Inner Rebel

Melissa Bauknight & Jessica Rose
  • 5.0 (15)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Inner Rebel is a raw, unfiltered journey into the hearts and minds of fearless dreamers and visionaries. Hosted by Melissa Bauknight, soul business coach and founder of The Nova, and Jessica Rose, actress and human design expert, we dive deep into what it truly takes to pursue unconventional dreams and forge a path that's unapologetically yours. Through candid conversations with game-changers who have dared to defy the status quo, we dissect the grit, grace, hard-won wisdom, and radical choices that shape authentic, purpose-driven lives. Whether you're a corporate misfit, a creative maverick, or simply feel the pull of an undefined destiny, Inner Rebel offers inspiration, soul-deep insights, and a community that celebrates the messy, beautiful journey of chasing your dreams. 

  1. 12/03/2025

    Season 2 Finale: Somersaults, Piercings & Other Forms of Spiritual Growth

    Send us a text What starts as a rapid-fire game (chaotic snacks, loud walking, haunted-house ghosts with a sense of humour) opens into a deeper conversation about growth, marriage, leadership, friendship, and the kind of self-honesty that Inner Rebel is known for.  Melissa reflects on a season of big transition — shedding what no longer fits, learning to lead without abandoning her softness, healing long-held stories about intimacy, and discovering what it actually means to be fully seen by the people who matter most. Jess shares her own edges: new love, new levels of honesty, and the uncomfortable beauty of letting someone mirror the parts of you you’ve tried to hide. It’s a finale filled with levity, tenderness, permission slips, personal revelations, fake poop pranks, inner toddlers having meltdowns, creative pivots, and an unexpected amount of wisdom about what it means to grow up spiritually, relationally, and professionally — without losing the joy or the weird. IN THIS EPISODE: Rapid-fire questions: chaotic snacks, ghost pranks, musical bed routinesThe levity we forget to bring into our personal growthLearning to be a CEO without burning out or living in chaosThe difference between implosions and proactive changeIntimacy in long-term partnership: taking walls down after years of defenseReligious conditioning, belonging, and being the “black sheep” in your familyHonesty, mirroring, and being deeply seen in relationshipVisibility, vulnerability, and sharing publicly Tiny things that shift everything (ear piercings, rituals, play)Parenting, silliness, and the parts of us only our families seeWhy fun and levity matter in deep work and leadershipWhat we learned this season — and our vision for Season 3Our “Snoop Dogg acceptance speeches” and the art of self-celebrationSupport the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    52 min
  2. Erin Saxton: The Courage to Stick Your Neck Out — and Dive Into Your Crap

    11/19/2025

    Erin Saxton: The Courage to Stick Your Neck Out — and Dive Into Your Crap

    Send us a text In this wildly honest and unexpectedly hilarious episode, we sit down with four-time Emmy-nominated TV producer, PR strategist, and professional truth-teller Erin Saxton — a woman whose inner rebel is not “inner” at all. What begins as a conversation about career, reinvention, and authenticity quickly turns into a masterclass on self-awareness, courage, and the messy, tender, deeply human work of becoming yourself. Erin shares the story behind her 100-pound weight loss, the inner voices she had to meet along the way, and the surprising rituals (including alarms in the pantry and silent retreats where she’s not allowed to make friends) that helped her rebuild trust with herself from the inside out. We explore what it really means to lead — in business, in branding, in visibility, and in your own life. Erin reveals the “velvet steamroller” gift she honed under Barbara Walters, why confidence can coexist with anxiety, and how our sharpest gifts often turn inward as our greatest struggles. This conversation is honest, disarming, laugh-out-loud funny, and deeply affirming for anyone navigating identity, self-trust, visibility, or the uncomfortable edges of personal transformation. EPISODE TOPICSThe inner rebel as leadership: courage, honesty, and discomfortWeight, self-trust & the long game of rebuilding your inner worldUsing structure, accountability, and self-awareness to change your lifeThe “turtle” metaphor: sticking your neck out to move forwardAnxiety, autopilot, and the ways we all dissociateWhy confidence can mask internal chaosThe art of asking hard questions (Barbara Walters style)Authenticity vs branding — and how to know the differenceCalling b******t with loveImposter syndrome in visibility & leadershipMarketing as sleight-of-hand: what’s honest, what’s strategyConnect with Erin Saxton Instagram: @saxtonerin — https://www.instagram.com/saxtonerin/ Website: The Erin Network — https://www.theerinnetwork.com/ Episode Support the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    55 min
  3. Jessica Rose: Human Design & The Genius Beneath the Bullsh*t

    11/05/2025

    Jessica Rose: Human Design & The Genius Beneath the Bullsh*t

    Send us a text This isn’t another Human Design 101. In this profound and provocative conversation, Melissa flips the mic toward Jessica Rose—Inner Rebel co-host, Human Design expert, and Deconditioning Coach—to explore beyond the buzzwords of Human Design and into the transformative—and often confronting—work of living it. What follows is a deep excavation of identity and illusion: how deconditioning means confronting the stories you’ve believed about who you are. From the stories we tell ourselves to the ones shaping the world, Jess and Melissa explore how deconditioning isn’t just personal work—it’s how we dismantle the collective fictions that fuel everything from self-abandonment to global conflict. They illuminate how trusting the body over the mind becomes the ultimate rebellion in a world addicted to certainty, how following your “joy breadcrumbs” leads you home to purpose, and how our greatest fears aren’t obstacles but doorways into who we’re becoming. Intimate, philosophical, and fiercely honest, this episode is a masterclass in the art of waking up. Topics Covered The true purpose of Human DesignWhat “deconditioning” actually means and asks of usThe radical rebellion of listening to your body over your mindHow to recognize the difference between your body's actual YES and the guilt-driven yes you've been conditioned to giveWhy we “agree to be crazy together”: exploring the collective fictions that shape our livesThe shadows and gifts in your chart (and why your biggest fears are actually portals to your genius)The illusion of control and the cultural addiction to certaintyThe reason why “following your strategy and authority” will change your lifeThe radical act of following your body’s yes and no in a world that glorifies over-effortingThe importance of Human Design in team dynamicsTo Connect with Jess: To book a Human Design reading or dive deeper into deconditioning work, visit bydesignwithjess.com or follow Jess on Instagram at @bydesignwithjess. Support the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    1h 2m
  4. Carrie Montgomery: How to Be Superhuman

    10/22/2025

    Carrie Montgomery: How to Be Superhuman

    Send us a text What if performance, health, and leadership all come down to one thing: safety in your body? In this transformative episode, nervous system specialist and founder of Lumera Leadership Lab Carrie Montgomery breaks down how regulation—not force—is the true foundation of resilience and power. We explore how trauma imprints affect our capacity, why nervous system work is the missing link in healing and business, and how you can start rewiring your system with simple, science-backed practices. Carrie’s story of surviving medical trauma and rebuilding her life from the inside out is a powerful testament to what’s possible when we stop pushing—and start listening. Topics: Nervous system regulation 101Somatics + applied neurologyBurnout, illness, and the collapse before clarityWealth and capacityCodependency + fawningCreating internal safetyRedefining power and leadershipBuilding resilience through the body Learn more about Carrie’s work at carriemontgomery.com or connect with her on Instagram at @realcarriemontgomery . Support the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    48 min
  5. Lynya Floyd: Stepping into Your Spotlight

    10/08/2025

    Lynya Floyd: Stepping into Your Spotlight

    Send us a text What happens when the person who's spent decades getting everyone else ready for the spotlight finally steps into it herself? In this powerful and tender conversation, we sit down with journalist, bestselling ghostwriter, and media coach Linya Floyd—who’s spent decades helping other people shine—to talk about what happens when it’s finally your turn to take the stage. From a behind-the-scenes media career to a long-delayed pitch that changed everything, Linya shares her story of becoming visible in a whole new way—while caregiving, grieving, growing, and learning to tell the truth about who she is and what she wants. She reflects on the evolution from performance to presence, the quiet fear of being truly seen, and the sacred space required to let our stories come alive. TOPICS WE EXPLORE: What it really means to be seenPerformance identity vs. true presenceVisibility fears (and what we’re actually afraid of)Why your story matters more than you thinkThe courage to stop hiding (even behind success)Vulnerability as a gateway to connectionThe slow, sacred timing of creative becomingSupport vs. self-sufficiency: why you don’t need to do it aloneThe 5-second rule that changes everythingLinea's Oprah Daily Article: "What I Learned From My 10-Year Dating Gap" - The vulnerable personal essay Linya discusses in this episode Edited by: Shoshana Wilder Support the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    45 min
  6. Sue Van Raes: What You're Really Hungry For

    09/24/2025

    Sue Van Raes: What You're Really Hungry For

    Send us a text What does your relationship with food reveal about your relationship with yourself? We sit down with functional nutritionist and food psychology specialist Sue Van Raes to explore the powerful intersection of nourishment, identity, and self-trust. We talk about emotional eating, the cultural narratives around control and discipline, and how reclaiming pleasure and intuition in how we eat can ripple into every other area of our lives. Whether you’ve struggled with food or are simply ready for a more integrated and joyful relationship with your body, this episode offers both insight and real permission. Topics: Food psychology + emotional eatingWomen’s relationship with nourishmentStress + hormone regulationNervous system patterns around foodReclaiming pleasure + intuitive eatingIdentity and body trustHealing through nourishmentLetting go of all-or-nothing thinking Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:25 Sue's Background and Achievements 01:02 Developing a Sacred Friendship 02:10 Exploring the Inner Rebel 06:53 Sue's Journey of Self-Discovery 08:57 Food and Emotional Well-being 22:40 Navigating Expansion and Visibility 26:53 Serendipitous Connections and Opportunities 28:39 Overcoming Podcast Nerves 29:56 Embracing Fun and Freedom in Book Launch 31:18 Slowing Down for Authentic Expansion 32:21 Questioning Limiting Beliefs 35:21 Understanding Sensations and Food Relationships 40:08 Exploring Different Types of Hunger 46:18 The Pleasure of Reminiscing 49:39 Living with Purpose and Aliveness Support the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    52 min
  7. Jeff Salzenstein: Performance, Trauma, and the Edges of Transformation

    09/10/2025

    Jeff Salzenstein: Performance, Trauma, and the Edges of Transformation

    Send us a text In this rare and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Jeff Salzenstein — former top-100 tennis player turned executive performance coach — for a soulful exploration of identity, grief, resilience, and the emotional reckoning that comes when success is no longer the point. Jeff opens up about the moment he knew it was time to leave tennis, the trauma that called him into coaching, and the recent experiences that are humbling him back into his body — and back into his heart. Together, we unpack what it means to be truly seen, the edges of emotional risk that no one talks about, and the surprising places the inner rebel shows up in midlife. This one’s for the over-functioners, the fixers, the seekers, and the late bloomers. For anyone wondering if it’s too late to change your story — or be truly seen in the one you’re already living. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:42 Meet Jeff Selzen Stein 01:13 Tennis Career Highlights and Challenges 01:40 The Importance of Names and Identity 04:49 Inner Rebel and Personal Growth 07:41 The Role of Creativity in Tennis 11:25 Holistic Approach to Performance 19:31 Navigating Fear and Intuition 26:14 Transitioning from Tennis to Coaching 31:13 Helping My Brother's Transformation 31:57 From Alone to Community: A Journey of Accountability 32:52 Navigating Life Transitions and Embracing New Challenges 33:09 The Struggle with Community and the Lone Wolf Mentality 35:06 Exploring Relationships and the Desire for Family 36:57 The Importance of Self-Work and Vulnerability 43:30 Caring for My Father and Facing Personal Judgments 47:59 Reflecting on My Brother's Journey and Its Impact 53:01 The Pain of Unseen Relationships and the Path to Healing 56:14 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude Support the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    58 min
  8. Melissa Bauknight: The Power of Being Seen

    08/27/2025

    Melissa Bauknight: The Power of Being Seen

    Send us a text In this special episode, we turn the mic toward Inner Rebel co-host Melissa Bauknight — and what unfolds is a deeply honest, powerful conversation about identity, expansion, and the kind of community that changes everything. Melissa shares the story of her becoming — from high-achieving corporate sales leader silently battling imposter syndrome, to spiritual seeker, coach, and ultimately the founder of The Nova, a global women’s collective redefining leadership, belonging, and power. Through her lived experience, she offers a grounded and generous roadmap for what it really takes to come home to yourself — especially when the world you grew up in taught you to conform. This episode explores what it means to be truly seen — and how that simple act can unlock lifetimes of untapped potential. We talk about the role of chosen family, the discomfort of being witnessed in your fullness, and the sacred rebellion of building a life that reflects who you really are. If you’ve ever felt like the black sheep, or you’re navigating your own next chapter — in business, identity, or belonging — Melissa’s story is a reminder that transformation is rarely linear, community is never optional, and who you’re becoming is already in motion. TOPICS: Navigating spiritual awakening and expanding beyond the rules we’re raised byHow being witnessed changes everythingThe slow, courageous unraveling of identity and friendshipsThe birth of a soul business rooted in alignment and integrityRedefining belonging through chosen family and conscious communityWhy community is oxygen — and how to create the village you long for Support the show If you loved today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaways by screenshotting this episode and tagging us on Instagram! We also have a free virtual monthly community call on the 3rd Thursday of every month, join here! CONNECT WITH INNER REBEL Follow Inner Rebel Podcast: @innerrebelpodcast Follow Melissa: @melissa-bauknight & @thenovaglobal Follow Jessica: @bydesignwithjess or connect through her website http:/www.bydesignwithjess.com Visit the Inner Rebel website Check out The Nova Community and become a part of our "Novalution" https://thenovaglobal.com/ Download...

    1h 2m
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About

Inner Rebel is a raw, unfiltered journey into the hearts and minds of fearless dreamers and visionaries. Hosted by Melissa Bauknight, soul business coach and founder of The Nova, and Jessica Rose, actress and human design expert, we dive deep into what it truly takes to pursue unconventional dreams and forge a path that's unapologetically yours. Through candid conversations with game-changers who have dared to defy the status quo, we dissect the grit, grace, hard-won wisdom, and radical choices that shape authentic, purpose-driven lives. Whether you're a corporate misfit, a creative maverick, or simply feel the pull of an undefined destiny, Inner Rebel offers inspiration, soul-deep insights, and a community that celebrates the messy, beautiful journey of chasing your dreams. 

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Bauknight & Jessica Rose
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Inner Rebel
  • Show Website
    Inner Rebel