Gift: Subscribe to Fran's newsletter and receive a FREE Toolkit: Calm Your Anxiety Instantly. Designed to give you 5 tools to quickly regulate your emotions and nervous system.

About:

Welcome to Its Messy, But It's So Good — real stories of growth, courage, purpose, and transformation. Host Fran Medina shares tools and conversations to help you move from stress to self-trust. Each episode helps you calm your mind, find clarity, and create a life that truly feels good. Subscribe for your FREE "Calm Your Anxiety Instantly" Toolkit and start feeling more grounded and confident today.

Bio:

Karen Yi is a reporter with WNYC and Gothamist, currently covering homelessness and poverty. Before that, Karen covered Newark for the Star-Ledger and spent a decade working for newspapers in New Jersey and Florida. She grew up in Miami and has a dog named Cashew and a walking one year old. If you would like to read Karen's articles, click on the Gothamist link in the show notes.

Podcast Highlights:

Power of Local News

Karen discovered how local decisions—from school board zoning directly impact daily life, shaping her focus on community reporting.

Building Confidence

Facing layoffs and pressure to prove herself, Karen pushed hard to build confidence and succeed in a challenging journalism landscape. Karen reflected on learning the importance of balance in her career.

Motherhood and Clarity

Motherhood provided more clarity on setting boundaries, work intentionally, and gain confidence, transforming her approach to life and career.

NYC SNAP Benefits Crisis

Karen highlights the chaos and fast-moving changes occurring in the political landscape involving SNAP benefits, showing how confusing policies create real hardship for families who rely on them.


If you would like to donate and help support WNYC please click link below.

Contacts:
Email: kyi@wnyc.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-yi-07155816
Donate: https://www.wnyc.org
www.gothamist.com

About Your Host

Fran Medina HWNC-BC is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse and Life Coach with over 40 years of nursing experience in the art and science of Health and Healing. Fran is a certified facilitator of the Creative Clarity Catalyst Programs based on the Stanford University Creativity in Business MA course. Fran is a co-founder of the Conscious Connection, a creative arts, wellness and healing network in Hudson Valley, NY. Fran holds certifications in many healing and holistic modalities.

Contact

Website: www.franmedinacoaching.com
Email: fran@franmedinacoaching.com
Instagram: @franmedinacoaching
Facebook: Francine Medina
YouTube: @franmedinacoaching6704

With Love

Fran Medina RN, Empowerment Coach

Gift: Subscribe to Fran's newsletter and receive a FREE Toolkit: Calm Your Anxiety Instantly. Designed to give you 5 tools to quickly regulate your emotions and nervous system.

About:

Welcome to "It's Messy, But It's So Good," the podcast that explores the captivating journeys of individuals following their passions and expanding through life's challenges.

Bio:

Warwick, NY residents for more than 20 years, Don and his bride Kelly moved here because of a bet. (True story.) They took a wager that they could not spend an entire day in Warwick — picking apples, dining in town, shopping, sightseeing — without asking to talk to a real estate agent. They lost the bet but won a happy new life in beautiful Warwick.

An award-winning creative director and writer for forty years, Don has launched about a dozen magazines for corporations, hospitals, and schools; created integrated omnichannel marketing campaigns for hundreds of brands as diverse as Cablevision, the New York City Department of Health, Monty Python, Citibank, HBO, and GAF.

Not all business, Don has also published three novels, teaches and performs improvisational theater, developed a theater academy curriculum for our local Renaissance faire, rides a unicycle, runs a trivia night in Greenwood Lake NY, and is now running for Town Board to help make sure our neighbors have a voice in their local government.

From Stage to Council

Don draws on his 40-year career in theater and marketing to bring creativity, storytelling, and a "yes, and" improv mindset into politics—aiming to engage people in fresh, meaningful ways.

Tackling Environmental Challenges
Don outlines urgent concerns for Warwick NY, including invasive species in Greenwood Lake, outdated septic systems, and Glenmere Lake water quality—advocating for solutions through state grants rather than new taxes.

Raising Civic Awareness

Don stressed the importance of local elections, noting that many residents do not realize how much off-year voting shapes the future of the community.

Building a More Inclusive Community

With transparency, open forums, and consistent communication, Don wants to address zoning issues while also taking visible steps to combat intolerance and strengthen Warwick's sense of belonging.

Go out and vote in your communities. Let your voice be heard.

Contact information:
Don Kilcoyne
Creative Director • Writer
Facebook: KilcoyneCreative
Twitter: DonKilcoyne
917-880-5282

About Your Host

Fran Medina HWNC-BC is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse and Life Coach with over 40 years of nursing experience in the art and science of Health and Healing. Fran is a certified facilitator of the Creative Clarity Catalyst Programs based on the Stanford University Creativity in Business MA course. Fran is a co-founder of the Conscious Connection, a creative arts, wellness and healing network in Hudson Valley, NY. Fran holds certifications in many healing and holistic modalities.

Contact

Website: www.franmedinacoaching.com
Email: fran@franmedinacoaching.com
Instagram: @franmedinacoaching
Facebook: Francine Medina
YouTube: @franmedinacoaching6704

With Love

Fran Medina RN, Empowerment Coach

Gift: Subscribe to Fran's newsletter and receive a FREE Toolkit: Calm Your Anxiety Instantly. Designed to give you 5 tools to quickly regulate your emotions and nervous system.

About:

Welcome to "It's Messy, But It's So Good," the podcast that explores the captivating journeys of individuals following their passions and expanding through life's challenges.

Bio:

Daniel Greenfield is the founder of Nordic Recovery, a wellness studio offering innovative therapies like cold plunges, red light, and breathwork to support mind-body recovery. A former personal trainer turned Wim Hof Method coach, Daniel is passionate about helping others discover resilience and balance through holistic practices. Raised in Greenwood Lake and now based in Goshen, NY, he works with athletes, teams, and nonprofits—including Army West Point Wrestling and Guardian Revival—to enhance performance, wellness, and stress recovery.

From Pop-Ups to a Full Wellness Hub

Daniel shares how his passion for holistic health, influenced by his father's yoga practices, evolved into Nordic Recovery Services state-of-the-art facility offering everything from breath work, meditation, cold plunges, red light therapy, dry and infra res saunas, PEMF, chromotherapy, classes and coaching.

A Personal Journey of Transformation

Despite a serious knee injury, Daniel pursued Wim Hof certification in Spain, experiencing a profound breathwork session that connected him with his late father and set him on a path of spiritual and professional growth.

Simple Daily Wellness Hacks

Listeners learn practical tools like starting with 30-second cold showers, grounding by walking barefoot, and using contrast therapy and sunlight to boost energy and resilience, and overall well-being.

Contact Information:
To receive Daniel's gift: please send an email to fran@franmedinacoaching.com. You will subscribe to our email lists and receive updates on all the goodies plus free simple nervous system resilience tools.

Daniel's Contact Information
Instagram - thenordicrecovery
Facebook - NordicRecovery
Website - www.thenordicrecovery.com

About Your Host

Fran Medina HWNC-BC is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse and Life Coach with over 40 years of nursing experience in the art and science of Health and Healing. Fran is a certified facilitator of the Creative Clarity Catalyst Programs based on the Stanford University Creativity in Business MA course. Fran is a co-founder of the Conscious Connection, a creative arts, wellness and healing network in Hudson Valley, NY. Fran holds certifications in many healing and holistic modalities.

Contact

Website: www.franmedinacoaching.com
Email: fran@franmedinacoaching.com
Instagram: @franmedinacoaching
Facebook: Francine Medina
YouTube: @franmedinacoaching6704

With Love

Fran Medina RN, Empowerment Coach

Gift: Subscribe to Fran's newsletter and receive a FREE Toolkit: Calm Your Anxiety Instantly. Designed to give you 5 tools to quickly regulate your emotions and nervous system.

About:

Welcome to "It's Messy, But It's So Good," the podcast that explores the captivating journeys of individuals following their passions and expanding through life's challenges.

Bio:

Richard "Dick" Piazza is a lifelong storyteller with over four decades of experience in education, literature, and personal growth. From teaching English across all academic levels—including a transformative year in Oxfordshire, England—to pioneering brain-compatible learning and founding the "Writer's Workshop,"

Dick has devoted his life to inspiring others through words. His published works include Everyday Epiphanies, Crazy Quilt, Marley's Brain and Other Curious Tales, The Card Game, and his forthcoming novel The Other Side of Night (July 15, 2025), a poignant story of trauma, memory, and the redemptive power of love.

Dick's writing blends poetry, short fiction, and memoir with lyrical insight and emotional clarity. His work explores how storytelling helps us process loss, find connection, and celebrate the beauty of ordinary moments.

Beyond the page, Dick leads workshops like "Awakenings" and "Conversations That Matter," helping individuals navigate life transitions with empathy and creativity. As a life coach and founder of The Epiphany Project, he brings warmth, wisdom, and literary sensibility to every conversation.

He lives in Greenwood Lake, NY, with his wife, Terry, and their independent-minded cat, Pumpernickel. His coaching and writing are rooted in neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and a reverence for the everyday epiphany.

Podcast Highlights

1. From Numbers to Nurturing: Dick found his passion for teaching in college, leaving accounting to shape young minds from elementary to college, focusing on how students learn best.
2. An Unlikely Author at 80+: Since turning 80, Dick has published six books—from poetic snapshots of people to plays and novels about memory and transformation.
3. Conversations That Matter: Dick values deep listening and sees relationships as built on honesty, effort, and the courage to face emotional "ghosts."
4. Writing from Life: Dick's stories draw from real experiences, revealing patterns that speak to human nature and connection.

Contact & Books

Email: piazzawrites@gmail.com
Website: dickpiazza.com
Instagram: @dickpiazza
Facebook: facebook.com/piazzawrites
Amazon: amazon.com/author/dickpiazza
All titles available via Amazon and Dick's website.

About Your Host

Fran Medina HWNC-BC is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse and Life Coach with over 40 years of nursing experience in the art and science of Health and Healing. Fran is a certified facilitator of the Creative Clarity Catalyst Programs based on the Stanford University Creativity in Business MA course. Fran is a co-founder of the Conscious Connection, a creative arts, wellness and healing network in Hudson Valley, NY. Fran holds certifications in many healing and holistic modalities.

Contact

Website: www.franmedinacoaching.com
Email: fran@franmedinacoaching.com
Instagram: @franmedinacoaching
Facebook: Francine Medina

With Love

Fran Medina RN, Empowerment Coach

Gift: Subscribe to Fran's newsletter and receive a FREE Toolkit: Calm Your Anxiety Instantly. Designed to give you 5 tools to quickly regulate your emotions and nervous system.

About:

Welcome to "It's Messy, But It's So Good," the podcast that explores the captivating journeys of individuals following their passions and expanding through life's challenges.

Bio:
Jody is a multidisciplinary artist, voice teacher, and certified breathwork facilitator whose work blends vocal expression, movement, and mindfulness to support healing and self-discovery. With a background in professional singing and acting, she has taught voice for over 20 years and founded Soma Voce to help others release stuck energy and connect to their intuition. She holds a master's in clinical psychology from Columbia University and certifications in vocology, Reiki, yoga, and somatic voicework. Jody teaches in Warwick and Greenwood Lake, NY, and is currently featured in the Fuller Moon Arts Festival with her immersive performance piece Unfurling.

Key Takeaways – Jody's Journey & Work

• Jody's background in singing, acting, culinary arts, and yoga shapes her holistic voice and breathwork approach.
• She blends breath and voice work to support healing, intuition, and authentic expression. Letting go of judgment is central to her practice.
• Her work now helps others uncover their true voice through breathwork, singing, and multimedia art.

Current Offerings

• Monthly breathwork and open Sing sessions (Warwick & Greenwood Lake NY).
• Private sessions and upcoming multimedia performance Unfurling (Aug 16, Fuller Moon Festival) Warwick, NY.
• Monthly community ecstatic dance event.

Simple Practice

• Try the physiological sigh: Inhale deeply, sniff in a bit more, pause, then exhale slowly.
• When we breathe shallow practice no self-judgment-our body and nervous system is self-regulating

Contacts: For more information on current offerings and services.
Facebook: Jody Walker Weatherstone
Instagram: Jody_ Weatherstone
www.jodyweatherstone.com

About Your Host

Fran Medina HWNC-BC is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse and Life Coach with over 40 years of nursing experience in the art and science of Health and Healing. Fran is a certified facilitator of the Creative Clarity Catalyst Programs based on the Stanford University Creativity in Business MA course. Fran is a co-founder of the Conscious Connection, a creative arts, wellness and healing network in Hudson Valley, NY. Fran holds certifications in many healing and holistic modalities.

Contact

Website: www.franmedinacoaching.com
Email: fran@franmedinacoaching.com
Instagram: @franmedinacoaching
Facebook: Francine Medina

With Love

Fran Medina RN, Empowerment Coach

Gift: Subscribe to Fran's newsletter and receive a FREE Toolkit: Calm Your Anxiety Instantly. Designed to give you 5 tools to quickly regulate your emotions and nervous system.

About:

Welcome to "It's Messy, But It's So Good," the podcast that explores the captivating journeys of individuals following their passions and expanding through life's challenges.

Kristofer Rios Bio:
Kristofer Ríos is a journalist and documentary filmmaker from New York City. Most recently, he produced Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful for Netflix. He also co-directed and co-executive produced Menudo: Forever Young (HBOMax); a four-part investigative series about the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo. He's an Emmy award-winning producer, and his work has been recognized by Sundance, the GLADD Media Awards, and the Edward R. Murrow Awards.

In this episode, I sit down with Emmy award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Kristofer Ríos to talk about his latest project for Netflix: Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful. This powerful documentary captures the reggaeton superstar's groundbreaking stadium tour and her journey as a Latina artist defying the odds in a male-dominated industry. Kristofer shares about the creative process behind the film, the importance of representation in media, and his own personal growth as a new father navigating the demands of life and storytelling.

Key Takeaways:

• Karol G: Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful documents the first-ever stadium tour by a Latina artist, spanning the U.S., Latin America, and Europe.
• The film highlights the challenges Karol G has faced as a woman in the reggaeton industry and her drive to expand opportunities for Spanish-language content.
• Kristofer and his team sought to challenge industry norms and elevate Latinx stories on a global platform.
• Balancing the demands of fatherhood and filmmaking, Kristofer shares the emotional depth this project added to his life.

Documentary Overview

• Karol G's rise as a reggaeton powerhouse
• Record-breaking achievements and tour highlights
• Gender dynamics within the reggaeton world

Cultural Impact

• Breaking boundaries for Spanish-language and subtitled content
• Netflix success: 1 in 19 countries and Top 10 in 27
• Advocating for diverse, inclusive storytelling in global media

Personal Growth & Fatherhood

• Welcoming a child during production and the support of his team
• How becoming a father shaped his perspective on storytelling and partnership
  
  

Looking Ahead

• Upcoming documentary on the Young Lords with filmmaker Carla Gutierrez
• New collaborations, including work with Masterclass.

Connect with Kristofer Ríos:
Follow Kristofer's work and upcoming projects:
Instagram: @Kristofer.rios
Website: http://www.K-Rios.com

IMDb: Kristofer Rios

About Your Host

Fran Medina HWNC-BC is a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse and Life Coach with over 40 years of nursing experience in the art and science of Health and Healing. Fran is a certified facilitator of the Creative Clarity Catalyst Programs based on the Stanford University Creativity in Business MA course. Fran is a co-founder of the Conscious Connection, a creative arts, wellness and healing network in Hudson Valley, NY. Fran holds certifications in many healing and holistic modalities.

Contact

Website: www.franmedinacoaching.com
Email: fran@franmedinacoaching.com
Instagram: @franmedinacoaching
Facebook: Francine Medina

With Love

Fran Medina RN, Empowerment Coach