In Alignment

Annie Ripp & Marissa Vivori
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

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. 1d ago

    How to Make (and Keep) Real Friends as an Adult

    This week on In Alignment, Annie and Marissa go solo for an honest conversation about female friendship: why it’s one of the most nurturing forces in our lives, how to find and keep great friends, and when it’s time to walk away from the ones that aren’t serving you. They open up about the qualities that define their closest friendships: authenticity, grace, active listening, and the gift of friends who genuinely celebrate your wins without a hint of competition. Annie shares how she learned to give grace after a younger life shaped by betrayal and a fear of abandonment that made her quick to cut people off, while Marissa explains how dropping her perfectionism and showing up as her full self transformed her relationships. The conversation gets tactical, too. They cover how to actually make friends as an adult, why your friends’ friends are the best vehicle for expanding your circle, and the underrated power of being a connector who merges friend groups instead of siloing them. They also tackle the harder stuff: how to tell the difference between a friend who’s genuinely wrong for you and feelings that are really your own work to do, and why “just because someone hurt your feelings doesn’t mean they did something wrong.” Finally, they get real about not losing yourself, or your friendships, inside a romantic relationship, and why, as Marissa’s grandmother’s independent-living community makes vividly clear, the female friendships you nurture now may be the relationships that carry you through the rest of your life. Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    52 min

  2. Jun 2

    Everything You Need to Know About Your Health in Your 30s — with Amber Berger, Founder of The Well Drop

    Amber Berger is a wellness entrepreneur and founder of The Well Drop. At 11 years old she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. By her sophomore year of high school she had Crohn’s disease and surgery. The conventional protocol was steroids for life. She said no — and healed herself, putting her autoimmune disease into remission. In this episode Annie and Marissa sit down with Amber to talk about what it actually looks like to heal from the root when the medical system has run out of answers. Amber shares how a trip to a macrobiotic institute in the Berkshires — blind, desperate, and open — healed her Crohn’s disease and set her on a path she has never looked back from. Nearly 30 years later, she is still in remission. But this conversation goes far beyond Amber’s story. It’s a practical, specific, no-nonsense guide to taking agency over your health — especially as a woman in your 30s and 40s navigating perimenopause, hormonal shifts, PCOS, blood sugar dysregulation, weight resistance, and a medical system that still treats women as an afterthought. What you’ll hear in this episode: How Amber healed Crohn’s disease without steroids through macrobiotics, food as medicine, and Eastern healing modalities — and what her doctor said when she told him. Why your 30s are the most important decade to set your health baseline — and the exact labs and markers Amber recommends every woman should know. The truth about perimenopause that nobody tells you until you’re already in it — and why starting to prepare in your 30s changes everything. Why strength training is the single most important thing women can do for their long term health, hormones, bone density, and metabolism — and why most women are still not doing it. The glucose monitor experiment that helped a client lose 10 pounds when nothing else was moving the needle — and why Amber recommends every woman wear one for two weeks. How blood sugar dysregulation is the hidden driver behind PCOS, endometriosis, brain fog, moodiness, energy crashes, and weight resistance — and the simple food pairings and timing tweaks that change it. Why stress literally spikes your blood sugar — and what Annie found out about her own pre-diabetic numbers from a toxic job. The “garbage in, garbage out” principle applied to women’s health — and why the quality of what goes in your body every single day matters more than any supplement or protocol layered on top. What Eastern medicine gets right that conventional medicine keeps missing — and why inflammation is the thread connecting almost every chronic symptom women experience. Find Amber: Website Instagram Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 4m

  3. May 26

    Rock Bottom Is Where the Best Things Are Built

    This week Annie and Marissa are back together for a solo episode — and it’s one of their most personal yet. They kick things off with the story of how Shift came together on New Year’s Eve, the angel numbers that have followed them since, and what it actually looks and feels like when you start trusting signs from the universe. From there the conversation goes deep. They get into what it means to come home to yourself — not as a concept but as a lived, daily practice — and share the parallel journeys they were both on this past fall that led them here. Annie opens up about leaving venture capital and going through the hardest breakup of her life at the same time. Marissa shares what it was like to be at her lowest point in college, betrayed by her closest friend, and how she slowly relearned how to trust. What comes out of both of their stories is the same truth: the return to self is not a solo journey. It happens in relationship — with friends who see you, with experiences that crack you open, with the moments you finally let yourself be fully seen and discover you are still loved. Marissa talks about what it took to stop wearing the mask. Annie talks about how the hustle itself was a form of protection — and what happened when she finally put it down. They close with the most tangible, practical section of the episode: what to actually do when you feel stuck, lost, and disconnected from yourself. Annie shares the exercise she did two days after her breakup — a list she called “healing” that guided her back home. Marissa shares how journaling became the thing that moved the fear through her body and made this podcast possible. And they leave you with one of the best lines of the episode: never trust an inside thought. Go outside first. What you’ll hear in this episode: The New Year’s Eve walk where Shift was born — and the angel numbers that haven’t stopped since. What signs from the universe actually look like and how to start noticing them. How Annie processed leaving a seven year career and her hardest breakup at the same time. Marissa’s college rockbottom, a friend breakup that hit harder than any romantic one, and how she slowly rebuilt trust. Why the hustle, the overworking, and the performing were all forms of protection — and what life feels like when you put them down. The fear of being seen — and what happened when both of them finally let themselves be. How relationships become mirrors that walk us back home to ourselves. Annie’s healing list — the exercise she created two days after her breakup that you can do today. Why journaling moves fear through the body in a way that logic alone never can. The one thing to do when a dark thought won’t leave you alone. Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 3m

  4. May 19

    Is Wellness Making Women More Anxious?

    This week on In Alignment, we’re joined by holistic nutritionist and somatic practitioner Madison Miller for a conversation that challenges so much of what women have been taught about healing. What if the symptoms you’ve been trying to fix — anxiety, gut issues, chronic inflammation, skin flare-ups, jaw tension, even exhaustion — are not random, but signals? Madison shares why so many women are stuck in cycles of over-optimizing, over-supplementing, and over-controlling their health, while missing a deeper root: chronic stress physiology, emotional suppression, and disconnection from the body. We talk about the ways “wellness culture” can sometimes become another form of dissociation, how symptoms can act as messengers rather than problems to silence, and why true healing may have less to do with adding more protocols and more to do with rebuilding self-trust. This is a conversation about moving from perfectionism to embodiment, from discipline rooted in fear to devotion rooted in self-love. We explore: * How unprocessed emotions can show up as physical symptoms * The connection between nervous system dysregulation, inflammation, gut issues and hormone symptoms * Why doing everything “right” can still leave women feeling unwell * The difference between optimization and embodiment * How perfectionism and wellness culture can fuel the very symptoms they promise to fix * Why symptoms may be sacred messengers, not betrayals * Somatics, EFT tapping and simple ways to begin reconnecting with your body * The role of community in healing and why healing was never meant to be done alone * Reframing discipline as devotion * Why simplifying, not adding more, may be one of the most healing things you can do If you’ve ever felt frustrated that you’re doing all the “right” things and still don’t feel well, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Where to find Madison? Website Instagram Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min

  5. May 12

    Amanda Wahlstedt, Founder of Roots to Leaves: The Hormone Conversation Every Woman Deserves to Have

    Amanda Wahlstedt is a registered dietitian, functional health practitioner, and founder of Roots to Leaves — a private practice working exclusively with women on hormonal health, fertility, and whole-body wellness. Her own experience coming off the pill after a decade and being met with no real answers is what sent her on the path to building the practice she wished had existed. In this episode, Annie and Marissa sit down with Amanda for one of the most honest, practical conversations they've had on women's hormonal health. They talk about how the birth control pill impacts your body and why you can't see the full picture until you're off it, the connection between chronic stress and reproductive hormones, and why nervous system support is so much more than a wellness trend. Amanda also shares the question she comes back to with every client — is this action coming from love or from fear — and why the energy behind a health habit matters just as much as the habit itself. They also get into endocrine disruptors, what they are, where they’re hiding in your daily life, and the three buckets to prioritize first without overhauling everything overnight. Plus a conversation on tampons, what wellness actually means to Amanda right now, and the healing ritual she swears by that has nothing to do with supplements or protocols. This conversation is not about doing more or optimizing harder. It is about finally understanding your body — and learning to work with it instead of against it. Where to Find Amanda: Instagram Substack Website Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 7m

  6. May 5

    The Invisible Factors Driving Your Health Are in Your Home with Ben Parens, Founder of Nestwell

    This week on In Alignment, we’re joined by Ben Perens, founder of Nestwell, who is building in one of the most overlooked categories in wellness. His core belief is simple but hard to ignore: the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the environment you live in every day are doing far more to your health than most of the things you’re spending money on. We get into what’s actually inside our homes, from VOCs and gas stoves to water quality, lighting, and microplastics, and why these inputs quietly shape everything from sleep and focus to long-term disease risk. Ben breaks down the idea of “high-leverage health” and why so many of us are focused on optimizing the last 10% while ignoring the foundation. We also talk about greenwashing, how to think about “clean” products, and why the current wellness industry has largely missed this entire category. The most important part: this doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. We talk through the small, practical shifts that actually move the needle, what to prioritize first, and how to think about your home as a system that either supports your health or slowly works against it. Where to find Ben? Nestwell Instagram Get full access to Shift Into Alignment at shiftintoalignment.substack.com/subscribe

    48 min

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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

Information

  • Creator
    Annie Ripp & Marissa Vivori
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Shift Into Alignment
  • Show Website
    In Alignment

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