Alive and Loving It

What if having beautiful, healthy hair was less about constantly fixing, washing and styling it and more about understanding what your hair and scalp actually need?

In Episode 52 of Alive and Loving It, we are delighted to welcome Tabitha James Kraan, pioneering organic hairdresser, entrepreneur and creator of her award-winning range of natural and organic haircare products.

Tabitha has spent decades challenging conventional approaches to hairdressing and encouraging us to look at hair as part of our toxin free whole-body wellbeing. Her journey into organic haircare began in 1999, when becoming pregnant prompted her to question what toxins she was putting onto her own body and, importantly, what she was exposing her salon clients to. This led her to completely rethink her approach to hairdressing and ultimately to create her own organic haircare products.

In this fascinating conversation, Tabitha shares her passion for natural beauty, organic hair products, scalp health and sustainable hairdressing, and explains why she believes we need to rethink the way we wash and care for our hair.

We explore the importance of the scalp as living skin with a huge blood supply to our hair follicles which absorb all the products we put onto it. We talk about the role of the scalp's natural oils and why stripping away too much of that protective oil will leave hair and scalp struggling to find their natural equilibrium. Tabitha explains her philosophy of oil balancing, correct cleansing and moisture layering – three principles at the heart of her approach to healthy hair.

We also talk about the ingredients we put onto our hair and scalp, the difference between natural, organic and conventional haircare and the plasticised toxic hair products, and why sustainability matters – not simply for our own bodies, but for the planet too.

For anyone experiencing dry hair, oily hair, an irritated or itchy scalp, thinning hair, ageing hair or simply wanting to move towards a more natural beauty routine, this episode offers plenty to think about. So, if you love natural health, organic beauty, sustainable living, healthy ageing and simple ways to care for yourself more consciously, this is an episode not to miss.

In this episode we explore:

• Natural and organic haircare
• Absorption of hair products and dyes through the scalp
• Why scalp health matters
• The importance of the scalp's natural oils
• How over hair washing affects the scalp and hair
• Oil balancing, gentle cleansing and moisture layering
• Choosing cleaner, more sustainable hair products
• Natural approaches to dry, oily and ageing hair
• Haircare and wellbeing
• Sustainable and ethical beauty
• Why beauty can be both luxurious and environmentally conscious
• Tabitha's journey from traditional hairdresser to pioneering organic hairdresser
• How reconnecting with nature can influence the way we care for ourselves

Find out more about Tabitha James Kraan and her organic haircare philosophy: 

www.tabitha-jameskraan.com

To buy Tabitha’s products AND support the Podcast go to www.aliveandlovingit.org/marketplace  

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Tabitha James-Kraan
• 01:02 The significance of natural hair archetypes and beauty standards
• 02:07 The environmental impact of frequent hair washing and product use
• 03:23 The importance of reducing shampoo frequency for health and planet
• 08:55 The story of how a midwife changed Tabitha’s perspective on hair colouring
• 09:09 The dangers of hair dyes and chemicals absorbed through the scalp
• 12:03 Common toxic ingredients in hair care products to avoid
• 13:02 The impact of synthetic dyes and plastics in hair products
• 15:57 The issue with nanoparticles and microplastics in water systems
• 17:40 The link between chemicals in hair products and cancer risk
• 18:48 Holistic hairdressing and minimal contact colouring techniques
• 22:59 The effects of harsh detergents and surfactants in shampoos
• 24:22 The cycle of over-washing and natural oil production
• 26:39 Benefits of reducing hair washing frequency for health and environment
• 31:00 Embracing grey and natural hair as a form of self-expression
• 34:21 Customising hair colour to enhance natural grey patterns
• 40:17 The role of oils and conditioners in maintaining healthy hair
• 43:17 The importance of choosing natural dyes and gentle treatments
• 45:01 Final thoughts on holistic hair care and environmental responsibility

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

What happens when we lose trust in the extraordinary wisdom of the female body? In this deeply inspiring episode of Alive and Loving It, Rosy Daniel and Karen Mellers are joined by pioneering midwife, educator and advocate Sheena Byrom, founder of All4Maternity, for a powerful conversation about trusting our bodies during pregnancy and birth, women’s choices, empowering midwifery and the importance of staying connected to our innate physiology.

Sheena has been a midwife since 1978, giving her more than four decades of experience witnessing the changing landscape of maternity care. She shares the extraordinary story of the moment she first caught a baby during her midwifery training - an experience that left her in tears and opened her eyes to the profound beauty and power of birth.

The conversation explores the increasing medicalisation of childbirth, including rising rates of caesarean sections and induction of labour, and the culture of risk and fear surrounding modern maternity care. Sheena emphasises that birth can never be completely risk-free, but that maternity services need to recognise when intervention is genuinely necessary while also understanding the potential for medical harm when intervention becomes routine.

Importantly, Sheena stresses that this is not about saying one type of birth is good and another is bad. A caesarean birth can be necessary, empowering and life-saving, and every woman deserves to have her choices respected without judgement. The essential principle is to balance giving women and midwives unbiased, understandable information with building trust in ourselves and our bodies as women as we prepare for one of the most powerful and beautiful moments of our lives. 

We explore the importance of knowing your body, understanding anatomy, staying mobile during pregnancy and labour, preparing emotionally, and developing trust in your own innate physical intelligence. Sheena shares why continuity of midwifery care and supportive relationships can make such a difference and why doulas and trusted birth companions can provide the vital connection and reassurance to let our bodies relax into their natural function.

There is also practical wisdom for pregnancy and birth, including skin-to-skin contact, optimal cord clamping, avoiding unnecessary separation of mother and baby, early breastfeeding and supporting the physiological processes surrounding birth. Sheena and Rosy share the power of visualisation during labour including Sheena’s beautiful image of crossing a river with each contraction.

Through All4Maternity, Sheena is helping to educate and support the maternity community through evidence-based, peer-reviewed journals, online learning, imagery and inclusive resources designed for midwives, student midwives, doulas, childbirth educators and others involved in maternity care.

This is a heartfelt conversation about trust, connection, informed choice, physiological birth, women's empowerment and the extraordinary wisdom of the body.

In this episode we explore:

• Sheena’s journey into midwifery
• The magic and emotional power of witnessing birth
• The changing landscape of maternity care
• Caesarean birth and induction of labour
• Risk, fear and the medicalisation of birth
• The importance of informed decision-making
• Why women need unbiased, accessible information
• Knowing your anatomy and understanding your body
• Birth plans and navigating modern maternity services
• Continuity of midwifery care
• The role of doulas and supportive birth companions
• Staying close to physiology wherever and however a baby is born
• Skin-to-skin contact and keeping mother and baby together
• Optimal cord clamping
• Early breastfeeding and family connection
• Birth trauma and the influence of social media
• Visualisation and preparing emotionally for labour
• Supporting and valuing midwives
• Empowering women to trust themselves and their bodies

Find out more about Sheena and All4Maternity through their website www.all4maternity.com 

Read the Journals – Practising Midwife and Student Midwife.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Sheena Byrom and the series
• 01:00 Sheena's journey into midwifery and early experiences
• 02:43 Building confidence in social media presence
• 16:08 Rise in caesarean and induction rates and concerns
• 20:58 Medicalization of childbirth and risks involved
• 34:55 The importance of respectful, physiological birth
• 44:43 Supporting bonding and early family connection
• 50:12 Trusting intuition and visualizing a positive birth experience
• 52:02 Closing thoughts and gratitude for Sheena's insights

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

In this episode of Alive and Loving It, Rosy and Karen meet the fascinating Janice Clyne of Nourished by Nature — scientist, fermentation expert, forager, educator and passionate advocate for real food. Janice shares her journey from a career in food science and whisky research to discovering the ancient art of fermentation and building ‘Nourished by Nature’, where she now inspires people to reconnect with food, nature and their own wellbeing.

In this episode we explore:

• Why fermented foods can be so valuable for gut health and how they may support the diversity of our gut microbiome.
• How to make your own sauerkraut and vegetable ferments at home — and why you don't need complicated equipment or starter cultures.
• The fascinating relationship between the gut, brain, cravings and mood.
• Why eating real, minimally processed food and a diversity of plants matters.
• The joys and benefits of seasonal eating and foraging.
• How to introduce fermented foods gradually and listen to your own body's response.
• The difference between fermentation and pickling.
• The core philosophy of taking responsibility for our own health and making small, sustainable changes.

Janice's message is refreshingly simple: eat real food, choose the best quality you can, eat seasonally, enjoy plenty of plants and experiment to discover what fermented foods work well for you.

With her scientific curiosity, infectious enthusiasm and wonderfully independent spirit, Janice is a true force of nature. This is a conversation full of practical ideas, inspiration and joy and may well be the key for restoring healthy digestion and mental wellbeing. 

Find out more about Janice and Nourished by Nature at www.nourishedbynature.uk. There you can get Janice’s ebook full of recipes ‘Janice’s Guide to the Galaxy’.
 You can also become a Member of her Wellness Hub to join her lively community of happy fermenters! 

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Janice's background in science
• 02:37 The broken system of health and the power of traditional foods
• 04:10 Unlearning misinformation and returning to basics
• 07:04 Janice's journey from microbiology to fermentation
• 13:21 The benefits of fermented foods for gut health
• 20:17 A day in the life of Janice's kitchen and fermentation process
• 26:41 Cravings, gut health, and the microbiome connection
• 36:08 Supporting gut diversity and the impact of fermented foods
• 43:37 Listening to your body and intuition in health choices
• 45:01 Practical tips for starting with fermented foods
• 55:20 Janice's community, wellness hub, and future plans

Janice’s links:

Instagram – @nourishedbynature
TikTok – @nourishedbynature
Website – www.nourishedbynature.uk

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

In this powerful opening episode of Season 5, Rosy Daniel and Karen Mellers welcome Dr Rob Verkerk PhD, founder and Executive and Scientific Director of the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH). An environmental scientist, ecologist, researcher and longstanding natural-health campaigner, Rob has spent more than two decades challenging the systems and regulations that shape what we can know, choose and use in healthcare.

Rob shares the extraordinary journey that took him from ecology and environmental science into natural health, nutrition, food quality, toxicology and integrative healthcare – and explains why he believes the health of people and the health of our environment cannot be separated.

In this episode we explore:

• Why environmental health and human health are inseparable
• How our food, water, air, stress, movement and environment influence health
• The growing importance of an ecological approach to medicine
• Why Rob believes current regulatory systems protect ‘big pharma’ and ‘big food’ rather than the people that they aim to serve and restrict access to natural health approaches
• The challenge of balancing risk and benefit when regulating herbs, nutrients and other natural products
• The Alliance for Natural Health’s work using science, research, education and law to influence health policy
• Why Rob describes his approach as “re-education rather than fighting”
• The importance of health coaching and behaviour change in creating better health outcomes
• The concept of the “health ecology” of the individual and the many levers we can influence 
• How building resilience, energy, strength, connection and purpose may help us age more healthily
• Why focusing on health creation rather than disease management could transform healthcare

There is also a fascinating discussion about the influence of academia, regulation, pharmaceutical medicine, food systems and vested interests, and why Rob works tirelessly to restore greater balance to both science and healthcare.

Above all, this is a conversation about choice, empowerment, connection and hope – and about moving from passive healthcare to proactive health creation.

About Dr Rob Verkerk PhD

Dr Rob Verkerk is an environmental scientist, ecologist and natural-health campaigner and the founder of the Alliance for Natural Health International. His work spans environmental science, agriculture, food, nutrition, health, science and regulation. He has spent more than 20 years working to protect access to natural health approaches through research, education, advocacy and strategic legal action.

The Alliance for Natural Health needs our support to fund this brave and important work.

Find out more and become a member! 

• ANH International – anh-international.org
•  ANH USA – anh-usa.org

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and overview of the episode
• 04:17 Rob Verkerk's background and connection to nature
• 09:04 The influence of environment on human health
• 12:04 Traditional cultures and wisdom of elders
• 15:50 The medicinal knowledge of rainforest plants
• 17:43 Legal actions to protect natural health products
• 19:28 The need for a risk-benefit approach in regulation
• 20:56 The impact of scientific bias and vested interests
• 23:32 Cost-effectiveness of health coaching in cancer care
• 26:17 The systemic failure of current healthcare models
• 29:14 Probabilistic approach to health determinants
• 31:37 The common soil of chronic and degenerative diseases
• 34:12 The disconnect between health expenditure and outcomes
• 36:17 Inspirations and personal stories of resilience
• 39:15 The influence of corporate interests on science and regulation
• 43:39 The decline of scientific integrity and trust
• 45:51 The movement for natural health and ecological medicine
• 48:31 How to support and get involved with ANH
• 52:02 The importance of connection and community in health
• 53:19 Closing remarks and call to action

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

This episode is a new opportunity to listen again to our inspiring guest Joey Walters who is an esteemed member of our Go Deeper Team. To learn more about her services please go t the Go Deeper Page on our website www.aliveandlovingit.org/go-deeper . And those of you who are our Guardian Patreon Members will also have access to a special gift from her on the Patreon Members pages. Details of how to become a Guardian to support and grow our podcast are found at the end of these show notes.

This week’s episode is one that so many listeners have been waiting for. After receiving multiple requests from our Alive & Loving It community, Karen and Dr. Rosy welcome the extraordinary Joey Walters, founder of Rising Connected — a woman whose teachings have profoundly shaped Karen’s personal and professional path. 

In this powerful, intimate conversation, Joey shares her journey from burnout in a high-pressure leadership career, to a decade of deep apprenticeship with Earth Wisdom teachers, to the emergence of her global work: Rising Connected, a community framework dedicated to awakening feminine truth, power and wisdom. 

Together, the three women explore the transformative healing of circle work, the need for safe connection in a disconnected world, and the foundational framework of Rising Connected’s 8 Agreements, principles that help women return to authenticity, embodied presence, choice, integrity, awareness, heartmind, and relatedness. 

This episode invites listeners into thesacred feminine paradigm: one that honours slowness, nervous-system regulation, emotional truth, and leadership rooted not in perfection, but in soul-led humanity. 

 References 

• Rising Connected: www.risingconnected.com (Join Joey’s community & updates) 
• Earth Wisdom Teachings 
• Awakening Feminine Leaders (Joey’s earlier community) 
• Women’s Fires (Joey’s free online online gatherings) 

Karen’s Women’s Circles (based on The 8 Agreements) https://afreshidea.org/womens-circles/ 

Takeaways 

• The ‘8 Agreements’ are a living framework for awakening. 
• Circle work restores what the modern world has forgotten. 
• Burnout can be a sacred threshold. 
• Co-regulation is powerful medicine. 
• Slowing down is a feminine superpower. 
• Wintering is part of leadership. 
• We are in a collective feminine awakening. 

Chapters 

• 00:00 – Welcome & Listener Requests
•  01:20 – Introducing Joey Walters
•  02:00 – Burnout & the Birth of Rising Connected
•  04:00 – Earth Wisdom Apprenticeship
•  07:40 – The Healing Power of Circle
•  13:00 – Masks, Speed & Feminine Suppression
•  18:00 – Feeling the Full Emotional Spectrum
•  20:00 – Distorted Power vs. True Power
•  24:00 – The Myth of Perfection Falls Away
•  29:00 – Rising Connected’s 8 Agreements
•  37:00 – Wintering & Inner Leadership
•  41:00 – How to Join Circles & Work with the Agreements
•  48:00 – Final Blessings on the Feminine Path

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

This episode is a new opportunity to listen again to our inspiring guest Evelyn Liddell-Davies who is an esteemed member of our Go Deeper Team. To learn more about her services please go t the Go Deeper Page on our website www.aliveandlovingit.org/go-deeper . And those of you who are our Guardian Patreon Members will also have access to a special gift from her on the Patreon Members pages. Details of how to become a Guardian to support and grow our podcast are found at the end of these show notes.

Sleep is not just rest; it is the foundation of your physical health, emotional balance and mental clarity. In this deeply insightful episode of Alive and Loving It, Dr Rosy Daniel, Karen Mellers and new co-host Evelyn Liddell-Davies explore the true causes of poor sleep and how to restore it naturally. This episode offers a compassionate, practical guide to reclaiming deep, restorative sleep without relying on medication. Blending integrative medicine, neuroscience and holistic wisdom, they reveal how modern life including stress, screen time, anxiety and overstimulation disrupts your natural sleep rhythms and nervous system. Learn how to create your own rhythm of rest and activity, calm your mind and reconnect with your body's natural intelligence.

You'll Discover

• Why sleep is essential for immune function, hormone balance and brain detoxification
• How anxiety, cortisol and overthinking keep you wired at night
• The powerful role of circadian rhythms, rest cycles and daily habits
• The impact of news, media and doom scrolling on your ability to switch off
• How napping, rest and nervous system regulation support long-term health
• Natural ways to improve sleep including herbal remedies, baths, touch and relaxation rituals

Sound Bites

• “Self-regulation is the key to good health”
• “Focus on gratitude to shift consciousness before settling to sleep”
• “Touch and intimacy promote better sleep”

Chapters

• 00:00 - Welcome Back to the Podcast
• 02:26 - Introduction to Season Four and New Focus
• 04:02 - The Importance of Sleep
• 11:21 - Mind-Body Connection and Sleep
• 14:32 - Anthroposophical Perspective on Health
• 20:17 - Finding Your Rhythm for Better Sleep
• 25:04 - The Role of Rest and Napping
• 27:05 - Hormonal Balance and Sleep Disturbances
• 29:00 - Navigating Anxiety and Stress Management
• 31:00 - Understanding Sleep Disruptors
• 34:07 - Creating Healthy Sleep Routines
• 38:46 - The Role of Intimacy and Touch in Sleep
• 45:01 - Natural Remedies for Sleep Improvement

Resources

• Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Hygiene: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

This episode is a new opportunity to listen again to our inspiring guest Rowena Beaumont who is an esteemed member of our Go Deeper Team. To learn more about her services please go t the Go Deeper Page on our website www.aliveandlovingit.org/go-deeper . And those of you who are our Guardian Patreon Members will also have access to a special gift from her on the Patreon Members pages. Details of how to become a Guardian to support and grow our podcast are found at the end of these show notes.

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 resources, and follow us on Instagram @aliveandlovingitcommunity

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable. If you would prefer to support us without joining Patreon, you can donate to us directly, ideally with a monthly standing order using these bank details:

• Alive and Loving It Monzo 
• 38362539
• 04-00-06

This episode is a new opportunity to listen again to our inspiring guest Leora Lightwoman who is an esteemed member of our Go Deeper Team. To learn more about her services please go t the Go Deeper Page on our website www.aliveandlovingit.org/go-deeper . And those of you who are our Guardian Patreon Members will also have access to a special gift from her on the Patreon Members pages. Details of how to become a Guardian to support and grow our podcast are found at the end of these show notes.

In this conversation, Karen and Rosy explore Tantra and Neo-Tantra, including themes of intimacy, sexuality, and relational connection. These topics are discussed in a respectful, conscious, and grounded way, but we wanted to let you know in advance.

This episode features a profound conversation with Leora Lightwoman, a leading UK teacher of Tantra and Neo-Tantra. Together, they explore the essence of Tantra, its evolution into Neo-Tantra, and the importance of connection, intimacy, trust, playfulness, and devotion in relationships.

Leora shares her personal journey into Tantra, the significance of establishing beautiful boundaries, and how she supports couples through relational dynamics. The discussion also explores healing wounds in masculine and feminine energy, alongside real-life stories that demonstrate how these teachings can be applied in everyday life.

This enlightening conversation offers listeners insight into deepening intimacy, strengthening relationships, and expanding pleasure and bliss through the principles of Tantra.

Takeaways

• Tantra is rooted in non-duality, weaving together and expanding consciousness.
• Neo-Tantra blends traditional teachings with therapeutic approaches to deepen intimacy and support healthy relationships.
• Connection and intimacy are essential for fulfilling partnerships.
• Beautiful boundaries create safety and support healthy sexual experiences.
• Couples often face challenges when one partner is more eager than the other.
• Healing masculine and feminine wounds supports personal growth and deeper connection.
• Devotion is a core aspect of Tantra and can strengthen relationships.
• Establishing safety and clear parameters is vital for intimacy.
• Sexual connection begins with a simple “hello”—presence, attention, and playfulness matter.
• Real-life Tantra practices can create profound healing and transformation.

Sound Bites

• “Tantra is about non-duality.”
• “If you miss the hello, the connection is gone.”
• “Devotion is at the heart of Tantra.”

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Tantra and Neo-Tantra
•  06:13 Leora’s Journey into Tantra
•  10:52 The Essence of Connection and Intimacy
•  14:46 Understanding Beautiful Boundaries
•  19:12 Couple Dynamics and Relationship Challenges
•  25:41 Healing Wounds in Masculine and Feminine Energy
•  32:20 The Role of Devotion in Tantra
•  35:42 Real-Life Applications and Healing Stories

Find Out More About Leora’s Work

Website: diamondlighttantra.com
On the official Diamond Light Tantra website you can find information about Leora’s practice, book online counselling sessions, or arrange an in-person retreat. These options are available for both individuals and couples. Additionally, you can sign up for Leora’s mailing list to receive news about promotions and events.

Facebook: Diamond Light Tantra 
At the Diamond Light Tantra Facebook page you can stay up-to-date on future events, podcast episodes I am featuring in, and other content related to my practice.

YouTube: Diamond Light Tantra Courses
Leora’s YouTube channel, Diamond Light Tantra Courses, is based around the practice of Tantra and relationship guidance. There she offers a range of educational videos for both people new to Tantra and those who wish to deepen their understanding of the subject.

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

This episode is a new opportunity to listen again to our inspiring guest  Elizabeth King who is an esteemed member of our Go Deeper Team. To learn more about her services please go t the Go Deeper Page on our website www.aliveandlovingit.org/go-deeper . And those of you who are our Guardian Patreon Members will also have access to a special gift from her on the Patreon Members pages. Details of how to become a Guardian to support and grow our podcast are found at the end of these show notes.

What if your skin is trying to tell you something?

In this fascinating conversation, Dr Rosy Daniel and Karen Mellers welcome Weleda skin expert and esthetician trainer Elizabeth King to explore the extraordinary relationship between skin, health, emotions and healing.

Elizabeth shares her journey from a young aromatherapy enthusiast to becoming a pioneer in holistic skin therapy. Drawing on anthroposophic medicine and decades of experience, she explains why skin is far more than a surface to be treated, it is a living mirror of our inner world.

Together, they explore how skin reflects our physical health, emotional wellbeing, stress levels, relationships, boundaries and even our sense of purpose. Through powerful client stories, Elizabeth reveals how skin conditions such as rosacea, acne and psoriasis can sometimes reflect deeper life challenges and emotional patterns.

The conversation also explores the profound healing power of touch, the importance of trust and safety in skin healing, and how mindful, therapeutic facial treatments can calm the nervous system, support emotional wellbeing and reconnect us with ourselves.

Whether you're struggling with a skin condition, interested in holistic health, or simply curious about the deeper wisdom of the body, this episode offers a refreshing and compassionate perspective on skincare and self-care.

In This Episode You'll Discover

• Why skin is often described as a mirror of the psyche 
• How emotions, hormones, digestion and stress can influence skin health 
• The difference between working on the skin and working with the skin 
• What rosacea, acne and other skin conditions may reveal about our lives 
• How gentle facial touch helps regulate the nervous system 
• Why trust and safety are essential for healing 
• The anthroposophic approach to skin and wellbeing 
• The healing role of rhythm, movement and presence 
• How plant remedies are selected to support different skin conditions 
• Why holistic skincare can be a gateway to deeper self-awareness and healing 

Memorable Quotes

"The skin is constantly telling us a story."

"Instead of working on the skin, it became about working with the skin."

"The skin only heals when it feels trust and safety."

"The skin is a facilitator, a mediator and a mirror."

"This work is so far from being only about the face; it's a portal to the nervous system, the heart and the soul."

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.

This episode is a new opportunity to listen again to our inspiring guest Jo Dall who is an esteemed member of our Go Deeper Team. To learn more about her services please go t the Go Deeper Page on our website www.aliveandlovingit.org/go-deeper . And those of you who are our Guardian Patreon Members will also have access to a special gift from her on the Patreon Members pages. Details of how to become a Guardian to support and grow our podcast are found at the end of these show notes.

Jo Dall is a “soul sister” of Karen’s, having shared years of friendship, work, and personal growth together. Jo also worked with Rosy at Weleda and trained to become a Health Creation Mentor.

Everything changed for Jo with the shock of her breast cancer diagnosis. This challenge pushed her to apply everything she had learned to herself and go deep inside to find her healing path. The deeper she went, the more she discovered her connection to Spirit and the profound knowing that she was held, loved, and guided.

With this spiritual awareness, Jo’s life and purpose transformed completely. She moved away from a life of pressure, targets, and ambition, stepping into the role of a Spiritual Healer and Teacher, encouraged by her mentor Julie-Anne Hart.

Jo shares her journey of spiritual transformation, emphasizing the importance of embracing one’s inner knowing and the deep peace that comes with spiritual alignment.

Takeaways

• I’ve pushed and challenged myself hard all my life.
• I’ve been very good at it—probably too good for my health and wellbeing!
• I now have a new strength within me, an innate inner strength coming from my spiritual connection. I can just be in this space.
• When I’m in that aligned space, the right things happen naturally, without striving or struggle.
• Life and healing are much easier when I allow the right things to happen.
• Self-discovery is a journey, not a destination.
• Alignment brings ease and flow to life.
• Inner strength is about being rather than doing.

Sound Bites

• “I always pushed before to be the best version of me.”
• “I have now got spiritual strength within me.”
• “I can just be in this space.”

Chapters

• (00:01) Introduction & Sisterhood
• (01:49) A Life-Changing Diagnosis
• (03:17) An Enforced Pause & Grief
• (06:34) Discovering Inner Strength
• (10:33) Alignment & Flow
• (13:44) Connection to Spirit & Guides
• (17:23) New Pathways & Teachers
• (21:27) The Enough Button
• (24:55) Transformational Healing & Ancestral Patterns
• (27:14) Heart Rage & The Power of Change
• (31:21) Peace, Presence & Coming Home
• (33:43) Staying Aligned Amidst Chaos
• (35:34) Cycling Vietnam to Cambodia
• (38:24) First Steps to Spiritual Connection
• (40:14) Reflections, Gratitude & Closing

References

• Jo Dall’s website: www.transformationalhealing.co.uk

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

Please will you become an Alive Guardian to support and grow our Podcast?  It would mean the world to us if you could become an Alive Guardian to support us in our mission to bring empowering holistic healthcare messages to people far and wide. Click here to join Patreon as a Member (aliveandlovingitguardians.org) and choose a monthly donation level that is right for you. Guardian Patreon members will receive wonderful extra content as a big thank you from Rosy, Karen and the Go Deeper Team for helping to make our dedicated work sustainable.