Café with Monica

You are so bipolar! The weather is so bipolar! We have to stop using this word as an adjective to describe. Bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition that affects around 60 million people worldwide. People with bipolar disorder experience a pattern of depressive and manic or hypomanic episodes. It can impact a person's mood, energy levels, and ability to function. It's not the same as being moody or unpredictable. Today my guest Erez and I talk about his journey getting his diagnosis and how labels do not define us as a person.

Erez is the creator and host of The Shek Check podcast, which is dedicated to normalizing conversations around how we think, feel and behave. In his podcast, you will hear the real and raw conversations he has with his guests from all around the world. His motto is "Let's check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.''

Guest Contact:

Follow Erez on Instagram, and check out his website.

For information on this episode check out the show notes here.

The reality of life is that either you or someone you know is currently living through a trauma or loss. Whether it’s a phone call that someone you love has cancer, the death of a loved one, a divorce, a betrayal, the loss of a job, a physical injury…the LIST GOES ON…what do you do? What does life look like the week after, six months after, a year after? How do you help someone who is experiencing this, or how do you help yourself?

 

Becki Willis opens up and shares her incredible insight and strength after experiencing the loss of her first husband just when life was just beginning for them. We focus on the details of her loss specifically her grief and healing process. It is an honor to be able to share Becki’s story—and I know you’ll feel empowered, inspired and comforted after listening.

Read the full show notes here.

Rami and I talk about failures and overcoming setbacks. Rami’s unique experience going through medical school, passing his boards, and then not securing a spot in an internal medicine residency program brought his journey to a temporary hold. However, Rami used this as a way to start spreading awareness of mental health and chronic illnesses by creating his business Fashtionatomy. Rami continues to be persistent in his goal to become a physician. Resiliency is a ferocious quality of Rami. He shares some of the knowledge he has obtained from the medical field and his view on patient care. 

 

With FashionAtomy, Rami aims to empower patients with chronic diseases and disabilities, to help them take charge of their condition while they inspire others fighting a similar illness. Each disorder is represented by a specific abstract design. Why? It helps spark a conversation or dialogue, and in essence, raise awareness, by a curious onlooker. Also, people can wear it to show their support and solidarity for a loved one struggling with a condition. Ten percent of the profits from each sale is donated to that disease’s respective advocacy group.

Check out the show notes here 

Jaren shares advice and insight into life as an entrepreneur. Like many entrepreneurs, Jaren started as a side hustler and then continued the momentum to a full-time business owner but has it always been easy the answer is no!    Jaren is the owner of JCICreative, where he focuses on photography, video production, graphic and web design. Jaren started his photography business just as a side hustle while he was in college and grew it into a six-figure business. Jaren has had the opportunity to work with companies like the American Heart Association, Toyota and even photographed Oprah.

Self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself as you do others when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself. I’ve personally had to remind myself to practice self-compassion and not to forget to prioritize self-care. I was so excited to get to chat with the ladies from the Everyday Therapy podcast all about self-compassion,self-care, and how they navigate this as therapists. 

Jacy Rader, LPC, RYT and Julianne Schroeder, LPC, RYT are a couple of therapists who love to have honest conversations about emotional wellness and self-development. They own their own practice at White Rock Counseling located in the back of the groovy Super Yoga Palace in East Dallas Texas and love to help millennials manage their anxiety, relationship with themselves, body, and others, as well as navigating all the transitions in life. With their own podcast, The Everyday Therapy Podcast, they ask the experts and influencers about their personal mental health and emotional journeys. Inspired by their journeys in therapy as the clinician and client, they realize therapy has so much to offer on and off the couch. Everyday Therapy’s mission is to inspire mental and emotional wellness into your everyday life with stories and tools to navigate all the experiences life throws your way. 

 

In this episode we cover:

• The reasons Jacy & Julianne became therapists and their journeys 
• Why they created the Everyday Therapy Podcast
• Therapists are not perfect
• Tips to practice self-compassion
• Mindfulness
• Differences between self-care and self-compassion
• Discuss burnout 

 

Guest Contact:

Follow Jacy & Julianne on Instagram, and check out their podcast website.

If you're in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and interested in individual therapy with Jacy or Julianne visit their counseling website.

 

To check out the show notes click here

Lyme disease has become the fastest-growing insect-borne infectious disease in the United States, Europe and Asia. In the United States alone, almost 400,000 people are diagnosed each year with Lyme disease and countless others go undiagnosed, unreported and untreated. In this episode, I chat with Kelsey all about her personal obstacles and health journey with Lyme disease. 

Kelsey is a Lyme Warrior, certified yoga teacher, avid traveler, dancer, and creator of the Intuitive Swan blog, where she shares her vulnerabilities and struggles as a  source of inspiration, community and a reminder to others living with a chronic illness that you are not alone.

 

In this episode we cover:

• What led Kelsey to her diagnosis
• What were some initial fears before the diagnosis
• Who she leaned on as support? 
• Are there any cures for Lyme Disease? 
• Take time off from work
• A natural approach to healing
• Using herbal supplements and heroic treatments.
• Allowing herself to heal and rest
• Learning to listen to her body
• Being on disability and what that means 
• What to avoid saying to those with a chronic illness that might be hurtful or disrespectful without knowing?
•  What can you do as a friend to help someone with chronic illness?

 

Guest Contact:

Follow Kelsey  on Instagram, and check out her blog.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

In this episode, Vannessa Reyes and I discuss her journey becoming a life coach, her struggle overcoming depression and staying true to who she is to attract her ideal clients.   Vannessa is a believer, a wife, a mom of 3 boys, a visionary, and a dedicated life coach. Vannessa describes her journey as building herself from absolute chaos to undeniable courage. Vannessa dedicates her coaching to helping women build meaningful lives that they can’t wait to wake up every morning to live. In this episode we cover:

• Where did the name “Healthy Confident Life” come from? 
• How does Vannessa stay positive?
• Struggles Vannessa had to overcome
• Overcoming Depression
• What does a life coach do? 
• Differences between therapy and life coaching 
• What kept Vannessa motivated in pursuing her business as a life coach? 
• Faith being an anchor for Vannessa 
• Leaving her full-time job 
• Practicing gratitude 

Guest Contact:

Follow Vannessa on Instagram, and check out her website.

How can you reach work life balance? Does work-life balance exist? Can we achieve work-life balance without making sacrifices? Balance isn't a one-time achievement. Life ebbs and flows and right when you think it’s all under control, something swoops in and knocks you off your feet. In this solo episode, I talk about what it means to have work life balance.   

In this episode we cover:

• What is work life balance?
• Look at the choices you have made
• The importance of prioritizing your health both physical and mental
• Define Your Version Of Balance
• Make work, work for you, realize what’s within your control
• Focusing on the change you wish to make

 

Resources Mention:

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Follow me on Instagram @cafewithmonica.

In this episode, I chat with Amanda Smith, CEO of To Gather LLC, founder of Dallas Girl Gang, and podcast host of the Fearless Woman Podcast about her journey in entrepreneurship.  We talk about finding people who get you and building relationships from that to grow your tribe and your business. We demystify some things about entrepreneurship. If you think entrepreneurs got it all together? Amanda and  I talk about how the struggle is real. In this episode we cover:

• How Adult Friendships are not easy to make
• The idea behind Dallas Girl Gang 
• Amanda’s initial journey creating a facebook group and then it becoming something bigger
• The realness of the journey of entrepreneurship.
• Amanda talks about her initial struggles
• Knowing when to Say YES!!!
• Trying to manage a business while still working a full-time job

Guest Contact:

Follow Amanda on Instagram, and check out her website.

Get your hands on a ticket for The Fearless Conference here.

In this episode, we chat with Amanda to discuss why she left her corporate job.

Amanda is a traveler, blogger, and overall genuine compassionate person.  She has dedicated her life to working in places that give back to different communities.

Amanda is also passionate about empowering others, especially by using fashion! Amanda was raised by strong Latina women who did the same thing which is why she was always been drawn and passionate about fashion and empowerment.

In this episode we cover:

• Life after graduating from college
• Her experience moving to Uganda, Africa working for 31Bits
• Getting a job in a corporate bank to make social impact
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Leaning on your support
• Quitting your job
• Saving to Travel
• Figuring out your next steps

Guest Contact:

Follow Amanda on Instagram and check out her blog.