Carrie's Always Talking

In this episode of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie speaks with Jennifer Chase, who shares her personal journey through addiction, recovery, and the impact on her family. She discusses the generational cycles of addiction, the role of shame, and the importance of understanding addiction as a disease rather than a choice. Jennifer emphasizes the need for boundaries, coping mechanisms, and the significance of community support in recovery. She also highlights the misconceptions surrounding addiction and the challenges of codependency, ultimately advocating for empathy and compassion towards those struggling with addiction.

Jennifer's Website:

https://www.riseaddictionlc.com/

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

www.youtube.com/@carrie-always-talking

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In this episode of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie speaks with Laura Bratton, who shares her profound journey of losing her sight due to a rare retinal disease. She discusses the emotional turmoil of denial and acceptance, the vital support from her family, and the importance of self-compassion and gratitude in navigating life's challenges. Laura emphasizes the significance of acknowledging grief while moving forward and how her experiences inspired her to write a book, 'Harnessing Courage,' aimed at empowering others facing change. Through her nonprofit, she continues to support individuals in their transitions, advocating for the recognition of grief in all forms and the power of resilience.

Laura's Website: 

https://www.laurabratton.com/

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

www.youtube.com/@carrie-always-talking

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In this episode of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie speaks with transformational coach Anna Quigley about the power of intuition and its role in guiding individuals through life transitions, particularly in midlife. They share personal stories of how intuition has influenced their decisions, discuss the science behind intuitive thinking, and explore practical steps to recognize and trust one's intuition. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, overcoming fears, and finding purpose in life, especially for women navigating changes in their 40s and beyond.

https://theintuitionzone.com/

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

www.youtube.com/@carrie-always-talking

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In this episode of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie speaks with Zulma Williams, a breast cancer survivor and therapist, about her journey from accounting to therapy. They discuss the importance of storytelling, the challenges of overcoming trauma, and the significance of finding the right therapist-client fit. Zulma shares her unique approach as the 'swearing therapist' and emphasizes the need for authenticity in therapy. The conversation also touches on cultural influences on abuse awareness, the empowerment that comes from therapy, and the importance of taking action in one's life. Zulma's insights on trauma work and the commitment required in therapy provide listeners with valuable perspectives on personal growth and resilience. There is profanity in the episode, but there is also levity and connection. 

https://open.spotify.com/show/62zkFh5mzb5mkScrew0HCX?si=f89e38a1ec084d63
www.acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com

https://www.dragonflytherapyservices.net/

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

www.youtube.com/@carrie-always-talking

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In this episode of Carrie's Always Talking Carrie and Courtney Alesandro explore the concept of reflecting on their younger selves and the messages they would share with them. They share insights, advice, and humorous anecdotes about what it was like to grow up in the 80's and 90's. It's a light-hearted episode that invites you to think about what you might tell your younger self as well. 

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

YouTube- @carrie-always-talking

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This episode of Carrie's Always Talking is all about Covid. Carrie and her guest, Christina Virgil talk about what it's like to still be Covid conscious in 2025. Christina shared what sparked her interest in learning more about Covid as well as her desire to help others learn more about the virus and understand the severity. The benefits of continuing or resuming mitigation, even if the process is not perfect are discussed as well as some general information about viruses and immune systems. Neither Carrie or Christina are doctors, but that's part of what makes the information shared easily understood and relatable. As always, there is some levity in the episode too!

Resources:

Christina Virgil on TikTok- Maiden of Mayhem 

At home Corsi-Rosenthal Box

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PxEzYtggtE 

Mask Chain Ideas

https://www.etsy.com/market/mask_chain

Mentioned in the show:

Dr. Anthony (AJ) Leonardi, MBBS PhD
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, MD
Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, PhD
Dr. Danielle Beckman, PhD
Dr. Kimberly Prather, PhD

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

YouTube- @carrie-always-talking

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In episode 3 season 2 of Carrie's Always talking, Carrie and Tina Lauro Pollock reconnect after years apart, discussing Tina's journey in the gaming industry. Tina shares her experiences of starting her own game studio, Brain and Nerd, in Northern Ireland, the challenges faced in game development, and the importance of storytelling in games. They delve into the dynamics of being a woman in a predominantly male industry, the significance of mentorship, and the efforts to create a safe and inclusive work environment. Tina emphasizes the need for diverse skills in game development and her commitment to encouraging young girls to pursue careers in tech. In this conversation, Tina discusses her journey in game development, the supportive community in Northern Ireland, and the challenges faced by independent studios in recent months. She emphasizes the importance of creativity during uncertain times and the need for diverse voices in gaming. Tina also shares insights on the evolving landscape of the game industry and encourages listeners to pursue their passions and embrace new opportunities. Grab a wee cup of tea and join us for this episode!

https://brainandnerd.com

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

YouTube- @carrie-always-talking

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In season 2 episode 2 of Carrie's Always Talking the subject of the mental health system is up on deck. Carrie is joined by her guest, Sarah Wojdylak, who shares her perspective as someone who's participated both sides of the system. She shares some of the challenges she's experienced as both a client and as a provider in her most recent job at a non profit. They discuss the importance of self-advocacy, the impact of stigma, and the need for empathy in mental health care. Sarah discloses the reasons behind her decision to make a big change in her life- guided by the knowledge that making the best choice for her mental health is worth more than a paycheck. There are a lot of laughs and yes- anding throughout the episode. 

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

YouTube- @carrie-always-talking

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In Episode 1 Season 2 of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie welcomes everyone back after a longer than expected break from the show. She expresses gratitude for her listeners and invites those enjoying the show to review and rate the podcast. During the intro, Carrie discusses the subject of change. She asks listeners to think about individuals in their lives who have talked a lot about changes they have made as people, but could not provide actual tangible evidence of said changes. She identifies that proof of real change is in what we can observe over time, Not in what we're told to believe. 

Carrie welcomes her brother Dan to share a personal story from his workplace that leads to a broader discussion about change, personal growth, and the dynamics of relationships. They explore how past experiences shape current behaviors, the importance of self-awareness, and the impact of family upbringing on emotional responses. The conversation emphasizes the significance of genuine change over mere words and the value of connection in overcoming life's challenges. As always, there is some levity and laughter as well. 

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

You can also find me on Bluesky- @carrie-is-talking.bsky.social 

YouTube- @carrie-always-talking

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It's episode 12 of Carrie's Always Talking! At the top of the episode, Carrie discusses the choice to make this 12th episode the last of the season. She thanks her listeners for following along for the last couple of months and encourages anyone who wants to come on the podcast for season 2 to reach out. 

In this episode, Carrie chats with Brianna Beasley, who graciously shares her experience with Long Covid. Brianna discusses life before her diagnosis in 2021 and the changes she's been forced to make in her life because of her health concerns that developed in the months after her acute infection. She explores the concept of "pacing" in order to learn one's limitations when living with a chronic illness. Brianna also discusses her doctors and some of their theories around how long covid develops along with the treatments that have been most helpful for her thus far in her bid for recovery. Her story is one of resilience and determination, and the hope is that listeners learn more about this diagnosis and also gain a better understanding of what challenges individuals with disabilities can face in day-today life. Anyone can become disabled at any time, and Brianna does an amazing job at providing useful information while being vulnerable in sharing her story. 

Brianna's story is not intended to be medical advice, she encourages those listening to do their own research. She does provide some references that have been helpful for her, and those are included in the notes below. 

Resources mentioned in the podcast:
https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/what-is-long-covid
https://covidinstitute.org/https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2023/10/12/septad-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-pots-long-covid-kaufman-ruhoy/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8HWt9g4L0k

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

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