The Nativist

I share my story on joining - then leaving - the Latter-Day-Saint (Mormon) Church, and how I feel about it now. I offer questions to consider, no matter your personal beliefs.

I hope you listen - and live - with open eyes, open hearts, and open minds.

I love you.

Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram: @the_nativist

www.thenativist.net/podcast

Loss. The bad news? Everyone experiences it. The good news? Everyone experiences it. 

It’s a universal thread, tying is all together. It’s inevitable, though our individual experiences of it aren’t. We all experience loss, albeit it in different ways, to different degrees, at different times, in different ways. 

Loss doesn’t always mean a physical death; sometimes it’s the loss of a job, loss of an identity, loss of a friendship, loss of a lifestyle, loss of a perspective. 

Whether it’s your loss or another’s, it may feel hard to know what to do and say. You may feel compelled to try to “fix it,” or to positively re-frame it so as to expedite healing and eliminate wallowing. 

In this incredibly thoughtful (and hopefully illuminating and helpful) episode, my friend Sydnie Hammon, a graduate student in forensic psychology, returns to share her own experience with loss, and what has (and hasn’t!) helped her. Our candid and personal discussion is steeped in psychology and personal experience. 

We offer concrete, specific guidance on what to say, how to say it, what to do, and how to do it, for when you encounter loss directly and indirectly. We also suggest different ways to frame and perceive loss. 

Want to know how to show up better for yourself and others? Then this is exactly the right episode for you. 

Thank you for caring enough to partake. This matters.

Love you.

Find Sydnie on Instagram @sydniiieee

Find me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist

The people have spoken. I canvassed for what you wanted to hear, and this was one of the requests: how “nothing can be discussed anymore without throwing politics into it” (and truth be told, ironically I talked about politics while talking about how we can’t talk about anything without talking about politics. Sigh).

I share some thoughts. I suggest some perspectives. I offer some outlooks. I propose some points.

Lemme know what you think.

Thank you.

Find me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist

In this episode, I share my thoughts on world affairs, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I offer (possibly surprising) suggestions on how to frame certain issues, and on how we individually/collectively contribute to the issues. Me being me, I ask (likely) uncomfortable yet key questions, and illuminate possible individual/collective blind spots. I comment on the world as it is, and the world how it could be.

Listen via link in bio

Spotify | iTunes | Apple Podcasts

Find the full transcript on www.thenativist.net/podcast

Find me on Facebook: @the_nativist

Thank you.

Part of being a functional, happy, successful, ALIVE human is analyzing, anticipating, and, planning. Part of being a miserable, sad, resentful human is having unmet expectations. So…how do we encourage the former, not the latter? What’s the key ingredient?

Expectations (did you expect me to say that?).

In this episode, I talk about the sneaky ways expectations can screw with your health, success, and happiness - and how to avoid that.

Love you. Mean it.

-w-

Find me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist

Life is messy. Life can feel tough. It’s complex and nuanced and uncertain, just like us humans. When we rush to restore comfort, we weaken ourselves, limit ourselves, and invite trouble. What kind of trouble? In what small/big ways are we denying ourselves a full, rich, fulfilling life? How are you possibly contributing to your problems and our problems? What are our possible blind spots? How can we lean into discomfort? Why is it good for us? What are you missing out on? I answer all of these questions in this short, micro episode. You might know some answers, you might be surprised by some answers. Only one way to find out… Listen if you want to be the best you can be. 

Find me on Instagram @the_nativist

You might know someone with ADHD. You might have ADHD. You might not even know you have ADHD. In this episode, I dig into my personal experience with getting diagnosed with ADHD later in life (age 25) by two different doctors before realizing WHOA - I’m a textbook example of ADHD. If you’re like me, you maybe have/had a very limited understanding of ADHD and its various symptoms. This episode will help you identify those symptoms, understand them, and leverage them - whether personally or relationally (even if you don’t have it, you likely know someone who does, and understanding it helps ease frustration and maximize success on both ends). I only speak from experience. I am not a medical professional, so by consuming this content you agree to not take this as medical advice. Please consult your doctor.

Find me on Facebook and Instagram: @the_nativist

What does loyalty entail? What should it entail? Loyalty to a partner, to a friend, to a brand, to a vendor, to a family member, to a country, to a cause, to an ideology…

As with most topics, it’s nuanced. It can be contextual. It’s tempting to simplify and reduce it, but that often ignores reality and limits us: our understanding, our growth, our relationships, our empathy, our compassion, our progress, our wisdom, our lives.

What does loyalty mean to you? To those in your life? Do your definitions align? What's a deal breaker for you?

Should it be conditional? Should it be blind? Should it be all encompassing?

Thank you for listening.

Find me on Facebook and Instagram: @the_nativist

Suddenly being told to rush your “healthy” baby to the ER because those seemingly minor symptoms actually reveal a serious, lifelong condition would unnerve virtually any parent, especially if you’re a first timer.

Roman Ternus is one special girl in her own special way (you’ll see what I mean in the intro). She sparkles, she dazzles, she charms, and she inspires. She is full of life and light, undeterred by life’s curvies thrown her way. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) at only one year old, Romey learned early on how to roll with the punches. Romey and her equally lovable and inspirational mother, Jeminee, share their climb.

By listening to this episode, you’ll get even more than just a cute, motivating story from a cute, motivating girl. There are many important messages in here: accepting and re-framing life’s challenges; recognizing and leveraging your inner strength; embracing and cultivating your partnerships; accessing and channeling your bravery; and respecting and heeding your intuition. You’ll also hear important signs to look for to detect T1D.

Jeminee tells us her initial thoughts and reactions, and how she sustains her strength and gratitude through the demands of caring for a child with T1D.

This episode is a story of resilience, of hope, and of gratitude, and it serves as a powerful reminder YOU are a match for YOUR mountain.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for caring.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram: @the_nativist

This episode has major star power. We’re graced with the presence of Jessica E. Jones, aka IVYWILD: Grammy winner, multi-faceted singer, childhood friend, and light bringer. Possibly most important? She performed for RBG herself. What a claim to fame.

Not only does she have the speaking voice of a Disney princess, but she’s an exceptionally articulate, driven, talented, lovely person. In this episode, we highlight how talent may get you in the race, but hard work, tenacity, and interpersonal skills can carry you across the finish line. 

Jessica shares how she proceeded past resistance that may have deterred others, but set her up for success beyond her wildest dreams. We discuss resilience, grit, humility, reinvention, vulnerability, and CONNECTION - to self, to passion, and to others. 

Highly inspirational, highly empowering.

It’s a showstopper. Just like her.

And speaking of reinvention, she’s branching out beyond classical music. Liisten to her latest music she just dropped (and will continue dropping) on all of the major streaming platforms.

Find her on:

Website: www.jessicaejones.com (watch her performances, etc)

Instagram: @jessipranojones / @therealivywild

Facebook: @Ivywild Fanpage

Twitter: @therealivywild

She’s also on TikTok

Follow the Nativist on Facebook and Instagram: @the_nativist