In today's episode, I'm talking about what happens when pain finds you and a bit of a personal update on growth, healing, and hope. I was given news that no one EVER wants to hear when it comes to their health. As I'm currently walking through this new and unfamiliar situation, I can't help but think of how vital it is to process our emotions. When we choose to process (or, more often, NOT process) our emotions, this ultimately impacts our health. We can't suppress our emotions over and over aga...
Jan 21, 2025•12 min•Ep. 66
"Pain isn't a bug; it's a feature." I first heard this quote from grief expert David Kessler on the Dr. John Deloney Show (give it a listen HERE if you want to check it out). This particular phrase hit me, and it really stuck with me. In today's episode, I'm talking about the gift of pain and why we should stop ignoring it. Pain is not an anomaly - it's not meant to be shoved down or something we need to fix. Pain draws our attention to something so we can learn what's going on; it's an invitati...
Jan 14, 2025•16 min•Ep. 65
In today's episode, Tom and I are talking about what burnout on the ranch looks like and how we're learning to recover faster. This fall was tougher than usual, and it seemed to drag on and on - we both felt that way throughout the season! We're also chatting about winter projects we're focusing on and what Tom's experience with burnout has been like. Burnout is incredibly real in this line of work, but it doesn't have to be your reality forever. If you've been in a similar season with burnout o...
Jan 07, 2025•27 min•Ep. 64
As someone who grew up in rural America (and is still there), I'm very familiar with the mindset that comes along with this way of life. We're raised to keep our emotions to ourselves, work hard, and push through, no matter WHAT. Talking about our feelings and emotions is unnecessary and makes us look weak. In today's episode, I'm talking about breaking the stigma and what redefining strength in rural communities looks like. We can take simple steps toward breaking this stigma and start focusing...
Dec 31, 2024•14 min•Ep. 63
In today’s episode, I want to share the hard truth about emotions because, well, you gotta feel them ALL. When it comes to emotions, we must understand that they themselves are not the problem, but rather, our resistance to actually feeling them is. If you’re someone who is used to numbing certain emotions, I really want you to get curious as to WHY you’re doing so. Instead of numbing, take time to recognize, feel, and accept your emotion(s). Then, you can get ready to bring joy and happiness in...
Dec 24, 2024•8 min•Ep. 62
In today's episode, I'm talking about extending grace without accepting behavior. It's a universal truth that everyone has a reason for their actions - there is ALWAYS a why behind a behavior. Even when we don't know the whole truth (and we may never), we can choose to extend more grace. My challenge for you is to look for that story that you might have missed. Even if you can't find it, please know that there IS a story you don't know completely. After all, grace doesn't cost us that much, so l...
Dec 17, 2024•14 min•Ep. 61
In today's episode, we're discussing what "Relationship before Horsemanship" really looks like with Warwick Schiller and how this applies to ALL beings (not just horses). We also discuss what unraveling and shattering long-held truths can look like, the importance of validation in all of our interactions, why extending grace to animals seems to come easier for us than to our fellow humans, and much more. In this episode, we cover: A pivotal experience that led to Warwick’s focus on relationship ...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 60
Recently, my son and I were out riding. He was fascinated with wild onions and even got off his horse to pick some! I was quick to tell him that we were burning daylight and we needed to get back to work. But as kids, mindfulness allows us to see things in a new light and believe in the possibility of change, and it's time that we find our way back to that! In today's episode, I'm talking about reclaiming mindfulness and what it can look like when you're burning daylight or missing the moment. W...
Dec 03, 2024•17 min•Ep. 59
In today's episode, I'm talking about navigating responsibility in relationships. These 'fences' in relationships represent important pieces like boundaries, emotional well-being, and the overall health of the relationship. Just like on the ranch, knowing whose side of the fence an issue is on brings clarity, prevents confusion, and may even help prevent future conflict. When we know what we're responsible for (like fixing our own emotional fences or recognizing that someone else has work to do ...
Nov 26, 2024•15 min•Ep. 58
In today's episode, I'm talking about the "treat yo self to maintain yourself" concept and what a new take on self-care can look like. Self-care is about meeting your basic needs and caring for the whole self - mind, body, and soul. Each of these parts needs optimal attention so you can show up fully in every aspect of your life. I hope this episode provides you with a new take on self-care because you don't need permission to take care of yourself. But if, for some reason, you still think you d...
Nov 19, 2024•13 min•Ep. 57
I'm excited to welcome a special guest, Kourtney Talkington, onto the podcast today! Today's topic is one we haven't really covered here on the podcast: our relationship with food and how to successfully navigate it as we head into the holiday season. In today's episode, Kourtney and I discuss the power of self-awareness and mindful eating. She shares 5 things to focus on that can help shift your mindset and beliefs around food, tips on maintaining a healthy relationship with food this holiday s...
Nov 12, 2024•28 min•Ep. 56
It's hard to believe, but it's already been ONE year since we launched this podcast! Whether you've been here since episode one or you're tuning in for the very first time, I'm truly honored that you're here. In today's episode, I'm reflecting on one year of the podcast and what this journey has been like for me. I'm also sharing the three most popular episodes over the last year, and I want to give a special thanks to all of the amazing people helping me behind the scenes. Lastly, I've got a fu...
Nov 05, 2024•15 min•Ep. 55
Guess who’s back on the podcast with me today?? If you guessed Tom... you nailed it! We’re talking about something that’s been on Tom’s mind for a while, and that is a formula-like a ‘plug the variables into your equation and get a solution’ type of formula. In today’s episode, we talk about why ‘feel’ matters more than formulas. This is applicable from grazing to relationships and everything in between. Whether you’re working with cattle or another type of animal, or you’re working to improve y...
Oct 29, 2024•25 min•Ep. 54
Today’s episode is inspired by a book that I recently finished reading, ‘The Principles of Training’ by Warwick Schiller . He has 12 different principles about training your horse, but they’re actually applicable across the board - just like good movement! The specific training we’re discussing today is what it looks like to create a tool before you need to use it. In today’s episode, I talk about creating the tools before you need them and how to go about building emotional resilience and commu...
Oct 22, 2024•15 min•Ep. 53
We’re talking about one of the hardest times to practice validation in this episode - during tough conversations. Yep...I’m talking about those heated moments where emotions run high, and it’s so easy for things to quickly go sideways. Choosing to acknowledge both our emotions + the other person’s can be super beneficial. Not only does this decrease the ‘power’ these emotions tend to have over us, but it also lets the other person know we understand them, and they matter. I want to challenge you...
Oct 15, 2024•16 min•Ep. 52
Validation is a key piece in building stronger relationships and communicating more effectively. This is especially true in rural life, where emotions tend to go unspoken. In last week’s episode, I discussed what validation is and why it’s important. Today, I’m excited to continue the conversation surrounding validation, and share more about the ‘practical’ side of it. In today’s episode, I talk about practical tips for validation, and specifically, how to validate and seek it in relationships. ...
Oct 08, 2024•14 min•Ep. 51
In today’s episode, I talk about validation vs. agreement, and why understanding the difference matters. Validation is the process of acknowledging and recognizing someone's feelings, thoughts, or experiences as legitimate and REAL. Even if you don’t agree with or understand the other person, it’s important that they feel seen. This then fosters trust, connection, and emotional safety, which is incredibly important AND powerful. Validation can truly be a key tool to break through emotional and m...
Oct 01, 2024•14 min•Ep. 50
Today’s episode is coming to you from a cute little Airbnb at a women’s ag event in Utah! I originally planned to record a different topic before coming here, but...plans changed, and so did my mind after speaking here. I was asked to speak on the topic of building strong relationships on cattle operations through communication, which you may know by now is right up my alley! I love doing workshop-style presentations and answering questions from other people. One of the common themes that kept c...
Sep 24, 2024•15 min•Ep. 49
It’s been a bit since Tom has been with us, but he’s back on the podcast today! We thought it would be fun to do a little summer ‘recap’ episode, since summer is officially coming to a close. In today’s episode, we talk about anxiety and string fence, and more of what’s been happening in our lives recently. Tom dealt with the aftermath of a tornado, and has spent a lot of time branding and string fencing. He even had his first encounter with what we think was anxiety, regarding weaning cows. The...
Sep 17, 2024•20 min•Ep. 48
Today’s episode is inspired by some recent events (which is typically my MO here anyway) - community and connection. I’ve heard (more times than I can count) the saying that is ‘it’s my burden to bear’ or ‘it’s my cross to carry’, when someone is struggling. Maybe you didn’t know this (or maybe it’s just a helpful reminder), but we are NOT meant to bear our crosses alone! We literally need connection to help us along in life. In today’s episode, I talk about what it means to ‘team lift your life...
Sep 10, 2024•8 min•Ep. 47
I’m honored to have my incredible friend, Dannel Wissler, on the podcast today! Dannel is a farm wife and mom to 4, and she also had a deep desire to become a licensed counselor. As a licensed professional counselor, Dannel helps people address a wide variety of emotional needs and challenges. In today’s conversation, Dannel and I delve into cultivating resilience, fighting well, and the crucial role that mental health has on family dynamics in rural America. Dannel loves working with many diffe...
Sep 03, 2024•32 min•Ep. 46
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been really bothered about our lack of ‘why’ - like, why are we just assuming we already know #allthethings, and not being more curious about what’s going on around us? Just like with a car that’s not running properly, it’s important to get to the root of the issue and actually fix what’s wrong, instead of letting it go until it stops running all together. In today’s episode, I talk about where is the ‘why’; we must understand that if we don’t choose to ask quest...
Aug 27, 2024•12 min•Ep. 45
I’ve been talking a lot about attachment and attunement, and how these two pieces have dramatically impacted my parenting journey. In a recent episode, I discussed what I would do differently if I could do parenting all over again. In today’s episode, I want to talk about how attachment and attunement have transformed my parenting, and what I actually AM doing differently, knowing what I know now. In this episode, I cover: How I’m now ‘feeling my feelings’, and actually acknowledging my emotions...
Aug 20, 2024•13 min•Ep. 44
In today’s episode, I want to dig into my mind-blowing realization about emotions. When it comes to emotions, we must understand that emotions themselves are not the problem, but rather, our resistance to actually feeling them is. Emotions are very much like riding a roller coaster too (which my good friend Sheila shared here on the podcast); we can’t continually numb anger, fear, and sadness, yet still expect to fully feel emotions like happiness and joy. It may be difficult to hear, but ‘selec...
Aug 13, 2024•8 min•Ep. 43
Well...cue Rod Stewart, because I do wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger! In my recent episode about attachment and attunement ( episode 38 ), I kind of left you hangin’ when I said I would have done some things differently - especially with parenting. After receiving some questions about what specifically I would have done differently, I wanted to dive into just that in today’s episode. I know this is information that you will not only benefit from, but will very likely resonate...
Aug 06, 2024•13 min•Ep. 42
I’m very excited to welcome my great friend, Kiah Twisselman Burchett (better known as Coach Kiah), onto the podcast! Kiah loves helping people pursue curiosity and authenticity in their own lives, instead of chasing after worldly notions that only lead to emptiness and unfulfillment. In today’s conversation, Kiah and I discuss what a ‘Quest for Joy’ looks like, and why she is on a mission to bring this concept out into the world. Practicing self-awareness and allowing ourselves the gift of heal...
Jul 30, 2024•50 min•Ep. 41
I’m very excited to welcome my ‘bestie as a guestie’, Sheila Hansen, onto the podcast! Sheila is one of my dearest friends who’s also in Nebraska - she’s a fellow mom of 3, and a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) who’s had her own firm for 7 years (she has over 15 years experience in the accounting space though). She’s on a mission to help female owned businesses feel confident about their money and build wealth, without burnout. Sheila experienced a major identity crisis when she became a mom; ...
Jul 23, 2024•43 min•Ep. 40
I’m super excited to have my good friend, Kylie Epperson, on the podcast today! She’s on a mission to help rural women live authentic, confident, and colorful lives, and has found immense gratitude as she’s experienced rural living, ag life, and motherhood. More recently, she’s passionate about building the Farm Wives Club™️ community and membership, and is thrilled to be offering the first live, in-person event this fall (September 2024)! Kylie has navigated her fair share of ‘high highs’ and ‘...
Jul 16, 2024•38 min•Ep. 39
In today’s episode, I want to talk about attachment and attunement, and why we need BOTH of these to not only survive, but thrive. But...what do these words even mean?! Attachment is really the foundation upon which everything else in our brain is built, and attunement is our awareness and responsiveness to the needs of others. Our society is severely lacking in both attachment and attunement, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way - we can change that, especially as we become more aware ...
Jul 09, 2024•11 min•Ep. 38
This episode is a bit of a ‘proof of life’ one from Tom and I! Really though, we’re excited to give you a little update on how our cows are doing + other life happenings. This time of year is crazy busy for Tom and I as we’re deep into work on the ranch with calving season, branding cows, and a variety of other things going on for our family. While this time of year brings an entirely new level of exhaustion (in more ways than one), it’s not terrible, and it also doesn’t last forever. We’re very...
Jul 02, 2024•18 min•Ep. 37
