Ignite with April Poynter
Welcome to Ignite - a podcast for the in-between.
I’m April Poynter, your Transformation Partner.
I help individuals and organizations move through the fog of transition. From burnout and identity shifts to grief, awakenings, cultural shifts, and leadership evolution (you know, the human stuff) - and move toward clarity, alignment, and grounded forward movement.
This podcast is a home for honest conversations, soulful strategy, and stories from people who have been (or are in) the messy middle.
Whether you’re shedding old roles, healing from burnout, or navigating growth in your life or leadership, I’m here to walk with you.
Let’s slow down, tune in, and ignite what’s next - from a place that’s real, rooted, and fully you.
Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it.
Ignite with April Poynter
The Story Behind The Weight Loss: Noelle Dawson's Real Transformation - Part 1
**Interview starts at 5:41
Everyone saw the before-and-after pictures. What they didn’t see was the mental unraveling behind them.
In this raw and powerful first episode of our multi-part series, Noelle Dawson (@transforming_noelle) opens up about the moments that led her to post her first weight loss photo on Instagram, how she became an influencer (even though she doesn't like this term), and what happened when the comments and likes started to feel empty.
She lost over 260 pounds—but she was still carrying the weight mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
In this episode we talk about:
Why she started sharing her journey online
Her childhood as an athlete and the pressure that came with it
Her father’s addiction to alcohol and heroin
The first time she gained weight
How validation became a drug
The surgery that changed her body, but not her mind
And the moment she realized she still felt like 400 lbs on the inside
This is not just about weight loss.
This is about identity.
It’s about trauma, truth-telling, and choosing yourself.
This is Part 1 of a multi-part series.
In upcoming episodes, Noelle and I go deeper into mental health, shame, betrayal, an affair, and the rebuilding of self that no one saw coming.
Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episodes.
For more about Noelle: instagram.com/transforming_noelle
Watch the Youtube video here: https://youtu.be/vusWQV21FWA?si=brgNy9547VGIG7KS