I am so excited for you to meet our special guest this week!! J. Allen is an author, school counselor, and mindfulness enthusiast! His new book "Finding Calm" is the first book in The Katrina Calm Series. This story follows a 7th grader named Katrina Lavender Calm and her group of friends as they navigate the challenges of middle school and learn mindfulness tools and strategies to help them out along the way. In our chat, J shares some of his favorite mindfulness strategies as well as his inspiration for his writing and social media channels. Check out J's new book and social media channels linked below!! I will see you in the episode!

Wishing you zest and light,

Stephanie

Episode Resources

Learn more about "Finding Calm (The Katrina Calm Series)" here!

Follow J on TikTok (@mindfuloptimism) here!

Follow J on Instagram (@katrinacalmseries) here!

Reach out to J at [email protected]

Podcast Contacts

Reach out and say hi! Email me at [email protected]. I can't wait to hear from you!

Follow the podcast on TikTok @peaceofsteph and Instagram @citrusandsunpodcast

Citrus and Sun Moments is a monthly series on the pod where I share five moments from my month that stood out to me in some way. Citrus and Sun is all about finding zest and light in each day and sprinkling energy on our present experiences. I would love to hear your citrus and sun moments from April!! I hope this series helps us inspire each other to find zest and light every day. I am so grateful for you! I will see you in the episode!

Happy Earth Day 2024!! In this week's episode we will be chatting about this year's Earth Day theme, "planet vs. plastics," and small changes we can make to protect our planet on a daily basis and spread Earth Day awareness all year long. We will finish the episode with a short guided meditation in order to take a moment to show our appreciation and love for our wonderful planet! I am excited to celebrate Earth Day with you! I will see you in the episode!

Wishing you zest & light,

Stephanie

Reach out and say hi! Email me at [email protected]. I can't wait to hear from you!

Episode Resources

Earthday.org

Planet Vs. Plastics Movement

Planet Vs. Plastics Treaty Petition

Sign up to be on the Earth Day Social Squad!

Check out Katie May's Podcast Simply Chats and her episode (Ep.5), "Why I Broke Up With Fast Fashion." (Available wherever you listen to your podcasts)

Happy Unbirthday to you! 🥳 (Unless it's your real birthday, of course! Happy Birthday!!🎉) Our birthdays are the bookends to each chapter of our lives and hold the moments from our 364 UNbirthdays between each one. In this episode, I will be sending you 3 unbirthday wishes that will shine a light on those 364 days and make them even more memorable and celebrated. I will see you in the episode!

Wishing you zest & light,

Stephanie

Reach out and say hi! Email me at [email protected]. I can't wait to hear from you!

Music has always been an important part of my life. It has healed me in so many ways and has been there for me in the best and worst of times. When I discovered musical artist Sara Syms, I was immediately captivated by her voice, her music, and her lyrics. I am so incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to chat with her on Citrus & Sun! Sara is a musician, song writer, and performer. She is a mental health advocate through her music and her social media. In this episode, Sara shares more about her passion for music and how her own healing journey has inspired her to want to help others who have experienced trauma and mental illness in their lives.

I am so excited for you to meet Sara and hear more about her healing journey, her music, and the work she is doing in the mental health community. I will see you in the episode!

Wishing you zest & light,

Stephanie =)

Check out Sara's new single "These Days" out now wherever you stream your music! Her next single "I Love You Keep Going" will be out April 19th (listen to this episode for a little sneak peek!) and the first half of her mental health album will be released on May 17th!

Visit sarasyms.com to learn more about Sara and visit her shop to find "The Darkest Light" on vinyl as mentioned in the episode!

Contact Sara at [email protected]

Instagram @sarasyms

Tiktok @sara.syms.music

Follow the podcast on TikTok and IG @citrusandsunpodcast

Email me at [email protected]!

It's the first week of spring! While I am usually excited for a new season, spring can sometimes come with the pressure of new beginnings and coming out of hibernation. In this episode I share a little of how I am struggling with the idea of "new" with this transition into a new season, and little ways we can still find light in every day to move forward even when we are in a heavy season of our own. We will end the episode with a short guided meditation to welcome the season of spring and to meet ourselves where we are with grace and compassion. Thank you for being here. I appreciate you, and I will see you in the episode!

Wishing you zest & light,

Stephanie

Reach out and say hi! Email me at [email protected]. I can't wait to hear from you!

Follow the pod on TikTok and Instagram @citrusandsunpodcast

Check out @heidiroserobbins and her post by clicking here

This week, the world lost a sweet friend and a ball of zest and light. Grizzy was my sweet cat of 15 years and on Tuesday March 12th we hugged her one the last time. In this episode, I'm sharing a little about how Grizzy came into my life (it is truly a sweet story!) and some moments with her that I'll never forget. We will end the episode with a short guided meditation to honor our pets of the present and the past. Pets are truly a gift in this life. If you have ever had a pet, I hope this episode brings to mind some pieces of them that you love. They are always with us❤️ Thank you for giving me space to celebrate Grizzy. Sending you my love and gratitude. I will see you in the epsiode.

Wishing you zest and light,

Stephanie

Reach out and say hi! Email me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear stories about your pets =)

Find me on Instagram and TikTok @citrusandsunpodcast

See Chuck's photo tribute and caption to Grizzy on instagram @killcutterphoto

We are bringing back *March Mindfulness!* This week, we are chatting about different mindfulness strategies to use throughout the day in order to stay more present, calm anxious thoughts, and squeeze more out of the day. I am so excited to share some of my favorite tools and strategies that I like to use to incorporate more mindfulness into my day and work through moments of anxiety. Even on our busiest day, finding times to check in with ourselves and what's going on around us is so important. Take a breath and settle in! I will see you in the episode!

Wishing you zest & light,

Stephanie

Reach out and say hi! Emil me at [email protected]. I can't wait to hear from you!

Find me on TikTok and Instagram @citrusandsunpodcast

Episode Resources:

Snow globe Article on Psychcentral.com

Citrus and Sun Moments is a monthly series on the pod where I share five moments from my month that stood out to me in some way. Citrus and Sun is all about finding zest and light in each day and sprinkling energy on our present experiences. I would love to hear your citrus and sun moments from February!! I hope this series helps us inspire each other to find zest and light every day. I am so grateful for you! I will see you in the episode!

Wishing you zest & light,

Stephanie

Send me your February moments, or just say hi!! Email me at [email protected]. I can't wait to hear from you!

Follow the podcast on TikTok and Instagram @citrusandsunpodcast

Episode Resources

"Kirkland" lyrics by Max Leone