The final episode of Season 1! We bookend the season back together in conversation to reflect on where we are, where we’ve been, and what we’ve learned. We share the five themes we heard this season. What did you learn about taking risks this season?

⁠⁠⁠Download the Risk Conversation Guide!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Topics discussed in this episode:

The podcast evolved from workplaces in the lead to stories taking the lead (1:18)

Make the medicine you need (3:06)

Learn from yourself, listen to yourself, your story is power (4:55)

5 themes from the season (6:08)

1. Don’t do it all at once.

2. Taking this risk does not make the people in your life less important.

3. Let it be messy.

4. Give yourself grace and compassion. All of it.

5. Create community. Gather your people.

You are enough! Melody Godfred’s poem (17:06)

Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude (19:34)

Time to rest (22:00)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Self Love Poetry: For Thinkers and Feelers by Melody Godfred (17:06)

In this episode Yashica  talks about the difference between safe risks and risks that provide long term sustainable gratification over your lifetime. Yashica unpacks what risk means to our identity--our gender identity, our racial identity, our identities as mothers, daughters, changemakers, and more.

⁠⁠Download the Risk Conversation Guide!⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Topics discussed in this episode:

Yashica’s story (2:37)

 The term “risk” and how it is defined (8:17)

Taking the risks that are perceived as not for us (12:03) 

Taking meaningful risks (20:21)

Why taking risk on ourselves is so hard (27:10)

Trying to figure out how to love ourselves…and all the things (28:58)

Setting boundaries (33:10)

What are you doing for yourself today? (37:07)

Love languages can be for you too!! (39:02)

Don’t forget yourself (47:23)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Emotional Self Care for Black Women by Tiara Coleman (39:02)

• Verna Myers: How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly towards them (16:59)

In this episode Alison beautifully shares how starting a business changed how she sees herself and how she defines success. She talks through why she started her business, Gather + Sew, how mental health has shaped her life, and the power of honoring the incredible textile work of the women before us.

⁠Download the Risk Conversation Guide!⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Topics discussed in this episode:

Alison’s story (2:33)

How stories are the connective tissue of our lives (7:40)

What is Gather + Sew? (10:34)

Why Alison started her business (13:20)

Redefining our roles as women (18:17)

Defining success (23:59)

Shifting narratives and shifting relationships (29:50)

Take personal health days (33:56)

Pushing back on narratives that aren’t serving us anymore (37:33)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Narrative Identity, Dan McAdams (6:05)

• Changing the narrative of  yourself, Gregory Berns (7:40)

• Alison’s instagram

In this episode Jordan talks about taking on the role of City Manager in the small town in Oregon that had been devastated by wildfire just months before. She talks through why she threw her hat in the ring, how the future has to be taken on together, and how we are really never done taking leaps.

⁠Download the Risk Conversation Guide!⁠

⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Topics discussed in this episode:

Jordan’s story (1:59)

We regret the things we don’t take action on (5:57)

What recording the story I felt like (9:58)

The roles people play in our lives (11:25)

Why Jordan threw her hat in the ring (13:39)

How to build trust (20:53)

Apply for the job (24:16)

What to say to yourself before walking into the interview (29:14)

When a job is all consuming (33:53)

Taking care of ourselves is hard (34:51)

Jordan’s self check (38:04)

You can step away (42:22)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The 2020 Almeda wildfires (5:11)

In this episode Sydney talks about the risk of asking someone to be a friend, how hard it is to make new friends in your 40s, and different ways to make and sustain friendships throughout our lives.

Download the Risk Conversation Guide!

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram

Topics discussed in this episode:

Sydney’s story (2:31)

Where Melinda and Emily are in friendship making (6:16)

Loneliness and how to organically make friends (13:00)

Why Sydney started asking people out (23:00)

How friendships were modeled (27:37)

Breaking up with friends is hard (30:36)

Forming friendships at work (36:19)

What do you need from your female friends (43:29)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• You can’t go home again, Thomas Wolf (7:15)
• Dr. Maya Shankar’s loneliness episode with Dr. Vivek Murthy (13:00)
• Rebecca Adams on how to make friends (14:14)

In this episode, Emily shares her story about long-time medical uncertainty, the redemption of a diagnosis, learning to advocate for herself, the power of community, and when taking a risk feels like a choice and when it doesn’t. Hear more about how risk can not only take you down a new life path, but in Emily’s case, it can change how you live it!

⁠Website⁠, ⁠Donate⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram

⁠Find episode transcripts here.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Emily’s story (8:04)

How fear shows up for us (12:45)

“Seeking attention” means we need attention (15:00)

When fear can be helpful (16:47)

When a decision isn’t a decision (19:06)

Knowing that bad things do end (22:00)

The role of trust in shaping our experience (24:00)

Knowing your values (25:30)

Practices to support survival (30:40)

What we have to give is enough (36:05)

Whales are swimming in the ocean (39:00)

Leadership and a precious life (41:27)

What’s funny about brain surgery (44:24)

What would you tell yourself, knowing what you know? (46:38)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Get clear on your values with Brené Brown's list of values and value exercise
• Whales are swimming in the ocean (relaxing whale video) (39:19)
• “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Attribution unknown (43:38)

In this episode, Melinda sets the tone and theme (taking risks!) for the season by sharing her story! Melinda tells the story of standing on a street in Santiago, Chile and feeling the weight of taking a leap when you can't see the net.

⁠Website⁠, ⁠Donate⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram

⁠Find episode transcripts here.⁠

Topics discussed in this episode:

Melinda’s story (4:40)

Risk-taking isn’t a movie montage (10:47)

Risk-taking isn’t a moment, but a series of moments (11:30)

Our expectations on the other side of risk (16:30)

What keeps us in the hard moment? (19:10)

Walking away and walking toward choices (22:24)

The lessons we actually learn vs what we think we’ll learn (28:00)

What makes us proud in hard moments? (32:54)

Practicing being a perennial (36:17)

The role of regret (40:35)

What would you tell yourself now? (44:10)

If the dogs can do it, I can do it! (45:34)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Melinda and Emily bios (2:37)

listen to Gina explain the Perennial mindset at Blogher17 or hear more about this in episode 1! (37:20)

Mark Twain quote (41:22)

Dogs in sweaters in Santiago, Chile (44:28)

Welcome to this introductory episode of Time to Gather where you’ll get to know Emily and Melinda as both hosts and humans. Discover why they decided to start a podcast (hint: it’s the medicine they need and think it might help you too!) and get a sneak peek at what you can expect through season one.

⁠Website⁠, ⁠Donate⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram

Find episode transcripts here.

Topics discussed in this episode:

What we mean when we say women. (0:51)

Melinda and Emily bios (1:09)

Emotions at work- the permission and power (4:29)

Soft Leadership (5:30)

Taking care of ourselves while taking care of each other (7:28)

Use your energy for you first (8:55)

What is a perennial? (12:08) 

Who we’ll be talking to? (17:03)

What can you expect from this podcast? (17:44)

Why stories? (19:31)

You’re invited to gather with us. (20:20)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Gina Pell: listen to Gina explain the Perennial mindset at Blogher17 (11:29)
• Use your energy for you first (8:55)
• Thoughts on soft leadership by MS Rao (5:30)