EP 15. Ellen Postolowski was a professional chef who "walked the talk" — eating perfectly, exercising daily, even helping NBA stars with their nutrition! Then she got a diagnosis that shattered everything she thought she knew about health: at 50, she had the bone density of an 80-year-old.

Now health coach and author, Ellen joins me to discuss how the gut is the epicenter of wellness, and how health is not about what you can eat, but what you can DIGEST. Ellen is the author of Gut Driven: A Practical Guide to Whole Body Healing, and in this episode, she shares how her shocking health diagnosis forced her to completely rethink everything she knew about nutrition. We explore the critical connection between gut health and everything from bone density to mood, why traditional medical approaches often miss the mark, and how to become your own best health advocate.

You’ll learn:

• Why your blood work might look “normal” even when your body is screaming for help
• How you could be eating all the right foods but not absorbing any nutrients
• How long-term use of common acid blockers and pain relievers can destroy your gut lining
• A 4-step functional approach to gut healing
• Why probiotics alone won’t fix your gut—and what to do instead
• The top inflammatory foods to eliminate during gut healing (and why it's not forever)
• Where serotonin is actually produced in the body (spoiler: it’s not your brain)
• Simple daily practices for maintaining gut health long-term

Resources:

• Read Ellen’s book: Gut Driven: Jump-Start Digestive Health to Nourish Body, Mind, and Spirit
• Visit Ellen's website: www.chefellen.com
• Follow Ellen on social: @chefellen

Guest Bio:

Ellen Postolowski is a professionally trained chef, integrative health coach, and author dedicated to helping others heal their guts and reclaim their health. After spending years as a private chef for high-profile clients—including an NBA star—Ellen faced a life-changing osteoporosis diagnosis despite a seemingly “perfect” healthy lifestyle. Determined to find the root cause, she immersed herself in functional nutrition and gut health, ultimately healing herself and writing Gut Driven to share what she learned. Today, Ellen supports clients with personalized coaching and practical strategies to restore digestive health, balance hormones, and age vibrantly.

Liked this episode? Share with a friend and follow Well Done wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an episode!

Connect on Instagram:

• Follow the show: @thewelldonepod
• Follow Kat Vong (me, the host): @iamkatvong

Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email me at:

kat@thewelldonepod.com

EP 14. Are you drowning in beauty products but your skin still looks dull, irritated, or aged? In this episode of Well Done, I sit down with Jessica Rose, licensed cosmetologist, wellness educator, and author of "Healthier Beauty," to completely flip the script on everything you think you know about skincare and beauty.

Jessica reveals why the "more is better" approach to beauty is actually aging your skin faster, how your immune system is directly connected to your skincare routine, and why that expensive retinol might be doing more harm than good. As someone who's struggled with chronic skin issues myself, this conversation opened my eyes to how overuse of actives and products, and not paying attention to toxins, may contribute to a weakened skin barrier, and how a simpler, science-backed approach can transform not just how you look, but how you feel.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The surprising link between skin health and immune function
• What most people get wrong about “clean” and “natural” labels
• A game-changing method for achieving great hair that goes beyond knowing your hair type
• The ingredients Jessica considers most overrated
• Three product swaps you need to make TODAY
• The NUMBER ONE factor affecting how your skin looks
• The food that Jessica calls "liquid beauty gold"
• How lifestyle factors can age your skin faster than sun damage
• How Jessica uses goat kefir as a natural exfoliator and other must-try DIY beauty recipe

Resources from this episode:

• Jessica’s book: Healthier Beauty: The Ultimate Guide to Radiant Skin, Hair and Wellness (available on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, or Jessica’s website)
• Jessica’s Website: jessicarosewellness.com
• Follow Jessica on social media: @jessicarosewellness_

Guest Bio:

Jessica Rose is the Author of Healthier Beauty: The Ultimate Guide to Radiant Skin, Hair, and Wellness, Certified Nutritionist, Licensed Cosmetologist, and Holistic Beauty Expert. With over 15 years in the beauty and wellness industry, her mission is to empower women to create a wellness focused lifestyle for radiant beauty, inside and out.

Liked this episode? Share with a friend and follow Well Done wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an episode!

Connect on Instagram:

• Follow the show: @thewelldonepod
• Follow Kat Vong (me, the host): @iamkatvong

Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email me at:

kat@thewelldonepod.com

EP 13. Joy Kirst, founder of Modern Age Skin, joins me in this eye-opening episode of Well Done, to discuss how sudden skin breakouts, mood swings and sleepless nights could be a sign of perimenopause, and how she turned her own experience into a beauty brand supporting the changing needs of maturing skin. We talk about the beauty industry's "anti-aging" narrative, how Joy took matters into her own hands, and her mission to empower conversations about whole-body health and feeling good as we age.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How perimenopause can start in your 30s—and why most doctors still miss it
• The surprising connection between cortisol spikes, sleep issues, and food sensitivities
• How hormonal fluctuations affect your skin
• The concept of "anti anti-aging" and how it's gaining momentum in the beauty world
• Ingredients to look for in skincare if you’re navigating hormonal changes
• What it really takes to launch a skincare brand in a saturated market

Resources

• Modern Age Skin
• Follow @modernageskin on Instagram

Guest Bio

Joy Kirst is the founder of Modern Age Skin, a skincare line formulated specifically for the needs of women navigating perimenopause and beyond. After a successful career as an executive search consultant, Joy combined her research background and personal journey through hormonal upheaval to create products that work with the body—not against it. Her mission is to destigmatize aging, educate women about whole-body wellness in midlife, and create skincare that truly serves.

Liked this episode? Share with a friend and follow Well Done wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an episode!

Connect on Instagram:

• Follow the show: @thewelldonepod
• Follow Kat Vong (me, the host): @iamkatvong

Have a topic suggestion or want to nominate a guest? Email me at:

kat@thewelldonepod.com