When you’ve built a life that looks successful on paper but still feels like a tight corset, reinvention can feel like both rebellion and relief.

In this candid, laughter-filled, deeply honest conversation, Julie sits down with her longtime friend and fellow former PT, TaVona Boggs — Master Certified Coach, fractional CRO, and host of Breaking Protocol — to explore what happens when your identity, career, and even your literal voice all demand a new evolution.

Together, they unpack:

• The bravery of letting go when something no longer fits
• The “niche switcher” wound and how it weaponizes multidimensionality
• The body’s role in reinvention (including losing her voice for 10 weeks)
• The grief and power of midlife, perimenopause, and changing identities
• Why athletes often make the best entrepreneurs — and how pain tolerance, curiosity, and trust build resilience

Equal parts practical and soulful, this episode is a permission slip for every high-achieving woman afraid that changing direction means starting over. As TaVona reminds us:

03:15 – Letting Go and Being a ‘Niche Switcher’

07:28 – Reinvention and Becoming a Fractional CRO

12:10 – Listening to Yourself Over the World

15:15 – The Rule-Breaker’s Defiance

20:21 – The Right of Exile

24:36 – Losing Her Voice: When the Body Speaks

29:02 – Titrating Truth & Reclaiming the Voice

33:12 – Joy, Aliveness & Counter-Culture

36:23 – Enter the CRO Era

43:05 – The Athlete Archetype

46:23 – Identity, Loss & Integration

56:24 – Closing Reflections

Love what you hear? Learn more from Tavona at @tavonadenise on IG

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When bestselling author and publishing mentor Elizabeth Lyons joins Julie for a conversation about trusting your voice, what unfolds is a deeply human, hilarious, and refreshingly honest look at the creative process—from loosening the “Conformity Corset” to navigating self-doubt, self-trust, and sourdough starters. Together they explore what it really takes to write (and live) in your own voice—without needing Oprah’s approval or a book deal to prove it.

00:00 – “Breaking News & Beginnings”
Julie shares breaking news — she’s finished her first book draft (!!) — and introduces Elizabeth Lyons, six-time author, mentor, and queen of saying the quiet parts of the creative process out loud.

06:45 – “The Responsibility of Storytelling”
A deep dive into the ethics of memoir: how to revisit truth without re-traumatizing yourself or your reader, and why every powerful story has to “land the plane.”

12:48 – “What Every Aspiring Author Should Know”
Elizabeth debunks the biggest myths in publishing — from “write a book in a weekend” to “everyone else has it figured out” — and shares her real-world wisdom on patience, process, and staying power.

17:15 – “From Editor to Author: The Art of Self-Trust”
How to trust your voice when doubt creeps in, why creative insecurity is actually a sign of integrity, and what happens when you stop trying to “do writing right.”

27:40 – “The Brené Brown Fantasy: Publishing Realities & Industry Illusions”
A truth-bomb conversation about traditional vs. indie publishing, why The Today Show doesn’t sell books, and how chasing visibility can strangle your creative joy.

43:50 – “Loosening the Conformity Corset”
Elizabeth gets raw about unlearning people-pleasing, learning to feel safe being herself, and surrounding herself with people who let her breathe — not bind.

57:40 – “Future You, Present Peace”
Her signature practice: journaling as “future you.” How it rewires self-trust, softens anxiety, and helps her move through creative life with more ease and humor.

1:06:20 – “The Sourdough Era & The Permission to Begin Again”
They close with laughter, carbs, and creative metaphor — from sourdough starters and Highland cows to the tattoo that reminds us all: you can always begin again.

Love what you hear and want to learn more from Elizabeth?

Check out her website www.elizabethlyons.com and follow her on instagram @elizabethlyonsauthor

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Nervous System Regulation is having its moment, and we love that for it.

But what if regulation isn’t about staying calm, but about reclaiming flexibility, boundaries, and embodied strength as a sensitive high-achiever?

In this episode, Julie reconnects with longtime friend and Somatic Experiencing® practitioner Audrey Burke to explore what real nervous-system “regulation” is (hint: it’s flexibility, not monk-on-a-mountaintop calm).

Audrey traces her path from dancer/yoga teacher to trauma-informed touch work, unpacking why co-regulation and consent-based touch can complete stress cycles when talking can’t. Together they name the difference between embodiment and “moving without being in your body,” the balance of internal/external locus of control, and how sensitive, intuitive women can build boundaries without abandoning compassion.

Audrey shares practical boundary practices (the yarn exercise, push-hands “I can” reps), reframes healthy aggression as protecting life-force, and explains why titration beats catharsis.

Julie weaves in the Conformity Corset, parts-work in coaching, and the both/and of mobilization and rest.

They close with real-life community building beyond “pay-to-play,” and the advice they’d give their younger, hyper-capable selves: trust your body’s cues—and let that be enough.

1. From Movement to Embodiment — 01:03
   Audrey’s journey from dancer and yoga teacher to Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner — and the difference between moving your body vs. being in your body.
2. The Power of Touch — 03:23
   Why touch can be a missing piece in trauma healing and regulation, and how it differs from talk therapy or manual therapy.
3. Redefining Regulation — 08:01
   Unpacking misconceptions about regulation (it’s not endless calm), and reclaiming fight/flight energy as part of a flexible, responsive nervous system.
4. Context, Culture & the Nervous System — 11:32
   Exploring locus of control, trauma, and how regulation can’t be separated from culture, systems, and social context.
5. Boundaries & Sensitivity — 43:13
   Somatic practices like the yarn circle and relationship mapping, the challenges of being a highly sensitive person, and reframing boundaries as acts of care.
6. Reclaiming Healthy Aggression — 56:29
   How suppressed fight responses impact safety, and how titrated exercises help sensitive people feel both strong and relaxed at the same time.
7. Belonging & Community — 1:08:19
   Turning 40, moving back to Durham, longing for non-monetized circles, and building community rooted in secure, ongoing relationships.

Love what you hear from Audrey and want to learn more? Follow her on Instagram at @somaticswithaudrey

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In this heartfelt and powerful episode of Sink and Swim, Julie sits down with one of her oldest friends and PT school classmates, Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards—a renowned running medicine specialist, clinic founder, author, and entrepreneur.

Kate shares the life-altering moment when her body forced her to stop mid-run, igniting a years-long journey through misdiagnoses, identity loss, and ultimately the discovery of a rare genetic heart condition. Together, Julie and Kate reflect on the irony of being healthcare providers who ignored their own bodies, the devastating unraveling of an athletic identity, and the courage it takes to rebuild life and purpose on new terms.

From launching her own clinic to building the RunSource app, writing books, and raising her son while navigating his inherited genetic risk, Kate has turned her crisis into a blueprint for healing and integrative care that blends science and soul. Their conversation weaves together laughter, tears, and hard-earned wisdom about agency, boundaries, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the unexpected beauty of slowing down.

00:00 – Old Friends, New Conversation
Meet Kate, her laughter, and her unique blend of science and soul.

02:41 – The Run That Changed Everything
Kate recounts the terrifying moment of going into ventricular tachycardia on a neighborhood run.

06:34 – Misdiagnoses, Identity Loss, and Finally the Truth
Nine months of tests, dismissals, and finally a diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

13:47 – Agency in the Face of Medicine
Why Kate said “no” to immediate surgery and chose to make decisions on her own terms.

15:39 – Leaving the Job, Building Precision
How a toxic clinic environment and personal health crisis pushed Kate to start her own practice.

28:18 – From Clinic to Community Impact
Growing Precision, collaborating with the Atlanta Track Club, and creating the RunSource app.

37:55 – Science Meets Soul
Kate explains how her patient work, research, and new podcast bridge medicine with intuition and humanity.

49:50 – A New Kind of “Retirement”
Kate’s reimagined lifestyle of white space, boundaries, and putting her health first.

56:17 – Lightning Round
From eagle spirit animals to pineapple on pizza, Kate shares her quirks and hidden pleasures.

1:04:55 – What She’d Tell Her Past Self
The wisdom Kate would whisper to the version of herself still clinging to the Garmin data.

Love what you hear and want to learn more from Kate?

Follow her on instagram at @katemihevcedwards

Visit her website at https://www.katemihevcedwards.com/

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This one’s a sacred pause. If you’ve been feeling restless, unclear, or unmoored—this one’s for you.

It’s a slow-down episode meant to meet you right where you are.

Before we dive into logistics or client stories, I invite you to grab your tea, go for a walk, or settle in with a journal and let this be a moment to exhale.

In this episode, I reflect on the tension of being in the “valley of becoming,” that strange in-between where what used to fit doesn’t anymore — but what’s next still feels hazy.

I talk about why I believe this season of life is not a crisis but an awakening, how the Conformity Corset shows up when you’ve outgrown your old map, and why that uncomfortable tug in your body is actually a sign you’re right on time.

I share why I created the 90-minute Soul Story Mapping session for ambitious, midlife, athlete-hearted women who’ve outgrown the old map but don’t want to torch their lives to find the new one.

I trace my own pivots (swimmer → clinician → entrepreneur → Soul Story Guide), name the “Conformity Corset,” and explain why tension is a sign you’re right on time. You’ll hear two real-world vignettes—Holly (from “fine” to free) and Elena (manual therapist unlacing a gilded cage)—and I guide you through a brief somatic reflection to feel your next chapter.

I close with a limited-time offer (two sessions for the price of one through Sept 2025) and exactly who this is for: women in healthcare, founders, and athlete-types in a midlife awakening who crave personalized, drop-in support.

• 00:00 — Sacred Pause & What’s New: Why Soul Story Mapping exists
  
  
  
• 05:15 — What It Is (and Isn’t): How the session actually works
  
  
  
• 07:06 — My Valley of Becoming: Athlete roots, pivots, and the Body-to-Soul line
  
  
  
• 11:20 — Who It’s For: Healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and athlete-hearted women (aka Midlife Awakening)
  
  
  
• 24:19 — Out in the Wild: Holly’s “fine” → freedom arc (titrated change, real results)
  
  
  
• 44:11 — How We Map: Session flow, Voxer support, and a guided visualization and drop in
  
  
  
• 49:10 —Session Invitation & Next Steps (link in show notes)

Soul Mapping Session Website:

Discover more & sign up for a Soul Mapping Session by tapping here.

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Pelvic floor PT and mom-of-two Dr. Jackie Roelofs (aka @drjuicyjackie) joins Julie to tell the truth about motherhood when the dream life and the day-to-day don’t match.

Jackie traces her origin story from PT student with debilitating cycle-linked back pain and an “I-know-it’s-endo” hunch, through COVID-era diagnosis and surgery, to rebuilding trust in her body and becoming the mirror she once needed for other moms.

Together they unpack identity loss after birth, nervous-system spirals, and why the goal isn’t perfect regulation—it’s surrendering to the mess and finding safety again. Jackie introduces her “unprogrammed program” for real postpartum strength (two minutes counts!), gives permission to care about aesthetics and grieve what’s changed, and coins the now-iconic Bad Mom City USA.

The episode closes with a Swiftie lightning round and Jackie’s story of dragging herself to the Eras Tour in the thick of postpartum anxiety—how scream-singing became medicine—and the two whispers she’d give any mom in the spiral: trust yourself and you’re not alone.

01:00 — A Love Letter to Moms + Meet Dr. Jackie

09:58 — From a Knowing Nod to an Endo Hunch: Jackie’s Origin Story

23:02 — COVID Pause, Diagnosis & the Pivot to Pelvic PT

44:21 — Motherhood Identity Shift: Strategy vs. Surrender

56:23 — The Unprogrammed Program: Grief, Body Image & Permission

1:03:28 — Bad Mom City USA + Eras Tour: Joy, Tears & Repair

Love what you hear and want to connect with Jackie?

Follow her on Instagram @drjuicyjackie

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The hardest part wasn’t cancer. It was what happened when I got better.

This episode is part two of my 10-year Diagnosiversary reflection series — but instead of revisiting the drama of diagnosis and treatment, we’re diving into what came after.

I’m talking about the identity shifts, relationship reckonings, and cultural patterns I began to notice when the casseroles stopped coming and the celebration faded. We’ll explore why people rally when you’re suffering but sometimes disappear when you’re thriving, how childhood bullying for “shining too bright” shaped my adult relationships, and what I learned from both being on pedestals and putting others there.

I’ll share why I threw myself a shimmering Taylor Swift–inspired anniversary party, the hard truth about sickness as currency for belonging, and the rebellious act of staying fully alive in a world that often only claps for your comeback — not your continued glow.

Whether you’ve navigated illness, career shifts, or just the lonely truth of outgrowing old dynamics, this conversation is your permission slip to celebrate yourself in every season — no pedestal required.

00:00 — A Decade Later: Picking Up Where Part One Left Off
04:49 — When Pain Gets Applause but Joy Gets Silence
05:54 — The “Bejeweled” Party and What It Really Celebrates
10:12 — The Old Bind: Belonging vs. Being Fully Myself
14:20 — The Pedestal Problem: Gurus, Gatekeepers, and Growing Pains
26:16 — Sickness as Worthiness and the Disappearing Act After Healing
32:12 — The Price — and Freedom — of Living Fully Alive

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Episode Summary:

In this deeply reflective and heart-opening episode, Julie connects with Megan Broadhead--a therapist, coach, and spiritual midwife who has undergone an extraordinary journey of personal and professional evolution. They explore themes of spiritual initiation, stepping into one's fullest expression, and the beauty of embracing both the human and divine within us.

The conversation is a testament to the transformative power of trusting the process, embracing the liminal space, and leaning into joy.

This episode is for anyone feeling the call to evolve beyond their current container, step into their power, and embrace the messiness of life as sacred.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – You’re Braver Than You Think (And Already Becoming Who You Are): Megan shares her experience of navigating infertility struggls and life transitions, including her deep connection with her community and the growth she’s witnessed in herself.
• 04:31 – When a Gong Breaks You Open (Spiritual Initiation in a Room Full of Women): Megan takes us through a pivotal identity moment during a women's gathering in 2023, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about herself.
• 13:04 – Becoming Your Own Safety: Dismantling Transactional Containers: As Megan navigates this awakening, she reflects on how she shifted from external safety to becoming her own source of safety and support, and leaving behind transactional relationships for deeper, more authentic connections.
• 22:44 – Mystic in the Making: When the Clinical Container Starts to Crack: Megan shares her evolution from clinical therapy practice to embracing a more mystical and spiritual approach in her work. She talks about how this shift reflects her growing awareness of the need for spiritual guidance in healing and how she’s blending the two worlds.
• 29:30 – Pedestals, Power Loss, and the Cost of Being Seen: The conversation moves into the impact of pedestal dynamics and how stepping into authenticity often means shedding old identities and relationships that no longer serve. Megan opens up about the grief and the power that comes from letting go of old versions of herself and the people who couldn’t hold space for her growth.
• 40:10 – From Fundamentalism to Full-Spectrum Freedom: Reflecting on her upbringing, Megan describes how she broke free from fundamentalism to embrace a more expansive view of spirituality. She shares how this shaped her understanding of Divine power and personal authenticity.
• 57:41 – The Birthday Party as Portal: Reclaiming Pleasure, Joy & Your People: Megan celebrates how she created a space for women to gather, celebrate, and exchange energy without the constraints of societal expectations. This was a clear embodiment of what it means to live fully and authentically.

Listen now and find the courage to release what's no longer serving you and lean into the fullness of who you are becoming.

Follow Megan on Instagram

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