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On this episode of Everything’s Messy Podcast— today’s conversation is one of those “wow… we’re really not alone in this” episodes.

I’m sitting down with Brian Blaylock, a US Navy veteran, high school golf coach, and a seriously impressive golfer (we’re talking five hole-in-ones… and yes, he’s known for setting course records in flip flops, which is iconic). But what brought us together wasn’t golf first—it was the heart story.

Brian shares how his heart attack hit him in a way that didn’t look like what we’re “told” a heart attack is supposed to feel like. No dramatic chest pain. No obvious warning sign. Just days of feeling off, uneasy, almost like anxiety… until it became undeniable that something was really wrong. He found out he was having an active heart attack at 43 years old. And you guys… the parallels between his story and mine were WILD.

We talk through the procedure (including the reality of blockages), the shock of being “healthy” and still having this happen, and the emotional piece that doesn’t get enough airtime—how your brain can keep whispering, “Is it happening again?” anytime you feel a little weird.

Then we of course “shivot” (pivot and shivet together my fave made up word) into what changed after: Brian’s wife went full “clean house mode” (hello, Yuka app and the pantry purge 😅), their shift toward more organic/whole foods, and lifestyle changes like cutting alcohol. We also get into the tricky stuff—how confusing the medical messaging can be, how much we both dove down rabbit-holes after a health scare, and how hard it is to figure out what’s truly helping vs. what’s just loud “health PR.”

We also nerd out a bit (but in a practical way) about vitamin D and why “being outside” doesn’t always mean your body is converting it well, and why D with K2 matters.

And then because Brian IS a golfer, we bring it back to golf: the hole-in-one streak, coaching high school athletes, building young men into strong humans (not just better golfers), and how he uses his story to push other men to get checked—especially the ones who are always exhausted, headachy, and brushing it off.

This one is messy, raw, funny in the best way, and honestly… it’s the kind of episode that can nudge someone to take their health seriously before life forces them to.

A big shout out and thank you to Brian for taking the time to share his “messy” story and allow us all a chance to get to know him of course on the “golf level” and of course a big “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE". Until next time keep it messy!

You can find Brian on Instagram @brianblalockgolf

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On this episode of Everything’s Messy Podcast I get into March as it is Autoimmune Awareness Month, and this topic hits close to home for me. As someone living with Type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto’s, autoimmune disease isn’t just something I read about in a textbook—it’s something I navigate every single day.

The truth is, autoimmune disease is far more common than most people realize. Millions of people are walking around dealing with symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, hormone disruption, inflammation, and blood sugar chaos without fully understanding what’s happening in their bodies.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what autoimmune disease actually is, why it affects women at much higher rates, and some of the environmental and lifestyle triggers that may play a role in why we’re seeing autoimmune conditions rise so dramatically.

We also dive into something that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough—the connection between gut health, stress, and immune function. Your immune system doesn’t just randomly decide to attack your body. There are signals, triggers, and patterns happening beneath the surface that deserve more attention.

If you or someone you love is navigating autoimmune disease, this episode is meant to bring awareness, education, and hopefully a little empowerment. Because understanding what’s happening inside your body is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward better health.

Remember, your body isn’t broken. Sometimes it’s just asking us to slow down, listen, and start connecting the dots.

And as always, my messy warriors—keep finding strength through the mess. 💛

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CRP, ApoB & What Your Labs Might Be Missing

In Part 1, I talked about the uncomfortable truth: strong women still have heart attacks. We talked about stress, nervous system overload, overtraining, inflammation, and the identity trap of being the woman who “handles it all.”

Now in Part 2, we get tactical.

Because awareness without action doesn’t protect your heart.

As a heart attack survivor, I can tell you this — heart disease is not just about cholesterol. It is deeply connected to inflammation and metabolic health. And there are lab markers many women are never told to ask for.

Let’s start with CRP.

CRP stands for C-Reactive Protein. It’s essentially a smoke detector for inflammation in the body. If your CRP is elevated, something is irritating your system. It doesn’t tell you exactly where the problem is — but it tells you there is one.

And inflamed arteries are not resilient arteries.

Heart disease is largely an inflammatory process. You can look lean. You can be lifting weights. You can have “normal cholesterol.” But if your CRP is elevated, your cardiovascular system may still be under strain.

Then we move into ApoB.

ApoB measures the number of artery-damaging particles in your bloodstream. Not just how much cholesterol is inside them — but how many particles are circulating.

That matters.

Because plaque risk is more closely tied to particle number than cholesterol content alone.

You can have LDL that looks “fine” on a standard panel, but if ApoB is elevated, your risk profile changes.

We also touch on fasting insulin — one of the most overlooked markers in women’s heart health. You can have normal glucose and A1C and still have elevated insulin, which signals early metabolic dysfunction and increased inflammatory signaling.

Heart disease often starts metabolically long before it becomes structural.

This episode is not about fear. It’s about ownership.

It’s about asking better questions.

It’s about understanding that strength is not just how much you can lift — it’s how well you protect your heart.

If you are the strong one, the capable one, the woman who pushes through exhaustion — this conversation is especially for you.

Your body whispers before it screams.

Listen closely.

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You can lift heavy. You can eat clean. You can run businesses, households, and entire teams — and still be at risk for heart disease.

In this episode of Everything’s Messy Podcast, I dives into a hard but necessary truth: strength does not equal immunity. As a heart attack survivor, I unpack the hidden risks facing high-functioning women — from chronic stress and nervous system overload to silent inflammation and blood sugar instability.

This conversation builds on last week’s HRV episode and explores what’s happening beneath the surface when your body looks strong but your system is under strain.

I breaks down:
• Why lean, active women can still carry cardiovascular risk
• The impact of cortisol and chronic stress on arteries
• How overtraining and under-recovering affect heart health
• Tactical steps to protect your heart without burning out

If you consider yourself driven, resilient, and capable — this episode is especially for you.

Your body whispers before it screams.

Listen in, share with a strong woman in your life, and let’s protect our hearts — physically and emotionally.

As promised below is the episode where we learn about nasal breathwork.

***Episode 93 How To Use Breathwork To Reclaim Your Energy w/Guest Tim Thomas

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💖 We are officially in February, heart month, birthday season for me 🎉, and somehow Southern California forgot it’s supposed to be cold… but I’ll allow it (for now). This episode is a mix of real life updates, heart health truth bombs, and some very doable tools you can actually use—no perfection required 🙌

I’m officially four years post–heart attack and wow… typing that still hits. I’m beyond grateful to still be here, still spreading this message, still riding this messy wave 🌊 Another trip around the sun is coming up and I’m soaking in every bit of gratitude. Life is wild, fragile, and beautiful all at once.

Since it’s heart month ❤️, we’re going deeper—starting a likely two-part series—into something most people aren’t talking about enough: HRV (heart rate variability) and how it reflects your nervous system. This is especially important for women, because yes… heart disease is still the number one killer of women, and chronic stress is wrecking our recovery.

Here’s the truth bomb: if your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight, your heart can’t recover properly. Low HRV means your body is stuck in stress mode, energy debt, poor sleep, slow recovery, mood swings, blood sugar chaos, inflammation… sound familiar? 😬 Been there. Lived it.

I break down why you can’t “out-sleep” a broken recovery system 😴 Why waking up tired, sore, foggy, and wired isn’t laziness—it’s your nervous system begging for help. And why working out harder isn’t the answer when your HRV is low (trust me, I learned this the hard way).

The good news? 🎉 HRV is trainable. You are NOT stuck. And no, this doesn’t require fancy supplements or extreme routines.

I walk you through three simple, powerful resets you can start immediately:
☀️ Morning sunlight within 30 minutes of waking (no sunglasses, no phone)
💧 Proper hydration with electrolytes or warm liquids (bone broth lovers, you’re winning)
🚫 Removing ONE hidden HRV drain—late-night screens, food, alcohol, or overstimulating conversations

This episode is about listening to your body, reducing pressure, and giving your heart and nervous system the tools they need to heal and thrive 💓 If all you take away is permission to be gentler with yourself and still make progress… that’s a win.

Try one thing. Let me know what you’re working on. DM me, message me, find me at @everythingsmessywellness—I want to hear from you 💬

Remember, messy warriors: perfection burns us out, but grace keeps us going ✨

*****As promised the episode mentioned with Dr. Huberman: Episode 112, "How to Breathe Correctly for Optimal Health, Mood, Learning & Performance"*******

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Hey my messy warriors 💖🫀

On this episode of Everything’s Messy Podcast : February is Heart Month, and this one is close to my heart—literally. Six days before I turned 43, I had a heart attack, and while I’ve shared pieces of my story before, this episode isn’t about the origin story. It’s about the data. The raw, uncomfortable, mind-blowing facts about why heart disease is quietly devastating women—and why so many of us have no idea it’s happening.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the United States, killing more women than all forms of cancer combined. Let that sink in. Nearly 45% of women over the age of 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease—many without symptoms, many without knowing. Yet less than half of women even recognize heart disease as their biggest health threat. That disconnect is dangerous, and it’s why I felt called to scream this from the rooftops.

This episode dives into why heart attacks are rising in women ages 35–54, why we often don’t present with “classic” symptoms, and why so many of us are told it’s just anxiety when our bodies are actually waving red flags 🚩. I share how hormones, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease, thyroid dysfunction, stress, and nervous system dysregulation all collide—making heart disease in women incredibly complex and wildly under-discussed.

We talk estrogen, perimenopause, cortisol overload, mom guilt, caregiver stress, trauma, and why even “healthy,” active women can still be at risk. I also open up about my own experience—how my symptoms didn’t look like a heart attack at all, how my EKG shocked everyone, and how close I came without even realizing it.

Most importantly, this episode is about advocacy without shame. Heart disease is not a moral failure. It’s not because you “didn’t try hard enough.” Many of these risk factors are outside our control, and blaming ourselves only adds more stress to an already overloaded system. This is your permission slip to ask for the heart tests, to push for answers, to slow down, to take care of yourself without guilt, and to stop putting yourself last 💗.

If this episode gets even one woman to book a heart assessment, ask better questions, or listen more closely to her body, then I’ve done my job. And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Whoa… this sounds like me,” please know—you’re not alone. Let’s talk. Let’s support each other. Let’s get loud about women’s heart health.

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On this episode of Everything's Messy Podcast I’m hanging out with the fabulous Holly McDonald — SoCal realtor, TV host, East Coast transplant, and full-blown messy mom in the best way. 🌴🏡 We dive into how she packed two suitcases, chased a college internship to California, accidentally fell in love with both the lifestyle and real estate, and never looked back.

But of course… we don’t stop at the highlight reel. We get real about the messy middle of motherhood, mom guilt, juggling careers and kids, redefining “balance,” and why perfection is wildly overrated. We talk early mornings, meditation breakthroughs, ditching TV, being your own biggest cheerleader, and what it actually looks like to protect your marriage when life feels like survival mode. 💛

Oh — and Holly also drops some hopeful insight on what the 2026 housing market might look like (hello opportunity 👀), plus how she blends media, community impact, and real estate through her work with American Dream Network.

If you’re a working mom, a dream chaser, a recovering perfectionist, or just someone navigating the beautiful chaos of real life… this conversation will feel like a warm coffee date with truth, laughs, and a whole lot of “same.” ☕✨

Holly also shares about a relationship growth program she and her husband are currently participating in called Relationship Theory, which she mentioned is connected to something known as The 80% Club. The program focuses on intentional communication, deeper connection, and strengthening relationships during busy life seasons.

Bonus: there may or may not be a mysterious “flush the toilet” mic drop at the end. 🚽😂 You’ll have to listen to find out.

🎧 Hit play and let’s get messy.

Connect with Holly McDonald:
Want to follow Holly’s journey, real estate insights, and community highlights?

🌐 Website:
www.realtorhollymcdonald.com

📱 Instagram:
@RealtorHollyMcDonald
(Holly’s favorite place to connect and share!)

Connect with Everything’s Messy Wellness:

👉 Subscribe for weekly wellness conversations that empower you to take messy action toward real healing.
⭐ If this episode helped you, please leave a review and share it with another messy warrior.

Follow me for more wellness conversations:
Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @EverythingsMessyWellness

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If you’re living with Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, or any autoimmune condition, you know how exhausting inflammation, flare-ups, joint pain, brain fog, and hormone imbalances can be. In this episode of Everything’s Messy Podcast, I’m diving into the research behind black seed oil and why I’m personally testing it as part of my Hashimoto’s wellness journey.

We talk about how chronic inflammation impacts thyroid health, why gut health plays such a critical role in autoimmune conditions, and what early studies suggest about black seed oil’s ability to support immune balance, reduce thyroid antibodies, improve TSH levels, and support liver and kidney health. I also share lifestyle factors that matter deeply for Hashimoto’s including gluten sensitivity, dairy tolerance, egg sourcing, hormone balance, cortisol stress, and metabolic health.

This is not medical advice — I’m sharing what I’m learning, what I’m trying, and how I’m tracking my own results so you can make informed decisions with your healthcare provider. Supplements are powerful tools when used intentionally and responsibly, especially when combined with proper nutrition, movement, and nervous system regulation.

If you’re navigating Hashimoto’s, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, inflammation, or hormone imbalance, this conversation will give you a grounded, real-world look at how holistic strategies may support healing.

✨ Topics Covered:
Black seed oil benefits for Hashimoto’s and thyroid health
Reducing inflammation and autoimmune flare-ups
Gut health and immune system balance
TSH, T3, T4, thyroid antibodies explained
Natural supplement safety and protocols
Stress, cortisol, and chronic illness burnout
Functional medicine and root cause healing

👉 Subscribe for weekly wellness conversations that empower you to take messy action toward real healing.
💬 Leave a comment if you’ve tried black seed oil or are curious about it — I’d love to hear your experience.
⭐ If this episode helps you, please leave a review and share it with another messy warrior.

Follow me for more wellness conversations:
Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @EverythingsMessyWellness