Essential Self-Care

Today’s episode features a self-care modality that we haven’t covered yet on the show—knitting.

Alice O’Connell, a former tv actress, first took up knitting as a way to pass the time while on set. What started as simply a way to pass time became an essential part of her self-care when she had kids and found that she was losing herself in the journey of parenthood. Knitting gave Alice micro-windows of calm when everything else felt overwhelming.

This thread of self-care reached new heights when Alice was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. During her treatment journey, knitting became a place where she could channel anxious feelings, process thoughts, and support self-esteem.

Alice shares how knitting became a form of active meditation where she could channel her focus and attention at a time when sitting in quiet stillness felt too challenging.

We round out the conversation with Alice sharing breakthroughs that her students have had on their knitting journeys as well—things like greater confidence, self-esteem, and giving themselves permission to take up more space in their lives.

To anyone who’s considering picking up a handicraft but has felt hesitant to do so, Alice encourages you to embrace being a messy beginner—for the lessons it holds are far greater than the “mistakes” along the way.

Connect with Alice: www.learntoknit.nl

Connect with our episode sponsor: www.mohadoha.com

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

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How do you navigate a pandemic lockdown as a massive extrovert and creative?

Novelist and screenwriter Mohana Rajakumar joins us to share how the COVID lockdown while living abroad set her on a self-care exploration.

Mohana describes how, after 20 years of being a novelist and having written 10 books, she lost the fun and mystery of novel-writing. She was in search of a new creative outlet and the isolation of living abroad during the pandemic was fertile ground for her to explore different pathways—yoga, nature, and ultimately screenwriting.

Getting curious about what was triggering her emotional reaction of panic, combined with solitude, opened the door to truly listening to her inner voice—she began to ask herself questions like, “What have I always wanted to do, but not had time?”—which subsequently led her to writing and producing three short films.

We round out our conversation with insights on how to reconcile the many different, often seemingly conflicting, aspects of ourselves as women. Mohana’s final piece of advice—find your cheerleaders—those people who truly see you.

Connect with Mohana at: www.mohadoha.com

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

How do you practice self-care when faced with three years of undiagnosed, excruciating leg pain?

On this episode, Ana Quinn—leadership development and executive coach—shares how she approached the most challenging season of her life with tenacity, resilience, and faith.

After living with years of undiagnosed leg pain, she was found to have a rare circulatory disorder that required surgery in both of her legs. Ana shares the anchors of self-care that helped her during that time: exercise, prayer, and faith. She describes how staying open to even seemingly unrelated suggestions led her to the doctor who was able to give her a diagnosis and treatment plan.

But, her self-care journey didn’t stop there. Ana goes on to share what self-care has looked like as she built a thriving business with her husband and as she now begins to consider her transition to retirement. Key aspects of her current practices include gratitude and journaling. We talk about simple ways that you can begin to incorporate these practices into your life also.

For anyone navigating a season of pain and uncertainty, this episode is for you.

Be sure to listen to the end to hear the three main insights that Ana attributes to a workshop that I facilitated recently!

Connect with Ana: www.quinncc.com

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

Have you ever visited a place and felt an intangible sense of belonging?

In this episode, I welcome Kate Pittman, Executive Director of the ViBe Creative District in Virginia Beach, to shed light on community spaces that foster individual authenticity—the expression of that which gives us joy.

We talk about how creative placemaking can positively impact the health, safety, and overall well-being of individuals and communities—including the entrepreneurs who are running their businesses in the district, the artists who have created public murals, and of course the community of visitors.

Kate reminds us that anyone can pick up a paintbrush, pen, or pencil and create—it’s not about perfection; rather, it’s about engaging with the creative process.

We also get deeply personal as Kate shares one of the most challenging times in her life—when she gave birth to premature twins—and how her work with the ViBe District was an important part of her self-care at that time. It gave her joy and reminded her of who she was as an individual, outside of all the challenges she was experiencing in her personal life.

Listen to the end for the two words that shaped Kate’s career over the past 10 years—this could quite possibly inspire your trajectory as well!

Learn more about the ViBe Creative District: https://vibecreativedistrict.org/

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

How do you move forward from an unexpected jolt to your 20-year non-profit career?

Stephanie Vatalaro found herself grappling with this question when her non-profit lost funding in 2025. Faced with the reality that the executive role she had planned on maintaining until retirement was no longer an option, Stephanie shares what those early, gut-wrenching days looked like for her.

From her initial focus on crisis management to intentionally taking time for herself, and ultimately creating WaveMaker Strategies, a consulting business that supports the boating and fishing industry.

Her commitment to taking action—through daily walks, travel, and connecting with others—was pivotal to her healing and the momentum that carried her forward.

This episode is for anyone who has faced a major unexpected life transition that shook their sense of identity and purpose. Listen now to gain insights on practical strategies to find your footing when life makes you feel like a fish out of water.

Connect with Stephanie: www.wavemakerstrategies.com

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

In this episode, I’m joined by Rebecca Kleinhample—Executive Director of the Virginia Living Museum. She describes the pivotal moment that led her to discover meaning and purpose in her career after years of transitions as a military spouse.

Through the 20 years of working her way from part-time membership services to now serving as the Executive Director, Rebecca shares key aspects of her self-care that have helped her:

This conversation is for anyone who is juggling the many demands of life and leadership, questioning what’s important to them in their current season of life, and seeking ways to empower themselves and their teams.

Visit the Virginia Living Museum: https://thevlm.org/

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

Have you ever been labelled aggressive or angry when you’re simply asserting yourself as the only woman in the room?

In this episode, I talk with Toni Collis, executive coach and host of the Leading Women in Tech podcast, about the unique challenges and frustrations most commonly experienced by women in leadership.

We talk about:

This episode is for everyone—whether you identify as a woman or not—you will come away with practical tools to notice, pause, and reframe emotional responses so that you can effectively move forward in challenging situations.

Connect with Toni: tonicollis.com/resources/ 

Tune into Sheetal's episode on the Leading Women in Tech Podcast: https://tonicollis.com/leading-women-tech/305-high-performance-leadership-burnout-self-care-sheetal-ajmani 

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.

While widespread adoption of generative AI is being pushed across industries, what do we know about its impact on our mental health?

What started as a personal experiment of “No AI April” led me to a deeper exploration of the research, case studies, and articles about its mental health impact.

In this episode, I share what we know about generative AI’s association with:

These mental health outcomes have been reported in as little as days to weeks of personal or work-related use of genAI platforms.

This episode is an invitation to explore your own experience and potential implications of adopting generative AI tools personally and in the workplace, along with strategies to safeguard your mental well-being.

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

One more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it.

Articles referenced in this episode:

After a 7-month hiatus, Essential Self-Care is back with new episodes, fresh insights, and meaningful conversations to support you on your journey of cultivating a kinder, more compassionate relationship with yourself—so you can show up as your best, most radiant self in all walks of your life.

In this solocast episode, you’ll get a peek at what I’ve been up to the past 7 months—including a preview of my new book and the six steps that may help you rediscover inner calm amidst the noise of the world around you.

P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact

Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

In this milestone episode, I’m celebrating 100 episodes of the Essential Self-Care Podcast! Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with 60 guests who’ve shared their stories, insights, and wisdom around self-care.

In this special solocast, I reflect on some of the biggest themes that have emerged:

-Self-care is a journey, not a destination

-Saying no and setting boundaries is tough, but essential

-Our physical bodies can be powerful entry points for self-care, through movement, dance, or other forms of exercise

-Self-care looks different for everyone, and it shifts with each season of life

I also share what this show has meant to me personally and reveal an important announcement: I’ll be taking an intentional pause from recording new episodes.

But don’t worry, this podcast isn’t going anywhere! You can continue to tune in, replay your favorite episodes, and catch up on the ones you may have missed.

A heartfelt thank you for tuning in and for allowing me to play a small part in your self-care journey.

Download your free gift “6 Simple (Yet Powerful) Steps To Create Your Radiant Life” at https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/6-steps-workbook

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