Wellness Wins: Recent Episodes
Aleisha Theisen
Wellness Wins celebrates the stories of people who've overcome, or are managing, serious health challenges, and thriving. To learn more about Aleisha's wellness coaching services for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and writers, check out: https://www.connectiontowellness.com
"When we're worried 24/7 about how we look or what we weigh, that's just stealing joy from day to day."
Dana Robinson speaks from experience. She went through a tough transition after college, where she was a Division I athlete. Leaving this highly competitive environment, she found her focus on diet and exercise becoming borderline unhealthy. Fortunately, she found support from a therapist, and her thinking about her body shifted in new ways as she became a mother, as well.
As a body neutral personal trainer, she has cultivated an approach that emphasizes functional outcomes and realistic, sustainable habits. Her clients find joy in their bodies' capabilities.
Follow Dana Robinson:
https://www.vitaliawellnessllc.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dana.robinsoncpt
https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsoncpt
https://www.youtube.com/@DanaRobinsonCPT/playlists?app=desktop
Emily Camp began to have hearing changes, nausea, and neck pain in high school. She was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 2, which causes benign tumors to grow on the hearing and balance nerves in the brain. As she entered college to pursue her dream of becoming a physical therapist, her doctors told her she'd need to have the growths removed, and this process would cause her to lose her hearing in both ears. Emily shares what it was like to undergo such a major health experience at such a young age, and how her determination, humor, and the support of her now-husband helped her thrive amid these challenges.
Nurse Natalie Lu of The Reflective Collective explains how art and creative journaling are good for our brains, mental health, and longevity. She also shares prompts you can use to kick off your own creative journaling practice, and she has created a calendar that serves as a beautiful guide for those who want to participate in a creative, supportive community all year long. The video version of this podcast is available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@WellnessWinsPodcast
Separate but related:I'm excited to offer a virtual workshop Jan. 20 on forming a creativity and wellness vision. Your vision is your north star to guide you through 2024 and help you reach your well-being and creative goals. Details: https://www.connectiontowellness.com/wellness-connection-blog/creativity-and-well-being
For more on Natalie and The Reflective Collective:
The Reflective Collective on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/824484235176062/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_reflective_collective/
Or email Natalie to learn more about creative journaling and her calendar: thereflectivenurse at gmail.com
It took a painfully long time for doctors to determine Navy veteran Brandi Privitera's diagnosis. And then, when she went looking for resources on how to manage this condition, she was dismayed to find a lack -- of information, of ways to connect with others, and of research funding for fibro. She turned her frustration into action: starting a blog, BeingFibroMom.com, then turning to advocacy via https://supportfibromyalgia.org/. She shares her story and struggles in this interview, and she shines a light on the path forward for the fibro community.
Wellness Wins is hosted by NBC-HWC Aleisha Theisen. Get her free energy-boost guide at www.connectiontowellness.com.
Other resources:
- https://www.youtube.com/@BeingFibroMom
- https://www.instagram.com/beingfibromom/
- The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
- Fibromyalgia and the nervous system: https://youtu.be/2uk9QyyJx5Q
- The human nervous system: https://youtu.be/bGtb7-LDNMw
Certified Forest Therapy Guide Mel Schneider describes the experiential practice of forest bathing and how it can help us reconnect with nature. Want to set up a guided walk with Mel? Check out her website: Wild Wanders Forest Therapy Walks: https://www.wildwandersmn.com/. She also works with companies that want to set up a guided walk for their employees. You can find her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/wildwandersmn.
Wellness Wins is hosted by Mayo Clinic-trained health and wellness coach Aleisha Theisen. She loves chatting all thing self-care and well-being at www.connectiontowellness.com. You can also find her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/connected_to_wellness.
Rachel is not new to the busy lifestyle of a mom. She has four young children, including a daughter with Prader-Willi syndrome, and she and her husband work hard to keep everything in balance in their home life. Their strategies change as their family grows and their needs shift. She shares the lessons she's learned in how to maintain self-care and manage everyone's schedules in a way that helps their family thrive.
Host Aleisha Theisen is a Mayo Clinic-certified health and wellness coach. She loves chatting about all things wellness, self-care, and well-being with clients, podcast guests, and via her blog at www.connectiontowellness.com.
Accepting her diagnosis of diabetes took RN Patricia Daiker some time, and it included acknowledging grief -- she would never again be the person who didn't have to monitor her glucose numbers. But with self-compassion and allowing herself to process that grief, she began to thrive again. In this episode, she shares how that transition happened. Now Patricia helps other diabetic folks understand how to manage their diagnosis, process difficult emotions around it, and find the energy they need to thrive as well. You can find out more about her 5-step program to managing diabetes at Better Diabetes Life: https://betterdiabeteslife.com/. She also provides guided meditations via Insight Timer: https://betterdiabeteslife.com/meditations/
To learn more about Aleisha's wellness coaching services for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and writers, check out: https://www.connectiontowellness.com
It started with fatigue, then her legs felt a little funny. A few weeks later, Lora Swoape was hospitalized with a Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosis. This rare but debilitating neurological condition would leave her paralyzed for some time. Fortunately, the syndrome is regressing, and she's working on walking independently again. It's been a long, difficult road, but she keeps looking forward, using her vision of wiggling her toes in the sand on the beach as a vision to drive her to get her mobility back again. Her positivity and resilience are so inspiring. She also does public speaking around patient safety and coaches other clients who are going through major health challenges. You can find out more about Lora on her website: https://www.clickyourhealscoaching.com/about-me.
Miriam Mbugua suffered horrible stomach pain and other digestive issues throughout her adolescence. As she got older, she began to learn ways to improve her gut health and thus her overall wellbeing. Now Miriam is a gut health coach helping other folks improve their gut health (she helped me improve my acid reflux). Her coaching emphasizes self-compassion and taking small steps, and it's customized for the individual's unique needs. And she is proof that it works! Hear 3 fun facts you might not know about the digestive system and learn some practical ways to start improving your own gut health in this interview with Miriam.
To connect with Miriam Mbugua and learn more about her gut health coaching services: https://www.facebook.com/kuimbugua
Erin Etheridge suddenly became a single mom of four in 2015 when her husband, Kenneth, died in a motorcycle accident. Ian Cox has a similar story of loss. His wife, Steffany, died in 2020, after a battle with breast cancer. Ian was suddenly a grieving single dad with three young boys. But their stories don't end there. A few years ago, their mutual circles brought them into each other's spheres. They met, fell in love, and married. And again, the story doesn't end there. In this episode of Wellness Wins, Ian and Erin share how they are finding hope, love, and joy, while helping their family continue to process grief and cherish the memories of Kenneth and Steffany.
To learn more about the Refuge Widowers retreat: www.refugewidowers.com.
For health and wellness tips, inspiration and support: www.connectiontowellness.com
Follow The Wellness Connection on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connected_to_wellness/
Follow The Wellness Connection on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnessconnectioncoaching
Bridget Berns had the external trappings that might indicate a happy life: A great job, a husband, a home close to her family. But mental health struggles plagued her, and after some time, she found herself alone and deeply depressed. In this candid interview, she shares her journey through mental health challenges to a state of happiness, joy and well-being. Bridget now helps other women take charge of their mental and physical health. Learn more about her coaching services here. You can follow Bridget on Instagram as well.
Content advisory: This episode describes a mental health crisis and a scene of domestic violence.
https://bridget-berns.com/
https://www.instagram.com/b.e.berns/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Q-the-Magic/100090727489534/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-bernsrn/
Twin Cities RN Natalie Lu has been working on her wellness game for some time, and six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, she recognized she needed to lean into those practices to sustain her. Hear how creative journaling, meditative movement, and the Japanese art of Kintsugi (putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold) have helped her care for herself, and how she's fostering community among caregivers to heal and sustain amid the nation's healthcare burnout crisis.
Follow Natalie's Reflective Collective, a community for caregivers:
- On Facebook
- On Instagram
Watch for her workshop on creative journaling this November at the Minnesota Cares event for healthcare workers.
Read U.S. Surgeon General Murthy's advisory on healthcare worker burnout here.
Health and wellness coach Beth Jennings is a pro at maintaining healthy habits while traveling. Whether it be a job that took her cross country or living in Antarctica where she worked as a physical therapist, Beth has learned how to stay well wherever life takes her. Hear her tips and tricks in this episode of Wellness Wins. To learn more about her health coaching services for travelers, go to bethjennings.com.
Do you struggle like I do to make healthy choices while on the road? I recruited health and wellness coach Beth Jennings to help me out. She's learned by doing, traveling cross-country countless times, as well as living in less-than-hospitable Antarctica. Join us as she shares simple and doable tips to keep yourself well on the road. Find out more about Beth Jennings and her coaching service for travelers at https://bethjennings.com/.
Janelle and CJ are nurses and educators. They love what they do. But sometimes even people who love their jobs need a little inspiration. Hear about how these women spearheaded a delightful movement called "Fun Fridays," which has sparked joy and fun and connection in their workplace. Send this podcast to your work bestie. Maybe you will want to start your own "Fun Fridays" movement together in your workplace!
Journalist-turned-animal welfare worker Kate Kompas is the interviewee in this discussion on self care, self compassion and preventing workplace burnout. Kate works for the Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She has a unique perspective working in the animal welfare space, which -- while rewarding -- can also be taxing for those tasked with caring for these vulnerable creatures. Her commitment and passion have guided her in learning to make transformative mindset shifts about nutrition, movement and workplace wellbeing.
40-year-old Elijah, a chef at a Minnesota hospital, didn't feel quite right after his shift. He stopped at the employee health services clinic - a decision that likely saved his life. Elijah recalls how he went from cooking for hospital patients one minute to being wheeled to the ER the next, and what recovery has been like as a busy husband and dad of two young boys.
Wellness Wins is a podcast that honors the stories, struggles and successes of people who have overcome major health challenges or are managing them and thriving. Wellness Wins is hosted by wellness coach Aleisha Theisen. Want tips on resetting your wellness? Check out her website at www.connectiontowellness.com