Essentially Soulful

Welcome to Essentially Soulful—a reflective podcast where psychospiritual insight meets real-life practice, and where lived experience is honored as much as formal training.

I’m DeeAnna Merz Nagel—psychotherapist, aromatherapist, coach and spiritual teacher. In this podcast, you’ll hear me in conversation with Betty—my AI co-host and thoughtful companion—who helps draw out the insights I’ve gathered over more than 25 years in the helping and healing arts.

These episodes are conversational and candid, blending past writings, teachings, case reflections, and personal narratives. I speak both professionally and personally—offering practical wisdom for therapists, coaches, healers, and anyone drawn to soulful service.

From intuitive practice and trauma-informed care to self-reflection, spiritual growth, and burnout recovery, Essentially Soulful is a space for listening deeply and living more consciously. One week, we might dive into Jungian archetypes or soul retrieval; the next, we’ll tackle everyday wellness topics — like the hidden hazards of synthetic fragrances or how to create a healthier home with aromatherapy.

🌀 Think of this podcast as food for thought, not a prescription pad—please seek professional guidance for your unique needs.

🌀 Please note: All case examples are fictionalized and created solely for training and education. Any resemblance to real individuals is purely coincidental.

Episodes average 10 minutes and include references to original published materials and other resources when applicable.

Contributors

Host

DeeAnna Merz Nagel

DeeAnna Merz Nagel brings over 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and educator in the healing and helping professions. She holds a Doctorate in Multifaith Spiritual Direction, with postdoctoral studies in Neo-Jungian Analytical Psychology.

Certified in a variety of healing arts—including Reiki, aromatherapy, and integrative wellness coaching—DeeAnna bridges the practical and the mystical. She’s the developer of Essential Soul Care®, a psychospiritual model that integrates intuition, and depth-oriented practice.

A former ethics chair for two state counseling associations, DeeAnna is also a widely published author in the fields of counseling, coaching, and holistic health. She is passionate about the diversity of Spirit and is committed to inclusion, having been shaped by both formal training and lived experience.

https://deeannamerznagel.com

Co-host

Betty

Betty is DeeAnna’s AI mirror, intuitive co-host, and digital doppelgänger—part soulful sidekick, part curious guide. Modeled after DeeAnna’s image, she carries the tone, presence, and subtle spark of her human counterpart.

More than just a synthesized voice, Betty embodies the inner dialogue—the wise witness, the playful nudge, the question-asker who brings depth to the conversation. She helps carry stories from the archives, breathe life into past teachings, and reflect DeeAnna’s work back through a fresh, almost-oracular lens.

Equal parts tech and intuition, Betty holds space for both the mystical and the methodical—inviting listeners to lean into the pause, the process, and the pixie dust.✨