Run This World with Nicole DeBoom

Welcome to the first episode of The Body Summit - my way of providing accessible & powerful info to women who are dealing with the before, during or after of menopause. I created the series with the goal of learning more about what happens to our bodies during this time (which can start in our early 30s), but it's very clear that we're also affected emotionally, mentally and spiritually which you'll learn from all of my guests.  Today you hear all about hormones from my brilliant, funny, down-to-earth friend, Dr. Anna Lundeen. Anna is a board certified family medicine physician with a passion for helping women discover their greatest health. She has an extra interest in helping women manage their hormones, so get ready for some actionable info! Series Sponsor InsideTracker has a special deal for Run This World listeners - 20% off at insidetracker.com/runthisworld - use it now! Today we talk about: The hormone journey we all go through How hormones change as we age: estrogen, progesterone, DHEA & testosterone All sorts of sidetracks and rabbit-holes about the above! Hormones and FOOD! Tips and tricks to manage your hormone changes through nutrition The importance of your gut in managing inflammation The impact of stress on digesting food Genetic testing: Pure Genomics The importance of finding a doctor who fits your needs! Do Anna's Hormone Reboot launching mid September. Visit https://www.wellev8health.com/programs for more info.  More about Anna: She has a BS in Bio-environmental Engineering from Cornell University and completed her medical doctorate at Drexel University College of Medicine in 2006. She has been practicing medicine in the Yampa Valley since 2009. She currently works at Northwest Colorado Community Health Center part-time and runs a virtual functional medicine practice called Wellev8 Health.  As a certified CrossFit coach and nutrition enthusiast, functional medicine was an obvious next step as this approach uses nutrition, movement, stress management, and supplements to support our bodies' natural processes and address the root cause of symptoms. When it comes to hormone health, this approach works wonders. Anna's mission is to help busy women feel their absolute best as they tackle the peaks and valleys of every day life. I think you will find that she has that effect even through the airwaves. 

KINDTAIL DEAL! Use code RUNTHISWORLD for $15 off I reached out to Amy Kim from Kindtail when I was on the hunt for the best crate for our new french bulldog, Pickle. All I could see were those horrible cages that look like jail cells. Our old lab, Annie, once literally "chewed" her way out of one of those cages, Jaws-style, blood and guts included. When I saw a review that said, "Our puppy is dead. She got her neck halfway through and suffocated while we were gone for an hour," I know I needed another option.  At that moment, I saw my first PAWD - a beautiful, aesthetically-pleasing plastic crate by Kindtail. It looked like an end table, and it turns out, that's one of the uses Amy intended when she created it.  The pet industry is evolving but some areas are still in the dark ages. Amy Kim is an inventor, a product designer, a woman who sees things through the eyes of love and kindness, not just dollar signs. Her dog saved her life many years ago, and she is committed to creating products that will make his and other pets around the world happier.  Notables: Amy Kim is a badass :) How Amy started Kindtail Faced with being a single parent, Amy found strength and love through her dog, Monkey No-man's land is worse then learning hard truths The toughest times can yield the greatest growth opportunities Mindset reframe: Instead of asking "can I?" reframe to "Why can't I?" Entrepreneurship is self-discovery: It takes resilience and constant retraining Intuition & Courage are the key What's your superpower? Amy's is laser focus (Amy) and that she loves the hardest (Yogi's feedback) Go to kindtail.com and use the code RUNTHISWORLD for $15 off 

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we come together to connect and share. Jean Mellano is the founder of the Touched by Suicide series & Steve Tarpinian's surviving partner Michael Lovato is the narrator & a friend of Steve's who was deeply touched by his tragic suicide Nicole DeBoom is the series co-collaborator with Jean, podcast engineer & interviewer  This project was originally concepted as a single episode podcast with the objective of destigmatizing suicide and mental health. It turned into a 10-part series plus this epilogue with a much greater message to share - that suicide is so much more pervasive than we ever imagined and that we are not alone in our suffering. We learned so much through creating this series & we hope you did too.  Notables: In the weeks and months before he passed, Steve contacted several people that he was close to, but did not normally speak to on a regular basis. It almost seemed like he wanted to say goodbye, or "clean up his side of the fence" if there were any unresolved issues.  Everyone grieves differently. When a person is grieving one lost due to suicide, some loved ones may be unintentionally hurt by the actions taken by others who are also mourning the loss. Adam Sud's ("An Attempter" episode) quote "Suicide is not about someone trying to end their life, suicide is someone trying to end their pain" explains so much. Kevin Hines ("A Golden Gate Jump Survivor" episode) had instant regret as soon as his hand left the railing. Did Steve have that regret before he took his own life? As difficult and painful as it is to hear the stories of those touched by suicide, it helps us "get it".   It is human nature to be silent about the cause of death when it is suicide. This in turn propagates the stigma. We combat helplessness by being helpful. Suicide does not discriminate. There is no one profile type that can describe someone who may take their own life. People who die by suicide can be in the depths of despair or they can be at the pinnacle of their life (having it all). There are so many who are silently suffering. Steve's legacy is helping others. He helped so many tap into themselves. People cannot relate to mental pain like they can relate to physical pain.   We tried to finish the Epilogue on a happy note, but we were not able to. This podcast is not light listening and also is very painful for many to listen to. It was also very painful for us to create. In the podcast, Michael jokingly alluded to Steve's voice being not so great. To bring a smile to your face, click on any of these youtube links below to see Steve at his best - creative, funny and playful.         The Touched by Suicide Podcast Series demonstrates that there is so much collateral damage resulting from suicide. The interviewees bravely revealed their vulnerabilities and raw feelings. Hopefully, this project will inspire conversation about suicide. That in itself will help reduce the stigma. Thank you for listening, for your support and for sharing with anyone who needs to hear this right now.    Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we hear the perspective of a man who attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. His name is Kevin Hines. He was 17 years old when he decided to take his life. Kevin shares his story, including the fact that he regretted his decision the second his body left the rail. He openly discusses his personal mental health issues, how he has learned to live with, but not act on, his suicidal feelings, and how connections and love form his foundation. Today Kevin travels the world sharing strategies for positive mental health, some of which you will hear right now. Please note - All of the resources Kevin shares are listed in the show notes for future reference.  Resources: https://www.youtube.com/kevinhines Award-winning video "It was an instant regret" "The Art of Wellness 2.0" includes incredible daily life guidance HINESIGHTS Podcast Kevin Hines website Notable quotes: "The voice in my head said jump now, so I did" "Your suicidal thoughts do not have to become your actions" "I live with chronic thoughts of suicide. They plague me but will never kill me" "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" "The millisecond my hands left the rail it was instant regret." Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we hear the perspective of a surviving partner. Her name is Jean Mellano. Steve and Jean met in 1981 and were together for over 33 years.  Theirs was a love story and a tragedy. In 2013, Steve started slipping away and his depressions were becoming more frequent and longer in duration. Even though he sought professional help, he could no longer make decisions and was no longer capable of running his business. For any survivor who is listening, this episode is so powerful because Jean shares her struggles before and after Steve's death. Like many survivors, memories continue to surface at often unexpected times. After she finished this interview, Jean remembered something important that she wanted to make sure we include. A few weeks before he passed, in a phone conversation, Steve shared with her that he was so afraid. When she asked what he meant, he could not—or did not want to—explain what he feared. Little did she know, he probably realized he was literally “losing his mind” and had no control over it. He felt he had no options left. Steve was her Ironman, her rock of support who got her through cancer and the passing of her parents—how could he possibly feel so vulnerable and alone? And how could she not know? These are the thoughts that continue to surface, even 7 years later. Sadly, this is common for survivors, so if you are going through this, you are not alone.  Notables: Jean often says that she had no idea he would try to take his own life. Less than 30 minutes before he passed, she received this text message from him. The things Jean remembers about their early days Belly laughs: Steve already made her laugh so much. A good belly laugh is how Steve helped diagnose her tonsil cancer Pity Parties: When Jean was going through a particularly tough chemo session, Steve took out some party hats and  "What the f*ck is she so happy about?" It's so easy to look back and wonder...  When you live with someone who is suffering, the changes can be so small and incremental that it's hard to really know when they change into something more serious. Ativan was used to treat Steve's anxiety and depression - Jean believes it's possible that the drugs that helped early on stopped working  Parkinson's: Jean was diagnosed with Parkinson's shortly after Steve died. She believes the grief and stress triggered her Parkinson's.  Survivor's guilt is real and universal Grief and recovery resources were not easy to find at that time Jean feels she perpetuated the stigma about Steve's suicide by telling a local reporter not to include the cause of his death. Shortly after that initial response, she changed her attitude and openly shared about Steve's suicide. As Jean says, "She put her head in the sand." Steve's mission in life was to help people as evidenced by his career choices; lifeguard, applying to the FDNY, coach. He cared so much about helping others; it was tough to accept that he couldn't help himself. Resources: Facebook groups for survivors are more available now and can be very helpful, the AFSP is doing great things to support survivors and raise awareness, the suicide prevention hotline does a great job to help direct people   Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we hear from Mike Barone, one of Steve's friends. Mike met Steve in July 2005 when he decided to do a Half IRONMAN for his 40th birthday. He needed a group to train with; he found Team Total Training and joined them for a swim training session. He "just did what the long-haired guy on the surfboard told him to do." After post-workout drinks, he had found his crew! Mike was shocked to learn about Steve's suicide. He remembers Steve as a beautiful person who helped so many others. Notables: Steve's great talent was in building community "Beauty is in the Balance" - a philosophy Steve touted but struggled to adhere to himself Working together: fun & positive environment fostered by Steve Steve cared so much how others were feeling Warning signs: There really weren't any until Steve called Mike a month or so before his death Suicide awareness seems to have increased: Mike feels more aware and open about suicide and mental health How much pain was that person in to think suicide is the alternative Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we hear from a woman who was coached by Steve Tarpinian. Deb Savarese discovered triathlon when she decided to do a triathlon to celebrate her 50th birthday. She signed up for a tri clinic and shortly afterward joined Steve's training group, Team Total Training. Deb misses Steve greatly. She feels he is still with us. She can still hear his voice especially when she's swimming.  Notables include: Steve really knew how to make beginners feel welcome Steve loved and embraced all his athletes; he was a mentor and a friend Steve impacted Deb in a huge way: she is not afraid to take on challenges, she is able to believe in herself more, she thinks bigger, works harder and really embraces discipline - all things she learned from Steve Even when a person we know dies by suicide, they can still be with us. As Deb says, “Steve is still her coach” It's difficult to know how serious a suicidal person's struggles are. At times Steve seemed moody, not easy to approach, withdrawn versus his usual bubbly, social self. When Steve died, Deb knew right away that he took his own life because of struggles she had heard he was having. The last time she saw him, he did not look well. His appearance had changed, he was disheveled, distracted. The only warning sign Deb can remember is that Steve called her twice right before he died which was not something he ever did. He never called to chat. In retrospect, she feels he was trying to say good bye. The only way to open the door about mental health is to talk about it. Deb has since learned it's okay to ask someone if they are thinking of taking their own life. We shouldn't be afraid to pry.   Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we hear from a former professional athlete and good friend of Steve Tarpinian. Rip Esselstyn knew Steve as an athlete, coach & a friend who was always up for an adventure. Rip's stories about their shared time together brings Steve, the inspiration behind this series, to life.  Notables: Steve was an outgoing, approachable, empathetic person, both interested in others and interesting himself! The point is that people struggling with mental health issues can seem exactly the opposite of what we may think. Steve opened up to Rip about his depression and hospitalization, and looking back, Rip says, "I think we all feel like we could have been better friends" when they're gone. It seemed surreal that Steve would take his own life. This is a common reaction to so many people who attempt or die by suicide. Rip feels there is still a barrier to discuss suicide because mental health is so private and can feel invasive to ask directly. Rip's final thoughts, "I would tell Steve how much I love him, what an absolute gem of a human being he is. So sorry he is hurting this much and in so much pain.  Let's fly out to Kona and swim out to the buoy and see the dolphins again. You will be missed more than you know."   Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Most of it doesn't really matter. But a few things do. Listen for 50 years of wisdom from Nicole!

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we hear from Michael Stewart - a man who has been touched closely by suicide twice. Steve Tarpinian was a father figure to Michael, a man who helped guide him into the sport of triathlon which became his passion in his younger years. Michael raced at the highest level of triathlon from age 9 through 16 until he started to experiment with drugs and alcohol. He stopped racing triathlons, went off to college and didn't maintain an active relationship with Steve. When Steve died, Michael never truly processed his suicide.  Less than three years later, Michael suffered another terrible loss to suicide - his father Mike Stewart. On Michael's 61st day sober, he arrived home to two detectives who delivered the news.  Michael is a truly special person, so strong and vulnerable in his journey. His perspective of a son who lost a father and a father figure is important - the people left behind will forever struggle to pick up the pieces.  Notables: Mental health, depression & addiction were open topics of communication, as his dad suffered from alcoholism and depression Michael defines himself as having an addictive personality - discussion about whether this is genetic or a result of upbringing Hindsight: Michael expresses a desire for closure, wishing he would have said or done something that may have helped Don't take everything at face value: Steve was a good actor and people didn't know what he was going through People younger than Michael are more open and things are better in terms of awareness and suicide stigma Advice: Pick up the phone when you are suffering. There is always someone to talk to Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). "Awareness generally precedes progress." - Dr. Andreski Today we talk to a psychiatrist who has been treating suicidal patients and survivors of suicide loss for 45 years. Dr Stephen Andreski shares a clinical perspective on the different angles of suicide.  Dr. Andreski, MD, is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, the former Medical Director of the Crisis Unit Capital District Psychiatric Center, & the former Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services at Albany Medical Center Hospital.  Notables include: Why people attempt suicide: largely due to depression, a great sense of suffering, feelings of aloneness & that their situations are hopeless Warning signs to note: Signs of depression, changes in behaviors, withdrawal from normal routines and community Why do some people consider suicide a selfish act? Suicide is often a self-concerned act, but the attempter feels it's the opposite of selfish, as they feel the world would be better off without them.  Do you think suicides can be prevented? Not all people can be stopped from killing themselves even if they see a mental health professional. Effects on survivors: Children of parents who die by suicide are 300-800 times more likely to attempt suicide How have awareness and stigma changed: awareness is much greater than 45 years ago, and discussions are more common, but treatment may actually be harder to get.  Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). "Suicide is not about someone trying to end their life, suicide is someone trying to end their pain." Adam Sud attempted suicide on August 21, 2012. He was 30 years old and he felt like his life was so difficult, he was so broken, so miserable, his suffering seemed so hopeless that he took a handful of pills and swallowed as many as he could. As his heart rate went up and down, he thought that was the last moment of his life, and he felt completely terrified.  When he woke up later, he had an unbelievable feeling of relief. He was glad he was still alive. That was when he finally set forth a path to change. It started with a call to his family; a family he had effectively shut out and treated horribly, but who didn't hesitate to help.  Adam's story is powerful. His path today is a testament to the fact that we can change our lives even when they seem so hopeless and alone.  Notables:  Eating transformation: from piles of fast food every day to fully converted plant-based eater. Adam credits vegan eating for helping reverse many of the health problems he faced Drug abuse: Starting with Adderall use in high school to treat ADHD, Adam spiraled to criminal drug behaviors over the course of a decade. Family: Adam's story is a testament to the power of family. Adam blamed his dad (parents) for many of his problems. He admittedly treated them horribly, but they never stopped loving him and trying to help. Rip Esselstyn's PlantStrong program: Adam shares the story of attending one of Rip's eating retreats at Whole Foods, and even though he didn't convert at that time, the experience was the foundation for a life metamorphosis.  Food as transformational "medicine:" When Adam entered a sober living facility, he got some great advice from his dad who said that he didn't know about the mental health diagnoses he had received, but he did know that some of the physical health diagnoses could be reversed. He told Adam to remember what he learned at Rip's retreat.  Make your new life habits as easy as possible to achieve: Adam created daily rituals that he could easily uphold to take away the guesswork and temptation. And so much more.  You can find Adam Sud at @plantbasedaddict and check out his nonprofit @plantbasedforpositivechange - he is doing amazing things to help people! Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

I met Lizzie Larock at the Steamboat Springs Thrive Women's Leadership Conference. She did a talk called something like "how to live a perfectly imperfect life" - I knew I needed to meet her. But a funny thing happened before I stepped into her presentation - we talk about it at the beginning of this interview - sometimes if we just pay attention our new best friends are literally waiting to be connected to us through random associations! Today we talk: B minus work: Strive for mediocrity Growth vs fixed mindsets for us and our kids Codependency during spouse's issues Positive psychology Selling the shit that you no longer need Twins Stop living on the crumbs! Stop putting your needs last! Ikigai - gotta listen for this one! And so much more Lizzie is a coach, keynote speaker and creator who uses creativity to help people eradicate stress, bend time, get out of perfectionism and uncover more meaning and purpose in their lives. She created the Life Feast online and in the wild program to infuse her student's lives with curiosity, mindfulness, awe, and joy through the double lens of photography and positive psychology.   When Lizzie is not teaching workshops or embarking on creative adventures with her Life Feast students, you can find her sipping tea, hanging with her twins or performing her parodied mom life to 80's rock songs.    Learn more about Lizzie, download her free photowalk guide, take the #smalljoys challenge or scope out the details of her Life Feast program at: thelifefeast.com.   And freebie alert for the Life-Feast-Curious! Want to try a photowalk with Lizzie? A photowalk is a way to look for the good in life, a way to see life through a new lens, a creative lens, a lens that isn't only smudged with to do lists, mortgage payments, school pickups/drop offs, work deadlines and every other headache we might encounter in any given day. It's the creative catapult you never knew you needed to get out of your inbox and into your life.  It's even good for your brain! Download the free guide and behind the scenes video right here: https://www.larockstarcreative.com/small-joys-with-photowalk-guide

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Today we hear the perspective of a mom. Her name is Ruth Tepler-Roth. In 2012, Ruth lost her 21 year old son, Jonathan, to suicide. Ruth was devastated when Jonathan took his life. She felt so alone. She remarked at the time Jonathan died, treatment for mental health was in the Dark Ages, much like cancer treatment was in the 1950s. Over time Ruth has learned to share Jonathan's story openly which is the only way we can break the stigma about suicide. For parents who are listening, this interview is so important because Ruth had no idea Jonathan was struggling with suicidal thoughts until he attempted suicide the first time. We may think we know what's going on with our children, but we don't always know until something bad happens. Ruth talks about warning signs but forgot to mention an important one, so she asked us to include it here. Many people who are suffering self-medicate with drugs and alcohol in their quest to end their pain. If you notice this sign or the others mentioned in this interview, intervene before it's too late.  Notables: When Jonathan first attempted suicide and was unsuccessful, they decided to keep it a secret. Ruth believes that keeping suicide a secret perpetuates the shame for everyone. Hindsight warning signs: changes in friends, mood stability, sleeping and eating patterns, Jonathan and Steve both said ‘I am not a good person', and they would get angry, which was unusual for them Rejecting love: Jonathan got upset when Ruth said to him "You are my sun, moon and my stars." He would say, "That's too much for me. I am not going to live that long."  What makes it very hard to know if someone is suicidal is that many people, including Jonathan and Steve, were incredible actors. They didn't want people to know. We must attack the stigma by making it acceptable to talk about mental illness and suicide. Ruth still harbors resentment toward the doctors and clinicians. She questions the process in getting help. It was not easy, not cheap, and she felt that the medical professionals missed so many important things. They were fooled.  She also believes that schools are ill-equipped to help and manage students with mental health issues. It was tough to get an initial mental health diagnosis which was eventually labeled bipolar 2.  When asked what she would say to Jonathan today, "What a loss. The world is poorer with you." Ruth believes that the conversation is changing - a podcast like this wouldn't have existed 10 years ago - but those who need help are still generally underserved. Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.  Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening. Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Trigger warning: This episode may include discussions about suicide, mental illness, substance abuse and self-harm. If these topics are sensitive to you, proceed with caution. It may also contain strong language and is intended for an adult audience.  If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK).    Suicide warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org). Please be sure to share this podcast with anyone who needs to hear it right now. Thank you for listening.   You are listening to'Touched by Suicide', a special podcast series inspired by the memory of Steve Tarpinian, a prolific figure in the sport of triathlon who positively impacted so many. Steve died by suicide in 2015.  Our goals are to raise awareness about and decrease the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues. And to let you know that you are not alone.   This series was sparked by Steve Tarpinian's surviving partner, Jean Mellano, is hosted by Nicole DeBoom and narrated by former professional triathlete, coach & event announcer, Michael Lovato.  Following is the Prologue transcription as narrated by Michael. Due to the stigma that still exists with suicide, some suicide loss survivors feel ashamed talking about their loved one's cause of death. They will not speak openly about suicide or the mental health issues leading up to suicide. When one takes their own life, there is a ripple effect that resonates to the clinicians, the co-workers, friends and family. Each week we will release an episode that offers a different perspective on suicide.   We believe that people suffering from mental illness are not necessarily defined by the disease. Their lives can be productive and filled with joy, laughter, and love. We hope to inspire conversation that will contribute to removing the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide. By doing this, we hope to help those who are struggling to find resources that may prevent them from moving forward with suicide.  We also hope that if one is a suicide loss survivor, they will benefit from realizing they are not alone and they should not blame themselves for not doing more.  Suicide is much more prevalent than one would think. According the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over 47,000 Americans died by suicide in 2019.  No one is immune. The CDC believes that suicide has become a large and growing public health problem. Attitudes about suicide are not likely to change for the better until we can speak as freely about it as we freely speak of cancer now.  At one time cancer was stigmatized.  Only when we can speak openly about suicide and mental health issues without shame or embarrassment will attitudes about suicide change for the better. The personal perspectives you will hear from our guests in the Touched By Suicide Podcast series, along with what I'm about to share, support the fact that change is  happening, that suicide stigma has lessened since Steve passed away in 2015.  The power of celebrity has led to more open discussions about mental health and sucide.  The families of those who took their own lives; Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington were not silent about the cause of their loved one's death.  Many celebrities such as Carrie Fischer, Lady GaGa, Prince William, Demi Lovato and Michael Phelps have gone public and speak openly about  their mental health struggles. Suicide awareness has hit the mainstream. In 2017, Logic, a popular young singer, released a powerful suicide prevention anthem.  The title of the song is the toll-free suicide prevention hot line: ‘1-800-273-8255' Even though things have improved in the last several years since Steve passed, the stigma of suicide still exists.  We have a long way to go.   When we lose people to suicide, their survivors often keep silent which further stigmatizes suicide. Today I have the honor of sharing the story of Steve Tarpinian. By celebrating his life and sharing views before and after his suicide, it is clear that  awareness about suicide  is  changing. This is important because as one of our guests, Dr. Andreski, shares, “For most causes, awareness precedes progress.”.  Steve Tarpinian died by suicide on March 15th, 2015, the day after leaving an inpatient mental health facility. He was a beloved coach, swimmer, entrepreneur, friend and companion. Steve's vision established the landscape for triathlon on Long Island. However, his true legacy is the lives that he positively impacted while on his journey. In his 20's, Steve's depressive episodes occurred maybe once or twice a year and lasted a day or so. As time went on, these episodes happened more frequently with longer  durations. Steve would drive himself at a frenetic pace. He eventually became physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. Over the years, Steve won many battles in his private war. He appeared to most as a very happy, trouble-free person who had it all figured out. Steve had a very successful business, was a great athlete and a great coach, and he was loved by so many. He was very good at hiding his inner turmoil.  Steve started slipping away in 2013 when he was in his 50s.  His depressive episodes were occurring more frequently and were becoming longer in duration. He was a good actor since no one knew he was suffering so much that he would take his own life. In his final months, his mind was consumed by indecisiveness, obsessiveness, and regrets about not following certain paths in his life. Steve lost interest in the things he always seemed so passionate about. In his final few months, Steve frequently became so indecisive that he could no longer effectively live his life.  He lost all hope for things to change for the better. Steve finally made the irreversible decision to leave behind his pain. He completed suicide on his second attempt to end his life. Steve's legacy is not that he died by suicide. His legacy is one of kindness and compassion to others in spite of his own personal struggles. He was someone who impacted so many lives in a powerful and positive way. He gave so much to so many with no expectation of a return. Steve was not just a coach of sport, he was a coach of life. He was a gift to all of us and that gift was only ours to borrow. When someone dies by suicide, the loss survivors are left with many unanswered questions. They are often wracked with guilt and struggle to openly share about their loved one's suicide, largely due to the stigma surrounding it. We need to be more open in speaking about suicide, even though initially,  it may be too uncomfortable to talk about.  Silence perpetuates suicide stigma. In Dr. Andreski's interview, he indicated that not all people who are suicidal can be helped, but many can be. Freely speaking about suicide and mental health issues without shame or embarrassment is important to help to reduce the stigma. Touched by Suicide features perspectives from nine people.  Ruth Tepler-Roth is a mom who lost her son Jonathan. Adam Sud attempted suicide and survived. He shares his story to help others who are facing the turmoil he faced. Doctor Andreski [ann DRESS key] is a psychiatrist who has been working with suicidal patients and suicide loss survivors for over 45 years. Michael Stewart is a son who lost both his father figure, Steve, and later his father, Mike to suicide. Rip Esselstyn is a pro athlete friend and colleague of Steve's who shares insights from the athlete mindset Deb Savarese [SAV uh reese] is an athlete that Steve coached who will forever be impacted by him. Mike Barone [buh RONE] is an employee, someone who knew Steve on a professional and friendship level. Jean Mellano is the surviving partner of Steve, a man she still calls the love of her life. Jean is also the reason this series exists. Kevin Hines attempted suicide at 17 years old by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. He knew the second he left the bridge that he didn't want to die. He miraculously survived and today he dedicates his life to helping others who struggle with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts. At times, we may feel helpless and not know what to say or do but there ARE some things that can be done to help those who are struggling.  Many people who contemplate suicide engage in behaviors that we can flag, if we know what to look for. These warning signs may help save lives. In every conversation, the power of hindsight is clear. Everyone involved in this project could identify at least one incident that would be considered a flag. Here are a few.   Contacting friends just to say ‘hi',when it is not something they normally do. Typically this may happen when the person has made the decision to take their own life.   They could be trying “to clean up their side of the fence” if there was a misunderstanding in their relationship or possibly just to say goodbye.  Several of our guests received a phone call from Steve in the month or two before his death even though they had no contact with Steve for months. Losing interest in the things they always loved to do Pulling back from their social circles Making a comment like  their friends and family would be better off without them And of course, previously attempting to complete suicide. More warning signs can be found at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (Afsp.org)  Too many are still being lost to suicide; it is so much more prevalent than people realize. Because of its stigma, no one wants to talk about it. Although things are improving with respect to awareness surrounding suicide and mental health issues, ignorance about these topics abound.  Comments like “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” and “suicide is a selfish act” have no place in our society and only further contribute to the stigma.   Anyone who makes these comments has no idea of the mental anguish one who takes their own life may be suffering; that it is so painful, they fear living more than they fear dying. When someone dies by suicide, it is common for the survivors to remain silent about the cause of the death of their loved one. When this happens, it perpetuates the stigma around suicide which makes it harder for people to reach out when they need help. Steve Tarpinian died by suicide. He also left a beautiful legacy of love and support to many people. By sharing his story and the stories of others touched by suicide, it is our goal to educate and to help people who are struggling reach out for the help they need before it is too late.  If you have a loved one who is struggling, reach out to them. A friend of Steve's, Peter Ventura, said that when he learned of Steve's struggles, he sought help from a friend who was knowledgeable about how to help a person with suicidal feelings. Peter was given the following advice: “You just have to be intrusive. Don't just walk through the door. Kick the door down and be there for your friend.” As one of our guests says, “You do not have to have answers.  Tell them you love them and that you do not want them to feel alone.  You are there for them. Don't try to “fix” them.” I will wrap up with a huge thank you to Jean Mellano for making this series happen. And thank you to Steve Tarpinian for lighting up the world with your smile and changing so many lives for the better. We wish you were still here with us today.  If you or someone you know is displaying suicide warning signs, please call the suicide prevention hotline at 800 273 8255. Thank you for listening. Please share this podcast - you never know who may need to hear it right now. Medical Advisory: The Run This World Podcast & the Touched by Suicide series does not provide crisis, counseling or direct services. The information and resources contained on this site are not intended to diagnose or treat  any condition. Please consult a mental health professional before making changes to your treatment plan.    Music credit: "Forgiveness" by Sensho from Upbeatt.io

Sara Vaughn is one of my favorite people on the planet. She was first on this podcast in Sept 2016. We talked about what it was like to be a mom of 3 kids and race at the top of the American track circuit in the 1500m. I jokingly asked if she thought she would pop out another kid before the next Olympic Trials and she said that was not in the plans.  Fast forward 5 1/2 years. She now has 4 kids, just wrapped her 4th Olympic Trials in the steeplechase, and just 4 weeks ago, had a Huge breakthrough performance in the marathon with the 5th fastest debut marathon by an American woman ever! At age 35! At the time of this publication, Sara can officially announce that she finally signed the deal that she has been seeking her entire career - she is now officially with PUMA!  Sara is someone you will want to root for, if you don't already. Enjoy this conversation and when you're done, follow her at @smevaughn on Instagram and donate to help a young woman continue her education through the Vaughn Family Endowed Child Care Scholarship Fund here. Note: Run This World is now LIVE & occasionally has sound hiccups

Amber Johnston is a semi-pro OCR athlete and fellow spondy warrior. Nicole found Amber not through the world of endurance sports, but on a 10k member facebook support group for spondylolisthesis. Amber had surgery 3 months before Nicole. Today they talk about what it means to be an athlete, to accept that sometimes you can't fix your body on your own, and all the blood, guts and glory that goes into having a life-changing surgery. Including but not limited to constipation, sex, drugs, Meal Train, accepting help, having down days, and the village you need to get you through it. If you have gone through surgery or are considering surgery, this episode is a great one to help you both appreciate the process, prepare yourself for the future and help others who are going through a situation where they need some help now. Note: Run This World is now LIVE & occasionally has sound hiccups

Run This World is BACK! Taking breaks is important. They allow us to start new things, to miss old things, and to deal with things that we‘ve put off. Nicole talks about all of the above. Aesop: Nicole‘s new business is up and running! Run This World is back baby! Body Talk: Nicole shares the story of her spine and the surgery that looms ahead Sponsored by AESOP a business that helps you preserve and share the stories of your life. Go to aesopnation.com for 10% using code RUNTHISWORLD    

I had never spoken to a real life shaman before my conversation with Makhosi Hefisah Nejeser. I was pretty sure it would be a mix of "woo woo" and spirituality with some chanting and drums on the side. So wrong! Makhosi is a down-to-earth, beautiful, open, vulnerable human being with a genuinely authentic storytelling style. As she opens up, you find yourself wanting to open up alongside her. That is the magic of the shaman. It's in her energy more than her words.  Makhosi became a shaman after pursuing the rat race that is the "American Dream" left her sick, tired and questioning everything about her existence. She sought a deeper meaning to her purpose on the planet and began studying shamanism in the US and Africa.  Today she guides countless people through the process of self-exploration to help them arrive at their true purpose. Check out her website and take her free Level of Consciousness Quiz.  Our conversation includes one nugget after another. Too many to list here! In the intro, I mention that this is my last Run This World episode for a while. I want to be a "Summer Grader" with my daughter, to enjoy my first summer in Steamboat Springs. I'm not sure when I'll start up again or if 200+ episodes was a good run and it's time to move on. If you want to send me your thoughts on this or ideas on what you'd like me to do next, please do! Email me at nicole@nicoledeboom.com I also mention how much I love my Xero Shoes. If you want to give them a try, here's my affiliate link. Order through this link - it helps me too!  And please sign up for my emails. I've been having a blast sending newsletters chronicling all sorts of craziness going on in my life, my brain, my world! Link here.  

Meet Neli Vazquez Rowland, the founder of A Safe Haven, a place where people in crisis can find the food, shelter, treatment, medical care, education, job training and job placement they need under one roof. A first-generation American, the young Neli Vazquez Rowland, was a natural leader, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. For 13 years, as an investment banker, Vazquez Rowland lead several firms across the nation. It was during her time as an investment banker, Neli had to rise up to the challenging and emotionally-draining task of overcoming an issue of alcoholism in her family. This incident fueled a strong belief in Neli that no family should have to suffer through an already-tragic situation and in 1994, she established A Safe Haven with her husband, Brian Rowland. An organization determined to join forces with the private and public sector to ensure an efficient and sustainable approach to battle poverty and homelessness, A Safe Haven was welcomed instantly by business, academia and public policy leaders for its innovative and ground-breaking approach to an issue that has long plagued economies. Neli is a go-getter. Her energy is limitless. Her goals are expansive. And they all revolve around making the world a better place for everyone.  Be sure to sign up for their big fundraiser this year - the virtual Run / Walk to End Homelessness from July 17-24. Click here to start your own team & raise money to help others! Notables: For more Neli - Read her Books: Neli's book "Healing" is powerful! Buy it now on Amazon! Her memoir "An Elegant Solution" coming soon The power of volunteering Stigmas: especially surrounding homelessness and addiction The "invisible" population Her background and how a walk into her school every morning sparked the seedling for A Safe Haven How A Safe Haven works: The actual flow of the organization "Housing as Healthcare" - You can't begin healing until you have a roof over your head. Nugget: Be optimistic. Don't give up. I believe that the vast majority of people are good. Love will prevail. (Lots of nuggets!)

For the 200th Run This World episode in 5 years, I decided to do something epic - A LIVE SHOW! I needed to pull out the big gun for this; there's really only one big gun in my world - MIRNA!  Mirna Valerio, the Mirnavator, shares her journey in her 7th appearance on the pod. She is an evolving human like all of us, but what makes her special is how she shares her journey with the world. We talk about so much: bodies, trust, fear, vaginas, surfing, menopause, injuries, mountain biking, being new, skiing, and more.  If she wasn't so busy opening new doors, I would have kept her on all day! The live format is fun and hilarious with comments from listeners that we can engage in real time and lots of play with the sound effects feature!  For more Mirna: Follow her everywhere @themirnavator Website: https://themirnavator.com/ Hope you enjoy this one - now let's get out there and Run This World with all the energy we built up from Mirna's presence! 

Today I speak to a running legend, a legend who's still running at the top level of the sport - Molly Huddle. I've been a fan and follower of Molly's forever. I've been so impressed by how she has evolved her career so she can continue to do what she loves and improve while most athletes fade away from injury or the simple aggregation of so many miles over so many years. Molly is a 2-time Olympian. She ran the 5,000 in 2012 and the 10,000 in 2016. She's going for the 2020 Olympics (in 2021!) and currently training for the 10k. She has or has held 6 American records. She's been running competitively for around 20 years! Not only is a she a badass pro runner who created her own formula for success, she is using her platform to advocate for social causes she believes in. Not every athlete has the courage to do this! One of her keys to success is her ability to nurture strong relationships. I'm happy to share that today's episode is sponsored by one of her sponsors: Gatorade Endurance! Use code RUNTHISWORLD20 for 20% off all Gatorade Endurance products through 2021. Notables from our conversation: "What was your backup plan?" - THE MCAT! Control is an elusive concept for pro athletes during a pandemic Breaking barriers Training for the Olympics that didn't happen In-the-moment decision to pull out of the Marathon Olympic Trials Gatorade Endurance: The GX Patch - how we both used it and how it can help you Importance of mentors: @shesthefirst "Shut up and dribble" post sparked comments like "Just shut up and run Molly" - how she deals with the controversy and haters "Don't just do what you're best at." - Molly Huddle Listen to her podcast Keeping-Track with Alysia Montano and Roisin McGettigan Follow @howshediditbook on Instagram - release coming soon, co-authored with Sara Slattery Nugget: "Aim for progress and growth over perfection. Start before you're ready."

I've been deeply emotionally impacted by the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado in March 2021. So much that I made a post on my Facebook page asking for connections to people who are working to end gun violence in our country. That request quickly turned into a dispute about second amendment rights. I realized immediately that simply uttering the phrase "end gun violence" is a major trigger for many gun owners who believe that by simply attending a meeting, I would be trying to take away their guns. It made me want to learn more about what is actually being done and if this assumption is in fact true. I reached out to the person this debate often centers around, Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action which she launched shortly after the Sandy Hook massacre of 20 elementary school children and 6 educators in December 2012. Before we talked, I attended my first Moms Demand Action meeting. One of the first things they said was, "We are anti-gun violence. We are not anti-gun." It was such a simple statement that immediately got to the very heart of the often contentious debate that springs up whenever guns are mentioned as a possible factor in the gun violence that plagues our country. I went into the conversation with the goal of educating myself and hopefully everyone listening. Shannon and I had just under 30 minutes to hit on as many topics as possible and we tackled a lot. If you want to learn more about Shannon's work and what Moms Demand Action is doing, please check them out here. Notables: How Shannon deals with the gun violence horrors that our country faces on a daily basis: She channels it into activism. "Activism is the rent we pay to live on this planet." Moms Demand Action was started after Shannon couldn't find a group like MADD to support in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings. She couldn't find one so she started her own. Power of Women: She knew that the change she was pushing for needed to come from an army of women fighting together. There are many misconceptions in regards to the mission of Moms Demand Action, namely that they are trying to "take away people's guns." Change doesn't happen overnight. Our country was set up for incremental change which is happening. Fear is the underlying emotion behind many people's pushback on change. Shannon's book, "Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women will Change the World," donates proceeds to Everytown for Gun Safety & other non-profits dedicated to ending gun violence. Many friends have been asking me, "What can I do?" Start by texting "Commit" to 644-33 Get involved. Donate to organizations like Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. Become a member. Buy Shannon's book and educate yourself. Think about what's truly important to you and if ending gun violence is, then volunteer, run for office, become an advocate of the movement. Don't let another act of gun violence go by with the same reaction you've had in the past - sadness, horror, then guilt that you didn't do anything.

Trigger warning & little person listening warning: This episode may trigger people who have gone through sexual trauma. We talk about sexual abuse. Please be aware of your environment when listening. Yet another insanely smart, insightful, brilliant woman who was put on this planet to help others, or in Britt's case, to help others' heal and move forward in their lives from whatever is holding them back. Britt Frank is a therapist, teacher, speaker, and trauma specialist who is committed to dismantling the mental health myths that keep us feeling STUCK and SICK. Her work focuses on empowering people to understand the inner mechanisms of their brains and bodies and how they connect. When we know how things work, the capacity for CHOICE is restored and life can and does change.  Plain and simple: Britt is the therapist we all wish we had. And we could have her! You can work with her through her business - the Greenhouse in Kansas City, or thx to a pandemic, anywhere virtually. I was introduced to her by my friend and previous guest Meredith Atwood of the Same 24 Hours Podcast. Meredith, I think I owe you a big one - having a personal connection to Britt is one of the highlights of my life right now. After you hear from her, I'm sure you'll feel the same. Be sure to get over to Instagram and follow her right now @brittfrank. Today I took the liberty to have a personal therapy session that I think you'll both enjoy and relate to the various angles. On that note, get ready for a good one. It's time to get Britt on the show. Notables from our conversation: Trauma definition: "There are Big T and Little T traumas. We all have trauma. It just depends on what degree." Sexual abuse: Communication is the key to helping stop or identify abuse when it is happening The Fuckery of Life: I just like this concept :) Guilt is actually important Stages of grief were actually designed for people who were dying. Britt uses the "4 tasks of grief." "The opposite of trauma is choice." "The Road to Happy starts with neutrality." Guilt is a gift. Shame is "I am bad." Guilt is "I did something bad." The floating head: The feeling of being disconnected from your body. The goal is to find happiness in our bodies. Start by assuming you're not crazy. The word perfect is a beast! For more Britt Frank: Connect with her on The Greenhouse Follow her on Social at @brittfrank Keep an eye out for her 2022 book "The Science of Stuck"

Dr. Marisa Porges might be the most impressive person I've ever talked to. Here goes. Today Dr. Porges is the the eighth Head of School of The Baldwin School, a 130-year-old all-girls school outside of Philadelphia, that is renowned for academic excellence and preparing girls to be leaders and changemakers. She is an alumna of Baldwin and personally understands the power of its approach to educating girls: it provided the foundation for her own military service and work on national security and foreign affairs. Prior to joining Baldwin, Dr. Porges was a leading counterterrorism and national security expert. Most recently, she served in the Obama White House as a senior policy advisor and White House Fellow at the National Economic Council, where she oversaw the development of domestic cybersecurity and consumer protection policies. She also has served as a research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and at the Council on Foreign Relations, where her research focused on counterterrorism. In these roles, she traveled alone throughout the Middle East and Afghanistan to conduct research, interview former members of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, meet with Syrian rebel fighters in hiding, and serve as an embedded civilian advisor at NATO military headquarters in Afghanistan. She also worked as a counterterrorism policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Treasury and as a foreign affairs advisor in the U.S. Department of Defense. In all these roles, she stood out as one of a few – if not the only – women present, at any given time.  Dr. Porges started her career on active duty in the U.S. Navy, flying jets off carriers as a naval flight officer on EA-6B Prowlers. Ten years after the Navy first allowed women to fly jets into combat, she pursued her dream of being launched off an aircraft carrier while serving her country. She earned a B.A. in geophysics from Harvard, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a PhD in war studies from King's College London. Her awards include the National Committee on American Foreign Policy 21st Century Leader Award and the NATO Medal for service in Afghanistan. Dr. Porges lives outside of Philadelphia, with her family. See what I mean? I was literally reading Marisa's bio to Tim the night before I interviewed her and he said, "That's the most impressive thing I've ever heard. So she's basically Carrie from Homeland?" [minus the personal issues!] I believe the coolest part about her is that she took all of this badassery and decided to use it to help create the next generation of badasses! Notables: In the navy she was the Goose to another's Maverick when she was flying jets off carriers. She's enjoyed a "choose your own adventure" career - we could all use this for inspiration Buy her book! What Girls Need: How to Raise Bold, Courageous and Resilient Women Sports nurture a competitive drive that transfers into careers: 92% of successful c-suite women were athletes! Skills needed for girls to be successful later in life: Speaking up/Self-advocating, How to ask for what you need, How to adapt to change, How to collaborate Adaptability is TEACHABLE! The goal is to have a high Adaptability Quotient Quick fact: Women are more likely to be interrupted than their male peers Girls/women need both mentors and SPONSORS. Mentors give advice. Sponsors create opportunities. Tactics to start while your kids are young: Read fiction (this creates empathy - an ability to see from the other character's point of view), Give your child tasks that may seem above her "pay grade" (I.e. have your kid call and order the pizza. Empower her to use her voice.) For more Marisa Porges: Follow her at @the.baldwin.school @marisaporges Buy her book What Girls Need Marisa is AMAZING!!!!

This is a special release in response to the Boulder mass shooting which occurred on March 22, 2021. Every shooting has hit close to home for me, but this one was literally three blocks from my old house in Boulder, at the grocery store we visited multiple times a week. I found myself processing many emotions including deep sadness, anger, frustration, guilt and helplessness. I've been up at night, unable to shut down the fear-driven thought cycle spiraling through my mind. So I did what I need to do to heal. I reached out. I sent out an emotional email to my community. I posted on social media. And I asked one of my upcoming guests, a widely-known psychologist, to change her plans and talk to me with only a moment's notice about how to process the aftermath of this shooting and all the emotions I've been feeling. I'm so grateful for Dr Margaret Rutherford. I actually lied above. I didn't reach out to her. She saw that I was hurting and she sent me a note that said, "What can I do? Can I come on and talk to you about this?" That's the kind of person she is. So in the middle of a Sunday, I found myself having a personal therapy session with Margaret that I believe will be helpful to you too. Important points from today's discussion: Grieving is unique to all of us. The important part is to continue moving through the emotions. To not get stuck on any particular emotion in the process. Trauma exhaustion is a real thing: like a car pile-up that never ends Trauma builds Resilience: "The tree that bends will survive the storm" [Margaret's version of a Chinese proverb] You can get PTSD even if the event didn't happen to you "Take it in small batches." -Margaret Create a Worry Journal or a Grief Journal. Get the thoughts out of your mind and onto paper. Listen to The Self Work Podcast

NOTE: The intro to this episode was recorded three days after the Boulder shooting and includes some profanity and opinions by me about mass shootings. Please note that the content may not be work or young-child friendly. Kaycie Grigel sent me an email in the midst of chemo treatments for her recently diagnosed breast cancer. Through the difficulties and the darkness, she had stumbled upon inspiration that she knew she needed to share. I suggested we wait until her treatments were done in case she gains more perspective, clarity and momentum on her next big work. We connected four weeks after her last treatment. We jump right in and Kaycie shares the details of her journey as well as the bigger picture messages that have surfaced with grace and clarity. Notables from this episode: Her breast cancer treatment included a lumpectomy, an MRI machine with boob holes and the (not FDA approved) "Cold Cap" that allowed her to keep her hair.  Support: The #1 key to having a positive journey through a dark diagnosis Movement: Kaycie set this goal - Exercise EVERY DAY DURING TREATMENT. She did it and credits movement as being mission critical to her success. Advocate for yourself! Find the medical team that is the best fit for you. Hormone talk! There's an enlightening discussion that Kaycie shares in layman's terms about how our estrogen shuts off as we age and our adrenals take over. This leads to adrenal fatigue in many menopausal women. The #1 thing we can do for our hormones is manage our stress. That includes sleep, eating good food, moving, getting outside, nurturing good relationships, releasing negative relationships What is YOUR Big Work? Don't leave this world without embracing and moving forward with your big work. Nugget: "Whatever brings that camera into focus for you, run toward it." More Kaycie: Visit her at the Golden Naturopathic Clinic Book a 15 minute Discovery Call Sign up for the Women's Hormone Health Masterclass - starts in May 2021 Follow her on FB to learn more about her future community to support breast cancer patients during and after their journeys

Once upon a time Sara Gross was a Women's Studies and World Religions student. Right around the time she was working on her dissertation about female history, she discovered triathlon, which led to a 10ish year hiatus from her work in women's empowerment. The funny thing is that she entered the sport of triathlon just as I was leaving it, so we never competed against each other which is probably good, because we have no competitive history that would create tension now! Sara had a baby partway through her career and a few years later came back to win her second Ironman in Brazil. After that win, she knew she was done with triathlon.   Her passion had shifted. It was time for her to become a voice for women athletes - to help share what sport had given her. Strength. Courage. Confidence. She founded Live Feisty - a media brand targeted toward helping active women improve their lives - and their performances. She's breaking ground with each step including the upcoming Womxn's Performance Summit on March 26-28. Be sure to grab a ticket - the speaker lineup is killer!   Notables from our conversation: How Sara's feminism was grounded by this thought as a little girl when she noticed the subtle differences between men and women in the workplace: "Something is not quite right in the world." The importance of "The 5 people you surround yourself with" "People who don't have power will take power wherever they can." The importance of community, of finding our people, picking our corner and growing our tribe. Sara's 10ish year break to pursue triathlon: We almost forgot to talk about this! What the heck is TikTok! Watch Sara's hilarious Tampon Vid here! What the word Feisty means to her Feisty Womxn's Performance Summit: Grab a ticket now! For more Sara Gross: Instagram @sara.gross TikTok: @feistymedia Live Feisty: Check out the podcasts, videos and more    

Catherine McCord is the co-founder of One Potato and the founder of the popular Weelicious brand, a trusted content resource synonymous with family and food. A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, she has created online how-to videos that have amassed more than fifty million views and celebrities like Jennifer Garner, Sarah Michelle Gellar & Keri Glassman, RD, swear by her food as a medicine approach to healthy tonics. She has written three cookbooks including her latest Smoothie Project.  Catherine has appeared on TODAY, Good Morning America, California Live, The Doctors, and is a regular on the Emmy-winning NBC show Naturally, Danny Seo as well as Food Network's #1-rated Guy's Grocery Games. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children. I came to know about Catherine and her lifesaving work for parents with picky kids when my best friend gave me two of her Weelicious cookbooks. I was complaining about how all Wilder will eat is "Cheese on White" (we talk about this in the interview!) and the minute I opened one of her cookbooks, I knew there was another way! I started by making Chewy Granola Balls. They have peanut butter! Something Wilder would never eat on her own. But lo and behold, she ate these! Then I tried Spinach Ricotta Bites and Spaghetti Pie and Spanakopita Bites. And they all won! As I cooked, I realized that the true point of Catherine's work was to make meals that the entire family can enjoy. Tim and I had gotten into the habit of making our food and Wilder's food separately. Everything we liked was too zesty or "spicy" or looked weird or had texture that would make her gag! Every time I got brain blocked, I started pulling out Weelicious cookbooks until one day I finally realized that it didn't end there. Catherine started One Potato food delivery service after realizing there was a whole in that budding industry. No one had created a meal delivery company that considered the entire family. One Potato has a family-friendly menu with recipes that the kids can actually help make. There's no doubt that Catherine is a thought leader in the world of family culinary arts, but what's an extra bonus is just how much fun she is on top of it all. Catherine has an incredible personality that was obviously shaped by a grounded family life and the fact that she is doing something every day that she loves. Notables from our conversation: Catherine faced adversity at a young age (health problems) and learned to find a different positive path (modeling) How Catherine managed to develop a healthy body image and healthy relationship with food despite being very successful in a career that puts a priority on being extremely thin Transitions: Didn't quit her day job while going to culinary school On the path to Weelicious, Catherine tried many different things that didn't work. Weelicious was successful because Catherine was solving a problem. How to "break" picky kids! Cheese on white syndrome Food is curative. If something is not right, try first to cure yourself or your kids with food. "Around the back sneak attack" getting her kids to try recipes - ask for their help so they feel empowered not defensive Creative cooking prompt: Make a list of 10 foods you all love. Build a menu from there. How to break the groundhog day cooking cycle - esp during pandemic. "What gets you up in the morning?" - ND "I just jump out of bed everyday!" - CM Nugget: "If you don't know how to do something that you want to learn how to do , don't be afraid to ask for help. Ask your mother's cousin's brother. Ask your neighbor. Ask anyone. Don't be shy because everyone wants to help someone else to feel good and be successful." GIVEAWAY: To win a Weelicious cookbook, go to @nicoledeboom on Facebook or Instagram and answer this question, "What food can you not live without?" Winner will be chosen Sunday, March 14, 2021. For more Catherine McCord: @weelicious and @onepotato Weelicious & One Potato

We all talk about wanting to turn our passions into work. I'm personally attempting to do just that right now during my sabbatical from life. First, we need to identify our passions and then we need to honestly assess whether our skills align with our passions. Today's guest Ryan Van Duzer has done just that. He lives his passion every day - and has fun doing it. I have wanted to interview him since the day I met him at Skirt Sports. He was supporting our mutual friend Dana D (Episode 30 "From Drug Addict to Love Addict") as she delivered the first ever Women Run The World talk that would later become a multi-year monthly speaker series. Ryan was totally at home at the event, even as one of the only men in a packed house of passionate women. I observed him and realized why he was so comfortable. There was something emanating from him that I like to call pure intentions. He was there to support and celebrate his friend. He didn't even notice that he was one of two men, because his intention wasn't to draw attention to himself. It was about being there for someone else's important event. Everything Ryan does is based on pure intentions. That's what makes him so special. He's relatable and vulnerable, something many men struggle with. He puts it all out there. Like truly all out there through his super popular, inspiring YouTube Channel DuzerTV, through his other projects including tv shows like Carbon TV's "Tough Jobs," Discovery's "Out of the Wild," & more. Notables from this episode: "I may not be able to get you everything you want, but I will get you everything you need." - Donna Jobert (Ryan's mama) The gift of being a mama's boy: Watch Donna get to the top of Machu Picchu in "Mama Picchu" Dana D & the Gratitude March Sobriety: Why Ryan needed to end his drinking relationship How to deal with haters Trail Magic & Trail Angels Have as much fun as possible as you're doing whatever you do. Just Get Outside! For more Ryan Van Duzer: His website! https://www.duzertv.com/ DuzerTV on YouTube This video sums up his philosophy. Watch it!      

I met Emily Holland in October 2019. She interviewed me about my entrepreneurial journey on her Stokecast Podcast. Toward the end of the interview, we talked about my sobriety journey and I did what lots of podcasters pull on other podcasters - I turned one of her questions back on her. I asked her if there was anything in her life that she felt that she wanted to let go of. She replied, "I'm in the process of thinking about letting go of alcohol. I just haven't done all the thinking I want to around it yet." Or something very close! The point is that she was on the verge of starting the journey that has taken her life in a new direction. Sobriety. Emily is an emerging thought leader in the world of alcohol and sobriety. She embarked on her sober journey over a year ago. In fact, she hit the one year milestone just a few days ago and wrote a powerful blog with 9 powerful takeaways. Emily is a very deep thinker. She is not taking her sobriety journey lightly. She has become so passionate about what sobriety has brought to her life, how much it has helped her grow, that she decided to start a new venture, a podcast called Nature Untold. Her goal is to normalize and destigmatize the discussion around sobriety, addiction, and recovery in the outdoor community and industry. And she is doing just that! Notables: The "Bristle" Trigger: What is bugging you? What is it time to examine? Prioritizing Partying: Why this becomes important and when it's time to shift priorities Question asked in therapy: "Have you grieved the loss of alcohol?" Drinking is a relationship that brings you comfort or fills a void of some sort. It makes sense that the loss of it needs to be grieved. Euphoric recall: Nostalgia for the memories & community that were part of one's drinking life She believes there is a line between calling oneself an alcoholic and recognizing drinking isn't a positive part of one's lives and it's time to stop. The habit of drinking: we riff a bit on the example used in the book "Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg Destigmatizing sobriety: It starts with having open conversations. Replace the drinking addiction with something else like exercise or adventure 3 things that were key to Emily's decision to stop drinking: 1) Therapy, 2) Someone who loves you unconditionally and wants to support the changes you decide to make, 3) COVID Best gateway (drug

I discovered Yuma Haidara when she was an ambassador for Skirt Sports. I think I stumbled upon a photo of her crossing a finish line in a Lioness Skirt, all smiles and happiness. Then I dug deeper and saw this gorgeous, tall, glowing woman standing in front of a huge truck only to learn that she is both a runner and a trucker. I was even more intrigued and reached out to feature her for Skirt Sports. She blew me away with her positive outlook and her focus on love; for others but more importantly for ourselves. Just over a year later, I saw another post. This time she was holding a container of something I can only describe as mysteriously delicious-looking. Turns out that's the perfect way to describe her new product: Yummy Butter! Yuma started A Yummy Life after countless friends begged her to make her soothing body lotions for them too. One thing led to another and suddenly, Yuma was an entrepreneur! Her journey has been tough, but through it all, she only shines brighter each day. Just for you, she is offering 15% off all products at A Yummy Life. Use code LOVE for 15% off at checkout! Notables from our conversation: Trigger warning: Yuma is a survivor of child sexual abuse, something I didn't know before we talked. How serving in the military gave her the family environment she had always craved #22aday: Each day 22 veterans take their lives. Yuma is passionate about raising awareness to help veterans so we can decrease this shocking statistic "I'm glad you exist." How to be a healthy trucker: cook your meals in a crock pot in your truck! Recommended books: "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins & "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho Nugget: To Just Love... Broccoli Soup recipe forthcoming! More Yuma: @yumahaidara on Instagram Don't forget to use code LOVE for 15% off Yummy Butters and new Yummy Lips!

I reached out to Tasha in July 2020. I didn't have a topic in mind when I discovered her; I just knew that I needed to talk to her. It finally hit me. She is on the journey. We don't share enough stories from people who are literally in the middle of the journey. We like to share stories from people who have been "enlightened," who have "gotten there." Tasha is a work in progress which reminds us that we are all works in progress. Her overriding mission is to help women connect back to their power through movement. She uses the phrase "connect back" because women have always had the power, they just lose the connection to it. Notables: Priorities and connection: When Tasha lost half of her clientele in 2020. what she found is that she had time to connect to the people who were left. "My space is the conversation around why we believe what we believe, and why are we following who we are following. What is our why? What do we really want in life and how do we get out of the bed from the depression and stress of 2020? How do we even get out of bed to talk about movement?" "Mind your own mat" concept: How do you feel and perform if no one is looking? Optimum health is the goal: It's not entirely tangible. It's not about a certain weight. It's about functioning the best we can be as our bodies constantly change. Stop comparing! Especially to our younger selves What the heck are "morning abs?" Tasha's 2021 word is POWER "Trust yourself. Your intuition will not lead you the wrong way." Tasha's nonprofit: See Her Healthy @seeherhealthy on Instagram - Follow now! Tasha's Website Hip Healthy Chick Work with her: https://www.hiphealthychick.com/services Check out her fitness workouts on John Garey TV Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Youtube @hiphealthychick

"You have a calling and a purpose. I have insights and answers." This is the first thing you read on Debra Silverman's website and for those of us who are in a confused space in life, possibly made even more so by our current health and political climates, we want insights. We want answers! I took an interest in astrology when I first met Tim. I think that happens to a lot of us. We find the love of our life, we get all romantic and we want to learn more about how we were meant to fit together. I bought a book on astrology and started reading. At some point I put the book away and for years my only connection to astrology was through the daily horoscope in the paper. But the foundation of the practice still tugged at my heart; I had a feeling I would come back to it at some point. It's been well over 20 years since I bought that book, so when I discovered Debra Silverman and her work helping people fall in love with themselves, I knew the time was now. Debra is a perfect blend of scientific and cosmic knowledge. She is both a Clinical Psychologist and a master Astrologer. I liken it to a blend of Eastern & Western practices that can help you find what you're looking for. Or gain peace from what you know you already have. We talk about so many things today, but the foundation of our conversation is about the four elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water. Turns out I'm a whole lotta Fire and Air but I'm missing Water. Water is the place where you go inside and float (I made up the floating part but it sounds about right!). It also turns out that Tim is a whole lotta Water. So going back to my relationship and why many of us turn to Astrology for answers, this is why we find the person who brings us so much joy because they complement our elemental makeup, but so much tension because they have what we don't! WOW! If you are intrigued and want to learn more, check out Debra's Applied Astrology School. The timing couldn't be better because it only opens twice a year and it's open right now! Let me know if you are interested. I'm considering applying too. It's one of those things that when you feel the inkling of change, when you feel that push on your heart, you know it's got to happen sometime, so why not now? Watch his review of her book. Debra helps people fall in love with themselves. The concept of permission slips She recommends the book "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor Get more Debra: Grab a FREE gift from her! The Elemental Compatibility Guidebook is here! Sign up for Applied Astrology School Buy her book that we talked about "The Missing Element" Follow her on IG @debra_silvermanastrology and Facebook - her daily horoscopes are AWESOME! Check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/silvermanastrology Get a reading! Connect with a certified astrologer from her network near you (or virtually)

Sarah is one in a million. In 2006 she visited Boulder to interview for Skirt Sports, this crazy little company with a powerful mission. I hired her immediately, or at least after I asked her to help us move boxes around the warehouse and I realized how strong she was!

It's not often you meet a world-class bronze sculptor. It's even more rare that she's a woman and she lives next door! I met Sandy Graves before I even moved to Steamboat Springs. We were viewing our future home, stepped into the alley and there she was. Fiddling with something in her garage. Upon closer inspection, that something was the holy mecca of world-class art. Sandy Graves is a renowned sculptor. She's known she would be an artist since her kindergarten teacher wrote that prophecy on a piece of paper. She also spent many years being angry with this gift. That was before she figured out how she could turn her gift into a career that could actually sustain herself and her family. Our conversation is like a walk in the park with a friend. It goes all sorts of directions with laughter, depth and sheer honesty. Sometimes, especially when life is tough and stressful, it's nice to simply relax and listen – and in this case, gain some new insights from a talented human being you haven't met before. Check out Sandy's art here: https://www.sandygravesart.com/ Read another great article here Notable points from our conversation: “Real artists don't sit around waiting for inspiration. They get up and go to work.” – Chuck Close Check out @holisticpsychologist for some relationship and personal self growth! When you battle those spiraling negative thoughts that won't stop rolling through your mind, think of what Steamboat therapist Nicole McGuffin says, “Who Cares?” & “Bring it on” If you're interested in more on the Bahai world religion, check this out. Finally – her nuggets: “Think of your life as a book. When the chapters start getting long, you might need to do something exciting to bring your book back to relevance. Don't let your book get boring.” “Always search. The day I'm spiritually dead would be the day that I think I know it all. I want a life of search and a life of seeking.”

Kara Burns has been on the show before. In September 2016, I featured her story in episode 24 "From Prison to 26.2" which quickly became my highest-listened. We followed it up immediately with episode 25 "Forgiving Yourself" when I realized I had been too chicken to ask her what she meant when she said "I lost my daughter." Those conversations four years ago were raw, real and powerful.   Kara's journey didn't stop there. She was on a mission to transform her life and entered what could probably be called her "striving years."   In October 2018, we sat down for episode 109 and talked about her progress. She was riding a wave of momentum as she had discovered her gifts for speaking, inspiring and leading. Her addiction was under control. Her relationship with her daughter was blossoming and people were taking notice of her. In other words, things were on the up and up.   In June 2019, I invited Kara to deliver the final keynote speech at our 300-woman ambassador retreat. At the final moment, she delivered a speech that was different than the one she originally presented to me. It was about the concept of "Slipping," of falling off the wagon, of having a drink. About how she didn't want it to define her and bring her down. Everyone slips sometimes right?   I will never forget that when I first met her, she told me, "I will never be able to have a drink again. If I do, it will lead to me doing meth. It may not be immediate, it could be months or a year later, but it will happen."   One month after her speech at the retreat, Kara was being wheeled through the Denver airport on her way to rehab after a 6-day meth binge that ravaged her body and mind so much that she couldn't even walk to the plane.   It's been over a year since she sought help and regained her sobriety. The lessons she has learned over this year of self-growth are important. They transcend her personal situation. You will benefit from hearing them.   Over the past year, Kara did a powerful TEDx Talk called "Own Your Unapologetic Realness." Watch it here.   Kara has recently become certified in NLP which we discuss in depth in the interview. If you are intrigued, she's offering FREE NLP sessions in December. Sign up here!   More on her coaching group here.   Check out Kara Burns Unlimited here. This is where you can contact her!   And don't forget to follow her on Instagram @unapologetic.realness   Some notable quotes from our conversation:   "What we think is the worst thing that could happen could very well be the best thing."   "I feel like I won the lottery. and heres what the lottery is. The lottery is wisdom."   "The greatest thing that has changed my life is my ability to serve."   "The key is learning to love every single Kara over the years."   For more Kara Burns, check her out here:   Website: https://www.karaburnsunlimited.com/   Instagram: @unapologetic.realness   Email Kara here: KB@KaraBurnsUnlimited.com  

I met Jamie Pendleton through my husband. She was looking for a coach to give her structure and confidence for a huge running goal - to break 3 hours at the New York Marathon. At that time I just thought she was a driven athlete who needed accountability like most of Tim's clients. Boy was I wrong. Jamie runs for so much more than the goals and structure. She runs for her sanity. She runs for stress relief. She runs for her daughter. Miren was born with a rare disease that affects pretty much every function in her body. The problem is that it took 6 years for them to get an actual diagnosis. During that brutal time of uncertainty, Jamie's marriage fell apart, she battled depression and suicidal thoughts, felt shame and guilt, and wondered how she could ever find a cure to save her daughter. CACNA1A affects Miren's body's ability to use calcium and wreaks havoc on her neurological system making it challenging for her to speak, think, and move like her peers.  Children with this disorder present much differently but all express neurological symptoms which include: seizures, episodic ataxia, hypotonia, eye abnormalities, intellectual disability, and cerebellar atrophy. Jamie's mission is to raise money to find a cure for Miren. This means coming out of her shell, leaving her introverted comfort zone and DOING EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO ADVOCATE FOR HER DAUGHTER. Unfortunately rare diseases are not prioritized by the medical community for that reason - they're rare. But there's a good chance that a drug has already been discovered that can treat Miren's disorder, so the first step is to raise $250k to run tests for a match. I encourage you to donate if it calls to you. And please forward this episode to anyone you think would benefit from learning more about Miren's Marathon. Some notable quotes from today's interview: About running: "I wanted to preserve something that was genuinely part of myself." About tattoos: "I asked the tattoo artist, 'Where is most painful part of your body for a tattoo?'" "You can only experience true beauty when you're on the the other side of suffering." The 6th stage of grief: "This is when everyone can find meaning in their suffering." At the end of the day, one mom can make a difference. One motivated person can change the world. Thanks, Jamie, for sharing your story with me. To Donate: Go to Rare Village. This year, donations up to $300 can be refunded as a credit on your taxes! https://give.rarevillage.org/campaign/mirens-marathon/c307965 More info here: Tax ID # 83-4699994, Address: 6808 Old Glory Ct, McKinney, TX, 75071, Email: kasey@rarevillage.org Participate in a 5K Fundraiser: Mark your calendars Feb 28, 2021 Jamie & team will host a virtual 5K on Rare Disease Day - Sunday February 28th called Zebra race for Rare.  Registration is available on the Rare Village Website.

If you're rolling your eyes and getting ready to skip this episode, you're not alone. Kelsey Abbott felt the same way when she first learned about Human Design. As she says in our conversation today, "I was totally skeptical." But the more she learned, the more she allowed herself to open up to something that defied her career as a scientist and tapped into her most powerful, previously undiscovered gift - helping others find their purpose. Kelsey Abbott is an intuitive Human Design Reader, a Certified Professional Coach, Instigator of Joy and the host of the Find Your Awesome podcast. She helps spiritual adventurers remember who they are and why they're here so they can uplevel with ease. She believes that the universe wants us to be sparklyAF and that joy is our natural state. When Kelsey isn't playing in her business, she's bringing curiosity, play and joy to triathlon--a sport she races as an elite amateur. After studying at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC) where she earned certifications as a Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Master Practitioner and Cor.E Performance coach, Kelsey also earned her NeuroPositive Certificate in using neuroscience to change how the brain processes challenges at the Applied Neuroscience Institute and studied Human Design with Jenna Zoe. Before becoming a Certified Professional Coach, Kelsey worked as a nationally-recognized science writer, as a marine biologist studying dolphins and killer whales, as a personal trainer, a group fitness instructor, a swim coach, a triathlon coach and a food blogger. After a decade in Maine and 16 months of traveling around the U.S. in a small camper, Kelsey now lives in Sarasota, Florida with her husband and dog. In case you haven't guessed, Kelsey is a Manifesting Generator living her design and following the joy.    After this conversation, you will want a Human Design reading! It costs $250 for an initial reading and that may be all you need, but if you want to dig deeper, there are all sorts of ways to work with Kelsey. Check them out here: Play With Kelsey Some quotes from today's episode: "As a swim coach and triathlon coach, you're telling people what to do. As a life coach you're helping them figure out what to do. It's a totally different kind of coaching." (Kelsey) "A big part of my chart is about healing myself so I can heal others." (Kelsey) "In general a therapist takes you from a dysfunctional past to a functional present, and a coach takes you from a good present to a great future." (Kelsey) "Some people would say it's impossible to be an entrepreneur and a triathlete at the same time, but I need both." (Kelsey) "I can imagine most people find value in Human Design when they are at a place where they feel stuck or they can't quite put a finger on what their purpose is." (Nicole) "In Human Design there is a difference between feelings and emotions. Feelings come from our heads. They are thoughts that lead to feelings. Emotions have no thoughts associated with them and they just come out of the blue." (Kelsey) NUGGET: "Remember who you are - and then be who you are and let yourself shine and share with the rest of us please." (Kelsey)

Kriste Peoples magically fell into my life when I was looking for local models for Skirt Sports. We've always worked hard to showcase real women from the community of all ages, sizes, ethnic diversity and more. From the first moment she smiled for the camera, it was obvious she was special. Kriste has that glow. That magical glow that truly special people exude when they're smiling (and even when they're not smiling) - they light up the world from the inside out. Kriste has been on the show before - Mile Repeat 7 from October 2018 - "Kriste Peoples Says YES." Because that has always been her philosophy which you'll hear more about today. But what's interesting is that she has also realized there are very important times to say no. Like when I reached out to her in June to talk about systemic racism in our country. She was so devastated by the events that had recently occurred that her answer at that time was... no. This is so important to recognize because we do need to support those moments in our lives when we need to regroup, renourish our souls, find our new paths. I'm going through one right now myself. Today Kriste has emerged stronger, with a deep emotional perspective on what is happening to our country. And she has also discovered some new tools to help find the calm within the storm - namely meditation. In fact she is launching her first ever guided meditation course called "Mindfulness: A Contemplative Intro to Awareness Meditation." Check it out! It's only $20 for 4 sessions starting November 16, 2020. For more Kriste Peoples, go to her website, follow her on social @kristepeoples and become a fan because she is doing amazing things!

I met Kerttu when I was winding down Skirt Sports and needed to find a subtenant to take over our lease on our Pearl Street store. In walked this woman with the excitement and determination that you only see in someone with true vision. She was looking to open her first pilates studio. She had been teaching for years and after countless suggestions that she start her own business, she finally decided to do it. Kerttu grew up in Estonia. She was introduced to a very unusual line of work very early by her aunt who owned a circus - she became a contortionist - traveling to shows throughout her young years. In her teens she decided to focus on becoming an actress and eventually moved to the USA to pursue this dream. One day in her early 20s when she was working out at a gym in New York, she was suddenly struck by partial paralysis. It was a mystery - no one could figure out why this happened. After years of struggle, as Kerttu was starting to look at wheelchairs and resigning herself to a life of immobility, she discovered pilates. Her life changed forever and she was able to start knitting her body back together. She found that pilates had both physical and emotional magical effects. She started to move again. She became strong again. And she fell in love with pilates. Kerttu shares this story and more. You will understand her "Why Not Today?" philosophy after you listen. And you will definitely want to visit her studio if you are in Colorado.

It was August 2019 and I couldn't sleep. I had just received word that our biggest account had decided with no notice to simply "not take" the inventory they had committed to that season. My thigh was twitching. It didn't stop for 3 months. I couldn't stop the negative thought cycle. I'd been here before. Not this exact place, but I'd been in a position with Skirt Sports where I wasn't sure how we would get through a tough time. But never before did I question if I could actually pull us out of it. I went from gearing up to sell my business with 3 strong, profitable growth years behind me, to losing more in one year than we had lost combined in ten years. There was no way I would find a buyer for my business and I definitely wouldn't get my dream exit. So I did what I've learned to do over 15 years. I took action one mile at a time. One aid station at a time. In April I realized that the COVID-era had put a stamp on our difficulties and the best decision was to close our doors. All the while I held out hope that a new owner may present herself. I know I had created something special and I hoped that there was a woman out there who had the vision, resources and guts to carry it forward. Enter Sarah Ratzlaff. In late April 2020, she replied to a 6 month old email I had sent her and said, "I know this is pretty late, but do you still want to do a cross promotion?" I replied back, "No, I don't want to do a cross promo, but if you want to buy my company, let's talk!" Four months later the ink is dry. Sarah Ratzlaff of the ZOOMA Women's Race Series is the new owner of Skirt Sports! The most important question is: Who is this woman? Sarah is a brilliant visionary. She spent her childhood in rural Kansas and her adulthood honing her craft and her passion by helping develop the RunDisney race series. She later became an entrepreneur by purchasing the ZOOMA Women's Race Series and infusing it with the new energy it needed to thrive. She's a mom of two young kids. She loves helping women find happiness. And she is driven to make this world an equal playing field for women. I couldn't have found a better fit. I'm honored to help bring Sarah's story to the world - it's her turn to shine!

Diane Berberian is dying. She called me a month ago and said this, "I have cancer again. It's incurable. My doctor told me to get out my bucket list." The funny thing is that she told her doctor, "My entire life has been a bucket list!" But as she thought about the things she wants to do with the time she has left, she decided to have one more amazing conversation on the podcast. To share her story, to help people figure out how to better advocate for themselves, and to leave all the gems and wisdom she has learned in a medium that isn't going away - through the podcast.  I am emotional writing this. I was emotional during our conversation. You may be emotional listening. That's okay. That's normal. We are soon going to lose one of our bright lights and we don't want her to go. So today just let your emotions run and open your heart to Diane Berberian. As a special gift to her, please go to her Iron Maven Facebook page. Take a minute to post what you loved most about this conversation. She wants to read it all - while she's still here.  And add this date to your calendar: August 22 is Diane Berberian Day - #golongfordiane and wear red/yellow on that day!

I met Elizabeth Carr through running. Her involvement in the world of running is not what she was originally known for but if she hadn't found running I never would have stumbled across her, as her true claim to fame is not a world I've played in. On December 28, 1981, Elizabeth was the first baby born via In-vitro fertilization in the USA. Literally THE FIRST! What comes with that title is an early life in the public eye, a huge amount of pressure to be "perfect" or else science has failed, and an early understanding of where babies come from! Elizabeth is currently in the midst of a career transition that has found her going back to her roots. She is building a community to be a resource for people navigating the fertility world. She is passionate about helping others and has recently created a private forum - The 1st Collective - where people can safely share and discover important information during their fertility journeys. For more on Elizabeth, check out her website and definitely visit her wikipedia page - I don't know many people who have one! Today we talk about: Exploring trails you've never run (figuratively and literally) Elizabeth's winding career path from the Boston Globe to Runner's World to the non-profit world to branching out on her own Following her heart, gut and passion to discover the next right thing Being 1st: literally the 1st In-vitro baby born in the USA Media circus birth, frankenbabies, tampering with Mother Nature and Playing God What it meant to grow up first Perfection standards set early: If this baby was not perfect, then "science" would take a hit Musings about Mistakes, Judgment, Fear and finally, Freedom For more on Elizabeth and to join her community go here! Her website The First Collective Contact her HERE

Nancy Hogshead was one of my childhood heroes. She was an Olympic swimming star at the age when I was a rising star. She set her first American record at age 14, won 4 Olympic medals and countless titles along the way. She was a full-package powerhouse with brains, beauty and as she says in this interview, "Talent was dripping from my fingers." Today Nancy is a civil rights attorney. Her focus mainly lies in two areas: Equal rights for women in sport and stopping the pervasive sexual abuse that continues to happen in sports today. Her story is incredible. Her experiences all lead her so perfectly to this place in life. That doesn't mean her experiences have all been rosy. Nancy was shunned as a young swimmer which taught her resilience. She had to deal with the frustration and heartbreak of missing the 1980 Olympics due to the USA boycott. And when she was at Duke University, she was brutally raped which led to major PTSD and a long emotional recovery. Despite all of this, she went on to be the most decorated athlete and one of America's sweethearts at the 1984 Olympics with three golds and a silver medal. Nancy is fun, open, honest and shares the greatest stories. I was laughing so hard for much of this conversation. As you listen, you will want to support her efforts for equality. The most important thing you can do is add your signature to support greater protections for TEAM USA athletes here. Today we talk about: Growing up a swimmer The LUCK involved in getting THE Eddie Reese as your first ever coach at age 7! Then Randy Reese when you move! How hard should we push our kids Aspen Institute - resource for parents in regards to youth sports Taking the LONG TERM approach to sport and health (mental and physical) Nancy's birth story (see pic below!) Rambles about our own parenting philosophies The Flow State: how Nancy discovered flow as a way to handle the pressure Sex assault: Nancy was raped while running at Duke University: PTSD, recovery & what Duke did right Nancy's path to becoming a champion of women: ChampionWomen.org Nancy's causes today: Equal rights for women in sport and dismantling the culture of sex abuse in sports Plus many references including: Aspen Institute Sally Roberts: Wrestle like a Girl Pablo Morales Eddie & Randy Reese Athlete A USOPU.info - help pass House Bill 7881 that was unanimously passed in the Senate Bill 2330 Nancy is a force. We could have talked for hours and gone down many more rabbit holes. I asked her after the interview what workout she did beforehand. We had both just come in from some exercise. Her answer is here and one of the reasons I adore her. All right then, that's it for today. You know what time it is. It's time to get out there and Run This World. Have a great workout and I'll see you next week.

I met Cindie Collins through the amazing Skirt Sports ambassador community. In 2019, she was one of the featured speakers at the Skirt Ambassador retreat. Her talk was called STROKE - Suffer The Results Or Kickass Everyday. When Cindie was 27 years old, she was pushing hard, working three jobs and striving for what she thought she needed to do to perform and succeed. Then she had a stroke. Because she was so young, it was not a quick or easy diagnosis. Over the years, and through her recovery (which continues today), Cindie has found comfort in this concept: She has been guided through every stage of her life and everything has happened for a reason. It's such a simple concept, especially in a world where we want to have control (or at least believe that we control). When we step back and allow ourselves to be guided, we find more peace and true gratitude. That's my hope for you after listening today: May you find peace and gratitude for yourself and your circumstances. More topics we cover: Experiencing a stroke at 27: Signs, symptoms & how she was finally diagnosed Put yourself on the list: give yourself as much love and attention as you give everyone else This: "I didn't live in my body back then." Support: Why your network is critical for healing Becoming heart-centered: Changing career from hard-driving educator to massage therapist/healer Running: the shift from driving/pushing/going to giving permission to simply move and appreciate Appreciating YOUR Epic The Sit Spot: Finding something that is Just For You Skirt Sports Community: Even if the uniting product no longer exists, the community will because WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP And so much more Hang with Cindie on Facebook & shoot her a message - as she said, she doesn't need to impact the masses, just one person at a time. ❤️

Amanda McCracken is many things: award-winning writer, ultrarunner, massage therapist, daughter, wife, soon-to-be-mom, and more recently than you'd expect, no longer a virgin. I've known of Amanda for years; we run in the same athletic circles in Boulder, Colorado. What's funny is that she's a little more well-known for her outspoken writing about a topic that many consider taboo - virginity. Amanda remained a virgin until well into her 40s. This is not to say that she didn't date or have sexual relations with men, but she simply continued to hold onto her virginity. Over time it became an empowering thing for her, but it also held her back in certain ways. The root of it was her development of relationship patterns early on. And once she fell into the patterns of chasing, being unavailable, and pushing people away, the more she formed an identity around it. We have a great conversation around relationships, self-growth, forming and shedding identities, accepting change and allowing ourselves to open up and be vulnerable. How we develop relationship patterns: The chase, the push away, the devastation Overthinking: how to stop this pattern Dealing with rejection when she said she was ready How she learned to accept and allow herself to receive love Why was she uninterested in guys who were fully available to her The slow burn romance with her husband, Dave Amanda's deep relationship with her grandma: how it was the catalyst for so many decisions in her life Making important decisions: We all have our own processes Running: she "ran the crazy out" over the years Identity: How we wrap our identities around certain things that become important to us so it's harder to change them or let go of them Longing: Keep your eyes out for her future book "How Longing Became My Lover" Some parenting chatter: Amanda asked me questions about parenting - she's clearly a journalist! And so much more For more Amanda, follow her on social media @amandajmccracken and check out her website! More articles here: Huff Post: "I waited until I was 41 to lose my virginity. But was it worth It?" NY Times: "Finally, a Wedding. It Was About Time."

Maria Solis Belizaire is a powerhouse with a vision. In her early 30s, she found the life-altering power of running and wanted to share it with other people from her community. The problem is that she couldn't find them! She knew some Latinos who run, but they definitely didn't attend races in substantial numbers. And when she talked to people in her community, she realized that there was a preconception that Latinos are fat, lazy, don't like to exercise, and were definitely not runners. The power of visibility is so important. Until you see someone who looks like you doing an activity, you may not realize that you can do it too. In 2016, she started Latinos Run (and now also Latinas Run) to bring awareness to the sport and to show Latinos that running can change their lives for the better. She's been on a mission ever since. Today we talk about: Running: how she found the sport Racial disparity in running Latinos Run & Latinas Run: the genesis of these organizations Her family: how important family is to her Racism: With a mixed race background - her dad is Belizean/Mexican and her mom is Puerto Rican - she has darker skin than her siblings and experienced racism even within her own community Her advice: how companies can show more representation and invest in more diverse communities Visibility: the power of seeing people who look like you doing activities Her magnetic appeal (especially to older white men!) Her mindset in three chapters: 14-15 years old, 30 years old, now Check out her TedX talk here!

I first met Darrietta in person at the 2018 Skirt Sports Ambassador Retreat in Boulder, Colorado. She stood out from the crowd as our only black muslim athlete but she also blended in so perfectly with her shared commitment to health and fitness that our ambassador community prioritizes. I knew I needed to have her on the podcast; I just wasn't sure when it would happen. We actually got some dates on the calendar earlier this year - and then COVID hit. So we delayed. And then Ahmaud Arbery was murdered. And then Breonna Taylor. And then George Floyd. And our country erupted. Over the past month, Darrietta has been a bold, strong, courageous voice in the movement to FINALLY end racial injustice in our country. Something that may actually be possible - if we unite together to make it happen. Even with the emotions flooding the country, we both knew this was exactly the time to get Darrietta on the show. To amplify her voice. To help us both understand and gain some direction to personally push the movement forward. You will definitely want to follow her on Instagram @concrete_rose_lifts At the end of the interview I asked the meaning behind her handle and she said that it symbolizes that has risen from a tough, barren landscape and blossomed into something beautiful. Truth! Today we talk about: Growing up on the south side of Chicago Her mother's drug addiction and how she started living a "double life" as she dealt with it Turning to gangs for community and support Finding the Nation of Islam & leaving gang life Advocating for herself and other women as early as high school when she successfully petitioned her school to include Black History as a subject Getting married at 18 and having her first of three kids at 19 The day her health became her priority (No, the day she decided to put herself first) Her weight loss journey: both nutrition and running/fitness Being a black muslim female athlete: resources and advice Racial injustice: Her efforts & her advice to others The small changes make a big difference Be an ally and stand up when you hear something that isn't right No matter what, put yourself first. Darrietta is a force and her light is only getting brighter. Be sure to follow her as she attempts to become the first "older" black muslim women powerlifter to compete at a meet! Other resources and shoutouts: @liawearaction @sistersofpowerlifting @jogonsportswear

Kristen Horler is living an intentional life. She makes sh*t happen, not in a spastic, compulsive way, but with careful thought about the message she wants to put out in the world. Over 18 years ago, Kristen had a baby. It turns out that baby birthed a business. She found herself craving connection while attempting to regain her fitness and she couldn't find a program that catered to moms with babies. You either had to wait until the baby was older and bring them to a gym that had childcare or you had to get a babysitter so you could leave your baby at home to work on yourself. One day she decided to grab some other new mom friends, bring her baby along, and do a workout together in a park. It was a massive hit. Not only did the moms get a productive workout, they didn't have to worry about leaving their babies behind. Pretty soon, there was a big group of women working out together with their babies, so Kristen started crafting stroller-inclusive exercises and moves that included baby-carrying. Then the idea became contagious and spread from northern California to Texas to cities all across the country and Baby Boot Camp was officially off and running. Kristen went from being a fitness guru to a full-on entrepreneur with a thriving nation-wide franchise. The years went on and Kristen grew the business and honed her craft. She has experienced the ups and downs that come with almost two decades of owning a business. The celebrations and the doubts. And more recently, a rebirth to Momleta - a community of resources that serve the whole mom from health and fitness to nutrition and lifestyle guidance. Kristen is a truly inspirational woman who is living her calling every single day. Today we talk about: Kristen's path to entrepreneurship: She started as a pastry chef! (Did you know a pound cake is called a pound cake because it uses a pound of butter and a pound of sugar?) Starting a business out of necessity The difference between perceiving yourself as an athlete versus being athletic How she rediscovered rowing decades after she stopped the sport The key to staying positive Why having fun with fitness is important The power of helping women and creating a community of women with shared values The Pause It's what you do most of the time, not some of the time, that matters most Her philosophy on nutrition: You should enjoy the food you eat Vegan lentil loaf: This is a must-make recipe especially for a plant-based Thanksgiving, but really for anytime! Focus on priorities, then set your values And so much more For more Kristen Horler and to get involved with Momleta check out these links! http://www.kristenhorler.com/ https://www.momleta.com/ - Virtual classes are now available! Social media: @momleta_hq & @kristenhorler Check out this fun media clip :)

Heidi and Gretchen Breuner are identical twins who live next door to each other and work side by side. They've always been best friends (except for that one time that Heidi etched "I'm mad at Mom and Gretchen" in the windowsill in second grade) and they've always supported each other. What makes their current story so amazing is that it happened by accident. Overnight, Heidi's exciting startup, Swap T's, went bust when coronavirus hit and shut down schools. It was an interactive tee shirt company that encouraged connection and communication with kids aged K-2. From the first distribution of tees at a school, it was obvious that the concept was working when the shyest kid in the class was suddenly engaged with the others as they excitedly shared stories about their patches. In fact, Swap Ts had so much potential that Heidi's husband quit his job and Gretchen started working with her too. So when schools closed, and the business had no future before it had really even taken off, Heidi and her husband did what they always did in times of uncertainty - they went into the workshop. That day, unknowingly, they reignited the flame of their iconic family business - Breuners Furniture - a business that had been shut down due to a long ago family feud. Their story is exactly what we need right now. For more on the Breuners: Breuner Furtniture website Order a table or hat or more: Heck, just send them your ideas! Follow them on social @breunersfurniture