Genuinely Jeni

Jeni Elflein

Welcome! I'm Jeni—a wellness coach, former 250-pound woman, wife, mom, and endlessly curious human. Weight loss may have brought you here, but this podcast is about so much more. Together we'll have honest conversations about authenticity, boundaries, relationships, intimacy, parenting, faith, mental health, wellness, and the messy, beautiful process of becoming who you're meant to be. This isn't a place to be told what to think—it's a place to think, question, grow, and live more authentically.

  1. 2d ago

    E14: The Dress, the Divide & the Freedom to Choose

    Have you ever heard someone's political opinion and thought, "How could anyone possibly believe that?"What if the answer has less to do with intelligence or morality and more to do with the lens through which we see the world?Remember The Dress? That viral photo that some people saw as blue and black while others swore it was white and gold? What if that same phenomenon could help us understand political polarization, conflicting beliefs, and why we struggle to see another person's perspective?In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, I'm exploring how our upbringing, experiences, culture, and psychology shape our beliefs—often before we even realize it. We'll talk about cognitive biases, moral foundations, political division, religious freedom, and why understanding someone's perspective doesn't mean agreeing with it.And I'll share why I believe protecting our freedom to choose—even when we disagree with someone else's choices—is essential to finding common ground. 🎧 Listen, follow, and subscribe to Genuinely Jeni on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.💬 I'd love to hear your perspective! Connect with me on Instagram @genuinely.jeni.619, TikTok @genuinelyjeni619, and YouTube @genuinelyjeni619.🌐 Visit www.genuinelywell.com/genuinelyjenipod Topics: Political polarization, independent thinking, psychology of beliefs, cognitive bias, moral foundations, perspective, freedom of choice, religious liberty, empathy, and finding common ground.

    E14: The Dress, the Divide & the Freedom to Choose

  2. Oct 20

    E13: Thinking for Yourself in a World That Demands You Pick a Side

    What if the beliefs you're defending aren't actually your own? I've never liked being told what to think. Tell me everyone loves a movie, and I probably won't watch it. Tell me a joke is hilarious, and suddenly I don't want to laugh. But what started as a childhood experience of feeling like my opinions didn't matter has become something much bigger. In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, I'm exploring the psychology behind why we resist being told what to think—and why so many of us find it difficult to question the beliefs we've inherited. We're talking about psychological reactance, cognitive dissonance, independent thinking, political polarization, and the pressure to choose a side. I'll share why being politically independent doesn't mean I don't care about the issues, how therapy has helped me understand my own reactions, and why changing your mind might be one of the bravest things you can do. Contrary to what I was raised to believe, thinking for yourself isn't about always disagreeing. It's about having the courage to question, the humility to listen, and the grace to let other people do the same. If this episode makes you think, subscribe to Genuinely Jeni on your favorite podcast platform and follow me on Instagram @genuinely.jeni.619 for more honest conversations about personal growth, faith, relationships, wellness, and living according to your values. And share this episode with someone who isn't afraid to challenge your perspective. Live what you love.

    E13: Thinking for Yourself in a World That Demands You Pick a Side

  3. Oct 13

    E12: Scheduled Sex That's Worth Clearing the Calendar For.

    We schedule sex. As in, it's on the calendar. Who DOESN'T want something to look forward to?! 😆 This week on Genuinely Jeni, my husband Ken joins me for a funny, candid conversation about sex after 40 and how physical intimacy has evolved throughout our relationship. From early chemistry with very little communication to parenting, body image struggles, and seasons when sex felt more like an obligation, we’re sharing the things we didn’t always know how to talk about. We get into how weight loss changed our confidence, our personal experiences with testosterone therapy and libido, and why Ken decided to do a little homework on women’s pleasure. Plus, we explain how scheduling sex became part of our routine—and why anticipation, curiosity, and honest communication have made this chapter of our marriage so much fun. If you’ve ever struggled with mismatched desire, felt awkward asking for what you want, or wondered about keeping intimacy alive in a long-term relationship, pull up a chair. We’re sharing our experience, plenty of laughs, and a reminder that you’re allowed to speak up about your own enjoyment. Because if connection is something we value, it deserves our time and effort. Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you get your podcasts, and share this episode with someone who would appreciate an honest conversation about marriage and intimacy. Follow along: Instagram: @genuinely.jeni.619 TikTok: Genuinely Jeni 619 YouTube: @genuinelyjeni619 Listen and explore more: https://www.genuinelywell.com/genuinelyjenipod New episodes Tuesdays. Life hacks for genuinely and courageously living your values. Adult conversation and explicit language. Personal experiences with hormones and other products are not medical advice.

    E12: Scheduled Sex That's Worth Clearing the Calendar For.

  4. Oct 6

    E11: My Dad Was an Addict—and the Best Person I Ever Knew

    My dad struggled with cocaine addiction for more than two decades. He was also my best friend—and the best person I've ever known. Both of those things are true. In this deeply personal episode of Genuinely Jeni, I'm sharing what it was like to grow up as the child of a parent with substance use disorder: the chaos I didn't understand, the responsibilities I never should have carried, the years I spent wondering why I wasn't enough for him to stop, and the painful boundary that eventually meant loving my dad from afar. I'm also talking about some of the misconceptions we have about addiction—and about the people who love someone with an addiction. Why don't they just leave? Are they enabling them? How can they cut off someone who needs them? And if an addict really loves their family, why don't they just stop? There aren't simple answers. We talk about boundaries, forgiveness, accountability, childhood trauma, hyper-independence, therapy, recovery, remorse, and what I've learned about separating someone's humanity from the worst things they've done. Addiction was part of my dad's story. It was a devastating part of mine. But I refuse to let it become his whole story. If you've ever loved someone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction—or you're still sorting through what that experience left behind—I hope you hear something in this episode that reminds you you're not alone. Follow/subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you're listening so you don't miss an episode, and follow @genuinely.jeni.619 on Instagram for more conversations about wellness, relationships, accountability, faith, family, and figuring ourselves out as we go. If this episode reminds you of someone who needs to hear it, please share it with them.

    E11: My Dad Was an Addict—and the Best Person I Ever Knew

  5. Sep 29

    E10: Every No Is A Yes. Choosing What Matters Most

    What if saying “no” isn’t really about what you’re giving up—but what you’re choosing instead? In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, my husband Ken joins me to talk about the choices we’ve made to build a life around what we value most. From turning down career opportunities and financial tradeoffs to protecting family time, resisting hustle culture, limiting overscheduled kids, and occasionally just admitting that we’d rather stay home together, we’ve learned that every “no” is also a “yes” to something else. We talk about parenting, marriage, work-life balance, family priorities, extracurricular activities, setting boundaries, people pleasing, the pressure to stay busy, and why a full calendar isn’t necessarily the same thing as a full life. This isn’t about saying no to everything—or believing our priorities should be yours. It’s about knowing your values well enough to recognize what each yes is costing you and deciding whether the trade is worth it. What are YOU saying yes to? 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Genuinely Jeni for honest conversations about wellness, relationships, parenting, faith, personal growth, authenticity, and building a life that actually reflects what you say you value. If this episode made you think of someone, share it with them—and send me your questions or thoughts for a future episode. @genuinely.jeni.619 across socials!

    E10: Every No Is A Yes. Choosing What Matters Most

  6. Sep 22

    E9: The Wellness Sweet Spot

    What if the reason your wellness plan isn’t working isn’t because you need to do MORE, but because you haven’t found the right balance yet?In this episode of Genuinely Jeni, I’m talking about what I call The Wellness Sweet Spot: the individual combination of nutrition, macros, exercise, consistency, sacrifice, and lifestyle that actually works for your body and your goals.We’re constantly being told to eat more protein, get more fiber, cut carbs, lift heavier, do Zone 2 cardio, take supplements, get more sleep, walk 10,000 steps, yada yada yada...and somehow fit all of it into an already full life. But optimal wellness isn’t necessarily about maximizing every “healthy” thing.It’s about finding YOUR recipe.I share why calorie restriction stopped working for me, how my own approach to cardio and strength training has changed throughout different seasons of my life, what research comparing low-carb and low-fat diets tells us about individual responses to weight loss, and why the most frustrating answer in wellness is often also the most accurate one:It depends.We’ll also talk about sustainable weight loss, macro balance, strength training vs. cardio, wellness for women over 40, changing needs during perimenopause and menopause, and how to figure out which one or two variables might actually make the biggest difference for you.If you’re tired of wellness checklists and wondering why doing “all the right things” still isn’t giving you the results you want, this episode is for you.🎧 Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you listen so you don’t miss future conversations about weight loss, wellness, women over 40, perimenopause, fitness, authenticity, and real life.📱 Follow me on social: @genuinely.jeni.619 for more real-life wellness, weight loss, fitness, perimenopause, and life-over-40 content.💚 Interested in personalized wellness coaching? If you’re tired of following generic plans and want help figuring out the nutrition, movement, and accountability strategy that works for your body and your life, learn more about working with me through Genuine Wellness.

    E9: The Wellness Sweet Spot

  7. Sep 15

    E8: Everything I need to know I learned from the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

    What can The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City possibly teach a mom and her 13-year-old about life? Turns out a LOT. After rewatching RHOSLC together, Ellie and I are talking about the surprisingly real life lessons hiding underneath all that reality TV drama—from accountability and owning your mistakes to blind loyalty, imperfect friendships, negativity, forgiveness, and why being wrong doesn’t make someone a bad person. We also get into why drama may grab attention but genuine connection keeps us watching—and what reality TV can teach us about relationships in real life. Whether you’re an RHOSLC superfan, a reality TV lover, or just fascinated by human behavior, come join our mother-daughter conversation before Season 7 begins! 🎙️ Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow me on social media @genuinely.jeni.619 for more conversations about wellness, relationships, parenting, authenticity, and figuring out life as we go.

    E8: Everything I need to know I learned from the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

  8. Sep 8

    E7:The Right Advice at the Wrong Time: The Wellness Spectrum, Part 1

    What if the wellness advice you’re hearing is completely true…and completely wrong for you? Carbs are good. Carbs are bad. Count calories. Eat more. Take a GLP-1. GLP-1s are cheating. Fix your hormones. Lower your cortisol. Walk more. Lift heavier. No wonder weight loss and wellness feel so damn confusing. In Part 1 of my Wellness Spectrum conversation, I’m breaking down why the problem isn’t always bad information—it’s good information reaching the wrong person at the wrong point in their journey. I share how the advice I need today, after losing 110 pounds and building years of consistent nutrition and exercise habits, would have completely overwhelmed me when I was nearly 250 pounds—and probably given me a few more excuses not to change. We’re talking about the spectrum from foundation → intention → consistency → individualization → optimization, why the “big boulders” have to come before the tiny details, and why someone who needs to start walking and eating fewer ultra-processed foods probably doesn’t need to be worrying about cortisol tea just yet. 😆 We also get into weight loss, obesity, carbs, insulin resistance, GLP-1 medications, cortisol, hormones, ultra-processed foods, exercise, weight stigma, healthy habits, social media misinformation, and personalized wellness—and why two completely different pieces of health advice can both be right. The question isn’t: What’s the healthiest thing I could possibly do? It’s: Where am I on the wellness spectrum, and what’s the next best thing I can do from here? 🎧 Subscribe to Genuinely Jeni wherever you listen so you don’t miss Part 2. 📲 Follow me on social at @genuinely.jeni.619 for more real-life conversations about weight loss, GLP-1s, perimenopause, nutrition, fitness, obesity, and figuring out what actually works for your life. And if this episode made you think of someone who’s currently drowning in wellness advice, send it to them.

    E7:The Right Advice at the Wrong Time: The Wellness Spectrum, Part 1
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About

Welcome! I'm Jeni—a wellness coach, former 250-pound woman, wife, mom, and endlessly curious human. Weight loss may have brought you here, but this podcast is about so much more. Together we'll have honest conversations about authenticity, boundaries, relationships, intimacy, parenting, faith, mental health, wellness, and the messy, beautiful process of becoming who you're meant to be. This isn't a place to be told what to think—it's a place to think, question, grow, and live more authentically.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeni Elflein
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jeni Elflein
  • Show Website
    Genuinely Jeni