Episodes

How Do I Make It Last? Joanna walked into her final session with the only question that matters: How do I make this stick when things are hard? Travel. Illness. Holiday season. She's exhausted again—and she knows exactly why. A few months ago, she wouldn't have noticed the difference. Now her body tells her immediately when she's off track. That awareness? That's the win. She asked about dinner burnout, about the overwhelm of meal prep, about what happens when her partner's default is "let's ju...

She Came Ready Joanna walked into session five with a list. "I have a lot of stuff." That's exactly what a coach wants to hear. She was ready to move on to movement—nutrition felt handled. But Danna pulled her back for a moment. There was something in how Joanna talked about "falling off the wagon" with food logging. Was she disappointed because it actually helped her? Or because she felt like she should be doing it? There's a difference between "I need to do this for me" and "someone told me ...

She Feels It Now Joanna messaged before the call: "I haven't kept up with it." Danna braced for bad news. But here's the twist—it was just the logging that slipped. The eating habits? Those stuck. She has energy. She's feeling the difference. That's the whole point. Remember session one, when Joanna asked "How will I know it's working?" She wanted black-and-white proof, and Danna couldn't give it to her. Now she doesn't need proof. She feels it. Food logging was never meant to be forever. It's...

Conferences and Congresses - no matter what you call them, they are an excellent resource for health coaches. In this episode, Megan talks about why you should consider attending health conferences, how to prepare before you go, and what to do while you're there. We love to hear from you! Send us a Voicemail Send us an Email Takeaways: Attending health conferences provides invaluable networking opportunities with industry professionals and like-minded individuals. Health coaches, particularly...

She's Doing the Hard Work Good news: Danna's awake this time. And Joanna? She came in hot—full of data from her CGM experiment, eager to keep going, and finally seeing real results. But Megan caught something in this session: a little miscommunication around food logging. Joanna was trying to figure out how to track (weighing her go-to foods once so she'd know the portions forever), and Danna pushed back. Why? Because quality matters more than quantity. If you're weighing your potato chips, you...

If you’re becoming a health coach (or you’re early in your coaching career), you’ve probably felt the pressure to “have it all together” while the world feels… like a lot. In this episode, mindfulness practitioner and certified coach Gretchen Larsen shares practical ways to stay grounded, reduce stress spirals, and prevent burnout—without pretending you’re fine. We talk about why overwhelm can shrink your sense of control, how to work with your feelings instead of bypassing them, and the power ...

When Your Coach is Human Too Danna's been up since 4:30am. She's brain foggy, running on fumes, and didn't have time to review her notes before the session. Megan's listening and thinking: come on, Danna, you can do it. And that's the point. Coaches are human. There's no such thing as a perfect session every time—and showing that to clients matters. Life gets messy. You show up anyway. The real takeaway from this session? Joanna says she does the 80/20 thing with processed foods, but when someo...

Behind the Session The first session is done—and Danna and Megan are debriefing. What just happened? What worked? What do listeners need to know about getting the most out of health coaching? Joanna came in like a lot of first-timers: a little anxious, full of questions, not quite sure how coaching works. She wanted a program. A protocol. Something concrete. But that's not how this goes. Good coaching isn't about talking at someone—it's about listening, pulling out what's really going on, and...

Chapter 0: Before We Begin Meet Joanna: working mom, twin wrangler, cheese enthusiast. She's got four-year-old twins, a ten-year-old who moonlights as a paid babysitter, and a brain that hasn't known single-tasking in years. She's here because of the afternoon crash—that 2pm slump that wipes her out. She wants her focus back, her energy back, her brain back. But she's also clear about what she's not here for: diets. Diet culture. Anything she wouldn't want her daughters to see. Joanna eats fle...

Thanks for listening to the introduction episode for our coaching series with Joanna. This project follows a real three-month coaching engagement with six coaching sessions. We recorded the coaching sessions themselves, plus Joanna’s full health history, plus debrief episodes where Danna and I reflect on the coaching session and break down what we were listening for. Here’s the easiest way to listen, depending on what you want more of. If you want to hear the actual coaching sessions (the rea...

Megan and fellow coach Danna revisit an early episode to unpack functional medicine—what it is, how it differs from conventional care, and how a functional approach can sharpen a health coach’s practice. Expect practical examples (BP meds, antibiotics + probiotics), how to vet providers, and what extra training changed in Danna’s client work. Back in 2018, Megan introduced functional medicine as an option when conventional care feels stuck on symptom relief. In 2025, she and Danna (a Functional...

Megan and fellow health coach Danna revisit an early episode on patient advocacy, reflecting on what still holds up in 2025. They cover why women are disproportionately dismissed, how to prepare for medical appointments, when to switch doctors, and how to use online research without catastrophizing. Episode description Back in 2018, Megan shared Jennifer Esposito’s years-long road to a celiac diagnosis—an all-too-common story for women whose symptoms get minimized or misread. In this updated c...

My name's Megan McCrory and I am an aspiring health coach and this is my story. I'm starting a podcast series for the whole year to follow me along my journey of becoming a health coach. I just want to tell you a little bit about how I got to this point and a little bit about Health Coaching.

Embracing Technology in Health Coaching: Telehealth, Apps, Wearables, and Ethics In this episode Megan explores how technology is revolutionizing health coaching. The discussion covers telehealth platforms, apps, and wearables, emphasizing their benefits and challenges, including data privacy and ethical considerations. Megan also shares insights on AI-powered coaching, advanced wearables, and the potential of virtual reality, encouraging coaches to thoughtfully integrate tech tools to enhance ...

Thanks for listening to Becoming a Health Coach with Megan J. McCrory .This episode of Becoming a Health Coach features a discussion between host Megan McCrory and guest Danna Levy Hoffmann. They discuss the reasons behind Danna's choice to become a health coach and her journey through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's certification programs. Danna shares her insights on how the program provided a foundation in coaching and business skills alongside her pre-existing knowledge of holist...

Hello, and thanks for listening to Becoming a Health Coach with Megan J. McCrory. When Michelle Leotta became a certified health coach, there was no such thing as board certification and most people had never heard of kale. Join this lively conversation about the industry's evolution and how to get started on your health coaching path from someone who has been in your shoes and continues to move the industry forward. Michelle Leotta has combined 13 years as a practicing health coach with 20+ y...

Choosing the Right Certification: Becoming a Health Coach Bonus Episode In this bonus episode of 'Becoming a Health Coach', host Megan McCrory speaks with fellow health coach Danna Levy Hoffman about her journey into health coaching. Danna shares her reasons for choosing the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and how convenience and cost factored into her choice. Danna also discusses the initial obstacles she faced setting up her business, her learning process, and her subsequent further educa...

Hello, and thanks for listening to Becoming a Health Coach with Megan J. McCrory. This bonus episode features host Megan McCrory in a conversation with fellow health coach, Danna Levy Hoffmann. Danna shares her journey of becoming a functional medicine health coach and how her grandmother's ill health, passion for food, and her previous business, which was about healthy cooking for kids, influenced her decision. Danna explains how she started giving health advice to parents who attended her co...

In this episode, Ep. 30 20 Profitable Niches for Health Coaches , your host Megan McCrory discusses the concept of niches in health coaching. She outlines the ways these specialized market segments can aid in customer acquisition and specifies how certain niches can be narrowed down even further. A variety of niches, from weight loss and management to family health and nutrition, are discussed in detail. The episode also provides important insight into the challenges and opportunities each niche...

In this episode, Megan discusses how Sparketypes can be used in coaching to help clients find work that brings them joy and fulfillment. She explains the process of diving deeper into understanding the different Sparketypes and how they relate to individuals. Megan shares the importance of having conversations with clients to articulate their thoughts and feelings about their Sparketype profiles. She also highlights the significance of identifying flow moments and collecting information to gain...

Hello, and thanks for listening to Becoming a Health Coach with Megan J. McCrory. This Black Friday, you can experience this transformative journey, too, by enrolling in IIN's Health Coach Training Program at an incredible 45% off using the code MEGANMCCRORY20 or clicking this link https://sldr.page.link/gDVv Need someone to practice with? Schedule time with me; I'm happy to help :) https://calendly.com/megan-j-mccrory/practice-coaching-with-megan Consider showing your support by becoming a sh...

Hello, and thanks for listening to Becoming a Health Coach with Megan J. McCrory. Save 20% off IIN or Chopra Certification courses by using my referral code: MEGANMCCRORY20 Ep. 27 Unpacking the Profitability of Health Coaching: Is it Worth the Investment? In this episode, Megan McCrory, a certified International Integrative Health Coach, explores whether health coaching is profitable and worth investing time and money into. She unpacks the concept of profitability from a financial perspectiv...

Whether you're a fresh newbie just starting out or you've completed your certification long ago but haven't taken the leap, it's crucial to make coaching a habit in your daily routine. Think of it like learning a new language or honing a musical talent, the art of coaching demands consistent practice to become an expert. Click the link below to download the free handout summarizing this episode. https://mybestself.ck.page/05ad884c25 Need someone to practice with? Schedule time with me, I'm happy to help :) https://calendly.com/megan-j-mccrory/practice-coaching-with-megan Need help, motivation, or accountability to get started? Join the MyBestSelf Coaching & Community! Our community of like-actioned individuals is dedicated to supporting each other on our paths to accomplishing our goals. With the Level-up Membership, you'll have access to group coaching, monthly challenges, accountability partners, and weekly goal sharing. Our experienced coaches will guide you in setting and achievin…

Well, here we are again. I’ve been promising a new episode since November 2019 and it’s finally here. This is a two-part episode where I explain what I’ve been doing for the past 1150 days and my current coaching business. Are you looking to take your personal development journey to the next level? Look no further than the MyBestSelf Coaching & Community! Our community of like-actioned individuals is dedicated to supporting each other on our paths to self-improvement. With our Level-up Member...