Erin and Kat welcome their first guest - Barbi Alexander - to talk about what it means to survive and persevere to build a better world, even when all odds are stacked against you. What is it about us that have experienced harm that makes us want to make sure no one else is ever hurt, rather than go on to perpetuate harm onto others? How does this show up for those of us who choose a life of public service?

We want to connect!

Share your stories of surviving service to [email protected]

Follow along wherever you listen to podcasts with new content released each week, join the community on instagram, threads, and blue sky @ surviving_service

***Music for this episode is "Callisto" by Katie Double***

Check out Katie Double's rad electric harp mixes on Youtube @KatieDoubleHarp and follow her on Instagram @dubzle

Erin and Kat come back to each other after a challenging few months for the public sector.

They navigate the struggles of exhaustion that happens when our negative energy starts to overflow and overwhelm us. Apparently exercise helps? Erin shares exciting updates on her new job that shows what a good organizational culture can do to help the impossible feel more management.

This is our first podcast ever so thank you in advance for your grace and patience as we learn about audio engineering :)

We want to connect!

Send in your stores to [email protected]

Follow along wherever you listen to podcasts with new content released each week, join the community on instagram, threads, and blue sky @ surviving_service

Music for this episode is "Callisto" by Katie Double

Check out Katie Double's rad electric harp mixes on Youtube @KatieDoubleHarp

What happens with our struggle to survive loses its humor and its spark? Join Erin and Kat as they work through managing the "moop" of uncertain and tumultuous times and reconnecting with little glimmers when facing the fact - Earth is hard.

This is our first podcast ever so thank you in advance for your grace and patience as we learn about audio engineering :)

Send in your stores to [email protected]

Follow along wherever you listen to podcasts with new content released each week, join the community on instagram, threads, and blue sky @ surviving_service

Music Credit: Wild Mellow by Yigit Atilla - stock.adobe.com

Kat offers some words to help us reground amidst the chaos when we are pulled in so many directions and constantly responding to so much panic that we can't connect to our vision of a future worth fighting for. How can acknowledging our hurt and our anger help us reconnect to our sparks to find the energy to keep going when we are struggling to engage?

Surviving Service "Seeds for Change" episodes are shorter segments designed to give you tools, language, context, deep dives, and a way to connect the dots between longer form episodes

Consider this a little something something, a little nugget, a seed that you can come back to whenever you need it.

Join the conversation and share your experience with service by connecting with us on Instagram @surviving_service and on BlueSky Social @surviving-service. You can also email us your stories, questions, inspirations and ideas at [email protected]

Music featured on this episode is "Wild Mellow" by Yigit Atilla - found at stock.adobe.com

Kat and Erin dive into the real visceral experience of what burn out feels like in the body and identify different triggers that can exacerbate burn out and cynicism. Through this conversation, Kat and Erin dive into ways that they manage their burn out with practical activities, distractions and tools that help them keep their sparks going to keep showing up for another day.

Join the conversation and share your stories of burn out - what it feels like and what you have found successful or even unsuccessful in managing it - by emailing us at [email protected]

Follow along wherever you listen to podcasts with new content released each week, join the community on instagram, threads, and blue sky @ surviving_service

Music Credit: Wild Mellow by Yigit Atilla - stock.adobe.com

Kat discovers that maybe there can or should be a life outside of service work (gasp), Erin shares exciting (and perhaps surprising) news about a new job. Together, Erin and Kat dive into the practices and intentions they hope to cultivate throughout the new year - recognizing that new year's resolutions are often set up to immediately make you feel less than or bad about your progress. What would it look like to gradually cultivate practices that improve our relationships with ourselves that we don't expect to see the results from until months from now?

This is our first podcast ever so thank you in advance for your grace and patience as we learn about audio engineering :)

Follow along wherever you listen to podcasts with new content released each week, join the community on instagram, threads, and blue sky @ surviving_service

Music Credit: Wild Mellow by Yigit Atilla - stock.adobe.com

Kat dives into developing a shared understanding and shared language by exploring what we mean by “service” in Surviving Service.

Surviving Service "Seeds for Change" episodes are shorter segments designed to give you tools, language, context, deep dives, and a way to connect the dots between longer form episodes

Consider this a little something something, a little nugget, a seed if you will that you can come back to whenever you need it.

Join the conversation and share your experience with service by connecting with us on Instagram @surviving_service and on BlueSky Social @surviving-service. You can also email us your stories, questions, inspirations and ideas at [email protected]

Music featured on this episode is "Wild Mellow" by Yigit Atilla - found at stock.adobe.com

Get to know Erin and Kat, the co-hosts and co-creators of Surviving Service as they explore the challenges of serving others—whether in public service, nonprofits, or other community-centered and caretaking roles. Through honest and raw conversations, they share insights and tools to nurture resilience, joy, and hope, helping you reconnect with your spark, passion and purpose - all while navigating chronic illness and neurodivergence. Tune in for inspiration and support on your journey, no matter your path.

This is our first podcast ever so thank you in advance for your grace and patience as we learn about audio engineering :)

Follow along wherever you listen to podcasts with new content released each week, join the community on instagram, threads, and blue sky @ surviving_service

Music Credit: Wild Mellow by Yigit Atilla - stock.adobe.com

Surviving Service: Rekindling our Spark from Burn Out, is a new podcast to get through a new year.

Join Erin and Kat as they explore the challenges of serving others—whether in public service, nonprofits, or other community-centered and caretaking roles. Through honest and raw conversations, they share insights and tools to nurture resilience, joy, and hope, helping you reconnect with your spark, passion and purpose. Tune in for inspiration and support on your journey, no matter your path.

Follow along wherever you listen to podcasts with new content released each week, join the community on instagram, threads, and blue sky @ surviving_service

Music Credit: "Wild Mellow" by Yigit Atilla - stock.adobe.com