In this week’s empowering episode, we sit down with Barbara Howlin, a creative, passionate, and deeply intuitive human who guides us through what it truly means to shed expectations and embrace your authentic self. Barbara opens up about dismantling “good girl syndrome,” breaking free from external validation, and learning to live life from the inside out.

Through her vulnerable storytelling, Barbara reminds us how easy it is to slip back into people-pleasing or approval-seeking patterns, yet how transformational it is when we pause, question our intentions, and realign with our own truth. She shares the internal questions that helped her grow:

Am I proving myself or expressing myself? Am I living from the inside out? Am I acting from love or searching for it?

We explore the power of slowing down, lifting our heads up, and fully experiencing the present moment instead of rushing through life. Barbara also walks us through her grounding morning routine with journaling, reiki, and movement in nature and how this 30-minute ritual keeps her centered and nourished.

A major turning point in Barbara’s journey was burnout recovery, which forced her to reclaim her intuition and rebuild a sense of safety within her nervous system. She explains how embracing the layers of your past is essential for healing and how reconnecting with your inner child can restore balance and emotional resilience.

Barbara’s story is a heartfelt reminder that caring for ourselves isn’t optional—it’s foundational. Her wisdom encourages us to prioritize what truly matters, to let go of shame, to honor our personal layers, and to live boldly with joy and purpose.

Ways to Engage:

Reflect on the “glass” items in your own life. What cannot be dropped without shattering? What will bounce back if you let it fall? Keep these priorities close as you walk your own path.

This is an episode you’ll want to revisit whenever doubt creeps in. Let Barbara’s insights guide you back to yourself.

📣 Hashtags

#GoodGirlSyndrome

#BurnoutRecovery

#InnerChildHealing

#NervousSystemRegulation

#SelfDiscoveryJourney

#AuthenticLiving

#SelfHealing

#PeoplePleasingRecovery

#ReclaimYourPower

#IntuitionDevelopment

#SelfCareMatters

#HolisticWellness

#EmotionalWellbeing

#MindfulnessPractice

#SpiritualGrowth

#HealingJourney

#PersonalGrowth

#MentalHealthAwareness

#LiveWithIntention

#EmpoweredLiving

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:20 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 5:20 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 10:58 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 19:35 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 26:14 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 33:35 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 44:14 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 50:44 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 57:18 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 58:10 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact ⁠⁠

In today’s empowering episode, we welcome the radiant Corine LaFont, host of Between the Lines, who joins Melissa for an uplifting and deeply reflective conversation on embracing identity, honoring boundaries, and protecting your inner light. Corine describes herself as young, cute, and sexy, a reminder that self-definition is powerful at every age.

Corine shares her transformative journey of leaving a toxic 27-year relationship, rebuilding her confidence, and reconnecting with her true self. She opens up about how the body responds to emotional healing and how stress, toxicity, and people-pleasing behaviors can weigh us down physically and mentally. Once she stepped into her power, even her skin improved, showing just how interconnected emotional health and physical wellness truly are.

This episode explores the importance of recalibration, checking in with your progress, and recognizing when people are drawn to your newfound light, but may also drain it. Corine’s wisdom on setting boundaries, balancing relationships, and honoring your energy is invaluable for anyone recovering from emotional burnout or reclaiming self-worth.

She reminds us that the trust you have in yourself is your strongest guide. Whether it’s mental, emotional, or physical wellness, you’ll feel when you’re on the right path. Corine’s F.E.E.L. philosophy reinforces the power of standing firm in your boundaries and refusing to compromise your values for others’ comfort.

Her message is a bold reminder that misery loves company, and without awareness, people can slowly pull you back into old patterns. Protecting your peace is not selfish, it’s essential. Corine encourages listeners to tune in to their inner child, move with intention, and choose decisions rooted in authenticity rather than guilt or people-pleasing.

Ways to Engage:

Next time you’re faced with a decision—big or small—ask yourself:

Is this what I truly want? Who am I in this moment?

Let your answers guide you toward alignment rather than obligation.

🔥 Hashtags

#SelfWorthJourney

#WomenEmpowerment

#HealingAfterToxicRelationships

#EmotionalHealing

#SetHealthyBoundaries

#ReclaimYourPower

#PersonalGrowthPodcast

#SelfLoveAndHealing

#InnerStrength

#EmpoweredWoman

#PeoplePleaserRecovery

#EmotionalWellness

#MindBodyHealing

#TraumaRecovery

#SpiritualGrowthJourney

#AuthenticLiving

#MentalHealthAwareness

#HealingEnergy

#SelfCareMatters

#PodcastForWomen

💡Keywords for this Episode

toxic relationship recovery

emotional healing journey

women’s empowerment

personal transformation

self-worth and boundaries

people-pleasing recovery

reclaiming identity

emotional wellness

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:50 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 9:02 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 16:07 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 22:15 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 28:09 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 32:46 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 39:55 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 44:55 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 50:57 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 52:13 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact ⁠⁠

Trigger Warning: Eating Disorder

In this deeply insightful episode, we welcome Alexandra Birch, a holistic wellness guide who blends mind–body–spirit healing with science-backed practices. Alexandra’s journey began when “self-care” was still treated like a trendy buzzword centered on purchases rather than personal truth. Through her evolution as a former competitive athlete and someone who lost her sense of identity outside of sports, she discovered that real self-care starts internally.

Together, we explore the powerful connection between internal alignment and external health, how the body communicates its needs, and why developing a “self-care menu” can create sustainable routines that evolve alongside you. Alexandra shares how stillness, quiet, and body awareness transformed her life and ultimately guided her to leave her corporate career to pursue her passion for women’s fertility and holistic healing.

This episode opens up essential conversations around women’s wellness, eating-disorder awareness, emotional self-care, and the courage it takes to build a life that nourishes your soul. Alexandra’s vulnerability, strength, and intuitive wisdom make this conversation both grounding and empowering for anyone seeking deeper alignment.

Ways to Engage:

Try creating your own self-care menu with 5 practices that nourish you or 5 feelings you want to experience over the next 6 months. Use it as a tool to reconnect with yourself daily, especially on the days when you don’t know where to start.

Resources:

• Eating Recovery Center

• NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association

🔥Hashtags

#SelfCareJourney

#HolisticHealing

#MindBodySpirit

#WomensWellness

#EatingDisorderAwareness

#IntuitiveHealing

#MentalHealthMatters

#FertilityWellness

#HealingJourney

#SelfCareTips

#BodyAwareness

#EmotionalWellness

#HolisticHealth

#WellnessPodcast

#EmpoweredWomen

#TraumaInformedHealing

#SelfLoveDaily

#HealthAndWellbeing

#MindfulnessPractice

#InnerHealingWork

💡Keywords for this Episode

holistic wellness

self-care routine

women’s health

eating disorder support

body awareness

intuitive healing

fertility wellness

mental health awareness

emotional self-care

holistic self-care

former athlete healing

mind-body connection

burnout recovery

personal growth journey

wellness transformation

self-care menu

healing practices

spiritual wellness

sustainable self-care

internal alignment

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:09 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 15:57 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 21:55 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 26:51 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 39:43 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 42:21 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 50:33 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:02:15 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:07:43 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:10:16 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact ⁠⁠