In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Ali Essig—a former Capitol Hill communications director who now empowers women from the kitchen and the Pilates studio. As a holistic plant-based nutritionist, Pilates instructor, and mom of six (including twin boys!), Ali is the founder of PlantWhys, where she helps women heal from the inside out through plant-predominant eating and core-focused movement.

Ali’s journey began when her husband suffered a stroke at just 37. Paired with the early loss of her father, this sparked a deep dive into holistic wellness and a shift that transformed her family’s lifestyle. What started as a personal transformation became a passion-fueled purpose to support other moms in building vibrant, resilient lives.

Tune in as Sharon and Ali explore practical wellness, finding joy in the mundane, raising responsible kids, and the power of small steps in creating real change. Ali’s motto? Paced progress over perfection.

[00:00] Introduction [00:55] Meet Ali Essig [03:20] A family health crisis sparks a mission [06:45] Transitioning a family of eight to plant-predominant eating [08:40] What sets PlantWhys apart from other programs [13:50] Transferring mom skills into entrepreneurship [17:35] Pushing through imposter syndrome [22:45] Non-negotiables for balance as a mom and business owner [25:30] Ali’s advice for her younger self [29:30] Favorite plant-based comfort food

Meet my guest Ali Essig:

Website: plantwhys.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plantwhys

Instagram: @plantwhys

 

Looking for More? Follow @momtomore on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.  @Sharon Macey on LinkedIn.

 

Keep an eye out for episode #40 of the Mom to MORE® podcast where Sharon is joined by Cristan Crocker, documentary filmmaker and producer.  Coming soon - you won’t want to miss it ♥