Asking For A Friend with TalkDoc

As an end of the year bonus, we’ll be releasing 4 short episodes on New Years resolutions over the next 4 days! Join us as we learn about what communication resolutions we can make to improve our relationships. In this episode we’re getting intentional with Part 3 of New Year’s resolutions.  Saving money or spending more wisely is a widely known resolution. So how does it connect to AFAF? First we...

As an end of the year bonus we’ll be releasing 4 short episodes on New Years resolutions over the next 4 days! Join us as we learn about resolutions and what communication resolutions we can make to improve our relationships. Fitness is one of most people’s top goals for the new year. But what is communication fitness? What resolutions can we add to our daily life to make us more fit and successfu...

As an end of the year bonus, we’ll be releasing 4 short episodes on New Years resolutions over the next 4 days! Join us as we learn about what communication resolutions we can make to improve our relationships. Research shows that a lot of people make resolutions— mostly related to weight-loss and health. But what about our relationship and communication goals? Have you learned some things from th...

Are you a regular listener but missed some episodes along the way? Or are you brand new to AFAF and looking for the best of what you’ve missed? No matter who you are, we bet you’ll enjoy our recap in this episode of the guests we hosted on the podcast this year. Dr. Pamela Kreiser, along with Meredith and Teighlor discuss some of the practical wisdom each guest shared that can help sharpen communi...

In this episode, TalkDoc breaks down the communication concept of distance versus difference. The team shares personal examples and survival kit tools for how to manage the work at the holiday table. Imagine your gatherings as you listen this week. When you sit at the table, does everyone think exactly the same on every topic? Probably not. So how do you manage the difference? Do you want to bring...

We all have relationships we want to maintain long-term. But sometimes, especially over the holidays, bad behavior by others can test the limits of our goodwill even if it is unintentional.  In this episode of “Asking For A Friend," listen in as Dr. Pamela Kreiser, with colleagues Meredith and Teighlor, discuss their own experience with and response to holiday bad behaviors. They share their own p...

The holidays are a journey.  And for most of us one of the experiences along the way will be an encounter with guilt. Guilt that is either directed towards us or perhaps even (cringe) guilt we dish out on our own.  Either way it pays to plan ahead and be prepared with the gear we need to make sure guilt doesn’t become a detour that steals joy from the trip.   In this episode of “Asking For A Frien...

Have you ever unexpectedly bumped into a tradition at a family holiday gathering that seemed normal to everyone there except you?  A warning not to sit in a certain chair? An obligation to eat a slice of Aunt Mary’s fruitcake? Did it feel like a rule or expectation you were being forced to play along with?  If you’ve had encounters of this kind (and most of us have), then you know the complication...

The holidays are coming and if you’re like us, there’s gonna be some added stress around this season. In this episode, we begin our 6-part series: “Family Survival Kit for the Holidays.” Many of us have expectations of the perfect holiday, but that can be problematic for most. As TalkDoc suggests, we can minimize some of the expected conflict by planning ahead, especially by planning our communica...

As we celebrate our 9 Month-A-Versary, we continue to grow our podcast now reaching 46 states and over 55 countries! Listen to TalkDoc, Teighlor and Meredith’s latest blooper reel to hear more of our uncoordinated moments. Special thanks to our listeners who have supported our first nine months of podcasting in spite of our imperfections. Thank you listening to Asking For A Friend with Talkdoc! Ch...

“Did you have a good day at school?”  “Did you like the service we provided you tonight?” “Weren’t you sick on Tuesday?” All of us have encountered questions like these - framed to lead us to answer in a specific manner.  In this episode of “Asking For A Friend," Dr. Pamela Kreiser, aka TalkDoc, will help you identify the 4 types of leading questions.  Co-hosts, Teighlor and Meredith join TalkDoc...

From time to time we all experience silent moments during our conversations. How we utilize and respond to the quiet spaces between what we are saying to each other can either nurture or decelerate the progression of our everyday relationships.  In this episode of “Asking For A Friend,” TalkDoc explores silence as a space for something new to happen.  You’ll learn how to manage the awkwardness and...

Are you experiencing conflict in a close, personal relationship?  Are you searching for ways to overcome communication roadblocks in order to bring your relationships to a new and better place?   In this episode of “Asking For A Friend,” join TalkDoc, Meredith and Teighlor as they interview Jason Harper, mediation expert and conflict coach.  Jason brings his wealth of credentials and experience to...

In this episode, TalkDoc guides us through part 3 of the “Dance of Visibility." Wouldn’t it be great if there was a do over in conversation until we are satisfied with the results? Whether this be missed opportunities to speak or wishing you could delete an interaction altogether, learning to be strategic is a key element in this dance. It can be tempting to dump all responsibility on one person,...

In this episode, we tackle Part 2 of the “Dance of Visibility” discussing ways to reduce over explaining and over justifying our messages. Are you someone who finds yourself in moments of over explaining? This week is about the part of the dance where we speak up too much then regret the interaction altogether. TalkDoc challenges our emotion of worry in these moments. Perhaps you worry about other...

In this episode, TalkDoc begins our 3 part series, “The Dance of Visibility” with the effects of not speaking up, the consequences silence can have within ourselves and the world around us. Even a Supreme Court justice has admitted to electing not to speak up when she wanted to. So if you don't speak up, you’re not alone! When we don’t speak up when we want to, we lose alignment within ourselves -...

Have you ever had a conversation go no-where or just end because of a short response? Do you get frustrated with these type of non responses? In this episode, TalkDoc and the team explain the 3-part format of perception checks using practical everyday examples. These 3 part perception checks help us move through frustrating conversations and find clarity in our interactions. As you develop these t...

As we celebrate our 6 Month-A-Versary, we continue to grow our podcast further…farther! Listen to TalkDoc, Teighlor and Meredith’s latest blooper reel to hear more of our uncoordinated moments. Special thanks to our listeners who have supported our first six months of podcasting in spite of our imperfections. Thank you listening to Asking For A Friend with Talkdoc! Music by epidemic sound

In this episode (part one), Staci Ross, M.A., L.M.F.T., of over 20 years, holistic health coach and Reiki master answers questions and walks us through what gaslighting and manipulation really are. We hear these terms thrown around often and wonder if we use them accurately. Staci eloquently guides us to better understand these serious traits. As you listen, remember gaslighting comes in phases: d...

In this episode (part 2), Staci Ross, M.A., L.M.F.T. is our guide for how a targeted person of gaslighting can see the warning signs and find freedom. Staci relates healing from gaslighting as similar to healing from grief. While the loss of an unhealthy relationship is good for us, we still acknowledge the process of loss and healing work that’s needed. For example, have you ever felt pity for so...

Now that we’ve broken down boundary myths and how to make a boundary, we deep dive into practical examples of how to manage boundaries in real-time. We need to understand the other person's “why” for resisting our boundary. Look for the “turbulence” you feel, it’s a clue about what is important to you. We all know stress is inevitable in relationship, so why not learn ways to be pro-active instead...

In this episode TalkDoc breaks down what boundaries really are versus what they are not. Do you know clear boundaries actually help the people in our lives treat us better? What do you say yes and no to in your life? Do you feel overwhelmed or used? Research shows if we stick to our boundaries they help us feel less taken advantage of by others. It’s important to learn that boundary making is abou...

In this episode we discuss what a boundary actually is versus how boundaries often get misconstrued. Boundaries are all around us and help us know what we are responsible for or what others’ responsibilities are. They are about providing structure and research shows we require structure to thrive. Join us as we explore boundary violations, their limits and how you can clarify your needs. We clarif...

Join us as we interview life-coach Jamal Jivanjee about his work with others to confront the stories they tell themselves to reshape their thinking for better relationships and a better life.  Jamal explains that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. Jamal reminds us that our body is a record of the past and what we believe about ourselves will often repeat itself in life unless we change...

In this episode we discuss how we use words to soften the blow of our messages.  Every culture has ways to “beat around the bush.” Take a listen and let us know how you do this ( hello@afafpodcast.com ). Are there times when we should blunt?  Or can euphemisms be helpful to the other at times? Maybe trading our own comfort for the growth of the other is a good place to start (TC4G). While we belie...