I Choose Health Podcast

🧠Start healing today with our #sponsor BetterHelp and get 10% off your first month by going to:https://www.betterhelp.com/ichoosehealthAre you so busy taking care of everyone else that you've forgotten how to take care of yourself?In this episode of the I Choose Health Podcast, Stefan Lessie sits down with Olivia F. Scott, entrepreneur, marketing leader, yoga and mindfulness teacher, and founder of Freedom at the Mat, to explore the hidden cost of being constantly busy—and why making time for yourself is essential to your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.After more than 25 years of professional success, Olivia began questioning whether chasing achievement, managing responsibilities, and constantly staying in motion were preventing her from connecting with herself.Through yoga, mindfulness, grief, and personal transformation, she discovered a different approach to success—one that makes room for peace, boundaries, self-love, and intentional living.Whether you're an entrepreneur, parent, caregiver, high achiever, or someone struggling to find time for yourself, this conversation offers a reminder:You can pursue success, care for others, and still make yourself a priority.Stay until 53:46 for a guided breathing exercise you can practice whenever life feels overwhelming.ABOUT OLIVIA F. SCOTTOlivia F. Scott is an entrepreneur, educator, marketing professional, and certified yoga and mindfulness teacher. She is the founder of Freedom at the Mat, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating accessible wellness experiences and opportunities for women to reconnect with their minds, bodies, and communities.Through her personal journey and professional work, Olivia advocates for self-care, mindfulness, and intentional living.CONNECT WITH OLIVIA F. SCOTTOfficial Website:https://oliviafscott.com/Freedom at the Mat:https://freedomatthemat.com/Freedom at the Mat Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/freedomatthemat/Freedom at the Mat YouTube Channel & Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/freedomatthematCHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: Are You Making Space for Yourself?02:34 Meet Olivia F. Scott03:26 Who Are You Beyond Your Titles?05:48 Holding Space for Others Without Losing Yourself09:24 Is Being Busy Distracting You From Yourself?15:05 Social Media, Outside Pressure & Trusting Yourself16:38 What Yoga Gave Olivia That Professional Success Couldn't21:35 Making Self-Care Nonnegotiable23:22 Redefining Work-Life Balance25:38 Vinyasa Yoga, Type-A Personalities & High Achievers31:27 Overcoming Fear and Betting on Yourself35:27 Dealing With Grief and the Healing Process41:41 Freedom at the Mat: Making Wellness Accessible47:36 Why Women Need Dedicated Spaces for Self-Care51:58 The Simplest Way to Reconnect With Yourself53:46 Guided Breathing Exercise With Olivia55:09 Building a Legacy Through Wellness57:08 Final ReflectionsJOIN THE CONVERSATIONWhat's one thing you've learned to say NO to so that you can say YES to yourself?Share your experience in the comments. Your story might help someone else realize they aren't alone.If this conversation resonated with you:Remember: Choosing health is about choosing power, possibility, and purpose.#SelfCare #WorkLifeBalance #MindfulnessContent note: This conversation includes discussions of grief, substance use, and mental health struggles.🔔 Subscribe & Connect with I Choose Health:🎥 YouTube Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IChooseHealthPodcast💪 Fitness Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mindcorefitness1📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichoosehealthpodcast/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ichoosehealthpodcast 🎧 Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/0rxOkqBlAQBZVfznoUpNvP 🛍️ Shop Merch: https://ichoosehealthpodcast.myshopify.com/collections/all 

🧠Start healing today with our #sponsor BetterHelp and get 10% off your first month by going to:https://www.betterhelp.com/ichoosehealthYou’re getting through the day, but you don’t feel like yourself. Have stress, exhaustion, and putting everyone else first become your normal?Dr. Kristine Blanche joins I Choose Health to explore women’s health, chronic stress, and longevity and why feeling heard matters when you’re trying to understand your symptoms.Drawing on her experience in emergency and critical care, she shares the personal loss that changed her approach to health and how she approaches patients who feel something is wrong.We discuss:• Burnout, caregiving, and the pressure to keep pushing• Feeling dismissed when you don’t feel well• Nutrition and whole-person care• Strength training and healthy aging• Hormonal symptoms and perimenopause• Longevity research, emerging tools, and unanswered questions• Making space for your health without guiltStay for the conversation about starting small when your schedule and everyone else’s needs already feel overwhelming.💬 Have you ever been told you’re fine when you didn’t feel fine? Share what helped you feel heard.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 When stress becomes a badge of honor00:54 BetterHelp sponsor message02:26 Lessons from emergency and critical care05:06 Learning about nutrition in the ICU06:53 The family loss that changed her approach10:57 “I don’t feel like myself”: Where to start13:48 Whole-person care and patient partnership15:46 Burnout, sleep, and the pressure to keep going20:03 What women accept as “just getting older”23:36 Misdiagnosis, nutrition, and fragmented care27:45 Processed foods and the food industry32:32 Diet debates and individual differences36:51 Personalizing care and strength training39:05 Exercise motivation and changing gym culture42:28 Women’s longevity: Research and gaps45:39 AI and emerging longevity tools47:56 Hormonal symptoms across life stages49:47 Starting small: Stress relief and breathing51:30 Lifestyle changes without guilt or shame53:19 Self-worth and questions for your clinician55:17 Vitamin D discussion and putting health first57:19 Closing thoughtsCONNECT WITH DR. KRISTINE BLANCHEWebsite: https://www.kristineblanche.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristineblanchephd/Services: https://linktr.ee/kristineblanche🔔 SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT WITH I CHOOSE HEALTH🎥 Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IChooseHealthPodcast💪 Fitness Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mindcorefitness1📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichoosehealthpodcast/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ichoosehealthpodcast🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0rxOkqBlAQBZVfznoUpNvP🛍️ Shop Merch: https://ichoosehealthpodcast.myshopify.com/collections/allThis episode shares guest perspectives for educational purposes, not individualized medical advice. Discuss symptoms, testing, supplements, and treatment decisions with a qualified healthcare professional.#WomensHealth #ChronicStress #Longevity

🧠Start healing today with our #sponsor BetterHelp and get 10% off your first month by going to:https://www.betterhelp.com/ichoosehealthAt 14, Nick Prefontaine survived a devastating snowboarding accident. His parents were told he might never walk, talk, or eat independently again. Less than 90 days after the accident, he ran out of the hospital.In this episode of the I Choose Health Podcast, Nick shares the story behind that extraordinary moment, from the paramedic who was already at the mountain to the family support and intensive rehabilitation that helped him move forward.We explore his STEP system: Support, Trust, Energy, and Persistence. Nick also opens up about relearning everyday tasks, navigating doubt, finding his voice as a motivational speaker, and why comparing yourself to who you were before a life-changing event can keep you stuck.This is a conversation about accepting help, rebuilding trust in yourself, and taking the next step even when you cannot see the whole path.💬 What is one small step you can take toward your next goal? Tell us in the comments.CHAPTERS00:00 Nick’s remarkable recovery story01:01 Sponsor: BetterHelp02:34 Meet Nick: Life before the accident06:33 The snowboarding accident that changed everything08:49 The paramedic and goggles Nick credits with saving his life11:10 The prognosis his parents heard13:33 Beginning rehab and relearning the basics15:52 How his parents supported his recovery17:57 Affirmations and the STEP system20:00 Setting the goal to run out of the hospital22:21 Nick’s personal wellness practices and persistence24:32 Running out of the hospital in under 90 days26:47 “Mom, am I ever going to be able to walk again?”29:03 Starting a career in real estate31:11 Discovering a calling to share his story33:39 A voice problem and an opportunity to speak35:45 Moving forward through fear and exhaustion37:44 Why comparing yourself to your former self can hold you back41:30 Adapting your goals as life changes43:40 Investing in mentorship and becoming a speaker45:59 Turning his experience into the STEP system48:22 Doing the work, one step at a time50:21 Why no one succeeds alone52:25 Nick’s free STEP ebook and closing thoughtsCONNECT WITH NICK PREFONTAINE🌐 Website: https://nickprefontaine.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick_prefontaine/📖 STEP ebook mentioned in this episode: https://nickprefontaine.com/step🔔 SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT WITH I CHOOSE HEALTH🎥 YouTube Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IChooseHealthPodcast💪 Fitness Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mindcorefitness1📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichoosehealthpodcast/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ichoosehealthpodcast🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0rxOkqBlAQBZVfznoUpNvP🛍️ Shop Merch: https://ichoosehealthpodcast.myshopify.com/collections/allChoose health. Choose power, possibility, and purpose.#NickPrefontaine #IChooseHealthPodcast #BrainInjuryRecovery #Resilience

🧠Start healing today with our #sponsor BetterHelp and get 10% off your first month by going to:https://www.betterhelp.com/ichoosehealthAre your supplements backed by science or convincing marketing?Dr. Joshua Plant joins Stefan Lessie on the I Choose Health Podcast to explore supplement claims, plant-based nutrition, creatine, and the questions we should ask about health research.We discuss what to look for on supplement labels, what third-party testing can and cannot tell you, and how research funding influences the questions scientists investigate. We also explore building muscle on a vegan diet, protein quality, essential amino acids, and the difference between promising laboratory findings and evidence in people.The conversation includes high-dose vitamin C and cancer research, exercise and sleep, and the influence of social media on our health decisions.What do you check first before buying a supplement? Share your answer in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations that help you choose health.CHAPTERS00:00 Supplements: science or a sales pitch?00:53 Sponsor: BetterHelp02:07 Podcast theme02:25 Meet Dr. Joshua Plant03:43 Evaluating health claims05:20 High-dose vitamin C and cancer research09:25 Exercise, sleep, and lifestyle13:37 From studies to the market: supplement backstory16:38 What to check on a supplement label17:41 What third-party testing actually verifies19:05 Are peer-reviewed articles fair?24:48 Genetics and individual responses to diet29:08 Plant-based nutrition and supplement needs31:40 Vitamin D, iron, iodine, and omega-3s33:57 Building a strong plant-based body34:59 Protein quality, amino acids, and leucine37:19 Creatine, bulking, and cutting38:55 Can vegans build substantial muscle?40:28 “Natural,” “clean,” and “plant-based” labels42:47 Cancer research at the NIH45:47 Plant-based vs. vegan47:38 Cancer headlines: lab findings vs. human evidence49:23 Plant-based eating and cancer-risk discussion50:34 Culture and barriers to eating more plants52:01 Fitness influencers and misleading health advice57:07 The Dr. Plant Podcast59:05 Future guest requests and closing thanksCONNECT WITH DR. JOSHUA PLANTThe Science Standard: https://www.thesciencestandard.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjoshplant/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-plant-phd-980552337/The Dr. Plant Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrPlantPodcast🔔 Subscribe & Connect with I Choose Health:🎥 YouTube Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IChooseHealthPodcast💪 Fitness Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mindcorefitness1📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichoosehealthpodcast/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ichoosehealthpodcast🎧 Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/0rxOkqBlAQBZVfznoUpNvP🛍️ Shop Merch: https://ichoosehealthpodcast.myshopify.com/collections/allThis episode is for educational purposes, not personalized medical advice. Guest opinions and research interpretations should not be treated as established medical guidance. Discuss supplements and cancer-treatment decisions with a qualified healthcare professional.#IChooseHealthPodcast #DrJoshuaPlant #Supplements #PlantBasedNutrition #Creatine

🧠Start healing today with our #sponsor BetterHelp and get 10% off your first month by going to:https://www.betterhelp.com/ichoosehealthYou’re the person everyone relies on. But who shows up for you?If you keep giving, achieving, and holding everything together while feeling emotionally drained or unseen, this conversation is for you.Psychotherapist, coach, author, and Emotionally Wealthy Podcast host Karen Conlon joins Stefan Lessie on the I Choose Health Podcast to explore people pleasing, emotional boundaries, and the relationship patterns we carry from childhood into adulthood.Karen explains why outward confidence can coexist with insecurity, how being needed can become tied to feeling worthy, and what she means by “emotional wealth.” Stefan also opens up about his own negative self-talk and the discomfort of learning to challenge it.In this episode, we discuss:• People pleasing and the fawn response• Why high achievers can struggle to express their needs• Childhood conditioning and becoming the helper or peacekeeper• The emotional cost of always being dependable• Negative self-talk, self-worth, and cultural expectations• Recognizing when caring for others means neglecting yourself• Having honest conversations without escalating conflictKaren also makes an important distinction between these relationship patterns and emotional abuse, which involves different barriers to choice and healing.💬 Have you ever felt appreciated for what you do but unseen for who you are? Share what resonated with you.Subscribe to I Choose Health for more conversations about mental health, relationships, and choosing yourself. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 When Being the Strong One Leaves You Feeling Unseen02:35 Meet Karen Conlon02:59 What Is Emotional Wealth?05:03 People Pleasing, the Fawn Response & Mistreatment07:57 Why Successful People Can Still Feel Insecure11:23 Why Certain Relationships Undermine Your Confidence15:17 Being Capable Without Feeling Supported18:33 Emotional Labor & Never Feeling Like You Do Enough19:52 Is Your Worth Tied to What You Do?21:16 The Inner Narratives You Inherited23:32 Stefan Opens Up About Negative Self-Talk25:27 Why Challenging Your Inner Critic Feels Uncomfortable28:41 Culture, Humility & Self-Worth30:36 Internal Boundaries & Cultural Expectations31:50 Childhood Experiences & Relationship Roles35:41 Asking for Connection Instead of Hoping They Notice39:26 When Caring for Others Comes at Your Expense42:07 Difficult Conversations Can Be Calm45:22 Leading with Empathy During Disagreements47:58 Why Emotional Abuse Requires a Different Conversation50:01 Closing Reflections51:07 Choose Health & Choose Yourself🔗 CONNECT WITH KAREN CONLONWebsite: [https://www.karenconlon.com](https://www.karenconlon.com)Podcast: [https://karenconlon.com/podcast](https://karenconlon.com/podcast)Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/karen_conlo...](https://www.instagram.com/karen_conlo...)#PeoplePleasing #EmotionalWealth #HealthyBoundaries #KarenConlon #IChooseHealth🔔 Subscribe & Connect with I Choose Health:🎥 YouTube Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IChooseHealt...💪 Fitness Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mindcorefitn...📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichooseheal...🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ichoosehealth...🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0rxOkqB...🛍️ Shop Merch: https://ichoosehealthpodcast.myshopif...