What I Know So Far

Join our exploration of the emotional roots of your financial life with Brianna Firestone, acclaimed neuroscience-based money healer and intuitive life coach. I'm thrilled to share our candid conversation that includes Brianna's personal money struggles and her enlightening year-long shopping hiatus. Together, we uncover the surprising ways our earliest beliefs, formed in childhood, cast long shadows over our adult financial behaviors. We intertwine our own stories, confronting the family and societal narratives around wealth and scarcity, and the conflict between following passions versus financial practicality. It's a revealing look at how we can reframe our relationship with money by granting ourselves the permission to learn and see money as a tool, not a stressor.

Shatter the one-size-fits-all illusion of money management in an episode that dives into the very personal journey of aligning budget with values. Discover strategies to combat avoidance behaviors and the revelatory practice of checking bank accounts daily to dissipate the fog of financial fear. Our discussion pivots around understanding emotional triggers—like grief shopping—and how the pandemic has reshaped our spending habits. Join me as I share the ups and downs of my financial transition, detaching self-worth from bank balances, and the empowering shift towards self-awareness and adaptability in personal finance.

Finally, we tackle the brave new world of embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, especially against the backdrop of adult ADHD and the stigmas surrounding debt. Listen as we differentiate between "good" and "bad" debt, discuss the nuances of taking calculated risks, and the liberating journey of betting on oneself. It's a candid discussion that celebrates the courage to create a life that syncs with personal values and desires. As we wrap up, we touch on the empowering practice of approaching financial numbers with curiosity, ensuring listeners walk away with a refreshed perspective on personal finance—and perhaps the courage to share these transformative insights with others.

Brianna Firestone, your intuitive life coach and headmistress at The School of Betty, a platform that empowers women+ to create better relationships with their money, time, and energy so they can lessen stress, build financial freedom and design a badass life they love.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/theschoolofbetty/
WEBSITE: https://www.theschoolofbetty.com
Join the free community, HOMEROOM: https://theschoolofbetty.mykajabi.com/homeroom-registration

Follow me on Instagram HERE and HERE.

Are you interested in 1:1 Coaching? Need someone who’ll truly listen? I offer practical, compassionate support and guidance. If you resonate with me, I’d love to see how I can be of service to you. Please check out my website for more info.  LisaMcNees.com

Episode Timestamps

• Money healing, year of no shopping, intuition, and self-trust. 2:08
• Money beliefs and their impact on financial well-being. 6:24
• Beliefs influence career choices, happiness, and personal growth. 14:56
• Money management, tangible/nebulous currency, fears around money. 19:53
• Emotional spending. 25:35
• Panic purchases, imposter syndrome, and habits. 31:58
• Reconsidering debt and using our financial resources.37:10
• Taking care of yourself and knowing your numbers.42:35

When the unimaginable happened, Doug and Laurie Bunnell’s world was forever altered. They share their intimate journey through grief, offering a look into the aftermath of losing a child. We reminisce about Zachary's vibrant life and the indelible mark he left on those who knew him. The Bunnells' story is not just one of sorrow, but also of profound love and the complex decisions they faced as parents navigating their son's illness, offering a somber yet deeply touching narrative that resonates with anyone who has faced a similar challenge.

Grief can be a solitary path, yet in our conversation, Doug, Laurie, and I uncover the power of community and the importance of sharing stories in the healing process. We delve into the courage it takes to confront grief, the challenges of finding support in a culture unequipped to handle such profound loss, and the transformative experience of finding joy amidst pain. This episode is a testament to the strength of families bonded by shared heartache and the solidarity that can emerge from openly talking about our most vulnerable experiences.

Finally, we confront the complexities of mourning, touching on the recent DSM addition concerning prolonged grief and the therapeutic value of presence for those in mourning. We discuss the delicate balance of expressing grief, especially in the presence of children, and emphasize the lasting nature of loss. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, we underscore the significance of honoring loved ones and the crucial step of allowing ourselves to feel, to cry, and to remember, as part of the journey toward healing.

Doug and Laurie live in the most northwest portion of the Pacific Northwest in Bellingham, the fair city of subdued excitement. Doug is one of the Pastors at First Presbyterian Church. Laurie is one of the Preschool teachers and Directors at Kids Central Presbytery. They love to hang out with people, read, walk, and play with their new kitties.

The parenting organization who the Bunnell's work with -  The Light Collective
Contact Doug & Laurie - [email protected]
A book about Zachary written by Doug & Laurie Bunnell's daughter Zoe - Brown Bear & Me: A Story of Sibling Love & Remembering

Follow me on Instagram HERE and HERE.

Are you interested in 1:1 Coaching? Need someone who’ll truly listen? I offer practical, compassionate support and guidance. If you resonate with me, I’d love to see how I can be of service to you. Please check out my website for more info. LisaMcNees.com

Summary 

• Content advisory. 0:52
• Sharing a few memories with dear friends. 1:25
• The story of Zachary.5:12
• Cancer treatment, hard decisions and conversations.17:05
• The “right order” of things. 20:41
• Walking with other parents, not dodging grief.   22:42
• Weaving joy and grief.26:42
• Our culture’s inability to handle grief.27:53
• Reasons to get out bed after a child's passing.29:30
• Importance of laughter.30:28
• Stages of grief, wanting grief to be linear/methodical.31:29
• Ongoing losses, milestones, how siblings grieve. 35:58
• Length of grief, DSM.39:05
• Helpful/unhelpful people when grieving, showing up. 40:16
• Talking about those we’ve lost. 42:00
• The conundrum of grief. 47:25
• Allowing for tears, not apologizing for crying. 49:48
• Grief is exhausting and never fully goes away. 54:20
• Honestly grieving in front of

Join me as I reconnect with an old friend and colleague, Yuniya Khan, to explore the meandering paths that lead us to fulfilling careers. Listen as Yuniya shares her transformation from a television and radio graduate to the founder of Uplift Global Consulting, revealing how she embraced her passion for narrative change concerning Africa and the African diaspora. Her story is a testament to listening to one's inner voice, the courage in risk-taking, and the impact of storytelling in challenging long-held perceptions. In our conversation, we open up about the struggles many face in aligning their careers with their true passions and abilities. We recount the emotional challenges of conventional employment, where initial enthusiasm often fades into restlessness and a sense of underachievement. This chapter is a nod to those feeling the weight of societal norms and serves as an encouragement to honor individuality in our professional and personal pursuits, including whether or not to have children. We celebrate the idea that life's potential for growth and connection does not diminish with age, offering inspiration and camaraderie to fellow “late bloomers” who continue to unfold their paths with each new chapter.

Yuniya’s bio:

With more than 20 years in international nonprofit and social enterprise spaces, Yuniya’s work has focused on youth development, education programs, entrepreneurship initiatives, and talent acquisition for nonprofit organizations. Originally from Guyana, she has lived and worked in El Salvador, Brazil, and South Africa.

A storyteller at heart, Yuniya is the founder of The Emerge Project, a multimedia storytelling initiative that aims to elevate the voice and impact of "ordinary" Black grassroots entrepreneurs and community leaders in South Africa and Brazil. She is also the founder of Uplift Global Consulting, which provides program management, storytelling, and partnership-building services to nonprofits and mission-centered organizations, with a particular focus on Africa and the African Diaspora. She currently leads Africa No Filter’s Storify Africa Fellowship, a narrative change program linking African journalists and content creators with international organizations and philanthropies who want to tell better stories about Africa.

Resources:
Facebook: @yuniya.khan or @upliftglobalconsulting
Instagram: @upliftglobal
LinkedIn
Uplift Global Consulting

Follow me on Instagram HERE and HERE.

Are you interested in 1:1 Coaching? Need someone who’ll truly listen? I offer practical, compassionate support and guidance. If you resonate with me, I’d love to see how I can be of service to you. Please check out my website for more info. LisaMcNees.com

Summary

• Creating meaningful lives with a 30-year friend. 1:13
• Personal journey, consulting business, and professional growth. 2:22
• Following passions, taking risks, and navigating unfulfilling jobs.4:10
• Delayed dreams, struggling in jobs that don’t fit, creating our own job. 10:29
• Trying to fit into societal expectations. 17:43
• Other people’s judgment of our choices. 19:57
• Feeling most like yourself through travel and maintaining connections. 25:12
• Midlife renaissance, late bloomer, and new beginnings. 31:25
• Cultivating curiosity, and creating our unique life takes time. 37:11

Join us  as we unpack the complexities of rejection sensitivity dysphoria and its profound impact on neurodivergent individuals. Listen in as I get personal, sharing the daunting hurdles this fear of rejection has created in my life—from romantic pursuits to launching this very podcast. In a candid conversation with fellow coach Lucas Katz, we reflect on our childhood encounters with emotional sensitivity and how these past experiences have been channeled into a force for empowerment. 

We also discuss the vital role of self-advocacy in medical scenarios, drawing from my own heightened sensitivity during dental visits. The power of effectively communicating one's needs to healthcare professionals cannot be understated, as it paves the way for more compassionate care. We celebrate the strides made in embracing neurodiversity, from the educational sphere to societal norms, and debunk myths surrounding meditation and ADHD. The dialogue illuminates the importance of self-care and understanding, inviting listeners to appreciate the collective benefits that come with the acceptance of neurodiversity.

Resources:
https://www.lucaskatz.com/
Lucas is a business and leadership coach whose goal is to disrupt the status quo by empowering his clients to forge a new model of leadership based on emotional intelligence and a human-centered approach. Neurospicy himself, Lucas loves working with other folks on the spectrum and guiding them on their journey of self-empowerment.

Follow me on Instagram HERE and HERE.

Are you interested in 1:1 Coaching? Need someone who’ll truly listen? I offer practical, compassionate support and guidance. If you resonate with me, I’d love to see how I can be of service to you. Please check out my website for more info.
LisaMcNees.com

Summary  

• Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) and self-protection.1:20
• Childhood criticism and personal growth.5:47
• Advocating for ourselves.9:07
• Health issues, more neurodiversity resources and acceptance now.13:49
• Honoring ourselves, meditation, and self-care for ADHD.18:12

My guest, Lucas Katz, is a life and business coach with a special interest in neurodiversity. We swap stories and insights into the multifaceted experience of ADHD, from the laughable relatability of online content that hits too close to home to the internal chemical dance that keeps us seeking stimulation. Our anecdotes dive into the challenges and benefits of this “neurospicy” life. 

Discover the importance of positive self-identification and the evolving perception of neurodivergent conditions, shedding the stigmatizing language of "deficit" and "divergence" for a more empowering narrative. We also playfully use terms like “neuroboring” and “neurovanilla” but promise that we love, respect, and even need neurotypicals.

Our conversation is a nod to the resilient spirit of the neurodivergent community, an invitation to embrace and celebrate the full spectrum of who we are—unapologetically neurospicy.

Resources:
https://ihaveadhd.com/
https://www.lucaskatz.com/

Lucas is a business and leadership coach whose goal is to disrupt the status quo by empowering his clients to forge a new model of leadership based on emotional intelligence and a human-centered approach. Neurospicy himself, Lucas loves working with other folks on the spectrum and guiding them on their journey of self-empowerment.

Follow me on Instagram HERE and HERE.

Are you interested in 1:1 Coaching? Need someone who’ll truly listen? I offer practical, compassionate support and guidance. If you resonate with me, I’d love to see how I can be of service to you. Please check out my website for more info.
LisaMcNees.com

Summary 

• ADHD and self-empowerment with a life and business coach. 0:52
• ADHD symptoms and experiences.2:18
• ADHD challenges with time blindness.9:51
• Neurodivergence, ADHD, and self-identification.14:40
• ADHD diagnosis and its impact on daily life.21:33
• Burnout, masking, and social adaptation in neurodiverse individuals.26:15
• Self-discovery, “thick skin” and boundary-setting.31:39
• Identity, performing, and unmasking.39:10
• Being “too much” and criticism . 42:45

I’m thrilled to welcome my dear friend and first guest, Christine Gough, as we discuss life's unpredictable challenges. Christine opens up about profound loss and her own health scares, setting the stage for a conversation that explores the transformative power of adversity and the strength found in the support of loved ones. 

From practical help to emotional solidarity, we underscore the myriad ways in which sharing our burdens can lighten the load. The talk also highlights the resilience required to live life fully, even in the midst of illness, for both ourselves and those we care for. Join us as we honor the journey of learning to trust ourselves and advocate for our needs during the most challenging moments.

Christine Gough lives in The Willamette Valley of Oregon. She is a 3rd grade teacher but also believes we’re all life-long students. Christine is a mom to two teenagers, Alex and Andrew, and seeks to keep up with their lives, passions, and hilarity. She partners with her husband of 20 years, Matt, her own live-in tech support and perspective giver. Christine has survived colon cancer and breast cancer. She lives with a new focus on mental and physical health and resilience. You can follow Christine on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE. 

Follow me on Instagram HERE and HERE.

Are you interested in 1:1 Coaching? Need someone who’ll truly listen? I offer practical, compassionate support and guidance. If you resonate with me, I’d love to see how I can be of service to you. Please check out my website for more info.
LisaMcNees.com

Summary 

• Life experiences and reconnection with a friend.1:20
• Parental loss, cancer diagnosis and genetic testing during COVID-19.5:49
• Grief, processing so much all at once .10:43
• Support during difficult times.14:50]
• Loneliness of medical treatments.22:07
• Practical, tangible care for others.24:08
• Struggles as part of the human condition.27:40
• Self confidence, intuition and advocating for oneself.29:00
• Letting life get smaller and saying no 38:45

In the first episode of What I Know So Far with Lisa McNees, I'm sharing a bit of my life's journey and the lessons I've learned along the way. As a woman in my 50s, I’ve gained some wisdom, perspective, and knowledge, but I also recognize how much more there is to learn. I'm endlessly curious and this podcast is my platform to share, learn, and engage in interesting conversations. Tune in as I navigate through life's uncertainties, ask tough questions, and learn from fascinating people. Despite many challenges, I've cultivated resilience, found a renewed purpose in life, and discovered the power of blooming late. I hope my story inspires you to chase your dreams, no matter where you are in your life.

Follow me on Instagram HERE and HERE.

Are you interested in 1:1 Coaching? Need someone who’ll truly listen? I offer practical, compassionate support and guidance. If you resonate with me, I’d love to see how I can be of service to you. Please check out my website for more info.
LisaMcNees.com

Summary

• Life lessons and wisdom in one's 50s.1:09
• Chronic health issues and personal growth.3:16
• Finding purpose and blooming late in life.4:15
• Life coaching and personal growth.5:41
• Self-awareness, creativity, and podcasting.9:43