Shows
The L PodcastEp. 100: Take Messy Action Next YearWho would've thought we'd make it this far? Not me. We're at episode 100 and this has been better than anything I could've imagined when I started it in 2022. But, it almost didn't happen. I had decided in June of 2021 that I wanted to start a podcast so I started thinking about the title and logo and all the details. But I became so determined on finding the "perfect" everything that I kept pushing back the launch date. It took almost losing a loved one to finally kick my ass into taking action. Was my first episode perfect? Absolutely not...2023-12-3117 min
The L PodcastEp. 99: Be Proud You Survived This YearA wild year right? From ongoing pandemic to a genocide to the normal chaos of day-to-day life, this year has been tough on many levels for a lot of people. This is the time where many reflect on the goals they set in January and beat themselves they didn’t end world hunger or become a NY Times best-selling author. If all you did by the 11:59pm on December 31st is survive, you've made it my friend. I think this year really put a lot of things into perspective for me and I hope the world, so I hope we...2023-12-2714 min
The L PodcastEp. 98: Blending + Creating Your Own Family TraditionsFamilies change, which means traditions around the holidays do too. It can be tough to navigate how or where you spend the holidays, whether you're in a new relationship or just lost a loved one. Keeping family traditions alive can be a way for many to honor their loved ones or share their culture, but how do you do that while respecting and being open to new traditions? Well it takes time and communication. Let's talk about it.2023-12-2319 min
The L PodcastEp. 97: Family + Politics Over The HolidaysHolidays family gatherings can be stressful because we all have that one family member who wants to talk politics. The harsh reality is that you might not ever see eye to eye with some family on politics, but how do you still enjoy the holidays together? Here are some tips on how to handle politics and family over the holidays. And remember, you're doing your best and whatever you have to do to protect your peace and mental health, do it! 2023-12-2015 min
The L PodcastEp. 96: How To Manage Travel AnxietyDelayed flights, stopped traffic, lost luggage—traveling can be tough! Traveling for the holidays can stressful for anyone, but for someone who lives with anxiety like I do, it can be 10x worse! I've had panic attacks on planes, had my car break down at 3am in the middle of Ohio, and have ran from stalkers on a Greyhound. Traveling can truly suck, especially traveling alone as a woman, but it's unavoidable nowadays. It's taken a few years to figure out how to manage my anxiety when I'm traveling so here are my tips for traveling this holiday season!
...2023-12-1824 min
The L PodcastEp. 95: Handling Emotional OverloadAnyone else feel like they're on an emotional rollercoaster every day? It's exhausting. Emotional overload is when you're overwhelmed by how many feelings you're having or even how big your feelings can be. With the state of the world right now, going through a pandemic on top of the normal chaos that life brings, it's understandable that we'd be feeling a whole mess of emotions. But when all these emotions, big and small, impact our ability to live our best lives, that's when we need to learn how to handle emotional overload. Today I'll share the 5 steps I'm taking...2023-12-1422 min
The L PodcastEp. 94: Dealing With Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Oh the weather outside is frightful and my mood is not delightful, I wonder what it could be, is it possible that it's S-A-D? Yep. With the shorter daylight during fall and winter months, many of us can struggle with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that can be triggered by less daylight, leading to changes in the chemicals in our brains. But how do you know if you have SAD or what do you do about it? Well, that's exactly what we're talking about today!
For more info on...2023-12-0919 min
The L PodcastEp. 93: Diabetes TriviaWhat better way to wrap up National Diabetes Awareness Month than with a little trivia! On today's episode I'm joined by my good friend Julia Flaherty, who has been living with type 1 diabetes since she was 10. So with a type 1 and type 2 diabetic as your hosts, let's answer some questions about diabetes!
Learn more about Julia at julia-flaherty.com or her books at rosiethet1dwarrior.com.2023-11-3028 min
The L PodcastEp. 92: When Your “Healthy” Is Still A Chronic IllnessWhat does it mean to be healthy? Well it means different things for different people. For me, it means still living with a chronic illness. Even on my best days where I eat balanced nutritious meals, drink all my water and even get 8 hours of sleep, I still live with diabetes. It can be frustrating to know that my "healthy" is still a chronic illness. Let's talk about it!2023-11-2124 min
The L PodcastEp. 91: Diabetes: Who Can Get It & How I DidToday is World Diabetes Day so I want to share my diabetes diagnosis story. Living with diabetes is beyond tough. We have a full time job of helping our bodies do the same job everyone else’s does, on top of our full time jobs! It’s exhausting. It’s humbling. It’s frustrating. But who can get diabetes? Anyone. Let’s talk about the signs and symptoms of diabetes!2023-11-1424 min
The L PodcastEp. 90: How To Get Out Of A FunkAnyone else stuck in a funk? I think we’ve all been there. Tired. No energy. Want to do things and be productive but just can’t bring yourself to do them. Yep, that’s a funk. But how do we get out of them? Short answer: not easily. We need a lot of patience and grace for ourselves when we’re trying to get out of a funk. In today’s episode we also talk about tangible steps you can take to get out and get back to your “normal”.2023-11-0920 min
The L PodcastEp. 89: Stop Belittling What You're Going ThroughWhere my trauma survivors at?! This one is for you. After learning that my husband was diagnosed with melanoma, my brain kind of lost it inside. I had lost my grandmother and mother to melanoma so of course my brain said this was going to have the same outcome. But when this story had a happy ending and he's cancer-free, the first thing I did was shame myself for feeling all the fear, worry, and sadness because this "wasn't that bad after all". I had been through worst therefore this was "nothing". But it was something. When we've been...2023-10-2621 min
The L PodcastEp. 88: Running Out Of My Comfort ZoneGetting a diagnosis, especially for diabetes, can turn your whole world upside down. All you can think about is how much your life is going to change and all the scary stories about complications. But you can either live in fear, or be like today's guest Devon Garrett and be brave! Devon has been breaking stereotypes of what it means and looks like to live with type 2 diabetes. This November, she's even running out of her comfort zone and will be running the NYC Marathon. This is a story that everyone can be inspired by.
You can...2023-10-1921 min
The L PodcastEp. 87: Setting Emotional + Physical BoundariesAnyone else feeling really f*cking overwhelmed lately? Yeah, me too. Sometimes life puts a lot on our plates, and then sets the world on fire, and then makes it winter, and then and then and then! Life can be a lot sometimes and with each situation or obstacle comes the feelings and emotions they invoke. So what happens when you have a lot of different shit going on in your life? You feel a BUNCH of different emotions. Simultaneously. Back to back. It's overwhelming! And this is what broke me down in therapy today. I'm overwhelmed by life...2023-10-1227 min
The L PodcastEp. 86: It's Okay If Your Priorities ChangeGet your priorities straight. It's something our parents have all told us at some point. But what does that mean? What does that look like? Having priorities is a good thing. It can help you figure out where to spend your time and energy. It can also help make sure you're living the life that aligns with your morals and values. But having too many priorities is a one-way ticket on the hot mess express. Ya can't do it. The key is to change and adjust your priorities as needed—daily, weekly, monthly, even yearly. And it's okay if yo...2023-10-0517 min
The L PodcastEp. 85: Moving Forward, Not Moving OnToday we're honoring the late Joe Hurd, my good friend Aubrey's husband, who passed away from Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (EHE), a rare sarcoma. I've shared about grief and the hardships of being a caregiver, but being a caregiver to a parent is very different than caring for and losing a partner. In this episode Aubrey shares the raw truths around her journey going from wife to caregiver, what you should never say to a widow, and why it's about moving forward, not moving on.
For anyone impacted by cancer, Aubrey recommends Gilda's Club, a non-profit support community for f...2023-09-0130 min
The L PodcastEp. 84: Redefining Your PeaceIs your life full of chaos or peace? It probably should be a balance of both, but let's be real, there's more chaos than we all probably want. Having peace in our lives is so important for our health, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But how do you find inner peace? How do you live a more peaceful life? Well that's what I'm talking to my good friend Korie about! Today we're talking about how the very definition of peace has changed over time for us and what that's looked like.
Korie also recommends a few podcasts that have helped her...2023-08-3132 min
The L PodcastEp. 83: Finding Anchors Through GriefToday marks seven years since my mom passed away. The first few years after she passed, I dreaded this day. It brought up the pain and sadness of her last days. This year, it's still sad but I'm able to celebrate her life, instead of focusing on her absence. It's taken seven years to get to this point though. It took about five for my friend Bill after losing his mom. Today we're talking about how grief changes over the years and how anniversaries can go from painful memories to spending a day at the spa because that's what...2023-08-2415 min
The L PodcastEp. 82: How To Navigate Your Healing JourneyWhat is a healing journey? It's something many of us have heard and are probably on, but don't know it. To heal means to address the root cause of our pain, our trauma. It's not slapping on a band aid and pretending we're fine—cause we're not. But how do you begin your healing journey? I brought on my friend Lala to share about her several, yes SEVERAL, healing journeys. Because sometimes we're healing from different things throughout our lives and that means needing different types of healing. Lala shares her biggest takeaways and advice for anyone who is unsure wh...2023-08-1727 min
The L PodcastEp. 81: Using The Suicide + Crisis LifelineTW: Mentions or suggestions of suicide and intrusive thoughts.
When you live with anxiety and depression, sometimes it can be hard to reach out for help. Yes everyone says "reach out anytime" or "call me if you need me", but when you're in those moments, the really dark ones, a big barrier is the feeling of bothering, or being a burden, or sometimes even embarrassment. It's hard to ask for help. But there's the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to help. I had to use it a few weeks ago. It was a scary moment but I'm so glad I did. What's...2023-08-1016 minThe L PodcastEp. 80: Surviving Childhood TraumaTW: This episode mentions murder, suicide, and suggestions of abuse.
Childhood trauma isn't something that ends with childhood. Sometimes that shit follows you into adulthood. As adults processing and healing from childhood trauma, my bestie Brittney and I are talking about what it's been like. Spoiler alert: It's been hard AF. Childhood trauma impacts mental health, which in the Latinx community isn't talked about enough! This episode covers a hard topic, but Brittney handles it with such grace and has some amazing tips at the end, you won't want to miss it.
Remember, you are NOT what has happened to...2023-08-0328 minThe L PodcastEp. 79: When Life Feels Big, Look For The Small ThingsLife can feel really big, really heavy sometimes. I know it's felt like that a lot lately for me. That heaviness just feeds anxiety and depression, and before you know it, a bad morning turns into a bad day and into a bad week. You blink and it's been a month of feeling like shit. Yesterday I woke up to a panic attack and expected it to ruin my day, my week. But it didn't. It was actually one of the best days I've had in a while! I was super productive, in a good mood, and felt good...2023-07-2414 minThe L PodcastEp. 78: When You See Death ComingNo one likes to talk or think about death, but it’s all around us. Death has been on my mind lately for a few reasons, mainly with my dog Burberry’s health changing. It hit me that she’s getting older and being able to see it, well it’s fucked with me. I started pre-grieving. Let’s talk about why we start to pre-grieve when we see death coming. I know death can be a difficult subject and if it’s something you’re dealing with now, know you’re not alone. You’re not weak for “not handling it well”. N...2023-07-1322 min
The L PodcastEp. 77: Knowing Your Worth (Miniseries Pt. 3)Do you know how awesome you are? Probably not. Sometimes when we're always focused on who we want to be, we overlook and undervalue who we ALREADY are (which is pretty f*cking awesome). Not knowing who we are means we don't know our worth. But what's the big deal with not knowing our worth? Who does that hurt? Everyone. Not knowing your worth means you miss out on opportunities that can help out your career, your family, your whole damn future. Part of knowing who you are is knowing when opportunities are or aren't for YOU. Let's talk...2023-07-0617 min
The L PodcastEp. 76: When Not Knowing Who I Am Leads To Depression (Miniseries Pt.2)Who knew three words to add up to such a big question! WHO ARE YOU? I thought I knew who I was at 14. Then I thought for sure I knew who I was at 24. Now at 32, I've realized the answer will always be changing. These past three decades I've put so much pressure on myself to know exactly who I am so I could figure out what she should look like, what she should be achieving, etc. But all that's really done is fucked with my mental health because I either don't know or I'm not living up to that...2023-06-2916 min
The L PodcastEp. 75: Who Are You When Your Morals Are Tested? (Miniseries Pt. 1)Who Are You? Miniseries: It's my birthday month, meaning it's a month full of self-reflection. So in this four part miniseries we're answering the question Who Are You? I know it's a bit of a vague, yet loaded question, but who we are impacts our lives and those around us. In this first part we're talking about how our morals and values shape who we are. Thinking about what our values and morals are isn't necessarily on the forefront of everyone's mind 24/7/365, but it's our values and morals that influence the decisions we make every day. They impact who...2023-06-0823 minThe L PodcastEp. 74: When You Stop Validating Your Own FeelingsLife can really throw some shit in your face, but society tells you that you should rub that shit into your face and call it a mud mask. Make the best of it. Turn it into something positive. But it's literal shit. in. your. face. Sometimes situations are just that. Shitty. Yet we feel the pressure to find gratitude in everything and to turn bad situations into good ones but you know what, that takes effort. It takes energy that we already don't have. When you stop validating your own feelings that you're going through some tough challenges, you stop...2023-06-0121 minThe L PodcastEp. 73: The Struggles Of Breaking Cultural TraditionsStories of trailblazers breaking cultural traditions and norms are always feel-good and inspiring, but that's because you don't see what the road looked like before they paved the way. First-gen students, Americans, and those who immigrate to this country for a better future are the trailblazers that take the beating building paths so those after them can enjoy the stroll. I'm very lucky to have someone I deeply admire and am fortunate to call my best friend on today's episode, Dr. Jiyan Mohammad. Jiyan came to the US from Kurdistan, a territory in northern Iraq, and is the oldest of 10...2023-05-2538 minThe L PodcastEp. 72: How To Give Yourself PromotionsJust got laid off or looking for a better opportunity? Then you don't want to miss today's episode! We're chatting with Nick Kopco (yes, my awesome brother-in-law) about how he's managed to changed positions 7 times, and always for a better role and better pay. But wait, isn't changing jobs often bad for your resume? Well, staying loyal to one employer for 20 years may have been a thing our parents did, but unfortunately many employers aren't loyal to their employees, don't offer competitive salaries, or have toxic work environments. Let's talk about it!2023-05-1836 minThe L PodcastEp. 71: Cannabis For Health: What To Know + How To Get StartedHave you ever tried cannabis? Most portrayals of weed and cannabis depict a stereotypical stoner who talks slowly and just eats cheetos all day in their mom's basement. But what if it helps manage your stress or helped your pain more than any pharmaceutical has? Today I'm talking with the amazing BJ Garceau about all things cannabis, including the health benefits for diabetes management and mental health. Although recreational use may be illegal in several states, medicinal use is legal in many of them, so check to see if medicinal marijuana is an option in your state. And of...2023-05-1133 minThe L PodcastEp. 70: What To Expect After An Unexpected LossLosing a loved one sucks, whether it happened unexpectedly or you saw it coming a mile away with illness. But there's more to grief than just the rollercoaster of emotions. Today my bestie Noe and I are talking about all the tons of extra SHIT you deal with after losing a loved one like canceling their phone service and figuring out how to arrange a funeral. All these extra little tasks become reminders of your loss, the salt in the wound. Grief doesn't get easier, it just changes. But you change with it. Whether you're preparing yourself to lose...2023-05-0420 minThe L PodcastEp. 69: When You Get Knocked Down, Stay DownWe've all heard the phrases "no pain, no gain", "push through", "fight through", etc. I've definitely tried living by those phrases in the past, and to some extent, it's probably helped me achieve some pretty awesome things. But the reality is, I probably would've achieved them anyways! Instead, I lived by this mentality of just pushing through life, and it's cost me my physical and mental health sometimes. Yesterday my body took a Muhammad Ali quadruple hit and knocked me down pretty hard. And instead of getting right back up and trying to keep fighting, I stayed down—and I...2023-04-2716 minThe L PodcastEp. 68: To All My Lonely PeopleIf there’s one thing this pandemic has taught me, it’s that I’m more of a social being than I thought. I’ve talked in previous episodes about how hard it is to make friends as adults, but now I’m just flat out feeling….lonely. And it sucks. But how do you fix loneliness? For once in my life, I don’t have the answer. Is it time? It’s always fucking time. It’s probably time. So to all my lonely people, hang in there.2023-04-1320 minThe L PodcastEp. 67: When Eating Comes With Guilt + ShameI've had some very complicated relationships in the past, and one of those was with food. It still is. I love food but because of societal pressures, many of us start assigning foods as "good" or "bad", or as the health industry has labeled "clean" foods. It's all confusing and I always end up feeling dirty and shameful if I eat anything other than a salad—especially with diabetes! Today I'm chatting with my bestie Erika Szumel (@erikaszumel) who lives with type 1 diabetes about how living with diabetes sucks, but how it can really impact our relationships with food. Si...2023-04-0636 minThe L PodcastEp. 66: Always Say Your Pain Is A 10This week I had to fight with a doctor to order me a cup to shit in. A literal cup. FOR ME TO SHIT IN. The number of stories I’ve heard about people going untreated and undiagnosed because their doctors brushed them off and didn’t listen has to easily be in the hundreds now. Including many stories of my own. Growing up, my mom always told me that when asked, to always say my pain was a 10. I never understood why my mom would tell me to lie but I get it now. That’s how you actually get li...2023-03-3023 min
The L PodcastEp. 65: The Final Stage of GriefWe've all heard the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I've gone through most of these but this past weekend I went through the final stage—acceptance. Let me tell you, this is NOT the final stage. Grief is not linear. You may go through one stage onto the next one, but then end up going back into a previous stage at any given time. People tell us we'll go through these stages but they never tell us we'll go through them over and over and over. Acceptance isn't the final stage because grief never truly en...2023-03-2320 minThe L PodcastEp. 64: Nothing Is Really PermanentAside from having children, saying something you regret, and maybe donating an organ, very few things in life are permanent. Yet, so many of us are hesitant to try new things or make changes because we think "what if I don't like it?". Well, if you don't like it, you just change it again. After almost a year of changing my hair to different fun colors, I've learned that nothing is really permanent—and that's been comforting AF. When nothing is permanent, meaning you can always change your mind, paint color, job, or even relationship, it makes decision-making and ve...2023-03-1621 minThe L PodcastEp. 63: Drop Those GoalsI've had my share of breakups in the past, but this one takes the win. I broke up with my goals. If you're a goal-driven person like me, you probably have like anywhere from 5-10 different goals you're always working on. I definitely was. And I always felt behind, in a rush, and burnt out. The thing is, WE set these goals for ourselves, so we can also decide when we want to work on them and when we want to put them down. The world doesn't fall apart just because you decide to put a project down (I...2023-03-0923 minThe L PodcastEp. 62: Why You Should Choose Your Words WiselyCertain words can trigger us, motivate us, and even change the rest of our lives. It may sound like a simple trick, but choosing the words we use in our day-to-day and to describe ourselves can make a really big impact. This is yet another therapy knowledge nugget I've gained and wanted to share with you. Today we'll chat about how a simple switch from words like "help" to "support" and "control" to "manage" have made all the difference in my life and possibly yours! Words and language matter. Here's why. 2023-03-0723 minThe L PodcastEp. 61: Should You Buy Organic?Ever been shamed by Becky with the nice hair for not buying your kids or yourself only organic produce? Yeah, join the club. But is buying organic produce ACTUALLY better? Today Jamie and I are talking about what organic foods are, what it takes to get that shiny label, and whether or not buying organic is worth the extra money. Words like "chemicals" and "organic" have been so skewed by media that they've become scary and means of raising prices. Let's talk some sexy science and learn what organic really means!
Learn more about...2023-02-2322 minThe L PodcastEp. 60: Women of Color + Eating Disorders: What You Probably Don't KnowIf you asked me to describe what someone with an eating disorder looked like, I would probably say a white cheerleader making herself throw up in a bathroom stall because that's the only portrayal of an eating disorder I've ever seen. AND THAT'S NOT TRUE. Today we're joined by Leslie Jordan Garcia and chatting all things women of color, especially black women, and disordered eating: what it is, how it impacts women of color disproportionately, and what we can all start doing to move from just an ally to a co-conspirator (yes we explain what this means!). Basically, listen...2023-02-1624 minThe L PodcastEp. 59: Ignorance Is Bliss VS Knowledge Is PowerIs ignorance always bliss? If you could find out if you were going to get cancer or any disease, would you want to know? Isn’t knowledge power? In today’s episode my husband Jamie and I talk about our experience with genetic testing and what that’s been like for our future as parents.2023-02-0925 minThe L PodcastEp. 58: If You Can Dodge A Wrench You Can Live With StressStress is everywhere. We can’t avoid it. I’ve always been afraid that stress was going to be the death of me because I didn’t handle stress “well”. The truth is there’s no avoiding stress and unless we learn to live with and embrace the stressors in our lives we’re heading to a life full of disease. But how do we do that? Well today I’m sharing exactly how I’m working on doing that and what I’ve learned in therapy so you can start learning to live with stress.2023-02-0224 minThe L PodcastEp. 57: Will You Be My Mentor?There's no Karate Kid without Mr. Miyagi. Most of us wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for mentors taking us under their wing and guiding us. I've always been passionate about mentoring because I've had some pretty amazing mentors myself. Today's guest is one of my own mentors, Margarita López-Uribe, a professor of Entomology at Penn State. Today we're talking about what a mentor is, why we all need several mentors in our lives, and how to get one.
Learn more about Margarita and her team's work at lopezuribelab.com.2023-01-2618 minThe L PodcastEp. 56: Self-advocacy Can Save Your Life(TW: mention of suicidal thoughts.) I spent the first few days of 2023 in the hospital. 12 days later, I’m still dealing with feeling sick because I was dismissed by the ER providers. When I shared this story on my social media, I asked if anyone else had ever been dismissed by their healthcare team. Not surprisingly, it was one of my most engaged posts, with several people sharing their stories. It’s hard, but we need to advocate for ourselves to our doctors sometimes. No one knows our bodies better than us. So today we’re talking about self-advocacy, how it can...2023-01-1925 minThe L PodcastEp. 55: Dealing With DisappointmentWe've all been disappointed before. Our partners forgot our birthday, we didn't get that promotion, the McDonald's ice cream machine is down. We can't avoid it and it's out of our control most of the time. Disappointment can lead to some uncomfortable feelings like jealousy, anger, hate, etc. How you feel about disappointment doesn't make you a bad person, but how you deal with it is key. When you don't deal with your feelings, with disappointment, you become emotionally constipated (new phrase I'm coining now!). Here's how to get some relief for that constipation!
(TW: Talk of s...2023-01-1222 minThe L PodcastEp. 54: Letting Go Of Your Vision To See The Greatness In Front Of YouSeason 2 is here! But it's not how I had envisioned it starting—shitting my brains out. I had these big lofty goals of how I wanted to celebrate the beginning of season 2 and the one-year anniversary of The L Podcast, but instead, I spent the first week of 2023 in the hospital recovering from a stomach virus. Does that mean I shouldn't celebrate since it's not the picture-perfect vision I had? Absolutely not. Sometimes when we get so attached to how we envision or dream things will go, that we don't see that things are still pretty great. Let's not sp...2023-01-0509 minThe L PodcastEp. 53: When Shit Is Hitting The Fan (Ep. #1 Replay)Today officially marks the one-year anniversary of The L Podcast! In honor of today, I'm resharing the episode that started it all, episode #1. This is a reminder of why I started this podcast: to share my story so others can learn from my mistakes and triumphs, but most importantly, know they're not alone.2023-01-0526 min
The L PodcastEp. 52: Why Your New Year Goals Don't WorkBefore you make a vision board or create a list of goals, you gotta listen to today's episode. If you're someone who has always set new goals at the beginning of the year and gets reinvigorated by all the hype and excitement of the new year, this one is for you. I've always felt bad looking at my vision board around this time and seeing all the things I DIDN'T accomplish. Yet I'd just make a new vision board with the exact same things on it and hope that "this was the year". It wasn't. It never will be...2022-12-3119 minThe L PodcastEp. 51: What To Leave In 2022The end of the year is almost here and everyone is talking about resolutions, new goals, etc. But you can't bring new things into your life if you don't make room for them by leaving behind things that are no longer serving you. Here are the FOUR things I'm leaving in 2022 to make room for 2023! What are you leaving behind this year?2022-12-3024 minThe L PodcastEp. 50: Pink Hair Don't F*cking CareWe gotta stop being full of shit and say we're going to finally do something, only to come up with excuses. For years, I always said I wanted to dye my hair a fun color: teal, turquoise, purple, and pink. Yet for 31 years I've been 50 shades of brown. Boring. Why? Because I always cared what someone might think about my "wild" hair. I didn't want to argue with my mom. I didn't want the interviewer to think I was unprofessional. I didn't want SOMEONE else to be uncomfortable about how I look. I've always put the fear and opinions...2022-12-2221 minThe L PodcastEp. 49: Being A Financially Responsible Adult Is HardI know all the sales going on during the holidays is exciting, but you know what's not exciting? Credit card debit looming over your head every second, every day. As I mentioned in episode 47, I have always been embarrassed and uncomfortable talking about money because I didn't have a great relationship with money. Retail therapy was my only therapy for years and lead to me having over $8k in credit card debt at one point. Not my proudest moment but I fought hard to get out of it and want to share how I did so you can learn from m...2022-12-2028 minThe L PodcastEp. 48: Holiday Stressing All The WayHolidays are seasons of joy but if we're being honest, it's also a season of stress. Picking the perfect gift, not burning the turkey, crowded airports and that uncle who won't shut up about politics. Holidays got me stressing all the way! And if you live with a chronic illness like my friend and guest on this episode Julia does, holidays can be pretty hard to get through. Managing a chronic illness like diabetes, which I've mentioned before, is a FULL TIME job. Diabetes doesn't take holidays or days off, so balancing how we manage our diabetes on top...2022-12-1519 minThe L PodcastEp. 47: Money, Debt, and Credit Cards...Oh My!Who else is embarrassed by their debt? I used to HATE, no LOATHE talking about money. It made me super uncomfortable to talk about money, how much debt I was in, or the fact that the only therapy I had was retail therapy for a long time. Shit adds up. It wasn't until Jamie came into the picture that I finally had to have that conversation with myself and with him. You thought the sex talk with your parents was uncomfortable...this felt way worse! Jamie is my guest on this episode as we talk about how we manage our...2022-12-0829 minThe L PodcastEp. 46: How Medication Helps Us Live Our Best Lives With Anxiety + Depression*Trigger Warning: talk of suicidal tendencies/ideation*
Living with mental illnesses like anxiety and depression is hard. It's not something we can just "shake off" or fix with just a bubble bath. Sometimes we need more help. Stigmas and misconceptions like being on medication means you've failed or that you'll turn into a zombie prevents people from getting the extra help they need and DESERVE. But you wanna know the truth? It's when we're OFF our meds that we don't feel like ourselves.
In this episode, my diabuddy Zina and I have a raw and...2022-12-0126 minThe L PodcastEp. 45: Dress to Impress Yourself"That doesn't look flattering on you." Ever heard that before? Most women have heard that at some point in their lives, even as early as childhood. We're constantly made aware of how much space our bodies take up, and told it's a bad thing. Have a belly? You better hide the fact that you have a pouch that holds your organs! Ridiculous. For years, I never wore certain styles or outfits because I was told that's not what people my size "should" wear. Only "skinny" people tuck their shirts in or wear fitted clothing. Guess what happened when I...2022-11-2923 minThe L PodcastEp. 44: Should I Have Kids?Is the age old question pushed on women as soon as we get our first period. Deciding whether or not you want to have kids isn’t as easy as picking a new ice cream flavor (butter pecan obviously), nor should it be. And even when you do decide that you want kids, the next question is WHEN? It’s tough. In this episode we talk about navigating those two hard questions and why whatever you decide is okay!
Learn more about becoming a foster parent at www.adoptuskids.org.
2022-11-1728 minThe L PodcastEp. 43: Winter (Blues) Is ComingAnyone else feeling extra exhausted lately? Yeah, that’s normal! Seasonal changes like colder weather and shorter days can impact our bodies and mental health. Winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are coming, or already happening, and we need to make sure we’re giving ourselves the best fighting chance to get through. Today we’ll chat about how to prepare for the upcoming winter months and why it’s so important.2022-11-1022 minThe L PodcastEp. 42: When Your Brain Is ConstipatedEver feel like you’ve been doing a lot but have nothing to show for it? It’s probably because you’ve actually been doing a lot of thinking, not doing. If you’re like me, you have a million ideas for things you want to do so your brain is all constipated with ideas and has no room for resting or planning. So if you want to get out of this productivity slump, you gotta take a brain dump!2022-11-0321 minThe L PodcastEp. 41: What is Fear?It’s the last episode everyone…. before Halloween! 👻💀😂 So we’re talking about fears and what they are at their core—lack of trust. Yep. Fear is the absence of trust and you’ll learn how to face your fears by the end of this episode!2022-10-2719 minThe L PodcastEp. 40: The Struggles of Anxiety: Part IILiving with anxiety can really suck and you can’t always ignore or distract yourself from anxiety when it’s bad. Last week was pretty bad so in part 2 we talk about how to get through the shit storm. Remember you are WORTH it. Your mental health is priceless and I am so thankful that you are in this world! We gotta keep fighting the good fight. ❤️2022-10-2023 minThe L PodcastEp. 39: The Struggles of Anxiety: Part 1Anxiety is depicted in movies and tv as someone hyperventilating into a brown bag, and that’s not exactly accurate. Anxiety can look like many things for different people. It can become so disruptive in our lives. In this first part, I share for the first time what anxiety looks like for me and how I know when I need to ask for help. Please know that you’re NOT ALONE if you are struggling with your anxiety. If you need help (which is okay!), please reach out to me or a loved one, or use the suicide & crisis lifeline by c...2022-10-1331 minThe L PodcastEp. 38: How To Find A Job You're Happy WithTreat your careers like men...don't settle! Today I brought a special guest, my husband Jamie, to talk about how we've pivoted in our careers to land the jobs that we're both really happy with. From poor grad students to fulfilled professionals, we chat about how we navigated leaving academia (then coming back to it) and the tips we recommend for anyone just starting out their careers or looking to move into a different path. Plus, you get to learn more about what we do in our jobs!2022-10-0631 minThe L PodcastEp. 37: Finding Your Black HoleNo, I don't mean your a-hole, as much as I love a good poop pun! I'm talking about the activities and people that suck the time and energy out of your life. If you're working towards a goal and you see that you're not making much progress, there's probably a (few) black hole in your life. How do you know? Well when you feel like you haven't done much, but time has still passed, that's a black hole! Today we chat about finding your black hole and what to do once you've found it.
Learn more about R...2022-09-2924 minThe L PodcastEp. 36: To Open the Childhood Wound or NotFor anyone who has lived through childhood trauma, as an adult you may find yourself still dealing with someone that happened YEARS ago. As I've gone through therapy and milestones in my life, I'm come to a point where I'm asking myself "Do I want to open this old wound to heal or let it be?" It's a tough question that doesn't have a right or wrong answer. There's several things and people to consider so these decisions are never to be taken lightly. But what do we do as someone who is trying to heal? Let's talk about...2022-09-2225 minThe L PodcastEp. 35: Shitting Yourself With ExcitementWhen was the last time you were so excited or nervous that you felt you might shit yourself? Probably not yesterday. Humans for the most part don’t enjoy taking risks. No one wants to get rejected or get hurt, so we rarely take risks. I get it. But if nothing changes, then nothing changes. We gotta take risks in life, and today we’ll chat about how to get through that fear of risk taking. Check out more about toastmasters at www.toastmasters.org2022-09-1518 minThe L PodcastEp. 34: Having Patience During A Growth PhaseWarning: I cry in this episode, but what's new right? lol Today we talk about the growing pains that come with leaving your comfort zone and the feeling of loneliness that might come with it. Going through a growth phase, whether it's moving to a new city or pivoting to start your own business, can be hard. But this too shall pass. 2022-09-0818 minThe L PodcastEp. 33: 5 Steps To Finishing Your Dream ProjectI finally did the thing I've been shit talking that I was gonna do! Anyone else like that? You say year after year that you're going to do this project (remodel your bathroom, host a fundraiser, start a blog, etc.) but you never actually do it. Yep. Me too. But I finally did it and I'm here to share how I used these 5 steps to finally get my ass to finish my own dream project. My new website is finally live so please check it out and I would love to hear what you think (and if I missed...2022-09-0124 minThe L PodcastEp. 32: It’s Okay To CryYesterday was rough. It was 6 years since my mom passed away and I thought I would be fine. I balled my eyes out and then got upset because “it’s been 6 years” and I should be “over it.” There’s no timeline for grief. It’s okay to cry, no matter how much or how little time has passed.2022-08-2520 minThe L PodcastEp. 31: Take A Moment To Be ProudToday is episode 31! I'm 31 so this is sort of my golden episode if that was a thing, HA! But it made me realize, I've been doing a podcast episode, every week, for 31 weeks. What?! 31 weeks!? I couldn't believe that this podcast had come this far, despite even saying that "I could never do a podcast" just a year before starting my own. When was the last time you stopped at looked back at everything you've accomplished? If you're very goal driven like I am, it can be really easy to always look ahead at the next goal, the next...2022-08-1825 minThe L PodcastEp. 30: Your Power is Your StoryOur story, what we've been through and have overcome, can inspire and change the life of someone we haven't even met! I've learned in the past few years that the power of storytelling can be strong, beautiful, create a community, and so much more! And yes, that goes for even lil ol' you. Your story is important and deserves to be shared, and in this episode, I'll tell you why. 2022-08-1121 minThe L PodcastEp. 29: Life Can Make You Bitter or BetterThis week’s therapy session dropped a bit of a bomb question on me that I thought would be great to talk through together. “How have you been successful, despite your the obstacles you’ve faced in the past?” Loaded right? Today I’ll share the 4 tips that can help you live the best life you want, despite whatever you’ve been through.2022-08-0426 minThe L PodcastEp. 28: Dreaming Big Is ScaryHaving big dreams can lead to having big guilt, shame, and fear. Why? Because sometimes we’re told that wanting more is bad. We’re told to settle and be grateful. Or we’re afraid what people will think. But don’t ever stop dreaming big!2022-07-2825 minThe L PodcastEp. 27: Lessons My Dog Taught MeToday is Burberry’s 9th birthday so she’s our guest speaker for the episode! She didn’t have much to say but she said it with her eyes so I’ll relay what she said. Having a dog has changed my life for the better and there’s a few lessons she’s taught me that I think everyone should learn.2022-07-2123 minThe L PodcastEp. 26: How To Make Friends As An AdultI like to think I have a lot of friends, but I’ve come to realize, most of them are online. (That’s okay!) But I’ve missed having people to hang out with and go thrift shopping with. So my therapist recommended that I make more friends that live near me. How?! Simply put. You gotta put yourself out there.2022-07-1425 minThe L PodcastEp. 25: Why You Need To Do The Thing AnywaysIf it wasn’t for taking messy action, this podcast wouldn’t still be going. So many times we wait until we’ve learned or planned everything to be “perfect” before we start taking action, but is that really serving us? Nope. You gotta take the first step to create change. Even if you’re not sure what direction you’re walking towards. A step forward is still progress.2022-07-0718 minThe L PodcastEp. 24: Flight or Fight MeBig parties? Yeah not my jam. I have social anxiety but for years I forced myself to go to parties because that’s just “what everyone else does”. Living with anxiety and panic attacks means you have to learn to live life YOUR WAY.2022-06-3028 minThe L PodcastEp. 23: So You’re Not Where You Thought You’d BeLooking at past vision boards, my life is nowhere near where I envisioned it would be by 31. Life never happens at the pace we want, nor do we always achieve the goals we had 5 years ago. That’s because goals, priorities, and we change. And that’s okay!2022-06-2326 minThe L PodcastEp. 22: But You LOOK FineIt’s what’s on the outside that counts right? This recovery journey has really created a disconnect between how I’m FEELING and how I LOOK. For so many of us, we may look okay on the outside, when we’re not okay on the inside. Yet, we try our hardest to always make it look like we’re okay. Why? No clue. I’m trying to figure this out too!2022-06-1623 minThe L PodcastEp. 21: Resting is Not the Opposite of ProgressIt’s been 2 weeks since my surgery, but honestly it’s felt like 2 months! I suck at resting. I know that sounds silly cause you literally just lay there, but it’s hard! We’re told to always be productive to move our lives forward, but when life says you need to slow down, what do we do? We ignore the red flag and go harder. We gotta knock that shit off.2022-06-0927 min
The L PodcastEp. 20: Coming Out Again And AgainToday we're chatting with my sorority line sister, Caro Gutierrez, AKA one of the bravest women I know! Caro shares her story about what it was like to come out as a queer Latina and how our Mexican culture doesn't necessarily make it easy. It takes a lot of strength to accept yourself for who you are, especially when society and religions say you shouldn't. You don't want to miss out on hearing this amazing story! And if you are currently hesitant to come out to your friends and loved ones, know you're not alone. It can be a scary...2022-06-0224 minThe L PodcastEp. 19: Never Gonna Give You UpThe day is finally here! It’s 3am and I’m having gallbladder surgery in a few. I’ve been so sick with bloating and nausea over the past few months that I just really had a break down and decided to give up on trying to be healthy. It’s exhausting trying to lose weight. It’s exhausting managing my diabetes. But whether you have a chronic illness or are trying to look your best on your wedding day, don’t give up on yourself. You’re allowed to bitch and complain, but not quit. I’m never gonna give you up so d...2022-05-2419 minThe L PodcastEp. 18: When You Need To Make Tough DecisionsWe make a million decisions in our lifetime, but they’re not always as easy as “would you like some cake?”, which is obviously a YASS. Making tough decisions isn’t easy, but here are some tips from how I’ve made tough decisions in the past. You got this!2022-05-1220 minThe L PodcastEp. 17: Survive Then ThriveThere are two modes you can be in at any given time in your life: survival mode or thrive mode. Oh, you can also switch between modes at any point! Life is about these ups and downs, so today we’ll chat about what each mode looks like and how to use them to “go with the flow”.2022-05-0523 minThe L PodcastEp. 16: The Burden & Blessing of Being a Parental CaregiverTaking care of a sick parent is tough. It can be a long, painful journey that doesn’t have a happy ending. But it can also be a string of beautiful memories with your loved ones. I’d like to dedicate this episode to my good friend Noe Favela who just lost his father. I love you and my heart goes out to your family.2022-04-2829 minThe L PodcastEp. 15: Self-advocacy is self-careEver speak up about something that’s bothering you and you got dismissed? Yeah, me too. So many times women get dismissed by their doctors when they complain about symptoms or pain, but when it comes to your health, you gotta keep speaking up until they have no choice but to hear you! Today we’re chatting about why speaking up is self-advocacy and why it’s important.2022-04-2128 minThe L PodcastEp. 14: Failing ForwardHoly crap I almost forgot it’s Thursday! I didn’t have anything planned for today so I automatically labeled myself a failure. Way to go. But failing forward is honestly the only way to move forward. In life. In creating a podcast. So let’s talk about what it means to fail forward.2022-04-1422 minThe L PodcastEp. 13: The Grief RollercoasterWarning: Today we’re talking about death and grief. Losing a loved one is tough. There’s several stages of grief you go through, never in order, and you might probably get stuck in one stage. But one thing about grief is that it comes and goes. Let’s talk about that rollercoaster ride and it’s not the fun kind that takes your pic when you’re screaming with your hands in the air.2022-04-0723 minThe L PodcastEp. 12: We Are Wonder WomenI'm back from our honeymoon and wrapping up Women's History Month with a new "L" for you all.....LISTEN. I'm going to ask you to do something, something that will take courage, bravery, honesty, and honestly, womaning up, to do. I'm sharing one last story of a badass woman to INSPIRE you to the thing I'm going to ask. SHARE YOUR STORY. Share it far and wide. Share it often!2022-03-3124 minThe L PodcastEp. 11: How To Have Faith In YourselfTaking risks can be scary, but when that risk is on yourself, 99% of people won't take it. Why? Fear of unknown. Fear of what people will say. Fear. Fear. Fear! Today I'm chatting with the amazing Mila Clarke about how she took that leap of faith in herself to quit her job and become her own boss, full-time, in the middle of a pandemic! She shares great tips and advice on how you can learn to listen to that gut feeling and take action.
You can learn more about Mila's at https://hangrywoman.com/ or on instagram...2022-03-1730 minThe L PodcastEp. 10: When We Waste Our Time Making ExcusesToday we're chatting with another badass woman in honor of Women's History Month, Cindy Yost! She's a wife, mother of 2 adorable kiddos, 2 pupper doggos, pharmacist, entrepreneur, fitness coach, and more. How does she do all that? Well that's exactly what we're talking about today: time management and productivity! Women tend to brush off pursuing their goals and hobbies because they feel it's selfish or "don't have time", buuuuut we find time to binge that new tv series. So let's start talking about living fulfilling lives by better managing our time.
You can learn more about Cindy at h...2022-03-1028 minThe L PodcastEp. 9: When The Job Pays Your Bills But Costs You Your Mental HealthIt's the first episode of March, which is Women's History Month, so I wanted to use this month to highlight and share the stories of some PHENOMENAL women I've met over the years. Today I'm chatting with my sorority sister, Griselda Hernandez, about navigating a change in careers when the environment costs you your mental health. We've both recently taken big pivots in our careers by starting new positions that are pretty different to what we've been doing for years. You'll want to take some notes from Gris during this episode!
Check out Gris's new blog about...2022-03-0335 minThe L PodcastEp. 8: Using Your HIGHS To Prep For Your LOWSToday we’re talking about doomsday prep. Just kidding! We’re actually talking about how to use the times when you have energy (HIGHS), to prep for the days/weeks/months that your depression and anxiety flare up and steal your energy (LOWS). We talk about tips and tricks you can use to learn to live with your lows. Resources: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers virtual and local support groups, as well as other resources. Find your local support groups at nami.org.2022-02-2423 minThe L PodcastEp. 7: Living With Anxiety And Panic AttacksToday’s episode is a bit tough because I walk you through what it’s like to have a panic attack….while I’m having one. If you live with anxiety and panic attacks, listen till the end for tips on how to prevent or get through attacks.2022-02-1722 minThe L PodcastEp. 6: Love Yourself FirstIt's Valentines Day weekend and love in the air! Today we'll talk about what loving yourself first looks like why you need to.2022-02-1028 minThe L PodcastEp. 5: When You Care For Someone With Anxiety And DepressionMy guest this episode is none other than my husband Jamie! We talk about what its like to care for a partner who suffers from panic attacks, anxiety, and depression, and tips to help you and your partner navigate living with mental illnesses together.2022-02-0327 minThe L PodcastEp. 4: We Don't Talk About Feelings NO, NO. NO!Inspired by the new Disney movie Encanto, today we're talking about the pressure of expectations and not talking about our feelings. So we're gonna talk about it today and how to learn to sit in your shit.2022-01-2732 minThe L PodcastEp. 3: So You Think You're StuckToday's episode is about letting go of the belief that you're stuck doing one thing for the rest of your life and that trying things is bad. Spoiler alert! ⚠️ It's not! I share some tips and tricks on how to pivot in life and challenge you to try one new thing!2022-01-2022 minThe L PodcastEp. 2: Setting Yourself Up For A New Year, New Goals, New SemesterIn this episode, the L we focus on is Learning as I'm joined by my grad school besties, Aubrey, Nik, Tara, and Shelly. We talk about learning how to set yourself up for new semester for all the students out there, or setting goals for a new quarter in your business, but most importantly, how to keep that momentum going! This isn't the year where you give up on your goals after 2 weeks! Here are some tangible tips and tricks to make sure you stay successful all year round.2022-01-1330 minThe L PodcastEp. 1: When Shit Is Hitting The FanThis episode is a tough topic: suicide. When I found out a loved one was contemplating suicide, I knew I had to share my own experience with suicidal thoughts and how I overcame them. No matter how dark and grim life can feel, it's always worth living. If you or a loved one are having suicidal thoughts, please seek help. Suicide hotline 9-8-8
2022-01-0626 min