In this episode of Chin Hairs and F-Bombs, SallyAnn Gray invites her husband, Benjamin, for a raw and honest conversation about burnout. They open up about how it impacted their marriage, their work, and their sense of self - and how they each found their way back. Sally and Benjamin unpack the different ways burnout shows up for men and women, the weight of societal expectations, and the strategies that actually helped them heal. Along the way, they share practical advice, real-life stories, and one surprising truth: sometimes you’ve gotta get outside and play in the dirt.

00:00 – Welcome to Chin Hairs and F-Bombs

00:40 – Meet the guest: Benjamin

01:06 – Burnout: Let’s talk about it

01:49 – Who we are, what we’re about

04:35 – So what IS burnout, really?

06:34 – How burnout messes with your head and heart

13:02 – Men, women, and burnout: Different rules, same pressure

19:29 – What burnout did to our relationship

24:48 – Finding our way back

26:33 – Yard work is therapy now? Sure is.

28:01 – Getting out of our heads and into our bodies

29:21 – Our burnout stories (the messy kind)

32:17 – Learning to live within our limits

43:37 – “Ohhh… THAT was burnout”: Early signs

47:55 – Generational Perspectives on Mental Health

49:28 – JOY SHARE! What’s lighting us up right now

53:21 – Final thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 2 of this two-part Chin Hairs and F-Bombs series, SallyAnn and Lynne continue exploring their ADHD journeys, focusing on life after receiving their diagnoses. They discuss the practical tools and strategies that have significantly improved their daily lives, such as body doubling, visual reminders, and digital organization tools. They share their personal experiences with ADHD medication, highlighting both the challenges and benefits. SallyAnn and Lynne also celebrate the often-overlooked positive aspects of having ADHD! Filled with relatable stories, practical advice, and encouragement, this episode offers helpful insights for anyone managing ADHD or supporting loved ones who are.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:42 Effective Support Strategies

02:27 The Power of Body Doubling

06:05 Visual Reminders and Habit Stacking

11:39 Medication Experiences

18:44 Reflecting on ADHD Diagnosis

20:12 Realizing ADHD in High Achievers

20:49 The Power of Self-Diagnosis

22:04 The Impact of Medication

23:10 Embracing the Creative Brain

26:06 Journaling and Tracking Progress

31:17 Sharing Joys and Self-Care

34:57 Concluding Thoughts on ADHD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Chin Hairs and F-bombs: Conversations with Girlfriends, host SallyAnn reconnects with longtime friend Deb to talk about the challenges of building friendships as an adult. SallyAnn, who left Kansas City for Maine, and Deb, a retired nurse now based in Colorado, share their personal experiences and tips for finding community in unfamiliar territory. They highlight the importance of spontaneity, discuss what it takes to form meaningful bonds and celebrate the joys of lifelong companionship.

00:00 Introductions

01:05 Childhood Memories and Long-Lasting Friendship

03:01 Challenges of Making Friends as Adults

04:05 Deb's Retirement and New Beginnings

09:34 Sally's Move to Maine and Isolation

13:01 Finding Community and Making Connections

18:32 Balancing Social Life and Personal Time

22:37 Advice on Making New Friends

24:00 The Importance of Being Open to Opportunities

26:37 Maintaining Long-Distance Friendships

29:24 The Pain of Losing Friendships

33:17 Cherishing Deep Platonic Friendships

35:30 A Heartwarming Story

38:10 Reflections on Retirement and Friendships

39:16 Joy Share and Closing Remarks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Chin Hairs and F-bombs, guests Barbara Evans and Monique Garrett join host SallyAnn Gray to uncover the realities of life as a middle-aged woman, tackling the often-overlooked "Invisible Woman Syndrome." Together, they share candid stories about aging, the shifting dynamics of professional life, and how societal perceptions evolve as women navigate perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. The conversation is a heartfelt exploration of self-perception, resilience, and the freedom that comes with letting go of societal expectations. Plus, don't miss their "Joy Share" segment, where these friends celebrate the simple things that bring them happiness, reminding us of the power of connection and community. 

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:44 Meet the Guests: Monique and Barbara

04:18 Virtual Coffee Connections

07:11 Invisible Woman Syndrome

10:16 Personal Experiences of Invisibility

19:49 Benefits of Invisibility

26:07 Navigating Professional Challenges for Women

28:48 The Struggles of Middle-Aged Job Seekers

30:55 Embracing Personal Style and Liberation

35:12 The Journey to Going Gray

39:22 Understanding Menopause and Aging

44:23 Final Thoughts and Joy Share

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, SallyAnn Gray and her dear friend Emily examine the concept of Direct Primary Care (DPC) versus the traditional healthcare system. They discuss the advantages of DPC, focusing on quality, preventative care, and direct access to doctors, alongside candid personal experiences that highlight frustrations with conventional healthcare practices. The episode explores the issues of misdiagnoses, lack of personalized care, and systemic problems within traditional healthcare systems, proposing DPC as a more compassionate and individualized alternative. The conversation also touches on the friends' personal lives and ends with a heartfelt reflection on the importance of finding joy amid life's challenges.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:33 Meet Emily: A Familiar Voice

00:53 What is Direct Primary Care?

01:04 About the Podcast

05:35 Direct Primary Care Explained

14:58 Personal Experiences with Traditional Healthcare

20:38 Switching to Direct Primary Care

31:39 Finding the Right Doctor

35:39 The Hassle of Traditional Healthcare

37:11 Frustrations with Misdiagnoses

40:54 The Broken Healthcare System

42:36 The Benefits of Direct Primary Care

50:51 Story Time: The Water Bottle Incident

55:40 Joy Share: Finding Positivity in Tough Times

01:02:47 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, SallyAnn and her friend Miranda dive into the topic of relationship conflicts, focusing on arguments with significant others and survival tips for cohabitation. Both women share stories from the trenches, discussing factors such as chores, money, and the importance of scheduling alone time to maintain healthy relationships. They explore what it means to fight fair, communicate effectively, and find balance amidst the chaos of everyday life.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Welcome

01:35 Meet Miranda: Life on the Road

02:25 Vermont Adventures and Reflections

04:07 Kansas City Memories

06:10 Stand-Up Comedy Birthday Bash

07:33 State of the Union: Relationship Dynamics

12:26 Navigating Conflict and Fighting Styles

30:33 Navigating Emotions and Articulation

31:13 Understanding Triggers and Personal Growth

33:24 Importance of Time Alone and Space

40:07 Biggest Fights

43:16 Chores and Gender Norms

51:56 Best and Worst Relationship Advice

55:54 Joyful Moments and Closing Thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join your Gal Pal Sal (SallyAnn Gray) and her friend Chelsea for a candid discussion about people pleasing. The duo shares personal stories and insights about their experiences as people-pleasers, the impact on their lives, and how they've managed to set boundaries. They also dive into the challenges of saying no, self-help book disappointments, and the joy of discovering self-acceptance. 

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

01:39 Meet Chelsea: Background and Career

02:07 Fashion and Friendship: How We Met

06:14 Understanding People Pleasing

13:13 Childhood Influences on People Pleasing

17:16 The Struggle with People Pleasing

22:04 Self-Help Books: Do They Really Help?

28:36 Impact of People Pleasing on Life

33:39 Confronting a Friend

35:39 The Art of Saying No

37:42 Friendship Dynamics

39:40 The Power of Downtime

46:04 Solo Retreats and FOMO

48:07 Setting Boundaries

49:08 The Joy of Self-Acceptance

52:25 Learning to Say No

55:57 Joy Shares and Wrap-Up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, SallyAnn has a deeply personal conversation with her closest confidante - herself! - sharing her relationship with alcohol and its profound impact on her life. Listen in as she candidly reveals the pivotal moments that led her to significantly reduce her alcohol intake, backed by compelling data, realistic strategies, and the transformative effect it had on her mental health.

Resources/Data:

CBC: "Canada gets new guidelines to recognize and treat high-risk drinking" - link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/alcohol-high-risk-1.6996304

Nation Library of Medicine: "Alcohol Use Among Depressed Patients: The Need for Assessment and Intervention" - link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2874911/

World Health Organization: "No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health" - link: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health

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In this episode, girlfriends SallyAnn and Julie discuss their experiences living with anxiety, including how it has manifested in their lives, navigating panic attacks, and learning what works for them to regulate their nervous system during times of stress.

Resources:

Article: “Panic attack or anxiety attack? Here’s how to tell” - https://www.ems1.com/airway-management/articles/panic-attack-or-anxiety-attack-heres-how-to-tell-wd7a0muvEY0Z08LZ/

About 4 7 8 breathing - https://health.clevelandclinic.org/4-7-8-breathing

Info about Freespira - https://freespira.com/

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