Shows
Happy Rebel PodcastBecoming AttractiveOne day, I’ll give you the full list of all the words I don’t like in the arena of self-development. We’ve covered Coach and Gratitude; now we can add Manifesting to it. Abundance, as well. So many of these words have been warped by toxic positivity and co-opted by grifters that I just can’t. So, I don’t. Even though I do have certifications in Law of Attraction and Trauma-Informed Abundance. LOL. I know. There is good work within these fields, but it’s also a little groady. I’m not so much about ma...
2026-03-0917 min
Happy Rebel PodcastMeditationOne thing that we in the Western world do not do enough of is meditate. I think meditation is just as misunderstood as happiness. And just as powerful.But if you’re picturing mediation as sitting in lotus position with a clear and quiet mind for a ridiculous amount of time, let that vision go. Meditation comes in many forms and the bennies begin in as little as three minutes a day. With that in mind, are you ready to give it a try? Good. Let’s go.PS: Here's the link to the...
2026-03-0208 min
Happy Rebel PodcastCult-ProofPick a cult, any cult. There are so many to choose from. Some active. Some defunct. But what do they all have in common? It’s not just the grift or the coercive control. It’s that good people go to them to find happiness. So, if you think you’re too savvy to fall into a cult, you might be right. But, are you happy enough?I take back the savvy thing. Many smart people enter groups thinking they’re doing something for the greater good of humanity, or themselves. And many people don’t realize they’re ev...
2026-02-2314 min
Happy Rebel PodcastBringing in the JoyNow is probably the worst time to talk about being happy. But, really, it’s the best.Once again I have to stress what happiness actually is and is not. Happiness is not being giddy, or blissfully ignorant and it’s absolutely not toxic positivity.Actually, happiness is really calm, and certain, and present and centered. When I say it’s a superpower, I mean it. And when I say it’s punk as fuck, I mean that, too. It’s self-confidence and resilience. It’s being fully empowered. And don’t we want and need all of th...
2026-02-1610 min
Happy Rebel PodcastBreaking the Negativity BiasOne of the more effed up things about being human is how our brain works. Or maybe the malfunctions. For example: The Negativity Bias. This is where our wee melons decide to give more weight to negative information and experiences than positive ones. Talk about tipping the scale. And, to a point, I get it. We needed to be hyperaware of danger back when we were dragging our knuckles. But we aren’t now. Yes, we are living in a truly cruel and dangerous time at the moment. Which is why we need to be super cognizant of...
2026-02-0916 min
Happy Rebel PodcastGet Curious, Not CriticalAre you quick to judge? Sharp with an opinion? And I don’t mean just in general; I mean toward yourself. Oh. Didn’t see that one coming? Yep, we are going to dip our toes into our self-criticism and why being curious is much more productive.Because being critical shuts the door. Curiosity, on the other hand, keeps it open.Follow the podcast on Instagram, Threads and Facebook @HappyRebelPodcast and go deeper into your eudaimonic wellbeing at The Happyist Substack. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts and DM a scre...
2026-02-0209 min
Happy Rebel PodcastThe Other ResistanceResistance comes in many forms, but the one I want to talk about is the one we do to ourselves. Which is the absurd version.Why do we NOT do the things we know we need to do for our own betterment? It’s baffling, and something I’ve pondered for a while, because — HELLO! — I’m guilty of it, too. And here’s the nugget of it:The reason we resist doing something that we know is good for us is not because we believe it will be hard or because we’re afraid to fail; it’s...
2026-01-2610 min
Happy Rebel PodcastThe Radical Act of Self-LoveRight up there with happiness, self-love is super misunderstood. What is your reaction to it? Did you get the ick? Does it make you want to put on Birkenstocks and touch grass? Or do you nod in acknowledgment that self-love is the shit and we should all be doing it?I get it. Self-love is a bit on the woo end of things. It seems incongruous to being humble. Like you have a big-ass ego. That you think you’re perfect and your you-know-what doesn’t stink. Nope. It does. We know that. Light a match....
2026-01-1911 min
Happy Rebel PodcastAre You Unhappy or Just a Consumer?Materialism or Consumerism. Doesn't matter what we call it, all it does is bring debt and dissatisfaction. Happiness doesn't come from things. Without giving you the ick, happiness comes from within. Deal with it. And start nurturing your eudaimonic wellbeing. Happily rebel against trends, against being told what you need, against being told you aren’t enough as you are. Let’s stop creating billionaires and start investing in ourselves instead. xoFollow the podcast on Instagram, Threads and Facebook @HappyRebelPodcast and go deeper into your eudaimonic wellbeing at The Happyist Substack. Leave a rev...
2026-01-1212 min
Happy Rebel PodcastLet's Get Happy and Disrupty!Let me back up to the beginning. How this all got started.I was in a pretty bad mood from 2016 through 2022. Wonder why? And that meh mood lingered even after some of the dust settled. It was in late-December 2022 that I realized I couldn’t take feeling that miserable anymore. And what I was experiencing was internalized. I didn’t share it with the world. Much. But I knew that something had to change. That I had to change.So I did what any smart, sane, self-caring woman would do. Call my therapist? LOL. Nah! I Go...
2026-01-0515 min
Happy Rebel PodcastThe Happy Rebel Podcast is Coming!This is the Happy Rebel Podcast. I’m Sandra Ann Miller, a.k.a. The Happyist, your certified guide to eudaimonic happiness. WTF is that? Stick around and find out. Let’s undo the anger and fear that got us here, and change the world by changing our lives. It’s possible. Probably probable. So why not give it a try since that whole fighting fire with fire thing hasn’t really worked.We, as a culture, as a people, don’t fully understand happiness. We think it comes from outside of us. That it’s fleeting, s...
2025-11-0203 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistJust Us — Being Happy NowSo, there’s an elephant in the room. There has been for a while. I both want to talk about it and don’t, because there are other people more qualified, who do that much better than me, but I figure I might as well share a few thoughts.We are in a very scary, sad and infuriating time. Very. And I am scared, and sad, and frustrated and enraged and feel overwhelmed…and I’m also happy. I’m sure that’s a full-on WTF for many. Please, hear me out. Let’s go back to 201...
2025-07-0418 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistJust Us - June BloomAn artist doesn’t beg a canvas or his brushes to get the painting he envisions. No. He goes to work, utilizing the canvas and the brushes to bring that vision to life.A farmer doesn’t scream at her crops to grow. No. She works with the seeds and the soil, the sun and water to bring it all to harvest.Why do we think that we can just frustrate ourselves into growth instead of partnering with what we need support from?If we want to blossom into our best selves, live our...
2025-06-0613 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistMaggie Frank-Hsu of EstrangedToday we’re going to talk about family estrangement, and the impact it undoubtedly has. Our guest, Maggie Frank-Hsu, is a poet, essayist and editor from San Diego who runs Estranged, a Substack newsletter devoted to exploring parent, child and sibling estrangement with a focus on understanding, not blame. Her poetry has appeared in Whale Road Review, Pidgeonholes, and Beaver Magazine. She received her masters from the Columbia School of Journalism, and her reporting has appeared in Business North Carolina, Gourmet, PublishersWeekly and smithsonian.com. A former ghostwriter, she’s currently at work on her first book, a memoir.
2025-05-0249 min
When Life Gives You LemonsWhen You Decide to Be HappyWhat does it mean to be truly happy? Can we even achieve true happiness? Self-development coach, author, and podcaster, Sandra Ann Miller, joins us to realistically answer these important questions. Her spunky, heart-felt approach ditches the toxic, "good vibes only" culture of our world today and allows space for the full spectrum of our emotions and experiences to be felt. Join us to learn the two types of happiness that exist and which one we should be pursuing if we want real, lasting happiness. Follow Sandra for more ways to become holistically hap...
2025-04-171h 20
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistApril BreakLike I do on A Sassy Little Substack, I'll be taking April, August and December off the podcast. This gives you the chance to catch up on past episodes, or revisit a favorite. Enjoy my favorite month of the year. Until next time, take care. xoFull episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little
Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information,
visit A Sassy Little Substack.
The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If
you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at
SassyLittlePodcast.com.
Music: Shower B...
2025-04-0400 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistJust Us - Hedonic Hopefulness and a Shot of Apple Cider VinegarFor a full transcript, please visit https://asassylittle.substack.com
Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information, visit A Sassy Little Substack.The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at SassyLittlePodcast.com.Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs
2025-03-0724 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistStephanie Sarkis PhDProbably one of the best documentaries on cults is the recent Max, four-part docu-series, "Breath of Fire". The series (which waves plenty of red flags throughout) follows both the high-control organizations of Yogi Bhajan (his face used to grace the box of Yogi Tea) and Guru Jagat, founder of RA MA Institute. How did good people get from doing Kundalini yoga and wanting to make the world a better place, to finding themselves in abusive cults? Gaslighting on both sides of the yoga mat takes place. Listen in.https://stephaniesarkis.com/https://www.facebook.com...
2025-02-071h 07
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistRebecca LowYou can find Rebecca at:The Hot Desk on Substack@the_hotdesk on Instagramhttp://www.rebeccalow.co
Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information, visit A Sassy Little Substack.The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at SassyLittlePodcast.com.Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs
2025-01-0345 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistJust Us: Ready for Anything...GoodIn all fairness, when I came up with the 'Just Us' concept to close out Q4 of 2024, I was coming from a place of deep optimism. Well, F me completely, right? LOL. (Insert crying emoji here.) But we can't let ourselves lose our place, our grace or our happiness because of things outside of our control. So, along with everything is easy and being so lucky (because, in so many ways, we are), let's get ourselves ready for anything good! xo
Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little Substack. Subscriptions start at $5...
2024-12-0608 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistJust Us: I'm So LuckyIn this “Just Us” episode, I talk about appreciating what we have, even if we may feel like we don’t have anything to appreciate. Just like “Everything is easy,” (check out October’s ep) saying or thinking, “I’m so lucky,” (and meaning it) will help our perspective shift, and let those seeds of happiness take deeper root. Why not give it a try? xoFull episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little
Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information,
visit A Sassy Little Substack.
The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If
yo...
2024-11-0107 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistJust Us: Everything is EasyNo guest this month so it's just us. Let's talk about how our perspectives might need a little shifting. What if we start to see that everything is easy? No, really. Hear me out! xoFull episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little
Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information,
visit A Sassy Little Substack.
The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If
you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at
SassyLittlePodcast.com.
Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs
2024-10-0403 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistSanyu EstelleSanyu Estelle is a Claircognizant ("clear knowing") Soothsayer ("truth teller") that is also known as "The Word Witch" because of her deep love for word origins (etymology) and word culture (philology). These natural inclinations are bolstered by a 15+ year practice of Daoism, as well as a 10+ year relationship with Ifa, the indigenous tradition of the Yoruba people of now-Nigeria.As a Soothsayer, Sanyu Estelle's gift is truth-telling. With 15 years of card reading experience and 25 years of public speaking experience, her readings are often listened to over many years by her clients. She is a "1st generationish"...
2024-09-0634 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistValerie MonroeOur guest this month is the creator of the wildly popular Substack, How Not to F*ck Up Your Face, where she give wonderful advice for the choices we believe we must face for our faces, necks and other visible parts, and delighting us with stories of her adorably precocious granddaughter, M. If you need more convincing this lady knows what she’s talking about, for 16 years she was the Beauty Editor of O Magazine. Wise, warm and witty, Val is a delight to read, and is even better in person (and for a listen).You can fin...
2024-08-0223 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistAmanda Lee McCartyAmanda Lee McCarty is the host of the Clotheshorse podcast, which recently celebrated its 200th episode (that’s no small feat)! After going to art school, they ended up with a career in fashion. With nearly 20 years’ experience in buying, product development, visual merchandising, and merchandise planning, they honed their skills at iconic lifestyle brands such as Urban Outfitters, Modcloth, Nasty Gal, and Wildfang. Along with their fabulous podcast, they’re also an industry consultant, a small business coach and content creator with a weakness for artificial fruit.Along with Amanda’s work, we talked about how to be ha...
2024-07-0547 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistThe Resilience of Amy DrenserThe past few years have been difficult for Amy. Within a year, both her parents and her beloved cat, Colonel Puff Puff, passed away. And, while it wasn't easy, Amy has stayed sober throughout. Listen in as we talk about her travails, how she's coping, and staying strong. The episode is honest, raw, and funny. Just like Amy.Amy's incredible memoir is MY FAIR JUNKIE: A Memoir About Getting Dirty and Staying Clean. You can get it here or any fine independent bookstore (because we support those, right?). You can find Amy here:https://www...
2024-06-0735 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistFinally!A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The Happyist will be back on June 7, 2024, and the first Friday of the month after that.
Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information, visit A Sassy Little Substack.The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at SassyLittlePodcast.com.Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs
2024-05-0405 min
Clotheshorse with Amanda Lee McCartyEpisode 192: The Happiness Episode with Sandra Ann MillerHappiness feels so...elusive right now, right? Happiness coach Sandra Ann Miller joins Amanda to talk about how we might have happiness wrong. In this episode we will explore the following questions:Are unhappiness and consumerism linked?What is hedonic happiness? How is that different from eudaimonic happiness?Can money buy happiness? And are billionaires happy?How and where can we find happiness (you might be surprised)?What's the difference between being happy and toxic positivity?Is happiness possible in an unjust world?Is it okay to be happy while so much bad stuff is happening in the w...
2024-02-192h 04
Money RootsHappiness Coach Sandra Miller Shares Tips for Finding Authentic JoyLive Like an Otter: Finding Happiness in Everyday MomentsWelcome to the first episode of Money Roots, where we explore the intersection of personal finance and personal growth. Today, I am thrilled to have Sandra Miller, a happiness coach and host of the sassy podcast "A Sassy Little Podcast," as our guest. Sandra has embarked on a journey to find happiness and has now become a happiness coach herself. In this episode, we delve into Sandra's personal journey, the concept of happiness coaching, and how we can all cultivate more happiness in our lives.Key...
2024-01-0333 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistBonus Explainer 2023What's going on and what's new!Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little
Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information,
visit A Sassy Little Substack.
The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If
you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at
SassyLittlePodcast.com.
Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs
2023-03-0801 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistSocial Media with Elena RossiniElena Rossini calls social media a "honey pot" for data mining and targeted advertising. In her upcoming documentary, THE REALISTS, the followup to her first feature length doc, THE ILLUSIONISTS, Elena shines a light on the dark side of social media. We talk about how our devises are listening, why we should act like a spy, getting a signal-blocking pouch, bluetooth and grocery shopping, how Zuckerberg covers his cam and mic on his phone, have we given up on privacy, how social media has changed over the years, that Ashton Kutcher ruined Twitter, social media isn't terrible, but it's...
2022-03-0950 minA Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistBonus ExplainerExplaining where I've been and what (good stuff) set me back. The podcast will return to full episodes on March 9th, with new eps the second Wednesday of each month.Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little
Substack. Subscriptions start at $5/mo or $40/yr. For more information,
visit A Sassy Little Substack.
The podcast is written, produced and edited by Sandra Ann Miller. If
you are interested in becoming a guest, please visit the Contact page at
SassyLittlePodcast.com.
Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs
2022-01-2305 min
The Bliss ProjectEpisode 20- A Moment of Gratitude with Mariana & NoelWelcome to The Bliss Project Podcast! In today’s episode, we reflect and take a moment of gratitude for our first season and our 20th episode of The Bliss Project.
In this episode, we recap and thank all of the wonderful guests we've had the privilege of having on, the amazing conversations and topics discussed, and those who have supported us along the way in building this podcast.
Thank you to all of our guests and please check out their episodes outlined below:
Episode 4: Women’s Empowerment and The Connection to the Feminine with Daniella
...
2021-11-2422 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistAvoiding Erotica with Sayra PlayerSayra Player created Guided By Glow during the pandemic as a guided meditation to connect with our bodies. The app and website launched in May 2021 and has over 80 sessions to get you going and is GOOP approved. While we might be comfortable talking about sex or our sexuality, we aren't so comfy talking about "alone time" (AKA masturbation). Erotica has always been around (hello, Anaïs Nin) and 50 Shades may have made it more common, it can be helpful to those who may not be comfortable with the porn their partners enjoy. Guided By Glow sessions are about you (no...
2021-11-2443 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistHolding Our Breath with Nathaniel Hodder-ShippNathaniel Hodder-Shipp found breathwork while in treatment, then went on to study with a mentor for 11 years. He's the founder of Breathwork for Recovery and we talk about the transformative nature of breathwork, the explosion of it, how we are all recovering from something, trauma is something we all share, exploitation in the wellness community, ethics, breathwork training, Nathaniel's certification requires 800 hours of training while others will certify with 30 hours, breathing properly, the autonomic nervous system, Amy Dresner and My Fair Junkie, how certain conditions like epilepsy may not be right for breathwork, disclosures, access and resources, The Recovery...
2021-11-1738 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistFear of Divorce with Sandy Roxas, Esq.Super Lawyer Sandy Roxas is back to talk about divorce and her advice on getting out quickly (or quick-er) so you can get on with moving forward. Preplanning is key. Think about all the issues that need to be addressed. The spouse who makes more likely pays more (support). A lazy spouse. What the courts will consider. Minimizing consequences. Dealing with a litigious attorney. (Sandy Pro-Tip: If the fees are running up, terminate the attorneys and try mediation.) Making sure you have an attorney with your best interest at heart. Attorney fees as sanctions. Spending more money to ask...
2021-11-1043 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistBeing Wrong with Meghan Breen LCSWMeghan Breen, LCSW, talks with us about the courage and character it takes to admit when you're wrong, the core belief that being wrong is the most human thing we can experience, normalize owning it, the value on being right, shame, competition/winning, room for redemption, the human experience of fucking up, gratitude for growing up before the internet, practicing repair, dialectics, discernment, being right and wrong at the same time, agreeing to disagree, not being neutral, making space and letting it go, forgiving what feels unforgivable, not demonizing, finding common ground, validate what's valid, wanting to understand, starting...
2021-11-0348 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistMisunderstanding Microdosing with Noel TeubnerWhat is microdosing and why do people do it? Studies have shown that shrooms (psilocybin), MDMA and ketamine help relieve or treat depression and PTSD, quieting the mind or reframing traumatic events. Noel Teubner has gone on her own microdosing journey and helps others on their path. The co-host of The Bliss Project podcast talks with us about how microdosing delivers a "mini" effect, it's not a "one and done" process, integration, Human Design, shared trauma and the tsunami of grief from the pandemic, respecting the plant, doing the work, creating new habits and patterns, being honest, being responsible...
2021-10-271h 04
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistDead-End Relationships with Dr. Cynthia PizzulliWe all can find ourselves in a dead-end relationship. An unhappy coupling. One-way friendships. A thankless job or jerk of a boss. It's said that people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty, keeping us stuck. While there is no crystal ball as to how things will work out, Dr. Cynthia Pizzulli has over 30 years' experience and she can tell you that, if you leave a dead-end relationship, you'll be glad you did. We talk about relationships being a two-way street, blame, being brave, repeat and repair, awareness to break the cycle, inconvenient feelings, relationships are no 50-50, dealbreakers, people change...
2021-10-2050 min
The Bliss ProjectEpisode 15- A Sassy Little Conversation about Laughter Assisting Us all Through Life’s Challenges with Sandra Ann MillerWelcome to The Bliss Project Podcast! In today’s episode, we chat with our friend Sandra Ann Miller.
Sandra is a writer of wrongs. Author of A Sassy Little Guide to Getting Over Him (2006), she believes that laughter and real talk help folks get through life's challenges. After all the “it” 2020 threw at us (you can spell that it with a capital S-H), there needed to be a little podcast with meaningful conversations—plus a lot of heart and a little bit of swearing—about what we're going through, dealing with and want to move past. In October 202...
2021-10-1347 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistCoercion with Dr. Janja LalichDr. Janja Lalich (NXIVM documentaries, "Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults" on HBOMax, and author of TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE) joins us to talk about coercion and how it's a type of social control. Manipulation and gaslighting are a part of it as is "Us vs. Them" thinking that's happening politically, the effect of the pandemic and spending too much time on the internet, rabbit holes and algorithms, not wanting to admit that you were duped, cognitive dissonance, the concept of charisma, an imbalance of power, high-arousal technique, being able to communicate, having critical compassion, breaking through the barrier...
2021-10-1346 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistReality TV with Norman KorpiNorman Korpi is someone you just want to hug. He's smart and genuine, generous and open. We get to talk about: what a small world it was in the 90s, finding RuPaul, making $100 per ep, being gay on TV during the AIDS crisis, being a connector, "public" television, seeing the change, using fame and recognition positively, opening doors and putting up walls, equating being on TV with being rich and privileged, creating work for yourself, going to Hollywood, losing work because of being gay, Rush Limbaugh, not looking defeated, waiting on Arnold, the wound of the AIDS crisis, extending...
2021-10-0657 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistGoing It Alone with Sandra Ann MillerThis ep marks the end of the first year of A Sassy Little Podcast for Getting Over It. Thanks so much for being a part of it! Much gratitude to all of the wonderful, smart, generous, kind and insightful guests we've had. This week, it's a solo ep with Sandra, talking about going it alone. That means more than walking away from a relationship, blazing your own trail or even standing up for yourself. It's about being comfortable in your own skin and being connected to the core of who you are. That requires giving yourself time alone. Is...
2021-09-2925 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistDisinformation with Dr. Caroline Orr BuenoWe are swimming in a swamp of mis- and disinformation. Dr. Caroline Orr Bueno (one of my favorite people on Smart Twitter) breaks it down for us. Misinformation vs. disinformation, coordinated efforts and bots, inauthentic activity, information disorder, holding social media companies responsible, Twitter's misinformation button, global reach of disinformation through the internet, social media companies lack of willingness to share data with researchers/lack of transparency, the need to study the extent of the problem, Facebook revoking access to researchers at NYU who were studying ads, Facebook's built-in/automated tools creating groups of extremist propaganda, Facebook's business model...
2021-09-2258 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistAnger with Dr. Cicely Horsham-BrathwaitePeople are angry these days. And, with everything going on in the world, it's not a wonder folks are losing it. We talk with Dr. Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite about how we can feed anger, making that emotion more accessible, recognizing your anger and the anger of others, removing our rose-colored glasses, the definition of anger, anger is an energy but it's also exhausting, rampant injustices, anger as a proactive mechanism, creating a safe space around you and in you, not going to toxic positivity to avoid anger, looking at the function of anger, early life experiences sets the foundation for...
2021-09-1553 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistPelvic Pain with Dr. Justine RoperPelvic floor therapy isn't something we discuss. Maybe because many don't know it's an option for pelvic pain, incontinence, sexual dysfunction and other "down there" matters. Dr. Justine Roper, a pelvic floor physical therapist, joins us to talk about why more providers don't share this therapy with patience (hint: many don't know about it), going to an expert (not just your GP), shared decision-making, how we assume that peeing while laughing/coughing/sneezing is "normal" for women, Kegels aren't the answer for everything (and could be adding to your issues), the mistake of listening to unqualified people (i.e. "...
2021-09-0842 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistPerfectionism with Dr. Menije Boduryan-TurnerWe recorded this episode shortly after Simone Biles took herself out of Olympic competition and, boy, the reaction she got from some people who were likely far from perfect. But we see her as perfect in what she does, and we project our hopes onto people like her, as if it's their responsibility to deliver for us. We need to shoot down the idea of "perfect" and the idea that you need to be perfect in order to be successful, or even happy. Dr. Menije Boduryan-Turner talks about the pressure of always performing and never taking a break or...
2021-09-0147 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistCodependence with Dr. Menije Boduryan-TurnerThe term 'codependency' was born out of AA about friends and family who could hurt someone's recovery by "over-helping". Dr. Menije Boduryan-Turner talks with us about how codependence is found both in- and outside abuse, how the roles of family members in addiction play a part in codependency, how it comes out of all forms of abuse, we can find ourselves overly investing in a relationship (that's codependence), how once you are exposed to abuse you are wired differently, codependency doesn't exist in healthy relationships, being able to let go of codependence with compassion (thank you for trying to...
2021-08-2554 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistAbleism with Naty RicoNaty Rico is a disability advocate and educator, and the coordinator of the Disability Cultural Center at the University of Arizona. She talks with us about what ableism is beyond the dictionary definition and how able-bodied people might not be aware of how they are complicit with it, how it's a system of oppression favoring able-bodied/-minded people, the definitions of ableism by Talila TL Lewis and Dustin P. Gibson, being interconnected with other forms of oppression, how removing labels can lead to discrimination/oppression, those with disability are not aiming to be normal, overcoming barriers simply to exist...
2021-08-1858 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistAbleism with Naty Rico SUBSCRIBERNaty Rico is a disability advocate and educator, and the coordinator of the Disability Cultural Center at the University of Arizona. She talks with us about what ableism is beyond the dictionary definition and how able-bodied people might not be aware of how they are complicit with it, how it's a system of oppression favoring able-bodied/-minded people, the definitions of ableism by Talila TL Lewis and Dustin P. Gibson, being interconnected with other forms of oppression, how removing labels can lead to discrimination/oppression, those with disability are not aiming to be normal, overcoming barriers simply to exist...
2021-08-1657 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistFinancial Foolishness with Amy Irvine, CFPAmy Irvine (ep 006 Financial Fears) returns to the pod to talk about how we can avoid some of our financial foolishness by understanding how much our emotions are linked to our finances (whether we have it or not), realizing in the past year how we can scale back if we really need to (hello, lockdown), the psychology around wealth (having fun with it/spending 'til it's gone or hoarding it/worried it will all be lost), the urge to splurge after a period of lack, how diets and budgets are similar (and we don't enjoy being on them), the...
2021-08-1159 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistObstacles with Kristin Enola Gilbert and Javier RamirezStarting first as an online bookstore throwing great online events in September 2020, and opened their doors to a brick-and-mortar store in the Chicago's historic Fine Arts Building on May 15th of this year, still doing great online events. Mixing a love of literature and music, Kristin Enola Gilbert and Javier Ramirez followed their hearts and passion to open something truly special store. We talk about the obstacles they faced, including learning tech, Bookshop.org, blood, sweat, tears and cocktails, hosting virtual events during lockdown as an online store, moving to the store ahead of schedule, naysayers on the name, a...
2021-08-0437 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistLosing with Lisa Stephen, PhDGetting a trophy for everything is a nice gesture, but there's actual value in losing. Yes, really! And if you think you're always going to get an accolade for everything, you are going to be faced with a world of disappointment. Lisa Stephen, PhD, talks with us about developing coping skills, how failing is a part of the process of success, it's essential and there's no potential for growth without it, learning to be self-gratified, an intrinsic level of motivation, growth mindset, having fun (and if you aren't having fun, why are you doing it?), the pressure put on...
2021-07-281h 00
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistGoing Gray with Anne KreamerWe more or less met our most authentic selves during lockdown, when we couldn't see our hairdresser without risk. Once the world opened up, did you run back to coloring your hair, or did you decide to let your gray stay? We talk with Anne Kreamer who wrote the book on going gray (aptly titled GOING GRAY: HOW TO EMBRACE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF WITH GRACE AND STYLE), who talks about her experience and the research that went into her book as well as facing our mortality during the pandemic, the problem of too much choice, how less is liberating...
2021-07-2149 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistStage Fright with Jackie JonesJackie Jones is a comedian, motivational thinker, roller-skater and hugger. JJ talks about the importance of being able to self-soothe, being OK with awkward silences, and acknowledging them. We also talk about reading in public; pumping yourself up; learning what works for you; shrinking the spectrum; Jedi mind-tricks, asserting (smiley) dominance; look to where your discomfort comes from; how anyone can learn to do anything; don't compare and despair; being yourself; bombing as a comedian; connecting with your audience/people; when the spotlight is on you, you're the host; you're in charge (in a good way); our subconscious; A...
2021-07-1446 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistLack of Style with Anna LobellInterior designer, Anna Lobell, gives her insight on how to embrace your personal style by creating a space for yourself and an environment that will support and uplift you. The importance of knowing yourself and the courage to express yourself. Avoiding trends (like an all white room with a single cactus). The importance of being comfortable and happy in your space. Understanding compromise and purpose, and letting the space speak to you to tell you what it needs. Not designing for 5-10 years down the road (you and your taste will likely change); design for right now. BS overthinking...
2021-07-0749 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistPerpetual Lateness with Locke HughesWriter Locke Hughes talks about her struggle with being on time, her experience with Diana DeLonzor's book, NEVER BE LATE AGAIN: 7 CURES FOR THE PUNCTUALLY CHALLENGED, the irony of being able to be on time for things you are excited about, being late so you don't "waste time" if you're early, the anxiety of waiting, giving up magical thinking and giving yourself more time, confronting the late people in your life, getting enough rest, her book MELATONIN: The Natural Supplement for Better Sleep, and the importance of setting your alarm on Sunday mornings.Episode recorded on 06/11/21
2021-06-3040 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistMisunderstanding Homelessness with Heidi RobertsLos Angeles has a homelessness crisis that has been going on for years. While politicians talk about solutions (we're looking at you, Eric Garcetti and Mike Bonin), Heidi Roberts and her husband decided to create one with Haaven Shared Housing. Since it opened in April 2018, they have taken 168 people off the streets (that's about 1 person per week) and have an 80% success rate (meaning people are still housed). Listen in as we talk about the full-frontal experience of living in Venice, CA, how housing isn't the solution to the homelessness crisis; there's more to it: Support. Taking care of people...
2021-06-231h 00
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistDisliking Exercise with Rachele Pojednic, PhDWith a PhD in Nutrition Science and Policy in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, Rachele Pojednic knows what she's talking about when it comes to the importance of exercise. With what she describes as "a real marketing problem," exercise is too often associated with weight loss, and physical activity is too important to miss because of bad PR. This episode is not meant to be ableist, sizeist or promoting diet culture. Exercise is really a form of self-love and self-care that has benefits beyond the physical, include those to our mental and emotional health. We talk about: Exercise...
2021-06-1655 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistShopping on Amazon with Cynthia NielsonJeff Bezos got even richer during the pandemic because we were so reliant on online shopping, namely shopping with Amazon. It's time to spread that wealth by shopping directly with small online businesses and local stores. Cynthia Nielson is a seller on Amazon, which is necessary for small businesses to compete and find customers. Keep in mind that Amazon isn't like shopping at a retail store where the store buys its merchandise wholesale and basically owns it/can do whatever it wants with it as long as it brings in a profit. Amazon is more of a pass-through where...
2021-06-0956 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistPet Peeves with Gia DeSantis and Jasmine MilliganWhen you start to list your pet peeves, you learn that they are more or less infinite. Real-life friends Gia DeSantis (ep 005 Ageism) and Jasmine Milligan (ep 015 Clutter) return to share their current pet peeves, admit to what they are guilty of (including car theft?) and how the list that was supposed to be limited to 2 each keeps growing and growing to include: littering, what a dick Stephen Miller is (no relation to Sandra), cigarette butts, confronting offenders, DNA, Quibi, Mad Men memories, glottal stops, master bakers, misplaced dollar signs, Starburst, root canals (and people who freak out about t...
2021-06-021h 05
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistLimited Love Languages with Anne Hodder-Shipp, ACSInspired to open up the "classic" tool of the 5 love languages to be more inclusive, Anne wrote SPEAKING FROM THE HEART: 18 LANGUAGES FOR MODERN LOVE, illustrated to show what those languages may look like and what they don't. We talk about: Opening up to how we see relationships, especially platonic ones; giving and receiving love more easily and openly; asking yourself if you're holding back; shifting back to communal participation; going beyond the basic 5 languages; Anne's faves (this week); score keeping; being in a relationship with yourself; connecting; the awkwardness or re-establishing contact/socializing; managing expectations; getting back to...
2021-05-2652 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistSudden Loss with Ericka LutzIn 2008, in a cloud forest in Madagascar, Ericka Lutz's husband, Bill, suddenly became ill and passed away hours later in front of her and their 16-year-old daughter. With that sudden loss, her world was upended, PTSD set in and then came people's judgments if she wasn't being the perfect widow. We talk about: How American's are terrible at dealing with loss/grief; how sudden loss reshapes you; loss, isn't something you get over—you live with it and survive it; moving forward with full-frontal grief; survivor's guilt, anger, fear and devastation; being diagnosed with Grave's Disease and how that se...
2021-05-1948 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistFood Fads with Gloria Davis Browning, RDNGloria Davis Browning is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, culinary school graduate, educator and advocate of Health at EVERY Size. We talk about how basic nutrition is pretty basic, how the latest food fads of Keto, Paleo and Intermittent Fasting aren't needed to keep ourselves healthy (the key to that is whole, natural foods prepared in a healthy, tasty way), that we shouldn't vilify vegetables (like potatoes, carrots, etc.), especially while eating heavily processed meats. Healthy is about how you feel, getting back to intuitive eating, avoiding the obsessive aspects of many of these diets, which doom one to failure...
2021-05-121h 20
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistLost Heritage Language with Julie SedivyJulie Sedivy has a PhD in linguistics and had 5 languages under her belt by the time she was 5. Born in the Czechoslovakia and moving several times through many European countries, her family landed in Canada and slowly, English became the dominant language despite their Czech roots. Keeping a heritage language is difficult, and near impossible in a home where only one parent speaks that second language. We discuss losing language and exposure to heritage roots, the revelation of going back to the heritage country and understanding why you are the way you are, the over-importance of assimilation causing the...
2021-05-0549 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistLiving Smaller with Laura FentonIn America, home of the Super Big Gulp, living smaller isn't something we think of as a goal. To Laura Fenton, living smaller is a mindset more than the amount of square feet involved. We talk about pairing back to what is essential, how downsizing can be liberating, the cleverness of a studio space, playing an endless game of Tetris, accumulating things just because you have the space, living in a small space keeps you honest, what a smaller life might look like and the rewards of it, taking the pressure off, being in a small space during the...
2021-04-2852 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistChronic Fatigue with Adele PaulWriter, wife and mother, Adele Paul remembers the day her life changed when suddenly, after getting a regular virus, her energy was gone. Listen in as we talk about: waking up tired, setting two alarms vs not owning one, getting sick, being diagnosed (and excited about that), the difference between being tired, exhausted and fatigue, going to bed at 9:30, not getting over it, doctoring, not being a flake (even when you have to cancel plans), budgeting energy, mourning, accepting limits, limits are wonderful, it's not fun to say no, not having a true diagnosis, post-exertional malaise, figuring it out f...
2021-04-2156 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistTrans Bias with Buck AngelBuck Angel is transsexual (his preferred term). Born biologically female, Buck transitioned in the 1990s and was basically a guinea pig, as there wasn't much information for a female to male transition. We discuss the devastating statistics of violence, murder and suicide in the transgender and gender non-conforming community, the importance of opening up the conversation, Buck's past lives, not agreeing with one's community, semantics, missing memos, not being forced, being the first, having a fighting instinct, making mistakes, activism, co-existing, losing the middle ground, finding patience, communication and listening skills, the slow path to equality, TERFs, socialization, fear...
2021-04-141h 16
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistPre-Nups with Sandy Roxas, Esq.While the connotation may be that a prenuptial agreement is negative, a sign of greed or a set-up for failure, they are no different than getting auto insurance for your car. You don't plan on having an accident, but you certainly want to be covered in case you do. Torrance, California-based attorney, Sandy Roxas, gives us her insight on: why pre-nups are important to have even when money and real property aren't involved, how separate property (including your business or intellectual property) becomes community property once married, thinking forward, having the tough conversations, talking finances (debt becomes community property, t...
2021-04-0753 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistIntimate Partner Violence with Dr. Shauna Moore ReynoldsDr. Shauna Moore Reynolds shares her professional and personal insight into Intimate Partner Violence, discussing how we can be advocates, ask questions to open the door to discussion, there are no predetermining factors that make you more likely to experience IPV, the shame on if, having the courage to leave, understanding it takes an average of 10 attempts to leave, not knowing what goes on behind closed doors, pedestals and perceived notions, heroes, making it look good on the outside, the skills of a manipulator, why women might stay, financial control, being broken, privileged perspective, the shame belongs to the...
2021-03-311h 01
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistInsomnia with Dr. Nicole MoshfeghDr. Nicole Moshfegh knows insomnia. She talks to us about how insomnia works, "helpful behavior" that causes insomnia to persist, recipes for disaster, creativity and insomnia, exercise and sleep drive, jittery zombies, fight or flight, acknowledging thoughts, catastrophe spirals, good habits, self care, relaxation, yoga, calming down, turning off, alcohol's effect, sleep stages, cultivating good sleep habits, consistent wake-up times, circadian rhythm, winding down before bedtime, getting enough activity for sleep drive, avoiding napping, reduce anxiety, challenge thinking around sleep, journaling, get out of bed if you're not sleeping, don't work/eat/sleep/watch TV/be on a screen...
2021-03-2441 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistMenopause with Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-SuDr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su is a board certified OBGYN, a certified menopause practitioner, the Medical Director of Menopause at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, and the Chief Medical Officer at Gennev. Clearly, she knows her menopause. In this episode, we talk about: Menopause being taboo, women avoiding the subject, how it's normal and natural, it's not doomsday, perimenopause symptoms (sleep problems, mood changes, anxiety and/or depression); how menopause is, for many, a happier, healthier, positive time, managing symptoms, how we all experience it differently, the average age of menopause is 52, and perimenopause happens about 2-3 years before; the fun...
2021-03-1748 min
My Favorite FlopThe Very Best Week Of Your Lives"The heat is on" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1986's Smile on episode six of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT SMILE
Based on the 1975 movie of the same name, Smile is a satirical portrait of small-town America that follows the intrigue and exploits onstage and behind-the-scenes as Santa Rosa, California plays host to the Young American Miss Pageant. The musical features a book and lyrics by Howard Ashman with music by Marvin Hamlisch.
Smile finally came to Broadway in 1986 after several failed attempts earlier in the decade, with various creative forces at...
2021-03-1655 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistMercury Retrograde with Coral CadmanWhat's all the hubbub about when it comes to Mercury Retrograde? Welp, the 2020 election happened during MR and so did the second impeachment. In this episode, my favorite astrologer talks about: Ancient Egypt; a f*cked up ephemeris; the divorce of astrology and astronomy; as above, so below; the wanderers; Sirius; certain predictable events; being regulated by the Moon; astrology doesn't require faith; solar wind; Founding Fathers, High Masons and Illuminati; going back to move forward; commerce, trade and communication; the Rocky Horoscope; oysters; a disturbance in The Force; red flags; self-respect; chaos; ACOA; anxious thinking; Gandhi; Old Testament...
2021-03-1056 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistLost Joy with Tricia HuffmanYour Joyologist and host of the Claim It! podcast, Tricia Huffman, talks with us about struggling with feeling like we can have joy now, her favorite word, celebrating the small stuff (get a cookie!), knowing it's not permanent, like lessons, it is what it is, making things work, how she became a joyologist, living with pain, the desire to be truly heard and seen, retiring the word "should" and replacing it with "want", seeing that everything is "my" choice, doing the dishes, approaching things from a place of joy, removing the guilt from guilty pleasures, stop stealing joy from...
2021-03-0343 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistGaslighting with Dr. Stephanie SarkisDr. Stephanie Sarkis, author of GASLIGHTING: Recognize Manipulative and Emotionally Abusive People—And Break Free, is back (also check out ep 18 on Apologizing) to talk about gaslighting and: breaking down the difference between manipulation, lying and gaslighting, emotional abuse, agreeing to reality, "hoovering", "flying monkeys", isolation, mean girls, controlling the narrative, Gaslight (the movie), a broken nation, normalizing gaslighting, QAnon, failing to learn history, none of us are immune to gaslighting, love bombing, trust, getting educated, punishment, damage control, narcissists and sociopaths, ammunition, Dirty John, cycle of abuse, looking good in public, go to the source, splitting, power and co...
2021-02-241h 13
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistImpatience for Success with Melissa Joy ManningMelissa Joy Manning is an ethically- and eco-minded jewelry designer and CFDA member, and a friend of mine. She founded the CFDA Sustainability Committee and uses 100% recycled precious metals in her handmade designs, famous for her signature style and one-of-a-kind creations. We talk about: knowing each other for 20 years, being in business for nearly 25 years, over-achieving parents, art as a career, silversmithing in Mexico, passion, living authentically, getting fired, vocational counseling, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, knowing how to run a business, being a hero, positioning, being around for three years, pre-Etsy/direct-to-consumer, building a brand, emulating and partnering, learning your...
2021-02-1746 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistBody Image Issues with Elle ChaseCertified sex educator, body acceptance advocate and the author of CURVY GIRL SEX: 101 Body-Positive Positions to Empower Your Sex Life, Elle Chase, CSE, ACS, joins the pod to talk about how to simplify the complicated relationship we have with our bodies. We talk about the love of David (Bowie), messages we aren't achieving, complicated human beings, conditionally loving our bodies, accepting your body as is, compassion, demands, control, how dissatisfaction is healthy, standards, self-reflections, fear or love, no quick fix, zero patience, bossy messages, critical thinking, Marie Osmond, skinny women in bikinis, ennui, Madison Avenue, being sold to, a c...
2021-02-1047 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistBad Advice with Lisa Linke and Misty StinnettIn this episode, we talk about: Threesomes. Lies. Going over 200 episodes. Friendships. Learning. How their podcast got started. Usable gems. Critical thinking. Hating the premise of self-help. Being of service. Doing good work. Writing on accident. Filter feeding the debris. What sticks. Living with a professor. Questioning authority. Flamingoes. Best sellers. Being our best selves. Screenwriters. Lord God King Boofoo. Self-help is a misnomer. What you would actually have to do each day if you followed all the top self-help advice (spoiler alert: it's impossible). Racism and privilege. Community care. Victim blaming. Manipulation. Caveats. Rachel Hollis' divorce. Problematic advice...
2021-02-031h 07
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistApologizing with Dr. Stephanie SarkisDr. Stephanie Sarkis holds a PhD, NCC, DCMHS and LMHC. She’s a bestselling author and psychotherapist specializing in anxiety, gaslighting, narcissistic abuse, and ADHD. Her latest book is Gaslighting: Recognize Manipulative and Emotionally Abusive People. She’s a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family and Circuit Mediator and a contributor to Forbes, Psychology Today and The Huffington Post, as well as the host of the Talking Brains podcast. We start by getting to the good part, talk about the lack of accountability and narcissism evident in those who refuse to apologize. Toxic personalities. 1980s philosophy (Wall Street, Gordon Gekko). Taki...
2021-01-271h 02
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistOthering with Elizabeth JinzoElizabeth Jinzo is a mom who decided things needed to be better. When her daughter was born prematurely and diagnosed with Autism, she was forced into the role of advocate and had to become an expert in navigating systems, including public education, where she fought for her daughter’s integration into “regular” classrooms. She was so good at this, she started a non-profit to help other parents whose children have intellectual or developmental disabilities. In 2008, she founded D.E.S.I., which stands for Designated Exceptional Services for Independence, and is named after her daughter, Deserai. She’s been repeated...
2021-01-2049 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistA Life-Changing MomentGreat way to find a husband? Bed shopping. Teaching in the time of COVID (in Arizona). It's okay to be different. In a wheelchair for 20 years (not thinking she'd make it through the first year). Serving as an example to her students in what can be achieved. Going from an independent 15-year-old to feeling like a 15-month-old. Rebuilding brick by brick. Challenges of being a new teacher (it's never a 40-hour workweek). Nothing "is what it is". Taking "I can never" out of her students' vernacular. Growing up instantly after the accident. Evaluate challenges for what they are (hold...
2021-01-131h 16
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistClutter with Jasmine MilliganFrom being at home during the pandemic and getting things we want/need/happen to be on sale and giving/getting over the holidays, we probably are finding ourselves with too much stuff! Let's purge it. Jasmine Milligan is Reno, Nevada's first KonMari certified organizer. Marie Kondo's method starts with clothing, books, documents and "komono" (misc.) before hitting the hard to part with sentimental items. Start with a vision of what you want to achieve/have it look like and start with pulling out ALL of your clothes and see which ones spark joy (everything else is out). Learning...
2021-01-0657 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistProductivity Blocks with Nina SadowskyNina Sadowsky is busy. She’s had 4 books published in the last 4 years, 2 of those were released in 2020, and that was done while she was teaching, and then while she opened a school, and was also developing TV series, and sending out a cheerfully dark dispatch from her website. Before becoming an author, she was an attorney, a producer, screenwriter and executive. She’s the Program Director of NYU Los Angeles and her novels are Just Fall, The Burial Society, The Empty Bed, and Convince Me. We talk about: needing joy or optimism to be productive, or using anger as a...
2020-12-3055 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistFood Addiction with Dr. Vera TarmanFood has changed. How we grow it and process it. Sugar is in everything (processed). The edible equivalent of oxycontin. Sugar is not a normal food product. Viewers can see the similarities between those suffering addiction on "Intervention" and those on "My 600-lb Life"; how does the medical community miss that parallel? Doctors don't want to fat-shame and obesity is prevalent/normalized. When you are sick, doctors don't ask what you are eating. They aren't trained to. Food addiction needs more research but that requires more doctors diagnosing it. Doctors prefer what they know: medication or surgery. The inequity...
2020-12-231h 00
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistCult-based Trauma with Erin Coffin MooreWe've seen Going Clear, "Scientology: The Aftermath", Wild, Wild Country, Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator, and "The Vow", so we know a little something about cults. What we don't really understand is how they still exist, and pull in people today even with that awareness. Phoenix House is a therapeutic community based on a now-defunct cult, Synanon. Erin Coffin Moore was placed in Phoenix House when she was 16. "Tough Love" and institutionalizing "troubled" teens were touted as solutions for parents in the 1980s and 90s. Adults (teachers, police, social workers) fail to listen or believe kids when trouble at home...
2020-12-161h 19
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistEgo with Ben LeeBrad Pitt and the C-word. Oasis and rock stars as superheroes. Escaping into big personalities. Andy Kaufman and performance art. Bravado before confidence. Forced humility. Australian blasphemy, the "tall poppy" syndrome and being a divisive artist. Art school egos. Ego as a shield. Fake it 'til you make it. Tarot card psychics. Sometimes you start by being good. Have the courage to take the journey. Over-40 playlists. Purpose of persona. Meeting Marilyn Manson. Skills and tools. Who's in charge of the experience? Playful combativeness. Are you in control of the process or is the process in control of you...
2020-12-0945 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistToxic Positivity with Dr. Allison Niebes-DavisToxic positivity is a pet peeve of Sandra's because: 1) it's mood shaming and 2) it can hinder those who appear perpetually cheerful but are actually dealing with deep pain and hardship from getting the attention and care they need. You can't heal what you can't feel. "Good vibes only" is oversimplifying a complex emotional experience and brings on shame and isolation. If you're feeling OK in the midst of this crisis...that's not healthy. Choosing your mood. Science! Getting rid of disclaimers and qualifying your upset. "At least it's not cancer!" (Never say that.) Fear is a four-letter word. Trusting...
2020-12-0259 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistMental Health with Patricia Shanae SmithTRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, cutting, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, depression, drug and alcohol abuse.If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline available 24 hours each day in English and Spanish at 800-273-8255. Or contact the Crisis Text line by texting CONNECT to 741741 to chat with a Crisis Counselor. Visit the National Institute for Mental Health for more information.The journey of a young woman's mental health began at age 2 with her mother's death and going mute for two years (something she only recently found out...
2020-11-251h 21
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistDisability Indifference with Selene LunaSelene Luna (COCO, "The Cho Show") talks about producing shows for the Palm Springs International Comedy Festival, being in showbiz as a little person, how laws to protect the disabled aren't always enough (who are you gonna call when they're broken?), who pays for that magical lawyer if you need to sue to get your rights, disability isn't niche (26% of US adults have disability; 25% of women have a disability), the damage caused when helping one community harms another, the epidemic of systemic, forced poverty in the disability community, societal gratitude, education segregation, silver linings, being heard after being invisible, h...
2020-11-1855 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistRelationship Challenges with Virginia Gilbert, MFTWith a hard out time, we don't waste time talking with Virginia Gilbert, MFT, about the underlying issues of communication, such as attachment style and how we manage emotions, being interdependent (not codependent), taking out the competition (it's not about who's right or wrong), being a team rather than opponents, Attachment Theory, Imago Theory, having a mindfulness practice and coping skills, learning not to trigger-talk, listening and being heard, building trust and goodwill, looking at the health of the relationship, understanding that it's not just your partner who could improve/change (hint: you could, too), signs that you're heading...
2020-11-1147 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistFinancial Fears with Amy Irvine, CFPDon't "should" on yourself. Forget budgeting; create a spending plan that's realistic, as barebones as you can make it when money is tight, compartmentalize and determine what's negotiable. Be proactive with what you owe; call your lenders, banks, IRS, card companies, etc., and let them know your circumstance/ask for assistance. Learn what protections the CARES Act offers and take advantage of those provisions (borrow from retirement, take a loan from your 401k, take advantage of the 0% interest on student loans and deferrals). Have a conversation with your money and create a healthy relationship with it. Get a financial...
2020-11-041h 07
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistAgeism with Gia DeSantisBeen there, done that, literally have the t-shirt and still have more to give. Stalking your way into a friendship. You only get old if you're lucky. Ageism is the last acceptable bias. Being Gen X. Having to leave jobs off your CV to mask your age. Going after a job you once held and laughably being told they're looking for someone "more qualified". Too young, not enough experience, at the age of getting married or having children, too old, not the right experience—women constantly face something related to ageism in their careers. Working with rock stars and dr...
2020-10-281h 02
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistClimate Change with JC CoccoliBig oil, idling cars, Bezos’ billions (and what JC and Sandra would do with it), owing hippies and apology, the excessive waste created by the pandemic, a Google alternative that plants trees, the money in waste management, understanding your trash, making small changes for a bigger impact, how being environmentally conscious burns calories and/or saves money, and the moment Sandra realizes her whole life was based on a lie.You can find JC at JCCoccoli.com, Twitter and Instagram.Links to all the things we talked about:Refillery LAEcosia (th...
2020-10-2157 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistSingle Stigma with Tricia BarreiroSandra and Tricia have known each other for nearly 20 years. Never married, no children and not surrounded by cats, they talk (for over 2.5 hours; we edited this down) about the joys of singlehood, being married to your career, needing time alone to create, what an introvert actually is, a clue to knowing if you're with your soulmate or not, the often annoying societal and cultural expectations foisted upon women, having to compromise yourself in order to fit into a relationship (sometimes without realizing you're doing it), the fact that single people are indeed good at relationships, and why they...
2020-10-141h 17
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistSexual Insecurities with Anne Hodder-Shipp, CSE, ACSTalking about period sex, responsive desire, the importance of communication, the power of vulnerability, binary thinking BS, orgasms aren’t necessarily the goal, what’s “normal” anyway, and how arousal, or lack thereof, is not an indicator of desire.Find Anne at:AnneHodderShipp.comOn Twitter, Instagram and FacebookThe towel by Liberator Anne refers to can be found here: https://amzn.to/3lsNh7TRecorded on: 08/07/20Released on: 10/07/20**This page contains affiliate links!**For more information on the podcast or its host, please vi...
2020-10-071h 06
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistShame with Amy DresnerAmy Dresner talks about addition, recovery and how shame never helped her stay sober (which she is now for 7+ years, w00t!). Read about her journey in the wildly acclaimed, wickedly well-written memoir MY FAIR JUNKIE (Hachette, 2017; available in hardcover, paperback, e- and audio-books). Subscribe to her podcast, Rehab Confidential or politely stalk her on social media (website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).For more information on the podcast or its host, please visit sassylittlepodcast.com. There, you will find links to social media and an opportunity to become a member of the podcast community.Thanks for l...
2020-10-0159 min
A Sassy Little Podcast with Sandra Ann Miller a.k.a. The HappyistTrailerComing soon! Subscribe now to A Sassy Little Podcast for Getting Over It! If there was ever a year we needed to get the F over, it’s 2020. Join author Sandra Ann Miller each week as she interviews experts, celebrities and every-day people who’ve faced seemingly insurmountable circumstances, and came through it the sassier for it. With humor and heart (and maybe some swearing), their insight is sure to inspire. New episodes each week. Podcast premiere's October 7, 2020.Full episodes are available to paid subscribers of A Sassy Little
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visit A Sa...
2020-07-3000 min
The Ashley Berges Show65: Do you have what it takes to make your purpose a reality?Guests: Ashley Roberts: CW33, DFW CloseUp, Reporter, Journalist, and Philanthropist & Sandra Ann Miller: Screenwriter, Blogger, Author, and Writer’s Consultant. Black Coffee, screenplay in development & first book: A Sassy Little Guide to Getting Over Him. Elliot Rasenick: Executive Producer of The Beloved Festival Anything worth doing takes dedication, motivation, and personal belief in the ability that you can carry it to fruition. When we embark on our purpose, we must begin and continue the dedicated process throughout the journey. There will be times where you will feel defeated and overwhelmed, but you must center yourself and start again.
2013-08-1246 min
Military Mom Talk RadioEpisode #97: Linda Maloney, aviator and author, Sally Johnson, RN and quilter, music GI Girl with Host Sandra BeckLinda Maloney, author of Military Fly Moms ~ Sharing Memories, Building Legacies, Inspiring Hope, a biographical collection of the inspiring true stories and photographs of seventy women who shared the same two dreams—becoming aviators in the military, and being moms. Maloney is a retired military aviator and officer and a recipient of numerous military awards. Sally Johnson, RN, talks of her labors of love making quilts for her VA hospital and Wounded Warriors. Dana Whitehead, manager for country singer Dani Vitany, talks of the inception of G.I. Girls - a salute to the women who serve in the military. Th...
2012-05-2257 min