Cracking Open with Molly Carroll

For me, this episode's timing could not be more perfect. I dropped off my first kiddo at college last weekend and that has brought with it a tidal wave of emotions – grief, sadness, tons of tears, and reflections on the passing of time, my marriage, and my identity as a mom. I have had to lean on my closest friends multiple times already, and I know that those friendships will continue to be a salvation to me in this new phase of life and letting go.

Do you remember singing, “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver, and the other is gold”? Today, I’m thrilled to welcome one of my “gold” friends to the Cracking Open podcast — Charlotte Hardwick.

Charlotte and I have been dear friends for over 30 years. In this week's episode, we dive into the highs and lows of female friendships, exploring their benefits and complexities, and how they significantly impact our lives.

However, there is much more to Charlotte than the jewels of long-standing friendship. She also comes to this conversation with a wealth of expertise in wellness and nutrition. With over 20 years of experience developing wellness and life-balance programming, Charlotte has worked with individuals, families, and organizations across the country. She brings her teachings into the homes of her clients, into studios, and on retreats in South Carolina, Costa Rica, Mexico, and at the creative and memorable Blackberry Farm hotel and wellness center in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee.

Charlotte's extensive knowledge is built on studies from around the world, including MA degrees in nutrition and early childhood development and over 100 dietary theories. Charlotte’s mentors include Dr. Andrew Weil from the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. David Katz from Yale University’s Prevention Research Center, and Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard University’s nutrition department, among many other leading health and wellness experts.

In our conversation, we delve into her vast experience in health and wellness, offering concrete tips and tools for living a more balanced and grounded life. We also get real about what we seek from friendships in our 50s, exploring the highs and lows that have sustained our bond for 30 years, while also discussing why female friendships are crucial for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. God knows they have saved my ass more than a few times!

Charlotte truly embodies the qualities of a “gold” friend — honest, loving, and authentic. I hope you come away from this episode feeling inspired to make healthy choices for your own life and feeling grateful for your own long-standing "gold" friendships.

Love,
Molly

P.S. As you may have noticed, our team has made some changes to the look of the Cracking Open podcast. As much as I loved the original design, it felt like the right time for a fresh new look. I love it and hopefully you do too!


Learn more about Charlotte Hardwick here
Register for Charlotte's next retreat at Blackberry Farm here
Follow Charlotte on Instagram



Molly's next 3-month Cracking Open group coaching program starts in September 2024! Learn more here.

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Email Molly for more details!

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In an era marked by division and rising mental health challenges, Fr. Greg Boyle’s voice is one we need to hear now more than ever. On this episode of the Cracking Open podcast, I am honored to speak with Fr. Boyle, a man whose work, books, and mission have inspired me for years.

Father Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the world's largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Fr. Boyle served as pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights from 1986 to 1992. Dolores Mission was the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles and had the highest concentration of gang activity in the city. 

He had a front-row seat to the devastating impact of gang violence on his community during the so-called “decade of death” that began in the late 1980s, peaking at 1,000 gang-related killings in 1992.  Law enforcement deployed harsh police tactics and the criminal justice system rolled out policies of suppression and mass incarceration as the primary response to the increased gang violence.
 
But where others saw only criminals, Father Boyle saw people in need of help. So his parish and community members decided to implement a radically different approach – to treat gang members as human beings. 

In 1988 they started what would eventually become Homeboy Industries, which employs and trains former gang members in a range of social enterprises, as well as provides critical services to thousands of individuals who walk through its doors every year seeking a better life. Whether joining their 18-month employment and re-entry program or seeking discreet services such as tattoo removal or substance abuse resources, their clients are embraced by a community of kinship and offered a variety of free wraparound services to facilitate healing and growth.

In this episode, we discuss Fr. Boyle’s journey to becoming a priest, the development of Homeboy Industries, and his core principles: “Everybody’s unshakably good, no exceptions,” and “We belong to each other, no exceptions.”  We also explore the teachings of Jesus, and what Fr. Greg shares is the “marrow of the gospel” emphasizing inclusion, nonviolence, unconditional kindness, and compassion.

Fr. Boyle speaks of these concepts in his 2010 New York Times bestseller Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, followed by Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship (2017) and The Whole Language: The Power of
Extravagant Tenderness (2021). Recently he debuted Forgive Everyone Everything, an anthology of writings accompanied by Fabian Debora’s artwork.

He has received the California Peace Prize and has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, President Obama named Fr. Boyle a Champion of Change. He received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest
honor given to American Catholics. Homeboy Industries was the recipient of the 2020 Hilton Humanitarian Prize, validating 32 years of Fr. Greg Boyle’s vision and work by the organization for over three decades. And in May 2024, Fr. Greg was a recipient of The Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden.

Our heartfelt conversation reveals that what everyone seeks is a home – not just a physical space but a place where they are seen, and valued, and where judgment is left at the door.

Love, Molly

Learn more about Father Greg Boyle and his work with Homeboy Industries here
Follow Homeboy Industries on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Do you believe in synchronicity? Our guest today on the Cracking Open podcast embodies the essence of serendipity.

I first encountered Samantha Myer in a Venice, California coffee shop and was drawn to her stylish and distinctive coat/robe/sweater ensemble. Little did I know, her story transcends mere fashion.

Based in Los Angeles, Samantha is a celebrated wardrobe stylist, designer, and the
creative force behind Samantha Myer Studio. She's renowned for the iconic Papa
Sweater, a blend of blanket, sweater, and comforting embrace that I personally
adore.

Samantha's career spans from styling ad campaigns and red carpets to showcasing her designs at New York Fashion Week. Her work has graced the pages of The New York Times, Elle.com, Cosmopolitan, Elle France, and GQ.
In 2014, Samantha made waves in fashion with "Leather Stems" - leather thigh-
high stirrups that transform ankle boots into thigh-highs. Launched at Intermix
Stores nationwide, this innovation marked a pivotal moment in her journey,
leading to collaborations with celebrities such as Alicia Keys.

Beyond her professional achievements, Samantha's designs and identity are
deeply shaped by losing her father at a young age. This experience sparked her involvement with A Caring Hand, a non-profit supporting bereaved children. Samantha's compassion for these young hearts has driven her to use her platform for advocacy and awareness.

In our conversation, Samantha emerges as a captivating storyteller, effortlessly
blending poignant reflections on grief with delightful anecdotes from her life,
including friendships with icons like Lindsay Lohan. Her journey underscores
powerful life lessons about embracing dreams with courage and authenticity.

Love,
Molly


Learn more about Samantha Myer and her work here
Follow Samantha on Instagram



Molly's next 3-month Cracking Open group coaching program starts in September 2024! Learn more here.

Interested in a VIP Coaching Day with Molly?
Email Molly for more details!

Follow Molly on Instagram and Facebook

My son leaves for college in August, so you can only imagine how much I have been reflecting on motherhood lately.

I've been thinking back on all those joyful hours watching Tommy play soccer since he was three years old, and the sleepless nights worrying if he'll be okay as he changes and grows into the young man he is today. The essence of loving a child deeply reminds me of Elizabeth Stone's famous saying –

“Making the decision to have a child – it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”  

These words have never felt more true than they do right now, and it has inspired me to re-release an early episode of the Cracking Open podcast with one of the fiercest and most radically loving mothers I know - the incredible Jodie Patterson.

Jodie is an award-winning author, public speaker, advocate, and entrepreneur whose work spans communities as diverse as fashion and beauty brands, to media and entertainment organizations, to queer and BIPOC advocacy groups. In 2019, she became the first Black person elected to the role of Chair of The Human Rights Campaign Board, America’s largest LGBT organization with more than forty years of experience advocating for the rights of this community.

Her first book, The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation, was hailed by Alice Walker as “marvelous”, and since its publication in 2017, Jodie has spoken weekly on topics of identity, gender, race, and beauty, along with how they play out in family dynamics. In 2021, she published her second book, Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope. It has won several awards and was gifted to all public schools in the state of Kansas. The picture book was inspired by Jodie’s child’s pronouncement at the age of three, “Mama, I’m not a girl, I am a boy”, as well as Jodie’s transformation into an unapologetic LGBTQAI advocate.

Jodie's story has been featured in numerous daytime talk shows, evening news programs, national print publications, podcasts, and radio programs, including a short documentary produced by Cosmopolitan magazine that reached more than 11 million views and is currently used by the State of New York for diversity training of its employees. In 2015, Family Circle Magazine named her the #1 Most Influential Mom.

She is a truly inspiring woman and mother, and the conversation that we share is both poignant and passionate. Jodie's voice is an important one to listen to if you want to experience the embodiment of true freedom in love and motherhood.

Love,
Molly

Purchase Jodie's book The Bold World here, and Born Ready here  
Follow Jodie on Instagram



Molly's next 3-month Cracking Open group coaching program starts in September 2024! Learn more here.

Interested in a VIP Coaching Day with Molly?
Email Molly for more details!

Follow Molly on Instagram and Facebook

Chris Herren's story is one of profound struggle and eventual redemption. Addiction impacts millions of families in heartbreaking ways. I know this personally and through sitting with multiple clients who have been going through it with loved ones. This makes today's conversation about addiction and recovery on the Cracking Open podcast especially powerful.

As a young basketball prodigy from Fall River, MA, Chris soared to fame with over 2000 points in high school, even gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated before graduating. However, his journey with addiction had already started to derail his life and his future as a professional athlete. Due to repeated failed drug tests, Chris was expelled from Boston College.

Legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian reached out to Chris and gave him a second chance to play college basketball at Fresno State. He flourished there, leading him into the NBA, playing with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics. In secret though, Chris was still battling with alcohol and drug addiction, and basketball simply couldn't compete with the lure of alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.

Despite his success on the court, his personal life spiraled out of control, culminating in an overdose and near-death experience in 2008. Through what he calls his "sherpas" – guiding lights on his journey – Chris fully embraced recovery, and has been sober since August 1, 2008. He continues to share his story through various platforms, including his bestselling memoir Basketball Junkie and the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary Unguarded.

Chris has dedicated his life to sobriety and creating a positive impact in the world. Through his company Herren Talks, he has reached over a million students and community members, sparking crucial conversations about substance use disorder and wellness. Chris's nonprofit Herren Project, empowers schools and communities to make healthy choices and supports families through recovery. Herren Wellness, established in 2018, offers residential health and wellness programs to support substance-free living.

Chris's journey and this conversation around addiction recovery will resonate deeply with many of you. Even if you have not been personally touched by addiction, understanding this topic and its impact is crucial, making this conversation particularly significant.

Love,
Molly


Learn more about Chris Herren and his work here
Follow Chris on Instagram




Molly's next 3-month Cracking Open group coaching program starts in July 2024! Learn more here.

Interested in a VIP Coaching Day with Molly?
Email Molly for more details!

Follow Molly on Instagram and Facebook

Do you ever feel like you have to be perfect? The perfect mother, daughter, employee, partner, etc?

It's a familiar struggle that I have grappled with in my own life, and as a therapist, I've witnessed this innate desire to be perfect from thousands of women.

That's how I first came across Elise Loehnen's bestselling book, On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good.  It is such an intriguing read and I am thrilled to have her on the Cracking Open podcast today.

Elise is not only a New York Times bestselling author, but also the host of the podcast Pulling the Thread, where she interviews cultural luminaries about life's big questions.

In our conversation, we talk through some of our own big questions like how she got the idea for her book after speaking with the celebrity therapist Lori Gottlieb on the Goop podcast. Ms. Gottlieb told her - pay attention to envy, it can show you what you want. Gottlieb's insight into using envy as a revealing emotion inspired Elise to explore the other six "deadly sins" —lust, anger, greed, gluttony, sloth, and pride—and their impact on women's lives. Not only did this exploration deeply influence millions of women's lives but her own as well.

"I'm the primary breadwinner. I've killed myself to succeed in life and be a good mother, partner, citizen, employee, and boss. And, you know, I was breathless, exhausted, and recognized that I was running a race with no finish line, that I was competing against a standard that I had not created and that would never give me any rewards that would mean anything to me." ~ Elise Loehnen

Boy oh boy, can I relate! Maybe you can too?

Join us as we delve into a wide range of topics, such as the Enneagram personality type system, Elise's affinity with spiritual figures such as Mary Magdalene (and how I feel that Elise is our modern-day Joan of Arc!).

Elise was previously the chief content officer of the famous lifestyle brand goop. While there, she co-hosted The goop Podcast and The goop Lab on Netflix, and led the brand’s content strategy and programming, including launching a magazine with Condé Nast and a book imprint. Before goop, she held roles as the editorial projects director of Conde Nast Traveler and editor at large and deputy editor of Lucky Magazine, where she also served as the on-air spokesperson, appearing regularly on shows like Today, E!, Good Morning America, and The Early Show.

Elise is highly accomplished in her career and a staunch advocate for women's self-acceptance. She emphasizes that it's not about striving for perfection but rather about becoming aware of how cultural programming and ancient ideas of morality, such as the seven deadly sins, continue to control and distort women's lives today. Elise believes that trusting in our natural instincts can lead us back to a more balanced, peaceful, and spiritually fulfilling way of living.

My conversation with Elise was a breath of fresh air. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Love,
Molly

Learn more about Elise Loehnen here
Join Elise's Substack here
Purchase On Our Best Behavior here
Listen to Pulling the Thread podcast here
Follow Elise on Instagram

I invite you to reflect on a moment when you immersed yourself in nature — perhaps swimming in a serene lake, hiking through lush trails, or simply basking in the beauty of a park, as you felt the grass beneath your feet and saw the trees towering above you.

Can you remember a time when nature had a positive impact on you? Maybe it brought you peace amidst the tranquility of the forest, or a surge of exhilaration as you skied down a mountainside.

Whatever your memories may be, one undeniable thing is that nature stirs something within us.

On this week's episode of the Cracking Open podcast, Jobi Manson reminds us of the profound healing and transformative power of nature. Jobi is a visual artist and sculptor whose work explores the realms of water, light, sound, and stone. Delving into the
ineffable dimensions beyond words, she traverses the realms of matter, time, and the ethereal space in between.

In 2015, she founded Sēfari, a platform dedicated to elemental experiences that fuse science, nature, and art, all in pursuit of psychosomatic evolution. Partnering with esteemed organizations like Auberge, The Sea Ranch Lodge, and In Goop Health, among
others, Sēfari has become a beacon for those seeking to reconnect with nature and themselves.

In this conversation, Jobi shares profound insights, like the transformative power of swimming alongside whales and dolphins and exploring the profound connection between humans and the natural world. We talk about her journey through grief following the death of her mother,  her own near-death experience when she broke her neck while swimming in the ocean which temporarily rendered her paralyzed, and a particularly transformative encounter with a psychic that led her to Hawaii and helped her return home to herself.

Based in Pacific Palisades, California, Jobi now runs a private practice, offering individuals a pathway to rediscover their true essence through the transformative power of art and nature.

Love, Molly


Learn more about Jobi Manson and Sēfari here
Join Jobi's Substack here
Follow Jobi on Instagram

Molly's next 3-month Cracking Open group coaching program starts in July 2024! Learn more here.

Follow Molly on Instagram and Facebook

There are days when I feel fantastic about being 53 years old. Maybe I've gone for a run, delved into an article about AI and understood more than half of it, or shared laughs with friends reminiscent of my teenage years.

Then there are those other days when I glance in the mirror and notice more wrinkles, or when my husband suggests going to see a band and I decline because I'd rather be in my pajamas by 8 pm. Truth be told!

So when I discovered Chip Conley, today's guest on Cracking Open and author of the New York Times bestselling book Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age, I knew he would offer a wealth of wisdom on this complex phase called midlife.

In this episode, Chip and I delve deep into the topic. We discuss candidly how his loss of five close friends to suicide and his own near-death experience taught him that mortality serves as an organizing principle for life.

Chip shares insights from his early years of ballroom dancing, where he learned that it's a powerful metaphor for life: in the first half the ego leads the dance, but in the second half the soul takes the lead while the ego follows.

His primary intention is to shift people's perspective on aging, advocating for a pro-aging mindset rather than an anti-aging one. With this shift, he emphasizes the numerous benefits, including gaining an additional seven and a half years of life.

Chip Conley is on a mission to redefine midlife. Having disrupted the hospitality industry twice, first with Joie de Vivre Hospitality and then as Airbnb's Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, he co-founded MEA (Modern Elder Academy) in 2018. MEA, the world's first midlife wisdom school, aims to reframe aging and empower individuals to navigate midlife with purpose and possibility.

Our conversation in this episode goes beyond simply discussing the science and stories around embracing midlife; we fully embody it. We share laughter and vulnerability, along with our personal experiences with aging, and as a result, we connected on a deeper level.

Since our discussion, I have felt lighter, more alive, and younger in my mind, body, and spirit. Chip Conley is truly a gift to the world and reframing what midlife could be like for all of us.

Love,
Molly

 Have you ever had a moment where you get chills up and down your spine while listening to someone's story and how it transformed how they live, work, and exist in the world?

This is what happened to me when I first heard Dr. Ellen Langer speak, and she joins us today on the Cracking Open podcast to impart her wisdom, backed by decades of research and enriched by stories from her latest book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health.

Dr. Langer is one of the first women to achieve tenure at Harvard University and has dedicated forty-five years to pioneering research on aging, diabetes, autism, stress management, and overall health. 

Her work underscores the profound connection between our minds and bodies, advocating for mindfulness as a powerful tool to enhance overall well-being. 

Listening to our discussion today will shed light on Dr. Langer's belief that mindfulness not only benefits us personally but is also remarkably easy to integrate into our lives. She emphasizes that all our misery stems from being mindless, and by becoming more mindful and noticing things in our lives, we can alleviate stress and transform our experiences for the better.

Dr. Ellen Langer is not only a professor and researcher at Harvard but a prolific author, with eleven books to her name, including the internationally acclaimed Mindfulness, which has been translated into fifteen languages, and Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility.

Her contributions to psychology have garnered widespread recognition, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest from the American Psychological Association.

With over 200 research articles to her credit, Dr. Langer's pioneering work in social psychology has earned her a place in The New York Times Magazine's "Year in Ideas" issue. Dr. Langer is also an accomplished painter. 

Our lively conversation left a lasting impression on me, especially when she emphasized that "it is not about making the right decisions, it is about making your decisions right". This resonated deeply with me, highlighting the importance of mindfulness in shaping our perceptions and responses to life's challenges. 

Dr. Ellen's teachings have truly transformed my approach to daily living. I now navigate each day with a newfound mindfulness, drawing from her research to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and resilience. Tune in to learn more about how you can bring more mindfulness into your life today.

Love, Molly


Learn more about Dr. Ellen Langer and her work here
Follow Dr. Langer on LinkedIn, Facebook,  X, and Instagram

Molly's next 3-month Cracking Open group coaching program starts in July 2024! Learn more here.

Follow Molly on Instagram and Facebook

Growing up, I often heard sayings such as “the harder the work, the luckier you get” and “nothing comes free in life". Adopting this approach to life inspired me to become a very hard worker. However, I also became someone who can have difficulty relaxing and letting go of work. I still tend towards pushing and striving to make something happen out of sheer will versus allowing the right things to come into my life at the right time. 

If this resonates with you, then I invite you into the world of today's Cracking Open podcast guest and life coach Jill Rose, who is here to remind us that there is a kinder, easier, and more generative way to move through this world.

As a self-proclaimed overachiever, hustler, and hard-working mom of three kids, Jill learned to keep pushing forward to reach some unforeseen finish line. Then she had a "cracking open" moment when she lost her home during the housing crisis. Feeling ashamed, lonely, and isolated because she and her family had to move to a new city and start all over, Jill hit rock bottom.

 
Then one day she discovered a yoga class, which brought her the warmth and comfort she was so desperately seeking. She enrolled in yoga teacher training and began to feel alive again. She learned that she loved teaching women yoga, where she could create a space for them to slow down and step out of the rat race, and instead learn to trust their inner voice of rest, presence, and healthy community.

Today Jill is a life coach, speaker, and facilitator who loves nothing more than watching a woman unapologetically shine. Through her one-on-one work with clients, her group coaching program called Rest, Restore & Rise, her bi-annual women’s retreats, and her facilitation work with professional organizations, Jill is dedicated to helping her clients know their value, worth, brilliance, and importance so that they can rise into the women they are destined to be. And by doing so, they inevitably enrich and elevate those around them.

May we all learn from Jill the easier, kinder way of living that is more aligned with our true nature, and may it bring forth more abundance, joy, purpose, passion, bandwidth, and capacity to better care for ourselves and those we love.

Love,
Molly



Learn more about Jill Rose and her work here
Follow Jill on Instagram and Facebook
Learn more about Jill's upcoming retreats & courses here

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