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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💫 Join the Living Vividly Community

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

In this episode of Living Vividly, we sit down with Tanya Feucht of Pure Barre Lafayette to explore how this ballet-inspired low-impact workout builds strength, balance, and confidence without the wear and tear of high-impact training.Tanya shares how Pure Barre blends elements of ballet, Pilates, and yoga to target stabilizing muscles, strengthen your core, and improve posture. We also dive into the four class formats, the supportive community that makes every class feel welcoming, and why Pure Barre truly is for every body.✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:💪 How Pure Barre strengthens your core and posture in everyday life🩰 What makes it different from HIIT or traditional weight training🤰 How classes can be modified for pregnancy injury or any fitness level🤝 Why community and accountability are key to long-term success🌟 The surprising benefits of small controlled movements—Connect with Pure Barre📍Pure Barre (Lafayette, LA)📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purebarrelafayette/followers/🌐 Website: https://www.purebarre.com/location/lafayette-la—💫 Join the Living Vividly CommunityInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

In this episode of Living Vividly, we sit down with Dr. Brandie Courville, owner of Belle Vie Physical Therapy and Pilates, to explore how pilates and physical therapy can enhance core strength, protect joints, prevent injuries, and extend your healthspan. From activating those often-ignored local stabilizing muscles to her 6 Pillars of Longevity, Dr. Courville shows how small, consistent moves can change your future at any age.

Dr. Courville dives into:

💪 Why most of us overtrain “global” muscles and how to wake up deep stabilizers

🧠 Neuromuscular patterns: rebuilding proper firing to relieve pain & prevent re-injury

🧱 Pilates as prehab and post-injury rehab (and how reformer resistance really works)

🧭 The 6 Pillars of Longevity: Movement, Nutrition, Mental Health, Spirituality, Community, Purpose

🚶‍♀️ “Movement over exercise”: simple, practical ways to hit 150 min/week + 2–3 strength sessions

🧩 Habit stacking, morning routines, journaling/meditation, and tech boundaries for a calmer nervous system

👵 Getting up from the floor, balance, and bone/muscle health—skills that keep you active for life

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Connect with Dr. Brandie Courville

📍 Belle Vie Physical Therapy + Pilates (Lafayette, LA)

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

🌐 Website: https://www.belleviephysicaltherapyandpilates.com/

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💫 Join the Living Vividly Community

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/livingvividlypodcast

In this nourishing episode of Living Vividly, we sit down with Heidi LeDoux, a 20+ year stylist who is pioneering holistic hair care in South Louisiana. From battling trauma and stress to creating her signature “Crown Therapy,” Heidi shares how scalp health, nervous system regulation, and clean beauty all connect to your overall wellness.

Heidi talks about:

✨ Transitioning from traditional salon practices to holistic, non-toxic approaches

💆‍♀️ Creating Crown Therapy, a facial for your scalp that calms the nervous system

🧴 Spotting hidden chemicals and greenwashing in everyday hair products

🌱 How lifestyle and gut health affect your scalp, hormones, and hair growth

🔔 Why stress and trauma often show up first in your hair

Whether you’re curious about cleaner beauty, searching for scalp solutions, or simply craving a new perspective on self-care, this conversation will expand the way you think about wellness from head to toe.

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Got any questions, or would you like to experience Heidi's services?

📲 Follow her on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/heidil.studio/

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💫 Join the Living Vividly Community

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/livingvividlypodcast/

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In this powerful episode of Living Vividly, we sit down with Sophia, a luxury lesbian matchmaker and founder of the Queer Country Club, as she shares her deeply personal journey from growing up in conservative South Louisiana to becoming a bold, faith-filled entrepreneur changing the game for LGBTQ+ love.Sophia opens up about:💔 Escaping a toxic marriage🙏 Reconciling her faith with her sexuality🏳️‍🌈 Building the only monogamous lesbian matchmaking service in the world💼 Creating a thriving business after losing everything👩‍❤️‍👩 Helping queer women find real, lasting loveWhether you're curious about queer identity, navigating faith and family, or starting over from rock bottom, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and uplift.Connect with Sophia Spallino, The Luxury Lesbian MatchmakerGot Qs? DM her on Instagram → @sophiaspallino (https://instagram.com/sophiaspallino)💎 Platinum Private Lesbian Matchmaking – For the woman who wants her FUTURE WIFE® delivered on a silver platter, I do all the screening so you can focus on falling in love.Explore Platinum Matchmaking (https://queercountryclub.com/private-lesbian-matchmaking-service)✨ Exclusive Lesbian Luxury Retreat at Canyon Ranch – A blissful weekend with an intimate group of extraordinary single queer women… curated to spoil your senses and reignite your belief in love and possibility.Join The Luxury Retreat (https://queercountryclub.com/luxe-retreat)❤️ The Queer Country Club® – Our premier dating platform for monogamous queer women who are living amazing lives but missing just one thing… their FUTURE WIFE®.Apply to Join QCC (https://queercountryclub.com/)

In this raw and revealing episode of Living Vividly, Jackie shares the emotional rollercoaster behind closing her thriving IV clinic, Vivid Infusion and Wellness, after sudden regulation changes rocked the industry. From referrals by doctors to panic mode on vacation, she walks us through the tough decisions, personal growth, and the surprising silver linings that followed.Co-host Daphne joins in to reflect on their journey, the birth of the podcast, and why health is more than just vitamin drips—it’s about gratitude, reinvention, and living with intention.Plus, learn about the upcoming Real Food Challenge and how you can reset your health this fall with a supportive, fun, real-life approach to nutrition.👉 Starts Sept 17th – Sign up at: theunconventionaldietitian.com/rfc✨ Topics Covered:Navigating business closures with graceWhy some IV clinics were targetedRedefining health and fulfillmentHow life’s hardest moments can lead to clarityEmbracing gratitude and emotional resilienceStarting over and designing a life you love

Are you obsessing over your weight but ignoring what really matters? In this episode of Living Vividly, Jackie and Daphne break down the difference between body weight and body composition — and why the number on the scale doesn’t define your health.They dive into the myths around BMI, fat, and fasting, and explain how to actually build muscle, eat enough protein, and track real wellness markers (not just weight). You’ll learn:Why muscle vs. fat matters way more than weightWhat’s considered a normal body fat percentageThe role of resistance training and protein in changing your bodyWhether peanut butter is really a good protein source (spoiler: it’s not)How fasting, breakfast, and black coffee all tie togetherThe truth about saturated vs. unsaturated fats (and even hog lard)Whether you're trying to lose weight, gain strength, or just feel better, this episode is packed with science-backed tips and real talk about how to thrive without falling into diet culture traps.

Why are so many women struggling with fatigue, brain fog, and stubborn weight gain—only to be told their labs are "normal"? In this powerful episode of Living Vividly, hosts Jackie Hettich and Daphne Olivier sit down with physician assistant Ashley Ramsey to unravel the truth about thyroid health, Hashimoto’s, and hormone imbalance.Ashley dives deep into the science of the thyroid, how it’s connected to your metabolism, mental clarity, energy levels, and even your bowel movements (yep, we go there). She breaks down what lab tests to ask for, why "normal" lab ranges might not be enough, and how to truly advocate for your health.Whether you're dealing with perimenopause, mysterious fatigue, or just want to understand your body better—this episode is your ultimate crash course.🎙 Topics Covered:What the thyroid really doesHashimoto’s explainedFunctional vs. traditional thyroid labsHow stress, sleep, and gut health impact hormonesFoods and nutrients that support thyroid functionProgesterone, estrogen, cortisol & their complex interplayHow to work with a provider who actually listens

In this no-holds-barred episode of Living Vividly, Jackie Hettitch and Daphne Olivier finally confront the elephant in the room: injectable weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. With a blend of curiosity, caution, and straight talk, they break down what these GLP-1 and GIP agonists actually do, how they affect insulin resistance, blood sugar, and appetite—and what you're not hearing from mainstream providers.From fat loss vs. lean mass loss, GI side effects, and long-term risks, to ethical concerns, societal pressure, and the pharma money machine behind it all—they cover it. Is it a helpful tool or another quick-fix trap? Should it be used in kids? What lifestyle changes matter most?Whether you’re considering these meds or just trying to make sense of the hype, this episode gives you the insight to make informed decisions—no judgment, just real talk.Subscribe for more real conversations on health and wellnessLeave a comment—what’s your take on weight loss injections?

What does it look like to rewrite your health story—from the inside out?

In this raw and relatable episode of Living Vividly, Amy Bernhard shares her journey from “skinny fat” and hormonal chaos to vibrant health, motherhood clarity, and food freedom. Through Whole30, fasting, nervous system healing, and serious mindset shifts, Amy not only changed her own life—but reshaped the health of her entire family.

Inside this episode:

• Why she stopped chasing weight loss and started chasing energy

• Her honest struggles with infertility, body image, and mom guilt

• How processed foods and artificial sweeteners were keeping her stuck

• Using fasting around her cycle (and why she listens to her body now)

• Raising kids on real food—and ditching the daily drive-thru habit

• Why mindset and nervous system healing matter as much as macros

If you’ve ever felt stuck in all-or-nothing thinking or wondered if lasting change is really possible—this one’s for you.