Today’s guest is Francisco Ortega, who reflects on migration, identity, vulnerability, and the lost art of deep conversation. He shares how self-doubt and imposter syndrome can fuel humility and growth, and opens up about the shame that once led him to fabricate parts of his story in order to belong.

Francisco recounts immigrating from Jalisco, Mexico, living in Tijuana apart from his parents, and arriving in the U.S. in 1978 — experiences that shaped his sense of dual identity. He also discusses his men’s group, his work around dialogue, and how writing an autobiographical-fictional book led to deeper conversations with his family and daughters.

Together, we explore performativity, certainty, yoga, religion, impermanence, and what it truly means to “lean into love” through vulnerability, curiosity, and connection.

00:00 Why Conversation Matters

01:23 Imposter Syndrome Talk

02:42 Doubt as Fuel

04:04 Men’s Group and Honest Mirrors

06:20 Immigrant Roots and Identity

10:41 Shame and Reinventing Yourself

14:36 Authenticity and the Self

16:16 Happiness Culture and Isolation

19:28 Seeing Family with New Questions

23:59 Parenting Power and Indoctrination

27:58 Seminary Years and Service

33:41 Religion, Control, and Kindness

39:57 Living Beyond Binary Labels

41:58 Beyond Gender Binaries

45:43 Certainty as Violence

47:45 Living in the Gray

50:11 Rage and Hard Questions

52:20 Yoga Leadership Impermanence

54:43 Performative Culture Anger Economy

01:03:25 Eternal Return Gender Roles

01:08:52 Leaning Into Love

If this conversation resonated with you:

💛 Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that their pain—physical or emotional—is interconnected and worthy of care.

💛 Leave a review to help more listeners find conversations like this.

💛 Visit www.ginavelezwellness.com to begin working together! Therapy in CA, Coaching everywhere.

In this grounding and inspiring conversation, Gina sits down with Jade Gutierrez, founder of The Skin Lab, to talk about intuition, entrepreneurship, healing through touch, and building a life rooted in authenticity.

Jade shares her journey from juggling multiple jobs while raising two children to creating a thriving buccal massage business in Huntington Beach, CA — one built through intuition, consistency, and a powerful mindset shift: “Everything always works out for me.”

Together, Gina and Jade explore:

• What buccal massage actually is — and why it’s transforming people’s lives
• The healing power of touch and energetic connection
• Burnout, entrepreneurship, and learning sustainable growth
• Going viral on TikTok and building an authentic social media presence
• Why “crappy videos” are necessary for creativity and confidence
• The subtle ways intuition and energy show up during bodywork sessions
• Freedom, play, and learning to stop living from fear

Jade also opens up about sensing emotions and grief in clients during treatments, her curiosity around Reiki and energetic work, and the emotional process of finally building a career that truly feels aligned with who she is.

This conversation is equal parts practical, spiritual, emotional, and empowering — especially for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to build a life that feels more like themselves.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.skinn.lab

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.skinn.lab/

Website: https://www.theskinnlab.com/

If this conversation resonated with you:

💛 Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that their pain—physical or emotional—is interconnected and worthy of care.

💛 Leave a review to help more listeners find conversations like this.

💛 Visit www.ginavelezwellness.com to begin working together! Therapy in CA, Coaching everywhere.

Episode Summary

In this heartfelt and wide-ranging conversation, Alicia Wagner Kaplan shares how her sister’s stroke at age 26 changed the trajectory of her life - and ultimately led her to become a physical therapist. Watching her sister relearn how to walk, talk, and reclaim her independence opened Alicia’s eyes to the transformative power of rehabilitation.

Now five years into her career, Alicia works in outpatient physical therapy, where she helps patients return not just to sport - but to life.

But this episode goes far beyond biomechanics.

Together, we explore:

• The interconnected nature of mind, body, and spirit
• Why pain often flares during stress (even when nothing “physical” changed)
• The concept of allostatic load and how chronic stress lowers our pain threshold
• Why society more easily validates physical pain than mental health struggles
• The overlap between occupational therapy and mental health care
• Whether trauma is “stored” in the body—and how to think about that question with nuance
• The role of healthcare professionals in advocacy and social justice
• Empathy, boundaries, and not taking your patients’ pain home with you
• Choosing love over fear in relationships, faith, and identity

If this conversation resonated with you:

💛 Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that their pain—physical or emotional—is interconnected and worthy of care.

💛 Leave a review to help more listeners find conversations like this.

💛 Visit www.ginavelezwellness.com to begin working together! Therapy in CA, Coaching everywhere.

In this expansive and deeply vulnerable conversation, Gina sits down with Angie Su, founder of Lightworks Wellness — a metaphysical studio in Fullerton dedicated to training and gathering intuitives (https://www.lightworkswellness.net/)

Angie shares the raw and transformative story of her spiritual awakening — one that began after leaving conservative Christianity, deepened through yoga philosophy, and accelerated through a spontaneous experience of energy healing with her daughter.

What followed was a complete unraveling and rebuilding of her life:

• A 25-year marriage ending
• The passing of her father
• Selling her home and possessions
• Traveling the world with only a carry-on
• And ultimately receiving the “download” to return to Fullerton and open a metaphysical portal for community

In this episode, we explore:

• What a spiritual awakening can actually feel like
• The overlap (and tension) between mysticism and mental health
• Reiki as energy work and intuitive bridge-building
• Past life memories and somatic imprints
• Soul contracts and collective evolution
• Why awareness itself can be healing
• The courage it takes to follow an inner calling that makes no logical sense

Angie speaks candidly about the fear of fully stepping into her intuitive gifts and the power of finding affirming spiritual community. She also shares her belief that some souls return lifetime after lifetime to help the collective evolve — and what it means to “remember who you are.”

This is a conversation about deconstruction, devotion, intuition, grief, reinvention, and radical trust.

If you’ve ever questioned your beliefs, felt called toward something you couldn’t explain, or sensed there was more happening beneath the surface of reality — this episode will meet you there. Follow Angie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lightworks222

And if you’re navigating your own transition — spiritual, relational, or identity-shifting — and want support integrating it all, you can learn more about working with Gina through therapy or spiritual mentorship: www.ginavelezwellness.com

In this heartfelt and energizing conversation, Gina sits down with longtime yoga teacher and retreat leader Alex Roberts of Purple Yoga to explore what it truly means to choose love over fear: in relationships, in career pivots, in physical endurance, and in the face of profound uncertainty.

Alex shares his unconventional path from collegiate soccer player at UC Santa Barbara to yoga teacher, and how a humbling first class reshaped his ego, his body, and ultimately his life. He reflects on the transformative power of community, mentorship, and why teacher training can be life-changing, even for those who never plan to teach.

Together, Gina and Alex discuss:

• The magic and inclusivity of the Purple Yoga community
• Building resilience through surfing, ultramarathons, and the metaphor of the “pain cave”
• Rituals for staying grounded and intentional as a teacher and healer
• Navigating empathy, boundaries, and caregiver fatigue
• Choosing love in marriage, family, and hard life decisions
• Finding inspiration in his father’s courageous response to stage four cancer
• The power of showing up - especially when fear would be easier

Alex’s story reminds us that love isn’t passive. It’s a daily practice. It’s discipline. It’s devotion. And sometimes, it’s putting one foot in front of the other at mile 88.

If you’ve ever stood at the edge of a hard decision, wondering whether to lean into fear or into love, this conversation is for you.

And if you’re feeling called to deepen your own journey, whether through therapy, spiritual mentorship, or mindful movement, you can learn more about working with Gina in the links below.

Keep leaning into love. 💛

www.ginavelezwellness.com

Want to take class with Alex Roberts? Check him out over at www.purpleyoga.org or follow him on social media: https://www.instagram.com/alex_robertsyoga/

Episode Description

In this deeply moving episode of Lean into Love, Gina sits down with Kristin Hennenfent—a soon-to-be mama, radiant human, and powerful example of what it means to choose love in a world that often invites fear.

Kristin has lived through profound and life-altering experiences, including surviving the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting. Rather than allowing trauma to harden her heart, she has committed to living with intentional positivity, grounded perspective, and open-hearted courage.

This conversation isn’t about bypassing pain. It’s about acknowledging darkness while refusing to let it define you. It’s about multiplicity—the grief and the gratitude, the fear and the faith, the heartbreak and the hope—coexisting in one human life.

And now, as Kristin prepares to step into motherhood, she shares what it means to bring a child into the world with clarity, compassion, and a fierce commitment to love.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• What it means to consciously choose love after trauma
• The long arc of healing and perspective
• Living with both grief and gratitude
• How motherhood deepens our commitment to hope
• The power of mindset—not as denial, but as devotion
• Showing up as love when fear would be easier

Content Note

This episode includes discussion of the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting. Please listen with care and tend to yourself as needed.

Work With Gina

If this episode resonated and you’re seeking deeper support, Gina is currently accepting therapy clients in California as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, and offers coaching for those outside the state. Please visit www.ginavelezwellness.com for more information.

Natalie is one compassionate, quick-witted, funny gal who gives so much thought and care to her community, and I am so grateful she agreed to be on the pod! Listen as Natalie discusses her work at CAPC, Community Advocates for People’s Choice, a non-profit capitalizing on capabilities. They seek to empower individuals with developmental disabilities to live and work on their own, gain employment, and find living arrangements if they need. This incredible organization provides a community of inclusion and advocacy, often providing transportation to improve these individuals’ relationships and lives.

If you would like to partner or donate to CAPC, please visit https://www.capcinc.org/

or follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/capcinc

Follow Natalie on LinkdIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-saenz-2632a521/

Remember, you, too, can make a difference in your community like Natalie. All you have to do is begin!

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Bella Casperson, a dynamic young actor who is making a difference through her art, one performance at a time. Bella’s talent and passion shine both on and off the stage as she uses her creativity to spark change and tell meaningful stories.

In addition to her acting career, Bella is a dedicated yoga instructor who integrates mindfulness, self-compassion, and faith into her practice. In this episode, she shares insights on balancing her artistic pursuits with her commitment to helping others grow through yoga. Don’t miss this uplifting episode with a truly multifaceted talent!

Resources:

The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz

Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke

The Actor at Work by Robert Benedetti

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Alternate Nostril Breathing