Here & Human Wellness Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

April 15, 2025

Love You More

Ep 59: So, I Went on a Silent Retreat

Episode summary:

Last month Jen went on a silent retreat and we're lucky enough to have a front row seat to the debrief of her experience. The journey to a silent retreat started when her life coach, Helen, introduced her to the work of Amy Johnson—the woman who facilitated the retreat. Amy’s book Just a Thought, along with her other teachings, deeply resonated with Jen and helped her see herself in a way no other form of therapy had before.

After following Amy’s work for several months, Jen felt called to take the leap and experience a silent retreat firsthand. For Jen, the retreat was a powerful and grounding experience that she highly recommends. And she leaves us with the reminder that beneath the busyness of everyday life, there’s always a place of calm and stillness waiting to be found.

Favorite Quotes:

“Silence, for her, was such a powerful experience.”-Jen

“I had this deep moment of feeling like I was held by something.”-Jen

“By the end of the retreat…I felt my energy just continuing to grow.”-Jen 

"When you’re in that space of silence everything is so much more vivid."-Jen

“…underneath all of it is this calm still place.”-Jen

Resources
Just a Thought
Changeable Podcast
Dr Amy Johnson's Website
My Secret is Silence
Sweet Potato Tooth

Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

April 1, 2025

Love You More

Ep 58:  Creating Your Mindful Closet with Guest Dacy Gillespie

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen is joined by personal stylist Dacy Gillespie, who shares her journey from burnout in the nonprofit world to building a career around her lifelong love of fashion. What started as a one-year break has turned into twelve years of helping other women through her business, Mindful Closet. Dacy opens up about how she defines self-care—setting up her life to avoid burnout. She walks listeners through her personal styling process, which includes an intake questionnaire, curated Pinterest boards, closet edits, shopping tutorials, and integration sessions designed to help clients find what truly feels like them.

Throughout the conversation, Dacy emphasizes the emotional side of fashion, particularly for women navigating years of societal messaging about beauty and body image. She sees herself as a guide, someone who helps clients uncover their own preferences rather than telling them what to wear. Jen and Dacy also talk about the power of social media and how curating your feed to reflect a diversity of bodies can shift how you see yourself. By showcasing real people of all shapes and sizes, Dacy aims to normalize the beauty of difference and encourage people to feel confident in clothes that reflect who they are.

More about Dacy:

After years in high-stress careers that clashed with her sensitive, introverted nature, Dacy founded Mindful Closet in 2013 to pursue a more emotionally sustainable life. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Real Simple, The Strategist, and Lifehacker, and she’s a frequent podcast guest. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and two kids. 

 Favorite Quotes:

“I wanna hear what their relationship to their body and their clothes has been over the course of their life. I wanna hear what messages they got from their mother, their grandmother, their high-school friends…” - Dacy

"I do think there is a lack of permission to choose what works for you as opposed to taking care of everyone around you” - Dacy

"If you can’t become more familiar with a diversity of bodies it’s going to be really hard for you to be able to feel good in your clothes.”- Dacy

“I’m really scared that as a society we are going to forget what a woman without modifications looks like.” - Dacy

Resources:

Mindful Closet Website
Unflattering- Dacy’s Substack
Dacy’s Instagram

 Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

March 18, 2025

Love You More

Ep 57: Better

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen explores the idea of being "better" and how wellness culture often pressures us to constantly improve. You don’t have to strive to be better; you are already enough just as you are. Trying new things isn’t necessarily about improvement—it’s about exploration and growth in different directions.

Jen also challenges the notion of control, emphasizing that we can never truly predict where life will take us. She finds a deeper sense of peace by embracing uncertainty and staying present in the moment. Heading into 2025, this mindset serves as a grounding mantra, helping her navigate life with more ease and acceptance.

Favorite Quotes:

“What if we started with, I fully accept where I am today in this moment with every aspect of my life?”-Jen

“I can be accepted for how I am in this very moment right now.”-Jen

“I do not mind what happens.”- Jiddu Krishnamurti

“If you have goals and intentions, hold them lightly and give yourself space for other things to happen, give yourself space for inconsistency, give yourself space for curiosity and how you’re feeling.”-Jen

Resources
Krishnamurti Foundation

Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

March 4, 2025

Love You More

Ep 56: Special Episode from Rhett Smith's Podcast: Social Media and Slowing Down

Episode summary:

Today we have a special episode - we're bringing you an episode of Rhett Smith's Praxis podcast featuring Jen!

In this episode, Rhett and Jennifer dive deep into the concepts of wintering - slowing down and taking time to rest. Recently both Jen and Rhett have noticed a trend of moving away from social media and technology. They take this hour to explore what they've noticed, how they've responded, and what challenges they are taking on in their own lives. 

It can be hard to slow down when you're used to achieving and performing, and with so much of our lives, identities and worth are tied up in productivity and acknowledgment. Stepping away from things like social media, email, or hustle culture, especially when your sense of self-worth is tied to how much engagement or productivity you have in those spaces can be unexpectedly challenging. 

More about Rhett:

Among his many other talents and skills, Rhett hosts a podcast tailored to help you bridge the gap between theory and practice in order to live a more transformational life. Listen here. 

Favorite Quotes:

“There’re not mentally thinking about it, but the body remembers it.” - Jen

“There are ways we’ve structured our lives that don’t allow us to slow down. It seems like we just get on these train tracks and that’s the way that we go.” – Rhett

Resources
Rhett’s Podcast
Rhett's website

Wintering (May)
The Body Keeps the Score (van der Kolk)
Deep Work (Newport)

Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

February 18, 2025

Love You More

Ep 55: Grounding Phrases with Life Coach Helen McLaughlin

Episode summary:

Jen's welcoming her life coach Helen back to the show today to talk about grounding phrases that you can use to support your feelings and move through them with a different perspective.

Helen has been working with Jen for over a year and in this episode they talk through some of the grounding phrases that have helped them work through life's harder moments. In these hard moments, our thoughts spiral into stories that layer onto feelings or thoughts. Using these grounding phrases provides distance between yourself and your thoughts, allowing you to look at a situation in a new way.

Please reach out and share any grounding phrases or thoughts that you use to work your way out of thought patterns that don't serve you.

More about Helen

Helen McLaughlin has been helping thoughtful people access the insights that change their lives since 2015. She has worked with her clients on career advancement, career change, marriage difficulties, confidence, boundary setting, breaking habits, building a business, growing a business, fitness goals, and self-esteem.

Helen believes that deep, lasting change comes from insight and from seeing things differently than you did before. When you see things differently, you behave differently.

Her current self-care routine is focused on an effort to find restorative time for herself.

Favorite Quotes:

“This is how it feels allows me to slow down the process and check in with myself.” – Jen

“If I can think that whatever is happening is perfect for me, there is an opportunity in it for me.” – Helen

Resources
Helen’s Website (subscribe to her newsletter here!)
Helen’s Instagram
Byron Katie
Amy Johnson
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

February 4, 2025

Love You More

Ep 54: No Shame, Just Science: Talking Bodies, Blushing Optional

 Episode summary:

Today Jen is letting us into the more personal self care she's been working while navigating some minor, but impactful health issues. It's too common for people to avoid talking about things because they're embarrassing or they think they're the only one experiencing it, so today Jen is opening up in the hopes of connecting with listeners that may be having similar experiences. 

To honor American heart month, Jen talks through her journey to better heart health. As someone with a family history of heart disease who lives a pretty heart healthy lifestyle, it's been a struggle for Jen to reconcile less-than-ideal lab numbers and the need for treatment. She also opens up about her lifelong struggle with incontinence, how it has impacted her life, and what steps she's taking now to change the trajectory of her health.

For anyone experiencing similar issues or who wants to learn more about Jen's experience navigating these issues, please don't hesitate to reach out directly. Jen's inbox is always open. 

 Favorite Quotes:

“If you don’t feel respected in a situation with a [medical] professional, you go see someone else.” - Jen

“No one wants to talk about the fact that they pee on themselves.” - Jen

Resources
Bulkamid
Lipoprotein A (LPa)
Dr. Jennifer Bickhouse
American Heart Association
Substack
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

December 16, 2024

Love You More

Ep 53: Celebrating 2 Years Sober with Special Guest PJ McDaniel (Jen’s Husband!)

Episode summary:

Jen is celebrating two years of sobriety today and is chatting with her most special guest yet - her husband PJ. From navigating a relationship where alcohol was once central to their social life to finding new rhythms, they reflect on the ups and downs of this change. PJ opens up about how her journey has impacted his own relationship with alcohol, leading to subtle shifts in his habits (like discovering a love for NA beer!).

The couple shares how they’ve hit their groove—socializing in ways that feel right for each of them, with PJ continuing to drink occasionally and Jen fully embracing her sober life. Honest and thoughtful, this episode gives us a real look at how sobriety can ripple through a relationship, bringing challenges but also deeper connection and understanding.

Favorite Quotes:

“You think a lot about drinking when your spouse is not drinking…you realize how much your [social world] revolves around it.” – PJ

“You have to be patient. Put yourself in their shoes and explore other ways to support that person.” - PJ

Resources
 
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

December 10, 2024

Love You More

Ep 52: Lessons from Mark Spewak, a St. Louis Running Icon 

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen is joined by Mark Spewak, a competitive runner, coach, and cornerstone of the St. Louis running community. Mark shares his journey from selling More Miles, More Smiles T-shirts to organizing charitable races that have become local institutions. Drawing inspiration from his mother’s charitable work, Mark’s latest project, the Market Mile, aims to support organizations actively revitalizing downtown St. Louis—combining fitness, fun, and meaningful impact.

Mark also opens up about the challenges he faced in 2021 when a CSF leak forced him to take an unexpected break from running. He reflects on the mental and physical toll of stepping away from his passion and how it deepened his gratitude for life’s unpredictability. Whether you're a runner, entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration, this conversation is packed with insights on resilience, community, and purpose.

Guest Bio:

 Mark Spewak has been a competitive distance runner for over 15 years since and has been a running coach since 2014 when he started coaching high school cross country. In 2015 he started coaching people across the country with Spewak Training and since then he has helped over 150 runners achieve their goals and hit their personal bests. 

Mark still feeds his passion for competitive running, but his true priority is coaching athletes to their highest level.

Favorite Quotes:

“I know who I am and I know what I need to do in my job to be successful.” - Mark

“When I ride through life lighter and don’t take myself too seriously, life is so much more fun.” – Jen

“Instead of living with resentment, I try to live with gratitude.” - Mark

Resources
 
Jennifer's Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
From Strength to Strength Book
Mark's Website
Spewak Training
Spewak Racing
Market Mile Instagram

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

November 26, 2024
Love You More
Ep 51: Bittersweet Steps: Parenting a Teenager

Episode summary:
 
In this emotional episode, Jen opens up about navigating raising a teenager and watching her 13-year-old son grow up and start to pull away. Jen shares her raw feelings about the sudden changes in their once easy, close bond, reflecting on how quickly her son seems to be coming into his own. While she knows this independence is a healthy part of growing up, it’s left her grappling with this mix of pride and sadness. 

Through this candid conversation, Jen seeks to foster connection and remind herself—and others—that these feelings are part of the process of parenting.  
 

Favorite quotes:
 
“It used to be so easy to be together and to feel like every moment was a chance for quality time.”

“[As a parent] Especially if our kids are young…find and be there for yourself and find things you enjoy doing. If our identities and who we are, are 99.9 percent wrapped up in parenting or our children, I think it’s going to be really dang painful when those kids leave.”

 Additional Resources
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers Website (book and podcast!
Rob Bell Podcast

Past Episodes
Real Talk on Women's Health with Dr. Melanie McKean
Would you say that to your bestie? The Power of Self Compassion
 
 

Calls to action
Follow me on Instagram:  @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/episodes/16085423

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

November 12, 2024
Love You More
Ep 50: A Conversation on Aging Gracefully

Episode summary:

In this episode, Jen explores her experience with aging and the challenges that come with navigating the flood of health advice online. She talks about how many women in her circle, like herself, are facing perimenopause and feeling overwhelmed by conflicting health information. Jen opens up about the struggle to find reliable guidance and shares her own journey toward aging gracefully.
 
From choosing positive "gracefully aging" role models to building a healthier relationship with social media. She encourages experimentation with different approaches to self-care by asking a few simple questions. 

Favorite quotes:
“Aging gracefully can absolutely include us caring for ourselves in any way, but it’s about how we engage with it.”

“Perimenopause is a brilliant time to step into the shoes we’ve been given, to be the empowered woman, careless what people think, go against the norm, to challenge what other people have to say and to just own our incredible wisdom.”

Additional Resources
Sandy Weiss Sleep Camp
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy

Past Episodes
Real Talk on Women's Health with Dr. Melanie McKean
Would you say that to your bestie? The Power of Self Compassion

Calls to action
Follow me on Instagram:  @jenmcdanielrdn
Episode Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/episodes/16085423

Support the show