Heart Of Life Podcast

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie welcome Licensed Clinical Social Worker Erica Henkel to the podcast! Erica specializes in taking a holistic approach to engage a mind-body connection and treating spiritual and religious trauma. Erica also specializes in working with individuals, particularly women, deconstructing ideas around their sexuality as a result of influences like purity culture.  Th...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke welcome Riverbend Collective Member Phyllis McComb to the podcast! Phyllis specializes in working with women who are navigating early childhood and attachment traumas. Phyllis works with a variety of therapeutic interventions, including hypnotherapy. This week's letter writer finds herself battling with the stigma around accessing mental health support and how to...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke welcome Riverbend Collective Member Jeanne Wickham to the podcast! Jeanne specializes in the treatment of addiction and trauma through gentle and respectful intervention. In recovery herself, Jeanne shares openly with our listeners about her journey and how her expertise can help this week's letter writer.  This week's letter writer finds himself recently sob...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke challenge the ideas of "singleness as a waiting season" and the notion of "soulmates." This week's letter begs the question "how can I find the person that is my missing piece?" Taking a closer look at how we choose partners, Brooke and Jesie offer the insight that perhaps it's about character and aligned values. Jesie and Brooke invite you to ditch the "checklist...

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie unpack the middle ground between selfishness and selflessness. This week's letter writer worries if they'll still be seen as "good" if they stop doing "everything for everyone." Pulling from personal experience and concepts around identity and boundary setting, Brooke and Jesie offer a fresh perspective on finding the beautiful middle in how we can show up for oth...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke dive deep into the idea of authenticity. How do we allow all parts of ourselves to show up when the fear of doing so can feel so big? Brooke and Jesie explore how knowing our values can root us in safe authenticity. Using ideas from Internal Family Systems (IFS) Jesie and Brooke examine how facing our darkest parts of self can help us welcome our whole selves into...

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie discuss how vulnerability can look different for all of us. While it's a universal desire to experience closeness and belonging, the vulnerability needed to do so can sometimes be frightening. The writer in this week's letter asks how a "type A nerd" can ever comfortably engage in vulnerability. Jesie and Brooke unpack some of the assumptions about vulnerability a...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke discuss the ways we can find peace in our relationship with our bodies. More than body acceptance, this week's episode encourages us to separate our worth from our appearance. This week's letter writer describes growing up feeling displaced from their body and struggling to find love or even neutrality for their body. Brooke and Jesie challenge the idea that our b...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke dive deep into how forgiveness is not necessary for healing. Many times, we assume forgiveness is the necessary component for moving through pain when in reality, shifting to forgiveness too quickly can have detrimental outcomes. This episode's letter writer wonders how they can imagine a future without the burden of anger and resentment towards those who have hur...

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie navigate the hard work of changing behavior and relational patterns. Often, we learn how to move through the world based on templates we saw the adults in our lives use themselves. This episode's letter writer asks how she can step out of old patterns of parenting that were handed to her, and into a more authentic relationship with her children. Jesie and Brooke p...

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie talk through what to do when someone else's emotions are filling all the relational space. This episode's letter writer wonders if it's fair to challenge someone to struggle when our boundaries are being crossed. Jesie and Brooke untangle the difference between having "compassion for" and taking "responsibility of" someone else's emotional experience. Brooke and J...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke discuss the pain of grief in the holiday season. This episode's letter writer shares vulnerably about his suffering in grief and the fear that he won't be able to cope through the holidays after recently losing his mother. In this episode, Brooke and Jesie challenge the idea that mourning must look the same for everyone, and provide some practical tips for holding...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke address self-trust, betrayal trauma, and loss. This episode's letter writer questions whether they'll ever be able to love again following a heartbreaking relational loss. Brooke and Jesie offer tangible steps in coming back to trusting ourselves and learning to love again after heartbreak. Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one'...

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke address boundaries, loss, and the difficulty of letting go and creating new traditions. This episode's letter writer questions how to honor their own holiday traditions while respecting a family member renegotiating their relationship with religion. Jesie and Booke discuss practical ways to honor our own needs while allowing boundaries to create space for connecti...

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie address shame, regret, and forgiveness. This episode's letter writer questions whether they'll ever be free from feelings of shame and able to move forward. Jesie and Booke discuss practical ways to relate to shame and provide some life-giving reminders about what redemption and forgiveness really mean.  Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it...

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie address gratitude, abundance, and the ways in which we can hold opposing ideas together. This episode's letter writer asks why they "aren't feeling any better after their gratitude practice." Jesie and Brooke offer the idea that expressing gratitude for people, attachments, experiences and a more abundant mindset may allow us to feel more of the positive effects o...

In this episode, Heart of Life podcast co-hosts Jesie and Brooke take time to introduce Jesie's story. Delving into the ways we learn about who we're meant to be, the roles we play in our lives, and the soulful work of coming home to ourselves.  Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share yours, submit here: https://www....

In this episode, Heart of Life podcast co-hosts Jesie and Brooke take time to introduce Brooke's story. Recalling impactful moments that led her to the mental health field, and sharing her perspective on humans, healing, and the work of telling one's story well.  Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share yours, submit here: https...

The Heart of Life Podcast is finally here! Sponsored by Riverbend Counseling in Colorado Springs. Through stories, personal connection, empowerment, and empathy, this podcast will inspire listeners to hold space for their own stories and healing. We're honored to hold space for your story. If you'd like to submit your story or question, find us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast