With Love and Aloha - A Life Coaching Podcast

Episode 41: Coquí Frogs - Soothing Sounds & Fun Facts 🐸

In this mini Aloha Friday episode, I’m sharing soothing coqui frog sounds, a few fun facts, and a gentle reflection inspired by them 🤍
Coqui frogs are only a couple inches big at most, yet their presence fills the night in the sweetest, most comforting way. They’re a reminder that something small can still have a big presence - that you don’t have to be big or take up a lot of space to be felt 🌿🩵
 
Let this episode fill you with some fun facts about our little coquis, and be a calm moment, a soft exhale, and a peaceful way to ease into your weekend 🌙

Episode 40: It’s Not a Matter of Time — It’s a Matter of Timing ⏳✨

This episode was inspired by lyrics from a song called “Timelines” by Motion City Soundtrack 🎶 — a line that has quietly become a mantra for me over the years: “It’s not a matter of time, it’s just a matter of timing.”  ⏳✨🩵
I come back to this phrase because it’s grounded me through so many seasons of my life 🌿. It’s helped me understand that life isn’t just about putting in the hours or pushing harder… there’s a luck element, a rhythm, a flow, and a moment when things finally align. And that alignment often shows up when we’re ready to receive it 🤍✨ 
In this episode, I talk about how trusting timing has shaped my perspective on growth, creativity, relationships, and big life choices 🌱💫 And how nature even shows examples of it (like the volcano 🌋 and waves 🌊). I share how this mantra has helped me soften into patience, and how it’s taught me to recognize that the right opportunities don’t disappear - they simply arrive when we’re able to receive them 🩵
I also compare this to waves — how there are always multiple sets rolling in, multiple chances, multiple moments we could catch one 🌊 But the wave you end up riding becomes your experience because you were ready for that one. Not earlier. Not later. That one 🩵
 
To me, that’s what timing is: the meeting point of readiness, alignment, intuition, and a little bit of luck 🌿
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Episode 39: Hoʻomanawanui - A powerful word about Patience 🌺

Happy Aloha Friday! 🌴
✨ In today’s mini episode, I want to teach you a Hawaiian word, hoʻomanawanui — which carries a powerful meaning of cultivating deep patience, steady perseverance, and quiet inner strength. 🤍 
We talk about how to pronounce it, and breakdown the meanings within the word: hoʻo (to cultivate), manawa (time, breath, the present moment), and nui (great, abundance). 
And then after, explore how the concept of the word can apply to your life to create a sense of peace 🤍 Embracing this value can shift the way we move through uncertainty, waiting seasons, and personal growth. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is trust our own timing and breathe through what’s still unfolding.
This episode is a gentle reminder to be kind to yourself and trust the process and find appreciation in the in-between moments 🩵
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Episode 38: David Smith – First Responder Wellness Coach & Police Lieutenant 💙

Today I’m honored to be joined by David Smith — a 15-year veteran police officer, former SWAT sniper, and now a dedicated wellness coach helping first responders take back their health, purpose, and emotional well-being🤍
 
In this episode, David opens up about the challenges of life on the front lines — the pressure, the trauma, the constant adrenaline — and shares his personal journey of how stepping away from the SWAT team led to a loss of identity and purpose. He walks us through how he rebuilt his confidence, clarity, and inner strength, while learning to navigate the unique mental and emotional demands of the job ✨
 
We also dive into the powerful work he’s now doing through Apogee Responders, where he helps first responders break free from burnout, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs so they can step into their full potential and live more aligned, fulfilling, purpose-driven lives 🌟
 
Join us for a meaningful conversation about purpose, confidence, resilience, and mental wellness — in a profession that’s both emotionally and physically demanding in unique ways 🩵
 
I always say wellness is for everyone - so we need to remember that even those that take care of us (first responders), need to be taken care of too  🤍
 
Connect with David:🩵 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsmithar/📸 Instagram: @davidsmith.ar & @apogeeresponders🌐 Website: www.apogeeresponders.com
 
If you are enjoying these episodes, please feel free to rate, review, & share the show :) And give with @love_and_aloha_life a follow on instagram

Episode 37: Gratitude 💛 Being Thankful for All of It — Embracing the Yin & Yang of Life

Gratitude is usually tied to the moments that went well 🤍 But in reality, all of our experiences shape who we’re becoming 🌿 The good, the hard, the unexpected, the in-between — each offers a lesson, a perspective shift, or a deeper understanding of ourselves.
 
In this episode, I share a more expansive view of gratitude - one that honors the full yin & yang of life. 💛
 
I also talk about a practice I really love: keeping a gratitude jar. Each day, write down one thing you’re grateful for and place it inside. On the days when you’re feeling low, you can return to the jar and be reminded of your own light, your own growth, and the beauty you’ve already lived through. ✨
 
And for a fun synchronicity… this is Episode 37 of the podcast — and I just witnessed Episode 37 of the volcano yesterday 🌋💫 Kind of a special reminder that life is always offering us threads of meaning if we slow down long enough to notice them.
 
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 🦃 With love and aloha, always 🤍🌺

Episode 36: Kona Coffee History & Fun Facts ☕️🌺

This week’s Aloha Friday mini-episode was inspired by both my recent trip to the Big Island 🤍 and the cups of coffee I made with Jamey’s coffee enhancer earlier this week ☕️🩵 It got me thinking about Hawaii coffee, and especially the stories behind our famous Kona coffee 🤍
In this episode, I share the meaning of the word “kona” in Hawaiian and a little history of how Kona coffee began here in the islands.
From the first coffee seedlings in the 1820s to why Kona’s leeward climate makes it one of the best coffee-growing regions in the world… this is a sweet little episode with a blend of culture, nature, and fun facts to enjoy... maybe even with your next morning brew ☺️☕️🤍✨
 
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Episode 35: Dr. Jamey Maniscalco — Neuroscience, Brain Health, & a Clearer Mind 🧠✨

This week I’m joined by the very intelligent Dr. Jamey Maniscalco, whom I met at a Wellness Summit earlier this year 🩵 Jamey is a neuroscientist, university professor, wellness coach, and founder of Manifest Wellness. 🌿
 
With a powerful background in psychology and neuroscience, he has a deep understanding of how the brain and body work together — and he blends scientific expertise with practical, real-world perspectives to help people build sustainable habits for clarity, focus, and overall well-being.
 
Jamey is also developing his own supplements to support brain health and memory, and we actually start this episode with me making a cup of coffee using a prototype of his coffee enhancer ☺️☕️🍄 (including ingredients I already know are great for the brain, like lion’s mane 🦁) alongside his wellness cards with simple two-minute reset practices.
 
Join us for a conversation where we talk through simple habits that can calm and reset your nervous system 🌿, the science behind why they work, and different ways to reframe your thoughts toward healthier, more grounded perspectives ✨
 
A clear mind is a healthy mind — and if you’re looking for approachable, science-backed ways to support that, this episode is for you 🧠💙🩵
 
Jamey’s Contact:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameymaniscalco/🌐 Website: https://manifestwellness.co/contact📸 Instagram: @manifestwellnessconsulting / @nextdoorneuro
 
If you are enjoying these episodes, please feel free to rate, review, & share the show :) And give with @love_and_aloha_life a follow on instagram

Episode 34: 🌴 Aloha Friday 🌴Volcano Safety Tips - What to Expect, Pack, & Watch For 🌋🩶

In this Aloha Friday educational episode, I’m sharing volcano safety tips and what to keep in mind when visiting Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.  I share tips on how to stay informed, what to pack and bring, and what to be aware of that is unique to the volcanic environment (Pele’s hair, volcanic gases, etc).
It’s an environment where you need to be prepared for anything and everything - so I’m here to share reminders to help you prepare for a trip to Kīlauea, so you can enjoy her beauty safely and comfortably 🌋✨
 
If you are enjoying these episodes, please feel free to rate, review, & share the show :) And give with @love_and_aloha_life a follow on Instagram 🩵

Episode 33: It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination ✨How my Kīlauea trip Exemplified This 🌋🩶

This week’s episode centers around a theme that’s I believe is core to living with peace and fulfillment.  To enjoy the journey and all the moments along the way, not just the destination 🌿
 
This idea was inspired by my trip to Kīlauea, our active volcano on the Big Island. I arrived on November 1st, with the eruption window predicted for the 1st through the 10th… and it happened to erupt on the very last day of my trip on the 9th 🌋 
 
While the eruption was the “destination,” what truly stayed with me was the "journey" in those nine days leading up to it. From exploring the park’s trails, meeting new friends, and sharing stories under the stars, to capturing quiet, peaceful moments photographing gentle lava flows at night and sunrise. 🌋📸🌅
 
It reminded me that the most meaningful parts of life often unfolds on the way to a destination - in the waiting, the wonder, and the moments we don’t plan 💫
 
Tune in as I share about my trip to Kilauea, and how this trip deepened my appreciation for patience, presence, and the beauty of the journey itself 🩶✨
 
If you are enjoying these episodes, please feel free to rate, review, & share the show :) And give with @love_and_aloha_life a follow on instagram

Episode 32: Kīlauea - Our active Volcano & Mythology of Pele 🌋🩶

This week I’m on the Big Island to visit our amazing active volcano, Kilauea 🌋🩶
 
In this fun fact aloha Friday episode, I share about how to pronounce Kilauea, its meaning as well as some of its history and ties to the mythology of Pele, Hawaii’s volcanic goddess 🌋🩶
 
Tune in to learn more about our awe-inspiring volcano that is capturing hearts (and cameras!) with its mesmerizing eruptions ✨
 
There’s also a nice touch of coqui frogs in the background, which was perfect for a big island recording 🐸🌿
 
If you’re interested in seeing some volcano photos, check out my photography instagram at @alee_maui_photography 📸 🤍
 
And if you are enjoying these episodes, please feel free to rate, review, & share the show :) And give with @love_and_aloha_life a follow on Instagram 🩵