Hot Takes on Healing with Jess Leone

Jessica Leone
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Hot Takes on Healing with Jess Leone is a community-centered podcast where REAL stories spark REAL change! Join us as we unpack the sh*t we don’t talk about enough when we’re growing: the messy middle, the “feeling good after the pain,” and the narratives that quietly keep us small. Each episode blends honest storytelling, spoken-word style reflections, and moments that hit you right in the chest. This space was created to remind you what’s possible when you start questioning who you were taught to be... and *finally* decide come home to yourself. Head over to www.jessleone.com to connect further!

  1. Jun 10

    S2, Ep #2: Black Cat Syndrome (Poetic Mini Series)

    There's a part of you that's been trying to get your attention for years. 👀 You haven't been ignoring her on purpose...I know. 🫶 You've just been busy. You've had things to do, people to take care of, jobs to keep, fires to put out. So when she showed up—through the headache that wouldn't quit, the tension you couldn't explain, the fatigue that no amount of sleep seemed to fix—you took note. Maybe you took a pill or something for it, then you got back to work. And? She kept showing up anyway... The thing about your body is she doesn't quit. She doesn't get tired of being ignored. She just gets louder. The whisper becomes a hum. The hum becomes an ache. The ache becomes the kind of symptom you finally take to a doctor and walk out of with no real answer except try to manage your stress. And you laugh, because of course it's stress. Of. Course. It. Is. The version of you who's been holding everything together for years? Yeah...OF COURSE she's tired. Her body is screaming. What did you expect? But you don't actually slow down. Reason #1: Slowing down feels like more work than just pushing through. Reason #2: You don't really know how to slow down. Reason #3: Somewhere along the way, you learned that listening to your body was self-indulgent, that wanting rest meant you were weak, that needing softness meant something was wrong with you. So you kept thinking your way around her...and kept clawing at you to wake you up. P.S: The poem is *much* cooler if you listen to it with headphones. 😉 If this episode resonated with you, please like & subscribe so you don't miss what's coming! And head over to www.jessleone.com to get access to everything you need in one place!

  2. May 27

    S2, Ep #1: The Pedestal (Poetic Mini Series)

    Welcome to Season 2 of 'Hot Takes', it feels so good to be back with you all! 🖤 I've decide to kick us off with a mini series of original poetry and music I've written that's helped me navigate my own recent experiences. It's some of the most honest work I've created, and I wanted to share it here first. Today's episode features the first poem in the series: 'The Pedestal' (If you want to just listen to the poem, skip to 5:09.) It explores what happens when we place something so high above us that we lose sight of ourselves in the process, what we give up to keep them there, and what it costs.  P.S: The poem is *much* cooler if you listen to it with headphones. 😉 If this episode resonated with you, please like & subscribe so you don't miss what's coming! And head over to www.jessleone.com to get access to everything you need in one place!

  3. Feb 4

    S1, Ep #26: Are You Turned On or Traumatized? with Leah Mitchel

    In this episode, I sit down with Leah Mitchell, a love and relationship coach blending neuroscience, energy, and embodiment to help people build healthier, more secure relationships. Leah opens up about her own journey from trauma and PTSD to discovering the science behind attraction — including how stress hormones, pheromones, and brain chemistry all influence who we’re drawn to (and why). Together, we dive into the deep intersection of biology and behavior — exploring how an unregulated nervous system can quietly sabotage connection, create anxious attachment, or pull us toward partners who reinforce old wounds. Leah explains how stress and elevated cortisol can actually change pheromone production, influencing chemical compatibility and attraction patterns. We also unpack the difference between anxiety and discernment, and how learning to calm your body is the key to seeing people clearly. When you’re regulated, you can finally tell the difference between a red flag and your own fear. Leah introduced her signature PheroGlow Method, a process that works with the body’s natural chemistry and alpha brainwave states to shift attachment patterns and make secure love your new normal. She shares how tapping into these brain states not only helps heal attachment wounds but also increases magnetism — attracting partners aligned with safety, authenticity, and growth. Throughout the conversation, Leah and Jess explore how brain science can be applied to real life: from gratitude and movement to oxytocin-boosting connection practices (like cuddling and conscious touch). We also discuss how regulating your nervous system isn’t just about self-soothing — it’s about reprogramming your body to experience love without chaos. Leah’s story is a reminder that healing your nervous system is the first step to changing your love story. When you stop living in survival mode, you stop settling for relationships that mirror your pain — and start attracting ones that match your peace. To join her free class, click HERE.  If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe! To connect further, subscribe to my weekly newsletter or learn more over at www.jessleone.com! We will see you next Wednesday for our next episode!

  4. Jan 11

    S1, Ep #25: Stop trying to "FIX"... & start LISTENING with Majo Torreli

    In this powerful, embodied conversation, I sits down with Majo Torreli, a somatic coach who found healing after a decade of struggling with PCOS, body image issues, and disempowering relationships. What started as a painful chapter in her 20s became the catalyst for radical transformation when she learned to stop overanalyzing and start feeling. Majo shares how years of therapy and mindset work couldn’t compare to what she found through somatic healing and embodiment practices, learning to listen to her body instead of trying to control it. We also dive into how to tell the difference between a gut instinct and a trauma response, and why intuition can’t speak clearly when your nervous system is dysregulated. Majo shares grounding tools (like naming objects or focusing on sensations) to reconnect to the body’s wisdom. True healing means honoring both the wounded and empowered parts of ourselves, not trying to fix or silence one. The body reacts to triggers based on past experiences and how to ground back into the present moment with compassion. Together, we explore what it really means to come home to your body, why traditional healing methods often fall short, and how embodiment work can unlock the kind of power and peace that self-help alone can’t touch. Majo is a somatic coach and the creator of the upcoming podcast Tell Me How Good It Got, where she shares stories of women who’ve defied societal expectations and found true happiness on their own terms. Wanna be on her podcast? Apply HERE to share your story! If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe! To connect further, subscribe to my weekly newsletter or learn more over at www.jessleone.com!

  5. 12/10/2025

    S1, Ep #24: Letting Life Lead with Raditia Lasry

    In this episode, I sit down with Raditia Lasry and dive into a conversation about personal growth, resilience, and the small, intentional steps that shape a meaningful life. Raditia shares her approach to breaking big goals into manageable pieces, redefining concepts in a way that aligns with who she is, and rewriting her own story through curiosity and presence. She opens up about childhood moments that taught her self-reliance, including early experiences that made her realize she could trust her own decisions and take responsibility for her happiness. We also explore how discomfort, miscommunication, and honest conversations can deepen relationships and build accountability. We talk about the value of staying open to feedback, meeting challenges head-on, and resisting the urge to avoid tough moments. The conversation also touches on parenting, independence, and the lessons Raditia continues to pass on to her own son. They reflect on the importance of letting go of control and allowing life to unfold naturally, even when unexpected changes feel uncomfortable. Raditia shares her perspective on finding positivity in difficult experiences, including her journey of losing her job at 37 while raising a young child and transforming that moment into an opportunity for reinvention. We discuss mindfulness, presence, and community, highlighting how shared stories create connection and healing. Together, we explore what it means to follow the flow, trust yourself, and embrace the unexpected moments that push you toward growth, clarity, and purpose. If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe! To connect further, subscribe to my weekly newsletter or learn more over at www.jessleone.com!

  6. 12/03/2025

    S1, Ep #23: The Gratitude Myth: Getting Real About Joy with Carrie Kish

    In this episode, I sit down with Carrie for a raw, honest, and refreshing conversation about The Gratitude Myth and what it really means to practice grounded, authentic gratitude without slipping into toxic positivity. We explore how to stay true to yourself during the holiday season, especially when outside pressure pushes people to act cheerful, grateful, or “fine” even when that doesn’t match what they’re actually feeling. Together, we talk through what it means to be authentic around family and friends, and how to tell the difference between genuine gratitude and the kind of forced positivity that shuts down emotional movement. We explore why trying to “stay positive” all the time can actually disconnect you from your body, your intuition, and your emotional needs. We also discuss the power of asking better questions—like “What’s going well right now?” or “What are you genuinely enjoying?”—and how shifting your focus can support emotional honesty without bypassing the hard stuff. Carrie and I dive into how to release attachment to specific outcomes and instead focus on what you can actually control: your choices, your actions, and how you show up. We discuss how to approach seeing family through a lens of gratitude if it feels aligned for you—and how to honor your boundaries when it doesn’t. We touch on the importance of recognizing your own value system so you can show up as your real self, without letting other people’s expectations override what you know to be true for you. And throughout this conversation, we return to one core truth: gratitude becomes more powerful when you get into your body. Presence, movement, and embodiment help anchor emotional honesty in real time and keep gratitude rooted in what’s real—not what you think you “should” feel. When we stop pretending everything’s fine and start being honest about where we are, we make more space to see the good that’s already here. 🎧 If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe! To connect further, subscribe to my weekly newsletter or learn more over at www.jessleone.com!

  7. 10/22/2025

    S1, Ep #22: HOT TAKE: Anger Isn’t Dangerous — Repression Is.

    Every October, I gather with women for something that looks a little wild from the outside: "The Great Pumpkin Smash". We write down the things we’re done carrying — the guilt, the grief, the rage — and then we smash those damn pumpkins into the ground. And this ritual actually comes in two parts: Part one: expressing anger in a safe way: through sound, movement, & symbolic release so the energy has somewhere to go instead of living inside you. Part two: being witnessed in your anger: surrounded by others who don’t flinch, fix, or fear it so your body learns that expression doesn’t equal rejection. That you can be fully seen in your fire and still be loved. Why? Because women are taught that anger is ugly, that expressing it makes us dramatic or ungrateful. For so many of us, anger directed at us was never safe. It came as yelling, silence, punishment, or withdrawal. So our bodies learned early that anger — any anger — meant danger. So instead, we swallow it. It turns into headaches, anxiety, exhaustion, people-pleasing. We become experts at smoothing things over, shrinking our reactions, smiling through it. And every time we do, that unexpressed fire gets stored somewhere in the body — our chest, our throat, our gut — simmering quietly under the surface. Rituals like this give that fire somewhere safe to go. They let you express anger in a way that doesn’t harm you or anyone else and be witnessed in it without judgment. Because that’s the other piece of healing: realizing that your power, your voice, your raw emotion don’t make you “too much.” They make you whole. Join us for this episode as I share the story of that night, guide you through a short somatic practice for safely expressing anger, and let you hear directly from a few of our Sacred Circle sisters about their experience in the ritual. If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe! To connect further, subscribe to my weekly newsletter or learn more over at www.jessleone.com! We will see you next Wednesday for our next episode!

  8. 10/15/2025

    S1, Ep #21: Losing Your Career to Find Yourself with Melissa Keefe

    This week I sit down with one of our Sacred Circle sisters Melissa, whose story of resilience and redirection reminds us that sometimes losing what we thought defined us is what sets us free. After being forced to retire from her long-standing, respected career due to MS, Melissa found herself grieving not just her work, but her identity. For years, she’d pushed through anxiety and depression, believing her worth was tied to productivity because that’s what society taught her: school was your job, then your job was your job. But when her body said enough, she was finally forced to listen. Melissa opens up about her experience with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), explaining how trauma lives in the body and how healing can happen even through simple, non-clinical practices at home. She shares how reconnecting with her past self helped her realize it wasn’t her fault and that she didn’t have to carry it anymore. Through community, therapy, and her involvement in Sacred Circle, Melissa has learned it’s okay to be angry, to feel deeply, and to still love the people who’ve let you down. She also shares how taking "From Victim to Villain" helped her redefine boundaries and start asking for help, realizing that self-care isn’t selfish...it’s NECCESARY. As she puts it, “Not everyone is equipped to handle your story,” but finding a safe space to share it can change everything. Her healing has brought stability to her health, peace to her mind, and strength to her family. “If more women came together to do what we do, we’d be unstoppable,” Melissa says, and this episode proves just that. Tune in to hear a raw, honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, and the brave act of healing your body, mind, and story. If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe! To connect further, subscribe to my weekly newsletter or follow me on TikTok/Pinterest! We will see you next Wednesday for our next episode!

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About

Hot Takes on Healing with Jess Leone is a community-centered podcast where REAL stories spark REAL change! Join us as we unpack the sh*t we don’t talk about enough when we’re growing: the messy middle, the “feeling good after the pain,” and the narratives that quietly keep us small. Each episode blends honest storytelling, spoken-word style reflections, and moments that hit you right in the chest. This space was created to remind you what’s possible when you start questioning who you were taught to be... and *finally* decide come home to yourself. Head over to www.jessleone.com to connect further!

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