It’s a new year, the perfect time to take a fresh (and very doable) look at food and how it can bring more energy and light into everyday life.

In this episode of Catching Sunshine, I sit down with Ali Essig, creator of Plant Whys.

Ali shares the moment that changed everything—her husband’s stroke at age 37—and how it led her to study nutrition and embrace a more plant-based way of eating rooted in curiosity, not extremes. We talk about food, energy, and the simple idea that plants begin with light—and how choosing more whole, plant-based foods can be one practical way to lighten up!

For delicious plant based recipes check out Ali’s YouTube Channel: PlantWhys

and catch her podcast Eat Meat Sparingly:

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Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

A simple, heartfelt Christmas reflection on a familiar part of the Nativity story—one that invites us to see it with fresh eyes and consider what it might mean for our own lives.

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Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

One small thought can shift your whole day—here’s why, and what to do about it.

You know those days when one little negative comment or thought sends you down a spiral? In this episode, we’re diving into the science of why that happens. We’ll talk about the brain’s tendency to focus on the negative, how beliefs get formed, and what you can do to guide your mind in a better direction.

Oh, and yes—there’s a personal story to bring it all to life.

Small shifts, big ripple effects.


And if you want to keep the momentum going, don’t miss Episode 35: Spiraling Up — it pairs perfectly with this one.

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Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

In this episode, I’m sharing six ways to tune into the signal of your intuition and turn down the noise that pulls you off center. You’ll learn how to feel the difference in your body, listen for what’s aligned, and reconnect with your calm, clear inner guidance. A gentle reminder that clarity is always available—and it’s simpler to access than you think.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

In this episode, we explore three sneaky emotional patterns that quietly drain our energy and keep us feeling stuck. Using the dung beetle as an example, we take a light, surprising look at how these patterns show up in everyday life—and how to shift into something clearer and lighter.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

What if life is trying to offer you a shortcut—but you’re too busy pushing to see it? In this episode of Catching Sunshine, we’re challenging the old belief that “there are no shortcuts in life” and exploring the idea that often, when you’re aligned and paying attention, life will gently show you a better way.

Some paths do require the long, winding climb. But not all of them. Shortcuts can be beautiful things—if they’re aligned.

You’ll learn how to spot one, how to trust it, and how to finally stop mistaking ease for weakness.

If you've been stuck in a cycle of struggle, this episode is here to remind you to stop striving and start listening. Because sometimes, the better path is already there… it’s just waiting for you to look up and notice it.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

When life gets messy, do you crumble, push through, or come out even stronger?

In this upbeat episode, Carolyn shares what it really means to be antifragile—to grow steadier, wiser, and more confident every time life tests you.

You’ll learn how to reframe stress, trust your own capacity, and keep your balance when things don’t go as planned.

Including a funny story from Carolyn’s Jr. High marching band days—with a lesson that will stick with you (but not on you!).

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Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

What if you gave yourself the same love and care you pour into everyone else? In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah Haas, women’s weight release and body love life coach, breast cancer survivor, and mom shares how healing our relationship with our bodies starts with rethinking the stories we’ve been told.

We talk about why protein and water matter more as we age, how to challenge old body image “un-truths” held from childhood, and what it really means to know you are worthy of the love you so freely give others. This episode is an invitation to nurture your body, honor your journey, and embrace the beauty of becoming whole.

Book a SimplyALIGN Energy Healing session with Carolyn here.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you’re notified when new episodes drop every week!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

Connect With Sarah:

Website: sarahhaaswellness.com

Instagram: @sarahhaaswellness

Ever leave a conversation feeling tired, anxious, or just “off”? You may have crossed paths with an energy vampire — someone who unintentionally drains your emotional or mental energy.

In this episode of Catching Sunshine, Carolyn Cooper shares five common types of energy vampires, how to recognize them, and what to do to stay calm, centered, and compassionate when you’re around them.

You’ll also learn how to protect your peace without shutting down your heart — and how to make sure you’re not accidentally being one yourself.

If you’ve been wondering how to set healthy emotional boundaries or stop feeling so drained by certain people, this episode will help you keep your light strong, your energy clear, and your relationships kind.

Book a SimplyALIGN Energy Healing session with Carolyn here.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari

Your “Prior Best” is that time in your life when things just seemed to click — when you felt focused, capable, and in tune with yourself. We’ve all had seasons like that, and the good news is, that version of you isn’t gone.

In this episode, we’ll talk about how to look back at what worked during that time — the structure, the habits, and the mindset that supported you — and how to bring those elements forward into your life today.

You’ll learn how to separate what was truly fueling you from what’s no longer serving you, and how to make your best self your new baseline.

✨ There’s also a free printable guide with all the reflection questions from this episode.

Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every Wednesday!

Connect With Carolyn:

Website: https://simplyalign.com/

Instagram: @simplyaligncari