The FEEL Podcast: Women’s Empowerment, Emotional Wellness and Self-Leadership with Melissa Crook

🎧 Clear Expectations: Leading With Equity, Mentorship & Self-Worth with Chotsani Williams West In this empowering episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook is joined by Chotsani Williams West , a powerful voice in education, equity, and mentorship. As the Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Adelphi University and an Adjunct Professor, Chotsani...

🎧 Living Well With Bipolar: Shattering Stigma & Embracing Healing with Paris Prynkiewicz In this raw, powerful, and deeply empowering episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook welcomes Paris Prynkiewicz —Bipolar Wellness Coach, podcast host of Live Well Bipolar , professional NAMI speaker, and bestselling author of Crooked Illness: Lessons From Inside & Outside Hospital Walls ....

🎧 Celebrate Yourself: Healing Childhood Trauma & Reclaiming Your Power with Valerie from Inner Solace Therapy In this deeply affirming episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook sits down with Valerie , founder and lead therapist at Inner Solace Therapy , to explore what it means to truly celebrate yourself through healing, self-awareness, and radical self-compassion. A licensed clin...

🎧 Reinventing Yourself: Healing Emotional & Physical Health with Teresa Vesneske In this incredibly inspiring episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook welcomes Teresa Vesneske , a middle school science teacher, mother of three, and living proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story—mentally, emotionally, and physically. After devoting 25 years to raising her daughters, Ter...

🎧 Period Empowerment & Sustainable Care: How SAALT Is Changing Menstrual Health with Taylor Christenson In this powerful and educational episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook reconnects with Taylor Christenson —representing the game-changing period care brand, SAALT —for a bold conversation about period empowerment, sustainability, and supporting women’s health around the globe....

🎧 Embracing Discomfort: How Courage, Self-Leadership & Inner Peace Are Built with Meghan Locklair What if discomfort wasn’t something to avoid—but a path toward personal peace, clarity, and leadership? In this transformative episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook is joined by Meghan Locklair , a visionary leader who helps individuals and teams grow by learning to lead themselves...

🎧 Becoming My Own Soulmate: A Journey to Self-Love, Inner Truth & Heart-Centered Living with Danielle Parks In this deeply reflective and emotionally rich episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook welcomes Danielle Parks , a psychotherapist whose personal and professional life centers around one powerful mission: helping others come home to themselves. Danielle opens up about her ow...

🎧 Living Her Authentic Truth: Mental Health, Boundaries & Integrative Healing with Lindsay Kerr In this honest and soul-nourishing episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook welcomes psychotherapist Lindsay Kerr for a vulnerable conversation about living in alignment with your truth, exploring integrative mental health practices, and reclaiming your emotional well-being. Lindsay shar...

🎧 Happiness Over Perfection: Mindful Parenting & the Power of Gratitude with Stef Tousignant In this heartfelt and refreshingly honest episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook chats with Stef Tousignant —a parenting expert, gratitude nerd, and author of the award-winning The Middle of the Night Book . With 20+ years of experience as a professional nanny, Stef shares how her persona...

Living Unapologetically: Empowerment, Identity & Mental Health Advocacy with Paula Chirinos In this bold and uplifting episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook sits down with Paula Chirinos—healthcare communications rising star, passionate mental health advocate, and proud Latina—to talk about the power of showing up for yourself unapologetically. As an immigrant from Peru, Paula sh...

In this insightful and validating episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook welcomes Marissa Chabai , Director of Integrative Health at BLND Therapy , and Jessica Garrison , F.E.E.L blog writer, for a layered discussion on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and how to support your emotional health through the changing seasons. Marissa brings her expertise as both a registered nurse and me...

In this deeply insightful episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook sits down with Dr. Bernadine Waller —NIMH-funded researcher, TEDx speaker, social worker, and national change agent—for a powerful conversation on mental health, healing from trauma, and learning to love the layered aspects of ourselves . Dr. Waller brings her extensive academic and clinical experience to the table, offe...

This week on The F.E.E.L Podcast , we’re getting real about beauty, pretty privilege, and the cultural forces that shape how we see ourselves and each other . Join host Melissa Crook and team members Micaela, Charlotte, and Jessica as they unpack their own definitions of beauty—from the inside out—and explore how societal standards, religious influences, and media portrayals impact our mental, emo...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook welcomes Dawn , a NICU nurse, military spouse, and devoted mom of four, for a beautiful reflection on what it means to be constantly learning and evolving —through motherhood, marriage, caregiving, and healing. With nearly 24 years in nursing and 14 years in neonatal intensive care, Dawn brings a deeply compassiona...

In this transformative episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook sits down with Sera , the visionary founder of Clay Health , for a powerful conversation about what it really means to take ownership of your health, heal from trauma, and transform the healthcare system from the inside out. After being diagnosed with a rare disease and navigating years of frustration and invisibility withi...

In this powerful and reflective episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , we sit down with the vibrant and inspiring Amaris Garcia — a proud Lubbock native, Latina leader, and powerhouse in marketing and public relations — to talk about what it means to hit “reset” and reclaim your life with purpose. With an impressive career, Amaris opens up about navigating the demands of leadership while making space fo...

In this heartfelt episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , we turn the spotlight inward and welcome OUR OWN Micaela Shirley , Social Media Assistant and Research Coordinator for the show, to share her story of self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. From growing up in Maryland to finding her creative voice in media production, Micaela brings wisdom and vulnerability to the mic as she unpacks what it...

🎉 WE’RE BAAAACK! Welcome to Season 3 of The F.E.E.L Podcast with your host, Melissa Crook , and an inspiring team of women ready to kick off a new chapter of storytelling, growth, and real talk. In this season premiere , Melissa is joined by the incredible voices behind the scenes of F.E.E.L.— Germaine , Charlotte Feehan , Jessica Garrison , and Micaela Shirley —as they reflect on the seasons of...

🎉 Happy 1-Year Anniversary to The F.E.E.L Podcast ! This milestone episode is a heartfelt celebration of one incredible year of vulnerable storytelling , personal empowerment , and layered conversations that have inspired listeners around the world to embrace their full selves. Host Melissa Crook reflects on the podcast’s journey from a dream on a vision wall to a thriving platform that’s hosted...

In this inspiring and empowering episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook sits down with trailblazing leader Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman —President of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and the first female president in the Texas Tech University System. With decades of experience in academic leadership, healthcare innovation, and servant-driven mentorship, Dr. Rice-Spearma...

In this deeply personal and emotionally layered episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook sits down with her husband and F.E.E.L. Podcast supporter, Brady Crook, to explore the complex emotions that arise around Mother’s and Father’s Day. Brady vulnerably shares his ongoing journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse, integrating inner child work, and rediscovering purpose as a father...

In this thought-provoking episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook is joined by three insightful creatives and communicators—Abby Bekele, Jessica Garrison, and Charlotte Feehan—for a raw, real, and empowering conversation about a rarely discussed topic: weaponized gratitude . What happens when gratitude is used to dismiss pain, silence emotions, or uphold toxic expectations? How can we...

In this powerful and transformative episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , special host Valencia Saint-Louis—co-founder of The F.E.E.L Podcast—leads a deeply intentional conversation with two dynamic mental health advocates: Hakeem Rahim and Brianna Campbell. Together, they address the stigma, fear, and cultural barriers surrounding mental health in Black communities—while offering empowering tools, hea...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook continues the essential conversation with a new group of passionate educators—Kayli Blankenship Scott, Morgan Bell, and Nicole DiNardo-Gray—as they reflect on what it means to teach, grow, and care for themselves in an era that has reshaped education forever. From the impact of COVID-19 on young teachers' early...

In this deeply insightful episode of The F.E.E.L Podcast , host Melissa Crook is joined by three passionate and experienced educators—Amy Stuart VanderMaas, Clay Kennedy, and Morgan Kirkpatrick—to discuss the emotional reality of teaching during today’s rapidly shifting educational landscape. From decades of service to a courageous career pivot, these three guests open up about what it truly means...