Insights with Us

E37 Amandasmildtakes Takes on Panic

How do you find hope in times of fear? How do you fight facism as a single human being? What does it actually mean to use humor as a weapon? Listen in today as Amanda from Amanda’s Mild Takes shares a historical perspective of modern times and her hot take on what to do about it. 
 
Find Amanda:
Instagram/Tiktok: @amandasmildtakes
Substack: https://amandasmildtakes.substack.com/
 
If you do nothing else, remember how important it is to build your community and keep those around you safe. You might just be a single person, but together, we are loud, and we can make a difference.

E36 Acceptance

This episode explores the concept of acceptance. I discuss acceptance vs complacently, the importance of letting the full range of human experiences exist. I talk about how to accept what is out of your control, and how to find what is within it. I then explore a quick tool to be more intentional within your reactions to help you decide how to show up.
This episode I partner with OctopiedMind.com, find your own mental health attire and use code insightswithus15 for a discount at checkout.

E35 Seasons of Life with Faye Maguire

Is your life turning out exactly the way you want? Probably not. Does that mean you've failed? NOT AT ALL. Today I am joined by Faye Maguire and we explore all the twists and turns life took her on, how she noticed it, and what she has achieved in life (both professionally and personally). 
 
What to expect in this episode:
1:49 Where did you start?
13:35 How did you switch to therapy?
22:11 Examining dreams and depth psychology
39:05 How to notice choice points in life

E34 Listening to your body

In today's episode, I try to answer the question: how can we start connecting and listening to our bodies?
Even if you are someone who has never thought about embodiment work or wanting to listen to your body and it’s cues, I promise you, you already listen to your body in some way. It’s just on autopilot and maybe you’ve never slowed down to notice it. 
Have you ever needed to stretch? Ever rolled your neck? Ever just wanted to sit or lie down and get off your feet? What about wanting to put lotion on? Grab a sweater? Take off a sweater? Each of these reactions are to a body cue. 
 
What you can expect from this episode:
- Learning how to notice what you already do (and successfully I might add)
- How to increase upon your natural connection.
- How to take that connection and notice more nuanced cues, including those related to your emotional reactions
- A guided exercise to put it into practice
 
Let’s get started, and see if we can build some insight today.

E33 What is Trauma with Amanda Ng

Today I am joined by Amanda Ng, an integrative mind-body therapist  and founder of Mind to Matter. She works with clients around the world in navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, and chronic stress - along with the ripple effects these have on their physical health, sense of connection, and work performance. You can find her at mindtomatter.co
Together in this episode we explore the differences and similarities within the human experience across cultures in how it relates to trauma. We connect on our life experiences, process the mind-body connection and how it shifts when there is trauma present. We process what it means to slow down and build insight into reactions we don’t understand, and rethink how we show up in the world (which is a difficult change to make).

E32 Conflict in Relationships

Do you ever get stuck in an old pattern? React to something in your present moment in that way that you wish you hadn’t? Do you and your partner snap at each other or even blow up at each other and it feels like you can’t stop? In this episode, I explore some of the research behind what creates wedges in relationships and increased fighting within your conflict or disagreement. 
 
You are not alone, these are common interactions within any relationship, but if you can build language around what these patterns are, you have a better chance of navigating them without exploding at the people you love.
 
Join me, and let’s see if we can build insight today.

E31 Emotional Attunement and Coregulation with William O'Connor

What happens when we pull away from intellectualizing and “logical” thought, and instead take a moment to notice our reactions and show up in our relationships in a truly relational way? Join me as I learn what it means to build honest and real connection within a community with William from Inventive Wellness. We dive deep into regenerative connection, grounding within the group instead of focusing on the individual, and how to show up in this world as yourself.
 
What you can expect from this episode:
3:26 Shifting life plans towards community connection
5:00 Emergent language and relational ecology
7:30 Separating from thought based reactions
10:20 Get out of processing and into process
16:45 The Mindfulness Revolution 
21:00 Coregulation and the shared nervous system
31:30 Regenerative connection and unconditionality
41:00 Accepting the unknowing of life
52:00 Find coherence in the chaos
59:44 Accepting others and your experience

E30 Change Sucks - Here's How I Navigate It

Do you try to convince yourself not to be anxious when you have a big life change? Do people tell you you should be happy or excited about what's happening, when really all you're feeling is dread or panic? You're not alone.
 
There are a lot of different reasons leading to these adverse or contrary reactions. Listen in as I explore a big change in my life and the insights I've built around my reactions followed by ways to navigate it and how to give yourself grace when you have no motivation.
 
What you can expect from this episode:
2:08 Change can be difficult, and we all respond differently 
5:20 Different layers behind our reactions
9:09 Change as a catalyst for adverse reactions
10:47 Mantra for navigating stress
 14:45 Mental Health Hacks when you're feeling off 
18:20 A meditation to help you slow down and settle in to the good
 
And yes, I dropped the season from the episode name, I decided it was arbitrary and I didn't need it. 

S2E29 Gratitude with Mr. Gathercole

How do you get out of your head? How do you share gratitude? How do you slow down and remember what life has to offer?
 
Listen to an powerful advocate of slowing down and enjoying the little moments, and an influential person in my life. My coach, my counselor, Mr Gathercole. He spent most of his career working overseas as a school counselor and is now retired and working as a college admissions counselor helping young adults find their spark. 
 
What to expect from this episode:
2:25 How did you become a school counselor?
5:51 Living abroad
9:09 Lightbulb moments from your career
14:15 Learning from and trying to understand each other
22:30 We tend to underestimate ourselves
27:57 What makes you, you?
30:53 What are you grateful for?
36:04 How to get out of the details and enjoy existence?
43:00 Following dreams, chronic pain, and gratitude

S2E28 Authenticity

What does it mean to show up as your true self? What does showing up authentically mean? Some assume it’s being the same way 100% of the time and never shifting or changing depending on the situation, but this does not allow for flexibility within your experience. Join me as I talk about the differences in authenticity and how to find balance within your social circles. 
 
What to expect in this episode:
1:15 Putting on a mask and pretending
2:40 Aggressive authenticity
4:08 We are all different people with different needs
5:00 Listening to the inner voice
6:20 Examples of compassionate authenticity
9:10 Compassionate Authenticity
9:39 How do I know what is authentic for me? 
11:48 Give people space to show up. It’s okay to walk away if they can’t.
14:00 Find your safe people