The Nourished CEO Podcast

Running an online business has always come with ups and downs, and after more than 12 years as an entrepreneur, that part isn't new to me.  What is new is the level of emotional exhaustion and volatility I'm seeing lately, especially among high-performing women who are doing everything "right" but still feel drained, on edge, or mentally stuck. In this episode, I'm joined by Hope Pedraza, a functional practitioner and Nourished Business Accelerator alum who takes a truly holistic approach to burnout, nervous system regulation, and emotional resilience in business.  We talk about why business feels heavier right now, how hypervigilance and dopamine-driven patterns sneak in, and what it actually takes to stay grounded and clear when growth isn't linear… without sacrificing your health, boundaries, or sense of self in the process. Episode Timeline & Highlights [01:28] – Why remembering that business has ups and downs isn't always enough  [05:14] – The rise of hypervigilance, uncertainty, and "waiting for the next shoe to drop" [07:15] – How obsession with numbers turns into mental spirals and anxiety [11:22] – Why perfectionism and the need for things to "work the first time" blocks growth  [13:26] – Reframing business growth as "up and down on the way up" [16:23] – A real-life example of setting boundaries — and why the body can react so strongly [33:26] – Dopamine hits, identity, and how validation-driven business leads to burnout [41:50] – Practical first steps to detach from outcomes and regulate your nervous system Top 5 Quotes "Your business is only as healthy as the body you have to build the business." "Running a business in constant hypervigilance is a huge energy suck." "Growth isn't about "getting there" it's about who you're becoming along the way." "If you need more and more wins to feel okay, that's not excitement... that's dopamine." "Discomfort doesn't mean it's wrong. Sometimes it just means your nervous system doesn't feel safe yet." Links & Resources Hope Pedraza on Instagram: @thehopepedraza Website: hopefulandwholesome.com Podcast: The Hopeful and Wholesome Podcast Free Resource: Holistic Energy Detox Work With Me: Nourished Business Accelerator If listening to this episode made you realize that your business feels heavier than it needs to — or that you're ready for more income, alignment, and confidence without burning yourself out — I'd love to support you inside my mentorship, The Nourished Business Accelerator. Inside the NBA, I help coaches and experts create premium offers that reflect the real transformation they deliver and build clean, ethical systems for enrolling dream clients...  without cold DMs, manipulative tactics, or high-pressure sales calls. Click HERE to apply for the NBA program If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs to hear that emotional exhaustion isn't a requirement for success.  

In today's episode, I'm talking with my client Chris Sandel, an eating disorder nutritionist who runs a high-ticket hybrid program helping clients fully recover from longstanding eating disorders. Chris has been in business since 2009, but when he came to me, he wanted a more dependable, sustainable way to grow without relying on trends, burnout-level content, or the hope of going viral. Together, we rebuilt and elevated his premium hybrid offer, clarified his messaging with a clean, repeatable framework, and implemented a simple but powerful marketing system that now allows him to consistently enroll aligned, high-paying clients. A huge part of that has been helping Chris develop a content approach that actually fits his personality and values, including returning to Instagram after years away and learning how to make the platform work for him, not the other way around. And because of this work, Chris doubled his revenue and had his highest income year yet... in a year when many practitioners struggled! If you've ever wondered what sustainable growth looks like without sacrificing your integrity or your energy, this episode will give you clarity and inspiration. TOP 5 QUOTES "I truly believe that people can fully recover… it doesn't matter whether it's been a couple of years or multiple decades." "I like the messiness of people's lives and how that interplays with nutrition." "I want to be able to find the thing that people want and message it in a way that entices them to come in." "There was just a trust... I will figure this out, and the only way I'm going to figure it out is by keeping at it." "I'm not one for dancing or doing trends, so I just focused on simple carousels where I can eloquently convey a single thought... and it works." TIMELINE SUMMARY [0:22] – Why Chris's fundamentals-first approach helped him grow sustainably in a difficult year for online practitioners. [4:03] – Chris shares how he became an eating disorder nutritionist and why he believes full recovery is possible. [12:13] – The turning point that led Chris to build a scalable high-ticket hybrid program, and why earlier group offers never stuck. [17:09] – How we structured his hybrid offer and created a messaging framework that allowed him to communicate its value with confidence. [28:01] – Chris's return to Instagram, why he refused trends, and how simple, thoughtful carousels now bring in major reach and new clients. [37:22] – How sending more frequent emails increased connection, engagement, and conversions. [46:41] – The transformation: clarity, consistency, and doubling his revenue without burnout or performative marketing. LINKS & RESOURCES Connect with Chris: Website – https://seven-health.com Instagram – @sevenhealthcompany Work with me inside The Nourished Business Accelerator (NBA) If Chris's story encouraged you to take a more grounded, sustainable approach to your own business, I'd love for you to rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. It truly helps more practitioners build aligned, profitable businesses without compromising who they are. Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next week on The Nourished CEO Podcast!

This week on The Nourished CEO, I'm breaking down the 10 major trends that will define the online health and wellness industry in 2026. You've probably heard people say the industry is shifting, but almost no one is explaining what that actually means for you as a practitioner, coach, or expert. Today, I'm unpacking exactly what's changing, why it matters, and how to adapt in a way that makes your business feel clearer, simpler, and more profitable. If you've been feeling like old strategies aren't working anymore, or you're noticing that clients are becoming more overwhelmed and more selective, you're not imagining it. These trends are already unfolding, and the entrepreneurs who learn to simplify, personalize, and focus on real transformation are the ones who will thrive in 2026. Timeline Summary [00:00] – Why 2026 will look different for online wellness entrepreneurs and why old strategies are losing effectiveness. [03:18] – Trend #1: The Great Opt Out of traditional health insurance and what the shift to cash pay and concierge models means for your business. [10:56] – Trend #2: Why session-by-session healthcare is fading and transformation-based programs are gaining momentum. [15:49] – Trend #3: Clients want less information and more implementation. How to create a minimum viable offer that gets results without overloading people. [20:15] – Trend #4: The breakdown of trust in healthcare and how listening and personalization set you apart. [25:45] – Trend #5: On-demand expert access. Why asynchronous support is becoming more valuable than more calls. [29:52] – Trend #6: Long-form content is making a comeback and why serious buyers are moving away from short-form social media. [35:36] – Trend #7: The "trust recession." Why buyers are more discerning and how to communicate what truly makes your approach different. [39:52] – Trend #8: How I use AI ethically to organize my thoughts and streamline communication without outsourcing my voice. [45:08] – Trend #9: Hyper specificity and why niching is essential for marketing, messaging, and paid ads in 2026. [48:35] – Trend #10: Simplicity and elegant systems. Why reducing complexity is the only way to stay profitable without burning out. Top 5 Quotes From This Episode "People are exhausted by the noise. They're done with cookie-cutter protocols and they're not paying premium prices for information they could have just Googled." "If you're still using the same strategies that worked even two or three years ago, you're going to feel like you're running uphill in the wrong direction." "Your clients want the best possible results with the least amount of extra work, and if your offer feels like a second full-time job, they're out." "With AI everywhere, anyone can look like an expert. Buyers want to know why they should trust you and what makes your approach different." "Simplicity isn't optional anymore. It is the only way your business will stay profitable without draining your life." Links & Resources Connect with me on Instagram: @lauraschoenfeldrd Apply for the Nourished Business Accelerator: https://www.lauraschoenfeld.com/nba-apply Interested in working together 1:1? DM me "PRIVATE" on Instagram to learn more If you enjoyed this episode or it helped you get clearer about your strategy for 2026, it would mean so much if you rated, followed, reviewed, or shared the podcast. Your support helps more health and wellness entrepreneurs build aligned, ethical, profitable businesses that support the life they actually want to live.

Imagine hearing that a dietitian, potentially trained in the same traditional, restrictive system as you, sold a $36,000 coaching program. Would your brain break the way mine did? In this episode, I'm bringing you a conversation that will completely expand how you think about pricing, transformation, and the level of work you're actually allowed to offer as a health professional.  I sat down with Registered Dietitian Gina Worful, who has successfully sold a $36,000 coaching program, not because she had a massive audience or flashy marketing, but because she fully owned the depth of her work and crafted an offer that reflected real transformation. Gina takes us behind the scenes of her entire journey, from giving refunds on $100 sessions and questioning her place in the profession, to developing a proprietary methodology rooted in nervous system work, emotional patterns, embodiment, and long-term personal evolution.  If you've ever felt boxed in by the traditional private-practice model or wondered what it really takes to structure a premium, high-integrity offer that actually sells, this episode will stretch your imagination in the best way. Episode Timeline Highlights [4:17] – Gina's early days in dietetics, charging $100 per session, and the client who asked for a refund that shook her confidence. [7:30] – The identity crisis that pushed her out of private practice and into deeper self-study and embodiment work [10:33] – How coaching two former clients for free helped her uncover the deeper transformation her people actually needed. [14:50] – The messy, imperfect beginnings of her first group program—and why "done is better than perfect" was the key to momentum. [18:25] – The truth about transformation timelines and why she built a year-long program even when people "say" they only want 8 weeks. [22:02] – How she found (and enrolled) her first high-ticket clients without a large audience. [29:26] – The belief work that helped her charge more without guilt—and why value is not a real, objective thing. [36:09] – What happens when you stop promising outcomes and start promising what you can truly deliver with integrity. [47:03] – Applying the same mindset work we teach our clients to ourselves as entrepreneurs. [51:16] – Why your deepest personal pain often holds the key to your most transformative (and most valuable) offer. Top 5 Direct Quotes from the Episode "Value doesn't exist. It's not a real thing. It's something we make up." "If I created programs based on what people say they want, they would keep getting the same results they've always gotten." "I felt confident because I stopped promising outcomes and started promising what I knew I could actually deliver." "Entrepreneurship is a transformational journey. You have to have a deep desire that's bigger than your fear." "My most valuable work came from the pain I was determined to understand in myself." Links & Resources Follow Gina on Instagram: @gina.worful Get Gina's free training for professionals Apply the Nourished Business Accelerator (NBA) Enjoyed this episode? If this conversation expanded your perspective, inspired you, or sparked new ideas for what's possible in your business, I'd love for you to rate, follow, review, and share the podcast. Your support helps us reach more health experts who are ready to grow their businesses with integrity and alignment. Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next week on The Nourished CEO Podcast!  

Are you a licensed health professional who's tired of being at the mercy of insurance reimbursements or feeling stuck on the social media hamster wheel just to attract clients? In this episode, I sit down with Becky Bell, a registered dietitian and alum of the Nourished Business Accelerator (NBA), who has cracked the code to creating a profitable, scalable hybrid practice. Becky shares how she transitioned from a cash-pay model to a blend of insurance and cash-pay services that has doubled her income without burning out or compromising client care. From replacing her Instagram marketing with SEO (and never looking back!) to crafting a high-touch offer that includes reimbursable services, Becky walks us through the process of building an insurance/cash pay hybrid business that supports both your clients and your lifestyle. Whether you're a dietitian, therapist, NP, or another licensed health provider, you'll walk away with inspiration and practical insights to make this hybrid model work for you too. Timeline Summary: [0:00] - How licensed health professionals can double their insurance income while reducing marketing burnout. [1:02] - Meet Becky Bell: how she built a thriving, insurance-based business without relying on Instagram. [4:45] - Becky's journey from an all-cash pay model to integrating insurance without sacrificing outcomes. [8:17] - Why she resisted taking insurance initially, and what finally changed her mind. [12:34] - The step-by-step process Becky used to get credentialed and test her new hybrid offer. [18:10] - Structuring a signature offer that blends insurance-covered sessions with high-value cash-pay services. [24:17] - The secret to successfully selling hybrid programs: it's all about positioning and outcomes. [34:41] - Why Becky ditched group programs and doubled down on one-on-one support. [40:52] - How Becky maintains her high-value services with less than 10 hours a week outside of sessions. [43:56] - The SEO strategy that replaced Instagram and now brings in nearly all of her clients. [52:49] - Final thoughts: why this hybrid model might be the best-kept secret for sustainable health businesses. Top 5 Quotes: "I spend way less time marketing than ever before and I'm busier than I've ever been." "I was starting to feel like I wish I could expand who I serve without sacrificing the level of outcomes I get for people." "Most of my clients right now are coming from Google search. I took a break from Instagram and I never went back." "What insurance companies pay me now is only about 50% of my total revenue. The rest comes from the hybrid model I created." "If I had to start over, I'd start with my website and SEO. That's what's filling my business today." Links & Resources: DM me CASH on Instagram @lauraschoenfeldrd to join the Cash Pay Kickstart (Enrollment Closes 11/30/25) The Nourished Business Accelerator - Apply Here Contact Becky: [email protected] If you loved this episode, make sure to follow, rate, and review the show! It helps us reach more health pros ready to build a sustainable, profitable business. See you next week on the Nourished CEO Podcast!