Shows
Mental MattersS2 EP3 - Embracing Authenticity: Transcending Shame in a Culture of JudgementIn this episode of Mental Matters, the conversation delves into the heavy topic of shame, exploring its roots in cultural expectations and personal experiences. Mandie Salmon Wright discusses the journey of transcending shame, embracing authenticity, and the importance of validation in personal growth. Mandy shares her radical transformation from a bold child to a minister, navigating the complexities of identity and societal norms, particularly in the Jamaican context. The discussion emphasises the need for self-awareness, the impact of mental health, and the significance of community support and self awareness in overcoming shame and living authentically. In this conversation, Mandie...
2025-06-1657 min
The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryThe Habit of GratitudeI’m late to the game here. Also, apparently, I’m entitled and lazy. Awesome! This past year I put into place a new habit of gratitude. In this episode I share the why, the how, the what, and the top 5 things I learned from taking a 30 day challenge of writing down what I was thankful for. What started as a 30 day challenge, became impossible for me stop and was a critical piece in finding joy and healing this past year. While I’ve tried to establish this habit many times before, this time was different, and what I did finall...
2021-11-2633 min
The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryWell, That Escalated Quickly!We’re only one episode into season two, and I’m already diving headfirst into my “next”! Just a few days after recording episode one, “next” started pushing and nudging its way into my heart. What started as one small step became several small steps, and BOOM! There was “next”. In this episode I share how making one small right next step has led to several next right steps. This new mindset, which is contrary to my “I need to see the whole picture before I make a move” mindset, has been so helpful, not just for some small changes I’ve recently made...
2021-10-2656 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryIt’s Chapter 2!!There was this point when I was first putting together this podcast that I thought, “I wonder if I’ll ever graduate to having a ‘Season 2’?” Then, this summer, as I took some time to work through a season of busyness and lots of change, I wondered if I’d ever record another episode. Too much had happened, so much had changed in my head and heart, and I couldn’t figure out how to transition smoothly. That’s when it hit me. It’s time for Season 2! I’ll be honest, when I started what’s now known as season 1, I had a list...
2021-09-2432 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 22: Widow’s Retreat Part 2Who knew my last episode on the Never Alone Widow’s Retreat would need a part 2?! Well, here we are. In Part 2, I get to follow up with all the ways your prayers were answered and so much more. This retreat was one of the best things I have ever done, and I can’t believe I almost didn’t go! I can’t wait to share with you how “seen” I was at this retreat (Genesis 16:13), and the breath of fresh air that has filled my lungs. Thanks for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a...
2021-08-0140 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 21: It’s Retreat Time!Let me tell you a little story about a widow who was super excited about attending her first widows retreat. For many months she felt so excited to have a retreat to go to, on the beach no less, where she could work through emotions, learn new strategies, gather resources, and build new friendships with other widows. It felt like the most perfect thing that she could ever do. Until it didn’t. That widow is me. I leave on Thursday, and I’m freaking out. On this episode I explore all the reasons I shouldn’t go on this retrea...
2021-07-1944 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 20: Father’s Day 2021Short and straight to the point. All the things I want my kids to remember about their dad. This is such a hard day for those without a dad or for dads that are without their kids. Lanie and Pax, I hope this episode sparks memories of who your dad was and how loved you are by him yesterday, today and forever.
2021-06-2011 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 19: Self CareIt’s a buzz word, for sure! The term “Self Care” has so many types of meanings or definitions. Just ask around! It can be anything from getting your nails done regularly, to starting a diet, or even doing intensive therapy. After losing Scott, I learned I had to redefine the term self care for myself, and then actually start doing it. In fact, I was learning quickly that if I didn’t, I wasn’t going to find healing. Not healing wasn’t an option I was willing to settle for. With the help of the pandemic, and my newly unders...
2021-06-011h 26The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryMonthly Wrap-Up: April 2021Yes, I know it’s almost the end of May and I am just now publishing this episode. Yikes!!! Life! In this wrap-up, I talk about feeling ready for new things, a yard clean-up project gone right, Covid in the house, and volleyball. Always volleyball. Plus, I’ll share my good reads, favorite music of the month, my memory verse, and the top 5 things I was thankful for. This episode, posted in May, will wrap up April. Better late than never! I’ll shoot for being on time next month. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make...
2021-05-201h 00The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 17: Words. They are hard.Don’t you just love a good foot in your mouth moment? How about when someone you care about is grieving and you learn that something you said, which was intended to helpful and encouraging, was actually not. Ugh!!! Words are so hard! Our hearts intend to do good and our words come out and mess everything up. In this episode we are gonna chat (very gently) about things that can be helpful and encouraging to say and do when someone you love is grieving a loss...and things that aren’t. It’s a super delicate topic and I can fe...
2021-04-201h 27The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryMonthly Wrap Up: March 2021It’s time for another monthly wrap up! It was hard to not make this all about Maui, since I spent a third of the month there, but I still had some content left in me! Besides Maui, we had volleyball, Doctor’s appointments, and a birthday thrown in. Additionally, with some time between the trip and recording this episode, I had a couple positive emotional breakthroughs. March was a great month, and I can’t wait to share it with you! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
2021-04-061h 08The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 15: With Love From MauiDo you love going through other people’s family scrapbooks? How about other families’ home movies? No? Well, this episode is right along the same idea. This is a recap of our family trip to Maui. I wanted a really fun way to document this important family vacation, and decided it would be fun to include all my fellow travelers and have them share their favorite moments of the trip. For the majority of the episode you’ll even hear the Maui waves in the background because I recorded many segments right on the beach. So, yeah, some families might have p...
2021-03-231h 30The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryMonthly Wrap-up: February 2021Whew! We made to to the end of the month! February was a bit rough for me, but there were some very sweet silver linings. From traveling to injuries, dreams and reminiscing about Maui, this episode covers the whole gamut of what made up the month of February for me. Themes for the month were love and thankfulness. I’m grateful for the love and support you all have shown me this past month. Thanks for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
2021-02-281h 18The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryHave (No) Husband, Will TravelI quickly realized that I had no travel experience after Scott died. I mean, I had traveled places, quite a few places actually, but never really alone. I had no idea all that went into traveling because, despite my deeply ingrained planning and organizing type “A” personality, I always left all things travel up to Scott and relished in a “real vacation” whenever we traveled. Five weeks after he died, I realized I was looking head-long into a full travel season, and had no clue what I was doing. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned and how I’ve overc...
2021-02-151h 23The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryMonthly Wrap-Up: January 2021It’s time to wrap up all the things January had to offer the Wright Family. We celebrated holidays, a birthday, and big wins. I navigate (again) the double edge sword of happiness and joy combined with grief and knowing all Scott is missing. I also share my word of the year and my favorite reads, songs, Bible verses, and gratitude journal entries. I think January was simultaneously 439 days long and over in about 20 minutes. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
2021-02-0157 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 11: The Unofficial Official DiagnosisI decided it’s finally time to start talking about the unofficial official diagnosis we got from Scott’s brain study, done by doctors at Mt Sinai in the Brain Injury Research Center. I’ve been sitting on this diagnosis for weeks, but have been unable to process through the heavy emotions of everything we learned. Thankfully, I’ve had the help of my family, my kids, Scott’s family, and my counselor who said I didn’t have to process it all now if I didn’t want to. Then, it hit me: this podcast wasn’t supposed to be me all wrappe...
2021-01-161h 12The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEnd of the Month Wrap-Up: December 2020It’s time to wrap up December! Adulting, serving, finals, holidays, and a holiday vacation! We crammed a lot into 1 month. I also explore living in an “and” emotionally. December brings a lot of joy and hope AND painful, empty moments. Additionally, I share my favorite reads, songs, and verses as well as a snippet from my gratitude journal. Additionally, there’s a segment recorded in the sauna, my winter coping space. You can here my “all cooked” timer go off, while I act like nothing is happening lol! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcas...
2021-01-011h 00The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 9: Grief and the HolidaysThis episode is a little different than what I have previously put out. All those times I’ve said I’m not an expert are still true, but I learned some super helpful tips from a recent seminar put on by Griefshare called Surviving the Holidays. And when I learn something cool and helpful, I like to share with anyone who might benefit from it. So that’s what this episode is! Half of this episode is the content that was most impactful to me. The other half is me sharing how our family applied what I learned in a practi...
2020-12-081h 08The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryThe November 2020 Wrap UpI’m trying something new and I’m kinda excited about it! My monthly wrap-up episodes will do exactly as they say, wrap up our month! The highs, the lows, most memorable, things we wish we could forget, what we’re working on and though. Maybe someone is dating? Is it possible to do all the things senior year without crying as a parent? Plus I share my favorite reads/listens, top 5 favorite items in my gratitude journal, favorite songs, and more! Get all caught up on the Wright Life for the month of November.--- This episode is sponsored by · A...
2020-11-3046 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 7: Solo Parenting During a PandemicAre you all so over it already? This pandemic? Me too!!! Ugh! However, parenting during a pandemic, and doing it alone, is part of my widow’s journey. Maybe talking about Covid is so annoying to you that you’d prefer to skip right to the end in which I summarize the whole episode for you in a few brief sentences? I totally get it! I did have a pretty big “Aha moment” with a kid and their counseling session that I share in the middle of the episode, that may be of some value...if you don’t already know about...
2020-11-231h 02The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryEpisode 6: A Letter to Scott, 1 year laterIn this episode I reflect back on the one year anniversary of losing my Scott by reading him a letter. The letter is all the things I wish I could tell him if I had the chance. Sure, the list of things he’s missed is long, and my emotions run high, but this is real life, and where I’m really at right now. I feel comfortable sharing this space in time in a genuine way so that one day I can reflect on where I was and how far I’ve come. Additionally, if anyone else (besides my own fa...
2020-11-0523 minThe Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryGrief. What’s the deal?Now that I’ve shared our WHOLE story, I wanted to start documenting where I’m at today with my journey. First up: grief! What is it? Why does it keep coming back? Will it ever leave? How do I manage it so I can still be a productive human? Also, I get real about areas I am not handling so well. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
2020-10-191h 11The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryOur Story: The final chapter...or notThis is the third and final installment of our story. While it does wrap up on Scott’s last day with us, there’s just no way to wrap up this story with a pretty bow. So I don’t. It’s messy, emotional, and raw, and I left it that way because it’s genuine. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
2020-10-051h 50The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryIntroductions: Part DeuxI’m about to cover some serious ground. In part 2, I cover over 20 years! Everything from how I met Scott, when we got married, starting a family, and his CTE diagnosis. It’s all here in one brief episode lol. Hang tight! I really tried to not make this like you’re looking through a stranger’s photo albums, but instead I hope this helps you really know Scott, and what he was dealing with. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
2020-09-241h 24The Wright Life-A Widow’s DiaryIt’s all about me! Not really...but...Since I’m driving this crazy emotional train, in my very first episode, I thought it might be helpful for me to share a little bit about me! I mean 30 minutes is just a little bit, right? I’ll share why this Enneagram 6, INFJ, cookie loving, Forever Summer Girl decided to start a podcast about the hardest season of my life. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
2020-09-1528 min2020-08-2500 min