Travel & Transformation

Have you ever thought you had to hit rock bottom before you could change your life? What if your "doable bottom" was enough to spark a complete transformation?In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Whaley, an anti-hustle business coach living in Italy. Shannon shares her journey from being a blackout-drunk hairstylist in the Cayman Islands at 34 to building a location-independent business and moving to Tuscany—all while navigating 12 years of sobriety, divorce, and midlife reinvention. We talk about the moment she decided to get sober without treatment, how spite became fuel for transformation, and why she refuses to let women live small, people-pleasing lives. Shannon breaks down her approach to business coaching that includes identity work, somatic practices, and unlearning good girl conditioning. We also discuss her Mild Women Adventures retreat in Italy, designed for women in their midlife revolution who want to travel but feel intimidated by the logistics.Tune in to learn how to stop making excuses disguised as "signs," why clarity comes from doing (not thinking), and how to run after your dreams like your pants are on fire.Mild Woman Adventures with Shannon https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/italy/italy-with-shannon-whaley-apr-2026TOPICS DISCUSSED:Shannon's journey from party girl to sober entrepreneur across three countriesThe "doable bottom" moment that changed everything (passing out at a bus stop)How she piecemealed her recovery using yoga, fitness, and Buddhist practicesWhat anti-hustle business coaching really meansWhy we attach meaning to everything and use "signs" as cop-outsThe Mild Women Adventures retreat in Tuscany for women who want to travel soloRESOURCES MENTIONED:Website | www.antihustlebiz.comInstagram | @theshannonwhaleyFacebook | www.facebook.com/shannonkwhaleyLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/shannonkwhaleyBEST MOMENTS:"You can't run and grow a business, a big business, if you're trying to please everyone, if you don't know who you are, if you're not confident to speak up about your beliefs and your desires and claim what is yours and then run after it like your pants are on fire.""Everything's a sign if you want it to be a sign, period. We give meaning to things and we make it mean what we want to make it mean. So what if it's not 'Oh, maybe I'm not supposed to do this'—maybe it's, how bad do you want this thing?"CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Feeling stuck despite all the health changes you've made? Your body might be holding onto more than you realize.Coral Buchanan, a cogno movement practitioner and somatic activated healing coach with over 10 years of wellness experience, shares how she transformed from being neurotic, depressed, and agoraphobic to discovering a modality that changed everything. We explore how suppressed emotions become physical symptoms, why cognitive movement works when traditional approaches fall short, and how cross-body movements can release patterns that keep you playing small.Coral opens up about how her own sciatica vanished without directly addressing it, and why focusing on feelings instead of symptoms creates lasting change. Tune in to discover how releasing held tensions can transform not just your physical symptoms, but your entire way of being in the world.TOPICS DISCUSSED:How suppressed emotions become physical symptoms and diseaseThe connection between sciatica and hopelessnessWhy cognitive movement addresses root causes, not just symptomsCross-body movement and bilateral brain integrationEye movements and their connection to nervous system patternsWorking with a practitioner versus self-guided sessionsThe onion layer approach to healing traumaRESOURCES MENTIONED:LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/coral-buchanan-349373232Website | https://coralbuchanan.comBEST MOMENTS:"When the body can actually breathe, it will heal itself.""These tight feelings in the body create the thoughts. So when you can change the body, the thoughts naturally change.""You don't have to know what you're working on. You can have stuff release in your body without knowing.""It takes some courage to really face ourselves and go in instead of externally being external.""Don't be afraid to try something. But if you're in that mind frame and you're willing, sky's the limit.""We get to give ourselves permission. And that's the most important permission you can give."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Tired of letting self-doubt hold you back from the life you actually want?Elaine Kramer, author of How to Change Mindset to Boost Confidence, joins the show to share how she joined the military at 34 (against everyone's advice), deployed three times, earned a doctorate, and rebuilt her confidence after divorce, all while raising four kids. With 22 years of military experience and a Doctor of Education degree, Elaine brings battle-tested strategies for overcoming fear and self-doubt.We dig into what it really takes to silence the voices telling you "you can't," why waiting for permission keeps you stuck, and how to build unshakeable confidence through action, not affirmation alone. Elaine opens up about writing her book in secret, setting standards in relationships, and teaching women over 40 to turn their passions into income.Tune in to learn how to stop proving yourself to others and start taking courageous action toward the life you deserve.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Joining the military at 34 despite family oppositionOvercoming self-doubt and fear of rejectionBuilding confidence through experience, not just affirmationsSetting standards in relationships (and sticking to them)Turning passions into secondary income after 50Why you need to give yourself permission, not wait for itRESOURCES MENTIONED:Book: How to Change Mindset to Boost Confidence Email: elainekramer@stuck2ceo.comBEST MOMENTS:"I wanted to set an example for my kids that you can do whatever you want to do despite what others think that you can or can't do.""Don't wait for permission. Give yourself permission to do it. Because if it's an idea or dream that you have, that means you've got the desire to do it.""Confidence comes from experience, comes from practice. You're not going to be confident about something until you actually do it and see that, yes, you can do it.""You can either be a victim of those circumstances or you can adapt and overcome and find another solution."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Have you ever wondered why you keep making the same money mistakes even though you know better?Taryn McNamee Ferrer, known as Team Money, joins the show to share her journey from growing up in a financially abusive environment to becoming a financial wellness coach. She opens up about hitting rock bottom after leaving her nine-to-five, then turning things around by raising her credit score 240 points and saving $2000 in two months. We talk about financial abuse and how childhood experiences shape our money habits. Taryn breaks down practical strategies for paying off debt, building savings with purpose, and starting to invest even when you're risk-averse. She also shares her thoughts on credit repair companies, debt consolidation, and why our gifts and talents deserve to be paid for.Tune in to learn how to shift your relationship with money from shame and scarcity to confidence and abundance.How to Save $2,000 in 2 Months - A free guide from Taryn McNamee Ferrer: https://www.manifestmoneyhoney.com/how-to-save-2-000-in-2-monthsTOPICS DISCUSSED:Growing up in a financially abusive householdTaryn's journey from broke to financial coachUnderstanding your relationship with moneyDebt payoff strategiesCredit repair and what companies can actually doStarting to invest when you're risk-averseRESOURCES MENTIONED:Instagram | @heytmoneyhoneyLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/taryn-mcnamee-ferrerWebsite |www.manifestmoneyhoney.comFacebook | www.facebook.com/heytmoneyhoneyBEST MOMENTS:"I wanted as many women to experience that as possible. I wanted to prevent as many women as possible from experiencing financial abuse. And I wanted women to really feel free and confident when it comes to money.""Money is a currency, but it's also energy. And so when we are giving someone money for something, we are exchanging energy.""Everything has its max point when it comes to saving...There's a deadline there. Like, there's an amount where, okay, we've hit it, and. And now we can move on to something else."“save with a purpose.""In order to build it, you have to invest in something."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Have you ever thought you were having a heart attack, only to realize it was an anxiety attack brought on by hormonal changes?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Deidra Manns, an integrative physical therapist, life coach, and certified menopause health coach who knows firsthand what it's like to navigate menopause after cancer treatment. We talk about the 40-60 symptoms that can show up during this transition—from brain fog and sleep disturbances to joint pain and vaginal dryness. Dr. Deidra shares her personal story of mourning her reproductive years and explains why perimenopause is the gateway to accelerated aging for women. We dig into why hormone replacement therapy is only about 10% of the solution and how lifestyle changes make up the other 90%. If you're in perimenopause, postmenopause, or just want to be prepared for what's coming, this episode is packed with information you need to hear. TOPICS DISCUSSED:How both Sophia and Dr. Deidra experienced menopause following cancer treatmentThe 40-60 potential symptoms of perimenopause and menopauseWhy perimenopause is the gateway to accelerated aging for womenThe limited role of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)Lifestyle medicine as 90% of menopause managementHow midlife choices impact quality of life in your 70s, 80s, and 90sRESOURCES MENTIONED:Website | www.drdiedra.comFacebook | www.facebook.com/Dr.DiedraInstagram | @drdiedraLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/drdiedraBEST MOMENTS:"Your body is not going to be operating the same way as it did before you started the perimenopausal process. It's almost like there's a body before perimenopause and there's a body after perimenopause.""Perimenopause is the gateway to accelerated aging for women.""Suffering is optional during the perimenopause menopause process. It's optional.""90% of what you do and how you treat your body is your lifestyle and what you put in your mouth, what you think, how you manage your stress.""What you decide to do right now in these years of your life, during your midlife years is going to directly impact your quality of Life in your 70s, 80s, and 90s.""Lifestyle changes are a little bit at a time. They're incremental. And so it's a marathon. It is not a race. It's not a sprint."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Have you ever wondered why you keep bringing things into your home but struggle to let them go? In this episode, we explore the connection between good girl conditioning and the clutter that takes over our spaces.Dorota Kuldo shares her journey from working 15 hours a day and living in an overwhelming mess to decluttering 70% of her belongings in six months. We talk about how saying yes to everyone else means saying no to yourself, why retail therapy becomes a coping mechanism, and how your nervous system might be the real reason you can't stick to your decluttering goals. Dorota explains the relationship between people pleasing and clutter accumulation, the importance of building self trust through small actions, and why starting with trash is the safest way to begin. We also discuss how feeling like you don't have time often means you don't feel safe to try because past attempts haven't worked.Listen to this episode to learn practical strategies for decluttering that work with your nervous system instead of against it, and discover how letting go of stuff can help you set better boundaries in all areas of your life.TOPICS DISCUSSED:The connection between good girl conditioning and clutter accumulationHow people pleasing and saying yes to everything drains energy and creates clutterThe role of retail therapy and shopping as a coping mechanism for emotional needsWhy nervous system regulation is essential for sustainable declutteringHow the nervous system perceives change as danger and creates resistance through procrastination and self-criticismRESOURCES MENTIONED:Website | https://dorotakuldo.podia.com/Instagram | @dorotakuldodeclutteringFacebook | www.facebook.com/dorotakuldoSpace to Breathe and Be (Spotify) - Guided meditations by Dorota KuldoBEST MOMENTS:"If you say yes to everything, it means that you say no to yourself, right? And if you drain yourself to the point of exhaustion, where you give yourself away to everything and everyone around you, then you come back home and the last thing that you want to do is now take care of your space because you exhausted, you have right to rest.""Clutter is just a symptom, is a mirror of our behaviors, our how we cope with triggers.""We expect so much from ourselves. Good girls expect way too much from our, from themselves. And bring the bar all the way to the bottom, all the way. And start trusting yourself. Build that trust. It's like exercise.""Our nervous system cannot tell the difference between a perceived danger and actual danger."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Are you a professional single woman over 40 who knows there's more to life than what you're currently living? Maybe everything looks good on the outside, but you feel unfulfilled and sense you were meant for more.In this solo episode, I break down my MAGIC framework for transformation. The “M” stands for mindset reset, where we tackle self-doubt, shame, and the fear of failing again. “A” is for aligning with desire – those dreams and wants you've pushed to the back burner. “G” means getting grounded in your worth, independent of achievements or roles. “I” represents integrating your new identity as you step into who you're becoming. “C” is courageous action, taking small brave steps instead of waiting for perfection. I share personal examples, from learning to ask for help to my own five-minute decluttering challenge, and explain how our belief systems create inner glass ceilings we can break through.Tune in to discover how bringing magic into your everyday life can help you stop living small and start stepping into the woman you want to become.TOPICS DISCUSSED:The MAGIC framework for personal transformation (Mindset reset, Align with desire, Ground in worth, Integrate new identity, Courageous action)Overcoming limiting beliefs and negative self-talkThe difference between old identity and new selfPracticing self-worth independent of achievements and productivityTaking small brave steps instead of big leapsConversations with your future selfBreaking through inner glass ceilings (belief systems)BEST MOMENTS:"But here's the thing. I have also realized that when you ask for help, you have to be prepared for the fact that you may not get it. But the win is in the ask.""Could you be stuck between your old identity of who people think you are, how people see you, how you even see yourself versus the new self, the person, the woman that you want to step into?""I am more than my accomplishments. I am more than my resume. And it's really about the character of who I am, the person that I am, the way I treat myself, the way I treat others.""And when we celebrate our wins, wow, it just motivates you to keep doing more.""Well, our belief systems are our inner glass ceilings. So as we start to break through those and change the stories and take courageous action, wow. The possibilities are endless.""A small brave step for me would be to take five minutes... Because that five minutes is going to be a win.""And when we add up our small wins, they turn into huge wins."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

What happens when traditional medicine falls short and you need to look beyond conventional treatments for healing? Sometimes the answer lies in ancient practices that have been helping people for thousands of years.In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Shuler, a psychedelic yoga therapist currently based in Belgium. Liz shares her journey from clinical psychology to integrative healing, moving across three countries over the past decade while developing her unique approach. We dive deep into the differences between microdosing and macrodosing, the importance of proper preparation and integration, and how she combines yoga therapy, Reiki, and plant medicines like psilocybin and blue lotus. Liz explains the legal landscape in Europe, the challenges of building a practice while traveling, and why the therapeutic relationship matters more than any specific technique. We also clear up common misconceptions about different mushroom varieties and plant medicines, plus practical advice for anyone considering this path.Whether you're curious about alternative healing modalities or looking for ways to integrate ancient wisdom with modern wellness practices, this conversation offers valuable insights into a growing field that's helping people heal from chronic conditions, trauma, and more.TOPICS DISCUSSED:What it is a Psychedelic Yoga Therapy, how it works, and who benefits from it.The differences between sub-psychedelic doses for daily function and full journey experiences for deeper healingEuropean drug laws, sourcing considerations, testing protocols, and harm reduction practicesThe crucial work before and after psychedelic experiences, including shadow work, breathwork, and somatic practicesPlant Medicines and SubstancesThe differences between various mushroom types and preparation methodsRESOURCES MENTIONED:Website | www.innerevolutioncoach.comLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/innerevolutioncoachingFacebook | www.facebook.com/innerevolutiononlineBEST MOMENTS:"My belief and the research backs me up on this is that healing is relational and we need other people to help us co regulate and co create and mirror and attune and resonate.""It opens up doors that you didn't even know were doors, if that makes sense. If you don't know what you don't know. Right. And so when you even just traveling, you don't have to live somewhere. Living somewhere I think gives you an even deeper understanding.""I think that healing should be accessible and we all deserve to be able to heal.""Just because everybody's different, everybody needs something different and what works well for one person isn't necessarily going to work the same. It may work well or it may not work well."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Are you experiencing brain fog, weight gain, or sleep issues but your doctor keeps telling you it's "just normal" or offers antidepressants as the solution?In this episode, I sit down with Ketevan Mikautadze, a functional medicine health coach and registered nurse from New York, to discuss the realities of menopause and perimenopause. We explore why women are left in the dark about hormonal transitions, from the lack of medical education about women's health to the historical context of how women's symptoms have been dismissed. Ketevan shares her personal journey through perimenopause and explains how hormonal changes affect everything from brain function to metabolism. We discuss her Vitality program, which focuses on liver detoxification and cellular rejuvenation to help women manage symptoms naturally. The conversation also touches on the importance of women advocating for their health and the need for better education about these life transitions.Tune in to learn why menopause was only recognized as a cardiovascular risk factor in 2020 and how you can take control of your health during this important life transition.TOPICS DISCUSSED:The journey from puberty through premenopause, perimenopause, and menopauseCommon Menopause SymptomsWhy doctors aren't educated about menopause and women's health, leading to symptom-based treatmentHow estrogen and progesterone fluctuations affect metabolism, insulin resistance, and weight managementThe Vitality Program: Ketevan's metabolic balance and liver detoxification programThe historical context of women's rights and the importance of self-advocacy in healthcareRESOURCES MENTIONED:Instagram | @pepelahealthspanFacebook | www.facebook.com/PepelaHealthSpanUSBEST MOMENTS:"women are all about hormones. So as soon as we have puberty and we get first period, we are already embarking on premenopause journey because we have period.""Antidepressant does not fix the root cause. The root cause is much deeper than antidepressant. You know, it's not a solution. Education is the key here.""World health organization in 2020 declared menopause as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. That means that health establishment acknowledges menopause, but it's only acknowledged it in 2020.""it's almost like the whole system is geared toward medication. Not, not prevention, not cure, but medication to treat a symptom which gives you a side effect, which gives you another medication to treat the side effect."“brain needs energy to function, there is low energy going to the brain and brain cannot do its job properly. So low energy on the cellular level affects every single organ in our body"When liver is the major king, liver is the metabolic king. Liver functions properly. Everything else falls, you know, the way it should be follows"CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock