In today’s episode, I’m joined by Kristy from A1 Colon Hydrotherapy for a surprisingly fun conversation about colonics, gut health, and the mind-body connection.

We dive into what actually happens during a session, why people seek them out, and how something that’s often labelled “woo-woo” can actually sit alongside evidence-based wellness in a really supportive way to detox your body and support your gut health.

Kristy also shares the deeply personal story of how her journey with colonics began, the life-changing experience that shaped her purpose, and why she now helps others heal through gut awareness and gentle internal care.

We explore the link between gut health, mental health, and emotional well-being, unravel common fears around first-time sessions, and talk through the practical habits that support a healthy gut outside of the treatment room.

You’ll also hear a powerful client transformation story, insights into post-surgery recovery and mucus blockages, plus answers to listener questions about everyday gut-friendly routines.

(00:00) Introduction

(02:33) What is colonics?

(04:54) What to expect. Reasons people get colonics.

(11:32) Personal Story - Why start a business in colonics?

(22:10) What is Candida?

(24:14) How do you balance being evidence-based while working in an industry that’s sometimes misunderstood as being woo woo

(27:29) Connection between colonics, gut health and mental health

(33:32) Client story 

(35:05) Post-surgery clients & mucus blockage 

(37:50) Daily habits to support a healthy gut outside of colonics - Listener question

(40:50) Where to find A1 Colon Hydrotherapy

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

Podcast @rhapsodic.podcast

Carmen @busymind.redefined

Guest: @a1colonhydrotherapy_

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

In this week’s episode, I sit down with one of my best friends, Lana - someone I’ve shared nearly two decades of life with, yet never had a conversation quite like this one.

Lana opens up about her incredible 55kg weight loss journey after being overweight and obese almost her entire life, the life-threatening complications that changed everything, and the deep mindset work that helped her rebuild not just physically, but emotionally.

We explore the emotional layers of weight loss that most people never talk about, her experience with depression, and how she learned to use self-talk as a powerful tool during some of the hardest moments of her life.

She also shares the unexpected path that led her to running a marathon, the mental battles she faced along the way, and the complicated process of learning to trust her body again after trauma.

Throughout the episode, Lana brings a level of honesty and vulnerability that reminds us what resilience truly looks like, not the highlight reel, but the quiet decisions to keep going even when everything feels heavy.

Whether you’re navigating your own health journey, struggling with motivation, or simply needing reassurance that change is possible, Lana’s story will stay with you long after the episode ends.

A gentle reminder before you listen: this episode includes mention of mental health struggles and disordered eating. Please listen with care and take a break if you need to.

(00:00) Introduction

(03:12) Lana’s younger years and relationship with weight

(06:58) Lana’s turning point

(08:10) Life threatening complications with weight loss surgery

(12:53) Having success at weight loss, experiencing fashion

(14:54) Dating 

(19:55) Life is completely different now

(21:15) Body Dysmorphia & staying on track

(24:18) Running journey, start to marathons, marathon blues

(35:50) Addiction transfer 

(37:32) Ongoing complications post weight loss surgery 

(39:50) Advice for someone feeling hopeless 

(41:17) Motivation, consistency & discipline 

(43:54) Uplift Run Club

(48:32) Reflection

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

Podcast @rhapsodic.podcast

‍Carmen  @busymind.redefined

Guest: @lannfann1

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

Have you ever wondered how the food you eat affects your mood? Or why your child might be struggling with behaviour, sleep, or emotional regulation?

In this conversation, I sit down with Joanne Ling, co-founder of Additive Free Lifestyle, to explore the connection between food additives, gut health, mental health, and children’s behaviour.

Jo’s journey began from a deeply personal place - she was a mum who felt desperate to help her daughter, who was experiencing behavioural challenges she couldn’t make sense of. When traditional advice wasn’t bringing answers, Jo started looking into food additives… and what she discovered changed everything. Small changes in what her daughter was eating led to big improvements in mood, behaviour, and overall well-being.

We talk about the real behavioural concerns so many parents are facing: hyperactivity, emotional regulation issues, trouble concentrating, sleep disturbances, and big feelings that seem out of nowhere.

And what shocked me most?

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Jo breaks down simple, realistic swap-outs anyone can begin with - you don’t need to overhaul your entire pantry or spend hours reading labels. Even changing a few products can make a noticeable difference.

We also dive into the Additive Free Lifestyle app, created by Jo and her sister Tracy, which helps families by:

• ​Scanning products to instantly identify additives
• ​Showing which additives are linked to behavioural or mood-related issues
• ​Offering research-based education, articles, and expert interviews
• ​Providing practical alternatives, recipes and guidance
• ​Hosting their own podcast with specialists in gut health, behaviour, and nutrition

Everything they teach is backed by research and designed to reduce overwhelm - especially for parents who just want to understand what’s going into their child’s body.

This conversation will leave you feeling supported, informed, and hopeful… because Jo’s story shows that sometimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

 ⁠@rhapsodic.podcast⁠

‍ ⁠@busymind.redefined⁠

Guest: @joanne__ling @additivefreelifestyle

 Links & Resources:

Find all links relevant to Additive Free Lifestyle here

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review or comment - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:05) Jo’s personal story

(05:40) Additive 102 - Tartrazine 

(08:09) ADHD 

(10:36) Chronic illness 

(12:18) where to start, some popular product swap recommendations; colours, 160b

(16:38) Additive Free Lifestyle app

(19:20) Additive Free Made Easy Course

(21:07) Misleading marketing traps

(22:43) MSG 635 - mono sodium glutamate & glutamates. Brain fog and restless legs.

(25:01) Lunchbox easy swaps

(27:12) Raiding Carmen’s pantry

(31:43) Fuelling for sport

(35:35) Is it possible to do additive free on a budget? 

(37:04) Cook books

(40:05) Interviews with health experts; a brain scan before and after MSG & gut health. 

(42:04) Water filtration system (listener question)

(45:55) Cleaning products. Endocrine disrupters; hormones; fragrances 

(49:46) Final summary of easy steps

(50:52) Three feel good, life changing stories from going additive free. 

In today’s light-hearted and honest chat, I sit down with Vanessa to talk all things brows, confidence, beauty tips, and why the small moments of self-care are just as important for our mental health as they are for our appearance. What starts as a conversation about creativity and brow artistry quickly turns into a reminder that taking time for yourself, whether it’s a beauty treatment, a fresh brow tint, or simply slowing down, can shift how you feel in the best way.

Vanessa opens up about how she started in the brow world, the treatments she loves, and the client stories that remind her why this work is so meaningful. We also dive into how tiny changes can completely transform how a woman carries herself, and how confidence is often found in the details we tend to overlook.

This episode is full of laughs, practical tips, and relatable moments for anyone who’s juggling creativity, self-care, kids, work, and everything in between.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:57) Creativity 

(05:00) How Vanessa started doing brows

(08:07) How does a treatment change how women feel? Listener question

(09:53) Her best investment in her business 

(11:47) What is a brow lamination? 

(13:52) A brow nightmare

(16:23) Brow tattooing types explained

(18:30) How long does brow tattooing last?

(19:42) Products to avoid for longer-lasting brows

(21:21) Non-tattoo brow shaping & brow growth tips 

(22:44) Vanessa's go-to brow beauty tip 

(23:30) How do your kids factor into your work and creative process?

(25:06) Client story: A moment that redefined her confidence. Scars and alopecia.

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

 @rhapsodic.podcast

‍ @busymind.redefined

Guest: @browartbyvanessa

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

A powerful Q&A with Claire, answering your questions on grief, mental health, faith, and healing. 

Today’s episode is a little different - it’s part two of my conversation with Claire from Morro and Co.

If you haven’t listened to part one yet, I really encourage you to start there (S4E4) - it gives context to Claire’s story of resilience, faith and the creation of Morro and Co, as well as her book Standing Well.

In this second part, Claire is completely unfiltered and open to every hard listener question, speaking honestly about her journey through infertility, the loss of her mum to suicide, and what the grieving process has truly looked like for her.

She also shares the questions she wished people did, and didn’t, ask while she was grieving, offering a heartfelt perspective on how we can better support those walking through pain.

It’s raw, emotional, and full of heart. A conversation that reminds us that caring for our mental health is self-care in its truest form.

Before we begin, a gentle note: this episode includes discussion around mental health, infertility, disordered eating, grief, and suicide. Please listen with care, and reach out for support if you need it. You’ll find helpful resources linked in the show notes below.

(00:00) Introduction  

(01:53)  How has your own understanding of mental health evolved over time 

(05:15)  What first inspired you to advocate for mental health

(06:24) Do you think people missed what was really going on at home, and what signs should we look for when a friend might be struggling?

(12:10) How do you continue to prioritise your own mental health

(14:10)  How did you deal with the immense grief of losing your mum and two aunties 

(20:28) What is your favourite part of your book: mirror licence 

(24:26) Opening up to friends vs inter generational family members about harder topics 

(27:30) Candle naming process, dare to dream

(38:39) What was the most meaningful support you received, and what do you wish people had asked you?

(41:31) When did you realise you had an eating disorder, and what was your first step toward getting help?

(45:00)  What advice would you give someone who’s feeling helpless or overwhelmed?

(49:40) Does your family’s mental health history worry you, infertility, and what helps you through the tough moments?

(55:42) Have you ever asked God “why me?” or been asked why He’d allow this to happen?

(1:05:36) Final words and thanks

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

 @rhapsodic.podcast

‍ @busymind.redefined

Guest: @morro.andco

www.morroandco.com.au

Links & Resources:

Lifeline Australia (Mental Health Support) – Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/  Phone: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue (Mental Health Support) – Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/  Phone: 1300 22 4636

Butterfly Foundation (Eating Disorders Support) – Website: https://butterfly.org.au/  Phone: 1800 33 4673

Fertility Support Australia – Website: https://www.fertilitysupport.org.au/  Phone: 0408 267 897

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

Today’s episode is one that I know will stay with you long after it ends. I’m joined by Claire, the heart and soul behind Morro and Co - a brand born from pain, love, and an unshakable desire to bring light into the darkness.

Claire’s story is of a woman travelling through many different seasons - mental health, family breakdowns, suicide, disordered eating and a decade long fertility struggle. 

She’s also the author of a beautifully crafted book called Standing Well - a raw and deeply personal reflection on living with unanswered prayers, faith, and finding strength when life feels anything but kind.

This episode is part one of our chat - an introduction to Claire’s story.

In part two, Claire opens up in a raw and unfiltered way, answering listener questions about the harder topics - from navigating mental health to supporting loved ones who are struggling.

So take a deep breath, maybe light a candle, and settle in for this beautiful, raw, and heartfelt conversation with Claire from Morro and Co.

Before we begin, a gentle note - this episode includes open discussion around mental health, eating disorders, infertility, and suicide. Please listen with care, and reach out for support if you need it. If you or someone you love is struggling, you’ll find helpful resources linked in the show notes.

(00:00) Introduction  

(02:09) How pain shaped her story

(06:58) Choosing her book title “Standing Well”

(08:13) What brings you joy

(09:13) Claire’s childhood and Jenny’s Story

(20:51) Anorexia

(28:40) Jenny’s final months

(36:41) Trigger Warning: Suicide

(42:11) Morro and Co Story

(53:03) Listener appreciation 

 Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

 @rhapsodic.podcast

‍ @busymind.redefined

Guest: @morro.andco

www.morroandco.com.au

Links & Resources:

Lifeline Australia (Mental Health Support) – Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/  Phone: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue (Mental Health Support) – Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/  Phone: 1300 22 4636

Butterfly Foundation (Eating Disorders Support) – Website: https://butterfly.org.au/  Phone: 1800 33 4673

Fertility Support Australia – Website: https://www.fertilitysupport.org.au/  Phone: 0408 267 897

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

In this episode Carmen speaks to Jo Hurley who built her own self-managed superannuation business, sold it to Deloitte, and retired at 39, but her story goes far beyond financial milestones. She opens up about burnout, rebuilding her mental health, and the skill sets that helped her shift out of survival mode and into a life driven by clarity and purpose.

Jo unpacks the world of self-managed super in simple, practical language - from when to consider starting one, to common mistakes, key differences from big funds, and who it’s best suited to. Jo also answers listener questions around risks, minimum balances, and how to get started with confidence.

Beyond finance, Jo shares her journey into triathlon, how she became an Ironman 70.3 World Championship athlete, and why setting aligned goals (and allowing different versions of yourself) matters more than ever. This conversation blends financial empowerment, resilience, and personal evolution - offering both knowledge and inspiration.

(00:00) Introduction  

(03:50) What does life currently look like for you - who is Jo?

(10:31) Work history and how Jo draws from her professional experience in her everyday life

(16:02) How and where do you start a self managed super fund (SMSF)?

(18:42) Is there a minimum required amount to start a SMSF?

(20:48) What are the key differences between SMSF and bigger companies?

(25:00) Early retirement at age 39! Selling to Deloitte

(30:30) Burnout and taking care of her mental health

(34:36) Skillsets learnt to help herself out of burnout and negative thoughts

(39:04) Who is a SMSF best suited to? (Listener Question)

(43:17) Risks and common mistakes with SMSF? (Listener Question)

(47:32) Key note speaker for LYD, looking at numbers

(56:40) Allow different versions of yourself

(57:11) Goal setting and asking for what you want in life, how triathlons started

(1:03:01) Importance on reflecting and revisiting goals 

(1:05:39) What does wealth mean to you?

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

Guest: Jo @johurley_

Podcast @rhapsodic.podcast

Carmen @busymind.redefined

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

In this episode of Rhapsodic, Carmen chats with Paul Manning, the familiar face behind The Sunday Long Run, and get to know the person behind the lens at local running events. He’s usually the one capturing everyone else’s story - but this time, it’s his turn. Paul talks about mental health, burnout, and finding balance again through connection and community.

What started as a passion for photography and running, became something more - a way to give back, stay grounded, and find healing. Paul shares how showing up for others helped him learn to show up for himself, and how purpose can often be found in the quiet, unplanned moments behind the scenes.

It’s an open and honest conversation about family, resilience, and finding meaning in what you love - not for recognition, but for connection.

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

Paul: @thesundaylongrun

Podcast: @rhapsodic.podcast
Carmen:  @busymind.redefined

Location: Gold Coast, Australia

Content Warning

A gentle reminder that this episode includes conversations around mental health and suicide. Please listen with care and reach out for support if you need it.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14

• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

• MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78

(00:00) Introduction  

(02:15)  How did The Sunday Long Run start?

(07:02)  The role of running and creativity in managing mental health

(10:24) Work and life stress led to burnout 

(13:27)  What photography means to Paul

(14:20)  The importance of movement

(15:48)  Trigger warning

(17:00)  Just focus on the next step, Ironman story

(18:48) Million smiles project, travel

(23:52) Paul’s love of the running community

(27:23) The challenges living with autism but also the amazing strengths. 

(32:43) Josh’s art, presenting Eliud Kipchoge with original art at TCS Sydney Marathon opening ceremony

(41:10) How Paul’s running journey started

(46:20) What does looking after your mental health look like for you?

(52:58) The reason Paul shares a video a day, get comfortable being uncomfortable 

(59:25) What brings you joy?

Thank you for listening. New episode every Friday.

Suddenly, it all made sense - it was ADHD all along.

In one of her most personal episodes yet, Rhapsodic host Carmen Exler opens up about what it’s really like to live with a busy mind - the challenges, the relief, and the process of learning to work with her brain instead of against it.

Looking back, the signs were always there: the constant mental noise, half-finished thoughts and projects, bursts of energy followed by burnout. In hindsight, ADHD was the obvious answer - she just didn’t have the language for it yet.

Carmen shares how finally connecting the dots has brought clarity, compassion, and a new understanding of herself. For anyone who’s ever felt “too much” or easily overwhelmed, this episode is a reminder that you’re not broken - you just process the world differently.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Introduction  

(05:00) Chat with Kylie, surprise it is ADHD

(07:12) Interesting post by Alison Lee Solomon - ADHD coach - creating a visual of what happens in a neurotypical brain vs ADHD brain. 

(09:43) Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD)

(10:51) Under active prefrontal cortex 

(11:54) Self Regulation, anxiety & overthinking

(13:08) Masking and unmasking 

(15:58) Long diagnosis process & misdiagnosis

(19:00) Relief once receiving an ADHD diagnosis

(20:00) Impact social media had in recognising signs of ADHD.

(23:03) Alex Partridge from ADHD Chatter reference - “How to spot ADHD in women in 25 seconds”

(26:46) Self-acceptance through an ADHD diagnosis - reflections and closing thoughts.

Connect & Follow

INSTAGRAM

Podcast  @rhapsodic.podcast

Carmen ‍ @busymind.redefined

Guest cohost @kylieosborne88

 References Mentioned:

• Allison Lee Solomon - ADHD Coach
• Alex Partridge from ADHD Chatter Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow Rhapsodic, share it with a friend, or leave a quick review - it helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

Thank you for tuning in - and as always, remember to keep showing up for yourself. 

Get ready for a new season of Rhapsodic Podcast!