The Comeback Season

You know what you need to do to reach your goals. So why is it so hard to actually do it?

If you've ever told yourself, "I'll start again on Monday," struggled with all-or-nothing thinking, or wondered why you keep falling back into old habits, this episode is for you.

In Episode 56 of The Comeback Season, Christi and Nichole get into the thinking traps that keep us stuck in cycles of self-sabotage, frustration, and guilt. We talk about why willpower and motivation aren't always enough, how stress and your nervous system influence your choices, and why positive thinking alone doesn't always create lasting change.

Christi also shares a personal experience with chronic stress and burnout, and how learning to recognize what was happening in her body changed the way she handles life's challenges.

Whether you're struggling with weight loss, healthy habits, negative self-talk, or simply feeling stuck, this conversation will help you understand what's getting in your way and how to start moving forward.

Because knowing what to do is one thing. Learning how to follow through is where real change begins.

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At 56, Sarah Elledge says she is in better shape than she has ever been.

After spending much of her life identifying as “the big girl,” Sarah made the decision to change her health and ultimately lost more than 100 pounds. But her midlife transformation became about far more than weight loss.

In this episode of The Comeback Season, Sarah shares how she changed her health after 50, began strength training, rebuilt muscle, gained confidence, and completely changed what she believed she was capable of.

We talk about weight loss after 50, building muscle in midlife, healthy aging, body image, identity, and why strength training for women over 50 can be about so much more than changing how your body looks.

Sarah also shares the importance of support, forgiving yourself for where you’ve been, and shifting the goal from chasing a number on the scale to building a stronger, healthier life.

Her goal now? To be “amazing at 60.”

If you are navigating your own midlife health journey, trying to lose weight sustainably, build strength, or simply feel more capable in your body, Sarah’s story is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to start.

See Sarah's Before & After here

In Part 2 of our conversation with Beth Chisholm, Beth guides us through a simple EFT tapping demonstration you can follow along with in real time.EFT, or Emotional Freedom Techniques, uses tapping on specific points of the body while bringing awareness to thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. It can be a helpful tool for calming the nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety, and creating a little more space when you’re feeling overwhelmed or emotionally triggered.You don’t need any experience with EFT to try it. Find a quiet place, follow along with Beth, and simply notice how you feel before and after.If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, start there to hear Beth explain how EFT tapping works, why she uses it, and how it can support emotional healing and nervous system regulation.

In this episode of The Comeback Season, Nichole sits down with advanced EFT practitioner, biofield tuning practitioner, and spiritual coach Beth Chisholm to talk about anxiety, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and nervous system regulation.

Beth shares the powerful personal experience that led her to search for healing after witnessing a traumatic event—and eventually discover EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques). She explains how EFT and other somatic tools can help us recognize our triggers, regulate our nervous system, and respond differently when stress and anxiety take over.

They also talk about why simply “thinking positive” isn’t always enough, how experiences from our past can continue to influence our reactions today, and simple regulation tools we can practice before we actually need them.

Most importantly, Beth shares a message of hope: you don’t have to assume that anxiety, overwhelm, or the patterns you’ve carried for years are simply “who you are.” Even a small shift can change the way you move through your life.

If you’re interested in EFT tapping, nervous system regulation, emotional healing, managing anxiety, or practical tools for handling stress and overwhelm, this conversation is a great place to start.

Be sure to catch the demo session!

Free Resource: Complimentary EFT Tapping Session with Beth Chisholm
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or simply carrying more emotional weight than you’d like, I invite you to experience a complimentary EFT Tapping session. EFT is a gentle, evidence-informed technique that combines tapping on acupressure points with focused awareness to help calm the nervous system and create lasting emotional shifts.
Book Your Complimentary Session: https://kamiyahcoaching.com/contact/

How do you find joy again after grief, loss, or a season that changes everything?

In this episode of The Comeback Season, Nichole sits down with TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and founder of Flourishing Over 50, Jennifer Rigley, for a powerful conversation about healing after grief, overcoming adversity, and rediscovering joy in midlife.

Jennifer shares her own journey through breast cancer, job loss, and the death of her mother—and the moment she realized she could no longer stay stuck in survival mode. She introduces her Flourish Journey framework, including how reflection can help us process the past without allowing it to define our future.

You’ll also learn Jennifer’s simple three-minute Daily Joy Practice built around stillness, gratitude, and intention—a small, approachable way to begin creating space for healing and hope.

If you’re navigating grief, trauma, a major life transition, or simply wondering how to find yourself again, this conversation is a reminder that healing doesn’t need to be rushed. You can honor what you’ve been through while still creating a new story for what comes next.

Free Resource: Daily Joy Triangle printable

Where to find Jennifer: Flourishing Over 50 on Instagram, Facebook, and her website: www.flourishingoverfifty.com

What happens when medication helps you cope, but you eventually wonder if there’s another path?

In this episode of The Comeback Season, Nichole talks with holistic mental health and medication transition specialist Carla Bate about her personal journey into mental health nutrition and her work with people exploring psychiatric medication transitions. Carla shares her perspective on the connection between nutrition, neurotransmitters, stress, gut health, and mood, and explains the “seesaw approach” she uses alongside medically supervised tapering.

They also discuss emotional blunting, the fear surrounding withdrawal, the importance of individualized support, and why Carla believes preparing the body and brain should be part of the conversation. Most importantly, this conversation encourages listeners to become active participants in their health, ask questions, and work with qualified professionals when considering medication changes.

Carla's Free Resource:

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Off Meds Without the Nightmare

A free in-depth guide walking through Carla's 3 Pillar Framework, assessment, restoration, and the Seesaw Approach, for rebuilding brain chemistry before and during a psych med taper, so the process feels planned instead of like a crisis.

Connect with Carla:

Free 15-minute “Get Unstuck” clarity call: Available through CarlaBate.com/chat

CarlaBate.com and Instagram at @carlabate

Free Facebook group: Mental Wellness Without Meds.

What does it mean to live your best life for as long as possible? In this episode of The Comeback Season Podcast, Christi talks with Bill Quateman, founder of Advanced BioCell, about his concept of “PeakSpan” and the role mindset plays in how we approach health and aging. They discuss taking ownership of your health, questioning old stories, asking for support, practicing gratitude, and making small, consistent choices that help you feel well and live more fully.

Your free gift from Bill can be accessed by clicking on the link below:

ABC The Pathway to Healing & PeakSpan

Growth is rarely a straight line, and sometimes the comeback begins right in the middle of the mess.In this honest, unscripted conversation, Nichole and Christi look back on the first season of The Comeback Season and the unexpected challenges, pivots, friendships, and lessons that have shaped what comes next. They talk openly about imposter syndrome, the stories our minds create, Christi’s recent health setback, and the reminder that even when we know the tools, we’re still human—and we still need each other.Season 2 will go deeper into the thinking traps that keep us stuck, the power of community, and real stories from people navigating hard seasons and finding their way forward. Because your story matters, growth isn’t linear, and sometimes what feels like a setback is the beginning of something new.If this episode made you think of someone who is in the middle of their own comeback season, please share this episode with them. They may need the reminder that they aren’t walking through it alone.Connect with us on social media:Nichole: @nicholemcleodChristi: @christicountsmacrosIf you are interested in being a guest on the show, please email us at [email protected]

In this episode of The Comeback Season Podcast, Christi Kelsey talks with professional speaker, trainer, author, and public speaking coach Donna Riccardo about why public speaking is about so much more than standing on a stage. Donna shares how her own early speaking experiences included freezing, going mute, and feeling completely unprepared, and how learning to speak became both a personal development and spiritual journey.

Together, Christi and Donna explore how women can begin finding their voice again after seasons of uncertainty, rebuilding, career change, empty nesting, or personal growth. Donna explains why confidence does not usually come before speaking; it is built through preparation, practice, and the courage to begin. She also shares practical tips for sounding natural but polished, using eye contact and body language well, telling your story from a place of healing, and speaking with presence instead of perfection.

This conversation is a reminder that your story has value, your voice matters, and you do not have to wait until you feel fully confident to begin sharing what you have learned.

Donna’s free resource: www.showupspeakup.com

In this episode of The Comeback Season, Nichole sits down with Kristi of SomaSkye Wellness, a nervous system educator, somatic practitioner, and lead facilitator of the Subconscious Imprinting Technique Certification Program.

Kristi shares how her own experience with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and living in survival mode led her to study the nervous system and the vagus nerve. Together, Nichole and Kristi unpack why fear does not have to disappear before we take action, how the body can hold onto past experiences, and why true transformation often requires more than mindset alone.

They also explore somatic authority, capacity, trauma stored in the body, and the importance of learning to trust the signals your body is giving you. Kristi offers a simple starting point for anyone feeling disconnected: pause, check in with the body, notice what is happening, and practice staying present without immediately trying to fix it.

This conversation is a grounding reminder that nervous system regulation is not just a wellness tool. It is a powerful foundation for leadership, decision-making, healing, and sustainable growth.

Get Kristi’s Free Resource here:

https://login.somaskyewellness.com/courses/offers/5aa39406-cf65-40dc-9ca4-941b987b635d

From Fear to Faith is access to a previously recorded 3-day experience designed to shift your relationship with fear so you can stop waiting to feel ready and start moving from a deeper place of self-trust. Fear can come along for the ride—it just doesn’t get to drive.

Kristi McLeod is a nervous system educator and somatic practitioner who works with leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations to build the internal capacity required for clear decision-making and sustainable leadership. She is the Lead Facilitator of Subconscious Imprinting Technique (SIT) Certification Program and is passionate about translating complex nervous system science into practical, embodied tools that actually integrate. Kristi is known for her no-fluff approach and her ability to help leaders create safety in the body -because nervous system regulation is a competitive advantage in leadership, performance, and sustainability.

Free resource:

From Fear to Faith is access to a previously recorded 3-day experience designed to shift your relationship with fear so you can stop waiting to feel ready and start moving from a deeper place of self-trust. Fear can come along for the ride—it just doesn’t get to drive.

https://login.somaskyewellness.com/courses/offers/5aa39406-cf65-40dc-9ca4-941b987b635d