Resonance – Episode 16
Verbatim Transcript
Speaker: Viktoria Levenberg
Guest Speaker: Stéphanie Issa
Stéphanie Issa: Why is this happening to me? If you looked at my CV you would say oh, she's
a butterfly, she's unstable. And the end was, I think when I was just going through burnout,
really what I was trying to do is numbing myself, numbing myself from feeling. I resigned, I
felt pregnant, and…
Viktoria Levenberg: Speak of stress messing with everything in your life.
Viktoria Levenberg: Welcome. In today's episode, you are going to hear a conversation with
Steph, a really brave woman who shares her life journey, and I guarantee you will probably
see yourself in her in some of those real pivotal moments of where, perhaps, she may not
have listened to her instinct or those little whispers from life that are nudging her in one
direction, and then also other instances where she has. And just such a beautiful way of a
story that unfolds itself in the most magical way of all, because when each key milestone and
each key awakening, or a moment that required transformation, it also set her up to become
the next woman that she needed to be in order to thrive in the chapter that was required of
her next.
So without further ado, enjoy the episode and I'll see you inside.
Viktoria Levenberg: Welcome to Resonance, a podcast for ambitious, heart-led humans
craving more balance, depth, and aliveness in their lives. I'm your host, Vik—health coach,
yoga teacher, facilitator, and fellow high achiever—learning to live in tune with my nervous
system, not against it. In this space is here to remind you that you can have it all: the career,
the success, the fulfilment—all aligned with your truth. Through honest conversations, expert
insights, and practical tools, we'll explore how to work with your body, mind, emotions, and
spirit, not against them. And the best part? You don't have to stay stuck in survival mode to
get there, because true well being is not about being perfect—it's about being in resonance.
Let's dive in.
Viktoria Levenberg: Okay, so I'll just give you a quick intro to Steph. Stephanie is a fellow
health coach—she I also did her certification with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition—and
we actually really intimately came together in a coaching program that we did together called
Ascendance. And that's where we really got to know each other. We kind of saw the ups and
the downs of life through this container, and it just felt so special to invite Steph on, because
I knew that she had so much lived experience to share that you'll get to hear here today.
And I mean, I'm not gonna lie, she was the easiest podcast guest to host, because I only had
to ask her one question—hahaha. I mean, maybe a couple more here or there, but really, um,
I love it. We'll definitely have to get Steph back on the show, um, so she can share more of
her wisdom and, um, I know that you will just really enjoy what she has to share with you
today. And some of the key kind of themes that she's woven through is also about stress, and
like those moments in life where stress was actually showing up as a negative influence both
in her physical body, but maybe even her mental and emotional body. Like I found it so mind-
blowing that, in fact, stress was also linked to her, um, I guess inability to conceive, until
those stressors were reduced. So you'll hear a little bit more about that in the episode
without, uh, kind of spoiling it too much for you. I'll let you enjoy the goodies for yourself.
And I'll see you inside.
Viktoria Levenberg: And we are live.
Amazing.
Huh, Steph, thank you so much for joining me in Resonance. I mean, it is so special. Uh, last
time we spoke, actually, this was like still just an idea in my head when we were in
Ascendance together.
Wow, and here we are.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, well, congratulations on taking the steps—because I know it's not one
step, but several ones—and making it happen. I'm really excited for you and for the content
and for the whole journey.
Viktoria Levenberg: Hmm, thank you. And look, I mean, let's dive in, you know. I would love
for you to maybe just introduce yourself to people who may not know you—you know, who
you are, where you're from, what you do, and kind of what got you onto this path of wellness
and self-care and mindful living.
Stéphanie Issa: I'm originally from France. I have a background—well, very mixed
background—but my main two, uh, I come from a Lebanese dad and a French Italian mum,
was born and raised in France, but travelled a lot, lived in several countries, and, um, I am an
integrative nutrition health coach, and I have done the Ian program. I am currently involved
in the CIP— By the way…
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh my gosh, you made the move, congratulations!
Stéphanie Issa: I did, I did—like literally a day before, uh, the starting date. I was kind of
pushing it back, back, back, and I'm like, okay, let's do it. You know what, let's do it. Yeah,
actually, you—you were kind of the reason, you know, that I've done it, because you really
kind of—you know, you—you shared how really it was—it took your skills, it took your skills
to the next level, and that's really what I want, you know. I want to gain skills, confidence
also, because yeah, you know, experience and knowledge—that's a authentic confidence, I
would say. So yeah, I'm—I'm doing this currently to take my, uh, coaching skills, you know,
uh, to the next level and, um, and also continue my path on this health and wellness quest or
journey, if I may say.
I don't know that there was, you know—I thought about about this question yesterday. I was
kind of tossing and turning in my bed, and I don't know that there was one single event that
let me to decide, OK, I'm gonna take care of my health, you know. I think, uh, for as long as I
remember, I've always had—I've always took care of myself, but not in a holistic way, you
know.
Viktoria Levenberg: Ooh, okay, we'll dive into that for sure. Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: I wasn't completely aware, but I think the awareness kind of built up over
time. I—I did have this very strong instinct, you know, this gut instinct that you have, but
yeah, I wasn't listening to it. I wasn't listening to it, I kept ignoring it, ignoring it, ignoring it,
until my body was, um, in an inflammation state, you know—like yeah, really badly.
Uh, but as long as I remember, you know, I try to really picture, uh, you know, the first—like if
you were to ask me this question, the first picture—and I see myself as a six-year-old. I see
myself going—and knowing that I have barely no memory, you know, of my—my childhood
or anything—I see myself, going in this little village in the south of France, where we used to
live, um, and I go to the church and I don't get into the church. I just listen to the priest
preaching, talking, you know, and I used to do that a lot, but I was too shy to go in.
Viktoria Levenberg: Wow, that's so interesting.
Stéphanie Issa: And the priest kept—you know—he kept seeing me—
Viktoria Levenberg: Who's this, like, little six-year-old girl lurking outside of the church? Yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, I'll take my bike and go, you know, and, uh, so I told my mom, um, you
know, it seems like your daughter is interested and, uh, you know, we have catechism classes
if she would want to come. So I did attend those catechism classes, but for me that was kind
of the first connection I had, um, with, um, my spirituality. I always believed in God—I don't
know how, but I always believed in God.
And at this time I wasn't eating—like my mom told me even as a baby, I would refuse eating, I
would refuse milk, you know.
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh wow.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, like bottle milk—cause my my mom had a disease so she couldn't
breastfeed me. But I would refuse milk, and at that time we were living actually in the US.
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: And what was available and easy for my mum, and she thought it was good,
we're like this little cereal—cereal packs, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh no— Yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: With—yeah, yeah, no colours and additives—you know, this marshmallows—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: With the—the—the vampire and the little—yeah. And I'm like, when my mum
told me that, I'm like, that's disgusting, how could you do that to me?
Viktoria Levenberg: She had no idea, right? Like, bless our parents, they're just doing the best
they know, right.
Stéphanie Issa: Absolutely. And she said, you wouldn't eat anything—like you just wouldn't.
And, you know, when I think about it—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm—
Stéphanie Issa: It was a way for me to say something. It was my body saying something, you
know.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Of course.
As a little 5, 6, or even a baby couldn't know, you know—
Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: But now where I am today, I—I kind of understood the meaning behind it all. I
understood that, you know, the connection between a mother and her baby is formed, um,
back in the womb, and all the mother's trauma, the family history, the grandmother—
everything—it's inherited…
Viktoria Levenberg: Whether I want it or not, whether you like it or not. Genetic lottery, here
you go.
Stéphanie Issa: Like if you think about it, why would a baby not eat? I'm talking about baby—
and I was underweight as a baby. They kept giving me, you know, all this treatment, vitamins.
I spent two years in hospital when I was a kid—like 7, 8. I literally didn't go to school—
technically I skipped a class, you know—but I was a sick kid, you know, I was a sick kid. The
quiet kid that you—you should not disturb, you should not trigger—
You know, because she's gonna get sick. And as far as I remember, I've lived with
inflammation all my life. Later, yeah, in my adulthood, of course, I didn't know I was gluten
and lactose intolerant, you know. I didn't know that, I didn't know I had IBS, I didn't know all
of that, yeah. So I—I—I think I—I mean, I've always had eating disorders also. Like, I think
that's the first time, you know, that I kind of acknowledge it, but I do, I do, and it's—it's—it
started since I was a baby, you know. When I was a baby it started, yeah.
So—and the first time I wanted to do something about it, it's during my early young adult life.
I was still kind of uni, finishing my uni. I was partying a lot, you know. At the time I thought it
was happiness, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—living your best life, yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Partying a lot, drinking a lot—a lot more than my—my own body could even
put up with, you know. Seeing too many people, you know—too—too much of everything.
Eating absolutely unhealthy. I would eat like once a day, but junk, you know—wouldn't cook,
wouldn't, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: And—and like what kind of junk, just for curiosity?
Stéphanie Issa: Oh, for example, you know, I would come home after a day of study and I
would go and eat like a sandwich—you know, like a kebab sandwich, you know, or something
like that. Uh, I wouldn't eat the fries, but—yeah—hahaha.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—cause—
Cause I was on a diet—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah—no—
Cause I didn't like it—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: But anyway—
Viktoria Levenberg: Fair—
Stéphanie Issa: I—and—and, you know, in this period, in this short period, I put on so much
weight. I didn't understand—
Viktoria Levenberg: Interesting.
Stéphanie Issa: Mm hmm. So I started going to the gym, but I was hopeless, you know. I was
kind of—and, um, I think it's one day I went and saw my doctor, my GP. I said, listen, I cannot
put up with myself at this weight. I gained so much weight, there is something about it. And
then we did some tests and I had a—I had a thyroid dysfunction, you know, plus the—plus,
you know, all the, uh, the—the triggers that I was injecting myself with, you know—the
alcohol, the weed also—sorry—but the weed, a lot of weed.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah, yeah, it's fine, yeah.
The sugar, the—maybe something more than weed, you know—
In judgment-free zone here, right.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, it's like—hmm—yeah. So I was injecting, you know, myself with a lot of
substance, and why I thought I was happy, really what I was trying to do is numbing myself.
I mean, myself from feeling
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes. Eww, that F word—what is feeling, right, back then.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, yeah—yeah, yeah.
And—even, you know, in my relationships—ah—there was—there was—everything was so
intense. Everything was so intense, just, you know—on a scale of 100 to 200.
Viktoria Levenberg: Really.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, everything was so intense.
But I—so when I—when I saw this, this doctor, he gave me actually a diet. At the time, I
didn't understand that it was also an anti-inflammatory diet—mm hmm—and he put me on,
um, on a, uh, thyroid hormone—mm hmm—you know, because I had some nodules and
stuff. And it's like my—my life, my life changed, you know. And I started actually cooking.
Viktoria Levenberg: Wow.
Stéphanie Issa: I started—yeah—I started like, you know, uh, getting to know about food, you
know, and understanding the—the relationship between our well-being and the food we
consume, and the sleep that we get or we don't get, you know, naturally, um, and all of that.
I would say was kind of the beginning, you know. I lost—lost weight, started, you know, um,
implementing better healthy habits, but I wasn't—I wasn't there yet. I wasn't there yet
Viktoria Levenberg: —Well, it's—it's not a linear process, right. It's kind of—we tend to be so
hard on ourselves, but it takes time.
Stéphanie Issa: It did. Then I think there was a second step. When I had finished my uni and I
need to do like a training ship—so I did a major in communication and journalism—so, uh,
and I need to do a training ship, an internship. And in France at the time, everything—like all
the options—were like, um—
Very boring to me—
Viktoria Levenberg: I could just see that on your face—It's like—
Stéphanie Issa: It was, it was—it was boring, and, um. And then I had a life event. My
grandmother passed away, and I was really, really close to my grandmother. She was, um—
she was stability to me, she was my safe space, she was my safe place, she was this
unconditional love that I didn't get from my parents, but I did get from my grandmother. And,
um, it felt like I couldn't be in the same city. I couldn't, um—yeah, I couldn't live with the
same habits and, you know, her not calling me anymore, me not going to visit her—especially
I—I—I lived with her for a very long time, right. I lived with her—yeah—when my mum and I
came back from the US when I was a baby, we lived with her for two years, so she took great
care of me. Then she was the one babysitting me. And then as in as a young adult, when I was
at uni, I lived with her, you know, for like two years. So I was really, really, really—really close
to her. My grandmother was like, um—she wasn't my birth mother, but she did actually had a
mother role to me, you know.
So I had at the same time—and look at this alignment and the synchronicity—at the same
time—so my grandmother passes away in March; I had to find an internship by June. I—I had
friends, they were from Morocco at the time—students from Morocco—and, um, one of
them had returned over there. She had a boyfriend, and the boyfriend was looking for
someone for an internship, kind of, you know, night and cultural event reporter for six
months—
Viktoria Levenberg: And you're—joking? No—ha ha ha!
Stéphanie Issa: No—ha ha ha!
And I'm like—it took me like a week. I'm like, okay, I'm coming.
Viktoria Levenberg: Wow—that's amazing. Like, the—that synchronicity is just mind-blowing.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, yeah. And I think two weeks later, I was—I was in Morocco, living for—
for five years. And it was an amazing journey. A lot of discoveries. People tend to eat—like,
the food is amazing in Morocco, you know, and people tend to eat like home-cooked food—
like a lot. So that has also, you know, kind of continued, you know, the path that I was on—on
eating healthy and, uh, you know, being a young adult, and being responsible for what I eat,
what I put in my mind, in my body. But at this stage, I was just on kind of, you know, I would
say very superficial layers, you know—like, yeah, the body—what is visible to the eye—
Viktoria Levenberg: The physical health kind of, yeah. Which is, I think, where most of us
start, to be honest, because it's the most tangible. It's the most accessible part.
Stéphanie Issa: That's what we can see every day also.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes. And also kind of media and culture and everything really makes it
hard for us not to focus on that part as well, especially as a young woman.
Stéphanie Issa: Especially as a millennial, you can say.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes. Especially as a young millennial woman.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, yeah. So I think, um—fast forward—I, um—this experience taught me
so much, and I had deceptions after deceptions in my relationships. At the time I didn't feel
like teaching and learnings, you know. I saw it from, I think, a victim mentality a bit—like, you
know, why is this happening to me, why does everything keep happening to me? I mean it's
so cliche—
Viktoria Levenberg: Why is the universe against me—yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, you know—it's like why—like why. And at the time, so I—I eventually,
I—I finished my internship, and I made some great connections. I met amazing people and I
went on my little adventure. And every time I was coming back to France, there was like a job
kind of bringing them back to Morocco, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Wow—
Viktoria Levenberg: And yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: I lived in several cities, and I ended up spending almost five years, like four
and a half years. Then, um—by the end, I had an apartment that had a gym just downstairs,
and I started going every day—obsessing, you know, and cutting like everything. Like, no, I
don't eat this, that—that, that, that—OK, extreme, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm— And went extreme to the next—
Stéphanie Issa: Absolutely. And I started obsessing, you know—like, oh no, no carbs, not
these, just high protein, just high—these. And again, not taking into account, like for
example, you know, too high—too much protein is hard on your kidneys, you know, and you
have the water also to kind of flush it out, and you have to be able to digest, etcetera,
etcetera. So this was my path kind of thing, you know, and along the way I Learned so much
about all of that—after—when I really burnt out. Because I was doing this extreme, um—you
know, I wanted to have this extreme control over my eating, over my physical appearance,
you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: Um, and at work—At work, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Right—Yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: At work, I changed a lot—like, I mean—like, I—I had several jobs and several
positions in—in—in Morocco at this time. Like, you know, if you looked at my CV you would
say, oh, she's a butterfly, she's unstable, she's, you know—but I don't know. But I, um—I
really, really—really Learned a lot. And the end was, I think, when, um, I was just going
through burnout, you know—I know you know.
Viktoria Levenberg: Well, I don't—actually, I didn't—I didn't know that you experienced
burnout in your story as well. Like, I'm learning so much about you. So I would love to hear a
little bit more about kind of what happened. And I can see how it LED to it, but—yeah—I
would love to—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah. So I was working, like, a lot. Like, you know, I was single, I didn't have
any partner, didn't have any kids, and my boss would take advantage of it, you know. On a
Sunday, for example—a weekend—uh, it was a small company—“Hey girls, do you wanna go
and have a coffee?” We were foreigners over there, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm—
Stéphanie Issa: You know, so—it was—it was like we didn't have family, uh, to visit during the
weekends, or—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm—
Stéphanie Issa: Anything else to attend, let's say, other than, you know, go to the gym or—
you know. So I would be like, okay. But he would always take the opportunity to kind of make
us work, but I didn't see it like that at the time.
Viktoria Levenberg: Interesting.
Stéphanie Issa: I saw it as, you know, this meritocracy kind of, uh, philosophy—“the more you
do, the more you deserve.”
Viktoria Levenberg: And please, can we debunk that—like, it is not true.
Stéphanie Issa: Absolutely not. And that's how—you know—that's the mentality. Like, I've
seen my, uh—my uncles, my dad, everyone around me—the society—this patriarchal society
that we live in—that's the myth we've been fed since we were born, you know. You have—
you find a work, you find a job, okay—you—you're good at it, you do what you have to do,
and you stay in the same company forever, you know.
Viktoria Levenberg: And you sell your soul to that company, and then you retire—
Stéphanie Issa: Exactly— Or you open your own company and you just—Exactly—You—you
give everything until you have a heart attack or, you know—that's what happened to my dad,
for example. And—but no, he didn't die. He just—yeah.
Viktoria Levenberg: But—well, you know, it was a—probably a big wake-up call for him to
slow up—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah—To slow down.
But anyways—I—fast forward—I had this, um—I would go home and I would just feel this
energy, like I was totally drained. I would do what I had to do, and it started feeling that I was
kind of pushing myself. Every day I was pushing myself. I wasn't enjoying it anymore. I did it
because I had to, because I made a commitment, because I had bills to pay, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yep.
Stéphanie Issa: And I remember during the weekend—as soon as my job was, you know,
over, my day was over—I would go home, I would smoke—
Smoke weed—from Morocco, of course—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: And I would sleep. And that's what I wanted to do. And my phone would go
off, my friends would go, “Come on, let's go, let's party.” I'm like, no—you know what, I
decided I don't want to drink anymore.
They're like, what—what are you talking about?
I'm like, it's not good for me. And I was starting to have, like—I had all the signs—this little,
you know, veins that were popping out—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yep, yep—
Stéphanie Issa: And I—I was like—I would—I would just, like, bloat—totally, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: It was poisoning your body, right—
Stéphanie Issa: Like, absolutely—it was poisoning my body. So—and this was a very difficult
process, because, you know, socially—yeah—it's like you go out to drink. I mean what do you
mean you don't drink? Oh, you know—what are you—are you some kind of extremist, you
know? Why—why don't you drink? What is that—
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh my God—right?
Stéphanie Issa: What are you gonna do if you don't drink, you know—like, that's so boring.
Viktoria Levenberg: Exactly. Everyone thinks you're so weird. We'll circle back to that as well,
cause I have a pretty funny story to tell you.
Viktoria Levenberg: Okay, just a quick break here—if you love these kinds of conversations,
you might also enjoy my newsletter. It's like a breath of fresh air in your inbox—slow,
seasonal, and always real—an email that you actually want to read for a change. If that
sounds like your cup of tea, you can sign up below at LVNHealth.co, or through the link in my
bio at LVNHealth. Now, let's get back to the episode.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah—so this took a long time, because every time I was exposed and friends
would be like, “Come on, just a glass, come on, just a glass,” and I started cutting down like
hard—kind of hard alcohol—like, you know, the whiskey, vodka, rum. Then it was wine, and
then I was like, oh no. And then I remember last time I had a cup of champagne—actually
was my uncle's place, it was Easter, and, uh, I said, okay, that's it. It was—I like this ending,
because it's, you know, around family meal. It's not like me blacking out, you know, in a club
or something like that, you know. So I'm like, okay—you know what, I just don't want it. Mm
hmm. And it's start—it's—it's like it's time I listen to myself, to my body, because my body
has been talking to me. Why am I doing this? I started that, and I started, uh, praying,
meditating, and looking in religious text, you know. Um, I started exploring all these options,
and my life totally changed—my life totally changed.
It's actually this moment where my—my sister was about to deliver—so I'm like, okay, I'm
leaving Morocco. I want to be there. I mean that's it—that's the next chapter of my life. And
by that—at that time, I had a quiet, let's say, a bit of, um, health and wellness routine, you
know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: Uh, and I was starting to dig a bit more. And my sister had my niece, and, um,
you know—the—all the baby weight and all the sleep deprivation, and all of that—that
directly impacts, you know. It's like—you—you—you just become another person, whether
you want it or not.
You know—and fast forward, um, you know, I had kept kind of the same until I became a
mother.
Viktoria Levenberg: Right, yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, so I got married. I moved to Dubai, where my husband was living at the
time. We spent seven beautiful years over there, and when I came over there, I was kind of,
you know, going to the gym, taking care—because I had built healthy, you know, habits—
taking care of my eating, and I was now in control.
Viktoria Levenberg: And it was still mostly like the physical body, like the physical health area.
Yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah. I started going to the gym. I was in charge also—you know, uh, like
when you live with a person it's—you know, meals have a different meaning. And my
husband also was very body conscious, you know, like taking care of his health, but on a
physical level also.
When I was pregnant I struggled to gain weight—to accept not to gain weight—to accept—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: Not to gain weight—no—no, I gained weight, I gained weight. To accept
gaining weight. And my friend suggested I go and see this beautiful, amazing German Syrian
lady, Sarah.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: She was actually doing, uh, the aura reading—
Viktoria Levenberg: Ooh, I love that—yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: And she was also doing like a past regression life, mm hmm, you know, and
their hypnosis. And so I went and saw her, and I think that was kind of the beginning. I can't
remember before if I had kind of, you know, that kind of exposure, but—and she—we went,
uh, we went down there, you know.
Viktoria Levenberg: And so before you—and like go there—can you just explain what “down
there” means? Because I know what you're talking about, but the listeners might not
understand what you're referring to. When you say “down there.”
Stéphanie Issa: Absolutely. So basically, um, at that time I had a concert which was accepting
my body to change for my, you know, my son's well being—for my baby—because I was—I
was carrying life, you know. So I went to see her, and we started by digging into my
childhood. I was put on a bed and, um, I think there was some kind of background music, you
know, and I was in this theta state, which is actually this state very similar, which is actually a
wave. Theta is a wave, and your brain is on this wave when you just got up—when you just
wake up—or when you're about to fall deeply asleep. And that is a state that is believed to
be, uh—actually this—the ideal state if you want to change belief—limiting belief. So that's
what hypnosis is kind of thing, you know. You—you're guided to go on this state, and then
the magic happens.
So with Sarah we started doing, um, a past life progression. So today I'm here, I'm Stephanie,
I'm 42. We went back to Stephanie when she was five, you know, the first memory I could
have—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: And then you go up—up, up, up. And what you do is all this, um, picture that
you have, because it's—it's all like these memories. They could be feeling, but the pictures—
the first thing is—but could be a smell, could be—but for me it was—it was a picture. And we
go and we try to give, uh, the child—which is your now inner child—what it needed at the
time, and that's what it he didn't get or she—in my case, she—didn't get.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: And we go on like that, and we—the aim is to, um, provide what we needed
at the time that we didn't get, you know. And that's how the healing starts, I would say—
that's how the process starts. And then she implemented, actually, uh, what we did—that
whole kind of my life—and then she implemented a goal. Okay, so for me it was to, uh—my
goal was to have a healthy pregnancy—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: And to see food as nourishing my body and nourishing my baby, you know.
And, uh, yeah—to—to shift the focus—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes.
Stéphanie Issa: As we know very well.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes. Absolutely.
Stéphanie Issa: And—and look, it really worked, because I gained 24 kilos.
Viktoria Levenberg: Ha ha ha ha ha—
Stéphanie Issa: Ha ha ha—
Viktoria Levenberg: Ha ha ha.
Stéphanie Issa: But you know what, um, I had the most amazing pregnancy—Ma—I had a
very healthy baby. I had—yeah—a very healthy pregnancy, um. I mean, nothing—nothing to
say on that, so yeah—amazing. After that, um, I had all this weight to lose.
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: So I deliver it, and everyone told me, “Oh, you know, when you deliver half of
the weight, cause you know, the baby's weight and the water, you know, the amniotic liquid
and all.” I went back to my gynaecologist after I delivered—I was a kilo heavier. I'm like, how
is that possible? How can that happen?
Viktoria Levenberg: You know, isn't that wild—
Stéphanie Issa: I was like—I'm like, I don't understand. This is the same scale. It's not even like
a different scale. And thankfully—and I'm gonna say thankfully—it was a man, because I
also—my experience—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: A man gynaecologist—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: Tend to be a lot more softer than women, and gentle and subtle, because
women—it's like, you know, we all have the same thing, let's go there, and it's very
straightforward, firm, and we are very blunt. And—yeah—didn't work with me. I don't like
that—no. I wanna be, like, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: So yeah, just give me a little bit of, like—you know, take me out to dinner
first.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, exactly.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah. And so I was like—you were like, “Oh, don't worry, it's normal. Uh, you
know, women in average, you know, they go back to their weight or about the way—the
previous pregnancy way—in six months.” I was like, Oh cool. I actually have six months.
What came after I think really was like the second big—a kind of wake-up call. Because I—I
was in a body that I didn't recognise. I had all this joy and love for my son, I was completely
obsessed with him. So obsessed that, you know, I had to stop working—uh, before—before
he was born.
Oh—by the way, this is a very important one—
We wanted to have a baby with my husband and, uh, it was just not happening.
Viktoria Levenberg: Mhm.
Stéphanie Issa: So we went on and did some tests—super fertile, super fertile—compatible—
Viktoria Levenberg: Okay.
Stéphanie Issa: I'm like, okay—so—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: Okay, good. But I was so stressed at work, I was so stressed at work—yeah—it
would just not happen. I resigned, I felt pregnant.
A week after—
Five days after—
Viktoria Levenberg: Stop it—
Stéphanie Issa: You know—you know the cycle—this, yeah, part of the cycle where you're
not fertile on your app—you're not supposed to be fertile—that's when I felt pregnant.
Viktoria Levenberg: You're joking—
Stéphanie Issa: that's when I become—No, no—
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh my God—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah.
Viktoria Levenberg: That's wild.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, I know, right—it's—it's—
Viktoria Levenberg: And speak of stress messing with everything in your life—wow—
Stéphanie Issa: And I pray—I prayed so much to have a baby. I didn't want 10, I didn't want
five, I wanted one baby, you know, and I really—and I was really blessed with the most
adorable—and very challenging also—son.
Viktoria Levenberg: Now that he's growing up and maybe, you know, not as cute as he was
when his cheeks were plump and he couldn't speak—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah—no—
No—definitely. But no, it's—it's—it's—yeah.
So, you know, when you have to take care of a human being, and it's your responsibility—and
I was—I felt so alone because—so I delivered in France, I wanted to be with my family—
But I had a bit of miscalculation, because what that meant is having everyone around me.
And what I want—I—I was happy, but I was overwhelmed.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: I was like, I just wanna be alone with my baby—that's all that I want.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: Like, you know, my sister, my mom—okay—but everyone was coming. I was
happy, but at the same time I wanted to be alone.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: And then we went back to Dubai, and my husband, you know, went back to
work, and so it was me and my son. And I think for the first month I didn't get out of the
house at all. That's how it was—my son would not sleep. He would just not sleep—
Viktoria Levenberg: Just not at all?
Stéphanie Issa: I mean, Yeah, he would sleep, but, you know, during the day—like a baby—
it's normal for a baby, you know, but—you know, you—I mean, you're here that—okay, at
the beginning it's a bit, you know—but I didn't actually—I was like, what—what is that? I
mean, am I supposed to wake up every—because at the beginning they need to eat. They
don't have any reserves, so it's like two hours, they need to eat. So you have to feed them,
you know—whatever—if you're breastfeeding or if you—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: Oh—breastfeeding—that also—I've been ordered to breastfeed. For me, I
saw myself breastfeeding, you know, my son for two years, you know.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: Well, it turns out my son has, uh—had a very strong suction and it really
damaged me, and after a week, you know—so I got—basically I had to stop. And I was crying,
I was crying. And I think I put too much—too much stress on myself, you know, and it just
didn't work. And, you know, society making you feel guilty about it—like, oh but try again, it's
not supposed to be pleasant, you know, okay—it hurts a bit, but I mean—what do you think?
I'm like, well, you know what, no—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah. It's like, you give it a go and then we'll talk, you know. It's like, we—
we don't know—
Stéphanie Issa: Why don't you use your nipples—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah, yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, baby, if you want—
Viktoria Levenberg: Exactly.
Stéphanie Issa: So that was a bit of a deception.
This and the sleep deprivation—there was this melting pot of extreme happiness, but
extreme “I don't know who I am anymore.” That's a new identity—I'm a mother. I have this
new body, I have these new responsibilities. Like, this human being is entirely, uh—it's
entirely reliable on me, you know—he's—he's—yeah. And, uh, I didn't have time to go to the
gym. I didn't have anyone to leave my son with, and I—I didn't want to—to send him to
nursery. So I, after a month, my husband is like, What about you get some help, you know,
around the house. What about—what about that? Especially we're living in Dubai and it's—
it's—it's very common in Dubai to have, you know, some—some help.
So I got some help, and that was the beginning for me. At the beginning I would, I would not
leave my baby, but when he was asleep, I would go to sleep, and I had someone taking care
of all the house chores, so I didn't have to do that, you know.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes.
Stéphanie Issa: Yes. And gradually, when the trust started building, I started going to the gym,
you know—so going to the gym. And, um, I've actually—I'm still in contact with a few people
over there, because they—they became friends—they became family almost, you can say.
One of them sends me like reels all day—like I'm working for him, you know—hahaha—and I
have to—to listen to—to watch all the reels and the video he sends me on WhatsApp. I'm
like, mate, it was two hours—your video—like, do you really think I've ever gonna watch it?
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh my God—hahaha.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, it's always very interesting, but yeah. And, um, so after that I started
going to the gym, and when my son started nursery, I would have this routine. I would drop
him, and I would go straight to the gym every single day—except the weekend, you know.
And I started connecting to my body—reconnecting to my body—something that I had not
felt in the past—not to that extent. I started approaching food differently, actually. I started,
um—I don't want to go back to work full time, because I want to take care of my baby, but I
wanted to have an activity. I was interested really—I really got into health and wellness, tried
many things, and I found this online, um, ad saying, “Hey, do you wanna become a health—a
health coach, whatever?” So I jumped, because, you know, it was from home and, uh, it was
convenient.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: I—I did that. So I was selling, uh, food supplements and kind of shakes—
protein shakes—uh, for a company, and it was like a franchise thing where you had your own
website but you were independent, etcetera, etcetera. Uh, I loved it, and I benefited from it,
because I started taking, like, the supplements and I saw how omegas, for example, you
know, are important for you, etcetera, etcetera. And, um, as a new mom it really helped me.
But I didn't like—I didn't like how I was being asked to sell—just to sell, you know.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—yeah, network marketing is tricky like that—yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: It was MLM and I—I was—I was like, that's—I love what I'm doing. I'm love
that I'm—I'm loving that I'm helping people, you know, take care of themselves and become
aware of their health and what they put into their body, and the—the changes, the
outcomes. But I don't like just to sell to people that maybe, you know, some people—they
don't need that. I'm gonna say, oh, do you eat three times per week fish or you don't—or just
take—or just take the Omegas—then no, that's—that don't look like me.
So from there I actually hired a coach—a life coach.
Viktoria Levenberg: Mmm.
Stéphanie Issa: Because I was lost in my life—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mmm—
Stéphanie Issa: Going everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I knew what I wanted but I
didn't know how to get there.
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: And everything seemed like too much—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah—like unreachable, you know. So I had to take care of all of that. You
know, I was a mother, I was a spouse, and like my personal life—me, me, me—was totally on
the side. The only thing I was doing for myself was the gym—going to the gym, you know—
and making sure I provide healthy meals to my—to my son. Like, my son has never—never
eaten like a cooked—like, you know, an outside cooked meal—when we're going to
restaurants of course—but like, you know, prepacked or like, you know, food pots or like—
totally opposite to what I had when I was his age.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes, yes—those 80s, 90s kids—hey—
Stéphanie Issa: Yes—yes, yes, yes. And, um, then I started really focusing on that and, uh, it
really helped me actually to have a coach, because it really, um—kind of set me on the path,
and it came to precise what I really wanted. And health coach was it. I wanted to take care of
people and to help them in health and well-being, etcetera, etcetera. So that was it.
You know, in the process—as a magic of coaching—I had the relationship with my father that
came very big. It kept coming back—coming back, coming back.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes.
Stéphanie Issa: I was saying, you know, these are my goals—but it was coming back.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh.
Stéphanie Issa: And so my—my—my—actually my, um—my coach was quite amazing
because she kind of put everything else on the side and we dealt with that. And I don't even
know how it happened—a lot of crying, a lot of—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes—release—
Stéphanie Issa: Getting out—this, like, energy, energy getting out—and I was able after that
to have, like, the best relationship with my father I've ever had—if like—
Viktoria Levenberg: Wow.
Stéphanie Issa: I looked at him differently—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: And I understood things differently. And it had a ripple effect. It was the same
with my—my mother and the same with, you know, my work relationship that had ended
really badly also, you know, last time I worked in the corporate world. So all of that. And I
would say that was the healing that really started. Um, I was kind of taking charge for the first
time. I was—for the first time—I felt empowered, and I decided to continue it. And I went
and saw a therapist.
Viktoria Levenberg: MHM.
Stéphanie Issa: And in Dubai to see a psychologist you need a psychiatrist referral—
Viktoria Levenberg: Really— I didn't know that.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah—so, and it was just before Covid. So I went and saw him and I'm like,
listen—I know you're trying to prescribe me some of your drugs. I'm not taking any of your
drugs, okay. And he did like this—I think it's called the DSM5—
You know—
Viktoria Levenberg: It's like this—it's like similar to the E—
Oh yeah, there you go—
Stéphanie Issa: I think it's—it's to—to what—similar to what—
Viktoria Levenberg: I thought it was similar to EMDR but no, it must be something different.
Stéphanie Issa: I did EMDR actually with a therapist, but this is like a form where, you know,
you're gonna be asked like, uh, questions, whether or not you have trauma—like, who didn't
have trauma in their life, you know. And because I tested positive to more than 10 items or
something like that at the—yeah—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: He—he diagnosed me with general anxiety disorder.
Viktoria Levenberg: Okay.
Stéphanie Issa: And he gave me, uh—gave me SSRI, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Really—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah. And like he—he convinced me. He's like, you know it's chemical—
serotonin is made like in the gut 97%—so this is just something soft, it will help you and stuff.
So I was like, okay, you know what, I'll give it a try—give it a try. And in parallel I was doing
EMDR actually with my therapist—the most amazing therapist I've ever had. I love the
sessions with her. I continued that until Covid, uh, because then she left the clinic—she went
somewhere else—but I continued taking that.
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: And I was numb—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: I didn't feel anything—no extreme joy—no—no nothing. But again, I think,
you know, at that time it helped me—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: Because I needed it.
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm.
Stéphanie Issa: We then moved to Australia—you know, it was COVID everywhere, but in
Australia there was no COVID—so we could—ha ha ha—silly—we could, you know. In
Sydney—yeah—it was beautiful, it was new, you know. I was home again—you know—mm
hmm—putting patches. Before it's—it was food, alcohol, weed, whatever—and now, you
know, another—yeah—
Viktoria Levenberg: Some SSRIs.
Stéphanie Issa: Yes. And I—I—it was actually a really, um—a really challenging time. Because
we came here because my brother-in-law had pancreatic cancer—
Viktoria Levenberg: Right—
Stéphanie Issa: And, uh, you know, for my husband it was very, uh—very important to be
next to his brother—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: And for my son also to be next to his uncle. And he was very close to his
uncle—he was his uncle's favourite, actually. Yeah. And we did, um—we did go through a
very difficult year, but a year full of learning. Because we were living in the family house so
they divided the family house into three kind of houses. And, uh, we went through—then
Covid hit—no school—and I couldn't go to the gym, I couldn't get out, couldn't go to the
hairdresser. And I needed to act, you know—I felt everyone needed something from me, you
know, because—yes—my brother-in-law was the brother, he was the father, he was the
husband, he was the uncle, he was the brother, he was the son—I was the sister in law, so I
was the most detached. So I felt the responsibility toward everyone.
Yeah—and at that time I wanted a breathing. I go online—I don't ask me how, but I end up
going to Motoko, which was my Japanese Reiki healing teacher.
Viktoria Levenberg: You're joking—
Stéphanie Issa: I booked online and I—I didn't know what it was. I've never heard of it. I'm
like, oh—that sounds interesting, you know. I have tried few things in the past. I go and see
her—yeah. And I—I leave her place the first day—feel like shit—
You know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Well—you stirred everything in your subconscious—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, absolutely—
And she's like, that's absolutely normal—yeah—it's getting out, you know—just soak in a
bath of magnesium—like Epsom salt—something—and take it easy. Which I did, and I cried—
cried, cried, cried—cried. And then I had the most amazing feeling. And I'm like, listen—I
harassed her for few months. I'm like, I wanna know—I wanna know how to do that. I want to
know. And she was so busy, because, you know, she had like the day job—she's doing that on
the side—but I harassed her until we did it, you know. So—yeah—yeah, I did it and, uh, I
become—I became certified. And—I initially used it on my brother-in-law that had cancer—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: And after each session, he would feel so relieved—
Viktoria Levenberg: Wow—
Stéphanie Issa: I—I adjusted the format with him because it was more—at the beginning I—I
thought I could save him. I thought, you know, if I can clear everything, I can save him. But
then by the end I had understood that that wasn't my role—because I'm not the creator—
Viktoria Levenberg: It's not your karmic—Yeah—
Yeah—responsibility—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah. I'm not the creator. I don't bring life, I don't take life. And my role is—
I—I was even—you know, when say we're healers—we're not healers. I don't believe we're
healers. We're vessels—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—we just facilitate the space—
Stéphanie Issa: Exactly—
Exactly—facilitate. We are like vessels—really—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah— Channels.
Stéphanie Issa: And he—he—so many things got out, and so he—like, you know, when he
left, he was cleared for the anger, the regret, all of that he was cleared, and I was at peace,
you know. I was at peace. I wasn't angry because we saw him suffering so much, and—
yeah—it was—it was—there was kind of, um—yeah—it was very challenging, but it was—it
was—it was a very, uh, very—very, um—life changing experience for me. Because I never
practised as much, you know, for the healing than I did with him. And he would ask, like, you
know, for daily session—and it would require a lot from me—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah—it's very energetically heavy—
Stéphanie Issa: Yes. And after that I—I—after he passed, it took me a few months. I'm like, I
need to clear that, because I was still holding on. And I—I saw someone that, uh—is someone
that I—I do mentoring slash meditation session every month now with. And she cleared—she
just cleared all the energy—she channelled—and that was better—yeah. And, uh, that's
when I decided, you know what, okay—I should do something for myself. And this thing is,
uh, I wanna—I wanna go back to work—but I want—I don't want to go to corporate world. I
don't want to work for anyone. I don't want to work—so for some man that is gonna kind of,
uh, uh, sugar-coat everything about me—“Oh she's amazing”—and then kind of, you know,
have a narcissistic relationship with me—and then I'm nothing—I don't do this right—and
blah blah blah. Like, I don't want that. I've healed that. I know that's not for me. I need a
space—but I create—I want to create my space. And—yeah—I have enrolled in IIN—
Viktoria Levenberg: Mm hmm—
Stéphanie Issa: And, uh—yeah. That was, I would say, um. That was —
I think we're good on timing—
Viktoria Levenberg: Perfect.
Stéphanie Issa: I think I did an hour of talking.
Viktoria Levenberg: You're so good—you're honestly like the easiest podcast guest ever. Keep
going—
Stéphanie Issa: Ha ha—anytime. My pleasure.
Yeah—and, uh, so it brings us to—to—to today where, you know, I've—I've, um, also tried,
um, quantum—where they call it bioenergy feedback. It's quantum healing. I've been—I
rarely go to the doctor—not saying, you know, people should not go to the doctor—
Viktoria Levenberg: People just find their own thing— You know—
Stéphanie Issa: Absolutely—
I stopped my all medication—I stopped everything about my thyroid thing, you know. It has,
uh—you know, uh—kind of, uh, uh implications—
Viktoria Levenberg: Uh huh—
Stéphanie Issa: But that's how I chose to live—in a very holistic and natural—as much as I
can, you know—uh, like, you know, little swaps at home. I don't use anything toxic—my
makeup—I tend—all my makeup—I—I rarely put makeup. It's really because, you know—
hahaha—but
Viktoria Levenberg: I feel very special.
Stéphanie Issa: I let everything breathe, you know. I didn't even have time to, um—to kind of,
um, dry my hair before. The old me would have been like, gone—no way, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: You look stunning—
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah—
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh—
Stéphanie Issa: Thank you—thank you, Vik. It's not even about that—it's like, I think I'm more
focused on my inner world—has been like that for quite a while—for a few years—yeah.
Doesn't mean I'm not focused also, you know, on my outer world—but it's not, um—it
doesn't take over, you know—
Viktoria Levenberg: Yes—yeah. It's like, as within, so without—right—
And—absolutely. I think, um, you've shared, like, such an incredible—like the most incredible
journey, and I have Learned so much about you—like, I'm so grateful for what you've shared
of—you know, as you say—those kind of ebbs and flows of life. And now I really kind of hear,
um, what you meant when it was—it wasn't like one event or anything. It was really like life's
lessons and the journey that kind of—either you listened, or if you didn't listen, then it would
push you a little bit harder in the right direction.
And so I guess my last question to you, as we kind of prepare to wrap up, and, um—you
know, the listeners here look to take learnings from your journey and perhaps see, like,
how—you know, what—how it could apply to them—yeah. If there was one thing that
someone would take away from today's episode, what do you wish that would be—that
really resonates with them?
Stéphanie Issa: Two things, actually.
Viktoria Levenberg: You can have—you can have three.
Stéphanie Issa: And you know why—
And you know why—because this message has been showing up for me, like, all this week.
And, you know, I take notes of things that come up, and I keep seeing—whether it's on social
media, when you have a discussion with a friend or anyone—and there are two things. The
first one is, uh—your wounds—you know, where it hurts is actually your way out—
Viktoria Levenberg: Ooh—yeah—
Stéphanie Issa: More practically, your wounds—they are not in the way, they are the way—
Viktoria Levenberg: You know—
Stéphanie Issa: Uh-huh—uh, where you're wounded the most is also where your power lies.
Stéphanie Issa: Another one that I really kind of sat with me and made a lot of sense is, uh, I
think I shared it on my photo of the day thing on my Instagram, is: you don't catch
butterflies—you build a garden and let them come to you. Yeah, that's it. And I think the
meaning—the way I see it, the way it resonates with me—is like, it's valid for everything in
your life, whether it's your relationship or whether it's like manifesting, you know—hmm.
It's—if you keep doing what you're doing aligned, you know, and focus on the frequency
you're aligned, uh, with—eventually the butterflies will come.
Viktoria Levenberg: That's right—yes. What you ripple out you also—well, you—like a magnet
too, and yeah. I think those are two such powerful messages. It's like you've got to, you
know—the wounds is where the magic happens, and also through addressing those wounds
you have a better garden, which is then more capable—more able to receive all of those
amazing things that you are wishing to attract. And your story is such a perfect, um—most
like visualization of that, because you can see very clearly where there were specific
moments in your life where you made specific choices, and then they created that next
version of you that was the step that was ready for that next step. And that's really beautiful.
I am so touched by the depth of your story. And if anyone maybe wants to get in touch with
you—perhaps even work with you, like they're interested in theta healing or coaching—how
can people find you?
Stéphanie Issa: So, uh, I still haven't finished my, uh, website, so it's gonna be on my
Instagram account. And my Instagram account is Empowered Health Coaching.
Viktoria Levenberg: Yeah, we'll link it up in the show notes as well.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, yeah, yeah—thank you very much, Vic.
Viktoria Levenberg: Thank you so much, Steph—
Stéphanie Issa: For creating and holding this space and making me feel at home and open up
to you.
Viktoria Levenberg: Thank you, Steph. That means a lot—like I just had to let that land—land
in—in my heart, you know, because it feels so—like I feel so honoured, you know. It's such a
privilege.
It's such a privilege to hear your story and to receive that and, you know, I—I don't take it
lightly, because there are moments there that even—no matter how much healing we do, no
matter how much processing we do—there's still weight attached in some of those. And, um,
yeah, you shared so openly and, uh, eloquently, and I think you are going to inspire so many
incredible humans, you know, to trust their instinct, to address those wounds, and this one—
take care of themselves.
Stéphanie Issa: This one.
Viktoria Levenberg: Trust their instincts.
I channelled it through you.
Stéphanie Issa: This one was one No. 1, actually. I forgot the number one.
Viktoria Levenberg: Oh my goodness—wow, that's so funny. Well, there we go—where you,
you subconsciously gave me the message and I got it. So number one: trust your instinct.
Stéphanie Issa: Yeah, number one—1, 1. Your instinct doesn't lie—ever, ever, ever, ever.
There are much greater forces at play than we can imagine.
Viktoria Levenberg: Thank you so much for your time, Steph. I'm so incredibly grateful.
Stéphanie Issa: Thank you, thank you—thank you for having me.
Viktoria Levenberg: All right—what an episode. I mean, there is so much juiciness in Steph's
story, and I found that so synchronistic that, uh, the No. 1 message that she wanted to share,
which kind of eluded her mind, then ended up coming through me. It just really shows how
connected and in resonance and in alignment we truly are.
And it really resonates with me too—this notion of, you know, trust your instinct, trust your
gut feeling, because when has that ever lied to you? Never. Like, there are so many greater
forces at play here that if you really learn to listen to the body, so much more becomes
available to you.
And I thought it was also really courageous for Steph to share the depth, the intimacy of her
story—of how she really had to sit with the big feelings, you know, the big F word that none
of us want to be with—and she really had to work through it, because the way through is the
way in, deeper into yourself, deeper into coherence, into alignment. And I know it might
seem scary sometimes, I know it might feel like a lot, but I just want you to know that there is
a way through. You are so much stronger, so much more powerful, so much more resilient
than you probably give yourself credit for, and I can guarantee you that on the other side of
what whatever it is that you are avoiding, whatever it is that you have resistance to—there is
a hidden gemstone just on the other side of that resistance.
And of course, you know, it can feel quite confronting and lonely to do that by yourself
sometimes, so this is where it's so important to have a supportive network—be of, you know,
fellow friends, family members, like trusted peers—or maybe you do wish to reach out and
kind of get additional support from a coach, a therapist, a healer, or whoever else speaks to
you. Um, so I just really wanted to name that before we sign off for today's episode.
And my call to action for you for today's episode is just to kind of—maybe next time you're
journaling or reflecting on your life—have a look at where in your life you may be potentially
numbing. So Steph was really courageous to share how, you know, in her younger years, she
really used to numb a lot with, say, alcohol and drugs and all these kinds of work as well. Um,
and then at a later stage in life, she was numbing with a medication that was prescribed, but
it wasn't actually serving her. And you see, sometimes when we're like in the midst of it all, it
can be really hard for us to take that bird's eye view and perspective of, hey, like, where am I
numbing? But maybe just these stories will start to help you identify, yeah, where in your life
you may need to look a little bit deeper.
So for me, a big warning sign is always overworking. Um, I know that I often use work as a
numbing tool. Um, other ideas and examples of what that could look like—like I'll just give
you kind of some in my life—are, um, binging Netflix, like to the extent where it's literally like
binge, binge, binge—an episode after the other. Um, binge eating sometimes as well, like to
the point of feeling really full and sick and just disgusting. Um, so those are a few. And it's not
to say that they're like never gonna happen again, or that they're bad or good or whatever—
no, no—it's just information. And as soon as you have information, as soon as you have that
awareness, with that awareness comes choice. So reflect: where in your life are you numbing
right now, and what is it that you are numbing from?
Thank you for sticking around for today's episode. I'm so grateful that you are here. I really
look forward to seeing you next time, and in the meantime, have a beautiful week ahead.
Lots of love—bye for now.
Viktoria Levenberg: All right, and just a little quick side note here. I know that in this episode,
I have spoken extensively about IIN, which is the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and it has
played a really huge role in both of our lives. And I will say that if there is any part of you that
is interested in health, well-being, nutrition, um, and just even a small sprinkle of just
juiciness that you would love to dive into a little bit more in a really supportive, uh, you know,
self-paced learning environment, I really, really highly recommend it. It is how I got started.
Now it's not to say that you then, you know, kind of make this your life—I mean, many
people do make a career out of it in some way, shape or form afterwards. And I also know
many people who take IIN—the learnings they've got there—just to make their own life
better and those around them. So if that sounds like something you're interested in, I am an
affiliate of IIN. I'll post a couple of links down below so that you can get a discount code if you
do, I choose to enrol. Um, my top recommendation would be just to do their signature health
coach training program—doesn't mean you have to become a health coach, but it's just got
like everything in it. But otherwise, they also have a lot of really great mini courses, um, such
as like emotional eating or gut health, a detox course—there's honestly just like a plethora to
choose from. Just have a dive in if that's something that you're interested in, and if you'd love
to hear my experience, just send me a DM and we'll have a chat.
Viktoria Levenberg: The views and opinions expressed by guest on residence are their own
and do not necessarily reflect the views of me, Viktoria Levenberg, LVNHealth, or anyone
working within the LVNHealth brand. This space welcomes a diversity of ideas, experiences
and stories, and part of residence is learning to take what aligns and gently leaving the rest.
Also, while I am a National Board Certified Health and wellness coach and deeply passionate
about well-being, this podcast is intended for educational and inspirational purposes only.
Residents does not substitute personalised medical, psychological or therapeutic advice.
Always seek guidance from qualified professionals for any physical, emotional or mental
health concerns.
