In this inspiring episode of Taking the Plunge, we delve into the heart of Curt's Cafe, a transformative initiative dedicated to empowering young people to rewrite their stories and lead fulfilling lives. Join us as we chat with founder Susan Garcia Trieschmann and executive director Tanya Jenkins, who share their journeys, the challenges they've faced in building this impactful program, and the incredible stories of the students they serve. Discover how Curt's Cafe not only changes the lives of...
Apr 24, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 22
In this engaging mini-episode of "Taking the Plunge," we delve into a wellness-filled weekend that opened doors to creativity and self-discovery. We begin by recounting our experiences at the Evanston Conscious Movement Fest, where we took part in a thought-provoking process painting event that emphasized the importance of the creative journey over the final product. This experience prompted us to confront our inner critics and embrace the joy of artistic expression. We then ventured to the ench...
Apr 10, 2025•11 min•Season 3Ep. 21
We’re spreading kindness and celebrating creativity on this uplifting episode of Taking the Plunge! We’ll start by sharing our latest wellness find - a puppy yoga experience that was as adorable as it was unexpected. Then, we’ll share an unexpected random act of kindness that one of our listeners surprised us with, and we’re encouraging you to send in your own stories to inspire others. After that, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Art Makers Outpost, an Evanston small business cultivating comm...
Apr 03, 2025•17 min•Season 3Ep. 20
This is our special monthly episode featuring our ongoing collaboration with The Hallie225 Foundation, where we will be discussing our initiative, the Kindness Connection, along with many other important topics. In this moving episode, we welcome Lori Grossman, the mother of Hallie Grossman, who valiantly battled a rare form of cancer. Lori, one of the founders of the Hallie225 Foundation, shares her profound experiences of love, loss, and resilience while navigating the challenges of Hallie's i...
Mar 27, 2025•22 min•Season 3Ep. 19
In this week’s episode of "Taking the Plunge," we embark on an exhilarating journey as we share our first experience with the invigorating combination of an infrared sauna followed by a chilly cold plunge, sharing the benefits and surprises we encountered along the way. We’re also excited to welcome our special guest, Jason Price, a renowned therapist and one of the owners of Affiliates In Counseling, a leading therapy practice in the Chicagoland area, who shares his expert insights on AI relati...
Mar 20, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 18
In this week’s episode we tackle some intriguing relationship questions, exploring the new trend of forming connections with AI and what that means for the future of love. Join us as we delve into the implications of these digital relationships and how they might reshape our understanding of companionship.Additionally, we spotlight our Small Business of the Week, featuring an exciting conversation with Ernesto, of El Molcajete Sauces, a talented sauce creator from Evanston. We then dive into his...
Mar 13, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 17
In this week's episode, we delve into the intersection of wellness and entrepreneurship at Spin Art Nation in Chicago, a vibrant space that beautifully blends art, movement, and mental well-being. We'll share our personal experiences and insights from this inspiriting venue, highlighted by an enlightening conversation with the owner. We're especially excited to re-announce our collaboration with The Hallie225 Foundation, launching a new monthly segment focused on the "Kindness Connection." We be...
Mar 06, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 16
In this week's special episode, we sit down with David Grossman, a dear friend and co-founder of the Hallie 225 Foundation, established in memory of his daughter, Hallie Grossman. He is also the owner of Epic Burger. David shares heartfelt stories about Hallie’s kindness and the foundation’s mission. In partnership with the Foundation, Taking the Plunge will be launching a monthly segment called "The Kindness Connection," aimed at spreading positivity through acts of kindness. We invite our list...
Feb 27, 2025•15 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In this week's episode, we dive into the transformative power of taking leaps of faith as we share our personal journeys of individual and collective plunges into the unknown. From some risks we've taken in our lives to the unexpected adventures we've embarked on together, we explore how these experiences shaped us. We also shine a spotlight on a remarkable small business owner who took a giant leap by opening her own apothecary shop, crafting handmade lotions, potions, oils, and so much more. H...
Feb 20, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 13
In this week’s episode of the podcast, we kick things off by exploring our wellness find of the week: foot detoxes. We discuss their potential benefits and playfully ponder whether they’re truly effective or just a passing trend. Next, we delve into the multifaceted topic of forgiveness, examining the different perspectives and judgments that come into play, and highlighting some of the beneficial aspects of embracing forgiveness in our lives. Finally, we wrap up with our small business spotligh...
Feb 06, 2025•24 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In this week's episode, we explore a variety of engaging topics centered around wellness and urban adventures. Mara shares her exhilarating experience of taking a live Peloton class in New York City, bringing the energy of the city into the workout. We both immerse ourselves in our inaugural Reiki sessions, revealing the intriguing contrasts in our experiences and the valuable insights we uncovered. Moreover, we invite our listeners to share their best tips for sleep, hinting at our future explo...
Jan 30, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In this week’s episode we embark on a journey exploring the transformative power of vulnerability and creativity in enhancing our self-confidence. Through heartfelt personal stories, we’ll open up about our own experiences. We’re excited to introduce our wellness discovery of the week—Aerial Yoga—a practice that combines the joy of movement with the freedom of flight! Additionally, we’ll shine a spotlight on a remarkable small business: a pop-up gallery that showcases local artistry and creativi...
Jan 23, 2025•20 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In this episode we dive into the world of self-care and wellness, sharing our personal experiences with various tips we tried post-holidays—some were successful, while others led to some good laughs. We also discuss results from our Instagram poll, featuring the float tank experience, where serenity meets humor in unexpected ways. To wrap things up, we shine a spotlight on a unique coffeehouse by day and cocktail bar by night in Evanston, with insights about what makes this establishment so spec...
Jan 16, 2025•22 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Idioms, mantras, inspirational phrases: they are everywhere, passing through our consciousness with little effect. We may pause for a moment, briefly reflecting upon its meaning, before moving on, unchanged. But once in a while, we come across a phrase so extraordinary, we cannot simply move on. We are changed, and our life must change with us. For Rich Alapack, it was four words: We All Live Here . A simple phrase on an ordinary night was all it took for Rich to leave everything he knew. Join u...
Jan 09, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 8
What do you do, when the man who has loved you for 40 years, leaves you with no warning and no chance to say good-bye? Losing this relationship awakened a part of Jennifer that had laid dormant for years. It was from this place of immeasurable grief that Jennifer was inspired to create something of infinite hope. Follow Jennifer at: https://www.instagram.com/jazzifit/ To follow Taking The Plunge, or to nominate a small business that gives back to be on our show: https://www.instagram.com/plunges...
Dec 26, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode, we share practical holiday tips to help you stay positive and embrace the season with joy, emphasizing the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and maintaining a positive mindset. We share personal insights on managing holiday stress and the significance of gratitude and helping others. We also introduce a newly reopened Irish pub, giving you a sneak peek of what to expect, with more details to come when we chat with one of the owners in a few weeks. Additionally, we exp...
Dec 19, 2024•11 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this conversation, we explore various wellness practices, mainly cryotherapy, and reflect on the benefits of trying new experiences. We discuss the importance of embracing aging, letting go of societal expectations, and focusing on personal growth. Our conversation highlights the significance of self-acceptance and the joy of engaging in activities that challenge us, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. And then we jump into our interview with Pam, the owner of Cloth and Home, a stor...
Dec 12, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this conversation, we discuss various wellness practices, the challenges of forming habits, and the complexities of change in relationships. The dialogue explores the importance of self-awareness, communication styles, and the significance of understanding whether issues in relationships stem from traits or habits. We also share personal experiences and insights on how to navigate these challenges and the value of making changes in interactions with others. We then meet the owner of Animal Re...
Dec 05, 2024•26 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Today we discuss wellness practices and the challenges of navigating breakups. The conversation delves into the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in relationships, the process of letting go, and the significance of trusting one's inner voice. The hosts share personal experiences with meditation, self-care, and the complexities of moving on from past relationships, emphasizing that healing is not linear and varies for everyone. They then turn to the small business spotlight ...
Nov 28, 2024•22 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this conversation, we discuss various aspects of wellness, the significance of celebrating small wins, navigating relationships, and the importance of emotional intelligence. We also highlight a community-focused coffee shop that empowers individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the role of small businesses in giving back to the community. Takeaways Wellness wins can be small but significant. Latest wellness discoveries. Celebrating small victories is crucial for mental health. The secret t...
Nov 21, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Today we speak with Allison Jayne, a former practicing psychotherapist, who now focuses exclusively on coaching and empowering middle-aged women around the challenges of dating. She uses the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), informally known as "tapping," to free her clients from fear-based beliefs, and find the love they have been looking for. Allison talks to us about many of the themes in her book, Find Love Again: Learn to Date Like A Goddess, including: -The neuroscience underlying the Emo...
Aug 30, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Join us as we speak with David Gregory, a Marine, car bomb survivor, who focuses attention on trauma healing, relationship coaching, and what he calls polarity consciousness. Our conversation focuses on wide-ranging topics, including: -the transformative effects of deep meditation and plant medicine; -how to show up for the person you love, even when they love someone else; -how to successfully manage an anxious attachment style in relationships; -how to break self-defeating patterns; and -the i...
Aug 23, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Today we talk to Chantal Heide, a dating and relationship coach, whose ten books and 3 workbooks provide practical advice on how to form relationships that lead to deeper emotions and longer-lasting connections. During today’s conversation, we learn How to distinguish a “guy” from a “man”, and why it matters, How to overcome the fear of being alone, Tips for building an online dating profile that attracts people with long-term potential, and Why three months of no kissing may be the key to long-...
Aug 16, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Join us as we talk to Danielle, a content creator, storyteller, and mother of two about what it has been like to be in an open, committed relationship for the past 13 years. Danielle speaks candidly about how she felt when the man with whom she planned to spend the rest of her life first suggested the idea of non-monogamy, and the concerns it evoked, not only from within, but from those around her. Danielle takes us through those early conversations, counseling us on the importance of taking thi...
Aug 09, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Today we talk to Holly about: What it feels like to be in an arranged marriage without any real love; How a devastating loss motivated her to take control of her life; How her daughter’s words gave her the resolve she needed to end an abusive relationship; The relationship between familial patterns and toxic relationships; How a chance encounter on Tik Tok inspired an overhaul of her approach to dating; The three key questions she asks before every date; and How she came to peace with being alon...
Aug 02, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 7
After many first kisses, James is ready to find the person with whom he will share his final first kiss. However, finding a great love is formidable, even for someone as endearing and genuine as James. On this week’s episode, James walks us through the highs and lows of dating apps, sharing the games people play, and the lengths they will go to mask themselves. For James, these are immediate red flags. So what happens when an intriguing woman reaches out, just minutes before disappearing from th...
Jul 26, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Mike, an expert in sales and marketing, came of age at a time when people met at bars, and dating apps were as incomprehensible as a world without pay phones. A self-proclaimed extroverted introvert, Mike took an immediate liking to 21st century dating, where meeting someone was as simple as swiping right - or so he thought. While dating apps have not yet delivered Mike his true love, they have certainly provided tremendous humor and misadventure along the way. Join us as we learn about mistimed...
Jul 19, 2023•17 min•Season 2Ep. 5
On this weeks episode of Taking The Plunge, we talk with Nicole. Nicole is a single mom of two teens sons living on the Jersey Shore. She is a UGC content creator and influencer on social media. Nicole shares her heartwarming story with us that is full of love, loss, and the many highs and lows she experiences along the way. To follow Nicole : https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolehibbard https://www.instagram.com/nicolehibbard1970/ To follow Taking The Plunge : https://instagram.com/plungeshow?igshid=M...
Jul 12, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Can a special ring get you off the dating apps? What can gift swaps teach us about swinging? And can people ever really learn their lessons when it comes to dating the wrong people? We cover all of these topics and so much more on this episode of Taking The Plunge. To follow Taking The Plunge: https://instagram.com/plungeshow?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==
Jul 05, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 3
You are in for a wild ride on this episode of Taking The Plunge with our guest, Kim. Join us as we learn what not to do on a first date, when to avoid the element of surprise, and why you should immediately run if someone says you remind them of their mother. This is a first date story you definitely don't want to miss! Follow Taking The Plunge podcast: https://instagram.com/plungeshow?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==...
Jun 28, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 2
