Do you feel like the clutter will never end, as long as you have kids living at home? More papers, more special works of art coming home, more sizes of clothes being handed down...how do you manage it all? In this episode I chat with Randeep St. Jacques, a certified KonMari consultant. She takes us through the process of how she helps her clients using Marie Kondo's method, the thoughts behind the stuff we choose to keep, and we chat about some of the situations where sentimental clutter can become a challenge.

Have you ever had it happen that you finally get away for a much needed vacation, and you immediately get sick? It’s like you’ve been running on adrenaline and the second you even think about relaxing, the germs attack. It’s your body’s way of forcing you to slow down. 

In this solo episode I talk about how to make time to be in intentional recovery mode. To make time for your body, mind and heart to recover after a busy or particularly stressful season. So often we jump from project to project, obligation to obligation, stressful period to stressful period, without taking the time we need to recover. It doesn't have to be a month off in the Caribbean to recover, it can be a day, a week or just something you incorporate into your day. The important thing is to do it intentionally. 

I've broken it down into six steps - the six R's of recovery mode. By taking intentional time to process things and focus on your mental, physical and emotional well-being, you will come through stronger. It's part of putting your own oxygen mask on first. You need to take care of yourself so you can take care of others, and making sure you are taking time for recovery is a huge part of that. You deserve it, mama. 

Lisa Druxman is a an author, a podcaster, a speaker, a mom, a wife…oh, and founder of a little fitness empire called FIT4MOM. This episode contains SO much incredible wisdom and advice. We talk about how she got started as an entrepreneur, how she managed (or didn’t) as a mama in the early years of building her business, and how she discovered what it means to be an Empowered Mama.

Natasha is a busy mom of three, a full-time realtor and an Enneagram-based coach. We chat about what the Enneagram is, how it works and how it can help you improve your life. She found this work after coming through a toxic work situation, where she had lost her sense of self and who she was. Through her own work to understand herself, she discovered her passion for helping other moms understand themselves and those around them.

Natasha's Bio:

I’m a busy, multi-tasking mom who discovered the Enneagram through counseling. When I learned to understand myself through the Enneagram, I felt my world opening up and I became the person I was supposed to be. That’s what I am passionate about now — Helping women become who they are supposed to be through understanding their Enneagram type.

I’m an Enneagram Type 6, the Loyal Guardian. Reliable, hardworking and well-prepared, Sixes are team players, witty, and fiercely loyal, all qualities that hold groups together and benefit the greater good. But we Sixes also come with our unique set of internal struggles! We battle uncertainty, can be hyper-vigilant and often jump to worst-case conclusions. We try our best to prevent any negative outcomes that could threaten our security and relationships.

Web: radiantlyflourish.com

IG: @radiantlyflourish

Leisse Wilcox is a force of nature, but in the most calming, loving way possible. She is a self-described emotional alchemist, coach, and professional human.

In this episode we dive in to how the concept of emotional alchemy has helped her, as well as her clients. We chat about finding yourself again in the midst of working mom life, when your identity can get wrapped up in who you are at work and at home. Humans are ever-evolving, and Leisse helps clarify how these feelings of stress, anxiety, or even just melancholy and "meh" are just phases of life and we can move through them.

This conversation goes deep and it goes down a few rabbit holes. Leisse is so incredible that I wanted to ask her ALL the things, and I did.

In this episode I chat with Veronica Harris, a Registered Clinical Counsellor who is passionate about promoting maternal mental health in her community. She believes in bringing mothers together to build a support network as a preventative measure against the mental health challenges that can arise in the throes of mom life.

We talk about finding the calm amidst the chaos, and she shares just how it is possible to do so. From getting clarity and context for the chaos itself, to having compassion with ourselves and creating space for understanding. Sometimes leaning into the chaos is necessary, and we talk about how to still care for ourselves while we’re in the thick of it.

Gillian is on a mission to help people redefine their relationship with their body and health – it’s about body positivity, and more specifically body appreciation and body respect. She has built a career helping people figure out what health and fitness means to them, and is passionate about helping people feel empowered in their bodies and what they can do.

Gillian shares her story of how she went from a little girl struggling with weight to discovering the athlete within. We talk about how balance is somewhat of an illusion, and how she looks at it as more of a continuum.

She has recently launched two major things into the world – the Super You Studio where she teaches her philosophy on health and fitness and offers guided at home workouts, and her book “The Elephant in the Gym: Your Body Positive Guide to Writing Your Own Health and Fitness Story.”

From unapologetic crotch sweat to building your own blanket fort for energy recovery, we cover it all.

Cate is a transformational life coach, and presenter in Dr. Brené Brown's work The Daring Way™.

In this episode we dive into her work helping moms overcome the need for perfectionism as armour, and how to avoid the comparison trap. So often we get stuck in the scroll hole of Instagram perfection, feeling "less than," and Cate shares how she helps women get over the pressure - from becoming aware of these feelings to identifying your own personal values, to building self compassion and empathy and being kind to yourself.

Cate works with moms on getting over the belief that connects productivity and "busy" as a measure of self worth. "Busy" is so often a badge of honour or status symbol for moms. We talk about how the messages we receive in our culture are perpetuating this belief, and how we can get over this and learn to take the time we need for ourselves.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Around the Campfire podcast! In this episode Gillian introduces herself, Mom Camp, and what this podcast is all about. Get comfy and enjoy the origin story of Around the Campfire.