Women in Wellness: Meet Joanne Fearns of ISH Nutrition
WOMEN IN WELLNESS: MEET JOANNE FEARNS OF ISH NUTRITION
There are some people you meet in this space who don’t just do the work of wellness—they live it. Through their stories. Their values. The way they show up for others. And the way they show up for themselves.
Joanne Fearns is one of those people.
She’s the founder of ISH Nutrition, a trauma-informed holistic practice based on the idea that health doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Her whole approach is built around helping people find what their own version of healthy-ish looks like—and creating space for them to step into it without shame, pressure, or perfectionism.
Joanne is also a crisis intervention specialist, community advocate, foster care alumni, and the founder of 15 Houses, a bursary foundation for youth in care. She’s someone who has walked through deep hardship and turned it into something healing—not just for herself, but for everyone she supports.
I had the privilege of asking Joanne a few questions for this edition of the Women in Wellness series. Her answers are honest, heartfelt, and packed with wisdom I think every woman can take something from—especially if you’ve ever felt like you needed permission to show up as you are.
💫 A Glimpse into Joanne’s Day: Rituals, Cats & Chocolate PB Smoothies
When I asked Joanne what a typical day looks like for her, she laughed and said, “From day to day, I never know what I’m doing or where I’m going.” And honestly, same. But even with a full, unpredictable schedule split between her clinic and her work with Victim Services of Sarnia Lambton, Joanne has some beautiful non-negotiables that help her stay grounded.
Every morning starts the same: cuddling her cats. "There’s something to be said about waking up and starting your day with love from your little furry friends," she shared. And before the chaos of the day hits, she protects the first 45 minutes from screens. No phone. No social media. Just quiet time to stretch, journal, and blend up her current smoothie obsession (think crunchy peanut butter + chocolate fudge + strawberries + almond milk = yum).
Her days are busy and varied, but she leans on simple, consistent practices to anchor herself: packing a nourishing lunch, mixing up her greens and electrolytes drink, making time for movement (like Ironworks sessions or Tuesday walks with a good friend), and getting lost in books about hockey players or cowboys (iykyk).
It’s a reminder that self-care doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be yours.
💡 From Foster Care to Founder: The Moment That Changed Everything
Joanne’s journey into wellness didn’t start in a classroom. It started in a snowstorm.
At 20 years old, she was aging out of the foster care system, fresh out of college, and had no idea what was next. Her social worker told her about a potential job at a health food store in London, Ontario—but the catch? The owner was stopping her search that day. So Joanne did what anyone with nothing to lose might do: she walked across town in a blizzard, slipped through the door, crashed into a homeopathy display, and blurted out in one breath, “Hi my name is Joanne and I need a job.”
That job turned into so much more than work. The store owner, Lynda, not only hired her—she taught her how to nourish her body, understand food, and treat her health with respect. Joanne jokes that her first lunch there was a Coke and a bag of Doritos (we’ve all been there), but that moment marked the beginning of a massive transformation in her physical and emotional health.
That store became her classroom. Lynda became her mentor. And wellness became her path.
✨ Trauma, Healing & Reclaiming Your Voice
One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was when Joanne talked about what she wishes more women understood about their health:
“I wish people knew how deeply trauma weaves itself into our health—into every choice we make, every need we silence, every desire we bury,” she said.
It’s not just about what we eat or how we move. It’s about whether we believe we deserve to be well in the first place. Whether we feel safe enough to speak up, say no, take space, or rest. Joanne believes that healing is about reclaiming those rights.
“Your boundaries are only going to upset the people who liked you better silent. Be loud in your healing and your growth.”
That line? I wanted to frame it.
🤝 It’s Not About Her—It’s About You
When you work with Joanne, you’ll quickly realize: she’s not here to “fix” you. She’s here to walk beside you while you find your own way forward.
“It’s their journey to move through—I’m just the facilitator,” she said. She focuses on empowerment over dependency. The goal is for her clients to eventually not need her—because they’ve learned to trust themselves, to advocate for their own needs, and to carry the tools they’ve built together into whatever comes next.
Healing, she says, is about taking your power back. Big T trauma or little t—it’s all valid. And it all matters.
🎵 Wellness Is a Full-Chord Symphony
One of my favourite metaphors Joanne shared is about how we sometimes only tend to one or two parts of ourselves—like our weight, our relationships, or our finances—and forget that there’s so much more to who we are.
“It’s like tuning only one string of a guitar and expecting a full, beautiful chord,” she said. Even though, by her own admission, she knows nothing about musical instruments, it’s such a perfect visual.
When we slow down and give attention to all the parts of us—our home, our friendships, our hobbies, our rest, our joy—we feel more whole. Less frantic. More ourselves.
☕ What Wellness Means to Her Now
At 36, Joanne says wellness looks different than it used to. Right now, it means sitting on her couch with a warm mug of matcha, her cats snuggled beside her, and feeling content in the person she’s become.
It means being able to offer herself compassion. To honour her story. To feel loved and supported—not because everything is perfect, but because she’s finally allowed herself to be.
Joanne’s story is such a beautiful reminder that our past doesn’t define us—but it can inform the kind of healer, advocate, and space-holder we become.
She’s proof that trauma-informed care isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a lifeline. It’s real wellness. And the ripple effect she’s having—on clients, on community, on youth in care—is nothing short of inspiring.
You can learn more about Joanne and her work at ISH Nutrition, or connect with her on Instagram @ish_nutrition.