Pep Talks With Barb & Sav

A Quick Announcement... by Pep Talks With Barb & Sav

Fun Bonus Episode all about Sav! Barb created a list of questions for Sav and we think you'll love the answers, from who she admires the most to one thing most people don't know about her! We hope the brightens your day.

If you haven't met Ashley Beaudin yet... get ready! She left us speechless after this amazing interview. She is a speaker, community gatherer and heart encourager who inspires humans into emotional wholeness, real community and bold leadership. She also created an INCREDIBLE quiz helping you identify your self-sabotage type! To connect with Ashley, find her on Instagram at @Ashley.beaudin. To take the quiz, go to ashleybeaudin.com/quiz!

Food, body image, self-worth, and disordered eating can be daunting subjects to talk about. Women are bombarded with pressure on all sides to look perfect, but the pressure ends up crippling many women from fully embracing themselves and their bodies. In this episode, psychotherapist Joanna Townsend talks about body image and how to cultivate a sense of self-worth. To find Joanna online, you can follow her on her Instagram at @joannatalksfeelings!

Thirty minutes with Mary Beth left us in awe of how smart, kind, and passionate she is. In this episode, she chatted about one of her specialties- family dynamics- and how some toxic dynamics can feed into generational trauma if left unchecked. Mary Beth specializes in treating teens and young adults, with a focus in family dynamics, relationships, anxiety, transitions, and trauma. Her graduate degrees in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University (right?!) allow her to assess, diagnose, and treat social, psychological, and behavioral disorders and illnesses. Mary Beth was an absolute delight to interview, and we gleaned so much from this short conversation. We hope you love her, too! To find her on Instagram, check out @yourjourneythrough!

This interview is a FUN one, so buckle up! In this episode, Barb and Sav ask Bianca questions about everything related to dating, singleness, and marriage! Bianca is full of hilarious tips and wise advice, all informed by her amazing story. You can find Bianca on Instagram @biancaolthoff

There's often a stigma in faith circles around mental health / therapy. In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about their own experiences and what they were taught about counseling, and what prompted them to pursue healthier lives by going to therapy (and, in Barb's case, becoming a therapist!).

Everyone knows the feeling of being spiritually bypassed, but it's hard to clearly define. In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about what spiritual bypassing is, how to spot it, and how to stop it!

Sometimes it's difficult to discern when God is asking you to let go-- maybe of a relationship, a job, a dream or an expectation; or when God is leading you to hold on despite your circumstances saying otherwise. In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about the rhythm of letting go and holding on, offering some experience about ways they've learned to let go.

Yeah. The news cycle is addicting. It's important to be informed! But when is reading the news TOO much? We hope this episode helps you figure out your sweet spot with news intake.

That's right-- it's an interview with the AMAZING Morgan Harper Nichols! In this episode, we talk about creativity during quarantine, social media, sadness, and everything in between. We hope you enjoy getting to know Morgan as much as we did. Follow her on IG at @MorganHarperNichols and find her book "All Along You Were Blooming" online or in stores!

The pandemic we find ourselves in has had a million different ripple effects -- lost jobs, cancelled weddings, kids at home, working from home, etc... so its 100% normal if you're feeling off. It's normal if you're feeling sad, grieved, weird, happy, angry, or confused. Today's episode is all about being present to whatever feelings pop up. Barb and Sav talk about their own completely different experiences in quarantine, and give an opportunity for you to do the same!

Every emotion has a healthy and impaired side, including anger. That's right-- anger is a gift! In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about why, and help identify some areas anger may be showing up in your life.

The COVID-19 pandemic is drawing out all kinds of things in us both personally and communally. Strangely enough, there is pressure to perform, to achieve, to make something great out of all the "down time" we have. But here's the thing-- the world is pretty exhausting. So what if the down time is an invitation to something greater than performing?

One of four mid-week reflective exercises to draw you into the present moment in these chaotic times. We love you!

One of four mid-week reflective exercises to draw you into the present moment in these chaotic times. We love you!

One of four mid-week reflective exercises to draw you into the present moment in these chaotic times. We love you!

For many of us, comparison is as easy as breathing. We see hundreds of pictures & videos every day of people's highlight reels--- their successes, happy moments, vacations, and fun memories-- and it's difficult not to compare our situations to theirs. In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about the price we pay when we give way to comparison, and how to stop ourselves from living in comparison-mode.

Shame is something that embeds in your soul and skin, making you feel like it is your identity. Because it hides and attempts to identify you, it's SO important to recognize shame for what it is and pull it apart from who you are.

Season 2 is starting with a new episode on friendship. Why are friendships so hard?! Why are many people afraid to talk about it? What are appropriate expectations to have for a friend? How do you know if your expectations are killing your friendships? These are just a few questions Barb and Sav talk about in this episode. We hope you enjoy!

We're on our way back and can't wait to see you! New episodes coming March 2!

On the last pep talk before Christmas, Sav surprises Barb and all our listeners with a fun episode. We are SO grateful for your support this year and we cannot wait to come back with Season 2 next year! Merry Christmas, friends!

Today's pep talk comes from a question one of our Instagram family members asked about her relationship with her mom. Talking about your relationship with your mom can be terrifying. Maybe you feel like you're betraying her by being honest? Maybe you feel scared of opening up that door because you don't know what you'll find? Wherever you are in the process, we hope this gives you a good framework for understanding how your relationship with your mom affects you (maybe without you even knowing it)!

Based on an exercise Barb does with some of her clients, Barb and Sav's goal is to help you identify your core values in this Pep Talk. Understanding your core values will help you identify WHY you do what you do, and why certain situations or relationships trigger you. This episode should help you narrow down your list and set you on a good trajectory to see what your values really are!

Today's pep talk is all about apologies. Do you over-apologize? Do you under-apologize? What makes for a good apology? Barb and Sav talk about their own experiences with apologies and give a few practical Do's and Dont's when it comes to giving/receiving apologies!

Around the holidays, its tempting to cope and numb with food. If you've ever stress-eaten during an uncomfortable family situation, mindlessly eaten two or three servings without actually being hungry, or gotten stuck in a shame cycle because of holiday season food, this episode is for you! We've got some practical tips that may help interrupt the cycle you find yourself in, giving you an opportunity to define a healthier relationship with food.

If you're already dreading the "trigger" questions that come around the holiday season, from your relationship status to kids to career. Luckily, a bit of preparation can help you navigate those moments with kindness and empowerment! In this episode, Barb and Sav are going to help you prepare to answer uncomfortable questions with practical tools!

The holiday season comes loaded with joy, fun and celebration... anddddd (drumroll!) family dynamics! In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about specific roles we play in our families- from glue to mediator to clown- and how to ditch those childhood scripts in pursuit of wholeness. It's not only possible, but beneficial, to prepare for the holidays, and we hope this episode helps you start that process!

When you experience conflict, do you avoid the tension? Do you run to the center of the action? Do you feel paralyzed? A mixture of all three?! Whatever you do reflects your "conflict style" and identifying your conflict style can change everything!

Imposter syndrome makes you feel like you're a fraud. Any success you have or affirmation you receive is eclipsed by an inner voice that tells you, "You don't deserve this. You're not as smart as everyone else. You're not as capable as everyone else. You're not as [FILL IN BLACK] as everyone else." Self-doubt plagues your mind as you wonder if you belong. In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about imposter syndrome's manifestations, including their own experiences and some research!

Anger helps us tell the truth, but impaired anger turns to rage... specifically, internet outrage. This episode is all about internet outrage, mob mentality, and a healthier way of working with anger.

Disappointment can knock the wind out of us....but why? In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about disappointment's relationship with expectations and victimhood, as well as ways to recover from disappointments in your life.

Online dating-- yes or no?! In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about some online dating statistics and try to demystify a few online dating myths!

Sav talks candidly about her faith deconstruction, including a 2 year period where she and her husband left church entirely. We hope this episode gives you plenty of space to heal and find comfort if you're in a faith crisis!

Triggered by the death of someone close to her, Barb reflects on her first crisis of faith. We hope this episode gives space to everyone deconstructing their faith!

While you may not be familiar with the term "vulnerability hangover" you've likely felt it. In this episode, Barb and Sav talk about what a vulnerability hangover is and practical steps towards remediating one!

Did you know your brain cannot physically problem-solve and have empathy at the same time? Barb and Sav talk about what it means to live from a space of curiosity instead of judgment, not only when engaging with others but with yourself.

Even though we love bubble baths and chocolate... self care goes FAR beyond cliché caricatures we see on Instagram. Self care requires humility, intention and sometimes sacrifice. Barb and Sav talk about what self care looks like in their lives, including struggling with whether or not self care is selfish.

Have you ever felt upset because not enough people liked your social media post? Ever felt left out because of other people's posts? Yeah, it's a brain thing! Barb & Sav talk about what is happening in our brains/hearts when we interact with social media, and signs your relationship with Instagram might need a boundary or two.

Have you ever felt like you're trapped on a hamster wheel, running and running and running without ANY changes? Have you ever felt stuck? In this vulnerable episode, Barb and Sav talk about feeling stuck-- what gets us there and practical steps to get un-stuck.

Because of the common portrayal of therapists in movies & TV shows, many people think therapists sit in the corner and nod silently while doodling in a notebook. To clear up any misnomers, Barb and Sav want to help set fresh expectations for what you can expect from therapy in this episode!

How do you know it's time to go to therapy? This can be a daunting question because of all the stigma and misunderstandings surrounding counseling. Barb and Sav hope to give some clarity and signs to look out for when it comes to choosing the next step in your healing process.

In this episode, Barb and Sav talk bout this quote from Henri Nouwen: "There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another's wounds. Let's remind one another that what brings us true joy is not successfulness but fruitfulness."

Maintaining healthy friendships can be hard, right?! Life isn't exactly like the TV show Friends, where tensions are resolved in a 20-minute episode. Barb and Sav talk about their own experiences with friendship and some tools they've learned along the way in cultivating vulnerable, real friendships.

In part three of the Boundaries miniseries, Barb and Sav talk about what healthy boundaries look like and how you can pursue those in your life!

In the second part of the Boundaries miniseries, Barb and Sav talk about the categories of boundary styles and how those styles often serve as self-protection from pain.

In part one of the Boundaries miniseries, Barb and Sav briefly summarize boundaries: what they are, what they aren't and why they can change everything!

Everyone is formed in part by their family of origin. Listen to this episode to learn why examining your family of origin matters and what sort of childhood scripts you might be carrying into adulthood.

Did you know Captain No has a counterpart? Her name is Captain Yes! As recovering yes-women, Barb and Sav explore what it means to say YES when you mean it and say NO without guilt.

Sometimes, in an effort to break free from feeling voiceless or having no personal boundaries, it's easy to overcorrect and become "Captain No." In this episode, Barb and Sav describe who Captain No is and why she might need to get behind a Yes this week!

A vital step in self-awareness comes with recognizing the story we tell ourselves. That story- what we carry into every room- affects the way we relate to ourselves and others. It becomes the lens through which we see the world. So what story are you telling yourself? What are you carrying when you walk into a room?