The Problem With Perfect

They say time flies when you're having fun, but we think time flies no matter what! With 2022 now halfway behind us, it's a good time to consider if we are making the most of our year. How is your health? Physically, emotionally and spiritually? How are you doing toward reaching your goals? What could you do differently to end the year in a better place than you are today?

Join us for this episode as we ask ourselves these questions and gently encourage ourselves (and you) to maximize the remainder of the year.  

It's no secret - we LOVE dogs. We love how they can bring calm to the chaos; how they love us unconditionally and how they lift our spirits when they meet us at the door.  But we are deeply saddened by the reality that hundreds of thousands of dogs are euthanized each year. 

This podcast explores the scientific reasons why dogs are good for our health, explains the current shelter situation in our country, and offers all kinds of ways that we all can do our part to improve it.

Special Guest
Jen Meyer 

Statistics:

Petco Loves 2% Foster Stat -
https://petcolove.org/news-story/petco-love-and-skechers-mobilize-public-to-foster-shelter-animals-as-solution-to-help-eliminate-preventable-euthanasia/

No Kill/Misc. Stat -
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdyQQl2plug/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=  (This is best one IMO)


Questions to ask as a future foster parent:
https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/fostering-dogs/20-questions-before-you-foster-dogs/

Why go foster-based:
https://www.rescuedogs101.com/why-adopt-dog-from-foster-based-rescue/

Search rescues by breed:

https://www.petfinder.com

Rescues to support:
POSO Dog Rescue - Boulder, CO
https://instagram.com/poso_dog_rescue?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Needy Paws (St. Louis)

Columbia Second Chance 

Most of know that feeling of being stuck- whether it’s in our routines, our jobs or relationships. But how do we know when it’s time to move on from these situations rather than stick them out? 

Join us for this practical episode about letting go and moving on. 

Many of our problems with perfection begin with our family origin. We naturally seek pride and approval from our fathers; some of us spend our entire lives chasing it.

But fatherhood isn't as easy as it looks - especially in 2022. Just ask Tom May - the husband of co-host, Robin May.  Our special guest for this Fathers Day episode, Tom transparently talks about the struggles of fatherhood, offering insights into how we all can work to build more meaningful and healthy relationships with the fathers in our lives.

Whether you're a father, mother, daughter or son, this tender episode will help us consider what every dad wants for Fathers Day - even if he can't tell you.

Special Guest
Tom May is the father of two adult children, Madison, 26, and Matt, 24. He has been a long-time advocate for building community for men. He's been a member of men's small groups for decades and has taken several courses on Godly parenting and marriage.

The world around us is anything but predictable and the recent mass shootings have proven it once again. For many of us (or for someone we love), the chaos and pain of life drive us to numb the pain. Whether it is with drugs or alcohol, pornography, gaming or smartphones - many of us understand the toll that destructive behaviors can take on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

In this episode, Therapist Lauren Eisleben joins us to discuss an innovative - and somewhat controversial - strategy for people who need to break the cycle of shame and addiction.

Special Guest
Lauren Eisleben has been counseling at Individual, Marriage and Family Enrichment since January 2019. She enjoys working with adult individuals and couples and practices EFT (Emotion Focused Therapy) in marriage and couple’s therapy.
https://imfcounseling.com/2019/lauren-eisleben/

To contact Lauren, email her at [email protected] or visit her on Instagram @ laurensthreecents.

Funny story: During Covid lockdown both of us signed up to take an online course from Yale about Happiness, but never completed it. Now that same course is the most utilized online course in history and we are still left wondering about the science of happiness.

Resolved to get the nitty gritty of it all, Rachel did her own research on the course. Join us for this episode as we discuss her findings on the science of happiness and how it compares with our own experiences and yours.


Sources: 

• I Took Yale's Happiness Course and Here's Everything I Learned — Best Life

Seasons change and as they do, we grow older. But are we growing wiser? Becoming more interesting? Using our experiences to consider how to view the world around us? 

 Join us for this episode as we discuss three simple ways we can evolve- enriching  our lives and the lives of those around us. 

SHOW NOTES:
Sources;
 Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

Book by Brené Brown

Wellness influencer Brittany Voges of Brat Makes a Snack didn't know how to transition from a cardio junkie to a weightlifter - or if she would even benefit from doing so. She also didn't know how to automatically create healthy versions of her favorite foods or how to be an balance-lifestyle enthusiast. 

Motivated to maximize and enjoy both her food and fitness, Brittany's wellness journey has challenged her body and mind. As a result, Brittany found an inspirational balance that could be just what you've been looking for. Join us for an entertaining and informative conversation.

Special Guest; Brittany Voges of Brat Makes a Snack

Do you find it difficult to separate your life from your work to achieve that illusive work-life balance? If you said yes, then you're in good company and this episode is for you. 

What if work-life balance is so difficult because it isn't the way God intended for us to view our work? Or our life? What if He meant for our work to be a part of our lives that honored Him and pointed to His finished work on the Cross? And if this is true, what would that mean for our sense of purpose and the stress we put on ourselves to achieve success?

Join us for a conversation about these and other questions as we strive to strike a balance between honoring God and climbing the ladder to success.  

Show Notes: Debunking the Work-Life Balance Myth by Denise Yohn
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/work-life-balance-myth/

The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap, 2021 Report
https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/simple-truth/

Want a tip to live a longer, healthier life? No, we're not talking about diet and exercise - but about connecting deeply with other people.

It might sound too good to be true, but scientists have found that connection with others helps relieve harmful levels of stress, which can adversely affect coronary arteries, gut function, insulin regulation, and the immune system.  It turns out that regularly making time for friends is good for the mind and the body - which is why we're dedicating this episode to making girls' night a priority.

Whether you're a girl or a guy - there's something for us all to consider in this episode on the why and how of girls' night out. We hope it will leave you reaching for your phone and connecting with friends! 

Show Notes: For more information on the science of meaningful relationships, go to https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/strengthen-relationships-for-longer-healthier-life#:~:text=Dozens%20of%20studies%20have%20shown,well%20as%20with%20increased%20mortality.