Lifestyle Listener: Tackling Life One Conversation at a Time

Welcome back! Jessica and I took a small break from recording to handle life, and now we find ourselves recording in different locations! How are you holding up during the “Great Quarantine?” In this episode, we talk life with Covid-19, what it’s like wearing multiple hats for our families, and trying to find the silver linings in an otherwise bleak situation. Come take a listen and see if anything we say resonates with your own quarantined world! If have questions about this podcast or want more information, please feel free to comment below or simply e-mail me with your questions: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. If you like what you heard here today, SUBSCRIBE!!!!!!!!! That way you stay on top of all the great topics that is coming your way for 2020 from Lifestyle Listener. Be sure to follow me on social media too and get constant tips and motivations for finding your healthy lifestyle. Instagram: @lifestyle_listener, Facebook: @lifestylelistener, and Twitter: @lifestylelistener. Or just visit my webpage for more information about what I do as a health coach, recipes, other podcasts, and my blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

In our last podcast, Jessica and I talk about finding balance and space to make positive changes that will LAST in your life! This week we dig a bit deeper and give you more tools and ideas on exactly how you can make happiness and goals a reality. And of course it’s never boring when you have cats and dogs playing in the background!! Thanks for spending 30 minutes of your day with us and hope to see back the next time. If have questions about this podcast or want more information, please feel free to comment below or simply e-mail me with your questions: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. If you like what you heard here today, SUBSCRIBE!!!!!!!!! That way you stay on top of all the great topics that is coming your way for 2020 from Lifestyle Listener. Be sure to follow me on social media too and get constant tips and motivations for finding your healthy lifestyle. Instagram: @lifestyle_listener, Facebook: @lifestylelistener, and Twitter: @lifestylelistener. Or just visit my webpage for more information about what I do as a health coach, recipes, other podcasts, and my blog. www.lifestylelistener.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

We all deal with stress. It's just a part of life and there is no getting around it. In this episode, Jessica and I talk about how stress and work go hand-in-hand, but there never seems to be time to relive ourselves from it. It doesn't matter if you have an office job or if you work inside the home (yes, you stay-at-home parents are career people too!), stress affects us all and has detrimental outcomes on our health. So take a listen and see if the tips and pointers I discuss with Jessica could help you alleviate stress in your own life and make things a little more peaceful. Remember, STRESS CAN HARM YOUR HEALTH!!!! So let's find some ways to help you learn to calm your mind, lower cortisol levels, and help you breathe a little easier each day. If you have questions about this podcast or want more information, please feel free to comment below or simply e-mail me with your questions: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. If you like what you heard here today, SUBSCRIBE!!!!!!!!! That way you stay on top of all the great topics that is coming your way for 2020 from Lifestyle Listener. Be sure to follow me on social media too and get constant tips and motivations for finding your healthy lifestyle. Instagram: @lifestyle_listener, Facebook: @lifestylelistener, and Twitter: @lifestylelistener. Or just visit my webpage for more information about what I do as a health coach, recipes, other podcasts, and my blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

In January Jessica and I decided to do a cleanse, but not the type of cleanse that involves smoothies and certain food groups. This was a cleanse to help clear out the used space in our brains squashed by mindless spending and social media apps. For the entire month of January, we decided to ONLY purchase things out of a necessity. So Target runs were only for needs like toilet paper, paper towels, and any other personal hygiene product we were out of at the moment. No running through the dollar aisle or picking up cute "shirts with words" because they would be fun to wear. We were working on being mindful of our shopping habits and seeing where we dropped extra cash on items we really didn't need. We also decided to take a break from social media apps and not waste time mindlessly scrolling through news feeds or get wrapped up in the latest and not-so-greatest news regarding celebrities or other famous figures. This is a quick podcast, so take a listen and see how we did! If you had your own cleanse of something in January, we would love to hear from you and your experiences, so comment or e-mail! If you have questions about this podcast or want more information, please feel free to comment below or simply e-mail me with your questions: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. If you like what you heard here today, SUBSCRIBE!!!!!!!!! That way you stay on top of all the great topics that is coming your way for 2020 from Lifestyle Listener. Be sure to follow me on social media too and get constant tips and motivations for finding your healthy lifestyle. Instagram: @lifestyle_listener, Facebook: @lifestylelistener, and Twitter: @lifestylelistener. Or just visit my webpage for more information about what I do as a health coach, recipes, other podcasts, and my blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

January is off to a great start and we thought talking about physical activity would be the perfect topic for those still knee-deep in diet resolutions. So, the connection between diet and exercise has always been promoted as a key to weight loss, but what if you were told exercising doesn't cause you to loose weight? Would you still do it? Would you stop all activity and become a couch potato? I did some research and digging on the correlation between physical activity and weight loss, and I was not surprised to find several articles with credible citations making the claim that moving more won't help you weigh less. So why even bother? Not all of us enjoy physical activity, but what is important to remember when it comes to a healthy MIND AND BODY is that physical activity is necessary for both. Some of my information came from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (http://www.integrativenutrition.com/). I also found some great info about this topic from the book, Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program that Works by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. You can get it on Amazon or at any other bookstore. I also found some interesting research links via an article on VOX.com (https://www.vox.com/2016/4/28/11518804/weight-loss-exercise-myth-burn-calories). Go check it out if you want to learn more for yourself. Come take a listen and let's see if you agree or not with what we discovered about why Exercise Won't Make You Skinny! If you have questions about this podcast or want more information, please feel free to comment below or simply e-mail me with your questions: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. If you like what you heard here today, SUBSCRIBE!!!!!!!!! That way you stay on top of all the great topics that is coming your way for 2020 from Lifestyle Listener. Be sure to follow me on social media too and get constant tips and motivations for finding your healthy lifestyle. Instagram: @lifestyle_listener, Facebook: @lifestylelistener, and Twitter: @lifestylelistener. Or just visit my webpage, www.lifestylelistener.com for more information about what I do as a health coach, recipes, other podcasts, and my blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

We are all consumers...it is the world we live in. But have you ever thought about taking time off from being a Consumer? For the month of January, Jessica and I are challenging each other to buy less this month. We only are going to try and buy the necessities-food, toilet paper, paper towels, household cleaners, etc. What we are not going to buy is random things that look shiny and fabulous, but really don't need to be purchased. After spending so much during the holiday season, we just want to be more conscientious of how we spend our dollars. It's just our way of trying to ring in the new year being mindful of how we spend and how we save. What are you doing this new year to add positive changes to your life? If you would like to ask questions regarding this podcast or any other podcast you hear on Lifestyle Listener, please e-mail me: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. I am also on social media: FB (@lifestylelisener), IG (@lifestyle_listener), and Twitter (@lifestylelistener). Or check out my web page, www.lifestylelistener.com. We look forward to hearing from you and don't forget to hit that subscribe button to keep up with the latest podcast from Lifestyle Listener!!

We said goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020, a new year and a new decade! We are also starting season 2 of Lifestyle Listener!! So, are you someone that makes resolutions each new year? Does it involve food and dieting after indulging during the holiday season? Or do you find other things to resolve, like saving money or cleaning out that closet with all the junk in it? Maybe you want to volunteer more this year, or work on advancing your career? Whatever you might find needs a boost in your life, the new year is usually the time to start. Jessica and I talk about our own resolutions this year and why we felt they were important to us. We also discuss how resolutions can have a negative impact on life because it sets some people up for immediate failure. The one thing we hit on is, when making a lifestyle change (a.k.a. resolution), it's important to slowly implement those changes. You stand a better chance of actually sticking to the goals you have laid out, and the actions become part of your normal routine. So whatever your 2020 goals are this year, we hope this podcast helps you reach them successfully! If you would like to ask questions regarding this podcast or any other podcast you hear on Lifestyle Listener, please e-mail me: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. I am also on social media: FB (@lifestylelisener), IG (@lifestyle_listener), and Twitter (@lifestylelistener). Or check out my web page, www.lifestylelistener.com. We look forward to hearing from you and don't forget to hit that subscribe button to keep up with the latest podcast from Lifestyle Listener!!

It's the last podcast of 2019!!!!!! So, we recorded this before the end of the year, but I was a little late getting it edited and ready to post. Whoopsie! Lifestyle Listener is coming up on the one year mark for being a live podcast and we thank you so much for stopping by and taking a ride on this crazy train of ours! We hope this last year of our conversations, recommendations, and personal roadblocks has helped you overcome something in your own life. And as we look towards 2020 we are super excited to continue down the path of discovering the healthiest and happiest way to live life! For our final podcast of the year, Jessica talks about her time in Tulum and some of the struggles she encountered there as her mind and body learn this new process of Intuitive Eating and saying "NO" to typical diet culture. It just goes to show that living your life the way your body needs is a constant learning process full of frustrations, but also tremendous personal growth. So as you go into the New Year, try not to sweat the days you feel less successful and celebrate the moments where you found joy and peace. See you next year!!! If you are interested in learning more about Intuitive Eating, I highly recommend Christy's podcast, The Food Psych. She has some great guests and tons of pertinent information on how to fight today's Diet Culture. If you would like to ask questions regarding this podcast or any other podcast you hear on Lifestyle Listener, please e-mail me: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. I am also on social media: FB (@lifestylelisener), IG (@lifestyle_listener), and Twitter (@lifestylelistener). Or check out my web page, www.lifestylelistener.com. We look forward to hearing from you and don't forget to hit that subscribe button to keep up with the latest podcast from Lifestyle Listener!!

Question everything. Even when you agree with someone or something, it is still healthy to question its foundation. Part of living a healthy lifestyle is to gain knowledge of what works for your own mind and body. In this episode, I discuss with Jessica my own uncertainty about a recent podcast I listened to by Christy Harrison, a licensed dietician and Intuitive Eating expert. In the beginning of her podcasts, Christy answers Q and A from listeners, and this particular one hit home with me and had me doubting her reasoning. It dealt with someone who was recovering from an eating disorder but also had Celiac Disease. As a mother of an 11-year-old girl with Celiac, I am very heightened about the disease and how it forces my daughter into a restrictive diet. But it's restrictive because her body requires gluten to be removed. Otherwise it physically harms her intestinal lining. What I heard had me definitely flipping the other side of the "intuitive eating" coin and recognize its flaws. It goes to show even the best of ideas can have their weak points. It's important we can recognize the weak points in things we hold near and dear, look at them objectively, and know how to incorporate our viewpoints into the theology. It doesn't mean you completely disagree with the ideology, but know how to adjust it to fit your own needs and beliefs. If you are interested in learning more about Intuitive Eating, I highly recommend Christy's podcast, The Food Psych. She has some great guests and tons of pertinent information on how to fight today's Diet Culture. If you would like to ask questions regarding this podcast or any other podcast you hear on Lifestyle Listener, please e-mail me: samantha@lifestylelistener.com. I am also on social media: FB (@lifestylelisener), IG (@lifestyle_listener), and Twitter (@lifestylelistener). Or check out my web page, www.lifestylelistener.com. We look forward to hearing from you and don't forget to hit that subscribe button to keep up with the latest podcast from Lifestyle Listener!!

In this episode, Jessica and I discuss all those apps on your smart phone geared towards kids and "family."  Have you ever given thought to how companies are targeting children, which can affect how you decide to ultimately parent your child?  Children's brains change so drastically over a short period of time and technology is not always improving those changes. We are not saying all kid-friendly apps are the enemy. There are some great ones out there being used by educational experts and health practitioners. What we are telling you in this episode is to be mindful as a parent as to how much exposure the little people in your life have to this kind of technology.

In this episode, Jessica and I have a conversation about what life is throwing at us while we are trying to prepare for the hectic and absolutely crazy holiday season. Do you find yourself stressed during the jingle and mingle of parties, family gatherings, and end-of-the-year deadlines? Maybe you can relate to what Jessica and I share together as we laugh through our own thoughts and perceptions on why we get stressed and what we should really be doing to make this season a more joy-filled holiday. We are so glad you came to join us, and remember to hit that subscribe button to stay up-to-date with the latest healthy living advice from Lifestyle Listener. If you want to know more about my health coaching practice, or you like some of the ideas and topics we discuss in this podcast, please visit me at www.lifestylelistener.com. Have questions or comments? No worries! I would love to hear from you, so shoot me an e-mail at samantha@lifestylelistener.com or find me on social media. I am on Instagram (@lifestyle_listener), Facebook (@lifestylelistener), and Twitter (@lifestylelistener).

In today's episode, Jessica and I talk about the idea of how important our word is to the world and to ourselves. We discuss the book "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)" by Don Miguel Ruiz and begin the next several podcasts on Ruiz's Toltec Wisdom guides to finding peace and happiness in life. The First Agreement, which is to be impeccable with your word, not only involves how we talk to other people in our lives, whether that be friends, family, our kids, etc. It also deals with how we talk to ourselves. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are on your own personal journey to learning more about your self, or trying to help others on their own self-help discoveries. Hopefully you can pull some wisdom from our conversation in this episode to help you on your own health and wellness goals. Ruiz's book can be found on Amazon, along with several other books he has written on self-help and self-discovery through Toltec wisdom. Here is the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3VBHOYZKAHMG1&keywords=don+miguel+ruiz&qid=1574280609&sprefix=don+Miguel%2Caps%2C295&sr=8-3 If you want to know more about my health coaching practice, or you like some of the ideas and topics we discuss in this podcast, please visit me at www.lifestylelistener.com. Have questions or comments? No worries! I would love to hear from you, so shoot me an e-mail at samantha@lifestylelistener.com or find me on social media. I am on Instagram (@lifestyle_listener), Facebook (@lifestylelistener), and Twitter (@lifestylelistener).

How often do you think about food each day? Is it a positive or negative thought? Do you feel terrible guilt about eating a certain thing? Jessica and I dive into the topic of relationships with food in this episode. With her new-found freedom in Intuitive Eating, Jessica takes charge with her freedom to help listeners understand that trying to prescribe to certain "regiments" is not a path to freedom with food. It's just another way someone out there is trying to make you fit into a certain mold. She has worked diligently and is still new to the concept of loving who she is in her own skin her, not because she is ten pounds lighter from eating Paleo or Vegan, but because her body is getting healthy and finding balance. She is learning the art of quieting the mind full of demons that tell her she isn't worthy because she doesn't fit into a particular mold. And she is finding joy in movement that doesn't stress or injure her body. Let's face it, we all have been affected by someone telling us how to eat, what to eat, when to eat...the list goes on and on. After years of struggling with my own relationship with food, I have discovered the beauty of learning to love my own skin and what makes my body run properly. I have spent the last several years not even changing in my clothing size because each day I am choosing to listen to my body. Learning to develop a healthy relationship with food based on what works for YOU is a process that can't be achieved overnight, but it CAN be achieved through hard work and learning to quiet your mind and find out what your body NEEDS from YOU!! I prescribe to the ideal that we are all bio-individuals and what works for one person is not going to work for the next. I believe in the ideal of living 80/20 when it comes to food. Eighty percent of the time I am focused on trying to eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, healthy protein sources, and healthy fats. I allow the remaining 20 percent to have fun with and indulge myself with things I love, from cupcakes to wine, to lounging in my pajamas all day. It's how I have found my balance and it's also part of how Jessica is learning to find her own self. Let's break cycles and stand up to an industry that is making money off of telling us what we should eat and how it will make us thinner, or healthier, or live longer. Let's continue to work on listening to ourselves and finding out exactly what it is we need to feel healthy and happy in our own skin.

Jessica and I have taken a break recently for vacations and various other obligations, so we come back together and catch up in this episode on what has been happening in the last few weeks of life. One of the most important things we can do as human beings is form solid relationships. Jessica and I talk about how important relationships are in our life, whether that be with great friends, our spouses, or our children. What relationships do you have in life that build you up? Are there any relationships that bring you down or make you feel less than whole? What can you do in life to have more solid relationships as part of a healthy lifestyle? Come join us as we dive into what life has thrown at us recently and how relationships help keep us balanced in mind, body, and spirit. If you want to know more about my health coaching practice, or you like some of the ideas and topics we discuss in this podcast, please visit me at www.lifestylelistener.com. Have questions or comments? No worries! I would love to hear from you, so shoot me an e-mail at samantha@lifestylelistener.com or find me on social media. I am on Instagram (@lifestyle_listener), Facebook (@lifestylelistener), and Twitter (@lifestylelistener).

Jessica and I talk a bit more about Spirituality this week and how self-compassion is a huge part of a spiritual practice, as well as a necessity for good mental health. It's hard to practice self-compassion when you live in a world that looks down upon it. Self-compassion also gets roped into negative terminology, such as narcissism or self-indulgence. But when practiced in the right mindset, self-compassion is a great tool to use for an overall healthy lifestyle. We give our own reasonings as to how and why we practice self-compassion, and ways you could incorporate this trait into your own daily routine. We also tie in self-compassion with another facet I like to use in my own healthy living routine, the Enneagram Test. The Enneagram has been traced back to the ancient Greeks, and is used widely today to help assess personality traits. It consists of 9 numbers on a scale that looks very similar to a geometric math problem. Based on a series of questions, you are "placed" into one of these number categories and you might even cross over into several numbers. It's a great tool to help you understand your own self, and to also understand the personality traits of the relationships around you. There are lots of websites promoting this particular test, and a source I like to reference back to for understanding and learning about the Enneagram is a book titled, "The Road Back to You," by Ian Morgan and Suzanne Stabile. It's available in print format from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and is available in audio. There is also an entire podcast series dedicated to this book with some great interviews from guests. I suggest you check it out and learn about your own number! For more information about any of the concepts you hear in the podcasts, e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com or visit my website, www.lifestylelistener.com. I can also be found on Instagram (@lifestyle_listener), Facebook, and Twitter. And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!! It will keep you up to date on the latest health and wellness tips covered each week.

In this episode, Jessica and I touch on the topic of spirituality. Spirituality is one of the main facets learned at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. As a health coach, I like to include spirituality in my program to find out what a client feels really speaks to them. How does it improve their life? How can it help their overall health? And it's good to know that Spirituality can mean many different things for people. It can be a person's faith, it can be learning to really know oneself and finding purpose in life. The important thing to note about this topic is EVERYONE can benefit from having a Spiritual connection. It can provide peace, a sense of belonging, and allow you to achieve a balanced "head space." So what is your Spiritual practice? We just want to thank you for listening to us and please hit that "Subscribe" button to get the latest episodes! If you feel a connection to the topics you hear on this podcast, reach out to me via e-mail at samantha@lifestylelistener.com or visit my website, www.lifestylelistener.com. I am also on social media, so like and follow my pages on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also get those links on my website.

When you hear the word "exercise," do you find yourself wanting to look the other way? Or do you stop and listen to see what fun activity might be awaiting you? It's not rocket science to know that our bodies are made to move, and I am not talking about a Cross-fit, heart-pumping kind of movement. I am just simply saying that we are natural movers, whether it is walking down the street or hiking through the woods. In today's health and wellness world, the idea of moving has morphed into this notion you can only be healthy by joining a gym or beating up your body doing superhuman types of exercises. But in reality, if we just allow our bodies to move the way they want to move, we are being healthy! Yes, that means you can go out and rake leaves for an hour and you are getting in "exercise!" Or take a nice stroll through the park and enjoy what nature has to offer. Perhaps you want to do a gentle stretching or yoga class. These are all ways to move our bodies, be healthy, and stay in a positive mindset. So sit back and listen to see what Jessica and I have to say on this topic of "joyful movement." The book I reference in this podcast can be found online-I ordered mine through Amazon. It is called "Within: A Spiritual Awakening to Love & Weight Loss." By Dr. Habib Sadeghi. For more information about me and what services I offer as a Holistic Health Coach, visit my website at www.lifestylelistener.com. or you can e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com. I am also on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jessica and I sit and chat about the podcast WE like to listen to right now. From Murder Mysteries to Intuitive Eating, this episode might help you find something new to play in the car. Remember is you like what you hear, please hit that "subscribe" button to stay in touch with other topics relating to health, wellness, and everything in between life throws at us! For more information about my health coaching practice and how I can help you achieve Body Positivity, contact me via email at samantha@lifestylelistener.com, or visit my website at www.lifestylelistener.com and schedule a free consultation with me! I am also on social media: Instagram @lifestyle_listener, FB @lifestylelistener, and Twitter @sambrownrhodes

Chances are you have probably tried the latest fad diet, supplement, or health craze, right? Did you ever stop and think about how those products and services are marketed to the general public? Did you know marketing strategies are manipulated to attract us into thinking the latest and greatest product will make us healthy and have perfect bodies? Well, sit back, buckle up, and listen as Jessica and I deconstruct these notions of how marketing in the health and wellness industry is actually hurting us more than helping us. Our bodies can be healthy at any size, and the beauty of us all is we are INDIVIDUALS! So why should society try and squeeze into the same preconceived mold of health? Perhaps these questions we address here will make you stop and take notice of how companies strive to entice the public into drinking the same "kool-aid." And age is not a factor because now companies are targeting certain age groups in order to make money and maintain their status quo (Think of Weight Watchers and their new campaign targeting children). As a health coach, I am more about helping individuals find their best bodies, not loosing weight to be "skinny," whatever skinny means in our society. Health and happiness comes in all sizes, and what works for me will be totally different for you. I also believe we need to educate people more about how marketing companies are targeting the weakest link in the general population-that being insecurity and a need to "belong." If you have any questions about the information you hear in this podcast, contact me by email at samantha@lifestylelistener.com. Or visit my website at www.lifestylelistener.com. You can also look me up on social media: Instagram: @lifestyle_listener, FB: @lifestylelistener, or even Twitter: @sambrownrhodes. Episode disclaimer: You might hear a few choice words in this podcast. Call it "heat of the moment" frustrations at The System.

Should you add supplements to your diet and lifestyle? What supplements are safe to take and how do we know if they really work? These are some of the questions Jessica and I dive into in this segment about Supplementation. Supplements, not including medication, can be viewed as a pro and a con in a person's healthy lifestyle. There are so many factors to consider when taking supplements, such as how much, what brand, and for how long? It's also important to remember that supplementation is also a huge money-maker for the health and wellness industry, so being a smart consumer and educating yourself before adding anything to your own diet is very important. Take a listen and see if we can help you figure out whether or not YOU should supplement. Want to know more about the kind of supplements I take? Visit www.lifestylelistener.com and read my latest blog on this subject! Also, check me out on social media via Facebook (@lifestylelistener) or Instagram (@lifestyle_listener). The Podcast we reference to in this episode is Science Versus "Vitamins and Supplements-Are They Worth It?" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-vs/id1051557000

Are you tied down to your smart phone? Does checking up on social media and e-mails seem more important than actually sitting face-to-face with someone and talking? Studies have been done on how our technology has changed the way we speak with one another, the way we write, and the way we listen (see a previous podcast on listening if you want those good details!). Like most things in life, technology can be one of those things we have to constantly self-moderate. In this episode, Jessica and I dive in a bit into the notion of how dependent we can become on our smart phone and other devices, and how little effort we put towards relationships and conversations with individuals we care about...even our own families! I urge you to take a listen and see how your own devices could be wreaking havoc on personal relationships and the kind of conversations you are having in your own life. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

Are you always looking for delicious, but healthy treats to add to your lifestyle? Jessica and I taste a product called G-Butter. It's a low-sugar, high protein, gluten-free, low carbohydrate nut butter that can be cooked up to resemble a warm and delicious treat in less than 30 seconds in a microwave. We also taste a chocolate ghee that is comparable to Nutella or chocolate icing. Here's the skinny on what we tried: G-Butter flavors were "Brownie Batter," "Cookie Dough," "Peanut Butter Cup," and "Red Velvet Icing. The base of what's in the 12 oz. jar is cashews and/or peanuts, almonds. There is also whey protein in it to kick up the protein content of the nut butter, and they contain no artificial colors or additives. The sweeteners are primarily Stevia with two other "sugar-free" sweeteners. If you want to know more about the product and get recipe ideas, go to their website at www.gbutter.com, or visit their social media pages on Instagram and Facebook. The chocolate ghee is made by Fourth and Heart, a company that offers an entire line of various ghee options and flavors. Ghee is a great butter alternative for those who are lactose intolerant, and it has made a huge impact on the health and wellness industry. It's much easier to find ghee in your local grocery store and health food mart nowadays. For more information about this product, visit www.fourthandheart.com. We hope you enjoy this segment as we break down the good, the bad, and the not-so-tasty on these healthy alternatives to your typical brownie or cookie. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

Are you a good listener? Do you really focus on what a person is saying to you by totally being in the moment? One of the biggest issues in relationships is poor listening skills, even when we feel we are being good listeners. In this episode Jessica and I dive into this subject of listening and give you some great pointers on how to be a better listener in your personal relationships. Relationships are a vital part of our Primary Food in a healthy lifestyle, and having solid listening skills can make or break a connection. The tips in this episode can be applied to any relationship, whether it's a friend, co-worker, child, or spouse. If you have any questions about this subject, visit https://chopra.com/articles/5-tips-for-improving-your-listening-in-a-relationship from Deepak Chopra's website, www.chopra.com. Deepak Chopra is a guru in Ayurvedic practices, relationship skills, and other lifestyle tips. He was a contributor with the Integrative Nutrition's coaching program and gave us some great lectures. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

Ever get frustrated with people and their vehicles? In this episode, I tell Jessica my recent experience with a poor parking situation. If you have ever had frustrations over someone's driving or parking, use the next 9 minutes or so to laugh with us as Jessica and I talk about another day in the life and why having to crawl into your car from the passenger's side is not considered acceptable!

Jessica and I dive into some of the underlying themes from our favorite Television Series (Chernobyl) and Podcasts. We discuss the notion of how society tends to pass the baton when it comes to exposing unethical practices in Society. When it comes to living your own life, how do you feel about standing up for what is right, even when the risk can be high? For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener.  Not on social media?  Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

It's happening, and happening much faster than I expected. I am about to hit the big 4-0. Turning the page on a decade can be a bit frightening, a bit exciting, and lead to some serious soul searching. My 30's have been ten years worth of learning more about myself, seeing a ton of personal growth (thanks to some pretty impacting experiences), and trying to figure out what all this "adulting" is about. No matter what decade of life you might currently be in, you can probably relate to some of the issues Jessica and I discuss in this podcast. Come take a listen as I say good-bye to a great decade of life and hello to the great unknown, AKA, my 40's. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

In this episode Jessica asks me about my favorite skin care products. I go over what I like to use on a daily regiment, a few new beauty care items I have discovered, and even explaining the art of "Oil Pulling" as a way to help whiten teeth. As with any beauty regiment, it can be difficult to find items that are totally natural, meaning no chemicals or preservatives. But companies, both large and small, are not as regulated when it comes to listing ingredients on a label. So we go a little into what it means to be a savvy shopper not only in the grocery aisle, but also when it comes to buying beauty products. Sometimes it goes back to the idea of the 80/20 rule of smart and healthy shopping. If you know of any favorite all-natural brands you like to use, comment your suggestions to us so we can try them out! For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

Ready for a few "laugh through life" stories? This podcast is stuffed full of them, and you will understand what we mean as you listen. Jessica relates a story to me about her recent indulgence with a few bakery items. It's open and honest in how she handled the temptation of some baked goods after being pretty regimented with her healthy eating plan. Her humor is super infectious and we are giggling all the while we are both being honest about how we handle emotional eating. Emotional eating is one of the biggest struggles we all face today, and overcoming it involves overpowering the feeling of shame that usually accompanies an over-eating situation. So enjoy some good humor as we talk real life and real health issues in this latest podcast! For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

Jessica is moving right along with her health and wellness journey. This session we address some of the issues that came up for her during the two weeks since our last meeting. Hip pain, how to deal with setbacks, and a few other items are on the table of conversations. This is where health coaching comes into play as a means of holding clients accountable. We (health coaches) are there to hold a client accountable, praise them for their successes, and find ways to overcome frustrations. Oh, and a random doorbell ring lets you all know that I have amazing guard dogs!! Keep up the good work, Jessica! Looking onward to session three soon. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

Does being healthy come at a high cost? Is it "easier" to be healthy when you have more disposable income? How does an economic market help and hurt your ability to live a healthy life? These are some of the issues Jessica and I tackle in this podcast. We talk about our own questions in regards to how health and wellness is marketed in our society. So come join us for this topic that probably affects your own life in one way or the other. Perhaps together we can find solutions to help more people reach their healthier selves in a consumer-driven society.

I always tell people the most important thing you can do is learn to read food labels when grocery shopping. In this episode, Jessica finds out what my top yes and no foods are at the store. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener.  Not on social media?  Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness. 

We walk through Jessica's first session in her 6 month health coaching program with me. Once a client agrees to move along with the 6 month program, I begin the coaching process with a client filling out a food diary to show me what they eat right now, without thinking about health and nutrition. It gives me a better idea as to where they have missing links in their diet. I also have them fill out a Circle of Life sheet, which is a color wheel listing various areas of life (career, creativity, diet, exercise, home cooking, etc.). It just gives us a good road map as to where they are doing well and where they need to seek improvements. I also have them fill out a goals sheet that list their individual goals for month 1, 3 and 6. Sometimes these goals will change as the coaching process moves on, and sometimes they stay the same. Each client is different, and it's all about having the client reach inside and learn themselves. This is the first step in Jessica's process to reaching her health and wellness goals! For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website at www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram @lifestyle_listener and on Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness goals.

In this episode, Jessica and I talk real life and what that looks like for us right now. We dive into the topic of seasonal depression and the realities behind this widely diagnosed illness. As Jessica and I enter a new decade (our 40's!), we also hit on a few other "moment of the day" topics busy women encounter as we try hard to live our lives the way we want. We also hit on the subject of "Being Bad," where we take a negative term and flip it on it's head to make the notion of "Being Bad" into something positive. This is real life and real issues people all over the world face, so come laugh with us and find camaraderie in this crazy thing we call LIFE. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this episode, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

What is a great way to be motivated to workout? Awesome clothes that make you feel good when you wear them. And hey, I wear workout clothes all the time! So over the years, I have done my research and found the go-to brands I like to buy and wear everyday. Jessica sits down with me to find out what brands I am currently wearing when I want to break a sweat, run errands, or just lounge around the house. I like to look for clothes that feel good, wash well, and won't break my bank account. I also like to find things that fit true-to-size because sometimes trying on a bunch of clothes isn't going to work for me--mainly because I purchase a lot of my gear online. And because trendy workout clothes are on the rise, finding a style you like and are able to purchase can be a bit overwhelming. So if you have a few minutes, pop in your earbuds and listen to see what I am wearing and maybe you can find your own inspiration when creating your workout style. Brands mentioned in this episode are Athleta (https://athleta.gap.com/), Carbon38 (https://www.carbon38.com/), Lululemon (https://shop.lululemon.com/), Fabletics (https://www.fabletics.com/), Target (https://www.target.com/) For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in my podcasts, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

So what exactly is a Health History?  Why is this such an important tool for Integrative Nutrition Health Coaches?  In this podcast, I sit down with my friend Jessica, who just signed up for the six month program.  I will give a little explanation about what goes into a health history consultation (which is FREE!!!), and then we move on to the forms she filled out that will tell me a little about her overall health.  Health Histories are great blueprints to use as a health coach because it allows the client to give me some background information about their past eating habits, genetic make-up, and it also gives me insight into their daily routines, goals, fears, etc.  The pauses you hear are me writing down information and also just giving Jessica time to process her thoughts.  Because the thing to remember in a coaching session is I am LISTENING TO YOU.  It is a safe space for you to discuss your health, your problems, and why you want to try and improve your life.  The main purpose for this podcast is to really give the listener a great example of the kind of questions I would ask a client.  Maybe that client will be you?   If you are interested in doing a health history consultation with me, I would love the opportunity to talk with you and see if you think health coaching is a way to get you to your own personal wellness goals.  The consultation is free of charge and provides us to roadmap for potential strategies that could help in overcoming the areas in your life you want to work on.  You can find the forms on my website, www.lifestylelistener.com.  For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this episode, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener.  Not on social media?  Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness. 

In this episode, Jessica interviews me, Samantha Rhodes, and gets to the nitty gritty details about what an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach does for clients. Are you looking for someone to help you realize your personal wellness goals? Need someone to hold you accountable? As an IIN Health Coach, I have the tools and techniques to get you to the finish line. Integrative Nutrition Health Coaches are different than life coaches because we focus on "nutrition, physical activity, relationships, lifestyle, and other elements of life that can impact markers of health such as stress, weight, and energy levels." As an IIN Health Coach, I introduce the concept of Primary Foods into your life, and how that impacts your relationship with Secondary Foods (also known as Diets). Listen here to learn exactly what I can do to help you achieve your ultimate health and wellness lifestyle. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this episode, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

The use of essential oils has been around for years in the health and wellness industry. But lately, it has really grown and expanded, which means lots of companies are mass producing products to sell. So how do you know what to buy when it comes to quality essential oils? Better yet, do you know how to use them in your daily routine? In today's episode we sit down with Kristin Shweain, who has used high quality essential oils for several years in her own home. Kristin Schweain is a wife to Ryan, momma of three lovely and spunky kids, a singer/songwriter, full time music director/ worship leader for St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, MO and essential oil enthusiast. Her personal journey using essential oils began in 2015, and she hasn’t looked back! She is distributor of Young Living Essential Oils and loves educating people on using them to support their overall wellness and a healthier more wholistic lifestyle. Some additional information you can feel free to include! If you are interested in getting started with YoungLiving Essential Oils, she’d love to help you!! Here is her link: https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/new-start?sponsorid=2961625&enrollerid=2961625&isocountrycode=US&culture=en-US&type=member Both sponsor and enrolled number: 2961625 Email her at: itstheoilswithkristin@gmail.com with any questions! For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this episode, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

In this podcast we interview Sara McNeil, a dedicated yoga instructor and meditation practitioner. McNeil earned her RYT-200 hour certification in yoga and is currently completing her RYT-300 training program. She received her Relax and Renew Level 1 training certification in 2016. Sara also has a background in journalism, writing, and editing. She earned her undergraduate degree from Newcomb College, Tulane University where she double-majored in English and philosophy. She earned a Master's Degree in English from Vanderbilt University. Sara uses her writing and philosophy background in her yoga and meditation practice by teaching yoga philosophy, lifestyle, and ethics to her students. Sara believes that yoga and meditation are powerful medicines for the ailments of our time. She believes every body is a yoga body, and that yoga and meditation should be inclusive, diverse, and accessible to all. Sara teaches a long list of various yoga classes and also includes meditation classes. She sees the link between yoga and creativity, and also offers various workshops exploring this topic. We enjoyed getting to know Sara and her journey with yoga and mediation. We hope you enjoy it as well. Namaste. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this episode, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.

Hi, my name is Samantha and I am an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. One topic I wanted to bring up is this idea of "self care." What is self care? How is it useful to someone trying to lead a healthy lifestyle? In this very FIRST podcast for Lifestyle Listener, my good friend Jessica and I will explore this topic of self care/self love, how we incorporate it into our own lives, and why we feel it is so vital to living a healthy lifestyle. Since this is our first ever podcast, hang on with us as we wade ourselves through this episode with all its amateur editing and noisy kids in the background. Despite all life's little blunders, we hope you will pull some good tips and tricks on how to incorporate some self care into your own life. For more information about any of the concepts and information you hear in this episode, visit my website www.lifestylelistener.com, or find me on Instagram at @lifestyle_listener and Facebook @lifestylelistener. Not on social media? Simply e-mail me at samantha@lifestylelistener.com and I will help answer any questions you have regarding your own health and wellness.