What if the reason you can't show up fully… is because you haven't taken care of yourself first?

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, Anne and Heather sit down with Marisha Mirich—engineer, regional safety manager at Microsoft, and a community builder whose life philosophy is simple: you just serve.

From conversations about white coat syndrome and avoiding doctor visits to real mid-life health wake-up calls, Marisha shares how breathwork, nutrition, and hormone support transformed her life—and expanded her ability to show up for others.

This conversation blends humor (yes… colonoscopy talk makes an appearance 😅) with deeper conversations about leadership, service, and how communities actually work.

We dive into:

• Why so many people lose the ability to do what they love due to health

• Breathwork, hormone health, and reducing stress + inflammation

• Overcoming fear around medical care

• Finding your place in a community—without starting from scratch

• How to serve meaningfully without burning out

• Navigating differing beliefs while staying in relationship

• Raising kids who carry a genuine heart for service

From supporting organizations like Planned Parenthood and National Association of Women in Construction to mentoring women globally and building programs that last, Marisha's story is a powerful reminder that impact is built with intention—and with people.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

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From bartending and uncertainty to law enforcement, K9 training, and rebuilding after rock-bottom—this episode is equal parts hilarious, raw, and deeply human.

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, Anne and Heather sit down with Aimee Bergman—a Benton County Sheriff's Deputy whose journey into law enforcement started with a random Facebook ad… and turned into a career defined by courage, grit, and growth.

The conversation covers everything from common 90s names and unhinged vacation stories (yes… water slide trauma included 😅) to the realities of becoming a police officer, the intensity of K9 training, and what it takes to serve a community with both strength and compassion.

Aimee shares:

• Her unexpected path from communications major to law enforcement

• What the police academy and field training are really like

• Why becoming a K9 handler (with Sir Edward 🐕) changed everything

• How she navigated divorce, injury, and starting over from scratch

• The importance of community trust in policing

• How to stay human in a high-stress, high-responsibility career

Plus, we get into risk-taking, reality TV, why people don't take advice until they're ready—and of course, a few stories that will absolutely make you laugh out loud.

This episode is about resilience, identity, and becoming someone new after life completely knocks you off course.

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What does it look like to build a life rooted in service—both in your career and your community?

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, Anne and Heather sit down with Tyler Scott — wealth advisor, Tri-Cities local, Navy veteran, and Vice President of the Kennewick Police Foundation — for a conversation that blends leadership, service, and a genuine love for cooking.

From growing up near the fairgrounds, to serving as an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Navy, to building a career in wealth management through mentorship, Tyler shares how each chapter shaped the way he shows up today.

At the heart of this episode is his work supporting the Kennewick Police Department through the foundation—helping meet real needs in the community that traditional funding can't always cover.

The conversation explores:

• Serving as an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Navy

• What the Kennewick Police Foundation does—and why it matters

• "Community Cares" and giving officers the ability to help in real time

• Shop with a Cop, community BBQs, and building positive interactions

• How local foundations help fill critical gaps

• Growing up in Tri-Cities—fairgrounds, food booths, and lifelong connections

• How cooking became a creative outlet (and a full-on hobby)

• Steak techniques, seasonings, and the art of a perfect sear

• The role of mentorship in shaping his career path

Being a band kin in the era of strong music programs in Kennewick

• Rotary, BNI, and building meaningful networks

• And a quick, relatable tangent on big life purchases (including Heather's van era 😅)

This episode is equal parts meaningful and fun—a conversation about showing up for your community while building a life you genuinely enjoy.

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📲 Share with someone who values service and good food

It's time for another Circle Back episode—and this one is packed.

Anne and Heather are diving back into all the questions, rabbit holes, and "wait… what actually is that?" moments from recent episodes. From royal history to local Tri-Cities debates to viral sandwich trends, nothing is off limits.

We're talking about:

• The real reason King George III struggled with mental health—and what modern experts think now

• What it actually means to "lock it in" on stage (theatre people, this one's for you 👀)

• Whether Rotary International is a lifelong commitment—or just feels like one

• Why Aristotle is still shaping how we think today

• How big Dakar really is (and why that surprised us)

• The truth behind Tri-Cities rumors tied to the Hanford Site

• Whether you can actually recycle a mattress (and why it's harder than you think)

• If Jimmy John's really makes a pickle sandwich 👀

• Is Tri-Cities actually the fastest growing area in Washington?

• What events rival the Tri-City Water Follies locally

• And who Rollo May was—and why his ideas still matter

Plus:

Bridgerton drama, heated rivalries, SLOMW (??), company retreats, The Notebook, spring break plans, menopause events, skincare trends (snail mucin?!), our favorite local bites, and everything happening in real life right now.

This episode is part curiosity, part chaos, and 100% "circle back energy."

🎧 If you've ever listened and thought, "Wait… I want more on that," this one's for you.

👉 Don't forget to follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify—it helps new listeners find the show.

👉 Share this episode with a friend you'd totally go down a rabbit hole with.

Faith Hovde has spent more than twenty years doing one thing extremely well: helping people believe in themselves.

From running a home daycare and building a photography business, to owning a boutique, coaching entrepreneurs, creating coworking community at The Studio, and now working in community relations for Visiting Angels, Faith has built a career around confidence, connection, and purpose.

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, Faith joins Heather and Anne for a conversation that moves from cozy traditions and community events to deeper questions about values, alignment, leadership, and how we create lives that actually reflect what matters to us.

You'll also hear about Faith's unforgettable lingerie fashion show that celebrated women of every body type, the importance of intentional relationships (including weekly date nights), and why strong communities start with people who are willing to show up.

Plus:

• Hygge, cozy traditions, and swap swaps

• Favorite Tri-Cities restaurants and date night spots

• Building businesses that empower people

• Supporting caregivers and families through end-of-life care

• What makes an organization truly life-giving instead of soul-sucking

• Vision boards, quarterly goals, and personal alignment

Faith reminds us that the most powerful communities are built when people know their values, share their stories, and invest in one another.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, community building, or simply living a more intentional life — this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

If you enjoy the show:

⭐ Follow the podcast

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⭐ Share this episode with someone who loves building community

Proud to be part of the Women in Podcasting Network.

What if the secret to building community isn't building bridges…

…but building fortresses?

This week on Let's Circle Back to That, Heather and Anne sit down with Megan Johnson — theatre director, co-founder of Yes& Productions, and one of the most thoughtful conversationalists in the Tri-Cities arts community.

Megan has spent years directing shows, mentoring young actors, and helping build a theatre company dedicated to producing high-quality productions using local talent.

But when she talks about community, Megan has a surprising philosophy.

She says she's not a bridge builder.

She builds fortresses — places where people feel safe, protected, and like they truly belong.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why The Music Man is secretly about loneliness

• What it takes for an audience to trust a theatre company

• Why gratitude builds strong creative teams

• The reality of producing community theatre

• Why "annoyance is the price we pay for community"

• Learning to love people you didn't choose to be in community with

Plus: Broadway opinions, theatre family chaos, expensive hobbies, Disneyland nostalgia, and why Megan would rather receive meat than jewelry.

At its heart, this episode is about something bigger:

How communities form when people show up, do the work, and care deeply about the people around them.

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If you enjoy the episode:

⭐ Follow the show

⭐ Leave a rating or review

⭐ Share it with a theatre lover in your life

Part of the Women in Podcasting Network.

What if the secret to stronger communities is simply gathering more often — and letting people show up exactly as they are?

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, Anne and Heather sit down with April Culwell — a connector, ideas person, and champion of community collaboration in the Tri-Cities.

April serves in Leadership Tri-Cities, works with the Tri-Cities Water Follies, and founded the Administrative Professionals Network, which hosts an annual professional development conference celebrating the people who keep organizations running.

From growing up in Guam and Los Angeles to building community in the Tri-Cities, April shares how culture, celebration, and reciprocity shape the way she thinks about gatherings, leadership, and service.

The conversation explores:

• Why community is the antidote to loneliness

• The Pacific Islander tradition of chenchule — social reciprocity and showing up with what you have

• How gatherings become easier when we remove the pressure to host perfectly

• The future of Tri-Cities Water Follies and ideas to make boat race events even more community-centered

• Why volunteers need clear missions and meaningful roles

• The tension between nonprofit work and entrepreneurial solutions

• Why introverts still deeply need community

• The importance of celebrating milestones, culture, and everyday life

Plus, Anne and Heather and April brainstorm some delightfully wild ideas for the Columbia River — including floating buskers, water taxis between events, and maybe even a floating bar.

April reminds us that community doesn't require perfection — just participation.

As Dorothy Day said:

"We have all known the long loneliness. The answer is community."

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who loves building community.

And if you enjoy the show, please follow, rate, and review the podcast — it helps more people discover these stories.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is part of the Women in Podcasting network.

What happens when a former newspaper reporter pivots into Communications and PR… and then becomes one of the biggest champions for women's health and community leadership in the Tri-Cities?

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, we sit down with Staci West — former Tri-City Herald reporter turned communications leader at Battelle/PNNL and Bechtel — to talk about legacy, menopause, mentorship, and what it really means to support women.

We circle back to:

• Growing up Seattle-focused and learning to love the Tri-Cities

• Why the Women in Business Conference (800–900 attendees!) matters more than ever

• How menopause is a justice issue — and why we deserve research dollars

• Bone density, colonoscopies, DEXA scans, and investing in long-term health

• Why teenage years are critical for bone health

• How to be a GOOD volunteer (and why flaking helps no one)

• Using nonprofits to build your portfolio and career skills

• Curly hair tips (yes, including blue perms)

• Why subtitles are now mandatory

• Legacy thinking after 50

• Exposing kids to trade unions, nonprofits, and broader career pathways

We also shout out powerful local leaders like Michelle Whitney, Abbey Cameron, Bo Ruff, and organizations making waves in women's advocacy.

If you've ever wondered:

– Why we don't talk enough about menopause

– How to mentor the next generation

– How to volunteer strategically

– Or how to build community intentionally

This episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Every review helps us grow this community beyond the Tri-Cities.

#CircleBack

What does urban planning have to do with generational wealth? More than you think.

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, we sit down (in a massage chair, naturally) with Jet Richardson — Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Tri-County Partners, urban planning enthusiast, former Peace Corps volunteer, and one of the most civically engaged leaders in the Tri-Cities.

From "eyes on the street" and the evolution of South Richland to medieval city cores in Estonia, Jet connects the dots between city design, homeownership, and long-term community health.

We talk about:

• Why starter homes matter (and why we don't build them anymore)

• The impending million-unit housing deficit in Washington State

• How Habitat homes have generated over $60 million in local wealth

• Urban planning lessons from Senegal, Chicago, DC, and Finland

• Why resistance to change actually means people care

• What effective service should really look like

• The power of transparency and trust in nonprofit leadership

• Why Habitat needs "a bajillion" volunteers

Plus: Anne's old bedroom studio tour (VHS player included), Ewan McGregor admiration, Disney lighting Carlsbad Caverns, moats in Richland, and reindeer for dinner.

Jet reminds us that community isn't accidental — it's built.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

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💬 Share this episode with someone who cares about the future of where we live.

#BelieveInPodcasts

"The most effective way to do it is to do it." — Amelia Earhart

In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, Anne and Heather sit down with Natalie Abersfeller for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about confidence—how we build it, lose it, and learn to find our stride again in new seasons of life.

We kick off with a new intro segment featuring a leadership quote and a guessing game, then dive into big questions: Do busy people really get more done? What role does hustle culture play in our confidence? How do postpartum changes, hormones, aging, and comparison quietly reshape our expectations of ourselves?

Natalie and Anne reflect on a decades-long friendship that truly began with a high school car accident by, the power of cross-generational communities like PEO, and why gathering people is more than a personality trait—it's a way of creating confidence for others. We also talk communication tools from therapy, learning to receive constructive feedback, and how family norms shape the way we handle conflict and connection.

Then Natalie takes us into the world of barrel racing—how she found the sport later in life, the camaraderie among women riders, what it takes physically and mentally to compete, and why confidence is built one ride at a time. From caring for horses to racing by fractions of a second, this community is rooted in support, resilience, and showing up.

We wrap things up with a cozy cookie taste test that ties together food, family, memory, and community—because confidence can grow in the smallest, sweetest moments too.

🎧 Listen now and circle back with us.

💬 What's something you did before you felt ready?

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