The Luella Jonk Show

In this conversation with Jillian Mariani—founder of Niyama Wellness and 20+ year veteran of Canada's vitamin and supplement industry—we're talking about something most women don't connect until it's already cost them: the relationship between burnout, perimenopause, and the supplements we actually need versus the chemistry experiment most of us are doing in our kitchens every morning.Jillian didn't set out to start a business. She set out to survive a season of life that nearly broke her—working 65-hour weeks, not sleeping, drowning in anxiety she didn't yet recognize as perimenopause, and swallowing handfuls of pills she believed in but couldn't sustain. What came out of that season was Niyama: clean, Canadian-made, Health Canada-approved supplements designed for busy women who actually want to feel the difference.I'll walk you through:✅ Why what's NOT in a supplement matters just as much as what is✅ The difference between stevia, monk fruit, and why super tasters taste everything differently✅ How perimenopause quietly looks like anxiety, insomnia, and burnout—before you even know what's happening✅ Why Jillian left a 23-year corporate career and what it took to start over in her late 40s✅ The four supplements she won't travel without (and why)✅ The real conversation about creatine for women—cognition, mood, muscle preservation, and sleep deprivation✅ Why hitting 100 grams of protein daily matters—and how to actually do it without losing your mind✅ How to simplify your supplement routine so you actually stick to it🎁 Special Offer for The Luella Jonk Show listeners:Use code LUELLA15 for 15% off your first order.(Does not apply to bundles or subscriptions, which are already discounted.)Whether you're drowning in supplement guilt, navigating perimenopause without a roadmap, or quietly wondering if your exhaustion is more than just a busy life—this conversation is for you. Sometimes the most important thing you can do for your health is simplify, not add more.🔔 Remember: You cannot out-supplement a bad diet or a bad lifestyle. But the right foundational habits—done consistently and enjoyably—can genuinely change how you feel every single day.Connect with Jillian Mariani & Niyama Wellness:🌐 https://niyama-wellness.ca📱 Instagram: @niyamawellnesscanada

I'm recording this one without makeup—not because I forgot, but because I need to practice what I'm about to preach: authentic vulnerability over comfortable validation. And what I'm seeing in my therapy practice lately has me genuinely concerned.Couples are now bringing printed transcripts of their spouse's ChatGPT conversations to sessions. People are outsourcing their moral compass, their conflict resolution, and even their emotional intimacy to large language models. And here's what terrifies me: these tools are designed to always agree with you, to validate you, to keep you comfortable and coming back for more.I'll walk you through:✅ Why ChatGPT's constant validation is training us to be weaker, not wiser—and what virtues we're losing in the process✅ The four-letter word (ending in K) that Dr. Anna Lembke says is essential for relationships, and why AI is replacing it✅ How couples are choosing the comfort of a machine over the necessary discomfort of real conversation✅ Why feelings have been promoted to the highest authority—and how that's destroying our ability to live morally✅ The difference between being affirmed and being guided, between feeling understood and being told the truth✅ What patience, perseverance, repentance, and humility have to do with your marriage's survival (and why AI will never ask these of you)I'm not anti-technology—I use ChatGPT myself for grocery store calculations and meal planning. But when it comes to relationships, moral discernment, and the formation of your character, we need to understand what we're surrendering when we choose algorithmic comfort over human connection.Featuring insights from psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke's conversation on The Diary of a CEO about the "drugification of human connection" and addiction to digital validation.🔔 Remember: A machine that always agrees with you is not your friend. It's not a guide. And it can never replace your conscience. Real love—the kind that sustains a marriage and builds a family—requires the very things AI will never demand from you: patience, sacrifice, humility, and the willingness to be wrong.The danger isn't that machines will become too powerful. It's that we'll become too passive—handing over our agency, our judgment, and our conscience, not because we're forced to, but because it feels easy.========================================================Dr. Anna Lembke reference: Psychiatrist and author of "Dopamine Nation" Featured on: The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett Topic discussed: Addiction, dopamine, and the drugification of human connection through AI

In this first part of a two-part conversation, Licensed Professional Counselor Eric Zeitler opens up about his innovative approach to therapy that honors both psychological science and Catholic faith. As founder of the Imago Dei Healing Institute, Eric has dedicated his practice to helping clients heal deep wounds while respecting their deeply held values—a balance many Catholics struggle to find in traditional therapy settings.Eric shares the powerful story that launched his mission: watching someone close to him refuse therapy after a counselor dismissed their faith during grief work. This experience shaped his commitment to creating a space where faith and healing work together, not against each other. His approach goes far beyond just being "faith-friendly"—it actively integrates Catholic anthropology with cutting-edge trauma therapies.I'll walk you through:✅ What Image Transformation Therapy is and how micro-exposure techniques can heal addiction and trauma at the root✅ Why processing the feeling behind addictive behaviors is more effective than willpower alone✅ How childhood trauma blocks our ability to receive God's love (and what to do about it)✅ The surprising connection between masculine "toughness" and deep vulnerability—and why real strength requires both✅ Why anger is often a man's default communication style and how to help him find alternatives✅ The critical role of breathing and self-regulation in breaking destructive patterns✅ How Catholic values shape therapeutic goals without turning therapy into spiritual directionWhether you're searching for a therapist who respects your faith, struggling with unresolved trauma, or trying to understand why you can't seem to "just trust God" despite wanting to, Eric offers compassionate insight into the healing journey. His work reminds us that acknowledging our wounds isn't weakness—it's the pathway to authentic strength and deeper relationship with God and others.🔔 Remember: Healing isn't about toughing it out alone. True courage means acknowledging where you need help, doing the hard work to understand your patterns, and trusting the process—even when it feels uncomfortable.========================================================Eric's relevant links:Website: https://imagodeihealinginstitute.comInstagram: @imagodeihealinginstituteNote: This is Part 1 of 2. In Part 2, we'll dive deeper into how to practically integrate Catholic faith into the healing process.

In this episode, I sit down with Brenda Prato, a canon lawyer from Malta who serves as Defender of the Bond in the Archdiocese of Liverpool and as a collegial judge in the Archdiocese of Armagh. As a married mother of two pursuing her doctorate in canon law at KU Leuven, Brenda brings both professional expertise and deeply personal insight to one of the Church's most misunderstood processes: marriage annulments.I'll walk you through:✅ What consent actually means in marriage—and why it's so much more than romance✅ The difference between covenant and contract in Catholic marriage theology✅ How canon lawyers examine everything from childhood to the wedding day to understand validity✅ Why "I got an annulment, so you will too" is a dangerous misconception✅ What marriage consummation really means (and why most people get it wrong)✅ The unique perspective women canon lawyers bring to tribunal work✅ When the Church can dissolve a valid marriage (it's rare, but it happens)✅ How pregnancy before marriage, doubts on the wedding day, and even being late to the ceremony reveal deeper truthsWhether you're navigating a difficult marriage, considering an annulment, or simply curious about what the Church actually teaches, Brenda offers clarity on a process shrouded in misconception. Her approach beautifully balances legal precision with pastoral compassion—she prays over every case, seeking moral certitude while honoring the human stories behind the paperwork.🔔 Remember: The point of annulment isn't to punish or judge—it's to uncover truth. And truth, even when painful, is always rooted in love.========================================================Brenda's relevant links:Website: https://brendaprato.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-prato/