Are you ready to toss the toxins and get back to basics? I sure am! Today's guest is the ever courageous Allison Evans. I first discovered Allison after hearing her story through Branch Basics.

Allison is a co-founder of Branch Basics. She has dedicated herself to helping others reap the benefits of clean living after experiencing life-changing healing from living in an environment free of toxic chemicals. 

I won’t dive into her story here because I want to let her tell you for herself, but Allison loves researching all things holistic parenting, clean eating, and she especially loves helping others navigate their health journeys. 

This episode is really important to me because I recently learned I have endometriosis, and it threw my baby-making plans for a loop. After connecting with Allison and hearing her story, I discovered I’m not alone in this hormonal struggle. 

My intention with this episode is to ensure women are informed and are provided the tools and education they need to be proactive in their overall health. 

• Allison's health journey and what led to the creation of Branch Basics (4:47)
• How toxic products are disrupting our endocrine system (10:30)
• How we have become desensitized to fragrance (13:40)
• The importance of becoming more comfortable with the smell of clean (17:13)
• About Lyme Disease and how Allison is treating it holistically (18:00)
• Allison's feelings about birth control being used for symptom management (24:19)
• The first thing to do if you have endocrine-related symptoms (25:07)
• How to avoid overwhelm when removing toxins from your home (29:24)
• All about the wonders of Branch Basics (31:06)
• The two main categories of cleaning products and how we are depleting our gut bacteria through our cleaning products (33:45)
• The power of using Branch Basics for your laundry (38:10)
• Allison's challenge for you (40:19)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@branchbasics and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

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ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Want to snag 10% off your first Branch Basics Starter Kit? Click here and use code COURAGE at checkout.

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COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/toss-the-toxins/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Don't let the word trauma discourage you from tuning in. Trauma looks different to everyone and comes in many different shades and colors. Today's guest, Dr. Nicole LePera, best known as the holistic psychologist, is joining us on The Courageously.u Podcast to deliver the tools you need to begin your self-healing journey.

Dr. Nicole LePera was trained in clinical psychology at Cornell University and the New School for Social Research and studied at the Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis. She is a holistic psychologist whose work addresses the connection between the mind, body, and soul, incorporating overall lifestyle and psychological wellness practices.

She is the creator of the #SelfHealers movement, where people from around the world are joining together in community to take healing into their own hands. Her first book, How to Do the Work, is currently in pre-order with a release date of March 2021. 

• All about the A.C.E. scale and how people are suffering wounding in childhood that is continuing to impair their level of functioning outside the traditional ten-point scale (11:05)
• What reparenting is (13:23)
• What the process of reparenting looks like (15:46)
• Why we need consciousness to create change (18:51)
• Markers that might imply someone has a wounded child (22:20)
• If there is a correlation between borderline personality and a wounded child (25:40)
• The importance of attachment with your parents and how it can impact future relationships (27:10)
• Why people seek relationships to meet their needs (33:34)
• What needs to change before other people can know us (37:16)
• The importance of putting boundaries in place, how to put them in place, and what codependency looks like (39:49)
• What is ego, and how does it operate in our daily life (51:24)
• Ways to begin healing your ego (57:26)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@the.holistic.psychologist and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

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ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Click here to download your anxiety freebie today!

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COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/nicole-lepera/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Jen Lancaster is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Here I Go Again and The Gatekeepers; the nonfiction works Bitter Is the New Black, Such a Pretty Fat, and Bright Lights, Big Ass; and the memoirs Stories I’d Tell in Bars, Generation X, My Fair Lazy, Pretty in Plaid, and I Regret Nothing, which was named an Amazon Best Book of the Year.

Her latest book, Welcome to the United States of Anxiety: Observations from a Reforming Neurotic, is an absolute must read. 

Jen is regularly a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards. She has sold well over a million books documenting her attempts to shape up, grow up, and have it all—sometimes with disastrous results. She’s also been seen on the Today show, as well as CBS This Morning, Fox News, and NPR’s All Things Considered, among others. On top of all this, she is real, and that’s why I love her. 

IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: 

• What inspired Jen to write Welcome to the United States of Anxiety (8:07)
• What anxiety looks like to Jen (9:58)
• What Jen gained from asking herself, "What would be the worst thing if I admitted I was afraid, this makes me anxious; I don't like this." (12:09)
• Why Jen based anxiety on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (13:36)
• Jens belief of what triggers people the most (15:13)
• Whether or not Jen likes the Kardashians (18:00)
• Why Jen feels food can leave you anxious (20:25)
• How comparison leads to anxiety (24:40)
• The negative impact of social media (32:27)
• The message we are getting from HGTV (34:02)
• How keeping up with the Joneses is increasing anxiety (37:02)
• The role policing plays in anxiety (41:23)
• How our political climate is impacting us (45:36)
• The phrase that will make your life easier (48:28)
• Jens view of hate crimes (54:15)
• The cons of posting pictures of your kiddos on social (58:56)
• What helps Jen manage her anxiety (1:02:25)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@jennsylvania and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

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ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Want to win a copy of Welcome to the United States of America? All you have to do to enter is rate and review The Courageously.u Podcast on Apple Podcasts. By doing this, you help more courageous souls find the show.

After leaving your review, email your screenshot to [email protected], and you’ll automatically be entered to win a copy of Welcome to the United States of Anxiety.

The lucky winner will be announced on November 4th.

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COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/jen-lancaster/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

On my continued quest to help break the commonly held belief surrounding mental illness, I bring you today's guest, Dr. Kabran Chapek. 

Dr. Kabran Chapek has been a staff physician at Amen Clinics since 2013. As a graduate of Bastyr University in the Seattle area, he is an expert in the use of functional and integrative treatments. Dr. Chapek is the founding president of the Psychiatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians, an affiliate group of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. 

He is also the author of Concussion Rescue, an amazing book that describes the programs and protocols he uses at the Amen Clinics to put patients on a pathway to recovery. For anyone struggling with the effects of concussion, Concussion Rescue guides you through strategies from the cutting edge of brain science. 

Why does this episode matter? 

Most people believe that mental illness is solely the result of a chemical imbalance, and that’s just not true. 

Dr. Chapek educates us on the role that brain injury plays in psychiatric illness. Having had multiple head injuries myself, I found concussion rescue to be very insightful. 

If you have ever had a brain injury, know someone who has, or want to be proactive in regards to your mental health, this episode is for you. 

IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: 

• Why brain imaging is helpful (6:20)
• That brain injuries can cause mental health problems (9:50)
• Things to do immediately if you injury your brain (13:34)
• What you need to place in your car (15:14)
• What to do if there are signs of a concussion (16:23)
• Symptoms of a concussion (16:42)
• How brain injury leads to mental health problems (18:24)
• The BRIGHT MINDS risk factors (22:59)
• How brain injury can lead to sleep problems and tips to improve sleep (29:39)
• What to do if you don't have access to SPECT imaging (33:51)
• How diet influences brain health (36:12)
• Dr. Chapek's final tip to help improve mental health (39:20)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@drkabran_chapek and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

__________

ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Save 10% on your Four Sigmatic purchase with code: COURAGE10

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COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/kabran-chapek/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's episode is a courageous story of a female endurance athlete who went from the top of her game to an emotional breakdown that had her living with thoughts of suicide.

Sonja Wieck is a top Ironman triathlete with nothing but passion, drive, and determination. She can be seen leading her group of three men on Team Iron Cowboy on Mark Burnett’s new competition show “World’s Toughest Race Eco-Challenge Fiji” hosted by Bear Grylls, which can be seen on Amazon Prime.  

At the ripe age of 40, she is a 6x Kona Ironman World Championship Qualifier and Competitor, has participated in 18 Ironman competitions, came in 2nd place at Kona Ironman World Female 35-39 age group, was named the Ironman All World Female 35-39 Champion, Tokyo’s Joe’s Athlete of the Month, participated in multiple Ultramarathons finishing up to 100 miles, ran the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in 12 hours, and that’s just the half of it.

Sonja Wieck states her mission is simple. She wants to encourage men and women of all ages that you can push yourself to do the impossible, but if you strive for success and achievement for your own ego, you will be left unfulfilled. It is when you pursue your dreams for your own personal growth, you learn the most about yourself and are able to show up best for others around you. Sonja wants people to know life is about more than ourselves but giving back and helping others, and this is what is missing from competitive sports.

IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: 

• What it's like to compete in the worlds toughest race (6:05)
• What led to Sonja's breakdown (10:05)
• Sonjas feelings surrounding normalizing mental health struggles in sports (16:40)
• What Sonja's breakdown looked like (18:27)
• Sonja's breakdown red flags that were ignored (22:59)
• What helped Sonja cope with her symptoms (25:42)
• The concept that was one of the hardest things for Sonja to break down in therapy (30:15)
• What Sonja was feeling when she was having suicidal ideations (35:02)
• The advice she would give to herself if she could go back in time (41:00)
• The details behind Sonjas continued struggle with anxiety and how she manages it (42:28)
• How Sonja went from breakdown to the worlds toughest race (46:38)
• The practice Sonja engages in prior to making commitments (52:18)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@gosonja and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

__________

ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Get 10% off your first Primally Pure order with code: COURAGE10

Ready to have freedom from your anxiety? Download my 4-week action plan today.

__________⁣⁣

COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/sonja-wieck/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Are you struggling to get pregnant? Do you want a baby in the future? Have you been told you're infertile? Want to learn how to improve your fertility? If yes, this episode is for you.

Dr. Cleopatra is a scientist and university professor specializing in the intersection of reproductive health, human flourishing, and how health is transmitted from one generation to the next. She provides fertility and pregnancy consulting to women and families nationally and internationally through her signature In Bloom Programs, Inner Circle, and personalized, comprehensive one-on-one consulting.

Dr. Cleopatra combines a lifetime of scientific knowledge with Eastern traditions and experiential wisdom to guide women through the many unknowns and mountains of conflicting, confusing information that they face as individuals, mothers, and professionals. And she does this in the most green, natural, compassionate, objective, real, heart-centered way possible. This rare combination of qualities is her signature and the gift that she offers with love, joy, gratitude, and dreams of blissful mommies, babies, and families, everywhere.

• Why you don't want to "just have sex and make your baby" (8:36)
• Why you can not outsource your fertility pyramid (11:41)
• What fertility is (12:05)
• What a "primemester" is (13:56)
• Whether or not you can reverse reproductive aging (16:35)
• What a "super baby" is (19:54)
• The rate of miscarriage and common reasons for why they occur (21:23)
• The role lifestyle and mental health plays in fertility (25:52)
• Why the brain will always prioritize safety over reproduction (30:00)
• The five levels of the fertility pyramid (34:42)
• Why you should avoid caffeine if you are trying to get pregnant (38:41)
• The role foods play in fertility (43:29)
• How birth control impacts fertility (48:03)
• What involuntary childlessness is (55:44)
• The first step to take to improve fertility (1:02:06)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@doctor_cleopatra and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

__________

ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Get 10% off your first Primally Pure order with code: COURAGE10

__________⁣⁣

COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/alex-korb/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is Robert Whitaker. Robert is an American journalist and author who has won numerous awards as a journalist covering medicine and science, including the George Polk Award for Medical Writing and a National Association for Science Writers' Award for best magazine article.

In 1998, he co-wrote a series on psychiatric research for the Boston Globe that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. His first book, Mad in America, was named by Discover magazine as one of the best science books of 2002. Anatomy of an Epidemic won the 2010 Investigative Reporters and Editors book award for best investigative journalism. He is also the publisher of madinamerica.com.

Today's episode focuses on a topic very near and dear to my heart. I hope the information and awareness you gain adds value to your life the same way it did mine. If you're ready, lets head into today's courageous conversation with the one and only, Robert Whitaker. 

P.S. Take a screenshot of you tuning in, share it, and tag @courageously.u

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COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/robert-whitaker/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Given the season of life we are in, I felt it was only fitting to do an episode on depression. I don't know about you, but I'm no stranger to struggling with depressed mood. 

Today's guest is Dr. Alex Korb. 

Dr. Korb is a neuroscientist, writer, and coach. He has studied the brain for over 20 years and is the bestselling author of The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time.

He earned his undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Brown University and then later completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience at UCLA. He has published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles on depression, neuromodulation, and other topics. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor at UCLA in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, as well as vice-president of research and development for BrainSonix. 

In today's episode, we talk about: 

• What depression looks like in the brain (5:40)
• The roles the cortex and limbic system play in depression (8:31)
• How the "spiral" begins (11:25)
• The role genetics play in depression (18:09)
• What the upward spiral is (23:44)
• What contributes to seasonal depression and how you can manage your symptoms (28:52)
• Why feeling terrible is a natural part of life (38:03)
• The correlation between suicide and depression (41:09)
• The importance of moving your body (48:32)
• Why there is power in putting emotions into words (50:53)
• Why you should start small if depressed (57:16)
• The role habits play in the upward spiral (1:00:54)
• Dr. Alex Korb's thoughts on postpartum depression (1:07:03)

I hope this episode adds tremendous value to your life! Hit play, and join us inside today's episode! 

Take a screenshot of you tuning in, share it, and tag @courageously.u

__________

ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Four Sigmatic: Save 10% on your purchase when you use the code: COURAGE10

__________⁣⁣

COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/alex-korb/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is the insanely courageous Jane Hart. 

Jane is a mother of two courageous boys, a forever student, and a passionate advocate. She also lives with Dissociative identity disorder, formally known as multiple personality disorder. Before starring in A&E's hit documentary series, Many Sides of Jane, Jane wrote articles and spoke out about childhood abuse and the normalization of mental health. She loves to spend her time hiking with her boys, reading, writing, and figuring out more ways to advocate for those who don't have a voice. Did I mention she's also from Boise, Idaho?!? 

My passion for mental health advocacy is real, so I had to shine a light on DID. According to the DSM 5, the defining feature of DID is the presence of two or more distinct personality states or an experience of possession. DID is associated with overwhelming experiences, traumatic events, and/or abuse in childhood. Why does this episode matter? Over 70% of outpatients with DID have attempted suicide, and other self-injurious behavior is frequent. 

In today's episode, we talk about: 

• What Disassociate Identity Disorder (DID) is according to Jane (5:58)
• When Jane began to notice her parts (6:48)
• The pros and cons of DID (7:52)
• What parts are and the many parts of Jane (8:37)
• The movie that inspired Jane to share her story on A&E (14:58)
• How backlash has impacted Jane's life (16:37)
• What it's like to be a mom with DID (20:52)
• What it looks like to switch between identities (23:42)
• Jane's day to day life living with DID (26:31)
• What treatment looks like for individuals living with DID (28:08)
• Jane's advice to individuals living in silence with DID (34:53)
• Parenting tips if you live with DID and have kiddos (39:05)
• How Jane landed a documentary series on A&E (40:40)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@real.janehart and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

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ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

The doors are currently open to Anxiety Management 101, but they close on September 20th. If you're tired of feeling anxious, and are ready to find freedom from your anxiety, click here to join me inside Anxiety Management 101. I hope to see you there! 

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COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/jane-hart/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Uma Naidoo is a Harvard trained, board-certified psychiatrist, nutritionist, and professional chef who married both psychiatry and nutrition to create a beautiful treatment modality designed to help you improve your overall mental health. 

She founded the first hospital-based nutritional psychiatry service in the United States, where she serves as the director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. In her new book, “This Is Your Brain On Food,” Dr. Naidoo explores the fascinating science behind the food-mood link and offers actionable nutrition recommendations and recipes to optimize your mental health.

Having this conversation excited me because it gives me hope for the future of mental health treatment. 

In today's episode, we talk about: 

• The influence food has on our brain (7:46)
• How physical problems can manifest as mental illness (10:32)
• How psychiatric treatments are integrated with nutritional interventions (13:03)
• When Dr. Uma Naidoo recommends pharmaceutical treatment and when she recommends nutritional treatment (16:20)
• If Dr. Naidoo has seen any improvements in symptoms with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder when utilizing nutrition as a form of treatment (21:41)
• What foods to avoid if you're anxious (25:59)
• Foods to add to your diet to help improve anxiety (29:09)
• Why you should speak to your medical provider prior to taking passionflower or chamomile if you are on a blood thinner (31:47)
• Whether or not organic foods play a role in using foods as medicine (33:15)
• How long, on average, it takes to see an improvement in symptoms when dietary changes are made (34:12)
• How to navigate healthy eating if you're an emotional eater (37:15)
• If dieting impacts your mental health (41:48)
• What role alcohol plays in mental health (43:23)
• The role omega 3s play in anxiety (45:52)
• Dr. Uma Naidoo's thoughts on the role food plays in ADHD and autism (46:58)
• Whether or not blood sugar plays a role in panic attacks (50:00)
• Simple tips to improve mental health symptoms (51:19)

I can’t wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I’m @courageously.u— and my guest—@drumanaidoo and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

__________

ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Anxiety Freebie: Get your free 4 week action plan with tips and tricks to help you not only reduce anxiety, but also coexist peacefully with it. Click here to download.

Four Sigmatic: Save 10% on your purchase when you use the code: COURAGE10 at checkout.

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COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES:

https://courageouslyu.com/uma-naidoo/

COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/