Today I interviewed my friend Hilary Sloan who’s an incredible advocate for animal rescuing and the human behind the ultra popular Instagram account @ellabeanthedog. Hilary has fostered countless dogs and rescued three darling dogs starting with Ella Bean, followed by Coconut Bean and most recently Fifi Von Bean.

Hilary and I talk through her story of finding and falling in love with Ella, Coconut and Fifi, the challenges they’ve overcome together, and what it’s like to adopt a dog.

But most importantly, Hilary educates me on why "adopt don't shop" is such an important movement and not just a cute hashtag, what we need to do better as a society to put an end to puppy mills and even what the best practices are if you’re buying from a respectable breeder. 

I can’t wait for you guys to learn from and be inspired by my friend Hilary and her furry little family.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s interview was with my dear friend Jen, blogger, model and mom of two beautiful little twin girls. Jen helps me understand what it’s like to be a NICU mom, after her twins were born at 30 weeks and spent three months in the NICU. She walks me through what those days were like, the many highs and lows, and teaches me some really helpful things like NICU etiquette, and what helped them the most during that challenging time. We relive all of it and I can’t wait to share her intense and beautiful journey of bringing her two babies home with you guys today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many of you have listened to the podcast episode where I interviewed Neil about his brother Dave’s death in January 2019, just a couple of months ago. 

But eight days before Dave passed away, we recorded this interview where I asked Neil all about his brother Steve who died after taking his own life in 1995. 

Neil and I discuss what it was like for him to lose a brother to suicide, how that affected his family, what he learned from this loss, and how to support and help others going through grief.

We wanted to note a couple of things, that first of all if anyone has said “I’m sorry for your loss” to Neil or me recently in reference to Dave’s death that we feel your love and that this interview was more of a reflection of what Neil’s grief was like as a 13 year old. 

We also wanted to mention that if you found this podcast because you are seeking help because of suicidal thoughts or you are struggling at all with thoughts of taking your life, you can make an anonymous call to the national suicide prevention lifeline 24/7 at 1 (800) 273-8255

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I sit down with my sister Brooke from the blog Female Foodie, but we don’t talk much about food, we actually talk about how she completed an iron man, which is a 2.4 mile swim, 114 miles on a bicycle, and then a 26.2 mile full marathon at the end.

She went from being that girl in grade school who was one of the last to finish and absolutely hated the mile run in PE, to hearing the words “Brooke Eliason, you are an Ironman!”

I can’t wait for you guys to be inspired by her story of overcoming obstacles and even people who doubted her, and re-live her experience training for and completing an Ironman.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I sat down with vlogger and youtuber Kenzie Elizabeth Piper and talked a little about what we had planned to discuss - her experience with depression and anxiety - but mostly about something we totally didn't plan. The conversation really turned into a deep discussion about why SO many millennials are leaving organized religion, and what to do about it. We talked about how to love people as they leave and what not to say or do, what that was like for her, and what eventually brought her back to church. I learned a ton from this conversation and I think you will too!

Find Kenzie at...

Kenzie's YouTube Channel

Kenzie's Instagram

Kenzie's Podcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's episode we talk to my dear friend Cara Brook, from the booming beauty brand Maskcara Beauty, all about her experience and passion for foster parenting and her experience with fostering and adopting two of her own children. She gets real about the surprises that came with this process, how they decided that adding a third child (and pretty quickly after, a fourth) to their family was the right thing at a time when she was struggling to feel like she was enough as a mom and business owner. Come listen to her episode to be uplifted and edified and educated in the world of fostering, adoption and how this process has changed her life and her family.   

Loveisneverwasted.com

Adoptuskids.org

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Neil interviews me about my journey with postpartum depression. We talk about what that was like for me, how I identified it, how I dealt with and eventually overcame it, some of the advice I have for other mothers struggling with it or who fear having it when they have babies, and how it eventually led me to starting my blog.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we discuss in detail the death of Neil's brother Dave, what that was like for us, and the impact Dave had and continues to have for good. The circumstances surrounding Dave's death were beyond tragic, but we have chosen to focus on all the immeasurable good that has come from something so difficult, and honor his legacy by telling his story and sharing his message to be your best self, love life, love each other and fight whatever personal battle you are facing. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mint Arrow Messages is a podcast from blogger and content creator Corrine Stokoe who's best known for her fashion and deal blog Mint Arrow. In Mint Arrow Messages we talk to influencers you know and love about the REAL grit that made them who they are, the hidden stories of struggle, challenge and triumph. We're sharing their stories in hopes to create more awareness, compassion, kindness and understanding in a world that's starving for more goodness.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.