It Has to Be Me

Want a deeper emotional connection with your male partner? Embodiment coach Speed Weed shares his struggle with isolation, and how he guides other men to connect with their hearts and their vulnerabilities in more meaningful relationships.   

He tracks his unexpected journey from being nicknamed Speed as an infant to aspiring actor to educator, to advance man for the Clintons in their White House years to screenwriter and producer of hit TV shows.  

Life in the fast lane thrust him into mid-life lonely, unfulfilled, and looking to be a better man for his family and in his marriage. But without male role models he wanted to emulate, Speed didn’t know where to start.  

An embodiment workshop where men modeled open-hearted masculinity and honest communication initiated the deep connection with others (and self) he had been missing. Determined to help other men develop the same intimate knowing that had shifted his perspective so profoundly, Speed embraced his new calling as a practitioner.  

We discuss the power of mentorship, men’s circles, and embodiment and polarity practices to teach presence, open listening, and mindful sharing and boundaries. Speed then offers his takes on relationship dynamics, what really holds men back from identifying and expressing their emotions, and the key problem with traditional masculinity. 

This conversation isn’t about perfection or mastery. It’s about humility, devotion, service, and having the courage to slow down, speak less, and feel more. To be led as much as lead.  

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• Men have to learn embodied masculinity from other men. 
• Open-hearted vulnerability modeled by men offers a way out of emotional isolation.  
• Embodiment practices cultivate a deep sense of self and support intimate relationships. 
• Polarity exercises lead to greater presence, understanding, and compassion.  
• Awareness of your nervous system’s capacity helps draw healthy boundaries.  
• Exploring the wrong road is often how you get on the right road. 
• If you don’t have to explain, justify, or analyze your decision, it’s usually right. 
• We speak and write and live to figure out what we know.  

ABOUT SPEED 

Speed Weed is a leader of embodied polarity work for men who want more depth and connection in their lives.  

For over 20 years, he worked as a writer and producer on TV shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NCIS: Los Angeles, Arrow, Haven, and The Summer I Turned Pretty.  

He found his calling outside entertainment, in coaching other men in embodiment and toward generative, loving masculinity. Speed immersed himself in the healing arts.  

Having graduated from teacher training in masculine embodiment with John Wineland and Kendra Cunov, Speed continues his study with other renowned teachers to build his knowledge and strengthen his practice.  

Through coaching, men’s circles, and workshops, Speed guides men and women into the deeper wisdom of their hearts and bodies.   

The nickname his parents gave him as a baby is misleading. Speed values the slow pace of presence and the deep clarity of sobriety. 

CONNECT WITH SPEED 

Website: https://www.workingdeep.com/it-has-to-be-me 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingdeep/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speed-weed-9017541a/ 

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Struggling to cope with male abuses of power? Amir Khalighi, founder of Embodied Masculine™, shares how he works helping men connect with themselves, and identify and express their needs with genuine respect for feminine energy and for women.   

Raised by a single mother, without a positive male role model, Amir fell into a spiral with drugs and alcohol. He recounts his journey from addiction to sobriety, and how meeting men at peace with themselves motivated him to embrace sovereignty, somatic wisdom, and sacred responsibility.  

With the help of male elders, men’s groups, and embodiment practices, Amir healed his fractured sense of self. He began mentoring other men seeking direction and purpose.   

Amir describes the void left by the absence of father figures and the responsibility that conscious men feel about toxic masculinity. He gets into how he helps men navigate grief and give expression to it, and understand their hunger for guidance, purpose, and validation. 

We discuss the importance of mentorship and community in shaping a loving expression of masculinity. Amir explains how men can move from disconnection to devotion through initiations, rituals, somatics, and honest conversations with other men committed to fully embodied awareness.  

Taking us inside the dynamics of his marriage, Amir shares how he uses his experiences to guide other men to share their vulnerability, celebrate women, and form intimate relationships. 

Amir’s philosophy: Look into your heart with courage, and take responsibility for your actions. When things get hard, lean forward, and welcome the breakthrough that leads to clarity and healing.  

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• Boys are born, men are made.  
• Healthy masculinity meets strength with reverence, not domination.  
• True masculine integrity honors the divine feminine so men can celebrate women.  
• Initiation ceremonies honor life transitions to promote awareness and self-actualization. 
• Somatic practices help men connect with their needs through movement and sound.  
• Men’s circles allow men to safely express themselves and mentor each other. 
• Men need other men. Community support is vital for healing and self-discovery. 
• Elders modeling positive masculinity anchor younger generations.  

ABOUT AMIR  

Founder of Embodied Masculine™, Amir Khalighi works as a teacher, coach, and speaker, helping men step into their power and live purpose-driven lives.  

Amir’s own journey into self-actualization started with study of existential philosophy and comparative religion. In his 20s and 30s, he helped men with addictive behaviors into recovery through martial arts and other practices. His approach integrates Jungian psychology, somatic healing, shamanism, embodiment methodology, yogic intimacy, Celtic mythology, Sufi mysticism, and mythopoetic men’s work.   

In coaching, workshops, men’s circles, initiation programs, and facilitator training, Amir builds communities where men find role models and ways to embody their male energies in loving paradigms of masculinity balanced with feminine counterparts. 

Working with men from all walks of life, from Fortune 500 CEOs, influencers, and artists to young men finding their paths, Amir speaks at and facilitates men’s events around the world.  

Through his website BelovedPoetry.com, Amir shares his love of poems, presenting the works of Rumi, Hafiz, Neruda, and others.   

CONNECT WITH AMIR 

Website: https://embodiedmasculine.com/ 

Website: https://belovedpoetry.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khalighi/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KhalighiA/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/embodiedmasculine/ 

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Keri Khalighi, somatic guide, shares her journey from shape-shifting, performing, and stifling her voice to reclaiming her feminine power through embodied listening.   

She remembers her shy 13-year-old self from small-town Nebraska who was catapulted into the world of high fashion. Modeling in New York and Europe, she underwent a trial by fire, learning to shut down her sensitivity to survive.  

Naive, and craving safety and stability, Keri became a serial monogamist, and failed to find the emotional intimacy she needed.   

Being a mother, a doula, and caregiver for her dying father cracked open a new level of awareness, connection, and wisdom. But, it took a divorce to usher in a renaissance of being.   

Through tantra and other ancient traditions, feminine embodiment practices, and guidance from mentors, Keri moved into a deeper understanding of herself. That planted the seeds for a soul connection with her husband, Amir. She takes us inside their partnership, and how it serves as the foundation for their work as somatic and embodiment guides. 

Celebrating the wisdom of age, we honor the stories we carry in our bodies as women, the beauty of exploring our sexuality, and how breath, movement, and poetry open our hearts and possibilities.  

We dive into the power of women’s circles, and the ancient magic of feminine gathering. Then, Keri shares the beauty of tea ceremonies, which help us slow down and catch up—both to ourselves and with the fast pace of life.  

She encourages us to live in “the juice” and humility of the unknown, listen to the truth of the moment, and share your imperfect offering. 

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• Somatics, tea ceremonies, and other practices open us to embodied listening.   
• Women are always birthing, not only babies, but ideas, and new versions of themselves.  
• Women’s circles provide a space for connection, free expression, and healing. 
• Pleasure is yours to have and share. Not something somebody gives you.  
• Have the sovereignty to walk away from what isn’t yours, and step into what is.  
• Grief is an initiation portal that opens up new possibilities and knowing.  
• Your darkest experiences turn into the gold from which to serve. 
• Celebrate the mystery and humility of the unknown and listen to the questions. 

ABOUT KERI KHALIGHI 

Somatic guide and ceremonialist, Keri Khalighi invites women into deeper connection with their bodies, their truth, and the rhythms of the natural world through private mentorship, circles, and workshops.   

Guided by archetypal and ancestral threads, and rooted in decades of experience with embodiment, birthwork, trauma healing, and sacred ritual, Keri’s offerings create space for women to listen to their inner knowing.  

At the heart of her practice is Cha Dao - the Way of Tea - a ceremonial path which she weaves with somatic listening, expressive movement, and feminine wisdom traditions.  

Keri collaborates with her husband, Amir Khalighi, founder of Embodied Masculine, offering immersive experiences that explore the sacred dialogue of the feminine and masculine energies that exist within us and between us.  

CONNECT WITH KERI 

Website: https://wayoftheelements.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keri_khalighi 

Guided by archetypal and ancestral threads, and rooted in decades of experience with embodiment, birthwork, trauma healing, and sacred ritual, Keri’s offerings create space for women to listen to their inner knowing.  

At the heart of her practice is Cha Dao - the Way of Tea - a ceremonial path which she weaves with somatic listening, expressive movement, and feminine wisdom traditions.  

Keri collaborates with her husband, Amir Khalighi, founder of Embodied Masculine, offering immersive experiences that explore the sacred dialogue of the feminine and masculine energies that exist within us and between us.  

CONNECT WITH KERI 

Website: https://wayoftheelements.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keri_khalighi 

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Are your eating habits messing with your hormones? Meghan Donnelly, lead dietitian for the 60 Day Reset, shares the science behind why so many women struggle to lose weight despite “eating healthy.” 

Many of us are unknowingly sabotaging thyroid function and metabolism by eating too little, not too much. The results include blood sugar crashes, hormone imbalances, brain fog, brittle nails, hair loss, sleep problems, fatigue, and mood swings.  

Disordered eating patterns, Meghan says, aren’t always as stark as anorexia and bulimia. They show up in subtle everyday behaviors we consider normal, but are damaging our bodies. 

Meghan gives us strategies to boost metabolism and weight loss, and the best foods for hormones. She explains why gut health and protein are critical for hormone health and lays out the reasons we should be snacking every day.  

We discuss the importance of personalized nutrition solutions, then weigh the side effects of Ozempic and other GLP-1 injections, covering how these medications can seriously decrease muscle mass and bone density.   

Tune in for some vital nutrition information that may surprise you. 

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• Eating balanced meals frequently promotes weight loss and hormone balance. 
• Undernourishment slows down metabolism, digestion, circulation, and brain function. 
• Disordered eating includes many behaviors normalized today. 
• Quality snacks support thyroid health to ward off and combat autoimmune disease.  
• Better gut health is crucial for better hormone and blood sugar regulation.  
• Meeting your protein needs is a game-changer for better hormone function. 
• Working with a dietitian isn’t about restriction, but about strategies to expand choices.  
• Ditch generic diets. Personalized nutrition is the path to sustainable lifestyle change. 

ABOUT MEGHAN 

Meghan Donnelly, MS, RDN, CDN, is a registered dietitian specializing in gastrointestinal nutrition, and is Director Of Health Communications at the Celiac Disease Foundation.  

Her experience spans clinical practice, nutrition counseling, medical nonprofits, and the food industry. 

In her private practice at Nutmeg Nutrition, Meghan helps her clients establish a balanced and joyful relationship with food, particularly when managing digestive disorders (IBS and SIBO), food intolerances, gluten-related conditions (celiac disease), and disordered eating.   

She also provides nutrition counseling for heart health, kidney disease, weight management, and food intolerances. Monash University certified, she guides clients on Low-FODMAP diets.   

As lead dietitian for Skinny60®, Meghan provides nutrition education and support for participants in the 60-Day Reset.  

CONNECT WITH MEGHAN 

Nutmeg Nutrition: https://www.nutmegnutrition.org/ 

60-Day Reset: https://www.skinny60.com/60-day-reset/ 

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Is menopause making you miserable? What you’re doing to fight it could be making things worse. I’m sharing the biggest mistakes we make so you can avoid them, and some strategies that actually work to lose weight over 40.  

 Recounting my struggles, I weigh up what I’d do differently to avoid the hot flashes, weight gain, brain fog, sleep issues, and mood swings.  

 Top-line takeaway: I’d ditch the diets and get serious about gut health.  

 We’ll dive into how the gut controls hormones and metabolism, and cover why “eating healthy” isn’t enough to combat tanking estrogen and progesterone. Then, we’ll walk through my strategy for thriving through menopause: personalized nutrition, knowing your food triggers, and meeting your protein needs.   

Drawing in wisdom from previous guests, we’ll go over the importance of advanced labs and early DEXA scans, how to improve bone health and avoid osteoporosis, and why a dietitian should be a core member of your medical team.  

 A key strategy that’s missing for most women? Sharing experience and resources in a supportive, like-minded community. You can’t Chat-GPT-your-way through this transition. 

Tune in to get proactive and take charge of your health.  

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• Personalized nutrition is the key to achieving health goals at any age.  
• What you eat dramatically affects how you feel during menopause. 
• Optimizing gut health and blood sugar helps to balance your hormones. 
• Over 40, meeting your protein needs is a game-changer.  
• Dieting can make menopause symptoms and health issues worse.  
• The 60-Day Reset includes access to dietitians and community support.  
• Reduce hot flashes, brain fog, and other symptoms by knowing your food triggers.  
• Get advanced hormone and thyroid panels with a menopause-trained doctor.  

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Struggling to process fear, anger, and grief? Karen Kenney—writer and spiritual mentor—gives us a masterclass in finding love, compassion, and resilience in challenging times.  

When Karen was 12, her mother was brutally murdered. She and her sister were sent to live with strangers. Through years of trauma and confusion, Karen sought solace in books and stories. While others around her took satisfaction in vengeance, she found peace in forgiveness, through guidance from mentors, and her study and practice of somatics, yoga, and other healing modalities.  

This put Karen, who grew up Catholic, on an unexpected path to a different relationship with spirituality and the divine. After getting a communications degree at Boston University, she lived and worked with Marianne Williamson, then immersed in study of A Course In Miracles, finally claiming her role as coach and thought leader.   

We discuss the impact of family and cultural conditioning in shaping internal narratives, and the importance of shifting limiting beliefs to temper the dialogue with ourselves and others.  

Cornerstones of Karen’s approach are personal responsibility, harnessing the agency we have, recognizing what spirit and source mean to us, and developing a unique connection to them.  

She maps how to assemble a team of spiritual advisors, noting the importance of tapping into our resources and community to consider things in different ways. Then shows us tools to resist fear, acknowledge risk, and feel ‘safe enough’ to take action toward what we want.  

Karen’s story epitomizes “It has to be me.” But her message is: You don’t have to do it alone. 

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• A Course In Miracles is a workbook to prompt self awareness and growth.  
• Developing your own approach to spirituality supports self-love and compassion.   
• Intimacy heals. Personal responsibility and deep relationships expand your choices. 
• Grief is a sacred path to your deepest healing and highest service.  
• You can feed a grievance or you can seek peace. You cannot do both.  
• Forgiveness isn’t forgetting. Choosing compassion means suffering doesn’t run the show.  
• You’re not the sum of what happened to you, but what you’ve been called to because of it. 
• We’re never completely safe. Feeling safe enough is enough. 

ABOUT KAREN KENNEY 

Spiritual mentor and writer Karen Kenney uses humor and dynamic storytelling to bring a down-to-earth, no-BS perspective to self-development. 

Bringing together tools that coach the conscious and unconscious mind, Karen helps clients deepen their connections with self, and discover their unique understandings of spirituality.  

Her practice combines neuroscience, subconscious reprogramming, integrative hypnosis, somatics, and other holistic modalities to help regulate the nervous system, examine internal narratives, remove blocks, and reimagine what’s possible. 

A passionate student of A Course in Miracles, devout yoga teacher, and Gateless Writing instructor, Karen is a frequent speaker and retreat leader. Via her programs The Quest and The Nest, she coaches individuals and groups.  

With The Karen Kenney Podcast, she encourages listeners to shift from a thought system of fear to one of love, compassion, and personal responsibility.  

CONNECT WITH KAREN 

Website: https://www.karenkenney.com/ 

Podcast: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenneylive/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkenneylive/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKenney 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenkenneylive/ 

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Pete Coles, transpersonal counselor and somatic practitioner, shares how listening in an embodied way to grief, anxiety, and other overwhelming emotions softens self-judgment and shame.   

He tells us about his journey, from working musician to therapist for adolescents dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. Seven years in this work led to burnout.  

A 600-km trek through the Tasmanian wilderness brought him to a deeper, more holistic relationship with healing. Pete transitioned into working with adults, integrating somatics to enhance trust, body listening, and self awareness.  

We discuss the significance of family narratives and inherited personality traits. Understanding those, we can explore our internal landscapes with curiosity and compassion, recognize destructive patterns, and move to deeper understanding of ourselves and others. Pete offers insights into relationship dynamics, and how conflict is often a collision with events in the past.  

He says: Slow down and listen to your body. Honor the discomfort that arises—not as a problem, but as a signal that there’s something to take care of.  

This conversation will move you beyond words.  

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• Rather than trying to solve reality in your mind, listen and care for your body.  
• Somatic practices expand how we meet ourselves and others.  
• Reframing problems as puzzles shifts our responses to disruptions.  
• Give anxiety, sadness, and other overwhelming emotions seats at the table. 
• Grief is a meticulous and sacred journey that heals and builds resilience.  
• Observing yourself with curiosity expands inner dialogue and choices. 
• In taking responsibility for our inner stories, we can move from conflict to resolution.   
• Knowing your internal myth leads to greater compassion for yourself.  

ABOUT PETE COLES 

A transpersonal psychotherapist with extensive experience in drug and alcohol addiction, Pete has a nuanced understanding of mental health, compulsive behavior, and trauma.  

In his therapeutic approach, he integrates somatic awareness, helping people connect with their bodies and explore internal myths and formative stories that shape perceptions and behaviors.  Pete also supports clients in the safe use of psychoactive plants in their therapy.  

Specializing in relationship dynamics, Pete works with couples to uncover how personal narratives intersect, guiding them toward greater clarity and connection.  

As co-founder of Elk & Me Therapies and Dispensary, Pete works with a complementary team to offer a holistic and integrative approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

CONNECT WITH PETE 

Website: https://elkandme.com.au/practitioners/pete-coles/ 

Website: https://www.emotionalintellect.com.au/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elkandme/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElkMeTherapiesDispensary/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-coles-125879a2/ 

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

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Dr. Ava Roubin takes us inside the power of Chinese medicine and acupuncture, the value of integrating Eastern and Western healing practices, and how she combined different modalities to build her unique treatment approach.   

We retrace the path that’s made Ava a renowned practitioner. The journey forked when she walked away from the final exam to complete her medical degree. Feeling “too young” to be a doctor, she set off on a self-directed apprenticeship, traveling around the country as a massage therapist. With more life lessons under her belt, she completed her degree plus an additional five years of Chinese herbal medicine. An internship in Shanghai expanded her practice, and she felt ready to open her clinic and dispensary in Australia. 

Giving us an overview of the 5 elements of Chinese medicine, Ava covers how your constitutional type serves as a guide to nourish your body, reset physical and emotional imbalances, and restore vitality. We dive into how acupuncture balances energy and supports recovery, enabling an embodied connection and understanding of self.  

Ava explains her unconventional choice to incorporate massage into sessions as a way of opening deeper healing and communication. Acknowledging the significance of ancestral trauma and inherited narratives, she highlights the importance of working with our internal rhythms, seasons in nature, and the cycle of the day. 

Whether you’re familiar with Chinese medicine or curious about it, Dr. Ava will rock your world.  

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• An integration of Eastern and Western medicine can enhance patient care. 
• The five elements of Chinese medicine shed light on emotional and physical health. 
• Healing is a collaboration between practitioner and client. 
• Acupuncture creates a bridge between the body and the external world. 
• Physical touch and massage facilitate deep communication and healing. 
• Cycles of nature and of the day influence our own rhythms and healing processes. 
• Chinese medicine acknowledges inherited cycles and ancestral trauma. 
• You don’t have to feel “ready” to begin. Wisdom often comes through practice.  

ABOUT DR. AVA ROUBIN, MA, CMD  

A practitioner of Chinese Medicine, Dr. Ava Roubin has decades of experience in the healing arts. She set out on her path as a massage therapist, and evolved to a clinical and spiritual practice rooted in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and psychosomatic holistic care.   

With a Bachelor of Health Science in Chinese Medicine from Victoria University, with a double major in acupuncture and herbal medicine, Ava completed her clinical internship at Shuguan Hospital in Shanghai. It was there that she gained experience combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine in gynecology, oncology, internal medicine, and acupuncture. 

Ava’s work with Five Element Acupuncture draws from ancient Taoist wisdom to support profound emotional, physical, and spiritual transformation.  

As co-founder of Elk & Me Therapies and Dispensary, Ava works with a team of multi-modality practitioners helping clients connect with their innate healing capacity.   

CONNECT WITH DR. AVA ROUBIN 

Website: https://elkandme.com.au/practitioners/ava-roubin/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elkandme/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElkMeTherapiesDispensary/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-roubin-98930456/ 

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Tired of the same smoothies? Up your game with tips from my cookbooks. As The Blender Girl, I’ve spent decades crafting thousands of recipes for my websites, nutrition programs, restaurants, hotels, and food and lifestyle companies. Now, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about making shakes with the wow factor.   

I’ll walk you through my six steps to sensational smoothies: from thinking outside the box with liquids, choosing the right fruits and veggies, achieving super creamy textures, unexpected leafy greens beyond spinach and kale, to using herbs, spices, extracts, and superfoods to boost flavor and nutrition.  

You’ll also learn about incorporating flavored ice, frozen veggies, juices, herbal teas, fermented beverages, and citrus zest to take your shakes to the next level. And get the wildest and most delicious flavor pairings that will make you weak in the knees.   

We’ll cover how to avoid the common pitfalls: Strategies for preventing blood sugar spikes, bloating, reflux, and the dreaded chill in winter. Plus how to bring back vibrant colors and flavors when your blend looks like swamp water, and secrets for fixing flavor flops!   

Last and not to be missed: Why protein powders are one of the worst things to add to shakes. 

Join me for the ultimate smoothie masterclass.  

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• The best smoothies deliver fabulous flavor and balanced nutrition.  
• Add protein and fats to balance the carbs and avoid blood sugar spikes. 
• Skip protein powders made with isolates and use whole foods for better nutrition.  
• Boost flavor and nutrient density with herbs, spices, and superfoods.  
• Experiment with unusual ingredients and pairings for unexpected taste sensations. 
• Go beyond spinach and kale. Try other leafy greens in shakes. 
• Add frozen raw veggies to boost smoothies—without altering taste. 
• Rather than gulping, sip smoothies slowly to support better digestion.   

MEET TESS MASTERS:   

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.    

CONNECT WITH TESS:  

Website: https://tessmasters.com/     

Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/      

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  

Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Over 40 and feeling invisible? Shavita Kotak, author of Seven Wonders Of Menopause, shares why midlife isn’t a period of decline, but a divine invitation to listen to your body, ask for what you need, and go after what you want.   

Shavita recounts how growing up in London in a traditional Indian family had her feeling trapped between two worlds, aching to veer away from the expected path.   

After traveling the world, studying with healers and living in ashrams in India, she settled in Australia to raise her family. Even with all she’d learned, the emotional and energetic unravelling that came with perimenopause blindsided her.  

A decade of reading medical research, embracing ancient teachings, and seeking the counsel of female luminaries helped her welcome menopause as a sacred rite of passage. This perspective shift became a gateway to greater liberation and joy, and to her calling—empowering other women to seize opportunity in this life transition. 

Shavita emphasizes the importance of self-care practices, and walks us through how to tune into our cycles and seasons, and see physical symptoms as signposts for what to say no to in order to say yes to what matters.   

We celebrate the wisdom of age, the value of elders, and our responsibility to share feminine wisdom. Claiming our roles as community leaders, we can break ancestral cycles and drive generational change.   

Shavita says: Menopause is about letting go of who you’ve been taught to be, and honoring who you are today. 

TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: 

• Menopause is not the end women dread, it’s a gateway to your greatest power. 
• Aging doesn’t mean disappearing; it’s an opportunity to upgrade your value and intuition.  
• Cultivate a daily practice of asking your body what it needs and honoring the answer.  
• Use your menopause symptoms as a guide for what you’ve suppressed. 
• Saying “no” can be a sacred act of love that leads to the right “yes” for everybody.   
• Honor female elders and take your place in sharing feminine wisdom.  
• Sacred women’s circles support healing through shared experiences. 
• Use menopause to soften within yourself and be in the flow of your life.  

ABOUT SHAVITA 

As a yoga teacher, wellness educator, and author of Seven Wonders Of Menopause, Shavita Kotak helps midlife women embrace their rite of passage with curiosity, courage, and confidence.  

In her former career as a financial planner, Shavita used self-care and spiritual practices to balance the hustle culture of her corporate job and find balance and fulfillment. Now she helps other women do the same.  

After two decades of immersion in ancient traditions, and study at ashrams in India, Shavita now leads retreats, women’s circles, and sound healing sessions to create sacred spaces where women share, grow, and support each other.  

CONNECT WITH SHAVITA 

Website: https://shavitakotak.com/ 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Wonders-Menopause-Mother-Wake-Up/dp/176370422X/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wombwisdomwithshavita 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womb_wisdom_with_shavita 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnesswithshavita/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmLIua38SE1DkGycMJacTpA 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shavita-kotak/ 

Meet Tess Masters:  

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     

Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   

Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.  

Connect With Tess: 

Website: https://tessmasters.com/  

Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   

Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/

Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ 

Thanks for listening!  

If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  

Subscribe to the podcast.   

Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.    

Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  

Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.