It Has to Be Me

Tess Masters
  • 5.0 (39)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What are your “It has to be me” moments? Those key points in your life where you know “This is what I want to do” and you go for it! I’m Tess Masters and I’m getting the skinny from people who are smashing their fears and doubts to make the things they want happen. Let’s dive in, get fired up, and go after your next “It Has To Be Me!”

  1. Simplicity, Creativity, and Ritual | 093

    5D AGO

    Simplicity, Creativity, and Ritual | 093

    Are you in the driver’s seat of your story? Shiva Rose reflects on how she leveraged her everyday experiences to create a successful company and build a more diverse and fulfilling life. We trace Shiva’s career from actress to wellness writer to skincare entrepreneur. A public divorce and life-threatening autoimmune conditions forced her to seek major life change. The power of food, a renewed relationship with nature and spirit, and ancient rituals became vital allies in her healing journey. Learning to trust her body and intuition and stay open to transformation helped her recognize the unique medicine she possessed. She takes us inside how food and the alchemy of herbs awakened her senses. But, it was tea ceremonies that helped quieten her mind, and taught her patience and presence. Ritual, Shiva says, keeps us focused and grounded, especially when life takes a destabilizing turn. We celebrate the arts as a powerful tool for nurturing connection with self and others, and explore creativity as a living force that doesn’t disappear when circumstances change—we give it new forms. Shiva urges us to stay in the dream state, not to escape reality but to meet it. Her call: You are the writer, director, and producer of your story. Decide that it will be extraordinary. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Living creatively is about leaning into curiosity, possibility, and discovery.Chronic illness can be a doorway into listening, not just symptom management.Healing begins when you listen, engage, and activate your own medicine.Seek out the wisdom, power, and unique medicine of women.Connection with nature and spirit move grief and emotion when words fall short.Rejection is often just bad timing, not a judgment of readiness or worth.Suffer what there is to suffer and enjoy what there is to enjoy.Making each moment intentional creates extraordinary lives in everyday realms. ABOUT SHIVA ROSE Shiva Rose is the author of Whole Beauty and founder of the natural skincare company Shiva Rose Beauty. Life-threatening autoimmune diseases prompted her pursuit of healing through clean living. To document her journey, she started a lifestyle website, The Local Rose. Her skincare line evolved from that. Shiva is also passionate about Kundalini practice and the Chinese way of tea, Cha Dao. Through her two courses, The Power Of Lunar Energy and The Waterways Of The Feminine Mystique, she helps women connect with nature and spirit. She lives with her daughter and her partner in the mountains of New Mexico and the hills of Texas. CONNECT WITH SHIVA Shiva Rose: https://www.shivarose.com/ Shiva Rose Beauty: https://www.thelocalrose.com/ Whole Beauty: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Beauty-Rituals-Lifelong-Wellness/dp/1579657729/ Substack: a href="https://thehouseofmagdalena.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1h 22m
  2. Sketch by Sketch: Process Your Emotions Through Creativity | 092

    FEB 5

    Sketch by Sketch: Process Your Emotions Through Creativity | 092

    Sheila Darcey’s Sketch By Sketch changed my life. So, we’re talking about the book, and how the daily sketch practice she’s developed for herself and thousands of others helps us process emotions when words fall short. And before you back away with “I can’t even draw a stick figure” (like I did), hold on. This isn’t about drawing or creating art, it’s about connecting with your unconscious wisdom to create marks of free expression that precede and transcend language. Sheila starts her story with the fear of flying that became her doorway to sketching, not just as an artistic pursuit, but as a somatic tool. This daily practice became an effective way to get out of her head and into her body, process trauma, and build a sense of safety that other methods hadn’t provided. Having grown up in an environment distorted by addiction and fear, Sheila recalls how creativity helped expand her emotional vocabulary, and reconnect with parts of herself she had abandoned. We talk about childhood survival, and how many of us disconnect from our bodies simply to cope. Leaning into curiosity and creativity help dissolve the judgment that gets in the way of compassion. We cover why sketching with a pen not a pencil helps us beat back perfectionism and performance, and leap into the unknown. Through sketching, we can transmute shame and other oppressive emotions into feelings that strengthen possibility. Sheila invites us to reframe boredom, rest, stillness, imagination, and innovation, and consider our generational and energetic imprints. Healing is not about fixing ourselves, but about relating to ourselves differently. Sheila’s key point: Creativity is not a luxury but a necessity. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS Creativity expands our emotional lexicon. Creativity helps us connect to the parts of ourselves we’ve ignored or abandoned. Part of the creative process is leaping into the unknown and inviting co-creation. Sketching can be a therapeutic practice to identify and process thoughts and emotions. Sketching can be a daily embodiment practice like meditation or yoga. Sketching is fast and loose—you don’t have to get attached. “Letting go” is not an act of releasing, but accepting what has been there. Sketches are modern-day hieroglyphics—marks that transcend language. ABOUT SHEILA Founder of SketchPoetic®, and author of Sketch By Sketch, artist Sheila Darcey teaches a transformational sketching practice that enables people to access emotional healing through intuitive expression. Sheila created the Living Canvas Foundation™, a nonprofit supporting healing, connection, and social impact through creativity. She serves as its executive director. Through her art, workshops, community-based art initiatives, and innovative use of technology, Sheila creates spaces where people can access their creativity as a pathway to connect with emotions and gain personal insight. Her work bridges art, wellness, and consciousness, tapping into personal and collective storytelling, and is rooted in the belief that every life is a dynamic canvas. CONNECT WITH SHEILA Sketch Poetic®: https://www.sketchpoetic.com/ Living Canvas Foundation™: https://livingcanvasfoundation.org/ Sketch By Sketch Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sketch-Creative-Emotional-Transformation-SketchPoetic/dp/1250773873/ Substack: https://sheiladarcey.substack.com/ Instagram: a...

    1h 57m
  3. When the World Gets Unstable, Turn to Stories | 091

    JAN 29

    When the World Gets Unstable, Turn to Stories | 091

    In unstable times like these, it’s easy to harden, retreat, or get swept up in fear and shouting. Instead of being part of destructive narratives, find clarity and perspective in stories—in books, poetry, theater, film, TV, music, and your own life. I reflect on my childhood and the values my parents instilled—curiosity, compassion, asking questions, and imagining life through someone else’s eyes. My mom and dad encouraged storytelling as a way to explore challenging ideas without needing certainty or agreement. In adulthood, stories help me hold confusion and overwhelm, understand my experience and those of others, and connect with what matters most. Inviting us into lives we haven’t lived and perspectives we don’t yet understand, stories invite us to practice empathy toward understanding. Connecting with characters and situations soften our certainty, and remind us of our shared humanity. In this episode, I share recent experiences that have done that for me. From a Jacob Collier concert that turned thousands of strangers into willing collaborators, to shows like Schitt’s Creek and Heated Rivalry that remind us of our capacity to connect with people who are not like us. Be invested in the diversity of stories, including your own. Stay curious and risk talking with people who think differently, even if it provokes their hostility. Hear them out. Dare to be wrong. Allow yourself to be surprised, not by their views, but their willingness to have a civil conversation. Storytelling can soften your edges, and those of others. Someone has to make the first move. Decide—It Has To Be Me. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS Stories invite empathy and understanding without force or persuasion. Stories help us hold complexity without shutting down. Curiosity keeps us connected. It changes our minds and perspectives. Listening is an act of resistance to outrage. Share your stories and take in the stories of those who think differently. Be kind as a quiet form of courage. You can learn from someone without agreeing with them. We build community through shared humanity, not shared opinions. MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs. Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others. Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com. CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: a...

    39 min
  4. The Antidote To Overwhelm | 090

    JAN 22

    The Antidote To Overwhelm | 090

    It’s the Year of the Horse. Are you going to be a rocking horse, going back and forth and staying in the same place? Or a champion—sharp and focused, determined to win the race? Easier said than done. In this episode, I share how I had decided to shut the podcast down, because I felt like an imposter, that I’d been too ambitious, and bitten off more than I could chew! I recall tools shared by our guests to combat fear and overwhelm, and which ones worked for me. In the end, I realized we don’t always need to spend time and money correcting course. Often, it just takes the right person saying the right thing at the right time to shift your perspective. What got me back in the game was trusting myself to do my own triage, and choosing the strategies that felt right. Two mantras I embraced help me enjoy the work, not just obsess about the result. Just because you don’t know how it’s going to happen, doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Spoiler: Self-doubt and self-belief are both needed to create anything of value. If you’re waiting for the perfect time to go after your It Has To Be Me, you’ll be waiting forever. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS It’s a puzzle, not a problem. If you want to, you can figure it out. Don’t be overwhelmed or depleted by your “to do” list—be energized by it. When faced with an overwhelming task, imagine the feeling of having done it. Worrying is like a rocking horse. It has motion, but gets you nowhere. There are a finite amount of yes’s and an infinite amount of no’s. Choose them wisely. A compassionate no is a gift for you and the other person. Stay in the race. Most people give up right before they cross the finish line. Give your imperfect offering. The right people can handle it. The wrong people never will. MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs. Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others. Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com. CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening!...

    56 min
  5. Fatty Liver Disease—What Everyone Needs To Know | 089

    JAN 15

    Fatty Liver Disease—What Everyone Needs To Know | 089

    Fatty Liver Disease is an epidemic—1 in 3 people has it and many don’t know they do. Dr. Ibrahim Hanouneh, leading hepatologist and co-author of Skinny Liver and Regenerative Health, tells us what we need to know so we can avoid fatty liver or reverse it. We track his career from early medical training in Syria and England to cutting-edge work at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Hanouneh shares how the liver’s extraordinary ability to regenerate brought him into the study of the liver, then breaks down the progression of liver disease in an accessible—and hopeful—way. We discuss the critical role of the liver, the metabolic health crisis affecting 90% of people, the root causes of fatty liver in both adults and children, and how the disease is linked to heart attacks and strokes. From there, we cover risk factors we can control, those we can’t, and why women over 40 and adults with obesity, diabetes, and sleep apnea are at particularly high risk. Dr. Hanouneh explains the non-specific symptoms of “the silent disease,” the five criteria for metabolic syndrome, and how to get tested for fatty liver. He addresses the four metabolic types, why BMI is outdated, and how “skinny fat” is the real medical risk. Stressing the importance of prevention and early detection, Dr. Hanouneh shares the impact of diet, sleep, and stress, the best exercise to reduce fat in your liver, and proven food and lifestyle strategies. Next up: the common supplements, detox products, and over-the-counter medications that are causing liver damage, and why a daily cup of black coffee may be exactly what you need. For those diagnosed with liver disease: We get into the latest studies, what we need to know about the two FDA-approved medications, timelines for recovery, and exciting new developments with transplants. The key takeaway: When you catch it early and make strategic lifestyle changes, fatty liver is 100% reversible. Don’t miss this episode so you know exactly what to do. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS Fatty liver has surpassed alcohol as the leading cause of liver disease and liver cancer. What causes fatty liver is a high intake of carbs and sugar—not necessarily fat. Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver are linked—having one increases risk for the other. Sleep apnea and chronic stress both accelerate fatty liver through inflammation. Children are developing fatty liver due to diet and sugary drinks, obesity, and diabetes. Fatty Liver was renamed from NAFLD to MASLD to reflect its metabolic origins. Knowing your metabolic type enables detection and tailored treatment for fatty liver. Rezdiffra and Wegovy are FDA-approved drugs for treating fatty liver disease. ABOUT DR. IBRAHIM HANOUNEH Dr. Hanouneh completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at the Cleveland Clinic, and served on staff there before attending patients at the Mayo Clinic and joining the Board Of Directors at MNGI Digestive Health. Co-author of the books Skinny Liver and Regenerative Health, Dr. Hanouneh has spent much of his career working with liver disease, with particular expertise in studies relating to fatty liver. He has presented at national and international conferences, and authored over 70 papers and numerous abstracts. CONNECT WITH DR. HANOUNEH Website: https://www.mngi.com/provider/ibrahim-hanouneh-md Skinny Liver book: https://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Liver-Program-Prevent-Epidemic-Fatty/dp/0738234648/ Regenerative Health book: a href="https://www.amazon.com/Regenerative-Health-Discover-Metabolic-Renew/dp/0306830159/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1h 31m
  6. Better Weight Health - With or Without a GLP-1 Medication | 088

    JAN 8

    Better Weight Health - With or Without a GLP-1 Medication | 088

    Want to lose weight but don’t know whether a GLP-1 medication is right for you? Ashley Koff, dietitian and author of Your Best Shot, explains the links between gut health, blood sugar, hormones, and metabolism, and how we can achieve and maintain our goal weight, with or without the Shot. We start with Ashley’s own struggle with weight, from belly awareness as a kid and dieting in high school and college, to obsessive exercise, extreme fads, and even a goat’s-milk cleanse! Finally, a gastroenterologist provided a real solution: First, focus on digestion. The results were life-changing. Ashley became a dietitian, building on that approach. She recognized, before the GLP-1s came along, the impact of weight-health hormones—"the Switch"—on blood sugar and appetite, and the connection between these hormones and gut health. She fine-tuned her system, and treated patients with huge success. From there she walks us through the science—the difference between the Switch and GLP-1 medications that replace these hormones, ”The Shot.” We weigh the benefits and side effects of medications, and how to titrate off them and maintain your results. Covering what you need to know to establish and maintain a healthy weight, Ashley says it's not just about losing weight, it's about optimizing your weight health. What's “Your Best Shot”? Assess and decode your body’s signals, then create a personalized action plan to fit your specific situation and needs. We talk through that process and what a plan might look like, common pitfalls in formulating a strategy, the skinny on supplements, and why doctors are not always the best guides. The great news: You can control your weight health more than you think. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS Your body is an ecosystem, and needs optimized resources to run better.To optimize weight health start with improving digestion and gut health.The body produces hormones that act as “the Switch” to regulate appetite and blood sugar.GLP-1s can reduce food noise, regulate blood sugar, and support weight loss.GLP-1 medications are a hormone-replacement therapy—and suppress the Switch.The medications also can cause dehydration, digestive problems, and other health issues.Titrating off a GLP-1 medication without improving digestion can result in rebound weight gain.Willpower is a fake muscle that does not play a role in effective weight management. ABOUT ASHLEY Author of Your Best Shot, Ashley Koff, RD is the founder of The Better Nutrition Program (BNP), the Nutrition Course Director for UC Irvine’s Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute's Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship. Also a faculty member at the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy, she teaches the IFNA course “An Integrative and Functional Nutrition Approach to Obesity and Weight Management.” A go-to nutrition expert on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and others, Ashley was among CNN’s Top 100 Health Makers, InStyle magazine’s Hollywood Nutritionist, and a Global Wellness Ambassador for Westin Hotels. As a practitioner and business owner, Ashley makes her mission providing personalized nutrition solutions and helping people identify their needs to make “better, not perfect” choices toward their...

    2h 9m
  7. The Power of Women's Communities | 087

    JAN 1

    The Power of Women's Communities | 087

    Ladies: Tap into the power of other women to get where you want to go. My friends and colleagues Mia Moran, Julie Hannon, and Kelly Lubeck—all members of Skinny60® and the FLOW365 community—join me to talk about what happens when women express themselves freely, and celebrate themselves and each other. Mia, Julie, and Kelly share their healing journeys, and the profound impact nutrition has had on their personal growth and transformation. They take us inside how they use that knowledge and experience in their private practices, and together, to guide and champion other women. Starting with support and accountability, we get into why private and group coaching can help us see ourselves with more confidence and resilience. And we discuss the importance of leaders maintaining self-care and awareness practices to create safe spaces and meet clients with clarity and integrity. We explore the challenges women face today, what keeps most of us stuck, and what we can do to leverage our femininity to make choices that align with what we want. By moving the conversation from our heads to our hearts, making a plan and executing it—with guidance—we reduce overwhelm, and can navigate the complexities of life with balance and ease. Don’t do it alone. When women come together with a vision, they change the world. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Coach and client engage in a dynamic of co-creation and drive thoughts into action.Great coaches create listening containers that help us approach ourselves in new ways.To walk the talk, ethical wellness practitioners maintain self-care practices.Women need each other. Seek out communities. Tap into the power of the feminine collective.Acting in a community activates the parasympathetic nervous system, for more connection.Titration—making key changes slowly—creates safety in doing things that are hard or scary.Befriending resistance is the path to getting past it.You wouldn’t have an idea if you didn't have the capacity to make it happen. MEET OUR GUESTS MIA MORAN Mia Moran is a mom, productivity coach, and planning expert. She is the host of the Plan Simple podcast, author of Plan Simple Meals, and creator of the FLOW365 program. Her belief in the power of wellness and a good plan got its start during a health crisis. Making changes to her diet, she experienced the impact better nutrition had on her work, relationships, and family life. While operating her design business, she began creating and sharing content around food, wellness, spirituality, motherhood, and feminine productivity. Her content resonated with other women. Mia has struck her perfect balance between wellness, work, and family; and she helps busy women and female entrepreneurs reduce overwhelm, find balance, and make strategic plans that enable them to achieve their goals. JULIE HANNON As a shamanic healer, energy medicine teacher, and yoga practitioner, Julie Hannon helps clients connect with their gifts and strengths, and make heart-centered decisions. With a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University and bachelor’s in psychology from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Julie worked for over 20 years as a human resources director. She then trained in the healing...

    1h 57m
  8. Lose weight over 40 without GLP-1 Medications | 086

    12/25/2025

    Lose weight over 40 without GLP-1 Medications | 086

    What if the thing you’ve been searching for isn’t another diet, another rulebook, or another “fix” but a way back to yourself?    In this intimate, heart‑centered roundtable, I sit down with three extraordinary members of our Skinny60 community, Rachel, Gina, and Deborah, to talk about what really happens when women stop chasing perfection and finally decide, it has to be me.  These women have tried everything, from cabbage soup diets and celebrity programs to vegan meal plans and giving up altogether. But when they landed in the 60-day reset, something clicked. Not because it was “easier,” but because it was designed to work with them, not against them.   Rachel takes us back to 2020, when she wrote in her phone the desires she hoped to call in: miraculous weight loss, energy, glow. She had tried every diet under the sun, Weight Watchers, Atkins, keto, cabbage soup days, lemon detoxes, and still felt stuck. When the SK60 newsletter landed in her inbox, something in her said, this might be it. Not because she believed it would definitely work…but because she knew she couldn’t stay where she was.   Gina shares what it’s like to live with lupus from childhood, how food was always something she loved, but also something doctors told her might be harming her. She had tested my recipes for years, but still wasn’t ready to commit to a program until she saw a photo of herself that made her cry. That moment became her “I’m ready” turning point.  And then there’s Deborah, long‑time vegan, trauma counselor, and someone who had been told she needed to lose weight before she could be approved for hiatal hernia surgery. Nothing she tried worked because nothing had been designed with her body, her ethics, and her digestion in mind. But when she came to the SK60 webinar on hormones and gut health, something clicked. She joined out of curiosity… and curiosity became transformation.  If you’re listening and thinking, “That’s amazing for them, but I don’t know if it can happen for me…”  Let this conversation be your reminder that change and healing is possible and you don’t have to believe the whole story, just the next step, because when you give yourself permission to try again extraordinary things happen.  TESS’S TAKEAWAYS:  You’re not “too late.” You’re right on time for your own transformation. 60 days can be the catalyst for a lifetime of change.  What starts as a food reset often becomes a self-worth revolution. “Good. Better. Best. Not Perfect.” is more than a mantra, it’s freedom.  Food is fuel, but it’s also joy, connection, and memory-making.  You’re not lazy, broken, or undisciplined, your approach just didn’t fit you… until now.  Trusting your body begins with learning how to listen to it.  The stories you tell yourself matter. Rewrite the ones that don’t serve you. Investing in yourself doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you stronger. Real change starts when you decide: it has to be me.  MEET TESS MASTERS:    Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.        Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.     Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share...

    1h 23m
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About

What are your “It has to be me” moments? Those key points in your life where you know “This is what I want to do” and you go for it! I’m Tess Masters and I’m getting the skinny from people who are smashing their fears and doubts to make the things they want happen. Let’s dive in, get fired up, and go after your next “It Has To Be Me!”

Information

  • Creator
    Tess Masters
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 It Has To Be Me Tess Masters, Inc. All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    It Has to Be Me

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