In this first episode of our six-part holiday series, Christi and Nichole unpack why the binge–restrict cycle shows up so strongly this time of year—and why it’s not a willpower problem. Using Christi’s pendulum analogy, they explain how swinging between overindulgence and strict restriction keeps your brain stuck in survival mode, always chasing safety through food. Nichole breaks down what’s happening in the nervous system (hello, HPA axis, cortisol, leptin, and ghrelin), and together they share practical tools like nervous system regulation, planning ahead, protein-focused anchor habits, and post-meal walks to keep you in your “intentional zone.” You’ll walk away with a calmer way to approach holiday eating, a new perspective on “I’ll start again Monday,” and an invitation to use the Holiday Food Freedom Journal to start rewiring your patterns with awareness instead of shame.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Comeback Season, host Nichole McLeod sits down with Michelle Vaughn to explore how the nervous system shapes every aspect of our lives—from how we process trauma and grief to how we experience joy, health, and connection.

Michelle shares her remarkable journey from building a multi-state business to walking through unimaginable loss and discovering the healing power of nervous system regulation. Together, Nichole and Michelle unpack how unprocessed emotions live in the body, why generational trauma repeats itself, and how simple, intentional habits—like breathwork, posture, and co-regulation—can help us break free from cycles of pain and disease.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel “stuck,” anxious, or overwhelmed despite doing all the “right” things, this conversation will open your eyes to what your body has been trying to tell you—and how healing truly begins from within.

After surviving three strokes in a matter of hours—one that took her speech and another that nearly took her life—Certified Life Purpose & Confidence Coach Shelley Meche’tte felt her whole life pivot. In this conversation, she shares how that moment reframed time, success, and control—and why ambitious, faith-driven women don’t have to live in hustle culture to be productive. Shelley walks us through her SMILE Formula—Set the tone, Maintain flexibility, Include rest, Let go of perfectionism, Engage in joy—plus practical “5-minute pockets” that create clarity and calm in real life. We talk about inviting God into your day, leading from overflow (not overwhelm), and the simple two words she wants every listener to remember: You can.
Get Shelley’s free resource on burnout, productivity, and purpose-aligned living.

Connect with Shelley here:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/shelleymechette/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@shelleymechette

FB: https://www.facebook.com/shelleymechette

In this powerful conversation, Nichole McLeod sits down with life coach Mary Crayston to unpack one of the most universal struggles we all face—the inner critic. That relentless voice that says you’re not enough, not ready, or not doing enough isn’t who you are—it’s your nervous system trying to keep you safe. Together, Nichole and Mary explore the science behind self-sabotage, the role of the amygdala, and how childhood conditioning shapes our inner dialogue.

You’ll learn practical tools to calm your nervous system, rewire negative thought patterns, and build self-compassion through awareness, breathwork, and body-based regulation. From the “three R’s” framework—Recognize, Regulate, Rewire—to the importance of setting boundaries and practicing self-kindness, this episode offers a roadmap to transform that critical voice into a compassionate inner guide.

Because when your body feels safe, your mind opens—and that’s where real growth begins.

Get Mary's Freebie here: The Inner Critic Checklist

Connect with Mary on Substack: Confident Enough

Nichole and energy coach Beth Chazome (Kamiya Coaching) unpack how the body stores stress and trauma—and how simple tools like EFT tapping, breathwork, grounding, and humming can calm the nervous system, lower cortisol, and restore peace. They bridge science and spirituality, showing energy work as part of God’s design for resilience and renewed purpose.

Find Beth at www.kamiyahcoaching.com and on Instagram @kamiyah_coaching

Have you ever been told you’re “too much”—too emotional, too opinionated, too intense? In this episode of The Comeback Season, I sit down with Darla Ridilla, a certified somatic trauma-informed relationship coach, to talk about what it really takes to stop shrinking yourself and start showing up fully in your relationships.

Darla shares her personal journey of breaking free from toxic, narcissistic patterns and why midlife is often the turning point for women to finally choose themselves. We dive into how unresolved childhood dynamics shape adult relationships, why so many women repeat the same painful cycles, and what it looks like to set radical boundaries and trust your inner wisdom.

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been accepting too little—or if you’re ready to step into a season of self-trust and reinvention—this conversation will inspire you to stop proving and start choosing.

Find Darla here

Ever felt that whisper in midlife that says, “there has to be more than this”? In this episode of The Comeback Season, Nichole sits down with Kellie Grutko, founder of Purposeful Pivot, to talk about turning that tug into transformation. Together they explore why midlife is less a crisis and more a calling—an invitation to rise, rediscover yourself, and step into deeper joy and alignment. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to begin your comeback, this conversation is it!

Connect with Kellie here

New Beginnings eBook

Educator and medical intuitive Hanna Kok joins Christi to explore how unspoken emotional baggage can surface as bloating, burnout, skin issues—and why forgiveness is a surprisingly practical healing tool. Hanna explains how judgment and grudges constrict energy pathways (meridians), elevate stress chemistry, and drain the “maintenance energy” the body needs to repair itself. She unpacks the “inner genie” (the subconscious) and how our brains filter reality to match our beliefs—plus a simple upgrade using empowering “love-formations” (e.g., Why do I love feeling healthy?). They discuss hormones in midlife, including how post-menopause estrogen relies on the adrenals, making stress management essential. Hanna shares client stories (and her own) where releasing resentment led to rapid symptom relief, and offers a free intro to her iThrive app and a reference guide that links common health issues to underlying conflicts. The episode closes with tools for self-compassion, conflict resolution, and re-writing your script so your body can finally heal.

Find Hanna here

It’s not the plan on paper—it’s how you execute it. In this episode, Nichole and Christi break down intentional training (form, tempo, mobility), recovery that actually builds strength (sleep, active recovery, stretching), and the lifestyle choices that supercharge results (protein timing, carbs for training, hydration, mindset, and community). You’ll learn why quality reps beat “junk reps,” how to structure warm-ups and cooldowns, what to eat around workouts, and simple mindset + recovery tools (journaling, morning light, red light, cold exposure, rebounding) to accelerate progress—especially for women 40+.

Follow us on Instagram: @christicountsmacros and @mcleodnichole

Nichole sits down with sleep coach Morgan Adams to unpack why sleep is the bedrock of health—impacting hormones, mood, metabolism, decision-making, and recovery. They dig into why midlife women struggle (hormone shifts, anxiety/depression, caregiving + career load), how to build morning/evening routines that actually work, and why consistency matters even more than the mythical “8 hours.” Practical tools include the constructive worry exercise, smarter caffeine/alcohol/meal timing, optimizing the “cool–dark–quiet” bedroom, and when to use (or skip) sleep trackers.

Connect with Morgan

• Website & free guide: Awake Again at 3 AM

• Instagram: @morganadams.wellness