The Fiercely Awakening Podcast

By Dr. Tonya HolcombBusiness Entrepreneurship Alternative Health Health & Fitness Religion & Spirituality Spirituality

The Fiercely Awakening Podcast episodes

September 20Episode 151: The Art of Recalibration: What to Do When Stress Is Winning
Stress was WINNING over here lately. 😂
I knew I was stressed. I knew I was coping. I even knew that some of the ways I was coping were costing me MORE energy.
And I still let it run for a couple of weeks before I finally sat down with myself and asked... What's ACTUALLY happening here?
That question led to a pretty major recalibration.
Because sometimes the answer isn't to push harder, get more disciplined or somehow become better at carrying ALL THE THINGS.
Sometimes stress is a signal that something has changed.
And you need to change with it.
In this episode, I share:
The sneaky way stress patterns can repeat without us even realizing we're back IN one.
What I caught myself doing for two straight weeks, even though I knew better.
The coping strategies that LOOK like they're helping you survive but may be making everything harder.
The moment I finally stopped trying to push through and asked a completely different question.
What happened when I got quiet enough to hear what my body had been trying to tell me.
The identity piece I did NOT expect to find underneath all of this.
The difference between abandoning yourself and recalibrating for the season you're actually in.
What I changed almost immediately once I could see clearly.
The September audit I think every woman should do before we head into the final stretch of the year.
And a tapping practice we'll do together before the episode ends.
This isn't about becoming more disciplined.
It's about becoming more responsive to the woman you are NOW.
Grab your journal. And give me a few quiet minutes at the end.
Because we're not just going to talk about it. We're going to do the work.💜
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here's the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
Lotus Wei Flower Essences (Emotional support to have alongside the practice): Not sure where to start? Take the flower quiz here and let it point you to what you need in this season. → Shop Lotus Wei flower essences here. Save 10% with code: drtonya
FEMfusion (Because hydration is a stress conversation): When stress goes up, your body burns through minerals and water faster, and plain water isn't always enough. FEMfusion is my daily mineral hydration blend to help your body actually hold what it's taking in, especially on the hard days. → Shop FEMfusion here.
DIRTbath™ (My nervous system wind-down): A mineral-rich soak that helps the body draw out the day and drop into rest. One of my favorite ways to physically signal safety at the end of a loud day. → Shop DIRTbath™ here. Save $10 with code: DIRT10
Fiercely Empowered Mama, "FEM" (The room where we do this together work all year long): Become the healer of your home. → Join the FEM waitlist here.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
48 min
September 12Episode 150: If it's not a virus, what makes us sick? With Dr. Tom Cowan
One kid gets sick. Then another. Then another. That's proof of contagion... right?
In this episode, Dr. Tom Cowan joins me to challenge some of the most deeply held assumptions about sickness, symptoms and the body.
What if what you've been taught to believe isn't what you've actually observed?
This one will make you THINK.
We talk about:
If twenty kids get sick in the same classroom, what does that actually prove?
If it isn't a virus, what DOES make us sick?
How does believing in contagion change the way you experience your life?
What if the symptom you're trying to stop isn't actually the problem?
What if your child's "behavior problem" is actually the most reasonable response to their situation?
Why Dr. Tom believes we've fundamentally misunderstood how children learn.
What a cat named Pumpkin has to do with any of this.
The backstory behind his newest book, Common Sense Child Rearing.
Plus the totally random AI question I couldn't resist asking at the end.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

About Dr. Tom Cowan, His Work & Resources Mentioned
About Dr. Cowan: Dr. Thomas Cowan is a well-known alternative medicine doctor, author and speaker, with a common-sense, holistic approach to health and wellness. He is the author of eight books, practiced general medicine for nearly four decades before retiring in 2025, and was a founding board member and longtime vice president of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Dr. Cowan lives with his wife, Lynda, on rural farmland in Upstate New York.
Find more of his work:
drtomcowan.com — his offerings, writing and books
Dr. Cowan's Garden — his nutrient-dense vegetable powders and real-food products
The New Biology Clinic — where his team of doctors work with members online, and you can book a connection session
The New Biology Curriculum — learn what the New Biology is all about
The C3 Community — his membership community
Follow + listen:
Talkin' Turkey with Tom (YouTube)
Conversations with Dr. Cowan & Friends (Apple Podcasts)
Instagram: @talkinturkeywithtom_
Facebook: Dr. Tom Cowan
X: @drtomcowan
Books mentioned:
Common Sense Child Rearing: Unconventional Wisdom for a Nourished Childhood by Dr. Tom Cowan
The Contagion Myth by Dr. Tom Cowan and Sally Fallon Morell
How to Raise a Healthy Child... In Spite of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert Mendelsohn
Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich
Can You Catch A Cold?: Untold History & Human Experiments by Daniel Roytas

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here's the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start learning how to recognize what the body is communicating.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for. → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Resources Mentioned
FEMfusion is my daily mineral hydration blend. Because plain water isn't always enough, this is foundational, everyday support for the terrain, minerals and electrolytes your body can actually use on a hot day, a sweaty day or any day. → Shop FEMfusion here.
DIRTbath™ is my mineral-rich soak and warm-bath wind-down. It works with the skin, your largest organ, to help the body draw out the day's load and replenish the minerals you burn through, while calming the nervous system before bed. My go-to for bug bites, big feelings, sunburns and everyday detox. Save $10 with code DIRT10. → Shop DIRTbath™ here.
Free Magnesium Guide for Kids: The forms I use, what I look for and how I think about magnesium for kids. → Get my free magnesium guide here.
The FEM Hydration Challenge: Go back to the foundation and get consistent. → Start the hydration challenge here.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
1 hr 12 min
September 08Episode 149: 9 Back-to-School Traps Even Intentional Mamas Fall Into
Back-to-school season changes the rhythm of the entire house. Schedules shift. Sleep shifts. Expectations shift. And suddenly, even the most intentional, natural-minded mamas can find themselves falling into a few surprisingly sneaky traps.
Because sometimes the things that look like intentional mothering on the surface are being driven by something entirely different underneath. And without realizing it, we take the same way of thinking we were handed and simply make it natural.
In this episode, I share 9 back-to-school traps even intentional mamas fall into, including a few that might seriously surprise you. I talk about everything from what happens before your child ever walks out the door in the morning to what their behavior, body and even their backpack can tell you when they come home.
But this episode isn’t really about perfecting your back-to-school routine.
It’s about learning to see your child differently, ask better questions and THINK like a Fiercely Empowered Mama.
Press play for:
The big back-to-school transition happening in our home, and the advice I’ve carried with me since before I was even a mom.
The trap that can make natural mothering look a whole lot like conventional mothering.
Why YOU go first when the demands on your family go up.
The back-to-school goal I actually DON’T want you to have.
What I can learn from a kid’s water bottle at the end of the school day.
The one thing I’m looking for in a “healthy” school lunch that’s often missing.
Why I care about what time of day your kid poops.
The bedtime mistake that actually starts first thing in the morning.
Why I’m careful with words like “anxious,” “sensitive” and “emotional."
And the parenting principle I believe could change how your child learns to trust themselves for the rest of their life.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here's the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
The FEM Hydration Challenge: Go back to the foundation and get consistent. → Start the hydration challenge here.
Free Magnesium Guide for Kids: The forms I use, what I look for and how I think about magnesium for kids. → Get my free magnesium guide here.
VivaRays Blue-Light Glasses: For the unavoidable artificial light after dark. Use code TONYAHOLCOMB. → Shop VivaRays here.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING.
It's also where you get Hotline support, so you're never scrambling and alone when a bite (or anything else) turns.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for. → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
56 min
August 23Episode 148: What Light Is Doing to Your Sleep, Hormones, Mood + Your Kids – with Roudy Nassif
You know the mornings I'm talking about. The alarm nobody wants to answer. The kid you practically have to peel out of bed. The wired, bouncing-off-the-walls evenings right when it's finally time to wind down. And that low hum underneath it all, the sense that everyone is just a little bit... off. A little dysregulated. Running on fumes.
You've tried the earlier bedtime, the new routine, another supplement. But underneath all of it is one piece almost no one talks about. Light.
Your relationship with light quietly influences your sleep, hormones, mood and energy, and your kids' ability to wake up, focus, handle their big feelings and actually settle at night. And in a world of screens and artificial light, our relationship with it has never been more disrupted.
In this episode, I sit down with Roudy Nassif, an engineer, health entrepreneur and circadian light specialist. After his own journey through ADHD and depression, Roudy founded VivaRays, the light-filtering glasses I wear and love. We go deep on how light shapes so much more than sleep, from your children's focus and moods all the way to fertility, and at one point in our conversation, he said something that moved me to tears.
A few things we get into:
Why your mornings, and your kids' mornings, feel like a daily battle and the hidden reason underneath it.
How the light in your home may be quietly driving the dysregulation you keep trying to discipline your way out of.
Why even one hour of screens before bed can significantly disrupt a child's melatonin, and what that means heading into back-to-school.
The study that instantly proved kids learn better under the right lighting.
The surprising link between light, your child's big emotions, and even... cavities.
Where light fits into the global fertility crisis almost no one is talking about.
Roudy's hero's journey, from ADHD and depression to circadian light specialist.
Why most blue-light glasses on the market don't actually work, and what makes a pair effective.
The one thing Roudy believes matters even MORE than your light practices.
The number one person to start this work with.
The single sentence that moved me to tears.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here is the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
VivaRays Circadian Glasses These are my favorite harmonizing lenses and one of the biggest game-changers in my routine. Yellow for daytime screens, orange for evening wind-down and red for that last stretch before bed.
Anytime: Save 15% with code TONYAHOLCOMB
🎒 BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALE: August 23–30 Save 20% on ALL kids glasses with code back2school
If there's one thing you do before the screens, homework and early alarms take over this fall, make it protecting your child's relationship with light. After this episode, you'll understand exactly why. → Shop VivaRays here.
Want the foundation first? Go back to my two-part sleep series: From Sleep Debt to Sleep Freedom: How I Changed My Chronotype and the Chronotype Sleep Deep Dive Q&A.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING.
It's also where you get Hotline support, so you're never scrambling and alone when a bite (or anything else) turns.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for. → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
1 hr 20 min
August 17Episode 147: The Momentum You're Not Seeing
Have you ever looked around at your life, at all the work you're pouring in, and thought... Why does it feel like nothing is happening? Where is my momentum?
That was me recently. And instead of swallowing it as truth, I got curious. What I found honestly surprised me, and it started with a really disappointing morning I did not see coming.
This is the unfiltered story of why your life can be moving and still feel completely stuck, and the tiny shift that changed everything for me in about a week. Come find out what I mean.
Press play and we'll get into:
The nagging question that started all of this, and why it's probably lying to you too.
The disappointing scan that sent my brain into a spiral I did NOT expect.
The sneaky difference between disappointment and shame, and why one is so much more dangerous.
The part of your brain that's quietly deciding what you're allowed to notice all day. (Try the 5-second test with me.)
Why the thing you're doing to fix it might be the exact wrong move.
The three words I gave my brain, and what started happening next.
The list I made that changed my whole frequency.
The one sentence about goalposts I have not been able to stop thinking about.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here is the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share.
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
DIRTbath™ is my mineral-rich soak and warm-bath wind-down. It works with the skin, your largest organ, to help the body draw out the day's load and replenish the minerals you burn through, while calming the nervous system before bed. My go-to for bug bites, big feelings, sunburns and everyday detox. Save $10 with code DIRT10. → Shop DIRTbath™ here.
FEMfusion is my daily mineral hydration blend. Because plain water isn't always enough, this is foundational, everyday support for the terrain, minerals and electrolytes your body can actually use on a hot day, a sweaty day or any day. → Shop FEMfusion here.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING. → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
56 min
August 11Episode 146: It's Never Just a Bite – Terrain, Protection and Real-Time Treatment – with FEM Practitioner Laurel Chavez
We are deep in bug season, and this year the bites are LOUD. So today I'm joined by Fiercely Empowered Mama (FEM) practitioner Laurel Chavez for a real, practical conversation about what to actually do, because a bite is never "just a bite." It's communication. And when we listen and support early, we keep small bites from becoming big emergencies.
Laurel and I get into the terrain (why some people get eaten alive while others walk away untouched), the natural protection that actually works, and exactly what we reach for in real time when a bite happens anyway. She also shares real FEM Hotline cases from this season, including the ones that turned around fast, and the honest moment we knew it was time to bring in conventional care.
In this episode:
Why a bite is never "just a bite," and what your body is trying to tell you.
The reframe that changes everything: You're not allergic to the bite. Your body is overloaded and can't clear one more thing.
The day-7 pattern, and why waiting is what gets people in trouble.
Our natural, DEET-free protection lineup for the whole family.
What we actually reach for in real time, from the first itch to when the body really needs support moving through it.
The at-home tools that have helped us turn bites around before they ever reach the ER.
The simple sharpie trick that tells you within hours whether a bite is healing or spreading (and why your mind will lie to you without it).
Cellulitis, and why we get aggressive early so it never gets near sepsis.
Laurel's Hotline cases: what early, aggressive home support can do, and when a bite needs a doctor now.
The red flags that mean it's time to seek additional care.
The terrain piece almost everyone underestimates.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here is the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
The full Bug Bite Support protocol (my complete FullScript lineup, everything Laurel and I reach for): → Shop Bug Bite Support here.
DIRTbath™ (my go-to when they're covered in bites): Save $10 with code DIRT10. → Shop DIRTbath™ here.
FEMfusion (mineral hydration to build the terrain): → Shop FEMfusion here.
WavWatch (I use the Bites & Stings setting): Save $100 with code DRTONYA. → Shop WavWatch here.
Unbitten by Freedom Flowers (flower essence for the energetic layer): → Shop Unbitten here.
Young Living Insect Repellent (what lives in my hiking pack): → Shop the wipes here.
Redmond Facial Mud (my go-to drawing agent): → Shop Redmond Facial Mud here.
My DIY bug spray recipe + full essential oil swap chart (in the show notes and in part 2 of my Bug Bite blog series): → How to Naturally Protect Your Family From Bug Bites.
Related reading, my three-part Bug Bite blog series:
Part 1: Why Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others
Part 2: How to Naturally Protect Your Family From Bug Bites
Part 3: How to Treat a Bug Bite So It Actually Heals

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING.
It's also where you get Hotline support, so you're never scrambling and alone when a bite (or anything else) turns.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for. → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
1 hr 2 min
August 02Episode 145: You Asked, I Answered – The Chronotype Sleep Deep Dive
Last week's episode, From Sleep Debt to Sleep Freedom: How I Changed My Chronotype, generated so many good questions. So I rounded up the ones that came up the most and made a super nerdy, in-depth Q&A.
If you haven't heard last week's episode yet, go back and start there first. That's the foundation, the five shifts that took me from sleep debt to sleep freedom. Then flow right back here.
In this episode, I share answers about:
Whether your sleep problems are really "just perimenopause," and why your age is not the deciding factor.
The difference between trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep, and what your 2 or 3 a.m. wake-up is trying to tell you.
Whether being "a night owl" is really who you are, or something that can shift.
Big things to know if you work through the night.
The surprising connection between antibiotics, your gut and your child's sleep.
What to do about morning light when you leave before sunrise or live through dark winters.
The glasses question: which colors and when to wear them.
The real story on mouth taping, and what a stuffy nose is trying to tell you.
Why melatonin is not my first move.
And so much more!
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here is the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
VivaRays Circadian Glasses (my evening blue-light blockers): Use code TONYAHOLCOMB for our exclusive discount. → Shop VivaRays here.

BeSerene Instant Relief (the topical GABA + L-Theanine cream I reach for when my mind won't turn off): Use my link for 10% off. → Shop BeSerene Instant Relief here.

BeSerene Daily (the capsules for cortisol and adrenal support, my pick for the 2 to 3 a.m. wake-up): Use my link for 10% off. → Shop BeSerene Daily here.

DIRTbath™ (my warm-bath wind-down): Save $10 with code DIRT10. → Shop DIRTbath™ here.

Jaspr Air Purifier (what runs in our bedroom all night): Save $200 with code DRTONYA. → Shop Jaspr here.

Magnesium: Get the full scoop in my free magnesium guide. → Access The Magnesium Guide here.

Glycine Boost (my favorite): Collagen is about one-third glycine, so it is an easy, food-based way to get more of that calming, sleep-supporting amino acid. My favorite is Organifi. Get 20% off with code DRTONYA. → Shop Organifi here.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for. → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
1 hr 4 min
July 27Episode 144: From Sleep Debt to Sleep Freedom – How I Changed My Chronotype
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a true morning person. To legit wake up with ease, no alarm clock. And for most of my life, that felt completely out of reach.
Through so many seasons, I tried to force it. And forcing it never held, because my biology was never on the same page.
This episode is the story of how that finally changed. Not through more discipline or more willpower, but by building the body underneath, until it finally wanted what I wanted.
Listen in as I share:
Why forcing it is a losing strategy, and what actually shifts you into a morning person.
The single most powerful thing you can do for your high-needs child, or for anyone whose nervous system leans on yours all day.
The sexiness of sleep, and why it's the most healing work your body does. (Trust me, you'll be lit up by what your REM sleep does for your emotional capacity.)
How to honor the season you're in, exactly as it looks right now, with zero guilt.
The five simple shifts that carried me from sleep debt to sleep freedom.
Why this work is so worth it, and why you can start tonight.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here is the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
VivaRays Circadian Glasses (my evening blue-light blockers): Use code TONYAHOLCOMB for our exclusive discount. → Shop VivaRays here.

DIRTbath™ (my warm-bath wind-down): Save $10 with code DIRT10. → Shop DIRTbath™ here.

Jaspr Air Purifier (what runs in our bedroom all night): Save $200 with code DRTONYA. → Shop Jaspr here.

Magnesium: Get the full scoop in my free magnesium guide. → Access The Magnesium Guide here.

Glycine Boost (my favorite): Collagen is about one-third glycine, so it is an easy, food-based way to get more of that calming, sleep-supporting amino acid. My favorite is Organifi. Get 20% off with code DRTONYA. → Shop Organifi here.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for. → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Always work with a qualified provider who knows your situation before making changes to your health.
49 min
July 27Episode 143: You Can't Avoid Every Toxin. But You Can Build Resilience.
If your feed looks anything like mine right now, it is A LOT. Wildfire smoke maps glowing red. Posts screaming that the air is thick with glyphosate. Theories that the parasite outbreak is actually radiation. A brand-new bill that could make our winter mornings an hour darker. If it feels overwhelming, just remember: it is designed to be.
So today, I am not here to pile onto the panic. I am here to help you SORT it. Think of this as a little world events meet-up, where we walk through:
Why fear moves so fast, and how to receive hard information without absorbing it
The wildfire smoke conversation with actual nuance: dose, duration and how I make real-time decisions with my own family
Why "I feel fine" is not the same as being fine, and why your home is your recovery space
The Sunshine Protection Act, and why permanent daylight saving time steals your morning light
Glyphosate: where it's hiding in your food, the forestry-and-wildfire debate and why the makers are being handed legal immunity
My thoughts on the "Cyclospora is really radiation" theory, and more
Why DIRTbath belongs in your bathtub, and the many reasons I would use it tonight
You cannot avoid every toxin. But you can still build resilience.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here is the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry into our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share.
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources Mentioned
My Favorite Air Purifier (with a discount): Because your home is the air your family breathes all night. → Shop here using code DRTONYA for $200 off.
Blog: How I support the body during wildfire smoke → Read here.
The Sunshine Protection Act: The full breakdown and exactly how to use your voice is coming in this week's email. Watch your inbox.

DIRTbath™: Your Family's Daily Detox
Your kids are living their beautiful, messy, full-tilt childhoods. Swimming in the pool. Jumping in the lake. Rolling in the grass. Coming in covered in dirt, bug bites, sunscreen, sweat and who knows what else.
You cannot control every single thing their little bodies come into contact with. But at the end of the day, you can draw a bath.
DIRTbath™ is my simple, mineral-rich soak made for exactly this. It works with your child's largest organ, their skin, to help their body release what the day handed it and replenish the minerals that growing, sweaty, playing kids burn through every single day. A humic and fulvic complex, mineral-rich salts, and aluminum-free baking soda.
After the pool. After the lake. After the smoky day. After the bug bites and the sunburn and the long afternoon outside. After it all. And it is the path of least resistance. No dropper battles. No negotiating. Just warm water, a scoop, and let them play.
Grab your first bag and save $10 with code DIRT10. → Shop DIRTbath.

FEMfusion: Hydration Your Body Can Actually USE
Plain water is not always enough, especially when your body is working hard to offload, recover, and keep up with a hot, busy summer. FEMfusion is my mineral hydration blend. It is foundational, everyday support for the terrain, on a smoky day, a sweaty day or any day your body needs to be truly resourced. → Shop FEMfusion.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING.
It's a community of women learning naturopathic medicine in real time with mentors who have watched the body do what conventional medicine said was impossible.
It's live support when you're wobbly so you never have to make a fear-based decision at 2 a.m. again.
It's the kind of room where you can finally let your shoulders down.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for.
This is the place where "I hope I'm doing the right thing" becomes "I know exactly what my body is telling me and exactly how to respond." → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode and the products referenced are shared for educational purposes and purchasing convenience only. They are not medical advice, and they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nothing here replaces individualized care from a qualified provider who knows your situation. All dosing shared is general guidance for healthy adults; amounts and choices should be adjusted for children, during pregnancy or nursing, and for anyone who is immunocompromised or managing a health condition. Cyclospora and other diarrheal illnesses carry a real risk of dehydration. Please seek medical care promptly for signs of dehydration, blood in the stool, high fever, severe pain, symptoms in an infant or medically vulnerable person, or any illness that is worsening rather than improving.
43 min
July 13Episode 142: The Cyclospora Outbreak – What the Headlines Aren't Telling Mamas
The "explosive diarrhea parasite" is all over your social media feed right now. Outbreak. Contaminated produce. Thousands of cases.
And if you've been feeling that little knot of uncertainty in your stomach every time you open your fridge, this episode is your exhale.
Because this is not another headline designed to scare you. This is the OTHER half of the story. The half almost nobody is telling you.
In this episode, I give you the allopathic facts with my terrain twist. Then I take you underneath the facts and into the WHY.
Why this is happening.
Why the "official" numbers are not what they seem.
Why some bodies get leveled by the same salad that never bugs the person sitting next to them.
And I share exactly what I would do in my own home if this showed up under my roof.
Press play to find out:
Why the "official" case count is not remotely accurate, and what the map is really showing you.
The terrain question that changes everything: Why HER and not HIM?
How your stomach acid is the front gate, and the free 40-second practice to build it.
How human waste actually ends up on fresh produce, and the one- to two-week "ripening" that explains why you can't catch this from a sick person.
What really works to wash your produce, and the false confidence of a quick rinse.
The true danger of any diarrhea illness, and the dehydration red flags to watch for.
My complete at-home support protocol, with the clinical "why" behind each piece.
And you'll hear real questions for the Fiercely Empowered Mama community answered.
You are not powerless here. You are the one at the head of the table.
You are Fiercely Awakening.

Big News + Monthly Giveaway
The Fiercely Awakening Podcast is officially in the TOP 2 PERCENT of all podcasts worldwide.
This happened because of YOU.
To keep the momentum going, here is the ask:
Leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening.
Screenshot your review.
Send it to me on Instagram or Facebook.
Every screenshot you send equals an entry in our monthly giveaway.
✨🎉 One lucky woman will win a bag of DIRTbath™ or FEMfusion. Every. Single. Month.
Already left a review? Share this episode to your stories and tag me. That counts as an entry too! You get an entry to win for as many times as you share
Your reviews and your shares are how this message reaches the women it was meant to reach.

Resources & Links Mentioned
The Full Protocol
Cyclospora Home Support Protocol from Fullscript: The complete protocol with every product and dose, clinical-grade and professionally sourced. Please do not buy these on Amazon. → Get the complete protocol here from Fullscript.

DIRTbath™: A warm mineral soak to calm the nervous system, soothe aches and cramping, and deliver minerals through the skin when the tummy wants nothing by mouth. Keep the bath warm, not hot, and keep sipping your electrolytes. → Get your bag of DIRTbath™ here.

WavWatch Frequency Therapy: I love reaching for the parasite and digestive support settings with tools like this. Frequencies work fast and provide such an easy, passive layer of support to stack on top of everything else. → Learn more and save here. Use code DRTONYA for $100 off.

Hydration
FEMfusion, My Mineral Hydration Blend: The single most protective thing you can work with for a draining bug like this is hydration your cells can actually USE, not plain water that dilutes you further. That's exactly why I made FEMfusion, your front line for any GI storm. → Unlock hydration your cells can actually use.

The Hydration Challenge, Free: Short, actionable, daily steps to real hydration for you AND for your kids. → Join my free Hydration Challenge.

Redmond Real Salt: → Order yours here.

Produce Washing
Therasage TheraO3 Ozone Bubbler: The ozonator I use. → Purchase yours here. Use code DRTONYA to instantly save!

Stomach Acid + Digestion
Pre-Meal Essential Oil Blend, My Rest-And-Digest Cue: → Search “Parasympathetic” here. Use code DRTONYA for 20% off.

My Favorite HCL Product: → Try it here.

The FEM 2027 Waitlist
Become the healer of your home.
Fiercely Empowered Mama, or FEM, is the membership I built for mothers who are ready to stop guessing what their body and their child's body need, and start KNOWING.
It's a community of women learning naturopathic medicine in real time with mentors who have watched the body do what conventional medicine said was impossible.
It's live support when you're wobbly so you never have to make a fear-based decision at 2 a.m. again.
It's the kind of room where you can finally let your shoulders down.
If this podcast episode lit something up in you, if you felt that pull toward being the one with the tools instead of the one scrambling, THAT is what FEM is for.
This is the place where "I hope I'm doing the right thing" becomes "I know exactly what my body is telling me and exactly how to respond." → Join the waitlist for 2027 enrollment.

Connect with Dr. Tonya
You can find me here on Instagram and here on Facebook.
And be sure to visit my website. You'll find even more resources that I'd love to share with you.

Disclaimer: This episode and the products referenced are shared for educational purposes and purchasing convenience only. They are not medical advice, and they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nothing here replaces individualized care from a qualified provider who knows your situation. All dosing shared is general guidance for healthy adults; amounts and choices should be adjusted for children, during pregnancy or nursing, and for anyone who is immunocompromised or managing a health condition. Cyclospora and other diarrheal illnesses carry a real risk of dehydration. Please seek medical care promptly for signs of dehydration, blood in the stool, high fever, severe pain, symptoms in an infant or medically vulnerable person or any illness that is worsening rather than improving.
1 hr 23 min