The Maley Way

Youth sports expert Gary Thrapp is Jim's guest this week. Gary wrote a book about the world of youth sports. Gary appreciated the escape that sports provided as he grew up on a farm in Iowa.

Katie cleaned the fast food junk out of Jim's car at the gas station. A passerby noted how much garbage she was collecting, leaving her to clarify that it was her husband's mess. 

Jim's cousin-in-law, Maggie Doheny, joins the program this week. Maggie has struggled with anxiety for her entire life. Maggie discusses the effects of scrolling versus real life interactions. 

Katie attended the Bears regular season finale. Jim was home with the kids, but he let them run wild in the basement. Katie examines the evidence to piece together the hours.

Jim's son Jimmy V, a diehard Bears fan, is in the podcast studio. He values his youth sports teammates. Jimmy V gives direct answers in assessing his dad's strengths in fatherhood. 

It was a horrendous Christmas at the Maley home due to a incapacitating fever that took Jim out of commission for six days. Katie held down the fort for the holidays as Jim sought sympathy. 

Jim's guest this week is school social worker Claudia Kelly. Claudia teaches emotion regulation and vocabulary. Understanding emotions and being able to vocalize about feelings are important skills for kids to possess. 

Young Meg Maley steps up to the mic in place of her mom as the Christmas time crunch catches up with Katie. Meg is growing up fast. She offers some words of wisdom to LeBron James.

Aaron Essex is this week's Maley Way guest. Aaron played a role in the genesis of The Maley Way, all with a simple handshake. Aaron ran the Chicago Marathon to benefit Erica's Lighthouse, a depression awareness program. 

Jim uses a Bounty of paper towels for jobs both big and small. Katie says great Scott my Brawny hubby, use fewer please. Viva la conservation of paper goods. 

Jay Hanson is a buddy of Jim's from way back in the day. Jay is a firefighter who welcomes discussing mental health challenges of the job with any of his brethren. He encourages first responders to take care of themselves when off duty to ensure mental wellness when on the job.

Jim likes to wait until the snow is done falling before he picks up the shovel. Katie wishes he would start earlier. Jim wants more leeway with his alarm response time. 

This week's guest is Steve Peacock. Jim watched a speech that Steve gave recently and was immediately inspired. Steve is a public speaker who shares the story about the abuse he suffered as a child. His bravery in sharing his survival story is now helping others.

Jim trims his beard in the upstairs bathroom. The trimmings combine with globs of toothpaste to form a revolting mess. Even worse, the kids are starting to copy his toothpaste habits!

It's performance review time at The Maley Way. Jim and Katie page through a handful of previous episodes. They discuss their emotional responses to guests and to stories shared. 

Katie finds the parking spot closest to the building at every store, gym, and school. It's a trait she inherited from her mom. Jim and Katie vow to plan more date nights. 

Marine Corps veteran Paul McQuigg joins Jim to talk about the mental health challenges faced by our service men and women. The Maley Way encourages everyone to donate to wakeforwarriors.com and Semper Fi & America's Fund . 

Rachel Webb is the director of performance psychology and wellness for the Charlotte Hornets. Rachel joins Jim on the podcast to discuss the progress of mental health care for modern athletes. 

Katie loves waking up to the smell of delicious coffee Jim makes each morning, but he leaves the coffee can next to the machine. He unloads the dishwasher, but he leaves mismatched plasticware lids out on the counter. He gets household tasks 90% done. 

Former professional hockey player Sean Nicholson and his girlfriend Dawn Rys visit The Maley Way podcast studio. Jim and Sean were youth soccer teammates. Sean grew up in the era of hockey bravado, and has since learned to face his mental health issues head-on. Dawn, founder of Rise Vibrations, explains her methods of healing. 

Jim makes the world's worst peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids. Katie snapped a picture of the lackluster lunch centerpieces that were desperately short on both main ingredients. 

Anna Federman is in the Maley Way studio as Jim's guest. When Anna was 15, she was on stage in a school musical, and her mind suddenly went blank. That's the day her journey of mental health struggles began. 

Jim recently posted a picture of Katie coaching a volleyball All-Star game. Katie's eyes were closed, and her mouth was open. She didn't feel it was her most flattering look. Jim is a fan of the candid photos, and also loved that Katie was dressed like Carmela Soprano. 

Actor, writer, and improv comic Ben Seeder is in the studio for this episode. Jim and Ben were teammates on a terrific high school basketball team. Ben details his history with panic attacks. 

Katie isn't pleased with Jim's lack of towel and bath mat usage in the bathroom. Jim counters with a plea to stop waking him up in the middle of the night when he's snoring.