In this episode of the Happy Whole You podcast, Dr. Anna Marie talks with Cecilia Zapata-Harms, the founder of Women Life and Science, Inc., about how a synchronistic moment turned a simple idea into a podcast, a nonprofit, and an annual conference and retreat for women in science and beyond. Cecilia shares the story of how she went from casually imagining a show for "regular women" to building a growing community, navigating fears, doubts, and logistics along the way, and creating programs that support women from high school through entrepreneurship.



Key Points:

 * How a commute-time idea sparked a podcast for "regular women"
 * Perfectly timed, "synchronistic" call inviting Cecilia to host a show
 * Jumping into a 13-week podcast pilot with no prior experience
 * Best friend as the very first guest and early supporter
 * Evolution of the show into Women Life and Science, Inc.
 * Creation of an annual Women Life and Science conference and retreat
 * Continued collaboration with keynote speaker Courtney McDermott
 * Mission to support women across all ages and career stages in science and beyond
 * Elevate Her program vision: STEM support + women entrepreneurs proving ideas
 * Community offerings like the monthly Science Café and yearly retreat in Greenville, SC



About Cecilia Zapata-Harms:

Cecilia Zapata-Harms, MS, MHA, is a founder, entrepreneur, and executive with over 30 years of experience in the life sciences, biotechnology, and healthcare industries. She has held leadership roles in strategy, startups, program administration, and mergers and acquisitions, beginning her career at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research under Dr. Robert Day and later working with Dr. Lee Hartwell and Dr. Stephen Friend. She went on to lead strategic development and oversee regional and international clinical research partnerships. In 2017, she founded 3rdEyeBio, LLC, an accelerator for early-stage biotech ventures, and in 2024, she founded and became CEO of Palmetto InnovaSphere, Inc., a life science accelerator in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She also serves as founder and board chair of Women, Life and Science, Inc., and is a board member of the Luskin Family Foundation.



Check out the non-profit event on April 30th, 2026: https://wlscience.com/



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou]

267. Cecilia: Women Life & Science

In this episode of the Happy Whole You Podcast, Dr. Anna Marie and Renée Walker dive into intuition, manifestation, and what it really means to co-create with a higher power. Renée shares her 20+ year journey from living by expectations to reconnecting with her inner knowing, and offers grounded, practical ways to slow down, tune into intuition, and navigate fear as we expand into our next level.



Key Points:

 * Renee's journey from "doing what's expected" to spiritual and mindset teaching
 * Intuition as a constant conversation with a higher power/energy
 * Why intuition is easiest to access in the present moment and through the body
 * Practical tools: meditation, breathwork, nature, movement, even mindful dishwashing
 * How to tell intuition from ego: love vs. fear, expansion vs. contraction
 * Intuition as a "muscle" that strengthens with attention and practice
 * Manifestation framed as co-creating with the universe toward soul purpose
 * The role of action, surrender, and becoming—not just "getting the thing"
 * Hitting upper limits: fear, self-sabotage, and expanding your capacity to be seen
 * Desire as a sign "it's meant for you" and an invitation to show up before you feel ready



Connect with Renée Walker:

Renée Walker is the founder of Renée Walker Wellness, a soul-led wellness and coaching practice devoted to helping women heal their mindset, reconnect with their intuition, and live in deeper alignment with their highest self. She is the host of the Spiritually Wired Podcast and the creator of the Spiritually Wired Membership, a sacred space where women come to deepen their spiritual connection, expand their awareness, and grow with intention.

As a certified meditation teacher, NLP practitioner, spiritual life coach, and Reiki Master, Renée blends mindset work, energy healing, and embodied practices to support profound transformation. Through her programs, coaching, and live experiences, she guides women to release what no longer serves them and step fully into their purpose, power, and potential — in life, business, and beyond.



Connect with Renée:

Website: https://www.reneewalkerwellness.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reneewalkerwellness

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



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou]

266. Intuition, Manifestation & Inner Alignment with Renée Walker

In this episode, the Dr. Anna Marie with Jodi Wellman, founder of 4000 Mondays, about using the reality of our mortality as a powerful motivator to actually live. Drawing from her personal story of losing her mother, her work in positive psychology, and the concept of "memento mori," Jodi explains how acknowledging death can wake us up from autopilot, help us savor ordinary moments, and push us to avoid "pre-grets"—the regrets we're on track to have if we don't course-correct now. They explore savoring past, present, and future, living both wider (more fun, vitality) and deeper (more meaning, purpose), and taking small but bold actions to get off the sidelines of our own lives.



Key Points

 * Using the Grim Reaper / memento mori as motivation to truly live
 * Waking up from autopilot and choosing a "squander‑free" life
 * Jodi's mom's unfulfilled dreams as a powerful wake‑up call
 * Leaving a comfortable corporate job for more meaningful work
 * Creating 4000 Mondays and using "mortality math" to spark urgency
 * Savoring past, present, and future moments to feel more alive
 * Balancing life wider (fun, vitality) and deeper (meaning, purpose)
 * Noticing that disappointment and fear keep us from big dreams
 * Understanding regrets of omission (what we never try) hurt the most
 * Taking one small, concrete action now as a vote for being fully alive



Connect with Jodi Wellman:

Jodi Wellman is a leading authority on living lives worth living. As a TEDx speaker, researcher, and author, she helps people live squander-free lives while they're lucky enough to still be above ground—starting with the "big end" in mind. She named her business Four Thousand Mondays to shine a light on the finite number of weeks we have to truly live with intention.

She holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she serves as an Assistant Instructor in the master's program and a trainer in the world-renowned Penn Resilience Program. Through her research, she developed a model that teaches the interplay between living wider (with vitality) and deeper (with meaning), empowering people to experience life more fully.

A certified coach with 25 years of corporate leadership experience, she has coached hundreds of companies, teams, leaders, and individuals over thousands of hours to "carpe diem" at a highly advanced level. She regularly speaks on this topic, including her TEDx talk with over 1.3 million views, How Death Can Bring You Back to Life, and her book, You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets.



Connect with Jodi:

Email: jodi@fourthousandmondays.com

Website: https://fourthousandmondays.com/



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn:

265. 4000 Mondays: Live better by acknowledging you will not live forever! with Jodi Wellman

In this conversation, Dr. Anna Marie, with Cortney, unpacks and reframes what vulnerability truly is—shifting it from oversharing, venting, or seeking validation to a deeper state of relaxation, safety, and authenticity in ourselves and with others. They explore how this redefinition transforms leadership, client work, and relationships, emphasizing that real vulnerability begins with being honest and gentle with ourselves. The discussion also offers practical ways to notice tension in the body, create inner safety, and use pause and non-reaction as powerful leadership tools.



Key Points:

 * Vulnerability is deep relaxation and safety in the presence of others.
 * It is not gossip, oversharing, or "airing dirty laundry."
 * Many confuse vulnerability with venting and victimhood to get validation.
 * True vulnerability means sharing without needing validation or agreement.
 * In leadership, vulnerability is a calm, grounded presence in any context.
 * People are drawn to leaders who feel safe, relaxed, and steady.
 * Real vulnerability starts with being honest and gentle with yourself first.
 * Your body's tension or relaxation is a key signal of safety or misalignment.
 * You don't have to respond immediately—there is power in pause and silence.
 * "Don't give it oxygen": choosing not to fuel drama or reactivity is a core vulnerable leadership move.



About Cortney McDermott:

Cortney McDermott is an award-winning author and speaker and celebrity coach. Her work in self-development and business strategy has been featured in Inc., Women's Health, NBC, The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and SUCCESS, and her talks on human potential have been shared on stages including TEDx, Mindvalley, Oxford Saïd Business School, and Richard Branson's private island, Necker.

With a Master of Science from the London School of Economics, Cortney blends academic rigor with real-world experience to help individuals and organizations reach their highest potential. Her career highlights include executive roles at Vanity Fair Corporation, Vice President at Sustainability Partners Inc., and successfully running her own businesses, where she has worked with brands such as Universal Music Group, Nike, Kickstarter, and Google.

Fluent in four languages, Cortney splits her time between Italy and the US.



Connect with Cortney:

Cort's Website [https://www.cortneymcdermott.com/]

Cort's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneymcdermott/]

Cort's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cortneymcdermott/]



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou]





264. This isn't the vulnerability you think | Flipping the leadership paradigm with Cortney McDermott

If you are tired of treating symptoms without real answers, this conversation challenges how you see modern medicine. You are invited to look beyond prescriptions and quick fixes and start asking why your body is reacting in the first place. Stress, lifestyle, and inflammation often sit at the center of gut issues like IBS, reflux, and chronic discomfort.

You will hear why fiber, sleep, movement, and community matter more than most people realize. Rising gut disorders and colon cancer in younger adults make prevention and early awareness critical. Instead of labeling yourself by a diagnosis, you are encouraged to see symptoms as signals your body is asking for support.

The focus turns to balance. You do not have to reject traditional care, but you can pair it with meditation, exercise, and simple nutrition habits that support long term digestive health. When you shift from fear to understanding, healing becomes more practical and personal.



In this Episode, You'll Learn:

 * Differences in Healthcare and Root Causes
 * Connection Between Stress and Gut Issues
 * Balancing Medical and Non-Medical Treatments
 * Probiotics and Overall Health
 * Increasing Gut Issues and Cancer in Younger Individuals
 * Colon Cancer and Symptoms
 * Breaking Bad News to Patients
 * Approaching Health with a Different Perspective
 * Personal Health Practices
 * Simplifying Healthy Eating



About Dr. Sameer Islam:

Dr. Sameer Islam is a West Texas native, growing up in Odessa, TX. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin, graduating with honors. Dr. Islam completed both his medical degree (MD) and master's of Business association (MBA) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Texas Tech Rawls School of Business, respectively. After completing his internal medicine training at Texas Tech University, he completed his fellowship in Gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. For his entire career, he's balanced a love of working with patients and an obsession with cutting-edge scientific developments that are changing the way we see digestive health, and medicine as a whole.

As a functional gastroenterologist, he can provide patients with more treatment options than those offered by traditional Western Medicine.



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou]

263. Healing Your Gut by Addressing the Root Cause with Dr. Sameer Islam

In this powerful, high-frequency conversation, Dr. Anna Marie welcomes back Anthony, a transformational coach who has spent nearly three decades helping people optimize their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Building on their earlier episode together ("Unlocking the Code of Human Potential" – Episode 229), they explore new paradigms of personal development that help leaders and individuals step into who they were truly designed to be.



In this Episode, You'll Learn:

 * How your words, thoughts, and beliefs shape your health, finances, and relationships
 * Why inner work (healing, self-responsibility, self-love) must come before outer success
 * Simple daily practices: meditation, grounding, and movement to raise your energy
 * How to work with healing and abundance frequencies (528 Hz, 777 Hz, 963 Hz)
 * What it means to live as a soul-led leader instead of an ego-driven one



About Anthony Cudio:

Anthony Cudjo, known as "Coach Cudjo," is the Founder and Head Coach of Human Optimization 3.0 (H3O) and a leading expert in human performance and life optimization. With over 35 years of experience as a business consultant, executive coach, and performance specialist, he helps individuals elevate their health, mindset, and success.

A former professional athlete and certified life coach, advanced NLP practitioner, nutritionist, and metabolic specialist, Anthony integrates mind, body, and spirit to unlock peak potential. Through his Human Optimization 3.0 method, he empowers individuals and leaders to achieve high performance and purposeful living.

Connect with Anthony:

Website: https://urh3o.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humanoptimization3.0/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Humanoptimization3.0 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Humanoptimization3.0 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urh3oanthonycudjo/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@humanoptimization3.0



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou]

262. Why Most Leadership Models Are Broken And What Actually Works with Anthony Cudio

In this episode of the Happy Whole You Podcast, Jen Aks shares her powerful journey from feeling "not smart enough" in a test-score-driven world to reclaiming her innate wisdom and creating a body-based practice that helps others do the same. She and the host explore multiple forms of intelligence—kinesthetic, emotional, and somatic—while challenging the old stories that keep us small. Jen also guides a simple, hands-on somatic exercise live on the show to demonstrate how we can listen to and love our bodies, calm our nervous systems, and reconnect with our authentic selves.



Key Points

 * How a childhood story of "not being smart" shaped Jen's life—and how she rewrote it
 * Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences and why test scores are not the ultimate measure of intelligence
 * The power of kinesthetic, emotional, and somatic intelligence in real-life success and fulfillment
 * Why so many people (especially teens and young adults) feel like they don't belong in today's comparison-driven culture
 * The concept of "body set": using hands on heart and belly to pause, notice, and reconnect
 * Introduction to Jen's somatic practice and the Power of Gesture—using hand movements to embody and release emotions
 * A live guided exercise to ease lower-back tension using touch, breath, and loving attention
 * Why simply paying attention and pausing (without attaching meaning) is the first step to reconnecting with your body's wisdom
 * How emotional and body-based practices can support leaders, executives, students, and kids alike
 * Where to find Jen's work, including her book Your Body Is Speaking and her "Body Set to Reset" 5‑day email series



About Jen Aks:

Her journey into leadership and embodiment began as a self-conscious student who felt unseen by traditional education. Through decades as a dance educator, she rediscovered the body's wisdom and the power of kinesthetic and emotional intelligence.

Today, she helps others reconnect with their inner intelligence, worthiness, and courage—guiding them toward embodied leadership and aligned, purposeful living.



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou]

261. What Your Body Knows That Your Mind Has Been Ignoring with Jen Aks

What if optimizing your health is less about guessing and more about testing? You explore the science behind diet and intermittent fasting while learning why food quality, timing, and even your wine choices matter more than most people think. The focus shifts toward intentional living—where data, not trends, guides your next move.

You'll also look into practical biohacking tools you can actually use, from blue light blockers and red light therapy to continuous glucose monitors and cold exposure. The big idea is simple: when you measure what's happening inside your body, you make smarter decisions outside of it.

Along the way, you're encouraged to take a more holistic path—one that blends modern tech, ancient longevity principles, and open-minded medical care. Because real performance and long-term health come from understanding your body, not just managing symptoms.



About Melanie Avalon:

Melanie Avalon, a top health influencer, captivates thousandsof listeners with millionsof downloads through her podcasts, The Melanie Avalon Biohacking Podcast and TheIntermittent

Fasting Podcast. Her journey into health and wellness began as shesought resources toaddress her personal health issues. Melanie becamefascinated with optimizing her body for vitality and longevity, ultimately discovering the world of "biohacking."

With a background as a SAG-AFTRA actress, Melanie became enamored with this new realm and yearned toshare her passion. Today, a fiercelyengaged audienceand community join her weekly as sheinterviews someof the most respected names in health and wellness.

Melanie authored What When Wine:Lose Weightand Feel Great with Paleo-Style Meals, Intermittent Fasting,and Wine(W. W. Norton Countryman Press,2018), created thetop Appleapp Food Sense Guide, and launched thesuccessful supplement line, AvalonX.

She has been featured in numerous publications, including USA Today, Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC MakeIt!,LA Weekly,and Fox News.



Connect with Melanie:

Instagram: @melanieavalon [https://www.instagram.com/melanieavalon?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]

Website: melanieavalon.com [http://melanieavalon.com/]Linktree: linktree [https://linktr.ee/melanieavalon?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=b69794cd-d64f-47f2-896c-12d38ce7c47a]



Connect with Anna:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou] https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou

260. Can You Drink Wine and Still Lose Weight: The Science with Melanie Avalon

In this final episode of The Becoming Years series, the conversation reframes midlife as an identity shift and powerful invitation rather than a breakdown. Dr. Anna Marie explores loneliness among high-achieving women, the impact of nervous system burnout, and how changing bodies and roles call for new ways of living. Listeners are encouraged to prioritize self-care, deepen relationships through honest conversations, and courageously pursue what they truly desire in the second half of life. Practical reflection tools—like the "seven whys" exercise—are shared to help uncover deeper needs and design a more aligned, energizing future.



Key Points

 * Midlife is an identity shift, not a breakdown
 * You are not behind; you are becoming
 * Loneliness is common for high-achieving women after 40
 * Career, parenting, and success can quietly erode connections
 * Exhaustion often comes from nervous system burnout, not weakness
 * Invisible labor and hormonal shifts add to midlife fatigue
 * Regulating the nervous system is vital for healthy relationships
 * Partners benefit from syncing and co-regulating together
 * Honest conversations about needs reduce the urge to "fix" each other
 * Self-care: eat well, move your body, protect your energy
 * Remove activities and relationships that drain you
 * Focus on what fills you up and brings genuine joy
 * Forgive yourself for relationships that have run their course
 * Midlife is a chance to reinvent friendships and lifestyle
 * Try small changes: new routes, classes, trips, experiences
 * Be bold and stop living by others' expectations
 * You can choose a different path for the second half of life
 * Feeling empty or ungrateful after success is common, not wrong
 * Deeper conversations about "taboo" feelings are essential
 * Use the "seven whys" exercise to find root causes of feelings
 * Share this series with someone who might need this message
 * Listeners are invited to leave a review and reflect on what they truly want



Connect with Dr. Anna Marie:

Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com

Website: www.happywholeyou.com [http://www.happywholeyou.com/] / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou

Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com [http://www.drannamarie.com/]

Instagram: @happywholeyou [https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/]

Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie

Facebook: Happy Whole You [https://www.facebook.com/happywholeyou]

LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariefrankhappywholeyou/]

Venmo: @happywholeyou [https://account.venmo.com/u/happywholeyou]



259. The Becoming Years (Part 7): Success After 40

Better health, wealth, happiness, and success grows when your brain and biology thrive. Brain health and wellness enthusiast share the key biological downloads that have helped them and hurt them. This podcast is for anyone looking to upgrade their brain, biology, and life! Get ready to hack into a new you!

Anna Marie Frank

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