Skirts Up!

This episode is everything from spanking, punishment, fetishes, sex clubs, power dynamics, dominatrix work, cheating, shame, consent… you name it, its here.

This episode goes ALL the places.

Amanda Dames, The Kink Consultant, a sex and relationship coach who helps individuals and couples understand desire, kink, fetishes and the very real emotions underneath all of it joins us on the show. And it turns out… I had questions.

A LOT of questions.

Which bled into her former life working as a dominatrix in a New York City dungeon, the things people are afraid to tell their partners, relationship betrayal, unmet needs, empathy… and a few sexual requests I genuinely could have gone my entire life without knowing existed.

If you want to explore kink with your partner, the answer of how to start is all in this episode.

• Learn more about Amanda Dame + get her free kink exploration guide.
• See if Sweet Soul Wellness is right for any subconscious shifts you desire.
• Follow along with Skirts Up, Rate, and share with a friend!!

What happens when a hypnotist and women’s rite-of-passage guide from Ireland comes on The Skirts Up Show?

Apparently we talk about ancient ceremonies, subconscious transformation, feminine energy, sacred stone circles, Irish fairies, psychedelics, sheep… and whether touching someone’s wrist is getting a little too spicy.

This episode is a RIDE.

I sit down with Niels Vantzuriel. Niels is a Rite of Passage facilitator and the co-architect of The Arrival Method. For over 10 years, he has guided highly successful women into Ireland’s wild landscapes and to forgotten sacred sites to resolve their private ache of self-abandonment.

We start with a question: What if some seasons of life aren’t problems to fix, but identities we’ve outgrown?

Niels explains how ancient cultures intentionally marked transitions — marriage, motherhood, aging, becoming an elder, stepping into a new role — because becoming someone new often means allowing an old version of yourself to end first.

From there, we get wonderfully woo-woo.

We talk about women who have spent their lives succeeding, achieving and taking care of everyone while carrying a quiet inner knowing that they’re meant for something more. We explore feminine receptivity, synchronicities, hypnosis, and Niels’ concept of “growth through pleasure” — using positive emotional states to help reinforce the person you’re choosing to become.

Then we head into the mountains of southwest Ireland.

Ancient stone circles. Fairy trees. Irish mythology. The belief that land itself can have relationship, personality and energy.

Which naturally leads me to asking whether the tree in my backyard that I swear I have a relationship with is weird.

Apparently, in Ireland?

Not really.

This conversation is funny, mystical, thoughtful, weird in the BEST way, and one giant invitation to consider:

What if becoming your next version deserves more intention than simply deciding to change?

• Learn More about Niels and the The Arrival Method
• Check out Sweet Soul Wellness

Mentioned in this episode:

Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD

What if building a successful business isn’t about becoming more “professional” — but becoming more you? Of course it depends what you're building. BUT

In this episode of The Skirts Up Show, I sit down with Charlie Birch, creator of Brand IDQ and founder of Humanized Collective, to talk about brand identity, authenticity, transferable skills and what happens when we build businesses from the outside in instead of trusting what already feels natural to us.

This conversation hit home for me.

When I started my RTT practice, I suddenly thought I needed to look, talk and show up differently because this was “serious” work. Meanwhile, the bold, welcoming, slightly unfiltered personality I love about Skirts Up was already showing me exactly how I wanted people to feel around me.

Charlie’s reminder? Professionalism doesn’t have to mean a blazer and a personality transplant.

And maybe my favorite takeaway: never underestimate transferable skills.

Charlie’s path through dance, movement therapy, psychology, website development and entrepreneurship didn’t lead her away from what she studied — eventually, it all came together.

Nothing was wasted.

So if your interests look random, your career path looks messy, or people don’t understand how all your ideas connect yet?

Keep going.

Stay true to how you naturally show up.

Those seemingly unrelated pieces might be exactly what makes your work yours.

• Check Out Charlie and take her Free Business Personality Assessment
• See If Sweet Soul Wellness is right for you
• PLEASE Rate, Review, And Share us with a friend, Skirts Up

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Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD

Have you ever thought, “If they would just understand me… change… listen… THEN I could finally feel okay”?

Yeah. That might be codependency.

In this episode of The Skirts Up Show, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Michaud — addiction and codependency psychologist, author of Co-Crazy, and co-host of Leaving Crazy Town — to unpack what codependency actually looks like in relationships, addiction recovery, parenting, people-pleasing and everyday life.

Spoiler: it’s a hell of a lot sneakier than I thought.

Sarah explains how fears of being misunderstood, rejected, abandoned or not being “enough” can quietly shape the way we communicate, over-function, control, rescue and build resentment. We talk about emotional triggers, childhood wounds, boundaries, relapse, addiction, marriage and the exhausting habit of making somebody else responsible for our happiness.

And yes, I had several “oh shit… I do that” moments.

One of the biggest came when Sarah described codependency as focusing all your energy on changing someone else instead of deciding what YOU need and what YOU are responsible for. That immediately took me back to a difficult season in my own marriage, when I was desperate to make my husband understand me instead of asking myself what I needed to feel fulfilled.

We also get into codependency in parenting — including the uncomfortable ways our own fears and past experiences can become rules we place on our kids — plus why unprocessed anger, grief, fear and resentment can build long before unhealthy behaviors or relapse show up.

The bottom line?

You are responsible for your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Other people are responsible for theirs.

Simple? Yep.

Easy? Absolutely not.

If you’ve ever struggled with codependency, people-pleasing, boundaries, relationships, addiction recovery, emotional triggers or wondering, “Am I the crazy one here?” — this conversation might be for you.

• Check out Leaving Crazy Town
• Curious Hypnosis or Rapid Transformation Therapy (RTT)? Check out Sweet Soul Wellness
• Please Please Rate and Share

Mentioned in this episode:

Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD

What happens when your body stops cooperating, doctors don’t have answers, and the life you knew suddenly feels like it disappeared?

In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with my former client Tessa Fielding to talk about her journey with chronic pain, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), medical dismissal, losing her independence — and slowly finding her way back to herself.

Tessa shares the moments when hope felt incredibly far away, what it was like to be told this might simply be her life, and the tiny victories that started proving otherwise: driving again, shopping alone, walking up stairs, starting something creative, setting boundaries and even being ridiculously excited to get her teeth cleaned.

We also talk about RTT as one part of her larger healing journey, learning to listen to a body she spent years pushing past, letting go of people-pleasing, finding providers who actually listened, and why sometimes progress isn’t one giant breakthrough.

Sometimes it’s one good day.

One tiny win.

One moment that reminds you:

Maybe this isn’t forever.

And during Suicide Prevention Month, that feels like a conversation worth having. Especially for those who have ever been told that they have the "Suicide Disease."

Don't hesitate to reach of to Sweet Soul Wellness for resources

Sex, shame, hormones, jealousy, lube, clitorises, boundaries, non-traditional relationships… yep. We’re going there.

In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Zwanitzer, a urology and sexual medicine nurse practitioner, host of the Between the Sheets podcast, and founder of the Revive Institute of Sexual Health — and holy hell, did I learn some things.

We talk about what sexual empowerment actually looks like when you strip away the shame, expectations, and idea that there’s one “right” way to have a relationship or experience pleasure.

Stephanie breaks down why knowing your own body is the foundation for creating boundaries, why conversations about sex should happen outside the bedroom, how stress and hormones can completely change desire, and why needing lube, more stimulation, or a different kind of intimacy does NOT mean something is wrong with you or your relationship.

And then we get into the stuff that had me saying, “WAIT… WHAT?!” — female sexual anatomy, the actual size of the clitoris, arousal and blood flow, perimenopause, hormone care, and why so many women have spent years being told to basically drink some wine, use some lube, and deal with it.

Whether you’re monogamous, non-traditional, somewhere in between, wildly sexually confident, or still figuring out what the hell you even like… there’s something in this conversation for you.

Because pleasure, communication, curiosity, and understanding your own damn body shouldn’t be taboo.

Note Worthy Links:

• Connect with Stephanie through Revive
• Episode was brought to you by Sweet Soul Wellness
• Skirts Up has a fun blog now after each episode!

And as always… if this episode made you laugh, taught you something, made your jaw hit the floor, or had you texting your girlfriend, “DID YOU KNOW THIS?!” — send it to her.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD

...(There are none)

Starting a business often feels like walking an upward trail—one step forward, two slides back. In this candid episode of Skirts Up, Samantha Mandell and Erin Snow pull back the curtain on the raw, uncurated realities of small business ownership. Moving past polished social media personas and quick-fix formulas, they explore what it actually takes to build an authentic brand without losing your mind in the process.

From navigating social media paralysis to filtering ourselves to stay "likeable," Samantha and Erin unpack the trap of listening to too many conflicting opinions. Erin breaks down how abandoning her fun, creative content (like "Wigging Out Wednesdays") for strictly "educational" posts caused burnout—and why leaning into what feels authentic is the ultimate client magnet.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

The Trap of Social Media Filtering: How second-guessing your voice to sound "professional" leads to content burnout and total social media paralysis.

Reframing Business Coaching & Mentorship: Why real growth comes from shifting limiting beliefs rather than quick-fix financial promises, and how to utilize free mentorship programs like SCORE.

Navigating Identity Loss & Self-Doubt: Transitioning from a highly respected professional reputation to starting over as an unknown business owner.

Maintaining Self-Care & Giving Yourself Grace: Recognizing that slipping up on daily routines or business goals doesn't send you all the way back to square one.

• Fail of the Week Stories: A chaotic 5-acre, 8-person baby pig pursuit, alongside a rogue folding massage chair mishap that ended in urgent care and splints at a Zac Brown concert.

Whether you're struggling with imposter syndrome, trying to find your voice on social media, or just needing a reminder to give yourself grace on the hard days, this episode delivers equal parts actionable mindset tools and unfiltered humor. Tune in to learn why staying true to your authentic self is the best business strategy you'll ever deploy.

Links Worth Exploring:

• Catch Erin Snow in the Unmuted Room
• See how Sweet Soul Wellness can help you
• Find more ways to enjoy Skirts Up
• LIKE, REVIEW, SHARE

Mentioned in this episode:

Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD

What if the secret to fixing your burnt-out brain, your angry jaw, and your exhaustion isn’t another productivity hack or a green juice, but learning how to stop living from the neck up?

Samanatha Mandell sits down with clinical herbalist, author, and operational strategist Samantha Jones for an unfiltered "Sam Squared" session that feels less like a traditional interview and more like eavesdropping on two best friends sipping tea (or mocktails) in the kitchen.

From surviving a life-altering trauma at 19 to navigating 34 years in the high-pressure pressure cooker of corporate dentistry, Sam Jones reveals how a life built on perfectionism and endless KPIs almost cost her her health—and how she reclaimed it from the roots up.

Together, they tear down the lie that you can simply "positive-think" or "stretch" your way out of deeply stored somatic trauma. Instead, they dive into:

• Why "calm and well-nourished" is the ultimate middle finger to hustle culture—and the most effective performance strategy you’ll ever use.
• The art of sneaky kitchen herbalism (including tea-soaked meatballs and using your bathtub as a giant cup of tea).
• Why taking a steam shower and rubbing down with custom magnesium oil isn't just self-care—it’s a non-negotiable daily ritual to check in with the only body you’ve got.

Equal parts deeply soulful and laugh-out-loud relatable, this conversation is an invitation to step into your own "no-fucks era," assemble your healing team, and remember that real recovery starts when you finally get back inside your body. (Oh, and stay tuned... because a Sam Squared lakefront retreat might just be in the works.)

Links to All the things:

• Samantha Jones- Stirred By Earth
• Sweet Soul Wellness - Your Rapid Transformation awaits
• Skirts Up- All the Things
• Find all episodes on your favorite listening app

PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW SKIRTS UP SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE AN IMPACT

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Mentioned in this episode:

Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD

In this episode, I’m getting raw and unfiltered about what’s been happening in my life lately—from navigating another wild car accident to adopting a brand-new family member (yes, a baby pig!). More importantly, I’m pulling back the curtain on something so many of us go through but rarely talk about openly: slipping into a deep depressive funk when life gets heavy, and how small, baby steps are helping me find my way back.

We’re also diving into what I discover to be true about my own cyclical living after learning all about it from Lauren and Kori—how paying attention to my internal seasons, hormonal shifts, and the moon’s phases helped me truly understand my needs but most importantly speak up for myself to keep my life harmonious.

• Life Update & Chaos: Navigating Simon’s ongoing recovery, my brand new car getting totaled ( 1-in-a-billion odds), a radiant new hair transformation, and the wild story of hunting down my new baby pig, Lenny, across 5 acres with 8 people.
• The Reality of Depressive Funks: What happens when low-demand tasks feel exhausting, how slipping out of simple routines (journaling, stretching, afternoon walks) happens gradually, and why feeling down doesn't make you broken or unqualified to lead.
• Baby-Stepping Back to You: Why I’m bringing my daily journaling journey over to Instagram and how getting thoughts out of your head creates space to heal.
• Cyclical Living & The Moon Phases: How reflecting on guest episodes with Lauren and Kori helped me map out my monthly "internal seasons"—from luteal phase overthinking to spring/summer bursts of creativity and social energy.
• Red Moon vs. White Moon Cycles: Discovering my 30-day rhythm, navigating the "lies" of the luteal phase, and using oracle cards as a tool for personal reflection and healing.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD

Grab your iced coffee and secure your underwear, because today’s episode is a wild, hilarious, and deeply spiritual ride. Your host Samantha is joined by a badass soul sister she literally internet-stalked into being her best friend: Kori Rae Kovacs, nurse, body intuitive, and host of The Phoenix Perspective podcast!

We kick off the episode with the ultimate icebreaker—Sam recounts the exact moment she realized there was a massive lump in her pants leg during their first video call, only to reach down and pull out a stray pair of underwear. But because this is Skirts Up, we slide seamlessly from laundry mishaps straight into the deep stuff: religious cult trauma, body intuition, and the literal life-changing technology of cyclical living.

• The Magic of Direct Messages: How being unapologetically yourself on social media acts as a beacon for your true tribe (and why you should never be afraid to slide into someone's DMs to say, "Can we be friends?").
• Surviving Hellfire & Brimstone: Kori Rae opens up about growing up in a terrifying, evangelical church environment, giving God the middle finger in her 20s because "sex was too great," and eventually finding her way back to a nature-based, pagan spirituality.
• The Mind-Body Manifestation: Kori Rae breaks down how the body is a physical reflection of the internal world (referencing mind-body pioneers like Louise Hay and Dr. Joe Dispenza). Sam opens up about how her own historical habit of "stonewalling" and rejecting her internal world ultimately manifested physically as functional seizures.
• Living a Whole Year of Seasons in 28 Days: Kori Rae delivers a masterclass on cyclical living, explaining how women experience a full rotation of winter, spring, summer, and fall every single month.
• The Energetics of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome): Kori Rae shares her mind-blowing personal realization that her PCOS was tied to an energetic block. As a kid, adults loved her bubbly, first-half-of-the-cycle energy but rejected her direct, bossy, boundary-setting second-half energy. By hiding her luteal phase to please others, her ovaries literally stopped wanting to ovulate. Once she integrated both sides? At 41, her cycles are healthier than they were in her 20s!
• A Proving Ground for Personal Growth: How to stop forcing linear growth and start using your cycle phases practically. Need to practice patience? Try doing it during your luteal phase! Plus, the power of documenting your shifts using tools like the Cycles Journal so you can look back and actually see your evolution.

If you are ready to stop taking life so seriously, map out your body's personal blueprint, and learn how to use your natural rhythms as a tool for subconscious healing, this episode is your ultimate permission slip.

Tune in, open your heart, and remember—keep your panties on (unless they’re static-clinged to your jeans)!

• Connect with Kori Rae: Listen to The Phoenix Perspective podcast on Apple and Spotify, and check out her upcoming season, Rising in Real Life.
• Join the Community: Learn how to cycle track alongside a tribe of beautiful babes at the Red Tent Society on Patreon.
• Recommended Reading: Heal Your Body by Louise Hay and the Cycles Journal (Kori Rae’s absolute favorite tracking tool since 2022).
• Upgrade Your Subconscious: Ready to shift out of survival mode and step into alignment? Head over to Sweet Soul Wellness to claim your free personalized audio recording and start rewriting your internal baseline today!

Mentioned in this episode:

Sweet Soul Wellness- Gift to the SQUAD