Let’s talk about what it really takes to thrive when life hands you something heavy—and how choosing alignment in your body, your business, and your mindset can change everything.
In this episode of Operation Be, I sit down with the incredible Emilia Rizzuto—a business owner, certified nutritional counselor, and total light in this world—to talk about her journey with Crohn’s disease, healing from the inside out, and what it means to live fully even when things get hard.
She shares what it was like to get diagnosed at 15, how she navigated treatment, and the powerful shift that happened when she started listening to her body instead of fighting it. We dive into mental and emotional healing, the role of family support, and what it means to stay soft and strong in the face of chronic illness.
Emilia also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her elderberry business, why clean ingredients matter, and how she’s built something deeply rooted in wellness, connection, and community.
This conversation is real, heartfelt, and full of insight for anyone navigating chronic illness, entrepreneurship, or just trying to live in deeper alignment.
🎧 Tune in now. Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all—but connection, compassion, and clean living? That’s a dang good start.
00:37 Meet Emilia Rizzuto: Businesswoman and Health Advocate
01:12 Living with Chronic Illness: Emilia’s Journey
03:34 The Mental Load of Chronic Illness
05:48 Family Life and Chronic Illness
09:29 Raising Health-Conscious Teenagers
11:14 The Importance of Healthy Eating
16:36 Elderberry Business and Local Sourcing
23:18 Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Burnout
23:56 Shifting Mindset: From Overwhelmed to Grateful
24:48 The Pressure We Put on Ourselves
27:42 Identity and Illness
30:39 Support Systems and Community
33:06 Exploring Alternative Healing Methods
38:36 The Importance of Presence and Self-Care
45:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
53:27 Grace in Healthcare
01:14:26 Closing Thoughts and Farewell
Connect with Emilia:
https://allthingselderberry.com/
https://www.instagram.com/allthingselderberry/
https://www.instagram.com/emiliamrizzuto/
Please like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode and tag us with @jamie.thurber on Instagram or Jamie Thurber on Facebook. #OperationBe
Want to connect with me on social media?
www.instagram.com/jamie.thurber
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https://www.youtube.com/@JamieThurber
If you’re interested in getting the exclusive content I put out on the newsletter, sign up here:
https://jamiethurber.com/newsletter
Join my community and let’s take this conversation even deeper! Operation Be: The Podcast is where I teach personalized lessons on intentional living & creating a lifestyle by design.
#operationbe #bethechange #intentionalliving #invisibleillness #polyvagaltheory #partswork #operationdo #getshitdone #healingjourney #unbusy #slowdown #awareness #youfirst #selfawareness #chronicillness #healfromwithin #allthingselderberry
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