The People Co.

#43 Cycle Syncing, Perimenopause & Learning to Listen to Your Body

In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Nikki Russell, owner of Aptitude Fitness and Pause Studio, to talk about women’s wellness, cycle syncing, recovery, perimenopause, and learning how to better listen to your body. Nikki shares how her own experience as an endurance athlete led her to explore the connection between hormones, performance, recovery, energy levels, and nutrition. After realizing there was very little support or education available for women navigating these changes, she began building programming designed specifically to help women better understand their bodies through every stage of life. The conversation dives into: ✨ cycle syncing ✨ perimenopause & menopause ✨ intuitive eating & movement ✨ recovery modalities ✨ protein intake ✨ nervous system recovery ✨ and the pressure many women feel to constantly “push through.” Together, they also discuss how wellness doesn’t need to be all-or-nothing, the importance of giving yourself grace, and why small sustainable changes often matter more than perfection. This episode is an empowering reminder that our bodies are constantly communicating with us—and learning to listen may be one of the most important parts of the wellness journey. About the show:  Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether you’re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built. Connect with hosts & guests: Nicky - Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/  Nicky - Instagram:  @Freedomtoleadwell Ali - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alipayne/ Connect with our Guest:  Nikki Russel:  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-russell-9703b874/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikrussell/ https://www.facebook.com/nicolerussell11 Aptitude: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aptitude-fitness-dsm/ https://www.instagram.com/aptitudedsm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AptitudeFitnessDSM Pause:  https://www.instagram.com/pausewestdesmoines/ https://www.facebook.com/pausewestdesmoines

#42 The Support New Moms Don’t Know Exists

In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Katie Nyberg, founder of Iowa Baby Lady , to talk about the support many parents don’t realize exists during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Katie shares how her team of birth doulas and postpartum doulas helps families navigate everything from labor support and advocacy to overnight newborn care and postpartum recovery. The conversation breaks down common misconceptions about doulas, the realities of modern motherhood, and why support systems matter more than ever. Together, they discuss the overwhelming amount of information new parents face today, the pressure many moms feel to “do it all,” and how postpartum support can help families move from simply surviving to truly thriving during those early weeks. Whether you’re expecting, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about the changing conversation around motherhood and wellness, this episode offers a refreshing and educational look at what modern support can actually look like. About the show:  Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether you’re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built. Connect with hosts & guests: Nicky - Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/  Nicky - Instagram:  @Freedomtoleadwell Ali - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alipayne/ Connect with our Guest:  Instagram & Facebook:  @theiowababylady For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com

#41 I Wish I Would Have Known My Struggle Was Leading Me Somewhere Better

What if the hardest season of your life… is actually pointing you toward something greater? In this Wish I Would Have Known episode, Heidi Valdez shares a powerful reflection from her own health journey—one that completely changed the direction of her life. During a personal health crisis, Heidi didn’t have answers. Like many people, she was navigating symptoms, stress, and uncertainty. But what she didn’t realize at the time was that this struggle would become the very thing that shaped her purpose. Through that experience, she gained a deeper understanding of the connection between the body, mind, and spirit—and now uses that knowledge to support others on their own journeys. This episode is a reminder that: Your hardest moments may be your greatest teachers Healing is not just physical—it’s emotional and mental too And sometimes, the path you didn’t choose is the one you were meant for About Heidi Valdez: Heidi Valdez is the owner of Mindful Counseling Des Moines, where she works with clients ranging from children to adults using a holistic, personalized approach to mental health. With a background in school social work and her own lived experience navigating chronic stress and gut health challenges, she integrates traditional therapy with tools like breathwork, movement, and nervous system support. She also works with the Iowa Cubs as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, supporting both players and staff with mental health services. Connect with Heidi: Website: https://www.mindfulcounseling-dsm.com/ Email: heidi@mindfulcounseling-dsm.com Text: 515-401-4168 About the show:  Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether you’re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built. Connect with hosts & guests: Nicky - Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/  Nicky - Instagram:  @Freedomtoleadwell Heidi- Linkedin- www.linkedin.com/in/heidibuttolph/ For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com For more information on The Potential Within, check out www.thepeople-co.com/potentialwithin

#40 What Employees Really Need From Leaders

In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Polly Loneman, VP of Marketing at NCMIC , to talk about workplace wellbeing, authentic leadership, advocacy, and the future of whole-person care. Polly shares her perspective on how organizations can better support employees—not just professionally, but personally—and why conversations around wellness, mental health, hormones, burnout, and individualized care are becoming increasingly important in today’s workplace culture. The conversation also explores the growing interest in naturopathic and integrative care, the importance of advocating for yourself within healthcare systems, and how leaders can create environments where people feel supported, heard, and empowered. Together, they discuss: why wellness is not one-size-fits-all the changing expectations of younger generations in the workplace how workplace culture directly impacts wellbeing and why organizations can no longer ignore the connection between health and performance. This episode is an honest and empowering conversation about redefining workplace wellbeing and creating cultures where people can truly thriveAbout the show:  Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether you’re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built. Connect with hosts & guests: Nicky - Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/  Nicky - Instagram:  @Freedomtoleadwell Ali - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alipayne/ Polly Loneman:  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/polly-loneman-mpa-57967364/ NCMIC:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ncmic/ For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com For more information on The Potential Within, check out www.thepeople-co.com/potentialwithin

#39 The Words You Speak Create Your Reality

In this episode of Within, Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne sit down with Melissa Poley and James of Serendipity Spa DSM  to explore conscious language, emotional patterns, personal transformation, and the connection between mind, body, and healing. Melissa shares how years in the wellness and esthetics space eventually led her deeper into transformational life coaching and personal development work after walking through major life changes, including divorce, business shifts, and rebuilding her sense of self. James also opens up about his own transformational journey after experiencing the loss of his home and other significant life challenges. Together, they discuss the power of conscious language, how our words shape our reality, why emotional patterns continue to repeat, and how awareness can help people move from simply surviving into truly thriving. The conversation also dives into relationships, secure love, generational patterns, authenticity, and why so many people struggle to fully show up as themselves. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing is not just physical—it’s emotional, relational, spiritual, and deeply connected to the stories we tell ourselves every day. About the show:  Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether you’re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built. Connect with our Guests:  FB: Serendipity Spa IG: serendipityspadesmoines Linked In: Melissa Poley  Connect with hosts & guests: Nicky - Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/  Nicky - Instagram:  @Freedomtoleadwell Ali - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alipayne/ For more information on The People Co., check out our Webiste: thepeople-co.com For more information on The Potential Within, check out www.thepeople-co.com/potentialwithin