Free to Be Mindful Podcast

What if your kitchen could be more than a place to cook? In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Licensed Therapist and Mom Coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman speaks with Janet Iri, founder of My Mindful Kitchen and creator of the MMK Method.

Janet brings over 25 years of experience in hospitality, education, and sustainability — and she believes the kitchen is where parenting, connection, and mindfulness come alive. Together,...

Ever snap at your kids because they asked what’s for dinner… while you were literally cooking dinner? You’re not alone — and it doesn’t mean you’re falling apart. It means you’re human.

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Licensed Therapist and Latina Mom Coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman reminds us that you don’t need to be in crisis to deserve support. Mental health isn’t only about anxiety or depression — sometimes it ...

Birthdays have a way of sneaking up on us. When we were kids, it was all about cake, candles, and balloons. As adults - especially as moms — they can start to feel like just another date on the calendar, squeezed between school emails, soccer games, and endless to-do lists.

But what if birthdays weren’t just about a number? What if they became checkpoints, gentle pauses to reflect on how far we’ve come and what we want for the seaso...

Discover how to lighten the mom mental load, reduce overwhelm, and create real mental space. In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, learn practical tips to manage cognitive and emotional labor so you can rest without guilt and show up with more presence.

Vanessa De Jesus Guzman dives into a struggle so many moms know all too well... the mental load. You finally have the house to yourself, the quiet you’ve been craving… y...

Motherhood changes everything - your brain, your identity, and the way you move through the world. In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa welcomes Jeanne Clevenger, licensed clinical psychologist and mom of four, to talk about the overlooked transition called matrescence.

From the fog of “mom brain” to the pressures of postpartum depression and anxiety, Jeanne shares her personal story of raising four kids (inclu...

Summer’s over… and somehow we’re already juggling new schedules, endless forms, school supply lists, and those rushed morning routines. For some moms, it feels like a sigh of relief. For others, the chaos is just beginning.

In this season 7 kickoff of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, Licensed Therapist, Mom Coach, and retired educator, shares a fresh perspective on navigating this transition with more ease an...

This season was filled with powerful stories, inspiring guests, and real-life moments that reminded us: this is more than a podcast... it’s a movement.

In this heartfelt finale of Season 6, Vanessa reflects on the highs and the lessons, shares fun behind-the-scenes moments, and gives you a sneak peek of what’s coming in Season 7. With 20 incredible guests — including doctors, therapists, entrepreneurs, and real moms navigating real ...

What if you didn’t have to wait for a breakdown or life crisis to start living with purpose? In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Malaysia Harrell, a spiritual transformation coach, licensed psychotherapist, veteran, and speaker. Malaysia shares how a near-death experience became the turning point that led her to surrender, heal, and fully step into alignment with her life’s mission.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly putti...

In this heartfelt winddown of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa invites us to explore the very thing so many of us struggle with: rest. Through personal stories, cultural reflections, and gentle guidance, she helps us unpack why slowing down feels uncomfortable — and how to finally find peace in the pause.

Drawing from her upbringing in a traditional Dominican household, Vanessa shares how hustle culture, perfectionism, and ev...

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa is joined by dermatologist and mom Dr. Mary Alice Mina to talk about how our skin changes over time—and why taking care of it doesn’t have to be complicated. They break down what really affects our skin, including hormones, stress, and lifestyle habits.

Dr. Mina shares practical advice that goes beyond just products. She talks about how skincare is connected to sleep, nutrit...

In this thoughtful episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa invites you to explore what it really means to be rich, beyond bank accounts and material success. Through reflections on celebrity insights and everyday experiences, she shares how true wealth is often rooted in presence, purpose, and a deep sense of gratitude. 

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

• Why money is often tied to safety and happiness
• What high-net-worth celebri...

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman talks with Dr. Nichelle Bowes, a leadership coach, mental fitness expert, and speaker. After a life-changing bike accident, Dr. Bowes began helping high-achieving women, especially Black and Brown women, live with more purpose and joy.

They explore the pressure many women feel to follow a checklist of life milestones—like getting the degree, the job, the marr...

In this special anniversary episode, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman — licensed therapist, speaker, and host of the Free to Be Mindful podcast — reflects on six years of growth, resilience, and purpose.

What began as a part-time dream has evolved into a full-time mission: supporting others through mindful living, mental health, and personal growth. From navigating licensing setbacks to launching a private practice, from building a national ...

In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Traci Peterson—nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and founder of Woman Lessons, a movement designed to help mothers and daughters build confidence and connection.

They explore how busyness can become a woman’s identity, why so many high performers struggle with self-worth, and how those patterns can unintentionally shape the next generation. Traci opens up about the moment her daughter ...

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
Before becoming a mom, many of us carry a picture in our minds—a version of motherhood built from childhood dreams, cultural narratives, and curated social media posts. But what happens when real life doesn’t match the picture? In this episode, Vanessa gets honest about the gap between expectations and reality, not in parenting—but in the motherhood experience itself. With warmth, humor, and grounded refle...

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, host Vanessa had such a meaningful conversation with Lacey Newman—a powerhouse speaker, coach, and top real estate team leader based out of Nashville. Lacey is a high-performing entrepreneur who’s led a top 1.5% real estate team and a mom of two who knows what it’s like to juggle a million things while still trying to stay grounded.

Lacey opened up about her journey as a single mom,...

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, therapist, mom, and speaker, dives into a conversation that’s equal parts real talk and reflection: the blurry line between rest and avoidance.

With humor, honesty, and a few unpopular opinions, Vanessa explores what it really means to honor your limits—without using boundaries as an excuse to check out.

Whether you’re feeling burnt out, stuck in a lazy seaso...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Angel Hepp—fellow mom of two, golden doodle lover, and co-founder of Meet Salt Collective, a creative marketing agency that helps businesses connect through powerful storytelling. We talked all about how motherhood and entrepreneurship overlap in the most unexpected (and sometimes messy) ways, and how being clear, whether with your kids or your clients, can make all the differenc...

Life has a funny way of making us feel like we’re always racing against some invisible clock — like if we don’t meet certain milestones by a certain age, we’ve somehow failed. But what if we’ve been measuring progress all wrong?

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, we explore the pressure of timelines — the kind we create in our minds, hear from others, and absorb from social media. Vanessa shares psychological insight...