let's thrive

As a Physician's Assistant and Integrative Nutritionist, Katie Lemons has had a long journey to the present. With years of schooling and experience, Katie shares what it takes to turn a love for health into a deepened education and future career path. In this she shares why she chose to not take the RD route and what it was like to get a masters + attend PA school. Her commitment to education is what allows Katie to now fuse both western and integrative medicine all while navigating the oftentimes confusing field of health. Throughout her time in school and internships Katie had to overcome limiting beliefs and learn from trial and error to fully embrace her situation. She was also faced with expectations along the way of what a ‘healthy’ body should look like and felt let down by the expectations she had set for her school and career path. We discuss how she overcame these ‘let down’ expectations and continued to thrive. Katie is a prime example of someone willing to persevere through the hard times for the eventual sweet ending.

In this episode we discuss: 

• Katie’s philosophy on health and how she got started in the field
• Why she chose to not take the RD route
• Her experience getting a Masters and attending PA school
• Fusing western and functional medicine/health
• How expectations can impact growth and contentment
• Accepting moments of trial and error
• Dealing with limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome
• Navigating the field of health and applying it in life

Connect with Katie @twist_of_lemons and I’m at @emilyfeikls or @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.

The impact of diet culture on health can have long and lasting effects. Today’s guest, Sam Gwazdaukas, was first introduced to the diet culture mindset as a child and continued to struggle with it for years to come. The messaging she received was to lose weight, be smaller, eat less, workout more, and this caused her to become obsessive, restrictive, and out of control with both food and exercise. Sam shares her journey from then to now and displays the radical mindset shifts that helped heal her relationship to health. This episode is a prime example of how diet culture can take over our life and yet we can still overcome it with time. Sam shares fitness and body confidence content on her instagram and continues to shed light on the dangers of obsessive health. 

In this episode we discuss:

• The impact of diet culture on youth and adults
• How ‘health’ shifts when diet culture is involved
• The pressure to change body shape and size
• How media influences our health standards
• The isolation of disordered eating
• How to identify what’s normal behavior vs disordered eating
• Reclaiming your life after an ED
• The starvation and surplus mindset
• Why words and comments matter
• Questions to ask yourself in recovery

Connect with Sam on IG @thesamplan and I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

Skincare is something that we can all relate to. Whether you struggle with your skin or not, today’s guest Celeste Thomas is here to teach the basics and tips of skincare 101. As a registered nurse and holistic skincare guru, Celeste has blended her formal education with her passion and now shares her experience and wisdom from 10+ years in the field. Celeste explains that proper skincare happens from the inside out as our pores are a window to internal health. She shares simple tips and tricks to amplify your skincare routine + educates on the basics of skincare products. There are both lifestyle and product recommendations to aid in your skincare journey. Consider this episode a gateway to the world of skincare as Celeste breaks down the basics of it. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• Creating a skincare routine
• Celeste's skin journey + getting started in the field
• How lifestyle and internal health impact our skin
• Tips and tricks to amplify your skincare 
• How to work with your skin type
• Why certain skin oils aren’t bad for you
• The difference between hydrating and moisturizing
• Understanding chemical exfoliates 
• The importance of SPF 

Connect with Celeste @celestethomas and I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

Living with a Chronic Illness is never an easy road but today’s guest, Rachel Straining of @thenoglutengirl, has managed to turn her diagnosis into something more. As a previous guest of the show, Rachel shares all the changes in her life since then, the beginning of which is advocacy work. As an official member of the Crohn's & Colitis Young Adult Network, Rachel is one of eight international young adults sharing their story for good. Joining this network has allowed Rachel to release the shame of her diagnosis and focus her attention on helping others through her own experience. Rachel explains how she has found strength in vulnerability and come to embrace her situation with ease of mind. In this she has had to confront limiting beliefs and lies of her own mind to battle the internal dialogue of ‘I’m not good enough.” Rachel shares her philosophy that thoughts become things and that the messaging we use can directly affect our life. She also shares what it’s like to live with Crohn’s and the grieving process after receiving a chronic diagnosis.

In this episode we discuss: 

• Rachel’s work with CCYAN as 1 of 8 international fellows
• Releasing the shame of her diagnosis
• Finding strength in vulnerability and sharing her story for good
• Why the internal dialogue we have with ourselves is so important
• Overcoming the urge to be perfect
• BTS of her infamous yogurt
• Choosing to have compassion for ourselves and others
• Grieving after a chronic diagnosis
• Leaning into the unknown

Find Rachel @thenoglutengirl 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!

All about that money honey! Today’s guest, Chloe Elise brings the fun to finance as a Millennial Money Coach on a mission to make finances fun and easy to navigate. After paying off her debt of over $36,000 in 18 months, Chloe decided to take the leap and start helping others do the same. She now coaches and supports others through paying off debt, becoming money savvy, and saving big for the future all while still enjoying life! Within her first year of business Chloe grew to multiple 6 figures and now guides others to optimize both personal and business money goals to find financial freedom. 

In this episode we discuss:

• How Chloe got started in finance
• Being money smart during and after college
• Paying off debt + how to start
• Understanding money flow 
• Moving past financial guilt and shame 
• The restrict and overspend cycle 
• Spending in alignment with morals 
• Understanding credit cards

Find Chloe on instagram @deeper.than.money and her site, https://deeperthanmoney.mykajabi.com/

I’m  @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast. To support the show go to Apple Podcast and leave a rate/review for the show

The hidden obsession with ‘health’ is quickly becoming a widespread problem for those interested in the field of health and wellness. Today’s guest, Jennifer Rollin, is an Eating Disorder therapist and breaks down what it means to be obsessed with health and the truth behind orthorexia. She is also the founder of The Eating Disorder Center and specializes in working with those impacted by eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, orthorexia, body image, anxiety, and even depression. Jennifer starts by debunking common myths of eating disorders and explains how modern day media and diet culture influences these issues. She then explains what the term orthorexia means and how it may hide in the current world of health and wellness. To better understand how disordered eating begins Jennifer explains what genetic and environmental factors may lead to these behaviors. And through her one-on-one work with clients, Jennifer shares what strategies she implements for them and breaks down the role of opposite action in recovery.

In this episode we discuss:

• The hidden dangers of health obsession
• Identifying orthorexia as disordered eating
• Common myths about ED
• The influence of media and diet culture
• Genetic and environmental factors of an ED
• The false sense of control irony
• Skills to apply in recovery
• How opposite action works for the mind

Connect with Jennifer @jenniferrollin or on her site: https://www.jenniferrollin.com/

I’m @emilyfeikls and @letsthrivepodcast

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