Self Improvement, Mindfulness and Mental Health Tips - The Coached Soul Podcast

In this special year-end episode of Coached Soul, Kenya Evelyn and Dr. Steve Hudgins invite you into a gentle, grounding conversation about what comes after the holidays and how to carry joy, connection, and meaning into everyday life.

As the festive season winds down and routines return, many people feel a mix of gratitude, fatigue, reflection, and uncertainty. In this episode, Steve and Kenya explore how to shift focus intentionally, stay emotionally present, and nurture authentic connection not just during celebrations, but throughout the year ahead.

You’ll discover:

How to cultivate joy and gratitude beyond the holiday seas

Simple ways to stay emotionally connected during times of transition

Why curiosity and presence are powerful tools for emotional wellbeing

How to build emotional resilience through small, daily practices

How giving, receiving, and self-compassion create lasting positivity

Whether you’re feeling hopeful, uncertain, or somewhere in between, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and practical tools to help you move forward with intention and peace.

 Listen now as Coached Soul helps you close one chapter and step into the next - grounded in connection, guided by gratitude, and open to what’s possible.

Key Moments: 

01:14 "Continuous Giving and Love"

05:53 "Shifting Focus to Overcome Trauma"

07:56 "Positive Triggers for Joy"

10:52 "Connection Beyond the Holidays"

16:26 "Post-Holiday Suicide Risk Awareness"

18:05 "Prioritize Connection and Check-Ins"

23:09 "Embracing Faith and Compassion"

24:23 "Breaking the Trauma Loop"

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this timely and heartfelt episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins, licensed professional counselor, and Kenya Evelyn, therapeutic life coach, explore how to stay intentional, connected, and emotionally present during the busy holiday season.

As the rush of Christmas and family gatherings intensifies, Dr. Steve and Kenya invite listeners to pause and reflect on what truly matters - presence over pressure, connection over perfection, and meaning over materialism. Through real-life insights and practical tools, they unpack how intentional actions can deepen emotional, spiritual, physical, and intellectual intimacy with the people we love most.

You’ll discover:

Whether you’re navigating family dynamics, longing for deeper connection, or wanting to experience the holidays with more calm and purpose, this episode offers warmth, wisdom, and practical guidance.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to hit the bullseye - not just this holiday season, but in every relationship that matters.

Key Moments: 

00:00 "Intentional Living During Holidays"

05:15 "Prioritizing Intentional Living"

08:15 "Intentionality and True Intimacy"

11:44 "Family: Training Ground for Life"

15:16 "Prioritizing Christmas Spirit"

18:20 "Replace Judgment with Empathy"

20:59 "Intentional Love and Reflection"

23:52 "Facing Shadows in Relationships"

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

In this powerful and compassionate episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with relationship expert Mr. Jay to unpack one of the most painful experiences couples face: infidelity and the work of rebuilding trust.

Together, they explore the emotional aftermath of betrayal - guilt, shame, confusion, self-doubt - and how these internal battles shape the healing process. Mr. Jay offers practical, actionable tools that anyone can begin using immediately, including creating a Needs Assessment List, setting consistent check-in dates, and learning how to show trustworthiness through sustained action rather than promises.

You’ll discover:

Whether you’re at the painful beginning of discovery, struggling with ongoing triggers, or working to rebuild a connection with your partner, this episode offers a roadmap toward clarity, compassion, and genuine transformation.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to rebuild trust from the inside out and turn one of life’s deepest wounds into an opportunity for growth and reconnection

Key Moments: 

05:56 Healing and Rebuilding Trust

08:33 "Trusting Yourself: A Litmus Test"

13:11 Forgiveness Equals Self-Love

16:21 Unspoken Needs in Relationships

19:41 Post-Affair Recovery Essentials

22:32 "Healing Journey Check-In Strategy"

24:51 "Intimacy: Key to Overcoming Addiction"

About the guest : 

Mr. Jay spent years helping people and couples navigate tough emotional terrain, even coaching many through panic attacks. He considered himself knowledgeable, though he’d never actually felt a panic attack himself. Everything changed after losing a close friend - one day laughing together over the phone, and just four days later, saying goodbye at the graveside. Only days after that, Mr. Jay woke up gripped by his first-ever panic attack. In that moment, all his expertise felt different; finally, he truly understood what his clients battled each day. This experience deepened his empathy and transformed his work, proving that lived experience brings irreplaceable understanding.

How to connect Mr. Jay : 

Website : https://mrjayrelationshipcoach.com/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MrJayRelationshipCoach/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjayrelationshipcoach

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCih0uc3lMndCsm4BhKE8mCw/videos

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mrjayrelationshipcoach/

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

In this transformative episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins, licensed professional counselor, sits down with Mr. Jay, a certified betrayal trauma practitioner, for a raw and eye-opening conversation about healing after betrayal, infidelity, and emotional trauma.

Sharing both personal experience and professional insight, Mr. Jay opens up about his journey from sudden loss and panic attacks to guiding individuals and couples through the painful, confusing aftermath of relational betrayal. Together, he and Dr. Steve explore how childhood trauma, self-lies, and unprocessed wounds influence the way we show up in relationships.

You’ll learn:

This episode brings clarity to the chaos that betrayal creates, offering compassionate guidance for rebuilding your inner world before rebuilding relationships. Whether you’re navigating infidelity, struggling with forgiveness, or seeking emotional healing, this conversation offers the validation, direction, and hope you need.

🎧 Listen now and begin the journey toward understanding, self-compassion, and true emotional

Key Moments: 

05:32 "Impact of Internalized Lies"

06:18 Healing Through Forgiveness Filters

09:50 Vote or Surrender Your Power

13:16 Infidelity and Unhealed Trauma

16:56 "Intuition Ignored, Betrayal Revealed"

25:59 Infidelity's Cycle of Justifications

26:58 Forgiveness and Letting Go

About the guest : 

Mr. Jay spent years helping people and couples navigate tough emotional terrain, even coaching many through panic attacks. He considered himself knowledgeable, though he’d never actually felt a panic attack himself. Everything changed after losing a close friend - one day laughing together over the phone, and just four days later, saying goodbye at the graveside. Only days after that, Mr. Jay woke up gripped by his first-ever panic attack. In that moment, all his expertise felt different; finally, he truly understood what his clients battled each day. This experience deepened his empathy and transformed his work, proving that lived experience brings irreplaceable understanding.

How to connect Mr. Jay : 

Website : https://mrjayrelationshipcoach.com/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MrJayRelationshipCoach/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjayrelationshipcoach

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCih0uc3lMndCsm4BhKE8mCw/videos

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mrjayrelationshipcoach/

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

Get Marla’s new book here - https://www.loveyourbodyloveyourself.com/book

In this deeply uplifting episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins welcomes back Marla Mervis-Hartmann for a heartfelt conversation on healing your relationship with food, body, and self-worth.

Marla opens up about her personal battle with emotional eating, sharing the shame, silence, and internal struggles that once shaped her life - and the powerful turning points that helped her break free. From therapy and 12-step programs to somatic healing, Reiki, tantra, and group support, she reveals the tools that helped her connect the dots between old wounds, coping mechanisms, and emotional patterns.

Together, Steve and Marla explore:

This episode isn’t just about food -  it’s about befriending yourself, understanding your emotional triggers, and learning how to show up for yourself with compassion, truth, and courage.

🎧 Listen now for a conversation filled with wisdom, vulnerability, and hope - a reminder that healing is possible, and you never have to walk the journey alone.

Key Moments: 

01:08 Healing Through Shared Stories

04:07 "Filling the Hole with Self-Love"

07:51 "Mind Maintenance and Growth"

12:06 "Healing Deep Wounds Within"

15:19 "Becoming Your Own Best Friend"

18:25 "Mind Your Self-Talk"

About the guest : 

Marla Mervis-Hartmann is the creator of Love Your Body Love Yourself and a leading voice in women’s body image healing. After overcoming her own struggles with food, self-worth, and body relationship, Marla transformed her journey into a mission to help women honor, trust, and appreciate their bodies.

A TEDx speaker and Best-Selling Author of BE-Friend Yourself, Marla brings decades of training in women’s wellness - including somatic trauma therapy, sexual wellness, postpartum care, Tantra, yoga, and core restoration. Her work has been featured on ABC, NBC, and FOX, and she is widely respected for her grounded, compassionate approach to self-acceptance.

Now based in Maui with her husband and son, Marla works full-time as a coach, speaker, facilitator, and Reiki Master, empowering women to feel at peace in their bodies and to live with confidence, freedom, and joy.

How to connect Marla: 

Website: https://www.loveyourbodyloveyourself.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveyourbodyloveyourselfalways/

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

Get Marla’s new book here - https://www.loveyourbodyloveyourself.com/book

In this empowering episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with Marla Mervis-Hartmann, acclaimed speaker and body image expert, for an honest, transformative conversation about how we see ourselves - and how to finally break free from the patterns that shape our self-worth.

From childhood conditioning to cultural beauty standards, this discussion uncovers how family, media, and diet culture influence how we relate to our bodies, food, and confidence. Marla opens up about her personal journey of healing from food obsession and body shame, revealing what it really takes to shift from self-criticism to self-compassion.

Together, Steve and Marla explore:

Whether you’re struggling with body image, raising children in a comparison-driven world, or simply wanting to feel more at peace in your skin, this conversation will leave you inspired to redefine beauty - and reclaim your worth from the inside out.

🎧 Listen now to start healing your relationship with your body, your food, and yourself.

Key Moments: 

01:12 Breaking Free from Body Pressures

04:18 "Breaking Judgment, Embracing Empathy"

06:57 Body Acceptance Against Discrimination

12:32 Avoiding Harmful Chemicals in Food

13:27 "Choosing Real Food, Simplified"

17:45 "Addressing Bullying With Compassion"

20:30 "Cycle of Food and Body Obsession"

About the guest : 

Marla Mervis-Hartmann is the creator of Love Your Body Love Yourself and a leading voice in women’s body image healing. After overcoming her own struggles with food, self-worth, and body relationship, Marla transformed her journey into a mission to help women honor, trust, and appreciate their bodies.

A TEDx speaker and Best-Selling Author of BE-Friend Yourself, Marla brings decades of training in women’s wellness - including somatic trauma therapy, sexual wellness, postpartum care, Tantra, yoga, and core restoration. Her work has been featured on ABC, NBC, and FOX, and she is widely respected for her grounded, compassionate approach to self-acceptance.

Now based in Maui with her husband and son, Marla works full-time as a coach, speaker, facilitator, and Reiki Master, empowering women to feel at peace in their bodies and to live with confidence, freedom, and joy.

How to connect Marla: 

Website: https://www.loveyourbodyloveyourself.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveyourbodyloveyourselfalways/

In this powerful episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins and Kenya Evelyn are joined once again by veterans Georgia Arts and Jerry Ryan for a raw and compassionate conversation about life after military service.

Together, they shed light on what it truly means to transition from military to civilian life, exploring how service shapes identity, purpose, and health, and how veterans navigate the often-difficult systems meant to support them. From navigating the VA healthcare maze to redefining community and belonging, this episode offers hope, honesty, and advocacy for those who’ve served and continue to serve in new ways every day.

You’ll hear:

This episode honors the voices of those who served - reminding us that the transition home is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new mission: healing, belonging, and growth.

🎧 Listen now to hear stories that inspire gratitude, awareness, and action -  and to understand better what life after service truly looks like.

Key Moments: 

04:24 Invisible Struggles of Women Veterans

11:17 "Veteran's Cancer Journey Timing"

16:10 Veteran Hospital System Failures

18:26 Gulf War Veterans' Health Struggles

21:50 "Confusion Over Prescription Mismanagement"

24:43 Veterans, Unity, and Support

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

In this special Veterans Day edition of Coached Soul, Kenya Evelyn steps in as host to lead a powerful and heartfelt conversation with Georgia Arts, a retired E7 and Gulf War veteran, and Jerry Ryan, a former U.S. Army medical specialist. Joining them is Dr. Steve Hudgins, a licensed professional counselor and proud Army veteran whose family has served across multiple branches of the military.

Together, they open up about the realities of service - from the decision to enlist, to life during deployment, and the challenges of returning to civilian life. Through stories of resilience, teamwork, and sacrifice, they share personal insights into what it means to serve, to lead, and to carry the lessons of military life long after leaving uniform behind.

You’ll hear about:

Whether you’re a veteran, a military family member, or someone seeking insight into service and sacrifice, this episode will inspire you to honor your own journey of growth, resilience, and contribution.

🎧 Listen now to celebrate those who serve and discover the timeless leadership lessons forged in the heart of the military.

Key Moments: 

01:25 "Honoring Servant Heart Winners"

06:39 Military Family Legacy

07:36 Military Frustrations and Career Shift

13:43 Origins of 5G in Warfare

14:46 Military Service and Health Risks

18:23 "American in Saudi Culture Adaptation"

22:44 "Reflections on Choices and Survival"

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this transformative episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins and Kenya Evelyn explore what it really means to stop proving and start being.

Through heartfelt stories and deep reflection, they reveal how the relentless pursuit of approval and achievement keeps us disconnected from our true selves. Together, Dr. Steve and Kenya discuss how healing begins when we release the pressure of performance, honor our stories, and choose presence over perfection.

You’ll discover:

This episode invites you to pause, breathe, and embrace who you already are. Whether you’re struggling with self-image, chasing validation, or seeking peace after burnout, you’ll find clarity, compassion, and courage in this conversation.

🎧 Listen now to rediscover your identity, heal from self-doubt, and live from a place of wholeness - not performance.

Key Moments: 

00:00 Coach Soul: Transformative Growth Podcast

03:31 Awareness and Modern Self-Reflection

06:41 "Proving I'm Enough"

10:14 Faith, Resilience, and Calling

13:38 Generational Love and Understanding

19:44 "Guarding Boundaries from Within"

20:34 "Breaking Habits, Reclaiming Power"

25:37 "Push-Ups and Resilience"

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this heartfelt episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins, licensed professional counselor, sits down with Norwegian therapist Therese Tonning to explore the complex emotional terrain of blended or “mosaic” families.

Together, they unpack what really happens when past wounds meet present relationships: the challenges of communication, unhealed trauma, and the hidden dynamics that shape second or third marriages. With honesty, compassion, and professional wisdom, they reveal how self-awareness, boundaries, and community support become the foundation for healing and healthy connection after divorce.

You’ll discover:

Whether you’re navigating a second marriage, co-parenting, or simply learning to heal from the past, this episode will help you see your family and yourself with new clarity.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to build balance, emotional safety, and lasting love - one honest conversation at a time.

Key Moments: 

04:07 Women's Health and Divorce Trends

09:44 Therapists' Approach to Trauma Treatment

12:21 Faith, Divorce, and Attachment Struggles

13:53 "Narcissistic Spouse's Social Media Tactics"

17:38 Attachment Styles and Muscle Memory

20:05 "Healing Before New Connections"

About the guest : 

Therese Tonning embarked on her journey into therapy by joining the inaugural group of students at the EQ Institute in 2010. Founded by Haredes Palstadter and her daughter, Dura, in 2006, the EQ Therapy and subsequently the EQ Institute quickly garnered attention for their innovative approach. Therese completed her education at the institute in 2012, marking the beginning of her professional career in a rapidly growing field. Since its inception, the EQ Institute has expanded to three cities and now graduates about 300 students each year, underscoring its significant impact on modern therapy practices.

Website : https://eqi.no/

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/