In this episode, Colette interviews Alison Marean, a social coach with over 20 years of experience in helping others. Alison shares her journey from being a school teacher to co-founding Successfully Social, a business offering neuro-affirming coaching for individuals with unique social and learning needs, with a focus on autism, social thinking, and laughter yoga.

Alison highlights the transformative power of creative strategies, including the use of imagination and laughter, to boost self-confidence and reduce social anxiety. She discusses the significance of childhood memories, the educational system, and her pivot to creating a program that helps children and families navigate social interactions positively.

Additionally, she discusses the benefits of laughter yoga and practical methods for integrating play and laughter into daily life.

00:40 Introduction to Alison Marianne
01:56 Alison's Childhood Memories
04:20 Journey to Becoming a Teacher
06:24 Founding Successfully Social
06:50 The Importance of Social Emotional Learning
12:05 Laughter Yoga and Parenting Tips
16:55 Laughter Exercises Demonstration
23:57 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Get to know Allison:

With over 20 years of experience, Allison Marean is a sought-after Social Coach known for her patience, creativity, and ability to connect with diverse learners. Holding degrees in Communication Sciences and Special Education, she has taught in Boston and Denver, where her passion for social cognitive learning grew.
As the co-founder of Successfully Social, Allison offers neuro-affirming social coaching for individuals with unique social and learning needs. A lifelong learner, she has specialized training in Autism, Social Thinking®, and Laughter Yoga. She shares laughter as a powerful tool for self-regulation and building meaningful connections especially in schools to support the teacher student relationship. Her creative teaching style combines mindset strategies, science and laughter to help kids improve their self-confidence, reduce social anxiety, and bolster problem-solving skills for social success..

Allison has recently served as a keynote speaker in Springfield, Missouri, and Stamford, Connecticut, where she shared the importance of using laughter as a tool for self-regulation and social connection. She is also preparing for her upcoming TEDx talk in December.

When she’s not coaching, inspiring audiences, or leading laughter sessions, she enjoys adventures with her family, cheering on her kids from the sidelines, tending her garden, and caring for her animals.

Website: https://www.besuccessfullysocial.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonmarean/

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

This week on Limitless Healing with Colette Brown, we’re bringing back a listener-favorite episode featuring Jennifer Walsh, a trailblazer in beauty, wellness, and biophilic design.

Why? Because we’ve been sharing about the importance of connecting with nature and bringing the outside in; making this episode a must-listen all over again!

Jennifer shares her inspiring journey, from creating Beauty Bar, the first omni-channel beauty brand in the U.S., to her groundbreaking work in nature-based corporate wellness programs. She explores how integrating biophilic solutions into our homes, workplaces, and lives can profoundly impact our well-being.

Let’s celebrate our connection to the outdoors; because nature truly heals! In this episode Colette interviews Jennifer Walsh a true visionary and architect of the beauty, wellness and retail landscape as the creator of Beauty Bar in 1998, the very first omni-channel beauty brand in the United States. She changed the way people shopped for beauty and wellness by creating a first retail powerhouse that allowed beauty and wellness shoppers to see and experience niche and independent beauty products in her brick and mortar stores, on her e-commerce website, and a weekly TV show. It was a first to market fully interactive experience.

Jennifer shares how her relationship with the beauty industry was deeply rooted in the natural world and how we connect to nature. Jennifer, always curious about how nature affected our wellbeing, began spending time with neuroscientists around the country to learn more about this link to nature and its effects on the brain. She began working with companies that wanted to infuse nature into their corporate wellness programs, into their business practices, and as part of employee education. This not only meant creating the now sought after Wellness Walks with Walsh program and educating on the impact and importance of integrating biophilic, nature based solutions into cities, corporate campuses, retailers and homes.

Tune in to rediscover the healing power of nature, the magic of trees, and why we all need dirt to thrive! Let this episode reignite your passion for connecting with the natural world.


Episode Highlights:

03:10 Jennifer shares so many good childhood memories growing up and learning to fish with her Dad

06:53 Jennifer's TV segment turned into 27 years on TV sharing beauty products

10:40 Getting away from screens and connecting with nature

16:00 The healing power of trees

19:36 Tent life in the summer, living in harmony with the natural world

29:10 Jennifer shares, "we need dirt to survive"

Connect with Jennifer:

Website: https://www.walkwithwalsh.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejenniferwalsh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejenniferwalsh

Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers Podcast:https://www.biophilicsolutions.com

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

In this podcast episode, on the Limitless Healing Podcast with Colette Brown, Colette reflects on the evolving definition of wellness, sharing personal experiences and highlights from the Global Wellness Summit in St. Andrew's, Scotland.

Colette shares key takeaways from the Global Wellness Summit that include the importance of incremental health improvements and profound inspiration from influential speakers like Wim Hof and Louis Swire.

This episode encourages you to commit to small, non-negotiable health practices and invites you to share your suggestions for future topics and specialists to feature on the podcast.

Episode Highlights:

00:30 Defining Wellness

00:37 Personal Wellness Journey

00:59 Global Wellness Summit Insights

02:02 Highlighting Key Speakers

03:17 Taking Action for Your Health

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

This episode was so impactful early on in the first few episodes of the podcast I wanted to share it again as we head into the Holidays.

Sugar! It is an addictive substance that is linked to many health issues we experience today.

In this episode I present real scientific data , studies and share ways you can take control of your well being right now.

Grab your favorite cup of tea, a pen and paper and listen in on how you can begin to reduce your sugar intake.


Episode Highlights:

1:33 Colette's sugar story

3:24 Scientific data on sugar

7:18 Recommended daily sugar intake

9:30 Four steps to help reduce your sugar consumption

16:15 Facing your objections

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Reference to 9 out of 10 cases of type 2 diabetes are preventable -

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/disease-prevention/diabetes-prevention/preventing-diabetes-full-story/

CDC stating that 1 in 10 Americans have Type 2 diabetes

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html#:~:text=Healthy%20eating%20is%20your%20recipe,adults%20are%20also%20developing%20it.

NIH - Bariatric patients transfer sugar addiction to substance abuse

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25064307/

Coronary Heart Disease and its link to sugar:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5099084/

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

On a previous episode, 163. The Psychological Benefits of Cleanliness and Organization, Colette shares the psychological impact of cleanliness and organization, highlighting various studies that support the notion that a tidy environment improves mental well-being. In doing the research for that episode Colette found profound research by Dn. Joseph R. Ferrari, Ph.D. and reached out to him to share his expertise on the show.

On this episode Dr. Ferrari joins Colette and shares his vast knowledge on the subject, his research, his findings and the psychological roots of why we accumulate clutter, why it’s so challenging to manage, and the powerful ways it impacts our homes and offices.

Dr. Ferrari explains the differences between clutter and hoarding, practical strategies to tackle physical clutter, actionable methods for moving beyond the past, creating a positive legacy, and building a clutter-free environment.

Episode Highlights:

00:30 Dn. Joseph R. Ferrari, Ph.D. his New York roots and Academic Journey
04:47 Exploring Procrastination and Its Psychological Roots
06:26 Clutter and Its Impact on Personal Well-being
16:44 Overcoming Barriers to Decluttering
20:50 Practical Decluttering Tips for Key Spaces
24:26 Mental Challenges Beyond Biological Factors
33:06 Identifying Different Types of Declutterers
36:13 Legacy, Letting Go, and Moving Forward

About the expert: Dn. Joseph Ferrari, PhD:
Deacon Joseph Ferrari, PhD, is a professor of psychology and Saint Vincent DePaul Distinguished Professor at DePaul University in Chicago. He is a leading expert on the study of chronic procrastination and, more recently, of clutter. Ferrari studies the psychology of clutter, including why we accumulate it, how it affects our mental health, and the link between clutter and procrastination. He has published more than 400 scholarly articles and 35 books and book chapters, and is a fellow in six professional organizations, including APA. Ferrari is also a permanent deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Illinois.

Still Procrastinating with Dr. Ferrari

Deacon Joseph Ferrari, PhD Vincent de Paul Professor, Psychology, Community Psychology

Dr. Ferrari’s book “Still Procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done”

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

As the holidays approach, I’ve been reflecting on the connection between mental health and the stress that many experience during this season. After diving into some research from the American Psychological Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, it’s clear that holiday stress impacts a significant portion of the population, 64% report feeling stressed, and for 38%, that stress intensifies specifically because of the holidays.

That’s why I’m revisiting an earlier episode featuring Jennifer Fraser, author of The Bully Brain.

Tune in to hear Jennifer’s personal story and the strategies she recommends for mental well being.

This episode is a soul-stirring episode of "Limitless Healing with Colette," where Colette speaks with Jennifer Fraser PhD on the profound journey of healing and empowerment.

Jennifer shares her deeply moving narrative and groundbreaking insights into brain health. In this episode, Jennifer delves into her personal ordeal with trauma, recounting the challenges she faced and the strides she's made in reconnecting with her past to foster a healthier, more integrated self.

Jennifer and Colette explore the disturbing dynamic of how adults, unwittingly or not, protect abusers, and how perpetrators exploit empathy to serve their own ends.

Jennifer brings her expertise in neuroscience to the table, discussing how genetics, environment, and epigenetics play into abusive behaviors and the hope that lies in rehabilitating "hurt brains."

Episode Highlights:

02:20 Jennifer's brother's learning disability experience shapes her brain interest

06:06 Jennifer turned to science to understand abuse

10:30 Jennifer's trauma memories were triggered when she uncovered her son's abuse

12:40 Questioning behavior when child abuse allegations arise

17:33 Genetics play a role, but environment factors are very influential

19:46 Internalized negativity can trap us in helplessness

22:01 Neuroscience reveals brain's reaction to split personality

31:32 Difficult for kids to recognize adult abuse

34:02 Be vigilent as abusers can appear kind and smart

37:46 How to identify abusers, through questioning, asking for evidence and sharing with others

40:39 You can heal a hurt brain: Neuroscience confirms benefits of exercise and mindfulness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bulliedbrain/

Website: https://bulliedbrain.com/

Book: The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=THE+BULLIED+BRAIN

Brain Training: Brain HQ: https://www.brainhq.com/

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

In this enlightening episode, of Limitless Healing with Colette Brown guest Manas Ram shares his extensive work in fostering stronger communities globally and his wisdom on spiritual traditions. The conversation is an education in Navaratri, an ancient festival honoring the divine feminine, and encompasses the associated fasting rituals and their impact on consciousness.

Detailed discussions include the nine forms of the divine Mother and the stages of spiritual elevation, exploring the intricate symbolism and practices that aid emotional and mental control toward higher awareness.

The episode elaborates on themes of true surrender, ethical living, and the power of grounding practices such as breath work and connecting with nature, offering practical tips for personal and collective growth.

Through this journey, the episode underscores the interconnectedness of various forms of divine worship, highlighting the importance of recognizing the divinity within all emotions and appreciating nature's unconditional support.

00:00 Introduction to Manas Ram
01:41 Ancient Wisdom
02:33 Exploring the Festival of Navaratri
03:07 Significance of Night and Universal Energy
04:10 Rituals and Scientific Beliefs
07:52 Fasting and Energies During Navaratri
12:14 Understanding the Forms of the Mother
18:23 Exploring the Nine Forms: One through Five
21:46 The Sixth Form: Katyaini and the Power of Creation
22:52 The Seventh Form: Kalaratri and Transformative Power
24:35 The Eighth Form: Maha Gauri and Universal Knowledge
25:26 The Ninth Form: Siddhidhatri and Perfection
26:56 The Power of Surrender
30:41 Integrating the Mother's Teachings into Daily Life
37:27 Final Reflections and Wisdom

To find out more reach out to Manas at manasram9@gmail.com.

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette

In this episode Colette shares the psychological impact of cleanliness and organization, highlighting various studies that support the notion that a tidy environment improves mental well-being.

She references research from institutions such as Princeton University and DePaul University, noting that clutter can increase stress and reduce life satisfaction.

Colette suggests identifying and cleaning spaces in our homes or workplaces to enhance happiness. Incorporating organization into daily routines can lead to a more peaceful and stress-free life, while promoting the idea of creating beautiful, organized environments for personal and family well-being.

Colette suggests identifying and cleaning spaces in our homes or workplaces to enhance happiness.

00:09 Personal Reflections on Cleanliness
00:34 Research on Cleanliness and Well-being
01:00 Study 1: Princeton University Findings
01:43 Study 2: UCLA's Life At Home In The 21st Century
02:13 Study 3: Clutter and Well-being
03:34 Study 4: Home Environment and Wellbeing
04:12 Practical Tips for a Cleaner Space
05:01 The Psychological Benefits of Clean Spaces

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Connect with Colette:

Instagram: @wellnessbycolette

Website: love-colette.com

Thank you for listening to the Limitless Healing podcast with Colette Brown! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!

In Health,
Colette