SwissCast Shows: Where Swiss Life Meets English Voices

Hot Flashes, Belly Fat & Brain Fog — Could Keto Be the Answer?

Two topics. One episode. Zero fluff. Vanessa Gatelein joins Danna and Megan to dig into the intersection of the ketogenic diet and perimenopause. Vanessa came to keto the hard way: through carnivore, hair loss scares, Hashimoto's, and a broken ankle that made her realize she was, in fact, breakable. What she learned along the way is genuinely eye-opening — and probably not what you've heard before.

About Vanessa Gatelein: Vanessa is a certified health coach, IIN alumna, yoga teacher, and Dr. Mindy Pelz-certified "Fast Like a Girl" practitioner based in Switzerland. She works with women navigating the hormonal chaos of perimenopause and menopause through a whole-food, low-carb approach that weaves in nervous system resets, breathwork, and mindset. Her new group program, Back to Her, brings together keto exploration, blood sugar management, hormone support, and community accountability.

1. How Vanessa went from carnivore to keto — and what that shift revealed about hormones, mood, and brain clarity
2. Why strict keto might not be the right move for perimenopausal women 24/7, and what cycling in and out actually means
3. The hair loss risk nobody warns you about — and the mineral deficiencies behind it
4. The fat-before-bed trick that may ease hot flashes (yes, really — butter is involved)
5. Why your belly fat isn't betraying you — it's your body desperately trying to make estrogen
6. The adrenal gland-stress-estrogen connection that explains everything about midlife weight gain
7. How to actually get into ketosis without making yourself miserable on day one
8. Why keto has a brain health angle that goes way beyond weight loss
9. Who needs to be careful with keto — and why "just Google it" is a terrible idea

Real Talk Moments: Danna arrives to the recording fresh out of the shower, developing what she describes as a Cruella DeVil mane in real time. Megan hasn't washed her hair in four days and is deep in dry shampoo powder. Vanessa brings the poise. There's a moment mid-episode where all three women land on a truth that hits hard: when we were teenagers going through hormonal chaos, everyone told us to rest. When we were pregnant, people made us sit down. In perimenopause — the same magnitude of hormonal transition — nobody is cutting us a break. Dishes still need doing. Kids still need feeding. And the economy is kicking everyone's ass.

Vanessa's Parting Wisdom: "Your body's doing that to protect you. The key is to give your adrenal glands the time and space to do their job — and that means managing your stress, not just your macros."

Connect with Vanessa Gatelein: Find her on Instagram for food videos and updates, and keep an eye out for Back to Her — her upcoming group program on keto, hormone health, blood sugar, and nervous system reset.

00:00 Keto Meets Menopause

02:46 Defining Keto and Early Wins

07:28 Risks Cycling and Women’s Hormones

23:58 Tracking Ketosis Data

27:41 Who Should Go Keto

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Come See Our Faces - Live Every Wednesday

That's right! Danna and Megan are LIVE and unfiltered every Wednesday morning, 10:00 CET.

Ready to hit reset without the boring juice-only drama?

The Urban Cleanse is calling your name — come see what it's all about!

Organilicious - Danna, Functional Medicine Health Coach

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What does it actually cost — financially and logistically — to move to Italy as a US expat and raise a family there? In this episode of Passport to Wealth, financial planner Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA sits down with Danielle Shumway, founder of Ciao Family Travel, to break down the real numbers: Italy's Rientro dei Cervelli tax incentive, US expat tax obligations, Italian healthcare and schools, and the $25K mistake that comes from not filing US tax returns abroad.

Danielle Shumway moved to Italy in 2015 with her Italian husband, an 18-month-old, and a four-month-old. The original plan was five years: take advantage of Italy's Rientro dei Cervelli tax incentive, let the kids grow up bilingual, stay near family, and return to the US. A decade later, she has four children, Italian citizenship, and a family travel business called Ciao Family Travel — and she is still in Italy.

In this episode, Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA sits down with Danielle to cover the financial and logistical realities of raising a family in Italy as a US citizen. The conversation covers what the Italian tax incentive actually offers, why Danielle's husband stopped his US citizenship process the month he was set to sign the papers, and what it cost when years of unfiled US tax returns caught up with them.

In this episode:

• Italy's Rientro dei Cervelli tax incentive - how it works, who qualifies, what happens after year five, and why holding three or more children plus a home can reduce your Italian tax rate to near zero
• US citizenship-based taxation and non-US spouses - why Danielle's husband halted his citizenship application, what green card holders face if they hold status outside the US for more than eight years, and the exit tax implications most families do not see coming
• Corporate relocation as a move-abroad strategy - how an Amazon internal transfer handled immigration, housing, and dual-tax-system support, and why starting with your current employer is one of the lowest-friction paths to living abroad
• Italian healthcare for pregnancy and birth - monthly blood work, structured prenatal appointments, the epidural decision that must be made four weeks before delivery, and why postpartum recovery felt cold compared to US standards
• Italian school system from age three - the Montessori-forward scuola dell'infanzia, government versus private spots, the points-based enrollment system, and what the transition into first grade looks like
• The $25,000 tax compliance mistake - what happens when a US citizen abroad stops filing tax returns, how Danielle found out, what it cost to fix, and why a cross-border CPA is not optional
• Traveling 50+ countries with children - the 70/30 outdoor rule, why stress gave Danielle a phantom toothache in the Czech Republic, and how private guides changed how the family travels

Resources

• Follow Danielle on Instagram @ciaofamilytravel
• Are you a qualified professional serving US expats in France or Europe? Apply to passporttowealth.com/join
• Subscribe to the Passport to Wealth newsletter: passporttowealth.com/contact
• Find a vetted cross-border advisor: passporttowealth.com/directory

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You take a day off and everything grinds to a halt, because the “process” is actually just you. In this episode, Linda van Egmond shows you how to turn what’s in your head into a system your team can run without constant check-ins.

What You'll Learn:

The Hook: Why your phone blows up the moment you step away, and what that reveals about your business.

Reality Check: How growth can increase pressure when the critical knowledge lives in one person’s head.

The Shift: A process doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to make the work repeatable without you.

The Move: The Dependency Audit to start removing you as the bottleneck:

• Make two columns: “Things only I can do” vs. “Things only I do (but others could do)”
• Pick 3 items from the second column to eliminate first
• Document each one: trigger, outcome, steps, owner, decision points
• Hand it off, coach once, then let it run at 80% (and maybe better)

The Wrap: Start with three processes, hand them off, and watch your time come back bit by bit.

Key Takeaway: If it only works when you do it, it’s not a process, it’s a problem you can fix.

Ready to get your time back? Visit Linda van Egmond Website for more leadership tools and insights.

Ep. 5 Stop Measuring Everything

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Our mission is simple: to create a space where Swiss life and English voices connect, bringing you meaningful conversations, expert insights, and compelling stories from all over the country.

Our podcast shows are made by, for, or in Switzerland and range from Health, Business, Career, Travel, and more.

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She's Doing the Hard Work

Good news: Danna's awake this time. And Joanna? She came in hot—full of data from her CGM experiment, eager to keep going, and finally seeing real results.

But Megan caught something in this session: a little miscommunication around food logging. Joanna was trying to figure out how to track (weighing her go-to foods once so she'd know the portions forever), and Danna pushed back. Why? Because quality matters more than quantity. If you're weighing your potato chips, you're missing the point.

The bigger insight: Joanna's the type who goes all-in and then loses the plot. She knows this about herself. So the goal isn't to overhaul everything—it's to change one variable at a time and let it stick. She tried two new recipes this month. That's a win. She's not the person who's going to flip her entire life overnight, and that's okay.

Here's what coaches want you to know: they're holding your hand, not carrying you. You're still walking. You're still doing the hard work. A good coach feels you out, adjusts, and keeps you from drowning in goals you'll abandon in a week.

This is the debrief after session three of Joanna's health journey.

If you want to hear all the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), listen on Becoming a Health Coach.

Listen to all the post session debriefs

If you want to hear the original coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

Listen to all the coaching sessions

We always looks forward to hearing from you!

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00:00 Introduction and Session Overview

00:17 Joanna's Progress and Challenges

01:55 Food Logging Discussion

06:13 Coaching Strategies and Client Interaction

16:31 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Becoming a Health Coach provides resources and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming a health coach. Recorded and Produced in Switzerland. Member of the SwissCast Podcast Network.

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To listen to Danna's full session with Joanna, you've got to check out our other podcast, So Frickin' Healthy. The episodes are about 30 minutes, and you'll hear the full conversation how Donna navigates the session in real time and the specific health struggles Joanna is facing.

Listen to Joanna's full coaching sessions on So Frickin' Healthy - Playlist

Becoming a Health Coach is a proud member and production of the SwissCast Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

Check out more great podcasts on the SwissCast Network

Got 10 Minutes?

Megan's gutting her kitchen for a renovation, so naturally we're talking gadgets. Which ones do we actually use? Which ones are collecting dust? And which one did Megan love so much she broke it with her bare hands?

Danna's ride-or-die is the food processor. There have been times it broke and she told her family: we're not eating that tonight. I am not grating. Megan's obsessed with her air fryer—frozen chicken to dinner in under 20 minutes. Danna fires back with the Instant Pot, which she's convinced is basically Rosie from the Jetsons.

Then there's the citrus juicer debate, a fork-based life hack, and a garlic press disagreement that may never be resolved.

That's your 10 minutes.

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US retirement accounts, estate plans, and investment structures do not automatically survive a move to Canada. The two countries share a border and a language but operate under entirely separate financial and tax systems; and the decisions made before you leave determine whether your existing structures are protected or become expensive problems.

In this episode, Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA sits down with Brian Wruk, MBA, CFP® (US), CFP® (Canada), TEP, CIM, RFP®, founder of Transition Financial Advisors Group and author of The American in Canada. Brian is a dual citizen who moved his American wife to Canada, navigated the compliance requirements firsthand, and has been doing US-Canada cross-border planning since 1997.

Topics covered, include:

• Why moving to Canada does not end your US tax obligations
• The Roth IRA rules that can protect your retirement savings across the border
• The TFSA trap that creates phantom US taxable income
• How revocable living trusts can trigger Canadian taxes
• What Canadian healthcare actually looks like in 2026, including 3-year waits for a primary care physician in Ontario
• How to plan for retirement across two countries
• The one thing Brian tells every client before they board the plane

The conversation covers the Roth conversion window that closes the moment Canadian residency begins, why TFSAs generate phantom US taxable income that foreign tax credits cannot offset, how revocable living trusts can trigger punitive Canadian taxation, and what Canadian healthcare actually delivers in 2026; including current wait times for primary care and what private options are beginning to emerge.

Resources

• Connect with Brian Wruk at Transition Financial Advisors Group: passporttowealth.com/brian-wruk
• Are you a qualified professional serving US expats in France or Europe? Apply to passporttowealth.com/join
• Subscribe to the Passport to Wealth newsletter: passporttowealth.com/contact
• Find a vetted cross-border advisor: passporttowealth.com/directory

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During a recent keynote with coaches, someone wrote in the chat: "There are so many coaches now, I don't think we can charge what we used to."

It's a question a lot of coaches are asking themselves. But lowering your prices isn't a neutral move. It changes the clients you attract, the work you do day to day and how many people you need to hit the same revenue goals.

Before you drop your prices, it's worth understanding what a saturated market does to pricing — because it's not what most coaches assume.

Session 3: When the Data Finally Speaks

Joanna arrives fresh off her birthday weekend—cake eaten, no regrets. But she's also carrying something new: proof.

Through a work project, she spent ten days wearing a continuous glucose monitor. For someone with a scientist's brain who's always wanted to see the data, this was gold. And what she discovered confirmed everything they'd been working on: that innocent afternoon snack—a few grapes, a plum—was sending her glucose through the roof and keeping it there until dinner.

But here's the bigger win: when she started lunch with protein and vegetables, she didn't crave a snack at all. The data matched the feeling. The advice was landing.

She's also been cooking from Danna's recipe booklet—peanut butter curry with lime, quinoa chili—and the whole family loved them. Small victories that add up.

The plan going forward? Keep the food log going, swap pasta for zucchini noodles or hearts of palm, and keep building meals around protein, veggies, and healthy fats. Oh, and the popcorn question? Unfortunately, anything popped spikes glucose fast. Some truths hurt.

This is session three of Joanna's health journey.

If you want to hear the all of the coaching sessions (the real-time coaching conversations between Danna and Joanna), listen on So Frickin’ Healthy.

Listen to all the coaching sessions

If you want the coaching “behind the scenes” (health history, coaching debriefs, and Joanna’s reflection), listen on Becoming a Health Coach.

Listen to all the post session debriefs

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Website

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Join the So Frickin' Healthy Community

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Book your free discovery call!

Think of it as a coffee date, minus the awkward small talk. Book your free discovery call at organilicious.ch!

Organilicious - Danna, Functional Medicine Health Coach

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Coaching Series - Joanna's Playlist

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If you’ve ever thought, “Something has to change, but I can’t just burn it all down,” this episode is for you. When work has been a major factor in stress or burnout, it can feel like the only real option is to quit. Job crafting offers a calmer, more practical alternative: small, intentional adjustments that make your day-to-day work fit your energy, values, strengths, and limits.

You’ll learn what job crafting is (and isn’t), why it can be especially helpful for a sustainable return to work, and how to start with low-risk experiments instead of big overhauls. We’ll walk through real-world examples and a simple “job crafting audit” you can use to identify what drains you, what restores you, and what you can realistically reshape.

• What job crafting means (and what it does not mean)
• The 3 types of job crafting: task, relational, and cognitive
• Why agency and control matter so much in burnout prevention and recovery
• How to run a quick job crafting audit to spot drains vs. energizers
• How to design small, time-bound experiments that reduce strain
• How to talk to your manager using observations, trials, and outcomes

• 00:00 The “something has to change” moment (and why quitting isn’t the only option)
• 01:18 Job crafting, defined: reshaping your work without changing your title
• 02:43 Why job crafting helps after burnout: demands, control, meaning, recovery space
• 03:36 Story: Maya (project manager) and how small structural changes reduce overload
• 05:22 Story: Alex (customer-facing role) and pacing without lowering standards
• 06:31 Job Crafting as Prevention and Recovery
• 07:05 Where to Begin Job Crafting
• 09:50 Talking to your manager: shared goals, observations, experiments, outcomes
• 13:55 The close: reclaiming agency, thoughtfully and sustainably

What’s one small change you could test over the next two weeks that would reduce strain without compromising what matters most in your role?

You’re not alone in this. These episodes explore the same themes from a few helpful angles:

Should I stay or Should I go? Episode 7

Post Burnout Self-Care Episode 11

Back After Burnout is produced by the SwissCast Network, the only podcast network with podcasts produced in, for, or about English-speaking Switzerland.

Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.

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US investment accounts do not automatically follow a move abroad. Custodians have their own policies for international clients, and many of them are more restrictive than most people expect.

In this episode, Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA sits down with Otto Rivera, EA, CFP®, founder of Mindful Wealth Planning and Emergent Tax Services. Otto spent years at Charles Schwab before becoming both an IRS Enrolled Agent and a CFP®, a combination that gives him a working view of custodial policy, tax law, and financial planning that most cross-border advisors cannot offer from a single seat.

Topics covered, include:

• What actually changes for US investment accounts when moving abroad: custodian policies, mutual fund restrictions, and why ETF access may require an advisor
• Financial accounts, custodians, and how to check for international coverage before a move
• Multi-custodian access, the Schwab Italy exit, and finding advisors who can hold and invest in foreign currency
• Emerging wealth vs. complex strategy: when adding layers makes sense and when it doesn't
• Why US persons should keep account records and foreign address information current
• Cross-border tax compliance: why withholding rules, PFICs, Roth conversions, IRA distributions, and ETF restrictions require specialized planning for US expats
• Why working with a domestic US advisor after moving abroad can create problems at tax time
• Cross-border divorce, ERISA retirement plans, and why a foreign decree is not enough

Resources

• Find a vetted cross-border financial advisor or tax professional at passporttowealth.com/directory
• Are you a qualified professional serving US expats in France or Europe? Apply to passporttowealth.com/join

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Passport to Wealth is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

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Order "The Expat Money Playbook"

Find your cross-border expert on the Passport To Wealth® directory