Ask a Better Question

Lisa Prefontaine is a licensed mental health counselor and shares so much important information in this conversation. I've been wanting to talk to a professional about this subject for a while after seeing one news article after another about how alcohol use and dependency among women is increasing, especially since the pandemic. Let me say that her approach is a wonderful combination of science, research, experience and compassion. 

We talk about habits, will power, physiology, cultural pressure, marketing, and she offers some self reflective questions to consider when we're curious about our relationship with alcohol. This is a complex issue and she reflects that nuance in all that she shares.
If you're interested in connecting with Lisa or working with her, you can find her here:     https://www.lisa-prefontaine.com/

She also speaks to the mind and body connection around substance use and healing.

A few of the questions she shares- with kindness.
- What is my intention with this drink?
-Is this the healthiest way for me to cope?
-Where does alcohol fit into the person I want to be?

Resources.....
Book: Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington (on IG too)

Podcasts:
Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-of-the-matter/id1534813640

Sober Curious, Ruby Warrington
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sober-curious/id1460377009

Sober Yoga Girl :
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sober-yoga-girl/id1552867068

Huberman Lab: Andrew Huberman, Stanford scientist 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huberman-lab/id1545953110?i=1000576901433

For help in struggling with substance abuse, contact SAMHSA helpline at:
 1-800-662-HELP (free, 24 hours, 365 days)

This is a fun conversation with Janna Willoughby-Lohr about the magical creations she makes out of paper to make people happy and 'bring meaning to people's lives'. Janna is an artist, business founder, sustainability entrepreneur, Buffalonian and mom.

Check out her website here to see her creations.....
https://www.papercraftmiracles.com/

We talk about the origin story of her business, poetry and art as a connecter to emotions, the power of words, taking rest, and one of my favorite sentiments she shares is about Art Affecting Change in the World:
"...confront the ways that we treat the Earth, the ways we treat each other and the ways that we treat women."

Janna also introduced me to the organization NAWBO which is the National Association of Women Business Owners. I'm a new member and looking forward to learning and networking with women locally and across the country.

Check out NAWBO here: https://nawbowny.org/

More Buffalo Networking...... https://www.buffalobossbabes.com/

It was a privilege to hear directly from WNY Women’s Foundation CEO Sheri Scavone about the state of child care in our region and her work in that area to support women and families. 

I learned so much from this conversation and came away with seeing it as a two-fold challenge. On one side, there is a need for economic resources to increase availability, access and affordability of child care. Additionally, child (and all) care workers need to be paid a fair wage that reflects how important this work is. That piece leads me to the other challenge which I see as a changing of hearts and minds. The reality is that care giving still has a way to go in the US as far as being seen and invested in as critical economic and societal infrastructure- though post pandemic it is more obvious than ever before. Asking Sheri why this work isn’t valued more highly, she links it back to sexism and racism.  

The good news is that there is evidence of progress and there are supporters in Erie county working hard on this issue. 

Sheri has both the data and the experience to speak to all of this and I hope that you’ll listen to the episode and then stay connected to the latest work in our community and state to support child care and families.  Maybe even advocate for child care solutions yourself at your place of work? See the link below to connect with and support the WNY Women's Foundation.

https://wnywomensfoundation.org/

What happens? Judy is an incredible human being and champion for women. Her heart and energy go into everything she does and nobody is left the same after an interaction with her! 

We talk about her business: Garage fitness, being vulnerable, communication, supporting women, a little politics and more!

Here’s a question we’d love your take on:

How can you turn a complaint about your body into appreciation instead? 

DM us and let us know your answer or other thoughts about the conversation...
@jenniferdailygress
@garagefitnessstudio

This will not be our last conversation……..

Here are a couple links to things we mention in the podcast:
theclass.com

Amazing Book: ‘The Body is not an Apology’ by Sonya Renee Taylor

I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to speak with Lesline and talk about yoga, being a nurse and mom, her business and how all those things connect. 

Trigger warning that there is talk of mental health challenges, suicide and postpartum depression. She shares this to encourage women who think they may need help or are struggling with mental health to reach out to a professional or in a crisis situation the hotline: 988.

Work or practice yoga with Lesline over Zoom or locally in Orlando:

https://www.leslinepittman.com/

Shop at all these women owned businesses ! 

https://www.wearewomenowned.com/

A few of my favorite ideas from this conversation:

“Reframe the word busy to ‘full’” 

“Shoot your shot”

Also…. we met through Carol Cox @ Speaking Your Brand!

https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/

This episode with Buffalo writer and workshop facilitator Nanette D. Massey jumps right into the conversations we do and don't have about race.

Next Saturday Nov 5th, Nanette and renowned author Robin DiAngelo (White Fragility) will co-host an event at Canisius College entitle 'Real Talk About Race'.  We talk about the event, the nature of Robin's work in this space and the importance of walking away..... uncomfortably. Just like in the gym or at yoga class, we know that physical discomfort in training is necessary to build strength and grow. Same here.

Nov 5th Event Registration here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/real-talk-about-race-robin-diangelo-and-nanette-d-massey-registration-416799216677?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse

Nanette shares a lot of food for thought in this episode and it may produce some discomfort, which I think means that we're having a real conversation. A few of the things I'm thinking more about that she shared are....

"It's not about White people as individuals, it's about the system as it's set up."

"Everyone has a role to play"

"We're not talking about 'issues' we're talking about humanity and people."

I also respect and feel her conviction in what she is up to:
"I am up to no less than moving the needle for racism in Buffalo and in the world."

Find out more about Nanette and her work here:
https://nanettedmassey.com/

Dr. Angela McLellan-Desai is a friend and Ob/Gyn MD in Buffalo. This can be an emotional and complex topic and I appreciate her expertise, straightforward approach and empathy along the way. 

My intention was to ask the questions on the topics that we often don't! I think we did that and I hope that you'll feel interested to learn more, support your friends, family, partner as they navigate physical changes and maybe even become more involved in supporting women's health.

Here are some resources recommended by Dr. McLellan-Desai:
 
Practice Website: https://www.gppconline.com/locations/women-s-health-buffalo

American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology: https://www.acog.org/

Blog: https://vajenda.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-vajenda    (Dr Jen Gunter)

Books:  Both by author Dr. Jen Gunter 'The Vagina Bible' and 'The Menopause Manifesto'.   Rated 'super funny and amazingly informative' by Dr. McLellan-Desai.

Ezra Klein Podcast: Michelle Goldberg Grapples with Feminism After Roe
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michelle-goldberg-grapples-with-feminism-after-roe/id1548604447?i=1000569246636

Who better to kick off the second series of the podcast than my incredible sister Colleen Simonds! She is an accomplished interior designer after beginning her career in merchandising at Gap Inc and J Crew. We talk about career evolution, the second (or 3rd) chapters of careers, hair issues, beauty, aging and how this all ties back to Mike Brady. Yes.

Here are a few highlights…..

• Innate talents vs. learned skills
• What is an editor? A chooser and a picker! 
• Closet clean out tips and ruthlessness. 
• Hair issues for both of us. Only scratching the surface here…..
• On design……Environments matter. How do spaces impact the way we feel? 

Follow Colleen @colleensimondsdesign

I love a good summary! It just feels so.....complete.

Just  me today for this summary and wrap-up episode of the first series.

Mindfulness in the Corporate World.....what are some of the best questions to come out of these conversations? 

PS- I feel I have to add this: I bring up Donald Trump in an example about bias towards women seeking leadership positions and I need to say that I acknowledge there are a multitude of serious issues associated with him which I do not cover in this podcast!  For the purposes of this example, I picked one siloed micro point.  

I'll be taking a couple weeks off from the podcast and then returning with another series....see you then! 

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-daily-gress-646444193/

https://www.jenniferdailygress.com/

What would happen if we expanded our definition of leadership? Who is a leader? What qualities do they have? What qualities would we want them to have differently than what we see now?

Linkage Women in Leadership Conference: November 1-4 Orlando 2022
https://www.linkageinc.com/

Key Ideas and Questions:

Internal v External obstacles to advancement for women in professional leadership

The ‘Inner Critic’ and what are the ways to get back to your center.

Being likable v being credible as a double bind for women PLUS the third element of intersectionality for women of color makes it a third bind.

Being a ‘good’ women  v a ‘good’ leader

Women are evaluated on performance while men are evaluated on potential.

Building ‘relationship currency’. Bias in connecting with people who are like us. 

Who are the leaders you admire? 

‘The Authority Gap’ 

https://www.maryannsieghart.com/
How do we move the needle on people's perceptions of women in leadership roles?

Podcast Interview on ‘Speaking Your Brand’ with Mary Ann Seighart 

 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-your-brand-a-public-speaking-podcast/id1207649390?i=1000561763815

Katharine Graham was the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company in 1973 when she took over at the Washington Post. 

 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharine_Graham