Life of Love with Julie Hilsen

Send us Fan Mail

In this week’s Life of Love, Julie welcomes integrative health practitioner and high-achieving-woman, Chelsea McLeod. Together they pull back the curtain on the divine feminine, hormone health, and how to listen when your body is whispering (or screaming) for a different way.

Chelsea shares her personal story of overachieving, chronic stress, a traumatic family event, and finally being diagnosed with PCOS and type 2 diabetes in her 20s — then choosing a path of true healing instead of numbing. She and Julie explore how our culture trains women to hang their worth on output, ignore their cycles, and normalize symptoms that are actually big hormonal red flags. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

You’ll hear about:
- Chelsea’s journey from competitive athlete and corporate hustler to hormone healer
- Why 4 out of 5 women may be dealing with hormonal imbalance without realizing it
- Symptoms that are common **but not normal**: night waking, crazy PMS, bloating, hair loss, constipation, anxiety, feeling “fluffy,” infertility diagnoses, and more
- How our industrial food system, chemicals, and seed oils quietly disrupt your hormones
- The simple practice of becoming a “package turner” and reading labels with discernment
- Easy daily tracking to understand your hormones:
  - energy check-ins through the day
  - mood swings
  - sleep quality and 2–3 a.m. wakeups
  - menstrual cycle patterns
- How heart rate variability and resting heart rate can reflect your stress resilience
- Using the phases of your cycle to guide workouts, social plans, and productivity (instead of fighting yourself)
- Honoring your bleed, seeing menstruation as sacred, and bringing ritual back into everyday life
- What it looks like to claim your divinity and step out of survival mode as a sovereign woman

**Key Takeaways**
- It’s not you being “lazy” or “dramatic” — it’s often your hormones trying to get your attention.  
- Common symptoms are not the same as *normal*. Your body is designed to feel good.  
- Healing hormones is a skill set, not a quick fix. You can learn it over time.  
- Your cycle is one of your greatest superpowers once you know how to work with it.  
- Resting, especially around your bleed and in your luteal phase, is not weakness — it’s strategy.  
- You don’t have to burn yourself out to be valuable. Your divinity doesn’t depend on your productivity.

**Favorite Quotes**
- “Women don’t need more hacks, we need habits and skills.” – Chelsea  
- “No, you don’t ‘fix’ your hormones. You *heal* your hormones.” – Julie  
- “Sometimes we need to ritualize the mundane to reconnect with our feminine energy.” – Chelsea  
- “No one else is going to crown you. Your divinity is yours to claim.” – Julie  

If this conversation lands in your heart, that’s your sign. Share it with a friend, revisit it around your next cycle, and let it be a loving reminder that you are not broken — you are divine, and your body is always speaking with you.

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

Did you forget how to play? Today we (Julie + transformational coach/author Susan Hensley) crack open joyful creativity for busy grown-ups—no “talent” or fancy supplies required. Learn the 3-minute, two-crayon reset to unstick your day, process big feelings, and reconnect with your inner child—then ride that creative spark into real-life courage, clarity, and flow. 🌞

What you’ll learn

• A zero-pressure art ritual (3 minutes, 2 crayons) to get out of your head and into your heart
• Why “Dare to be bad” flips perfectionism into freedom
• Using art journaling to move emotions through (rage-crayons welcome!)
• Tiny swaps to replace doom-scrolling with presence + play
• Gentle ways to save meaningful scraps (cards, fabric) inside your journal for soul-anchored memory keeping
• How short daily play boosts resilience, decision-making, and joy

About our guest

Susan Hensley—transformational coach, creative guide, TEDx speaker (“Dare to Be Bad”), and author of Art for Your Sanity—helps people navigate life transitions with heart, curiosity, and simple creative practices. Visit: susan-hensley.com (free starter PDF). Book available wherever you buy books.

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

Relationship expert warrior for love, Jonathon Aslay, shares insights, secrets and tips for zoning in on the perfect partner, and the ability to be radically authentic as a sexy, soul mate attracter. We have a blast discussing not only dating but exploring how to fortify relationships of all kind through compassionate communication. This one's a game-changer. 

• Curiosity + Intentionality are the doorways to secure connection.
• Attachment spotting: ask about past relationships; listen for ownership.
• NVC in 3 steps: what happened → how I feel/need → are you willing…?
• Appreciation daily: aim for ~80% positive acknowledgments—tiny, specific, frequent.
• Micro-rituals: 20–120 second hugs, “I see you when…,” bedtime check-ins, weekly “state of us.”
• Friendship first: prioritize liking each other—rabbit-hole chats, shared curiosity, play.
• Requests from love: trade criticism for clear, kind asks.
• Grief alchemized: asking “What would love do?” creates meaning and gentleness.

Try this tonight

• “When you did ___, I felt ___ because I need ___. Are you willing to ___?”
• Give three appreciations (specific!) before bed.
• 30-second hug, slow breathing, no words.
• Schedule a weekly connection date (phones away): one curiosity question each.

Guest

• Jonathon Aslay — Relationship coach; host of What Would Love Do?; author of What the Heck Is Self-Love, Anyway?

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this heart-forward episode, Julie sits down with author and “rebel hugger” Melinda Lee Schmitt to explore the healing power of hugs, courageous boundaries, and how to follow your inner rebel—that calm, authentic voice inside that guides you toward truth. We talk about practicing 20-second hugs, reading energy and consent, loving ourselves first, and the surprising path that led Melinda to serve as a church “vibe keeper.” If you’ve been craving deeper connection without abandoning your own needs, this one’s for you. 💗

👉 If this served you, please like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a little courage and a big hug today.

Melina's book on Amazon through a link in which I get a small commission https://a.co/d/4LhT9Sb as an Amazon Associate.

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

Why do so many men seem “fine” on the surface but struggle to share what’s underneath? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst explains a mind-blowing truth: boys are born with a wider emotional range than girls—and our culture trains it out of them. We explore how this shapes fathers, marriages, intimacy, and “grumpy old men” — and what actually creates emotional safety, connection, and healing at home. We also share a simple Feelings Reference Chart you can use at your kitchen table to help boys (and men!) put words to what they feel.

If this message blesses you, please like, comment, and share to reach the hearts that wish to soften. New episodes weekly 💛

Guest: Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst — psychologist, author of Read, Reflect, Respond: The Three R’s of Growth and Change
Website: drvanderhorst.com (resources, essays, therapy info)

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this joyful, deeply inspiring conversation, Julie is joined by the amazing Cathy Nesbitt — laughter ambassador, worm composter, and eco-entrepreneur — to explore how laughter can transform your health, relationships, and the planet.

Together, they unpack how to:

• Trigger your body’s “daily dose” of happy hormones (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins)
• Use laughter as a vagus nerve reset and emotional detox
• Reframe arguments, driving stress, and online drama with laughter
• Connect across cultures, languages, and neurodiversity through joy
• Embrace nature’s cycles and composting as sacred, healing practices

Cathy shares about her free weekly Zoom laughter club, the science behind “simulated laughter,” and how laughter helped her evolve her eco mission from worm composting to global joy-spreading.

✨ If you're ready to laugh, breathe deeper, and reset your energy — this one’s for you.

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

n this heart-forward convo, Julie and Emmy get real about our phones: powerful tools that can also hijack attention, drain our energy, and quietly erode creativity. We unpack the dopamine loop, subtle signs of dependence, and the feeling of digital slavery—and then share simple, compassionate ways to reclaim your focus, joy, and time.

What you’ll learn

• How to reframe your phone as a tool (not your boss)
• The dopamine loop and why endless scrolling leaves you anxious, dull, and depleted
• Red flags you might be stuck in phone overuse—even if you think you’re fine
• Practical micro-boundaries that restore energy and creativity
• Why boredom equals creative spark and how to let your brain breathe
• Language and rituals that make conscious tech feel loving, not punitive

Key takeaways

• 📵 If it steals your presence, it’s too expensive.
• ⏱️ Time is a non-renewable resource—budget your attention intentionally.
• 🌱 Small edges (Do Not Disturb, app limits, leaving your phone in another room) create big calm.
• 🎨 Creativity returns when consumption decreases—make more than you scroll.

Try these micro-habits

• Set your Home Screen = tools only (calendar, maps, camera; move social to page two or beyond).
• Turn on Downtime or Focus during creative or family hours.
• Charge outside the bedroom and use an analog alarm.
• Replace 10 minutes of scrolling with a walk, breath practice, or journal—daily.
• Keep a Friction Box at the door: drop your phone in it when you enter.
• Ask before tapping: What am I here to do? If you don’t know, don’t open.

Mentioned concepts

• Dopamine loop and intermittent rewards
• Digital slavery as compromised agency (choose sovereignty over autopilot)
• Tool-first home screen design, Do Not Disturb or Focus modes, Screen Time and App Limits

If this served you
👉 Like, comment, and share with someone who’s ready to get their life back.
👉 Subscribe to Life of Love for soulful, practical tools that uplift your everyday.
💌 Learn more and connect: lifeofloveandjoy.com

0:00 Welcome and intention setting
 2:12 Meet Emmy — writer, mom, truth-teller
 5:14 Phone: helpful tool or subtle hijacker?
 9:12 Dopamine loops and why scrolling feels sticky
 13:48 Time slurp: how phones drink hours you meant to create with
 16:57 Red flags of phone overuse (even if you feel fine)
 20:12 Who profits from your attention and how to reclaim agency
 24:25 Digital slavery: language and sovereignty choices
 27:54 Micro-boundaries that actually work
 30:57 Creativity rebounds when you unplug (boredom becomes spark)
 36:07 Relearning real connection and presence
 39:49 Closing reflections and invitation

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

Burnout isn’t proof you’re failing—it’s a sign your soul wants a gentler way. In today’s episode we reframe burnout, practice surrender, and rebuild hope with tiny, joyful steps. Ready for your best-life? 🎙️💛

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to this soul-nourishing episode of Life of Love with Julie Hilsen, where we dive deep into healing early emotional wounds, breaking free from false self-narratives, and uncovering the divine light within that has always been yours.

🎙️ In this intimate conversation with Tara Wiskow, intuitive healer and founder of She Rises, we explore:

The dangerous mental and physical effects of diet culture and weight loss medications

How early childhood trauma and limiting beliefs shape identity

The journey from shame to self-love through mirror work and divine reconnection

The soul contract of motherhood and the transformational moment that saved Tara’s life

Why everyone is intuitive, and how to trust your inner guidance again

💛 This episode is a call to anyone who has ever felt not enough or disconnected from their truth. You are divine. You are worthy. You are more than a body—you are light.

📣 Please LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE to support this sacred space. Share with a friend who needs a reminder of their inner divinity. 🌞

🔗 Learn more about Tara & her “She Rises” program: https://tara-wiskow.com/
📖 Julie's book Life of Love: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com


Chapter Markers
00:00 - Introduction & Opening Prayer 🙏  
01:50 - Welcoming Tara Wiskow, Intuitive Healer 🌟  
03:00 - Redefining Motherhood After Empty Nesting 🕊️  
07:00 - Childhood Trauma and Identity Disruption 👧🏽  
09:30 - Food as Comfort and Addiction 🍩  
11:30 - The Dangers of Weight Loss Medications 💊  
13:00 - A Son’s Question That Saved Her Life 💔  
14:15 - Mirror Work: A Path to True Healing 🪞  
17:45 - Family Healing Through Authentic Self-Love 💗  
18:50 - Generational Trauma and Epigenetics 👵🏽  
21:00 - How One Comment Can Shape a Lifetime 🧠  
23:00 - Why Self-Worth is the Missing Link in Weight Loss 🌿  
26:40 - Healing After the Death of a Loved One 🕯️  
28:00 - Living a Life That Aligns with Your Soul 💫  
29:45 - Tara's She Rises Program Overview 👑  
34:00 - Crowning Ceremony & Living Authentically 👸🏽  
35:10 - The Global Grid of Light & Soul Purpose 🌍✨  
36:45 - Julie’s Journey with Angels and Asking for Help 👼  
37:35 - A Sisterhood of Healing and Divine Remembrance 💛

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this heartfelt conversation, Bible narrator and voice actor Dan Parr shares how an unexpected calling led him to adapt and record the entire Bible in clear, modern language—one book at a time—guided by prayer and the Holy Spirit. Dan opens up about early life moments that shaped his faith, why he chose the World English Bible as a public-domain base, and how he carefully honors traditional scholarship while making scripture accessible to today’s listener. Together, we explore what it means to invite Jesus into our everyday lives and lean on the Holy Spirit as helper, counselor, and friend.

We also get practical: discerning spirits (1 John 4), the Holy Spirit’s role in remembrance and guidance (John 14), and living “sealed” and softened (Ephesians 4). We touch on angels, intention, frequency, and how aligning with love clears the noise. I share my own journey of welcoming Jesus back into my heart and the relief that followed. If you’ve ever felt curious about scripture but unsure where to begin, this episode meets you with warmth, honesty, and hope. 

Highlights

• Dan’s origin story: the faith that surrounded his birth and the kindness that drew him back to church as a teen. 
• 
  
• From voiceover artist to Bible narrator: choosing the World English Bible, adapting phrasing for clarity, and staying faithful to historic interpretation. 
  
  
• How the Holy Spirit partners with us—bringing scripture to remembrance, offering counsel, and helping us live with compassion. 
  
  
• Discernment 101: testing spirits (1 John 4), Paul in Acts 16, and why “holy” really matters. 
  
  
• Angels as ministering spirits—and how intention and alignment with love shift our inner landscape. 
  
  
• Julie’s personal share: releasing old heaviness, welcoming Jesus back into her heart, and finding lightness again. 
  
  
• Where to start: sampling single Bible books (e.g., Luke, Acts) on Audible and letting the journey unfold. 
  
  

Why this episode matters

If religion has ever felt heavy, this conversation reframes faith as a relationship and daily practice—accessible, loving, and practical. You’ll leave with language, references, and a gentle nudge to invite the Holy Spirit into whatever you’re facing today. 

Support the show

Link to Support this Channel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2153284/supporters/new
Julie's Book: https://amzn.to/3K2ZS05
Julie's Website for more information, comments or requests: https://lifeofloveandjoy.com
I receive a small commission when you purchase from these links.