Balanced Living Unfiltered

🎙️ Host: Iesha Glover Somatic Wellness Practitioner https://balanceandbirch.com/iesha/ The episode on our podcast explores the concept of mindfulness, challenging the traditional idea that it requires sitting perfectly still in a quiet environment. Instead, the speaker emphasizes that mindfulness is fundamentally about paying attention to the present moment on purpose, with kindness. While traditi...

🎙️ Host: Iesha Glover Somatic Wellness Practitioner https://balanceandbirch.com/iesha/ The latest episode on our podcast explores the intersection between neurodivergence and trauma, emphasizing the importance of understanding both to foster healing and self-compassion. Neurodivergence is an umbrella term for individuals whose brains function, process, or learn differently than what is considered...

🎙️Host: Dr. Krista “Ollie” Hopkins Licensed Psychologist | Consultant | Wellness Coach https://balanceandbirch.com/drhopkins/ ⭐️Featuring: Allie Aschmann Hypnotherapist https://balanceandbirch.com/allie/ In this episode of the grief podcast, Dr. Krista “Ollie” Hopkins, a psychologist, interviews Allie, a hypnotist from her practice to discuss the expansive and complex nature of grief. We define g...

🎙️Host: Dr. Krista “Ollie” Hopkins Licensed Psychologist | Consultant | Wellness Coach https://balanceandbirch.com/drhopkins/ Featuring: ⭐️Dee Williams Director of Operations https://balanceandbirch.com/dee/ ⭐️Gina Vitale Therapeutic Exercise Specialist https://balanceandbirch.com/gina/ ⭐️David Kopp Personal Trainer https://balanceandbirch.com/david/ In this heartfelt and deeply human conversat...

🎙️Host: Dr. Krista “Ollie” Hopkins Licensed Psychologist | Consultant | Wellness Coach https://balanceandbirch.com/drhopkins/ Featuring: ⭐️Dr. Ann Ijeh Naturopathic Doctor https://balanceandbirch.com/drijeh/ Grief is a universal yet deeply personal experience, and no two journeys look the same. In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Dr. Krista Ollie Hopkins, psychologist at Balance & Birch, le...

Host: Dr. Krista “Ollie” Hopkins Licensed Psychologist | Consultant | Wellness Coach https://balanceandbirch.com/drhopkins/ Featuring: Iesha Glover Somatic Wellness Practitioner https://balanceandbirch.com/iesha/ Jennifer Lee Reiki Practitioner https://balanceandbirch.com/jennifer/ Grief is more than the loss of a loved one, it’s a deeply personal and multifaceted experience that touches every asp...

🎙️Host: Dr. Ann Ijeh Naturopathic Doctor https://balanceandbirch.com/drijeh/ ⭐️Featuring: David Kopp Personal Trainer https://balanceandbirch.com/david/ In this month's podcast episode, Dr. Ann Ijeh, a naturopathic doctor and David, a personal trainer from Balance and Birch, discuss navigating spiritual practices, such as hypnosis, reiki, and sound baths, while maintaining their Christian faith....

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of healthcare access alongside an important conversation on fibroids and their impact on women’s health. We discuss how expanded multi-state practice is increasing access to care while also highlighting the challenges, symptoms, and treatment considerations surrounding fibroids. This conversation brings awareness, education, and insight into impro...

In this episode, Jennifer of Zen Gentle-istic, Balance & Birch’s in-house virtual Reiki practitioner, explores self-love, self-worth, and self-compassion—and how these practices support healing, emotional safety, and mental well-being. A grounding conversation on returning to yourself with kindness.

In this heartfelt 2026 kickoff episode of Balanced Living Unfiltered, Dr. Ann Ijeh invites you to release the pressure of “New Year, New You” and embrace something more sustainable: a supported, grounded, and nourished you. Through personal reflections and practical wisdom, this episode explores the concept of softer starts, realistic goals, and small habits that can create lasting change. If you’...

The holidays aren’t always joyful—and that’s okay. In this episode, we talk honestly about the deeper stresses people often carry this time of year: grief, financial strain, loneliness, and the pressure to feel happy when you don’t. We explore why the season can feel heavy and how to validate your emotions without guilt. A gentle reminder to give yourself space, compassion, and permission to feel...

Join a candid, down-to-earth mother as she navigates the real, raw, and rewarding moments of life. From the joys and challenges of motherhood to the ups and downs of dating, managing finances, practicing self-care, and facing life’s unexpected turns, this podcast offers honest conversations and relatable stories. Tune in for encouragement, laughter, and insight as she shares the journey of growing...

Dr. Ann Ijeh explains how nutrigenomics played a role in her recovery. In October 2022, she experienced sharp pains in her pelvic region and was eventually diagnosed with a pelvic abscess. After a week in the hospital and a surgical procedure, she still had lingering issues and consulted another naturopathic doctor who suggested running a nutrigenomics. The results showed several genetic variants...

In this heartfelt episode, Allie—our resident hypnotist and spiritual guide at Balance & Birch—invites you into the sacred practice of forgiveness. But not the kind you’ve been taught to perform for others. This is about inner readiness, self-compassion, and energy healing. Forgiveness, as Allie beautifully shares, is not about forgetting, excusing harm, or spiritual bypassing. It’s about freeing...

In this episode, Dr. Elessar and their husband, Dalton, get real about what it’s like to navigate life—and love—as two autistic adults sharing a home, a relationship, and a whole lot of sensory challenges. What started as a simple episode on understanding autism turned into something much deeper: an intimate, unmasked look at growing up undiagnosed, discovering ADHD and autism in adulthood, and bu...

In this episode, Jenn—our Reiki healer at Balance & Birch—dives deep into how trauma rewires our relationship with self-worth. Whether it's emotional wounds from childhood, toxic dynamics, or unspoken pain your body’s still holding onto, trauma has a way of shrinking our sense of value. Jenn explores how energy healing and somatic awareness can help reconnect you to your worth—not the version shap...

It’s Autism Acceptance Month, so let’s talk it out. In our latest podcast episode, I (Ollie—a therapist at Balance and Birch with AuDHD and chronic illnesses) sit down with my coworker, Iesha, whose son is autistic. We tackle everything from ‘autism moms’ and ABA therapy controversies to labeling autism as a disability. Whether you’re an autistic adult, a parent raising an autistic child, or an al...

Sex should be about pleasure, play, and presence—but let’s be honest, most of us were taught that it’s about performance, pressure, and checking off a damn to-do list. In this episode of Balanced Living Unfiltered, we’re throwing out the goal-oriented, ‘finish line’ version of sex and talking about what actually makes intimacy feel good—without the stress, shame, or pressure to ‘get it right.’ We’...

I know we usually drop one episode a month, but ignoring this moment felt wrong. So here we are—with an unscheduled, unfiltered deep dive into the mental health toll of political unrest and how we can navigate it without completely losing ourselves. Between political chaos, human rights under attack, and the constant stress of just existing, it’s no wonder so many of us are mentally and emotionall...

This cold and flu season has been brutal—and even Dr. Ijeh hasn’t been immune! In this episode, she gets real about how stress has taken a toll on her immune system, making her more vulnerable to illness. She breaks down how stress weakens immunity and shares the naturopathic changes she’s made to recover and build resilience. What You’ll Learn: 🦠 How stress impacts your immune system 🍵 Simple n...

In this quick 7-minute episode, David, our personal trainer, shares his expert perspective on how to combat the winter lows that many of us experience. From staying motivated to making simple, yet impactful adjustments in your fitness routine, David breaks down practical tips to help you power through the season and boost your mood. Tune in for strategies to keep moving and stay energized—no matte...

In this powerful episode, Dee, our office manager, and Dr. Ijeh, our naturopathic doctor, dive deep into women’s health, particularly gynecological issues, from a personal and holistic perspective. Dee shares her own journey and experiences with health struggles, while Dr. Ijeh offers insights on how naturopathic approaches can support individuals navigating these challenges. Whether you’re dealin...

In our second episode of Balanced Living Unfiltered, join Iesha Glover, our neurodivergent and trauma-informed yoga instructor, as she interviews Dr. Ollie Ellesar, our clinical psychologist and advocate for the autistic community. Together, they explore the nuances of living as a neurodivergent individual, focusing on the challenges and triumphs that arise from the intersection of neurodivergence...

Join us for a real, unedited, and unfiltered conversation about burnout—what it is, how it impacts us, and the steps we can take to combat it. In this episode, we’ll dive deep into our personal experiences, share valuable insights, and discuss the importance of self-care in a world that often demands too much. Tune in and get ready for an authentic dialogue that aims to resonate with anyone feelin...