Ina Coveney
Today, we're going to be talking to Stephanie Bellinger, who is the spiritual boss, babe, and I'm so excited that you're here, Stephanie. Thank you so much for coming on the show, and thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here.

Ina Coveney
Okay. So before we start, because there's so much to cover today, can you tell everyone what it is that you do right now, and who you serve?

Stephanie Bellinger
I help spiritual, entrepreneurial women really stand out in their business and truly be the fullest expression of themselves with everything they’re doing, sharing, and creating in life and in business. A lot of what I share and teach is around the energetics of success—being the highest expression of yourself so that you can be, do, and have anything you put your mind to. I’m passionate about helping people get their message out into the world in a much bigger way, and as many of us know, that comes from the internal work of truly owning it, being clear, and going all in on your dreams and the work you’re here to do on the planet.

Ina Coveney
Can you share with us—were you always this enlightened? Was there a time when you didn’t think so strongly about the spiritual power of our internal thoughts in our lives?

Stephanie Bellinger
It's funny—I don't really consider myself necessarily "enlightened," but I do enjoy self-reflecting on my lessons, patterns, and the experiences that have helped me grow. I've always been into spirituality for as long as I can remember. I got really into angel cards, divination, psychic abilities, and energy work. When I was a teenager—around 14—I was in an abusive relationship at that time, and that was really the only place I had to turn. So I went on an expansion journey after that, and eventually, years down the line, I was led to psychedelic and plant medicine. That really catapulted me and inspired my business and everything I’m doing now. It helped me shift old paradigms, heal past trauma, unleash and free my voice, and open my channel. Being the fullest expression of myself is exactly why I help others create life on their own terms—to be the boss of their own life and build the business of their dreams.

Ina Coveney
What happened later on? You mentioned you had been in an abusive relationship a little later in your teenage years. For anyone listening who might have gone through bullying or a toxic relationship and stayed in it until they could break free, could you share more about that?

Stephanie Bellinger
In my freshman year of high school, I really started coming out of my shell and being more outgoing—I finally felt like I was being myself. I had always longed to find love, and I met someone who made me feel wanted for the very first time. He showered me with love and attention—the kind of attention that often marks the beginning of an abusive relationship before it turns deep and controlling, almost like brainwashing. At the time, my self-esteem was shaky—I was overweight and very self-conscious—so I entered that relationship when I was 14. It quickly became unhealthy and lasted five and a half years. I eventually felt so afraid to leave because I was literally scared for my life. Looking back, I’m grateful for that experience because it helped me become who I am today. During that time, I lost 60 pounds, started meditating every day, dove deep into spirituality, and worked on both my inner and outer world to build the strength to leave that relationship and follow my dreams. Once I lost the weight, I truly believed that if I could do that, I could do anything I set my mind to.

Ina Coveney
Do you feel comfortable sharing what the final trigger was that made you leave the relationship and how it went? I hope it gives courage to those listening who see themselves in that situation.

Stephanie Bellinger
I’d love to share. I knew I wanted to leave for a long time. When we moved in together—when I was 19—the moment I moved in I was hysterical. I thought, “Oh my God, my life is over!” I was crying; I was so upset I didn’t want to do it, but I felt I had to. I moved in, and then in November of that year, I left him—I planned it out well ahead of time because I was dealing with a sociopath. There’s no conscious thinking when someone like that is enraged; everything goes out the window. I told my close family and friends I was planning to leave, and I started packing things into suitcases and hiding them around the house while he was home. I even began avoiding the bedroom, often falling asleep early on the couch while reading, just drifting away. Then I went to a psychic healer and asked if she could support me with protection, since I explained what I was planning to do and felt I needed energetic protection for the process. I had planned to leave that weekend, but when he was at work, I did a little ritual to drift us apart—to cut the cord and make the process peaceful. That night, when he got home, he found out his dad had died. I decided to wait an extra month or two because I felt it wouldn’t be right to leave while he was mourning. Finally, I told my mom and everyone I was going to do it that weekend. Then, on the Friday before Sunday, he came to me and said, “I have a feeling we're going to break up. We're drifting apart. Maybe we should just go our separate ways and end things.” I was shocked—thinking, “Whoa! This is so much easier than I thought.” I agreed and mentioned I was considering going to my mom’s for a couple of weeks. As soon as I said that, he flipped—his mom started screaming. I was sitting on the couch, and because of a wall between the couch and the kitchen, I couldn’t see him, but I heard him open a utensil drawer. As soon as I heard it, I knew I had to run. I didn’t even have time to think—I just flew out of the apartment, barefoot in 30-degree weather in my pajamas. I left my keys and phone behind; I didn’t look back because I knew he would chase me. I ran around the corner, knocked on a stranger’s door, and thankfully, it was unlocked. It turned out to be a big biker dude with a gothic vibe. I was hysterical, and meanwhile, I could hear him in the parking lot revving the car engine as if he was about to do something crazy. But once I got into that apartment, I felt free, relieved, and safe.

Ina Coveney
That is an incredible story. I truly hope anyone in a toxic relationship finds the courage to live, knowing that if you plan carefully, nobody gets hurt. How did that experience inform your relationships moving forward? What new beliefs did you adopt?

Stephanie Bellinger
I knew for sure I would never, ever end up with someone who would physically harm me or speak to me the way he did—absolutely not. My new outlook on relationships took a lot of work because I had many old wounds to heal (this was 15 years ago). I did end up in another relationship that was emotionally abusive, though it was very covert and challenging to detect because those behaviors aren’t always obvious. I was aware of certain things and didn’t tolerate them, but at the same time, I found myself caught in the dynamic until I finally realized it was truly toxic. That heartbreak was one of the biggest I ever experienced, and though it was just a couple of years ago, it made me wonder, “How the heck did I end up here after all the work I did?” In hindsight, I see that it dredged up a lot of old issues I still needed to heal and process. Thankfully, I was able to do that with new tools, increased awareness, and the support of a beautiful community of friends and soul family.

Ina Coveney
Can we talk a little about people who are listening—especially those trying to accomplish something in their lives, whether it’s finding love or starting the business of their dreams—who find themselves stuck in patterns? What should they be mindful of? What are some things they need to be aware of so they can break those patterns?

Stephanie Bellinger
I think it comes down to listening to your gut. Trust your intuition and give yourself what you desire and need. Set a standard for how you expect to be treated and enforce that boundary. If you find yourself in a pattern with someone manipulative, emotionally abusive, or insecure, pay attention to your internal feelings. Surround yourself with people who treat you like a queen—when everyone around you respects and uplifts you, you'll notice when something is off much sooner.

Ina Coveney
That makes a lot of sense. I’d love to know a little more about the spirituality behind creating the life you want. For those of us who might think of spirituality as something separate from our daily lives, how does it actually fit in? What tools do we have at our disposal that we might not have considered before?

Stephanie Bellinger
For me, spirituality always comes back to your relationship with yourself—how you feel on the inside and how that shows on the outside. Early in my journey, even before I left that toxic situation, I started learning about self-love and developed practices and routines to open my heart. Meditation helped me clear my mind so I could hear the voice of my soul—my higher self, the voice of truth and intuition—rather than the limiting, disempowering chatter of the ego. When you have an empowering concept of yourself, your reality reflects that in every way, from the money you make to the people you impact to the relationships you have. This spiritual journey isn’t just about connecting with your spirit in an ethereal way; it’s about bringing the truth of your soul into your physical life so you can experience as much love as possible. I always look for the lessons in every experience—even the painful ones—and ask myself what they’re teaching me, so I can evolve and expand. The faster we learn these lessons, the faster we can quantum leap.

Ina Coveney
Switching gears a bit to business—going back to your story, it’s incredible to see all the pivots you’ve made: starting in health and fitness, creating your own crystals and crystal jewelry, becoming a personal trainer, bartending while launching your businesses, and now moving into spiritual coaching. You’ve been in business for about 10 years. How do you view your journey? How do you explain your ups and downs, and what can everyone learn from the past 10 years of your life?

Stephanie Bellinger
There have definitely been a lot of challenges, successes, and moments of fear. I remember starting out so motivated—feeling that anything was possible, fueled by that new inspiration to create my dream life and business, and willing to do whatever it took. Many people start with that excitement, and I want to invite everyone to reconnect with that energy. I recently made a post about remembering that initial spark and bringing that energy into the present as you continue to grow. Along the way, challenges, failures, and ups and downs can create trauma in your business and cause you to lose that magic. I went all in, but there were times when I questioned whether I could really do it—whether it was going to work, whether I’d fail, whether I was smart or good enough. When I finally became fully self-employed, living in New York City, I was so excited to be my own boss, making five-figure months, even though I wasn’t living a posh lifestyle. It was a huge milestone. Then I dove deeper into personal development. I started with Beachbody because I didn’t want to just be a trainer; I realized I needed to work on my mindset. I went to an event with Shelene Johnson—she was my first step. She helped me lose 60 pounds at home, and later she hosted events where she taught entrepreneurs how to market their businesses. I remember, when I was 17, working out in the mornings during that abusive relationship, thinking, “I wish I could be like her someday—I want to motivate people.” And here I am in my twenties, attending her entrepreneur event, Smart Success. Then I got into mindset work and started therapy—I learned about hypnosis, EFT, NLP—tools to reprogram your unconscious mind, shift your energy, and heal. I had to work through doubts like, “Am I going to be able to keep my business up? What if I run out of money? Am I smart enough?” Eventually, those doubts led me to take a side job bartending again, which made me realize I needed to fully pivot into my spiritual coaching business. I learned that success comes from taking leaps—even when they’re scary. I remember investing in my first mentor, paying $25,000 in cash (even putting some on credit cards), because I trusted my intuition over my fear. And everything worked out. You have to get comfortable with taking leaps, and that’s what separates the most successful people from those who just sit around waiting.

Ina Coveney
Do you remember a moment in your spiritual boss business when you felt, “Oh my God, this is actually working”? Maybe a particular launch or a new client that made it all click?

Stephanie Bellinger
Yes, I do. One small example is when I launched a program called Everyday Magic. At the time, I was still working—personal training a boot camp at Orange Theory in Tampa and bartending during the day. Everyday Magic was a $200–$300 program, and I’ll never forget that shift at the bar when it was completely empty and I started seeing payment notifications coming in. I didn’t have a huge number of sign-ups, but I made about $2,000 during that shift. I was sitting at an empty bar, looking at my phone with all these payments coming in, and in that moment I realized, “Wow, I can do this.” My community started growing rapidly, and I decided to go all in.

Ina Coveney
Thank you so much for sharing all that. As we wind down, I have a couple of last questions. First, what do you think is the biggest misconception people have about being a successful businesswoman? Is it that I never deal with challenges or struggles like everyone else?

Stephanie Bellinger
Yes, absolutely. I’m very open and authentic about my challenges. People might see online success and think it comes easily, but there’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears behind it—it does take work, consistency, and dedication. Even those of us you see online are human. We have our doubts, fears, struggles, and even moments where we break down. It’s all part of becoming the person you need to be in order to allow and receive what you want.

Ina Coveney
Exactly. It’s about deciding that you're already successful, that it’s already done, and then becoming that person. My last question for you is this: If everyone listening had to do one thing in the next 24 hours, with no choice, what would it be?

Stephanie Bellinger
The first thing that comes to mind is dancing in front of the mirror. One of my mantras is, “The more fun I have, the more money I make.” I love doing mirror work—dancing in front of the mirror, really feeling myself. Many people get so caught up in working behind their computer or figuring out what to post, focusing on heavy topics, that they forget to prioritize their vibration. Nothing shifts your energy like an awesome pump-up song. Dance like you mean it—even if it’s just for one song, be silly in front of the mirror, say something you need to hear, and see how quickly your state and vibe shift so you can tackle the rest of your day.

Ina Coveney
What’s your song? I have a lot, but one that really shifts my vibe is by Activation Vibration on Instagram. She has an amazing track called “Cellular Upgrade.” Listen to it, hear the lyrics—it’s pretty potent in shifting your frequency. I also grab my hula hoop and do some hoop dancing in front of my mirror flow—that’s usually how I start my morning.

Ina Coveney
Stephanie Bellinger, it has been such a pleasure. Thank you so much for going so deep and personal with us—I truly appreciate your generosity. So, where can everyone go to follow you, find you, and learn more about what you do?

Stephanie Bellinger
I'm mostly on Instagram these days as The Spiritual Boss, Babe. I love connecting with people on there. If you want to say hi or screenshot this when you listen and tag us in your Instagram Stories, I'd love that. You can also visit my website at virtualbosswave.com, where you’ll find my quiz, the different programs, mini courses, and the podcast. We just did a full rebrand of the site, and the quiz is new. I highly recommend taking the spiritual quiz because it will show you where you are on your spiritual journey and what you need to do to quantum leap to your next level. It’s really fun—and it even comes with a list of my favorite songs for each archetype.

Ina Coveney
Nice. We’re going to put all those links in the show notes so everyone can check them out. Thank you so much, Stephanie—you’re the best!