What if joy itself is a form of protest? In this episode, Denise and Jackie reflect on a powerful week marked by national unrest, a shared birthday, and what it means to find moments of joy and connection amidst political chaos.

00:00:00 – Welcome back + gratitude breathwork

00:01:36 – Celebrating their shared birthday and reflecting on protest energy

00:04:33 – Street vending, community care, and giving out goldfish

00:06:05 – Angel City FC: surprise seats, frosé, and emotional moments

00:08:27 – “Immigrant City FC” shirts and the bittersweet game

00:13:42 – Denise’s 60th birthday party: tarot, tacos, and radical joy

00:17:43 – Jackie’s Scholastic-style book fair and curated party favors

00:21:02 – Crack Krispies and charcuterie: making joy delicious

00:24:30 – Political tension, privilege, and community protection

00:30:26 – Announcing 12 Steps for Everyone virtual meetings

00:33:37 – Jackie is off to grad school! Overwhelm and transition talk

00:35:20 – Closing thoughts: showing up anyway, with fresh breath

In this richly layered episode, Denise and Jackie bring listeners into a week of deeply personal and collective reflection. From participating in a massive protest against state violence to throwing an intentionally joyful, women-centered birthday celebration, they unpack what it means to hold rage and gratitude in the same breath.

Denise turns 60 and goes all out - hosting a dreamy day of tacos, tarot, books, and body positivity. Jackie surprises her with a meticulously curated “adult Scholastic book fair” filled with crystals, claw clips, finger massagers, and more. But even in the joy, they remain grounded in the reality that many people can’t access such safety and celebration, especially as immigrant communities across LA face escalated threats and disappearances.

They reflect on the ethics of privilege, how to support others while staying spiritually regulated, and what it means to keep showing up for joy when the world is on fire. The episode ends with an invitation to join their virtual Sunday meetings and a reminder that showing up, fully and honestly, is revolutionary.

• Finding joy during times of political and social unrest
• Mutual aid and small acts of protest support
• The emotional complexity of celebrating in hard times
• Building women-centered spaces of delight and healing
• Immigrant labor, fear, and solidarity in LA
• The balance of grief, activism, and joy
• Creating a book fair, party favors, and rituals of care
• Empathy collapse and why joy is not frivolous
• Jackie’s upcoming move for grad school + Denise’s tech training

• Follow Jackie: @jackiefreed.la
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone

What if deciding to trust was the most radical thing you could do? In this episode, Denise and Jackie reflect on stepping into big transitions, staying grounded in community, and why choosing gratitude can change everything—even in the middle of a literal tornado.

 00:00:00 – New grounding practice: reading the 12 Steps for Everyone

00:03:35 – Upcoming travel, big transitions, and “quality problems”

00:05:00 – Trusting Universal Mother and standing in your own knowing

00:09:10 – Gratitude as a decision, not just a feeling

00:13:20 – Sobriety, service, and showing up for people who want help

00:16:20 – Supply chains, small businesses, and political ripple effects

00:22:00 – Grad school tornado: Jackie’s literal and emotional test

00:26:30 – Sprinting through work stress and finding your rhythm

00:29:20 – Human design talk: manifestors, generators, and collaboration

00:33:00 – Cozy spirituality: building new language for inner work

00:38:30 – Launching the online 12-step-inspired meetings

00:43:10 – Looking ahead: retreats, questions, and community connections

00:49:00 – You’re a miracle, drink some water

In this cozy and expansive episode, Jackie and Denise explore what it means to move forward with intention when life feels big and unpredictable. Jackie has officially chosen her grad school path, and  in true Emergency Protocol fashion, was immediately tested with a literal tornado. They unpack what it means to trust yourself (and the universe) when your plans feel messy, delayed, or questioned by others.

Denise opens up about choosing gratitude on purpose and how that shift has grounded her even while work feels overwhelming. They both reflect on the pressure of perfectionism, the labor of logistical backends, and the freedom of finding what’s natural to you. From the emotional clarity of the ACA serenity prayer to the spiritual reset of service, this episode is full of practical reflections, vulnerable laughter, and community invitations.

Listeners also get the first official announcement of their new online community meetings, inspired by the 12 Steps for Everyone.

• How to root into self-trust during chaotic transitions
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• Choosing gratitude as a daily spiritual practice
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• The push/pull of parenting adult children
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• The emotional aftermath of grad school decisions
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• Human design and embracing your natural workflow
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• Creating new language for healing and introspection
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• The launch of an online community space rooted in shared growth
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• Staying connected through service, even when spread out
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• Follow Jackie: @jackiefreed.la
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• Follow Denise: @denise.freed
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• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone
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Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone

What if being overwhelmed is the beginning of something great? In this episode, Denise and Jackie explore what it means to sit in uncertainty, embrace possibility, and stay grounded while navigating huge life transitions.

00:00:00 – A grounding breath and a quick disclaimer

00:02:12 – Jackie gets into grad school! Processing the surprise

00:05:29 – Decision-making anxiety and the infamous undergrad coin toss

00:10:20 – Logistics spiral: moving, driving, renting, storage, the dog

00:14:00 – Denise reflects on decision-making as a catalyst

00:21:00 – Facing change with curiosity instead of fear

00:24:00 – Grieving the shift as Jackie prepares to leave LA

00:29:00 – Spiritual resets, purposeful activism, and staying regulated

00:36:00 – Creativity, community, and finding the next expression of self

00:38:00 – The podcast continues! A look ahead at remote collaboration

In this heartfelt episode, Denise and Jackie reflect on Jackie’s acceptance into not one, but two graduate school programs—both out of state. What should be an exciting moment is also fraught with the anxiety of big choices, logistical chaos, and emotional goodbyes.

Jackie opens up about the shock of getting in (despite a sub-3.0 GPA), the validation of receiving scholarships, and the layered overwhelm of what's to come: deciding between programs, planning a move, and figuring out how to bring her dog across the country. Denise reflects on how different this version of Jackie is from the young adult who once flipped a coin to choose her undergrad—and what it means to make decisions rooted in self-trust.

The conversation weaves between personal growth, political tension, community building, and spiritual practice. From somatic resets at 11:11 to book recommendations and AA reflections, they hold space for both the fear of the unknown and the freedom it can bring.

• The shock, relief, and joy of grad school acceptance
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• The emotional labor of big life changes
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• Decision fatigue and choosing from abundance
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• Rejection tolerance and the power of perseverance
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• Staying spiritually grounded in times of crisis
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• Activism, burnout, and choosing balance
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• Creating new rituals and community around growth
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• Looking ahead: how the podcast will evolve with Jackie’s move
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• Follow Jackie: @jackiefreed.la
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• Follow Denise: @denise.freed
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• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone
• 
  
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone
• 
  

 00:00:00 – Introduction: It’s been a while! Catching up after months away

00:06:45 – The January fires: Devastation, grief, and survival

00:12:30 – Leading through crisis: Denise’s real estate world turned upside down

00:18:05 – Finding community: Donation efforts and mutual aid

00:26:30 – Jackie’s grad school applications and career shifts

00:30:40 – A car gets towed: Navigating unexpected hurdles

00:36:10 – Moments of unexpected kindness: A soap dish and a bouquet

00:42:00 – Closing thoughts: Gratitude, deep breaths, and looking ahead

In this emotionally charged episode, Denise and Jackie return after an extended hiatus, reflecting on what has been an unbelievably intense year. From devastating wildfires that left entire communities displaced to personal struggles with leadership, career changes, and even a chaotic car towing experience, they unpack the rollercoaster of events that defined the past several months.

Denise shares her firsthand experience of managing a real estate team through an unprecedented disaster, recounting the overwhelming grief and logistical challenges of helping clients and colleagues find stability in the aftermath of the fires. Jackie, on the other hand, navigates her own major life transitions, from leaving her grocery job to re-entering real estate full-time—all while applying to grad school and dealing with self-doubt along the way.

Through it all, they highlight the small moments of kindness and connection that helped them persevere, including a touching encounter involving a simple soap dish and a gifted bouquet. They close the episode with a grounding breathwork exercise, encouraging listeners to reflect on gratitude and resilience in their own lives.

• Processing grief and trauma after natural disasters
• The complexities of leadership during crisis situations
• The challenges of re-entering real estate in an unpredictable market
• Navigating self-doubt and imposter syndrome in grad school applications
• The unexpected stress of getting a car towed (and the financial burden that comes with it)
• Finding joy in small, everyday acts of kindness
• Cultivating resilience through community and mutual aid
• Follow Us:
• Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la 
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed 
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone 
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone 

In this warm and thought-provoking episode, Denise and Jackie dive deep into the emotional and logistical chaos of the holiday season. Reflecting on their own family traditions—past and present—they explore how expectations around gift-giving, decorating, and hosting have evolved, especially after the loss of a beloved matriarch and the realities of aging and burnout.

00:00:00 – A grounding breath and physical therapy insight

00:04:45 – Catching up post-Thanksgiving and holiday expectations

00:11:20 – Family Christmas traditions: scaling back and shifting values

00:19:30 – Generational money trauma and financial insecurity

00:27:40 – Women, labor, and holiday inequities across generations

00:36:20 – The invisible work of motherhood and holiday planning

00:44:00 – Reclaiming the holidays with boundaries and potlucks

00:50:00 – A daily ACA reflection and asking for help

Denise reflects on her financial anxiety despite being in a secure position, and the generational patterns that might be keeping that stress alive. Jackie brings in insights from their ongoing ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) work, especially around inherited financial trauma and the societal conditioning that teaches women to carry the mental load without complaint.

They touch on capitalism, the pink tax, the mental load of working mothers, and the invisible labor that makes the holidays “magical.” From packed shopping carts at Costco to fighting over tree lights, the episode is both funny and deeply resonant for anyone navigating family dynamics, societal expectations, and the holidays with their sanity intact.

Topics Covered:

The pressure and privilege of hosting family holidays

How grief, generational trauma, and family traditions intersect

Scaling back gift-giving and reimagining meaningful rituals

Financial insecurity and inherited beliefs around money

Gendered labor and the unpaid work of making holiday “magic”

ACA reflections on recreating stress for familiarity

Decentering men in conversations about equity and responsibility

The value of asking for help and building true community

The Big One podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-one-the-earthquake/id1645620672?i=1000579734783

ACA Serenity Prayer: https://adultchildren.org/serenity-prayer/

Follow Us:

Follow Jackie: https://www.instagram.com/jackiefreed.la/

Follow Denise: https://www.instagram.com/denise.freed/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/12stepsforeveryone/

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@12stepsforeveryone

Email us: [email protected]

In this vulnerable post-election episode, mother-daughter duo Denise and Jackie process their raw emotions following the November 2024 election results. The conversation opens with a grounding mindfulness practice and box breathing technique (breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) as they acknowledge the difficulty many are experiencing.

The pair explore how to maintain presence and calm during anxiety-producing times, with Denise emphasizing the Serenity Prayer as her anchor: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Jackie shares her Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) version: “God grant me to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know that one is me.”

The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as they discuss values conflicts, self-advocacy in healthcare relationships, and the challenge of reconciling deeply held beliefs with maintaining human connection across divides. Jackie shares her experience of ending a therapeutic relationship after realizing their values alignment was crucial for her mental healthcare.

The episode concludes with an exciting announcement of their new Sunday Zoom meetings at 6pm Pacific time, creating a safe space for people to process difficult emotions and find community during challenging times.

Topics Covered:

• Mindfulness techniques including box breathing and the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise
• Using the Serenity Prayer as a practical tool during stressful times
• The importance of being present in the body during anxiety
• Their updated Step 3: “We decide to trust that something bigger is taking care of us”
• Self-advocacy in therapeutic relationships
• Creating inclusive community spaces for authentic conversation
• Balancing political values and human connection
• The daily practice of Step 10: ongoing reflection and emotional processing

Join our upcoming meetings: https://forms.gle/4VxnNUnev1RoRJMCA (Zoom meeting on Sunday at 6pm PST, the meeting is password-protected so please fill out the form to receive the link and password!)

The Big One podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-one-the-earthquake/id1645620672?i=1000579734783

ACA Serenity Prayer: https://adultchildren.org/serenity-prayer/

Follow Us:

• Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la 
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed 
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone 
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone 

Denise and Jackie discuss how they approached the run-up to the election and the importance of staying positive in times of uncertainty. The Serenity Prayer is great for extra support. Jackie shares the techniques she is using to calm her elevated anxiety. It’s all in the breath! Denise then goes into her experience of asking for a sign from her brother and receiving it in a surprising way during a Zoom call.

The duo reflects on the community spirit Halloween invites and how they celebrated this year. Jackie discusses the importance of having an earthquake preparedness kit. Starting to build hers has significantly curbed her anxiety about a potential event. Jackie mentions a podcast that helped her understand that natural disasters are more about people helping each other rather than chaos and violence. Following the success of a second in-person meeting, they are hosting an online meeting! Be sure to sign up below. 

If you’re interested in being a future podcast guest or want to attend our meetings (once they’re up and running), send us an email at [email protected] with your thoughts and any other questions you have! We can’t wait to hear from you. We’ll see you soon.

Topics Covered:

• No harm in positivity 
• Power of breath
• Show me a mongoose
• Seeking joy and levity
• Potato or candy?
• Immigration and competition 
• Earthquake preparation
• Conscious breath

Resources Mentioned:

• Join our upcoming meetings: https://forms.gle/4VxnNUnev1RoRJMCA (Zoom meeting is password-protected; please submit your email to receive it)
• Godmothers bookstore
• 1440
• The Big One podcast

Follow Us:

• Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la 
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed 
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone 
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide and may be distressing for some listeners.

Denise and Jackie reflect on their first in-person meeting, which started awkwardly but became fluid as the ice melted. They’re so happy to have brought to life a welcoming, neutral, and free space for people to attend, share, and feel heard. The meeting was one of the many commitments Denise has been juggling lately. She acknowledges that while being part of a community is valuable, so too are rest and balance. 

They then reflect on the third step of the 12 steps, the importance of deciding to commit to recovery. Each woman shares her personal experience of choosing to live and seek help. Both professionally and personally, having a supportive place to go to makes all the difference. They then discuss the concept of affinity groups. There is potential for affinity groups to emerge naturally from the community they created. Even though it has sometimes felt slowgoing, they reflect on the progress their community has made as well as themselves on their journeys. 

If you’re interested in being a future podcast guest or want to attend our meetings (once they’re up and running), send us an email at [email protected] with your thoughts and any other questions you have! We can’t wait to hear from you. We’ll see you soon.

Topics Covered:

• First in-person meeting 
• Balancing commitments and community
• H.A.L.T.
• Role of decision in recovery
• The not-so-gray area
• Shift into action
• Importance of connection and belonging

Resources Mentioned:

• Join our upcoming meetings: https://forms.gle/4VxnNUnev1RoRJMCA
• ACA https://adultchildren.org/
• AA https://www.aa.org/

Follow Us:

• Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la 
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed 
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone 
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone

Denise shares her last days in the hospital together with her grandmother. While it was heavy and emotional, of course, she explains why she did not feel depleted by the grief. Denise and Jackie discuss the importance of telling the people you love that you love them and the different ways of doing so. Jackie talks about saying goodbye to her grandma while at a wedding and recent mental health updates. She is looking forward to an upcoming trial with Ritalin even though trying a new medication brings anxiety. 

Denise then shares how the book, Fire, We Make the Beast Beautiful, has made her feel at peace with her anxiety. Ultimately, living any kind of life, a healthy, happy one, or a chaotic one, is a choice. A staple of joyous living is being part of a community. They agree that the effort and vulnerability required to genuinely connect are absolutely worth it. 

If you’re interested in being a future podcast guest or want to attend our meetings (once they’re up and running), send us an email at [email protected] with your thoughts and any other questions you have! We can’t wait to hear from you. We’ll see you soon.

Topics Covered:

• Denise’s hospital experience 
• Showing people you love them
• Saying goodbye at a wedding
• Beginning Ritalin
• Outrunning anxiety
• ACA meeting exploration
• The hard work of living
• The healing power of togetherness

Resources Mentioned:

• Join our upcoming meetings: https://forms.gle/4VxnNUnev1RoRJMCA
• Stay tuned for a "diagnosed but mom said no" hat giveaway!
• ACA https://adultchildren.org/
• AA https://www.aa.org/

Follow Us:

• Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la 
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed 
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone 
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone

Denise and Jackie jump right into Jackie’s ADHD diagnosis history and possible signs from her childhood that she had ADHD. They then turn to the upcoming holiday season and the social anxiety often accompanying celebratory gatherings. New situations, in general, can summon socially anxious feelings in even the most outgoing people. Denise shares a recent experience attending a new meeting, reflects on the social anxiety she felt in the past of trying to come off as sexually appealing, and how those insecurities impacted her perceived self-worth. 

Jackie is preparing to begin dating again but is first working through a few specific limiting beliefs. She updates Denise on a recent trip to Portland to visit a good friend and how her friend treated her so well that she feels inspired to be a better friend. They then discuss the nuances of giving and receiving, sometimes feeling more comfortable on one side than the other, and how being of service is the ultimate antidote to feeling low. 

If you’re interested in being a future podcast guest or want to attend our meetings (once they’re up and running), send us an email at [email protected] with your thoughts and any other questions you have! We can’t wait to hear from you. We’ll see you soon.

Topics Covered:

• #DiagnosedButMomSaidNo
• Stressy and depress-y AKA social anxiety
• Attending an ACA meeting 
• Difference between nervous, anxious, and social anxiety
• Preparing to date
• How to be a friend
• The nuances of giving and receiving 

Resources Mentioned:

• Join our upcoming meetings
• Stay tuned for a "diagnosed but mom said no" hat giveaway!
• ACA
• AA

Follow Us:

• Follow Jackie: jackiefreed.la 
• Follow Denise: @denise.freed 
• Follow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryone 
• Follow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone