Trotting Thru Life: The feel good journey through wellness, reimagined.

What if we stopped thinking about skincare as something we simply put on our skin—and started thinking about it as a form of nourishment?In this episode of Trotting Thru Life, I sit down with Natalie Novak, founder and CEO of KPS Essentials, to talk about her unique approach to skincare: food-grade, organic transdermal nutrition for the skin.Natalie is a licensed esthetician and massage therapist with nearly four decades in the healing arts. Her journey into clean skincare began in 1987, when she witnessed a skincare product dissolve carpet fiber at a Nordstrom skincare counter. That moment sparked a lifelong curiosity about what our bodies actually recognize as nourishment—and ultimately led her to create KPS Essentials.We talk about the difference between conventional skincare and Natalie's food-grade approach, why ingredient quality matters, and what it means to think about the skin as part of the body's overall wellness picture.Natalie also shares insights from her years working in the healing arts, including her experience as a certified oncology esthetician working directly with cancer patients and her passion for organic living as a certified organic master gardener.If you've ever wondered what you're really putting on your skin, how skincare ingredients fit into a whole-body wellness approach, or whether your skin deserves the same attention to nutrition as the rest of your body, this conversation will give you a completely different perspective on skincare.In this episode we discuss:What transdermal nutrition meansWhy Natalie describes her skincare as food-grade for the skinThe importance of understanding skincare ingredientsNatalie's fascinating journey into clean and organic skincareWhat nearly 40 years in the healing arts has taught herHer experience as an oncology estheticianThe connection between skincare and whole-body wellnessWhy what we put on our skin deserves just as much thought as what we put in our bodies🎧 Tune in for a fascinating conversation about rethinking skincare—and what it means to truly nourish your skin.Natalie Novak is the Founder and CEO of KPS Essentials, an organic, food-grade transdermal nutrition brand for the skin. She's a licensed esthetician and massage therapist with nearly four decades in the healing arts. Her path began in 1987 at a Nordstrom skincare counter, where she watched a "skincare" product dissolve carpet fiber, a moment that set her on a lifelong search for what the body actually recognizes as nourishment. She's also a certified oncology esthetician (having worked directly with cancer patients) and a certified organic master gardener.www.kpsessentials.comCoupon Code: TTL20Instagram: KPSESSENTIALS / your_skinhealth_guru

Have you ever wondered what your lymphatic system actually does—and why it may be more important to your overall health than you realize?In this episode of Trotting Thru Life, I sit down with health innovator, author, and lymphatic system health coach John Ossipinsky, who brings more than 30 years of experience helping people better understand and support their lymphatic health.We dive into the often-overlooked role of the lymphatic system and its connection to inflammation, swelling, fatigue, stress, cellular health, and even the brain. John explains the fascinating lymph-brain connection and why supporting healthy lymphatic flow may be an important piece of the bigger wellness picture.We also talk about practical, gentle ways to support lymphatic flow, including movement and self-lymphatic drainage, and why you don't necessarily need complicated protocols to start supporting your body's natural systems.If you've been dealing with swelling, inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, or simply want to better understand how your body moves waste and supports cellular health, this conversation will give you a whole new appreciation for your lymphatic system.In this Episode we discuss:What the lymphatic system does and why it mattersThe connection between lymphatic health and inflammationSwelling, fatigue, and other signs worth paying attention toThe fascinating lymph-brain connectionHow movement supports lymphatic flowSelf-lymphatic drainage and how it worksSimple ways to support lymphatic health at homeWhy lymphatic health can be an important part of whole-body wellnessYour lymphatic system may not get as much attention as your heart, gut, or hormones—but it plays an important role in how your body functions.John Ossipinsky is an author, host of the Lymph-Brain Revolution podcast, and a lymphatic health coach.  He started his career as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and Diplomate in CranioSacral Therapy. He has worked with the lymphatic system, helping clients regain their health for over 30 years. His expertise is working with the Lymph-Brain Connection to improve mental and physical health.In 2023, an NIH report, “The emerging importance of lymphatics in health and disease: an NIH workshop report,” found: “Changes in normal lymphatic function can alter multiple systems in the body and manifest as different and varied pathologies. There are many conditions related to lymphatic dysfunction within all body systems.”This means diseases begin with lymphatic dysfunction! John specializes in helping individuals, medical professionals, coaches, course creators, bodyworkers, and energy practitioners learn to gain control over their health, their families, or a client's health with the lymphatic system.Our Mission Statement: "To promote a greater understanding of the lymphatic system’s role in maintaining human health and preventing disease through lymphatic education."HealthyLymphSystem.comThe Lymph-Brain Revolution Podcast

Do you feel like you're constantly coping, pushing through, or just trying to get to the next thing? You may be stuck in survival mode—and you don't have to stay there.In this episode of Trotting Thru Life, I sit down with Ramona Kossowan, an Empowerment Coach and Gentle Trauma Release Practitioner, to talk about what it really means to move from simply surviving to feeling truly connected to yourself again.We explore why so many women find themselves stuck in survival mode, especially during major life transitions like divorce, empty nesting, burnout, or other seasons of change. Ramona shares her perspective on why gentleness isn't weakness—it's actually a powerful foundation for sustainable change.We also dive into nervous system regulation, rebuilding confidence, redefining strength, and why true transformation requires more than simply changing your mindset. Sometimes, the most meaningful shifts happen when we slow down, listen to our bodies, and give ourselves permission to meet ourselves exactly where we are.If you've been feeling stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed, or like you've lost touch with who you are, this conversation will encourage you to consider a different path—one that doesn't require you to push harder, but invites you to move forward with more compassion and intention.In This Episode, We Discuss:Why women often get stuck in survival modeHow burnout and major life transitions can impact your nervous systemMoving beyond coping and into genuine transformationThe connection between the mind, body, and nervous systemWhy gentleness can be a powerful tool for healingRebuilding confidence after divorce, empty nesting, or burnoutRedefining what it means to be a strong womanHow small, sustainable shifts can create meaningful changeIf you're ready to stop simply surviving and start reconnecting with yourself, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and discover why you don't have to push harder to move forward.Resources: Websitesramonakcoaching.comgentletraumacoach.comSocials:   https://www.facebook.com/RamonaKCoachinghttps://www.instagram.com/ramonakcoachinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-kossowan-380ba66a/https://www.youtube.com/@ramonakcoachinghttps://substack.com/@ramonakcoachinghttps://www.pinterest.com/ramonakcoaching/Free offers:Is it Trauma? Explore the often overlooked symptoms of trauma: https://ramonakcoaching.com/gentle-trauma-assessment/Is “Food Noise” hijacking your nervous system and taking up too much mental energy? Take your Food Obsession Quiz to find out more: https://ramonakcoaching.com/foodobsession

Have you been told your blood sugar is too high—but never really been told why?In this episode of Trotting Thru Life, I sit down with functional medicine practitioner Jason Shumard to explore the root causes of insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and Type 2 diabetes.Instead of focusing only on blood sugar numbers, Dr. Jason explains how factors like chronic stress, hormone imbalances, inflammation, nutrition, and metabolic health all work together to influence how your body functions. We discuss why treating symptoms alone often isn't enough and how understanding the why behind your health challenges can lead to lasting change.Whether you've been diagnosed with insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes, struggle with stubborn weight, experience energy crashes, or simply want to better understand your metabolic health, this conversation offers practical, encouraging insights that can help you take the next step toward feeling your best.In This Episode We Discuss:What insulin resistance really isThe hidden drivers behind high blood sugarWhy metabolic health affects so much more than diabetesThe connection between hormones, stress, and blood sugarHow functional medicine looks for root causes instead of just treating symptomsSimple lifestyle changes that support long-term metabolic healthThis episode is a reminder that your lab numbers don't define you—they're simply clues that can help uncover what's happening beneath the surface.To contact Dr. Jason visit his website at:   https://drshumard.com/

Have you ever thought about going on a wellness retreat... but talked yourself out of it?Maybe you worried about coming alone, stepping outside your comfort zone, or taking time away from your family and responsibilities. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.In this special episode of Trotting Thru Life, I'm joined by my two incredible co-hosts as we celebrate the fourth year of our annual Women's Wellness Retreat. We reflect on how the retreat has grown over the years, the unforgettable transformations we've witnessed, and why each year becomes more meaningful than the last.More importantly, we talk about the courage it takes to choose yourself.Whether you've never attended a retreat or you've been thinking about joining us this year, we hope this conversation encourages you to see self-care not as a luxury—but as an investment in your health, relationships, and future.In This Episode We Discuss:Why our Women's Wellness Retreat continues to evolve each yearWhat first-time attendees can expectHow stepping outside your comfort zone leads to personal growthWhy women often struggle to prioritize themselvesThe importance of community, connection, and intentional restWhat makes our retreat experience so specialIf you've been waiting for a sign to prioritize yourself, this might just be it.Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply say yes to yourself.To learn more or to sign up today visit:https://aliciatrottercoaching.com/retreat