Podcasts about pausing

Relationships aren't always easy and that's exactly why they matter. In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with Vanessa Bennett, a therapist, facilitator, and author, to unpack what it really takes to build connection, navigate discomfort, and stay grounded through the chaos of modern relationships.Together, they explore how societal expectations shape our roles as men and women, what healthy communication actually looks like, and why embracing discomfort is key to growth—both individually and together.You'll hear Vanessa's refreshing take on:-The myth of motherhood and breaking free from outdated narratives-Understanding male and female communication styles-How to argue well and repair with intention-Keeping sensuality alive in long-term relationships-The balance between independence and intimacyWhether you're partnered up, parenting, or just trying to better understand yourself and the people you love, this one's for you.If today's conversation with Vanessa hit home, share it with someone who'd get value from it. And if you haven't yet, drop us a 5-star review to keep the conversations flowing. See you next week, Kreatures!Like & Subscribe for more real conversationsFollow Vanessa Bennett: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasbennett/Connect with me: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchernow/?hl=enListen on Spotify/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kreatures-of-habit-podcast/id1497757053 https://open.spotify.com/show/55aRcnBD5UoOgxTYUwtUVL #relationships #communication #personalgrowth #michaelchernow #vanessabennettTIME STAMPS:00:00 Introduction to the Guest and Topic02:16 Exploring Relationship Dynamics16:48 The Power of Pausing in Conflicts23:55 Parenting Strategies and the Mother's Myth31:28 Motherhood and Parenting Realities36:35 Male Loneliness and Societal Expectations46:03 Balancing Work, Family, and Self-Care53:14 Sex and Relationship Dynamics01:04:14 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Luke 10:38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”So many of us like Martha can be so consumed with all the details of life that we neglect the source of all things, including a Sound Mind Set.In this passage it is also admirable that Martha speaks up out of her authentic feeling and points out the stress and comparison she is experiencing by essentially saying, Jesus, shouldn't someone be helping with all these details.Notice Jesus' response was compassion with correction “Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed, only one.”What are you worried about today, what details are causing a bit of stress?What might it look like for you to let go of worries and just be present? Making a choice to pause for self-care can be surprisingly difficult when we're used to chasing all the details. We may feel guilty or anxious about not getting everything done.Pausing actually takes a lot of courage in the face of all that needs to be done throughout our days.Let's personalize Jesus's from His response to Martha from this passage.(Say your name then repeat Jesus's words, to you), you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed or indeed only one.Let's pray: “Jesus, help me to let go of the things that I worry about and be present in your care. Thank you that you just call me to sit at your feet and soak up your love and strength. Help me to prioritize letting go of thinking I have to get everything right all the time. Help me relax and know that your presence is all I need. As above, so below.”

What if this season isn't about pushing harder—but about checking in with yourself with honesty, grace, and devotion? In this solo episode of The Robyn Ivy Podcast, Robyn invites you to pause and reflect as we move into the final months of the year. With warmth, humor, and practical insight, she explores how “taking stock” of your life—your goals, relationships, creativity, health, and habits—can help you reconnect with what truly matters and move forward with clarity. Whether you've been feeling stuck, stretched thin, or simply ready to regroup, this conversation offers a gentle reset. You'll hear stories, journaling prompts, and powerful questions to help you celebrate what's working, release what's not, and re-devote yourself to what still feels meaningful. ✨ Inside this episode: How to take honest inventory—without criticismWhat your unfinished projects might be telling youWhy fall is the perfect season for intentional reflectionHow to move forward with more ease, clarity, and purpose. Your 3 Key Takeaways: Reflection is self-care. Pausing to assess your life isn't indulgent—it's essential.Small shifts lead to big change. You don't need a full reinvention—just an honest check-in and a clear next step.You're not behind. You're right on time to recommit to what matters most.

If you saw a man beating a child into a coma, would you cheer after the beating stopped? No, your first reaction would be horror at what happened and your second would be fear that he'll attack the kid again. And then at some point you'd start wondering why the guy isn't in jail. Reading by Tim Foley.

Send us a textOur divine assignments are not about never feeling afraid. They're about choosing faith over fear—obedience over hesitation—even when your knees are shaking.Like Esther, you don't need a perfect résumé, a flawless past, or a detailed plan. You just need the willingness to say YES to God.So pause and ask yourself:“Where in my life is God calling me to step up, even though I feel unqualified?”Your Esther moment might not look like standing before a king. It might look like:Starting or joining that ministry that sets your soul on fire.Writing the book that's been on your heart.Launching that faith-fueled business.Or having that difficult, but necessary, conversation.Whatever it is, remember—you are here, right now, for such a time as this.Don't let imposter syndrome keep you small or silent. Like Esther, step forward in faith—and watch what God will do.Thank you for joining me on today's Permission to Pause. I would love to hear from you!For comments and episode suggestions contact pat@patlayton.netI'd love to have you vsist my BLOG to join the conversation at patlayton.net Join the conversation via my blog at www.patlayton.net PLUS my IG REELS https://www.instagram.com/patlayton/reels/Find DEEPER DIVE Pause notes and LOTS OF FREE RESOURCES here. Again! Thank you for Pausing with me!

Send Jay comments via textWhen the house quiets, your mind often rushes in. For many, this transition from full-time parent to empty nester triggers overwhelm—and the need to pause intentionally. In this episode, author and coach Jennie Phillips introduces her "Yellow Light Moments" framework to help reclaim rhythm, energy, and joy without sacrificing what came before.  Jennie shares her personal turning point—alone on a Florida beach—where she discovered the power of slowing down for clarity and choosing her next step. We explore her four pillars of vitality: improving sleep with simple environment tweaks, simplifying nutrition with whole-food basics, finding movement at home, and integrating self-care that feels sustainable.The conversation dives into rebuilding identity and community where Jennie emphasizes that slow, intentional choices lead to pride and presence, helping you finish this season strong.Highlights & Key Takeaways:A "Yellow Light Moment" beats rushing—pause, yield, listen, then move.Movement doesn't need a gym—start small with bodyweight and attainable goals.Habit stacking builds consistency without stress.Set boundaries, create white space, and say no with grace.Rebuild community and find accountability post-kids.Embrace identity shifts, grief, and intentional rhythms.Jennie Phillips BioJennie is a certified fitness professional, educator, author, and speaker passionate about helping others achieve vitality and balance through intentional living. With a background in teaching and curriculum development, she blends her expertise in education and fitness to inspire and empower individuals on their wellness journeys. Author of Yellow Light Moments: Maximize Your Health and Vitality Through the Power of Pausing, owner of Vitality Fitness Studio in Illinois, and creator of the RISE. MOVE. CONQUER. Event Series. Jennie spends her days living out her passion for this work and soaking up life with her husband and their four amazing kids.Find Jennie Online: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, WebsiteSupport the showFREE WORKBOOK3 Steps to Loving Your Empty Nest Life ENJOY THE SHOW?Don't miss an episode, subscribe via Apple Podcasts or follow on Spotify and many more. LOVE THE SHOW?Get your THIS EMPTY NEST LIFE swagReview us on Love the Podcast, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify -- reviews and ratings help others find us and we'd appreciate your support greatly.CONNECT WITH JAYEmail, LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok

Charles Schwab's Joe Mazzola weighs in on what he sees as a "bifurcated economy" where higher-end consumers are doing well while lower-end Americans appear to struggle. Despite that, Joe doesn't see bullish market moves wavering. That could change if the government shutdown continues longer than investors predict, or if there's any disruption to the A.I. trade.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

This was one of the hardest videos I've ever had to make. After three years, over 220,000 podcast downloads, and countless amazing connections with listeners and viewers, I've made the difficult decision to pause the YouTube channel and podcast—indefinitely. Watch on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMz8Wn41XFw In this episode, I open up about:

The Wizard sat down at his desk to write a description for his new podcast episode, What is Metafiction?, exploring the literary genre of metafiction and its implications for magical practice. Pausing as he finished the first line, the Wizard figured he should probably mention he'd written a whole book on the subject, So Let It Be Written: A Wizards' Guide to Metafiction w/ Eric J. Millar), and include a link for listeners to purchase it. Get a copy of So Let It Be Written: A Wizards' Guide to Metafiction: https://www.personisawake.com/so-let-it-be-written Got a question for the the Wizard? Call the Wizard Hotline at 860-415-6009‬ and have it answered in a future episode! Join the ritual: www.patreon.com/thispodcastisaritual

Pausing this week's episodes to prepare our epic episode that will bring 6 Haitian-American professionals together for an epic discussion on Haiti.  Follow the podcast to get alerts.  TEXT HERE to suggest a future episode topic Discover how medical graduates, junior doctors, and young physicians can navigate residency training programs, surgical residency, and locum tenens to increase income, enjoy independent practice, decrease stress, achieve financial freedom, and retire early, while maintaining patient satisfaction and exploring physician side gigs to tackle medical school loans.

❓ Guiding Question: What does it take to make a life, not just a living—and how do I re-engage when life starts to feel flat, numb, or overly burdened?

"Pausing for Trespassers" Rev. Cassie Waits

Maybe you pivoted. Maybe you paused. Maybe you powered through because you didn't know what else to do. If you've been in business for more than a few years, you know exactly what the entrepreneurial rollercoaster feels like. There are highs that feel euphoric and lows that leave you questioning everything. And the last few years — with the COVID boom and bust — amplified that rollercoaster for so many of us. In this episode, I unpack the three paths most entrepreneurs take when things get wobbly: pivoting, pausing, or powering through. I'll share the pros and cons of each, how to know which one might be right for you right now, and why none of them are wrong. Pivoting shows you're flexible. Pausing shows you're wise enough to rest. Powering through shows you're resilient. The key is recognizing that these seasons don't mean you're failing — they mean you're experienced. And once you reframe the rollercoaster years as part of the natural cycle of business, you stop second-guessing yourself and start feeling steadier, no matter what season you're in. If you've been beating yourself up for not “having it all together,” this episode will feel like a deep breath. You'll leave with language for your current season, perspective on why it matters, and clarity on what's next. Tune in to learn how to reframe the rollercoaster years and steady yourself for the long game.

Brian Troyer, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Marquette University, joins the ALP for a conversation that explores the deep roots of Jesuit leadership and the lighthearted joys of life in Milwaukee, including:Marquette's Gift of Time and why institutional rest matters.How the university discerned its move to test-optional admissions, grounded in archival research and mission alignment.The legacies of leaders like Ray Brown, Roby Blust, and the late President Mike Lovell — and how Brian carries that mantle forward.Reflections from the Ignatian Colleagues Program, including the reminder to “pause and let our soul catch up.”Brian's dissertation on how high schoolers' ecological environments shape their sense of what's possible after graduation.Plus: Tolkien manuscripts, bourbon tours, and a meditation on raw vs. fried cheese curds.It's a conversation about integrity, mission, and belonging ... peppered with a fair amount of laughter, reflection, friendship and bourbon.01:30 – A family road trip and Marquette's Gift of Time.04:20 – Remembering Mike Lovell and lessons in leadership.07:10 – Why and how Marquette went test-optional, with help from the archives.09:20 – Tolkien manuscripts, reading The Hobbit to his son, and dreaming of Stephen Colbert in the archives.12:30 – Retention milestones: two of the best years in Marquette's history.15:00 – Honoring Ray Brown and Roby Blust (and how Roby's fishing skills resemble that of a well-known biblical fisherman).18:55 – Leadership lessons: integrity, mission alignment, and Shaka Smart's “relationships, growth, victory.”25:45 – Ignatian Colleagues Program and contemplatives in action.28:45 – A six-day silent retreat and the wisdom of pausing to let our soul catch up.31:30 – Dissertation insights: how ecology shapes student horizons.36:00 – A bourbon detour: Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, and Kentucky connections.39:45 – Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce: Kopp's burgers, Lakefront Brewery, and cheese curds.43:15 – Raw vs. fried cheese curds: a meditation.44:20 – Rapid Descent.The ALP is supported by RHB, a division of SIG. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

By Robin S Webber - Holiness is foreign to our natural world. Thus, on the Day of Atonement we are spiritually enlightened to grasp what God declares and invites us in understanding His invitation: "I am holy therefore you be holy." Understanding this throughout Scripture from Leviticus16 to the Epistle of 1 Peter

In this episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt is joined by Dr. Laura MacIsaac and Padma, an ordained Buddhist and mindfulness teacher, to explore the complexities of perimenopause and menopause. The conversation centers around their upcoming Art of Pausing Retreat at Mama Farm, a regenerative farm founded by Isabella Rossellini. Together, they discuss the importance of blending medical insight, somatic wisdom, and spiritual grounding to support women navigating this significant life transition. The guests share their diverse backgrounds—Dr. MacIsaac as a seasoned OB-GYN and mentor, and Padma as a mindfulness coach and chaplain—highlighting the value of community and group dynamics in fostering healing and personal growth. They reflect on the power of gathering in a safe, supportive environment, where participants can openly share experiences, build trust, and find comfort in collective wisdom. The retreat is designed to address not only the physical aspects of menopause, such as bone health, sexual wellbeing, and brain function, but also the emotional and spiritual dimensions that are often overlooked in traditional medical settings. Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize the challenges of misinformation in the wellness space and the need for trustworthy, individualized guidance. They advocate for a holistic approach that integrates evidence-based science with compassionate self-care and mindfulness practices. Listeners are encouraged to pause, reflect, and embrace the journey of menopause with curiosity, community, and a renewed sense of self. Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Send us a textGreetings and welcome to Permission to Pause--The YOU TUBE version of this podcast is available at https://www.youtube.com/@patlaytonauthorThe Unstuck Woman Club mentioned is here: https://www.skool.com/the-unstuck-woman-club/about?ref=868be979afca4d5cb0fa88fe4bfa8da0Thank you for joining me on today's Permission to Pause. I would love to hear from you!For comments and episode suggestions contact pat@patlayton.netI'd love to have you vsist my BLOG to join the conversation at patlayton.net Join the conversation via my blog at www.patlayton.net PLUS my IG REELS https://www.instagram.com/patlayton/reels/Find DEEPER DIVE Pause notes and LOTS OF FREE RESOURCES here. Again! Thank you for Pausing with me!

Why I'm Changing My Fitness Routine After Hernia SurgeryClick On My Website Below To Schedule A Free 15 Min Zoom Call:www.Over40FitnessHacks.comOver 40 Fitness Hacks SKOOL Group!Get Your Whoop4.0 Here!Glutathione Patch:Episode Summary – Post-Hernia Recovery & New Fitness PlanRecovery ContextBrad Williams (Over 40 Fitness Hacks) shares his post-hernia surgery update and how the recovery process is forcing him to pause and re-evaluate his approach. While the downtime is frustrating, it's giving him space to reset his training and nutrition strategy.Protein-focused intermittent fasting: 180–200g of protein across 2 meals daily.Routine:3 full-body gym sessions (30 minutes, time under tension, circuit style).PT/rebounding on Tues & Thurs.Daily 1–2 mile walks.Planned HIIT trampoline sessions (not always done).Supplements: Glutathione patches boosted caloric expenditure and energy when used, but results declined after stopping.Routine stagnation: Same workouts/walks no longer elevate heart rate beyond Zone 2.Calorie balance: Needs ~1800–2000 calories daily to feel good, but weight loss requires dipping to ~1500, which tanks energy, hormones, and libido.Reluctant to adopt other cardio forms (boxing, yoga, pilates) despite potential benefits.Not interested in “outworking” calories with marathon-style activity like his brother's volleyball sessions.Red light therapy (Trifecta Light): Tried 12 sessions ($200 unlimited). Minimal personal results (slight arm nerve relief), but his 80-year-old mom noticed some weight loss. Brad is skeptical it's worth it for him long-term.Glutathione patches (Lifewave): Previously the best measurable boost on Whoop data, may revisit later.Testing over supplement overload: Pausing new supplement trials to focus on his own experiment with diet/training changes.Nutrition Shift:Move from 2 meals → 3 meals daily.Increase protein to 225–250g/day (all from real meat, no whey or pea protein).Lunch carries most carbs/fats, dinner focuses on salad + lean proteins (Mediterranean style: fish, chicken, crab, scallops).Maintain monthly 36–48 hour fasts for autophagy, while loosening daily fasting windows.Training Adjustments:Recommit to HIIT once per week (30s on/off on rebounder with vest, dumbbells, band, oxygen mask).Keep gym/rehab/walking structure, but recognize the need for stimulus change if progress stalls.Biohacker's Edge:Lean on protein-driven thermogenesis and added lean mass to naturally raise BMR.Hold off on glutathione patches until he proves the new plan works.If you're interested in online personal training or being a guest on my podcast, "Over 40 Fitness Hacks," you can reach me at brad@over40fitnesshacks.com or visit my website at:www.Over40FitnessHacks.comAdditionally, check out my Yelp reviews for my local business, Evolve Gym in Huntington Beach, at https://bit.ly/3GCKRzV

Hey, friend. Whether you are someone who has been listening to the podcast since the beginning or you just found me through one of the recent conferences I spoke at, I want to say welcome, and I'm glad you're here. It would seem as if God has a funny sense of timing, and He's asking me to pause the podcast for a while. I need to practice what I preach: taking breaks, caring for my family first, and leaning in to my relationship with Him so that I can continue doing the work He has called me to. That's the very thing I spoke about last week, and at the Lead Well conference this past Saturday. So for the time being, I'll be stepping away from the podcast. Kari ______ Other Resources ·       Daniele Evans – spiritual director with trauma and writing ·       Karen Altzier – grief coach ·       Julie Lynn Ashley – grief coach ·       Kristin Vanderlip – writing and grief ·       Kristen Joy – coach for Christian women and ministry leaders ·       Jennifer Shook – inner healing coach ·       Heather O'Brien – healing with God   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently >> Speaking http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking   Music by DappyTKeys

This is a recording of a live guided meditation.  The meditation guide and the members of the public who joined the meditation used the Zoom platform.   Even though you are listening to this meditation as a recording rather than attending live, in the world of consciousness, there is no time or space. Meaning, regardless of when you listen, you are in a meditation with a large group of folks from different walks of life and places on the planet.Meditation Guide: Eric Hansen. Master Meditation Guide of Divine Spark Program.Eric's Meditation Guide Style: Clear, simple instruction is easy to follow, delivered in a kind voice. Balance of insightful perspectives and lighthearted humor gives you tools and support for finding balance and self-compassion.Content: Features these tools and techniques:Grounding (Earth connection) Releasing Centering Intentional Breathing Center of Head awareness Finding the energy flow of universal consciousness within you, then stepping into it 

We're kicking off our Self Care September: Exploration of Stillness series with a powerful conversation you don't want to miss. I'm joined by Emma Treharne, Founder of Nuveya Life, who brings over 30 years of experience in the wellness field. Emma blends ancient wisdom with modern-day science (and a sprinkle of humor!) to guide individuals and teams from exhaustion and dysregulation into clarity, joy, and authentic connection. Her own journey through burnout, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation inspired her to create transformative programs like Tired to Inspired, The Path to Purpose, and Mindful Leadership. Emma has supported corporate medical companies like Wright Medical, Stryker, and Healx, as well as countless individuals navigating the gap between hectic modern life and the embodied wisdom of ancient practices. In this episode, we explore: ✨ How internal and external pressures create hidden stressors and cycles of burnout ✨ Why pausing for integration is essential for nervous system repair ✨ Practical tools like guided pause practices and yoga nidra to close the stress circuit ✨ The role of community, belonging, and trauma-informed support in sustainable well-being This is your invitation to pause, listen, and discover what stillness could mean for you.

André, The Impulsive Thinker™, takes a real look at what it means to truly disconnect from your business and reconnect with yourself. In this short episode, André reflects on stepping away for a month, rediscovering his genuine self, and breaking free from people pleasing and perfection. He discusses how setting boundaries isn't selfish—it's needed for any ADHD Entrepreneur striving for clarity, focus, and energy. Tune in to hear how André's August off didn't just recharge him, but gave him a new way to lead, work, and live authentically. Find out why protecting your time as an ADHD Entrepreneur matters more than you think.  

Free Offerings to Get You StartedWork with DellaGet my branding prices guideResourcesThe EVERYTHING-DONE-4-U Branding Package with Sigma Studio Repurpose Ai: Streamline your content creation and repurpose effortlessly with ⁠Repurpose Ai⁠.Later Content Scheduling: Simplify your social media strategy with ⁠Later⁠.Flodesk: Elevate your email marketing with Flodesk – get 50% off your first year using ⁠this link⁠.Other Resources:Submit a question to be featured on the podcast and receive live coaching! Send a voice note or fill out the⁠ question form⁠.Where To Find Us:Instagram:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠TikTok:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠Newsletter:⁠ Subscribe here⁠.Threads:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠.Inner worth is the anchor that makes your business and relationships feel steady, honest and easeful. In this conversation with Feminine Embodiment Coach Della Murphy, we explore how self-worth shapes your client attraction, your boundaries and your capacity to receive. When you stop chasing and convincing, and start leading from inner alignment, you become naturally magnetic to the right clients and partners.We unpack the difference between external validation and internal validation, why unshakeable standards protect your time and energy, and how self-trust and consistency allow you to grow without burning out. Della shares grounded practices for pausing, getting clear on your needs and communicating from a place of self-respect so your actions line up with your values in business and love.If you are a values-led woman building an aligned business, this episode will help you release the pressure to perform and instead cultivate a deep sense of worth that informs your offers, your content and your relationships. Expect simple mindset shifts and practical steps you can use this week.Tune in to hear:How internal validation becomes a reliable compass for decision-making and sales.How to set and hold boundaries that honour your energy and create trust with premium clients.How to build self-trust and consistency so showing up online feels calm and sustainable.How to enjoy the process in dating and business by pausing, noticing and choosing aligned action.Find the Complete Show Notes Here → ⁠https://sigmawmn.com/podcast⁠In This Episode, You'll Learn:How to ground a multi-passionate vision into a clear creative direction and cohesive product philosophy.How systems create freedom in a product business, from supply chain to content, so you can stay consistent without burning out.How to protect your brand integrity when scaling production and collaborating with overseas vendors.How to shift your mindset around visibility so you can take up space online and build trust with your ideal clients.Themes & Time Stamps:[2:58] Sigma Studio Branding Package offer[4:38] Prerequisite for coaching — Brand Magnetism 101[8:09] Della's background, approach and core values[13:35] What is Feminine Embodiment Coaching[16:24] The importance of self-worth and internal validation[19:01] External validation vs internal validation[21:04] Boundaries and unshakeable standards[24:23] How self-treatment sets the standard[27:03] The role of self-trust and consistency[29:43] Pausing and self-awareness in decision-making[26:34] Dating advice — mindset and beliefs[28:45] Enjoying the process in dating and business[33:31] Della's experience with coaching and what sets the host apart

In this episode of More Yourself, we explore my 'APBR Method': a simple four-step approach to help you respond to life with awareness and intention. For ADHD women navigating overwhelm, anxiety, or emotional reactivity, this method offers a way to ground yourself in the present and choose how you want to show up.We'll discuss creating space between your triggers and your response, learning to breathe through discomfort, and releasing old patterns that no longer serve you. With compassion for your past self and clarity about who you're becoming, this is your invitation to move forward with more ease and self-trust.My new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, is now available, grab your copy here!What You'll Learn:What is my APBR Method: Awareness, Pause, Breathe, Release/Respond.Why self-awareness is the first step toward meaningful change.How to pause and respond with intention in stressful situations.Breathing and grounding techniques for emotional regulation and clarity. How to release old patterns and step out of the default mode network.Finding “glimmers” — small moments of joy, safety, and presence.How community and connection support your growth and authenticity.Timestamps:03:42 - Introducing the APBR Method03:56 - Soothe Your Anxiety07:46 - The Importance of Pausing for Perspective11:11 - Embracing Groundedness in Chaotic Times14:54 - The Journey to a New Version of OurselvesThis episode is here to help you slow down, tune in, and respond from a place of intention, not survival. If you're ready to go deeper and grow in community, The More Yourself membership is here.Join the More Yourself Community - the doors are now open!More Yourself is a compassionate space for late-diagnosed ADHD women to connect, reflect, and come home to who they really are.Inside the More Yourself Membership, you'll be able to:Connect with like-minded women who understand you Learn from guest experts and practical toolsReceive compassionate prompts & gentle remindersEnjoy voice-note encouragement from KateJoin flexible meet-ups and mentoring sessionsAccess on-demand workshops and quarterly guest expert sessionsWe'll also be walking through The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit together, exploring nervous system regulation, burnout recovery, RSD, joy, hormones, and self-trust, so the book comes alive in a supportive community setting.Launch Details:Early Bird Discount: 16th–23rd September — only £18/month Join now! Links and Resources:Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website

In this Relationships at Work mini-episode, host Russel Lolacher gets real about the warning signs of burnout and why stepping back is one of the most important — and overlooked — leadership skills. Drawing from his own experience producing daily episodes, running a newsletter, and working a full-time job, Russel shares how to recognize when your passion is turning into a grind, and how to model sustainable leadership by setting boundaries.You'll learn:The early signs burnout is creeping in — before it hits hardWhy pausing isn't failure but a necessary leadership practiceThree actionable steps to spot and address burnout earlyIf you've been feeling your joy fade, your fuse shorten, or your energy drop, this episode will remind you that protecting your well-being is how you protect your impact as a leader.And connect with me for more great content! Sign Up for R@W Notes Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Instagram Follow me on Threads Follow on TikTok Email me anytime

Seven and a half years ago, a simple question on a cousin's patio changed everything: "How do you stay intentional as a dad?" That moment sparked what became 400 podcast conversations, over 1,000 men mobilized in activation events, and a million dollars raised for ministries serving the fatherless. In this milestone episode, Jeff celebrates by looking back at God's faithfulness, sharing the first-ever preview of the upcoming Dad Awesome book, and highlighting transformational moments from 16 unforgettable conversations that shaped this movement. Takeaways: Milestone moments matter - Pausing to celebrate and shine the spotlight on what God has done builds faith for the journey ahead Small yeses create waves - Dad Awesome wasn't built on one grand gesture but hundreds of small commitments to growth over eight years Intentionality transforms everything - Just like discovering great coffee, small shifts in daily rhythms can revolutionize your entire approach to fatherhood Stories cascade through generations - When dads point to God's goodness consistently, children naturally learn to do the same with their own kids Community accelerates growth - The DA plus three model shows that fatherhood gets exponentially better when you're not doing it alone Generosity reveals faith - Taking steps forward in generosity, whether with time, words, or resources, grows our trust in God's faithfulness Links: Learn about the next DadAwesome Accelerator Cohort Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618 Download a free chapter of the DadAwesome book Clips from 16 DadAwesome Episodes: 25 | Patei Iyegha 38 | Pursuing Shalom, Chasing Dreams & Being All-On-Dad (Paul Hurckman) 77 | Crafting Key Moments, Modeling KINDNESS & Praying with Desperation (Ryan Skoog) 98 | Awaken The Warrior Heart (Pablo Ceron) 137 | Spirit-Filled Parenting, Hearing God's Voice, & Shaping our Kids as Arrows (Seth Dahl) 148 | Andy Crouch - The Tech-Wise Family 187 | Jon Tyson on Skillful Manhood, Capturing First Moments & The Intentional Father 214 | Context, Fainting Goats & Being Secretly Awesome (Bob Goff) 238 | A Place for the Heart (Ken Helser) 250 | Raising Kids Humbly, Loving Your Wife Fully, and Soaring Joyfully (Morgan Snyder) 286 | Parenting for the Third Generation, Building Family Assets, and Championing the Beauty of Fatherhood (Jeremy Pryor) 298 | Dialing In, Leading with Love, and Being the Loudest Voice in Your Child's Ears (Dr. Jackson Drumgoole) 314 | Tackling Fear in a War Zone, Modeling Courage, and Embracing Your True Identity (Jamie Winship) 364 | Bedtime Blessings, Birthday Letters, and 5 Simple but Life-Changing Habits (Justin Whitmel Earley) 375 | Experiential Christianity, Lingering with Jesus, and The War for Your Attention (John Eldredge) 385 | Raising Kids Who Live Generously, Creating Miracle Moments, and the 1% Challenge (Todd Harper)    

✨ What if the job you have right now is already the perfect job for you? In this replay of a fan-favorite episode, Kristi is joined by leadership coach Sam Dailey to challenge us to rethink how we view work, leadership, and even ourselves. From real stories of burnout and missed opportunities to the surprising power of vulnerability, feedback, and genuine appreciation, Sam shows how a simple shift in mindset can change everything. This episode is packed with insights on pausing before reacting, opening up instead of closing off, and leading with authenticity. Whether you're chasing growth or just craving better vibes at work, this one will leave you rethinking your everyday approach.

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Conflict is normal - but it often escalates during teenage years because our kids are trying to assert their own wishes, and probably aren't very skilled at it.As parents, it's easy to fall into classic conflict traps if we don't have the skills for resolving disagreements.In this episode we talk about the key techniques we can use - and teach - to ease tension and bust-ups at home and elsewhere. What's even better is that by learning techniques for being assertive - and listening until everyone feels understood - we can turn conflict into a positive that deepens our relationships and creates lifelong bonds of understanding.LUFU technique (Listening Until Fully Understood)Conflict Resolution Techniques, Assertive Communication  * O - Objective description of behavior  * F - Feelings expression  * A - Effect on relationships  * Pausing and listening strategiesMy Substack:https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/p/good-parenting-starts-with-your-values?r=2u24i0Blog:https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/blog/Conflict-management-skills/RESOURCES:An excellent book:   Making Great Relationships by Rick Hanson Websites used:https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/communicating-relationships/communicating/conflict-management-with-teenshttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224545.1994.9923015 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891524502883249Other sources of help:https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/familyline/https://www.keycharity.org.uk/help-and-support/resolve-family-issues/http://www.familylives.org.uk/https://www.relate.org.uk/get-helphttps://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/OtoZen — a new driving safety appAre you worried about your teenager getting distracted behind the wheel? The OtoZen app helps in real time — not just after something's gone wrong. It has voice alerts, drive scores, and even safe driving challenges you can set together, it's the kind of tech that actually helps your teen build better habits. OtoZen — a new driving safety app OtoZen helps build better habits in real time with voice alerts, drive scores, and safey challenges.Support the showThis episode is sponsored by OtoZen: The brilliant new driving safety app https://www.otozen.com Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com And my website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk

09-15-25 - WWBD - Her Husband Doesn't Like When She Uses Toys During Sex - Cowboys Fan Tried Holmberg's Release Method For Stress - His Wife Got On Him For Pausing Emmys For Sydney SweeneySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

09-15-25 - WWBD - Her Husband Doesn't Like When She Uses Toys During Sex - Cowboys Fan Tried Holmberg's Release Method For Stress - His Wife Got On Him For Pausing Emmys For Sydney SweeneySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode Summary:This episode is for the woman who's tired of performing peace but not actually feeling it in her body. For the one who keeps asking God for change but knows deep down it's time to change how she shows up too.In this raw and reflective episode, I'm walking you through the very real shift I've been making lately — not just in what I say I want, but in how I actually live. We're talking:Praying differently (and not just when everything's falling apart)Hearing God in the quiet instead of waiting on the thunderReacting without letting ego run the roomRedefining femininity outside of being the “easy” womanWaiting with purpose, not panicAnd learning how to let myself dream without putting pressure on the outcomeIt's layered. It's honest. It's not me trying to be “soft life” or perfect — it's me becoming my own safe space in real time.Why This Episode Matters:We say we want different, but keep doing the same thing. This episode is your nudge to switch it up — in your prayer life, in your patience, in your posture, in how you imagine the next version of yourself.Segments Include:✨ God check-in: Praying with honesty, not performance

Even just a few minutes of dancing can shift energy, release emotions, and remind us to care for ourselves while we care for others.Summary: Dance isn't just fun—it's scientifically shown to make us happier, ease stress, and strengthen social bonds. From swaying in the kitchen to joining a community class, movement helps us regulate our nervous systems and reconnect with joy. In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore what the science says about how dancing supports well-being for parents, caregivers, and families.How To Do This Practice:  Pick a Song You Love: Choose music that makes you want to move. Even if it's just a little sway. It could be something upbeat or a song from your childhood that feels comforting. Start Small: Give yourself permission to move for just five minutes. No pressure to “work out”—the goal is to shift your energy and lift your mood. Follow Your Body: Sway, step, shake, or spin. There's no right or wrong way. Let your body lead instead of worrying about looking a certain way. Play with Pausing: Try stopping mid-song for a “freeze” moment, then move again. Pausing helps build awareness, self-control, and a sense of play. Invite Connection: If you have kids, family, or friends around, pull them into the movement. Science shows that dancing together strengthens bonds and amplifies joy. Release and Reset: Notice how you feel after moving— lighter, calmer, maybe more grounded. Let dance be a way to release tension and return to your day with more energy. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today's Guests:  MAGDALENE MARTINEZ is a licensed clinical social worker who works with children, teens and adults. Learn more about Magdalene here: https://www.oceandustwellness.com/DR. ÖZGE UGURLU is a behavioral scientist in the social interaction lab at UC Berkeley. Her research centers on emotions, self-control, and child development.Add Dr. Ugurlu on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozge-ugurluRelated The Science of Happiness episodes:  Caring for Caregivers Series: https://tinyurl.com/4k2hv47jOur Caring for Caregivers series is supported by the Van Leer Foundation, an independent Dutch organization working globally to foster inclusive societies where all children and communities can flourish. To discover more insights from Van Leer Foundation and others on this topic, visit Early Childhood Matters, the leading platform for advancing topics on early childhood development and connecting diverse voices and ideas across disciplines that support the wellbeing of babies, toddlers and caregivers around the globe.Tell us about your experience with this practice. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription to come.

What happens when you strip away everything that looks good on paper to find what actually feels good in your body? After months away from the podcast, I'm back with the raw, honest story of my three-year unraveling - and why it led to the most aligned version of myself I've ever experienced. If you've been feeling the pull to slow down, redirect, or trust those whispers from your intuition, this episode is your permission slip to listen.

A difficult decision to make, but stepping back can often be the most beneficial choice.

Tony and his daughter Mackie (@beautybymackie) catch up on a lot of life. Since the last time they hit record, Mackie has navigated big career shifts, health challenges, and new adventures. Tony has faced major surgery and the loss of his mom (Mackie's grandmother). Together, they dive into the messy, uncomfortable, and often hilarious realities of change — why our brains resist it, why it feels so daunting in the moment, and why it's actually the engine of growth. From dad jokes about Gen Z slang to real talk about autoimmune diagnoses, resilience, and reinventing yourself, this conversation is equal parts laughter, honesty, and insight. If you're navigating your own season of change, this episode will remind you that discomfort isn't just survivable — it's what shapes who you're becoming. Follow Mackie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beautybymackie or Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@beautybymackie or subscribe to "The Mind, The Mirror and Me" wherever you listen to podcasts! 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:30 The Struggle with Change 02:16 Introducing Mackey McKinley 02:44 Life Updates and Major Changes 02:58 The Humor in Processing Change 03:25 Practical Gifts and Life Lessons 03:32 Social Media and Upcoming Events 04:10 Conversation with Mackey Begins 04:17 Casual Banter and Podcast Revival 05:56 Mackey's Career Journey 10:17 Health Challenges and Lifestyle Changes 28:21 The Concept of Healthy Ego 30:49 Defensive Ego and Feelings of Inferiority 31:10 Insecurity in Professional Settings 31:18 Hypersensitivity and Narcissistic Traits 32:01 Building a Healthy Ego 32:39 Passion vs. Obligation in Work 34:02 Personal Growth and Change 36:20 The Fear of the Unknown 38:37 The Illusion of Control 39:19 Coping with Discomfort and Growth 40:12 Therapy and Emotional Support 49:13 The Power of Pausing and Acceptance 54:13 Mackey's Wellness Journey 56:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

After 370 episodes of this podcast, I'm sharing what I've learned about building a business that honors both your ambitions and your humanity. Sometimes the most aligned thing you can do is pause, reflect, and show up honestly instead of perfectly. Today's episode isn't about strategy or tactics, it's about the real journey of creating work that serves your life, even when that means admitting you need a nap at 2 PM.     WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE Why showing up honestly beats showing up perfectly every time How rest and reflection are actually business strategies, not obstacles to success The real transformation that happens over 370 episodes (hint: it's not what you think) Why honoring your current season might be more important than your next big strategy What it looks like to build a business that truly serves your life, tiredness, and all   RESOURCES & LINKS Related Episodes: Episode 48: The Power of the Pause Episode 324: Why External Actions Don't Always Lead To Sustainable Results   CONNECT & TAKE ACTION Find Christine: Email: christine@manipuracentre.co Podcast: Make More Money as a Dietitian on Apple Podcasts | Spotify Community: Join 1200+ dietitians in The Make More Money as a Dietitian Community  Instagram: @money.mindset.dietitian Website: manipuracentre.co Your Next Steps: Step 1: Honor Where You Are What season are you in right now? Building? Pausing? Integrating? There's no wrong answer — just honest awareness. Step 2: Share Your Reflection Send me a message about what you're taking away from this pause. What resonated? What season are you honoring right now? Step 3: Join the CommunityConnect with dietitians who understand the unique challenges of building a business in our profession in the Make More Money as a Dietitian Facebook Community.    

In this milestone episode, we reflect on the lessons learned during our recent 'prayerful pause'. Instead of walking away with a grand plan, we discovered something deeper—a renewed spirit, a rested soul, and a thankful heart.  Together, we’ll explore how seasons of waiting can shape our faith, guide our stewardship, and reframe how we view both scarcity and abundance. Join us as we embrace the pause, lean into God’s whispers, and find peace in serving faithfully right where we are. In this episode, John discusses: The value of a 'pause' even when it doesn't deliver a clear plan How waiting seasons can strengthen our stewardship journey Hearing God’s direction in subtle, quiet ways Staying faithful with what we already have Key Takeaways: Pausing may not always reveal all the answers, but it can restore, refresh, and reignite. When clarity is missing, we can look back at what God has already done and faithfully use what we have. God often guides us through gentle whispers, not always in dramatic signs, teaching us to slow down and listen closely. Seasons of waiting are not wasted—they are times when God is preparing us for the next faithful step. “Pausing does not come easy for me… but I knew that God was inviting me to walk closer to Him and to clarity and to you, this community around Money Made Faithful.”  CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE MONEY MADE FAITHFUL! VISIT MONEY MADE FAITHFUL: https://moneymadefaithful.com/   GET FREE RESOURCES when you join THE HUB: https://moneymadefaithful.com/resource-library-access/Landing-page   BOOK A WORKSHOP & DETAILS: https://moneymadefaithful.com/money-made-faithful-workshop-2/Landing-page   INVITE JOHN TO SPEAK at your conference, church, or event:  https://moneymadefaithful.com/services   SPECIAL SAVINGS ON JOHN'S BOOK, 'He Spends She Spends' and the small group guide: https://moneymadefaithful.com/shop   FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: @MoneyMadeFaithful   FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @MoneyMadeFaithful   If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!

It's that time of the year again! In the second part of the anniversary we find out how Hasan has been, the continued drama of Boogie, Drinker not fighting the war with Disney, why opinions matter and how would you rank all the Marvel movies?| Original Airdate: 24th August 2025 | Watch it here: https://youtu.be/jXoFMBx7hUQ

It's that time of the year again! The final part of the anniversary where we find out the rest of the updates on Boogie, what exactly bad writing is, the survey results and a announcement from Mauler! | Original Airdate: 24th August 2025 | Watch it here: https://youtu.be/YqEeKgY6wP8

In this thought-provoking episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony and Jesse explore the complex relationship between Christian vocation and professional ambition. Moving beyond the obvious prohibition of inherently sinful professions, they examine whether certain legitimate careers might still be inappropriate for Christians if they compromise our responsibilities to family and church. The hosts challenge the common assumption that Christians should seek maximum worldly influence, suggesting instead that faithfulness in our threefold calling—to work, family, and church—should guide our vocational choices. Drawing on Reformed theology's rich understanding of vocation, they offer practical wisdom for believers navigating career decisions and workplace responsibilities while maintaining spiritual priorities in a culture that often glorifies professional success at any cost. Key Takeaways Vocation is threefold: A proper understanding of Christian vocation includes responsibilities to our work, our families, and our church—not just our careers. Lord's Day conflicts: Professions that regularly prevent church attendance and Lord's Day observance may be inappropriate for Christians, regardless of their potential for influence or impact. Family obligations: Scripture teaches that Christians who neglect family responsibilities are "worse than unbelievers" (1 Tim. 5:8), suggesting that careers demanding excessive time away from family may be problematic. Christian influence vs. gospel proclamation: We must distinguish between transforming culture through worldly influence versus the actual proclamation of the gospel, which can happen at any level of employment. Sacrifice is expected: Following Christ often requires sacrificing career advancement, prestige, or financial gain to fulfill our primary callings. Priority check: When considering job opportunities, Christians should evaluate church options in a new location with the same care they give to schools, housing, and other community factors. God calls us to faithfulness: Our primary calling is to faithfulness in our responsibilities, not necessarily to positions of maximum influence or cultural power. Balancing the Threefold Calling The hosts challenge the idea that Christians should prioritize career advancement and influence above all else. They argue that vocation in the Reformed tradition encompasses more than just our paid work—it includes our responsibilities to family and church as well. This means that even if a career opportunity seems beneficial for "kingdom influence," we must evaluate whether it allows us to fulfill our other God-given duties. Tony points out that while some professions clearly contradict Christian ethics, others may subtly undermine our ability to be faithful in all areas of life. A high-powered executive role might provide platforms for influence but could require such time commitments that family relationships suffer or regular Lord's Day worship becomes impossible. As Jesse observes, "vocation is fundamentally God's doing," not simply about finding personal fulfillment or maximizing impact. This framework helps believers evaluate career choices more holistically. The Question of Christian Influence A central question emerges throughout the episode: Should Christians pursue positions of maximum influence to advance kingdom values? While this idea sounds appealing, the hosts suggest it often masks a "theology of glory" rather than embracing the "theology of the cross." Jesse notes that "God doesn't call us to necessarily have outside impact. What he's calling us to is faithfulness." They distinguish between the transformative power of the gospel—which can be proclaimed regardless of position—and other ways of transforming culture through worldly influence. Tony explains that "whether you're the janitor of the hospital or whether you're the CEO of the hospital, the gospel is the same and your role in proclaiming the gospel is the same." This perspective challenges Christians to reconsider whether pursuing leadership positions always aligns with God's calling, especially when such roles might compromise other spiritual obligations. The hosts argue that faithfulness in ordinary circumstances, not exceptional influence, should be our primary aim. Quotes "Would it be great if the CEO of a major Fortune 500 company could be a Christian? Yeah. That would be kind of cool. But if the trade-off is that person has to sacrifice their genuine Christian convictions, that's not worth it." - Tony Arsenal "I do think we have to sit back and ask, is that the calling? So that we're pursuing what is our vocation, not just our potential... I think there is a real temptation to somehow say like, what we need to do is to infiltrate in all the places. And I think what we mean by that is that things here will be better." - Jesse Schwamb "I think the Bible is clearer about a person who is taken away from their home more than is reasonable and more than is healthy for their family, or a Christian who never is able to worship on the Lord's day... than it is on something like identity politics and some of the tangential ways that might cause a person to need to compromise a little bit at a high level." - Tony Arsenal Practical Applications The hosts suggest several practical considerations for Christians evaluating career opportunities: Will this job regularly prevent Lord's Day worship? Does it require sacrificing time with family beyond what's reasonable? Could you negotiate Sabbath observance with potential employers? When relocating, evaluate church options with the same care given to schools and housing Consider whether a lower-paying job that allows faithfulness in all areas might be better than a higher-paying one that doesn't Full Transcript [00:00:00] Introduction and Episode Overview [00:00:08] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 458 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:00:16] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast where even your work is unto the glory of God. Hey brother. Hey [00:00:24] Jesse Schwamb: brother. You know that's right. It [00:00:26] Tony Arsenal: is. That's why I said it. [00:00:28] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, it was. That's a great way to open. We, I think from time to time come back to the topic of work and we've got a great, I think, conversation in the queue for this particular episode. [00:00:39] Jesse Schwamb: Now it's gonna sound maybe on the face. Right off the top here. Familiar. So of course, like we've talked before, how scripture makes it clear that Christians are to be salt and light in the world. And we've talked, I think, at length about, well, how exactly do we carry out that? And though we know that we're not saved by our good works. [00:00:57] Jesse Schwamb: Again, the Bible teaches very clearly that God expects good works from Christians, that that is in fact what he saves us to do. Again, we're not saved by those good works, but the question I think still remains, and we're gonna come to it in this conversation about what exactly does he want us to do and where does he want us to do it. [00:01:13] Jesse Schwamb: So in other words, we know that according to scripture, God providentially, governs and cares for his entire creation. So how does that play out in human society given the reality of sin? So we're gonna get to topics like. Well, should Christians be in every line of work? Is that the ideal? Are there jobs or positions or responsibilities that seemingly may not be obvious that Christians really shouldn't be a part of? [00:01:37] Jesse Schwamb: Because it takes them too far afield, maybe from the responsibilities that God gives us holistically to think of our calling is and our families and our churches in our work. So it's a bit more nuanced play of a conversation we had before, but hopefully something that's gonna have all kinds of practicality wrapped around it. [00:01:55] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. So that's what's coming. [00:01:56] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I'm stoked. I think this is gonna be a good conversation and I think I, I think this is one of those topics where like there's a lot of different angles to come at it from, right? We talk about vocation and work, and we've had those conversations before, and I think other shows and other venues have had that conversation before. [00:02:15] Tony Arsenal: I don't think that I've encountered a conversation really to this like angle of it. So I'm looking forward to this. [00:02:23] Jesse Schwamb: Me too. It's gonna be great. And of course, before we get to all that goodness, all that greatness, which I'm sure is about to transpire shortly and will be of course the definitive conversation, the one to end all to, I guess both to your point, bring it into the world. [00:02:36] Jesse Schwamb: Then to shut it down because we'll have accomplished both ends in just a single hour. [00:02:41] Affirmations and Denials [00:02:41] Jesse Schwamb: Before we get to that, let's do some affirming or denying. This is the part of our conversation where you and I always pick one thing either that we're affirming with and kind of the tradition of the reformed faith, where we take something that's undervalued or something that excites us, we think has great merit or worth, and we put out into the world and say, we're standing behind this thing, or conversely, we deny against it in that same kind of tradition by saying, this thing is overvalued, not worth it. [00:03:05] Jesse Schwamb: Not our jam. So in our tradition, I ask you are you affirming with something or are you not against something? [00:03:11] Tony Arsenal: I'm affirming with something specific that will lead to something general. So, okay. [00:03:16] Exploring AI in Learning [00:03:16] Tony Arsenal: I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I've been playing around with Google Gemini, which is Google's AI platform. [00:03:22] Tony Arsenal: And uh, I've been using it in a sort of interesting way. So Google has, uh, Gemini has these things called gems, which are basically like predefined personalities or predefined. I dunno, like instructions. So they have one gem that is a learning guide where basically you can give it a topic and it will, it will deliver mini lectures, give you quizzes, you can prompt it. [00:03:46] Tony Arsenal: So like I can paste in, um, you know, I can take in Lagos, I can paste a copy of the Bible, like a chapter of the Bible into the learning guide. It'll summarize it, it'll ask me questions. It'll basically gimme many lectures on it. Um, that's the specific thing. This is such a cool technology. And in my mind, this is really where AI is strong, is that you can take large sections of text and it will summarize it and synthesize it into a very usable format. [00:04:14] Tony Arsenal: Um, so what I've been doing, like I said, is I'll read, I'll read a, a chunk of text from whatever it is I'm reading, and then I'll copy and paste that entire chunk of text if it's an electronic text into the learning. Learning guide module and ask it to act as like a seminary lecturer and quiz me on the content. [00:04:33] Tony Arsenal: Um, which really helps to solidify the content I'm reading rather than just passing my eyes over it. I'm actually, um, processing it and retaining it more. I think you could probably do something similar with just about any AI platform if you had the right kind of prompt, which is where the general one comes in. [00:04:50] Tony Arsenal: And I would encourage you, listener to think a little bit about how you might utilize this, because I think we all read lots and lots of things. Our, our, um, particular audience tends to be a little bookish, and so I'm sure we're all reading things as we go, but I'm not sure we're always processing things in the most effective way. [00:05:07] Tony Arsenal: So think a little bit about like how you might use something like chat, GPT, which is available for free, or Claude, which is available for free to do this kind of like. Almost like simulated classroom lecture. Um, and I know there are some questions about ai. Like I, I heard an argument that ai, when you're generating content is, is a sort of form of sophisticated, uh, plagiarism, which I'm not sure I buy it, but I understand the argument. [00:05:33] Tony Arsenal: This is something very different where you're really just using the, using the AI to synthesize and summarize text and sort of spit it back to you in a new format. Um, you're not trying to generate anything new. You're not trying to create anything. That you're gonna publish or anything like that. It's really just a, a form of synthesis. [00:05:49] Tony Arsenal: So I've really found this to be super beneficial. Um, I'm having a really great time at it. I'm, I'm using it for language studies, so I'm reading through mount's basics, biblical Greek. And I'll copy and paste the whole chapter in, ask it to act as a lecturer, and it will walk me through the chapter. It'll stop to do quizzes. [00:06:08] Tony Arsenal: It'll drill me on vocab as I'm going. And then when, when I up, the instruction I get is, don't move forward until you are convinced that I've mastered the content. And so when I get something wrong, it goes back and makes me redo it. So it continues to iterate until it's, until the AI has. Synthesize that I have mastered the content, and then it asks me to provide the next chapter. [00:06:30] Tony Arsenal: So it's a cool technology. It's a, it's a sort of novel use for the technology. Um, again, Google has built in modules that do this, but I think you could probably use chat, GPT or Claude or Orrock or whatever AI model you're using to accomplish the same goal. [00:06:45] Jesse Schwamb: There's no doubt that AI is great for like building study notes, helping you create space, repetition, all those like little hacks that we have long talked about. [00:06:53] Jesse Schwamb: And this provides it to you in a really bespoke course customized way, but it gets you involved. I'm with you if you wanna do this the old fashioned way. I'll go back to something I I've affirmed with before and that's this very famous book originally authored in the 1940s called How to Read a Book by Mor Mortimer, j Adler, and that is an exercise. [00:07:13] Jesse Schwamb: Helping you do some of that stuff in real time as well. Yeah, so I think there'd be a lovely compliment to say you're reading actively and then you get to test immediately that active reading by way of using ai. So even before, like, maybe even just jumping to like, well, let me read it, but I'm, I'm gonna trust that AI's gonna really kind of supplement me or fill in the gaps and just gimme what I need to know. [00:07:33] Jesse Schwamb: Trying to do that in real time. Pausing in your reading. Again, kind of studying as you go along, thinking out loud through what you've just read and then saying, alright, now test me is a great way to, 'cause who wants to like read stuff unless you can remember this stuff and then unless you can apply it, right? [00:07:48] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. So it's such a joy to be able to read things and then to remember. And if you haven't had that experience yet, I like your affirmation. I think this is a great way to test it out. [00:07:56] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, just to maybe flesh this out. So I, I asked it to, and I'm, I'm doing this sort of as an experiment just to see how it works, but also just 'cause it's, it's useful. [00:08:06] Tony Arsenal: I asked it to act as a seminary lecturer and I copied and paste the entire first chapter of the Westminster Confession. And rather than split it up by section and actually combined paragraphs that were. Um, related to each other. So it combined the list of Bible, uh, books, and then the chapter on apocrypha and gave me some like lectures. [00:08:25] Tony Arsenal: But here's what it said about, um, about chapter 10. It says, paragraph 10, declares the supreme judge can be no other than the Holy Spirit speaking scripture. This is the ultimate outworking of sola Scripture, means that every other authority is lesser authority that must submit to the judgment of the word of God. [00:08:42] Tony Arsenal: This includes decrees of church counsels. Opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, private spirits. It goes on for a little while longer. Then it says, I will give you a brief final quiz covering the whole of chapter one, and it asks questions like A historian makes the following claim. The Bible only has authority. [00:08:59] Tony Arsenal: It does because influential councils in the early church, like the Council of Carthage officially voted on which books would be included in the cannon. The church therefore gave the Bible its authority drawing from your knowledge of paragraphs three, uh, three, four, and five. Provide a two-part critique of the historian statement. [00:09:16] Tony Arsenal: Which then I had to type it out. It critiqued, um, it analyzed my answer. Um, I happened to get that question right. I did at one point think maybe this is actually just like finding a way to say everything that I say is right. So I purposely put a wrong answer in and it did identify that the answer was wrong, and then it made me go back and revisit that content. [00:09:35] Tony Arsenal: So it's very, it's a very cool use case. I'm glad that Google kind of built this in. They have all sorts of other gems. If you have, if you have a way to get access to Google Gemini, um. It's not the best AI for everything, but it's got, it's pretty versatile. It's got a lot of utility, so check it out. [00:09:53] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that sounds great. [00:09:53] Jesse Schwamb: Again, there's all kinds of fun things I think we could be using AI for to help us be better learners or to really enjoy our interaction with data and information more. Yeah. It is a really great way to conversationally help you to learn something, and that's what makes it so much better. It stands way far apart from, again, just leading, just reading or just creating flashcards or even just, just creating study notes, but that back and forth to test you on something, even if it's just like casual knowledge that you can really want to internalize. [00:10:21] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I found that to be super valuable. Again, like, man, if you're a learner, if you're a reader, if you're a human being, what an amazing time to live in the world where data is so prevalent, but it's increasingly being brought into a place where we can put our arms around it in a way in which we're trying to really understand it. [00:10:38] Jesse Schwamb: You know, I think about how we used to search for something, I mean. Used to like this that like, that wasn't like last year. You know what I mean? Like we just go on to our, your favorite search engine. Type in a topic or maybe type in even a specific question. And at best you'd have to sort through this litany, this plethora, this morass of all these links about articles that may pertain to what you asked. [00:10:58] Jesse Schwamb: Or maybe they pertain to it generally, but not really specifically. Yeah. The specificity with which you can have a conversational interaction that engenders knowledge is wild. I mean, I really think that is like the huge play of ai. Just lean into it and enjoy it. [00:11:12] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. Jesse, what are you affirming or denying tonight? [00:11:16] Nasal Spray Affirmation [00:11:16] Jesse Schwamb: I'm going a totally different direction. It's an affirmation, but I'm taking it from my ears, nose, nose, and throat doctor who affirmed this to me, so I might be totally late on this. There are very few things that I can say like somebody's recommended to me or affirm. It's been like absolute game changer, like just drop dead from the first moment I used it or employed the thing that it just changed everything. [00:11:38] Jesse Schwamb: This is one of those things. Which maybe I've just already oversold, but the affirmation is with something called it's, it's spelled X-L-E-A-R, I think it's still pronounced clear, but it's called literally phonetically XL nasal spray, and it's a. This doesn't sound very exciting, but bear with me everybody. [00:11:57] Jesse Schwamb: It's a natural, non-addictive saline nasal spray featuring Zi Atol as its primary active ingredient. So if you're not familiar with Zi Atol, which I wasn't until I went to my ENT by the way I've seen for many years and only just recommended this to me. So I had some words 'cause I was working, where's this been all my life. [00:12:14] Jesse Schwamb: But Zito is a naturally occurring alcohol sugar. It's found in like many fruits and vegetables, and it can be commercially produced from like birch wine or corn fiber. It looks and tastes similar to like table sugar, but it contains fewer calories, so it can be used and is often used as like a sweetener in sugar-free foods like chewing gum, mint candies, jam, stuff like that. [00:12:35] Jesse Schwamb: Here's one of the strange side effects. That they notice though about Zi atol, and that is it totally, uh, cleanses, moisturizes and soos nasal passages. And it gives you all kinds of relief from like common congestion stuff like colds, allergies, low humidity, humidity, science, pressure, stuff like that. What it does is it actually breaks down or lubricates your inner nasal passages, including like flushing out the mucus. like it works actually with your body. So what's amazing is it's, it's really great for, it's kinda like a soap for the nose. It clears up bacteria, pollens, dander, molds, like all kinds of irritants. [00:13:14] Jesse Schwamb: It also studies have shown blocks, adhesion of other pathogens like bacterial, fungal, viral to the mucosal tissues, helping the body to wash them away. So [00:13:23] Jesse Schwamb: this thing is absolutely. Wild. And I can say for certain that if you're the kind of person like me, where let's say like you're, you're hitting the Flonase hard at different seasons because you got those seasonal allergies because of the fall and because sin is real. I'm with you. That dries out your nose. [00:13:42] Jesse Schwamb: This thing is like a, a sauna or a spa for your nose, and then it literally like clears everything out. It's almost magical. I, I'm serious. It's so fantastic. So if you've been looking for something to really help with that and it, again, it's safe. There's no drug in it. It's not addictive, so you can use it all the time. [00:13:58] Jesse Schwamb: It's just saline and zi etol. It is phenomenal. So go get yourself, do yourself a favor. Do, do your, do your nose and your sinuses a solid and, and get the solids outta them by using. X clear. I feel like a bat just flew by your face or like a giant bird. [00:14:17] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. So, uh, first of all, that sounds like a really great thing to check out. [00:14:22] Tony Arsenal: Is this clear stuff? Um, I have had struggles with like sinus infections over the last couple years, so I'm gonna check this out when it gets to allergy season in the fall year. [00:14:32] Hummingbird Moth Encounter [00:14:32] Tony Arsenal: But yes, uh, one of the rare, uh, moths that I've learned lives near my house is called a, uh, what's it called? Uh. It commonly, it's called like a hummingbird moth. [00:14:44] Tony Arsenal: Have you heard of these things? Yeah. Oh yeah. Um, I've never seen them before, but the reason they're called hummingbird moths is 'cause they look like hummingbirds, but they're actually moths and I right now. Hopefully this will change eventually, but. It will have to, 'cause it gets cold here. Um, I'm recording outside and a hummingbird moth literally just flew between my computer and my face. [00:15:05] Tony Arsenal: Um, I wasn't talking at the time so you wouldn't be able to see it on the screen, which is too bad. Uh, but yeah, Jesse saw me freak out a little bit, which is uh, which is fine. [00:15:16] Jesse Schwamb: It happened the [00:15:16] Tony Arsenal: first time I saw one. I was like, is that a huge bee? No, it's just a hummingbird broth. [00:15:21] Jesse Schwamb: Somebody, everybody should look them up though, because they're kind of wild looking. [00:15:25] Jesse Schwamb: Like if you've seen it in real life, they have that hummingbird pose where the body, body is kind of laid back and the wings are going crazy. Like they literally do hover like that. Yeah. And they're, they're almost that big. The one that tried to attack you there was pretty large. [00:15:38] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. They don't, um, they, they. [00:15:41] Tony Arsenal: Move a little different than hummingbirds, which is why the first time that I saw one, I thought it was a bee. Um, because when they, when they land on a flower, they crawl inside the flower the same way that a, like a bee or a bumblebee will, um, they don't hover outside the flower like a hummingbird, but they do. [00:15:57] Tony Arsenal: They, their body is, I mean, their body is probably an, an inch and a half long like a hummingbird. Um, and it's thick like a hummingbird. They don't look like moths at all. So I'm not sure they must be part of the Moth family, I guess. Um, I'm trying to remember. It's. They have like a specific name, I wanna say Scarab, but that's not right. [00:16:14] Tony Arsenal: But it's something like that is the, the technical name of it. They're like a scarab moth or something like that. But [00:16:20] Jesse Schwamb: yeah, I've just come up. It's a wild name. [00:16:22] Tony Arsenal: This is your top 50 Entomology, uh, podcast apparently. As well as the top 50 health cath. We're gonna, we're gonna uh, com combine the two tonight, so yeah, I'm gonna check that out in the, the spring or in the fall here, Jesse. [00:16:34] Tony Arsenal: My, my allergies always go a little bit crazy when we get to September. Yeah. With all the, like leaves falling down and crumbling up and stuff, it just gets in the air, so I'll just, I'll spray some artificial sugar. It's not artificial. I'll spray some pseudo sugar in my nose and see what happens. [00:16:48] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. It does have the added benefit that because it is a naturally occurring. [00:16:53] Jesse Schwamb: Sugar, like it's a type of sugar alcohol that if it drips down the back of your throat, all you get is a little like, mm, sweet. [00:17:03] Tony Arsenal: I wanna know who the first guy who was like, let me put some of this fake sugar in my nose and see what happens was it's, [00:17:09] Jesse Schwamb: I'm telling you, it, it's better than any actual, like, prescribed nasal spray I've ever taken. [00:17:15] Jesse Schwamb: You can get it like just at your g it. Yeah. Or you can get it on Amazon. I, I will, I forgot about it for a while. I, maybe I use it daily now it's become my go-to. But I mean, I don't wanna make this weird or gross, but it's the kind of thing like if you wake up in the morning and you're stuffy and you, it feels like somebody parked like a bus way up in your sinus cavity. [00:17:32] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. And you're like, I can't even blow my nose. There's nothing there where, where's all this stuff? There's nothing there. If you use this, when I use this within two, two, I'd say like seven minutes, I can just. Drop a huge load of mucus right outta my face and you feel like a million bucks. I don't know how to describe it. [00:17:49] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, it's like better than like a sinus rinse or a netty pot. I know this sounds wild, like I'm way too excited about this stuff, but that clear spray is wild. And what I especially love is that it's all natural, that I'm not doing any harm to my nose or my face by using it. And that it, I just feel better afterwards because it's like moisturized everything. [00:18:08] Jesse Schwamb: So, and there's, there's, the debate is I think ongoing. There's a lot apparently, because I went down the rabbit trail and looked at all these scholarly studies and peer-reviewed journal papers, all this stuff. There's a lot, I guess, uh, still somewhat in debate about like its ability to really help prevent certain things like COVID, any kind of like nasal airborne kind of like, yeah, because it helps to flush and it prevents literally bacteria from sticking, uh, inside your nasal passages. [00:18:34] Jesse Schwamb: So that could be a benefit. I can't say anything about that. I'm not a doctor. What, [00:18:40] Tony Arsenal: what I would love is, uh, if you are a listener who has seasonal allergies or whatever, uh, if you would join our telegram chat at t.me/reform brotherhood. Well done. We have what's normally a tastings channel, which is like people get like new foods they wanna check out, or a beer they like or whatever, and they'll, uh, they'll do a little tasting and a review. [00:19:04] Tony Arsenal: I would love if some people would join the channel and do some, some clear, clear. We'll go clear, uh, a tasting of this nasal spray. Yeah, please don't show us. 'cause that's disgusting. Right. But, uh, let us know. Let us know what you think of it. I think that'd be great. So that's t me slash Reform Brotherhood. [00:19:21] Jesse Schwamb: There you go. Come hang out with us. It's a lot of fun. I see we've had some people join that group this week, so I see you out there, brother Sean. Crushing it, getting in the mix. Welcome everybody. Come again. Spend a little time in there. And there's, I love that the channel for like the conversation about our episodes is. [00:19:37] Jesse Schwamb: Hot. It's going strong. I love that. And we gave the call last week. You should listen to last week's episode when we were really speaking about, uh, God's faithfulness and a challenge of how we seek after piety, under the care and the direction, the kind direction and the convicting influence of the Holy Spirit. [00:19:55] Jesse Schwamb: So many good things were said there. I really loved reading all those. And it probably goes without saying, but I'm gonna mention it anyway. You and I read everything that pops in there. Yeah. For the most part. I mean, sometimes I look at it and there's 150 messages, right? And um, it got wild. But I go back through and always, always read those. [00:20:10] Jesse Schwamb: But I especially love like the conversation when we invite people to say, like, now it's, we'd love to hear from you. And so I think that's gonna be a large part of what we talk about. On this episode as well. [00:20:20] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. So, Jesse, why don't you lead us in here. This was the topic you brought up. I think it's a great one. [00:20:25] Tony Arsenal: I'd love to to dive into it here. [00:20:27] Christian Vocation and Work [00:20:27] Jesse Schwamb: I think one of the things that Christians always have to come to terms with at some point, every generation has to, but every person as well is, so where is my role as Christ child in something we might generally call like Christian activism? By which I mean like, of course, like Christians. [00:20:44] Jesse Schwamb: Attempt to improve or influence society through time, especially in our work. And as I was thinking about this recently, I think one of the hard things we have to measure out is well. Are there different places where we would, there's certainly jobs where we say Christians shouldn't hold that position because it contravenes God's law directly. [00:21:05] Jesse Schwamb: But what about these kind of, as we've talked about before, this threefold responsibility that we have in our callings, which you can go back to our previous catalog, which is all in the reform brotherhood.com, by the way. Listen to where we talked about this idea of like the vocation that happens in our work, in our households, in our church, and is it possible that in the work sphere that there are jobs that like Christians just shouldn't hold because it takes them too far away from their responsibilities in the other two spheres, which there are equally parts of their vocation, or if we want to put like a really fine point in it, and I don't really mean to derail the conversation with this question, but this would be exemplifying kind of what we're after here, which was like, should Christians be involved and. [00:21:47] Jesse Schwamb: In politics, are there other jobs like that where we'd say, listen, we, we tr we trust God in his sovereign superintendent will that he's always doing his good work. And you and I have talked at length about what it means to be living in the, under the normal principle of God using ordinary, normal means to do great and extraordinary things. [00:22:06] Jesse Schwamb: So how does all of that fit with our work? Are there lines to be drawn or. Does it not really matter? [00:22:15] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I think for the sake of our conversation, we can just sort of take some professions off the table. Right? Of course, there are some professions of course, and calling them professions is probably even, probably even a misnomer. [00:22:27] Tony Arsenal: But there are some ways to earn money that are just intrinsically sinful that are outside of the scope of the conversation, right? You can't, uh, there's no argument for a Christian to become like. An assassin or like a drug dealer or a prostitute, like, there's no, there's no valid argument or discussion to be had around those. [00:22:45] Tony Arsenal: So we can just exclude those entirely. But I think for, for the sake of this conversation, we're talking about professions that do not involve, intrinsically involve sin, um, and, and may or may not have, um. Prudential reasons why they are not the best idea. Right. So I, I'm thinking like, the one that came to mind when you asked this was like, and it's funny because I, um, I mentioned the topic to my wife and, you know, she kind of joked, I was like, well, yeah, like Christians can't be. [00:23:15] Tony Arsenal: Can't like be porn stars, like that's not something you can do as a Christian. But then, then I, she said, well, what, what other professions would it be? I said, well, like, like a professional football player, right? And like the question is like, can a Christian be a professional football player? I think instinctively, right? [00:23:29] Tony Arsenal: We all say yes. But, but is that actually true? Right. And, and I would, I would make the argument that no, like a Christian can't be a professional football player or really, really any kind of professional sports, um, figure because it, it necessarily takes you away from the gathered fellowship of Christians on the Lord's day on far too often a basis. [00:23:47] Tony Arsenal: Right? I don't think you can make a good prudential argument to say like, well. It's fine for a Christian to be absent from the lord's uh, Lord's Day worship in his congregation of membership, you know, 60% of the time. Like, I just don't think you can make that argument. So I think in a lot of these cases, the immediate instinctive answer is yes. [00:24:07] Tony Arsenal: Uh. Christians can be part of any profession, and there's a certain, there's a certain way that that's true, but when we actually start to look at the way some professions actually play out, we have to analyze that a lot deeper. And this is actually not all that different than our conversation last week. [00:24:23] Tony Arsenal: Right. Involving like a. Pop culture and like media consumption is we have to look at what is actually, what the actual cost is. Uh, opportunity cost, I guess if we want to use like economic terms, what the actual opportunity cost is here of a particular profession in respect of. Our obligations and our commitments as a Christian and our obligation to the law of God, our obligation to our Christian brothers and sisters, all of that. [00:24:49] Tony Arsenal: So I think this is gonna be a great conversation. I'm excited to get into it. Um, but I do think it's one that we should think through a little bit more than just sort of like our gut reaction. Like we, of course, Christians can be involved in any profession. [00:25:00] Jesse Schwamb: Let me add to that. 'cause that's perfect. That's exactly, you're not on the same page as usual. [00:25:04] Jesse Schwamb: That's exactly where my mind was going. And what makes like this such a rich opportunity to really explore what the scripture has to say about this particular topic? I think you're right on that we need to weigh out, which we often just kind of glance over. What are the other responsibilities by taking on a particular line of work or job. [00:25:20] Jesse Schwamb: Does that necessarily mean that we must sacrifice and preclude these other areas? We should have direct or more intimate involvement because that is also part of vocation. Part of that, like we've talked about at length before, is responsibility in the Lord's day. So we might set that up as one particular test. [00:25:36] Jesse Schwamb: To that end, another one might be exactly what you were saying. So here's like the opposite of like the professional footballer or American football or whatever. Pick your, pick your sports. What about like high level? High responsibility, let's say leadership positions like in all kinds of areas of industry that would require the man or the woman to, let's say, like be on call continually, or maybe to sacrifice long hours at that job as part and parcel of what's required to do it effectively. [00:26:04] Jesse Schwamb: And that might mean that necessarily like not being very connected with family or having to be away from their family a lot of the time. I think what we often come to is this idea that, wouldn't it be great if Christians were just everywhere and were infiltrating all the things all the time at all the levels. [00:26:21] Jesse Schwamb: I think the question here that's under the surface is, is that what God assigns in a life of vocation? And maybe it's, it's of course more nuance than that and it could be for the person. Again, I wanna be clear that, like we said before, vocation is a very specific and narrow term in that we're talking about an actual calling being called out for a particular purpose. [00:26:42] Jesse Schwamb: And if we're using that in the right way, then it's possible that with the exception of some things like the Lord's Day, the other thing I just talked about, season of life. And your particular commitments or entanglements, they might be different from person to person. Therefore, allow for a direct call that God gives to a particular purpose at a particular time. [00:27:01] Jesse Schwamb: I think what I'm really kind of weighing out here is if we understand how the reformers viewed all of this. We have to come to this conclusion that God assigns us a life and then God calls us to that life. And that really is what vocation is all about. And notice in that there's nothing that's said about choosing a vocation or finding your true vocation or being fulfilled even in your vocation. [00:27:24] Jesse Schwamb: We may experience a struggle with all of that, but vocation is fundamentally God's doing. So what is. God doing in our society. And as you said, are there roles that he's, in a way not calling, let's say like the, the quintessential or the normative, I don't wanna say average 'cause that implies the weird thing, but Right. [00:27:44] Jesse Schwamb: Kind of Christian too. And I think. We've gotta, we've gotta wrestle with that because you're right. Like we too often just run to, we need Christians in all the places now let's get them everywhere. Doing all the things. Yeah. And that might be good from our perspective, because Christians should be the best workers as we said that we should. [00:28:01] Jesse Schwamb: The most kind. There is the salt in lights everywhere. However, it takes a Christian to do all those things. And can a Christian in certain roles have great fidelity to the threefold? [00:28:13] Exploring the Theology of Work and the Lord's Day [00:28:13] Jesse Schwamb: Calling and vocation of life while upholding certain jobs and responsibilities. [00:28:19] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. You know, I think, um, I think that may be like a little bit of progam is, is warranted here too. [00:28:26] Tony Arsenal: Like there, you know, there's the, the, the conversation at the top of like, some, some professions are just out of bounds. Yeah. Um, but there's also, you know, a pretty robust theology. And I think a lot of this is gonna center around. Uh, maybe just for simplicity's sake and for the fact that we have 30 minutes left of a conversation that probably could be multiple hours, um, there's a pretty robust apparatus in reform theology that is designed to help Christians understand whether or not, um. [00:28:57] Tony Arsenal: A particular activity is acceptable on the Lord's day. And we've, we've had conversations in the past about like, if, if all of your theology of the Lord's Day is about what you can and can't do, then you're missing the point entirely. [00:29:11] Jesse Schwamb: That's right. [00:29:11] Tony Arsenal: But there is an element of what you can and can't do in terms of understanding the Lord's day. [00:29:16] Tony Arsenal: Right. We're, we're not supposed to engage in worldly recreation or employment on the Lord's day. So we have to talk about what that means. And so I think. [00:29:24] Works of Necessity and Charity on the Lord's Day [00:29:24] Tony Arsenal: I think to start with, like there's categories, like works of necessity, works of charity, um, that, or, or like works of ministry, which would, would sort of be a third category that's not necessarily, um, not necessarily enumerated in many of the sources, but it's assumed that like pastors who are working on the Lord's day are not, they're not violating the Sabbath by doing the work on the Sabbath. [00:29:47] Tony Arsenal: Um, I think we have to have those categories. 'cause I think that helps us inform too, like. If you are the CEO of a major retailer, does that mean you have to work on Sunday, right? Well, probably it does. Like, it probably means that on a regular basis you're gonna be checking emails on your phone, you're gonna be taking phone calls. [00:30:05] Tony Arsenal: You've got, you might have partners in markets overseas where it, it's Sunday morning for you, but it's Monday afternoon or you know, Monday morning for them or something like that. Um. I think that the industry you're in largely is going to drive whether that's an acceptable or, or an appropriate role for you. [00:30:24] Tony Arsenal: So I could see a situation where you could make the argument that being the CEO of a of a major medical center, right. Where the work that's being done at the medical center falls easily within that sort of definition of, uh, works of necessity. A nurse who is working in the emergency room or a police officer or a firefighter or somebody who is fixing the power, like in our society, right? [00:30:47] Tony Arsenal: Electricity is, is not an option for most people. It's not a, it's not a luxury for most people. So those, those professions. It's acceptable to work on the Lord's Day when it's a work of necessity, and so the higher level leadership positions that make those possible and constrain them also, I think. Would fall under that same work of necessity. [00:31:06] Tony Arsenal: If the CEO of my hospital, I don't know if she's a Christian or not. I, I'm, I'm not speculating on that, but if, if the CEO of my hospital was a Christian or is a Christian and she has to take an important phone call on Sunday morning and miss the Lord's day because if she doesn't take care of that, the hospital's not gonna function correctly and people may not have emergency services. [00:31:26] Tony Arsenal: I don't think that's a violation of the south principle. If the same scenario is happening and it's the CEO of Best Buy and they need to take a phone call, otherwise people won't be able to buy widgets on Sunday afternoon, that's a different calculation. So I think like right off the bat, we have to start having those conversations about what's the nature of the work, what's the, what's the tell loss of the work or the end aim of the work. [00:31:46] Tony Arsenal: That's really important as well. [00:31:48] Balancing Professional Responsibilities and Christian Obligations [00:31:48] Jesse Schwamb: So it sounds like though what we're saying, both of us in a way, is that if you run that test, so to speak, like you go through that algorithm and you come out with this idea that you know, it's, you're saying your industry is more like Best Buy and less like your local hospital, then there might be significant and maybe insurmountable roadblocks to taking that position Should be as a c. [00:32:08] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I mean, that's kinda what we're saying. [00:32:10] Tony Arsenal: Oh yeah, for sure. And you know, like this is a real world application I think for a lot of people. I remember when I was in college, um, I had the opportunity to take a promotion. I worked at Best Buy. I, I'm not using Best Buy as an example for any specific reason, but I worked at Best Buy. [00:32:23] Tony Arsenal: I worked in the Geek Squad area and I had the opportunity to take a promotion. Um, and the sort of the strings that came with the promotion is that I was expected to be available to work on Sundays. I didn't have a super robust doctrine of the Lord's Day at the time. Like I wasn't super theologically versed on Sabbath theology and stuff. [00:32:39] Tony Arsenal: Um, but it just didn't sit right with me. And so initially I didn't take the, I didn't take the, um, promotion because I didn't feel comfortable saying at the time, it was mostly about like, I'm not gonna miss the church service. I didn't feel comfortable saying I need to be available. And that might mean I Ms. [00:32:57] Tony Arsenal: Church to, to be able to take this shift. Um, eventually the management adapted and said, well, we'll just figure out something else. We really want you to take the position, but that's the kind of question we have to ask. And then that same question, as you move up in an organization, it expands and you're more likely to need to be drawn away from Lord State worship or just general. [00:33:19] Tony Arsenal: Obligations on the Lord's Day. [00:33:20] Personal Experiences and Real-World Applications [00:33:20] Tony Arsenal: And I don't wanna make this entirely about the Lord's Day 'cause there are other obligations that Christians have and it probably will be interesting to get to those. But I think, um, the, the other thing maybe that I wanna push back on a little bit too is I. I, I've never been a CEO. [00:33:34] Tony Arsenal: I probably never will be a CEO. You're far closer to a CEO than I ever will be. But I think a lot of times we assume those positions have no flexibility. Right. But in reality, some of those people are absolutely able to say, I'm gonna take, I'm gonna take Sunday, and just not. Yes, I'm not gonna do work on Sunday. [00:33:52] Tony Arsenal: I'm gonna delegate that. You know? And then this is a whole other question. I'm gonna delegate that to someone else. Well, there's a whole different question that comes with that, but saying like, I'm just not going to do work on Sunday is actually within the options for a lot of positions. So that's the other question is when we take a position, do we have the option to set aside the Lord's Day? [00:34:11] Tony Arsenal: Even if we might acknowledge that occasionally, that's not gonna work out. There are oftentimes in all of our lives that we're drawn away from being able to fulfill our ordinary obligation of the Lord's Day, and I don't think that that's intrinsically sinful. If on a rare occasion you're not able to attend the Lord's Day worship or something like that. [00:34:29] Tony Arsenal: So I think those are questions we have to ask. Then what? What kind of other Christian obligations do we have? And this is hypothetical, but you're welcome to answer if you've got one in mind. Like what other kinds of Christian obligations do we have that any particular vocation or particular job might make difficult or impossible to fulfill? [00:34:47] Tony Arsenal: I think those are questions we have to ask. [00:34:49] Jesse Schwamb: I'm with you. And that's actually more where my mind goes because again, we've talked before and for some Christians it's easier to identify the stuff that certainly explicitly contravenes the Lord's Day. And I think it's more difficult to say like we, again, I think we talked before about that threefold responsibility and the vocation that is to like work that is like our industry, so to speak, and then to our household, then to our church. [00:35:10] Jesse Schwamb: So the church often does. Again, in a very finely pointed way, connect very tightly with the Lord. Say what about that household stuff? Yeah. So what about these jobs that would just make you too busy? And I think like what's interesting to your point is I agree. Like I think part of this conversation is just a thoughtful assessment of what the job entails, and then even as like maybe you're taking a job or considering a job. [00:35:33] Jesse Schwamb: Having a conversation with your potential employer about what opportunity is there for flexibility given like certain convictions that you have? All of that could fall into place neatly and I think would still be within the bounds of yes, but I think part of this is if it's truly a calling that we, we have to be praying through it and assessing whether God is calling us through that. [00:35:50] Jesse Schwamb: Part of that is passing it through the sin of what the scriptures require in each of those threefold vocational responsibilities. So sometimes I hear there is like a pushback or counter, this argument says, but wouldn't it be better? [00:36:01] The Role of Christians in Leadership Positions [00:36:01] Jesse Schwamb: Wouldn't it be fantastic if you get a Christian as an opportunity to be a CEO? [00:36:05] Jesse Schwamb: Isn't it better for them to be a CEO and to be in that role, even if they're crazy busy, even if they're sacrificing so much for their family, for their household or for the church because they simply, they're gonna be a Christian and think of the role model and the emphasis and the impact they can have. [00:36:19] Jesse Schwamb: And to that, I would say we gotta be really careful with that loved ones because God, I don't think God's calling us to necessarily have outside impact. What he's calling us to is, is faithfulness. Invocation, invocation pulls us back into those three responsibilities, and we know the way in which God prefers to work His jam is these ordinary means, these natural ways of in the normative work of our lives and faithfulness showing that his power is demonstrated in this weakness. [00:36:44] Jesse Schwamb: Somehow we're back to the theology of. Glory and theology of cross. But you know, it's interesting to me that there are no calls like in the entire scriptures, of course, to withdraw into like a private ghetto or to take back the realms of cultural and political activity. And so I think we have to be really careful about even how we kind of pull that into then how. [00:37:03] Jesse Schwamb: Our jobs that like, shouldn't it be my goal as a Christian to get as most influence as possible? And I think I wanna push back on that and say like, you know, the, the church, the Christian exists within the world as a community of word and sacrament. But it doesn't always have to seek influence in larger society. [00:37:19] Jesse Schwamb: It can. It can. And when God provides the opportunity by way of clear calling, I think internal and external that is appropriate. However, often that calling is gonna come at a much more normative level, I think. And, and I do not believe that we are somehow compromising or sub-optimizing the work that God does in the world merely because we might have a Christian that says, I don't know if it's right for me to be in this leadership role, and therefore a unbeliever is going to vault above that person's speaker or take that role on that somehow. [00:37:51] Jesse Schwamb: Again, God's superintendent will, or his strong arm is, is somehow pulled aback from what he wants to do that we need like more Christian plumbing in the world. I do kind of bristle that idea a little bit. Specifically because I wonder if sometimes we go outside of that calling. [00:38:08] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, I'm picking up what you're putting down and I think, I think there's, um, it, it does all come back to theology, the cross theology of glory. [00:38:17] Tony Arsenal: And I'm glad that, that, that conversation happened before this. 'cause I think there's good framework there. I, I think, um, we, we as Christians can often confuse. The transformative power of the gospel with other ways of transforming culture. Yeah, that's good. Right. So, um, it is totally, um, I wanna be careful how I phrase this. [00:38:42] Tony Arsenal: I'm not post mill, I'm probably never gonna be post mill, but I'm okay with a kind of post mill theology that says that the gospel of Jesus Christ, as people become Christians, the culture will. Change along with that. And the gospel has a transformative power in that it changes individuals and individuals make up, make up the broader society. [00:39:05] Tony Arsenal: And so the society itself changes. Where I struggle with some flavors of postal theology, and this is where I think the theology of glory comes in, is there are some kinds of postal theology I'm thinking, I'm thinking, um, like Doug Wilson, they just, uh, opened A-C-R-A-C church in Washington, DC specifically with the goal of gaining influence with politicians. [00:39:26] Tony Arsenal: Right. I might be misconstruing that a little bit 'cause I haven't read all of it, but that's, that's the impression that I'm getting from some of their promotional material. I, I think we can, we can look at it and say the gospel can change culture as the gospel. And so where that. [00:39:43] Sacrifices and Priorities in Christian Vocation [00:39:43] Tony Arsenal: Levels of playing field is that whether you are, and this is where I think a genuine Protestant reform theology of vocation comes in, whether you're the janitor of the hospital or whether you're the CEO of the hospital, the gospel is the same and your role in proclaiming the gospel is the same. [00:39:58] Tony Arsenal: And you might have more people's ear as the CEO than you do as the janitor. Although I would maybe question that knowing how many people janitors interact with at the hospital, um, you may have more people's ears in a higher level position, but the message that you're proclaiming, the influence that you're wielding or you're using, I don't know what you wanna say. [00:40:18] Tony Arsenal: It's not different because it's still just the gospel. [00:40:21] Jesse Schwamb: That's good. [00:40:21] Tony Arsenal: Um. Where I think we can get confused is when we look at it and say, but we have these other opportunities to transfer, transform the culture by, um, for example, I, I'm the supervisor in my patient relations department. I'm making changes to the, to the policy and the way that we as a sort of service recovery resolution group, the way that we interact with patients, I'm making changes to that. [00:40:46] Tony Arsenal: I think those changes are consistent with the law of God as revealed in the light of nature, and I'm. I'm informed of those things and my whole outlook and ethos is shaped by the scriptures, but. I don't see the transformation of the way we interact with patients as somehow propagating the gospel, right? [00:41:05] Tony Arsenal: So we can, we can make transformation and make society better, right? If you're a politician, you can, you can legislate things that make society more outwardly in conformity with the law of God or more pleasant and more prosperous, and more flourishing, and those are all fine and well, but that's not. [00:41:21] Tony Arsenal: Building the kingdom of God in, in a strict sense. Right? And so I think what we're getting at is our, would it be great if, if, you know, the CEO of a major Fortune 500 company could be a Christian? Yeah. That would be kind of cool. Sure of That'd be nice, of course. And yeah, they could probably do a lot of good things and they could probably shape the way that that business runs and they could probably, um, have more opportunities to share the gospel. [00:41:42] Tony Arsenal: They could probably shape their business into a vehicle that, that moves forward. Missions, all those things are great, but. If the trade off is that that person has to sacrifice their genuine Christian convictions, right? That's not worth it. And I think we, we look at this and we might be able to identify certain. [00:42:00] Tony Arsenal: Obvious ways that we would say, no, it's not worth it. Right? If a CEO, uh, the CEO of a major retailer has to give way to all of the, um, transgender LGBT sexual, you know, identity politics has to give way to that in order to survive as CEO, I think we would all look at that and go, yeah, it's probably a hard sacrifice, but that's a sacrifice we would expect a genuine Christian to make at that level. [00:42:25] Tony Arsenal: Where we might not look at it is saying, well, I don't know. The Bible says that if you don't properly care for your family, then you're worse than an unbeliever. That's right. And so that CEO that is at the office for 70 hours a week and is never home, um, and their kids don't, you know, their kids don't have an opportunity to know their father or their mother because their. [00:42:44] Tony Arsenal: Constantly jet setting around the world. I don't know that we would as readily identify that as a sacrifice. I would actually argue that, that the Bible is probably clearer about that being a problem than it is about identity politics or other sort of, of social issues that, that, uh, a business person might have to. [00:43:04] Tony Arsenal: Hold their nose a little bit and, and, you know, sign off on a commercial or something that they don't necessarily want to, I'm not advocating that they should do that, but I think the Bible is clearer about a person who is taken away from their home more than is reasonable and more than is healthy for their family. [00:43:20] Tony Arsenal: Or a Christian who never is able to worship on the Lord's day, um, or, or something like that. I think the Bible is clearer about that than it is on. Something like identity politics and some of the tangential ways that, that might, might cause a person to need to compromise a little bit at a high level. [00:43:35] Tony Arsenal: So I, I think this is a, it's an interesting question that we probably don't think about it from the right angle most of the time. [00:43:41] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, it's just too easy to consider this in light of if we can get more responsibility, that should always be a good thing. And I think that proclivity is, is fine and maybe even noble, but sometimes I think we do get it twisted where we get this sense that we are trying to make the world into something moral like the church. [00:43:57] Jesse Schwamb: And if we could do that in our jobs and get the most influence in that greatest sphere of impact. We should always take on those additional responsibilities. And I do think we have to sit back and ask and say, is that the calling? So that we're pursuing what is our vocation, not just our potential. [00:44:13] Jesse Schwamb: There's a lot of brilliant, God has made all kinds of brilliant people. Many of them are his children, and as a result of that, we might say like we should always again be trying to move up. And this is not to say that we shouldn't take great initiative, that we shouldn't want to try to do more and be more productive. [00:44:27] Jesse Schwamb: You and I have always been outspoken about that kind of thing, but I think there is a real temptation. To somehow say like, what we need to do is like to infiltrate in all the places. And I think what we mean by that is that things will, like, whether we wanna admit it or not, that things here will be better. [00:44:41] Jesse Schwamb: And I, I don't know all the time that what we're saying is what you just said, which was that what we're really concerned with is that the gospel get proclaimed more forthrightly. More loudly, more specifically, more cogently in all places. But that if we just had good examples of moral behavior and good character, yes, those things are profitable in and of their own ways, but there's also a lot of common grace we see God bring about good leaders who are not a Christian at high level to do that kind of thing. [00:45:05] Jesse Schwamb: And sometimes I do wonder, just depending on the job, quite honestly, whether it's really possible for Christian to be successful in that job. [00:45:14] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:45:14] Jesse Schwamb: As like the world or the industry or the company has defined it. I'm not sure that's the case, so I don't wanna put like too high a line on this. I think we're trying to just drop a bomb in some ways and say, I'm not gonna make it overly prescriptive and say like, as a Christian, you can't be a CEO. [00:45:29] Jesse Schwamb: Move on. That's not true at all. Of course, again, here are hopefully what we said about the particulars of that wrestling through it and again. Really sensing where there's an actual call on your life that God has given for that role in a particular time. But I do think we ought to question where there's always and everywhere appropriate for any Christian to take on, quite frankly, any job. [00:45:51] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. And so I'm with you. Sometimes it's super easy when I first start out in banking, when I was looking for my second banking job. I had a great interview. It was a very nice company. The bank actually doesn't exist anymore, but, uh, one of the things, one of their big, like, kind of gimmicks was they were open seven days a week. [00:46:09] Jesse Schwamb: And so I said to them, well. I attend church on Sundays. That's my day of rest and my high conviction on that. And I said, is there any flexibility with that? And they said, Nope. You would still have to be on the schedule. And though they very graciously offered me the job, I was thankfully in a place where I, I turned that down. [00:46:26] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Actually I didn't have a job at the time, but I turned it down trusting. That God would provide. And this wasn't my great act of faith on my part. It was more of just, I think what you were saying, Tony, growing in our conviction that those things really do matter. Yes. And that it's sometimes just too easy to kind of push them aside and say, I, I know it's gonna be really stressful. [00:46:43] Jesse Schwamb: I know it might take much more of my time than I want to give. I know I might be at home a lot less. I know I might have less like attentional fortitude and space to think about my spouse or my children, but it's gonna be worth it because. I'll be able to like have this big influence. I do think sometimes madness lies that way. [00:47:02] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Certainly a great deal of foolishness. This is just hopefully a call for all of us as God's children to, to think through that. I don't wanna discourage anybody from taking on bigger and bolder things for the kingdom of God. I think we all have to think about what it is that we're. Promulgating or proclaiming when we talk about the Kingdom of God coming and whether or not we're just trying to make the world a better place, so to speak. [00:47:26] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. By bringing our like quote unquote Christian influence into a setting where really that influence is now particularly strong and what it's actually compromising is the vocation that we're meant to undertake. [00:47:37] Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions [00:47:37] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Are you ready to, for me to drop two bombs? Just, just straight up. You got, [00:47:41] Jesse Schwamb: you got two of them. [00:47:42] Jesse Schwamb: Let's do it. I, I've [00:47:43] Tony Arsenal: got 13 minutes or less left on this episode. There go. So I actually got into a pretty big, uh, like a pretty big dust up with someone way back in the day when I was in the reform hub over actually this topic. And I'm surprised I didn't think of it earlier in the evening. Um, we are using like CEOs as like kind of the proxy for this, but there's all sorts of jobs where, um, your, your job may be admirable and it may be. [00:48:06] Tony Arsenal: Right. Even something that's sort of quote unquote necessary for society. But I got into a big dust up with someone who was an overroad trucker, right? And they were constantly, um, posting in the pub at, at back in the day. They were constantly posting how discouraged they were and, and how difficult their faith was and how much of a challenge it was to just remain faithful as a Christian. [00:48:27] Tony Arsenal: And I. Originally, I kind of naively and, and I think innocently said like, well, you know, like, have you talked to your pastor about this? And the person said like, well, I don't have a regular church because I'm always on the road. And I said like, well, there's your problem. Like there's the first step is like, figure out your local church thing. [00:48:43] Tony Arsenal: He said, well, I can't do that

In this episode, Dan Stoffer and Scott Stedman discuss the importance of maximizing the holiday season for your sports ministry. We discuss the topics of rest, community connections, and advertising to help keep your sports ministry strong during the off-season.The Association of Christian Sports and Recreation Ministries strives to equip and empower churches to reach people far from Jesus through sports and recreation. To learn more about CSRM, visit our website, ⁠⁠https://www.csrm.org-------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 - Introduction1:24 - Leveraging the Holiday Season6:44 - Pausing and Connections12:24 - Marketing your Sports Ministry32:05 - Outro-------------------------------------------------------------------#CSRM #OverwhelmingVictory #OverwhelmingVictoryFlix #Danstoffer #scottstedman #holidayseason #education #sports #ministry #recreation #fitness

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the power of stopping before you start - especially when it comes to how we communicate with others. I share a little story about catching myself as I was about to fire off a sarcastic response (classic Masshole move!) and realizing that just because something comes easy or is a habit, doesn't mean it's always the best way to show up.Sometimes, it's worth pausing and asking ourselves, “Is this really how I want to respond?” I dive into how our brains get wired over time for certain automatic reactions, like sarcasm or quick replies, and how the speed of today's world makes it even harder to slow down. We're all so used to “instant” responses and moving at the pace of technology, but that doesn't always serve us - or the people we're talking to. I talk about checking in with yourself before you hit send -or- how I like to pause before I open my big fat mouth!

As a mom and host of the Momplex Podcast, I'm passionate about helping other mothers rediscover their joy and confidence. In this episode, I call out the myth that feeling exhausted and overwhelmed is just “mom life.” I share my own struggles with burnout, brain fog, and constant stress, and how I learned to listen to my body's signals. By regulating my nervous system through conscious breathing, movement, grounding, and self-care, I transformed my health and mindset. I encourage you to notice your symptoms, join my free 7-Day Nervous System Reset Challenge, and reach out with what you're experiencing. You don't have to accept feeling drained—healing is possible, and when you prioritize yourself, you set a powerful example for your kids. Let's break the cycle of burnout together and step into our most energized, confident, and joyful lives. I know I gave a few "lists" in this episode but I have shared them with you here. 1. Symptoms of a dysregulated nervous system: - Chronic exhaustion (tired even after sleep) - Brain fog (forgetfulness, confusion) - Mood swings (loss of interest, irritability) - Digestive issues (bloating, constipation, diarrhea, appetite changes) - Sleep struggles (trouble falling/staying asleep, no dreams, waking at 3am) - Anxiety (constant worry, expecting bad news) - Frequent sickness (catching colds easily, slow recovery) - Physical tension (tight jaw, headaches, tense neck/shoulders) - Hormonal shifts (perimenopause effects, feeling weaker) 2. Tips to regulate your nervous system: - Conscious breathing (deep, belly breaths, habit-stacked into daily routines) - Movement (not just exercise—walking, shaking out limbs, dancing, moving during calls) - Grounding (noticing senses: 5 things you see, 4 feel, 3 hear, 2 smell, 1 taste) - Singing and humming (using your voice for regulation) - Pausing before reacting (hand on chest, deep breath, ask how you want to respond) 3. "Nervous system triggered mom moments" (examples of signs you might be dysregulated): - Snack rage (irritation when kids ask for snacks) - Forgetting why you entered a room - Freezing when someone calls "mom" - Anxiety from email/phone notifications - Invisible mental load (remembering everyone's needs, forgetting your own) - Late-night Netflix/revenge procrastination (staying up for alone time) - Overreaction regret (snapping at family, then feeling guilty) - Super stressed shoulders/neck pain - Digestion issues (bloating, unexplained changes) - Waking up at 3am, frequent illness You will also find this Episode Useful: Stop Doomscrolling & Reclaim sleep (end revenge bedtime procrastination) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast, Debra Kasowski talks about something that every one of us experiences at some point: when people project their insecurities onto us. It can feel sharp or dismissive—and really hurt. Pausing and taking a second to think about the situation, " Wait a second...is this about me?" Debra wants you to take notice and recognize projection and to remind you to stay in your power - your truth. You do not have to take on someone else's insecurity, story, or judgment. Stand firm in who you are. www.debrakasowski.com

In this solo episode, Deb Coviello, the Drop-in CEO, shares a heartfelt reflection on the importance of pausing and reassessing your leadership journey. Deb opens up about her own experiences, the challenges leaders face, and the critical need to invest in yourself, stick to your strategy, and avoid burnout. Tune in for actionable insights and stories that will help you lead with intention and leave a lasting legacy. Episode Highlights: [3:00] - The Power of Pausing and Reflecting: Why Deb is changing the podcast format and the importance of slowing down as a leader. [7:30] - Five Leadership Traps: Burnout, tactical overload, lack of self-investment, losing discipline, and feeling lost. [17:50] - Real Stories and Solutions: Deb shares personal and client stories illustrating each leadership trap and how to overcome them. [21:10] - Building Your Legacy: The importance of discipline, self-care, and finding your unique leadership path. For more information about my services or if you just want to connect and have a chat, reach out at: https://dropinceo.com/contact/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pausing to reflect may be the most important rhythm you can build into your life. In this episode, Stephen and Megan talk about why creating space for reflection matters and share three key benefits you'll experience when you make it part of your month: clarity, growth, and peace. Together, they cast vision for the power of the pause and encourage you to slow down long enough to notice where you've been and where you're going.

I'm back for another solo episode today after a little bit of a summer break. I gathered some of your most common questions from my workshops, coaching sessions, and social media comments. In this episode I'm walking you through a few of the struggles that share a common thread and giving insight into what makes these things difficult for parents and how to work through them.Kids Who Don't Like LosingThere are a lot of triggers for parents that come along with having a child who doesn't like to lose which can cause eggshell parenting.When your child struggles to deal with something like disappointment or frustration, the answer is always that they need to experience it more often.Your reaction to their emotions as a parent is so important. Staying regulated in the moment will help deescalate the situation.Lectures don't work. You're helping them learn the life skill of tolerating frustration and managing the emotions that come with the frustration. Public OutburstsWe sense all of the people in a public situation and it usually feels much more judgmental in our minds than it actually is because of insecurities. When our ability to parent is tethered to our child's behavior, it makes things very difficult.Make an action plan and practice getting cooperation at home so your child is prepared when you do a test run in public. Set your kids up for success so you aren't trying to complete tasks when they're already over tired, hungry, etc.PARR This was created for anyone who needs to work through managing their own emotions and reactions. Pausing is an important reminder that we can take the time to slow down and not make rapid fire decisions in the moment.Always reflect on “what does my child need at this moment?” You know your child best and can better understand their needs when you have paused.When Your Kids Don't ListenWe rely on the idea that if our kids have the knowledge, they will react or behave appropriately. This simply isn't true because their brains aren't developed in this way yet.Kids are wondering “what happens when…” and they are curious what the outcome will be on the other side of their behavior. Once they know the action that is paired with your language is consistent, they will start listening better.We need to remember kids are simple and we usually overcomplicate things.Resources: Getting Your Kids to Listen the First Time You Ask Workshop: https://www.theparentingreframe.com/shop/p/getting-your-kids-to-listen-the-first-time-you-ask Four Reaction Types Podcast Episode: https://theparentingreframe.simplecast.com/episodes/beyond-good-or-bad-the-3-parental-reaction-blueprintsSchedule a free call about my 1:1 coaching, Reclaim Your Calm - https://www.theparentingreframe.com/coachingBe sure to sign up for my Substack newsletter for longer and more specialized parenting content: https://albiona.substack.com/ I hope you found this episode helpful; for more parenting tips, check out my website and blog for more information. https://theparentingreframe.com/Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparentingreframe/Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@theparentingreframe 

IVF is taking a pause while Cam gets surgery and Taryn shares about her own upcoming surgery. The girls read listener 'hot takes' and decide if they agree or disagree with them. send us your gossip stories or ask for advice!call the PP hotline 323-577-8857 or email us at stayinguppod@gmail.comJoin our Patreon: http://patreon.com/StayingUpJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/am5t7kZTdRListen: https://stayingup.lnk.to/listenFollow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayinguppodFollow Cam: https://www.instagram.com/cammiescott/Follow Tar: https://www.instagram.com/thetarynarnold/Contact for business inquires only:maddy@mpactgroupla.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This talk was given by Diana Clark on 2025.08.04 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License