The Catching Sunshine Podcast with Carolyn Cooper

A recent conversation got my wheels turning about creativity and what it really means. In this episode, I'm sharing some reflections and questions that encouraged me to think about creativity in a broader way. Not just as something artists do, but as something that shows up in everyday life more often than we realize. If you've ever thought, "I'm just not a creative person," I hope this episode he...

How much of our experience comes from what happens...and how much comes from the way we see it? In this episode, I'm sharing thoughts about perspective. From a conversation at a historic home, to memories from childhood, to a rainy day at Disneyland, each one reminded me that people can experience the same thing very differently. It’s a conversation about assumptions, curiosity, and the reminder t...

Can a broken vase teach us how to heal a marriage? In this powerful conversation, Shiree Sandall shares the story of her "kintsugi marriage" and how she and her husband transformed years of codependent patterns into a relationship built on interdependence, personal responsibility, and deeper love. Drawing from her own journey, Shiree explains how God helped her confront perfectionism, judgment, an...

How do you explain energy work to people who’ve never experienced it before? And what does the spouse of an energy healer really think about all of this? In this episode of Catching Sunshine, my husband Dean joins me for a relaxed, honest conversation about the work I’ve been doing for decades — including the questions people ask us most often. We talk about skepticism, faith, intuition, what actu...

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do isn’t speed up — it’s pause. In this episode, I’m sharing some thoughts on decision-making, pressure, intuition, and the difference between moving quickly because something feels aligned… versus moving quickly because something feels urgent. If life has felt noisy lately, or you’ve been trying to sort out your next step, I think you’ll connect with this...

How much do you know about the excavation of King Tut’s tomb? Maybe you’ve heard the story, maybe not— but either way, there’s a part of it that’s worth taking a closer look at. Not just what they found… but what happened leading up to it. This lesson is ‘gold’ and you might find yourself connecting this to something in your own life. Spring Energy Clearing Group Call Series. Coming Up: May Transi...

Your brain is filtering your reality right now — and you may have no idea it's even happening. There's a system in your brain called the Reticular Activating System, and it's been quietly deciding what you notice, what you miss, and what feels possible — every single day. The science behind it is fascinating. In this episode I’m breaking down exactly how your hidden filter works, why the same circ...

You are influencing people and situations further out than you can currently see. In this episode, a true story from the canyon country of southern Utah opens up a question to ponder — about what we put into the world, and where it goes when we're not looking. If you've ever wondered whether the small, ordinary moments actually matter — this one's for you. Book a complimentary Possibilities Call —...

This episode is airing on April Fool’s Day, which made it the perfect excuse to talk about one of my all-time favorite subjects: laughter. It turns out your body has a lot to say about it—and some of what’s happening behind the scenes might surprise you. From a story in the 1960s that challenged conventional thinking to research that might change the way you look at something as simple as a laugh,...

Your body is always talking. The question is — are you listening? In this episode of Catching Sunshine, we’ll explore the fascinating body-mind connection that has been at the heart of alternative and energy healing for centuries. From your eyes and ears to your hips and ankles, I’ll walk through what different areas of the body might be telling you emotionally and energetically — drawing on the w...

What if the habits that feel hardest to stick with aren't hard because of a lack of discipline or willpower — but because they don't quite match who you think you are? In this episode we're diving into the concept of "repeated beingness" — the ancient Latin root of the word identity itself — and why building habits from your identity rather than your outcomes changes everything. You'll hear why so...

Creation and reaction use the exact same letters — but they create very different lives. In this episode of Catching Sunshine, I explore the subtle difference between reacting to your day and creating it on purpose. Through a simple metaphor — artist vs. firefighter — we look at how easily we slip into reaction mode and how we can return to creating our days with intention. You’ll hear how small m...

In this episode, I share a few personal and business updates, reflect on how I’m applying the idea of floors and ceilings in real life, and talk about what the next several weeks will look like here on the podcast and new news with my trainings. If you’ve been navigating a season that feels different than usual, this conversation offers reassurance, clarity, and a gentle reminder that not every ch...

What actually helps people stay consistent over time? Not more motivation — but a different way of defining success. In this episode, I share a simple framework I’ve found helpful for holding goals and habits in a way that leaves room for real life, without lowering your standards. It’s not about doing more — it’s about setting things up so you can keep going, even when life doesn’t cooperate. It’...

It’s a new year, the perfect time to take a fresh (and very doable) look at food and how it can bring more energy and light into everyday life. In this episode of Catching Sunshine, I sit down with Ali Essig, creator of Plant Whys. Ali shares the moment that changed everything—her husband’s stroke at age 37—and how it led her to study nutrition and embrace a more plant-based way of eating rooted i...

A simple, heartfelt Christmas reflection on a familiar part of the Nativity story—one that invites us to see it with fresh eyes and consider what it might mean for our own lives. Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every week! Connect With Carolyn: Website: https://simplyalign.com/ Instagram: @simplyaligncari Mentioned in this episode: SimplyAlign Training Learn the...

One small thought can shift your whole day—here’s why, and what to do about it. You know those days when one little negative comment or thought sends you down a spiral? In this episode, we’re diving into the science of why that happens. We’ll talk about the brain’s tendency to focus on the negative, how beliefs get formed, and what you can do to guide your mind in a better direction. Oh, and yes—t...

In this episode, I’m sharing six ways to tune into the signal of your intuition and turn down the noise that pulls you off center. You’ll learn how to feel the difference in your body, listen for what’s aligned, and reconnect with your calm, clear inner guidance. A gentle reminder that clarity is always available—and it’s simpler to access than you think. Don't forget to subscribe so you're notifi...

In this episode, we explore three sneaky emotional patterns that quietly drain our energy and keep us feeling stuck. Using the dung beetle as an example, we take a light, surprising look at how these patterns show up in everyday life—and how to shift into something clearer and lighter. Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when new episodes drop every week! Connect With Carolyn: Website: ht...

What if life is trying to offer you a shortcut—but you’re too busy pushing to see it? In this episode of Catching Sunshine, we’re challenging the old belief that “there are no shortcuts in life” and exploring the idea that often, when you’re aligned and paying attention, life will gently show you a better way. Some paths do require the long, winding climb. But not all of them. Shortcuts can be bea...

When life gets messy, do you crumble, push through, or come out even stronger? In this upbeat episode, Carolyn shares what it really means to be antifragile—to grow steadier, wiser, and more confident every time life tests you. You’ll learn how to reframe stress, trust your own capacity, and keep your balance when things don’t go as planned. Including a funny story from Carolyn’s Jr. High marching...

What if you gave yourself the same love and care you pour into everyone else? In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah Haas, women’s weight release and body love life coach, breast cancer survivor, and mom shares how healing our relationship with our bodies starts with rethinking the stories we’ve been told. We talk about why protein and water matter more as we age, how to challenge old body image “u...

Ever leave a conversation feeling tired, anxious, or just “off”? You may have crossed paths with an energy vampire — someone who unintentionally drains your emotional or mental energy. In this episode of Catching Sunshine, Carolyn Cooper shares five common types of energy vampires, how to recognize them, and what to do to stay calm, centered, and compassionate when you’re around them. You’ll also...

Your “Prior Best” is that time in your life when things just seemed to click — when you felt focused, capable, and in tune with yourself. We’ve all had seasons like that, and the good news is, that version of you isn’t gone. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to look back at what worked during that time — the structure, the habits, and the mindset that supported you — and how to bring those ele...

Have you ever wished being organized felt effortless—or wondered if you could actually see yourself as the kind of person who stays on top of everything? In this first-ever guest episode, Tracy Hoth shares her “SPACE” method for organizing and talks about the mindset shifts that make order stick. We dive into how to overcome overwhelm, speed up decision-making, and detach emotional attachments fro...