Welcome back to Kind of a Mess. 

It's my pleasure to introduce you to Courtney Rothberg. The founder of The Sacred Umbrella, a space for exploration, remembrance and coming home to yourself. She’s a writer, astrologer, reiki practitioner, seeker, and someone who brings deep reverence to the human experience. Courtney is the kind of person who makes you feel seen, not in a glossy, surface-level way, but in a soul-deep, real-life, no-performances-here kind of way.

In this episode, we talk about everything from addiction and personal transformation to astrology, emotional accountability and the messy, mystical journey of becoming. We unpack what it means to live awake in a world that often wants us numb, and how returning to the body , and to ourselves, is the most radical thing we can do.

This is an invitation into softness, into truth, and into real connection.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Reflections on Teenage Years and Personal Growth
05:09 – Catalyst for Change: The 2015 Turning Point
07:52 – Navigating Addiction and Relationships
10:31 – Support Systems and Therapy
13:06 – The Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery
16:22 – Understanding Addiction and Its Impact
17:58 – Finding Balance and Personal Practices
20:53 – Spiritual Awakening and Astrology
23:57 – Tools for Navigating Life's Challenges
32:19 – Understanding Astrology: The Core Elements
35:21 – The Journey of Self-Discovery and Emotional Awareness
38:12 – The Impact of Alcohol on Personal Growth
43:50 – Collective Shifts: Moving Away from Numbing
49:35 – The Power of Community and Real Connections
58:13 – Finding Community and Nourishment
01:00:07 – Trusting Inner Calls and Letting Go of Noise
01:03:16 – Embracing the Mess and Personal Accountability
01:05:59 – The Journey of Self-Discovery and Transformation
01:08:47 – Creating a Space for Authentic Conversations
01:11:20 – The Role of Experience in Personal Growth
01:13:51 – The Sacred Umbrella: A Journey Home
 

Follow us on Instagram- @kind_of__a_mess, 

and follow Courtney at The Sacred Umbrella 

https://www.thesacredumbrella.com/

@thesacredumbrella

Today I have the absolute pleasure of sharing some time with Gemma Mitchell. Gemma is a dear friend of mine, financial expert, adviser, and author of the upcoming book The Money Reset. But beyond the spreadsheets and strategies, she's a woman who's walked through big life transitions, including divorce and living in the aftermath that she couldn't navigate with the help of Excel. In today’s conversation, we explore the emotional side of growth, money, and starting over, with all the beautiful, messy complexity that comes with it.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Messy Journey of Life
02:19 The Impact of Divorce on Identity
04:56 Reassessing Life Plans and Expectations
07:45 The Complexity of Leaving a 'Good' Marriage
10:46 The Struggles of Year Two Post-Divorce
13:38 Finding Balance and Support
16:53 The Importance of Community and Professional Help
19:55 Understanding Personal Growth and Healing
22:47 The Weight of Grief and Ongoing Challenges
26:21 Coping Mechanisms and Rebuilding Life
30:50 The Journey to Podcasting and Personal Growth
35:53 Navigating Financial Coaching and Emotional Investment
38:10 Embracing Change and Self-Discovery
44:56 Finding Joy in the Mess of Life