Embrace Balance, Discover Joy

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Aamir Malik, professor of neuroengineering and author of Fix the Floor, to explore the five pillars of health and how our everyday choices influence not only our physical well-being, but also our cognitive health, mood, relationships, and quality of life.

Aamir’s book grew out of years of research and conversations with people looking for ways to improve their memory and cognitive abilities. He discovered that many of the answers came back to the same fundamentals: how we eat, move, sleep, connect with others, and structure our daily lives.

But here’s the important part: these pillars don’t operate independently. Poor sleep can affect our appetite, mood, and motivation. Our habits can influence how much we move and how we engage with others. And even when we make time for exercise, spending the rest of the day sitting for hours may still take a toll.

One of the most thought-provoking parts of their conversation is the role of social connection in our overall well-being. It’s not simply about how many people we know, but the quality of our relationships and the warmth of our everyday interactions.

In this episode, they explore:

• The five pillars of health: diet, fitness and exercise, sleep, social connection, and personality and daily habits

• Why focusing on just one aspect of health may not be enough

• How our everyday routines can influence our cognitive and emotional well-being

• Why meaningful relationships are an important part of a healthy, fulfilling life

• The hidden impact of prolonged sitting and other habits we may overlook

• How to recognize which areas of your life could use more attention

This conversation is a reminder that taking care of ourselves doesn’t have to mean pursuing perfection or overhauling our lives overnight. Sometimes, it begins with noticing our patterns, understanding how our choices connect, and making small, intentional changes that support the whole of who we are.

Because embracing balance isn’t about getting every part of life exactly right. It’s about paying attention to what we need and creating habits that help us feel healthier, more connected, and more joyful.

About Aamir

For almost three decades, Aamir Malik has built instruments that detect stress, anxiety and depression before a person can feel them.

He is Professor of Neuroengineering at Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic, where he heads the Cognitive and Neural Engineering group. He came to the brain the long way round — electrical engineering, then nuclear engineering, then information and communication, and a doctorate in mechatronics — and spent those years learning to think about systems, and about how a fault in one place reveals itself somewhere else entirely.

His most recent funded project asked whether stress, anxiety and depression could be tracked from a person's own home rather than a clinic. That question is also the one his argument has moved toward: detection is still a response to something already breaking, and the real prize is understanding the whole system well enough that the disorder never takes hold.

He has given invited and keynote talks in twelve countries. His sixth book, Fix the Floor, is his first written for the people the research was meant to help.

Connect with Aamir

Website: https://aamir.life/

Find the book here: https://fixthefloor.life/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578854541580

Pinterest: https://cz.pinterest.com/aamirdip

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aamirdip/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aamir-malik-18616212/

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠

In this episode, Amanda is joined again by Russell Van Brocklen, a dyslexia researcher and educator, for a fascinating conversation about writing, research, critical thinking, and the power of learning how to communicate an idea clearly.

Russell introduces the concept of the basic advanced body paragraph, a writing framework designed to help students—and really, anyone—develop stronger research and communication skills. They explore how this approach can be used across educational levels, from eighth grade through doctoral work, as well as in professional settings.

Using examples from movies, literature, and even The Princess Bride, Russell demonstrates how specificity can transform a vague idea into a clear and compelling argument. They also talk about the ways different styles of thinking, including the strengths often associated with dyslexic thinkers, can contribute to creative problem-solving and seeing connections others might miss.

And, of course, they take a little time to talk about finding joy in unexpected places—including Russell’s love of thoroughbred horse racing!

In this episode, they explore:

• What makes an effective advanced body paragraph
• Why research is a skill worth developing in an AI-driven world
• How specificity makes writing clearer and more powerful
• Using movies and literature to understand universal themes
• What writers can learn from classic storytelling structures
• How different ways of thinking can strengthen problem-solving
• Why finding your own voice matters as much as following the rules

Whether you’re a student, educator, writer, researcher, or simply someone who wants to communicate ideas more effectively, Russell offers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Because good writing isn’t just about following a formula—it’s about learning how to think, connect ideas, and communicate what you see in a way that others can understand.

About Russell

Russell Van Brocklen, the Dyslexia Professor, shifting daily reading frustrations into confident academic wins for students facing dyslexia.

Connect with Russell

Access the free guide that describes the 3 reasons your child's dyslexic education isn't working and what to do about it: https://mailchi.mp/dcacd9a6f9ae/3-reasons-ebook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87

Website: https://dyslexiaclasses.com/

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

In this episode, Amanda is joined by author and mother Katie Rizzo, who shares her family’s heartbreaking journey through her son Nicholas’s addiction and his eventual death.

Katie opens up about the reality of loving someone struggling with addiction, the devastating impact it can have on an entire family, and the complicated grief that follows loss. They also talk about something that can feel almost impossible in the midst of grief: making room for joy.

Katie shares how reading, movement, community, and connection have helped her navigate grief—and how finding support through Al-Anon helped her realize that she wasn’t alone. Along the way, their conversation takes a deeper look at the stigma surrounding addiction and the shame that can prevent families from asking for help or speaking openly about what they’re experiencing.

Rather than viewing addiction as a moral failing, Katie encourages us to approach it with greater compassion, understanding, and community support.

In this episode, they explore:

• How grief can live alongside moments of joy
• The reality of addiction and its impact on families
• The stigma and shame surrounding addiction
• Why movement and connection can be important parts of navigating grief
• Finding community when you feel completely alone
• The importance of talking openly about addiction and loss
• How compassion can change the way we support families affected by addiction

Katie’s story is a reminder that grief doesn’t follow a straight line—and that finding joy again doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten or moved on from the people we’ve lost.

Sometimes, embracing balance means allowing both the heartbreak and the joy to have a place in our lives.

If you or someone you love has been affected by addiction or loss, I hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone.

About Katie

Katie Rizzo’s memoir, The Trimesters of Grief, was released on October 6, 2026 by Koehler Books, with Blackstone Publishing handling audio licensing.

Trained in biology and psychology, Rizzo earned a master’s degree from Yale University and completeda MSII at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She taught at her local public high school for over fifteen years and lives in Arizona with her husband and their two dogs.. Details about her book signings and speaking calendar can be found at https://katierizzo.com/.

The Trimesters of Grief, is available for pre order on June 12 by Koehler Books with Blackstone Publishing handing the audio licensing. My book of poems, None of Them Are You, is available on Día de los Muertos, Nov 1 by Extra Extra Publishing.

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Michelle Lynn, a certified hypnotherapist and life coach, for a fascinating conversation about the mind, personal transformation, and the tools that can help us create meaningful change.

Michelle shares her own journey to hypnotherapy, which began during a major life transition as an empty nester navigating divorce and a career change. What started as a search for something beyond traditional talk therapy ultimately introduced her to a new understanding of how the brain works—and led her to a new calling.

Today, Michelle combines hypnotherapy and life coaching to help people understand what’s happening beneath the surface while also taking practical steps toward the life they want. They talk about the relationship between our nervous system, our thoughts, our emotions, and our behaviors, and why awareness alone isn’t always enough to break an old pattern.

They also explore the importance of accountability and ongoing support—and how taking responsibility for our own growth can be an empowering part of the healing process.

In this episode, they explore:

• What hypnotherapy is and how it can support personal growth

• How hypnotherapy and life coaching can work together

• Understanding the brain and nervous system in the process of change

• Why we can know something intellectually and still struggle to change our patterns

• Moving through stress and emotional activation in healthier ways

• The role of breathwork and other tools in self-discovery

• Why accountability can make the difference between insight and lasting change

About Michelle

Michelle Lynn is a certified Clinical, Transpersonal, and Interpersonal Hypnotherapist (CCHt, CTHt, CIHt), Claircognizance, and Life Coach who spent 34+ serving the U.S. Navy before answering a deeper calling- to helping people heal from the inside out.

With Hypnotherapy and various modalities such as Eye Movement Therapy, Breathwork, NLP, Age and Past Life Regression, Michelle helps people with weight-loss/healthy lifestyle, quit smoking, anxious feelings, stress relief, and many other transformations.

Michelle trained for more than five hundred hours. She learned about the science of the mind and the art of holding space. Somewhere in the middle of that training, it stopped feeling like a new chapter and started feeling like the chapter she’d always been meant to write.

She brings everything she already is- a straight talker, a deep listener and intuitive, a woman who has been through enough to sit with nearly anything, into a practice built entirely around helping people find their way home to themselves.

Michelle does this work because she has seen what becomes possible when a person finally stops searching outside themselves and turns inward. She has lived that transformation. Now she guides others through it.

Michelle provides a safe, confidential, judgment-free space where you can show up exactly as you are and leave knowing yourself more deeply with the inner peace you've been looking for.

For Michelle, Hypnotherapy is a calling not a career, and that distinction shows up in every session. She won’t rush you out at the 50-minute mark. A session lasts approximately 2 hours and most issues are resolved and/or vastly improved within 1-4 sessions.

Remember, Michelle is not here to fix you. She is your transformational co-pilot. Her role is to help you remember who you really are by guiding you into the subconscious mind where the real answers live. You already have everything you need.

Ready to Tap Into Your Highest Self? Not sure if Hypnotherapy is right for you? Want to learn more about Michelle and whether she’s a good fit for you? Schedule your FREE 20 minute consultation call with her to discuss your goals and she can answer any questions you may have via michellelynnhypnosis.com

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Dr. Linda Varisco, author of The Girl with the Million Dollar Smile, to talk about resilience, redemption, healing, and finding the strength to rise after life takes an unexpected turn.

Linda’s journey is anything but ordinary. A successful chiropractor and mother, she found herself facing challenges she never imagined—including the collapse of her marriage, financial hardship, and ultimately time in federal prison.

But somewhere in the middle of that turmoil, Linda found something unexpected: her voice.

With a pen and paper, she began writing her story. What started as a way to process everything she had experienced became a deeply personal and vulnerable trilogy that allowed her to reconnect with herself beyond the roles she had spent years carrying.

Their conversation explores what it means to rise from the ashes, let go of what no longer serves us, and choose not to let our circumstances define who we become.

In this episode, they explore:

• Finding strength in the midst of adversity

• Why our most difficult seasons can become catalysts for transformation

• The healing power of writing and telling your story

• Rediscovering yourself beyond the roles and identities you carry

• Learning to trust, forgive, and embrace vulnerability

• Letting go of the past so it no longer controls your future

• Choosing resilience when life gives you every reason to give up

Linda’s story is a powerful reminder that we are not defined by our lowest moments. Even when life feels like it has completely fallen apart, there is still a path forward.

You may not be able to change what happened—but you can decide what happens next.

And sometimes, finding your way to the other side begins with reaching deep within yourself and choosing to rise.

About Linda

Dr. Linda Varisco is the best-selling author of "The Girl with the Million Dollar Smile", a powerful trilogy that chronicles her journey of resilience, redemption, and self-transformation. Through deeply personal storytelling, she uses the timeless symbolism of the phoenix as a powerful metaphor for rising above adversity and transforming challenges into strength and purpose. After facing profound personal and professional adversity,  Dr. Varisco discovered that resilience is not simply about surviving hardship. It is about transforming through it. Her work inspires readers to reclaim their strength, rewrite their story, and find hope even in the darkest moments. A former chiropractor for nearly 30 years, Dr. Varisco now shares her insights as a speaker and author, encouraging audiences to embrace change, persevere, and recognize that setbacks do not define their future. They are simply chapters that do not define our lives. Like the phoenix, we are not defined by the ashes we leave behind, but by the strength with which we rise.    

Learn more about Linda:

lindavarisco.com 

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/⁠

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Kirana Sidin, whose personal transformation began with an unexpected and painful comment from her son at the dinner table.

Those words forced Kirana to take an honest look at her life. She realized she had been drifting and knew there was more she wanted to experience, create, and become—but she didn’t have a grand plan for how to get there.

Instead, she started small.

Kirana returned to something she loved: reading. She committed to spending an hour each day expanding her mind and investing in herself. What began as a simple daily habit gradually created clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose. That journey ultimately led her to write Cheers for a Good Life, sharing what she learned along the way.

In their conversation, they explore how transformation doesn’t always begin with a dramatic life change. Sometimes, it begins with one small decision to do something differently—and then choosing to keep going.

In this episode, they explore:

• How an uncomfortable moment can become a powerful wake-up call
• The difference between drifting through life and intentionally creating it
• Why small, consistent habits can lead to meaningful transformation
• How reading and learning can reconnect us with ourselves
• Finding clarity and purpose when you know you want something more
• Turning your personal journey into something that can inspire others

Kirana’s story is a beautiful reminder that you don’t need to have your whole life figured out before you begin. One small step can be enough to change your direction.

About Kirana

Kirana Sidin is an author and strategic life coach. Her debut book, Cheers for a Good Life, became an Amazon #1 New Release in Philosophy, Ethics & Morality and an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Interpersonal Relations.

She lives in Jakarta, the busiest city in Indonesia, where she spends much of her time exploring one question that has quietly shaped everything she does: What does it really mean to build a good life?

Through writing, coaching, and speaking, she draws from philosophy, psychology, and everyday life to translate timeless wisdom into practical ideas for modern living—helping people gain clarity and make better decisions.

Because she believes a good life isn't something we find. It's something we build, one ordinary choice at a time.

Connect with Kirana

My website is the best place for listeners who want to continue the conversation. They'll find thoughtful articles, resources on intentional living, information about Cheers for a Good Life, and ways to connect for coaching and future events.

https://cheersforagoodlife.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiranasidin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiranasidin/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirana-sidin-2a16b4114/

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Kimberly Petschen, a restorative leadership and business agility coach, for a thought-provoking conversation about authenticity, self-trust, ancestral wisdom, and what it really means to lead.

Kimberly challenges us to think beyond traditional ideas of leadership. Restorative leadership isn’t just about leading in the workplace—it’s about how we lead ourselves, our families, our communities, and the world around us. Drawing from her corporate experience, personal journey, and ancestral wisdom, Kimberly offers a different perspective on how we can begin restoring what has become disconnected within ourselves and our communities.

Their conversation also explores the impact of hustle culture and societal expectations, and how they can cause us to lose touch with our own instincts, power, and potential. Kimberly shares how a profound personal loss led her on a journey of healing and rediscovering her heritage—and ultimately inspired her work helping others reconnect with themselves.

They talk about rebuilding self-trust, embracing vulnerability, creating genuine inclusion, and recognizing that each of us has something meaningful to contribute.

In this episode, they explore:

• What restorative leadership really means—and why it extends far beyond the workplace

• How societal expectations can disconnect us from our authentic selves

• The wisdom we can find by looking to our ancestors

• Rebuilding trust in yourself and your own instincts

• Why vulnerability and authenticity are essential to meaningful leadership

• Rethinking inclusion as something deeper than checking a box

• How reconnecting with ourselves can help us create stronger communities

If you’ve ever felt like you’re living on autopilot, questioning your path, or trying to fit yourself into someone else’s definition of success, this conversation offers an invitation to pause, reconnect, and remember who you are.

Sometimes, the most powerful leadership begins with leading yourself back home.

About Kimberly

Kimberly Petschen is a restorative leadership coach, author, speaker, educator, and sacred-space facilitator whose work explores what becomes possible when we heal the wounds shaping how we lead, live, relate, and serve.

After more than 35 years leading change across corporate systems, Kimberly now brings together leadership wisdom, human development, ancestral teachings, spirituality, systems thinking, and lived experience through Presents of Peace™, the movement she founded to help restore wholeness within people, relationships, organizations, and communities. Her work includes her Wounds to Wisdom framework, restorative coaching and consulting, speaking and teaching, and the creation of sacred spaces including the Listening Lounge, where people can slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with themselves and one another.

She is the author of the forthcoming book, Letters to Leaders: Ancient Wisdom for Those Ready to Restore Our Humanity, and has spent the past two and a half years living and working from her RV, where she is affectionately known as RavenHeart on the road and in sacred circles. She travels with her copilot Bengal cat, Benji, while exploring a question at the heart of both her life and her work: How do we create lives of meaningful service without abandoning ourselves in the process?

Free Resource: Treasure Map You Carry Within

Website: https://presentsofpeace.com/

Book Waitlist: https://presentsofpeace.com/letters-to-leaders

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

With a special introduction by Adrian Paul.

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Priscilla Manriquez, who has participated in an incredible 89 Sword Experience events. Created by Adrian Paul of Highlander fame, the Sword Experience combines sword training with personal growth, confidence, discipline, and focus.

Priscilla shares how what began as simple curiosity—and a lifelong love of martial arts—became a transformative journey. As an introvert who initially wondered whether she belonged in what she perceived as a male-dominated environment, she discovered something she didn't expect: a welcoming community, meaningful friendships, and opportunities to challenge herself in ways that extended far beyond learning to wield a sword.

They talk about the power of community, the importance of continually learning, and how helping others overcome their own fears can become a powerful source of confidence and empowerment.

Priscilla’s story is a beautiful reminder that growth can happen in the most unexpected places—and sometimes the thing that pushes us outside our comfort zone is exactly what helps us discover what we’re capable of.

In this episode, they explore:

• How curiosity can open the door to transformation

• Finding confidence when you step outside your comfort zone

• The unexpected power of community and belonging

• Why there is always something new to learn

• How mentoring and supporting others can strengthen your own confidence

• What the Sword Experience taught Priscilla about herself

If you’ve ever wondered what might be possible if you were willing to try something new, this conversation is for you.

About Priscilla

Priscilla considers herself a Nerd mom with a sword. Training with the Highlander since 2016.

The links to the fan group she runs and her blog:

Sword Experience fans

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1JsHBZXFzo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Sword Experienced blog

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HaGxh6Dy5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Sword Experience

To find out more about the Sword Experience and attend an event, check out their website or follow them on social media

https://swordxp.com/

On Facebook and YouTube: #swordxp

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

Have you ever taken a personality test, read the results, and wondered, Now what?

In the Season 5 premiere of the Embrace Balance, Discover Joy podcast, Amanda is joined by Arky Jones, creator of PersonalityPeek, to explore a different approach to personality assessments—one that focuses on growth rather than labels.

They discuss:

• Why traditional personality tests often leave people feeling stuck

• How PersonalityPeek's six-dimensional approach provides deeper, more personalized insights

• Why your personality isn't fixed—and how it can evolve through different seasons of life

• How greater self-awareness can help you make more intentional decisions and continue growing

Arky also shares the personal journey that inspired him to create PersonalityPeek and explains how his background in Stoicism and personal development shaped the platform.

Whether you love personality tests or you're simply looking for new ways to better understand yourself, this conversation will leave you with a fresh perspective on personal growth.

About Arky:

Arky Jones is the creator of PersonalityPeek, a platform focused on helping people better understand themselves through personality insights, self-awareness, and personal growth. He combines personality concepts, Stoic wisdom, and practical self-help to help listeners gain clarity, improve their mindset, and build a stronger relationship with themselves.

Connect with Arky:
Website: https://personalitypeek.com/

PersonalityPeek helps listeners better understand themselves through personality insights and self-awareness tools. The site gives people a simple way to explore their personality, gain clarity about how they think and behave, and use that understanding for personal growth, better relationships, and greater self-mastery.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who is on their own journey of self-discovery.

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call⁠

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/

In this Season 4 finale, Amanda sits down with Jasmyn Quianna, the author of Falling Madly in Self-Love and founder of the Absolute Self-Love Movement, for a deeply transformative conversation about healing, self-realization, and creating a life rooted in joy and authenticity.

After achieving the success society told her should bring fulfillment, Jasmyn found herself burned out, disconnected, and questioning everything. That journey ultimately led her to discover a deeper truth: self-love isn’t selfish—it’s foundational.

Together, they explore:
✨ What “Absolute Self-Love” truly means
✨ The connection between burnout and disconnection from self
✨ How self-awareness shapes your reality
✨ Why honesty and accountability are essential for growth
✨ The importance of embracing every part of yourself with compassion
✨ How self-love creates a ripple effect in relationships and communities

Jasmyn also shares insights from her book Falling Madly in Self-Love and introduces the 12 Pillars of Absolute Self-Love—a framework designed to help individuals reconnect with their authentic selves and create lasting transformation from the inside out.

This conversation is a reminder that joy isn’t found through external achievement—it’s cultivated through the relationship you have with yourself.

About Jasmyn

Jasmyn Quianna is the author of Falling Madly in Self-Love and founder of the Absolute Self-Love Movement. A former oncology clinical research leader, she now helps high-achieving women who feel stuck and burned out realize they don’t have a burnout problem — they have a self-trust problem. They already know what they want, but don’t trust themselves enough to choose it. Through her work, she helps them stop overthinking, stop second-guessing, and finally act on what they know is right so they can build a life that actually feels as good as it looks.

Your Free Gift

Free Gift – The Absolute Self-Love Morning Ritual (15 min morning practice): https://www.jasmynquianna.com/morning-ritual

Connect with Jasmyn

Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GJRDZVCY/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmynquianna

Website: https://jasmynquianna.com

If you'd like to work with Amanda:

Book an introductory call: ⁠https://calendly.com/autumnhealing/introductory-call

Website: ⁠https://www.autumnhealing.com/