Meet Maura Knowles

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maura Knowles a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maura, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience has been a recurring theme my entire adult life and that has built my confidence. I’m a Near Death Survivor and working my way back to a healthy vibrant life was the most challenging and gratifying experience. Not only did it build my confidence, it also increased my level of gratitude, especially to my family and friends who gave me tremendous support. Nothing builds or rebuilds confidence like coming back from a tragic health experience. I’ve had to relearn to walk three times in my adult life and each time it seems impossible but I’ve never given up. I’ve been called a “Cockeyed Optimist” which ironically is one of my first audition songs from college. Humor has always been a vital ingredient in my life. As a proud Irish American, I value my Irish wit.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m an Actor/Singer/Writer, and Certified Integrative Health Coach at Mac-n-Mo’s, my health and wellness company created in honor of my dear late dad, Mac. My Health Coaching pen is Mo, the Morselist. After my dad, Mac, a diabetic, survived two heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery, he was discharged with stringent dietary guidelines. As an Actor-Singer-Writer who has celiac disease as well as a survivor of a medical miracle/near-death experience, I was quite familiar with those challenges.

My interest in health & wellness began at an early age when I took my first CPR course to become a Candy Striper Volunteer at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, CA, followed by spending too much time visiting sick relatives in the same hospital, including my dad. I later survived a near-death experience and am considered a medical miracle, I vowed to do everything possible to live a full, fun, and healthy lifestyle.

As Mo, the Morselist Integrative Health Coach, I’ve discovered the importance of bio-individuality and the truth, “One person’s food is another person’s poison.” A personalized roadmap to health that suits your unique body, preferences, and lifestyle is paramount to healthy living.

After my dear late dad, Mac, who also had diabetes, survived quadruple bypass surgery, I created Mac-n-Mo’s, a healthy baked goods company, Morselicious Treats, and soon enrolled and graduated from Integrative Nutrition school and became a Certified Integrative Health Coach. I no longer sell the Morselicious Treats but create recipes for clients and companies and have written four digital cookbooks. People have called me a pioneer in the field.

My coaching approach is not to dwell on calorie restriction or deprivation. Instead, I work with clients to focus on the things that create happy and healthy lifestyles through clean, real whole foods, and the areas of their lives that fulfill them, for example creativity and relationships. My 85/15 rule allows flexibility and room to wiggle. Together, we work toward goals including, achieving optimal weight, reducing sugar cravings, increasing sleep, maximizing energy, and implementing an optimal and sustainable Morselicious lifestyle. MacnMos.com

Speaking of creativity, I still act, sing, and write. In fact, I recently completed my first screenplay and have a half-hour musical comedy pilot. Last week, I sang at The Catalina Jazz Club as a fundraiser for the Education Outreach Program with my theatre company, The Musical Theatre Guild, of which I’ve been a member for nearly twenty years. Recent films include a musical short, SPIT ME OUT, and the indie, MATCH.MOM.
You can see my list of film and television credits on IMDB and MauraMKnowles.com

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three most important qualities to develop are resilience, gratitude, and tenacity. I would also add resourcefulness.
Invest in relationships and have a well-rounded life. We only get one and it’s short. People are attracted to interesting people with a point of view and experiences. Travel, if you can. See the world. Get to know others. Ask questions and listen. Explore new adventures and try to see someone else’s point of view. Remember, you never know what someone is going through. Sometimes, a smile or kind gesture can change someone’s day or life.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I love collaborating with fellow creatives, especially with a focus on Arts and Health. I’m currently looking for people to teach joint workshops, and a composer for my Educational Musical to be performed in schools focusing on health. Note, that all of my projects have a whimsical tone with a serious message at the center. I’ve overcome a number of health challenges and understand the vital importance of good health but that doesn’t mean it has to be taught or viewed in a maudlin tone.
If that resonates with you, please reach out to me via macnmos.com or mauramknowles.com I’m on IG @mauramknowles and @macnmosmorsels.

Contact Info:

• Website: mauramknowles.com macnmos.com
• Instagram: @mauramknowles @macnmosmorsels
• Facebook: @macnmos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauramknowles/
• Twitter: @mauramknowles @macnmosmorsels
• Youtube: @mauramknowles
• Other: TikTok @mauramknowles

Image Credits

Gabriel Navarro, Cathryn Farnsworth