Ready to streamline your holiday shopping with gifts that actually support better health, better sleep, and better energy? This episode crowdsources a full holiday wellness gift guide from past Living Vividly guests, covering everything from affordable stocking stuffers to high impact wellness investments.The goal: practical ideas that help your people feel better all year, not just more clutter under the tree.Here’s what’s inside this episode’s gift guide:🌿 Tempur Neck Pillowhttps://www.tempurpedic.com/shop-pillows/tempur-neck-pillow/v/573/🌿 Sunhome Outdoor Infrared Saunahttps://sunhomesaunas.com/products/2-person-outdoor-infrared-sauna🌿 Quicksilver Scientific Facial Beauty Serumhttps://www.quicksilverscientific.com/products/facial-beauty-serum🌿 Danger Coffeehttps://dangercoffee.com/products/whole-bean-dark-roast-coffee🌿 Laird Superfood Creamerhttps://lairdsuperfood.com/products/superfood-creamer-sweet-and-creamy-with-adaptogens🌿 Airestech EMF Blockershttps://airestech.com/collections/bestsellers🌿 LS Pro Systems Red Light Therapyhttps://lsprosystems.com/🌿 Inside Then Out Journalshttps://www.insidethenout.com🌿 LumeBox Red Light Panelhttps://lumebox.co🌿 Southern Linen Companyhttps://southernlinenco.com/🌿 ROKA Blue Light Glasseshttps://www.roka.com/collections/blue-light-glasses🌿 RA Optics Blue Blockershttps://raoptics.com🌿 Vitamix Blendershttps://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/shop/blenders🌿 Blueland Cleaning Productshttps://www.blueland.com🌿 You Are A Badass Daily Calendarhttps://tinyurl.com/4c4sus8k🌿 Oura Ringhttps://ouraring.com🌿 Garmin Vivofit 4 (closest current model)https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/612476🌿 Eight Sleep Mattress / Pod Coverhttps://www.eightsleep.com🌿 Biovara Liposomal NADhttps://biovaramfg.com/products/nad-supplements🌿 Lululemon License to Train Classic Fithttps://shop.lululemon.com/p/mens-ls-tops/License-to-Train-Long-Sleeve🌿 Lululemon Swiftly Relaxed Long Sleevehttps://shop.lululemon.com/p/women-ls-tops/Swiftly-Tech-Relaxed-Fit-Long-Sleeve🌿 Nike Vomero 18https://www.nike.com/w/running-vomero-shoes-7pwghzy7ok🌿 Basin Arts Classeshttps://www.basinartslafayette.com🌿 Bluebirds Ballethttp://www.bluebirdsballetacademy.com/🌿 Buck & Johnny’s Zydeco Brunchhttps://www.buckandjohnnys.com🌿 Wild Child Wineshttps://wildchildwines.com/🌿 A. Dannette Boudoir Photographyhttps://www.adannetteboudoir.com🌿 La Femme Lingeriehttps://www.lafemmela.com/🌿 Petite Anse Farmhttps://www.petiteansefarm.com🌿 Rip Van Winkle Gardenshttps://www.ripvanwinklegardens.com🌿 Jungle Gardenshttps://www.junglegardens.orgWhether you're shopping for a wellness lover, a new parent, a partner who loves gadgets, or building your own wish list, this episode provides a cross-section of thoughtful, high impact gift ideas at every price point.If this episode helps you narrow your gift list, drop a comment with your favorite pick of the season.Happy holidays and keep living vividly. 🎄✨

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Verret for a raw conversation about sobriety, anxiety, identity, and the journey of stepping into the clearest version of yourself. Stephen shares what life looked like before quitting alcohol, the panic attack that changed everything, and the mental, emotional, and physical transformation that followed.

Together, we unpack:

• How anxiety, ADHD, and alcohol fuel each other

• The shift from late nights and burnout to choosing clarity

• Navigating weddings, holidays, and social settings without drinking• Sugar cravings, B vitamins, and healthier ways to satisfy the urge

• Nonalcoholic beers, THC drinks, and finding balance• Rebuilding self-trust and redefining fun

• The importance of protecting your time and energy

• Returning to childhood passions and learning who you actually are

We also talk about our new studio, why being “in progress” matters, and how incremental change mirrors Stephen’s entire story. If you are sober curious, feeling overwhelmed, or searching for more peace and presence in your life, this conversation offers perspective, honesty, and real encouragement.

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Connect with Stephen Verret (Verret Studios)📲 Instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/stephenverret/?hl=en🌐 Website→ https://www.verretstudios.com/about

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What you eat shapes how you feel — but how much do you really know about where your food comes from? In this episode of Living Vividly, we sit down with Dr. Shannon Gonsoulin, a seventh-generation Louisiana rancher and veterinarian, to explore the connection between food quality, health, and sustainability.They unpack what grass-fed and grass-finished truly mean, why beef prices fluctuate, how processing impacts nutrition and flavor, and simple ways to cook better-tasting, nutrient-dense meals at home. Dr. Gonsoulin also shares the rich history of his family ranch, the shift toward local food systems, and how mindful eating can support both your body and the planet.If you care about eating well, living intentionally, and understanding what’s on your plate — this conversation is for you.📍 Highlights:Grass-fed vs. conventional beef — what’s the real differenceHow ranching and soil health affect your food qualityWhy beef costs what it does (and how to shop smart)Cooking tips for leaner, cleaner meatThe future of sustainable, local food in Louisiana—Connect with Dr. Shannon Gonsoulin (Gonsouin Land and Cattle)📲 Instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/gonsoulinbeef/🔔 Facebook→ https://www.facebook.com/GonsoulinCattle🌐 Website→ https://www.glcranch.com/pages/meet-our-team?srsltid=AfmBOooYR-emRkqmWuVLCbfNtwVd-Ywy7qCMLQLzc42sHoyM4AimFgfq—💫 Join the Living Vividly CommunityInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

Chiropractic care is more than quick cracks. In this episode, Dr. Brennon Kelly from Rise Chiropractic explains how spinal alignment influences the nervous system, pain, posture, and digestion. He breaks down the Gonstead method, why precision matters, and how subtle daily habits can make or break your back.You will learn:How the spine affects constipation, gut motility, and vagus nerve toneWhy small, targeted adjustments can change gait, balance, and energyThe difference between reactive pain care and proactive wellness carePractical posture fixes for desks, wallets, shoes, and standing vs sittingWhen imaging and temperature readings guide safer adjustments—Connect with Brennon Kelly (Rise Chiropractic)📲 Instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/rise_chiro/ 🔔 Facebook→ https://www.facebook.com/risechiro2018/🌐 Website→ https://www.riseacadiana.com/—💫 Join the Living Vividly CommunityInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is more than eye movements. It is a research-backed therapy that helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories so your body can calm down and heal. In this episode, therapist Morgan Thomas explains EMDR in clear terms, from big T and little t trauma to how bilateral stimulation can quiet fight or flight and reduce anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and overwhelm.✨ You will learn:What EMDR stands for and how it worksBig T vs little t trauma and why the body stays on high alertThe eight EMDR phases including resourcing, tapping, and body scansHow EMDR can help with panic, intrusive thoughts, grief, and chronic stressWhat a session looks like, how many you may need, and how to know if you are readyIf you enjoy the conversation, like, comment, and subscribe 🤍—Connect with Jessica Welch (Acadiana Hyperbarics)📲 Instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/_acadiana_hyperbarics_/ 🔔 Facebook→ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554985854024🌐 Website→ https://acadianahyperbarics.com/—💫 Join the Living Vividly CommunityInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

From diving medicine to modern wellness, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is having a moment. In this episode, nurse and clinic owner Jessica Welch breaks down how HBOT works in clear, practical language. We cover what a hyperbaric chamber is, why pressure matters, and how extra oxygen dissolving into plasma can reach damaged tissues that red blood cells cannot. Jessica explains Boil’s law in plain terms, shares her own recovery from disc injuries, and tells the story of using HBOT to help her son after a concussion.In this episode, you will learn:When HBOT can support wound healing, brain injuries, autoimmune flares, and athletic recoveryMild vs higher pressure chambers, safety, and how protocols are setWhy repeated sessions drive benefits like angiogenesis, mitochondrial support, and better ATP productionHow HBOT may influence inflammation, cytokines, and the vagus nerve for a calmer nervous systemWhat to expect if you are claustrophobic and how sessions actually feelJessica also talks about complementary therapies at her clinic, including infrared sauna, red light, lymphatic work, and gentle yoga, plus why HBOT should support a whole lifestyle, not replace it.If you enjoy the conversation, like, comment, and subscribe 🤍If you have a medical condition or specific health concern, please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new therapy.—Connect with Jessica Welch (Acadiana Hyperbarics)📲 Instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/_acadiana_hyperbarics_/ 🔔 Facebook→ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554985854024🌐 Website→ https://acadianahyperbarics.com/—💫 Join the Living Vividly CommunityInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

After learning his only kidney was functioning at just 2 percent, Pesh Patel went from near death to a second chance at life. In this episode, he shares how dialysis, transplant surgery, and rejection led him to find purpose as a kidney patient advocate and founder of A Kidney Life.Join Jackie, Daphne, and Dustin as they talk with Pesh about the realities of living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), managing mental health, and building resilience through community and education.You’ll learn about:Early symptoms and warning signs of kidney failureThe difference between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysisWhat to expect during the transplant and recovery processThe impact of nutrition and lifestyle on kidney healthHow purpose and advocacy can transform hardship into hopeIf you or someone you love is facing kidney disease, this conversation offers guidance, encouragement, and proof that it’s possible to live fully and vividly at any stage of life.—Connect with Pesh Patel (A Kidney Life)📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akidneylife/🔔 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akidneylife.pesh🌐 Website: https://akidneylife.com/—💫 Join the Living Vividly CommunityInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

Today on Living Vividly, Jackie and Daphne sit down with certified sound healing facilitator Lissee Spiller to explore how sound can quiet the mind, relax the body, and help you feel more present in everyday life. Lissee shares her journey from massage and yoga to alchemy crystal bowls, what actually happens in a sound immersion, and why different frequencies resonate for different people. Stay to the end for a short guided mini sound bath you can experience from home.✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:What a sound immersion looks and feels like, from setup to integration How humming and breath support vagus nerve tone and calmThe basics of brain waves, alpha and theta, and why they matter for stressWhy certain instruments soothe some people and bother othersPractical ways to bring more calm into busy daysListen, breathe, and reset. If you enjoy the conversation, please like, comment, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.—Connect with Lissee Spiller📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisseespiller/🔔 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lissee.spiller.37🌐 Website: https://www.lisseespiller.com/—💫 Join the Living Vividly CommunityInstagram → / livingvividlypodcast Facebook → / livingvividlypodcast

In this episode of Living Vividly, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick Thompson, an orthopedic physical therapist, fellowship-trained osteopractor, and co-owner of Flow PT. From his start as a collegiate athlete to becoming board-certified in orthopedics, Dr. Patrick has built his career on helping people move with confidence, get out of chronic pain, and improve quality of life.He shares why physical therapy is about so much more than quick fixes, what makes cash-based care different from the traditional insurance model, and how he uses his “smiles per day” approach to measure success with patients.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

What “orthopedic physical therapy” really means

Why imaging isn’t always the answer to pain

The power of fellowship training (and what it takes to earn it)

How recurrent injuries often point to deeper root causes

Why treating the whole person matters more than treating a single joint

If you’ve ever wondered what true physical therapy should look like—or how to stay active and pain-free for years to come—this episode is for you.

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Connect with Dr. Patrick Thompson

📍Flow Physical Therapy (Lafayette, LA)

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickthompson/🌐 Website: https://www.flowptwellness.com/

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It’s our birthday week on Living Vividly, and we’re diving into the beauty (and sometimes the chaos) of getting older with counselor and speaker Melissa Bowen. From turning 36 to celebrating 50, we talk about wisdom, boundaries, gratitude, and why aging can actually be the most freeing season of life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ Why aging doesn’t have to mean “getting old”

🧠 How to reframe midlife from a “crisis” to a reconstruction

💬 The power of letting go of people-pleasing and setting boundaries

🌙 Why gratitude practices shift how you experience everyday life

💖 How to embrace your values and show up authentically at any ageIf you enjoy today’s conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with a friend. Here’s to living vividly at every age.

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Connect with Melissa Bowen

📍The Authenticity Center (Local to Acadiana, telehealth throughout Louisiana)

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticitycenter/

🌐 Website: https://www.theauthenticitycenter.com/home

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