When Life Gives You Lemons

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Ahren Alexander , who opens up about his transformative journey of healing through the combined power of psychedelics and psychodrama therapy . From confronting buried emotions to reimagining his inner narrative, Ahren shares how these unconventional paths helped him reconnect with himself, heal old wounds, and find a renewed sense of purpose.  We ex...

In this episode, we're continuing our 4-part series on the new groundbreaking medication that's taking the nation by storm: GLP-1s .  Special guest, Harley Dickey , joins us in Part 3 to discuss their lived experience of gender-affirming care through GLP-1s. In this episode, we break down what gender-affirming care really means—including how it applies to cisgender individuals—and explor...

*TW: This episode discusses eating disorders and disordered eating patterns. If you have a history with eating disorders, please listen with caution.  In this episode, we're continuing our 4-part series on the new groundbreaking medication that's taking the nation by storm: GLP-1s. Special guest and Registered Dietitian, Gretchen Zimmermann, joins us in Part 2 to discuss the nutritional...

In this episode, we're launching our 4-part series on the new groundbreaking medication that's taking the nation by storm: GLP-1s. Tune in to hear GLP-1s discussed in a way that you haven't heard before - from eating disorders and gender affirming care to how we got to this place in our healthcare and food system. We'll also dive deep into the science of GLP-1s, including how t...

What happens when love unfolds in front of millions — and falls apart just as publicly? In this deeply honest conversation, we’re joined by Jessica Cole, known for their time on the hit documentary series, Couples Therapy , now streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime. Jessica opens up about the journey from heartbreak to healing beyond the spotlight. Together, we explore what it means to grow in lov...

What does it mean to be truly happy? Can we even achieve true happiness?  Self-development coach, author, and podcaster, Sandra Ann Miller, joins us to realistically answer these important questions. Her spunky, heart-felt approach ditches the toxic, "good vibes only" culture of our world today and allows space for the full spectrum of our emotions and experiences to be felt.  Join us to...

When you're the lesson that changes them for someone else and not the one they decide to change for... What do you do? Let's talk about it.  Grieving isn't just grieving someone who's passed away. It's also grieving the loss of expectations and the life we thought we'd have. This episode is dedicated to holding space for grief and practicing acceptance in all aspects...

What do you do when the person you thought you'd spend the rest of your life with doesn't choose you? What do you do when your dream job decides to let you go? Rejection can be a painful experience. We often wonder why we weren't enough for this person or situation. But with the right mindset, we can radically accept situations for what they are and use these experiences to create o...

How many of us have heard the phrase, "Quitters never win?" Well I say, quitting is for winners. Quitting is for the people who know their limits and know what they want. Quitting is for the people who have the audacity to not settle for less. I recently did just that. I've the "Great Resignation" as I pursue a new career that I'll reveal on this week's episode....

Tune in to hear special guest, Rachel Kelly, talk about the creation of Make Lemonade - a virtual co working space that gives you the tools to hustle less and grow more. We talk about what it's like to start your own business, how to pivot when life hands you lemons (like a global pandemic), and how to build a mindful and inclusive community. About Make Lemonade : Make Lemonade sprouted in 20...

Continuing this month's segment on female empowerment and entrepreneurship, I sit down with Rachel Druckenmiller! Rachel is on a mission to humanize the workplace by igniting resilience, connection, engagement and compassion in organizations, associations and their leaders and teams. Recognized as the #1 Health Promotion Professional in the U.S. in 2015, a 40 Under 40 Game Changer in 2019, an...

***WARNING***: The following episode may be upsetting or triggering to individuals who have experienced eating disorders or sexual assault. Listener’s discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing an eating disorder or sexual assault, it is not your fault and help is out there. Contact the National Eating Disorder Hotline at 1-800-931-2237 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline...

Do you feel an internal angst that something isn’t quite right or is missing in your life? Do you have exciting new ideas, but struggle with the execution? Are you waking up feeling burnt out because you don’t know how to communicate your feelings and maintain boundaries with others? If you said “yes” to any of the above, this week’s episode of When Life Gives You Lemons is for you! Special guest,...

On this week’s episode, I dive into Part II of the series on boundaries! I further define boundaries and the benefits of boundary setting. When thinking of boundaries, I use the analogy of being a goalie in a game of soccer. You're the "goal keeper" of your life and you are the only one who can "touch the ball" or have control over what you do and how you respond to the pr...

A boundary is defined by Oxford Languages as a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line. Physical boundaries are tangible and make sense. Here's the line in the sand - that is your space and this is my space. You can only cross the barrier that I've put up to protect myself, unless I allow you to. On this week's episode, we kick off part 1 of our series on emotional bo...

Last episode was all about the “lemon” of abuse, pain, and heartache. But then he came along - a cool glass of lemonade. Relationships that are built to last don’t just land in your lap though, they take work. Tune in to hear how we’ve developed a healthy relationship by healing from our pasts, understanding ourselves on a deep, personal level, and consciously choosing one another every day. I&apo...

On this week's episode, I sit down with special guest Mackinzi Bradshaw to discuss the challenges of being a first-time, stay-at-home mom vs. being in corporate America.  As females, we feel pressure daily to fit inside the box that society tells us we should fit within. These pressures look different because of the different paths we are on, but the heart of overcoming them is the same. We a...

On this episode, I sit down with special guest, Meagan McBride, to discuss what it's like being a first generation college student and the challenges of transferring schools. We also provide advice on navigating college life and the "real world" post-graduation. A first generation college graduate is defined as a student whose parent(s) did not complete a four-year college or univer...

In this episode, I discuss the “lemons” that spiraled into my mental health challenges and eventual attempt at taking my own life freshman year of college. I share how I was able to use this experience to empower others to step into their power and own their story. I also provide risk factors and warning signs for suicide as well as tips on how to show up with courage and vulnerability when someon...

In this episode, we dive further into the topic of "Deconstructing Faith." April Reuning joins me as a special guest to define what "Deconstructing Faith" means to her and how her faith journey has been impacted by her past experiences.   Follow April on Instagram or Tik Tok (@aprilajoy) for more content around challenging faith in a humorous and honest way.  Resources: What Is...

Episode Summary : This will be a three part series on religious trauma, deconstructing religion, and purity culture. In this episode, I introduce the concept of “deconstructing religion.” This is not the same as “destructing religion.” Rather, it is the re-evaluating of one’s religious views and indoctrination, while still keeping your faith in tact. I talk about the religious trauma I experienced...

In the second episode, I discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), or potentially traumatic life events that occur in childhood (0-17 years.) The assessment for ACEs, located in the resource page of the podcast site at: https://whenlifegivesyoulemonspodcast.wordpress.com/resources/ , can help conceptualize the trauma you may have experienced as a child. ACEs can have a tremendous impact on our...

On this episode, I explain the premise of this podcast and why I started this movement. In the earlier episodes, I’ll dive into the various personal experiences that can impact our professional lives. From there, we’ll dive into the ways that we can use these personal and professional experiences to grow into the best versions of ourselves while living more authentically and courageously.