Are you curious about toxin-free living but overwhelmed by ingredient labels, “clean” marketing, and fear-based wellness trends?

In this episode of The Purposeful Life Podcast, public health educator and wellness coach Nora Knadjian breaks down the science behind low-tox living in a practical, realistic, and nervous-system-friendly way.

You’ll learn what “toxins” actually mean, which household exposures matter most, and how to reduce everyday chemical exposure without throwing everything away or spiraling into anxiety.

Inside this episode:
• The truth about endocrine disruptors, PFAS, BPA, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance
• High-impact healthy swaps for your kitchen, cleaning products, laundry, candles, and personal care
• Science-backed ways to improve indoor air quality
• How environmental toxins affect hormones, inflammation, and the nervous system
• The best apps and tools to check product safety (EWG, Yuka, Think Dirty, Consumer Reports)
• How to detox your home safely without falling into wellness misinformation

If you’ve been searching for:

• low-tox living for beginners
• non-toxic home swaps
• how to reduce toxins in your home
• clean beauty and safe cleaning products
• hormone-safe products
• environmental health education
• or practical holistic wellness advice

This episode will give you clear next steps you can implement today.

Healthy living doesn’t require perfection-- it requires informed, sustainable choices. Your body is resilient. Let’s support it wisely.

Subscribe to The Purposeful Life Podcast for science-backed wellness, nervous system education, faith-integrated health conversations, and realistic tools for building a healthy, grounded life.

Follow along on Instagram: @purposefullifepodcast 🤍

Is love actually the best medicine? In this special Valentine’s Day episode, we’re peeling back the layers of romance to explore the science of Oxytocin. Often dismissed as just the 'cuddle hormone,' Oxytocin is actually a biological powerhouse that plays a critical role in your physical health. We'll also talk about how St. Valentine was a neurobiologist (sort of).

In this episode, we dive deep into the neurobiology of connection and why human touch is a physiological necessity, not a luxury. We explore the legendary defiance of St. Valentine and how his fight for connection mirrors our modern need for community.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Stress Regulation: How Oxytocin acts as the biological 'brake' for your nervous system, lowering cortisol and blood pressure.

• The Gut-Brain Axis: The surprising reason your gut is lined with Oxytocin receptors and how social connection improves digestion.

• Immune Support: How the 'Helper’s High' reduces systemic inflammation and strengthens your body’s defenses.

• Bio-Hacks for Everyone: Science-backed ways to boost your Oxytocin levels-- whether you’re in a relationship or flying solo.

Join us as we bridge the gap between ancient history and modern science to discover why we are truly 'wired for 'we.''

POV: You’re doing the work… but the inspo is gone.

Not burned out.Not lazy.Just quietly stuck.

If you've ever felt like you’re hitting "refresh" on your career, but the page just won’t load, this episode is for you.

You’re doing the work, checking the boxes, and saying the right things-- but internally, the spark has gone quiet.

In this episode, we’re diving into the messy, quiet reality of career writer’s block. This isn’t another "beat burnout" pep talk or a guide to hustling harder. Instead, we’re looking at why stagnation isn’t a flaw; it’s actually a signal.

Nora explores why your nervous system might be "protecting" you from your own creativity and how to stop forcing clarity so you can actually start feeling it.

If you feel "behind," this is your permission slip to stop running and start listening. Grab your coffee or tea and tune in!

Journal prompts:

1. Where in my career do I feel most “flat” right now, and when did I first notice it?
2. Am I trying to force clarity because I’m uncomfortable with uncertainty?
3. What parts of my work drain me lately, even if they didn’t before?
4. What feels lighter, easier, or more natural than it used to?
5. If productivity wasn’t a factor, what would my body be asking for right now?
6. What would it look like to be curious instead of certain about my next step?
7. Where might rest or honesty be more helpful than action in this season?

Ever feel frozen when you try to start something, even when it really matters?

In this episode, we talk about procrastination paralysis, a common experience rooted in nervous system overwhelm--not laziness or lack of discipline. Through psychology, neuroscience, and faith-based insight, we unpack why starting can feel so hard and how grace creates real movement.

You’ll learn:

• What procrastination paralysis is and why it happens

• How the brain’s freeze response blocks motivation

• Why shame and self-criticism make procrastination worse

• How Scripture reframes productivity and rest

• Practical, compassionate tools to move forward gently

Whether you’re stuck avoiding an email, a workout, a prayer, or a calling, this episode offers clarity, relief, and a more compassionate path forward.

What if the reason change feels so hard isn’t because you lack motivation, but because your nervous system doesn’t feel safe?

In this episode, we’re reframing the pressure of self-improvement and New Year goals through a nervous system, public health, and faith-based lens. If you’ve ever felt behind before you even begin, stuck in cycles of starting and stopping, or exhausted by the idea of “becoming a better version of yourself,” this conversation is for you.

We’ll explore why motivation is biological... not moral, how January pressure activates survival mode, and why regulation creates consistency while force leads to burnout. You’ll also hear a grounding practice, a gentler question to guide your growth, and a reminder that God is not in a hurry with you.

You don’t need a new you. You need a regulated one.

👉 Download your free Nervous System Reset Guide.

🤍 Interested in personalized support? I also offer 1:1 Reset Sessions that are designed to help you reconnect with safety, capacity, and sustainable growth. Schedule your intro call (free) here!

The days between Christmas and New Year’s can feel quiet, disorienting, and oddly full all at once. In this episode, I invite you into the sacred in-between.

Drawing from nervous system science, mindfulness, and faith, I reflect on rest as a biological and spiritual necessity, the power of integration over productivity, and how her family’s celebration of Theophany on January 6th reminds us that revelation unfolds slowly, not on demand.

This episode offers gentle reflection prompts, grounding wellness insights, and permission to pause... without pressure to fix, plan, or optimize.

✨ Listen when you need:– A reset after the holidays– Permission to rest without guilt– A softer transition into the New Year– Mind-body-spirit alignment during winter

🎧 Guided Holiday Mindfulness & Presence Meditation:
https://facebook.com/reel/1402289108292963/?s=single_unit

Let this episode meet you right where you are, and remind you that rest is not falling behind. It’s wisdom. 🤍

Feeling off after flying or traveling? In this episode, Nora breaks down the science of grounding (earthing) and why it’s one of the most effective -- and affordable -- tools for nervous system regulation, travel recovery, and stress reduction.

Nora explores how grounding affects inflammation, cortisol levels, heart rate variability (HRV), and sleep quality, plus whether grounding mats, earthing sheets, and grounding blankets actually work or are just wellness gimmicks. You’ll hear evidence-based insights, practical how-to steps, and guidance on how long to ground indoors and outdoors for real results.

This episode covers:

• Why travel dysregulates your nervous system & how grounding restores balance
• The science behind earthing: inflammation, cortisol, HRV, and sleep regulation
• Outdoor grounding vs indoor grounding -- what’s most effective
• Grounding mats, earthing sheets & grounding blankets: legit or marketing hype?
• How to test any grounding product with a multimeter
• How long to ground, how often, and best grounding practices
• Grounding myths vs facts
• How grounding supports stress relief, recovery, and overall well-being

Whether you’re curious about earthing for health, looking to improve sleep and stress, or wondering if grounding products are worth your money, this episode gives you the clarity and science you need.

Tune in to learn how grounding can reset your body, support travel recovery, and bring you back into balance... from the inside out. 🤍

This week we are getting cozy and talking about the real side of the holidays. You know, the part that lives underneath the lights, music, and Pinterest boards. I’m sharing a little life update, including my first Thanksgiving as a married couple and traveling to Minnesota to see family we haven’t seen since our wedding. I also open up about the nostalgia that hits this time of year, the expectations we silently carry, and what happens when the holidays don’t feel as magical as we imagined.

We’re diving into childhood memories, family growth, emotional triggers, and the pressure to create the perfect holiday season. And of course, we sprinkle in some faith because Jesus really is the only reason I stay grounded during this time of year.

If you want a calming, honest, faith-filled conversation that helps you breathe a little deeper and feel less alone during the holiday rush, this episode is for you. Grab something warm, settle in, and let’s talk about creating a season that actually feels good for your soul. 🤍

Ever catch yourself scrolling through other people’s highlight reels, wondering when your main character moment will begin? In this episode, Nora invites you to step out of the audience and back into your own story.

Through heartfelt storytelling, gentle reflection, and practical tools, this episode explores what it really means to embody “main character energy” -- not as an aesthetic, but as a mindset of self-trust, presence, and courage. You’ll learn how to reclaim your narrative, romanticize the everyday, and stop waiting for permission to live your life fully.

Because your story isn’t waiting to start. It’s unfolding right now... scene by scene. 🤍

In this episode, we’re reframing networking-- not as a transaction, but as a form of connection. Whether it’s with friends, colleagues, or peers in your industry, every conversation holds the potential to inspire, motivate, and remind us that we’re not alone.

Nora shares insights from her recent speaking engagement on loneliness and explores how meaningful connection can nurture both personal and professional growth. Through honest reflection and gentle encouragement, this episode invites you to build relationships rooted in authenticity, curiosity, and purpose.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected or unsure where to start, this is your reminder that one genuine conversation can shift everything. Tune in, reflect, and discover the power of surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who help you grow. 🤍

Journal Prompts to Complement the Episode:

1. Reflection on Connection:When was the last time I left a conversation feeling truly seen, inspired, or understood? What made that connection feel meaningful?

   
   

2. Loneliness Awareness:
   What does loneliness look like for me-- and how does it usually show up in my day-to-day life (emotionally, physically, or spiritually)?

   
   

3. Intentional Networking:
   Who are three people I genuinely admire or feel inspired by-- and how could I reach out to connect with them in an authentic way?

   
   

4. Energy Check:How do I feel after spending time with different people in my life? Which relationships feel energizing and which feel draining?

   
   

5. Purpose and Alignment:What kind of conversations make me come alive? What do they reveal about the kind of community I want to build around me?

   
   

6. Taking Action:
   What’s one small, intentional step I can take this week to nurture a new or existing connection-- without any agenda, just curiosity and care?

   
   

7. Self-Connection:How can I deepen my connection with myself so I can show up more openly and authentically in my relationships with others?