The Commons with Karla

It is the week of Christmas and to celebrate we are sharing Christmas favorites.  Today you will hear some of the guests you have heard from before on other episodes sharing their favorite Christmas memories, traditions, and stories. Twelve friends of The Commons are back and if you stick around to the end, you will hear some of my Christmas favorites. If you want to listen to the original guest e...

The Commons with Karla is all about connection, and one of my favorite ways to connect is through books. This week we are sharing a book conversation that we had over in our Patreon community with my dear friend Jennette about the book The Downstairs Girl . If you haven’t yet heard of Patreon, it is a platform where you can support creatives and also get additional content and community. We have o...

In today’s episode I am in conversation with Tammy. Tammy exudes positivity, friendship, and kindness despite the tragic losses that she has endured. Tammy talks with us today about the many benefits of having a diverse community. She has friends in all walks of life: friends that are parents to young children, parents to college students, or even friends who are single with no children. She expre...

Welcome back to The Commons with Karla. Today’s guest, Katie Menante Anderson, speaks with us about the value of slowing down and making human connections. She is a wonderful example of a woman who appreciates, loves, and gets along with all different kinds of people. Katie went through an extraordinarily difficult time when she lost her son Benjamin to a terminal illness, but throughout the heart...

Life is full of ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and many transitions.    As today’s guest Erin put it, “Life is hard.” Through these challenging times, we are often dealing with and facing grief. Grief over losing a loved one or even grief feeling like we have lost ourselves. As the seasons of life change, the idea of our identity can change as well. In this episode, Erin expresses how she tied her...

One challenge changed everything for today’s guest, Nikki.   Nikki joined a gym after hesitation and intimidation tried to stop her. After a year at her gym, she was challenged to an elimination diet. This diet changed the way she looked at food forever. She now enjoys cooking healthy food for her family. The impact of these choices has benefited Nikki and her family, not only physically, but ment...

What does the word empowerment mean to you?    Today’s guest, Melanie, does a beautiful job of explaining what it means to be empowered and how to empower others around you. Melanie is a great example of empowerment as she not only empowers her own children, but also many other families in the world through Trades of Hope.  Trades of Hope is a missional business that works with artisans all over t...

What role do adventure and sports play in your life?    In today’s episode, I am in conversation with Laurie. Incorporating adventure into her life has been very important to her since she was young. As a child she was introduced to so many new places, and in return has given her daughters the same experiences. Laurie also talks with us about how being involved in sports from a young age taught he...

How can we develop deep connections when everyone is always so busy?    This is a question that today's guest, Desiree, often wonders. Desiree cares for people deeply and is a hard-working woman who enjoys her career. She also likes the flexibility she has to spend time with the people she loves. In our conversation we talk about loving our lives while also wishing people were less busy. And...

Welcome back to my conversation with Barbie. This episode is part 2 of my conversation with Barbie. If you haven’t listened to episode 83, you may want to pause this episode and come back after listening. In this episode, Barbie shares with us what it was like to become pregnant after having two miscarriages. She walks us through the journey of feeling joy while also grieving some devastating news...

Did you know, 1 in 4 women experience miscarriage? Women who are your friends, coworkers, and family have experienced miscarriage and may have never shared it with anyone. Today I am in conversation with Barbie. Barbie unfortunately knows the pain of these women all too well. In this episode, Barbie shares how her faith helped to carry her through some of the hardest times she has had to go throug...

Welcome to part two of my discussion with Monica. If you haven’t listened to episode 81, you may want to go back and check it out before listening to this conversation. In this episode Monica and I talk more about her life experiences, specifically about her faith story, pivotal moments, mentorship, mental health and the dark side of hypocrisy and secrecy. Monica takes us through her highs and low...

Have you ever struggled with the question, “What do you do?”   If you can relate to this question, then this episode is for you. Welcome to part 1 of my interview with Monica. Monica enjoys many important and differing roles in her life and is gaining clarity on who she is and why she does what she does. Monica and I discuss her story and how she has come to a place of accepting that she contains...

Welcome to Episode 80 of The Commons with Karla. Today I am talking with two guests, Amy and Crystal. Sometimes when we look at ourselves, we consider our health in isolation. We try to deal with only one part of ourselves at a time, whether it’s our physical health, emotional health, or spiritual health. Amy and Crystal talk in this episode about how each facet of our health is connected and dese...

Just because it is common, does not mean that it is normal.    This quote is one that today’s guest, Marci, offers to us in this episode. There are so many symptoms that we shrug off because we’ve been told that is just how it is. Todays’ guest challenges that thought process with the use of diet and lifestyle changes.   My guest today is Marci Zavala, a wife, mom to teen boys, physical therapist,...

The Commons is all about connection, relationships, and what we have in common. One thing we all have in common is having parents. Today on the show we are talking about parenting and how our different experiences shape us into the people we are today.  Nikki is here to share her story, passion, and knowledge with us.    Nikki has taken on the responsibility of parenting her own biological childre...

What brings you joy?  In today’s episode, I am talking with Holly. She is a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Creating memories and connections around a dinner table is what brings her joy. Holly has always loved creating a warm and welcoming home, decorating and styling it for the seasons, and cooking and baking.  Today we hear Holly’s story and talk about sharing what you love with other wom...

How do you feel when you hear the word “travel”?  For some people the word travel brings excitement and joy, and for others it may bring some anxiety. Today’s guest, Ivy, is passionate about traveling which has resulted in so many beautiful stories. In this episode, we hear Ivy’s story and talk about where her love of travel originated, how she navigates work and play, some of her travel tips and...

We are back after our short summer hiatus! Welcome back to The Commons. On today’s episode, I am in conversation with Sylvia. Sylvia is a cosmopolitan woman who brings sunshine wherever she goes. Opportunities, connections, experiences, and education are a throughline in Sylvia’s life, for which she has immense gratitude. Today we hear Sylvia’s story and talk about living a good life, focusing on...

The Commons with Karla is taking a summer break and will return with another guest episode in two weeks. See you then! Connect: ●     Karla on IG @karla_osorno ●      10 Day Connection Challenge   ●     Coaching with Karla - free consult or jump in  

Welcome back to another “Since You Asked” episode. Today we are talking about Disneyland, allowing “yes” to be your default, “play” as an adult, community parenting, when a popular book is made into a movie, and a book I read in July. Thank you for listening to another episode of The Commons!   Questions/Topics Discussed: ●     Trip to Disneyland  ●     Not being afraid to say yes! ●     Incorpora...

In this episode we are celebrating our two-year transplant anniversary!  In July 2020, I was a living kidney donor to today’s guest. In this episode, we get to catch up with Cathy Perkins, who joined us at The Commons with Karla Episode 8 released back in April 2021. Today, Cathy and I talk about our connection to one another and both of our journeys after transplant. If you’ve considered being a...

What is your relationship with the word “balance”? In today’s world, it seems like we are always on the brink of overwhelm and burnout because we try to juggle everything. If I were to define the word balance, it would be today’s guest- Ashley. Ashley has many roles - as a wife, mom, and working professional. She also is an incredible artist, caring friend, engaged community member, and a woman of...

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?  In today’s episode I am talking with Megan. Megan devotes her life to family - her own and serving others through her work. Volunteering during summers growing up gave her experiences that became seeds for her career today.  Megan’s journey shows us how pursuing what you love, using your education and talents, working hard and persevering,...

Welcome back beauties! This is a Since You Asked episode where I talk about the questions and topics everyday women are asking about life, work, and relationships. Today we are talking about task lists, digital photo storage, audiobooks for reading, and a book I read in June. I hope this episode provides you with some practical tips you can apply to your own life. If you have any questions you’d l...