Heal 2 Feel with Liat Gerszt & Mercedes Javid

Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Jamie Kennedy joins Heal 2 Feel for a hilarious, candid, and unexpectedly vulnerable conversation that goes far beyond Hollywood.
Jamie takes us back to the beginning of his career—from growing up outside Philadelphia and discovering acting to moving to Los Angeles with almost nothing and refusing to give up after rejection after rejection.
He shares the incredible story of landing background work on Dead Poets Society, finding himself on set alongside Robin Williams, struggling to get representation, working in telemarketing and delivering food while pursuing acting, and even creating an alter ego named “Marty Power” to help get himself in front of Hollywood agents.
But this conversation quickly goes much deeper.
Jamie opens up about growing up as the youngest of six children, feeling misunderstood, dealing with criticism, experiencing serious health challenges early in his career, and how those experiences shaped the comedian and person he became.
He also gets candid about how dramatically Hollywood has changed. Jamie shares his thoughts on celebrity culture, reality TV, social media, why popularity has become its own form of currency, and why authenticity may be more important than ever.
And, of course, Jeff Lewis comes up.
Jamie talks about what makes Jeff so compelling, his chemistry with Mercedes Javid, and why being completely yourself—even when people don't agree with you—is often what makes someone the most interesting to watch.
Later, the conversation takes an unexpectedly emotional turn as Jamie reflects on losing his parents, getting older, relationships, companionship, and realizing that achievements and success aren't necessarily the things that matter most.
After decades of chasing the next opportunity, Jamie says he's reached a point where human connection has become one of the most important things in his life.
And before the episode ends, the conversation turns toward Jamie's future—with a few unexpected predictions involving writing, Calabasas, marriage…and maybe even a baby. 👀
In this episode:
Jamie's unconventional journey from Pennsylvania to Hollywood

Getting his first taste of filmmaking on Dead Poets Society

Meeting Robin Williams on set

Surviving years of rejection and struggling financially in Los Angeles

The wild “Marty Power” story and how Jamie hustled his way into meetings

Why Jamie believes having a fallback plan can work against an artist

His early stand-up comedy career

The serious kidney condition he faced while struggling financially

Growing up as the youngest of six children

How criticism and family dynamics shaped him

His friendship with Jeff Lewis

Why Jamie believes authenticity is so powerful

Reality TV, influencers and the changing definition of celebrity

Why today's entertainers need to build their own audiences

Jamie's thoughts on the current state of Hollywood

Losing his parents and reevaluating what matters

His relationship and thoughts about marriage and children

What's next for Jamie personally and professionally

And the surprising prediction about his next chapter

This is Jamie Kennedy beyond the characters, movies and comedy—a funny, raw and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about ambition, rejection, identity, connection and figuring out what really matters when the chase for success begins to change.
🎧 Listen now to Heal2Feel wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full conversation on YouTube.

What does it really take to heal from trauma—and who can you become when you finally give yourself permission to be free?
In this deeply personal episode of Heal2Feel, actress, activist and healing advocate AnnaLynne McCord opens up about her journey through childhood trauma, sexual abuse, dissociation and ultimately discovering a path toward healing.
Best known for her roles in Nip/Tuck and 90210, AnnaLynne shares a side of herself that goes far beyond what audiences have seen on screen. She discusses being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), the memories that resurfaced in adulthood, and how understanding her mind and body helped her begin putting the pieces of herself back together.
AnnaLynne also takes us inside the many approaches she has explored along the way—from neuroscience and traditional therapies to Reiki, breathwork, spirituality and plant medicine—and explains why she believes healing is never a one-size-fits-all process.
The conversation goes even deeper into the ways trauma can live in the body, intimacy and sexuality after abuse, our relationships with our parents, motherhood, forgiveness, self-worth and the patterns we unknowingly carry into adulthood.
And perhaps most importantly, AnnaLynne shares a powerful message for anyone who has experienced abuse or trauma: healing is possible, and the life waiting on the other side may be one you can't yet imagine.
In this episode:
• AnnaLynne’s childhood and leaving home at 15
• Her experience with childhood sexual abuse and resurfaced memories
• Being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID)
• How dissociation can act as a form of protection
• Why she believes “the glue is love” when healing fractured parts of ourselves
• Neuroscience, Reiki, breathwork, spirituality and other healing modalities she has explored
• How trauma can show up in the body and relationships
• Sexuality, intimacy and reclaiming your body after trauma
• Forgiveness—and why AnnaLynne’s definition of it has changed
• Mother wounds, family patterns and generational healing
• Turning pain into purpose
• Giving yourself permission to finally set yourself free
A note to listeners: This episode includes candid discussion of childhood sexual abuse, trauma, dissociation and sexual experiences. Please listen with care.

Connect with AnnaLynne McCord:
Instagram: @theannalynnemccord
Connect with Heal2Feel:
Instagram: @H2FPOD

We’re getting ready to bring you a brand-new season of Heal2Feel with new conversations, new guests, and more of the honest, thought-provoking discussions you love.
While we get ready, we’re bringing back one of our favorite conversations. In this encore episode, hypnotherapist Joe Tabbanella joins Heal2Feel for a fascinating deep dive into the subconscious mind, manifestation, relationships, limiting beliefs, and our ability to create meaningful change in our lives.
What if the patterns keeping you stuck aren’t permanent — but simply programs your mind has learned along the way?
After experiencing his own remarkable journey with visualization and manifestation, Joe became fascinated with understanding why these practices can work. That curiosity ultimately led him to the Hypnosis Motivation Institute and a career in hypnotherapy, where he has conducted thousands of sessions helping people better understand and shift deeply ingrained patterns.
Joe explains the difference between simply thinking about change and creating an experience powerful enough for the subconscious mind to begin responding differently.
In this encore episode, we explore:
• How Joe’s incredible lottery story sparked his lifelong study of manifestation
• What hypnotherapy actually is — and how it differs from traditional talk therapy
• Why visualization alone may not be enough to create change
• How limiting beliefs and childhood experiences can shape adult behavior
• Why we can repeatedly attract the same types of relationships
• How unresolved emotions can keep us stuck in familiar patterns
• The importance of surrender, acceptance, and learning to sit with discomfort
• Why getting specific about what you want matters when manifesting
• How to reverse-engineer a seemingly impossible goal into achievable steps
• The difference between being driven by fear and moving toward s
Joe also shares practical techniques for recognizing old emotional patterns without allowing them to dictate your next move — and explains why creating a clear internal picture of the life, career, or relationship you want can be an important first step toward changing what you accept in the present.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, repeated the same relationship patterns, struggled with limiting beliefs, or wondered whether manifestation is more than simply “thinking positively,” this encore conversation offers a completely different way to look at the power of the mind.
Connect with Joe Tabbanella
Learn more about Joe, The TAB Technique, courses, workshops, and hypnotherapy sessions at TheTABTechnique.com.
IG: joetabbanella
Connect with Heal2Feel
Instagram: @H2FPOD
Follow Heal2Feel so you don’t miss the return of our brand-new season, coming soon!
If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and don’t forget to follow, rate, and review Heal2Feel on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In this powerful encore episode, we sit down with Lila Dayani, a genetic counselor and founder of Genevieve Health, and Stephanie Levich, founder of Family Match Consulting, to break down the often misunderstood world of fertility, genetics, IVF, and surrogacy.
From the emotional reality of infertility to the science behind genetic testing, this conversation sheds light on the paths so many families take—but few openly discuss.
Stephanie shares how she helps intended parents navigate surrogacy with confidence, turning fear into clarity during one of life’s most vulnerable journeys. As she says, “it’s really frickin scary… you’re envisioning a stranger carrying your baby” — but with the right guidance, that fear transforms into trust.
Lila dives into the importance of proactive genetic testing—before pregnancy—and how having the right information can be life-changing (and even life-saving).
MJ opens up about her own deeply personal fertility journey, reminding us that there is no shame in how you build your family—only strength, resilience, and love.
This episode is for anyone who:
Is thinking about starting a family
Has struggled with infertility
Is curious about IVF, surrogacy, or genetic testing
Or simply wants to feel less alone in the process
✨ However your family comes to be… your journey is valid.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Why surrogacy can feel overwhelming (and how to navigate it)
02:00 – Meet Lila & Stephanie + their backgrounds
05:00 – What is genetic counseling (and why it matters)
10:00 – IVF misconceptions & fertility realities
14:00 – MJ’s personal fertility journey + breaking stigma
18:00 – Stephanie’s story & why she built Family Match
21:00 – Surrogacy timelines, process & expectations
24:00 – Emotional + physical realities of pregnancy complications
30:00 – IVF as a “battle” — mental, physical & spiritual
35:00 – Cost of surrogacy & accessibility challenges
40:00 – What makes a qualified surrogate
45:00 – Why genetic testing can save lives
50:00 – Listening to your intuition in pregnancy & health
55:00 – Building Genevieve Health + proactive care
58:00 – Final thoughts: releasing shame around family building
CONTACT INFO
Lila Dayani
Founder, Genevieve Health
🌐 https://genevievehealth.com
Stephanie Levich
Founder, Family Match Consulting
🌐 https://familymatchconsulting.com

Thank you for tuning in to this week’s episode of Heal 2 Feel.
If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who might need it. You never know who’s quietly going through their own journey.
Follow the show: @h2fpod
Rate & review: Apple Podcasts + Spotify (it helps more than you know!)
Share with a friend who needs a little courage right now.
We’ll see you next week 💛

In this powerful encore episode, hypnotherapist Lisa Machenberg (aka The HypnoMom) joins MJ and Liat for a mind-expanding conversation on the subconscious mind, relationships, and the unseen forces shaping our lives.
Lisa shares her incredible personal story of IVF, soul connections, and how her children—and even embryos—found their way back to her in the most unexpected way. The conversation dives deep into the mind-body connection, the science and magic behind hypnosis, and how our thoughts directly impact our physical and emotional reality.
From healing migraines with visualization to redefining relationships through her “thinkers vs. feelers” framework, Lisa gives practical tools to improve communication, intimacy, and connection.
If you’ve ever struggled in relationships, felt stuck in patterns, or wondered how powerful your mind really is—this episode will change the way you see everything.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – How to improve your relationship (one simple shift)
00:42 – Meet Lisa Machenberg (The HypnoMom)
01:22 – IVF journey, triplets & the mind-body connection
04:23 – The “soul” moment that led to her third child
06:40 – Her daughter’s shocking past-life memory
08:41 – The embryos story that will blow your mind
10:10 – Long-lost biological siblings reconnect
14:01 – Soul contracts & trusting timing in life
17:16 – Hypnosis for pain management (real-life demo)
21:26 – The power of your mind on your body
23:20 – Thinkers vs. Feelers in relationships
26:40 – Why couples fight (and how to fix it)
27:31 – The TRUE definition of love
30:38 – The “7-day relationship experiment”
32:49 – Parenting truth: kids mirror YOU
34:02 – The 4 steps to abundance
37:54 – Why willpower fails (88% vs 12% brain)
40:01 – Emotional eating & unmet needs
49:08 – Sex, rejection & relationship dynamics
53:37 – Scheduling intimacy (yes, really)
57:35 – How to fight the RIGHT way
58:44 – Where to find Lisa + final takeaways
Follow the show: @h2fpod
Rate & review: Apple Podcasts + Spotify (it helps more than you know!)
Share with a friend who needs a little courage right now.