In this special Thanksgiving bonus episode, Michelle Visser is joined by Drew Dyck, author of the brand-new book Just Show Up.

Grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/3G7ISml

We chat about the importance of being present in small but meaningful ways. This episode will remind you to be thankful for those who showed up for you in life while encouraging you with practical ways you can do the same.

Dyck shares how busy modern life often prevents us from truly showing up for the people and commitments most important to us. He also discusses the concept of "playing a role" even when your heart's not fully in it, because people need you to show up.

Visser and Dyck talk about looking back on gaps and mistakes in your life in order to determine how to move forward and fill those gaps for others. Dyck notes that finding your purpose often comes from starting small steps, not waiting for a big sign.

You'll also be encouraged to let some commitments slide, so you can be fully present where you need to be.

Overall, the episode will encourage you to just show up this Thanksgiving, and trust that life's meaning is found through small acts of faithfulness, not grand achievements.

We even share fun tips for making the most of Thanksgiving dinner.

Sponsor for this episode:

Please check out this amazing family-run food supplier who has been working to change the broken food system in the U.S. by putting more power into the hands of the consumer:

Find out more about Azure, an independent food supply chain that is fixing a broken food system and providing high-quality food and other products to families across the United States, here: SoulyRested.com/azure

Use code soulyrested10 for 10% off your first order of $50 or more, delivered to a drop near you. Go here to find your nearest drop location: https://www.azurestandard.com/drop-point-locator/?a_aid=bd9edf28fd

Watch this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/JVgNUZbk6Fk

More about Drew Dyck:

Drew Dyck is an editor at Moody Publishers and the

former managing editor of Leadership Journal. He is

the author of several books, including Your Future Self

Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible

and Brain Science (Moody, 2019). Drew’s work has been

featured in Christianity Today, Relevant, and CNN.com.

Connect with Drew:

DrewDyck.com

Twitter @DrewDyck

Sugar is foundational to life and provides energy, but refined/processed sugars can damage our health.

In this episode, I'm talking with David Stelzer, founder and CEO of Azure Standard about why Azure does not carry conventional refined white sugar (it's insane really).

And I'm picking David's brain about every detail of all the sweetener options that I might choose .

David dives into why conventional sugar production utilizes damaging practices like glyphosate spraying, artificial fertilizers, and burning leaves.

We talk about how Azure Standard aims to maintain a higher standard and not compromise on questionable ingredients. -

David explains why it's best to transition your family's diet through a progression, not radical changes. And he describes how Azure carries products to help folks transition from standard American diet to healthier options. 

Detailed show notes for this episode: https://soulyrested.com/2023/11/13/the-best-sugar-to-use-and-what-sugar-to-avoid-with-david-stelzer-of-azure/

Sponsors for this episode:

Please check out this amazing family-run food supplier who has been working to change the broken food system in the U.S. by putting more power into the hands of the consumer:

Find out more about Azure, an independent food supply chain that is fixing a broken food system and providing high-quality food and other products to families across the United States, here: SoulyRested.com/azure

Use code soulyrested10 for 10% off your first order of $50 or more, delivered to a drop near you. Go here to find your nearest drop location.

Related Links mentioned in podcast:

Using maple syrup in place of sugar: How to bake with maple syrup https://soulyrested.com/2019/03/26/the-best-substitute-for-sugar-in-baking/

Drinks well sweetened: 5 healthy drinks you should be drinking https://soulyrested.com/2023/03/05/top-5-healthy-drinks-you-should-be-drinking-s4-e11/

The best hot chocolate: Healthy Instant Hot Chocolate Mix https://soulyrested.com/2022/10/04/healthy-hot-chocolate-mix/

Free, downloadable Pantry Checklist https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/4e5b01de-a4a4-4354-99d2-5c986e43a5b0

Doug Evans, author of the best selling book, The Sprout Book, joins us today to explain how all of us can grow more of our own food, the easiest way possible. how he first got into sprouts out of necessity, but discovered he could grow trays of sprouts that provided all the nutrition he needed.

We discuss how sprouts pack a huge nutritional punch, with boosted levels of antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber.

Doug explains how the sprouting process unlocks natural plant defense chemicals that become medicinal for humans.

Doug breaks down the difference between sprouts and microgreens, and we explain the best techniques for growing sprouts at home.

Doug shares his favorite sprout varieties and how he incorporates them into his diet, including using chickpea sprouts in place of popcorn!

Michelle offers 15 creative ways listeners can eat more sprouts, from adding them to eggs and baked goods to using them as salad toppings and garnishes. She also covers the 5 basic rules for growing healthy sprouts. If you want to unlock the health secrets of this often overlooked superfood, listen in to this episode.

Detailed show notes for this episode: https://soulyrested.com/2023/11/06/how-to-grow-sprouts-with-doug-evans/

Sponsors for this episode:

Please check out these two amazing family-run companies who have invested into the podcast and who are small businesses I truly believe in:

Find out more about an amazing source for sprouting tools and seeds (especially unique blends!), True Leaf Market, here: SoulyRested.com/seeds

Find out more about Azure Standard, an independent food supply chain that is fixing a broken systems and providing high-quality food and other products to families across the United States, here: SoulyRested.com/azure

Use code soulyrested10 for 10% off your first order of $50 or more, delivered to a drop near you. Go here to find your nearest drop location.

Related Links mentioned in podcast:

Dive into my FREE ecourse about sprouts right here: soulyrested.com/sprouts

Listen in to my talk with the wholistic nutritionist who recommended our diet should be 50% veggies: Season 5, Episode 8 (or go here: https://soulyrested.com/2023/05/30/the-most-important-thing-for-being-healthy-with-dr-jaime-schehr-s5-e8/)

How and why to grow sprouts: https://soulyrested.com/2023/11/06/how-to-grow-sprouts-with-doug-evans/

Find Doug Evans:

Sprout Whiz on TikTok

Doug Evans on instagram

Sign up for Doug's newsletter: thesproutbook.com

Dive into his new sprouting course: OneCommune.com/sprouts

And grab Doug's best-selling book: The Sprout Book

Join in on the Ultimate Conversation About Salt, as I chat with the renowned salt expert, Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond Salt.

Listen in to find out:

• What salt has in common with maple syrup. (It's not what you might think.)
• Why the Dead Sea in Israel can't be used as food salt. (Turns out it's not sodium chloride, but mostly magnesium chloride.)
• Why it's important to understand that refined table salt removes all the potassium that naturally occurs in salt. (Spoiler alert: our bodies requires potassium to process sodium. So it's a no brainer that we should want a real salt that comes with potassium, yes? Find out what salts do & what salts don't.)

In this episode you'll get the answers to all these questions about salt (& more):

Should we eat less salt?

What are the different types of salt?

How is salt mined?

Is salt hygroscopic?

Why does a salt lamp leak water?

What does "when it rains it pours" mean?

Is sea salt always good?

Why is it important to know your salt?

Are salt substitutes safe?

How much salt should you have a day?

What is the best thing to stop sugar cravings?

Is salt a natural source of iodine?

Why is iodine added to salt?

How much iodine is in iodized salt?

How can you prevent iodine deficiency?

Can I make an iodized natural salt myself?

Recipe for all-natural, homemade iodized salt

Can I make a homemade electrolyte drink?

Recipe for DIY Electrolyte Drink

What are some of the many sizes of salt crystals you can purchase?

What is the best way to store salt in bulk?

What are some good books about salt?

What are the 4 coarsenesses of salt I use & why

What are the answers to the 3 salt questions when I analyze my favorite salt?

My favorite salt to buy in bulk (use code SOULYRESTED to save even more): https://glnk.io/oq72y/soulyrested4

My 3 Favorite Salt Products I think you'll love: https://soulyrested.com/salt/

Watch this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/QeG6P3fKlHY

Read this episode, with links and more details here:

 https://soulyrested.com/2023/10/30/the-ultimate-gui…-real-salt-s7-e1/

In this week's episode of the Simple Doesn't Mean Easy podcast, host Michelle Visser dives into the topic of being an empty nester. She shares her unique experience of having an empty nest at different points over the years as her daughters temporarily moved out and back in, rather than all leaving at once.

Michelle explains that while she and her husband didn't do regular "date nights" when the kids were young, they made sure to spend meaningful one-on-one time with each family member, including each other, even if it wasn't alone time or a true "date."

She advises parents to start reconnecting more with your spouse as the kids become teenagers, while the kids are still at home and suggests some ways to do that.

Now that she's experiencing a true empty nest, Michelle loves having more time for fostering new friendships, personal hobbies, and even running her podcast. However, she notes you do have to be intentional about making time for these things.

Her best advice? It rings true for every season of life, not just the empty nest phase... Work hard at maintaining a positive attitude, focused on what's good - reflecting on what's true, noble, right, pure, lovely and praiseworthy even in the hard and difficult days.

Ultimately, Michelle didn't do anything specifically to prepare for empty nest life, but yet feels her overall choices as the kids were growing up, in the end, helped her usher in this new stage graciously.

She encourages listeners to enjoy the season you're in, invest in your family, and you'll naturally invest in your spouse too, which will, in the end, prepare you for the Empty Nest.

Menopause... There's so much no one ever told me about this stage of life.

In this week's episode of the Simple Doesn't Mean Easy podcast, host Michelle Visser opens up about her personal experience with menopause. She shares the symptoms and challenges she has faced over the years, which encompasses a lot more than hot flashes.

From weight gain, to dry mouth, brain fog, irritability, tooth decay, and other things you have probably never associated with menopause, Michelle offers practical solutions she has found to personally help her in each area.

Some might not come with surprise, like drinking plenty of water, eating real food, and exercising consistently. But other solutions might surprise you, from consuming adaptogens like ashwagandha and maca powder, to enjoying a specific tea blend and a specific healthy hot chocolate mix (links below).

She also emphasizes the importance of managing stress levels and getting enough sleep. Michelle aims to provide helpful information and reassurance that you are not alone or "crazy" if you are going through some of these symptoms from menopause that most folks simply don't tell you.

Sponsored by: True Leaf Market... go here for my favorites from True Leaf: https://soulyrested.com/seeds/

The healthy tea that tastes like coffee: https://soulyrested.com/2022/02/25/homemade-healthy-tea-that-tastes-like-coffee/

Healthy hot chocolate mix (recipe)--> https://soulyrested.com/2022/10/04/healthy-hot-chocolate-mix/

Grab my 8-page Pantry Checklist (& so many discount codes!) right here--> https://soulyrested.com/pantry/

Grab all my free info and recipes for making kombucha: https://soulyrested.com/drinkkombucha/

The tooth powder I'm on love with (save $$ w code SOULYRESTED): https://livingwellwithdrmichelle.com/product/remineralizing-tooth-powder/?sld=soulyrested

All of my resources on lard: https://soulyrested.com/category/lard/

DIY mint extract: https://soulyrested.com/2023/10/12/diy-mint-extract-how-to-use-it/

What did past generations know that modern society has forgotten?

Our grandparents had the satisfaction of making do with what they had (even when it was nothing fancy) versus our modern idea of a new $1,000 phone every year and replacement appliances every few years.

Follow the story of a boy named Thurman, who went to a 1-room schoolhouse & had to quit school in 9th grade to make sure his family could eat and worked multiple blue collar jobs to make sure his kids had a better life.

And Dorothy, a grandmom who lived to be 98 and was still active, fearless, and connected to her large family right up until the end.

What shaped Thurman and Dorothy's character? What could they teach us about being content yet working hard and fearlessly toward our goals?

This Episode Sponsored by:

True Leaf Market has the best food storage system I’ve ever used. It’s a game changer, and for a very limited time you can save $10 off of a $50 purchase (and bonus: free shipping if you’re spending $75). Just use code SR10.

True Leaf has a lot of items I rely on often. Go here for the full list... https://soulyrested.com/seeds/

More to encourage you:

Recovering from Hardship on the Homestead: https://soulyrested.com/2019/03/13/the-many-challenges-of-homesteading/

3 Resources that comfort when life is tough: https://soulyrested.com/2017/02/07/then-sings-my-soul/

4 stages of grief: https://soulyrested.com/2017/01/25/6185/

What my parents taught me about Broken Heart Syndrome: https://soulyrested.com/2017/01/10/what-my-parents-taught-me-about-broken-heart-syndrome/

In this episode, we're diving into another difficult topic.

This episode of the Simple Doesn't Mean Easy podcast focuses on Doing Things Scared... if we should, what it looks like, and some genuine results that I've seen along the way in my effort to make myself do things scared.

I share stories from my own life about starting projects like gardening, raising chickens, making maple syrup, and more, even when I didn't feel fully prepared or knowledgeable.

I want to encourage you to not over-prepare or overthink things, but to just dive in and learn as you go, even if it means making some mistakes along the way.

Will taking small steps and gradually gaining experience along the way eventually lead to achieving your dreams? Let's chat about this and more in this episode.

Oh, and I start and end with two very different stories. Make sure you catch the final story at the end. It's one I will never forget and I think it will help drive home this idea for you of doing it scared...

This Episode Sponsored by:

True Leaf Market has the best fermenting kit I've ever used. It's a game changer, and for a very limited time you can save $10 off of a $50 purchase (and bonus: free shipping if you're spending $75).  Just use code SR10.

True Leaf has a lot of items I rely on often. Go here for the full list... https://soulyrested.com/seeds/

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

What this life-long gardener learned--Is soil testing important for your garden?: https://soulyrested.com/2022/06/30/is-soil-testing-important-for-your-garden/

How to train dogs with free-ranging chickens: https://soulyrested.com/2015/06/01/training-your-dog-to-be-chicken-friendly/

Maple Syrup & how to save money if you tap trees: https://soulyrested.com/2019/01/08/build-your-own-reverse-osmosis-system-for-maple-syrup/

Beekeeping: https://soulyrested.com/category/beekeeping/ 

All about ducks: https://soulyrested.com/category/ducks/ 

Barn cats & what you HAVE to know: https://soulyrested.com/2020/05/02/raising-barn-kittens-5-things-you-need-to-know/

Cows & how to sex a calf: https://soulyrested.com/2017/08/04/finally-arrived-name-music-ears/

All my pork recipes that I share on the blog: https://soulyrested.com/category/cooking-your-way-through-the-pig/

Other Articles & Resources You Might Enjoy:

8 (MORE) things you can make better yourself (podcast S4, E10)

My 8-page Pantry Checklist(free download): https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62489d4a0d4a1c1ac93e38d2

[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Eph. 3:20

This summer was a very hard one for our family, from garden failures, to puppy trauma, to saying goodbye to two people who were very dear to us.

Other updates? I share an honest update on the new non-toxic cleaners we’ve been using & which work the best (recipes were all shared in S5 E19). And I give my thoughts on the natural face serum and protein powder I’ve been using this year.

Going through a difficult season makes us more aware of the little moments of joy that we might otherwise miss, so we really need to focus on the simple joys every day. It makes every day sweeter.

If we value the right thing–and build our “economy” around what really matters–we are joy-filled and blessed regardless of our circumstances.

Listen into the conversation as we dive into all of this and more.

Episode sponsored by: True Leaf Market. Go to SoulyRested.com/seeds for all my favorite items I stock up on from True Leaf regularly, with an awesome, limited-time discount code for my listeners.

When Life is Hard

• When you adopt two puppies who don’t get along.
• How an abundantly rainy New England summer destroyed gardens.
• When we have to say goodbye to beloved family members.
• Thoughts on non-toxic homemade cleaners (mentioned in S5 E19)
• Homemade goat milk soap
• Homemade dishwasher detergent
• Natural face serum
• Protein powder
• Going through a difficult season & learning to appreciate little moments of joy
• How to build an “economy” around what really matters

Other Articles & Resources You Might Enjoy:

Promises to Remember when a Loved One is Sick (article)

3 Resources that Comfort when Life is Tough (article)

Facing Chronic Illness, with Amber Benge (podcast)

Tips for Improving Your Health, at any age (podcast)

My 7-page Pantry Checklist, including supplies for DIY cleaners (free download)

I never knew how important gut health was until the life-changing event I describe in this episode. The great news is, a few diet changes can lead to amazing improvement in overall gut health.

We dive into 4 of those changes in today's episode, focusing especially on fermented foods.

I debunk the common misconceptions around fermented foods and encourage you with just how easy, and delicious, ferments can be.

In this episode:

• The life-changing event that made me start thinking about gut health
• The important role of the good gut bacteria in our microbiomes
• The connection between gut health and dopamine and serotonin
• Many studies show a disrupted microbiome affects our immune response, causes weight gain, and paves the way for all sorts of pathogens
• Why the fiber in our fruit and veggies is so important
• What it means for us that polyphenols aren't always digestible
• What are true "whole grains" and why are they good for us
• Fermented foods and probiotics
• The best salt to use when fermenting and why it's important
• Why you should taste your ferments daily
• Storage options for fermented foods
• Kahm yeast... if it's good and what to do with it
• Ways to use fermented food

For a limited time, save on my favorite fermenting kit! Use code SR10 for $10 off of $50 purchase: https://www.pjtra.com/t/TUJGRklGSkJGTElKSExCRkpIRk1K?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trueleafmarket.com%2Fproducts%2Fstainless-steel-fermenting

Today we're chatting about my latest frontier when it comes to simplifying our family's life: Working Towards a Non-Toxic Home.

It can be deeply overwhelming, so today I'm sharing some practical ideas for you to choose from.

We can never rid our home of every chemical, but we can feel really good about taking small steps towards making a big difference.

Today I'll explain how I manage to buy very little liquid hand soap, dryer sheets, dishwasher soap, liquid dish washing soap, all-purpose cleaner, and paraffin candles.

And I share each recipe.

To download my complete Pantry Checklist (which has been updated to include every DIY cleaner ingredient mentioned in this episode as well as many new coupon codes): https://soulyrested.com/pantry/

Creating a Non-Toxic Home

In this episode:

• The EPA’s take on chemicals in household cleaners that are “relatively safe if used as intended” 
• What a surfactant is, why they’re in conventional cleaning products, and how to avoid them
• What VOCs are and how they affect indoor air quality
• Some VOCs that are out of my control & tips for how to deal best with those
• How there is no federal health-based standard for VOCs
• What “artificial fragrance” really means on an ingredient list (& how it can refer to more than 3000 undisclosed chemicals!)
• How artificial fragrances can worsen allergies, inflame sinuses, and lead to more colds and respiratory infection
• The term “artificial fragrance” can and company doesn’t have to disclose what chemicals they’re using.
• Additional benefits to homemade cleaners
• Benefits of air-drying clothes
• What essential oils I use for all my non-toxic DIY cleaners & why (bonus: no MLM involved!)
• 5 recipes for my favorite DIY cleaners

About our Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Redmond Real Salt.

Go to SoulyRested.com/salt for my favorites and links. And use code SOULYRESTED to save 15%! Enjoy FREE shipping on all orders of $30 or more.

I was tempted to buy cheap salt just for cleaners but then I realized minerals, particularly trace minerals, are very involved in the various protective properties of your skin. Trace minerals have been shown to be essential in fighting the damages of excessive sun exposure, wrinkles, and maintaining the moisture in your skin.

Minerals are tiny molecules that easily penetrate the skin, so topical application of minerals is a thing.

Why not add some trace minerals via my cleaners?

Redmond Salt: https://glnk.io/oq72y/soulyrested

Today we're digging into the truth about 3 ingredients you make need to rethink, with the Chief Experience Officer of Azure Standard.

In this episode:

• The unique model of Azure Standard, as a grocery distributor, organic farm, and more.
• Do you need to buy organic maple syrup? (You may be surprised.)
• Does it matter if your refined cane sugar is "organic"?
• What sugar might be the best one to have regularly in your diet?
• Why cane sugar is treated with desiccants and glyphosates & how that impacts our health
• How insecticides are ingrained into a plant's DNA
• Why I choose avocado oil, daily
• A great reason to use grapeseed oil
• The lax food standards on avocado oil
• How to choose refined vs. cold pressed avocado oil
• Why it's extra helpful that avocados are resistant to oxidation
• Where to store avocado oil
• Why we should go organic when it comes to chocolate
• The difference between cacao nibs, carob chips, and organic chocolate chips
• What chocolate is inflammatory, adding to inflammation
• Chocolate inhibits absorption of calcium
• Why carob is the best choice for someone with an autoimmune disorder
• Why carob is the best choice for someone in menopause
• Why carob is a great choice when trying to loose weight and have a healthy gut
• What carob is (35:00)
• The one source in the U.S. for organic pure carob (without cocoa butter)
• Encouragement and tips for folks who are starting to eat healthier

Find out if Azure Standard delivers near you: https://www.azurestandard.com/drop-point-locator/?a_aid=bd9edf28fd

This episode's sponsor:

Redmond Real Salt. Use code SOULYRESTED to save 15% off your entire order! See my top 3 favorites here: https://soulyrested.com/salt/

Are you ready to ditch the hurry? Embrace the slow? And enjoy your child(ren)? Listen in as we analyze these very things.

In this episode with Sarah Roof, of Simplyy_Sarah_, we dig deep into the importance of connecting deeply with each child, often. And, referencing multiple studies, Sarah points out, throughout this episode, why daily connections points between a parent and a child improves everyone's healthy. 

In this episode:

* Research suggests that stress levels can significantly impact our physical and mental health

* How does intentionally slowing down and engaging in meaningful activities with our kids help reduce stress and improve our overall health as mothers/parents?

* Millennial moms are more likely to experience anxiety, depression & stress than any other generation of moms

* Do moms rarely or never take time for their own health?

* The best ways for a mom to take care of herself

* Is "self care" what our peers and society tell us it is?

* Parents who are devoted to regular family time report lower stress and higher levels of happiness

* Great ways for a family to loose track of a few hours and just spend time together

* Why intentional connection time with our kids improves mom's health, as well as the children's.

* The many benefits of sitting down at dinner together as a family

* Practical strategies to carve out time for slow and intentional time with kids

* What "connection points" are with our children and how to create them

* Fighting societal pressures to constantly be busy and achieve more

* How society’s demand for productivity leads to LESS

* How embracing a slower pace of life and prioritizing quality time with our kids help us redefine our definition of success and well-being

* What age is too old for a child to have "connection points" with mom in a day?

Amazing ways that quality time with our kids improves a parent's health

Planning a special dinner night once a week

* The rhythm of theme nights planned regularly

* How immersing ourselves in a moment offers the sweet spot of happy hormones and less stress

How spending 20-30 minutes in nature results in a deep drop in cortisol levels

More about Sarah Roof, today's guest:

Sarah is a wife and mama who is on a journey to ditch the hurry and embrace a slower-paced life. Married to her (homeschool) highschool sweetheart, she and their little family live on a small piece of land about 50 miles east of Kansas City. Through her popular Instagram account, Simplyy Sarah, she encourages other mamas to reclaim motherhood from busy culture’s narrative, find beauty and purpose in the midst of the mundane, and to savor the slow and simple life.

Follow Sarah Roof: 

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

Sarah's store, where you can sign up for the monthly newsletter: https://stan.store/SimplyySarah

Research articles Sarah mentioned: 

https://www.mother.ly/news/2023-state-of-motherhood-survey/

https://www.today.com/parents/today-survey-pandemic-parenting-finds-moms-are-burnt-out-t217123

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8263013/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/a-20-minute-nature-break-relieves-stress

Redmond Salt, Today's Sponsor:

Redmond Real Salt... because salt should be simple.

It shouldn’t contain artificial additives or unhealthy pollutants.

So look where your salt comes from. I have only used Redmond salt for many years, and I know exactly where it comes from… a mine in Utah, created by an ancient sea bed.

Zero chance of pollution which is exactly the way I love my salt, thank you.

Use code SOULYRESTED for 15% off—grab the 25-lb bag cause it never goes bad and it never has pollutants and it’s loaded with more than 60+ trace minerals. Plus, shipping is FREE if you're spending over $30. Can't beat that!

Ever wondered how to switch up your medicine cabinet, in simple ways, to make it more naturally healthy? Ever wanted to talk to a pediatric nurse who was more interested in natural ways to help your child's heath than telling you the solution is simply to buy more pharmaceuticals?

In this episode with Elizabeth Parsons, of purelyparsons, we dive into all this and lots more.

5 Things You Need in Your Natural Health Medicine Cabinet (S5 E16)

In this episode:

• The slow process that led a pediatric nurse of almost a decade to leave the medical industry and embrace a more holistic, natural view of her family's health
• why should we even care about using natural health remedies?
• What are some medicine cabinet essentials, that everyone should have?
• Tips to be more successful in treating ailments naturally
• Treating respiratory issues and coughs naturally
• Treating fevers naturally

Essentials mentioned in this episode for a natural health medicine cabinet:

• calendula salve (code SOULYRESTED saves 10%) https://fhteas.ositracker.com/112884/8732/url_28474
• coconut oil https://amzn.to/3q6nvgZ
• apple cider vinegar https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/food/condiments/vinegar/apple-cider/pure/vinegar-raw-apple-cider-organic/11564?package=CO129&a_aid=bd9edf28fd
• essential oils (code SOULYRESTED saves 20%) https://bit.ly/2STeuH9
• bentonite clay (code SOULYRESTED saves 15%) https://glnk.io/oq72y/soulyrested

Tips for Better Sleep-podcast episode with renowned sleep scientist

https://soulyrested.com/2023/07/17/tips-for-better-sleep/

Find full episode notes and information here: https://soulyrested.com/2023/07/31/5-things-you-need-in-your-natural-health-medicine-cabinet-s5-e16/

Follow Guest, Elizabeth Parsons:

• on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purelyparsons/

• Elizabeth's blog & shop: https://www.purelyparsons.com/

This episode is chocked full of so much great advice from Dr. Aric Prather, a world-renowned sleep scientist and author of The Sleep Prescription: Seven Days to Unlocking Your Best Rest

You may be surprised at how many traditional sleep "solutions" Dr. Prather debunks or suggests you look at a whole new way, while giving very doable, commonsense suggestions to help you get your best sleep ever.

• You're not going to find deep scientific concepts in this episode, but doable, wondrous bite-size tips that may unlock perfect, restful sleep
• How our society's view on busyness and productiveness is hurting our sleep
• How research shows we are the better version of ourself if we get restful, regenerative sleep
• Health problems that are shown to result from inadequate sleep
• Added sleep difficulties for menopausal women
• How depression and insomnia are interlinked
• The most common stimulant used by people around the world and why it's a big challenge
• The half-life of caffeine as a stimulant and how long it is in your body, impacting your sleep
• Is there a hereditary variability to how well we metabolize caffeine?
• How hyper-vigilance impacts our sleep
• Debunking melatonin as a silver bullet for sleep (how clinical trials rank it similar to a placebo)
• Debunking blue light glasses as a silver bullet for sleep
• Why it's more important to consider the content we're consuming than worry about the blue light
• How our body craves predicability and how regulation helps the brain make its best choices
• #1 tip for improving our homeostatic sleep drive & why it matters
• The worst thing to tell someone who has trouble sleeping
• Can naps help us sleep better?
• Ideal length for a nap
• Is there a way to avoid waking up at night?
• Is it detrimental to use the snooze button in the morning? How to know.
• Magnesium and sleep
• What to do about a snoring spouse

This Episode Sponsored by:

Redmond Real Salt Use code SWEETSALT for 15% off everything!

See Michelle’s top picks & more: Soulyrested.com/salt

Buy the book:

on Amazon: The Sleep Prescription

to support local small bookstores: The Sleep Prescription

The Effects of Joy on Our Health

In this episode:

• How being joyful requires practice, not unlike learning to play an instrument
• An example of training the brain to have positive thoughts in place of negative thoughts
• How your brain needs fuel and if joy isn't the fuel, fear will be
• What fear mapping is, and when and how it happens in your brain
• How can we be equipped to "stay ourselves" even when things get hard?
• Studies about how children react to their environment when their brain is fear mapped
• What happens to cortisol levels and brain growth after just 6 minutes of negative thoughts
• How high-energy joy and low-energy rest are two sides of the same coin and both are necessary
• Why at only 2-3 months of age infants can amplify joy
• Why 9-month-old infants can build joy for 8 hours every day
• How lack of joy leads to harmful addictions
• The ages of joy-peaks of growth throughout a lifetime, when we are most receptive to joy and it impacts us the deepest
• Why the teenage brain is hard to quiet down and why praise and relationship is so important during teen years
• The 4 Habits of a Joy-Filled Life
• How these simple habits can alleviate panic attacks
• How to recalibrate your nervous system so it runs on joy, in only minutes a day

This Episode Sponsored by:

Redmond Real Salt Use code SWEETSALT for 15% off everything!

See Michelle's top picks & more: Soulyrested.com/salt

More Information:

https://soulyrested.com/2023/07/10/the-effects-of-joy-on-our-health/

About the author, Chris Coursey:

CHRIS COURSEY, co author of the 4 habits of joy-filled people is an ordained minister, pastoral counselor, published author, and international speaker. He and his wife, Jen, lead and design the THRIVE Training Program that uses brain-based exercises to train leaders, families, and communities in the 19 relational skills and the Immanuel Lifestyle. Chris is passionate about helping people acquire the skills to make relationships work. 

Find the author:

Free Resources: https://4habits.org/

Thrive today: https://thrivetoday.org/

Find the publisher:

on Instagram: https://instagram.com/moodypublishers

website: https://www.moodypublishers.com/ 

Other Articles & Resources You Might Enjoy:

Surprising Ways to Relieve Stress (podcast)

Having a Positive Attitude

Fight your feelings of inadequacy with these 7 little adjectives

In this episode:

• A different way to look at "farm to table"
• Where to start when analyzing your garden soil
• How to start with the outliers when analyzing your soil (regardless if it's macronutrient or micronutrient or ph)
• How Agronomy--large agriculture farming--analyzes a soil test
• How the example of vitamins added to a poor diet correlates to soil supplements added to unhealthy/dead soil
• How this soil test doesn't record minerals in soil that are tied up, only ones that are available to plants
• Signs of healthy, alive soil
• Signs of unhealthy soil
• Why manure, humates, compost, sea minerals, and volcanic minerals are the best additions to most gardens
• Why a book may not be your best resource when trying to learn about improving your soil
• Helpful, hands-on resources to learn more about soil health
• Tested results of using chicken manure as a soil amendment
• The most convenient animal poo to use as soil amendment
• The "More-On" principle
• The importance of balance in your garden soil
• How big should your garden be before you do a soil test?
• Best plan for testing the soil in raised beds
• Does healthy soil produce more nutrient-rich food?
• Is homegrown food genuinely superior to large-scale farming food?
• The value of bentonite clay to garden soil
• What Cation Exchange Capacity is and why every gardener should know about it
• Why & how salt and clay add different value to your garden soil
• What humates are and how they improve cation exchange capacity
• Where (and WHY) to get salt for you, your garden, and your livestock.

Resources: 

Soil Test Kit Karson & I were geeking out over: https://bit.ly/3Nx2PXf

BRAND NEW soil amendment Karson mentioned (use code SOULYRESTED): stay tuned... available soon right here.)

The bulk size bag of salt I love (use code SOULYRESTED for 15% off anytime): https://bit.ly/3XCHJeo

Follow Guest:

on Instagram: https://instagram.com/redmondagriculture

on YouTube: Redmond Agriculture https://www.youtube.com/@redmondagriculture2794

website: https://redmondagriculture.com/ 

This Episode is Brought to you by:

Redmond Salt is unrefined salt with over 60 trace minerals. It's the only salt I've used for many years. Check out my all-time favorite Redmond items and grab a SWEET discount here: https://soulyrested.com/salt/

Other Articles & Resources You Might Enjoy:

Growing Seedlings for Profit (article)

My 7-page Pantry Checklist (free download)

My Poor Soil Results & What I Did About it (article)

Why take elderberry syrup?

Find Today's Guests:

Their site: abbyselderberry.com

Use code SOULYRESTED to save 15% off EVERYTHING at AbbysElderberry.com

Why Take Elderberry Syrup?

In this episode:

• Medicinal benefits of taking elderberry syrup
• Why elderberries? How does their antioxidant, vitamin, and nutrient count compare to other fruits?
• Warnings if you are foraging elderberries and considering using them raw
• The difference in American and European elderberry shrubs
• Greek and Roman, European, and Native American historical uses of elderberries
• 3 parts of the elderberry shrub you can use medicinally
• Intriguing way to use the main stalk of the elderberry shrub
• Details about elderberries to help you locate them where you live, for foraging
• Cultivated elderberry shrubs, compared to wild bushes
• The easiest way to make a quart of organic elderberry syrup
• What to look for in all other elderberry syrup

Also in this episode:

Business building tips from successful, family-owned small business success.

More show notes and information: https://soulyrested.com/2023/06/26/why-take-elderberry-syrup/

Find photos of the elderberry bush, flowers, and berries here: https://soulyrested.com/2023/06/25/can-i-add-elderberry-syrup-to-kombucha/

Michelle's recipe for elderberry syrup: https://soulyrested.com/2021/06/14/does-elderberry-syrup-boost-your-immune-system/

Today Chris Martin, content marketing editor at Moody Publishers, is joining us. Chris is the author of Terms of Service: the Real Cost of Social Media & The Wolf in Their Pockets. Chris has been studying and writing about social media for over half a decade and you're going to enjoy his practical, encouraging insights.

In this episode

• Does Social Media actually impact our health?
• The average person is using social media for 2 1/2 hours every day and multiple studies have linked social media use to depression, anxiety, loneliness and suicide.
• Social Media use leads to feelings of inadequacy, self-absorption, distraction, sleep disruption, and keeps us from developing real-life relationships.
• So whether we want to admit it or not, our social media usage DOES impact our health.
• 95% of young people use social media and devoting a huge amount of time to it
• How studies have shown that teens face double the risk of mental health issues because of social media use and habits
• 3 ways to look at social media (and why 2 are wrong)
• The connection between TV of the 60s and today’s social media platforms
• How entertainment went from a 1-way street to a 2-way one
• Why social media is not simply a teenager problem
• The most common thing kids want to be today when they grow up
• Practical suggestions to limit the impacts of social media

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Wolf in Their Pockets

Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media 

Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman

Techwise Family, by Andy Crouch

To snag Michelle's Master Class on DIY kombucha at less than HALF PRICE

Ways to spend less time on social media:

1. Show yourself that the unpredictable (therefore addicting) results of social media are pretty predictable on your mood: For 1 week, 1x a day write down how you feel (from 1 to 10) before scrolling social media and again after.
2. Plan a real-life gathering with friends. 
3. Make time to get outside.
4. Make exercise a "have to" and put it on the calendar.
5. Find a place you'd love to volunteer a few hours a week.
6. Spend time, face to face, with one friend every week.

Follow Today's Guest on twitter: @chrismartin17

For more information: https://soulyrested.com/2023/06/19/social-medias-impact-on-our-health-with-chris-martin-s5-e11/

In this episode:

How Amber’s battle with chronic illness started when she was only 5 years old.

Lyme’s–an imitator disease

The Doctor Shuffle

What it means that the Lyme’s bacteria is shaped like a corkscrew

Description of bioenergetics and how it helped Amber finally diagnose her Lyme’s disease

The cumulative effect of chronic illness on your body

Making choices today that will help you feel better tomorrow

Herbalism vs. Homeopathy

Modern vs. Natural health solutions Seeing food as a part of healing

Why homeopathy recommends fermented food and drinks

The Herxheimer effect and what you should know about it

Remission via bioenergetics

Why you MUST advocate for yourself, even when treating chronic pain naturally

Tips for advocating for yourself with the medical experts you work with

Resources mentioned in this episode:

For tick testing and more information about Lymes: https://www.lymedisease.org/

To snag Michelle’s Master Class on DIY kombucha at less than HALF PRICE: https://soulyrested.com/kombucha/

For the best Soil Test Kit, (at a sweet discount with code SOULYRESTED): https://bit.ly/3MAslZI

Follow Guest:

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracewalkfarm/

on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gracewalkfarm

Amber’s blog:https://gracewalkfarm.org/