This reflective year-end episode explores the powerful, forgotten truth about the divine As 2025 comes to a close, this special reflection episode explores the powerful, forgotten truth about the divine design of our bodies.

This conversation weaves together faith, science, and lived experience to reflect on what we’ve learned together this year — from understanding symptoms as communication, to calming the nervous system, reducing inflammation, and recognizing how the body was created to work in harmony with nature.

Rather than chasing perfection or quick fixes, this episode invites you to slow down and rediscover the wisdom written into the human body. It’s a reminder that our bodies are not random, broken, or working against us — they are intelligently designed, responsive, and capable of restoration when supported well.

You’ll also hear reflections on the growth of the Becoming Natural podcast, lessons learned along the way, and what’s coming in 2026.

🌿 Visit BecomingNatural.com to share topic requests and join the email list as we head into the new year.

Hosted by Penelope Sampler

Natural Wellness • Chronic Illness Journey • Faith & Wellness

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🛒 My Trusted Resources Contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the show.

📌 Note: I share what I’ve learned on my own journey — the things that have supported me in hard seasons. I offer personal experience, thoughtful research, and lots of encouragement. This podcast isn’t medical advice, and it shouldn’t replace care from a qualified professional. Always talk to someone you trust before making changes to your health routine.

© Becoming Natural Podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

EquiLife – At-Home Testing & Supplements

EquiLife: Simple at-home functional lab testing with clear results and action steps, plus clean, tested supplements. 🔗 https://becomingnatural.com/equilife

61 | The Powerful, Forgotten Truth About the Divine Design of Our Bodies

Hey friends, and welcome back to the Becoming Natural podcast. 61 | The Powerful, Forgotten Truth About the Divine Design of Our Bodies

I’m really glad you’re here today — whether you’re driving, folding laundry, walking, or just sitting somewhere quiet needing a deep breath away from the crazy chaos and blessings of family (can I get an amen?). Or if this year finds you in a quieter place, by choice or not, perhaps losing a loved one, momentum, or struggling with your own health journey.

This episode is a little different.

Today isn’t about teaching one topic or unpacking one health issue.
It’s about looking back — at what we’ve learned together this year — and looking forward to where we’re headed. I stand in awe of the faithfulness of God as only HE put me in this chair at this mic to share my testimony in a way I never expected. I share this milestone with you as I am here for you.

This is Not just what we’ve talked about this year…
but what shifted. How we have GROWN in understanding, in committing to positive changes in our lives or encouraging a loved one to do the same.

Because information alone doesn’t change us.
But understanding — paired with hope and action — does. Witnessing amazing results will change anyone.

And I say that not as a flex — but with a little disbelief and a lot of gratitude.

Because this podcast?
This little home we’re creating together on the internet?

It was completely unexpected.

I never intended to start a podcast.
I didn’t know how to start a podcast.
I assumed my mom might be my only listener — my faithful supporter who already knows my story by heart.

This really began as the blind leading the blind…
sharing from my heart…
on a wing and a prayer.

Literally.

And then something shifted.

You started reaching out.

Emails. Messages. Stories.

And I need you to hear this :

You have no idea how much that encouraged me to keep going. Someone is actually listening to me? And every time someone tells me they liked my podcast that week, I get very emotional as I get the front row seat to seeing and knowing how the Lord is leading this entire path. I am just a talking head that decided I was willing to step up to a challenge, a big challenge because I felt like the Lord was in control.

I love hearing your stories most of all.

Because along the way this wasn’t about me talking —
it was about us learning together.

You allowed me to lean deeper into my own story and realize that my struggles were not for nothing — that maybe the pain I walked through could spare someone else from walking the same long road alone.

That realization changes everything. The emotional roller coaster over 25 years…that is a LONG time…a life time of pain and joy, heartache and praises. From single to married to mother of 3 little boys and now 3 big boys who I pray every day don’t remember anything of my poor health, but the fun we had together doing all the Pinterest projects in the world!

THEME ONE: YOUR BODY IS NOT BROKEN — IT’S COMMUNICATING

One of the clearest themes this year was this:

Symptoms are not the enemy.

We came back to this again and again — whether we were talking about anxiety, hormone imbalance, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic fatigue.

Your body isn’t betraying you. It’s not the time to relent or give in to symptoms because “its just how it is!”
It’s communicating.

When we talked about nutrient deficiencies, for example, so many of you wrote in saying:

“I finally understand why I have all these symptoms but my labwork is normal.”

We unpacked how the body prioritizes survival — how nutrients are rerouted to keep essential organs functioning, sometimes at the expense of others.

That’s not a body in failure.
That’s supernatural intelligence sending up SOS messages.

And when you understand that, the mindset lifts.

Scripture reminds us:

That doesn’t disappear when your body struggles.
If anything, it becomes more evident.

THEME TWO: THERE IS RARELY ONE ROOT CAUSE — AND THAT’S NOT BAD NEWS

Another big shift this year was letting go of the idea that there’s one magic fix.

We talked about this through episodes on:

random supplementation

inflammation

blood sugar swings

gut health

hormone chaos

And the takeaway kept surfacing:

The body works as integrated systems, not independent silos.

When one system struggles, others compensate — sometimes at a cost.

That’s why throwing supplements at symptoms often backfires.
That’s why quick fixes rarely stick.

This isn’t discouraging — it’s freeing.

Because it means small, aligned changes matter.

And God is wildly efficient like that. Our body is an entire ecosystem or orchestra that requires a billion little cells all working in perfect harmony for a healthy body. What a stinking miracle!

THEME THREE: INFLAMMATION IS A SIGNAL — NOT A LIFE SENTENCE

Inflammation came up over and over this year — whether we were talking about food choices, seed oils, environmental toxins, or chronic stress.

One of the most important shifts we made together was reframing inflammation as a signal, not a verdict.

We talked about how:

omega-6 heavy oils tip the inflammatory balance

chronic stress keeps cortisol elevated

poor sleep prevents repair

And suddenly inflammation wasn’t mysterious anymore — it was contextual.

When you understand the “why,” you stop panicking and start responding wisely.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.” — Proverbs 4:7

That verse has lived rent-free in my head all year. Just do it. Just GO GET THE WISDOM! The 4th theme:

THEME FOUR: THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IS THE GATEKEEPER

This may have been the quiet hero of the year.

So many episodes circled back to one truth:

A body that feels unsafe cannot restore.

Chronic stress keeps the nervous system stuck in survival mode.
And when that happens:

digestion slows

hormones misfire

sleep fragments

inflammation rises

We talked about why positivity isn’t denial — it’s regulation.

Why rest is not laziness.
Why peace is not weakness.

“He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23

That restoration is not metaphorical.
It’s physiological. It was written into the creation of the earth dedicating an entire day to REST. And finally, the 5th theme:

THEME FIVE: FAITH AND PHYSIOLOGY ARE FAR from being SEPARATE

One of my favorite things this year was weaving science and scripture together — not in a preachy way, but in a “wow, God really thought of everything” way. I witness the power of a healing brain daily with my stroke patients, healing body parts in orthopedics. I am lucky enough to hear patient stories reporting their healing journey and you would be AMAZED how many of my patients, of ALL ages, desire to be on the path to natural wellness and are driven by a deeply rooted faith themselves. I learn so much from each of them.

We talked this year about:

renewing the mind and neural pathways to the brain, no different than how a patient heals following a stroke.

gratitude and inflammation markers

hope and nervous system regulation

Nature and healing

Faith isn’t just comforting — it’s regulating.

The way God designed our bodies reflects His character: orderly, responsive, and redemptive.

PERSONAL GROWTH I DIDN’T EXPECT

As I reflect on this year, I surprised myself.

I discovered how much I love podcasting.
That I actually did stay consistent for weekly posts.
How deeply I love reading — books about health, history, how tightly woven our bodies are to nature and how receptive our bodies become when we allow them to do what they were created to do. And how we arrived here.

But more than that?

I love simplifying.

Because moms don’t need more overwhelm. I’ve been there. Stuck. Not knowing which way to step first, but desperately wanting, NEEDING change.
We need clarity and simplicity and a girlfriend to chat with about it while we do it. Im your girl!

One step at a time. Keep your expectations achievable.

BEHIND THE SCENES: GROWTH THAT WINS

This year I:

Mastered audio — painfully.

Outgrew my first podcast platform and migrated successfully to a larger more versatile platform. I know that means little to a listener, but huge for a non-techy gal like me. I earned my own self-awarded badge of honor on that one.

Continued updating my website and am in the process of building out a future store.

Grew confidence in ethically monetizing my podcast in a way that provides complete authenticity and transparency while also demonstrating to my very supportive husband that my hours of writing and researching can be more than just a starving artist :)

I decided it was okay to contribute financially to my family doing what I love — with integrity. And I am still easing into that as I will never promote anything I haven’t personally used. Transparency and authenticity matters to me.

Here’s what’s coming for 2026:

Goal one: Regular Email updates.…make sure you hope over to becomingnatural.com and sign up for email updates!
Goal two: Show up on Pinterest. It’s the only social media outlet, if thats what you call it, that I have any interest in. I look forward to learning more about it.

Goal three: A curated Becoming Natural store to create ease for listeners to find products they need in the moment. 
Goal four: Mini-episodes — short, sweet, favorite things, scriptures, books, and ah-ha moments.

Goal five: Possibly adding video — gulp. This will likely include ball caps on the regular.


You heard it here first. Praying everything I envision that to be actually comes to fruition.

CLOSING: A SHARED INVITATION

One place to reduce toxins.
One routine to simplify.
One habit to protect your mental well-being.

One step at a time.

I’m here with you.
Rooting for you in the trenches.

I love your topic requests.

From the bottom of my heart — thank you BN fans. You mean the world to me. You make my weeks brighter and you give me purpose and hope that my story is one that will resonate in a way that will fall upon your ears that is deeply meaningful and influential. Im truly just a mouth full of words loving the feeling of letting God lead the way.

In the meantime, now is a good time to hop over to BecomingNatural.com and sign up for the email list. But 2026 will launch with accompanying emails for every episode! See you soon!