What does it actually mean to protect people—without losing yourself in the process?

Heather Lee joins us for a raw, funny, and deeply thoughtful conversation about advocacy, sobriety, leadership, and responsibility. From seven years of sobriety to military service, veteran advocacy, and navigating burnout in service-driven work, Heather reflects on what it means to speak up—for others and for yourself—without apology.

We talk about why women are taught to endure instead of advocate, how saying no can be an act of leadership, and why so many people wait too long to ask for help. Heather shares powerful insights on recovery, generational responsibility, friendship, and the quiet consequences of not preparing—for jobs, aging parents, or the end of life.

This episode is for anyone who feels the weight of responsibility, wants to lead with integrity, or is learning how to protect what matters most—without disappearing in the process.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

⭐️ If this episode resonates, a rating, review, or share helps new listeners find the show.

What if art wasn't about inspiration—but about engineering, routine, and people?

In our Season 2 premiere, we sit down with Debra Pearse Rogo, Artistic Director of Mid Columbia Ballet and co-owner of Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet and Music, to talk about building a world-class ballet organization in the Tri-Cities—one relationship at a time.

Debra grew up in Australia, became a professional ballet dancer at 17, toured internationally, and eventually landed in Washington by way of a five-year "what the heck" plan… that turned into nearly four decades of community impact.

We talk about:

• Why Debra thinks of herself as an engineer, not an artist

• Building pre-professional dancers—and humans

• What happens when volunteers stay for 20–30 years

• How ballet can serve schools, seniors, and families with disabilities

• Why her real superpower is collecting good people and never letting them go

Plus: an Australian food taste test, soup swap dinner plans, and a reminder that community doesn't happen by accident—it's built deliberately, one day at a time.

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

⭐️ If you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and share—it helps more than you think.

Season 2 of Let's Circle Back to That begins the way all good things do—with reflection, laughter, and a little chaos.

In this soft launch episode, Heather and Anne reunite to share life updates, introduce their new purple podcast space (hello boss energy 💜), and set the vision for a season focused on communities in service—the people and organizations making the Tri-Cities bigger, brighter, bolder, and better.

Along the way, they talk about:

• Welcoming baby Louise "Scout" Johnson (plus some background baby commentary)

• Why purple feels empowering, official, and inspiring

• What Season 1 taught them about friendship and community

• Leadership Tri-Cities and learning new corners of where we live

• Dancing with the Stars, Broadway updates, and rooting for good humans

• How to receive constructive criticism without getting defensive

• Therapy tools for breaking circular arguments and staying on the same team

• "Quiet quitting" in work vs. relationships—and why women are rethinking what they tolerate

• Parenting chaos, estate planning conversations, and Dear Abby–style advice

This episode is a little rough around the edges—but full of heart. It captures exactly who we are and where we're headed next.

💜 Thank you to our sponsor: Heather Lee Home Loans with New American Funding for supporting our new podcast space.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

⭐ Subscribe, rate, and review to help new listeners find us.

In our Season 1 finale, we turn the mic on ourselves. Heather and Anne share the stories they usually ask others to tell—about the communities that shaped them, the friendships that saved them, and the moments that rewrote their futures.

From sports teams and childhood music to community theater, nonprofits, church groups, and friend pods, their paths are a love letter to the power of showing up. Heather reflects on what it meant to find family outside of family, and Anne talks about growing up an only child who learned to build her own constellation of people.

This episode is vulnerable, funny, and full of love—a tribute to the people who choose to do life together.

Thank you for listening to Season 1. We hope you've felt seen, inspired, and a little more connected. Season 2 is on the horizon—and we can't wait to keep circling back with you.

What do processed food formulas, hypermobile thumbs, and gooseberry pies have in common? They're all part of the topics we promised to circle back to—and we did! In this special "Circle Back" episode, Anne and Heather dive into everything from the science of snack addiction (hello, Bliss Point!) to the myths behind double-jointed thumbs, the secrets of Lisa Frank, and a look at language we used to use casually, but now understand better. Packed with facts, folklore, and fun, this episode is for the curious, the nostalgic, and the culturally aware. Press play, take notes, and laugh along as we finally get to the things we didn't know the first time.

Special thanks to @libsyn for hosting us! We'd love to know what you think.

In this episode, we sit down with Jade Townsend, the dynamic force behind That Curl Girl, a salon dedicated to embracing natural curls. Jade shares her journey from launching her business to building a team that caters to a growing clientele, some traveling from as far as Seattle. Beyond the salon, Jade dives into her passion for beer league hockey, the sense of family it brings, and how it intertwines with her life as a mom and entrepreneur. We also explore her ventures into somatic healing and group therapy, discussing the importance of living an orgasmic life and finding joy in the mundane. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about community, vulnerability, and the beauty of embracing one's true self.

In Episode #38, we're circling back with Melyssa Wandling — powerhouse cheer coach, twin mom, history teacher, and community builder! Melyssa shares her journey from gymnastics to cheerleading at Gonzaga, and now serving as the Head Cheer Coach in the Tri-Cities. We dive into the real team spirit behind cheer, the magic of building trust within communities, lifting women up (literally and figuratively), and balancing life with three kids under three. Expect corndogs, crazy facials, and a whole lot of community love — plus, a little advice on what not to do when eating out.

Ready, OK! Tap play and get inspired by the ultimate team sport and the cheerleaders who make it magic.

From embroidery at the County Fair to wine pours to full-blown theatre chaos, Kyla Haren-Moye joins us to talk about showing up loud, creative, and unapologetically intentional.

In this episode, Kyla shares:

• Why fast-paced costuming builds community under pressure

• What real hospitality looks like when it's rooted in care (not performance)

• Her favorite kind of chaos (spoiler: it includes sequins and glue guns)

• And the time her childhood art landed on a Kraft Mac & Cheese box (in partnership with Crayola)

Whether she's pouring wine, crafting a concept for a show, or organizing a fundraiser that actually makes a difference—Kyla brings the energy, the opinions, and a whole lot of heart.

@libsyn — we'd love your feedback on this one. Thanks for powering the pod!

From synchronized swimming to Directing the Stage, Ginny Quinley's life has been a masterclass in sustaining community. In this heart-filled episode, we talk with Ginny about growing up in Tri-Cities Washington, falling in love with theatre, and what it means to champion the things (and people) you care about. A key player in sustaining several local theatre groups, Ginny shares stories of mentorship, synchornized swimming, PEO participation, and the powerful impact of saying "yes" when a community needs you. We talk legacy, passing the torch, and why being left-handed makes you think in pictures. This one's for the creators, the connectors, and anyone wondering how to hold on to what matters while letting it evolve.

Protect the pod. And protect the pie (marionberry, please).

Born in Massachusetts, rooted in social work, and now building bridges in Tri-Cities, Kendra Palomarez is a fast-talking, detail-loving community leader who proves that connection and service can be fun—if you're willing to organize the event. In this episode, Anne and Heather dive deep into Kendra's journey from homelessness advocacy to moms groups, Leadership Tri-Cities, and planning Bunco night like a boss. With wit, warmth, and a clear commitment to clarity (and pizza), Kendra shares how we can all build stronger communities—one dinner invite at a time.