In Alignment

Annie Ripp & Marissa Vivori

Welcome to In Alignment with Annie & Marissa. Our journey to feeling better in our bodies and our lives led us through wellness trends and healing practices, and through some of life’s harder moments. Navigating breakups, chronic health issues, body image, career transitions, finding purpose and starting over throughout our 20’s and 30’s. What we realized along the way is that the root of feeling stuck in our bodies, minds and lives is often a product of being out of alignment with who we truly are. When we come home to ourselves, the world around us starts to fall into place. Because the most important relationship we have is with ourselves. In Alignment is a space for honest conversations where we give you the tools to listen inward and design the life of your dreams. We’re so glad you’re here. shiftintoalignment.substack.com

  1. APR 28

    The Fear of Being Seen and How to Build Radical Confidence

    This week on In Alignment, Annie and Marissa sit down for a raw, honest solo conversation unpacking one of the most misunderstood concepts in personal growth: confidence. What it actually is, where it comes from, and how to build deep inner self confidence. At the core of this conversation is something deeper: the fear of being seen. We get real about the truth behind “putting yourself out there.” It’s not natural, it’s not comfortable, and it’s not about having some inherent confidence gene. It’s about the willingness to be seen, even when it feels vulnerable, uncertain, and uncomfortable. From leaving careers and relationships to rebuilding identity from scratch, we walk through the moments that forced us to confront who we were underneath everything we had built to feel safe. We talk about people-pleasing, performing versions of ourselves to be chosen, and the quiet ways we hide in order to avoid rejection. This conversation dives into the uncomfortable but necessary reality that confidence is not something you build first. It is what emerges when you stop hiding. We also break down: * How the fear of being seen and judged keeps you stuck * The difference between being chosen and actually being known * How relationships mirror the parts of ourselves we avoid * The role of grief, transition, and uncertainty in building self-trust * How to reconnect with yourself when you feel completely lost * Why joy is one of the most powerful guides back to who you are * The mindset shift that makes it never “too late” to start over If you are navigating a transition, questioning your identity, or craving the confidence to take a leap, this episode will show you that what you are really looking for is not confidence — it is the courage to be seen as you are. Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    50 min
  2. APR 21

    How to Decode Your Body's Signals — Dr. Rachel Dew on Somatic Healing and the Emotional Root of Illness

    Today we sit down with Dr. Rachel Eva Dew, a double board-certified Doctor of Natural and Integrative Medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience, training in more than 20 healing modalities, and a patient list that spans the world. She is the founder of ModiHealth and the Integrative Wellness Academy, and the creator of the Emotional Clearing Method — a powerful approach to releasing stored trauma and emotional patterns from the body without having to relive them. What we cover in this episode: Why chronic illness so often begins with unprocessed emotion — and why treating the symptom without addressing the emotional root keeps people stuck in cycles that never fully resolve The difference between listening to your body and managing your symptoms — and why that distinction changes everything about how healing actually works The science behind the connection between emotions and physical health — how what we feel and what we suppress shows up in the body in measurable, physiological ways How to begin releasing stored trauma without reliving it — the approach Dr. Rachel uses with her patients that makes emotional healing accessible and safe Practical grounding and embodiment techniques you can start using today — tools that do not require a therapist, a diagnosis, or hours of dedicated practice Why resilience is built through discomfort — and what it actually looks like to move through difficulty rather than around it How awareness and action work differently in healing — and why knowing something intellectually is not the same as the body processing it The role of chronic illness and lifestyle factors in the broader picture of whole-person health Three things that will stay with you from this conversation: “Resilience is built through discomfort.” — a reframe that changes how you relate to hard moments rather than trying to eliminate them. “Balance in one area benefits the whole.” — the case for starting where you are instead of waiting until you can overhaul everything at once. “Compassion is key in healing.” — not as a soft add-on but as a physiological necessity for the nervous system to feel safe enough to actually change. About Dr. Rachel Eva Dew Dr. Rachel Eva Dew is a double board-certified Doctor of Natural and Integrative Medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience, trained in more than 20 healing modalities and known for her integrative, whole-person approach to health that supports the mind, body, and emotional well-being as one interconnected system. Throughout her career, she has worked with hundreds of patients in private practice and reached thousands more through her books, programs, and speaking engagements, with a focus on both treating complex conditions and addressing the deeper drivers of health through preventative care. She is the co-founder and CEO of ModiHealth, a virtual care platform that brings comprehensive integrative healthcare and wellness support into one accessible ecosystem, and the founder of Integrative Wellness Academy, where over 10,000 students worldwide have been trained and certified as Integrative Wellness and Life Coaches through her proprietary Integrative Life Coaching Model, which blends wellness, psychology, behavior change, and healing practices to support deeper, lasting transformation. Building on decades of clinical work, Dr. Rachel also developed the patented Emotional Clearing Method (ECM), designed to help individuals release stored emotional patterns, trauma, and limiting beliefs, now taught to practitioners globally. An international speaker and published author of multiple books including Healing the Total Self, Playing Full Out, and Transform, her work is grounded in the belief that your current symptoms, history, and circumstances do not define your future, and she is dedicated to helping individuals create lasting change, achieve optimal health, and live more aligned, empowered lives. Find Dr. Rachel Website Instagram IWA Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    55 min
  3. APR 7

    She Left Private Equity to Rethink Everything We Know About Yogurt and Gut Health with Kiki Couchman, Co-Founder of Sour Milk

    Most people who leave high-finance careers to start a food company have a moment — one experience, one realization, one thing they couldn’t unsee — that made going back feel impossible. For Kiki Couchman, that moment was gut health. Not as a trend. As a personal obsession that turned into a product gap she couldn’t stop thinking about. In this episode of In Alignment, Kiki shares the full story of how she went from private equity to co-founding Sour Milk — a next-generation probiotic yogurt brand built on real fermentation, radical transparency, and a community of people who actually care what goes into their food. This is not a tidy founder story. It is honest about the uncertainty, the bootstrapping, the decisions made in the gray area, and what it actually takes to build something people trust in a market full of products that overpromise and underdeliver. What we cover in this episode: Kiki’s journey from private equity to food startup — what she saw in the market, what was missing, and why she bet on it The science behind Sour Milk and what most people still get wrong about probiotics What it actually takes to build a brand in the CPG space — sourcing, manufacturing, quality control, and why product integrity has to come before fundraising How Kiki and her co-founder have built a loyal community through radical transparency — building in public, stories, AMAs, and showing the real process not just the highlight reel Decision-making in uncertainty — how to build confidence by starting to act in the gray area instead of waiting for certainty that never comes Why authenticity is not a branding strategy, it is a survival strategy — especially for early-stage founders who don’t have a marketing budget A few things that stuck with us: “Every year helps build on the momentum.” — on why staying in the game longer than feels comfortable is often the entire strategy. “Your gut produces natural GLP-1s.” — one of the most fascinating moments in the episode and a reminder that the body already knows what to do when you give it the right inputs. If this episode resonated: Follow Kiki and the Sourmilk journey And if you want to try Sour Milk — find them at [sourmlk.com] (add correct link). Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    54 min
  4. MAR 17

    Anxious, Avoidant, or Secure? How to Break Patterns and Become Secure in Your Relationships

    In this episode of In Alignment, we’re breaking down attachment styles and how they quietly shape your relationships, your reactions, and your sense of safety in love. If you’ve ever: * Spiraled over a shift in tone * Felt “too much” for wanting reassurance * Pulled away when things got close * Confused intensity with connection * Felt calm and wondered why it suddenly feels boring This episode is for you. We explore: * The difference between anxious, avoidant, and secure attachment * Why your nervous system reacts * How childhood dynamics shape adult love * Why triggers are invitations, not proof something is wrong * How to move toward secure attachment without abandoning yourself Attachment is not a personality flaw. It is a survival strategy you developed in response to past experiences. You are not your attachment style, and being anxious or avoidant is not permanent. The goal is not to shame your patterns. It is to understand them. When you slow down enough to look, they offer powerful insight into what your nervous system learned about love, safety, and connection. Because when you understand your attachment style, you stop personalizing every shift in energy. You start responding instead of reacting. And you build relationships that feel steady instead of chaotic. Secure love is not about finding the perfect person.It is about creating safety inside your own nervous system. Listen now on In Alignment wherever you get your podcasts ⭐️🎧 Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    42 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to In Alignment with Annie & Marissa. Our journey to feeling better in our bodies and our lives led us through wellness trends and healing practices, and through some of life’s harder moments. Navigating breakups, chronic health issues, body image, career transitions, finding purpose and starting over throughout our 20’s and 30’s. What we realized along the way is that the root of feeling stuck in our bodies, minds and lives is often a product of being out of alignment with who we truly are. When we come home to ourselves, the world around us starts to fall into place. Because the most important relationship we have is with ourselves. In Alignment is a space for honest conversations where we give you the tools to listen inward and design the life of your dreams. We’re so glad you’re here. shiftintoalignment.substack.com

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