The Commons with Karla

Today we are chatting with my wonderful niece, Megan. Megan was an athlete and enjoyed spending time with family in her small, tight-knit hometown. Fast forward and she is 22 years old, in graduate school, and living in a new city. These great life events can be difficult, no matter what. However, Megan explains the extra challenge of going through these big transitions during the pandemic. Although the move and grad school have had their ups and downs, Megan explains how leaving her comfort zone has helped her to learn more about herself. She has been able to grow and flourish and is finding a fondness for her new life. If you are going through a big life change, I hope Megan’s story encourages you. 

Megan’s story:

●     Growing up in a small town

●     Finding a career path to help people

●     Graduate school for Speech Language Pathology

Going Deep:

●     Decision to move to a new city

●     Planning and preparation

●     Building new relationships

Learning:

●     Consider whole self - emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical changes 

●     Take into consideration what will help you grow and flourish

●     Don’t let comfort in particular town stop you from going and reaching your goals

Library Time:

●     100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

●     Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Since You Asked:

●     What is a focus word?

●     Mentioned #42: Giving Back to your Community with Jill

●     Read this blog post to learn more about focus words

●     As a thank you for subscribing to The Commons newsletter get private podcast link with audio blog content

Final Questions:

●     Watching very little tv and definitely no Fox News for at least a month  

●     Loving being an aunt 

●     Self-care dream is to experience Greece with family

●     Superpower is balancing the highs and lows of a new town while performing as a grad student.

●     Looking forward to helping people because everyone deserves a voice.

Small Group Coaching:

●     6 week Coaching with Karla starts Jan 4th 

●     Grab the free private podcast to learn six phases of project completion

●     Or get in the coaching now to finally finish that project you have been dreaming about or to grow your business and impact 

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Fit 36 Clothing is the place to get anything you need for your active lifestyle.  They have the softest leggings, cute sports bras, tanks, hats, water bottles.   Fit 36 Clothing is female owned and locally operated by two native Nevadans. And because they are based in Nevada, some of their designs have Nevada and Lake Tahoe mixed in.  They sell locally if you're in Reno or ship nationwide.  So if you're looking for high quality fitness apparel, at a reasonable price you will be thrilled with your finds at Fit 36 Clothing! Get 10% off of your Fit 36 Clothing order using the code KARLA10 at fit36clothing.com. 

Today we are talking with Kate about her calling to foster and adopt. She has two children who are biologically hers, and then overnight became a mother of 4 due to an emergency adoption situation. Fast forward- Kate and her husband also adopted a 4-year-old girl and later welcomed an older son into their family.  Although her calling has not come without challenges, and a little bit of fear, it has led her to a life filled with purpose, love, and family. Kate is a great example of how to unapologetically follow the calling and passion God has on your life. In this episode Kate also talks to us about the challenges of parenting, especially with children who carry so much trauma. I hope this episode encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and into God’s calling on your life. 

 
Kate’s story:

●     Kate’s missionary experience in Romania

●     Adoption and fostering - Have A Heart

●     Early childhood impact on calling

●     Kate and Michael’s adoption journey

Going Deep:

●     Information on trauma

●     Parenting children with trauma

●     TBRI - Trust Based Relational Intervention

●     Kate co-trains other parents who want to foster/adopt

●     Foster the City - a coalition of churches providing loving homes for children in foster care

Learning:

●     Honor your emotions including fear

●     Take small steps to make a difference

Since You Asked:

●     Disagree with a friend. What is next?

Library Time:

●     Aggression in Play Therapy: Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity by Lisa Dion

●     Smacked by Eilene Zimmerman

Final Questions:

●     Watching Teen Titans

●     Loving rest, anticipation of Christmas, and honor of job/calling 

●     Self-care enjoy quiet space at home listening to podcasts #IMOMOSOHARD, The TBRI Podcast and The Empowered Parent

●     Superpower is empathy

●     Looking forward to seeing God on the move

Resources:

●     Foster the City Website, Facebook, Instagram 

●     10 Day Connection Challenge 

●     Coaching with Karla - free consult or jump in

Jeanie Clip offers a solution for those annoying holes in your tees caused by the abrasive part of jeans.  Simply clip the Jeanie Clip on the button of your jeans and stop the damage.  Get 20% off of your Jeanie Clip order with the code KARLA20 at JeanieClip.com/discount/KARLA20. 

Today we are talking with Assemblywoman Jill Tolles. Jill is a mother of two adult daughters, who have recently moved out of the house, making Jill and her husband empty-nesters. Jill started her political journey as a mom advocating for education in the state of Nevada, which led to her becoming a member of a task force against child abuse. Jill worked on legislation to put prevention programs in schools and went on to become an Assemblywoman in Nevada. Jill, who is a successful politician, takes us back to some challenging circumstances that she has gone through that have motivated her to use her platform to make a difference. Jill is so brave to share her story with others. In our conversation, she expresses that as soon as she shared her story, so many others felt that they were able to finally share their story too. There is power in vulnerability and knowing that you are not alone. I hope Jill’s story encourages you. 

Episode Highlights:

●     Focus words 

●     Advice for parents with young children

●     Becoming an empty nester 

●     Jill’s pivotal moments 

●     Finding Courage to Talk About Child Sexual Abuse - Jill Tolle’s TED Talk 

●     Teaching Communications at the University of Nevada 

●     On the faculty of the National Judicial College

●     Jill’s political journey

●     The good, bad, and ugly of politics

Connect:

●     Connect with Karla on IG @karla_osorno

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Memories fade. We lose people in our lives. We go our whole lives without asking our loved ones to tell their precious stories.  We miss hearing the laughter in their voices and laughing at humorous comments and inside jokes. There is another option. Let Memory Lane Chats help you capture these voices and stories. Each package gives you a 30, 60, or 90 minute audio recording of an interview style conversation with the person you love. Get more information and order yours today at MemoryLaneChats.com. 

In this episode, we are chatting with my friend Susaan. When she was 18, Susaan moved to the United States of America from her home country of India. As you can imagine, this move came with many changes that Susaan explains to us in this conversation. Although, she views the changes as positive - they did not come without challenges. Adjusting to a completely new lifestyle and culture can come with many life lessons. Susaan also had to adapt when her youngest daughter was born with a rare genetic disorder. If you are currently going through a big life change, I hope this episode will encourage you. 

Episode Highlights:

●     Susaan’s family 

●     Susaan’s upbringing and education

●     Her move from India to America

●     Adjusting to a new culture 

●     Susaan’s marriage arrangement

●     Susaan’s daughter’s rare genetic disorder 

●     Owning IHOP businesses 

●     Being positive when things don’t go according to plan

●     Looking forward to the Holiday Season 

Connect:

●     Connect with Karla on IG @karla_osorno

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Fit 36 Clothing is the place to get anything you need for your active lifestyle.  They have the softest leggings, cute sports bras, tanks, hats, water bottles.   Fit 36 Clothing is female owned and locally operated by two native Nevadans. And because they are based in Nevada, some of their designs have Nevada and Lake Tahoe mixed in.  They sell locally if you're in Reno or ship nationwide.  So if you're looking for high quality fitness apparel, at a reasonable price you will be thrilled with your finds at Fit 36 Clothing! Get 10% off of your Fit 36 Clothing order using the code KARLA10 at fit36clothing.com.

When I think of the word community, my friend Shayla comes to mind. Shayla’s awareness of her need for genuine community grew from challenging seasons.  Shayla always felt the need to be “the happy or funny” one and felt the need to hold it together for everyone around her. However, Shayla learned that to have deep, true community she did not always have to be the strong one and put on a brave face. She learned that true connection comes from raw vulnerability and that letting people see the true you can lead to a new level of connection. I hope this episode encourages you to reach deeper levels with your friends, and that you let yourself be fully seen and known. 

Episode Highlights:

●     Shayla’s backstory

●     Shayla’s tough seasons that helped build her yearning for community

●     Feeling unloved

●     Shayla’s Dad’s sickness

●     Close relationships - best friend

●     Finding faith and love in God 

●     Living Stones Church Reno

●     Being vulnerable in relationships

●     Healing from divorce

●     Importance of church community 

●     Safe relationships

●     Raw vulnerability versus chosen vulnerability

●     Levels of trust and friendship

●     Singleness and dating

●     Navigating grief

●     Celebrating progress

Connect:

●     Shayla on IG @shaylablount

●     Karla on IG @karla_osorno

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same. Thanks for your support!

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Jeanie Clip offers a solution for those annoying holes in your tees caused by the abrasive part of jeans.  Simply clip the Jeanie Clip on the button of your jeans and stop the damage.  Get 20% off of your Jeanie Clip order with the code KARLA20 at JeanieClip.com/discount/KARLA20.  

Today we are talking with Rachel. Rachel is the perfect example of someone who has decided to “live all in” by truly committing her full attention to being intentional in her life and in her relationships with others.  No matter what life throws her way, Rachel takes it head on and always makes the best of every situation. In this episode, Rachel teaches us through her story that taking a positive perspective on life will help you to be more “all in” for yourself and for others. She expresses the importance of being happy “in the meantime”, and how you can’t wait for everything in your life to be picture perfect in order to be joyful. I hope this episode encourages you. 

Episode Highlights:

●     Rachel’s backstory

●     Caring (with siblings) for aging parents

●     Maturity and confidence

●     Dealing with shame

●     Life as a travel nurse

●     Being engaged and intentional with relationships

●     You don’t have to live your life alone.

●     What to do in life “in the meantime” 

●     Life mantras can help when you struggle

●     Rachel’s mission trip experiences

●     Pursuing wholeness 

Connect:

●     If you have questions or want to talk about faith, let’s connect.

●     Email me directly at [email protected]

●     Follow or DM Karla on IG @karla_osorno

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Memories fade. We lose people in our lives. We go our whole lives without asking our loved ones to tell their precious stories.  We miss hearing the laughter in their voices and laughing at humorous comments and inside jokes. There is another option. Let Memory Lane Chats help you capture these voices and stories. Each package gives you a 30, 60, or 90 minute audio recording of an interview style conversation with the person you love. Get more information and order yours today at MemoryLaneChats.com.

In this episode we are chatting with Jess, an amazing wife, mom, and friend. Often during November, we take time to reflect on the things that we are thankful for. Jess is a wonderful example of a woman who exudes gratitude. In this episode, she talks about how she got to this point in her life by taking intentional time to work on herself, her knowledge of God and what he says, and her relationship with God in order to fill herself up. From that time, she emerged as a person able to choose and nurture meaningful connections. When Jess met her husband, they both shared a common goal - they wanted to give their lives away to bigger causes. They did just that - committing their time and efforts to serving others. Through challenging seasons, Jess stayed connected to God and others. She is an inspiration to everyone who is blessed enough to know her. I hope her story encourages you. 

Episode Highlights:

●     Jess’s background story 

●     Jess’s year of fasting from friendship 

●     Creating a solid foundation on God 

●     Gift of singleness

●     Prayer, dating, and marriage

●     Phil and Jess’s time in Indonesia 

●     Dealing with isolation, grief, and loss

●     Slugs and Bugs Modern Kid album - Cell Phone Jones song

●     Homeschooling - origin story, academics, relationship, and value of co-op 

●     Family Vision - Your Happiest Home - Online Community for moms

●     Phone app Mighty Networks - search for Your Happiest Home

●     Jess authored this book - Adelina Aviator and this one Marshmallows and Toast (soon)

Connect:

●     With Jess on IG @jess_vana and on her website JessVana.com

●     With Karla on IG @karla_osorno and on her website KarlaOsorno.com

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Fit 36 Clothing is the place to get anything you need for your active lifestyle.  They have the softest leggings, cute sports bras, tanks, hats, water bottles.   Fit 36 Clothing is female owned and locally operated by two native Nevadans. And because they are based in Nevada, some of their designs have Nevada and Lake Tahoe mixed in.  They sell locally if you're in Reno or ship nationwide.  So if you're looking for high quality fitness apparel, at a reasonable price you will be thrilled with your finds at Fit 36 Clothing! Get 10% off of your Fit 36 Clothing order using the code KARLA10 at fit36clothing.com. 

Today we are talking with Catie, who by nature is such a nurturing woman. Catie’s kindness and love of taking care of others reflects in her marriage, parenting, grandparenting, and friendships. It all started when she devoted herself to helping her husband finish and succeed in medical school. Her love overflowed into raising her children, and children who were not biologically hers. Catie’s most current season (and maybe her favorite so far) is nurturing her grandchildren. Catie is a wonderful example of how to unapologetically be a supporter and a nurturer and leaning into the gifts that God has given her. Catie tells us that you do not always have to lead from the front, in fact sometimes the most important work is done behind the scenes. She is the kind of person we would all love to have in our lives, and I am lucky enough to have her be a part of mine. In this episode, Catie talks about a special friendship that she has poured into for many years despite the changing circumstances of her life. I hope this episode can encourage you to put the rewarding effort into your relationships. 

Episode Highlights:

●     Catie getting engaged in 3 weeks and married in 3 months

●     Helping her husband through medical school

●     Raising children who were not biologically hers 

●     Catie’s relationship with her best friends

●     Leading from the back 

●     Nurturing relationships

●     How to maintain friendships through different seasons 

 
Connect:

●     Connect with Karla on IG @karla_osorno

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Some links are Amazon affiliate links, and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same. Thanks for your support!

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

 Thanks to our Sponsor:

 Jeanie Clip offers a solution for those annoying holes in your tees caused by the abrasive part of jeans.  Simply clip the Jeanie Clip on the button of your jeans and stop the damage.  Get 20% off of your Jeanie Clip order with the code KARLA20 at JeanieClip.com/discount/KARLA20.  

Today we are chatting with my dear friend Teresa. In this episode Teresa shares how she used difficult circumstances from her childhood to help build the strength she has today. Recently, she has had to channel that strength into coping with her most current challenge.  Teresa has just gone through a big milestone transition - becoming an “empty nester”. Teresa’s only child recently has moved out of her home and is off to college, and Teresa is now in the process of adjusting to this new season of life. She shares with us how becoming an empty nester has brought both happiness and tears. It’s a constant struggle between wanting your child to successfully be independent, however wanting them to still stay connected to you. In the meantime, Teresa has made time to participate in activities that she enjoys, and is using this new, extra time to start doing things that she loves. Listen to this episode to learn more about Teresa and her story. 

Episode Highlights:

●     Teresa’s traveling highlights and challenges

●     Being a busy working mom 

●     Transitioning into the empty nest season of life 

●     Taking time to do things you each love in marriage

●     Community within neighborhoods 

●     Moving your child to college

●     Learning from past challenges

●     Practical ideas for empty nesters

Connect:

●     Connect with Teresa on FB and on LinkedIn

●     Connect with Karla on IG @karla_osorno

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same. Thanks for your support!

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Memories fade. We lose people in our lives. We go our whole lives without asking our loved ones to tell their precious stories.  We miss hearing the laughter in their voices and laughing at humorous comments and inside jokes. There is another option. Let Memory Lane Chats help you capture these voices and stories. Each package gives you a 90 minute audio recording of an interview style conversation with the person you love. Get more information and order yours today at MemoryLaneChats.com. 

Today we are talking with a friend from my Book Club, Jessica. Jessica is a wife, and busy mom of two who loves to read. She uses books as a way to connect with others through Book Club, and says she became closer with her best friend from dental school through trips to Costco and Barnes & Noble together. In this episode, Jessica expresses how her reading journey has evolved throughout all of life’s seasons. She reads different genres based on what was happening in her life.  Jessica expresses the value of rereading books and seeing how her perspective changes as she reads them through a new lens. No matter what season of life you are currently in, I hope this episode encourages you to pick up a book. And, I hope that book is exactly what you need in this season. 

 Episode Highlights:

●     Being a busy wife and mom of two 

●     Love for reading

●     Rereading books and seeing them through a new perspective 

●     Being a part of a book club

●     Reading for different reasons

●     Reading through different seasons

●     Cal Newport Deep Questions podcast 

●     Find a complete list of books and authors mentioned on the podcast episode page 

 ●     John Grisham writing process - starts Jan 1st (not Jan 8th like I said in the episode)

Connect:

●     Connect with Karla on IG @karla_osorno

Find More on The Commons with Karla:

●     10 Day Connection Challenge free 

●     Learn at The Commons with Classes 

●     Follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram

Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same. Thanks for your support!

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate and review The Commons with Karla Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our Sponsor:

Fit 36 Clothing is the place to get anything you need for your active lifestyle.  They have the softest leggings, cute sports bras, tanks, hats, water bottles. Fit 36 Clothing is female owned and locally operated by two native Nevadans. And because they are based in Nevada, some of their designs have Nevada and Lake Tahoe mixed in. They sell locally if you're in Reno or ship nationwide.  So if you're looking for high quality fitness apparel, at a reasonable price you will be thrilled with your finds at Fit 36 Clothing! Get 10% off of your Fit 36 Clothing order using the code KARLA10 at fit36clothing.com.