What if your biggest challenge became your greatest calling?

That’s exactly what happened to Debra Erickson, who lost her vision to retinitis pigmentosa. At age 59, she did something extraordinary: she enrolled in culinary school — and became the only blind graduate in her class.

Today, Debra is the founder of The Blind Kitchen, where she’s making it possible for people with vision loss to cook independently and confidently.

The truth? The kitchen can be intimidating for anyone — sharp knives, hot pans, complicated recipes. Now imagine facing all of that without sight. In this powerful episode, Debra shares how she turned fear into purpose, building a business that helps others overcome their own kitchen anxieties.

What I love most is that her story isn’t just about blindness. It’s about resilience, creativity, and pushing through whatever’s holding you back — in the kitchen or in life.

Debra’s approach to cooking is all about making things organized, clear, and manageable — lessons that anyone can use, whether you’re a total beginner or just someone who wants to feel more confident making meals at home.

Her courage and innovation are truly inspiring, and I know you’ll come away from this conversation feeling empowered to tackle your own challenges.

🎧 Tune in now and meet Debra Erickson

To learn more about Deborah and her innovative kitchen tools click HERE

I would love to hear from you! What did you think of the episode? Share it with me :)

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Hang out with Heather on IG @greenpalettekitchen or on FB HERE.

Let's Talk!
Whether you are looking for 1-1 nutrition coaching or kitchen coaching let's have a chat. Click HERE to reach out to Heather.

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What does homesteading look like when you live in suburban Los Angeles? Elizabeth Bruckner never imagined she'd become a passionate advocate for self-sufficient living – especially after years of killing every houseplant that crossed her threshold. However, a long-term chronic illness that left her bedridden forced her to reimagine her relationship with food and healing.

Desperate to regain her health, she abandoned processed foods and gradually shifted from her 27-year vegetarian diet to incorporate nutrient-dense, ethically sourced animal products. The improvements were dramatic, but it was the COVID pandemic that truly catalyzed her homesteading journey when even basic ingredients like garlic became temporarily unavailable.

"I didn't even know what broccoli looked like coming out of the ground – that's how divorced I was from my food," Elizabeth confesses. Today, she champions an accessible vision of homesteading that breaks free from the stereotypical image of rural living with livestock and acres of land. Instead, she focuses on finding joy in whatever aspects of self-sufficiency speak to you – whether that's fermenting foods, growing herbs as a "gateway drug" to gardening, or making cleaning products from fruit scraps.

Elizabeth's book, "The Homesteader Mindset," offers practical guidance for building sustainable habits without the overwhelm. Her approach acknowledges our modern lives while reclaiming traditional wisdom – proving that even "lazy gardeners" can create abundant food spaces through permaculture techniques that mimic nature's systems.

Ready to explore your homesteading potential? Visit Elizabeth's website for a free Homesteader Habit Tracker and discover how small daily practices can transform your relationship with food, health, and self-sufficiency – no matter where you live.

Links Talked About on the Podcast

Get the Fruit Scrap Vinegar Recipe HERE

Mason Tops (lids used for fermenting and preserving)

Acid Test Strips (tests for acidity of vinegar)

I would love to hear from you! What did you think of the episode? Share it with me :)

Let's Be Friends
Hang out with Heather on IG @greenpalettekitchen or on FB HERE.

Let's Talk!
Whether you are looking for 1-1 nutrition coaching or kitchen coaching let's have a chat. Click HERE to reach out to Heather.

Did You Love This Episode?
"I love Heather and the Real Food Stories Podcast!" If this is you, please do not hesitate to leave a five-star review on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Were going beyond kegels and talking about real solutions for incontinence in midlife

This week, we’re talking about something so many women deal with — but almost no one talks about: urinary incontinence.

After having twins, I thought leaking was just something I’d have to live with. I was told to do kegels and move on. But they didn’t help — in fact, they made things worse.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Nigel Brayer, creator of the Iron-Clad Bladder System, who’s on a mission to change the conversation around bladder health. We talk about why traditional advice only addresses a small piece of the problem, and how your nervous system, hormones, stress, and even your hydration habits play a much bigger role than most people realize.

If you’ve ever felt embarrassed, frustrated, or just confused about what’s happening with your body — this one’s for you. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to just live with it.

Listen in and learn:

• Why kegels aren’t always the answer
• How menopause, stress, and certain foods impact bladder function
• What to do instead — including physical, nutritional, and nervous system support
• How to break the shame and take back control of your health

Learn more about Dr. Brayer and his free seminar on healing your bladder, April 17, 2025 8pm EST click HERE

To learn about Dr. Brayers Iron Clad Bladder program, click HERE

Find Dr. Brayer on IG HERE

I would love to hear from you! What did you think of the episode? Share it with me :)

Let's Be Friends
Hang out with Heather on IG @greenpalettekitchen or on FB HERE.

Let's Talk!
Whether you are looking for 1-1 nutrition coaching or kitchen coaching let's have a chat. Click HERE to reach out to Heather.

Did You Love This Episode?
"I love Heather and the Real Food Stories Podcast!" If this is you, please do not hesitate to leave a five-star review on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.