Beautiful Shifts

This week we’re joined by our friends Susie and Alyson who recently started their own podcast - Meno Moms After the Pause! Join us for this honest (and fun!) conversation about menopause, perimenopause, and everything in between. We talk about how hormones can impact mood, grief, and even how we handle life’s biggest challenges. Plus, what they’ve learned about parenting, identity, faith and gende...

This week we're continuing our tradition of having a gratitude episode leading up to Thanksgiving.   We talk about finding gratitude through life's seasons and how it can anchor us through change, uncertainty, and growth.   We share a few personal reflections, questions to reflect on, and thoughts on noticing beauty in the middle of it all.    Feeling grateful for this space and for all of you tha...

In this powerful episode, Joel Haddock shares his journey from addiction and incarceration to finding purpose and healing through The Other Side Academy—a residential program that helps people rebuild their lives through accountability, hard work, and community. Joel opens up about choosing a new path, the lessons he’s learned, and his mission to help others do the same.    Visit  https://www.theo...

We’re re-releasing one of our most loved and listened-to episodes! In this heartfelt conversation, we sit down with one of Lindsay’s closest lifelong friends, Tamara Jacobs, as she shares her LDS faith transition journey—what led to it, how she’s reframed her values and spirituality, and how she’s navigated parenting and identity through such a major shift. Her honesty and insight offer comfort, c...

Poet Hannah Rosenberg joins us to talk about finding beauty in everyday life through poetry and turning a personal passion into meaningful work. Through her upcoming debut book, Same, she captures love, friendship, marriage, and motherhood with honesty and grace—and even reads a few of her beautiful poems about the changing seasons of life. Listen to this heartfelt conversation about creativity, c...

Therapist Shannon Ricks shares about her journey through chronic illness, perfectionism, and faith transition—and how learning to listen to her body instead of fighting it became the foundation for healing. Drawing from her personal story and clinical experience in eating disorder recovery, Shannon shares insights on body neutrality, intuitive eating, and self-compassion. She also explores how bea...

In this episode, Alyson Paul Deussen shares her remarkable journey through life’s transitions—embracing motherhood, becoming the parent of a newly out gay son, navigating shifts in faith, facing the heartbreaking loss of her son Stockton to suicide, and transforming grief into powerful advocacy. With over 30 years in nonprofit leadership, Alyson has worked with Mama Dragons, Affirmation, Love Loud...

In this episode, we sit down with Erin Proctor, the voice behind  @toddler.frat.house , who went from sharing the raw, funny truths of motherhood to surviving a Covid-induced stroke that changed the course of her life. Erin opens up about her subarachnoid hemorrhage, the challenges of living with a traumatic brain injury, and the hidden struggles of recovery while raising four kids. She also share...

Welcome to Season Four! We’re starting off by sharing about our guest appreciation dinner this past weekend and what a wonderful night it was, chatting about finding beauty in life even during difficult times, and a few thoughts on the podcast and what’s ahead. Whether you’re new or have been here before, we’re so glad you’re here. We have so many great guest stories coming soon, and we can’t wait...

In this powerful episode, Ashlee Boyson shares her journey through unimaginable loss after the infidelity and murder of her husband in 2011. Just months after welcoming her fifth child, Ashlee faced trauma that reshaped her life—and eventually led her to healing, advocacy, and helping others. She has shared her story on Dateline, Dr. Phil, True Crime Daily, and more, and continues her work through...

In this moving and eye-opening conversation, Jorge Nunez shares how poetry became the lifeline that helped him escape gang life in L.A., endure prison and deportation, and ultimately build a new life as a father, teacher, and poet. From writing his first poem in a juvenile probation camp to teaching in the same prison where he once served time, Jorge’s story offers a powerful glimpse into resilien...

In this re-released episode, Molly Bice Jackson—author of The Commodity of Connection, keynote speaker, actress, and child loss survivor—shares how grief, creativity, and connection have shaped her story. With warmth, humor, and honesty, Molly talks about growing through life’s hardest moments and how meaningful connection continues to guide her work and life. We loved this conversation and know i...

In August 2022, our friend and neighbor Dan Wadsworth sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. In this inspiring conversation, Dan and his wife Michelle reflect on the journey they’ve been on since—navigating uncertainty, finding strength in each other, and learning to adapt to a new reality. Their story is one of courage, deep love, and discovering...

As part of our summer series resharing some of our most popular episodes from Season 2, we’re bringing back this conversation with our dear friend Susie Augenstein. We thought it was the perfect episode to re-air this June, as Susie is a fierce and thoughtful advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals here in Utah.   In this heartfelt and wise conversation, Susie opens up about navigating major life transiti...

Today we’re wrapping up Season 3 highlighting favorite moments and themes from the second half of the season. We share plans for the podcast over the summer and look ahead to what’s coming in Season 4. We also talk about The Next Day by Melinda Gates—a book we both recently read—and how her insights on navigating life transitions connect with the stories shared on our show.   A huge thank you to a...

In this episode, Nate Meikle—husband, father of four, author, leadership professor at the University of Kansas, Stanford Law graduate, former sideline reporter, and host of the Meikles and Dimes podcast—shares the story behind a series of unexpected decisions that shaped his life and career. From walking away from traditional job paths to pursuing a PhD in his mid-30s, Nate reflects on what it’s t...

When Aimee lost her husband in a tragic car accident just three days after their wedding, it marked the beginning of a life-altering transformation—one shaped not only by grief, but by a traumatic brain injury that changed how she experienced the world. Years later, while serving in a high-level leadership role in the LDS Church, Aimee made the life-altering decision to step away from her faith, l...

In this episode, we sit down with Samantha to talk about how journaling became a powerful tool during her divorce and life as a single mom. She shares how writing helped her navigate difficult emotions and transitions, and how she now helps women tap into this same healing process through journaling. Samantha explains her approach and how it helps women reconnect with their inner voice, and how it...

Andrea, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and Medical Director at LEVO, brings over 16 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment. In this episode, she shares how her own journey with anxiety led her to a career in psychiatry, and how personal experiences with ADHD and anxiety in her family have shaped her compassionate, holistic approach. Andrea explains the importance of seeing...

In this heartfelt and candid conversation, Kellie Adams shares her journey through addiction and transformation to sobriety. From beginning to drink at a very young age to becoming completely dependent on alcohol, Kellie opens up about the turning point that led her to get sober in 2014—and how that decision changed everything. Her story is raw, relatable, and filled with both honesty and humor.  ...

How can we stay grounded, compassionate, and open when navigating conversations around politics, religion, or other high-stakes topics? In this episode, we’re joined again by Brandie Paterakis—licensed therapist and founder of Blue Bee Counseling—for a conversation about how to have meaningful, and sometimes messy, discussions with friends, loved ones, and even our children and spouses. We talk ab...

Becki Andrus shares the deeply personal story of how she came to the decision to end her marriage—despite doing everything “right.” With honesty and grace, she talks about what it was like to stay for years in a relationship that began strong but transitioned to one that looked great from the outside but left her feeling stuck, unseen, and spiritually conflicted on the inside.   In this conversati...

Kecia Cox is a mother of seven, including three incredible children with Down syndrome. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her journey into special needs parenting, the unexpected paths that led to adoption, and the unique joys and challenges of raising twins. Kecia opens up about the mindset shifts she’s embraced along the way and the lessons she’s learned about inclusion, community, and...

Dr. Nancy Saltzman’s life is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of embracing joy despite unimaginable loss. A lifelong educator and award-winning principal, Nancy faced profound tragedy when she lost her husband and two sons in a small plane crash—after already battling cancer. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her journey of survival, healing, and finding beauty on the other...

Raised in a small-town LDS community, Ashley moved away in 2008 and thought her faith transition was behind her, until opening her therapy practice in 2022 led her to an unexpected specialization: religious trauma, particularly within Mormonism. In this episode, Ashley shares her personal journey growing up in an inactive LDS family, leaving the church, and ultimately returning to Utah as a therap...