Holistic Health with Melissa

Melissa Armstrong
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

So many people feel stuck by the limitations of conventional medicine, and that's exactly why I created Holistic Health with Melissa—to take you on a journey from conventional to crunchy! Here, you'll get empowering wellness insights, practical tips, and faith-centered strategies to help you feel your absolute best. In each episode, we'll dig into what true health and wellness really means, we'll dive into nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and detox, all things so important in your health! Chat about raising kids with intention and living a life of faith. Join me to reclaim your energy, embrace your healthiest life, and find joy and purpose along the way!

  1. 5h ago

    Ep. 70 - A Guided Meditation to Help Bring Stillness, Connection to Your Body, and Get Into Flow

    Sometimes the deepest healing doesn't come from doing more. It comes from learning how to stop. Last week, Melissa sat down with Laurie Smith, author of The Flow Habit, for a powerful conversation about reconnecting to stillness and finding flow. If you missed episode 69, go back and listen first. This week's episode is a little different. At the end of that conversation, Melissa and Laurie began talking about the meditations Laurie creates to help people access flow, and Laurie offered to record one just for this community. This episode is that meditation. Laurie guides listeners through a gentle breathing and grounding practice, an invitation to slow down, soften, and reconnect with the flow that is already part of who you are, whether you are settling in for the night, waking up for the day, or simply need a moment of stillness in the middle of it all. It's a good fit for anyone who feels disconnected from their body, overwhelmed by the noise of daily life, or in need of permission to simply rest in the present moment. In this episode, you'll experience: A guided meditation to help you slow down and reconnect with your body A grounding practice to calm the nervous system and settle into the present moment An invitation to release old patterns and open your heart to receive A gentle reminder that flow and stillness are already within you If this episode sparks something in you, Melissa would love to walk alongside you on your healing journey. Consider her Freedom Collective, a six-month 1:1 container with a community element, because you don't have to heal alone. Schedule a Clarity Call with Melissa to see if this work is a good fit for you. To connect with Laurie Smith and learn more about flow state, find her at lauriesmith.com or theflowhabit.com. Her book, The Flow Habit, is available anywhere books are sold and on Amazon.

    Ep. 70 - A Guided Meditation to Help Bring Stillness, Connection to Your Body, and Get Into Flow

  2. Jul 23

    Ep. 69 - Why Losing Track of Time Might Be a Key to Healing

    Have you ever done something you loved so much that time just disappeared? That feeling has a name, and it might be one of the most healing things you can experience. In this episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa explores the science of flow state and why so many of us have lost easy access to something that used to come naturally as kids. Podcast guest, Laurie Smith, an author and flow researcher, shares how she discovered flow during the early days of the pandemic, when anxiety and overwhelm pushed her to challenge herself to do just five to ten minutes a day of something that brought her pure joy. That small habit became the foundation for a framework she now teaches to help people reconnect with their creativity, their intuition, and their nervous system. Together they talk about what flow actually is, why children access it so effortlessly, and how the constant pull of social media and external validation has rewired our brains to look outward instead of inward. You will hear the story of a psychologist who discovered flow as a boy playing chess through the sound of bombs during World War II, and why that same calm is within reach is and available to you too, even in your hardest moments. This episode is for anyone who feels stretched thin, disconnected from their creativity, or stuck in survival mode. If you have been craving a way back to peace and presence that does not require perfection, this conversation offers a gentle, practical place to start. In this episode, you'll hear: What a flow state actually is and the four steps to access it Why children get into flow so easily and adults struggle to How flow can lower reliance on things that numb or distract us A simple way to start with just five to ten minutes a day Why softness and self-compassion matter more than pushing harder If this episode resonated with you, Melissa would love to walk alongside you on your healing journey. Reach out for a free Clarity Call to see if this kind of work is a good fit for you. I have a few 1:1 spots available. To connect with Laurie Smith and learn more about flow state, find her at: lauriesmith.com or theflowhabit.com Her book, The Flow Habit, is available anywhere books are sold and on Amazon.

    Ep. 69 - Why Losing Track of Time Might Be a Key to Healing

  3. Jul 16

    Ep. 68 - The Good Things That Come From Trauma

    What if the hardest thing you've ever walked through became the foundation for some of the best parts of who you become? In this episode, Melissa explores the powerful concept of Post-Traumatic Growth, the psychological and spiritual transformation that can happen after trauma when we choose to heal instead of stay stuck. You'll learn why some people experience profound growth after adversity while others remain trapped in cycles of pain, and how healing your nervous system, beliefs, and identity can completely change the trajectory of your life. Melissa also shares her own story of how childhood trauma shaped her identity, fueled years of performance-driven living, and ultimately led her to discover the calling God had placed on her life. In this episode, you'll learn: What Post-Traumatic Growth is (and how it's different from resilience) Why healing, not trauma itself, is what creates lasting transformation The surprising strengths that often develop through trauma recovery How your beliefs about your story shape your future Why God doesn't waste your pain How your greatest struggle can become your greatest testimony No matter what you've been through, your past does not have to define your future. You can't choose what happened to you, but you can choose what comes from it. Healing is always possible. If you're interested in exploring this work for yourself, reach out to Melissa here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form

    Ep. 68 - The Good Things That Come From Trauma

  4. Jul 9

    Ep. 67 - Autoimmune, Gut Health, and Your Thoughts: How They're All Related

    What if the symptoms you have been trying to fix are actually messages your body is sending you? This week on Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa is joined by Dr. Tabatha Barber. She is a triple board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology, menopause, and functional medicine, and the author of the international bestseller Fast to Faith. Her story begins far from the exam room. From teen mom and high school dropout, she went on to build a virtual medical practice serving women across the country, and she credits her turnaround entirely to faith and perseverance. Dr. Tabatha opens up about the autoimmune crisis that followed her first pregnancy, the years she spent chasing quick fixes before understanding the role of the nervous system in true healing, and the moment she felt God call her away from surgery and into a different kind of medicine. She and Melissa talk honestly about why information alone never leads to transformation, why healing has to happen in the right order, and why gut health, hormone balance, and mindset cannot be separated from each other. This conversation is for the woman who feels like she has tried everything and still does not feel like herself. Dr. Tabatha offers real hope, practical next steps, and a reminder that your body was designed to heal. In this episode, you'll learn: Why chasing supplements and protocols will not fix a dysregulated nervous system What it means to treat symptoms as messages instead of problems to silence Why renewing your mind is a required part of physical healing A simple first step for anyone who feels stuck and does not know where to start If this episode resonates with you, Melissa would love to walk alongside you on your healing journey. To get started, schedule a Clarity Call here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form To connect with Dr. Tabatha, check out these resources: FREE Guide to Intermittent Fasting the Faithful Way https://fasttofaith.com/intermittent-fasting-guide/ Balancing Your Hormones Naturally, FREE Guide: https://drtabatha.com/free-hormone-guide/ Dr. Tabatha's Website: fasttofaith.com Dr. Tabatha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutsydrtabatha/ Dr. Tabatha's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTabatha Dr. Tabatha's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@christianphysician https://together-community-by-ccb.mn.co/plans/1955223?bundle_token=1159c838ef89880cfd2fa8fbf6bb3d89&utm_source=manual - 21 day reset link

    Ep. 67 - Autoimmune, Gut Health, and Your Thoughts: How They're All Related

  5. Jul 2

    Ep. 66 - Hard Seasons, Faithful God: Finding His Goodness in the Midst of It All

    What do you do when life hands you the unthinkable, and how do you come out the other side still proclaiming God's goodness? In this powerful episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa sits down with conservative activist, media personality, and mama bear, Kendall Bailey, for a conversation that will leave you anchored in the goodness of God. Kendall shares her remarkable journey through diagnosis, crisis, and choosing to trust God with the outcome - and how her unshakeable faith carried her through one of the hardest seasons of her life. Together, Melissa and Kendall explore what it really looks like to trust God when the stakes are high, how to choose gratitude over bitterness in the midst of suffering, and why the hard seasons are often where He shows up the most. If you are going through a difficult time right now, or if you know someone who is, this episode will remind you that God is good, He is faithful, and He has not changed. In this episode, you'll hear: How faith shapes the decisions we make in our hardest moments How God walks with you in the fire rather than sparing you from it Why God's goodness doesn't depend on the outcome How our trials can become our most powerful testimony If faith and healing are something you would like to explore further, the Freedom Collective is a supportive next step. In this six-month one-to-one coaching experience, coupled with a community element, you'll see how science, scripture, and somatic healing work together to provide whole-body restoration - mind, body, and spirit.  To see if this is a good fit for you, schedule a Clarity Call today: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form We begin July 6. You can find Kendall here: https://www.instagram.com/kendall_in_kentucky/ https://www.facebook.com/kendall.page

    Ep. 66 - Hard Seasons, Faithful God: Finding His Goodness in the Midst of It All

  6. Jun 25

    Ep. 65 - Biblical Womanhood vs. Modern Feminism

    Melissa is joined by Tiffany Parsons this week on Holistic Health with Melissa. Tiffany is a pastor's wife, homeschooling mom of twins, pediatric occupational therapist, and author of the new Christian children's book All Different Yet the Same. She shares her journey from driven career woman to faith-led mother running a flexible private practice, and the sanctification process that changed everything she thought she knew about her calling. Together, Melissa and Tiffany get honest about:  The tension between biblical motherhood and modern feminism What Scripture actually says about submission, identity, and the God-given strengths of women Why anxiety is so prevalent in the faith community How the enemy targets women emotionally How to combat lies with the living Word of God If you're a Christian woman ready to get back to the truth of who God says you are, this conversation is for you. And if you'd like support exploring this topic further, the Freedom Collective is a gentle step forward. It's a six-month coaching experience designed to bring clarity and restore your identity in the truth. Inside the Freedom Collective, you'll receive both community and one-to-one support as we bring together science, scripture, and somatic work to care for the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. If you'd like to see if this is a good fit for you, schedule a clarity call here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form. Melissa would love to walk this journey with you. Connect with Tiffany: Facebook: Homeschool OT Tiffany Parsons Facebook Group: Anxious for Christ Book: All Different Yet the Same - available at redeemingfamilypress.com and Amazon

    Ep. 65 - Biblical Womanhood vs. Modern Feminism

  7. Jun 18

    Ep. 64 - The Power of Presence

    Do you ever feel physically present in your life, but mentally a million miles away? In this solo episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, I share how learning to be present has transformed the way I experience motherhood, family, faith, and my own healing journey. After years of living in the next thing - thinking about the laundry, the emails, the appointments, the bills, and everything that still needed to be done - I realized that life wasn't passing me by because I was busy. It was passing me by because I wasn't fully present for it. I explore why presence can feel so difficult, especially for women who have experienced chronic stress, anxiety, trauma, or years of overwhelm. I explain how the nervous system is wired to scan for danger, why anxious thoughts often live in tomorrow, and how hypervigilance can sometimes be mistaken for responsibility. Through the lens of faith, nervous system regulation, and practical mind-body tools, I invite you to stop borrowing trouble from the future and return to the moment God has placed you in today. In this episode, you'll learn simple practices to help you become more grounded and present, including choosing a daily word, asking "what is true right now?", using the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method, creating sacred pauses, and practicing belly breathing. If you've been longing for more peace, deeper connection, and the ability to actually experience the life you prayed for, this episode will remind you that God's grace is available right here, in this present moment. If this episode feels like the invitation your heart and body have been needing, the Freedom Collective may be a beautiful next step. This six-month coaching experience was created for women who are tired of trying to push, strive, and force their way into healing and are ready to feel grounded, supported, and safe in their bodies again. Inside the Freedom Collective, you'll receive both community and one-to-one support as we bring together science, scripture, and somatic work to care for the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. If you're ready to choose a different way forward, schedule a clarity call here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form.

    Ep. 64 - The Power of Presence

  8. Jun 4

    Ep. 63 - Super Woman Syndrome: Burnout, Boundaries, and Faith-Based Healing

    For so many women, burnout doesn't happen overnight. It builds slowly through every yes given out of guilt, every ignored warning sign, and every season of trying to hold everything together. God never asked you to be everything to everyone. This week on Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa is joined by author and speaker Susan Wiesemann for a conversation about what happens when years of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and trying to do it all finally catch up with the body. Susan shares her powerful story of landing in the emergency room on her 45th birthday, navigating years of mystery symptoms, and eventually being diagnosed with dysautonomia, a condition that affected her breathing, energy, and daily function. Through holistic health practices, healthier boundaries, nervous system awareness, and a deeper relationship with God, Susan began to heal from the inside out. Through Susan's story and Melissa's work in root-cause healing, they unpack the connection between burnout, nervous system dysregulation, faith, and the pressure so many women feel to keep going even when their bodies are asking them to slow down. This episode is for the woman who feels exhausted, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode and needs to be reminded that healing is not about doing more. It's about learning to listen to your body, reconnect with God, and begin choosing a different way forward. If you are ready to choose that different way, consider the Freedom Collective, a unique six-month coaching experience with community and one-to-one support designed to help women stop forcing healing and finally feel safe in their bodies again. We blend science, scripture, and somatic work to bring healing to the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. If this resonates with you, reach out for a clarity call to see if it's a good fit. https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form. Melissa would be honored to walk your healing journey with you. Connect with Susan here: Instagram: @light.ofthelamp lightofthelamp.org/speaking Purchase Undoing Super Woman: Losing Total Control to Gain Ultimate Freedom.

    Ep. 63 - Super Woman Syndrome: Burnout, Boundaries, and Faith-Based Healing
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So many people feel stuck by the limitations of conventional medicine, and that's exactly why I created Holistic Health with Melissa—to take you on a journey from conventional to crunchy! Here, you'll get empowering wellness insights, practical tips, and faith-centered strategies to help you feel your absolute best. In each episode, we'll dig into what true health and wellness really means, we'll dive into nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and detox, all things so important in your health! Chat about raising kids with intention and living a life of faith. Join me to reclaim your energy, embrace your healthiest life, and find joy and purpose along the way!

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