In this special bonus episode of Alive and Loving It, Karen and Dr. Rosy Daniel welcome Helen Drake, Clinical Education Manager at Cytoplan — our very first podcast sponsor to share with us their great ethics, mission and nutritional excellence. This episode is both a celebration and a deep dive into the science, passion, and integrity behind Cytoplan. We’re so grateful for the sponsorship of this truly great company, which is helping us to share the Alive and Loving It message far and wide. 

Cytoplan has been at the forefront of nutritional science for decades, pioneering supplements designed to close the ‘nutrition gap’ and support optimal health and wellbeing. Helen shares her own journey into nutritional therapy and her important role at Cytoplan, before diving into the science behind their ethos: from providing highly Bio-Effective® whole food supplements, to bridging deficiencies in modern diets and health conditions, to supporting longevity and life transitions such as menopause. 

Together, we explore:

• What the ‘nutrition gap’ really means — and why even a good diet may not be enough
•  The vital importance of bio-effectiveness and synergistic nutrients in human health
•  Key Cytoplan products that support immunity, energy, memory, and decrease inflammation
•  How plant phytonutrients can transform our cellular health and even influence gene expression
•  Cytoplan’s practitioner and public services, including free health questionnaires and nutrition support which we can benefit from now

The company’s inspiring owners, Nutritional Wellbeing Foundation- an independent UK based grant-making charity, dedicated to advancing the understanding of nutrition and its impact on health, taking healthy food education and  into schools and communities where it is most needed.

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity

As part of their support for our podcast community, Cytoplan are offering an exclusive 15% discount. Use the code ALIVEPOD-15 at checkout at www.cytoplan.co.uk

You’ll find full details about Cytoplan on our website: aliveandlovingit.org/sponsors. 

✨ Learn more at www.cytoplan.co.uk 

In this episode, Karen Mellers and Dr. Rosy Daniel celebrate a very significant milestone in Rosy’s career and for health coaching, announcing the publication of an international academic article that highlights the importance of health coaching in oncology. 

‘The Case for Integration of Health Coaching within Integrative Oncology’ has been published in Current Oncology Reports, putting the case and scientific evidence in front of the world’s oncologists. 

Rosy says “It is a great honour to be given a voice and a global platform at this time in my life to share 25 years’ work pioneering health coaching for people with cancer.” 

We now have definitive evidence to call for inclusion of health coaching in mainstream oncology to improve patient outcomes at all levels – medical, emotional and spiritual. Rosy explains the international collaborative effort that led to this paper, and the transformative impact that holistic health coaching can have for individuals facing cancer. She calls upon all within the Alive and Loving It community to read the paper, and spread it far and wide via the link to the journal - https://rdcu.be/ezNSf

Takeaways

• This is a real magic milestone moment for Rosy.
• The evidence for health coaching in oncology is huge.
• A specialist cancer coach can make all the difference.
• This paper now lands on the desk of every oncologist in the world.
• Health coaching can lift people out of depression and anxiety which are linked to worse outcomes for people with cancer.
• You don't have to wait until you have a diagnosis to get going with your own health creation.
• The power of groups to create that well of health and healing is just magical.
• Hope is not a promise. It is a state of mind required by anybody that's life threatened to live positively day by day.

Chapters

• 00:00 Celebrating a Milestone in Health Coaching
• 02:51 The Impact of Health Coaching in Oncology
• 05:52 Collaboration and Recognition in Health Coaching
• 09:00 The Role of Health Coaching in Patient Empowerment
• 12:07 Evidence Supporting Health Coaching Benefits
• 14:54 Transforming Lives Through Health Coaching
• 17:51 Training the Next Generation of Health Coaches
• 20:47 Proactive Health Creation vs. Reactive Disease Management
• 24:01 The Power of Community and Support
• 26:53 The Future of Health Coaching and Healing

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity

In this deeply moving finale to Season 1, Karen and Rosy are joined by the radiant and courageous Kit Stapeley, a woman who has survived multiple cancer diagnoses and turned her healing journey into a life of laughter, purpose, and inspiration.

Kit opens up about her decades-long experience with cancer, beginning in 1992, and the powerful decision to become the "captain of her own ship." She speaks candidly about facing surgeries, near-death experiences, spiritual awakenings, and radical healing. With honesty, irreverence, and humour, she reminds us that healing is not just physical – it’s emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal.

We explore the power of choosing life, the importance of emotional expression, the surprising role of laughter, and the impact of food, boundaries, purpose and love in Kit’s survival story. This is not just a conversation about cancer. It’s a raw, soulful, and uplifting dialogue about what it means to truly live.

Top Takeaways

• Healing is holistic – Kit's story reminds us that emotional, spiritual, and physical healing are deeply interconnected.
• The power of choice – Even in the darkest moments, Kit found a reason to choose life and move toward purpose.
• Laughter as medicine – As a trained laughter therapist, Kit shares how humour has been vital in her recovery and emotional release.
• Food as fuel – Kit discusses how dietary changes supported her body through illness and into recovery.
• Purpose as survival – Reconnecting with passion and meaning kept Kit moving forward, even when the odds were against her.

Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome to Episode 12: A season finale with a difference
•  03:20 – Kit’s first cancer diagnosis in 1992 and choosing healing
•  09:15 – The soul decision: “Do I stay or do I go?”
•  13:30 – Emotional healing, poor self-image, and childhood wounds
•  18:40 – Visualisation, higher guidance, and asking for a miracle
•  23:50 – Choosing surgery: a powerful mother–son moment
•  28:00 – Leaving her marriage and reclaiming her voice
•  32:10 – The power of prayer and spiritual support
•  35:45 – Laughter therapy and humour as survival
•  41:30 – Miracles, near-death experiences, and divine visions
•  46:50 – The evolving relationship with food and healing
•  52:10 – Living with purpose and writing the book she was born to write
•  57:00 – Reflections, thank-yous, and Season 1 wrap-up

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity

In this energising episode, Karen and Rosy are joined by nutritional therapist and wellness coach Sandra Miskimmin to explore the powerful role food plays in health, healing, and happiness.

Sandra shares her personal transformation from living with chronic pain, allergies, asthma and exhaustion in her 30s, to becoming the vibrant, energetic woman she is today. The turning point? Real food, deep listening to the body, and a refusal to accept the 'normal' of pain and fatigue.

Together, they unpack the impact of sugar, processed foods, alcohol and stress on the body – especially for women in midlife. Sandra introduces her SMASH approach (Sandra Miskimmin’s Alternative Solutions for Health), a practical, empowering program that helps women reconnect to what nourishes them.

With warmth, wisdom, and plenty of laughter, this conversation is a wake-up call to honour the body's signals, ditch the guilt, and start making simple, sustainable changes that spark vitality from the inside out.

Takeaways:

• Chronic symptoms like pain, fatigue, and inflammation don’t have to be your normal.
• Real, unprocessed food is the foundation of long-term wellness.
• Listening to your body is more powerful than blindly following trends.
• Alcohol, even in small amounts, can disrupt sleep, hormone balance, and healing.
• Community, compassion, and taking it one step at a time are key to lasting change.
• Sandra’s top 5 health tips: eat real food, reduce sugar, increase protein and fibre, drink plenty of water—and enjoy your meals!

Chapters:

•  00:00 – Intro and catching up
•  01:00 – Sandra’s story of transformation and chronic pain
•  05:00 – Inflammation, acidity, and waking up to nutrition
•  10:00 – From diet confusion to the SMASH method
•  13:40 – The truth about sugar and processed food
•  17:00 – Is alcohol really worth it?
•  22:45 – Keto, carbs, and supporting women’s hormones
•  25:00 – Menopause nutrition and muscle maintenance
•  28:00 – Emotional eating, compassion, and change
•  31:00 – The wisdom of the body and weight gain
•  33:00 – Sandra’s 5 principles for thriving health
•  35:00 – Wrapping up – real food and radiant living

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity

In this episode, Karen Mellers and Dr. Rosy Daniel delve into the intricate relationship between food, nutrition, and health. They explore the confusion surrounding dietary advice, the emotional connections we have with food, and the importance of nourishing our bodies rather than merely focusing on weight loss. The conversation highlights the role of the microbiome in our overall well-being, the significance of eating locally and seasonally, and the impact of stress on our digestive health. They emphasize the need for balance in our diets and lifestyles, advocating for a holistic approach to nutrition that includes listening to our bodies and making informed choices.

Takeaways

• Food is the cornerstone of our health.
• There is a lot of confusion around dietary advice.
• Emotional trauma can influence our eating habits.
• Nourishment is more important than restriction for weight loss.
• The microbiome plays a crucial role in our health.
• Eating local and seasonal food benefits both us and the planet.
• Acidity in the body can lead to disease.
• Listening to your body is essential for health.
• Cooking real food can bring joy and fulfillment.
• Education about nutrition is a continuous journey.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Importance of Food and Nutrition
• 09:50 Emotional Connections to Food
• 19:33 The Role of the Microbiome
• 29:38 Balancing Nutrition and Lifestyle

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity

In this week’s special storytelling episode, we welcome Joanna Farrell — a courageous and radiant woman navigating a stage four cancer diagnosis with remarkable emotional depth and grace. Joanna opens up about the emotional turmoil she experienced at the time of her diagnosis, the impact of others’ emotions on her own clarity, and the pressure of making quick treatment decisions in a medical setting.

Through the support of Dr. Rosy Daniel and EFT practitioner Rowena Beaumont, Joanna began unravelling layers of fear, grief, and generational family wounds. She candidly shares how working with emotional freedom technique not only helped her release longstanding baggage but also empowered her to advocate for herself in her treatment plan.

Joanna’s story is one of reclaiming agency, healing deep emotional patterns, and finding her light again. It’s a story of resilience, awareness, and profound transformation — a heartfelt reminder that true healing often begins within.

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome and episode intro
 01:32 – Joanna’s diagnosis and emotional overwhelm
 04:39 – Feeling fear, pressure, and the emotional weight of others
 08:17 – Naming what’s yours and what’s not
 10:17 – Starting EFT sessions with Rowena
 12:43 – Learning to slow down and make empowered decisions
 18:13 – Deeper family healing: grief, lost careers, and parent-child wounds
 24:40 – Generational trauma and cultural inheritance
 26:34 – Moving from past pain to future possibility
 32:08 – Healing through energy and nervous system regulation
 35:12 – Joanna’s message: start with the emotions
 37:18 – The beauty of emotional range and authentic joy
 39:18 – Joanna’s reflections and gratitude

Key Takeaways:

• Awareness is the first step, but real healing happens when we take action to process and release stored emotions.
• Emotional overwhelm can interfere with medical decision-making; reclaiming your power is crucial.
• EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) can help release longstanding trauma and generational baggage.
• You don’t have to carry other people’s emotions — learning to discern what’s yours is part of the healing journey.
• Emotional healing can bring profound clarity, reduce fear, and activate the body’s natural healing potential.
• Healing family dynamics can ripple outward, transforming relationships and reconnecting you to love.
• Slowing down and pausing allows the truth of your body and soul to come through.
• Energy healing can regulate the nervous system and invite light back into places that once held pain.

 Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity

In this heart-opening episode, Karen and Rosy welcome healer and energy psychology practitioner Rowena Beaumont to explore the life-changing technique of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) — also known as “tapping.”

Together they dive into how emotional energy gets stuck in the body, how EFT releases grief, trauma, fear, and anxiety, and incredible healing stories from Rosy and Rowena’s clients, including cancer recovery and emotional peace at end of life. The episode highlights the way hope, presence, and self-forgiveness can open up the body’s natural capacity to heal.

Rowena shares her unique approach, blending EFT with intuitive energy healing to help people process deep emotion and reconnect with themselves — even in the midst of crisis or serious illness. This episode is a moving reminder of the power of emotional release and the miracles that follow when we meet ourselves with compassion and presence.

EFT is a simple, body-based technique that helps people release trapped emotional energy through tapping on meridian points. Releasing fear, grief, and trauma can create emotional peace — and even support physical healing. Our words and beliefs have a powerful impact on our wellbeing; shifting them can change our lives. Hope, presence, and belief in the body’s healing power can significantly alter the healing journey. End-of-life support with EFT brings peace, forgiveness, and profound acceptance. Emotional healing can ripple outward, transforming relationships and even reopening connections once thought lost.

Take Aways

• EFT is a simple, body-based technique that helps people release trapped emotional energy through tapping on meridian points.
• Releasing fear, grief, and trauma can create emotional peace — and even support physical healing.
• Our words and beliefs have a powerful impact on our wellbeing; shifting them can change our lives.
• Hope, presence, and belief in the body’s healing power can significantly alter the healing journey.
• End-of-life support with EFT brings peace, forgiveness, and profound acceptance.
• Emotional healing can ripple outward, transforming relationships and even reopening connections once thought lost.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome and introduction to EFT.
 03:00 – Rosy’s discovery of EFT and how it changed her practice.
 05:20 – What is EFT? How it works on the body.
 07:00 – Client-led tapping and releasing stored emotions.
 08:00 – Rosy's personal healing journey with EFT.
 10:00 – Combining EFT with energy healing.
 11:45 – Client Story: "B" — Releasing childhood wounds, restoring mother-daughter connection.
 14:25 – Client Story: "G" — Cancer recovery, emotional detox, reclaiming life.
 18:10 – Client Story: "J" — A doctor’s journey from fear to peace and extended life.
 22:20 – The power of hope and visualization.
 26:30 – Client Story: "A" — Virtual healing during lockdown and sacred connection.
 29:45 – Karen's personal experience using tapping at night for fear.
 31:00 – EFT for phobias, anxiety, and scam-related fear.
 31:45 – Supporting clients at end of life with EFT.
 33:30 – The power of forgiveness and letting go before transition.
 34:50 – Client Story: "D" — From emotional shutdown to light and connection.
 36:00 – Final reflections and Rowena’s deep impact.

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more.

In this episode, Karen and Rosy delve into the profound impact of emotions on our health and well-being. As an emotional resilience coach, Karen explores why emotions are essential, how they affect our bodies, and the importance of expressing them. Rosy, a holistic doctor, shares insights into the mind-body connection and the emotional needs that are as vital as food and oxygen. Together, they discuss the power of emotional expression, the role of community, and the journey to emotional resilience.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Emotions

05:01 The Mind-Body Connection

15:01 Creating Safe Spaces for Emotions

25:01 Understanding Emotional Needs

35:01 Emotional Resilience and Healing

45:01 Conclusion and Next Steps

Takeaways

• Emotions are vital signals that inform us about our environment and well-being.
• Repressing emotions can lead to physical health issues; expressing them is crucial.
• Safe spaces like circles and retreats are essential for emotional healing.
• Emotional needs are as fundamental as physical needs for a healthy life.
• Building emotional resilience involves understanding and expressing emotions safely.

Resources

Books:

"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk 

"You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay "Love 2.0" by Barbara Fredrickson

Organisations:

Human Givens Institute: Emotional health resources and training Bristol Cancer Help Centre: Holistic support emphasising emotional health

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity to join our community!

In this episode of the Alive and Loving It podcast, hosts Karen Mellers and Dr. Rosy Daniel engage with Helen Patterson, exploring the profound connection between nature, health and education. They discuss personal experiences with nature, the importance of outdoor learning for children, and how these experiences foster resilience and personal growth. The conversation delves into the spiritual aspects of nature, the role of education in nurturing this connection, and practical ways to integrate nature into daily life, especially for children with special needs. The episode emphasises the healing power of nature and encourages listeners to reconnect with the natural world. 

Takeaways 

• Nature has a significant positive impact on our health. 
• Personal experiences in nature shape our connection to it. 
• Children naturally engage with and learn from their environment with nature as their teacher 
• Outdoor learning fosters resilience and independence in children. 
• Nature provides opportunities for growth opportunities that lead to appreciation. 
• The spiritual connection to nature is essential for well-being. 
• Building relationships with nature enhances our understanding of it. 
• Education should incorporate nature to foster curiosity and responsibility. 
• Nature can be a source of healing and rejuvenation. 
• Simple daily practices in nature can enhance our lives.  

Chapters 

00:00 Embracing Nature's Influence on Health 

02:49 Personal Connections to Nature 

05:56 The Role of Education in Nature Engagement 

08:59 Children's Natural Resilience in Outdoor Learning 

12:00 The Magic of Nature in Learning 

14:50 The Spiritual Connection to Nature 

18:07 Building Relationships with Nature 

21:03 Nature's Role in Personal Growth and Responsibility 

23:51 Integrating Nature in Special Needs Education 

27:03 Nature as a Source of Healing 

29:59 Creating Daily Connections with Nature 

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity to join our community!

In this episode of 'Alive and Loving It', hosts Karen Mellers and Dr. Rosy Daniel engage with Claire, a passionate gardener and biodynamic practitioner, exploring her deep connection with nature. Claire shares her journey from a childhood influenced by her gardening family to her extensive experience managing  the Weleda Garden for 30 years, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with plants and the land. The conversation delves into biodynamic growing, the anthroposophical approach to healing, and the significance of patience and mindfulness in connecting with nature. Claire also discusses the role of elemental beings and practical steps for listeners to engage with the natural world, highlighting the joy and freedom found in observing and walking in nature as a form of pilgrimage. 

Takeaways 

• Claire has an ancestral link to gardening through her family. 
• Biodynamics fosters a reciprocal relationship with the land. 
• The garden responds positively to love and care. 
• Building relationships with nature requires time and patience. 
• Elemental beings play a role in our connection to nature. 
• Mindfulness is key to observing and connecting with nature. 
• Gardening aligns with the Earth's natural rhythms. 
• The moon, stars and planets influence plant growth and health. 
• Walking in nature can bring peace and clarity. 
• Engaging with nature can be a form of healing.  

Chapters 

00:00 The Connection to Nature 

07:19 Biodynamics and the Weleda Garden 

10:06 Anthroposophical Approach to Healing  

14:34 Building Relationships with Nature 

19:06 Elemental Beings and Co-Creation 

23:14 Practical Steps to Connect with Nature 

30:11 Embracing Nature's Rhythms 

32:42 Walking and Observing Nature 

36:27 Continuing the Journey with Nature  

Join our Alive and Loving it Community find the loving support that you need to change, grow and heal

This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. A space to reignite your energy, find kindred spirits, align with your purpose, and step into a future of love, vitality, and limitless possibility.

🌟 Your kindred spirits are here! Visit www.aliveandlovingit.org for more resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity to join our community!