The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose

In this episode, Amy Kurtz explores the challenges of when your health feels like a roller coaster and finding stability in the chaos of chronic illness. She shares her journey through years of misdiagnosis before finally being diagnosed with late-stage Lyme disease. Amy also discusses living in the "grey area" between sickness and wellness and introduces her concept of "Medical Trauma Brain" (MTB), describing the emotional and neurological impact of chronic illness. You'll discover practical tools, including her "Four Rs" framework, to help people regulate their nervous system and reclaim agency over their health and wellbeing.

Free Guide: Outsmart the Hidden Saboteurs of Self-Control. What's been holding you back lately? In this free guide, Eric shares the six common saboteurs that quietly derail our best intentions—like autopilot behavior, self-doubt, and emotional escapism—and offers practical strategies to help you regain control and move forward. Download your free copy at oneyoufeed.net/ebook.

Key Takeaways:

Personal journey with chronic illness and late-stage Lyme disease diagnosis

Challenges of misdiagnosis and the struggle for clarity in health

Living in the "grey area" between being sick and well

Concept of "Medical Trauma Brain" (MTB) and its emotional impact

The complexity of diagnosing chronic conditions with overlapping symptoms

Mental health struggles following physical recovery from illness

Importance of self-advocacy and agency in healthcare

Tools and strategies for managing anxiety and trauma related to chronic illness

The "Four Rs" framework for regulating the nervous system

The ongoing process of acceptance and change in the context of chronic illness

For full show notes, ⁠click here⁠!

If you enjoyed this conversation with Amy Kurtz, check out these other episodes:

How to Find Joy and Healing While Living with Chronic Illness with Meghan O’Rourke

Living with Chronic Illness with Toni Bernhard

How To Live with Uncertainty and Find Hope in the Midst of Chronic Illness with Marisa Renee Lee

This episode is sponsored by:

⁠⁠David Protein⁠⁠ bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to ⁠⁠www.davidprotein.com/FEED⁠⁠

⁠⁠Talkiatry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ connects you with licensed psychiatrists for personalized, evidence-based mental health care, all online and covered by most major insurance plans. To get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkiatry.com/FEED.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pebl – an AI-powered platform that helps companies hire and manage global teams in 185+ countries. Get a free estimate at hipebl.ai

⁠⁠⁠Alma⁠⁠⁠ has a directory of 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Visit ⁠⁠⁠helloalma.com⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

⁠⁠Quince:⁠⁠⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to ⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/feed⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

⁠Shopify⁠ – The commerce platform that helps you build, grow, and manage your business all in one place. Start your $1/month trial at ⁠shopify.com/feed.⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiny Health⁠⁠⁠⁠'s at-home gut health test provides science-backed insights into your microbiome, along with personalized recommendations to help you improve your digestion, energy, and overall well-being. Get $50 off your first test kit at⁠⁠⁠⁠ tinyhealth.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, Paul Millerd explains why the safe path in life isn’t always the right one. He explores what happens when the life that looks successful on paper no longer feels like your own. Paul also discusses why we often stay in situations that no longer fit, how fear and uncertainty shape our decisions, and what it means to define success on your own terms. You’ll learn about the tension between security and freedom, the importance of self-awareness, and how asking better questions can help you build a life that aligns with what truly matters.

Free Guide: Outsmart the Hidden Saboteurs of Self-Control. What’s been holding you back lately? In this free guide, Eric shares the six common saboteurs that quietly derail our best intentions—like autopilot behavior, self-doubt, and emotional escapism—and offers practical strategies to help you regain control and move forward. Download your free copy at oneyoufeed.net/ebook.

Key Takeaways:

Concept of the “pathless path” and its challenge to traditional career trajectories

Personal journey of leaving a corporate career for a more authentic life

Exploration of fear, self-awareness, and coping mechanisms

Tension between financial security and pursuing meaningful work

Importance of questioning and reflecting on life choices

The parable of the two wolves and its relevance to personal growth

The impact of societal expectations on individual career paths

Balancing ambition with freedom and personal values

The role of self-awareness in aligning work with personal passions

Strategies for navigating discomfort and uncertainty in life choices

For full show notes, click here!

Quince:⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to ⁠Quince.com/feed⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Shopify – The commerce platform that helps you build, grow, and manage your business all in one place. Start your $1/month trial at shopify.com/feed.

David Protein bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to www.davidprotein.com/FEED

Alma has a directory of 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Visit helloalma.com to learn more!

Talkiatry⁠⁠⁠ connects you with licensed psychiatrists for personalized, evidence-based mental health care, all online and covered by most major insurance plans. To get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes, visit ⁠⁠⁠Talkiatry.com/FEED.⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Tiny Health⁠⁠⁠'s at-home gut health test provides science-backed insights into your microbiome, along with personalized recommendations to help you improve your digestion, energy, and overall well-being. Get $50 off your first test kit at⁠⁠⁠ tinyhealth.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Simone Stolzoff explores why the need for certainty is holding you back and how learning to live with uncertainty can lead to greater resilience, better decisions, deeper relationships, and a more meaningful life. Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and his own deeply personal experiences, Simone explains why our brains crave certainty, why that instinct often fuels anxiety and overthinking, and how embracing the unknown can become a source of growth rather than fear. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck waiting for the “right” answer before moving forward, this conversation offers a wiser—and more freeing—way to navigate life’s inevitable uncertainty.

Free Guide: Outsmart the Hidden Saboteurs of Self-Control. What's been holding you back lately? In this free guide, Eric shares the six common saboteurs that quietly derail our best intentions—like autopilot behavior, self-doubt, and emotional escapism—and offers practical strategies to help you regain control and move forward. Download your free copy at oneyoufeed.net/ebook.

Key Takeaways:

The concept of uncertainty and its discomfort in a world that demands quick answers.

The parable of the two wolves and its relation to embracing uncertainty.

Biological and evolutionary reasons for the discomfort associated with uncertainty.

The impact of technology and instant answers on our tolerance for uncertainty.

Psychological traps related to certainty: comfort, hubris, and control.

The importance of reframing uncertainty as a source of possibility and growth.

Decision-making strategies and insights from experts on navigating uncertainty.

The role of doubt as a positive force in decision-making and personal growth.

The balance between exploration and exploitation in life choices.

Personal experiences with uncertainty and their impact on life perspectives.

For full show notes, ⁠click her⁠e!

If you enjoyed this conversation with Simone Stolzoff, check out these other episodes:

Embracing Uncertainty: The Key to True Intimacy and Connection in a Chaotic World with Prince EA

How to Embrace Change for an Authentic Life with Najwa Zebian

This episode is sponsored by:

Quince: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to Quince.com/feed for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

⁠Shopify⁠ – The commerce platform that helps you build, grow, and manage your business all in one place. Start your $1/month trial at ⁠shopify.com/feed.⁠

⁠David Protein⁠ bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to ⁠www.davidprotein.com/FEED⁠

⁠Alma⁠ has a directory of 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Visit ⁠helloalma.com⁠ to learn more!

⁠Talkiatry⁠⁠⁠⁠ connects you with licensed psychiatrists for personalized, evidence-based mental health care, all online and covered by most major insurance plans. To get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkiatry.com/FEED.⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiny Health⁠⁠⁠⁠‘s at-home gut health test provides science-backed insights into your microbiome, along with personalized recommendations to help you improve your digestion, energy, and overall well-being. Get $50 off your first test kit at⁠⁠⁠⁠ tinyhealth.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Julie Holland explains why connection may be the medicine we’ve been missing. She explores how genuine human connection helps regulate the nervous system, why disconnection can keep us stuck in fight-or-flight, and how our phones often give us a synthetic version of connection that never fully satisfies. Julie also discuss oxytocin, stress, loneliness, addiction, psychedelics, and the simple ways we can return to the real relationships and embodied experiences that help us heal.

Good Wolf Reminders… A little wisdom, right when you need it. Start receiving free text reminders designed to help you pause, reflect, and take meaningful action. Sign up at oneyoufeed.net/sms.

Key Takeaways:

Discussion of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and their impact on mental health.

Exploration of the science of human connection and the biological need for social interaction.

Personal anecdotes from working in a psychiatric emergency room and the challenges faced in that environment.

The effects of social disconnection on physical and mental health, including stress responses.

The importance of physical, face-to-face interactions for emotional well-being.

Examination of the role of digital communication versus in-person connection.

Insights into addiction, including the distinction between classical psychedelics and other substances.

Discussion of process addictions and their underlying causes related to existential distress.

The therapeutic potential and risks of psychedelics in treating addiction and mental health issues.

Emphasis on local action and personal agency in addressing mental health and community well-being.

For full show notes, click here!

If you enjoyed this conversation with Dr. Julie Holland, check out these other episodes:

Neuroscience Behind Our Reality with James Kingsland

232: Michael Pollan

This episode is sponsored by:

Shopify – The commerce platform that helps you build, grow, and manage your business all in one place. Start your $1/month trial at shopify.com/feed.

David Protein bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to www.davidprotein.com/FEED

Alma has a directory of 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Visit helloalma.com to learn more!

Talkiatry⁠⁠⁠ connects you with licensed psychiatrists for personalized, evidence-based mental health care, all online and covered by most major insurance plans. To get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes, visit ⁠⁠⁠Talkiatry.com/FEED.⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Tiny Health⁠⁠⁠‘s at-home gut health test provides science-backed insights into your microbiome, along with personalized recommendations to help you improve your digestion, energy, and overall well-being. Get $50 off your first test kit at⁠⁠⁠ tinyhealth.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠

Aura Frames: Named #1 by Wirecutter, you can save on the gifts moms love by visiting AuraFrames.com. For a limited time, listeners can get 25 dollars off their best-selling Carver Mat frame with code FEED. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout!

Brodo Broth: Shop the best broth on the planet with Brodo.  Head to Brodo.com/TOYF for 20% off your first subscription order and use code TOYF for an additional $10 off.

Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at rocketmoney.com/feed.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Michelle Segar explores why all-or-nothing thinking keeps you from exercising, and why the problem may not be a lack of motivation or willpower. Drawing on groundbreaking new research, she reveals how rigid exercise standards, perfectionism, and the belief that workouts only “count” if they’re done a certain way often lead people to do nothing at all. Michelle also discusses the hidden psychology behind sustainable change, the power of flexibility at life’s inevitable choice points, and why “a little bit of something is better than a lot of nothing” may be the most important mindset shift for long-term success. You’ll gain a new understanding of the limitations of habit formation, the role of behavioral resilience, and how learning to adapt rather than start over can help us build a healthier and more meaningful life.

Good Wolf Reminders… A little wisdom, right when you need it. Start receiving free text reminders designed to help you pause, reflect, and take meaningful action. Sign up at oneyoufeed.net/sms.

Key Takeaways:

Research on sustainable behavior change in physical activity and exercise.

The impact of all-or-nothing thinking on exercise habits.

The concept of “choice points” in decision-making regarding exercise.

The influence of rigid standards and idealized criteria for exercise.

The role of motivation and enjoyment in maintaining exercise routines.

The prioritization of exercise compared to other daily responsibilities.

The unconscious nature of rigid standards and avoidance behaviors.

Societal messaging around exercise guidelines and its effects on motivation.

Strategies for flexibility and resilience in exercise routines.

The idea of a “movement menu” to encourage varied physical activity choices.

For full show notes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you enjoyed this conversation with Michelle Segar, check out these other episodes:

Understanding Choice Points for Lasting Changes in Eating and Exercise with Michelle Segar

Why Willpower Isn’t Enough: The Tiny Habits Method Explained with Dr. BJ Fogg

By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed, and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

This episode is sponsored by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shopify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – The commerce platform that helps you build, grow, and manage your business all in one place. Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/feed.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Protein⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.davidprotein.com/FEED⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alma⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has a directory of 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠helloalma.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

⁠⁠Talkiatry⁠⁠ connects you with licensed psychiatrists for personalized, evidence-based mental health care, all online and covered by most major insurance plans. To get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes, visit ⁠⁠Talkiatry.com/FEED.⁠⁠

⁠⁠Tiny Health⁠⁠'s at-home gut health test provides science-backed insights into your microbiome, along with personalized recommendations to help you improve your digestion, energy, and overall well-being. Get $50 off your first test kit at⁠⁠ tinyhealth.com/FEED⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brodo Broth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Shop the best broth on the planet with Brodo.  Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brodo.com/TOYF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 20% off your first subscription order and use code TOYF for an additional $10 off.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rocket Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rocketmoney.com/feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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