Navigating College Admissions | The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast

Welcome back, Positively Healthy Moms! In this episode, host Laura Ollinger sits down with Jenna Schebell, founder of The College Navigators, to demystify today’s college-admissions landscape and equip families with the clarity and confidence they need.

What you’ll learn

• How to stop overwhelm by focusing on what you can control in the application process
• Why colleges care more about context than raw GPA or test scores
• Depth over breadth: building a meaningful activities list that truly stands out
• The real purpose of the personal essay and how to keep it authentic
• Understanding institutional priorities, enrollment trends, and why acceptance rates keep shifting
• Practical tips for crafting a balanced college list that fits academic, financial, and personal goals
• When working with a college consultant makes sense—and plenty of free resources if it doesn’t

Key moments

00:02 Introduction and Jenna’s dual perspective (admissions + high-school counseling)

08:45 GPA vs. SAT and why context matters

14:30 Building a list you’ll love—even if every “reach” says no

22:05 Post-COVID shifts: why Southern and SEC schools exploded in popularity

29:50 “Big fish, small pond?” How campus culture shapes success

36:40 Writing essays that sound like you (and no one else)

45:55 Services Jenna offers: 1-on-1 advising, group coaching, and application reviews

52:10 Final takeaways for parents and teens

Connect with Jenna Schebell

Instagram: @thecollegenavigators

Free guides and timelines: https://thecollegenavigators.com

Connect with Laura Ollinger

Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoach

Podcast archives and coaching programs: https://positivelyhealthycoaching.com

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Welcome back to another nourishing episode of The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast!

In this powerful conversation, your host Laura Ollinger is joined once again by Marquelle Brown—functional medicine nutritionist and betrayal trauma coach—for a deep dive into how food, energy, and emotion are connected.

Marquelle shares:
✅ How the 7 energy systems (chakras) relate to specific foods
✅ The impact of trauma on brain health, mood, and digestion
✅ Simple tools to help regulate the nervous system (like Havening and orienting)
✅ How color, creativity, and intention can support emotional healing
✅ Why small, consistent shifts in your diet and mindset really do matter

Whether you're healing from emotional wounds or just trying to feel more grounded and nourished as a mom, this episode is full of soul-fueling insights that meet you right where you are.

👉 If this conversation spoke to you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who needs a little extra nourishment today.

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#PositivelyHealthyMom #MarquelleBrown #FunctionalMedicineMom #ChakraNutrition #FoodMoodConnection #MindBodyHealing #BetrayalTraumaRecovery #EatTheRainbow #MomSelfCareMatters #HealingWithFood

Welcome back to another nourishing episode of The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast!

In this empowering conversation, your host Laura Olinger sits down with Coach Eric Stenlake—Teen & Parent Coach and part of the Positively Healthy Coaching team—to redefine what confidence truly means for teens and parents.

Eric shares:
✅ Why confidence isn’t about perfection but self-acceptance
✅ How to help teens shift their inner dialogue and challenge self-criticism
✅ The difference between parents being a provider, protector, or pathway
✅ How parents can model healthy confidence through vulnerability and accountability
✅ Practical tools to slow down, ask better questions, and build confidence one small win at a time

Whether you're raising a teen who struggles with self-esteem, or you're working on your own parenting confidence, this episode is filled with real stories, simple strategies, and powerful mindset shifts to support your family.

🎧 Watch the full episode now: Redefining Confidence with Coach Eric Stenlake

👉 If this episode resonates with you, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with the moms in your circle!

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#PositivelyHealthyMom #RedefiningConfidence #ParentingTeens #TeenSelfEsteem #MindfulParenting #CoachEricStenlake #ParentingSupport #MomSelfCareMatters #PeacefulParenting #ConfidenceIsAProcess

Welcome back to another nourishing episode of The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast!
In this heartfelt conversation, your host Laura Olinger is joined by Carrie Lingenfelter—speech therapist, mindful parenting advocate, and host of the Heart to Heart Parents Podcast—as they explore what it really takes to raise kids with presence and compassion, while staying connected to yourself as a parent.

Carrie shares:
✅ Her personal journey from perfectionism to presence in motherhood
✅ How childhood wounds and generational patterns show up in everyday parenting
✅ The concept of the “capacities bucket” and how to protect your energy
✅ How to shift from control to connection with your kids
✅ Simple practices like meditation, active self-care, and letting go of outside opinions

Whether you're raising toddlers, tweens, or teens, this episode is packed with powerful reflections and practical tools to support your parenting journey with more calm, confidence, and care.

🎧 Listen to Carrie’s podcast: Heart to Heart Parents
🌐 Learn more: hearttoheartlife.com

👉 If this episode resonates with you, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with the moms in your circle!

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#PositivelyHealthyMom #MindfulParenting #MomBurnoutRecovery #ConsciousMotherhood #CarrieLingenfelter #HeartToHeartParents #MomSelfCareMatters #ParentingSupport #BreakTheCycle #PeacefulParenting

🎙️ Welcome to The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast! 🌟

In this episode, your host, Laura Olinger, is joined by Sophia Torrini, a certified clinical EFT practitioner and NCS trainer with Dr. Joe Dispenza, to explore the transformative power of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT or tapping) for busy moms.

✨ In This Episode:

Sophia dives into how clinical EFT and Neurochange Solutions (NCS) can support moms in their journey to emotional well-being.

We discuss:

1. How EFT can quickly release feelings of overwhelm and stress.
2. The connection between emotions and limiting beliefs.
3. Simple tapping techniques for immediate relief.
4. Breaking free from generational emotional patterns.
5. Creating a calmer, more present state for both yourself and your family.

If you’re a mom feeling the weight of daily responsibilities, this episode is packed with practical tools and insights to help you manage stress and feel more centered.

🎧 Tune in for actionable steps to bring more peace into your life today!

Follow us on social media: Facebook: Positively Healthy Coaching https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEBDR52Ub/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching https://www.instagram.com/positivelyhealthycoaching?igsh=MWpnejF2YTIxbzhnYg==

#EFT #EmotionalFreedomTechniques #StressRelief #MomLife #SelfCare #ParentingSupport #Mindfulness #TappingForMoms #PositivelyHealthyMom

🎙️ Welcome to The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast! 🌟

In this episode, Laura Olinger chats with Dr. Matt Bernstein, a leading psychiatrist, about the powerful connection between food, metabolism, and mental health.

✨ In This Episode: Dr. Bernstein shares his personal story of his sons' health challenges and how it changed his approach to psychiatry.

We explore the surprising impact of food and metabolic treatments on severe mental illness. Insights into autoimmune conditions, PANDAS, and the importance of pursuing alternative explanations for health issues.

Practical advice for parents on recognizing signs and advocating for their children's health.
🎧 Tune in to discover a new perspective on mental health and healing!

Follow us on social media: Facebook: Positively Healthy Coaching https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEBDR52Ub/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching https://www.instagram.com/positivelyhealthycoaching?igsh=MWpnejF2YTIxbzhnYg== #MetabolicPsychiatry #MentalHealthAwareness #AutoimmuneDisease #FunctionalMedicine #ParentingSupport #ChildhoodIllness #HolisticHealth #FoodAsMedicine #MentalWellness #AlternativeMedicine #PositivelyHealthyMom

🎙 Welcome to The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast! 🌟

In this episode, Laura Olinger chats with Renaye Thornborrow, founder of Adventures in Wisdom, about empowering kids with mindset skills through story-based life coaching.

✨ In This Episode:

How life coaching builds kids' confidence, resilience & self-esteem

Simple ways parents can use coaching at home

Inspiring success stories from real families

The difference between therapy and coaching

Why live connection matters in today’s tech-driven world

🎧 Tune in and grab your free story at adventuresinwisdom.com!

👉 If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow parents!

Follow us on social media:
Facebook: Positively Healthy Coaching
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEBDR52Ub/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching
https://www.instagram.com/positivelyhealthycoaching?igsh=MWpnejF2YTIxbzhnYg==

#PositivelyHealthyMom #ParentingExecutiveFunction #ElaineTaylorKlaus #ImpactParents #PositiveParenting #NeurodiverseTeens #ConsciousParenting
#LifeCoachingForKids #MindsetMatters #EmpoweredParenting #ConfidenceForKids #PositiveParenting #RaisingResilientKids #ParentCoach #ChildDevelopment #EmotionalWellness #SelfEsteemBoost #ScreenFreeParenting #MindfulParenting #MomPodcast #ParentingTools #ParentingSupport #KidsMentalHealth

Welcome to another insightful episode of the “The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast” Today, your host Laura Ollinger sits down with Elaine Taylor-Klaus, CEO and co-founder of ImpactParents.com, to explore the Parenting Executive Function—a powerful approach to guiding teens, especially those with complex needs, toward independence and success. Elaine shares her journey as a mom of three "complex kids" and how discovering the coach approach to parentingtransformed her family dynamic.

Learn how to:

Shift from directing to collaborating with your teen
Set effective boundaries and limits without power struggles

Foster independence and resilience through empowered problem-solving

Create a positive, strength-based parenting environment Whether you’re raising a teen with ADHD, anxiety, or other challenges—or simply looking to strengthen your parenting skills—this episode is packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss!
Learn more about Elaine’s work & resources: impactparents.com/podcast

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow parents! Follow us on social media: Facebook: Positively Healthy Coaching

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEBDR52Ub/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching

https://www.instagram.com/positivelyhealthycoaching?igsh=MWpnejF2YTIxbzhnYg==

#PositivelyHealthyMom #ParentingExecutiveFunction #ElaineTaylorKlaus #ImpactParents #PositiveParenting #NeurodiverseTeens #ConsciousParenting