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#187 How to Tap into Your Intuition and Find Your Voice/ft. Dr. Melissa Bird
04/13/23 • 55 min
1 Listener
Intuition. That feeling where you “just know,” but how? What is the nature of this sixth sense, and how do we foster it? I was happy to invite Dr. Melissa Bird to this week’s podcast to answer our questions about intuition and how we can tap into this powerful force within us.
Dr. Melissa Bird, Ph.D., MSW, is a passionate feminist whose education in social work has led to a career advocating for children, women, and their families.
One of Melissa's key focus areas is helping women overcome their fears around speaking their minds and pursuing their dreams. She encourages women to listen to their intuition and tap into their inner wisdom to find their voice and purpose in life.
So, how do we tap into our intuition? Dr. Bird describes intuition as a muscle, the more we listen to it, the more we use it, and the stronger it becomes. She also reminds us to combat our perfectionism actively, to stop striving for perfection and instead strives for “humanism.” In doing so, we enhance our ability to tap into our intuition.
Moreover, she discusses the effect of society's demand for making decisions based on rationality and the idea that intuition is not considered “rational.” So, over time it has become our tendency to stamp out this sense within us.
Melissa also dives into the complexity of race and ancestry and shares a bit about her complex heritage. She explains how our sense of groundedness and identity influence our connectedness with ourselves and our intuition.
She recommends three parts in learning to reconnect with your intuition: Learn how to listen to your body, acknowledge when you’re questioning yourself, and when you realize you may have let other factors guide you, stop shaming yourself for “not listening.” We are all individuals, and we reach our sense of intuition differently.
How to reach Dr. Bird:
Rating, Review & Follow on Apple PodcastsHeike’s insights on the Pursue Your Spark are so helpful in creating a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle”! ← If that sounds like you, consider rating and reviewing my show here! This helps me support more empty-nester moms 50+ – just like you – redefining their second half of life. Click here, scroll to the bottom, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you loved most about the episode!
There is always something new on the feed, and if you’re not following, there’s a chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!
Links mentioned in the show:
Intuition. That feeling where you “just know,” but how? What is the nature of this sixth sense, and how do we foster it? I was happy to invite Dr. Melissa Bird to this week’s podcast to answer our questions about intuition and how we can tap into this powerful force within us.
Dr. Melissa Bird, Ph.D., MSW, is a passionate feminist whose education in social work has led to a career advocating for children, women, and their families.
One of Melissa's key focus areas is helping women overcome their fears around speaking their minds and pursuing their dreams. She encourages women to listen to their intuition and tap into their inner wisdom to find their voice and purpose in life.
So, how do we tap into our intuition? Dr. Bird describes intuition as a muscle, the more we listen to it, the more we use it, and the stronger it becomes. She also reminds us to combat our perfectionism actively, to stop striving for perfection and instead strives for “humanism.” In doing so, we enhance our ability to tap into our intuition.
Moreover, she discusses the effect of society's demand for making decisions based on rationality and the idea that intuition is not considered “rational.” So, over time it has become our tendency to stamp out this sense within us.
Melissa also dives into the complexity of race and ancestry and shares a bit about her complex heritage. She explains how our sense of groundedness and identity influence our connectedness with ourselves and our intuition.
She recommends three parts in learning to reconnect with your intuition: Learn how to listen to your body, acknowledge when you’re questioning yourself, and when you realize you may have let other factors guide you, stop shaming yourself for “not listening.” We are all individuals, and we reach our sense of intuition differently.
How to reach Dr. Bird:
Rating, Review & Follow on Apple PodcastsHeike’s insights on the Pursue Your Spark are so helpful in creating a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle”! ← If that sounds like you, consider rating and reviewing my show here! This helps me support more empty-nester moms 50+ – just like you – redefining their second half of life. Click here, scroll to the bottom, and select “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you loved most about the episode!
There is always something new on the feed, and if you’re not following, there’s a chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!
Links mentioned in the show:
Previous Episode

#186 What is Resistant Starch and How Does it Impact Your Health?
Have you heard about resistant starch foods? Resistant starch foods have gained increased attention as a potential tool to improve gut health and support a healthy microbiome.
Today I'll share what resistant starch foods are and why they are good for you! I will also discuss the much-debated claim that these foods can aid in weight loss and help you decide if starch resistant foods can be of additional benefit to you.
Essentially a type of fiber, noted benefits of starch resistant foods include improved gut health, better blood sugar control, improved nutrient absorption, reduced inflammation, and the list goes on!
I focus on women in menopause and post-menopause who may benefit from consuming resistant starch as part of a healthy diet. Especially for those that are stuck losing weight and need to shake it up, want to improve gut health and reduce inflammation, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk, then resistant starch foods are worth a try.
I also discuss who else may benefit from these foods, how much you should ideally be eating every day, and how many of the foods I mention are in your pantry right now!
Remember, it's essential to consume resistant starch as part of a healthy, balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients. All types of fiber have health benefits, so eat a variety of fiber-containing foods.
Reach out to me at [email protected] or on social media if you have more questions and need help with your health goals.
Rating, Review & Follow on Apple PodcastsHeike's insights on the Pursue Your Spark are so helpful in creating a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle"! ← If that sounds like you, consider rating and reviewing my show here! This helps me support more empty-nester moms 50+ – just like you – redefining their second half of life. Click here, scroll to the bottom, and select "Write a Review." Then, let me know what you loved most about the episode!
There is always something new on the feed, and if you're not following, there's a chance you'll miss out. Follow now!
Links mentioned in the show:
Next Episode

#188 How to Get the Best Results from Intermittent Fasting Over 50
Intermittent fasting has recently gained popularity as a weight loss and health-promoting strategy. It involves restricting food intake for a certain period of time, followed by a period of normal eating.
In today’s episode, I share with you the science-backed benefits of intermittent fasting and how to decide if it is right for you. I also take you through how to start fasting and what to (realistically) expect!
One of the main benefits of intermittent fasting is that it can lead to weight loss and improved body composition. However, some women, especially those over 50, struggle to lose weight. I discuss why this may be the case for some and how to overcome it.
In addition to weight loss, intermittent fasting has many other health benefits. It can improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and promote autophagy. All of these benefits can reduce your risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Intermittent fasting is a sustainable eating pattern that fits most lifestyles. I share some methods to ease into fasting and how to find what works for you.
Of course, intermittent fasting isn't for everyone, and it's important to talk to your doctor before starting any new diet or exercise program. However, if you're looking for a safe and effective way to improve your health and well-being, intermittent fasting is definitely worth considering!
Reach out to me at [email protected] or on social media if you have more questions and need help with your health goals.
Rating, Review & Follow on Apple PodcastsHeike's insights on the Pursue Your Spark are so helpful in creating a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle"! ← If that sounds like you, consider rating and reviewing my show here! This helps me support more empty-nester moms 50+ – just like you – redefining their second half of life. Click here, scroll to the bottom, and select "Write a Review." Then, let me know what you loved most about the episode!
There is always something new on the feed, and if you're not following, there's a chance you'll miss out. Follow now!
Links mentioned in the show:
- The Easy To Follow Intermittent Fasting Guide For Newbies
- 5 Amazing Ways Intermittent Fasting Helps In Midlife
- How Intermittent Fasting Can Improve Your Sleep Quality
- Empty Nest Reboot
For more episodes, click here.
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