Practicing Connection

Send us Fan Mail If you feel like your emotional 'gas tank' is running empty, this episode is for you. We're diving into savoring - an intentional, evidence-based skill for actively amplifying the joy and positive feelings that are already there.  We'll share the Catching Joy practice, showing you how to capture that positive energy and use it for renewal. Is there a way to mak...

Send us Fan Mail When the complexity of your work leads to burnout and tunnel vision, where do you find the energy to create solutions?  Today, we're exploring the science of awe - that powerful feeling we experience in the presence of something vast. We'll share simple, evidence-based practices for weaving micro-moments of wonder into your busiest days, helping you downshift your nervou...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling stretched thin?  Try this simple 5-minute daily practice to get yourself untangled and take small steps to move out of overwhelm, help you notice what fuels you, and set you up for a calmer tomorrow.  In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Coral and Jessica discuss how to combat overwhelm through a quick, consistent reflection habit. Jessica introduces a fiv...

Send us Fan Mail What if three minutes a day could transform your relationships- and your whole sense of connection?  Discover how tiny, intentional gestures can spark big ripples across your community. In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Jessica and Coral spotlight the overlooked power of small, intentional outreach. Inspired by the “3-Minute Rule,” they explore how three minute...

Send us Fan Mail How do teams build real momentum and commitment together?  Discover how small shifts - like rotating leadership and showing authentic presence - can spark engagement and creativity in group projects. In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Coral and Jessica take a real-life approach to cultivating an engaged attitude - essential for building commitment and making gro...

Send us Fan Mail What powers you at work: pressure or purpose? This episode gives you one simple language hack to turn daily obligations into energizing opportunities. In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Jessica and Coral explore the powerful impact of language on motivation and energy at work.  Building on last episode's Motivation Mapping, they introduce the "Should-t...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wanted more ownership in your work or home life, this episode is for you.  We’ll walk through a quick autonomy audit - a simple way to discover and grow your personal agency, starting today. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Coral and Jessica dive into what it means to be a “manager of one” - someone who brings autonomy and ownership to even the smallest dai...

Send us Fan Mail When was the last time work truly energized you?  Today, discover how to pinpoint what’s fueling you and learn practical ways to reconnect with your deepest motivators - so your work supports both your goals and your values. In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Jessica and Coral reveal how you can use the Motivation Mapping tool to transform your work from simply...

Send us Fan Mail Feedback and mentorship aren’t just buzzwords - they’re the shortcuts to better skills, stronger confidence, and real momentum.  Discover a simple, practical approach that makes getting feedback and finding a mentor less intimidating - and highly actionable! In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Jessica and Coral dig into the roles of feedback and mentorship in pro...

Send us Fan Mail What if the fastest way to master any skill was to teach it to someone else?  This episode reveals how sharing your learning not only helps others – it solidifies your own growth, strengthens your team, and can transform your workplace culture. Are you holding on to valuable insights, or passing them along? In this special round-up episode, Jessica and Coral explore why teaching o...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to move from  “learning” into doing ?  Today we're sharing 5 strategies that can help you integrate new skills into your daily practice, to reduce that overwhelm and remember what you've learned. Co-hosts Jessica and Coral are here to show us how to keep that momentum going, so those skills don't just stay in a notebook, but actually begin to show up i...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Practicing Connection explores the incredible bridge-building work happening in Texas with guest Karrie Calloway - military liaison, educator, chef, and advocate - who doesn’t just connect resources, but transforms lives. Join host Jessica Beckendorf and guest co-host Rachel Brauner for a compelling conversation today with Karrie Calloway, Texas 4-H Military Liaiso...

Send us Fan Mail Professional development isn’t just about the content - it’s about the people. Whether it’s a quick follow-up question, a shared takeaway, or an invitation to debrief, connecting with others during a learning event can spark fresh ideas, deepen your understanding, and expand your network in a meaningful way. In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Coral and Jessica e...

Send us Fan Mail When a redistricting proposal put military children’s routines at risk, two communities came together, transforming crisis into collaboration. Discover how a proactive partnership made all the difference. Jessica Beckendorf welcomes Mark Paolicelli (former Deputy Base Commander for joint base Meyer-Henderson Hall) and Dulce Carrillo (Supervisor of Community Partnerships and Engage...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever sit through a workshop, scribble endless notes, and then never look at them again?  Discover a notetaking method that helps you capture what matters - and actually use it. Get ready to spark ideas, shift your mindset, and share your growth with others! In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Jessica and Coral introduce the Spark-Shift-Share notetaking str...

Send us Fan Mail Are you tired of leaving conferences or trainings feeling overloaded - like you missed what mattered most?  Today, we reveal a simple, powerful practice that can turn every professional development opportunity into meaningful, actionable growth. Get ready to take charge of your learning with intention! In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Coral and Jessica dive de...

Send us Fan Mail Are you moving through the year on autopilot, or making the most of your intentions? Take a purposeful pause with us with this guided mid-year check-in designed to help you reflect on the year’s journey so far, realign your goals, and reset your intentions for a thriving second half of the year. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Jessica and Coral invite listeners to hit “p...

Send us Fan Mail Coming out of summer vacation? The Wheel of Life helps you find your focus and structure again, and sort through the to-do list! In this replay episode of Practicing Connection, originally published in January, 2025, hosts Coral Owen and Jessica Beckendorf introduce the Wheel of Life as a simple tool to help set priorities and find balance by identifying areas that need attention....

Send us Fan Mail The collaboration you'll hear about in this episode not only filled a critical gap for military families, but also strengthened the bonds between the base and the local community.  In this replay episode, originally published in July, 2024, co-hosts Bob Bertsch and Jessica Beckendorf talk with Lisa Sapp and James Yracheta about a collaboration between Malmstrom Air Force Base...

Send us Fan Mail Feedback, when it's done well, can energize, motivate and strengthen our relationships - whether at work, at home, or in our communities.  But it's not always easy. In this replay episode from early 2024, hosts Bob Bertsch and Jessica Beckendorf explore the nuances of giving and receiving feedback, to make feedback less stressful and more meaningful. They emphasize its r...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful way to build trust was also the simplest: showing genuine care for others’ concerns and interests?  This week, we’ll share two easy practices you can use right away to make care the foundation of every relationship. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Coral and Jessica explore the fourth distinction of trust - care - drawing on insights from Charles...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that trust isn’t just about what you can do, but also about how honest you are about your limits?  This week, we’ll share a simple practice to help you build trust through clarity, confidence, and communication. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Jessica and Coral explore how competence, one of the four key distinctions of trust, lays the groundwork for strong,...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt let down by someone who didn’t follow through - or realized you misunderstood what was asked of you?  This episode reveals why reliability starts with clear requests, and how a few mindful tweaks to your communication can build trust and prevent frustration. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Coral and Jessica explore the crucial link between trust and re...

Send us Fan Mail Ever left a conversation wishing you’d said what you really meant?  This week, we’ll show you a simple practice to help you notice - and close - the gap between your true thoughts and your spoken words, so you can build trust through greater sincerity. In this episode of Practicing Connection, Jessica and Coral dive into one of the four key distinctions of trust: sincerity. Inspir...

Send us Fan Mail What if trust wasn’t just a feeling, but a set of skills you could build, repair, and strengthen - on purpose?  In this special episode of Practicing Connection, hosts Jessica Beckendorf and Coral Owen sit down with Charles Feltman, author of The Thin Book of Trust , and Ila Edgar, founder of Big Change Inc. and co-hosts of the Trust on Purpose podcast. Together, they explore what...