Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

In this deeply moving episode of The FEEL Podcast, speaker and author Julie Barth shares her journey through grief, survivor’s guilt, and the long path toward emotional healing after losing her husband while raising young children. What began as survival mode eventually became a powerful exploration of generational trauma, self-worth, and reclaiming identity after loss.

Julie reflects on how grief and unresolved trauma can shape parenting, relationships, and the way we speak to ourselves. Through honest storytelling, she explores how emotional suppression, learned behaviors, and toxic relationship dynamics can quietly pass through generations until we choose to confront them. Her journey reveals the courage it takes to rebuild confidence, set healthy boundaries, and break cycles that no longer serve us.

We also discuss the hidden weight of survivor’s guilt and how grief recovery often requires redefining who you are beyond tragedy. Julie’s story is a reminder that healing generational cycles begins with awareness, compassion for our past selves, and the willingness to ask for support.

Her memoir, Notes From a Blackberry, explores this grief journey with raw honesty and poetic reflection, offering hope for anyone navigating trauma, loss, or self-doubt.

If you’ve experienced grief, emotional invalidation, toxic relationships, or the challenge of parenting while healing, this conversation offers validation, perspective, and encouragement to begin your own emotional healing journey.

You are allowed to heal out loud.

Reflection Questions/Ways To Engage

• How do others describe you?

• What labels have you accepted that may not truly belong to you?

• How would you describe yourself without outside influence?

Write down what no longer serves you and release it. Your voice and your story belong to you.

#GenerationalTrauma

#EmotionalHealing

#GriefJourney

#SurvivorsGuilt

#MentalHealthAwareness

#BreakingCycles

#SelfWorth

#HealingAfterLoss

#TraumaRecovery

#WomenEmpowerment

#PersonalGrowthJourney

#BoundariesMatter

#ParentingAfterLoss

#SelfDiscovery

#OvercomingAdversity

#EmotionalResilience

#MemoirAuthor

#HealingOutLoud

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:29 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 6:35 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 19:37 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 24:09 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 32:37 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 37:46 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 45:44 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 51:17 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 56:11 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 57:05 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Ready for deeper support? Visit ⁠embracinglayers.com⁠ to schedule a free 30 minute session with Melissa or learn more about the FEEL Framework one-on-one empowerment program.

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast

If you’ve ever wondered how The FEEL Framework was born, this episode of The FEEL Podcast takes you behind the scenes with founder and host Melissa Crook. In this powerful conversation from a women’s empowerment podcast centered on intentional living, Melissa shares the origin story of the framework that has transformed conversations around personal growth for women, emotional wellness, authentic living, and women’s mental health.

Alongside original collaborators Valencia Saint-Louis and Abby Bekele, Melissa developed eight intentional talking points and three foundational key questions that now serve as guiding self-awareness questions for women seeking deeper clarity, confidence, and purpose. What began as a quiet inner calling eventually evolved into an intentional living framework designed to support women across every stage of their self-discovery journey.

This episode explores:

• The intentional creation of the FEEL Framework as a personal development resource
• Why mental health for women and emotional well-being require safe, intentional spaces
• How societal pressures, stereotypes, misogyny, and lived experiences shape the “layers” women carry
• The power of meaningful conversation as a tool for healing and self-love
• How the 8 Talking Points and 3 Key Questions support women’s personal development
• Why curiosity and intentional reflection are essential for mindset transformation
• How guided conversation strengthens emotional wellness tools and self-awareness
• Ways to reconnect with yourself and begin living your healthiest, most authentic life

Women are often conditioned to prioritize everyone else — family, career, relationships — while neglecting their own needs. This episode serves as both a reminder and a roadmap for women navigating their feminine growth journey: your layers matter, your story matters, and your growth deserves space.

Through the Embracing Layers Network, Melissa and her team continue cultivating an empowered women network and women’s wellness community where women can:

• Reclaim their identity

• Prioritize mental and physical health

• Embrace every season of life

• Step fully into authenticity• Strengthen confidence building and leadership development

Whether you’re just beginning your self-discovery journey or already deep in your personal growth work, this episode offers meaningful reflection prompts, mindset insights, and powerful inspiration for overcoming societal expectations and stepping into empowered living.

✨ Ready for deeper support? Schedule a complimentary 30-minute session to explore the FEEL Framework Talking Points and Key Questions.

It’s never too late to become the most aligned, confident, and empowered version of yourself.

#WomenEmpowerment#PersonalGrowthJourney#SelfDiscovery#MentalHealthMatters#AuthenticLiving#WomenInPodcasting#EmotionalWellness#MindsetShift#EmpoweredWomen#HealingJourney#ConfidenceBuilding#IntentionalLiving#WomenSupportingWomen#LifeTransformation#SelfImprovement

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠

In this powerful personal growth conversation, Dr. Audrey Schnell joins us to explore how ambitious professionals can overcome self-doubt, break self-sabotage patterns, and redefine what success truly means. If you’ve struggled with imposter syndrome, burnout, or living according to external expectations, this episode offers mindset transformation tools to help you realign with your authentic self.

Audrey shares how emotional wellness and mental health awareness are foundational to sustainable success. True confidence isn’t built on achievement alone—it’s built through self-compassion, value alignment, and learning how to stop negative self-talk. Together, we unpack how high achievers can move from self-criticism to clarity by asking powerful questions: Who do I want to be? Does this align with my values? Am I choosing this life intentionally?

We also explore healing childhood trauma as an adult, offering grace to past versions of ourselves, and reframing failure as feedback. Language shapes identity. The way you speak to yourself directly impacts your resilience, confidence, and capacity for growth.

Success is personal. For Audrey, happiness equals success. When you are living aligned with your values and truth, you are already successful.

As she reminds us: your past does not define your present or future.

Reflection After Listening

• What does success mean to me?

• Does my current path reflect my values?

• Am I building a life I consciously chose?

Hashtags

#PersonalGrowth

#SelfDevelopment

#MindsetShift

#MentalHealthAwareness

#EmotionalWellness

#OvercomeSelfDoubt

#ImposterSyndrome

#SelfSabotage

#EmpowermentPodcast

#SuccessMindset

#ConfidenceBuilding

#HealingJourney

#SelfCompassion

#EntrepreneurMindset

#HighAchievers

#LifeCoaching

#AuthenticLiving

#PurposeDrivenLife

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:34 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:52 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 14:04 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 30:22 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 36:42 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 43:11 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 55:45 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 56:23 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:01:13 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:03:43 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations
Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

Support our work by becoming a Paid Substack Subscriber Here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@thefeelpodcast⁠⁠In this powerful episode of The FEEL Podcast, Melissa Crook delivers a transformational reminder rooted in women’s empowerment motivation: stop accepting the scraps and start choosing yourself.

Too often, women pour their energy, time, and emotional labor into everyone else — family, career, relationships, business — leaving themselves with whatever is left over. This women’s empowerment podcast episode challenges that pattern and explores what happens when you begin choosing yourself first instead of waiting until everyone else is satisfied.

Melissa dives deep into:

• Why building self-worth as a woman can feel uncomfortable• The fear of pushback when learning how to set healthy boundaries• How to stay consistent when others resist your growth• Why time management is self-respect — and how to value your time• How to stop people pleasing and start self-honoring• Practical steps for protecting your energy and reclaiming your calendar• Why investing in yourself prevents burnout before it happens• How choosing yourself first strengthens confidence and self-esteem growth

She also unpacks emotional boundaries in relationships, work-life balance for women, and how self-care and productivity must coexist if you want sustainable success. Protecting your peace is not selfish — it’s an empowered living strategy.

Melissa shares vulnerably that even as a life coaching for women professional who teaches confidence building and high value woman mindset principles, she sometimes faces the same struggles. Setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable, especially when people are used to you putting them first. But when you raise your standard and commit to personal growth mindset work, others eventually adjust.

This episode is your reminder:

Your time belongs to you.Your energy is valuable.Your work deserves proper compensation.Your relationships should reflect your worth.You don’t have to settle in your own life.

Take a look at your calendar. Are you honoring yourself — or accepting leftovers?

It’s time to:

✔ Invest in yourself✔ Ask for what you deserve✔ Protect your energy✔ Set healthy boundarie✔ Build unshakable confidence✔ Create a life aligned with your value

This is your permission slip.

No more scraps. Choose YOU.

#WomenEmpowerment#SelfWorth#HealthyBoundaries#ChooseYourself#ConfidenceBuilding#PeoplePleaserRecovery#LifeCoachingForWomen#PersonalGrowthJourney#IntentionalLiving#ProtectYourEnergy#EmpoweredWomen#WorkLifeBalance#MindsetShift#HighValueWoman#SelfCareMatters

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠