In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace sits down with Andrea Irwin, owner of Empirical Sales & Marketing, to talk about resilience, advocacy, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the unexpected challenges that can completely reshape your life.

Andrea shares her journey through business ownership, motherhood, and navigating complex medical experiences with her daughter—an experience that ultimately uncovered a new level of strength, advocacy, and purpose she never expected to develop.

Together, they explore the idea of “potential” in three different forms:

the potential we naturally recognize within ourselves

This conversation is an honest look at what happens when life takes an unexpected turn, how advocacy can become essential in navigating healthcare systems, and why asking questions, trusting your instincts, and seeking support matters.

Andrea's diagnosis of C-PTSD came from a multitude of medical traumas, not just the ones discussed. She is a strong proponent of mental health care and recommends that everyone at some point in their life should see a therapist. If you suspect you have a mental health condition, please seek the help of a therapist or psychiatrist. If you are having a severe mental health crisis, please call 911.

When Andrea refers to her daughter being too severe for Iowa City to handle, it was evident that they knew how to diagnose the condition but didn't have a lot of experience treating patients who suffered from chronic symptoms and were out of their depth. Andrea's daughter's condition varies greatly on a day-to-day basis and has experienced long periods of stability with minor breakthrough flares on occasion on proper treatment. The recent flare discussed on the podcast is being handled by the medical professionals on her team, and they are working together with Andrea daily to find and add suitable treatment options for this flare and her condition as a whole.

Condition discussed: Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia - you can learn more about it here: https://tmsforacure.org/overview/hereditary-alpha-tryptasemia/

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In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Heidi Buttoph sit down with Amanda and Kristen, founders of Vivid Wellness & Aesthetics

Amanda and Kristen share how their backgrounds in nursing and healthcare led them to create a space focused on root-cause healing, individualized wellness plans, and modalities designed to help people feel better—not just manage symptoms.

The conversation dives into the differences between traditional healthcare, integrative medicine, and functional medicine, while also exploring services like IV therapy, ozone therapy, hormones, metabolic lab testing, aesthetics, and advanced wellness technologies.

Together, they discuss why so many people are being told their labs are “normal” while still struggling with fatigue, inflammation, brain fog, hormone imbalances, and other symptoms—and how personalized wellness approaches can help uncover deeper answers.

Whether you’re new to functional medicine or already exploring your own wellness journey, this episode offers an approachable and educational look into the future of individualized healthcare.

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Find Vidid Wellnes + Aesthetics

In this special edition of Within: I Wish I Would Have Known, Ali Payne and Nicky Wallace sit down with Nikki Russell of Aptitude Fitness + Paws for an honest conversation about control, motherhood, business ownership, and learning to let go.

As a mom of three and owner of two businesses, Nikki shares how life has taught her that trying to control everything often leads to more stress, overwhelm, and frustration. Instead, she’s learned the importance of leaning into the chaos, trusting the process, and letting go of the pressure to do everything perfectly.

From outsourcing meals and household tasks to rethinking what’s “conventional” for her family, Nikki opens up about the guilt many women carry—and how creating systems that actually work for your life matters more than appearances.

This episode is a refreshing reminder that you don’t have to do it all alone, and sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is simply let go.

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For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com

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Nikki Russel: 

Aptitude: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aptitude-fitness-dsm/

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In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Nikki Russell, owner of Aptitude Fitness and Pause Studio, to talk about women’s wellness, cycle syncing, recovery, perimenopause, and learning how to better listen to your body.

Nikki shares how her own experience as an endurance athlete led her to explore the connection between hormones, performance, recovery, energy levels, and nutrition. After realizing there was very little support or education available for women navigating these changes, she began building programming designed specifically to help women better understand their bodies through every stage of life.

The conversation dives into:

Together, they also discuss how wellness doesn’t need to be all-or-nothing, the importance of giving yourself grace, and why small sustainable changes often matter more than perfection.

This episode is an empowering reminder that our bodies are constantly communicating with us—and learning to listen may be one of the most important parts of the wellness journey.

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Aptitude: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aptitude-fitness-dsm/

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In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Katie Nyberg, founder of Iowa Baby Lady

Katie shares how her team of birth doulas and postpartum doulas helps families navigate everything from labor support and advocacy to overnight newborn care and postpartum recovery. The conversation breaks down common misconceptions about doulas, the realities of modern motherhood, and why support systems matter more than ever.

Together, they discuss the overwhelming amount of information new parents face today, the pressure many moms feel to “do it all,” and how postpartum support can help families move from simply surviving to truly thriving during those early weeks.

Whether you’re expecting, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about the changing conversation around motherhood and wellness, this episode offers a refreshing and educational look at what modern support can actually look like.

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For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com

What if the hardest season of your life… is actually pointing you toward something greater?

In this Wish I Would Have Known episode, Heidi Valdez shares a powerful reflection from her own health journey—one that completely changed the direction of her life.

During a personal health crisis, Heidi didn’t have answers. Like many people, she was navigating symptoms, stress, and uncertainty. But what she didn’t realize at the time was that this struggle would become the very thing that shaped her purpose.

Through that experience, she gained a deeper understanding of the connection between the body, mind, and spirit—and now uses that knowledge to support others on their own journeys.

This episode is a reminder that:

Your hardest moments may be your greatest teachers

About Heidi Valdez:

She also works with the Iowa Cubs as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, supporting both players and staff with mental health services.

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For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com

In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Polly Loneman, VP of Marketing at NCMIC

Polly shares her perspective on how organizations can better support employees—not just professionally, but personally—and why conversations around wellness, mental health, hormones, burnout, and individualized care are becoming increasingly important in today’s workplace culture.

The conversation also explores the growing interest in naturopathic and integrative care, the importance of advocating for yourself within healthcare systems, and how leaders can create environments where people feel supported, heard, and empowered.

Together, they discuss:

why wellness is not one-size-fits-all

This episode is an honest and empowering conversation about redefining workplace wellbeing and creating cultures where people can truly thriveAbout the show: 

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In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Melissa Poley and James of Serendipity Spa DSM

Melissa shares how years in the wellness and esthetics space eventually led her deeper into transformational life coaching and personal development work after walking through major life changes, including divorce, business shifts, and rebuilding her sense of self. James also opens up about his own transformational journey after experiencing the loss of his home and other significant life challenges.

Together, they discuss the power of conscious language, how our words shape our reality, why emotional patterns continue to repeat, and how awareness can help people move from simply surviving into truly thriving.

The conversation also dives into relationships, secure love, generational patterns, authenticity, and why so many people struggle to fully show up as themselves.

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing is not just physical—it’s emotional, relational, spiritual, and deeply connected to the stories we tell ourselves every day.

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For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com

What if the hardest season of your life… is actually pointing you toward something greater?

In this Wish I Would Have Known episode, Heidi Valdez shares a powerful reflection from her own health journey—one that completely changed the direction of her life.

During a personal health crisis, Heidi didn’t have answers. Like many people, she was navigating symptoms, stress, and uncertainty. But what she didn’t realize at the time was that this struggle would become the very thing that shaped her purpose.

Through that experience, she gained a deeper understanding of the connection between the body, mind, and spirit—and now uses that knowledge to support others on their own journeys.

This episode is a reminder that:

Your hardest moments may be your greatest teachers

About Heidi Valdez:

She also works with the Iowa Cubs as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, supporting both players and staff with mental health services.

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In this episode of Within, Ali Payne sits down with Sheena Mahan for an honest conversation about ambition, burnout, and the pressure many women feel to constantly keep climbing.

Together, they explore what happens when success starts to come at the expense of your wellbeing, your relationships, and your sense of self. From navigating leadership roles and career transitions to balancing motherhood, expectations, and identity, this episode dives into the realities so many high-performing women quietly carry.

Sheena shares her personal experience with burnout, the moment she realized she could no longer keep operating the way she had been, and the importance of setting boundaries before work begins to consume your identity. The conversation also touches on generational shifts in the workplace, the pressure women often place on themselves, and why it’s okay to stop chasing the next rung on the ladder if it no longer aligns with the life you want.

This episode is a reminder that success is not one-size-fits-all—and that adding value does not always require sacrificing yourself in the process.

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