Philadelphia doctor Kwandaa Roberts had it all: a thriving practice, a big house in the suburbs, two kids. But she harbored a secret dream to be an interior designer. Her chance came about when she renovated a dollhouse. And it went viral on social media. But then the pandemic happened, and Kwandaa was forced to make some difficult life decisions. Kwandaa tells host Stephanie Foo about her lifelong passions for both medicine and interior design. And the equally arduous paths she took to realize them. From delivering babies to redecorating dollhouses to designing homes. We’ll also hear from Sally Augustin, an environmental psychologist, who tells us how things like the colors of your walls and furniture can influence your psychological relationship with interior spaces. To see pictures of Kwandaa’s dollhouses, go to: rocketmortgage.com/homemade 

Inside every home, there’s a story. Hosted by Stephanie Foo (This American Life, Snap Judgment), each episode of this 10-part series explores the meaning of home and what it can teach us about ourselves and each other. Poignant, hilarious, provocative and downright unexpected, take a journey into the diversity of home in America. Listen to the stories of urban activists, homesteading mountain men, ghostly roommates and more. And hear compelling expert insights into behavioral science behind the fundamental need for shelter and belonging that unites us all.

Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans is an Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLSConsumerAccess.org #3030. (833) 326-6028. Quicken Loans, 1050 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48226-1906.

Check out more episodes of Home.Made here: https://link.chtbl.com/homemade?sid=podcast.betteretc

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In the Season One finale, Trista is joined by her most featured guest of the pod…her husband, Ryan Sutter! But first, Trista recaps the season, highlighting each guest and episode, so you’ll want to tune in to that to make sure you didn’t miss a conversation! In this episode, Ryan shares how he’s been feeling, the treatments he’s started, and provides an overall health update. He offers up some insight he’s learned along the way including the benefits of changing up his diet and discusses the challenges that come along with this type of diagnosis. They touch on the difficulties of finding answers and the importance of finding a Lyme-literate doctor, and open up about the reality of the financial burdens that these kinds of battles entail. Trista and Ryan decided to have this conversation today as a way to provide a space where those interested in his progress can listen in, as well as letting anyone out there going through similar situations know that they are not alone and to encourage others to hold on to hope that there are answers out there for them. They emphasize that if you or someone you care for are battling a mystery illness, be sure to advocate fiercely for yourself, be willing to seek out medical professionals that are not in the mainstream, and try new things. Like a famous fish once said, “just keep swimming!” With more conversations like these, Trista, Ryan, and so many others hope to ultimately create change in the system and to inspire others suffering to keep on going. 

To keep up with Ryan, you can follow him on Instagram @ryansutter.  

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsor! Check out this deal for our listeners: 

Caliper — Go to trycaliper.com/trista and use promo code TRISTA for 20% off your first order

Canva  —  Go to canva.me/better for a free 45-day extended trial  

Athena Club — Go to AthenaClub.com and use promo code better for 20% off your first order

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This week Trista is joined by someone she (and many of you) have known for quite a while, Bachelor Nation fan favorite, Ben Higgins! Ben is known most for being The Bachelor on the show’s 20th season, but he is more than just a handsome face. He is the co-founder of Generous Coffee, a movement to multiply good in the world, and has a seat on the board of the Humanity and Hope United Foundation. He is also a podcast host and the author of Alone in Plain Sight, written with the purpose of helping people feel less alone. Despite how “perfect” his life may appear from the outside, Ben struggles with feeling like an outsider, and has a raw and vulnerable conversation with Trista all about mental health. They both open up about their inner battles, especially as they relate to their time with the franchise. He also opens up for the first time about a recent breakdown, and how he’s taking some time to sort through it all, at home in Indiana. In this honest discussion, Ben emphasizes the value of leaning into the truth of the moment, relying on the wisdom of Richard Rohr and his 5 essential truths, and knowing that he isn’t alone.    

To keep up with Ben, you can follow him on Instagram @higgins.ben! Plus, listen to Hope Still Wins and Almost Famous wherever you listen to podcasts, and purchase Alone in Plain Sight when you’re looking for that next great book.  

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsor! Check out this deal for our listeners: 

Skillshare —  Go to skillshare.com/TRISTA to get a one-month free trial of Premium Membership 

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What’s better than feeling comfy and cozy? This week, Trista is joined by local Vail celebrities and owners of Hygge Life, Alexandra and Coen! They discuss how to best embrace “hygge,” a Danish concept with no English translation, but that can be best described as comfy, cozy, content, relaxed, and happy! They talk about the perfect pieces to make your home welcoming, all the way down to the material, and the importance of making time for the little moments in your day, like stepping away from your computer to drink your morning cup of coffee. After travelling around Europe in a camper van and embracing the relaxed lifestyle, they brought their ideas to Vail, as Alexandra felt she needed to share “Hygge” with everyone at home. Offering home decor and more, their brick and mortar store and website feature products that inspire us all to slow down, relax, and intentionally enjoy what life has to offer. 

You can find their blog and online store at HyggeLife.com and if you’re ever in Vail, you can stop by the shop and café Tuesday – Saturday 10-5! You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram @HyggeLife. 

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals for our listeners: 

Home. Made. — Listen to Home.Made today  

Athena Club — Go to AthenaClub.com and use promo code better for 20% off your first order   

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Did you know that nearly half of our daily actions are simply preprogrammed habits? A lot of us can find ourselves living on autopilot, but there’s a way to create new, happier habits that replace those that aren’t serving us or simply to make our day-to-day lives better. This is exactly what author and researcher Karen Salmansohn explores in her book “Happy Habits.” In today’s episode, Trista and Karen dive into the many happy habits we can incorporate into our lives, from making your bed in the morning to focusing on gratitude at night. Karen explains the keystone habits we can introduce into our routines to ultimately alter our identities and become our best selves. The two discuss what it means to be a positive evidence collector, the power of reframing, and how habit stacking can help us continue to create happy habits. They talk about their favorite studies, including one about a popular Japanese service that involves group crying and handsome men... yes, you read that right! We hope today’s episode helps you become a better version of yourself by building happy habits that allow you to live your happiest life.  

To connect with Karen, you can follow her on Instagram @notsalmon or check out her website www.notsalmon.com. 

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals for our listeners: 

Home. Made. — Listen to Home. Made today 

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Trista is joined by psychotherapist Rachel Wright, MA, LMFT, to talk about all things sex! They get down to the basics, including what you didn’t learn in school. The two discuss the fundamentals of consent and provide a breakdown of Planned Parenthood’s awesome “Fries” acronym: freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic, and specific! Rachel also speaks on the importance of communication and how best to approach conversations around sex, and by the way, these conversations also require consent! We hope you’re able to find takeaways from this conversation for your own life, and maybe even learn how to better go about these conversations with your kids!  

To connect with Rachel, you can follow her on Instagram @thewright_rachel or check out her website rachelwrightnyc.com. For a discount on her courses, use code TRISTA for 20% off. 

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals for our listeners: 

Caliper — Use promo code TRISTA at trycaliper.com/trista to get 20% off your first order 

BetterHelp — Go to betterhelp.com/etc for 10% off your first month 

Canva — Go to Canva.me/better to get your FREE 45-day extended trial 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Trista is joined by a longtime family friend and the owner of SuperBowls, Scotty Nemeth! This açai expert walks us through the benefits of this superfood, as well as the nutritional value of the various bowl toppings. He also offers tips on how to make your own bowl or smoothie at home! SuperBowls can be found at sporting events, tournaments, and events near you, as his business originated from what he believes to be the core benefit of açai — it’s value as training fuel. Athletes can now reach for something to refuel them in places where pizza and pretzels used to be the only option. As Scotty explains in this episode, açai is good for you, it tastes good, and it’s good for the planet! So, next time you’re standing in front of the fridge, wondering what to eat, we hope this fun episode inspires you to reach for açai.  

If you’re ever in Southern California, be sure to check out SuperBowls! Otherwise, be on the lookout for them at convention centers, stadiums, sport complexes, and events near you.  

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals for our listeners: 

Skillshare — Explore your creativity at Skillshare.com/TRISTA and get a free trial of Premium Membership 

BetterHelp — Go to betterhelp.com/etc for 10% off your first month 

HelloFresh — Go to HelloFresh.com/etc12 and use code etc12 for 12 free meals, including free shipping 

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This week, Trista is joined by homeschooling mom of four and adventure seeker, Tina Ingold! Tina offers tremendous insight into homeschooling from the road, traveling tips for road trips with kids, and finding beauty in spontaneity. For all the detailed oriented planners out there, Tina shows us that if you have no plans, there are no expectations —something Trista is going to try really hard to embrace during any future travels! She offers tips on what makes living life on the road easier for her, the apps she uses throughout her journeys to find various necessities like gas and showers, and what to pack to keep your kids happy... which, in case you’re wondering, includes snacks, LOTS of snacks! MC and host of the Wild + Free Conference, guest co-host of the Wild + Free podcast, and owner of VDGN clothing, Tina balances it all while living life to the fullest. She also opens up about the awesome way she integrates music into her travels, which actually brought her kids to tears! This is an episode intended for the parents, but SO beneficial for anyone who enjoys the adventure of a road trip!    

To follow along with Tina you can request to follow her on Instagram @heyingolds and check out her clothing company at vdgn.com, or at their store in Venice, CA! 

To shop the awesome tea towels from this week’s Trista’s Takes, check out deveniedesigns.com! 

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals for our listeners: 

Home.Made — Listen to Home. Made. here: https://link.chtbl.com/homemade?sid=podcast.betteretc 

Athena Club — Go to AthenaClub.com and use promo code better for 20% off your first order  

BetterHelp — Go to betterhelp.com/etc for 10% off your first month 

Finding You — Make plans now to see ‘Finding You’ in theaters. For more information or to find a theater near you, visit findingyouTHEmovie.com 

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In November of 2020, Ryan and Trista publicly shared that he had been battling an unknown illness since the start of the year. After over a year of doctors visits and consultations, bloodwork, diagnostic scans, research, and lots of support from friends, family, and even fans and listeners, they finally found the answers they had been looking for and wanted to share the details of Ryan’s medical journey here. The two discuss each step of the process, the importance of advocating for yourself and your loved ones, and things they learned along the way, including how they want to help create positive change in the medical and insurance worlds. They are hopeful that Ryan is on a path toward healing and can get back to his best self soon…and that’s what they hope for anyone else out there struggling with conditions that continue to go undiagnosed. We hope this episode is the start of a bigger conversation, lets you know that you aren’t alone in your suffering, and encourages you to fight to continuously be your best self, too! 

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals for our listeners: 

Home. Made. — Listen to Home. Made today

BetterHelp — Go to betterhelp.com/etc for 10% off your first month 

Finding You — Make plans now to see ‘Finding You’ now playing only in theaters. For more information or to find a theater near you, visit findingyouTHEmovie.com 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Trista is joined by another very special guest, her mom, Roseanne Rehn! Recorded on Mother’s Day, this episode is full of memories and meaningful moments – both proudest ones, and moments she wanted to sell her to the highest bidder (one including a brand-new car that didn’t look so new once Trista got her hands on it). They also discuss a pet peeve they both share: getting their kids out the door on time! This episode is full of love and laughter. Trista is so grateful to have this recording for life and to be able to share it with all the wonderful listeners who are part of this Better community. We hope you enjoy! 

To check out what your host is up to, you can follow her @tristasutter or @betteretc on Instagram. To connect with the Better, etc community, check out our Facebook group. Be sure to rate us 5 stars, follow, and share with a friend so that we can all continue to be better together! 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals for our listeners: 

Caliper —  Get 20% off your first order when you use promo code TRISTA at trycaliper.com/TRISTA. Try risk-free for 30 days 

BetterHelp — Go to betterhelp.com/etc for 10% off your first month 

Canva — Go to canva.me/better to get a FREE 45-day extended trial  

Finding You — Make plans now to see ‘Finding You’ now playing only in theaters. For more information or to find a theater near you, visit findingyouTHEmovie.com 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices