The Problem With Perfect

There comes a point in life when the roles that have defined us begin to shift. The kids are grown (or growing up), our careers and perspectives on them may be changing, and for the first time in a long time, we have the opportunity to ask ourselves a simple but powerful question: What’s next? In this episode, we talk about this time in life that we're calling the third act and exploring what...

Over the past 10 months, we’ve explored each of the Yamas and Niyamas: the ten ethical practices that form the foundation of yoga philosophy. In doing so, we discovered that these ancient teachings have as much to say about modern life as they did thousands of years ago. In this episode, we’re bringing it all together. Using Deborah Adele’s The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practic...

Parenting doesn’t end when your kids become adults. It just changes. In this episode, Robin is joined by Kelly and Kenny Cook for an honest conversation about parenting adult children, family relationships, boundaries, and letting go with grace. Together they unpack five lessons they’ve learned along the way: when advice helps and when it hurts, how listening can be more healing than fixing, why h...

What actually makes a friendship last for decades? In this deeply personal episode, Robin sits down with her lifelong best friend, Lori, Hutsell, to celebrate 40 years of friendship. From small-town beginnings and shared church pews to completely different adult lives, this is a relationship that has stood the test of time. Together, they explore the surprising research behind enduring friendships...

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or stuck trying to control everything, this episode invites you into a different way of living: one rooted in surrender, self-awareness, and faith. After a year of exploring the Yamas and Niyamas, we’ve arrived at the final practice: Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender). But what does it really mean to let go of control and trust God, especially in real, everyday life?...

Back by popular demand. This episode is our most downloaded one ever! The content is so relevant and important, we're re-releasing it. Today we’re diving into a topic that touches nearly everyone’s lives: the time we spend on social media and our smartphones. In this episode, we explore how the hours we spend scrolling, liking, and tweeting are not just fleeting moments but can be significant...

What if the things that frustrate us most are actually pointing us back to ourself? In this episode, we continue the journey through the Niyamas by exploring Svadhyaya: the practice of self-study, reflection, and honest introspection. After a month of sitting in the refining fire of Tapas, this conversation invites a softer, yet equally courageous step inward. Together, we unpack what it really me...

What happens when a strong, healthy woman is still labeled “overweight”? In this powerful and honest conversation, Robin sits down with her longtime friend Bridget Lolli, a wellness professional, strength athlete, and advocate for redefining health, to unpack the moment that sparked a deeper conversation about body image, BMI, and the messages women receive about their bodies. After being labeled...

What if the very things we try to avoid in life- the discomfort, the struggle, the seasons that feel too heavy- are actually the moments shaping who we are becoming? In this episode, we explore Tapas, the third Niyama in yogic philosophy. Often translated as “heat” or self-discipline, Tapas invites us to stay present in life’s refining fires rather than running from them. It’s the courage to sit w...

Some conversations don’t start with answers. They start with a shift you didn’t see coming. In this episode, Robin sits down with Ashley Gross Minor for a deeply personal and honest conversation about what happens when something that once felt foundational and sacred begins to feel messy and complicated. Ashley spent more than a decade immersed in what many call the “K-World” of Kanakuk Ministries...

What if contentment isn’t something we chase, but something we practice? In this episode, Robin and Denise continue their journey through the Yamas and Niyamas, arriving at the second Niyama: Santosha, which is the practice of deep, inner contentment. Together, they explore what it means to find peace in the present moment, regardless of external circumstances, and why our constant striving for “w...

What happens when long-held faith begins to raise deeper questions? In today’s episode, I’m joined by my longtime friend Kathy Hahn. Over nearly twenty years of friendship, I’ve watched Kathy live out her faith sincerely while also wrestling honestly with complex theological questions. A little more than two years ago, Kathy made the decision to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

Six months into our journey through the Yamas and Niyamas, we pause to reflect on what it really means to let go. Not just of our stuff, but of expectations, busyness, self-judgment, and the heaviness we carry inside. In this episode, we finish our exploration of Aparigraha (nonpossessiveness) and begin our inward turn into the Niyamas , starting with Saucha , the practice of purity. But purity he...

What if the end of the year isn’t about fixing what went wrong, but noticing what mattered most? In this special end-of-year episode of The Problem With Perfect, we’re looking back on 2025 through a “Best Of” lens. What shaped us, surprised us, stretched us, and stayed with us. From books and boundaries to money well spent and lessons learned, this conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply ref...

In this heartfelt episode, we explore why grandparent-grandchild relationships matter, not just emotionally, but based on decades of research. Join us for this episode and learn how grandparents support children’s development, ease the parenting journey, and build lifelong bonds through simple, intentional acts of love, presence, and consistency.  This episode might prepare you for grandparenting...

Caregiving is a sacred gift. Caring for someone who is chronically or terminally ill requires patience, understanding, and selflessness. Most caregivers are not professional healthcare workers; rather, they are loving family members who dedicate their lives to improving the well-being of their loved ones. Caregiving often presents significant challenges and in this episode, Robin's husband, T...

Our fifth and final Yama jewel, Aparigraha, encourages us to embrace non-possessiveness. What do you covet? What do you cling to? Consider what in your life reflects your values and priorities. This month’s Yama invites us to examine the physical possessions we surround ourselves with. Do these items make you feel free and light, or do they weigh you down and create a sense of heaviness? Aparigrah...

Join us as we dive into a struggle so many women face but rarely talk about: the stress, guilt, and pressure around food during the holiday season. Why is it so hard to feel in control around holiday food? Why do we swing between restriction and overindulgence? Judge our eating as “good” and “bad?” And why does January leave so many of us feeling ashamed and desperate for a “fresh start”? With a b...

As the holidays approach, it’s a great time to evaluate how you want to spend your time and energy. Do you want to be relaxed and peace-filled, or would you rather be frazzled and frantic? The choice is yours.  People pleasing is a trait that may sound generous and kind, but often leads to resentment and frustration. Knowing how and why we tend to over-commit and people-please are important factor...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the most exhausting. Between the decorating, the baking, the shopping, and the pressure to make everything magical , our souls can feel more hurried than holy. In this episode, we slow down to talk about what it really means to rest during the holidays, not just physically, but spiritually. Drawing from The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Co...

November is often a time for giving thanks, and the 4th Yama, Brahmacharya, encourages us to be grateful for having “just enough,” and to practice “nonexcess.” We live in a world that can rob us of our time, money, and energy while we pursue better and newer and more. Brahmacharya asks us to examine our priorities and to focus on what really matters. Are we living in communion with God? Are we sac...

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Statistics indicate that approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Every minute in the U.S., about 20 to 24 people are physically abused by an intimate partner, amounting to more than 12 million individuals each year. Domestic violence also impacts millions of children, and the economic toll...

Ever catch yourself brushing off certain behaviors the Bible would call sins because they don't seem "that bad"? In this episode, we get real about the “acceptable sins” so many of us excuse — things like anger, gossip, worry, pride, and discontentment. Drawing inspiration from Tim Keller’s book, Respectable Sins, we unpack why these habits feel so normal, how they quietly erode our...

If you’ve ever said, “What?” more times than you’d like to admit… or if someone you love turns the TV up louder and louder, this episode is for you. This week, we’re diving into a topic that affects millions, but is rarely discussed: hearing loss. Our guest, Dr. Julie Prutsman, has helped thousands of people find relief from tinnitus and hearing challenges. In this episode, Dr. Julie shares why sh...

Have you ever been accused of stealing? Probably not. Yet, most of us engage in various forms of stealing every day, often without realizing it. There are many ways in which we take from others, the Earth, future generations, and even ourselves. The third Yama, Asteya, encourages us to become aware of how our words and actions may rob others of their time, joy, or sense of self-worth. It reminds u...