Carrie's Always Talking

In episode 11 of Carrie's Always Talking, Courtney Alesandro joins Carrie to discuss the complexities of being child-free by choice, exploring societal norms, personal choices, and the emotional landscape surrounding motherhood. They delve into the value of women beyond their roles as mothers, the impact of patriarchy on women's decisions, and the importance of empathy and understanding in conversations about reproductive choices. The discussion emphasizes the need for curiosity over assumptions and encourages listeners to reflect on their reactions to others' choices. 

Carrie highlights the idea that making the choice not to mother or nurture does not make a person less worthwhile, even if it elicits a negative reaction to those around them. Both Carrie and Courtney share some of their experiences as women who have made this choice in their own lives. As always, there are lots of laughs and connection while discussing this topic that has become more politicized in recent months. 

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

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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It's Episode 10 of Carrie's Always Talking! Can you believe we're in the double digits? This week, Carrie chats with her Aunt, Melissa Watters (Missy) about the sudden death of her husband, Darrin, 14 years ago. Melissa discusses the details of that life changing day and her journey to provide for her daughters while managing her immense grief. Her story is one of learning how to pivot after loss and finding a way to rebuild- It's also a story of finding strength that you never knew you possessed and how we all have that ability within us as well. It's an emotional and inspirational story. If you've been touched by loss, grab your tissues, and tune in. You don't want to miss this one. 

National resources for Grief and Loss:
https://www.ogr.org/national-grief-resources


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

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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It's episode 9 of Carrie's Always Talking! In this episode, Carrie chats with her friend and past improv teammate, Paul Fields, who graciously shares his experience with depression and his journey towards recovery. They discuss the importance of speaking up and seeking help, as well as the challenges of dealing with mental health issues. Paul emphasizes the need to find one's baseline and maintain it, while also recognizing the negative thought patterns and reframing them. He discusses what interventions worked well for him and how he's been able to support those in his life who are also being more open about their mental health challenges. There is some discussion around the topic of suicide in this episode as Paul is sharing openly and honestly about the challenges he's faced in living with depression. While there are no explicit details shared about his experience, it still may be challenging to listen to if you've been touched by any attempts in your life. The take away message is one of hope, consistency, and continued growth. 

Resources for MH support:
In Pennsylvania, you can text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24/7 at no cost. You can also call or chat with 988. Counselors can provide therapeutic interventions, referrals, and activate mobile mental health crisis teams. 

Crisis Text Line- Text 741741 to reach this line, which is available 24/7. You can use it for stress about school, work, family, or housing, or for other crises that aren't life-threatening. College students can text GOT5 or Got5U to 741741.

If you have a family member that you want to support or you require support as a caretaker related to mental health concerns, NAMI is a great resource. https://www.nami.org/

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

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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In episode 8 of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie's on her own this week. She introduces the podcast and encourages listeners to reach out if they would like to share their stories in a future episode. 

She reflects on last week's episode and the theme of moving to a new place. Carrie shares a little bit about her journey of moving to Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2008-2009 while her husband completed his Master's degree at Queens University. She discusses how moving both amplified her anxiety and gave her the benefit of growing more as a person as well. Have a cup of tea or coffee and listen along as Carrie talks about just how different it can be to move to another country. 

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

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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In Episode 7 of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie chats with her friend, Lori Bedell, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, about her life changing move from State College to Maine. Lori shares that Maine is a place she's wanted to live for the last 32 years and what it's been like to realize this dream. She discusses how empowering the experience of living there alone for a year was for her and how she feels that she can step- up to future challenges with more confidence because of this experience. Lori also discusses how after some challenges in her marriage, which were the catalyst for her move initially, she and her husband are in a great place both geographically and relationally. Lori emphasizes the idea of speaking your plan out loud to someone that can support you and help with accountability. Additionally, the question of fate vs making a decision and moving on it was debated. There are lots of laughs and possible plans for Carrie to also move to Maine! This is an episode you don't want to miss. 

If you have a question for next week's mini episode, or if you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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In episode 6 of Carrie's Always Talking, Carrie has Courtney Alesandro join again to follow up on their episode from last week. The idea that dying is a moral failure and the cancer battle analogy are discussed in this mini episode. Courtney is a breast cancer survivor as well, and she shares some of her insights around how the idea of losing a battle to an illness is a way for us to separate ourselves from the painful realization that we are all going to face death at some point. The episode topic sounds heavy, but there are lots of laughs and connection taking place while sharing a similar philosophy post cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

If you have a question for next week's Who Asked Me segment, or if you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

Articles about the Cancer Battle Analogy:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/02/28/1158867580/why-lost-their-battle-with-cancer-dementia-wrong-thing-to-say

https://healthydebate.ca/2013/04/about-healthy-debate/opinions-about-healthy-debate/when-dealing-with-cancer-lost-battle-language-is-inappropriate/

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In Episode 5, Carrie and Courtney discuss the importance of taking risks and following your instincts. They share personal stories of times when they followed their intuition and made decisions that led to fulfilling experiences. They emphasize that there are no rules in life and that it's okay to say no to things that aren't for you. They encourage listeners to embrace new experiences, even if they don't go as planned, and to remember that a rich and exciting life can be found in the small moments. In this conversation, Carrie and Courtney discuss the importance of living a meaningful life and finding joy in everyday experiences. They explore the idea that life doesn't have to be filled with big adventures to be fulfilling, and that even small, playful moments can bring happiness. Courtney shares her experience working in palliative care and how it has shaped her perspective on life and death. They also touch on the concept of contemplative medicine and the importance of embracing new experiences and not being afraid to try new things.

If you have a question for next week's Who Asked Me segment, or if you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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In this mini episode, Carrie reflects on her previous episode where she shared her mother's story and the emotional impact it had on her. She discusses the importance of allowing space for all emotions, including grief and anger. Carrie also explores the motivation behind her podcast, which is to build empathy and connection by sharing stories. She shares an example of how hearing someone's personal story can change perceptions and build empathy, even if opinions on an issue don't change.

If you have a question for next week's Who Asked Me segment, or if you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/storytelling-is-human-1.5511027#:~:text=Because%20stories%20create%20an%20emotional,apply%20it%20to%20our%20own.

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In the first part of Episode 3, Carrie describes a dream involving a skywriter with a less than uplifting message. She uses this dream to describe a little of what it was like to be raised by a mother who wanted to make sure Carrie was prepared for the challenges of real life. 

In part 2, the tone is more serious as Carrie shares the complex struggles her mother endured throughout her life, but especially during the last five years leading to her death. There is a strong focus on chronic illness and it's impact as well as unhealed trauma. Carrie also discusses the challenges of balancing the therapist parts of herself that hold great empathy for mother vs the daughter parts of herself that hold some feelings of anger in the context of grief. There is some discussion of intimate partner violence as well as gun violence that may feel unsafe for some listeners. 

If you have a question for next week's mini episode and Who Asked Me segment, or if you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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In this mini episode, Carrie emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and acknowledges that feeling more depressed, anxious, or uncertain is a normal human reaction during these challenging times. Carrie suggests focusing on small moments of positivity and taking breaks from social media and the news to alleviate the overwhelming negativity. She also recommends engaging in activities that bring comfort and joy, such as listening to music or watching comforting shows. Overall, the episode offers support and guidance for navigating the ongoing collective trauma.

Have a question for the Who Asked Me segment or a story you want to share? Please reach out by sending an email to [email protected]
I've also created a facebook group for this podcast as another way for us to connect. www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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