In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora sits down with Joanna Sapir, a business strategist for holistic practitioners, to explore how health coaches and wellness professionals can step into leadership and create thriving practices. Joanna shares insights into common pitfalls like the "freelancer trap" and highlights the skills that every practitioner needs to truly serve their clients and build a sustainable business. Together, Cathy and Joanna dive into the realities of runn...
Jul 10, 2025•26 min
In this episode, Cathy Sykora is joined by Ani Papazyan, a Pain Resolution Practitioner with 30 years of experience helping people find relief through science-based techniques and personalized strategies. They discuss the crucial differences between acute and chronic pain, and why understanding this distinction is key to lasting recovery. Ani shares powerful self-help tools for stimulating the vagus nerve, relieving jaw tension, and reducing stress—often overlooked contributors to chronic pain. ...
Jun 30, 2025•24 min
Why do so many clients struggle with follow-through despite knowing what to do? In this episode, Cathy Sykora welcomes Esther Avant, a seasoned health coach with nearly two decades of experience, to explore the real reasons behind client inaction. Esther discusses the importance of meeting clients where they are, using empathy and individualized strategies to build consistency and success. She shares her unique framework for uncovering root issues and how to navigate client resistance without re...
Jun 23, 2025•21 min
In this deeply powerful episode, Cathy Sykora sits down with Patty Cabot to talk about her personal journey through eating disorders, stemming from unresolved childhood sexual abuse. Patty shares how her desire to stop fluctuating weight led her to explore a range of therapeutic modalities over a 12-year period. From EMDR and network chiropractic to sex and group therapy, Patty opens up about the emotional and physical transformations she experienced along the way. Her story is one of resilience...
Jun 16, 2025•29 min
Dr. Carrie Graham joins Cathy Sykora to explore the power of strategic, customized training programs rooted in adult learning theory. With a PhD in adult education and a background in healthcare, Dr. Graham shares how business owners can effectively engage learners, reduce overwhelm, and drive implementation by truly understanding their audience. She emphasizes the importance of introspection, learner-focused content design, and confidence-building throughout the learning process. In this episod...
Jun 09, 2025•29 min
In this episode, Cathy Sykora sits down with Melissa Snow, a Business Relationship Strategist and founder of the Powerful Women Rising Community, to discuss the true power of networking in business growth. Melissa shares her unique approach to networking that emphasizes authenticity, human connection, and integrity over transactional tactics. Through personal stories and practical tips, she explains how genuine connections can lead to long-term business success. Cathy and Melissa also delve into...
Jun 02, 2025•25 min
In this episode, Cathy Sykora is joined by Işılay Çabuk, an executive leadership and personal growth coach with a background in nursing and finance. Işılay shares her journey from Wall Street to coaching, emphasizing how her diverse experiences inform her unique approach to helping clients manage stress and achieve sustainable transformation. She discusses the importance of deep listening, mindfulness, and the power of small, intentional choices in improving well-being. Işılay also offers insigh...
May 26, 2025•14 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora is joined by Benny Voncken, co-founder of Via Stoica, to explore the practical and transformative power of Stoicism. Benny shares how this ancient philosophy can be a modern guide to cultivating a calm, resilient, and meaningful life. From his personal journey through hardship to discovering Stoicism, Benny emphasizes self-awareness, emotional regulation, and personal responsibility as core principles. He also clarifies common misconcep...
May 19, 2025•34 min
Dennis Dowdell joins Cathy Sykora to discuss his extraordinary journey from school bus driver to building a global team of over 250,000 health coaches with Herbalife. At 75, Dennis shares how he's maintained a medication-free, illness-free lifestyle through a balanced approach to body, soul, and spirit. In this conversation, he breaks down the mindset, habits, and belief systems that lead to lasting health and success—not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. With insights on multil...
May 12, 2025•35 min
In this enlightening episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Carole Sawo, a psychoanalyst, pattern analyst, and energy theorist who shares her profound insights into the human mind, spiritual awakening, and consciousness. Carole discusses how trauma, authenticity, and personal experience shape effective teaching and coaching, and why a rise in consciousness requires not just knowledge but responsible guidance. She emphasizes the potential dangers of ungrounded spiritual e...
May 05, 2025•44 min
In this powerful episode, Cathy Sykora talks with Connor McKemey, a 90% burn survivor, motivational speaker, and founder of Mac Mentality. At just 13 years old, Connor survived a devastating explosion and went on to defy all odds by thriving in athletics, education, and public speaking. Connor shares his journey of mental resilience, the importance of a strong support system, and how he learned to view his scars as symbols of strength rather than sources of shame. His story is a testament to per...
Apr 28, 2025•30 min
In this episode, Cathy Sykora chats with Dr. Stephanie Bathurst, a board-certified clinical sexologist and licensed relationship therapist based in Oahu, Hawaii. Dr. Bathurst shares her holistic approach to sex and relationship therapy, integrating mental health, trauma healing, nutrition, and bodywork. From treating libido misalignment to offering transformative couples retreats, Stephanie emphasizes the importance of treating core issues rather than just surface-level symptoms. She also discus...
Apr 21, 2025•26 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Matt about how unresolved trauma can hinder our ability to accomplish goals and find fulfillment. Matt shares his personal experiences with developmental trauma and how early life events can create long-lasting fear responses like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. They dive into why simply telling clients to "have grit" or "use a growth mindset" isn’t enough for many people and how trauma-informed coaching can make a differenc...
Apr 14, 2025•22 min
In this enlightening episode, Cathy Sykora talks with Jeff Patterson about the profound benefits of integrating meditation and martial arts into everyday life. Jeff shares how his journey from boxing to Tai Chi and meditation transformed his life and led him to develop "The Yielding Warrior Method." They dive into the five pillars of meditation practice, the concept of yielding in both physical and emotional conflicts, and how to select the right meditation path for lasting success. Jeff also em...
Apr 07, 2025•35 min
In this heartfelt episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora sits down with twin sisters Corinna and Isabelle Scott, the musical duo behind OUR TRUTH. They explore the essence of authenticity, emotional healing, and personal empowerment through the lens of their unique bond and spiritual philosophy. The sisters share how their decade-long separation helped them uncover negative behavioral patterns and, ultimately, brought them closer together through intentional communication and self-r...
Mar 31, 2025•26 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Dr. Carrie Graham about how understanding adult learning can help health coaches and wellness professionals create lasting behavioral change in their clients. With a PhD in Adult Learning and Workplace Learning, Dr. Graham shares strategies for keeping clients engaged, tailoring learning experiences, and ensuring that knowledge leads to real-world application. In this episode, you’ll discover: The difference between adult an...
Mar 24, 2025•27 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Dr. Jason Del Gandio about the power of vibes in human interaction. As a professor, author, and expert on vibes, Jason explains how understanding and cultivating vibes can strengthen empathy, connection, and personal development—especially for health coaches working with clients. In this episode, you’ll discover: What “vibes” really are – How we unconsciously communicate through our energy and presence. The difference betwee...
Mar 17, 2025•23 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora sits down with husband-wife duo Jeffrey Kippel and Mindy Blackstien to discuss their journey in the fitness and wellness industry, the power of self-transformation, and their Do Ridiculous movement. They share how their work has evolved from a focus on physical fitness to a broader mission of mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Evolution of Fitness and Wellness – How Jeffrey and Mindy helped ...
Mar 11, 2025•21 min
In this milestone episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Tsao-Lin Moy, a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and fertility expert, about the benefits of integrating Eastern and Western medicine for women's health. Tsao-Lin shares how Chinese medicine can complement conventional treatments and empower individuals to cultivate balance, longevity, and overall well-being. In this episode, you’ll discover: How Chinese Medicine Differs from Western Medicine – The holistic appro...
Mar 03, 2025•49 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Debi Carlin Boyle, a certified health and nutrition coach, fitness expert, and podcast host. Debi shares her philosophy on aging young, maintaining a balanced life, and creating sustainable lifestyle habits that promote longevity and quality of life. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Concept of Aging Young: Why longevity isn’t just about living longer, but living better. Elements of a Balanced Life: How fitness, nutritio...
Feb 24, 2025•36 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Erica Bonham, a certified EMDR clinician, consultant, and trainer. Erica discusses the misconceptions around self-affirmations in trauma healing and the importance of nervous system regulation, somatic therapy, and EMDR for deep, lasting recovery. In this episode, you’ll discover: How Trauma Gets Stored in the Body: Why trauma doesn’t respond to logic and reasoning and how it manifests in different ways. The Role of Nervous ...
Feb 17, 2025•32 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Brian Sachetta, author of Get Out of Your Head, about practical strategies for managing anxiety and depression. Brian shares insights from his personal experience and research, offering a structured approach to improving mental health. In this episode, you’ll discover: Understanding Anxiety: What anxiety is and how it manifests in the body and mind. Breaking the Cycle of Fear: How anxiety feeds itself and ways to disrupt the...
Feb 10, 2025•49 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Marnie Dachis Marmet, board-certified health coach, author, and founder of Zenful Life Coaching. Marnie shares her approach to cultivating a balanced life, setting intentional goals, and making sustainable lifestyle changes that promote longevity, mindfulness, and holistic well-being. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to Cultivate a Balanced Life: Why setting intentional goals and identifying priorities is the foundation...
Feb 03, 2025•24 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Bruce Schutter, creator of the Mental Health Warrior Program. Bruce shares his deeply personal journey through bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and alcoholism, leading to the development of a revolutionary self-help approach for building mental resilience and overcoming life’s challenges. In this episode, you’ll discover: What is the Mental Health Warrior Program?: How Bruce’s real-life experiences inspired a self-help appro...
Jan 27, 2025•24 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Jude Sullivan, also known as "The Fitness Pastor." Jude shares his journey from a clinical exercise physiologist to empowering individuals through spirituality and health coaching. His unique approach combines faith, movement, and mindfulness to help clients find deeper purpose and holistic healing. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Interplay of Spirituality and Health: Why addressing spiritual well-being is a foundation...
Jan 20, 2025•18 min
EP293: Chronic Pain with Dr. Howard Schubiner In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Dr. Howard Schubiner, a clinical professor and pioneer in the treatment of chronic pain. Dr. Schubiner shares his groundbreaking insights on the science behind chronic pain and how addressing the brain’s role can lead to lasting relief for patients. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Brain’s Role in Pain: How predictive processing influences pain and why understanding this can...
Jan 13, 2025•38 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Nan Saysana, a life coach and former English teacher turned bodybuilding enthusiast. Nan shares her insights on how food plans can help individuals achieve their health goals and create a healthier, happier relationship with food. In this episode, you’ll discover: What is a Food Plan?: How food plans differ from traditional diets and why they focus on flexibility and sustainability. Overcoming External and Internal Challenge...
Jan 06, 2025•17 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Eric D’Agati, a veteran coach and trainer with over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry. Eric shares his insights on blending the science and art of fitness coaching to create personalized, effective training programs and discusses how fitness professionals can elevate their practices by breaking free from their silos. In this episode, you’ll discover: Breaking Free from Silos: How fitness professionals can expand...
Dec 30, 2024•23 min
In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Dr. Heather Kristian Strang, a mystic and metaphysical psychologist. Dr. Strang discusses the intersection of spirituality and health in coaching, offering profound insights into how spiritual coaching can lead to deeper and lasting transformations for clients. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Connection Between Spirituality and Health: How spiritual health impacts physical well-being and why addressing non-physical ele...
Dec 23, 2024•18 min
In this inspiring episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Terry Tucker, a speaker, author, and cancer warrior. Terry shares his journey of purpose, perseverance, and living with intentionality, as well as the foundational “4 Truths” that guide him to lead an extraordinary life. In this episode, you’ll discover: Redefining Purpose Throughout Life: How Terry’s purposes evolved, from being a college athlete to a police officer, to spreading positivity while battling cancer. ...
Dec 16, 2024•32 min
