I’ve been thinking a lot about what happens when we actually give ourselves permission to step away from the routines that keep us comfortable. Right now, I’m on the road with my dogs and a van that’s more functional than fancy, and I’m calling this time my adult gap year (or period, lol). I may not have everything figured out, but I’m seeing what comes up when I put myself in new places and give myself space to grow. A “gap” experience is all about having the courage to NOT KNOW what’s next. An...
Aug 21, 2025•18 min
Lately, I’ve been asking myself, when I feel something that lights me up, do I actually stop and name it? This week, I’m sharing what happened when I did exactly that. Selling my St. Augustine home opened the door to a season of uncertainty that, surprisingly, feels incredibly freeing. I’m traveling lighter, spending more time with the people and experiences I love, and carrying this sense of safety that comes from showing up as my authentic self and surrounding myself with the right energy. On ...
Aug 14, 2025•16 min
When was the last time you really allowed yourself to feel everything without judgment, distraction, or the pressure to move on to the next thing? In this episode, I open up about the emotional purpose behind my upcoming cross-country road trip. After a whirlwind few years filled with surgery, loss, milestones, and transformation, I realized I hadn’t fully processed so much of what I’d been carrying. This trip is my way of slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and making space to feel all the ...
Aug 07, 2025•17 min
Transitions can hit harder than expected. You get through the big push whether it’s a move, a deadline, or some intense life shift and then suddenly it all catches up with you. The to-do list might be done, but your body and brain haven’t caught up. That space between pushing hard and moving forward again? That’s where the real reset needs to happen. In this Wise Walk, we’re talking about what it looks like to come down from that kind of high gear. It’s not always graceful. Sometimes you're over...
Jul 31, 2025•21 min
I'm in the final days before closing on my St. Augustine home, and I forgot how truly exhausting and emotional moving can be. Amid all the boxes and decisions, I found unexpected peace through a creative project of building custom crates to protect my framed pictures. What started as a money-saving task turned into a grounding experience that reminded me how much joy and calm I find in working with my hands and being present in the moment. In this Wise Walk, we explore how creativity can serve a...
Jul 24, 2025•18 min
As I get ready to move out of my St. Augustine home, I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of our time and energy. I’ve been preparing for this transition by hiring movers, boxing things up, and letting go of what no longer serves me. This has given me a chance to notice where I’m spending my energy and whether it aligns with what matters most. Even a simple conversation with a mover helped reframe things for me. When he broke down the cost of their services by the minute, it really hit home ...
Jul 17, 2025•17 min
As I mentioned in the last episode, I got an offer on my St. Augustine home. After completing the inspection process, we’ve come to an agreement, and I’ll be closing down the house at the end of July. While this move feels exciting, especially since I’m not exactly sure what’s next, the unknown can feel overwhelming too. This got me thinking about what it means to close a door in our life, especially when that door has brought so much joy, healing, and comfort. Over the years, I’ve had to let go...
Jul 10, 2025•20 min
As I was reflecting on today's Wise Walk, I realized we are halfway through the year. 2025 has been flying by, so I thought a mid-year check-in would make a great episode. Today,we'll do that check-in, and I'll share some of the things I'm most proud of, like sharing my Heart Value through speaking gigs, coaching others, and deepening my skills through Shamanic Reiki and a drum-making apprenticeship. I'll also touch on the joy of traveling and the emotional journey of losing my Aunt Mary. I'm so...
Jul 03, 2025•20 min
Have you ever felt like your whole being was craving stillness, but life just kept charging ahead? That’s exactly where I’m at right now. I am so excited because it’s the night before I get to go on vacation and not just any trip. I’ve secured a whole week off where I’m going inward to retreat. No plans, no agendas, no schedules. I may sleep in. I don’t know what I’m going to do, and honestly, that’s the whole point. This retreat is all about giving myself space to go with the flow. I’m bringing...
Jun 26, 2025•16 min
Sometimes it hits us out of nowhere. That heaviness in the chest. The ache behind the smile. We usually reserve the word “grief” for death, but what about all the other losses we quietly carry? In this episode, I share personal reflections on how grief can show up in transitions that have nothing to do with someone passing. From divorces, moves, and job changes to letting go of dreams that didn’t come true, grief is often hiding in plain sight. I open up about what it felt like to mourn the life...
Jun 19, 2025•20 min
Ever had that moment where you’re sure you’ve won an argument but the victory feels hollow? I have. For the longest time I thought being right was the key to connection. Turns out it often does the opposite. In this episode I’m sharing a big shift in my own thinking around what’s “right” and what’s “wrong”. What I used to consider a moral compass now feels like a self imposed limitation. I’ve been learning to sit with the idea that multiple truths can and do exist at the same time. I’ll be shari...
Jun 12, 2025•19 min
Have you ever caught yourself picking comfort over curiosity, even when there’s that little voice inside urging you to be braver? I know I have. In this episode, I’m diving into what it really feels like to take emotional risks. Vulnerability isn’t exactly a walk in the park, it can be awkward and even a bit scary, but I’ve found it’s also where the best connections and self-discoveries happen. One of our Striders sent in a message that got me thinking about the times I’ve actually dared to step...
Jun 05, 2025•14 min
Something unexpected happened this morning that touched my heart and made me remember how important it is to be open. I grabbed my well-loved copy of Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie as I got ready to teach yoga. Usually, I read the meditation that was prescribed for that day, but this time I ended up on a page I wasn't supposed to. I felt like the meditation selected me, not the other way around. It was called "It's Safe to Open Your Heart." That message rang home for me, especially after...
May 29, 2025•23 min
What does it truly mean to be in service to others, your community, and yourself? Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak in front of 150 mental health therapists and group practice owners. They are compassionate leaders who manage dedicated teams committed to helping individuals navigate life's challenging moments with thoughtfulness, healing and care. Witnessing their dedication inspired deep reflection on how we show up not only for others, but also for ourselves. In this episode...
May 22, 2025•20 min
I’ve come to realize that not every decision needs to be backed by logic or explained away with reasons. When I was recently invited to take on a regular yoga teaching role, I immediately started listing all the practical benefits. But something felt off. The more I tried to rationalize a yes, the more I knew in my heart it was really a no. That experience reminded me how powerful it can be to pause, listen inward, and honor what feels aligned, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. On to...
May 15, 2025•18 min
I’ve always believed that good leadership starts with staying true to yourself. Back when I was managing high-stakes corporate projects, I learned that the only way to turn things around was to lead in a way that felt natural to me, not just copy someone else’s approach. That lesson came back to me recently during a challenging moment in a volunteer role that I had held for years. Someone criticized the way I had been running things, and instead of pushing back, I chose to step aside. It wasn’t ...
May 08, 2025•22 min
Have you ever started a big project and wondered how you would ever pull it off? I felt that way recently when it came time to prep my house for sale, and just thinking about all the steps involved made the whole thing feel heavy. But then something beautiful happened. A good friend stepped in, and with her help, what once felt impossible started to feel exciting and even fun. On today’s Wise Walk, we are talking about what it means to find your “mission impossible” partner, the person who shows...
May 01, 2025•19 min
Ever find yourself walking into a new conversation still carrying the emotional weight of the last one? That happened to me recently, and I could feel my tone and volume were just a little… off. It wasn’t anyone else’s fault, but I realized I was letting leftover crankiness affect how I showed up—and that simple awareness gave me the chance to pause, laugh, and reset in real time. On today’s Wise Walk, we’re talking about those all-too-human moments when irritability sneaks up on us, how to spot...
Apr 24, 2025•21 min
Ever felt so overwhelmed that you knew you weren’t fully present, but didn’t know how to ask for help in the moment? That happened to me during an emotional week when my dog Trooper got seriously ill and in the middle of a conversation with the vet, I realized I just couldn’t take it all in alone. On today’s Wise Walk we’re talking about knowing when to pause, when to call in support, and how to give ourselves permission to not have all the answers. We’ll explore what it means to honor your limi...
Apr 17, 2025•22 min
Ever had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right, but you didn’t want to say anything because you didn’t want to rock the boat? That happened to me recently on a night out with friends and it reminded me how often we suppress our instincts to keep others comfortable. On today’s Wise Walk we’re listening to those inner nudges we so often push aside. We’ll talk about what it means to listen to your instincts, how societal norms can condition us to silence them and how honouring that voice inside...
Apr 10, 2025•21 min
Have you ever gone for a walk with no distractions - no music, no podcasts, just you and your thoughts wandering through nature? That’s what I did on my recent trip to Ireland where I spent hours hiking through limestone formations and steep terrain and just allowed myself to be present with whatever thoughts and feelings came up for me along the way. Today we’re going to go on one of those Wise Walks together and I’ll share a big realization that cemented for me last week. We’ll explore how slo...
Apr 03, 2025•18 min
Have you ever been with someone who made you feel completely seen, heard, and safe — like you could just be your full self without any judgment? That’s the power of holding space, and that’s what we’re exploring today. Someone recently asked me what I meant when I used that phrase, and it got me thinking — how often do we really slow down, eliminate distractions, and give someone our full, undivided presence? In this episode, I’m sharing what holding space looks like in practice, how it’s shown ...
Mar 27, 2025•10 min
You know that feeling when a conversation just flows effortlessly, when both people feel seen, heard, and understood? That’s no accident. It’s something we can actually design in our relationships. I first learned about this concept during my coaching certification, where we practiced something called designing an alliance. It’s a simple but powerful way to set clear expectations upfront so both people walk away feeling valued and supported. And recently, I realized just how much this applies to...
Mar 20, 2025•9 min
I recently went shopping for hiking boots at REI, and even though I’ve hiked plenty in my lifetime, I approached it as if I were a total beginner. I have super narrow feet, so finding the right fit is key, but what really surprised me was how much I learned just by getting curious. The store associate introduced me to a new way to tie my boots called a surgeon’s knot, and it completely changed how my shoes fit and feel. What I love about this experience is how it reminded me that even when we th...
Mar 13, 2025•13 min
I'm headed to the United Kingdom, specifically Wales, to watch a Wrexham football match. Wrexham is in the European Football League, which we Americans call soccer, and it's been incredibly exciting. I don't know if you've seen the Netflix documentary by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, but they bought this team, and it's been amazing to watch them evolve and earn promotions. They've been doing really well, and it's a blast to cheer them on. I wouldn't have discovered Wrexham or its strong sens...
Mar 06, 2025•17 min
I had an unexpected moment this week that made me stop and reflect. My trusty 2019 MacBook Pro - my sidekick through writing a book, producing this podcast and countless creative projects - finally reached the end of the road. As I stood at the Apple Store and heard the words “It’s time to say goodbye” I felt an emotional pang I didn’t expect. Why is letting go so hard even when we know we need to? What happens when we hold on too tightly to things - objects, identities, relationships, beliefs -...
Feb 27, 2025•15 min
Last week was Valentine’s Day and as I ran errands I saw so many emotions about this holiday. At one store I saw people sending beautifully packaged gifts to their loved ones and at another I heard someone complaining about how much they hate the day and find it stressful or depressing. These conversations led to a fun realization that many things like Valentine’s Day are just social constructs, things we attach emotions to for better or for worse. This got me thinking: What else in life do we a...
Feb 20, 2025•20 min
When I first started yoga and became a teacher in 2009, one of the biggest lessons I learned was to leave your ego at the door. In the spiritual world, we talk about the dangers of the ego, how it can make us competitive, resistant to feedback, or push us into things that don’t feel aligned. I loved that perspective at the time. It reminded me yoga isn’t about keeping up with anyone else. It’s just you and the mat. But over the years, I’ve come to realize something else. The ego isn’t something ...
Feb 13, 2025•19 min
One of the things I’ve talked about before is how I’ve learned to pay attention to the small stuff, the stuff that feels like more than coincidence. Over the years, I’ve noticed patterns, symbols and signs that show up, just when I need them. The more I’ve leaned into this awareness, the more I’ve realized these small moments can bring comfort, reassurance and even direction. A friend texted me about a white feather that showed up on her car dashboard, pristine and perfectly placed. This reminde...
Feb 06, 2025•19 min
If you’re new to this podcast, I’m so glad you’re here. One of the things I’ve shared in prior episodes is that I have been managing a bone marrow cancer diagnosis since 2002—that’s 23 years and counting. It’s been a journey filled with highs and lows, but right now, I’m in a good phase where my blood levels are stable. Even so, I still check in with my doctors regularly, staying in a watch-and-wait phase to monitor my health. During a recent doctor’s visit, a new physician assistant looked over...
Jan 30, 2025•18 min
