Your Kick Ass Life Podcast

I’m going back to my roots today and giving you a pep talk of sorts around following your dreams. I know, I know, follow my dreams? In this economy!? Stay with me… So, a dear friend of mine is turning 50 at the end of this year, and she posted on Facebook about bucket list items she wants to do before she turns 50. She wants to have 50 things to do and needed more ideas to fill her list. As I was reading through all her comments, things like skydiving, volunteering at a shelter, and traveling to Europe, it got me thinking about all of you.  Listen to this episode as I give you some coaching questions to ask yourself as you think about your own bucket list, small action steps to take, obstacles to look for, as well as giving you a good old fashioned motivational speech about going after your dreams. You may want to listen to this one more than once and send it to your friends! http://andreaowen.com/505   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode marks the introduction to the recovery theme of the podcast. Betsy Byler, LPC-SAS, ICS, LPCC, joins me to talk about substance addiction, love addiction, and the difference between the two. We also discuss addiction from the perspective of brain science and how the brain actually changes the addicted person. It’s a fascinating and insightful conversation.  Before you turn the episode off or think this theme might not be applicable to you - there's a saying in recovery, “Everyone's recovering from something.” So even if you don’t have a dysfunctional relationship with alcohol or another substance, throughout this series we'll be talking about recovery in general. If you are interested in personal development, I really do think that you will walk away with some nuggets of wisdom. If nothing else, you will understand what it's like to be a person in recovery. I hope you do tune in.  For those of you new to Betsy, she is a mental health therapist, substance abuse counselor, clinical supervisor, and h

This week, Dr. Teralyn joins me to discuss what she believes is the missing link for improving mental health. Together we also explore brain health and talk about topics related to health autonomy, including taking a functional medicine approach to your health and more.  Dr. Teralyn has been practicing as a therapist for almost 2 decades. It wasn't until she went into private practice that she noticed clients (primarily women) were getting sicker and sicker despite therapy and medication. Listen as she helps us to think about our health in a broader way and encourages us to uncover the root of the issues to help us feel better. Some of the topics we discussed include: Some of the things women have been told about their health when they try to seek help (5:50) What is stress? What is emotional stress versus physiological stress? (9:49) Staggering statistics about women's prescriptions for depression/anxiety and even menopause that we may not know about (10:46) What is brain health and how we can maintain i

Several days ago I came across THIS TikTok video by creator The Black Shea. She was commenting on the docuseries Harry and Meghan, saying that in her opinion, Harry is trying to do for Meghan what he could not do for his mother, Princess Diana. I agree with this opinion, and not only that, but it got me thinking about people trying to heal generational “curses” in their families and lives.  While I don’t love the term “generational curse”-- maybe we can call it “generational dysfunction” – I do think many of you are doing this type of work, whether you know it or not. Seeing patterns in your families and trying to heal them by digging into your own personal work and stopping those patterns. This minisode talks about a few things you can do while you’re on that journey. http://andreaowen.com/502   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I have another conversation about women’s health, specifically about topics or issues we don’t always think to discuss with our healthcare providers. Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins (Dr. P), a board-certified and dynamic Obstetrician and Gynecologist joins me for a conversation about what women need to know about urinary tract infections (UTIs), the seven supplements women should take for reproductive health, and tips for having a healthy vagina.   Dr. Perkins has extensive expertise in global maternal health needs, problems of the female reproductive tract, contraceptive care, and minimally invasive surgery. She also has a burning passion and commitment to fitness and a holistic approach to a healthy mind, body, and spirit.  Some of the topics we explore include: UTIs: how and why women get them, as well as, how can we prevent getting them (3:52) The symptoms of PCOS or Uterine Fibroids (10:15) Five signs of fertility or that you are in your fertile window (21:26) Supplements and nutrients for better he

We’ve made it to Episode 500! This week I welcome Kimberly Johnson for a conversation about somatic experiences for healing, the practice of sexological bodywork, and the fourth trimester of motherhood. We also discuss discerning between being proactive versus reactive in life and activating what Kimberly refers to, in her work, as the “Inner Jaguar.”.  Kimberly is a Sexological Bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing trauma resolution practitioner, postpartum advocate, birth doula, author, and single mom.  Some of the topics we explore include: Somatic Experiencing: what it is, how to find a practitioner, and some tools women can use to heal (4:18) Activating your “Inner Jaguar” is not about being an Alpha female, it’s about being comfortable in your own skin, helping you to go after what you want or don’t want, and letting go rather than burnout (10:18) What is sexological bodywork? The fourth trimester of motherhood and why is it important for women/mothers to shift their experience of being and mothering (17

Happy New Year

Welcome, 2023! As we start the new year, we are continuing the Women's Health theme with a conversation about functional nutrition and the impact of a healthy diet on the body, autoimmunity, and Epigenetics. My guest is podcast host and functional nutrition counselor, Andrea Nakayama.  Andrea is the host of the 15-Minute Matrix podcast and the founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance. Her aim is to offer better solutions to the growing chronic illness epidemic by highlighting the importance of systems biology, root cause methodology, and therapeutic partnerships. She also helps historically underserved individuals reclaim ownership of their health.   Some of the topics we explore include:  Medical gaslighting and why so many women navigating symptoms of chronic illness struggle to get an accurate diagnosis or receive sufficient care (6:36) The circle of influence and how it relates to healing our body (16:06) What is Functional Nutrition and how a functional nutrition counselor helps fill the gaps betw

The new and updated version of How to Stop Feeling Like Shit is officially OUT NOW! Get your copy (make sure you look for the YELLOW cover) and all your bonuses HERE!

What can you do when you feel unwell, but all of your medical tests come back normal? According to Dr. Efrat LaMandre (known as Dr. E), if you are healthy from a conventional medicine perspective - great. However, your feeling of unwellness still means something and needs to be addressed.  Dr. E is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with a Ph.D. in Integrative Medicine who helps people optimize their health, prevent illness, reduce medication, and feel great. Dr. E joins me on the show this week to talk about finding your personal path to wellness whether you are dealing with gut issues, joint pain, fatigue and more.  Some of the topics we explore include:  The difference between functional medicine and conventional medicine (13:24) It is important to dig deeper and find the root cause (17:29) Why Dr. E says, “Fibromyalgia is not an acceptable diagnosis.” (22:37) Lactose intolerance: what is it, and do you have it or not? (26:21) Why people get worked up over hormonal replacement therapy? (39:23) http://

A couple of weeks ago, I was coaching a client. She said she had dove back into my first book. 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life and had been thinking about the first chapter, which is called, “Cannonball Out of Your Comfort Zone”.  (Before I continue, the truth is, the chapter titles are meant to be dramatic and catchy. You don’t have to CANNONBALL out of your comfort zone…even dipping a toe into it is great.)  We had a great session where we talked about what it meant for her to take action that scared her, how the pandemic has impacted her comfort zone, action she could take, and any obstacles that might get in the way. It was such a great session and I felt like what she was feeling was relatable to so many of you. As soon as she and I got off the phone, I turned the mic on and recorded this minisode for you! Enjoy! http://andreaowen.com/495   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

**Before we jump in, I wanted to remind you that you’re invited to join me for a special Ask Me Anything Episode recording. It’s happening tomorrow, December 15th at 1pm ET (10 am PT)! All you have to do is go to http://andreaowen.com/ama. You can submit your questions beforehand by emailing support(at)andreaowen.com or come live to ask. Hope to see you there!  Margaret Romero returns to the podcast! She is a Columbia- trained board certified nurse practitioner. She utilizes functional medicine to treat chronic illness, hormone imbalances, and autoimmune conditions. In this episode, we explore some of the things women should know about hormones and hormone imbalances and the difference between conventional medicine and functional medicine. We also touch on the topic of misogyny in medicine.  Some of the topics we also discuss include:  Is it normal for women in their 40s, 50s, or even 60s to have low libido? (17:06) Why masculine energy is creating havoc in women’s bodies (21:31) Can you talk about the con

Before we jump in, you’re invited to join me for a special Ask Me Anything Episode recording on December 15th at 1pm ET (10 am PT)! All you have to do is go to http://andreaowen.com/ama. You can submit your questions beforehand by emailing support(at)andreaowen.com or come live to ask. Hope to see you there!  This week, we’re continuing the conversation on women’s health and sexuality. Joining me to discuss that, plus today’s culture and reclaiming your sexual agency is sex therapist and clinical sexologist Danielle Kramer. Danielle’s specialties include sexual concerns of women and AFAB folks, religious trauma and purity culture recovery, nontraditional relationship orientations, and those questioning their sexuality. In this episode you’ll hear us talk about: How our culture harms women's sexuality and leads to both relationship and health problems (6:05) Purity culture: what it is and how it harms women's health, sexuality, and sex in relationships (6:48) We explore the topics of talking about sex and s

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about having goals in personal development– such as kicking an addiction, digging into why we keep making the same mistakes in relationships, or healing from childhood trauma.  And on social media, I’ve seen the topic come up around becoming the person you wish you’d had to lean on in your past, and/or becoming the person you wish you could have been when something hard happened in your life.  In this minisode, I explore that more and hope that it helps you move the needle in your own journey!  Also, ICYMI, How to Stop Feeling Like Shit has been updated and is being RE-RELEASED this month!

Sex educator and pleasure coach Whitni Miller joins me for a conversation about intimacy, relationships, and sex. When I decided to create a theme around women’s health, Whitni was one of the several guests I was hoping would say yes to being a guest. And, she did! Whitni focuses on maximizing female pleasure through self-work and relational communication, which you’ll hear about in this episode.  We also discuss:  The biggest reason heterosexual couples stop having sex (5:33) Where to start if you and your partner know you’re having intimacy issues (10:17) Top 3 reasons why women lose their sexual desire and what women can do to increase their sex drive (14:55) How arousal works and can it really be turned on and off like a light switch? (27:42) Some ways couples can make sex more playful (32:43) Breath work and its impact on sexual pleasure (35:18) If you missed the announcement, an updated and revised edition of my book How to Stop Feeling Like Shit is coming in December!

This week we are talking about periods and women’s health! Dr. Saru Bala joins me to talk about what’s normal when it comes to period pain, what we are supposed to track (and why), what causes PMS, and more!  Dr. Bala is a licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in women's hormonal health. As I mentioned in a previous episode, I believe that if we don’t have our physical health together, it is really hard to focus on our mental health. I hope you enjoy this episode and my conversation with Dr. Bala!!Oh and in case you missed it, an updated and revised edition of my book How to Stop Feeling Like Shit is coming in December!

Hi! So, I’ve been keeping a huge secret. And that secret is that How to Stop Feeling Like Shit has been updated and is being RE-RELEASED next month!

This week I am talking with author and business coach Jadah Sellner about detoxing from hustle culture, building and creating friendships, and reducing stress in the form of self-care.   Jadah is a bestselling author, business coach, international keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, poet, and host of the Lead with Love® podcast. She's also the author of SHE BUILDS: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life.   Book Giveaway

Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach, joins me to talk about women’s pelvic health. Kim is a self-professed kegel maven and a certified fitness professional who became passionate about spreading information on pelvic health after the birth of her first child.  So, you may be wondering why we’re talking about things like vaginas and pelvic floors on a personal development podcast. Well, it is my belief that if your physical health is suffering, you won’t be able to appropriately focus on doing the hard work of personal development. But, if this isn’t your jam, don’t worry, we’ll be back to good old-fashioned self-help very soon!  We explore ways to overcome pelvic floor dysfunction, and vaginal dryness, and why we must normalize the conversation around talking about pelvic health. Some of the other topics in this episode include: Kim answers, “Is it an overactive bladder or something else?” (8:56) Pelvic organ prolapse: what it is, its symptoms, and healing (15:00) Is it true that as we age we lose elastin in our va

I’ve been open and fully transparent about my journey with aging. It– like most things in personal growth– has not been linear, but a roller coaster of emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. I love that some women feel so empowered and embrace it, and it’s not that I’m fighting it…but why is no one talking about the in-between place? The bridge we walk along as we walk towards that empowerment place?  In this sixteen-minute minisode, you’ll hear me talk about this; it’s what I brought to my therapist last week. You’ll also hear a conclusion I came to that goes right along with some advice I gave my middle school daughter. http://andreaowen.com/486   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices