Go Play in the Dirt

Have you been feeling sluggish lately? Brain fog? Imbalanced digestion? Skin issues?

You probably need a reset!

I am thrilled to announce that Cat Elumba & I are hosting a Spring Vitality Seasonal Reset May 8 -12 2023. Join us for a 5-day virtual group coaching program where we implement simple, seasonal, sustainable solutions to manage your health and wellness from the comfort of your own home. Come recharge & refuel your body each season together in community. Our programs are designed to support natural detoxification processes while nourishing your body and will give you insight into sustainable health choices to bring back your energy and clear your mind. We take a whole foods approach that focuses on cooking your own meals along with lifestyle suggestions, Good To The Bone Bone Broth, and authentic support. We now ship the broth so anyone within The United States can join.

Come reset with us!

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Cat & Lauren’s journey in the world of holistic health 
• How Cat started hosting reset programs 
• Benefits of a reset 
• What you receive in the Spring Vitality 5-Day Group Coaching Program
• The importance of seasonal eating
• Benefits of Good To The Bone Bone Broth 
• Benefits of Freshly Rooted Tribe’s Sea Moss 
• How to sign up for our Spring Vitality program 

Go Share These Thoughts:

• We integrate traditional medicine practices into our seasonal reset programs. - Lauren Bryson
• We forgot there's something special about either cooking a meal or receiving a meal with your friends or your family. - Lauren Bryson
• In these group coaching programs, we implement simple, seasonal, sustainable solutions for you to manage your health and wellness from the comfort of your own home. - Lauren Bryson
• We incorporate seasonal ingredients so that our bodies are being fueled by mother nature. We want to eat food that is in season because it is more nutrient-dense. - Catherine Elumba

Resources

• Spring Vitality Group Coaching Program 
• YouTube: Benefits Of A Seasonal Reset 
• Good To The Bone
• Freshly Rooted Tribe

Connect with Catherine Elumba:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Connect with Lauren:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

Research shows that 75% of our eating habits are emotionally driven (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).

My guest today is Kiki Athanas, who helps people conquer emotional eating and practice healthy, balanced eating with consistency and ease - even in the face of life’s challenges. She created The Gut Brain Integration method to help people take control of their cravings and hunger, so eating no longer feels like an internal battle. She makes being healthy fun & doable.

Our body craves variety and one way to tap into that is with the concept of intuitive eating. Intuitive eating is honoring the body’s innate boundaries, and there are two keys: hunger and taste. Intuitive eating is always respecting hunger and always respecting taste. Studies have found that intuitive eating has positive outcomes in comparison to restrictive dieting plans.

The body craves variety, a variety of nutrient-dense, whole foods - biodiversity is key. Tune in to learn more about ways to support your body through intuitive eating.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The concept of intuitive eating
• How to tap in and listen to your body
• How eating and emotions are intertwined
• The concept of orthorexia 
• The importance of honoring your body's innate boundaries
• Self-love as a key step in overall health
• Mindful eating

Go Share These Thoughts:

• Intuitive eating is honoring the body’s innate boundaries, and there are two keys: hunger and taste. Intuitive eating is always respecting hunger and always respecting taste. - Kiki Athanas
• Doing nothing doesn’t mean I’m going backwards. Taking time to rest and taking time to literally do nothing is actually making me more productive. - Kiki Athanas

About Kiki Athanas:

Kiki Athanas helps smart women conquer emotional eating and practice healthy, balanced eating with consistency and ease - even in the face of life’s challenges. She created The Gut Brain Integration method to help women take control of their cravings and hunger, so eating no longer feels like an internal battle & they are finally able to manage health. 

Resources

• What is Emotional Eating?
• Emotions Last 90 Seconds in the Body

Connect with Kiki Athanas:

• Website
• Instagram
• Tiktok

Connect with Lauren :

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in your neck that is key for supporting every system in the body. It helps to regulate your metabolism, mood, digestion, circadian rhythm, bone maintenance, and body temperature.

My guest today is Divya Gupta who is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition. She shines light on thyroid health and ignites flames of inspiration through sharing her journey in both becoming a Holistic Nutrition practitioner and transitioning to a healthier lifestyle. She shares her experience of navigating a Hashimoto’s diagnosis and how she uses food and lifestyle to manage her condition. Tune in to learn about ways to support the health of your thyroid.

In this Episode, You Will Discover:

• Divya Gupta’s journey navigating a Hashimoto’s diagnosis to becoming Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition
• The thyroid and its roles in the human body
• The effects of cleansing on the body and importance of detoxification
• Specific nutrients that are critical for thyroid health
• How leaky gut is tied to thyroid health
• Difference between a gluten allergy and gluten sensitivity
• Benefits of a gluten-free lifestyle
• Divya’s journey in switching from a corporate tech job to being an entrepreneur

Go Share These Thoughts:

• Making an impact, whether it be big or small, is one of the most rewarding feelings out there.-Lauren Bryson
• You learn so much about yourself when you meet someone who is not like you.-Divya Gupta
• It’s worth a try to go gluten-free because if it does not benefit you, it won’t do any harm. It is a simple experiment everyone can try.-Divya Gupta

About Divya Gupta:

Divya is a board-certified holistic nutrition coach based in San Jose. She is trained to help people use the power of nutrition and lifestyle changes to break free from issues and start living the life they want. Divya’s approach is personalized to each of her clients. She takes the time to get to know them, their likes and dislikes, and their motivation to really help them make the modifications that get them the results they're looking for. Divya helps her clients reach each milestone one step at a time and empowers them along the way.

*Divya is hosting a 5-Day Spring Detox Program, March 21-25, 2023.
Email  [email protected] to sign up & take advantage of early bird pricing!

Connect with Divya:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Connect with Lauren:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

Gut health is foundational to our overall health. You are not what you eat, you are what you digest.

My guest today is Morgan Lewis, a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Yoga Teacher, and believer in wellness. She utilizes holistic nutrition and lifestyle support for women experiencing IBS and digestive issues. Morgan shares how she navigated chronic gut issues, bloating, an IBS diagnosis, and a recent Lyme diagnosis. Morgan shares her expertise on digestive wellness so we can understand how our body works from north to south. Morgan & I have very similar journeys in navigating chronic gut issues, getting to the root cause and how we both used diet and lifestyle to support our gut back to health.

Tune in to learn how to support your gut and reclaim your health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The importance of counting colors, not calories
• Significance of getting tested and knowing the right diagnosis (step 1 of your healing journey)
• Getting to the root cause of your health issues 
• Common causes & symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• What causes the reduction of stomach acid
• How to support your stomach acid
• Why chewing is key for optimal digestion
• You can’t out-supplement a bad diet 
• What being a solo entrepreneur is really like 

Go Share These Thoughts:

• When we get into that parasympathetic mode, that's where the magic happens. You can properly digest your food. Your body can actually use the vitamins and minerals effectively. You can have better bowel movements, you can feel more rested so chewing is a gateway for those. - Morgan Lewis
• People think too much stomach acid is a negative thing, which it can be. However the actual issue, especially with GERD and IBS, it's not enough stomach acid. - Lauren Bryson
• We can get back to being healthy without it feeling like a burden financially and time-wise as well. But it's all about getting creative and going back to the basics. - Morgan Lewis

About Morgan Lewis:

Morgan Lewis utilizes holistic nutrition and lifestyle support for women experiencing IBS and digestive issues. She utilizes root cause healing to assist her clients on their healing journey. She believes every woman deserves to feel healthy, vibrant, and symptom-free.

Resources: 

• Free Beat the Bloat Masterclass 
• Organic Olivia Digestive Juice

Connect with Morgan Lewis:

• Website 
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Connect with Lauren:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

A recent study showed that only 6.8% of Americans are metabolically healthy (Ohern et al., 2022). The latest statistics from the CDC report that 70% of Americans are overweight and 40% are obese. 1 in 3 has prediabetes.

What is the commonality between all of these issues? Poor metabolic health. Your metabolism is the process by which your body takes the food and beverages we put in and converts it to energy for fuel. Poor metabolic health is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia and stroke.

David Bennett’s story is the epitome of “paying it forward”. He shares his incredible journey of dealing with a health emergency and how he took a functional medicine approach to balancing his metabolism by using diet and lifestyle. David specializes in helping people overcome and reverse Metabolic Syndrome (weight gain, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar & excess body fat) by using foundational metabolic skills that allow fast and effective weight loss -  the same methods and skills he used to overcome his own weight and health issues, and achieve metabolic freedom. 

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The importance of eating the rainbow
• Five common symptoms of metabolic syndrome
• How sugar affects the body
• Step 1 in balancing your metabolism
• Ways to support your metabolic health using diet and lifestyle
• Weight management support 
• The “8-16” method of intermittent fasting

Go Share These Thoughts:

• I had to look outside the box by looking at what I was doing, whether sleep or food you're putting in. That's one of the key principles. You're not just eating to eat, you're eating to fuel. - David Bennett
• Metabolic syndrome increases your risk of a lot of other diseases like stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. What your body is doing, your weight specifically, is causing a lot of inflammation with increased weight, and that leads you down the road to developing a lot of chronic diseases. - David Bennett
• I like to balance my blood sugar by combining clean protein and healthy fat. - Lauren Bryson

Resources:

• Portion Control Guide
• Trends and Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health Among US Adults
• Adult Obesity Facts

Connect with David Bennett:

• Website
• Instagram
• Tiktok
• Facebook
• Youtube

Connect with Lauren:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

This podcast is called Go Play in the Dirt, but it should be called Go Play in the Soil. The health of our soil, the health of humans and the health of the planet are all intricately connected. Do you know how critical soil is to our very existence on earth?

A study published in Earth’s Future shows that since farmers began tilling the land in the Midwest 160 years ago, 57.6 billion metric tons of topsoil have eroded. This is the result of soil degradation which is caused by pollution and conventional agriculture practices such as tilling the land and the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. If we do not protect the health of our topsoil we will not be able to grow food. Healthy soil is key for life on earth and the key to healthy soil is biodiversity.

In today’s episode, I focus on educating listeners on the simple ways we can contribute to our soil regeneration. We need to work with nature, not against it. In order to save our soil, and life on earth, we must take responsibility for the health of our soil.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The difference between soil and dirt
• Soil microbiome is vital for the overall ecosystem, food security & life on earth 
• The role that soil plays in regulating the world's climate
• Issues with the degradation of topsoil 
• The negative effects of glyphosate
• The principles of regenerative agriculture 
• Sustainable practices that support our soil

Go Share These Thoughts:

• Soil is key for food security as crops cannot grow on dead ground. Healthy soil is key for life on earth. - Lauren Bryson
• According to a study published recently in Earth's future, since farmers began tilling the land in the Midwest 160 years ago,  57.6 billion metric tons of topsoil have eroded; a rough calculation of current rates of soil degradation suggests we have about 60 years of topsoil. - Lauren Bryson
• The principle of regenerative agriculture is key. We need to work with nature, not against it. - Lauren Bryson

Resources:

• Gardening With Goo
• The Farmers Footprint
• Kiss the Ground
• The Biggest Little Farm
• Soil Stores More of the Worlds Carbon Than Vegetation and the Atmosphere Combined
• Rates of Soil Erosion in the Midwestern United States 
• Only 60 Years of Farming Left if Soil Degradation Continues 

Connect with Lauren:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

Movement & hydration are two major components of overall health that you can begin to incorporate into your daily routine today.

My guest today is Michele Riechman, a certified personal trainer, yoga teacher, and health coach with a doctorate in physical therapy. She helps women who have put themself on the back burner finally get in shape, fit back into their clothes, and optimize their metabolism without dieting, so they can increase their energy & feel confident in their bodies.

Tune in as we exchange stories and tips on starting your own exercise routine that fits your needs, the difference between movement and exercise, the benefits of resistance strength training, and why hydration remains essential in maintaining one’s overall health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Ways to balance metabolism to support healthy aging
• The importance of advocating for your health
• The supplementary advantage of hiring a health coach
• The difference between movement and exercise 
• Various exercises you can incorporate into your daily routine today
• The benefits of a commitment to consistency
• Ways to properly hydrate and the many benefits to your overall health 
• Hydrating foods 

Go Share These Thoughts:

• Overall health is based on food, movement, lifestyle, sleep, and stress management, as well as community and connection. – Lauren Bryson
• Exercise also helps us with our mental health and our stress relief. - Michele Riechman
• As a mom of four, I try to keep workouts short, quick, and effective - Michele Riechman
• I view movement and exercise as an absolute privilege - Lauren Bryson 
• Exercise can support gut health, metabolism, healthy aging, and mental wellness. - Lauren Bryson 

About Michele Riechman:

Michele Riechman is an expert personal trainer and health coach with a doctorate in physical therapy.  She helps women who have put themself on the back burner finally get in shape, fit back into their clothes, & optimize their metabolism without dieting, so they can increase their energy & feel confident in their bodies.

Resources:

• Free Workout Challenge & Healthy Aging Tips 
• Melissa Wood Health (Free 7 Day Trial)

Connect with Michele Riechman:

• Website
• Instagram
• Personal Training (Use the code DIRT20 to save 20% of on-demand personal training for 3 months) 

Connect with Lauren:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

Brain fog? Missed periods? Fatigue? Feeling tired and wired? These can all be symptoms of hormone imbalance.

Hormones are a hot topic. These little chemical messengers are involved in almost every bodily process and are a crucial piece of overall health. Reestablishing healthy hormone levels in the body is key.

Anastasiia De La Cruz, certified holistic nutritionist & infertility survivor, joins me in this episode to discuss hormones, their many functions, and simple ways to nourish and balance hormones using diet and lifestyle practices. Anastasiia shares her journey of struggling with infertility to how she became a mother of two healthy girls. We also discuss ways to move from tired & wired to nourished & relaxed by using food, movement, and lifestyle practices to support hormone health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The importance of hormones and how to properly nourish them
• Connection between gut health and hormone health 
• How to move from “tired & wired” to nourished & relaxed 
• How brain fog is connected to hormone health 
• Eating breakfast in the morning can help balance your blood sugar
• How having a period is a vital indicator of a women’s health
• Lauren’s journey of losing her period and how she regained it back
• How Anastasiia moved through infertility and is now a mother of two healthy girls 
• Finding the exercise routine that is the right fit for you

Go Share These Thoughts:

• Food can be about having fun, but can also be used to heal a person. - Anastasiia De La Cruz
• If you want to relax, concentrate, feel at ease, have beautiful skin, and have energy, we have to respect our physiology. - Anastasiia De La Cruz
• If you're not sleeping, your overall health is going to suffer. – Lauren Bryson
• A key to balancing hormones is to eat breakfast within the first hour of waking up to balance your cortisol levels. - Anastasiia De La Cruz

About Anastasiia De La Cruz:

Anastasiia De La Cruz, certified Holistic Nutritionist, mom, and infertility survivor helps women (especially those who are struggling to start a family) deal with irregular or missing periods, create hormonal balance and optimize their nutrient intake without stress. Her goal is to show that proper health is not about counting calories, obsessing about a perfect diet, depriving yourself, or having a "perfect exercise routine." She wants to help her clients to heal mentally and physically and lead healthier and well-balanced lives without straining themselves.

Connect with Anastasiia De La Cruz:

• Website
• Instagram

Connect with Lauren :

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

What’s my favorite word? MICROBIOME!

Your microbiome is one of the most complex ecosystems on earth made up of different bacteria, fungi and viruses. The microbiome is all about balance #balancingyourbiome and a healthy microbiome is foundational to your overall health. As Aristotle said, "temperance or balance is a virtue," we should constantly take the center course.

In this episode, Ellen Roufs joins me for a deep dive into gut health. We chat about simple ways to balance the microbiome and focus on empowering you to understand the beautiful relationship between your body and food.

In this Episode You’ll Discover:

• The many functions of the gut 
• Your microbiome is one of the most complex ecosystems found in the human body (& world)
• The connection between the microbiome and the immune system
• The importance of being exposed to soil and the many benefits to the microbiome
• The hygiene hypothesis and what it actually means  
• Examples of probiotic and prebiotic foods 
• Simple and tangible tips to support your microbiome today 

Go Share These Thoughts:

• Digestion starts in the brain, since when one thinks or smells food, the brain can kick off your enzymes to help start digestion. - Ellen Roufs
• The hygiene hypothesis is this idea that if we make everything too hygienic or too sterile, our immune system won’t actually know how to properly respond to different pathogens or foreign antigens. – Ellen Roufs
• Digestive bitters have been used medicinally for thousands of years. There's wisdom in traditional medicine. If something's been used for thousands of years, there's probably a reason why.  – Lauren Bryson

About Ellen Roufs:

Ellen is formally educated as a scientist but is an artist at heart. She combines her passions for science, education, and design to create template content for nutrition professionals to use with their clients. Her goal is to empower others to understand the beautiful relationships between their body and food so they can experience healing and wholeness.

Resources:

• Free Template with Made Whole Nutrition (use the code FIRSTFREE)
• Blog: 7 Ways To Support A Healthy Gut
• Blog: Gut Health & Weight Management 

Connect with Ellen Roufs:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Connect with Lauren:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider. 

I am here to tell you to forget your New Year's Resolutions. What are your New Year's Intentions? A resolution ties you to the future with no clear path forward while an intention grounds you in the present. Intention is something we aim to do. It supports grace, forgiveness, and time. If you want to reclaim your power, start by being intentional.

My New Year's Intention is to call in powerful collaborations. In this episode I reflect on the year that is about to end and also announce a major collaboration to begin the new year with a reset and a whole new list of intentions.

I am thrilled to announce a collaboration with Cat Elumba from The Catalyst Wellness. Cat & I  will be hosting a 5-Day New Year's Reset Group Program that will focus on immune health and weight management. 

2023 NEW YEARS RESET
Feb 6-10, 2023

Start your year off right with a 5-day virtual group coaching program to support immune health & weight management. We will implement simple, sustainable solutions to manage our health and wellness. 

You Will Receive:

• 5 Day Meal Plan with Custom Seasonal Recipes
• Homemade Bone Broth
• Lifestyle Suggestions
• Live Cooking Class 
• Movement Video
• Nutrition & Lifestyle Education 
• Create Your Own Immune Supportive Tonic (Fire Cider) 
• In-Person Group Meet Up (optional)
• Community & Connection 

To Sign Up:

• Email Cat ([email protected]) or Lauren ([email protected]) for more information 

If you mention the Go Play in the Dirt Podcast you will receive 10% off our New Year's Reset Group Program. 

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The difference between New Year's Resolutions and New Year’s Intentions
• How to set your New Year’s Intention
• The advantage of having an accountability buddy
• Introduction to Cat Elumba and her work with The Catalyst Wellness
• Five-day group coaching program, a collaboration of wellness activities between Lauren Emerson Wellness and The Catalyst Wellness

Go Share These Thoughts:

• Small simple commitments lead to lifelong healthy habits. -  Lauren Bryson
• Surrender can push you to your limits, but it can also be the catalyst for profound change.  -  Lauren Bryson
• Set intentions and be specific. Set yourself up for success. Take small yet actionable steps daily. - Lauren Bryson

Connect With Cat

• Website
• Instagram

Follow Go Play in the Dirt:

• Book a Free Discovery Call with Lauren
• Website
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The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.