Episode 211: Trauma Healing and Embracing Self-Love w/ Karena Kilcoyne
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Release Date: 05/28/2024
Episode 245: Holiday Metabolism
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description In this solo episode, we’re unpacking what really happens to your metabolism during the holidays and why it’s not as dramatic or disastrous as the internet makes it seem. Instead of stressing over travel, late nights, celebrations, and all the festive food, we’ll look at how small, doable habits can help you feel steady, nourished, and grounded through the season. You’ll get a clearer understanding of how sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition influence your energy, along with realistic ways to support yourself without giving up the joy of the holidays. No...
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Episode 244: Transform Your Health with Functional Fitness | Jess Cording x Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Rachel Katzman
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out Pvolve at 👉 In this episode of Drama Free Healthy Living, host Jess Cording interviews Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Rachel Katzman about the innovative approaches in women's fitness today. They explore the benefits of functional fitness for improving posture, reducing back pain, and boosting energy. Dr. Shepherd shares her personal journey with functional fitness and how it transformed her physical health and mindset. The conversation highlights the importance of finding balanced fitness routines that not only change appearances but also enhance overall well-being...
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Episode 243: Solo Episode Easy Breakfasts to Support Healthy Metabolism
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description In this solo episode, I dive into why a nourishing breakfast does so much more than just “start your day.” It helps stabilize blood sugar, support hormone balance, and fuel your metabolism—especially for women over 35. If you’ve ever skipped breakfast or relied on a granola bar and coffee to get by, this episode will help you rethink what your mornings can look like. You’ll learn what to eat (and why) to keep your energy steady, your mood balanced, and your body supported. From easy make-ahead ideas like overnight oats and smoothies to savory options like veggie...
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Episode 242: Unmasking High-Functioning Depression w/ Dr. Judith Joseph, MD, MBA
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out the book 👉 Judith Joseph, MD, MBA, is a Columbia-trained psychiatrist and the founder of and chief investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, New York City’s premier clinical research site, a clinical assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, and chairwoman of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Judith Joseph was awarded by the US House of Representatives with a 2023 Congress Proclamation Award for her social media advocacy and...
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Episode 241: My Life Lately: Fall 2025 Update
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: It’s been a while since I’ve done a solo episode, and this felt like the right moment to sit down and share a little life update. A lot has changed for me this year — some of it amazing, some of it challenging, and plenty of it somewhere in between. In this episode, I’m talking about what day-to-day life looks like right now, how I’m finding my footing in a new season, and the little shifts that are making a big difference. Think of this as us catching up over coffee — honest, a little messy at times, and hopefully a reminder that none of us have it all figured...
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Re-Release Episode 206: What To Eat When You’re Exhausted
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: You know those days when you wake up tired, and before you know it, you’re reaching for coffee, donuts, chips, anything to keep going? You’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not lacking willpower. When you’re running on empty, there are real changes happening in your body that make cravings stronger and energy harder to manage. In this episode, we’ll unpack what’s really going on when exhaustion hits, why your body asks for quick fixes, and how to work with those signals instead of feeling like you’re fighting against them. I’ll share practical...
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Re-Release Episode 137: Little Game Changers: Hanger Management
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: In this solo episode of The Drama-Free Healthy Living Podcast, we’re talking about something we’ve all dealt with but don’t always know how to manage: hanger — that fiery mix of hunger and irritability that can completely throw off your day. I’m sharing some of my favorite tools from my book, The Little Book of Game Changers: 50 Healthy Habits for Managing Stress & Anxiety, to help you understand what’s really going on in your body and why your mood, energy, and focus can take a hit when you go too long without eating or lean on foods that don’t keep you...
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Re-Release Episode 152: The Overthink-Proof Plate—3 Formulas For Healthy Eating
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: In this solo episode, I’m walking you through one of my favorite tools for simplifying healthy eating. Instead of obsessing over numbers or feeling paralyzed by food rules, I’m sharing an easy way to build balanced meals and snacks without the stress. I call it the Overthink-Proof Plate—a flexible, judgment-free framework I’ve been using with clients and patients for years. You’ll learn simple formulas that support steady energy, better moods, and fewer blood sugar crashes. We’ll talk about what a “balanced” plate actually looks like, how to stop...
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Re-release Episode 160: How To Make A Loneliness Game Plan
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: Loneliness doesn’t always show up with warning signs. Sometimes it’s loud. Other times, it’s that quiet urge to fill an online cart you don’t need, or the weird heaviness of a free weekend with nothing on the calendar. In this solo episode of The Drama-Free Healthy Living Podcast, let’s talk about the very human experience of feeling disconnected—and what to actually do about it. I’ll walk you through my go-to “Loneliness Game Plan,” a set of simple, practical steps to help you manage those tough moments without spiraling into habits that leave you...
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Re-release Episode 166: Making Time For Movement When You Feel Like You Have No Time
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: It’s easy to tell ourselves we’ll move “when things calm down.” But let’s be honest—life rarely slows down on its own. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the all or nothing mindset that keeps so many of us from moving our bodies in a way that actually feels supportive. Whether you're in a busy season, feeling low on energy, or just trying to figure out how movement can realistically fit into your day, this is your reminder that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. We’ll explore why movement is more than a tool for physical health. It’s a...
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📌Grab a copy of “Rise Above the Story” HERE
In this episode of 'Drama Free, Healthy Living' host Jess Cording, a registered dietitian, health coach, and author, talks with Karena Kilcoyne, a former trial lawyer turned wellness expert and writer, about trauma healing and establishing a more balanced relationship with food and fitness.
Kilcoyne shares her personal journey from facing traumatic experiences and her transformation into a wellness advocate. She discusses the importance of acknowledging trauma and taking steps to heal, the role of the stories we tell ourselves, and how these narratives shape our lives.
Kilcoyne emphasizes the importance of releasing suppressed emotional energy and rewriting limiting stories to find true peace and emotional freedom. The conversation covers a range of topics from early career challenges, the impact of trauma on personal and professional life, to self-care essentials and the significance of acknowledging and honoring emotions. Jess and Karina explore how trauma affects daily life and relationships and offer insights into creating a supportive environment for healing in both personal and professional settings. They conclude with the definition of healthy living as tapping into self-love and changing negative brain patterns.
🖋️ Some key points
(00:37) Deep Dive into Trauma Healing with Karena Kilcoyne
(02:35) Journey from Law to Wellness
(03:17) The Power of Storytelling in Healing Trauma
(06:27) Exploring the Impact of Trauma on Daily Life
(11:40) Taking the First Steps Towards Healing
(22:33) The Role of Therapy and Self-Awareness in Recovery
(30:22) Creating a Trauma-Informed Workplace
(35:02) Self-Care and Emotional Honouring in Healing
(37:55) Connecting with Karina and Closing Thoughts
Karena Kilcoyne BIO
Karena Kilcoyne is a former trial lawyer who specialized in criminal defense, including complex white-collar and civil litigation in federal and state courts. Later in her practice, she worked as in-house counsel for a publicly traded worldwide manufacturing company.
Karena now passionately shares her own personal story of trauma and healing. Through vivid, evocative, and transparent storytelling, she teaches others how to rise above their own stories and find true peace and emotional freedom. She shares these powerful ideas through video and personal posts on Facebook and Instagram. Karena also corresponds regularly with the subscribers of her email newsletter.
When she’s not helping others rise above their stories, she’s curating a colorful life full of books and art from far-flung places. Karena lives in Florida with her husband, David, and their furry son, Irwin.
Learn more about Karena HERE. See VIDEO of Karena discussing the book.
🌎 Connect with Karena Kilcoyne
Website: riseabovethestory.com
Social media: @karenakilcoyne
🎤 Podcast post-production EZPZ Podcasting.