Soul Stories With Jill

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, I never saw this coming?

In this solo episode, Jill shares how a series of small nudges, unexpected conversations, and repeated encouragement led her from massage therapy and yoga into sound healing, breathwork, podcasting, and now creating guided audio meditations.

She explores why the biggest pivots in life rarely begin with certainty, why fear doesn’t always mean “stop,” and how the compliments people consistently give you may actually reveal gifts you’ve overlooked.

If you’ve been feeling called toward something new, wondering if it’s too late to reinvent yourself, or talking yourself out of a dream because it feels unfamiliar, this episode is your reminder that the next chapter of your life may begin with something as simple as listening to the whisper instead of the doubt.

We often hear about the importance of giving, serving, and showing up for others. But what happens when it’s our turn to receive?

In this heartfelt episode, Jill sits down with mind-body practitioner Lauren Jewel to explore a challenge that many women quietly struggle with: receiving. Lauren shares a powerful story from a birthday trip to Peru that unexpectedly became one of the greatest lessons of her life. Surrounded by strangers who wanted to celebrate her, honor her, and offer gifts of kindness, she found herself face-to-face with something surprisingly uncomfortable—allowing herself to receive.

Together, Jill and Lauren dive into why so many of us have been conditioned to pour into others while feeling guilty, uncomfortable, or even undeserving when love, support, or generosity is directed toward us. They discuss the delicate balance between masculine and feminine energy, how both exist within each of us, and why embracing our feminine energy often requires us to soften, trust, and open ourselves to receiving.

This conversation is an invitation to examine where you may be over-giving, over-functioning, or carrying more than your share. It’s a reminder that receiving isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. Whether it’s accepting help, receiving a compliment, allowing someone to care for you, or simply resting without guilt, learning to receive can be one of the most healing practices of all.

If you’ve ever struggled to let others show up for you, this episode may be exactly what your heart needs to hear.

INFO:

Name: Lauren Jewel

Job title: Trauma-Informed Mind-Body Practitioner — specializing in decoding stress-driven physiology — her work bridges functional nutrition, nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and identity recalibration to create real, sustainable change at the root.

Email: [email protected]

Social Media Handles: IG: @Lauren_michelle_jewel FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AG9EPzFEn/

What if the things that help heal and regulate us aren’t complicated at all?

In this solo episode of Soul Stories with Jill, Jill explores the importance of nervous system regulation and why so many of us are living in a constant state of stress without even realizing it. From racing thoughts and difficulty relaxing to feeling overwhelmed by everyday life, chronic stress can show up in ways we often overlook.

Jill shares the signs of a dysregulated nervous system, why rest can sometimes feel uncomfortable, and how our bodies often respond to imagined worries the same way they respond to real threats. She also dives into the science behind nature, laughter, connection, and simple summer activities that can help shift us out of survival mode and back into a place of calm.

From walking barefoot in the grass and watching a sunset to spending time with loved ones and creating your own “Nervous System Menu,” this episode is a gentle reminder that healing doesn’t always require doing more. Sometimes it begins by slowing down, reconnecting with what brings us joy, and remembering how to simply be.

If life has felt heavy lately, consider this your invitation to take a deep breath, step outside, and discover the power of small moments that help your mind, body, and spirit find balance again.

Take a listen and let this be your reminder that peace isn’t something you have to earn. It’s something you can begin practicing today.

Motherhood is often portrayed through soft baby blankets, sweet snuggles, and picture-perfect moments, but what about the parts that aren’t talked about nearly enough?

In this week’s episode of Soul Stories with Jill, returning guest Averie Thayer, occupational therapist, retreat co-host, and new mom to a six-month-old baby boy, joins Jill for an honest and heartfelt conversation about the realities of life after bringing a child into the world.

Together, they explore the emotional, physical, and mental adjustments that come with becoming a mother. Averie shares her personal experience navigating postpartum life, the invisible responsibilities that often fall on mothers, and the profound identity shift that can occur when caring for a new baby becomes your primary focus.

The conversation also touches on the importance of support systems, why so many women feel pressure to “do it all,” and how isolating the postpartum season can be for mothers who don’t have family, friends, or partners nearby to help. Jill and Averie discuss the conversations that need to happen more often, including postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, and the importance of recognizing when a mother may need additional support.

This episode is a reminder that while motherhood can be beautiful, it can also be overwhelming, exhausting, and deeply transformative. Most importantly, it reminds women that they are not alone in what they’re feeling.

Whether you’re a new mother, an expecting parent, a grandmother, a partner, or someone who simply wants to better understand the postpartum experience, this conversation offers compassion, validation, and a much-needed look behind the curtain of early motherhood.

Join us for a heartfelt discussion about resilience, support, identity, and the often-unspoken realities of one of life’s biggest transitions.

INFO:

https://www.livingrevivedtherapy.com/

Name: Averie Thayer

Job title: Occupational Therapist/Owner of Living Revived Therapy

Email: [email protected]

Social Media Handles: Living Revived Therapy or @livingrevivedtherapy

This week on Soul Stories with Jill, we’re exploring something that affects every one of us: worry.

Inspired by a simple church sign that stopped me in my tracks, this episode dives into the ways we borrow trouble from tomorrow and miss the beauty of today. Together, we’ll explore why our minds tend to live in the future, how worry impacts the body, and what we can learn from nature about trusting the process.

Through stories, reflection, a powerful Cherokee teaching, and an original poem called “Borrowing Tomorrow,” we’ll examine the difference between fear and faith, control and surrender, and worry versus trust.

If you’ve ever found yourself replaying conversations that haven’t happened, stressing over outcomes you can’t control, or feeling weighed down by “what ifs,” this episode is for you.

What if peace isn’t found in controlling the future, but in fully living the present moment?

Take a deep breath, settle in, and join me for a conversation about worry, trust, and the freedom that comes when we stop carrying tomorrow today.

This week on Soul Stories with Jill, I sit down with Heather Kistner of Sorted Sparrow for a powerful conversation about clutter, organization, mental health, and the emotional weight of the things we hold onto. What started as an organizing consultation quickly turned into a full-circle moment when we realized we had gone to school together and hadn’t seen each other in over 30 years.

Heather shares stories from her work ranging from simple organization projects to difficult hoarding situations, while also discussing the deeper emotional and psychological reasons behind why we accumulate so much and how everything we own takes a little bit of our energy. With her background in mental health, she brings compassion and understanding to a topic so many people quietly struggle with.

This is an eye-opening and heartfelt episode you won’t want to miss.

About our Guest:

Name: Heather Kistner

Job title: District Manager @ Sorted Sparrow

Email: [email protected]

Have you ever stopped and wondered how different your life might look if one small moment had gone another way?

In this deeply reflective episode of Soul Stories with Jill, Jill explores the idea of “sliding door moments” inspired by the film Sliding Doors starring Gwyneth Paltrow. The movie centers around one seemingly insignificant moment, whether a woman catches a train or misses it, and how that single moment creates two completely different versions of her life.

Through personal storytelling and heartfelt reflection, Jill dives into the many “what if” moments we all carry. The job opportunities that didn’t happen. The relationships that almost never began. The nights we almost stayed home. The moves we almost didn’t make. The gut feelings we listened to… and the ones we ignored.

Jill shares real moments from her own life that changed her path forever, from not getting an airline job that could have completely altered her future, to moving to St. Louis and meeting a dear friend who became an earth angel in her life. She reflects on the night she almost didn’t go out, which ultimately led to meeting her ex-husband, and the intuitive decision not to open a yoga studio despite already investing time, money, and energy into it.

This episode is a reminder that life rarely changes in loud, dramatic moments. More often, it changes quietly through tiny decisions, unexpected delays, chance encounters, closed doors, and intuitive whispers that guide us toward a different path.

Jill also explores the idea that some disappointments may actually be protection, and that the doors that close can sometimes redirect us toward the life we were truly meant to live.

Whether you are reflecting on past choices, navigating uncertainty, or learning to trust your intuition more deeply, this episode invites you to look at your own life through a new lens, not with regret for the paths you didn’t take, but with curiosity, gratitude, and trust for the one you did.

Because sometimes the smallest moments end up changing everything.

Take a moment after listening to think about your own sliding door moments. The conversations, choices, delays, relationships, and decisions that quietly shifted the course of your life forever.

You may realize those moments led you exactly where you were meant to be.

Past Episode:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Z8FMCSroAxPSjgTs9Sp3G?si=r-72HfKPT2iq_YGPCRb52w

This week on Soul Stories with Jill, I sit down with a dear friend I met through the retreat world who shares an incredibly powerful story of loss, resilience, healing, and hope. She is an astrologer, a Level 2 Reiki Master, and someone who has walked through seasons that would have broken many people.

After the crash of 2008 turned her world upside down, life continued to hand her one heartbreak after another. From financial loss to devastating family illness and grief, she found herself moving through what many would call a dark night of the soul. But in the middle of the pain, she also discovered healing, purpose, and a version of motherhood she never expected.

In this episode, we talk about grief, spirituality, surrender, family, and the ways life can still come together even when it feels like everything is falling apart. Her story is a reminder that even in our hardest seasons, there can still be beauty, meaning, and hope waiting on the other side.

If you are walking through loss, uncertainty, heartbreak, or simply a season where life feels heavy, this conversation is for you.

Info:

https://app.theirstorymatters.com/memorials/7288d221-a024-4281-94f3-c9286e9a64c5

In this episode of Soul Stories with Jill, a guest shares his personal experience of being in a long-term toxic relationship that included a dynamic of kink and BDSM. This conversation is intended for mature audiences and is best listened to after last week’s episode, where Jill spoke with a sex therapist about communication, consent, and healthy dynamics within the world of kink.

A key distinction in this episode is that the toxicity was not caused by kink or BDSM, but by the individuals and patterns within the relationship. This story explores how strong attraction and emotional intensity can sometimes blur boundaries and make it difficult to recognize when something is no longer healthy.

Through this honest conversation, listeners are invited to reflect on their own relationships, trust their intuition, and recognize the importance of communication, boundaries, and self-worth.

Stephen's Information:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stephen_sapereaude/

Website - https://vft23.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/seemiracles

Stephen's Book - https://vft23.com/venus-fly-trap-books/

Listener's Complimentary Copy of Book:

https://bit.ly/3Zyj3Wt

In this episode of Soul Stories with Jill, Jill sits down once again with sex therapist & founder of Infinite Intimacy, Rachel Smith, for an open and honest conversation around a topic that many people are curious about, but don’t always feel comfortable talking about.

This episode was inspired by an upcoming story on the podcast, where a guest shares his experience in a long term toxic relationship that included BDSM within their dynamic. It brought up questions, curiosity, and a desire to better understand what BDSM actually is, beyond the assumptions and misconceptions that often surround it.

Together, Jill and Rachel explore what BDSM really means, the importance of consent and communication, and how, when approached in a safe and intentional way, it can actually deepen trust and connection within a relationship. They also talk about the difference between healthy exploration and harmful dynamics, and how to recognize the signs of each.

This conversation is not about pushing boundaries for the sake of it. It is about understanding yourself, honoring your desires, and creating a space where communication, trust, and emotional safety come first.

Rachel Smith

Job title: Sex Therapist and Intimacy Coach, Founder of Infinite Intimacy 

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Social handles: ⁠@InfiniteIntimacyTherapy ⁠

Relatable Past Episodes:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soul-stories-with-jill/id1714550571?i=1000644479927

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soul-stories-with-jill/id1714550571?i=1000647383200

Workbook:

https://infiniteintimacytherapy.mykajabi.com/Lets-talk-about-sex-communication-guide