Travel & Transformation

What happens when life forces you to stop rushing through nature and actually start experiencing it? Sometimes our biggest challenges become our greatest teachers.Jessica Meinhofer was living the RV dream with her family, traveling to 21 states and checking hiking trails off her list like items on a to-do list. Then came 2020 and a cancer diagnosis that changed everything. During five grueling months of chemotherapy, Jessica found herself confined to her parents' five-acre property in Florida, unable to do the activities she once took for granted. But this forced stillness became an unexpected gift. Instead of hiking miles, she sat on the back porch watching turkeys pass by with their babies and fountains dancing in the pool. She learned to see grass growing as a miracle rather than background noise. Jessica discusses how her faith anchored her through treatment, the challenges of sudden menopause from chemo, and how anxiety threatened to steal her joy when she returned to outdoor activities. Five years cancer-free, she now runs Walk and Paddle, sharing accessible outdoor adventures and working with tourism boards to help others discover healing in nature.Tune in to hear how slowing down can actually speed up your connection to what matters most. Jessica's story will change how you think about both nature and the unexpected gifts that come wrapped in our hardest seasons.Jessica Meinhofer freebie on walkandpaddle.com/freeTOPICS DISCUSSED:Jessica's RV Life and Cancer JourneyUsing scripture for grounding during treatmentDiscovering God's presence in nature during healingFinding healing in simple moments like watching grass grow and turkeys pass byPost-Cancer Life ChallengeBuilding her outdoor recreation blogRESOURCES MENTIONED: Website | walkandpaddle.comYouTube | www.youtube.com/@WalkAndPaddleInstagram | @walkandpaddleBEST MOMENTS:"You know, remembering that I'm alive right now, seeing how all the life around me, seeing, like, you know, new grass growing, which sounds really like, who cares? But when you're in that moment or when you actually take the time to appreciate it and see it, you know, and. And Just see the life and remembering, like, okay, God made all this stuff, man." "Trying to figure out what that actually meant. I mean, I'm gonna say I'm still working through that, you know, because sometimes I'm like, you know, there was a lot of guilt when I would just sort of, like, sit on the couch and watch TV all day. Like, oh, my gosh. I'm literally wasting my life away on this couch."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

What does it take to pack up your life at 21 and move to a country your parents can't even pronounce correctly?Rachael Bassey, a 30-year-old entrepreneur who has visited over 30 countries and built her own research company while living in Slovenia for nine years. Rachael shares her journey from working for AIESEC to starting her own business after a toxic employer tried to control her visa status. She discusses the challenges of being a solo female traveler, the realities of running a business as a foreigner, and what it's like being a Black woman in Slovenia. From hiking the Italian Alps to navigating European bureaucracy, Rachael's story covers the practical and emotional sides of choosing independence over comfort.Tune in to hear how one woman turned uncertainty into opportunity and created the life she wanted on her own terms.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Moving to Slovenia at 21, traveling to 30+ countries, being a Black woman in EuropeRachael’s experience in starting a research companyLeaving toxic employment, making decisions without parental approval, taking calculated risksDifferences between Nigeria and Slovenia, dating as a Black woman abroad, community vs individualismHiking challenges, solo adventures, finding intrinsic motivationRESOURCES MENTIONED: LinkedIn | Rachael BasseyFacebook | www.facebook.com/bassey.rachaelAIESEC in Slovenia Website | https://aiesec.org/BEST MOMENTS:"I think when you're 21 and you don't have anything to lose, you just go for it. And I think it's really my advice to young people, do all the daring things that you can.""When you're going to start something, find your why. Find your big why. Because when hits the fan that big, why is the thing that's gonna help you to continue to move forward.""I became responsible for my own permits, my permanent residence, everything else. Like, I just told myself, if there's one thing I know is I would never wake up one day and say, I'm going to school, screw myself over, and really, it's the best thing ever.""you don't want somebody else's energy interfering with that. When I fear energy, because when that fear energy starts to come in, regardless who it's coming from, especially if it's a mom that is, like, fierce."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Are you trying to fix your perimenopause symptoms with supplements and quick fixes, only to find yourself still struggling? What if the real solution lies deeper than you think?In this episode, I sit down with Holly Blazina, a former flamenco guitarist turned gut health coach who discovered something remarkable while helping her clients. Holly shares her journey from suffering repetitive strain injuries as a musician to developing the Gutsy Type Method that combines Ayurveda, nervous system work, and embodied vision coaching. We dive deep into why most women approach perimenopause all wrong, the three doshas and how they relate to your unique body type, and why your gut health is the foundation of hormonal balance. Holly reveals the hidden emotional patterns that keep us stuck, shares her personal story about unconscious resistance to healing, and explains why you must start with your nervous system before addressing diet. We also explore the connection between emotional digestion and physical digestion, practical steps for getting started, and why feeling into your body can be scary but necessary.Ready to discover a completely different approach to perimenopause that goes beyond band-aid solutions? This conversation will shift how you think about your symptoms and give you hope for real healing.TOPICS DISCUSSED:The Gutsy Type Method and Ayurvedic Doshas Why addressing stress and nervous system regulation must come before dietary changes for lasting resultsHidden Emotional Patterns How digestive health impacts hormonal balance, detox pathways, and perimenopause symptomsThe body and the parallel between physical and emotional digestionRESOURCES MENTIONED: Website | www.biggutsylife.comLinkedIn | Holly BlazinaInstagram | @hollyblazinaYouTube | www.youtube.com/user/hblazinaFacebook | www.facebook.com/HollyBlazinaBigGutsyLifeX | @blazinahollyBEST MOMENTS:"You cannot supplement or medicate your way to good health. You just can't do it.""Every single one of those fears that we have, every single one of those parts of ourselves that we reject, there's gifts in there. And the reason why we're holding them in place and the reason why we bury them so deeply is because of their value."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

What if everything you've been taught about fitness and food has been keeping you stuck instead of helping you thrive?In this episode, Courtney McCarthy, an anti-diet fitness instructor and confidence coach who discovered that the traditional approach to health and wellness was making her miserable despite achieving her "ideal" body. Courtney shares her transformation from someone who used exercise as punishment to finding joy in movement through Zumba. They explore the principles of intuitive eating, the harmful effects of food rules learned in childhood, and why the "finish your plate" mentality might be sabotaging your relationship with food. The conversation covers how stress and shame impact digestion, why all movement counts as exercise, and how to rediscover play in fitness. They also discuss the importance of listening to your body's signals and adapting your approach as you age and your hormones change.Tune in to learn how to break free from diet culture and build a sustainable, joyful relationship with food and movement that actually works long-term.TOPICS DISCUSSED:The Anti-Diet Fitness ApproachIntuitive Eating PrinciplesHow messages like "finish your plate" and "healthy food is gross" affect adult eating behaviorsHow shame and stress impact nutrient absorption and food digestionMoving beyond calories burned and weight loss to focus on how movement makes you feelRESOURCES MENTIONED: Website | www.loyobofit.comInstagram | @loyobofitFacebook | www.facebook.com/LoyoboFITYouTube | www.youtube.com/channel/UCj54QxvKpreoPo7tN6Pd3rA?view_as=publicBEST MOMENTS:"And an intuitive eating approach is all about letting go of food rules and focusing more on eating in line with how your body feels.""You know, if food were a person. You know, then you just. If you choose to, you start to see the good in all of it. And then you get to choose what's right for you." "Diet culture and the fitness industry teaches us that there are a lot of rules that we're supposed to follow, especially as adults, that there's only certain kinds of exercise that are acceptable.""When you feel empowered to write your own rules, then it becomes so much easier to move consistently because it's something that you want to do and that you get to do rather than something that you have to do or something that you know you're dreading doing."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

Have you ever had a moment where you realized you could choose a completely different response to a challenging situation? Today's guest discovered this life-changing truth while sobbing on a curb in the middle of a French traffic circle.Lena Ehrenberg came on the show to talk about her dating expertise, but we went in a completely different direction. She shared the story of her transformative solo trip to France for her big birthday, where she got lost trying to find a hiking trail and ended up having a profound spiritual awakening. From that moment of choosing resilience over defeat, Lena's journey led her through broken boards, fire-eating workshops, and eventually to becoming a relationship coach who helps women figure out who to date. We talked about the magic of solo travel, how getting lost allows us to be found, the importance of vacation mindset in daily life, and why starting with yourself is the key to finding love.If you're someone who loves solo travel stories or you're looking for a different perspective on dating and relationships, this episode will give you some beautiful insights about transformation and choice.TOPICS DISCUSSED:How traveling alone opens you up to unexpected connections and personal growthThe pivotal moment of realizing you can choose your response to any situationHow moments of confusion and vulnerability create opportunities for human connectionApplying the curiosity and presence of travel to everyday situations like grocery shoppingWhy working on your relationship with yourself is essential before seeking romantic partnershipsRESOURCES MENTIONED: Website | www.lenaehrenberg.comInstagram | @havemoreloveFacebook | www.facebook.com/HaveMoreLoveBEST MOMENTS:"You can sit here and cry and decide that you're a failure and decide that you're an idiot and all these other things that you're telling yourself right now. And you can say that this is a huge disaster and debacle, and why did I ever think that I could do this? And on and on and on. And then if you find your way back to your hotel, you can get your bag, go back home and tell that story for the rest of your life, or you can figure it out.""I literally had never considered that I could think a different thought and feel a different feeling, and out of that choice, create a different outcome for myself.""When we're lost and we're open to it and aware, we allow ourselves to be found. And that's. That's what we're there for. The connections.""The only relationship we're guaranteed to be in till death do we part is the one we have with ourselves."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

What happens when a self-described princess who's afraid of dogs, cows, and getting dirty decides to walk 800 kilometers across Spain with everything she owns on her back?Meet Colleen Sands, author of the blog "Then We Walked," who transformed from a cancer survivor seeking proof of life into a seasoned pilgrim who has completed 22 Caminos. Her journey began with a childhood dream sparked by a 1960s TV show and evolved into a life-changing adventure that opened her eyes to minimalist travel and global citizenship. We explore the history and significance of the Camino de Santiago, the profound personal transformations that happen when you walk alone with your thoughts, and how travel can shift your perspective on everything from material possessions to global responsibility. Colleen shares practical wisdom about ultra-light packing for months-long journeys, leading walking groups without actually walking together, and why she believes everyone is capable of completing a Camino with the right preparation.Join us for this conversation about finding courage, embracing discomfort, and discovering that the person who starts the journey is never the same one who finishes it.TOPICS DISCUSSED:What led Colleen to her first Camino after a cancer diagnosisWhy walking solo became a turning pointHow the Camino connects past and present, history and healingThe shift in mindset from tourist to travellerLetting go of things both physical and emotionalWhat walking around the world taught her about humanityRESOURCES MENTIONED: Then We Walked Website | https://thenwewalked.comFacebook | www.facebook.com/groups/walkingthecaminodesantiagoInstagram | @thenwewalkYouTube | www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhj3ETCFLZaqyVC4o8pqBABEST MOMENTS:"I love the way you put, everybody has their own walk. Because I'm sure everybody had a reason, not just, oh, here's the insta reason for going on a walk.""The person that started was not the same person that finished that hike.""The more you travel, the more you realize that we are more the same than we are different. But we can always learn to appreciate our differences.""You'd be amazed how much you really don't need.""If you can become a citizen of the world, then you start thinking about everybody's family.""There's always deep down a reason why somebody's there. And you don't share that if you don't wish to. But I've come to the conclusion that there's always something."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

What if two weeks could change your entire relationship with health and medication? That's exactly what happened to our guest today.Colleen Kurtz, a functional nutritional therapist and licensed clinical social worker, shares her personal journey from taking 15 different medications to finding freedom through nutrition. Starting with mysterious health issues at age 14, including endometriosis, chronic fatigue, and debilitating pain, Colleen spent over a decade seeking answers from specialists who only offered more prescriptions. Her transformation began when she reluctantly gave nutrition two weeks to prove itself. The results were so dramatic that her husband noticed she didn't fall asleep after work for the first time in years. We dive deep into why women are often dismissed in healthcare, the lack of nutrition education in medical school, and how medical research has historically focused on men. Colleen breaks down practical meal planning strategies, explains why most women aren't eating enough protein or calories, and reveals the powerful connection between mindset and nutrition.Tune in to discover how small changes can create big shifts in your health and why trusting your body's wisdom might be the key to feeling your best at any age.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Colleen's transformation from 15 medications to nutrition-based healingWhy doctors aren't taught nutrition and women are often dismissedSimple strategies for busy people and protein-first planningWhy most women under-eat and how this affects hormonesHow mental health and nutrition work togetherRESOURCES MENTIONED: Colleen's Instagram | @colleen_mindfully_nourishedColleen's Podcast | The Calm CollectiveAnyList App (for grocery planning)BEST MOMENTS:"So many women don't even know that the majority of medical research is done on men. Yes, men. And then we're applying that to women, and we're very different.""And we know our bodies best. I think that is one of the things that, as women, we need to recognize that we do know our bodies. To listen to our bodies, and we need to advocate for our bodies."“I tell people this all the time. You know, you know your body best, and if what you're being told you feel in your gut is different, trust that. We often divert our feelings or our gut instinct because a professional has told us you're fine or it's normal, and then we just accept it. And you don't have to, you know, if you're not feeling your best, don't accept it. Look for a different answer. Because we should feel our best. “CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

What if the most powerful season of your life is the one you’re in right now?In this episode, we explore what happens when ambition, burnout, hormones, and personal power meet. Emma Mason joins me to share her story of leaving a high-level government role, not because she lacked success but because something deeper was calling.Emma talks about the moment she realized she was burning out, and how a cycling trip in France unexpectedly became her turning point. We dive into how perimenopause played a hidden role in her breakdown, the masculine model of leadership that many women follow, and how reclaiming feminine wisdom is the path forward. Emma also explains how our menstrual and life cycles mirror seasons and how recognizing those patterns can unlock our unique style of leadership. We talk about presence, intuition, and how to create real impact by doing less, not more.If you’re at a crossroad in your career or life, this episode offers a new way of thinking. Tune in to hear how Emma guides women to reconnect with their power and lead with intention.Free resource: 5 Questions to Ask at a Career CrossroadTOPICS DISCUSSED:Burnout and career crossroadsThe impact of perimenopause on leadershipMasculine vs. feminine models of powerThe four seasons of a woman’s life and menstrual cycleReclaiming presence and intuition as leadership toolsLetting go of hustle and leading from softnessThe hidden power of post-menopausal womenRESOURCES MENTIONED: Website | www.emmamason.com.auLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mason-1a32a71b/ BEST MOMENTS:"I didn't understand anything about the fact that, you know, as women, we contort ourselves into this very masculine model of leadership. And so as we rise through the ranks, we really lose a part of ourselves as we do that.""A very masculine construct of power is about power over having power over others. Whereas for women, feminine construct is very much power with or even, you know, more so presence with.""One of the things about women's power is that it comes so easily to us, and we talk about it so flippantly that we don't recognize it for what it is.""As women, we don't have to dominate. We can be quiet, we can be expressive, and we can just command a room with our presence.""When you hit a certain age, you do not become invisible actually in listening to what you're saying. This is the time when you can become more visible and shine and lead."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock

What if the key to healing chronic disease isn't found in a prescription bottle, but in ancient wisdom from cultures around the world?Meet Tiara Willis, a clinical herbalist who has lived in over 10 countries and traveled to more than 70, all starting from her teenage years in North Philadelphia. Her journey began at 17 through a transformative program called Summer Search, which sent her to Ghana and opened her eyes to a world beyond her neighborhood. What started as escaping her environment became a two-decade quest for healing knowledge. She shares her personal approach to each condition, emphasizing the importance of getting to the root cause rather than just treating symptoms. She covers everything from the connection between trauma and gene expression to practical travel tips for maintaining health on the road. Tiara also dives deep into women's health, explaining how hormone imbalances in your 20s and 30s can impact everything from fertility to Alzheimer's risk later in life.Tune in to discover how this world traveler is helping people heal naturally and why she believes our bodies are constantly talking to us if we know how to listen.TOPICS DISCUSSED:The connection between chronic illness, trauma, and lifestyleHerbal and dietary approaches to cancer, diabetes, HSV, and autoimmune diseasesUnderstanding gene expression and root causes of diseaseAlkaline eating and nutrition misconceptionsWomen’s hormone health and perimenopauseTips for managing dietary needs on the goRESOURCES MENTIONED: Website | www.healwithtiara.comLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/healwithtiaraInstagram | @healwithtiaraYouTube | www.youtube.com/channel/UC5lA2B4hcMKOXHbBpz65yAgSummer Search Program | https://summersearch.orgBook recommendation | The Glucose Goddess MethodBEST MOMENTS:"Tell me your diet and I'll tell your disease. Or I also say, tell me your disease and I'll tell your diet because it's a ripple effect.""Make sure that you stay on your journey, regardless of what medical professionals have to say, regardless of even what I have to say. If you believe in a higher power, if you believe in God has the final say."CONTACT THE HOSTWebsite |  www.thereikihealingcoach.com Instagram | @sophia_i_got_igInstagram | @createlifeyourwayFacebook | www.facebook.com/sophia.e.754LinkedIn | Sophia Elcock