Have you ever felt like life hit you with everything all at once? Well, grab a cup of coffee and meet my friend Tamera. She faced the chaos of deployment in the midst of her marriage falling apart.

You'll hear her journey from college student with hippie dreams to becoming an Air Force Major. She opens up about what motivated her to step into the military right after 9/11, and then drops us into a heart-stopping tale of her plane crash in Afghanistan.

She emerged with humor intact (and maybe a bit more appreciation for OtterBox), plus an unmatched ability to compartmentalize her life. Yet, through all the turmoil? Therapy shines as a beacon, guiding her to a mentally healthier place by the end of it all.

Originally aired March 30, 2020

Ruminations and ridiculousness for your holiday listening enjoyment!

This short "VM" episode highlights "cut" topics from Abbey's convo with Stephanie and MaiLee (ep. #114). This one's got it all! Starting out thoughtful - Who do we dress for and do stable romantic relationships produce contentment with our bodies? And ending with a family dinner that takes a surprising R-rated turn.

Bonus: meet-cute tale involving puppies and skateboarding. 💕

Abbey, Stephanie, and MaiLee discuss why Gen Xers look hella good. It started out rough for us, growing up in the Cruel Kid Era. But things got better and now we have access to the miracle of botox.

Abbey knows nothing about beauty products. So Stephanie shares her skin health trials and skin care routine. And, 20+ year clinical aesthetician, MaiLee educates us on what Botox is, what it does, and what the pros and cons are.

We talk candidly about what makes us feel good in our bodies, why body neutrality may be an okay approach, and whether there's a moral line in pursuing body modification. MaiLee offers the myth of Pygmalion to guide us.

Eventually we get to an issue that isn't exclusive to Gen X - body dysmorphia and disordered eating. Join the conversation alongside friends who are willing to get real about our aging bodies, including a nightmare perimenopausal symptom: Proctalgia Fugax. 

As a little one, Grey confidently told their parents they were a boy. Yet, in a Pentecostal family in the 1980’s, this was not okay.

This episode Abbey and her book club buddy, Grey, explore the intersection of body and spirit. Grey offers insights from a life marked by severe depression and addiction, to one of self-devotion, freedom, inner safety and belonging. Tune in to hear their story, woven with the beautiful words of author Lore Ferguson Wilbert, and interspersed with Abbey's clumsy questions and levity.

Guest: Grey Doolin, M.Ed. is a trauma-informed somatic coach, mentor, facilitator, and speaker who supports queer and trans folks to be magnificently themselves. You can find more of their work on Instagram @grey_doolin or www.greydoolin.com

Book Club book quoted: The Understory by Lore Ferguson Wilbert

Abbey Normal Podcast on Instagram

Just when Jenene thought all the family secrets had been revealed, a bombshell dropped. Along comes Michelle, the sister she never knew existed. Michelle is just as surprised by this twist as Jenene is. Together they embark on a journey to understand their birth Mother's life, bring the truth to light, and understand their own identities.

Join us to hear Michelle's story, beginning with her adoptive Mom's escape from Nazi Germany, through the life they created in America, and finally, to Michelle's special bond with her newfound sister. This is a story of resilience, connection, and the power of family, no matter how it’s formed. Plus, tattoos.

This is Part Two. For Part One go to Jenene's story: "Heart Puzzle". 

Hyperdrive Kittens

Lead singer of The Hyperdrive Kittens, Jenene thrives in the spotlight. So when she got an offer to meet her Dad for the first time, on television, she jumped at the chance. This fateful meeting launched a series of revelations that rocked her world, and changed everything one family knew to be true.

Join us for a rollercoaster of laughter and tears as we put together Jenene's "Heart Puzzle" and navigate the complexities of family and identity.

This is Part One of Jenene's story, tune in to Part Two: Long Lost Sisters for the conclusion!

Hyperdrive Kittens

There is a lot of fear swirling around sharing injectable-related weight loss, which leads to secrecy within our relationships. So, where does the judgement come from and is it possible to break free from the negativity? Even if it's coming from your Mother?

With knowledgeable guest, Maureen, Abbey explores the disconnection from our food sources. Our relationship with food has spiraled out of control in just a generation and a half. And the Evil Trifecta keeps us eating junk that is neither nutritious or satisfying. (And is probably making us sick.)

 Tune in for some actionable tips on how to reclaim your power, act local, educate yourself, and cook meals that make you feel better!

Ever felt like society's got a million opinions about how you should look and the right way to arrive at their ideal? Lately, Maureen has been receiving compliments, including the particularly grating, “Wow! Skinny Minnie!”. We're going to explore the root of those "compliments", and reflect on the emotional tightrope we walk- caring for yourself, while grappling with patriarchal beauty standards imposed on all of us. Maureen shares her decades-long medical rollercoaster; diets, diagnoses, medication, and a hot new injectable.

Join us for a real “before” and “after” and “here we go again” story. We’re unzipping one bag of body baggage to gain a better understanding of ourselves, self-forgiveness, and how to break free from the toxic body shaming cycle.

“You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin.” -Barbie Movie (2023).

Blue Note Sessions Music:

FasterFasterBrighter

How can we enact social change, alleviate systemic oppression, and foster a more just and equitable world? Our guest, Dawn, says it all begins with self-connection, our relationship with ourself. 

This episode we focus on self-connection strategies in the realms of emotions, vulnerability, and beliefs. Dawn encourages us to attune to the data in our bodies, understand where our beliefs come from, and navigate the discomfort of new ideas. She shares stories and insights, from the impact of self-separation on global issues to the everyday challenges of staying calm with our kids.

Grab a comfy seat and join this exploration into the micro and macro impacts of self-connection. Let's dare to dream of a world where we all feel safe, valued, and empowered to create positive change.

Guest: Dawn Bulchandani, our insightful guide, has a wealth of knowledge, including three master's degrees and a nearly completed PhD in embodied validation. She's also a passionate advocate for Gaza, emphasizing the importance of moving from self-connection to compassionate social change.

Music- Blue Dot Sessions:

Dawn Bulchandani is a speaker, writer, and PhD student with three master's degrees (yep, you read that right). She’s currently taking a hiatus from her PHD to focus her efforts on advocating for Gaza. Part of that advocacy includes her passion- leading people from the micro of self-connection to the macro of social change.

Join this inspiring convo to explore how we lose connection with ourselves and how we can return to our humanity. From humming in the grocery store, to sitting on the roof, we ponder the moments that may help us reconnect with ourselves. Does living our fullest, wildest life also create a more equitable world?

Let’s push the envelope and find out.

To hear more about Dawn’s advocacy work, find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnbulchandani

Music- Blue Dot Sessions: