Universal Empress Podcast

In this deeply nourishing episode of Self Love Is A Practice, host Nadine
McNeil sits down with her cousin and plant-based culinary artist  Turner Francis-Snellgrove  — founder of Cocoa Yoga and Boho Vegano — for a
conversation that moves from the kitchen to the soul and back again. 

Turner shares her decades-long journey from debilitating food sensitivities and chronic eczema, to discovering a life-changing truth: that what we feed ourselves is one of the most profound expressions of self-love. 

She walks us through the moment a Burger King milkshake brought her to her knees, the London dinner conversation that changed her relationship with dairy, and how — while still working her corporate banking job — she quietly built a coconut yogurt brand from scratch in Dubai. 

That's the move from JOB to JOY. Together, Nadine and Turner explore: 

🌿 Why there is no cookie-cutter approach to nourishing your body 

🌿 The ancestral wisdom of "returning to the foods indigenous to
you" 

🌿 How food presentation is an act of self-respect 

🌿 Label literacy — and why your "chocolate bar" might
actually be a sugar bar 

🌿 Three practical tips for building a loving relationship with what you
eat 

🌿 Why food, movement, and mindfulness are inseparable 

This episode is
timed perfectly with the New Moon in Pisces and the Spring Equinox — the season
of new beginnings, clearing out, and planting seeds in fresh soil. 

✨ "Pay the farmer now — or the doctor later." 

Whether you're just
beginning your wellness journey or you're deep in the practice, this
conversation will leave you looking at your next meal with fresh eyes — and a
fuller heart. 

🔗 Connect with
Turner Francis-Snellgrove : Boho Vegano |
Plant-Based Desserts & Workshops [https://www.instagram.com/bohovegano?igsh=MzZhYjFjdWJuaWZq&utm_source=qr]

🔗 Connect with
Nadine: Universal Empress
| Self-Love Coach & Wisdom Mentor [https://universalempress.com/] 

In this powerful episode of "Self-Love is a Practice," Nadine McNeil (Universal Empress) tackles one of the most confronting aspects of personal development: self-forgiveness. Learn why forgiveness is never about the other person, discover the most transformative definition of self-forgiveness you'll ever hear, and get practical tools to release resentment and reclaim your freedom.

What You'll Learn:

•  The radical definition: Self-forgiveness is relinquishing the hope that things were different.
•  Why forgiveness is ALWAYS about you, never about the other person.
• How unforgiveness keeps you trapped (the "poison you swallow" metaphor)
•  The truth about hurt people hurting people—and breaking the cycle.
• Why your feelings are true even when they're not facts.
•  The Ho'oponopono Hawaiian prayer for forgiveness practice.
• Practical steps to begin forgiving yourself and others.
• Why someone else is probably ruminating about something YOU did to them.
• How the body remembers trauma from childhood. (even when your mind forgets)

When you stop wishing the past was different, you create space for acceptance. Acceptance doesn't mean you're a pushover or will allow yourself to be hurt again—it means you're finally free to move forward. 

The Uncomfortable Truth:
No one intentionally sets out to hurt others (unless they're psychopathic). We're all human, carrying unconscious wounds, unintentionally hurting people while being hurt ourselves. The cycle only breaks when you do your own healing work.

 This episode is a gentle yet powerful invitation to stop carrying the weight of unforgiveness and finally set yourself free.

About Nadine McNeil (Universal Empress): Nadine McNeil is a transformational life coach dedicated to helping people cultivate radical self-love. Through her "Self-Love is a Practice" series, she provides practical, confronting, and deeply healing guidance for reclaiming your power, releasing trauma, and transforming your life one breath at a time. 

Website: https://universalempress.com/

My Book: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Love-Practice-Playbook-tools-ebook/dp/B0C57WCRXT

Store: https://universalempress.com/store

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/universal-empress-podcast/id1846822661

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1t6LxXi6w5BLn26TM81GlF?si=e2cb40f6f8d6473a&nd=1&dlsi=c1a0b16489204d62

What happens when you have everything—the degrees, the career, the luxury car, the designer clothes—but something still feels empty? In this profound episode, Nadine McNeil shares her mid-thirties awakening that changed everything: the realization that what she was doing wasn't aligned with who she was being.

The Turning Point:
Sitting at her desk at UNICEF Indonesia after 15-17 years with the United Nations, Nadine did a self-analysis exercise that ignited her purpose. Four simple columns revealed everything: what she loved doing, her passions, what she was good at, her education, and her experience. The answer was clear—she wanted to work with people, serve humanity globally, and connect to hearts.

The Journey:
From the UN to volunteering with Global Volunteer Network in New Zealand, from working at global level to serving at grassroots, Nadine discovered that nothing brought greater joy than igniting hope in others. But this transformation required deep inner soul work—work that began in an Indian ashram in 2008, guided by principles of serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realize.

The Secret:
Your purpose isn't something you need to find—you already knew it by age seven. Reconnect with your inner child. What did you love doing naturally? Dancing? Painting? Organizing? Driving your toy truck? Your purpose lives somewhere in there.

The Practice:
Reflect on your passions and values. Do the four-column exercise: 

What do you love doing? 

What are you passionate about? 

What are you good at? 

What's your education and experience? 

The intersection reveals your purpose.

"Purpose fuels the heart. Self-love is the engine that drives it forward."
If you're still figuring it out—practice compassion, be gentle with yourself, go back to the drawing board, inquire, notice what speaks to you, and spend time in self-reflection.

Host: Nadine McNeil, Universal Empress
Transforming lives, one breath at a time

Website: https://universalempress.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1t6LxXi6w5BLn26TM81GlF?si=e2cb40f6f8d6473a&nd=1&dlsi=c8ca3a8a20ec45f8

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/universal-empress-podcast/id1846822661

Store: https://universalempress.com/store 

Perfect for: Mid-career professionals questioning their path, anyone feeling unfulfilled despite external success, seekers exploring life purpose, people in career transition, spiritual practitioners 

What if discipline wasn’t about forcing yourself—but about loving yourself enough to show up?
In this grounding and empowering episode, Nadine McNeil reframes discipline as devotion: a sacred, compassionate commitment to your wellbeing.

Many of us resist the word discipline. It feels rigid, harsh, and demanding. But Nadine invites you to see discipline differently—not as punishment, but as self-love in action. After all, self-love is a practice. And whatever we practice, we get good at.

The Reframe:
Discipline isn’t just about pushing through or relying on motivation. It’s about devotion—choosing yourself consistently because you believe you are worthy of the life you’re creating. Discipline is what gets you out of bed, into the gym, back to your purpose, and aligned with your values—even on days when motivation is nowhere to be found.

Why Discipline Matters:
Discipline builds self-trust.
Discipline creates healthy habits.
Discipline strengthens your relationship with yourself.

From choosing nourishing foods to honoring boundaries, discipline helps you commit to your wellbeing with both structure and softness.

The Practice:
Nadine shares simple, powerful ways to cultivate discipline without burnout:
Start small
Stay consistent
Celebrate your progress

Using the metaphor of climbing a mountain, she reminds us to pause, turn around, and acknowledge how far we’ve already come. Confidence is built by recognizing progress—not perfection.

The Truth:
Discipline is not force.
Discipline is devotion.
Discipline is love in motion.

When practiced with compassion, discipline becomes the muscle that sustains self-love over time.

Host: Nadine McNeil, Universal Empress
Transforming lives, one breath at a time.
 

Website: https://universalempress.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1t6LxXi6w5BLn26TM81GlF?si=e2cb40f6f8d6473a&nd=1&dlsi=c8ca3a8a20ec45f8

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/universal-empress-podcast/id1846822661

Store: https://universalempress.com/store

Perfect for: Anyone struggling with consistency or self-motivation, People rebuilding self-trust and healthy habits, Those who resist “discipline” but crave structure and flow 

Transform your self-talk with one simple exercise that rewrites your DNA. In this powerful episode, Nadine McNeil shares "The A to Z of Your Life"—a foundational self-love practice that changes how you speak to yourself at the cellular level.

The Exercise: 

Write "I AM" at the top of a page, list A-Z down the left side, and beside each letter write a word that describes who you are. I am Adventurous. I am Bold. I am Creative. Then record it in your own voice and listen to it daily for 7 days.

Why It Works: 

Anything that follows "I AM" becomes deeply effective. When you listen to your own voice speaking these affirmations, you're rewriting them into your cells, into your body—it becomes your DNA, your Divine Natural Ability. You begin to believe your own hype, because if you don't think you're amazing, who will?

The Practice:

• Do this when you won't be interrupted (ideal: first thing in the morning after meditation)
• Set a timer, write your A-Z affirmations
• Record them in your own voice on your phone
• Listen with earphones for 7 days (morning or bedtime—your choice)
• Optional: Create a vision board with your affirmations

Key Insight: "Who you are is the greatest possibility of your expression, and the only person who can express that is you."

This exercise is available in Nadine's ebook "Self-Love is a Practice" on Amazon.

Host: Nadine McNeil, Universal Empress
Transforming lives, one breath at a time

Website: https://universalempress.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1t6LxXi6w5BLn26TM81GlF?si=e2cb40f6f8d6473a&nd=1&dlsi=c8ca3a8a20ec45f8

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/universal-empress-podcast/id1846822661

Store: https://universalempress.com/store

Perfect for: Anyone struggling with negative self-talk, people new to affirmations, self-love practitioners, personal development enthusiasts, and morning routine builders.

 #SelfLove #Affirmations #IAmAffirmations #PersonalDevelopment #SelfTalk #MorningRoutine 

Join host Nadine McNeil in this deeply moving conversation with Professor Karen Carpenter, one of the Caribbean's leading voices on human behavior, sexuality, and mental health. 

In this special holiday episode, they explore the emotional weight many of us carry during the festive season—from family triggers and holiday shame to the unique challenges facing Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. 

Professor Carpenter, one of the key founders of the Caribbean Sexuality Free Clinic at the University of the West Indies, brings her expertise to bear on why holidays are such powerful emotional catalysts and how we can navigate them with greater self-compassion. 

This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice, diving into the distinction between shame and guilt, the trauma stored in our bodies from past disasters, and the importance of creating rituals that honor where we truly are—not where society tells us we should be. 

Recorded in the wake of Hurricane Melissa's devastation, this episode offers profound insights into collective trauma, the loss of identity that comes with disaster, and the radical act of receiving help. Whether you're struggling with family expectations, grieving a loss, or simply trying to find your footing during a difficult season, this conversation offers practical wisdom, emotional validation, and a simple but powerful breathing practice to reclaim your center. 

Key Topics: 

• Why holidays trigger old emotional patterns 
• The difference between shame (social) and guilt (personal) 
• Trauma responses to natural disasters 
• Creating meaningful rituals during difficult times 
• The gift of giving and receiving support 
• A practical 3-breath centering practice 

Guest: Professor Karen Carpenter 

Learn more about Professor Carpenter's work: https://www.drkarencarpenter.com/about

In this powerful episode, Nadine explores the deep connection between self-love and self-respect, and how these two practices shape every relationship, boundary, and decision in our lives.

She begins with a profound truth: we set the standard for how we are treated. Respect can’t be demanded. It’s cultivated through our own embodiment — through integrity, aligned actions, honest communication, and the willingness to take responsibility for our choices.

Nadine breaks down how self-respect and self-love are not separate practices, but complementary forces. You cannot fully love yourself while disrespecting your body, your time, or your truth. And you cannot truly respect yourself while abandoning your own needs or silencing your voice.

Through personal insight and practical reflection, she illustrates how everyday choices — from the food we eat to the boundaries we set — reveal the relationship we hold with ourselves.

You’ll learn:

• Why self-respect is an essential pillar of self-love
• How aligned words and actions build inner integrity
• The difference between boundaries and walls
• Why discomfort is often a sign that growth is happening
• How to respond when others push back against your new standards

Nadine reminds us: self-respect is a practice, just like self-love. And when you stand up for yourself, you stand up for everything that matters in your life.

Join her in this grounding, empowering exploration.
Nadine McNeil — Universal Empress. Transforming lives, one breath at a time.

book: Self-Love is a Practice (available on Amazon)
Website - https://universalempress.com/

In this transformative episode, Nadine — Universal Empress — dives into one of the most powerful yet overlooked practices on the self-love journey: self-reflection.

She opens with a truth many of us feel deeply: we weren’t raised to love ourselves. We were taught to fit in, to perform, to prove. Real self-love requires unlearning—and learning to see ourselves clearly, without judgment.

In this episode, Nadine guides listeners through a simple but profoundly revealing mirror practice. With just 60 seconds of presence, she invites you to meet your own gaze, notice the emotions that arise, and witness how the body reacts when you truly see yourself.

This is not a moment for criticism. It’s a moment for compassion, acceptance, and reconnecting with the essence of who you are.

Nadine also shares her own experience with the exercise—how initial judgment softened into tenderness, and how self-reflection can expand the heart rather than break it.

You’ll also receive a 30-day self-reflection assignment to deepen your practice: one minute each morning in the mirror, repeating “I love you” as you build toward three minutes of presence and emotional honesty.

A reminder Nadine leaves us with:
“The mirror reflects what you see, but your inner vision defines who you truly are.”

Join her in this powerful inward journey.
Nadine McNeil — Universal Empress. Transforming lives, one breath at a time. 

book: Self-Love is a Practice (available on Amazon)
Website - https://universalempress.com/

In this episode, Nadine breaks down the essential difference between self-esteem and self-worth.

Self-esteem comes from external validation—praise, performance, and approval.
Self-worth is internal, steady, and rooted in who you are, not what others think.

She explores how modern life conditions us to depend on outside affirmation, leading to insecurity and people-pleasing. Nadine shares her own experiences speaking to large audiences and how easy it is to fall into the approval trap.

True self-worth grows when you do the inner work—embracing your shadows, loving imperfections, and standing firm in your identity even when no one is applauding.

You’ll learn:

• The real difference between self-esteem and self-worth
• Why external validation can’t sustain confidence
• How accepting your imperfections strengthens your foundation
• How self-worth influences what you believe you deserve—in work and relationships

Nadine reminds listeners that the butterfly isn’t the transformation—it’s the outcome. The real transformation happens in the messy becoming.

Nadine McNeil — Universal Empress.

book: Self-Love is a Practice (available on Amazon)
Website - https://universalempress.com/

In this heartfelt update, Nadine McNeil returns with an honest reflection on life, service, and the necessity of caring for oneself.

Shortly after launching the podcast, Nadine’s home country of Jamaica was devastated by Hurricane Melissa. With her background in emergency response and logistics, she felt called to return home and immediately dive into relief work. Moving across the island, witnessing the loss experienced by so many, deeply affected her. Amid the urgency to help, she realized her own self-love practice had quietly slipped away.

In this episode, Nadine shares how depletion showed up emotionally and physically, and the important reminder that guided her back: you cannot pour from an empty cup. She speaks about the ongoing relief efforts she is supporting—particularly children’s homes, women’s shelters, and special needs facilities—and invites listeners to contribute through All Hands JA. 

As we move into the season of giving, Nadine also introduces the Self-Love Is a Practice mugs, with a portion of proceeds supporting these charitable initiatives. A daily reminder with every sip: self-love is a practice.

Tune in as she reconnects to the ocean, her breath, and her mission.
Nadine McNeil — Universal Empress. Transforming lives, one breath at a time.