Ep 84: Why I'm Hosting a Silent Retreat

Ep 84: Why I'm Hosting a Silent Retreat

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/fan_mail/new] June 15, 2026 Love You More Ep 84:   An Invitation to Silence  Episode summary: Summer has a way of feeling anything but relaxing, and in this episode, Jen shares how the busyness of parenting and everyday life has her craving something many of us rarely experience: true silence. She talks about her own life changing experience at a silent retreat and why she's now creating a space for other women to slow down, step away from the noise, and simply be. Jen also answers some of the most common questions about silent retreats, from what happens during the day to whether you have to meditate or sit still for hours (spoiler: you don't!). If you've ever wondered what it might feel like to unplug, quiet your mind, and reconnect with yourself, this episode offers a glimpse into the beauty and possibility of slowing down. Favorite Quotes: "You don't really realize how much noise exists in your life until you step away from it." "It was just so lovely to have no one that needed my attention except for me." "The mind sort of settles down a little bit, and there's less attention to thoughts, less caring about thoughts, and more about just the raw experience of what I was in." "Sometimes the water on the surface is calm. Sometimes it's choppy. Sometimes it's big old surfing waves. But underneath, everything is just still and quiet." "You sense a different nervous system. You sense a knowing, and it makes it easier to access even in the strong waves of summer." "If you're alive and you think you would benefit from just some time in quiet, then that's the skill set you need to have." "Silence for me has very little hesitation." Resources  Jen's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jenmcdanielrdn/] Jen's Substack [https://jennifermcdaniel.substack.com/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mcdanielnutrition/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/] Past Podcast Episodes [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/podcast/] 2026 Silent Retreat  [https://www.sobersistersinstlouis.com/] Feldenkrais Website [https://feldenkrais.com/] Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening  [https://marknepo.com/books/book_of_awakening/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/support]

Ep 83: The Difference Between Thinking and Looking

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/fan_mail/new] June 2, 2026 Love You More Ep 83:  The Difference Between Thinking and Looking Episode summary: In this episode, Jen explores the difference between thinking and truly looking. Through personal stories about running, body image, productivity, and everyday habits, she reflects on what can happen when we pause long enough to question the beliefs and assumptions that quietly shape our lives. Jen also shares how this practice of deeper inquiry shows up in her work with clients, particularly around body image and self-judgment. Drawing on the work of Byron Katie, she offers a gentle invitation to examine the thoughts that create suffering and discover what becomes possible when we see them in a new way. Favorite Quotes: "Looking is questioning." "I don't believe once we see something, we can necessarily unsee it." "We start to see it when we see that we're managing something and we're noticing that we're moving from discomfort." "Only you can do this work. Only you can explore things in a deeper way." "We get a wider lens on things, and we might have a shift in seeing something that would have never occurred if we didn't stop and pause and look at this stuff and ask more questions." "The thoughts that need to be questioned the most are probably the ones that cause the most suffering." "I think it's really fun to look at stuff in a new way and to maybe break free from some of these cages that we don't even realize we're in." "Life feels a little more rich and I'm in it more. I feel like I'm noticing the birds more." Resources  Jen's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jenmcdanielrdn/] Jen's Substack [https://jennifermcdaniel.substack.com/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mcdanielnutrition/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/] Past Podcast Episodes [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/podcast/] 2026 Silent Retreat  [https://www.sobersistersinstlouis.com/] The Work of Byron Katie [https://thework.com/] Dr. Amy Johnson’s Website [https://dramyjohnson.com/] Changeable Podcast [https://dramyjohnson.com/free-resources/changeable-podcast/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/support]

Ep 82: A Different Way to Approach Gut Issues

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/fan_mail/new] May 5, 2026 Love You More Ep 82:  A Different Way to Approach Gut Issues  Episode summary: Jen shares a personal reflection on gut health, running, and her experience navigating IBS-related symptoms like bloating, urgency, food sensitivities, and the strong link between stress and digestion. She discusses identifying triggers, exploring FODMAPs, and noticing how quickly the mind can become focused on trying to “fix” symptoms. The episode looks beyond food alone, highlighting the role of the nervous system, mindfulness, and reducing stress around symptoms, and offers a grounded reminder that healing often involves less control and more curiosity, awareness, and a softer relationship with what feels unresolved.  Jen is also offering a four-day, three-night silent retreat [https://www.sobersistersinstlouis.com/silent-retreat] this September (September 10-13) at Kindred Forest in the Missouri Ozarks, a space intentionally designed for deep rest, reflection, and nervous system support. Through shared silence, nourishing meals, time in nature, and gentle practices like sound baths and Feldenkrais, the retreat creates an opportunity to step away from constant input and reconnect with what’s already present.  Favorite Quotes: “When nutrition and lifestyle changes don’t fully resolve gut symptoms, there’s often a missing piece.”   “The mind and the gut are intricately connected… when we are stressed, we feel that in our gut.”   “I noticed that my attention was going to this a lot… trying to fix this problem.”   “When the mind gets so heavily involved, it really does disrupt the way that the gut contracts and relaxes.”   “There’s a difference between ‘this has to get better’ and curiosity.”   “There is wisdom in recognizing that we might be trying too hard.” Resources  Jen's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jenmcdanielrdn/] Jen's Substack [https://jennifermcdaniel.substack.com/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mcdanielnutrition/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/] Past Podcast Episodes [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/podcast/] 2026 Silent Retreat  [https://www.sobersistersinstlouis.com/] The Gut Health Podcast [https://www.katescarlata.com/podcast] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/support]

Ep 81: A Conversation on the Wisdom of the Wild with Jo Pang

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/fan_mail/new] April 14, 2026 Love You More Ep 81:  A Conversation on the Wisdom of the Wild with Jo Pang  Episode summary This week, Jen is joined by Jo Pang, certified forest therapy guide and co founder of Kindred Forest, for a conversation that gently invites us back into connection with nature, with our bodies, and with ourselves. Together, they explore how stepping outside of fast paced, productivity driven living can open the door to a more aligned and grounded way of being, where self care becomes less reactive and more integrated into everyday life. From forest bathing to silent retreats, Jo shares how intentional time in nature and in stillness can support nervous system regulation, deepen self awareness, and reconnect us to a sense of wonder. This episode is a reminder that even small moments of presence, whether outside or within our own homes, can have a meaningful impact on our well being and our relationship to the world around us.  To learn more about Jo’s work, upcoming retreats, or opportunities to get involved as a steward at Kindred Forest, connect via Instagram or reach out directly using the links below.  More about Jo Pang Jo Pang is a certified forest therapy guide and co founder of Kindred Forest, a nature based retreat space in the Ozark Highlands. After leaving a decade long corporate career, he followed a deep pull toward a more grounded and connected way of living. Jo now guides forest bathing experiences that invite people to slow down, engage their senses, and reconnect with both nature and themselves. He is also involved in ecological restoration, helping to bring greater biodiversity back to the land while cultivating a lifestyle rooted in simplicity, presence, and connection. Favorite Quotes “So much of self care for me is some of these larger life choices that then make self care just kind of integrated with everything.” -Jo Pang “There was something awakening in me that deeply longed to be actually connected to the more than human world.” -Jo Pang “Nature is still actually our native habitat… our bodies are still of the bodies that our ancestors were.” -Jo Pang “It’s not just about restoring the land, it’s about seeing how the restoration of the land and the restoration of humans are interrelated journeys.” -Jo Pang   Resources  Jen's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jenmcdanielrdn/] Jen's Substack [https://jennifermcdaniel.substack.com/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mcdanielnutrition/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/] Past Podcast Episodes [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/podcast/] 2026 Silent Retrea [https://www.sobersistersinstlouis.com/silent-retreat]t Kindred Forest Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kindredforestmo/]  Kindred Forest Email: kindredforestmo@gmail.com Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/support]

Ep 80: Spring Cleaning Your Thoughts About Your Body

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/fan_mail/new] April 7, 2026 Love You More Ep 80:   Spring Cleaning Your Thoughts About Your Body  Episode summary: This week, Jen briefly reflects on the busyness of spring before turning to the heart of the episode: body image. As routines shift and layers come off, she explores how this season can bring up more comparison and self-judgment, offering a timely invitation to notice what’s coming up internally. Through the lens of “spring cleaning” our thoughts, Jen reminds us that body image struggles are shaped by lifelong conditioning not personal failure. She gently unpacks the difference between our direct experience and the thoughts we attach to it, while also touching on clothing, social media, and the shift toward valuing body function over appearance. The conversation encourages a more compassionate, aware relationship with our bodies, one rooted in curiosity rather than criticism. Favorite Quotes: “We don’t have control over the thoughts that come in.”   “Is the suffering actually coming from reality, or is it coming from the thoughts that are in my mind?”   “My body is functioning well. My body is comfortable. I’m safe.”   “Sometimes spending too much time on social media creates more insecurity around our own knowing.” Resources  Jen's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jenmcdanielrdn/] Jen's Substack [https://jennifermcdaniel.substack.com/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mcdanielnutrition/] McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/] Past Podcast Episodes [https://mcdanielnutrition.com/podcast/] 2026 Silent Retreat  [https://www.sobersistersinstlouis.com/silent-retreat] Mindful Closet Website [https://www.mindfulcloset.com/] Unflattering- Dacy’s Substack [https://dacygillespie.substack.com/] Dacy’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mindfulcloset] Erin Grumley, LPC Website [https://www.eringrumley.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835775/support]