What if healing didn’t begin with the body — but with belief?

In this Talk Healing to Me: Moments episode, Karen Dwyer shares a powerful clip from her conversation with Jacqui Sheppard, a client in the MS to Success programme. After 20 years of living with MS, Jacqui opens up about what changed when she finally stopped accepting decline as her only option — and started believing she could get better.

From the heartbreak of losing her independence to the quiet victory of lifting her own leg into bed again, Jacqui’s words will stay with you. This is a raw and hopeful reflection on what it means to be supported, seen, and no longer alone in your healing journey.

💡 In This Moment You’ll Hear:

🦵 What it’s like to feel disconnected from your legs — and the moment they felt “alive” again

💭 The mindset shift that changed everything: “I will get better”

🧃 Why even a smoothie was a breakthrough (and not just for nutrition)

💬 What true support feels like when you’re used to doing it all alone

🧘‍♀️ The power of slowing down, doing the work, and being met without pressure

🎧 This moment was pulled from our full-length episode:

➡️ Listen to the full episode - search Talk Healing To Me on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.

Connect With Karen Dwyer:

🌐 Talk with our nurse and get support with your MS health goals here⁠

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group: Karen Dwyer Wellness Accelerator

⏱️ Discover Your 5 Key Health Pillars in Under 3 Minutes: www.karendwyer.com

📸 Instagram: @iamkarendwyer

👍Facebook: Karen Dwyer

💼 LinkedIn: Karen Dwyer

🎥 Karen Dwyer TEDx Talk here

Talk Healing to Me:

✨ Talk Healing to Me Listener Submission Form ⁠⁠here

🎥YouTube:⁠ Talk Healing to Me YouTube Channel⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠

👍 Facebook:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠

🌐 Website:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

📸TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

💼 LinkedIn: @talkhealingtomeMusic by Max Chubrey from Pixabay

When Jacqui Sheppard joined the MS to Success programme, she was exhausted. Her legs felt like blocks of wood, her independence had slipped away, and she carried a quiet fear of what the future held. But just weeks into the programme, something began to shift…

In this heartfelt episode of Talk Healing to Me, host Karen Dwyer is joined by the brilliant Jacqui Sheppard — costume designer, creative soul, grandmother-to-be, and now, a woman reconnecting with her strength and learning to rest without guilt.

Together, they talk about what healing really looks like after two decades of living with MS, why receiving support can be harder than giving it, and what it means to keep showing up — even when it would be easier to give up.

Whether you’re living with chronic illness, supporting someone who is, or just navigating a life that feels heavier than it should — this conversation will move you.

🌟 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🧠 What it’s like to feel disconnected from your body — and how that begins to change

📦 Why Jacqui felt her legs were like “lumps of meat”

🛠️ The difference between trying to fix yourself and choosing to support yourself

🌿 How nervous system healing and rest transformed her recovery

💬 The power of being seen, supported, and safe

🧃 Why smoothies (yes, smoothies!) helped her reconnect with her body

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How her healing journey has impacted her relationship with her husband and family

❤️ Why she says she didn’t have to fix herself to be welcome in the programme

Connect With Karen Dwyer:

🌐 Talk with our nurse and get support with your MS health goals here⁠

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group: Karen Dwyer Wellness Accelerator

⏱️ Discover Your 5 Key Health Pillars in Under 3 Minutes: www.karendwyer.com

📸 Instagram: @iamkarendwyer

👍Facebook: Karen Dwyer

💼 LinkedIn: Karen Dwyer

🎥 Karen Dwyer TEDx Talk here

Talk Healing to Me:

✨ Talk Healing to Me Listener Submission Form ⁠⁠here

🎥YouTube:⁠ Talk Healing to Me YouTube Channel⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠

👍 Facebook:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠

🌐 Website:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

📸TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

💼 LinkedIn: @talkhealingtome

Music by Max Chubrey from Pixabay

What if rest isn’t something you earn - but something you deserve?

In this powerful minisode, host Karen Dwyer reflects on her laugh-out-loud, heart-opening chat with Wendy Riordan - founder of Nourish and Flow Festival and co-founder of Pitched Perfect Tents.

Together, they unpacked why women are still running on empty, how burnout has become normalised, and why permission to pause might be the most radical act of self-care. This solo episode is a love letter to every woman who’s tired of pushing through and ready to come back to herself.

Whether you’re deep in survival mode or just craving a little more space to breathe — this one’s for you.

🌟 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

💤 Why rest isn’t weakness - it’s a rebellion

👜 The invisible load women carry (and how to set it down)

📅 Why you need to schedule rest before burnout forces it

🧘‍♀️ How healing happens in the pause - not the productivity

💡 Karen’s favourite metaphor from the episode (hint: it blooms slowly)

💬 The truth about needing help - and why it’s not a failure

🌸 What to do when you’re “on your knees” and out of energy

💞Connect with Wendy Riordan:

📲 Instagram: @nourishandflow.ie

🌐 Website: nourishandflow.ie

Connect With Karen Dwyer:

🌐 Talk with our nurse and get support with your MS health goals here⁠

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group: Karen Dwyer Wellness Accelerator

⏱️ Discover Your 5 Key Health Pillars in Under 3 Minutes: www.karendwyer.com

📸 Instagram: @iamkarendwyer

👍Facebook: Karen Dwyer

💼 LinkedIn: Karen Dwyer

🎥 Karen Dwyer TEDx Talk here

Talk Healing to Me:

✨ Talk Healing to Me Listener Submission Form ⁠⁠here

🎥YouTube:⁠ Talk Healing to Me YouTube Channel⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠

👍 Facebook:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠

🌐 Website:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

📸TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

💼 LinkedIn: @talkhealingtome

Music by Max Chubrey from Pixabay

What if the most radical thing you could do for your health… was to stop?

In this deeply honest and joy-filled episode of Talk Healing To Me, Karen Dwyer chats with Wendy Riordan – founder of Nourish & Flow, full-time mother, business owner, and festival queen – about the power of rest, how burnout shows up in women’s lives, and why honouring your own rhythm is the greatest rebellion of all.

From ditching toxic wellness expectations to embracing glamping-style guilt-free retreats, Wendy shares how Rest Fest was born – and how healing happens when we stop trying to do it all.

If you’ve ever said, “I just don’t have time to rest” – this conversation is your permission slip to hit pause and reconnect with yourself.🌟 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🌿 Why rest is the most undervalued tool in your healing journey

🌙 The truth about women, guilt, and the hustle cycle

🔥 How Nourish & Flow became a space for emotional release and deep nervous system reset

💤 The many types of rest (and why you need more than sleep)

💖 How sisterhood, simplicity, and space can change your life

🎪 Why this isn’t your typical “wellness” retreat

📀 The music Wendy uses to unwind (linked below!)

📅 What’s planned for Rest Fest 2025 – and how to join

💞Connect with Wendy Riordan:

📲 Instagram: @nourishandflow.ie

🌐 Website: nourishandflow.ie

Connect With Karen Dwyer:

🌐 Talk with our nurse and get support with your MS health goals here⁠

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group: Karen Dwyer Wellness Accelerator

⏱️ Discover Your 5 Key Health Pillars in Under 3 Minutes: www.karendwyer.com

📸 Instagram: @iamkarendwyer

👍Facebook: Karen Dwyer

💼 LinkedIn: Karen Dwyer

🎥 Karen Dwyer TEDx Talk here

Talk Healing to Me:

✨ Talk Healing to Me Listener Submission Form ⁠⁠here

🎥YouTube:⁠ Talk Healing to Me YouTube Channel⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠

👍 Facebook:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠

🌐 Website:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

📸TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

💼 LinkedIn: @talkhealingtomeMusic by Max Chubrey from Pixabay

You’ve tried the diets, counted the calories, pushed through fatigue — and still feel like something’s off. What if your body isn’t the problem… but the messenger?In this solo minisode, Talk Healing to Me host Karen Dwyer shares 10 powerful takeaways from her conversation with hormone and nutrition coach Valeria Lopez. From the truth about cravings and cortisol to why fatigue isn’t failure, this recap is packed with permission and practical shifts for women navigating chronic illness, burnout, and hormone imbalance.

If you’ve been stuck in cycles of self-blame, this episode is your reminder: your body isn’t broken — it’s wise.🌟 In This Minisode, You’ll Learn:

🧠 Why your hormones aren’t the enemy — they’re your superpower

🥗 Why “eat to heal” works better than “starve to shrink”

🏠 The real root cause might be your environment, not your body

😴 Fatigue isn’t laziness — it’s intelligence

🥑 Not all calories are equal (and fat is not the villain)

☀️ How sunlight and sleep act as free hormone resets

💬 Why cravings are clues not failure

🧘‍♀️ Healing happens when you do less — with intention

💞 You don’t need to earn rest

🌿 You deserve to feel good now — not “when”

💞Connect with Valeria Lopez:📸 Instagram: @wisefoodchoices_

Connect With Karen Dwyer:

🌐 Talk with our nurse and get support with your MS health goals here⁠

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group: Karen Dwyer Wellness Accelerator

⏱️ Discover Your 5 Key Health Pillars in Under 3 Minutes: www.karendwyer.com

📸 Instagram: @iamkarendwyer

👍Facebook: Karen Dwyer

💼 LinkedIn: Karen Dwyer
🎥 Karen Dwyer TEDx Talk here

Talk Healing to Me:

✨ Talk Healing to Me Listener Submission Form ⁠⁠here

🎥YouTube:⁠ Talk Healing to Me YouTube Channel⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠

👍 Facebook:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠

🌐 Website:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

📸TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

💼 LinkedIn: @talkhealingtome

Music by Max Chubrey from Pixabay

Are your cravings actually calling for connection? Is your metabolism really broken — or is your body just begging you to slow down?

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Talk Healing to Me host Karen Dwyer welcomes back Valeria Lopez, hormone and nutrition coach and founder of Wise Food Choices, to unpack even more myths about food, fatigue and female hormones.

Together, they explore how simple habits like sun exposure, earlier dinners, and real nourishment in the morning can radically shift your energy and emotional health — especially if you’re a woman navigating chronic illness or autoimmune disease.

🌟 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🌞 The hormone-balancing power of sunlight (in 10 minutes a day)

🧠 Why oxytocin matters more than you think

🍳 Why cereal isn’t breakfast — and what is

🥄 How to fast without skipping breakfast

🧘‍♀️ The link between thyroid health, metabolism & mood

🫶 Why “giving to yourself first” is the key to sustainable healing

🔥 The symptom changes Valeria sees in women once they start fueling properly

💞Connect with Valeria Lopez:

📸 Instagram: @wisefoodchoices_

Connect With Karen Dwyer:

🌐 Talk with our nurse and get support with your MS health goals here⁠

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group: Karen Dwyer Wellness Accelerator

⏱️ Discover Your 5 Key Health Pillars in Under 3 Minutes: www.karendwyer.com

📸 Instagram: @iamkarendwyer

👍Facebook: Karen Dwyer

💼 LinkedIn: Karen Dwyer

🎥 Karen Dwyer TEDx Talk here

Talk Healing to Me:

✨ Talk Healing to Me Listener Submission Form ⁠⁠here

🎥YouTube:⁠ Talk Healing to Me YouTube Channel⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠

👍 Facebook:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠

🌐 Website:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

📸TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

💼 LinkedIn: @talkhealingtome

Music by Max Chubrey from Pixabay

If you’ve ever thought “I’m fine” — while secretly ignoring your needs — this is your sign to stop.

In this fiery, heartfelt minisode, Talk Healing to Me host Karen Dwyer reflects on the emotional burden so many women carry — especially those living with MS or chronic illness. From unspoken stress and guilt to the science behind self-neglect, Karen shares the patterns she sees daily in her coaching work… and why it’s time to choose differently.

You’ll also hear powerful real-life wins from women in her MS to Success community — proof that healing begins the moment we start to choose ourselves.

🌟 In This Minisode, You’ll Learn:

🧠 The science of suppressed stress and chronic illness

👩‍⚕️ What Dr. Gabor Maté says about unspoken emotion

🌡️ Why women are 4x more likely to be diagnosed with MS ⚡ The emotional load no one talks about

🛑 What happens when we ignore boundaries

🧍‍♀️ How clients are healing without “pushing harder”

💬 What it really means to choose yourself — daily💞Connect with Valeria Lopez:📸 Instagram: @wisefoodchoices_

Connect With Karen Dwyer:

🌐 Talk with our nurse and get support with your MS health goals here⁠

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group: Karen Dwyer Wellness Accelerator

⏱️ Discover Your 5 Key Health Pillars in Under 3 Minutes: www.karendwyer.com

📸 Instagram: @iamkarendwyer

👍Facebook: Karen Dwyer

💼 LinkedIn: Karen Dwyer

🎥 Karen Dwyer TEDx Talk here

Talk Healing to Me:

✨ Talk Healing to Me Listener Submission Form ⁠⁠here

🎥YouTube:⁠ Talk Healing to Me YouTube Channel⁠

📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠

👍 Facebook:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠

🌐 Website:⁠ ⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

📸TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠@talkhealingtomepod⁠⁠⁠

💼 LinkedIn: @talkhealingtomeMusic by Max Chubrey from Pixabay