Inner Rebel
Inner Rebel is a raw, unfiltered journey into the hearts and minds of fearless dreamers and visionaries. Hosted by Melissa Bauknight, soul business coach and founder of The Nova, and Jessica Rose, actress and human design expert, we dive deep into what it truly takes to pursue unconventional dreams and forge a path that's unapologetically yours. Through candid conversations with game-changers who have dared to defy the status quo, we dissect the grit, grace, hard-won wisdom, and radical choices that shape authentic, purpose-driven lives. Whether you're a corporate misfit, a creative maverick, or simply feel the pull of an undefined destiny, Inner Rebel offers inspiration, soul-deep insights, and a community that celebrates the messy, beautiful journey of chasing your dreams.
Episodes
What starts as a rapid-fire game (chaotic snacks, loud walking, haunted-house ghosts with a sense of humour) opens into a deeper conversation about growth, marriage, leadership, friendship, and the kind of self-honesty that Inner Rebel is known for.
Melissa reflects on a season of big transition — shedding what no longer fits, learning to lead without abandoning her softness, healing long-held stories about intimacy, ...
In this wildly honest and unexpectedly hilarious episode, we sit down with four-time Emmy-nominated TV producer, PR strategist, and professional truth-teller Erin Saxton — a woman whose inner rebel is not “inner” at all.
What begins as a conversation about career, reinvention, and authenticity quickly turns into a masterclass on self-awareness, courage, and the messy, tender, deeply human work of becoming yourself. Eri...
This isn’t another Human Design 101. In this profound and provocative conversation, Melissa flips the mic toward Jessica Rose—Inner Rebel co-host, Human Design expert, and Deconditioning Coach—to explore beyond the buzzwords of Human Design and into the transformative—and often confronting—work of living it. What follows is a deep excavation of identity and illusion: how deconditioning means confronting the stories yo...
What if performance, health, and leadership all come down to one thing: safety in your body? In this transformative episode, nervous system specialist and founder of Lumera Leadership Lab Carrie Montgomery breaks down how regulation—not force—is the true foundation of resilience and power. We explore how trauma imprints affect our capacity, why nervous system work is the missing link in healing and business, and how y...
What happens when the person who's spent decades getting everyone else ready for the spotlight finally steps into it herself?
In this powerful and tender conversation, we sit down with journalist, bestselling ghostwriter, and media coach Linya Floyd—who’s spent decades helping other people shine—to talk about what happens when it’s finally your turn to take the stage.
From a behind-the-scenes media career to a long...
What does your relationship with food reveal about your relationship with yourself? We sit down with functional nutritionist and food psychology specialist Sue Van Raes to explore the powerful intersection of nourishment, identity, and self-trust. We talk about emotional eating, the cultural narratives around control and discipline, and how reclaiming pleasure and intuition in how we eat can ripple into every other ar...
In this rare and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Jeff Salzenstein — former top-100 tennis player turned executive performance coach — for a soulful exploration of identity, grief, resilience, and the emotional reckoning that comes when success is no longer the point.
Jeff opens up about the moment he knew it was time to leave tennis, the trauma that called him into coaching, and the recent experiences that...
In this special episode, we turn the mic toward Inner Rebel co-host Melissa Bauknight — and what unfolds is a deeply honest, powerful conversation about identity, expansion, and the kind of community that changes everything.
Melissa shares the story of her becoming — from high-achieving corporate sales leader silently battling imposter syndrome, to spiritual seeker, coach, and ultimately the founder of The Nova, a glob...
At 17, Ruthie Lindsey was hit by an ambulance and given a 1% chance of survival. What followed was decades of physical and emotional pain, masked by perfectionism and a desperate need to be liked. In this bold and tender episode, Ruthie shares how she slowly dismantled her pain story, abandoned the “basic bitch” mask she used to wear, and began reclaiming joy, creativity, and weirdness on her own terms. We talk about ...
What if the “good girl” in you isn’t your personality—it’s a nervous system survival strategy? In this rich and revealing episode, embodiment coach Beth Clayton breaks down the “good girl” protector archetypes and how they live in the body. We talk about how early conditioning around approval and belonging shapes our adult patterns of people-pleasing, achievement, and avoidance—and what it takes to begin reclaiming ch...
In this deeply human and unforgettable episode, Christina Miglino King returns to the show—this time joined by her partner, award-winning drag king and trans non-binary activist Lee King (aka Phantom Nips). Together, they share the story of how they met, fell in love, and built a new kind of life—one rooted in truth, presence, and the kind of connection that only comes after burning it all down.
We talk about the momen...
Shazia Imam is back, and we’re going deep—again. Our first recurring guest brings her signature joy, wisdom, and grounded truth-telling to this long-overdue conversation about money. We explore the emotional reality behind wealth, the power of honesty in transforming financial shame, and why your nervous system might be the most important player in your bank account. From spreadsheet jokes to perimenopause truths, thi...
What happens when the life you worked tirelessly to build no longer fits?
In this special bonus episode, Melissa sits down with Gena Chieco—former White House attorney turned soulful leadership coach—for a conversation that travels from burnout and breakdown to bold reinvention. Together, they trace Gena’s journey from prestigious public service and clean tech leadership to walking away from it all, taking a ...
What if you didn’t have to choose between ambition and softness? Between motherhood and creative identity? In this rich and honest conversation, mindset coach and former Rockette Sam Harvey shares what it took to walk away from a picture-perfect marriage, grieve the life she thought she wanted, and begin again—on her own terms. We talk about the hidden layers of reinvention, the courage it takes to follow your truth b...
We’re back!
In this intimate season opener, Jess and Melissa reunite to reflect on what the past twelve months demanded of them—personally, professionally, and spiritually. What began as a short break after Season 1 turned into a deep reckoning: with ambition, burnout, the myth of “readiness,” and the humbling reality of what it takes to live your dream.
Melissa shares the unfiltered journey of launching The Nova, a sou...
What if the Universe isn’t punishing you—it just wants to spoil you? In this vibrant, high-frequency conversation, manifestation coach and quantum embodiment guide Christine Michelle Hayes shares the bold, joy-filled practices that transformed her relationship with money, time, and possibility. She shares her signature “Aligned Soul” process for collapsing timelines, embodying your future self, and attracting abundanc...
Season 1 is a wrap! And we are so excited to celebrate with the launch of Melissa’s soul baby, The Nova — an innovative membership community designed for conscious corporate women, visionary entrepreneurs, and budding change-makers. As we reflect on this season and key takeaways from our guests, we also dive deep into the nitty-gritty, behind-the-scenes of Melissa’s journey of finally bringing her vision to life. We t...
"If your body is rejecting this world, if your body is rejecting the way society is treating the earth, that's a compliment. It's a compliment to be a canary. It's a compliment to be sensitive. It's a compliment to be sick in a toxic world."
In our last interview of the season (whaa) we sit down with one of Jessica's dearest friends and biggest inspirations, Kaeley Pruitt-H...
What if hitting rock bottom was the best thing that ever happened to you? What would you do if you lost everything that supposedly 'defined' you?
Today we're chatting with the ever-inspiring Shazia Imam: Award-Winning Speaker, ICF Certified Professional Coach, and host of the Top 12 Podcast - Feminine & Fulfilled. After facing devastating personal losses, Shazia shares how she learned to s...
In a world where conformity reigns supreme, how can we harness our inner rebel to make lasting change? We sit down with the dynamic Fabienne Jacquet, a scientist, innovator, and author, with a flair for challenging the status quo. As the founder of Founder and CEO of Innoveve, and author of Venus Genius: The Feminine Prescription for Innovation, Fabienne provides us with a new paradigm for redefining innovation by h...
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