Unraveled & Unwritten

You know what's hard? Being a mom to 5 kids. You know who seems to do it with grace and ease AND "keep it real" at the same time? Chelsea Kasper. Chelsea is a beautiful soul who continues to show up for herself in a number of ways - big, small, and everything in between. And when you listen to Chelsea's story, you learn that she showed up for herself in a very big way at a pretty young age...and i...

Are you a parent? If yes, please listen. If you're NOT a parent, please listen. In this episode, I share an experience with my son that 1. Totally made me feel like a proud mom, but also 2. Made me realize more of what I want for my son, myself, and what I hope for...for others. It's about confidence. And it's also about believing that you ARE worthy AND good enough. Regardless of whatever stories...

This is a heavy subject, right? But you know what makes it even heavier? The fact that it's not frequently and openly discussed. Why is that? I know a few people who have experienced challenges with fertility, and you know what they've told me? The fact that this topic is NOT frequently talked about is a part of what made their experience even MORE difficult. The more we talk about things, the mor...

How do you feel about giving feedback? Like, if you have a crappy dining experience, or you interact with a doctor who has ZERO bedside manner? Do you say something to someone? If so, why? And if not, why? I had a couple of not-so-great experiences this past week, and in deciding to share my thoughts about my experiences, I thought about how often people, and women in particular, DON'T share feedb...

What do you know about hypnosis? Do you think it's what you see at county fairs? Or do you think of Chandler in that episode of "Friends" when he starts acting "like a woman" after listening to a smoking cessation hypnotherapy recording? It may actually be more like the "Friends" episode - but there's WAY more to it than that! If you're curious about hypnosis, hypnotherapy and how it may be able t...

How much have you been consuming about what happened in TX? How has it made you feel? Is that how you want to feel? If not, then stop. Seriously. If it's making you feel like crap, please don’t do that to yourself. And by the way, no judgement here - because I used to do that too. The world needs you to be YOU in all your magical, magnificent glory. You can't be that if you continue to do things t...

I couldn't NOT share my thoughts on what happened. I, like many people, am feeling a lot of things right now. At the time this episode was recorded, there wasn't a lot of information available. So some information about the details may not be 100% accurate. But this episode isn't so much about the details of this tragedy, as much as it is a conversation (with myself) about trauma, its impact on us...

Have you ever been axe throwing? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. You feel like a total badass. I mean…you’re throwing AXES! It’s hard to NOT feel like a badass when you’re hurling a weapon through the air for sport. And - it’s FUN!  But it can also be a bit like - “Whoa. Yes I’m hurling a weapon through the air but at the same time…I’M HURLING A WEAPON THROUGH THE AIR!” It can be fun,...

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to say something, but you don't know exactly what to say? That was me with this episode. Usually finding words is no problem for me, but not with this one. I'm feeling lots of things right now, and articulating them was a struggle. We all have highs and lows, and I think this is just one of my low times. And it's OK - I know it won't last. An...

Have you heard the term "filter shaming?" Neither have I. I made it up for this episode. But it's become a real thing! I see people shaming others on Instagram for using filters and I'm just like "enough already!" First of all, shaming other people is a crappy thing to do and it needs to stop. Second, who cares if someone else chooses to use a filter? They have their reasons for doing so, and in t...

I'm just gonna say it - even if you don't watch Hallmark, I'm pretty sure you'll want to to listen to this episode. Dara Alston is an entrepreneur, author and host of the "Dear Hallmark" podcast, which is how I came to know of her existence, which I am SO thankful for! Dara is "extra personified" - her words - and it's in the best possible way. In this conversation, we talk about faith, courage, b...

I know - you're probably looking at this title going "huh?" Allow me to elaborate. Mother's Day is a day typically spent mushing over our moms, thanking them for raising us, for always being there for us, for showing us what unconditional love is. Many of us have moms who are one of the brightest stars in our sky. But some of us don't have those warm-hearted feelings for our mothers. Some of us do...

Remember that drama at the Oscars, with Will Smith & Chris Rock? Yeah - I know it happened a bit ago, but I'm not here to gossip. I'm here to talk about what I think we SHOULD be talking about. This was about more than someone just losing his temper. It was about reacting instead of responding. It was about how childhood trauma dictates much of how we show up in the world. It was about how mor...

How OK are you with...YOU? Do you accept yourself as you are, or do you wish you were something other than who you truly are? When we look at other people, and we try to be more like them versus who we truly are, at our core - we're doing ourselves a disservice, and we're doing the world a disservice. The fact that you exist is a miracle. And miracles don't happen for no reason. So embrace who you...

We've all heard how most people WANT to be needed, right? But do you ever get tired of being needed by others? Your family needs you. Your day job needs you. You're needed to pay bills. You're needed by your child when you're trying to poop in peace or taking a long, hot shower. You're needed to remember appointments and do laundry and schedule family outings and get-togethers with your girlfriend...

How often do you acknowledge how awesome you are? The challenges you've overcome? How much you've grown? If you're like most people, it's probably not all that often. But why? And just so you know - that stops NOW. Like, right now. In this episode, I acknowledge that it's my 50th episode! And I also share how proud of myself I am for creating 50 episodes...how committed I am to showing up for me,...

I know - this is a bit different from the "regular" episodes right? Allow me to introduce the Storyteller Series - a space where anyone who has a story to share - can share it. I believe we learn through storytelling, and we can all learn something from one another. And - each of us has MANY stories to tell! In this very first episode of the Storyteller Series, Katarzyna Lancouch shares with us he...

How often do you look at someone's account on Facebook, Instagram or some other platform and think "man - it looks like they have their sh*t together"? And realistically you know there is more to the picture than what you're seeing - but if you're constantly seeing people living their best lives in the perfect home with the perfect clothes taking the perfect vacation - it can get to you at times,...

Has anyone ever told you "it could always be worse"? OR...Have YOU ever told someone, or even yourself "it could be worse"? What's the intent behind that statement? Is it to make someone, or you, feel better about the present situation? I'm guessing it is...but in saying that to ourselves, or others, are we truly giving permission or allowing space for the feelings to be felt, and the experience t...

Have you learned a lesson from someone sharing a personal story with you? And piggybacking off of that, do you have a story to tell? Because if you do, I want to talk to you! I believe everyone has multiple stories to tell - and value to add to the world. I don't think for a second that you need to be some famous celebrity to have a story that's worthy of telling. If you went through something cha...

Wondering what all of these have in common? It's pretty simple. If you're in my mind, that is. All of these are things I talk about in this episode. When it comes to not liking something, or perhaps something just not being your style, and you're faced with a choice - do you speak up? Or do you just bite your tongue "out of respect" for someone else, or fear of offending them, and end up eating so...

How much time do you spend on your phone? How much time do you spend on your phone when you're with others? How much time do you spend not maximizing opportunities to slow down and be present because you're so intent on getting to where you're going or having to "do the thing?" You may be totally OK with the amount of time you spend on the phone, or going from place to place without pausing to be...

Do you remember that game you played as a kid? The Hokey Pokey? You know how you put one foot in (have we ever determined what exactly, we're putting it in TO?), and then took it out, and then put it back in...and so on? Does it ever feel like you're playing that game when it comes to making your dreams a reality? Because it does for me! Just when I feel like I'm getting somewhere, those certain a...

Have you heard about hypnotherapy before? If so, are your thoughts on it kinda like "whoa - that's too 'woo woo' for me?" Or maybe it's more like "Isn't that what they do at those county fairs when the hypnotist pats his head and then someone pretends they're a Chippendales 'dancer?'" And if you relate to either of those - I get it. But hypnotherapy is NOT like those county fairs...although I may...

You know that scene in the first episode of "Friends," where Rachel tells her dad that she realized she's "not a shoe," but instead maybe "a hat" or "a purse?" I totally felt that. Because think about it - how much of your life have you been TOLD who you are - versus you TELLING, or SHOWING, people who you are? I grew up being told that I was shy by my mother because I was bashful around certain p...