Two people and one dog living in a van; now that’s inspiring! Today’s guest, Courtnie Hamel of @wellnesswithcourtnie, gives a behind the scenes glance at what van life is like. She shares how everything came together to form a reality from a daydream. In this she breaks down what it took to find the van, build it, and embrace minimalism as they transitioned into it. Courtnie also dives into her start with health through yoga teacher training and how this journey began her instagram. We both discuss what it’s like to face societal pressure and pave our own path by foregoing college and a traditional career. Courtnie has learned to live free of expectations and truly embrace the spontaneity of life. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Courtnie’s life before Instagram + meeting Nate
• Yoga Teacher Training and what it taught her
• Van life and getting started
• Embracing minimalism to live in a van
• Facing expectations for lifestyle and career
• Taking an unconventional route with education and work
• The highs and lows of van life

Connect with Courtnie @wellnesswithcourtnie and I’m @emilyfeikls or @letsthrivepodcast

Don’t forget to join the secret FB group, Let’s Thrive on facebook!

Wellness is a wonderful thing but what about when it becomes exclusive to some? Today’s guest, Kira West, joins me for a discussion on making wellness inclusive to all and creating change in the racial disparity of our society. She dives into what it’s been like to experience the surge in awareness around the Black Lives Matter movement as well as how she identifies true allyship. Kira explains what the discussions on race consisted of as she was growing up and how to continue those today. Her mindset on moving forward means taking accountability for change in both ourselves and the world around us. Kira is a voice to amplify and listen to for anyone willing to do the work and be part of the change for racial equality. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• The surge of support after the recent BLM movement
• How she identifies true allyship in others
• Learning about race during childhood
• The pressure to conform and change aspects of her identity
• The age prejudice she faced in careers
• Redefining what wellness means
• Making wellness inclusive to all
• Moving forward and creating change in race

To connect with Kira find her @bykwest and I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

How do eating disorders affect relationships? Today’s guests, Mallory Page and Brian Cebrynski, are not only two of my favorite people, they’re also a lovely couple! And best yet, in today’s episode they dive into how and why eating disorders can affect relationships. As a couple, Mal and Brian share their viewpoint and experience with disordered eating coming from both sides of the partnership. When Mal was struggling with exercise addiction, restriction, and binges in college, Brian was at first unaware. We discuss what it took for Mal to share her struggles with Brian and what advice she has for others in this position. Brian shares what it was like to notice Mal’s habits and then finally hear her explain it + gives his insight on how to support a partner going through disordered eating. They both discuss how the college environment negatively affected the situation and how the lifestyle normalized some of Mal’s behaviors. Moving past the recovery stage, Mal and Brian give present day opinions on topics such as body image, fear foods, and communication in a relationship. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• Mal’s hidden struggles with an ED
• How Brian viewed Mal’s behavior around food and exercise
• Openly discussing an ED with your partner
• How the college environment promoted certain behaviors
• Mal’s habits and fears that impacted their social relationship
• Body image: Mal and Brian’s perspective
• Relying on others for a normal view of ‘health’
• Learning to accommodate each other’s needs

Connect with Mal @malsfitkitchen or her Youtube: Mallory Page. Brian is @briancebrynski and I’m @emilyfeikls or @letsthrivepodcast

It’s time to do the work and support the black community is this time of revolution and growth. Mia Caine of @the_healthlete joins me today for an open conversation on race and what to do about it moving forward. Mia and I discuss the documentary, “The 13th”, to display just how deep racism goes in history. In this is the discussion of the current climate and what it actually means ‘to do the work’ versus performative allyship. Mia explains why accountability, for ourselves and brands, is pivotal in creating change not only now, but for the future too. This leads to Mia explaining how we can do more than just learn about race and her thoughts on how to apply this work into our actual lifestyle. In this we both discuss what it means to use your voice and Mia’s own experience with racial abuse in the workplace and how her voice was not heard. Her story highlights the issue of racial oppression not only in the workplace but everyday life as well. As a white woman, I bring up the topic of white privilege and fragility which Mia helps to break down and explain from her perspective. We discuss different ways to accept and work on these white issues so that we can all better serve the black community. Mia also shares her best advice for starting conversations on race and how to educate your community. And as a bit of insight into her personal work, Mia shares her venture with creating a jewelry line that is socially, ethically, and environmentally supportive; absolutely stunning; and donates all proceeds to a COVID relief fund … actually amazing. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• Juneteenth and the documentary, “The 13th”
• The roots of racism in politics and society
• True allyship versus performative
• Holding brands accountable for change and diversity
• How to apply this education into a lifestyle
• Creating actual change and not just ‘intention’ 
• Speaking up for action and change
• Mia’s experience with racial abuse in the workplace
• White privilege + the essence of white fragility 
• How to speak to a white community about race
• Doing the inner work
• Mia’s jewelry line of ethical, social, and environmental morals

To connect with Mia find her @the_healthlete and her jewelry line at https://shopwellthy.co/

Find me @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

As an entrepreneur, co-founder of the Good Fest, and radically transformed human, today’s guest, Kate Van Horn, has done it all. By leaning into self discovery and finding her authentic self, Kate was able to overcome an eating disorder, heal past trauma, tap into her intuition, and build a life of her choosing all because she was willing to do the work.  She would have to let go of the societal conditioning and work through the emotional trauma of her past in order to lead an authentic life. In this time she was able to try many different career options and even co-founded the Good Fest; ultimately leading her to the path she desired. Along the way Kate found solace and power through movement, meditation, therapy, and learning the art of tarot. With the tools and foundation she built, Kate was able to turn her life around from struggle and restriction to flourishing abundance. 

In this episode we discuss:`

• Kate’s path to self discovery and learning to be resilient
• Admitting hard truths to ourselves
• How to remove the conditioning of society and choose change
• Finding your authentic voice and setting boundaries through speech
• How uncertainty and a need for control led to an eating disorder
• Starting the Good Fest and growing alongside it
• The balance between logic and intuition
• Doing inner child work to heal past trauma
• Utilizing grounding techniques
• Learning Tarot and finding guidance in the cards

Connect with Kate @kate.van.horn and me @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

Erin Morrissey is back on the podcast to share her experience with eating disorder recovery and body image. Shifting focus in recovery was a big step for Erin as it allowed her to shift the attention from health and ED thoughts to something else entirely that brought her joy in life. She explains how her interest in recipe development and business helped shift her mindset and heal her relationship with food as she learned to enjoy food rather than fear it. Erin then discusses differentiating between bad body image days and true body dysmorphia + how to overcome the ED habits associated with bad body image. And finally, with a business dedicated solely to recipe development, Erin shares how she finds joy in the work she does and what it’s like to overcome a fear of failure in career.

In this episode we discuss:

• Shifting focus while in eating disorder recovery
• Normalizing emotions with body image: ‘bad’ day versus body dysmorphia 
• How to handle body image without falling into old habits
• Recovering while running a food account
• Starting something for joy and not placing pressure on it
• Turning ELW into a full time business

Connect with Erin @erinliveswhole and I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

To learn more about starting a podcast, check out my Podcast Consultation Offer! It offers a 20+ page ebook on all things podcasting + one-on-one guidance and support with me. DM or email for more information.

Who doesn’t love a good aesthetic? Today’s guest, Isa De Burgh, is a digital media strategist, content creator, and young entrepreneur redefining what it means to have an aesthetically pleasing brand. As a child, Isa spent her days creating and playing on a computer, developing skills that led her to create the Social Tale Agency at the impressive age of 22. With a knack for design, a love for public relations, and a resilient personality, Isa has crafted her dream business with ideal clients and honorable values. She shares what it took to turn this dream into a reality and the importance of facing the fears that hold us back. All while embracing the intuitive guidance that has led her along the journey.

In this episode we discuss: 

• Her start in blogging as a teenager; utilizing technology to learn skills
• Branding herself and developing a unique style
• The comparison trap with creativity, learning to create authentically
• Why the energy behind our work matters
• Starting and building her own business
• Facing the fears that hold us back rather than avoiding them
• Following intuition to build the Social Tale Agency
• Overcoming setbacks and relying on resilience
• Discuss “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” and why every negative brings a positive

To connect with Isa find her @isatales and I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

Hormone health is an underrated aspect of health that is just now beginning to get the attention it deserves. Today’s guest, Hannah Schmitt of @wholisticallyhannah_, is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist on a mission to educate and help women understand the importance of hormone health. As she explains, hormones affect everything in the body from gut health to skin, mood to focus, and so much more. The natural flow of the body systems depends on hormones and requires them to be in balance. Unfortunately with the modern society of toxic products, birth control, and processed foods, hormones are going completely out of balance. Hannah discusses why hormone health matters and how to identify when they need to be balanced again. In this she explains why birth control is not what it seems and how to heal the body afterwards. Hannah also shares her journey with hormone, gut, and emotional health as those are the key concepts of her work. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Becoming a Registered Holistic Nutritionist in Vancouver BC
• The holistic view of healing through mind, body, and spirit
• Three topics of focus: gut, hormones, and emotional wellbeing
• How hormones work in the body
• Rebalancing hormones for optimal health 
• The hidden harm of birth control
• Seed cycling to restore hormone health
• How gut and hormone health correlate
• Mindful tips for gut health
• The power of coping with stress

Find Hannah @wholisticallhannah_ and I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrive

The books we mention for hormone health are ‘WomanCode’ by Alisai Vitti and ‘Beyond The Pill’ by Dr. Jolene Brighten

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Fear foods and anxiety, what a ‘fun’ combination … joking! Addie Martanovic is back on the podcast today to discuss our relationship to food, how to move past food fears, and handling anxiety in all aspects of life. Fearing certain foods after an eating disorder or because of diet culture is something that can impact our lives in so many ways. Addie shares how her fear of certain foods shifted after starting a relationship and why this helped her heal. We discuss how fearing food isolates us from connecting with others through food and causes food to lose it’s nostalgic and comforting feel. Addie explains that food fears have also been an aspect for control when she felt she needed it in life + how she shifted her mindset around it. Going along with that, we chat on anxiety and how this affects us in daily life and especially during the COVID-19 crisis. From CBD to watercolor and more, Addie and I share our top tips for managing anxiety in life. 

In this episode we discuss:

• How food fears hold us back in life
• Finding nostalgia and connection through food
• Unintentional restriction with ‘healthified’ recipes
• Heightened anxiety and how to manage it 
• Coping mechanisms for mind, body, and spirit
• Tuning out the noise of diet culture on social media
• The comparison trap as a creator and consumer

Find Addie on instagram @chickpeainthecity and I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

To learn more about starting a podcast, email me at 

[email protected]

 for more info on my Podcast Consultation offer!