Some episodes feel especially personal—and this is one of them.

This week on Cracking Open, I’m joined by Thomas M. Jones: psychotherapist, author, musician, and founder of The Paradox Process—an innovative technique that helps people use their negative thoughts to shift perspective and transform their lives.

And in this conversation, I don’t just talk to Thomas about his method—I actually experience it in real time.

Just one week before our interview, my husband lost his job. I was navigating a wave of fear, frustration, and uncertainty. Rather than hiding those emotions, I brought them into the conversation. And Thomas walked me through them—live on the show.

But this episode isn’t just about me. It’s about you.
And the patterns, stories, and pain we all carry.

🌀 Have you ever sat down to tackle your to-do list and felt too overwhelmed to start?

🌀 Are you still ruminating on something from years ago, stuck in emotions you can’t shake?

🌀 Is there a habit you can’t seem to break—no matter how much you want to?

That’s what The Paradox Process is for. It’s a simple, accessible method that helps you take control of your thoughts, shift your emotional state, and find peace. I can personally say—it works.

A bit more about Thomas: 

🌱 He’s been doing this work for over 50 years

🌱 Serving clients ranging from CEOs and social workers to Emmy, Oscar, and Tony award-winning performers. 

🌱 His approach blends strategy and soul to help people find fulfillment in every area of their lives—from manifesting the career of their dreams to achieving intimate, loving, lasting relationships. 

I can honestly say—I’m now a true fan of The Paradox Process.

Since my conversation with Thomas, something in me has shifted. The fear and frustration I was feeling around my husband’s job loss have softened. I’m not spiraling in worst-case scenarios or trying to fix everything overnight. Instead, I feel a deep, grounded peace. A quiet ease. A knowing that, even in uncertainty, we’re going to be okay.

That’s what this process offers—not just tools to think differently, but a pathway to feel differently. To interrupt the looping narratives that keep us stuck and to choose something more empowering in their place.

As you listen to this episode, I invite you to walk through it with me. Let Thomas guide you, too. Bring to mind something in your own life that keeps you spinning—an old wound, a self-defeating belief, or a habit you just can’t seem to break.

🌟 This could be the moment you finally begin to shift it.

🌟 This could be the tool that helps you get unstuck.

🌟 This could be the thing that reminds you—you’re not alone, and you’re not powerless.

So take a breath. Be curious. And let The Paradox Process work its quiet magic in your life, too.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

Love,

Molly

Resources & Links

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This episode is deeply personal to me.

Not only as a therapist and podcast host—but as a mom to a 19-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter.

I’m acutely aware that most young people—and many parents—don’t realize the deadly risks of purchasing medication online without a prescription. Counterfeit pills are now deliberately designed to look exactly like legitimate prescription opioids. But what’s inside is far more dangerous than most people know.

This week on the Cracking Open podcast, I have the immense honor of speaking with Ed and Mary Ternan, founders of the nonprofit Song for Charlie.

After losing their son Charlie to a counterfeit Percocet pill laced with illicit fentanyl, Ed and Mary transformed unimaginable grief into purposeful action. Instead of only placing blame on social media platforms where these pills are sold, they chose to lead with education and empathy—working to save other families from the same heartbreak.

✨ Their mission is clear: to warn young people—especially those ages 13–24—about the danger of fake pills purchased online.

 ✨ Their message is urgent: even one pill can be fatal.

 ✨ Their approach is powerful: reaching youth with messaging that actually resonates with their generation.

In this conversation, Ed and Mary bravely share the story of losing their beloved Charlie and the ripple effects that tragedy had on their family, their faith, and their purpose.

Through Song for Charlie, they’ve become fierce advocates for awareness, prevention, and healing. And through their love for Charlie—and for every child who may still be saved—they are making a difference.

This is a story of heartbreak.
But it’s also a story of hope.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

Love,

Molly

RESOURCES & LINKS

Learn more about Ed and Mary Ternan’s work
Song for Charlie
The New Drug Talk
La Nueva Drug Talk (en Español)
Meet the Song for Charlie Team

Follow Song for Charlie on social media
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Facebook
LinkedIn
TikTok
Snapchat
X (formerly Twitter)

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I’ll never forget waking up one morning in Costa Rica while leading a women’s retreat. Surrounded by yoga, healthy food, and meaningful transformation, I should’ve felt alive and fulfilled. But instead, I felt utterly exhausted.

So I took a solo walk on the beach—not to escape, but to survive.

Even though I was in my zone of genius—supporting others and sharing tools for healing—I was deeply burned out. At the time, I had over 30 clients, was writing books, had just finished a TED Talk, was running retreats, parenting two kids, and helping care for my mother as she battled cancer. I was giving everything I had to everyone else.

But underneath it all, I was fighting internal demons: shame, perfectionism, fear I wasn’t doing enough—or being enough—as a therapist, mom, wife, and daughter.

I was experiencing what Scott Anderson, our guest this week on the Cracking Open podcast, calls burnout.

And wow… do I wish I had Scott's work back then.

But lucky for all of us—he’s here now. And he’s here to help you.

Scott Anderson is the author of You’re Not Toast and founder of DoubleDare, a coaching organization helping high-achieving professionals break free from burnout. With 30+ years of business ownership, therapy training, and ICF coaching credentials, Scott’s work blends business acumen with a deep understanding of the emotional and mental toll burnout takes.

Scott’s own story is one of profound transformation. After losing his son Max to addiction, Scott found himself broken, exhausted, and questioning everything. That grief led him to reevaluate his life, uncover his values, and rebuild with more humility and purpose.

From this space, the Burnout Breakthrough Method was born—a framework that helps people reconnect with their energy, release emotional weight, and create sustainable, joyful success.

In today’s conversation, we talk about:

✨ What burnout really is (hint: it’s not just being tired)

✨ Why high-achievers are most at risk

✨ The intersection of grief, purpose, and healing

✨ How to recover quickly and permanently from burnout

✨ Why passion isn’t enough—and how to work in a way that doesn’t cost your health or soul

If you’re feeling exhausted, disconnected, or like you're carrying the weight of the world, let this episode be your own beach walk—an invitation to slow down, reflect, and reconnect.

Because there’s more joy available to you than you could ever imagine.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

With love,
Molly

P.S. Check out Scott's first interview on Cracking Open on 5/19/22!

Discover How Sobriety, Death, and Service Taught Life Coach Scott Anderson About the True Meaning of Life

Connect with Scott Anderson

• burnoutbreakthrough.com
• Fast Fix Call – Book a free session

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• LinkedIn

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“Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future.” — Nelson Mandela

Kids have always been part of my story—long before I became a mom. I’ve been a babysitter, camp counselor, teacher, therapist, and now a parent. That’s why this week’s episode feels especially close to my heart.

But it’s not just for parents. Whether you're an aunt, uncle, teacher, coach, or simply someone who wants to better understand and support the next generation, this conversation is for you.

Today on the Cracking Open podcast, I’m honored to sit down with Dr. Lori Baudino—a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified dance/movement therapist with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families.

Dr. Baudino’s approach integrates the mind, body, and spirit. She’s a pioneer in bringing body-based awareness into therapeutic spaces and hospital settings, helping children and parents connect more deeply through movement, presence, and play.

In our conversation, Lori posed a powerful question that stayed with me:

She invites us to see the body as one of our greatest resources. Our physical expressions offer insight into how we feel, what we need, where we struggle, and where we shine.

Together, we explore:

✨ Supporting children who don’t fit conventional emotional or social molds
 ✨ How to strengthen sibling relationships and navigate family dynamics
 ✨ What secure attachment really means—and how to nurture it
 ✨ Why movement is essential to emotional health
 ✨ How to meet your child’s uniqueness with curiosity, not control

Dr. Baudino’s wisdom is profound and practical. Whether you're raising children or walking alongside them, this episode will help you deepen your compassion, expand your understanding, and build more connected, resilient relationships.

After this conversation, I left feeling like a more grounded parent, advocate, and human being—and I think you will too.

🎧 Tune in now to listen.

With love,
Molly

Explore Dr. Lori Baudino’s Work

• Super Flyers Book
• Moving Moments in Childhood Book
• 16-Day Purposeful Parenting Challenge
• Moving Moments Masterclass
• The Global Therapists Program (via AnchoRRa)

Connect with Dr. Lori

• Official Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

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There are guests whose stories are filled with incredible achievements. And then there are guests whose stories crack you open—with their heart, their humility, and their humanity.

Today’s guest, Rebecca Rusch, is all of the above.

Rebecca is one of the world’s most extraordinary endurance athletes—a 7-time World Champion, mountain bike hall-of-famer, best-selling author, Emmy Award winner, and activist. She has not only pushed herself to the physical edge through rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and multi-day adventure races like Eco-Challenge—she has also traveled to the emotional core of what it means to live fully, love deeply, and be good.

You may know her from the acclaimed documentary Blood Road, which follows Rebecca’s 1,800-kilometer mountain bike journey along the Ho Chi Minh Trail to locate the site where her father’s plane went down during the Vietnam War. That quest wasn’t just about closure—it was about connection, healing, and honoring the man who shaped her spirit.

In this deeply moving episode of the Cracking Open podcast, we explore:

✨ How the loss of her father at a young age ignited a lifelong search for meaning
✨ What growing up with a single, hard-working mom taught her about strength and self-reliance
✨ The power of curiosity, nature, and endurance to reveal who we really are
✨ How a traumatic brain injury forced her to slow down—and reimagine what success looks like
✨ Why “being good” matters so much more than being perfect

What we didn’t know when we scheduled this conversation was that Rebecca’s beloved mom would pass away just one week before we recorded. And so what unfolds in this episode is not just an interview—it’s a powerful reflection on how we live, how we love, and how we show up for the people who matter most.

Rebecca’s story is one of grit, grace, and growth. And at the heart of it all is a simple message from her father, who signed every letter home from Vietnam with the same two words: Be Good.

It’s a mantra that continues to guide her—and now, maybe, it will guide you too.

🎧 Tune in now and let Rebecca’s courage, curiosity, and compassion inspire you to slow down, dig deep, and live your own version of being good.

Love,
Molly

Connect with Rebecca Rusch
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Explore Rebecca's Work
Official Website
The Be Good Foundation
Rebecca’s Private Idaho

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You know how music can transport you back to a certain era in your life? I’ll never forget gathering in college dorm rooms and tiny apartment living rooms with all my girlfriends in our twenties as we watched Grey’s Anatomy. The show wouldn't have been the same without its unforgettable soundtrack, especially during those nerve-wracking ER scenes or the slow-burn love story between Meredith and Derek.

So much of that iconic sound came from The Fray, the Denver-based band fronted by the haunting, heartwarming voice of lead singer Isaac Slade. 

I first met Isaac at The Nantucket Project and was instantly struck by his unique mix of humor, vulnerability, and grounded wisdom. His childhood was shaped by a loving, religious family that encouraged his musical passions. That support led him to gather friends and form The Fray, a band that would go from playing tiny venues to topping charts, dominating TV soundtracks, and selling out stadiums across the world.

Isaac’s voice helped define an era, but behind the music was a story few of us ever heard. In this honest, soulful conversation on this week's Cracking Open episode, we dive into:

✨ The rise of The Fray and the whirlwind of early fame

 ✨ The toll of success and the mental health struggles it sparked, including on-stage panic attacks

 ✨ His decision to step away from the spotlight and embrace a quieter, more grounded life

 ✨ Why putting your oxygen mask on first is one of the most radical acts of love

Isaac didn’t leave the band because he stopped loving music. He left because he needed to love himself—and his family—more fully. After years of sold-out tours and chart-topping songs, he found healing in the everyday: parenting, slowing down, and opening a record shop on Vashon Island, off the coast of Seattle.

As I waited for him to join this conversation, I couldn’t help but smile, remembering those college days when The Fray’s music helped me survive heartbreaks, insecurities, and burnout. His voice once soothed my confused, overwhelmed soul. And now, nearly 30 years later, we’re sharing stories about embracing the beautiful mess of life and doing what it takes to stay on the treadmill of adulthood.

🎧 Tune in now and let Isaac’s story remind you that real strength isn’t about pushing through—it’s about slowing down, tuning in, and letting your inner light lead the way.

Love,

Molly

Resources & Links:

Connect with Isaac Slade
Follow Isaac on Instagram
Check out Side Stack Records

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Healing often begins in the stories we share—especially when we have the courage to tell them. Vulnerability doesn’t just dissolve shame; it nurtures inner strength. This week’s guest on the Cracking Open podcast, Lindsay Bomstein, beautifully embodies this truth. She opens her heart and shares her story with such raw honesty, gently reminding us that our truth is our superpower.

At the age of 17, just four months after moving cross-country, Lindsay tragically lost her father in a head-on collision. Already deeply empathic, she found herself carrying the heavy weight of grief into her adolescence, college years, and early adulthood, often asking herself: How can I move forward without him? Twenty-four years later, as a wife and mother of three, she faced yet another heart-wrenching loss—the terminal cancer diagnosis and passing of her mother. In this episode, we explore Lindsay’s powerful story—and how, through profound loss, she ultimately discovered deep love.

Lindsay holds an MA in Transpersonal Psychology with a focus on creativity and innovation, and she weaves her rich life experience into everything she does. Since 2013, she has been sharing her heart through her widely-read blog, which explores themes like parenting, mindfulness, mental health, creativity, and grief. Her work has been featured in both local and national publications, including Spirituality & Health Magazine.

Her newly released memoir, All I Feel Is Love, is a tender exploration of healing and the alchemic transformation from loss to love. Through creative self-expression, communal connection, and reflective questioning, it serves as a compassionate companion for anyone seeking hope and light on their journey through grief.

Today, Lindsay facilitates enriching women’s circles, leads therapeutic writing workshops, and co-hosts soul-nourishing retreats—each a reflection of her deep commitment to guiding others through their own healing.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🌱 The personal and cultural journey of grief and its impact
• 🗣️ The healing power of storytelling and why it matters
• 😄 Finding moments of joy, laughter, and even naps in the midst of hardship

While Lindsay’s work helps others heal, her greatest gift lies in how she lives her own story with grace. Through creative expression, connection, and boundless love, she shows us that healing is not only possible but deeply transformative. True change begins with acceptance, compassion, and a willingness to be vulnerable.

We can learn so much from one another’s stories—especially those about growing up, letting go, and finding peace in the truth.

Love,
Molly

Resources

• Check out Lindsay’s website here
• Purchase All I Feel Is Love here
• Follow Lindsay on Instagram and Facebook

Bonus: Listen to Charlotte Hardwick’s Cracking Open podcast episode— a dear friend of Molly’s and frequent retreat co-host with Lindsay!

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What are your favorite foods and drinks? For me, it’s pizza and coffee—no question. But at the same time, I love feeling healthy, fueling my body with nourishing foods, and living a vibrant life. And that’s exactly why I’m so excited to introduce you to this week's Cracking Open podcast guest, Andrea Nakayama.

Andrea will change the way you think about food, healing, and love. In this deeply personal conversation, we dive into:

 ✨ The power of food as medicine and a path to healing
 ✨ How grief can crack us open and redirect our purpose
 ✨ Simple, transformative nutrition tips you can use right now
 ✨ The deep connection between nourishment, love, and presence

She didn’t come to nutrition through a traditional path—she arrived through love, loss, and an unshakable calling. After losing her young husband, Isamu, to a brain tumor in 2002, she turned to food as a source of healing, not just for herself but for others:

"I couldn't get rid of his tumor. But what I could do was influence how he felt, how he managed treatments, and what was happening with him. That’s when I started asking myself: What can I do? Food and nutrition gave me something I could actually do every day, several times a day, to help my husband."

Today, as a Functional Medicine Nutritionist and educator, Andrea is a leading voice in the field, helping thousands of clients and practitioners reclaim their health through personalized nutrition. 

She also offers three simple, game-changing principles for better health:

 🥑 Fat, fiber, and protein at every meal
 🌈 Eating the rainbow
 ✅ Knowing your 'Yes, No, Maybe' food list—tuning in to what fuels and depletes you

But this episode isn’t just about food. It’s about what truly nourishes us—body, mind, and soul. Andrea opens up about grief, solo parenting, and the ways love pushes us to show up fully, even when life feels impossible.

At the heart of it all, this conversation is about love—the love we give, the love we receive, and the love that lives in the everyday choices we make. Whether it’s in the food we eat, the care we show to our bodies, or the ways we hold space for others, love is always at the center.

🎧 Tune in now and let Andrea’s wisdom nourish you from the inside out.

Love,

Molly

Check out Andrea's website here

Learn more about Functional Nutrition Alliance here

Listen to Andrea's 15-Minute Matrix podcast here

Follow Andrea on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn, & Substack

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I’m going to be bossy for a moment—this episode is a MUST-LISTEN. Trust me, Donna Sacks will make you feel better about your life, reminding you that you are deeply supported and loved.

In this powerful conversation, Donna and I dive into:
✨ Angels, soulmates, and karmic lifetimes
✨ The Akashic records and soul contracts
✨ Out-of-body experiences and spiritual awakenings
✨ The power of presence, gratitude, and stepping fully into your purpose

She shares an essential truth:

“We’re very powerful. We just forgot. This is the lifetime we remember.”

Donna has been connected to higher planes of existence for many lifetimes—living as a medicine woman, a shaman, and an intuitive guide. Since the age of 17, she has heard her angels calling. That calling led her from Detroit to Palm Springs, where she now helps others clear blocked energy and find clarity through Akashic record readings, angel card sessions, and intention-setting at Two Bunch Spa.

In today’s episode, Donna offers practical tools for co-creating your reality—starting with the power of language. Instead of saying “want,” “need,” or “try,” she encourages us to embrace “I am”—planting seeds of healing, freedom, and joy.

I love every episode of Cracking Open, but this one came at just the right time. Lately, I’ve felt waves of fear and uncertainty—questioning my place in the world, wondering if I’m a good person, worrying about the future. But Donna’s words were a profound reminder:

💛 Just breathe. You are protected. You are supported. Fear is an illusion.

This lifetime—the one we are living right now—is the most important one we will ever have. And we are here to remember who we truly are. That is the greatest gift of all.

🎧 Tune in now and let Donna’s wisdom bring you back to yourself.

Love,
Molly

Learn more about Donna here

Visit Two Bunch Palms here  
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What keeps you grounded? What activities, habits, and rituals help you stay balanced, healthy, and fully human?

In this week’s episode of Cracking Open, I dive deep into these questions and more with our guest, Cory Richards. Cory is the first American to summit an 8,000-meter peak in winter, and in 2016, he reached the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.

Cory’s now-iconic photograph—a selfie taken after surviving an avalanche—was featured on the 125th Anniversary cover of National Geographic. To most, this striking image represents sheer survival in the harshest conditions and a testament to human resilience and the extremes we can push ourselves to.

But this one moment is far more than just a photograph. It’s the culmination of Cory’s entire life—one marked by struggles that include experiencing homelessness in adolescence, searching for love in all the wrong places, facing addiction, battling suicidal thoughts, and navigating a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Driven by a need to escape his inner chaos, Cory pushed himself to the edge, seeking solace and a sense of aliveness in the most extreme, dangerous pursuits.

His memoir, The Color of Everything, lays bare his vulnerability, offering an honest reflection on his mental health journey and the healing power of storytelling—not only for him but for his readers as well. Cory’s bravery in sharing his personal highs and lows serves as a powerful invitation for all of us to embrace our humanity and find healing through connection.

Whether you're grappling with your own sense of self or seeking to understand the intricate balance of success and recovery, our conversation today offers insights that I hope will lead you toward greater self-love and acceptance.

Love,
Molly

Learn more about Cory here

Purchase The Color of Everything here  
Follow Cory on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook



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