Wellness in a Chaotic World
Wellness in a Chaotic World explores what it means to take ownership of your own health and wellness in a world that doesn't support a healthy lifestyle. If you feel drained by the expectations of modern life or you know what it’s like to be in a downward spiral of negative self-talk when you make a less-than-healthy decision for yourself, you’re in the right place. Join your host, Sheryl Davis, for conversations with real people learning to live well in our unhealthy, stressed-out, and chaotic world.
Ep. 37 - When Fear of Failure Looks Like a Self-Discipline Problem
What if what you call a lack of self-discipline is actually fear of failure?
Sometimes the reason we keep putting off a change isn’t that we don’t care enough or need a better plan. Sometimes trying feels vulnerable because it means facing the possibility that things might not work out the way we hope.
In this episode, I explore how fear of failure can show up as avoidance, why the things that matter most can sometimes feel the hardest to move toward, and how quickly setbacks can become judgments abou...
Ep. 36 - Habit Change, Identity, and the Power of Experimenting
What if changing a habit didn’t have to be a test of whether you’re disciplined enough to stick with it?
Sometimes, without realizing it, we turn a new habit into a test of ourselves: Can I actually do this? Can I make it stick this time? And when things don’t go according to plan, it can feel like we’ve learned something about who we are.
But there’s another way to approach change.
In this episode of Wellness in a Chaotic World, I explore what happens when we treat change mor...
Ep. 35 - Agency and Your Health: What’s Actually Within Your Power?
What does it actually mean to have agency when it comes to your health?
It doesn’t mean you can control everything that happens. And it doesn’t mean ignoring the very real circumstances that can make taking care of yourself harder.
But it does mean learning to recognize where you have influence, where you have choices, and what you want to do with them.
In this episode, I’m exploring the connection between learned helplessness and agency, and how repeated attempts to follow plans that don’t work for us can leave us feelin...
Ep. 34 - Weight Loss Can Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. But Is It the Right Goal?
If you have prediabetes, chances are someone has told you to lose weight. Maybe your doctor said it. Maybe you found it online. But "lose weight" isn't actually something you do. It's not a behavior. It's an outcome.
In this episode, I break down the nuance behind the advice to lose weight. We look at what the Diabetes Prevention Program study really showed, and why the people in that study weren't just told to lose 7% of their body weight and sent on their way. We also dig into the problems with reducing weight to "calories in, calories...
Ep. 33 - Walking to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Does it Make a Difference?
If you’ve been told you have prediabetes, chances are you’ve heard that you should exercise more.
But what does that actually mean? Does movement have to be a full workout to make a difference? And can something as simple as a 10-minute walk after a meal really affect your blood sugar?
In this episode of Wellness in a Chaotic World, we’re looking at what the research says about walking, post-meal blood sugar, and shorter bouts of movement.
We’ll talk about why working muscles can take up more glucose, including the fasc...
Ep. 32 - Information Isn't Enough: It's Time to Close the Gap for People with Prediabetes
It's been a few months since the last episode, and I'm glad to be back.
In this episode, I'm sharing where I've been, what I've been reflecting on, and why I'm shifting my focus right now toward metabolic health and Type 2 diabetes prevention.
Here's the reality: according to the CDC, about 12% of U.S. adults have Type 2 diabetes, and 44% have prediabetes. Most of them don't know it. Type 2 diabetes is closely linked to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, nerve damage, fatty liver disease, eye problems, a weakened immune system, and mental health...
Ep. 31 - Your Health, Your Way: Building a Healthy Lifestyle That Works for You | A Convo with Kate Erwin
In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Erwin, who also happens to be my very first podcast guest from over two years ago. It was really special to reconnect and hear what’s changed since then, because a lot has.
Kate shares her experience of losing more than 60 pounds in the past year, but more importantly, how she’s done it in a way that actually feels sustainable for her. And that’s what this conversation is really about.
We talk about what it looks like to step away from rigid rules and instead create a...
Ep. 30 - Weeding Out Wellness Myths: “Change Is Linear”
In this episode, I’m exploring the myth that change is linear — and why believing it can keep us stuck in shame and self-criticism. I share my own story of emotional eating, what the science says about how change really happens, and how to work with the natural rhythms of growth instead of fighting them.
You’ll learn practical ways to navigate the ups and downs of change — like reframing setbacks, tracking patterns instead of perfection, planning for disruptions, and celebrating every return to your healthy habits.
Want to connect with Wellness in a Chaotic...
Ep. 29 - Weeding Out Wellness Myths: “If I Want It, I Should Just Do It”
Have you ever told yourself, “If I really wanted to change, I should just be able to do it” only to end up feeling stuck, frustrated, or even ashamed when you don't follow through? You’re not alone.
In this episode, I’m busting the myth that willpower and commitment are all it takes to make lasting change. I share why unconscious ambivalence is a completely normal part of the process, how our environment shapes our habits more than we realize, and why shame cycles can hold us back instead of helping us move forward.
I’ll als...
Ep. 28 - Rethinking Our Beliefs About Money with Women, Worth & Wellness Founder Nancy Griffin
What does money have to do with health and wellness? More than we often realize.
In this episode of Wellness in a Chaotic World, I sit down with Nancy Griffin, founder of Women, Worth & Wellness, who works with women to explore the connection between money, self-worth, and well-being. Together, we dig into the hidden beliefs we carry about wealth and how those beliefs quietly shape the choices we make.
Over the past few years, I’ve had my own realizations about money—like how I often unconsciously capped what I felt “allowed” to earn. Looking back, it...
Ep. 27 - When Progress Feels Slow: Choosing Patience & Prioritizing Well-Being
In this episode, I’m talking about something that often comes up in personal growth and the pursuit of well-being: that quiet, frustrating space where change feels slow and progress isn’t easy to measure. Maybe you’re showing up for yourself, making intentional choices, and still wondering, why don’t I feel further along by now?
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re not off track.
Today, I’m exploring what it means to trust the process, give ourselves credit for the small shifts, and care for ourselves deeply during the in-between s...
Ep. 26 - Guided Visualization: Walking the Path to Your Future Self
In today's episode, we're diving deep into a powerful tool used in health coaching, one that's been making a big impact in my life: visualization. It's incredible how our minds can shape our reality. Tapping into a clear vision of our desired future is an essential step towards achieving our health, wellness, and any other goals we set for ourselves.
I share why this practice is so incredibly effective, drawing on insights from neuroscience and even how elite athletes use it to enhance their performance.
Plus, I guide you through a "Wise Inner Guide" visualization...
Ep. 25 - Embracing Transformation: Podcast Update & Free Health Coaching Opportunity
In today’s episode, I’m sharing an important update about where I’ve been and what’s next for the podcast. After some time away, reflecting on my purpose and the direction of the podcast, I’ve decided to make a change.
This winter brought a lot of personal and professional shifts that made me question what I truly wanted to offer through this platform. Through deep reflection, I realized that I’ve been longing to serve others in a more direct and impactful way. So, I’ve enrolled in a health and wellness coaching program with the goal...
Navigating Burnout and Menopause with Dr. Shana Johnston
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Shana Johnston, a family physician with over 25 years of experience in diverse medical settings. Dr. Johnston brings a wealth of knowledge and an inspiring personal journey that weaves through the complexities of Western medicine, holistic health, and personal resilience.
Dr. Johnston opens up about her unique understanding of disease—or as she prefers, "dis-ease"—which she believes stems from trapped energy due to emotional repression. She shares her practices for emotional release and the critical importance of noticing symptoms of burnout, particularly in our hustle culture. Her candid recounting of leav...
Embracing Cyclical Living with Rebecca Rankin
For this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rebecca Rankin, a women's holistic hormone health coach and founder of Women's Moon Wisdom.
Rebecca shares her wellness journey, beginning with her transition from a high-stress career as an architect to becoming a yoga teacher nearly 20 years ago. We discuss the pivotal moments that led her to embrace cyclical living and how this holistic approach has transformed her own life and the lives of the women she coaches.
Rebecca explains the concept of cyclical living—aligning your daily activities, diet, exercise, and mindset with natural cycles, whe...
Heart Healthy Living: Insights from Hannah Mitchell
In this episode, I talk with Hannah Mitchell, a cardiology nurse practitioner and heart health coach. We dive deep into heart health, which is so timely and crucial given that heart disease remains a leading cause of death.
Hannah shares insights into her coaching philosophy, emphasizing simplicity, consistency, and moderation. She explains the importance of distinguishing between modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, with a strong focus on lifestyle changes for preventing heart disease.
We also discuss the six key pillars of health from Hannah’s perspective: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social interactions, and min...
Is It SIBO? Jen Yundt Coles Explains The Often Overlooked Gut Condition
In this episode, I sit down with Jen Yundt Coles, The SIBO Coach, an AFMC Certified Functional Medicine and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and the creator of the Hydrogen Sulfide Solutions program. Jen shares her journey through childhood health issues and adult gut struggles, culminating in a transformative moment that led her to functional medicine.
Our conversation dives deep into SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), exploring its many symptoms—both digestive, like bloating and gas, and non-digestive, such as anxiety and brain fog. Jen offers invaluable advice on diagnosing and treating SIBO, emphasizing a holistic approach that in...
Health & Wellness at Work with Marina Krivonossova
In today's episode, I chat with Marina Krivonossova, founder of Retold, a successful B2B content marketing agency. We discuss her unconventional, non-linear path to career success, the power of family support, and how Marina built a business that aligns with her desired lifestyle. Marina shares valuable tips on assessing company culture and managing difficult work situations. Plus, we dive into the importance of clear communication in maintaining wellness at work.
I also share a personal update about my transition from freelancing to a full-time hybrid work model, its challenges, and how I'm settling in and returning...
Spirituality, Authentic Connection & Wellness with Jody Brown
My guest today is Jody Brown from Seneca Falls, NY.
Jody Brown is the founder of Wholly Education, a business dedicated to empowering individuals to reach their full potential by nourishing the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of changing the world, one person at a time. Jody is passionate about guiding people through life transitions as a Reiki Master, a Meditation Instructor, a Certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and a non-denominational Wedding Officiant specializing in non-traditional and custom ceremonies in the Finger Lakes area. In addition, Jody leads Women’s Health and...
Functional Medicine for Nurses with Kimberly Rose Bley
Kimberly Rose Bley (AKA Remedy Rose) has been a bedside nurse for 15 years. Rose witnessed how others were treated in the hospital during the COVID pandemic and was deeply moved to do her part to create a new paradigm. She says most of her nursing colleagues were forced to practice under extreme conditions and, as a consequence, lost empathy.
In 2021, Rose went back to school to become a certified Functional and Nutritional Medicine Practitioner. After graduating and starting her own practice, at the age of 37, she discovered she was finally pregnant after several years of trying. She c...
Inner Work: Coping with Anxiety & Chronic Pain with Cara Newman
Welcome back, everyone! I'm very excited to kick off Season 2 of Wellness in a Chaotic World. I have some incredible episodes lined up that are filled with inspiring stories and valuable insights from people who are learning to live well despite all of the pressure and unhealthy fallout we experience from living in a modern world that’s often mismatched with our needs.
I know that podcasts are somewhat notorious for fading away or losing listeners when the host takes a break between seasons, so I want to thank you for joining me on th...
Seasons Come and Seasons Go
Season 1 of Wellness in a Chaotic World has come to a close. I am super proud of the content this season has to offer and the impact it's had on the lives of others.
I will be taking a break for a while, but I hope you enjoy this compilation of the best clips from these truly inspiring guests.
A big thank you to:
Kate Erwin
Michelle Adams
Kathryn Garland
LaVonna Willingham
Shannon Danielle
Robin Jonas
Julia Christine
Tiffany Egbert
Lo Bundy
Kellie...
Balance is Bullsh*t & Why Boundaries are Hard with Kara Knott & Laura Kendrick
My guests today are Kara Knott and Laura Kendrick, founders of Intuitive Warrior Yoga and Ruby Bells.
For the past three years, they've supported birthing parents during their fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum journeys, helping them prioritize their health and well-being through yoga, community, and birth education. Now, they're embracing a deeper mission.
As they've navigated the challenges of balancing family, health, and business, they've evolved. In that evolution, they say they've often come up against roadblocks with finding balance and that the health and wellness world preaches practices that they simply don’t have time fo...
Discovering Your Working Genius with Kelly Tibbitts
Returning for another fantastic conversation centered on self-awareness, Kelly Tibbitts, life coach and host of "The Vibrant Life Podcast," brings us another tool she uses to help women learn how to live a purpose-driven, vibrant life.
The Working Genius model, which was developed by Pat Lencioni and his team at the Table Group, identifies the six fundamental activities that are required for any type of work and provides a simple framework for how work gets done. Most importantly, it helps people uncover their natural gifts so they can thrive at work and in life.
To...
Leveraging DNA to Optimize Your Personal Health with Kellie Lupsha
Today, Kellie Lupsha and I talk about the power of leveraging DNA information to optimize your health and well-being. Plus, we discuss the first thing to do when you're feeling depleted and exhausted.
About Kellie Lupsha
With 30 years of expertise in healthcare and wellness, Kellie empowers women and teams to become the CEO of their health and life.
After many years as a successful physical therapist, Kellie became a longevity expert and high-performance health coach. Through her health coaching, women’s health masterminds, DNA programs, and entrepreneurship, she offers a unique ble...
Self-Awareness and the Enneagram with Kelly Tibbitts
Kelly Tibbitts is a life coach and the host of "The Vibrant Life Podcast." Kelly offers coaching that encourages and equips women to live brave, creative, and purpose-filled lives. I asked Kelly to be a guest today to talk about the Enneagram, which is one of the tools she uses to help women become self-aware.
When I discovered the Enneagram, which is a self-discovery tool that helps you understand the motivations and fears behind your personality and behaviors, it broke open a new level of understanding for me that other personality tests and quizzes didn’t.
...
Committing to Your Wellness & Embracing Breathwork with Lo Bundy
My guest today is Lo Bundy from Nova Scotia, Canada. She says having to slow down during the pandemic and heal from two concussions forced her to face the fear that arose for her while sitting in stillness.
During her recovery, she had a mentor who introduced her to breathwork -- and it changed everything for her -- allowing her to drop into her body, reduce her post-partum anxiety to the point where she no longer needed medication, and rebalance her life and business so that she was embracing both her masculine and feminine qualities.
<...
Life After Breath: You are Worthy of Complete Wellness with Julia Christine
Julia Christine is the host of the Life After Breath podcast where she uses a morning breath practice as the entryway to discovering an awareness of ourselves so that we can move into complete wellness.
She is an awareness and mindset coach who has helped hundreds of people change their habits and find success losing weight and discovering a sense of self. Julia is passionate about breaking down the societal and generational structures and narratives that keep us stuck and takes an approach of curiosity and exploration... without judgment.
If you’re interested in learning more or...
How Mindfulness Levels Up Creativity & Life with Tiffany Egbert
Tiffany Egbert is a commercial + fine artist specializing in digital illustration and abstract fluid painting. After many years practicing yoga + meditation, in January of 2024 Tiffany launched a podcast called Stepping into Your Magic all about creativity and mindfulness, aiming to inspire and educate fellow artists on how to use mindfulness practices to up-level their creative practice and life.
Tiffany’s story, as you’ll hear, is also about her journey of healing from trauma. You’ll hear about the methods she has used and continues to use to heal and process and release stuck emotions, including conscious connec...
1% Shifts and Finding Balance with Robin Jonas
My guest today is Robin Jonas. She’s a former educator turned stay-at-home mom who went back to school when her girls got older to combine her background in education with her passion for health and wellness. She’s now an integrative health coach who helps people make small shifts that lead to sustainable habits.
Robin encourages her clients to focus on self-care, sleep, mindset, whole foods, plates filled with color, healthy swaps, and movement that brings joy.
She is also a fellow podcaster. As the host of the Live Life Balanced with Robin podcast, she gu...
The Power of Mindset & Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Shannon Danielle
Shannon Danielle, a friend I recently met through podcasting, is someone who has made great strides to improve her health and well-being by regularly pushing herself to face her fears and get out of her comfort zone. Listen in as we talk about the transformative power of regularly getting uncomfortable for personal growth and happiness.
In our conversation, we chat about the stories we tell ourselves that aren't always true, the mind-body connection, intuition, mindset, self-care, and the positive impact we can have on people without even knowing it.
To learn more about Shannon's health c...
Loving-Kindness (Metta) Meditation for Beginners
Because we’re in the midst of the winter holiday season, I thought I would pause our regular conversations and take a few minutes to cover a topic that befits a season associated with love, kindness, and giving. Today, I’m talking about metta meditation, or what’s commonly called loving-kindness meditation.
In this episode, I provide a brief overview of what loving-kindness meditation is and how it can benefit you and those around you. Plus, I offer a short metta meditation that you can also download from the website.
I wish you all a happy...
From Unwell to Unstoppable: A Journey to Better Health with Functional Medicine
For today’s episode, I had a chat with LaVonna Willingham from Paducah, KY.
In the fall of 2022, LaVonna started feeling unwell. She knew her health was declining, but the standard bloodwork and her doctors said everything was fine. Knowing that everything was NOT fine, she decided she needed to get to the root of why she wasn’t feeling well.
To do that, LaVonna found a doctor who practices functional medicine. Functional medicine recognizes that the different systems in the body (circulatory, respiratory, digestive, etc.) are all one connected system. It's an approach to medi...
Building a Healthy Home Life with Kathryn Garland
For today’s episode, I chatted with Kathryn Garland, host of a new podcast called Homespun: Create the Life You Crave. Homespun explores how to build a healthy home life and how that benefits us in all aspects of our lives.
Kathryn says she is a wife and mom first, always. She is a home educator who views the connections within the home to be the most important foundations for safety and health in life in general.
She says she has always been curious about healthy living, and that has led her down many roads - so...
Discovering the Truth About Our Food with Michelle Adams
Today, I talk with Michelle Adams, creator of foodstoic.com and host of Harvesting the Truth: The Story of Our Food. Michelle is a passionate advocate for intentional eating. In our conversation, she talks about her and her family’s food and health journeys as well as what she’s learned from her experiences as a medical litigator and bakery owner.
We discuss some of the problems in our healthcare and food systems, the lack of real regulation of harmful additives and pesticides in our foods, how to start making changes at any age, and much more.
Y...
Body Neutrality, Self-Acceptance, and Coping with Anxiety with Kate Erwin
Kate Erwin is a content marketer and social media manager who went from burnt out to laid off to living a flexible freelance life. She's focused on improving her mental health and work/life balance. In today's episode, Kate and I discuss balancing body neutrality with living a healthy lifestyle, boundary setting, coping skills for stress and anxiety, and much more.
You can find more from Kate on fatphobia, mental health, and boundary setting on TikTok, where she goes by the handle @saasykate, and you can find more about her work as a content marketer and social...
Self-Health: From Pain and Exhaustion to Living Well in My Body
This mini-episode is the short story of my most recent health journey, including how I resolved my troubles with digestive distress and joint pain, how I lost some of the excess weight that was making it hard to keep up with my child, and what I've started to learn about health and wellness in our modern environment. You'll also learn why the focus of this podcast is on exploring individual stories about well-being in a world that feels chaotic.
Books I talk about in this episode:
The Healthy Deviant by Pilar Gerasimo
Eat...
Welcome to the Wellness in a Chaotic World Podcast
Hello! Welcome to the Wellness in a Chaotic World podcast. I’m your host Sheryl Davis. I am a writer, a mother, a wife, a sister, and a friend. I’m the introverted neighbor next door. I am NOT a doctor or a health expert.
But, for many years, I’ve struggled with inflammation, joint pain, digestive problems, and other health issues that visits to the doctor couldn’t seem to fix. Through a journey of self-exploration and self-advocacy, I’ve started to learn what works for me and my body and what doesn’t.
Wellness in a...
