On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I share a concept that I call, "safe enough" - which is a game-changing approach to working with our nervous system - in a world that can sometimes feel wicked scary. I break down how the main question our nervous system is always asking is, "Am I safe?" And then explore the different ways we often react to perceived physical and/or psychological threats – with trauma responses like fight, flight, freeze and fawn. The reality is, perfect safety isn't hap...
Jun 26, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 320
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, we’re discussing something that so many people struggle with - Asking for help. I'm sharing a powerful passage from Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations" that totally changed my perspective. He basically wrote that we shouldn’t be ashamed to need support - just like a soldier who's been wounded might need a comrade to lend a helping hand. Growing up in a blue-collar family, I learned early on that asking for help seemed like weakness. But here's a truth: We're ...
Jun 19, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 319
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I’m diving into why we shouldn't be "parrots" – just mindlessly repeating the things we’re told, the words we read, or what we hear in our environment - without thinking for ourselves. Drawing from some personal stories about actual parrots and my experiences working with author Marianne Williamson, I share how important it is to develop your own unique voice and point-of-view. I discuss how we often unconsciously repeat sayings and stories from our chil...
Jun 12, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 318
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I dive deep into what makes relationships and other things truly "built to last." Starting with a story about my trusty 25-year-old vacuum cleaner that's still going strong, I share how in our fast-paced world of disposable everything, we've lost the art of investing in quality products and connections that stand the test of time. I break down some of the key ingredients for lasting relationships, which I call the "C's": consistent effort, clear...
Jun 05, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 317
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I dive into something we all might bump-up against: those little "death wish" moments in our lives where we're not taking the best care of ourselves. It all started with a crazy motorcycle ride I witnessed on 93 North, where this kid was weaving in and out of traffic at 120 miles an hour - totally reckless and dangerous! That got me thinking about how we all have our own versions of the ol’ "death wish.” Maybe it's ignoring medical advice, continuing unh...
May 29, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 316
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, we’re diving into one of my favorite concepts from Anne Lamott's best-selling book, Bird by Bird . This simple, but life-changing strategy has been wicked helpful not only for me, but for my mentoring clients, too! It’s one of the key ways that I’ve learned to approach and tackle overwhelming to-do lists without totally losing my mind. The core idea comes from a story that Anne wrote of in her book about a challenge her brother was facing as a kid, and h...
May 22, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 315
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, we talk about the true meaning behind my "Stop Playing Dumb" t-shirt and its powerful message! Spoiler alert: it's not about politics or social issues, but about recognizing and remembering your true spiritual nature. I dive into how we often suffer because we get stuck in over identifying with our bodies, our past mistakes, and perceived limitations. But the thing is: you're not just a "meat puppet", some ol’ bag of bones with a long list of screwups. Y...
May 15, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 314
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I discuss a fun and helpful idea that I've been sharing with my 1:1 clients and Nest community. It’s a concept I call, "Fine, Define, Refine" – which basically suggests that from the start we’re totally “fine”, perfect, and awesome! But then the crazy world gets a hold of us, life stuff happens, and people start slapping labels on you that maybe leave you feeling not-so-fine. But here's the thing - those pesky and sometimes hurtful labels aren't the real...
May 08, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 313
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, we dive into a question that I wish was on more people's minds: Why do we do the things we do? I kick things off with a story about a family's Easter tradition - where generations of women kept doing the same damn thing - simply because that's how it had always been done, because no one questioned the original reason. This got me thinking about how we inherit certain beliefs, habits, stories, and ways of doing things from our families, the cu...
May 01, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 312
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I dive into a topic that might make some folks squirm: Sometimes, the problem really is YOU. 🫣 Yup, I said it out loud. Once in a while – we actually are the issue. 🙋🏼♀️ At some point or another, we've all tried to deflect blame, or used spiritual language to avoid taking responsibility, or played hot potato with our own messy behaviors. Today, I'm breaking down how we often use phrases like "That's not about me" or "You're just projecting" to dodge ...
Apr 24, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 311
Today on The Karen Kenney Show, I dive deep into a message I'm calling, "It's Not You." This episode is a little love letter to all the creatives, entrepreneurs, and sensitive souls out there who sometimes feel discouraged when their work doesn't seem to land. Using my Sweetie’s music career as an example, I share how the same incredibly talented musician can get standing ovations in one venue, and be completely ignored in another. The key? It's all about the right audience, the right place, and...
Apr 17, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 310
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I dive into a concept That I call, "Head, Heart, Hands" – which is a powerful approach to personal transformation that flips how we typically try to change our lives. Instead of white-knuckling our way through external behavior changes, I explain why it's crucial to start with the internal landscape of our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and stories. Drawing from my own journey and some wisdom from spiritual smarty-pants like Paramahansa Yogananda, I share ...
Apr 10, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 309
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I dive into a powerful parable about “lifeboats” and how we often miss the help that’s right in front of us. I share an old story about a guy who refuses to be rescued during a flood, because he keeps waiting for God to save him. Only to later discover that help came to him multiple times in multiple forms, but he simply refused to see it or accept it. The big lessons here? Sometimes we get so stuck in our own ways of thinking - that we miss incredible o...
Apr 03, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 308
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, you’re going to get a chance to discover if you’re a thermometer kind of person -or- a thermostat kind of person. Basically, a thermometer just records the temperature. It registers the warm or cold degrees of the room it’s in and lets you know what’s happening outside of you and around you. It’s a reflector of a space. While a thermostat actually sets and changes the temperature. It has control and can affect the world around it. To illustrate this poin...
Mar 27, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 307
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, we explore the "Four M's" - those sneaky survival mechanisms that we sometimes picked up, while growing up, in our challenging family environments. Inspired by a Bill Burr interview I listened to, I share how we often develop coping strategies that might have kept us safe as kids, but totally mess with our adult relationships. I break down what the four M's are: Mothering (constantly trying to fix everyone else's problems for them), Managing (wanting to ...
Mar 20, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 306
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I dive deep into the surprisingly spiritual world of The Care Bears. And trust me, it's way more profound than you'd expect from cute, colorful teddy bears! I break down how these adorable characters and their “cousins” actually represent powerful spiritual principles. Especially when we look at their incredible "Care Bear Stare" – which is a collective beam of positive energy that can literally transform negativity. How fun is that?! Each Care Bear has ...
Mar 13, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 305
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I dive deep into the concept of “toxic positivity”. I explore how the well-intentioned, but harmful practice of forcing positivity can actually invalidate people's genuine emotional experiences, including your own. I share some examples and personal stories of how toxic positivity shows up in conversations, from dismissive statements like "just stay positive" - to outright minimizing someone's real struggles. I break down why these seemingly supportive p...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 304
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the importance of preparing for both external and internal "weather systems" in life. Just like meteorologists can predict storms, allowing us to get ready for what’s to come, we can also prepare for the emotional and spiritual challenges that arise unexpectedly. I share how tools like yoga, meditation, and mantras - can help us learn how to slow down our fearful reactions and instead, respond from a place of love. Because that’s where our t...
Feb 27, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 303
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I had the honor of speaking with my dear friend and spiritual mentor, Marianne Williamson. Marianne has been a speaker and writer on transformational wisdom for over four decades, and she’s the author of 16 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers! Our conversation was a wicked fun exploration of our decades-long personal connection and the transformative impact that Marianne, her books, and her teachings have had on my life. From ...
Feb 20, 2025•2 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 302
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about my deep connection to a remarkable three-legged deer that we've named Trixie - who lives in the woods near my home. For the past 6 or 7-ish years, Trixie has become a symbol of resilience and hope for me, as she continues to thrive and even start a family of her own, despite all the odds stacked against her. When I recently captured a video of Trixie in our yard, it unexpectedly went viral, resonating with now over 1.7 million viewers...
Feb 13, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 301
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the big impact of asking the little question, "How can I help?" I share the story behind the inspiration for this topic, and how it can be a valuable tool for deepening both our personal and professional relationships. We dive into the importance of this question in motivating and supporting others, especially during these wicked challenging times. I also touch upon the current state of fear and division in the world, and the feelings of hel...
Feb 06, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 300
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the simple, yet powerful concept of "starting your day over". I love the power embedded in the idea that no matter how badly your day may have started, you have the ability to hit that reset button - and begin again at any point. I share a story (with permission) about a friend in my spiritual mentoring group - The Nest, who by 4pm, had already decided her “whole day” was ruined. 😆 This got me reflecting on how, as children, we would simply...
Jan 30, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 299
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I had the honor and delight of speaking with one of my teachers and mentors, David Bedrick! David is a teacher, counselor, attorney, and the founder of The Sante Fe Institute for Shame-based Studies. He's also the author of four books and on this episode, we discuss his latest: THE UNSHAMING WAY - A Compassionate Guide to Dismantling Shame. This fantastic book addresses how to heal from shame, unlearn self-blame, and reclaim your story. As someone who ha...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 298
On this short episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I discuss the fires that have been happening in the Los Angeles area and some of the comments I've seen online. While there has been helpful information being shared about evacuations, shelters and support, I'm also aware of some of the insensitive words that have been said or written. Unfortunately, these are the kinds of things that often get said to suffering people during times of tragedy. As humans, we can be a little clumsy – even when we’re ...
Jan 16, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 297
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I discuss the importance of "slow learning" - especially in a culture that’s become so focused on “fast outcomes” and “quick results”. I share about my own experiences of needing enough time to truly understand and integrate new information, rather than just quickly consuming it. I make the case that true learning, comes from first-hand experience and the process of acquiring knowledge through implementation and not just passively ingesting other people’...
Jan 09, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 296
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the idea of "hatching a plan" as we move into the New Year. I discuss why it’s sometimes important to keep your plans kind of a secret… and how we only want to share those tender ideas with people who will nurture and support them, rather than criticize or crush them. When making new plans, I also suggest slowing down and inviting your Inner Teacher or intuition into the process, using practices like prayer, contemplation, and meditation to ...
Jan 02, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 295
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about redefining what it means to create a "well-lived life." I challenge the common advice to "go big or go home," questioning whether that's really the only path to a meaningful existence. I share a personal story about a childhood friend, who passed away recently and whose life left a profound mark on his community. I reflect on how society often looks down on those who choose to live a "small" life, by things like - staying local, putting othe...
Dec 26, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 294
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the idea that, “My life is a reflection of who I have been and the choices I have made.” Meaning that the current state of your life, relationships, habits, and experiences are the cumulative result of your past thoughts, beliefs, and actions. However, to be clear, this doesn't mean your life is solely a reflection of your own choices - it's also influenced by your early life experiences, systems of oppression, and other external factors bey...
Dec 19, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 293
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I introduce the concept that I came up with called “the truthie truth”. 😆 Using a personal story and a character from the popular HBO series, “The Penguin” - I discuss how people often struggle admitting the full truth to themselves, even when it’s clear to others. We’ll dive into the importance of facing difficult truths and the danger of not being willing to be honest with ourselves, whether it’s about our own stuff – or the behaviors of others. I als...
Dec 12, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 292
On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I tell a little story about my car that highlights the difference between dealerships and mechanics. I discuss how the approach of “replace vs. repair” can be applied not only to our personal and professional relationships… But also, in how we choose to consume and whether it’s best to renew, recycle, and reuse rather than tossing and buying something new. We also dive into the importance of honest conversations when it comes to repairing our relationshi...
Dec 05, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 291
