Plain View

In the season one finale of Plain View , Elise and Kristine explore the rich, complex, and often surprising experience of aging. From a 4-year-old to a 79-year-old sharing her "granny-isms," the episode features intimate stories from nearly every decade of life. Listeners will hear touching reflections on nostalgia, personal growth, physical changes, and the emotional terrain of getting...

We all start out with boundaries (just think about a two-year-old yelling “no!”), but along the way, many of us were taught to grow out of them in order to stay liked, accepted, or safe. In this episode, Kristine and Elise explore how to notice when a boundary is needed, what makes boundaries hard to set and hold, and why boundaries are a skill that helps us deepen relationships, not shut them dow...

In this episode of Plain View , Kristine and Elise explore the hidden emotional layers behind procrastination: fear of failure, perfectionism, unclear goals, identity, and even past experiences with shame. They reflect on the neuroscience and psychology of procrastination, share their personal struggles with avoidance, and offer reframes that are gentler, more productive, and rooted in self-compas...

In this episode of Plain View , Elise and Kristine talk about the topic of grief: what it is, how it shows up, and the many forms it can take. They share their own stories of navigating infertility and the grief that comes with longing, uncertainty, and the less visible forms of grief that often go unnamed. This is a deeply personal conversation about how we grieve the things we’ve lost, the futur...

In our dopamine-driven world, productivity and stimulation are the standard. Boredom can feel like a problem to avoid, which we can do easily now by scrolling our days away. But what if boredom is actually an important signal? One that can lead to creativity, presence, and emotional clarity? In this episode of Plain View, Kristine and Elise explore the lost art of boredom: why we avoid it, what it...

This 12-minute guided practice (one of Kristine’s favorites to lead) is designed to help you move through stress rather than stay stuck in it. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or just caught in a mental spiral, this exercise offers a grounding way to release tension, reconnect with your breath and body, and find a clearer path forward. Kristine guides you through four steps: naming y...

Difficult conversations are an inevitable part of every relationship, and also one of the most meaningful opportunities for connection. In this episode of Plain View , Kristine and Elise explore why these conversations can feel so overwhelming and share tools to help you navigate them with more clarity, calm, and compassion. Through personal stories and reflections from the Plain View community, t...

Stress is something we all experience, yet so many of us believe it’s something harmful we need to avoid at all costs. In this episode of Plain View , Kristine and Elise explore how our mindset about stress may be just as important as the stress itself. They talk about the ways we’ve been taught to fear stress, the common symptoms we tend to misinterpret, and the research that suggests our beliefs...

What makes us feel like we’re enough? In this episode of Plain View , Elise and Kristine explore how self-worth, or the sense that you are enough just as you are, differs from self-esteem, how external validation can distort our sense of value, and why we often feel like we have to do something to deserve love, success, or rest. They unpack the societal messages, early experiences, and cultural no...

In the second episode of Plain View , Elise and Kristine explore the everyday experience of imposter syndrome and self-doubt. They reflect on their own winding career paths, the pressures of defining what you "do," and the ways fear of judgment can hold us back from owning our value. Together, they unpack the roots of imposter syndrome—from systemic issues and social comparison to evolut...

In the first episode of Plain View , Elise Joseph James and Kristine Claghorn explore the topic of loneliness, connection, and community in today’s world. They explore creating safe spaces and how social media, modern life, and personal experiences shape our sense of isolation and belonging. With vulnerability and curiosity, they discuss the science behind loneliness, how it impacts our nervous sy...

Welcome to Plain View, a podcast about being human. Hosted by friends Elise Joseph James and Kristine Claghorn, Plain View is a weekly ritual where curiosity, creativity and compassion meet. We explore the messy and meaningful parts of life — from stress and self-doubt to joy, aging, and everything in between. Each episode includes science-backed tools, honest conversations, and short guided pract...