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Today, I sit down with Adrienne Simmons, a vitality coach who joins me to talk about how she helps people reclaim their strength, clarity, and drive through intentional lifestyle change. We open by diving into the meaning of vitality and how mental, emotional, and physical energy all intertwine. She explains why people lose energy as they age—not because aging requires it, but because lifestyle habits compound over time until the body finally reaches a breaking point. 

Ms. Simmons walks me through her personal story, starting with decades of being known as the “Energizer Bunny” due to her unstoppable energy. But in her early fifties, everything shifted. Years of late nights, drinking, smoking, after-hours clubbing, and chronically low sleep crashed into hormonal changes and emotional stress. She describes how her energy plummeted to a one or two out of ten, how her doctor warned her she was "one inch" away from diabetes, and how a freezing January night in Canada became her breaking point. Sitting in the garage with a cigarette in one hand and a joint in the other, she realized she didn’t want to die—she wanted to live. 

From there, Ms. Simmons committed to rebuilding her body from the ground up. She began researching women’s biology, aging, and energy systems. She slowly changed her habits, shifted her social circles, left behind destructive environments, and created sustainable routines around sleep, nutrition, movement, and mindset. After a full year of daily work, she restored her energy to a consistent eight, nine, or ten out of ten—and reversed her pre-diabetes in the process. Friends began asking how she did it, which led her to develop her flagship coaching program, Energy Edge: Unlock Your Body’s Energy Potential. 

We also explore the dimensions of wellness Ms. Simmons uses to guide her clients: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, nutritional, intellectual, social, financial, occupational, and environmental. She explains how each dimension pulls energy either toward vitality or toward exhaustion, and why people cannot thrive when multiple areas of life drain them at the same time. Her 12-week coaching program focuses on identifying a client’s “ground zero,” customizing strategies for each weak area, and steadily elevating all energy channels through a structured weekly process. 

Before we close, Ms. Simmons reminds listeners that vitality is not a luxury—it is a birthright. She believes every person has the ability to reclaim their energy, extend their healthspan, and live with purpose, but only if they choose to respect their body more than their cravings.

https://energyforlife.energy/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down in person with Andrea Epting, a specialist in betrayal trauma, sexual compulsivity, intimacy recovery, and behavioral addictions. Ms. Epting is a third-generation Savannian, a therapist with more than two decades of experience, and the founder of Resolve Strategies as well as the nonprofit HUGS—Heads Up Guidance Services. We open our conversation by discussing the impact of intimacy, the meaning behind “Into me, you see,” and how addiction, trauma, and emotional wounds shape the way individuals experience relationships. 

Ms. Epting explains how betrayal extends far beyond cheating. She breaks down emotional betrayal, financial secrecy, addiction-related betrayal, and even body betrayal—when trauma, medical events, or chronic stress cause a person’s own body to turn against them. She walks me through how intimacy betrayal and sexual compulsivity often develop alongside childhood wounds, unresolved trauma, and all-or-nothing behavioral patterns such as eating disorders, overspending, gambling, or pornography addiction. We explore how the nervous system becomes hyper-aroused, how trauma imprints on the body, and why many partners sense the truth long before it’s ever revealed. 

We also talk about the complex stages of recovery. Ms. Epting outlines the first 30–90 days of abstinence, the rollercoaster emotional cycle, and the importance of separating codependency from real healing. She details what rebuilding trust actually looks like: both partners entering their own recovery, completing 24 core tasks, joining process groups, and participating in a formal disclosure process that reestablishes honesty and creates a foundation for reconciliation. She emphasizes that some couples rebuild stronger than ever, while others part ways peacefully after finally understanding themselves and each other clearly. 

Our conversation also covers Ms. Epting’s work with body betrayal and her personal near-death medical experience, which reshaped her understanding of trauma and led her to create resources for individuals without financial access to long-term care. She shares the story behind founding HUGS, a nonprofit providing low-cost, long-term counseling through volunteer professionals, and the creation of her “Lightning in a Bottle” platform, including her 90-day “Plan to Recover” journal designed to help people build healthy habits, emotional regulation, and self-trust. 

Before we close, Ms. Epting leaves listeners with a powerful message: you are worth it. Whether you’re battling addiction, recovering from betrayal, or supporting someone who is hurting, your value does not disappear. Recovery requires turning toward yourself—not away—and recognizing when resistance signals deeper wounds.

https://www.headsupsavannah.org/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with Robert Cook to explore how fiction can be used to explain real-world issues, especially political tension and military conflict. Mr. Cook is a Vietnam veteran, former infantry officer, high-tech entrepreneur, and award-winning novelist whose books draw from both personal experience and global geopolitical research. He begins by taking us through his military service, his time in Germany and the Pentagon, and his deployment to Vietnam—an experience that shaped how he views both war and the people who fight it. 

Mr. Cook explains why he voluntarily returned to Vietnam decades later and how that emotional experience—the memories, the grief, and the contrast between past and present—launched his writing career. During a typhoon aboard a cruise ship, he sat alone in his sealed bow cabin and drafted his first novel, allowing years of lived experience to fuel a fictional story that captured deeper truths about conflict. We talk about the mistreatment Vietnam veterans endured, the political controversies of the era, and why fiction allows him to portray complex realities without the limitations of journalism or political commentary. 

We also discuss his newest novel, The Mahdi, which imagines a path toward Middle Eastern stability through education, technological cooperation, and a reframed narrative that rejects fear-driven stereotypes. Mr. Cook breaks down how he uses fictional elements—such as quantum cell phones and advanced EMP-neutralizing technology—to explore realistic political futures. His protagonist, shaped by both Arab and American cultures, examines Israeli, Palestinian, Sunni, and Shia tensions through a lens of nuance and humanity. 

In our conversation, Mr. Cook also addresses misconceptions about religion, the dangers of political indoctrination, and the importance of teaching children truthful, unbiased history. We talk about the need for education, literacy, and early childhood development as keys to building long-term stability in any society. Whether someone agrees with his perspective or not, Mr. Cook’s intention is to use fiction as a teaching tool—to present common sense solutions, promote peace, and build empathy across cultural divides. 

Before closing, I direct listeners to his website where they can find The Mahdi as well as his other novels—Cooch, Patriot, and Assassin, and Pulse. Mr. Cook’s work blends military experience, political insight, and fictional creativity to spark meaningful conversations about war, peace, and what the world could look like if we chose collaboration over conflict. 

https://robertcooknovels.com/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with Stacey Nye to break down a powerful emotional-healing method known as the FIX Code. Ms. Nye has dedicated her life to helping people remove painful emotions—fear, betrayal, sadness, anxiety—through a simple, five-minute technique that disconnects the emotional charge behind traumatic memories. In this episode, we explore her journey from growing up inside the Olympic world to serving as a problem-solver for massive international sporting events before an unexpected life-altering incident threw her into a mental and emotional collapse. 

Ms. Nye talks about years of hidden suffering after trauma, her growing fear of leaving home, and the overwhelming grief she carried alone. She describes the moment she met Daniel, the creator of the FIX Code, and how a single five-minute session changed her emotional state so dramatically that she committed herself to mastering the method and teaching it to others. She explains the “magic question,” the quantum-based process behind emotional extraction, and why the FIX Code doesn’t erase memories—it simply removes the emotional weight that keeps people stuck. 

We dive into how the FIX Code works compared to traditional mental-health approaches. Ms. Nye shares why focusing on the content of trauma often keeps people trapped, while the FIX Code targets the feeling driving the mental chaos—allowing the brain and body to reset in minutes. She explains how she tested the process on athletes, professionals, friends, and high-performing leaders across the world, gathering thousands of confirmations that the technique works consistently. She also discusses the FIX Code training program she now runs, which gives people the tools to apply the technique in their personal lives or add it to their existing coaching practices. 

Before we close, Ms. Nye talks about the complementary 15-minute session available through their website, giving anyone the chance to experience emotional relief firsthand. She offers examples of the FIX Code being used with kids, athletes, parents, and even strangers who needed immediate help in moments of emotional overwhelm. Whether someone is battling trauma, stress, anxiety, fear, or recurring emotional triggers, the FIX Code teaches them how to regain their balance and move into a new chapter of life with clarity and confidence. 

https://thefixcode.mykajabi.com/practitioner-page

*Please note that I have not personally tried the FIX Code.

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with Diane Taylor, the founder of Glow Leadership, to explore how true success begins with healing, emotional awareness, and personal balance. Ms. Taylor is a speaker, author, and life coach who helps people elevate their potential without sacrificing their physical, emotional, or spiritual health. We open our conversation by breaking down the concept of “glow leadership”—the idea that when a person is centered, healthy, and aligned, that inner strength radiates into every part of their life. 

Ms. Taylor shares her personal backstory, including the childhood trauma of losing her sister and the unprocessed grief that resurfaced in her teenage years, eventually leading to multiple suicide attempts. She explains how those unhealed emotional wounds shaped her adulthood, influenced her relationships, and fueled her high-achieving tendencies. Through her healing journey, she discovered that personal development must include all four core elements: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. That holistic philosophy now guides her work with leaders, professionals, and organizations. 

We dive into her book Elevate Potential, which helps readers unpack limiting beliefs, process emotional pain, develop self-awareness, and build an intentional life rooted in joy and purpose. Ms. Taylor also explains the science behind burnout, the emotional toll of overworking, and how ignoring unresolved pain can manifest physically. From leadership coaching to personal transformation, Glow Leadership equips people to succeed with ease instead of exhaustion. 

Ms. Taylor also describes her signature programs, including Glow Online, a four-month cohort-based leadership experience, and Thrive Women’s Leadership Mastery. She talks about the speaking events she’s pursuing in 2025 and how her message helps audiences reclaim their power, process emotions, and build healthier careers and lives. Before we close, she offers heartfelt advice to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts—reminding them that emotional pain can make the world feel small, but there is always a path back to joy with the right lifeline and support. 

https://glowleadership.com/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with Lillian Easterly-Smith to explore a powerful and deeply restorative approach to addiction recovery—one rooted in healing the body, soul, and spirit. Ms. Easterly-Smith and her husband founded Arukah Ranch in Southwest Florida, a place designed for individuals seeking root-cause recovery rather than surface-level sobriety. She explains the meaning of the Hebrew word Arukah, which translates to “heal, restore, and rebuild,” and shares how that concept shapes every part of their mission.

In our conversation, Ms. Easterly-Smith walks me through her own story, from childhood exposure to generational addiction to her progression into substance abuse as a teenager. She openly discusses the emotional collapse that led to her suicide attempt and the spiritual awakening that pulled her out of it. We break down the critical difference between being “dry” and being truly sober—why simply removing the substance is not enough, and why recovery requires deep emotional, mental, and spiritual renewal.

Ms. Easterly-Smith also outlines the decades of education, counseling experience, and ministry work that led to the development of Arukah Ranch. She describes how recovery must address generational trauma, false belief systems, cognitive patterns, physical health, nutrition, and relationship skills. Together, we examine why so many recovering individuals end up replacing alcohol or drugs with sugar, social media, gaming, or fitness—and how the ranch is structured to help people build balanced, healthy lifestyles instead of new addictions.

We then go into what daily life at Arukah Ranch looks like, from individual counseling and group therapy to life-skills training, organic gardening, animal therapy, brain-health modalities such as red light therapy and infrared sauna, hyperbaric support, nutrition coaching, and spiritual development. Ms. Easterly-Smith also explains how the ranch offers both residential and outpatient-style options so that individuals can access support no matter their life circumstances.

Before we close, Ms. Easterly-Smith shares how listeners can support Arukah Ranch through tax-deductible donations or volunteer work, helping the organization expand housing, equipment, and care for more individuals seeking long-term recovery.

https://arukahranch.org/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with Njideka Olatunde to explore a healing methodology that has existed for more than 5,000 years but is still misunderstood by most people: reflexology. Ms. Olatunde is a naturopathic healthcare practitioner who specializes in relieving chronic pain by using the body’s own electrical and nervous systems. In this conversation, she breaks down how reflexology works, how stress and pain are connected, and why modern medicine often treats symptoms instead of root causes. She also explains how touch becomes a communication channel with the brain to activate the body’s natural healing processes. 

Throughout our discussion, Ms. Olatunde explains how she shifted from social work to natural healing, eventually studying reflexology nationally and internationally—including in China, where practitioners spend significant time understanding a patient’s life, stressors, and environment before offering treatment. She walks me through why pain rarely begins at the site where it is felt, how nerve endings run through the entire body, and why listening is the first step to helping someone in pain. Together, we examine how reflexology activates nerve pathways found in the feet, hands, and ears to open blocked channels and help the body heal itself naturally. 

I also talk with Ms. Olatunde about her book, Reflexology Today: A Family Affair, which teaches families how to use these techniques at home to reduce stress and manage pain. She explains how prevention is the most overlooked element of health—especially for younger generations—and how empowering one family member to learn these tools can change the entire household. Ms. Olatunde now focuses on virtual education, caregiver training, and integrating non-pharmaceutical healing methods with conventional diagnosis to help people take back control of their health. 

https://focusonhealing.com/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with author and speaker Michaela Cox to discuss resilience, faith, and the journey from surviving to thriving. She shares her personal story, which she calls her "38 Triple D"—a life shaped by disability, divorce, and the death of her husband. Through her experiences of overcoming adversity, she has transformed her challenges into a mission to empower others.

Ms. Cox opens up about how writing became both a passion and an outlet, leading her to deliver a TEDx talk and author multiple books that inspire readers to navigate life's unexpected hardships. She dives into the role of faith in her journey, explaining how it has shaped her perspective on grief, resilience, and personal growth. Her newest book, Ripple Effect, explores the power of small actions in creating meaningful change, while Finding Grace Through Grief serves as a guide for those facing loss.

As she continues to expand her work with upcoming books, speaking engagements, and potential future TEDx talks, Ms. Cox emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and perseverance.

https://www.myheartfeltmeditations.com/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with Wanda Webster and Christopher Mack, two advocates who are combining literature, technology, and deep inner work to help people break cycles of trauma and addiction. Ms. Webster is an educator and author who designs social-emotional learning programs, while Mr. Mack is a long-time recovery leader with more than two decades of sobriety and lived experience navigating drug culture, homelessness, and inner transformation. Together, they share how addiction extends far beyond substances and often originates from unresolved trauma, coping mechanisms, and patterns learned in childhood. 

Ms. Webster explains how her curiosity and research led to the creation of their recovery workbook The Journey Within, which helps readers uncover internal wounds, understand obsessive-compulsive thought patterns, and identify the unhealthy habits that shape their lives. Mr. Mack breaks down how “aha moments” became milestones in his recovery journey and how principles like honesty, willingness, and self-observation drive real transformation. Together, they discuss the difference between healthy and unhealthy behaviors, how limiting beliefs form, and why transmuting old patterns is more effective than trying to erase them. 

We also explore their second book, Isabel's Starry Night, a fictional story built to show the recovery principles in action. Ms. Webster describes how the narrative follows a character’s coming-of-age journey, illustrating how introspection, responsibility, integrity, and emotional awareness can shift someone from victimhood into empowerment. Mr. Mack expands on this by explaining how people transmit energy into every environment they enter — and why choosing to raise awareness, ask the right questions, and embody positive principles changes not only the individual but the community around them. 

Mr. Mack speaks about his hands-on service in Los Angeles, helping individuals on Skid Row navigate resources while maintaining compassion in chaotic environments. Ms. Webster discusses their coaching sessions and how their program helps individuals regain their freedom of choice by identifying the internal operators — trauma, beliefs, and old patterns — that often control decision-making. Their mission is simple and powerful: to help people rediscover their potential, reclaim their inner freedom, and take ownership of their personal journey toward healing. 

https://www.dynamicsofrecovery.com/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

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Today, I sit down with Kelly Tuttle, a traumatic brain injury warrior, neurology nurse practitioner, author, and advocate who works tirelessly to educate both the public and TBI survivors on recovery, symptoms, and daily functioning. In this episode, I explore Ms. Tuttle’s story of sustaining a traumatic brain injury after a severe car accident — an incident she initially underestimated until frightening symptoms like exhaustion, irritability, and even falling asleep at the wheel revealed the true extent of the damage. She breaks down how symptoms like sound sensitivity, concentration issues, and emotional overwhelm often go unnoticed, yet deeply impact a person’s ability to work, socialize, and function.

As we continue, Ms. Tuttle explains the myths surrounding concussions, including the false belief that a person “gets better in two weeks” or that symptoms must show up on a scan to be legitimate. She describes how concussions often don’t appear on MRIs or CT scans because the damage involves microscopic shearing of axons — the brain’s communication lines — which traditional imaging cannot detect. Our conversation also covers the unique challenges military service members face, from recurrent head injuries during training to the high rate of TBIs across operational environments. Together, we unpack why so many concussions go unrecognized and how symptoms can evolve or worsen over time without proper care. 

We also discuss Ms. Tuttle’s book After the Crash, where she provides simple, accessible tools to help TBI survivors return to work, manage symptoms, and prevent burnout. She emphasizes the importance of readable formatting, brain breaks, journaling, and compensatory strategies — all designed for people who struggle with memory issues, fatigue, or sensory overload. She shares why journaling is essential for tracking symptoms, noticing patterns, processing mental load, and recognizing how far recovery has come, especially on the difficult days when hope feels thin. Her guidebook also includes an Audible version for those who can’t comfortably read after an injury. 

Finally, Ms. Tuttle outlines her next steps, including a self-paced online program to help TBI survivors ease their transition back to work or school. Her upcoming resources include a journal, an e-book on returning to driving, and practical instruction on advocating for workplace accommodations. Her mission is clear: to help survivors feel less alone, better informed, and more empowered as they navigate a deeply misunderstood condition.

https://kellytuttle.org/

Website: https://coupleonukes.com

Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.