• Ep. 45: Plant Medicine, Trauma & Integration: A Deeper Look at Healing
    May 6 2026

    In this deeply personal and expansive conversation, JJ and Tawney take the healing discussion to the next level—exploring plant medicine, addiction, emotional trauma, and true integration.

    Tawney shares the raw story of her first mushroom journey and how it became a turning point that shifted everything—from how she saw herself, to how she built her business and community.

    JJ expands on the role of psychedelics in emotional healing, the nervous system, and why most people stay stuck—even after years of personal development work.

    💡 What You’ll Learn
    • How plant medicine can create breakthroughs when nothing else works
    • The difference between intellectual healing vs embodied transformation
    • Why addiction isn’t about substances—it’s about what you’re avoiding
    • How trauma shuts down parts of the brain (and how to reopen them)
    • What “ego death” really means—and why it matters
    • The role of integration (and why most people skip it)
    • How your inner world directly impacts your business and success

    🧠 Key Takeaways

    1. Healing Isn’t About Learning—It’s About Experiencing

    You can study healing for years and still stay stuck.

    “I had heard everything before—but this time I felt it.”

    True transformation happens when the body integrates what the mind already knows.

    2. Addiction Is Deeper Than Substances

    Addiction isn’t just drugs or alcohol—it’s:

    • Control
    • Workaholism
    • People-pleasing
    • Avoidance

    “We all have addictions—and most of them are socially acceptable.”

    3. You Can’t Heal in Survival Mode

    When your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight:

    • You can’t access healing
    • You can’t think clearly
    • You can’t change patterns

    This is why many people stay stuck—even when they “know better.”

    4. Plant Medicine Can Bypass the Noise

    Psychedelics (when used intentionally) can:

    • Quiet the analytical mind
    • Open new neural pathways
    • Allow suppressed emotions to surface
    • Create direct connection to truth and source

    “There was nothing louder than my internal voice—until that experience.”

    5. Integration Is Everything

    The breakthrough isn’t the end—it’s the beginning.

    Without integration:

    • Insights fade
    • Patterns return
    • Nothing actually changes

    Real healing happens in the weeks and months after.

    6. You Always Have a Choice

    One of the most powerful realizations:

    • You are not stuck
    • You are not powerless
    • You are choosing—consciously or unconsciously

    “You are the creator—you just haven’t felt it yet.”⚖️ The Bigger Conversation

    This episode isn’t just about psychedelics—it’s about:

    • Why people stay stuck in pain
    • Why awareness doesn’t equal change
    • And how to move from knowing → embodying → becoming

    🔥 Final Takeaway

    You don’t need more information.

    You need integration, experience, and truth that lands in your body.

    Healing isn’t about escaping your pain—

    …it’s about finally facing it, feeling it, and choosing differently.

    🎯 Who This Episode Is For
    • Women doing “all the work” but still feeling stuck
    • High achievers with hidden emotional patterns
    • Anyone curious about plant medicine and deeper healing
    • Those ready to move from coping → transformation

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    1 hr
  • Ep. 44: Are You Your Own Healer? The Truth About Healing vs Coaching
    Apr 29 2026

    In this deep and honest conversation, JJ and Tawney unpack the popular phrase “you are your own healer”—and why it’s both empowering and incomplete.

    They explore the balance between self-awareness and external support, breaking down when inner work is essential… and when you need guidance, coaching, or new frameworks to actually create change.

    💡 What You’ll Learn
    • What “being your own healer” really means
    • Why self-awareness alone doesn’t create transformation
    • The difference between healing, coaching, and integration
    • How early programming (ages 0–7) shapes your patterns
    • Why most people can’t see their own blind spots
    • When it’s time to stop doing it alone and seek support

    🧠 Key Takeaways

    1. You Have to Be With Yourself First

    Healing begins with learning to sit with your thoughts, emotions, and body—without distraction or avoidance.

    2. But You Can’t Heal What You Can’t See

    Even highly self-aware people miss their own patterns. Without new perspectives or tools, growth can stall.

    “You can sit with yourself for years and still not see the pattern.”

    3. Your Patterns Were Programmed Early

    Most of your beliefs were formed before age 7—meaning your reactions today are often unconscious and automatic.

    4. Healing = Change in Real Time

    True healing isn’t just understanding your story—it’s being different in the same situation.

    5. Coaching Provides What You Can’t Access Alone

    A great coach doesn’t heal you—they:

    • Reflect your blind spots
    • Offer new frameworks
    • Help you take aligned action

    ⚖️ The Truth About Self-Healing

    “You are your own healer” can feel empowering…

    but for many, it’s overwhelming without the right tools or support.

    “Some people don’t know how to get out of their own cycle.”

    The real growth path is:

    ➡️ Learn to know yourself

    ➡️ Integrate what you learn

    ➡️ Get support where you’re stuck

    🔥 Final Takeaway

    You are responsible for your healing…

    but you’re not meant to do it alone.

    🎯 Who This Episode Is For
    • Women who feel stuck despite doing “the work”
    • High achievers ready for deeper emotional integration
    • Anyone wondering if they need coaching or support
    • Those ready to move from awareness → transformation

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    57 mins
  • Ep. 43: The Joyful Success Coach with Julie Kraschinky
    Apr 22 2026

    In this inspiring conversation, JJ sits down with entrepreneur, coach, and community builder Julie Kraschinsky to explore what it really takes to trust yourself, take bold leaps, and build a business aligned with joy, intuition, and purpose.

    Julie shares her journey from corporate sales, to 30 years in direct sales leadership, to building a thriving coaching practice rooted in faith, possibility, and what she calls Joyful Momentum.

    In This Episode We Discuss:
    • How Julie’s entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly through direct sales
    • The lessons she learned leading teams, earning 14 career cars, and developing as a leader
    • How divorce, uncertainty, and personal hardship became catalysts for reinvention
    • Why “the bigger risk may be staying where you are”
    • The role of intuition, faith, and taking leaps before you feel fully ready
    • Why life and business can’t be separated in true coaching and growth
    • The emotional patterns that often hold entrepreneurs back more than strategy does
    • Why community, support, and surrounding yourself with people who elevate you matters
    • How COVID unexpectedly expanded opportunities for connection and business growth
    • Julie’s GPS — Genius Power System and how listening inward creates momentum
    • Why money should not be the reason you abandon a dream
    • Julie’s belief that make the decision first — the money can figure itself out

    Favorite Quotes from the Episode

    “You’re always believing in something — either it can work, or it can’t. Why not believe it can?”

    “Don’t let your bank account tell you what your dream is pulling you to do.”

    “You are not doing business alone. Lock arms with people who help elevate you.”

    “Make the decision first. The money figures itself out.”

    Resources Mentioned

    Julie’s Entrepreneurial Assessment

    🌐 juliekcoaching.com/assessment

    Gifted Coaching Session with Julie

    🌐 juliekcoaching.com/gifted

    Learn More About Julie

    🌐 juliekcoaching.com

    Connect with Julie Kraschinsky

    (Use Julie’s website as your main connection hub for socials, events, and the Joyful Momentum Collective.)

    🌐 juliekcoaching.com

    Connect with JJ Flizanes

    🌐 https://jjflizanes.com

    Free Feelings & Needs List:

    🌐 https://jjflizanes.com/feelingslist

    Learn more about the Empowering Minds Network

    🌐 https://jjflizanes.com

    About West Coast Women Rising

    West Coast Women Rising features conversations with women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers sharing honest stories, practical wisdom, and the mindset shifts that help women rise in business and in life.

    If this episode resonated, share it with a woman in your circle who may be standing at the edge of her next leap.

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    37 mins
  • Ep. 42: Integrative Acupuncture with Pauline Torrey-Magret
    Apr 15 2026

    In this episode of West Coast Women Rising, JJ Flizanes sits down with Pauline Torrey-Magret, an integrative medicine practitioner based in Ventura, to explore the deeper layers of healing beyond conventional medicine. Pauline shares her extraordinary journey from growing up on a holistic farm in France to becoming a doctor of Oriental medicine, weaving together bodywork, acupuncture, functional medicine, and spiritual inquiry.

    From Pharmaceuticals to Purpose

    Pauline began her career in the pharmaceutical industry, where she quickly became disillusioned with a system focused on symptom management rather than true healing. A pivotal moment with a cardiologist-rabbi sparked a life-changing question: What existed before Western medicine? This question launched her lifelong quest into natural, ancestral, and integrative healing modalities.

    A Global Journey into Holistic Medicine

    Her path led her from France to California, where she immersed herself in somatic bodywork, psychology, and energy healing. Over decades, Pauline studied:

    • Traditional Chinese Medicine & acupuncture
    • Functional and nutritional medicine
    • Herbal medicine (Eastern and Western)
    • Comparative religion and spiritual philosophy
    • Meditation, including intensive training in a Thai monastery

    This diverse background shaped her belief that healing must address the physical, emotional, mental, energetic, and spiritual bodies simultaneously.

    Healing Through Relationship, Not Protocol

    Unlike many practitioners, Pauline emphasizes that medicine is an art, not a formula. She rejects one-size-fits-all “standard of care” approaches and instead focuses on deep, individualized healing through:

    • Presence and intuitive listening
    • Somatic awareness and body-based healing
    • Emotional processing and trauma acknowledgment
    • Energetic alignment and consciousness work

    Her work is rooted in relationship—helping clients uncover root causes rather than just treating symptoms.

    The Power (and Confusion) of Touch

    Pauline highlights the often-overlooked importance of touch as a primary human need. Through her early bodywork training, she discovered how people’s history with touch—healthy or traumatic—can be felt and addressed through the body. She emphasizes that learning how to receive safe, intentional touch is just as important as giving it.

    East Meets West: The Future of Medicine

    With experience in both Western and Eastern systems, Pauline sees a major gap in modern healthcare: the lack of integration. While Western medicine excels in acute care, it often fails to address root causes. True healing, she believes, requires bridging both worlds—combining science, intuition, and consciousness.

    How Pauline Describes Her Work

    When asked to define what she does in just a few seconds, Pauline says:

    “My work is to facilitate awareness to consciousness… working with the physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual bodies.”Business Wisdom for Healers & Entrepreneurs

    For those building a purpose-driven business, Pauline shares powerful advice:

    • Start with a clear vision—see and feel the future you’re creating
    • Develop consistency through practice—mastery comes from doing the work
    • Find your tribe—not every community will support your growth
    • Stay curious and committed—your evolution never ends

    She emphasizes that success isn’t just about skill—it’s about alignment, resilience, and surrounding yourself with the right people.

    Key Takeaways
    • Healing is multidimensional—address all layers of the self
    • Root cause matters more than symptom management
    • True medicine is both science and art
    • Consciousness and awareness are central to transformation
    • Your environment and community can make or break your growth

    Connect & Learn More

    Pauline offers both in-person and remote sessions, working deeply with clients ready for transformation at the root level.

    http://i-am.care

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    50 mins
  • Ep. 41: Overwhelm and Boundaries
    Apr 8 2026

    In this raw and deeply honest conversation, JJ Flizanes and Tawny Noriega explore the real root of overwhelm—and why it’s often not about boundaries, but self-abandonment.

    Through personal stories, emotional breakthroughs, and practical insights, they unpack how high self-awareness can sometimes mask unhealthy patterns, why telling the truth is the key to freedom, and how to stop taking responsibility for everything in your reality.

    This episode is a powerful invitation to reclaim your energy, redefine your boundaries, and step into a more aligned, empowered version of yourself.

    💡 What You’ll Learn
    • Why overwhelm is often a symptom of self-abandonment
    • The hidden trap of “being self-aware” while still avoiding truth
    • How not speaking your truth creates resentment and burnout
    • The difference between your responsibility vs. others’ responsibility
    • Why taking ownership of everything in your reality can be exhausting
    • How to discern what’s yours to process—and what’s not
    • The role of truth-telling in emotional freedom and healthy relationships
    • How to hold space for others without losing yourself
    • Why clarity doesn’t equal speed in healing or manifestation
    • How to stay aligned with your desired frequency—even when life isn’t resolved

    🧠 Key Takeaways1. It’s Not a Boundary Problem—It’s Self-Abandonment

    Many people think they struggle with boundaries, but the deeper issue is saying yes when it’s not true—and abandoning themselves in the process.

    2. Self-Awareness Can Become a Trap

    Constantly internalizing everything as “mine to fix” leads to emotional exhaustion and an endless loop of processing.

    3. Not Everything Is Yours to Heal

    Just because something shows up in your reality doesn’t mean it’s yours to own. Learning to distinguish between your work and others’ work is essential.

    4. The Truth You Don’t Say Becomes Resentment

    Avoiding honesty to protect others often leads to emotional buildup—and eventually, burnout or emotional explosions.

    5. Overwhelm Comes from Power Loss

    When you feel at the mercy of others’ needs or expectations, you lose your sense of control. Reclaiming your space and authority changes everything.

    6. You Can Hold Space Without Losing Yourself

    Compassion doesn’t mean overextending. Healthy relationships require mutual exchange, not one-sided emotional labor.

    7. Clarity Doesn’t Speed Up Reality

    Processing quickly doesn’t mean outcomes will resolve faster. Learning to stay grounded in your state—regardless of timing—is the next level.

    8. You Get to Choose Your Frequency

    You cannot control the world, but you can choose how you show up in it. Growth requires deciding:

    👉 Who do I want to be in this moment?

    ✨ Powerful Quotes
    • “It’s not that I had a boundary problem—I had a self-abandonment pattern.”
    • “I wasn’t telling the truth, so it kept bottling up.”
    • “Just because it shows up doesn’t mean it’s mine to fix.”
    • “You have to make peace with where you are before it can change.”
    • “Who do I want to be right now, regardless of what’s happening?”

    🛠️ Practical Applications
    • Start noticing where you say “yes” when you mean “no”
    • Practice telling the truth earlier—before resentment builds
    • Ask: Is this mine to carry, or am I taking this on unnecessarily?
    • Create boundaries around who you hold space for
    • Focus on your internal state, not external resolution
    • Choose your response consciously in each moment

    ❤️ Final Reflection

    Growth isn’t about fixing everything—it’s about becoming someone who no longer abandons themselves.

    When you stop taking responsibility for everything—and start telling the truth—you free up energy, clarity, and alignment for what truly matters.

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    53 mins
  • Ep. 40: Outgrowing the Life and Business That Made You Successful
    Apr 1 2026

    What happens when you’ve achieved everything you thought you wanted… and it still doesn’t feel right?

    In this powerful conversation, JJ Flizanes joins Allison Lane to unpack the hidden experience so many high-achieving women face—but rarely talk about: outgrowing the very life they worked so hard to build.

    From anxiety and burnout to the quiet feeling of “this can’t be it,” this episode dives into why success can start to feel empty—and what’s actually underneath it.

    Together, JJ and Allison explore the deeper emotional, psychological, and subconscious patterns that keep brilliant women stuck, invisible, or second-guessing their next move—even when they know they’re meant for more.

    If you’ve ever felt disconnected, restless, or unsure of your next chapter… this conversation will help you understand why—and what becomes possible when you finally listen to that inner call.

    🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
    1. Why high-achieving women often feel unfulfilled after reaching success
    2. The difference between burnout vs. outgrowing your current life
    3. How subconscious beliefs and core wounds drive overachievement
    4. Why “mindset work” alone isn’t enough—and what actually creates change
    5. The hidden role of addiction to achievement, control, and validation
    6. Signs you’re repressing your true purpose (and how it shows up physically and emotionally)
    7. Why visibility feels so hard—and how fear of judgment keeps you playing small
    8. The truth about needing more certifications, degrees, or “permission”
    9. What happens when you finally align with your purpose, passion, and dharma
    10. How to move from confusion and stagnation into clarity, energy, and momentum

    🚨 Key Takeaways
    1. Success built on external validation or compensation will eventually feel empty
    2. Anxiety, burnout, and even physical symptoms can be signs of misalignment
    3. You don’t need more credentials—you need clarity and alignment
    4. You are not for everyone—and hiding keeps the right people from finding you
    5. Growth requires stepping through discomfort, not avoiding it
    6. When you align with your truth, life becomes lighter, more energized, and more supported

    💡 JJ’s Core Insight“If you are hiding from the 10% who won’t like you, you’re also hiding from the people who need you most.”🌱 What Becomes Possible

    When you stop ignoring that inner knowing and start listening:

    1. You feel lighter and more energized
    2. Your nervous system begins to calm
    3. Opportunities and alignment start showing up
    4. You gain clarity on your purpose and next steps
    5. You move from performing… to truly living your truth

    🎯 Invitation

    If this episode resonated with you, you are not alone—and you are not stuck.

    JJ and Allison are hosting a live masterclass to go deeper into this conversation:

    👉 Why Brilliant Women Stay Invisible (and How to Step Into Your Next Level)

    📅 April 10

    🔗 Register: jjflizanes.com/brilliantwomen

    🎟️ Use the free VIP code JJFREE

    💬 About the Guest

    Allison Lane helps accomplished women expand their visibility, authority, and impact—guiding them from industry experts to recognized thought leaders through books, media, and strategic positioning.

    💫 About JJ Flizanes

    JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist, author, and podcast host who helps people heal emotional patterns, uncover core wounds, and align with their purpose to create lasting transformation.

    🔊 Final Thought

    If you’ve been quietly wondering, “Is this all there is?”

    That question isn’t a problem.

    It’s the beginning of your next evolution.

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    49 mins
  • Ep. 39: Louise Bretz and Bretz Financial Wellness Coaching
    Mar 25 2026

    In this episode of West Coast Women Rising, JJ sits down with financial coach Louise Bretz to explore the deeply personal and often emotional relationship we have with money.

    Louise shares her journey from running a dance studio and accumulating significant debt to transforming her life through financial education and ultimately becoming a coach who helps others do the same.

    Together, JJ and Louise dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, the emotional blocks around money, and how shifting your mindset from “budgeting” to a “spending plan” can create both freedom and empowerment.

    This conversation is a powerful reminder that financial clarity isn’t about restriction—it’s about creating choice, confidence, and peace.

    🔑 Key Topics Covered
    1. Louise’s entrepreneurial journey from dance instructor to financial coach
    2. The financial mistakes that led to $40K+ in debt—and how she paid it off
    3. How money struggles impact relationships, communication, and self-worth
    4. Why people feel shame and avoidance around finances
    5. The difference between budgeting vs. a “spending plan”
    6. Entrepreneurship lessons: marketing, ROI, and long-term thinking
    7. Why visibility and messaging matter more than tactics
    8. Finding the right clients vs. trying to help everyone
    9. The importance of patience and long-term investment in business growth
    10. Real-life success story: helping a widow gain financial confidence and freedom

    💡 Key Takeaways

    1. Financial clarity creates emotional freedom

    When you understand your money, you gain confidence, choice, and peace of mind.

    2. Budgeting isn’t restriction—it’s empowerment

    Reframing it as a spending plan helps remove shame and creates ownership.

    3. Discipline leads to freedom

    Just like dance, structure gives you the ability to express and enjoy life more fully.

    4. Money conversations are deeply emotional

    Many people avoid finances due to shame, fear, or lack of education—not lack of intelligence.

    5. Entrepreneurship is always a test

    Success comes from experimenting, refining your message, and staying aligned with who you truly want to serve.

    6. ROI isn’t always immediate

    The biggest returns in business often come from relationships, connections, and long-term momentum.

    👩‍💼 About Louise Bretz

    Louise Bretz is a financial coach who helps individuals and couples take control of their money, eliminate debt, and create a clear plan for their financial future.

    After overcoming her own financial challenges—including significant credit card debt—Louise now empowers others with practical tools, education, and personalized coaching to build confidence and freedom with money.

    🎯 Who Louise Helps

    Louise works best with:

    1. Individuals who earn good money but don’t know where it’s going
    2. People who feel stuck and unable to get ahead financially
    3. Couples struggling to communicate about money
    4. Those ready for structure, clarity, and accountability

    🛠️ How to Work with Louise
    1. Start with a free consultation call
    2. 3-month foundational coaching program
    3. Weekly (then bi-weekly) Zoom sessions
    4. Ongoing support and accountability options

    🌐 Website: moneycoachlouise.com

    📧 Email: coachlouisebretz@gmail.com

    💬 JJ’s Final Thought

    Everything in business—and in life—is a test.

    Your message, your strategy, your finances… they all evolve as you do.

    Give yourself permission to learn, adjust, and grow—because the clarity you’re seeking is built over time.

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Ep. 38: Competition vs Collaboration
    Mar 18 2026

    In this meaningful conversation, JJ Flizanes and Tawney Noriega explore the difference between operating from competition versus collaboration in business and community. What unfolds is a deeper conversation about self-trust, safety, courage, authenticity, and knowing your role in someone else's growth journey.

    Tawney shares what she's seeing inside the Ventura County Business Women community: women navigating the discomfort of being around others who offer similar services, while still craving connection, support, and real community. JJ adds a personal layer by sharing insights from a recent birthday medicine journey that brought clarity around alignment, upper limits, visibility, and the fear that can surface when it's time to grow.

    Together, they unpack how competition often comes from scarcity, insecurity, and disconnection from self, while collaboration asks us to know who we are, trust what we bring, and honor that not everyone is meant for us.

    In This Episode
    • Why collaboration requires self-trust

    • How competition often comes from scarcity and fear

    • The importance of creating internal safety

    • Why your work is not meant for everyone

    • How to recognize where you fit in someone's growth process

    • Why community helps business owners grow faster

    • How to become more discerning about collaborations

    • The difference between transactional business and building an ecosystem


    Key Takeaways

    You are not for everyone. That's not a problem — it's clarity. The more you know who you are and who you serve, the less you compare yourself to others.

    Safety starts within. External support matters, but true safety has to come from your connection to yourself, your values, and your higher guidance.

    Collaboration takes courage. It requires honesty, boundaries, discernment, and the willingness to say yes or no from alignment.

    Community is an advantage. The right relationships can accelerate growth, expand opportunities, and reduce the isolation that so many business owners feel.

    Notable Moments

    00:00 – Why this conversation is so relevant in women's business communities 04:39 – JJ shares lessons from a recent personal healing journey 17:18 – Tawney explains why collaboration requires self-trust 22:07 – JJ talks about internal safety and not waiting for the outside world to validate you 34:08 – JJ offers a practical framework for choosing aligned collaboration partners 44:35 – Tawney shares why collaboration is part of a new business model built on shared opportunity 49:17 – JJ breaks down the masculine energy of competition and the feminine energy of allowing and co-creation

    Quotes

    "Collaboration requires self-trust." — Tawney Noriega

    "You are the magic. That's what sets you apart from anybody else." — Tawney Noriega

    "When I'm out of alignment, I feel threatened and I'm in scarcity." — JJ Flizanes

    "Safety cannot come from outside of you." — JJ Flizanes

    Closing Reflection

    This episode is a reminder that business is not about being for everyone or proving your worth through comparison. It's about knowing yourself, trusting your voice, and allowing the right people, partnerships, and opportunities to meet you where you are.

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    58 mins