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Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 32 | Encanto (2021)It feels great to be back to talking about movies after a bit of a break, and for this episode, we're taking on Disney's 'Encanto' (2021)! If you have young children like we do, we know there's a decent chance that the songs from this movie are stuck in your head (and who could blame you, because they're AMAZING). 'Encanto' is the story of the magically-gifted Madrigal family who live in a tucked-away village in Colombia. Young Mirabel, the only Madrigal who doesn't have a magical gift of her own (or so she thinks) leads us on an adventure of...2025-07-1256 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 31 | Real Life Loss & Grief: How Movies Help Us Feel SeenAfter an unplanned break, we are so grateful to be back. And we're taking this opportunity to bring you an episode that combines some intense and important life updates (mostly from Gabi) with a discussion about the role that movies play in our lives as we move through real experiences of loss and grief.Please note that the subject matter of this episode might be a bit jarring, even more so because it's not behind the protective veil of being on screen. Gabi talks openly and honestly about her recent experience with late term pregnancy loss and...2025-05-141h 09Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 30 | Hamilton (2020)It feels pretty cool to be ending 2024 with the 30TH episode of our podcast! Round numbers are so fun. And what better way to close out the year than with a musical? We're talking about 'Hamilton' (2020)! It's a first-time viewing for Jessica and an umpteenth-time viewing for Gabi. 'Hamilton' is the filmed recording of a June 2016 performance of the beloved musical chronicling the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton. The brainchild of composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, it's hard not to get the musical numbers stuck in your head, even after a single viewing.'Hamilton' serves up lots for...2024-12-301h 12Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 29 | The Value of Favorites: Movies & BeyondJoin us for this special episode where we depart from our usual single-movie discussion, and instead explore a movie-related topic: The Value of Favorites.This very podcast came about because Jessica and Gabi began sharing their favorite movies with each other. So, we have first hand experience with the connection that can happen when we let other people in on the things that we love most. We talk about the vulnerability of opening up, how a conversation about movies can stay surface-level or go deep, how picking favorites in movies and other categories can be a catalyst...2024-12-1900 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 28 | Inside Out (2015)Was this movie MADE for life coaches? Maybe! The movie for this episode is one of Jessica's picks, but it's beloved by both of our hosts: 'Inside Out' (2015). This Disney offering is unique among other animated films in its class. It takes the audience inside (literally) the mind of 11-year-old Riley who is about to move from Minnesota to San Francisco, leaving behind the only life she has ever known. At the control panel of her mind are five emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust. As Riley navigates the massive shift of moving to a new place, we...2024-10-141h 11Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 27 | Little Women (1994)Have you ever watched a movie and loved it so much that you want to immediately start it again? That's how Gabi and Jessica feel about the subject of this episode: 'Little Women' (1994). In Gabi's humble (or not so humble) opinion, this is the definitive film version of Louisa May Alcott's novel by the same name. Starring a young and energetic Winona Ryder as Jo, alongside a strong cast including Susan Sarandon as Marmee and Christian (Dreamboat) Bale as Laurie, 'Little Women' immerses us in the world of the March family in 1860s Massachusetts, where each sister comes of...2024-08-251h 16Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 26 | How to Train Your Dragon (2010)We're Vikings, it's an occupational hazard! In this episode, we're taking on one of Jessica's top ten favorites: 'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010). This charming animated feature boasts a star-studded cast of voices, including Jay Baruchel as the awkward but endearing Hiccup, Gerard Butler as his imposing father Stoick, Craig Ferguson as the hilarious Gobber, and many more. We meet Hiccup in the fictional Viking village of Berk and witness him come of age in a society that expects him to be someone he's not. Through his unlikely companionship with a dragon he names Toothless, Hiccup challenges the generations-old...2024-08-0455 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 25 | The Movie Characters We'd Want to Be Our FriendsTWENTY-FIVE episodes! To celebrate this milestone, we've chosen a special movie-related topic to discuss: The characters we can see ourselves being friends with, and why.Naturally, we peel back the layers of the concept of true friendship, what it means to be drawn to a person vs. form a meaningful relationship with them, and the criteria we use for seeking out the people who could become part of our village. We imagine ourselves in the company of Lizzie Bennet, Jo March, Sherlock Holmes, and others, and let the conversation take us to some deep places in true...2024-06-2351 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 24 | The Holdovers (2023)A short movie doesn't necessarily mean a shorter discussion! We ended up recording this episode in two parts and combining them into one longer episode because we had SO MUCH to talk about. Join us as we wander through the humor, tenderness, and richness of 'The Holdovers' (2023), starring Paul Giamatti as the prickly teacher Mr. Hunham, Dominic Sessa as Hunham's complex student Angus, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mary, the grief-stricken yet compassionate cook at Barton, an elite Massachusetts boarding school in 1970.Gabi is particularly taken with the character of Mary as she brings to life the...2024-06-2156 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 23 | Barbie (2023)We're excited to bring you the second half of our Barbenheimer series! In this episode, we're tackling another movie that took the world by storm last summer: 'Barbie' (2023). Director Greta Gerwig helms this funny and surprisingly introspective film about the doll that was a hot pink sensation during Jessica and Gabi's childhoods. With Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the roles of Stereotypical Barbie and Beach Ken, the audience takes a nostalgic ride through Barbieland, where everything is perfect. Or is it?We'd probably need several episodes to get through all of the themes that this movie...2024-05-0155 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 22 | Oppenheimer (2023)We're back with a bang (heehee) after resolving some technical issues, and in this episode, we're talking about 'Oppenheimer' (2023)! This film swept the recent Academy Awards and stars Cillian Murphy in the title role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the inventor of the atomic bomb. We watch his rise from theoretical physicist to national hero, followed by his fall from grace in the eyes of the government that sees his warnings about the unleashing of atomic energy as a form of disloyalty.This movie gives us so much to talk about and we could honestly do several episodes...2024-03-301h 04Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 21 | Sherlock Holmes (2009)For this episode, it's Jessica's pick! And she chose Guy Ritchie's witty romp, 'Sherlock Holmes' (2009). This adaptation stars Robert Downey Jr. in the title role with Jude Law as Watson. Rachel McAdams plays Sherlock's nemesis/love interest Irene Adler, and Mark Strong is the mysterious villain, Lord Blackwood.Sherlock himself gives us so much to talk about as we examine his selfishness and narcissism that exists alongside his genuine care for Watson and love for Irene. This movie is full of witty humor, which requires the ability to think ahead in order to work. We look at...2024-03-0647 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 20 | How Movies Change Lives and the Ones that Changed OursWe're celebrating our TWENTIETH episode! And to mark the occasion, we're departing from our usual format of talking about a single movie, and instead, we're diving deep into the topic of how movies change lives (and which movies changed ours).Join us as we present a rather eclectic list of films, some of which we've featured on the podcast before, and many of which we'd love to talk about in the future! Last but not least, we want to make sure we plug social skills coach Cole Jennette. Check out his Instagram!Thanks...2024-02-201h 00Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 19 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)"May the force be with us." It's a Star Wars episode! But don't panic, we promise you don't have to be a fan or even very familiar with the Star Wars universe to get invested in this movie. Jessica can vouch for that! We're discussing 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (2016), the tale of a young woman named Jyn Erso who has dissociated herself from the battle between the Empire and the Rebellion. However, she finds herself being asked to assist the Rebellion in exchange for her freedom, and in the process, she discovers connection, purpose, and meaning, and channels...2024-01-2958 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 18 | Return to Snowy River (1988)It's so much fun when we tackle a movie that's a favorite for one or both of us! This time, it's one of Jessica's: 'Return to Snowy River' (1988). As promised, however, we do wrap up our discussion on 'Singles' (1992) since we couldn't bear to leave so much unsaid. 'Return to Snowy River' is the sequel to 'The Man from Snowy River', and is set in the stunning hill country of Australia in the late 1800s. The plot follows a dispute between landowners and weaves together a captivating love story against a backdrop of rapidly changing times.The...2024-01-281h 00Life Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 17 | Singles (1992)We're back with our first episode of 2024! This time, Gabi has reached deep into the vault of her long-time favorite movies and pulled out 'Singles' (1992), a quirky and somewhat obscure romantic comedy set in grunge-era Seattle. In all of its early-90s glory, 'Singles' tells the story of five twenty-somethings who are navigating the period of tension between settling into their adult lives and looking for their next adventure: love.Full of memorable one-liners and endearing moments, 'Singles' invites us to explore the very human tendency to keep moving forward and not stay still. The independence and...2024-01-1433 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 16 | Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)It's our last episode of 2023! And it's a fun one...but aren't they all? Come with us as we peel back the layers of a movie that goes surprisingly deep, considering that its target audience is children and 'Shrek' universe afficionados. We're talking about 'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' (2022), featuring Antonio Banderas voicing the title character. In this animated romp, Puss in Boots comes face to face with death (literally) when he learns that he is on the very last of his nine lives. Death is in the form of a Big Bad Wolf, and Puss is most...2023-12-3148 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 15 | A Discussion on Entering Movie UniversesInstead of tackling a single movie in this episode, we're trying something new! Join us as we take turns answering the question: If you could enter the universe of a particular movie, which one would it be, and why?Right off the bat, we are pleasantly surprised to learn that we chose the same three movies to answer this question! We talk about our relationship with our unique talents and skills and how we find ourselves wishing for the magical abilities found in fantasy films. This leads us to a deeper discussion about the importance of our...2023-12-3046 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 14 | Silver Linings Playbook (2012)Join us as we chat about one of Gabi's all-time favorite movies: 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012), starring Bradley Cooper as Pat, a young man who is trying to find his feet after coming home from an extended stay at a mental institution. Pat is laser focused on trying to win back his estranged wife, Nicki, when it's obvious to his friends and family (and us) that the ship has sailed. Pat meets Tiffany, a young widow played by Jennifer Lawrence, who has more in common with Pat than he'd like to admit, and her indelicate honesty may hold the key...2023-12-0756 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 13 | Inception (2010)In this episode, we're taking on one of the more "brainy" movies on our list of shared favorites: 'Inception' (2010). With Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role and a truly memorable supporting cast (hello, Tom Hardy!), we are presented with the futuristic concept of dream-sharing, where highly skilled "extractors" like DiCaprio's Dom Cobb can enter someone's mind and steal their ideas. Things take a turn when Dom is challenged to perform "inception", or planting an idea in a person's mind in order to bring about a certain outcome.While 'Inception' is decisively sci-fi, its themes are grounded in...2023-11-1636 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 12 | Up in the Air (2009)What's in your backpack? In this episode, we tackle a movie from Gabi's list that feels like it was made for life coaches to talk about: 'Up in the Air' (2009). Made during the height of the economic downturn in the mid-aughts, this is the story of Ryan Bingham, a blunt yet endearing commitment-phobe whose job entails flying all over the United States to fire people. In the role of Ryan, George Clooney gives us an intimate portrait of a man who feels most at home when he's not at home, and in the course of the film, is forced...2023-11-0941 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 11 | Frozen (2013)Aaaaand...we're back! After a few weeks' break during which Gabi added baby number three to her family and Jessica launched an amazing new group program, we've dusted off our mics to discuss Disney's 'Frozen' (2013). Gorgeously animated and full of musical numbers that don't need to slap as hard as they do, 'Frozen' might be written off by many as being just another Disney princess flick, but it's brimming with subject matter that's surprisingly deep.Paradox abounds in this story of two sisters who love each other deeply, but need to learn to act from a place...2023-10-2359 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesQuick Update: We're Taking a Short Break!We're taking a short break from recording, but for a good reason! Gabi is getting ready to have her 3rd baby, and Jessica is working on the launch of her new group program. We can't wait to start recording again soon and dive into all the movies we're so excited to talk about.Thanks for listening! We'd be so grateful if you could leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.Interested in connecting with Jessica or Gabi? Here's how!Jessica Heimsoth | Every Thought Captive CoachingWebsiteInstagram2023-08-1101 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 10 | Stranger Than Fiction (2006)Our movie for this episode is 'Stranger Than Fiction' (2006), which comes from Jessica's list of favorites and might even be in her top three! This is the ultimate "meta" movie, and it's chock full of themes and topics that we life coaches LOVE to talk about. Will Ferrell blends his comedic charm with remarkable tenderness for the lead role of Harold Crick, an IRS agent whose life story is being written by an author (Emma Thompson) who lives in the same city. This movie is full of charm, but that doesn't mask the gravity of its subject...2023-08-0554 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 9 | Bend It Like Beckham (2002)This episode features a movie from Gabi's list: 'Bend It Like Beckham' (2002)! This film was an unexpected sensation when it was released, likely due to a combination of David Beckham's appeal and the fact that director Gurinder Chadha's passion and connection to the subject matter is very much on display. Everyone involved in this movie seems to be having fun, and the result is a sweet, unassuming, heartwarming, yet very memorable story.We cover lots of themes in this episode, including the impact of using deception as a tool to get what you want (and how it...2023-07-3055 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 8 | A Knight's Tale (2001)My lords! My ladies! And...all you other people! In this episode, we're talking about a movie that we both love: 'A Knight's Tale' (2001) starring a fresh-faced Heath Ledger at the launch of his amazing (and all too short) career, alongside Paul Bettany in what could be considered his breakout role.Even though this movie doesn't take itself very seriously, it gives us a LOT to talk about. We discuss William Thatcher's (Heath Ledger) willingness to stare conventions in the face and pick and choose which rules to follow so that he has a chance at becoming...2023-07-2351 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 7 | Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)This episode features a movie that has ranked high on Gabi's list of favorites ever since its theatrical release: 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' (2003), starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany along with an incredible supporting cast. Jessica brings fresh eyes to this 20-year-old film after watching it for the very first time!There's so much to say about this movie due to the richness of the plot and its fast pace that artfully weaves exposition into the action, so you learn a whole lot without having to be told a whole lot. We...2023-07-1459 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 6 | Pride & Prejudice (2005)This episode, we tackle a movie that we both love, but ranks very high on Jessica's list of all-time favorites: 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005). Yes, the one with Keira Knightley in the role of Lizzie Bennet, creating palpable chemistry opposite Matthew Macfadyen in the role of Mr. Darcy.Prompted by the culture of upper class England in the early 1800s, we explore a question that touches every character in the film: What is the role of obligation in the major decisions we make? With commitments to our faith and families, how do we reconcile the presence of certain "rules"...2023-06-3049 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 5 | Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)In a departure from our historical-action-adventure kick, in this episode we're talking about a movie that Gabi has loved for years, but Jessica hasn't seen (until now!): Woody Allen's 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' (2008). Loosely categorized as a romantic comedy, this film features Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson in the title roles, with Javier Bardem and an absolutely unforgettable Penelope Cruz.This film kindles what we both agree is the most fun episode we've done so far, prompting us to explore the topics of humor, confirmation bias, and what it's like to be life coaches watching a movie where...2023-06-2340 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 4 | The Three Musketeers (1993)All for one, and one for all! In this episode we're talking about Disney's rendition of The Three Musketeers (1993) starring Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Oliver Platt, and a young wide-eyed Chris O'Donnell, banding together against Tim Curry's nefarious Cardinal Richelieu and his plans to betray the king of France. We discuss the theme of innocence versus cynicism both throughout this film and in our own society, and the way that innocent, earnest people are so often underestimated or written off as having nothing of value to teach us. We see innocence and vulnerability open doors in the course of...2023-06-1634 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 3 | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)Archery, swordfights, and Alan Rickman, oh my! In this episode, we tackle what might be Gabi's favorite movie of all time: 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' (1991). Gabi goes full nerd, and we both fangirl over Alan Rickman for the second episode in a row (because how could we NOT).It's no surprise that it's Alan Rickman's portrayal of the reprehensible Sheriff of Nottingham that drives our discussion about what makes a villain someone who we love to hate. Do we write villains off as inherently bad, or do we let ourselves be curious about their history? We...2023-06-1245 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 2 | Quigley Down Under (1990)We talk about a movie that's at the very top of Jessica's list of favorites: 'Quigley Down Under' (1990). It's no wonder this movie gets a top spot. It features the unflappable Tom Selleck in the leading role, opposite Alan Rickman in his element playing the despicable villain.We go deep on topics like what it means to be one of the true "good guys" and the importance of second chances and a shot at redemption in a society that has forgotten how to make room for the complexities of individual human beings and their experiences....2023-06-1030 minLife Coaches Talk MoviesEpisode 1 | Introductions & What Movies Mean to UsWelcome to the very first episode of Life Coaches Talk Movies! Jessica and Gabi take a moment to introduce themselves and talk about where this podcast idea got started, and what movies mean to them.Thanks for listening! We'd be so grateful if you could leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.Interested in connecting with Jessica or Gabi? Here's how!Jessica Heimsoth | Every Thought Captive CoachingWebsiteInstagramGabi Gilliland | Grief Grace GloryWebsiteInstagram2023-06-0520 min