Let's Talk About It: Whatever "It" Is

WELCOME TO SEASON 2. Enjoy the very special musical ensemble at the beginning of this episode. Just for you, Olejuru busts a rhyme and Paula keeps the beat as they share the essence of this month's series in a very... creative way.  

To introduce this new podcast season and their new seasons of life, Paula and Olejuru take time to check in with each other. They talk about getting used to new routines, admitting that, in the midst of change and busyness, the work “grind” can actually be quite lonely. Why is it possible that we are surrounded by people and support and yet still feel isolated? How do we define and find balance in the midst of a life that feels too full? Is self-care selfish? 

If these thoughts or questions are familiar to you, you're in the right place. This episode will definitely worth your time. 

Rise and Grind Let’s Talk About It Podders. It's season 2 and we’re in for a whole new adventure!

Have you ever had a situation where you knew that a simple change in method would fix the problem, but you’re so used to coping with the things that are broken that you no longer have the urgency to fix them? Kitchen sinks? Doors that don’t close? Computer keys? 

Well, this in this week’s episode Olejuru and Paula talk about dysfunction and comfort, and the comfort in dysfunction. Together they talk through a series of stories about of the ease of sitting in unhelpful cycles, the fear of fixing our problems, the importance of understanding the balance between contentment and improvement, and the power of letting go in order to find rest.

The past few weeks we have been talking about the Five Pressures of Process but in today’s episode, we wanted to talk about what happens when plans change? Imagine you’ve stayed the course, you’ve cultivated patience, learned to navigate the pressure of people and the need to perform, figured out your priorities and stuck to them, found ways to notice and be happy with your progress, and made decisions about what you’re willing to sacrifice. But now, it looks like all your plans have to change. Where you thought you were going is no longer where you see that you need to go. 

Listen along as Janelle, Arielle and Gabrielle from the Bloom and Grow podcast join us to talk about what happens when plans change, how God has taught them about surrender, dealing with pride, and remembering that nothing is wasted. 

Connect with Janelle, Arielle and Gabrielle:

 On Instagram @thebloomandgrowpodcast

Email: [email protected]

“Is this venture worth pushing through in this moment?” “What is the price of this pursuit?” “If I give up now, what am I losing? What am I gaining?”

Sometimes in life we have to pay the price of sacrificing the temporary happiness of one moment to gain the long term satisfaction of reaching a goal. In today’s episode, we talk about the cost of working through our processes, the importance of evaluating pressure as bone breaking or diamond making, and assessing when to give up our pursuit. 

With this episode, we conclude our Process Series. We hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have! 

If this series has impacted you in any way, we’d love to know about it! Feel free to reach out to us. We’ll be sure to respond!

In today’s episode we are joined by Jordan Illsley, host of the Positive Punch podcast! Through his podcast Jordan helps others to have a more positive outlook at life and learn how to influence those around them too .

We sat down with Jordan in this third episode of our series to continue our conversation regarding "process".  During our time with him, we discussed the importance of surrounding yourself not only with people who will accept you as you are, but who will also challenge you to actualize your dreams and become the best version of yourself. We also talked about the process and significance  of embracing your uniqueness, working through failure,  fixing your focus, and the fundamentals of practicing gratitude while in the midst of what feels like delay. Towards, the end of our conversation Jordan even proposes a possible sixth Pressure of Process. Listen closely to hear what he suggests! 

Books Jordan mentions in the episode:
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Get in contact with Jordan on Instagram: 
@jordan_illsley17

Check out the Positive Punch Podcast: 
@thepositivepunchpage

In today’s episode, Gift Ogunwale, host of the Breathe Through podcast joined us for our second conversation on process. Her vision for her platform is to help navigate each season of life by learning to pause and ask, “what’s in this season for me?"  

In our discussion with her, we covered topics like what it means to “show up for yourself”, the process of self discovery, and recognizing “small” impacts as valuable impacts. We also asked Gift which of the Five Pressures of Process (Patience, Performance/People, Priority, Progress, and Price) resonates most deeply with her, and talked more specifically about how they show up in our lives and what we do to navigate them. 

Get in contact with Gift on Instagram @giftee 
Check out the Breathe Through podcast: @breathethrough_podcast

Today, Olejuru and Paula begin a new series on "Process". That's right—they're talking about waiting, transition, and preparation for the always anticipated "next thing". 

In this first episode, Olejuru and Paula share insights on what they have called "The Five Pressures of Process":
-Patience
-Performance/People
-Priority
-Progress
-Price

Together they reflect the importance of treating the processes of life as a fundamental part of our intended destinations, rather than something to simply get through on the way to where we actually want to go. And of course, they tell stories of how they have dealt with the messiness of their own in-between moments. 

Join guest Reverend Tim Wood, Paula and Olejuru in the last episode of their Faith(s)? series. Their conversation is rich with questions and reflections on living life in the “now”; narratives in the Church that need to be interrogated; the importance of doing community well,  noticing and accepting our brokenness; and the need for humility, authenticity, and truth.

“Am I even good enough for that?” “What do I do now?” “How do I let go of what I thought would be without any indication of what actually will be?” “Where. Are. You. God?” 

In this episode of the “Faith(s)?” series, Paula and Olejuru get REAL and dive into the deep end about some of the (many) challenges they have faced on their faith journey. Listen in as Paula tells her stories of navigating fear and disappointment and recognizing the little Ws (wins) in the midst of big Ls (losses). Olejuru shares about her feelings of inadequacy and despair, even cracking open her journal to read and reflect on some of her entries. 

Paula and Olejuru share their personal experiences from their Christian perspectives, but they know that not everyone listening has a the same faith system, or even ascribes to any at all. Their hope for this episode is that, wherever you are on the spectrum, you can hear something in the topics discussed that resonate with you and provide you with light, encouragement, and something to think about for later. 

Today Paula and Olejuru speak with best friends Alaukwu Anozie and Wasif Ali. They come from different countries, faith backgrounds, and cultural upbringings, and over the years of their friendship, they have learned how to support each other in their individual quests for knowledge and understanding. They tell us about how they have come to resolve conflict, prune their friendship circles, and contribute to each other’s growth despite their personal differences. Thank you Wasif and Alaukwu for joining us in this episode on faith and friendship!