Now What?

What if the person you have spent your entire life trying to become isn't actually who you were designed to be?

So much of who we believe we are comes from the stories we were told growing up, the expectations placed on us, and the behaviors we learned to gain approval or feel safe. But what happens when you start questioning those stories and realize that the very things you have been taught to change about yourself might actually be your greatest gifts?

In this episode, I sit down with Michaela Gaffen Stone, board-certified behavior analyst, human design expert, former nurse, and mentor, for a fascinating conversation about identity, childhood conditioning, limiting beliefs, self-trust, and what it really takes to reconnect with who you are beneath everyone else's expectations.

Michaela breaks down how childhood experiences shape the way we see ourselves, why so many women struggle with external validation, and how the process of deconditioning can help us recognize the beliefs that have been holding us back. We explore how human design can offer a different perspective on our natural strengths, energy, and decision-making, and why learning to trust yourself instead of constantly seeking approval can change the way you navigate your life.

We also talk about the societal expectations that teach women to question their worth, the pressure to make decisions before we are ready, and why understanding your emotional patterns can help you become more intentional about the choices you make. Michaela shares how her own journey through a difficult childhood, living in eight countries, multiple career reinventions, divorce, and remarriage shaped her understanding of human behavior and transformation.

Throughout our conversation, Michaela reminds us that our past experiences do not have to define our future, that we can release stories we were never meant to carry, and that it is never too late to ask ourselves what else might be possible.

In this episode, we explore:

• What human design is and how it can help you better understand yourself
• How childhood conditioning shapes your identity, behaviors, and limiting beliefs
• Why the qualities you were criticized for growing up might actually be your greatest gifts
• What deconditioning looks like and how to begin questioning the stories you have always believed
• Why the problems we think we need to solve are often symptoms of deeper beliefs
• How societal expectations teach women to seek approval and question their own worth
• Why rebuilding self-trust is essential to creating a more authentic life
• The difference between external validation and learning to trust your own judgment
• Why traditional marketing and societal expectations may not align with how you naturally operate
• How understanding your emotional patterns can help you make decisions with greater clarity
• Why feeling pressured to make a decision can be a sign to slow down
• How Michaela's childhood, international experiences, and career pivots shaped her perspective on transformation
• What divorce, remarriage, and human design taught Michaela about relationships and understanding others
• Why you can acknowledge difficult experiences without allowing them to define your future
• How to release old stories, embrace change, and begin asking yourself, "What else is possible?"

Connect with Michaela:

Website: Witchyshitbydesign.com

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

There comes a point when the life you have worked so hard to build starts asking a different question… not “What can I accomplish next?” but “What actually matters to me now?”

In this episode, I sit down with Meghan Kotlanger (MegGyver), producer, director, storyteller, and creative, for an honest conversation about identity, motherhood, career pivots, grief, boundaries, and learning to create a life that leaves room for what matters most.

Meghan shares how her career evolved through multiple reinventions, from studying engineering to working in marketing and creative production, and how years of demanding work slowly changed the way she thought about success, time, and the pressure to always be available. But becoming a mother, navigating major family health crises, and experiencing significant loss ultimately shifted her priorities in ways she never expected.

We talk about why Meghan no longer believes women have to “have it all,” how she has learned to say no without guilt, and why protecting her time has become one of the most important ways she takes care of herself and her family. Meghan also shares why she now weighs opportunities based on whether they genuinely excite her, rather than fear, guilt, FOMO, or the need to prove something.

She also opens up about what she calls “frivolous self-care,” the importance of celebrating your accomplishments instead of immediately moving on to the next thing, and why some of life’s hardest valleys can completely reshape your understanding of purpose, faith, and what comes next.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Meghan’s career pivots shaped the way she thinks about identity and purpose
• Why demanding work cultures changed her perspective on working to live versus living to work
• How becoming a mother completely shifted Meghan’s priorities
• Navigating major family health crises, grief, and uncertainty all at once
• Why creating more space and time has become essential to the way Meghan lives
• Learning that you do not have to pursue every opportunity simply because it is available
• Why saying no can be one of the most powerful ways to protect yourself
• How Meghan learned to set boundaries around work, commitments, and her energy
• Why she believes women cannot always “have it all” at the same time
• What “frivolous self-care” looks like and why guilt-free enjoyment matters
• The importance of slowing down long enough to celebrate what you have already accomplished
• How motherhood helped Meghan become more intentional about savoring the season she is in
• Why some of life’s hardest valleys can reveal new meaning, gratitude, and perspective
• What it means to trust that your life can continue unfolding even when you do not have the next chapter figured out

Connect with Meghan:

• Link to my website - www.iammeggyver.com
• Socials - 
  • IG - @i.am.meggyver and @periwinklearmadillo 
  • FB - @periwinklearmadillo 
  • LI: Meghan Kotlanger
• A few relevant articles I wrote (mainly to get some traction while I was starting my business.):
  • Day I got laid off: LINK
  • Thoughts on motherhood: LINK
  • Thoughts on time: LINK
• Link to a podcast from 2023 (before life hit hard) mostly about experiential, being a producer and advocating for yourself: Link

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

There comes a point when pushing through stops feeling like strength… and you realize the lifestyle you have built may be asking your body to pay a price you can no longer ignore.

In this episode, I sit down with Terry Tateossian, founder of THOR, The House of Rose, and host of the How Good Can It Get? podcast, for a candid conversation about burnout, women’s health, self-sabotage, and what it really takes to rebuild your life in a way that feels sustainable.

Terry shares how years of entrepreneurship, overworking, and ignoring her body’s warning signs eventually caught up with her. After multiple hospitalizations, gaining more than 80 pounds, experiencing concerning metabolic markers, and entering perimenopause at 37, she began questioning the way she had been living and the expectations she had placed on herself.

Terry also breaks down the limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging patterns that can keep women stuck, including perfectionism, unrealistic expectations, and the belief that lasting change is impossible. We talk about why consistency matters more than perfection and how taking an honest look at your time, habits, and priorities can help you create sustainable change.

In this episode, we explore:

• How burnout and ignoring her body’s warning signs changed Terry’s life
• Terry’s experience entering perimenopause at 37
• Why she began questioning the expectations placed on women
• What embracing her femininity and personal capacity meant for Terry
• Terry’s perspective on women’s empowerment and defining success for yourself
• How she walked away from her agency and unexpectedly found a new path
• Why her own health struggles became an asset in helping other women
• How limiting beliefs, perfectionism, and unrealistic expectations create self-sabotage
• Why consistency and sustainability matter more than doing everything perfectly
• How prioritizing your health can ultimately change the trajectory of your life

About Terry:

Terry Tateossian is an entrepreneur, wellness coach, and founder of THOR, The House of Rose, a wellness community focused on helping women thrive in midlife. After more than two decades building businesses, her own experience with burnout, emotional eating, weight gain, and early perimenopause led her to completely rethink health, ambition, and what it means to feel good in your body. Today, Terry combines strength, nutrition, mindset, and lifestyle medicine to help women over 40 build healthier, stronger lives. She is also the host of the podcast How Good Can It Get?

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

There comes a point when trying to fix yourself becomes exhausting… and you begin to wonder whether you were ever broken in the first place.

In this episode, I sit down with Isabel Chiara, author, life actualization coach, and creator of the Nourish movement, for a powerful conversation about emotional eating, self-acceptance, and what it truly means to nourish yourself from the inside out.

Isabel shares how her own relationship with food helped her recognize the difference between choosing food and using it to cope with difficult emotions, self-criticism, and stress. She explains why lasting change begins with accepting yourself where you are, changing the way you speak to yourself, and learning to look within instead of searching for answers outside yourself.

We also talk about the stories women repeat, how rumination affects the body, and why creating safety, self-trust, and compassion can transform far more than your relationship with food. Isabel also shares how competitive Latin dancing has brought more joy, movement, and freedom into her life.

This episode is a reminder that nourishment is about more than what is on your plate. It is about feeding your body, mind, soul, and spirit while building a stronger relationship with yourself.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between choosing food and using food for comfort
• How emotional eating can be connected to self-criticism and stress
• Why self-acceptance is an important part of lasting change
• How changing your inner dialogue can transform your relationship with yourself
• Why women often search outside themselves for answers
• How repeating painful stories can affect the mind and body
• The importance of feeling safe and supported within yourself
• How the Nourish app helps women explore limiting beliefs and food behaviors
• Why hobbies and joyful movement matter in midlife
• What it means to nourish your body, mind, soul, and spirit

About Isabel:

Isabel Chiara is an author, speaker, and Abundance Coach focused on helping people reconnect to nourishment, self-worth, intuition, creativity, and empowered living. Through her books, app, coaching, and teachings, she helps individuals cultivate deeper self-connection and a more abundant relationship with life.

Podcast Host Free Gifts + Resources

As a thank you for your audience, Isabel is happy to offer several free gifts and resources your listeners/viewers can explore:

“10 Ways to Nourish Your Life Powerfully Now” PDF + QR guide: https://isabel-chiara.com/sign-up-10-ways-to-nourish-yourself/

A free 7-day trial to the Nourish App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nourish-by-isabel-chiara/id6475375053

Information about working one-on-one with Isabel as an Abundance Coach:

Isabel-chiaraClient Challenge

Excerpt of First Chapter:

Google Doc File

Links to all of Isabel’s books and resources

Isabel Instagram: @nourish_isabelchiara

Isabel site: https://isabel-chiara.com/

Isabel's books: https://isabel-chiara.com/books/

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

What happens when the health challenges you’ve been pushing through become the catalyst for an entirely new life and career?

In this episode, I sit down with functional nutrition practitioner Divya Gupta to talk about her journey from computer science engineering and a successful corporate career to helping women better understand their gut, thyroid, and overall health.

Divya shares how losing her gallbladder at just 20 years old and later being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s led her to start asking deeper questions about her symptoms, nutrition, stress, and family health history. What began as a personal search for answers eventually became a passion for functional nutrition and a complete career reinvention.

We also talk about the often-overlooked role of the gallbladder and bile, the connection between gut, liver, and thyroid health, and why Divya believes the basics — food, hydration, movement, sunlight, digestion, and stress support — matter more than complicated wellness routines.

This episode is a reminder to get curious about what your body is telling you and to become a more informed advocate for your own health.

In this episode, we explore:

• Divya’s transition from corporate America into functional nutrition
• How her gallbladder removal and Hashimoto’s diagnosis changed her health journey
• Why gut, liver, thyroid, and gallbladder health are deeply connected
• The role bile plays in digestion and nutrient absorption
• Why foundational health habits matter more than complicated wellness trends
• How nutrition became Divya’s first step toward feeling better
• Why comprehensive thyroid testing can provide a fuller picture
• How a difficult corporate experience pushed Divya into entrepreneurship
• What it means to become the “CEO of your body”

About Divya:
Divya Gupta is the Founder & CEO of Divyaa Nutrition + Wellness LLC, where she helps clients uncover the root causes of chronic health concerns through a functional nutrition approach. After spending more than 16 years in the corporate world, Divya made a bold career pivot, turning her personal health journey into a mission to help others reclaim their wellness.

Having navigated her own diagnoses of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and gallbladder removal, Divya understands firsthand the frustration of searching for answers beyond symptom management. Her experience inspired her to build a practice focused on personalized nutrition, sustainable lifestyle changes, and empowering clients to take control of their health.

Connect with Divya:
Instagram: _divgupta

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

There comes a point when doing everything you thought was “healthy” still leaves you exhausted, inflamed, and searching for answers.

In this episode, I sit down with Jeanette De Caro, functional health and nutrition practitioner and founder of Elation Health and Wellness, for an eye-opening conversation about autoimmune disease, chronic stress, functional testing, and the root causes that often go overlooked.

Jeanette shares how a growing list of health challenges, including hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, perimenopause, and rheumatoid arthritis, led her to explore functional medicine and uncover deeper factors contributing to her symptoms. What began as a personal search for healing eventually inspired her to leave a 33-year corporate career and help other women better understand their bodies.

We talk about the connection between stress, hormones, nervous system dysregulation, environmental toxins, mold, and autoimmune symptoms, as well as why supplements alone cannot outweigh a poor diet, lack of rest, or a constantly overwhelmed nervous system.

Jeanette also opens up about caring for her aging mother, the guilt that came with asking for help, and how finding the right care allowed her to move from full-time caregiver back into simply being her daughter.

This episode is a reminder that your symptoms are not random, and your body may be asking you to look deeper.

In this episode, we explore:

• Jeanette’s journey from chronic symptoms to a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis
• Why autoimmune disease rarely has just one root cause
• The role of stress, hormones, mold, toxins, and nervous system health
• Why you cannot out-supplement a hectic lifestyle
• How functional testing can reveal what standard labs may miss
• Why midlife can become a tipping point for women’s health
• Jeanette’s transition from corporate life into functional wellness
• The emotional and physical toll of caring for an aging parent
• How asking for help helped restore Jeanette’s relationship with her mother

About Jeanette: 

Jeanette De Caro is a Functional Health and Nutrition Practitioner and the founder of Alatian Health and Wellness. 

She is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition, a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and has advanced training in functional lab testing as a Master Practitioner through the Institute of Restorative Health. Jeanette helps clients uncover the root causes of their health challenges using personalized lab testing, nutrition, targeted therapeutic supplements, and lifestyle strategies.

Connect with Jeanette:
Instagram: alatian_health
Website: Alatian Health and Wellness

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

There comes a point when pushing harder stops working… and you realize the answer might actually be slowing down enough to hear yourself again.

In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Chilvers Long, holistic health coach, Pilates instructor, breathwork facilitator, and host of the Midlife Advice Podcast, for a deeply grounding conversation about intuition, nervous system healing, and what it really means to create a life that feels aligned from the inside out.

Jessica shares her journey from the corporate world into entrepreneurship, beginning with opening a successful fitness studio and eventually evolving into the work she does today supporting midlife women through perimenopause, stress, and major life transitions. What unfolds is an honest conversation about learning to trust yourself, letting go of perfectionism, and recognizing when external success no longer matches your internal truth.

We talk about the disconnect so many women feel between what they say matters and how they actually spend their time, why intuition is a skill that must be practiced, and how nervous system regulation may be one of the missing pieces for women who feel chronically overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected from themselves.

Jessica also opens up about the power of breathwork, the role stress plays in women’s health, and why expanding your capacity, not just your productivity, can completely change the way you experience midlife.

This episode is a reminder that your body is constantly communicating with you… and sometimes the biggest transformation begins when you finally slow down enough to listen.

In this episode, we explore:

•  What it looks like to leave behind a successful career that no longer feels aligned 
•  How intuition can guide major life and business decisions 
•  Why so many women lose connection with themselves in the middle of doing “everything right” 
•  The importance of identifying your core values and actually living in alignment with them 
•  How perfectionism can quietly become a form of procrastination 
•  Why women often ignore their bodies until they’re forced to pay attention 
•  The connection between nervous system regulation, stress, and hormone health 
•  How breathwork can help expand your emotional capacity and resilience 
•  Why simple practices like breathing and slowing down are often the hardest to prioritize 
•  The impact of chronic stress and overstimulation on midlife women 
•  What it means to make decisions from your “next level self” 
•  How Jessica is redefining wellness and creating accessible support for women through virtual breathwork experiences

About Jessica:

Jessica Chilvers Long is on a mission to help midlife women feel informed, connected and badass through conversations, curated events, physical fitness and nervous system healing. She is a holistic health coach specializing in perimenopause, certified menopause coaching specialist, breathwork facilitator, Pilates instructor and host of the Midlife Advice podcast. 

Connect with her: @belongwellness, @midlifeadvicepodcast 

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

What if the life you worked so hard to build was actually pulling you further away from yourself?

In this episode, I sit down with Olivia King, a holistic nutritionist and founder of Jade Lotus Nutrition, for a deeply moving conversation about grief, purpose, and the unexpected moments that wake you up to what really matters. 

Olivia shares her journey from a 15-year career in accounting to stepping into her true calling after the sudden loss of her mother to pancreatic cancer. What unfolds is a powerful story of identity, cultural expectations, and the quiet realization that external success can never replace internal fulfillment. 

We talk about what it looks like to finally listen to yourself after years of ignoring your needs, how grief can become a catalyst for transformation, and the courage it takes to choose a completely different path when life forces you to reevaluate everything.

Olivia opens up about healing not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, from reconnecting with her body and intuition to breaking generational patterns and redefining what success truly means. This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the hardest moments in life are the ones that guide you back to yourself.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it looks like to walk away from a “successful” career that no longer feels aligned
• How losing a loved one can shift your entire perspective on life and purpose
• The impact of cultural and societal expectations on identity and fulfillment
• Why learning to listen to your body is a critical part of healing
• The connection between emotional health, stress, and physical symptoms
• How to reconnect with your intuition and inner voice
• Breaking generational patterns and choosing a different path forward
• The role of self-love and the journey to believing “I am enough”
• Blending Eastern and Western approaches to health and wellness
• Why true success goes far beyond money, titles, and external validation

About Olivia:

Olivia King is a Functional Nutritionist , specializing in gut health and functional blood chemistry analysis. After leaving a 15-year accounting career following her mother’s battle with pancreatic cancer, Olivia shifted her life’s work toward helping people better understand their digestion, energy, and chronic health patterns. She blends personalized nutrition, targeted supplements, lab testing, and Traditional Chinese Medicine principles to help clients make sense of their symptoms and create sustainable lifestyle changes. Olivia’s approach is practical, compassionate, and focused on empowering people to listen to their bodies and take confident ownership of their health.

Connect with her: https://jadelotusholistichealing.com/

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

Ever hit a moment where you realize the life you built still doesn’t feel like yours?

In this episode, I sit down with Koreana Schmittat, a functional nutrition practitioner specializing in skin health and inflammation, for a deeply honest conversation about identity, happiness, and what happens when you finally stop chasing fulfillment outside of yourself. 

Koreana shares her story of building the life she always dreamed of (marriage, kids, a beautiful home, financial stability) only to find herself quietly unhappy and disconnected. What follows is a powerful journey of sitting with that discomfort, questioning everything, and learning how to take radical responsibility for her own happiness from the inside out. 

We talk about the subtle ways women lose themselves in roles, expectations, and perfectionism, and the courage it takes to start saying no, set boundaries, and rediscover what actually brings you joy. Koreana opens up about healing her marriage through honesty, reconnecting with herself through simple practices, and reframing sensitivity and self-awareness as strengths rather than flaws. 

This episode is a reminder that happiness isn’t something you earn once everything looks right on paper. It’s something you choose, build, and practice from within.

In this episode, we explore:

• What happens when you “have it all” but still feel unfulfilled
• The power of saying no and setting boundaries in everyday life
• Why external success doesn’t create internal happiness
• How to reconnect with what actually feels fun and aligned
• The role of self-compassion in personal transformation
• Navigating marriage and identity shifts with honesty and ownership
• Reframing sensitivity as a strength in both life and health

About Koreana:

Koreana Schmittat is a functional nutritionist who helps people get to the root cause of chronic health challenges so they can restore balance, reduce inflammation, and support their body’s natural ability to heal and thrive. Her work focuses on nourishing the body, strengthening the gut, and creating true balance rather than chasing symptoms. She specializes in eczema and inflammatory skin conditions, and is deeply passionate about helping people feel at home in their bodies again. Koreana believes your body should never be the reason you hold back from living your best life, and her work is centered helping people bring balance to your body can live your life to the fullest.

Connect with her:

Website: https://www.thenourishedlifepractice.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.nourished.life.project

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps

When the life you worked so hard to build starts making you sick, what do you do next?

In this episode, I sit down with Jaclyn Daley, a holistic nutritional therapy practitioner, autoimmune protocol coach, and yoga instructor, for an honest conversation about burnout, autoimmunity, and the courage it takes to realign your life with your body.

Jaclyn shares her journey from a high-powered corporate career in the fashion industry—commuting long hours in New York City, pushing through exhaustion, and ignoring mounting symptoms—to being diagnosed with autoimmune disease after years of unexplained health issues. 

We talk about the deeper layers beneath chronic illness—how stress, identity, and societal expectations shape women’s health—and why so many of us operate in constant “doing” mode, disconnected from our bodies. Jaclyn opens up about releasing outdated versions of herself, cultivating self-compassion through uncertainty, and learning to see autoimmunity not as the body attacking itself, but as the body trying to protect and communicate. This episode is a reminder that your body is not working against you. It may be asking you to slow down, to listen, and to realign.

In this episode, we explore:

• How burnout and chronic stress can manifest as autoimmune symptoms
• Why modern life often pulls women out of alignment with their bodies
• The powerful reframe of autoimmunity as protection, not betrayal
• Simple but transformative practices like breathwork, gratitude, and the “power of the pause”
• The role of yoga philosophy in cultivating self-trust and liberation
• How to navigate fear and self-doubt when making a major life pivot
• Why self-compassion is not a destination, but an ongoing practice

About Jaclyn:

Jaclyn Daley is a Holistic Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Autoimmune Protocol Coach who supports individuals with autoimmune symptoms and chronic fatigue in restoring their energy and reclaiming their lives. Jaclyn’s personal experience navigating and overcoming the struggles of autoimmunity inspires her work and mission — to help others believe that optimal health is possible, even with chronic illness. She often draws on her background as a Yoga Instructor by emphasizing the impact of nervous system regulation and mind-body connection, fostering resilience and well-being in body, mind, and spirit.

Connect with her:

https://www.instagram.com/counterculturewellness/

https://www.facebook.com/counterculturewellness.life/

https://www.youtube.com/@counterculturewellness

Connect with Tessa:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tessa_guevara/ 
• Website: https://www.tessaguevara.com/click-me 
• Power up your mind and get unstuck with these 3 steps