already undertaken two years of counselling training, but decided to redirect her career to ADHD coaching. She wants to reach out to others, especially women, going through similar experiences. She is passionate about helping all adults with ADHD challenges.
Favorite Quotes:
“It’s not even our thoughts; it’s our relationship with those thoughts.” – Juliet
“I was always constantly seeking this thing to fix myself. I thought I was broken and needed fixing.” -Juliet
Additional ADHD Resources
Websites:
CHADD
ADDA
ADDitude
Books:
ADHD 2.0 by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey
Your Brain's Not Broken by Tamara Rosier, PhD
Disconnected Kids by Dr Robert Melillo
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD by Michelle Frank and Sari Solden
Podcast:
I have ADHD by Kristen Karder
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Gifted with ADHD Website
Gifted with ADHD Instagram Account
Jim Quick, Brain Coach Website
Support the show
Send us a text
October 21, 2025
Love You More
Ep 69: Talking Parenting with Change Coach Laura Bernann
Episode summary:
Last episode's guest, Dr. Amy Johnson brought Jen and Laura together when they met in her Change Coach program. In this candid conversation, two coaches open up about their own struggles with parenthood and how they work to show up authentically to support their children through their teens years and on to college.
Join in this exploratory conversation that touches on everything from ruminating on thoughts and worries to the importance of hobbies to managing the growing pressures on young people today. This is one you don’t want to miss.
More about Laura Bernann
An elementary school educator on a path rooted in curiosity, growth, and inner transformation, Laura has been helping others with cycles of overthinking and anxiety as a certified change coach since 2021.
Favorite Quotes:
“I realized that things are not necessarily as they seem and thoughts are not true. You can get really dragged into a loop of believing your thoughts.” – Laura
“Our kids are out running marathons and our job is to be their cheerleader.” - Jen
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Laura Bernann Coaching Website
Book: Just a Thought by Dr. Amy Johnson
Salvadore Poe
Dan Harris 10% Happier Podcast
John Astin
Support the show
Send us a text
October 7, 2025
Love You More
Ep 68: Dr. Amy Johnson on Accessing the Essence of Experience
Episode summary:
Who are the influential people who are shaping your lens right now?
For this episode Jen got to sit down with one of the people that’s been shaping her lens recently. Dr. Amy Johnson joins Jen to talk about the power of experiencing our world through more than just our thoughts by stepping back to access the true essence of your experience.
Earlier this year, Jen attended one of Amy’s silent retreats (check out the episode!) and it transformed the way that she relates to her own thoughts and accesses her own stillness. Amy takes us through the benefits of silence and what to expect on a silent retreat. She has two retreats planned for 2026 if this resonates with you.
Amy Roberts Bio
Amy Johnson, PhD is a psychologist, coach, author, and speaker who shares a groundbreaking new approach that helps people find lasting freedom from unwanted habits, anxiety, and self-doubt via insight rather than willpower.
She is the author of Being Human, The Little Book of Big Change: The No-Willpower Approach to Breaking Any Habit, and Just a Thought: A No-Willpower Approach to End Self-Doubt and Make Peace with Your Mind. In 2017 she opened The Little School of Big Change, an online school that has helped thousands of people find freedom from anxiety and habits and live a more peaceful life.
Amy also shares the no-willpower approach in her top-rated podcast, Changeable, and she’s trained over 70 coaches in her Change Coach Training Program. She has been a regularly featured expert on The Steve Harvey Show and Oprah.com, as well as in The Wall Street Journal and Self magazine.
Favorite Quotes:
“When we feel like ‘I’m this solid me with this past and that future’ … it just feels like there’s a heaviness around that.” – Dr. Amy
“There is so much attention that goes into thought. If that much attention is absorbed into that, it’s our reality” – Dr. Amy
“What’s real and here and fundamental before everything else comes and goes?” - Dr. Amy
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Book: Awake (Angelo DiLullo)
Salvadore Poe
Dr. Amy Johnson’s Website
Changeable Podcast
Support the show
Send us a text
September 23, 2025
Love You More
Ep 67: Less Americans are Drinking! (and an update on Jen's sober journey)
Episode summary:
Jen's back for a new season (finally!) and today she's giving us an update on her sober journey. From summer vacations to social events to handling weekend plans, she shares her successes and struggles navigating life without drinking.
This episode also features some hard-hitting data about the amount Americans are drinking (spoiler, it's less than it was 2 years ago!) and what kind of drinking younger people are engaging in.
You don't want to miss this episode because Jen's also introducing her new social group, Sober Sisters. You don't have to be sober to join or to come to the event. Sober Sisters is a group for people who are curious about drinking less and want to go out and have fun without the pressures of social drinking. Sign up for the inaugural event through this link!
Favorite Quotes:
“I feel like [my alcohol journey] allows me so much consistency in life.”
“US alcohol labeling laws date back to the 1930s and have not been changed.”
Resources
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Andrew Huberman Podcast on Alcohol Consumption
Wellbeing Brewing
Support the show
Send us a text
July 22, 2025
Love You More
Ep 66: Parenting Beyond Diet Culture with Oona Hanson
Episode summary:
Grab your coffee and settle in for a heartfelt conversation with writer, educator, and parent coach Oona Hanson to explore how diet culture affects families, especially boys, in today’s appearance-focused world. Oona shares personal and professional insights, including her own child’s experience with an eating disorder, and reflects on the often-overlooked body image pressures boys face around fitness, leanness, and muscularity.
Oona offers compassionate, practical advice for parents raising sons who may be internalizing harmful cultural messages. From gym culture to restrictive “healthy” eating, she helps parents spot red flags and respond in ways that support their child’s well-being. She encourages families to build resilience and stay connected in the face of challenges.
More about Oona:
Oona Hanson is a nationally recognized writer, educator, and parent coach who supports families navigating diet culture and eating disorders. With master’s degrees in Educational Psychology and English from California State University Northridge and Middlebury College, and an undergraduate degree from Princeton, she brings a rich academic background to her work.
Oona has worked as a Family Mentor at Equip Health, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to treat children with eating disorders, and she founded Common Sense Camp to help parents teach essential life skills to kids. She has been featured on CNN, People, USA Today, and The Washington Post, and she has presented at major professional conferences and published in academic journals.
Favorite Quotes:
“We’re so steeped in diet culture that we don’t even recognize it. It’s like the air we breathe or the water we swim in. And that makes it harder to spot when something is going wrong.” - Oona
“Your body isn’t the problem. The culture is the problem. And not everyone knows that bodies come in all sizes.” - Oona
“It’s tempting to rush in and fix it, but we actually need to sit with our kids in their discomfort. That’s how they know they’re safe with us.” - Oona
“We are influencers too. If we want our kids to feel good about their bodies, we have to work on feeling good about ours.” - Oona
“Being anti-diet is not anti-health. We can support our kids’ well-being without sending them down a restrictive path.” - Oona
Resources:
Oona’s Website
Oona's Instagram
Oona’s Substack- Parenting Without Diet Culture
Zoe Bisbing's Website- Body Positive Home
Zoe Bisbings's Substack
Freedom App
Ellyn Satter Institute
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
July 8, 2025
Love You More
Ep 65: Life Coach Lessons on Getting Grounded
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen reflects on what it means to feel grounded and how her work with life coach and psychologist Amy Johnson has helped her get there.
She shares how tough it can be to follow a gut feeling instead of getting caught up in racing thoughts, and why learning to trust that inner sense has made such a difference. Jen also talks about weaving what she’s learned from her training with Amy into both her everyday life and her work with clients—bringing more awareness and intention into everything she does.
Favorite Quotes:
"I have ways of looking at things that just feel so beautiful and true and has been incredibly perfect for what I do in working with my clients in this nutrition and wellness space."
"When we're able to separate ourselves from our thoughts and to see that we are, not the thought that pops up, there's a lot of freedom there."
"If we're not our thoughts, then what are we?"
Resources
Dr Amy Johnson's Website
Helen's Website
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
June 24, 2025
Love You More
Ep 64: Sobriety as a Sacred Practice with Liz McCandless
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen chats with the lovely Liz McCandless about her deeply personal journey to sobriety. After a big wake-up moment, Liz realized life was slipping by—and decided it was time to make a change. She opens up about her experience in rehab, the power of slowing down, and how sobriety helped her reconnect with who she really is. They dive into all the feels—grief, growth, boundaries—and how tools like yoga and sound baths have supported her healing along the way. It’s honest, empowering, and full of heart.
More about Liz:
Liz is a dedicated yoga instructor and certified sound bath practitioner, blending movement and sound for a holistic experience. She began her yoga journey in 2009 and completed her teacher training in 2024. Liz teaches a range of styles—including vinyasa, restorative, yoga nidra, and meditation—with a focus on mind-body connection, self-discovery, and healing. Her classes create space for growth and transformation, both on and off the mat.
Favorite Quotes:
"Resting and napping is a big part of my life and really trying to embrace it and not feel guilty about it." - Liz
"...you just take the time to listen to what you need and honor it in a moment when you can..." - Jen
"I know you can do more, but can you do less" -Joy
"There is exponential growth of sense of self, understanding myself, without alcohol." - Jen
Resources:
Rehab/Treatment:
- Cirque Lodge
Recovery Plans:
- AA
- AA Online meetings 24 hours a day/all over the world
- Apps:
- Meeting Guide
- Pink Cloud
- Everything AA
- Refuge Recovery (Buddhist influenced approach to recovery)
- Recovery St. Louis
Sober coaching/recovery healing:
- Accountable
Books:
- It Takes a Family: Creating Lasting Sobriety, Togetherness & Happiness by Debra Jay
- A Woman’s Way Through the 12 Steps by Stephanie S. Covington, Ph. D.
- Unbottled Potential by Amanda Kuda (good for the sober curious woman, but really resonated for me as an alcoholic as well)
- Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction by Noah Levine
Podcasts:
- Recovery Rocks Podcast
Liz's Yoga Practice
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
June 10, 2025
Love You More
Ep 63: It All Falls on Me
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen talks about the strain that can come with summer and how she often feels like everything is on her. Through her work with a life coach, she’s been focusing on being more present—paying attention to how her body feels instead of getting stuck in her head. She’s noticing that the need to feel in control often creates its own kind of suffering. But when she lets go, even just a little, and allows life to unfold, things tend to fall into place with a more natural rhythm.
If you are interested in working with Jen, click the link for the McDaniel Nutrition Website below. There you will find information regarding the services offered as well as book an appointment.
Favorite Quotes:
"This sense of responsibility that something all falls on us isn't really related to the content of life it's more about this feeling that we have from time to time..."
"There is just this level of trust and seeing in this bigger picture that I really don't have control and that for me is actually a beautiful thing that there is something bigger...moving us through this path of life."
"When I am flowing with the day and not letting my mind lead the charge but, I'm letting life lead the charge, there is a whole different rhythm and it feels better, it feels easier, it feels more peaceful, and content."
"Let's just play around with a little less mind and a little more sensing our beautiful selves."
Resources
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
May 27, 2025
Love You More
Ep 62: Urges
Episode summary:
In this solo episode, Jen dives deep into the nature of urges—whether it's the craving for food, alcohol, or the impulse to escape an uncomfortable emotion. She reflects on how we often turn to these behaviors for comfort rather than allowing ourselves to truly feel what’s beneath the surface.
Drawing from her professional experience, Jen shares how she once helped clients avoid certain foods, only to later realize the urge itself holds valuable insight. We need to slow down and notice what an urge feels like in the body. We can explore the deeper part of ourselves by sitting with the discomfort and discovering what’s going on underneath the surface.
Favorite Quotes:
"I am learning that thoughts almost 100% of the time in those sort of situations are not helpful."
"What I need to give credit to is what I am sensing in my body."
"No wave stays at it peak. It eventually moves on and usually crashes into the beach and another one comes."
Resources
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
May 13, 2025
Love You More
Ep 61: What if We Did Different with Sandy Weiss, PT, GCFP
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen is thrilled to welcome Sandy back to the podcast for the third time! Jen shares how the work she’s done with Sandy has been nothing short of life-changing. They explore the idea of stepping away from rigidity and instead ask, what if things didn’t have to be so fixed? What if slowing down, tuning in, and sensing ourselves could open up a whole new way of being? What if we tried a new approach—one with more play, more curiosity, and a little less rigidity?
They also unpack a handful of "S words"—stomach, stretch, slow, and strive. The conversation challenges the idea that looking good equals feeling good. They also talk about the power of slowing down and truly sensing ourselves, and the toll constant striving can take on the nervous system. It’s a thoughtful reminder that who we are doesn’t have to be tied to how hard we push.
More about Sandy:
Sandy learned about the Feldenkrais Method early in her career as a Physical Therapist since 1989 but didn't fully embrace it until sometime around 2008. In an attempt to ameliorate some overuse patterns she had developed as an Ironman triathlete she returned to The Feldenkrais Method(R) because Physical Therapy interventions were not resolving her difficulties. She has sense become a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, GCFP and believes that the “whole self” messages delivered by this method allow greater and deeper change in functional mobility.
Favorite Quotes:
“Because we look good we think we feel good.” -Sandy
“We love to sense ourselves through other peoples’ opinions of us.” -Sandy
“There is a lot of freedom in allowing yourself just to be with what feels good…” -Jen
“What about this makes me feel good?” -Sandy
“The slower the smaller the movement the more the brain has a chance to sense and to adjust and to learn.” -Jen
“Slow creates a moment where a lot can be attended to and our system loves it when we pay attention to it.” -Sandy
“People do not understand the beauty of their existence when they cannot go slow.” -Sandy
Resources:
My Body Science Website
Feldenkrais Method Website
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
April 29, 2025
Love You More
Ep 60: Menopause Strong with Brooke Kalisiak, PT, DPT
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen sits down with Brooke Kalisiak, a pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of Legacy Physical Therapy in St. Louis, to dive into all things menopause. Brooke shares her own self-care routines and offers an inside look at the approach to pelvic floor therapy at her practice. Together, Brooke and Jen have created Menopause Strong — a program designed to help women stay strong and resilient through the menopause transition. The program is packed with evidence-based information that's easy to put into practice. Brooke offers a series of helpful exercises and insights into the sexual changes women might experience, while Jen provides practical, real-world nutrition strategies to support this stage of life.
More about Brooke:
Brooke Kalisiak PT, DPT (she/her) is Saint Louis’s leading physical therapist who helps people overcome frustrating, confusing and embarrassing pelvic health issues. She is passionate about making sure people do not end up suffering with pelvic health symptoms for years, giving up activities they love, or undergoing unnecessary surgeries.
Favorite Quotes:
"The most important way to move is the way that feels best and you're gonna be able to continue doing it" -Jen
"Too many women get caught up in, well, this isn't the absolute best for me so I might as well not do anything" -Brooke
"You gotta think of your own body like a car." -Brooke
Resources:
Legacy Physical Therapy
Menopause Strong
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
April 15, 2025
Love You More
Ep 59: So, I Went on a Silent Retreat
Episode summary:
Last month Jen went on a silent retreat and we're lucky enough to have a front row seat to the debrief of her experience. The journey to a silent retreat started when her life coach, Helen, introduced her to the work of Amy Johnson—the woman who facilitated the retreat. Amy’s book Just a Thought, along with her other teachings, deeply resonated with Jen and helped her see herself in a way no other form of therapy had before.
After following Amy’s work for several months, Jen felt called to take the leap and experience a silent retreat firsthand. For Jen, the retreat was a powerful and grounding experience that she highly recommends. And she leaves us with the reminder that beneath the busyness of everyday life, there’s always a place of calm and stillness waiting to be found.
Favorite Quotes:
“Silence, for her, was such a powerful experience.”-Jen
“I had this deep moment of feeling like I was held by something.”-Jen
“By the end of the retreat…I felt my energy just continuing to grow.”-Jen
"When you’re in that space of silence everything is so much more vivid."-Jen
“…underneath all of it is this calm still place.”-Jen
Resources
Just a Thought
Changeable Podcast
Dr Amy Johnson's Website
My Secret is Silence
Sweet Potato Tooth
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
April 1, 2025
Love You More
Ep 58: Creating Your Mindful Closet with Guest Dacy Gillespie
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen is joined by personal stylist Dacy Gillespie, who shares her journey from burnout in the nonprofit world to building a career around her lifelong love of fashion. What started as a one-year break has turned into twelve years of helping other women through her business, Mindful Closet. Dacy opens up about how she defines self-care—setting up her life to avoid burnout. She walks listeners through her personal styling process, which includes an intake questionnaire, curated Pinterest boards, closet edits, shopping tutorials, and integration sessions designed to help clients find what truly feels like them.
Throughout the conversation, Dacy emphasizes the emotional side of fashion, particularly for women navigating years of societal messaging about beauty and body image. She sees herself as a guide, someone who helps clients uncover their own preferences rather than telling them what to wear. Jen and Dacy also talk about the power of social media and how curating your feed to reflect a diversity of bodies can shift how you see yourself. By showcasing real people of all shapes and sizes, Dacy aims to normalize the beauty of difference and encourage people to feel confident in clothes that reflect who they are.
More about Dacy:
After years in high-stress careers that clashed with her sensitive, introverted nature, Dacy founded Mindful Closet in 2013 to pursue a more emotionally sustainable life. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Real Simple, The Strategist, and Lifehacker, and she’s a frequent podcast guest. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and two kids.
Favorite Quotes:
“I wanna hear what their relationship to their body and their clothes has been over the course of their life. I wanna hear what messages they got from their mother, their grandmother, their high-school friends…” - Dacy
"I do think there is a lack of permission to choose what works for you as opposed to taking care of everyone around you” - Dacy
"If you can’t become more familiar with a diversity of bodies it’s going to be really hard for you to be able to feel good in your clothes.”- Dacy
“I’m really scared that as a society we are going to forget what a woman without modifications looks like.” - Dacy
Resources:
Mindful Closet Website
Unflattering- Dacy’s Substack
Dacy’s Instagram
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
March 18, 2025
Love You More
Ep 57: Better
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen explores the idea of being "better" and how wellness culture often pressures us to constantly improve. You don’t have to strive to be better; you are already enough just as you are. Trying new things isn’t necessarily about improvement—it’s about exploration and growth in different directions.
Jen also challenges the notion of control, emphasizing that we can never truly predict where life will take us. She finds a deeper sense of peace by embracing uncertainty and staying present in the moment. Heading into 2025, this mindset serves as a grounding mantra, helping her navigate life with more ease and acceptance.
Favorite Quotes:
“What if we started with, I fully accept where I am today in this moment with every aspect of my life?”-Jen
“I can be accepted for how I am in this very moment right now.”-Jen
“I do not mind what happens.”- Jiddu Krishnamurti
“If you have goals and intentions, hold them lightly and give yourself space for other things to happen, give yourself space for inconsistency, give yourself space for curiosity and how you’re feeling.”-Jen
Resources
Krishnamurti Foundation
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
March 4, 2025
Love You More
Ep 56: Special Episode from Rhett Smith's Podcast: Social Media and Slowing Down
Episode summary:
Today we have a special episode - we're bringing you an episode of Rhett Smith's Praxis podcast featuring Jen!
In this episode, Rhett and Jennifer dive deep into the concepts of wintering - slowing down and taking time to rest. Recently both Jen and Rhett have noticed a trend of moving away from social media and technology. They take this hour to explore what they've noticed, how they've responded, and what challenges they are taking on in their own lives.
It can be hard to slow down when you're used to achieving and performing, and with so much of our lives, identities and worth are tied up in productivity and acknowledgment. Stepping away from things like social media, email, or hustle culture, especially when your sense of self-worth is tied to how much engagement or productivity you have in those spaces can be unexpectedly challenging.
More about Rhett:
Among his many other talents and skills, Rhett hosts a podcast tailored to help you bridge the gap between theory and practice in order to live a more transformational life. Listen here.
Favorite Quotes:
“There’re not mentally thinking about it, but the body remembers it.” - Jen
“There are ways we’ve structured our lives that don’t allow us to slow down. It seems like we just get on these train tracks and that’s the way that we go.” – Rhett
Resources
Rhett’s Podcast
Rhett's website
Wintering (May)
The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk)
Deep Work (Newport)
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
February 18, 2025
Love You More
Ep 55: Grounding Phrases with Life Coach Helen McLaughlin
Episode summary:
Jen's welcoming her life coach Helen back to the show today to talk about grounding phrases that you can use to support your feelings and move through them with a different perspective.
Helen has been working with Jen for over a year and in this episode they talk through some of the grounding phrases that have helped them work through life's harder moments. In these hard moments, our thoughts spiral into stories that layer onto feelings or thoughts. Using these grounding phrases provides distance between yourself and your thoughts, allowing you to look at a situation in a new way.
Please reach out and share any grounding phrases or thoughts that you use to work your way out of thought patterns that don't serve you.
More about Helen
Helen McLaughlin has been helping thoughtful people access the insights that change their lives since 2015. She has worked with her clients on career advancement, career change, marriage difficulties, confidence, boundary setting, breaking habits, building a business, growing a business, fitness goals, and self-esteem.
Helen believes that deep, lasting change comes from insight and from seeing things differently than you did before. When you see things differently, you behave differently.
Her current self-care routine is focused on an effort to find restorative time for herself.
Favorite Quotes:
“This is how it feels allows me to slow down the process and check in with myself.” – Jen
“If I can think that whatever is happening is perfect for me, there is an opportunity in it for me.” – Helen
Resources
Helen’s Website (subscribe to her newsletter here!)
Helen’s Instagram
Byron Katie
Amy Johnson
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
February 4, 2025
Love You More
Ep 54: No Shame, Just Science: Talking Bodies, Blushing Optional
Episode summary:
Today Jen is letting us into the more personal self care she's been working while navigating some minor, but impactful health issues. It's too common for people to avoid talking about things because they're embarrassing or they think they're the only one experiencing it, so today Jen is opening up in the hopes of connecting with listeners that may be having similar experiences.
To honor American heart month, Jen talks through her journey to better heart health. As someone with a family history of heart disease who lives a pretty heart healthy lifestyle, it's been a struggle for Jen to reconcile less-than-ideal lab numbers and the need for treatment. She also opens up about her lifelong struggle with incontinence, how it has impacted her life, and what steps she's taking now to change the trajectory of her health.
For anyone experiencing similar issues or who wants to learn more about Jen's experience navigating these issues, please don't hesitate to reach out directly. Jen's inbox is always open.
Favorite Quotes:
“If you don’t feel respected in a situation with a [medical] professional, you go see someone else.” - Jen
“No one wants to talk about the fact that they pee on themselves.” - Jen
Resources
Bulkamid
Lipoprotein A (LPa)
Dr. Jennifer Bickhouse
American Heart Association
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
December 16, 2024
Love You More
Ep 53: Celebrating 2 Years Sober with Special Guest PJ McDaniel (Jen’s Husband!)
Episode summary:
Jen is celebrating two years of sobriety today and is chatting with her most special guest yet - her husband PJ. From navigating a relationship where alcohol was once central to their social life to finding new rhythms, they reflect on the ups and downs of this change. PJ opens up about how her journey has impacted his own relationship with alcohol, leading to subtle shifts in his habits (like discovering a love for NA beer!).
The couple shares how they’ve hit their groove—socializing in ways that feel right for each of them, with PJ continuing to drink occasionally and Jen fully embracing her sober life. Honest and thoughtful, this episode gives us a real look at how sobriety can ripple through a relationship, bringing challenges but also deeper connection and understanding.
Favorite Quotes:
“You think a lot about drinking when your spouse is not drinking…you realize how much your [social world] revolves around it.” – PJ
“You have to be patient. Put yourself in their shoes and explore other ways to support that person.” - PJ
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Support the show
Send us a text
December 10, 2024
Love You More
Ep 52: Lessons from Mark Spewak, a St. Louis Running Icon
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen is joined by Mark Spewak, a competitive runner, coach, and cornerstone of the St. Louis running community. Mark shares his journey from selling More Miles, More Smiles T-shirts to organizing charitable races that have become local institutions. Drawing inspiration from his mother’s charitable work, Mark’s latest project, the Market Mile, aims to support organizations actively revitalizing downtown St. Louis—combining fitness, fun, and meaningful impact.
Mark also opens up about the challenges he faced in 2021 when a CSF leak forced him to take an unexpected break from running. He reflects on the mental and physical toll of stepping away from his passion and how it deepened his gratitude for life’s unpredictability. Whether you're a runner, entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration, this conversation is packed with insights on resilience, community, and purpose.
Guest Bio:
Mark Spewak has been a competitive distance runner for over 15 years since and has been a running coach since 2014 when he started coaching high school cross country. In 2015 he started coaching people across the country with Spewak Training and since then he has helped over 150 runners achieve their goals and hit their personal bests.
Mark still feeds his passion for competitive running, but his true priority is coaching athletes to their highest level.
Favorite Quotes:
“I know who I am and I know what I need to do in my job to be successful.” - Mark
“When I ride through life lighter and don’t take myself too seriously, life is so much more fun.” – Jen
“Instead of living with resentment, I try to live with gratitude.” - Mark
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
From Strength to Strength Book
Mark's Website
Spewak Training
Spewak Racing
Market Mile Instagram
Support the show
Send us a text
November 26, 2024Love You MoreEp 51: Bittersweet Steps: Parenting a Teenager
Episode summary:
In this emotional episode, Jen opens up about navigating raising a teenager and watching her 13-year-old son grow up and start to pull away. Jen shares her raw feelings about the sudden changes in their once easy, close bond, reflecting on how quickly her son seems to be coming into his own. While she knows this independence is a healthy part of growing up, it’s left her grappling with this mix of pride and sadness.
Through this candid conversation, Jen seeks to foster connection and remind herself—and others—that these feelings are part of the process of parenting.
Favorite quotes:“It used to be so easy to be together and to feel like every moment was a chance for quality time.”
“[As a parent] Especially if our kids are young…find and be there for yourself and find things you enjoy doing. If our identities and who we are, are 99.9 percent wrapped up in parenting or our children, I think it’s going to be really dang painful when those kids leave.”
Additional Resources
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers Website (book and podcast!
Rob Bell Podcast
Past EpisodesReal Talk on Women's Health with Dr. Melanie McKeanWould you say that to your bestie? The Power of Self Compassion
Calls to actionFollow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/episodes/16085423
Support the show
Send us a text
November 12, 2024Love You MoreEp 50: A Conversation on Aging Gracefully
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen explores her experience with aging and the challenges that come with navigating the flood of health advice online. She talks about how many women in her circle, like herself, are facing perimenopause and feeling overwhelmed by conflicting health information. Jen opens up about the struggle to find reliable guidance and shares her own journey toward aging gracefully.
From choosing positive "gracefully aging" role models to building a healthier relationship with social media. She encourages experimentation with different approaches to self-care by asking a few simple questions.
Favorite quotes:“Aging gracefully can absolutely include us caring for ourselves in any way, but it’s about how we engage with it.”
“Perimenopause is a brilliant time to step into the shoes we’ve been given, to be the empowered woman, careless what people think, go against the norm, to challenge what other people have to say and to just own our incredible wisdom.”
Additional Resources
Sandy Weiss Sleep Camp
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy
Past EpisodesReal Talk on Women's Health with Dr. Melanie McKeanWould you say that to your bestie? The Power of Self Compassion
Calls to actionFollow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/episodes/16085423
Support the show
Send us a text
October 29, 2024
Love You More
Ep 49: Beyond the Silence: Real Talk on Women’s Health with Dr. Melanie McKean
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen is joined by Dr. Melanie McKean, a reproductive psychiatrist specializing in women’s health, to talk about perimenopause—a topic that’s often shrouded in silence. As Jen opens up about her own experience with perimenopausal symptoms, like brain fog and forgetfulness, Dr. McKean dives into the neurological and hormonal shifts women undergo during this transition and shares actionable steps to help, from better sleep and exercise to mental health care.
They discuss the challenges women face in finding safe spaces and supportive medical guidance for conditions like PMDD, pre- and postpartum mood changes, and menopause-related mental health. Dr. McKean offers expert insights on navigating perimenopause and debunks common myths while highlighting the evolving standards of care, recent advancements in hormone therapy, and when women should consider speaking to a professional.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Melanie McKean, D.O., Ph.D., a board-certified psychiatrist with extensive experience across multiple areas of reproductive mental health, recently launched McKean Reproductive Psychiatry, LLC, specializing in comprehensive care for women navigating perimenopause, preconception, postpartum, and more.
Favorite Quotes:
“We’re finding out more and more that hormone therapy is going to treat a lot more than hot flashes.” - Dr. McKean
“Get that team of people … it’s okay to ask for help.” - Dr. McKean
“There is a beauty involved in coming into our own.” - Jen
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
McKean Reproductive Psychiatry
Menopause Society
Menopause STRONG
Dr. Rachel Rubin
Support the show
Send us a text
October 15, 2024
Love You More
Ep 48: Sleep and the Feldenkrais Method with Sandy Weiss, PT, GCFP
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen welcomes back one of her favorite people, her Feldenkrais teacher Sandy, to dive into the transformative power of self-care and sleep. They explore Sandy’s recent sleep camp and how it uses Feldenkrais methods to help participants achieve better sleep and greater body awareness. Jen shares her own experiences from sleep camp and offers tips on how to improve sleep quality at home, even if you can't attend the camp.
Together, Jen and Sandy discuss the importance of recognizing the value of self-care choices and how, sometimes, it takes time to be ready for new ideas. They reflect on their personal journeys of embracing what they now value and share techniques to help listeners become more mindful of their physical presence.
Favorite Quotes from Sandy:
“Go with what you know and appreciate whatever it is. Wherever you are.”
“Rest is as valuable as sleep. Especially when you can’t come to sleep.”
“This is you exchanging with your environment and having awareness of the abundance in your home and you’re allowing your experience to really enmesh with your kids and an appreciation.”
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Sandy’s Website
Feldenkrais Website
Sounder Sleep System
Sandy's Email: sandy@mindbodyscienceworks.com
Support the show
October 1, 2024Love You MoreEp 47: Is Your Self Care Routine Serving You?
Episode summary:
After a recent talk centering on burnout and self care for a group of registered dietitians, Jen has found herself coming back to the idea of finding the self care practices that serve the individual.
In this episode, Jen shares her most effective self care practices and the ways that she has adapted them to work for her. Not all of these will work for everyone, but they are tools to add to your self care toolbox.
From techniques for evaluating your current self care routine to determine if it is actually causing stress to ideas for slowing down and removing yourself from the busyness cycle, this episode will help anyone trying to incorporate more meaningful self care practices into their life.
Favorite quotes:“Can there be times in your day where … you just sit in your chair, close your eyes for a moment, and feel your breath, your heart rate, your body in the chair?”
“There needs to be time in your day in which things are calm, where things just slow down.”
“What would it mean to be done for the day?” – Oliver Berkman
Additional ResourcesThe Burnout Book
Oliver Burkeman
Sandy Weiss Sleep Camp
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy
Past EpisodesFeldenkrais Method for Self Care
What are you doing with your 4000 weeks?
Calls to actionFollow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/episodes/15763562
Support the show
September 17, 2024
Love You More
Ep 46: Exploring Sobriety with Alex Highsmith
Episode summary:
In this emotional and candid episode, Jennifer and special guest, Alex Highsmith, open up about their sober journeys. From drinking daily and living moment to moment to owning multiple businesses, Alex shares her highs, lows, and tips for staying sober. If you're sober or sober-curious, this episode is a must listen.
Check out the links below to visit the first non-alcoholic bottle shop in the US!
Favorite Quotes:
“[Sobriety] is a lot like yoga, a lot like sports – sometimes you need to use the blocks, sometimes you need the modification. It’s not like you’re going to need it your whole life.” - Alex
Resources
Spirited Away
Sober Sallies Podcast
Alex's Instagram
Don, Pat & Tom
Meeting Finder app
The Naked Mind
Zero Proof Nation
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Meal Planning with McDaniel Nutrition
Support the show
September 3, 2024
Love You More
Ep 45: Getting Real About Infertility with Guest Dr. Maureen "Moe" Shulte
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen talks with Dr. Maureen "Moe" Shulte about self-care strategies for people experiencing infertility. From taking blame out of the conversation to maintaining a healthy exercise program, Dr. Moe draws on her own experience to connect with her patients and guide them through the physical and emotional challenges of infertility.
This is an authentic and vulnerable look into the complexities and emotional effects of infertility that you want to listen to.
Dr. Shulte's Bio:
Dr. Schulte’s accomplishments are vast, however, her passion is treating patients. Building families through personalized fertility care, utilizing the latest technological advancements is career fulfilling for Moe. She approaches her patients with transparency, trust, and compassion and strives to combine the art of human connection with cutting edge-science to care for fertility patients.
Favorite Quotes:
“I did everything wrong. I share with my patients that I learned the hard way about what not to do.” – Dr. Moe
Resources
Functional Elements in Creve Couer, MO
Dr. Maureen Shulte's Instagram
Dr. Molina Dayal
STL Fertility Instagram
STL Fertility
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Meal Planning with McDaniel Nutrition
Support the Show.
August 20, 2024
Love You More
Ep 44: Supporting Your Energy
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen shares her go-to strategies for keeping both her mental and physical energy levels up. She dives into the importance of nutrition, offering tips on building a day's worth of meals that keep your energy steady—from managing blood sugar to finding the right rhythm with meal timing. Jen also opens up about her alcohol-free lifestyle, explaining how it helps her maintain consistent habits and avoid the energy-draining effects of alcohol. Plus, she touches on the vital role of quality sleep and how even power naps can be game-changers when you're running low on rest.
But that's not all—Jen also explores how movement can boost your energy, emphasizing the importance of finding exercises that feel good without wearing you out. Whether you're looking to fine-tune your daily habits or just curious about how to feel more energized, this episode has you covered!
Favorite Quotes:
“What works for me does not work for all.” - Jen
Resources
Insight Timer
CGM Monitor Information
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Meal Planning with McDaniel Nutrition
August 6, 2024
Love You More
Ep 43: Internal Family Systems Therapy with Karissa Mueller
Episode summary:
It seems like everyone is talking about Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. On today's episode, Jennifer talks to IFS certified therapist, Karissa Mueller. Karissa walks us through the ins and outs of IFS and even walks Jen through a live therapy session in the episode. You don't want to miss this one - it could actually change your life.
IFS is good for everyday life, not only when something is wrong. It can be a paradigm shift for living and how you think about your internal experience relating to the world. You can get a lot of long term benefits from learning how to relate to the world.
If you're feeling stuck in your current therapy or feel like there is more that you want to explore, sit back and take a listen.
Guest Bio: Karissa MuellerKarissa is an Internal Family Systems (IFS) certified therapist who is passionate about helping ironically unhappy, compulsively introspective, functional-but-not-fulfilled women emerge into vibrant clarity. She's an Enneagram 9, can't see magic eye pictures, and brings an energy and focus to every therapy session.
Favorite Quotes:
“When we’re really in that space where we’re listening, that’s where we want to be relating to our parts from. Where we can have this relationship with them that’s really helpful.” - Karissa
Resources
Karissa's Website
What is IFS Therapy?
Enneagram
No Bad Parts (book)
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Meal Planning with McDaniel Nutrition
July 23, 2024
Love You More
Ep 42: Reflections on 1 year 7 months Alcohol Free
Episode summary:
Jen's back for a third season and in this first episode she's reflecting on the past 1 year and 7 months that she's spent sober. From more even social energy to feeling more authentic to sleeping better to being more present with her family, Jen has noticed both expected and unexpected benefits from not drinking. But, it hasn't been without struggle and Jen opens up about how she navigates the bumps in the road.
As always, Jen would love to connect with other sober and sober-curious listeners via social media (or in real life!).
Favorite Quotes:
“I worry that people can’t connect with me because I’m not drinking along with them or that I’m judging them or something.”
“The more I go, the more I feel confident that I don’t need alcohol to make those connections. I find that I can really be more true to who I am.”
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Meal Planning with McDaniel Nutrition
April 16, 2024
Love You More
Ep 41: Taking Control of Your Pelvic Floor - An Interview with Physical Therapist Jamie Kocher
Episode summary:
Dr. Jamie Kocher, a leading expert in women's health and fitness, joins us today to get personal about everything from incontinence to how tight jeans can affect your health. With years of experience helping women work through pelvic floor dysfunction to return to sports and active lifestyles.
Pelvic floor concerns can be extremely embarrassing and frustrating. So many people feel really alone with it and pelvic floor physical therapy can be a very conservative way to help with pelvic floor dysfunction. Jen opens up about the her struggles that began in high school and that still plague her today.
Dr. Jamie's BioDr. Jamie Kocher is a leading expert in women’s health and fitness on a mission to help women feel confident, strong, and EMPOWERED in their bodies. She created Empower Her Physical Therapy to help women eliminate fear and return to exercise and sport.
Favorite Quotes:
“Normal bladder function is being able to maintain continence, voiding every 2-5 hours throughout the day, controlling your urgency…for the vast majority of us, you should be able to sleep 6-8 hours without having to get up and pee during the night.”
- Jamie Kocher
Resources
Empower Her Website
Dr. Jamie's Instagram
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
April 2, 2024
Love You More
Ep 40: Reframing Masculinity: Navigating Emotions and Self-Care with Dr. Bryan Pearlman
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jen's family therapist, Dr. Bryan Pearlman, joins the show as we delve into the topic of self-care for boys and men. From exploring the barriers that get in the way of emotional awareness to the stigma surrounding vulnerability and expressing feelings, this conversation goes deep.
In his practice, Dr. Bryan focuses on the power of mindfulness and being present and living in the now. He works with men and boys of all ages and helps them to embrace their emotions as part of their masculinity. From years in the educational system and his recent work as a therapist for men and boys, Dr. Bryan's insights are invaluable. You'll want to tune in for this one!
Dr. Bryan's BioDr. Bryan Pearlman is a former school principal & teacher, a keynote speaker, and an adjunct professor of education psychology. He is also the author of three books and the co-founder of a mental health non-profit. Bryan utilizes a customized approach to help people to become the best version of themselves. Bryan works with children, teens, adults, couples, and families to progress in their day-to-day lives, school, careers, and relationships with a focus on achieving balance. Bryan also works with competitive athletes on mental performance.
Favorite Quotes:
"Self Care doesn't have to be hours of things...you could get a decent amount of self care in 10 minutes if that's all you have." - Bryan
"The idea of being open and being yourself and challenging those past ideas of masculinity. I can still be a tough guy, I can still be masculine, I can still be competent and successful and be really in tune with my emotions and be able to express them." - Bryan
"Self care doesn't make us selfish." - Bryan
Resources
Pearlman and Associates
Distinguished School of Mental Health & Wellness
Find Dr. Bryan's Books on Amazon
bryan@stlmentalhealth.com
The New Masculinity Book
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
March 19, 2023
Love You More
Ep 39: Unpacking Anxiety with Rhett Smith
Episode summary:
Want to hear two emotionally in-tune professionals talk about all things anxiety? Tune into this conversation between Jen and Rhett. Rhett Smith is a marriage and family therapist, executive coach, speaker, and author with an expertise in the treatment of anxiety. And we already know that Jen is a dietitian with a passion for self care and personal growth.
From delving into the root cause of anxiety (a violation of trust) to their own personal struggles to how we can define our anxiety in our own lives, this episode goes everywhere. If you struggle or ever have struggled with anxiety, you won't regret listening.
Favorite Quotes:
“I find myself, when I have anxiety, instead of running from those things, I approach them and work through them.” - Rhett
Resources
Model of Restoration Therapy for Anxiety
Huberman Lab
Book of Awakening (Nepo)
Anxious Christian Book
Rhett's Website
Rhett's YouTube Channel
Rhett's Instagram
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
March 4, 2023
Love You More
Ep 38: Restless in St. Louis
Episode summary:
Restless is a word that represents a lot of complicated feelings, but we all know what it feels like in our bodies. In this episode, Jen explores how she deals with restlessness; that feeling that you should clean the house or be productive or make time for volunteering at your kids' school. She reminds us that rest and stillness are also important. Take the challenge to slow down and take some time to just sit and be.
Favorite Quotes:
“What I want for myself is to be able to quiet the conversation in my mind that says productivity is equal to my worth.”
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
February 20, 2024
Love You More
Ep 37: The Weight of It
Episode summary:
In this candid, vulnerable episode, Jen opens up about her past struggles with disordered eating and control around food and exercise. This year has re-ignited some of these old thinking patterns and Jen shares openly about how she's still healing this part of her.
Favorite Quotes:
“Peeling back the artichoke leaves to get to the very juicy heart of peace, acceptance, love, and letting go of some control.”
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
February 6, 2024
Love You More
Ep 36: Zero Proof, Full Flavor: Unveiling the Non-Alcoholic Napa Cab Crafted by a Family of Visionaries
Episode summary:
The Kamat family is the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit. In this episode, Jen talks to Drs. Vinay and Sona Kamat and their son Ehan. They stopped drinking alcohol 10 years ago, but maintained an appreciation for exploring the complexities of flavors.
Jennifer and the Kamats talk about the benefits of not drinking, how you can still enjoy beer and wine through mocktails and NA options, and how their new non-alcoholic Napa Cab, Domaine Kamat, was created. Plus, you get to learn how alcohol is removed from wine - cool, huh?
**The Kamat Family
Ehan Kamat** is a true entrepreneur and idea guy. He created his first product when he was only 12 and was on Shark Tank by 17! Since then, he's graduated from UC Berkeley business school and is now working with his dad on this next business endeavor.
When they're not creating wine, Vinay and Sona work as physicians in St. Louis, MO. When their son came to them with a dream to buy a vineyard in Napa and create a non-alcoholic Napa Cab, they were all in!
Favorite Quotes:
"It's kind of the ritual that we were more attracted to than the actual alcohol." - Dr. Vinay Kamat
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Domaine Kamat Website
January 23, 2024
Love You More
Ep 35: Troubleshooting Triggers
Episode summary:
Everyone gets triggered. It's normal and a part of life. When you get triggered, do you find yourself asking, "Why can't I get past this?" "Why does this still bother me?" ?
In this solo episode, Jennifer processes where she is in her current place of growth when it comes to managing triggers. She explores changing her approach from thinking about the root cause of triggers to experiencing the feelings and emotions that come up and moving through them.
Favorite Quotes:
"We need to tell the brain, thank you for being there for me but right now these stories you're concocting aren't very important. What's important is getting out of my brain and feeling my body."
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
January 9, 2024
Love You More
Ep 34: One Year Without Alcohol
Episode summary:
The decision to stop drinking was one of the top best choices Jen's made in her life. A Little over a year after her last drink in December of 2022, Jen talks about how her life has changed, the feedback she's received, and what's next for her.
In this episode Jen gets personal about why she shares her journey so publicly and how she responds to people's reactions to her decision to stop drinking. She also shares the changes that she's seen in her sober life. Things like presence, calm, and space.
If these episodes have sparked an interest in sober living or just drinking a bit less, message Jen. She is here to share stories and tips and to be a sounding board for the sober curious.
Favorite Quotes:
"Somehow not drinking allows me to get to know myself better."
"I've seen myself grow in confidence in my life. I've seen anxiety not place such a big role."
Resources
Dry January
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
Snoop Dog Thank you
December 27, 2023
Love You More
Ep 33: Grateful for Gratitude, but not Gratitude Gone Wrong
Episode summary:
What is gratitude? What are the benefits to health? When does gratitude extend beyond the positive and go wrong?
In this episode Jennifer reflects on a couple of interactions with her sons over the past few weeks that got her thinking about staying grateful. They also got her thinking about how gratitude can go wrong and more intentional ways to approach gratitude in her own life.
There are times when gratitude goes wrong. These can show up as showing one sided gratitude on social media, feeling like you should be grateful during hard times, and keeping yourself stuck in situations under the guise of gratitude.
This one's deep, so if you're looking for an exploration of gratitude and gratitude practices as you move into the new year, this is for you.
Favorite Quotes:
"[Gratitude] lingers... stays with you. You see it and it just changes your chemistry."
"We can be sponges for good moments and moments of gratitude."
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
December 12, 2023
Love You More
Ep 32: Shaking Yourself Out of Stuck-ness with Becky Vollmer
Episode summary:
In this episode Jennifer gets to interview one of her dream guests! She sits down with renown writer, teacher, speaker, and leading voice in the recovery and sobriety community, Becky Vollmer. When Jen first started Love You More, she had a vision of the content she would produce and the people she would dream of having on the show. Becky was one of those dream guests.
Becky's expertise is in helping people to get unstuck. Jennifer and Becky talk about how you can know if you're stuck and how you can start down a path of freeing yourself from your stuck-ness.
Stick around until the end to get an update on Jennifer's alcohol-free journey and hear about the gifts sobriety has given Becky.
More about Becky
Becky Vollmer spent a lot of her life feeling stuck. Since she found her freedom, she has dedicated herself to helping others get unstuck and find their freedom.
After quitting her job, getting sober, and working through a long and emotional divorce, Becky virtually had a degree in soul guided choices. She learned so much about living life in a different way and found a passion for helping other people live the lives they've dreamed of.
Favorite Quotes from Becky:
"We can experience that sense of stuckness in lots of scenarios...big and small. In our jobs, our relationships, and our habits."
"We don't feel authorized to change our own lives."
"We really only make big changes when we can't stand ourselves anymore."
"The opposite of fear is choice."
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
You Are Not Stuck
Becky's Website
Becky's Instagram
Becky's Facebook
The Circle
Emotion Sensation Feeling Wheel
Unbottled Potential (Amanda Kuda)
November 28, 2023
Love You More
Ep 31: Exploring Thoughts and Feelings with Life Coach Helen McLaughlin
Episode summary:
Today Jennifer sits down with her life coach, Helen McLaughlin, to talk about how you can reframe situations by recognizing your thoughts and feelings for what they are. They unwind the between peace and happiness, discuss the merits of assigning greater meaning to your positive thoughts, and delve into how the brain creates the thought patterns that can have so much control over us.
Helen and Jennifer tackle hard questions like: How can we use our thoughts and not focus on them too much? How do you get out of negative cycles of thinking? What advice do you have for people who are using food or alcohol to deal with uncomfortable feelings?
More about Helen
Helen McLaughlin has been helping thoughtful people access the insights that change their lives since 2015. She has worked with her clients on career advancement, career change, marriage difficulties, confidence, boundary setting, breaking habits, building a business, growing a business, fitness goals, and self-esteem.
Helen believes that deep, lasting change comes from insight and from seeing things differently than you did before. When you see things differently, you behave differently.
Favorite Quotes:
"If [a thought] hurts or doesn’t feel good, it’s not the train of thought you want to take." – Helen
“A feeling is just a fluctuation in energy with a label on top of it.” – Helen
“A lot of my work with a client might just be trying to extend the moment between what they’re feeling and what is happening.” - Jennifer
“Nothing in life is screw-up-able.” - Helen
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Helen’s Website
Helen’s Instagram
November 14, 2023
Love You More
Ep 30: The Power of Hypnosis (in nutrition and everything else)
Episode summary:
In this episode Jennifer talks with fellow dietitian Sarah Krieger about how she discovered hypnosis and how she integrates it into her nutrition practice. In her current practice, the majority of her clients are seeing her for hypnosis, but are being treated for some type of nutrition issue in the background. Most clients come to her looking for help with weight loss, but she has also used hypnosis to change people's behaviors around smoking, phobias, sleep, and sports performance.
If there is something that you want to change about yourself or your life, hypnosis can help you do that. From weight loss to worrying about politics to dealing with difficult family members around the holidays, hypnosis can help you to change your thoughts, habits, and reactions.
Favorite Quotes:
"It's never too late to change who you are." - Sarah
"All hypnosis is self hypnosis. I'm just the guide." - Sarah
"It's an hour of a dreamy state where you get to take care of yourself and learn about yourself." - Jennifer
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Sarah's Website
Sarah's Instagram
Sarah's Book: Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook
Sarah's Book: Coffee Grounds, Banana Peels, and Diapers
October 31, 2023
Love You More
Ep 29: The Power of Play - for adults!
Episode summary:
A couple of weeks ago, Jennifer spent a weekend in Nashville at a 3 day music fest - with the goal of letting loose and just having fun. This past alcohol-free year, has been an exercising in re-discovering what fun means and she is here for it!
Research shows that play is good for physical and mental health and helps adults to develop better coping mechanisms and manage stress better.
In this episode, Jennifer talks about her own journey of building playful habits and gives you tons of resources that you can use to delve deeper into this topic and start adding more play into your day.
Head over to Instagram and let us know how you've been playful today!
Favorite Quotes:
“Do you do anything in your day that is not related to any sort of productivity?”
Other Episodes You Might Like:Shiny Hood Self Care
What are you doing with your 4000 weeks?
Season 3 Kickoff
Resources
Stewart Brown's National Institute for Play
Jeff Harry - Positive Play Coach
The Dumb Dads
Kelly Pritchett, RD
Finish Line Virtual Assistants (Christie & Catie)
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
October 17, 2023
Love You More
Ep 28: Season 3 Update
Episode summary:
Welcome to season 3 of the Love You More podcast!
Nine months into her sober living journey, Jennifer reflects on alcohol-free firsts and some awkward moments. Surviving summer, concerts, and canoeing with 3 rowdy boys, she feels like she's hit her stride and is feeling more and more confident in her ability to navigate without the help of alcohol.
Jennifer also share her favorite non-alcoholic beers and some tips for handling social situations that typically revolve around drinking.
If you're interested in exploring alcohol-free living, hit Jennifer up on Instagram!
Favorite Quotes:
"It has certainly improved my life. I feel more myself. I feel like I can be more myself. I don't feel like I have...this underlying current of anxiety that I had when I was drinking."
Other Episodes You Might Like:Season 2 Wrap-up & Thoughts on Rumination
Our Complicated Relationship with Alcohol
Rethinking the Drink
Resources
What is NA Beer?
Athletic Brewing Co.
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
May 16, 2023
Love You More
Ep 27: What Are You Doing with Your 4000 Weeks?
Episode summary:
When Jennifer's mastermind group asked her to choose her favorite productivity book to share on their most recent retreat, choosing Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman was a no-brainer.
With ideas like doing nothing, finding novelty in the mundane, and choosing your failures in advance, this isn't your average productivity resource. Burkeman reminds us that we only have, give or take, 4000 weeks to spend so we better find the time to enjoy it.
Favorite Quotes:
“As a person with perfectionist tendencies, I have certainly learned that I just can’t give my best at everything.”
“Attention is a finite resource.”
“Every moment could potentially offer something beautiful.”
“When’s the last time you did nothing?”
“I have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.” - Blaise Pascal
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Smartphone Podcast Episode
May 9, 2023
Love You More
Ep 26: Season 2 Wrap Up - Life Updates and Thoughts on Rumination
Episode summary:
In this series wrap-up, Jennifer provides a raw and emotional life update. As she continues to work through her foot injury, Jennifer talks through her thoughts on the Boston Marathon, her recovery, and what's up next.
Accepting this change in her relationship to running while focusing more on wholistic self care has brought up thoughts and feelings that have been hard to move on from. In the second part of this episode, Jennifer talks about rumination and how to get unstuck from thoughts that may be getting in the way of enjoying the experience of your life.
Favorite Quotes:
“If we want to be able to handle these hard thoughts better, we have to be more conscious of our thoughts, in general.” – Jennifer
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Rick Hanson Website
April 25, 2023
Love You More
Ep 25: Self Care for Athletes (and other active people)
Guest Bios:Kelly Pritchett PhD, RDN, CSSDNutrition & Exercise Professor
Director of Sports Nutrition for CWU Athletics
Consultant and Co-Owner of Inside Sports Nutrition
Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDOwner and CEO of the blog and wellness brand, Bucket List Tummy
Co-host of Nail Your Nutrition Podcast
Episode summary:
Jennifer and her good friends and fellow sports dietitians get together to talk about how athletes (and other active people) can practice self care to optimize performance and to promote overall health.
Jennifer, Sarah, and Kelly talk about how athletes can maintain healthy bodies and minds when it comes to their training and fueling. They talk about the biggest problems they see in their own practices, their best advice for optimizing training (pssst...all of them said rest), and this group of active moms commiserate about meal planning for their families.
Favorite Quotes:
“When an athlete really pays attention to before, during, and after fueling that’s actually one of the best ways to improve body composition because you’re improving performance long term.” – Jennifer
“Trust the training and your body will do what it needs to do.” – Kelly
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Kelly's Instagram
Sarah's Instagram
Bucket List Tummy
Inside Sports Nutrition
April 10, 2023
Love You More
Ep 24: Nutrition & Self Care: Unlocking Omega-3s with GOED Omega-3
Guest Bios:Elana Natker, MS, RDDirector of Consumer and Healthcare Practitioner Communications at GOED
Self Care Routine: sit and have coffee first thing in the morning and then do a workout
Kaitlin Roke, PhDDirector of Scientific Communication and Outreach at GOED
Self Care Routine: relies on a morning routine of walking or hiking and getting in the hot tub afterwards
Episode summary:
In this episode, Jennifer calls in the Omega-3 experts to answer your questions, clear up confusion, and give you their favorite sources of this essential fatty acid. This one digs deep into nutrition, but taking care of your health and meeting your body’s needs is one of the deepest, truest forms of self care.
Omega-3 experts from GOED Omega-3 join Jennifer in this conversation and force her to put her dietitian hat on as they delve into the best Omega-3 sources (think SMASH! Salmon, Mackerel, Anchovies, Sardines, Herring) and walk you through how much and what you should eat for optimal health.
If you have ever wondered what Omega-3s are, how much to eat if you’re pregnant, if the mercury in fish is bad for you, if you should take supplements, or what DHA and EPA even mean, download this episode right now. You’re about to get some knowledge.
Favorite Quotes:
“You can cook fish very quickly, so if you're someone who's trying to get dinner on the table in a more efficient manner, fish is really your best friend.”
"[When it comes to Omega-3s], some is good, but more is better."
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
GOED Omega-3 website
GOED Quiz
Omega-3 Content of Fish
March 28, 2023
Love You More
Ep 23: The Walk Out of Shame, the Walk Out of the Wellness Culture with JC Lippold
Episode summary:
Wellness culture can make us question if we’re using the right cosmetics, eating the right foods, exercising the right amount...the list goes on and on. In this episode, Jen and guest, JC Lippold, unpack the root causes of shame in the wellness industry.
JC is a teacher of movement and mindset, a community engager and social movement trailblazer, a theatre director, and a full-time leadership and change coach and consultant. He believes that everyone is enough, is doing enough, and is trying enough and is passionate about spreading that message.
From walking through the shame cycle to exploring what being enough really means, this conversation will shift your perspective on the messaging coming from wellness professionals, the media, and even your friends and family.
Favorite Quotes:
“We have a complex world that has complex pathways to happiness and fulfillment and complex realities that make life really hard.” - JC Lippold
“Our culture consistently tries to override our intuition to listen to other things. If your body is telling you something, you should listen to it.” - JC Lippold
“It’s not 'How do we get rid of shame?', but 'How do we move forward with it?'” - JC Lippold
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
JC's Website
JC's Instagram
JC's Facebook
March 14, 2023
Love You More
Ep 22: Rethinking the Drink (part 2)
Episode summary:
Disclaimer: My choice not to drink does not come with judgment of your choice to drink. This is completely judgement free. I'm exploring my relationship with alcohol and hoping that my journey resonates with my listeners.
Over the past couple of months, Jennifer has been exploring her relationship with alcohol and drinking. Now, after 2 months without a drink, she fills us in on her history with alcohol from high school to college to having her kids, and talks about the challenges of not drinking in a culture built around alcohol.
So many of the books and podcasts out there talk about really extreme situations, but there are a lot of people that want to change their relationship with alcohol but don’t have what society would define as a "drinking problem."
Favorite Quotes:
“That’s what I’ve been doing – I’ve been playing around with being a nondrinker.”
“The industry markets alcohol as a way to make life better. We deserve it. They’re targeting us hard.”
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol (Johnston)
February 28, 2023
Love You More
Ep 21: Go with Your Gut: Self Care with Gastroenterologist Dr. Kreikemeier
Episode summary:
Jennifer and Dr. Kreikemeier having been collaborating on the Got Good Gut Health? program and on this episode they talk about everything from Dr. K's hot yoga to the pros and cons of at-home microbiome testing.
Dr. Kreikemeier shares his own self care journey navigating his medical career through the pandemic, how he found a better and healthier work life balance, and how he became a disruptor in the medical community.
And on top of that, we got him to give away his top tips for maintaining good integrity of the gut, so you should probably listen just for that!
Got Good Gut Health?:Starting March 16 you can meet with McDaniel Nutrition Therapy dietitian, Melissa Brown and Dr. K once a week for an 8 week program focused on improving YOUR gut health. They cover hot topics in gut health, lead group discussions, and answer your questions. This is a great opportunity for people struggling with gut health issues and people who just want to have a healthier gut overall.
Favorite Quotes:
“[Mental health] is an important part of the discussion. The number of patients that get digestive issues related to stress and anxiety is sky high.”
"There are so many people walking around with gut health issues and they aren’t seeking treatment that could help them because they think their experience is normal."
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Dr. K’s website
The Myth of Normal – Gabor Mate
Gut Health Program
February 14, 2023
Love You More
Ep 20: Dear Me: The Power of Journaling
Episode summary:
Research has shown that journaling has positive effects on sleep, stress, and overall happiness. You don’t need to journal every day to see the benefits – you only have to journal when you feel like it. Isn’t that an easy form of self care?
Jennifer talks about different forms of journaling and how even writing out a task list can be a form of journaling. As long as what you’re writing is helping you to organize or work through the thoughts in your head, it’s journaling.
Do you write things down? Do you keep a journal? I’d love to hear about your journaling practices.
Favorite Quotes:
“Journaling is an opportunity for me when I feel anxious, itchy, or antsy.”
“The way that I purge that bad feeling out of my body is to journal.”
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
The Artists Way
Liz Gilbert
January 31, 2023
Love You More
Ep 19: Listening Like Mr. Rogers
Episode summary:
This episode was inspired by Mr. Rogers and his uncanny ability to give his undivided attention and listening ear to everyone he met. It makes you want to be a better person - a better listener.
When you get down to it self care is about meeting your needs and when we serve others well, we also help meet our own needs. In this episode Jennifer explores what it means to be a good listener by an examination of bad listeners and shares some tips for parents trying to be good listeners for their kiddos.
Favorite Quote:
“I just feel like my day goes by so much more beautifully because I really slow down and I really take the time to hear the words that someone is saying, to feel their feelings, and to receive them.”
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Mark Nepo Website
Eckhart Tolle Website
Glennon Doyle Website
January 17, 2023
Love You More
Ep 18: Being a Curious Comparative
Episode summary:
After a running injury sidelined her from her favorite sport and method of self care, Jennifer found myself in a comparison trap. At the same time, one of her clients was struggling not to compare himself to other runners while he was struggling to find time for training with a 5 week old baby at home.
Jennifer decided to approach her comparison with curiosity and learned about herself in the process. In this episode she talks about the injury that led her down the comparison trap and how she used curiosity and acceptance to find her way out.
Whether you are comparing your athletic achievements, work, parenting, relationships, or anything else, staying curious and giving yourself grace will help you to accept and move past these feelings.
Favorite Quote:
"There is nothing wrong with comparison because we are human and that is something that is human about us."
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
Mark Nepo Website
January 3, 2023
Love You More
Ep 17: Feldenkrais Method for Self Care with Sandy Weiss, PT, GCFP
Episode summary:
When you’re a baby you know how to take care of yourself and your body, and the Feldenkrais Method teaches self-referencing as a way of bringing you back to your internal guide.
In this episode, Jennifer talks to Sandy Weiss, a physical therapist and Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, about how the Feldenkrais method can be used as self care. Whether you are looking for a deeper connection with yourself or trying to heal a stubborn injury, the Feldenkrais Method has something to offer.
Sandy walks through a Feldenkrais lesson that you would learn in a class and can be done sitting. The only rule is that you have to keep it slow and easy.
Favorite Quote:
"This is an experiment. This is a little movement puzzle where you just sense yourself." - Sandy Weiss
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Sandy’s Website
Feldenkrais Website
Group Classes: Awareness Through Movement
December 20, 2022
Love You More
Ep 16: Shifts in Self Care
Episode summary:
Sometimes you have to change up your self-care routine. It could be because you got a new job, moved to a new house, or got an injury or illness that stops you from doing an activity that you once enjoyed and included as part of your self-care routine. Jennifer has always identified as a runner, but after getting an injury and having to take a long break from running, she is struggling to find a new self-care rhythm.
In this episode she explores her feelings about giving up running and explores the different feelings and challenges that might come up in the face of changes to your self-care.
Favorite Quote:
“It does take attention and intention to maintain your self care routine.” - Jennifer
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
December 6, 2022
Love You More
Ep 15: Receiving Feedback with Therapist, Pattie Cashman
Episode summary:
I think we can all agree that getting feedback can be really uncomfortable. We all have a basic need to be loved and accepted for who we are, and feedback often bumps up against that need.
Luckily, receiving feedback is a skill that you can work on and improve – and your relationships will be better for it! Therapist Pattie Cashman talks with Jennifer about the importance of receiving feedback and how we can all become less reactive and more open to receiving feedback.
Jennifer and Pattie talk about how to identify the triggers that are creating obstacles to accepting feedback, looking at your family history to understand where your triggers come from, and what to do if you realize that you’re shutting down in the middle of getting feedback.
Favorite Quote:“You don’t want to get defensive about information that can be incredibly valuable.”
– Pattie Cashman
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Pattie's Website
November 22, 2022
Love You More
Ep 14: Creating a Mindful Eating Practice
Episode summary:
Welcome to the new season of the Love You More Podcast! I’m so happy to be back.
Since we’re kicking this off during Thanksgiving week, we’re going to talk about Mindful Eating and how you can make eating a time for self-care. At a time of year when things can be stressful and there is delicious food all around you, there is no better time to talk about enjoying food while also honoring your body.
In this episode, we talk about how to know if you’re hungry, how to enjoy your meals mindfully, and look at how mindful eating can be the ultimate form of loving yourself more.
Definitions:
Mindfulness – paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment without judgement
Mindful Eating – paying attention to what you’re eating with intention, moment by moment, without judgement
Intuitive Eating – has a bit more structure than mindful eating, but is very similar to mindful eating
Favorite Quote:
“Eating is one of the purest, most beautiful forms of self-care.”
Resources
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
August 1, 2022Love You MoreEp 13: How to Get Your Healthy Self Care Habits to Stick
Episode summary:
All season long, we've talked about self care practices that can help you to feel healthier, happier, and more fulfilled. We've talked about eating well, exercise, getting enough sleep, feeling our feelings, but we haven't talked about how to stick with these practices in a meaningful way.
In this episode Jennifer talks through questions, practices, and resources that will help you to turn your self care actions into long-term healthy habits.
Favorite quote:"Try to create automated healthy habits so you don’t have to expend a lot of mental or physical energy on them."
ResourcesAtomic Habits (James Clear)
Tiny Habits (BJ Fogg)
Better Than Before (Gretchen Rubin)
The Four Tendencies
Dr. Jud's Website
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
July 18, 2022Love You MoreEp 12: Is Meal Planning Really Self Care? A Conversation with Sara Haas
Episode summary:
Planning meals, grocery shopping, and cooking nourishing meals for you and your family are deep level self care behaviors that can be especially challenging to fit into a busy schedule. The key is to figure out what works for you and allowing the process to change and grow over time. It may actually become something that you look forward to and cherish as self care time!
Jennifer and Sara share tips and tricks for meal planning, including your family in the planning and cooking process, and how to overcome the most common barriers to getting to the store and getting healthy food on the table.
Guest BioSara Haas is a Registered Dietitian with formal training in culinary arts. She is a freelance writer, recipe creator, food photographer (check out her Insta @cookinrd!), and public speaker who has been featured in Eating Well, Shape, USA Today, and a long list of other publications.
Though she's a busy business owner and mom, she find time for self care through continuing to learn new things and spending time outdoors in nature.
Sara offers a Meal Planning Guide where she shares tips and tricks that she has learned over the years. This is invaluable! Message her on Instagram to get a copy.
Sara's Magazine RecommendationsFood Network
Real Simple
Eating Well Online
Bon Appetit
Food & Wine
Favorite quote:“We get one version of us and we have to take care of it and I’m a big believer that food is the way to do that.”
ResourcesJennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Sara's website
Sara's Instagram
Boos Block Cutting Boards
July 4, 2022Love You MoreEp 11: Self-Care in the Cray of Summertime
Episode summary:
For most parents, summertime is a big transition. The schedule is looser, kids are headed off in all directions, and there is an added pressure to enjoy everything and have fun. Plus, there's worrying about the kids at sleepaway camp and the guilt that comes with not parenting perfectly.
This episode is a quick one that explores ways that we can care for ourselves when life feels a little out of control. Jennifer gives some good ideas for continuing your deep self-care practice even when your schedule goes out the window.
Favorite Quotes:“We put an expectation on ourselves that we can do it all, but summer is the time to remind us that we cannot do it all.”
“Summer can be cray-cray and it requires more intentional, deep-level self-care and lowering the bar a little bit.”
ResourcesFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Follow McDaniel Nutrition Therapy: @mcdanielnutrition
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy
June 20, 2022Love You MoreEp 10: The Answers Are Within: Somatic Self Care with Shannon Hayes Buescher
Episode summary:
Shannon is an intuitive eating expert and somatic experiencing practitioner who works with her clients to help optimize the self-discovery and healing in the process of creating a new relationship with food and body. She's also one of my best friends!
In this episode we talk about how to deal with the guilt around self care, Shannon's professional journey, and somatic experiencing techniques you can do today.
Self Care Tip from Shannon:Be more intentional . It’s about the quality of the self care time, not the quantity. Self improvement is a really big part of my self care process.
ResourcesFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Follow McDaniel Nutrition Therapy: @mcdanielnutrition
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy
The Awakened Body
Buy 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals Book
Ellyn Satter's Website
June 6, 2022
Love You More
Ep 8: Don't Fix Your Feelings
Episode summary:
With her whole household down with the flu, Jennifer and her son are both struggling with hard feelings. In this episode, Jennifer uses Mark Nepo's writings to explore how you can experience your feelings without labeling them as good or bad.
Accepting and experiencing your feelings is the highest form of self care and one that is so often overlooked. Whether your going through hard things right now, if you're sick and quarantined, or if you're feeling pretty good, this episode is definitely worth a listen.
Favorite quote:
“Learning from our emotions, not labeling them as good or bad, and leaning into them is how we heal.”
Resources
Mark Nepo's Website
Jennifer's Website
Jennifer's Instagram
May 23, 2022
Love You More
Ep 8: Hey, Smartphone...It's Not You, It's Me
Episode summary:
At a time when 2/3 of Americans want to change the relationship they have with their smartphone, there has never been a better time to evaluate the control your phone has over you. This episode outlines how you can start to change the way you use your phone with the goal of paying more attention and spending your time more intentionally.
Jennifer is trying 10 techniques to change the way she uses her phone - join her to revamp the relationship you have with your smartphone.
Favorite quote:
“I don’t want to have a brain that’s getting worse over time. I really want my brain to stay as sharp as possible for as long as possible.”
Resources
Catherine Price's Website
Screen / Life Balance Website
Jennifer's Website
Calls to action
Follow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10641852
May 9, 2022Love You MoreEp 7: Would You Say That To Your Bestie? The Power of Self-Compassion
Episode summary:
Were you taught self-compassion as a kid? I know I wasn't. I was definitely taught to treat other people nicely, but no one ever talked to me about treating myself kindly. Self-compassion can make you healthier both mentally and physically, and generally makes people happier overall.
In this episode we look at how we talk to ourselves and I'll give you some well-researched ways to start cultivating a self-compassion practice.
Favorite quote:“We have to love ourselves like our life counts on it. Because it does.”
ResourcesSelf-Compassion Quiz
Buy Kristin Neff's Books
Calls to actionFollow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10241842-ep-7-would-you-say-that-to-your-bestie-the-power-of-self-compassion.mp3?download=true
April 25, 2022Love You MoreEp 6: Sleeping Soundly with Kelly Weygandt
Episode summary:
Kelly is a sleep expert that walks us through how we can improve sleep from infancy into adulthood. She explains why we have trouble falling and staying asleep and gives us real world solutions to improving our sleep.
At a time when 1/3 of Americans are getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night, people are scrolling social media in bed, and we seem to just be getting busier and busier, good sleep is needed now more than ever. Are you getting your 8 hours??
Favorite quote:“We live in a society where we boast about how little sleep we can live on. Somehow we get a medal for that.”
About Our Guest, Kelly WeygandtKelly is a mom of two and founder of Clayton Babies Sleep Consulting. She’s got over 20 years of experience as a registered nurse caring for women, infants, and children both in the hospital and community setting.
Her interest in sleep began with her work in the Postpartum Unit at Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado where she taught newborn care classes for parents. Through this work she noticed that while new parents were given information on safety and general health they were offered very little education on sleep, which any new parent knows is often the hardest part of caring for a newborn.
After having her own kids, she became a Family Sleep Institute Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant. Her company, Clayton Babies Sleep Consulting was created to serve not only families, but school districts and community agencies so everyone can get the sleep they need.
Clayton Babies Sleep
Consulting
Family Sleep Institute
ResourcesRevenge Bedtime Procrastination Article
Calls to actionFollow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10241460-sleeping-soundly-with-kelly-weygandt.mp3?download=true
April 11, 2022Love You MoreEp 5: Our Complicated Relationship with Alcohol
Episode summary:
Over the past couple of months, I've been taking a critical look at the role alcohol plays in my life, the role that it plays in my clients lives, and the role that it plays in society.
Does drinking add to my enjoyment of life? Does it make me healthier? Does it make me a better mom? These are the questions that I've been asking myself. Join us to talk through answers to these questions and for ideas to start cutting down on your own alcohol consumption.
Favorite quote:“Does alcohol support your overall health or does it take away from it?”
Additional ResourcesReal Simple Article
Buy The Mediterranean Table CookbookThink you have a problem with alcohol? Get resources here.
Calls to actionFollow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10238216-our-complicated-relationship-with-alcohol.mp3?download=true
March 28, 2022Love You MoreEp 4: Battling Burnout
Episode summary:
The past couple of years have been extremely stressful for everyone, whether it's been separation from family, having your kids doing home learning, or you have had to change your schedule and your habits.
After reading Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, I found myself evaluating how I deal with stress and if I was doing everything I could to avoid burnout. Are you suffering from the 3 warning signs of burnout? Do you know how to deal with stress in a healthy and productive way?
We'll talk through the signs of burnout and 5 easy changes you can make to help deal with stress, feel better, and avoid the negative long-term effects of stress and burnout.
Favorite quote:“Take a note of how you feel after you do something. We’re so quick to notice when we don’t feel well, but we’re less quick to notice when we feel good. Celebrate when you do something well.”
Additional ResourcesThe Burnout Book
How to do Box Breathing
Longevity Study
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy
Calls to actionFollow me on Instagram: @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10237997-ep-4-battling-burnout.mp3?download=true
March 14, 2022Love You MoreEp 3: Eat Plants, Feel Better (with Alex Caspero)
Episode summary:
Alex has spent her career helping mostly women ditch diet culture, let go of the guilt and shame that often surrounds eating, and move toward a plant-predominant diet. For her, it's not important to label your diet or feel pressure to eat "perfectly." It's about moving in a healthier direction that supports your mental and physical health.
An important component of self care is nourishing your body in ways that feel good, reduce disease, and provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function optimally. Incorporating more plants into your diet is the key to all of those. Whether you want to learn about the benefits of a plant-based diet, want to learn easy swaps you can use to get more fruit and vegetables in your meals, or are struggling to manage a diagnosis this episode is for you!
Favorite quote:“If we’re making choices that make us stressed or feel guilty or shame around our food choices, that’s just not a sustainable way to show up everyday.”
About Our Guest, Alex CasperoAlexandra Caspero MA, RD, RYT, is A Registered Dietitian, Plant-Based Chef, owner of Delish Knowledge and author of Fresh Italian Cooking for the New Generation. Her award-winning blog, Delish Knowledge, focuses on making whole-food, vegetarian eating deliciously simple. Alex is part-owner and Nutrition Director of the plant-based food company, rootberry, located in St. Louis, MO.
Alex is the co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors, an evidence-based platform that helps parents navigate the world of plant-based prenatal and pediatric nutrition. She is the co-author of the bestselling book, The Plant-Based Baby + Toddler. Additionally, she is the co-author of Joyful Eating, Nourished Life, a 6-week program which helps others discover a happier, healthier relationship with food and their body. Alex's Website: https://www.delishknowledge.com/
Plant Based Juniors: https://plantbasedjuniors.com/
Buy Fresh Italian Cooking Cookbook on Amazon
Buy the Plant Based Baby & Toddler on Amazon
Buy 30 Under 30 Cookbook
Try the Joyful Eating, Nourished Life program
In the St. Louis area, try rootberry!
ResourcesWhat is plant-based eating?
Mark Bittman on VB6
Calls to actionFollow us on Instagram: @mcdanielnutrition
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10237502-ep-3-eat-plants-feel-better-with-alex-caspero.mp3?download=true
February 28, 2022Love You MoreEp 2: Routine Maintenance
Episode summary:
Between the Great Pause, working from home, kids doing at home learning, sick family members, and constant up and down news cycles, COVID knocked a lot of us off of our normal schedules. This has left lingering affects on our nervous system that makes it harder for us to deal with stress.
This episode focuses on developing self care routines that help you to meet your needs daily without having to make constant decisions. We will talk through the importance of self care routines, why they work, how to set them up, practice them, and how to sit with the good once you have a routine in place.
Favorite quote:“Start small. The important thing is that you lay down the foundation to start creating routines. When we start small and sustainable, we’re so much more likely to maintain those healthy habits.”
Calls to actionFollow us on Instagram: @mcdanielnutrition
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10037860-ep-1-shiny-hood-self-care.mp3?download=true
February 8, 2022Love You MoreEp 1: Shiny Hood Self Care
Episode summary:
Jennifer has been in private practice working with clients for over 15 years and has realized that once people start practicing self care, everything else starts to fall into place. She started this podcast as a way to help people find a self care routine and to see how a self care routine could improve their lives.
This episode focuses on developing a deeper self care routine. While manicures and lunches with friends are important, there is a deeper level of self care to explore.
Favorite quote:“It’s attending to ourselves. Putting our needs first. It is eating when you’re hungry, peeing when you need to go pee, sleeping when you’re tired. It’s also about listening to what your body’s telling you when it comes to emotions and feelings.”Additional ResourcesMore about Revenge Bedtime Procrastination:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-revenge-bedtime-procrastination-5189591
Calls to actionFollow us on Instagram: @mcdanielnutrition
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/10037860-ep-1-shiny-hood-self-care.mp3?download=true