Episodes

Finances are one of the heaviest stress points in modern life, yet so many people feel paralyzed or embarrassed to ask for help when money feels out of control. Whether you are navigating heavy monthly debt, living paycheck to paycheck, or holding savings without knowing how to allocate them efficiently, financial disarray takes an immediate toll on your sleep, your mood, and your overall mental well-being. In this episode, Elex sits down with John Walter, a CPA and Financial Advisor with Northw...

Supporting someone through a mental health or substance use challenge can feel intimidating, but you do not need to be a medical professional or have a flawless script to make a lifesaving difference. In this episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex sits down with Tina Edholm (Mental Health First Aid Missouri) and Erica Elliott (Pettis County Health Center) to break down the practical steps of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). Learn how to spot early warning signs, open the door to tough conversatio...

In this episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex sits down with Linda Carr, founder of Heal Your Vagus Nerve and creator of The Vegas Genie Formula, to explore why so many high-functioning individuals suffer from chronic exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout despite doing "everything right" for their health. Linda explains that while clean eating, supplements, and exercise are valuable, they cannot resolve deep-seated exhaustion if the autonomic nervous system remains trapped in a chronic stress respons...

In this episode, host Elex sits down with Zoie Rice, President of the Stepping Stones Foundation for Disability Support, to discuss the intersection of mental health, autism, and disability advocacy in rural communities. Highlighting the CDC statistic that approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the conversation explores how families navigate the complex and often unclear path of disability care. Zoie shares the story behind Stepping Stones...

In this Suicide Awareness Month episode, host Elex interviews Katie K. May, a Pennsylvania-based licensed therapist, practice owner, and author specializing in high-risk teens and their families. Drawing from her personal history navigating adolescent self-harm and young adult substance use, Katie explains how discovering Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) inspired her mission to help young people create a life worth living. A foundational step in breaking generational cycles of dysfunction is p...

In Episode 101 of Mental Mixology, titled "Why We Stay in Bad Relationships (And How I Finally Walked Away)," host Elex opens up for Suicide Awareness Month about one of the most challenging chapters of her life: surviving a toxic, five-year relationship that led to severe mental health struggles and suicidal ideation. She emphasizes that this episode is not about dragging an ex, but rather throwing a lifeline to anyone currently feeling trapped or isolated in a harmful dynamic. Elex shares how ...

We made it to 100 episodes! What started back in July 2022 as a simple hobby and personal side project has grown into a full-blown non-profit organization dedicated to making mental and physical wellness sustainable for everyone. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or this is your very first time tuning in, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This milestone wouldn't be possible without our incredible listeners, volunteers, board members, local business collaborators, and supporters who...

In this episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex sits down with Dr. Bethany Geotz, owner of Patterns for Chiropractic Health in Sedalia, to discuss how chiropractic care extends far beyond treating standard back pain or car accident injuries. Dr. Bethany explains her holistic approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the body's systems to target the root cause of health issues rather than just treating symptoms. She highlights specialized, low-force adjustment techniques used at her practice...

In Episode 98 of Mental Mixology, Elex dives deep into the complex, double-edged world of perfectionism. While standard self-help advice often writes off perfectionism as purely negative, Elex reframes it as the exact engine that drives high achievers to excel, avoid stagnation, and show up reliably for the people in their lives. Opening with a relatable story about over-analyzing a heart-shaped cake made for a friend's bachelorette trip, this episode unpacks how high standards can fuel our achi...

Have you ever felt like your mind simply will not stop racing? In this episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex sits down with Christina, the owner of KC Divine Interruptions in Odessa, Missouri, to dive into a game-changing technology that helps reboot a dysregulated nervous system: Microcurrent Neurofeedback. Elex shares her personal experience going from constant anxiety attacks and restless nights to experiencing real, peaceful mental clarity after just two sessions. Christina breaks down how ...

Have you ever woken up to a morning where it felt like everything that could go wrong did? In this episode, host Elex shares a chaotic real-life morning story involving a broken picture frame, stepping barefoot in cat vomit, and managing a panic attack right before an important work presentation. Drawing from insights shared by life coach Kim Maybury of Lilac Farms Life Coaching, Elex breaks down the psychology behind bad days and offers practical, actionable tools to flip your mindset, reset y...

In this week's episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex dives deep into the realities of navigating the world as a highly empathetic individual. While empathy is the essential human glue that forms profound connections and magnifies shared joy, being overly empathic can often feel like a disservice that leaves you mentally, emotionally, and physically depleted. Elex vulnerably shares her personal experiences with emotional burnout, the deep-seated loneliness that empaths often carry, and how an ope...

Welcome to Episode 94 of Mental Mixology! In this episode, host Elex sits down with tech founder Emily Weinberg to discuss the profound connection between the media we consume and how we feel. While many of us rely on comfort shows and movies to unwind , we often encounter unexpected triggers that can negatively impact our mental health before we even realize it. Emily shares how her own experiences led her to develop Skip It, an innovative software designed to give viewers control over their di...

Welcome to a very special episode dedicated to all the men out there. It is June, which means it is Men's Health Awareness Month—and we cannot have a real conversation about men’s health without prioritizing men’s mental health. Inspired by a suggestion from one of our male listeners, this episode pulls back the curtain on the silent struggles, societal expectations, and hidden masks that even the most successful men carry. From "arrival fallacies" to hyperindependence, we are diving deep into ...

In this episode, Elex dives deep into the transformative power of daily affirmations and positive self-talk . Sharing a vulnerable, real-time look at a tough week in her staffing agency, she explains how she shifts her mindset from a "negative Nancy" to her own inner coach . Learn the history, the science, and the practical way to build realistic, impactful affirmations that reshape your brain . Episode Key Takeaways: Realism vs. Pessimism: Being a realist means seeing things exactly as they ar...

June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, and we cannot talk about men's health without talking about men’s mental health. To kick off the month, Elex sits down with a very special guest co-host—the CEO of APS Solutions (and her dad!), Al Simon. Al shares his incredible journey of resilience, detailing how he went from living in poverty to owning his own multi-million dollar business. From navigating "working scared" early in his career to balancing a 26-year corporate climb with family life, Al op...

Have you ever felt completely disconnected from your physical body, or noticed that your stress is wreaking total havoc on your digestion and sleep? Most of us living in today's high-stakes culture are completely patterned to chronic stress and staying in a constant loop of "fight or flight." This week, Elex sits down with Laurie Little, a certified foot zoning practitioner and sound bath therapist who is helping the Sedalia community rediscover true physiological calm. Driven by a 20-year jour...

In the United States, approximately 19% of women of reproductive age face challenges with infertility. Yet, despite how common this struggle is, it is far too often experienced as a silent epidemic —shrouded in isolation, silence, and social withdrawal. In honor of National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, Elex sits down for a deeply moving, transparent conversation with returning favorite Dr. Megan Keyes. As a clinical professional with 25 years of experience in trauma, grief, and loss,...

Have you ever felt like your brain simply won't shut off? Whether it's the 10:00 PM "to-do list" loop or the physical toll of a never-ending mental load, many of us live in a state of constant noise. In this episode, Elex sits down with Brittany Mullins, a Reiki Master and Life Coach who is helping the Sedalia community move from "survival mode" to true mental silence. Brittany’s journey into holistic healing began through her own health crisis. After a traumatic NICU experience with her daught...

Guest: Danielle Sawford, Founder of Heartland Thermography & Holistic Health Have you ever been told your labs are "normal," but you still feel like something is fundamentally off? In this episode, Elex sits down with Danielle Sawford—a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Clinical Thermographer, and Quantum Energy Practitioner—to discuss the revolutionary "heat map" that is changing how we look at preventive health. After a 2019 health crisis left her searching for answers traditional medic...

Have you ever spent your entire "rest day" deep cleaning, only to end the weekend feeling more exhausted than when you started? You aren’t alone. Between a full-time career, building a foundation, staying fit, and maintaining relationships, the Invisible Workload—the mental gymnastics of home management—can become a silent killer of your mental peace. In this solo episode, Elex Simon pulls back the curtain on her own recent struggle with the "Sunday Reset" trap. We’re diving into the science of...

In this episode, Elex Simon sits down with holistic health expert Kali Lucchesi from Healthy Habits Sedalia to dive deep into the world of natural healing. We often talk about the mind, but today we’re talking about the body’s "engine"—the gut, the nervous system, and the essential nutrients that keep us resilient. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed in the supplement aisle or wondered why your "healthy" habits aren't moving the needle, this conversation is for you. From the "magical" benefits of m...

"My brain never shuts off, ever." — Sound familiar? In this solo "real talk" session, Elex Simon dives into the chaotic reality of wearing all the hats—Founder, Recruiter, Podcaster, and everything in between. We all know that feeling when our brain has 47 tabs open, 2 of them are frozen, and we can’t find where the music is coming from. 🧠💨 In this episode, we are breaking down the Micro-Break Mindset. Elex explores the science of brain fatigue and why a simple 5-minute reset isn't just "lazin...

Unlocking Emotional Balance with Kim Mabry "Therapy looks in the rearview mirror; life coaching looks out the windshield." 🚗💨 In this episode of Mental Mixology, we are sitting down with Kim Mabry, the heart and soul behind Lilac Farms Life Coaching. Kim’s journey is a powerful testament to the "Mixology" of life—moving from a career in teaching to becoming a certified life coach dedicated to helping others find their emotional footing. Whether you are navigating the aftermath of trauma or si...