Libsyn Directory

Episode 239: The MIND Diet: A Scientific Approach to Enhancing Brain Function w/ Maggie Moon

Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording

Release Date: 06/10/2025

Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording

Episode Description: If you’ve been feeling a little… maxed out lately—and you can tell you’re still doing things out of momentum, not meaning—this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I’m sharing why I’m hitting pause on the podcast for now. Not because I don’t love it, and not because it didn’t matter. But because my life has changed so much since I started this show in 2019, and I’m realizing I need space. The kind of space where you can actually hear yourself again—without forcing the next step just to keep things moving. I talk about the fear of being seen as a...

Episode 248: What to Let Go of in 2026

Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording

Episode Description: If you’re heading into 2026 feeling a little stretched thin—like you’re carrying too much, trying too hard, or overthinking every next step—this episode is for you. Today’s conversation is all about release, not in a dramatic “new year, new you” way, but in a practical, gentle, real-life way. Because sometimes the most supportive thing you can do for your health, your energy, and your goals… is let go of the habits, beliefs, and pressures that quietly drain you. We’re talking about perfectionism, comparison, guilt around rest, the all-or-nothing mindset,...

Episode 247: Harnessing the Power of the Unfocused Mind w/ Dr. Srini Pillay

Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording

📌Try the ReuLay app for mindset shifts (); email for a free 3-month subscription 👉In this episode of the Drama Free Healthy Living Podcast, host Jess Cording interviews Dr. Srini Pillay, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and executive coach, about harnessing brain science for better focus, overcoming fear, managing stress, and integrating creativity into daily life. They explore strategies like strategic unfocus (napping, doodling, daydreaming) to boost productivity, the CIRCA method (Chunking, Ignore mental chatter, Reality check, Control check, Attention shift) for...

Episode 246: Empowering Women’s Sleep w/ Jackie Hutson from Piper & Mint PJS

Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording

📌Make sure to check out Piper & Mint PJs on 👉 Jackie Hutson is a wife, mom to two energetic, sports-loving boys, and a founder who seems to live life in motion—in all the best ways. She plays in a competitive tennis league, loves diving into business and entrepreneurship, and brings an easy, grounded optimism into everything she does. Her entrepreneurial spark lit up early: at age 11, she made $5,000 selling Beanie Babies. Since then, she’s launched several product-based businesses, including an accessory line created while studying abroad in Italy. After college, Jackie built...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

More Episodes

📌Make sure to check out Maggie’s new book ‘The MIND Diet: A Scientific Approach to Enhancing Brain Function’ https://amzn.to/4je5NPt

📌 Also check out The United States of Arugula https://amzn.to/3Qvw0Me

👉 In this episode of the Drama Free Healthy Living, Maggie Moon, a Columbia University-educated, culinary school-trained registered dietitian, and bestselling author, shares her journey and expertise in nutrition focused on brain health.

We delve into the principles of the brain health focused diet, which combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets tailored to enhance brain function.

The discussion covers the diet's practical application, its flexibility in accommodating cultural and individual preferences, and its broad array of food recommendations. We also address common misconceptions about dietary fats, alcohol, and the importance of balance and psychological safety in dietary patterns. Throughout, Maggie offers practical tips for incorporating mind diet principles into simple everyday meals.

🖋️ Some key points

(00:00) Introduction and Guest Welcome

(00:24) Maggie's Background and Achievements

(01:39) The Mind Diet Overview

(02:33) Maggie's Journey to Becoming a Dietitian

(03:57) Brain Health and the Mind Diet

(07:19) Implementing the Mind Diet

(17:42) Cultural Adaptations and Practical Tips

(24:27) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🌎 Connect with Maggie Moon

Website https://maggiemoon.com/
https://minddietmeals.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/minddietmeals/?hl=en
LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiemoon

🌎 Connect with Jessica Cording, MS, RD, CDN, IFNCP

JessicaCordingNutrition.com

Instagram / Facebook

Author of The Farewell Tour: A Caregiver's Guide To Stress Management, Sane Nutrition, and Better Sleep, and