Live Well Dream Big

Is alcohol interfering with your ability to live your best life? Is there a middle ground between drinking and complete abstinence? What does the science say about how alcohol affects our health?

Alcohol is a controversial topic in the wellness space. Some people say it provides health benefits, others say it drains our vitality. Who is right, and what do we need to know? In this episode, Suzanne and Helene Larocque explore the topic of alcohol, inviting us to investigate our relationship with alcohol and how it affects our wellness. Helene shares her story, how making the decision to go alcohol-free has changed her life, and what you can do to ensure you make the right choices for your health when it comes to alcohol.

Topics Include:

The aging effects of alcohol. How alcohol consumption changes the brain. How drinking can impact our energy, self-confidence, and vitality. The health changes people experience when they stop drinking for thirty days. Abstinence versus moderation. How Helene quit drinking by focusing on harm reduction. Focusing on improvement, rather than perfection. Social and cultural pressures to drink. Tips for drinking less. The 30-day alcohol-free experiment. And other topics...

Helene Larocque provides coaching services for women ages forty-five and up who are tired of the vicious cycle of drinking alcohol. She guides them to Lose ‘da Booze so they can experience better mental and physical health and achieve a life of freedom, peace, and clarity. Helene became a Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and Wellness 360 Leader with the International Association of Wellness Professionals (IAWP) in 2018. In September 2020, she obtained the Drug, Solvent, and Alcohol Abuse Counselling Diploma to support her work in this area. Helene is also a wellness facilitator in her current workplace providing programs, activities, and resources to staff in a hospital setting.

Resources Mentioned:

Lose ‘da Booze – https://www.losedabooze.com/

This Naked Mind by Annie Grace – https://www.amazon.com/This-Naked-Mind-Discover-Happiness/dp/0525537236/

The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace – https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Experiment-Alcohol-Free-Challenge-Interrupt/dp/0593330242/

The Little Book of Big Change by Amy Johnson – https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Big-Change-No-Willpower/dp/1626252300/

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

How does systemic racism show up in the health and wellness space? What can we do to be part of the solution? How can we work together to elevate wellness in the black community?

In this special panel discussion, Suzanne is joined by four black women wellness business owners–Shamika Wallace, Janet Thompson Jackson, Michelle Emmanuelle, and Mikahila Faries–to discuss Elevating Wellness in the Black Community. These women share their stories and discuss how racism continues to affect them and their work as wellness professionals. These are real, unfiltered stories about the health discrepancies present in our healthcare system, and how we can all work together for a better tomorrow.

Topics Include:

Historic abuse in the medical field against people of color. Power and representation in our healthcare systems. Race-based trauma and epigenetics. Combatting mental health stigmas. The health impacts of microaggressions. The denial of systemic racism in the USA. Undoing the pervasive “hard life is normal” conditioning in the BIPOC community. Access to wellness resources in BIPOC communities. The marketing of wellness services a luxury rather than a necessity. Creating safe spaces for community healing. The power of social media to connect minorities groups and to provide a space for networking. Prioritizing happiness. And other topics...

Michelle Emmanuelle – https://sustainablechangemaker.com/

Michelle Emmanuelle is an IAWP Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and the founder of sustainablechangemaker.com, a wellness-based business that offers workshops and coaching for busy professionals, including individuals and workplace teams. Michelle incorporates yoga, mindset, movement, nutrition, creativity, collaboration, and accountability tools along with neuroscience data on the mind to create expansion for personal growth.

Shamika Wallace – https://www.ladieslivinglimitless.com/

Shamika Wallace is an IAWP Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and former Registered Nurse with over 15 years of experience. She is the founder of Ladies Living Limitless, where she supports women through personal coaching, small group programs, and community workshops. Shamika loves supporting women to overcome their limiting thoughts and beliefs that have been holding them back so they can create the limitless possibilities that are within them.

Mikhaila Faries – https://www.mfholisticwellness.com/

Mikhaila Faries is an IAWP Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and the Founder of MF Holistic Wellness. She’s also the creator of “Dragged and Drained to Growing and Glowing” and “The Energy Reset” programs. Mikhaila’s originally an island girl from Bermuda, now currently living in Bristol, UK. She holds a Master’s Degree in Psycho-Social Studies. Mikhaila has always been drawn to helping people, but her work life ultimately led to her burning out. She had zero energy, her weight spiked, her anxiety worsened, and she experienced sleep and relationships challenges. Through these challenges, though, she awakened and realized she needed to care for herself and her health and she embarked on her own healing journey. As she did, she also found her passion and is now helping superwomen just like her to get off the hamster wheel of life.

Janet Thompson Jackson – https://www.janetthompsonjackson.com/

Janet Thompson Jackson is a law professor, a leader in law student and lawyer wellness, an IAWP Certified Wellness coach, a yoga instructor, a nonprofit consultant, and an inclusion & belonging collaborator. Janet has been in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years serving in roles as executive director, nonprofit law educator and consultant, strategist, and board member. She’s taught and spoke in many countries including the Netherlands, the Republic of Georgia, and Hungary. Janet’s driving philosophy is that preparing students to be successful in the legal profession means helping them to manage the stresses inherent in law school and practice. Through a highly synergistic set of knowledge and skills, she helps to guide students and legal professionals to long-term wellness.

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

How does systemic racism show up in the health and wellness space? What can we do to be part of the solution? How can we work together to elevate wellness in the black community?

In this special panel discussion, Suzanne is joined by four black women wellness business owners–Shamika Wallace, Janet Thompson Jackson, Michelle Emmanuelle, and Mikahila Faries–to discuss Elevating Wellness in the Black Community. These women share their stories and discuss how racism continues to affect them and their work as wellness professionals. These are real, unfiltered stories about the health discrepancies present in our healthcare system, and how we can all work together for a better tomorrow.

Topics Include:

Historic abuse in the medical field against people of color. Power and representation in our healthcare systems. Race-based trauma and epigenetics. Combatting mental health stigmas. The health impacts of microaggressions. The denial of systemic racism in the USA. Undoing the pervasive “hard life is normal” conditioning in the BIPOC community. Access to wellness resources in BIPOC communities. The marketing of wellness services a luxury rather than a necessity. Creating safe spaces for community healing. The power of social media to connect minorities groups and to provide a space for networking. Prioritizing happiness. And other topics...

Michelle Emmanuelle – https://sustainablechangemaker.com/

Michelle Emmanuelle is an IAWP Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and the founder of sustainablechangemaker.com, a wellness-based business that offers workshops and coaching for busy professionals, including individuals and workplace teams. Michelle incorporates yoga, mindset, movement, nutrition, creativity, collaboration, and accountability tools along with neuroscience data on the mind to create expansion for personal growth.

Shamika Wallace – https://www.ladieslivinglimitless.com/

Shamika Wallace is an IAWP Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and former Registered Nurse with over 15 years of experience. She is the founder of Ladies Living Limitless, where she supports women through personal coaching, small group programs, and community workshops. Shamika loves supporting women to overcome their limiting thoughts and beliefs that have been holding them back so they can create the limitless possibilities that are within them.

Mikhaila Faries – https://www.mfholisticwellness.com/

Mikhaila Faries is an IAWP Certified Holistic Wellness Coach and the Founder of MF Holistic Wellness. She’s also the creator of “Dragged and Drained to Growing and Glowing” and “The Energy Reset” programs. Mikhaila’s originally an island girl from Bermuda, now currently living in Bristol, UK. She holds a Master’s Degree in Psycho-Social Studies. Mikhaila has always been drawn to helping people, but her work life ultimately led to her burning out. She had zero energy, her weight spiked, her anxiety worsened, and she experienced sleep and relationships challenges. Through these challenges, though, she awakened and realized she needed to care for herself and her health and she embarked on her own healing journey. As she did, she also found her passion and is now helping superwomen just like her to get off the hamster wheel of life.

Janet Thompson Jackson – https://www.janetthompsonjackson.com/

Janet Thompson Jackson is a law professor, a leader in law student and lawyer wellness, an IAWP Certified Wellness coach, a yoga instructor, a nonprofit consultant, and an inclusion & belonging collaborator. Janet has been in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years serving in roles as executive director, nonprofit law educator and consultant, strategist, and board member. She’s taught and spoke in many countries including the Netherlands, the Republic of Georgia, and Hungary. Janet’s driving philosophy is that preparing students to be successful in the legal profession means helping them to manage the stresses inherent in law school and practice. Through a highly synergistic set of knowledge and skills, she helps to guide students and legal professionals to long-term wellness.

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

Does trying to find your niche feel too limiting for you? You know you have so much to offer, why should you focus on just one problem? How do you know which niche is right for you?

In today’s episode, Suzanne and Laura Albers unpack why focusing on a niche is an effective business strategy for wellness professionals. They address common concerns that arise when choosing a niche, and how getting clear on your purpose can guide you to the who, what, and how that will determine which niche is right for you.

Topics Include:

Using your niche as a stepping stone into bigger and better things. How finding yourself will support you in finding your niche and your tribe. How mapping out your personal story can help you identify who you are meant to help. Choosing to niche in an area you are still personally working on. What to do if you feel like your niche isn’t receptive to help. Connecting with other successful professionals in your niche to learn about their work. And other topics...

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

How can we let go and create space in our lives for something bigger and more meaningful to come in? What does it look like to say enough is enough, and to take bold action in pursuit of our dreams?

Meet Eileen Franco. After climbing the corporate ladder for thirty-six years, Eileen discovered success in the corporate world wasn’t what she thought it would be. Feeling stuck, burned out, and not knowing what to do next, Eileen took a chance to pursue her dream of becoming a Certified Holistic Wellness Coach. Just nine months later, Eileen had reclaimed her health and was making a difference in the lives of other corporate business women through her coaching practice.

Eileen joins Suzanne in today’s episode to discuss how she was able to let go of her fear and dream big, confronting her cultural programming and limiting beliefs in the process. They discuss what Eileen learned during this transitionary period of her life, and how we can start living well and dreaming big by finding our why and empowering our mindset.

Topics Include:

Breaking free of childhood conditioning. Signs and symptoms of being stuck. The first steps to finding your purpose. Uprooting limiting beliefs. Overcoming our doubts and fears to live well and dream big. The inner critic. How Eileen was able to incorporate the challenges she has faced into her coaching practice. And other topics...

Eileen Franco worked in the corporate world for thirty-six years where she managed high-profile software development projects and programs. Though Eileen worked her way up the corporate ladder to Program Manager, she still felt a sense of emptiness. She longed to do something different, something bigger than herself, but she didn't know what that was. After experiencing a breakdown in her health that resulted in short-term disability, Eileen made the decision to leave the corporate world altogether and to pursue her dream of becoming a Certified Holistic Wellness Coach, even if that meant losing the financial security her job provided. Just nine months later, Eileen completed her training with the International Association of Wellness Professionals (IAWP). During her journey with the IAWP she reclaimed her health and aligned with a new purpose and the opportunity to serve something bigger and make a difference in the lives of others. Today her coaching practice empowers Corporate Business Women to overcome burnout so they can truly thrive.

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

Why is there so much conflicting information on food and nutrition? How can we feel confident in the food decisions we make each day?

In this episode, Suzanne breaks down the wisdom we heard from the nutrition experts who recently came on Live Well Dream Big. Suzanne shares her personal philosophy around food and nutrition, how we can learn to trust the food decisions we make, and how to avoid overwhelm from the endless stream of information we hear about food. So grab your favorite nutritional beverage, and join us for the nutrition after party!

Topics Include:

How intuitive eating can help you find the right food for your body. Trusting yourself and listening to your body. Highlights from our previous episodes on nutrition. Veganism, keto, low carb, and other trending food plans. Tracking your food decisions and identifying what works for you. Getting the support you need to avoid frustration. How finding the right food plan for you can transform your life, and much more...

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

Why is there so much conflicting information on food and nutrition? How can we feel confident in the food decisions we make each day?

In this episode, Suzanne breaks down the wisdom we heard from the nutrition experts who recently came on Live Well Dream Big. Suzanne shares her personal philosophy around food and nutrition, how we can learn to trust the food decisions we make, and how to avoid overwhelm from the endless stream of information we hear about food. So grab your favorite nutritional beverage, and join us for the nutrition after party!

Topics Include:

How intuitive eating can help you find the right food for your body. Trusting yourself and listening to your body. Highlights from our previous episodes on nutrition. Veganism, keto, low carb, and other trending food plans. Tracking your food decisions and identifying what works for you. Getting the support you need to avoid frustration. How finding the right food plan for you can transform your life, and much more...

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

Have your goals and plans been derailed? Do you feel like you have lost sight of your big vision? What if you had a roadmap that could take you from where you are today to where you want to be?

In this episode, Suzanne is joined by IAWP Master Holistic Wellness Coach Laura Albers to discuss three types of visions that can help you live well and dream big. They discuss how having a clear vision and mission can empower your mindset, what you can do to start crafting your life vision today, and how to avoid getting lost on the way to living your best life.

Topics Include:

Why you need a clear plan when dreaming big. How to create a vision in your personal life, your professional life, and in your relationships. Prompts to help clarify your vision. The power of a personal vision statement, and how to develop one. How to balance your life vision with your core relationships. Ways to stay connected to your vision every day. Saying no to things that don’t align with your vision, and much more…

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

Has the time come for you to dream big and pursue your passions? How do we know when it’s time to make a change?

Everyone is in some kind of transition most of the time. From the seasons of life to the seasons of the year, change is the natural order of things. In today’s episode, Suzanne takes us on a journey to understand these transitions, how to lean into them rather than resist them, and how to look for signs that it may be time to make a big change.

Topics Include:

The freeing power of a transition whose time has come. Steps to embrace and accept transitions. What our kids can teach us about transitions. Working with fear when decisions are scary or uncertain. Trusting transitions to get unstuck. Looking for possibilities rather than signs of danger. Finding people to support us through big transitions. How you will know when it is time to take the leap, and much more...

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

Do you feel burned out, tired, or like you lack the energy to do the things you want to do? Do you feel like you’ve lost your energy and drive? What if it was possible to wake up full of energy every day?

In today’s episode, Suzanne is joined by functional medicine doctor and co-founder of Vytal Health, Dr. Tiffany Mullen. Dr. Mullen breaks down for listeners why traditional western medicine fails to provide the holistic health care we need to feel great and live our best lives, how hormone imbalances can drain our energy, and how a functional medicine doctor can support you on your path to living well and dreaming big.

Topics Include:

What is functional medicine? How is functional medicine different from traditional medicine? Why physicians struggle to solve underlying issues related to hormone imbalances, stress, and sleep. Working with a functional medicine doctor. Classic signs of hormone imbalances. How hormones regulate your body’s processes. How to get your hormone levels tested, and much more...

Dr. Tiffany Mullen is the CEO and co-founder of Vytal Health, a telemedicine startup company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to launching Vytal Health, Dr. Mullen led Aurora Health Care’s (Milwaukee, WI) Department of Integrative Medicine as its Medical Director, growing it to the largest department in the country. After years of frustration, Dr. Mullen decided to leave corporate health care behind to co-found Vytal Health. Vytal Health is a membership-based telemedicine company focused on helping patients solve health problems that have been overlooked or under-treated by traditional health care. Dr. Mullen is dually board-certified in Family and Integrative Medicine.

Resources Mentioned:

The IAWP Ultimate Guide to Becoming Your Best Self and Living Life on Your Own Terms – https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/guide

Hormone Handout – https://iawp.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Dance+of+the+Hormones+Vytal+Health.pdf

Find A Functional Medicine Doctor – https://www.ifm.org/