The Daring Well Podcast - Holistic Health & Wellness, Mindset, and Personal Growth

Rita Mercer, Wellness, Mindset & Mental Health Expert
  • 5.0 (10)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. Your one stop for mindfulness, meditations, holistic wellness, mental health, evidence based strategies, healthy habits,  and deep and meaningful conversations to help you transform your mind and relationships.  Are you ready to feel empowered and motivated to crush your wellness goals? Well, I’m your host, Rita Mercer. I’m a holistic wellness and mindset coach, licensed counselor, and your new virtual friend on this wild and crazy journey called life.  On the Daring Well podcast, we will explore holistic wellness practices to strengthen your mind, body, and spirit.  Each episode we will learn new coping skills and explore holistic wellness tools and tips to shift your mindset and discover your true self.   With nearly a decade of experience as a licensed mental health counselor, specializing in trauma, grief, loss, and integrative mental health, I’m excited to share some nuggets of wisdom, clinical experience and research that I’ve learned along the way.  I invite you to lean in as I share stress management tools, resources, and guest interviews to help you DARE TO BE free, calm, have more joy, create meaningful relationships, & be your true & authentic self.   Want more wellness and mindset support, let’s connect at DaringWell.com or on YouTube at Daring Well Coach.  If you’re ready to Dare to be Well, let’s lean in!

  1. 3D AGO

    Have a Soft Day – You Are Worthy of Softness

    This week on The Daring Well Podcast, we’re pausing our attachment styles series for something deeply needed — a reminder and permission slip to embrace softness. This message is not just for women. It’s for men too! In a world that glorifies hustle culture, grinding, and constant productivity, we often forget that we are human beings — not machines. You do not have to be strong and hardcore all the time. It is not only okay to have a soft day — it’s healthy. In this heartfelt episode, Rita invites you to reflect on how you’re spending your 24 hours. Are you rushing them away? Dreading them? Wasting them? Or are you allowing space for simplicity, quiet, humility, and love? Softness is found in: Appreciating the beauty in simple momentsGiving yourself a day without an agendaChoosing quiet over constant stimulationShowing up humbly and loving deeplyIf you’ve been grinding, grinning, and bearing it just to survive the day — this episode is your gentle wake-up call. That’s not living. That’s existing. It’s time to conserve your energy, release unnecessary pressure, and invite softness into your daily and weekly routine. You are worthy of softness. —————————— Daring Well Pop Up Shop  If you’re local to Cincinnati, OH — Rita will be selling candles, wax melts, and room sprays to benefit the Oak Hills High School Band. Mention that you heard this invitation on The Daring Well Podcast for a free gift 💛  Saturday, March 7, 2026 ~ 9 am - 3 pm Oak Hills High School Band Spring Craft & Vendor Fair  3200 Ebenezer Road  Green Township, OH 45248 Send a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    18 min
  2. Cut Soul Ties & Clear Negative Energy: How to Free Yourself from the Hidden Forces Draining Your Energy

    FEB 25

    Cut Soul Ties & Clear Negative Energy: How to Free Yourself from the Hidden Forces Draining Your Energy

    In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Rita sits down with Herman Petrick, an internationally renowned energy healer with over 15 years of experience helping individuals and families clear energetic attachments. Herman shares how his intuitive journey began unexpectedly—and how he now works remotely with clients around the world to address sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, fearful attachments, and relationship-based energetic connections. Together, Rita and Herman explore what energy really is, how attachments form, how soul ties affect relationships, and why fear and anxiety may sometimes have deeper energetic roots. If you've ever struggled with persistent negative thought loops, emotional heaviness, draining relationships, or disrupted sleep, this episode invites you to consider a new perspective on healing. This conversation blends spiritual insight with practical self-awareness tools, empowering you to reconnect with your authentic self and strengthen your internal energy field. Herman also reframes “letting go,” suggesting that sometimes it’s not you holding onto the emotion—but the emotion holding onto you. Key Takeaways Not every thought or emotion may originate from your true self.Relationships can create lasting energetic ties that require intentional release.Strengthening your internal energy field reduces vulnerability to fear and anxiety.Rest, boundaries, and stillness are foundational to energetic health.Healing often begins with awareness.----------------------------------- Connect with Herman Petrick Interested in going deeper? Herman offers a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your specific concerns. 🌐 Website: https://hermanpetrick.com If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to The Daring Well Podcast. Keep Living. Keep Loving. Keep Daring Well. Send a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    32 min
  3. Why Burnout Hits Women Differently: Nervous System Regulation for High-Achieving Women with Rachel Korb

    FEB 18

    Why Burnout Hits Women Differently: Nervous System Regulation for High-Achieving Women with Rachel Korb

    In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer welcomes Rachel Korb, a somatic leadership coach specializing in supporting high-achieving women, leaders, and startup professionals. Rachel shares her journey from repeated burnout in high-pressure roles to discovering sustainable ways to regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and thrive in all areas of life. This conversation dives deep into female physiology, body awareness, interoception, and practical strategies for tuning into your body to enhance both personal and professional life. Learn how to cultivate sustainable energy, prevent burnout, and show up fully for yourself and others through a somatic approach to leadership and self-care. Connect with Rachel Korb: Website: https://rachelkorb.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkorb/Substack: https://coachingwithrachel.substack.com/Send a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    25 min

  4. FEB 11

    Dismissive–Avoidant Attachment: Learning to Need Without Shame (Healing Attachment Wounds – Part 2)

    In Part 2 of our Healing Attachment Wounds series, we gently explore the dismissive–avoidant attachment style — the pattern of emotional independence that once served as protection but may now be limiting deeper connection. Have you ever said, “I’m fine” when you really weren’t? Told yourself, “I don’t need anyone” — even while feeling lonely inside? This episode is not about labeling you as cold or distant. It’s about understanding how your nervous system adapted to survive. Dismissive–avoidant attachment isn’t about lacking feelings — it’s about protecting them. Today, we explore how independence became your armor… and how healing invites you to expand your strength by allowing softness, vulnerability, and connection — at your pace. You are not broken. You are not too much. You adapted. And now, you get to heal. ------------------------- 💛 Listener Invitation If this episode resonated, sit with it. Let it marinate. Healing does not require rushing — it requires courage and compassion. If you’d like support in your healing journey, you can connect at info@DaringWell.com for next steps. ------------------------- Daring Well Pop Up Shop  If you’re local to Cincinnati, OH — Rita will be selling candles, wax melts, and room sprays to benefit the Oak Hills High School Band. Mention that you heard this invitation on The Daring Well Podcast for a free gift 💛  Saturday, March 7, 2026 ~ 9 am - 3 pm Oak Hills High School Band Spring Craft & Vendor Fair  3200 Ebenezer Road  Green Township, OH 45248 Send a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    18 min

  5. FEB 4

    Fearful–Avoidant Attachment: When Closeness Feels Unsafe (Healing Attachment Wounds Part - 1)

    Healing Attachment Wounds – From Survival to Secure Connection (Part 1) In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, we begin a powerful four-part series on attachment styles and how early experiences shape the way we connect in relationships, leadership, and life. Part one focuses on the Fearful–Avoidant (Disorganized) Attachment Style—a pattern marked by a deep desire for intimacy paired with an equally strong fear of closeness. If you’ve ever felt torn between wanting connection and feeling overwhelmed or unsafe when it arrives, this episode is for you. With compassion, psychoeducation, and nervous-system–informed insight, this episode invites you to move away from self-blame and toward self-understanding. You’ll learn how attachment wounds form, how they live in the body, and how to begin restoring safety in your mind, body, and spirit. There is no shame in recognizing yourself here. Awareness is the first step toward healing—and you don’t have to rush the process. ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode What fearful–avoidant attachment is and how it developsWhy closeness can feel both desired and dangerousHow early emotional or physical neglect shapes attachment patternsThe core beliefs that drive push–pull relationship dynamicsHow the nervous system responds to perceived relational threatWhy oversharing, withdrawal, and shame cycles show up in adulthoodGentle, practical steps to begin creating emotional safetyA guided grounding practice to invite safety back into your body-------------------------------- 🤍 Work With Me At Daring Well, I support individuals and organizations through nervous system regulation, mindset coaching, and holistic wellness education. Whether you’re looking for: 1:1 holistic wellness coachingA guest speaker for your group or eventMindset and stress management support for your organizationI’ve got you. Website - www.daringwell.com Email - info@daringwell.com Send a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    22 min
  6. Are You Stuck in Survival Mode? Find Freedom to Heal & Restore with EFT Tapping with Sophia Torrini

    JAN 28

    Are You Stuck in Survival Mode? Find Freedom to Heal & Restore with EFT Tapping with Sophia Torrini

    In this powerful episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer is joined by Sophia Torrini, certified clinical EFT practitioner and nervous system regulation expert. Together, they explore how chronic stress, trauma, and burnout keep so many people stuck in survival mode—and how Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT tapping) can help restore safety, wholeness, and healing in the body. Sophia shares her own life-altering healing journey after surviving a near-fatal medical experience and living for years with chronic illness. Through neuroscience-based emotional work, EFT tapping, and body-centered awareness, she explains how emotions get stored in the body, how dysregulated nervous systems block healing, and how we can gently rewire our brain and body for restoration and growth. This episode blends science and soul, offering practical tools, embodied practices, and deep reassurance for anyone feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or disconnected from themselves. ------------ Episode Chapters  1. Survival Mode vs. Creation Mode Rita and Sophia introduce the concept of living in survival versus living in creation. Sophia explains how chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, narrowing perception and limiting our ability to see solutions, while regulation opens the door to possibility and choice. 2. What EFT Tapping Is and How It Heals Sophia breaks down clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice that combines cognitive therapy with somatic tapping. She explains how emotions are energy in motion, how unprocessed emotions become stored in the body, and why tapping helps calm the nervous system and release stuck emotional patterns. 3. The Parallel Process: Healing Past, Present, and Future Selves This segment explores Sophia’s parallel process approach, which integrates healing the past self, regulating the present self, and connecting to the future self. Healing is reframed as wholeness—bringing fragmented parts back into alignment. 4. Regulating the Nervous System Through Breath and Touch Sophia shares practical tools to recognize dysregulation, including breath awareness and body cues. She walks listeners through abdominal breathing and self-havening touch as powerful ways to signal safety and calm the nervous system. 5. Preventing Panic and Building Body Awareness The episode closes with insight into panic attacks, mindfulness, and early body awareness. Sophia explains how panic often begins long before symptoms appear and how staying connected to the body can prevent escalation and support emotional regulation. Key Takeaways Chronic stress keeps the nervous system locked in survival modeHealing begins with regulation, not forced positive thinkingEFT tapping helps release stored emotional energy from the bodyBreath and gentle touch are powerful tools for calming anxietyWholeness comes from integrating all parts of ourselves🔗 Connect with Sophia Torrini Website: https://www.tapintoyourbestself.com/ Offers complimentary sessions and neuroscience-based masterclasses on healing and nervous system regulationSend a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    24 min
  7. Are you in control of your technology—or is it quietly controlling you?

    JAN 21

    Are you in control of your technology—or is it quietly controlling you?

    In today’s fast-paced, always-connected world, burnout is becoming the norm rather than the exception. In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, I sat down with Colin Corby, a technologist turned Digital Detox Coach, to explore how our relationship with technology impacts our mental health, stress management, connection in relationships, productivity on our jobs, and overall well-being. Colin shares his powerful personal journey—from experiencing stress-related health scares in the corporate tech world to becoming an Ironman athlete and Detox Coach. Together, we unpack what burnout really looks like, why willpower alone isn’t enough to create change, and how adopting the mindset of a business athlete can help us perform better at work and in our personal lives, while protecting our physical and emotional health. This conversation offers practical, compassionate strategies for high achievers, professionals, caregivers, and leaders who want to reclaim balance, energy, and presence—without abandoning technology altogether. ------------------------ Episode Chapter Breakdown 1. Burnout, Stress & the Body’s Warning Signs 2. The Athlete Mindset: A New Way to Approach Work & Life 3. What Digital Detox Really Means (And What It Doesn’t) 4. Why Willpower Fails & How to Build Better Habits 5. Rest, Recovery & Reclaiming Human Connection ----------------------- Key Takeaways from This Episode Burnout is a biological and psychological experience—not a personal failureSustainable success requires rest, recovery, and intentional boundariesDigital detox is about balance, not disconnectionChanging your environment is more effective than relying on willpowerReal connection and presence are essential to mental wellness🔗 Connect With Colin Corby Website: https://thedigitaldetoxcoach.c...Platforms: LinkedIn, SubstackTEDx Talk: Are We Losing Our Identity to Technology?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEMf-y7KqTcSend a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    32 min

  8. JAN 14

    Boundary Reframes: What Roles Are You Resigning From? (Part 2)

    What roles are you resigning from? In this heartfelt continuation of last week’s conversation, Rita invites you to pause, breathe, and reflect on the unassigned roles you may have stepped into—roles that are no longer serving who you are or what you need in this season of life. Many of us find ourselves exhausted, overwhelmed, and emotionally drained—not because we are doing too much, but because we are doing what was never ours to carry. From being the rescuer, fixer, peacekeeper, or strong one, these roles often come from a place of love, fear, or survival—but over time, they can cost us our peace, clarity, and sense of self. In this episode, Rita walks you through powerful boundary reframes for ten common unassigned relationship archetypes, offering compassion, truth, and practical practices to help you release what no longer fits. You’ll be reminded that you are more than a role, more than what you do for others, and worthy simply because you exist. This episode is an invitation to let go, create space, and choose healthier relationships—with others and with yourself. -------------------------------------------------- 💛 Key Takeaways You can care deeply without over-functioning or taking overHealthy relationships require reciprocity, not self-sacrificeSpeaking truth creates deeper peace than silenceAsking for help is a sign of humanity, not weaknessBoundaries create space for love without depletion-------------------------------------------------- 🎁 Bonus Resource For those who sign up for the Mindfully You Wellness Workshop, Rita is offering a bonus downloadable affirmation card deck designed to help reframe core beliefs connected to boundaries and self-worth. 👉 Sign up at www.DaringWell.com/workshop Send a text Support the show Follow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWell For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies

    25 min
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About

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. Your one stop for mindfulness, meditations, holistic wellness, mental health, evidence based strategies, healthy habits,  and deep and meaningful conversations to help you transform your mind and relationships.  Are you ready to feel empowered and motivated to crush your wellness goals? Well, I’m your host, Rita Mercer. I’m a holistic wellness and mindset coach, licensed counselor, and your new virtual friend on this wild and crazy journey called life.  On the Daring Well podcast, we will explore holistic wellness practices to strengthen your mind, body, and spirit.  Each episode we will learn new coping skills and explore holistic wellness tools and tips to shift your mindset and discover your true self.   With nearly a decade of experience as a licensed mental health counselor, specializing in trauma, grief, loss, and integrative mental health, I’m excited to share some nuggets of wisdom, clinical experience and research that I’ve learned along the way.  I invite you to lean in as I share stress management tools, resources, and guest interviews to help you DARE TO BE free, calm, have more joy, create meaningful relationships, & be your true & authentic self.   Want more wellness and mindset support, let’s connect at DaringWell.com or on YouTube at Daring Well Coach.  If you’re ready to Dare to be Well, let’s lean in!

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