Emotion Well

Join us as we welcome MJ Andonie, a counselor and mother of two, for a heartfelt exploration of self-care in motherhood. MJ offers a transparent look at her journey into parenthood, revealing how it reshaped her practice and perspective of self-care. Discover the joys and challenges of raising children guided by deep-rooted values and gather invaluable insights into nurturing well-being while nurt...

Dive into an unforgettable episode as Saul Hammond opens up about fostering and ultimately adopting his son. Beginning when his son was just six weeks old, Saul shares the highs and lows of loving and parenting within the foster care system, describing the experience as an "emotional rollercoaster." With raw honesty, he recounts the challenges and milestones, from recognizing early signs of autism...

From childhood dreams to the NFL, EFR board member Josh Lenz takes us on his journey from high school sports to the spotlight at Iowa State University and, eventually, signing with several NFL teams as an undrafted free agent. During our conversation, Josh reflects on the exhilarating highs and challenging lows of pursuing his dream. He shares how shifting away from that season of life inspired hi...

Tune in for a compelling conversation with Jen Perez, EFR's Call Center Manager, as she shares her dual experience of providing direct care to at-risk populations and seeking support to manage the demands of her role. Jen opens up about the rewarding yet challenging nature of her work and the secondary trauma that took hold, highlighting the critical moment when she realized the necessity of self-...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with EFR's newest board member, Jim Wichman. In this episode, Jim opens up about his lifelong struggles with his mental and emotional health. He recounts how reaching out to EFR's counseling became a catalyst for change as he confronted and healed from childhood trauma. Witness how developing his mental well-being turned into a ripple effect, transforming his...

Join 'The Budget Captain,' Dave Won, as he uncovers a crucial aspect of financial well-being – your personal relationship with money. This episode dives into how childhood experiences shape our money habits. Dave reveals that financial health is not just a "money in versus money out" math equation; it's deeply rooted in behavioral science. He explains why having more money isn't a cure-all if your...

Join us as we sit down with Andrea Dencklau from Iowa ACEs 360, delving into a topic that hits closer to home than you might expect: Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs. If you're thinking this doesn't apply to you, Andrea's insights might just change your mind. We'll explore how these early experiences have a ripple effect and shape not just individuals, but entire communities. Andrea will unp...

Join us as we dive deep into the power of human connection. Our guest, Mary-Lyn Kieffer, sheds light on the transformative perspective shift within the simple acts of reaching out to receive or offer help and the strength you can draw from realizing you're not alone.   We explore Togetherall, a platform that unites people from across the globe in a secure and welcoming space where they can share,...

Step into a world of impact with Emily Holley of the American Red Cross. Beyond initial disaster response, the Red Cross volunteers are pillars of support for those facing challenges after immediate relief efforts have concluded. Emily sheds light on the everyday, inspiring stories of volunteers who bring solace and restore hope through mental health recovery resources in the aftermath of disaster...

Join Emotion Well as we sit down with Angie Chaplin as she shares her raw and powerful journey to sobriety. In this candid conversation, Angie reveals her struggles with career shifts, grief, and relationship woes that led her to lean on alcohol for a decade. After a life-changing wake-up call and attempts to heal through conventional methods, Angie found her lifeline: identifying her core values....

Get ready to dive deep into a topic that affects everyone, yet often goes unexplored - how your pelvic floor plays a vital role in your quality of life. Join us for an eye-opening discussion as we uncover the fascinating connections between your pelvic floor and your overall well-being with informative insights and unfiltered candor. From intimate relationships to everyday activities, Courtney Buh...

Scarlett Lunning joins us to discuss how life can be viewed from the inside out. She shares the Three Principles of mind, consciousness, and thought, and how they work together to create our realities. She shares her personal experiences with the Three Principles as well as recommends how someone can take small steps to greater self awareness. Connect with Scarlett One Thought by Mara Gleason Comi...

Zac Easter was an all-American kid; he loved football, he loved his family, and he had hopes and dreams for a future with his high school sweetheart. Zac also lived with mental illness that was the result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Zac knew something was wrong with his brain and wanted others to understand what he was going through so he kept journals of his experiences. Having p...

To recognize Child Abuse Prevention month we hear from Greg Bellville and Abby Patterson from Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. They share the importance of shifting the focus towards proactive and preventative measures to protect children, such as identifying and supporting families in need of assistance, instead of the reactive way the system is set up to report, observe, and remove children from their...

Barb Ranck joins us to discuss what imposter syndrome is and what it isn't. She shares scenarios from childhood that could predispose someone to imposter syndrome and provides different ways for us to think through our insecurities. Barb reminds us that when you give yourself grace, space, and time, anything is possible and you can lead an authentic life. Learn more about EFR's Life Coaching benef...

We are joined by a clinical psychologist to have a candid conversation on emotional abuse with. In this episode we uncover common characteristics of emotional abuse and discuss why it can be difficult for people in abusive relationships to see themselves caught in the cycle of abuse. We explore the challenges individuals face when trying to leave an abusive relationship and the importance of havin...

Season six of Emotion Well kicks off with wellness experts, Johanna Dunlevy and Kylie Mitchell, sharing stories of setting New Year resolutions and helping guide others to do the same. Hear from them on the importance of habit stacking, the secrets to sustainable lifestyle changes, and how to consistently make the easy choice when it comes to healthy living. Connect with EFR!

At some point we will lose people we know and love to death making grief an inevitable life experience. Buffy Peters, the Director of Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss, joins us to speak about the different ways grief presents itself, how people can embrace and grow with grief, and the abundance of resources available for those grieving. Connect with Hamilton's Grief Academy Learn More About No...

The demand for mental health services has never been greater but what does that mean for those living in rural and farming communities? Jason Haglund, a fifth generation farmer and expert in the field of mental health shares how accessibility, availability, and acceptability play a factor in addressing mental health and preventing suicide. Jason also shares how Mental Health First Aid can help mov...

Kristin Clark empowers teenagers and young adults to focus on their interests instead of passions when planning for college and career paths. Kristin shares how using CliftonStrengths can help untangle college planning and how focusing on strengths can spark joy and fulfillment and lead to more long-term career satisfaction. Click here to connect with Kristin!

The Enneagram is a popular personality model, describing nine types and what motivates each type to respond in unique ways. How these types show up at their best and under stress is key to building empathy and successful collaboration in the workplace and beyond. Hear from Enneagram expert Barb Ranck what the different types mean and how you can work with your types shine spots and blind spots.  C...

June marks Men's Health Month and Father's Day. To honor both occasions we invited former EFR colleague and founding co-creator of Emotion Well, Joseph Jackson, to share his experience as a new father. Joseph shares how being intentional about self-care has helped him adapt to his first year of fatherhood and how being present with family has helped establish a routine that benefits everyone's wel...

Lyndsey Fennelly is a mother, wife, basketball skill trainer, former Iowa State University All American athlete, and mental health advocate. Lyndsey shares her first-hand account of living with a mental health diagnosis, the path she took to get the help she needed, and how opening up about her journey has been helpful to others and herself. Connect with Lyndsey Read More About Lyndsey

Lars Peterson sits down with us to discuss mental health diagnoses, the prevalence of mental health across all age ranges, and why it matters that workplaces and leaders understand the basics of mental health. Lars shares ideas for grounding exercises, breathing exercises, and explains the Window of Tolerance. In addition, we share our benefit upgrades for EAP clients effective immediately! Window...

We are joined by Jay Foote who shares how mindfulness and body awareness can make a difference in how someone feels, both physically and emotionally. Jay shares information about the Alexander Technique, a way to move more mindfully through life to improve balance, coordination, and support. We learn about Jay's experiences as a professional musician living with chronic pain and how by practicing...