Be a Blaze with Polly Hamp

Episode 27 - Back on the Wire: Lijana Wallenda on Surviving Trauma, Fear, and a 25-Story Comeback

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Lijana Wallenda, and y’all… this conversation goes deep. Lijana is a seventh-generation high-wire walker who survived a devastating fall that nearly took her life—and then chose to climb back up, literally and figuratively. We talk about trauma, fear, healing, faith, and what it really takes to reclaim who you are after everything falls apart.
 
Lijana shares what it was like to rebuild her body, her mindset, and her identity after massive physical injury and PTSD, and how God met her right in the middle of her recovery. We dive into the lies fear tells us, the power of staying present in the healing process, and what it means to get “back on the wire” when every part of you wants to stay safe.
 
This episode is about resilience, faith-based healing, mindset shifts, and learning to be comfortable in the uncomfortable—whether you’re navigating motherhood, trauma, or a season of rebuilding. If you’ve ever felt knocked down or unsure you could rise again, this one’s for you.
 
Take a listen, let it sink in, and if it speaks to you, share it with someone who needs hope today. And as always, I’d love it if you’d follow, reflect, or leave a review to help this podcast grow 💛🔥
 
How to Connect with Lijana:
 
Email:
Info@thehighwireproject.com
 
Website:
https://thehighwireproject.com
 
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lijana-wallenda-4918341a1/
 
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkPqeSFrETr/?hl=en
 
X
https://x.com/lijanawallenda
 
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@lijanawallenda8155
 
Connect with Polly:
📱 Instagram: @pollyahamp
📱 Facebook: Polly Hamp

Episode 26 - What Carnivore Taught Me About Listening to My Body

Okay friends, buckle up—this one’s a wild ride! After years of trying every diet under the sun (hello vegan, paleo, keto, you name it), I decided to go full-on carnivore for 75 days—yep, just meat, salt, and water. No salads, no snacks, no sugar… just beef, lamb, and tallow. And what I learned had way less to do with food and way more to do with trusting my body.
 
I didn’t start this to lose weight. I started because I wanted to think differently about health—to strip away all the noise, stop labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” and really listen. And wow… clarity, energy, mood balance, and sleep all improved big-time. I discovered that my body didn’t need caffeine or constant snacks—it just needed me to listen and fuel it with intention.
 
But it wasn’t all steak and sunshine. I talk about the not-so-glamorous detox phase (hello, “keto flu”), the social awkwardness of eating differently, and even how my mindset shifted from restriction to reset. This experiment reminded me that health isn’t a quick fix—it’s a relationship with our body built on curiosity, compassion, and consistency.
 
So no, I’m not telling you to go carnivore (promise!). I’m just sharing what happens when you get quiet enough to actually hear your body’s truth.
 
🎧 Resources Mentioned:
📘 Dr. Paul Saladino – The Carnivore Code: https://share.descript.com/view/Qb4JpM0muxW
🥩 Shawn Baker, MD: www.youtube.com/@ShawnBakerMD
🍳 Ken Berry, MD: www.youtube.com/@KenDBerryMD
📄 Download my free guide: Carnivore Tips and Tricks (PDF) → Carnivore Tips and Tricks.pdf
If this episode helped you rethink your relationship with food and your body, share it with someone who’s on their healing journey!
Don’t forget to follow, rate, and download Be A Blaze Podcast — and check out my Carnivore Tips and Tricks guide for simple, real-life ways to start tuning in to your body.
 
Connect with Polly:
📱 Instagram: @pollyahamp
📱 Facebook: Polly Hamp

Episode 25 - Ignite Your Blaze — Live Fully 2026

Happy New Year, friend — welcome to 2026 🔥This episode is a rally cry, a reset, and a reminder that your blaze is still inside you, no matter how many times life tried to dim it. In this kickoff episode for the new year, I’m talking about what it really means to live fully, not just survive, and how to reconnect with the fire, purpose, and aliveness you were created for.
 
We explore why so many of us get stuck in survival mode, how trauma and life responsibilities slowly quiet our passion, and why learning to reframe your reality, shift your mindset, and become the observer of self is essential for real change. I share personal stories, nervous system insights, and practical ways to stop waiting for “the right time” and start now — because healing, clarity, and momentum don’t come from perfection.
 
🔥 Checkout Reset Revolution — save $50 with code RESET50👉 tdahyou.com/revolutionJoin the Reset Revolution cohort starting January 12th & 13th and ignite your blaze for real this year.
 
Connect with Polly:
📱 Instagram: @pollyahamp
📱 Facebook: Polly Hamp
 
Let’s go — 2026 is calling.

Episode 24 - From Ashes to a Blaze – The Top 23 Be A Blaze Podcast Episodes of 2025 + Resetting for 2026

Episode 24: From Ashes to a Blaze – The Top 23 Be A Blaze Podcast Episodes of 2025 + Resetting for 2026
 
This episode is a full-circle moment for me. As I close out 2025, I’m counting down the Top 23 Be A Blaze podcast episodes of the year and reflecting on what it really means to think differently about your health. From trauma and nervous system healing to forgiveness, disappointment, hormones, identity, and learning how to actually listen to your body — every episode points back to one core truth: your body is not broken, and healing is always possible.
 
I share why these episodes resonated so deeply, the themes that kept showing up (hello trauma-body connection, sustainable health, and nervous system regulation), and how this year reshaped the way we approach healing without shame, restriction, or burnout. This episode is also about resetting for 2026, releasing survival mode, and choosing a new relationship with your body.
 
If you’re ready to stop starting over and build real momentum, go join Reset Revolution and get $50 off at tdahyou.com/revolution.
Featured resources & voices I love:
Dr. Ben Edwards: VeritaswellnessmemberVeritas Wellness
Gina Birkmeier: GinabirkemeierGina Birkemeier, LPC, NCC
Dr. Terri DeNeui: AHormone Havoc: Dispelling the Myths & Misconceptions about Hormones in Women and Men: Deneui, Terri: 9781961074125: Amazon.com: Books
 
Let’s keep blazing 🔥
 
Connect with Polly:
📱 Instagram: @pollyahamp
📱 Facebook: Polly Hamp

Episode 23 – There’s No Such Thing As Disease (with Dr. Ben Edwards)

Friends… this conversation will blow your mind! Today I sit down with Dr. Ben Edwards from Veritas Medical, and we dig into a radical but powerful idea — there’s no such thing as “disease.” Instead, what we call disease is really the consequence of what’s happening inside our bodies — inflammation, stress, toxins, and a lifestyle that doesn’t match how we were designed to live.
 
Dr. Ben shares his journey from being a conventional MD (even making front-page news for turning around a county clinic!) to discovering a better way to help people truly heal. We talk about epigenetics — how your thoughts, nutrition, and environment can literally turn genes on or off — and why you’re not doomed by your genetics. This episode is packed with hope: diabetes, autoimmune issues, even heart disease can be reversed when we get to the root cause instead of just masking symptoms.
 
We also unpack the Veritas 4 Pillars of Health — Nutrition, Hydration, Movement, and Peace — and how aligning with these pillars gives your body the chance to heal the way God designed it to. And yes, we get real about personal responsibility and the courage it takes to take back your health, even when the system pushes against it.
 
About Dr. Ben Edwards:
Baylor undergrad, UT-Houston Medical School, Chief Resident at McLennan County Family Practice in Waco, and the only physician in rural Post, TX for 7 years before founding Veritas Medical 13 years ago to focus on true healing.
 
✨Dive deeper with Dr. Ben’s You’re The Cure course at VeritasWellnessMember.com, follow him on Instagram @drbenedwards, and grab your FREE TDAH! workbook at TDAHYou.com.
📱 Follow me:
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Episode 22 - 11 Things To Do Today To Reset Your Body & Mind Before January 1st

How to Break Your Excuses, Rewire Your Thoughts & Start 2026 Already Winning:
 
In this powerful episode of Be A Blaze, Polly Hamp — founder of TDAH! Think Differently About Health — walks you through the exact steps to reset your thinking, reshape your habits, and launch into the New Year already ahead of everyone else. If you’re tired of waiting for Monday, waiting for motivation, or waiting until January… this episode will shake you awake. You’ll learn the 11 things to start TODAY to transform your mind, body, nervous system, and daily patterns. No diets. No punishment. Just real living, real ownership, and a mind-shift that changes everything.
 
Snap a picture and share your AH-HA moments on the socials and I'll share your story! 
 
Connect with Polly:
📱 Instagram: @pollyahamp
📱 Facebook: Polly Hamp

Episode 21 - The Power of Talking to Your Body

Okay friend… today we are going deep into something that sounds a little “woo-woo” at first glance but is actually backed by neuroscience, Harvard-funded research, quantum physics, and—honestly—centuries of ancient wisdom.
 
We’re talking about the power of talking to your body… and why this simple, intentional practice can literally shift your healing, your nervous system, and the story your cells are living out every day.
 
Inside this episode, I break down how brain–body communication is finally being recognized in Western medicine (hello, Harvard’s new Brain Body Center 👀), even though so many cultures have honored this connection for thousands of years. We also explore why the U.S. healthcare system—despite being the most expensive in the world—still produces some of the worst health outcomes. (If you want more on that, I link the Forbes article below!)
 
I introduce the Observer Effect, a concept from quantum physics that shows how simply observing something changes it. If observing a particle can shift its behavior… imagine what happens when you intentionally observe your pain, your habits, your patterns, or your healing.
 
Throughout the episode I share my own story of living with RA since 2009, how I unknowingly spoke healing over my joints for years, and the powerful moment during a Marisa Peer meditation when I “said hi” to my nervous system—and felt my entire body light up.
 
You’ll learn how talking to your body helps you:✨ retrain your nervous system✨ interrupt survival-mode thinking✨ reprogram limiting beliefs✨ create a new internal reality✨ and literally reorganize your health from the inside out
 
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Resources Mentioned:
Dr. Ben Edwards Interview — Episode #12
Forbes Article: U.S. Healthcare System Ranks Last Among 10 Nationshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2024/10/03/us-healthcare-system-ranks-last-among-10-nations-according-to-new-study/
Marisa Peer Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MarisaPeer/videos
 
If this episode lit something up in you, please follow, download, rate, and share Be A Blaze Podcast. Your support helps spread this message of whole-person healing.

Episode 20 - The Truth About Forgiveness

Whew… we’re diving into a big one today. Forgiveness. Yep, I said it. And listen—don’t run, don’t unfollow, don’t hit pause. I promise you, what I’m about to share may be completely different from anything you’ve ever been taught.
Because here’s the truth: forgiveness isn’t optional on your healing journey… it’s necessary.But not for the guilt-heavy, “just get over it,” “be the bigger person” reasons we were raised on. 🙅‍♀️
In this episode, I break down why so many teachings on forgiveness are wrong and how those old messages set us up for people-pleasing, self-abandonment, and staying stuck with pain that was never ours to carry. We talk about what forgiveness is NOT—it’s not reconciliation, not a free pass, not pretending nothing happened, and definitely not giving harmful people continued access to your heart.
 
Then we shift into what forgiveness actually is:✨ A boundary✨ A return of your personal power✨ Releasing what does not belong to you✨ A deep act of self-love (and surprisingly… love for them, too)✨ A layered process, not a one-time moment
 
I guide you step-by-step through the forgiveness process—how to identify the pain, feel where it lives in your body, pull it out, hand it back, and surrender the emotional weight so you can finally breathe again.
We talk about the childhood scripts that broke us (“Say you're sorry and go back to playing!”), the grooming messages we learned (“He pulled your hair because he likes you”), and how these distorted lessons led many of us into adulthood carrying shame, people-pleasing patterns, or walls of self-protection.
This episode is all about reclaiming your internal space, your peace, and your freedom. Because forgiveness isn’t weakness—it’s sovereignty, it’s healing, and it’s you saying:“I refuse to carry what was never mine.”
 
💥 Before You Go – Download the Forgiveness PDF + Free Guidebook!
Grab the full forgiveness process walkthrough AND my new, improved 7-Day Guidebook here:👉 Forgiveness PDF + Free Guidebook!
 
Connect with Polly:
📱 Instagram: @pollyahamp
📱 Facebook: Polly Hamp

Episode 19 - The Cost of NOT Thinking Differently About Your Health

Hey friend — it’s Polly! 💛
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the endless noise of the health world — “eat carbs,” “don’t eat carbs,” “intermittent fast,” “never fast again,” “lift heavy,” “don’t lift heavy” — then this episode is going to feel like a big exhale. Because today, we’re talking about the real cost of NOT thinking differently about your health, and what happens when your brain, body, and nervous system get stuck in the chaos.
 
I break down why confusion is the new normal and how living inside a loud, contradicting health culture pushes your nervous system into survival mode. We explore why diet rules don’t work, how control leads to burnout, and why your “lack of discipline” is actually your biology trying to protect you.
We dig deep into the mental, emotional, physical, and nervous-system costs of chronic dieting — from metabolic confusion and hormonal imbalance to shame spirals, self-sabotage, and disconnecting from your body’s wisdom. And yes… we go there: the identity cost of believing you can’t trust yourself anymore.
 
This episode is packed with practical insight on:
✨ how to rewire your brain for consistency
✨ how to break the dopamine cycle of quick fixes
✨ how to recognize trauma patterns that sabotage change
✨ healing your relationship with your body
✨ moving from survival to connection
✨ reclaiming choice instead of control
 
Because the truth is: the biggest cost of NOT thinking differently is staying stuck in a system that was never designed to help you heal.
If you’re ready to build body trust, reconnect with your nervous system, and finally create a healthy lifestyle that feels peaceful and sustainable… this one is for you.
 
👉 Get your FREE 7-Day Guide and start reconnecting with your body today.
👉 Sign up for the TDAH! Course and begin transforming your health from the inside out.

Episode 18 - The Power of Disappointment – Healing the Fear That Keeps You Stuck

Hey friends — it’s Polly
Let’s get real for a minute: have you ever been so disappointed that it felt like your whole body just shut down? Whether it’s a dream that didn’t work out, a relationship that fell apart, or a diagnosis that knocked you off your feet — disappointment has a way of sneaking into every part of your body, your thoughts, and your hope.
 
In this episode, we talk about the power of disappointment — how it shapes your beliefs, affects your nervous system, and keeps you stuck in fear and protection mode instead of healing. I share a personal story about facing a huge disappointment in my own health journey, how it almost broke me, and how I found freedom by naming it, grieving it, and choosing hope again.
 
You’ll learn how unprocessed disappointment turns into emotional and physical resistance, why you might be addicted to disappointment (yep, that’s a thing!), and how the dopamine cycle can trick your brain into repeating painful patterns. We’ll dig into how to heal the fear that keeps you stuck, overcome self-sabotage, and reprogram your mind for healing and resilience.
 
Together, we’ll explore powerful tools to reconnect with your body, break old belief loops, and move from fear to freedom. Because disappointment isn’t a dead end — it’s a doorway to deeper healing and a more grounded, hopeful you. 🌿
 
✨ CTA: Get your Free 7-Day Guide and start learning how to shift from protection to peace — because you’re not broken, you’re becoming.
 
👉 Join TDAH! and begin your journey today!
Connect with Polly:
📱 Instagram: @pollyahamp
📱 Facebook: Polly Hamp