Hypothetically Intentional

Sometimes life keeps lifing, and we get so caught up in the heavy that we forget to pause, connect, and celebrate. In this lighthearted yet deeply grounded episode of Hypothetically Intentional, I’m joined by my wonderful friend Tanya Smart. Tanya opens up about navigating an intense season of high work stress, the beautiful relief of reaching a finite end date, and what it truly feels like to welcome a summer of pure freedom and creative play. 

Together, we explore the duality of stress and celebration, the healing power of dark humor, and why it is so necessary to protect empty space in our calendars. If you are feeling overwhelmed or are ready to transition into your own season of calm, this episode is a gentle invitation to lighten the heavy and find the funny in the middle of the mess. 

Connect with Tanya: Explore Tanya’s creative writing and reflections on her Substack: @TFSmart.

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This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

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Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Have you ever let perfectionism steal the joy from your own creative expression? In this episode of Hypothetically Intentional, I sit down with Laura Marks, Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), life coach, and the founder of Indy Tangles. Laura shares her profound journey from traditional visual arts—where competitive exhibits left her feeling burned out and soul-crushed—to discovering the liberating, structured method of Zentangle. 

Together, we explore how repetitive, non-representational patterns serve as a literal pressure release valve for a stressed nervous system. Laura opens up about her ten years of work facilitating expressive art sessions for cancer survivors and caregivers, demonstrating how a single pen stroke can teach us resilience, presence, and surrender when life gets turned upside down. Whether you consider yourself an artist or haven't picked up a pen since childhood, this conversation is an invitation to step out of your rigid mind and drop straight into your heart space. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why traditional art spaces can feel soul-crushing and how to heal your inner artist. 
• The definition of Zentangle and why it is different from aimless doodling. 
• How non-representational art silences the perfectionist critic in your head. 
• The beautiful way art leads to personal confidence and community connection. 
• How to handle the "unplanned lines" we draw in our art and in our lives. 
• Using simple creative tools to find instant pockets of reprieve and regulate your nervous system. 

About Our Guest: Laura Marks is a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), health and life coach, and the heart behind Indy Tangles. With a master's degree in counseling and a background in visual arts, Laura blends deep emotional connection with tactile creativity. For over a decade, she has facilitated expressive arts for the integrative therapy program at Hartford Hospital, helping cancer survivors and caregivers navigate health crises through the soothing rhythm of repetitive patterns. When she isn’t teaching public workshops online or hosting regional art retreats, she brings her regulating creative practices into her full-time work within a fast-paced law firm environment. 

Connect with Laura:

• Website: https://www.indytangles.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndyTangles/
• Instagram: @lauramarks297
• Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/laura-marks-czt-29639185071

Connect with Michelle:

• Join the Event: Aligned & Integrated Virtual Summit
• Soul Care Support: Tap into your highest alignment by requesting a spot on our Free Reiki Grid or booking a one-on-one Soul Growth Tarot Coaching session.

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode of Hypothetically Intentional, we are again honoring parenthood, this time focusing on Father's Day. Following our recent Mother's Day conversation about parenthood, we are turning our curiosity toward the experience of fatherhood —examining the expectations we place on parents and how we navigate our own upbringings. 

I am joined by my dear friend Javier Santana, a father of three daughters who chose to consciously process his relationship with his past so he could show up with complete, undivided presence for his family. 

Javier shares his powerful story of navigating the absence of his own father, the massive transition of moving from Puerto Rico to Virginia at age 11 without knowing English, and the incredible three-hour drive that ultimately allowed him to find true forgiveness and closure. Together, we unpack why true growth means moving past parental blame, how to step into accountability for our current choices, and look at the profound question every parent needs to answer: We always say we would die for our children—but are we willing to live for them? 

Connect with Javier Santana:

• Vida Brand Lab: VidaBrandLab.com  
• Vivir Coffee Company: VivirCoffee.com (Sign up for updates on the lifestyle brand launching later this year!) 

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Have you ever felt like an expert in the language of healing, yet still feel trapped in the same old patterns? In this solo episode, I share a sneak peek into my upcoming book, Never Broken, Never Healed, Always Whole. Together, we explore the concept of the Avoidant Seeker. The Avoidant Seeker keeps us in the loop of constantly gathering tools, books, and appointments as a subconscious shield against doing the actual, internal integration work.

I break down the vital difference between your lowercase "s" self (the part shaped by wounds and conditioning) and your capital "S" Self (your wise, authentic observer). If you are tired of treating your healing journey like a transactional demolition project, this episode is your invitation to pause, surrender, and remember that you are already whole.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why we treat healing like a transaction and expect others to "fix" us.
• The trap of "avoidant seeking" and why our humanness prefers a painful known to an unpredictable unknown.
• Understanding the Lowercase "s" self vs. the Capital "S" Self.
• A powerful real-life client story illustrating the alchemy of surrender.
• The structural rhythm of the Choose Yourself® journey.

Connect with Michelle:

• Ready to stop seeking and start landing? Book a personalized Soul Growth Tarot Coaching session with me to uncover the path your inner observer is trying to show you.
• Need a space to rest and just be? Submit your name to my Free Reiki Grid Requests and allow yourself to simply receive.

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What do you do when life presents you with the ultimate duality: a season of profound celebration alongside a season of "unthinkable" challenge? In this raw solo episode, Michelle pulls back the curtain on her own currently "messy" reality. From the joy of witnessing her son’s wedding to navigating complex personal waters, she explores why we don’t have to choose between being human and being divine. We are always both.

Michelle discusses:

• The Urge to Hide: Recognizing when pride or embarrassment makes us want to "tuck things into boxes" instead of feeling them. 
• The Choice to Sit: Why "moving through" an emotion sometimes just means being in a pause. 
• Nervous System Signals: How nature (and even birdsong) reminds us that we are safe, even when things are complicated. 
• The Rock in the Stream: A powerful visualization for staying grounded when the current of life feels too fast. 

This episode is a gentle invitation to stop judging your own process and to trust that you have every tool you need to figure it out. Take it one drop at a time. 

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you are a parent, have a parent, or are currently "in progress," today’s conversation is a deep dive into the most challenging and rewarding relationship we can navigate as humans. 

In this Season 4 premiere of Hypothetically Intentional, I’m joined by therapist and Intuitive Coach, Sam Franklin. Sam is currently awaiting the arrival of their first child, and we explore the profound transition from the spiritual soul realm into the messy reality of the human experience. 

In this episode, we unpack:

• The Mount Everest of Control: How parenthood forces us to confront our need for certainty and embrace the beauty of surrender. 
• Modeling Humanness: The power of the parental apology and why moving away from hierarchy creates deeper intimacy. 
• Beginner’s Mind: Reclaiming the sense of wonder we often lose as adults through the eyes of our children. 
• The Healer’s Lens in Parenting: Navigating the "empath’s dilemma", feeling your child’s pain without needing to fix it. 

Join us for an honest, vulnerable reflection on authoring a new narrative for your family, one rooted in intentionality, kindness, and grace.

Connect with Sam:

Website: https://www.samintuitivecoach.com/

Social Media: @samintuitivecoach

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Michelle Aalbers sits down with medium Sierra Grana for a raw exploration of "rebirthing" yourself during massive life changes—from divorce to returning to one's childhood home. They discuss the "Logic of Alignment": the intersection where spiritual manifestation meets practical action.

Key Topics:

• The 11th Hour: Trusting Divine protection when life feels like it's fishtailing.
• The "Friendly Divorce": Prioritizing soul growth and family unity through separation.
• Mediumship & Lineage: Growing up in a house where the "Woo" was the "Normal."
• Sacred Rage: Maintaining a "sassy" and honest relationship with Spirit.

About Our Guest: Sierra Grana is a Community Architect, Leadership Strategist, and intuitive Medium known for guiding leaders, pioneers, and generational cycle breakers through life’s most challenging transitions and into deeper alignment with their purpose.

With over 15 years in upper management and experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist, Sierra brings both structure and intuition to her work. After building a successful but high-pressure career, she made a pivotal shift toward what truly called her: helping people reconnect to themselves and live with presence, clarity, and intention.

Blending grounded strategy with intuitive insight, Sierra supports her clients in creating authenticity, freedom, love, and joy in both life and business. Her work is rooted in transformation, guiding others to move through uncertainty and step fully into who they are meant to be. She is a homeschooling mother of three, embodying the balance of leadership, devotion, and real-life integration. When she’s not guiding clients, you’ll likely find her immersed in a Star Wars movie or enjoying a good baseball game.

Connect with Sierra: https://soulcialagency.com/

⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains honest discussions regarding sensitive experiences, including near-death experiences and pregnancy loss. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. We encourage listeners to navigate these topics with care and reach out to trusted professionals if support is needed.

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What happens when you finally surrender to the moment? In this illuminating episode, Michelle connects with Monica Fowler, co-owner of Studio 1108, to discuss her recent life-changing pilgrimage to the birthplace of Reiki in Japan.

About Our Guest: Monica Fowler has dedicated over 25 years to the healing arts, evolving from hands-on bodywork to a deeply intuitive practice. She is a Holy Fire® Reiki Master, a Dragon Fire Reiki practitioner, and a certified Integrated Process Technique (IPT) Facilitator. Through her work at Studio 1108, Monica blends vibrational sound healing with energy work to help clients release emotional blocks and find inner harmony.

In This Episode: Monica shares her journey to Mount Kurama, where she retraced the steps of Usui Sensei and received a profound healing session from his direct lineage. We explore the subtle but extreme power of Holy Fire Reiki, the emergence of Dragon Fire energy, and why "sticking your hands in the dirt" is sometimes the most profound spiritual practice you can do. From navigating language barriers through energy to understanding the physical "detox" that follows a sound bath, this conversation is an invitation to be present and find peace exactly where you are.

Key Conversations:

• Lineages of Light: Comparing the unique "flavors" of Holy Fire, Dragon Fire, and Traditional Usui Reiki.
• The Japan Pilgrimage: Retracing Usui’s steps, from the mountain elements to the ramen shop where he broke his fast.
• Energy Speaks First: How Monica connected with international practitioners in Japan despite a total language barrier.
• Meeting the Client: How Monica bridges the gap for skeptics by using language that honors their personal belief systems.

Connect with Monica:

• Website: lifeshealingjourney.com
• Phone/Text: 785-608-3000

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What if loneliness is about being unseen, rather than being alone? In this follow-up, Michelle welcomes back Stacy Rocklein, author of Forgive Without an Apology, to explore the risky path of vulnerability. 

About Stacy Rocklein: Stacy Rocklein is an author, speaker, and relationship coach on a mission to eradicate loneliness by helping people create emotional safety within themselves and their connections. Stacy has transitioned through careers as a math teacher and stay-at-home mom to help others find their authentic voice.

In This Episode: Michelle and Stacy discuss why vulnerability with yourself must precede vulnerability with others. They unpack building self-trust, rebuilding after betrayal, and reframing conflict as a path to intimacy. 

Key Conversations:

• Inner Vulnerability: Using "compassionate honesty" to confront tender feelings. 
• Choosing Support: Identifying who actually has the capacity to hold your shares. 
• The School Bus Metaphor: Accepting all parts of yourself without letting "shitty" traits drive the bus. 
• Trust in Drops: Understanding that trust is built—and spilled—one small choice at a time. 

Connect & Dive Deeper

• The Book: Forgive Without an Apology – Stacy’s guide to healing, boundaries, and deeper connections.
• Website: StacyRocklein.com – Explore coaching packages and one-on-one sessions.
• YouTube: @stacyrocklein – Stacy’s most active space for truth-telling and relationship tips.
• Socials: Connect with Stacy on Facebook, Instagram, Substack, or Amazon.

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What if the guidance you’ve been searching for was already inside you, waiting for you to simply "pull the thread"? In this soulful and rebellious episode, Michelle connects with Melanie Raphael, also known as Your Witchy Mother, for a conversation about unlearning high-control systems and reclaiming your personal power.

About Our Guest: Melanie Raphael is "Your Witchy Mother": a mentor, somatic practitioner, and Akashic Records reader who helps others navigate their spiritual journeys without performance or guilt. With six children of her own and a mission to be a "mother to other souls," Melanie provides a safe, nurturing space for those exploring practical rituals and deconditioning from religious or societal trauma.

In This Episode: Melanie shares her journey of being raised by a Baptist preacher, where blind faith was required, and inquisitiveness was discouraged. We discuss her transition through Catholicism and a world-shattering intuition in 2019 that led her to fully embrace her witchy path. From using simple rituals like "touching grass" to regulate the nervous system to the importance of somatic integration in healing, Melanie offers a grounded roadmap for spiritual exploration.

Key Conversations:

• Defining "Your Witchy Mother": Why Melanie chose a title that offers nurturing guidance without judgment.
• The Sinner's Grimoire: Melanie’s free resource of five practical rituals.
• Somatic vs. Energetic: Why affirmations aren't enough if you don't change the tissue of the human vessel.
• The Witch in the Pew: Navigating spiritual curiosity while respecting your own unique roots and labels.
• Childlike Wonder: Why connecting to Spirit requires the naivete of a child sitting in the grass.

Connect with Melanie:

• Website: melanieraphael.com
• Monthly Presentation: The Witch in the Pew
• Free Resource: The Sinner’s Grimoire
• Social Media: @yourwitchymother (TikTok & YouTube) 

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute providing professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Want more from Michelle?
Visit ChooseYourself.com

Find us on Social Media
 Facebook: facebook.com/michelleaalbers/
Instagram: @michelleaalbers
Facebook: facebook.com/JaiDeeWellness/
Instagram: @jaideestudio

Music Credit Through Season 3 Episode 41
Title: Ebb and Flow
Author: Fabian Measures https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/
Source: Free Music Archive https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Singles_Album/Ebb_and_Flow_1829/
Licence: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/