Triggered

Whitney Kell
  • 5.0 (23)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

How do you step off the hamster wheel of chasing the next thing and finally love the life you're living? Welcome to Triggered, i'm Whitney Kell and I help people turn triggers intotransformation. If your life looks successful on the outside, but something inside feels empty or unsettled, like you should be happier than you are, this show is for you. Here we move beyond materialism into meaning and purpose. We connect physical, mental, financial, and spiritual well-being.  We ask the hard questions. We go deep into your emotional reactions, and we illuminate the repeating patterns, not as problems, but as doorways to discovering who you really are. Each week, I bring you real questions, grounded tools, and honest conversations you can actually use with incredible guests. Welcome to Triggered. Let's get triggered together. Follow us now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

  1. 5d ago

    Ep. 15 - Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain: Dr. Andrea Cole-Raub on the Hormones, Hidden Infections & Immune Triggers Nobody's Testing For

    After 43 years in medicine — starting as a military medical officer and evolving into one of San Diego's most sought-after anti-aging and functional medicine physicians — Dr. Andrea Cole-Raub has seen nearly every pattern the body can throw at her. On this episode of Triggered, host Whitney Kell sits down with her longtime doctor for a wide-ranging, detective-style conversation about what standard medicine misses. They dig into why testosterone therapy transformed Whitney's health and relationships in her 30s, how gluten sensitivity hides behind "negative" celiac panels, and why H. pylori and leaky gut quietly wreck absorption, immunity, and even brain health years before symptoms show up. Dr. Cole-Raub explains the gut-brain connection behind "leaky brain," why reactivated Epstein-Barr virus becomes a hidden driver of fatigue and inflammation after 50, and how pharmacogenomic testing can end the guesswork around antidepressants and anxiety meds. They also talk candidly about AI's growing (and limited) role in modern diagnostics, and share a sobering story about why patients must advocate for themselves — even after a "normal" test result. Part detective story, part masterclass in functional medicine, this conversation is a reminder that your body is always talking. The question is whether anyone's listening. In This Episode: Testosterone therapy and hormone shifts across a woman's life stagesThe gluten-autoimmune connection standard celiac tests missH. pylori, leaky gut, and nutrient malabsorption (B12, iron/ferritin)Leaky gut → leaky brain: biomarkers for early neurodegenerative riskEpstein-Barr reactivation as a hidden driver of fatigue and inflammationPharmacogenomic testing for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medsWhere AI helps (and where it still gets it wrong) in diagnosticsSelf-advocacy: a cautionary story about a "normal" colonoscopyConnect with Dr. Andrea Cole-Raub: Oceanside, CA (telemedicine available) — reach out via email for consultation inquiries.

  2. Sep 1

    Ep. 14 - Pain Is the Pathway: How a Brain Injury, a Miscarriage, and a Broken Marriage Built an Insurance Rebel

    This week on Triggered, host Whitney Kell sits down with Chelsea Rykus — founder and president of Ethos Benefits, national speaker, documentary filmmaker, and self-proclaimed "raging Leo" — for a two-part conversation that moves from the deeply personal to the boldly professional. Chelsea opens up about the traumatic brain injury that derailed her path to medical school, the divorce at 26 that taught her more about courage than staying ever could, and the eight-and-a-half months of relentless morning sickness she powered through while still landing on stages across the country. Whitney and Chelsea dig into spirituality, EMDR therapy, somatic healing, and what it really means to turn pain into a pathway instead of a prison. Then the conversation shifts gears: Chelsea pulls back the curtain on the health insurance industry she calls "the cartel" — explaining how she built a fee-based (not commission-based) consulting firm from the ground up, walked away from a multi-million dollar book of business on principle, and now helps employers slash healthcare costs by exposing how wildly claims can be manipulated (think: an $82,000 hospital bill for a procedure that costs $2,000 down the road). Equal parts trauma-informed and take-no-prisoners business talk, this episode is a masterclass in choosing agency over victimhood — and building your own playbook when no one else's fits. Guest: Chelsea Rykus, Founder & President, Ethos Benefits | Co-host, Business of Benefits podcast Find her: LinkedIn @ChelseaRykus | businessofbenefitspodcast.com

  3. Aug 25

    Ep. 13 - I Hid My Hands for 28 Years - Part 2

    In Part 2 of this raw, unfiltered conversation, Whitney Kell continues her story of living with a congenital limb difference — and goes deeper into the emotional and spiritual work that helped her reclaim her identity after decades of hiding. Whitney opens up about: What actually happened when she stopped wearing her prosthetics in public for the first timeDiscovering her stepmother's narcissism and how it reframed her childhoodUsing The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz to stop taking triggers personallySurviving a coma, COVID, and heart surgery — and meditating through it allWhy every trigger is an invitation to know yourself more deeply, not a reason to shut downPractical breathwork and mindfulness tools she uses to move through triggers in real timeGetting sober at 28 and 26+ years of continuous personal growthThis episode is a masterclass in turning pain into self-awareness — and a reminder that no one else can fully understand your triggers but you. Topics covered: self-acceptance, congenital limb difference, narcissistic parents, The Four Agreements, trauma healing, meditation, breathwork, sobriety, personal transformation, mindfulness practices This is Part 2 of a two-part episode. If you haven't listened to Part 1, start there for the full story of Whitney's 28 years wearing prosthetic fingers. Find Whitney Kell on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Grab her free e-book Triggered or join her 6-week course, Track Your Triggers — links in show notes.

  4. Aug 25

    Ep. 12 - I Hid My Hands for 28 Years - Part 1

    Whitney Kell, host of Triggered, shares the story she's never told publicly: living with a congenital limb difference and wearing prosthetic fingers for 28 years to avoid bullying and hide part of herself from the world. In this deeply personal episode, Whitney opens up about: Growing up with a congenital defect and getting fitted for prosthetics at 14The bullying, shame, and self-protection that shaped her identityA powerful vision that led her to stop wearing her prosthetics after decadesHow hiding her hands affected her relationships, career, and self-worthGetting sober at 28 and the spiritual work that helped her reclaim her identityWhy she believes our differences — not our flaws — make us who we areThis episode is about triggers, identity, disability, self-acceptance, and the courage it takes to be seen. If you've ever hidden a part of yourself to fit in, this conversation will resonate. Topics covered: congenital limb difference, prosthetic hands, childhood bullying, body image, disability acceptance, sobriety, spiritual awakening, self-worth, personal transformation, identity Find Whitney Kell on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Grab her e-book Triggered or join her 6-week course, Track Your Triggers — links in show notes.

  5. Aug 18

    Ep. 11 - Novalena Nichele on Radical Responsibility, Conscious Parenting & Turning Triggers Into Truth

    In this episode of Triggered, host Whitney Kell sits down with entrepreneur, author, and strategic operator Novalena Nichele for a deeply personal conversation on self-worth, intuition, and radical responsibility. Novalena opens up about how curiosity and trust in her own intuition have shaped every major decision in her life — from navigating friendships and relationships without attachment, to building a business alongside her husband, to raising her daughter with an intentional, trauma-informed approach to parenting. She shares the personal development practices that changed her life, including a 30-day thought-awareness exercise inspired by T. Harv Eker, and a daily self-love journaling habit that reshaped how she sees herself. Whitney and Novalena also dig into: Why taking full responsibility for your emotional reactions is the foundation of real growthHow to build authentic, non-romantic friendships with the opposite sexThe parenting philosophy behind raising a secure, expressive child without punishment or forceNovalena's journey writing The Total Female Package and contributing to Think and Grow Rich for Women alongside Sharon LecterPractical tools for identifying what your triggers are really trying to teach youThis is a conversation about self-worth, presence, and learning to see every difficult moment as an opportunity to grow — exactly what Triggered is all about. Connect with Novalena Nichele: thetotalfemalepackage.com and on Instagram Connect with Whitney Kell and Triggered: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and wherever you get your podcasts.

  6. Aug 11

    Ep. 10 - Ready, Fire, Aim: Jenell Kelly on Trauma, Leadership & Learning to Trust Herself

    After 36 years as an ER nurse — stepping into what she now calls a daily war zone — Jenell Kelly thought the chaos was just who she was. It took a spinal cord injury that doctors said would leave her paralyzed for life, a stroke ten years later, and a night crying over a chapter of The Body Keeps the Score before she realized she'd been recreating the fight-or-flight of her childhood her entire career. Whitney sits down with Jenell to unpack how she left nursing leadership with no formal training, found her way into an entirely new identity, and finally did the deep, unglamorous work of healing the little girl inside her who thought chaos was normal. They talk belief before proof, the "roommate in your head," why journaling and five minutes of meditation beat an hour you'll never actually do, and what it really looks like to stop living out somebody else's story.

  7. Aug 4

    Ep. 8 - What Triggers the Trigger Expert? Leah Piper Gets Real About Her Own Meltdowns

    Part two of Whitney Kell's conversation with Tantra teacher Leah Piper flips the script — this time it's Leah's turn to get triggered on the record. She opens up about being her husband Matt's "master button pusher," the childhood roots of her own emotional flooding, and why she still has "regrettable moments" despite 25 years of doing this work. Leah shares the surprisingly simple, deeply personal rituals she and past partners have used to repair after a rupture (including one involving foot rubs and a father with diabetes), why she can only cry with a small circle of family, and why she believes the real question isn't "how do I stop having triggers" but "how fast can I come back to love when I lose it." A vulnerable, funny, and moving conversation about emotional capital, family patterns, and what it actually looks like to be loved through your worst moments — plus two free bonus trainings from Leah on pleasure and kissing.

  8. Aug 4

    Ep. 9 - The Master Button Pusher: Leah Piper on Sexual Trauma, Triggers & Reclaiming Pleasure

    Whitney Kell sits down with legendary Tantra teacher Leah Piper (25 years in the field, founder of More Love Works and host of Sex Reimagined) for a raw, wide-ranging conversation on what really happens in our bodies when we get triggered — especially around sex and intimacy. Leah unpacks the difference between enduring sex and truly desiring it, why testosterone can't heal childhood trauma even though it can restore charge and desire, and the startling link she's seen between sexual abuse history and weight gain (including the eye-opening bariatric surgery statistic that changed how she sees the obesity conversation entirely). She also shares her own story of childhood sexual abuse and disordered eating, and walks listeners through the somatic technique she uses to help people re-parent the younger, wounded parts of themselves. Plus: why curiosity — not fixing — is the antidote to shame, and the one question ("What would love do?") that can transform how you show up in every relationship.

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5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

How do you step off the hamster wheel of chasing the next thing and finally love the life you're living? Welcome to Triggered, i'm Whitney Kell and I help people turn triggers intotransformation. If your life looks successful on the outside, but something inside feels empty or unsettled, like you should be happier than you are, this show is for you. Here we move beyond materialism into meaning and purpose. We connect physical, mental, financial, and spiritual well-being.  We ask the hard questions. We go deep into your emotional reactions, and we illuminate the repeating patterns, not as problems, but as doorways to discovering who you really are. Each week, I bring you real questions, grounded tools, and honest conversations you can actually use with incredible guests. Welcome to Triggered. Let's get triggered together. Follow us now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Whitney Kell
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit