Waves of Joy

Today I sit down with Chris Vedeler, my acupuncture professor at Sonoran University — a true wellspring of wisdom — to explore the rich philosophy and practical power behind Chinese medicine. We dive deep into the Five Elements and how they mirror our emotional, physical, and reproductive health, from conception through the postpartum journey.

Together, we debunk common myths about acupuncture, unpack what’s really happening beneath the needles, and talk about how this ancient medicine supports fertility, balance, and healing.

And if you’ve ever wondered, “What if I don’t believe in acupuncture?” — we go there too. You’ll learn why belief isn’t required for your body to respond, and how these time-honored principles still meet the modern person exactly where they are.

This episode is a gentle bridge between science and soul — for anyone curious about holistic ways to nurture fertility, recover postpartum, or simply reconnect to the natural rhythms of their own body.

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉
 

Connect with Chris: https://www.oasisacupuncture.com/

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Sometimes protecting your peace means losing what isn’t aligned. In this episode, I share a story about setting simple house rules — and what unfolded when those boundaries were met with resistance.

It’s not really about a nanny. It’s about the quiet strength it takes to lead your home with clarity and confidence — even when it costs you comfort. We’ll talk about why boundaries aren’t about control, how guilt often disguises itself as kindness, and why standing firm in your values creates safety for your children and freedom for you.

Your home is your sanctuary. The people you invite into it should honor the rhythm, respect the rules, and reflect the love you’re building inside those walls.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself after setting a boundary, this episode is your reminder: you’re not being too much — you’re being true.

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS
 

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

The energy in the room matters as much as the credentials on the wall.

In this episode, we're talking about a tough but necessary truth: sometimes the person in the white coat isn’t the right one for you or your family. Whether it's a pediatrician, specialist, or any healthcare provider, there are moments when trust is broken, your concerns are dismissed, or your instincts tell you something's off. We’re unpacking the moment I knew it was time to move on, the red flags I couldn’t ignore, and the non-negotiables we all need to hold onto when it comes to our health — especially our children’s. Because at the end of the day, you can respect credentials and still demand care that feels right.

References: The Vaccine Book by Robert Sears

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

As I step back into naturopathic school while caring for my baby, one question keeps echoing in my heart: How can I possibly do both? The sleepless nights, the endless studying, the tug between being present in class and present as a mama—it often feels overwhelming, even impossible.

But I’m beginning to see that “impossible” is really just fear mixed with uncertainty. With each small step, it starts to shift into something more manageable, even meaningful. The truth is, the hardest seasons often become the ones that shape us most.

Whether you’re beginning a new season, returning to something you love, or standing at the edge of a big transition, this conversation is for you. Together we’ll explore why those impossible feelings aren’t signs to stop—they’re invitations to grow.

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS
 

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

What do you believe you can’t do now, but future-you knows you can?

In this episode, I take you on a journey ten years into the future — inspired by Debbie Millman’s “10-Year Plan for a Remarkable Life.” Together, we’ll step into the life waiting for us a decade from now: where we live, the love that surrounds us, the health we embody, the work we’ve mastered, and the happiness we define for ourselves.

I’ll guide you through reflective prompts and visualization, inviting you to imagine in vivid detail what your remarkable life could look like. This isn’t about daydreaming — it’s about aligning with the version of you that already exists, waiting patiently in the future.

Whether you’re craving clarity, longing for hope, or simply curious about what’s possible, this practice will give you space to pause, dream, and write your own 10-year letter. The future belongs to those who begin envisioning it today.

References: Debbie Millman

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS

Connect With Me:  https://shaunadittl.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

In this episode, I open up about the invisible weight of motherhood—the emptiness that comes when you pour yourself out day after day until you feel hollow inside. I share a raw and vulnerable moment of nursing struggles, when my baby girl’s cries at the breast left me heartbroken and defeated.

When my 4-month-old began screaming during feedings, I felt crushed. I worried it meant something was wrong with my milk—or worse, that I was failing her. What I’ve since learned is that this is often just a phase: at this age, babies are more aware, more impatient, and sometimes simply overwhelmed. It doesn’t mean you’re broken, mama. It means your baby is growing.

Here's what I’ve learned—and what so many mamas don’t hear often enough: this is a really common stage. Around three to four months, babies become so much more aware of the world. A ceiling fan, a dog barking, even just the sound of someone walking by—suddenly, everything is more interesting than feeding. They get distracted easily, pull off, cry, and it can feel so defeating.

In reaching out for help, I found more than just practical advice. My lactation consultant’s words carried a depth of wisdom I didn’t even realize I needed. This is a story of meltdowns, milk, and the surprising ways we find ourselves being filled back up.

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

Parenting in America often feels like a constant cycle of sleep debates, snack battles, and burnout. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, we dive into the European style of parenting — a refreshing philosophy that blends calm authority with respect for both children and parents. Drawing inspiration from Bringing Up Bébé and her own journey as a mother, she explores how principles like “the pause,” structured family meals, independent play, and maintaining a strong parental identity can create a more balanced home. Rather than centering life around chaos and exhaustion, the European approach invites us to raise capable, resilient children while also preserving joy, patience, and wholeness as parents.

References: Pamela Druckerman

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

What if the best experiences of your life aren’t meant to wait until retirement? In this episode, I share the story of my unforgettable backpacking trip through Europe — a trip that still pays me “memory dividends” years later. We’ll talk about the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go years from Bill Perkins’ Die With Zero, and why timing is everything when it comes to creating a life filled with joy, stories, and connection. This isn’t just about travel — it’s about choosing experiences over excuses, and making sure your life story is written by you, not lived vicariously through others.

References: Bill Perkins

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS

Connect With Me:  https://shaunadittl.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

This week, I unplugged. After a full social media detox, my screen time dropped by 84% — but what I gained was far more meaningful than a number. 

I realized I wasn’t being intentional with my time, and it made me ask a hard question: Why did I feel the need to fill the quiet with other people’s lives?

Even though I wasn’t mindlessly scrolling, I was still consuming — checking, watching, and staying connected in ways that slowly pulled me away from being present in my own life. Stepping back created space for deeper presence with my daughter, the excitement to volunteer and write fetal echo board questions, and reconnect with the self-care rituals that already ground me — acupuncture, chiropractic, lifting, and hot yoga — not as a to-do list, but as a sacred space to reset.

I began integrating the wisdom of The Daily Dad, showing up not just as a parent, but as a fully engaged human in my daughter’s world. I reached out to friends through real conversations, ones that felt slower, deeper, and more nourishing.

Join me as I reflect on what happens when we consciously disconnect to fully reconnect with ourselves, our people, and our purpose.

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/

Everyone thought I was crazy for leaving a secure, successful career as a perinatal sonographer to go back to school and pursue my doctorate. I had built a life in a field I loved, but something deeper kept calling me. A quiet, relentless pull to help people heal from the inside out.

In this episode, inspired by the book Grit by Angela Duckworth, we’re talking about interest — the essential, often underestimated spark that begins every journey of passion and perseverance. Duckworth says, “Figure out what you enjoy doing most in life, and then try to do it full time.”

Today, I’m sharing how I followed that exact advice — and why it was the grittiest, most grace-filled decision of my life. Whether you're at a crossroads or just starting to explore what lights you up, this conversation is a reminder:

Your interest isn’t random. It’s a whisper from your purpose.
And you are allowed to build your life around what you love.

References: Angela Duckworth

𝓍𝓍𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝒶
𝒯𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒩𝑒𝑒𝒹 & ℒ𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉𝒴𝑜𝓊𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉

BUY SHAUNA'S FIRST BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX4HVVLS
 

https://www.instagram.com/shaunadittl/