Today I’m talking to Philly J Lay - author of The Natural Wellness Journal, host of The Wellness Way Podcast, and the creator of the Wellness Way Festival and her upcoming Health Hub day at the College of Naturopathic Medicine on 1 March.

Philly is often seen as a controversial character - but what I’ve always loved about her is that she’s relentlessly fighting for the greater good, even when that means being shut down or shadow banned. In this episode, she shares more of her personal story - including surviving a near-death medical procedure, living with chronic illness and autoimmune issues, facing a thyroid tumour, and then choosing to take a very different path to healing.

We talk about the pieces so many people don’t address when it comes to healing - trauma, mindset, nervous system, community support, and the environment you’re asking your body to live in. We also get into practical, real-life wellness - food shopping without going broke, reducing toxic load, simple daily breathwork, EFT/tapping, gratitude, and why finding “your people” matters more than doing any of it perfectly.

Important note: This conversation is for educational purposes and personal opinion only. Nothing discussed is medical advice. If anything brings up questions for you, please speak with your own medical professional.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting health information, pressured into decisions when you’re scared, or like you just want to understand your body better - this one will give you plenty to think about.

In this episode, we cover

• Philly’s story - from spinal surgery trauma and two years in bed, to rebuilding her health
• Autoimmune issues, thyroid surgery, and why she chose to step away from conventional routes (in her own case)
• The mind-body-spirit approach - and why healing is rarely “one magic thing”
• Trauma, emotional load, and the patterns we carry in the body
• EFT tapping, matrix re-imprinting, journalling - and “you can’t clean the house unless you can see the dirt”
• Informed consent - what it can look like to ask better questions and slow decisions down
• Breathwork as a daily non-negotiable (even if you’re busy)
• Food as information - simple ways Philly reduces “toxic load” without spending a fortune
• A very honest chat about platforms, censorship, and why certain wellness topics get flagged
• The Wellness Way Health Hub - what it is, who it’s for, and what you can expect on the day
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About Philly J Lay

Philly J Lay is the author of The Natural Wellness Journal, host of The Wellness Way Podcast, and the creator of the Wellness Way Festival and in-person Health Hub events. She’s known for her blunt honesty, deep research, and passion for helping people feel empowered to learn how their bodies work - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Events mentioned

Wellness Way Health Hub - Sunday 1 March 2026 (College of Naturopathic Medicine). CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Philly is bringing together guest speakers, practitioners, workshops, and wellness testing/tech for a full day of learning and support.

Discount code: PHILLY20 (20% off tickets)

Join us at my retreat…Wilderness Reserve Retreat

If listening to this has you craving proper nervous system support, deep rest, and the kind of environment where you can actually exhale - my Wilderness Reserve Retreat (Suffolk) is 6-9 March 2026. We’ll be weaving in so many of the tools we talk about here - breathwork, EFT/tapping, regulation, beautiful food, and real healing conversations. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Come and connect with me!

Instagram: @cancercuredme

Website: www.balancedbodyandretreats.com

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