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

In this episode, Dr. Anna Marie speaks directly to women over 40 navigating perimenopause and midlife changes. She connects common physical symptoms—like irregular periods, sleep issues, low libido, and weight changes—to deeper emotional and identity shifts. The focus is on building simple but powerful foundations of health: nourishing food, strength training, quality sleep, stress regulation, and asking for help. Rather than seeing the body as "betraying" us, she reframes this season as a transition that can be supported with intentional self-care and support systems.

Key Points
 * Women over 40 are searching for answers on hormones, sleep, libido, and weight
 * Perimenopause symptoms affect mood, identity, confidence, and relationships
 * Self-care is essential, not optional, during midlife transitions
 * Eat to nourish your brain and emotions, not just your waistline
 * Prioritize strength training over endless cardio for longevity
 * Good sleep hygiene supports blood sugar, metabolism, and mood
 * Nutrition choices can regulate stress and low mood
 * Hire help (cleaner, organizer, chef) to reduce mental and physical load
 * Build health foundations: water, protein, fruits, vegetables, rest, meditation
 * Your body isn't betraying you; it's transitioning and needs support
 * Health is the bedrock of identity, connection, and success in midlife



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]

258. The Becoming Years (Part 6): Take Care of Your Body

In this episode, the conversation explores what women commonly experience after 40—hormonal shifts, identity changes, and new health concerns—and how these changes impact relationships. Rather than blaming anyone, the focus is on insight, understanding, and practical ways couples can support each other, regulate their nervous systems together, and build deeper, safer connection in this season of life.



Key Points:

 * Women 40+ face hormone changes and lower libido
 * Nervous system becomes more sensitive and reactive
 * Identity shifts as kids need mom less
 * Need more rest, quiet, and alone time
 * This is recalibration, not rejection of partners
 * Women need safety, support, and listening, not fixing
 * Women are allowed to change and ask for what they need
 * Shared nervous system regulation (walks, breathwork, rituals)
 * Prioritize sleep and a calm, tech-free bedroom
 * Being rested reduces conflict and reactivity
 * Take ownership of health: food, movement, sleep
 * Nurture nourishing relationships; drop draining ones
 * Reduce phone use and comparison to others
 * Google searches show concern about perimenopause and hormones
 * Women worry about heart, bone, sleep, and chronic health
 * Relationships in your 40s will (and should) look different
 * With communication, this season can deepen connection
 * Quality of relationships shapes quality of life



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]

257. The Becoming Years (Part 5): Dear Men. This is what women are navigating after 40

In this episode, the focus is on the "quiet crisis" many accomplished women experience in midlife: having everything they worked for yet feeling empty or misaligned. The conversation explores how success driven by external validation and constant achievement can leave a gap where meaning, alignment, and inner peace should be. Listeners are invited to slow down, regulate their nervous system, get quiet enough to hear their intuition, and begin honoring the desires that have been quietly calling to them.



Key Points

 * Quiet crisis: success achieved, but inner emptiness remains
 * Many goals were built on others' expectations, not true desires
 * Midlife shifts focus from "What can I do?" to "Who am I?"
 * External success vs. internal alignment and meaning
 * Dopamine-driven achievement can't fill a deeper soul need
 * Regulating the nervous system allows more calm and clarity
 * Silence and stillness make room for intuition to be heard
 * Notice what now feels heavy that once felt exciting
 * Notice what feels alive and keeps "tapping on your shoulder"
 * Example: prioritizing short, frequent trips to see a loved one
 * Midlife as recalibration, not crisis



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]

256. The Becoming Years (Part 4): The Quiet Crisis of Accomplished Women

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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