Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

In today's episode, I share some of my best advice around how to make positive change (in any area of your life or wellness) when it feels too hard.

Our default is to just try harder, but that almost always leads to failure, because we are trying the wrong way. 

I provide five specific strategies for how to “try different, not harder”, including how to identify and replace the beliefs that are keeping you stuck, how to remind your brain and body it can do hard things, and how the easy days can provide the lessons you need to get through the tough ones better. You can apply everything in this episode to any area of personal growth you’re working on, from your parenting style to social media habits to your relationship with alcohol! 

For free tools and resources for making changes around alcohol, burnout, or midlife, visit: www.wendymccallum.com/learn-with-wendy

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

Sarah and I share our favourite stories, strategies, and tips for taking back the holidays – after all, you deserve a break and some fun too! Our suggestions include:

  setting an intention around what really matters to you about the holidays this year and then taking the steps to make that happen, 

  saying no to plans and events that don’t serve you,

  getting better at outsourcing and delegation,

  creating new traditions that serve you better,

  taking shortcuts that make things easier, and

  setting and enforcing boundaries to protect your own wellness and joy.

It’s the perfect pre-Holiday conversation, join us!

For free tools and resources for making change around alcohol, burnout, or midlife, visit: www.wendymccallum.com/learn-with-wendy

Let the holiday baking begin!  Here’s a 100% wholegrain treat sweetened with molasses and maple syrup – No refined sugar!

Ingredients:

2&1/4 c spelt flour (can substitute 100% whole wheat flour)
1/4 c ground flax meal
1.5 tsp ground ginger
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 c melted coconut oil
1/3 c molasses
1/4 c + 1 tbsp maple syrup
1 egg

To prepare:

Whisk together flour, spices, salt, baking powder & baking soda in a medium bowl.  In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together coconut oil, molasses & maple syrup until smooth.  

Add egg and beat well, then slowly add dry mixture while continuing to mix until combined.  Using hands, roll dough into a ball and flatten it into a thick disc. (It will be a little sticky, you can dust it with a little flour if you need it to form the ball).

Wrap in plastic or beeswax wrap and refrigerate for...

This healthy stew is so darn pretty. And rich in flavour. And it’s a crockpot recipe. What more can you ask for? 

Serve it over brown basmati or jasmine rice, or with a big hunk of crusty bread.

Ingredients:

1- 400 ml can of coconut milk 

1- 796 ml can diced tomatoes (and their juice)

1 c water

1/2 c dry red lentils, picked over and rinsed

1 medium sweet potato peeled and cubed into 1/2” cubes (about 2 c cubed)

1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped

2 tbsp green curry paste (international food aisle of grocery store)

2 tbsp fresh grated ginger (or 2 tsp powdered ginger)

3 cloves crushed garlic

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

3/4 tsp sea salt

1 bay leaf

454g white fish fillets (I use haddock), cut into 3/4” pieces

1 c packed spinach, then chopped

1/2 c packed fresh cilantro, chopped finely*

*optional

To make:

Add coconut milk, tomatoes, water, lentils, sweet potato, bell pepper, curry paste, ginger, garlic, turmeric, smoked...

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

Sarah and I discuss the key things women need to know to advocate effectively for themselves and navigate our complex health care system in midlife, particularly with respect to their perimenopause and menopausal symptoms. Sarah explains why women often require a team of caregivers instead of one doctor, your rights as a patient, the difference between conventional pharmaceutical BHRT and compounded hormones, and what to do if you’re questioning the advice you’ve been given. I share my experience building my own team and navigating the health care system since dropping into full menopause very suddenly in 2020. There are so many great tips in this episode – don’t skip this one!

Grab Wendy and Sarah’s free peri/menopause checklist, here: www.wendymccallum.com/perichecklist

Want to get into the holiday spirit? Whip up a batch of these muffins and your kitchen will smell like Mrs. Claus’s!

Ingredients:

3 cups whole wheat (or whole wheat pastry) flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1.5 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 medium ripe bananas
1 c almond/cashew, soy, or cow’s milk
1/2 c maple syrup
1/2 c molasses
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1.5 c real cranberries (frozen & defrosted or fresh)*
coarse sugar for sprinkling on tops*

*optional

To make:

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.

In a blender, blend bananas, milk, maple syrup, molasses, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.

Add wet to dry ingredients, then stir in cranberries, if using. Take care not to over-mix.

Divide mixture among 24 greased muffin cups. Sprinkle each with a little coarse sugar, if using.

Bake at 350F for 20-22 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

These muffins can be frozen.

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

Karolina Rzadkowolska is a certified alcohol-free life coach whose book Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You will be out on bookshelves on January 4th. She’s the host of Euphoric the Podcast, founder of Euphoric Alcohol-Free, and her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, Authority Magazine, Greatist, and Elite Daily.

Karolina shares her personal alcohol story, and why and how she went alcohol-free. Karolina and I discuss our shared views on how it’s all about what you get when you leave alcohol behind, not what you give up, the detox to retox cycle so many women find themselves in, the role of the patriarchy in women’s drinking, and how alcohol impacts our health.

Pre-order your copy of Euphoric now: https://www.euphoricbook.com/

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.