In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of worry - that feeling of being troubled or having a mind busy with anxiety or doubt. The conversation examines worry as primarily a mental rather than physical experience, its relationship to control and choice, and how it differs from anxiety. The hosts share contrasting perspectives on worry, with some experiencing it frequently while others find it largely absent from their emotional landscape.

Episode Highlights:

• Heather notes how the visual representation of worry shows the character looking off into the distance rather than at the viewer, illustrating how worry takes us out of the present moment and focuses on an unknown future
• Heather shares her approach to worry using the phrase "worry doesn't have a place in a plan," explaining how she gathers information before deciding if something is worth worrying about, and how having a plan eliminates the need for worry
• Tina theorizes that worry can become addictive because it creates an illusion of power or control over situations we actually cannot control, suggesting people can become "worry warts" as part of their personality
• The hosts contrast worry (primarily mental rumination) with anxiety (more physical sensations), and explore how worry represents "over-engaging in choice" while exasperation comes from lack of agency
• Heather offers a surprising perspective that her intimate relationship with depression may actually make her "immune" to worry, since she already has a pessimistic worldview and doesn't need to add more negative thinking on top of that baseline

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

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In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of feeling glad - that sense of being pleased, happy, and gratified. The conversation delves into how gladness differs from related emotions like happiness and joy, examining its unique combination of gratitude and surprise. The hosts discuss the sustaining nature of gladness compared to more fleeting emotions and emphasize the importance of recognizing these positive feelings when they occur.

Episode Highlights:

• Michelle defines gladness as "the intersection of joy and gratitude," distinguishing it from simple gratitude (being grateful for paid bills doesn't spark gladness) and noting how relationships with friends create true gladness in her life
• Tina connects gladness to unexpected pleasant encounters, using the phrase "I am so glad that I ran into you" as an example of how gladness often contains an element of surprise mixed with gratitude and joy
• The hosts distinguish gladness from happiness, describing happiness as more ephemeral and fragile (like a balloon that could pop), while gladness has a "longer shelf life" and is more nourishing to the soul
• Heather notes that while happiness can be more superficial and driven by external circumstances, gladness has more substance because of its gratitude component, which helps ground it and make it sustaining
• Michelle emphasizes that the goal isn't necessarily to have more positive emotions in our lives, but to become more aware of when we're experiencing them, noting that we often miss moments of gladness rather than lacking them entirely

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform

In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of exasperation - that feeling of having your patience greatly tested and feeling super annoyed or overwhelmed. Tina vulnerably shares her current experience of exasperation in real time, leading to an authentic discussion about how small things can feel overwhelming when we're already stressed, and how this emotion often signals that our boundaries or sense of agency have been compromised. The hosts examine generational and cultural factors that may contribute to this feeling.

Episode Highlights:

• Tina shares her current state of exasperation, triggered by something as simple as not being able to find dry erase markers that were "right in front of me the whole time," illustrating how small things become overwhelming when we're already dealing with persistent stressors
• The hosts identify exasperation as often occurring when circumstances take away our sense of choice, control, or agency, with physical symptoms including tension, headaches, and fatigue
• Heather connects exasperation to boundary violations, sharing her experience caring for someone with Alzheimer's where emergency situations (like a lost dog) force her to drop everything despite feeling like she can't say no
• Michelle suggests this may be a generational issue for Gen Xers, who were raised with "no pain, no gain" mentality and are now in the "sandwich generation," caring for both children and aging parents while lacking self-care skills
• The conversation reveals how exasperation can evolve into resentment when the same circumstances repeatedly occur, and how simply having someone "bear witness to your emotions" and talk them through can be powerfully healing

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. FeelWise | Turn Emotions into Your Superpower ✨💫

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In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of ambivalence - feeling two opposite feelings or attitudes at the same time, or simply feeling indecisive. The conversation distinguishes ambivalence from indifference and examines how this emotion can manifest both as a symptom of depression and as decision fatigue. The hosts discuss how ambivalence can put people on the precipice of isolation and share strategies for moving through this challenging emotional state.

Episode Highlights:

• Heather describes experiencing ambivalence in two ways: as part of depression where she simply doesn't care about outcomes, and more commonly through decision fatigue when overwhelmed by daily responsibilities and unable to make even simple choices like where to eat dinner
• Michelle connects ambivalence to the "mental load of caregiving" that drives people to a point where they refuse to make any more decisions, noting there's a difference between "can't" and "won't" make decisions, with the latter tinged with irritation
• Tina admits she struggles with holding space for people experiencing ambivalence because indecision is a pet peeve for her, honestly sharing that she might not be the right person to bring ambivalence to
• The hosts discuss hope as the recommended mindset for ambivalence, with Tina suggesting that sometimes you can "trick your way out" of the emotional space by envisioning a positive future rather than trying to think your way out
• Michelle shares the personal significance of her Phoenix tattoo as a symbol of hope and resilience, explaining how it reminds her that she has consistently risen from challenging situations and can do so again, providing evidence that "you can" rather than "you can't" get through difficult times

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

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In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the intense emotion of feeling furious - that state of intense anger, actively raging, or feeling violent. The conversation examines fury as an "amygdala hijack" that can signal the need for significant change and growth, while also offering practical strategies for managing this overwhelming emotion. The hosts share personal experiences with fury and discuss techniques for de-escalation when this intense emotion emerges.Episode Highlights:

• Michelle describes fury as rare for her but connected to feelings of helplessness when she has no control over a harmful situation, noting that for her it takes "something excessive" to reach this level of intense anger
• Tina explains fury as a complete "amygdala hijack" that can actually precede significant personal growth, suggesting that when you're helpless enough to feel furious, it can drive you to realize what you cannot control and need to accept
• Heather shares that she rarely experiences fury in daily life except while driving (where her car serves as a safe space to express strong emotions), and emphasizes that anger emotions often signal core beliefs being challenged
• The hosts discuss practical de-escalation strategies, including the "exit sign" visualization technique for removing yourself from volatile situations, and Tina shares a road rage story that illustrates how choosing not to engage can defuse dangerous confrontations
• Michelle introduces the "whisper technique" for managing fury - deliberately speaking in whispers forces others to calm down to hear you while simultaneously helping regulate your own nervous system and buying time to regain clarity

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform

In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of feeling charming - that pleasant feeling with an air of charisma that creates connection with others. The conversation examines the distinction between authentic and inauthentic charm, how charm functions in relationships and performance settings, and the positive dynamic that can emerge when people mutually experience this delightful emotion. The hosts discuss charm as both something we feel within ourselves and something we experience from others.

Episode Highlights:

• Tina introduces charming as feeling "pleasant with an air of charisma," using the old-fashioned greeting "I'm charmed" as an example, and questions whether charm is a natural state or something crafted to influence others
• Michelle explores the difference between authentic and manipulative charm, sharing experiences of initially finding someone charming only to discover they were "working extra hard" to win her over, leading to disappointment when the charm disappeared
• Heather describes authentic charm as feeling adjacent to "flow" - something that comes naturally without working hard, like being inspired in the moment or genuinely wanting to connect with someone
• Tina observes that charm can create "positive escalation" where feeling charmed by someone makes them feel more charming in return, creating an expanding "dance of delight" between people
• Michelle connects charm to public speaking and performance, noting how successful speakers and performers (including Tina's stage presence) use charm to create connection with audiences, describing it as "the intersection of charisma and connection"

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform

In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Tina Schweiger, Michelle Stinson Ross, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of feeling novel - that sense of having no precedent or experiencing something completely new. The conversation examines how novel differs from fear of the unknown, the importance of actively seeking novelty as we age, and how this childlike sense of wonder can contribute to innovation, creativity, and compassion. The hosts share personal examples of experiencing novelty and discuss how to cultivate this positive emotion in daily life.

Episode Highlights:

• Tina describes novel as a "childlike sense of wonder" that becomes harder to cultivate as we age and get stuck in patterns, emphasizing the importance of actively seeking new experiences to foster innovation and creativity
• Heather distinguishes between encountering novel moments unexpectedly (like seeing a wild animal on a hike) and deliberately seeking them out (like watching "Love on the Spectrum" to better understand autism after meeting a colleague on the spectrum)
• Michelle highlights the key distinction that novel is "the delight in the unfamiliar rather than the discomfort of the unfamiliar," noting how travel provides excellent opportunities for experiencing novelty through different architecture, culture, language, and food
• The hosts note that when you identify you're feeling novel, the recommended action is simply to pause and recognize the positive aspects of the moment - the delight and enlightenment happening within the unknown experience
• Tina connects novel to humor, explaining that something must be novel (catching us by surprise) to be funny, and emphasizes that novel is an emotion you want others to "catch" from you, promoting a mindset of compassion when experiencing this childlike wonder

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform

In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of feeling lively - that sensation of being full of life and energetic. The conversation reveals how introversion and extroversion influence experiences of liveliness, using their recent conference attendance as a case study. The hosts discuss how to harness lively energy when it appears and emphasize the contagious nature of this positive emotion.

Episode Highlights:

• Michelle describes feeling lively at their recent conference while working the expo hall floor, noting how as an extrovert she was energized by constant interaction with curious attendees despite being on her feet for long periods
• Heather contrasts her experience as an introvert who found the conference draining but felt most lively during an intimate lunch conversation with colleagues, illustrating how introverts typically need smaller, deeper connections to feel energized
• Tina shares her challenge with sensory overload at the conference, describing feeling "overwhelmed and panic" rather than lively in large crowds, but noting she becomes lively after recovery through one-on-one conversations and reflection
• The hosts recommend using lively energy purposefully when it appears - tackling tasks you've been putting off, making phone calls that require energy, or engaging in creative or athletic endeavors like going to the gym
• Heather emphasizes that lively energy is "strongly positive" and contagious, with the hosts agreeing that sharing this energy through smiles and random acts of kindness is a responsibility, noting that "kindness is the mindset for lively"

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform

In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Heather Hampton, Michelle Stinson Ross, and Tina Schweiger explore the emotion of feeling enlightened - that sudden feeling of understanding, awareness, or wisdom about something or someone. The conversation delves into the difference between learning and enlightenment, how enlightenment drives innovation and creativity, and the role this emotion can play in professional settings. The hosts share personal experiences of enlightenment and discuss how it connects to empathy and holding space for others.

Episode Highlights:

• Heather describes enlightenment as those magical moments when "several things that you know or have learned come together in a way that you've never thought about," creating connections that no one has ever explained to you before
• Michelle distinguishes enlightenment from regular learning, noting that while you can't force enlightenment, you can create conditions for it by actively working toward learning new skills and pulling different aspects of your life together
• Tina describes enlightenment as "finding the light from inside yourself," contrasting it with inspiration which typically comes from external sources, and shares how she often wakes up with new viewpoints or ideas that seem to arrive unexpectedly
• The hosts connect enlightenment to workplace innovation, with Tina explaining how Feel Wise came from moments of enlightenment and describing these moments as "shoots" in a game of shoots and ladders that propel innovation forward faster
• The conversation concludes with insights about how enlightenment connects to empathy - when you're truly in tune with yourself through enlightenment, you're better positioned to hold space for others and honor their experiences respectfully

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform

In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Michelle Stinson Ross, Tina Schweiger, and Heather Hampton explore the emotion of confusion - that feeling of being bewildered, unclear, or unsure what to do. The conversation examines whether confusion is primarily a thinking state or an emotion, how people typically respond to feeling confused, and how confusion can manifest in relationships. The hosts also discuss the concerning connection between persistent confusion and manipulative relationship dynamics, offering resources and insights for healthier responses to this common emotion.

Episode Highlights:

• Tina suggests confusion blends thinking and feeling, noting that people often say "I am confused" (active state) rather than "I feel confused," and observes it can trigger mild anger similar to frustration
• The hosts contrast two common responses to confusion: either giving up ("throwing up your hands") which often involves negative self-judgment, or approaching it with curiosity and optimism
• Michelle shares that her deepest experiences of emotional confusion occur in relationships, particularly when someone says one thing but behaves differently, making it difficult to understand what's true
• The conversation takes a serious turn as the hosts discuss the "weaponization of confusion" in narcissistic relationships, with Michelle noting that frequent confusion in one specific relationship may be a warning sign of manipulation or gaslighting
• Tina recommends resources for handling confusion more effectively, including "The Four Agreements" (particularly "not making assumptions" and asking questions) and Byron Katie's "Loving What Is," which helps with accepting uncertainty

Podcast theme music by Dubush Miaw from Pixabay

This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN.Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by 
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally. https://www.feel-wise.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform