Less Stress In Life

Unknown
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Semimonthly

Welcome to Less Stress in Life, the podcast where science, compassion, and practical strategies come together to help you live well—even when life doesn't go according to plan. Hosted by registered nurse and board-certified reflexologist Deb Timmerman and physical therapist Lindsay Vertalka, our conversations explore the connection between stress, pain, the nervous system, and overall well-being. Together, we share evidence-informed insights, real-life experiences, and simple tools that can help you better understand your body and support your health. Whether you're living with chronic pain or illness, caring for someone who is, or simply looking for practical ways to reduce stress and improve your quality of life, you'll find encouragement, education, and hope here. Because living well isn't about having a perfect body. It's about learning to work with the one you have.

  1. 3d ago

    When the Life You Know Changes in an Instant

    What happens when the life you knew changes in an instant? After a serious automobile accident left Jessica Crosby with significant injuries, pain, and mobility limitations, she found herself facing a long and uncertain road ahead. In this episode, Jessica Crosby, owner of Delight Designs & Remodeling, joins Deb and Lindsay for an open conversation about grieving the life she knew, accepting help, finding ways to keep participating in the things she loves, and learning that progress and grief can exist at the same time. Jessica also shares the words that have become her new life statement: “The vision is bigger than the setback.” This is a conversation about hope, perspective, and continuing to live—even when the road ahead looks different than you expected. Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

  2. Aug 1

    Talking With Your Doctor: Simple Ways to Get Better Care with Guest Pam Zelasko, MD.

    Have you ever left a doctor's appointment wishing you'd remembered to ask one more question? You're not alone. In this episode, Dr. Pam Zelasko joins us to share simple, practical tips for preparing for healthcare appointments, communicating with confidence, and building a stronger partnership with your healthcare team. It's a conversation filled with ideas that can help you feel more informed, empowered, and heard.  Download our Guide to Getting the Most From Your Healthcare Visit HERE. Popular symptom trackers:  https://bearable.app/ https://www.curablehealth.com/ https://managemypainapp.com/ http://www.mypaindiary.com/ https://flaredown.com/ https://careclinic.io/ Chronic Illness Tracker:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=chronic.illness.tracker&hl=en_US https://medisafeapp.com/ https://sleepcycle.com/ Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

  3. Jul 18

    How to Cope with Uncertainty When Life Feels Unpredictable with Guest Susie Marsh

    What happens when the person everyone else depends on suddenly becomes the one who needs help?  In this episode, we're joined once again by professional organizer and Michigan NAPO President Susie Marsh. After an unexpected series of heart health challenges turned her world upside down, Susie shares the realities of navigating chronic illness, accepting support, rebuilding her health, and discovering new priorities along the way. Her story is an honest reminder that healing isn't just about recovering physically—it's about learning to adapt, finding gratitude, and creating systems that help us through life's most difficult seasons.  Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

  4. Jul 8

    Real Stories: What Living with Chronic Illness Really Looks Like with Guest Allison Troyer Wiswell

    Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

  5. Jul 6

    Real Stories: Finding Hope When the Answers Aren't Easy with Guest Allison Troyer Wiswell

    Receiving a diagnosis is often just the beginning of the journey. In Part 2 of our conversation with certified professional coach Allison Troyer Wiswell, we move beyond the diagnosis to talk about what it really takes to live well with chronic illness. Allison shares her personal experience navigating autoimmune disease, chronic pain, grief, and the challenges of finding answers within the healthcare system. Together, Deb Timmerman, RN, Lindsay Vertalka, MSPT, and Allison discuss the emotional side of chronic illness, the importance of self-advocacy, the role of caregivers, and why building a support system can make all the difference. They also explore how our thoughts, emotions, and nervous system influence the way we experience pain and healing. If you've ever felt discouraged by unanswered questions, overwhelmed by medical appointments, or wondered if anyone truly understands what you're going through, this conversation offers practical wisdom and genuine hope. In this episode, you'll learn:  Why receiving a diagnosis doesn't always bring immediate answers.  How to become a stronger advocate for your own health.  The emotional impact of living with chronic illness and chronic pain.  Why caregivers need support too.  How mindset and nervous system health can influence the experience of pain.  Small steps that can help you move forward with greater hope and resilience. Whether you're living with a chronic condition yourself or caring for someone who is, this episode is a reminder that while the journey isn't always easy, you don't have to walk it alone. Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

  6. Jun 22

    Chronic Pain and the Nervous System: What You Need to Know

    Why does pain sometimes continue long after an injury heals? Why can stress make symptoms worse? And what does the nervous system actually have to do with chronic pain? In this episode, Deb Timmerman and Lindsay Vertalka take a practical look at the connection between chronic pain and the nervous system and why understanding that connection can change the way people approach healing and recovery. Together, they explore how the body’s stress response, pain pathways, emotions, movement, sleep, and daily stressors can all influence the pain experience. They also discuss why chronic pain is often far more complex than simply “something being wrong” structurally in the body. In this episode, you’ll learn:  How the nervous system influences chronic pain  Why pain can persist even after tissues heal  The role stress and overload can play in pain cycles  How the brain and body work together in the pain experience  Why calming the nervous system matters  Practical ways to begin supporting recovery and resilience Whether you’re living with chronic pain yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers a grounded, hopeful look at how the body responds to stress, pain, and healing. Video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/UjQrhR0Ocdc Heart Focused Breathing Tool Lindsay's Pain Diagram Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

  7. Jun 6

    What Counts as a Chronic Illness? A Practical Guide

    Welcome to Season 4 of the Less Stress in Life Podcast. This season, Deb Timmerman, registered nurse and board-certified reflexologist, and Lindsay Vertalka, master’s-level licensed physical therapist, are focusing on what it really looks like to live well with chronic illness. Through practical tools, research-backed insights, fresh approaches, and honest conversations with guests who are walking this path, this season is here to help you feel more hopeful, more informed, and more supported. In this first episode, Deb and Lindsay begin with a practical question: What actually counts as a chronic illness? Is it only major diagnoses like autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis? What about migraines, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, chronic pain, or symptoms that never seem to fully go away? Together, they explore what chronic illness really means, why symptoms are often more connected than they seem, and how stress, pain, nervous system patterns, and daily life can all overlap. Whether you’ve been diagnosed for years, are still searching for answers, or are supporting someone you love, this episode offers a grounded starting point for understanding chronic illness through a more holistic lens. Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

  8. 07/20/2025

    From Self-Care to Stress-Care: The Role of Complementary Therapies in Healing

    Feeling overwhelmed by stress or stuck in survival mode? In this episode, we unpack the difference between basic self-care and true stress care—and why your nervous system needs more than the occasional bubble bath. Tune in to discover how complementary therapies like reflexology, breathwork, and even decluttering can help your body finally exhale.  Follow Us: Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/ Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!

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About

Welcome to Less Stress in Life, the podcast where science, compassion, and practical strategies come together to help you live well—even when life doesn't go according to plan. Hosted by registered nurse and board-certified reflexologist Deb Timmerman and physical therapist Lindsay Vertalka, our conversations explore the connection between stress, pain, the nervous system, and overall well-being. Together, we share evidence-informed insights, real-life experiences, and simple tools that can help you better understand your body and support your health. Whether you're living with chronic pain or illness, caring for someone who is, or simply looking for practical ways to reduce stress and improve your quality of life, you'll find encouragement, education, and hope here. Because living well isn't about having a perfect body. It's about learning to work with the one you have.

Information

  • Creator
    Unknown
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Less Stress In Life
  • Show Website
    Less Stress In Life