Your Zen Friend

Send Lauren a text! In this Drop of Zen I will guide you through an IFS (Internal Family Systems) exercise to get to know your anxiety. This exercise is designed to help you feel less anxious.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doc...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview with Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Shawn Carney here today to talk about how he successfully treats anxiety with alternatives to traditional medication. Before we get to our interview I will share how I view anxiety and the role that calming our central nervous system plays in decreasing anxiety symptoms.  Would you like to enter...

Send Lauren a text! In this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation to help you identify one self care action that you would benefit from.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order...

Send Lauren a text! On this week's episode I will share my #1 strategy for decreasing your stress and increasing your happiness during the often difficult time of parenting tweens and teens. Spoiler alert.... It involves caring for yourself!  Would you like to enter a contest to win a $50 gift card to Balance Bound?!!  Balance Bound is home to the Balance Bound Planner (Dated and Undated plan...

Send Lauren a text! In this Drop of Zen I will guide you through a short mediation designed to help you cultivate gratitude for your body and all it does for you. Please make sure you do not listen to this or any mediation while driving. For maximum benefit listen to this meditation at a time when you won't be interrupted and can comfortably sit or lie down.  I hope you enjoy this short guide...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview with my friend, Amy Mann. Amy received a heart transplant four and a half years ago after living with a heart condition known as HCM or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Amy shares her experience as an immunocompromised individual living through Covid. Amy also shares the exciting advocacy work she is currently involved in. If you ha...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview with my friend, Amy Mann. Amy received a heart transplant four and a half years ago after living with a heart condition known as HCM or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Amy shares her story of growing up with HCM after being diagnosed at the age of 5, experiencing heart failure as a mother of four and the conflicting feelings that g...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have friend of the pod, Tennette Correia with me to discuss our first Book Club pic! We will talk about, "Finding Me," the memoir by Viola Davis. We will share our thoughts on the extreme poverty Viola grew up in, the racism she has faced throughout her life, the challenges of growing up in addiction and the theme of forgiveness.  If yo...

Send Lauren a text! On today's episode I have some fun updates including how I'm currently working on a project with a former Your Zen Friend guest. I will also tell you about an upcoming interview I'm excited to bring you. Then I will talk about cultivating self compassion and share with you a short exercise I like to practice when I am having a difficult day.  We will end our epis...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I am excited to have an interview with my friend, fitness instructor and studio owner, Jeanine Parsons. We talk about how she came to work in the fitness industry, what led her to open her own fitness studio and how joining a fitness studio can help you reach your fitness goals and have fun working out.  Before we get to our interview I will share how I keep mys...

Send Lauren a text! On today’s podcast I will share some relationship makers and breakers when it comes to adults relating to tweens and teens. And I mange to talk about Gunther Gebel-Williams.  He is one of the most famous wild animal trainers of all time. Think of a blond man in an opened sequined shirt with some tigers and that's him! Listen in to find out how I compare Gunther and his lio...

Send Lauren a text! On today’s podcast I will get honest and vulnerable as I share how I have been struggling to find balance in my life lately. I'll talk about how I decided to make a big change in my work life and what I'm doing to move through some difficult feelings.  I'll also talk about some ways I am caring for myself in effort to become more balanced.  I hope this episode wi...

Send Lauren a text! On today’s podcast I will have an interview with Friend to the Pod Tennette Correia.  I will be asking Tennette to tell us about 3 books she has loved, 1 book she has hated and what she has been reading lately. Does this sound familiar to you? I borrowed this format from one of my favorite podcasts, "What Should I Read Next." Listen to "What Should I Read Next,&q...

Send Lauren a text! On today’s podcast I will be talking to you about a parenting technique called Gentle Parenting - what it is, what it isn't, the pros and cons and how you can use techniques from Gentle Parenting with the children in your life. But first I'll talk about what's bringing me a little more zen right now as I try to stay warm and cozy during these cold winter months. ...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I am excited to have an interview with friend of the pod, Cassie Keeley! We talk about her life living on a rural farm in Massachusetts and her job in Animal Control. Cassie has some fun stories to share including one where she was called in to assist with a bear who had broken into someone's home and was ransacking their kitchen. Don't worry, it has a...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will talk about Feeling our Feelings, the importance of doing this, and how we can support our children through feeling difficult emotions. I will share tips on how to make time and space for our emotions and why that's helpful. I will also provide tips on how to support your children in having a healthy emotional life.  One of the strategies I share in t...

Send Lauren a text! On this episode I will be interviewing Bridgett Burrick Brown on Redefining Beauty for Ourselves and Our Children. Bridgett is the founder of the Beyond Beauty Project, a movement to help improve self-esteem and confidence around body image and mental health. See below for Bridgett's bio and contact information.  It was such a pleasure interviewing Bridgett! Bridgett opens...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will talk about Surviving and Thriving While Raising Tweens and Teens.  Lately, I have been asking you, the listener, what you would like to hear about on this podcast. And I have had numerous requests for talking about topics on raising teens. So I decided I would bring to you a series called Surviving and Thriving While Parenting Teens and Tweens. Throughout...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will talk about Reflecting on the Past and Setting Intentions for the Future. Identifying what is not working in our lives and creating goals to make changes can be really helpful. I will provide tips and strategies to help you be successful in keeping and attaining the goals you set for yourself.  I'll talk about a tool that can help you to assess where...

Send Lauren a text! ***This podcast talks about holiday magic. Please listen away from little ears. On this podcast I will talk about Finding the Joy in Holiday Mishaps. Don’t we all have those? The things that go wrong during the holiday season can add stress but also sometimes lead to laughs and memories that connect us to the people who lived the experiences with us. But first I’ll update you o...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will share 5 Ways to Create More Zen for the Holidays and provide you with a Last Minute Gift Guide.   Here is a list of all the products and websites mentioned in this episode:  Balanced Bound Planner: https://www.balancebound.co/shop/stationery-gifts Also check out the "Good Enough-ish," Podcast wherever you find your podcasts  Revive Essential Oil...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will talk with Lori Simon about Holiday Fantasy vs. Holiday Reality.  Do you ever find that the way your holiday preparation and holiday celebrations turn out are quite different from the way you picture it in your head? Then this episode is for you!  Lori and I will talk about holiday decorating, gift wrapping, baking, celebrating and managing our own expecta...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will talk about: Making Your Home Your Sanctuary with interior designer and friend Don Richards.  Don will share his expertise on home do’s and don’t, decorating for the holidays and how to make your home reflect who you are. A little about Don: Consumed by architecture, design, and home since childhood, Don graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Desig...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will talk about supporting your children with healthy friendships and nurturing your own friendships.  I am excited to have an interview with my friend of over 40 years Tara Brophy! Make sure you listen to the very end for our "blooper," sound check. Tara and I have been laughing together since the 4th grade and man was it hard for us to record this...

Send Lauren a text! On this podcast I will talk about how opposites attract and how we can have rich and rewarding friendships when we respect and celebrate each other and our differences.  I am excited to have an interview with my friend of over 35 years Lori Simon! A Little About Lori:   Lori Simon graduated with a Bachelors in Science in Medical Technology from Western Connecticut State Univers...