Monkey Chatter

In a special landmark 50th episode of the Monkey Chatter podcast, Amy, Lara, and Michelle are getting serious about rest! We're not just talking about a long weekend—we're talking about the deep, meaningful breaks that truly fuel creativity and avoid burnout.

We’re making a big announcement: the Monkey Chatter crew is taking a much-needed sabbatical for the holiday season! Think of it as a planned hibernation—we're hoping to peel back the layers of stress, find some fresh intellectual jungle, and swing back in the new year with enough energy to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (or at least record another 50 episodes!).

Michelle gives us the scoop on the sabbatical—what it is, where this ancient practice began, and how modern monkeys (like us!) can actually make long breaks work. We discuss how taking a proper time-out can be the ultimate defense against the dreaded burnout, how it fuels personal growth, and why sometimes, doing absolutely nothing is the key to getting everything done.

Lara recently returned from a yoga retreat in Italy and shares how she found her inner calm (and probably ate a lot of delicious food). We wrap up by discussing the natural, almost primordial, rhythm of taking a break as we swing into winter and the holidays. It's time to follow the lead of the animal kingdom and recharge the batteries.

If you’re feeling worn out, need a chuckle, or just want to learn how to master the art of the perfect rest, climb aboard!

This week, the hosts of the Monkey Chatter podcast—Amy, Michelle, and Lara—get real about the habit they know all too well: procrastination.

Michelle owns up to it being "one of her things," while even the organized Amy struggles with the occasional task. Lara, however, wonders if a little pre-deadline chaos might actually be a productivity hack!They dive into the psychology of delay, making it clear that procrastination isn't laziness—it's just a fight between your brain and your desire to watch more cat videos.

The Highlights Reel

• It’s Not Laziness! The monkeys offer a definition of procrastination, separating it from simply being apathetic. It's an emotional battle, not a moral failing.
• The Frog, The Monkey, and The Deadline:
• They discuss the "old school" self-help classic, Eat That Frog!, pulling out tips like time blocking and tackling the absolute worst task first.
• Amy offers the "Little Wins" approach: knocking out smaller, easier things to build momentum before you tackle the monster.
• Lara argues that the impending pressure of a deadline might just be the focus tool she needs!
• The Pre-Game Plan: While Amy says procrastination only causes her stress, Michelle and Lara sometimes feel like they're actually working out the plan in their heads until the final deadline arrives.
• They explore the power of accountability—it turns out the fear of letting someone down is often more motivating than the fear of letting yourself down.
• Final Tips for Taming the Jungle of Dragging Feet: The hosts share their own ways to force action and accomplish that goal
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Tune in to discover if you're navigating the jungle of your to-do list like a seasoned explorer or just swinging through the tangled vines aimlessly! 

Menopause is no longer a conversation whispered behind closed doors! It's finally having its moment in the cultural spotlight, and we're swinging through the jungle of midlife to talk about it!

In this episode, we celebrate the "We Do Not Care" (WDNC) movement spearheaded by the hilarious Melani Sanders (1.87M followers on Instagram!). We explore why this message of radical authenticity is so powerful right now—are we finally letting go of the need to camouflage ourselves? We're embracing our inner primate and asking: do we really care what we wear or what people think of us anymore?

We chatter about the hormonal changes, and the symptoms you actually experience, with brain fog being one of the big, frustrating ones that makes finding your way through the vines of life feel impossible.

Lara brings her menopause-informed yoga wisdom to the mic, offering gentle, effective ways to manage the change. Michelle discusses challenging our expectations and toning them down so we can still accomplish goals, urging us to stop beating the jungle drums of self-criticism and saying, "I should have...". She also shares her mother's ingenious productivity secret: the 10-inch square tactic for getting big jobs done, which helps us talk about picking that one thing to focus on instead of trying to clear the whole rainforest at once.

Of course, it wouldn't be a show about menopause without talking about the classic symptoms that make us want to scream like a howler monkey: hot flashes, anxiety, sleeplessness, bone and muscle loss, and the ever-present cortisol spike!

We wrap up by discussing the healthy habits, eating right, and moving our bodies—focusing on what we do care about to keep our monkey minds calm and letting go of what we don't so we can feel as good as possible through the transition.

Welcome back to part two of our Gut Health series, "Mood, Food, and More Poop." If your brain feels a bit like monkey chatter when it comes to gut health, don't worry—we're here to help!

This week, we're diving into the resources that have shaped our gut health journey: the books The Mind-Gut Connection and Fiber Fueled, along with the Netflix documentary Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut.Join us as we tackle the "30 plants per week" challenge! You'll hear how Lara and Michelle were both surprised by the jungle of foods they were able to add to their diets.

We'll also break down the confusing world of FODMAPs and share our insights on tracking food and mood to better understand our own reactions. Amy even dishes on her food prep hacks, why she despises canned goods, and Michelle reveals the shocking revelation that beans now come in cartons.

Plus, we'll give you a quick and easy recipe for roasting chickpeas!We'll also discuss how our gut health impacts everything from our moods and energy to inflammation—basically, our entire well-being. We'll chat about foods we love and hate, the amount of meat we consume, and who on earth is eating "airport kimchi." 

We'll also give a shout-out to the food scanning app Yuka and then get "down and dirty" with a candid discussion about fecal transplants (pro tip: don't eat dinner while you listen!).

Get ready to learn just how influential your gut biome truly is. This episode might just change the way you think about your belly forever!

Welcome to the jungle, friends, and get ready for some serious gut talk! In this two-part series, your favorite monkeys — Amy, Michelle, and Lara — are swinging from the vines to make sense of all the chatter about gut health. It seems like everyone’s talking about it, but is it really the key to everything? What’s all the hubbub? We’ll be your guides on this wild ride, exploring everything from diet and stress to intuition and the surprising connection between your mind and your gut.

• Jungle Chatter: We’re asking the questions you really want to know, like “how do you even know if your gut is healthy?” and “do we really need all those probiotics?” Amy chimes in with her nutritional know-how, Michelle breaks down the mind-body-gut connection, and Lara gets real about how stress and cortisol can turn your gut into a total jungle chaos.

• A Turn for the... Sewer? Warning: things get a little messy. We get down and dirty and talk about the ultimate tell-all for gut health: the P-word. That’s right, we’re talking about poop! We even share some TMI about our own potty habits, so you can stop wondering what’s normal (or not!).

• Swinging into Part Two: Don't miss the next episode where we dive deep into the nuts of knowledge we've gathered from the books Fiber Fueled and The Mind-Gut Connection. We'll also be sharing our thoughts on the Netflix series Hack Your Health: Secrets of Your Gut.

Join Amy, Lara, and Michelle for a lively discussion on the true meaning of wellness. It turns out there's more to it than you might think.

The trio dives into the four main categories of wellness, and Michelle, ever the curious chimp, gets everyone to open up about their personal definitions. The conversation takes some unexpected swings, from exploring the connection between wellness and happiness to a surprising reveal about Michelle's "really Catholic" upbringing, and a new book idea from Amy: "Hi God, It's Me Amy; Can You Just Help a Girl Out?" 

The ladies also share their own wellness journeys, and you'll have to listen to find out who they think needs more sleep!

Finally, they offer practical ways to assess your own progress and leave you with seven actionable suggestions to help you on your wellness path.

Are you feeling utterly drained by the endless choices you face, like a monkey swinging through a never-ending jungle of decisions?

Join Amy, Lara, and Michelle as they chat about decision fatigue, that sneaky vine that trips up even the most agile minds. We'll explore why your brain's capacity for making sound choices is as finite as a banana supply, and how that can lead to some truly "monkey business" decisions as the day wears on. But don't worry, we've got tricks up our sleeves!

Discover how establishing a solid morning routine can clear your path forward, and how streamlining meal prep can tame the "what's for dinner?" beast. We'll also navigate the overwhelming landscape of too many options, from sprawling stores to the Amazonian choices found online – sometimes, more isn't always better.

Finally, we're sharing our best strategies for managing decision fatigue. Learn about the power of creating your own "advisory board," how to effectively deal with less-than-perfect decisions, and how to build trust in your own intuition.

Tune in and get ready to climb to new heights of clarity and make more intentional choices!

The Mid-Year Reset - Taking Stock of Your Wellness Journey Feeling like the first half of 2025 flew by in a blur of "monkey chatter" and forgotten resolutions? You're not alone!

Join us for a much-needed Mid-Year Reset on the Monkey Chatter Podcast, where we're hitting pause, reflecting on our intentions, and setting ourselves up for a thriving second half of the year.In this candid episode, we'll dive deep into:

• Recap on Intentions: We're pulling out those bold plans we set back in January. Did we aim for mindful mornings, more movement, better sleep, or less digital distraction? We'll revisit what we hoped to achieve and why it mattered.

• Grading Our Progress: It's report card time! We're bravely assigning ourselves grades on how we've genuinely progressed on our wellness intentions. Expect honest confessions, a few surprising successes, and plenty of laughs.

• Amy's Check-in: Grade: F. Our very own Amy bravely admits that her intention to prioritize "being" over constant "doing" has largely fallen by the wayside, until we point out some of her successes.

• Michelle on Grace & Style: Michelle offers profound insights on the importance of giving ourselves grace when intentions fall short, and how to gently, yet firmly, move forward. And do her outfits reflect her intention for a more colorful life?

• Lara's Spring Awakening: After reviewing her mid-year progress, she's officially decided she'd rather set her major wellness intentions in the Spring instead of the pressure-filled post-holiday January. We explore the merits of this fresh approach.

• Mick, Deepak, and the Art of Aging Well: In an unexpected but fascinating detour, we discuss how the longevity and vitality of icons like Mick Jagger (still rocking at 80+) and the wisdom of Deepak Chopra (a pioneer in mind-body wellness at 78), and Lara's octogenarian Dad on road trips.

• Tips for the Remaining Months: Don't despair if your grades aren't what you hoped for! We'll share practical strategies and a fresh perspective to help you make the most of the rest of 2025.

It's time to silence the frantic "monkey chatter" about what you should have done and re-energize for a more intentional, balanced, and fulfilling back half of the year.

Tune in and reset with us!

Get ready to swing into some serious sunshine and laughter with the latest episode of Monkey Chatter!

It's finally summertime, and we're literally going bananas reminiscing about our most memorable childhood and young adults summers. Think summer camps, lakeside adventures, amusement park thrills, plus our favorite treats! This episode is a true jungle of nostalgia!

Join us as we chatter about:

• Michelle's Summer of Horses & Ponies: Relive the glory of Michelle's summer experiences at Sunny Brook Resort – did she have the time of her life, or was it a wild ride? You'll have to tune in to find out!
• Lara's Equestrian Escapades: Saddle up for a tale of Lara's time at horse camp at the legendary Camp Tippecanoe, where her first kiss may or may not have happened! It was truly a monkey see, monkey do moment... or not?
• Amy's Memories of Hershey Park: Get ready for a sweet confession as Amy tells us all about Hershey Park. Plus, hear about her stint as a camp counselor, which involved sleeping in a converted pig-pen. (Yes, the pigs are back, folks).
• Throwback Theme Parks: Michelle takes us on a whimsical journey back to Storytown and Gaslight Village, while Lara and Amy reminisce about the magic of Storybook Forest in PA. These parks were real barrels of fun!
• Classic Summer Fun: We'll swap stories about trips to the beach and local lakes, the epic battles of capture the flag, the enchanting glow of fireflies, and the irresistible allure of county fairs.
• Treat Yourself (and Maybe a Little Healthy, Too!): We're dishing our absolute favorite summer treats (spoiler alert: it involves ice cream!). But fear not, Amy's got your back with some surprisingly delicious and healthy alternatives.
• Local Exploration: Looking for some summer fun close to home? We've got recommendations for exploring your own backyard – no need to trek to the Amazon!

So grab a frosty beverage, kick back, and join the Monkey Chatter crew for a hilarious and heartwarming trip through summers past and present!

In this episode of Monkey Chatter, we're diving into Jeff Krasno's book Good Stress!

Join us as we explore the book's insights, from Krasno's unique writing style (get ready for a ton of dad jokes and big words!) to the crucial distinction between "hard" and "uncomfortable" that we make in our discussion!

Did we love the book? Maybe not, but we found plenty to like...

• Meet Jeff Krasno: We chat about the author's bio, his writing style, and his love for both dad jokes and expanding vocabularies.
• "Hard" vs. "Uncomfortable". We chatter about how this may change your approach to challenges.
• Picking Your Hard: Amy shares her perspective
• Our Favorite Takeaways: We discuss what resonated with us most from Good Stress.
• What's an Ambivert and what is its relevance to the book's theme?
• The Power of Social Fitness: A shout-out to the book's emphasis on communication and community.
• Analogies - there are some great ones in the book and Michelle throws in a zinger of her own!
• What, if anything from the book are we doing or have tried?