The Wellness Effect (A Lifestyle U Podcast)

In this candid catch-up episode of The Wellness Effect, we dive into a wide-ranging conversation about wellness, relationships, plant medicine, and peptides—and the real-life decisions that shape our health journeys.
From Kira's plant medicine experience to the growing conversation around peptides in functional medicine, we explore how modern wellness trends intersect with personal experimentation. We also open up about relationships, parenting challenges like baby eczema, and how everyday lifestyle choices impact overall health and well-being.
This episode introduces a new segment of The Wellness Effect, where we share life updates while diving into evolving conversations around functional wellness, biohacking trends, and modern health practices.
If you enjoy behind-the-scenes conversations about plant medicine, peptides, wellness trends, and personal growth, this episode offers an honest look at the experiences shaping today's wellness conversations.
 
In This Episode We Discuss…
Kira's experience exploring plant medicine and personal growth
The growing conversation around peptides in wellness and functional medicine
Relationships, long-term partnerships, and navigating life changes
Parenting challenges, including baby eczema and gut health
The balance between unconventional wellness practices and practical lifestyle habits
How wellness trends like biohacking and peptides are influencing modern health conversations
 
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Kira's Plant Medicine Experience
06:30 – Peptides Explained: Why They're Trending in Wellness & Biohacking
12:00 – Relationships, Anniversaries & Life Transitions
18:00 – Parenting Conversations: Baby Eczema & Gut Health
25:30 – Raves, Lifestyle Choices & Wellness Balance
34:00 – Navigating Wellness Trends with Curiosity
44:00 – Final Thoughts on Wellness, Relationships & Personal Growth
 
 
Want to Work With Us? Join us in the Root Cause Reset Program: https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/wellness-effect-906145 and use code "Wellness Effect" for a FREE functional lab test when you join the program.
Follow us on Instagram:
The Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thewellnesseffectpod/
Lacey Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/laceeiskk/
Jensen - https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswjensen/
Kira Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/wellbykira/
Lifestyle U have helped over 1,000+ women transform their mind and body and become the best version of themselves. Want to be next? Click Here to Apply! - https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/apply
If you loved this episode and want to hear more, subscribe and leave a review! Share this episode with a friend who's ready to start their own wellness journey. Follow us on Instagram at @thewellnesseffectpod to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes and tips!

Many women struggle with their relationship with food and their bodies, but healing often begins with one simple shift: learning how to listen to your body.
In today's episode, Lacey and Kira are joined by Cassandra Bodzak, a holistic wellness guide, actress, and author of The Mindful Table. Cassandra shares her personal journey through mysterious health issues, body disconnection, and eventually rediscovering her health by learning how to listen to her body's signals.
We dive into the complicated relationship many women have with food, dieting culture, and body image. Cassandra explains how mindfulness practices, intuitive eating, and self-compassion can help rebuild trust with your body and support long-term wellness. This conversation bridges both science and spirituality, offering a grounded perspective on healing your relationship with food, nourishment, and your body.
If you've ever felt disconnected from your body, stuck in cycles of dieting, or unsure how to trust your body's signals, this episode offers a powerful new perspective.
 
What You'll Learn
In this episode, we discuss:
Cassandra's personal journey with chronic pain and reconnecting with her body
Why many women struggle with their relationship with food
The difference between dieting and intuitive eating
Why listening to your body is a key part of sustainable wellness
 
Chapters:
00:41 — Introducing Cassandra Bodzak
02:00 — Cassandra's background in wellness, mindfulness, and nutrition
03:00 — Her journey from acting to holistic health work
05:30 — When she realized her relationship with food and her body needed to change
09:15 — Learning to listen to the body's signals
14:40 — Healing the relationship with food through mindfulness
22:10 — Why many women feel disconnected from their bodies
31:05 — The power of intuitive eating and body awareness
40:20 — Rebuilding trust with your body
49:30 — Practical steps to start reconnecting with your health
 
Connect with Cassandra:
Website: https://cassandrabodzak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassandraBodzak/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandrabodzak
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CassandraBodzakTV
Buy a copy of The Mindful Table by Cassandra Bodzak and get bonus content at https://cassandrabodzak.com/
 
 
Want to Work With Us at Lifestyle U? Join us in the Root Cause Reset Program: https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/wellness-effect-906145 and use code "Wellness Effect" for a FREE functional lab test when you join the program.
Follow us on Instagram:
The Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thewellnesseffectpod/
Lacey Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/laceeiskk/
Jensen - https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswjensen/
Kira Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/wellbykira/
Lifestyle U have helped over 1,000+ women transform their mind and body and become the best version of themselves. Want to be next? Click Here to Apply! - https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/apply
If you loved this episode and want to hear more, subscribe and leave a review! Share this episode with a friend who's ready to start their own wellness journey. Follow us on Instagram at @thewellnesseffectpod to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes and tips.

If you feel tired but wired, struggle with hormone imbalances, poor sleep, blood sugar crashes, or stubborn symptoms, the issue may not be what you're eating, but when. Your circadian rhythm is the master system coordinating your hormones, metabolism, digestion, and nervous system.
In this episode, we break down circadian rhythm in a practical, real-life way. This isn't just about sleep. It's about how your body knows what time it is and what it should be doing.
We cover how light, food timing, and movement act as biological signals for cortisol, melatonin, thyroid function, mitochondrial health, and even hormone production. We also dive into why poor sleep, PMDD, irregular cycles, afternoon crashes, and even skin flare-ups may stem from circadian disruption.
If you've been focusing on supplements, elimination diets, or protocols without seeing results, this episode will show you the foundational layer you might be missing.
 
What You'll Learn
In this episode, we discuss:
What circadian rhythm actually is (and why every cell has a 24-hour clock)
How cortisol and melatonin should rise and fall naturally
The difference between sunrise, UVA rise, and UVB light
How circadian rhythm impacts thyroid hormone conversion (T4 to T3)
Simple habits to support sleep, metabolism, and nervous system regulation
 
Chapters
00:00 – Why circadian rhythm impacts hormones & sleep
04:14 – Every cell runs on a 24-hour clock
09:44 – Cortisol timing, digestion & metabolism explained
14:23 – Sunrise: the master reset signal
20:53 – UVA rise & hormone production (pregnenolone, thyroid, insulin)
27:45 – Sunset & melatonin preparation
32:18 – The role of food timing in circadian rhythm 35:29 – Vitamin D vs. melatonin (seasonal shifts explained)
39:09 – Movement timing & workouts
41:36 – Signs your circadian rhythm is off
45:55 – Practical habits you can implement immediately
 
Resources & Mentions
My Circadian App
Circadian Rhythm Resource
Blue Light Glasses
Circadian Lighting
How to Turn Your iPhone Red
 
Want to Work With Us?
Join us in the Root Cause Reset Program: https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/wellness-effect-906145 and use code "Wellness Effect" for a FREE functional lab test when you join the program.
Follow us on Instagram:
The Podcast: @thewellnesseffectpod
Lacey Iskra - @laceeiskk
Jensen - @wellnesswjensen
Kira Iskra - @kiraiskk
Lifestyle U have helped over 1,000+ women transform their mind and body and become the best version of themselves. Want to be next? Click Here to Apply! - https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/apply
If you loved this episode and want to hear more, subscribe and leave a review! Share this episode with a friend who's ready to start their own wellness journey. Follow us on Instagram  at @thewellnesseffectpod to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes and tips.

Did you know? Sex isn't just physical. It is deeply connected to your nervous system, trauma history, body image, and sense of safety. In this episode of The Wellness Effect, we explore how intimacy can actually become a space for healing when it's rooted in trust and regulation.
Today we're joined by Ivana Kolakovic, a registered Sex & Relationships Therapist from Kat Kova Therapy specializing in sex and relationship therapy. We dive into how trauma lives in the body, why shame blocks sexual desire, and the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire. We talk about brakes and accelerators in intimacy, body image struggles, hormonal shifts, parenting transitions, and how couples can rebuild connection through nervous system safety. This conversation is nuanced, compassionate, and deeply practical; especially if you've ever wondered, "What's wrong with me?" when it comes to sex or intimacy.
 
What You'll Learn:
In this episode, we discuss:
What somatic therapy actually means (and how it differs from talk therapy)
How trauma gets stored in the nervous system
Why safety is the foundation of pleasurable sex
Accelerators vs. brakes in sexual desire
Why relationships are powerful tools for nervous system regulation
 
Chapters:
01:21 - Meet Ivana + what somatic therapy means
06:44 - Talk therapy vs. somatic work
08:49 - Why sex can be a space for healing
10:05 - Low desire, shame & sexual disconnection
18:22 - Safety, ventral state & healing through intimacy
25:00 - Parenting, burnout & libido changes
29:33 - Responsive vs. spontaneous desire
33:04 - Accelerators and brakes explained
40:00 - Body image, shame & self-acceptance
48:31 -Trauma responses in intimacy
53:49 - Open relationships: when they work (and when they don't)
 
Connect with Kat Kova Therapy:
Website: https://katkovatherapy.com/
Email: [email protected]
 
Want to Work With Us? Join us in the Root Cause Reset Program: https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/wellness-effect-906145 and use code "Wellness Effect" for a FREE functional lab test when you join the program.
 
Follow us on Instagram:
The Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesseffectpod/
Lacey Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/laceeiskk/
Jensen - https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswjensen/
Kira Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/kiraiskk/
Lifestyle U have helped over 1,000+ women transform their mind and body and become the best version of themselves. Want to be next? Click Here to Apply! - https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/apply
If you loved this episode and want to hear more, subscribe and leave a review! Share this episode with a friend who's ready to start their own wellness journey. Follow us on Instagram at @wellnesseffectpod to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes and tips.

Not every wellness trend deserves a 10/10. In this episode, we rate some of the most talked-about health trends in 2026, and explain what's actually worth your time (and what isn't).
Today we're giving our unfiltered take on popular wellness trends. From wearable tech and cold plunges to coffee enemas, peptides, vibration plates, cycle syncing, Pilates, and juice cleanses. This conversation isn't about hype, it's about foundations, context, and knowing when something is an optimizer versus a shortcut.
If you've been wondering which trends are worth exploring and which ones might just be distractions, this episode will help you think critically before jumping in.
 
What You'll Learn
In this episode, we discuss:
The pros and cons of wearable tech (Oura ring, Apple Watch, Whoop)
When cold plunging supports your body — and when it may not
Coffee enemas: benefits, risks, and who they're actually for
Why peptides are powerful — but not foundational
The truth about cycle syncing
The difference between foundations vs. optimizers in wellness
 
Chapters
00:00 2016 nostalgia + life updates
16:45 Rating 2026 wellness trends begins
18:05 Wearable technology (Oura, Apple Watch, Whoop)
22:22 Cold plunging: benefits & cycle considerations
26:16 Coffee enemas: detox or overhyped?
33:20 Peptides: revolutionary or shortcut?
40:17 Vibration plates & lymphatic support
44:12 Cycle syncing — helpful or overemphasized?
45:50 Pilates vs. strength training
48:07 Juice cleanses: worth it or not?
 
Resources
Get 10% OFF of Ultra Human Ring, check out at http://ultrahuman.com/laceeiskk or use discount code: LACEYISKRA10
Grab your Coffee Enema Supplies, visit https://www.purelifeenema.com/enema-coffee/
 
 
Want to Work With Us at Lifestyle U? Join us in the Root Cause Reset Program: https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/wellness-effect-906145 and use code "Wellness Effect" for a FREE functional lab test when you join the program.
Follow us on Instagram:
The Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesseffectpod/
Lacey Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/laceeiskk/
Jensen - https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswjensen/
Kira Iskra - https://www.instagram.com/kiraiskk/
Lifestyle U have helped over 1,000+ women transform their mind and body and become the best version of themselves. Want to be next? Click Here to Apply! - https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/apply
If you loved this episode and want to hear more, subscribe and leave a review! Share this episode with a friend who's ready to start their own wellness journey. Follow us on Instagram at @wellnesseffectpod (https://www.instagram.com/wellnesseffectpod/) to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes and tips.