In this episode of What’s the Point?, Bill Ellis welcomes Jacki McEwen-Powell, a communications veteran turned gut health advocate. After building a successful 25-year career in public relations, Jacki made a bold pivot—retraining as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and launching WellNow.co.za. Her journey, marked by resilience and personal discovery, led to two insightful books: WELL NOW: Reclaim Your Life from Ulcerative Colitis and GET WELL NOW: Heal Your Gut to Transform Your Life.

Jacki’s story is one of listening to intuition, embracing change, and trusting the gut—both figuratively and literally. She shares how a life-altering diagnosis of ulcerative colitis forced her to reevaluate stress, lifestyle, and overall well-being, ultimately leading to a drug-free remission. Now, she’s on a mission to help others navigate gut health and reclaim control over their lives.

Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways:

• Career Reinvention: How Jacki transitioned from a high-stress communications career to becoming a certified health coach.
• Trust Your Gut: The importance of intuition in making life and health decisions.
• Lessons from Illness: How Jacki’s 14-year battle with ulcerative colitis shaped her approach to health and wellness.
• Taking Control of Your Health: Why listening to your body is the most important step in any healing journey.
• From PR to Publishing: How Jacki turned her personal experience into two bestselling books.
• Bio-Individuality Matters: Why no single diet or supplement works for everyone, and how to find what works for you.
• Navigating Criticism: The value of constructive feedback and trusting yourself when making big decisions

Jacki’s journey is a testament to the power of intuition, resilience, and self-discovery. Whether you’re navigating a health challenge or facing a career shift, her insights remind us that listening to our gut—both physically and metaphorically—can lead to transformational change.

Subscribe & Share: Don’t miss an episode of What’s the Point?! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and share this conversation with someone who needs to hear it. Let’s keep the conversation going and connect via the links below—because when you trust your gut, you’re already on the right path.

Connect with Bill:

• [email protected]
• www.brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingforresults.com
• IG - @wcellis
• Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
• Book: Women Who Won

Links for This Episode:

• Email [email protected]
• Phone WhatsApp +27 (0)833245552
• Website(s) www.wellnow.co.za

SOCIAL MEDIA INFO:

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacki-mcewen-powell-154ba617
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563906296060
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnow.health.coach
• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/jacki_mcewen-powell

Quick Episode Summary:

• 0:00 Bill introduces Jacki and sets the stage for an insightful conversation.
• 1:05 Jacki’s background: From aspiring journalist to PR agency founder.
• 3:00 The unexpected path to business ownership and how she built a thriving company.
• 6:00 Facing stress and illness: How ulcerative colitis changed everything.
• 10:30 Why she stepped back from communications to prioritize health and self-discovery.
• 15:45 The moment she decided to go medication-free and focus on natural healing.
• 22:00 The turning point: Becoming an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and finding purpose.
• 28:00 Writing WELL NOW and GET WELL NOW: How her books came to life.
• 35:00 The power of intuition and listening to your body for long-term health.
• 41:00 Final thoughts: Jacki shares her “point” and why trusting your gut is the ultimate life philosophy.