🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: Motherhood Without the Mask: Identity, Boundaries & Postpartum Truths with Marissa ZwetowHost: Melissa Crook | Guest: Marissa Zwetow | Written by: Jessica Garrison

🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: Breaking the Caregiver Cycle: Self-Awareness, Survival Mode & Loving Fiercely with Lynette Weldon

Host: Melissa Crook | Guest: Lynette Weldon | Written by: Jessica Garrison

In this powerful and deeply emotional episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast, we welcome the resilient and passionate Lynette Weldon—caregiver, mother, and advocate—who shares her journey of breaking generational patterns, surviving caregiver burnout, and reclaiming her identity.

Lynette opens up about raising a daughter with Down syndrome and a congenital heart condition while managing a full household and her own emotional needs. Living in survival mode for nearly a decade, Lynette reveals how she finally gave herself permission to grieve, to feel, and to heal—showing us that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s necessary.

Together, we explore:🌪️ What it feels like to live in fight-or-flight mode💔 The layered grief that comes with caregiving🧬 How generational patterns shape our emotional responses💛 Balancing the needs of multiple children without losing yourself🌱 Reclaiming your well-being through self-awareness and rest

Whether you’re a caregiver, a mother, or someone feeling unseen in your emotional labor, Lynette’s story reminds us that our needs matter too—and healing is possible when we choose to prioritize ourselves.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Lynette found clarity, courage, and compassion through breaking the cycle of over-functioning—and how you can too.

📌 Keywords:Caregiver Burnout, Caregiving and Self-Care, Down Syndrome Parenting, Women’s Emotional Health, Fight or Flight Mode, Invisible Labor of Caregiving, Grief in Caregiving, Generational Caregiving Patterns, Mental Health for Mothers, Balance in Motherhood, How to Break Survival Mode, Layered Healing Journey, Emotional Wellness Podcast, Parenting with Purpose, Self-Awareness and Caregiving

📝 Blog Excerpt: Being a fierce advocate, Lynette shares how her time as a caregiver changed her life on both ends of the spectrum...We can choose to model unhealthy behaviors for ourselves and others, or we can break the cycle.

💛 Ways to Engage:Do you feel like you’re overworked or don’t have any time in the day for yourself? Start with small increments of time, like 5 or 10 minutes to do something for you. Read a couple pages of your book, write down your thoughts, or just rest. Your time is yours, and it’s up to you to take control of it.

#CaregiverSupport#MentalHealthAwareness#SelfCareMatters#InvisibleLabor#DownSyndromeAwareness#WomenEmpoweringWomen#EmotionalWellness#HealingJourney#MomLifeUnfiltered#GenerationalHealing#BreakTheCycle#FeelToHeal#PodcastForMoms#NeurodivergentParenting#TheFEELPodcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:17 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 26:19 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 31:09 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 37:27 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 40:16 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 46:20 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 52:40 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 59:44 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:03:04 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:03:34 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨

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? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠

🎙️ The F.E.E.L Podcast – Episode: Mental Health Days, Neurospicy Life & Self-Care with Amy Taylor - Host: Melissa Crook | Guest: Amy Taylor | Written by: Jessica Garrison

In this heartfelt and empowering episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast, we welcome the compassionate and self-aware Amy Taylor—educator, mother, and mental health advocate—for a powerful conversation about radical self-care, mental health days, and living with authenticity.

Amy shares her lived experiences of navigating bipolar disorder, a later-in-life thyroid cancer diagnosis, and the realities of balancing work, family, and personal wellness. With honesty and humor, she reminds us that taking care of our minds and bodies isn’t selfish—it’s essential.

Together, we explore:🧠 The value of taking mental health days🌙 How sleep and routines help manage bipolar disorder💬 Life after a thyroid cancer diagnosis💛 The importance of a loving support system🏡 Real talk about parenting, teaching, and healing in community🌿 How Amy nourishes herself through food, rest, and connection

Whether you’re a mom, teacher, survivor, or simply someone trying to keep it all together, Amy’s story is a reminder that healing isn’t linear—and you are never alone.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how embracing your truth can lead to deeper wellness, joy, and connection.

📌 Keywords:Mental Health Day, Self Care Tips, Living with Bipolar Disorder, Mental Health Awareness, Women’s Mental Health, Self Care for Moms, Coping with Cancer Diagnosis, Work-Life Balance, Mental Health and Family, Authentic Living, Importance of Sleep for Mental Health, Support System for Mental Health, Teacher Mental Health, Progressive Parenting, Taking a Break for Mental Health

Blog Excerpt: Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her 30s and thyroid cancer in her 50s, Amy Taylor has chosen to live her truth out loud. Her story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and radical honesty. Whether it’s through deep rest, time with loved ones, or simply getting out of the house on hard days, Amy’s practices are powerful reminders that self-care can look different for everyone—but it matters for us all.

💛 Ways to Engage:Take a mental health day. It’s a challenge and a privilege to take time off of work when you need it the most, but if you’re able, take a day off to replenish and nourish your body the way it deserves to be.

#MentalHealthMatters#SelfCareSunday#TakeAMentalHealthDay#BipolarAwareness#WomenSupportingWomen#AuthenticLiving#MentalHealthAwareness#FamilyFirst#HealingJourney#ThyroidCancerSurvivor#ProgressiveParenting#SupportSystem#MindBodyConnection#TeacherWellbeing#YouAreNotAlone#FEELPodcast

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 4:06 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 10:06 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 12:37 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 16:16 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 19:03 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 24:06 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 26:48 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 29:46 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 39:08 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 40:11 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers? 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 ⁠