Prickly and Blooming

Prickly and Blooming

By Jessie BrowningSociety & CulturePersonal Journals
Download on the App Store

Prickly and Blooming episodes

  • In the end, we’ll be fine | Sharon Harrington

    Sharon Harrington had a charmed life with her two kids, husband and beautiful home, but in 2016, her husband’s health started to rapidly decline. In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Sharon talks to host Jessie Browning about how her husband’s diagnosis changed her world and how she pushed through the fog after his death in 2019.

     

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [02:46] Meet Sharon Harrington
  • [04:53] The entire world changed
  • [09:21] Life before the diagnosis
  • [13:48] How she kept going
  • [17:58] Lifting the fog
  • [26:37] Doing things for herself
  • [29:47] Exit on the highway
  • [34:56] Jessie’s rapid fire questions
  • [39:59] Contacting Sharon Harrington
  • [41:26] Outro

    •  

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Alzheimer's Association
  • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

    •  

    Standout Quotes:

    • “I think that’s what happens to people. You just do what you need to do.” -Sharon Harrington [15:36]
  • “So I think that’s really what pulled me through is meeting just special people along the way that I would not have met if I didn’t go on this journey.” -Sharon Harrington [22:33]
  • “The challenge for me is living now. Living in the moment now.” -Sharon Harrington [32:49]

    •  

    Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website 

     

    Learn more about Sharon Harrington:

    Sharon Harrington on Facebook

    Email Sharon Harrington (include in subject line: Alzheimer widow or early on-set widow)

    46 min
  • In the end, we'll be fine | Sharon Harrington

    Sharon Harrington had a charmed life with her two kids, husband and beautiful home, but in 2016, her husband's health started to rapidly decline. In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Sharon talks to host Jessie Browning about how her husband's diagnosis changed her world and how she pushed through the fog after his death in 2019.

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [02:46] Meet Sharon Harrington
  • [04:53] The entire world changed
  • [09:21] Life before the diagnosis
  • [13:48] How she kept going
  • [17:58] Lifting the fog
  • [26:37] Doing things for herself
  • [29:47] Exit on the highway
  • [34:56] Jessie's rapid fire questions
  • [39:59] Contacting Sharon Harrington
  • [41:26] Outro

    • Resources Mentioned:

    • Alzheimer's Association
  • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

    • Standout Quotes:

    • "I think that's what happens to people. You just do what you need to do." -Sharon Harrington [15:36]
  • "So I think that's really what pulled me through is meeting just special people along the way that I would not have met if I didn't go on this journey." -Sharon Harrington [22:33]
  • "The challenge for me is living now. Living in the moment now." -Sharon Harrington [32:49]

    • Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website

    Learn more about Sharon Harrington:

    Sharon Harrington on Facebook

    Email Sharon Harrington (include in subject line: Alzheimer widow or early on-set widow)

    46 min
  • Life after divorce | Jill Gulotta

    In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Jill Gulotta chats with host Jessie Browning about going through a divorce and what she did to reconnect with herself again. She shares how this experience helped her discover her passion to help women feel the best versions of themselves and guide them through this challenging time.

     

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [04:34] Meet Jill Gulotta
  • [08:07] Four years of lies
  • [15:52] “I can’t do this”
  • [17:05] Acceptance to start the change
  • [19:03] Reconnecting to herself again
  • [23:00] How it changed her career
  • [27:20] The hardest part
  • [31:35] Helping women through divorce
  • [36:56] The reclaim method
  • [46:16] “I am so happy”
  • [47:05] Jessie’s rapid fire questions
  • [52:18] Contacting Jill Gulotta
  • [53:18] Outro

    •  

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Rachel Hollis
  • Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
  • You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

    •  

    Standout Quotes:

    • “But I think it goes to show that we tell ourselves stories that stop us from doing things we actually can do. I think when there’s a will, there’s a way. Like you can make it happen.” -Jill Gulotta [07:56]
  • “Journaling to me is like life-changing. It’s so impactful and so I started journaling as a way to process through the emotions that were coming up.” -Jill Gulotta [20:14]
  • “When there’s that relatability, there’s so much more impact in helping people.” -Jill Gulotta [32:32]

    •  

    Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website 

     

    Learn more about Jill Gulotta:

    Jill Gulotta on Instagram

    58 min
  • Life after divorce | Jill Gulotta

    In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Jill Gulotta chats with host Jessie Browning about going through a divorce and what she did to reconnect with herself again. She shares how this experience helped her discover her passion to help women feel the best versions of themselves and guide them through this challenging time.

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [04:34] Meet Jill Gulotta
  • [08:07] Four years of lies
  • [15:52] "I can't do this"
  • [17:05] Acceptance to start the change
  • [19:03] Reconnecting to herself again
  • [23:00] How it changed her career
  • [27:20] The hardest part
  • [31:35] Helping women through divorce
  • [36:56] The reclaim method
  • [46:16] "I am so happy"
  • [47:05] Jessie's rapid fire questions
  • [52:18] Contacting Jill Gulotta
  • [53:18] Outro

    • Resources Mentioned:

    • Rachel Hollis
  • Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
  • You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

    • Standout Quotes:

    • "But I think it goes to show that we tell ourselves stories that stop us from doing things we actually can do. I think when there's a will, there's a way. Like you can make it happen." -Jill Gulotta [07:56]
  • "Journaling to me is like life-changing. It's so impactful and so I started journaling as a way to process through the emotions that were coming up." -Jill Gulotta [20:14]
  • "When there's that relatability, there's so much more impact in helping people." -Jill Gulotta [32:32]

    • Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website

    Learn more about Jill Gulotta:

    Jill Gulotta on Instagram

    58 min
  • Just listen | Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar

    Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar was on a work trip when she received a phone call. Her husband, Bill, had suddenly died. In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Jamie chats with host Jessie Browning about finding herself again after the loss of her husband and her dog. She shares how she found her soft landing and started her career as a grief coach. Listen to why you should just show up for those grieving.

     

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [04:34] Meet Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar
  • [05:00] A brutal loss
  • [11:40] Coping through work
  • [14:36] That’s when it all hit
  • [19:49] Her support system
  • [20:46] Her soft landing
  • [25:26] Getting into grief coaching
  • [32:41] Just show up
  • [39:25] Is love such a small commodity?
  • [43:56] Her professional life now
  • [47:07] Open up your ears and listen
  • [47:45] Jessie’s rapid fire questions
  • [50:54] Contacting Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar
  • [51:49] Outro

    •  

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Salt & Ash & Honey & Magic by Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar
  • On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler
  • Wanderful
  • Sharing Solace
  • Paper: Paging Through History by Mark Kurlansky
  • The Italian Party: A Novel by Christina Lynch

    •  

    Standout Quotes:

    • “It forced me to rethink everything. Everything I thought my life would be was gone.” -Jamie Metzgar [17:13]
  • “Travel’s a thing with me, especially when I’m feeling so lost, because it forces my attention. It forces me out of myself. It forces me to focus on communicating in other languages. It’s a really grounding point to me. And it also bizarrely as huge as loss is, it puts it all in context of I’m just a tiny drop in this world. Everybody around me, all these nameless people have experienced something awful.” -Jamie Metzgar [24:48]
  • “Just ask. Don’t assume you know anything. Don’t assume you know the griever’s faith, because even if the person has been very devout to something, grief will shake you.” -Jamie Metzgar [36:38]

    •  

    Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website 

     

    Learn more about Jamie Metzgar:

    Widow Wellness Coaching Website

    Widow Wellness Coaching on Facebook

    Widow Wellness Coaching on Instagram

    56 min
  • Just listen | Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar

    Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar was on a work trip when she received a phone call. Her husband, Bill, had suddenly died. In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Jamie chats with host Jessie Browning about finding herself again after the loss of her husband and her dog. She shares how she found her soft landing and started her career as a grief coach. Listen to why you should just show up for those grieving.

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [04:34] Meet Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar
  • [05:00] A brutal loss
  • [11:40] Coping through work
  • [14:36] That's when it all hit
  • [19:49] Her support system
  • [20:46] Her soft landing
  • [25:26] Getting into grief coaching
  • [32:41] Just show up
  • [39:25] Is love such a small commodity?
  • [43:56] Her professional life now
  • [47:07] Open up your ears and listen
  • [47:45] Jessie's rapid fire questions
  • [50:54] Contacting Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar
  • [51:49] Outro

    • Resources Mentioned:

    • Salt & Ash & Honey & Magic by Jamie Elizabeth Metzgar
  • On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler
  • Wanderful
  • Sharing Solace
  • Paper: Paging Through History by Mark Kurlansky
  • The Italian Party: A Novel by Christina Lynch

    • Standout Quotes:

    • "It forced me to rethink everything. Everything I thought my life would be was gone." -Jamie Metzgar [17:13]
  • "Travel's a thing with me, especially when I'm feeling so lost, because it forces my attention. It forces me out of myself. It forces me to focus on communicating in other languages. It's a really grounding point to me. And it also bizarrely as huge as loss is, it puts it all in context of I'm just a tiny drop in this world. Everybody around me, all these nameless people have experienced something awful." -Jamie Metzgar [24:48]
  • "Just ask. Don't assume you know anything. Don't assume you know the griever's faith, because even if the person has been very devout to something, grief will shake you." -Jamie Metzgar [36:38]

    • Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website

    Learn more about Jamie Metzgar:

    Widow...

    56 min
  • How will I deal with this excess food? | Alison Mountford

    Alison Mountford was working at her sales job when she googled “What do I do with my life?” And Google delivered. Alison came across an article listing the top 10 fastest small businesses, which included personal chef service. She then called her dad and told him she was quitting her job to study at a culinary school. He said ok.

    In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Alison Mountford chats with host Jessie Browning about her career in the food industry from becoming a personal chef to opening her own brick and mortar. She also shares how she became passionate about food waste and starting her own business, Ends & Stems that stops people from wasting food at home.

     

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [06:11] Meet Alison Mountford
  • [08:17] Google delivered
  • [13:33] Her prescribed life
  • [20:09] Choosing a major
  • [22:33] Living in the West Coast
  • [26:17] Trusting your knowing
  • [35:45] Becoming a personal chef
  • [40:48] How will I deal with this excess?
  • [50:07] Starting Ends & Stems
  • [1:03:34] What Ends & Stems looks now
  • [1:12:27] Jessie’s rapid fire questions
  • [1:18:28] Contacting Alison Mountford
  • [1:19:17] Outro

    •  

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Schitt's Creek
  • In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado
  • What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles
  • Glennon Doyle
  • The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

    •  

    Standout Quotes:

    • “If I say I’m bored, they know that something is coming.” -Alison Mountford [06:57]
  • “I got obsessed with the idea of my next step being the first step of the rest of my life in a way.” -Alison Mountford [25:56]
  • “It’s surprising that a lot of men in business would say to me, ‘Oh, you can’t have this business if you have a baby.’ That would be always the common, and it’s not what happened. What happened was I got a break. Once I had my daughter, there was actually some space and a new way of being, new things that needed my attention. And I no longer wanted to keep plotting along because that was the path I had set myself on, and it was the moment that actually let me look at the bigger picture of my life and say, ‘I don’t want to feel like this anymore. I don’t want to work all day everyday anymore.’” -Alison Mountford [45:39]

    •  

    Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website 

     

    Learn more about Alison Mountford:

    Ends + Stems Website

    What's in My Fridge Recipe Finder

    Ends + Stems on Instagram

    Ends + Stems on Facebook

    Alison Mountford on Facebook

    Alison Mountford on Twitter

    1 hr 24 min
  • How will I deal with this excess food? | Alison Mountford

    Alison Mountford was working at her sales job when she googled "What do I do with my life?" And Google delivered. Alison came across an article listing the top 10 fastest small businesses, which included personal chef service. She then called her dad and told him she was quitting her job to study at a culinary school. He said ok.

    In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Alison Mountford chats with host Jessie Browning about her career in the food industry from becoming a personal chef to opening her own brick and mortar. She also shares how she became passionate about food waste and starting her own business, Ends & Stems that stops people from wasting food at home.

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [06:11] Meet Alison Mountford
  • [08:17] Google delivered
  • [13:33] Her prescribed life
  • [20:09] Choosing a major
  • [22:33] Living in the West Coast
  • [26:17] Trusting your knowing
  • [35:45] Becoming a personal chef
  • [40:48] How will I deal with this excess?
  • [50:07] Starting Ends & Stems
  • [1:03:34] What Ends & Stems looks now
  • [1:12:27] Jessie's rapid fire questions
  • [1:18:28] Contacting Alison Mountford
  • [1:19:17] Outro

    • Resources Mentioned:

    • Schitt's Creek
  • In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado
  • What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles
  • Glennon Doyle
  • The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

    • Standout Quotes:

    • "If I say I'm bored, they know that something is coming." -Alison Mountford [06:57]
  • "I got obsessed with the idea of my next step being the first step of the rest of my life in a way." -Alison Mountford [25:56]
  • "It's surprising that a lot of men in business would say to me, ‘Oh, you can't have this business if you have a baby.' That would be always the common, and it's not what happened. What happened was I got a break. Once I had my daughter, there was actually some space and a new way of being, new things that needed my attention. And I no longer wanted to keep plotting along because that was the path I had set myself on, and it was the moment that actually let me look at the bigger picture of my life and say, ‘I don't want to feel like this anymore. I don't want to work all day everyday anymore.'" -Alison Mountford [45:39]

    • Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website

    Learn more...

    1 hr 24 min
  • Who I came from | Mimi Clark

    In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Mimi Clark chats with host Jessie Browning about being adopted and meeting her birth mother in Korea. She describes how it felt to connect with her culture and how she’s integrating it into her home. She also talks about what it’s like for her to live in the U.S. as an Asian American with the increased violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and after the death of six Asian women and two others in a series of mass shootings on March 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

     

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [03:37] Meet Mimi Clark
  • [04:48] How Mimi and Jessie met
  • [07:00] What it feels like being Asian now
  • [13:39] Realizing when she was different in her family
  • [14:37] Going to Korea
  • [21:37] Having her son
  • [25:12] How she feels about her mom’s choice
  • [27:44] Open vs closed adoption
  • [31:25] Bringing her culture into her home
  • [33:24] How has the last year affected her
  • [41:34] Jessie’s rapid fire questions
  • [51:39] Contacting Mimi Clark
  • [54:18] Outro

    •  

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Me & Korea
  • Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman
  • Family Secrets podcast
  • The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life by Bruce Wilkinson
  • Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy

    •  

    Standout Quotes:

    • “But the first time I went back over to Korea was almost like I was home. I had never felt like that before in my life. To walk around in a place where people don’t say like, ‘Oh, well she looks different.’ It’s like no one thinks any different because everyone looks the same.” -Mimi Clark [18:04]
  • “I can certainly sympathize with what she went through. And I’m not angry about any of it, because I wouldn’t be… my life wouldn’t be what it is today had she not have so.” -Mimi Clark [26:27]
  • “Growing up, I never saw anything Korean that I could relate to. It was all white. And so I try to do more things that my kids look like the people who represent them. I think that’s important.” -Mimi Clark [32:33]

    •  

    Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website 

     

    Learn more about Mimi Clark:

    Mimi Clark’s Website

    Mimi Clark on Instagram

    Mimi Clark on Facebook

    Mimi Clark on LinkedIn

    59 min
  • Who I came from | Mimi Clark

    In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Mimi Clark chats with host Jessie Browning about being adopted and meeting her birth mother in Korea. She describes how it felt to connect with her culture and how she's integrating it into her home. She also talks about what it's like for her to live in the U.S. as an Asian American with the increased violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and after the death of six Asian women and two others in a series of mass shootings on March 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Episode Timeline:

    • [00:03] Intro
  • [03:37] Meet Mimi Clark
  • [04:48] How Mimi and Jessie met
  • [07:00] What it feels like being Asian now
  • [13:39] Realizing when she was different in her family
  • [14:37] Going to Korea
  • [21:37] Having her son
  • [25:12] How she feels about her mom's choice
  • [27:44] Open vs closed adoption
  • [31:25] Bringing her culture into her home
  • [33:24] How has the last year affected her
  • [41:34] Jessie's rapid fire questions
  • [51:39] Contacting Mimi Clark
  • [54:18] Outro

    • Resources Mentioned:

    • Me & Korea
  • Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman
  • Family Secrets podcast
  • The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life by Bruce Wilkinson
  • Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy

    • Standout Quotes:

    • "But the first time I went back over to Korea was almost like I was home. I had never felt like that before in my life. To walk around in a place where people don't say like, ‘Oh, well she looks different.' It's like no one thinks any different because everyone looks the same." -Mimi Clark [18:04]
  • "I can certainly sympathize with what she went through. And I'm not angry about any of it, because I wouldn't be… my life wouldn't be what it is today had she not have so." -Mimi Clark [26:27]
  • "Growing up, I never saw anything Korean that I could relate to. It was all white. And so I try to do more things that my kids look like the people who represent them. I think that's important." -Mimi Clark [32:33]

    • Connect:

    Connect with Lajoie Society:

    Lajoie Society is Prickly & Blooming; please rate, review, and subscribe.

    Lajoie Society on Instagram

    Lajoie Society on Facebook

    Lajoie Society on Twitter

    Lajoie Society Website

    Learn more about Mimi Clark:

    Mimi Clark's Website

    Mimi Clark on Instagram

    Mimi...

    59 min

About Prickly and Blooming

From the publisher's feed

Jessie has lived in Texas for 20 years now (half her life) and still ponders "what makes a Texan?" Prickly and Blooming is a weekly conversational podcast hosted by Jessie Browning *now focused* on…