The Karen Kenney Show

In this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the ​"missing pieces​" in our live​s. Not just the painful things that happened to us​, but ​also the love, protection, ​witnessing, or tenderness ​that we didn’t get​, ​but should have. W​e get into how that silent absence ​of what was missing, can become its own kind of ​not often talked about trauma. I share about a recent death in ​t​he fa...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to “hold on loosely, but don’t let go” - not just in our relationships with others, but in how we treat ourselves. I share stories about a band, baby birds and bugs, a fantastic new book, and my own body - to explore why over-controlling, pushing too hard, and demanding “magic fixes” can actually slow down our healing. We...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to “worry a little bit” - especially about the people in your life who always look like they’ve got their shit together. I tell a personal story about being considered the “strong one” and why those folks often don’t get checked on. I also share why asking a simple, “Hey, how are YOU doing?” - can actually mean the world....

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about 6 powerful things that my therapist, Daphne Rose Kingma, taught me back when I was in my 20’s and living in California - that totally changed how I relate to myself and other people. I share the story of finding an old journal from my early yoga teacher training days and the little “love note” cards Daphne wrote for me that have stayed with me...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how to stop abandoning yourself. Self abandonment shows up in lots of ways, like: When you say yes when you mean no (like going out even though you're exhausted), or by people-pleasing, joy sucking perfectionism, and always putting yourself last. If you’re ready to build better boundaries, deepen self-trust, and practice more self-compassion,...

I recently overheard a conversation (yeah, there’s no denying it - writers are serial eavesdroppers) - where someone was struggling with a previous verbal commitment they had made. They'd given their word to someone about something… but then the facts and situation changed, and they were grappling with what to do. I’m paraphrasing - but they said something like, “I gave my word, but now that relat...

Do you ever just catch yourself feeling a little extra cranky, nitpicky, or just sort of over it… even though nothing is technically wrong? Yeah, me too. 🙋🏼‍♀️ It occurred to me the other day (as I was falling asleep) that maybe I could use a little "attitude adjustment". 😳 And I'm pretty sure that that’s exactly what sparked this week’s episode of The Karen Kenney Show where I share a simple p...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to make a positive contribution in your life - especially when you’re feeling stuck, scared, or like you’re falling behind. I share a little bit about working on my memoir and why author Ryan Holiday says that chasing word or page counts can backfire, and how shifting to small, doable daily actions can change everything. W...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why simply showing up for the people you love - matters more than you might think. I share the story of my first-ever art exhibition (eeeek!), the friends who showed up to surprise me there (“We got you, Motherfucker!” 😆), and how that moment healed an old part of me that had gotten used to “going it alone.” We dive into what I call your “Bal...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the powerful difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion and why it matters in how we move through the world. I share a personal story about my mixed media art piece that I created for “The Mothership” Exhibition - in honor of my mother on the 45th anniversary of her murder - and how watching strangers interact with my work revealed,...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really looks like to say yes before you’re ready… even when your nervous system is wanting to hold out for certainty. I share the wild, kismet kind of story of how I unexpectedly ended up invited into my very first art show, “The Mothership,” and why I said yes - even though I had no piece made, no plan in place, and a whole lot of sel...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really looks like to show up for yourself and others even when you don’t feel like it. I share how a “meh” start to my morning turned into both a strength training workout and a new podcast episode! It was also a reminder of the exponential impact and importance of keeping our word to ourselves and how that decision builds self-trust,...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it means to find the new ​"right distance​" in ​our relationships​. Whether ​t​hat's choosing to be ​w​icked close​ to some people - while having to keep a few other humans a little ​bit at arm’s length​. The thing is, sometimes being all up close and cozy is where it's at - and ​sometimes what we need to do consider is if it makes more s...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why it’s so important to stop believing everyone else’s opinions and to start finding out for yourself what rings true for you. I share some wicked funny and surprising stories from a recent “experiment” I did selling my stuff online. I dive into how these real-life encounters with total strangers reminded me that people are far more complex,...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why ​"you can’t get there ​from here​." ​Especially when​ "there" is a new way of thinking, being, and doing and “here” is you clinging to your same old ​stories, ​beliefs, and behaviors. Telling a ​tale about a snowy dead-end street​ in my hometown, showing a ​fun stick-figure drawing​ that I did, and sharing some down-to-earth spiritual tool...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the power of enough - the radical, life-changing shift that happens when we stop chasing the elusive “more-more-more” and start recognizing and appreciating what we already have. I share one of my favorite stories from Kurt Vonnegut about Joseph Heller, and how Heller’s one line, “I’ve got something he can never have… the knowledge that I’ve g...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what I’m calling ​"your own personal Fight Club​" – that private, often silent battle that every single one of us is d​ucking, bobbing, and weaving and sometimes still getting knocked on our ass by. I share a wicked ​​familiar driving story (​u​se your feckin' blinkah'!!!​ 😆) to show how easy it is to leap to judgment, and how I’ve trained my...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why you can't explain yourself to everybody all the time and how trying to do so, will just wear you the heck out! I also share how the tendency to over explain is often rooted in a fear of being misunderstood, and yet our words often get filtered through other people’s history, trauma, beliefs, and stories long before they land anyway. Which...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it means to live with the consequences of being yourself… the good, the bad, and the kinda’ messy in-between. I share how so much of my work with others and my life was/is about learning how to own our brilliance and our bullshit. So, we take a look at how our past conditioning, familiar patterns, and played out stories often shape how we...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about regret. You know, the stuff we wish we hadn’t done, the chances we never took, and the future regret we can possibly prevent - if we’re willing to get honest and take some action. I break down these three types of regret and share how a little self-awareness, self-forgiveness, and courage can help us make peace with the past and do better movi...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk with author, spiritual intuitive, oracle expert, and artist Colette Baron-Reid about her new book - The Art of Manifesting: A Meditative Drawing Practice to Rewire Your Brain and Create Your Reality . We discuss Colette’s AM Method (Art of Manifesting ) - which uses doodles, circles, lines, and gratitude bubbles - and how it brings together the powe...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to be “in the commitment business.” I share some stories about yoga classes, Spiritual Mentoring, and my Sweetie’s life as a professional musician to illustrate the difference between being committed to the idea of change -vs- taking the gosh-dang consistent actions that actually create it! We’ll look at human nature, the...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how important it is to think for yourself - especially in the age of influencers, grifters, and bro-science “experts” - including those being revealed in the Epstein files. I share a little modern-day PSA about being on the lookout for online scams, shady spiritual teachers, coaching programs with “culty” vibes, and podcasters who try to sell...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it feels like to be alive in a world that seems like it’s on fire - the grief, fear, anger, overwhelm and helplessness so many people are carrying. I connect the dots between abusive power and how those in power benefit from keeping us exhausted, distracted, and in despair. I also remind us that “they’ve always killed the helpers” - from...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how our actions are the true voice of our heart. I share some real-life stories about human kindness, integrity, character, and choosing to do the right thing. Like the stranger who owned up to dinging my car, and the “dressing room angel” who helped me get ready for a funeral during an extra hard week, and my old childhood friend who remember...