In today's episode, I’m talking about something that's vital regarding communication, relationships, and good movement; it’s also something that gets overlooked, and just gets a bad rap sometimes. Yep, I’m talking about boundaries! This was on my mind after a recent conversation I had with a friend; we were talking about the infamous, all too common theme of mom guilt. It can really eat us alive (I’ve totally felt it), and I know sooo many of us struggle with this! As humans, we easily fall into...
Jun 25, 2024•11 min•Ep. 36
We had a pretty memorable experience that happened during our recent calving season (we were several brandings deep into the season of spring work at the time of this recording). During this particular branding, some of the panels opened up, and quite a few remaining calves (along with a couple of cows) got loose, running out into the pasture. I made some observations that seemed to work really well for the cattle (and the people who were able to get the cattle back to the pen) during this time,...
Jun 18, 2024•17 min•Ep. 35
Thea is a working ranch wife and mom to two little cowboys, and the founder and host of all things Cowgirls Over Coffee. She’s on a mission to help women quit ‘white knuckling it’ through their days, and navigate a life that can get a little Western. It’s easy to get caught up in feeling like you have to go, go, go and do #allthethings all the time, but if you really think about it, that’s not possible, and it’s NOT how we were meant to live. Life is a journey, not a destination; your growth and...
Jun 11, 2024•52 min•Ep. 34
Today I want to touch on one of my favorite tools you can use to improve communication - asking honest questions! This is something I like to discuss often on the podcast, because I believe that honest questions and compassionate curiosity are one of THE best ways we can improve overall communication in our society. However, I also know this process doesn’t always feel natural - both for the person asking, and for the person on the receiving end. In this episode, we cover: What to do when you as...
Jun 04, 2024•12 min•Ep. 33
In today’s episode, I discuss why there’s nothing wrong with talking about how we really are. Sometimes...things just SUCK. We have to be able to acknowledge our feelings, and normalize sharing honest answers when someone asks us how we’re doing. We shouldn’t feel like we need to sugarcoat our responses in order to appear like we have it all together - who is that actually helping anyway?! In this episode, we cover: Why there’s nothing wrong with admitting that things are hard, and just kind of ...
May 28, 2024•10 min•Ep. 32
At the time of this recording, we’re officially halfway through calving season, and at the tail end of the school year, so alllllll the things are going on! It’s also been one year since my dad passed away, and in all honesty, I am TIRED. Yeah...you could say I’m feeling kind of ‘meh’ about life right now. I know we all experience busy, chaotic, and quite frankly, draining times like these, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to share some simple ways of how I’m still prioritiz...
May 21, 2024•15 min•Ep. 31
Tom and I are here today to talk about a situation we just experienced with our cows - you could say it was rather...frustrating. We’ve been practicing low stress stockmanship for almost two decades; it’s rare that we have to reach out to others for support, but in this case, we knew that was the best option for us to move forward. In today’s episode, Tom and I discuss more about why we should normalize asking questions, even though it feels difficult to do so in our society. Fortunately, Tom an...
May 14, 2024•33 min•Ep. 30
In today’s episode, I talk about how much positive it takes to counter one negative. After learning more about this particular ratio, and how it affects people’s overall moods and performance levels, it has me wondering what in the WORLD are we doing as a society?! I’m also sharing more about the amount of negativity (especially regarding news online and in real life) we come into contact with daily, and simple ideas for you to start noticing MORE of the positives around you in your everyday lif...
May 07, 2024•11 min•Ep. 29
In today’s episode, Tom and I discuss how we prepare for busy seasons, and really, how we continue practicing open communication during calving season. We bounced around with several different topics in this episode, from putting out fires (literally), to moving cows, and communicating with each other through it all. Ultimately, we want to remind you HOW essential good, quality communication is - during busy seasons, slow seasons, and every season in between! In this episode, we cover: A recent,...
Apr 30, 2024•43 min•Ep. 28
While I talked about how we typically approach emotions in rural America in episode 25, I didn’t get into what emotions are, or what their specific purpose is. In today’s episode, I talk about the purpose of emotions, and why they matter much more than we may think. I’m sharing my thoughts on the key connection between emotions and communication, what various types of emotions are trying to communicate and the needs they represent, and even how a Feelings Wheel can support you with identifying a...
Apr 23, 2024•10 min•Ep. 27
I’m so happy to have one of my dearest friends, Michaela Gasseling, on the podcast today! Michaela is passionate about sharing her powerful story of suffering from emergency brain surgery, and how that’s dramatically impacted her life. In our conversation, we talk about the many trials and self-awareness that Michaela has faced along the way, and how she continues living a life of abundance. From having a surprise 4th baby (and pregnancy that was extremely difficult), to undergoing emergency bra...
Apr 16, 2024•35 min•Ep. 26
For way too long, we’ve been taught that emoting is ‘bad’, and having ‘thick skin’ is the best way to show strength. In today’s episode, I’m sharing more about the ‘thick skin’ myth, and how we view emotions in rural America. I’m discussing more about what it really means for our health and well-being when we’re constantly repressing and numbing our emotions, the recent, alarming suicide rates in the farming and ag space, how we can actually go about changing the status quo in our communication ...
Apr 09, 2024•14 min•Ep. 25
Everyone’s favorite guest (yep..my husband, Tom), is back for another episode! In today’s episode, we share about how to get others to do the personal growth work, and why you really can’t get attached to the results (no matter what they decide to do). We’re talking about the equilibrium dynamic in relationships and why people really do learn from watching what you’re doing, how the personal growth you’re doing will not only improve yourself, but also the relationships with your kids, breaking g...
Apr 02, 2024•28 min•Ep. 24
I’ve got a fun episode for you today, and it’s a little different than any of the others up to this point. It’s actually one of the lessons available inside the Good Movement Collective, and it’s all about motivations and behaviors! I believe that we're all shaped by our upbringings, experiences, etc., and there's always a reason WHY people behave and believe the way that they do. In this episode, we cover: The difference between motivations and behaviors How motivations and behaviors are really...
Mar 26, 2024•12 min•Ep. 23
I’ve lived in rural America my whole life, and I understand the unique dynamic that rural living brings to relationships. I've also found that the stockmanship principle of good movement applies not only to our interactions with livestock, but also to the interactions with our fellow humans. In today’s episode, I share more about the Good Movement Collective - specifically, why I saw a need to create this program in the first place, what you will learn and gain from this program, and how the con...
Mar 19, 2024•12 min•Ep. 22
Dawn is a farm wife and mama living her best life in the heart of the Midwest. On today's episode, we talk about the powerful self-awareness journey that resulted from Dawn’s wakeup call with thyroid cancer, simple tools Dawn uses to support her clients with finding fulfillment while getting to know themselves on a (much) deeper level, the ripple effect that tends to occur for you and your loved ones as you’re pursuing good movement in your life, and more. Dawn Marie is a farm wife and farm mama...
Mar 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 21
The way we’re currently doing things in rural America is not only hurting our relationships, but our mental health too, and it’s only going to continue if something doesn’t change. In today’s episode, I share more about focusing on self-awareness and using the Enneagram as a supportive tool to do so, why we need to start ‘filling in the blanks’ with honest questions vs. fictional stories we create in our heads, and the framework that connects self-awareness, social awareness, and communication. ...
Mar 05, 2024•13 min•Ep. 20
Our brains don’t like mystery or ambiguity, and they are really, really good at filling in the blanks. Unfortunately, this can wreak havoc on our mental and emotional well-being, as well as negatively impact our relationships. In today’s episode, I share more about how this shows up in my own life, as well as simple ways you can start filling in the blanks with more fact than fiction (no more unnecessary mad libs of the mind)! If you find yourself nodding along with this episode and resonating w...
Feb 27, 2024•12 min•Ep. 19
I have a special episode to share with you today - a conversation that is with none other than my wonderful mother-in-law, Kathy! Kathy and I have quite a bit in common - we’re both stubborn and are deep thinkers (we are the same Enneagram type after all, which is pretty cool). Kathy has had a variety of careers over the years, and she’s also been drawing good movement for quite some time, so I’m excited for you to hear her unique perspective. Curiosity and kindness may not be super flashy thing...
Feb 20, 2024•32 min•Ep. 18
I’m honored to have Jessie Jarvis on the podcast today! Jessie has a true passion for the ag and western industries, which led her to create her company, Of The West, a job platform built specifically to connect hundreds of employers and job seekers in these industries. We talk all about some of the key communication challenges that arise (not only in the ag and western spaces, but everywhere in our society), choosing to show up and BE the actual change you want to see in the world, why a strong...
Feb 13, 2024•43 min•Ep. 17
I know so many of us can resonate with the ups and downs in life, and especially, those challenging ‘winter’ seasons that are bound to happen. In this episode, I talk more about how the seasons of our lives usually match nature’s seasons, the crisp clarity and opportunity that can come from those cold, dark winters we experience in our lives, how to actually face your winters head-on, and more. In this episode, we cover: How the seasons of our lives tend to mimic nature’s seasons The clarity and...
Feb 06, 2024•12 min•Ep. 16
My husband, Tom, is back again! In today’s episode, we’re talking all about the time we got into a fight right after I posted on social media that working cattle with your spouse does NOT have to end in a fight. At first..I felt like a big ‘ol hypocrite after that one. However, I remembered that this occurrence was not the rule for us - it was the exception. We’re sharing about what actually started this particular fight, how we made the time and effort to talk and work through this disagreement...
Jan 30, 2024•24 min•Ep. 15
Toward the end of 2023, I set three main intentions for what was left of the year - listen to Daily Audio Bible and have quiet time daily, be more present with my husband and kids and less in my head, and open the doors for my 1:1 Good Movement Coaching Membership. However, I ended up adding a fourth intention… unintentionally. This got me thinking about a valuable concept we use in stockmanship, which is ‘slow is smooth, smooth is fast’. In this episode, I talk more about how this phrase applie...
Jan 23, 2024•14 min•Ep. 14
I have a very special guest on the podcast today - Aaron Espe! Aaron is actually the incredible creator behind the good movement music here on the podcast, so I was very excited to have him on the show. I’ve been a fan of Aaron’s since I first heard him play (I like to consider myself a ‘superfan’) - his music has been like a soundtrack for my life over the last few years, and it really helped me ‘get moving’ again when I needed it. We talk about what Aaron’s journey has been like in the music i...
Jan 16, 2024•53 min•Ep. 13
When it comes to miscommunication and frustration that happens among us as humans, I believe so much of it comes from not having the ‘whole story’ (even though most of the time, we think we do). In today’s episode, I want to talk with you about handling judgment and criticism from others (I have a personal experience of my own to share), why the concept of choosing curiosity over criticism doesn’t only apply to others, and more. I’ve learned that open-ended, honest questions can truly allow you ...
Jan 09, 2024•12 min•Ep. 12
On my most recent podcast episode, I went into detail about what the Enneagram is, and how it can be used to draw good movement. Well today, Tom is back for another episode, and he’s going to be sharing HIS take on the Enneagram! We’re talking about Tom’s initial thoughts on the Enneagram and how that’s changed over time, the value in knowing YOUR specific type + the other types, digging into self-awareness in order to understand how you impact those around you, the stigma around mental health i...
Jan 02, 2024•25 min•Ep. 11
If you’ve tuned into my podcast at all in the past, you probably know that the Enneagram has come up a lot, because it’s something I love! In this episode, I’m excited to talk with you more about what the Enneagram really is (especially key differences compared to other personality typing systems), why you should never assume someone else’s Enneagram type, core motivations, and more. In this episode, we cover: What the Enneagram is, and how it’s different from other personality typing systems Yo...
Dec 26, 2023•14 min•Ep. 10
In today’s episode I’m very excited to have my good friend, Emily Reuschel, on the podcast! We talk about how life-changing personal growth can be, ripple effects and the connection to drawing good movement, the power of self-awareness, not stressing about other people’s opinions and expectations of you, and more. Emily Reuschel is a farmer’s wife, mom of three, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, host of the Gather in Growth podcast, and the leader of retreats and masterminds that propel rural ...
Dec 19, 2023•51 min•Ep. 9
Back by popular demand, I have my husband, Tom (formerly known as Mr. FFB) on the podcast again today! I received some questions regarding internships (for those who are offering internships and those who are interns as well), so we thought it would be fun to answer those and give our best advice for making the most of an internship. In this episode, we cover: Our best communication tips/advice for improving your marriage How Tom feels about the podcast and being a ‘regular’ on the podcast Why y...
Dec 12, 2023•20 min•Ep. 8
Today’s episode is going to be a little more of a somber one, but it’s something I feel very strongly about, and it’s important to share with you. I want to talk about grief, because seven months ago today, I was thrust firsthand into learning about it when my dad suddenly passed away. I’ll also be covering more about how our society views grief and closure, what it looks like for joy and grief to co-exist, helpful things you should (and should not) say to someone who is grieving, and more. In t...
Dec 05, 2023•23 min•Ep. 7
