Freedom at The Mat | A Women's Wellness Sanctuary

Can growing your own food become a path to better health, deeper wellness, financial resilience, and freedom? In this powerful episode of Freedom at the Mat: Well Chat, Olivia Scott sits down with Dr. Cindy Ayers-Elliott—urban farmer, entrepreneur, founder of Footprint Farms, and USA Today Woman of the Year—to explore the life-changing power of urban agriculture, food sovereignty, and reconnecting communities to the land. Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Cindy Ayers-Elliott has helped build Footprint Farms into a community-centered farming and education initiative working across 11 states. She shares why access to healthy, local, affordable food matters; how farming can support healing and self-sufficiency; and why women have an essential role in creating healthier, more resilient communities. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, high-rise, or home with a backyard, this conversation offers encouraging, practical ways to begin growing food where you are. Dr. Cindy explains how beginners can start with herbs, greens, seeds, repurposed containers, raised beds, and tower gardens—without needing a large budget, land, or complicated equipment. In this episode, we discuss: Urban farming and food sovereignty in Black communities The connection between food, wellness, healing, and spiritual grounding How Footprint Farms is creating access to fresh food and agricultural education Growing food in small spaces, balconies, stoops, and indoors Tower gardens, raised beds, herbs, greens, and beginner-friendly gardening Food deserts, healthy-food access, and community empowerment Building health, wealth, and self-reliance through growing your own food Women’s leadership in creating sustainable, thriving communities Reducing food waste through juicing, preserving, canning, and value-added products Dr. Cindy’s message is simple: you do not need acres of land to begin. You can start with one seed, one container, one raised bed, or one small growing space—and grow from there. Connect with Dr. Cindy Ayers-Elliott and Footprint Farms: Website: https://footprintfarms.com Podcast: AG + Culture on YouTube Instagram/Facebook: Search Footprint Farms Learn more about TIME (To Improve Mississippi Economics): https://toimprovemississippieconomics.org If this conversation inspired you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who is ready to grow more wellness, nourishment, and freedom at home. #UrbanFarming #GrowYourOwnFood #FoodSovereignty #BlackWellness #BlackWomenWellness #GardeningForBeginners #SmallSpaceGardening #TowerGarden #FoodDesert #HealthyEating #SustainableLiving #CommunityWellness #FootprintFarms #FreedomAtTheMat #WellnessPodcast

Are you trying to build or scale a business, lead a team, manage a household, or pursue a big vision—but doing too much alone? In this Well Chat episode, Tamika Tyson, Global Risk Executive & Author of Win or Win: Your Playbook for the Starting Five speaks with Freedom at The Mat’s Olivia F. Scott for a candid conversation about business growth, leadership, team building, financial wellness, and burnout. Founder of Scale Advisory, and Co-Founder of TGC Impact —Tamika draws on more than 25 years of experience in risk management, investing, and global business leadership to explain why the teams that win are not always the most talented—they are the best configured. Together, Olivia and Tamika explore how entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, corporate professionals, and leaders can identify the role they are best suited to play, stop confusing perceived success with real value, and build the right support system to scale sustainably. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why founders should not automatically assume they must also be the CEO The five essential roles in Tamika’s “Starting Five” framework: founder, CEO, operator, marketer, and finance lead How ego can create misalignment, parallel play, and stalled growth Why doing everything yourself may be costing you time, health, relationships, and revenue How to recognize whether you lead with mission, systems, or speed What to consider before hiring a fractional CFO, CMO, CEO, or other strategic support Why your definition of “winning” should be personal—not based on social media, comparison, or someone else’s blueprint How to determine where you add the most value in your business, career, household, or community Whether you are running a startup, growing a consultancy, leading inside a company, or rethinking your next professional move, this episode will help you answer an essential question: What is your real position—and what do you need around you to win? Connect with Tamika Tyson Learn more about Tamika Tyson, get Win or Win: Your Playbook for the Starting Five, and take the free Game Plan Assessment at https://tamikatyson.com Stay Connected with Freedom at The Mat Subscribe for more WellChat conversations on wellness, leadership, entrepreneurship, purpose, and living a truly well life. Share this episode with a founder, business owner, professional, or friend who needs permission to stop doing everything alone—and start building in the right position. #FreedomAtTheMat #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #TeamBuilding #SmallBusiness #FounderLife #BusinessStrategy #BurnoutPrevention #FinancialWellness #OccupationalWellness #WellChat #TamikaTyson

What do you do when your vision is bigger than your current capacity—and life gets messy in the middle? In this powerful episode of Well Chat, Olivia F. Scott sits down with Chicago entrepreneur, leadership success coach, empowerment speaker, and Women of Faith Entrepreneurs Network founder Daniella Coffey for an honest conversation about faith, legacy, entrepreneurship, emotional wellness, grief, healing, and becoming the woman who can carry the vision on her life. Daniella shares her journey of stepping into her family’s business legacy after the unexpected loss of her father—while navigating more than $600,000 in debt, foreclosure, uncertainty, and the internal work required to lead through it all. She opens up about the “messy middle”: the space between the woman you have been and the woman you are becoming. This conversation is for the woman building a business, rebuilding her life, carrying a family legacy, healing through grief, or trying to move forward before she feels fully ready. In this episode, we explore: What it means to build while becoming The emotional and spiritual realities of entrepreneurship Legacy, grief, purpose, and stepping into a family business Why prayer is a tool—and why action must follow How community, therapy, movement, and accountability can support wellness The connection between physical, emotional, spiritual, and occupational wellness Moving from self-doubt and overthinking into intentional action Why “deciding” can be the first internal shift toward change How to ask for the support, wisdom, and community you need Building wealth, capacity, clarity, and alignment as a woman entrepreneur Daniella’s reminder is simple but powerful: you do not have to have everything figured out to move forward. You can be unclear, healing, learning, grieving, growing—and still be becoming. Connect with Daniella Coffey Website: https://daniellacoffey.com Learn more about The Pivot: The Wealthy Woman Building in the Messy Middle at https://pivot.daniellacoffey.com. Visit her Chicago Restaurant. St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen: 727 E. 87th Street, Chicago, IL Restaurant hours: Friday–Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. What are you building while becoming? Connect with Freedom at The Mat Subscribe for more conversations on wellness, purpose, entrepreneurship, healing, and living a truly well life. If this conversation encouraged you, please like, subscribe, share, and leave a comment. #WellChat #WomenEntrepreneurs #FaithAndBusiness #EmotionalWellness #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #FaithJourney #LegacyBuilding #WomenAndWealth #MiddleAge #PersonalGrowth #BlackWomenEntrepreneurs #WellnessPodcast #BuildingWhileBecoming #MessyMiddle

What does it really mean to have enough—and how can we build financial wellness without sacrificing our peace, purpose, health, or self-worth? In this powerful Well Chat conversation, Freedom at The Mat Founder Olivia F. Scott sits down with KC Copeland—financial consultant, investor, entrepreneur, and CEO of Shiloh Horizons—to talk honestly about money, wealth-building, consumerism, workplace stress, healing, and legacy. Together, Olivia and KC unpack the pressure to hustle, “get the bag,” and keep up with what we see online. KC shares why financial wellness is not just about earning more money; it is about learning to make money serve the life you want to live. In this episode, we discuss: How to start building wealth at any income level Why controlling spending matters more than appearances Moving from scarcity and survival thinking toward intentional choices The emotional, spiritual, and relational costs of toxic or misaligned work environments Using a job strategically while preparing for your next chapter Building wealth through investing, real estate, business ownership, and income-producing assets The difference between self-worth and net worth How consumer habits can quietly limit your financial goals Why Black women’s generosity is a form of philanthropy and power How to define “enough” through your time, talent, treasure, and freedom KC’s message is clear: start where you are, seek knowledge, stop allowing consumption to consume you, and place your resources where they can serve your future. Small, consistent decisions can build into a life of greater freedom, wellbeing, and legacy over time. If you are navigating financial stress, career uncertainty, a transition out of corporate life, a desire to invest, or simply a new commitment to your own future, this conversation is for you. Who is going to place the bet on you? Bet on yourself. Connect and support Learn more about KC Copeland and her work through Shiloh Horizons and KC Horizon Homes at shilohorizons.com. Support future Well Chat conversations by visiting FreedomAtTheMat.com to explore the organization’s wellness offerings. Freedom at the Mat is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of women globally through wellness education. #FinancialWellness #BlackWomenAndWealth #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom #LegacyBuilding #MoneyMindset #WomenAndMoney #BlackWomenWellness #SelfWorth #WellChat #FreedomAtTheMat #BetOnYourself

Are you truly healing—or have you simply learned how to survive? In this powerful episode of Well Chat, Olivia Scott sits down with Ce Anderson, LPCS, CCH—licensed therapist, certified hypnotherapist, executive coach, and holistic healing expert—for an honest conversation about emotional wellness, self-awareness, fear, triggers, relationships, and the journey from coping to true healing. Ce shares why emotional health is a vital sign of your life, how triggers can reveal places that still need attention, and why we must create safety before we can be fully honest with ourselves. She also demystifies hypnotherapy, explains the role of the subconscious mind in our habits and beliefs, and offers wisdom for anyone ready to stop numbing, stop settling, and begin becoming a healthier version of themselves. If you are ready to quit survival mode and reclaim your emotional freedom, this conversation is for you. Follow Ce Anderson on Instagram: @ceandersonlive Explore her work and one-to-one services through the link in her Instagram bio. This episode is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical, mental-health, or therapeutic care. If you need support, please contact a licensed mental-health professional or local emergency resources. #WellChat #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealth #HealingJourney #Hypnotherapy #TraumaRecovery #SelfAwareness #EmotionalWellness #Therapy #QuitSurvivalMode