Empower Hour

Guest: Serenity Calhoun In this deeply personal episode of The Empower Hour, April sits down with her 19-year-old daughter, Serenity, for an honest conversation about teen mental health, drug use, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and what it was like to walk through that season as both a daughter and a mother. Serenity shares what she wishes parents understood, including: Suicidal thoughts can feel i...

Episode Guest: Jessica Koptis, The Steady Stepmom This week on  The Empower Hour , we sat down with  Jessica Koptis , also known as  The Steady Stepmom , for an honest and deeply relatable conversation about blended families, step parenting, guilt, boundaries, and the emotional weight so many moms carry. Jessica shared her personal story of walking through divorce, becoming part of a blended famil...

Jess Gambill, LCSW and one of Empower Counseling’s Idaho counselors, is back on  Empower Hour  for a conversation that so many parents need right now. In this episode, April and Jess talk about the way words like  trauma ,  triggered ,  abuse , and  toxic  have become everyday language, especially for kids and teens. While it is a good thing that this generation is more aware of mental health, the...

This episode is a little different…and one you’ll probably  feel . No guest today. Just us diving into the hard truths people don’t always want to hear… but probably need to. We’re talking about: Why you might not actually be overwhelmed…just overcommitted How your thoughts are shaping your reality (more than you think) The truth about motivation…and why waiting on it is holding you back Why guilt...

This week we sat down with Megan McCaleb, improv trainer, comedian, and award-winning author of  Not My Plan — Sucking it in Until I Had to Push it Out . Megan teaches applied improv and humor to help people improve communication, handle conflict, manage anxiety, and become more confident in everyday life. In this episode, we talk about the powerful improv concept of “Yes, And,” suspending judgmen...

In this episode of  Empower Hour , April and Audrey welcome  Carlie Young , a holistic wellness mentor, Reiki Master Teacher, human design guide, and IFBB Figure Pro. Carlie is the founder of  Heart and Core Training Studio  in Boise, Idaho, where she blends strength training, nervous system regulation, and energy work to help women reconnect with their bodies and build sustainable wellness. The c...

Content Note: This episode contains discussion of suicide, self-harm, and mental health crises in the context of EMS work. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Empower Hour, April is joined by a special guest: her husband,  Jeremy Thorndyke , a firefighter-paramedic with decades of experience in emergency services. Jeremy shares what it’s really like responding to emergencies and why...

Postpartum is already misunderstood. But postpartum after surrogacy? Almost no one is talking about it. In this deeply personal and clinically informed episode, April shares her lived experience as a four-time gestational carrier who carried six babies for other families. She opens up about what really happens after the baby is born, the emotional complexity that follows, and why postpartum suppor...

Guest: Becca McKinney Rehabilitation is one of those words that makes people uncomfortable. When someone commits a crime, especially a serious one, can they actually change? Or do we just say that because it sounds compassionate? In this powerful episode, Becca McKinney joins us again to unpack the psychology behind real change. We move beyond politics and punishment and dive into the human brain,...

In this episode of Empower Hour, April and Audrey sit down with a powerful new voice, Tavia Calhoun. As a college student, part of Gen Z, and a deeply thoughtful observer of culture, Tavia has been ringing the alarm bells on artificial intelligence and what it may be quietly costing us as humans. This is not an anti-technology conversation. It’s an intentional one. Together, we explore how AI is s...

In this powerful and deeply affirming episode of Empower Hour , April and Audrey welcome Tasha Cofer , a certified postpartum and bereavement doula, grief and life coach, and host of the Holding Women Through Grief podcast. Tasha brings wisdom, honesty, and tenderness to a conversation many women desperately need but rarely hear spoken aloud. Together, they explore the realities of postpartum life...

In this honest, funny, and deeply validating episode of Empower Hour, April Thorndyke sits down with Jess Gambill, an LCSW at Empower Counseling’s Boise location, to tackle some of the most common myths people believe about therapy. This is not the polished, clinical version of therapy talk. This is the real, human, sometimes spicy truth about what therapy actually is, what it is not, and why so m...

In this powerful continuation of our grief and loss conversation, Susan Boswell returns to Empower Hour to help listeners better understand what actually helps when grief feels overwhelming. This episode moves beyond platitudes and dives into practical, compassionate tools for coping, setting boundaries, and supporting both yourself and others through loss. April and Susan talk honestly about why...

What makes learning truly stick? In this episode of Empower Hour, April sits down with Dr. Jill Chonody, PhD, MSW, LCSW, Professor of Social Work at Boise State University, to explore what it looks like to engage students beyond lectures, slides, and rote memorization. From creative classroom activities and experiential learning to AI tools, podcasts, and empathy-building exercises, this conversat...

Grief is something we all experience, yet so many people feel confused or ashamed when they are in it. In this episode of Empower Hour , April sits down with Empower therapist Susan Boswell, LMSW , for an honest and grounding conversation about grief, loss, and why the holidays can make everything feel heavier. Susan helps break the myth that grief only applies to death. Loss can come from relatio...

In this heartfelt and practical episode of Empower Hour , April and Audrey dive into the real meaning of gratitude and what it looks like to practice it when life feels overwhelming. Gratitude is often presented as something we should already be good at, yet many of us struggle with it, especially during seasons of grief, stress, or emotional exhaustion. April gently reminds listeners that this st...

Guest: Becca McKinney, Therapist Two recent losses of 11-year-olds to suicide have shaken communities and left parents asking hard questions. What is happening with kids today? Why are anxiety, depression, and loneliness rising so fast? And what can parents and communities actually do to help? In this heavy but hope-filled episode, Audrey and April are joined by beloved guest and child therapist B...

In today’s episode, April and Audrey dive into the messy, honest, real side of marriage. What happens when a married person develops a spark or crush on someone else? Why does it happen, and what does it mean for the relationship? This conversation unpacks temptation, emotional drift, boundaries, and the practical ways couples can stay connected without shame or fear. ⸻ What We Talk About 1. The R...

The holidays can bring joy, but they can also stir up anxiety, old wounds, and the dread of dealing with toxic or unpredictable behaviors. In today’s episode, April and Audrey walk through a practical, grace-filled guide to help you prepare, protect your peace, and support your kids. Below are April’s main tips from the episode. ⸻ Tip 1: Plan Ahead Prime your mindset before you ever walk through t...

Our favorite doula is back! In this heartfelt follow-up episode, April sits down again with Jamie Scearcy , a Boise-based doula and birth advocate, to continue an open and honest conversation about the realities of birth, postpartum, and the sacred work of supporting new families. Together, they explore what real postpartum care looks like—beyond the hospital stay. Jamie shares how she helps new p...

In this heartfelt first half of our two-part series, April and Audrey sit down with DONA trained doula, Jamie Scearcy, to talk about what real support looks like during pregnancy and birth. Jamie opens up about her own experiences as a military spouse, how her challenging first birth led her to discover doula work, and why education and emotional support can completely transform a birth experience...

Guest: Candace Green, IBCLC, PMH-C Host: April Thorndyke with co-host Audrey Smith 🔊 Episode Summary This week, April and Audrey sit down with Candace Green , an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Perinatal Mental Health Specialist from Augusta, Georgia. Candace shares her personal breastfeeding story, the emotional challenges new moms face, and how her faith drives her missio...

Why is it so hard to be kind to ourselves? In this episode, April Thorndyke , therapist and founder of Empower Counseling, and Audrey Smith , co-host and creative director, unpack what it really means to practice self-compassion. You’ll learn the three parts of self-compassion — self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness — and how to apply them in everyday life. From childhood patterns to gen...

Hosted by: April Thorndyke Guest: Dasha Hardin, Registered Dietitian What if your gut could talk to your brain? Turns out—it does. In this episode, therapist and Empower Counseling founder April Thorndyke sits down with Registered Dietitian Dasha Hardin to explore the fascinating gut-brain connection. From bloating and mood swings to stress and serotonin, Dasha explains how what happens in your di...

In this heartfelt and empowering episode, April and Audrey dive into what it really means to live authentically — beyond trends, approval, and social pressure. From childhood conditioning to social media comparison, they explore how our values shape our choices, self-esteem, and connection with others. Together, they break down practical tools for discovering your core values, setting boundaries,...