True Stride

I'm in the final days before closing on my St. Augustine home, and I forgot how truly exhausting and emotional moving can be. Amid all the boxes and decisions, I found unexpected peace through a creative project of building custom crates to protect my framed pictures. What started as a money-saving task turned into a grounding experience that reminded me how much joy and calm I find in working wit...

As I get ready to move out of my St. Augustine home, I've been thinking a lot about the value of our time and energy. I've been preparing for this transition by hiring movers, boxing things up, and letting go of what no longer serves me. This has given me a chance to notice where I'm spending my energy and whether it aligns with what matters most. Even a simple conversation with a mover helped ref...

As I mentioned in the last episode, I got an offer on my St. Augustine home. After completing the inspection process, we've come to an agreement, and I'll be closing down the house at the end of July. While this move feels exciting, especially since I'm not exactly sure what's next, the unknown can feel overwhelming too. This got me thinking about what it means to close a door in our life, especia...

As I was reflecting on today's Wise Walk, I realized we are halfway through the year. 2025 has been flying by, so I thought a mid-year check-in would make a great episode.  Today,we'll do that check-in, and I'll share some of the things I'm most proud of, like sharing my Heart Value through speaking gigs, coaching others, and deepening my skills through Shamanic Reiki and a drum-making apprentices...

Have you ever felt like your whole being was craving stillness, but life just kept charging ahead? That's exactly where I'm at right now. I am so excited because it's the night before I get to go on vacation and not just any trip. I've secured a whole week off where I'm going inward to retreat. No plans, no agendas, no schedules. I may sleep in. I don't know what I'm going to do, and honestly, tha...

Sometimes it hits us out of nowhere. That heaviness in the chest. The ache behind the smile. We usually reserve the word "grief" for death, but what about all the other losses we quietly carry? In this episode, I share personal reflections on how grief can show up in transitions that have nothing to do with someone passing. From divorces, moves, and job changes to letting go of dreams that didn't...

Ever had that moment where you're sure you've won an argument but the victory feels hollow? I have. For the longest time I thought being right was the key to connection. Turns out it often does the opposite. In this episode I'm sharing a big shift in my own thinking around what's "right" and what's "wrong". What I used to consider a moral compass now feels like a self imposed limitation. I've been...

Have you ever caught yourself picking comfort over curiosity, even when there's that little voice inside urging you to be braver? I know I have. In this episode, I'm diving into what it really feels like to take emotional risks. Vulnerability isn't exactly a walk in the park, it can be awkward and even a bit scary, but I've found it's also where the best connections and self-discoveries happen. On...

Something unexpected happened this morning that touched my heart and made me remember how important it is to be open. I grabbed my well-loved copy of Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie as I got ready to teach yoga. Usually, I read the meditation that was prescribed for that day, but this time I ended up on a page I wasn't supposed to. I felt like the meditation selected me, not the other way a...

What does it truly mean to be in service to others, your community, and yourself? Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak in front of 150 mental health therapists and group practice owners. They are compassionate leaders who manage dedicated teams committed to helping individuals navigate life's challenging moments with thoughtfulness, healing and care. Witnessing their dedication ins...

I've come to realize that not every decision needs to be backed by logic or explained away with reasons. When I was recently invited to take on a regular yoga teaching role, I immediately started listing all the practical benefits. But something felt off. The more I tried to rationalize a yes, the more I knew in my heart it was really a no. That experience reminded me how powerful it can be to pau...

I've always believed that good leadership starts with staying true to yourself. Back when I was managing high-stakes corporate projects, I learned that the only way to turn things around was to lead in a way that felt natural to me, not just copy someone else's approach. That lesson came back to me recently during a challenging moment in a volunteer role that I had held for years. Someone criticiz...

Have you ever started a big project and wondered how you would ever pull it off? I felt that way recently when it came time to prep my house for sale, and just thinking about all the steps involved made the whole thing feel heavy. But then something beautiful happened. A good friend stepped in, and with her help, what once felt impossible started to feel exciting and even fun. On today's Wise Walk...

Ever find yourself walking into a new conversation still carrying the emotional weight of the last one? That happened to me recently, and I could feel my tone and volume were just a little… off. It wasn't anyone else's fault, but I realized I was letting leftover crankiness affect how I showed up—and that simple awareness gave me the chance to pause, laugh, and reset in real time. On today's Wise...

Ever felt so overwhelmed that you knew you weren't fully present, but didn't know how to ask for help in the moment? That happened to me during an emotional week when my dog Trooper got seriously ill and in the middle of a conversation with the vet, I realized I just couldn't take it all in alone. On today's Wise Walk we're talking about knowing when to pause, when to call in support, and how to g...

Ever had a gut feeling that something wasn't right, but you didn't want to say anything because you didn't want to rock the boat? That happened to me recently on a night out with friends and it reminded me how often we suppress our instincts to keep others comfortable. On today's Wise Walk we're listening to those inner nudges we so often push aside. We'll talk about what it means to listen to you...

Have you ever gone for a walk with no distractions - no music, no podcasts, just you and your thoughts wandering through nature? That's what I did on my recent trip to Ireland where I spent hours hiking through limestone formations and steep terrain and just allowed myself to be present with whatever thoughts and feelings came up for me along the way. Today we're going to go on one of those Wise W...

Have you ever been with someone who made you feel completely seen, heard, and safe — like you could just be your full self without any judgment? That's the power of holding space, and that's what we're exploring today. Someone recently asked me what I meant when I used that phrase, and it got me thinking — how often do we really slow down, eliminate distractions, and give someone our full, undivid...

You know that feeling when a conversation just flows effortlessly, when both people feel seen, heard, and understood? That's no accident. It's something we can actually design in our relationships. I first learned about this concept during my coaching certification, where we practiced something called designing an alliance. It's a simple but powerful way to set clear expectations upfront so both p...

I recently went shopping for hiking boots at REI, and even though I've hiked plenty in my lifetime, I approached it as if I were a total beginner. I have super narrow feet, so finding the right fit is key, but what really surprised me was how much I learned just by getting curious.  The store associate introduced me to a new way to tie my boots called a surgeon's knot, and it completely changed ho...

I'm headed to the United Kingdom, specifically Wales, to watch a Wrexham football match. Wrexham is in the European Football League, which we Americans call soccer, and it's been incredibly exciting. I don't know if you've seen the Netflix documentary by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, but they bought this team, and it's been amazing to watch them evolve and earn promotions. They've been doing r...

I had an unexpected moment this week that made me stop and reflect. My trusty 2019 MacBook Pro - my sidekick through writing a book, producing this podcast and countless creative projects - finally reached the end of the road. As I stood at the Apple Store and heard the words "It's time to say goodbye" I felt an emotional pang I didn't expect. Why is letting go so hard even when we know we need to...

Last week was Valentine's Day and as I ran errands I saw so many emotions about this holiday. At one store I saw people sending beautifully packaged gifts to their loved ones and at another I heard someone complaining about how much they hate the day and find it stressful or depressing.  These conversations led to a fun realization that many things like Valentine's Day are just social constructs,...

When I first started yoga and became a teacher in 2009, one of the biggest lessons I learned was to leave your ego at the door. In the spiritual world, we talk about the dangers of the ego, how it can make us competitive, resistant to feedback, or push us into things that don't feel aligned. I loved that perspective at the time. It reminded me yoga isn't about keeping up with anyone else. It's jus...

One of the things I've talked about before is how I've learned to pay attention to the small stuff, the stuff that feels like more than coincidence. Over the years, I've noticed patterns, symbols and signs that show up, just when I need them. The more I've leaned into this awareness, the more I've realized these small moments can bring comfort, reassurance and even direction. A friend texted me ab...