Life, Love & Therapy's podcast

In this episode, I discuss how the youth-obsessed American culture has led to the invisibility of the elderly. I also share how that invisibility causes the elderly to feel lonely and neglected, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. I share the importance of caring for the elderly and acknowledging their wisdom and life experiences. 

In this episode, Daree Allen shares her grieving process since the loss of her husband to cancer. She discusses the impact of her husband's illness and death on her faith and mental health. Daree shares how she remembers his memory and discusses the lessons she has learned on her grieving journey. She also provides insights into how we can support people who are grieving. Daree is the host of kickin it with Daree podcast, a Life Coach and voice actor.  

As a recovering perfectionist and control freak, I plan and control as much as possible. Unfortunately this COVID-19 pandemic did not fit into any of my plans. In my first solo episode of 2020, I share how I have managed to get through this shut down with my mental health mostly intact and the life lessons that I have learned that I think will be useful during and post pandemic. I am curious to hear what life lessons you have gleaned so far during this global pandemic. 

This episode is in a question and answer format where Abigail answers questions asked by listeners via social media platforms. Topics covered includes masturbation, mismatched libido, sex after birth, sex after weight gain, sex with someone you have known for a long time, sex after STI or STD diagnosis and many more. Abigail Hust, MSW, LISW-S is a Clinical Social Worker specializing in sex therapy and treatment of adolescents, couples and adults. She utilizes a sex positive approach to work with people on exploring and developing a healthy sense of self. Abigail's Instagram handle is sexpositiveohio and her website is sexpositiveohio.com

This episode is in a question and answer format where Abigail answers questions asked by listeners via social media platforms. Topics covered includes masturbation, mismatched libido, sex after birth, sex after weight gain, sex with someone you have known for a long time, sex after STI or STD diagnosis and many more. Abigail Hust, MSW, LISW-S is a Clinical Social Worker specializing in sex therapy and treatment of adolescents, couples and adults. She utilizes a sex positive approach to work with people on exploring and developing a healthy sense of self. Abigail's Instagram handle is sexpositiveohio and her website is sexpositiveohio.com

Our culture is diet and weight obsessed and it has an impact on our self esteem and how we interact with food. This episode features Dr. Holly Davis, a counseling psychologist that specializes in eating disorder and body image concerns. Dr. Davis discusses the potential impact of diet culture on mental health and physical health outcomes. She also dispels general assumptions made about eating disorders and disordered eating. 

Our culture is diet and weight obsessed and it has an impact on our self esteem and how we interact with food. This episode features Dr. Holly Davis, a counseling psychologist that specializes in eating disorder and body image concerns. Dr. Davis discusses the potential impact of diet culture on mental health and physical health outcomes. She also dispels general assumptions made about eating disorders and disordered eating. 

For many people, the holidays brings stress and anxiety. Instead of enjoying the holidays, many people endure it. This episode focuses on ways to manage expectations during the holidays, challenge unhelpful thinking patterns that keep people trapped in old dysfunctional behaviors and ideas to keep the stress levels manageable. Jummy Olawale also shares how perfectionism ruined holidays and events for her and lessons she learned from those experiences. 

For many people, the holidays brings stress and anxiety. Instead of enjoying the holidays, many people endure it. This episode focuses on ways to manage expectations during the holidays, challenge unhelpful thinking patterns that keep people trapped in old dysfunctional behaviors and ideas to keep the stress levels manageable. Jummy Olawale also shares how perfectionism ruined holidays and events for her and lessons she learned from those experiences. 

Episode 14 details the struggles that I encountered as a young mother and how the internalized narratives from the general culture informed my thinking, expectations and led to feelings of inadequacy, perpetual guilt and shame. In this episode I shared how I was able to challenge the narratives of guilt, shame and perfection. I also share some of the things that I had to let go of, accept and change in my ongoing journey as a mother of my 2 precious children. 

Andrea Sager is a trademark attorney. In this episode Andrea shares about her miscarriage experience and the impact on her mental and marital health. Andrea discovers that she had miscarried at her routine follow up doctor's appointment. She shares how she struggled with depression for several months.  Andrea also shares how the experience of the miscarriage led to an "unspoken silence" in her marriage and how they healed through it. She shares how she is making meaning of her loss and using the experience to help other women who have experienced miscarriage. 

In this podcast episode I discuss how toxic relationships can negatively impact ones emotional health. I also share tips on how to handle toxic people, especially if they are family members. 

Amanda Kingsley shares how her struggles after having an abortion led her to becoming a Certified Life Coach that supports other women after an abortion. Amanda discusses how having an abortion can be lonely, shaming and bring up unexpected emotions. She also shares how empowering women who have had abortions to share their stories in non-judgmental environments can act as protective and resiliency factors to their mental health. Amanda is a mother of 3 children and she is dedicated to women's mental and emotional health, she walks women through the process of finding deep inner peace in order to live full and vibrant lives. Amanda can be reached at www.amandastarkingsley.com Amanda is also on FB: www.facebook.com/amandastarkingsley

In this episode, Brendan Mahan, M.ED., MS., shares how he re-defined his matrix of success as a man after experiencing multiple losses. After losing his job, the death of his mother, becoming a stay at home father and his car burning down, Brendan describes how those experiences helped shape the man he has become. He also offers some insights on how men can re-define their own successes even after experiencing failures and disappointments.   Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., MS., is an internationally recognized ADHD/Executive Function expert, and an engaging, sought-after speaker. He is also the producer and host of the ADHD Essentials Podcast. Brendan helps individuals, families, schools, and businesses manage the challenges of ADHD. His approach blends education, collaborative problem-solving, and accountability, with compassion, humor, and a focus on strengths and growth. Contact him at brendan@ADHDessentials.com.

Acacia Cook, MSSA, LISW is a trauma therapist. In this episode, Acacia shares her struggles with being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, an autoimmune disorder that causes weakness and rapid fatigue of muscles under voluntary control. Acacia was on her honeymoon when she became symptomatic. She shares the stories of her struggles in dealing with the disease. She also shares how she encourages herself using skills that she teaches her clients in session, going to therapy, drawing strength from her faith and the support of her family and friends. 

This episode focuses on the importance of letting go. Jummy explores the 4 obstacles to letting go of toxic and dysfunctional relationships. She also provides tips for letting go of friendships, romantic, work and familial relationships that wreak havoc on our physical and mental health.

In this episode I interview Carrie Fleider. Carrie is a mother to her beautiful 4 year daughter, she is also a Clinical social worker, and assistant director of the counseling center at OSU. Carrie shares about her journey to motherhood that begun in her 30s and that eventually led her to motherhood via adoption in her 40s. Carrie's mother died what she was just 4 years old and she says that the experience of growing up without a mother made her curious about motherhood and also made her want to be a mother. Carrie shares that she attempted assisted conception options after her hopes of being in a relationship and conceiving did not materialize in her 30's. Carrie shares how grieving and letting go of the the idea of motherhood via pregnancy in a relationship or assisted pregnancy eventually led her to adopt. Carrie openly shares about the challenges of the 2-3yrs adoption process, the adjustment period of transitioning from a single woman to mother of a toddler and the role that her supportive community played in keeping her grounded and encouraged.    

In this episode, I interviewed my friend Tiffany Raeshan. Tiffany is a Licensed Therapist and Christian Life Coach. In this episode, Tiffany shares how her life experiences and being a therapist have increased her passion for helping people get through break ups, heal, forgive, look out for red flags and have an awareness of their readiness to get back into the dating scene. Tiffany provides useful and applicable ideas and tools for anyone who has ever experienced a break up and is wondering how to date again without repeating past mistakes. 

In this episode, I interviewed my friend Sue Tamilio, MDiv. MA. Sue is an Ordained Minister and a mother of 3 beautiful children. Sue shares the painful realities of marital separation and the eventual divorce on her family. Sue was candid about the impact of the divorce on her mental health and her children. Sue shares how the painful process of divorce created an opportunity for self discovery. She shares how she has been able to build a fulfilling life by making intentional connections that she affectionately refers to as her "village." This episode is candid, heartbreaking and simultaneously inspiring and encouraging. 

In this episode, Kanyin Olubuyide shares her experience as a single woman in her 30's. Kanyin shares how she has been able to manage the competing emotions of contentment and loneliness. Kanyin also gives a detailed account of her journey to womanhood and how she has been able to define herself as a successful woman without being coupled.