TW: discussion of suicide

September is Suicide Prevention Month so we're going to talk about it. It's an uncomfortable topic, but not as uncomfortable as going to a loved one's funeral. In 2022, there were an estimated 1.6M suicide attempts. Dealing with suicidal thoughts and ideation can make someone feel really lonely and isolated. I've had several battles of my own and today I want to share how my coffee table analogy helps me stay alive.

Please reach out for help if you're fighting this battle. You don't have to fight it alone and you are wanted on this Earth.

In the US, you can get help by texting or calling 9-8-8. You deserve help. If you or a loved ones needs support, check out resources from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at afsp.org.

Let's keep fighting the good fight together.

Listening, inspire, guide and give, heal, and transform. LIGHT. That's the acronym that today's guest Twanda Clark-Edgal follows for her organization and as a social change agent. Part of caring for our emotional wellbeing is being able to share our stories. Learning how to rewrite our narrative and change our lives isn't easy to do. But once you share your story, what are you going to do with it? In this episode, Twanda and I chat about the power of story telling and how to transform our pain into prosperity!

Learn more about Twanda's work at

How many diets have you tried in your lifetime? When diet after diet doesn't work, society says clearly the problem is YOUR WILLPOWER. Today we're talking with Licensed Professional Counselor, Tory Butterworth, who specializes in working with women who eat their feelings. We'll talk about what an emotional eater actually is, tips on how to safely and sustainably change eating habits, and even about weight loss drugs like GLP-1s!

Learn more about Tory and her work at torybutterworth.com

Being an introvert in a very extroverted world can be challenging. So what do you do if your job requires you to be more extroverted than you're used to? Today we're chatting with my friend Alex Rusciano, radio and communication extraordinaire, about how he's a professional extroverted introvert and tips on how navigate the work place as an introvert. We also talk about how your introvertedness is actually your superpower! You don't want to miss this episode!

This year we said we weren't burning ourselves out. I'm getting ready for Soft Girl Summer, which means I'm taking back my time and my energy for MYSELF. Taking a break from work, relationships, hobbies, or even volunteering doesn't mean you're a failure. What it does mean is that your prioritizing your wants and needs, (which isn't selfish!) and I'm so freaking proud of you for that! The L Podcast is going on its first ever summer break and I already miss you and can't wait to come back in the fall!

Living with a chronic illness doesn't mean you can't enjoy the happiest place on earth! When planning a vacation, it can be difficult and even overwhelming trying to accommodate every need of a person living with a chronic illness or that has physical limitations. Today we're chatting with my sister-in-law Lucy, who just planned a fun trip for her family to Disney and Universal studios, even with my brother who is on dialysis and can't walk or stand for long periods of time. Lucy has some great tips for things to consider, how to plan ahead, and how to work WITH chronic illness limitations to still have a fun family vacation.

Have you heard of RSV? I hadn't until maybe about 2 years ago when it was all over the news. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that can be mild, but for infants, elderly, or anyone with that's immunocompromised, it can be very serious. In this episode we're chatting with Tara Slominski, a returning guest and badass momma of 2, about her experience dealing with her 1 month old getting RSV. She has some great advice for new parents and some really eye-opening moments from her time in the PICU.

What is bipolar disorder? There are so many myths and misconceptions about what this mental illness is and what life with it looks like. To kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, we're talking to returning guest, Brittney Benavidez Smith, about what her life with bipolar disorder is like. This is a very powerful episode so I hope you take a moment to listen to Brittney's story and learn more about how important our mental health is.

Diamonds are made under pressure, but I want to be a human, not a stone. Life, society, work, there's plenty of external factors that put pressure and stress on us, so why do we add to it by putting pressure on ourselves? Self-inflicted stress, self-made timelines and goals, we make an already hard life even harder sometimes. So what do we do about it? We make room for our own peace. Listen to today's episode for an important announcement too!