The Smoke Break

On this week's episode of "The Smoke Break", we hung out with the intrepid Rochelle Cote. We started out complaining about how difficult it is to access mental health resources, and how frustrating it is to still have so many barriers in the way when you're finally feeling ready to try something new. Then we chatted about DBT treatment and how helpful it can be to equip folks with tangible skills...

Hey pals! On this week's episode of "The Smoke Break", we hung out with the host of "Leave Your Troubles" Chris Hudson. We began by tackling toxic positivity—you know it, you love it—and how it gives good vibes a bad name. Then we moved on to "usefulness"—how we might sometimes tie our value to what we're able to contribute, and what happens when we maybe aren't in a place to contribute very much—...

Hey pals! On this week's episode of "The Smoke Break", we hung out with a true delight, Portland comedian Rachelle Cochran. We started off talking about humor—which makes sense on a podcast about comedy, I guess—and about how we rely on it to get through these…questionable times. Next up, we focused on joy—how do we define it, hold on tight to it, feel embarrassed by it, and fill our lives with it...

Hey pals! On this week's episode of "The Smoke Break", we spent some quality time with Briauna Skye! We kicked it off talking about friend breakups, which are possibly worse than relationship breakups—they linger in a special way, and are uniquely unmooring. Then we followed that up with weaponized boundaries, which kind of became a conversation about something else when we realized we weren't tot...

Hey pals! On this week's episode of "The Smoke Break", we finally got to hang out with Zachary Clark! We started with Individualism—how it can make us feel unique but also can get in the way of genuine community and caring for each other. Then we talked about finding Balance. In this modern world, we have to manage so many things, and it's tough to find balance between all our responsibilities AND...

Hey pals! On this week's episode of "The Smoke Break", we had the best time with iconic queer comedian Gabe Holmes. We kicked it off talking about dependability—are we dependable? Who are the dependable people in our lives? Why is it important? How does it make our lives easier? Then we followed that up with the concept of wasting time…. Time is always passing and it's the most finite of resources...

Hey pals! On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we had the pleasure of hanging out with Ryan Knudtson aka Mob Rule. We started things off talking about some shared diagnosis, and how folks have gotten through some really tough years with the help of supportive people, grit, and new skills. Then we talked about being in a hospital for mental health reasons and that while they can be useful b...

Oh hey, we’re back! On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we got to know Eli Gray (they/them) - Founding Director of WERQ TOGETHER. We got things going talking about trans joy, and the non-profit Eli started to help operationalize the support that they’d already been offering to the community for a while—including a dope event coming up on March 29th called Trans Town PDX! We kept things go...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we got to hang out with storyteller, producer, and owner of Coffee Beer, the very silly Phillip Stewart. We began with the commodification of mental health in this day and age—the way capitalism impacts our choices and well-being, and how we are trying to take it back. Then we moved to the idea of “knowing vs doing”—like just because you GO to therapy,...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we finally got to hang out with the our old pal comedian Mike Lindsey. We kicked things off by talking about the idea of desperation—how it can sometimes be motivating, or can sometimes be the reason people act outside their values. Then we bounced back by discussing connection—where we’ve found it, what happens when people are deprived of it, and how y...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we finally got to hang out with the lovely comedian, storyteller, and vigilante Jenna Britann. We kicked things off by talking about pain—physical or emotional, how it can shape us, and how our relationship has changed to it over the years. Then we tackled priorities—how do you make them? How are you supposed to know what should be at the top of the lis...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we were lucky enough to get to spend a little time with horror author Keith Rosson. We started with—you guessed it—fear, because what else do you do when you’ve got an expert around—how it can be paralyzing, motivating, or just plain fun. Then we went the next logical place…writer’s block. We’re all victims to it, we’ve all managed to escape it, we don’...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we had a delightful time with comedian, darling, and silly goose Joe John Sanchez the III. We started off talking about standing up for ourselves—times we’ve done it, times we wished we had done it, and how to get better at it, since none of us seemed to be experts on this one…. Then we got into some delusions—the sort of magical headspace you have to g...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we were so excited to have a conversation with the extremely talented and dynamic Kingsley. We began by talking about the concept of “Breath-play” (versus “breath-work”) and how something as simple as breathing that we do all the time can be really powerful when we start paying more attention to it. Then we discussed the idea of creation being the oppos...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we had a real good time with Iris. We got things going talking about an awfully big topic—love….how we find it, how we accept and reject it, how we offer it to others, and how our approach to it and experience of it have changed as we personally change and grow. Then we moved on to the idea of their being a “Golden Age” in your life—and how we almost al...

Episode 129: “ ft. Jasmine Nothing and Telltale Presents On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we are excited to officially announce our new collaboration with Telltale Presents, a production company running various shows and events over the last nine years. We are proud to welcome to the show our new co-host Jasmine Nothing. We started things off discussing collaboration—how it can be effe...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we spent the afternoon with the delightful Hannah Schrom. We kicked things off talking about complicated family relationships where things are reversed, like a child caretaking for a grandparent, or having to be the adult to their own parents. Next up we dove into the idea of attachment styles, and all immediately saw which one felt like it hit close to...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we really got to know artist, musician, and storyteller Aaron Fairchild. We started out our time together talking about bravery—how each of us have had to be brave through tough things, where we got our bravery from, and how Aaron approaches it in his beautiful middle-grade graphic novel he’s finishing up, coming out later this year! (Don’t worry, we’ll...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we had the honor of hanging out with Portland clown and all around sweetheart Arthur “Lucky” O’Brien. We started by tackling the assumption that using humor to handle tough stuff is an “unhealthy” way of coping, which—get this—it’s not. Next up we explored the idea of “fixed mindsets”—how people often view themselves as being inherently good or bad at s...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we had the honor of hanging out with the iconic Portland comic Ally J Ward. We kicked it off by talking about imposter syndrome, which is apparently basically a universal experience, and what we do to try and counteract it. Next up we got into the idea of Self-Preservation as a more realistic version of “self-care” that isn’t co-opted by capitalism, and...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we had a great time talking to Georgia GA, an amazing local comedian. We kicked it off by talking about learning styles, how it feels to try and learn new things as adults, and self-education. Then we moved on to discussing starting over—whether it might be a new diagnosis, starting over in a new town, or with a new group of friends—and how to bring pos...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we finally got to spend time with Khalil, who runs the artist collective Immutable Pdx as well as doing amazing and impactful work with homeless youth. We started out talking about the importance of relaxation and how challenging it is to allow ourselves to check out and take care of ourselves when we’re so used to having to grind all the time and be pr...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we hung out with Portland comedian and librarian Lori Van Deman. We started out with perfectionism, and how we can convince ourselves to try new things even when it’s scary. Then we moved on to hopelessness—and most importantly, the ways we’ve found to pull ourselves out of it, primarily by connecting with others. Lastly, we tackled conflict resolution…...

On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we speak with Portland comedian and storyteller Aleah Liebenau about our experiences with overthinking and how it impacts us. Next we discuss self-perception, how it influences how we interact with others, and if it’s possible to have an accurate self-perception. Lastly, we talk about the power of storytelling and how it’s such an important part of expr...

Episode 120: “Social Media & Direct Conversations” (ft. Amanda Lyn Deal) On this week’s episode of “The Smoke Break”, we speak with returning guest host and comedian Amanda Lynn Deal about the impact of social media on self perception and how unplugging can help us reconnect with ourselves and those around us. Next we discuss the challenges with direct communication as well as some of the skil...