The Calm Collective - a wellness podcast for women

AshLiving
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Weekly

Co-hosted by Ashlee Livingstone and Colleen Kurtz, experts in wellness, stress management, and finding your calm. Stress is a normal part of life, but the chronic effects don’t have to be. Join us for raw, relatable conversations as we explore how everything is connected—mind, body, and even the powerful mind-gut connection. We’ll share simple, practical tools to help you move out of survival mode and transform your wellness. The Calm Collective is your space to pause, breathe, and realign. Ready to feel more calm and in control? Tune in weekly for your wellness.

  1. 2d ago

    Healing your body image with self love

    How often do you catch yourself treating your body like a project that constantly needs fixing? We’ve been conditioned to believe that self-criticism is the ultimate motivator—that if we are just tough enough on ourselves, we will finally reach our goals and earn self-worth. But the truth is, self-criticism doesn't motivate us; it paralyses us, blindfolding us to our wins, our strength, and our progress. This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee dive into the complex, often painful reality of body image. They unpack how the non-stop highlight reels of "perfection" on social media hijack our nervous systems, layer onto the self-image stories we inherited as kids, and keep us trapped in an endless loop of body dissatisfaction. Colleen and Ashlee share how to break free from the trap of exercising or eating to "fix" your flaws, and how to shift toward movement and nutrition as an authentic act of self-love. If you’re ready to stop waiting for a specific number on the scale to start appreciating who you are today, this conversation is the gentle, powerful perspective shift you need. Colleen and Ashlee discuss: The Social Media Distortion: How constant exposure to curated "perfection" online fuels body dysmorphia and triggers old childhood wounds around belonging."Fitness to Fix" vs. Fitness for Joy: Unpacking the toxic mindset of working out as a punishment versus moving your body to build strength and connection.Rewriting Your Self-Image: Somatic and mindset practices to unlearn deep-seated childhood conditioning and start viewing your body through a lens of appreciation.Want more support? Join Ashlee’s 5 Day Morning Reset to quiet the critic: join here Or grab a Discovery Call with Colleen  Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

  2. Aug 13

    Thriving the Back-to-School Transition with Becky Funk

    The transition back to school isn’t just stressful for our kids it completely disrupts the entire household's nervous system. From navigating massive high school hallways and locker anxieties to wrestling teenage sleep schedules and morning routine battles, the shift from summer freedom to autumn structure is a high-stakes transition for everyone involved. This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee welcome back guest Becky Funk to unpack how parents can navigate back-to-school anxieties without taking over, micro-managing, or projecting our own fears onto our kids.  Becky shares brilliant, real-world parenting strategies for supporting your teen's growing independence, including how to ditch accusatory language, manage the constant stress of online grade notifications, and help regulated teens make peace with natural consequences. Colleen, Ashlee, and Becky discuss: High School Transition Anxieties: How to validate fears around larger buildings, finding lunch tables, and shifting social dynamics without trying to "fix" everything. The "Should, Could, Would" Priority Reset: A simple paper-and-pen strategy to help overwhelmed teens (and parents!) organize their brain dumps and prioritize mental health over endless schedules. Curiosity Over Accusation: Why switching from "Why didn't you...?" to curiosity-based questions opens the door for genuine communication and co-regulation. Sleep, Energy Drinks, and Morning Battles: Practical ways to gradually adjust adolescent circadian rhythms and establish breakfast routines that actually stick. Balancing Safety with Independence: How to give your teenager control over their decisions while maintaining steady, supportive boundaries. Grab Becky’s free resource to discover if your teen is struggling with anxiety or if it is just typical teen stuff: https://www.thebeckyfunk.com/anxiety-or-typical-teen-stuff Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  3. Aug 6

    I’m Bothered! Moving Through Triggers Without Making a Mess

    We can’t stop corporate decisions from stressing us out, and we can’t stop people from doing annoying things. But we can stop letting external chaos hijack our internal peace. In this powerful solo episode, Ashlee gets incredibly honest about a recent moment on the baseball field where she lost her cool, got caught in a loop of complaining, and felt completely sidelined. She uses this raw, real-life trigger to show us how venting and complaining actually drain our energy and fuel our mental loops—and what it looks like to take radical responsibility for our own nervous systems instead. If you are tired of living in survival mode and reacting to every stressful event outside of your control, this episode is your blueprint for building a personal regulation toolkit that brings you back to clarity. Ashlee shares: The Circle of Control: How to quickly identify what is actually yours to manage (your attitude, words, and effort) and let go of the rest. Venting vs. Regulating: Why complaining only keeps your brain in a stress response, and how somatic tools like breathwork and movement break the loop. Digging Beneath the Anger: How pausing and regulating allows us to see the real trigger (like feeling left out or hurt) so we can actually heal it. Daily Radical Responsibility: Ashlee's personal practices for catching a stress spiral early, before it leaks onto the people around her. Download Ashlee's 10 minute breathwork to access your calm: ⁠Take a Breath⁠ Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  4. Jul 30

    Smooth Sailing into Menopause with Monika

    If you are in your 40s and have been told that sudden insomnia, crushing fatigue, and stubborn weight gain are "just a normal part of getting older," it is time to refuse that narrative. This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee sit down with hormone nutritionist Monika to break down why generic online advice and extreme fitness trends are completely failing middle-aged women—and what actually works instead. Monika explains that perimenopause is a natural transition, not a medical emergency. However, severe symptoms like night sweats and major sleep disruptions are a sign of a deeper, underlying dysregulation—often stemming from gut issues, inflammation, and decades of built-up cortisol. Together, they explore why the traditional "eat less, exercise more" blueprint from your 20s completely backfires in midlife, and how true regulation comes from shifting away from high-stress workouts toward deep mineral replenishment and self-compassion. Colleen, Ashlee, and Monika dive into: Common vs. Normal: Why severe perimenopause symptoms are signs of a depleted, stressed system—not an inevitable rite of passage. The Midlife Exercise Reset: Why lifting weights 2–3 times a week and walking are the ultimate regulators for your body, while overexertion leaves you entirely burnt out. The Carbs and Minerals Connection: Why whole carbohydrates should never be feared, and how replenishing essential minerals like magnesium and potassium addresses the true root causes of your symptoms. The HRT Missing Piece: Why hormone replacement therapy needs a solid foundation of optimized sleep, nutrition, and rest to actually produce results.Delegation as Regulation: Why true self-care for busy women means outsourcing and delegating tasks to lower cortisol, rather than adding more things to an already packed to-do list. Grab Monika's free Weight Loss & Energy Blocker AssessmentAnd connect with her on instagram: Monika Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  5. Jul 23

    Why I Don't Start with Hormone Testing (And What I Do Instead)

    Ever wondered why your hormones still feel "off" even after trying all the supplements, hormone-balancing tips, and wellness trends? In this episode, Colleen is sharing why she doesn't typically start with hormone testing like a DUTCH test when women come to me struggling with painful periods, PCOS, endometriosis, PMS, infertility, perimenopause symptoms, bloating, fatigue, anxiety, or mood swings. Instead, she explains why she almost always begin by looking at two foundational areas: gut health and mineral balance. We'll talk about why she believes hormones are responders, how your gut plays a critical role in estrogen detoxification, what bacterial imbalances and inflammation can mean for your hormone health, and why minerals are the "spark plugs" that help every system in your body function—including your hormones. If you've been wondering why your symptoms keep coming back or why you don't feel like yourself anymore, this episode will help you understand the bigger picture and why identifying the root cause matters so much more than guessing. In this episode, you'll learn: Why she doesn't usually start with hormone testing What it means when she says "hormones are responders" How your gut influences hormone health What a GI-MAP can reveal about your symptoms Why minerals are essential for healthy hormone function How stress, the adrenal glands, and perimenopause are all connected When hormone testing does make sense If you're tired of guessing and you're ready to understand what your body is actually trying to tell you, this episode is for you. Ready to uncover the root cause of your symptoms? Book your complimentary 20-minute consultation here:https://l.bttr.to/2ldW7 Learn more about working with Colleen:www.mindfully-nourished.com Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  6. Jul 16

    The Summer Overstimulation Trap: Planning for Rest Without the Restlessness

    We enter summer with one collective goal: to finally rest. Yet, by mid-July, most of us find ourselves completely overstimulated, playing cruise director for our kids, and cleaning up the physical and emotional mess of an overscheduling spiral. Why does the season of relaxation always end up feeling so incredibly dysregulated? This week on The Calm Collective, Colleen and Ashlee break down the exact strategies mom entrepreneurs (and busy parents) need to protect their energy this summer. They unpack how unexpected calendar shifts, travel-induced digestive issues, and the frantic urge to constantly look for the "next big activity" completely rob us of our presence. From setting firm boundaries around work-cation time to letting our kids embrace the deeply regulating power of pure boredom, this episode is your blueprint for a summer that actually fills your cup instead of draining it. Colleen and Ashlee lean into: The Unscheduled Entertainment Blueprint: How Ashlee sets structured routines with her teenager to avoid the trap of constant, frantic entertainment-seeking. The Travel Dysregulation Loop: Colleen breaks down how dehydration, stress, and poor sleep derail your digestion, and how to plan vacations that don't require a vacation to recover from. Normalizing Boredom: Why stepping back and allowing your kids to be bored is a mandatory skill for building their independence—and reclaiming your sanity.The "Hurry Up and Fun" Trap: How to catch yourself when you're rushing your family through the present moment just to make it to the next item on a packed calendar.Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback:⁠ ⁠Ashlee⁠⁠ &⁠ ⁠Colleen⁠⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  7. Jul 9

    The Mess Dysregulation Creates

    As parents—and especially as mothers—we are the emotional thermostats of our homes. Our kids look to us to cue them on whether a situation is safe, calm, or chaotic. But what happens when our own internal thermostat malfunctions right when they need us the most? In this incredibly vulnerable solo episode, Ashlee pulls back the curtain on a major reality check she experienced during her son’s recent grade-eight graduation. Marking the end of his 10-year elementary school journey should have been a day of celebration, but instead, it became a masterclass in how easily our own dysregulation can create an emotional mess for the people we love. Ashlee gets radically honest about the anatomy of her spiral: from over-scheduling her day and neglecting her baseline energy to completely forgetting to account for the frantic "energy-switching" between tasks. By the time she was circling a parking lot during her son’s pre-graduation haircut, her system was on fire—and the ripple effect on her anxious, suit-wearing teenager was immediate. If you’ve ever wanted to be the steady, calm anchor for your child during a big life milestone, but ended up snappy, frustrated, and swimming in guilt instead, this episode is a compassionate space to land. Ashlee breaks down: The Blueprint of a Spiral: The two critical mistakes Ashlee made on graduation morning that guaranteed her nervous system would crash. The Co-Regulation Reality: How our internal stress subconsciously dysregulates our children, making them more anxious and defensive. The Graduation Dance Friction: What happened when Ashlee’s dysregulation collided with her son's teenage anxiety, and why she struggled to hold steady boundaries. Radical Responsibility vs. Shame: How to look at your parenting missteps, clear out the guilt, and extract the lesson so you can do it differently next time. The Danger of "High-Stakes" Multitasking: Why daily regulation habits (breathwork, movement, hydration) matter most on the days you think you have the least time for them. If you are tired of letting a fried nervous system hijack your most precious family moments, you don't have to figure it out alone. Ashlee wants to help you build a lifestyle of steady, sustainable regulation. DM Ashlee the word "REGULATED" over on Instagram (DM Ashlee Here) to get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at her upcoming nervous system regulation program. Let’s learn how to hold the space, keep our cool, and stop making a mess out of the moments that matter most. Are You Ready to Break the Cycle? Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

  8. Jul 2

    The Missing Link Between Your Gut, Thyroid, Hormones & Minerals: Why I Love Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis

    Have you cleaned up your diet, cut out gluten, taken the probiotics, and you're still struggling with bloating, constipation, acid reflux, Hashimoto's, hormone imbalances, or low energy? If so, this episode is for you. One of the biggest misconceptions Colleen sees in the health world is that healing starts and ends with the gut. While your gut is incredibly important, it doesn't function on its own. Every system in your body is connected, and one of the most overlooked pieces of the puzzle is your mineral status. In this episode, Colleen is breaking down why she loves Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) and why it's one of her favorite functional lab tests for uncovering the root causes behind chronic gut symptoms and the systemic issues that often follow. We'll talk about: ✨ Why your gut can't function properly without minerals ✨ How minerals impact stomach acid, digestive enzymes, nutrient absorption, and thyroid function ✨ The important roles of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—and why they do so much more than most people realize ✨ Why "just take magnesium" isn't always the best advice ✨ How HTMA provides a unique three-month snapshot of your body's mineral patterns and stress response ✨ How this test helps her create personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations instead of relying on guesswork If you're tired of chasing symptoms and you're ready to understand why your body isn't functioning the way it should, this episode will completely change the way you think about gut health. Ready to stop guessing? For a limited time, Colleen is offering her HTMA + Results Review Session at a discounted rate! You'll receive:• An HTMA test kit shipped directly to your home• A comprehensive review of your results• Personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations• A 60-minute one-on-one consultation where we'll walk through your results together and create a clear roadmap for healing. Because healing isn't about throwing random supplements at symptoms. It's about understanding what your body has been trying to tell you all along. Book here  Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠ And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Co-hosted by Ashlee Livingstone and Colleen Kurtz, experts in wellness, stress management, and finding your calm. Stress is a normal part of life, but the chronic effects don’t have to be. Join us for raw, relatable conversations as we explore how everything is connected—mind, body, and even the powerful mind-gut connection. We’ll share simple, practical tools to help you move out of survival mode and transform your wellness. The Calm Collective is your space to pause, breathe, and realign. Ready to feel more calm and in control? Tune in weekly for your wellness.

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