Real Talk - podcast cover

Real Talk

Foundation Restoration with Ashley McIlwain, MA, LMFT
The Real Talk Podcast is about real people discussing real issues while offering real help at the intersection of clinical expertise and a biblical perspective. We will be covering an array of topics from mental health, emotional wellbeing, neuroscience, parenting, marriages, relationships, faith, and much more! Visit Foundation Restoration at www.foundationrestoration.org for more information!
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Episodes

EPISODE 41 | Crippled or Compelled? Making our Weaknesses Our Strengths

Every single person on the face of the planet has insecurities, fears, and growth areas. Even the most seemingly confident or put together person is facing battles unseen. So, how do we handle those? What do we do with the things that internally wreck, derail, and debilitate us? What do we do with the things that hold us back? In today’s episode we are delving into how to handle our weaknesses and insecurities, turning them into the very things that strengthen and compel us.

May 19, 202526 min

EPISODE 40 | Fake or Real? Examining Optics vs. Authenticity

We all want to look the part, but is our fruit genuine? In this episode, we talk about the danger of spiritual imitation and how to recognize the real signs of growth in Christ. We are looking at the difference of presenting versus actually producing the fruit of the Spirit and living it out from a transformed heart. Optical illusion or actual fruit. Let's examine this together.

May 05, 202538 min

EPISODE 39 | Ask Me Anything: Should I Always "Side" With My Spouse?

From our Ask Me Anything segment, today we are tackling whether you should always side with your spouse. In this commonly asked question, we are looking at whether a husband and/or wife always has to take the part of their spouse, show their undying “support,” and just agree with their spouse no matter what. It’s a sticky subject, but we’re untangling it in today’s Ask Me Anything episode!

Apr 07, 202533 min

EPISODE 38 | Social Media, Technology, and Mental Health - Part 2

There is no doubt our lives are consumed with technology and social media, and for many, it's become such an entrenched part of our lives that we don't know what to do without it. In this 2 Part series we are looking at the link between social media, technology and mental health, with a focus on anxiety. In Part 2 we are continuing to delve into the impact social media and technology have on our mental health as well as some ways to combat the negative ramifications of their usage in our lives....

Mar 04, 202530 min

EPISODE 37 | Social Media, Technology, and Mental Health - Part 1

There is no doubt our lives are consumed with technology and social media, and for many, it's become such an entrenched part of our lives that we don't know what to do without it. In this 2 Part series we are looking at the link between social media, technology and mental health, with a focus on anxiety. In Part 1 we are looking at what anxiety is, some statistics around it as well as statistics around the use of technology and social media, and then delving into the impact it has on our mental ...

Feb 17, 202542 min

EPISODE 36 | The Authentic Life

We live in a world that is full of filters, facades, and fabrications. From social media to AI, there’s so much around us that isn’t real, let alone authentic. In the world of mental health, we’re seeing the desperation for authenticity in this world and the damage from the lack thereof. People want real, but they don’t know how to find it, discern it, or even be it. Today, we are going to dive into how to live an authentic life.

Nov 18, 202434 min

EPISODE 35 | Stewardship: Are You Making the Most of Your Life?

Every single person on the face of this planet in the history of mankind has been given unique gifts, talents, and abilities. Every single person has been positioned in a specific place at a specific time around specific people with a specific purpose, but the question is, do we make the most of those opportunities? It comes down to stewardship. Do we steward what we’ve been given well? Today we will be exploring this concept of stewardship and making the most of your life.

Sep 23, 202434 min

EPISODE 34 | Lessons Learned from Ministry & Leadership

Foundation Restoration is about to hit the 14 year mark as a ministry, and there’s been a lot of reflecting and reminiscing that comes with that. Fourteen years brings a lot of learning and lessons with it, and today is all about sharing that with you. In this episode, I want to share some of the key truths I have learned about ministry, leadership, and venturing out to do something out of the box and out of the boat.

May 20, 202430 min

EPISODE 33 | Ask Me Anything: Does Therapy Work?

It’s one of the most commonly asked questions I get asked. Does therapy work? Does it really work? Or is it a waste of time and money? In this edition of the Ask Me Anything Segment, I am going to tackle this question thoroughly and highlight 3 key components to what makes or breaks therapy’s effectiveness.

May 06, 202430 min

EPISODE 32 | The Key to Coping with Anxiety

Anxiety. Everyone experiences it at one time or another, but for some, it’s a debilitating and very real part of their everyday lives. Anxiety can impact people in different ways, but regardless, it tends to grip us in a way that squeezes the very life out of our lives. So, what is anxiety? And how do we deal with it? What is the key to coping with anxiety?

Apr 01, 202426 min

EPISODE 31 | Emotional Intelligence

We all have feelings whether we want to admit it or not. Some people want to completely avoid feelings and deny their existence. Others live and die by their feelings. Our world says your feelings are all that matter. The Christian community can tend to repress and discourage feelings. So what’s the answer? Is there a happy medium? Is there a bridge between the extremes? Feelings have their place and their purpose, and in this episode, we’re going to discuss emotional intelligence, acknowledging...

Mar 18, 202437 min

EPISODE 30 | The Competing Spouse

Do you ever feel like you and your spouse are competing? Like instead of being on your team, your spouse is competing against you? Does it ever seem like your spouse struggles to celebrate, elevate, encourage, support, or otherwise unite with you? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, this podcast is for you as we delve into The Competing Spouse.

Mar 04, 202434 min

EPISODE 29 | You Need to Know Your Why: Marriage & Relationships - Part 3

Life is full of decisions, responsibilities, roles, and relationships. Every day we face a full day of moving, deciding, functioning, and operating within a million places and spaces, and it’s easy to go through the motions of life without a second thought. It’s easy to focus on the here and now without much thought in what we are doing, let alone WHY we are doing it. I want to challenge you with the importance of knowing your why in everything you do to maximize the impact of your life on you a...

Feb 19, 202439 min

EPISODE 28 | You Need to Know Your Why: Parenting & Vocation - Part 2

Life is full of decisions, responsibilities, roles, and relationships. Every day we face a full day of moving, deciding, functioning, and operating within a million places and spaces, and it’s easy to go through the motions of life without a second thought. It’s easy to focus on the here and now without much thought in what we are doing, let alone WHY we are doing it. I want to challenge you with the importance of knowing your why in everything you do to maximize the impact of your life on you a...

Feb 05, 202435 min

EPISODE 27 | You Need to Know Your Why - Part 1

Life is full of decisions, responsibilities, roles, and relationships. Every day we face a full day of moving, deciding, functioning, and operating within a million places and spaces, and it’s easy to go through the motions of life without a second thought. It’s easy to focus on the here and now without much thought in what we are doing, let alone WHY we are doing it. As a new year is underway, I want to challenge you with the importance of knowing your why in everything you do to maximize the i...

Jan 15, 202425 min

EPISODE 26 | Healthy Boundaries to Preserve the Joy of Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be 1 of the toughest times of the year. We have a tendency to be over-extended, overspending, and overwhelmed. On top of that, there are expectations. Expectations from so many different directions and so many different people. Before you know it, the joy of Christmas gets lost in it all. Is this what the most wonderful time of year is about? No, so let’s talk about how we can preserve the joy of Christmas through healthy boundaries.

Dec 18, 202325 min

EPISODE 25 | Let’s Talk About Communication Part 3 - The Basics

Let’s talk about communication. In Part 1 we discussed the ultimate purpose of communication is connection rather than merely conveying facts and information. Communication is what breathes life into a relationship and builds that deeper connection. In Part 2 we start to delve into the basics of communication looking at common pitfalls and obstacles to communication in hopes of bridging the gap and overcoming those barriers to facilitate better communication and thus a better connection, and tod...

Dec 04, 202334 min

EPISODE 24 | Let’s Talk About Communication - Part 2

Let’s talk about communication. In Part 1 we discussed the ultimate purpose of communication is connection rather than merely conveying facts and information. Communication is what breathes life into a relationship and builds that deeper connection. In Part 2 we are going to delve into the basics of communication. We will look at common pitfalls and obstacles to communication in hopes of bridging the gap and overcoming those barriers to facilitate better communication and thus a better connectio...

Nov 20, 202331 min

EPISODE 23 | Let’s Talk About Communication - Part 1

Let’s talk about communication. We are absolutely flooded with information; it comes at us a million miles per hour. It’s not a coincidence though that we live in a world with more info than ever but people are lonelier than ever. Stats show people feel lonelier and more isolated than ever. We’re exposed to more information and messaging than ever before. Everywhere we turn there’s more information coming at us. But communication is not just about being informed. Communication is about connectio...

Nov 06, 202324 min

EPISODE 22 | The Weight of the World - How to Handle Things That are Out of Our Control

Do you feel it? The weight of the world with everything that’s going on around us? The past several years with COVID took a huge toll on people, which is why we saw huge spikes in relational, mental, emotional, and physical issues. Mental health became a major issue, and every negative stat spiked significantly as people dealt with the unprecedented challenges. As we have resumed a new normal coming out of that, we have been faced with so many major issues and challenges worldwide including the ...

Oct 16, 202328 min

EPISODE 21 | What If We Cared?

If there’s one thing this world is anemic of, it’s people caring. Caring to listen. Caring to care for others. Caring to be fully present. Caring to work hard. Caring to make a difference. There are a million things to care about, and yet, we’ve become indifferent and numb to so much. When did we stop caring about people and what matters most? What does it even look like to care? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about today.

Oct 02, 202322 min

Episode 20 - Toxic Positivity Versus Optimism

Having a positive attitude and outlook on things is a great thing! Being optimistic and seeing the good are certainly worthy qualities. But is there such a thing as being too optimistic? Can positivity ever be damaging? In this episode, we are going to discuss optimism and when it crosses the line into something called toxic positivity. We’re going to explore the difference and how to strike the right balance between optimism and toxic positivity.

Sep 17, 202325 min

Episode 19 - The Unfairness of Life

Wouldn’t it be so nice if life was nice, neat, tidy, and always worked out the way we hoped and planned? It’s easy to think if you do the right things, make the right choices, and treat people well, then the right things will happen for you as a result. A + B = C, right? Unfortunately, no. Life is often unfair, cruel, and unjust. It can be messy, chaotic, and downright disastrous, even when you do everything “right.” This can make us question everything, including our faith and the love of God. ...

Sep 04, 202328 min

Episode 18 - Ask Me Anything: Can People Change?

We are kicking off the Ask Me Anything segment! One of the most common questions I get asked is whether people can really change. The short answer to that question is, yes. But is that the real question we should be asking? To that, I would say no. Today we will explore if people can change, how they change, and even why they change. Tune into as I tackle this frequently asked question.

Aug 21, 202334 min

Episode 17 - The Anatomy of Humility

Humility. It’s a virtue that makes all the difference in our relationships, life, and work. It’s an absolutely key trait for quality leadership. God speaks of His favor resting on those who humble themselves, and we see Him repeatedly chastise the proud. Humility is such a powerful characteristic, so let’s examine why it is, what it is, and how we can try to cultivate more humility in our lives.

Aug 07, 202325 min

Episode 16 - Dumb Couple Fights - Edition 1

If you’ve been married longer than a second, you know that couples fight over dumb things. Every single couple fights, and while some issues are legit, we’re highlighting the lighter side of the things we go to battle over and for. We all have them, so let’s laugh a little about them, huh? Today we are kicking off a new segment called Dumb Couple Fights that will hopefully make you chuckle or at least smile.

Jul 17, 202327 min

Episode 15 - Keys to Great Leadership - Part 2

We all lead someone in our lifetime, and we will all be led in our lifetime, which is why it's such an important topic. In this 2 part series, we are exploring the keys to great leadership. Part 1 we talked about who is a leader, what is a leader, and why we lead. Today, in part 2, we’re going to discuss the characteristics of a great leader. So let's dive in!

Jul 03, 202334 min

Episode 14 - Keys to Great Leadership - Part 1

Recently there has been a lot of conversation and hoopla about leadership and who should be in leadership, especially within the Christian community. While I’m sure the debate will continue long beyond our time, there is 1 thing that cannot be debated, and that is the need for quality leadership. We all lead someone in our lifetime, and some lead many. So, we are going to spend the next 2 episodes exploring the importance of leadership and what makes a quality leader.

Jun 26, 202320 minEp. 14

Episode 13 - Surviving Perpetual Suffering

One thing I have realized over time is how often suffering is not short-lived. There are situations and circumstances we find ourselves in that entail suffering longer than we’d ever imagined or hoped. It chips away at us. Life can be full of suffering that can stretch far beyond our human threshold, so the question becomes, what do we do with that? Today, we’re delving into how to survive perpetual suffering, so let’s hop right in.

Jun 05, 202334 minEp. 13

Episode 12 - Busting the Myth of a Balanced Life

Everywhere we go, I feel like we’re told we have to find the right “balance” in life. Like there’s a magic formula to being and doing it all. But there is no magic formula to have this perfectly balanced life. In this episode we’re exploring the alternative to a balanced life and how to find peace in the chaos of life’s demands.

May 15, 202332 minEp. 12
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