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TRANSCRIPT
Kelly Meerbott: Welcome to this space where we reveal our personal humanity to reconnect with our shared humanity. Let’s begin our conversation with Jalene Szuba, Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. How are you, my friend? First of all, thank you for tuning in from Colorado to Philly. I know it’s early there, and I am so grateful that you are willing to spend a little time with us and share your wealth of knowledge. So my first question is, if I were a six-year-old child, how would you explain what a board-certified health and wellness coach is in a way I could understand?
Jalene Szuba: Thank you for having me, I’m honored to be here. First off, as you know, coaching is not a regulated or licensed industry. And I’m going to say “yet” because it is my desire that it become one. If you have to have a license to be a hairdresser, real estate agent, or lawyer, I think you should for coaching too. We have people’s lives in our hands in a different way than a doctor, but we do have some control over where they’re going, how they’re handling it, and their mindset. So I think it should be a licensed profession. Previously, there were health and wellness coaches who were doing this for a living but found that there weren’t standards others were holding up to. So they created the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches, working with the American Medical Association, and they created a board exam that I had to pass to become board certified.
Kelly Meerbott: Let me ask you, because I just took the ICF Professional Certified Coach exam and passed it. For me, that was stressful. I had been coaching for 15 years without a certification, but I finally did it because the people we work with are starting to require it. No one has ever asked me about my qualifications in 15 years, but I agree with you. During the pandemic, many executives thought they could just become coaches, but it’s not that easy. How does the board certification test compare to the ICF?
Jalene Szuba: For MBHWC, part of it was legalities. We had to know HIPAA rules and legal rules for our own record keeping. Part of it was coaching techniques, motivational interviewing, and the stages of change—a lot of the coaching skills we have. Then part of it was health and wellness, knowing numbers and analytics for health and wellness.
Kelly Meerbott: It’s a lot. When I was working with the military, they talked about PTSD. I had PTSD and knew how I worked through it, but that doesn’t mean it would work for someone else. So I went to the Arizona Trauma Institute and got a certification there. Is that how you approach learning for coaching and health and wellness?
Jalene Szuba: Yes, it’s very similar. Health and wellness basics like blood pressure, diabetes, and A1C numbers don’t change much unless new guidelines come out. But I love learning new coaching techniques. For example, motivational interviewing just came out with a new edition, so I’m reading that again. Another technique I’ve learned is Immunity to Change from Harvard, which we’re using in a study at Tulane University on behavior and mindset change. It’s fascinating to see people change their mindset every day.
Kelly Meerbott: I love that. We have a team right now that’s a little change-resistant. But I’m curious, Jalene, because we’ve known each other for a brief moment, and the more time I spend with you, the more I love you. Obviously, we have to give a shoutout to Mark the Oddball for bringing us together. Would you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your leadership style?
Jalene Szuba: Nothing comes to mind right away. I did corporate meetings and events for 20 years; my degree is in film and video production. I loved working in the corporate arena, helping people with their presentations and communication. But during COVID, I felt like there was more I was meant to do. That’s when I went back to school and became a coach. In terms of my leadership style, every day is pivotal. Every day, I wake up thinking of something I’m grateful for and setting my intention for the day.
Kelly Meerbott: I have more pivotal moments in my personal life than in my professional life. I got laid off in ’09, which was a pivotal moment, and bad management taught me what not to do. But let’s pivot into how you would describe your leadership style.
Jalene Szuba: Humbling. I love leaders like Brené Brown and Adriene from Yoga with Adriene because they admit when they don’t know something. Great leadership is collaborative. We shouldn’t know everything; we should hire a team with strengths that make the organization stronger. I also like leaders who set boundaries, like being reachable only during certain hours or taking limited access during vacations. Leading by example trickles down and helps employees be better too.
Kelly Meerbott: What I’m observing is that many old paradigms and structures are crumbling. For example, MSNBC brought on someone with concerns about traditional leadership methods. The way we lead now isn’t how we need to lead in the future. I interviewed Leonard Brody a few months ago, and he said that any entrepreneur who doesn’t admit there’s a daily failure and success is lying. Tell me about a failure that knocked the wind out of you and how you recovered.
Jalene Szuba: I love to think of failure as “First Attempt In Learning” (FAIL). I went through a dark period when I was deeply in debt and couldn’t see a way out. Walking my dog one day, I thought about suicide. It was a wake-up call. Even a healthy, happy person can have those thoughts. It made me realize that many people have moments when they’re questioning everything. I took myself through the Immunity to Change process and realized I loved myself conditionally. I worked on loving myself unconditionally, and now, even if I don’t accomplish everything on my to-do list, I still love myself at the end of the day.
Kelly Meerbott: Thank you so much for sharing that. You’re not alone. Last year, when we lost our five-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever, I wanted to take my own life multiple times. It turned out to be menopause-related, and once I got the right medication, those thoughts disappeared. As a health and wellness coach, how do you help clients tune into their somatic, energetic, and emotional bodies?
Jalene Szuba: Intuition is our magic, our secret sauce. I help people tap into that. I don’t encourage dependency on devices for sleep because people become too reliant on them. Instead, I emphasize how clients feel and staying connected with that. I meditate to learn more about myself and make big decisions. Many people eat for comfort, which takes them away from being in touch with themselves. Embracing all emotions helps with growth and change.
Kelly Meerbott: You answered my question perfectly. When we figured out I was in menopause, I told my doctor that the essence of me is a big kid who likes to have fun and change the world. Recognizing that disturbance in the force helped me pinpoint the issue. I agree about the influx of social media causing stress. I often tell clients to put their phones down and take a break because it’s designed to be addictive. Why did you zero in on sleep as a focus?
Jalene Szuba: I love helping people, and I believe happiness comes from feeling better. When I asked clients about their sleep, I found it was often horrible. Sleep is the foundation for good health. Without it, it’s hard to lose weight, manage stress, and make good decisions. Sleep is the root issue for many health problems, so I focused on that.
Kelly Meerbott: I agree. I often recommend clients get a sleep study. When I did marketing for a neurology and sleep practice, I learned a lot about sleep disorders. It’s amazing how connected sleep is to overall health. What challenges have you seen your clients overcome by focusing on their sleep?
Jalene Szuba: Weight loss, better stress management, improved relationships, increased productivity at work, and even saving marriages. Sleep deprivation can cause so many issues. Studies show that previous research was often done on men and not women, leading to inadequate treatment for women. We’re now seeing more studies on women and different ethnic groups, which is exciting.
Kelly Meerbott: I see a shift towards more women in power, which is needed. Sleep apnea, for example, is not just about being overweight but also about the structure of the face. How can you test on one group and apply those results to everyone? If you were to give our audience some tips on good sleep hygiene, what would you recommend?
Jalene Szuba: Consistency is key. Keep the same bedtime and wake-up time seven days a week. Conduct a room audit to ensure it’s dark, cool, and calm. Only use your bed for sleep and procreation. Get outside and get sunlight into your eyes to start your circadian clock. Mindset is also important. Believe you can improve your sleep.
Kelly Meerbott: I agree. My sleep doctor once told me that sleep deprivation can lead to major disasters. How do you help clients overcome the guilt of resting?
Jalene Szuba: It’s challenging. As coaches, we provide information and ask insightful questions to help clients see the benefits of sleep. Asking when they last felt their best and helping them connect the dots can be powerful. Sleep-deprived people miss social cues, leading to disconnection and irritability. Sleep helps us be better humans.
Kelly Meerbott: That’s so true. Are you okay with some rapid-fire questions?
Jalene Szuba: Sure.
Kelly Meerbott: What’s your favorite comfort food?
Jalene Szuba: Cheesy puffs. I used to love Cheetos, but now I go for healthier alternatives from health food stores.
Kelly Meerbott: What books are on your nightstand?
Jalene Szuba: I’m reading “Motivational Interviewing” (5th edition), “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, and “The Library Book” by Susan Orlean. I also enjoy Martha’s Vineyard mysteries.
Kelly Meerbott: What songs are on your playlist?
Jalene Szuba: I’m a big New Order fan. I also love Satin Jackets, Goldfish, and disco throwbacks.
Kelly Meerbott: What are you most grateful for in this moment?
Jalene Szuba: You.
Kelly Meerbott: I love you so much. If anyone wants to get in touch with you for sleep coaching or other services, how can they reach you?
Jalene Szuba: My company is Happiness Anchor. You can find me at happinessanchor.com, on Instagram at happiness.anchor, or email me at happy@happinessanchor.com.
Kelly Meerbott: Investing time and money with Jalene is a wise investment that will pay off in dividends. Thank you, Jalene, for spending your time with us, and thank you to our audience for listening. It’s our intention on Hidden Human to inspire you to have authentic conversations and deepen the connections in your life. Thank you so much and make it a great day.
