Transforming and Thriving

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Podcast by Brooke Sacchetti, Stacie Weaver, and Neelia Heydt

Transforming and Thriving

"Transforming and Thriving," hosted by 3 best friends (Brooke, Stacie, and Neelia) is a podcast dedicated to showcasing the stories of resilient, everyday women who have persevered through pivotal transitions and/or traumas. In each interview, you will learn about their strength, their courage, and the work they are continuing to do to move through life. In this community, you will find a space of support and motivational fuel to create meaning from the mess. Our podcast aims to highlight the message we all need to hear when going through the muck: You are not alone, and you too can transform and thrive. Let’s move through it together. See you there!

Latest episodes

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27 October 2025

From Public Education to Private Practice: Finding Your "Why" and Helping Moms Thrive with Katie Gerwel

Join your host Brooke on "Transforming and Thriving" for a deeply insightful conversation with Katie Gerwel, a licensed professional counselor and the owner of Healthy Roots Counseling. Brooke shares her personal connection to Katie's work, expressing her anticipation for the episode as she navigates her own perinatal journey.

In this episode, Katie shares a pivotal “before and after” moment in her life: her brave decision to leave her nine-year career in public education. She opens up about the profound feeling of not living her "why" and the barriers she faced in the school system that prevented her from truly helping others. This difficult transition ultimately led her to a new and fulfilling path—building her own private practice.

This powerful conversation explores the challenges of career change and the importance of finding your true purpose. Katie shares how her journey from working with teens to specializing in perinatal and postpartum women was a natural evolution, driven by the realization that nurturing mothers leads to healthier families. She provides a wealth of knowledge and practical tips for new moms, including the importance of rest, mindfulness, and knowing when to seek professional help. Katie's story is a testament to the power of aligning your work with your purpose and turning difficult transitions into opportunities to help others thrive.

Find out more about Katie Gerwel and her work:

Find us here: https://linktr.ee/transformingandthriving

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new philanthropy initiative! We invite all our amazing listeners to help support the incredible work our former guest Susan Parmalee is doing with the Wellness & Prevention Center by raising funds for their preventative and mental health programs that benefit young people, including their brand-new allcove space in San Juan Capistrano, a place for youth to find community, support, advice, or even just a moment of pause. Your donations make a real difference, and to kick things off, we'll be matching up to $1000 in donations!

DONATION LINK: Support teen mental health here!

Follow them on IG at WPCoc and learn about their mission to create a culture in which young people prioritize their mental health and have access to quality care. Learn more about the new Allcove center your donations are helping to support here: allcove: find your moment. find your space. find your center.

Music by https://www.bensound.com The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding any questions you may have. Listener discretion is advised.

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13 October 2025

From Daughter to Matriarch: Navigating Mother Loss & Finding Your Path with Jenn Loyd

Join your host Neelia on "Transforming and Thriving" for a powerful and deeply moving conversation with Jenn Loyd, a personal stylist and founder of Accessory To Love. Jenn, who empowers women to feel like the main character through curated style and bold accessories, gets incredibly personal as she shares her journey through profound grief and transformation.

In this episode, Jenn opens up about a major “before and after” moment in her life: losing her mom and mother-in-law within three months, which suddenly made her the matriarch of her family at just 36 years old. She shares how she navigated this immense double loss while raising three young daughters and how this experience, particularly during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, forced her to adapt and grow in unimaginable ways.

Listeners will gain invaluable insights into Jenn’s journey of processing grief, from feeling numb in the first year to embracing her emotions in the second. She shares the tools that helped her find her path, including journaling, prioritizing time for herself, and the importance of asking for and accepting help. This episode is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and how we can transform personal pain into a passion for empowering others.

Find out more about Jenn Loyd and her work, or connect with her if you can relate to her loss and need support or connection:

Website: jennloyd.com

Instagram: @lovejennloyd

Find us here: https://linktr.ee/transformingandthriving

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new philanthropy initiative! We invite all our amazing listeners to help support the incredible work our former guest Susan Parmalee is doing with the Wellness & Prevention Center by raising funds for their preventative and mental health programs that benefit young people, including their brand-new Allcove space in San Juan Capistrano, a place for youth to find community, support, advice, or even just a moment of pause. Your donations make a real difference, and to kick things off, we'll be matching up to $1000 in donations!

DONATION LINK: Support teen mental health here!

Follow them on IG at WPCoc and learn about their mission to create a culture in which young people prioritize their mental health and have access to quality care. Learn more about the new Allcove center your donations are helping to support here: allcove: find your moment. find your space. find your center.

Get your FREE meditation download: https://transforming-and-thriving.kit.com/40d6bfadc6

We love MoonBrew for help with sleep! Tastes yummy and filled with superfoods. Use this link for our discount: https://moonbrew.co/SF7GP3BC

Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: BFZ5TTZVY9ZC7ZMK The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding any questions you may have. Listener discretion is advised.

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29 September 2025

Transforming Grief & Loss Through EMDR: A Clinical and Personal Journey After Miscarriage with Katie Estberg

Join your cohosts Stacie and Brooke on "Transforming and Thriving" for a profound and deeply personal conversation with Katie Estberg, integrative healing practitioner and Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology. Brooke shares how a professional connection with Katie blossomed into a meaningful friendship rooted in a shared commitment to helping others, praising Katie’s warmth, intelligence, and heart.

In this episode, Katie bravely shares a pivotal “before and after” moment in her life: her experience with a miscarriage. She opens up about the profound grief and isolation she felt, and how this led her to an incredible breakthrough through her own use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). She reveals how EMDR helped her uncover a deep, subconscious link between her adult grief and an early childhood experience of feeling alone, ultimately transforming her personal healing journey and professional purpose.

This powerful conversation explores the complexities of grief, the truth about anger in the healing process, and the importance of self-care and resilience. Katie Estberg shares her unique approach to holding space for others, blending neuroscience with holistic modalities like EMDR and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy to help individuals move through trauma and loss. Her story is a testament to the fact that profound personal pain can be transformed into a powerful mission to help others heal.

Find out more about Katie Estberg and her work: Instagram: @magic_overmatters Website: magic_overmatters.co Stan Store: stan.store/katieestberg

Find us here: https://linktr.ee/transformingandthriving

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new philanthropy initiative! We invite all our amazing listeners to help support the incredible work our former guest Susan Parmalee is doing with the Wellness & Prevention Center by raising funds for their preventative and mental health programs that benefit young people, including their brand-new Allcove space in San Juan Capistrano, a place for youth to find community, support, advice, or even just a moment of pause. Your donations make a real difference, and to kick things off, we'll be matching up to $1000 in donations!

DONATION LINK: Support teen mental health here!

Follow them on IG at WPCoc and learn about their mission to create a culture in which young people prioritize their mental health and have access to quality care. Learn more about the new Allcove center your donations are helping to support here: allcove: find your moment. find your space. find your center.

Get your FREE meditation download: https://transforming-and-thriving.kit.com/40d6bfadc6 We love MoonBrew for help with sleep! Tastes yummy and filled with superfoods. Use this link for our discount: https://moonbrew.co/SF7GP3BC

Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: BFZ5TTZVY9ZC7ZMK

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding any questions you may have. Listener discretion is advised.

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15 September 2025

The Hum: Rewiring Fear & Finding Your Anchor with Isabel Witter

Join your cohosts Neelia and Brooke on "Transforming and Thriving" for a deeply personal and insightful conversation with Isabel Witter—an artist, author, and an individual bravely navigating a profound internal transformation. In this episode, Isabel shares her journey of rewiring a lifelong overactive fear response, learning to set boundaries, and loving herself enough to end toxic relationships.

Isabel opens up about a pivotal "before and after" moment in her life, rooted in an existential crisis she experienced at just nine years old. She candidly discusses how this early fear of "non-being" led her to cling to control and overthink worst-case scenarios, limiting her ability to live authentically and enjoy the things she loves, like travel and nature.

This powerful conversation explores what it truly means to live with constant fear and the resilience it takes to actively transform it. Isabel shares the tools and wisdom she’s gained from her journey, including the importance of meditation, surrender, and practicing self-compassion. She also reveals how her personal work has shaped her professionally, including her role as an artist in the bereavement industry and as a co-author of the book, The Hum, which provides adolescents a framework for living intentionally.

In this episode, we dive into concepts from her favorite books:

  • Bell Hooks' All About Love: Love as a conscious act of will and intention.
  • Rupert Spira's Non-Dualism: The understanding that everything is interconnected and the self is not separate from reality.
  • Robin Norwood's Women Who Love Too Much: The psychological patterns of unhealthy relationships and the path to self-love.

Isabel’s raw and inspiring story is a testament to the fact that even our most deeply engrained fears can be transformed.

Find out more about Isabel and her work here:

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new philanthropy initiative! We invite all our amazing listeners to help support the incredible work our former guest Susan Parmalee is doing with the Wellness & Prevention Center by raising funds for their preventative and mental health programs that benefit young people, including their brand-new Allcove space in San Juan Capistrano, a place for youth to find community, support, advice, or even just a moment of pause. Your donations make a real difference, and to kick things off, we'll be matching up to $1000 in donations!

DONATION LINK: Support teen mental health here!

Follow them on IG at WPCoc and learn about their mission to create a culture in which young people prioritize their mental health and have access to quality care. Learn more about the new Allcove center your donations are helping to support here: allcove: find your moment. find your space. find your center.Find us here: https://linktr.ee/transformingandthriving

Get your FREE meditation download: https://transforming-and-thriving.kit.com/40d6bfadc6

We love MoonBrew for help with sleep! Tastes yummy and filled with superfoods. Use this link for our discount: https://moonbrew.co/SF7GP3BC

Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: BFZ5TTZVY9ZC7ZMK

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding any questions you may have. Listener discretion is advised.

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01 September 2025

I Am Enough: Executive Director of the Wellness and Prevention Center Susan Parmalee’s Transformative Journey to Healing Herself and Empowering Others

READ BELOW TO HEAR ABOUT OUR EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!

Join your cohosts Brooke and Stacie on "Transforming and Thriving" for a truly profound and inspiring conversation with Susan Parmelee, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Executive Director of the Wellness & Prevention Center. Susan has long been a mentor and inspiration in the local community and schools, recognized for her visionary leadership, tireless dedication, and humble commitment to teen mental health.

In this deeply personal episode, Susan bravely shares a pivotal "before and after" moment in her life: her decision to embark on a new career journey by enrolling in graduate school for Social Work when her youngest child was five. She candidly discusses how this path, though often uncomfortable, was crucial for her growth and well-being. Susan opens up about confronting past mental health issues that resurfaced, including an eating disorder and feelings of "not being or doing enough," leading her to her own therapy. This experience has given her profound empathy for those she now serves as clients. She shares invaluable wisdom gained from this journey, emphasizing the importance of a great therapist, the life-saving potential of medication, and the unwavering support of two unconditionally supportive friends who stayed with her even on difficult days. Susan's story is a testament to the power of embracing discomfort for growth and learning that doing a good job is enough…it doesn't have to be perfect.

Susan's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, highlighting that healing and growth are not always linear, but profoundly impactful. She offers invaluable insights into prioritizing self-love rather than concern about others’ judgment and acceptance, finding strength in the face of past hurts, and using experiences as fuel to give back and help others. This episode is a moving exploration of identity, worthiness, and the transformative power of choosing love over judgment.

We are BEYOND excited to announce the launch of our new philanthropy initiative! We invite all our amazing listeners to help support the incredible work Susan is doing with the Wellness & Prevention Center by raising funds for their preventative and mental health programs that benefit young people, including their brand-new Allcove space in San Juan Capistrano, a place for youth to find community, support, advice, or even just a moment of pause. Your donations make a real difference, and to kick things off, we'll be matching up to $1000 in donations!

LINK TO DONATE: Support teen mental health here!

Follow them on IG at WPCoc and learn about their mission to create a culture in which young people prioritize their mental health and have access to quality care. Learn more about the new Allcove center your donations are directly supporting here: allcove: find your moment. find your space. find your center.

Find us here: https://linktr.ee/transformingandthriving

Get your FREE meditation download: https://transforming-and-thriving.kit.com/40d6bfadc6

We love MoonBrew for help with sleep! Tastes yummy and filled with superfoods. Use this link for our discount: https://moonbrew.co/SF7GP3BC

Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: BFZ5TTZVY9ZC7ZMK

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding any questions you may have. Listener discretion is advised.

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18 August 2025

The Bold Move: How Following Your Heart Can Unlock True Health and Freedom with Dr. Joy Bhat

Join your cohosts Neelia and Brooke on "Transforming and Thriving" for an incredibly inspiring conversation with Dr. Joy Bhat. Brooke, who has followed her journey for years, shares how Dr. Joy’s energy, insight, and authenticity have always stood out.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Joy, a physician specializing in weight loss, longevity, and lifestyle medicine, opens up about the major "before and after" transition in her life: leaving a secure corporate medical job to pursue a life rooted in purpose, freedom, and impact in Los Angeles. She shares the pivotal moment she decided to take a huge chance on herself, trusting her gut and embracing uncertainty to start her own practice. Dr. Joy discusses how this bold move “from corporate to calling” allowed her to explore the root causes of chronic illness, moving beyond quick fixes to empower individuals with personalized, realistic lifestyle changes.

Listeners will gain invaluable insights into Dr. Joy's mindset—learning to break down big fears into small, actionable steps and regulating the nervous system through nature. She discusses her vision for one-on-one consultations focused on nutrition, exercise, and holistic lifestyle shifts, making health feel simple and doable. This episode is a testament to the power of self-trust, the bravery of pursuing alignment, and the transformative potential of bold moves, even in uncertainty.

Dr. Joy Bhat is a board-certified physician in Obesity Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation who left corporate healthcare to offer a more personalized, compassionate path to healing—helping people feel strong, energized, and in control of their health.

She’s now offering a personalized 6-week program with weekly 1:1 consultations designed to help you lose stubborn weight, reset your metabolism, and feel more energized.

Join the waitlist to work with Dr. Joy: https://mailchi.mp/joybhatmd/11-consults

Follow for more on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.joy.md/

Find us here: https://linktr.ee/transformingandthriving

Get your FREE meditation download: https://transforming-and-thriving.kit.com/40d6bfadc6

We love MoonBrew for help with sleep! Tastes yummy and filled with superfoods. Use this link for our discount: https://moonbrew.co/SF7GP3BC

Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: BFZ5TTZVY9ZC7ZMK

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding any questions you may have. Listener discretion is advised.

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