Shows
Balance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 13 - Managing Grief While Working w/ AprilHi mental health and wellness listeners. Ms. April Ogden a Leadership Development Coach joins us to share he personal experience with balancing work, grieving the loss of her mother and managing her mother's affairs. April's contact: https://itsyouroutcome.com/ www.aprilogden.substack.comFollow, subscribe, comment and share this podcast. Tell us which mental health topics you would like us to discuss. Next Episode Available: Balance and Bloom will be on a break. You can catch up on our previous episodes un...2025-07-1132 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 12 - Talking to Children About Danger w/Dr. SanchezHello mental health and wellness listeners. Dr. Aurus Julius Sanchez, a physical therapist, joins us to talk about ways to start a discussion with children about predators and his children's book Pepito and the Dangerous Cats which was written to provide parents with a way to discus the dangers of "tricky people" who may want to hurt them.***Claudia and Francine do not endorse any products mentioned in this episode***Follow, subscribe, comment and share this podcast. Tell us which mental health topics you would like us to discuss. 2025-06-2642 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 11 - Aging with Gratitude and PurposeHello mental health and wellness listeners. Ms. Kay Schinzlein joins us to talk about navigating the aging process and the importance of implementing N.E.W.S. (Nutrition, Exercise, Water and Sleep).***Note: Claudia and Francine do not endorse or recommend any product mentioned on this episode. Consult with your medical provider.*** Kay's website: https://www.masteryourvitality.com/Follow, subscribe, comment and share this podcast. Tell us which mental health topics you would like us to discuss. Next Episode Available: T...2025-06-1226 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 10 - Menopause, Sexual Changes and Relationships w/ LisaHello mental health and wellness listeners. We welcome back Lisa Feveck, the menopause dietitian, who joins us to talk about the impact of menopause on our sexual health. We are having the personal and uncomfortable conversations that are seldom discussed. Lisa's contact:https://www.youtube.com/@menomorphosis_dietitianhttps://instagram.com/menomorphosis_dietitianhttps://www.facebook.com/menomorphosisdietitianFollow, subscribe, comment and share this podcast. Tell us which mental health topics you would like us to discuss. Next E...2025-05-2929 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 9 - Life of a Military SpouseHi health and wellness listeners. We have a fun and lighthearted episode with our former military wives Kaymie and Tacha.In recognition of military spouse day on 9 May, they join us to talk about their experiences being married to active duty and figuring out how to exist in the military structure focused on the active duty member. Kaymie now works in the health fieldTacha is a yoga instructor: https://flowforfreedomyoga.com/Follow, subscribe, comment and share this podcast. Tell us which...2025-05-1540 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 8 - Menopause and Mental Health w/ LisaHello mental health and wellness listeners. Francine and Claudia are thrilled to have our guest Lisa Feveck, RD - the menopause dietitian to impart some wisdom and help us discuss menopause and mental health symptoms that are not widely known. This conversation is not just for the ladies. We encourage the men to listen so, they can understand the changes women are facing. This is a two part discussion. Part 2: Menopause, Sexual Heath and RelationshipsCheck out Lisa at: https://www...2025-05-0131 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 7 - Practicing with SOUL w/ Kyle ToonHello mental health and wellness listeners. Kyle Toon joins us to discuss his next step journey into social work as his graduation nears and how he implements SOUL (Spirituality, Open heartedness, Unbounded learning and Listen lean-in and discern) in his life and as a future practitioner. Kyle's Podcast: Gracefully ImperfectBook of Poetry: The Depths BelowFollow, subscribe, comment and share this podcast.Tell us which mental health topic you would like us to discussNext Episode...2025-04-1831 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep. 6 - Job Loss Effect on Mental HealthHi mental health and wellness listeners. We are back from a short hiatus to talk about current events in the working world. Join Claudia and Francine as they discuss the stress and chaos impact of job loss on mental health to include Claudia's recent fired by email experience. Follow, subscribe, comment and share this podcast. Tell us which mental health topics you would like us to discuss.Next Episode Available: Two weeks ThursdayEmail: charewrites@chareonline.comCheck out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ htt...2025-04-0323 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 5 - Navigating Life Stressors w NickWelcome back mental health and wellness listeners. Our guest Nick Batchelder, a college student with a bright future ahead, joins us to chat about life stressors from a 20 something perspective. Despite generation gaps, we all struggle with stress and we all need to find ways to address it. Check out Nick BatchelderBook on Amazon: Crush Your 20sInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick__batchelderFollow, subscribe, comment and share this podcastNext Episode Available: On BreakEmail: charewrites@chareonline.comCheck out: C...2025-03-1329 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 4 - Financial Hardship and TraumaHi mental health and wellness listeners. We hunt for a paycheck and gather our food in the grocery stores. We no longer live in huts but houses and apartments that require money. What happens when money is scarce or non-existent? Financial hardship can take a toll on our mental health. Join us as we talk about this topic and share some resources that may help.Follow, subscribe, comment and share this podcastNext Episode Available: Two weeks ThursdayEmail: charewrites@chareonline.comCheck out: Claudia’s mental health fo...2025-02-2020 min
Balance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep3 - The Ugly Body ImageFull figure, slim, muscular - no matter the body type, women believe their body shapes and sizes are constantly critiqued and judged. For some women, this can result in negative thoughts about their appearance.
Our guest Olivia joins us to chat about our differing experiences about our bodies.
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Next Episode Available: Two weeks Thursday
Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
...2025-02-0638 min
Balance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep.2 - Postpartum Anxiety w/ZanaHi Mental health and wellness listeners.
Most people have heard of postpartum depression which occur with new mothers. However, tonight we are talking about the lesser known psychological disruption of postpartum anxiety.
Our guest Zana, a mum of two, talks about her experience with postpartum anxiety.
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Next Episode Available: Thursday, 7 Feb
Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https...2025-01-2334 min
Balance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaS2. Ep 1 - New Year Mental Health ResolutionHappy new year and welcome to 2025 mental health and wellness listeners.
Francine and I are back with a new season and more mental heath focused topics. Let’s start the new year with 5 things to keep in mind in order to have a successful mental wellness resolution. Break the new year cycle and try something different.
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Next Episode Available: Thursday 23 Jan - Topic: Post-partum Anxiety w/ Zana
Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Cl...2025-01-0922 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 21 - Surviving ChristmasHello mental health and wellness listeners. It's the end of the year and many of us celebrate Christmas. If you are one of those who dread this time of year, then take a listen to some ways to survive the Christmas season.
Let Christmas Catch You In a Good Mood by The Joe Gibbs Allstars
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Next Episode Available: 2025 Season 2 kick off on Jan 9
Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ htt...2024-12-2219 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 20 - Childfree Choice: None of Your BusinessHi mental health and wellness listeners. Francine and I decided to have a part two to our childfree discussion because not everyone wants to or should be parents. Do you ever want to tell certain people 'it's none of your business?' Well, we did it for you in this episode of standing up for the decision of those who choose to be childfree.
****warning: we talk about child homicide****
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Next Episode Available: 2 weeks Thursday
Email: charewrites@chareonline.com2024-12-0817 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 19 - The Childfree Choice - CriticismHi mental health and wellness listeners. We are back with another episode of Balance & Bloom and Francine and I tackle 1 of a 2 part discussion about being childfree - the decision to not have children and how others negatively reactive to that personal choice.
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Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinebinns/
Music credit: The Travelling Symphony by Sav...2024-11-2219 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 18 - Focusing on Mental Wellness thru Career Changes w/Zainab QureshHello mental health and wellness listeners. On this episode, our guest Zainab Quresh talks about her journey to being a female business owner in a society that frowns on women seeking other interests outside of the caregiver role.
Zainab's contact:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainab-quresh
IG: @zainab.quresh.design
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Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page...2024-10-3123 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 17 - Military Life: Morality and Ethics Conflict w/Kyle ToonHi Mental Health and Wellness listeners. Our guest, Kyle Toon joins us to chat a little about his military life and the cognitive dissonance that led to him being a conscientious objector.
Check out Kyle's
Podcast on Spotify: Gracefully Imperfect
Book of Poetry: The Depths Below
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Next Episode Available: In two weeks on Thursday
Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https://www.l...2024-09-2629 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 16 - How Belonging Helps You Feel BetterLet us introduce Mr. Richard Lowenthal, the creator of GoBrunch.com. Richard joins Francine and I as we discuss the ongoing epidemic of loneliness and how many online spaces can exacerbate the problem. No matter who you are, we are all looking to be included in a healthy community.
Mental Health Reminder - September is suicide awareness month. We encourage you to reach out to someone or call 988 - crisis and suicide prevention line.
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Next Episode Available: Next Thursday
2024-09-1924 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 15 - Art and Mental HealthHave you ever thought about how art can affect your mental health? Join us and our guest Noni as we talk about her passion for art and the positive impact as a stress relief.
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Next Episode Available: In two weeks
Email: charewrites@chareonline.com
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinebinns/
Music credit: The Travelling Symphony by Savfk2024-09-0521 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 14 - Positive Psychology: Focusing on the Wellbeing of SelfHello mental health and wellness listeners. Our topic turns to Positive Psychology with our guest Mr. Stanley Greene, President & CEO of PowerThinking Corp. Stan uses positive psychology to focus on the wellbeing of employees which directly contributes to the success of a business.
Check out Stan Greene @https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanleyhgreene/
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Next Episode Available: In two weeks
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https://www.linke...2024-08-2328 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 13 - Navigating Mental Health as Women Leaders and EntrepreneursWelcome back mental and health wellness listeners. This episode Francine and I have a special guest, Ms. Katie Corlis - a business woman and all around confident, kick butt entrepreneur who joins us to discuss women in business, leadership, 'lady bosses' and the mental health pressures that come with the working world.
Check out Katie's linked profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcorlis/
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Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https...2024-08-0846 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 12 - Love and How it Affects Mental and Physical HealthIt's more than a feeling - that thing we call love. As science finally catches up with what we already know that the feeling of love has a positive impact on our mental and physical health.
Join us and our guest host Ms. Margaret Martinez as we discuss what love is and what it's not. Margaret host LinkedIn audio rooms. Check her out at https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretnmartinez/
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Next Episode Available: 2 weeks
Check out: Claudia’s me...2024-07-2534 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 11 - Toxic FriendshipsCan you spot the toxic friend in your life? Is it you or someone else or both? Friendships are very important relationships unless they are contaminated with mentally poisonous words and behaviors. Listen as we discuss our experiences and roles in toxic friendships and how to deal with them.
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Next Episode Available: In two weeks
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinebinns/
...2024-07-0422 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 10 - RejectionWe have all been rejected whether from a job, romantic interest etc. It can be crushing but for some it can be so devastating that rejection become a significant fear. Tune in as Francine and I talk about dealing with rejection.
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Next Episode Available: Wed, 26 June
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinebinns/
Music credit: The Travelling Symphony by Savfk2024-06-2021 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 9 - Intimacy Deficiency in Romantic RelationshipsEpisode 9 was inspired by a conversation with a married mother. She echoes the complaints of many women in relationships whose partners expect on-demand sexual performances but their relationships lack intimacy.
Join Francine and I as we talk intimacy and its effects on having a satisfying sexual relationship.
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Next Episode: Wed, 12 June
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s LinkedIn page @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinebinns/
Music...2024-05-2921 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 8 - AnxietyIn this episode, we talk about the fear and worry that come with anxiety. We all experience anxiety but for some, it's more life altering and pervasive which can becomes a disorder.
How do you know when your anxiety is average or a disorder?
****Anxiety meds: Some anti-anxiety meds can be habit forming. Please discuss medications with your medical provider***
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Next Episode: Wed, 29 May
Check out: Claudia’s mental
health focused website Charé @ https://chareonline.com/
Check out: Francine’s
Linke...2024-05-1425 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 7 - Managing Depression: A Black Male PerspectiveWelcome back our mental health and wellness listeners. Ep. 7 welcomes our special guest host Mark Tuggle. We talk about his experience seeking treatment, managing his mental health and the struggles of fighting the stigma of being a black male in therapy.
Mark Tuggle's book on Amazon: Cultural Silence and Wounded Souls: Black Men Speak About Mental Health
Mark's Talk Radio Show: The Mental Health Mirror with Mark on Fetelifestation.com
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Next Episode: Wed, May 8
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @ https://cha...2024-04-2429 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 6 - The Importance of Evidence Based Treatment in TherapyWelcome, our mental health and wellness listeners. In this episode we talk about evidence based treatment vs. supportive therapy. How can you tell if you are on a healing journey. What to ask or be aware of when working with a mental health provider.
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Next Episode: Tues, 24 April
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé @chareonline.com
Music credit: The Travelling Symphony by Savfk2024-04-1222 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 5 - How Sexual Abuse Silence Impacts Mental HealthIn this episode, Francine and I discuss the topic of sexual abuse of both males and females and the impact of staying silent on the victims and their mental health.
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Next Episode: Tues, 9 April
Check out: Claudia’s mental health focused website Charé@chareonline.com
Music credit: The Travelling Symphony by Savfk
2024-03-2821 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 4 - Why Are We Here: Life and DeathEp. 4 of Balance and Bloom delves into discussing the choice that some people make to commit suicide, the struggles, and signs of distress.
Suicide is a worldwide tragedy and we need to talk about these sensitive topics because it just may save someone's life.
We encourage you to start the conversation.
Subscribe and follow our podcast for more mental health topics. We appreciate you listening.
2024-03-1324 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 3 - When Sex Is Your Drug - Sex Addiction vs PromiscuityIn this episode, we talk about one taboo topics in world of mental and sexual health - sex addiction or compulsive sexual behavior disorder. It is our goal to have open discusses about a subject that affects both men and women. However, the shame prevents many for seeking help.
***Additional info from the podcast. An example of the African tribe that Francine referred to is the Bemba people of Zambia***
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Next episode: Tues, 12 March
Check out my website @ chareonline.com2024-02-2825 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 2 - Single, Lonely or AloneWelcome mental health and wellness listeners. This episode talks about single women refusing to accept shame for their single status. Join us as we talk about the negative stigma of being single.
Next Episode: Tues, Feb 27
Follow, like and comment. We would love to hear your views.2024-02-1327 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEp. 1 - What to Expect When Starting TherapyHi Mental Wellness Listeners. Hooray for our first episode of Balance & Bloom with Francine and Claudia in which we talk about what to expect when starting therapy. We did a role play to answer a few questions you may have about expectations for therapy and medication monitoring.
Mental wellness is an important topic and we have to warn you, there is a little bit of humorous banter, so don't take it too seriously.
Call to action: Reach out to the crisis line 988 (US) or a provider if you are in crisis.
2024-01-3015 minBalance & Bloom with Francine and ClaudiaEpisode 0 - New Podcast PreviewHi I am Claudia and I one half of the dynamic duo who will be hosting the upcoming podcast Balance & Bloom with Francine & Claudia. My cohost Francine and I are excited to talk mental health and wellness.
Francine is a mental health advocate and I have spent over 13 years working in the field. We have so much to share and discuss in order to bring awareness and to let you know that you are not alone. So, tune in on Jan 30 @ 9pm for our debut episode of Balance & Bloom with Francine & Claudia.
Intro music: The...2024-01-2700 min