Critical Conversations

She finally has a name. Cowgirls Unlimited Ranch has been a labor of love for longer than I can explain. It's been built through late nights, big dreams, hard lessons, and an unwavering belief that there needed to be a place where people could reconnect—with nature, with horses, with community, and most importantly, with themselves. In this episode, I'm sharing it all. ✨ The who. ✨ The w...

Hope isn't the problem. The way we've been taught to use it is. We've been told to hope things get better. Hope someone changes. Hope the opportunity comes. Hope life works out. But hope without action can quietly become powerlessness. In this episode of Critical Conversations , we're talking about reclaiming your power. About becoming a co-creator instead of waiting for life to ha...

Manifestation isn't magic—it's intention, alignment, and action. ✨ In this episode of Critical Conversations, I'm debunking the myths around manifesting and sharing what I've learned through my own real-life experiences. Plus, we're redefining the word "manifest" so it feels empowering, not overwhelming.

What if abundance isn't something you create—but something you learn to notice? In today's episode, we're diving into the power of presence and how being fully present can open the door to a more abundant life. Presence is more than a mindset; it's a practice. And when we learn to slow down, tune in, and truly experience the moment we're in, everything begins to shift. In this...

In this episode of Critical Conversations, we dive into alignment, intuition, and the power of learning to truly trust yourself. This is a heartfelt conversation about listening to your gut, following your heart, and recognizing that many of the answers we search for already live within us. We talk about how self-trust is built through experience, healing, and remembering everything we’ve already...

This is one of those conversations that goes deeper than surface-level healing. In this episode, I sit down again with Grace L. Lamour, MS, LMHC , a licensed mental health counselor serving the New York, Florida, Virginia, Maryland- to talk about forgiveness—what it really is, why it matters, and how it impacts our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Grace brings a grounded and compassiona...

This is a real conversation about entrepreneurship—but not in the way you might expect. Because business isn’t just about strategy… it’s about you. The way you think, the patterns you carry, the places you avoid—your business will reflect all of it back to you. In this episode, we talk about how life is always showing us where we’re being invited to grow—and how entrepreneurship accelerates that p...

This one is personal. I’m sharing where I’m at right now—navigating divorce, co-parenting, entrepreneurship, and the very real process of becoming who I say I am. This isn’t polished. It’s honest. A conversation about alignment, self-trust, and what it looks like to keep choosing yourself, even when life feels uncertain. If you’re in a season of change or feeling that internal pull… you’re not alo...

In this episode of Critical Conversations , we’re diving into something that can’t be curated, filtered, or perfected. Embodiment. There is a difference between practicing something and becoming it. Between performing authenticity and actually living it. Between doing the work and being the work. So what does it really mean to be embodied? To walk into a room and have your energy say what your mou...

Accountability isn’t about perfection—it’s about ownership. In today’s episode of Critical Conversations , I talk about accountability in action, why it matters, and why I believe it’s one of the biggest things missing in our society right now. Showing up. Claiming your role. Doing the work even when it’s uncomfortable. This conversation is necessary. Listen now.

In this podcast episode, I interview a local entrepreneur Ryann Reinhofer, who owns Thoroughbred Real Estate Group and also leads a nonprofit organization. Today, we need your help. Please listen to the full episode so you fully understand what is at stake. But this is not the time to just listen — it’s time to take action. If you want your email to count toward the CPRD Board’s February 26th meet...

Divorce will test everything you think you know about yourself. On today’s episode of Critical Conversations , I break down the real do’s and don’ts of divorce—what I learned the hard way and what I wish someone had told me sooner. This isn’t just for those going through it. If you love someone who is, or want to be better informed, this episode is for you. Listen now.

Why do you still feel burned out—even when you’re “doing all the things”? In this episode, we go beneath surface-level solutions to explore what’s really keeping people stuck, exhausted, and disconnected. We unpack why quick fixes like time off, supplements, or pushing through rarely create lasting change—and what science tells us about the deeper root of burnout. This conversation dives into the...

In today’s episode of Critical Conversation , I’m reintroducing myself and reflecting on what 2025 asked of me as I shed in the Year of the Snake—letting go of what no longer fit, even when it wasn’t easy. I share what I’m carrying forward into the Year of the Horse: movement with intention, purpose, and self-trust. Through the lens of horses (and how deeply they mirror us as humans), I explore wh...

What if you gave yourself the space to truly ask: What do I want? This episode of Critical Conversations is an invitation to pause, get curious, and listen deeply—so you can move forward with clarity and take aligned action as you enter 2026.

Today I’m talking all about intention, accountability, and the truth hidden inside every YES we say. Because the real question isn’t “Do I want this?” It’s: “Can I be accountable to the work required to bring this to life?” It’s a powerful 30-minute chat that’s honest, grounded, and exactly what so many of us need as we step into a fresh season of clarity and aligned action. If you’re ready to cho...

This Thanksgiving, I’m learning to be grateful for the harder things — the moments where my voice shakes, but I choose to use it anyway. This episode is a vulnerable one. It’s about advocating for myself, honoring what I know I need, and finally saying the things I’ve been scared to speak. If you’ve ever struggled to ask for what you deserve or felt yourself shrinking to keep the peace… this one’s...

In this episode, I take you inside my second 10-day Vipassana retreat — ten full days of silence, stillness, and meeting myself in a way only that kind of pause can invite. I share what Vipassana actually is, why I felt called to return, and one of the powerful awakenings that cracked me open in the best way. This conversation is honest, grounding, and a reminder of what becomes possible when we g...

A tiny pocket of honesty for when you need a breath. I’m heading into my second 10-day silent Vipassana retreat, and before I go, I just want to share a little reminder: it’s okay to be imperfect, messy, and in progress. You still deserve space—to think, to be, to create. Here’s to showing up raw, real, and full of love.

This might just be one of the most important conversations I’ve had all year. In this episode, we dive deep into emotional intelligence — what it really means, why it matters, and how our willingness to be vulnerable can reshape the way future generations experience emotion. I share some of my favorite tools and a new mantra we’re using in our home to help build emotional awareness and connection....

In this episode of Critical Conversations , Karissa dives into a word that carries deep emotional weight: victim . She shares her personal experience of how being labeled with that word early in her divorce was one of the most painful and damaging moments—and why it’s so important to be mindful of how we use it. Karissa explores the two very different types of victims that exist and offers a compa...

This might be one of the most powerful episodes I’ve ever recorded. I went all in — talking about my divorce, the importance of confidence, and why change is necessary (even when it’s hard as hell). This one’s for anyone standing on the edge of a shift — ready or not. Because confidence is the foundation. Without it, we stay stuck. With it, we rise. The message? Pay attention. To yourself. To othe...

In this episode of Critical Conversations , I share a real-time moment where I had the choice to react—or to pause. A stranger’s unhealed projection could have pulled me into chaos, but instead, I chose to anchor in my healing. This raw and unfiltered chat is about the power of showing up for ourselves, so we don’t pass unhealed wounds onto others. Imagine a world where healed people are walking a...

Today I’m diving deep into a word that has been sitting heavy with me lately: deserve. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, I share a personal moment where I questioned what it really means to deserve—and how powerful we actually are as co-creators of our own lives. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why you’re not living the life you know you’re worthy of, this episode is for you. You’ll...

In this episode, I continue peeling back the layers of my own story—because my mess is my message. I share what it’s been like to move beyond survival mode and into a steadier, more grounded way of living. Along the way, I offer simple, practical tools to help you regulate your nervous system when you find yourself in conflict. These are the exact practices that have supported me, and I hope they...