Sweat Shalom Podcast

Victoria interviews longtime Jewish educator Ellen Zieselman about what Reform Judaism means in practice. Ellen traces her own Jewish journey from suburban New York to Santa Fe, explaining how Reform emphasizes informed choice: keep the ethical commandments and thoughtfully interpret ritual laws. They discuss ritual vs. ethics, kashrut, and how Jewish practice can be personally meaningful rather than rote. Ellen also shares stories about teaching teens, the power of communal singing, and why community—whether in a building or beyond it—is the lifeblood of Jewish life. Practical, warm, and conversational, the episode centers on wrestling with tradition rather than abandoning it. Resources: Sarah Hurwitz's book - Here All Along: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43289179-here-all-along What is Reform Judaism- https://reformjudaism.org/what-is-reform-judaism Connect with Victoria Lyon on Instagram Podcast page: @sweatshalom Coaching offerings: @lyonstrong

Health coach Victoria Lyon explores how the people and communities we choose shape our habits, beliefs, and sense of possibility. Rather than judging friends as good or bad influences, she invites listeners to notice who they are when they’re with different people and what activities or norms spring up in each relationship. Drawing on concepts like Bandura’s self-efficacy and the idea of possible selves, she explains how seeing others do things provides vicarious evidence that those paths are attainable. The episode ends with practical prompts for auditing your social environment and suggestions for where to find people who model the lives you want. Connect with Victoria on Instagram @sweatshalom To see coaching offerings, visit @lyonstrong in IG Resources: About self efficacy: https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-efficacy.html Article referencing the first study I learned about related to social impact on health outcomes: https://www.scienceholic.org/post/your-friends-define-who-you-are-the-contagion-of-obesity

Victoria opens with hygge — that cozy Danish idea that resists tidy English translation — to introduce a larger theme: some words carry entire philosophies. She shares how hunting for a more precise word sharpened her writing and changed how she journals. By editing unhelpful self-talk into language that reflects agency (for example, swapping "I've plateaued" for "I'm healing"), she demonstrates how word choice alters our relationship to experience. The episode invites listeners to notice language not just as description but as a tool for reframing, clarifying inner life, and setting intentions with more nuance. Resources: Video on Hygge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl74ybpyNLk Women's Writing Group - Bryn Daylor: https://bryndaylor.co/ Jillz Guerin video on healing and self-talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEVQjUOx3nI Center for Contemporary Mussar Workbook: https://contemporarymussar.myshopify.com/products/ccm-workbook-volume-1 Connect with Victoria about the podcast on instagram @sweatshalom For all other coaching offerings, @lyonstrong on IG

In this candid interview Victoria sits down with Lindsay Lee—friend, strength training comrade, and pranic energy worker—to explore embodiment, pranic healing, and a hard-earned recovery after a traumatic brain injury. Lindsay explains what pranic (life-force) healing is, and how energetic, emotional, mental, and physical bodies interact. Victoria shares briefly about a pranic session that helped ease post-October 7th grief and anxiety. Lindsay shares concrete practices for centering breath and nervous system regulation, how she gauges readiness for movement, and why surrender plus steady action have guided her multi-year healing. Expect vulnerable storytelling, practical check-ins for your nervous system, and a message of resilience. Connect with Lindsay Lee on Instagram at @lindsaylee_lionheart North Node Therapeutic Theater (Lindsay and her business partner Dr. Liz Kotin's venture) IG: @north_node_therapeautic_theater Connect with Victoria at @sweatshalom and @lyonstrong on IG

What if you don’t need certainty before you take action? Inspired by Yom Kippur, this episode explores emunah (faith) as a practice for moving forward when you can’t see the whole path. We’ll connect Jewish wisdom with psychological flexibility, behavior change, and an unexpected lesson from Japanese tea ceremony to explore how taking action can create the clarity we’ve been waiting for. Official Podcast Instagram Page: @sweatshalom To see Victoria's full offerings, visit @lyonstrong on Instagram Sources mentioned in episode: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/5802837/jewish/Faith-Emunah.htm The Wisdom of Tea book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1911630644?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback