Sleep isn’t just rest—it’s a cornerstone of health. Yet, for so many of us, good sleep is elusive.

In this episode of The SpelLIFE Podcast, Jill and Gaynell welcome Dr. Edward Salerno, a physician with Millennium Physician Group, to unpack the science, challenges, and strategies behind quality sleep.

Dr. Salerno shares his expertise on why sleep affects everything from mental clarity and mood to immune health and longevity. He also offers practical advice on how to address common sleep challenges, when to seek medical help, and how small changes in habits can lead to life-changing improvements in rest.

Whether you’re struggling with insomnia, stress-related sleeplessness, or just curious about what “healthy sleep” really means, this conversation will empower you to take control of your night’s rest.

• Why sleep is one of the most important dimensions of wellness

• The hidden health risks of chronic poor sleep

• How stress, environment, and habits influence sleep quality

• Practical tips for creating a healthier sleep routine

• When it’s time to seek medical support for sleep issues

Dr. Edward Salerno brings an impressive blend of academic excellence and professional expertise to his role at Millennium Physician Group. After graduating cum laude in Philosophy from Brooklyn College, he earned his medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. He went on to complete his internship and residency at the University of Connecticut, where he was named Intern of the Year. Today, he is dedicated to helping patients understand the critical role of sleep in overall health and well-being.

🌐 Learn more: 

Millennium Physician Group

Sleep Hygiene PDF from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 

What do you want your loved ones to remember—and how do you want them to remember it?

Jill and Gaynell sit down with Heather Nickerson, CEO and co-founder of Artifcts.com, to explore how documenting the stories behind our belongings can transform grief, preserve legacy, and prevent family conflict.

Heather shares the story of her mother’s unexpected passing, which left Heather with a 6,000-square-foot estate of her mother’s belongings. Even though her mother had some planning in place, there was still no guidance about what her mother’s things meant. What was the heart value of those things? That moment sparked her idea for Artifcts, a secure platform that helps individuals document the heart value, history, and future wishes for their most meaningful possessions.

Whether you’re navigating your own legacy, downsizing, or simply wondering what to do with that photo album, this episode offers practical tools and emotional insight for anyone who wants to leave behind more than just things.

Drawing from both her professional experience as a home care provider and her personal journey as a caregiver for her husband, Patrice shares advice on how to prepare for aging—whether you're single, child-free, managing aging parents, or simply aiming to stay ahead of life’s uncertainties.

From building a care team and understanding home vs. facility care, to supporting your emotional health and learning when to start the conversation with loved ones—this episode is packed with practical wisdom and powerful encouragement to take ownership of your future.

• The emotional and logistical realities of being a family caregiver

• Why building a care “team” is essential—whether you're planning for yourself or a loved one

• The difference between home care, care management, and facility-based care

• Tips for having tough conversations with family (and yourself!)

• The importance of staying flexible as your needs evolve over time

Patrice Magrath is the co-owner of McKenney Home Care, a private-pay, concierge-level home care agency with offices in Naples and Sarasota, Florida. With a background in corporate law, international development, and nonprofit leadership, Patrice brings both personal compassion and professional insight to the often-overlooked work of long-term care planning.

Website: mckenneyhomecare.com

In this unique evening edition of The SpelLIFE Podcast, hosts Jill and Gaynell invite a very special guest—Jill’s husband, Pete Rapps—for a heartfelt, humorous, and insightful look into the world of homesteading.

Pete shares how his passion for sustainable living, farming, and animal care is not just a lifestyle—but a pathway to purpose, wellness, and resilience. From building a garden from scratch to raising animals with intention, the trio explores the benefits, challenges, and unexpected joys of living close to the land.

Tune in for a cozy, candid conversation that touches on physical health, mental clarity, family connection, and the healing power of dirt under your fingernails.

🔗 Links: Read more about P and J's Loony Bin farm on their Facebook page. 

As the season winds down in Southwest Florida, Jill and Gaynell sit down with two women who are helping the community recharge and refocus on what really matters: wellness.

In this episode, you’ll meet Urte Izdonaviciute, Director of the Healthy Life Center at Lee Health, and Lisa Gruenloh, founder of Purpose Journey. Together, they explore what it means to prioritize well-being across every dimension in the workplace, and at home—from physical health and emotional resilience to personal purpose.

Urte and Lisa share their work creating accessible educational resources, “wellness navigation,” and intentional spaces for personal growth. You’ll also hear about Lisa’s annual end-of-season retreat, happening May 2, 2025, which brings together leaders and community members for a day of reflection, inspiration, and connection.

• The role of Lee Health’s Healthy Life Center in providing wellness education and support

• How Lisa’s “Power Your Purpose” workshop inspires transformation at both the personal and organizational level

• The importance of workplace wellness and tips for fostering it across different settings

• Details about the End of Season Retreat and how you can join

Urte Izdonaviciute Director, Healthy Life Center at Lee Health 🌐 www.leehealth.org

Lisa Gruenloh, MPAP, CPC Founder & President, Purpose Journey 🌐 www.purposejourney.com 🎟️ Register for the May 2 Retreat

👉 Subscribe, rate, and share if you found this episode helpful—and don’t forget to check out our other episodes exploring all 8 dimensions of wellness on The SpelLIFE Podcast.

So often, as women, we need to be reminded that taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and with rising rates in those under 55, it’s more important than ever to understand how to care for our hearts at every stage of life.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a globally recognized leader in preventive cardiology and the founder of Adesso, a revolutionary platform dedicated to personalized lifestyle management. Dr. Steinbaum shares powerful insights on why heart-care is self-care, how heart disease manifests differently in women, and the critical role of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management in preventing heart disease.

You’ll walk away with actionable tips to prioritize your well-being and change the statistics—one healthy choice at a time.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ Why women’s heart health is different from men’s—and why that matters ✔️ How to take a proactive approach to cardiovascular wellness ✔️ The pillars of a heart-healthy lifestyle ✔️ The role of stress and menopause in heart disease risk ✔️ How technology is reshaping the future of personalized heart care

About Our Guest: Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is a renowned preventive cardiologist, author, and the visionary behind Adesso, a cutting-edge technology platform empowering women to take control of their heart health. She has led major women’s heart health programs at Mt. Sinai Heart, Northwell Lenox Hill, and Beth Israel in NYC and has been a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign for over 20 years. Dr. Steinbaum has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and The Doctors, and her groundbreaking work continues to shape the future of women’s cardiovascular care.

📖 Book: Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book: Every Woman’s Guide to a Heart Healthy Life 🌍 Website: www.drsuzannesteinbaum.com 💡 Join Adesso: www.adesso.health 📲 Follow Dr. Steinbaum: Instagram: @drsteinbaum | @myadesso

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!

As we settle into the new year, Gaynell and Jill dive into a fun and meaningful tradition: choosing three words to guide them through 2025. Inspired by Steve Sanduski’s practice, they share their words—ranging from transformation and simplicity to kindness and embodiment—and discuss how these themes will shape their personal and professional lives. Along the way, they reflect on childhood memories, personal growth, and the power of intentional living.

Tune in for an uplifting conversation filled with laughter, self-discovery, and inspiration for your own journey into the new year.

Links: https://www.threadsculture.com/core-values-examples

Facebook: SpelLife

Instagram: SpelLifeInstagram

Steve Sanduski: https://stevesanduski.com/my-3-polarities-2025/

Kim’s passion for serving her clients is inspired by her father, Frank Ciccarelli, a financial planning pioneer. Kim is committed to the unity of the community and education, and is a strong advocate for family engagement in financial education. She is a graduate of Leadership Collier and Leadership Institute, and is a leadership league member. Kim has lived in Naples for more than 40 years. She lives with her husband, Jan, a family business consultant. Kim is blessed with three step-children: Joseph, Susan, and Barbara; and is the proud “Nana Kim” to ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In addition to spending time with her family, Kim enjoys the outdoors, writing, reading autobiographies, experiencing and learning about the world through travel, and special dining experiences.

Join us for coffee and a candid conversation and learn about the power of breath and how breath affects stress responses, belly fat and digestive health, overall strength and energy levels, brain clarity, and health longevity! Gaynell and Jill discuss what exactly is the muscle recovery system, otherwise referred to as our “core” muscle group. We learn the uniqueness of this group of muscles in its attributes and functional mechanisms that fundamentally influence all other functions in the body.  Our “core” muscle group:

Enhances sport performance and power.

Decompresses joints and controls posture and stability.

Reduces incidence of injury.

Responsible for the strength of the lymphatic drainage and blood circulation systems.

Optimizes breath and lung performance.

Optimizes heart and abdominal organ function for strong immunity. 

Directly influences the body responses to “stress” and “rest and recovery.”

Directly influences brain function and health.

Gaynell gives a visual description of this unique and often neglected muscle group and gives some step-by-step instructions to learn to breathe optimally and engage your “core” optimally.  It is in understanding how our body works that empowers us to become the “sole owners” of our being and take accountability for our life choices that affect our ability to thrive. 

Gaynell is a Concierge Physical Therapist specializing in muscle recovery health, sports enhancement and injury prevention, and abdominal and pelvic health.  

Contact information:

[email protected]

[email protected]

239.398.5631

instagram.com/gaynelldpt1234/

www.coretofloorwellness.com

Learn how true leadership begins with mastering your own wellbeing using a holistic approach. In this inspiring episode, Dr. Kathryn Tapper aka Dr. KTap unpacks her personal experience with chronic illness, and challenges the traditional view of health through her professional lens as a holistic concierge physician and wellness expert. She empowers women to reconnect with their inner vitality, redefine health beyond the physical, and lead with power and purpose in both work and life.

Dr. Kathryn Tapper, affectionately known as Dr. KTap, is a Mayo Clinic-trained Family Medicine Physician, transformational speaker, and holistic health and lifestyle expert. Practicing as a holistic concierge physician in the heart of Naples, FL, Dr. KTap offers a unique, personalized approach to healthcare. She provides tailored, in-depth care to families and individuals, focusing on treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Her concierge model ensures that patients receive unparalleled attention, accessibility, and a wellness-centered experience, making her approach distinctive in the Naples community.

With over a decade of experience, Dr. KTap’s mission through her business, GLOW Coaching, is to empower high-achieving women to thrive by rediscovering their wellness from chaos to calm. GLOW Coaching offers group and individual wellness services designed to help women reconnect with their wholeness to experience connection, inner calm and confidence.

Recently featured on MSN as one of the "Top 15 Health Experts You Need to Know," Dr. KTap will soon be releasing her first book, *You Are Greater Than Your Diagnosis*. 

When asked to share her personal journey with chronic illness and how it has shaped her approach to wellness and leadership, Dr KTap describes her experience of illness, dependency on dialysis, and undergoing two kidney transplants.  She reports that she is grateful for her health today and grateful to be a patient before being a Dr. because she is now able to truly see through the lens of a patient and what they may be going through.  This has given her a very strong sense of empathy, helping her to connect with her patients. Because of her personal experience as a patient and her professional experience as a Doctor, she provides a truly holistic approach to care imbibing both western and eastern care.   Dr KTap describes the process of gaining health and reaching personal goals and how she guides her patients.  She emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, having a vision of who and where you want to be, developing a plan, and executing that plan!   In her upcoming book “You are Greater Than Your Diagnosis”, Dr KTap briefly describes transformational steps taken to avoid being defined by a diagnosis and living beyond the confines of that diagnosis.  Dr. KTap gives us some great “take aways” anyone can utilize today to keep their “cup of energy” overflowing so they may excel in their work or in their care for others. 

Programs Dr.Ktap offers:

Holistic Consierge practice: Personalized, individualized care.

• Different aspects she looks at including bloodwork and physical exams

Has an 8 week coaching program ”Empowered Wellness for Women” 

• Sets the fondation to finding the power within yourself so you can really GLOW

In the moment you feel the despair, TAKE A BREATH

Seek help, You can’t do everything on your own. It is okay to ask for help, does not mean you are weak!

If you are not GLOWING-Seek help!

Social Media Connections:

Website: www.drktap.com

IG: www.instagram.com/drktap/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drktap/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drktap/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@DrKTap