Closer Every Day Podcast

Welcome to Closer Every Day! In this episode, host Jess DePhillips sits down with Tara Sayer, a former ICU nurse and personal trainer turned functional and integrative medicine provider. Tara's approach is simple: find the root cause instead of masking symptoms.

They dig into women's integrative health, including hormone basics (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone), how cortisol and insulin fit into the picture, and the common but often overlooked symptoms of perimenopause. Tara also explains why comprehensive labs and personalized care matter.

Press play, and get closer to the whole-person health you deserve.

#onepercentcloser #functionalmedicine #wholepersonhealth #womenshealth 

Visit Tara at: 

https://www.perspectivehealthiowa.com/

In this episode of Closer Every Day, Aunica Krier and Amanda Stickrod, co-founders of Premiere Dance Project, share how they launched a thriving dance studio in their early 20s, and the habits, leadership shifts, and mastermind groups that helped them keep growing.

They talk about balancing fitness, family, and farm life, the power of time-blocking and delegation, and practical steps you can take to level up personally and professionally.

www.premieredanceproject.com

https://www.instagram.com/premieredanceproject?stkn=eHE5YzF6bTU0azBu

#thisiscloser #closerpod #onepercentcloser #premieredanceproject #masterminds 

This week Olga Reding joins Closer Every Day and shares her journey from Moldova to the U.S.

She talks about the grit it took to earn a double major and graduate debt-free. She also explains how learning the effects conventional beauty products can have on the body led her to founding Olga's Organics. Olga opens up about the challenges and rewards of building an organic-certified makeup company, balancing it with motherhood, and ultimately returning to the financial industry.

Throughout the conversation, Olga's resilience and faith shine through, along with her daily health habits, like consistent workouts, and her belief in the power of taking risks. Her core message: small, steady steps, and the courage to begin again, can transform your life.

#thisiscloser #closereveryday #onepercentcloser #wholepersonhealth 

http://www.olgasorganics.com

The Bible in a Year:

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Pppt42NPK2XzKwNIoW7BR?si=81QOUP1XSeW0E1TkfxS-DA&utm_source=sms

In this episode, host Jess DePhillips sits down with Dr. Justin Behnke, who breaks down how everyday posture can affect your entire life. Dr. Behnke shares how movement habits quietly accumulate into pain, walks through what actually happens during a chiropractic adjustment, and clears up common misconceptions around chiropractic care.

He also dives into practical movement assessments, the role of muscle activation, and the emerging cognitive benefits of creatine.

Key takeaway: Consistency beats intensity — small daily habits around movement and stretching can improve mobility, reduce pain, and build long-term resilience.

#CloserEveryDay #ChiropracticCare #WholePersonHealth #OnePercentCloser 

westendchiros.com

Disclosure: This episode is intended to provide education and awareness around chiropractic care. I am not a medical professional, and nothing shared in this podcast should be considered medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your own health.

Lean muscle mass isn’t just about how you look — it’s one of the biggest predictors of women’s long-term health. This week host Jess DePhillips sat down with personal trainer, Katrina Ellensohn. The ladies talk about why strength training is key to preventing frailty, osteoporosis, and dementia as we age.

We cover it all: starting with small stabilizing muscles, progressive overload, the post-workout nutrition window, tracking skeletal muscle mass — and finally busting the myth that lifting weights makes women “bulky.” 💪

Practical, science-backed, and useful at any age.

🎧 Listen now 

#CloserEveryDay #OnePercentCloser #WomenAndStrength #LiftHeavy #StrengthTraining #BustTheBulkyMyth

Emily Loose, a mom of four and longtime esthetician, joins Closer Every Day to share her health routines and the life-changing moment when her 10-year-old son, Jamison, was rushed to the PICU with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

She recounts early symptoms, urgent care missteps, how she advocated for her son, the ER turnaround, and how quick treatment saved him. The episode covers their adjustment to living with type 1 diabetes, the relief of CGM and smart pump technology, and practical tips for other parents.

Also included: Emily’s simple 15-gram protein coffee hack, her skincare and self-care advice, and actionable takeaways like recognizing DKA warning signs and shopping smart for diabetic supplies.

Disclosure: This episode is intended to provide education and awareness around Type 1 diabetes, including its impact on children and families. We are not medical professionals, and nothing shared in this podcast should be considered medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your own health.

This is #Closer. #closer_pod 

In this episode, Whitney Carlson, Founder of WellHaus in West Des Moines, IA, shares her wellness journey. From Pilates instructor and personal trainer to business owner and ultra-marathoner, Whitney discusses the origin and meaning of WellHaus. She also shares the benefits and best practices of cold plunges and contrast therapy and services she offers-  including sauna, red light, and massage.

Whitney and Jess discuss pushing outside the  comfort zone with Whitney’s daily one-mile commitment. 

🎧 Listen to Ep. 3 now.

#CloserEveryDay #Wellhaus #closer_pod 

www.wellhausdsm.com

Host Jess DePhillips introduces the Closer Every Day podcast and explains its mission: helping listeners become 1% closer to their best selves by exploring health, longevity, and overall well-being with expert guests and practical advice.

One percent closer. Every single day.

Welcome to Closer. In this intro episode, host Jess DePhillips sits down with the most important guest of all — her daughter, Alyx — for an unfiltered conversation recorded on a drive to Iowa City. They talk about Alyx’s upcoming sophomore year, her calling toward medicine and her drive to help as many people as possible. The ladies reflect honestly on what it was like for Alyx growing up with a mom who was only 21 when she was born. 

Real, raw, honest, and under 10 minutes. This is Closer. 🌿

One percent closer. Every single day.