Episoder
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In this episode of Letâs Not Sugarcoat It, Bella and Lee sit down with Ian Chisholm, founder and partner of Roy Group, a Victoria based leadership development firm that helps organizations build stronger leaders, deeper mentorship cultures, and more resilient teams.
Ian is also the author of Quiet Champions: A Way Forward for Mentors in Turbulent Times, a book about mentorship, presence, leadership, and the quiet people who help others become who they are meant to be.
This conversation explores leadership beyond titles, mentorship beyond advice, and why the leaders who matter most are not always the loudest people in the room. Ian shares what it means to work with your partner in business and life, how leaders can use reflection, inquiry, pause, and action, and why mentorship is one of the oldest and most powerful ways humans develop each other.
Bella, Lee, and Ian also talk about vulnerability in leadership, emotional honesty, the difference between reacting and responding, why leaders need trusted people around them, and how mentors help others make sense of their experience without taking over their path.
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In this episode of Letâs Not Sugarcoat It, Bella sits down with Amy Nicole Cohen, founder of The Chic Experience, to talk about The Summit, a two day Business and Leadership Festival happening June 4 and 5, 2026 at Sandhill Wines in Kelowna, BC.
Use code FRIENDS15 for 15 percent off your ticket.
Event details:
The Summit by The Chic Experience
June 4 and 5, 2026
Sandhill Wines, Kelowna, BC
Tickets and details: The Chic Experience website
Amy shares the vision behind The Summit, why she created an immersive business festival instead of a traditional conference, and why community, collaboration, leadership, and intentional connection are still some of the most powerful drivers of business growth.
The Summit is designed for entrepreneurs, executives, founders, small business owners, professionals, and leaders who want to think bigger, lead stronger, build meaningful relationships, and grow with intention. The event includes two stages, keynote sessions, expert panels, breakout sessions, curated networking, hot seat coaching, professional headshots, a marketplace, business activations, outdoor happy hour, live music, and more.
Bella and Amy also discuss why showing up in the right room matters, how relationships become real business opportunities, why networking should go deeper than exchanging business cards, and how local business communities can create momentum when people are willing to connect with heart, purpose, and strategy.
The Chic Experience was founded by Amy Nicole to create elevated events and immersive experiences that bring ambitious people together to connect, grow, and up level personally and professionally.
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In this episode of Letâs Not Sugarcoat It, Bella and Lee sit down with Katharina and David Kunz for a raw and grounded conversation about functional mushrooms, psilocybin, natural wellness, personal growth, and the healing intelligence of nature.
They discuss the difference between functional mushrooms and psilocybin mushrooms, why mushrooms have been used in traditional wellness practices for generations, and how mushrooms like lionâs mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, turkey tail, shiitake, and maitake are being explored for focus, energy, immune support, gut health, stress support, and overall wellbeing.
This conversation also explores psilocybin from a personal growth perspective, including intention, set and setting, guided journeys, integration, surrender, control, emotional healing, and the importance of not treating the experience as a quick fix.
Bella also shares her personal experience with a guided psilocybin journey, what it revealed about control, loneliness, and connection, and how integration became the real work after the experience.
Katharina shares the story behind Liquid Aura, her functional mushroom blends, and why she created a product experience that combines mushroom education, wellness support, meditation, and inner work.
David shares the science behind full spectrum mushrooms, mycelium, mushroom fruiting bodies, cordyceps, lionâs mane, adaptogens, and why sourcing and quality matter when choosing mushroom supplements.
Topics covered in this episode:
Functional mushrooms versus psilocybin mushrooms
What full spectrum mushrooms mean
Lionâs mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, turkey tail, shiitake, and maitake
Mushrooms and gut health
Mushrooms and immune support
Cordyceps for energy and stamina
Lionâs mane and brain health research
Turkey tail and cancer related research
Adaptogens and stress support
Why mushroom quality and sourcing matter
Psilocybin, intention, and guided journeys
Set and setting
Integration after a psychedelic experience
Letting go of control
Personal growth and inner healing
Nature, wellness, and reconnecting with yourself
How mushrooms can affect relationships and self awareness
Disclaimer: This episode is for education and personal storytelling only. It is not medical advice, legal advice, or a recommendation to use psilocybin. Psilocybin laws vary by location, and in Canada psilocybin remains a controlled substance except through limited legal pathways such as clinical trials and Health Canadaâs Special Access Program. Always speak with a qualified health professional before using supplements, functional mushrooms, or exploring psychedelic assisted therapy.
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In a world obsessed with automation, funnels, and nonstop call to actions, this is a reminder that real business still comes from real relationships.
In this clip, we talk about the lost art of genuine connection, face to face conversations, and why some of the best business opportunities still happen naturally through trust, presence, and relationship building.
This is not about chasing people. It is about showing up, connecting for real, and letting business grow from there.
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How much of your life are you living for yourself and how much of it is still being shaped by other peopleâs opinions, judgments, and validation?
In this clip, we unpack why so many people stay stuck trying to manage how they are seen instead of creating a life that is actually aligned with who they are. We talk about identity, projection, gossip, self worth, discipline, devotion, and why real freedom starts when you stop outsourcing your value.
This is a powerful conversation about letting go of conditioning, releasing old stories, and choosing a life that feels true instead of performative.
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So many people want a different life, better relationships, more peace, and new results, but they are still carrying old pain, old stories, and a dysregulated nervous system.
In this clip, Jordan Power and Izabela Picco talk about why real change starts deeper than mindset alone. Before you can shift your reality, you may need to regulate your nervous system, release what is stored in the body, and stop dragging the past into the future.
This is a powerful conversation about healing, breathwork, trauma, emotional release, manifestation, and what it really means to let go.
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Women face constant pressure to look a certain way, age a certain way, and somehow keep up with impossible standards. In this clip, we talk about why strength training is about far more than appearance.
This conversation explores aging, perimenopause, mental health, motivation, discipline, and why building muscle supports confidence, resilience, and longevity. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to feel stronger, think clearer, and build a healthier life that supports you for the long run.
Strength training does not have to mean spending hours in the gym. Even a few focused sessions a week can make a real difference in how you feel, how you handle stress, and how you show up in every other part of life.
Listen this short clip for a powerful reminder that wellness is not about looking perfect. It is about building strength for the life ahead.
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In this short episode, Amber Romaniuk shares a powerful conversation on emotional eating, food addiction, sugar cravings, and the deeper triggers that keep people stuck in unhealthy patterns with food.
This clip explores why awareness alone is not enough, how discomfort is often part of healing, and why understanding your triggers can be the real starting point for change. Amber also talks about the connection between stress, fatigue, hormones, cravings, and the cycle of using food for comfort.
If youâve ever felt trapped in food noise, binge eating patterns, emotional eating, or constant dieting, this conversation offers a more grounded and healing-centered perspective.
In this clip:
Emotional eating triggersFood addiction and sugar cravingsWhy discomfort is part of healingThe role of fatigue, stress, and hormonesMoving beyond quick fixesLearning to rebuild trust with your bodyWatch, reflect, and share this with someone who needs a healthier perspective on healing their relationship with food.
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In this quick episode of Letâs Not Sugar Coat It Podcast, Bella & Lee with Lynnette Astaire break down intermittent fasting, weight loss, protein for women over 40, and why so much health advice online feels overwhelming.
They talk about the difference between intermittent fasting and longer fasting periods, how fasting can support weight control and portion awareness, and why building a healthy lifestyle has to be realistic and sustainable. The conversation also dives into the huge push around protein marketing, what women actually need, and why listening to your body matters more than following every trend.
This episode is for anyone trying to make sense of:
intermittent fasting for womenfasting for weight lossprotein for women over 40sustainable health habitsrealistic wellness routineshealthy lifestyle changes that actually fit real lifeBella and Lynnette also touch on how habits, routines, seasons, schedules, and personal lifestyle all play a role in long-term wellness. This is a grounded conversation about health without the hype.
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What if the way you talk to yourself is shaping how you heal, process pain, and regulate your nervous system?
In this clip, Dr. Paige Roberts joins Lee Picco and Izabela Picco for a powerful conversation on self-talk, shame, emotional processing, trauma responses, sleep, dreaming, and nervous system regulation.
They explore why toxic positivity can keep people stuck, how to shift internal dialogue without bypassing real feelings, why the body holds emotional experiences, and why sleep may be one of the biggest indicators of overall nervous system health.
This segment also dives into:
the difference between healthy self-talk and shame-based thinkingwhy environment can affect how we process emotionshow unresolved experiences can show up as ruminationwhy dreaming and deep sleep matter more than most people realizewhether sleeping with noise is helping or hurting your restThis is a thought-provoking conversation for anyone interested in emotional healing, trauma awareness, nervous system health, and personal growth.
Listen the full episode for the deeper conversation.
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Can one person save a marriage? Why do so many couples feel disconnected even when they still care about each other? And what actually helps when a relationship feels stuck or broken?
In this episode of Letâs Not Sugarcoat It, Bella and Lee sit down with Lee Baucom, PhD, creator of the Save the Marriage System, relationship coach, author, and host of the Save the Marriage Podcast.
Together, they unpack why so many marriages break down, why traditional couples therapy does not always work, and how couples can begin rebuilding connection before disconnection turns into crisis.
Lee shares his perspective on the real issue beneath many struggling marriages: not communication, but disconnection. He explains how couples often âhit the pause buttonâ on their relationship while focusing on career, parenting, responsibilities, and life stress â only to later realize they have drifted apart.
This conversation covers marriage recovery, emotional safety, conflict, mattering, consistency, reconnection, and how one person can begin changing the relationship dynamic.
In this episode, we talk about:
why marriages break down over timewhy communication is often not the real problemwhy traditional marriage counseling may not always helpwhether one person can start saving a marriagewhat âhitting pauseâ in a relationship looks likehow to rebuild connection in small, practical wayswhy feeling like you matter is essential in marriagehow couples can move forward instead of trying to go backIf your marriage feels distant, stuck, or like you are living in maintenance mode, this episode offers both hope and practical insight.
Because healthy relationships do not fall apart overnight.
And they do not heal overnight either.
They heal through intention, consistency, and learning how to reconnect.
Connect with Lee Baucom:
Save the Marriage: SaveTheMarriage.com
Unpause Your Marriage: UnpauseYourMarriage.com
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In Part 2 of this conversation, Bella and Lee continue their discussion with Stephen Paul Edwards, author of Venus Flytrap: Madness and Mayhem, moving beyond the story and into the deeper lessons around healing, communication, self-worth, and conscious relationships.
This episode explores what happens after the chaos when you begin reflecting on your patterns, learning to be alone, recognizing where you have abandoned yourself, and rebuilding healthier ways of relating.
Bella, Lee, and Stephen also unpack communication in marriage, emotional safety, masculine and feminine dynamics, self-awareness, and what it really takes to grow together instead of apart.
In this episode, we talk about:
⢠healing after toxic relationships
⢠journaling and reflection
⢠learning to be alone without feeling lonely
⢠self-worth and identity in relationships
⢠healthy communication and emotional safety
⢠red flags, boundaries, and self-abandonment
⢠masculine and feminine roles in modern relationships
⢠what real partnership looks like over time
If you are healing from heartbreak, trying to understand your patterns, or wanting to build a healthier relationship with yourself or someone else, this episode is for you.
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In Part 1 of this conversation, Bella and Lee sit down with Stephen Paul Edwards, author of Venus Flytrap: Madness and Mayhem, to explore the deeply personal experiences that shaped his life and relationships.
Stephen opens up about childhood trauma, mental health struggles, shame, self-worth, and the toxic relationship patterns that can keep people stuck far longer than they know they should stay. He shares how unresolved pain followed him into adulthood, how emotional chaos can become familiar, and why even self-aware people can still lose themselves in unhealthy dynamics.
This is an honest, raw, and at times surprisingly funny conversation about the parts of ourselves we often try to hide.
In this episode, we talk about:
How childhood wounds can shape adult relationshipsWhy toxic relationships can feel so hard to leaveThe connection between shame, self-worth, and attachmentWhat it means to lose yourself in someone elseWhy red flags often make sense only in hindsightThe difference between being a victim and being a volunteer in your own patternsIf you have ever questioned why people stay, why they go back, or why love can sometimes feel more like chaos than connection, this episode will resonate deeply.
Because awareness does not always come before the lesson.
Sometimes it comes through it.
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In this episode, Bella & Lee Picco interview Toby Tannas and Mario Gedicke, founders of LIV Magazine and the LIV lifestyle brand. They share insights on entrepreneurship, magazine publishing, community engagement, and building a successful lifestyle brand as a married couple.
This conversation explores business partnership dynamics, delegation strategies, personal growth, self-care rituals, and the future of print media in a digital-first economy. Toby and Mario discuss how local content builds stronger communities, why reinvention is essential for entrepreneurs, and how listening to your audience drives sustainable growth.
If you're interested in entrepreneurship, lifestyle brands, publishing, scaling a business, balancing family life and business, or transitioning from B2B to B2C, this episode delivers real-world insight and practical perspective.
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What happens when you take politics out of the conversation⌠and just talk human to human?
In this episode of Letâs Not Sugarcoat It, Lee & Bella sit down with Daviana â a transgender woman, Marine Corps veteran, and someone who refuses to hide behind labels.
This isnât a shouting match.
Itâs not a performance.
Itâs a real conversation.
Daviana shares:
⢠What transitioning from male to female actually required emotionally and psychologically
⢠The therapy and internal work behind the decision
⢠Why she believes tough love in parenting still matters
⢠How parents can support their children without losing themselves
⢠The consequences that come with every identity choice
⢠Why curiosity is more powerful than cancellation
We talk about boundaries.
We talk about responsibility.
We talk about what happens when society becomes too polarized to listen.
Whether you agree or disagree â this episode is about something bigger:
Can we have hard conversations without destroying each other?
This one is raw. Respectful. And necessary.
đ§ Listen, reflect, and decide for yourself.
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Is it ever too late to start over?
In this episode of Letâs Not Sugarcoat It, Bella & Lee sit down with Suzanne Degner â former nurse, mother of four, and now dentist and founder of her own boutique dental practice â to talk about reinvention in your forties and the courage it takes to pivot when life calls you forward.
Suzanne shares her journey from nursing to dentistry, what it was really like to open a brand-new practice in a new province, and how she navigated the growing corporate pressures in the dental industry while staying rooted in compassion and personalized care.
This conversation goes deeper than career change.
We talk about freedom, resilience, community support, self-care, and the difference between balance and true harmony.
If youâre feeling the pull to pivot, expand, or build something more aligned with who you are now â this episode is for you.
Topics we explore:
â Career reinvention after 40
â Courage and bold life changes
â Entrepreneurship and starting over
â Navigating corporate industries
â Building supportive work culture
â Freedom and personal growth
Reinvention doesnât have an expiry date.
You can find Suzanne HERE at Love It Dental
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Why do so many goals fail â even when motivation is high?
In this episode, Bella and Lee Picco break down the powerful mindset shift from scarcity to abundance and how it transforms your relationships, habits, and life without burnout or constant self-discipline.
We explore why willpower alone doesnât create lasting change, how negative self-talk keeps you stuck, and what actually rewires your brain for growth. Youâll learn practical tools like 21 days of meditation, visualization, gratitude, and environmental shifts â not as trends, but as proven strategies that build momentum over time.
In this conversation, we cover:
Why resolutions fail and what to do insteadHow to reprogram limiting beliefs and negative thought patternsThe role of environment and relationships in personal growthWhy embracing discomfort accelerates transformationHow letting go of the past creates space for abundanceIf you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in a cycle of ânot enough,â this episode offers a grounded, actionable approach to real change â without forcing, fixing, or burning yourself out.
Your breakthrough starts with one decision: to shift how you think, choose, and show up.
đď¸ Press play and step into abundance â for real this time.
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This is a compiled episode â pulled from past conversations â because the message keeps coming up.
We brought together moments from multiple episodes to create one focused listen you can come back to when youâre in it. Not new material â the parts that matter most, stitched together on purpose.
The through-line is simple:
Discomfort is data.
Frustration, triggers, exhaustion â theyâre not flaws. Theyâre information showing you where something is out of alignment.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why bulldozing through fear often keeps you stuckHow learning to say ânot nowâ can be a powerful boundary (without shutting doors)What actually helps couples support each other on hard daysWhy communication breakdowns donât mean the relationship is brokenHow rest, regulation, and clarity are essential to leadership and connectionIf youâve been doing all the âright thingsâ but still feel off â this episode will help you slow down, listen, and recalibrate.
đď¸ Hosted by Bella & Lee Picco
Our guests
Dr. Tracy & Dr. Jason Lotze-Boxtart
Pam Rader
Meaghan Alton
đ A compiled episode from past conversations
đ§ Listen, save, and come back when you need it
About UsWe, Izabela & Lee Picco, are real-life partners in marriage and business. We turned our breakdown into a breakthroughâŚa global mission and undeniable success.
For more information visit The Picco Institute to see how we can help you master your relationship and your business.
Donât forget to follow us and share the episodes so we can reach more amazing people like you! We appreciate you spending this time with us.
Bell and Lee
We have a great line up of guests coming this season to share their stories on how they make it work. Tune in every Wednesday as we dive into the complex world of relationships and communication. We look forward to having you there.
Watch it on YouTube
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Some conversations donât sugarcoat the truth â and this one with Dr. Becky Whetstone goes straight to the heart of marriage, identity, and what really breaks relationships.
In this episode, we sits down with therapist and relationship expert Dr. Becky Whetstone to talk about what actually happens when marriages hit a crisis point. We unpack why communication often breaks down long before couples realize thereâs a problem, why so many people quietly think âI think I want out,â and how personal growth â not fixing your partner â is often the turning point.
We explore the shift from codependency to interdependence, how attachment styles shape conflict and closeness, and why therapy isnât a failure â itâs a tool for awareness, maturity, and repair. This conversation is grounded, practical, and honest â especially for couples who want clarity instead of clichĂŠs.
What youâll take away from this episode:
â Why marriage is a learned skill, not something youâre supposed to âjust knowâ
â How lack of communication quietly erodes relationships
â The difference between codependency and healthy interdependence
â Why self-discovery strengthens relationships instead of threatening them
â How attachment styles influence conflict and connection
â Why therapy should be normalized, not stigmatized
If youâre navigating tension, questioning your relationship, or wanting healthier communication, this episode will give you language, perspective, and a place to start.
Listen now and share with someone who needs this conversation.
About Us
We, Izabela & Lee Picco, are real-life partners in marriage and business. We turned our breakdown into a breakthroughâŚa global mission and undeniable success.
For more information visit The Picco Institute to see how we can help you master your relationship and your business.
Donât forget to follow us and share the episodes so we can reach more amazing people like you! We appreciate you spending this time with us.
Bell and Lee
We have a great line up of guests coming this season to share their stories on how they make it work. Tune in every Wednesday as we dive into the complex world of relationships and communication. We look forward to having you there.
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In this episode, Bella and Lee reflect on the lessons 2025 revealed about relationships, communication, and growth. They share how friction, conflict, and hard conversations became catalysts for deeper connection rather than points of rupture.
The conversation explores why effective communication is essential for alignment in partnerships, how attachment styles influence conflict, and what a structured repair process looks like when emotions run high. Bella and Lee also discuss the role of emotional safety, self-awareness, and healthy habits in sustaining both personal and relational well-being.
As they look ahead to 2026, they offer practical insights on dreaming bigger while staying grounded, navigating conflict without losing connection, and building relationships that can hold both ambition and vulnerability.
This episode is for couples, entrepreneurs, and anyone wanting clearer communication, healthier conflict, and stronger emotional connection.
Here are 2025 Reflection Prompts to elevate your communication and relationship
1.Where did communication break down most often this year â and why?
2.What pattern did I finally become aware of?
3.When did I choose avoidance over honesty?
4.What helped me feel safest in my relationship this year?
5.What did I learn about my nervous system during conflict?
Relationship Awareness
1.What does repair actually look like for me?
2.Where am I holding resentment instead of naming a need?
3.How do I respond when I feel misunderstood?
4.What tone or behavior from my partner helps me stay open?
4.Where do I need stronger boundaries to protect connection?
Looking Ahead to 2026
1.What relationship skill do I want to practice consistently next year?
2.What conversation have I been postponing?
3.How can I lead myself better inside my relationship?
4.What does emotional safety look like for me now?
5.What would âprogress over perfectionâ look like in my communication?
If you want to jump start your communication and relationships in 2026 visit us at The Picco Institute
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