About Progress

We celebrated our year anniversary of the podcast a few weeks ago! To commemorate this time, I have a short, unedited, rambling State of the Podcast episode for you. In it, I share some of our stats, which episodes I think more people need to listen to, and where I see the podcast headed. Thank you for your incredible support!!! XO, Monica Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I meet a ton of people who say, ‘Oh I can’t do that, I'm not creative . . .' Maybe they will never find that painting or drawing fulfills them, but they ARE creative in the way that they solve problems, or put things together, or organize . . . We can think about creativity differently in that we are created to create.” For Lisa Funk, lettering (also know as calligraphy) isn't just about creating beautiful text--it's about purposefully living a life she loves. Lisa found that by honing her craft and mastering inspirational messages, she was able to better face her inner mental health battles. Lettering changed Lisa's life! Once she started sharing her gift, she was surprised how people didn't just want to know where they could buy her artwork, they wanted to learn how to do it themselves. That's how Lisa became an accidental businesswoman, and one steeped in the goal in improving lives, one letter at a time. Lisa discusses how creativity is innate in all of us and how learning to work hard to develop our gifts can change us as people. She shares more in depth about how her own struggles with depression and more have taught her the importance of self-care and mindfulness, and that an essential piece of facing our demons is growing our gifts. Finally, Lisa teaches us how we can find our own intentions in life and live them more purposefully. Lisa's new book, The Guide to Mindful Lettering, combines instruction on brush lettering as well as how to approach learning this craft in a mindful, meaningful way. On top of the instruction are 50 affirmations to "trace, ponder, and apply." Lisa's hope is that this book, "can be the creative outlet so many women are looking for and at the same time help them to live an intentional life they love!" You can find The Guide to Mindful Lettering here. Show Notes: Lisa's website, Instagram, and Facebook Lisa's new book, The Guide to Mindful Lettering Last week's interview with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: "Get Over Yourself" Jennifer's website and Holiday DEAL! Jennifer's past interviews with About Progress on perfectionism and goodness (doing things for the right reasons) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Those that are most able to deal with their flaws, are most willing to be seen as human . . . That’s real moral courage, and that’s the kind of courage that sets us free." Have you ever heard the saying, "I am my own worst enemy?" If you've thought or said that about yourself, then this episode is for you. (And if you haven't, then this episode is also for you.) All of us carry the innate tendency to mask our own humanity--our flaws--from those we love, work with, and even ourselves. Doing so actually inhibits our growth, creates tension in our relationships, and leads to inner turmoil. The only way to get over all that is to get over ourselves. Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife teaches us what this tendency looks like in action, and what we can do to fix it by facing our own flaws with compassion and true moral courage. She also helps us see what we get out of doing so: a life filled with challenges, certainly; but also a whole lot more love, fulfillment, and freedom. Show Notes: Jennifer's website and Holiday DEAL! Jennifer's Facebook Jennifer's past interviews with About Progress on perfectionism and goodness (doing things for the right reasons) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"With each thing I tried, every time it failed . . . I failed deeper and the problem got bigger. It got to the point where I no longer felt any control over it. I remember one day thinking, ‘I’m not going to try anymore.’” Julie Taylor was known online for being "real," but only she knew the truth--that she was hiding an addiction, and one especially riddled with shame: food addiction. Julie talks about the transformation she has been through the past few years of identifying herself as someone addicted to food, pursuing help for it, and how in time it made her far more real than she ever had been before. Julie's path unfortunately led her from one form of addiction to another--an obsession with perfection. One particular incident alarmed her husband: After accidentally having a bite of cheese while out to dinner, she sobbed for hours. Julie eventually decided that this other extreme way of living was making her just as unhappy as having no boundaries. The biggest key to Julie's TRUE healing arose as Julie came from a place of healing, rather than a place of punishment; from a place of wanting to change because she loved herself, not hated herself. Julie shares how this lesson can be applied to all of our weaknesses we need to work on, and how doing so will empower us all the better to finally see real results and lasting growth. Show Notes Julie's Instagram and Youtube channel Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I have worth and it isn’t always looking to the external to try to find validation, because that’s an endless competition that you’re never going to win. It doesn’t bring any happiness." Reachel Bagley is not your normal "fashion blogger." Sure, she has a fabulous sense of style--one that you're going to salivate over. But Reachel loves fashion because of what it can do to really transform someone's confidence, to help them feel more empowered to face their lives and their trials. She loves to really teach her clients and her followers what colors, cuts, and fits look best on their bodies, not just show her own polished outfits. (One of her mantras is: it's not that you aren't fitting into your clothes, it's that your clothes aren't fitting YOU.) Reachel knows what it is like to lack confidence, and in a really dark way. Her own sense of pride and love of her body took a beating after years of infertility. She saw her body as something to be punished, not loved, because of the way she saw it hurting her. But 10 years later and after a lot of work, Reachel has earned that love and acceptance of her body because she knows who she really is at her core. She knows that our worth isn't dependent on a size or a number on the scale--it's innate, and it will never change. Listen to learn about how Reachel came about this transformation, what she hopes to inspire in others, how she views fashion as a tool, how she got her start and developed her business into what it is today, and much more. Show Notes: Reachel's website, Instagram, and Facebook Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"By choosing your habits and staying with them, you are scientifically engraining them in your body . . . setting you on a pace that will help you achieve what you want to achieve." What do you get when you create the perfect mix of zen and science? Greg Karelitz, is what. Greg is the founder of the Positive Vibes Only Society (PVOS), a community with a mission to help people better live in the moment, backed up with science. As a touchstone, PVOSers sport a necklace that act as a physical reminder to live positively. Greg developed a fascination with the science behind positivity when he was at a big low: having just undergone a double hip surgery and with it a big life style change that eventually led to him experiencing anxiety attacks. He had his own necklace--the star of David--that helped him recenter during those moments. And perfectly, the hex in that symbol align with the shapes of the chemicals in our bodies that contribute to our happiness--chemicals that Greg was in the trenches of researching himself. This is how he was inspired to create not only the hex-shaped necklace, but the positive-focused society Greg leads today. Hear what Greg says about what he's learned about the science of positivity, how he got through his own dark times, what change he hopes to ignite in the world, how focusing on good habits contributes to our greater happiness, and how we can live in the moment even when we need to also deal with hard things. Greg is definitely an expert in this field, and it shows. Show Notes: Greg's website (new ladies-specific necklaces being offered!), Instagram, and Facebook Referenced interview with Andy Proctor Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You don’t really appreciate time unless you’re looking at a diagnosis like cancer. . . You don’t appreciate the time that you have until you know that there could potentially be an end date.” Danielle Stepp was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma--cancer--as a new mother of a three month old baby girl. Her treatment entailed 12 debilitating rounds of chemotherapy. As Danielle made her way through this very difficult period of her life, she held on to her family, her friends, and what she calls "Prayer Power" to help her arise above the immense hardships. She also used her fighting spirit and treated cancer like a bull, and Danielle "wrestled it to the ground." Now a year cancer free (!), Danielle looks back to see what helped her through this hard chapter, how cancer has changed her, and what she has learned about not taking time for granted. Show Notes: Danielle's blog Compassion that Compells Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think the reason we all suffer is because it makes us stronger—it’s a strength, it’s a gift in a way . . . I could not write the music that I write had I not gone through hard things.” Paul Cardall knows a thing or two about suffering and turning that suffering into a gift. He was born with half a heart and experienced poor health throughout his childhood and well into his adulthood. In 2009, he underwent a full heart transplant that gave him a miraculous new way of living. And yet, it was after his transplant that Paul faced the darkest period of his life: guilt, depression, the ending of his marriage, and more. But Paul used his pain to create masterpieces that helped him rise above, music that has gone on to transform millions of lives across the world. Yes, millions. Listen to this interview to hear about how this is the case for Paul, how and why he started playing the piano as a late-teen, what the creative process is like for him, and how he believes wholeheartedly that our trials can transform our lives for good and make us stronger. Paul believes that his love of forming connections through his music could not have been as fully achieved had it not been for his suffering. He inspires us to rise through our own trials too, and to believe that there is so much goodness on the other side. If you like the show, please share, subscribe, and leave reviews!! Show Notes: Paul's Website, Instagram, and Facebook Paul's Music Paul's Production Company, Stone Angel Music Song Played: "Gracie's Theme" Paul and Tina's Interview on the LifeBeats Project! Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Instagram and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I’m not a professional athlete. I don’t do this to win money and races. I do this to enhance my life and it brings me joy, along with my family . . . As long as I'm putting them first and taking care of them, everything else usually falls into place.” Heather Jenson says this to describe how she views her "little" hobby as a triathlete. This sport can suck people into perfectionism, obsession, and the comparison trap. But Heather has learned how to resist the negative side of her passion and embrace it for the goodness it brings to her life and to her family. Heather shares how her love of racing (she started as a swimmer!) increased after dealing with a terrible bout of postpartum depression, that having big and then bigger goals to aspire to helped her regain what she thought she had lost within herself. She is so honest about how hard training can be, but how breaking up a huge goal into small pieces has helped her achieve big dreams. A favorite example she shared: Her first half-marathon was 10 years ago at 24 years ago and her time was 2:14. He latest half time was 1:36. And yet, Heather is insistent that running is her hardest sport and what incredible lengths she has gone to to improve. She is also just as insistent that if she can become an Ironman, so can you. So even if it's not you seeking to race in Kona like her, Heather inspires us to reach within ourselves, find some passions, and let them guide us to becoming better people inside and out. Heather will have an entire episode devoted to her on the show, "Quest for Kona" on @NBCsports next Wednesday, 10/25. Check your local listings for times! Here's some more information on the show: here and here. Show Notes: Heather's website and Instagram Last week's episode with Ganel-Lyn Condie My interview on The Luckiest Mom Podcast (click on Episode 151!) Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Insta feed and website Related: Monica's views on Sponsorship and WHY she's partnering with Monat Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) (Affiliate link) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Some of the most challenging, heart-wrenching times of my life have in some ways become the greatest blessings . . . They were the pathways to learning.” The list of "life lessons" (aka: trials, obstacles, traumas, etc.) that Ganel-Lyn Condie has been through is astounding. And yet this woman walks with a bounce and speaks with a light that is absolutely contagious. Ganel-Lyn shares deeply about how surrendering to these lessons, giving up on perfection, and turning to a higher power have in turn strengthened her to better deal with what life has put in front of her. As an author and speaker, Ganel-Lyn doesn't shy away from hard topics as she's faced it all: parents divorcing, chronic illness, infertility, job loss, perfectionism, and the tragic passing of her sister, Meggan, through suicide. It's not that Ganel-Lyn doesn't have her hard days; it's not that she's eager to face another big trial; and it's definitely not that she knows the answers while in the middle of the darkness. But it IS a choice that she's developed to give in--but not give up!--learn what trials have to teach her, and in turn find greater empowerment to not only create a happier life for herself and her family, but for the world. Show Notes: Ganel-Lyn's Website, Instagram, Facebook, and BOOKS! Monat Natural, Anti-Aging Hair Care: Contact Monica to learn more, OR research via her Monat Insta feed and website Fabletics! Get 2 leggings for $24 when you become a VIP member (they're the besssssst!) Q&A Episode + Interview with Janssen Bradshaw Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Tonight" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've made it to 50 podcast episodes. Woohoo!! I am so thrilled about this, and grateful for those of you who have been with me from the beginning and just as grateful for the rest of you are are new to my podcast. You were kind enough to send in questions for this particular episode: things that you wanted to know about me, the podcast, my parenting, eating, children, where I live (and why), and more. This episode was super fun to record because I did it with my sister-in-law, Emily. But it's painful for me to listen to because it's seriously a huge exercise in obsessing over myself. Also, it went much longer than I had anticipated. If this is just as painful for you, I get it! We'll be back to our regular programming next Wednesday. Otherwise, I'd love to hear about some of YOUR answers to these same questions. Let's connect more! You can comment here or on my Instagram and Facebook, @aboutprogress. Thanks so much for your support! Show Notes: People I recommended you follow: The Listening Ear Projects, Talk Wordy to Me, Thriving Motherhood, and Julie In Real Life SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Fear is not a good reason to not do something. What is the worst that could happen? . . . If I can live with that worst case scenario, then I’m going to do it and stop worrying about failure." Janssen Bradshaw of Everyday Reading didn't think she was "creative" or "entrepreneurial." And yet, those two words completely encapsulate who she is now as the producer of a successful blog and a co-creator (alongside her husband) of a brand new business--children's rain boots! Janssen shares how starting one thing propelled her into another, and how even the failures she faced led to more opportunities anyway. Refusing to live based off of "what ifs" and fears has led to a series of Janssen trying new things bit by bit, and doing so has trickled down into all areas of her life. Janssen has learned that you can't just let life pass you by and not try things out of fear of failure or how hard it might be; because time passes anyway, and you'll only be left with regret and "what ifs." Janssen talks about what it is really like to be a successful blogger, how she is able to stay authentic and resist posting only for , why reading matters for her and her family, and her essential--and SIMPLE--was she survives the everyday chaos of raising a family and a business. Show Notes: Janssen's Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook London Little rain boots(!!!): Website and Instagram Janssen's FREE course on raising little readers Last week's podcasts with Ralphie from Simply on Purpose and Food: How to Use It, Not Abuse It, Part Two SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise! I have a bonus episode for you this week, and it's Part Two of my series on Food: How to Use it, Not Abuse it. Cultivating a healthy relationship with food has been a huge part of the work I've done for myself the past 11 years. I'm still focusing on it every day, but I see the improvements I have made that have made it all well worth it. I hope to inspire that in others, too! Part One is here, and there we spent a lot of time talking about what it LOOKS like to have a poor relationship with food and what you can begin to do about it. This episode--Part Two--involves more discussion on specific methods, both of which incorporate embracing a the "grey," ridding ourselves of black-and-white thinking, and moving towards natural moderation with how we view and eat food. The primary focus overall is Intuitive Eating, which is my very favorite eating philosophy. You can find the book here, and I'd definitely start with that; but I do recommend a coach if you are in the throes of trying to figure this out. I can recommend Elizabeth Dall and Stephanie Webb, both of whom are experts on this topic. Elizabeth is the primary Intuitive Eating expert for this episode, but Stephanie was the main expert for the last episode on this topic. (See their contact information below.) The second method is "Flexible Dieting," or also known as counting macros. Amber Brueseke is our expert on this, because not only does she know her stuff, but her whole goal is to move her clients towards Intuitive Eating. In essence, she wants to work herself out of a job. I know you'll enjoy this candid, helpful episode. Please let me know what you got out of it, and share it with those who you feel will benefit from it. Show Notes: Part ONE here Elizabeth's Instagram, Facebook, and website Amber's Instagram, Facebook, and website Past interview with AMBER Stephanie's Instagram and Website Intuitive Eating book (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"What it means “to grow” is to practice something—one thing really deliberately—and do it over and over again. And then when you make a mistake, you look back and you close that loop really quickly by recognizing what went well and what didn’t go well, and then you practice it again." Ralphie Jacobs admits that she was born with an innate love for children and a natural gift of caring for them. But even she was surprised as a young mom by how her well-informed, highly educated patience could "vanish." Recognizing this capacity in herself, Ralphie decided to deliberately change how she was parenting, to grow her skill set as a mother just as she would with any other talent, skill, or expertise that requires growth and practice. Now, Ralphie is a parenting expert who passes on the incredible (and I'd say LIFE-CHANGING) things she has learned over the years about how to grow purposefully within your job as a parent. And she makes it clear: the answers are actually quite simple. Ralphie shares how she became a parenting expert, what it looks like to use the growth mindset as a parent, how to increase your knowledge of what's out there BUT also rely on your instinct, how to reinforce good behavior in your children as a way to rid them of the "junk behavior," and what is the number one thing she wants every parent to know. For your use, here are the four main jobs we have as a parent that I took away from my discussion with Ralphie: 1) Teaching 2) Modeling Happiness 3) Being Purposeful Through Reflection and Redirection 4) Looking for the Good in Your Children Show Notes: Ralphie's Instagram, Facebook, and Resources Books Recommended: No Drama Discipline, Simplicity Parenting, Boundaries, Parenting with Love and Logic Referenced podcast interview with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife Last week's episode with the founders of BRAVERY MAGAZINE SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Ralphie has a special message for you parents who are reallllly in the trenches with parenting, for one reason or another. You will leave this podcast armed with tools--yes--but, even better, with hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Bravery is being scared, it’s being afraid; but doing it anyway . . . It’s OK to be afraid of something, but own those feelings and rise above.” You think if you were the masterminds behind a magazine with "Bravery" in the title, that you would be a very courageous person. Not so for these ladies. Elyse Beard and Ashley Aikele both profess that they have let fear hold them back for far too long. But when they had the idea to create a publication that inspires courage in children by sharing stories of brave women, they knew they had to be their own kind of brave. To build something so monumental from nothing entailed a lot of letting go alongside a whole lot of work. Elyse and Ashley talk about how they practiced "fake it 'til you make it," used their different talents, and in the end created something from nothing. Their dream is that ultimately this publication is far more than a magazine; it's a movement. Elyse and Ashley share how a huge part of being your own kind of brave is figuring out what your "thing" is, and how even the process alone can demand a special kind of courage. Ashley shares how perfectionism prevented her from following through with many ideas in the past; Elyse talks about how she couldn't figure out what talents she had to offer to the world and how unfulfilled she felt because of that struggle. But these women have risen above their own fears, and shown us that if we dare to believe in ourselves, try new things, and even risk failure, we can create something life-changing. And both of them feel that change within their own lives. Show Notes: Bravery Magazine's Kickstarter (where you can order the first printing!), Instagram, and Facebook (website coming soon) Last week's episode with Nicole Kalkowski SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You have unique experiences with each one of your children. I think that working to cultivate happiness in your home, even though you could be going through hard things . . . really pays off. What you think about transcends, and it impacts your everyday life.” Nicole Kalkowski has had to fight for her son throughout his entire life. From a toddler diagnosed with regressive autism then immediately after with a myriad of diseases, including mitochondria and epilepsy, Nicole has relied on her intuition and resilience to get doctors to hear her and to help her son. She has literally kept him alive. Redbook Magazine covered the Kalkowski family for an entire year, documenting what it was like to have a then-three-year old son with autism. (A beautiful picture from the feature is below, with article links in the show notes.) Nicole later became an advocate and got amazing legislation passed that will ensure other parents don't have to face the darkness helplessly, as her family had. Ryan (now almost a teen!) requires round-the-clock care. Nicole, with her husband and three other children, have adopted the phrase "Roll with it!" when life presents new challenges or interruptions to each day. That decision to let go is repeated often in Nicole's story, as she learned to rely on others, on God, and to search for happiness wherever possible. And Nicole sees it everywhere. You'll be inspired by this mother's resilience, how she knows who Ryan is at his core, and how she can say she is now grateful for the dark times she and her family have faced. Show Notes: Redbook articles on Kalkowski family: here, here, here, and here Last week's interview with Briana Johnson SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s so easy to let the fear take over and have your vision crumble, because you want it to work so much and you need it to work so much . . . [But] you need to stay connected to yourself, you need to stay connected to your vision, you need to stay connected to your higher power.” Briana Johnson is the genius behind the powerful podcast The LifeBeats Project. Her path to creating this successful community has been full of mountains of stress, self-doubt, and fear. Such is the way of going after dreams! But Briana assures us that is is alllll worth it because of who we become in the process. In this interview, Briana shares how creativity has been such a huge part of her life and how podcasting has become an important part of who she is and where she sees herself heading. In facing incredible trials with her husband's debilitating battle with aggressive M.S., Briana has been through a difficult transformation of her own. She shares how owning her story--while she fought it for some time--has enabled her to better accept the illumination of who she wants and needs to be. Briana is passionate about helping others find and own their story. She has a unique way of connecting with people, and she uses that gift to promote so much self-love and empowerment in others. Briana's wisdom helps us discover what we can do to better grow into who we are meant to be. If you like the show, please subscribe!! Show Notes: Briana's website, Instagram, and Facebook Briana's new 14 day course (use code "ABOUTPROGRESS" to get $26 off!!) Monica's interview on The LifeBeats Project SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The way that we relate to food is a manifestation of the way we are showing up or engaging in our life.” Ain’t that the truth, friends? This bit of wisdom came from one of the experts featured on today’s podcast—Stephanie Webb. Alongside Elizabeth Dall, we talk about the COMPLICATED relationship all of us often experience with food and what can be done about it. You might call it “emotional eating,” it could be “mindless eating,” under- or over-eating, numbing through food, eating disorders, or just plain obsession over what you will eat and when. No matter how you crack it, these are some of the various ways we can abuse food and it abuse us right back. If you want to know what this looks like, how you can begin fixing it, and why it’s worth doing so, check out today’s episode. If you like the show, please subscribe!! Show Notes: Stephanie's website and Instagram Elizabeth's website and Instagram Last week's episode with Lizzy Jensen Referenced Podcasts with more on Monica's battle with eating disorders: Here, Here (with Extraordinary Moms Podcast!), and Here (with The LifeBeats Project!) SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think if you continue to ask and seek . . . and then act on those things you’re feeling, life gets better and better. I think that’s how it’s supposed to be if you keep living outside of your comfort zone and pursuing those ideas, and thoughts, and feelings.” We all know that life takes us on many twists and turns. Lizzy Jensen's life is no different as her own has led her so many different directions than she had envisioned. So often, she thought she was supposed to pursue something for a certain "why," only to have the end-product of her work not match what she had first thought or even wanted. But for Lizzy, she now has the perspective that those twists and turns were each undeniably the "why" behind the beauty and purpose that has come of her own life's mission. Lizzy is passionate about helping others recognize what their own unexpected life paths have to offer them. Her latest purpose is to help people--women, especially--learn what gifts they have to offer the world and how they can then accomplish their own unique mission in life. Listen in to discover how to do just that, and learn so much more from Lizzy about the value of work, how to gain perspective when things don't go our way, her key to making goals, some truth-slams about parenthood, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I do think you have to choose happiness, because it’s YOUR life. You are in control of your own personal happiness. I could lay in bed sick and angry, or I could choose to laugh . . . and make a happy life. I don’t find that it is any more difficult than it was before. My problems have just changed.” Christopher Clark told me a story about another friend of his that was also diagnosed with ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's disease. When this friend's doctor told him of his diagnosis, in almost the same breath the doctor made a plea that he would not take his own life. For many, receiving word that they have this untreatable, incurable, gradually debilitating disease is a death-sentence. For Clark, there was grieving to be sure; but there was also a determination to rise above the temptation to languish in his pain and despair, and instead to live the rest of his now-shortened life with a good amount of grace, and even more of humor. Chris's choice to find happiness in spite it all is evident throughout this interview, which is surprisingly entertaining given the topic of our discussion. We first explore his love of acting and directing and how he eventually pursued it as his profession. He is now a professor and head of the theatre department at Utah Valley University, on top of being a well-known actor and director. We talk about the huge transitions he and his family has faced the past year plus since his diagnosis, what physical symptoms he deals with daily, what he is the saddest about losing to his disease, what he has learned about himself through it all, and how he still finds the will to continue progressing in his personal and professional life in spite of it all. Show Notes: Christopher's Instagram Last week's episode with Emily Nelson SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Come and give your all. Don’t say, ‘I want to look this way or I want to be this way,’ but, ‘I want to become the best version of myself.’” Emily Nelson is one of the most high-energy women I've ever "met." And she puts that energy to good use as the co-creator and co-founder of HIGH Fitness, a workout that is taking North America by storm only 2 1/2 years from its conception. In today's interview, Emily talks about how her growing up years inspired her to have a strong work ethic, what she did to get past her initial shyness, and the path she took after college that eventually led to creating a new fitness brand with her friend and business partner, Amber Zenith. Emily is passionate about their vision: to not just create a class, but a fitness community that inspires men and women to move past focusing on the exterior, and instead on becoming the best versions of themselves. There is a reason why participants tell Emily every single day that her classes are changing their lives. You'll also love hearing about what Emily thinks is the hardest challenge behind trying to balance life as an entrepreneur and a mother, why she and Amber are committed to not filling their feeds with sexy photos to increase their business, and how they have combatted the nay-sayers by staying true to their mission to inspire each person who is apart of the High Fitness community to live their best life. Show Notes Emily's Instagram, and Amber's (her co-founder) Instagram High Fitness Instagram, Facebook, and website Last week's episode with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife SURVEY!!!! (It takes less than a minute to fill out--thank you!) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Many of us resist developing ourselves into our own unique expressions of Godliness, of humanity, because we fear the exposure, and the risk, and the potential invalidation that comes through doing that . . . If that is the only paradigm we operate in, we limit our ability to really develop into beings capable of offering goodness in the world, and creating a better world through our own capacity." What is "goodness?" How do we develop it when faced with real and imagined pressures? Today, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife answers these questions by fleshing out the term "goodness" that often comes up in her teachings. Jennifer teaches us how to discover what it is we truly want and feel we "should" do with our lives and then how to better own our choices, especially when we are often only faced with difficult ones. Jennifer also offers how to live up to the core desires we have, more fully cultivate our gifts, and how to in turn better tolerate the internal and external push-back we might experience as we develop true goodness within ourselves and our lives. Like her past episode on About Progress, this interview is one worth listening to several times to fully glean Jennifer's wisdom. There are many ways to apply this discussion to parenthood, marriage, "control freaks," "victims," and those who live their lives based on others' approval. More on Jennifer: Jennifer Finlayson-Fife grew up in Burlington, Vermont as one of eight children. She studied Psychology and Women's Studies at Brigham Young University, and went on to receive her Masters and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She has a private practice in Chicago, IL where she works primarily with LDS couples on relational and sexual issues. She is a frequent guest on LDS-themed podcasts, and has written articles for LDS-themed magazines and blogs on the subjects of sexuality and modesty as well as mental health and faith. She is married to John Finlayson-Fife and has three wonderful children. Show Notes: Jennifer's website and upcoming workshops Video she recommended, "How to know you life's purpose in 5 minutes" Jennifer's past interview on perfectionism SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the amazing benefits of exercise: mental acuity, emotional release, increased strength, more consistent metabolism, confidence, and on and on. But we don't often talk about the effects of abusing exercise, a trap we can all so subtly fall into. This can happen through both over- and under-use, although much of this episode it devoted to abuse through too much (or too intense, too often) exercising. Alongside my two expert guests--Meg Miles and Rachel Gainer--we discuss it all. How fitness is a powerful tool for good and so essential to our well-being; but also how abusing it can negatively alter our lives and become all-consuming. Learn through our discussion how to properly make exercise an important part of your life without letting it control you. In this episode, there is a wealth of science, personal stories, and loads of take-aways. Our goal? To empower the listeners to view their bodies--and fitness--with love and "healthy enthusiasm." Show Notes: Meg Miles's website, blog, and Instagram Past podcast interview with Meg Rachel Gainer's website and Instagram Past podcast interview with Rachel Articles on effects of overexercising on metabolism: here and here SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The preparation will meet your opportunity, and that is when you can have success. So, you need to work really hard and be ready for when you get that chance, because you never know when it’s going to come." Camille Andros is a woman of many interests including science, writing, and children (she has 6 of her own). For many years, she found herself focusing on one thing and then the other, all of which she loved and found fulfilling. But eventually, she found herself combining her passions into writing children's literature. She wants children to believe that they are smart and they can love science too, and her stories inspire just that and then some! Camille talks about her path towards getting published, how she believes in "a time and a season," the great importance for everyone to have hobbies and dreams, and the remarkable path her life has taken, one small step at a time! Oh, and you'll love Camille's view of how rejection can be a good sign that you're on the right path and how she has learned that slowing down actually helps her work. Show Notes: Camille's website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and BOOK! SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It starts with who you are. Then what you do comes so naturally, and so beautifully, that that is respected because you were who you are first.” There is a reason Jeni Awerkamp's mom called her "Jeni Joy" growing up. This woman radiates light and positivity! Jeni makes this choice every day, and the biggest key to her finding that joy is to focus on who she IS first, not her "successes." This is a lesson Jeni learned after selling her interest in her rising business and instead focusing on motherhood. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit whose mind is always thinking about the next thing and a big thirst for creating; but she discovered that for her, she needed to invest her self-worth in who she was at the core and to not place her esteem on things, people, or achievements. Jeni also shares the importance of filling our buckets, how she creates and pursues goals, and how much happier she has been once she's chosen to let her hair down and embrace the "yellow" side of her personality. If you like the show, please subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!! Show Notes: Jeni's blog (it's fantastic!) and Instagram Monica's INTERVIEW with Briana from The LifeBeats Project (she's amazing!) SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcast episodes from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s too easy to give in to the thought that ‘Well, this terrible thing happened to me . . .’ But at the end of the day, you write your own story . . . Your life is what YOU create. And I wanted to create something awesome.” Cara Baldwin had been a lifelong "overachiever." But at 30 years old, she found herself moving back in with her parents, filing for divorce with four very young children (the youngest being 6 weeks old), and wondering how she could face the humiliation of being this version of herself she never wanted to be. Beginning with a solo two-and-a-half week camping adventure with all four kids (aka "The Magic Five"), Cara picked up the pieces of her family, plucked up her courage, asked for help, and attended law school so she could support her children. Cara credits her kids, her family, her friends, her community, her faith, and her grit in rebuilding her life and rediscovering the woman she once was: one who believed in herself. Show Notes: Monica's INTERVIEW with Briana from The LifeBeats Project (she's amazing!) Last week's episode SURVEY! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." ~Winston Churchill We have all been there: you bust your behind trying to reach a goal, you have high hopes, but then you get dismal-at-best results. It's hard to not take it personally. I've been there recently and I found myself really questioning why I've been spending all this time doing something that is meeting seemingly lackluster fruit. But then I reminded myself, "Sometimes you don't make the cut." That's life. Every person who has ever amounted to anything, whether it's in the walls of their own homes or in grand corporations, have faced failures big and small. They have faced those moments where they wonder why the heck they're doing what they're doing and evaluate if it's worth the time, sweat, and tears. For me, I've decided to tailor back in some areas (the limited writing on my blog will now be non-existent for a time) and to redefine what "success" looks like for me. In today's podcast, I talk about admirable figures in our times who have didn't make the cut, what they did to overcome it, and what we can individually do when we face similar times. Show Notes: Articles referenced: Here and Here Stephanie's Website, Instagram, and Facebook Podcast Episode with Mark Lukach Monica's interview for the Extraordinary Moms Podcast SURVEY!!!! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We didn’t recognize each other, or ourselves. How do you reconcile this? How do you go and redefine how we work together if who we are has taken some pretty fundamental changes?” Mark and Giulia fell in love at 18 years old and launched into what looked like would be a lifetime of happiness. Unexpectedly, three years into their marriage, their fairy tale fell apart as Giulia encountered struggles with her mental health that neither of them fully understood or knew how to deal with. But this isn't just a story about mental illness; it's a story about how a family chose to navigate a crisis and rebuild their lives based on love, not tragedy. Mark talks about what led to Giulia's first bout with psychosis and her eventual diagnosis with bipolar disorder. He shares how as a result they switched roles within their relationship, what it was like for Mark to battle his own depression just as Giulia started to get better, and how they learned to anchor into their new lives both together and individually. Both Mark and Giulia hope their son learns from their choice to focus on on love over fear and that life is beautiful, especially when they hold on to each other. About Mark: Mark Lukach is a teacher and freelance writer. He is the author of a memoir My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward. His work has been published in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Pacific Standard, Wired, and other publications. He is currently the Ninth Grade Dean at The Athenian School, where he also teaches history. He lives with his wife, Giulia, and their son in the San Francisco Bay area. Show Notes: Mark's website, Instagram, and where to find his book Monica's interview for the Extraordinary Moms Podcast SURVEY!!!! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Depression loves darkness . . . the only way to fight depression is to bring it into the light.” I'm sure you read that article "Marriage Isn't For You" that circulated the internet a few years ago. How am I so sure? Because everyone read it, as in 100 million strong all over the world. Seth Adam Smith is the author of that article, as well as four popular books (including his latest work of fiction!). Seth talks about what it was like to have a VIRAL article and the three years-long mind trip it sent him on as he tried to live up to the internal and external pressure to keep writing pieces to resonate with millions. Seth is much more than "the marriage guy" his article pegged him to be. He's been writing for as long as he can remember. One of the common themes he writes about is depression, and he's been doing that long before it was the cool thing to do. Seth has struggled with chronic depression since he was in third grade, and at his lowest low as a 20 year old, he attempted to commit suicide. What has risen from his broken soul is completely transformative. Seth has shifted his intense struggles to instead act as a force for good--or a "light in the wilderness," as he calls it--one that he holds high and proud, calling others to learn that life is worth living, and it is worth living well. You won't want to miss what Seth says about how we all should want to be "broken," and how he blew my mind with his thoughts on perfectionism. Please share this episode with anyone who you think can benefit. (Hint: it's all of us!) Show Notes: Seth's Website, Blog, Instagram, and YouTube Channel Seth's books: Here, Here, Here, and Here. Monica's interview for the Extraordinary Moms Podcast SURVEY!!!! Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"God didn’t take it away, but I have felt so many times that he has sent living angels to help me through, time and time again." Lauren Agostinelli-Gessel has been through more in her young life than most do in an entire lifetime. One week after getting married, she moved to Italy for months to receive a stem cell transplant and five rounds of chemotherapy. This was a drastic measure to help with her vicious form of Multiple Sclerosis. Lauren shares what led up to her diagnosis at 27 years old as a single mother of a two year old, how her fear of dying led to a marriage that wasn't right, what it was like divorcing with a little baby and a little boy while battling a debilitating disease, and how she found love again and married shortly before embarking on her intensive treatment in a foreign country. M.S. is different for everyone. Lauren talks openly about the physical side effects of her disease and how the hardest effects have been the mental and emotional. And yet, Lauren looks for the blessings in spite of the very hard challenges life has dealt with her; she most often finds these blessings in those around her, her earthly angels. You will not only learn so much, including how being dealt with hard life changes doesn't have to be the end of a happy life--you can look for the good and fight for your happiness. Show Notes: Lauren's email: MSIsNotTheEnd {at} gmail {dot} com Lauren's blog, Instagram, and YouTube videos on her: here, here, here, and here Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"There are things you can do to rewire your brain. It’s not going to be fun, it’s not going to be easy. But can you choose to do them? Yes. And will they make your life better even in the midst of depression? Absolutely." Andy is a "happiness nerd" who loves to share what he's studied and put into practice. His specialty is positive psychology, which researches the science of happy people and ways we can apply what they do and how they think. In the first half of our interview, Andy shares some of his favorite things he's learned about positive psychology and ways we can apply these lessons in our own lives. In the second half, Andy shares how his research has impacted his personal life through very difficult times where he needed all the tools he could get; those times included: divorce, remarriage, his wife's traumatic bouts with mental illness, and the following unraveling of the foundations of their lives, including the development of a Andy's panic disorder. Andy is a relatable friend and teacher, and he inspires hope for all those who will hear him out, that we are all capable of more happiness in our lives, even in the midst of inner turmoil. Show Notes: Andy's Website (where you can learn more about his classes and read his fantastic blog) Andy's Instagram Andy's Youtube channel Andy's book Referenced theories and books (some affiliate links): Broaden and Build Theory Flourish Learned Optimism Social Meditation site When Panic Attacks Via Strengths Survey The How of Happiness Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) More Podcasts from About Progress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"If you bring forth what is within you, what is within you will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." ~Gospel of Thomas I heard this quote a few weekends ago from Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's workshop I attended. I had already been working on this podcast and it gave me the lightbulb moment that I so love. (Sidenote: each special podcast that I create, inspiration for that very theme is suddenly all around me. It's pretty nuts!) If you deny what is within you--your hopes, your dreams, your gifts, your capabilities, even your self-love--you're going to lose yourself. Ain't that the truth? For me, in order to find those things and dare to reach for them, I've had to use the mantra, "Fake It 'Till You Make It." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Something I’ve really internalized is that it’s never to late to create the kind of life that you want, or to uncreate the life you’re not cool with . . . It’s never too late to enjoy your life, it’s never to late to feel like you have more control over something, even if it’s just as simple as changing the way you think about it." By the age of 19, Celeste had already abandoned her modeling career and experienced the ending her first marriage. After these low-lows, Celeste decided that instead of wallowing in her sorrows, she wanted to pick up her life, own her struggles, and move onward and upward. And she did just that. Celeste shares how owning her struggles helped her find the strength to forgive her ex AND herself through grace, and move forward to finding a new man who helped her learn to trust again. This strength also pushed her through the hard times her life still brought, including her husband's battles with mental health and her own fight with postpartum depression. Celeste's surprise cure to her depression? She joined a beauty pageant. (No one was more shocked about this move than herself!) You'll love hearing about how the pageant helped her regain her confidence, changed the way she viewed herself, and formed lifelong friendships, but it also taught her the great importance of finding something that was just for her and that provided that self-care she learned was necessary to being the woman she wants to be. You'll also love to hear how Celeste found natural childbirth helped empower her, what helped her get through two back-to-back miscarriages, what she does for self-care, and the power of good girlfriends. Show Notes: Celeste's Instagram Podcast Episode with Matt Davis (Celeste's husband) Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Do Something Highlight: Shan'tel's Article and Blog More on Do Something Past Podcast mentioned with Matt Davis More Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Realizing that I am in control of the life I want to live, really allowed me to be the happiest I can be because I’m doing the things that I truly LOVE in life.” Jessica Dahlquist is the brains behind the Extraordinary Moms Podcast (which I can't recommend enough), but this is her first time being on the other side of the interview. She does not disappoint! Jessica talks about how her own transition to motherhood manifested an internal voice she didn't like, one riddled with anxiety and self-criticism. With a lot of work, she learned the power of altering her expectations on herself and letting go of what others think. Once she shifted the internal narrative behind her work as a mother and beyond, it changed everything and led to a greater happiness. Whether or not you are a parent, Jessica teaches that once you've shifted your mentality to "I should . . ." to "I choose . . . " your life might look the same, but it will feel completely different. If you like the show, please subscribe!! Show Notes: Jessica's Podcast, Facebook, and Instagram Free Audiobook through Audible! (Affiliate link) Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Do Something Highlight: Shan'tel's Article and Blog More on Do Something Past Podcast mentioned with Matt Davis More Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kayti Oldham is your best gal who always manages to bring the fun, willingly shares all her makeup knowledge, and makes you feel like a million bucks. But Kayti's gifts don't start and end with her makeup artistry. In today's podcast, we learn more about her past with the performing arts, how she learned from a young age to follow her passions, and how putting on red lipstick not only helped her through terrible post part depression, but inspired her passion for make up that led her to mission today. And that mission? To inspire women to love the face, body, soul they were gifted, encapsulated in Kayti's urging, "Be YOU!" Kayti shares all this, and more including how her opinion can't be bought, what she has learned from her struggles with acne, how coming from a broken home inspired the tradition of laughter in her own, and so much more. Show Notes: Kayti's Blog, Consultations, and Instagram Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica Lisa's Podcast Episode More Podcasts More on Do Something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you want your loved ones to remember you? Your face illuminated by the light of a screen? Of course not. None of us do. But we are ALL guilty of letting our devices distract us from what is most important. If you've struggled from time to time with balancing your technology use, if you often feel sad, jealous, lonely, or apathetic, and if your devices are acting more as a task master than a tool, then it's time to refocus. In today's podcast, two guests (Kim Christenson and Jamie Cook) and I share how to recognize when your technology use is out of control, and how to turn it back into a tool for good. Show Notes: Kim Christenson's referenced blogpost and Instagram Jamie Cook's Instagram Meg Mile's Instagram and past About Progress Podcast interview Irresistible Podcast on Fresh Air Irresistible Book Simon Sinek's interview on Millennial and Internet Addiction Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think that it’s so important to make that effort to try and not to worry so much about the result . . . The real satisfaction comes in the effort, not the outcome.” You know my "Do Something" campaign, where I encourage people to try things that scare them? That is Amy Nash's entire life story. This woman has done so many incredible things that required courage and testing her limits: she has traveled around the world (including with kids!), graduated from law school, worked at a big firm, learned photography, and started a blog that will make you drool. She's also had to deal with five failed adoptions among other though times that taught her to rely on her connections--family and friends--and power through with her optimism in tact. Amy's sense of adventure has acted as the foundation for her life--and the foundation of her family--while her go-getter attitude has been coupled with a conscientious choice that what matters more than the destination is the path that got you there. Show Notes: Amy's blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest Monica's Facebook and Instagram Contact Monica More Podcasts More on Do Something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“When new clients come in, my job is to see them and to let them know, 'You are seen. I recognize that you have a name. I see that you are hungry, and I will feed you. I see that your clothes are dirty and you are essentially naked, and my job is to clothe you. I see that you are heartbroken . . . and my job is to be present with you. My job is to hear your story and hold your hand.'” My friend Juliana is a softy, but she has a really hard job: she works with the homeless. Juliana has always been drawn to helping the underserved and the underprivileged: from the elderly, to refugees, to battered women, to the clients she now serves who don't have a home to call their own. With any one who is suffering and in need of help, Juliana teaches us that the most important thing is to be present with them, to connect with them on a human level. She also teaches what she learned from personal experience, that as we help other we actually help ourselves. Juliana shares what brought her to social services, how she resisted her call to this work, what are some common misconceptions of the homeless population, and what she does to empower her clients and herself so she can better serve them. She also talks about how service helped her through a profound loss in her family, and how it has changed her. You'll also love to hear how Juliana thinks discomfort is a good thing, how we need to celebrate the good news just as much as the bad, and how the sassy side to her personality has served her well and complimented her softy side. Show Notes: Monica's Facebook and Instagram profiles Contact Monica More Podcasts More on Do Something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I had to find a new way. And I had to stop believing that I could do it all by myself, that I could get through everything on my own." Rachel Gainer was a lifelong perfectionist, until her world fell apart. She struggled through infertility, she let "getting healthy" go too far, she was overworked and not taking care of herself, and then she and her husband suffered two devastating losses in a row: a failed adoption and then the death of their baby girl. After adopting three more children, Rachel decided she needed to rebuild her life, and for her that meant surrendering control, getting rid of shame, and learning to love herself. Rachel shares about how harshly she viewed herself for so many years, what her true motives were behind striving to be perfect, what she learned from the lowest lows a parent can experience, how her daughter's death pushed her to rethink the way she viewed herself and her body, and how it's taken her six years of hard work to begin to see herself becoming the woman she wanted to be. You'll love what lessons this woman has to share with you, and her great bravery in her willingness to share her struggles and her weaknesses. Show Notes: Rachel's website and Instagram Monica's Facebook and Instagram profiles Contact Monica More Podcasts More on Do Something Do Something Highlight: Kelly Andrew's blogpost Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The past year, I feel as though I have gone through a metamorphosis. The underlying factor? Goals! I've been an OCD planner and extremely goal-oriented; and I've also gone years without making them. Fear drove both of those phases for me. I've learned better how to use goals without them using me. In today's podcast, I speak about the power of goals, some stories of progress with my goals this year, and THREE TIPS on how to make your goals work for YOU, rather than the other way around. This is an informal podcast, and you even get lots of sound effects from my 20 month old who was munching way on crackers, drawing (loudly, somehow), and playing with trains. I hope you enjoy it! Show Notes More on Do Something Monica's Live List for 2017 and 30 Before 30 Monica's posts on swimming: here and here Monica's other posts on goals: here, here, here, and here The planner referenced Podcast with Heather Fujikawa, mentioned Podcast with Meg Miles, mentioned Another goal-centered podcast with Jaimee Davis More Podcasts Monica's Facebook and Instagram profiles Contact Monica Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"This isn't something you chose. This is a disease your body has." Kyle is a physician in Utah who is very open about his long history with anxiety and depression. These bouts started as a teen and came and went with intensity throughout his 14 year marriage to Becki, who has also dealt with circumstantial depression while they were in the stressful years of medical school. Kyle speaks from both a doctor and patient's point of view, having the physiological know-how about what is happening with the brain when someone is under the grasps of depression/anxiety; but he also has intimate knowledge with what it feels like to be on the other side of the stethoscope. He does his best to empower both his patients who struggle with mental illness, but also with his fellow physicians, who carry even greater stigmas as a result of them trying to live up to their "superman" role. Kyle and Becki both share how depression/anxiety can be so interwoven with guilt, shame, and perfectionism. Becki declares herself as a "non-perfectionist," so she lends a unique voice to this discussion for those like her, as loved ones who struggle to better support their partners in the trenches with mental illness. Becki especially highlights the importance of the supporter not getting sucked in so much that they can no longer care for themselves, in addition to their loved one. This wonderful couple talks about how they dealt with their bouts both separately (which was wise, at times), together, and how they are in turn helping others. Kyle shares some of the important science behind mental illness, the importance of coupling both medication and cognitive therapy, and how depression/anxiety can display itself physiologically, or emotionally with feelings of sadness, anxiousness, or even anger. Oh, and you'll want to hear what Becki and Kyle's biggest tip is for couples. Show Notes Kyle's website and Twitter account Kyle's article that he talked about Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Consider yourself a failure, and consider yourself in very good company [of people] who have done the same. But the difference between them and everyone else is that they learned from that failure and kept on going, one foot in front of the other." Matt calls himself a "regular guy," but I'm telling you he is anything but. What makes him this way for me is his resilience and his refusal to play victim to the long fight he has had with anxiety and depression, as well as the huge trials he and his family have faced. Matt talks about how for him anxiety started in high school and robbed him of important experiences and even friendships. For a long time, he feared that he would have to live life only minimally, just to get by. Six months after his depression and anxiety forced an early return from his LDS mission, Matt's father took his own life after suffering in silence with the same issues as Matt. This devastating time shifted Matt's mindset about how to deal with mental illness, namely by using the power of speaking up about what we are going through instead allowing stigmas to rule our lives. Matt eventually returned and completed his mission, and he used that experience as a touchstone that he could do more than live minimally, even with his "dragons" to slay. Now as a successful business and family man, Matt still finds ways to speak up and help others who are going through similar issues. He carries an incredible perspective about doing what is right for him and his family, and he's not afraid to direct his choices accordingly (including within his career). He speaks about how fear of failure drives so much of what we do and how to instead turn that to your benefit, how we can make our "dragons" our friends, how he has learned to be happy even when he is sad, what he did to better focus on his priorities of family over work, and much much more. I think everyone and their dog should listen to this interview. It's that good. Within the next few months, Matt is going to launching Steelyard Academy with two other men, focusing on teaching primarily men how to have a balanced life. I will let you know when they have that up and running--I'll be following along, too! Show Notes Get in touch with Matt: steelyardacademy @ gmail . com (make sure you remove the spaces) As soon as Matt's podcast is ready to go, you'll be the first to know! Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what it is really like to be a successful fashion blogger? Meet Sarah Tripp. Sarah, from Sassy Red Lipstick, does her job so well that she makes it look easy. But it absolutely isn't. Sarah has the right mix of dreaming big and working hard. Fashion is a huge form of her self-expression and has been a life-long passion. But another important passion for Sarah is her desire to help women learn how to love their bodies, just as they are. In this podcast, we go into what a typical day looks life for Sarah, how she remains true to herself while incorporating sponsorship, what it means to have authentic connections with her followers, how she dares to be honest about the hard parts of her industry, what her husband's love and influence has meant for her, how she battles the daily pressure to be perfect, and how she overcame her own dissatisfaction with her body and now embraces a celebratory self-acceptance that keeps her centered. Show Notes Sarah's blog and Instagram Sarah's mentioned posts: Honor Your Curves, The In-Betweeners, Exposing Blogger Politics, and her whole tab on Body Positivity Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The more you spend time with people and are able to communicate with them what you are feeling . . . the more logic and reason come back into your life.” Meet your new best friend, Anne Cropper. Anne is one of those people who takes you in, makes you laugh, makes you cry, and can give you some good fashion, food, and house tips on the side. She is a resounding writer and Instagrammer whose main goal is connection. Anne learned the power of connection as she faced a difficult adjustment to motherhood followed by the stresses of raising five very different children, as well as her struggles with both antepartum and postpartum depression. She learned that letting people in is essential in overpowering the shame that fuels mental illness. By being open, Anne seeks to help other women know that they are not alone in their struggles, even if it's the struggle of taking your kids to McDonald's for the second time that week. Anne also shares how she is the "Jane of all trades, master of none," how she views social media, why it's important to post both the bad and the beautiful, how she and her husband have had rounds of role reversals while their family business takes off, and what she has learned to let go of. PSST: You do not want to miss out on the special deal Anne is offering our readers on their compression tights and recovery braces. (See notes below!) Show Notes Anne's blog and Instagram Her family's company, Bio Skin (USE PROGRESS20 FOR 20% OFF!) Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast, including the one I mentioned with Lisa Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's website if you're still considering her courses! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I love to be enjoying any situation that I'm in. Obviously that's not always easy . . . but I think if you're having fun in what you're doing, it's way better than being miserable." Kaycee Sogard is so refreshing. Yes, she's a beloved blogger and Instagrammer; but in SO many ways, Kaycee breaks the mold. For one, she is frank, silly, and genuine. For another, she is very grounded in what matters most to her, and she holds strong to her own priorities and refuses to give in to the pressures of keeping up with the Instagram Joneses. Kaycee's ability to rise above came in large part to her lifelong passion with softball. Not only did sports instill an incredible amount of work ethic and other valuable life skills, but Kaycee faced some difficult choices early on in her collegiate career where she was surrounded by incredible pressure. Her decision to push back and do what was right for her enabled her to grow more fully into who she wanted to become, and also centered her when she could have easily succumbed to a lot of disappointment. In this podcast, Kaycee talks about all of that, plus her purposes behind her blog and Instagram, her experiences with anxiety, how she's faced postpartum depression, how she's both "OCD" and "super laid back," her next exciting project, and her hilarious response on what goal-making looks like for her and what she's terrified of. Show Notes: Kaycee's blog, Instagram, and Facebook Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast, including Heather Fujikawa's interview Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's special deal on her courses is still going on! (And her interview) Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Don't waste time feeling inadequate . . . " Katharine and I have been friends for 18 years. (Side note: Whoa. What scares me most about that fact is that we were 12 years old when we first chatted in band class. I swear I was just 12!) After high school, Katharine left our small town of Farmington, UT and headed to the east coast to study music, theology, and art history. She attended a small private liberal arts college in Boston followed by Yale Divinity School. Yes, that Yale. Obviously, Katharine is a real smarty. But even she dealt with "imposter syndrome" in these high stress, achievement-oriented environments. For one, Katharine was not tailored for ivy league schools since birth like so many of her colleagues. Also, on top of struggling like she didn't measure up to both her external and internal standards, Katharine faced huge obstacles within her family, including a major spinal cord injury of her only sibling. Despite that, Katharine chose to shift her perspective on these really difficult times, and instead embraced them as something that would make her more resilient BECAUSE of what she was facing. Katharine found her own way! Now, she is in a career that melds all her interests together in a beautiful whole, one that is "Katharine" instead of what her external pressures told her she "should" be doing. Oh, and you won't want to miss what Katharine shares about how perfectionism for her is interwoven with her people-pleasing nature, as well her antidote to combat it. (I love what she said SO, SO much about that! You classic "underachievers" or "procrastinators" will especially benefit.) Show Notes Katharine's Instagram Photographer for Katharine's photo: Jess Smolinski, Yale University Art Gallery Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I don’t think that we should be stagnant and not ever want to change ourselves. It doesn’t have to do with not loving ourselves, it has to do with just wanting to be better.” Amber Brueseke's arms speak for themselves, but just a quick glance of her Instagram page--Biceps After Babies--will tell you that this woman knows what she's talking about. Amber is all about goals and helping others achieve theirs. But that doesn't mean that she shies away from failure. In fact, Amber recognizes failure as essential to really learning what life has to offer. Listen in to hear how Amber got into fitness and what inspired her fitness account, what she hopes people gain from following her, her views on goal-making, how she can be passionate without being obsessive, and what big lessons she gleaned after a near-drowning of one of her children. If you like the show, please subscribe!! Show Notes: Amber's Instagram Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's interview and COURSES Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and Contact page More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a short podcast episode that explains the series) More episodes from the podcast Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of you will know today's guest--Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife--as "the Mormon sex therapist." Yes, she is indeed an incredible therapist who deals primarily with relational and sexual issues. But, as Jennifer says, her therapy focuses mostly on "just being human, and the challenges related to being human." Turns out, one of the largest developmental hurdles her clients often face is perfectionism. Jennifer unveils what is really going on behind perfectionism, how it's an immature behavior common to the human condition, beginning with a lack of development. She talks about the flawed thinking behind perfectionism, what perfectionists are seeking, as well as the damaging effects of perfectionism on people's lives and their relationships. Many listeners will be shocked to see a lot of what Jennifer talks about in themselves, including those who would label themselves as "underachievers." But there is hope! Jennifer also shares what someone can do to combat this flawed thinking and behavior in their own life, and how they can develop a better capacity to refine who they are with integrity and grow more fully into the person they'd like to become. More on Jennifer: Jennifer Finlayson-Fife grew up in Burlington, Vermont as one of eight children. She studied Psychology and Women's Studies at Brigham Young University, and went on to receive her Masters and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She has a private practice in Chicago, IL where she works primarily with LDS couples on relational and sexual issues. She is a frequent guest on LDS-themed podcasts, and has written articles for LDS-themed magazines and blogs on the subjects of sexuality and modesty as well as mental health and faith. She is married to John Finlayson-Fife and has three wonderful children. Show Notes Jennifer's website, Facebook, and COURSES Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and more podcast episodes CONTACT MONICA More on "Do Something" here and here (includes a podcast episode that explains this series) IRONMAN podcast episode, referenced in the show Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I believe we really are a global family . . . We all matter." Jamie is an adventurer. You might already know this if you follow her adventures via her Instagram, blog, and her segment on Studio 5, a popular Utah talk show. But Jamie is also a collector of friendships. She values people. She seeks connection with others wherever she lives, wherever she travels. And it really shows! In this podcast, Jamie shares about her love of travel, how her family's foundation is centered on getting out of the house and interacting with others, and how making friends with refugees has influenced her life. Jame also talks about what it was like to put her broadcasting career on hold to raise her four children, and what it has been like to get back in the field. Finally, you'll hear what Jamie does to stay balanced and organized--and I think you'll love her atypical answer! Show Notes: Show Notes: Jamie's blog, Instagram, and family blog Monica's contact page, Instagram, and Facebook More Information on "Do Something" Other Podcast episodes you can listen to Song credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Cheesman loves old people and clouds. That's at least how she introduces herself! (Don't you love her already?) Katie is also a mother, nurse, photographer and videographer. She paired her talents and interests together into the perfect creation, The Listening Ear Project, where she shares her WONDERFUL interviews with the elderly, whom she calls her "closest friends." The Listening Ear Project is full of interviewees you touch and inspire you--most definitely--but also people who make you laugh and teach you to better appreciate the fun in life. In this podcast, I speak with Katie about what led her to start this project, how as a nurse she learned the power of listening to help heal her patients, and why being friends with the elderly and sharing their stories is her passion. We also speak about how hard it can be to establish an audience on social media that is centered around appreciating old people, but why Katie thinks all the time, energy, and money she invests in this project is well worth it and has truly changed her life. Katie is lovely, funny, and open. She is equal parts creative and driven, and Katie also often deals with the negative effects of being too hard on herself. She shares how she tries to combat that pressure to be perfect. Katie will inspire you to take a moment to listen to others, and recognize the special need to better see and appreciate the elderly people in your life. If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Show Notes The Listening Ear Project website and Instagram Katie's Instagram and Blog Monica's Instagram, Facebook, and contact page Past podcast episodes mentioned: Meg Miles; Aubrey Greenan Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices