Insights with Us

E60 The Whole Picture of Health

How can you follow your dreams while honoring your limits? I want to share with you my journey of learning about my body, my chronic pain, and the decades it took to start understanding my rhythm.
I had to grieve the life I thought I would have, shifting from “pushing through” to listening to my body, setting boundaries, and experimenting with new ways of showing up including: cycle-based tracking, flexibility with my routine and workouts, and having curiosity for what my body tells me.
 
I end with reflective questions encouraging you to zoom out, notice patterns, trust your experience, and set yourself up for success. 
 
01:46 Dreams vs Capacity
05:00 Pain Since Childhood
08:50 College Burnout Coping
10:48 TMJ Diagnosis Breakthrough
15:21 Acceptance and Boundaries
18:41 Tiny Goals and Self Compassion
21:29 Cycles and Fitness
31:51 Chronic Pain and EDS Clues
37:16 Zoom Out Reflection Questions

E59 Say Yes to Life with Ginny MacColl

This episode of Insights with Us features Ginny MacColl, Guinness World Record holder as the oldest female ninja competitor, former Broadway dancer in Pippin (1974–76), commercial actor, and mother of two incredible children, including Ninja Warrior Jesse Graff. In this episode, Ginny shares what it’s like performing under pressure and the mental strategies she uses on American Ninja Warrior. Ginny advocates for strength training and resistance work for mobility and bone-loss prevention, discussing osteopenia, menopause-related bone density loss, and the value of proper form and trainers. She discusses the joys of life after 60, finding fun in new adventures, and her dreams for the next few decades.
 
You can find her on instagram: @ginnymaccoll 
 
What to expect in this episode:
00:16 Meet Ginny MacColl
01:48 A Joyful Memory
06:29 Broadway to Commercials
09:42 Nerves and Ninja Mindset
17:33 Aging Strong and Saying Yes
29:07 New Goals
35:34 Returning to Acting
43:45 Osteopenia Wake Up Call
47:15 Strength Is Ageless
52:46 Daily Goals and Micro Habits
01:02:15 Resilience Through Hard Seasons
01:05:13 Conclusions

E58 Conversations with Pillow Talk Authors

Listen to the journey of four contributors to the bestselling anthology Pillow Talk, noted as a CBC 2026 books-to-read pick. We explore their stories, writing processes, and what’s next for each of them. 
Author 1: Simarbir.
@simar.bookish.dreamer
Author 2: Kate. 
@heskett.kate 
Author 3: Andrea.
@the_world_of_caracopia 
https://caracopia.com/
https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheWorldofCaraCopia
https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorldofCaraCopia
Author 4: Dean.
@dees.healing.hands 
https://substack.com/@boyswhobleed 
 
What to expect in this episode:
01:36 Meet Simarbir (Lessons in Loveology)
05:39 Writing Boundaries And Humor
09:59 Erotic Literature Hack
20:52 Shoutout And Brave Stories
25:14 Meet Kate (Pineapples in the Snow)
29:21 Identity And Vulnerability
37:47 Safe Spaces And Community
47:40 Meet Andrea (Sex Education)
52:32 Asexual Validation
56:39 Self Acceptance Shift
01:08:06 Meet Dean (Boyfriend Duties)
01:11:18 Writing Boyfriend Duties
01:18:10 Love In Mess of Being Human
01:28:04 Print vs Audiobook
01:30:14 Love Stories
 

E57 Cycle Sync Your Business with Renae Fieck

Renee, a feminist leadership and cycle syncing coach, joins Insights with Us to discuss her book, Cycle Sync your Business, on how menstrual cycles and hormones affect women’s energy, emotions, productivity, and well-being throughout the month, and how understanding these rhythms can reduce burnout and increase self-permission. 
We discuss aligning exercise and work with cycle phases, using awareness and the process of allowing to listen to the body rather than forcing rigid schedules, and making small intentional choices. Renee reframes menstrual and luteal phases as sources of intuition, vision-setting, insight, and empathy, and emphasizes understanding your individual body and how to work with it. 
You can find Renae:
https://renaefieck.com/
@renaefieck 
 
What you can expect in this episode:
01:37 Book Origins and Burnout
06:35 Cycles and Ebb Flow
13:32 Magic of Allowing
23:43 Awareness and Luteal Reframe
27:10 Menstrual Phase Reframe
29:45 Follicular to Ovulation High
31:13 Luteal Phase Insights
36:07 Cycle Strengths and Burnout
41:29 Business Mission Heck Yes
45:23 Cyclical for Everyone
47:25 Wrap Up and Resources

E56 Long Term Goals: Patience and Purpose

Let’s talk about long-term goals: how to identify them, start them, and endure the frustration of slow progress without giving up. Long-term goals require flexible cycles of progress and rest, and today we talk about what that might look like. This episode ends with a guided thought experiment about what future you are working towards.
 
02:34 Pick Your Goal
04:25 When Motivation Fades
10:09 Rest Without Guilt
15:09 Avoid Short Term Traps
17:33 Guided Thought Experiment

E55 Pillow Talk with Heather Hendrie

Pillow Talk:  Real People. Real Stories. Real Awkward. (an awfully hilarious anthology) is available now! The audiobook is available on February 18th (on sale), get your copy and let’s heal together.
 
In this episode, we explore themes of sex, intimacy, and empowerment while celebrating our shared journey of writing and community building. Heather shares insights into the collaborative process of creating the book, the importance of trauma-informed approaches, and the significance of laughter and vulnerability in storytelling. We also delve into the healing power of self-exploration, connection, and community. Anastasia reflects on the experience of becoming a published author through the project. The episode emphasizes the joy of authentic connections and the therapeutic potential of sharing personal stories.
What is Pillow Talk? It's smashing stigma with story, eighteen writers share frank and funny stories of their intimate experiences—celebrating moments of passion, and laying bare others they’d rather forget. Disappointing and humiliating encounters are interlaced with  instances of joy and self-discovery in a book that validates all manifestations of desire.
 
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
05:12 Discussing 'Pillow Talk' and 'Foreplay'
17:28 Community and Connection
31:22 The Importance of Foreplay
40:06 The Power of the Erotic
44:13 The Importance of Trauma-Informed Approaches
47:35 Building Community and Support
49:41 Upcoming Projects and Initiatives
56:06 The Power of Community and Connection
01:09:33 Final Thoughts and Resources

E54 New Year, New Shadows

Welcome back to the ‘Insights with Us’ podcast! My mission is to build a community rooted in acceptance and authenticity. In this episode, I want to reflect on the podcast’s journey over the past two years and share exciting plans for 2026 before we dive into the idea of shadow work, which involves confronting and understanding the parts of ourselves that we typically avoid so we can break old patterns and heal. Let’s get vulnerable and build insight together.
 
00:17 Reflecting on the Journey and 2026 Plans
01:43 Gratitude and Guest Highlights
04:55 Shadow Work and Personal Growth
09:15 Understanding and Embracing Shadow Selves
19:00 Setting Boundaries and Authenticity
32:43 Questions for Self-Reflection
37:34 Conclusion

E53 Neuroqueering with Brittaney Latta

In this episode, we join Brittaney Latta, a queer trauma therapist, as she shares her personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma and finding safety in adulthood. She shares the challenges and triumphs of starting her own private practice and her commitment to creating safe and affirming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. Brittaney also introduces her innovative project—the Queer Rebels Box—a curated set of sensory coping tools designed for neurodivergent queer individuals. The discussion touches on the importance of boundaries, the complexities of queer identity, and actionable steps allies can take to support and protect the LGBTQ+ community.
 
00:00 Introduction and Welcoming
00:14 Brittaney's Background and Upbringing
07:25 Building a Safe and Sober Life
14:31 Building a Practice and Boundaries
33:10 Acceptance
37:07 The Importance of Safe Spaces
45:52 The Role of Allies
59:50 The Beauty of Non-Conformity
01:03:53 Final Thoughts and Intentions

E52 The Great Life Experiment with Maria Scarpello

What makes you feel free? How do you know what is authentic for you? In this episode, Maria Scarpello dives into alignment she has found with her true self, the significance of play and exploration in life, and the importance of authenticity and self-love. We talk about being a nomad, grounding practices, and genuineness and inner child work.
 
We show up together as our authentic selves, accept our differences, and share excitement for life’s endless possibilities. 
 
00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Maria
03:28 The Great Life Experimenter
05:58 Living a Nomadic Life
15:30 Grounding Practices and Tools
21:09 Exploring Ancient Sites and Spiritual Journeys
26:46 Envisioning a New Earth
35:18 Embracing Uncertainty and Flexibility
46:19 Connecting with the Inner Child
53:36 Authenticity and Community Building
59:58 Final Thoughts and Intentions
 
https://transformationalshifts.com/
@transformationalshifts

E51 Boundaries 101

What are your boundaries? How do you enforce them? What does it look like when your boundaries change? In this episode we talk about the steps to setting boundaries, enforcing them, the intensity of boundaries, and the different types of boundaries to look out for in your life. 
You don’t just need to respect other’s boundaries, you need to respect your own. Let’s build insight together. 
 
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
01:34 Understanding Boundaries
05:50 Types of Boundaries
19:17 Personal Story: Navigating Boundaries in Relationships
28:57 Final Thoughts and Gratitude