Kitchen Confessionals

Here is what is making us uncomfortable this week – and it is NOT the seminal Pink Floyd song…although the lyrics DO capture a lot of what we are going to talk about here. Building on the themes of episode 34, Leah and Shauna get real – like the realiest-real – about how and when they have ‘numbed'. With the holidays looming there is a decided uptick in the number of family and community and work events and you cannot swing a dead cat without hitting a trigger in December. From both a personal and professional setting, from booze to food to over-exercise and over-work, we have tried them all. Spoiler alert: We have yet to find one that ‘works'

Episode 34 - Ho - Ho - Here Come The Holidays Expectations by Shauna and Leah

Here is what is making us uncomfortable this week - Conflict. All of it. The kind that we avoid. The kind that makes us cringe. The kind that makes us roll our eyes or steam from our ears. If conflict is a natural and healthy part of every relationship, how do you learn to fight? Are there rules? Is there such a thing as a 'fair fight'? Can everyone not just do what we like and thereby avoid all conflict forever and always? If not, why not? These are the hard-hitting questions we explore in this episode. Whether you avoid it or crave it or make it or complain about it, conflict is almost as unavoidable as death and taxes. Don't the best conversations always happen in the kitchen? And when we say the 'best' conversations we mean a lot - sometimes the best is the most important or the hardest or the loudest. We named it Kitchen Confessionals because what we crave is the kind of vulnerability and truth sharing that comes from these conversations even when - or even especially when - they make us uncomfortable. If you have something that is making you uncomfortable, please let us know at kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com

In this episode, Shauna and Leah talk about their experiences camping under the stars. Leah shares fond memories from Canadian childhood summer camp, crossing paths with a moose! Thunder boxes, military tents and burning rubber. And even though it's not her favourite now, Leah camped out in a tent with her girl for Fiona's lockdown birthday, all in the name of memories. Speaking of memories, Shauna's camping recollections include deflated air mattresses, deflated inner tubes and buzz saw snoring, but none of them deflated her campfire love. Happy camping folks!

In this episode, Shauna and Leah continue the conversation about the notion of 'coming home', which started with 'stuff' and the things we accumulate in Part I. This time, they talk about what home meant to them as they matured and moved around, how it has evolved and what it feels like in the moment today.

In this episode, Shauna and Leah celebrate the one year anniversary of the podcast and sparked by Leah's milestone house move, they talk about 'Coming Home'. This is Part 1 and 2 and in it they discuss the accumulation of things, why and how it happens and some of the ways our lives get tied up in the 'stuff'. Stay tuned for Part 2

In this episode, Shauna and Leah talk about professional and personal dealbreakers. They talk about what puts you on their professional 'bad list', which personal boundaries they each enforce and there may or may not be references to Arya Stark from Game of Thrones and Wayne from Letterkenny.

Surprisingly, for a show called "Kitchen Confessionals", Leah and Shauna had never covered the often taboo topic of RELIGION. In this episode, they talk about their experiences growing up ('Immaculate Conception'? Really???), how that shaped their thoughts and beliefs now and how complex the topics truly is! Love to hear your thoughts: kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com

In this episode, Shauna and Leah confront the topic of 'titles'. What does a professional title mean and how much weight does it hold?They each talk about their own experiences and they ask the questions: Does it help us get access, a seat at the table and is it possible to challenge the system that upholds the titles? Your feedback is always welcome: kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com

In this episode, Shauna just returned from another vet trip with her dog Lola. Leah and Shauna both have dogs and they talk about the hijinks the dogs get up to, growing up with pets and their experiences with 'unusual' house pets. Email them your pet pics! kichenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com Or post on their Facebook or Instagram pages! They LOVE pet pics!

In this episode, Leah and Shauna reflect on the past year, living with a global pandemic. What they miss most, what they don't miss, how their lives have changed and what valuable lessons they've learned.

In this episode, Shauna and Leah tackle the debate around dress codes in schools, prompted by an incident Leah's friend relayed to her. In classic Kitchen Confessionals style, they bring in their own thoughts and experiences, they learn as they talk and they invite everyone to weigh in. Tell us your thoughts: kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com

In this episode, Shauna and Leah talk about how the purpose and outcomes of networking have changed. How they used to network earlier in their careers, how that has changed now and how the pandemic has changed everything. Leah frames it as 'transaction to trust'. And of course, they throw in some humorous anecdotes. What's your networking story?

In this episode, Shauna and Leah cover a topic suggested by listener Leeanne about 'resolutions' and giving ourselves a break and showing ourselves some 'grace'. They talk about what they used to do and what they are learning about habits and the significance of small changes.

In this episode, Shauna and Leah expand on a listener suggestion from Jennifer about trusting your 'gut instinct'. Why do we ignore it? Can we trust it? And what are the systems that keep us stuck? Oh, and listening to your 'knowing' is REALLY FUCKING HARD! (Thanks for the lessons Glennon Doyle & her latest book - UNTAMED)

Shauna and Leah took an extended break over the holidays and they talk about why, about the epiphanies they had (and are still having)about what defines 'success', about how fucking hard doing the real work is but also about why it's so worth it.

In this episode, Shauna and Leah tackle the topic of balance and boundaries. Each talks about her own experiences, both personally and professionally, the expectations, the choices and the growth. And they talk about things they've learned and put into practise, to bring greater balance and clarity in their own lives.

Shauna and Leah talk discovered a term they hadn't heard about before and decided to ask Rachel Ettinger, founder of Here for Her about 'menstrual equity' and in the process, talk about they own experience learning about menstruation, getting their periods and how we can all keep the conversation going. Here for Her Instagram - @shophereforher Twitter - @ShopHereForHer Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/ShopHereforHer/ Find Rachel Ettinger on LinkedIn

In this episode, Shauna and Leah talk about how external and internal influences led to the struggle for body image acceptance in their own lives. They talk about shame, food and the stories that influenced their self talk. And despite working on unlearning all of the crap they've ingested up until now, Leah and Shauna are still unlearning.

In this episode, Shauna and Leah talk about jobs. Each talks about her first job, positions that molded her, lessons learned and the shittiest jobs. They also talk about dream jobs and maybe even their life's purpose!

In this episode, Shauna and Leah talk about being the first born and each one gains insight by chatting with her family. Memories, foibles and fables that shaped their place in the home and eventually, their place in the world. ***Special thanks to Derek, Dayna, Shane and Fin for sharing their thoughts and their time. WE LOVE YOU!***

Prompted by a listener comment, Shauna and Leah share their own experiences with the fear that can come with doing things on your own, the need for 'alone time' and the unnecessary pressure we put on ourselves to 'do something' with time alone.

This is not one of the lighter topics in the "Kitchen". In typical gritty Leah and Shauna style, they tackle a topic that affects us all - cancer. Each shares her own personal journey and what each has learned having come out the other side. If you feel like you can share your own experience, or you have any questions for us, our community is here for you. Contact us at kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com or share on our Facebook page.

Leah and Shauna are obsessed with books! So in this episode, they talk about books of their childhood and youth, phases and influences through puberty, adolescence and post-secondary. And they talk about the books that changed them and the books that shaped the people they are and the people they are becoming.. What books had an influence on you? Email them at kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com

After ranting about the things people do that drive them to distraction (Give Episode 10 a listen!), Shauna and Leah decide to make lists of things that they LOVE and that make them happy. They craft their lists separately, then discuss them together. What's your list? Email us at kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com or post on Facebook or Instagram #ThisMakesMeHappy

We all have things that get under our skin but in this episode, Shauna and Leah talk about specific things some folks do that reserve them a special place in Hades. Plus, they are hosting a poll! Go to their Facebook or Instagram page to participate!

This is the second part of 'Having it all", prompted by a listener letter from Sophie from Leeds, UK! Shauna and Leah have another chat with Sophie and In this continuation of Part 1, they talk about their professional lives, managing a career and a family, their thoughts after pandemic lockdown and the way forward.

Leah and Shauna get mail! In this episode, they dug into the mail bag and into Sophie's letter(all the way from Leeds, UK!) 'Having it all'. They had so much to talk about, they had to split the topic into two parts. Part one is about early life and the influences Shauna and Leah had that formed their goals and aspirations. *When asked by a guidance counsellor what Leah wanted to do, she simply said, "I want to be in charge."

Shauna and Leah started a podcast but have yet to meet in person! This episode, they interview each other, Jeopardy-style, and hilarity ensues! *This is the Adam Grant WorkLife podcast Leah mentions in the introduction: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reinventing-the-job-interview/id1346314086?i=1000472139819 *This is the man she mentions who inspired her, Greg Quinn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinng2two/?originalSubdomain=ca * Here is the Maytag Repairman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deqPT8yA7dI

Leah and Shauna are back after a 'learning sabbatical'. They talk about their experience awakening to racism, the practise of allyship and especially, as they do best, talking about how they've been vulnerable, fucked up and got back up on the horse! Email them with questions: kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com REFERENCES: * White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, Michael Eric Dyson (Foreword) *Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad

#PodcastBlackout by Shauna and Leah

Leah and Shauna discuss their experiences during this global pandemic. They talk about fear, panic, grief, programming, family, work and relationships, including the most important one of all, their relationship with themselves. *AND they talk about the assholes that don't return shopping carts to the corral! (You know who you are!)

In episode 4, Shauna and Leah talk about mothering and being mothered including: the societal pressures of motherhood, the choices we make, the judgements we might endure, the general complexity of relationships with our own mothers, things we don't regret and things we do.

Leah and Shauna talk about the best advice they've ever gotten, the worst and some words they live by. Tell us your best and worst advice at: kitchenconfessionalscontact@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/KitchenConfessionals/

In Episode 2, Shauna and Leah talk about the good and the great things about getting older, including comfortable shoes, female friendships, body image, masturbation and sex. Yep, they went there.

In their first episode, Shauna and Leah talk about the stories people told them, how they affected their lives, how we all deal with them and how we can learn to be better 'in the moment'.