The Inner Edit

Chelsea Shukov co-founded Sugar Paper in 2003 after she and her co-founder Jamie started tinkering with a letterpress and helping their friends put beautiful paper in the mail. More and more people inquired and today Sugar Paper is found in thousands of United States stores and around the world, including Target and J. Crew. We talk about how letter writing, note writing, and journaling are part of the emotional human experience. Chelsea takes us back to the early days of launching Sugar Paper, balancing motherhood and self-care, and developing her sense of enough-ness. We also talk about Sugar Paper's company culture built on kindness and empathy. "Underneath all of this: letter writing, birthday cards, post-its on the fridge, underneath all of it is the intention to put more love in the world and create more connection." - Chelsea Shukov

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Sugar Paper

How to Write a Letter: Find the Words for Every Occasion

Chelsea's Mindful Journal

Chelsea's Instagram: @sugarpaper_chelsea

Sugar Paper's Instagram: @sugarpaperla

Dr. Lea Lis, also known as the 'Shameless Psychiatrist,' is a double board certified Adult and Child psychiatrist and Assistant Clinical Professor at New York Medical College. She is an expert in the field of psychology, and hopes to change the way we speak about sex. We discuss boundaries, consent, and shame around sexuality and our kids. We talk about the warning signs of sexual abuse and naming body parts correctly. We talk about gender identity, opposite gender role models, grounding children in community and coming of age rituals, and body positivity.

"Shame causes avoidance and we have all been shamed so much around our sexuality." - Dr. Lea Lis

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Dr. Lis' Website

Dr. Lis' Book

Dr. Lis' Instagram: @shamelesspsychiatrist

Dr. Lis' Twitter: @shamelesspsych

Dr. Lis' Facebook

Previous Sass Says Shows Mentioned:

Ep 57 Melissa Donahue

Rebecca Newton is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist located in Los Angeles, specializing in working with couples and with women struggling with infertility, pregnancy, and early parenthood. We discuss getting off and back on track as a couple during major life transitions and about how the family unit changes when a baby arrives. We discuss infertility, miscarriage, and how both affect a couple and what to do about it.

"When you are in a couple and you have a loss you're each going to process that grief in a different way and it can feel like a betrayal." - Rebecca Newton

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Rebecca's Website

Rebecca's Instagram: @therapywithrebecca

Rebecca's TikTok: @therapywithrebecca

Alissa McCormick is a single mom to two boys, a former teacher, and the creator of the educational parenting platform called Heartminded Mama. We discuss how to practice consent and teach body autonomy to kids. We discuss Alissa's adverse childhood experiences, her journey with postpartum depression, her adult ADHD diagnosis and her divorce, and how she takes care of herself through it all!

"Part of what makes me who I am now as a mom is I knew I always wanted to be the mom I never had." - Alissa McCormick

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Alissa's Website

Alissa's TikTok: @heartmindedmama

Alissa's Instagram: @heartmindedmama

Previous Sass Says Show Mentioned:

Ep 20 Diana Simon

Nicole Edwards is the founder of Edwards Authentic, offering courses and retreats to create a sanctuary for women to flourish in their personal and professional endeavors. She is a coauthor of the International Women of Color Who Boss Up— an Amazon best selling book and a TEDx speaker. We discuss Nicole's professional career and background and the work she does with women today. We talk about her childhood experiences, her motherhood journey, particularly around her son's Autism diagnosis and so much more.

"When you pay attention to that inner voice and you figure out how to connect to it, you are a powerhouse." - Nicole Edwards

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Nicole's Website

Nicole's LinkedIn

Nicole's Instagram: @edwardsauthentic

Melissa Donahue is a LCSW in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida and she is currently a Doctoral student in the School of Social Work at Rutgers University. Melissa is a Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor and the owner and clinical therapist at MD Counseling in Ridgewood, New Jersey for 12 years. She is also the Certified Sex Therapist at NJ Center for Sexual Wellness. We discuss unpacking our sexual history, trauma in sexual experiences, how to educate children on sexuality, the importance of eliminating shame from sexuality, and what it's like to see a sex therapist as an individual or a couple.

"Your bed should be for sleep and for sex." - Melissa Donahue

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Melissa's Website

Melissa's Instagram: @mdcounseling

Sarah Bilger is a certified postpartum nutritional coach, mechanical engineer, host of the Entering Motherhood podcast, and a mom of 2. We discuss her traumatic birth experience and her postpartum mental health journey, including her experience with therapy. We discuss healing from trauma and finding yourself in motherhood, going back to work after giving birth and what she wants new moms to know.

"I was crying on our bedroom floor not even knowing who I was, 'Was I Rosie's mom? Was I Sarah? Was I both?'" - Sarah Bilger

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Sarah's Website

Sarah's Instagram: @entering_motherhood

Sarah's Podcast

2022 Entering Motherhood Spring Festival

Cecile Tucker is a registered clinical counselor in British Columbia, Canada. She specializes in helping people build successful relationships by healing underlying trauma. Cecile focuses on how adverse childhoods impact a person's sense of self-worth and identity and uses EMDR, somatic therapies and the human connection to help people grow from and through their trauma. We discuss complex post traumatic stress disorder and the types of treatments Cecile does with her clients. We talk about burnout, self-care, and what she wants you to know about the therapeutic process.

"With mental health, your experience is what matters. Your experience in the therapy room is what matters. Your experience is always correct." - Cecile Tucker

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Cecile's Website

Cecile's Instagram: @ceciletuckercounselling

WellMind's Instagram: @wellmindcounselling

Dr. Akua K. Boateng is a sought after mental health and relationship expert with over 14 years experience in clinical practice and education. She specializes in an integrative approach to treating anxiety, trauma, relationship issues and other emotional concerns. She is the founder & CEO of Boateng Psychotherapy & Consultation, where she partners with organizations in the integration of emotionally aware practices and initiatives. We discuss Dr. Akua's decision to become a therapist when she originally thought she'd go into medicine. We discuss trauma, what it is and actionable steps to start healing. We talk about how Dr. Akua self-cares, the importance of self-compassion, and her work with company culture and ethos.

"(Therapy is) A holding space for discovery of your own pain, your potential, your future, as well as this holding environment for there's no expectation here except that you just show up." - Dr. Akua Boateng

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Dr. Akua's Website

Dr. Akua's Instagram: @akuakboateng

Previous Sass Says Shows Mentioned:

Ep 12 Christine Michel Carter

Carlie Nolan is the host of the Carl Her Mommy: Motherhood As We Know It podcast and mom of two. In this episode we talk about Carlie's transition from lawyer to stay-at-home mom, her postpartum mental health journey, the New Year's resolution that changed everything, and a deep dive into making mom friends. We discuss what it means to "do the work" on yourself and the importance of holding space for yourself and others. Carlie also brings me back to reality during a vulnerable conversation around postpartum body image.

"If you say what's on your heart and you are honest and authentic with someone, you immediately have the chance for a real connection with that person." - Carlie Nolan

Links:

Christie's Website

Christie's Instagram: @sasssays

Carlie's Podcast

Carlie's Instagram:@carlhermommy

Carlie's TikTok: @carlhermommy

Listen to my interview on Carlie's Podcast

Carl Her Mommy Podcast - How to Make Mom Friends & Isolation in Motherhood