Well Life Wednesday Podcast

This week on Well Life Wednesday, hosts Cristy Hooper, MS, LCMHCS andIris Hooper, MS, LCAS-A are joined by special guest Bishop Gregory Norwood,Pastor of True Worship Christian Center in Charlotte and author of TheShepherd, The Levite, and The Minstrel: Three Paths, One Purpose. Together, they explore the important conversation surrounding ministry,mental health, burnout, emotional exhaustion, and...

In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , Cristy, LCMHCS and Iris, LCAS-A discuss the difference between spiritual bypassing and true emotional healing. This conversation explores: Spiritual bypassing and emotional avoidance Mental health in faith communities Emotional suppression and trauma Prayer, therapy, and healing Faith and emotional honesty Toxic positivity in spiritual spaces Healthy emotio...

“Many men suffer silently behind strength,responsibility, and survival mode. In this episode of Well Life Wednesday,Cristy, Iris, and special guest Marcus Gaddy discuss the realities of men’smental health, emotional suppression, trauma, relationships, healing, andbreaking generational silence.” Crisis Resource Reminder If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or experiencing a mentalhe...

In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , hosts Cristy, LCMHCS andIris, LCAS-A discuss “Purpose Fatigue” — the emotional exhaustion that comesfrom constantly carrying responsibility, leadership, caregiving, pressure, andexpectations without enough restoration. This episode explores: Burnout and emotional exhaustion Compassion fatigue Purpose vs productivity Mental health for helpers and caregivers...

In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , Cristy, LCMHCS and Iris,LCAS-A discuss burnout, emotional exhaustion, workplace stress, and theimportance of workforce wellness. Many people are silently struggling whiletrying to balance work responsibilities, mental health, family life, andemotional wellness. This conversation explores: Signs of burnout Compassion fatigue Workforce wellness Stress and men...

In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , hosts Cristy, LCMHCS andIris, LCAS-A discuss the emotional and mental health impact of tying youridentity to your career. Many people struggle with burnout, anxiety, andemotional exhaustion because productivity has become connected to self-worth. This conversation explores work-life balance, burnout, workaholism, emotionalhealing, and learning who you are o...

In this episode, Cristy (LCMHCS) and Iris (LCAS-A) discuss theoften-overlooked reality of workplace trauma, including toxic environments,burnout, anxiety, emotional harm, and recovery strategies. If your workplace has impacted your mental health, this conversationoffers validation, practical tools, and hope. Crisis Resources: National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 SAMHSA National Helplin...

Healing codependency starts with recognizing unhealthy relationshippatterns, rebuilding self-worth, and creating healthy emotional boundaries. Inthis episode of Well Life Wednesday, Cristy and Iris break down the roots ofcodependency, family systems, trauma responses, and practical tools forreclaiming emotional freedom. In this episode: What codependency is Root causes and trauma connections Addic...

Family shapes our earliest understanding of love, safety, communication,boundaries, and self-worth—but what happens when the system we came from wasrooted in dysfunction, trauma, addiction, or emotional wounds? In this powerful episode, hosts Cristy Hooper, MS, LCMHCS and IrisHooper, MS, LCAS-A explore: Join us as we unpack how family systems influence mental health and howintentional healing can...

Behind many smiles are silent battles. In this powerful episode of WellLife Wednesday , hosts Cristy Hooper, MS, LCMHCS and Iris Hooper,MS, LCAS-A dive deep into the reality of struggling in silence. Together,they explore how trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, shame, and emotionalsuppression can leave individuals suffering behind closed doors while appearing“fine” on the outside. This convers...

In this episode of  Well Life Wednesday , Iris dives into the often-overlooked impact of emotionally immature parents and how these early relationships shape our mental health, self-worth, and adult relationships. You’ll learn what emotional immaturity looks like in parenting—such as lack of empathy, poor communication, and inconsistent support—and how it can leave lasting emotional wounds. Iris b...

Are you struggling to set boundaries with family without feeling guilty? You’re not alone — and you’re not wrong for needing space. In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , host Cristy Hooper, MS,LCMHCS , breaks down what it really means to set healthy boundaries withfamily while protecting your peace, mental health, and emotional well-being. We’re talking about: ✨ Why boundaries with family feel...

In a world that constantly pushes productivity, hustle, and doing more…when was the last time you gave yourself permission to simply be still ? In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , hosts Cristy (LCMHCS) andIris (LCAS-A) break down the truth about rest—and why stillness is notlaziness, but a necessary part of maintaining your mental health and overallwell-being. Together, they explore: ✨ Why r...

In this episode of Well Life Wednesday, hosts Cristy (LCMHCS) and Iris (LCAS-A) explore the power of somatic awareness—the practice of noticing what your body may be trying to communicate through tension, fatigue, restlessness, numbness, headaches, shallow breathing, stomach issues, and more. Many people are taught to push through stress, ignore emotional pain, and disconnect from their body in or...

Why do you keep attracting the same type of relationships? Why does closeness feel overwhelming… or distance feel unbearable? In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , hosts Cristy Hooper(LCMHCS) and Iris Hooper (LCAS-A) break down how early attachmentexperiences shape adult relationship patterns. We’re talking about: ✔️ The 4 attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, disorganized) ✔️ How attac...

In this episode of Well Life Wednesday, host Iris, LCAS-A explores the powerful impact shame can have on our mental and emotional well-being. Shame often hides beneath the surface—showing up as self-doubt, isolation, anxiety, or feeling like we’re not enough. Many people carry shame connected to past mistakes, trauma, addiction, relationships, or unmet expectations, and it can quietly influence ho...

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly pushing through life justtrying to make it to the next day? Many people live in what therapists call “survival mode.” It’s astate where your mind and body are focused on getting through stress, trauma,and responsibilities rather than experiencing peace, joy, and emotionalbalance. In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , host Cristy Hooper,Licensed Clinical...

In this episode of  Well Life Wednesday , we talk about something many people experience but rarely say out loud —  healing while you’re still hurting . Sometimes life doesn’t pause long enough for us to completely heal before we have to keep moving forward. We still have responsibilities, work, family, and daily life to manage even when our hearts feel heavy. This episode is a reminder that  you...

Many of our adult struggles are rooted in unmet childhood needs. In this powerful episode, Cristy Hooper explores what it means tore-parent yourself and heal the inner child. From people-pleasing andperfectionism to fear of abandonment and emotional reactivity, we unpack howearly experiences shape our current behaviors — and how to begin healing them. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What the “inn...

Healing isn’t a straight line. In this episode, Cristy (LCMHCS) and Iris(LCAS-A) discuss mental health relapses, why they happen, and how to respondwithout shame. Whether you’re managing depression, anxiety, trauma, or recoveryfrom substance use, this conversation will remind you that relapse is notfailure — it’s feedback. 💜 Topics Covered: What a mental health relapse really is Why symptoms retu...

Are you stressed… anxious… or carrying unprocessed trauma? In this powerful episode of Well Life Wednesday , Cristy (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor) and Iris (Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate) break down the clinical and practical differences between stress, anxiety, and trauma — three terms that are often used interchangeably but have very different impacts...

Big emotions can feel overwhelming—especially when they show up fast, loud, or unexpectedly. In this episode of Well Life Wednesday , hosts Cristy (LCMHCS) and Iris (LCAS-A) break down emotional regulation in a way that’s real, relatable, and practical. We explore what emotional regulation really means, why “big feelings” feel so intense, and how trauma, stress, anxiety, and recovery can impact ho...

Sometimes the breathing exercises don’t calm you. Sometimes journaling doesn’t touch the weight. Sometimes prayer, affirmations, and “staying positive” just aren’t enough. And that doesn’t mean you’re failing. In this Season 2 premiere of Well Life Wednesday, we’re having an honest conversation about what it means when coping skills stop working—and why that moment is often a signal, not a setback...

✨ Well Life Wednesday | Holiday Greeting 2025 ✨ As we enter this beautiful holiday season, we want to pause and speak directly to your heart. The holidays can be joyful, emotional, overwhelming, or all three at once — and that’s okay. This is your gentle reminder to take time to love yourself , cherish your family and friends , and truly savor moments of connection, peace, and gratitude. In the...

Grief doesn’t just live in the heart — it lives in the brain, body, and nervous system. In this powerful episode, we explore how loss reshapes us: mentally, emotionally, and physically. We’re joined by Dr. Keyne Johnson-Nowlin and Malcolm Nowlin, hosts of Life with Keyne and Malcolm, who bring a rare blend of medical knowledge and lived experience. Together, we talk about the science of grief, the...