After a week off, Megan and Deedra return from a transformative trip to Mexico, where they stayed steps from the Pacific and shared space with a group of wise, hilarious women. In this episode, they reflect on what it was like to travel with people they didn’t know well—and how the deep work of internal reconnection made space for joyful, authentic connection with others.

From morning coffee on the patio to laughter-soaked dinners under the stars, they share how presence, self-awareness, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) language allowed for true ease and trust in community. They also unpack the parts that tried to lead on the trip—and how honoring those parts without letting them take over became an act of healing in itself.

Come for the ocean waves and mountain views, stay for the story of healing, laughter, and being deeply seen—birthday beets and all.

In this episode, we explore:

• The transformative power of traveling with mostly strangers

• How internal reconnection fosters authentic external connection

• Utilizing IFS language to navigate group dynamics

• Identifying and honoring the parts that surfaced during the trip

• Moments of joy, presence, and deep connection in a communal setting

In this episode of re[connect], Megan and Deedra reflect on their recent trip to New York City, where they encountered powerful stories of immigration, identity, and belonging. As they share their experiences, they explore what it means to step beyond our assumptions and move toward deeper understanding.

Through candid conversation, they discuss the complexities of immigration, the role of fear in shaping our perspectives, and how storytelling can bridge the gaps between us. They also examine how travel—both physical and emotional—can expand our empathy and challenge our ingrained beliefs.

Key Points:

• Insights from their time in NYC and the communities they encountered.

• The power of personal stories in shifting perspectives on immigration.

• How fear and misinformation influence our approach to those who are different.

• The importance of intentional engagement and listening with curiosity.

Join Megan and Deedra as they unpack their experiences and invite us all to move beyond the borders—both literal and figurative—that keep us from deeper connection.

In this episode of re[connect], Deedra and Megan shift the conversation from internal healing to how Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps us engage with others. They explore how fear-driven self-protection keeps us divided—whether in personal relationships, politics, or culture—and how curiosity and compassion can lead to true connection. Drawing from insights by IFS expert Jenna Riemersma, they discuss how moving toward rather than against others creates space for understanding, healing, and unity.

They explore:

• How our internal fears shape the way we engage with the world
• Why self-protection often keeps us stuck in division and disconnection
• The role of IFS in navigating conflict with more curiosity and less reactivity
• How systemic issues mirror our personal protective mechanisms
• The challenge of advocating for justice from a place of love instead of fear

With cultural references (including Wicked and Zootopia), personal reflections, and a deep dive into how our self-protective instincts impact relationships, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and choose connection over division.

In this episode of re[connect], Deedra and Megan continue exploring Internal Family Systems (IFS) and how it helps us move from striving to wholeness. They reflect on how faith, culture, and internalized expectations shape our behaviors—and why true healing requires acknowledging all parts of ourselves with compassion. Through the lens of IFS, they unpack the struggle of untangling evangelical beliefs about goodness, striving, and shame, and how reconnecting with ourselves allows for deeper healing.

They explore:

• How childhood beliefs and faith culture impact our self-perception
• Why striving to “be good” often leads to disconnection and shame
• The role of IFS in understanding conflicting desires within ourselves
• How healing happens when we acknowledge, rather than suppress, our struggles
• Untangling evangelical messages about sin, worth, and identity
• The difference between striving for worth and living from wholeness

With honest reflections, a few grammar debates, and insights from experts like Tammy Sollenberger and Dr. Alison Cook, this episode offers a powerful invitation to embrace all parts of yourself with curiosity and compassion.

In this episode of re[connect], Deedra and Megan explore the journey from fragmentation to wholeness through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS). They discuss how our protective parts develop in response to early wounds and how healing requires reconnecting with the exiled parts of ourselves. Drawing from the work of Dr. Dan Siegel and IFS founder Dr. Richard Schwartz, they highlight how this powerful framework can lead to deep transformation.

They explore:

• Why our lifelong search for wholeness is rooted in our earliest experiences
• How IFS helps us understand the protective roles our inner parts play
• The difference between managing behaviors and true healing
• Why self-compassion is essential when working with wounded parts
• How integration brings us closer to our authentic selves and deeper connection with others

With personal reflections, Pixar references, and insights from neuroscience, this episode offers a practical and compassionate approach to self-reconnection.

In this episode of re[connect], Deedra and Megan dive deeper into the journey of self-awareness and transformation through the Enneagram. Drawing from wisdom shared by renowned teachers Suzanne Stabile, Joan Ryan, and Beth McCord, they explore how understanding our core patterns can help us break free from the unconscious cycles that keep us stuck.

They explore:

• How our Enneagram type shapes the way we see the world and respond to it
• The misconception that the Enneagram puts us in a box—when really, it helps us break out of one
• The role of shame in our personal growth and how self-awareness fosters self-compassion
• How our thinking, feeling, and doing centers impact our decision-making and relationships
• Why recognizing our ingrained patterns gives us the power to choose a different path

With relatable stories (yes, even mistaking yourself for your best friend in emails), insights from neuroscience, and encouragement for the journey, this episode is all about reclaiming agency over our lives—one choice at a time.

In this episode of re[connect], Deedra and Megan dive into the journey of rediscovering their true selves beneath years of conditioning, expectations, and protective layers. They share how the Enneagram became a key tool in understanding their core motivations—Megan as a deeply introspective Four and Deedra as a principled, perfectionistic One—and how it helped them make sense of long-held patterns.

They explore:

• How personality is shaped by protective mechanisms and survival strategies
• The Enneagram as a lens for self-awareness, not a box to fit into
• Recognizing self-sabotage and the fear of unmet longings
• Why naming our core desires leads to greater freedom and compassion
• The lifelong process of reconnecting with the parts of ourselves we’ve buried

With honesty, humor, and a few relatable confessions (cleaning baseboards, anyone?), Deedra and Megan unpack what it means to truly reconnect—with ourselves and each other.

In this first episode of re[connect], Deedra and Megan reflect on their 14-year friendship, their evolving identities, and the shifts that led them to launch this new space for conversation. They discuss the expectations they carried in their early years—Deedra as the perfectionistic Enneagram One striving to hold it all together, and Megan as the introspective Enneagram Four wrestling with identity and belonging.

They explore:

• How childhood messages and life experiences shape the stories we tell ourselves
• The moment they realized they didn’t have it all figured out
• The impact of midlife transformation (aka the invitation to reassess everything)
• Unpacking belief systems, church hurt, and the freedom of curiosity
• Why embracing imperfection and staying in process is the real goal

With humor, vulnerability, and a few pop culture references (yes, My Little Pony and Spider-Man both make appearances), Deedra and Megan set the stage for a season of reconnecting to self.

Welcome to re[connect], a podcast exploring who we are, who we love, and what we believe. Join hosts Megan and Deedra for honest conversations about personal growth, relationships, and meaning—because life changes, but connection makes it better.