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Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy — Education
Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy

Ever wish you had a mentor to help you make healthier, real food choices, one small step at a time? Someone to whisper encouragements in your ear? Someone who has been taking small steps for over a decade, learned a lot about real food, non-toxic living, and a holistic approach to wellness along the way?

Tune in every Monday as your host, Michelle Visser—former junk food addict, turned homesteader and medicinal gardener—offers you encouragement and practical insights on the Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy podcast.

We dive deep into topics like avoiding processed foods, incorporating whole foods into your diet, milling fresh flour, and understanding the powerful benefits of fermented foods, medicinal drinks, and other healthy, gut-friendly options. We explore topics, often with thought-provoking guests, from the importance of healthy fats and natural sugars to practical tips on gardening, creating simple recipes, and stocking your kitchen with the best pantry staples.

Whether you're looking to improve your immune system, learn how to nourish your body with real, nutrient-dense foods, or discover better, nontoxic options, join in every episode and gain actionable advice for making sustainable, healthier choices.

Copyright: ℗ & © 2020 Michelle R Visser

Latest Episodes:

Family Holiday Traditions S7 Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Summary

In this episode, Michelle Visser discusses family traditions and ways to make the holidays meaningful. She shares various traditions that her family has enjoyed over the years. Michelle emphasizes the importance of focusing on others and cherishing the simple everyday efforts in life.

The overnight coffee cake recipe I mentioned: https://soulyrested.com/2023/12/17/sour-cream-coffee-cake/

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Overview

00:30

Family Traditions and Making the Holidays Meaningful

03:20

Natural Christmas Decorating

05:10

Homemade Gifts and Crafting

06:36

Visiting a Local Nursing Home

08:00

Personal Christmas Trees and Reading Tree

09:26

Countdown Advent Calendar and Paper Garland

11:22

Christmas Tree Lights Tour

12:18

Ornaments with Treats Inside

14:29

Simple Christmas Morning Breakfast

15:24

Wrapped Presents in Stockings

18:23

Putting Baby Jesus in the Manger

21:59

Sparkling Lights on the Stairs

25:28

The True Meaning of Christmas

Want to learn something new? Choose one of my FREE ecourses here: https://soulyrested.com/howto/

My book: https://amzn.to/45Pt8Pu

My website: https://soulyrested.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souly.rested/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulyrested

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soulyrested/

Holiday Bonus Episode (Advent Readings) S7 Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Summary

In today's episode, we're taking a break from the usual topics to discuss Christmas and the holiday season.

Michelle shares her faith and how it influences her work then reads excerpts from two Advent devotionals.

The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to share their holiday traditions.

Enter to win a copy of Sweet Maple and Just Show Up by leaving a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Takeaways

The host takes a break from regular topics to discuss Christmas and the holiday season.

The sponsors of the season are Azure Standard and Positively Tea.

The host shares her faith and how it influences her work.

Upcoming episodes will focus on Christmas traditions.

The host reads excerpts from two Advent devotionals.

Listeners are invited to share their holiday traditions.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to the podcast and previous episodes

01:22

Introduction to sponsors: Azure Standard and Positively Tea

07:26

Discussion of my faith and its impact on the podcast

08:24

Upcoming episodes on Christmas traditions

09:51

Reading from Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair Ferguson

16:41

Reading from Come Thou Long Expected Jesus edited by Nancy Guthrie

25:19

Reading from Matthew 1:18 and reflection on God's guidance

30:52

Closing remarks and invitation to share holiday traditions

Good Fats (comparing Lard & Tallow) with RuthAnn Zimmerman (S7, E4) Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Yes, there are definitely GOOD FATS. Today I chat with a good friend, RuthAnn Zimmerman, about our two favorite good fats: Lard & Tallow.

For show notes and even more info about good fats: https://soulyrested.com/2023/12/03/are-lard-and-tallow-good-fat/

RuthAnn's video: How to Render Tallow... https://youtu.be/KciX4-IOmN0?si=v8lR9GuHCbtGRhoJ

Michelle's video: How to Use Caul Fat... https://youtu.be/1mfjoGY8_YI?si=_rM5NX23OuORpyr7

Michelle's tips for Baking with Lard... https://soulyrested.com/2022/03/19/how-to-bake-with-lard-and-why-you-should/

Do cows have caul fat, wrapped closely around the organs? Yes! When we recorded this, RuthAnn wasn't sure, but we've since confirmed that they do indeed have caul fat.

To listen to this episode: go to Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player. This is S7 E4.

This episode is sponsored by Positively Teas. Mentioned in video:

banana bread chai: https://lddy.no/1iq8w

blueberry bliss: https://lddy.no/1iqfo

our favorite iced tea blend (made with assam & nilgiri)...

Grab that recipe & savings code & direct links to teas here: https://soulyrested.com/teas/

Listen in when RuthAnn was on the podcast a few years ago, chatting about Comfort Food: https://youtu.be/bACapepTxXk?si=rJoWfo__DOKwljOE

Or grab her shoofly pie recipe and insights here: https://soulyrested.com/2021/10/23/shoofly-pie-a-mennonite-comfort-food/

Just show up, with author Drew Dyck (bonus episode) Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

In this special Thanksgiving bonus episode, Michelle Visser is joined by Drew Dyck, author of the brand-new book Just Show Up.

Grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/3G7ISml

We chat about the importance of being present in small but meaningful ways. This episode will remind you to be thankful for those who showed up for you in life while encouraging you with practical ways you can do the same.

Dyck shares how busy modern life often prevents us from truly showing up for the people and commitments most important to us. He also discusses the concept of "playing a role" even when your heart's not fully in it, because people need you to show up.

Visser and Dyck talk about looking back on gaps and mistakes in your life in order to determine how to move forward and fill those gaps for others. Dyck notes that finding your purpose often comes from starting small steps, not waiting for a big sign.

You'll also be encouraged to let some commitments slide, so you can be fully present where you need to be.

Overall, the episode will encourage you to just show up this Thanksgiving, and trust that life's meaning is found through small acts of faithfulness, not grand achievements.

We even share fun tips for making the most of Thanksgiving dinner.

Sponsor for this episode:

Please check out this amazing family-run food supplier who has been working to change the broken food system in the U.S. by putting more power into the hands of the consumer:

Find out more about Azure, an independent food supply chain that is fixing a broken food system and providing high-quality food and other products to families across the United States, here: SoulyRested.com/azure

Use code soulyrested10 for 10% off your first order of $50 or more, delivered to a drop near you. Go here to find your nearest drop location: https://www.azurestandard.com/drop-point-locator/?a_aid=bd9edf28fd

Watch this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/JVgNUZbk6Fk

More about Drew Dyck:

Drew Dyck is an editor at Moody Publishers and the

former managing editor of Leadership Journal. He is

the author of several books, including Your Future Self

Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible

and Brain Science (Moody, 2019). Drew’s work has been

featured in Christianity Today, Relevant, and CNN.com.

Connect with Drew:

DrewDyck.com

Twitter @DrewDyck

The Best Sugars to Use (and what sugars to avoid), with David Stelzer of Azure (S7, E3) Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

Sugar is foundational to life and provides energy, but refined/processed sugars can damage our health.

In this episode, I'm talking with David Stelzer, founder and CEO of Azure Standard about why Azure does not carry conventional refined white sugar (it's insane really).

And I'm picking David's brain about every detail of all the sweetener options that I might choose .

David dives into why conventional sugar production utilizes damaging practices like glyphosate spraying, artificial fertilizers, and burning leaves.

We talk about how Azure Standard aims to maintain a higher standard and not compromise on questionable ingredients. -

David explains why it's best to transition your family's diet through a progression, not radical changes. And he describes how Azure carries products to help folks transition from standard American diet to healthier options.

Detailed show notes for this episode: https://soulyrested.com/2023/11/13/the-best-sugar-to-use-and-what-sugar-to-avoid-with-david-stelzer-of-azure/

Sponsors for this episode:

Please check out this amazing family-run food supplier who has been working to change the broken food system in the U.S. by putting more power into the hands of the consumer:

Find out more about Azure, an independent food supply chain that is fixing a broken food system and providing high-quality food and other products to families across the United States, here: SoulyRested.com/azure

Use code soulyrested10 for 10% off your first order of $50 or more, delivered to a drop near you. Go here to find your nearest drop location.

Related Links mentioned in podcast:

Using maple syrup in place of sugar: How to bake with maple syrup https://soulyrested.com/2019/03/26/the-best-substitute-for-sugar-in-baking/

Drinks well sweetened: 5 healthy drinks you should be drinking https://soulyrested.com/2023/03/05/top-5-healthy-drinks-you-should-be-drinking-s4-e11/

The best hot chocolate: Healthy Instant Hot Chocolate Mix https://soulyrested.com/2022/10/04/healthy-hot-chocolate-mix/

Free, downloadable Pantry Checklist https://graceful-base-213.myflodesk.com/4e5b01de-a4a4-4354-99d2-5c986e43a5b0

How everyone can grow veggies, anywhere, with Doug Evans (S7, E2) Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

Doug Evans, author of the best selling book, The Sprout Book, joins us today to explain how all of us can grow more of our own food, the easiest way possible. how he first got into sprouts out of necessity, but discovered he could grow trays of sprouts that provided all the nutrition he needed.

We discuss how sprouts pack a huge nutritional punch, with boosted levels of antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber.

Doug explains how the sprouting process unlocks natural plant defense chemicals that become medicinal for humans.

Doug breaks down the difference between sprouts and microgreens, and we explain the best techniques for growing sprouts at home.

Doug shares his favorite sprout varieties and how he incorporates them into his diet, including using chickpea sprouts in place of popcorn!

Michelle offers 15 creative ways listeners can eat more sprouts, from adding them to eggs and baked goods to using them as salad toppings and garnishes. She also covers the 5 basic rules for growing healthy sprouts. If you want to unlock the health secrets of this often overlooked superfood, listen in to this episode.

Detailed show notes for this episode: https://soulyrested.com/2023/11/06/how-to-grow-sprouts-with-doug-evans/

Sponsors for this episode:

Please check out these two amazing family-run companies who have invested into the podcast and who are small businesses I truly believe in:

Find out more about an amazing source for sprouting tools and seeds (especially unique blends!), True Leaf Market, here: SoulyRested.com/seeds

Find out more about Azure Standard, an independent food supply chain that is fixing a broken systems and providing high-quality food and other products to families across the United States, here: SoulyRested.com/azure

Use code soulyrested10 for 10% off your first order of $50 or more, delivered to a drop near you. Go here to find your nearest drop location.

Related Links mentioned in podcast:

Dive into my FREE ecourse about sprouts right here: soulyrested.com/sprouts

Listen in to my talk with the wholistic nutritionist who recommended our diet should be 50% veggies: Season 5, Episode 8 (or go here: https://soulyrested.com/2023/05/30/the-most-important-thing-for-being-healthy-with-dr-jaime-schehr-s5-e8/)

How and why to grow sprouts: https://soulyrested.com/2023/11/06/how-to-grow-sprouts-with-doug-evans/

Find Doug Evans:

Sprout Whiz on TikTok

Doug Evans on instagram

Sign up for Doug's newsletter: thesproutbook.com

Dive into his new sprouting course: OneCommune.com/sprouts

And grab Doug's best-selling book: The Sprout Book

The Ultimate Guide to Salt & 3 questions you need to ask (S7, E1) Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

Join in on the Ultimate Conversation About Salt, as I chat with the renowned salt expert, Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond Salt.

Listen in to find out:

What salt has in common with maple syrup. (It's not what you might think.)
Why the Dead Sea in Israel can't be used as food salt. (Turns out it's not sodium chloride, but mostly magnesium chloride.)
Why it's important to understand that refined table salt removes all the potassium that naturally occurs in salt. (Spoiler alert: our bodies requires potassium to process sodium. So it's a no brainer that we should want a real salt that comes with potassium, yes? Find out what salts do & what salts don't.)

In this episode you'll get the answers to all these questions about salt (& more):

Should we eat less salt?

What are the different types of salt?

How is salt mined?

Is salt hygroscopic?

Why does a salt lamp leak water?

What does "when it rains it pours" mean?

Is sea salt always good?

Why is it important to know your salt?

Are salt substitutes safe?

How much salt should you have a day?

What is the best thing to stop sugar cravings?

Is salt a natural source of iodine?

Why is iodine added to salt?

How much iodine is in iodized salt?

How can you prevent iodine deficiency?

Can I make an iodized natural salt myself?

Recipe for all-natural, homemade iodized salt

Can I make a homemade electrolyte drink?

Recipe for DIY Electrolyte Drink

What are some of the many sizes of salt crystals you can purchase?

What is the best way to store salt in bulk?

What are some good books about salt?

What are the 4 coarsenesses of salt I use & why

What are the answers to the 3 salt questions when I analyze my favorite salt?

My favorite salt to buy in bulk (use code SOULYRESTED to save even more): https://glnk.io/oq72y/soulyrested4

My 3 Favorite Salt Products I think you'll love: https://soulyrested.com/salt/

Watch this episode on youtube: https://youtu.be/QeG6P3fKlHY

Read this episode, with links and more details here:

https://soulyrested.com/2023/10/30/the-ultimate-gui…-real-salt-s7-e1/

3 Things I Wish I Knew About an Empty Nest Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

In this week's episode of the Simple Doesn't Mean Easy podcast, host Michelle Visser dives into the topic of being an empty nester. She shares her unique experience of having an empty nest at different points over the years as her daughters temporarily moved out and back in, rather than all leaving at once.

Michelle explains that while she and her husband didn't do regular "date nights" when the kids were young, they made sure to spend meaningful one-on-one time with each family member, including each other, even if it wasn't alone time or a true "date."

She advises parents to start reconnecting more with your spouse as the kids become teenagers, while the kids are still at home and suggests some ways to do that.

Now that she's experiencing a true empty nest, Michelle loves having more time for fostering new friendships, personal hobbies, and even running her podcast. However, she notes you do have to be intentional about making time for these things.

Her best advice? It rings true for every season of life, not just the empty nest phase... Work hard at maintaining a positive attitude, focused on what's good - reflecting on what's true, noble, right, pure, lovely and praiseworthy even in the hard and difficult days.

Ultimately, Michelle didn't do anything specifically to prepare for empty nest life, but yet feels her overall choices as the kids were growing up, in the end, helped her usher in this new stage graciously.

She encourages listeners to enjoy the season you're in, invest in your family, and you'll naturally invest in your spouse too, which will, in the end, prepare you for the Empty Nest.

Menopause & What They Didn't Tell You (S6, E4) Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Menopause... There's so much no one ever told me about this stage of life.

In this week's episode of the Simple Doesn't Mean Easy podcast, host Michelle Visser opens up about her personal experience with menopause. She shares the symptoms and challenges she has faced over the years, which encompasses a lot more than hot flashes.

From weight gain, to dry mouth, brain fog, irritability, tooth decay, and other things you have probably never associated with menopause, Michelle offers practical solutions she has found to personally help her in each area.

Some might not come with surprise, like drinking plenty of water, eating real food, and exercising consistently. But other solutions might surprise you, from consuming adaptogens like ashwagandha and maca powder, to enjoying a specific tea blend and a specific healthy hot chocolate mix (links below).

She also emphasizes the importance of managing stress levels and getting enough sleep. Michelle aims to provide helpful information and reassurance that you are not alone or "crazy" if you are going through some of these symptoms from menopause that most folks simply don't tell you.

Sponsored by: True Leaf Market... go here for my favorites from True Leaf: https://soulyrested.com/seeds/

The healthy tea that tastes like coffee: https://soulyrested.com/2022/02/25/homemade-healthy-tea-that-tastes-like-coffee/

Healthy hot chocolate mix (recipe)--> https://soulyrested.com/2022/10/04/healthy-hot-chocolate-mix/

Grab my 8-page Pantry Checklist (& so many discount codes!) right here--> https://soulyrested.com/pantry/

Grab all my free info and recipes for making kombucha: https://soulyrested.com/drinkkombucha/

The tooth powder I'm on love with (save $$ w code SOULYRESTED): https://livingwellwithdrmichelle.com/product/remineralizing-tooth-powder/?sld=soulyrested

All of my resources on lard: https://soulyrested.com/category/lard/

DIY mint extract: https://soulyrested.com/2023/10/12/diy-mint-extract-how-to-use-it/

What Our Grandparents Knew That We've Forgotten (S6, E3) Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

What did past generations know that modern society has forgotten?

Our grandparents had the satisfaction of making do with what they had (even when it was nothing fancy) versus our modern idea of a new $1,000 phone every year and replacement appliances every few years.

Follow the story of a boy named Thurman, who went to a 1-room schoolhouse & had to quit school in 9th grade to make sure his family could eat and worked multiple blue collar jobs to make sure his kids had a better life.

And Dorothy, a grandmom who lived to be 98 and was still active, fearless, and connected to her large family right up until the end.

What shaped Thurman and Dorothy's character? What could they teach us about being content yet working hard and fearlessly toward our goals?

This Episode Sponsored by:

True Leaf Market has the best food storage system I’ve ever used. It’s a game changer, and for a very limited time you can save $10 off of a $50 purchase (and bonus: free shipping if you’re spending $75). Just use code SR10.

True Leaf has a lot of items I rely on often. Go here for the full list... https://soulyrested.com/seeds/

More to encourage you:

Recovering from Hardship on the Homestead: https://soulyrested.com/2019/03/13/the-many-challenges-of-homesteading/

3 Resources that comfort when life is tough: https://soulyrested.com/2017/02/07/then-sings-my-soul/

4 stages of grief: https://soulyrested.com/2017/01/25/6185/

What my parents taught me about Broken Heart Syndrome: https://soulyrested.com/2017/01/10/what-my-parents-taught-me-about-broken-heart-syndrome/

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