🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: 4-Year Anniversary Special (LIVE) – Reflections, Vision & Vulnerability with Melissa Crook & Valencia Saint-Louis
Host: Melissa Crook | Guest Host: Valencia Saint-Louis | Written by: Jessica Garrison

Join us for a very special LIVE episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast as we celebrate 4 powerful years of vulnerability, healing, and community storytelling. In this milestone conversation, Founder & Thought Leader Melissa Crook takes the guest seat, interviewed by returning co-founder and original editor Valencia Saint-Louis.

Together, they revisit the podcast’s origin story, the 8 original F.E.E.L talking points that shaped the mission, and three guiding questions that continue to anchor this work in emotional truth and human connection. Melissa also opens up about her bold, expansive vision for the Embracing Layers Network—a multi-platform movement built to empower women to live unapologetically.

✨ Whether you’ve been tuning in since day one or are new to this growing community, this episode is a celebration of the transformation that happens when we give ourselves permission to feel.

🎉 In this anniversary episode, we explore:🌱 The journey from first episode to full network🌀 How the 8 talking points still guide today’s work💛 Moments of growth, doubt, clarity, and joy🗣️ The power of honest conversation & community🔮 A hopeful vision for year five and beyond

💛 Ways to Engage:
What has been your favorite episode so far this season or your favorite topic of conversation? Are there any topics you’d like to hear us discuss or any guests you’d like to see return?

📌 Keywords:mental health podcast, emotional wellness, podcast anniversary episode, women in podcasting, personal growth journey, authentic storytelling, female founder podcast, empowerment network, mindful conversations, wellness community, live podcast episode, podcast celebration, holistic healing, podcast for women, transformational leadership

#FEELPodcast #PodcastAnniversary #LivePodcast #EmotionalWellness #WomenInPodcasting #MelissaCrook #ValenciaSaintLouis #EmbracingLayers #MentalHealthAwareness #AuthenticConversations #EmpoweredLiving #WellnessNetwork #FemaleFounders #HealingThroughStory #TransformationalLeadership

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 17:28 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 21:04 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 27:27 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 34:04 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 48:14 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 56:23 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:03:10 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:11:06 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:13:59 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨

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 F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠⁠

🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: Releasing Guilt & Embracing Boundaries: How to Journal Through Self-Doubt with Callie Martin
Host: Melissa Crook | Guest: Callie Martin | Written by: Jessica Garrison

In this empowering episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast, host Melissa Crook is joined by entrepreneur and boundary-setting enthusiast Callie Martin for a heartfelt conversation about the emotional weight of guilt, the strength it takes to say no, and the healing power of journaling.

Callie opens up about her journey of discovering her core values, overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, and honoring her truth. Through practical tools and powerful stories, she reminds us that boundaries aren’t walls—they’re bridges back to ourselves.

Together, we explore:🛑 The guilt of saying no💬 Boundaries as an act of self-worth📝 Journaling through self-doubt and internal narratives🌿 Real-life examples of empowered, honest communication🧠 Reframing guilt to reclaim your peace

Whether you’ve struggled with saying no or are just beginning your boundary-setting journey, Callie’s perspective will give you clarity, language, and permission to show up for yourself with courage.

📌 Keywords:Setting boundaries, Releasing guilt, Journaling for mental health, How to say no, Self-doubt and self-worth, Mental health journaling prompts, Emotional boundaries, Empowered communication, Overcoming people-pleasing, Healthy relationship boundaries, Self-care mindset, Guilt-free boundary setting, Personal growth journey, Authentic living, Emotional wellness podcast

Blog Excerpt:Callie Martin has been on a long journey of discovering healthy boundaries and putting them in place. She emphasizes understanding your values and how they dictate what you say yes and no to. If you don’t value yourself and your time, life becomes about pleasing others instead of honoring yourself. Through journaling, Callie reframes guilt and communicates with authenticity. She models what it means to live your truth—even when it’s hard—and invites others to do the same.

💛 Ways to Engage:If you’re struggling with guilt from setting boundaries, journal it out. Write down your thoughts. Ask yourself, what is reality? What is going on in your life? Why did you say no? Ask yourself, what are my thoughts? What narrative am I telling myself? Recognize that the stories you tell yourself are not always fact, and you can release yourself of the guilt from setting healthy boundaries.

#MentalHealthMatters #EmotionalWellness #JournalingThroughIt #HealthyBoundaries #ReleasingGuilt #SelfWorthJourney #FEELPodcast #SelfCareTools #EmpoweredWomen #SayNoWithoutGuilt #MindfulLiving #PersonalGrowthTips #TherapyConversations #AuthenticCommunication #WomenSupportingWomen

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:41 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 9:03 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 26:58 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 35:46 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 41:16 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 43:32 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 49:59 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:00:37 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:10:43 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:11:20 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: Motherhood Without the Mask: Identity, Boundaries & Postpartum Truths with Marissa ZwetowHost: Melissa Crook | Guest: Marissa Zwetow | Written by: Jessica Garrison

🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: Breaking the Caregiver Cycle: Self-Awareness, Survival Mode & Loving Fiercely with Lynette Weldon

Host: Melissa Crook | Guest: Lynette Weldon | Written by: Jessica Garrison

In this powerful and deeply emotional episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast, we welcome the resilient and passionate Lynette Weldon—caregiver, mother, and advocate—who shares her journey of breaking generational patterns, surviving caregiver burnout, and reclaiming her identity.

Lynette opens up about raising a daughter with Down syndrome and a congenital heart condition while managing a full household and her own emotional needs. Living in survival mode for nearly a decade, Lynette reveals how she finally gave herself permission to grieve, to feel, and to heal—showing us that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s necessary.

Together, we explore:🌪️ What it feels like to live in fight-or-flight mode💔 The layered grief that comes with caregiving🧬 How generational patterns shape our emotional responses💛 Balancing the needs of multiple children without losing yourself🌱 Reclaiming your well-being through self-awareness and rest

Whether you’re a caregiver, a mother, or someone feeling unseen in your emotional labor, Lynette’s story reminds us that our needs matter too—and healing is possible when we choose to prioritize ourselves.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Lynette found clarity, courage, and compassion through breaking the cycle of over-functioning—and how you can too.

📌 Keywords:Caregiver Burnout, Caregiving and Self-Care, Down Syndrome Parenting, Women’s Emotional Health, Fight or Flight Mode, Invisible Labor of Caregiving, Grief in Caregiving, Generational Caregiving Patterns, Mental Health for Mothers, Balance in Motherhood, How to Break Survival Mode, Layered Healing Journey, Emotional Wellness Podcast, Parenting with Purpose, Self-Awareness and Caregiving

📝 Blog Excerpt: Being a fierce advocate, Lynette shares how her time as a caregiver changed her life on both ends of the spectrum...We can choose to model unhealthy behaviors for ourselves and others, or we can break the cycle.

💛 Ways to Engage:Do you feel like you’re overworked or don’t have any time in the day for yourself? Start with small increments of time, like 5 or 10 minutes to do something for you. Read a couple pages of your book, write down your thoughts, or just rest. Your time is yours, and it’s up to you to take control of it.

#CaregiverSupport#MentalHealthAwareness#SelfCareMatters#InvisibleLabor#DownSyndromeAwareness#WomenEmpoweringWomen#EmotionalWellness#HealingJourney#MomLifeUnfiltered#GenerationalHealing#BreakTheCycle#FeelToHeal#PodcastForMoms#NeurodivergentParenting#TheFEELPodcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:17 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 26:19 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 31:09 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 37:27 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 40:16 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 46:20 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 52:40 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 59:44 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:03:04 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:03:34 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨

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 F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠

🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: Mental Health Days, Neurospicy Life & Self-Care with Amy Taylor - Host: Melissa Crook | Guest: Amy Taylor | Written by: Jessica Garrison

In this heartfelt and empowering episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast, we welcome the compassionate and self-aware Amy Taylor—educator, mother, and mental health advocate—for a powerful conversation about radical self-care, mental health days, and living with authenticity.

Amy shares her lived experiences of navigating bipolar disorder, a later-in-life thyroid cancer diagnosis, and the realities of balancing work, family, and personal wellness. With honesty and humor, she reminds us that taking care of our minds and bodies isn’t selfish—it’s essential.

Together, we explore:🧠 The value of taking mental health days🌙 How sleep and routines help manage bipolar disorder💬 Life after a thyroid cancer diagnosis💛 The importance of a loving support system🏡 Real talk about parenting, teaching, and healing in community🌿 How Amy nourishes herself through food, rest, and connection

Whether you’re a mom, teacher, survivor, or simply someone trying to keep it all together, Amy’s story is a reminder that healing isn’t linear—and you are never alone.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how embracing your truth can lead to deeper wellness, joy, and connection.

📌 Keywords:Mental Health Day, Self Care Tips, Living with Bipolar Disorder, Mental Health Awareness, Women’s Mental Health, Self Care for Moms, Coping with Cancer Diagnosis, Work-Life Balance, Mental Health and Family, Authentic Living, Importance of Sleep for Mental Health, Support System for Mental Health, Teacher Mental Health, Progressive Parenting, Taking a Break for Mental Health

Blog Excerpt: Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her 30s and thyroid cancer in her 50s, Amy Taylor has chosen to live her truth out loud. Her story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and radical honesty. Whether it’s through deep rest, time with loved ones, or simply getting out of the house on hard days, Amy’s practices are powerful reminders that self-care can look different for everyone—but it matters for us all.

💛 Ways to Engage:Take a mental health day. It’s a challenge and a privilege to take time off of work when you need it the most, but if you’re able, take a day off to replenish and nourish your body the way it deserves to be.

#MentalHealthMatters#SelfCareSunday#TakeAMentalHealthDay#BipolarAwareness#WomenSupportingWomen#AuthenticLiving#MentalHealthAwareness#FamilyFirst#HealingJourney#ThyroidCancerSurvivor#ProgressiveParenting#SupportSystem#MindBodyConnection#TeacherWellbeing#YouAreNotAlone#FEELPodcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 4:06 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:06 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 12:37 )

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

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 19:03 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 24:06 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 26:48 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 29:46 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 39:08 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 40:11 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠

In this soul-nourishing episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast, we welcome nurse, author, and multitasking mom Jennifer Johnson for a powerful conversation on burnout, healing, and reclaiming your energy.

Jennifer opens up about the toll of night shifts, the sacrifices of motherhood, and how sleep has become her ultimate act of self-care. From working through the peak of COVID to writing her book Nursing Intuition, she shares hard-won wisdom on what it truly means to live in alignment with your health—mind, body, and soul.

Together, we explore:

• 🛏️ The link between sleep and emotional wellness

• 👩‍⚕️ Surviving burnout in caregiving roles

• ✨ The power of spiritual grounding and self-reflection

• 🔁 Balancing family, work, and rest in real life

• 📖 Lessons from Nursing Intuition—and why your story matters

  
  

Whether you’re a healthcare worker, a tired parent, or someone craving deeper rest and renewal, Jennifer’s insights will inspire you to listen to your body and nurture yourself from the inside out.

🎧 Tune in now to discover why rest isn’t optional—it’s transformational.

📌 Keywords:Nurse Burnout Recovery, Sleep and Mental Health, Women’s Wellness Podcast, Self-Care for Healthcare Workers, Emotional Wellness, Spiritual Healing, Empowered Women Stories, Authentic Living, Nursing Intuition, Night Shift Wellness, Rest as Self-Care

Blog Excerpt: Professionally, Jennifer is a nurse, and there isn’t much she hasn’t seen through this line of work. From nursing school to rigorous COVID shifts, Jennifer has needed to pay extra attention to her physical, mental, and spiritual health.

💛 Ways to Engage: Start focusing on your sleep schedule. Are you getting enough hours of rest? Do you wake up a lot throughout your sleep cycle? Are you on your phone right before bed or as soon as you wake up? Sleep is one of the most important aspects of your health—treat it like it matters.

#TheFEELPodcast #SelfCareMatters #NursingWellness #WomenEmpowerment #EmotionalHealth #AuthenticLiving #SleepAndHealing #HealthcareHeroes #RestIsRevolutionary #MentalHealthAwareness #FeelToHeal

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:30 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 12:05 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 24:30 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 34:39 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 53:56 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 1:00:33 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 1:06:39 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:14:36 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:18:33 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:19:49 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠

In this powerful and heart-centered episode of The F.E.E.L. Podcast, Melissa Crook welcomes Vesta Hurlbutt—host of Open Heart Healing—for a vulnerable and inspiring conversation on healing, releasing expectations, and embracing self-love.

Vesta opens up about the pressure of living by others’ standards and how she found freedom by living for herself instead. Together, they explore the reality that loving yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. From practicing body acceptance while desiring change to holding space for emotional duality, this episode is a meaningful guide for anyone navigating the tension between self-growth and self-acceptance.

Whether you’re learning to forgive yourself, redefining your expectations, or just starting to prioritize emotional wellness, Vesta’s story will speak directly to your heart.

Listeners will walk away with tools to:🌱 Let go of unrealistic expectations and live by your truth💛 Practice self-forgiveness and cultivate self-worth🧠 Embrace both joy and sadness in your healing journey🌸 Love your body while working toward positive change🤝 Create or find a community rooted in healing and inclusivity

🎧 Tune in now to reconnect with your inner self, honor your journey, and live unapologetically—with love at the center.

📌 Keywords: Self-love for women, Emotional wellness, Releasing expectations, Body positivity and self-improvement, Mental health for women, Personal growth podcast, Self-forgiveness, Empowering women, Authentic living, Healing communities, Self-acceptance, Open Heart Healing, Mind-body connection, Living unapologetically

Ways to Engage: Take the time to recognize people in your life who you love unconditionally and vice versa. It might even help to write them down for times when you’re feeling unloved, depressed, lonely, etc. Unconditional love is a beautiful thing and you are worthy of experiencing it.

Blog Excerpt: The overall conversation of expectations is valuable, so much so that Vesta has an episode dedicated to it on her own podcast, Open Heart Healing. If you’re trying to live out of someone else’s expectations, you’ll start to feel bad about yourself because you’re not fulfilling your own desires.

#SelfLoveJourney#HealingThroughSelfLove#ReleaseExpectations#AuthenticLiving#EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen#EmotionalWellness#MentalHealthMatters#BodyPositivityMovement#SelfForgiveness#WomensEmpowerment#OpenHeartHealing#LiveUnapologetically#InnerHealingJourney#PersonalGrowthPodcast#FEELPodcast#VestaHurlbutt#EmbracingLayersNetwork#LoveYourBodyLoveYourself#WomenSupportingWomen#HealingConversations

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:44 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:54 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 24:35 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 35:07 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 42:55 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 47:03 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 55:31 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:03:00 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:08:44 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:11:08 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠

In this vulnerable and empowering episode of The F.E.E.L. Podcast, Melissa Crook is joined by Laura Helgeson—a returning voice from the Embracing Layers community—to dive deeper into the often-overlooked relationship between physical health, emotional healing, and spiritual well-being.

Laura shares her personal journey living with chronic UTIs, a condition she’s experienced since childhood and long kept hidden due to stigma and misinformation. Her courage to speak out shines a light on the importance of releasing shame, advocating for your own health, and unlearning the societal messages that tell us to stay quiet about our bodies.

Through this intimate conversation, Melissa and Laura explore how self-care, advocacy, and even the smallest acts of kindness toward ourselves can have a major impact on how we live, heal, and connect with ourselves more fully.

Listeners will walk away with tools to:
🌿 Understand the emotional toll of chronic health conditions
🧠 Break cycles of shame surrounding physical symptoms
💛 Advocate for your wellness when resources are lacking
✨ Strengthen the mind-body-spirit connection
🌸 Take small steps that lead to lasting healing

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Laura is turning her pain into purpose—and inspiring women to become their own best health advocates.

📌 Keywords: Chronic UTI awareness, Mind-body-spirit healing, Women’s health advocacy, Emotional wellness and physical health, Breaking health taboos, Releasing shame, Living unapologetically, Chronic illness in women, Self-care mindset, Healing through honesty, Holistic health journey, Spiritual wellness for women, Personal growth podcast, Women’s empowerment and health

Ways to Engage:
Do something kind for yourself today. Get a large coffee instead of medium, take yourself out to a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, stay in for the evening instead of going out. Whatever it may be, do something kind for yourself—it doesn’t have to be big. The little things add up.

Blog Excerpt:
Laura Helgeson has returned to share her journey with transparency, compassion, and courage. Her struggle with chronic UTIs, a condition affecting millions yet rarely discussed, has transformed her into a trailblazer. She’s not just navigating her own health—she’s starting conversations, filling knowledge gaps, and becoming the very resource she once searched for. Laura reminds us that even the smallest acts of self-kindness can sustain us through life's hardest seasons. Her voice is powerful, her message is clear: women deserve to heal without shame, speak without fear, and live with full-body freedom.

#WomensHealthAdvocacy #ChronicUTIAwareness #EmotionalHealing #WholeBodyWellness #SelfCareForWomen #TheFEELPodcast #BreakingStigma #MindBodyConnection #WomenSupportingWomen #SpiritualHealing #ShameFreeLiving #HolisticHealthJourney #LiveUnapologetically #HealingThroughHonesty #EmpoweredWellness

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:55 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 5:19 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 8:32 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 14:10 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 23:15 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 35:07 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 38:16 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 43:34 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 55:49 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 57:09 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠