Podcasts about loved

Fear of abandonment can quietly run your life, shaping how you think, how you react, and how safe you feel in your relationships. In today's episode, we're getting very real about what fear of abandonment actually looks like in adulthood and how it shows up differently depending on your attachment style. Whether you identify as anxious, avoidant, or disorganized, this episode will help you understand the roots of these patterns, why they feel so intense, and how they may be sabotaging your ability to experience deep, secure connection.Inside the episode:How fear of abandonment develops and why it's so closely tied to insecure attachment stylesThe key ways anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment express fear of abandonment in adult relationshipsWhy this fear keeps you stuck in fight-or-flight—and what becomes possible when you begin healing itIf you're ready to go deeper and start your journey toward secure love, you can explore the Empowered. Secure. Loved. offers here:

You don't need a new personality, a new job, or a vision board with unhinged optimism. You need to live in the joy ratio. In this final episode of the New Year mini-series, Jenn walks you through how to actually design your life and leadership for joy—not as a vibe, but as a strategy. This is a guided, reflective episode (yes, you'll want to grab a pen), where values, stories, and personality finally come together in a practical framework Jenn calls the Joy Ratio. You'll identify what genuinely fuels you, what quietly drains you, and how small, intentional shifts can radically change how you experience your work and life. No “new year, new you.” Just a new opening—and a smarter way forward. Here's What's in the Episode: 1:01 If you don't know what brings you joy, there is no way you can ever live in joy.. 2:12 We don't need to normalize toxic positivity or toxic teams. 4:11 Identifying joy for yourself. 7:07 Identifying toil, even if you're good at the work. 9:58 Using the joy ratio. 11:02 how to design your work and entire life for joy without pretending toil can disappear. Key Takeaway You can't lead well from a life that's designed to drain you. You didn't “lose” your joy—you never built it into your leadership. About the Host: Jenn Whitmer Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces. Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose. Her book Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbooks offer leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results. Resources & Links: Get Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbook Joyosity: How to Cultivate Intense Happiness in Work & Life (Even If Things Are What They Are) Joy isn't extra. Joy is how you thrive. This book gives leaders the tools to turn exhaustion into resilience and build cultures where work is a joy, people are whole, and organizations flourish. Joyosity Works Playbook: Practical Plays and Strategies for Joy at Work and Beyond is the official companion workbook to Joyosity to help you practice joy every day. Find links to purchase at https://jennwhitmer.com/books or you may even see it in the airport this month. Free 99: Episode 120 of the Joyosity™ Podcast → The New Year Trope Leaders Keep Believing Joyosity Explorer Map → This map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan: Joyosity™ Jumpstart → Get crystal clear on what you want, what's in the way, and how to move forward with traction. Starting the Journey: Enneagram Navigator → Stop guessing your type. In this 1:1 session, get clarity on your motivations and blind spots. Ready to Dive In: Joyosity™ Intensive → A one-day transformative experience to realign with your values and build a practical plan for joyful leadership. A Party for More: Bring Jenn & the Joy to Speak → Bring the spark (not just the spark notes!) to your whole team with contagious joy, practical tools, and plenty of laughter. Loved this episode? Rate, review, and share with a fellow leader who's ready to ditch the drama and lead with more joy, curiosity, and clarity.

Inside, they explore: → The profound realization that stopped her body from conceiving: "I'm terrified to be a mother like my mother had been"→ How following intuitive nudges (even when they don't make logical sense) changed the entire trajectory of her life→ Why premarital coaching at 23 was the catalyst for decades of transformative personal growth→ The sacred travel experience in Ireland that unlocked this truth: "You are a woman whether you have a child or not"→ How our bodies hold stress and old stories—and what it takes to release them→ The biggest code to dismantle: "To be a good mom means you put your children first, then your spouse, then work—and you're last"→ Why there's no "one right way" to mother (and how liberating that truth can be)→ What self-mothering actually looks like (hint: it doesn't always require money or time—it requires permission)→ How generational wiring convinces us we don't deserve rest, help, or prioritizing ourselves→ The travel soccer story: what one mom's "no" taught about triggers, choices, and rewriting family values→ Why mothering is a process we can all cultivate—whether we're raising children, building businesses, or nurturing creative work→ How the nervous system shapes the way we show up in relationships (and why regulating it matters)→ The power of choosing yourself—even when it feels selfish, even when it's uncomfortableDr. Lyons also opens up about her own regret for "leaving herself out" during her daughters' teenage years, the doctoral work that led to her book, and why she now leads immersive retreats in Mexico and Ireland to help women flex their self-mothering muscles.This conversation will make you pause, reflect, and breathe a little deeper. It's for anyone who's ever felt torn between caring for others and caring for themselves—and ready to rewrite the code. Resources & Links: Connect with Dr. Gertrude Lyons:→ Website: www.drgertrudelyons.com→ Instagram: @rewritethemothercode→ Instagram: @drgertrudelyons→ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rewritethemothercode→ Book: Decoding the Mother Code (available wherever books are sold, including audiobook)→ TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9ZF8JKIDY→ Substack: Rewrite the Mother Code (https://gertrudelyons.substack.com/) → Podcast: Rewrite the Mother Code (https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/podcast) → Oprah Daily Article by Kristen McGinnis: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/wholeness/a68888423/self-mothering-reparenting/→ Complimentary 30-Minute Coaching Discovery Call (for listeners): https://calendly.com/drgertrudelyons/complimentary-free-coaching-session Mentioned in This Episode:→ Nicole Sachs's work on nervous system regulation and pain→ Dr. Lyons's immersive experiences and retreats in Mexico and Ireland Connect with Albiona:→ Book a Free Discovery Call (1:1 Coaching) - https://www.theparentingreframe.com/coaching→ Follow Albiona on Instagram - @theparentingreframe→ Join Albiona's Paid Substack Community - https://theparentingreframe.substack.com Loved this episode? Please rate, review, and share it with a mom who's struggling to prioritize herself, a woman who's questioning her choices, or anyone learning to mother themselves first. We're all unlearning the codes we inherited and discovering what it means to truly care for ourselves—so we can show up whole for everything and everyone we love. Until next time,Albiona

In this episode of The End in Mind, I'm joined by LauraAura — keynote speaker, personal growth coach, and host of The Gutsy Podcast. LauraAura shares what really happens when women outgrow the businesses and lives they once worked so hard to build, and why hesitation is often a sign that something more aligned is calling.We talk about why clarity doesn't come from overplanning, how perfectionism and fear keep women stuck, and what it actually takes to trust yourself enough to move forward. LauraAura opens up about selling her branding agency after 16 years, listening to her body's signals, and rebuilding a career rooted in purpose, freedom, and courage.This conversation is for anyone who feels restless, uninspired, or quietly called toward something bigger — but isn't sure how to take the next step without burning everything down.Connect with LauraAura:- Website: https://lauraaura.com/- Podcast: https://www.thegutsypodcast.com/*Loved this episode?*Share it with a friend who's ready to stop settling, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram (@meraki_media_management) to let me know what resonated most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fr. Ryan preached this homily on January 27, 2025. The readings are from 2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19, Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10 & Mark 3:31-35. — Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

Topics discussed: After beating the Broncos on Sunday, is the Patriots “soft schedule” / “fool's gold” narrative FINALLY dead? // Reacting to Drake Maye's performance on Sunday; did he play a "good" football game? // Patriots callers voice their support and excitement for the team's 12th Super Bowl appearance // Why Christian Gonzalez + the Patriots defense are playing with chips on their shoulders // Despite many others complaining, Andy Hart maintains that he LOVED the weather in Denver on Sunday // Debating whether Bo Nix would've beaten the Patriots after Jarrett Stidham struggles on Sunday // Former Patriots' QB Brian Hoyer breaks down the details of Drake Maye's game-winning bootleg play // Did Patriots' QB Drake Maye hurt his shoulder in yesterday's game against the Broncos? // Three Point Stance, The Drive, Odds and Ends + more!

In this groundbreaking episode recorded live at the Eudemonia Summit, Gabrielle Bernstein joins forces with Columbia University neuroscientist and The Awakened Brain author Dr. Lisa Miller to reveal the scientific proof behind manifestation and spiritual connection. Together, they bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and cutting-edge neuroscience, explaining how a spiritual life physically restructures the brain through the "bonding network"—the same neurological circuit that allows us to feel safe, held, and guided by the Universe. You'll discover why shifting your "Ventral Attention Network" from a state of control to one of receptivity is the biological secret to manifesting fast. Featuring powerful experiential practices this deep dive provides the ultimate evidence that you are biologically wired for miracles and never alone on your journey.Try Gabrielle's FREE magnetic energy meditation to supercharge your attracting powers http://bit.ly/40gOfueJoin the 21-Day Trust the Universe Challenge to strengthen your faith and surrender control https://bit.ly/4lK34OpRead Gabrielle's #1 NYT Bestselling book: Self Help: This Is Your Chance to Change Your Life. http://bit.ly/4j1asmARead Dr. Lisa Miller's book: The Awakened Brain https://amzn.to/49wNYIwThis talk was filmed at the Eudemonia Summit, find out more: http://bit.ly/4sEBw10If you feel you need additional support, please consult this list of safety, recovery, and mental health resources.Disclaimer: This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and support you on your personal journey towards inner peace. I am not a psychologist or a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any psychological or medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If your life looks good on paper but feels flat, this is for you.Many of us follow the rules, build what appear to be successful lives, and still sense something essential is missing. That feeling sends us on a chase for more meaning or purpose, impact and clarity. But, what if the way we seek them is all wrong, and actually makes us less happy, content and alive, not more?In today's conversation, we explore a radically different way to think about meaning, one rooted in aliveness, presence, and becoming rather than achievement, impact, mattering, or outcomes.My partner in conversation is Dave Evans, the coauthor of the New York Times number one bestseller Designing Your Life, cofounder of the Stanford Life Design Lab, and author of the new book How to Live a Meaningful Life. I've known Dave for years now, and he's spent decades helping people redesign work, identity, and daily living in ways that feel deeply human.In this episode, you'll discover:Why fulfillment and impact often become dead ends rather than answersA simple shift that helps you feel more alive without changing your circumstancesFour overlooked sources of meaning that most people rarely accessHow to move fluidly between getting things done and actually being presentA practical way to experience wonder, flow, coherence, and connection in everyday momentsIf you've ever wondered why a life that looks good can still feel unsatisfying, this conversation offers a grounded and hopeful reframe. Press play to explore a more livable path to meaning.You can find Dave at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversations we had with Dan Pink about regret, reflection, and using inner signals to guide a more meaningful life.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Press play on this Best of Be Still and Be Loved episode and allow your mind to slow down to match the pace of your body. In this gentle scripture meditation, Aaron guides you into a place of rest, helping you sit with God's Word and be strengthened by the hope found in Him. Today's meditation centers on Colossians 1, reminding us that hope is not passive—it is alive, rooted in heaven, and bears fruit in our lives. This episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, release what you're holding, and be filled again. What to Expect in This Episode: • A slow, soothing introduction to resting in God's presence • Extended moments of silence for deep breathing and awareness • Gentle prompts to notice and release mental, emotional, and physical tension • Reflective reading and meditation on Colossians 1 • Space to receive the strengthening hope of heaven Let this time of stillness help you begin your day—or your week—rested, rooted, and bearing the fruit of hope.

Are you struggling with feelings of inferiority? Has your self-esteem been crushed by a soured relationship or job loss? Chip shares how you can rise above those feelings of inferiority and a low self-esteem to experience God's love for you like never before.Distorted mirrors destroy our lives:The Appearance MirrorThe Performance MirrorThe Status MirrorThesis – Until we see ourselves as God sees us, we are destined to FEEL INFERIOR.3 keys to a Biblical self-image:1. Get God's View of You = KNOWLEDGEYou are significant because:You're UNIQUE -Gen 1:27, Ps 139:13-14You're LOVED -1 Sam 16:7, Jer 31:3You're VALUABLE -1 Cor 6:19-20You're SECURE -Eph 1:13You're INDISPENSIBLE -Eph 2:10, 4:15-162. Believe God's View is True = FAITHFaith is built on God's Word -Rom 10:17Faith grows through mind renewal -Rom 12:2Develop a plan to remove the distorted mirrors of the world with the mirror of God's Word -Jam 1:22-243. Discover the “You” that's True = EXPERIENCEUnwrap your SPIRITUAL GIFTS -1 Cor 12, Rom 12Unleash your SPIRITUAL PASSION -Ps 37:4Use your God-given TALENTS -Ex 31:3Embrace your God-given PERSONALITY -1 Cor 2:11Leverage your past EXPERIENCE -Rom 8:28Ministry is how God makes what's true “of” us, true “in” us. Sometimes it's only in the act of “loving others: that we can fathom that we ourselves are loved!Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookDaily Discipleship - Psalms of HopeBOOK: "The Strong and the Weak" by Paul TournierConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

So much to unpack with this week's episodes! We discuss Frost and Lizzie's budding romance on both Med and Fire, what we think will happen with Ripley and Lennox, Stellaride's big conversation, the disappointing storyline with Vasquez's dad, how much we LOVED this this Torres episode and more. News: 2:08 Med: 20:05 Fire: 56:49 PD: 1:40:00 As always, we want to hear what you think; make sure you are following us on X (@meetusatmollys), or email us at meetusatmollys@gmail.com to continue the discussion. Our inbox is always open and a safe space for you all to share your thoughts and feelings.

In this deeply bitter sweet episode, I'm sharing what's been on my heart as I return from maternity leave and step into a new season. One that's asking for greater clarity, deeper discernment, and a willingness to let go of what no longer aligns. Like many high-performing entrepreneurs, I've felt the fatigue that comes from constantly creating, pushing, and producing without pause. And in this space of reflection, I've realized: true leadership requires space.That's why I've made the decision to take a sabbatical from the podcast. Not from the mission, not from the calling, but from the pace. This pause is making room for authorship, family, and the next evolution of how I'm meant to lead and serve. I'm still here, still guiding visionary founders through the Your Big Next Operating System, and I'll be back when it's time.My hope is that this episode gives you permission to reflect on what you may need to release, realign, or reimagine. Sometimes the most strategic move is a sacred pause. And when we make room, the right next thing always finds us.Resources from this episode:Your Big Next - The Book is Coming SOON! https://www.yourbignextbook.com Join My Email List to Stay in Touch https://luminaryleadershipco.com/insiderThe Big Next Operating System https://luminaryleadershipco.com/operatingsystemSubscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@elizhartkeShow notes: https://luminaryleadershipco.com/episode311Connect with me:Website: https://luminaryleadershipco.com/If there's a topic, a question or a guest you want to hear on the show or an idea you have for us, just reach out and share that at marketing@luminaryleadershipco.com. We'd love to chat!Connect with me on Instagram!Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here!

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview Many shop owners lead with good intentions, but being nice instead of kind can quietly create resentment, burnout, and instability in a retail business. In this episode, I'm exploring a distinction that quietly shapes many retail businesses: the difference between being nice and being kind. While niceness can feel good in the moment, it often leads to avoidance, resentment, and exhaustion over time. Kind leadership, by contrast, is clear, fair, and professional, and it supports long term trust and sustainability. I'll walk you through how this shows up in real retail situations, including team management, pricing decisions, inventory buying, customer boundaries, and personal time and energy. These are everyday moments where shop owners often default to being nice, even when it costs them their boundaries. You'll come away with a clearer understanding of how leading with kindness protects your business, your team, and YOU, and how small shifts in leadership can reduce burnout and resentment. Our Key Topics The difference between being nice and being kind in retail leadership How niceness shows up with staff, feedback, and underperformance Pricing decisions, discounting, and apologizing for prices Inventory buying influenced by customers, reps, or fear of disappointing others Customer boundaries, policies, and professionalism Time, energy, and the cost of always saying yes The Difference Between Nice and Kind in Leadership Being nice often avoids conflict but creates long term resentment and burnout. Kind leadership is clear, consistent, and professional, even when conversations are hard. Proper pricing and margins are an act of kindness to your business and its future. Boundaries with staff and customers create fairness and predictability. Saying 'no' in the right moments protects your energy and your role as leader.   "Kind leadership will not ask you to sacrifice yourself." -Wendy Batten Your next step? Notice one place this week where being kind, not just nice, could change how you lead and how your business feels. Available Resources: Back-of-the-Napkin Profit Calculator (Profit Planning Masterclass) A simple, approachable way to understand your core retail numbers without overwhelm or complicated spreadsheets. Retail Sales & Marketing Accelerator (On-Demand)A practical course designed to help shop owners stop guessing and start making clearer, data-informed decisions around sales and marketing. Join my Love List!   Episode 155: Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing Rest: The Key to Sustainable Growth   Episode 185: Avoid Burnout with Guest Expert Dr. Ashley Margeson About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven't met…I'm Wendy Batten. I've been a small business owner, coach, and mentor for over 25 years. I help thoughtful, established entrepreneurs step into their role as CEO and build businesses that are profitable, meaningful, and supportive of the lives they want to live. My work blends real-world strategy with a life-first philosophy, shaped by lived experience, not theory. I've been there! Through honest conversations and practical insight, I invite you into bigger thinking about leadership, possibility, and how to build both business and life on purpose. For more support from Wendy Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG All of Wendy's current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.  Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Creative Shop Talk Podcast and get the tools, inspiration, and strategies you need to thrive as an independent retailer.Click here to subscribe to iTunes!  Loved the episode? Leave a quick review on iTunes- your reviews help other retailers find my podcast, and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield breaks down why studio owners don't need more systems - they need the right ones. If running your Pilates studio or boutique fitness business feels overwhelming, chaotic, or overly dependent on you, this episode reveals how systemizing just 20% of your business can free up 80% of your time, energy, and mental bandwidth. Seran shares the three high-leverage areas that create the biggest shift - your client journey, internal operations, and team delegation - so your studio can run smoothly without you doing everything. This episode is a must-listen for Pilates, barre, and yoga studio owners who want a profitable, streamlined business that supports their life instead of consuming it.Got a question for Seran? Add it here

Do I need social media to have a successful business?That is a question I am sure you ask yourself every time you have to sit down and post to socials. While yes, social media can play a huge role in marketing your small business, I am here to tell you - you have options. In this episode of The Content Queen Podcast I am giving you 3 things you can do instead of relying just on socials. If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share this on your Instagram stories and tag us @contentqueenmariah⁠⁠⁠LEARN THE DETAILS OF A CONTENT STRATEGY WITH MY FREE AUDIO GUIDE⁠⁠⁠KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

In this episode, I'm naming the reality many of us are living in right now...the outrage, grief, fatigue, fear, etc., but my intention isn't to feed the spiral that keeps us stuck, overwhelmed, and disconnected from our own lives.This episode isn't about ignoring the world or bypassing harm, I want this to be an invitation into discernment.A reminder that your attention is precious, your nervous system matters and your wholeness is worth protecting.If you've been feeling overwhelmed by everything that's happening out there and disconnected from what matters in here, this conversation is for you.Resources Mentioned & Show Notes Confident Woman Glow is where personal growth gets practical.We talk self trust, boundaries, identity, healing, and courage so you can stop second guessing yourself and start making choices you respect. Hosted by Mo James, Confidence Coach. Join Glow Circle on Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cw/ConfidenceCoachingforHer Camille is your AI confidence coach and on-demand agent of support. Camille was created to help you build trust in yourself, unpack your thoughts, and remind you of your power—anytime you need it.Learn more or start chatting → camilleai.net The Inner Strength Journal helps you recognize that sneaky voice of fear, pretending and performing so you can choose authenticity and courage instead. Because you deserve to live a life that's truly YOU.Your favorite version of you is waiting to be discovered, buy your copy today -– https://www.innerstrengthjournal.com.  Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or tag us with your thoughts. Remember, the safe bet is always you. Connect Elsewhere:www.confidencecoachingforher.comIG/Threads: @confidencecoachingforherFB: confidencecoaching4her

Tabitha Brown reveals the prayer that changed everything: "God, if you heal me, you can have me."After battling chronic illness for a year and seven months, she made a choice that terrified her, to stop pretending and start living as her authentic self. The transformation didn't just heal her body. It cost her friendships, tested her marriage, and forced her to walk away from the version of herself she'd spent decades creating.On the other side of that bathroom prayer, she found something more valuable than any acting role or endorsement deal: freedom. Her journey from conforming in corporate America and Hollywood to building a multimedia empire on authenticity proves that when you finally stop performing for approval, abundance finds you. The path forward starts with one question you need to ask yourself today: What mask are you wearing, and what would happen if you took it off?Tabitha's books:Cooking from the SpiritFeeding the Soul (Because It's My Business)Seen, Loved and Heard: A Guided Journal for Feeding the SoulI Did a New ThingHello There, SunshineIn this episode you will:Learn the signs of confirmation that keep appearing in your life and what they're trying to tell you about your purposeBreak through the fear of losing relationships when you step into your truth and understand why some people can't come with youDiscover why habitual prayer kept you stuck and how to shift into true connection that transforms your realityUncover the difference between dreams deposited inside you and goals you create, and why only one will let you restMaster the practice of obedience over sacrifice and why choosing the harder path now creates the easier life laterFor more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1880For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960More SOG episodes we think you'll love:Lewis HowesToby RobbinsDr. Daniel Amen Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Isaac found great consolation in his Mormon faith, but years of reading, talking, and studying made him have second thoughts. Ultimately, he had to ask himself: is this true, and why or why not? Isaac Hess joins the show to discuss his conversion process, growing ever-deeper into the heart of Christ.Reach out to Isaac: ldstocatholic@gmail.comFollow his new Substack: isaachess.substack.comNEW: Check out our Merch store! https://shop.lilaroseshow.com/Join our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Brave+: Screen Time Made Good - Get a week free trial at https://braveplus.com/lila-EveryLife: https://www.everylife.com Buy diapers from an amazing pro-life diaper company and use code LILA to get 10% off!-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee and Save up to 25% with promo code 'LILA' & get a free gift: http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com-Hallow: https://www.hallow.com/lila Enter into prayer more deeply this season with the Hallow App, get 3 months free by using this link to sign up! 00:02:33 - Intro00:03:09 - Mormon Baptism00:06:20 - Growing up Mormon00:15:04 - His Mormon Mission00:21:08 - Where did the early church ‘go wrong'?00:24:35 - Who was Joseph Smith?00:36:07 - First Joseph Smith bio from non-LDS member00:37:09 - Was Joseph Smith a prophet?00:43:33 - Polygamy 00:56:13 - Joseph's wives01:09:34 - Spiritual Experiences as a Mormon?01:18:13 - Discovering Traditional Christianity01:23:46 - Getting challenged by his brother01:32:49 - Historical Problems in Mormonism01:36:14 - Joseph Smith vs King David01:37:03 - How to interpret prophets01:48:26 - Is Book of Mormon legit?01:58:22 - Why Catholic instead of Orthodox?02:03:55 - Early Church Disagreements02:11:24 - Was the Great Schism justified?02:15:33 - Journey into Catholicism02:18:37 - Protestant vs Catholic baptism?02:30:51 - Life as a Catholic

Do you like who you are? When you look in the mirror do you like what you see? Or do you wish you were a little taller, or a little stronger, or a bit thinner? When you think about you, do you like yourself or do you struggle with feelings of inferiority? Chip shares three keys to developing a positive, healthy self-image.Distorted mirrors destroy our lives:The Appearance MirrorThe Performance MirrorThe Status MirrorThesis – Until we see ourselves as God sees us, we are destined to FEEL INFERIOR.3 keys to a Biblical self-image:1. Get God's View of You = KNOWLEDGEYou are significant because:You're UNIQUE -Gen 1:27, Ps 139:13-14You're LOVED -1 Sam 16:7, Jer 31:3You're VALUABLE -1 Cor 6:19-20You're SECURE -Eph 1:13You're INDISPENSIBLE -Eph 2:10, 4:15-162. Believe God's View is True = FAITHFaith is built on God's Word -Rom 10:17Faith grows through mind renewal -Rom 12:2Develop a plan to remove the distorted mirrors of the world with the mirror of God's Word -Jam 1:22-243. Discover the “You” that's True = EXPERIENCEUnwrap your SPIRITUAL GIFTS -1 Cor 12, Rom 12Unleash your SPIRITUAL PASSION -Ps 37:4Use your God-given TALENTS -Ex 31:3Embrace your God-given PERSONALITY -1 Cor 2:11Leverage your past EXPERIENCE -Rom 8:28Ministry is how God makes what's true “of” us, true “in” us. Sometimes it's only in the act of “loving others: that we can fathom that we ourselves are loved!Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookDaily Discipleship - Psalms of HopeBOOK: "The Strong and the Weak" by Paul TournierConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Do you like who you are? When you look in the mirror do you like what you see? Or do you wish you were a little taller, or a little stronger, or a bit thinner? When you think about you, do you like yourself or do you struggle with feelings of inferiority? Chip shares three keys to developing a positive, healthy self-image.Distorted mirrors destroy our lives:The Appearance MirrorThe Performance MirrorThe Status MirrorThesis – Until we see ourselves as God sees us, we are destined to FEEL INFERIOR.3 keys to a Biblical self-image:1. Get God's View of You = KNOWLEDGEYou are significant because:You're UNIQUE -Gen 1:27, Ps 139:13-14You're LOVED -1 Sam 16:7, Jer 31:3You're VALUABLE -1 Cor 6:19-20You're SECURE -Eph 1:13You're INDISPENSIBLE -Eph 2:10, 4:15-162. Believe God's View is True = FAITHFaith is built on God's Word -Rom 10:17Faith grows through mind renewal -Rom 12:2Develop a plan to remove the distorted mirrors of the world with the mirror of God's Word -Jam 1:22-243. Discover the “You” that's True = EXPERIENCEUnwrap your SPIRITUAL GIFTS -1 Cor 12, Rom 12Unleash your SPIRITUAL PASSION -Ps 37:4Use your God-given TALENTS -Ex 31:3Embrace your God-given PERSONALITY -1 Cor 2:11Leverage your past EXPERIENCE -Rom 8:28Ministry is how God makes what's true “of” us, true “in” us. Sometimes it's only in the act of “loving others: that we can fathom that we ourselves are loved!Broadcast ResourceDownload MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsI Choose Love BookDaily Discipleship - Psalms of HopeBOOK: "The Strong and the Weak" by Paul TournierConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Get a copy of the MM Companion Journal: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/journal ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

It's said, pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. But, is that true? Many of us live our lives in pursuit of certainty, believing that if we could just get things more stable - emotionally, financially, relationally - then we'd finally feel at ease. We wouldn't struggle with anxiety, stress, and fear. we wouldn't suffer so much. Problem is, that approach often deepens our suffering, rather than relieves it. Maybe you've felt this very thing.In this powerful episode on healing and resilience and how to relieve suffering, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Suzan Song, a Harvard- and Stanford-trained psychiatrist and humanitarian researcher. Dr. Song has spent decades working with individuals and communities living through profound instability, revealing a gentler, more honest reframe: healing, lessening suffering, doesn't come from chasing certainty and stability, but from learning how to relate differently to the inevitability of pain, uncertainty, and change.In this conversation, discover:Why pain is inevitable, but suffering often grows from the stories we tell.The hidden role of our nervous system and memory in shaping our experience of hardship.The power of ritual—not as performance, but as a path to emotional grounding and resilience.What purpose really is, and why it's often already present, woven into our lives through mattering.How genuine healing happens in relationship, not in isolation, transforming our approach to mental health.This is an invitation to stop blaming yourself for not feeling satisfied, let go of suffering, and remember that you don't have to navigate life's instabilities alone. Sometimes, relief comes not from doing more, but from allowing yourself to feel everything, then learn how to live with the truth of uncertainty in a world that will never stop changing.You can find Suzan at: Website | Linkedin | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversations we had with Adam Grant about rethinking beliefs and inner patterns.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we speak with Adam Klauber, Chief Sustainability Officer at World Energy, who has been at the forefront of developing book and claim mechanisms for sustainable aviation fuel since its earliest days.He discusses:The co-claims approach: Why aviation needed to diverge from renewable electricity market models by enabling both airlines (scope 1) and their corporate customers (scope 3) to claim emissions reductions from the same SAF molecules, unlocking new sources of funding.What it took to get early deals done: How some of the earliest SAF buyers like Microsoft moved before the supporting infrastructure was fully in place, including clear registries and standardised accounting rules, and why that early willingness mattered.Insetting vs offsetting: The moral hazard of buying cheap offsets outside aviation, and how insetting addresses this while maintaining economic efficiency.Making SAF contracts “bankable”: How long-term commitments from credible corporate buyers can help producers secure debt capital at lower interest rates, thereby lowering financing costs and easing the SAF price premium over time.Building market infrastructure that benefits the whole sector: Why World Energy deliberately builds frameworks that benefit competitors, recognising that growing the overall SAF market serves everyone's interests and that no single company wins with only a trickle of supply.If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversation we had with Gene Gebolys, founder and CEO of World Energy, who delves into the intricacies and future of SAF. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry's challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air: Volume 2'. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:World EnergyBlueprints for Bankability - RMI Re-thinking the blueprint for financing SAF - SimpliFlyingEfficient, effective decarbonization with carbon insets - World Energy  

In today's episode, Keshia Rice calls out a hard truth: many women say they want a loving, healthy relationship, but they are often unwilling or unable to truly receive and hold love. While many high-achieving women may have it all together in their careers and personal lives, the same patterns of giving without receiving hold them back from attracting the love they desire. Keshia dives deep into how feminine energy requires both the ability to receive love and to hold it and how many women unintentionally block this capacity.   What You'll Learn... The two core components of feminine energy that attract love: receiving and holding Why many women struggle to accept love, compliments, and attention How churches and cultural conditioning may reinforce patterns of giving without receiving   Need Support Along the Way? Keshia's coaching program From Toxic to Thriving is open now. If you're ready to heal your love blocks and meet your purpose partner with clarity and confidence, apply today. Click here: https://keshiarice.com/from-toxic-to-thriving-coaching-program/   Connect with Keshia:

Imagine traveling down a sheet of ice at 90mph when your bobsled flips over and you slam your head into the ice wall. Meet William Person, 9 year member of the US Olympic bobsledding team. Join us as he shares his journey from college track and field, mental health advocate, member of the US Olympic bobsledding team to brain injury survivor and advocate. He saw first hand how untreated brain injuries devastate not only athletes but also military veterans and their families. William spent years in agony due to his repeated concussions. He only found relief when he began Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. His message is simple, “If your loved one is doing something that's out of the norm, get them checked out!” Individuals with CTEs do not see how their behavior impacts those around them. Loved ones do. Guest Social Media Info - https://www.instagram.com/willp1234567?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#https://www.facebook.com/william.person.792233/ https://www.facebook.com/one.man.with.a.chamber.hbot Send us a textSupport the showYou can find this episode's transcript here.New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Today, I take you into Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna shifts the spotlight from what you do to how you are being when you do it. This is the heart of Karma Yoga — acting in the world without clinging to the outcome. We unpack the powerful metaphor of the lotus leaf (living in the world, untouched), explore the nature of witness consciousness, and look at what it really means to "renounce" in a modern world. 

The post Hurt people hurt people, but loved people love people. appeared first on Key Life.

Deconstruction can feel like freedom… until the relief wears off.In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock talk honestly about what really changes after deconstruction — and what often doesn't. Because many of us have shifted our beliefs about God, the Bible, hell, the devil, and faith… but still find ourselves stuck in the same emotional patterns we learned in the system we left.You might think differently now… but still feel anxious, responsible, pressured, or lonely.In this conversation, you'll hear:

Personality tools were meant to create clarity—not shame. So why do so many leaders leave personality conversations feeling worse? In this episode, Jenn tackles one of the most misunderstood leadership tools out there and makes a bold claim: your personality isn't the problem—misusing is. If you've ever wondered, “Is my personality the thing holding me back?”—this episode is for you. Continuing the New Year, New Opening mini-series, Jenn reframes personality awareness as a leadership skill—not a fix-yourself project. She explains how strengths get weaponized under pressure, why self-awareness without self-disclosure backfires, and how tools like the Enneagram can cultivate trust, clarity, and joy when used well. This is a shame-free, practical conversation for leaders who want to stop fighting their wiring and start leading from it. Here's What's in the Episode: 2:44 You don't need to fix yourself to be a great leader. 7:40 Strengths don't disappear with fear and pressure. But they do warp into weakness. 10:28 Personality awareness can become self-centeredness if you misuse it. 12:30 How to avoid "checkbox leadership" that oversimplifies complex people. 13:56 The three rules of the road to avoid misusing personality tools as a leader. Key Takeaway You don't need a new personality. You need awareness of how yours behaves under pressure. About the Host: Jenn Whitmer Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces. Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose. Her book Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbooks offer leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results. Resources & Links: Get Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbook Joyosity: How to Cultivate Intense Happiness in Work & Life (Even If Things Are What They Are) Joy isn't extra. Joy is how you thrive. This book gives leaders the tools to turn exhaustion into resilience and build cultures where work is a joy, people are whole, and organizations flourish. Joyosity Works Playbook: Practical Plays and Strategies for Joy at Work and Beyond is the official companion workbook to Joyosity to help you practice joy every day. Find links to purchase at https://jennwhitmer.com/books or you may even see it in the airport this month. Free 99: Episode 120 and 122 of the Joyosity™ Podcast → The New Year Trope Leaders Keep Believing Joyosity Explorer Map → This map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan: Joyosity™ Jumpstart → Get crystal clear on what you want, what's in the way, and how to move forward with traction. Starting the Journey: Enneagram Navigator → Stop guessing your type. In this 1:1 session, get clarity on your motivations and blind spots. Ready to Dive In: Joyosity™ Intensive → A one-day transformative experience to realign with your values and build a practical plan for joyful leadership. A Party for More: Bring Jenn & the Joy to Speak → Bring the spark (not just the spark notes!) to your whole team with contagious joy, practical tools, and plenty of laughter. Loved this episode? Rate, review, and share with a fellow leader who's ready to ditch the drama and lead with more joy, curiosity, and clarity.

The WHO and WHY of podcasting are important, but you have to get them in the correct order.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Lunch-Time Confessions highlights something Nick Caserio did that genuinely warmed the OG's heart.

In today's deep dive, every year, Illinois students vote on the Readers' Choice Awards for the books they loved the most. 

The WHO and WHY of podcasting are important, but you have to get them in the correct order.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @Marladiann What if your next adventure wasn't just a vacation—but a sacred return to yourself? The theme of this episode: "My guest booked a One-Way Ticket to Herself—and Never Looked Back." In this heartfelt and energetic episode of Follow Your Joy, I'm joined by Lisa Schoenthal—storyteller, retreat leader, and soulful founder of Breath of Freedom—a movement for women ready to release the performance, claim their truth, and live in liberated, beautiful alignment. Lisa's journey is anything but ordinary. From high-pressure event sales to flight attendant at 47 to now curating transformational retreats in Mexico and beyond, Lisa shares how following her intuition (and a few unexpected soul nudges) led to the work she was always meant to do. Inside this episode: Lisa's personal story of burnout, travel, and rebirth that led to writing her book The Men We Meet Behind the scenes of what really happens at her retreats—and why women leave forever changed How storytelling, movement, and sisterhood become catalysts for healing and joy The trip that changed her life—and sparked her entire body of work Why intuition—not logic—is her business strategy Her advice to creative, ambitious women who are done with hustle and ready for deeper fulfillment This is a love letter to the woman who's craving connection, freedom, and a community that sees her. Lisa's community, retreats, and podcast can be found below: Resources + Links: www.breathoffreedom.comhttps://www.facebook.com/LisaSchoenthalTransformationalMentor https://www.instagram.com/lisa_schoenthal_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-schoenthal-transformationalmentor   Portal of Joy Gifts: https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/ Lisa's Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery and Transformation-your invitation to slow down, tune in, and rediscover your magic. Her next 90-day Soul-Led Next Level Portal begins on January 28 2026. Curious? Book your Soul-Led-Next-Chapter Call: https://tinyurl.com/soul-led-call Loved this episode? Don't stop here, unlock the tools, resources, and free downloads mentioned during the episode. Click here to access the portal of joy. https://marladiann.com/podcast/portal/

On this week's episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete and Chris are holed up in a fancy hotel room ahead of a Hollywood-style chat with none other than John Bishop. From ball boy chaos at Watford to AFCON towel-gate madness, the lads kick things off with some classic football nonsense before diving into an incredible life story.John opens up about the sliding doors moment that changed everything - missing Istanbul, walking away from a secure job, and somehow ending up with a Hollywood film based on his life, directed by Bradley Cooper. We hear how stand-up comedy nearly went wrong in front of the England squad, what it takes to win over a hostile room, and why being relaxed might be the most powerful weapon of all.There's Liverpool chat, Anfield directors' box madness, iconic songs making their way into movies, and a reminder that football - just like life - can turn on one tiny moment. Plus, awkward hotel goodbyes, junket disasters, and proof that ball boys are officially on one.As always, let us know in the comments - what's your biggest sliding doors moment?00:00 - Hotel room chaos and setting the scene02:10 - Crouchy's “ultra-professional” car collection story04:45 - Why golf is boring… until it isn't06:05 - Watford vs Millwall and the ball boy disaster08:00 - AFCON final madness and towel-gate10:30 - Introducing John Bishop13:45 - How a film about John Bishop even happened16:25 - Bradley Cooper gets involved18:45 - How true the film is to John's real life20:05 - John Bishop vs the England dressing room24:10 - The art of winning a hostile crowd26:40 - Growing up a Liverpool fan30:15 - Sitting in the Anfield directors' box33:30 - The Liverpool song moment in the film40:05 - Istanbul, missed finals and sliding doors46:20 - Could John Bishop do stand-up for England again?49:10 - Awkward goodbyes and junket chaos51:40 - Butterfly effects and career-defining momentsThis episode is sponsored by The AA, the UK's No.1 breakdown provider. It's OK with the AA, they're the fastest major breakdown provider with more patrols up and down the country, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, if you want that peace of mind and be back on the road in no time - Join today at theaa.com/crouch T&Cs apply. Verify claims at theaa.com/bestFollow our Clips page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLNBLB3xr3LyiyAkhZEtiAA For more Peter Crouch: Twitter - https://twitter.com/petercrouch Therapy Crouch - https://www.youtube.com/@thetherapycrouch For more Chris Stark Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chris_StarkInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisstark/For more Steve Sidwell Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjsidwell Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevesidwell14 #PeterCrouch #ThatPeterCrouchPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bob DeMarco returns with another year-end roundup on The Knife Junkie Podcast, counting down his favorite folding knives from 2025. After covering his top fixed blades last week, this episode focuses on the folders that earned the most pocket time throughout the year. From tactical self-defense designs to classic patterns with sentimental value, this list covers the full range of what makes a great folding knife.The episode begins with community feedback and a pocket check featuring the Cuda Maxx 5.5, Jack Wolf Knives Timber Jack, Brock Blades Magni XL, and Work Tuff Gear Steadfast L. Bob also discusses the classic Case Trapper. He shares his experience finally putting his MoraKniv carbon steel fixed blade to work. The Knife Life News segment covers new releases from Sencut, the return of the Bareknuckle, and the Stealth Fighter-inspired Zero Tolerance ZT0117.The main event features folders that stood out in 2025. The list includes the Cold Steel Rajah 3, Kansept Bison, JW Kollab Tango, DC Blades Sting, Buck Range Elite, North Mountain Blade BBMN, Kansept Deadite, Manganas Steel Aurelia, a vintage Buck 112 Ranger with serious history, and the Cold Steel Mayhem. Each knife earned its spot through real-world carry and use, not just initial impressions.Bob shares honest thoughts on what worked and what surprised him throughout the year. Some knives delivered exactly what he expected, while others exceeded all predictions. The Manganas Aurelia claimed top honors as his favorite folder of the year, while the vintage Buck 112 from his friend Mike carried emotional weight that goes beyond materials and design. Whether you prefer tactical folders, classic patterns, or modern designs, this list offers something worth considering.Watch the full video to see all these knives in action and hear detailed discussions about blade grinds, materials, and what makes each folder special. This episode demonstrates that the most reliable knife reviews come from actual use over time, providing viewers with the information they need to make informed decisions about their next purchase.Find the list of all the knives shown in the show and links to the Knife Life news stories at https://theknifejunkie.com/652. Support the Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives. You can also support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details. Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also email theknifejunkie@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions. To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use our podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

In today's episode, we sit down for a deeply honest and hope-filled conversation about what it looks like to trust God when life takes an unexpected and heartbreaking turn. Tveen Verano shares her journey of walking through her son's cancer diagnosis… not from a place of having it all figured out, but through surrender, grief, and steadfast faith. This conversation is a reminder that faith doesn't always look pretty or put together. That sometimes it looks like showing up and clinging to Jesus, even when the outcome is uncertain. In this episode, we talk about: what it means to grieve and yet still have hope how God meets us in the valley, not just on the mountaintop learning to anchor our hope in Christ rather than in outcomes wrestling honestly with fear, waiting, and unanswered prayers encouragement for anyone who is barely hanging on Whether you're a mom walking through a diagnosis, someone facing unexpected hardship, or simply in a season where faith feels heavy: this episode is for you. You are not alone sister, and Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is near to the brokenhearted. Connect with Tveen Verano: Follow Tveen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tveenverano.rd/ Loved this episode? If this conversation encouraged you: share it with a friend or your spouse leave a review to help other couples find it subscribe so you don't miss future conversations My prayer is that this episode is a reminder to you that even in your most difficult chapters, God is still writing out your story.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are back on our Game of Thrones bs and fully hyped for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms! Loved the first episode so much and had so much fun chatting about it. Dunk and Egg have always been close to our hearts so we were a little nervous for this series. Especially since it is such a smaller scope. Join us as we talk about the poo poo and the dancing! This first episode will be free for everyone on this Cast of Thrones feed but the rest of the season will be on patreon.com/Contenthole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The post Have you ever been loved enough to really love? appeared first on Key Life.

Welcome back to another special episode of WYHA! This week, we're pumped to be enjoyed by Slick Mick - otherwise known as Mick Maio from Love Island. Anna and Matt have known Mick for a while and HAD to get him in to give all the Love Island goss and peel back the layers to get to know the real Mick away from the rolling cameras and mics. Mick talks us through everything you missed in the Love Island villa, what the cast got up to after the show stopped filming and where he stands with the cast now - this is a goodie and we LOVED having Mick on. Can't wait to chat next episode xSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A homicide investigation is currently in progress following the discovery of a deceased couple in their 70s at their residence in Oconee County, South CarolinaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Shelby breaks down the nervous system in a way that finally makes sense. If you've ever wondered why your body still feels "on edge" after quitting a job, leaving a stressful situation, or making a big life change—this conversation is for you. This is not about fixing yourself. It's about understanding how your nervous system learned to survive… and how it learns to feel safe again. Shelby explains what the nervous system actually does, why it flares up, how chronic stress gets stored in the body, and what truly helps regulate and calm the system—without forcing positivity or bypassing your experience. You'll also be guided through a simple, real-time nervous system reset you can use anytime. Loved this episode? Please rate, review, and share this with someone who needs to hear it. The more we speak up, the more we reclaim our energy and truth.

We're taking a trip back to the 90s and exploring the lives of single Black women and how their stories still show up in media 30 years later. This episode comes from NPR's Books We've Loved podcast series. Brittany joined hosts Andrew Limbong and B.A. Parker to revisit Terry McMillan's classic novel, Waiting to Exhale. The three get into how the book was a blueprint for Sex & The City and how it depicts the complexity of Black women's lives - and echoes the lives of Black women today.Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR's Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Most new habits fizzle quickly, what if they didn't have to? We blame a lack of willpower, but what if the way we approach habits that's the real problem? Why does true, lasting habit change feel so hard to sustain? And, how can we do it better?In this Best of episode, we explore a gentler and more honest reframe, drawing from the work of James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. We show that lasting change doesn't begin with force or fixing, but rather with identity. Discover how listening to who you already are, and letting small, faithful actions slowly reshape what you believe about yourself, is the most powerful, sustainable, and truly transformational path forward.In this episode, discover:Why habits are less about discipline and more about identityHow small, atomic actions quietly become evidence for who we're becomingThe difference between forcing change and aligning with who you areWhy environment often matters more than motivation for long-term habit formationHow belief and behavior shape each other over timeThis is a conversation for anyone who is ready to build consistent habits that actually stick. There's no rush, no prescription—just an invitation to soften, to notice, and to remember that true transformation begins the moment you stop trying so hard to become someone else.You can find James at: Website | The 3-2-1 Newsletter | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversations we had with Seth Godin about identity, creativity, and choosing how you show up.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn; Google's agentic shopping, and powering Apple's Siri; ChatGPT Ads; and Claude CoWork. Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [MoonShots with Tony Robbins]; and three trends for authors with me and Orna Ross [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; plus, Bones of the Deep, Business for Authors, and Indie Author Lab. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. What is the Shadow? The ‘creative wound' and the Shadow in writing The Shadow in traditional publishing The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author The Shadow in work The Shadow in money You can find Writing the Shadow in all formats on all stores, as well as special edition, workbook and bundles at www.TheCreativePenn.com/shadowbook Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words The following chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn. Introduction. What is the Shadow? “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” —C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul We all have a Shadow side and it is the work of a lifetime to recognise what lies within and spin that base material into gold. Think of it as a seedling in a little pot that you're given when you're young. It's a bit misshapen and weird, not something you would display in your living room, so you place it in a dark corner of the basement. You don't look at it for years. You almost forget about it. Then one day you notice tendrils of something wild poking up through the floorboards. They're ugly and don't fit with your Scandi-minimalist interior design. You chop the tendrils away and pour weedkiller on what's left, trying to hide the fact that they were ever there. But the creeping stems keep coming. At some point, you know you have to go down there and face the wild thing your seedling has become. When you eventually pluck up enough courage to go down into the basement, you discover that the plant has wound its roots deep into the foundations of your home. Its vines weave in and out of the cracks in the walls, and it has beautiful flowers and strange fruit. It holds your world together. Perhaps you don't need to destroy the wild tendrils. Perhaps you can let them wind up into the light and allow their rich beauty to weave through your home. It will change the look you have so carefully cultivated, but maybe that's just what the place needs. The Shadow in psychology Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology. He described the Shadow as an unconscious aspect of the human personality, those parts of us that don't match up to what is expected of us by family and society, or to our own ideals. The Shadow is not necessarily evil or illegal or immoral, although of course it can be. It's also not necessarily caused by trauma, abuse, or any other severely damaging event, although again, it can be. It depends on the individual. What is in your Shadow is based on your life and your experiences, as well as your culture and society, so it will be different for everyone. Psychologist Connie Zweig, in The Inner Work of Age, explains, “The Shadow is that part of us that lies beneath or behind the light of awareness. It contains our rejected, unacceptable traits and feelings. It contains our hidden gifts and talents that have remained unexpressed or unlived. As Jung put it, the essence of the Shadow is pure gold.” To further illustrate the concept, Robert Bly, in A Little Book on the Human Shadow,uses the following metaphor: “When we are young, we carry behind us an invisible bag, into which we stuff any feelings, thoughts, or behaviours that bring disapproval or loss of love—anger, tears, neediness, laziness. By the time we go to school, our bags are already a mile long. In high school, our peer groups pressure us to stuff the bags with even more—individuality, sexuality, spontaneity, different opinions. We spend our life until we're twenty deciding which parts of ourselves to put into the bag and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.” As authors, we can use what's in the ‘bag' to enrich our writing — but only if we can access it. My intention with this book is to help you venture into your Shadow and bring some of what's hidden into the light and into your words. I'll reveal aspects of my Shadow in these pages but ultimately, this book is about you. Your Shadow is unique. There may be elements we share, but much will be different. Each chapter has questions for you to consider that may help you explore at least the edges of your Shadow, but it's not easy. As Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” But take heart, Creative. You don't need courage when things are easy. You need it when you know what you face will be difficult, but you do it anyway. We are authors. We know how to do hard things. We turn ideas into books. We manifest thoughts into ink on paper. We change lives with our writing. First, our own, then other people's. It's worth the effort to delve into Shadow, so I hope you will join me on the journey. The creative wound and the Shadow in writing “Whatever pain you can't get rid of, make it your creative offering.” —Susan Cain, Bittersweet  The more we long for something, the more extreme our desire, the more likely it is to have a Shadow side. For those of us who love books, the author life may well be a long-held dream and thus, it is filled with Shadow. Books have long been objects of desire, power, and authority. They hold a mythic status in our lives. We escaped into stories as children; we studied books at school and college; we read them now for escape and entertainment, education and inspiration. We collect beautiful books to put on our shelves. We go to them for solace and answers to the deepest questions of life. Writers are similarly held in high esteem. They shape culture, win literary prizes, give important speeches, and are quoted in the mainstream media. Their books are on the shelves in libraries and bookstores. Writers are revered, held up as rare, talented creatures made separate from us by their brilliance and insight. For bibliophile children, books were everything and to write one was a cherished dream. To become an author? Well, that would mean we might be someone special, someone worthy. Perhaps when you were young, you thought the dream of being a writer was possible — then you told someone about it. That's probably when you heard the first criticism of such a ridiculous idea, the first laughter, the first dismissal. So you abandoned the dream, pushed the idea of being a writer into the Shadow, and got on with your life. Or if it wasn't then, it came later, when you actually put pen to paper and someone — a parent, teacher, partner, or friend, perhaps even a literary agent or publisher, someone whose opinion you valued — told you it was worthless. Here are some things you might have heard: Writing is a hobby. Get a real job. You're not good enough. You don't have any writing talent. You don't have enough education. You don't know what you're doing. Your writing is derivative / unoriginal / boring / useless / doesn't make sense. The genre you write in is dead / worthless / unacceptable / morally wrong / frivolous / useless.  Who do you think you are? No one would want to read what you write. You can't even use proper grammar, so how could you write a whole book? You're wasting your time. You'll never make it as a writer. You shouldn't write those things (or even think about those things). Why don't you write something nice? Insert other derogatory comment here! Mark Pierce describes the effect of this experience in his book The Creative Wound, which “occurs when an event, or someone's actions or words, pierce you, causing a kind of rift in your soul. A comment—even offhand and unintentional—is enough to cause one.” He goes on to say that such words can inflict “damage to the core of who we are as creators. It is an attack on our artistic identity, resulting in us believing that whatever we make is somehow tainted or invalid, because shame has convinced us there is something intrinsically tainted or invalid about ourselves.” As adults, we might brush off such wounds, belittling them as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We might even find ourselves saying the same words to other people. After all, it's easier to criticise than to create. But if you picture your younger self, bright eyed as you lose yourself in your favourite book, perhaps you might catch a glimpse of what you longed for before your dreams were dashed on the rocks of other people's reality. As Mark Pierce goes on to say, “A Creative Wound has the power to delay our pursuits—sometimes for years—and it can even derail our lives completely… Anything that makes us feel ashamed of ourselves or our work can render us incapable of the self-expression we yearn for.” This is certainly what happened to me, and it took decades to unwind. Your creative wounds will differ to mine but perhaps my experience will help you explore your own. To be clear, your Shadow may not reside in elements of horror as mine do, but hopefully you can use my example to consider where your creative wounds might lie. “You shouldn't write things like that.” It happened at secondary school around 1986 or 1987, so I would have been around eleven or twelve years old. English was one of my favourite subjects and the room we had our lessons in looked out onto a vibrant garden. I loved going to that class because it was all about books, and they were always my favourite things. One day, we were asked to write a story. I can't remember the specifics of what the teacher asked us to write, but I fictionalised a recurring nightmare. I stood in a dark room. On one side, my mum and my brother, Rod, were tied up next to a cauldron of boiling oil, ready to be thrown in. On the other side, my dad and my little sister, Lucy, were threatened with decapitation by men with machetes. I had to choose who would die. I always woke up, my heart pounding, before I had to choose. Looking back now, it clearly represented an internal conflict about having to pick sides between the two halves of my family. Not an unexpected issue from a child of divorce. Perhaps these days, I might have been sent to the school counsellor, but it was the eighties and I don't think we even had such a thing. Even so, the meaning of the story isn't the point. It was the reaction to it that left scars. “You shouldn't write things like that,” my teacher said, and I still remember her look of disappointment, even disgust. Certainly judgment. She said my writing was too dark. It wasn't a proper story. It wasn't appropriate for the class. As if horrible things never happened in stories — or in life. As if literature could not include dark tales. As if the only acceptable writing was the kind she approved of. We were taught The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that year, which says a lot about the type of writing considered appropriate. Or perhaps the issue stemmed from the school motto, “So hateth she derknesse,” from Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women: “For fear of night, so she hates the darkness.” I had won a scholarship to a private girls' school, and their mission was to turn us all into proper young ladies. Horror was never on the curriculum. Perhaps if my teacher had encouraged me to write my darkness back then, my nightmares would have dissolved on the page. Perhaps if we had studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or H.P. Lovecraft stories, or Bram Stoker's Dracula, I could have embraced the darker side of literature earlier in my life. My need to push darker thoughts into my Shadow was compounded by my (wonderful) mum's best intentions. We were brought up on the principles of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and she tried to shield me and my brother from anything harmful or horrible. We weren't allowed to watch TV much, and even the British school drama Grange Hill was deemed inappropriate. So much of what I've achieved is because my mum instilled in me a “can do” attitude that anything is possible. I'm so grateful to her for that. (I love you, Mum!) But all that happy positivity, my desire to please her, to be a good girl, to make my teachers proud, and to be acceptable to society, meant that I pushed my darker thoughts into Shadow. They were inappropriate. They were taboo. They must be repressed, kept secret, and I must be outwardly happy and positive at all times. You cannot hold back the darkness “The night is dark and full of terrors.” —George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords It turned out that horror was on the curriculum, much of it in the form of educational films we watched during lessons. In English Literature, we watched Romeo drink poison and Juliet stab herself in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. In Religious Studies, we watched Jesus beaten, tortured, and crucified in The Greatest Story Ever Told, and learned of the variety of gruesome ways that Christian saints were martyred. In Classical Civilisation, we watched gladiators slaughter each other in Spartacus. In Sex Education at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the mid-'80s, we were told of the many ways we could get infected and die. In History, we studied the Holocaust with images of skeletal bodies thrown into mass graves, medical experiments on humans, and grainy videos of marching soldiers giving the Nazi salute. One of my first overseas school field trips was to the World War I battlegrounds of Flanders Fields in Belgium, where we studied the inhuman conditions of the trenches, walked through mass graves, and read war poetry by candlelight. As John McCrae wrote: We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Did the teachers not realise how deeply a sensitive teenager might feel the darkness of that place? Or have I always been unusual in that places of blood echo deep inside me? And the horrors kept coming. We lived in Bristol, England back then and I learned at school how the city had been part of the slave trade, its wealth built on the backs of people stolen from their homes, sold, and worked to death in the colonies. I had been at school for a year in Malawi, Africa and imagined the Black people I knew drowning, being beaten, and dying on those ships. In my teenage years, the news was filled with ethnic cleansing, mass rape, and massacres during the Balkan wars, and images of bodies hacked apart during the Rwandan genocide. Evil committed by humans against other humans was not a historical aberration. I'm lucky and I certainly acknowledge my privilege. Nothing terrible or horrifying has happened to me — but bad things certainly happen to others. I wasn't bullied or abused. I wasn't raped or beaten or tortured. But you don't have to go through things to be afraid of them, and for your imagination to conjure the possibility of them. My mum doesn't read my fiction now as it gives her nightmares (Sorry, Mum!). I know she worries that somehow she's responsible for my darkness, but I've had a safe and (mostly) happy life, for which I'm truly grateful. But the world is not an entirely safe and happy place, and for a sensitive child with a vivid imagination, the world is dark and scary. It can be brutal and violent, and bad things happen, even to good people. No parent can shield their child from the reality of the world. They can only help them do their best to live in it, develop resilience, and find ways to deal with whatever comes. Story has always been a way that humans have used to learn how to live and deal with difficult times. The best authors, the ones that readers adore and can't get enough of, write their darkness into story to channel their experience, and help others who fear the same. In an interview on writing the Shadow on The Creative Penn Podcast, Michaelbrent Collings shared how he incorporated a personally devastating experience into his writing:  “My wife and I lost a child years back, and that became the root of one of my most terrifying books, Apparition. It's not terrifying because it's the greatest book of all time, but just the concept that there's this thing out there… like a demon, and it consumes the blood and fear of the children, and then it withdraws and consumes the madness of the parents… I wrote that in large measure as a way of working through what I was experiencing.” I've learned much from Michaelbrent. I've read many of his (excellent) books and he's been on my podcast multiple times talking about his depression and mental health issues, as well as difficulties in his author career. Writing darkness is not in Michaelbrent's Shadow and only he can say what lies there for him. But from his example, and from that of other authors, I too learned how to write my Shadow into my books. Twenty-three years after that English lesson, in November 2009, I did NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, and wrote five thousand words of what eventually became Stone of Fire, my first novel. In the initial chapter, I burned a nun alive on the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River. I had watched the bodies burn by night on pyres from a boat bobbing in the current a few years before, and the image was still crystal clear in my mind. The only way to deal with how it made me feel about death was to write about it — and since then, I've never stopped writing. Returning to the nightmare from my school days, I've never had to choose between the two halves of my family, but the threat of losing them remains a theme in my fiction. In my ARKANE thriller series, Morgan Sierra will do anything to save her sister and her niece. Their safety drives her to continue to fight against evil. Our deepest fears emerge in our writing, and that's the safest place for them. I wish I'd been taught how to turn my nightmares into words back at school, but at least now I've learned to write my Shadow onto the page. I wish the same for you. The Shadow in traditional publishing If becoming an author is your dream, then publishing a book is deeply entwined with that. But as Mark Pierce says in The Creative Wound, “We feel pain the most where it matters the most… Desire highlights whatever we consider to be truly significant.” There is a lot of desire around publishing for those of us who love books! It can give you: Validation that your writing is good enough Status and credibility Acceptance by an industry held in esteem  The potential of financial reward and critical acclaim Support from a team of professionals who know how to make fantastic books A sense of belonging to an elite community Pride in achieving a long-held goal, resulting in a confidence boost and self-esteem Although not guaranteed, traditional publishing can give you all these things and more, but as with everything, there is a potential Shadow side. Denying it risks the potential of being disillusioned, disappointed, and even damaged. But remember, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Preparation can help you avoid potential issues and help you feel less alone if you encounter them. The myth of success… and the reality of experience There is a pervasive myth of success in the traditional publishing industry, perpetuated by media reporting on brand name and breakout authors, those few outliers whose experience is almost impossible to replicate. Because of such examples, many new traditionally published authors think that their first book will hit the top of the bestseller charts or win an award, as well as make them a million dollars — or at least a big chunk of cash. They will be able to leave their job, write in a beautiful house overlooking the ocean, and swan around the world attending conferences, while writing more bestselling books. It will be a charmed life. But that is not the reality. Perhaps it never was. Even so, the life of a traditionally published author represents a mythic career with the truth hidden behind a veil of obscurity. In April 2023, The Bookseller in the UK reported that “more than half of authors (54%) responding to a survey on their experiences of publishing their debut book have said the process negatively affected their mental health. Though views were mixed, just 22%… described a positive experience overall… Among the majority who said they had a negative experience of debut publication, anxiety, stress, depression and ‘lowered' self-esteem were cited, with lack of support, guidance or clear and professional communication from their publisher among the factors that contributed.” Many authors who have negative experiences around publishing will push them into the Shadow with denial or self-blame, preferring to keep the dream alive. They won't talk about things in public as this may negatively affect their careers, but private discussions are often held in the corners of writing conferences or social media groups online. Some of the issues are as follows: Repeated rejection by agents and publishers may lead to the author thinking they are not good enough as a writer, which can lead to feeling unworthy as a person. If an author gets a deal, the amount of advance and the name and status of the publisher compared to others create a hierarchy that impacts self-esteem. A deal for a book may be much lower than an author might have been expecting, with low or no advance, and the resulting experience with the publisher beneath expectations. The launch process may be disappointing, and the book may appear without fanfare, with few sales and no bestseller chart position. In The Bookseller report, one author described her launch day as “a total wasteland… You have expectations about what publication day will be like, but in reality, nothing really happens.” The book may receive negative reviews by critics or readers or more publicly on social media, which can make an author feel attacked. The book might not sell as well as expected, and the author may feel like it's their fault. Commercial success can sometimes feel tied to self-worth and an author can't help but compare their sales to others, with resulting embarrassment or shame. The communication from the publisher may be less than expected. One author in The Bookseller report said, “I was shocked by the lack of clarity and shared information and the cynicism that underlies the superficial charm of this industry.” There is often more of a focus on debut authors in publishing houses, so those who have been writing and publishing in the midlist for years can feel ignored and undervalued. In The Bookseller report, 48 percent of authors reported “their publisher supported them for less than a year,” with one saying, “I got no support and felt like a commodity, like the team had moved on completely to the next book.” If an author is not successful enough, the next deal may be lower than the last, less effort is made with marketing, and they may be let go. In The Bookseller report, “six authors—debut and otherwise—cited being dropped by their publisher, some with no explanation.” Even if everything goes well and an author is considered successful by others, they may experience imposter syndrome, feeling like a fraud when speaking at conferences or doing book signings. And the list goes on … All these things can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and embarrassment; loss of status in the eyes of peers; and a sense of failure if a publishing career is not successful enough. The author feels like it's their fault, like they weren't good enough — although, of course, the reality is that the conditions were not right at the time. A failure of a book is not a failure of the person, but it can certainly feel like it! When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Despite all the potential negatives of traditional publishing, if you know what could happen, you can mitigate them. You can prepare yourself for various scenarios and protect yourself from potential fall-out. It's clear from The Bookseller report that too many authors have unrealistic expectations of the industry. But publishers are businesses, not charities. It's not their job to make you feel good as an author. It's their job to sell books and pay you. The best thing they can do is to continue to be a viable business so they can keep putting books on the shelves and keep paying authors, staff, and company shareholders. When you license your creative work to a publisher, you're giving up control of your intellectual property in exchange for money and status. Bring your fears and issues out of the Shadow, acknowledge them, and deal with them early, so they do not get pushed down and re-emerge later in blame and bitterness. Educate yourself on the business of publishing. Be clear on what you want to achieve with any deal. Empower yourself as an author, take responsibility for your career, and you will have a much better experience. The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author Self-publishing, or being an independent (indie) author, can be a fantastic, pro-active choice for getting your book into the world. Holding your first book in your hand and saying “I made this” is pretty exciting, and even after more than forty books, I still get excited about seeing ideas in my head turn into a physical product in the world. Self-publishing can give an author: Creative control over what to write, editorial and cover design choices, when and how often to publish, and how to market Empowerment over your author career and the ability to make choices that impact success without asking for permission Ownership and control of intellectual property assets, resulting in increased opportunity around licensing and new markets Independence and the potential for recurring income for the long term Autonomy and flexibility around timelines, publishing options, and the ability to easily pivot into new genres and business models Validation based on positive reader reviews and money earned Personal growth and learning through the acquisition of new skills, resulting in a boost in confidence and self-esteem A sense of belonging to an active and vibrant community of indie authors around the world Being an indie author can give you all this and more, but once again, there is a Shadow side and preparation can help you navigate potential issues. The myth of success… and the reality of experience As with traditional publishing, the indie author world has perpetuated a myth of success in the example of the breakout indie author like E.L. James with Fifty Shades of Grey, Hugh Howey with Wool, or Andy Weir with The Martian. The emphasis on financial success is also fuelled online by authors who share screenshots showing six-figure months or seven-figure years, without sharing marketing costs and other outgoings, or the amount of time spent on the business. Yes, these can inspire some, but it can also make others feel inadequate and potentially lead to bad choices about how to publish and market based on comparison. The indie author world is full of just as much ego and a desire for status and money as traditional publishing. This is not a surprise! Most authors, regardless of publishing choices, are a mix of massive ego and chronic self-doubt. We are human, so the same issues will re-occur. A different publishing method doesn't cure all ills. Some of the issues are as follows: You learn everything you need to know about writing and editing, only to find that you need to learn a whole new set of skills in order to self-publish and market your book. This can take a lot of time and effort you did not expect, and things change all the time so you have to keep learning. Being in control of every aspect of the publishing process, from writing to cover design to marketing, can be overwhelming, leading to indecision, perfectionism, stress, and even burnout as you try to do all the things. You try to find people to help, but building your team is a challenge, and working with others has its own difficulties. People say negative things about self-publishing that may arouse feelings of embarrassment or shame. These might be little niggles, but they needle you, nonetheless. You wonder whether you made the right choice. You struggle with self-doubt and if you go to an event with traditional published authors, you compare yourself to them and feel like an imposter. Are you good enough to be an author if a traditional publisher hasn't chosen you? Is it just vanity to self-publish? Are your books unworthy? Even though you worked with a professional editor, you still get one-star reviews and you hate criticism from readers. You wonder whether you're wasting your time. You might be ripped off by an author services company who promise the world, only to leave you with a pile of printed books in your garage and no way to sell them. When you finally publish your book, it languishes at the bottom of the charts while other authors hit the top of the list over and over, raking in the cash while you are left out of pocket. You don't admit to over-spending on marketing as it makes you ashamed. You resist book marketing and make critical comments about writers who embrace it. You believe that quality rises to the top and if a book is good enough, people will buy it anyway. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when you launch your book and it doesn't sell many copies because nobody knows about it. You try to do what everyone advises, but you still can't make decent money as an author. You're jealous of other authors' success and put it down to them ‘selling out' or writing things you can't or ‘using AI' or ‘using a ghostwriter' or having a specific business model you consider impossible to replicate. And the list goes on… When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Being in control of your books and your author career is a double-edged sword. Traditionally published authors can criticise their publishers or agents or the marketing team or the bookstores or the media, but indie authors have to take responsibility for it all. Sure, we can blame ‘the algorithms' or social media platforms, or criticise other authors for having more experience or more money to invest in marketing, or attribute their success to writing in a more popular genre — but we also know there are always people who do well regardless of the challenges. Once more, we're back to acknowledging and integrating the Shadow side of our choices. We are flawed humans. There will always be good times and bad, and difficulties to offset the high points. This too shall pass, as the old saying goes. I know that being an indie author has plenty of Shadow. I've been doing this since 2008 and despite the hard times, I'm still here. I'm still writing. I'm still publishing. This life is not for everyone, but it's my choice. You must make yours. The Shadow in work You work hard. You make a living. Nothing wrong with that attitude, right? It's what we're taught from an early age and, like so much of life, it's not a problem until it goes to extremes. Not achieving what you want to? Work harder. Can't get ahead? Work harder. Not making a good enough living? Work harder. People who don't work hard are lazy. They don't deserve handouts or benefits. People who don't work hard aren't useful, so they are not valued members of our culture and community. But what about the old or the sick, the mentally ill, or those with disabilities? What about children? What about the unemployed? The under-employed? What about those who are — or will be — displaced by technology, those called “the useless class” by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus? What if we become one of these in the future? Who am I if I cannot work? The Shadow side of my attitude to work became clear when I caught COVID in the summer of 2021. I was the sickest I'd ever been. I spent two weeks in bed unable to even think properly, and six weeks after that, I was barely able to work more than an hour a day before lying in the dark and waiting for my energy to return. I was limited in what I could do for another six months after that. At times, I wondered if I would ever get better. Jonathan kept urging me to be patient and rest. But I don't know how to rest. I know how to work and how to sleep. I can do ‘active rest,' which usually involves walking a long way or traveling somewhere interesting, but those require a stronger mind and body than I had during those months. It struck me that even if I recovered from the virus, I had glimpsed my future self. One day, I will be weak in body and mind. If I'm lucky, that will be many years away and hopefully for a short time before I die — but it will happen. I am an animal. I will die. My body and mind will pass on and I will be no more. Before then I will be weak. Before then, I will be useless. Before then, I will be a burden. I will not be able to work… But who am I if I cannot work? What is the point of me? I can't answer these questions right now, because although I recognise them as part of my Shadow, I've not progressed far enough to have dealt with them entirely. My months of COVID gave me some much-needed empathy for those who cannot work, even if they want to. We need to reframe what work is as a society, and value humans for different things, especially as technology changes what work even means. That starts with each of us. “Illness, affliction of body and soul, can be life-altering. It has the potential to reveal the most fundamental conflict of the human condition: the tension between our infinite, glorious dreams and desires and our limited, vulnerable, decaying physicality.” —Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul The Shadow in money In the Greek myth, King Midas was a wealthy ruler who loved gold above all else. His palace was adorned with golden sculptures and furniture, and he took immense pleasure in his riches. Yet, despite his vast wealth, he yearned for more. After doing a favour for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, Midas was granted a single wish. Intoxicated by greed, he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold — and it was so. At first, it was a lot of fun. Midas turned everything else in his palace to gold, even the trees and stones of his estate. After a morning of turning things to gold, he fancied a spot of lunch. But when he tried to eat, the food and drink turned to gold in his mouth. He became thirsty and hungry — and increasingly desperate. As he sat in despair on his golden throne, his beloved young daughter ran to comfort him. For a moment, he forgot his wish — and as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, she turned into a golden statue, frozen in precious metal. King Midas cried out to the gods to forgive him, to reverse the wish. He renounced his greed and gave away all his wealth, and his daughter was returned to life. The moral of the story: Wealth and greed are bad. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is described as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” He's wealthy but does not share, considering Christmas spending to be frivolous and giving to charity to be worthless. He's saved by a confrontation with his lonely future and becomes a generous man and benefactor of the poor. Wealth is good if you share it with others. The gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: 14-30, tells the parable of the bags of gold, in which a rich man goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold. On his return, the servants who multiplied the gold through their efforts and investments are rewarded, while the one who merely returned the gold with no interest is punished: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Making money is good, making more money is even better. If you can't make any money, you don't deserve to have any. Within the same gospel, in Matthew 19:24, Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, which the man is unable to do. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is bad. Give it all away and you'll go to heaven. With all these contradictory messages, no wonder we're so conflicted about money! How do you think and feel about money? While money is mostly tied to our work, it's far more than just a transactional object for most people. It's loaded with complex symbolism and judgment handed down by family, religion, and culture. You are likely to find elements of Shadow by examining your attitudes around money. Consider which of the following statements resonate with you or write your own. Money stresses me out. I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Some people hoard money, so there is inequality. Rich people are bad and we should take away their wealth and give it to the poor.  I can never make enough money to pay the bills, or to give my family what I want to provide. Money doesn't grow on trees.  It's wasteful to spend money as you might need it later, so I'm frugal and don't spend money unless absolutely necessary. It is better and more ethical to be poor than to be rich. I want more money. I read books and watch TV shows about rich people because I want to live like that. Sometimes I spend too much on things for a glimpse of what that might be like.  I buy lottery tickets and dream of winning all that money.  I'm jealous of people who have money. I want more of it and I resent those who have it. I'm no good with money. I don't like to look at my bank statement or credit card statement. I live off my overdraft and I'm in debt. I will never earn enough to get out of debt and start saving, so I don't think too much about it. I don't know enough about money. Talking about it makes me feel stupid, so I just ignore it. People like me aren't educated about money.  I need to make more money. If I can make lots of money, then people will look up to me. If I make lots of money, I will be secure, nothing can touch me, I will be safe.  I never want to be poor. I would be ashamed to be poor. I will never go on benefits. My net worth is my self worth. Money is good. We have the best standard of living in history because of the increase in wealth over time. Even the richest kings of the past didn't have what many middle-class people have today in terms of access to food, water, technology, healthcare, education, and more. The richest people give the most money to the poor through taxation and charity, as well as through building companies that employ people and invent new things. The very richest give away much of their fortunes. They provide far more benefit to the world than the poor.  I love money. Money loves me. Money comes easily and quickly to me. I attract money in multiple streams of income. It flows to me in so many ways. I spend money. I invest money. I give money. I'm happy and grateful for all that I receive. The Shadow around money for authors in particular Many writers and other creatives have issues around money and wealth. How often have you heard the following, and which do you agree with? You can't make money with your writing. You'll be a poor author in a garret, a starving artist.  You can't write ‘good quality' books and make money. If you make money writing, you're a hack, you're selling out. You are less worthy than someone who writes only for the Muse. Your books are commercial, not artistic. If you spend money on marketing, then your books are clearly not good enough to sell on their own. My agent / publisher / accountant / partner deals with the money side. I like to focus on the creative side of things. My money story Note: This is not financial or investment advice. Please talk to a professional about your situation. I've had money issues over the years — haven't we all! But I have been through a (long) process to bring money out of my Shadow and into the light. There will always be more to discover, but hopefully my money story will help you, or at least give you an opportunity to reflect. Like most people, I didn't grow up with a lot of money. My parents started out as teachers, but later my mum — who I lived with, along with my brother — became a change management consultant, moving to the USA and earning a lot more. I'm grateful that she moved into business because her example changed the way I saw money and provided some valuable lessons. (1) You can change your circumstances by learning more and then applying that to leverage opportunity into a new job or career Mum taught English at a school in Bristol when we moved back from Malawi, Africa, in the mid '80s but I remember how stressful it was for her, and how little money she made. She wanted a better future for us all, so she took a year out to do a master's degree in management. In the same way, when I wanted to change careers and leave consulting to become an author, I spent time and money learning about the writing craft and the business of publishing. I still invest a considerable chunk on continuous learning, as this industry changes all the time. (2) You might have to downsize in order to leap forward The year my mum did her degree, we lived in the attic of another family's house; we ate a lot of one-pot casserole and our treat was having a Yorkie bar on the walk back from the museum. We wore hand-me-down clothes, and I remember one day at school when another girl said I was wearing her dress. I denied it, of course, but there in back of the dress was her name tag. I still remember her name and I can still feel that flush of shame and embarrassment. I was determined to never feel like that again. But what I didn't realize at the time was that I was also learning the power of downsizing. Mum got her degree and then a new job in management in Bristol. She bought a house, and we settled for a few years. I had lots of different jobs as a teenager. My favourite was working in the delicatessen because we got a free lunch made from delicious produce. After I finished A-levels, I went to the University of Oxford, and my mum and brother moved to the USA for further opportunities. I've downsized multiple times over the years, taking a step back in order to take a step forward. The biggest was in 2010 when I decided to leave consulting. Jonathan and I sold our three-bedroom house and investments in Brisbane, Australia, and rented a one-bedroom flat in London, so we could be debt-free and live on less while I built up a new career. It was a decade before we bought another house. (3) Comparison can be deadly: there will always be people with more money than you Oxford was an education in many ways and relevant to this chapter is how much I didn't know about things people with money took for granted. I learned about formal hall and wine pairings, and how to make a perfect gin and tonic. I ate smoked salmon for the first time. I learned how to fit in with people who had a lot more money than I did, and I definitely wanted to have money of my own to play with. (4) Income is not wealth You can earn lots but have nothing to show for it after years of working. I learned this in my first few years of IT consulting after university. I earned a great salary and then went contracting, earning even more money at a daily rate. I had a wonderful time. I traveled, ate and drank and generally made merry, but I always had to go back to the day job when the money ran out. I couldn't work out how I could ever stop this cycle. Then I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, a book I still recommend, especially if you're from a family that values academic over financial education. I learned how to escape the rat race by building and/or accumulating assets that pay even when you're not working. It was a revelation! The ‘poor dad' in the book is a university professor. He knows so much about so many things, but he ends up poor as he did not educate himself about money. The ‘rich dad' has little formal education, but he knows about money and wealth because he learned about it, as we can do at any stage in our lives. (5) Not all investments suit every person, so find the right one for you Once I discovered the world of investing, I read all the books and did courses and in-person events. I joined communities and I up-skilled big time. Of course, I made mistakes and learned lots along the way. I tried property investing and renovated a couple of houses for rental (with more practical partners and skilled contractors). But while I could see that property investing might work for some people, I did not care enough about the details to make it work for me, and it was certainly not passive income. I tried other things. My first husband was a boat skipper and scuba diving instructor, so we started a charter. With the variable costs of fuel, the vagaries of New Zealand weather — and our divorce — it didn't last long! From all these experiments, I learned I wanted to run a business, but it needed to be online and not based on a physical location, physical premises, or other people. That was 2006, around the time that blogging started taking off and it became possible to make a living online. I could see the potential and a year later, the iPhone and the Amazon Kindle launched, which became the basis of my business as an author. (6) Boring, automatic saving and investing works best Between 2007 and 2011, I contracted in Australia, where they have compulsory superannuation contributions, meaning you have to save and invest a percentage of your salary or self-employed income. I'd never done that before, because I didn't understand it. I'd ploughed all my excess income into property or the business instead. But in Australia I didn't notice the money going out because it was automatic. I chose a particular fund and it auto-invested every month. The pot grew pretty fast since I didn't touch it, and years later, it's still growing. I discovered the power of compound interest and time in the market, both of which are super boring. This type of investing is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a slow process of automatically putting money into boring investments and doing that month in, month out, year in, year out, automatically for decades while you get on with your life. I still do this. I earn money as an author entrepreneur and I put a percentage of that into boring investments automatically every month. I also have a small amount which is for fun and higher risk investments, but mostly I'm a conservative, risk-averse investor planning ahead for the future. This is not financial advice, so I'm not giving any specifics. I have a list of recommended money books at www.TheCreativePenn.com/moneybooks if you want to learn more. Learning from the Shadow When I look back, my Shadow side around money eventually drove me to learn more and resulted in a better outcome (so far!). I was ashamed of being poor when I had to wear hand-me-down clothes at school. That drove a fear of not having any money, which partially explains my workaholism. I was embarrassed at Oxford because I didn't know how to behave in certain settings, and I wanted to be like the rich people I saw there. I spent too much money in my early years as a consultant because I wanted to experience a “rich” life and didn't understand saving and investing would lead to better things in the future. I invested too much in the wrong things because I didn't know myself well enough and I was trying to get rich quick so I could leave my job and ‘be happy.' But eventually, I discovered that I could grow my net worth with boring, long-term investments while doing a job I loved as an author entrepreneur. My only regret is that I didn't discover this earlier and put a percentage of my income into investments as soon as I started work. It took several decades to get started, but at least I did (eventually) start. My money story isn't over yet, and I keep learning new things, but hopefully my experience will help you reflect on your own and avoid the issue if it's still in Shadow. These chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn  The post Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Is Your Business Thriving at the Expense of Your Family?In this episode of Your Big Next, I'm asking a question that might sting a little, but one we need to face as founders and leaders: Is the way you're running your business costing you more than you realize at home?I share my own wake-up call. It was the moment I realized I was chasing business growth that didn't actually align with how I wanted to show up for my family. From that breaking point came a deep pivot toward identity-led leadership, where business strategy doesn't compete with your values.We talk about:Why traditional leadership models often create tension at homeThe subtle ways your business can begin to override your core identityHow I began simplifying everything — structure, offers, and expectationsA case study from a client who completely changed her leadership postureHow the Big Next Operating System helps founders lead with clarity and convictionWhether you're a CEO, coach, or service provider, this episode is your invitation to lead differently. Not by doing more, but by getting anchored in who you really are and what matters most.

 With host retail coach Wendy Batten   https://wendybatten.com/podcast-intro/   Episode Overview Ever find yourself wondering "Where do I start when I'm juggling multiple priorities in my retail business?" You're not alone. I'm addressing this question that's been asked many times since Episode 290 dropped at the beginning of the year. In this episode, I'll lay out the most important steps to focus on FIRST in order to achieve the success you want this year in your retail business. You'll learn why clarity around your numbers and a growth mindset are the foundations for building a sustainable, profitable shop.  Our Key Topics Fully taking on the CEO and CFO roles within your business The dangers of chasing revenue numbers without understanding profit or margins Defining why your business exists and aligning it with your desired lifestyle Managing inventory as your biggest business asset Identifying and overcoming automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) The importance of seeking professional coaching and support   Let's Prioritize These Things in Your Business Know your numbers beyond just revenue. You must understand the variables like margins, expenses, and inventory turns that lead to actual profit.   A business that supports your life, not the other way around. This requires planning for a personal paycheck and defining success on your own terms.   Paying attention to your "growth mindset" brain. This includes reading financial reports, managing open-to-buy programs, and being comfortable with the discomfort of change, among other things.   Avoid the "accidental entrepreneur" trap. Clearly define your business motivation and reverse-engineer your goals from the bottom up. "Stop chasing other people's version of success." -Wendy Batten Your next step? Choose one small action today to lead your business with intention and clarity. Resources Mentioned: Creative Shop Talk Podcast Episode 290: 7 Things to Focus on in 2026 If You Want a Retail Business That Lasts Back-of-the-Napkin Profit Calculator (Profit Planning Masterclass) A simple, approachable way to understand your core retail numbers without overwhelm or complicated spreadsheets. Retail Sales & Marketing Accelerator (On-Demand)A practical course designed to help shop owners stop guessing and start making clearer, data-informed decisions around sales and marketing. Join my Love List! About your host, Wendy Batten In case we haven't met…I'm Wendy Batten. I've been a small business owner, coach, and mentor for over 25 years. I help thoughtful, established entrepreneurs step into their role as CEO and build businesses that are profitable, meaningful, and supportive of the lives they want to live. My work blends real-world strategy with a life-first philosophy, shaped by lived experience, not theory. I've been there! Through honest conversations and practical insight, I invite you into bigger thinking about leadership, possibility, and how to build both business and life on purpose.  For more support from Wendy Hang out and connect with Wendy on IG All of Wendy's current programs and services for shop owners can be found HERE.  Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Creative Shop Talk Podcast and get the tools, inspiration, and strategies you need to thrive as an independent retailer.Click here to subscribe to iTunes!  Loved the episode? Leave a quick review on iTunes- your reviews help other retailers find my podcast, and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. So grateful for you! Thank you!

In this episode of The Pilates Business Podcast, host Seran Glanfield breaks down a refreshing and sustainable approach to marketing for studio owners who feel burned out, overwhelmed, and stuck on the content hamster wheel. Instead of doing more, Seran introduces the concept of the minimum effective dose of marketing—the smallest, most strategic actions that actually generate consistent, high-quality leads.This episode is a must-listen for Pilates, barre, and yoga studio owners who are juggling teaching, admin, and team management while struggling with inconsistent client flow. Seran explains why more marketing doesn't equal better marketing, how clarity simplifies everything, and the three essential marketing pillars every boutique fitness business needs to grow without burnout. If you want a smarter, simpler way to attract better-fit clients and build a profitable, sustainable studio, this episode will completely change how you think about marketing.Got a question for Seran? Add it here

On today's episode, we hear about: A man coming to the realization that his marriage was built on a lie A wife wondering how to get her husband to care about being on time A father struggling to support his teen son after an unexpected pregnancy Next Steps: ❤️⁠ Get away with your spouse today!⁠