My guest on this episode is disability educator and advocate Amy Webb.

Due to the current events happening at this particular time. Amy and I discuss the ramificaitons of the Texas vs Becerra lawsuit concerning section 504 of federal law. Seventeen states are suing, stating that section 504 is unconstitutional. Section 504 of the law protects disabled individuals from discrimintation. It was passed in 1973 due to incredible disable activists who fought for their rights over 50 years ago and now it is on the brink of being stripped away.

Amy shares some amazing history and thoughts about the disabled community and the dignity and worth they bring to all of us in society. Some of the really important points she brings to the pod are:

*When you design for people on the margins you don't leave anyone out.

*Accommodations for the disabled give to everyone.

*These accomodations don't leave anyone out, and in fact bring inclusion to all.

*What kind of world do we want to live in? The one of giving our most vulnerable civil rights? Or stripping away 50+ years of hard fought for civil rights.

*The disable deserve to be met with dignity and accommodations to get health care, school support etc.

*We must listen to disabled voices and the advocates and activists in the community.

Amy gives two tips to anyone who needs to advocate for the disabled (especially parents):

1. Speak up when you can and how it works for you.
2. Educate yourself on the disabled community, on laws, on diagnoses that can receive services etc.

Although we talked about a time sensitive issues of the 504 lawsuit, the history talked about and the principles of inclusion and advocacy apply to any situation.

Amy's website:

thislittlemiggy.com

Amy's books:

https://a.co/d/9n5jXQx

https://a.co/d/bvRHUm8

https://a.co/d/hF1iXpn

Crip Camp

https://www.netflix.com/title/81001496

Can a 5 minute walk really change your life?

It absolutely has changed mine in significant ways. In this episode I share:

*Research about the benefits of walking

*How walking is connected to EMDR therapy

*How I started with the smallest, tiniest goal

* Now I have built my walking habit from a 5 minute walk to a 30 minute walk

*That needing cute workout clothes was hampering my ability to get out and go.

*Walking in your pajamas is okay

*How my life has changed for both my mental and physical health

*Why this isn't a weight loss program but a gentle, helpful way to care for my body and my whole self.

Happy 100th episode!

This episode is a celebration of getting to 100 episodes! It's been hard fought for and taken 4 years!

I share where I have been, where the podcast is going, the focus is shifting a little and a new project I am so excited about. A nonprofit called Love like a Mother that will support moms of kids who have attempted or completed suicide and could use some love and support for them.

I have 3 amazing and insightful guests on. First off is my son Garrett who is much of my inspiration for this podcast and my work. He shares some of his thoughts of how parents can help their kids out. Next are two friends of mine Barb and Staci who share what podcast episodes have helped them personally and helped them be more supportive of their families.

This is such a good episode and I hope that by hearing others thoughts about the podcast it will help you find episodes that can help you and your family!

My guest Jessica Frew is a delightful person to listen to talk about her incredible story and about what happens when life throws you a major curve ball.

Jessica married Steven and two years into their marriage he came out to her as gay. They stayed married and had a daughter but eventually the marriage dissolved but their friendship and connection remain strong. They both are remarried and she says their daughter has more people to love her. Listen to the episode to hear the truly remarkable story of living with intention, doing what is best for their daughter and how love overcomes so much.

Jessica also talks about how we are often the first person we are taught not to trust, how our intuition often gets pushed down and we lose the ability to hear and trust it.

I love her message of "unshoulding" on yourself and your life. We often have a vision of what life should look like, and when it doesn't look like that we think something is wrong and we live in disappointment and even shame and guilt.

This episode will delight, encourage and instruct you in powerful ways to live and thrive when life doesn't look like you thought it should.

This episode is about something near and dear to my heart, getting into nature. Nature therapy is one of my most used and powerful tools to heal and to improve my mental health.

Brittany Crane of the company Get out there Girl is my guest. Brittany is a living example of getting outside, seeking and creating adventures and encouraging other women to do the same. She plans regular adventurous retreats for women to get them outside and to gain all the benefits of nature and connection with other women.

We chat about self compassion and how that is a tool we need in our toolbelt to heal and to take the leap to take care of ourselves. It is the most amazing process to give yourself the love and compassion you would give to a dear friend.

There is a growing science that shows that the four hormones which promote wellbeing - endorphin, serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin are boosted during sensory immersion in Nature. Walking 7,500 steps a day is also linked to a longer, healthier life as physical activity releases endorphins.

Brittany has also created a clothing line for active women to wear when they get outside and into nature. It is called Olli adventure. I have a pair of her joggers and they are awesome!

Here is where you can find Brittany and look into her retreats:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/get_out_there_girl/?hl=en

Website:

https://getouttheregirl.com

Ollie clothing:

https://www.ollistyle.com

"We are never more fully alive, more completely oursevles, or more deeply engrossed than when we are playing." Charles Schaefer

How does play affect our mental health? How does it aid in our healing of past traumas and struggles?

My guest in this episode is Ashlynn Mitchell. I have followed Ashlynn for many years on Instagram and she is an incredible example of resilience and healing. I have learned about so many tools and perspective shifts and ways of healing.

Recently I have watched her as she has incorporated FUN and PLAY into her healing. She has rediscovered roller skating as a form of play and I have loved watching her pure joy as she skates and learns and grows. As soon as I saw she went to a roller skating retreat with women she didn't know I knew I needed her on the show.

The benefits of laughter as a release as well as singing, dancing, PLAYING cannot be overstated for all humans. Laughter is as effective as an emotional release as crying, and sometimes they can be done together!

Ashlynn works with women who have been betrayed in their relationships. She runs incredible groups where women find support, healing and community. You can find Ashlynn at the links below:

Website:

https://thisisashlynn.com

Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-ashlynn/id1575575273

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/this.isashlynn/

Creativity opens the closets, airs out the cellars and attics. It brings healing.

During this month of May which is mental health awareness month, i wanted to do something a bit differently. Talking about mental illness and bringing awareness can often feel heavy.

This year I wanted to focus on a few lighter, fun things that can greatly improve our mental health.

Our first topic this year is how Creativity can greatly improve our health, both physical and mental and how to can open up both sides of the brain and can bring healing and fun.

My guest is someone I have followed on Instagram for years, Lynn Muir. She has the account pocketful of paint and shares her creative pursuits and artwork on her account. I told Lynn it feels like her need to create is as strong as her need to breathe and she agreed. She makes beautiful artwork from pressed flowers, paints murals, gardens and hosts womens retreats where she teaches them to paint among other things.

Lynn shares she grew up with two creatives as parents who encouraged her to take risks, to make mistakes, to make messes and that creativity was a huge value in her home growing up.

Creating art has helped Lynn heal both physically and mentally from a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. She is the mom of 5 and encourages her kids to create and nurture their gifts and talents.

She talks about how working with your hands specifically can help our mental health, help our stress levels and bring joy and fulfillment into our lives.

You will love this episode and Lynn will inspire you to create and find your own way to express yourself.

Lynn's instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/pocketfulofpaint/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/pocketfulofpaint.studio/

Lynn's art website:

https://pocketfulofpaintstudio.com

This episode with Jill Freestone as a guest is part 2 of a series about when our children leave our faith tradition. What do we do as parents? How do we unpack some of the unhealthy narratives we've absorbed over the years about our role as parents in our kids faith journey? What things have been said over pulpits in years past that have made us feel like if we are just righteous enough our kids won't leave our religion?

This episode actually focuses heavily on some of the doctrine and cultural beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and how they have affected parents reactions to their children leaving the church for generations. How can we have healtheir responses and relationships with our children who leave? Why is nurturing and building that relationship so important?

What is our job as parents?

• to love, nurture, teach (not control outcome)

• to do our own internal work

• shift from a fear based relationship with God/ church to

  agency/love/ infinite grace and compassion/ eternal progression

• Honor agency and choice
• Focus on connection over control
• Respect boundaries
• Expand our perspective
• Recognize that just because we teach principles doesn't mean they will follow them

Most parents and kids are operating from a Fear and control based relationship with God themselves as well - NOT AGENCY

Do we believe in a compassionate grace filled God?

Do we believe in an infinite atonement and eternal progression?

When and where does God's compassion and grace end?

• never

What do our Heavenly Parents really want for Their children?

• Growth and to practice love

Reteach grace and atonement

• This is essential as well as

Can we stop putting God in a box and truly trust God enough to take care of our children?

Your kids have a Savior and it's not you.

Teens and young adults questioning and pulling away from their parents is a health and normal part of development. Even older adult children who were never given the freedoms to question and experiment and pull away may do that often at midlife.

God is in relentless pursuit of us and eternal progression is the good news of the gospel and of jesus coming to earth to heal every single one of us.