Redefining Health & Wellness

I'm sad to say this is the final episode of Conjuring Up Courage. After three years of podcasting, I'm hanging up my headphones (at least for now). In this episode, I talk about that decision, share how my three-month hiatus went, and explain how to keep up with me and my work moving forward. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/134.Thank you for listening all this time. This show wouldn't have been possible without every person who tuned in week after week.Queerly yours,Shohreh.

I've made the difficult decision to put both the podcast and my business as a whole on hiatus for at least the next three months. In this solo episode, I explain why I'm taking a break and what you can expect from me going forward. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/133. In case this ends up being the final episode of Conjuring Up Courage, I want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has been a fan of the show. It's been an honor to grace your headphones, car stereos, office speakers, and every other space my voice has found its way to in the past three years.

Jad Jaber is the founder of Marginalized Majority, a non-profit focused on Global South queerness, mental health, and community support. In this episode, Jad and I discussed their experiences as a queer Arab person forced to immigrate from their homeland, intergenerational trauma and healing, the impact of white supremacy in the queer community, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/132. CW: Mentions of specific instances of homophobia, violence against queer folks, and racism

If you've been waiting for the tea on my romantic life, I am finally serving it up piping hot. In this episode, I've joined forces with my girlfriend, Jessie, to answer listener questions about our relationship and give some advice. Tune in to learn more about our love story, how we communicate, how to know when you've found "the one," and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/131. 

Your friendly neighborhood Girl Gang has returned to the pod to discuss our experiences with getting older. The three of us chatted about wrinkles, gray hair, alcohol, memory loss, having less fucks to give, and more in our usual chaotic fashion. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/130.

Reverend Maureen Cotton, the coach and officiant behind The Soulful Wedding, is on a mission to revive the understanding that a wedding is a powerful and transformative rite of passage. In this episode, Maureen and I discussed intention as a magic ingredient for wedding planning, how to balance the needs of the couple getting married with the needs of the guests attending the wedding, where to draw inspiration from for non-religious ceremonies, the unique joy of queer weddings, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/129.

It turns out that when you get divorced and come out as gay in your early thirties, people tend to be pretty curious about it. So in this solo episode, I'm answering the question that's been on everyone's minds: "But how did you not know you were gay?" You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/128.

I have been internet and IRL friends with therapist and social worker Amanda Pouncy-Ross for years, and something I love about our friendship is the variety of topics we weave together in our conversations. This episode is no different as we discuss abolition on an individual and societal level, the role of creativity in collective liberation, the concept of and need for chosen family, and plenty more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/127. 

After space, time, and a whole lot of healing, I'm revisiting my divorce and some of the most important lessons I learned from it in this solo episode. If I had to go through hell, y'all might as well glean some of the wisdom I gained in the experience. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/126. The show notes also include a free, downloadable Divorce Survival Guide with tools and exercises for folks going through divorces and break-ups.

Queer Dating Coach, Ariella Serur, is on a mission to disrupt traditional dating advice and transform the dating pool into one folks enthusiastically want to jump into. In this episode, we discussed some of the unique challenges queer people face when dating, how to shift your mindset around expectations and success while dating, what makes for a great profile on dating apps, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/125.

Whether you're job searching, trying to figure out if you want to start a side hustle, or even pretty satisfied with your career, this episode with Rosie McCarthy of Badass Careers has something for everyone. Rosie and I chatted about what signs signal that it's time to leave your job, how to determine if entrepreneurship is for you, tips for the job-hunting process, including navigating self-doubt, mindset shifts to help you cope when you're in between jobs, and so much more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/124.

It's been a hot minute, but The Girl Gang is back, back, back again, y'all! In this episode, we are ranting and raving about our pet peeves and bad human behavior in general. If you want to hear about all the things that make us angry enough to want to slash someone's tires, including slow drivers in the left lane, clothing you can't wear a bra with, and men who like to play devil's advocate, this one's for you. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/123.

After two decades in the social work field, Nicole Steward is convinced that radical self-care is a must for anyone who works in human services. In this episode, Nicole defines radical self-care, shares her pillars for practicing it, and explains why helpers, healers, and change makers in particular need it in order to sustain themselves. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/122.CW: Mentions of suicide, childhood sexual assault, and rape

I don't know about you, but I've been feeling unmotivated lately. So in this solo episode, I'm talking about motivation: what it is, how it works, and strategies to help you get your groove back when motivation is lacking (some of which may surprise you). You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/121.

Dr. Uchenna "UC" Ossai is the creator and founder of YouSeeLogic, a judgment-free online platform dedicated to adult sex education and empowerment. In this episode, UC and I discussed the many causes of sexual shame, ways to improve your sex life and increase sexual confidence, why you may not always have a "WAP" (among other sex myths), and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/120.

This episode features the founder of Chronicon and The Chronicon Community, Nitika Chopra. Nitika chatted with me about her experiences navigating chronic illness and entrepreneurship, her definition of self-love, her thoughts about how folks can support the people in their lives with chronic illness, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/119.

When I desperately needed to see queer representation, I looked to quality queer media to find it.  In this solo episode, I talk about some of the awesome queer movies and TV shows I've been enjoying over the last year and a half or so. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/118. 

It's no secret that much of the history of marginalized groups has been obscured. That's why Jermaine Fowler, a historian and the founder of The Humanity Archive, is making an effort to tell the stories of the historically untold. In this episode, Jermaine and I discussed historical events that rarely get taught in schools, whose stories get told and why, and how to work toward a future where history is more accurate and inclusive. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/117. 

Lola Wright is a coach, an ordained minister with a gift for weaving together the mystical and material, and a speaker who has graced stages all over the world. Lola and I chatted about the path to figuring out who you are, what it really means to love yourself and others, the connection between personal transformation and collective liberation, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/116.

Time is something we're always talking about, trying to wrap our heads around, and proclaiming we don't have enough of, but I've never heard it spoken about in quite the way Ixchel Lunar does in this episode. Ixchel is a Decolonial Time Witch who helps people decolonize and reclaim their time so they can liberate their flow. We chatted about the differences between colonial time and indigenous time, how flow and rest are interconnected, and strategies for taking back your time from dominator culture. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/115.

Meet Sabia C. Wade: CEO, revolutionary doula, educator, reproductive justice advocate, and financial activist. In this episode, Sabia and I discussed some of the inequities in reproductive healthcare, helpful info for pregnant people to have, the importance of using gender-affirming language, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/114.

Contrary to popular belief, thoughtfulness is not a trait you either have or you don't; it's a skill you can improve on with practice. As the self-proclaimed queen of thoughtfulness, I thought I would use this solo episode as an opportunity to share some of my best-kept secrets for how to be more thoughtful. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/113. The show notes also include a free, downloadable list of 50 ways to be more thoughtful.

This episode features visibility coach and brand photographer Danielle Cohen who knows that being seen can be scary in a world where only some are celebrated. Danielle and I discussed the risks and power of visibility, the deeper worries that may be fueling a fear of being seen, the importance of sitting with and growing from our mistakes, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/112.

Fellow professional unicorn Ty Deran is on the show today! Ty is a nonbinary actor, singer, and content creator committed to creating entertaining, educational, and queer-affirming content. We discussed the power of confidence, Ty's journey on social media, the freedom that comes from staying true to yourself, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/111.

I had a fantastic time chatting with embodiment coach Jamie Lee Finch about our innate bodily wisdom in this episode. Jamie explained why she thinks you should view your body as a person, and we talked about transitioning from our upbringings in high-touch religions to now having much more connected relationships with our bodies. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/110.

This week I'm celebrating the two-year anniversary of the podcast! To commemorate that milestone, I'm sharing five of my biggest takeaways from hosting and producing the show. This episode also includes an announcement about the future of Conjuring Up Courage. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/109.

The Girl Gang is back, and we're sharing our best "life hacks" with you in this episode—i.e., tips and advice we've found helpful in our own lives that we think others might benefit from too. From makeup to cooking to organization and more, our recommendations are all over the board and delivered in their usual entertaining fashion. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/108. 

Through working with clients over the years, I've noticed that people tend to focus so intently on reaching destinations that they often miss what's right in front of them. In this solo episode, I talk about why applying the "extreme makeover" narrative to your life can be a recipe for disappointment and frustration. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/107.

In my work and life, I regularly talk about the importance of curiosity, and I thought it was time to expand on why that is. In this solo episode, I discuss the benefits of staying curious and share tips for how you can cultivate more curiosity. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/106. The show notes also include a free, downloadable worksheet with a summary of the six strategies I talk about in this episode plus three bonus practices to help you nurture your sense of curiosity.

I am an absolute organizational nerd, so I had a blast chatting with Ashley Brown, the founder and owner of Routine and Things, about how to start arranging your life in ways that work best for you. Ashley and I discussed why a lot of people are resistant to the idea of routines, what steps to take for consistency and lasting change, and how to make routines more joyful (or alternatively, how to make them less annoying). You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/105.

For the final episode of Pridepalooza, say hello to the long-awaited second annual Pride Panel episode! I both moderate and participate in this magical panel discussion alongside past guests Ilya Parker, Melody Li, and James Rose. After a rousing lightning round of questions just for fun, the four of us spill the tea on queer signaling, the role of labels, mental health in the queer community, and much more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/104.

Continuing right along with the Pridepalooza series, this episode features queer sexuality educator and sex science communicator Eva Bloom. Eva and I chatted about how to move beyond sexual scripts that come from cisheteropatriarchy, sexual compatibility considerations, sexting privacy, navigating dating apps, and communication as an integral part of casual sex. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/103. 

The Girl Gang is back again for some Pridepalooza shenanigans! In preparation for this episode, I gave listeners the opportunity to submit questions for me, Ally, and Tiffany to answer for this very special queer edition Q&A, and y'all did not disappoint. We gave advice on several topics, including how to decide whether or not to come out, different ways to engage with your queerness, and strategies for making more queer friends. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/102.

Astrology is basically queer canon, so I thought Pridepalooza was the perfect time to invite an astrologer on the podcast to help us all learn about what happens when Mercury is in lemonade (did I do that right?). Bear Ryver is a full-time, professional astrologer practicing through an intersectional, post-colonial lens. We chatted about what astrology is and where it comes from, why queers flock to astrology, how to understand your sun, moon, and rising signs, and a whole lot more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/101.

Happy 100th episode and Happy Pride, y'all! In the first of five queer-focused episodes for Pridepalooza, I'm telling the deeply personal story of my queer journey up to this point, including the story of my recent divorce. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/100.CW: Discussion of queer pain, homophobia, grief, and divorce

Therapeutic sex & relationship coach Dawn Serra has been such an inspiration to my own thinking on pleasure, and it was a joy to be in conversation with her in this episode. Dawn and I chatted about reconnecting with pleasure, the importance of supporting the people you love in what feels good for them, the both/and nature of what our bodies are capable of experiencing, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/99.

If you don't think of yourself as a very creative person or if you want to make more time for creative pursuits, then my interview with Creativity Facilitator & Coach, Krista Kankula, is for you. Krista and I talked about barriers to creating, how to prioritize creative practices and get inspired, and the potential of individual creativity to make the world a better place. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/98. 

This episode features disability rights and inclusion activist Imani Barbarin (also known as Crutches and Spice). Imani and I spoke about the role humor plays in her life, disability in the context of the pandemic, why marginalized groups need to elevate collaboration over competition, as well as desirability and dating in the disability community. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/97.

When I first discovered Chaya Milchtein's Mechanic Shop Femme platform, I was enamored. Here was a queer, plus-size woman who dressed however she pleased and provided automotive education to hundreds of thousands of people online. So obviously I had to have her on the show. Chaya and I chatted about how she shows up authentically in her work, myths about car ownership and maintenance, items you should keep in your car, her viral virtual wedding, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/96.

If changing your relationship with food and your body is a priority for you, reading Alissa Rumsey's new book, Unapologetic Eating, might be a great place for you to start. In this episode, Alissa and I chatted about her decision to hire equity readers for the book, the role that shame plays in how we relate to ourselves, and the importance of fostering curiosity in place of trying to fix ourselves. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/95.

My friend, healing artist and writer Eryn Johnson, joined me on the podcast for a beautiful conversation that traversed pain, purpose, and presence. Eryn and I talked about breathwork, healing from religious trauma, practicing witchcraft, how Eryn embodies cultural appreciation, pole dancing, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/94. 

Do you find yourself quitting more easily than you would like? Do you struggle with discipline when things get challenging? If so, you're far from alone, and a combination of evolutionary traits and strategic stumbles may be contributing to your tendency to throw in the towel early. In this solo episode, I explain different factors that can lead to quitting and share tips to help you strengthen your perseverance muscle. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/93. In the show notes, you can also download a free worksheet with a series of questions that you can use to help make up your mind the next time you're contemplating whether or not to quit something.

For parents and caregivers, it can be tough to figure out how best to handle food and body image when it comes to kids. Luckily, Leah Hackney, a pediatric registered dietitian, has some ideas. In this episode, Leah and I talk about why you don't need to be married to growth charts, how to use more neutral language around food and bodies at home, strategies to help with picky eating, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/92.

Your favorite Girl Gang is back in action! Ally Ridnour and Tiffany Cunningham return to the podcast once again, and this time we're chatting about self-care. If you feel like the self-care conversation is overdone, I get it. But I promise that our discussion is nuanced and has far more depth than the average self-care article or post. We talk about the history of self-care, the difference between self-care, self-soothing, and community care, barriers to self-care, and a whole lot more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/91. 

James Rose is a non-binary actor and storyteller who single-handedly makes the internet a better place, and it was a delight to have them on the show. James and I discussed the lack of inclusion in acting, the infinite number of ways to be non-binary, and self-trust in the context of dating and breakups. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/90.

If you don't think of yourself as a writer, Kelly Cutchin wants to know why. Kelly is a writer, teacher, and the host of the Casual Magic writing community. In this episode, we talk about writing as a tool of self-expression, why focusing on the finished product isn't all it's cracked up to be, the dreaded grammar police, and so much more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/89.

Social psychologist Dr. Devon Price joined me in this episode to talk about their new book, Laziness Does Not Exist. The book details a belief system called the Laziness Lie, which teaches us that hard work is morally superior to relaxation, and people who aren't productive have less innate value than productive people. We chatted about the historical roots of the Laziness Lie, the importance of recognizing everyone's inherent worth, and how to fight back against internalized capitalism. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/88.

It was such a joy to have Shaleiah Fox on the show to talk about her work with Fresh Chefs Society, a nonprofit dedicated to creating positive life experiences through food for youth in foster care. We discussed some of the misconceptions about the foster care system, the importance of creating opportunities for foster care youth to exercise their agency, equity in philanthropy, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/87.

The podcast reveal is finally here, and I'm so excited to introduce you to Conjuring Up Courage (formerly Redefining Health & Wellness). I can't wait to share with you what's in store for the podcast's evolution, starting with today's solo episode. I first talk about the rebrand and what you can expect going forward, then I move into answering a variety of listener questions that y'all submitted, covering topics ranging from pet parenting to impostor syndrome to coming out. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/86.

Shira Rosenbluth, licensed clinical social worker and body-positive style blogger, joined me on the show to talk about some of the challenges of eating disorder recovery. We discussed fatphobia in eating disorder treatment (both on the clinician and patient side), how Shira's relationship with fashion has changed throughout her own recovery, and more. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/85. TW: Discussion of eating disorders, disordered eating behaviors, and fatphobia

Queen of boundaries Michelle Elman, best known for her Scarred Not Scared campaign, joined me on the show to talk about her new book, The Joy of Being Selfish. If people pleasing is your M.O., Michelle will help you understand why you need better boundaries and how to start setting them. You can find the show notes and a full transcript of this episode at https://shohrehdavoodi.com/84.