Life Well-Lived: Recent Episodes
Kayla Brandon
Are you a self-proclaimed wellness junkie?
Are you constantly looking for ways to improve and optimize your life?
Are you searching for more purpose in every day life?
If you answered "yes" to these questions, then this podcast is for you.
Grab a mug of coffee, matcha or wine, if you're so inclined, and gather round. No topics are off limits in this judgment-free zone of the wellness space.
Hosted by @kayla__brandon.
Send guest ideas or topic requests to kaylabandonfitness@gmail.com.
60: In this solo episode, I discuss balancing motherhood and work, making time for yourself, transitioning from 1-2 and 2-3 kids (soon!), how we knew we were ready to have a third baby and working out while pregnant.
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59: In this episode, I interviewed Bailey Hilliard, the Inmate Rehabilitation Programs Manager at the Chesterfield County Jail in Virginia. She has a masters in social work and a clear passion for helping those who suffer from mental health issues and trauma.
Bailey has been with the Chesterfield Sheriff’s Office since 2020 where she now oversees the operation of the Helping Addicts Recover Progressively Program — better known has HARP. You might have seen some of their viral TikToks where inmates share their experience with the program and lead personal affirmation tapping meditations.
During the interview I sat down with Bailey and also a HARP Program participant, Jennifer. We discussed what inspired HARP’s creation and how prevalent drug and alcohol addiction are in most jails, Jennifer’s experience going through the program and how it’s changed her life, some of the different healing modalities they use and so much more.
Connect with the HARP team on TikTok.
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58: In this episode, I interviewed Morgan Barber, mom of two, certified postpartum doula, passionate advocate for women’s health and founder of Nue, a proactive tool to help new parents navigate the next chapter.
We discuss her passion for women’s health, the birth and postpartum stories of both her girls, her career journey and how that helped her launch her first company, the continued care curriculum Nue offers and so much more.
Connect with Nue on Instagram, LinkedIn and their website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
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57: In this episode, I interviewed Ashley Jones, a Trauma-Informed Coach, Intuitive Guide, and Reiki Practitioner. Ashley’s known for her unique holistic approach that merges modern understandings of the mind and body with ancient practices that remember the power of the self and the soul.
We discuss her background in neuroscience and how she applies that to her coaching, what reiki is and how it helps heal you, her best advice for those looking for true healing in their lives, the beauty of finding your “yellow” and having conversations that are outside your comfort zone, and so much more.
Connect with Ashley on Instagram and her website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kayla-brandon/message
56: In this episode, I interviewed Serena Dodd, founder of Mental Fitness HQ, where she helps business owners unlock their full potential by cultivating a strong and resilient mindset. But Serena has advice for more than just entrepreneurs — she’s speaking to anyone feeling stuck in life right now.
We discuss her career journey, how to get out of your head, how to get unstuck and recover quicker from failure, and the impact social media has on our mental health.
Connect with Serena on Instagram and her website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
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55: In this episode, I interviewed Liz Cuttica, founder of Milly Grey Movement, certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, Lululemon ambassador and a fellow working mom.
Liz’s mission is to educate women about the foundations of functional movement and ensure that they can safely and effectively continue to move throughout pregnancy and postpartum. She’s also extremely knowledgeable and passionate about pelvic floor and core health.
We discuss how to properly identify your core and pelvic floor, how important they are for a functioning body, how to perform a Kegel, and Liz’s thoughts on motherhood.
Connect with Liz on Instagram and through her website, and listen to her first appearance on the Life Well-Lived Podcast where we discuss how to heal your body postpartum.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kayla-brandon/message
54: In this episode, I interviewed Payge Denver, a Michigan native and mother of eight beautiful children. Payge is a busy mom, a business owner and also a personal friend of mine who I admire for her dedication to her family, God and her community.
We discuss Payge’s journey to motherhood, what advice she’d give her younger self, managing mealtime and schedules for kids in various life stages, how she makes time for self-care and how her faith has impacted every area of her life.
Connect with Payge on Instagram and Facebook. Payge is also passionate about building women’s confidence through clean, anti aging beauty products. Send her a DM on Instagram to chat!
To book a bounce house in Metro Detroit, check out her family business, The Daily Jump Party Rentals, LLC.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kayla-brandon/message
53: In this episode, I interviewed Colleen Coles, a certified life coach and spiritual healer for those who crave deeper intimacy in their lives and with themselves, while expanding their dream life, legacy and personal relationships.
We discuss all things trauma-related — how to identify it, forgive others, heal, manage your trauma response, and so much more. I personally learned so much from Colleen and I know you will too.
Connect with Colleen on Instagram and her website.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kayla-brandon/message
52: In this episode, I interviewed Catharine Arnston, the founder and CEO of ENERGYbits. Catharine ditched her decades-long corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship after her sister was diagnosed with cancer. Since then, she’s spent the past thirteen years researching algae, proving it’s efficacy and creating ENERGYbits to help make consuming this superfood more accessible for all.
We discuss the benefits of spirulina and chlorella, how these algae have 1,000 times more nutrition than any other vegetable, how they can boost your immunity, increase your athletic performance and lower inflammation, and so much more.
If you’d like to get 20% off your first order, use the code LIFEWELL at checkout. I’ve tried these myself and I must say they’re a game-changer for making my spirulina smoothies in the morning!
Below are just a few of the articles Catharine has published about algae:
- Why algae is a FOOD not a supplement
- Why the world needs algae
- Dosage Charts
- Algae Comparison: Spirulina algae v.s chlorella algae
- Algae for Mitochondria Health and Longevity
- Why Algae Outperforms Collagen
- Chlorophll + Red Light Therapy generates ATP
- Biohacking with Algae
- Immune Health with algae
- Improve Wellness with algae
- Improve Athletic performance with algae
- Prevent Aging and disease with algae
- Algae has the highest concentration of chlorophyll in the world
Connect with Catharine and ENERGYbits on Instagram, LinkedIn and through her website.
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51: In this episode, I interviewed Shelley Kay, a leading career coach, speaker and expert in changing the way women work. She’s all about expanding women’s leadership and maximizing their impact at work—without burning out.
She brings more than ten years HR leadership experience at Fortune 100 companies like Google, PepsiCo and GE, helping high-achieving women have it all, both inside and outside the office.
We discuss practical ways to beat burnout, what management looks for in high-potential employees, finding gratitude in your current job, work/life harmony and so much more.
Connect with Shelley Kay on Instagram, LinkedIn and through her website.
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50: In this episode, I interviewed Megan Atkinson, founder and principal designer of MEGANROSE Interiors.
Megan and I met through Greek life in college, and I’ve loved following along her personal and professional journey since we graduated. Today, she’s a mother of three, an entrepreneur driven by a passion for home and has a background in real estate.
We discuss how the pandemic led to the creation of MEGANROSE Interiors in 2020, design principles you can apply in your own home, what’s trending and what’s on its way out, her wellness routine, work/life harmony and so much more.
Connect with Megan on Instagram (both personally and professionally), Facebook, LinkedIn and check out her website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kayla-brandon/message
49: In this episode, I spoke with Danielle Bredemus, a dear friend and woman on a mission to share the story of loss, hope and healing in the name of her sweet son, Bentley.
Just a trigger warning for those listening today — we do discuss miscarriage, losing a child and more sensitive topics. If you’re struggling with any of these too, please know it’s okay to skip this episode and come back next week.
We also dive into lighter topics including what Danielle is doing from a spiritual, mental and physical perspective to continue living and honor Bentley’s life, despite this unthinkable tragedy. I hope you say a quick prayer for Danielle and her family. This episode is incredibly moving and I am astonished at her strength.
Connect with Danielle on Instagram and Facebook and be sure to check out the Star Legacy Foundation.
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48: In this episode, I interviewed Juliana Meidl, the founder of Serenity At Home, a Michigan-based home organizing company founded in 2018. Her team works alongside clients to create realistic and customized organizing systems that are sustainable for them and their families. What I love about Juliana’s approach is that she’s focused on compassionately and efficiently guiding her clients through the process of decluttering and getting organized — and you can hear her compassionate heart come through in this interview.
We discuss Juliana’s career before becoming an entrepreneur, how to remove clutter and chaos from your life, the best systems to get organized, her advice for young moms and so much more.
Connect with Juliana on Instagram, Facebook and her website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
47: In this episode, I interviewed Kiki Athanas, an intuitive eating coach who helps smart women conquer emotional eating and practice healthy, balanced eating with consistency and ease - even in the face of life’s many challenges.
We discuss Kiki’s own relationship with food, how to conquer your cravings and get off the non-stop hamster wheel of thinking about food, why men seem to have the best relationship with food and so much more. Kiki not only dropped so much knowledge in this interview, but she had me laughing the entire time too. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!
Connect with Kiki on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, her website and apply for 1:1 coaching.
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46: In this episode, I interviewed Kari Schwear, an Executive Lifestyle Coach, Speaker, Corporate Trainer and author. She is also a Certified GiANT Worldwide guide, specializing in leader transformation and development. And did I mention Kari genuinely loves her life — a LOT — and does all of this without alcohol?
We discuss her former life as a gray-area drinker, which led to launching her own business, GrayTonic, in 2018. We also talk about what action to take if you’re feeling stuck, unhappy or lacking purpose, which I’m sure is something we can all relate to. We cover so many important topics in this episode — I’m thrilled for you to hear Kari’s story in her own words.
Connect with Kari on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and her website.
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45: In this episode, I interviewed Jess Suchan, a board certified Holistic Health & Hormone Coach who helps her clients find a life of bliss — free from fad diets, overexercising, debilitating PMS and burnout. I’ve known Jess since 2017 when I was actually a client of hers, and I can confidently say she’s a sound voice in the wellness space today.
We discuss her life before becoming a health coach, how her relationship to food has changed throughout the years, the damage of overexercising and under-eating, how to use food to fuel you, some healthy swaps for packaged foods and so much more.
Connect with Jess on Instagram and her website.
Apply for Jess’s 1:1 online coaching program and use the code BLISS10 for 10% off her latte blends.
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44: In this episode, I interviewed Courtney Paige, founder of the deliciously healthy food blog, A Paige of Positivity. Courtney also happens to be a friend of mine and a fellow Michigan native!
She’s an expert recipe developer, photographer, taste tester, and more. When you follow Courtney, you’ll soon realize she loves food, loves to workout and genuinely loves life.
Throughout our chat, we discuss how her relationship to food has changed throughout the years, what made her dive into entrepreneurship after working in interior design, where her recipe inspiration comes from, what her days look like working for herself and how grief has changed her outlook on life.
Connect with Courtney on her blog, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Pinterest.
These are also a few posts that Courtney gets asked about most frequently:
- About her
- Her eating disorder journey
- Moving to Michigan + taking the blog full-time post
- Her sister’s story
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43: In this episode, I interviewed Morgan Adams, a holistic sleep coach for women who struggle with getting a good night's sleep consistently.
Ironically enough, Morgan is also a former insomniac. In this episode, she shares how she spent almost a decade using prescription sleeping pills despite knowing that her overall sleep quality suffered, and what she did to overhaul her sleep for good.
We also discuss how morning and evening routines help foster a solid sleep schedule, the best sleep environment for your health, how much sleep you should get every night and so much more.
Connect with Morgan on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
42: In this episode, I interviewed Lauren Eidson, a certified hormone health coach, fertility awareness educator and creator of LiveOn Health Coaching.
Lauren was previously on the podcast in season one, as we discussed all things hormones. Today, she’s back to share her best nutrition and lifestyle tips to support ovarian health, which she explains results in healthy menstrual cycles, balanced hormones and fertility potential. Lauren also gives some great fertility biomarkers that women can pay attention to when they’re trying to conceive.
Connect with Lauren on Instagram and her website.
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41: In this episode, I interviewed Nicole Kerr, an award-award-winning health and wellness expert of more than 30 years.
At the age of 19, when Nicole was a young cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, she went through a transformative near-death experience. Just a trigger warning for the audience — we do speak about car accidents, sexual assault and other heavy topics, so if you need to skip some parts of the interview or the entire episode, that is more than okay. Come back next week.
We discuss how her memory of the crash came back 20 years later, what she did to align her soul, spirit, mind, and body to heal, and what she remembers seeing and hearing when she almost died.
Connect with Nicole on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and her website.
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40: In this episode, I interviewed Kara Nicole Bitar, optimization coach and kundalini yoga teacher.
Kara spent her whole life working toward the goal of becoming a lawyer at one of the biggest law firms in the Southeast. But one day well into her career as a corporate litigator, she realized she was feeling more depleted than energized.
Kara explains how she left her job with no real plan on what to do next. She had a shred of hope that she could experience life differently, and today her mission is to show everyone that this is possible for everyone through discovering who they are and how they function — essentially, learning more about our gifts to help us move through life with more passion, joy and energy.
I did a manifestation blueprint call with Kara myself and I can safely say it was — hands-down — the best time and money I’ve ever invested in myself in the past few years. I’m incredibly excited to share this conversation with Kara and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Connect with Kara on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and her website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
39: In this episode, I interviewed Danielle Matthews — author, public speaker and businesswoman who shares the powerful tools that helped her recover from a brain injury.
At the age of 23, Danielle was hit by a drunk driver and sustained a life-altering injury to her brain. Doctors told her recovery was nearly impossible, and that this injury was her “new normal.”
Danielle shares how she was determined to recover, what she did to achieve that recovery over time, the power of a positive mindset and so much more.
Connect with Danielle on Instagram, Facebook, download “Mind Control,” and contact her here.
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38: In this episode, I interviewed Kelly Broderick, co-founder of a|dash — a wellness brand that delivers a daily dash of adaptogens through organic cold brew coffee.
Kelly began incorporating adaptogens into her daily routine after having her son in 2017. She opens up about struggling with postpartum anxiety, depression and hormonal imbalances, which her functional practitioner said could be alleviated by adding adaptogens into her life. As Kelly explains in the interview, her entire life changed after doing so, leading her to launch a|dash in 2021 with her sister, Megan.
Kelly and I discuss what adaptogens are, how they help the body, her previous career in the wine and spirits industry, life as a working mom, postpartum mental health issues and so much more.
Connect with Kelly and the a|dash team on Instagram and their website. For 15% off your first order, use the code “lifewell” at checkout!
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
37: In this solo episode, I cover my top tips for cheers-ing your way through the holiday season, sans alcohol. From remembering your why, to playing the tape forward, I go into six tactics to help you stay sober while still maintaining your end-of-year social calendar.
My fave non-alcoholic drinks:
- Gruvi
- Athletic Brewing
- Giesen Wines (sold at Whole Foods — my fave is Sauv Blanc)
- Heineken Zero (I prefer adding a lime wedge to mine)
- Kin Europhics
- Recess
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36: In this episode, I interviewed Alysia Pope, a California-based Pilates trainer, certified holistic health coach and host of the Purely Podcast.
Alysia is the founder of PurelyYou, which is known for helping you becoming the best, most happy version of you. PurelyYou is an on-demand subscription that encompasses body loving pilates movements and motivational health coaching.
Alysia and I discuss her relationship to social media, avoiding comparison traps, improving body image, the benefits of Pilates and so much more.
Connect with Aylsia on Instagram, PurelyYou and listen to her podcast.
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35: In this episode, I interviewed Joe Rinaldi, a doctor of Physical Therapy, performance coach, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, believer — the list goes on and on.
Joe opens about his career journey from being a physical therapist to owning his own performance coaching company. We also discuss how he found his faith and how that’s impacted his perspective living with a genetic eye condition, known as Best Disease.
During this interview, I learned that Joe is a voracious reader and podcast consumer, so you have plenty of recommendations of resources that can help you live your best life.
Connect with Joe on Instagram and check out his business, Project Endure. This link gives you the most insight into what Joe is up to.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
34: In this episode, I interviewed my friend Danielle Abele -- serial entrepreneur and founder of social media marketing agency, the Silver Linings Group.
Danielle and I get super granular on all things social media. From short-form video, to hashtags and content pillars, Danielle shares invaluable advice about creating a brand that resonates with your niche audience, and how to grow that little side hustle or passion project into a full-fledged career. She even shares her own journey from corporate to yoga to entrepreneurship.
Danielle is also a new mom, so we chatted a bit about how she’s managing being a boss, while also taking care of her little girl.
Connect with Danielle on Instagram and her website, and be sure to check out the The Silver Linings Group on social and their site too!
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33: In this episode, I interviewed Blair Sharp, sobriety activist, alcohol-free writer and influencer.
While her platform is mostly focused on sobriety, she also discusses issues specific to moms. Blair has recently shared her fertility journey and expands upon it in this interview. I want to note that we do discuss infertility at-length and in detail, so if this is a triggering topic for you, feel free to tune in next week instead.
We also cover how she manages social media while being a working mom, and of course touch on sobriety too.
If you haven’t yet listened to Blair’s sober journey on season one of the Life Well-Lived podcast, give it a listen here.
Connect with Blair on Instagram and her website.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
32: In this episode, I interviewed Zara Marin Franks, certified energy medicine practitioner and coach who helps women turn their challenging breakups into personal breakthroughs.
Zara offers a unique perspective on relationships — she advocates for really understanding your needs deeply before entering in to any kid of partnership.
We cover so many topics relevant to all my single friends of the podcast, like healing modalities to utilize when you’re experiencing heartache, how to get unstuck in your mindset around romantic relationships, how to manifest your dream partner and so much more.
Connect with Zara on Instagram, her website and Medium.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
31: In this episode, I interviewed Tamika Price, better known as food blogger, Plant-Based Tamika.
Tamika opens up about various aspects of her life — from growing up facing adversities some of us can’t even imagine, to suffering from severe asthma and sinus infections, and years spent visiting doctors and trying out medications to cure her ailments. All of these things led Tamika to discover a plant-based diet, which she claims cured her asthma, helped her lose 40 pounds and renewed her quality of life.
Tamika is passionate about sharing all of this on social media and her blog in an effort to spread joy and healing from the inside out.
Connect with Tamika on Instagram and her website.
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30: In this episode, I interviewed Jasmine Estevez, a Florida-based yoga instructor and vegan chef.
Jasmine shares her journey from working at Under Armor to becoming an entrepreneur in the yoga and vegan food prep space. Jasmine opens up about what yoga has done for her mentally and physically, as well as how much she despises the gym…maybe you can relate too? We also discuss body confidence and what that means as you get older, have kids and live life.
Connect with Jasmine on her yogi Instagram, as well as her foodie account, and her website.
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29: In this episode, I interviewed Miranda Divozzo, a talented writer and producer in L.A. who just happens to be my best friend.
Miranda shares her journey from Detroit to Hollywood in pursuit of chasing her dreams of working in the television and film industry. We get pretty real about what it takes to “make it” in L.A., why it’s important to take risks in your career and in life, how she’s stayed so grounded living in a major city for nearly a decade, and what the pandemic taught her about mindfulness and her health.
Connect with Miranda on Instagram.
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28: In this solo episode, I cover what my morning routine looks like, how to achieve work/life balance and set better boundaries, self-care tips for when I'm feeling burned out and how my sobriety journey is going.
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27: In this episode, I interviewed Joanna Dutra, a corporate marketing manager by day and fitness instructor and wellness junkie by night.
Joanna is a multi-passionate person I met while in Costa Rica for our best friends’ wedding about two years ago. During that trip, Joanna told me she was sober and had been for a few years, and I was blown away at how confident, energetic and magnetic her personality was — I knew she was onto something.
We cover Joanna shares her journey to sobriety, what recovery has looked like the past five years, why AA wasn’t for her, how she has fun in every situation and how she’s reclaimed her life and time ditching booze.
Joanna’s story is one that I know I can personally relate to and I’m hopeful this impacts even one person to reflect on their relationship with alcohol.
Connect with Joanna on Instagram!
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26: In this episode, I interviewed Ashley Nickelsen, founder and Chief Snack Officer of B.T.R. Nation — a plant-based, keto-friendly protein bar company with a purpose.
While I love the all natural, clean ingredients in Ashley’s bars, what I love the most is the story behind her company. Growing up, her parents always told her, “Be bold, be tenacious, and be resilient.” This was never more apparent in her life when both her parents were diagnosed with two very rare forms of cancer within months of each other.
Quickly becoming the primary caregiver for her parents at a young age, Ashley found herself totally gobsmacked at the lack of nutritious meals and snacks available for those in hospital settings, so she started making her own healing bites and bringing them to her parents — and that is how B.T.R. nation go its start.
We cover Ashley’s career journey from studying biochemistry and public health nutrition, to personal training and later joining a supplement start-up. We also talk about the indelible mark her parents left on her, as well as the ins and outs of starting a business during the pandemic.
I am truly so inspired by people like Ashley and her company’s mission. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!
Connect with Ashley on Instagram, on the B.T.R. website (use code WELL-LIVED for 15% off your first purchase + free shipping!) and shop her bars on Amazon.
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25: In this episode, I interviewed Margaret Agard, an award-winning writer and author.
Margaret is a Christian mystic and reiki healer who was led to her ultimate purpose in life through daily contemplative prayer and meditation. But before this chapter of her life, she was an executive in the tech industry and was a single mother for a chapter of her life too.
We cover what giving your to-do list to God can really do for your life and sense of peace, as well as what Margaret’s prayer life looks like today as a result. We also discuss how she let go of control and let God do his thing, which I think Margaret has mostly mastered.
Connect with Margaret through her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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24: In this episode, I interviewed recipe developer-turned-entrepreneur, Priya Mulvihill.
Priya is the founder of You Again Foods, which is all about using “food as medicine” to whip up delicious, plant-based, organic baking mixes inspired by Ayurvedic principles.
For those who don’t know what Ayurveda is, it’s an ancient wellness practice that originated in India roughly 5,000 years ago. The word Ayurevda means “the science of life” and these eating principles encourage mindful eating and consuming foods that are appropriate for your dosha — which are believed to be responsible for a person’s physiological, mental and emotional health.
We cover Priya’s own journey with restrictive eating and overexercising, which led to her discovery and food freedom through following Ayurvedic nutritional principles. Priya also gives us a sneak peek into what it takes to be an entrepreneur in the healthy food industry and details how she’s bringing ancient adaptogens into a modern world.
Connect with Priya on Instagram — both her personal page and her You Again Foods account — as well as her website.
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23: In this episode, I interviewed Karli Nutter, a certified holistic health coach, an incredible home cook and recipe developer.
Karli is all about easy recipes that aren’t super restrictive and support your overall wellness — which is something I definitely advocate for as a fellow health coach!
We cover her own journey with food — from being a little more restrictive to finding an intuitive balance that works for her. We also get into how she learned how to cook, she reveals what inspires her recipe creation and shares some go-to easy recipes when you’re short on time.
Connect with Karli on Instagram!
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22: In this episode, I interviewed Lauren Williams, creator and host of the Imperfectly Phenomenal Woman podcast.
Lauren started her podcast because she found that trying to live up to societal expectations was completely exhausting, unrealistic, and inauthentic. She explains how it held her back from who she really wanted to be, and through her hundreds of interviews, realized she wasn’t alone.
We cover when she realized she had limiting beliefs that were holding her back in life, how she deconstructed them, what her positive mindset looks like today and we get pretty real about juggling a side hustle with a corporate job — nothing is really off-limits. I absolutely loved this episode and I hope you do too!
Connect with Lauren on Instagram and listen to her podcast on Spotify and iTunes.
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21: In this episode, I interviewed Chase McKesey — founder and owner of Trophy Body Personal Training, and owner of one of my favorite gyms in the District — SWEAT DC. He also is the former strength coach for the Washington Commanders’ cheerleaders.
What I admire about Chase as a trainer is his generosity — he gives out SO much free information on social media and even on this podcast, but it comes from a place of someone who truly wants to help people find their version of healthy.
We debunk the myth that lifting weights makes you “bulky" and get into why cardio is great for heart health, but it isn’t the secret ingredient to weight-loss. We also cover eating for weight-loss and weight management, Chase breaks down what an ideal week would look like for someone looking to get into shape and why having a 6-pack might be great, but it also requires scarifies that might make you miserable.
Connect with Chase on Instagram and TikTok, and schedule a free consolation with him here.
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20: In this episode, I interviewed Gill Tietz — a sober scientist who is the host and creator of the Sober Powered Podcast.
Gill got sober in 2019 due to the detrimental affects alcohol had on her mental health. Now, she teaches what she’s learned about why it’s so hard to stop drinking, why alcohol makes us so miserable, and how to embrace sobriety. Trigger warning: We do talk about suicidal thoughts, if that’s something that might be traumatic for you as a listener.
We cover her own journey with ditching booze, when she realized she needed to cut it out for good, her many failed attempts to moderate, why it’s not your fault if you can’t control your drinking, navigating shame, how to socialize — especially with your partner — as a sober person, and so much more.
Connect with Gill on Instagram and listen to the Sober Powered Podcast.
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19: In this episode, I interviewed Caroline Prestano— a former special education teacher-turned-full-time fitness and nutrition coach.
As Caroline explains, she decided not to go back to teaching, at least while her daughter is young, and took a chance on turning her side hustle into a full-fledge business.
We cover her journey with fitness before having her daughter, during pregnancy and postpartum. We also discuss how her mindset around exercise has changed in the past year, what her workouts look like lately and how she manages so many roles, while also hosting her own podcast for moms and moms-to-be, Moms Full Circle.
Connect with Caroline on Instagram and be sure to give Moms Full Circle a listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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18: In this episode, I interviewed Ashley Baumann — a corporate drop-out-turned-entrepreneur, health and fitness coach, and podcaster.
Ashley drops some serious knowledge on how she manages her busy days balancing both motherhood and her career, as well as actionable tips on how to start a podcast.
We cover her transition from the world of corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, what inspired her to start a podcast, how to identify your target audience, where to begin if you have no idea how to start a podcast, her morning routine that sets her up for success and so much more.
Connect with Ashley and her podcast on Instagram, and be sure to give Be Ambitious a listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
17: In this episode, I interviewed one of my best friends, Brittany Denver. A social worker by trade, Brittany and I spoke pretty vulnerably about her previous bouts of anxiety and depression, and what her life looks like today — one year medication-free. I want to be abundantly clear: this isn't an anti-medication podcast. Rather, we discuss Brittany's individual experience on medication and how she felt after 8 years of taking medication for anxiety and depression.
We cover her mental health journey, history of medication, what pivotal moment made her get off her medication, how she manages her positive mindset and mood, and so much more.
Connect with Brittany on Instagram and Facebook.
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16: In this episode, I caught up with an old friend — SueSan Eghbalian. She’s a Michigan-based aesthetic nurse practitioner and lover of all things skin care, self-care and makeup.
Now if you know me, these topics are not my forte — so I approached this interview as someone who is truly just curious about them, not an expert by any means.
We cover everything you need to know about botox and fillers, we debunk popular myths about injectables, SueSan shares the best skin care tips under the sun as well as makeup options for those who want to upscale their look and so much more.
Connect with SueSan on Instagram.
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15: In this episode, I spoke with Sam Led, a transformational coach, author and podcaster living in sunny Santa Barbara, California.
Sam works with clients to get out of their head and learn how to tap into their own ability — their own inner wisdom — to heal, move forward and thrive.
We cover Sam’s professional journey from consulting for the federal government, to becoming an entrepreneur; why he believes modalities like yoga and meditation are great, but they’re not the answer to becoming in tune with your soul; and more about quieting the mental chatter and accepting thoughts for what they are — thoughts. Simply put, Sam believes we are not our mental health stigmas that we have been labeled with all our lives. There’s an inner peace inside each of us, and he is here to help you realize exactly who you are.
Connect with Sam on Instagram and his website, and be sure to listen to his podcast.
Follow me and the pod on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
14: In this episode, I spoke with Marita Hansen, a corporate sales leader turned money and mindset coach living in the Windy City.
Marita works with young professionals all over the world to help shift their money mindsets and reveal how old money stories might be holding them back from financial success. After interviewing Marita myself, I can confidently say she definitely has a more holistic approach to finding financial freedom — it’s not strict, frugal or unrealistic — it’s pretty simple actually!
We cover how to transform your relationship with money, managing your money with ease even while managing debt, and goal setting and planning for the future.
Connect with Marita on Instagram and her website.
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13: In this episode, I caught up with my good friend and Chicago-native Jacq Gould — a certified mentality coach, self-connection specialist and founder of YOUR INNER BABE.
We cover her own journey with overcoming an eating disorder in college, her careers in the modeling and entertainment industry, why she pivoted to entrepreneurship after taking her grandma’s guidance, how she gained that killer confidence that makes her shine and how you can do it too.
Connect with Jacq and YOUR INNER BABE on Instagram and on the YIB website.
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12: In this episode, I caught up Lauren Eidson, a certified holistic health coach specializing in women’s hormonal health.
Lauren is a Michigan native like me, but she traded in her snow boots for sunny Florida and she is a staunch advocate for spending time in nature, getting your daily dose of vitamin D and living in flow with the female cycle.
We cover the four stages of women’s monthly cycle, how to eat and live to support each phase of the cycle, what signs to look out for if you suspect you might have a hormone imbalance and so much more.
Connect with Lauren on Instagram and her website.
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11: In this episode, I spoke with Liz Cuttica, founder of Milly Grey Movement. She’s a Chicago-based fitness instructor with over a decade of experience at the top fitness boutiques in the Windy Cindy.
After getting pregnant and giving birth to her daughter Miley, Liz was inspired to get certified as a corrective exercise specialist to help women in their pre-and-postnatal journeys.
We cover SO much solid and sound information for mothers of all ages, like healing your body in the weeks, months and MANY years after giving birth, how she felt after getting and unplanned C-section, how her approach to fitness has changed and so much more.
Connect with Liz on Instagram and her website.
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10: In this episode, I spoke with my sister-in-law, Maria Brandon — she’s a run coach, personal trainer and wellness guru.
Maria explains her 8-year stint in New York City, where she fell in love with running. I think you’ll notice her passion was always quietly calling her name, even if she pushed it aside for a bit.
We cover her transition from Corporate America to a more wellness-focused career, pre-and post-run tips, how to get started running when you don’t know where to start and what run coaches do for their clients.
Connect with Maria on Instagram and her website.
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9: In this episode, I spoke with Blair Sharp, sobriety activist, alcohol-free writer and influencer.
Blair is very open about her journey to sobriety on social media, which is a huge reason I reached out to her for an interview. Her perspective on living alcohol-free is equal parts funny and inspiring.
We cover her relationship to alcohol both past and present, why she gave up booze for good, resources for those who are sober-curious and what her life looks like today.
Connect with Blair on Instagram and her website.
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8: In this episode, I spoke with Emily Addy, former Division 1 college athlete turned yoga instructor turned business school graduate.
Emily and I met when we were both consulting in Washington, D.C. and trying to find something that lit us up outside of work — enter yoga. Though Emily’s journey with yoga actually began in college as a Division 1 athlete, using this ancient practice to help improve her flexibility. As she explains, yoga ended up being far more beneficial for her mental well-being than she could have ever imagined.
We cover the void you sometimes feel starting out your career in Corporate America, how to find your passion outside of work, how yoga made her a better public speaker and finding time to graduate from business school, start an online yoga platform and get married during a pandemic.
Connect with Emily on Instagram and her website.
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7: In this episode, I caught up with my friend, Pegah Esmaili, former fitness instructor, personal trainer, nutrition guru and influencer. Pegah is a California native and her active lifestyle reflects that. Getting into the fitness industry around 17, Pegah struggled with over-exercising and under-eating, which also led to her losing her period.
She is very open about her struggles with orthorexia and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea — better known as HA.
In this episode, we cover signs of orthorexia, overcoming body image issues, gaining weight, healing HA — essentially getting your period back — and more about how her faith played a role in shifting her perspective.
Connect with Pegah on Instagram and her website.
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6: In this episode, I spoke with my friend, Morgan Raphael, better known as @bun_undune on Instagram. I met Morgan through the wellness community in Chicago, and we actually first met in real life at a Soul Cycle class (because #onbrand).
Hailing from New Jersey, Morgan moved to the Windy City a few years back and originally pursued a career at an advertising agency, but quickly realized her passion was found outside her 9 to 5 grind.
In this episode, we cover her journey to entrepreneurship, self-care practices that are attainable, breakups and using her singleness to discover who she really is, details on the Self-Care Society, more on her workouts in 2021 and staying grounded in a city.
Connect with Morgan on Instagram and her website. For 15% off the Self-Care Society Journal, use the code WELLLIVED15 at checkout.
Follow me on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
5: In this episode, I interview my good friend, Sasha Hanway. Hailing from the East Coast, Sasha now lives in the Pacific North West and fully embraces the Seattle lifestyle — by day she’s a she’s a research and insights lead at Google, and by night she’s a yoga instructor, content creator and entrepreneur.
Talking with Sasha is like talking with someone you’ve known your entire life — even if you just follow her inspirational content on social media. We cover what inspired her to begin her yoga practice, how she left D.C. consulting for big tech, how she manages her time and what wellness practices help optimize her life. Get your notepads out, friends, Sasha has a wealth of knowledge on these topics!
Connect with Sasha on Instagram (both her personal brand and Wild Things Retreats) and on TikTok.
Follow me on Instagram for the latest podcast deets every week!
4: In this episode, I interview spiritual healer, Alexa Sharwell. I met Alexa through the Your Inner Babe Reconnected program, and I have to say we clicked instantly. She’s a Chicago native and Holy Fire III Reiki Master — if you don’t know that is yet, you’ll learn more about it soon! And if you’re especially not into the woo woo wellness stuff, I encourage you to keep an open mind and an open heart today.
We cover everything from what inspired her to leave her job after working seven years in Corporate America, how she discovered reiki, what reiki does and how she performs it both virtually AND in person, as well as some valuable tips on finding your most authentic self — essentially, finding your “inner babe.”
Connect with Alexa on Instagram and on the Your Inner Babe website. To receive 10% off Reconnected, use promo code REFERRAL10 when signing up.
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3: In this episode, I spoke with my dear friend, Rachelle Welling, a high-drive entrepreneur, photographer and soon to be mama of two little boys.
Rachelle opens up about using ADHD to benefit her business, why she left her corporate job for entrepreneurship and juggling work/life balance as mom.
She also speaks about creating content for both aspiring photographers and prospective clients alike.
Connect with Rachelle on Instagram and her website.
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2: In this episode, I spoke with my friend and fellow mama, Macy Pruett, a Nashville native, former collegiate athlete and personal trainer who runs an online fitness business.
We get real on what life as a mom is really like, Macy’s journey from working in Corporate America to working in the fitness industry, how she uses Instagram to create community and how the heck she got her booty back after having a baby.
She also speaks about her prenatal and postpartum fitness programs that help mamas-to-be and new moms stay in tip top shape.
Connect with Macy on Instagram and her website.
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1: In this episode, I spoke with my friend and fellow wellness junkie, Giulia Guerrieri, a New York-based mindset coach and manifestation expert.
We talk about finding your purpose, taking calculated risks, listening to your intuition and how she manifested a $5,000 check!
She also speaks about her new program, the Mindset and Manifestation Masterclass.
Connect with G on Instagram, TikTok and her website.
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