Free to Be Mindful Podcast | Helping Professional Moms Find Calm in a Busy World

There's no rulebook or manual to life—so using planning as a decision-making tool can help guide the way. But what if things happen not according to plan? It's okay to redirect ourselves! This episode explains our bodies' emotional and physical responses through the science of planning, a framework for coping once things don't go as planned and understanding the universe's...

May the luck be in your favor! Have you ever heard of the debate between luck and hard work, and wondered how much chance vs. choice truly plays a role in your journey?  This episode dives into the phenomenon of luck, ways to develop our motivation and hard work, and ways to build on our success and positive mindsets.   In this special St. Patrick's Day-themed episode, join Vanessa De Jesus G...

International Women's Day is a global day dedicated to celebrating women and their accomplishments and showcasing awareness of any issues of gender inequality that still might exist. And womanhood is a beautiful superpower—but with the power and progress, challenges and expectations also exist. Womanhood is a testament to resilience, leadership, and inspiration—a testament to roles as leaders...

Inner intuition is the compass that guides us through life's uncharted waters. Whether we think of it as an inner voice, a subconscious decision, an innate understanding, or a gut feeling, inner intuition is key to self-awareness and decision-making: so it's just as important to discover how to hone in on it. This episode explores the psychology behind inner intuition, the various types...

2024 is a leap year! Earth's orbit around the sun takes approximately 365.25 days; rounded to 365 in the calendar year. That missing partial day, added one day every four years, is a leap year. The bonus day leads to a creative, invigorating question: What would you do if you had all the time in the world? This episode explores ways to beat time anxiety, create value in your time, and find th...

Even with all of the modern connections and digital technology, loneliness is considered to be an epidemic in the US. It's a paradox—one that weighs heavily on our physical and mental health, and growth as individuals and global collectives. This episode navigates the path from crisis to connection by exploring possible triggers, sharing ways to fight the epidemic of loneliness, and understan...

Love comes in many forms, and cultivating it is important for the growth of our journeys, relationships, and lifestyles. There’s love in our actions, love in the connections we make, and love that guides our decisions or mindsets. Platonic love, romantic love, selfless love, timeless love, acts of love —the list goes on.  As this Valentine's Day rolls around, join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman to s...

Awareness is what bridges the gap between the known and unknown—but it can be difficult to reach it, especially when we might deal with multiple biases. Unpacking awareness and learning more about these biases can help us make space for understanding and mindful living. This episode delves into the importance of self and social awareness, the multiple types of biases and how they might come to be,...

Founder of SalsaFever on2 Dance Academy and guest resident lecturer at ASU, Mario Gonzalez, better known as Mario B, is a visionary creative with over 25 years of experience in dance. He has appeared on multiple reality shows and films, has performed and taught over 36 countries, hosted several Salsa Congresses, and loves inspiring others and making salsa as inclusive as possible. Mario B shares p...

We know how much words can hold weight, but they can do more than be a definition: they can also be used to shape your journey! By choosing a word of the year, we can redefine what is important to us, allow it to guide us through the process, and actively attain the goals or changes we envision. These three steps are key to developing a change or mindset different from a traditional New Year’s Res...

New Year, Same You! The New Year will bring beautiful changes, growth, and a positive spark in our personal development. But you don’t need to reinvent yourself and completely forego the journey that has made you become the person you are today: nurturing and loving the “current” versions of ourselves is needed. This episode dives into ways we can become the best versions of ourselves: from learni...

Whether you're tuning in at the end of the year or during any other moment, the insights shared are timeless and relevant.  In this episode we discuss the power of reflection on the past, celebrating current achievements, and planning for the future. Guided questions are provided for each aspect to help the listener reach success for the upcoming year.  Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in a refle...

Christmas is coming! Although there is a lot of beauty in the precious moments of the holiday season, we can often get caught up in busy, hectic holiday schedules, not giving ourselves the opportunities to enjoy, reflect, and find peace during our break.  This holiday season, create mini mindful moments that help replenish your energy, such as incorporating mindfulness by aligning with your senses...

Our emotions are complex. Whether it's the mixed feelings that come with the holiday season, tough times in our personal lives, or experiencing emotions in response to what is happening in the world, we can feel a lot of things—and there is a way to unpack them. This episode shows the power of emotional awareness, shares ways to balance our emotions, and reflects on our range of needs. By fee...

The holiday season is filled with love, joy, and fun-filled gatherings—but it can also bring unwanted experiences or tough discussions. Holidays can trigger intense emotions, and knowing how to respond appropriately instead of reacting intensely is key to having mindful gatherings and growing relationships.  This episode explores topics that may cause triggers, ways to work through conflict, and t...

Life is constantly changing - which can be beautiful or overwhelming! Adapting to new lifestyles, enjoying modern culture, and remembering how to appreciate memories are great ways to bridge the "new" and "old."  In this episode, we talk about the fluidity of modern changes, popular cultural changes in tech and entertainment, and mindfulness practices that allow us to reflect,...

This Thanksgiving, we're serving up all things gratitude! During a time filled with love, warmth, and full bellies, it's the perfect time to add the power of embracing a lifestyle of gratitude to our menu.  This episode dives into the benefits of gratitude, how we can incorporate a gratitude practice, and ways to find grace for ourselves and others.  When we reflect on ways to connect gr...

Daylight Savings might change the time on our alarm clocks - but that's not the only thing it's known for! With our sleeping patterns changing, it's important to reflect on the power of sleep, and how we can use it effectively to feel relaxed, recharged, and rejuvenated.  This episode explores the impacts of good sleep hygiene, tips on how to improve sleep quality, and how to manage...

Cheers to social media - a source for connection, uplifting each other, and finding tools for growth and learning! Social media is one of the most powerful (and popular) tools today - so how can we make sure we harness it to the fullest potential?  In this episode, we talk about the benefits of social media, tips for using social media in a healthy way, and how to balance the online world with the...

When times are difficult, the greatest strength we have is each other. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and finding ways to support anyone experiencing domestic abuse, learning ways to recognize patterns of trauma, and coming together as a collective to help each other share voices and heal goes a long way.  Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman in a conversation challenging the stigma, and ma...

October is Depression Awareness and Prevention Month, and it's the time to challenge the masks of depression, embark on a healing journey, and embrace the self-love and self-care we deserve.  This episode dives into some of the symptoms of depression, encourages us to break the stigma, and offers practices and tips to create a healthy, authentic lifestyle. Whether it's finding the right...

October is National ADHD Awareness Month! Join Vanessa De Jesus Guzman and special guest, musician Greg Rider, as they dive into an honest conversation about life with ADHD, recognizing the signs and symptoms, and core topics in personal development.  This episode walks us through Greg Rider's personal journey with ADHD, how he was able to receive help, and how the diagnosis impacted his life...

As children, many of us may have experienced bullying, talked about bullying in school, or were reminded about the importance of compassion and speaking up. But bullying in adulthood exists, too! Bullying, or mistreatment, can go beyond the playground: and it still hurts.  This episode shows how you can navigate bullying in adulthood by identifying forms of bullying in different environments, lear...

Today's hot topic: time! Time management is a beneficial skill that impacts our personal and professional lives. And with something as valuable as time, how we use it matters. How can we use time as a resource? What does it mean to be mindful of the time we have? This episode dives into these questions and more as we tune into ways to use effective time management for a happier self.  Tune in...

We can sometimes experience apathy as a coping mechanism, or as a lasting impact of stressful situations we've been through. We've also seen firsthand the impact of empathy - how small acts of kindness pave the way for a transformative journey for ourselves and our community!  This episode dives into understanding what apathy is, how to cultivate empathy, and how to balance both to stay...