Intentionally Well

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Happy New Year my friends. I hope this message of reflection brings you hope and courage as we enter the year ahead. My desire is that the following (23) musings will inspire and encourage you, as you step into unchartered territory. With the world showing its true colors more and more each day, I believe it's of top priority to get our health and hearts in order. Thank you for the support you've shown me since the launch of this show, and I look forward to sharing so much more with you in 2023!

• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

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This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

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During this very candid episode, I sit down with seasoned registered nurse Morgan Hebb, who opens up about the harsh realities of standardized health care. Her years in a hospital setting and clinicals (NP degree in progress) have opened her eyes to the system's downfalls, and how quality care is truly hard to find. She explains that there are amazing people threaded throughout the system, but that the system itself is purposefully broken due to one main, overarching goal: PROFIT.
She goes into detail about how insurance dictates the average patient experience, how overprescribing meds is a massive health crisis in itself, and how providers simply do not have the tools or the time to dedicate towards educating patients on preventative wellness.
Morgan answers a few listener questions, gives us her opinion on what it takes to actually become your own health advocate, and even provides a few amazing resources on how to research providers that take on a more integrative, functional approach to medicine.
While there is definitely a place for Western medicine, she very honestly reminds us that it is not in our best interest to be dependent on the system, and that optimal health and well-being cannot be outsourced. 

• Resource for finding a practitioner: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/ 
• Resource for finding a practitioner: https://bastyr.edu/practitioner
• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

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This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

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This incredible episode highlights the foundational ABC's of blood sugar health in a way that is comprehensive, yet very easy-to-understand. During this informational conversation, I had the pleasure of sitting down with specialized registered dietitian, Isaac Pohlman, who's knowledge regarding diabetes and blood sugar balancing has helped countless adults that have surrounding concerns. He takes us through a crash course by explaining many of the popular terms regarding blood sugar, while also going into thoughtful detail about connected topics such as mineral balancing, the impact of chronic stress, and so much more. He gives tangible tips on how to positively influence our blood sugar levels, and his clear and compassionate message is this: While it is of upmost concern to those with a related condition, blood sugar health should be on everyone's radar, as it plays a vital role in our overall health and well-being.

• Isaac on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacpohlman/
• Facebook link:  https://www.facebook.com/isaacpohlmannutrition/ 
• Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/701177110324565 
•  5 Steps to Lower Insulin Resistance (free report):  https://www.isaacpohlman.com/free-report 
• Work with Isaac:  https://www.isaacpohlman.com/freecall 
• Follow Isaac's social media outlets for updated information regarding upcoming book releases
• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

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This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

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In this episode, I chat with holistic nutritionist Neenet Hairapetian, who specializes in helping women restore their metabolism, heal their gut, balance their hormones, all while heavily educating on the importance of a functional and balanced diet. Neenet is super passionate and enthusiastic about debunking wellness-y trends and other dietary habits, and she gets real about how many seemingly "healthy" routines are simply not sustainable for the majority of women long-term. In this discussion, we get into detail about the drawbacks of on-trend diets like veganism and keto, and how they can unfortunately wreck a woman's hormonal health status (especially during her childbearing years). We also talk about other narratives and "not-so-healthy" tips often discussed in wellness circles, as well as the importance of minerals and how the proper nutrients can really make or break metabolic function. Neenet provides a bunch of simple suggestions to implement in efforts to achieve more daily balance...which translates to a healthier, happier, less stressful life.

• Neenet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pencilyourselfin/
• Neenet's online course: NOURISHED + FREE Method (link in her bio)
• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

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This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

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In this unique episode, I sit down with specialized Holistic Health Coach Mishi Garcia, who's dedicated her work to helping women overcome and heal from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, otherwise known as the loss of a woman's period during her reproductive years.

During our conversation, we discuss the physiological details of what's occurring with the body when a woman experiences HA, as well as the mental challenges that parallel it. We talk about how the body's main focus is safety and how that is paramount for healing to occur, and she also gives valuable tips on how to speak to your own doctor if you're experiencing abnormal symptoms. She educates on how women should look to the menstrual cycle as a monthly metabolic report card, and validates how much of this information was never even touched upon in our younger years. This episode is highly educational and gives a very well-rounded perspective on how body literacy can be achieved and that it is key to living in optimal health.

• Mishi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosay.way_wellness/
• Mishi's website: https://rosayway.com/
• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected] 

Support the show

This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

Send Vanessa a text or a voicemail!

In this amazing episode, I have an incredibly important conversation with Lena Le Huray, who has an exceptional amount of knowledge in the world of health and psychology. Lena's background and trying personal experiences led her to the discovery of her special interest in health psychology, and here she gives us a huge chunk of information on what it really means to age well. She goes into detail about subjective age, and explains that how we FEEL is actually more important than our chronological age. She also talks about important factors such as the concept of having "agency' over our lives, the critical component of building and maintaining muscle mass, as well as the social determinants that play a major role in how we age overtime. Aging well, as opposed to just living a "long life,"  is most likely everyone's concern, and this episode is wildly packed with information that can absolutely empower you. Lena's valuable insight shines a light on the fact that healthy aging is multifaceted, and I am certain you'll walk away from this one feeling educated and inspired.

• Lena's website: https://lenajadeshealthylife.com
• Lena's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-health/id1478822466?i=1000585520423
• Lena on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenajadeshealthylife/
• Lena's book, Food Rehab for Food Junkies: https://a.co/d/9BbFtBH

• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

Support the show

This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

Send Vanessa a text or a voicemail!

In this brief solo episode, I candidly share some of my thoughts surrounding the unhelpful comparison game we all commonly play from time to time. In today's modern and digital world, we are consistently lured in to viewing other people's filtered lives, and it's doing a number on our self-image, our nervous systems, and therefore our overall well-being. We are leaving the door open for chronic deception and distraction, and it's setting us back now more than ever.
Here, I not only discuss how the comparison trap is a destructive web to get tangled up in, but I give a real-life example of how I've seen it play out in my own life, as well as thoughtful tips on how to minimize this behavior so you can stay present and grounded in your own.

• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

Support the show

This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

Send Vanessa a text or a voicemail!

In this episode I sit down with Taryn Hussey (Shank), a Holistic Health Coach and very seasoned Wellness Blogger! Taryn has a plethora of knowledge regarding diet culture/anti-diet culture and the "food freedom" sector of the wellness world, and has worked with people worldwide to overcome their unhealthy relationships with food and body image. This conversation is full of real talk, including the importance of healing traumas associated with disordered eating, her honest take on all the social media noise regarding the anti-diet culture movement, and so much more. Taryn's success came to fruition after many past struggles with her own body and self-image, and here she candidly dishes out some really sound, attainable advice on how to truly nourish your body and mind.

• Taryn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_tarynshank/
• Taryn on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@.tarynshank
• Taryn on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tarynshank/
• Website: https://www.thoughtfullythriving.com/

• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

Support the show

This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

Send Vanessa a text or a voicemail!

In this episode, I have a beautiful and thought-provoking sit down with Michelle Piccione, founder and face behind Mushaboom Traditional Midwifery and Sovereign Birth. Serving families and mothers entirely outside of the allopathic medical system, she practices outside of the medicalized midwife community as well. This show is jam-packed with truths surrounding the differences between the types of midwifery and caretakers, as well as valuable information regarding the the physiological birthing experience. We chat about her own journey and what led her to this line of work, the potential fears surrounding home births, and she gives an abundance of advice to those who may want to explore this topic, or simply just gain knowledge on birthing options outside of a hospital setting.
There is no right way to do things surrounding pregnancy and the birth process, and I believe today's show is a wonderful and gracious reminder that as a whole, we are not always aware of ALL of our options regarding big health decisions. I personally learned so much during this very candid, very honest conversation, and I am certain you will find this episode an informational and intriguing one.

• Michelle Piccione on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mushaboomyyc/
• Website: www.mushaboomyyc.com
• PDF resource on Interview Questions for Your Midwife: www.mushaboomyyc.com/single-post/resource-getting-clear-on-your-birth-vision-interviewing-your-birth-support 
• Book recommendation: Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah J. Buckley, M.D.
• Song, Mushaboom by Feist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYF0qU5WSew&ab_channel=FeistVEVO

• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

Support the show

This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.

Send Vanessa a text or a voicemail!

In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Jenn Merrick, who is currently a Functional Nutritional Therapy/Restorative Wellness Practitioner, as well as the owner of Jenn Merrick Wellness. Before diving into this side of root-cause health care, Jenn was practicing as a paramedical esthetician for 15 years, and worked with hundreds of people who were challenged with minor to severe skin issues. Her path changed however, after she realized that the health of the skin was definitely an inside job, and passionately sought out on a quest to educate herself further in order to help clients with their overall metabolic health. Jenn is full of knowledge and really highlights the fact that the conditions we face are just a symptom of a deeper imbalance, and that healing is absolutely possible. This show is full of wonderful reminders and easy-to-implement takeaways when it comes to skin health and  improving the state of our metabolism from a foundational and cellular level.

• Jenn Merrick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennmerrickwellness/ 
• Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/well.with.vanessa/
• Vanessa Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftofgoods/
• Vanessa's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegiftofgoods
• Email: [email protected]

Support the show

This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult a trusted health practitioner for individual concerns.