Isn't It Lovely? Podcast

Isn't It Lovely? Podcast

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Isn't It Lovely? Podcast episodes

  • S10:E5 Isn't it Lovely to Embrace Change? with Tara Westerman

    GIVEAWAY! Use code LOVELY20 for an exclusive 20% discount on Tara’s website! https://www.wandererongilchrist.com

    “You have to have time to feel like you belong. And you have to have purpose to feel like you belong.”

    As Isn’t it Lovely? prepares for a podcast hiatus after 3 incredible years, there could be no more perfect guest to usher in this change of season than the fairy god-friend who started it all by originally introducing Tracy and Rachel over a decade ago: kindred spirit, entrepreneur, ranch wife and mother, and everyone’s big sister, Tara Westerman. With grace, humor, and candor, Tara shares her own journey as a city girl who fell in love with a rancher and relocated to a literal little town on the prairie, successfully navigating her way through a wilderness season and emerging with an even stronger sense of self and purpose. Tara and Tracy explore the importance of knowing, understanding, and loving one’s core self in order to discover callings, sharpen intuition, and embark on a healthy pursuit of the things that bring joy and peace. Rachel and Tara consider the ways growth takes time and can be painful, but is always worth it in the end. Rachel ponders how to secure filming permits in Wyoming so Hallmark will film its next Christmas movie at Tara’s store, The Wanderer on Gilchrist; Tracy celebrates the fact that Tara’s husband Jeremy can handle both cattle and cellulite management with equal aplomb.

    Episode Mentions:

    • Tara Westerman’s Instagram: @tara.westerman

    • The Wanderer on Gilchrist’s Website: https://www.wandererongilchrist.com/

    • The Wanderer on Gilchrist’s Instagram: @wandererongilchrist

    • The Wanderer on Gilchrist’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderinghermitwheatland

    • Topher Kearby “I appreciate the struggle” poem

    • Deuteronomy 2:7

      • What Are You Loving:

      • Tara: The Origins of You: How Breaking Family Patterns Can Liberate the Way We Live and Love by Vienna Pharaon; Fascia Massage Tool Blaster

      • Rachel: Humbl Roots Carinara Sauce; Annie’s Parlour

      • Tracy: Charleston, South Carolina; Sullivan’s Island (Lowcountry Tales) by Dorthea Benton Frank

        • Disclosure: We only recommend products we use, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that add no additional cost to you; we may earn a small commission.

        42 min
      • S10:E4 Isn't it Lovely How You Make Someone Feel? with Terra Koupal

        “You are so capable of so much more than what you even realize.”

        After surviving tandem bouts of Influenza B, Tracy and Rachel have rallied and are thrilled to usher in a fresh dose of inspiration by welcoming both springtime and Sioux Falls-based entrepreneur (and local fan favorite!) Terra Koupal to the show! Terra shares her journey to becoming an accidental influencer after welcoming two sets of twins (and celebrating the nuanced joys and challenges of in vitro fertilization) and explores the ways that the power of connection through family, business, and friendships can be used to comfort, encourage, empathize, and help tap into a greater life purpose. Terra and Rachel consider the significance of timing, particularly when goals and dreams take longer and require more effort, while Tracy and Terra discuss the importance of balancing vulnerability with boundaries.


        Episode Mentions:

        • Terra Koupal’s Instagram: @the.house.of.twins

        • Terra Koupal’s Website

        • Pigeon 605: “My 605: Terra Koupal”

        • Lou Lou and Company

        • Elegant Mommy

        • Ignite Fitness Studio

        • Jami Nato

          • What Are You Loving:

          • Terra: Headway App, Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick, @thesmallshoppe.sd

          • Rachel: You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith

          • Tracy: Rent the Runway

            • Disclosure: We only recommend products we use, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that add no additional cost to you; we may earn a small commission.

            37 min
          • S10:E3 Isn't it Lovely to Get Back to the Roots of Health? with Roy Thompson

            The content of this podcast episode is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have.


            It’s a celebration of health and nourishment quite literally from farm-to-table as Rachel and Tracy welcome regenerative farmer Roy Thompson to the show to discuss the healing power of food! With candor and sensitivity, Roy shares the ways his personal struggles with chronic illness, exhaustion, and discouragement led him to explore functional medicine, alternative healthcare, and nutrition, ultimately achieving a healing so transformative that it inspired a reimagining of his own farming and ranching practices. Roy and Tracy examine ways to find balance between traditional and functional medicine, while Rachel and Roy consider practical tips for accessing fresh organic food in a way that won’t break the bank. As Roy explains the connection between our bodies and the land in his explanation of regenerative farming practices, Tracy fondly evokes The Lion King’s “Circle of Life” song to Rachel’s delight.

            Episode Mentions:

            • Roy Thompson’s Website: https://tripletbrand.com/

            • Roy Thompson’s Instagram: @triple.t.brand

            • Roy Thompson’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tttbrand1

            • Understanding Ag: “Where Human Health Begins: One Farmer’s Story of Regeneration”

            • Tri-State Livestock News: “Destination Regeneration: Film Shares South Dakota Ranchers’ Story”

            • Mayo Clinic

            • The Institute for Functional Medicine

            • Regenerative Agriculture

            • Gabe Brown

            • David Brandt

            • Ray Archuleta

            • Misfits Market

            • The Lion King’s “Circle of Life”

            • Josiah’s Coffeehouse, Cafe, and Bakery

              • What Are You Loving:

              • Roy: Jocko Willink, Origin Products, Jocko Fuel, Headway App

              • Rachel: Shutterbean’s Coconut Maple Granola

              • Tracy: Roy’s recommendations of Dr. Axe and Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture by Gabe Brown

                • 44 min
              • S10: E2 Isn't it Lovely to Live a Sweet Life? with Jessica Merchant of How Sweet Eats
                This episode is brought to you by Flyboy Donuts! Flyboy Donuts is a Sioux Falls-based family-owned donut shop with 4 locations in Sioux Falls featuring a variety of fresh donuts and rolls daily. Use code Lovely20 now through February 6, 2024 when you order online at flyboydonuts.com to get 20% off all orders over $20.
                TW: This episode contains a reference to miscarriage.
                How sweet it is for Tracy and Rachel to be joined by bestselling cookbook author and creator of the wildly popular blog How Sweet Eats, Jessica Merchant! In this vibrant conversation, Jessica explores the ways she has maintained a consistent, authentic voice in her work, as well as the keys to honoring and protecting her creativity and passion through a framework of boundaries and structured routine. Jessica and Tracy consider the evolution of a brand and the creation and marketing of content through an ever-expanding number of platforms; Rachel and Jessica discuss the finer points of connecting with readers and followers - and the surprising ways Jessica has provided comfort and nurturing outside of her delicious recipes. Rachel and Tracy convince Jessica to add South Dakota as a stop on her next book tour before the conversation unapologetically transforms into an impromptu book club meeting.
                Episode Mentions:
                Jessica Merchant’s Website: https://www.howsweeteats.com/
                Jessica Merchant’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howsweeteats/
                Jessica Merchant’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howsweeteats
                Seriously Delish: 150 Recipes for People Who Totally Love Food by Jessica Merchant
                https://amzn.to/3OqItjo
                The Pretty Dish: More than 150 Everyday Recipes and 50 Beauty DIYs to Nourish Your Body Inside and Out: A Cookbook by Jessica Merchant
                https://amzn.to/4biW9a2
                Everyday Dinners: Real-Life Recipes to Set Your Family Up for a Week of Success: A Cookbook by Jessica Merchant
                https://amzn.to/4blayTm
                Block scheduling
                Here’s to Us by Elin Hilderbrand:
                https://amzn.to/47ZwwIs
                How Sweet Eats & Eli Hilderbrand Collaboration:
                https://www.howsweeteats.com/2016/06/exciting-news-a-collaboration-with-elin-hilderbrand/
                Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand:
                https://amzn.to/4bdZ2ch
                The Pioneer Woman
                https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/
                The Secret
                https://amzn.to/3vVwjZI
                What Are You Loving:
                Jessica: Page the Shop Kindle covers
                https://www.instagram.com/page.theshop/
                Kindle Oasis
                https://amzn.to/3SiIIhJ
                Rachel: The Sentence by Louise Erdrich;
                https://amzn.to/3SlEJkE
                Birchbark Books
                https://birchbarkbooks.com/;
                Arizona Goat Yoga
                https://goatyoga.com/
                Tracy: The Skinny Confidential Him + Her Show Episode 648: Dr. Michael Gervais
                https://tscpodcast.com/episodes/dr-michael-gervais/
                The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying about What People Think of You by Dr. Michael Gervais
                https://amzn.to/3OlZ8Vs
                40 min
              • S10:E1 Isn't it Lovely to Feel Seen? with Dr. Jody Carrington
                CW: Adult Language
                It’s a reconnection revolution as Rachel and Tracy welcome psychologist, speaker, and author Dr. Jody Carrington to the podcast for a dynamic conversation about counteracting humanity’s loneliness epidemic with empathy, emotional regulation, and Ram Dass’ simple, but powerful observation, “we are all just walking each other home.” Tracy and Jody examine specific ways to help various communities, from teachers and healthcare responders to law enforcement officers and children, lay down their trauma and work through it in healthy ways - and why it’s essential to seek context and exchange asking, “What is wrong with you?” for “What happened to you?”. Jody and Rachel grapple with the significance of having constant access to loved ones through technology and social media, as Jody explains why it’s vital to stop trying to fix our loved ones’ problems, instead simply acknowledging the broad spectrum of necessary human emotion, from sadness and anxiety to anger and fear - not just happiness. Everyone considers the mystique of the true crime podcast, citizen journalism, and the international phenomenon that is Taylor Swift.
                Episode Mentions:
                Dr. Jody Carrington’s Website: https://www.drjodycarrington.com/
                Dr. Jody Carrington’s Instagram:
                https://www.instagram.com/drjodycarrington/?hl=en
                Dr. Jody Carrington’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjodycarrington
                Dr. Jody Carrington’s Podcast: Everyone Comes from Somewhere
                https://www.drjodycarrington.com/podcast/
                Feeling Seen: Reconnecting in a Disconnected World by Dr. Jody Carrington
                https://amzn.to/47DRjkT
                Kids These Days: A Game Plan For (Re)Connecting With Those We Teach, Lead, & Love by Dr. Jody Carrington
                https://amzn.to/3HmaF3m
                Teachers These Days: Stories and Strategies for Reconnection by Dr. Jody Carrington
                https://amzn.to/3Hix4hZ
                New Surgeon General [Dr. Vivek Murthy] Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States
                Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush
                https://amzn.to/3Hijfjo
                Everyone Comes From Somewhere Podcast Season 1 Episode 12: “How Trauma Shapes Our Lives”
                https://shows.acast.com/everyone-comes-from-somewhere/episodes/how-trauma-shapes-our-lives
                Dr. Peter Levine
                Dr. Gabor Mate
                Dr. Bruce Perry
                What Are You Loving:
                Dr. Jody Carrington: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Relationship; Harper’s Bazaar: “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Full Relationship Timeline”
                https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a45301082/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-full-relationship-timeline/
                Rachel: Who Killed JFK? Podcast
                https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-who-killed-jfk-127000428/
                Tracy: Writer Jessica Reed Kraus @houseinhabit
                https://www.instagram.com/houseinhabit/?hl=en
                49 min
              • S9: E8 Isn't it Lovely to be a Grammy Award-Winning Artist? with Genevieve Goings
                There’s no business like show business as Tracy and Rachel sit down with Grammy Award-winning artist, writer, and producer Genevieve Goings to discuss her celebrated career spanning a starring role in Disney Junior’s Choo Choo Soul to teaching and coaching a new generation of dreamers to embrace their authenticity and discover their unique voices. Genevieve reflects on how her upbringing as the daughter of musicians demonstrated that following her passion was a viable career path and explores the ways that simply showing up as the best version of herself generated unique opportunities - including how her career began with her not landing a role. Genevieve and Rachel consider the importance of representation and Genevieve’s relationship to being described as a “responsible role model”; Tracy and Genevieve discuss the value of empowering kids to develop into entrepreneurial entertainers through the use of technology and confidence in their own ideas and branding. Genevieve invites listeners to celebrate the season by checking out her Very Merry holiday album, while Rachel dedicates Genevieve’s “Crazy for Christmas Lady” song to Isn’t it Lovely?’s resident Queen of Christmas, Tracy. Everyone returns to the late 1990’s in the What Are You Loving? segment for a vibrant celebration of a full, yet manicured, eyebrow and a fabulous pair of patent leather Mary Jane platform pumps.
                Episode Mentions:
                Genevieve Goings’ Website: https://www.genevievegoings.com/
                Genevieve Goings’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genevievegoings
                Genevieve Goings’ Facebook: Genevieve Goings
                https://www.facebook.com/genevieve.goings
                Genevieve Goings’ YouTube Channel: GenevieveGoings
                https://www.youtube.com/c/genevievegoings
                Alphabet Rockers
                https://www.alphabetrockers.com/
                Jimmy Goings
                https://jimmygoings.com/
                Choo Choo Soul
                https://disneynow.com/shows/choo-choo-soul
                Genevieve Goings’ Holiday Album: Very Merry
                https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lbpF3dt6Zv2Ywqi9wvEjbIwGdR3FkGSgI
                What Are You Loving:
                Genevieve: The Money with Katie Show Podcast;
                https://podcast.moneywithkatie.com/
                Pinterest; Open AI/Chat GPT; her adorable son; microblading
                Rachel: Steve Madden Mingle Mary Jane Platform Pump;
                https://shorturl.at/epKPX
                Genevieve’s extended family
                Tracy: Gemineye Studio’s Microblading
                https://www.gemineyestudio.com/
                40 min
              • S9:E7 Isn't it Lovely to Support Loved Ones Through Addiction? with Janelle Campbell
                Rachel and Tracy are honored to welcome Janelle Campbell to the show for an honest, hopeful conversation centered around drug and alcohol addiction and recovery. Currently a Loved One Coach at Face It TOGETHER (a non-profit organization that provides confidential, peer coaching for all those impacted by addiction), Janelle explores her motivation for giving up her previous career to devote herself to being the empathetic resource for others that she herself needed at the start of her journey. She also shares her own lived experience of addressing addiction in her own family and the life-changing intervention that led her to where she is today. Encouraged by the mantra "don’t waste the pain", she explains how Face it TOGETHER uniquely approaches addiction and and urges listeners to remember there is always hope for wellness, healing, and recovery for those experiencing addiction - and that loved ones can regain their sense of peace and joy, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
                Face It TOGETHER’s Website: https://www.wefaceittogether.org/
                Face It TOGETHER’s Instagram: @faceittogether
                Face It TOGETHER’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wefaceittogether/
                Sioux Falls Sidewalk Arts Festival
                https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/event/sidewalk-arts-festival-2024
                What Are You Loving:
                Janelle: South Dakota Magazine
                https://www.southdakotamagazine.com/
                Jorgenson Kraut and Pickles
                https://www.facebook.com/groups/104289523441/
                Tracy: Mary Ruth’s Liquid Morning Multivitamin
                https://amzn.to/3T7sgD4
                Rachel: Delamu Sushi Making Kit
                https://amzn.to/46ET40r
                This episode is brought to you by Ignite Fitness Studio! Ignite is passionate about creating a space where everyone feels safe to bring their authentic selves, celebrating the beauty of diversity and believing that positive change must start from within! Check out Ignite at ignitefitness.studio or the MindBody App!
                The content of this podcast episode is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have.
                32 min
              • S9:E6 Isn’t it Lovely to Get Past Your Past? with Jason VanRuler
                Prepare for a breakthrough as Tracy and Rachel are joined by licensed therapist, author, speaker, and coach Jason VanRuler to celebrate healing and healthy futures through a discussion of his new book Get Past Your Past: How Facing Your Broken Places Leads to True Connection. Through highlighting his own bouts with trauma, addiction, and healing; Jason offers listeners practical first steps when seeking therapy and explains the importance of facing, naming, and dealing with pain and grief. Jason and Tracy unpack current mental health trends, including the complex relationship between mental health accounts on social media and clinical diagnoses, as well as the conversation around hot topics such as narcissism. Rachel and Jason explore the importance of taking risks to pursue and nurture genuine human connections versus unhealthy dynamics of hero/rescuer/victim roles. Jason candidly discusses the “vulnerability hangover” that results from writing a book; Rachel and Tracy continue to quote Jason back to himself and extend the interview countless times with “one last question”.
                Episode Mentions:
                Jason VanRuler’s Website:
                https://www.jasonvr.com
                Jason VanRuler’s Instagram:
                https://www.instagram.com/jason.vanruler/?hl=en)
                Get Past Your Past: How Facing Your Broken Places Leads to True Connection by Jason VanRuler
                https://amzn.to/49SkPWq
                Narcissisim
                https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/narcissism
                Bass Weejuns Men’s Shoes
                https://www.ghbass.com/men/view-all/weejuns
                What Are You Loving:
                Jason: Florida/traveling somewhere warm; Experiencing Friendship with God: How the Wilderness Draws Us to His Presence by Faith Eury Cho
                https://amzn.to/3MNwNXt
                Tracy: Blurry Creatures Podcast; https://www.blurrycreatures.com/
                Annie F. Downs That Sounds Fun podcast
                https://www.anniefdowns.com/
                Rachel: Stay Near Organization https://staynear.co/
                29 min
              • S9: E5 Isn't it Lovely When You Want Others to Succeed? with Linda McMahon
                “It’s not how you fall, but it’s how you get back up.”
                Rachel and Tracy are thrilled to welcome entrepreneur and former administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration Linda McMahon to Isn’t it Lovely? for the ultimate conversation about resilience, creating opportunities, the dignity of work…and a little something about transforming World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from an idea dreamed up at a kitchen table into a multinational public company. With grace and candor, Linda discusses the ebb and flow of entrepreneurship, including a brush with bankruptcy that included car repossession and a house auction in the midst of her second pregnancy, while celebrating the power of perseverance and the passion to rebuild new dreams. Linda also details the series of events that led to her path in politics and her sincere desire to make a difference, as well as the importance of understanding a life calling and reinventing opportunities. Linda and Tracy underscore the importance of women mentoring one another and honestly wanting each other to succeed, while Rachel and Linda explore what it means to “balance being out of balance” when it comes to work and family. Everyone agrees body-slamming is not exclusive to a WWE match, but is rather a recurring activity amongst our own children at home.
                Episode Mentions:
                Linda McMahon, 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Association
                https://www.sba.gov/person/linda-mcmahon
                Linda McMahon Instagram: @sbamcmahon
                Linda McMahon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindamcmahon/
                World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
                https://www.wwe.com/
                WWE & UFC Merger
                https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/36066332/endeavor-ufc-wwe-merger-2023-explained
                Women’s Leadership Live
                https://womensleadershiplive.com/
                Sacred Heart University Women Can Have it All Series
                https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140403005881/en/CORRECTING-and-REPLACING-Sacred-Heart-University-to-Launch-%E2%80%98Women-Can-Have-It-All%E2%80%99-Series-Hosted-by-Linda-McMahon
                What Are You Loving:
                Linda: Family and life, especially spending time with grandchildren; English Mastiffs; her visit to South Dakota; Rachel Oglesby
                Rachel: New Directions Down Syndrome Association
                https://newdirectionsdsa.com/
                Tracy: Shop Dog Boutique
                https://shopdogboutique.com/
                36 min
              • S9:E4 Isn’t it Lovely To Find Recovery from Eating Disorders? with Faith Carlson
                Tracy and Rachel are so grateful to welcome counselor and co-founder of Victus Counseling and Nutrition Services Faith Carlson to the show for a sensitive and nuanced conversation centered around eating disorder recovery. Faith compassionately provides framework and illustrations to better comprehend the impact and prevalence of eating disorders, including a broader understanding of the spectrum of behaviors and their place in overall mental health and wellness. In addition to her local work, Faith also consistently advocates on a national level to remove barriers to care, while emphasizing that hope and healing are always possible. Faith and Rachel explore ways to support loved ones facing this journey and the importance of simply believing their lived experiences, even if those experiences can be difficult to understand; Tracy and Faith discuss the power of language surrounding food and movement, particularly as it pertains to children and parenting. Everyone celebrates the power of a great partner and why we all need a handler at one time or another.
                Episode Mentions:
                Victus Counseling and Nutrition Services Website: https://www.victusrecovery.com/
                National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) Website: https://anad.org/
                National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders Eating Disorder Statistics: https://anad.org/eating-disorders-statistics/
                ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders and Severe Malnutrition by Denver Health
                https://www.acute.org/
                Body Dysmorphic Disorder
                https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353938
                Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight by Linda Bacon
                https://amzn.to/3ZOoLTi
                Friends Pivot Scene
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_PWbnHABsM
                What Are You Loving:
                Faith: Business partner and co-founder Lauren Cornay, especially her inspiration, joy, and ability to do the impossible
                Rachel: This Must Be the Place: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Discover Your Purpose Today by Jami Nato; Jami Nato’s Instagram: @jaminato
                https://amzn.to/3ZRY9B5
                Tracy: Hoover PowerDash Pet Compact Carpet Cleaner Shampooer
                https://amzn.to/3RTBBxU
                32 min

              About Isn't It Lovely? Podcast

              From the publisher's feed

              Join "Isn't it Lovely?" hosts Rachel and Tracy as they welcome special guests for uplifting conversations, inspiring listeners to look for the lovely in all things!