To (Mom) Life

In this week's episode, Jodi speaks with Sarah Evans, who is a seasoned homeschooling mom and has an extensive background in the field of education. Sarah has Homeschooled her 4 kids for a few years now, and in this episode, she offers advice on how to help your child/ren do well, in the midst of various academic experiences that students are experiencing these days, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarah reflects upon her own experiences homeschooling her children in order to offer  insight into what this academic year might look like and how to make the year run as smoothly as possible. Check out the show notes and helpful links below!

3:50 Introducing Sarah Evans and her background
“Many of us, also, are trying to support our kids who are at home learning online (...) so I think that this talk is going to be super relevant to any of you who are supporting your children, in some way,  with their learning this year”

8:15 What inspired Sarah to start the Evans Homeschool Adventure Youtube Channel
"I, basically, wanted to just give this to people so that they can see this is doable (...) and you really can, if you need to Homeschool this year for whatever reason, you really can implement that dual track" 

11:30 Tips regarding The Transition of traditional schooling model to schooling at home
“I think there are probably four things to keep in mind no matter your circumstance”

1. De-schooling
2. Slowly Implementing Opportunities for Learning At Home slowly without doing so all at once
3. Set Up A Clean and Uncluttered Learning space and also keep their bedrooms to be the place they sleep and not the place they do their school work/Separate spaces and utilize rooms for what they are meant to be
4.  Expect the unexpected but create a learning plan for this year

16:30: How to break up Homeschooling Schedule
“You have to know your kid and watch as your implementing these new things to make sure that this is a health pace for them"

23:30 The Ebb and Flows of Homeschooling
“Picking up a book and reading aloud, allows you to be with your children in a way where you don't need to  self-regulate (...) and your children get you. You’re really focused and you're bonding with your children especially if they're on your lap. So that's just a tip and a trick if you're having a hard day”

Where to connect with Sarah Evans on social media:

Check out her YouTube Channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLyK5KN3CwfyVCnAjcN4tgA/videos

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Evans-Homeschool-Adventure-107953374345549 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evans.homeschool.adventure/

Other Resources Sarah Evans Suggested to look at:

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/

https://ani-ve-ami.com/

https://jewishcharlottemason.wordpress.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWB4XNonLTcoc8UywD4M9vQ/feed

Host: Jodi Fried
Guest: Sarah Evans
Editor: Matthew Feiler

On this week's episode, Devorah Spilman has joined the podcast to discuss imagination and storytelling for both kids and adults. Devorah is a Puppeteer and loves creating and telling fascinating stories that can engage even the most detached children.

She shares her tips about how even non-creative moms at home can incorporate her storytelling with their own children. You will even hear from some of Devorah’s own signature puppets and how the best stories can come off the top of your head. Grow your imagination and creativity with this wacky episode!

Also, Make sure you check out Devora's Zambadoodle story, She is giving all of you the first story free!

If you want to watch this video visually, here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Eu3USWj41g&t=4s

In this solo episode, Jodi speaks about how balance is not truly possible but there are be centered, grounded, and confident when we reframe the concept of balance. Jodi walks through the 5 steps that she finds most helpful in allowing you to find this reframe of balance and take ownership of your priorities. This episode is a good reminder that we need to make the most of life and not let too many stimuli overtake our wellbeing in order to live meaningful and fulfilled lives.

Connect with Jodi:
http://loveadventuremom.com/
Instagram: @loveadventuremom
 
Host: Jodi Fried
Editor: Matthew Feiler

* This podcast episode was recorded during the Hebrew month of Elul 5780, the last month of the Jewish Calendar cycle. During this month, Jewish People prepare themselves for The High Holidays and strive to improve themselves for the year ahead.

We all experience anxiety in one form or another. For some, the extent of anxiety is defined by the experience of occasionally having some butterflies in one’s stomach; for other people, they feel burdened by anxiety to a point where it defines their life experiences. In this episode, Jodi sits down with Dr. Leah Katz, a clinical psychologist, to discuss the difference between the normal, biological feeling of anxiety and clinical anxiety. Dr. Katz also explains how to manage one’s own anxiety as well as how to be aware of its manifestation and existence in one's children. After listening to this podcast, you will walk away with some of Dr. Leah Katz’s best tips and advice regarding ways to cope with your own personal anxiety and how to properly support your loved ones through their experiences of anxiety too.

4:30 Introducing Dr. Leah Katz
"I've been working in clinical practice for many years now (...) I work mostly with teenage girls and women; so that’s kind of been my speciality, and I work with a lot of anxiety and depression.” 

5:45 What is anxiety versus clinical anxiety?
“Oftentimes when we talk about anxiety, it’s adaptive, it’s our body’s adaptive response in preparing itself for a threat and that works well when there’s an actual threat. Clinical Anxiety is when it crosses the line over from an actual danger and something that  we really need to gear ourselves up for, to something that’s more of like a false alarm." 

8:00 Tips of how to deal with anxiety
“If we could rewind a little bit, and press pause and learn to create more of this awareness of what’s happening to me right now, that piece can be so, very powerful."

11:10 Helping kids with their own anxiety
“If I hear a theme, you know like the same kinds of things or worries come up, like that’s a clue, okay, this is really taking up space in their brain, like this is something they’re thinking a lot about. So, that’s one thing: just paying attention to what they’re talking about, what they’re thinking about” 

17:00: Identifying Anxiety being overboard and signs of truly needing help
“If it’s interfering with any kind of functioning, (...) then that’s a clue that it’s getting higher and getting some support would be helpful.” 

18:15 Last thoughts on Anxiety
“We always want to meet ourselves with self-compassion, like judging ourselves kindly, talking to ourselves kindly, being okay and embracing our feelings, and we really, really want to do that in times of stress."

Continue the conversation with Dr. Katz at:
Instagram: @drleahkatz
Her website: https://www.drleahkatz.com/

Host: Jodi Fried
Guest: Dr. Leah Katz
Editor: Matthew Feiler

In this episode you will hear from columnist and trip leader, Eve Levy, who will guide you through the steps of the Hero’s Journey. Eve discusses how finding your future self can influence your actions and ultimately better the person you are today.

Eve also adds that supporting, inspiring, and lifting one another within her own Jewish community has allowed her to thrive and improve upon her own faults and find peace and harmony amongst her friends. By building a strong support system, Jewish women can accomplish their dreams and become the hero of their own life story.

Inspired by Eve's work? Connect with her!

Check out Eve's written work here.

Check out her own website.

Check out her latest initiative here.

Check out more of Eve's inspiring work on her social media pages and learn how you too can achieve your most wildest dreams!

1:00 Guest Introduction: Eve Levy
“I started a Poland-Israel journey which was a first time ever experience for women from all different backgrounds going to Poland, seeing some of the hardest parts of our history and some of the most beautiful parts.” 

7:20 Eve’s lesson from her own experience
“I’ve worked through being okay to maybe not succeed at my biggest dreams. Maybe I'm not meant to finish the job (...) but as long as you have a dream, a vision, as least you know what direction you’re heading in” 

11:40: What is the hero's journey? Definition and practical application
“Every step of the journey we celebrate. Every step is a success. It really, it helps us, also slow down. We are so, like, forward focused that we have to kinda be in the moment, celebrate and enjoy the process” 

29:10 Eve’s Final thoughts on success
“If you think about this hero’s journey, it’s the plot of every good story” 

In this episode you will hear the tragic story of Stephanie Pollak who addresses a very under discussed yet prevailing issue within the Jewish community, drug addiction. Stephanie tragically lost her husband to a drug overdose and has decided to help others that may find themselves in the same position as her or her late husband.

She travels around the globe and does many talks discussing and destigmatizing the issue amongst the Jewish community. She suggests there needs to be more awareness and compassion for those affected by the mental illness of addiction, and lift those around you that may need help the most.

If you are having an issue with drug addiction please speak up to someone in your community and get the help that you need. You can also always reach out to me or Stephanie on Instagram, Facebook, or email her at [email protected] if you need any help. 

1:00 Introducing Stephanie Pollak
“Please share this with anybody who needs to hear Stephanie’s message, and I know that Stephanie is there for anybody who needs her” (2:15)

4:15 Stephanie Speaking about Addiction
“I share stories because when we share and we’re open and we’re vulnerable, that’s when people really can see themselves in their own lives” (4:35)

6:10 Stephanie’s and her Late Husband’s Story
“I was 7.5 months pregnant, and he basically sat me down and he said that he has a problem and I did not understand the extent of it at all” (6:25)

8:00 Stephanie Opening Her to Eyes to her Own Struggles
“I was hesitant because I didn’t have the problem (…) it took me until Pesach to really commit and start diving into Al-Anon” (9:35)

10:15: Stephanie taking her own Initiative to receive Support
“This was my medicine. This was my sanity, the support that I got in the rooms” (11:15)

11:30 The pervasiveness of such a disease
“I’m not the only one” (11:27)

13:30 Advice for those struggling too
“I think it’s important also to bring it up to the community leaders (…) that it doesn’t have to be a silent, private issue” (14:15)

18:40 Forever gratitude for her husband
“He’s always been number one on my gratitude list, even before he died” (18:50)

On this episode, inspired by the month of Elul, the final month of the Jewish calendar, I talk about reflections and apologies. 

This time of year leading up to Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year, is significant. Apologizing can be hard and very vulnerable. 

In this episode I share one of my recent experiences asking someone for forgiveness. Listen up to hear about how this affected my life both before and after the apology was made. 

Enjoy this week's episode!

On this week's episode, I sit down with Devora Boroosan and discuss the negatives thoughts that weigh down on most mothers. We talk about the feeling of being "everything to everyone" and how it is an unattainable goal that a lot of moms hold for themselves.

It's okay to be imperfect as a mom! We are all human and we all make mistakes sometimes! Setting unrealistic goals and standards for yourself will only do more damage to your children, your relationship with your spouse, and your mental health. As long as you are trying your best your children will recognize that and love you just the same.

Get in touch with Devora if you are experiencing issues in your marriage or with your children at [email protected]
 
1:00 Introducing Devora Boroosan
“I am so excited to be here today with Devora Boroosan. She is an incredible Rebbetzin (title used to refer to wife of a Rabbi) down in Atlanta and she works with Women on marriage and intimacy.”

2:30 Devora’s Background
“I am lucky mommy to 7 children and at this point, nana to 10 grandchildren”

4:00 How to be Everything to Everyone while keeping sane
“To be fully present with whoever it is that you are interacting with at that time, so that they get all the beauty of you”

7:00 How One can be Present
“Do you know how many couples, I think it was like 80 something percent of couples, don’t even spend 5 minutes a day communicating outside of ‘what should I get from the dry cleaning’, ‘did you go to the bank’, ‘what time do I need to pick up the kids?’ ”

11:20 Prompts that can spark conversations with one's husband
“Whatever it is, think about him throughout the day and start a conversation of something that you know will be interesting and meaningful because you thought about him throughout the day”

17:00 Focusing on Every Member of the Family
“Tell us about your day, what was the best part, what was the hardest part, what are you grateful for, and is there something you want to share that you learned”

20:00: Wrap-Up
“And when you boil day though, the core question, who comes first, always your husband because the best gift we give our kids is a happy marriage” 

On this episode I talk with Dr. Azi Jankovic about how to reach those goals that we hold onto but seem to not get around to reaching. She discusses her tips and tricks on how she is able to overcome that stuck mentality and get herself "out of the goo".

Dr. Azi also talks about how she was able to overcome her depression and still succeed in the goals she has set out for herself.

A very much needed episode in a very stressful time in all of our lives!

Make sure you check out Dr. Azi website for more helpful advice!

Dr. Azi has just opened registration for her new Mastermind program to give you the motivation and support you need to reach your goals!

Enjoy!

On this episode Jodi talks with fellow podcaster, coach, and general powerhouse, Dorit Palvanov about the Divine Feminine. In this engaging conversation, they discuss what the Divine Feminine means, how to harness our innate feminine energy to guide and support  us in our daily lives. Their discussion extends to cycles, diet, communication, and so much more, all while weaving in Jewish thought and practices throughout.

Be sure to connect with Dorit on Instagram and Facebook.

Also, take Dorit up on her very special offer for the Female Daily Tracker.

Click here to claim your tracker.