The Healing Pod: Navigating Anxiety and Mental Health Together

Episode 23

Welcome to the Healing Pod! 

In this episode, Kc pinch hits for Jessica again (hi new Jess nephew!! Hope all is well still!!) and we talk about the difference between a Therapy Dog (Kirby’s job), Emotional Support Animal (housing rights for a pet that benefits your mental health treatment, requires a doctor’s note), and Service Dog (medical equipment taught to do a task to mitigate a disability).

Kc will likely share this with dogbook so hi! Thanks for finding us! If you want to talk feel free to reach out to us anywhere online. And if you would like to come on the podcast and talk more about this topic either to expand on our limited information or to correct it, just let me know! Always happy to have a guest. 

I did find someone that recorded a call with the ADA who told them no, a wolf-dog hybrid is not allowed as only dogs are allowed: https://actuallyservicedogs.tumblr.com/post/133418301708/servicedoodle-can-wolfdogs-be-service-animals 

There is no breed restriction for dogs. Wolves are considered a different species, not breed. Same would go for coyotes/coydogs. 

More handy FAQs for Service Dogs: https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/ 

It is also helpful to know you can simply call the Department of Justice and ask the people whose job it is to know if you have any questions on ADA and Service Dog regulations. 

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 22

Welcome to the Healing Pod! 

In this episode, we talk about navigating the holidays when managing less than healthy personalities in our partners, including dropping the ever fun label of narcissistic personality disorder and the trap of trauma bonding (which is closer in movie lingo to Beauty and the Beast than it is Speed). Not everyone is a narcissist, but someone doesn’t have to be a narcissist in order not to be healthy for you.

A big thing, and I don’t like how I worded it in here at all and wish I could restate some parts, is finding your own agency and your own strength to decide who you want to be in relationships. If a relationship is changing who you are to someone you don’t like being, it is not a relationship you should stay in. If you are able to be a person you love being when doing your own thing, but when in interaction with your partner you are somehow made smaller, or made meaner, or made anything that is not you, what is going on in that interaction and what needs to shift. 

The biggest thing is not mistaking unhealthy interactions for signs that you are not working hard enough at it, and not thinking something has to have a shiny impressive label for you to be able to say “no thank you” and set whatever boundaries of whatever strength you need. 

Also while there are several historical and current attempts to control weather, the results indicate that they’re just not that good at it….which is not surprising. (Somehow we were amazing at totally creating monsoons in Vietnam while fighting there, but not so amazing at preventing drought conditions here in the states). Several more recent attempts include attempting to find ways to cool the ocean in order to decrease the frequency of strong storms……

So now that I’ve alienated even more listeners..

There are a few glitchy moments in the episode that edits may or may not correct all of. I did what I could but frankly…it’s only a few days until Christmas and my kitchen and living room just got flooded so had their flooring ripped out and are unusable, along with the rest of my main floor as it is holding everything from those spaces, so…..yeah, this is as good as it gets. 

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 21

Welcome to the Healing Pod! 

In this episode, we talk about how Intergenerational trauma tends to rear it’s head when we get the generations gathered together for the holidays as well as tips for how to note what is happening and decide what you want to do about it. 

Intergenerational trauma can refer to both the biologically inherited traits of older generations being seeped in cortisol and stress from intense situations, and familial patterns of interacting and enabling maladaptive expectations, traits, interactions, and behaviors that pull us back into being a part of a system that hinders more than helps.

What do we do about this? Boundaries mainly. It’s a lot of slowing down to recognize what is yours and what isn’t, what you have control over and what you don’t, and actively choosing to set yourself up right so that you can care for and protect yourself and those who are dependent on you.

I did cut out some of my inability to speak on the audio version so instead of mumbling repeated words you just hear specifically enunciated versions, enjoy guessing what the mess I first came out with was (or you know, watch the YouTube version).

We also share some of our own holiday experiences for good or poor. If you are listening to this, it means I care enough to let you know it exists and I promise I love you guys!! (And the same goes for Jess’ people!)

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 20

Welcome to the Healing Pod! 

In this episode, we talk about the other three horsemen of the Gottman relationship apocalypse: Criticism, Contempt, and Stonewalling. 

This builds on our last discussion of defensiveness. These aspects of communication are based mainly in research of intimate partner relationships, but do show up in other areas of our life. Recognizing them and choosing other ways of communicating can help improve our relationships and our connections to others or identify situations in which it Is best we make a gracious exit. 

More information about the Gottman Institute can be found in many books and places online, but their main website is https://www.gottman.com

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 19

Welcome to the Healing Pod! Jessica has returned to us! And is resiliently rebuilding her world.

In this episode, we talk about defensiveness. Why we use it and how to recognize and side step it when in a relationship we want to maintain. Also the importance of taking responsibility for yourself and setting boundaries as needed.

Do note, this episode was recorded the week before the US election that has even further pushed sides apart. We do talk some about the coming election, but attempted to remain more neutral in looking at the effect of defensiveness on communication between people we want to maintain a connection with, rather than people who put us at risk of harm due to more extreme beliefs or reactions. Always maintain your own safety. Means of diffusing situations are from this perspective and the hope that we are talking to reasonable adults who are worth connecting to if we manage to keep from anxiously running away. 

Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Listen without defense and with curiosity in order to build understanding and a way forward together, supporting each other’s needs and rights. 

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 18

Welcome to the Healing Pod! Today I have my wife Kasie filling in for Jessica due to continued complications with hurricane Milton and life in general. 

In this episode, we explore ketamine treatment for depression and anxiety from the perspective of the person taking the ketamine and the nerdy psych person who did the research and supported her in starting it. 

All treatments need to be individualized and supported by your personal doctors, so do not take our experiences or knowledge as anything other than the example it is. Anecdotes are not evidence. 

Binaural beats are sounds that play two different tones in your ears, making your brain combine those tones to a new tone (sort of how the pink/magenta color does not technically exist because light is a spectrum and not a circle). This has studies going into it for supporting REM sleep, increasing focus, meditation, and creativity, and also are just sometimes fun to listen to. 

**** Hurricane Milton hit Jessica very hard this month, resulting in significant property damage and loss of some of her animals. We have not recorded together since she was preparing for it and it may be a bit shady until she gets things settled again. But we love Jess and are all here for her! She does have a call out for support for her ranch. If you are able to financially help, please do. If you are not then let her know we love her https://www.facebook.com/share/p/os81Dtu6A7AvbKJk/ ****

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 17

*** Hurricane Milton may delay our next podcast, info below ***

There were definitely some issues with the mic pick up for this episode as well, sorry about the quality. 

That said: Welcome to the Healing Pod! A lower energy level as Jessica faces a recent loss and I process the ceremony and family interactions around my own family losses.

We explore our feelings, sense of trying to regain control, and being present in our feelings with those we love and with each other. 

Join us as we discuss the coping skills, both purposeful and positive, and habitual and less effective, that we see ourselves turning to at this week. 

**** Hurricane Milton hit Jessica very hard this week, resulting in significant property damage and loss of some of her animals. We have not recorded together since she was preparing for it and it may be a bit shady until she gets things settled again. But we love Jess and are all here for her! She does have a call out for support for her ranch if you are able to financially, please do. If you are not then let her know we love her https://www.facebook.com/share/p/os81Dtu6A7AvbKJk/ ****

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 16

Content includes discussion of suicide. Make sure you are taking care of yourselves and reaching out for help as needed. 

Welcome to The Healing Pod! In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Keith Christie, my intern partner and savior of sanity. Dr. Christie runs a private practice in Michigan with a focus on men’s mental health and needs in support of healthier humans and relationships as a whole. 

Dr. Christie talks about his interest in exploring the differences between men’s and women’s psychology and his interest in prompting more cohesive men’s health while honoring those differences without detracting from or devaluing either side. 

Dr. Christie discusses statistics related to suicide and depression in men, including the difficulty of accurate reporting and recording due to stigma and presentation. Of note is the significant decrease in suicidality just by being able to talk to someone or get the words to express what is going on internally. 

Dr. Christie can be found at https://journeytogetherpc.com/ and has just completed his breakout session at the Let’s Talk About It: Helping Your Child During a Mental Health Crisis conference, with plans to return next year.

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat, complain, or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 15

Welcome to The Healing Pod! In this episode, we talk about equine assisted and animal assisted therapy, both what drew us to this modality and how we use it. 

It is always amazing to me how the animals respond to what we bring them, and how connecting into that helps us deepen our own awareness and ability to sit with ourselves. 

Come join us and learn a little more about how and why we invite horses, puppies, and the occasional llama or donkey, into the therapy space. Learning to lean into experiencing and expressing ourselves not just with words. 

May your session today just be reading in the pasture with the ponies. 

EAGALA, PATH, and The HERD Institute are our favorite options for EFP training (mainly the HERD since we are both graduates of that program). 

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod 

Episode 14

Welcome to The Healing Pod! In this episode, we talk about social media and mental health! While using social media to talk about mental health. It is a ubiquitous thing that as a tool, has both positive uses (the more you know, shooting star) and problems and consequences (fomo, arguments, lost time scrolling) if we are not paying attention. 

Balance is needed to remember when to walk away and ensure that you are getting positive things out of your social media use and not losing yourself and avoiding your life by hiding in it. 

Use the block feature folks! It’s there to preserve sanity. Not to say you should never listen to other sides, but you should’t let yourself feel trapped in a situation that is just hurting.  

After all, the point of social media is to trick you into never leaving social media. Make sure you maintain your power of autonomy and don’t forget about the other things and people you love. 

We will be planning another TikTok live session soon and will let you know before it happens this time around!

Mosaic Talent Agency is fond on TikTok at  https://www.tiktok.com/@mosaictalentagency

As always, thank you to the wonderful Miki Anderson for our intro and outtro music. She can be found under Pax Minerva on Apple Music and is all around a wonderful human being. 

Come join us and chat or send in what mental health you would like to hear us ramble about! 

Find us on Facebook, TikTok, and instagram at The Healing Pod 

We are online at https://www.PeasInTheHealingPod.com  

You can email us any questions, suggestions, comments, or memes at [email protected]  

If you want to hunt down the bits and bobbles that have been cut out of our episode, join us for another live recording, or just to buy us a cup of coffee, come join us at https://www.patreon.com/TheHealingPod