After 30 days apart, Tera and Wes Wages reunite in this raw and reflective episode to walk through the Core Emotion Wheel—live and unscripted. They process everything from the guilt of missed connections to the joy of being truly seen, showing just how powerful emotional honesty can be. Along the way, they model how to use this tool in real-time, talk through what’s really driving their behavior, and explain how diving deeper into core emotions has helped them move from disconnection to intimacy. If you've ever felt stuck in surface-level conversations, this episode shows how to break through and build meaningful connection—one emotion at a time.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Welcome, Warm-Up & Quick Heads-Up
• 00:00:49 - Summer Stories & Reuniting on the Mic
• 00:01:10 - Unlocking Connection with the Core Emotion Wheel
• 00:03:33 - Putting the Wheel to Work in Real Life
• 00:05:24 - Peeling Back Layers: Emotions That Shape Relationships
• 00:12:00 - Wes Opens Up: Honest Feelings on the Table
• 00:17:14 - Big Life Shift: Saying Goodbye to the RV
• 00:18:41 - The Emotional Weight of Letting Go
• 00:19:08 - Adventures, Solitude, and Summer Reflections
• 00:20:06 - Joy, Dreams, and What’s Next
• 00:20:35 - Breaking Down the Core Eight Emotions
• 00:22:02 - Chasing Parks, Memories, and Milestones
• 00:23:37 - Why Our Feelings Drive the Choices We Make
• 00:30:52 - The Highs and Hiccups of Life on the Road
• 00:33:04 - How Core Emotions Keep Us Connected
• 00:35:06 - Final Encouragement & Invitation to Join the Conversation

Phyllis and Dr. Glenn Hill sit down with Elijah Runyan, Director of Certified Coaching for Connection Codes, to dive deep into the world of neurodivergence and emotional connection. Both Elijah and Dr. Glenn share personal stories of what it’s like to live with unique emotional wiring—where everyday experiences, like dishes left undone or mismatched hangers, can trigger intense pain experiences. Through candid reflections, they reveal how shame and loneliness can take hold when these experiences go unseen or misunderstood, and how learning to process pain instead of judging it opens the door to authentic connection. This episode highlights how the Connection Codes framework—centered on regard, curiosity, and emotional awareness—has transformed their relationships, helping them move from miscommunication to genuine closeness with their families and partners.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠
• Connect with Elijah here: https://www.runyanstronghealth.com/

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Opening Up: Why This Conversation Matters
• 00:00:56 - What Neurodivergence Really Feels Like
• 00:04:22 - When “Different” Becomes a Daily Struggle
• 00:07:41 - From Shame to Identity: The Pain Behind Control
• 00:12:14 - Why Being Seen Is More Powerful Than Being Helped
• 00:21:15 - Raising Kids While Feeling Misunderstood
• 00:22:22 - Making Room for Everyday Pain
• 00:22:33 - Teaching Compassion Through Lived Experience
• 00:25:10 - Travel, Triggers, and When Systems Break
• 00:26:57 - Navigating Marriage with a Neurodivergent Lens
• 00:29:13 - How We Learn to Speak Each Other’s Language
• 00:30:19 - The Great Hanger Debate (Yes, Really)
• 00:32:37 - Celebrating the Things That Set Us Apart
• 00:35:10 - Final Thoughts on Connection, Curiosity, and Courage

Tera, Phyllis, and Dr. Glenn dive into the deeply human instinct to stay hidden—especially when emotions like shame, sadness, or anger begin to rise. Whether it's saying “I’m fine” when we’re not, or disconnecting to avoid discomfort, the episode unpacks how hiding becomes a form of emotional protection that ultimately costs us connection. Drawing from personal stories and the Connection Codes framework, the hosts reveal how early life messages taught us to suppress emotion rather than engage with it—and how staying hidden, even from ourselves, creates internal dissonance. Through honest reflection and practical tools, they guide listeners toward emotional safety and deeper intimacy by asking the core question: “What’s firing in me right now?” If you've ever shut down, avoided vulnerability, or longed to feel more seen in your relationships, this episode offers a compassionate and powerful path back to connection.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 – When You Say “I’m Fine”… But You’re Not
• 00:00:38 – Caught Hiding in the Pantry
• 00:01:38 – The Emotional Weight of Disappearing
• 00:02:34 – Wellness, Vulnerability, and Hidden Triggers
• 00:05:55 – What Hiding Really Does to the Heart
• 00:08:35 – The Silent Disconnect in Relationships
• 00:11:26 – Why Hiding Becomes a Habit
• 00:15:02 – What Happens When You Finally Speak It
• 00:24:25 – The Emotion Wheel That Changed Everything
• 00:25:20 – Saying the Thing You've Never Said
• 00:27:33 – You Deserve to Be Seen
• 00:30:48 – Finding Your Safe People
• 00:33:04 – When Judgment Shuts Us Down
• 00:38:11 – Using the Core Emotion Wheel in Real Life
• 00:43:47 – Wrapping Up: Your Next Step Toward Connection

In this powerful episode of the Connection Codes podcast, Tera and Phyllis sit down with trauma-informed coach Echo Hill Vetter to break open what happens when we let go of punishment and choose connection over consequence. Together, they unpack why punishing our kids “into good behavior” often fails — and how to replace control with curiosity, repair, and true partnership. Echo shares how dance and movement are medicine for kids’ big feelings and how parenting leadership really means supporting our kids from beneath, not controlling them from above. If you’ve ever wondered, “If I don’t punish, what do I do instead?” — this honest conversation shows the way forward.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠⁠⁠

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Welcome + Why This Conversation Matters
• 00:00:38 - Echo’s Raw and Real Parenting Story
• 00:01:10 - When Parenting Feels Like Constant Friction
• 00:01:24 - What It Means to Parent Through Trauma
• 00:03:21 - Why Culture Taught Us to Punish
• 00:05:04 - Dance, Movement & Emotional Survival
• 00:08:28 - The Truth About Traditional Parenting Struggles
• 00:09:22 - Choosing Connection Over Consequence
• 00:18:13 - Leadership Reimagined: Parenting from Beneath
• 00:21:40 - How Our Kids Mirror Us (Literally)
• 00:22:10 - What to Do When Kids “Act Out”
• 00:23:01 - Regulating Ourselves Before Reacting
• 00:23:25 - Is Talking Back Actually a Good Sign?
• 00:24:20 - Seeing the Need Behind the Behavior
• 00:27:27 - Real-Life Tools for Collaborative Parenting
• 00:28:57 - When Your Kid Is Wild (And Wonderful)
• 00:34:51 - Curiosity and Compassion: The Game Changers
• 00:36:13 - Echo’s Parting Encouragement to All Parents

If you are in a happy, loving relationship where you feel safe but have moments that suddenly your partner feels like the enemy... Ooooo... you aren't alone. It is easy to feel like they are the ones in the "wrong." Today, we talk about reframing our thoughts and having deep conversations to experience new depth and peace in your relationship.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Emotional Struggles And Communication Breakdowns
• 00:03:52 - Dr. Glenn & Phyllis: Dedication To Helping Others
• 00:07:40 - Importance Of Deep Connections In Relationships
• 00:18:34 - Power Of Vulnerability In Relationships
• 00:22:48 - Partnering Against The Cyclone: Unity And Protection
• 00:27:55 - Building Deep Connections Through Connection Codes
• 00:31:16 - Effects Of Physical Pain On Behavior And Parenting
• 00:42:31 - Three Steps To Connect And Communicate
• 00:46:02 - Power Of Consistency In Improving Relationships
• 00:50:45 - Emotional And Physical Pain: Loneliness, Guilt, And Fear

When did motherhood start to mean sacrificing your whole self? In this honest episode, No Guilt Mom founder JoAnn Crohn joins Tera to unmask the hidden expectations that keep moms overwhelmed and stuck in cycles of guilt. JoAnn shares how a single permission slip — and a head of cabbage — helped her break free from the “selfless mom” myth, reclaim her identity, and build a thriving community where moms stop doing everything alone. If you’re ready to rewrite the good mom story and trade guilt for real connection, this episode is your sign to start now.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠
• Website: noguiltmom.com
• JoAnn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanncrohn/⁠⁠

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Opening Thoughts & Gentle Disclaimer
• 00:00:38 - Meet JoAnn: The Voice Behind No Guilt Mom
• 00:02:49 - From “No Kids Ever” to Motherhood
• 00:04:25 - Surviving Postpartum: The Turning Point
• 00:06:58 - Why Moms Need Real Self-Care
• 00:12:29 - Journaling: A Safe Space for Truth
• 00:19:11 - Smashing the “Good Mom” Expectations
• 00:22:43 - How Moms Cope (and Why It Changes)
• 00:23:12 - Choosing Sobriety: What It Reveals
• 00:23:40 - Why We All Need Community
• 00:24:15 - Can AI Help Us Connect Better?
• 00:26:05 - The Social Skills We’re All Relearning
• 00:28:17 - Building Real Friendships (Not Just Playdates)
• 00:30:30 - JoAnn’s HAPPY Framework in Action
• 00:35:15 - Using the Core Emotion Wheel at Home
• 00:41:03 - Final Takeaways & Resources You’ll Love

In this powerful episode, coach Echo Hill Vetter invites us into the often-ignored conversation between our minds and our bodies. With deep vulnerability and insight, Echo shares her transformative journey of realizing that trauma isn’t always dramatic—it’s often stored in the quiet, unmet needs of the body. From the radical idea of going to the bathroom when you need to, to learning how to “feel your feelings” physically, she offers a compassionate, body-first approach to emotional healing. This episode challenges the cultural narrative of self-abandonment and gives listeners practical tools to rebuild trust with themselves—one sensation at a time.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠⁠

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Welcome + Why This Matters
• 00:00:38 - Trauma Isn’t Just in Your Head
• 00:01:57 - What Sent Echo Searching for Answers
• 00:02:55 - The Moment Everything Shifted
• 00:06:36 - Learning to Trust the Body Again
• 00:09:48 - How to Actually Listen to Your Body
• 00:12:26 - What Happens When You Meet Your Needs
• 00:15:12 - Echo Gets Real About Her Past
• 00:29:24 - When Your Body Is Screaming and You Still Ignore It
• 00:30:23 - Emotions Are Physical—Here’s Proof
• 00:32:09 - Small Changes That Change Everything
• 00:33:43 - Mental Health Starts in the Body
• 00:34:46 - Healing Ourselves to Heal Society
• 00:36:25 - “Feel Your Feelings” — What That Actually Looks Like
• 00:46:05 - The Tool That Changed How I See Emotions
• 00:46:46 - Echo’s Honest Moment With Guilt + Shame
• 00:52:47 - Final Thoughts + Where to Go Next

Dr. Glenn and Phyllis Hill welcome back Chris Cruz—Managing Director at Harbor + Union- for a powerful conversation on leadership, action, and emotional clarity. With refreshing vulnerability, Chris shares how the phrase “clarity is found in motion” transformed his approach to decision-making, leadership, and connection. Listeners will hear how fear often paralyzes us into waiting, but motion—taking a first step—can lead to surprising clarity. Tying this into the Connection Codes framework, Chris explains how emotional insight comes not from planning but from engaging—especially in conversation. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating fear, change, or relational stuckness and looking for practical tools to move forward with authenticity.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠
• LinkedIn – Chris Cruz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjosephcruz/
• Chris’s Instagram : @chriscruz
• The Practice of Being with Jesus: https://tinyurl.com/4zzddd89⁠

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - A Warm Welcome + Why This Conversation Matters
• 00:00:38 - Meet Chris Cruz: Storyteller, Pastor, Creative Voice
• 00:00:55 - When Desire Isn’t Enough—Why Action Changes Everything
• 00:01:36 - Life Lately: Chris Reflects on the Journey
• 00:02:54 - “Clarity is Found in Motion”—The Quote That Sparked It All
• 00:09:52 - Sitting with Fear, Moving Anyway
• 00:14:19 - Processing in Real Time: What Happens When We Don’t Have it All Figured Out
• 00:22:34 - Why Imperfection Might Be the Key to Starting
• 00:23:09 - When Learning Becomes a Hiding Place—And How to Step Out
• 00:25:12 - What Therapy Taught Me About Growth and Patience
• 00:25:54 - Getting Honest About What’s Really Underneath: Fear, Shame, Guilt
• 00:33:29 - Motion Brings Clarity: Why We Can’t Stay Still
• 00:36:37 - Behind the Mic: Chris Shares His Podcast Journey
• 00:39:33 - A Quiet Nudge Forward: Encouragement to Move Gently

In this powerful episode, certified Connection Codes coach Bridgett Blood shares her raw and transformative journey through 12 weeks of deep emotional work that redefined her understanding of peace, connection, and faith. Joined by Phyllis, Dr. Glenn, and Tera, she unpacks the shift from peacekeeping to peacemaking—revealing how naming harm, confronting emotional pain, and embracing core emotions like anger and sadness led to true restoration. Most profoundly, Bridgett reimagines her relationship with God—not as someone who rushes to fix, but as a presence who grieves with her. If you’ve ever longed for honest healing and a deeper spiritual connection, this episode offers both reflection and renewal.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: ⁠https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA⁠
• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Find a coach:⁠ ⁠https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu⁠

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Welcome Back: Kicking Off a Deeply Personal Conversation
• 00:00:17 - When Peace Demands More Than Quiet
• 00:01:51 - Bridgett’s Journey Through Trauma and Truth
• 00:03:21 - The Risk and Courage of Naming the Pain
• 00:04:53 - What Real Peace in Relationships Actually Looks Like
• 00:07:23 - Texts, Therapy, and Truth-Telling: Taking Brave Steps
• 00:18:14 - When God Doesn’t Fix It—He Sits With You
• 00:21:30 - Choosing Wholeness in the Middle of Family Tension
• 00:21:59 - A Love That Stays: God’s Presence Without Conditions
• 00:22:50 - Rethinking Miracles: It Doesn’t Always Look Like Rescue
• 00:23:56 - How Owning Your Part Opens the Door to Healing
• 00:24:33 - Partnering with God, Not Waiting for Magic
• 00:25:42 - What Happens When You're Emotionally Honest with God
• 00:30:04 - Feeling It All: Using the Core Motion Wheel
• 00:37:24 - The Hard Work Is Worth It: Final Reflections

In this heartfelt episode, certified Connection Codes coach Bridgett Blood joins Tera and Phyllis for an honest and moving conversation about what it means to connect with yourself first. After facing the collapse of a romantic relationship that had initially introduced her to Connection Codes, Bridgett found herself alone—and yet, divinely invited—to use these emotional tools to begin healing from the inside out. She shares how journaling her core emotions, honoring the signals from her body, and staying present through the pain helped her rebuild a sense of wholeness and self-worth. This episode is a powerful reminder that the journey to connection with others must begin with ourselves—and that even in our darkest seasons, we can learn to stay.

Links and Resources:

• Download the Core Emotion Wheel: https://youtube.com/@connectioncodes?si=phORYBsGMOOrj9mA

• Find out how to become a Certified Coach:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://connectioncodes.co/certified-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Find a coach:⁠ https://connectioncodes.co/coaches#find-a-coach-menu

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 - Let’s Begin: A Gentle Disclaimer

• 00:00:39 - Welcome to the Space Where Connection Matters

• 00:01:32 - Meet Bridget: A Journey of Heart and Healing

• 00:03:03 - From Breakup to Breakthrough: Bridget’s Path to Wholeness

• 00:03:55 - Her Daily Practice: Wheels, Words, and Staying Present

• 00:07:02 - Emotional Honesty: The Real Work of Being Human

• 00:11:20 - When Phyllis Needed the Tools Too

• 00:18:06 - How to Stay True to Yourself in Love

• 00:24:02 - Listening to Your Body When It’s Screaming Softly

• 00:30:48 - Pain Isn’t the End—It’s the Invitation

• 00:31:16 - One Massage, a Lifetime of Emotions

• 00:32:20 - The Weight We Carry When We Don’t Process

• 00:34:01 - What Our Bodies Remember from Generations Past

• 00:35:02 - The Science (and Soul) Behind the Body’s Memory

• 00:38:16 - Bridget’s Road Back to Self-Care

• 00:40:07 - Loving Yourself While Loving Someone Else

• 00:42:27 - The Courage Men Need to Feel

• 00:45:42 - What Healing Sounds Like for All of Us

• 00:49:04 - You’re Allowed to Ask for Help

• 00:55:19 - A Soft Landing: Final Thoughts & Tools for You