Foundation Restoration with Ashley McIlwain, MA, LMFT

Real Talk

Health EN ↓ 41 episodes

The Real Talk Podcast is about real people discussing real issues while offering real help at the intersection of clinical expertise and a biblical perspective. We will be covering an array of topics from mental health, emotional wellbeing, neuroscience, parenting, marriages, relationships, faith, and much more! Visit Foundation Restoration at www.foundationrestoration.org for more information!

Author

Foundation Restoration with Ashley McIlwain, MA, LMFT

Category

Health

Latest episode

May 19, 2025

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Episodes

EPISODE 41 | Crippled or Compelled? Making our Weaknesses Our Strengths 19.05.2025

Every single person on the face of the planet has insecurities, fears, and growth areas. Even the most seemingly confident or put together person is facing battles unseen. So, how do we handle those? What do we do with the things that internally wreck, derail, and debilitate us? What do we do with the things that hold us back? In today’s episode we are delving into how to handle our weaknesses and...

EPISODE 40 | Fake or Real? Examining Optics vs. Authenticity 05.05.2025

We all want to look the part, but is our fruit genuine? In this episode, we talk about the danger of spiritual imitation and how to recognize the real signs of growth in Christ. We are looking at the difference of presenting versus actually producing the fruit of the Spirit and living it out from a transformed heart. Optical illusion or actual fruit. Let's examine this together.

EPISODE 39 | Ask Me Anything: Should I Always "Side" With My Spouse? 07.04.2025

From our Ask Me Anything segment, today we are tackling whether you should always side with your spouse. In this commonly asked question, we are looking at whether a husband and/or wife always has to take the part of their spouse, show their undying “support,” and just agree with their spouse no matter what. It’s a sticky subject, but we’re untangling it in today’s Ask Me Anything episode!

EPISODE 38 | Social Media, Technology, and Mental Health - Part 2 04.03.2025

There is no doubt our lives are consumed with technology and social media, and for many, it's become such an entrenched part of our lives that we don't know what to do without it. In this 2 Part series we are looking at the link between social media, technology and mental health, with a focus on anxiety. In Part 2 we are continuing to delve into the impact social media and technology have ...

EPISODE 37 | Social Media, Technology, and Mental Health - Part 1 17.02.2025

There is no doubt our lives are consumed with technology and social media, and for many, it's become such an entrenched part of our lives that we don't know what to do without it. In this 2 Part series we are looking at the link between social media, technology and mental health, with a focus on anxiety. In Part 1 we are looking at what anxiety is, some statistics around it as well as stat...

EPISODE 36 | The Authentic Life 18.11.2024

We live in a world that is full of filters, facades, and fabrications. From social media to AI, there’s so much around us that isn’t real, let alone authentic. In the world of mental health, we’re seeing the desperation for authenticity in this world and the damage from the lack thereof. People want real, but they don’t know how to find it, discern it, or even be it. Today, we are going to dive in...

EPISODE 35 | Stewardship: Are You Making the Most of Your Life? 23.09.2024

Every single person on the face of this planet in the history of mankind has been given unique gifts, talents, and abilities. Every single person has been positioned in a specific place at a specific time around specific people with a specific purpose, but the question is, do we make the most of those opportunities? It comes down to stewardship. Do we steward what we’ve been given well? Today we w...

EPISODE 34 | Lessons Learned from Ministry & Leadership 20.05.2024

Foundation Restoration is about to hit the 14 year mark as a ministry, and there’s been a lot of reflecting and reminiscing that comes with that. Fourteen years brings a lot of learning and lessons with it, and today is all about sharing that with you. In this episode, I want to share some of the key truths I have learned about ministry, leadership, and venturing out to do something out of the box...

EPISODE 33 | Ask Me Anything: Does Therapy Work? 06.05.2024

It’s one of the most commonly asked questions I get asked. Does therapy work? Does it  really  work? Or is it a waste of time and money? In this edition of the Ask Me Anything Segment, I am going to tackle this question thoroughly and highlight 3 key components to what makes or breaks therapy’s effectiveness. 

EPISODE 32 | The Key to Coping with Anxiety 01.04.2024

Anxiety. Everyone experiences it at one time or another, but for some, it’s a debilitating and very real part of their everyday lives. Anxiety can impact people in different ways, but regardless, it tends to grip us in a way that squeezes the very life out of our lives. So, what is anxiety? And how do we deal with it? What is the key to coping with anxiety? 

EPISODE 31 | Emotional Intelligence 18.03.2024

We all have feelings whether we want to admit it or not. Some people want to completely avoid feelings and deny their existence. Others live and die by their feelings. Our world says your feelings are all that matter. The Christian community can tend to repress and discourage feelings. So what’s the answer? Is there a happy medium? Is there a bridge between the extremes? Feelings have their place...

EPISODE 30 | The Competing Spouse 04.03.2024

Do you ever feel like you and your spouse are competing? Like instead of being on your team, your spouse is competing against you? Does it ever seem like your spouse struggles to celebrate, elevate, encourage, support, or otherwise unite with you? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, this podcast is for you as we delve into  The Competing Spouse.

EPISODE 29 | You Need to Know Your Why: Marriage & Relationships - Part 3 19.02.2024

Life is full of decisions, responsibilities, roles, and relationships. Every day we face a full day of moving, deciding, functioning, and operating within a million places and spaces, and it’s easy to go through the motions of life without a second thought. It’s easy to focus on the here and now without much thought in what we are doing, let alone WHY we are doing it. I want to challenge you with...

EPISODE 28 | You Need to Know Your Why: Parenting & Vocation - Part 2 05.02.2024

Life is full of decisions, responsibilities, roles, and relationships. Every day we face a full day of moving, deciding, functioning, and operating within a million places and spaces, and it’s easy to go through the motions of life without a second thought. It’s easy to focus on the here and now without much thought in what we are doing, let alone WHY we are doing it. I want to challenge you with...

EPISODE 27 | You Need to Know Your Why - Part 1 15.01.2024

Life is full of decisions, responsibilities, roles, and relationships. Every day we face a full day of moving, deciding, functioning, and operating within a million places and spaces, and it’s easy to go through the motions of life without a second thought. It’s easy to focus on the here and now without much thought in what we are doing, let alone WHY we are doing it. As a new year is underway, I...

EPISODE 26 | Healthy Boundaries to Preserve the Joy of Christmas 18.12.2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be 1 of the toughest times of the year. We have a tendency to be over-extended, overspending, and overwhelmed. On top of that, there are expectations. Expectations from so many different directions and so many different people. Before you know it, the joy of Christmas gets lost in it all. Is this what the most wonderful time of year is about? No...

EPISODE 25 | Let’s Talk About Communication Part 3 - The Basics 04.12.2023

Let’s talk about communication. In Part 1 we discussed the ultimate purpose of communication is connection rather than merely conveying facts and information. Communication is what breathes life into a relationship and builds that deeper connection. In Part 2 we start to delve into the basics of communication looking at common pitfalls and obstacles to communication in hopes of bridging the gap an...

EPISODE 24 | Let’s Talk About Communication - Part 2 20.11.2023

Let’s talk about communication. In Part 1 we discussed the ultimate purpose of communication is connection rather than merely conveying facts and information. Communication is what breathes life into a relationship and builds that deeper connection. In Part 2 we are going to delve into the basics of communication. We will look at common pitfalls and obstacles to communication in hopes of bridging...

EPISODE 23 | Let’s Talk About Communication - Part 1 06.11.2023

Let’s talk about communication. We are absolutely flooded with information; it comes at us a million miles per hour. It’s not a coincidence though that we live in a world with more info than ever but people are lonelier than ever. Stats show people feel lonelier and more isolated than ever. We’re exposed to more information and messaging than ever before. Everywhere we turn there’s more informatio...

EPISODE 22 | The Weight of the World - How to Handle Things That are Out of Our Control 16.10.2023

Do you feel it? The weight of the world with everything that’s going on around us?  The past several years with COVID took a huge toll on people, which is why we saw huge spikes in relational, mental, emotional, and physical issues. Mental health became a major issue, and every negative stat spiked significantly as people dealt with the unprecedented challenges. As we have resumed a new normal com...

EPISODE 21 | What If We Cared? 02.10.2023

If there’s one thing this world is anemic of, it’s people caring. Caring to listen. Caring to care for others. Caring to be fully present. Caring to work hard. Caring to make a difference. There are a million things to care about, and yet, we’ve become indifferent and numb to so much. When did we stop caring about people and what matters most? What does it even look like to care? Well, that’s what...

Episode 20 - Toxic Positivity Versus Optimism 17.09.2023

Having a positive attitude and outlook on things is a great thing! Being optimistic and seeing the good are certainly worthy qualities. But is there such a thing as being too optimistic? Can positivity ever be damaging? In this episode, we are going to discuss optimism and when it crosses the line into something called toxic positivity. We’re going to explore the difference and how to strike the r...

Episode 19 - The Unfairness of Life 04.09.2023

Wouldn’t it be so nice if life was nice, neat, tidy, and always worked out the way we hoped and planned? It’s easy to think if you do the right things, make the right choices, and treat people well, then the right things will happen for you as a result. A + B = C, right? Unfortunately, no. Life is often unfair, cruel, and unjust. It can be messy, chaotic, and downright disastrous, even when you do...

Episode 18 - Ask Me Anything: Can People Change? 21.08.2023

We are kicking off the Ask Me Anything segment! One of the most common questions I get asked is whether people can really change. The short answer to that question is, yes. But is that the real question we should be asking? To that, I would say no. Today we will explore if people can change, how they change, and even why they change. Tune into as I tackle this frequently asked question.

Episode 17 - The Anatomy of Humility 07.08.2023

Humility. It’s a virtue that makes all the difference in our relationships, life, and work. It’s an absolutely key trait for quality leadership. God speaks of His favor resting on those who humble themselves, and we see Him repeatedly chastise the proud. Humility is such a powerful characteristic, so let’s examine why it is, what it is, and how we can try to cultivate more humility in our lives.

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