Anissa Amason (@anissaamason) & Ellen Nicoll (@ellennicoll) are two fitness professionals (@anissaellenraw / www.anissaellenraw.com) who woke up one morning and realized that turning 50 and experiencing menopause + mid life could really suck ass at times. After lamenting about their struggles in aging gracefully to their friends, fitness family and anyone else who would listen, they discovered other women who were experiencing similar issues. So they decided to share their real life health & wellness struggles, adventures and ridiculousness in open dialogue with other women, hoping to inspire self awareness, self acceptance & self love. Join their unfiltered conversations to get real and get raw about women's empowerment, wellness and all around badassness. This is your AUTHENTICITY wake up call!
April is Autism Awareness Month. We are honored to share one RAWior's story. Mathematician & educator Kay Rasheed is one strong, resilient, badass mother & woman. In her no nonsense, practical way, she tells her story of raising two sons, one autistic, as a single mother. From the diagnosis when he was 2-years-old to now that he's 12, she details her journey on her path & focus to giving her sons the best opportunities & the most fulfilling life. Listen to how this mama bear prioritizes her boys while attempting to afford herself a bit of self-care to retain her sanity & give herself moments to breathe. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
Here goes part two of the amazing conversation. So maybe you think millennials are lazy, entitled, job hoppers, lack drive & ambition. Maybe even, gasp, high maintenance, our second podcast featuring a group of gals proves you completely wrong. These six girls are highly intelligent & driven, articulate, wise & all around strong & beautiful badasses. We got two super cool sisters whose mom happens to be Anissa; a Hispanic clothing designer; an African American event planner; a marketing maven who is a single mother; & a nerdy engineer who was told she talked too much and didn't give a shit when she was a child. Listen in to discover how they navigate life in their twenties. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
So maybe you think millennials are lazy, entitled, job hoppers, lack drive & ambition… maybe even… gasp… high maintenance. Our second podcast featuring a group of gals proves you completely wrong. These six girls are highly intelligent & driven, articulate, wise & all around strong & beautiful badasses. We got two super cool sisters whose mom happens to be Anissa; a Hispanic clothing designer; an African American event planner; a marketing maven who is a single mother; & a nerdy engineer who was told she talked too much and didn't give a shit when she was a child. Listen in to discover how they navigate life in their twenties. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
RAW Resident Health & Fitness Expert Melissa Layne breaks down why processed sugar is the devil. Beaucoup aha moments in this episode. You will give up Krispy Kreme Donuts, Pop Tarts & catsup immediately.. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
This episode is aimed directly at group fitness instructors. The message is short, sweet & simple: Your passion & responsibility should be to help OTHERS. If you think teaching group fitness classes is all about YOU… how YOU look, standing up onstage to promote YOU, teaching for YOUR own workout… then guys & gals, you need to do something else. It is a privilege to be able to have some small part in helping someone else make positive, impactful changes to his/her life. Honor your members. Care for your members. Connect with your members. No one cares about your bulging biceps or your six-pack abs or how juicy your booty is. They really don't. And we don't either. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
We've heard horror stories about how challenging & downright nasty a bitter divorce can be, but it's rare to hear tales about how challenging an amicable divorce can turn out. So you & your spouse agree that marriage just isn't for you any more, so you go your separate ways. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's all flowers and puppies afterwards. Real Estate & Estate Planning Attorney Lisa Glauber Shippel went through a fairly amicable divorce more than 10 years ago but was totally unprepared for "life after divorce". Finding herself, raising two sons & settling into her new normal post divorce life had its ups and downs. And because she's a lawyer, folks mistakenly thought she'd be able to provide legal divorce advice. So she got to thinking about her experience as an attorney & divorced mom & decided to write a lil book. "Traveling Through Divorce: From Point A to Point Me" helps empower those contemplating or going through a divorce, to be confident in themselves & their decisions. She hopes her experiences will help mentally, emotionally & financially. www.travelingthroughdivorce.info @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
Happy 2020! Holy shit! We just finished an entire season with 24 episodes! And we were ATLPN's #1, #2 & #3 podcasts on Spotify for 2019. Serious waves of gratitude flowing out from us into the universe. We are super stoked that folks are finding value in our episodes & like listening to our bullshit. And we are raring to go with so much more authentic content as well as more inspiring, strong, resilient, badass guests. But first… to resolution or not to resolution? You know the deal… new year means new year's resolutions. We prefer setting goals & intentions vs resolutions; and we have some strong opinions on the phrase "new year, new you". No matter what you set for yourself this year to help make you a better, stronger YOU, we hope listening to Anissa & Ellen RAW is on your To Do List. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
You think it's difficult to find love… hell… difficult just to find a date when you're in your 20s? Take a stab at dating in your 50s. When did dating become so damn hard? Why is trying to find someone to have a good meal & good conversation with like trying to find a needle in a haystack? You almost have to ask for a resume and referrals to make sure a potential mate is who they say they are. RAW Resident Health & Fitness expert Melissa Layne talks to us about her trials & tribulations with the dating scene. From self absorbed men to men who find it difficult to connect with a strong, empowered woman, we dissect the in's & out's of finding a life partner. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll anissaellenraw.com
We're so sorry this episode posting is late this week. But are we really sorry? Or do we feel like we have to apologize because we want to acknowledge the fact that you may have been looking for it earlier this week when we promised it'd be posted but we didn't come through for you when we said we would even though we've been busy and it's not even that late and remember patience is a virtue? I mean, c'mon... we really didn't do anything to have to apologize for. Comedian, Actress, Entertainer Vanessa "Action" Fraction is back in the studio to shoot the shit about why we always feel compelled to say "I'm sorry" all the time, even when the situation doesn't warrant it. And we briefly touch on a future episode: Are You a Panties On or Panties Off Kinda Gal? @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll @vanessafraction anissaellenraw.com VanessaFraction.com
Meet Natalie Biniasz (rhymes with pizzazz). Talk about experiencing the change process her fair share of times. She's been married & divorced. Survived a health crisis. And get this… she ditched a very successful 15-year advertising career to start her own business in a completely different realm. She is a life coach, energy healer, yoga teacher, group leader + speaker who has spent the past 9 years guiding hundreds through the change process, supporting them in breaking free of their limitations & unlocking their true potential. And all the while, she continues to navigate her own changes with strength + grace (on most days), putting into place the tools she has learned through her life experience & many trainings along the way. She's as authentic & honest as they come… with clear perspective & loads of wisdom. Her transformative work is all about reconnecting with your heart & inner guidance, finding your voice, putting practices into place to resource your body-mind, identifying + releasing limiting beliefs, creating a mindset that empowers you, and learning to truly accept & value yourself. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com @laughinghearthealing www.laughinghearthealing.com
Resident Health & Fitness Expert Melissa Layne gives a lesson on Stress 101. Don't let some of her big words scare you, she totally dumbs it down so that all of us can easily understand how stress affects our bodies… mentally & physically. She explains the science behind balancing high intensity exercise with lower intensity activities. And find out what activity she thinks is important for women to do to destress… she even makes up a new term for it. Note: The Ted Talk that Melissa references is "How to Make Stress Your Friend" by Kelly McGonigal. With a career spanning more than 30 years, Melissa Layne, MEd, is a faculty member in the Exercise Physiology & Physical Education Depts. at The University of North Georgia. A former elementary school PE teacher & fitness program coordinator, Melissa is a popular & highly coveted presenter & author in the fitness industry. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll www.anissaellenraw.com
Here is part two of Get outta your head & into your life. Opening up & being vulnerable can be a bitch. Especially if you're owning up to self inflicted roadblocks. This episode shows how a topic can start in one direction then veer into another. The ladies start by discussing how we don't need to be "fixed". There's nothing to fix in order to be healthy & happy... we're not broken. We may need to change unhealthy habits & behavior but we aren't broken people. The conversation then leads Ellen to spill her guts about how all the advice & help she's received to help with her health issues have caused confusion, doubt & self inflicted fear about what she's capable of achieving. Anissa puts her health coach hat on to help Ellen navigate. And yes, Ellen is a big crybaby. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll
Opening up & being vulnerable can be a bitch. Especially if you're owning up to self inflicted roadblocks. This episode shows how a topic can start in one direction then veer into another. The ladies start by discussing how we don't need to be "fixed". There's nothing to fix in order to be healthy & happy... we're not broken. We may need to change unhealthy habits & behavior but we aren't broken people. The conversation then leads Ellen to spill her guts about how all the advice & help she's received to help with her health issues have caused confusion, doubt & self inflicted fear about what she's capable of achieving. Anissa puts her health coach hat on to help Ellen navigate. And yes, Ellen is a big crybaby. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll
Wendy Liu had a heart to heart with her boobs when she found out she had breast cancer: "You're trying to kill me, so you're outta here." This feisty, vivacious, hilarious, uber strong & resilient woman has had to deal with some serious shit since she was in the studio to tape Episodes "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" several months ago. Listen to her story… she is wise & gracious… she may cause you to shake your head in disbelief… she will teach you how to forgive. And at the end… she has a message for all of her friends & family that have shown her love & support through her bout with cancer. @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll @blessingsbywen
It's very rare to meet someone who immediately touches your soul & blesses your life with her presence. Actress, writer & soon-to-be director, Lisa Arrindell is just that person. This beautiful & wise woman motivates so many with her call to get up, get out & live life to the fullest. Basking in the glow of her grace & positivity, the ladies talk to Lisa about the trials & sense of accomplishment in finishing at least one daily task, becoming more aware of your totality as a person, and the fear of standing up & owning your true calling. @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll @lisaarrindell
What is it about people pleasers & the word "no"? Why is it so difficult to tell someone no if you honestly can't help them? Or cannot commit to what they are asking? Why can't the words "I don't know" come out of their mouths? If you look up "People Pleaser" in the dictionary… well if you could look it up… you'd see Anissa & Ellen's pictures. Big ass tired smiles plastered on their faces. Bloodshot eyes from staying up late to try to manage too many things. Greasy hair with roots showing & chipped nail polish because they're too busy with their side hustles to give themselves time to see what the inside of a salon looks like. Life can consist of long days that leave you completely exhausted & unfulfilled if you let it. And you miss out on a lot of good shit if you are constantly doing for others & neglecting yourself. So today, boys & girls, the word of the day is "NO!". @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll
On this episode, we took some time and grabbed a few portions of some of our favorite episodes of RAW. We promise you that you will feel so many different emotions listening to the episodes we've done on season one. They are informative, funny, emotional, amazing, and we've been told they bring so much joy to anyone that listens. There were so many great moments, but here are a few moments that we could pack into this best of episode. Check out these excerpts in order from RAWTALK 002: THE RAINBOW AFTER THE STORM - WITH GUEST ANNA SANDER | RAWTALK 004: KEEP PUSHING FORWARD | RAWTALK 015: SHE'S "GOOGLE-ABLE" - WITH GUEST VANESSA FRACTION ( @vanessafraction )| RAWTALK 010: GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN - WITH A BUNCH OF GUEST | RAWTALK 013: HOT FOR TEACHER - WITH GUEST MELISSA LAYNE, MEd | @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll
Finally! The ladies have been trying to get this busy lady on the show for months. Seasoned standup comedian, actor, writer, TV personality, fellow podcaster (Comedy Dogz Podcast w/Vanessa Fraction) & all-around entertainer Vanessa Fraction aka Action Fraction is in the house, y'all! She's funny and beautiful and smart and emotional. She opens up about her journey as a strong, driven female in the business, particularly as a working mother, with the purpose of leaving her audiences with something positive to take away. Her website www.vanessafraction.com describes her best: "... her comedy style is authentic, bold & blazing on stage… hilariously fresh personality & insightful…" And wait until you hear the fantastic story about a very famous celebrity she tells us at the end of the podcast! @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll @vanessafraction
You think you know? We bet you may have no idea. In Part 2 with the ladies' good friend, woman crush and health & fitness expert Melissa Layne, get the real deal about some current trends including keto, intermittent fasting, "happy coffee", supplements & more. With more than 30 years in the health & fitness industry, Melissa, MEd, is a faculty member in the Exercise Physiology & Physical Education Depts. at The University of North Georgia. What she says about some of these trends will definitely give you food for thought. Again… be prepared to take notes. @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll
The first expert is in da house! With a career spanning more than 30 years, Melissa Layne, MEd, is a faculty member in the Exercise Physiology & Physical Education Depts. of The University of North Georgia. Former elementary school PE teacher & fitness program coordinator as well as current presenter & author in the fitness industry, she throws some fact-based knowledge at us on the in's and out's of menopause. It's the first podcast where the ladies are literally speechless as they soak up all the practical info Melissa offers. Ellen, especially, is giddy & attentive. Be prepared to take notes. @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll
You do not have to be a product of your upbringing. Anissa & Ellen open up a bit more about their personal lives, giving insight into their childhoods and what it was like growing up in their respective families. Particularly sensitive about this topic, Anissa exposes herself as she details living with an alcoholic parent. She proves that in the midst of pain, there can be truly joyous moments. @anissaellenraw @anissamason @ellennicoll
What happens when authentic women get together? A lot of real talk about empowerment, strength & tribe. A bit more serious than in Part 1, the ladies open up about what RAW means to them. Oh yeah... they also open up about underwear vs commando. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll
This episode opens up with a bang. The ladies ask some of their RAWiors over for a nice ladylike chat about "firsts". Oh the cringe worthy tales they weave. The conversation veers from over excited kissing to Church's Chicken to birth control to sex with unworthy boyfriends to Bo Derek beads. And they throw in a minor mother-daughter squabble for shits & giggles. But underneath all this awkward teen angst, lay the open, giving hearts & souls of strong, diverse women. @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll
The ladies introduce the Spiritual RAWior & do their best to describe what spirituality looks & feels like to them. Discover their spiritual awakenings. And Anissa is gonna make a mediator out of Ellen if it's the last thing she does. @anissaamason @ellennicoll @anissaellenraw
Before you start throwing "toxic" people out of your life, you may want to do some heavy self-reflection to see if maybe you're the source of the negativity. And if you want to dismantle a friendship & walk away, don't be a coward… at least have the balls to talk to the person about it instead of just disappearing. By the way, Ellen strongly dislikes bullies & bystanders. If she catches either one, she might just punch them in the nose. @anissaamason @ellennicoll
Participation in the recent March Against the GA Heartbeat Bill sparks conversation about freedom, choice & equality. Passionate & fiery, the ladies say keep your politics away from our bodies. @anissaamason @ellennicoll @zuppermommy3
Officially the second podcast they recorded & first interview, the ladies introduce Team RAW sidekick Christina Mendoza. Completely unfiltered, no nonsense and tell-it-like-it-is, Christina always has your best interests at heart. Hear her cross country journey through self doubt and self criticism to become the strong, confident beotch she proudly proclaims. And we bet her recent most embarrassing moment will crack you up. www.anissaellenraw.com @anissaellenraw @anissaamason @ellennicoll @zuppermommy3
How do you wake up every morning and care for two small humans that you brought into this world in the midst of domestic violence? In Part 2 of "Keep Pushing Forward", this strong, resilient survivor of domestic violence talks about raising children with open, honest communication in order to break the engulfing shame & silence they lived in for years. And she gives one extremely important piece of advice to other victims as she describes her healing process. If you need help or wish to help others, please visit www.thehotline.org or www.padv.org.
An estimated 8.5 million women (7%) in the U.S. and over 4 million men (4%) reported experiencing physical violence, rape, psychological aggression or stalking from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Part 1 of a powerful 2-part episode introduces you to one woman's journey as a victim of domestic violence. Discover how this strong, courageous, resilient RAWior crawled from the deep darkness of an abusive relationship into the bright shining light of recovery. If you are a victim of domestic violence or wish to help others, please visit www.thehotline.org or www.padv.org.
What does authenticity mean to you? The ladies define authenticity while comparing mid life insecurities. They spill their opinions on selfies, hair & makeup, inner truth, menopause, and being a fraud. Get a glimpse into the thoughts that burden Ellen, and Anissa admits to having a boob job and botox.
On a very emotional episode, Anissa and Ellen welcome Anna Sander who discusses her very moving personal journey of tragedy, struggle and perseverance. She details her battle with loss, food addiction, and self loathing to blossom and grow into a RAWior.
Meet Anissa Amason, sentimental free spirit, and Ellen Nicoll, sassy realist, co-creators of Anissa & Ellen RAW (Real Authentic Women). Find out how a California Dreamer and an edgy metalhead met and decided the world needs a good dose of authentic, unfiltered, real talk about self awareness, self acceptance and self love.
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