The Inner Edit

Today With Dr. Mariel Buque:

Today on The Inner Edit I have Dr. Mariel Buque, a trauma-informed psychologist, professor, and sound bath meditation healer. Dr. Mariel works as a holistic psychologist who infuses practices essential to our mental well being like meditation and breathwork, as part of her own therapeutic process and protocol. Tune in to find out what this huge online presence and wonderful women has to say about choosing the right platform, creator burnout, setting boundaries, nurturing your community, and more!

Pick It Apart

[2:55] How Dr. Mariel got started with her influential online presence in the mental health space. [7:07] Advice or mental health professionals who want to start an online presence to help people. [15:25] Dr. Mariel on migrating to the platforms that feel more aligned with. [20:35] Things that Dr. Mariel has done to nurture her community of followers. [26:58] Advice to creators starting, on which platform or platforms to start on. [34:17] Dr. Mariel advises when and how to say no to an opportunity. [40:29] How Dr. Mariel establishes her personal boundaries. [51:54] Dr. Mariel shares where she sees her reach going in the future.

Christie Rocha's and Dr. Mariel Buque's Ah-Ha Moments

"If you feel like you're stuck in an ethical conundrum, remember that a part of ethics is to engage in the work in a way that helps the people you're serving to feel heard, seen, and connected to you," - Dr. Mariel Buque

"When we tap into our self-awareness, whether it is hard or not, it will feel right," - Christie Rocha

More About Dr. Mariel Buque

Mariel Buqué, PhD, is a Columbia University–trained trauma-informed psychologist, professor, and sound bath meditation healer. She has appeared as an expert on Good Morning America and Today and in Allure, Self, Glamour, and Well + Good, among many other outlets, and has offered wellness talks to corporations such as Google, Capital One, and Meta. She is originally from the Dominican Republic and currently lives in New Jersey.

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#35: Dr. Traci Stein: Understanding Health Psychology, Hypnosis, and Intuition

#98: MADDIE SPEAR: HOW TO LOVE OUR LITTLE VICTORIES ON THE PATH TO HEALING FROM TRAUMA

#194: Maddie Spear: Mental Health Advocacy Online: Ethics, Connections, and Boundaries

Today With Amy Morin:

Today, I'm with Amy Morin, psychotherapist, international bestselling author, and the host of the Mentally Stronger podcast. Her books on mental strength have sold more than 1 million copies. Amy started her career as a therapist and began freelance writing on the side for extra money after facing tragedy and struggle in her own life. When her article, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, went viral, it changed everything for Amy. The article appeared nationally, including in Forbes, and Amy began speaking publicly about it. Eventually, she landed a book deal (and later five more book deals) and became a best-selling author. Now she continues to create content around mental strength, and her books, podcast, and article have served as an inspiration to me and so many others. Today, Amy is here to discuss all things content creation, mental strength, therapy, and what it's like to become essentially an unintentional overnight success.

Pick It Apart

[0:45] Amy shares her overnight success story, and how hard it was to believe it was real.

[6:35] Christie reflects on how it just takes one piece of content to make a difference.

[12:04] Amy discusses her fears that her written work would impact her career as a therapist.

[19:23] Amy reflects on the community that has found her over the years.

[30:04] Christie and Amy talk about how and why Amy didn't tie her worth to the success of the book.

[34:08] Amy leaves us with some valuable lessons on mental strength.

Christie Rocha's and Amy Morin's Ah-Ha Moments

"(Creators), I want you to know you didn't just get lucky, you turned it into something and here you still are. Until you 100% believe that you deserve it...I don't think you'll be successful."

"Something that so many creators struggle with is constantly turning out content that nobody sees. But it just takes one." -Christie

"You know, I've never regretted sharing my story. I think sometimes it sounds scripted or rehearsed because I've said it so many times or like I don't feel bad that these things happened, but it's just because I've said this story so many times." -Amy

"People are so kind. I have so many people now that send me really uplifting and kind messages, and I think that is fascinating. They don't know me, and yet they send me really nice messages. That's awesome." -Amy

More About Amy Morin

Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and the host of the Mentally Stronger podcast. Her books on mental strength, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, have sold more than 1 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages.

She's practiced therapy for over 20 years and she's a sought after speaker whose TEDx talk, The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong, has become one of the most popular talks of all time with more than 22 million views.

Amy lives on a sailboat in the Florida Keys.

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Today With Christie Rocha:

Today we are celebrating 200 episodes. I have learned so much on this journey from the early days of Sass Says to the latest shows of The Inner Edit, and I am so happy to have you all here with me. What an adventure! As we ring in #200, I'm sharing thoughts on each of my four pillars: Collabs & Connections, Conscious Content, Maximizing Output, and Mindset Magic. More than anything, I want this to be a community of creators—normalizing the conversations, rooting for more transparency, and cheering each other on every step of the way.

Christie Rocha's Ah-Ha Moments:

"I want to normalize setting personal limits, establishing boundaries, and developing personal codes of ethics that will guide us in creating content that truly resonates with our audience, but also personally fulfills us." - Christie Rocha

"I want creators to create with intention, and for this to be a safe space to learn how to do that and explore what it means for each of us." - Christie Rocha

"I firmly believe that there is room for everyone on the internet. So let's stop keeping the behind the scenes tips and tricks to ourselves and share with the class." - Christie Rocha

"Our mindset and personal growth have a direct impact on our communities, our platforms and the content we produce. So when we prioritize our well being and personal growth, our content will reflect our best selves, and our audience and our community will feel that." - Christie Rocha

Pick It Apart

[0:42] Christie explains the four pillars that are her focus on the podcast, beginning with Collabs & Connections, emphasizing that she intends to normalize the conversations around loneliness among content creators.

[2:28] Christie has an idea for an in-person gathering with creators by creators on how to navigate brand partnerships.

[2:54] Christie discusses the second pillar: Conscious Content, sharing her own struggles with this.

[4:30] Christie explains her thoughts on the third pillar: Maximizing Output, and her concerns with the obvious gatekeeping around this subject within the industry.

[5:32] Christie shares more about the fourth pillar: Mindset Magic, and how she has feelings on the subject that she hopes to continue to address on future episodes of the podcast.

[8:07] Christie invites listeners to share with her what they would like to hear more of on future episodes.

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TIE #187: Join The Movement: The Inner Edit's Wellness Revolution for Digital Content Creators

Today With Emmy Marie:

Today on The Inner Edit, I am with Emmy Marie, founder of @bloomingwithemmy. Emmy is a content creator and a trauma coach who has worked through her own c-PTSD and trauma from abuse and now helps others on their own path to healing. Emmy's rise to success started out with an anonymous platform, but over time she began showing up with her face and name. Her journey can teach us a lot about how to dip our toes into something new, how to overcome our own challenges and discomfort, and how to avoid burnout and remain authentic in what we're creating.

Pick It Apart

[0:30] Emmy shares her journey of forming her platform and her decision to move away from anonymity.

[10:32] Christie asks Emmy how she balances creating what she wants with what is valuable to her audience.

[14:21] Emmy and Christie discuss avoiding and recovering from burnout.

[19:39] Christie asks Emmy how she decides which content is worth focusing on.

[22:04] Emmy and Christie discuss boundaries around content creation.

Christie Rocha's and Emmy Marie's Ah-Ha Moments

"It's unrealistic to expect yourself to have an original thought every day." -Emmy

"I'd rather be happy and balanced than make six figures." -Emmy

"It's really that self-awareness of saying 'I'd rather be happy and balanced than make six figures.' It's a simple sentence, but it's not an easy one." -Christie

More About Emmy Marie

I began this work in 2013 after surviving an abusive relationship that left me with complex PTSD. Since then, I've dedicated my life to finding a way to stop viewing myself with disdain and shame, and start believing in my ability to live a wildly joyful, connected, and empowered life.

Along the way, I've studied a plethora of healing techniques that bridge the gap between neuroscience and soulful intuitive knowing. I'm a huge fan of everything from the Polyvagal Theory, to the Enneagram, to somatic work, to the mindfulness practice of Radical Acceptance. In October 2020, I became certified as a trauma-informed coach through the ICF-accredited program offered by Moving the Human Spirit. In January 2022, I became certified as a NARM practitioner. NARM is a modality for working with complex trauma. In August 2023, I earned a certificate in Somatic Attachment Therapy (which I apply to coaching) from The Embody Lab.

I view everything I learn about through the lens of trauma recovery in order to help survivors feel safe as they try out new practices or reach for their goals, adapting what I learn to work for overwhelmed brains that are used to looking for danger everywhere.

My dedication to studying trauma recovery has led me from being full of shame to full of self-love. Now that I can see the ways my body adapted to the overwhelming experiences I survived in the light of acceptance, I can work with my symptoms instead of running away from them. Now that I can see how devastating the effects of trauma were on my brain and body, I can give myself the rest I need to recover without judging myself for my needs. Now that I can see how abuse conditioned me to constantly doubt myself, I can make the radical choice to go after what lights me up and know it's safe to do so.

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TIE #190 Renee Reina: Navigating The Intersection: Where Your Passions And Niche Content Meet On Social Media

TIE #194 Maddie Spear: Mental Health Advocacy Online: Ethics, Connections, And Boundaries

Today With Tomi Obebe:

Today on The Inner Edit I am with Tomi Obebe, a lifestyle blogger and content creator based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With corporate digital marketing experience and an MBA from Clemson University, Tomi has been able to combine her passion for business with her personal style on her blog and on social media, where she is @goodtomicha. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, Yahoo News, and more, and she was also the recipient of the 2019 InfluenceHer of the Year Award. As she has grown her platform, Tomi continues to raise awareness and advocate for inclusion, especially for Black female content creators, and she doesn't shy away from conversations around transparency in the industry. Today, we are discussing the need for intentionality if you want to monetize a blog or social media platform, as well as the responsibility that comes with it, not only from the creator but from the brands, the consumers, and the community as a whole.

Pick It Apart

[2:30] Tomi shares that she has not gone viral and does not have hundreds of thousands of followers, but she still manages a healthy career as a content creator.

[7:07] Christie and Tomi discuss the need for intentionality and having a plan if you want to monetize a blog or social media platform

[11:36] Christie asks Tomi the differences she sees between being a content creator and being an influencer.

[21:33] Tomi shares her thoughts on being a black content creator.

[29:03] Christie and Tomi talk about the importance of transparency in the industry.

[32:22] Tomi talks about the importance of self-care and wellness and motivating herself in these areas

[41:33] Christie asks Tomi about how she responds to current events with her audience.

Christie Rocha's and Tomi Obebe's Ah-Ha Moments

"Don't be afraid to ask [brands], push them, and see what they're doing to better themselves when it comes to our seat of inclusion." – Tomi Obebe "Just because it's not brain surgery doesn't mean that you shouldn't be compensated fairly for the work that you put in." – Tomi Obebe "Societally we're still underestimating the amount of work that creators put in." – Christie Rocha "If something is affecting your community, I think we have a duty as influencers and content creators to share resources and how to help because at the end of the day, it is a privilege to be able to speak to so many people." – Tomi Obebe "There's a human being behind that handle." – Christie Rocha

More About Tomi Obebe

Tomi Obebe (pronounced Toe-Me Oh-Bee-Bee) is a full-time content creator based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With corporate digital marketing experience and an MBA from Clemson University, Tomi has been able to combine her passion for business with her personal style.

As GoodTomiCha has grown, Tomi continues to recognize the disproportionate number of black female bloggers and advocate for inclusion. One of her goals is to be an inspiration to women of color everywhere that starting a blog, and succeeding, is very possible.

Join Tomi as she presents life through her lens and adventures as a newlywed with her husband, Will.

Tomi's work with social media and influencer marketing has been featured in Business Insider, Yahoo News, HuffPost, and more. Tomi is also the recipient of the 2019 InfluenceHer of the Year Award.

Stick around if you enjoy style trends, a good skincare recommendation, and a transparent look at the influencer industry!

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TIE #188: Tara Clark: From Burnt Out to Balanced: Resilience Strategies for Digital Content Creators

Today With Alyce Chan:

Today I'm joined by Alyce Chan. Alyce is a content creator, TikTok star, and a multi-faceted comedian who provides a much-needed comical take on the ups and downs of motherhood. She also performs stand-up comedy live and is a sketch writer and actor. She founded MOMCOMNYC, a humorous parenting platform, which Vogue featured as one of the top six funniest parenting Instagram accounts to follow. Today we're chatting about juggling motherhood and content creation, how to handle feeling burnt out, and the importance of giving yourself the time and space you need to discover yourself, explore your passions, and show up in the world as your authentic self.

Pick It Apart

[1:40] Christie and Alyce talk about content creation and mental health, and the value of showing up with vulnerability.

[14:45] Christie and Alyce discuss the pressure on content creators to take a stand on public issues.

[20:52] Alyce talks about her self-care and how to juggle it all.

[40:47] Christie and Alyce talk about their partners' support and why it's okay to take time for yourself and your content.

[45:39] Alyce tells listeners why they need to laugh every day.

Christie Rocha's and Alyce Chan's Ah-Ha Moments

"I want people to make laughing part of their day, and to know that it doesn't take away from other things in your life." -Alyce

"There's no one that wants to be more supportive than my husband. There are times where just the coordinating of what I want to do stops me from doing it. But no one's happier that I come home happy than he is." -Christie

More About Alyce Chan

Alyce Chan is a multifaceted talent known as a speaker, writer, producer, and stand-up comedian with a global presence. Her comedy has graced renowned venues such as The Stand and the New York Comedy Club in New York, as well as Yuk Yuk's in Canada, among others. Her comedic prowess was further underscored when she emerged as a finalist at the esteemed Boston Comedy Festival in May 2023.

Alyce is not only a comedic force but also the creative mind behind MOMCOMNYC, a parenting platform boasting an impressive following of almost 200k devoted fans.

Vogue even took note of her work, recognizing MOMCOMNYC as the top six funniest parenting Instagram accounts. Her comedic sketches have found a home on platforms like Scary Mommy, PureWow, and TodayParents, showcasing her knack for finding humor in the everyday chaos of parenthood.

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TIE #125 Meredith Masony: Content Creator Queens Don't Gatekeep…life Lessons From A 9 Year Veteran

Today With Rachael Bozsik-Johanson:

Today on The Inner Edit I am with Rachael Bozsik Johanson—luxury strategist for female entrepreneurs. Rachael is a true esteemed advisor whose clients include Sandra Funk, Kathy Kuo to LuAnn Nigara. Her goal is to help women level up their businesses to the top 3% of their industry or niche.

Today, Rachael and I are talking about what luxury means, how to know if you are even interested in moving in the luxury direction, how to position yourself to shift toward high-ticket offers, and how to get out of your own way (and be kind to yourself in the process).

Pick It Apart

[2:00] Rachael unpacks what luxury really means and how to know if it aligns with your goals.

[9:35] Christie and Rachael discuss the importance of stepping back and realizing when goals and dreams change.

[17:01] Rachael explains why making your clients feel safe is important in your messaging and networking.

[24:51] Christie asks Rachael how to keep moving toward your goals when you're feeling bogged down and overwhelmed.

[32:03] Rachael shares how to know when you're in the wrong direction with your business.

Christie Rocha's and Rachael Bozsik-Johanson's Ah-Ha Moments

"I remember feeling like I had all of the accomplishments and was hitting the right goals. But I didn't feel good at all, I actually felt burnt out. And I think when I sat down and realized that I was hitting the goals and still didn't feel good, I knew something had to be missing here." -Rachael

"We underestimate ourselves a lot. Sometimes it takes someone else to look at what we're doing and say, 'This is a big idea. This is helpful. This was really impactful.'" -Christie

More About Rachael Bozsik-Johanson

From the stages of Harvard Business School, to pages of Architectural Digest, Rachael Bozsik Johanson is regarded as the in-demand Luxury Strategist for interior designers seeking to become a top 3% firm. With a storied career monetizing personal brands, her signature methodology "The Four P's" leverages positioning, press, paid speaking and pipeline filling partnerships. Think - being positioned as the "go to" call for luxury new builds, press in Elle Decor, paid speaking at High Point Market and a partnership with a custom builder to fill the pipeline for you. Rachael is incredibly selective in the clients she serves, as the majority double their sales a year after her esteemed advising. It's safe to say she was born to do this work and it is miles from traditional consulting. Her clients have ranged from Sandra Funk, Kathy Kuo to LuAnn Nigara not to mention tons of incredibly talented up and comers with a deep desire to build a profitable firm. As a lifelong student of design & fashion, Rachael is a trained interior designer from High Point University, licensed realtor and recognized tastemaker. Most recently, her wedding was covered by The New York Times. On weekends, she loves sipping her matcha & collaborating with her husband to grow their "on-brand" portfolio. Naturally, it encompasses investing in real estate, startups and collecting interesting art. Currently, the duo is planning a trip to Ancient Egypt and exploring a large-scale remodel of a 1920's historic estate.

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#182 Amber de La Garza: The Power of Prioritization: Reimaging Productivity and Embracing Balance

#195 Dr. Kelly Vincent: How to Amplify Your Online Presence and Voice through Mindful and Self-Aware Content

Today With Dr. Kelly Vincent:

Today on The Inner Edit, I am joined by, Dr. Kelly Vincent, a licensed holistic and clinical psychologist. Dr. Kelly made a career shift from marketing to psychology.

With now over 184k, her journey didn't come without questions, imposter syndrome, or creator burnout. She says no matter what industry we are in, we are going through the same thing when it comes to content creation. There is no lack of great takeaways here.

Pick It Apart

[2:26] Kelly shares her journey from marketing into a completely different career, therapist.

[10:00] Kelly offers some marketing tips for therapists.

[20:24] Kelly shares how she built a community digitally through social media.

[26:20] Kelly talks about how she gains relationships with creators on similar platforms.

[38:46] How Kelly manages creator burnout.

[52:17] How Kelly shares everything with intention rather than putting up many boundaries.

[55:55] Any last words of wisdom for creators in the wellness space.

Christie Rocha's and Dr. Kelly Vincent's Ah-Ha Moments

"When I started my practice, I learned that our world is so relational. So much of marketing is about making different relationships. Those relational skills both served me in the room with my clients but then they also served me getting to know people in the community, which then helped build referral channels and networks" - Dr. Kelly Vincent

"External validation feels good, it's not that it's a bad thing, but it's when we rely on it a little bit too much that it becomes a problem." - Dr. Kelly Vincent

"There is a secret sauce, but the trick is that the secret sauce changes every week." - Christie Rocha

"Trust the process. It's small baby steps that lead to change with anything in life. Healing mostly happens over time." - Dr. Kelly Vincent

More About Dr. Kelly Vincent

I help women embody their authentic self, heal holistically, and thrive. My clinical approach and style is rooted in a holistic, mind-body perspective.

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The Inner Edit #188: Tara Clark: From Burnt Out to Balanced: Resilience Strategies for Digital Content Creators

Today With Maddie Spear:

Today on The Inner Edit I am joined by Maddie Spear. Maddie is a licensed social worker and trauma therapist in North Carolina where she works with children, teens, and young adults. In addition to her work in direct trauma care, Maddie also takes a modern approach to mental health through social media, where she has a massive following on TikTok (where she is @therapy_thoughts) and Instagram (where she is @loveyourlittlevictories).

Today we are catching up and going even deeper into what it means to be a content creator, especially as a therapist. We talk about ethics, boundaries, and the difference between being a therapist and being a mental health advocate. But don't worry, Maddie assures us there is room for both. This is such a refreshing chat and Maddie shares so openly her views about being authentic, overcoming perfectionism, and finding meaningful connections with our communities and each other.

Pick It Apart

[1:44] Maddie defines her role as a therapist first but also as a content creator, expanding on her ethics in the social media space.

[8:41] Christie and Maddie discuss the difference between being a mental health professional and a mental health advocate and the importance of checking the source of information online.

[12:03] Christie asks Libby to share advice on creating connection as a content creator.

[20:51] Maddie explains boundaries, ethics, and safety within her online community.

[31:19] Maddie surprises Christie when she shares the amount of drafts she has in her content folder.

[42:32] Christie asks Maddie how her online presence impacts her personal life.

Christie Rocha's and Maddie Spear's Ah-Ha Moments

"There are both spoken and unspoken rules in terms of ethics and the therapy-social media community…we want to continue to do no harm." – Maddie Spear

"The wellness community has a level of grace…you don't owe me anything. I don't owe you anything. But we get to be in each other's presence and get to have community when it feels right for us both. What a beautiful thing!" – Maddie Spear

"I think sometimes we have to shrink our own voice and shrink the imposter syndrome and ask, 'Why are you limiting me here? Look at all the good I'm doing, look at all like the beautiful people who are impacted by this.'" – Maddie Spear "Just start and just show up. The world needs your voice…you have a unique perspective, and it's so important for the world to hear yours." – Maddie Spear

More About Maddie Spear

Maddie Spear, MSW, LCSW, is a trauma therapist located in North Carolina who works with children, teens, and young adults. In addition to her work in direct trauma care, Maddie additionally works to bring mental health tips worldwide. With a following of well over 300,000 on social media, Maddie strives to eliminate the stigma around mental health and promote healing for all with accessible mental health tips and tricks to promote self-growth and self-care. Feel free to connect with her on the following platforms for more ways to impact your mental wellbeing:

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Today With Jessica Smith:

Today, I am joined by Jessica Smith, owner of The Fit Life With Jessica. Jessica is an accountability and health coach who helps career women create exercise, meal planning, and mindset habits to help them with their energy and confidence. She also helps women with their struggle with accountability. Jessica shares her A-HA moments and how she stopped breaking promises to herself, which many of us are guilty of. She also talks about her Five to Thrive method to gain more energy and confidence.

Pick It Apart

[2:16] Jessica tells us the catalyst for her personal growth journey.

[4:49] Jessica shares how her upbringing influenced how she felt about health and wellness.

[12:05] Jessica's Five to Thrive to maximize energy and productivity.

[30:40] Explains that when she takes time for herself once a week, it is never a regret but you do have to find that balance.

[33:08] Tips on being self accountable.

[39:32] Jessica's thoughts on motivation, discipline, and accountability and how they correlate.

[48:55] Things that Jessica has learned about herself, as a content creator, through her journey to health and wellness.

[53:51] Last minute tools and tips that has improved Jessica's content creation.

Christie Rocha's and Jessica Smith's Ah-Ha Moments

"Women tend to put their needs last which leads to mental and physical burnout. But a little forethought and initiative can prevent some of that decision fatigue." - Jessica Smith

"I need community to have self-accountability." - Jessica Smith

More About Jessica Smith

As far back as I remember, I've always struggled with my weight. Genetics and growth spurts would help me at times, but by the time I got out of college, my level of unhealthy was at an all-time high. After college, I decided I'd start running to get in shape. I signed up for a 5k and began training. You can imagine what happened. I went strong for the first few weeks, but then fell off the so-called wagon. The 5k crept up on me, and while I did complete it - I certainly hadn't trained well for it. Forget about nutrition or healthy fuel. That didn't even cross my mind until I was in my 30s. From that first 5k until after I had my second child, I yo-yo'd up and down and tried just about everything to become a healthier version of myself. I'd get "reserious" over and over and over again. I'd never make it all the way. I'd break the promise I made to myself time and time again.

When did things finally click for me? I was reading the book, "Girl Wash Your Face," by Rachel Hollis when she explained something that totally blew my mind. It changed the game for me. She said, if I made plans with my girlfriends for Thursday night dinner, I would NOT break that commitment. I'd keep that promise and meet them for dinner. We NEVER break promises to others, but we are SO QUICK to break the promises we make to ourselves. My mouth DROPPED. It was such a lightbulb moment to me about accountability. WHY NOT? Right there, I decided that I was not breaking any more promises to myself.

Fast forward a few years, I've finally settled into a routine of healthy habits that I'm proud of. I have a plan that I stick to, and truly it just feels like a normal way of life now. My workouts don't feel like a "task" anymore. It's a habit. It's my way of life. It's my means to sanity and stress relief with two kids and a full time job. My eating habits are no longer fad diets or crazy short term instant gratification gimmicks. I eat to fuel my body because I want to keep this body forever. I want this body to be strong and resilient from the inside out.

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Other Shows Mentioned:

#143: Holly Marie Haynes: Simplify And Scale: The Secrets To Building A Successful Business In 8-10 Hours A Week

#188 Tara Clark: From Burnt Out to Balanced: Resilience Strategies for Digital Content Creators