Wholey Schmidt

When Sarah first recorded this episode, late last year, she thought she had really found her purpose. But looking back now, she realizes the best is yet to come. Sarah shares how she found her way back to herself—throughout this podcast and through the many changes she’s experienced in the last few months. She shares how she’s made magic out of the hard moments and encourages you to go inward and...

We’re joined again by Sarah’s mom, Barbara– and today the two reflect on the passing of Sarah’s dad and what it’s like to reclaim identity again after losing a loved one. The two discuss how to cope with losing a loved one, and how the relationship with him has continued to bloom, even in his passing. Barbara shares her sense of spirituality and her perspective on death, now that she’s in her 80s....

This week, Sarah opens up about her father's life, death, and their evolving relationship since his passing seven years ago. Raised in a small town within a devout Catholic family, her father wrestled with feelings of inadequacy despite outward successes and a wide circle of friends, keeping his deepest emotions hidden. Sarah found a deep connection with him in her 30s through collaborative projec...

Sarah has been a mother in so many capacities – but wasn’t a biological mom until the age of 44! Living in a culture that puts a timebox on women’s fertility window, this is deeply expansive episode shares the story of someone who conceived later in life against the odds. Though Sarah did not expect to bring another child into the world, she shares what it feels like to fall in love and open her h...

TRIGGER WARNING: A conversation around sexual abuse with a minor is discussed during these time stamps 6:45 - 9:15 and 33:30 - 35:20.  Please feel free to skip if that is too triggering to listen to.     Katie Wee Follow Katie on Instagram here: @itskatiewee Work with Katie and learn more about her offerings here .   📱Follow us on TikTok:  @asksarahschmidt  ⭐ Connect with us on In...

What does freedom mean? Today we’re diving in with renowned coach and thought leader, Peter Crone. Peter specializes in revealing the limiting beliefs and subconscious narratives that dictate and shape behavior, health, relationships, and performance. In true Wholey Schmidt fashion, Peter cracks open a door to his inner world and lets us peek inside. He shares how he found his own path to freedom,...

How do you reclaim your body, your identity, and your destiny after a major health complication? Today, we are joined by Wholey Schmidt team member, Cheyenne, to share one of her “Wholey Schmidt” moments. Learn how she found resilience in the wake of a major life challenge. Have your own Wholey Schmidt moment you’d like to share? Submit it here for a chance to be featured on the podcast.   📱Follo...

Body image is a common struggle for most people, especially women. And although it’s been a challenging journey for me, I feel like I’m finally starting to love and accept myself. Being a cancer survivor and dealing with such significant physical trauma made it really hard for me to feel safe and comfortable in my own skin. But over the last few years, I’ve focused on the mind-body connection, and...

Adoption is a path that many take to create their family, but where does one begin the process? In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friends Robert and Brian, whom I connected with when I adopted my first child 18 years ago. We bonded over our first adoptions and have supported each other as we navigated the complex landscape of parenting together. We discuss how we decided to adopt, what the pr...

In this episode, I delve into the multifaceted journey of motherhood and what it means to me. With five incredible children who have entered my life in unique ways, I've had the privilege of experiencing motherhood from various perspectives. From becoming a legal guardian to navigating the complexities of adoption, to embracing the role of a stepmother, and finally, giving birth to my biological c...

I don’t like to label myself and wasn't someone who thought much about my sexual orientation– throughout my life, I have just loved who I loved. But when I fell in love with a woman, and it was clear that she was my life partner– I, like all gay people, was faced with the challenge of coming out and sharing that news with my family. To set the stage, it was 1996 in the Midwest, and if you’ve liste...

I didn't expect to fall in love when I did… and my path to getting there was in no way conventional. In this episode, I share the journey of my first marriage– from falling in love with Julie unexpectedly to navigating my new sense of identity… all the way to divorce. I’m not someone who identifies with labels – I’ve always just loved who I loved and have been fortunate to have the support of my f...

The "perfect moment" doesn't exist... stop waiting for it and face your fears. This week, we have a very special round table episode with Sarah and two team members, Jessica Gill & Grace Abbott. They had a front-row seat to recording last week’s episode and listened live as Sarah & her mom had a meaningful and vulnerable conversation… If you haven’t listened to that one yet, listen first! Jessica...

“Regardless of what comes of this podcast, it will all be worth it just for this episode.” – Sarah We're thrilled to share this week's episode with you. This week, Sarah sits down with her mother, Barbara, to have a transformative and healing conversation about their relationship. Together, the two reflect on previous episodes and chapters of their mother/daughter relationship and achieve real-tim...

Didn’t have perfect parents? Join the club. Listen to this week’s episode to find more empathy, forgiveness, and love for your parents. Can we give them the benefit of the doubt– maybe they were doing the best they could… Nobody will ever be, or has ever been, a perfect parent. In pursuit of understanding our hurts, traumas, and wounds, we tend to blame our parents without considering why they cou...

Do you have the courage, strength , and humility to ask for help when you need it? Throughout this season, we will discuss many challenging topics such as death, divorce, and illness. Reflecting on my own difficult moments, I often felt unable to ask for help when I needed support the most, which left me feeling lonely, isolated, and yearning for understanding and assistance from others. My greate...

Did you have to parent your parents? When I reflect on my own childhood, perfectionism and early parentification appear to be central themes that have shaped my identity. While these traits have undoubtedly brought about many positive things in my life– and a deep sense of independence… they have also initiated a lifelong sense of pressure, which I’m just starting to soften out of. So, what exactl...

When you look back on your life, there are some moments that will make you stop and say… Wholey. Schmidt. Over my half-a-centrury on this planet, I’ve learned a thing or two about finding the silver lining in some of life’s most challenging experiences…and if we can’t reflect back and make meaning out of the hard things… what was it all for anyways? As a psychologist– I always learned that telling...

Welcome to Wholey Schmidt! A new kind of podcast where we use storytelling as a vehicle for self-actualization and reflection. This season, our host, Sarah Schmidt, walks us through the lessons and resilience found during her first 52 years on this planet.   We cover some of the most difficult and complex parts of the human experience… dealing with a diagnosis, marrying a woman, adopting children,...