Meant To Be
By Janeen Ellsworth
Meant To BeOct 13, 2022
19: "Why Is My Child So Stubborn?!" Parenting Help from a Human Design Perspective
Kids can be stubborn for a million different reasons. Sometimes it's because they're hungry, over-tired, have eaten too much sugar, or spent all day on a screen. Teens, especially, might see Mom or Dad as too strict, or feel that their freedom is being squashed. It may be that they've been ordered around at school all day, so they have zero patience left to comply with house rules. Energetically-speaking, though, stubbornness can emerge because our energy, as parents, comes into contact with our kids' energy, and together, we form a powerful, sometimes contrasting, conflicting, resistant bond, simply by sharing the same physical space. Other times, depending on who we are and how we parent, we just perceive kids as stubborn. BUT!
There are also those special beings out there who were just born to defy -- and that doesn't have to be a bad thing!
This week Janeen shares snippets from one of her recent videos explaining 3 of the most common places she sees in the Human Design chart that reveal why people of any age are experienced by others as stubborn, hard-headed, strong-willed or defiant. She offers tips and tools on how to work with these big energies so you can help your child turn them into superpowers instead of into shame-causing character flaws.
If you have a stubborn, spirited, strong-willed child, reach out to Janeen to see if she can help. She's got loads of experience working with kids, is the mom of two spectacularly spirited 'tweens, and was, herself, an extremely stubborn child who gave her parents a hard time! Learn how to view this challenging energy from a new perspective so you can experience more compassion for those powerful beings you're raising AND create more peace in your home.
Catch the full episode on YouTube to follow along with visuals so you know exactly where to look in your kiddo's chart to see if they have these energies flowing through their body. Get that chart for free here.
Learn more about Parenting with Human Design to get help raising your S.O.S. (Stubborn, Sassy, Strong-Willed Or Spirited!) child here!
Be sure to stay connected by following on IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds, and FB @healwithHD.
MTB18: Are You Addicted to Self-Help?
Are you languishing in the dark, stinky sewer of shadow work? Stuck in a cycle of inner child healing that never seems to end? Do you believe you will manifest whatever you want...as long as you can finally heal all the stuff that's ever wrong with you first?! If so, you're wrong (there's nothing you need to 'fix' about yourself before you can manifest whatever you want). More importantly, you may be addicted to, or at least obsessed with, self-help, personal development or spiritual growth. If this is the case, it may be time for an intervention.
In this episode, Janeen covers some of the signs and symptoms of self-help addiction, based on her own experiences, and shares a few simple ways to break the habit and break free from the belief that you need to heal more before you can access your dreams. Learn how believing you need to be 'fixed' somehow could actually be the thing that's holding you apart from all you've ever wanted, and learn how to embrace the real magic of your life right here, right now, exactly as you are.
For more visit https://linktr.ee/janeenellsworth.
"How Does Your Child Operate?" Take the parent survey and be entered to win a free Human Design reading for your child! Visit https://forms.gle/KmB7qXu8CdZD3ksL6 to answer 21 questions. Winner will be drawn March 1, 2023! *Must include child's birth data and a US mobile phone number to qualify.
Are you a Human Design Generator? Learn more about it in this just-released serial, "The Generator Guidebook: Optimizing Your Human Design Energy Type," by Janeen Ellsworth, available now on Kindle Vella!
MTB17: The 5 Energy Types in Human Design
Do you know your Human Design Energy Type? If not, what are you waiting for? Download your chart for free at https://janeenellsworth.com/home/free-human-design-chart/ to discover the role you're here to play in this lifetime! Look for your Energy Type, and listen in as Janeen summarizes the 5 different roles we humans have been given to help us walk through this lifetime: Manifestor, Generator, Manifesting Generator, Projector and Reflector.
We each carry our own unique method for receiving, generating, processing and expending energy. Which means there's a particular way we could be using our energy that's most ideal and specific to us, and which is not necessarily useful for everyone else.
Unfortunately, most of us have spent years forcing ourselves to operate the way others do: we hustle, we push, we follow the paths already laid out for us (for all kinds of reasons), which all takes us even farther off our own path of truth and authenticity.
Listen to the descriptions of the 5 Energy Types in Human Design and see if you relate to your type after you've looked it up. Learn your unique Strategy for removing friction from life and moving forward with more ease and flow.
When we realize just how different our Energy Type is from other people's, our paths become clear. We make so many realizations about where we've been forcing ourselves to operate in ways that are unnatural, that we can finally see why we're tired all the time, unhappy with our life choices, dissatisfied and hopeless.
Turn your life around, remember who you really are inside and who you came here to be, feel more joyful and peaceful, beginning with this one small step: find out how you were designed to process energy. What you do with it next is entirely up to you!
Learn more or book a 1:1 Human Design reading to start working with your unique energetic makeup in a way that brings more satisfaction and ease into your life. Visit https://janeenellsworth.com to book a session and make sure to follow Janeen on IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds and Facebook @healwithHD.
#humandesign
#humandesignenergytypes
#humandesigngenerator
#Humandesignmanifestor
#humandesignprojector
#humandesignmanifestinggenerator
#humandesignreflector
MTB16: Alignment, Integrity & Being a Generator, with Human Design Reader & Alignment Coach Lori Lisai
What's it like to be a Human Design Generator? How can we use our Human Design to step into alignment? What does it mean to live in integrity with your spirit? Find out in today's episode of Meant To Be! Janeen is joined in a very special guest interview with the inspiring, motivational Human Design Reader and Alignment Coach, Lori Lisai. Listen to her story about losing enthusiasm and becoming less and less satisfied with her path as a longtime public school teacher, and learn how she started paying attention to her body's response signal to draw her toward a major life and career change, one that's filled with Zen and Grit, is creating deeper connection between herself and those around her, tons more enthusiasm for experiencing all life has to offer, and loads more satisfaction by the end of the day.
Connect with Lori Lisai and check out her programs by visiting https://lorilisai.com, and follow her on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
References: "The Way of Integrity," by Martha Beck, Intestellar, 2014 film Directed by Christopher Nolan, Produced by Warner Bros., and Katie Irvine's HD School - get on the waitlist now!
#humandesign
#spirituality
#personalgrowth
#alignment
#genekeys
#humandesigngenerators
MTB15: Re-Connecting the Mind, Body, Emotions & Spirit To Reach Alignment
Are you disassociated from your body? Are you listening to its cues, paying attention to its critical messages? In this episode, we talk about reconnecting and reintegrating the parts of us -- body, thoughts, feelings and soul -- that we may have once abandoned, so we can get back to center and become one complete, aligned being again.
Janeen shares her take on why re-integrating the body is so important, and how she uses Human Design as the tool for illuminating where there's deeper self-development work to do. Also in this episode, get a rundown of what Human Design is, and what it definitely is not. Before delving into and using this complex system, it's worth taking note of some common mischaracterizations and confusing perceptions that are out there about what Human Design is. Join us as we debunk some myths and get to the work of reconnecting our bodies back into our full radiant existence.
If you're in the Pittsburgh area and you're looking to connect with other likeminded soul-seekers over Human Design, join Connect & Reflect, a community meetup and conversation group hosted and facilitated by Janeen! The first in our monthly gathering series takes place Thursday, January 12 at 6pm. Get full details, tickets and registration at Eventbrite! Space is limited so sign up asap!
To contact Janeen or book a 1:1 session, visit https://janeenellsworth.com/work-with-me/
#humandesign
#selfdevelopment
#personalgrowth
MTB14: How to Know Who's Radiating Peace, Love, Comfort & Joy this Holiday Season
Part 5 of our 5-part series on Holiday Help to get you through this season of togetherness! This week we bask in the glory of good vibes, taking a tour through the Human Design bodygraph chart to uncover some of Janeen's favorite places to look for Love, Peace, Comfort and Joy.
Pro tip: Many of us behold the power to radiate such frequencies, and yet we forget we even own them, so we wind up languishing in the lower vibration of our 'not self,' missing millions of opportunities to experience true inner goodness.
Join us as we explore how these different frequencies show up in our bodies and in our interactions with others, and which parts of our Human Design they come from. Learn what the high vibration, and low vibration, of each of these Human Design elements is so you can determine where you may need to do a little realignment. Because, remember, we all have the capacity to radiate good vibrations.
Here's to basking in peace, love, comfort and joy this holiday season!
Learn more at https://janeenellsworth.com. Follow in IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds and on Facebook @healwithHD.
MTB13: Triggers, Criticism & Sources of Conflict - Energy Themes to Watch Out for This Holiday Season
Continuing in our Holiday Help series this week, we cover four of the Gates, or 'energy themes,' in Human Design which could be the source of conflict or friction at upcoming family get-togethers.
Learn what kinds of energetic themes might be presenting themselves, through us and through our loved ones, at holiday gatherings so you can become aware of these dynamics if/when they come into play. Build your awareness around how we exchange and experience these energetics so you can bring more compassion, comfort, peace and joy to your family togetherness. Find out how to make adjustments in your life that will allow you to step into these energies at their highest vibration rather than emitting them as 'negative' or low-vibe traits.
Learn more at https://janeenellsworth.com. Book a reading or sign up for ongoing mentorship with Janeen Ellsworth, Author, Human Design Reader, Mentor and Host of the Meant To Be podcast! Sign up for my newsletter and don't forget to connect on IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds and FB @healwithHD!
#humandesign
#personaldevelopment
#spirituality
MTB12: Is That Stress You're Carrying Actually Yours?
How do you manage stress? A healthy dose of it helps us Get Stuff Done. Too much and we can experience overwhelm, anxiety, depression, feelings of time running out and a seemingly never-ending to-do list. Learn why you may actually be absorbing other people's stress and amplifying their signal, or broadcasting your stress unintentionally, causing other people in your life to feel it just as much, if not worse.
Today we're looking at stress and pressure through the lens of Human Design, exploring the Root Center in depth. Find out how this Energy Center works, what it means to have one that's Defined, Undefined or Open, and how these variations show up for each of us in life differently.
Head into the holidays with another tool in your toolbelt to head off any potential family friction, knowing which pressure is yours to keep and which you can let go of.
Learn more at janeenellsworth.com. Follow IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds. DM anytime!
To book your In-Depth Human Design Reading and receive your custom-made Human Design Owner's Manual before prices go up in 2023, order now by contacting ellsworthjaneen@gmail.com.
MTB11: How to Honor & Embrace Your Sense of Self
Are you one of the many people who are dreading more face-time with family over holidays? It's too bad, but a valid reason to be hesitant to attend more gatherings if you've got family members who are critical, judgmental or passive aggression, especially when it comes to your life choices and sense of identity.
Join me for this conversation about the G Center in Human Design, that diamond in the center of the chest on your bodygraph. The G Center is responsible for our sense of self and our direction in life, and in my opinion, is one of the most vulnerable areas where we're prone to conditioning.
Learn what it means to have a Defined, Undefined or an Open G Center, how it works in the body, and how it gets conditioned for people in different ways. You'll find out how you can protect your G and build a relationship with it, so that when you walk into your next holiday gathering, you'll be armed with awareness and compassion about your identity and direction, both for yourself and for others.
This episode is packed with tools and tips on how you can begin the process of deconditioning, or deprogramming, any false, limiting beliefs you may have picked up throughout your life about who you were taught you were "supposed to" become, so you can start to truly honor and embrace the radiance of the real you who has been living inside all along instead.
Book your In-Depth Human Design Reading now before prices go up in 2023!
And stay connected on IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds and Facebook @healwithhd!
#humandesign
#personaldevelopment
#selfhelp
#spirituality
#senseofself
#identity
MTB10: What’s a Throat Wound & How Can You Heal It?
Let's talk about authentic communication and the power of the Throat as an energy center. This episode covers what happens when we experience shaming and criticism about the way we express ourselves early in life. What results is what we call, in Human Design, a Throat wound. Janeen shares how Throat wounds can show up later--both emotionally and physiologically--to cut us off from sharing or expressing who we really are and what we really want to say.
Learn about the differences between people who have Defined and Undefined or Open Throats in Human Design, and get some very simple, practical tips on unblocking this crucial energy center to use your voice for good.
Book your In-Depth Human Design Reading now before prices go up in 2023!
And stay connected on IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds and Facebook @healwithhd!
MTB9 Halloween Special: Spooky Pittsburgh Stories!
It's time for a mug of cider, a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds and some spooky ghost stories to make the hairs on your arms stand up! In honor of Halloween, this week I'm joined by three incredible guests from right here in my hometown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who share their stories of the paranormal, the unexplained and the downright blood-chilling. Join us as we amble through the tales of visits from passed loved ones, eerie energetic events, a haunted jail and resentful house-ghosts!
Strap on a costume, light up a jack-o-lantern and gather 'round your digital device for some good ol' fashioned storytelling! (*This episode is family friendly...mostly!) The stories here might creep you out, but I hope they also leave you with a little more compassion and reverence for those who've left this world and transitioned to the next. Remember: Our energy is never destroyed; it simply changes when we leave these fleshy meat-suits and resume a life of eternal light and love.
Have a very happy, safe and joy-filled Halloween, everyone! And don't forget to honor your dearly departed on Nov. 1, All Saints Day (or Dia de los Muertos).
If you're ready to tap into the energetic imprint you came into this lifetime with, and you're eager to learn how to embody your greatest energetic gifts through Human Design, reach out for a full chart reading and 1:1 coaching with me! Learn more about Human Design and book a session at janeenellsworth.com. Be sure to stay connected on IG at @janeenjustlikeitsounds or Facebook at @healwithHD. And sign up for my e-newsletter here so you're first to get the latest announcements, info, deals and discounts.
Related Links:
Things to do in Jim Thorpe, PA
#humandesign
MTB8: What Does a Woodpecker Symbolize?
Nature symbols, in all their glory, are back again! This time, featuring the mighty woodpecker. Learn what these majestic creatures represent and why spotting one could suggest a whisper from the universe that's telling you, "Hang in there, kiddo. You got this!"
Plus, does the Law of Attraction really work? I share my personal experience with using it and why I believe it's harder than it sounds. In my experience, there's more work to do under the surface before we can really achieve Magical Magnetic Attractor Status. But hey, maybe I'm wrong. It does work, to a point at least. Huge thanks anyway to Esther Hicks and Abraham-Hicks for kicking off millions of peoples' journeys into spiritual and personal development though. They truly are responsible for getting a ton of us to a critical launching point where we can now embrace Divine Guidance and Source Wisdom. So, props to y'all. No disrespect there. (I signed up years ago to receive their daily quotes via email and I love getting them every day, and you should sign up, too!)
***ANNOUNCEMENT*** Final call for folks to join the last day of my parenting workshop, "Discover & Nurture Your Child's Greatest Gifts Using Human Design!" Register via Eventbrite to get the link to the meetup taking place Friday, Oct. 21 at 12 Noon EST. This is the last opportunity to participate for FREE!
Also mentioned on this week's show: NYT Bestselling Author Gaelen Foley and E.G. Foley Check 'em out!
For more info or to book a Human Design reading to support your parenting journey, get career clarity, or dive into personal development, visit janeenellsworth.com!
MTB7: Shadow Work & Spiritual Bypass
A lot of people are talking about how to do shadow work these days, but what is it? In this episode, you'll learn why it's deeply transformational, healing self-reflection that is absolutely valuable and necessary for anyone seeking to grow and transcend on this human journey through life.
Meanwhile, when you hear people talk about another buzz word, 'spiritual bypass,' they often do so in a way that kind of shames people who aren't endeavoring into this difficult work.
That's why I've put these two topics together in one episode. Because skipping over the hard stuff in life and not facing the ugliness that lives inside us in order to make peace with it and release it is spiritual bypass. It's easy to sit down and journal your list of intentions or what you appreciate. And it's fun to create a vision board. But positive thinking doesn't get you to the deep, dark, gnarly place of shadow, which is desperate for your attention and love. The irony is, that deep self-love and unconditional acceptance of both the good and the bad inside each of us is what we're all yearning for. And they, in my opinion, are our keys that open the doorway to abundance and happiness.
In this episode, I share some snippets of the shadow work I've done, how you can incorporate these practices into your life, ways you can begin to build a safe and loving relationship with the shadow inside you, and why it's so essential to stop trying to hide and shame her.
PS - It's not too late to register for my FREE 3-part workshop and focus group! Join me along with some other amazing parents to discuss how you can "Discover & Nurture Your Child's Greatest Gifts Using Human Design." Register asap via Eventbrite, and meet us Friday 10/14 at Noon EST for Part 2, and then again on Friday, 10/21 at Noon EST for Part 3. Part 2 will cover how each of us was uniquely built to make decisions. Part 3 will explore each child and parent's most prominent energetic themes they came to this earth with. Don't miss it! Or do, and catch it in the future when it comes with a price tag;)
Learn more at https://janeenellsworth.com, and be sure to follow me on IG @janeenjustlikeitsounds.
MTB6: What Are Angel Numbers?
What does it mean when you keep seeing the same series of numbers everywhere you look? Maybe the sequence 4-4-4 keeps showing up for you every time you look at the clock, check your odometer or see the price listed at the gas station. Could it have any significance? Actually, yes. Seeing the same repeated number pattern may be a sign from your spirit guides urging you to make a certain decision or to look at your life through a different lens!
In this episode, you'll learn what angel numbers are, where they come from, and how they tie in with our daily lives and with the greater universe. Janeen covers the meaning behind some of the numbers most commonly seen in repeating patterns in everyday life. She also dips into some basics on Numerology, the Fibonacci Sequence and Voronoi diagrams--but don't worry, there won't be a math quiz at the end!
Special shout-out to Rachel Grace of Grace Crystals & Academy, whose beautiful deck of Numerology cards were used alongside others as a resource for this episode. Order your deck of Numerology Cards by Rachel Grace here!
***ATTN PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, GRANDPARENTS AND EDUCATORS*** Please join Janeen this Friday, 10/7/22, live at noon EST, for a FREE virtual workshop: 'Discover & Nurture Your Child's Greatest Gifts.' Learn how to use Human Design to identify and cultivate the box of tools your kiddo(s) came to earth with, so they can grow into the highest, fullest expressions of their whole, true selves. Space is limited so register asap!
Sign up for the latest e-news to get discounts, announcements and info at janeenellsworth.com, and be sure to follow Janeen on Instagram and Facebook.
MTB5: Symbols of Magic in Nature - Grasshoppers
Signs and symbols are everywhere, especially in the natural world. As part of the Magic in Nature series, this episode explains why grasshoppers are symbols of good luck, prosperity and strength. Sit back, relax, and bask in the breeze with this short storytelling episode with Janeen. Reflect on the goodness of your life. Relax into the joy of simplicity. Listen for the clues in your surroundings as you move throughout your day. Dial into the frequency of nature as it guides you toward ease, flow, and the gentle unfolding of your spiritual path. What is nature telling you?
Grasshoppers have been lauded throughout history as symbols of good luck and strength. If you see one today, the Universe just might be telling you it's time to leap toward your dreams!
Learn more about getting in tune with your authentic self and how to let spirit guide you at https://janeenellsworth.com.
#spirituality #nature #naturehealing #symbology #spiritanimals #storytelling #humandesign
MTB4: Surrendering Victimhood & the Energetics of Forgiveness
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses a traumatic event which may be triggering for some listeners.
*****
Everything has a vibration; people, animals, even inanimate objects. And so, too, does forgiveness carry its own energetic frequency. The energy of forgiveness, when offered in full authenticity to someone who's done you wrong, is immensely powerful and can be extremely healing for people who are yearning to move past old wounds and proceed with their lives by telling a different story--not one which erases history or denies any wrongdoing, but one that vanquishes victimhood and makes room for the power that's always been there, as well as for new growth, more strength and wider expansion.
As long as you're ready to really and truly forgive.
In this episode, Janeen tells a story from childhood of a traumatic assault which has haunted her for years. But, she explains, she's received new guidance for what to do about it. Hear how she recently channeled a message of forgiveness straight from Source, and took it as divine intelligence for what she needed to do in order to finally heal from an event that created repeated triggers 35 years on.
She'd never even once considered forgiving her attackers all these years; not until now. Learn how the possibility of forgiveness can open up a new perspective, generate new questions that have never been asked, and create an enormous sense of relief in you, too, if you're grappling with an old hurt that's caused anger, resentment, the label of victimhood, or contempt for others.
Get helpful tips on how to process the trauma that lives inside your body, including suggestions for vagus nerve toning, shaking, and prayer. But of course, always consult your physician or mental health practitioner to guide your trauma recovery journey. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can call the National Sex Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 for 24-hour support.
Thank you for sharing this space today. Our connection was Meant To Be.
Learn more about how you can connect with your internal gifts and your divine guidance at janeenellsworth.com. Janeen is now booking 1:1 Human Design readings, so if you're interested in uncovering your power and learning how to align to the fullest expression of you, visit her website to learn more. And be sure to follow her on Instagram at @janeenjustlikeitsounds.
#trauma
#healing
#divineguidance
#trigger
#humandesign
#spirituality
#personalgrowth
#personaldevelopment
MTB3: New Moons, Full Moons & Planetary Influence This Month
What does a New Moon even mean? Are we actually affected by what the planets are doing in the sky? Why should you care where the Sun is right now?
Find out on this Astro-hacking episode! Janeen shares her take on the state of the cosmos for September 2022. Enjoy this curated waltz through the planets to learn more about the lasting effects of the New Moon in Virgo, how to prepare for the upcoming Full Moon in Pisces, what energy to expect as we move toward the Fall Equinox and Libra season, and how the Sun is affecting our decision-making right now. Also get a glimpse into some of the most frustrating Gates in Human Design (imho!) and why they matter to everyone so much right now. Learn more about Human Design and how to use it to fast-track your personal development journey, guide you through conscientious parenting, or choose the right career path, at janeenellsworth.com.
Also check out my book! Now available on Kindle Vella: "Friendship Style by Human Design Energy Type," by Janeen Ellsworth
The Human Design Podcast with Emma Dunwoody
Katie Irvine at Sort of Spiritual HD School
#humandesign
#planets
#astrology
#fullmoon
#newmoon
MTB2: How to Forgive Yourself For Screwing Up
And also! my new book, "Friendship Style by Human Design Energy Type," is out! Available now on Kindle Vella for download on any device! Get the first three chapters completely free and kick off your perusal into Human Design using one of my favorite topics, friendship! We'll look at Human Design, an incredibly accurate but very complex system, as a window through which to study how our friendships work the way they do. Why we behave the way we do around certain people and in certain social situations. Why we are so different from one another. And how we can all work together to get along swimmingly; fully accepting ourselves and one another, with compassion and love.
From the cover:
"Friendships are complicated, and people are weird! If making friends (and keeping them) has ever been a challenge for you, this lighthearted, introductory spin through the 5 Human Design Energy Types will help. Learn how each Type is likely to behave in social interactions, how people might be experiencing your energetic vibe without you realizing it, why some friends seem to draw you in while others feel repellant, and how all 5 Types can work together to build real, lasting connection."
MTB 1: Aligned, On Track & Rolling With My Human Design
We're back, and though the furniture's been rearranged around here, we've also gotten into alignment. Better still, we continue on our quest to understand how each of us can deepen our connections -- to ourselves, to our loved ones, and to this magical world around us! We're so glad you're here for the renewed, renamed, reimagined, rebuilt show we're calling "Meant To Be." This is the place we'll talk about all things mystical! In this first, introductory episode of the new show, Janeen shares the transformation the past few months have brought, explaining how studying and experimenting with Human Design has helped her view her life through a new, empowering lens. She shares what it's like being a Human Design Manifestor and how knowing that's her Type has been liberating and validating. She explains how she's working to overcome her shadow, heal old wounds, embrace her inner brat and solve a ton of her life's mysteries that've been nagging her for decades. She gets into the story of her childhood recurring nightmare about her death in a past life, how she's experimented with Tarot and Ouija boards, how she's practicing meditation and learning about epigenetics and more--all topics we'll get into here on future episodes. And she shares insights into how you, too, can start using the system of Human Design to uncover the real you to let your radiance shine bright! For more on understanding your Human Design, subscribe or follow "Meant To Be." To book a live Human Design reading with Janeen, or to order your very own customized Human Design Owner's Manual, visit https://janeenellsworth.com. And don't forget to follow her on Instagram at @janeenjustlikeitsounds.
WF26. Expansion, Rebirth & Renewal + A Big Announcement
Springtime is a season for expansion, renewal and regrowth. As such, the time has come for Women Friends to undertake a renewal process of its own. Join Janeen for this very special solo episode where she shares a big announcement on some major changes to the trajectory of the show. Hear how she envisions a more expansive plan for the future and aims to include more discussions on personal development, spirituality, the metaphysical realm, Human Design as a tool for deeper self-awareness, and so much more!
Learn how she's taking what could have been a major setback and is turning it, instead, into a sweet opportunity to grow into alignment. Find out why she's decided to change the conversation around friendship as its own, isolated topic, and is shifting toward discussing precisely how and why we humans connect with, first, ourselves, and second, to one another. We'll be taking a hiatus to strategize, rebrand and expand, so please stay tuned and subscribe so you know when brand new episodes of the new-and-improved show air!
WF25. Author Lori Jakiela on How to Help A Friend Through Illness
How do we show up for a friend who's been given a serious health diagnosis? How can we be helpful and supportive of our friend, be sure we're not imposing, and feel certain that however we offer help, that we do so in a way that's actually useful? Moreover, what do we do if we just can't handle the challenges our friend is facing?
These are just some of the questions we're tackling this week on Women Friends, as host Janeen Ellsworth is joined by award-winning author Lori Jakiela, a.k.a. the "Queen of the wise one-liner," according to author Stewart O'Nan. Jakiela's award-winning books, poems, and essays beautifully depict the heartache, pain, and the oftentimes bizarre hilarity of life. Belief Is Its Own Kind Of Truth, Maybe; The Bridge to Take When Things Get Serious; Portrait of the Artist as a Bingo Worker; Miss New York Has Everything; and other books in her repertoire, along with essays like "Except for the Cancer, I'm Fine," and many more, reveal Jakiela's personal journey through adoption and searching for her birth family, the mother-daughter relationship, the writer's life, growing up in the Rustbelt, and her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Jakiela’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and loads of other publications, and we're honored she agreed to have this intimate chat with us. We discuss the (unnecessary) shame and guilt that arise when friends don't know how--or if, or when--to support someone through a difficult time like an illness. We talk about loneliness as a public health crisis, how books can be our best friends, raising daughters, and more. Jakiela also shares some of the beautiful ways her friends supported her (or, in some cases, didn't...) throughout her bout with cancer, through the surgeries and during her recuperation.
Just as her stories always wrap us in a big warm hug of compassion and empathy for just how hard life can be, so too does this conversation, which offers us a permission slip to simply do the best we can with what we've got when it comes to supporting each other. Rather than hang our heads in sorrow and shame for not being there when someone hits a health setback, Lori humbly assures us that feeling guilty isn't the point. "Don't worry," she says. "Everyone is going through something."
Here's to showing up for our friends as best we can, whenever we can, with all the love we have in our hearts to give.
Follow us on IG @womenfriendsthepodcast
WF24. Taking Good Care of Friendships, with Author Isabelle Alerte
It takes courage and a sense of responsibility to be a good friend. But we don't always demonstrate those qualities as best as we can, and then we suffer, with lost friendships and loneliness. So, when was the last time you sat down and took an inventory of your actions regarding how you handle friendships? Are you taking responsibility for maintaining and grooming your connections with the care, attention and nourishment they need to keep them healthy? If your answer is, 'Yikes, maybe not!' then you do not want to miss this episode! I'm honored to be joined by author and creator of InWrittenWord.com, Isabelle Alerte, whose essay "Learning to Be A Friend" reveals the courageous inventory she took of where she fell short in maintaining friendships. In this episode, she shares the ramifications that some of her behaviors, like self-isolation, living in a bubble, avoiding friends and canceling plans last-minute, which we're all guilty of from time to time, had on her relationships. And she discusses how she made some major changes to the way she operated as a friend in order to rebuild her friend circles into the vibrant and fulfilling connections they are today. She offers some great advice and reassurance for anyone who may have lost a friendship on how to start over: with courage, compassion and vulnerability. Check out Isa's live readings of her work on Instagram at @isa.alerte, and read through some of her beautiful memoirs and interviews at https://www.inwrittenword.com/. #friendship #women #selfdevelopment #vulnerability #newfriends
WF23. Unlock the Power Inside You with Letitia of BlaqueRose Coaching
What limiting story are you telling about yourself? What falsehoods or judgments have others placed upon you that you internalized early on and which are now causing you to hide your real power? Set them free and rise to your true potential! This episode welcomes the advice and experience of career and mindset coach Letitia Francis of BlaqueRose Coaching, who is helping women do just that. She explains how, through her one-on-one coaching programs and digital course offerings, she's been helping women uncover their immense power, release their light and find abundance, through leaving the soul-sucking career they've settled for and building a successful business of their own. We talk the Great Resignation, vulnerability, hiding behind expectations, changing our narrative from one of victimhood to one of empowerment, and so much more. This conversation is fire! Check out the online courses available at www.BlaqueRosecoaching.com, follow Letitia's amazing Instagram feed at @BlaqueRoseCoaching, and listen to her new podcast, "Choosing Her Hustle," for more career, mindset and life lessons, plus inspiring wisdom just like you're getting here. For more women-focused awesomness, advice on building connection, tips on uncovering your self-worth and how to find satisfying friendships, subscribe to or follow Women Friends, the Podcast, read the blog at www.women-friends.com, join us for great conversations at our private Facebook group, and follow us on Instagram at @WomenFriendsthePodcast. I'm so glad you're here!
WF22. How to Communicate Hurt Feelings Without Breaking A Friendship
This week's solo episode with Janeen answers a listener question: "How can I communicate that I've had my feelings hurt without breaking the friendship?" Join us as we delve deep into the connection between emotional hurt and physical pain, and why it's so important to get quiet and let that physical pain work its way into--and more importantly--OUT of your body. We explore whether some friends' actions are patterns, whether they were insensitive jabs versus major infractions, why some hurt feelings come about merely as a friend's attempt to cheer you up but land in poor taste or with terrible timing. We ask whether you're in a toxic friendship and whether it's worth trying to mend things, what's in it for you if you do need to make sure the friend knows they've hurt you, and ways to show up compassionately and vulnerably to inform your friend you felt hurt by what they did. Even if they don't reciprocate that compassion, and even if they don't issue an apology from the heart, at least you know you did what you could to save the bond, and at least you grew from this experience. There's a lot to unpack here! Join us. Get more at www.women-friends.com, join the private Women Friends Facebook group, and follow us on IG @womenfriendsthepodcast. Send your questions about friendship to janeen@women-friends.com.
Relevant links:
The Human Design Podcast with Emma Dunwoody – 2022 March Transits episode
Psychology Today, Alan Phogel, Ph.D. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/body-sense/201204/emotional-and-physical-pain-activate-similar-brain-regions
Daniel Pink – “The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward”
WF21. How to Return to the Workforce, with Career Coach Lalena Kennedy
Is the Great Resignation over? Millions of women left the workforce throughout the Covid pandemic, but many seem ready to get back to work--even though "work," under the new normal, may look a lot different for them now than it did before. This week we're joined by professional brand strategist and career coach, Lalena Kennedy, founder of Profile Impressions and expert on all things LinkedIn, résumé-building and brand storytelling. She's here to offer advice to anyone who may be considering a return to work after taking time off, or who is simply interested in making a change to their professional trajectory. We cover how jobseekers can turn their weaknesses into strengths to make their LinkedIn profile stand out, how to communicate better in professional environments with colleagues and bosses who are vastly different from ourselves, how we can conduct ourselves in job interviews when we're asked those dreadful, hard questions, and the best ways to present ourselves online to be positioned for the best-fitting work. Lalena is a brilliant and compassionate coach who's knowledgeable about every industry under the sun. She's got her finger on the pulse of the job market and the gig economy, and has helped hundreds of job seekers find fulfilling, rewarding careers. Lalena is a Job Search Strategist, Branding Coach, Freelance Copywriter and Public Speaker, and I'm honored to call her my friend. You will get SO much out of the wisdom she shares on this very special episode. Follow her work and connect with her for career guidance via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalenakennedy/. Learn more at women-friends.com. And we'd love it if you'd follow, rate and review Women Friends!
WF20. Choices, Balance & No B.S. in Friendship & Marriage, A Valentine's Day Special
Happy Valentine's Day! Celebrate friendship in love and in marriage with my guests for this very special episode, Niki and Caitlin. Hear how they paved their own road to achieving the "American dream" of finding love, marriage and parenthood. Despite societal pressures, health challenges, past relationships that were toxic and more, Niki and Caitlin have built a life that's filled with love and TONS of giggles. They chat about finding balance in each other, discovering that there are options and choices for each of us far beyond what our limiting beliefs often tell us, and why they find comfort in knowing there's no B.S. when it comes to their partnership.
Join us as they offer insights into their journey through foster parenthood, too, and learn about Niki's launch of Three Rivers Nannies, a Pittsburgh-based nanny service focusing on supportive caretaking--not just for the families who desperately need childcare at this crazy time, but for the professionals who provide that critical caretaking as well. Follow Three Rivers Nannies on Facebook for updates, and hug your nanny today! (National Nanny Appreciation Week is Sept. 18-24, 2022!)
WF19. Say "Yes" to New Opportunities, with Chronic Disease Expert, Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb
How many of us have shied away from events, group meetups or parties because they fell outside of our social comfort zones? How many times have we declined invitations simply because we felt shy? Why do we stay stuck in old, limiting friendship patterns even when our lives completely change, like after a divorce or career shift? Join me for Ep. 19 of Women Friends to hear from my friend and chronic disease expert, Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb, who shares why she started saying "Yes" to every invite after her marriage ended, and how doing so helped her build a phenomenal, vibrant and fulfilling social life.
Besides being Associate Professor of Epidemiology; Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, the first tenured Black professor in the department, and an expert in Covid-19, Diabetes and Obesity, Dr. Gary-Webb also happens to be a dancer with the Legacy Arts Project's African Dance Ensemble in Pittsburgh, Pa, as well as mother to two amazing 'tween girls. In our conversation, she discusses the importance of maintaining some semblance of work-life balance, even as a single mom, especially given the times we're currently facing, and most importantly, with regard to the nature of the work she does on improving health outcomes for Minority populations. With so much riding on her shoulders, she explains how she keeps grounded and gets a much-needed release from being around friends.
Dr. Gary-Webb also talks about raising daughters in puberty. We touch on the sometimes-difficult topics that we once covered during potluck dinners that originally brought us together. She shares how she found friends to help her recover from divorce. And, critically, she explains how she's helping to lead Pittsburgh's Black Equity Coalition to bring higher Covid-19 vaccination rates and prevention awareness to the region's Black and Brown communities.
Please stick around for this inspiring conversation!
WF18. Overcoming Shyness & Finding Better Friends with Author & Coach Paul Sanders
What makes people shy? How can we overcome shyness, step outside our comfort zones, and start to build satisfying social lives with high-quality friends? Join us for Ep. 18 of Women Friends when we hear from author, coach and founder of GetTheFriendsYouWant.com, Paul Sanders, who helps us understand the source of shyness, how to overcome it, and so much more. We discuss the differences between shyness and social anxiety, conversation skills and how to make superficial acquaintances into actual friends. He also explains why loneliness is actually a crucial signal letting us know something's wrong, and how we can turn it into a superpower.
Paul Sanders has been writing and coaching on loneliness, shyness, social skills, conversation, friendship, and social life since 2011. He has helped thousands of people change their social lives for the better, and we are ecstatic to have him on the show, sharing his wisdom, experience and proven-to-work tips on how to build great, long-lasting, fulfilling friendships. Follow Paul Sanders on Instagram at @paulsanders2, and be sure to buy his book, Get The Friends You Want, which is packed with helpful, actionable insights about making great friends.
WF17. ‘Mean Girls' & Bullying, with PA School Counselor of the Year, Lezlie DelVecchio-Marks
Join us for this info-packed, super-fun conversation filled with with actionable tips on how parents and caregivers can teach kids empathy, help them build resilience in early childhood, stop bullies in their tracks, and learn what behaviors to look out for (and put an end to) to determine whether our kids are being the aggressors.
Counselor-recommended reading: "The Invisible Boy" by Trudy Ludwig (contains affiliate link). From the Amazon book description: "Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource. Includes a discussion guide and resources for further reading."
Get more at women-friends.com, follow Women Friends on Instagram at @womenfriendsthepodcast, and join the private Women Friends Facebook group.
Women Friends Season 2 Trailer!!!
Women Friends is back for another season of building connections, deepening relationships and untangling the awkwardness that keeps us blocked from making friends. Catch this sneak peek trailer to find out what's ahead for Women Friends in 2022. We've got loads of amazing expert interviews and more heart-to-heart chats with host Janeen Ellsworth. This episode brings you some snippets from her convos with guests, like nutritionist and host of The Fullness Podcast, Tanya Stricek; friendship coach and author of “Get the Friends You Want,” Paul Sanders; professional branding consultant Lalena Kennedy; career coach Letitia at Blaquerose Coaching; Certified School Counselor and winner of the 2020 Pennsylvania School Counselor of the Year Lezlie DelVecchio-Marks; and epidemiologist/Covid-19 expert Dr. Tiffany Gary-Webb! Get more at www.women-friends.com, follow us on Instagram at @womenfriendsthepodcast, catch videos on the Women Friends YouTube channel, and join our community inside the Women Friends private Facebook group!
WF16. Lessons Learned & Big Takeaways: Season 1 Finale!
It's the final wrap-up to Season 1 of Women Friends! We're taking a look back at all the lessons learned throughout our first collection of interviews and reflections: on making commitments to friends, being intentional, showing up with our full heart to friendships -- vulnerability, challenges and all -- having the willingness to explore our deepest selves, and so much more. With a closing reading of Yung Pueblo's recent Instagram passage that focuses on connection with others and connection with self, and a glimpse into what's in store for Season 2.
Tune in again for Season 2 of Women Friends, beginning in January 2022! Follow Women Friends on Instagram @womenfriendsthepodcast, and join the Women Friends private Facebook group. Be sure to catch the latest blog posts and more from women-friends.com.
WF15. Crossing the Vulnerability Barrier, with Postpartum Doula Sherilyn Saporito
In Ep. 15, I speak to Pittsburgh Postpartum Doula Sherilyn Saporito, who shares how she's helping women through caretaking and support services in the home when they are their most vulnerable: right after birth. With a newborn, lots of parents feel depleted, overwhelmed, sleep-deprived and a whole host of other hormone-driven emotions. (I share a story at the top of the episode about how I once treated a friend very badly when I was a new mom; exhausted, desperate, filled with postpartum rage and overcome by anxiety. It wasn't pretty. Boy, could I have used Sheri's help then!)
When a postpartum doula enters the scene, though, parents get the support they need, like dishwashing, older-child-sitting, pet walking, bottle feeding, baby cuddling or any other kind of support that would put the mother at ease and comfort. Moms and Dads who hire postpartum doulas make a commitment to allow their vulnerability to show--something that prideful people, such as myself, may not be willing to do. When I was a new mom, I didn't want anyone to know that I felt like I was terrible at it. I felt like the worst mom in the world because I couldn't get my baby to sleep. When a friend tried to help, I screamed at her instead of allowing my fears show. I chased her away rather than allow her kindness in. And that put a block up that prevented our friendship from continuing.
Sheri talks about how, in modern Western culture, we're cut off from the communities of female support that once existed but which are so necessary for women who need to recover from the bodily trauma of birth, so that they can become well-rested, functioning, good mothers. She discusses how we, in modern culture, rarely interact in co-caretaking activities with other families; how we can reach age 40, give birth, and our own newborn might be the only baby we've ever held. We need help!
Moreover, today's women have been raised to believe we have to do this mothering/advancing career/looking gorgeous/having a satisfying social life thing all on our own--and to make it look easy--when, truly, it's just not possible. At least, not without support, whether that comes from friends or professionals like a postpartum doula.
Learn more about this ancient service with a modern nonjudgmental twist in Ep. 15 of Women Friends. Follow Sheri on Instagram at @pittsburgh_postpartum_doula, and check out her business partner, Laura McCarthy's, website to learn more about their services at wearyourlittleone.com/.
Please rate, review and share Women Friends! Get more on www.women-friends.com, follow us on IG at @womenfriendsthepodcast, and be sure to join our private Women Friends Facebook group for conversations, videos and more.
WF14. Jealousy, Complainers & the Characters We Play
Come behind the scenes with actor and singer, Carolyn Cole, as she tells Janeen how performers make and keep friends, even while auditioning for the same roles. She explains why actors drop their physical boundaries onstage for the sake of the show, how she handles jealousy and competition, who her favorite princess to play is, and why finding something positive about every situation is so important to her well-being. We talk about body image, chronic complainers, growing up with all sisters, the role of faith in life, and how our mothers can be our best role models for learning we're valuable--but also learning that our siblings matter too, and we're not the center of the universe! Carolyn also shares her recommendation for getting to know your friends better, which is through the awesome game "We're Not Really Strangers" (affiliate link) by photographer and model Koreen. "We're Not Really Strangers is a purpose driven card game and movement all about empowering meaningful connections. Three carefully crafted levels of questions and wildcards that allow you to deepen your existing relationships and create new ones." Sounds like We're Not Really Strangers would make a great holiday gift! Catch Carolyn Cole performing Your Favorite Christmas songs live with The Living Street Band at Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh, from 6 til 9pm on Thursday 12/23! Learn more at www.women-friends.com.
WF13. Boundaries, Self-Care & Finding Holiday Peace
If the holidays bring on stress and sadness rather than sparkle and cheer, you're not alone. A lot of us are feeling heavy and slowly filling with dread. Not to mention we're collectively facing some seriously heavy eclipse energy this weekend and, once again, trying to figure out how to navigate holiday gatherings with friends and family under the ominous cloud of Covid. So, in Ep. 13, we're covering ways to cope with all the eggnog-induced, tinsel-laced anxiety, so we can try and uncover true holiday peace that lets us actually enjoy ourselves with the ones we love, rather than wind up feeling spent, stressed and broke. Join Janeen this week as she talks about cutting out the litany of obligations and helps you drill down into how it is you want to feel when the season's greetings are all said and done. And get 5 helpful tips for managing holiday stress this year and every year after. Learn more at www.women-friends.com, follow us on IG @womenfriendsthepodcast, and request to join the private Women Friends Facebook group to participate in the community!
WF12. Grateful for Friends? Listeners Share Why This Thanksgiving!
This Thanksgiving, we're handing the mic to listeners to find out why they value their friends! Host Janeen asked people to contribute notes on who they're thankful for, and women delivered. But, as it turns out, talking about gratitude for friendship is tougher than it seems for many. Our friendships are complicated. Along with all the shared celebrations, comfort and loyalty friends provide, a lot of women have experienced heartache, betrayal, friend breakups, and long stretches of isolation, leaving them feeling burned and alone. Yet the 'feeling' of friendlessness might actually be a mindset that we choose to stay stuck in.
In Ep. 12, we talk about turning toward gratitude for everything that we have, in order to feel like we actually have friends to be grateful for. Instead of focusing on the people we don't have in our lives, perhaps it's time to focus our energy on those we do have surrounding us. We discuss how to turn away from wallowing in sorrow, and toward basking in your own self-worth, even if this is a season of alone-time. We discuss moving away from negative self-talk like, "No one ever calls me," to a narrative that comes from a place of thankfulness like, "I'm glad I met her, I'd like to get to know her better." It's a slight shift of perspective, but one that can truly be transformative, and it does take lots of practice.
ENORMOUS thanks to each of the brave souls who were willing to step forward and share their voices for this very special, gratitude-filled, Thanksgiving episode. Learn more at https://women-friends.com/. Follow, rate and review us on iTunes to help more women find us! Follow us on Instagram at @womenfriendsthepodcast. And be sure to join the private Women Friends Facebook group to dive into meaningful conversations with other like-minded women.
WF11. We're Majestically Messed Up, Sacred Beings!
In this solo episode, host Janeen reviews some recent articles about friendship, offering stark counterpoints to what she says they're getting wrong about making friends. They make it sound easy to just "be vulnerable" with each other, or to simply join a group, or to ask someone for their number. These tasks are monumental for some of us. Janeen argues that a lot of the conversation about friendship today assumes people are all well-adjusted, functioning individuals that are free from pain, trauma and mental health difficulties. When in reality, we humans carry a ton of pain and trauma with us, and that we are fundamentally affected by past hurts as well as by a wide range of personality quirks. "We're all weird!" she proclaims. This can make it really hard to find and keep good friends, and nearly impossible to "just be vulnerable" with one another. From feelings of inadequacy to jealousy and competitiveness, all the way to coping with severe mental health challenges, Janeen suggests most people have the ability to become self-actualized but that, even still, we can forget that others are suffering. And that means we're failing to appreciate one another for our "majestically beautiful" flaws. She goes further to state that we humans are sacred beings, created from stardust, and that if we were to honor each other's human pain more often, and approach potential friends as the sacred beings they truly are, each of us would be able to communicate and build connections much more easily. Join Janeen for a rare glimpse at one of her philosophical diatribes! Learn more on vulnerability, friendship blocks and humans as sacred beings at https://women-friends.com/blog. Want to be featured on Women Friends? Share a friendship story with Janeen for an upcoming show by leaving a voice memo here!
References:
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/10/13/adults-making-new-friends
https://tobemagnetic.com/expanded-podcast/2021/172
Anne Lamott's "Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace"
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibilia
Contains affiliate links.
Women Friends Season 1 Trailer
Girlfriends. Gal pals. Soul sisters. Whatever we call our female friends, these relationships are always unique and valuable, sometimes hard to come by, and, quite often, complicated.
In Women Friends, the Podcast, we celebrate the magic of platonic friendships, reflect on what having girlfriends means to us as we navigate life’s ups and downs, and ask each other some hard questions--like why is it so hard to make, and keep, female friends?
These are the stories of everyday women, just like you and me, sharing their wisdom, experiences, vulnerabilities and advice about how to build and maintain healthy female friendships.
I’m your host, Janeen Ellsworth, and I’m so glad you’ve joined our conversation. I’m the Season 1 Trailer, you’ll meet some amazing guests who have bravely shared their stories to help us reflect on our own friendships. Get more about them and these beautiful conversations at www.women-friends.com!
WF10. Numerology, Crystals & 5D Friendship, with Psychic Medium Rachel Grace
Ever wonder what it's like being able to see, hear and know things others don't? Curious how connection with cosmic energies might affect friendship? Psychic medium, spiritual teacher, crystals expert and numerologist Rachel Grace shares what it was like growing up seeing spirits, knowing the future and finding her way through life--and friendship--as a psychic. She offers expert tips on how we can use spiritual development tools like crystals, life path numbers, Tarot cards and more to deepen our friendships. She also explains the difference between pre-destiny and free will, and how our current-day connections are family members or friends we've known throughout past lives. This conversation is so rich and intriguing, you do not want to miss it. Be sure to check out Rachel Grace at https://www.gracecrystals.com/ to learn about her upcoming mediumship courses and sales at her Sydney, Australia-based crystals shop, follow her on Instagram and Facebook, and check out her new podcast, The Spiritual PurSuit Podcast!
WF9. Bridesmaids, BFFs & Brotherly Love
What happens when your BFF becomes your sister-in-law? How does it affect the family when there's a rift between you two? Meet Mina, who, in Ep. 9, shares her tale of broken friendship, family heartache, and a hilariously failed attempt to cause a scene at her friend's wedding. Mina explains the compassionate way her husband ultimately urged her and his sister to reunite. Fast-forward 40 years, Mina recounts the beautiful, deep friendship that has grown between herself and her sister-in-law since the early 1980s and how they've kept their connection alive through marriage, family holidays, motherhood, career changes and moving around the world. Stay tuned to hear the whole episode, because toward the end Mina drops a surprise bombshell story recounting why she's estranged from her own family. Women everywhere will see a little bit of themselves in this story, and Mina hopes they take away this nugget: that whenever there's a disagreement, rift, argument or hard feelings between you and a friend, know that in 40 years neither of you will remember what that fight was even about. She says that it's worth it to go back to whatever connected you two in the first place, focus on the love you once shared, and forget about the stupid argument--because, as she says, when you're ancient, it won't matter one bit. Get more on this episode and resources for navigating friendship and family dynamics at https://women-friends.com/blog/! And if you'd like to have your friendship story featured on Women Friends, we'd love to hear from you. Share a quick recount of it by leaving a voice memo for us here, and we may play it on a future show! Don't forget to leave your name and where you're from!
WF8: Personas, Narcissism & Roller Skate Magic
Trigger Warning: This episode may be triggering for some listeners. What's it like being married to a narcissist? How can you help a friend escape a toxic relationship? This week, my guest Jane shares how abuse in her marriage crept in little by little, how loyalty kept her hopeful that her husband would change his ways, and why no one is ever immune to abuse. Jane reveals how her partner's narcissism affected every aspect of her life--from family to motherhood to friendship bonds to work. But Jane also explains how her women friends ultimately came through after a desperate cry for help, pulling her out of her lowest rock bottom. She also discusses the personas we play on social media and in our public lives, communication with friends as an introvert, what it was like growing up as a tomboy, how she rediscovered a childhood passion (roller skating!) in mid-life, and why it's so important for women to hold each other up, especially in today's world. For more on our conversation and links on escaping a narcissistic relationship, visit www.women-friends.com/blog. If you know someone who needs to hear this, please share.
WF7. Potlucks, Baby Pics & Nice, Hearty Hugs
Healthy friendship requires us to accept our friends for who they are at their core as we both grow and change; to be comfortable with the silence that may be necessary as two people in conflict spend time apart in reflection; to make an effort to stay in that person's life when, deep down, we love them. In Ep. 7, Janeen speaks with Juanita; a friend who works in nonprofit, has five wonderful children and is someone who is expert at bringing people together through her quiet grace and amazing gatherings. She and Janeen discuss the potluck group they take part in that was designed intentionally, in response to social, racial and political upheaval, and what it took to keep showing up for some tough conversations. Hear how Juanita has kept friends since childhood, and what kind of olive branch she extended that brought her and a dear old friend back together after years of uncomfortable silence. Juanita touches on raising her daughters to be good friends, what it was like growing up with all brothers, and her experience moving from down South to Pittsburgh, Pa. Learn more at www.women-friends.com/blog. Share your story! Record your own brief voice memo sharing how you've extended an olive branch to repair a broken friendship in your life, by going to https://www.speakpipe.com/WomenFriends, and your message could be played on a future show!
WF6. Power, Secrets & Toxic Friendships
WF5. Grief Training, Love Bonds & Virtual Equity
There's no handbook for coping with loss, and when a friend suffers the death of a close family member, many of us have no clue how to show up in support. In this episode, however, designer, busy mother and my friend, Ayca, shares her experience with grief after her twin brother's passing four years ago, and how friends helped her get through it. She offers clear, simple, actionable advice to those of us wondering how to comfort someone who's grieving. (Spoiler alert: it's as easy as texting them a heart emoji once a month.) Plus, family traditions and how to cultivate deeper friendships virtually in the Covid era. More on this episode at the Women Friends blog!
WF4: Globe Trotting, Paralysis & #Nonewfriends
Yoga teacher, Thai Chi instructor, world traveler and my friend, Lizandra, shares how to be her own best friend AND stay connected to friends around the world, even while living a nomadic lifestyle. She talks about how it feels being a single, childless woman whose friends mostly have kids and husbands. We talk about guy friends and how to be a great house guest, and you'll also hear about the harrowing accident that left her partially paralyzed. She reveals how friendship played a prominent role in her amazing recovery journey, and also explains her need for boundary setting--by inventing the hashtag 'no new friends,' which comes in handy for those times when we really need quiet solitude and just can't squeeze any new relationships into our lives. Visit the Women Friends blog for more on this episode.
WF3. Let's Meet Each Other Where We Are
This is an unplanned, unedited recording we're swapping in as a substitute for a previous episode, meant to honor the trust of someone we love and preserve the well-being of our fellow females collectively. When something doesn't feel right, we have to listen to our gut and just go with it. Which is why I appreciate knowing a former guest decided it just didn't feel right, having her story shared in public. So we took it down. Friendship is about meeting each other where we are and being okay with where one another is, wherever that may be.
WF2. Self-worth, Forever Friends & Lumps of Clay
A candid conversation with my mother, Pat Wilson, on self-worth, and how she's kept the same group of friends for nearly 70 years--despite being a self-proclaimed bossy person! Learn from her story of how she's managed as friends have come and gone throughout times of divorce, job changes and medical challenges. www.women-friends.com
WF1. Let's Vanquish the Loneliness Epidemic Together
The loneliness pandemic is real, and over time, feelings of loneliness become detrimental to our overall health and well-being. That's why I'm kicking off the show with this background episode, to discuss why I think it's crucial to start putting friendship under a microscope. How can we learn about ourselves as friends, and what can we discover about the people in our lives so that we can show up as true friends? I've struggled with loneliness my whole life despite having lots of friends, and have vowed never to let isolation bring me down again--whether or not Covid-19 or the Delta variant bring more lockdowns. Join me so we can vanquish loneliness together, and begin building deeper, more meaningful connections with the people in our lives. www.women-friends.com