Blue Sage Holistic Healing Ashley Francis

In this episode I sit down with Christy Maloney, Registered Dietician and Eating Disorder Specialist.  A former banker, Christy got her start in the nutrition industry as a second career.  She holds a Bachelor's in Human Nutrition and various certifications in nutrition, personal training, and eating disorder treatment.
In this episode, we get to the nitty gritty of:
- how nutrition advice has evolved over time to be less shaming and more neutral
- the role that trauma plays in determining our eating habits
- what's really behind binge eating disorder
- is obesity really genetic?
- why do some people tend not to eat when they are stressed?
- what is body dysmorphia and how can we have a more realistic view of our bodies?
- what is intuitive eating and why diets don't work
BONUS!  We answer some burning questions from the audience.  Hear Christy and I give our top notch clinical advices on:
- ways to set boundaries with loved ones around their comments on your choices of food and drink (especially if you're in recovery from an eating disorder)
- how to approach a partner who has expressed that they are not attracted to you anymore because you gained weight
- how to be less of a picky eater and normalize eating the same things over and over
- how can I improve my stress so that I can keep weight on?

Here’s why I went dark on social media a couple of weeks ago…
I was trying to be something/someone I’m not because that’s what I was told to be. Too much influence.  I thought that making the move from therapist to coach was a lateral move.  It isn’t.  Therapy clients are not coaching clients.  Trying to offer products of services that sound like coaching to a person who is looking for therapy makes you look sleazy and/or people don’t trust it because it’s too new. I was overwhelmed with how much information there is to learn to be a successful business owner.  I have been learning and practicing skills of how to run a virtual business for 4 years behind the scenes (i.e. creating courses, check out pages, payment installments, website, social media).  
What I’ve learned:
If you’re an entrepreneur, you will always be “starting over.” Things will feel hard, uncomfortable, and they will be full of “failure” because this is how we learn and this is how new things that didn’t exist before come to exist.  This is how innovation happens. Learn to develop your own voice and come back to it often.  You will get off track, you will feel overly influenced.  No one will know your business like you so you have to be able to make the decisions for it regardless of what other experts are saying.  This means you can’t be afraid to fail and make mistakes.  Take breaks to get perspective.  You’re gonna need it. Follow our IG @bluesageholistichealing

In this episode, I interview Dr. Mottola, Naturopathic Doctor! 
We discuss:
- the dark side of traditional healthcare and how accepting insurance can be harmful to the patient as well as the clinician
- Dr. Mottola's inspiration to become a Naturopathic Doctor and how her time in China exposed her to an entirely different way of thinking and doing things
- Her personal recommendations on the simple things all of us need to be doing to take care of our health
- the link between blood sugar (and hormones) and mental health issues
- she breaks down EXACTLY how the HPA axis (the stress response) creates disease and mental health woes
- the link between neurodivergence, being an Empath, and a Highly Sensitive Person and how this works for and against people, focusing specifically on the certain types of health conditions they suffer from and what to do about them
Tune in the learn about the various options in healthcare that no one is telling you but you really need to know, it could save a life!

Have you ever wondered is it hormones or is it mental health?  During today's episode, we find out!
During today's episode, I interview Dr. Kivette Parkes, a naturopathic doctor in Charlotte, NC.  
Dr. Kivette Parkes is the author and creator of the "Not Just Weight" Program, a health-based program that invites participants to focus on their overall health and not just weight in order to drop the pounds.

She has a simple, no-nonsense approach when it comes to getting people the improved health they desire. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics from Sacred Heart University, a Masters degree in Human Nutrition as well as a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the University of Bridgeport. 

As a gifted speaker and health motivator Dr. Parkes has appeared in radio, television, and written many articles discussing her holistic view of health. Dr. Parkes believes that health education is the path to sustained wellness.
Dr. Parkes is also known as the "hormones boss" and created programs, products, and educational resources that have helped thousands of people improve their health and hormones without drugs.
She is the owner of the Lifestyle Clinic in Charlotte, NC which is a full service, naturopathic online clinic focusing on hormone balance. The clinic is 100% virtual and uses things like nutrition, stress management, herbs, vitamins, and exercise to improve health naturally.
Listen Now
During this week's episode, we dive into juicy topics like:
- Dr. Parkes history of growing up in Jamaica and how receiving praise for wanting to be a doctor as well as having a large extended family influenced her to pursue becoming a doctor
- The deteriorating health of her grandmother and not liking hospitals as being the impetus for pursuing preventative medicine
- Having high estrogen can mimic some psychiatric disorders
- The importance of having your hormones checked and why your primary care physician doesn't do it
- Treating a hormone imbalance isn't really about targeting a specific hormone and balancing it but rather treating ailments holistically so that hormones naturally come back into balance
- How ovulation, PMS, and menopause can make you feel like it is impossible to regulate your mood and make you feel depressed (hint: it isn't) 
- The importance of having a healthy gut biome and how that boosts your mood and motivation   
Listen Now
- How hormone regulation is much more needed for women versus men
- How anxiety could actually be a matter of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Why you won't get this information at your regular doctor and how the traditional healthcare model can actually make you sick(er)
- Why Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) might not actually be necessary and could actually be doing more harm than good
- Having healthy hormones can actually make you look better and feel better!
If you're interested in learning more or want to work with Dr. Parkes and her team, you can find her at:
www.lifestyle-clinic.com
IG: @thelifestyle.clinic
FB: https://www.facebook.com/lifestyleclinic0/
Here's to holistic healing

This week I sat down with Katie Sutton of Zen Within Academy. Katie is an intuitive channel, vibrational healer, and way-shower who supports you on your personal path to wholeness and fulfillment which is manifested by living as your authentic self.   After investing more than a decade and a combination of research into natural remedies, Katie travels across the country, with her husband Josh. They lead workshops and retreats where they incorporate her original healing techniques which create tangible and lasting shifts for their clients. 

This week I sat down with Keli Semelsberger, a corporate trainer for over 25 years. She has been an improv comedy performer, trainer, and director for over 20 years. She has also been a Reiki master for 8 years.  
Keli considers all aspects of her life to be intertwined in the art of energy, movement, and increasing joy for herself and people she works with in every field. Keli defines improv as working as a team, trusting each other, and letting go of ego. She considers it about the art and healing properties of laughter.