Wellness Wins
Wellness Wins
The Wellness Wins podcast honors the stories, struggles, and successes of people who are managing major health challenges and thriving. Hosted by Aleisha Theisen, NBC-HWC.
Natalie Lu on creative journaling for resilience
Nurse Natalie Lu of The Reflective Collective explains how art and creative journaling are good for our brains, mental health, and longevity. She also shares prompts you can use to kick off your own creative journaling practice, and she has created a calendar that serves as a beautiful guide for those who want to participate in a creative, supportive community all year long. The video version of this podcast is available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@WellnessWinsPodcast
Brandi Privitera on thriving with fibromyalgia
It took a painfully long time for doctors to determine Navy veteran Brandi Privitera's fibromyalgia diagnosis. And then, when she went looking for resources on how to manage this condition, she was dismayed to find a lack -- of information, of ways to connect with others, and of research funding for fibro. She turned her frustration into action: starting a blog, BeingFibroMom.com, then turning to advocacy via She shares her story and struggles in this interview, and she shines a light on the path forward for the fibro community.
Mel Schneider on restoring connection to nature through forest therapy
Certified Forest Therapy Guide Mel Schneider describes the experiential practice of forest bathing and how it can help us reconnect with nature. She also works with companies that want to set up a guided walk for their employees.
Rachel Satrom on self-care as a busy mom and parent of a child with Prader-Willi syndrome
Rachel is not new to the busy lifestyle of a mom. She has four young children, including a daughter with Prader-Willi syndrome, and she and her husband work hard to keep everything in balance in their home life. Their strategies change as their family grows and their needs shift. She shares the lessons she's learned in how to maintain self-care and manage everyone's schedules in a way that helps their family thrive.
Patricia Daiker on diabetes and self-compassion
Accepting her diagnosis of diabetes took RN Patricia Daiker some time, and it included acknowledging grief -- she would never again be the person who didn't have to monitor her glucose numbers. But with self-compassion and allowing herself to process that grief, she began to thrive again.
Lora Swoape on overcoming Guillain-Barre syndrome
It started with fatigue, then her legs felt a little funny. A few weeks later, Lora Swoape was hospitalized with a Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosis. It's been a long, difficult road, but she keeps looking forward, using her vision of wiggling her toes in the sand on the beach as a vision to drive her to get her mobility back again.
Miriam Mbugua on healing the gut one step at a time
Miriam Mbugua suffered horrible stomach pain and other digestive issues throughout her adolescence. As she got older, she began to learn ways to improve her gut health and thus her overall wellbeing. Now Miriam is a coach helping other folks improve their gut health. Learn practical ways to start improving your own gut health in this interview with Miriam.
Ian and Erin on finding joy and love amid grief
Erin Etheridge suddenly became a single mom of four in 2015 when her husband, Kenneth, died in a motorcycle accident. Ian Cox has a similar story of loss. His wife, Steffany, died in 2020, after a battle with breast cancer. Ian was suddenly a grieving single dad with three young boys. But their stories don't end there. A few years ago, their mutual circles brought them into each other's spheres.
Bridget Berns’ journey from anxiety and depression to well-being and magic
Bridget Berns had the external trappings that might indicate a happy life: A great job, a husband, a home close to her family. But mental health struggles plagued her, and after some time, she found herself alone and deeply depressed. In this candid interview, she shares her journey through mental health challenges to a state of happiness, joy and well-being. Bridget now helps other women take charge of their mental and physical health.
Trying times call for trying new things, with Natalie Lu of the Reflective Collective
Twin Cities RN Natalie Lu has been working on her wellness game for some time, and six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, she recognized she needed to lean into those practices to sustain her. Hear how creative journaling, meditative movement, and the Japanese art of Kintsugi (putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold) have helped her care for herself, and how she's fostering community among caregivers to heal and sustain amid the nation's healthcare burnout crisis.
Thriving in Antarctica with Beth Jennings
Health and wellness coach Beth Jennings is a pro at maintaining healthy habits while traveling. Whether it be a job that took her cross country or living in Antarctica where she worked as a physical therapist, Beth has learned how to stay well wherever life takes her. Hear her tips and tricks in this episode of Wellness Wins. To learn more about her health coaching services for travelers, go to bethjennings.com.
Stay healthy on the road with coach Beth Jennings
Do you struggle like I do to make healthy choices while on the road? I recruited health and wellness coach Beth Jennings to help me out. She's learned by doing, traveling cross-country countless times, as well as living in less-than-hospitable Antarctica. Join us as she shares simple and doable tips to keep yourself well on the road.
Sparking workplace joy from the inside out with Janelle and CJ
Janelle and CJ are nurses and educators. They love what they do. But sometimes even people who love their jobs need a little inspiration. Hear about how these women spearheaded a delightful movement called "Fun Fridays," which has sparked joy and fun and connection in their workplace. Send this podcast to your work bestie. Maybe you will want to start your own "Fun Fridays" movement together in your workplace!
Preventing compassion fatigue and burnout with Kate Kompas
Journalist-turned-animal welfare worker Kate Kompas is the interviewee in this discussion on self care, self compassion and preventing workplace burnout. Kate works for the in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She has a unique perspective working in the animal welfare space, which -- while rewarding -- can also be taxing for those tasked with caring for these vulnerable creatures. Her commitment and passion have guided her in learning to make transformative mindset shifts about nutrition, movement and workplace wellbeing.
Find out more about the Tri-County Humane Society:
The heart attack many don’t survive, with Elijah Stenman
40-year-old Elijah, a chef at a Minnesota hospital, didn't feel quite right after his shift. He stopped at the employee health services clinic - a decision that likely saved his life. Elijah recalls how he went from cooking for hospital patients one minute to being wheeled to the ER the next, and what recovery has been like as a busy husband and dad of two young boys