The Nativist

In this playful and inspiring episode, I sit down with competitive adult gymnast Peyton Kiggins. Daring to defy society’s age limits, Peyton shares why she re-entered competitive gymnastics, and how she’s a stronger competitor now than when she was younger. Peyton tells us how she stays fit mentally and physically, and what she does to minimize injury and maximize growth and FUN. She highlights th...

As we’ve hopefully come to recognize now, there are multiple ways to be and to live, and motherhood is no exception. To me, motherhood symbolizes nurturing, loving, and life-giving.  In this solo episode, I explore the various manifestations of motherhood, beyond the traditional sense. I outline ways one can be a mother, ie a life force, without children of one’s own (so to speak). I reveal my own...

In this short solo episode, I share one of my top tenets in life. This approach helps you see more, experience more, learn more, contribute more, connect more, and thrive more. It improves your communication, enhances your understanding, revitalizes your relationships, and boosts your happiness. It opens doors, dissolves barriers, and illuminates opportunities. Okay okay, I know - those are some b...

My sister, Brooke [Richardson] Anderson is back on the pod, and I gotta say, we really hit our stride with this one. We discuss what she’s been teaching her daughter that’s possibly the single best predictor of future health and success, on every level: health, fitness, career, relationship, finances, etc. This launched us into sharing our thoughts on spending versus saving, our individual relatio...

Do you ever feel unable to decode what your body is telling you? Unsure why you’re feeling a certain way, physically or emotionally? Are you caught in a loop of stress/anxiety? Have you experienced persistent, maybe even baffling, symptoms? Do you feel stuck and frustrated? Untethered? Lost? Does the past have a chokehold on you? Or maybe you feel okay but want to feel your best. In this episode,...

Have you personally experienced the power of music? Of sound? Are you interested in optimizing your health? Feeling your best? Calming your mind and body? Is there anything you need to heal? Have you wanted to meditate but find it hard to achieve stillness? Is it hard for you to concentrate on the task at hand? Need help calming your kiddos before bed? Then this could be a game changer for you. He...

Feminism gets a bad rap, and is clouded by myths and misunderstandings. I’m here to [possibly] change your understanding, not your mind. This episode aims to clarify and illuminate something many may support without even knowing it: feminism. I debunk myths, I explain what feminism is and is not, and I share my thoughts and experiences being a woman in this world. If you’re a human, this episode i...

Are you sorry? Should you be sorry? Do you apologize excessively? Are you unsure of how to connect with someone during a disagreement/misunderstanding (personal or professional)?  In this episode I diverge from all the apology guidance I’ve seen, and specify where I differ. I reveal a hot take (you may agree, you may not) on what not to apologize for, and what actually weakens our apologies. I cla...

Ever feel overwhelmed by world events? Ever feel dragged down by negativity? Ever feel frustrated by miscommunication? Ever feel compelled to elevate your interactions/environment? Ever wonder how much you actually matter? This episode is for you. Well, really, there’s something in here for all of us. In this episode, I differentiate between influence and manipulation. I explain how and WHY our th...

It’s my absolute (and long-awaited) pleasure to introduce the podcast’s new monthly guest: Brooke Anderson - who so happens to be my sister and BFF. In this “soft opening” first episode with her, we talk about…talking. Direct communication, to be specific (and direct!): what this looks like, what it doesn’t look like, what it means, what it yields. Naturally, this leads us to touch on other topics...

We’re constantly encouraged to have a growth mindset; to be disciplined; to always strive to improve and to evolve, in virtually every area of life. But can that ever be taken too far? How do you know when it’s become problematic? What can you do to prevent that? Is there ever a time when a growth mindset is not appropriate or beneficial? What is true growth? In this solo episode, I highlight red...

Love. Communication. Discipline. Respect. Resilience. Adaptability. Empathy. Humility. Tenacity. Curiosity. Patience. Consideration. All key words for parenting and for life, and how you apply them matters.  In this episode Byron + Ashley Hunt share how they fostered healthy cohesion while nurturing individual empowerment  - for themselves + their kids. They reveal how they became a close family t...

Chasing youth seems to be society’s prescribed pastime. How does this obsession affect you? Your wallet? Your energy levels? Your outlook? We have all the anti-aging creams and regimens we could ask for (and those we don’t ask for). Are there pro-aging products? Opinions? Acceptances? Should there be? [How] Have our views on aging shifted? [How] Have your views on aging shifted? In this episode I...

In this first episode back after my hiatus, I detail my experience having my breast implants removed. I share with you the health scare that compelled me to finally get them taken out, the explant surgery and recovery processes I went through, and the complications and emergency surgery I encountered. I open up about body image and how I feel about mine post-explant. I talk breast implant illness...

Are you making life harder than it needs to be? Maybe you are and you're just not aware of it. If you’re like me, you make life 10x harder than necessary. Because you’re exhaustively overthinking, because you’re obsessively problem solving, because you’re overly complicating.  In this short episode, I share realizations I’ve made, and techniques I’ve used, to flow with life, not against it. I offe...

Life on your own terms means first defining those terms, yeah? So how are you defining the words in those terms? Whose definitions are you using? If you ever catch yourself comparing yourself to others, and/or telling yourself you “should” do this or “shouldn’t” do that, do you ever stop and truly ask yourself why? Have you ever questioned what success means to you? Do you analyze what actually re...

In a world of black and white, gray can be revolutionary, whether you’re accepting life’s nuances or your hair’s natural color. What if we leaned into the gray, instead of fighting or ignoring it? Meg Holmes shares her experience doing just that, by transitioning to her natural hair color and letting her silver shine through. She shares her steps, her thoughts, and her advice, including surprises...

What you feed, grows. What you focus on becomes your reality. If you want to change your reality, you must first change your focus. What you focus on affects your life, your relationships, your environment, and the world. Sound dramatic? I’ll explain why it’s not. I’ll also offer different ways of evaluating how you’re spending your most valuable currency (your focus), and suggest various ways to...

Do you feel emotions intensely? Struggle thinking/speaking on the spot? Feel affected by loud sounds/smells/etc? Maybe you know someone who does/is. I am on a crusade. My cause? To rebrand sensitivity. I aim to spotlight how being sensitive benefits ourselves, others, and the whole wide world. Let's make "You're so sensitive" a compliment, not an insult. In this episode, I explain what it means to...

Do we need self criticism? Does it help us more than harm us? Is it essential to high performance, achievement, and fulfillment? What if we stopped? Would we become complacent? Come with me as we address these questions, and I ask you some more questions that may (will likely, hopefully!) stop you in your tracks and prompt you to think about things (particularly yourself) differently than you ever...

From the minute I met her, I loved Maren Harris Watkins​ - and I’m confident you will too. You know those people who turbo charge your batteries just by proximity? She is one of those. Her titles (mother, group fitness instructor, UpBeat Barre co-founder, former college professor, meme master, fun crusader) inadequately capture her full awesomeness.  In this episode, we distinguish between body po...

Want to work smarter not harder? Want to cultivate the life you want? This is your episode. I present to you two shining examples: Jess and Brandon Desfosses. Realtors, DIYers, property investors, house flippers, adoptive parents, birth parents, restaurant owners, social media content creators, community networkers, spouses…their titles are many. How do they manage it all? Listen as we chat about...

Here it is, another deeply personal episode that’s been a long time coming. Today’s topic is my journey with severe eating disorders. I share which eating disorders (yep, multiple) I experienced and what factors triggered them. I talk about my recovery process (including outpatient treatment in Utah), and where I am with it all currently. I highlight what has helped me, to hopefully help and illum...

You know those conversations that leave you feeling connected and inspired? This is one of those. Dr. Nathan Richardson (no relation), Ph. D., Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Department Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio, joins me to discuss some pretty key topics: the role of kindness and emotions in politics; the power of curiosity in relationships and critical thinking...

I share my story on joining - then leaving - the Latter-Day-Saint (Mormon) Church, and how I feel about it now. I offer questions to consider, no matter your personal beliefs. I hope you listen - and live - with open eyes, open hearts, and open minds. I love you. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram: @the_nativist www.thenativist.net/podcast