Just a Farm Wife

What if the reason you're still struggling with chronic symptoms isn't just stress, hormones, or aging—but something hidden in your environment?
In this episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara Emerson sits down with Katie Poterala, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and founder of Emerald Well Diagnostics, to explore the often-overlooked connection between mold exposure, autoimmune disease, mineral imbalances, gut health, and chronic illness.
Katie shares her personal journey of searching for answers after years of unexplained symptoms and explains why true healing begins by looking beyond symptom management and uncovering the body's deeper imbalances. Together, Tara and Katie discuss the importance of taking a whole-body approach to health and empowering yourself with the right tools to heal.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
✨ The hidden impact of mold exposure on your health✨ Why autoimmune disease is more than just a diagnosis✨ How mineral imbalances and gut health influence healing✨ Why "normal" lab work doesn't always tell the whole story✨ The importance of identifying root causes instead of chasing symptoms✨ How to become your own best health advocate✨ Finding hope when you've run out of answers
Whether you're living with chronic illness, navigating autoimmune disease, or searching for a new perspective on your health, this conversation offers encouragement, practical insights, and hope that healing is possible.
Chapters
00:00 Podcast Intro01:10 Meet Katie Poterala05:45 Katie's Personal Health Journey13:20 Mold Illness & Hidden Root Causes24:15 Why Symptoms Don't Tell the Whole Story36:40 Minerals, Gut Health & Detoxification49:30 Building Resilience & Supporting the Body01:01:15 Final Thoughts & Encouragement
💛 Sometimes the answers you've been searching for are hidden beneath the surface.
Connect with Katie Poterala
Website: www.emerald-well.comInstagram: @emerald.well.fdn
Connect with Tara Emerson
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_emerson_/📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taraemersonjustafarmwife/🌐 Website: https://www.tara-emerson.com/
🎧 Listen to Just a Farm Wife on your favorite podcast platform:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/

In this powerful episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara Emerson sits down with Lizzie Siegel, a Resource & Reality Architect, to explore the connection between trauma, subconscious beliefs, autoimmune disease, and the body's incredible ability to heal.
 
Lizzie shares her personal journey through chronic pain, autoimmune illness, energy healing, and subconscious reprogramming, offering a fresh perspective on wellness that goes far beyond simply treating symptoms.
 
Together, Tara and Lizzie discuss how our thoughts, nervous system, belief systems, and emotional experiences shape our physical health—and why remembering your own wholeness may be one of the most powerful steps toward lasting healing.
 
In this episode, you'll learn about:
 
✨ The connection between trauma and autoimmune disease
✨ Why "normal" lab results don't always mean you're healthy
✨ How subconscious beliefs shape your reality
✨ Energy healing and subconscious reprogramming
✨ The mind-body connection and nervous system regulation
✨ Letting go of limiting beliefs and old identities
✨ Why healing begins from within
 
Whether you're navigating chronic illness, searching for answers, or simply looking to reconnect with yourself, this conversation offers hope, practical insights, and a reminder that healing is possible.
 
Chapters
 
00:00 Podcast Intro
01:05 Meet Lizzie Siegel
03:30 What Is a Resource & Reality Architect?
10:20 Guided Healing & Meditation Exercise
18:10 Lizzie's Journey Through Chronic Pain & Autoimmune Disease
28:30 Energy Healing, Trauma & Subconscious Beliefs
38:40 Why Autoimmune Disease Isn't the End of the Story
48:30 Victim Mindset vs. Radical Responsibility
58:15 Reclaiming Your Power & True Healing
01:06:10 Tara's Personal Healing Journey
01:12:30 Final Thoughts & Remembering Your Wholeness
 
💛 You are not broken. You are already whole.
 
Connect with Lizzie Siegel:
 
YouTube:  @heartshomewithlizzie  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartshomewithlizzie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilybity/
 
Connect with Tara Emerson:
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_emerson_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taraemersonjustafarmwife/
Website: https://www.tara-emerson.com/
 
🎧 Listen to Just a Farm Wife on your favorite podcast platform:
 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/

In this eye-opening episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara sits down with holistic health expert Rachel Ellenani to explore what true healing really looks like—and why lasting wellness starts by addressing the root cause, not just the symptoms.
 
Rachel shares her journey into functional nutrition, the connection between food and overall health, and how small, intentional changes can transform the way we feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.
 
Together, Tara and Rachel discuss why so many people struggle to feel their best, the importance of understanding your body, and how taking control of your health can change every area of your life.
 
In this episode, you'll learn about:
✨ Root-cause healing vs. symptom management
✨ The impact of nutrition on everyday health
✨ Why personalized wellness matters
✨ Building sustainable, healthy habits
✨ Empowering yourself through knowledge and intentional choices
 
Whether you're beginning your health journey or looking for a deeper understanding of wellness, this conversation offers practical insights and hope for creating lasting change.
 
00:00 Podcast Intro
00:45 Meet Rachel Ellenani
03:15 Rachel's Health Journey
08:20 Why Root Causes Matter
15:10 Nutrition & Everyday Wellness
23:30 Creating Sustainable Healthy Habits
32:45 Empowering Yourself Through Health
40:20 Final Thoughts
 
💛 Your body was designed to heal. Sometimes it just needs the right support.
 
Connect with Rachel Ellenani:
Website: https://rachelellenani.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.ellenani.2025/
Health Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelellenani.health
Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelellenani
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ellenani-46991b5a/
 
Connect with Tara:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_emerson_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taraemersonjustafarmwife 
Website: https://www.tara-emerson.com/
 
🎧 Listen to Just a Farm Wife on your favorite podcast platform: 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/

In this deeply honest episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara sits down with narcissistic abuse coach Kyle Miller for a conversation about emotional abuse, gaslighting, trauma, people pleasing, and what happens when you spend your entire life carrying everyone else.
Kyle shares how he spent 14 years in an abusive relationship believing he was the problem — believing he lacked empathy, caused the conflict, and simply needed to “do better.” Together, Tara and Kyle unpack why victims of narcissistic abuse often feel crazy, why so many empathetic people end up in toxic relationships, and how childhood trauma can shape the relationships we accept as adults.
This episode goes far beyond relationships. It’s about:✨ losing yourself trying to keep the peace✨ burnout from overgiving✨ why healthy love can feel uncomfortable✨ boundaries, self-worth & nervous system healing✨ learning to trust yourself again
If you’ve ever felt like:* you’re carrying everything alone* no one sees how exhausted you are* you keep attracting emotionally unhealthy people* calm feels unsafe* you’re always blamed for everything
…this conversation will hit home.
00:00 Podcast Intro00:40 Meet Kyle Miller02:15 Why Most Victims Think They’re the Problem06:50 What Narcissistic Abuse Actually Feels Like12:45 Gaslighting & Emotional Manipulation18:30 Childhood Trauma & Toxic Relationship Patterns25:40 Why Empathetic People Get Targeted31:20 The Cycle of Overgiving & Burnout38:15 Why Healthy Relationships Feel Unsafe44:30 Boundaries, Healing & Self-Worth51:10 Healing Isn’t Linear56:20 Finding Safe Support & Help59:30 Final Thoughts
💛 Healing starts when you stop abandoning yourself to keep everyone else comfortable.
Follow along, explore resources, and connect with Kyle Miller:Website: https://kylemillercoaching.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kylemillercoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylemillercoaching/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kylemillercoachingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kylemillercoaching
Connect with Tara:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_emerson_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taraemersonjustafarmwifeWebsite: https://www.tara-emerson.com/
🎧 Listen to Just a Farm Wife on your favorite podcast platform:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/

In this episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara sits down with Lule Naas to explore a deeply honest conversation about identity, motherhood, burnout, and what it means to lose yourself while trying to hold everything together. Lule shares her powerful personal journey through isolation, infertility, and the quiet struggle of balancing family, work, and life in a rural community.
Together, they discuss the emotional weight many women carry as they navigate motherhood, marriage, and personal expectations, and how easy it is to slowly disconnect from who you are in the process. Lule opens up about the breaking points that led her to reassess her life, step back from constant productivity, and begin rebuilding a version of herself that feels more aligned, present, and fulfilled.
This conversation is a reminder that identity loss is more common than we realize, and that slowing down, setting boundaries, and choosing yourself is not only valid but necessary. Listeners will walk away feeling seen, understood, and encouraged to reconnect with the parts of themselves they may have set aside.
Follow along, explore resources, and connect with Lule Naas:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lulenaas/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lulenaas/
Instagram (Face Painting): https://www.instagram.com/floriousfaces/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florijanaas/ 
 
Connect with Tara:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_emerson_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taraemersonjustafarmwife
Website: https://www.tara-emerson.com/
 
Listen to Just a Farm Wife on your favorite podcast platform:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-a-farm-wife/id1762343036
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RxcISIWFmnmU6plJ5z6wQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaraEmersonJustaFarmWife
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e092467c-e143-4288-bbdb-e0cec82a0e7b/just-a-farm-wife
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-just-a-farm-wife-204760872/

In this episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara sits down with bestselling author and speaker Ginny Priem to explore her powerful new concept, Unsubscribe, and how letting go of what drains you can be the key to moving forward. Ginny shares the story behind her book Unsubscribe: Why Letting Go Is the Secret to Getting Ahead and the four simple pillars—Manage, Swap, Mute, and Block—that help women reclaim their time, energy, and boundaries both at home and at work.
They discuss how many women, especially farm wives and rural moms, minimize themselves with phrases like “just,” while quietly carrying the weight of families, farms, businesses, and communities. Ginny explains how small, practical shifts can help women stop overextending themselves and start living with intention instead of burnout.
This conversation offers insight for anyone who has felt stretched thin trying to be everything for everyone, emphasizing that every story, every bit of energy, and every moment of time matters. Listeners are encouraged to grab a copy of Ginny’s book, explore the resources and swag on the Unsubscribe Official website, and follow her work on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Ginny’s podcast, Unsubscribe, provides further guidance for applying these tools in daily life.
 
Follow along, explore resources, and connect with Ginny:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ginnypriem
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginnypriem/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ginnypriem
Website: https://ginnypriem.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginny-priem-8a87248/
-Connect with Tara:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_emerson_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taraemersonjustafarmwife
Website: https://www.tara-emerson.com/
 
Listen to Just a Farm Wife on your favorite podcast platform:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-a-farm-wife/id1762343036
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RxcISIWFmnmU6plJ5z6wQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaraEmersonJustaFarmWife
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e092467c-e143-4288-bbdb-e0cec82a0e7b/just-a-farm-wife
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-just-a-farm-wife-204760872/

In this episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara sits down with Dr. Daphne Denham to share the powerful story of how hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped her own children recover from serious concussions. After months of uncertainty, misdiagnoses, and watching her daughter struggle with severe symptoms, Tara found hope through the work being done at Healing with Hyperbarics of North Dakota.
Dr. Denham explains how hyperbaric oxygen treatments can support brain healing, why early treatment matters, and how objective testing tools like neuro-optic tracking and BrainScope technology are changing the way concussions are diagnosed and treated. Together they discuss the reality many families face when kids get hurt in sports, the signs parents and coaches should watch for, and why Dr. Denham’s motto, “no new normal,” is giving hope to families who thought their children’s lives might never be the same.
Whether you're a parent, coach, or someone connected to youth athletics, this conversation offers insight into concussion recovery, the science behind hyperbaric therapy, and why more families are turning to Healing with Hyperbarics of North Dakota for answers and healing. 
Follow along, reach out with questions, and learn more about their treatment approach here:
Facebook: Healing With Hyperbarics of North Dakota, PLLCInstagram: @healingwithhyperbaricsWebsite: North Dakota - healingwithhyperbarics.com | Illinois - healingwithhyperbaricsofillinois.com

In this episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara Emerson delves into a transformative discussion with Dr. Kristen Strom, an advocate for women in agriculture seeking to live with purpose and balance. From her journey as an educator to a transformational coach, Kristen shares compelling insights on prioritizing wellness, combating isolation, and building supportive communities. They explore the invisible challenges farm wives face and emphasize the importance of self-care and community connection. Tune in for motivating strategies that can help you become more present, and lead a life of intention, joy, and sustainability in the farming world. A must-listen for anyone navigating the multifaceted world of agriculture, especially women seeking empowerment and growth in their personal and professional lives.
Dr. Kristen Strom's website: drkristenstrom.com
 

In this episode of Just a Farm Wife, Tara sits down with Jacques Faith van Tonder to have an honest, eye-opening conversation about the realities of the H-2A program from both the farmer and worker perspective. Jacques shares what really happens when expectations, communication, and cultural understanding are missing, and how clear boundaries and mutual respect can make or break a season. Together, they dig into job hopping, employer investment, personal responsibility, and the importance of finishing contracts with integrity. Jacques also shares resources like his platform H2ABuddy and his educational content on social media, created to protect workers from scams and help farmers make better hiring decisions. This episode is a must-listen for farm families, H-2A employers, and workers who want to do their due diligence and build something sustainable on both sides of agriculture.
Resources mentioned:Jacques Faith website: jacquesfaith.comH-2A platform: h2abuddy.comTikTok: @jacquesfaithvantoInstagram: @jfvant

In this episode of Just a Farm Wife, host Tara Emerson sits down with Tanya Wieler of Dakota Dynamics to uncover how the principles of Human Resources—communication, self-reflection, and succession planning—can revolutionize the family farm. Tanya shares how an HR mindset, often reserved for the corporate world, can bring clarity and connection to multi-generational operations where personal and professional lines blur.
Together, they explore the powerful, often unseen leadership role of the farm wife—the cornerstone who balances heart and strategy, emotion and efficiency. From strategic journaling to mastering communication styles, this conversation is a practical roadmap for creating harmony and growth on and off the farm. Tune in to learn how small, intentional changes can create ripple effects that transform your entire operation.