We Call B.S.

Encouraged. Surprised. And perhaps a bit overwhelmed by gratitude. Those are just a few words that have described our experience starting this podcast. We are not much of a podcast without our audience and you have seriously shown up! You’ve told us in reviews, in DMs, in real-time conversations that the topics we are engaging in are topics that matter to you too. We’ve had some amazing conversations with just us hosts, but we’ve also had guests that have challenged us in powerful ways. So on this episode, we are sharing our biggest takeaways of the season which might be some of yours too!

Every guest and conversation we’ve had on this podcast has reminded us of a few things:

• We are not alone.
• We always have a choice in how we react to our emotions.
• We do not have to cave in to what social media dictates we should be.
• If we are not changing it, we are choosing it.
• But perhaps most importantly….

Being vulnerable does not make us weak. It makes us strong and releases us from that which holds us back.

So with those lessons in your backpack, we invite you to prepare for a short break for the show, followed by season 2 of the podcast. We will have more amazing guests, more laughs, and if we’re honest, more tears. Life is messy and as Jami tells us,  “you can’t pee in just one part of the pool”. Stay tuned and you will hear from us again in just a few short weeks!

“We can be everything we want to be. It’s not what others want of us. It’s what we want and what fills us up. Then let go of what you don’t want and don’t hold onto the shame of the areas of what other people are expecting.”

-Sinead Quinn

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

One of the things we tend to think about this time of year is what is my life purpose? What was I meant to do in this world? We may feel like we have our plan all figured out, but then sometimes we run into major roadblocks in life that change our entire path. 

We are so excited to share this interview with you. We got the opportunity to chat with Oakley Peterson, a mom of three lovely children. In this episode, Oakley shares her unique life story, which began as a child bass player in a traveling band with her family. Later in life, she spent time volunteering in Africa, and then later working for a lobbyist. Oakley became a stay at home mom when she had her first daughter. 

Oakley’s second son, Welles, has down syndrome. When Welles was born, Oakley made it her life passion to spread the message of love and acceptance.Through her experience of learning about down syndrome and watching how much her son inspires her, Oakley’s life purpose found her. She has a large following on Instagram: @nothingdownaboutit.  On her Instagram account, Oakley's mission is to help other families understand down syndrome and how wonderful the journey is. 

We call B.S. on perceiving the difficult things that happen in our lives as tragedies, rather than our life’s purpose.

In this episode we’ll explore:

• Why leading with love is so important when advocating for your child or yourself
• How to turn moments of difficulty into positivity 
• The importance of teaching and practicing compassion 
• Accepting that your life purpose will change and evolve 

“If I lead with love, in any situation, I get the result I want 90% of the time. Rather than if I walk in with the fire in my belly. The fire in my belly, or in my soul,  can be a fire of love and happiness and joy that I want to explode into the world. When we use love for that drive, I feel it just changes everything.”

-Sinead Quinn

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

Oakley’s Instagram

Oakley’s Facebook

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

New year, new you. It’s that time of year again for new year’s resolutions. Whether it’s losing weight or saving money, it seems that everyone sets out to create a goal for themselves. We all set out with good intentions to make a change for the better.  Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of people do not reach and/or maintain their resolution. Slowly, those bad habits creep back in, resulting in us feeling terrible about ourselves. Why is it so difficult to find success with these resolutions year after year?

Today we are chatting with Jamie Gordon, a certified transitional life coach. Jamie helps clients clarify their vision and create a new future for themselves without shame. She focuses on being, rather than doing. Jamie shares with us how focusing on our personal emotional development can help us reach, maintain, and exceed our goals. We learn that you can’t use a physical fix for an emotional need, and how to take meaningful action steps that will lead you to making a change. 

We call B.S. on New Year’s Resolutions

In this episode we’ll explore:

• Why New Year’s Resolutions don’t typically work
• How honoring your feelings can help you explore the root of your problems
• Focusing on the journey rather than the reward
• Creating a vision for yourself, rather than a resolution, and how to put it in motion

“When you’re working with someone on health, you’re often actually working a lot on emotion, without them even knowing all of the time. There’s always a root cause that’s holding them back, and that’s in the subconscious mind quite often.”

--Sinead Quinn

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

Connecting with Jamie Gordon:

Jamie’s Website

Jamie’s Instagram

Jamie’s Facebook

And so, the holiday season is upon us. If only it was as simple to enjoy as it was when we were little. But if you’re like us, or 90% of the population, the holidays are a big mix of joy, sadness, pressure, magic, and memories of all sorts. We love Christmas but we also know ourselves well enough to know that it takes some mindfulness and intentionality to be able to accept the gifts this season offers and release the negativity when it threatens to steal the beauty of this season. 

Join us as we share some of the biggest stressors and triggers of the season from a temptation to overspend and have the perfect decor to helping special needs kiddos navigate their sensory overload. We’ve got some simple ideas to help remind you of what’s truly important and release everything else like your dad’s passive aggressive comments about your weight. 

We call B.S. on falling prey to the pressure and expectations of the holiday season. 

In this episode, we’ll explore: 

• The mix of personal emotions the holidays have on each Sinead and Brittany
• How we  establish boundaries with confidence in this season
• Why it’s okay and even important to be concerned about self-care in this season
• How you can challenge yourself to see a new perspective this year

“Look at the kids and all the joy they are embodying and live through that as well because they can lift the energy all around you.” 

-Sinead Quinn

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

And so, the holiday season is upon us. If only it was as simple to enjoy as it was when we were little. But if you’re like us, or 90% of the population, the holidays are a big mix of joy, sadness, pressure, magic, and memories of all sorts. We love Christmas but we also know ourselves well enough to know that it takes some mindfulness and intentionality to be able to accept the gifts this season offers and release the negativity when it threatens to steal the beauty of this season. 

Join us as we share some of the biggest stressors and triggers of the season from a temptation to overspend and have the perfect decor to helping special needs kiddos navigate their sensory overload. We’ve got some simple ideas to help remind you of what’s truly important and release everything else like your dad’s passive-aggressive comments about your weight. 

We call B.S. on falling prey to the pressure and expectations of the holiday season. 

In this episode, we’ll explore: 

• The mix of personal emotions the holidays have on each Sinead and Brittany
• How we  establish boundaries with confidence in this season
• Why it’s okay and even important to be concerned about self-care in this season
• How you can challenge yourself to see a new perspective this year

“Look at the kids and all the joy they are embodying and live through that as well because they can lift the energy all around you.”

-Sinead Quinn

“Abundance mindset”.  “Manifesting your best life”. Have you heard these buzz words being thrown around? Especially around this season in preparation for the new year? Us too. And it’s not that we even think these concepts are powerless. They are just powerless without taking action. 

So today, we are bringing in a couple a dynamic coaching duo: Val White and Adam Podsednik to talk about how they help their clients manifest the outcomes they long for most. Though these principles require action, we discuss how important an attitude of surrender and perseverance are often required at the same time. Val and Adam share how they navigated seasons where they struggled to be aligned in their internally but were able to support one another regardless. They even share an especially helpful tool that can help you get “unstuck” which they call the “Grateful Game”. Don’t miss this episode full of practical input and a lot of laughter as you are dreaming up your goals for the coming year. 

We call B.S. on “manifesting”.

In this episode, we’ll explore: 

• How the idea of manifesting can be talked about more than implemented
• How gratitude can pull you out of dark seasons
• How to navigate a relationship when your partner and you are not in step mentally or spiritually

“It sounds cheesy, but I just use the words “changing it” and if I’m not taking any sort of action, or I’m just repeating my behaviors, ultimately, I am just choosing to stay the same. ” 

-Brittany Bollard

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

Connecting with Val & Adam: 

Val's Website

Adam's Website 

The Spiritually Gay Duo Facebook Page

In this episode, we are eager to share with you the joys and woes of our traveling experiences, complete with horror stories of car sickness and jet lag and tips for making all the little moments count. When it comes down to it, we are really just doing all the typical crazy we do day to day, but with a view and…. hopefully cooking a lot less. Our biggest advice is quite simple: lower your expectations and learn to laugh when you’re pulling a Home Alone airport moment! 

In the second snippet of the show, we bring on our friend Jami who recently made a long haul flight to Europe with four kids. Though there were certainly pieces of the trip she’d like to forget, ultimately she felt like it was totally worth it. She shares about her desire to help her kids break out of the bubble and learn to appreciate different cultures, even if it comes in the form of nude paintings in a VRBO rental! Ultimately traveling allows you to offer your kids some truly special, unique experiences and the opportunity to learn how to be resilient and flexible. 

We call B.S. on family "holidays". 

Some of our best travel tips include: 

• Releasing typical expectations around screen time can be helpful. 
• Build in days for long trips for you and your kids to recover from jet lag. 
• Pack an extra set of clothes for everyone in your carryon-including undies and a swimsuit when needed! 
• Bring $5 headphones for each kid on the plane. 
• Remember that your kids look to you in stressful situations for how to direct their energy and emotions.
• Embrace that you will be having the time of your life one minute and meltdowns the next. 

“Vacations with kids are trips. It’s like changing diapers or calming a tantrum with a view. It’s the same stuff you deal with at home, so why not do it so you get the experience?” 

-Brittany Bollard

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

Mindfulness is a concept that is thrown around, overused and has become entirely confusing. We would like to revisit a definition of mindfulness and remind you that it doesn’t have to mean you are in full-on meditation mode. Really, all it comes down to is deciding that you get to choose how this moment affects you right here, right now. Will you fall into victim mode or find a way to be grateful? You decide. 

Brittany gets vulnerable sharing the gritty details of her rock bottom and how she began to shift her mindset to begin eliminating both physical and mental toxins in her life. Sinead also encourages you to know that even an exercise like releasing rage (in a healthy way) can be mindful in the sense that you are letting it go so that it doesn’t have the capacity to make your mind and body sick. 

Some Practical Tips for Practicing Mindfulness Include: 

• Connecting your index fingers and thumbs to recenter and take a moment to choose how a moment is affecting you. 
• Identify the parts of your stressors that you can change and what you cannot
• Slow down: give yourself more time to respond, make decisions, get from point a to b
• Listen to what your mind and body are telling you 
• Turn off the negative commentary in your head
• Practice breathwork
• Consider positive reframing of negative experiences during the day
• Remember that you are human! 

We call B.S. on the idea of “balance” and mindfulness. 

In this episode we’ll explore:

• A more realistic definition of mindfulness
• How to reframe common situations to start moving out of a victim mentality and into acceptance or even gratitude
• How the brutal and beautiful elements of life can co-exist in our human experience

Don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes! Take a screenshot and send it to Brittany or Sinead's IG to enter to win a self-care giveaway package! 

“There are really amazing tools and we don’t have to be sitting like Buddha in lotus pose in order to be able to tap into it. We don’t have to be intimidated by it. Sometimes it’s just about choosing the other outlook on life.” 

-Sinead Quinn

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

Why is it that as moms who are trying to raise incredibly kind, compassionate kids in today’s world, we are still the experts on judging other moms? Every family’s situation is so different and yet it is far too common for us to assume that we understand everything about how they’re wired as a mom or what any of their motivations are. Some moms have to work to pay bills. Some moms have to work to keep their sanity. Some moms stay home because they have no support network. But the reality is that everything worth doing is hard, so can we just stop judging one another?

Between the two of us, we have had a myriad of experiences between working corporate jobs, owning a business, staying at home, and working for ourselves. As we share about these experiences, we reflect about the hard and beautiful parts of each of these circumstances. We encourage you to stop identifying what makes you different than other moms and start recognizing that we’re all trying to balance way more than is actually possible. So take a moment and encourage another mom and let her know how amazing she is! 

We call B.S. on the division of motherhood in working moms and stay at home moms. 

In this episode we’ll explore:

• The animosity we stir up when we judge another mom for her choice to work or stay at home
• Society’s pressure for women to work as if they don’t have kids and mother as if they don’t have a full-time job
• How judgement can’t usually expose an area of hurt or insecurity in our own life

“And if we’re judging other people, let’s ask ourselves, “why are we judging them?”. What about them is rubbing us the wrong way because the likelihood is that if it’s rubbing us the wrong way, it’s because we either want it or we’re jealous of it.” 

-Sinead Quinn

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

You may or may not already know that Sinead’s eldest has Down’s Syndrome. In honor of October being Down’s Syndrome awareness month, we wanted to bring you a bonus episode this week to share a little bit about Sinead’s experience of both joy and challenge along this road the last eleven years. 

Sinead’s son’s diagnosis was quite a surprise and difficult to digest in the first few days of her son’s life. Yet it was beautiful to see how the compassion and encouragement Sinead and her husband needed were provided at just the right time. Now Sinead’s coaching and public speaking is centered around being able to encourage other moms just like herself to get serious about the work of self-care and finding their tribe. If you know someone with Down’s Syndrome, take a moment to let them and their families know how loved they are! 

In this episode we’ll explore:

• Sinead’s birth story and diagnosis of her son
• How Sinead and her family have changed as a result of being able to love a kid with Down’s Syndrome
• Things you can consider the next time you have the chance to engage with an individual with any physical special needs. 

“I think that with any journey in life, when you are hit with something that causes you to go off the path you had envisioned, you grow. And we have definitely grown.” 

-Sinead Quinn

Resources and Links Mentioned in this episode: 

The Official Podcast Instagram

Sinead’s Instagram

Brittany’s Instagram

Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network

Special Olympics Website

Sineads’s Special Needs Mamas FB Group

Rockin Mom’s Retreat