Right in Front of My Face

What happens when you spend your whole life performing at the highest level, only to realize, in midlife, that you've been quietly carrying a mental health condition that almost no one talks about? In this episode, I am joined by Jud Heugel: pediatrician, health tech CMO, father, ultra-endurance athlete, and now—mental health advocate. After years of living in silence, Jud opens up about his journey with bipolar disorder, why he kept it hidden, and what changed when he decided it was finally time to share his truth. What started as a casual chat about podcasting turned into one of the most powerful conversations this show has ever held—because Jud's story is not just about bipolar. It's about resilience, self-acceptance, and using your life experiences as fuel for something bigger.   In this episode: His early struggles during medical residency—and what led to a full mental health breakdown The misunderstood highs of hypomania and how they impacted his life and career Why he believes sports—especially endurance sports—can be a tool for healing The stigma of mental health in medicine—and the long road to acceptance How middle age has become a time of radical self-actualization for him   Jud, you're forwarding progress in all ways and it's very humbling that you chose Right in Front of My face to as your starting line to opening up about bipolar. Thank you.   You can find Jud at https://www.thebalancedathlete.org/ and Substack: The Balanced Athlete.   You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com.   If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories. And as always, don't forget to look around—you never know what's happening right in front of your face.   Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/

What if artificial intelligence is not just the next innovation—but the final one? If you've felt overwhelmed, under-informed, or just plain scared about AI and what it means for your future and your children's—this is the episode you need to hear.   In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with author Martha Brockenbrough to explore the real impact AI is already having on our lives—and the terrifying potential it holds for the future. Martha, author of Future Tense: How We Made Artificial Intelligence—and How It Will Change Everything, helps break down incredibly complex issues into relatable truths that all of us—especially those of us in midlife—need to understand.   In this episode: The origins of AI and how it mimics human thought Why your personal data is now more valuable than oil How social media is training our kids (and us) to give it away for free Deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and the terrifying reality of synthetic relationships Why the tech elite are profiting from a system that displaces the rest of us   But it's not all doom and gloom—we also talk about the power of empathy, the human capacity to care, and how we can reclaim our futures by staying informed, asking questions, and centering people over profit.   Connect with Martha: Website: https://martha-brockenbrough.squarespace.com Get her books: https://martha-brockenbrough.squarespace.com/books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthabee/   You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com.   If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories.   And as always, don't forget to look around—you never know what's happening right in front of your face.   Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/  

We're three episodes into this season, and I'm so excited to bring you this conversation with my friend Cara Rosellini—standup comedian, writer, actress, mom, and just an overall phenomenal human. This episode is a bit of a departure—it's less of an interview and more of a candid chat between two women trying to figure out what it means to show up, be vulnerable, and create something new in middle age.   Cara and I talk about: – Coming back to work and creativity after years away – What it's really like to navigate social media and self-promotion when you're 40+ – The fear of being seen—and doing it anyway – The beauty of failing big and trying again – And why staying true to yourself is the only path forward This one's for everyone who's ever felt frozen, stuck, or unsure if they're still relevant. (Spoiler alert: you are.) We see you. We are you.   Let's keep going—and maybe even fail big together. Connect with Cara: cararosellini.com  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cararosellini   You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com.   If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories.   And as always, don't forget to look around—you never know what's happening right in front of your face.   Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/  

How do we truly understand power? And what happens when we reframe the way we give—and take—permission in our lives?   In this episode, I sit down with Maria Witkop, a former FBI agent, author of Reach: Rewriting the Story of Power, and a woman with an incredible story of resilience, intuition, and human connection.   I have to admit, I was more intimidated by this interview than any I've done before. I mean, how do you sit across from someone trained to see right through people? But from the moment she walked into the studio, Maria defied every expectation I had.   Maria's journey from HR recruiter to federal agent wasn't just about shifting careers—it was about shifting her own perception of what was possible. She shares how growing up in a home shaped by addiction gave her an innate ability to read people, a skill that would serve her as she navigated high-stakes FBI interviews and investigations.   Grab Maria's book, Reach: Rewriting the Story of Power, here: https://www.amazon.com/Reach-Rewriting-Story-Maria-Witkop/dp/B0BNH11ZS3   Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonhull/ Get social and find me on Instagram.     Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate  Get to know them at their website      Leave a 5 star review on Apple Pocasts and get a shoutout in the next few episodes!

OK everyone, as my favorite podcaster Danny Pelligrino says, pull over if you're driving. This episode is one of my absolute favorites because we're talking about something that seems to be of interest to a lot of middle aged people - how do I look my absolute best? With such an overwhelming amount of options on every spa menu, I figured more people than just me might want to know the details of every procedure out there. The are SO MANY OPTIONS available on how to fight the aging process - injections, lasers, threading, body contouring, GIVE ME IT ALLLLLL! Here we go. We also segue into skin care which is a super passion of mine, so buckle your seatbelt. If you're a beauty junkie like me, this episode is for you. I invited Audi Padmasuta, Aesthetics Nurse Specialist at SkinSpirit in Seattle, to sit down with me and walk me through alllll the options for maximizing our snatched jawlines, eliminating our pigment, tackling our fine lines and ultimately feeling our best. We mention it all... procedures, facials, and home care. It's quite literally my favorite topic so prepare for a deep dive. In our discussion, we chat about how we can present our best self, but we also discuss how skewed our desires are, how we foolishly compare ourselves to filtered social media images , and how we can all do a better job of presenting our real selves to the world in the healthiest way possible. A year has passed since this interview and I'm now 46, but this conversation has helped me make my decisions about my body and face in the most informed way possible and I hope it will help you too! I hope this conversation has prepared you for your next spa trip or treatment. I could literally talk about skin care all day and am going to post some of my favorite things that have worked for me on Instagram. I'm on a constant skin care journey and will share all I've learned. Have fun trying all these new products - let me know on Instagram what you like and what you're trying! Find Audi on IG at beautiflow by nurse audi (all one word). Or in person if you're in the area at SkinSpirit University Village. If you like this podcast, please give it five stars on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share it far and wide! The people need this information! Have a great day and remember this week to keep asking questions - you never know what's happening right in front of your face. Audi's IG: https://www.instagram.com/beautiflowbynurseaudi/ Dermalogica Moisturizer: https://www.dermalogica.com/collections/moisturizers/products/dynamic-skin-recovery-spf50 Alastin tinted sunscreen: https://alastin.com/products/hydratint-sunscreen-spf-36?srsltid=AfmBOorNI1ZqRuORywYGIsNIKvISPs6JRFUOxRJY3BCHR3DGUh31S2P- Clinique Take the Day Off Balm: https://www.clinique.com/product/20011/6424/skincare/makeup-removers/take-the-day-off-cleansing-balm Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: https://us.elemis.com/pro-collagen-cleansing-balm.html Paula's Choice Enriched Calming Toner: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-enriched-calming-toner/125.html Revision Soothing Facial Rinse: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-enriched-calming-toner/125.html ZO Exfoliating Polish: https://zoskinhealth.com/us/exfoliating-polish-gbl-full-size-900400.html?srsltid=AfmBOorLEy6fPcJat3avzVLkZUekdaBBZPp7BU-ZSe7MZ02IuchQYVbd Sente Ultra Nourish: https://sentelabs.com/products/sente-dermal-repair-cream?srsltid=AfmBOorJ6rC3CvCzCeBIaFyJ7x4okYrAPdipk4Nej3p1YZEvNZ3e3NQO ColoreScience Tinted Moisturizer: https://www.colorescience.com/collections/total-protection-collection/products/sunforgettable-total-protection-face-shield-flex-spf-50   Disclaimer: This info is for general knowledge and entertainment only and doesn't constitute medical advice.  Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any significant lifestyle changes. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate  Get to know them at their website  Get social and find me on Instagram. Leave a 5 star review on Apple Pocasts and get a shoutout in the next few episodes!

Welcome to Season 5 of Right in Front of My Face!  It's been a long time coming, but here I am, back in action with my latest fascination and topic - middle age.  This new season is all about my coming to terms with being closer to 50 than 40, and asking the questions that we all seem to have as we cruise - or crash - directly into the middle of our lives.  This season starts with Dr. Katie Dinello, functional medicine doctor.  I'd always been skeptical of anything other than Western medicine right up until I had a major change in my body that my healtcare team couldn't understand.  I found Dr. Dinello, and my first appointment with her was life-changing.  Her approach was so different and so healing that I felt a strong need to share her philosophy with the world.   I hope you can learn something from our conversation that may give you some insight into your own health, and that you come with me on this journey through middle age.  At the time of our interview, Dr. Dinello was living in WA, but has since moved East.  You can still find her on IG: here   Disclaimer: This info is for general knowledge and entertainment only and doesn't constitute medical advice.  Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any significant lifestyle changes. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate  Get to know them at their website  Get social and find me on Instagram. Leave a 5 star review on Apple Pocasts and get a shoutout in the next few episodes!

In the nation's biggest Covid pivot, Roe V. Wade was overturned on June 24th and I knew that I wanted to address it as the last episode of season 4.  Kia Guarino, Executive Director of Pro-Choice Washington, the only agency in WA State whose sole focus is on "political and legislative adovcacy for reproductive freedom in WA State," sits down with me to discuss how this happened and what we can do to move forward. The reversal of Roe V. Wade is done and there is currently a federal abortion ban on the table, so policy is one of the only tools we have to keep abortion accessible to all people.  But I'm not sure many of us understand what to do or how to apply ourselves to policy change and that's where Ms. Guarino comes in.  My hope for this episode is that you leave with a sense of what the truth is, and get some tools to help normalize the word abortion and the conversations that surround it.  Pro-Choice Washington's How to Talk About Abortion Guide Join Pro-Choice WA 26,000 members Walker-Johnson Real Estate      

Today we're talking about the most personal of Covid pivots.  My podcast sponsor Cassie Walker-Johnson is with me today to discuss her covid pivot of a breast cancer diagnoses.   Cassie is my friend.  She is a successful real estate agent, she's a mom, a wife, an incredible connector and networker and in December of 2020 she got a call that 1 in 7 women will get - the call from the doctor telling her she has cancer.   Over the next hour, Cassie is going to share her experience so please know we talk about cancer, surgery and chemo.  We also talk about helping our sisters that get diagnosed and about how we can best serve each other.  Cassie's mom asked me if this was going to be a "silver lining" podcast and I assure you it is.  It's the most honest conversation about cancer I've ever had, and I hope you learn as much from it as I did.   This interview is meant to serve as a tool.  Cassie wants her experience to help others who get this diagnosis and remind us that there are silver linings even in cancer.  

Today, we're talking about a Covid pivot I've seen lately - divorce.  Strange that being locked in a house with your partner would make you questions your life's choices... Because I'm hearing anecdotal evidence about more people splitting this year than in the past, I decided to do some research on whether or not what I was hearing on the street was actually true.  Turns out, it might be.  Rather than turning to a divorce lawyer for statistics and doom, I thought it would be more illuminating to hear from a Gottman certified marriage therapist - maybe we can come out of this 50 minues with some advice and hope rather than doom for our relationships.  Enter Zach Brittle.   Zach is a gottman certified marriage therapist, best selling author and also a podcaster.  His show Marriage Therapy Radio provides weekly insights into the daily struggles of marriage and offers a look into the science behind relationships.   For anyone in a partnership, this episode isn't a downer - it's meant to give us all some new tools and perspective as we all reset post-covid.  Let's face it - most relationships could benefit from some new tools in the toolbox.  Find Marriage Therapy Radio on IG Find Right In Front of My Face on IG Thank you Sponsors!!!!! Johnson and Walker Real Estate and on IG @johnson_and_walker

Erin Quick is the CEO and Co-Founder of PairTree, a company that is modernizing the adoption process.  Erin is a powerhouse - she's founded three successful startups, she's a Puget Sound Business Journal 40 under 40, she's a marketer and branding professional, and maybe most importantly, Erin is also a mother.   When Erin's fertility path led to adoption, she, as a marketer and brander, began asking questions about the process and wondering why it had to be the way it was - expensive, discriminatory, and long.  After deviating from the norm and adopting two kids with her own team, her circle started reaching out for help.  That circle grew, and before she knew it, she realized her calling was to modernize adoption and figure out how to allow all families to grow without an agency if they so desired.  All in Spring of 2020.  While she was homeschooling a Kindergartner and Pre-schooler. It's not often that you get to speak to a visionary.  This interview is one where I walked away knowing that I was speaking to someone who is going to change the world.  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.  Trigger warnings - we talk about infertility, miscarriage and loss in this episode.  We discuss adoption, placement and all the things that come with it.   If you are considering adoption or placement please find PairTree here.  PairTree on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pairtreefamily/ Please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!   Thank you to my sponsors: Johnson and Walker Real Estate Jon Grus at Element Mortgage

The last two years have me wondering "why on Earth would anyone rational go into politics?"  The political landscape seems toxic at the moment and because we need rational, intelligent people to run, I think a lot of us wonder who in their right mind would do it?   Dr. Lelach Rave reached out a couple of. months ago because she decided to leave a successful Pediatric medical practice to run for an open State House Representative spot in my district.  She explained that she felt like if we got things right with kids and health in Olympia, everything else owuld follow.  I was intrigued. The next hour is not an endorsement, but rather a conversation between two citizens.  Dr. Rave's pivot during Covid fit the theme perfectly and I wanted to get to know the woman behind the campaign.  Enjoy.  Find me on Instagram Thank you to my amazing sponsors: Johnson and Walker Real Estate Element Mortgage 

Emily Cherkin, The Screentime Consultant and I had one of the most thought-provoking conversations to date on the podcast this week.  If you are someone who has concerns and questions about whether or not to toss your child into the world of social media, don't move.  You need to hear this. Find Emily Cherkin on her website On her YouTube Channel And on her Instagram Thank you to my sponsors Johnson and Walker Realty And Element Mortgage

Founder and Owner of The Pilates Hub, Nathalia Gorosh, sits down with me to discuss how her new business came to be.  It's a conversation about partnership, trust, and learning to listen to your own instincts.  She shares her story and includes tips on how to be a smarter business owner, and why knowing and trusting your vision is the key to success.

Keeping in theme with Covid pivots, Erin Skipley, founder of Contour + Ink and LA Makeup artist shares her story of manifesting her dream studio in Beverly Hills and keeping it alive during 2020.  She changed course and is now a top instructor in her field of restorative beauty.   Erin is a hustler - it's not that she doesn't have imposter syndrome, it's just that she's learned to work through it.  Her resiliance is something we can all learn from.   Find Erin on IG at @Contour.and.Ink And me @rightinfrontofmyface  

Dr. Rao is so much more than just a physician.  He's a visionary.  I've heard him described by his peers as a "legend."  A "Genius." and "the coolest person ever."  True story - these are words used by doctors, his peers and his patients.  He's made a career choice reflective of his own values, and continued learning in his own right with his newest venture into the world of handcrafted footwear through his IG and YouTube Welted Ware.   This conversation covers some ground but it includes the state of modern D1 athletes during Covid, the challenges they face moving forward, and how sports medicine is evolving to handle the new science that is college sports.   Find me on Insta  

Kristi Lord and Lindsay Droz, co-founders of L'Avant Collective sit down with me to discuss their posh plant-based cleaning product company, share their philosophy and mindset, and reveal their secret to keeping resilience through Covid.   RIFOMF listeners get a 20% discount code - 1st ever!!  Go to www.lavantcollective.com use code RIF20 to score yourself some of Gwynneth Paltrow's favorite cleaning supplies.   Season 4 will continue to inspire as we discuss career pivots and success during pandemic.  Keep asking questions - you never what's happening right in front of your face.  @rightinfrontofmyface on IG @infrontofmyface on Twitter

  It's been a long ride for season 3, people.  This is actually going to be my last podcast for this season and I want to go end on this episode specifically because of the topic.  Burnout.   This is a personal episode for me because I'm processing my own burnout at the moment.  In September, when my kids went back to school, I suddenly had some silence and space to realize how much emotion I've been carrying around for the last year.  As I got the Google photo memories of last September that included my son doing school alone in our basement, I realized just how much sadness, fear, grief, and anxiety I've been shouldering and it really truly triggered me to the point where I had to just take a pause and honor what I was feeling.  It wasn't anxiety, it wasn't depression - it was almost a weird apathy and detachment.     As I do, I was chatting with one of my friends about how I was feeling and she said, “I think you should talk to Lori Prutsman…because it sounds like you're just completely burned out.”  Lori is the Seattle burnout coach - she's a corporate powerhouse turned Life Coach who is now dedicating her life to helping people through burnout and finding the best version of themselves.  As someone who experienced very real physical and mental burnout, she's an expert in getting through this phase and coming out successful on the other end.   In this episode we talk about what the real definition of burnout is, I reveal a bit about my own struggle, and we talk about how to get through it.  If you take nothing else from this hour, know that if you are having these feelings, you are absolutely not alone.   I want to leave you all with a thought.  I read this online -   Burnout reduces productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give. But the truth is, you have more to give.  You are more than these feelings.  I am actively trying to practice what we talked about in this episode and that includes being honest with myself about how I'm feeling and seeking help - with therapy, with letting my family know when I'm overwhelmed, and most importantly, trying to do things that fill my cup with joy.  And one of those things is this podcast. I am kissing season 3 goodbye because next season I have a new focus - that focus will be on people who have made something wonderful during Covid.  It includes sharing the stories of several female business owners who have taken opportunities, bet on themselves, and are absolutely crushing it.  I am beyond proud of the first 3 seasons of this podcast - but season 4 is going to be all about inspiration, joy and success.  It's going to be the bucket filler season and I hope that you'll continue to join me for the ride.  Thank you so much for your support and continuing to adventure with me.  You can find me on insta @rightinfrontofmyface, on twitter @infrontofmyface and via email infrontofmyface@gmail.com.  You can find Lori Prutsman here:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleBurnoutCoach/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/seattleburnoutcoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theburnoutcoach/

Today's topic deals with the one thing that has been literally in front of my face non-stop for the last 18 months.  My children.  Dr. Kate Monahan Phd, CFLE is a Developmental Psychologist and an expert in childhood development.  Her company Parent With Science is dedicated to helping parents through their journey with advice based in science, not trends or Google. Her instagram @parentwithscience is an awesome follow.   She's done all the research for us and tries to pass along what works for kids from a scientific perspective.  Her straightforward advice is usually dead on.  She just wrote a book called “How to Be a Relaxed mom - the three secrets to avoid modern mom stress and raise great kids.”  Dr. Kate, I need you now.  And so do all of us.  This is a conversation for everyone - moms, dads, anyone who is with a child and needs someone on their team to give them actual practical strategies, no judgement, and a high five.  This is a longer conversation than usual because I didn't want to cut anything out. Buy her book here:  Book sessions with her here: 

  Todays topic is a broadstrokes lesson on Indigenous Human Rights with activist and attorney, Gabe Galanda.  There was a story on the news last week that followed the re-naming of the Indiana pro baseball team from the Chiefs to the Guardians - and now that I have this conversation under my belt, I understand the importance of it in an entirely new way and I hope you will too.  If you walked by Gabe on the street, you'd  have no idea that he was raised on a reservation, deviated from the norm of his tribe and went to college,  followed by law school, and has now dedicated his law practice and life to helping the disenfranchised and representing tribal governments, and citizens.  You'd never guess by looking at him that for 13 years he's been named to Best Lawyers in America in the field of Native American Law, and dubbed a Super Lawyer by his peers from 2013 to 2020.  I have to fess up to the fact that I know this about Gabe because his family and mine have been friends for a long time.  I've known him for about 9 years and in that time have seen him take higher profile cases as well as become a community activist in my neighborhood.  Gabe is by far my favorite person to ask any question I have about politics because his lens on life is so clear and focused.  He's brilliant so he always knows most of the answers to my questions, but he's pragmatic and solution focused so doesn't just rant - he usually has a pretty smart proposal to solve whatever problem we're faced with, and knows that political system well enough to tell me the truth about what's going on.   I follow him on Twitter which you should absolutely do too @NDNlawyer - because he'd been quoted in an article that I'd read through his feed.  We'll talk about the case he was quoted on in the podcast.  But through that article and his feed, I'd kept reading words I didn't really understand like “blood quantum” and disenrollment, which as a white person I'd never heard.  My Caucasian tribe has never once questioned my ancestry or asked how much Irish I actually have in my DNA - I've just never had to worry about it.   So I studied up a bit so when Gabe came to dinner to ask him all about it.  I want to thank Gabe for coming to the table with real honesty and eagerness to teach and give an opinion.  There are people in life who, when they speak, you listen and realize how much you have to learn.  Gabe is one of those people.  Thankfully, Gabe is willing to patiently answer all my questions and educate those of us who don't know about indigenous rights.  We owe it to ourselves and our Indigenous brothers and sisters to learn. 

Ryan Oftebro and I recorded this episode a little over a month ago - I'd wanted to interview Ryan over a year ago about this topic because Ryan is Principal and CEO of Kelly-Ross Pharmacy group here in Seattle.  Kelly-Ross remains one of the few independently owned pharmacies in our area and Ryan, as the incoming president of the WA State Pharmacy association, has some unique visibility into the number of opioid prescription and overdose in our state.  I knew generally that Ryan had lobbied in Olympia to fight Opioid addiction, and that he was somewhat of an expert, so he became my guru in my quest for education.   As Covid slowly took over, he and I talked at length about the effects of having people in isolation, unable to use their regular drug dealers, how this would impact addiction and overdose.  A year ago he told me that it would be catastrophic and as it turns out, he was right.  

Adia Callahan happens to be my pilates instructor.  She'd been absolutely kicking my butt for three weeks before I found out she had a podcast and a life coaching business which I obviously wanted to learn all about.  As women in our mid-40's, we have a chat about how this new life phase impacts our general fitness and wellness, and we cover quite a few topics.   She generously took an hour to basically coach me and share her philosophy and style.  Adia stopped me dead in my tracks with one of her questions and I hope she'll make you take pause and also ask yourself, “what do you really want?”   You can find Adia on See Me Wellness or take a class from her if you're in Seattle at the Pilates HUB.  Thanks for listening - please share with a friend or rate and review if you like what you hear.

Adia Callahan happens to be my pilates instructor.  She'd been absolutely kicking my butt for three weeks before I found out she had a podcast and a life coaching business which I obviously wanted to learn all about.  As women in our mid-40's, we have a chat about how this new life phase impacts our general fitness and wellness, and we cover quite a few topics.   She generously took an hour to basically coach me and share her philosophy and style.  Adia stopped me dead in my tracks with one of her questions and I hope she'll make you take pause and also ask yourself, “what do you really want?”     You can find Adia on See Me Wellness or take a class from her if you're in Seattle at the Pilates HUB.  Thanks for listening - please share with a friend or rate and review if you like what you hear.  Find me on IG at right in front of my face and on twitter @infrontofmyface  Until then, ask a few more questions of the people around you - you never know what people are up to right in front of your face. 

Mayoral candidate Casey Sixkiller gives us 80 minutes of himself.  He's a resident of my neighborhood, someone who is in my community and right in front of my face.  Casey came on the show to tell his story, tell us about what a campaign looks like, his basic plans, and tell me why he decided to run.  And I did what I do - ask simple questions I think we all have, and talk about uncomfortable topics in a non-judgmental way.   

In this episode,  I’m going to cover a topic that I find extremely uncomfortable, especially as a mother of a young daughter.  This week’s subject is human trafficking.  This topic is so layered, with so many different faces, and I wanted to tackle it because as parents and just as humans, we cannot continue looking the other way when we drive down the street and see this happening.  We have to educate ourselves and our kids and we have to do it now.  We have to shine some light on what’s happening in broad daylight right in front of us. 

  Carrie Littlefield Syvertsen is the 2020 National School Social worker of the year.  She was recognized last March and her chance to be on a national stage with the leaders of the US Government recognizing her and her contributions was cancelled.  So instead of going to DC for her awards ceremony, she was quarantined with two small children and  having to homeschool.  Her professional expertise gave me so much insight on what kids are dealing with - especially middle schoolers - and what as parents we can look for as warning signs as our kids re enter school and life.  There is nothing more right in front of parents than this transition for our kids, and this episode was meant to help you all be able to better support your children

Are you hesitant to receive the Covid-19 vaccine? You're most definitely not alone. Approximately 30% of healthcare workers are hesitant as we've learned in the last month, so it seems reasonable private citizens would have similar fears. So let's talk about them. Dr. April Randhawa has been a part of the Covid-19 vaccine trials since they began. She is an actual expert in immune response with a PhD in experimental medicine. Dr. Randhawa has first person insight into how these trials were run through the Covid-19 Prevention Network, the safety measures taken, and how the vaccine actually works. She’s credible, she’s brilliant, and she breaks down common questions with empathy.  Here is our hour together.   

Aaron Wright is on the show today. He's the author of Thirteen Doors, which is due out on January 26th. Aaron’s family dealt with a big topic right in front of my face - navigating the Davis, CA public school system in an attempt to get an IEP for his autistic daughter.

An open, honest conversation about menopause with Gennev Chief Medical Officer and Director of Menopause at Swedish Women's Clinic, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su.

This week, I chat with Jennifer Porter, owner and founder of Satsuma Designs. She’s a triple threat: smart, witty, and committed to lifting up her community.

Rob Turner is different from me as you’ll hear in this interview.  He served our country in the Army, then became a police officer in Virginia. Following the murder of George Floyd this summer, he released an episode on his podcast Fat, Drunk and Stupid about that was raw, apologetic, and extremely vulnerable about the incident from a police perspective.  I really wanted to know more about his  background - specifically his path from Army to policing - so I reached out to see if he’d be willing to talk. He was.

Today is the day after the election and I had a new episode set to go, but it didn't feel right to put it out. So, instead of releasing that episode, I decided to re-release an episode about peace. More specifically about a peace activist named Kwabi Amoah-Forson. Back in March, when I spoke to Kwabi, he was running a cereal drive for students after schools shut down because of Covid-19. And, as he tells me in the interview, that's just one of his many projects.

On today's episode, I sit down with Liz Berry, State Legislative candidate for District 36 to talk politics, what it takes to run for office, and why we need more women in elected positions.

Ellen Kuwana is a one woman non-profit. She's proof that one good intention can snowball into a movement. Wegotthisseattle.org has fed over 18,000 frontline healthcare workers and raised over $75,000 under her watch. We discuss the next phase of her organization and Covid fatigue ... turns out we're all tired.

As still a bit of a rookie podcaster, I’ve tried to listen to a bunch of different genres as homework to learn the trade.  Per usual, I’m drawn to the podcasts that I can learn something from - produced by truth-tellers.  I found the podcast Assorted Goods through Twitter, the motherland of podcast promotion.  What I first liked was the style of the tweets from this podcaster - funny, but sensitive in tone - so I started listen to the podcast.  The writer and host, Dan Felton, basically writes one long-form research paper per episode and delivers it like he’s talking to you over beers. He distills complicated information into palatable, understandable lessons and I became a fan.   A couple of months ago, Dan put out an episode in which he began speaking about his privilege and his run-ins as a Canadian white man with the police.  His tone resonated and his experience like mine have been with the law - resulted in some funny stories and mostly getting away with things.  We couldn’t relate to the experience of so many Black people marching in the streets.  But he was so honest about it and his feelings so much like my own, that I DM'd him to thank him for putting out something so vulnerable into the world.  I appreciated his raw emotion and brutal honesty.   Then, he put out an episode about Amazon. Dan you’re cutting me deep. I am currently receiving multiple packages a week with Prime because I’m luxuriously imprisoned in my own home. I reluctantly listened, and dammit if Dan didn’t give me an education that I never wanted about tax evasion. But, given that this company is almost literally in my backyard, I wanted to talk to him about it. The following is a Canadian man dissecting an American company right in front of my face. Enjoy.  

Welcome to season 2 of Right in Front of My Face - the podcast talking about big things happening right in front of us.  I’m incredibly proud to be announcing the next season of my humble podcast considering a year ago, I didn’t even know what a podcast was.  And all of the sudden I feel like I’ve found a calling - what a miracle. I also, after almost a year of searching out stories and feeling in control of what in front of me, now find myself feeling completely and utterly powerless by events happening in our world.  One year ago, life looked very different.  And through the events of the last 6 months,  I‘ve realized that I have a gravitational pull towards truth-tellers.  As I’ve spent the last months quarantining, scientists and activists have given me the information that’s kept me moving forward and not plunging into the depths of despair.  In thinking about what I wanted the 2nd season to look like, I’m looking forward at what will happen in our world during the next 2 months with the 2020 presidential election kicking into high gear.  This will be a global event and my contribution to it will be continuing to find smart people who tell the truth to help guide us.  And that is my next guest, American author and in my opinion, true patriot Martha Brockenbrough.  Two years ago, Martha moved me with her words at a writing class where she was a guest speaker.  She talked about the great responsibility of writers to distill complicated information to children because we owe kids the truth.  She had just released her biography of President Trump, Unpresidented, which she wrote in part to let future voters know the truth about the candidate we’d be up against in 2020.  The unique thing about her book is that it’s written as a young adult biography - her mission to educate kids is real.  Her hope at that time was that voters that turned 18 this year would have facts upon which to base their voting decision. So now here we are. The time has come.  Martha has been on my “aspirational guest list” since I started my podcast, and a month ago she posted on Twitter that she was waiving her Skype fees for any teacher that wanted her to speak to their class about Trump.  I capitalized on her generosity and much to my surprise, she agreed to talk to me.  As much as I say that I want to provide a platform and a non-judgmental place to tell stories, I draw the line at racism, at leadership who actively attempts to harm the American public and lies to us at every turn.  I promise this podcast won’t turn into a political rant, but I do want to admit that for the near term, the only thing I feel like I can really do as an American is try to shed some light on the candidates we’re considering to lead our country through the rest of a pandemic and the depression that will most assuredly follow.  That’s the truth.  And here’s Martha Brockenbrough to help us make sense of it and help us figure out how to move forward. 

Vanessa Sturgeon is a CEO, a wife, and a mom of three boys living in Portland.  Her family is white, upper class, but still a bit non-traditional as they adopted their youngest, Jackson, from the Congo when he was four. She reached out to me right when my podcast started and asked if she could come on and try to educate parents on how to talk to their kids about race. Despite living in one of the more progressive cities on the West Coast, her family was experiencing racism on a level that even she was surprised by. Her earnest intent was to help parents navigate having these difficult conversations with their kids.  The conversation that follows was recorded on March 6th. One week before our country sheltered in place and two months before Black Lives Matter would start a revolution. The conversation is timely to say the least.  We are two white women who claim our incredible privilege in this conversation and my hope in putting this interview out into the world is to share my own hesitation and discomfort in broaching the subject of racism with our children. I’ve asked myself so many times in the last couple of weeks what I can do to support Black Lives Matter and this conversation with Vanessa, where she educates me is one of the ways I’m hoping I can contribute through my kids. I’m attempting to lead by example that having uncomfortable conversations is really, really good.    As I’ve said before, my commitment remains to keep having non-judgemental, open conversations. Vanessa opened herself to educating the people around her about her experience and I am so grateful. My hope is that you can take something away and have a difficult conversation with your own children.  

Larkin Temme is the young principal of Holy Family Bilingual School in White Center, just 10 miles south of Seattle. We are separated by a short stretch of I-5, and a long stretch of socioeconomic circumstances.  The students at Holy Family are diverse, bilingual, and from backgrounds very different than the kids in Northeast Seattle. I wanted to hear from her about how she’s pivoted her community to digital learning, how that was possible knowing that so many families don’t have basic internet access and whether or not she’s concerned about this achievement gap created by internet based learning. Spolier alert: she is.     

I wanted to circle back with Dr. Drake after a couple of months to get her pulse check on Covid-19 and where we’ve arrived after two months sheltering in place. The week after our last interview, she co authored an op-ed that was published on TheHill.com. The two epidemiologists outlined what I thought was a really smart plan to create a reserve army of Public Health care workers to begin contact tracing efforts and I wanted to know how the article landed.  I’m struggling to understand a lot of things as I know we all are, and as it turns out, so is Dr. Drake. Testing, going back to school, summer - all these things remain murky. So much is murky. I find myself wanting to talk to the person with the answers only to continue to realize there isn’t that person. They don’t exist.  I talk with Dr. Drake about my extreme level of confusion and how conflicted I feel about what’s happening. I know I’m not alone. Dr. Drake and I talk about fatigue - Zoom fatigue, home fatigue, all of it and this interview turns more personal.  The bottom line is that we miss each other. We miss our life. This is difficult. But I always enjoy Dr. Drake's practical take on how to handle continued social distancing - I find her empowering and her advice is practical. I hope you take something away from our conversation.

By the time this podcast comes out, it will have been a week since we’ve all found out that our kids won’t be going back to school.   We’ll be 3 weeks into sheltering in place, and feeling one more week’s worth of depletion, anxiety and helplessness. Or maybe that’s just me.  This way of life isn’t getting any easier for me or my kids. I see them lonely, I see them trying to process not being able to play with their friends and there just isn’t a way for these little people to make sense of it when the big people can’t either.   In all of this, I feel like I’ve been desperately seeking out ways to do things for other people, but it all feels small.  We’ve sidewalk chalked our friend’s houses, made food for our 99 year old neighbor, baked cookies for firefighters but none of it feels substantial or like it’s moving the needle.  Which leads me to my next guest. I found Kwabi on the City U Tacoma website. Kwabi started the Peace Bus - his own non-profit promoting the modern peace movement. I reached out to him and we had an interview scheduled on March 14th.  The day we locked down. Our interview didn’t happen, but I follow The Peace Bus on Instagram and started seeing Kwabi’s stories which started to feature him each morning lip-synching to an oldie with a box of cereal in his hand and a mask on his face.   Kwabi is delivering cereal to families in Tacoma who can’t get breakfast with the school closure. One man is making a substantial difference to hundreds of families in Tacoma right in front of his face. He’s thrown himself, unabashedly, into the front lines of Covid-19 and I want to do everything in my power to support him.  The following is our interview - he continues to inspire me with his attitude and drive and I hope you find some strength in him as well. 

The mission of Right in Front of My Face is to shed light on big things happening right in front of me.  I’m coming in hot with a bonus episode because I want to contribute something in this pandemic, and what I feel like I can contribute is staying calm and finding facts.  I put out a call on my personal Facebook page to ask if anyone knew an epidemiologist I could interview that might be able to shed some light on what we’re seeing and hearing in the news in Seattle. Within minutes, a good friend of mine connected me with her neighbor Alison Drake, PHd epidemiologist at the UW School of Public Health.  While she’s not a Coronovirus expert, she’s an expert on the spread of disease and man, does she know how to read a graph and explain it. It was honestly incredibly refreshing to hear a woman take me through some data - clearly, we need more female voices in leadership but that's a whole other podcast. In all seriousness, I think my husband put it best when he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever said ‘i don’t know’ more times in my life than I have in the last 2 weeks.”  As grownups, we’re not accustomed to the answer eluding us, the future being unknown. This quarantine is a foreign land to most of us. I’m a true extrovert meaning when I’m around people it energizes me.  To be isolated literally sucks my life force and I’m struggling more this week than last being away from my tribe and network. We are, all of us, desperate for an answer that no one has - when will schools open?  When can I go back to work? Are my kids going to be ok? How do I talk to them? All these questions with no answer take a very real mental toll and many I’ve talked to are feeling it psychologically. I have no answers and neither does Alison.  But what we do have is the ability to connect and learn. Alison generously answers all the clinical questions as best she can - I hope you can take something of comfort away from this conversation.

I first saw Dave Mampel at a 5 year old’s birthday party last summer.  He was the entertainment - called himself Daffy Dave, and he mesmerized a group of kids in a way I’d never seen.  He was magical, hilarious, and completely entertaining. And when I saw that he was teaching a magic class at a community center this winter, I immediately signed up my 8 year old son.  I described Dave to a friend by saying he was the cool uncle we all wished we’d had - gentle, patient, and willing to show us the tricks. After the first class, I picked up my son and asked Dave how he got into clowning.  He laughed and said, “oh man, that’s a story. In fact, I wrote a book about it!” His book is called Coyote Spirit and tells about his journey from ordained minister to professional clowngician. I sat down with Dave to talk about his book, his life, and overall perspective - Daffy Dave is a really deep dude.   

If you lived or went to school in Seattle in the late 90's you may very well know my guest this week. Ronan O'Mahoney, one of the founders of the band, Left Hand Smoke, sat down with me to discuss the uncomfortable topic of anxiety. I wanted to get his take on this particular issue through his lens as a performer, but what came out of our time together was how anxiety has shaped his experience as a father and husband. This is a side Ronan himself has never shared - most people only know him as a performer. His vulnerability and humor shine through our discussion and it becomes clear why his music has so much heart. If anxiety is something you or a loved one experience, this is episode is dedicated to you.

Ali was 40 by the time she'd met the love of her life and decided it was time for a baby. Like so many women before her, she struggled to carry a pregnancy full-term so visited the specialists at Seattle Reproductive Medicine to explore her options. She and her partner agreed to try a round of IVF, and this interview is Ali sharing her ride on the IVF roller coaster. Following her journey, Ali is now the Seattle Fertility Doula and hopes to help other women and couples through this sometimes confusing, emotional, and taxing process. Over the next hour, Ali shares her experience and insight - she is raw, hilarious, and empathetic to anyone who has experienced fertility issues and offers hope to those who may believe there's no light at the end of the tunnel. If you'd like to connect with Ali her information is: Instagram: @seattlefertilitydoula Twitter: @DoulaSeattle

Extra interview - what's really right in front of my face?  My 8 year old son, Luke.  Take 15 minutes to hear about life through his eyes.  His positivity and life goals may might make you re-evaluate what your next career move should be.

Meet Marjorie.  For years, Marjorie has been a staple at the Ballard Farmer's Market with her "Psychic Readings"  stand outside the Ballard Inn.  Marjorie's gift is real and, while I have received readings from her, this episode is not a reading.  For the next hour, Marjorie takes us through the journey of her life - she explains what it was like to grow up knowing things about people and how she honed her gift and craft.  We talk all things existential and about how learning to trust our own intuition can save your life.  She's also a  successful author, having self-published her fantasy series "The Boy With the Golden Eyes."  Please listen with an open mind and maybe start listening to signs around you in a whole new way.     Amazon link to The Boy With The Golden Eyes: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1484167007/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

Meet Stevie.  Stevie is many things: a talented massage therapist, a yogi, and a mom-to-be.  She has also been a sugar baby.  According to Wikipedia, a sugar baby is "a person who receives cash, gifts or other financial and material benefits in exchange for company. It usually includes sex or intimacy."  Yep.  It sure does.  Stevie educates me all about how she got into sugaring, but also shares how her relationship with her Daddy changed her life.  Her story may change some assumptions you have about this alternative lifestyle, but what hopefully will open your mind is her openness and claiming of her experience.  Enjoy this story about how one woman's choices impacted her life in a positive way, and how she's moved on from her past.        

Meet Tan. Tan is a 4'10" package of hilarity. Always gregarious, Tan's career as a Seattle freelance videographer has boomed because of her immense talent and bubbly personality. Dig a little deeper though, and at Tan's core is her childhood experience as a Vietnamese refugee who endured a terrifying boat journey to Malaysia and survived 2 years of refugee camps with her family until they finally landed in San Diego. Tan's resilience, innate kindness, and desire to help kids in Vietnam have shaped the person she is today and it's my honor to present her story here.

Meet Angel.  On the surface, Angel comes off like a glamorous yoga teacher - zen, fit, and beautiful.  If you talk to her for a few minutes though, she will openly tell about how she's 16 years sober, a recovering heroin addict, and taking life one day at a time.  Angel's story is almost unbelievable, as her life now is quite far from what it once was as a working prostitute living on the streets of South Seattle.   Angel's complete honesty about her past is inspiring, but her discussion around drug abuse and addiction puts a spotlight on how difficult this epidemic is to fight in our city.  This episode contains explicit language and discussion about prostitution and drug abuse.  

Meet Erica.  Erica is a boisterous, kind, ray of sunshine.  I knew her for about a year and a half before she shared with me that her wife of 11 years decided to re-assign genders and make the transition to a man.  Our subsequent conversation about this life transition was transformative for me.  Sitting down with someone who is not like me and having them educate me about something I don't understand in a kind, loving way made me realize how rare these types of conversations are.  It wasn't contentious, it wasn't hateful, nor was it judgmental - this was a discussion about a big topic between two people wanting an education.  This interview is about acceptance and unconditional love in all of it's various forms.  Please listen to it with an open mind and heart.  Contains some language about sexual situations and body parts.    

Meet Lauren.   Lauren is a young, married, mom of two, staying at home to raise her kids.  You likely see someone like her right in front of your face every day. You’d never know from looking at her that she carried a secret - her marriage was falling apart.  This is a success story about her and her husband’s attempt to heal their marriage and keep their family together. Lauren’s honesty and humor about her relationship is not only refreshing, but inspiring for anyone who has questioned staying with their partner.  This is a true story about grace, having the courage to forgive, and real partnership. *Warning - contains some explicit language*  

Welcome to Right In Front of My Face - the podcast that talks about real things happening to real people right in front of us every day.  I'm honored to present this first episode featuring the story of my cousin Joe coming out in a small city in Washington.  He opens up about his own journey of discovery and subsequent path to love.  Joe is an advocate for LBGTQ rights and acceptance and his story opened my eyes and heart to a whole new experience of adolescence.  I hope you enjoy hearing it as much as I did.