The FEEL Podcast: Women’s Empowerment, Emotional Wellness and Self-Leadership with Melissa Crook

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠ .

How much of the life you're living is actually yours—and how much has been shaped by what you've been told you should want, do, or be?

In this Empowerment Tuesday conversation on The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook is joined by Dr. Amanda Wilson for a candid conversation about what it really means to live out of your own expectations instead of everyone else's.

Amanda's story challenges the idea that there is one right way to build a career, raise a family, define success, or create a fulfilling life.

Together, Melissa and Amanda talk about the myth of “having it all,” the hidden pressures women carry, raising gifted children, old trauma that can continue influencing our choices, and the coping mechanisms we sometimes develop before we fully understand what we need.

Amanda also shares why her no-BS approach to consulting works for her, and what can happen when we stop trying to make ourselves fit expectations, systems, or definitions of success that were never designed for us.

At the heart of the conversation is a question worth asking:

Whose expectation is this?

And then:

Does it still align with who I am, what I value, and the life I actually want to live?

Melissa and Amanda explore the pressure on women to “have it all,” recognizing when expectations aren't actually our own, parenting and the hidden challenges of raising gifted children, how past trauma can continue shaping present choices, neurodivergence and understanding ourselves more fully, coping behaviors without shame, creating a career around the life you actually want, and why living by your own expectations doesn't mean rejecting everyone else's.

Ways to Engage

1. Identify one “supposed to” in your life.
2. Ask: “Whose expectation is this?”
3. Choose one expectation to examine instead of automatically following it.

You don't have to reject every expectation that came from someone else.

You just get to decide whether you still want to carry it.

Topics: living out of your own expectations, expectations vs reality, women and expectations, how to stop living for others, people pleasing, self-trust, women and success, having it all myth, gifted children, neurodivergence in women, trauma and personal growth, women entrepreneurs, work life balance, Dr. Amanda Wilson, Straight Smile Solutions, Melissa Crook, The FEEL Podcast, Empowerment Tuesday

#SelfTrust #IntentionalLiving #WomensEmpowerment #PersonalGrowth #FEELPodcast

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

For more Support reach out to Melissa here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What if caring for your health didn't require separating yourself from the foods, culture, traditions, and experiences that are part of who you are?

On this episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook is joined by Leonila Campos for a practical conversation about nutrition, self-care, cultural foods, sustainable habits, and caring for ourselves as whole people.

From “Add yourself to the lunchbox list” to challenging the belief that “I'm a lost cause,” Melissa and Leonila explore what can happen when women move away from shame, perfection, and all-or-nothing expectations and toward habits that can actually fit into their lives.

They also discuss why food can't always be separated from culture. Food can carry family, tradition, memories, connection, and identity, and honoring those layers can be part of caring for ourselves too.

This conversation asks us to consider a different approach to health:

Can we nourish ourselves without judging ourselves?

Can we make changes without believing everything has to change at once?

Can healthy habits be sustainable enough to actually live with?

And while we're caring for everybody else, have we remembered to put ourselves on the list?

 Because caring for yourself doesn't have to mean losing the parts of yourself that matter to you.

Topics: Women's Nutrition • Sustainable Healthy Habits • Self-Care for Women • Food and Culture • Cultural Foods • Healthy Relationship with Food • Whole-Person Wellness • Women’s Empowerment • The FEEL Podcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:10 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 5:24 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 9:59 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 16:03 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 19:41 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 24:44 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 34:26 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 43:02 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 47:08 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 48:21 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast .

⁠⁠In this birthday edition of Empowerment Tuesday on The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook explores what it means to celebrate yourself; not because of an accomplishment, milestone, or someone else's recognition, but because your life has value.

Melissa shares why her birthday philosophy has become simple: What do I want to do for my birthday this year? And then, as much as possible, she chooses it. Some years that's traveling to Ireland. Other years it's favorite foods and floating in the pool. Neither is a better celebration if both are what she genuinely wanted.

But this conversation goes deeper than birthdays.

Melissa shares how she had to recognize times when she expected other people to celebrate her in a particular way without communicating what she wanted. That realization required accountability, and led to an even bigger one:

You can communicate how you want others to show up for you AND take responsibility for celebrating yourself.

This episode explores self-worth, self-care, unspoken expectations, communication, self-trust, knowing what you want, allowing yourself to receive, and celebrating the human being, not only the human doing.

Ways To Engage:

1. What do you appreciate about who you are, not what you do or accomplish?

2. What actually makes you feel celebrated, and have you communicated that?

3. What's one way you can celebrate yourself without waiting for somebody else to do it for you?

Because you don't have to accomplish something extraordinary to be worth celebrating.

You're valuable because of who you are, not what you do. And you get to choose what celebrating that looks like. 💛

Topics: Self-Worth for Women • Self-Care • Celebrating Yourself • Communicating Your Needs • Self-Trust • Personal Growth • Women’s Empowerment • Birthday Reflection • FEEL

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- ⁠⁠⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad⁠⁠⁠

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

For more Support reach out to Melissa here - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What happens to your sense of self when your life continually requires you to adapt?

This week on The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook is joined by military spouse advocate, advisor, and podcast host Reyna Worthy for a conversation about military spouse life, identity, self-care, and the challenge of continuing to make room for yourself through changing seasons.

When so much of your life can be shaped by someone else’s career, your family’s needs, moves, transitions, and responsibilities, it can become easy to adapt so often that you stop asking an important question:

What do I need in this season?

Melissa and Reyna explore what it means to maintain a sense of identity while navigating change, why self-care has to evolve as our circumstances do, and how women can recognize when parts of themselves have been pushed aside.

Ways to Engage

1. Notice where you’ve been adapting to everyone else’s needs.
2. Ask: “What do I need in this season?”
3. Identify one part of yourself you want to make room for again.

You can honor the people, responsibilities, and season you're in without abandoning the other layers of who you are.

Topics: Military Spouse Life, Military Spouse Identity, Self-Care for Women, Life Transitions, Self-Trust, Healthy Boundaries, Women’s Empowerment

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 5:00 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 7:39 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 10:23 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 17:14 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 21:17 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 26:55 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 32:59 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 46:55 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 51:42 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 54:04 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠⁠

What does it actually mean to embrace all of who you are, including the parts you don’t particularly like?

As Melissa continues celebrating the two-year anniversary of Embracing Layers Unapologetically, she returns to one of the foundational conversations behind The Embracing Layers Network and the FEEL Framework: accepting the layered aspects of yourself.

In this Empowerment Tuesday episode, Melissa explores why self-acceptance doesn’t mean approving of every choice you’ve made, loving every part of yourself, or being grateful for every experience you’ve lived through.

Instead, what happens when we replace judgment with curiosity?

Melissa discusses accepting past versions of ourselves, acknowledging experiences we never chose, holding compassion and accountability at the same time, and recognizing how our layers can shape our values, boundaries, relationships, and choices.

Ways to Engage:

• Name one layer of yourself you’ve struggled to accept.
• Ask: What changes when I approach this part of myself with curiosity instead of judgment?
• Identify one way that layer has shaped who you are today.

Because you are not one role, one decision, one mistake, one accomplishment, or one version of yourself.

You are layered, and you still get to choose who you are becoming.

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- ⁠⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad⁠⁠

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

For more Support reach out to Melissa here - ⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

#SelfAcceptance #SelfTrust #WomensEmpowerment #PersonalGrowth #FEELPodcast

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

How do you speak to your body—and would you speak to someone you love the same way?

In this episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook welcomes Nina Manolson for a conversation about Body-Peace, body image, self-acceptance, and changing the relationship women have with their bodies. Nina shares what it can look like to move away from body criticism, shame, constant body-management, and the pressure to “fix” ourselves, and toward curiosity, respect, compassion, and greater trust in our bodies.

Rather than asking, “How do I change my body?” this conversation invites us to consider a different question:

“How am I relating to my body?”

Melissa and Nina explore the messages women receive about their bodies, the language we use when talking to and about ourselves, and why Body-Peace isn't dependent on loving every part of your body every day.

• The difference between body criticism and Body-Peace
• How women learn to judge and manage their bodies
• Becoming aware of how you speak TO your body
• Moving from judgment toward curiosity and respect
• Building a more compassionate relationship with your body
• What it means to listen to and trust your body
• Why your body doesn't need to be “fixed” before it deserves care
• How our relationship with our bodies can change over time

💛 Notice how you speak TO your body this week.

💛 Ask: “Am I relating to my body with criticism, or curiosity?”

💛 Choose one way to respond to your body with respect instead of judgment.

What might change if, instead of approaching your body as something to criticize, manage, or fight, you began getting curious about your relationship with it?

Keywords: Body-Peace, body image, body acceptance, body confidence, body positivity, self-acceptance, self-compassion, women's wellness, women's empowerment, body shame, healthy relationship with your body, intuitive eating, self-worth, emotional wellness, The FEEL Podcast

#BodyPeace #BodyAcceptance #BodyImage #SelfCompassion #WomensEmpowermentTimestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 4:21 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 14:23 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 17:41 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 40:26 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 49:37 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 54:14 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 57:27 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:01:44 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:03:40 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are, beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Could something you’ve lived through help another woman navigate her own story?

In this Empowerment Tuesday episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook revisits Chapter 1 of Embracing Layers Unapologetically and the story of how one realization—“I think my story can help other women”—helped launch what would eventually become The Embracing Layers Network.

Melissa shares how a Dream Wall exercise with her husband in March 2021 led her to consider what she had learned from years of stuffing emotions, putting others’ needs before her own, and beginning to prioritize her emotional health and self-care. That idea eventually developed into a podcast built around women sharing their lived experiences and what they were learning along the way.

More than five years later, Melissa reflects on an important distinction:

Sharing your story isn't about telling another woman how to live hers.

It's about recognizing that something you've experienced or learned may help someone else become curious about her own life.

You'll also explore the boundaries of storytelling; what you want to share, what belongs to someone else's story, what you're still processing, and what you may choose to keep for yourself.

Ways to Engage

1. Name one part of your story you’ve learned something from.
2. Ask: “What might another woman need to hear from my experience?”
3. Choose one way to share it—or decide what is yours to keep.

Your story has value. And you get to choose what you do with it.

Keywords: women’s empowerment, sharing your story, women’s stories, lived experience, personal growth, self-discovery, self-worth, storytelling, women supporting women, FEEL Framework, The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- ⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad⁠

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

For more Support reach out to Melissa here - ⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Who are you becoming, and are you giving yourself room to evolve beyond the woman you've always been?

In this episode of The FEEL Podcast, Tina B. Coleman joins Melissa Crook for a conversation about identity, confidence, self-trust, curiosity, life transitions, personal growth, solo travel, and having the courage to explore what's next.

As with every FEEL guest, we begin with who Tina is, not what she does.

From there, we explore what happens as life changes, our priorities shift, and we begin to recognize that something that once fit us may not fit in quite the same way anymore.

Because knowing who you are doesn't mean you have to remain exactly who you've always been.

We grow.

We change.

We experience loss, transitions, unexpected chapters, new beginnings, and moments that invite us to get curious about ourselves again.

And sometimes discovering who we're becoming requires enough self-trust to step beyond what's familiar and ask:

What do I want in this season of my life?

💛 Who we are, and who we're becoming

💛 Allowing ourselves to grow and evolve through different seasons of life

💛 Building confidence and learning to trust ourselves

💛 Why curiosity can be powerful when we don't know what's next

💛 Recognizing when we've outgrown something that once fit

💛 Navigating loss, change, and new beginnings

💛 Challenging expectations about who we're supposed to be at different ages and stages of life

💛 Solo travel as an opportunity for independence, curiosity, and self-discovery

💛 Rediscovering parts of ourselves we may have lost touch with

💛 Making room for adventure, joy, freedom, and new experiences

💛 Giving ourselves space to want something different

💛 Embracing what's next without dismissing or judging the chapters that came before it

1. Identify one part of yourself you're ready to rediscover or explore.

2. Name something you've outgrown without judging yourself for once choosing it.

3. Finish this sentence: “The woman I am becoming is ready to ______.”

You don't have to know exactly what your next chapter looks like.

Maybe the first step is simply getting curious enough to ask:

Who am I becoming, and what might she be ready for?

#WomensEmpowerment #SelfTrust #SelfDiscovery #PersonalGrowth #Confidence

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:47 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 8:32 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 11:20 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 18:06 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 36:50 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 39:05 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 44:25 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 56:15 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:00:17 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:01:26 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

Who are you when you take away your job, relationships, responsibilities, accomplishments, and all the roles you hold for other people?

In this Empowerment Tuesday episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook continues exploring one of the foundational questions of the FEEL Framework:

Who am I, not what do I do?

Last week, we began by identifying the character traits that describe who we are. This week, we're going deeper into what it actually means to define yourself beyond your roles, labels, accomplishments, and other people's expectations.

“Defining Who I Am” is also Section 1 of our book Embracing Layers Unapologetically, which celebrates its two-year anniversary this month. That section explores three ideas that have become foundational to the FEEL Framework: accepting the layered aspects of ourselves, living out of our own expectations, and prioritizing self-care.

Because knowing who you are gives you information.

It helps you recognize what nourishes you, what you value, what you need to communicate, where you need healthy boundaries, where you want to say yes, and where you need to say no.

💛 Who you are beyond your roles, titles, and accomplishments

💛 Why defining yourself is foundational to self-worth and self-trust

💛 How roles and labels can become intertwined with our identity

💛 Accepting all of our layers with curiosity and empathy instead of judgment, shame, and fear

💛 Recognizing when a label that once fit may no longer fit who you are today

💛 Understanding what nourishes you and supports meaningful self-care

💛 Identifying your own expectations instead of allowing others' expectations to define your life

💛 How knowing yourself informs healthy boundaries and your yeses and nos

💛 Giving yourself room to grow, change, and become

Ways To Engage:

1. Name 3 roles you hold. Then ask: “Who am I without this role?”

2. Identify one label you've carried that may no longer fit.

3. Finish this sentence: “The woman I am becoming is ready to ______.”

Defining who you are isn't about putting yourself into another box.

It's about knowing yourself well enough to recognize what fits, what doesn't, what you need, what you value, and what you might be ready for next.

Who are you, and who are you becoming?

#SelfDiscovery #SelfWorth #WomensEmpowerment #PersonalGrowth #SelfTrust

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

For more Support reach out to Melissa here - https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What happens when you stop living from the scripts, expectations, and roles you've collected along the way, and start trusting yourself enough to choose what actually feels aligned with who you are?

In this Season 11 conversation on The FEEL Podcast, Merit Kahn joins Melissa Crook to walk through the FEEL Talking Points and explore what they look like through the lens of Merit's own experiences, perspectives, and layers.

As we do with every FEEL guest, we begin with who Merit is, not what she does.

From there, the conversation moves into what it means to know yourself beyond your roles, recognize where you may be overextended, get curious about the scripts you've been following, and develop the self-trust to make choices that reflect who you are now.

💛 Self-care and why making room for yourself isn't selfish

💛 How roles, expectations, and the scripts we inherit can shape our choices

💛 What happens when you become "everyone's everything"

💛 Knowing who you are beyond titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments

💛 Self-worth and separating your value from what you do

💛 Healthy boundaries and learning to say no

💛 Paying attention to what nourishes you and what doesn't

💛 Using your values to guide your choices

💛 Trusting yourself when something no longer feels aligned

💛 Allowing yourself to grow, change, and question the scripts you've been following

Ways to Engage After Listening:

Ask yourself what script you may still be following.

Identify where you've become "everyone's everything."

Finish this sentence: "If I trusted myself a little more right now, I would ______."

You don't have to rewrite your entire life today.

Start by getting curious about what you're noticing.

Because knowing yourself, recognizing your worth, and trusting what you know are important steps toward making choices that actually reflect YOU.

The conversation may be where FEEL begins, but what you do with it is where FEEL becomes yours.

#WomensEmpowerment #SelfTrust #HealthyBoundariesTimestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:15 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 5:28 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 9:58 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 17:46 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 25:49 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 34:45 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 40:56 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships -

( 50:41 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 56:37 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 59:06 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Welcome to the Season 10 finale of The FEEL Podcast! In this special episode, Melissa Crook welcomes Carla Perez for an empowering conversation about self-care, self-worth, healthy boundaries, emotional wellness, and personal growth.

Carla shares how becoming more intentional and self-aware has helped her recognize when she needs to slow down, protect her peace, and prioritize her mental, physical, and emotional well-being. As a naturally empathetic person, she has learned that self-care isn't selfish—it's essential for showing up authentically for yourself and the people you love.

Together, Melissa and Carla explore why listening to your body is such an important part of emotional self-awareness. Rather than waiting for burnout or exhaustion to force you to stop, Carla encourages women to recognize their needs, create healthy boundaries, and give themselves permission to rest without guilt.

A powerful theme throughout the conversation is building self-worth from within. Inspired by wisdom from her father, Carla reminds us that nobody else gets to determine our limitations or value. Your worth isn't defined by your career, relationships, accomplishments, gender, mistakes, or someone else's perception of you. There is a seat at the table for you.

We also explore authentic living and what it means to embrace every layer of yourself—including the imperfect ones. Carla shares how self-awareness has helped her recognize difficult emotions, habits, and triggers without allowing self-criticism to take over. Especially through motherhood, she has learned the importance of giving herself grace while continuing to grow.

Whether you're learning how to set boundaries, overcome guilt and self-criticism, build confidence, or simply prioritize yourself again, this Season 10 finale is a reminder that personal growth doesn't require perfection. You can protect your peace, honor your needs, and become more fully yourself one intentional choice at a time.

Your self-worth is inherent. You don't have to earn it or prove it. Give yourself permission to rest, grow, make mistakes, set boundaries, and take your seat at the table.

#SelfCare #SelfLove #SelfWorth #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalWellness #MentalWellness #HealthyBoundaries #Boundaries #WomenEmpowerment #WomensEmpowerment #EmpoweredWomen #AuthenticSelf #BeYourself #ProtectYourPeace #HealingJourney #Resilience #Mindfulness #Confidence #TheFEELPodcast

Timestamps:Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:19 )Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 4:13 )Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 10:49 )Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 14:54 )Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 22:35 )Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 25:02 )Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 29:57 )Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 36:12 )5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 40:38 )5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 45:20 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

One more week left to join our #Founding500 on Substack! Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Are you constantly putting other people's needs, emotions, and expectations ahead of your own?

In this episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook explores how codependency, people pleasing, self-abandonment, and unhealthy relationship patterns can affect our emotional wellness, self-worth, and ability to create healthy relationships.

Relationships can enter our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Sometimes a relationship that once provided important support no longer works in the same way as we grow and change.

That doesn't necessarily mean the relationship has to end. But healthier relationships require communication, accountability, mutual respect, and a willingness for both people to grow.

Melissa also discusses trauma bonding relationship dynamics, why setting boundaries can change relationships, and what can happen when the people around us resist the healthier boundaries we're beginning to create.

• Recognizing codependency and people-pleasing patterns
• Understanding how people pleasing can become self-abandonment
• The connection between self-worth and healthy relationships
• Understanding trauma bonds
• How to stop feeling responsible for everyone else's emotions
• Setting and communicating healthy boundaries
• What someone's reaction to your boundary may reveal
• Why stepping back doesn't mean you stopped caring
• Trusting yourself and your instincts
• Building a healthier relationship with yourself

One important reminder:

Someone else's discomfort with your boundary doesn't automatically mean your boundary is wrong.

You can love someone without becoming responsible for them.

You can support someone without abandoning yourself.

And you can make choices that protect your well-being without requiring everyone around you to agree.

Rooted in the FEEL Framework — Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers, this conversation invites you to become curious about your relationship patterns and begin asking:

What do I need? What do I value? What boundary haven't I communicated? Am I making this decision because it's right for me—or because I'm afraid of someone else's reaction?

💛 You are worthy.
💛 You are valuable because of who you are, not what you do.
💛 And you get to choose.

Think about a relationship where you regularly compromise your own needs to keep someone else comfortable.

Identify one boundary you've been wanting to communicate and, if it feels safe to do so, practice expressing it clearly.

Then notice what happens when you choose not to abandon yourself.

✨ FREE Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample:
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

💛 Ready for deeper support? Schedule a complimentary 30-minute conversation with Melissa to explore healthy boundaries, people-pleasing patterns, self-worth, emotional wellness, and creating healthier relationships:

https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

#Codependency #PeoplePleasing #HealthyBoundaries #TraumaBonding #HealthyRelationships #SelfWorth #SelfAbandonment #SettingBoundaries #EmotionalWellness #RelationshipHealing #PersonalGrowth #SelfTrust #WomensEmpowerment #TheFEELPodcast #EmbracingLayers

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What happens when you stay busy for so long that your body finally forces you to slow down?

In this episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook welcomes entrepreneur and community leader Marianela Borbon for an inspiring conversation about burnout prevention, self-care, personal growth, and defining success on your own terms.

Marianela shares her journey of realizing that she didn't have to be "on" all the time. After years of moving from one responsibility to the next, she learned that slowing down isn't unproductive—it's an essential part of protecting your mental wellness, managing stress, and creating a healthier work-life balance.

Together, Melissa and Marianela explore how intentional pauses can create space for self-discovery and self-awareness. Slowing down gives us an opportunity to ask deeper questions about who we are, what brings us fulfillment, and whether the life we're building actually reflects our values.

Marianela also shares how this process led her toward purpose-driven entrepreneurship. In 2020, she founded Uplift Balloons, combining creativity, community service, and her values into work that brings her genuine fulfillment. Her story demonstrates how entrepreneurship can become an extension of authentic living when your work connects with what matters most to you.

The conversation also explores building self-trust, balancing business and self-care, and creating sustainable routines without overworking yourself. Marianela shares her approach to quarterly planning—looking ahead while intentionally leaving room for rest, flexibility, relationships, and the unexpected moments life brings.

Whether you're experiencing burnout, struggling with work-life balance, or simply wondering what success means to you, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and build a life around your own definition of fulfillment.

Try Marianela's approach and plan your life in quarters. Look ahead at your goals and responsibilities, but intentionally leave room for adjustments and rest. Most importantly, put things on your calendar that matter to you—not just the things you have to accomplish.

Your work matters, but so do your health, relationships, joy, and peace.

#SelfCare #BurnoutPrevention #MentalWellness #PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #WorkLifeBalance #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #WomenEntrepreneurs #MindfulLiving #IntentionalLiving #PersonalDevelopment #EmotionalWellness #SelfAwareness #StressManagement #LifeBalance #PurposeDrivenLife #SmallBusinessOwner #CommunityLeadership #TheFEELPodcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:38 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 6:28 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 10:46 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 14:20 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 20:14 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 24:29 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 32:14 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 35:29 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 38:22 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Take advantage of this summer’s special 50% offer with code CLEANSE50 on the Calendar Cleanse to get you started today on honoring your bandwidth and energy daily! Offer good through August 31st, 2026.

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

When was the last time you truly checked in with yourself?

Maybe it was last week. Maybe it’s been a month, or longer. With busy schedules, constant responsibilities, and the pressure to say “yes” to everything, it’s easy to lose touch with what we actually need.

In this episode of The FEEL Podcast, we’re talking about the importance of honoring your bandwidth in your schedule, recognizing your energy levels, setting healthy boundaries, and making space for yourself before burnout takes over.

• Why regularly checking in with yourself is essential for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being
• How to recognize when your schedule is exceeding your emotional and physical bandwidth
• Why self-care should meet you where you are rather than becoming another obligation
• The importance of listening to your body and honoring your energy
• How to give yourself permission to cancel, reschedule, rest, or say no
• Why pushing through exhaustion can contribute to stress and burnout
• How communication can help you establish healthier boundaries
• Why saying “no” doesn’t mean you’re letting people down
• How to stop overcommitting simply because you feel responsible for everything
• The connection between self-awareness, boundaries, self-care, and preventing burnout
• Why your time and energy are valuable and why you deserve to protect them

The goal is nourishment, not another item on your to-do list.

Your bandwidth can change from day to day and week to week. An emotionally draining conversation, an unexpected responsibility, or an especially demanding schedule can affect how much energy you have available. Checking in with yourself before and after a busy period can help you recognize what you need to replenish your energy.

You don’t have to say yes to every project, commitment, invitation, or responsibility.

Sometimes the healthiest choice is to say no.

Communicating your needs with the people around you can create healthier relationships and stronger boundaries. The people who genuinely care about you will want you to make choices that support your well-being, not choices that leave you depleted.

You cannot carry everything on your shoulders. Honor the bandwidth you actually have instead of overloading your schedule based on what you think everyone else expects from you.

Burnout doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes it develops slowly as we continue ignoring our needs, overcommitting, and pushing through exhaustion.

Regular self-check-ins can help you notice the warning signs sooner.

Then, most importantly, give yourself permission to respond honestly.

 Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Take advantage of this summer’s special 50% offer with code CLEANSE50 on the Calendar Cleanse to get you started today on honoring your bandwidth and energy daily! Offer good through August 31st, 2026. Ready for deeper support? Visit Embracing Layers to schedule a complimentary 30-minute session or learn more about Honoring Your Bandwidth in Your Schedule with Melissa: https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact 

Ways to Engage: Check in with yourself regularly. Put it on your calendar to check in with yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Whether it be once a week or once a month, continue finding time to check in and honor your bandwidth in your schedule.
Hashtags

#SelfCare

#MentalHealth
#MentalWellness
#EmotionalWellness
#BurnoutPrevention
#SelfAwareness
#HealthyBoundaries
#WorkLifeBalance
#StressManagement
#Mindfulness
#PersonalGrowth
#PersonalDevelopment
#EmotionalHealth
#WellnessJourney
#IntentionalLiving
#SelfLove
#HealthyLifestyle
#MindfulLiving
#TheFEELPodcast

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What if better health had less to do with the number on the scale and more to do with how you actually feel? In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, holistic nutrition and wellness expert Jana Westin returns for an honest conversation about nutrition vs. dieting, body image, healthy habits, and sustainable wellness.

Jana challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to health, exploring how diet culture can impact both mental and physical well-being. Instead of focusing solely on weight, she encourages listeners to consider nourishment, energy levels, sleep, movement, stress, and the mind-body connection when evaluating their overall health.

Together, we explore how holistic nutrition and personalized wellness can help you build a healthier relationship with food and your body. Jana also discusses the connection between nutrition and nervous system regulation, why food should be viewed as nourishment rather than something to fear, and how listening to your body's individual needs can support lasting change.

We also dive into the role of healthy boundaries and self-care in protecting your energy and well-being. By starting with small, sustainable habits and keeping the promises you make to yourself, you can strengthen self-trust and create a healthy lifestyle that works for you—not one dictated by fad diets, appearance, or outside expectations.

Whether you're healing your relationship with food, questioning diet culture, working toward better health, or simply looking for realistic ways to prioritize your well-being, this conversation offers a compassionate approach to creating lasting wellness.

Ways to Engage:

Check in with your energy levels throughout the day and week. Pay attention to your food, sleep, movement, relationships, stress, and environment. What consistently fuels you, and what leaves you feeling drained? Use those patterns to begin creating healthier habits and environments that support your individual needs.

#Nutrition #HealthyLifestyle #WellnessJourney #HolisticHealth #BodyPositivity #BodyImage #HealthAndWellness #SelfCare #MentalHealth #HealthyHabits #MindBodyConnection #IntuitiveEating #DietCulture #Wellbeing #PersonalGrowth #SelfLove #EnergyHealing #Boundaries #HealthPodcast #WomenEmpowerment

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:32 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 13:54 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 19:49 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 28:31 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 37:56 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 42:00 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 51:21 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 59:22 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:01:52 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Five Years Of FEEL! We’re aiming for 500 Paid Subscribers for $5/mo or $50/year by August 31st, 2026! Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Have you ever left a doctor's appointment feeling unheard, confused, or frustrated because your concerns weren't fully addressed? You're not alone. In this episode, Melissa and network friend and contributor Erin Copelan share why clear communication with medical practitioners is one of the most important skills you can develop for protecting your health and improving your healthcare experience.

After navigating her own health journey and learning the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, Melissa created The FEEL Podcast to empower women to prioritize their well-being before a major medical crisis occurs. She explains why no one knows your body better than you do, and why your voice matters during every medical appointment.

You'll discover practical strategies for communicating symptoms more effectively, asking better questions, being honest about pain levels, and ensuring your healthcare providers have the complete picture. While doctors and nurses are dedicated professionals, today's healthcare system is often overwhelmed, making patient advocacy more important than ever.

Whether you're preparing for your next primary care visit, specialist appointment, or annual wellness exam, this conversation will help you feel more confident speaking up, asking questions, and becoming an active participant in your healthcare decisions.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why self-advocacy is essential in today's healthcare system
• How to communicate symptoms clearly to your doctor
• Common mistakes patients make during medical appointments
• Why honesty about pain and symptoms leads to better care
• How to prepare questions before your doctor's visit
• The importance of tracking symptoms over time
• Why transparency helps healthcare providers make accurate diagnoses
• How to build confidence when speaking with medical professionals
• Practical tips for improving doctor-patient communication
• Why trusting your instincts about your body matters

Key Takeaways:

• No one knows your body better than you.
• Clear communication leads to better healthcare outcomes.
• Speak honestly about symptoms, pain, and concerns.
• Don't minimize or dismiss what you're experiencing.
• Write questions down before every appointment.
• Your health deserves to be your highest priority.
• Self-advocacy isn't being difficult, but it's being informed and proactive.

Ways to Engage: Next time you go to your doctor’s appointment, write down your questions ahead of time. Put them in your Notes app or somewhere you won’t forget, writing them down through the weeks leading up and clearly communicate what you’re feeling.

Resources to Support You:

Download the Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life free sample guide: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover

 Schedule a complimentary 30-minute session to learn more about communicating clearly with medical practitioners and becoming your own best health advocate: https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Get Erin Copelan's Checklist, workbook, and book here - https://erincopelan.com/

#HealthAdvocate
#PatientAdvocacy
#Healthcare
#SelfAdvocacy
#WomensHealth
#DoctorAppointment
#MedicalAdvice
#HealthPodcast
#WellnessJourney
#HealthcareCommunication
#MedicalAppointments
#ChronicIllness
#PreventiveHealth
#HealthEducation
#MentalWellness
#HealthyLiving
#HealthcareTips
#PatientEmpowerment
#WellnessPodcast
#HealthAwareness

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What does it look like to keep moving forward when anxiety feels overwhelming? In this heartfelt episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook welcomes author and storyteller Kira Hartley Klinger for an honest conversation about living with anxiety, building emotional resilience, and embracing your authentic self.

A familiar face from the Together We FEEL "Come As You Are" panels, Kira shares her personal journey through seasons of hope, struggle, healing, and growth. She opens up about how anxiety can change from day to day, why progress is rarely linear, and how faith, self-compassion, and supportive relationships have helped her continue moving forward.

Melissa and Kira also explore the healing power of creativity. From writing novels to publishing Fabric Wars, Kira reflects on how storytelling became a meaningful outlet for emotional wellness and self-expression. She shares how her experiences sourcing vintage fabrics for her Etsy shop introduced her to resilient women whose stories inspired her own courage, reminding us that encouragement and community can shape our personal growth in unexpected ways.

Together, they discuss how vulnerability strengthens connection, why authenticity requires self-awareness, and how surrounding yourself with people who celebrate your growth can make all the difference. Whether you're navigating anxiety, rebuilding confidence, or searching for purpose, this episode offers practical encouragement and hope for every stage of your healing journey.

Write down five activities that genuinely nourish your mind, body, or spirit. As you reflect, notice which one makes you feel most like your authentic self. Pay attention to how you feel while doing it, what brings you peace, and how you can intentionally make more space for that activity in your daily life.

#MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Anxiety #AnxietySupport #HealingJourney #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #AuthenticLiving #Resilience #EmotionalWellness #SelfDiscovery #MindsetMatters #MentalWellness #Vulnerability #WomenEmpoweringWomen #WritingCommunity #SelfCompassion #Journaling #TogetherWeFEEL #WellnessPodcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:41 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 11:39 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 15:45 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 23:02 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 29:36 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 36:09 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 39:58 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 42:58 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 46:46 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 50:54 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Five Years Of FEEL! We’re aiming for 500 Paid Subscribers for $5/mo or $50/year by July 31st, 2026! Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Have you ever wondered why a small inconvenience suddenly brings you to tears or leaves you feeling overwhelmed? The truth is, your emotions aren't the problem; they're valuable clues pointing toward something deeper.

In this Tuesday Empowerment episode, Melissa Crook explores why emotions are essential messengers instead of something to suppress or ignore. Too often we're taught to label emotions as "good" or "bad," but every feeling has a purpose. Whether you're experiencing frustration, anxiety, sadness, anger, or joy, your emotional responses can reveal unmet needs, unresolved stress, and opportunities for healing.

Melissa discusses how ignored emotions don't simply disappear, but they often show up through physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, shallow breathing, chest discomfort, emotional exhaustion, or unexpected emotional outbursts. Learning to recognize these emotional clues can improve your mental health, emotional wellness, confidence, self-awareness, and overall well-being.

The episode also explores how women have historically been conditioned to dismiss or minimize their feelings, often hearing phrases like "you're too emotional." Melissa encourages listeners to trust their intuition, advocate for themselves, and recognize that emotional awareness is a powerful form of self-care and personal growth.

If you've ever found yourself "crying over spilled milk," chances are your emotions have been trying to get your attention long before that moment. Instead of judging your feelings, learn to become curious about what they're trying to tell you.

• Why emotions are clues, not problems
• The connection between emotional health and physical symptoms
• How suppressed emotions affect your mental wellness
• Why there are no "good" or "bad" emotions
• The importance of emotional awareness and emotional intelligence
• How women can trust their intuition and advocate for themselves
• Practical ways to process emotions in healthy, productive ways
• How embracing your feelings leads to confidence, healing, and authentic living

Ways to Engage: Start thinking about your emotions in a different way. Don’t categorize them into “good” or “bad,” and allow yourself to feel each emotion fully. Don’t push it away or try to ignore what your mind and body are telling you. You’re receiving these messages for a reason.

#MentalHealth
#EmotionalWellness
#SelfAwareness
#PersonalGrowth
#EmotionalIntelligence
#MindsetMatters
#MentalWellness
#SelfCare
#HealingJourney
#Confidence
#WomensHealth
#EmotionalHealth
#AnxietyRelief
#Mindfulness
#InnerHealing
#AuthenticLiving
#TraumaHealing
#EmotionalHealing
#PodcastLife
#SelfImprovement

Resources

•  Download the Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life free sample: ⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad⁠
•  Schedule a complimentary 30-minute session with Melissa Crook to explore emotional wellness, confidence, and personal growth: ⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠
• ⁠https://www.feelingswheel.com/

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What does it truly mean to embrace every layer of who you are? In this inspiring episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook welcomes writer, speaker, and advocate Urmi Hossain for a meaningful conversation about self-acceptance, cultural identity, healthy boundaries, and living authentically.

Urmi shares her personal journey of learning to stop hiding parts of herself to fit in and instead embracing every layer of her identity with confidence. Together, Melissa and Urmi explore how our experiences, culture, relationships, and personal growth shape who we become, while reminding us that everyone carries unseen struggles that deserve empathy and compassion.

A central theme of this episode is the power of healthy boundaries. Urmi explains how she once viewed boundaries as selfish but now sees them as one of the greatest acts of self-respect. They discuss how protecting your peace, overcoming people-pleasing, and surrounding yourself with a supportive community can strengthen your emotional wellness and help you build healthier relationships.

You'll also discover why embracing your authentic self leads to greater confidence, how your community influences your healing journey, and why your unique experiences are not weaknesses, they're the foundation of your strength. Whether you're navigating cultural expectations, self-discovery, or learning to honor your own needs, this episode offers practical wisdom and encouragement to help you live with greater authenticity and purpose.

Ways To Engage

Take a few moments to list the many layers that make you who you are. Start with the visible, your appearance, career, hobbies, or interests, then go deeper into your values, personality, relationships, life experiences, and dreams. Reflect on how each layer has shaped you, and remember to approach yourself with curiosity, kindness, and compassion.

#AuthenticSelf #SelfAcceptance #PersonalGrowth #HealthyBoundaries #MentalHealthAwareness #SelfLoveJourney #EmotionalWellness #ConfidenceBuilding #SelfDiscovery #CulturalIdentity #PeoplePleasingRecovery #MentalWellness #GrowthMindset #Empowerment #HealthyRelationships #EmotionalIntelligence #HealingJourney #IntentionalLiving #WomenEmpoweringWomen

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:53 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 4:23 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 8:13 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 12:26 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 22:55 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 26:55 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 40:06 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 44:56 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 49:39 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 51:21 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of abuse.

What does true healing look like after trauma? How do you begin rebuilding self-worth when life has left deep emotional wounds? In this powerful episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook welcomes author, speaker, and advocate Pamela Michaux for an honest conversation about trauma healing, self-love, emotional resilience, and finding your voice after abuse.

Joining us from Malta, Pamela shares her deeply personal journey of surviving abuse, navigating emotional pain, and learning to embrace vulnerability as a source of strength rather than weakness. She reflects on how childhood experiences can shape adult relationships, self-worth, and emotional patterns, while offering hope that healing is possible through self-compassion, awareness, and intentional growth.

Together, Melissa and Pamela explore why emotional healing isn't about perfection but about giving yourself permission to feel, process, and move forward. They discuss practical tools like journaling, self-forgiveness, and emotional awareness, along with the importance of asking for help and trusting yourself again after trauma.

Ways to Engage

Whether you're navigating the effects of childhood trauma, recovering from abuse, struggling with people-pleasing, or seeking greater emotional wellness, this episode offers compassionate guidance and practical encouragement to support your healing journey.

The next time you're tempted to seek reassurance from someone else, pause and ask yourself: If someone I love came to me with this same question, what would I tell them? Offer yourself the same compassion, patience, and encouragement you would freely give to someone you care about. Learning to trust your own voice is a powerful step toward healing.

Resources & Support

Sexual Assault Support (RAINN)
📞 Call: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
📱 Text: HOPE to 64673

National Domestic Violence Hotline
📞 Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
📱 Text: START to 88788

#HealingJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #TraumaHealing #SelfLoveJourney #EmotionalHealing #SelfCare #MentalHealthMatters #HealingTrauma #InnerHealing #PersonalGrowth #TraumaRecovery #SelfCompassion #EmotionalWellness #WomenEmpoweringWomen #HealingPodcast #MindsetMatters #Resilience #HealingFromAbuse #TherapyJourney

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 4:46 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:00 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 11:22 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 20:41 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 39:27 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 42:38 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 48:40 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 56:10 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:03:07 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:08:07 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

⁠⁠What if the life you're chasing isn't aligned with the life you're truly meant to live? In this inspiring episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook welcomes leadership coach, author, speaker, and self-proclaimed "Values Queen" Eva Kennedy for a powerful conversation about discovering your core values, finding your purpose, and creating a life rooted in authenticity.

After spending nearly three decades climbing the corporate ladder, Eva's life changed dramatically following a breast cancer diagnosis. Although she recovered physically, the experience became a turning point that led her to reevaluate her priorities, redefine success, and uncover the deeper purpose that had been waiting beneath years of burnout and external expectations.

Together, Melissa and Eva explore how core values influence every decision we make and why living out of alignment with those values often leads to stress, exhaustion, and dissatisfaction. They discuss the importance of self-awareness, intentional living, and embracing your authentic self instead of trying to meet everyone else's expectations.

You'll also learn practical ways to identify your own values, make values-based decisions with confidence, and reconnect with the woman you know you're meant to become. Whether you're navigating a major life transition, recovering from burnout, or searching for greater clarity and fulfillment, this episode offers encouragement and actionable tools to help you move forward with purpose.

Take time to identify your Top 5 core values and rank them in order of importance. As you reflect, ask yourself whether your daily choices, relationships, and commitments align with those values. When life feels overwhelming or uncertain, let your values become the roadmap that guides your decisions and brings you back to your authentic self.

#PersonalGrowth #PurposeDrivenLife #CoreValues #SelfDiscovery #WomenEmpowerment #IntentionalLiving #AuthenticLiving #LeadershipDevelopment #LifePurpose #SelfAwareness #WomenInLeadership #BurnoutRecovery #BreastCancerSurvivor #PersonalDevelopment #ConfidenceBuilding #GrowthMindset #HealingJourney #WellnessPodcast #MotivationForWomen

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:47 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 8:23 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 10:51 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 20:28 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 33:02 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 36:14 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 42:44 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 46:30 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 49:26 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 51:00 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Do you constantly feel exhausted, even after what should be a full night's sleep? In this episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook sits down with Nathalie Walton, General Manager at BetterSleep, for an eye-opening conversation about sleep health, sleep apnea, and why quality sleep is one of the most overlooked foundations of physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

Nathalie shares her personal experience with postpartum sleep apnea and anemia, along with her son's unexpected diagnosis at just four years old, challenging the misconception that sleep disorders only affect certain people. Together, they explore why chronic fatigue, brain fog, and poor sleep quality are often dismissed, and why learning to advocate for yourself can lead to life-changing answers.

You'll discover how sleep apnea, sleep disorders, anemia, and other underlying health conditions can impact your energy, mood, and overall well-being. Melissa and Nathalie also discuss the importance of sleep hygiene, sleep tracking, meditation, and creating healthy habits that support truly restorative sleep.

Whether you're struggling with low energy, waking up tired every morning, or simply looking to improve your overall health, this conversation offers practical strategies and empowering reminders that better sleep begins with awareness, education, and consistency.

Download the BetterSleep app and begin paying closer attention to your sleep patterns. Notice what helps you wake up feeling refreshed, keep track of symptoms like snoring or daytime fatigue, and write down any questions you may want to discuss with your healthcare provider. Small changes in your sleep routine can have a profound impact on your health.

#SleepHealth #SleepApnea #BetterSleep #HealthySleep #SleepTips #SleepHygiene #ChronicFatigue #MentalHealthMatters #WomensHealth #PostpartumHealth #BrainHealth #HolisticHealth #WellnessPodcast #HealthAndWellness #Meditation #RestorativeSleep #SelfCareJourney #OverallHealth #WellnessJourney

Timestamps:

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 9:01 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 11:34 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 21:33 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 24:19 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 28:56 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 31:53 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 37:25 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 38:46 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber ($5.55/mo or $50/yr) and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What happens when perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the pressure to always be productive leave you exhausted?

In this inspiring episode of The FEEL Podcast, Rosamaria Mancini shares her journey from burnout to balance, revealing how setting healthy boundaries, embracing sustainable self-care, and practicing self-compassion transformed her mental and emotional well-being.

While pursuing her PhD, Rosamaria experienced firsthand how chronic stress, perfectionism, and the constant drive to achieve impacted both her physical health and emotional wellness. Like many high achievers, she struggled with slowing down and prioritizing herself.

Through self-awareness and intentional lifestyle changes, she discovered that true healing isn't about doing more; it's about creating habits that support your mind, body, and soul.

Together, we explore how burnout develops, why people-pleasing often leads to emotional exhaustion, and how listening to your body's signals can help prevent overwhelm before it takes hold.

Rosamaria shares practical strategies for building flexible self-care routines, reducing stress, and letting go of guilt around rest, reminding listeners that progress will always matter more than perfection.

We also discuss the inspiration behind her memoir, SOS Podcasts, and how podcasts became a source of hope, healing, and personal growth during one of the most difficult seasons of her life.

This episode is for anyone navigating perfectionism, burnout, anxiety, or the challenge of finding balance while pursuing meaningful goals. Healing is not about perfection, it's about learning to honor yourself one day at a time.

• Progress over perfection.
• Healthy boundaries protect your peace.
• Small acts of self-care create lasting change.
• Burnout is preventable when you recognize the warning signs.
• Your body often notices stress before your mind does.
• Healing begins with self-awareness and self-compassion.

Create a list of self-care practices that fit different moments in your day—whether it's journaling, walking, meditating, reading, biking, or simply listening to music.

Instead of following a rigid routine, ask yourself what your mind and body need today. Sustainable self-care begins by listening to yourself.

#SelfCare
#MentalHealth
#PersonalGrowth
#Boundaries
#BurnoutRecovery
#Perfectionism
#WomenEmpowerment
#SelfLove
#Mindset
#WellnessJourney
#HealingJourney
#EmotionalWellness
#Mindfulness
#StressManagement
#PeoplePleasing
#HealthyHabits
#PodcastLife
#SelfAwareness
#InnerHealing
#MentalWellness

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:32 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 8:48 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 18:52 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 26:22 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 33:55 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 39:46 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 50:11 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 53:31 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 59:13 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:00:11 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course!

For continued support from Melissa, reach out here for a FREE 30 minute Empowerment Session - https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.p⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠odmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Five Years Of FEEL! - We’re aiming for 500 Paid Subscribers for $5/mo or $50/year by July 31st, 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast ⁠

Five years ago, The FEEL Podcast launched with one mission: to help people heal, rediscover themselves, and prioritize emotional wellness. Today, we're celebrating an incredible milestone: five years of inspiring conversations, personal transformation, and authentic living.

Since premiering on July 12, 2021, with the episode Emotional Health & Physical Health Connection to Our Overall Wellbeing featuring Melissa Crook, The FEEL Podcast has grown into a thriving platform dedicated to mental health, emotional wellness, self-care, personal growth, women's empowerment, boundaries, and holistic healing.

Over the past five years, we've proudly released:

• 10 inspiring podcast seasons
• 266 transformational episodes
• The FEEL book: Embracing Layers Unapologetically 
• A radio show
• An online course celebrating its first anniversary
• A growing community committed to living authentically

Melissa shares how her personal health journey inspired the creation of The FEEL Podcast. After experiencing firsthand the challenges of burnout, healing, and self-discovery, she became passionate about helping others avoid the same struggles. That mission continues to guide every episode.

Throughout the years, we've explored topics including:

• Emotional health
• Mental wellness
• Self-care strategies
• Healthy boundaries
• Women's health
• Personal development
• Healing from trauma
• Authentic living
• Confidence and self-worth
• Living unapologetically

• Holistic wellbeing

While our message is for everyone, we've recognized the unique need for women to reclaim their wellbeing in a culture that often encourages them to put everyone else first. At FEEL, we believe you cannot pour from an empty cup. Prioritizing yourself isn't selfish, but it's essential for living your healthiest, happiest life.

This special anniversary episode celebrates not only how far we've come, but also the incredible stories, guests, and listeners who have made this journey meaningful. We're also looking ahead to the future as we continue empowering people to heal, grow, and embrace every layer of who they are.

Join our 5th Anniversary Live Celebration on YouTube on July 14, 2026, at 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST, where Melissa welcomes returning guests, shares behind-the-scenes moments, and reconnects with our amazing community.

You'll also hear from Leslie Draffin, featured in one of our most downloaded episodes:
"Unmasking the Layers: Eating Disorders, Sexual Shame & the Journey to Self-Healing."

• Join our live anniversary celebration on Substack & YouTube.
• Share your favorite FEEL Podcast episode and the quotes that have inspired you.
• Download the free Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life sample.
• Explore our book, online course, and additional resources.
• Schedule a complimentary 30-minute session with Melissa.
• Begin your journey toward emotional wellness, self-care, healing, and authentic living today.
• Visit https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact for more information

Ways to Engage:  After listening to this celebration kickoff, Join us live on YouTube at 12 PM EST/9 AM PST for our anniversary celebration! Ask questions, share your favorite episodes, and tell us the quotes you live by - https://www.youtube.com/live/pR-QgpbRmwI?si=enBv9h0hVy20zsuu

Remember: It is never too late to heal, start over, prioritize yourself, and become the healthiest, most authentic version of you.

#TheFEELPodcast
#MentalHealth
#EmotionalWellness
#SelfCare
#PersonalGrowth
#HealingJourney
#WomensEmpowerment
#AuthenticLiving
#MindsetMatters
#SelfLove
#HolisticHealth
#EmotionalHealth
#HealthyBoundaries
#TraumaHealing
#WellnessPodcast
#PersonalDevelopment
#MentalWellness
#WomenSupportingWomen
#InnerHealing

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Money is about more than finances—it's closely connected to our mindset, emotions, confidence, and self-worth. In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, financial coach and author Linda Grizely joins Melissa to explore how developing a healthy money mindset, setting financial boundaries, and creating intentional spending habits can lead to greater financial confidence and long-term freedom.

Linda explains why so many women experience guilt when spending money on themselves and how shifting your relationship with money can transform both your financial wellness and your overall well-being. She introduces her simple but impactful "Me Money" budget, a practical budgeting strategy that encourages intentional spending without shame while still supporting your long-term financial goals.

Together, we discuss how limiting beliefs, emotional spending, and money anxiety influence everyday financial decisions, and why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to personal finance. Linda emphasizes the importance of creating a personalized financial plan that aligns with your values, lifestyle, and current season of life, helping you build sustainable habits rather than striving for perfection.

Whether you're just beginning your budgeting journey or looking to strengthen your financial literacy, this episode offers practical tools for managing money with confidence, reducing financial stress, and building a healthier relationship with your finances.

• Developing a healthier money mindset
• Building financial confidence without guilt
• Creating a personalized budgeting plan
• Setting healthy financial boundaries
• Managing emotional spending and money anxiety
• Small habits that support long-term financial freedom

Ways To Engage: Create your own monthly "Me Money" budget. Choose an amount dedicated entirely to yourself. Whether you save it for something meaningful or spend it on something you enjoy, allow yourself to do so without guilt. Financial wellness includes giving yourself permission to enjoy what you've worked hard to earn.

#MoneyMindset
#PersonalFinance
#FinancialFreedom
#Budgeting
#FinancialWellness
#WomenAndMoney
#MoneyManagement
#FinancialLiteracy
#WomenEmpowerment
#FinancialConfidence
#BudgetTips
#MoneyGoals
#SelfCare
#MindsetMatters
#FinancialPlanning
#WealthBuilding
#PersonalGrowth
#WomenInBusiness
#FinancialEducation
#Podcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:09 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 8:33 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 15:40 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 24:33 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 29:19 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 31:29 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 33:47 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 38:18 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 39:29 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 40:22 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.p⁠odmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Five Years Of FEEL! - We’re aiming for 500 Paid Subscribers for $5/mo or $50/year by July 31st, 2026! Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

⁠⁠Summer has a way of bringing sunshine, vacations, and opportunities to make memories, but for many women, it also brings something much heavier.

The pressure to have the "perfect summer body."

Suddenly we're questioning whether we should wear the shorts, buy the swimsuit, take the family photo, or simply enjoy being present without worrying about how we look.

We've been taught that confidence comes after we change our bodies.

But what if confidence was never meant to be dependent on your appearance?

This week's Empowerment Tuesday episode of The FEEL Podcast is an invitation to challenge the expectations we've carried for far too long and begin building a healthier relationship with our bodies.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why "summer body" culture continues to affect so many women

• How unrealistic beauty standards influence our confidence and emotional well-being

• Why comments about someone's body, whether intended as compliments or criticism, can leave lasting impact

• How to establish healthy boundaries around appearance-based conversations

• Why every body deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to take up space

One of the most important reminders in this episode is this:

Your value has always existed because of who you are, not whether your body fits some unrealistic, untrue, societal standard.

That doesn't mean loving every part of your body every single day.

It means learning to treat yourself with the same kindness, compassion, and respect you so freely offer to others.

It means choosing comfort over comparison.

Joy over judgment.

Presence over perfection.

As you listen to this episode, I invite you to reflect on these questions:

• What expectations about your body have you been carrying that no longer serve you?

• What would change if you stopped waiting for your body to be "good enough" before fully living your life?

• How can you begin speaking to yourself with greater compassion today?

Because confidence isn't something you earn once your body changes.

It's something you build by recognizing your worth has never wavered.

💛 You are worthy.

💛 You are valuable because of who you are, not what you do.

💛 And you get to choose.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments:

What's one thing you appreciate about your body today?

If today's conversation resonates with you, here are a few ways to continue investing in yourself:

✨ Download the free Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life sample https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

✨ Schedule a complimentary 30-minute conversation with me if you're ready to take the next step toward living in alignment with your values - https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

✨ Our Embracing Layers Network online courses are 50% OFF through August 31!

https://www.patreon.com/cw/EmbracingLayersNetwork/shop

Use promo codes:

CLEANSE50

ESSENTIALS50

VIP50

These courses are designed to help you strengthen your self-worth, develop healthier boundaries, and embrace every layer of who you are.

Thank you for being part of this community.

Let's create a space where we celebrate ourselves, not because we've achieved perfection, but because every body deserves kindness, respect, and the freedom to simply be.#BodyConfidence #BodyImage #SelfAcceptance #BodyNeutrality #SelfLove #SummerBody #EmotionalWellness #MentalHealth #HealthyBoundaries #WomenEmpowerment #SelfWorth #Confidence #PersonalGrowth #TheFEELPodcast #MelissaCrook #FindingEmpowerment #EmbracingLayers

⁠⁠⁠

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of emotional abuse.

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, Val Jones shares her journey from chronic people-pleasing and "Good Girl Syndrome" to living with confidence, healthy boundaries, and self-worth. Through honest reflection, she explains how choosing to put herself first transformed her mental wellness, relationships, and personal growth.

Together, we explore why self-care is not selfish, how emotional abuse and people-pleasing can disconnect us from our authentic selves, and what it takes to break free from patterns rooted in guilt and perfectionism. Val encourages listeners to redefine "selfish" as an act of self-respect, showing that prioritizing your needs allows you to show up more fully for yourself and others.

Drawing from her book, The Selfish Year: The Power of Putting Yourself First, Val shares practical insights on building confidence, setting healthy boundaries without guilt, and reconnecting with your mind, body, and values. This conversation is a reminder that emotional healing begins with self-awareness, curiosity, and giving yourself permission to live authentically.

If you've ever struggled with burnout, low self-worth, or the pressure to constantly put others first, this episode offers encouragement to reclaim your voice, embrace self-love, and create lasting mindset shifts.

Ways To Engage: Instead of asking yourself, "What's wrong with me?" try asking: "What's wrong?" Approach yourself with curiosity rather than criticism. The way you speak to yourself has the power to shape your healing.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
📞 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
📱 Text START to 88788

#SelfCare
#PersonalGrowth
#WomenEmpowerment
#PeoplePleasing
#SelfLove
#MentalHealth
#HealingJourney
#Boundaries
#SelfWorth
#AuthenticLiving
#PersonalDevelopment
#MindsetShift
#EmotionalHealing
#WomenSupportingWomen
#ConfidenceBuilding
#BurnoutRecovery
#EmpoweredWomen
#TraumaRecovery
#LifeTransformation
#PodcastForWomen

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 4:12 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 14:34 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 21:31 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 29:36 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 35:04 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 41:47 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 45:05 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 55:47 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 58:59 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:02:31 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Five Years Of FEEL! - We’re aiming for 500 Paid Subscribers for $5/mo or $50/year by July 31st, 2026! Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

Setting boundaries is important, but communicating them is essential.

Melissa continues the FEEL conversation by diving into one of the most overlooked aspects of personal growth, emotional wellness, and healthy relationships: communicating your boundaries and expectations clearly and confidently.

Many people struggle with being misunderstood, feeling overwhelmed, or becoming resentful because they assume others should automatically know their needs. The truth is that no one is a mind reader. If we want to be respected, supported, and understood, we must learn how to communicate our needs openly.

Melissa shares practical examples of boundary-setting in everyday life, including workplace expectations, personal relationships, self-care practices, and accountability. You'll discover why clearly expressing your limits is an act of self-respect, how communication creates stronger connections, and why speaking up is one of the most powerful forms of self-advocacy.

This episode explores:

• Why communicating boundaries is just as important as setting them
• How to express expectations without guilt or fear
• The role of healthy communication in relationships
• Building confidence through boundary conversations
• Accountability and personal growth through honest dialogue
• How supportive people respond when you communicate your needs
• Recognizing relationships that honor or violate your boundaries
• Why communication is an act of kindness, not selfishness
• Practical ways to start small and strengthen your communication skills

Remember: A closed mouth doesn't get fed. The more you communicate your needs, the more empowered, respected, and aligned your life becomes.

Ways to Engage: Think about your expectations and boundaries, and think about the last time you properly communicated them. Choose someone close to you, a safe person, and try communicating these things to them. Get practice, even starting small if you need, and start working towards a greater scale to become more confident in your abilities. 

Ready for deeper support?

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- ⁠⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7adSchedule a complimentary 30-minute session with Melissa and learn more about communicating boundaries, self-advocacy, emotional wellness, and personal empowerment:

https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Join Melissa every Tuesday at 8 AM PST / 11 AM EST on Substack for live empowerment conversations, Q&A sessions, and community discussions focused on personal growth, emotional intelligence, boundaries, and living a FEEL-fueled life.

#Boundaries
#HealthyBoundaries
#CommunicationSkills
#PersonalGrowth
#SelfImprovement
#MentalHealth
#EmotionalWellness
#HealthyRelationships
#SelfAdvocacy
#EmotionalIntelligence
#PersonalDevelopment
#MindsetShift
#ConfidenceBuilding
#SelfRespect
#RelationshipAdvice
#EmpowermentPodcast
#Accountability
#BoundarySetting
#WomenEmpowerment

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

⁠

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠

Five Years Of FEEL! - We’re aiming for 500 Paid Subscribers for $5/mo or $50/year by July 31st, 2026! Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, we welcome Bilge Apak Sato and Valerie Kvita, co-founders of The Tiny Pea, for an important conversation about fertility education, reproductive health, family planning, and making informed decisions about your future. Together, they are working to transform how we talk about fertility by replacing fear, stigma, and misinformation with education, compassion, and empowerment.

Bilge and Valerie share insights into the emotional realities of fertility and infertility, discussing the challenges many individuals and couples face while trying to conceive. They explain why fertility conversations are often surrounded by silence and uncertainty, and how reproductive education can help people feel more confident, informed, and supported throughout their journey.

This conversation also explores the connection between mental health, emotional wellness, and reproductive health. From setting healthy boundaries during vulnerable life stages to protecting your peace while navigating fertility-related stress, Bilge and Valerie offer practical guidance on prioritizing self-care and maintaining emotional well-being.

We also discuss the impact of social media on fertility journeys, including managing emotional triggers, creating digital boundaries, and avoiding comparison during deeply personal experiences. Understanding reproductive health empowers individuals to make choices aligned with their values, goals, and circumstances.

Bilge and Valerie also share the inspiration behind their book, I Am Magic: The Ultimate Fertility Workbook for Empowerment, Choice, & Self-Love, a resource designed to help individuals build knowledge, confidence, and self-trust around reproductive choices and family planning.

This episode is for anyone interested in fertility awareness, reproductive wellness, emotional health, and learning how education can create greater confidence and empowerment in every stage of life.

In This Episode, You'll Learn

• Why fertility education matters for everyone
• The emotional realities of infertility and reproductive challenges
• How to set healthy boundaries during vulnerable life experiences
• The connection between mental health, self-care, and fertility
• Managing social media triggers while protecting emotional wellness
• Why men should be included in fertility and reproductive health conversation

#FertilityAwareness
#FertilityEducation
#InfertilitySupport
#TryingToConceive
#ReproductiveHealth
#WomensHealth
#MensHealth
#FamilyPlanning
#FertilityJourney
#MentalHealthMatters
#HealthyBoundaries
#SelfCareJourney
#Empowerment
#HealthPodcast
#WellnessPodcast
#PersonalGrowth
#EmotionalWellness
#ReproductiveRights
#ParenthoodJourney

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 7:58 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 13:13 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 20:22 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 31:55 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 43:21 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 49:40 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 57:39 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:02:17 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:06:35 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:14:41 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠

Do you find yourself automatically saying "yes" when someone asks for a favor, only to regret it later? In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook explores the power of the pause and why creating space before responding can strengthen healthy boundaries, improve emotional wellness, and support long-term personal growth.

Many people who struggle with people pleasing are conditioned to respond immediately, prioritizing the needs of others before considering their own capacity, energy, or desires. But what if the most empowering response isn't an instant yes or no? What if it's a pause?

Melissa shares practical self-care strategies and boundary-setting tools designed to help listeners make intentional decisions that align with their values, priorities, and available energy. By practicing intentional decision making, you can reduce resentment, strengthen self-worth and boundaries, and stop overcommitting to things that no longer serve you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why people pleasing makes it difficult to say no without guilt
• The benefits of pausing before making commitments
• How to set healthy boundaries with confidence and clarity
• Why overexplaining can weaken your confidence building efforts
• Simple phrases to buy yourself time before responding
• How to make decisions aligned with your priorities and values
• The connection between self-worth, boundaries, and people pleasing
• Why protecting your energy is essential for emotional wellness and work-life balance

Melissa also explores how emotional intelligence and mindfulness can help you become more aware of your automatic responses. Through mindset transformation and intentional reflection, you'll learn how to honor your needs without guilt while maintaining authentic relationships.

Healthy boundaries are not about pushing people away. They're about creating relationships built on honesty, respect, and mutual understanding. When you give yourself permission to pause, you create space for choices that support your wellbeing rather than drain it.

Ways To Engage: Before saying yes or no, give yourself 24 hours whenever possible. Take time to evaluate your schedule, energy levels, priorities, and desires before making a commitment. A thoughtful pause supports healthier communication, better decision-making, and stronger personal boundaries.

Before saying yes or no to a request, practice waiting 24 hours whenever possible.

• Consider your schedule and available energy
• Reflect on whether the request aligns with your priorities
• Decide how you want to communicate your response
• Remember that your feelings are valid and your boundaries matter
• Avoid overexplaining, a clear and respectful response is enough

Then give yourself time to reflect before making a decision. Your time, energy, and wellbeing deserve thoughtful consideration.

#PeoplePleasing
#HealthyBoundaries
#PersonalGrowth
#MindsetShift
#BoundariesMatter
#EmotionalWellness
#MentalHealthAwareness
#SelfWorth
#ConfidenceBuilding
#IntentionalLiving
#PersonalDevelopment
#StressManagement
#WorkLifeBalance
#SelfImprovement
#MindfulLiving
#RelationshipAdvice
#Empowerment
#ProtectYourEnergy

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- ⁠⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad⁠⁠

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen to start overcoming your over-explaining today - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

What if your skin could reveal more about your overall health than you realize?

In this eye-opening episode of The FEEL Podcast, Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu—scientist, entrepreneur, and author of Empire of Mirrors: Exposé of Beauty Untold—joins Melissa for a powerful conversation about skin health, chronic inflammation, healthy aging, and the science behind wellness. Drawing from her extensive research and advocacy work, Dr. Karpuzoglu helps listeners better understand what truly impacts skin health and how to make more informed decisions in an industry often driven by marketing rather than education.

A major focus of this conversation is inflammaging—the connection between chronic inflammation and accelerated aging. Dr. Karpuzoglu explains how stress, elevated cortisol levels, environmental factors, lifestyle habits, and inflammation can influence not only skin aging but overall health and longevity. By understanding these connections, we can take a more holistic approach to wellness and aging well.

We also explore the hidden realities of the beauty industry, including common skincare marketing tactics, misleading claims, and the importance of transparency in skincare products. Dr. Karpuzoglu encourages listeners to become more informed consumers by looking beyond advertising messages and learning to evaluate products through a science-backed lens.

Beyond skincare, this episode touches on women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and the importance of supporting female-led businesses. Dr. Karpuzoglu challenges the scarcity mindset that often fuels comparison and competition, advocating instead for collaboration, education, and collective success.

This conversation is for anyone interested in healthy aging, holistic skin wellness, stress management, and understanding how overall health is reflected through the skin.

In This Episode, We Explore

• What inflammaging is and how it impacts skin aging
• The relationship between chronic inflammation and overall wellness
• How stress and cortisol affect skin health
• Common beauty industry myths and marketing tactics
• Science-backed approaches to healthy aging and longevity
• The importance of transparency in skincare products
• Women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and collaboration

#SkinHealth #SkincareTips #HealthyAging #Inflammaging #WellnessPodcast #BeautyIndustry #WomensEmpowerment #ChronicInflammation #HolisticHealth #SkinWellness #SelfCare #Longevity #HealthyLifestyle #BeautyTruths #WellnessJourney #StressManagement #FemaleEntrepreneurs

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:51 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:35 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 16:58 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 23:36 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 33:14 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 44:54 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 51:52 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 54:04 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 57:48 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:00:03 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Become a Paid Subscriber and help us continue creating conversations, resources, and community that remind women they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

No More Overexplaining: Why "No" Is a Complete Sentence with Melissa Crook

Do you struggle to say "no" without feeling guilty? Do you find yourself overexplaining, justifying your decisions, or creating lengthy excuses when setting boundaries? If so, you're not alone.

In this empowering episode, Melissa dives into one of the most common habits among people-pleasers and highly empathetic individuals: overexplaining. Learning to say "no" without guilt is a powerful form of self-respect, confidence, and healthy boundary setting.

Melissa shares why so many of us feel obligated to justify our decisions, how overexplaining can drain our energy, and why a simple "no" is often enough. The reality is that most people aren't looking for a detailed explanation, but they're simply looking for an answer.

This episode explores the connection between personal boundaries, self-worth, emotional wellness, and authentic communication. You'll discover how to stop seeking permission for your choices, honor your time and energy, and confidently stand behind the boundaries you've created for yourself.

If you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, fear of disappointing others, guilt around saying no, or the need for external validation, this conversation will help you reclaim your voice and prioritize your well-being.

• Why overexplaining has become such a common habit
• The connection between people-pleasing and boundary issues
• How to say "no" with confidence
• Why your time and energy are valuable
• The hidden stories we tell ourselves when setting boundaries
• How to stop feeling guilty for protecting your peace
• Building healthier relationships through clear communication
• Practical ways to strengthen your personal boundaries
• The importance of self-worth and self-respect
• Learning to trust yourself without needing approval from others

Key Takeaway:You do not owe everyone an explanation. Your "yes" matters, and your "no" matters. Healthy boundaries create healthier relationships, stronger self-esteem, and greater emotional freedom.

Ways to Engage: Next time you say no to something, leave it at that. Reflect on what you would have said when overexplaining and why you maybe would have said that. Is there something deeper going on internally? Are there layers that still need to be embraced or uncovered?

#Boundaries
#PeoplePleasing
#PersonalGrowth
#SelfWorth
#MentalHealth
#SelfCare
#HealthyBoundaries
#ConfidenceBuilding
#EmotionalWellness
#Empowerment
#MindsetShift
#PersonalDevelopment
#SelfRespect
#StopPeoplePleasing
#EmotionalIntelligence
#InnerHealing
#WomenEmpowerment#HealingJourney
#AuthenticLiving

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- ⁠https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad⁠

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen to start overcoming your over-explaining today - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

In this inspiring episode of The FEEL Podcast, Eileen Noyes shares how faith, family, and purpose have become the guiding forces behind her life. As a mother of eight and part of a blended family of fifteen children, Eileen offers a powerful perspective on intentional living, building a meaningful legacy, and making decisions rooted in values rather than circumstances.

Through personal stories of growth and transformation, Eileen reflects on overcoming a shopping addiction and shifting her focus from material possessions to deeper sources of fulfillment, including relationships, experiences, service, and personal purpose. She explains how discovering your “why” can provide clarity, strengthen confidence, and help you navigate challenges with greater resilience and peace.

This conversation explores the connection between self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and authentic living. Eileen shares how the stories we tell ourselves influence our mindset, relationships, and daily decisions, and why challenging assumptions can create space for personal growth and transformation. By staying grounded in your values, you can develop a stronger sense of identity and remain steady in the face of judgment, criticism, or external expectations.

We also discuss faith-based living, family legacy, and the importance of aligning everyday choices with what matters most. Eileen’s message is a reminder that growth is a lifelong journey and that becoming the healthiest, strongest, and most authentic version of yourself happens one intentional decision at a time.

This episode is for anyone seeking greater purpose, deeper fulfillment, and a life aligned with faith, values, and meaningful impact.

Key Takeaways

✓ Let your values guide your decisions.
✓ Legacy is built through intentional daily actions.
✓ Authenticity creates confidence, clarity, and peace.
✓ You cannot control others’ opinions, only your response to them.
✓ The stories you tell yourself shape your reality.
✓ Growth and transformation remain possible at every stage of life.

Ways to Engage:

What are the three most important values guiding your life right now?

Whether it's faith, family, health, purpose, service, or personal growth, consider how your daily choices align with what matters most to you.

#PersonalGrowth #FaithBasedLiving #MindsetMatters #AuthenticLiving #FaithAndFamily #LegacyBuilding #GrowthMindset #MotivationalPodcast #LifePurpose #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfAwareness# WomenOfFaith #IntentionalLiving#PositiveMindset #PersonalTransformation #InspirationDaily

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:44 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 9:49 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 17:35 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 26:15 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 31:20 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 34:00 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 38:42 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 45:41 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 50:20 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 52:27 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

Breaking the "I'm Sorry" Habit | Over-Apologizing, Self-Worth, Boundaries & Emotional Healing | The F.E.E.L. Podcast

How often do you say "I'm sorry" when you've done absolutely nothing wrong?

For many women, over-apologizing becomes second nature. We apologize for asking questions, expressing needs, setting boundaries, changing our minds, taking up space, speaking our truth, and sometimes simply existing.

What begins as a habit can become a deeply rooted pattern tied to self-worth, people-pleasing, childhood conditioning, and fear of disappointing others.

In this Empowerment Tuesday conversation of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook shares her personal journey of recognizing and breaking a lifelong habit of unnecessary apologizing. What started as a simple awareness exercise became a profound lesson in self-worth, emotional healing, healthy boundaries, and reclaiming her voice.

Melissa explores how over-apologizing often serves as a symptom of something deeper, including people-pleasing tendencies, codependency, perfectionism, and the belief that we are responsible for everyone else's comfort and happiness.

You'll discover:

• Why so many women develop the habit of chronic apologizing

• The connection between over-apologizing, people-pleasing, and low self-worth

• How childhood experiences can shape our communication patterns

• The hidden relationship between over-apologizing and over-explaining

• Why healthy boundaries often feel uncomfortable at first

• Practical ways to replace unnecessary apologies with more accurate and empowering language

• How self-awareness can become the first step toward lasting emotional healing

If you've ever apologized for taking up space, needing support, speaking your truth, or prioritizing yourself, this conversation is for you.

It's time to stop treating your existence like an inconvenience and start embracing your worth, your voice, and your right to choose what is healthiest for you.

Because you do not need to apologize for being human.

Ways To Engage:

This week, pay attention to how often you say "I'm sorry."

Are you actually apologizing for something you've done wrong?

Or are you apologizing for having needs, taking up space, setting a boundary, or simply being human?

You might be surprised by what you discover.

#OverApologizing #PeoplePleasing #SelfWorth #HealthyBoundaries #EmotionalHealing #WomensEmpowerment #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #CodependencyRecovery #MentalWellness #HealingJourney #ConfidenceBuilding #BoundarySetting #SelfLoveJourney #WomenSupportingWomen #EmotionalWellness #TheFEELPodcast #TogetherWeFEEL #EmpowermentTuesday #MelissaCrook

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen your Empowerment Journey - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Trauma, Substance Abuse

In this deeply honest episode of The FEEL Podcast, Malisa Hepner, host of the Emotionally Unavailable, joins us for a powerful conversation about trauma recovery, emotional healing, and finding peace through self-awareness, community, and self-compassion. Through her own experiences with trauma, emotional disconnection, and substance abuse, Malisa shares what it means to embrace healing as an ongoing journey rather than a destination.

Together, we explore the connection between emotional wellness and physical health, discussing how unresolved emotions, chronic stress, and trauma can manifest in the body. Malisa explains why learning to listen to your body is an essential part of holistic healing and how nervous system awareness can support long-term emotional resilience and recovery.

This conversation also highlights the importance of women supporting women and the transformative power of authentic community. Malisa reflects on learning to release guilt, shame, and perfectionism while building a deeper relationship with herself. Through self-love, emotional awareness, and intentional boundary-setting, she discovered greater stability, inner peace, and confidence in her ability to navigate life’s challenges.

We also discuss how overthinking, burnout, and emotional overwhelm can disconnect us from ourselves—and how reconnecting with our emotions, intuition, and physical body can create space for healing and personal growth. Malisa’s story is a reminder that mistakes do not define us; they can become opportunities for transformation, self-discovery, and deeper self-acceptance.

This episode is for anyone navigating trauma, emotional healing, burnout recovery, or the journey toward authentic living and self-worth.

Begin paying attention to the connection between your emotions and your physical body. Stress, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and overwhelm often show up physically before we consciously recognize them. Slow down, listen to what your body is communicating, and explore the root causes with curiosity and compassion.

Healing begins with awareness.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline📞 Call or Text 988

#TraumaHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #WomenEmpowerment #EmotionalHealing #SelfLoveJourney #HealingJourney #HolisticWellness #InnerHealing #SelfWorth #MindBodyConnection #MentalWellness #WomenSupportingWomen #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalWellness #TraumaRecovery #AuthenticLiving #HealingCommunity #SelfAwareness #PodcastLife #PersonalDevelopment

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:03 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 16:15 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 26:10 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 34:52 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 44:30 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 50:55 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 54:31 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:02:22 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:03:42 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook continues the journey of transformation and self-discovery by exploring what it truly means to Live Out The FEEL Framework. This holistic wellness framework is designed to support women in living healthier, more authentic, and purpose-driven lives while cultivating communities rooted in healing, empowerment, and personal growth.

Melissa shares how The FEEL Framework helps women move beyond societal expectations, limiting beliefs, and external pressures to reconnect with who they truly are. Through intentional self-reflection, emotional wellness practices, healthy boundaries, self-love and healing, and personal accountability, this framework serves as a roadmap for transformational healing and sustainable personal development.

In this episode, Melissa explores:

• How to prioritize yourself without guilt
• Setting healthy emotional and time boundaries
• The importance of saying “no” to protect your peace
• Building self-worth and confidence through authenticity
• Why women supporting women creates lasting empowerment
• How holistic wellness impacts every area of your life
• Creating positive cycles of healing, growth, and community connection
• Embracing empathy, accountability, and authentic living

Melissa also discusses how mindset transformation begins with everyday choices and how overcoming people pleasing can help you reclaim your energy, strengthen your voice, and align your actions with your values.

This episode highlights the importance of mental wellness strategies, self-care practices, and emotional healing for women who feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, disconnected from themselves, or stuck in unhealthy patterns. Through practical encouragement and empowerment coaching principles, Melissa offers tools to help listeners thrive unapologetically and live with greater intention.

Melissa also announces exciting new live empowerment sessions happening every Tuesday on Substack, creating a healing community where women can connect, ask questions, and continue their wellness and empowerment journey together in real time.

Focus on prioritizing yourself. Whether it’s your time, your talents, your energy, or your emotional limits, choose what aligns with who you are and who you want to become.

• Say yes to what genuinely nourishes you
• Practice saying no without guilt
• Reflect on where you may be abandoning your own needs
• Align your choices with your values and purpose
• Take one small step toward honoring yourself this week

Empowerment episodes are released on Tuesdays and can be found on our website beginning with Season 9.

#WomenEmpowerment #SelfLoveJourney #PersonalGrowth #MentalWellness #HealingJourney #AuthenticLiving #HolisticWellness #EmpoweredWomen #SelfCareMatters #MindsetShift #HealthyBoundaries #EmotionalHealing #WomenSupportingWomen #ConfidenceBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #HealingCommunity #PositiveMindset #WellnessPodcast

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen your healing journey - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠⁠⁠

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this heart-centered episode of The FEEL Podcast, Jessica Vanrose of the Life After Trauma Podcast joins us for a powerful conversation on emotional regulation, nervous system healing, authenticity, and recovery after trauma.

Following Melissa’s appearance on Jessica’s two-part series Choosing You: Self-Care, Boundaries, and Breaking the Good Girl Script, Jessica returns to share her own insights on emotional wellness, self-awareness, and learning how to stop shrinking yourself to fit the expectations of others.

Together, we explore how emotional suppression can lead to burnout, overwhelm, and unresolved trauma patterns, especially for women conditioned to prioritize everyone else’s comfort over their own needs. Jessica explains why emotional health is not about “fixing” every feeling, but instead about acknowledging emotions with compassion and revisiting them when you have the capacity to process them safely.

A central theme of this episode is nervous system regulation and the idea that regulation is better than resolution. Rather than constantly searching for answers or trying to solve every emotional experience immediately, Jessica encourages listeners to focus on creating emotional safety through mindfulness, movement, emotional check-ins, and healthy boundaries.

We also dive into authenticity, people-pleasing recovery, and breaking free from the “good girl” script that teaches women to stay small, quiet, and accommodating. Jessica shares how embracing all parts of herself transformed her confidence, relationships, gratitude, and inner peace—reminding listeners that healing is not about perfection, but permission.

This episode is for anyone navigating trauma healing, emotional overwhelm, self-love, or the journey toward authentic living and emotional resilience.

Ways To Engage: The next time overwhelming emotions arise and you don’t have the space to process them fully, try saying:

“I acknowledge these feelings, and I will revisit them when I have the capacity.”

Then intentionally return to those emotions later with compassion, curiosity, and care. Healing begins when we stop abandoning ourselves.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:49 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 7:49 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 12:41 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 18:06 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 23:51 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 25:09 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 30:03 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 40:30 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 53:07 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 54:18 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

#SelfCare #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthPodcast #EmotionalWellness #NervousSystemRegulation #Authenticity #PersonalGrowth #SelfLoveJourney #BoundariesMatter #PeoplePleasingRecovery #MindsetShift #WomenEmpowerment #EmotionalHealing #InnerHealing #PodcastRecommendations #TherapyTalk #MindBodyConnection #HealingAfterTrauma #MentalHealthAwareness

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this empowering solo episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook explores what it truly means to Live Out FEEL (Finding Empowerment, Embracing Layers) and how embracing your authentic self can transform your mindset, relationships, emotional wellness, and everyday life.

Through honest reflection and encouragement, Melissa dives into the importance of self-awareness, healthy boundaries, intentional self-care practices, and mindset transformation for women navigating personal growth and healing. This women empowerment podcast episode serves as a reminder that true empowerment begins internally — by reconnecting with who you are beneath societal expectations, pressure, and performance.

Melissa shares how the self-love journey, healing journey, and personal transformation journey are deeply interconnected. By prioritizing your mental health and wellness, emotional resilience, spiritual and emotional healing, and overall well-being, you create space to live more intentionally and authentically.

Listeners will walk away inspired to:

• Embrace every layer of themselves — past, present, and future
• Set and maintain healthy boundaries rooted in self-worth
• Practice intentional self-care and self-love
• Build confidence and emotional resilience
• Live authentically without guilt or apology
• Support and empower other women through authenticity and compassion
• Create meaningful relationships grounded in honesty and alignment
• Align daily decisions with personal values, purpose, and intentional living

This episode also explores authentic self development, self-discovery journey practices, and how confidence and self-worth grow when you stop abandoning yourself to meet external expectations. Melissa reminds listeners that empowerment coaching and personal growth are not about perfection — they are about becoming more connected to your authentic self over time.

Melissa also shares this powerful reminder:

“You are worthy, you are valuable, and you get to choose.”

Whether you are beginning your healing and growth journey or deepening your commitment to authentic living, this conversation offers grounded encouragement, practical reflection, and support for becoming the most aligned version of yourself.

• Revisit previous solo empowerment episodes and reflect on your personal growth journey
• Download the Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life freebie
• Schedule a complimentary 30-minute session with Melissa for deeper support and empowerment
• Reflect honestly on which areas of self-empowerment feel strongest and which need more nurturing

#SelfLove#WomenEmpowerment#PersonalGrowth#MentalHealthAwareness#AuthenticSelf#SelfCareJourney#HealingJourney#EmpoweredWomen#MindsetShift#EmotionalWellness#HealthyBoundaries#ConfidenceBuilding#SpiritualGrowth#AuthenticLiving#SelfWorth

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen your healing journey - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠⁠⁠

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa C⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

⁠⁠In this deeply emotional episode of The FEEL Podcast, Tiffiny Newton shares her journey through emotional abuse, toxic relationships, self-harm, and trauma recovery; offering an honest look at the long-term mental health impact of surviving a controlling relationship. Her story sheds light on the hidden realities of emotional abuse, including gaslighting, manipulation, isolation, and the gradual loss of self-worth many survivors experience in silence.

Tiffiny opens up about how abuse often goes unrecognized because it does not always leave physical marks. She reflects on the painful cycle of people-pleasing, self-blame, and emotional exhaustion that kept her trapped in an unhealthy relationship, constantly believing she needed to become “better” to avoid conflict or pain.

This conversation explores the complexity of leaving abusive relationships and why healing after trauma requires more than simply walking away. Tiffiny shares the emotional strength, strategic planning, and support systems that helped her leave safely, while emphasizing the importance of domestic violence awareness, survivor resources, and compassionate support for those navigating similar situations.

A major focus of this episode is rebuilding identity after abuse. Tiffiny discusses learning how to establish healthy boundaries, recognize controlling behaviors, and reconnect with herself after years of emotional invalidation. Her story highlights how boundaries protect mental health, emotional safety, and self-respect—and how healing begins when survivors stop minimizing their experiences and start honoring their truth.

Tiffiny is also the author of Behind the Smile, written to help loved ones recognize the signs of emotional abuse and better support those suffering in silence.

This episode is a reminder that your feelings are valid, healing is possible, and you deserve relationships rooted in safety, respect, and care.

Ways to Engage:

Take time to acknowledge your growth and resilience.
Healing is not linear, and every step forward matters. Give yourself permission to honor your progress with compassion and grace.

Resources & Support:

Mental Health & Self-Harm Support📞 Call or Text 988

Domestic Violence Support📞 Call 800-799-7233
📱 Text BEGIN to 88788

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:34 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 16:26 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 19:48 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 27:57 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 33:05 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 41:31 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 44:20 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 47:29 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 51:48 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 54:38 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

#DomesticViolenceAwareness #EmotionalAbuse #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingJourney #TraumaRecovery #SelfWorth #HealthyBoundaries #WomenEmpowerment #SelfCareJourney #ToxicRelationships #GaslightingAwareness #AbuseRecovery #BreakTheSilence #EmotionalHealing #SurvivorStory #SelfLove #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingFromTrauma #PersonalGrowth #RelationshipHealing

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this powerful episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook dives into the life-changing conversation around personal expectations, healthy boundaries, self-worth, and living authentically. So many people unconsciously shape their lives around societal expectations, family pressure, cultural conditioning, relationship dynamics, or career identities without ever pausing to ask themselves what they truly want.

Melissa explores how external expectations influence our daily decisions, emotional wellness, relationships, and overall life direction. Through reflective questions and practical insight, this women’s empowerment podcast conversation encourages listeners to reconnect with their authentic self and begin living in alignment with their values instead of seeking validation from others.

This episode invites you to pause and ask:

• What do I actually care about?

• What do I want my life to look like?
• Am I living authentically?
• Are my choices rooted in my values or someone else’s expectations?

Melissa unpacks the importance of self-awareness, emotional healing, communication skills, and mindset transformation when breaking free from people pleasing and external pressure. She explains why unlearning unhealthy patterns can feel uncomfortable at first, but ultimately leads to greater confidence, freedom, and inner alignment.

You’ll also hear practical encouragement on:

• How to identify what genuinely nourishes your mind, body, and spirit
• Why communication is essential when navigating life changes
• The difference between healthy communication and overexplaining
• How to stop people pleasing and start honoring yourself
• Ways to align your calendar, actions, and energy with your authentic identity
• Why choosing yourself is necessary for emotional wellness and sustainable growth

If you’ve struggled with burnout, identity loss, fear of disappointing others, or difficulty setting boundaries, this personal growth podcast episode offers grounded support and actionable reflection to help you reconnect with yourself and create a more intentional life.

✨ In This Episode We Discuss

• Living authentically
• Personal expectations vs societal expectations
• Healthy boundaries and confidence
• Emotional healing and self-discovery
• Communication in relationships
• Identity, purpose, and intentional living
• Breaking free from people pleasing
• Honoring yourself unapologetically

• Identify activities that genuinely nourish your life
• Reflect on your core values and character traits
• Ask yourself whether your daily life aligns with your authentic self
• Practice communicating your needs clearly and confidently
• Be patient with yourself as you unlearn unhealthy expectations

#PersonalGrowth #SelfWorth #AuthenticLiving #HealthyBoundaries #SelfAwareness #PeoplePleasing #MentalHealth #EmotionalWellness #HealingJourney #MindsetShift #SelfDiscovery #WomenEmpowerment #IntentionalLiving #CommunicationSkills #SelfLoveJourney

Ways to Engage: Identify activities that nourish you, name your character traits, and describe who you are. Does your calendar reflect this? Do your actions and activities align with who you are? Or does this come from other people? Be honest & patient with yourself on this journey . It isn’t easy to undo a lot of the learnings we’ve had. You get to choose to live your life the way you want to live it.

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen your healing journey - ⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠⁠

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, Irina Helm shares her journey toward financial independence, authentic living, and redefining what it truly means to be “rich.”

Drawing from her experiences living across the former Soviet Union, Germany, and Israel, Irina reflects on how cultural conditioning, gender expectations, and silence around money shaped her relationship with wealth, confidence, and self-worth.

This conversation explores financial empowerment for women and the importance of breaking generational and societal money taboos that often leave women disconnected from financial literacy and long-term financial confidence.

Irina opens up about overcoming financial fear, shifting her money mindset, and learning to advocate for her value in business and life.

Together, we discuss practical strategies for saving money, building financial independence, and redefining success beyond outdated ideas of wealth and retirement.

Rather than chasing external validation or perfection, Irina encourages women to create a lifestyle rooted in freedom, alignment, and intentional growth.

This episode is for women seeking a healthier relationship with money, greater confidence in business, and a mindset rooted in empowerment rather than scarcity.

Through vulnerability and wisdom, Irina reminds listeners that financial growth and personal growth are deeply connected, and that authentic success begins when you stop shrinking yourself and start owning your worth.

In This Episode, You’ll Explore

• Financial literacy and money mindset shifts for women

• Overcoming financial fear and limiting beliefs

• Building confidence in business and asking for your worth

• Redefining wealth, retirement, and authentic success

• Practical approaches to saving, growth, and financial independence

Ways to Engage: What are some ways you can become more educated with finances? Take a class, reach out to an advisor, or listen to some of our past episodes that feature financial experts, coaches, or advisors. Where are some ways you can save? Start small. Take back your finances and your power.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:49 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 4:40 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 8:56 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 23:04 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 35:39 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 37:21 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 42:41 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 47:12 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 47:50 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

#FinancialEmpowerment #WomenInFinance #MoneyMindset #FinancialFreedom #PersonalFinanceTips #WomenEmpowerment #SelfLoveJourney #AuthenticLiving #WealthBuilding #FinancialLiteracy #EntrepreneurMindset #PodcastForWomen #MoneyManagement #ConfidenceBuilding #WomenInBusiness #MindsetShift #FinancialIndependence #SelfGrowthPodcast #EmpoweredWomen

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are, beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook explores what it truly means to find your why and reconnect with the values, purpose, and inner alignment that guide a meaningful life. Through thoughtful reflection and practical insight, this personal growth podcast conversation invites listeners to move beyond external validation and begin living in alignment with who they truly are.

From a young age, many people are taught to define success through productivity, achievement, and meeting expectations. But what happens when the life you’ve built no longer reflects your authentic self? Melissa challenges listeners to pause and ask a transformative question:

What are your core values?

Through the lens of the FEEL Framework, this episode explores how defining core values can support intentional decision making, emotional wellness, and long-term personal fulfillment. Melissa shares how life experiences, boundaries, and personal growth naturally reshape your purpose over time, and why reconnecting with your purpose is an ongoing practice, not a one-time discovery.

This episode highlights:

• How to identify whether your life currently reflects your values-based living

• Why your “why” evolves throughout different seasons of life

• The importance of emotional awareness techniques and honoring discomfort as a signal for change

• How the FEEL Framework supports self-discovery and intentional living

• Real-life examples of values like loyalty, travel, creativity, and empowering women

• Self-reflection practices to support inner alignment and clarity

Melissa also shares practical ways to reconnect with yourself during moments of transition, burnout, or uncertainty. Whether you’re entering a new year, reevaluating priorities, or simply feeling disconnected, this episode offers grounded personal development strategies to help you clear mental clutter and realign your life with authenticity and purpose.

If you’ve been wondering how to find your purpose, strengthen your self-awareness, or create more authentic life choices, this conversation will help guide your growth and healing journey with intention.

✨ This episode is a reminder that your purpose is not something you chase, it’s something you uncover by listening to yourself honestly and living in alignment with your values.

#FindYourWhy #LiveWithPurpose #CoreValues #PersonalGrowthJourney #MindsetShift #SelfDiscovery #IntentionalLiving #EmotionalWellness #LifeAlignment #PurposeDrivenLife #SelfAwareness #GrowthMindset #AuthenticLiving #MindfulLiving #FEELFramework

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen your healing journey - ⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact⁠

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, Kate Lenihan joins Melissa Crook for a heartfelt conversation about self-leadership, emotional wellness, and what it truly means to care for yourself without guilt. Together, they explore how many women are conditioned to believe they must do everything on their own, and how releasing control can actually create more balance, healing, and fulfillment.

Kate reframes self-care as self-leadership, encouraging women to move beyond perfectionism and embrace delegation, support, and shared responsibility without shame. This episode dives into the emotional weight of burnout, people-pleasing, and the pressure to constantly overfunction, offering practical insight into building healthier boundaries and protecting your energy.

A powerful theme throughout the conversation is intuitive decision-making. Kate introduces the mindset shift: If it’s not a full body yes, it’s a full body no. This approach helps women strengthen self-awareness, trust their instincts, and make aligned choices rooted in self-worth rather than guilt or obligation.

We also explore grief and emotional healing beyond traditional loss. Kate vulnerably shares how suppressing grief impacted her mental and emotional health, and why acknowledging difficult emotions is essential for growth, resilience, and authentic living. Whether grieving identity shifts, unmet expectations, or life transitions, this conversation reminds listeners that emotional processing is a necessary part of healing.

This episode is for women navigating burnout, emotional overwhelm, perfectionism, or the challenge of asking for help. Kate’s story offers a compassionate reminder that support is not weakness, it is part of sustainable healing and empowered living.

In This Episode, You’ll Explore

• How to redefine self-care as self-leadership

• Letting go of control and perfectionism

• Setting healthy boundaries without guilt

• Processing grief and suppressed emotions in healthy ways

• Building emotional resilience and self-awareness• Asking for help confidently and unapologetically

Ways to Engage: Take inventory of what you do in a day, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep. What do you do for yourself and what do you do for others? Where are some areas you can ask for help? Delegate some of what you do in a day, even starting small if that’s helpful. Don’t try to carry the world on your own; you are brave when you ask for help.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 4:52 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 14:04 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 20:07 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 28:44 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 38:16 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 45:08 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 57:00 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 59:21 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:00:59 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

#SelfLeadership #SelfCareForWomen #WomenEmpowerment #EmotionalWellness #MentalHealthAwareness #BoundariesMatter #PersonalGrowthJourney #DelegateToElevate #LetGoOfControl #HealingJourney #GriefSupport #AuthenticLiving #WomenSupportingWomen #MindsetShift #SelfWorth #BurnoutRecovery #EmotionalHealing #InnerWork #ConfidenceForWomen #PodcastForWomen

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are, beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, host Melissa Crook explores what it truly means to embrace unapologetic living and step into your full voice, confidence, and personal power. This women’s empowerment podcast conversation challenges the pattern of over-apologizing and invites women into authentic self-expression rooted in self-worth and confidence.

Too often, women are conditioned to shrink themselves — apologizing for taking up space, sharing their truth, or simply being who they are. Melissa unpacks how overcoming limiting beliefs and shifting your mindset can help you build self-confidence as a woman and reconnect with your inherent value.

This episode dives into how self-empowerment begins internally. As you release the need for external validation and embrace self-love and acceptance, you naturally create a ripple effect ; strengthening women supporting women and fostering deeper, more aligned relationships. Authenticity becomes your foundation, helping you create meaningful connections built on respect and emotional intelligence.

Melissa also explores the difference between an abundance mindset vs scarcity mindset, highlighting how societal conditioning can create competition instead of collaboration. Through a mindset transformation, she encourages women to lean into community, shared success, and collective growth.

Listeners will gain practical tools for:

• How to stop apologizing and reclaim your voice

• Building self-confidence and inner worth

• Supporting other women without comparison or competition

• Shifting from scarcity to abundance mindset

• Strengthening communication skills for women through clarity and intention

• Creating deeper connections through authenticity and presence

This episode also touches on female leadership development, healthy boundaries, and how communication rooted in respect is a powerful form of empowerment. Whether you're working on personal growth for women, developing your leadership voice, or learning how to be more confident, this conversation offers grounded, actionable support.

🎧 Tune in and start living boldly, confidently, and unapologetically, because you belong exactly as you are.

#WomenEmpowerment #UnapologeticLiving #SelfWorth #ConfidenceBoost #WomenSupportingWomen #AuthenticityMatters #MindsetShift #AbundanceMindset #PersonalGrowthJourney #SelfLoveJourney #EmpoweredWomen #LeadershipForWomen #SpeakYourTruth #HealthyBoundaries #InnerConfidence

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠⁠

In this powerful crossover episode of The FEEL Podcast, Walt Thiessen, creator and host of the LOA Today Podcast, shares his journey from burnout to purpose, offering insight into self-discovery, mindset transformation, and the power of perspective.

After being impacted by the 2008 financial crisis, Walt found himself searching for deeper meaning beyond his career in IT. What began as an experiment in podcasting evolved into a platform for conscious conversations, where engaging with diverse viewpoints became the foundation for personal growth, emotional healing, and authentic living.

Through years of meaningful dialogue, Walt discovered that growth doesn’t come from agreement, it comes from curiosity, openness, and a willingness to challenge your own assumptions. This episode explores how shifting your mindset, embracing new perspectives, and staying aligned with your values can help you rediscover passion and create a more purpose-driven life.

Walt also shares a powerful mirror work practice for self-esteem, a 50-day commitment that transformed his self-talk, strengthened self-love, and built confidence through consistency and awareness. His story highlights how the way we speak to ourselves shapes our mental wellness, relationships, and overall life experience.

This conversation is for anyone navigating burnout, seeking clarity, or looking to reconnect with their purpose through self-awareness, mindfulness, and intentional growth.

Are you living in alignment with your values?What truly fuels your passion, and are you making space for it?

Growth begins when you allow yourself to explore what lights you up.

Ways to Engage: What are your passions? Sit with this question. What truly lights a fire in your soul? Is it what you currently do for work? Is it a hobby? Is it something that you don’t exercise in your life at all? Make this connection, and discover ways you can work your passion into everyday life or take steps towards living out your passion.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:56 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:56 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 17:37 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 21:12 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 26:06 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 28:00 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 40:02 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 48:36 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 57:11 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:01:29 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

#PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #MindsetShift #EmotionalHealing #LawOfAttraction #SelfLoveJourney #InnerWork#PodcastLife #SpiritualGrowth #MentalWellness #ConsciousLiving #HealingJourney #SelfImprovement #PurposeDrivenLife #MindfulnessMatters #GrowthMindset #AuthenticLiving #LifeTransformation #SelfCarePractices

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this powerful episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook explores the deep mind-body connection and the often-overlooked relationship between emotional wellness, mental health awareness, physical health, spiritual growth, financial wellbeing, and overall life alignment. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to “fix” one area of your life while others feel out of sync, this conversation offers clarity through a holistic health lens.

Melissa dives into why whole-body wellness is essential for a true self-healing journey. Rather than compartmentalizing your well-being, she explains how your body communicates through emotional signals, stress responses, and physical symptoms, and how ignoring these signals can lead to deeper imbalance. This episode highlights the importance of emotional resilience, self-awareness techniques, and understanding the connection between stress and emotional health.

Inspired by the work of Susan David, this conversation challenges patterns of emotional suppression and emphasizes emotional intelligence skills rooted in curiosity, not judgment. As Melissa shares, emotions are not problems to fix, they are valuable data guiding your healing and growth.

You’ll also learn practical tools to support your inner work for healing, including how to use a Feelings Wheel to expand your emotional vocabulary, along with journaling for mental health, voice notes, and simple self-reflection practices. These emotional regulation tools can help you uncover patterns, support subconscious healing, and create better health balance and alignment across all areas of your life.

Whether you’re on a self-healing journey, exploring personal development, or looking to deepen your emotional awareness, this episode offers grounded guidance to help you reconnect with yourself and move forward with intention.

✨ Key Topics Covered

• Holistic health and whole-body wellness

• Emotional intelligence and emotional awareness

• The mind-body-spirit connection

• Breaking patterns of emotional suppression

• Tools for self-reflection and healing

• Understanding the root cause of imbalance

✨ Ways to Engage

Writing your feelings down is a powerful way to begin connecting the different areas of your health. Try journaling, recording voice notes, or typing reflections in your phone. You don’t have to share it ; give yourself permission to be honest, curious, and free of judgment.

#HolisticHealth #MindBodyConnection #EmotionalWellness #SelfHealingJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfAwareness #SpiritualGrowth #InnerHealing #HealingJourney #HolisticWellness #ConsciousLiving #WellnessPodcast #SelfDevelopment #FeelYourFeelings

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Book a complimentary 30-minute session to deepen your healing journey - https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

⚠️ Content Note: Sexual assault, abuse, and loss

In this deeply moving episode of The FEEL Podcast, Holly Hughes shares her journey through trauma, loss, and emotional healing, offering an honest look at what it means to rebuild your identity and reclaim your power. As an empath who once struggled with people-pleasing and emotional overwhelm, Holly opens up about learning to set boundaries, prioritize self-care, and reconnect with her true self.

Through experiences including sexual assault, miscarriage, and navigating power imbalances in Hollywood, Holly’s story highlights the importance of believing survivors, advocating for change, and creating space for healing after trauma. Her journey reflects the reality that healing is not linear—but with self-awareness, support, and intention, transformation is possible.

We explore how to move from self-abandonment to self-worth, how to stop shaping yourself around others’ expectations, and how to embrace authentic living rooted in emotional resilience and self-acceptance. Holly shares how inner work, mindfulness, and boundary-setting can support long-term healing and personal growth, especially for those recovering from abuse, grief, and emotional hardship.

This episode is for anyone navigating a trauma healing journey, seeking to rebuild confidence, or learning how to honor their needs without guilt. It’s a reminder that your voice matters and choosing yourself is part of the healing.

Who are you without the expectations of others?
What would it look like to define yourself on your own terms?

If you or someone you know needs support, you can reach out to the RAINN:
📞 Call: 800-656-HOPE
📱 Text: HOPE to 64673
💻 Online chat available via their website

You are not alone, and support is always available.

Ways to Engage: Ask yourself, “Who am I?” Be conscious of what you’re thinking, and question how other people would describe you. How does family describe you? Friends?  Coworkers? Is that actually you or do you work to be that way for them? Work towards being who you want to be and finding your own descriptors.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:19 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 7:01 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 14:36 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 21:57 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 30:13 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 38:24 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 42:09 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 47:08 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 47:41 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

#TraumaHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingJourney #SurvivorSupport #SelfDiscovery #EmpowermentForWomen #EmotionalHealing #SetBoundaries #SelfWorth #PersonalGrowth #WomenEmpowerment #SpeakYourTruth #InnerHealing #SelfLoveJourney #MentalWellness #PodcastLife #AuthenticLiving #FemininePower #OvercomingTrauma

✨ Free Download: Embracing a FEEL Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The FEEL Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

In this empowering episode of The FEEL Podcast, host Melissa Crook explores the essential skill of setting healthy boundaries as a foundation for self-care, mental health and self-care practices, and long-term personal growth and healing. Learning how to set boundaries with clarity and confidence is key to protecting your energy, strengthening self-worth, and building healthier relationships.

Through relatable stories and practical guidance, Melissa shares boundary setting tips that are realistic, sustainable, and aligned with your evolving needs. She highlights how emotional boundaries in relationships, physical well-being, and personal purpose are deeply interconnected — and how neglecting one area can impact your overall wellness.

Listeners are guided through powerful self-awareness and reflection questions:

• Are your boundaries clear, current, and aligned with who you are today?
• What fears or challenges are holding you back from setting limits?
• How do your boundaries impact your mental and emotional health?

Melissa also dives into confident communication skills, emphasizing the use of “I” statements as a core part of assertive communication techniques. By taking ownership of your responses, you can communicate boundaries without blame, reduce conflict, and create space for healthier relationship habits.

This episode also explores emotional intelligence skills, mindfulness and boundaries, and how overcoming people pleasing is essential for burnout prevention strategies and sustainable growth. When you begin protecting your energy and honoring your needs, you create a life rooted in confidence and self-worth.

Featuring a powerful reminder from Valerie Rivera:

“When you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else. Make sure you’re okay with what you’re saying no to.”

If you’ve ever struggled with unclear expectations, overcommitting, or feeling stretched too thin, this episode offers the tools to help you reclaim your time, voice, and personal boundaries.

✨ Includes reflection prompts

✨ Practical boundary-setting strategies

✨ A holistic wellness approach to self-care

#HealthyBoundaries #SetBoundaries #SelfCareTips #MentalHealthMatters #PersonalGrowthJourney #EmotionalWellness #SelfLovePractice #BoundariesAreHealthy #ConfidenceBuilding #MindsetShift#PeoplePleaserRecovery #WellnessPodcast #MentalWellness #LifeBalance #StressManagement

Ways To Engage:

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music by Valencia & Rio Saint-Louis