(#41) - “Perimenopause, Parasites & Plot Twists (Oh My!)" - with Dyna Vink, Founder of Holistic Nutrition Lifestyle
Release Date: 08/28/2025
(#54) Rewriting the Stories That Keep Us Stuck - with Christina L. Woods - Clinical Hypnotherapist, Subconscious Expert & Energy Healer
Now What
✨ Episode Highlights In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Christina and I unpack why so many smart, capable women still struggle with self-sabotage, procrastination, and feeling “off” — especially in midlife. In this episode, we talk about: 🧠 Self-sabotage & procrastination — why they’re not character flaws, but subconscious protection patterns 🔁 The internal dialogue & stories we tell ourselves (“I’m always tired,” “I should know better”) — and how repetition becomes belief 🧘♀️ Why calm can feel unsafe when stress and pressure...
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(#53) From Wonder Woman to Scar Power: Jodi’s Surgery Journey, Confidence & What’s Next
Now What
Hey Gloss Squad — returning guest alert! 🚨✨ You met Jodi Echakowitz back in March 2024 on Episode 21 (From Weight Watchers to Wonder Woman)… and since then? This woman has been BUSY becoming her strongest self. 💪🔥 In this episode, Jodi gets real about the part of transformation people whisper about but rarely say out loud: plastic surgery after major weight loss — and why choosing it wasn’t “cheating,” it was reclaiming her body, confidence, and athlete identity. In this episode, we dig into: ✨ When Jodi first started considering surgery (and the exact moment she...
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(#52) Do the Hard Thing: A Midlife Reset (Competition Recap & A Challenge for All of You)
Now What
Hey Gloss Squad — I’m kicking off 2026 with a simple question that might change everything: what’s the hard thing you’ve been avoiding… and why? 👀✨ Yes, I finally did the scary thing I’d been talking myself out of for years (👙), but this episode isn’t about the stage — it’s about what came after. Because doing the hard thing is only half the story. The real magic is standing in it… and asking yourself, now what?! In this episode, we dig into: 🔥 Why confidence isn’t loud — it’s built quietly by showing up for yourself 🧠 How discipline is actually...
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(#51) Why You Can Love Everyone… Except Yourself & How to Fix That - with Author Karen Blaine
Now What
Why is self-love the hardest love to give? You can hype your kids, cheer on your friends, support your partner… but when it comes to YOU? Suddenly the inner critic takes over. In today’s episode, I’m joined by intuitive empath and seven-time author Karen Blaine to break down what real self-love looks like—beyond the quotes, the memes, and the “just be kind to yourself” advice we all roll our eyes at. We get into: • Why women (especially in midlife) struggle to give themselves the compassion they give everyone else • How being “too sensitive” can actually be your superpower...
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(#50) Writing Your Way Through Grief: The Nautilus Way with Marie Crews
Now What
Episode Description Today Melis is joined by Marie Crews—certified health & wellness coach, retreat facilitator, and bestselling author of Even When… She Rose—to talk about the healing power of journaling, her four-step Nautilus Way, and how she rebuilt her life after unimaginable loss. In This Episode, We Explore: The Nautilus Way: Write Your Way Free Why you don’t need to be a “writer” to journal The four steps of her method: Reveal: Stream-of-consciousness writing Review: Spotting pain points & patterns Rewrite: Giving yourself permission, validation &...
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(#49) The Midlife Flame Part 2: Desire, Pleasure & The Rekindle Program (Part 2 with Aimee Ames)
Now What
Hoops & Glossers… grab your gloss and maybe a fan — because this one’s spicy. 🌶️ In Part 2 of The Midlife Flame, Melis and Aimee Ames turn up the heat and get real about physical intimacy, body confidence, and what happens when you decide midlife doesn’t have to mean “meh.” Aimee opens up about her Somatica coaching practice — yes, including the now-famous “throw me against the wall” exercise — and how learning new ways to connect can reignite passion in long-term relationships. They talk about shame, kink, curiosity, and the beauty of being fully seen...
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(#48) The Midlife Flame: How to Rekindle Love, Connection & Yourself (Part 1 with Aimee Ames)
Now What
Hoops & Glossers, this one’s a must-listen. 💋 In this first half of The Midlife Flame series, Melis sits down with Aimee Ames — a Somatica-trained Sex & Relationship Coach, Breathwork Facilitator, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and host of the There She Is podcast — to unpack what actually happens in long-term relationships once midlife hits. They dive into everything from perimenopause and the emotional load of motherhood to that weird “parallel lives” phase where you realize you and your partner are running the household but forgetting to actually connect....
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(#47) The Midlife Power Shift: Mastering Your Energy, Mindset & Momentum - with Johanna Danaher
Now What
The quick “why listen” When your old playbook for success stops working, Johanna Danaher helps you write a new one. She’s the Founder & Chief Energy Officer of Anchor to Aspire and a former global HR leader at Pfizer. Using Energy Leadership (ELI), Positive Intelligence, HBDI, and happiness science, she coaches mid-life, mid-career pros (hi, that’s us) through pivots—so you stop reacting on autopilot and start choosing your response, your energy, and your next chapter. What you’ll learn “Have to” → “Choose to”: a tiny language shift that unlocks better decisions. ...
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🥂(#46) HAPPY 1st Bday, “Now What?!” — A Birthday Bash with OG guest + college bestie, Kelly Huber
Now What
🥂 (#46) HAPPY 1st Bday, “Now What?!” — A Birthday Bash with OG guest + college bestie, Kelly Huber Hoops & Glossers… grab your gloss, pour something bubbly (sparkling water totally counts 🥂), and join the celebration — because Now What?! just turned ONE! And what’s a birthday without your bestie? 🎉 This week, I’m celebrating with my college bestie and OG podcast guest, Kelly Huber — the woman behind the legendary quote: “Don’t just be a rad mom… be a rad woman.” 🙌 This isn’t an interview — it’s a catch-up between two lifelong friends. We’re...
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(#45) The Great Midlife Rebrand: Redefining Who You Are (& WHY I'm Stepping on a Bikini Stage at 50) - Solo with Melis
Now What
💋 Hoops & Glossers… it’s REBRAND TIME! Melis is doing it too — sparkly bikini, big dreams, and zero apologies — and this is your sign to join her. This isn’t about starting over; it’s about unleashing the next you — the louder, freer, more confident version that’s been waiting to take the mic. 🎙 Episode Vibe: If you’ve been feeling stuck, stale, or like your spark dimmed somewhere between carpools and career changes — this one’s your pep talk. Melis gets real about her own “midlife rebrand” (yes, including the spray tan and clear heels 😅) and walks you...
info_outlineHoops & Glossers!
Buckle up—today we’re going where few podcasts dare to go: the messy, confusing, sometimes downright bizarre world of perimenopause.
Hot flashes? Weight gain? Brain fog? Gas that could clear a room? (Yeah, we said it.) If you’ve ever felt like your body came with a secret manual that no one bothered to give you, this episode is your missing chapter.
My guest, Dyna Vink, a certified Integrative Health Practitioner and founder of Holistic Nutrition Lifestyle, is here to spill the tea on all things midlife. She’s walked the perimenopause path herself, turned her frustration into research, and now helps women uncover the real root causes behind their symptoms.
And here’s the jaw-dropper:
👉 One hidden culprit might just be… PARASITES!
Yep. Not sexy. Not talked about. But way more common than you think. From bloating and brain fog to sleep struggles and skin issues, parasites could be part of the puzzle—and Dyna explains how to spot them, test for them, and (most importantly) kick them to the curb.
In this episode, we cover:
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Why perimenopause is still wildly misunderstood (and ignored in med school 🤯)
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The surprising first signs of perimenopause (spoiler: it’s not just hot flashes)
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How the gut, hormones, and parasites are all linked
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Why traditional medicine often misses the root cause—and what functional medicine can offer instead
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And yes, the truth about colonics, biofilms, and parasite cleanses 👀
If you’re in perimenopause (or think you might be), this convo will give you clarity, relief, and maybe a whole new perspective on what’s really going on inside your body.
Because midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a plot twist. And with the right tools, you don’t just survive it… you thrive.
xoxo
melis
👉 Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify (because you're THE BEST!)
👉 Tag me @motivatewithmelis and share with a friend
🎧 Listen Now On:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts
https://motivatewithmelis.com
✨ Resources & Links:
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Connect with Dyna Vink: [Insert her discovery call link or website]
Website: https://holisticnutritionlifestyle.com/;
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dynavink/ ;
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyna.vink/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PerimenopauseRelief
Para Support Parasite herbal rebalancing protocol: https://equi.life/products/parasite-cleanse-protocol?irad=909171&irmp=5705922