Book a FREE functional health discovery call HERE.

Many women in midlife are silently battling anxiety, fatigue, and mood swings while doing all the “right” things—working hard, leading, caring for everyone else. But few realize how closely mental health and nutrition are connected.

In this episode, Tanya opens up about her decades-long struggle with anxiety and disordered eating and how undernourishment disrupted her body’s ability to make key neurotransmitters.

She unpacks how protein and amino acids become the building blocks for mood, energy, and hormones—and why digestion, gut health, and liver function all play a vital role in restoring balance.

Key Topics Covered:

• Tanya’s personal journey with anxiety and bulimia
• How amino acids become neurotransmitters and hormones
• The gut-brain-liver connection in mood regulation
• Protein needs for women in midlife
• Nutrients essential for neurotransmitter synthesis
• How stress and cortisol disrupt serotonin production
• Faith-based mindset: nourishment as stewardship

• Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2019 – The Tryptophan Pathway and Serotonin
• PubMed: Dietary Protein and Brain Serotonin Synthesis
• ResearchGate: Gut-Brain Axis and Mood Regulation
• Cleveland Clinic: Understanding Serotonin

I hope this episode blesses you!

Xoxo,

Tanya

Episode Resources:

Episode Catalog

My trusted Supplement Dispensary: Aligned Vitality Fullscript Dispensary

My trusted Telehealth Peptide Provider: EllieMD_Tanya Engesether

*I do get a small commission when you use one of the above affiliate links.

3 Ways To Connect With Me:

1️⃣COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health coaching. It’s the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/coaching

2️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/community

3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/contact

"Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they’re meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"

If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, I’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Reminder: The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. It is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Book a FREE functional health discovery call HERE.

Get on my Functional Health Coaching interest list HERE.

Do you feel like you’re doing everything right and still not seeing results in your health? Maybe you’re chasing symptoms—fatigue, brain fog, stubborn weight, bloating—without ever finding the root cause. In this episode of Aligned Vitality, Tanya unpacks how personalized wellness plans built on functional labs and holistic strategy offer a breakthrough for midlife women.

You’ll learn:

• Why symptoms alone can’t guide your healing.
• How functional lab testing uncovers hidden imbalances.
• The 5 pillars for sustainable health.
• How faith, mindset, and community play a role in lasting vitality.

If you’re tired of quick fixes and ready for a roadmap rooted in both data and grace, this episode will show you the difference between symptom-chasing and true strategy.

I hope this episode blesses you!

Xoxo,

Tanya

Episode Resources:

Episode Catalog

My trusted Supplement Dispensary: Aligned Vitality Fullscript Dispensary

My trusted Telehealth Peptide Provider: EllieMD_Tanya Engesether

*I do get a small commission when you use one of the above affiliate links.

3 Ways To Connect With Me:

1️⃣COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health coaching. It’s the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/coaching

2️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/community

3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/contact

"Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they’re meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"

If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, I’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Reminder: The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. It is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Book a FREE Discovery call HERE.

Get on the waitlist for Functional Health Coaching HERE.

Get into drawing to win a $500 coupon toward Functional Health Coaching. Send screenshot of a rating and written review of the show to tanya@alignedvitalityhealth.com

Are you tired of guessing what’s wrong with your health? In this episode of Aligned Vitality, Tanya dives into why symptom-chasing and one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work—and how combining your story with functional lab testing creates real results.

You’ll learn:

• Why “normal” labs don’t always signal vitality
• How functional labs—like hormone panels, GI-MAP stool testing, and metabolic profiles—reveal what mainstream tests miss
• The impact of chronic stress and how thought patterns fuel physical symptoms
• How the FDN D.R.E.S.S. framework creates personalized healing plans
• Why symptoms aren’t shame—they’re signals from a body designed by God

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start healing, listen in—and sign up at gracefilledleader.com/health to be the first to step into personalized coaching grounded in data and faith.

I hope this episode blesses you!

Xoxo,

Tanya

Episode Resources:

GFL Episode Catalog

3 Ways To Connect With Me:

1️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/community

2️⃣ COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health coaching. It’s the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/coaching

3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/contact

"Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they’re meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"

If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, I’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Reminder: The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, manage or treat disease. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Get on the waitlist for Functional Health Coaching HERE.

Do you ever feel exhausted, foggy, moody, or “off” in your own skin—even though your doctor says your labs look normal? You’re not imagining it. In this episode of Aligned Vitality, Tanya unpacks why “normal” isn’t the same as “healthy,” especially for women in midlife.

We’ll explore:

• The gap between disease detection and true health
• What functional health and functional lab testing reveal that standard labs miss
• How chronic stress and hormone shifts in midlife affect your energy, mood, and metabolism
• The spiritual truth that symptoms are signals, not shame
• Practical first steps to begin reclaiming your vitality

If you’re tired of guessing and ready for answers, this conversation will give you hope, validation, and a roadmap forward.

I hope this episode blesses you!

Xoxo,

Tanya

Episode Resources:

GFL Episode Catalog

3 Ways To Connect With Me:

1️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/community

2️⃣ COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health coaching. It’s the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/coaching

3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/contact

"Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they’re meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"

If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, I’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Reminder: The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, manage or treat disease. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Book a FREE functional health discovery call HERE.

In this episode, Tanya shares the heart behind her podcast rebrand from The Grace Filled Leader to Aligned Vitality for Midlife Leaders. Discover why this shift matters, what’s staying the same, and what exciting new content is coming your way.

For years, Tanya has helped women lead with grace, overcome people-pleasing, and manage their time and energy with intention. But as God has expanded her calling, Tanya has been going “back to school” to earn her certification as a Functional Health Practitioner. This new training, combined with her 27 years in healthcare leadership, allows her to serve midlife women leaders with both professional expertise and personal experience.

If you’re a woman navigating leadership, faith, and the challenges of midlife health — from stress and burnout to perimenopause symptoms — this episode will encourage you, equip you, and give you a vision for what’s ahead.

Listen in to learn how aligning your health, leadership, and faith can help you thrive with vitality, purpose, and peace.

I hope this episode blesses you!

Xoxo,

Tanya

Episode Resources:

GFL Episode Catalog

3 Ways To Connect With Me:

1️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/community

2️⃣ COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health coaching. It’s the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/coaching

3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/contact

"Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they’re meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"

If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, I’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Reminder: The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, manage or treat disease. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Get on the waitlist for Functional Health Coaching HERE.

In this heartfelt episode, Tanya shares her personal journey from striving and burnout to discovering abundant living through God’s design for whole-person wellness.

The Grace Filled Leader began with a mission to help women surrender their leadership and daily lives to the Lord — finding victory and freedom from people-pleasing, anxiety, and exhaustion. But as Tanya continued to grow and heal, God led her deeper: into her own wellness journey, functional health training, and the realization that abundant living means aligning body, mind, and spirit with His beautiful design.

Listen in as Tanya celebrates passing her final oral exam to become a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, reflects on her spiritual and physical healing journey, and prepares listeners for the exciting rebrand ahead: Aligned Vitality for Midlife Leaders.

If you’ve ever felt burned out, stuck in brain fog, overwhelmed by stress, or out of sync with your health, this episode will encourage you with hope, vision, and the reminder that God designed you for vitality and abundant life.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The origins of The Grace Filled Leader and its message of grace and surrender in leadership.
• How Tanya’s own struggles with stress, burnout, and health became part of her faith journey.
• Why she went “back to school” to become a Functional Health Practitioner.
• What “abundant living” truly means in midlife.
• How the upcoming rebrand reflects a mission expansion — not a departure.

I hope this episode blesses you!

Xoxo,

Tanya

Episode Resources:

GFL Episode Catalog

3 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/community

COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Get on the waitlist for functional health coaching. It’s the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/health

CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/contact

"Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they’re meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"

If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, I’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Reminder: The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, manage or treat disease. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Get on the waitlist for Functional Health Coaching HERE.

For decades, Tanya lived with crippling anxiety. From pushing through finals in college to showing up for her family and leading in healthcare, she wore a mask of strength while silently dreading each new day.

In this deeply personal episode, Tanya opens up about the weight of living with anxiety since childhood, the years of silently wishing for relief, and the moment — at 51 years old — when she finally realized she could say, “I am happy.”

This isn’t a story of quick fixes or surface-level positivity. It’s a story of healing from the inside out: through faith, mindset renewal, and functional health at the cellular level.

If you’ve ever felt consumed by anxiety or wondered if joy was still possible, this episode will remind you that you are not broken, you are not alone, and you are not without hope.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why anxiety often hides behind achievement and responsibility
• How Tanya pushed through decades of crippling anxiety while leading and caring for others
• The role of spiritual health, mindset, and functional healing in her journey
• Why hope and healing are possible, even after years of struggle
• An invitation to embrace the messy middle as a launch pad for the best years ahead

I hope this episode blesses you!

Xoxo,

Tanya

Episode Resources:

GFL Episode Catalog

5 Ways To Connect With Me:

1️⃣ FREE CALL: Book your FREE Coaching Call now! Get personalized and practical strategies for work-life balance. Start your grace-filled life and leadership journey ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/workwithme

2️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/community

3️⃣ FREE WORKSHOP: Watch my FREE “Conquer Your Email Inbox” workshop! It's your key to jumpstart productivity ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/workshop

4️⃣ COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Get on the waitlist for functional health coaching. It’s the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/health

5️⃣CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://gracefilledleader.com/contact

"Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they’re meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"

If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, I’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Reminder: The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, manage or treat disease. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

In today’s impromptu episode, I share my heart in response to the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. At just 31 years old, Charlie was a husband, father, son, and brother in Christ. He lived with conviction, courage, and deep faith, creating spaces for open dialogue and debate on college campuses.

No matter our political views, this loss should grieve us all. A young wife shouldn’t have to fear for her husband’s life because he used his voice for faith and freedom.

As believers, we grieve—but we don’t grieve without hope. Scripture reminds us that God can work all things for good (Romans 8:28), and that His faithful servants are welcomed home with joy (Matthew 25:23). In this episode, I reflect on Charlie’s legacy, the spiritual battle we face, and the call for Christians to shine brighter in a darkening world.

This episode is an invitation to pray for his family, to stand firm in God’s Word, and to recommit ourselves to living boldly for Christ.