Connecting U Podcast

Connecting U Podcast Season 6, Episode 1 We're back from our break! This episode features an introduction to therapy, addressing common fears and misconceptions, setting goals in therapy, and the importance of choosing the right therapist. Mayra also reflects on her 15-year therapy journey, emphasizing continuous self-improvement and adapting to life's seasons. Practical advice is given on...

Mayra and Emily delve into tough life topics, focusing on how suppressed emotions like sadness and grief can manifest as anger. Sharing personal and client experiences, they discuss how anger can show up quietly, the importance of recognizing underlying issues, and methods for emotional regulation. Emphasizing mindfulness and restoration, they provide insight into coping with anger in a healthy wa...

Mayra and Emily explore the complex realities of single parenting. They address the unexpected transitions that lead to single parenthood, such as divorce or widowhood, and emphasize the emotional and logistical challenges involved. Through personal anecdotes and broader reflections, they discuss the importance of redefining expectations and finding strength in the midst of adversity. They highlig...

Mayra and Emily engage in a deep discussion on the complexities of divorce, sharing personal insights and professional observations. They explore how unaddressed grievances can lead to bitterness and the reasons why couples often struggle to communicate early on. They discuss the societal pressures and misinterpretations surrounding marriage and divorce, emphasizing that marriage is not a measure...

Mayra and Emily dive into the topic of addiction in the Hard Truths season of the Connecting U Podcast. They explore the complexities of addiction beyond drug and alcohol dependence, including social media, work, and other behaviors. Mayra, with her counseling experience, shares insights on how addiction often stems from deep-seated traumas such as emotional neglect, abandonment, or other forms of...

Season 5 of the Connecting U Podcast focuses on hard truths in life. Episode 1 discusses the realities of grief & loss.

How can we wait productively for the big things in life?  Mayra & Emily discuss the power of waiting well for what’s best for you. They talk about the intuition and conviction behind patience, particularly waiting on the Lord during difficult seasons. “Patience is the posture of the heart while you wait.” This includes being hopeful while single, getting back up after being discouraged, and be...

The dating season is a learning season. Expect to be nervous if you really like this person. Going on dates is the prospect that your whole life could change after meeting this person. In a dating season, you should expect rejection & learn to push through it. Every ‘no’ gets you one step closer to your ‘yes.’ Feeling hopeless is normal when you really want something to work out, and it doesn’...

In this episode of Single & Dating, Emily & Mayra discuss healthy expectations in dating. Expect good conversations on dates, expect to be treated well, regardless of whether or not the date goes well, and don’t settle for less. Look for effort, intentionality, and showing you that the date is a priority. Expect there to be a directness in dating; When someone likes you, they should be wil...

Mayra & Emily take a deep dive into the core beliefs that create negative or abusive dating experiences, such as shame, guilt, and fear of abandonment. Steps towards healing involve relying on your support group, going to therapy, and taking small steps every day to rewire your beliefs. You are capable of working on yourself, loving yourself, and believing you are worthy REGARDLESS of how you...

You need to be honest with yourself about prioritizing dating. Sometimes, there is no room in your life to pursue dating at this time. Other times, you might be avoiding dating out of fear by saying that you are too busy, or you are afraid of getting hurt. Are you not dating because you don’t have time OR because you are afraid to actually make the effort and possibly fail? Trust that the timing w...

Connecting U: Friendship in College Originally from Azerbaijan, Ibrahim is the founder of the Brooklyn Education Network and was Emily’s roommate at Harvard College. Ibrahim grew up with mixed messages on the meaning of friendship and what place friends should hold in your life. He talks about the experience of making friends when he moved to the United States in 4th grade, when he didn’t speak En...

Connecting U: Jealousy in Friendship Everyone feels jealousy at some point, which is the feeling of envy due to comparison. Jealousy can be sneaky, so pay attention to when it is robbing you of joy. Some people express jealousy through rage, fear, humiliation, or other expressions. Sometimes we romanticize what others have, and we forget there are things that we don’t know about that person’s life...

Connecting U: To Conflict & Forgiveness in Friendships Mayra and Emily dive into how to resolve conflict within friendships. You have a responsibility to tell your friends what is bothering you if you want to protect the friendship over time. Conflict is the tipping point of connection, because you are better known and accepted in a vulnerable place. This creates a strong bond and a strong fri...

Connecting U: To Friendship Summary: We welcomed Christina Hensley, Mayra’s best friend, for a discussion on how and when to invest in friendships. You will encounter many different levels of friendship in life, and they will be good for different things. How you define friendships can show you things about yourself, such as trust issues and communication styles. Understanding what season you are...

Connecting U: To Friendship Friendship can mean something so different depending on your personality. Some people ‘collect’ those who are introverts, go-with-the-flow, safe, or any kind of friend depending on their needs and perspective. Tune in to hear Mayra’s best friend, Christina Hensley, and our take on friendships!  Key Takeaways: Christina is an extrovert, and she serves as a connector betw...

Connecting U: Anxiety in Dads Today, we welcomed Mayra’s husband, Gavin, to tell us about his experience with two young daughters. Dads experience anxiety when things are out of their control, especially when they feel like no one in the family is hearing them. Becoming part of a family unit can give them more to worry about than they were used to before. Gavin navigates anxiety by taking a step b...

Connecting U: Anxiety in Moms Season 2 of the Connecting U Podcast focuses on anxiety. Mayra and Emily dive into relatable stories and advice for those struggling with anxiety. The journey of motherhood can begin with an overwhelming realization of responsibility for another human being. People have a lot of advice for mothers on what to do, what not to do, and how they should be as a mother. This...

Connecting U: Anxiety in your 20s Season 2 of the Connecting U Podcast focuses on anxiety. Mayra and Emily dive into relatable stories and advice for those struggling with anxiety. Summary:  Join Mayra and Emily as they discuss what anxiety looks like in your 20s. People in their 20s can find anxiety in the uncertainty of life. They have so many options and so much time that it can be overwhelming...

Connecting U: Anxiety Series Season 2 of the Connecting U Podcast focuses on anxiety. Mayra and Emily dive into relatable stories and advice for those struggling with anxiety. Summary:  Join Emily and the first Connecting U Guest, Danielle Flint, as they discuss what anxiety looks like in teenagers. Danielle is a licensed therapist at Remain Connected Counseling. Anxiety makes us overestimate how...

Connecting U: Anxiety Series Season 2 of the Connecting U Podcast focuses on anxiety. Mayra and Emily dive into relatable stories and advice for those struggling with anxiety. Summary: You might not understand why your child or teen is anxious, but that doesn’t mean their anxiety is not real. Join Emily and the first Connecting U Guest, Danielle Flint, as they discuss what anxiety looks like in ch...

Connecting U: Anxiety Series Season 2 is of the Connecting U Podcast focuses on anxiety. Mayra and Emily dive into relatable stories and advice for those struggling with anxiety. Summary: Anxiety feels like a bear is constantly chasing you through the forest. Even in low-stakes situations, people with high anxiety tend to engage in negative self-talk and live in a fearful state of mind. Anxiety of...

Connecting U: Anxiety Series Season 2 is of the Connecting U Podcast is the Anxiety series. Mayra and Emily dive into relatable stories and advice for those struggling with anxiety. Summary: Anxiety feels like a bear is constantly chasing you through the forest, where every-day moments start to feel high-stakes. It can feel like you are having a heart attack. Gen Z will try to control the physical...

Connecting U: To Peace Welcome to Connecting U, where you belong. Hosted by Mayra Richards, CEO of Remain Connected Counseling, and Emily Robinson, Harvard graduate. Mayra spoke at the UGA Wesley Foundation on the topic of cultivating peace in your life. Grief during her mother’s passing left her questioning how to invite peace back into her life. She discusses how questioning “Why?” something hap...

Connecting U: To Healthy Relationships (Bonus: Love Is Blind, Part 2) Welcome to Connecting U, where you belong. Hosted by Mayra Richards, CEO of Remain Connected Counseling, and Emily Robinson, Harvard graduate. In this final bonus episode of the Healthy Relationships series, we delve into the relationship dynamics behind the reality show on Netflix: Love Is Blind. Summary: We explore the intrica...