Make Some Noise with Andrea Owen

This September is the 10th year anniversary of Your Kick-Ass Life! Over the years, the YKAL team has evolved and grown. In this episode, Liz Applegate, our lead coach here at YKAL, joins me for a conversation about shit that matters. We are talking about aging, perimenopause, and depression. One of the reasons I wanted to have a conversation about these topics was to shine a light on some of the ways they can show up in one’s life, especially in 2020, and the curveball we’ve been thrown this year. In this episode you’ll hear: Liz shares her history with depression and antidepressants and how she gave herself permission to seek mental health help. (8:30) I share my experience of how a discussion with my therapist about burnout turned into one about high functioning depression. (19:33) Our thoughts and feelings (and struggle) on being middle-aged. (22:08) What we think about navigating perimenopause. (34:25) http://yourkickasslife.com/355 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happiness. It’s 2020 and I have a feeling that many of us could use a dose of that. Right? Well, you’re in luck because Kim Strobel, happiness coach, joins me to talk about how to be happier. Happiness isn’t always born from unicorns and rainbows. In fact, you’ll hear how Kim’s happiness coaching was born out of her own trauma, darkness, and suffering. Together we discuss toxic positivity, why turning off negative feelings isn’t helpful, and the importance of putting your happiness first. Kim also shares some of the happiness habits we can practice in order to increase happiness levels. Finally, we also explore the Arena of Bigness, what it means, and how to step into the Arena with courage and do really hard things. In this episode you’ll hear: Kim opens up about her struggle with mental illness and what that looks like in her life now. (5:20) Why today’s culture of positivity and the conventional formula for happiness is wrong. (21:30) Putting your happiness and wellbeing at the forefront is of the utmost importance. (23:54) We all have a set baseline happiness default. Kim talks about how we can work to retrain the brain to feel happy even when struggling through tough times. (26:47) How somebody who feels as though they are living a small life can step out of that and into the Arena of Bigness. (42:08) http://yourkickasslife.com/354  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the YKAL podcast we’re talking about resilience and intuition. To help me unpack this topic is my guest, Dr. Andrea Pennington. She is an integrative physician, acupuncturist, meditation teacher, #1 international bestselling author, and TEDx speaker. Together Dr. Andrea and I discuss what it means to be resilient, how tolerating stress is not the same thing as being resilient, and how self-care plays a key role in resilience. Plus, she shares what it means to learn who you really are, how to share your personal story, and listening to your intuition. In this episode you’ll hear: Dr. Andrea shares her story of debilitating imposter syndrome and how it led her to do the work she is doing today. (9:18) What it means to be resilient and some traits of resilient people. (11:30) Tolerating stress is not the same as being resilient. (14:20) In order to embrace who you are, you must first need to learn who you are. (17:49) Dr. Andrea shares about her own struggle with depression and how music has been such an influence and help. (24:09) The power in sharing your personal story and how you can start sharing yours. (36:01) http://yourkickasslife.com/353  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Are you a woman who struggles with asking for what you want at work? This week we are talking about some of the things that hold women back in the workplace with guest, Sara Laschever! Sara is an authority on the challenges that shape women’s lives at work. She is the co-author, with Linda Babcock, of Women Don’t Ask, the groundbreaking study that first focused public attention on the forces preventing women from negotiating on their own behalf. I stumbled upon Sara’s work while doing research for my third book and I was fascinated. I am thrilled to have her on the show!In this episode you’ll hear:  Some common obstacles women confront in the workplace and some ways in which they can overcome them. (5:35) The impact of subconscious biases on women in the workplace. (13:07) Direct or controlling behavior in men at work will often go unremarked, yet with women, we tend to mark it. (18:12) Some ways in which women can go through the process of evaluating their talents and target what will make their personal and professional lives more fulfilling. (19:31) Why most women find it hard to negotiate their salaries or ask for the things they want. Plus, some small steps they can take towards asking for what they really want.(22:22) Has the culture of work changed? I asked Sara if the struggle with negotiations is more of a Baby Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, or Gen Z generation problem? Listen in to hear her answer. (30:59) http://yourkickasslife.com/352  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to personal development, positivity and cheering people on is great. And…if we really want to support and love women, we have to also make room for the difficult stuff, for the traumas and the “shadow side”. That is where this week’s guest, Christine Gutierrez’s work really comes in. Christine returns to the YKAL podcast and together we discuss honoring your pain, going to the darkness in order to get to the light and living in a world where your light side and dark side can co-exist. Christine is a Latina licensed psychothera​pist, life coach and expert in love addiction, trauma, abuse, and self- esteem. She is the author of the upcoming book, I am Diosa: A Journey to Healing Deep, Loving Yourself, and Coming Back to Your Soul. I hope you enjoy our conversation. Who is Diosa and what being Diosa is all about. (4:06) Christine’s book is broken up into three parts: The darkness, the light and the integration. She explains why she chose to write it in this way. (9:34) Why it is important to explore your emotional triggers. (14:26) How to know if you’ve experienced trauma. (16:03) Repairing your intuition after trauma and how to heal. (20:00) Why Christine walks people through a meditation journey to help them visualize their first memories of anger or sadness. (27:38) http://yourkickasslife.com/351  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the show we are talking about emotions, which my guest, Sherianna Boyle, has a specific methodology to work through them. I was “emotionally illiterate” for a really long time, which led to lots of numbing out, so I love learning different tools to process them!   Sherianna Boyle is an international Emotional Detox Coach®, author of eight books, including her most recent Emotional Detox and Emotional Detox for Anxiety. Emotions are so much to carry sometimes. But as Sherianna said during our time together, “Emotions are not the problem, it’s our reaction to them.” She helps us understand emotions, how to process them, and honor them.  In this episode you’ll hear: How emotions support a kick-ass life. (3:26) Sherianna shares how she was drawn to work as an Emotional Detox Coach®. (6:32) Emotional detox for anxiety and what it means. (7:35) All emotions are good when you process them. There is no negative emotion. (11:25) The Emotional Detox philosophy and how it applies to triggering experiences. (15:00) How Sherianna works with people who are disconnected from their feelings. (24:39) What to do if you carry core beliefs that you are the holder of others emotions. (30:00) We discuss surrendering and how it differs from letting go. (38:33) http://yourkickasslife.com/350  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Work is the number one place we make friendships as adults, according to Shasta Nelson. So why not focus on friendships where we are most of the time? Well, Shasta is back on the podcast this week to talk about this topic, one she is an expert in, friendships.Her newest book is all about friendships at work. And, this is definitely an interesting time for workplace friendships, with many working from home or working in the office but with socially distant restrictions. We can all use a little help with our relationships whether they are our personal relationships or friendships at work. I am happy to share our conversation with you.In this episode you’ll hear: The three things needed in a healthy relationship: consistency, vulnerability, and positivity. (5:43) Why having a best friend at work improves employee experience and organizational success. (9:31) How to handle the coworker friend who sucks the energy out of you and how to reduce the impact of their toxicity. (12:04) #RelationshipGoals at work - do you have to be friends with everyone? (13:42) Workplace boundaries and your responsibility around them. (18:17) What to do or say when you are working with someone who indulges in office gossip. (21:33) Leveraging your former professional friendships to help you during a job search. (27:47) http://yourkickasslife.com/349  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the YKAL podcast, my guest is Leah Campbell Badertscher. She is a former attorney turned artist and Master Life coach for world-class performers and leaders in the arts, business, and movements in positive change for the social good.During our conversation, Leah asks simply, “What are you giving up if you don’t go for it?” And that is the question she pondered after graduating law school. In this episode, she shares openly her battle with her inner-critic and how she pushed forward to pursue an artistic career. Her story of wanting to follow a specific path, but experiencing push back from self-talk is common. My hope is that if you see some of yourself in Leah’s story, you will be inspired to take action in your life. In this episode you’ll hear: Leah shares her journey from law career to artist. (4:14) Why it is important to not dismiss your intuition and instead listen to what you really want. (11:13) Leah talks about the battle with her inner critic and how she kept going. (24:58) How Leah learned to lean into self-trust. (35:30) Some of the pros and cons of the creative process. (41:26) http://yourkickasslife.com/348  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I have a Conversation About Shit That Matters With Unqualified People (CASTMWUP as we call it over here). But, this time my guest/friend is qualified to talk about today’s topic on diversity and inclusion. CASTMWUP episodes are less interviews and more conversations between friends. I assume people who listen to my podcast are those willing to engage in this conversation about race. I am not a race educator, but Jessica Sharp is. She has a Master’s of Public Affairs from the University of Missouri and is currently a student at William James College where she is obtaining a Doctorate in Leadership Psychology. Her work experience includes work in the non-profit sector and work in diversity & inclusion. My hope is that white women listen to Black voices who are race-educators, especially Black women. Because none of us are free until we’re all free. http://yourkickasslife.com/347  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leesa Renee Hall has helped over 33,000 leaders explore their unconscious biases using her signature process called Explore Biases Now. Author of ten books, Leesa was known as a technology pioneer before turning her attention to disrupting the misinformation hardcoded deep in the mind. I am thrilled to be able to share our important conversation with you this week! Today Leesa and I discuss reflective writing and self-reflection as an investment in your own life and your own healing. We explore the topic of stumbling bravely through understanding and processing our humanity. And, finally, we discuss how to stay in the work of unpacking your unconscious biases so you stand with and not for, black, indigenous, and people of color. In this episode you’ll hear: Leesa shares how she transitioned from working in tech to questioning her legacy and then moving to help others explore and unpack their unconscious biases. (3:33) By developing a habit around self-reflection, you begin to accept the nuances and complexities within yourself. (11:00) Why there is a disconnect between what we believe versus how we behave. (19:00) Leesa’s work with introverted, highly-sensitive people. (23:07) What happens to your nervous system when unpacking unconscious biases. (27:11) How to begin unpacking your unconscious biases, some first steps you can take. (43:00) Why perfectionism is a tool of white supremacy. (46:53) http://yourkickasslife.com/346  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices