Lisa DiMatteo has been a life coach for 13 years, and in the last 5 years pre-pandemic, has run 1200 money coaching sessions. A better way to put it, would be that Lisa coaches others through the lens of money, not only facilitating clients' improved relationships with money, but relationships with themselves and with others.

Lisa talks with us about her process of identifying desires and roadblocks, and how working with a coach can help shift perceptions and get a clearer view of what an abundant life could look like.

10 questions to unlock clarity in your relationship with money:

 

10. How is it now?

9. What do I need?

8. What am I avoiding? 

7. What's calling me? (and what is important about that?)

6. If I were to move closer to this calling I'd feel more ____.

5. What am I doing?

4. How am I being?

3. What do I have?

2. I will ____.

1. What will support me is _____.

 

Lisa's website is: https://yourvitalself.com/  You are invited to join the waiting list for guided explorations on your money story and related topics!

 

Find Lisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourvitalself/  Her stories provide some free self-coaching...an excellent springboard for taking a coaching journey!

 

Theme Song: Georges, Part Deux by Yinh Kiefer, performed by Jasmati

Show Produced by: Yinh Kiefer and Jasmati Productions

The first U.S. Presidential election was held in 1789.

Women were allowed to vote in 1920.

The U.S. has a woman in the White House in 2021.

Women make up 50.8% of the population, yet women still only hold 142 of the 535 seats in Congress (26.5%). 

One woman who is bucking this trend is Malden, MA Ward 3 City Councillor, Amanda Linehan. In this episode, she shares her own journey into politics and how any of us can get involved in shaping policy.

You can find her at www.amandalinehan.org

 

Amanda's Ten Tips for Shaping Policy/Community Engagement:

VOTE!

The first sounds so basic, but it is simply to vote. If you aren’t registered to vote, do so now! And if you are already, then a great idea is to help OTHERS register to vote at a voter registration drive. 

VOLUNTEER!

Get connected to your city’s democrats (or republicans) or advocacy groups like Our Revolution, a rail trail organization or running club or arts group. There’s also mutual aid groups and places that serve meals or deliver groceries to neighbors with food insecurity. Houses of worship are often great vectors for making these types of connections, but so is simply reaching out to your local senior center or council on aging. They will be able to hook you up with service organizations that help the isolated, the unhoused, and you could find real joy in delivering turkeys at Thanksgiving or cooking for your area’s shelter or warming center.

JOIN A CAMPAIGN!

Volunteer for a local campaign. They really do love folks with zero experience but a passion for their community, and there are always jobs for a variety of time commitments. I used to ask for walking routes that could be done with a stroller and only within a certain distance of home when I was canvassing with a potty-training toddler, and those one or two hour shifts over the course of a summer campaign were deeply appreciated. 

WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!

Write to an elected official and ask to get coffee or do a zoom. You’d be surprised how often they will say yes. I always do! You can also easily look up your representatives in your state house and congress and send their office a letter or call. They track everything and you can find out everyone who represents you at a site like vote.org or likely your city or town’s website and clerk’s office.

WATCH A MEETING!

Now that things are recorded, stream a local meeting at your convenience and find an issue you are passionate about, then email the mayor or sponsor of that legislation and ask to be added to their mailing list. Or send a letter of support (or against!) a key issue as a starting point, then work up to testifying at a public meeting. The key is to inform yourself by attending, watching later, and reading the local news coverage.

 

JOIN A NON-PROFIT BOARD!

Join a non-profit board. Many of them recruit by word of mouth and are often looking for diversity in ways you may not have considered, for example by age or hometown or professional skill set, so don’t assume their criteria are obvious and don’t be afraid to express an interest in board service if you attend an event held by a really great organization. This was a great stepping stone for me and once I was affiliated with one, other folks heard about me when they were looking for someone from Malden or who works in Communications or who is passionate about affordable housing for their board.

PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS!

Engage in ways that play on your strengths and skill set. Do you like talking on the phone? Candidates and causes always need phone bankers, and often you can do this from home! Gregarious and like talking to people? Volunteer to knock doors or hold signs at the polls on election day. Are you great at fundraising, social media, writing, graphic design or planning fun events? Those skills are ALWAYS in demand by candidates and community organizations, and often the same local volunteers are tapped over and over for those roles.

SEEK OUT FUN COMMUNITY EVENTS!

Come to a fun eve

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode mentions pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, and abortion.

 

When Kate Carson learned of her second daughter's severe brain and cranial anomalies during her last trimester, and was denied palliative care for her daughter, she made a very tough decision. She shares her story about having to go out of state for a safe and peaceful resolution to her daughter's suffering. She also shares her moving story of recovery and the beautiful birth of her third daughter. 

Her sharing serves to help people understand why a woman's right to abortion is a personal decision, and should remain legal. In Roe v. Wade (1973), the ruling was that abortion is protected by the 14th amendment (right to privacy clause). Almost fifty years later, this topic continues to be used to roil the emotions of voters and ignores facts based on actual data.

With the appointments of Justices Kavanaugh and Barrett, the US Supreme Court now has a 6-3 conservative majority, and it is anticipated that Roe v. Wade will be getting another look.

For those who want to read evidence based approaches to policymaking: www.guttmacher.org

Additionally, Kate supports women who have been in similar situations (www.endingawantedpregnancy.com) and is in training to coach women who are having issues with intimacy after loss. 

Kate is also a math teacher and provides support to middle school aged children at www.fallinmathlove.com .

She also recommends for women to read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Anatomy-Arousal-Sheri-Winston/dp/057803395X

 

And of course, Kate's Ten Points About Body Sovereignty:

I am precious and irreplaceable.  Innocence is not the currency of womanly worth.  My lived experience enriches me.  Hardship can not erode my worth and my mistakes do not negate my importance. 

Beware of tricks.  The patriarchy likes to turn women against each other, so I must stay vigilant in myself for ways in which I am doing the work of the patriarchy.  Criticising my body? Patriarchy’s dirty work. Mistrusting other women?  Patriarchy.  Burn myself out in service to others?  Again, not my dirty work.  I can notice and I can stop. 

I am the world’s ONLY expert on my situation.  I have the best information.  I have the clearest access to my values and I am driven by my heart.  There is NO outside authority that is better poised to make decisions for my body. 

My motherhood springs from the magic of my creative power and nurturative spirit. Do not ever measure motherhood in the extremes of self-sacrifice.  I was born with the incredible power to create life in my body.  It is mine, whether or not I ever make a baby.  I also use this power to build relationships, nourish community, and create beauty and goodness. 

There is ENOUGH to go around.  Turning against women is turning against myself.  There is enough beauty, intelligence, wit, and artistry to go around.  Celebrate all great humans enthusiastically. 

Tune into habits: recognize abusive or kind? Neglectful or attentive?  Notice how I think about my birthday, how I greet myself in the mirror, how I nourish myself with food and touch.  Take unconscious or abusive habits and apply tenderness.  With practice, I can cultivate habits of homage to my body, mind, and every little bit of my spirit.  

My powers of control are limited.  Terrible things happen to wonderful people every single day.  Illness.  Accident.  Catastrophe.  Every single person I love is mortal and someday will die, no matter how good or smart or careful I am.  Accept.  Submit. 

When seeking medical help, know that I am the ONLY credible witness to what’s happening inside my body. Wherever possible, find healthcare providers who respect the importance of my perspective and who work together as a team to make me well and keep me well.  My safety matters.  It’s ok to be picky (even pushy!) about it.  (For example, I try to see only abortion providers for my gynecological and obstetric care).  

My pleasure matters.  I get

Comprehensive sex education is not taught consistently across the United States, and it shows. Bedbible.com has spent many years researching over 250,000 data points on sex education and you can access the most up-to-date information here. 

In a nutshell, comprehensive sex education teaches students about reproductive development in ways that are medically accurate, evidence-based, and age-appropriate. In addition to addressing prevention of pregnancy and STI's, it also addresses forms of sexual expression, healthy sexual and nonsexual relationships, gender identity and sexual orientation and questioning, communication, recognizing and preventing sexual violence, consent, and decision making.

Andrea Brand, MSW, MPH is passionate about helping parents fill in knowledge gaps for their children when it comes to sex. Borrowing from her own experiences in teaching sexual education and in public health, she has authored a book: Stop Sweating & Start Talking: How to Make Sex Chats with Your Kids Easier Than You Think, which should be available by fall of 2021. More about Andrea and all of her services can be found at www.arbcoaching.com.

Andrea's Ten Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Sex Are:

1. Keep it brief. 

2. Validate their questions.  

3. Keep the conversation at their level. 

4. Admit what you do not know.  

5. Up the frequency.  

6. Verify your kids understand what you’re saying by asking them.  

7. Use the environment as conversation prompts.  

8. Find settings free of distraction.  

9. Timing is key.  

10. Breathe and relish the opportunity.  

One resource that Andrea would like to add for parents and adolescents is www.amaze.org

Please listen for more details!

 

Ten with Yinh Produced By: Yinh Kiefer and Jasmati Productions

Theme Song, Georges, Part Deux Written by Yinh Kiefer, Arranged and Performed by Jasmati Productions

Dr. Karen Arner Paules is a physical therapist with both personal and professional experience with elder care. These experiences prepared her to open up Nest In Place with her business partner, Susan Schlener, which is currently operating in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. 

Nest In Place is an elder care organization that supports those who wish to thrive in their homes by connecting them to and managing services in their own community, offering peace of mind to them and their loved ones while preserving their financial resources for the future. It is noteworthy that Nest in Place has grown considerably in its first year, despite its beginnings in the pandemic.

Learn more about Nest in Place at www.nestinplace.com

Karen joins us to offer these ten tips for those who are caring for their elderly parents/relatives. More details are included in the podcast.

Recognize the problem. 

Define the goals for both caregivers and their parents. 

Define the challenges to the goals. 

Define the opportunities.

Define the strengths.

Get professional assessments and opinions. 

Take a breath - stand up for your future. 

Have an honest conversation. Don't be afraid to talk about the money!! 

Make a proactive plan. 

Adjust the plan as needed.

Theme song: Georges, Part Deux, written by Yinh Kiefer, arranged and performed by Jasmati Productions.

Podcast Produced by: Yinh Kiefer and Jasmati Productions

Little did Krista Basis know that when she walked into a yoga studio in Denver, CO, that her life was about to change forever. From healing her own body image issues and becoming a teacher herself, to moving to Boston and getting fired by a very prominent yoga teacher's studio, to owning several successful studios of her own, her tenacity and resilience carried her through. Although she now enjoys yoga as a student in the Greater Portland, OR area, she still makes an impact on lives as the Chief Development Officer at Juliette's House, a child abuse intervention center. She also brings the joy as a DJ, where socially distanced outdoor silent discos give people a chance to enjoy moving their bodies to some sweet beats!

Krista goes into greater detail on these ten tips in the podcast:

1. Trust Your Intuition

2. Trust Others to Help You

3. Have Lots of Humility

4. Learn From Your Past

5. Keep Pushing

6. Don’t Give Up

7. Be Authentic!

8. Keep Learning New Things - Helps Create New Synapsis and keeps the brain young

9. You Are Not Too Old (that’s BS)

10. Self-Care IS Important - Love On Yourself

You can catch Krista's mixes here: https://soundcloud.com/krista-basis

Photo Credit: Chazz Gold

Intro/Outro Song: Georges, Part Deux, written by Yinh Kiefer, performed by Art Mawson

Production: Yinh Kiefer and Jasmati Productions

Deb Gowen is a Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Midwife, who has extensive experience in working with women and men on working with their bodies instead of fighting them. 

I speak from experience, as working with her has shifted my thoughts about the aging process, and have given me more confidence in what my body is capable of in my late forties (and beyond!). 

This episode is really "the talk" that I wish all of us had gotten on our fortieth birthdays!

Here are Deb's Ten Tips that she discusses in more detail on this episode:

Stress has real consequences. Stress is not simply the result of your inadequacies,  your inability to cope or multitask, or any of the things you tell yourself to rationalize  why you cannot do it all. Stress makes changes in your health in a real way. 

Small, positive changes that appear to be way too small or minor can actually  matter in health maintenance.  

Find time to take 10 deep breaths as slowly as possible at least once a day. It takes  only 1-2 minutes and reorients your brain and neurotransmitters.  

Five minutes of closed eyes and quiet breathing can be very beneficial. Set a phone  alarm so you don’t have to worry about falling asleep or keeping track of time. Start  once daily, then work up to twice daily or 10 minutes daily. The often recommended goal is 20 minutes a day and is then called meditation. Skip the  labels or the right way to do it. Just start small and do 5 minutes. 

Hormones are a bigger deal than just for menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

Food quality matters. Try to have easy-to-grab, quality food around. For example,  cook a lot at once and make portions for the week. 

Sleep matters. Use sleep hygiene methods, and if they don’t work well enough,  look for other options, including hormone assessment for adequate progesterone  or for cortisol support.

Movement matters. Stand up and dance to a tune every hour or so. Or walk for 10  minutes a couple times a day. Pick your movement. Everything is on the table. 

70% of all people have at least one ACE (Adverse Childhood Event) or trauma,  which makes reactivity and resistance more active than resilience and solution seeking. Trauma is less about what it was or the perceived severity of the event,  and more about context and feelings of powerlessness at the time of the event.  Trauma keeps the adrenals overworking, resulting eventually in hormonal  imbalance and poor health. 

Discrimination against women is real in all sectors, including health care. Racism  worsens it. Don’t doubt yourself. If you have someone who is not listening to you or  is speaking down to you, get the care you can at the moment, then find someone  else. If you don’t have the option of switching providers, don’t be reluctant to bring  your sweetly-spoken but more assertive male of female friend to your next visit.

This list is intellectual property of Deb Gowen. © 2021 Deb Gowen. All Rights Reserved Paths to Wellness

Music, "Georges, Part Deux" by Art Mawson and Yinh Kiefer.

Produced by Yinh Kiefer, Final Mix by Jasmati Productions

We kick off season two with Emilie Reid, a wellness educator, former yoga studio owner, and a wonderful friend. She has made a great pivot into virtual coaching, and will be sharing her tips on thriving all year long, and finding balance among the challenges that each season brings for us humans. 

Information about her signature 3-day Mind-Body Reset Program can be found on seasonalintentions.com. Her next program launch is March 28th!

This is a summary of her 10 Tips for Moving with the Seasons, specifically Spring. Check out the episode for more details.

Have a consistent daily routine.

Eat seasonal foods that are well-cooked and well-spiced.

Daily meditation & movement.

Honor transitions.

Make small adjustments to your daily routine with the change of seasons (or life seasons). 

Lighten up and Spice up your meals.

Spice up your workouts, too.

Eat plenty of fresh bitter greens. 

Drink herbal teas to support your adrenals, kidneys (your batteries), liver (detox). 

Get out your hair dryer. When you start feeling mucousy, blow dry your hair. 

Theme song: Georges, Part Deux by Art Mawson and Yinh Kiefer

Production: Yinh Kiefer and Jasmati Productions

Learn more about Yinh: tenwithyinh.com

This episode is an opportunity for kids (and their adults) to enjoy the benefits of guided meditation. Questions? Comments? Email Yinh at: [email protected]

All content is written by and performed by Yinh Kiefer. Music composed and produced by Yinh Kiefer.

Breath work, guided imagery and soothing tones send you to a journey to sleep.

Yinh can personalize and record meditations to help you reach your own goals! She is experienced and has been successful in meditations for things like childbirth, weight loss and general relaxation. Contact her here: https://pepperlane.co/yinh-kiefer

All scripting and music written and performed by Yinh Kiefer.