In this powerful episode of The Daring Well Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Nikki Allen, award-winning author, filmmaker, R&B artist, and spiritual disruptor. Nikki is candid and opens up about her healing journey from heartbreak and abuse to radical self-awareness, self love, and personal empowerment. Through storytelling and soul work, Nikki shows us that healing isn’t always about going back to who we were — sometimes, it’s about meeting the version of ourselves we'...
In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Patterson, founder of the Northwest Fighting Arts Academy and creator of The Yielding Warrior Method. With over 36 years in meditative and martial arts, Jeff shares how his journey began in an unexpected place — a boxing gym — and ultimately led to a lifelong mission to help others cultivate clarity, presence, and performance through the meditative arts. We explore the three pillars of yielding — physical, mental, and emotional ...
In this soul-nourishing episode of The Daring Well Podcast, host Rita Mercer, licensed counselor and holistic wellness & mindset coach, invites you to embrace the sacred practice of “wintering” — a season of rest, renewal, and deep self-connection. Through the lens of nature’s wisdom, Rita explores how every season of life — joy, loss, abundance, and stillness — holds purpose and meaning. Just as trees shed their leaves to prepare for spring, we too must honor our seasons of slowing down ...
In this week's episode, host Rita Mercer reminds listeners that hope is never lost, even when life feels heavy, uncertain, or overwhelming. Through grounded wisdom and gentle encouragement, she explores how our focus shapes our reality—what we focus on grows—and how to shift from anxiety and worry toward peace and inner strength. Rita also shares practical tools to reframe hopelessness, regulate your nervous system, and rediscover your anchor of faith, gratitude, and purpose. This is a compas...
In this inspiring episode of The Daring Well Podcast, I sit down with Rob Rene — a faith and health warrior, founder of QE Strong and Exodus Strong, and host of The Biohackingville Podcast. Rob’s story is one of transformation, divine purpose, and rediscovering health through faith. A former elite athlete whose life changed after a devastating accident, Rob shares how God redirected his path from competitive sports to spiritual healing. Through his journey, he explores the connection between ...
What happens when burnout sparks innovation? In this inspiring Daring Well Podcast episode, Rita Mercer sits down with Dan Hartshorn, co-founder of Flow Greens and Scent Expresso, to explore his journey from burnout to wellness and how that transformation inspired the creation of a revolutionary wellness product. Dan shares his Daring Well Story—how he turned exhaustion and stress into innovation by combining scent and technology to design Scent Expresso, an aromatherapy diffuser that transfo...
“You don’t burn out from doing too much — you burn out from doing too much of what you don’t love.” In this inspiring episode of The Daring Well Podcast, host Rita Mercer sits down with Carly Pepin, an international business coach and human behavior specialist, to explore what it truly means to lead with alignment, authenticity, and balance. Carly shares her powerful story — from launching her first business at 18, to thriving in the fashion industry, to helping others design businesses and l...
In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, host Rita Mercer invites listeners to reflect on a powerful question: What do you need to be whole? Building on last week’s discussion about betting on yourself, Rita explores how understanding your core needs—based on Dr. William Glasser’s Choice Theory—can help you live with greater balance, self-awareness, and fulfillment. Rita breaks down the five basic human needs—love and belonging, power, freedom, fun, and survival—and reveals how our daily c...
What’s holding you back from living your fullest life? Is it fear, comparison, or the weight of old patterns from your family of origin? In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer dares you to believe in yourself, release self-doubt, and bet on YOU. In this episode, Rita unpacks the biggest battle we all face—the war in our minds. She explores how fear, negative self-talk, and comparison traps rob us of joy and peace. Through powerful reflection, she reminds us that while self-im...
In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita sits down with Anadel Alberti, CEO and founder of Audaciously Authentic, international speaker, and professional certified coach. Together, they explore what it means to live and lead authentically—both in the workplace and in life. Anadel shares her powerful journey from corporate burnout to rediscovering her authentic voice and creating a mission-driven business that helps organizations thrive. She highlights why burnout is a systemic issue, ...
What does it really mean to live in alignment with your truth? In this episode, Rita Mercer talks with Amy Lenius about turning pain into purpose, building self-belief and self-worth, and redefining success on your own terms. Get ready for an inspiring conversation filled with practical wisdom and honest insights. In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer is joined by Amy Lenius, Director of Group Coaching at Next Level University, professional speaker, and personal development ...
In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer invites you to explore the power of language and how the words you choose shape your reality. So often we walk through life feeling weighed down by the words “I have to”—whether it’s work, relationships, or responsibilities. But what if you shifted your perspective and replaced those draining words with empowering ones? ✨ Instead of “I have to,” you begin saying, “I get to.” ✨ Through gentle reflection and a guided meditation, Rita will ...
Welcome back, wellness seeker! In this week's episode, we're exploring the hidden power of your your belief system and how the words you choose—especially absolutes like “always,” “never,” and “should”—can either make you feel trapped or more freedom. This is not about guilt or shame—it’s about self-awareness and choosing to speak life and truth over yourself. You’ll learn how shifting just a few simple phrases can lighten your mental load and reshape your entire mindset. Whether ...
What happens when the people we trust the most break that trust? Betrayal trauma cuts deeper than other wounds—it shakes our identity, self-worth, and ability to trust again. In this powerful episode of The Daring Well Podcast, host Rita Mercer sits down with Dr. Debi Silber, founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation Institute, to explore how unhealed betrayal impacts our health, relationships, and work—and how we can transform pain into personal power. Dr. Debi shares her groundbreaking re...
In this week's episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer welcomes Dr. Julius Torelli, a cardiologist and holistic wellness advocate, to explore the power of gratitude, mindset, and a holistic lifestyle in shaping our health. Dr. Torelli shares his journey from traditional medicine into developing the Gratefully Well Model, which blends the best of Western medicine with holistic practices. He explains how emotional overwhelm, stress, and limiting beliefs often show up as physical symptom...
This is one of the top 5 most downloaded episodes from last year —because it’s just that powerful and just that good! In this heartfelt conversation, host Rita Mercer, your wellness coach, licensed counselor, and virtual friend, guides you through the healing and restorative benefits of nature therapy. If you’ve been feeling stressed, anxious, disconnected, or feeling stuck creatively, this episode is your gentle reminder to slow down, step outside, and reconnect with the natural world. Rita ...
In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, we dive into what it really means to complete the stress cycle and restore balance in your nervous system. If you’re feeling constantly on edge, overwhelmed, or exhausted—this conversation is for you. You’ll learn how the fight-flight response works, why we get stuck in it, and how it impacts your mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. We also explore the power of the parasympathetic nervous system (your body’s rest-and-digest mode) and the simp...
In this transformative episode of The Daring Well Podcast, host Rita Mercer sits down with energy healer and acupuncturist Banya Lim, Acupuncturist, Energy Healer & Founder of the Chi Mastery System to explore how emotional energy impacts physical health—and how we can reclaim our well-being by listening to the wisdom of the body. Banya shares her inspiring personal healing journey from chronic illness and depression to vitality and joy using movement, meditation, and energy healing. She ...
In this inspiring episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer is joined by licensed mental health therapist, speaker, and mom coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman to explore how mindfulness and intentional self-care can transform your life. Vanessa shares her deeply personal story of burnout, the wake-up call that led her to start Amiga Moms, and the practical ways both men and women can reconnect with themselves through mindful living. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The real-life ...
“It’s not about not feeling fear. It’s about choosing how you show up in spite of that fear.” In this powerful episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer is joined by international speaker, mentor, and firewalk guide Harriet Bratt for a heart-opening conversation on what it truly means to embody a warrior's mindset. Together, they explore how to overcome fear, break through self-doubt, and develop the inner confidence needed to live courageously and create lasting impact — in life, love,...