Ep. 60: Why I (Mostly) Put the Glass Down

Ep. 60: Why I (Mostly) Put the Glass Down

A glass of wine with dinner, drinks with friends, a toast at celebrations. Alcohol has a pretty engrained place in many cultures. During my low-tox journey, I kept coming across information that made me question it. This episode is about what that information was, what I did about it, and what I've noticed in my body since. Quitting may not be everyone’s goal, but getting intentional about your choices can be. + More * Benefits of Reducing your Alcohol Intake – clevelandclinic.org [https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/04/22/benefits-of-reducing-your-alcohol-intake] * Here’s What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking for 30 Days – healthline.com [https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-quit-alcohol-for-30-days] * Alcohol consumption and your health: What the science says – stanford.edu [https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/08/alcohol-consumption-and-your-health--what-the-science-says.html] * Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits – mayoclinic.org [https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551] * Reducing or Quitting Drinking? An Extensive Review of Health Benefits – recoveryanswers.org  [https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/reducing-or-quitting-drinking-an-extensive-review-of-health-benefits/]

Ep. 59: Stuck Vs. Stressed

If you've felt like you're living life defaulting instead of deciding, this episode is about stress and how it limits your choices. Chronic stress and being overwhelmed impact how you feel, change how you move, what you reach for, and what you're able to see. You're not stuck, you’re stressed. We talk about the science of stress and decision-making, why a regulated baseline changes everything, and the reason I bring mental health into a low-tox space… because you can't make more intentional choices about your health, your products, or your life when you're tapped out. The overwhelmed version of you and the regulated version of you operate differently. This episode will leave you with a question to help you reflect on what stress relief is best for you. + More * Stress Management and Emotional Health - Clevelandclinic.org [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/6409-stress-management-and-emotional-health] * How Stress Impacts Decision Making - Waldenu.edu [https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/ms-in-clinical-mental-health-counseling/resource/how-stress-impacts-decision-making] * Upward Spiral of Positive Emotion and Coping - Nlm.nih.gov [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3132888/] * Evidence for the Upward Spiral Stands Steady - Nlm.nih.gov [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5854504/]

Ep. 58: The Music You Choose

Music has been woven into my life for as long as I can remember… and I mean that generationally. For a while I thought of it as background. Something that hyped me up at the gym or while driving. When I started to notice how certain songs were affecting what I felt, thought, and carried, I realized more was happening. Turns out, science agrees. Music directly affects your brain chemistry: dopamine, cortisol, memory, emotional processing. It’s also feeding your subconscious. Lyrics, frequencies, and the emotional tone of what you play consistently shape your inner environment. In this episode, I'm sharing how my relationship with music evolved, what I pay attention to now, and how a playlist might be worth another look. + More The Transformative Power of Music - nlm.nih.gov [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10765015/] How Music Affects Your Mind, Mood, and Body - tmh.org [https://www.tmh.org/healthy-living/blogs/healthy-living/how-music-affects-your-mind-mood-and-body] How Music Resonates in the Brain – magazine.hms.harvard.edu [https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/how-music-resonates-brain] The Benefits of Listening to Music – healthline.com [https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-music]

Ep 57: Adjusting to New Baselines

Sometimes life is actually good... and your body is still sounding the alarm. In this episode we're talking about what happens when things are going right but your body hasn't gotten the memo, why receiving good things is harder than it sounds, and how choosing to focus on what's working is a skill, not inherent. This isn't toxic positivity. This is what eight years of therapy + consistent inner work looks like. Learning to simply receive it. If something good is happening in your life and you still can't quite exhale, this one is for you. + More * Self-Sabotage - Psychologytoday.com [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/self-sabotage] * Self-Sabotage: Why it happens and how to overcome it - Medicalnewsytoday.com [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/self-sabotage] * What Does ‘Regulating Your Nervous System’ Actually Mean? A Doctor Breaks it Down - Healthline.com [https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/expert-explains-nervous-system-regulation#dysregulation]

Ep. 56: Things I Do to Reset (+ Why You Should Know Yours)

Lately, most people seem to struggle to answer: what do you do to take time for yourself or reset? In this episode, I'm sharing the self-care things that restore me: from skincare and shower routines, to making the bed in the morning and doing my own hair. Some of these might sound like to-do list things, but for me they're acts of self-love. Showing up for myself in the small ways helped change my outlook in the big ones too.