She Feels It Now

Joanna messaged before the call: "I haven't kept up with it." Danna braced for bad news. But here's the twist—it was just the logging that slipped. The eating habits? Those stuck. She has energy. She's feeling the difference. That's the whole point.

Remember session one, when Joanna asked "How will I know it's working?" She wanted black-and-white proof, and Danna couldn't give it to her. Now she doesn't need proof. She feels it.

Food logging was never meant to be forever. It's a pain in the ass for two weeks, but the information you get from it can revolutionize how you understand your own body. We overlook what we do habitually—and if you don't draw attention to it, you'll never know it's the thing that needs to change.

Joanna thanked Danna. Danna's response? "I didn't cook your meals. I didn't keep your food log. You did all the work. Thank yourself."

That's the thing about coaching: it's your body. Your habits. Your changes. A good coach helps you listen—but you're the one who has to hear it.

This is the debrief after session four of Joanna's health journey.

If you want to hear all the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), listen on Becoming a Health Coach.

Listen to all the post session debriefs

If you want to hear the original coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

Listen to all the coaching sessions

We always looks forward to hearing from you!

Send us an Email

Send us a Voicemail

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Support the Show

00:00 Introduction and Session Overview

00:42 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Food Logging

03:26 The Importance of Tracking and Habit Formation

09:36 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

Becoming a Health Coach provides resources and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a health coach. Recorded and Produced in Switzerland. Member of the SwissCast Podcast Network.

Mentioned in this episode:

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Conferences and Congresses - no matter what you call them, they are an excellent resource for health coaches.

In this episode, Megan talks about why you should consider attending health conferences, how to prepare before you go, and what to do while you're there.

We love to hear from you!

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Takeaways:

• Attending health conferences provides invaluable networking opportunities with industry professionals and like-minded individuals.
• Health coaches, particularly those new to the field, should prioritize attending conferences to gain insights into industry trends.
• Preparation is key for maximizing the benefits of attending health conferences and engaging with sessions and booths.
• Engaging with exhibitors at booths can lead to unexpected partnerships and valuable conversations within the health industry.
• Health conferences can be financially burdensome; consider volunteer opportunities to alleviate costs and enhance learning experiences.
• Self-care during conferences, including proper hydration and nutrition, is essential for maintaining focus and energy throughout the event.

Chapters:

• 00:00.0 - Why Conferences Matter
• 01:17.0 - Networking Like a Pro
• 04:40.0 - Conference App Prep
• 06:15.0 - Choosing Talks and Sessions
• 08:08.0 - Expo Hall Strategies
• 11:14.0 - Budget and Self Care
• 14:04.0 - Save Money and Wrap Up

Mentioned in this episode:

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Interested in attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN)?

Enroll today with my code and save 20% off any IIN & Chopra Course! *excluding CIP

Get big discounts on IIN Courses

She's Doing the Hard Work

Good news: Danna's awake this time. And Joanna? She came in hot—full of data from her CGM experiment, eager to keep going, and finally seeing real results.

But Megan caught something in this session: a little miscommunication around food logging. Joanna was trying to figure out how to track (weighing her go-to foods once so she'd know the portions forever), and Danna pushed back. Why? Because quality matters more than quantity. If you're weighing your potato chips, you're missing the point.

The bigger insight: Joanna's the type who goes all-in and then loses the plot. She knows this about herself. So the goal isn't to overhaul everything—it's to change one variable at a time and let it stick. She tried two new recipes this month. That's a win. She's not the person who's going to flip her entire life overnight, and that's okay.

Here's what coaches want you to know: they're holding your hand, not carrying you. You're still walking. You're still doing the hard work. A good coach feels you out, adjusts, and keeps you from drowning in goals you'll abandon in a week.

This is the debrief after session three of Joanna's health journey.

If you want to hear all the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), listen on Becoming a Health Coach.

Listen to all the post session debriefs

If you want to hear the original coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

Listen to all the coaching sessions

We always looks forward to hearing from you!

Send us an Email

Send us a Voicemail

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Support the Show

00:00 Introduction and Session Overview

00:17 Joanna's Progress and Challenges

01:55 Food Logging Discussion

06:13 Coaching Strategies and Client Interaction

16:31 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Becoming a Health Coach provides resources and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a health coach. Recorded and Produced in Switzerland. Member of the SwissCast Podcast Network.

Mentioned in this episode:

Send us a Voicemail

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

If you’re becoming a health coach (or you’re early in your coaching career), you’ve probably felt the pressure to “have it all together” while the world feels… like a lot. In this episode, mindfulness practitioner and certified coach Gretchen Larsen shares practical ways to stay grounded, reduce stress spirals, and prevent burnout—without pretending you’re fine.

We talk about why overwhelm can shrink your sense of control, how to work with your feelings instead of bypassing them, and the power of choosing small, doable actions that restore agency—especially when everything feels too big.

• The “circle of control” and how to come back to what you can influence
• Why small actions (even cooking dinner) can interrupt a stress spiral
• How negative self-talk shows up for coaches (“I should know better”)
• Feeling your feelings vs. replaying the world’s events (and getting stuck)
• “Do it in connection”: why support systems matter for resilience
• Creating a safe container for emotions (alone and with trusted people)
• The only thing we always control: choosing our response

Gretchen Larsen is a leadership and empowerment coach who supports teams, female professionals and activists doing important work in the world. For over 25 years, her work has spanned across start-ups, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies, helping teams and aspiring leaders navigate change and transformation with a people-first approach.

Especially in times of uncertainty, Gretchen encourages mindfulness and somatic awareness to help people take care of themselves, reconnect to what’s in their control, and take grounded, purposeful action. She believes that now more than ever, we need strong female leaders to help guide our planet, our organizations and the change we all so desire.

Website

LinkedIn

Listen to Gretchen's Meditation on So Frickin' Healthy

Welcoming the Unwelcome by Pema Chödrön

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

00:00 Mind Body Connection

01:02 Doomscrolling And Boundaries

02:49 Gretchen Spiral And Control

06:10 Small Actions To Cope

14:41 Hit Bottom Find Support

21:11 Make Space Choose Response

Mentioned in this episode:

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Institute for Integrative Nutrition Special Deals

IIN is expensive but they always have special deals going on.

Get big discounts on IIN Courses

When Your Coach is Human Too

Danna's been up since 4:30am. She's brain foggy, running on fumes, and didn't have time to review her notes before the session. Megan's listening and thinking: come on, Danna, you can do it.

And that's the point. Coaches are human. There's no such thing as a perfect session every time—and showing that to clients matters. Life gets messy. You show up anyway.

The real takeaway from this session? Joanna says she does the 80/20 thing with processed foods, but when someone also mentions their memory isn't great... they might not be tracking how often it's actually happening. A food diary could help—not as judgment, but as data.

And then there's the question every client asks: How long until I see results? The honest answer? There's no magic timeline. You can follow every Huberman protocol in the book, but if your cortisol is through the roof and you're white-knuckling through perimenopause, perfect eating won't save you. It's all connected—sleep, stress, food, hormones. You do your best and keep going.

This is the debrief after session two of Joanna's health journey.

If you want to hear all the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), listen on Becoming a Health Coach.

Listen to all the post session debriefs

If you want to hear the original coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

Listen to all the coaching sessions

We always looks forward to hearing from you!

Send us an Email

Send us a Voicemail

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Support the Show

00:00 Introduction and Session Reflection

01:47 Challenges of Maintaining Focus

05:11 Diet and Habit Tracking

10:16 ADHD and Perimenopause Discussion

15:50 Concluding Thoughts and Next Steps

Becoming a Health Coach provides resources and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a health coach. Recorded and Produced in Switzerland. Member of the SwissCast Podcast Network.

Mentioned in this episode:

Institute for Integrative Nutrition Special Deals

IIN is expensive but they always have special deals going on.

Get big discounts on IIN Courses

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

The first session is done—and Danna and Megan are debriefing. What just happened? What worked? What do listeners need to know about getting the most out of health coaching?

Joanna came in like a lot of first-timers: a little anxious, full of questions, not quite sure how coaching works. She wanted a program. A protocol. Something concrete. But that's not how this goes. Good coaching isn't about talking at someone—it's about listening, pulling out what's really going on, and meeting people where they are.

The good news? Joanna already prioritizes sleep. That's huge. And she wants to understand the why behind everything—her scientific brain is an asset here, not a hurdle.

For anyone starting coaching: show up present. Take a few breaths. Stay in touch between sessions. And know that your coach isn't judging you—they're just your accountability partner, checking in to say, "Hey, remember me? I'm still here."

This is the debrief after session one of Joanna's health journey.

If you want to hear all the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), listen on Becoming a Health Coach.

Listen to all the post session debriefs

If you want to hear the original coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

Listen to all the coaching sessions

We always looks forward to hearing from you!

Send us an Email

Send us a Voicemail

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Support the Show

00:00 Introduction to Session

00:42 First Impressions and Key Takeaways

01:38 Coaching Techniques and Client Interaction

03:37 Addressing Client's Concerns and Goals

09:46 Concluding Thoughts and Next Steps

Becoming a Health Coach provides resources and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a health coach. Recorded and Produced in Switzerland. Member of the SwissCast Podcast Network.

Mentioned in this episode:

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Chapter 0: Before We Begin

Meet Joanna: working mom, twin wrangler, cheese enthusiast. She's got four-year-old twins, a ten-year-old who moonlights as a paid babysitter, and a brain that hasn't known single-tasking in years.

She's here because of the afternoon crash—that 2pm slump that wipes her out. She wants her focus back, her energy back, her brain back. But she's also clear about what she's not here for: diets. Diet culture. Anything she wouldn't want her daughters to see.

Joanna eats flexitarian, leans plant-based for the planet, but isn't giving up cheese anytime soon. She's skeptical of the perimenopause hype (especially when someone's trying to sell her supplements). She wants changes that are sustainable, not restrictive.

Danna's answer? The 80/20 rule. Eat well most of the time. Enjoy your life. No diets. No guilt. Just figuring out what actually works for her body.

This is where Joanna's health journey begins.

If you want to hear all the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), listen on Becoming a Health Coach.

Listen to all the post session debriefs

If you want to hear the original coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

Listen to all the coaching sessions

We always looks forward to hearing from you!

Send us an Email

Send us a Voicemail

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Support the Show

00:00 Introduction and Initial Greetings

00:14 Parenting Challenges and Coping Strategies

03:12 Diet and Nutrition Discussion

05:24 Health Concerns and Lifestyle Factors

12:30 Stress, Sleep, and Final Thoughts

Becoming a Health Coach provides resources and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a health coach. Recorded and Produced in Switzerland. Member of the SwissCast Podcast Network.

Mentioned in this episode:

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Institute for Integrative Nutrition Special Deals

IIN is expensive but they always have special deals going on.

Get big discounts on IIN Courses

Thanks for listening to the introduction episode for our coaching series with Joanna.

This project follows a real three-month coaching engagement with six coaching sessions. We recorded the coaching sessions themselves, plus Joanna’s full health history, plus debrief episodes where Danna and I reflect on the coaching session and break down what we were listening for.

Here’s the easiest way to listen, depending on what you want more of.

If you want to hear the actual coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

If you want the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), you’re in the right place on Becoming a Health Coach.

To make it simple, we will link everything in the show notes each week so you can follow along in order.

Start here on Becoming a Health Coach: Joanna’s Health History

Then head to So Frickin’ Healthy: Coaching Session 1–6

After each session, come back to Becoming a Health Coach: Coaching Debrief 1–6

And finish here: Joanna’s Reflection Episode

You do not need to listen to every single episode to get value out of this series, but if you want the full story arc, listening in order is the way to go.

Alright, let’s do this!

We always looks forward to hearing from you!

Send us an Email

Send us a Voicemail

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Support the Show

Becoming a Health Coach provides resources and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a health coach. Recorded and Produced in Switzerland. Member of the SwissCast Podcast Network.

Mentioned in this episode:

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Megan and fellow coach Danna revisit an early episode to unpack functional medicine—what it is, how it differs from conventional care, and how a functional approach can sharpen a health coach’s practice. Expect practical examples (BP meds, antibiotics + probiotics), how to vet providers, and what extra training changed in Danna’s client work.

Back in 2018, Megan introduced functional medicine as an option when conventional care feels stuck on symptom relief. In 2025, she and Danna (a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach) compare notes: What does “root cause” really mean? How do labs, lifestyle, and nutrition fit together? And how can coaches collaborate with (or simply vet) doctors who think more holistically—without abandoning standard medicine when it’s needed?

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Background

01:04 Understanding Functional Medicine

02:25 Functional Medicine in Practice

13:17 How Functional Medicine Informs Your Coaching Practice

• Root cause ≠ anti-medicine. Functional medicine uses meds when necessary, then investigates lifestyle, nutrition, hormones, gut health, and environment to address why symptoms persist.
• Broader data, better decisions. Full labs (and sometimes stool/urine testing) + food/lifestyle mapping can reveal patterns a 7-minute visit can’t.
• Clinician fit matters. You want curiosity, clear explanations, and collaboration. Titles help, but how they listen is the tell.
• Coaching upgrades. FM knowledge helps coaches guide clients to targeted doctor questions, low-cost experiments (e.g., trial eliminations), and realistic next steps—especially when budgets/insurance are tight.

• Share your questions or stories: leave us a voicemail
• Explore more episodes of Becoming a Health Coach on the SwissCast Network.
• Connect with Danna for functional-medicine-informed coaching.

Mentioned in this episode:

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Megan and fellow health coach Danna revisit an early episode on patient advocacy, reflecting on what still holds up in 2025. They cover why women are disproportionately dismissed, how to prepare for medical appointments, when to switch doctors, and how to use online research without catastrophizing.

Back in 2018, Megan shared Jennifer Esposito’s years-long road to a celiac diagnosis—an all-too-common story for women whose symptoms get minimized or misread. In this updated conversation, Megan and Danna dig into what it means to be your own advocate today: trusting your intuition, bringing organized notes, asking better questions, and remembering that clinicians are experts in medicine—but you’re the expert on your body. They also lay out a practical way to use communities, forums, and AI search without falling into worst-case rabbit holes.

Mentioned in this episode:

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast