Random Talks of Kindness

A conversation with Nancy Torres on how to navigate back to calm via breath, dancing and meditation. Author, childhood educator, and meditation guide, Nancy Torres and I talk about how, as a parent or teacher, we can incorporate meditation into our lives.  Whether through silent or guided meditation, prayer, yoga, or journaling, we can model for our kids and everyone benefits.   We also discuss how helpful it can be to change the energy around us and our children by taking some deep breaths, dancing to shift the energy, or taking quiet time to rebalance.  For guided meditation and more with Nancy Torres: www.iamnancytorres.com@iamnancytorresAuthor of Say It With Me

In this uplifting conversation with Coaches Across Continents founder Nick Gates, we see the power of sport to make a real global impact.  By utilizing CAC's Purposeful Play to engage children and adults, communities can discuss sensitive and challenging UN SDG topics and create a pathway to address them through play.   Hope for a better future is created one game at a time, one interaction at a time, boosting communities around the world.To learn more and donate, visit www.coachesacrosscontinents.orgAnd follow CAC on social media at* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CoachesAcrossContinents/* Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coachesacrosscontinents/* Twitter https://twitter.com/coachesacrossThis episode was recorded August 2019 pre-pandemic.

This is a conversation between a Black man and a white woman about living Black in America.  We discuss what it's like for Leslie to be constantly on guard for what white people will think about him or do to him based solely on his skin.   We dive into the constant mental struggle and trauma of living Black in America, what that feels like in real life scenarios, and the post traumatic stress that has been passed on through generations and continues to be with every murder and harassment of a Black person.    Recorded May 30 2020To remember victims, to learn about books and activists, and to take anti racism actions, visit https://sayevery.name/

In her latest book, Good Mommy's Have Scary Thoughts, author Karen Kleiman, MSW, LCSW, shares her wisdom on how mothers feel and the self compassion we can give ourselves to help get us through difficult times.  In this conversation, we go deep into my prenatal depression and her decades of experience as a therapist for prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression.  Follow her https://www.facebook.com/postpartumstresscenter2/and https://www.instagram.com/postpartumstress/?hl=en

Prenatal Depression and anxiety are hidden struggles for so many pregnant women.   A baby can  be very wanted yet the pregnancy can feel awful both emotionally and physically.  In this conversation, another woman and I discuss our struggles, how it felt, what helped, how we made it through those difficult months.  For many women, these strong emotions feel very shameful, we are here to shed that sham, and embrace women with giant hugs of empathy and compassion.  We hope our stories will help others going through it to know your mental and emotional state matters.    For more help, reach out to your medical providers and find resources at https://postpartumstress.com/. 

Connie Pastorius explains "the suffering olympics" and how instead we can listen and share with empathy that makes us all feel heard and validated.  She also shares her unique style of in person and online health and fitness coaching that utilizes her as an accountability-buddy to support and encourage her clients along the wellness path, and we discuss how she is coping through this pandemic.    

Sarah O'Halloran and I discuss the emotional challenges of motherhood during the pandemic.  Emotions so close to the surface, being more agitated and upset by our kids yet also trying to embrace this unique moment of having so much time with them.  

In many ways this pandemic quarantining makes me feel, "it is the best of times, it is the worst times."  Though the healthcare workers, govt officials, first responders, emergency management teams, and public health groups are under enormous stress, all of us are experiencing extreme situations due to jobs, family, illness, quarantining, etc...the list goes on and on.   We all need to get thoughts out of our heads so let's use the AA model of sharing in order to help ourselves through this challenging experience.  Please join me to listen to each other with kind ears and open our hearts to each other. 

In this episode, Jeff discusses ways to empower each other after natural and man made disasters to feel connected so that people know they matter even in the worst of times.

Alyssa Julya Smith has been a model, an actress, an entrepreneur and is now a host on Cheddar. She appears super confident but she's human like the rest of us and has had to learn how to strive for success even when she doesn't feel confident. We talk about how she has felt in different industries and what tools she uses to propel herself even when she's doubting herself.

Introduction to Random Talks of Kindness where tough topics meet thoughtful listening. Host Monica O'Leary Singh explains a bit about her life journey and why she is launching a podcast.