1. EachPod

92. Trust Your Gut: Jacki McEwen-Powell on Health, Resilience, and Finding Your Purpose

Author
Bill Ellis
Published
Thu 30 Jan 2025
Episode Link
https://whatsthepointpodcast.libsyn.com/92-trust-your-gut-jacki-mcewen-powell-on-health-resilience-and-finding-your-purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, Bill Ellis welcomes Jacki McEwen-Powell, a communications veteran turned gut health advocate. After building a successful 25-year career in public relations, Jacki made a bold pivot—retraining as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and launching WellNow.co.za. Her journey, marked by resilience and personal discovery, led to two insightful books: WELL NOW: Reclaim Your Life from Ulcerative Colitis and GET WELL NOW: Heal Your Gut to Transform Your Life.

Jacki’s story is one of listening to intuition, embracing change, and trusting the gut—both figuratively and literally. She shares how a life-altering diagnosis of ulcerative colitis forced her to reevaluate stress, lifestyle, and overall well-being, ultimately leading to a drug-free remission. Now, she’s on a mission to help others navigate gut health and reclaim control over their lives.

Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways:

  • Career Reinvention: How Jacki transitioned from a high-stress communications career to becoming a certified health coach.
  • Trust Your Gut: The importance of intuition in making life and health decisions.
  • Lessons from Illness: How Jacki’s 14-year battle with ulcerative colitis shaped her approach to health and wellness.
  • Taking Control of Your Health: Why listening to your body is the most important step in any healing journey.
  • From PR to Publishing: How Jacki turned her personal experience into two bestselling books.
  • Bio-Individuality Matters: Why no single diet or supplement works for everyone, and how to find what works for you.
  • Navigating Criticism: The value of constructive feedback and trusting yourself when making big decisions

Jacki’s journey is a testament to the power of intuition, resilience, and self-discovery. Whether you’re navigating a health challenge or facing a career shift, her insights remind us that listening to our gut—both physically and metaphorically—can lead to transformational change.

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Quick Episode Summary: 

  • 0:00 Bill introduces Jacki and sets the stage for an insightful conversation.
  • 1:05 Jacki’s background: From aspiring journalist to PR agency founder.
  • 3:00 The unexpected path to business ownership and how she built a thriving company.
  • 6:00 Facing stress and illness: How ulcerative colitis changed everything.
  • 10:30 Why she stepped back from communications to prioritize health and self-discovery.
  • 15:45 The moment she decided to go medication-free and focus on natural healing.
  • 22:00 The turning point: Becoming an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and finding purpose.
  • 28:00 Writing WELL NOW and GET WELL NOW: How her books came to life.
  • 35:00 The power of intuition and listening to your body for long-term health.
  • 41:00 Final thoughts: Jacki shares her “point” and why trusting your gut is the ultimate life philosophy.

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