Let the Adventure Begin with Chris Denker

We've all been there when we have had proverbial, "It's been a day." And when we have those days we need to give ourselves the chance to process and debrief.  In this episode, I share five ways to do just that: deep breaths, listening to music, taking a walk, doing mundane chores, and venting to a trusted person.

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove

License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

Let's connect! Follow me:  

Instagram:  @chris.m.denker

Threads: @chris.m.denker

Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

About a month ago, I started on a quest to hold myself accountable to doing something to help someone else each day. I started a note on my phone with the question, "What did I do to help others today?"

Before I go to sleep each night, I type in something I did and then I put the next day's date so I'm ready to go for the next day. This episode gives examples of what I've done as a jumping off point if you want to do the same.

In this episode I mention Danielle Helzer's bookshop, Rooted Books & Gifts. You can also support her business or another bookshop in your community through Bookshop.org.

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove

License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

Let's connect! Follow me:  

Instagram:  @chris.m.denker

Threads: @chris.m.denker

Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

Is your spending aligned with your values? How do you know? In this episode, I tackle the topic of spending to align with your values. It has to do with how we spend our money and whose pockets we are lining by doing so. What kind of a world are we voting for with our money?

I chat about the importance of a plan and then following it so that we don't get overwhelmed. At the end, I bring up two questions to keep in mind:

1. Is this item important for me to buy? If so, why? (Justify the expense and hold ourselves accountable.)

2. Am I willing to be in debt longer if I buy this item? (What price am I willing to pay to be in debt or to not be able to save or invest?)

In this episode I refer to The Good Trade. 

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove

License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

Let's connect! Follow me:  

Instagram:  @chris.m.denker

Threads: @chris.m.denker

Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

Hey, since it's the week to celebrate school counselors and all that we do, I thought I would give you a peek at what I do as a middle school counselor. 

In this episode, I talk about what a school counselor is (which is what I am!), our purpose in the school setting, a "typical" day, and what I do that maybe most people don't realize or understand about school counseling.

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove

License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

Let's connect! Follow me:  

Instagram:  @chris.m.denker

Threads: @chris.m.denker

Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

I'm in my slow living era, and I was inspired to talk about financial freedom after reading Rosa Diaz-Casal's article, Attaining Financial Freedom through Slow Living.

Finances have always been tough for me. When I was a kid, if I had money it burned a hole in my pocket. I spent it as fast as I got it. That didn't change into adulthood, but I'm starting to really thinking about how I'm spending my money and where I'm spending it.

I want you to think about and answer this question confidently, "What is enough for me?"

In this episode I refer to:
Attaining Financial Freedom through Slow Living
Pact
The Good Trade

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove
License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]
Let's connect! Follow me:  
Instagram:  @chris.m.denker
Threads: @chris.m.denker
Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

 While I am not advocating for another global pandemic, there was a sense of simplicity during that time that I long for. I think that's why I feel like I've been on edge. So, this week I'm talking about going back to a more simple life, and I'm inviting you to do the same.

In this episode, I read an excerpt from the book Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. As he says, you can't escape yourself. Even if you move to a different city, change jobs, or change relationships, there's one thing you can't escape. You.

So, my challenge to you is instead of looking outward for stuff to make your life better, look inward to a simple life instead. 

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove
License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

Let's connect! Follow me:  
Instagram:  @chris.m.denker
Threads: @chris.m.denker
Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

I'm usually the type of person who hits the ground running with resolutions to begin the next year. However, this year I slammed on the brakes. I chat about why I decided to do so and give you food for thought to consider doing the same. Maybe you will choose to do the same. 

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove
License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

Let's connect! Follow me:  
Instagram:  @chris.m.denker
Threads: @chris.m.denker
Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications or follow my publication, Let the Adventure Begin. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

I recently read a book of essays by Nora McInerny titled, Bad Vibes Only (and other things I bring to the table). I found it at my public library after I picked up the book I put a hold on. I enjoy perusing the section of new books, and this particular one by McInerny grabbed my attention, because it's the exact opposite of who I am.

Well, you know the old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover"? Yea, also, don't judge a book by its title.

I loved it, and you can find it HERE. 

In this episode, I pose the question, "What makes you feel alive?" after reading a part of one of her essays. We go through different phases of our lives and we are often defined by what phase we are in. Posing this question to ourselves can pull us out of the reverie of our daily routine to try something new that, indeed does, make us feel alive. 

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove
License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]
Let's connect! Follow me:  
Instagram:  @chris.m.denker
Threads: @chris.m.denker

Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

The holidays can cause a lot of stress, but I want to challenge us to stop sweating the small stuff and enjoy being in the present moment. After all, it's two weeks before Christmas and I have yet to buy a single Christmas gift. And you know what? I'm okay with that. It's all going to be okay.

I also talk about Blue Christmas church services and how they can be of comfort to people who struggle with the holidays as well as how we can be supportive and hold space for our loved ones.

While this is a beautiful time of year for so many people, if you're an educator, you know that sometimes behaviors spike and students experience big emotions during this time of the year. Hold space for the kiddos in your life.

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove
License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]
Let's connect! Follow me:  
Instagram:  @chris.m.denker
Threads: @chris.m.denker
Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.

In this episode, I share a passage from the book, The Pivot Year, by Brianna Wiest. Brianna talks about practicing the pause, that pause between what you feel and how you react. I admit that there are times when I'm really good at it, and then there are those other times when I'm not.

I also chat about the following:
*What is worth my (your) energy?
*Setting boundaries
*Removing myself (yourself) from situations

If you're interested in The Pivot Year, check it out HERE. 

As always, thanks for listening to the podcast.  If you've been here awhile, I hope you know how much I appreciate you. If you stumbled onto it or it was suggested to you, thanks for giving it a listen and I hope you stick around. 

And, I would really appreciate it if you give the podcast some love through a positive rating and review. That's how others will find it, and that's how it will grow.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/that-groove
License code: 6XUFRBQDFLDIJ8BS

Hit the SUBSCRIBE button wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions? Hit me up at [email protected]

Let's connect! Follow me:  
Instagram:  @chris.m.denker
Threads: @chris.m.denker

Medium (writing content) medium.com - search my name to find a comprehensive list of pieces I have written on my own or for other publications. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode.