Words of Wellness with Shelly

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A sudden goodbye can reset a life. Shelly opens up about the heartbreak of unexpectedly recently losing her beloved bonus dad and the hard truth that when health starts to change, even if there are mild challenges, our effort to see loved ones and spend time with them needs to be the priority. This is a conversation about presence over perfection—about carving out time for aging parents and elders, and finding gratitude that steadies you when the unexpected arrives.

Shelly shares practical ways to reduce regret before it starts—taking time...

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In this brief special episode, Shelly sits down for a cozy Thanksgiving chat with her husband Brad, and their scene‑stealing pup, Charlie, to reflect on the kind of traditions that they share as a family with their three children; cooking together, laughing often, and always choosing to love one another in addition to liking each other. Together, they share openly and honestly what they are grateful for and it always comes back to family time. The message always comes back to gratitude and how simple moments and spending time together helps a fa...

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The holidays can feel like a tug-of-war between joy and overload. We lean into a quieter, steadier approach by focusing on three small practices that change everything: choosing who gets our time, building a simple gratitude routine, and using an easy 4-4-4 breathing pattern to reset the nervous system. Instead of chasing big life changes, we show how tiny, repeatable actions can lower stress, improve mood, and make healthier decisions easier when schedules get tight and rooms get crowded.

We start by reframing time as a wellness choice. Intention means...

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The modern health crisis isn’t just about willpower or steps; it’s about an invisible web of toxicity, nutrient gaps, and stress that rewires how our bodies store fat and spend energy. We sit down with author and researcher Peter Greenlaw to map TDOS—Toxicity, Deficiency, Overweight, Stress—and show how these forces collide inside the liver and visceral fat, shaping metabolism, inflammation, and long-term risk.

Peter walks us through eye-opening research: microplastics in daily drinks, obesogens that mimic hormones, and the steep decline of nutrient density in common foods. Then we...

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Feeling stretched by parties, travel, and longer to-do lists? We dive into a simple plan to protect your energy and joy through the holidays by focusing on three anchors you can actually keep: steady sleep, balanced nutrition, and realistic movement. With warmth and practical detail, we map out how to turn noisy advice into a few daily promises that hold up when life gets busy.

We start with the sleep foundation—why seven to nine hours matters more right now, during these holiday months, not just for your body's repair but al...

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The highlight reel doesn’t show the cost. Eric Mark Fisher went from an eight-year run in professional baseball to producing films in Los Angeles, stacking wins that looked impressive from the outside. Underneath, surgeries, lawsuits, back pain, and volatile family dynamics collided with a relentless drive that had no brakes. Alcohol didn’t arrive as a stereotype; it crept in as “one more” and became a progressive escape until a terrifying psychotic break, a hospital wristband, and a vow in a quiet hotel room forced a different path.

We dig into wha...

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Ever notice how a once-trusted “natural” brand suddenly feels different? We open the hood on wellness marketing and show how to shop with clarity in a market full of green leaves, soft colors, and big promises. Shelly shares why brand buyouts can change what’s in your favorite juice or protein powder, how to spot red flags like sucralose and vague flavor blends, and a simple system you can use to verify claims without spending hours in the aisle.

We start with a quick reset on what really matters: ingredients over imager...

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What if training wasn’t about chasing a look, but about building a life you can’t wait to live? That’s the heartbeat of this conversation with Heather Flebbe—exercise physiologist, kinesiology professor, and owner of Fit Fix Studios—where we unpack how movement fuels confidence, clarity, and a longer, happier health span.

We start by reframing fitness as agency: the daily choice to move your body so you can say yes to opportunities. Heather breaks down the essentials of aging well—consistent movement, joint mobility that protects your freedom, and progress...

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Tired of wellness noise and quick fixes that don’t stick? Shelly brings the conversation back to a simple practice with outsized impact: gratitude. Not as a seasonal trend, but as a daily habit that steadies your mood, supports better sleep, and helps you carry hard days with more grace. We walk through practical ways to start—three to ten items in the morning, a brief reflection before bed, or a quick thank you during a run or walk—so the habit fits your life instead of becoming another chore.

Shelly draws...

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Ever feel buried under wellness advice that changes by the hour? We cut through the noise with a clear idea: consistency over time wins. I sit down with coach Brian Parana, joining us live from a sunlit Ohio park, to talk about building a family culture of movement, raising active kids, and keeping health simple enough to do on your busiest day. From after-dinner walks with a 130-pound Newfoundland to playground tag that turns into core memories, Brian shares how small rituals shape identity, confidence, and joy.

With practical advice, we...

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What if the biggest health gains don’t come from a new app or miracle plan, but from seeing our food system clearly and taking one small step at a time? Shelly shares why a proactive mindset beats quick fixes and how decades of teaching kinesiology led her to connect the dots between ultra-processed foods, pesticides, and the rise of chronic conditions showing up earlier in life.

She unpacks insights from documentaries like Fed Up and Breaking Big Food and explore how sugar, additives, and market incentives shape what lands in ou...

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What if the word “fragrance” on your favorite bottle hid a thousand invisible decisions about your health? We sit down with Savannah, the founder of Safe and Sound Soap, to unpack how deceptive marketing and ingredient overload led her to build a transparent, six-ingredient laundry detergent—and an expanding lineup of boosters, room sprays, magnesium oil, and car fresheners that skip parabens, phthalates, and mystery fillers.

The episode dives into the difference between “natural” and truly safer, how greenwashing confuses even careful shoppers, and why simple, shorter ingredient labels are most often best...

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What you do before the world wakes up can change how the whole day feels. We share a simple, flexible morning routine that includes a little sunlight, gratitude, journaling, and movement. Shelly shares how a few intentional choices—hydration and a light protein start, five minutes of fresh air, a short spiritual or reflective reading, and a quick strength or cardio block—can be  the best start to your day!

We talk about how language and the words you say to yourself affect your beliefs. Also, the benefit of stepping outside first...

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The most life-changing health advice often starts with more time, not more rules. We sit down with nurse practitioner Aly Johnston as she shares how her desire to spend more time with patients and more education in the area of weight management and hormone care led her to offering tele health care and a more personalized approach to her patients. Aly traces her path from family practice to a specialty in metabolic health, explaining why it is critical to be able to spend time with patients without any limitations. and how video visits...

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Ever feel like wellness advice is just noise? We cut through it with a grounded routine that actually fits a busy life—consistent sleep, protein-first mornings, daily movement you’ll look forward to, and simple meals that remove decision fatigue. Shelly shares her personal daily wellness routine:  seven to nine hours of sleep on a steady schedule, hydration with electrolytes right after waking, and a small but powerful shift—protein before coffee—to keep energy smooth and cravings in check.

From there we go to a daily run or walk, a few weekl...

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Sometimes life changes in an instant and forces us to STOP whether we want to or not! That is exactly what happened when our guest Selina Thomas had what she thought to be food poisoning, turn into a life threatening emergency. When her gallbladder went from normal to catastrophic overnight, everything she believed about wellness was tested! What followed was a lesson in listening to your body, trusting your people, and a very grateful heart. 

Selina shares the subtle warnings—upper abdominal pain that wrapped around her back, escalating nausea—and the m...

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Doubt has a way of getting loud right before a breakthrough. Today we go behind the scenes, of putting on a live event and building the Moms Who Flourish wellness event: the hours of preparation, the last‑minute checklists, the concern of missing a detail, all the while being most concerned about touching the hearts of moms and serving everyone in the room. As Moms Who Flourish was placed on Shelly's heart years ago as a vision, a dream, now she was seeing it unfolding right before her eyes.  "What does your dream lif...

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Health doesn’t have to be complicated—or loud. With a lot of noise when it comes to fitness, we reduce the fitness hype and emphasize what actually sticks: small, steady actions, smart coaching, and routines that fit a real-life calendar. Our guest, kinesiologist and veteran CrossFit athlete Tina Angelotti, opens up about training at a high level, reshaping her approach in her 50s, and why community and mentorship can accelerate progress at any age. If time, motivation, or info overload has been holding you back, you’ll leave with a simple blueprint you ca...

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Your cup needs filling first. It's not selfish—it's essential. This powerful message forms the foundation of Shelly's heartfelt discussion about Moms Who Flourish, a community born from her twin passions of motherhood and wellness.

Drawing from 26 years as a mother and over 40 years in the wellness industry, Shelly shares the evolution of her vision to create a safe, nurturing space where mothers can prioritize their health without guilt. She walks us through how a simple idea blossomed into coaching relationships, mentorship opportunities, and transformative live events bringing mothers together to le...

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From debilitating anxiety to profound joy—Julie Cyvonne never imagined mushrooms would transform her life. After losing her father at age six, Julie developed intense anxiety, depression, and control issues that followed her into adulthood. Despite becoming a successful attorney, she felt unfulfilled by a legal system that left everyone feeling worse than when they started.

Everything changed when Julie discovered the healing potential of psilocybin mushrooms. Not only did they help her overcome her own trauma, but they revealed her true calling: guiding other women through transformative psychedelic experiences. Today, sh...

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Some conversations transcend our regular wellness discussions, and today's reflection on national tragedy is one of those moments. When devastating events shake our communities, we're reminded that wellness extends beyond nutrition and exercise—it reaches into how we connect with one another as human beings.

Sharing my experience attending a local tribute and prayer vigil after recent national events, I was struck by a profound yet simple truth spoken that night: "We shouldn't be on one side or the other of anything. We should all be on the human side." Those wo...

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What if the greatest obstacle to your wellness isn't your diet, exercise routine, or stress management techniques, but rather the "shoulds" you've internalized throughout your life? In this illuminating conversation with author and coach Jessica Frew, we explore how reclaiming your decision-making power might be the most transformative wellness practice of all.

Jessica reveals a profound truth that many of us have never considered: from childhood, we're systematically taught not to trust ourselves. Those well-meaning reassurances of "it doesn't hurt that bad" or "you shouldn't feel that way" create a lifelong...

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Are you eating healthy but still feeling tired, foggy, or struggling with your health? You're not alone. The shocking truth is that our modern food supply has become nutritionally bankrupt, leaving even the most health-conscious eaters deficient in essential nutrients.

In this eye-opening episode, Shelly breaks down the fourth component of the TDOS syndrome affecting Americans' health - the critical deficiency in our nutrition. The statistics are staggering: iron levels in spinach have dropped 4,300% over decades, calcium in broccoli has declined 53%, and experts estimate you'd need to eat nine modern oranges...

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What makes your wellness story worth telling? It's not the drama or intensity of your experiences—it's the transformation you've undergone. In this enlightening conversation with storytelling coach Alex Street, we explore how our personal journeys toward better health and wellbeing create powerful narratives that can inspire others.

The episode begins with reflections on how our earliest wellness experiences shape us. I share how my teenage love for running provided not just physical benefits but mental clarity during turbulent years. Alex masterfully helps unpack this, revealing how fitness can help us fi...

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Have you ever wondered why so many weight loss attempts fail despite our best efforts? The answer might surprise you. 

Welcome to the third part of my special series on the TDoS syndrome—four critical factors undermining America's health. Today's focus: the obesity epidemic that's reshaping our nation's health landscape. With over 40% of adults and 20% of children now classified as overweight, we're facing a crisis that traditional approaches have failed to solve.

For years, we've been told weight management is simply about "calories in versus calories out." As a hea...

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What happens when women put everyone else's needs before their own for decades? Dr. Sienna Olson knows firsthand from working with busy women who wake up one day wondering what happened to their health, energy, and sense of self. 

From a deeply personal experience watching her mother suffer through mysterious illness while being dismissed by medical professionals, Dr. Olson forged a path that combines chiropractic medicine with metabolism and strength coaching. Her mission? Helping women understand their bodies and optimize their health even amid hectic schedules.

"The better you f...

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The silent epidemic affecting millions of Americans isn't making headlines, but it's hiding in plain sight in our homes, food, and personal care products. Welcome to a deep dive into the "T" component of the TDoS syndrome—Toxins—and how they're undermining our health despite our best wellness efforts.

Did you know the average woman is exposed to 167 chemicals daily just through skincare and makeup? Or that newborns arrive with approximately 200 chemicals already detected in their umbilical cord blood? Perhaps most alarming: of the estimated 80,000 chemicals in commercial use today, only abou...

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Ever glanced at a "sugar-free" label and wondered what's actually in it? In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the hidden dangers lurking in those seemingly innocent artificial sweeteners many of us consume daily without a second thought.

I was recently scrolling through social media when I came across a fitness professional casually recommending sugar-free sweeteners in coffee—advice that immediately raised red flags. This prompted me to share critical information about artificial sweeteners like sucralose that most people don't realize carry serious potential health risks. From cancer and gastrointestinal is...

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Ever feel like you're drowning in noise, unable to hear your own thoughts? Join me as I share powerful insights from my recent experience at the Powerhouse Women event, where being surrounded by purpose-driven women reaffirmed my mission to create supportive environments for moms seeking wellness and fulfillment.

What truly resonated was seeing mothers with three-month-old babies pursuing their dreams without waiting for "someday." These women embodied the truth that when a dream is placed on your heart, it's there for a reason. Their example reminds us all—regardless of gender or...

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What does it take to maintain your health without sacrificing precious family time? In this energizing conversation with Brian Parana, we uncover the delicate balance between personal wellness and family priorities that so many parents struggle with daily.

Brian, a father of four and veteran fitness professional with over 20 years in the industry, shares his journey from owning two gyms to developing his specialized approach helping busy professionals reclaim their health. His perspective is refreshingly honest: "Living life with family first, finding some sense of balance while still trying to prioritize...

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Stress isn't just a mental state—it's a powerful physiological force reshaping our health from the inside out. Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels throughout the body, triggering a cascade of harmful effects that manifest as stubborn belly fat, compromised immunity, metabolic slowdown, and even cellular damage.

What separates anxiety from stress? While anxiety often paralyzes us through exaggerated fear, appropriate levels of stress can sometimes motivate action. Yet our bodies respond identically whether we're experiencing "positive" stress (like planning a wedding) or negative stress (like financial troubles), flooding our systems with st...

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When Adia Nuno stepped away from her demanding network marketing business to focus on her family, she had no idea the void would be filled with overwhelming depression. Twenty years of unprocessed grief from losing her father as a teenager came flooding to the surface, leaving her contemplating suicide. Her unexpected lifeline? Country line dancing.

"It was like the healthiest drug you could ever have," Adia reveals as she shares how discovering country dance communities provided not just movement, but healing, purpose, and connection when she needed it most. From those...

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The final goodbye hits differently. After sending our first two children off to college, we thought the third time might be easier. But when it's your baby, your youngest, leaving the nest—that's when the reality of returning to a truly empty home takes on new meaning.

My journey taking our youngest son to college in Michigan revealed unexpected emotions, challenges, and ultimately, a surprising sense of peace. The summer baseball separation that preceded his college departure became an unexpected blessing—God's way of preparing my heart for the bigger transition ahea...

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Ever wondered why you react so strongly to certain triggers? Your brain might be carrying what therapist Jamie calls an "emotional backpack" – stored trauma that hasn't been properly processed. In this illuminating conversation, Jamie reveals how our brains respond to traumatic experiences and the cutting-edge therapies helping people heal.

As a licensed therapist specializing in trauma, Jamie brings clarity to the complex world of mental wellness. She explains that our brains have two distinct regions – the logical frontal lobe that helps us make conscious decisions, and the emotional back region where trau...

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Watching your child walk away into a college building marks one of parenting's most bittersweet milestones – a moment when pride and heartache occupy the same space. In this vulnerable episode, Shelly opens up about taking her middle son Cody to college in San Diego, continuing her series on college transitions and the empty nester journey.

Though geographically closer than her daughter's school in Oregon, the emotional landscape remained challenging. That profound feeling of returning to a home where your child's bedroom sits empty never quite gets easier. What struck her most po...

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What if the key to creating your dream life isn't fighting harder but finding alignment? In this illuminating conversation with manifestation expert Jamie Greenfield, we explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience, self-concept, and energy work that creates real-world results.

Jamie shares her personal journey from feeling stuck in fight-or-flight mode to discovering the transformative power of manifestation. But this isn't about vision boards and wishful thinking. "I'm a science nerd," Jamie confesses, explaining how she was skeptical until she discovered the neurological evidence behind these practices. "When I understood the science...

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Leaving a child at college marks one of parenthood's most profound transitions – a milestone many approach with mixed emotions but few are truly prepared for. As Shelly shares, her heart still aches recalling the moment she pulled away from her daughter's college dorm nine years ago,  as tears flowed freely.

The 12-hour journey home from Oregon became a long ride of grief, with her husband, her son and herself cycling through waves of tears that would briefly subside only to begin anew. That raw, vulnerable experience – the physical ache of separation, the e...

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Motherhood often comes with an unspoken expectation that self-care is somehow selfish – a luxury that should take a backseat to the endless needs of family. In this refreshing conversation, high performance coach Brittany Anderson flips this narrative on its head, declaring that making space for ourselves isn't selfish but profoundly selfless.

"The more we're able to show up for us, the better we are able to show up for all the others that need us," Brittany explains, sharing how her own journey from teaching stroller fitness classes to competing in Ironman co...

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Ever experienced that exhausted, disoriented feeling after returning from vacation? That "vacation hangover" is exactly what Shelly is unpacking in this personal, practical episode of Words of Wellness. Fresh from a meaningful trip to Wisconsin watching her son play baseball, she shares the real strategies that help her maintain wellness while fully enjoying travel experiences.

The balance between vacation enjoyment and wellness maintenance doesn't have to be complicated. Her approach includes simple daily movement (walking is perfect!), bringing along key nutritional products to support immune health during travel, and managing sleep...

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Picture this: you've diligently saved for decades, your retirement account has grown impressively, but a nagging question keeps you up at night – "Will I have enough money for as long as I live?" Financial expert Olga Campbell addresses this universal concern head-on in our latest conversation, revealing how proper planning can transform anxiety into peace of mind.

Olga shares a powerful client story that demonstrates the life-changing impact of proactive financial planning. Her client had originally planned to retire at 67, but when both parents fell ill, she became their full-time caregiver, fo...