Living in the Sandwich Zone

I can hardly believe it's been a year since I launched my first episode of Living in the Sandwich Zone! In today's episode I share my reflections on my podcasting adventure and how it has changed me.  You can follow me on Instagram at: @karen.e.osborne Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

In this little bonus episode you'll hear some reflections on my conversation with Sheri Salata and I'll share some of the big gems I've gleaned from her that have helped me start rewriting my story. To learn more about Sheri and her offerings, check out her website at sherisalata.com and join her free Facebook group The Sheri Salata Community . Also, be sure to sign up for her FREE Change Your Sto...

In this inaugural 2023 kick-off episode, we're talking about letting go of old stories that keep us stuck and rewriting them to create the life of our dreams. I can think of no other person I'd rather have this conversation with my friend, mentor and former Executive Producer of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Sheri Salata . During her 20-year career running the Oprah show, Sheri brought us wisdom from th...

Surprise! Didn't expect an episode this week, did ya? Welp, here I am! This week I fill you in on our birthday/Christmas celebrations and my theme for 2023:  INSPIRED ACTION. You can follow me on Instagram at: @karen.e.osborne Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

With everything going on recently I didn't get around to preparing this week's podcast until (quite literally) the 11th hour. In this spur of the moment episode I let you in on how the holidays are unfolding in the Osborne house and also share some of the more emotional moments for me this past week.  You can follow me on Instagram at: @karen.e.osborne Click on this link to join Club Sandwich...

I recorded this episode while quarantining away from my family during my recent bout with Covid. I had a lot of time to think when I was alone. In particular, I spent a lot of time thinking out what it's like being separated from loved ones especially during special occasions. In this episode I share about the feelings I experienced after dropping Linny off to residential treatment on Matt and my...

For the past almost 3 years, one of my greatest fears has been about what would happen to my parents if they got COVID. In our family, we pretty much have every single pre-existing condition risk factor on the health concern checklist. So, I have catastrophized a ton of horrific scenarios in my head over the last few years. But now, I know firsthand and no longer have to speculate...because over t...

The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be chock full of fun and frolicking for many. For me...not so much. In this episode I share less than enthusiastic feelings about the holidays and all that is coming up for me this year. But, fret not, it's not all doom and gloom. List til the end and you'll also also get a couple tips that have helped lessen my stress and stir the holiday joy pot a bit. Y...

My friend Kory O'Rourke is an amazing human and an especially bright light in my life. Kory and I crossed paths in the parent support group for the residential mental health program that our children attended. She has been an invaluable source of support and encouragement to me and I am delighted to gift you with her beautiful spirit today! In today's episode you get to be a fly on the wall as we...

Rena Yudkowsky is a professional memory coach, geriatric social worker and the founder of Memory Matters an online resource that empowers mid-lifers (and beyond) to improve their memory and confidence through proven techniques and strategies. Rena teaches online memory improvement courses to mid-lifers and seniors. Over the past twenty years, she has served as the director of an Alzheimer's unit i...

After a week of emotional ups and downs after my dad's recent hospitalization, I share a little progress report on my self-care efforts. I also let you know how our family meeting went where we discussed what we'll do in future if we're faced with another medical crisis and the decision of whether to call 911.  You can follow me on Instagram at: @karen.e.osborne Click on this link to join Clu...

As a family we were faced this week with making the difficult decision about whether or not to call 911 for my almost 87-year old dad who was experiencing chest pain.  My dad has a long history of cardiac issues for which nothing more can be done and has also told us he does not want heroic life-saving steps taken to prolong his life. In this episode I share my thoughts and feelings about goi...

Ok, somebody pinch me!!! In this episode y'all get to hear about how my two-day self-care immersion field trip led to an epic encounter with podcast phenom Cathy Heller (who you've heard me talk about a bazillion times by now) and the Sprinkles Cupcake founder Candace Nelson. IT WAS MAGICAL!!! After a few months of being back at work, I could feel the overwhelm swirling. I recognized the feeling a...

In Part 2 of our conversation, Matt shares what eventually led to his bipolar diagnosis. He talks about what symptoms he experienced (particularly at work) that ultimately led him to the point of sitting down with a District Attorney and ultimately going to jail. We talk about our society's emphasis on hyper-productivity how that can lead to manic signs indicative of bipolar disorder often going u...

In today’s episode I talk about something I have not shared before in this podcast: bipolar disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder (sometimes referred to as manic-depressive disorder) is characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels that affect a person’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. It’s estimated that over 46 million peo...

Anger. It's an emotion I have historically handled in pretty unhealthy ways. In this episode I talk about my relationship with anger and share about the difficulties I face handling anger and other difficult emotions in the context of caregiving.  I delve into my process for recognizing when anger brewing in me and also noticing when it's showing up as a protective shield to deflect my att...

Meeting my friend Rachel Brumberger has been one of the standout joys of this podcasting adventure for me. Rachel is a master acupuncturist, herbalist, wellness consultant and overall warm, wise, insightful soul who is super easy to talk to.  In this episode Rachel and I talk about everything from childhood experiences & feelings of unworthiness, our deeply ingrained perfectionistic tende...

In this episode I come clean about my habitual procrastination, my efforts to shift out of that rut and as Shola Richards' says, "kick that silly habit". It's not the episode I intended to air but procrastination (and other curve balls of life) derailed me this past week.  You can find more of Shola Richard's wisdom on his website: sholarichards.com You can follow me on Instagram at: @karen.e...

After struggling for decades with public speaking anxiety, Dr. Germer found relief from anxiety and shame through the practice of self-compassion-- the warmhearted attitude of mindfulness when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate. In this episode (Part 2 of our conversation) he shares about the impact of shame on the body and how the practice of self-compassion is a powerful antidote to shame. Dr....

In February of this year, I had the opportunity to interview, Dr. Chris Germer, a clinical psychologist and part-time lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.  As luck (or fate) would have it, I had the chance to interview him on the topic of shame…not once but TWICE.  As you’ll hear, the first time did not quite go as planned.  However, the second time around (which you WI...

When things get rough to help myself feel better I often take a trip down memory lane to happier times. This week you get to come with me on one of those trips. This episode is one I recorded during My Weekend Away (you can go back to Season One to check out that episode).  In it my LARK friends and I talk about the Law of Attraction, pedicures, shoes, motherhood and how the stressors we face...

This has been a particularly challenging and overwhelming few days on both the parenting and eldercare front. Despite all my best efforts there was just nothing I could do to make things better.  In this episode I share a self-compassion practice I learned during my leave of absence that I returned to today to try and calm my own distress that resulted from it all.   The practice, Self-C...

Sometimes (really more often than not) when something happens to me, in my head--right off the bat-- I have an idea of not only what happened but why things unfolded the way they did.  In this episode I'll share a helpful tip I learned in therapy that has really helped me to slow down and avoid jumping to conclusions. The late, great Dr. Wayne Dyer often said..."When you change the way y...

This last week was huge for me!  I not only completed my first full work week in over two years but I also sent my firstborn off to college. In this episode you get a review of all that and more as I navigated some serious traditional milestones in the Sandwich Zone. You can follow me on Instagram at: @karen.e.osborne Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group)...

In this episode you'll hear about Day One of returning to work after a two and a half year leave of absence.  You can follow me on Instagram at: @karen.e.osborne Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): LITSZ_Club_Sandwich