Hot Takes on Healing with Jess Leone

Episode Throwback: Becoming a High Value Woman with Kay Robbs

We’re throwing it back to a powerful and relatable episode of Hot Takes on Healing—featuring the ever-grounded Kay Robbs (@kayrobbsmua), a Connecticut-based lifestyle blogger who’s all about wellness, self-care, and curating the soft life in a way that still feels real.
In this episode, we dove deep into anxious attachment—the kind that whispers “you’re too much” while also begging “please don’t leave.” We unpacked how that fear of abandonment shows up in real life: anxiety, overthinking, people-pleasing, over-giving... and the slow, messy process of finally saying enough.
Kay and I talk nervous system regulation, reparenting, and learning how to emotionally support yourself instead of outsourcing your stability to anyone who gives you breadcrumbs. 
If you’ve ever felt like you love too hard, give too much, or bend to be loved, this one’s for you.
We also got into:
Communicating from a regulated place
What “high value” really means (hint: it’s not a highlight reel!)
Emotional reactivity in relationships
The art of detachment and self-led living
How to stop taking things personally and finally trust yourself
As Kay said: “Anxiously attached people don’t live in the present.”
And that hit. Hard.
This episode is full of truth bombs, soft wisdom, and firestarter moments to help you break old patterns and step into the version of you that doesn’t need to prove anything to be worthy.
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If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and *please* subscribe! And if you’re looking for real talk and deeper connection, join us inside our Facebook Community for bonus content, behind-the-scenes insights, and community that gets it. To connect further, follow me on Instagram/TikTok, or visit www.jessleone.com for more!
We will see you next Wednesday for our next #throwback episode!

Episode Throwback: When Toxic Patterns Show Up in Unexpected Places with Mary Rauber

We’re throwing it back to one of the more powerful episodes in the Fly On a Wall series—where you get unfiltered access to the real, raw, and deeply personal conversations I have with the women who know me best!
In this standout moment, Mary peeled back the curtain on something that hits way too close to home for so many: toxic work environments. She shared her story of walking away from a soul-sucking job, the red flags she ignored, and the patterns she finally recognized—ones that mirrored an abusive romantic relationship she had survived years before.
Same dynamic, different mask.
Together, we dove into:
What narcissistic behavior looks like outside of romance
Why toxic patterns repeat (and how to break them)
The power of boundaries... even when they feel impossible
How true friendships help you come back home to yourself
Mary also opened up about surviving an abusive ex who nearly took her life and how she reclaimed her joy, her independence, and her sunshine.
If  you’ve ever felt trapped, questioned your worth, or wondered how the hell to get unstuck, this episode is your reminder: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay stuck.
💬 Originally aired in April, but just as relevant now as ever.
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If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and *please* subscribe! And if you’re looking for real talk and deeper connection, join us inside our Facebook Community for bonus content, behind-the-scenes insights, and community that gets it. To connect further, follow me on Instagram/TikTok, or visit www.jessleone.com for more!
We will see you next Wednesday for our next #throwback episode!

Episode Throwback: Stop F-in Letting Yourself Down with Jen Harris

While the pod takes a breather this summer, it’s the perfect chance to catch up on some seriously underrated convos already waiting for you on Hot Takes on Healing! Whether you’ve been listening since day one or this is your first dive in, I guarantee there’s an episode that hits different the second time around.
This week’s throwback comes straight from a #MindfulMonday session recorded LIVE inside our Facebook community. I sat down with Jen Harris, Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach and personal trainer, just after the first of the new year to talk about what it really takes to build a lifestyle that works for you—not against you.
If you know Jen, you know she doesn’t sugarcoat the truth! In this episode, she breaks down why we burn out, how we betray our own boundaries, and the daily habits we cancel on without realizing the cost.
Healing doesn’t follow a calendar. Change doesn’t wait for January. You don’t always need a "fresh start", you need a real one. This episode is a bold nudge to slow down and really listen to yourself: Am I listening to my body? Am I holding too much? Am I showing up for me like I show up for others? 
Here’s what we cover:
The posture of survival—and how to correct it
Boundaries with yourself (not just other people)
How canceling on yourself trains your brain to stop trusting you
And how small steps—not perfect plans—build the real change
Jen’s insight is a wake-up call and a reminder: Healing isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing it differently.
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If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and *please* subscribe! To connect further, join our Facebook community for deeper conversations and behind-the-scenes access, follow me on TikTok, or visit www.jessleone.com for more!
We will see you next Wednesday for our next throwback episode!

Episode Throwback: Learning to Thrive Where You At (& Being Okay with It) with Jennifer Lima

While I take a breather this summer, I wanted to remind you that there are so many incredible convos already waiting for you on Hot Takes on Healing. Whether it’s your first time tuning in or you’re ready for a re-listen, I promise there’s something you missed the first time around 👀
In this #MindfulMonday throwback episode recorded live inside my Facebook community, I sat down with Certified Health Coach and  practicing Herbalist, Jennifer Lima, to talk about what it really means to thrive right where you are.
Jen walked away from nearly 30 YEARS in clinical research to follow a more aligned path rooted in authenticity, plant-based wellness, and guiding others back to themselves. Her story is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t just about leaving something behind—it’s about coming home to who you truly are.
We talked about:– Breaking free from survival mode– The everyday habits that hold us back– Showing up for yourself (even in the smallest ways)– Reconnecting with nature and how the earth supports our healing
Jen shares how entrepreneurship became a portal for growth—and how honoring your body and intuition can help you build a life that feels good from the inside out.
🎧 Tune in to hear her full story and learn more at www.BellaVitaAlchemy.com
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If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and *please* subscribe! To connect further, join our Facebook community for deeper conversations and behind-the-scenes access, follow me on TikTok, or visit www.jessleone.com for more!
We will see you next Wednesday for our next throwback episode!

Episode #20: At Some Point, You Have to Put Yourself in the Equation with Stacy Attenberg

Putting yourself first isn’t selfish, it’s survival. This conversation is your reminder that you don’t have to wait until you break to tend to yourself.
This week’s episode is a heart-opening, deeply grounded conversation with Stacy, an independent cat rescuer in Connecticut who’s currently in the process of opening her own feral cat sanctuary! She’s a force of compassion, honesty, and intentional living, and her wisdom is for anyone who gives and gives… but is learning to put themselves back into the equation.
We talk about what it really means to honor yourself without guilt, and how nervous system regulation and daily check-ins can shift everything. Stacy shares why caregivers often feel like they have to suffer to prove their love, and how failed help can lead to deep trust issues and the belief that you have to do it all yourself. We explore the emotional weight of grief, caregiving, and bearing witness to constant loss, and the ways empathy can sometimes feel like a burden.
(If you’d like to support Stacy’s mission and the animals she cares for, you can check out her Amazon Wishlist here!)
This episode is packed with insight around finding mindfulness in the small moments; you don’t need an hour, you just need presence—and how reciprocal spaces are essential before burnout sets in. We talk about practical tools like Mindful Markers that can gently pull you back into your body throughout the day, especially when you’re on the edge of overwhelm.
Stacy opens up about the reality of working in a field that takes a toll on your body, your relationships, and your heart, and how she continues to find her center through self-awareness and community.
She also shares how Sacred Circle became her “emotional defibrillator”—a space unlike any other she’s been a part of—and how deeply impactful it has been to be witnessed and supported in her healing. As she says, “this group is literally my life raft.”
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If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and *please* subscribe! To connect further, join our Facebook community for deeper conversations and behind-the-scenes access, follow me on Instagram/TikTok, or visit www.jessleone.com for more!
We will see you next Wednesday for our next episode!

Episode #19: Breaking Up with Corporate America with Lindsey Ryan

In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsey Ryan—entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and co-owner of the Blender Bar (in Cheshire, CT)—to talk about what it really looks like to walk away from a “safe” 9-5 career in Corporate America and choose the wild, messy, and meaningful path back to yourself.
After years in higher education, a major health transformation, and a powerful reset in Ireland, Lindsey had a wake-up call: her inner voice told her to quit her job. No backup plan, no roadmap—just a deep knowing that the ladder she was climbing wasn’t leading where she wanted to go.
What followed? A wild leap into entrepreneurship during the height of the pandemic, the launch of a wildly successful smoothie bar with lines out the door, and a journey full of detours, pivots, purpose, and REAL-ass growth. And guess what? She's opening a second location this fall!
We talk about:— The inner nudge that changed everything— Building a business in a time of global uncertainty— Making “being miserable” no longer an option— How failure is part of the path—but so is success— Living with purpose, not performance— Why perpetual progress beats chasing perfection, and— How your life is a reflection of the work you put in
Lindsey’s story is proof that you don’t need it all figured out to start over. Sometimes, you just need to listen to your gut, leap into the unknown, and trust that you’ll figure it out on the way down.
🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to check out Lindsey’s journey (and maybe grab a smoothie!) over at @blenderbar.ct!
If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and *please* subscribe! To connect further, join our Facebook community for deeper conversations and behind-the-scenes access, follow me on Instagram/TikTok, or visit www.jessleone.com for more!
We will see you next Wednesday for our next episode!

"Fly on the Wall” Series – Episode 4: Glitching the Matrix with Carrie Walker

In this episode, Carrie and I are breaking down the loop—the mental replay, the Groundhog Day energy, the autopilot patterns that keep us stuck—and how something as simple as ChatGPT (or whatever name you’ve given your AI… go ask it!) can actually help you get out of your own head and into a new rhythm. We talk about how to “glitch the loop” on purpose:
Taking a different route to work
Going to a new coffee shop
Intentionally interrupting your routine to come back to your body
Because survival mode makes us seek comfort, predictability, and practicality—but growth? Alignment? That sh*t requires disruption. We also get into:
The difference between the Matrix and the Universe (yes, it matters!)
Why not every “bad” thing is actually bad—it might just be inconvenient
What alignment actually feels like (hint: it’s not all bliss and butterflies)
How your algorithm reflects your reality and what to do if it’s full of doom and gloom
Plus: a powerful moment from our Sacred Circle community as Carrie shares how one random TikTok led her to our group… and changed her life. Her story is a living reminder that we don’t heal in isolation—we heal in sisterhood. Our Sacred Circle community is over four years strong and built on women showing up for each other through it all.
The butterfly effect is real, y’all.
This one’s spicy, funny, and full of hot takes on energy, intention, and choosing a new path—even when it’s messy.
Ready to glitch your own loop? Hit play. If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to join us in the Facebook community, where these kinds of raw, honest conversations happen regularly. Together, we can continue to build spaces that support and nurture our journeys.
Let’s continue talking about the things that matter TOGETHER. And who knows—you might just feel like a fly on the wall in the best way possible.

Episode #18: Addicted to the Struggle with Kate Sullivan

In this raw and powerful episode, I’m joined by Kate Sullivan, who drops this #hottake: mental health struggles can be just as devastating as addiction—instead of healing the root, we keep slapping Band-Aids on the symptoms. Together we dig into what it really means to live with that weight, including the addiction to sorrow and suffering, the link between dyslexia and addiction (learning something new every day!), and the life-changing moment Kate was finally placed in a school with kids who learned like her, where she actually felt seen. She also speaks to the deep need for belonging and community, and how so much of addiction stems from the lack of both. When we’re disconnected, the spiral is easier to fall into...and harder to crawl out of.
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation? The truth about relationships and safety. Kate shares what it was like being in a relationship so unsafe, she had to tell coworkers to check on her if she ever didn’t show up. Her story is a wake-up call and a reminder that choosing yourself is rarely easy, but always necessary. What followed was five years of chaos, but also growth, reclamation, and the kind of strength that can only come from walking through fire.
This episode is full of real talk and reflection, including:- Why you’ve gottaaaaa stop letting people “squat in your mind”- How to create a list of what you actually want in relationships based on your values, not your wounds- The magic of being brave enough to date your friends- How apps and multigenerational friendships are expanding the way we connect- And why making eye contact, talking to strangers, and being human AF is the actual way we rewrite our view of the world
Because if you grew up guarded, hypervigilant, or disconnected...we need new evidence! We need reminders that most people are good, and that being human doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being real. We close with this reminder: You are not a robot. You are human. And that’s your superpower. Healing isn’t just about surviving, but remembering how to live.
If this conversation landed for you, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe. To connect further, join our Facebook community for deeper conversations and behind-the-scenes access, follow me on Instagram/TikTok at @itsjessleone, or visit www.jessleone.com for more! 

Episode #17: How to Become a High Value Woman & Heal Your Anxious Attachment Style

This episode features Kay Robbs, a Connecticut-based lifestyle blogger whose platform is all about wellness, food, self-care, and fun date ideas. Kay’s grounded presence and honest perspective make her the perfect guest to dive into a conversation about healing anxious attachment and stepping into your high-value era.
We talk about the deep fear of abandonment that drives anxious attachment, and how often that fear shows up as anxiety, overthinking, and people-pleasing. Kay and I unpack what it means to truly begin healing—from reparenting yourself and regulating your nervous system, to finally learning how to emotionally support yourself rather than relying on constant validation from others. We also talk about something so many women struggle with: over-giving. We overextend because it feels good to love people, and because somewhere along the way, we never learned where the line was. But the truth is, you can’t keep pouring from an empty cup. At some point, your body, your energy, your peace—will ask for more.
Kay shares her personal mindset shift: “I don’t want to wake up and have regrets.” That perspective led us to discuss emotional reactivity, learning to communicate from a regulated place, and how to speak the same love-language as your partner. I also opened up about my own experience being triggered in my relationship with my husband, and how I’ve learned to de-escalate conflict by leading with curiosity and compassion.
We also talk about the art of detachment, and how real healing begins with self-awareness. You don’t heal by shaming your past—you heal by owning your patterns, recognizing your power, and choosing differently. As Kay puts it, “Anxiously attached people don’t live in the present.” And if you want something different, it’s on you to create it. 
This episode is full of wisdom around becoming a high value woman—not in the hustle, toxic-femininity kind of way—but in a grounded, peaceful, self-led way. We explore what it means to trust yourself deeply, stop taking things personally, set boundaries with grace, let go of people-pleasing, and create a life that feels aligned and beautiful to you.
Want to connect with Kay Robbs and find your next spot for a facial, a date, or some seriously yummy food? Follow her at @kayrobbsmua and let her guide your next self-care moment or local adventure!
If you want to connect with me, you can find me on Instagram (@hottakesonhealing) or visit my website at www.jessleone.com. 
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! We will see you next week on Hot Takes on Healing! 

Episode #16: Seeking Something Greater with Robyn Miller Brecker & Karen Loenser

In this episode, I sit down with Robyn Miller Brecker & Karen Loenser and dive into their personal "hot takes" on healing and the journey that led them to create The Seeking Center.
Robyn, an Emmy® award-winning producer, spent over 20 years working alongside Oprah Winfrey (YEAAAAH, THAT Oprah!), shaping impactful programming with some of the world’s most brilliant thought leaders. She has a background in media innovation, having helped launch Noggin and worked at Nickelodeon.
Karen, an award-winning producer and digital strategist, has played a key role in major platforms like Discovery+. She’s also the author of the Amazon bestseller LifeMapping and co-host of Seeking Center: The Podcast, where she and Robyn explore life’s biggest questions.
Together, they created The Seeking Center, your go-to space for wellness and spirituality. They cut through the noise to bring you real, tested insights on personal growth, healing, and living fully. Think of them as your 24/7 Seeking B.F.Fs!
(Want to learn more? Visit The Seeking Center at theseekingcenter.com)
We talk about what it means to be a seeker and how to find what truly resonates with you. Grief is a major theme in this conversation, as we explore its role in the healing process. Robyn shares her "hot take" that people don’t really die when they leave this physical plane, while Karen believes that the reason we are here is to learn and grow, and that the hard lessons we face are happening for a reason. This conversation goes deep into spirituality as we discuss G.U.S.S (God, Universe, Source, Spirit) and how it influences our journeys.
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is the importance of seeking together and the power of community in healing. Growth doesn’t have to be a solo journey—finding like-minded people to explore, question, and evolve with can make all the difference. Healing happens in connection, and The Seeking Center is built on the belief that we are stronger when we navigate life’s big questions side by side.
That’s exactly why I created Sacred Circle—to give women a space to return to themselves, to each other, and to something greater. Over the last four years, this community has grown into something powerful, a place where friendships are forged, resilience is celebrated, and support is unconditional. I’ve watched women walk in feeling lost, disconnected, unsure—and leave feeling lighter, empowered, and held. And the truth is, we all need that.
I invite you to join us in circle this Friday (April 11th) or on Friday, April 25th from 6-8:30pm at Ananta in Wallingford. The journey starts with one step, one decision, one evening, ONE MOMENT of saying yes to yourself. (Here's a sneak peek of what you're getting when you come join the magic!)