Conversations to Connect

"We are not exempt from loss, pain or personal turmoil.  These three things can absolutely destroy, control and define us, and they most certainly will if we choose to lay down and let them.  Once we have OWNED and ACCEPTED the things we cannot change, we are in control and privy to change.  With change in mindset, change in perspective, and change in attitude comes a more peaceful lifestyle and personal growth  beyond our wildest imagination."  Travis Howze~ Create Your Own Light: Finding Post Traumatic Purpose   In this episode Kristy is joined by Travis Howze to discuss the importance of mental health awareness and treatment for first responders.  Travis is a Marine Corps Veteran, former Police Officer and Firefighter.  He is author of Create Your Own Light and stand up comedian, motivational speaker and trainer.     The Village Center for Holistic Therapy will be hosting Travis' Finding Post Traumatic Purpose training September 29th 2022 free of charge to veterans, first responders and their family members.  Check out this episode to find out more.     You can find Travis and his podcast, Create Your Own Light, at www.travishowze.com and follow him on Instagram @travishowze   We hope you enjoy! MUSIC CREDIT: "Reach For The Sky" courtesy of purple-planet.com  

“Heal your heart, your emotions. The more your heart is open and filled with joy and gratitude, the more you will enjoy life and be able to shine your light out into the world. The more light you shine into the world, the more you can help others with your very presence.” Max Strom In this episode, Kristy is joined by Max Strom, creator of the Breathe to Heal system for personal transformation.  Max is a 3x TEDx speaker, author, and global breathing teacher, known for teaching breathing patterns for personal transformation worldwide. Max's training will take you deep inside yourself to experience and fully understand the power of the Breathe to Heal system and learn how to implement the techniques into your professional sessions. In this training you will explore the powerful and undeniable interconnectedness between anxiety, loneliness, and suppressed emotions. Max's proven method of breathing patterns delivers immediate relief and can profoundly impact your clients and accelerate their healing process. This course is ideal for therapists, social and health professionals, coaches, and (yoga) teachers who want to add Max's method to their healing repertoire.

“The success of every woman should be an inspiration to another.  We should raise each other up.” ~Serena Williams In this episode, Kristy talks with Bhavna Meta and Jemiriye about their upcoming empowHERment workshop and the power of being in community with one another.  We invite you to listen in and reflect that, together, we can collectively exhale and step into our power.   Take a moment to yourself. Breathe in deeply and exhale all you're been carrying that isn't serving you.     We hope you enjoy! Kristy & G

"Love is a living, breathing thing.  There is no need to force it to grow in a particular direction.  If we start by being easy and gentle with ourselves, we will find it is just there inside of us, solid and healing." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh   In episode 44, Kristy has a conversation with her meditation teachers, Lodro Rinzler and Adreanna Limbach, about life, love, and relationships.  Listen in to learn about how meditation can be the opening for our willingness to seek to understand ourselves and the people around us as well as how mindfulness can be the antidote for divisive times.  Meditation can help us open our hearts to not only those who are easy to love but also to those we perceive to be insignificant to our direct experience, to those who have proven to be difficult, and ultimately to ourselves.     Lodro was named one of 50 innovators shaping the future of wellness by SONIMA.  Rinzler's work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Good Morning America, CBS, and NBC.  He is the author or seven meditation books, including "The Buddha Walks into a Bar" and the brand new "Take Back Your Mind: Buddhist Advice for Anxious Times".  Lodro has taught meditation for 20 years in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and travels frequently for his books, having spoken across the world at conferences, universities, and businesses as diverse as Google, Harvard University and the White House.   Adreanna is a meditation instructor, personal development coach, and the author of Tea and Cake With Demons: A Buddhist Guide to Feeling Worthy.  Her work has been featured in The New York Times, OPRAH Magazine, Refinery29, Women's Health and Yoga Journal.   Follow @lodrorinzler and @adreannalimbaach on Instagram for opportunities to practice and connection to community

In this episode we welcome, Rachel Grant Jackson, to the podcast to have a conversation with Kristy on the importance of finding an anchor or practice (spoiler alert it doesn't HAVE to be yoga) to connect you spiritually as you navigate chaotic times in life.  We will cover simple practices that will help align you with your heart and help to keep you connected to this part when you speak, move and act rather than reacting and responding in ways that might not be useful to situations and relationships.    Rachel will be offering the Ultimate Gift- a 21 day meditation challenge beginning on January 9th, 2022.  Presence, or awareness of ourselves, is the ultimate gift we can give ourselves. It allows us to navigate the turmoils of life with perspective and enjoy the abundance of life with supreme joy. We access this through a daily spiritual practice, a concept that is much mis-understood. This 21 day course is designed to share some of this wisdom and the practices that changed my life and I believe will change yours.   Contact Rachel: rachelgrantjackson.com   We hope you enjoy!   Kristy & G

"Being crystal clear about who you really are is vulnerable and it takes courage. It will also set you free of worrying, overthinking, misunderstandings, and people having to guess what it is you truly want and need. Sustaining loving relationships requires that we define our boundaries with kindness and firmness, while at the same time protect those we love from our own anger." ~ Max Strom In this episode we welcome back Inner Axis creator, Max Strom, to the podcast to have a conversation with Kristy on the importance of boundaries in our lives in order to live to our fullest.   Max Strom is a 3 time TEDx speaker, author and global breathing teacher.  He is known for teaching breathing patterns for personal transformation worldwide. We are honored to have Max join us again to explore boundaries, why we need them, and how to best implement them for our own peace and the benefit of healthy relationships.   Max will be offering an online workshop about boundaries October 10th in acknowledgement of World Mental Health Day. https://maxstrom.com/schedule/set-boundaries-live-freely-oct21/   We hope you enjoy! Kristy & G

"The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter what the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have." ~ Pema Chðdrðn What happens when your date is set to leave the military and 9/11 happens?  Join us for a very special episode where our good friend, J, shares his experience living with uncertainty and the stop-loss that kept him in active combat for 5 years longer than he anticipated.  He opens up about reintegrating into society after serving, dealing with anger in his life, and ways he has worked to change himself to show up authentically for his children. We hope you enjoy! Kristy & G

"Recovery is an idea whose time has come.  At its heart is a set of values about a person's right to build a life for themselves, with or without the continuing presence of mental health symptoms." ~ Geoff Sheperd In this series, we will be talking with different members of the military in an effort to connect and bring awareness to the experiences of the men and women who currently serve or have served our country.  In the first part of this series we welcome Bob Dzvonick from the United States Marine Corps (USMC).   We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are." ~ Brene Brown Welcome to the new year!  We are here to tell you that you are badass just as you are and there is no need to be who others think you should be or have told you to be.  In this episode we explore authenticity, what it means, and how to show up authentically in your life.  Hope you enjoy!   Gretchen & Kristy

"Life may never go back to what it was like before, and we are all grieving that loss.  But I hope you'll join me in recognizing that this is not our new normal."  In this episode we talk about the grief and loss we are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic.  We all have been struggling with the grief that has been a result of the pandemic but we also might have lost loved ones, jobs, or had huge changes in our lives that we are struggling to manage.  If we have had a loss prior to the pandemic, we might be struggling now even more due to a loss of support system.  Whatever your situation, this is new territory and we are all having a hard time.We hope you enjoy.Gretchen & Kristy

"This is an invisible threat; we don’t know who is infected, and anybody could infect us. This is an ambiguous threat; we have no idea how bad this will get. We have a very uncertain future; we don’t know how long this will last. And this is a global threat; no community is safe. Moreover, our need to social distance conflicts with our natural desire to connect with our friends and family during stressful times. And our typical sources of distractions such as national or personal sports or going to the gym, going to restaurants or bars, movies or travel, are all restricted by this crisis.” ~ Roxane Cohen Silver, Ph.D This week Kristy and Gretchen reunite to discuss pandemic life now that we are 7 months into this experience.  We discuss ongoing anxiety, unhelpful thinking, as well as the continued onslaught of changes that happen.  We also talk about the things that could be helpful at times, how to cope, and honoring your emotions.We hope you enjoy!Gretchen & Kristy

"No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise." ~ Marian Anderson   This week we conclude our Amplify Black Voices series with our guest, Johnnie Geathers.  Johnnie has his masters in Social Work and has a significant amount of experience working in different areas of mental health in the Pittsburgh area.  He is the cofounder and national coordinator for @muchmorethanahashtag movement to get more people of color registered to vote.  He also promotes mental health awareness with his "Mental Health Fridays" through his Instagram account, @jgthemastermind   We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"It's important for us to understand that the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' simply refers to the notion that there's a specific vulnerability for African Americans that needs to be addressed.  It's not meant to suggest that other lives don't matter.  It's to suggest that other folks aren't experiencing this particular vulnerability." ~ Barak Obama   This week we welcome our guest, Isah Kushma, to the podcast for our Amplify Black Voices series.  Isah is an Army officer and combat veteran, has been serving in the Army for over 20 years, and is also a fitness advocate and coach.  She shares her experience as a Black woman in the Army, in the fitness industry, and through her travels around the world. You can follow Isah on Instagram at @Isahmaazing   We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"When slavery ended, no one sat the freed slaves down for group therapy.  We are still walking around with generational trauma in our DNA that we have to work through." ~ Ashley McGirt   This episode in our Amplify Black Voices series we welcome Jessica Gurley, LCSW to the podcast.  Jessica is a therapist with her own practice in the Pittsburgh area but also provides workshops, organizational consulting/training, and more.  She also has a website where you can purchase mental health tee-shirts to help spread awareness about mental health!  We hope you enjoy!   https://swcchelp.com - to check out Jessica's practice https://mentalhealthts.us - to shop mental health tee-shirts @trytherapy_swcc on Instagram   Gretchen & Kristy

"In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." ~ Angela Davis This week in the Amplify Black Voices Series we are joined by Raymont Anderson for a conversation on his experience as a Black, gay man in today's society. Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson has frequently been referred to as a Renaissance man and Visionary Thought Leader.  One look at his resume and accomplishments the reason becomes clear. As a lifelong learner with a passion for self-development, personal transformation, transmutation, and transfiguration, he lives his bliss as a teacher, minister, speaker, workshop/seminar facilitator, mentor, father, grandfather, and more.  His mission is: To live, move, and be an *A.C.T.I.V.E. member of society who serves to Educate, Elucidate, and Emancipate, people, and communities to Awaken and Empower themselves. Through his service and through the Transformative Teachings, Technologies, and Practices of New Thought, these people and communities recognize, realize, and materialize their Full Divine Potential! *[Authentic, Compassionate, Transparent, Inspired, Vibrant, Empowered]  He is a Licensed CSL minister and currently serves as the Senior Minister at the Center for Spiritual Living DC Greater Baltimore. He is also an author, visual artist, and ASL Performing Artist.   Websites:  https://www.instagram.com/raymontanderson/   http://www.cslgreaterbaltimore.org   http://www.raymontanderson.com   We hope you enjoy!   Gretchen & Kristy

"It's up to all of us - Black, white, everyone - no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it (racism) out." ~ Michelle Obama Join us for our Amplify Black Voices series where we will be featuring BIPOC sharing their stories.  We will be turning the mic over to them to share whatever they feel is needed to speak out about right now.   Ashley Comans is our first guest in the series.  She currently works at APOST as the HYPE Project Coordinator.  She got her degree in broadcast journalism and communication studies from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, which led her to work as a production specialist with WPXI-TV Pittsburgh.  While there, she worked with the Emmy award winning morning news cast in production.  She has also served on the school board for the Wilkinsburg School District. In 2019, Ashley was nominated as one of Pittsburgh Magazine's 40 under 40 as well as being nominated in 2017 for the Athena Young Professional Award.   She cohosts a podcast called Black Political Millenials, which you can find on Instagram @blackpoliticalmillenials and listen on Spotify, Apple, and Anchor. We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"There is nothing more certain and unchanging than uncertainty and change." ~ John F. Kennedy   So much has changed over the last three months.  Kristy and Gretchen finally get back together to reflect on the pandemic of COVID19, how it has had on their lives, as well as the current racial climate, which are both impacting the world. We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"For the longest time, I thought asking for help was a sign of weakness because that's kind of what society teaches us.  Well, you know what?  If someone wants to call me weak for asking for help, that's their own problem.  Because I'm saving my own life." - Michael Phelps   Mental health is something that every person deals with but in our society the struggles that men and women deal with are viewed very differently.  Men are often left feeling like they are weak if they need help and access to help and support is difficult to get.  In this week's episode we start the conversation on men's mental health with our guests Cory and Hill. We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind.  If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained." ~ Arthur Somers Roche For most of us anxiety is often a part of everyday life.  In this podcast we welcome guests Nicole & Shelly to share about their experiences of anxiety in their daily life at work, home, and with family & friends. The quote that Kristy reads at the beginning is from the book "The Faraway Nearby" by Rebecca Solnit....it reads: "We think we tell stories, but often stories tell us, tell us to love or hate, to see or be seen.  Often, too often, stories saddle us, ride us, whip us onward, tell us what to do, and we do it without questioning.The task of learning to be free requires learning to hear them, to question them, to pause and hear silence, to name them, and then become a story-teller." We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes....including you." Burnout is something that we all can experience just as all of us can experience anxiety.  Sometimes our burnout is because of our anxiety, sometimes our anxiety is because of our burnout, and sometimes they fuel each other to the point where it is hard to differentiate.  In this episode we explore how anxiety and burnout manifest in our lives as well as things we can do to help better manage or avoid experiencing increased anxiety and burnout.  Hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Anything that a human being does experience is, by definition, part of what a human being can experience - and therefore 'normal'." ~ Mark Tyrrell   Anxiety is an emotion that we all have but often makes us feel different, abnormal, and very alone.  In this episode we start a conversation on anxiety to better understand the emotion, the brain structure and why anxiety is an important emotion, as well as the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.     We will be doing more podcasts on anxiety and would love to hear from you if you have any questions, experiences, or comments you want to share with us!  Feel free to send us a private message on Facebook, Instagram, or through our website www.conversationstoconnect.com Enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself." ~ Anna Quindlen   What is success?  How do we define it?  When do we achieve it and how hard do we push ourselves or avoid it?  How does perfection and our fear of judgment, shame, and blame play into how we view success and achievements? In this episode we have a discussion about success, achievements, perfection, and how all of those impact our lives. Gretchen & Kristy

"Society puts so much emphasis on outer appearance, but being confident in yourself and not letting others' opinions affect you is pretty amazing." ~ Brendan Dooling In our society today there is a huge impact and influence on all of us in relation to our appearance, health, body, and overall wellness.  In this episode we explore some of the societal beliefs that impact all of us as well as addressing how these trigger shame responses in us.  We also share ways that you can start to explore your own beliefs and how they differ from those that are placed upon us from society. We hope you enjoy! Gretchen and Kristy

"We're taught ridiculous strategies for fending off cravings.  Everything from eating carrot sticks to tapping on our forehead, but we are never taught skills to competently eat all foods." ~ Rachel Hartley In this episode we circle back to focus on our relationship with ourselves and how we relate to food.  We discuss the 10 principles of intuitive eating as a guide to developing a healthier relationship with food and your body.  Intuitive eating means giving your body the nutrients and energy along with the pleasure, satisfaction, and care it needs to thrive and be well day in and day out.  It focuses on cultivating trust and respect with your mind and body again.   We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Good relationships don't just happen.  They take time, patience, and two people who truly want to be together." Healthy relationships will never require you to sacrifice your friends, your dreams, or your dignity.  This week on the podcast we explore committed relationships with our guest, Stephen.  We discuss the importance of open communication, spending time on your relationship, as well as being honest and working to understand each other.   We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"The yoga postures and breath are tools to rebuild and transform ourselves.  The goal is not to tie ourselves in knots - we're already tied in knots.  The aim is to untie the knots in our heart.  The aim is to unite with the ultimate, loving, and peaceful power of the universe." ~ Max Strom This week we celebrate our 1 year anniversary of the Conversations to Connect podcast with our guest, Max Strom.  Max is a teacher, speaker, author, and the creator of Inner Axis.  Kristy had the opportunity to chat with Max while she was on a retreat with him in Italy this past June.   Max has written two books, both of which are highly recommended.  His books are "A Life Worth Breathing" and "There is no App for Happiness".  He has an app that you can download called Strategic Breathing, which will guide you through a safe and effective practice of breathing patterns and meditative movement.  If you can breathe, this app will work for you. You can learn more about Max and Inner Axis through -  website: www.maxstrom.comInstagram: @maxstromofficialTwitter: @MaxStrom2Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/STROMTEACHINGS 

"A good relationship is when someone accepts your past, supports your present, and encourages your future." This week we welcome our guest, Megan, as she joins us in our ongoing conversation about dating and relationships.  In our fear driven culture we feel the need to hide who we are and what we want from others (whether that be from friends, family, or partners) instead of being authentic to ourselves and honest with them.  A healthy relationship is one in which love enriches you, not imprisons you. Gretchen & Kristy

"In a relationship, you need somebody who's gonna call you out, not someone who's gonna let everything slide.  You need someone who doesn't want to live without you.  But can.  Not somebody who is dependent, but somebody who is stronger with you.  A relationship is two people, not one."   This week our episode focuses on ourselves while in romantic relationships.  Finding a balance between self and others can be difficult but important to cultivate in order to have healthy relationships.  We hope you enjoy! Gretchen and Kristy

"Our society and institutions are built to push men and women into different roles.  We need to change that." ~ Caroline Criado-Perez The impact that society has on men is vastly different than how it impacts women.  In this episode we welcome Joseph Carringer, from Didge Therapy, to talk with us about his experiences as a man in today's society.  From a history of abuse and trauma to healing through sound therapy he shares his journey of developing his relationship with himself.   If you would like to check out Joseph's music click on the links below: http://didgetherapy.com/didgeridoo-music-meditation-releases http://tablesyndicate.com/ We hope you enjoy.   Gretchen & Kristy

"You don't need to fit into society or reform in order to make an impact.  Be you, spread love, raise your vibrations - That's whats important."  The relationship that we have with ourselves is often greatly impacted by society and societal views.  This week we discuss how information we receive from family, friends, society, and social media play a role in the relationship that we have with ourselves.   We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"There is nothing wrong with your body, but there is a lot wrong with the messages which try to convince you otherwise." ~ Rae Smith Accept your body the way it is.  You're unique and beautiful.  You don't need to be a certain way.  Be yourself.   In this episode we welcome our guest, Allison Long, to the podcast.  Allison is a pilates instructor, dancer, and dance teacher living and working in the Pittsburgh area.  We all struggle with body image and it benefits us to talk about the ways that we struggle, what helps us to be more accepting of ourselves, and working to realize that there is nothing wrong with our bodies and the way that we look. We hope that you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Loving yourself starts with liking yourself, which starts with respecting yourself, which starts with thinking of yourself in positive ways." In this episode we continue our journey into the relationships that we have with ourselves by exploring the expectations we have for ourselves, the comparisons we make with others, and where those come from. We also look at the ideas of self acceptance and self worth, which are an important part to developing a better relationship with yourself. Enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"When you accept yourself, you are freed of the burden of needing others to accept you.  Don't allow anyone or anything to control, limit, repress, or discourage you from being your true self." In this episode of our podcast we dive into the relationship that we have with ourself, our bodies, and how much we get into our own heads when it comes to how we view ourselves.  Join us on a journey in finding out who we are now, who we strive to be, where we came from, and what obstacles we have overcome from our past. We hope you enjoy!  Please reach out with any comments or feedback! Gretchen and Kristy

"The loss of our child washes over us, ebbs and then returns much like the waves on the shore.  Each wave a remembrance.  A sorrow.  A pain.  Reminding us that unlike the waves, they can't return." In this episode we will be concluding our series on grief and loss by addressing the impact that miscarriage has on women, their partners, and their families.  We were lucky to have Desireé join us to share her experience with miscarriage, the struggles she had with the medical community during this process, and how her Mexican culture has helped her to cope. We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Nobody hides pain better than a mother who's trying to remain strong for her kids." This week we were joined by Karen and Sara who talked about their loss and the impact that it has had on them and their family.  Karen's son and Sara's brother, Ronnie, passed when he was 15 years old.  They discussed changes that they have experienced both as individuals and as a family including redefining themselves after a death of someone at such a young age as well as the impact it continues to have 17 years later. We hope you enjoy. Gretchen & Kristy

"Every single birth and birth plan is different and no one should feel ashamed for their feelings if they didn't have the birth they wanted"   Join us for episode 12 where we are continuing our series on grief and loss.  In this podcast we address traumatic birth experiences and welcome Heather who shares with us her birth experience.  This is a topic that isn't openly addressed with new parents and the effects (if not processed) can be devastating. If you've experienced any type of trauma and would like a safe space to process your experience you can search www.psychologytoday.com or contact us for referrals. We hope you enjoy. Gretchen & Kristy

"Struggling with infertility is like dealing with the five stages of grief every single month.  You deny, bargain, get angry, cry, and accept.  Then you pick yourself back up and do it all over again." Our third installment on grief and loss focuses on infertility and the struggles that come along with this type of loss.  This week we were lucky to have Sarah come share her story of infertility and how she has learned to deal with this loss.  We hope you are able to connect and enjoy! Gretchen and Kristy

"When we share our stories, what it does is it opens up our hearts for other people to share their stories.  And it gives us the sense that we are not alone on this journey."~Janine Shepherd Continuing our series on grief and loss around the holiday's we are joined by Abby and Marcia Ritter to discuss the effects that suicide has had on their family.  They share how their lives and holiday traditions were altered forever following the loss of their father/husband and offer their stories a source of connection to the conversation about suicide.   All of our best to everyone this holiday season,  Kristy and Gretchen

"But grief is a walk alone.  Others can be there, and listen, but you will walk alone down your own path, at your own pace, with your own sheared off pain, your raw wounds, your denial, anger, and bitter loss.  You'll come to your own peace, hopefully, but it will be on your own, in your own time." ~ Kathy Lamb Join us for our first in a series on grief and loss where we explore the complexities of grief as well as a selection of the different types of losses that we experience.   The first in the series focuses on the process of divorce and effects of depression. Gretchen & Kristy

"Go after what it is that creates meaning in your life and trust yourself to handle the stress that follows" ~ Kelly McGonigal The holidays are a time of year that bring about stress for everyone for lots of different reasons.  Whether you are excited, annoyed, grieving, or overwhelmed...all of these things lead to stress and anxiety.   Join us in a conversation about the holiday season and the stress that comes along with it!  We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Overthinking leads to negative thoughts, which then leads to more negative thoughts about why you are so negative all the time.  Let it be.  It will be okay.  I promise." In this episode we discuss ways that you can start to combat negative, critical, and unhelpful thinking as well as share questions from our listeners about their struggles with unhelpful thinking. We hope you enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking.  It cannot be changed without changing our thinking" ~ Albert Einstein   Unhelpful thinking creates so many issues and struggles for all of us that it is worth talking about over and over.  In this episode we invite our guest, Jessica, to chat with us about our own struggles with unhelpful thinking, being self critical, and how comparisons cause us so many problems. Listen and enjoy! Gretchen & Kristy

"Be the silent watcher of your thoughts and behavior.  You are beneath the thinker.  You are the stillness beneath the mental noise.  You are the love and joy beneath the pain." ~ Eckhart Tolle Unhelpful thinking habits are within all of us.  No one is exempt from thinking negatively about themselves or others.  In this episode we invite our guests, Regan and Jenna, to join us in a conversation about unhelpful thinking, how it impacts our lives, and what we can do to make changes to our thinking. Gretchen & Kristy

"Healthy boundaries are not walls.  They are the gates and fences that allow you to enjoy the beauty of your own garden" ~ Lydia H. Hall How do you set healthy boundaries?  What do you do if someone refuses to respect your boundaries?  Should our boundaries be flexible?  How do you deal with your own emotions of guilt when setting boundaries?  You asked and we answered!   Check out our 4th episode and last in our series on Health Boundaries!  In this episode we talk more about our own struggles with boundaries, how to start building healthy boundaries, and answers questions from you, our listeners, about boundary struggles.   Gretchen & Kristy  

"You do not have to light yourself on fire in order to make others warm." Join us for episode 3 where we continue to get real about boundaries with our first guest, Katie, who is one of Kristy's long time friends.   We hope that you are enjoying the podcast!  If you do, please share it on Instagram, Facebook, and with your friends!   Also, remember to check out our website where you can leave us feedback, ask questions, and make suggestions for future podcasts!! Gretchen & Kristy

"Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others." ~ Brene Brown Join us for episode two where we will be getting real about healthy boundaries, how they effect our lives and relationships, as well as what you can do to start developing healthier boundaries with yourself and in your relationships.   We hope that you enjoy it and if you do please share it on Instagram, Facebook, and with your friends!  Also, remember to go to our website, click on our "Questions?" tab, and choose "connect" to submit feedback, questions, or ideas for future podcasts!  We want to know what interests you and what you want to hear us talk about! Kristy & Gretchen

We are very excited to share with you our first podcast of many to come!  In this episode, we share a little about who we are and explore the reasons for why we wanted to start a podcast. We hope you enjoy it and if you do please share it on Instagram, Facebook, and with your friends!  Also, remember to go to our website, click on our "Questions?" tab, and choose "connect" to submit feedback, questions, or ideas for future podcasts!  We want to know what interests you and what you want to hear us talk about! Kristy & Gretchen