The Meltdown City Podcast

On today's episode of the Meltdown City Podcast, we chat remotely, due to our adherence to social distancing. We decide to take a moment to discuss the odd silver linings to this pandemic. Obviously, this is a challenging time for all, but we wanted to take a moment away from the deluge of bad news. We hope you can understand.

This week, we offer an escape as we talk about relationships and how to reignite your passion. Are you in a long term relationship? Do you need some ideas on how to kickstart the fire? Well, we have some answers for you! We discuss an article by Esther Perel, a psychotherapist and author called '4 Ways to Reignite Passion in Your Relationship.' Some of her ideas might surprise you! Let us know what you think. Maybe with all of this new found time at home with your partner you can try one of these ideas out?! ;)

We hope you are getting along ok and we are thinking of you. Email us and let us know how you are doing!

XO

Nic & Ali

On today's episode, we chat via Zoom from the safety of our own homes in Seattle, the first hotzone of Covid 19 in the US. We discuss how the pandemic is impacting our lives and our meltdowns related to it. We both have careers in healthcare and have been involved either on the frontlines or behind the scenes. Everything is so changing rapidly. How are you handling it?

On a much lighter note, we delve into a funny questionnaire that we ask one another to lighten things up. You might learn some random tidbits about us. Are you ready?

Good luck out there! Email us at [email protected] and let us know how this is affecting you.

Peace out! We are thinking of you!

Nic & Ali

P.S. Ali doesn't have the covid and Nicole cancelled her trip to Mexico.

On today's episode, we talk with Regan Walsh, a NYU-certified executive and life coach who focuses on helping women who are over-programmed and underwhelmed, reclaim their lives, both personally and professionally. Regan has coached hundreds of women through her one-on-one and group coaching programs, and she is regularly asked to give keynotes and facilitate workshops for fortune 500 companies, including Nike, QuickBooks, and Nationwide to audiences ranging from 50-500. 

Regan contributes to Harvard Business Review and Forbes, and has been featured in NBC.com, FastCompany, and Columbus CEO. She is located in Columbus, Ohio and coaches women from all over the world.

On this episode we learn Regan's story and how she pivoted to life coaching.  She reflects on her feelings that came up around starting a business and leaving the security of what some would call a "dream job." Her business has flourished and now she was worked with thousands of people. We are fortunate to learn from Regan as she divulges the common themes she sees women do (hint: we don't prioritize ourselves) and also what we humans do to hold ourselves back. This became a very relatable and powerful conversation that you all need to hear.  

Go check out Regan's website and sign up for her email list and follow her on Instagram @reganwalsh_lifecoach. 

There are some really good nuggets of advice in here. We laughed, we cried. Come check it out!This episode was a very special episode for Meltdown City. We can't want for you to listen! 

XO

Nic & Ali

On today's episode, we are back in the studio with our new equipment. Hooray! And we have a new patreon account! We discuss our #meltdownmoments... and how Ali is feeling with her job uncertainty. Hint: she is feeling a little down about it.

This episode, we discuss James Clear's book "Atomic Habits - An Easy Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones." Did you know Steve Martin worked on perfecting his craft for 10 years before he got any good gigs and Jerry Seinfeld has a habit of writing jokes daily? Tiny, atomic sized habits can have a compound effect in areas of our life yet often we don't see the effect for a while. Often people give up before they can appreciate the strides they are gaining. Persistence is key to building a habit, in particular it is about showing up when you aren't feeling it but you do it anyway.

To create good habit, here are James Clear's 4 Laws:

1. Make it Obvious
2. Make it Attractive
3. Make it Easy
4. Make it Satisfying

To break a bad habit basically, it is the inverse of the 4 Laws above:

1. Make it Invisible
2. Make it Unattractive
3. Make it Difficult
4. Make it Unsatisfying

Are you trying to create a new habit in your life? Or is there something you are trying to stop doing? Let us know! To download James Clear's Habit Cheat Sheet click here.

XO

Nic & Ali

We didn't forget about you! We are still here and back to our regularly programmed schedule!

On today's episode, we chat about our meltdown moments and catch up. Our topic of the day is self doubt and how to over come it. We dig into the article "13 Powerful Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt (So You Can Finally Move Forward in Life)" by Henrik Edberg. We digest it and reflect on it from our own perspectives.

Do you have self doubt? How do you move through it?

There are some really big belly laughs in this episode. I hope you enjoy it!

XO

Nic & Ali

On today’s episode, we talk about entering the new decade of 2020, setting resolutions and how to stick to your goals. We reference Marie Forleo’s 7 minute video here that has three science based tips for achieving your goals the first time. Check it out!

What are you looking to accomplish this year? Are you going to do that thing you’ve always wanted to do?

We discuss our goals for the podcast and for ourselves. We also discuss a #meltdownmoment that involves the two of us.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

xo

Nic & Ali

On today's episode we catch up with world traveler and travel blogger, Melissa Bitz, aka Traveling Bitz and we learn about her seven month long solo journey around the world. Last time we talked with Melissa, she was just a few weeks in. Now she has returned home to California and has had time to reflect on her experience and how it has changed her. Melissa shares where she traveled to in Europe and in South America, reveals what places are still lingering in her mind, as well as the highs and the lows and her advice to people wanting to follow in her footsteps as a solo traveler.

Melissa definitely has some riveting tales to tell. Does she go back to her old life and her old job? You will have to listen to find out! Come listen to her experience and how it has impacted her life now! Be sure to check it out Melissa's blog Traveling Bitz for resources on solo travel as well as her blog posts about her experience.

What an inspiring episode! Are you wanting to quit your job and travel the world? What are you waiting for? Maybe this episode will inspire you to do so!

XO

Nic & Ali

We are just popping on to wish you Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Solstice, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year! We shout out to some of our new listeners! Thanks for the support!

Love to you and yours!

Nic & Ali

On today's episode, we talk funny #meltdownmoments and reflect on how things are going with our side hustles. Plus, we discuss the concept of GRIT which is passion plus perserverance. Dr. Angela Duckworth has studied this concept and has a TEDx talk that you can watch here. We talk about grit in our own lives and in relation to our own projects and parenthood. True to form, things get really raw and there are tears. I'm not going to reveal who cries this time, so you'll have to listen. The message is you can do what you want, just keep going one step at a time.

XO

Nic & Ali

On today’s episode, we talk with Podcaster, Speaker & Family man Aaron Schlein from Sacramento, CA. He is the host of the successful Family Travel Radio — a weekly podcast presented by The Family Travel Association. Aaron shares how he got on this path to entrepreneurship by wanting to write a book about how traveling with his grandmother as a teenager changed his life. However, his initial plan fell flat. It wasn’t until he pivoted to starting a podcast that everything changed. He quotes John Lee Dumas from Entrepreneurs on Fire who says, “Having a podcast makes people pay attention to you.” And it certainly did for Aaron.

We talk with Aaron about some of the trips he took with his grandmother, like how he traveled to Russia in 1990 and how that infused him with an adventurous spirit and love of travel. Aaron is a huge advocate of family travel which he is the heart of his podcast Family Travel Radio, but he also lives his passion. He and his wife let his two kids pick where they want to go! Last year, it was London! This year it will be France!

Come listen to this inspiring story of how Aaron started on a journey of transformation and entrepreneurship. He opens ups about his challenges and his wins. He has sage advice for people wanting to try new ventures! He also has great advice for parents on how to travel with your kids.

We had a great time chatting with Aaron not only because he is a friend of our podcast, but he also is an inspiration to all of us! We hope you enjoy this very special episode!

XO

Nic & Ali