Welcome back to Shifts & Giggles! Today’s guest is Dr. Mel Cioffi—a Mobile & Virtual Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, host of The Finally Fearless Podcast, and a fierce advocate for women who are done settling for less when it comes to their health.

Mel’s journey into physical therapy came by way of finding herself lit up by human connection and the impact of being a personal trainer. 

But here’s the real shift: after four years working in traditional healthcare, Mel saw firsthand how badly the system was failing women. They weren’t being seen. They weren’t being heard. And they certainly weren’t getting the personalized care they needed.

So Mel took matters into her own capable hands and launched New Quest Physical Therapy in 2019. Her mission? To free active vagina owners from endless kegels and trash exercise programs so they can get their damn lives back.

Mel brings humor, heart, and straight-up truth bombs to everything she does—and this conversation is no exception. If you’ve ever felt like you were made for more (and you are), this one’s for you.

Let’s dive into this new quest, together.

To Connect with Dr Mel:

www.YourNewQuest.com

Today on Shifts and Giggles, I get to play in the creative sandbox with the wildly whimsical and soulfully saturated Jen Colombo—an artist whose watercolors don’t just hang on walls, they dance, breathe, and whisper secrets from the natural world.

Jen is the magical force behind Nature’s Essence, a stunning solo exhibit now on view at Serendipity Labs in Westport, CT through the end of August. Her larger-than-life paintings are like visual poetry—each one a heartfelt conversation between color, nature, and your own wild, wondering spirit.

In this juicy, joy-filled convo, we dive into the deep end of creativity. Jen shares what moves her, how she listens to the language of trees and tides, and why art isn’t just something she makes—it’s something she channels. Whether you’re a curious collector, a nature nibbler, or someone who simply needs a little beauty balm for the soul, this episode is your invitation to pause, play, and reconnect with your essence.

So go ahead—pour something delicious, kick off your shoes, and let yourself be moved. Let’s wander through Jen’s world, one watercolor at a time.

To Contact Jen:

www.JenColombo.com

Today’s guest is someone who embodies what this show is all about: transformation with a healthy side of truth, shift of perspective, and yes—playfulness. 

Matan is basically a walking permission slip to be wildly human and deeply alive. Over the past 20 years and 20,000 sessions—yes, you heard that right, 20,000—he’s been guiding people into holy shifts, uncovering their inner realms, using hypnosis and movement.

But don’t be fooled—his journey wasn't always zen gardens and downward dogs. Once upon a time, Matan was a finance guy fantasizing about getting hit by a truck just to avoid another day at a soul-sucking job. (Spoiler: he didn’t get hit by the truck, but he did get hit by life in a way that cracked him open—in all the right ways.)

Matan has danced with trauma and  transformation. And lucky for us, he brought his curiosity, his presence, and his perfectly quirky wisdom along for the ride.

So let’s get moving—and join me in welcoming the deeply dedicated, joyfully honest, wonder that is Matan.

To Contact Matan:

www.MatansMovement.com

Today on Shifts & Giggles: Conversations with Beth, I’m so excited to welcome a truly luminous and grounded soul—Deana Paqua.

Deana is a gifted and wise teacher, healer, and guide who has spent more than 22 years walking the path of holistic healing and spiritual exploration.

Through her work at Embody the Sacred, Deana blends ancient wisdom with modern sensibility, offering cross-cultural energy medicine, contemporary shamanism, Reiki, flower essence work, intuitive insight, and so much more.

What I love most about Deana is her ability to hold space in a way that’s both deeply sacred and refreshingly real. She brings her whole self—decades of study, life experience, compassion, and yes, even the occasional well-placed f-bomb—to help people heal, grow, and step into their soul’s purpose. Her clients and students describe her as down-to-earth, practical, and profoundly supportive—a true spiritual midwife for transformation.

Deana also shares her knowledge in the academic world as an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University, where she teaches about mind/body healing and cross-cultural approaches to health, and serves on the advisory board for the Institute of Holistic Health Studies.

Whether you’re a fellow healing arts practitioner, a sensitive soul navigating deep transformation, or someone who’s just curious about the mystical side of healing, you’re going to find so much wisdom, laughter, and heart in this conversation.

So settle in, open your heart, and get ready to embody the sacred with the amazing Deana Paqua.

To Contact Deana:

www.EmbodyTheSacred.net

Today on Conversations with Beth, I have the absolute honor of welcoming a woman whose strength, spirit, and soul-centered wisdom are nothing short of inspiring.

Carol Shwidock, MA OTR, RYT®500, is the founder of Harmony Yoga, a Kripalu-based practice rooted in breath, movement, and the ancient wisdom of the Five Elements from both Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine. Her work empowers students to access their own innate healing potential—one breath at a time.

Before founding Harmony Yoga in the wake of 9/11, Carol spent 25 years as an Occupational Therapist.

Over the past two decades, she has grown into a deeply respected 500-hour Yoga Therapist, guiding individuals and groups through practices that support healing from anxiety, depression, chronic pain, neurological challenges, and so much more.

Her classes, retreats, and private sessions are infused with compassion, presence, and a profound understanding of energy medicine.

But Carol’s journey is not just professional—it’s deeply personal. In 2011, she made the extraordinary decision to donate 60 percent of her liver to her beloved husband, giving him the gift of more time. Though he passed later that year, Carol speaks of that act with gratitude and grace.

It’s one of the many reasons I feel so connected to her—Carol and I are soul sisters, both having lost our husbands to liver disease.  We both know the courage it takes to walk through that kind of loss and keep your heart wide open.

Today, we’re diving into healing, surrender, and the wisdom that comes from living with both purpose and presence. I’m so honored to share this conversation with the extraordinary Carol Shwidock.

To Contact Carol:

www.harmonyogastudio.com

Welcome back to Conversations with Beth! 

Today, we have an incredible guest who is a true powerhouse when it comes to leading with heart and living with purpose. Jen is not just a coach—she's a catalyst for transformation.

As a Leadership & Embodiment Coach, Speaker, and Author, Jen guides people to step boldly into their own power and live lives that are deeply aligned with their truth.

Her private, tailored coaching sessions empower individuals to embrace change and take meaningful action.

Whether she's on stage delivering an impactful talk, leading an embodiment workshop where participants unlock the transformative Power of Gesture®, or helping someone shape and preserve their unique legacy, Jen's work is nothing short of inspiring.

Get ready for a conversation that will challenge you to think differently, feel deeply, and lead from within. Jen is here to remind us that success is not just about what you achieve—it's about how you show up in the world. Let’s dive into this powerful conversation!

To Contact Jen:

www.JenAks.com

Today’s guest is someone who knows a thing or two about transformation—because she’s lived it. Kristen Rzasa is a life and business strategist, a master of reinvention, and, lucky for me, a dear friend.

She helps people create a brand new rhythm—whether in their days, their businesses, their bodies, or their lives—so they can move through the world with more ease, alignment, and radiance.Kristen believes that feeling vibrant and confident in your own skin isn’t just about what’s happening outside—it’s about designing life from the inside out. That means elevating your mindset, activating your energy, maximizing your time, and enriching your environment. Sounds good, right?So, if you’re in a moment of transition… if you’re ready to heal, begin again, or create something brand new, this is the conversation for you.Kristen, welcome to Conversations with Beth! To Contact Kristen:

www.KristenRzasa.com

Welcome back to another episode of Conversations with Beth! Today, we’re diving deep into the art of healing—one intuitive touch at a time.

My guest today is a woman who doesn’t just practice massage therapy—she embodies it. Dana Witter has been a passionate massage therapist since 2015, honing her craft with a thirst for knowledge and an open heart. She doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach—because every body tells its own story, and Dana listens.

From deep tissue to energy work, from cupping to scar tissue release, she brings a multifaceted, intuitive approach to her sessions, guiding her clients back to balance. But Dana’s work isn’t just about muscles and movement—it’s about resilience, empowerment, and transformation.

As a breast cancer survivor, she has walked the path of healing firsthand, and she now dedicates herself to nurturing fellow warriors through the power of touch. Massage was an integral part of her own recovery, and now, she’s passing that healing forward—one session, one soul at a time.

Get ready for a conversation filled with wisdom, warmth, and maybe even a few holy shifts. Let’s welcome the incredible Dana Witter to the show.

To Contact Dana:

 https://www.vagaro.com/empoweredwellnessct

Today we have the absolute pleasure of sitting down with someone who brings both wisdom and warmth to the legal world - Sharon Oberst DeFala.Sharon isn't your typical attorney - she's a divorce attorney with a BIG heart -guiding families through life's BIG transitions with compassion and grace.She practices family law, estate planning and small business law in her hometown of Norwalk, CT where law is truly a family affair.Her father is also an attorney practicing with Sharon and her mother keeps everything running as office manager.But here's what really makes Sharon shine! It's her community spirit and her radiant energy which have earned her the nickname Sunshine Daydream.She is all about lifting others and making a difference in this world.Let's dive into her world and her wisdom.

For more about Sharon: www.OberstLaw.com