Soul Things: A Conversation About the Hard Spaces

Tune in to the conversation with fellow therapist Katia Hiestand. This month we are tackling a struggle that universal to humanity- Loneliness. Come join the conversations about hard spaces we face in our 20s from a therapeutic mindset! Follow on socials or subscribe to monthly newsletter: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul_things_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soulthingspodcast?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcNewsletter: https://soulthingspodcast.mailchimpsites.com/ _________________ Tune in monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to your podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qkim7VWZckaCJn2N9DhSD?si=15f4804393104838Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soul-things-a-conversation-about-the-hard-spaces/id1585362419 Other Podcast sites: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenna-koss ________________ Sign up for therapy with me! I would love to work with you: https://www.cultivatecounselinggroup.com/staff-directory/brennakoss

How do we stop being so hard on ourselves and others? Tune in to the conversation around curiosity with therapists Brenna Koss and Kelley Oldham. Come join the conversations about hard spaces we face in our 20s from a therapeutic mindset! Follow on socials or subscribe to monthly newsletter: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul_things_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soulthingspodcast?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Newsletter: https://soulthingspodcast.mailchimpsites.com/ _________________ Tune in monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to your podcasts: Youtube:https://youtu.be/pdf3JAXvAkw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qkim7VWZckaCJn2N9DhSD?si=15f4804393104838 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soul-things-a-conversation-about-the-hard-spaces/id1585362419 Other Podcast sites: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenna-koss ________________ Sign up for therapy with me! I would love to work with you: https://www.cultivatecounselinggroup.com/staff-directory/brennakoss Check out support from Kelley and the Cultivate Counseling Team: https://www.cultivatecounselinggroup.com/

Hello everyone! Welcome to Soul Things! Our 20s can be a challenging time—graduating from college, launching careers, navigating relationships, and moving to new places all bring their own set of pressures and uncertainties. I'm Brenna, a mental health therapist based in Chicago, and I invite you to join me on a journey as I connect with fellow therapists and experts to help us make sense of these exciting yet difficult years. Soul Things is a platform dedicated to fostering open conversations about the unique challenges of our 20s. Our mission is to encourage growth through community support, self-exploration, and nurturing independent thought and personal healing. Join us every month for honest conversations and fresh insights that will help you navigate this pivotal decade and empower you to think for yourself. 

Everyone faces grief from a loss at some point in their life. In this episode I go through Prolonged Grief Disorder or Complicated Grief. It was an honor to learn from two professions in the field. Dr. Brittany Trauthwein is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Fellow in Thanatology (death, dying, and bereavement), and the Founder of Bridgepoint Psychology Center in Chicago, IL. She specializes in providing support for individuals and families as they navigate cancer and other terminal diagnoses, end-of-life and hospice, and grief and loss. She is passionate about providing supervision to trainees and early career professionals. Her clinical research has been in the areas of continuing bonds with a deceased parent, ways to prepare children for parental death and funeral rituals, and achieving a good death at end-of-life. Dr. Jenna Schmitt is completing her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Bridgepoint Psychology Center in Chicago, IL. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu. She specializes in supporting clients with complex trauma and grief and loss. She is pursuing certification in Thanatology and Ego State Therapy. Her clinical research has been focused on the healing process of sex trafficking survivors. Check out their work: https://www.bridgepointpsychology.com/ Instagram: @soul_things_podcast

The journey to caring for yourself is a long and winding road. Listen to Kalynn Dunn, LPC share about her journey and provide some practical tips along the way! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul_things_podcast/ Try Softer: https://a.co/d/8GKhLMy Youtube: https://youtu.be/Qd98SbfMo5c

Soul Things is back! Season 4 kicks off with some life updates as a graduate student studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a conversation about shame. There is so much I have been learning on my counseling journey and I am excited to share just some of what has been happening in my world. Compassion Formation Worksheet: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5944ce69a5790a249dd6eb4c/t/59f79d74e2c4834bbc116d0a/1509399928276/compassion_formulation_en-us.pdf

On this episode I sit down with financial expert Bob Lotich from Seedtime Money. We dive into the challenging waters of debt, budgeting, giving, and more! Check out more about Bob: https://seedtime.com/press/Seedtime Money Podcast: https://seedtime.com/podcast/ Simple Money. Rich Life: https://seedtime.com/smrl/ Check out more episodes of Soul Things Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qkim7VWZckaCJn2N9DhSD?si=e61998d58e084ec8 Instagram: @soul_things_podcast

In this episode I sit down with Jesse Eubanks to talk about conflict. Jesse is the founder and Executive Director of Love Thy Neighborhood- an Urban ministry nonprofit mobilizing young adults for the Gospel in Louisville, KY. "Love Thy Neighborhood has an urban missions program for young adults, ages 18-30, impacting homelessness, the adult entertainment industry, crisis pregnancy, adoption & foster care, healthcare, refugees, construction & low-income housing, legal aid, book editing & publishing, podcasting, visual arts, media & design, multicultural church ministry, multicultural worship ministry, urban youth ministry, international college ministry and nonprofit leadership." To learn more go to: https://lovethyneighborhood.org/ Check out the Love Thy Neighborhood Podcast:https://lovethyneighborhood.org/podcast/ Conflict Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3T7zPpXekoeOhp62Jni488?si=91cbeff4e2e54a7f Enneacast Podcast: https://lovethyneighborhood.org/podcast/ Pre-order Jesse's book coming January 2023: https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Relate-Understanding-Enneagram/dp/0310365198#:~:text=In%20How%20We%20Relate%2C%20Enneagram,the%20wholeness%20you%20long%20for. Check out more Soul Things Episodes on Spotify, apple podcasts, and more! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qkim7VWZckaCJn2N9DhSD?si=14bebf04f98943c3 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soul-things-a-conversation-about-the-hard-spaces/id1585362419 More: https://anchor.fm/brenna-koss --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Season 3 kicks off with a conversation on what those who have gone before would tell their twenty-something selves. Professors Peter and Kelli Worrall teach at Moody Bible Institute and share about their book "Twenty Things We'd Tell Our Twenty-Something Selves." What better way to gain wisdom and insight into this decade than those who have lived it and learned from it already! You can check out there book on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Things-Wed-Tell-Twentysomething-Selves/dp/080241334X --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Tune in to hear about some life updates and what direction Soul Things will be taking moving forward. Thank you all for your love and support these last two seasons!

Suicide plagues young adults now more than ever. The rise in mental health issues for individuals in their 20s is skyrocketing. Tune in as my friend Junior shares his powerful story of pain, struggle, and redemption. We dive into what saved Him and what, if anything the Scriptures has to say about this topic. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Nidhin and I breakdown the struggle to be your true self. As young adults we are growing so much and changing constantly. Sometimes we find ourselves lost or becoming someone we don't want to be. How does scripture and the example of Jesus anchor us to live out our authentic true self? Check out Nidhin's Podcast Spirit and Truth Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0WvduPlsxsR4ndAQ424coR?si=d47fc70fa775412d Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spirit-and-truth-podcast/id1573119133 IG: @thespiritandtruthpodcast --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We so often find ourselves running around and filling our schedules at this age, and life doesn't seem like it is slowing down any time soon. My friend John C and I talk through this issue of rest and having healthy rhythms in our lives. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode we wrap up our three part series on how social media is impacting our lives. Martine Decase returns to the show and shares her thoughts on how social media can impact our spiritual walk. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In part two of the social media series, Noah and I chat about how social media influences how we see those around us. So many of our relationship are being deeply shaped by the habits we are forming with social media. Check out my other conversation with Noah on the struggle to find good community here: https://anchor.fm/brenna-koss/episodes/True-Intimacy-in-Community-e17j8ti --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In the first episode of a three part series on social media, my friend Jack and I discuss the impact social media has on our view of self. So often we are drawn in to our devices that they begin to shape how we see ourselves. The values and beliefs we hold surrounding who we are and where our value comes from are more often than not heavily influenced by the media we are intaking and posting online. You can follow jack on instagram @crtvbyjack Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: https://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Impossible-Spiritually/dp/0310348498 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Marla and I continue our conversation on the challenge of forgiveness. In this episode we focus on how hard it is to forgive yourself. What does God have to say about this and how do we get to a place of healing in the areas of our lives we still feel deep shame and hurt? I share a part of my story and how I learned to not only receive but live into a life of forgiveness. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

One of the hardest spaces we face as humans is forgiveness. Tune in to part one of a two part series on forgiveness. In part one we talk about the struggle to forgive others. Marla shares her story about the struggle and lessons learned through deep betrayal and heartbreak in one of her friendships.

What does it mean to step into healthy manhood? How did Jesus emulate masculinity? Tune in to this conversation on the struggle of understanding a right definition of masculinity in our culture today. My good friend Jared Seeland is an Associate Pastor at Grace Pointe Church in Plainfield IL. He also served as a US Military as a Civil Reconnaissance Marine. Check out his Church's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gracepointe-plainfield/id1019364238 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

"Why do we need to understand our emotions?" "How do we balance our feelings with the Truth?" These are just some of the questions I tackle with author, speaker, and fitness coach Jessica Hottle. As young adults we often face the challenge of navigating our feelings in a real and healthy way. Jessica shares her powerful story revealing deep insight into this week's topic. Jessica Hottle is a faith-based fitness coach, podcast host, best-selling author, and speaker with a heart for teaching women how to dismantle the lies that keep them from healing and wholeness. She is the author of 4 books with her new book being Face Off with Your Feelings: Break Up with the Lies From Your Past and Embrace the Truth for Your Future. Jessica is the host of What's The Truth, a show where she challenges the way her listeners think so they can change the way they live. Her writing has been featured by she works His way, Cross Training Couture, and Revelation Wellness. When she isn't writing, speaking, or coaching you can find her enjoying time with her husband Jon at their home in Pennsylvania, being a momma to their three cats, and spending her free time outside whenever she can (playing golf, hiking, reading, or writing in her journal). jessicahottle.com for the book info jessicahottle.com/chase-god for an opt-in https://www.instagram.com/jessicahottle/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Season 2 is kicking off with the topic of identity. Tune into this conversation with Jordan and Darin Starks the host of Just Different Podcast. We tackle questions like Where do we find out who we truly are? Who defines us? Why is finding our identity so hard at this age? So many challenges come with navigating who we are in young adulthood. So let's talk about it! Guest info: We are Darin and Jordan Starks the host of the Just Different Podcast based in Louisville, Kentucky. One fun fact about us is we both make music and write poetry. We believe it is important to talk about hard spaces because its the only space where true healing can happen and transformation can take place! You can find and listen to our show on Apple, Spotify, and Google podcast! And here is the link to all our socials lnk.bio/justdifferent. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode I sit down with my friend and coworker Kelley Daniel and chat about the highs and lows of getting married in your early twenties. We discuss the difficulties of adjusting to other relationships, deeper communication, sex, and more! "Hey I'm Kelley, and I am an ultrasound technologist from Illinois.I know Brenna from working at a non profit women's pregnancy center. I'm 24 years old, and I got married at the age of 22 to my husband, Ben. Since I got married at a young age, I thought it'd be interesting to talk about!" --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Whether our peers, neighbors or a family member we love dearly, a lot of us are battling a desire to make everyone like us. Tune in to this week's episode as Emily Burton shares a little bit of her story and what she has learned about overcoming the urge to people please all the time. Meet Emily- This Oklahoma native has called Chicago's Westside home for the last 7 years. She's a nurse by trade who is pursuing her passions through songwriting and poetry. Her aim in life is to be pleasing to a Holy God by being wholly herself. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Fellow podcaster, author, and ministry leader Hannah Hughes sits down with me and shares her story and how her eating disorders of bulimia and anorexia impacted her life from a young age. We dive into a discussion on her healing journey, how mindset plays a role, and how the Church should respond to these hard spaces. Hannah Hughes info: You can learn more about Hannah's ministry for By Words on her website: https://www.thehannahhughes.com/ Follow Hannah on instagram @thehannahhughes Listen to her podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, or anywhere you can listen to podcasts: https://anchor.fm/bywords Get her book where she shares her story called Waking Up: Living Open: https://www.thehannahhughes.com/shop. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

My roommate Heather and I sit down and chat about the struggle a lot of people face when it comes to a healthy relationship with food. Tune in as Heather opens up and shares her own story and what has helped her in her journey. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The transition from college to the workforce can be one of the toughest transitions we face as young adults. This episode's guest is author Cate LeSourd who wrote a book about this struggle. Tune in as Cate and I chat about her new book Coming of Age: Our Journey into Adulthood. Cate LeSourd graduated with honors from Elon University with a degree in Strategic Communications and minors in Human Services and Entrepreneurship. Her post-grad life consisted of intense twists and turns, which fueled a passion for writing authentically about the transition into adulthood. Cate lives in Chicago where she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, going on long bike rides and investing in her community. Keep in touch at www.catelesourd.com or follow @catelesourd on social media. You can get her insightful book on amazon or any major retailer. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode my friend Aaliyah and I chat about our struggle with settling for less than God's best for you in a relationship. Join us as we navigate the tricky waters of knowing your value and what is worth waiting for.

Yep, we are going there. This episode my friend Brennan McCarthy and I dive into the hard space of pornography addictions. Tune in to hear from both a male and female perspective on this issue and how we can find healing through the struggle. Through his own journey Brennan has done extensive research on this topic and has even led conferences on sexual addiction. Brennan is a professional photographer, videographer, writer, and speaker. Check out his website brennanmccarthy.org for more info. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

On this episode my friend and licensed counselor Jillian Henry chat about our stories of friendships coming to a sad end and how we can find grace and healing through these situations. So often there is an emphasis on romantic breakups, but many of us in our twenties face hardships in our friendships. Tune in as we see what God has to say about friendships and what to do when they end. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Oh the title? It's not what you think! Yeah, that's a southern phrase my North Carolina friend uses in this episode on breakups. Deanna and I share stories, lessons learned, and encouragement on this hard space a lot of young adults go through at least once in their life. Even though dating didn't exist back then, God still has something to say about breakups and dealing with heartbreak. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Many of us at one point or another have experienced some type of painful experience with the Church. During this hour long special, my roommate Alli shares her lifelong struggle with deep wounds caused by the Church. Alli provides great insight and powerful words of wisdom as she speaks about her healing journey. Throughout the continued grappling with her pain, Alli reminds us how the Lord has shown His faithfulness to the beloved. In addition to being an amazing roomie, Alli is also a fellow creative! Check out her blog Crabapple Creative. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

During our twenties a major challenge can be plugging into a Church. Throughout the major life changes we deal with in this decade, a lot of young adults find themselves having to start over when it come to finding a church. Join me as I chat with my friend Sabina to discuss the real struggle it is to find a church on your own and wrestling with the value in trying to find one in the first place. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Sometimes you feel like you know so many people that you don't really know anybody at all. Or sometimes you feel so terrified to meet new people because of past hurts. Whether an extrovert or an introvert, genuine community can be a challenge to find. In this episode I have a conversation with my friend Noah about "doing life" with others in your twenties. We tackle questions on the importance of real friendship, what true community looks like, and why intimacy is so vital for these relationships.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Depression seems like it is everywhere. Whether it plagues you or someone you love, we are all dealing with this particular mental illness one way or another. Join me as I talk with my friend Ima Eno on the challenges and healing she has found through her struggle with depression. Check out Ima's vlog channel Imaslife Here is her vlog including Soul Things: Click here to listen and subscribe to Ima's podcast Free Your Mind --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Sex- it's everywhere and something we all deal with in our twenties. Whether you are married, dating, or single, God has something to say about this topic. Join me as I sit down with my friend Martine and have a raw and honest conversation about all the issues surrounding the topic. In this not so typical purity chat, we share our stories and dig into the deeper elements surrounding sex and purity.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app