The Western Hippie | Holistic Healing for dogs, horses, and humans

In this informal and heartfelt catch-up episode, Michaela shares a personal lesson she had to relearn the hard way: sometimes the most powerful medicine isn’t a supplement, protocol, or remedy — it’s rest.

After pushing through early signs of illness, Michaela found herself dealing with extended fatigue that forced her to fully slow down. What could have been a few days of recovery turned into weeks of exhaustion — not because her body failed her, but because she resisted what it was asking for.

This episode explores a cultural blind spot many of us share: a broken relationship with rest. Michaela talks about how overworking, productivity guilt, and the desire to “push through” can actually prolong healing — and how learning to listen to the body changes everything.

She dives into:
 • Why fatigue is often a healing signal, not a problem
 • How resisting rest can extend recovery time
 • Workaholism as an emotional escape pattern
 • Why we prefer solutions that don’t require change
 • Learning to see the body as an ally, not an enemy
 • The layered lessons behind quitting caffeine and burnout
 • The difference between sitting still and truly resting
 • Rebuilding a healthy relationship with downtime
 • The creative and intuitive power that comes from doing nothing

This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask:
 When your body says no… do you listen?

Timestamps (20 min episode)

00:00 – Informal Catch-Up & “When the Body Says No”
02:10 – Getting Sick & Resisting Rest
04:20 – Fatigue as a Healing Phase
06:10 – Work as an Escape & Productivity Guilt
08:00 – Why We Resist What the Body Needs
09:45 – The Body Is Always on Your Side
11:20 – Lessons from Quitting Caffeine
13:10 – The Difference Between Sitting & Resting
14:50 – Rebuilding a Relationship with Rest
16:10 – “Doing Nothing Leads to the Best Something”
17:30 – Final Reflections & Listener Invitation

Links Mentioned:

• Email for Dr. Mark DePaolo Q&A interest:
[email protected]

Keywords (comma separated)

rest and healing, fatigue and recovery, holistic health mindset, nervous system rest, burnout recovery, listening to your body, productivity guilt, western hippie podcast, mind body connection, healing through rest, body signals, work life balance healing

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In this second foundational episode of The Western Hippie Podcast, Michaela walks listeners through a major mindset shift in how we approach health for ourselves and our animals.

Most of the time, we’re taught to treat symptoms — inflammation, joint pain, thyroid issues, skin problems — without asking the deeper question: what is causing the inflammation in the first place?

Using her own dog Willie’s health journey as an example, Michaela shares how she moved from throwing every “best” joint supplement at the problem… to stepping back and asking whether she was treating the effect instead of the cause. That shift led her to explore liver function, toxin overload, and detox pathways — and ultimately changed how she approaches healing altogether.

This episode dives into:
 • Why inflammation is an effect, not the root cause
 • The “fire vs. arsonist” metaphor for symptom-chasing
 • How toxin overload can overwhelm the liver and drive disease
 • Why simplifying diet and digestion creates space for healing
 • The importance of establishing a baseline before detoxing
 • How to think in terms of root cause instead of labels and diagnoses
 • Building “bumper lanes” so you can experiment safely and confidently

This conversation isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about learning how to think in a way that leads to true sovereignty — where you feel empowered to understand your animal’s body instead of feeling dependent on complicated protocols.

These foundational episodes are designed to be returned to again and again, because everything else builds on this way of thinking.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Why This Is a Foundational Episode
01:40 – The Problem with Treating Symptoms
03:10 – Willie’s Health Crash & The Turning Point
05:10 – Diet Changes vs. Root Cause
06:40 – The Fire vs. Arsonist Metaphor
08:10 – How Toxins Overload the Liver
10:00 – Why Inflammation Is an Effect
11:30 – Creating “Bumper Lanes” for Safe Experimentation
13:00 – Detox, Baseline, and Rebuild Phases
15:00 – Willie’s Progress After Detoxing
16:40 – Applying Root-Cause Thinking to All Health
17:50 – What’s Coming Next (Ozone Therapy Teaser)

LINKS:

• Herbs of the World – Cellular Detox: https://herbsoftheworld.com/products/cellular-detox%E2%84%A2-p56-for-pets?_pos=3&_psq=cellular+detox&_ss=e&_v=1.0

• EpiGenius for Dogs (joint + gut + vitamin support): https://ishoppurium.com/?giftcard=thewesternhippie

 • EE System (regenerative light therapy): https://www.unifydhealing.com/locations

 • Book: The Emotion Code: https://amzn.to/4q3jToZ

 • Dr. Mark DiPaolo / Ozactin / Ozone Therapy: https://www.depaoloequineconcepts.com/collections/ozactin

 • Your email for Q&A interest: [email protected]

KEYWORDS:

root cause healing, dog detox, liver detox for dogs, inflammation in dogs, holistic dog health, toxin overload, dog arthritis natural support, gut and liver health dogs, foundational healing principles, western hippie podcast, holistic animal health, dog health sovereignty

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In this episode of The Western Hippie Podcast, I sit down with Danielle for a deep, honest conversation about dog health, gut healing, and why simple often works better than complicated.

We talk about why raw food doesn’t work for every dog, how gut inflammation shows up as skin issues, reflux, and chronic symptoms, and why so many pets are struggling today despite their owners “doing everything right.” Danielle shares her personal journey healing her nearly 19-year-old dog, what actually made the difference, and why foundational gut support comes before supplements.

This conversation also dives into:

• Why home-cooked food can be more supportive than raw or kibble
• How fear-based messaging keeps pet owners overwhelmed and stuck
• The role of the gut in immune, skin, and neurological health
• Why over-supplementing can backfire
• How slowing down and simplifying can lead to real healing

If you’ve felt confused, discouraged, or overwhelmed trying to support your dog’s health, this episode will help you zoom out, reconnect to the basics, and approach healing with confidence instead of fear.

This is an educational conversation meant to empower you with perspective, not overwhelm you with protocols.

Connect & Learn from Danielle:

Danielle's Instagram

Book a 1:1 Session with Danielle

Join Danielle's Skool

Connect with Michaela

Michaela's Instagram

Keywords

dog gut health, holistic dog health, natural dog healing, dog digestion issues, gut healing for dogs, dog immune system health, pet gut health, holistic pet care, western hippie podcast, dog food inflammation, raw food for dogs pros and cons, home cooked dog food, over supplementing dogs, dog detox safely, natural dog detox, dog longevity, aging dogs naturally, best diet for dogs with gut issues, signs of gut inflammation in dogs, how to heal dog gut naturally, simplifying dog health, empowered dog owners, holistic dog nutrition

Disclaimer:
This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and is not medical or veterinary advice. Always use your own discernment and consult with a licensed professional when making decisions about your animal’s health.

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In this foundational episode of The Western Hippie Podcast, Michaela lays out one of the core principles behind everything she teaches, shares, and stands for: learning how to think is far more important than being told what to think.

Drawing from her background in horse training, home building, health, and personal healing, Michaela explains why foundations matter — and how the habits, beliefs, and thought patterns we build early on determine whether something can withstand pressure over time.

This episode explores why values matter, how discernment works, and why blindly following information (even well-intentioned information) can quietly lead us away from where we actually want to go. Michaela shares how she learned to stop outsourcing her authority — in health, dog care, spirituality, and life — and instead build what she calls bumper lanes that allow for experimentation without losing sovereignty.

You’ll hear about:

• Why foundations determine long-term outcomes (in horses, health, and life)
• How to identify whether someone’s values align with where you want to go
• The difference between believing blindly and discerning deliberately
• Why overcomplication is often a fear tactic
• How to audit your thoughts instead of adopting them
• Establishing “bumper lanes” so you can experiment safely
• Why certainty is often more persuasive than truth
• How to stay in control of your mind in an information-saturated world

This episode is for anyone who wants to feel more confident in their decisions — whether for themselves, their dogs, or their horses — without outsourcing their intuition or authority.

This is the episode Michaela will continue to point people back to as they enter her world, because everything else builds on this foundation.

🔗 Referenced Episode

Why I chose NOT to take Ozempic: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1968454/episodes/16290788

What’s Coming Next

An upcoming interview with Danielle from Detoxify to Purify, sharing how her 18.5-year-old dog is thriving — and what happens when we’re willing to question mainstream narratives and test what actually works.

Keywords / Tags

discernment, critical thinking, holistic health philosophy, western hippie podcast, intuition and logic, thought audits, values and identity, animal health advocacy, sovereignty, healing foundations

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In this short and deeply honest episode of The Western Hippie Podcast, Michaela shares what she’s learning in real time as she navigates grief after losing her childhood horse — her heart horse.

This episode explores a truth that often gets pushed aside in personal development and healing spaces: sometimes the healing isn’t in being okay — it’s in letting yourself not be okay.

Michaela reflects on how our culture is obsessed with managing, numbing, or bypassing pain instead of allowing it to do what it’s meant to do: transform us. She shares how grief, sadness, anger, and discomfort all have a purpose — and how suppressing them often leads to trapped emotions, physical symptoms, and deeper disconnection from ourselves.

She also revisits a pivotal moment in her own healing journey and explains why saying “it’s okay” when it isn’t can quietly create distrust within ourselves and block our intuition.

This episode is for anyone who:

• Is grieving the loss of an animal or loved one
• Feels pressure to “be okay” before they actually are
• Notices themselves numbing, scrolling, or distracting instead of feeling
• Needs permission to sit with uncomfortable emotions without fixing them
• Wants a more honest, embodied approach to healing

You don’t need to rush your grief.
 You don’t need to manage your pain away.
 And you don’t need to pretend you’re okay to be healing.

Referenced Episode (Highly Recommended Listen)

Michaela references a powerful earlier episode in this conversation — one she still revisits herself — where she first learned that freedom came from admitting something wasn’t okay:

Listen here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1968454/episodes/11174797

Keywords / Tags (for podcast platforms)

grief after losing a pet, pet loss healing, animal grief, emotional suppression, trapped emotions, healing grief, nervous system healing, intuition and trust, trauma-informed healing, western hippie podcast

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In this episode of The Western Hippie Podcast, Michaela opens up about navigating grief after losing one of her soul animals — her horse, Capone — and shares what she’s actually doing in real time to move through grief without suppressing it.

This isn’t a “just remember the good times” conversation.
 It’s an honest look at why grief is so uncomfortable in our culture, how suppressing it creates trapped emotions, and what it looks like to let grief move through the body in a healthy way — especially when it comes to the animals who shape our lives so deeply.

Michaela talks about:

• Why grief isn’t something to “fix” or rush through
• How suppressed grief can show up later as anxiety, depression, or physical pain
• Identifying your go-to protective or numbing mechanisms
• Approaching yourself with curiosity instead of criticism
• Using creativity as a way to transmit grief, not avoid it
• Why isolation makes grief harder — and how support helps release it
• What horses have taught her about emotion, protest, intelligence, and healing

This episode is for anyone who has loved an animal deeply, lost one, or feels like they were never taught how to actually grieve — just how to keep going.

You don’t have to be okay yet.
 And you don’t have to do this alone.

Links & Support Mentioned in the Episode:

• Book a 1:1 emotional release / trauma healing session with Michaela:
 https://stan.store/msmichaelamae

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When conventional vets say “there’s nothing else we can do,” that’s when these treatments step in.

In this episode, Ms. Michaela Mae breaks down the holistic “Hail Mary” treatments every dog owner should know about — from energy medicine to cutting-edge therapies that give dogs a second chance at life.

You’ll learn about the treatments most people never hear about until it’s too late, and how to find (and afford) real healing options that work with your dog’s body — not against it.

If you’ve ever felt powerless after a diagnosis, this episode will help you take your power (and your dog’s health) back.

Free Trainings & Resources

The Substance That Must Not Be Named Training → https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/mmstraining

Free Dog First Aid Kit → https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/dogfirstaidkit

1:1 Session / Support → https://stan.store/msmichaelamae

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Intro | What Are “Hail Mary” Treatments?
 04:20 – The Turning Point: Why Owners Deserve More Options
 10:10 – Energy-Based Therapies (EE System, Scalar Light & More)
 16:40 – Ozone, Acupuncture, & Laser Healing for Dogs
 25:00 – Hormone Therapy & Fasting for Recovery
 33:45 – Detoxing, Diet, and the “Do No Harm” Philosophy
 42:00 – Real Talk: Hope, Healing, and Holistic Advocacy

LINKS:

Supplements & Support

EpiGenius for Dogs → https://ishoppurium.com/?giftcard=thewesternhippie

Pet Health and Nutrition Center → https://www.pethealthandnutritioncenter.com/

Cellular Detox for Dogs → https://herbsoftheworld.com/products/cellular-detox%E2%84%A2-p56-for-pets

Gut Support → https://a.co/d/8QnNz27

Treatments & Practitioners

Visit an EE / Light System → https://www.unifydhealing.com/

Find a Vet for Ozone → https://o3pets.com/pages/vet-map

Find an Acupuncture or Holistic Vet → https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/#!directory/map/

Erik Verdouw Physical Therapy → https://www.erikverdouw.com/

Dr. Karen Becker → https://drkarenbecker.com/

Additional Reading

FDA Report: Pentobarbital in Dog Food → https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/cvm-foia-electronic-reading-room/food-and-drug-administrationcenter-veterinary-medicine-report-risk-pentobarbital-dog-food

The Forever Dog by Dr. Karen Becker & Rodney Habib → https://foreverdog.com/

Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. I’m not a veterinarian — just a holistic practitioner and dog mom sharing what’s worked for my clients and community. Always consult with your vet or trusted animal-health professional before making changes to your dog’s care plan.

Support the show

When your dog is suddenly in pain, can’t walk, or loses mobility, it’s terrifying — especially when surgery feels like the only option.

In this episode, Ms. Michaela Mae dives into IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) — what it is, why it happens, and how recovery without surgery is possible through a holistic approach.

Drawing from her experience helping clients navigate IVDD, Michaela breaks down what’s actually going on in the spine, the steps she’s seen work time and time again, and the mindset shift required to support your dog’s healing process. From detoxification and gut health to ozone therapy, chiropractic care, and physical rehab, she shares a full roadmap for supporting the body naturally — and most importantly, compassionately.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by diagnosis or unsure where to turn, this episode will remind you that there are more options than you might think — and that hope, science, and nature can coexist beautifully.

Get My Free Dog First-Aid Kit
https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/dogfirstaidkit

Book a 1:1 Consultation

stan.store/msmichaelamae

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro | Understanding IVDD
 05:30 – What’s Happening in the Spine
 12:10 – The Body’s Ability to Heal Naturally
 18:40 – My Approach to Supporting Recovery
 25:55 – Supplements That Make a Difference
 33:20 – Ozone, Laser, and Physical Therapy
 40:00 – Empowering Dog Owners to Choose Holistic Options

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• EpiGenius for Dogs: https://ishoppurium.com/?giftcard=thewesternhippie
  
  
• Animal Essentials: https://animalessentials.com/
  
  
• Pet Health & Nutrition Center: https://www.pethealthandnutritioncenter.com/
  
  
• Cellular Detox for Dogs: https://herbsoftheworld.com/products/cellular-detox%E2%84%A2-p56-for-pets
  
  
• Gut Support: https://a.co/d/8QnNz27
  
  
• EE / Light System: https://www.unifydhealing.com/
  
  
• Find a Vet for Ozone: https://o3pets.com/pages/vet-map
  
  
• Find an Acupuncture or Holistic Vet: https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/#!directory/map/
  
  
• Erik Verdouw Physical Therapy: https://www.erikverdouw.com/
  
  
• Dr. Karen Becker: https://drkarenbecker.com/
  
  
• FDA Report on Pentobarbital in Dog Food: https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/cvm-foia-electronic-reading-room/food-and-drug-administrationcenter-veterinary-medicine-report-risk-pentobarbital-dog-food

KEYWORDS

ivdd in dogs

ivdd recovery without surgery

ivdd treatment for dogs

intervertebral disc disease dogs

dog back injury recovery

holistic dog health

natural healing for dogs

ivdd dog recovery

dog spine injury

dog paralysis recovery

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In this episode, Michaela Mae shares her raw and honest journey of quitting caffeine — not as a productivity hack, but as a healing experience.
What started as a simple experiment turned into a powerful look at addiction, intuition, and nervous system regulation.

Michaela unpacks the emotional, physical, and spiritual layers of going caffeine-free — from headaches and habit loops to deeper realizations about using caffeine as a coping mechanism for discomfort and disconnection.

If you’ve ever wondered “Could I actually quit caffeine?” or “Why do I rely on it so much?”, this episode will help you reconnect with your body, your energy, and your natural rhythm of aliveness.

Join my email list for real talk & new episode drops:

https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/d2r6vqphfy

CALI ESTES INTERVIEW:
https://youtu.be/vFxArXAs0aM?si=wxdCdpw_Ic0QrBdU

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Why I Quit Caffeine
 03:25 – How Addiction Isn’t the “What,” It’s the “Why”
 07:40 – My Camping Detox & Breaking the Routine
 11:50 – The Real Withdrawal: Facing Misery Without Stimulants
 16:00 – What I Learned About Energy, Intuition & Sleep
 20:15 – How Quitting Caffeine Changed My Relationship with Work
 23:40 – Lessons I’m Taking Into Quitting Sugar

KEYWORDS

quitting caffeine, caffeine withdrawal, addiction recovery, nervous system healing, sugar detox, holistic wellness, caffeine-free journey, burnout recovery, self awareness, energy healing, healing your body, intuitive living

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In this episode, Ms. Michaela Mae reframes one of the biggest myths in self-development: the idea of self-sabotage.

What if you’re not sabotaging yourself at all — you’re protecting yourself?

Michaela dives into the psychology and physiology behind “stuck” behavior — showing how our nervous system, subconscious mind, and emotional body are wired to keep us safe, not sabotage us. She explores what’s really happening when we procrastinate, shut down, overthink, or repeat old patterns… and how to meet those protective parts of ourselves with compassion instead of criticism.

Join my email list for real talk & new episode drops:
https://thewesternhippie.myflodesk.com/d2r6vqphfy

If you’ve ever wondered why you can know what to do but still struggle to do it — this episode will help you connect the dots between safety, behavior, and true self-trust.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – What If Self-Sabotage Isn’t Real?
 03:10 – The Science of Safety & the Nervous System
 06:45 – The Root of Procrastination, Avoidance & Shutdown
 10:20 – When “Fear of Failure” Is Actually Fear of Overexposure
 14:00 – Reframing Self-Sabotage as Self-Protection
 18:30 – Compassion-Based Awareness & Integration
 22:00 – Final Thoughts | Safety as the Foundation for Growth

LINKS:

Miley Cyrus Episode on The Ms. Michaela Mae Show

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2544416/episodes/17986305

Ozempic Episode on The Western Hippie Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1968454/episodes/16290788

KEYWORDS:

self sabotage, nervous system regulation, self protection, trauma healing, emotional safety, self trust, procrastination, inner child, subconscious mind, healing journey, self awareness

Support the show