Shows
Conversations to ConnectEpisode 47- Create Your Own Light: Finding Post Traumatic Purpose with Travis Howze"We are not exempt from loss, pain or personal turmoil. These three things can absolutely destroy, control and define us, and they most certainly will if we choose to lay down and let them. Once we have OWNED and ACCEPTED the things we cannot change, we are in control and privy to change. With change in mindset, change in perspective, and change in attitude comes a more peaceful lifestyle and personal growth beyond our wildest imagination." Travis Howze~ Create Your Own Light: Finding Post Traumatic Purpose
In this episode Kristy is joined by Travis Howze to dis...2022-07-2655 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 46 Max Strom- Breathe to Heal system“Heal your heart, your emotions. The more your heart is open and filled with joy and gratitude, the more you will enjoy life and be able to shine your light out into the world. The more light you shine into the world, the more you can help others with your very presence.” Max Strom
In this episode, Kristy is joined by Max Strom, creator of the Breathe to Heal system for personal transformation. Max is a 3x TEDx speaker, author, and global breathing teacher, known for teaching breathing patterns for personal transformation worldwide.
Max’s trainin...2022-04-0540 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 45 - EmpowHERment & Women’s History Month
“The success of every woman should be an inspiration to another. We should raise each other up.” ~Serena Williams
In this episode, Kristy talks with Bhavna Meta and Jemiriye about their upcoming empowHERment workshop and the power of being in community with one another. We invite you to listen in and reflect that, together, we can collectively exhale and step into our power.
Take a moment to yourself. Breathe in deeply and exhale all you’re been carrying that isn’t serving you.
We hope you enjoy!
Kristy & G
2022-03-2918 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 44 - Relationships with Lodro and Adreanna"Love is a living, breathing thing. There is no need to force it to grow in a particular direction. If we start by being easy and gentle with ourselves, we will find it is just there inside of us, solid and healing." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
In episode 44, Kristy has a conversation with her meditation teachers, Lodro Rinzler and Adreanna Limbach, about life, love, and relationships. Listen in to learn about how meditation can be the opening for our willingness to seek to understand ourselves and the people around us as well as how mindfulness can be the antidote for divisive time...2022-03-0258 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 43 - Connect to Your Essence & Find Your Anchor with Rachel Grant JacksonIn this episode we welcome, Rachel Grant Jackson, to the podcast to have a conversation with Kristy on the importance of finding an anchor or practice (spoiler alert it doesn't HAVE to be yoga) to connect you spiritually as you navigate chaotic times in life. We will cover simple practices that will help align you with your heart and help to keep you connected to this part when you speak, move and act rather than reacting and responding in ways that might not be useful to situations and relationships.
Rachel will be offering the Ultimate Gift- a 21 day meditation challenge beginning...2021-12-2850 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 42 - Set Boundaries & Live Freely with Max Strom"Being crystal clear about who you really are is vulnerable and it takes courage. It will also set you free of worrying, overthinking, misunderstandings, and people having to guess what it is you truly want and need. Sustaining loving relationships requires that we define our boundaries with kindness and firmness, while at the same time protect those we love from our own anger." ~ Max Strom
In this episode we welcome back Inner Axis creator, Max Strom, to the podcast to have a conversation with Kristy on the importance of boundaries in our lives in order to live...2021-10-0353 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 41 - Military and Mental Health Part 2"The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter what the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have." ~ Pema Chðdrðn
What happens when your date is set to leave the military and 9/11 happens? Join us for a very special episode where our good friend, J, shares his experience living with uncertainty and the stop-loss that kept him in active combat for 5 years longer than he anticipated. He opens up about reintegrating into society after serving, dealing with anger in his life, and ways he has worked to change himself to show up authentically for...2021-05-2643 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 40 - Military & Mental Health Part 1"Recovery is an idea whose time has come. At its heart is a set of values about a person's right to build a life for themselves, with or without the continuing presence of mental health symptoms." ~ Geoff Sheperd
In this series, we will be talking with different members of the military in an effort to connect and bring awareness to the experiences of the men and women who currently serve or have served our country. In the first part of this series we welcome Bob Dzvonick from the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
We hope you...2021-03-0743 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 39 - Authenticity"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are." ~ Brene Brown
Welcome to the new year! We are here to tell you that you are badass just as you are and there is no need to be who others think you should be or have told you to be. In this episode we explore authenticity, what it means, and how to show up authentically in your life. Hope you enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2021-01-1139 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 38 - Pandemic Grief & Loss"Life may never go back to what it was like before, and we are all grieving that loss. But I hope you'll join me in recognizing that this is not our new normal."
In this episode we talk about the grief and loss we are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We all have been struggling with the grief that has been a result of the pandemic but we also might have lost loved ones, jobs, or had huge changes in our lives that we are struggling to manage. If we have had a loss prior to th...2020-10-3049 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 37 - Pandemic & Anxiety"This is an invisible threat; we don’t know who is infected, and anybody could infect us. This is an ambiguous threat; we have no idea how bad this will get. We have a very uncertain future; we don’t know how long this will last. And this is a global threat; no community is safe. Moreover, our need to social distance conflicts with our natural desire to connect with our friends and family during stressful times. And our typical sources of distractions such as national or personal sports or going to the gym, going to restaurants or bars, movi...2020-10-1648 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 36 - Amplify Black Voices with Johnnie Geathers"No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise." ~ Marian Anderson
This week we conclude our Amplify Black Voices series with our guest, Johnnie Geathers. Johnnie has his masters in Social Work and has a significant amount of experience working in different areas of mental health in the Pittsburgh area. He is the cofounder and national coordinator for...2020-09-301h 22Conversations to ConnectEpisode 35 - Amplify Black Voices with Isah Maazing"It's important for us to understand that the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' simply refers to the notion that there's a specific vulnerability for African Americans that needs to be addressed. It's not meant to suggest that other lives don't matter. It's to suggest that other folks aren't experiencing this particular vulnerability." ~ Barak Obama
This week we welcome our guest, Isah Kushma, to the podcast for our Amplify Black Voices series. Isah is an Army officer and combat veteran, has been serving in the Army for over 20 years, and is also a fitness advocate and coach. She s...2020-09-021h 06Conversations to ConnectEpisode 34 - Amplify Black Voices with Jessica Gurley"When slavery ended, no one sat the freed slaves down for group therapy. We are still walking around with generational trauma in our DNA that we have to work through." ~ Ashley McGirt
This episode in our Amplify Black Voices series we welcome Jessica Gurley, LCSW to the podcast. Jessica is a therapist with her own practice in the Pittsburgh area but also provides workshops, organizational consulting/training, and more. She also has a website where you can purchase mental health tee-shirts to help spread awareness about mental health! We hope you enjoy!
http...2020-07-3050 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 33 - Amplify Black Voices with Raymont Anderson"In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." ~ Angela Davis
This week in the Amplify Black Voices Series we are joined by Raymont Anderson for a conversation on his experience as a Black, gay man in today's society.
Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson has frequently been referred to as a Renaissance man and Visionary Thought Leader. One look at his resume and accomplishments the reason becomes clear. As a lifelong learner with a passion for self-development, personal transformation, transmutation, and transfiguration, he lives his bliss as a teacher, minister, speaker, w...2020-07-071h 14Conversations to ConnectEpisode 32 - Amplify Black Voices with Ashley Comans"It's up to all of us - Black, white, everyone - no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it (racism) out." ~ Michelle Obama
Join us for our Amplify Black Voices series where we will be featuring BIPOC sharing their stories. We will be turning the mic over to them to share whatever they feel is needed to speak out about right now.
Ashley Comans is our first guest in the series. She currently works at APOST as the HYPE Project Coordinator. She got her degree in b...2020-06-281h 21Conversations to ConnectEpisode 31 - Change & Uncertainty"There is nothing more certain and unchanging than uncertainty and change." ~ John F. Kennedy
So much has changed over the last three months. Kristy and Gretchen finally get back together to reflect on the pandemic of COVID19, how it has had on their lives, as well as the current racial climate, which are both impacting the world.
We hope you enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2020-06-1452 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 30 - Men's Mental Health"For the longest time, I thought asking for help was a sign of weakness because that's kind of what society teaches us. Well, you know what? If someone wants to call me weak for asking for help, that's their own problem. Because I'm saving my own life." - Michael Phelps
Mental health is something that every person deals with but in our society the struggles that men and women deal with are viewed very differently. Men are often left feeling like they are weak if they need help and access to help and support is diffi...2020-02-201h 10Conversations to ConnectEpisode 29 - Anxiety in Everyday Life"Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained." ~ Arthur Somers Roche
For most of us anxiety is often a part of everyday life. In this podcast we welcome guests Nicole & Shelly to share about their experiences of anxiety in their daily life at work, home, and with family & friends.
The quote that Kristy reads at the beginning is from the book "The Faraway Nearby" by Rebecca Solnit....it reads:
"We think we tell stories, but often stories te...2020-02-0552 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 28 - Anxiety or Burnout?"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes....including you."
Burnout is something that we all can experience just as all of us can experience anxiety. Sometimes our burnout is because of our anxiety, sometimes our anxiety is because of our burnout, and sometimes they fuel each other to the point where it is hard to differentiate. In this episode we explore how anxiety and burnout manifest in our lives as well as things we can do to help better manage or avoid experiencing increased anxiety and burnout. Hope you enjoy!
G...2020-01-2456 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 27 - Conversations on Anxiety"Anything that a human being does experience is, by definition, part of what a human being can experience - and therefore 'normal'." ~ Mark Tyrrell
Anxiety is an emotion that we all have but often makes us feel different, abnormal, and very alone. In this episode we start a conversation on anxiety to better understand the emotion, the brain structure and why anxiety is an important emotion, as well as the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.
We will be doing more podcasts on anxiety and would love to hear from you if you...2019-11-0643 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 26 - Success & Perfection"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself." ~ Anna Quindlen
What is success? How do we define it? When do we achieve it and how hard do we push ourselves or avoid it? How does perfection and our fear of judgment, shame, and blame play into how we view success and achievements? In this episode we have a discussion about success, achievements, perfection, and how all of those impact our lives.
Gretchen & Kristy
2019-10-0947 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 25 - Society's Impact on Appearance"Society puts so much emphasis on outer appearance, but being confident in yourself and not letting others' opinions affect you is pretty amazing." ~ Brendan Dooling
In our society today there is a huge impact and influence on all of us in relation to our appearance, health, body, and overall wellness. In this episode we explore some of the societal beliefs that impact all of us as well as addressing how these trigger shame responses in us. We also share ways that you can start to explore your own beliefs and how they differ from those that are pl...2019-09-1236 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 24 - Intuitive Eating & Relationship with Food"We're taught ridiculous strategies for fending off cravings. Everything from eating carrot sticks to tapping on our forehead, but we are never taught skills to competently eat all foods." ~ Rachel Hartley
In this episode we circle back to focus on our relationship with ourselves and how we relate to food. We discuss the 10 principles of intuitive eating as a guide to developing a healthier relationship with food and your body. Intuitive eating means giving your body the nutrients and energy along with the pleasure, satisfaction, and care it needs to thrive and be well day in and day...2019-08-1046 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 23 - Committed Relationships"Good relationships don't just happen. They take time, patience, and two people who truly want to be together."
Healthy relationships will never require you to sacrifice your friends, your dreams, or your dignity. This week on the podcast we explore committed relationships with our guest, Stephen. We discuss the importance of open communication, spending time on your relationship, as well as being honest and working to understand each other.
We hope you enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2019-07-291h 00Conversations to ConnectEpisode 22 - A Conversation with Max Strom"The yoga postures and breath are tools to rebuild and transform ourselves. The goal is not to tie ourselves in knots - we're already tied in knots. The aim is to untie the knots in our heart. The aim is to unite with the ultimate, loving, and peaceful power of the universe." ~ Max Strom
This week we celebrate our 1 year anniversary of the Conversations to Connect podcast with our guest, Max Strom. Max is a teacher, speaker, author, and the creator of Inner Axis. Kristy had the opportunity to chat with Max while she was on a retre...2019-07-0358 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 21 - Dating & Relationships"A good relationship is when someone accepts your past, supports your present, and encourages your future."
This week we welcome our guest, Megan, as she joins us in our ongoing conversation about dating and relationships. In our fear driven culture we feel the need to hide who we are and what we want from others (whether that be from friends, family, or partners) instead of being authentic to ourselves and honest with them. A healthy relationship is one in which love enriches you, not imprisons you.
Gretchen & Kristy
2019-06-2150 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 20 - Dating & You"In a relationship, you need somebody who's gonna call you out, not someone who's gonna let everything slide. You need someone who doesn't want to live without you. But can. Not somebody who is dependent, but somebody who is stronger with you. A relationship is two people, not one."
This week our episode focuses on ourselves while in romantic relationships. Finding a balance between self and others can be difficult but important to cultivate in order to have healthy relationships. We hope you enjoy!
Gretchen and Kristy
2019-05-1559 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 19 - Society & Sense of Self"Our society and institutions are built to push men and women into different roles. We need to change that." ~ Caroline Criado-Perez
The impact that society has on men is vastly different than how it impacts women. In this episode we welcome Joseph Carringer, from Didge Therapy, to talk with us about his experiences as a man in today's society. From a history of abuse and trauma to healing through sound therapy he shares his journey of developing his relationship with himself.
If you would like to check out Joseph's music click on the links below:
2019-05-011h 04Conversations to ConnectEpisode 18 - Society and Self"You don't need to fit into society or reform in order to make an impact. Be you, spread love, raise your vibrations - That's whats important."
The relationship that we have with ourselves is often greatly impacted by society and societal views. This week we discuss how information we receive from family, friends, society, and social media play a role in the relationship that we have with ourselves.
We hope you enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2019-04-1756 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 17 - Body Image & Self Talk"There is nothing wrong with your body, but there is a lot wrong with the messages which try to convince you otherwise." ~ Rae Smith
Accept your body the way it is. You're unique and beautiful. You don't need to be a certain way. Be yourself.
In this episode we welcome our guest, Allison Long, to the podcast. Allison is a pilates instructor, dancer, and dance teacher living and working in the Pittsburgh area. We all struggle with body image and it benefits us to talk about the ways that we struggle, what helps us to be more...2019-04-0358 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 16 - Relationship with Yourself Part 2"Loving yourself starts with liking yourself, which starts with respecting yourself, which starts with thinking of yourself in positive ways."
In this episode we continue our journey into the relationships that we have with ourselves by exploring the expectations we have for ourselves, the comparisons we make with others, and where those come from. We also look at the ideas of self acceptance and self worth, which are an important part to developing a better relationship with yourself.
Enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2019-03-201h 00Conversations to ConnectEpisode 15 - Your relationship with yourself"When you accept yourself, you are freed of the burden of needing others to accept you. Don't allow anyone or anything to control, limit, repress, or discourage you from being your true self."
In this episode of our podcast we dive into the relationship that we have with ourself, our bodies, and how much we get into our own heads when it comes to how we view ourselves. Join us on a journey in finding out who we are now, who we strive to be, where we came from, and what obstacles we have overcome from our pa...2019-03-0655 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 14 - Grief and Loss: Miscarriage"The loss of our child washes over us, ebbs and then returns much like the waves on the shore. Each wave a remembrance. A sorrow. A pain. Reminding us that unlike the waves, they can't return."
In this episode we will be concluding our series on grief and loss by addressing the impact that miscarriage has on women, their partners, and their families. We were lucky to have Desireé join us to share her experience with miscarriage, the struggles she had with the medical community during this process, and how her Mexican culture has helped her to cope.2019-02-2036 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 13 - Grief and Loss: Child/sibling"Nobody hides pain better than a mother who's trying to remain strong for her kids."
This week we were joined by Karen and Sara who talked about their loss and the impact that it has had on them and their family. Karen's son and Sara's brother, Ronnie, passed when he was 15 years old. They discussed changes that they have experienced both as individuals and as a family including redefining themselves after a death of someone at such a young age as well as the impact it continues to have 17 years later.
We hope you enjoy....2019-02-0655 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 12 - Grief and Loss: Birth trauma"Every single birth and birth plan is different and no one should feel ashamed for their feelings if they didn't have the birth they wanted"
Join us for episode 12 where we are continuing our series on grief and loss. In this podcast we address traumatic birth experiences and welcome Heather who shares with us her birth experience. This is a topic that isn't openly addressed with new parents and the effects (if not processed) can be devastating. If you've experienced any type of trauma and would like a safe space to process your experience you can...2019-01-2450 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 11 - Grief & Loss: Infertility"Struggling with infertility is like dealing with the five stages of grief every single month. You deny, bargain, get angry, cry, and accept. Then you pick yourself back up and do it all over again."
Our third installment on grief and loss focuses on infertility and the struggles that come along with this type of loss. This week we were lucky to have Sarah come share her story of infertility and how she has learned to deal with this loss.
We hope you are able to connect and enjoy!
Gretchen and Kristy
2019-01-0950 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 10 - Grief and Loss: Suicide"When we share our stories, what it does is it opens up our hearts for other people to share their stories. And it gives us the sense that we are not alone on this journey."~Janine Shepherd
Continuing our series on grief and loss around the holiday's we are joined by Abby and Marcia Ritter to discuss the effects that suicide has had on their family. They share how their lives and holiday traditions were altered forever following the loss of their father/husband and offer their stories a source of connection to the conversation about suicide.
...2018-12-2638 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 9 - Grief and Loss: Divorce"But grief is a walk alone. Others can be there, and listen, but you will walk alone down your own path, at your own pace, with your own sheared off pain, your raw wounds, your denial, anger, and bitter loss. You'll come to your own peace, hopefully, but it will be on your own, in your own time." ~ Kathy Lamb
Join us for our first in a series on grief and loss where we explore the complexities of grief as well as a selection of the different types of losses that we experience.
The first in...2018-12-1340 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 8 - Handling the Holidays"Go after what it is that creates meaning in your life and trust yourself to handle the stress that follows" ~ Kelly McGonigal
The holidays are a time of year that bring about stress for everyone for lots of different reasons. Whether you are excited, annoyed, grieving, or overwhelmed...all of these things lead to stress and anxiety.
Join us in a conversation about the holiday season and the stress that comes along with it! We hope you enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2018-11-2848 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 7 - Unhelpful Thinking Q&A"Overthinking leads to negative thoughts, which then leads to more negative thoughts about why you are so negative all the time. Let it be. It will be okay. I promise."
In this episode we discuss ways that you can start to combat negative, critical, and unhelpful thinking as well as share questions from our listeners about their struggles with unhelpful thinking.
We hope you enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2018-10-171h 20Conversations to ConnectEpisode 6 - Conversations on Unhelpful Thinking"The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking" ~ Albert Einstein
Unhelpful thinking creates so many issues and struggles for all of us that it is worth talking about over and over. In this episode we invite our guest, Jessica, to chat with us about our own struggles with unhelpful thinking, being self critical, and how comparisons cause us so many problems.
Listen and enjoy!
Gretchen & Kristy
2018-10-0359 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 5 - Unhelpful Thinking Habits"Be the silent watcher of your thoughts and behavior. You are beneath the thinker. You are the stillness beneath the mental noise. You are the love and joy beneath the pain." ~ Eckhart Tolle
Unhelpful thinking habits are within all of us. No one is exempt from thinking negatively about themselves or others. In this episode we invite our guests, Regan and Jenna, to join us in a conversation about unhelpful thinking, how it impacts our lives, and what we can do to make changes to our thinking.
Gretchen & Kristy
2018-09-1945 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 4 - Q&A on Boundaries"Healthy boundaries are not walls. They are the gates and fences that allow you to enjoy the beauty of your own garden" ~ Lydia H. Hall
How do you set healthy boundaries? What do you do if someone refuses to respect your boundaries? Should our boundaries be flexible? How do you deal with your own emotions of guilt when setting boundaries? You asked and we answered!
Check out our 4th episode and last in our series on Health Boundaries! In this episode we talk more about our own struggles with boundaries, how to start building healthy boundar...2018-09-0557 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 3 - Conversations on Boundaries"You do not have to light yourself on fire in order to make others warm."
Join us for episode 3 where we continue to get real about boundaries with our first guest, Katie, who is one of Kristy's long time friends.
We hope that you are enjoying the podcast! If you do, please share it on Instagram, Facebook, and with your friends!
Also, remember to check out our website where you can leave us feedback, ask questions, and make suggestions for future podcasts!!
Gretchen & Kristy
2018-08-2230 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 2 - Boundaries: How do they effect our lives and relationships?"Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others." ~ Brene Brown
Join us for episode two where we will be getting real about healthy boundaries, how they effect our lives and relationships, as well as what you can do to start developing healthier boundaries with yourself and in your relationships.
We hope that you enjoy it and if you do please share it on Instagram, Facebook, and with your friends! Also, remember to go to our website, click on our "Questions?" tab, and choose "connect" to su...2018-08-0835 minConversations to ConnectEpisode 1 - Who are we? Why are we doing a podcast?We are very excited to share with you our first podcast of many to come! In this episode, we share a little about who we are and explore the reasons for why we wanted to start a podcast.
We hope you enjoy it and if you do please share it on Instagram, Facebook, and with your friends! Also, remember to go to our website, click on our "Questions?" tab, and choose "connect" to submit feedback, questions, or ideas for future podcasts! We want to know what interests you and what you want to hear us talk about!
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