Kathy and Michelle explore the importance of taking action over merely worrying, from handling unexpected house repairs to making home improvements. They reflect on privilege, the burden of responsibility, and ways to alleviate stress through proactive approaches.00:00 Catching Up on a Short Week

00:44 Working from Home Challenges
01:33 Getting Out of the House
02:42 Photography Adventures
05:50 Home Maintenance Worries
11:18 Financial Reflections and Gratitude
19:05 Taking Action to Reduce Worry
22:05 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Having been online for two decades (or more), Kathy and Michelle have gone through numerous tech stacks to help them do their jobs and publish online. From a review of old BlogSpot blogs to our evolution of web development, photo retouching, and video editing, we've used a number of tools. We go over today's favorites and the tools we use to keep ourselves organized and focused. From note taking to journaling and AI tools, to secret plugins that make WordPress easier, we're always amazed at how applications have evolved.

Does giving make you more susceptible to malicious activity? Once a week, Michelle shares a list of known job openings in the WordPress space, and nearly every week, someone reaches out, asking her to find them a job. Recently, someone got a bit manipulative and even started using her as a reference. With the recent news of social security numbers breached, Kathy gives some advice for everyone to be more hypervigilant than normal in watching for targeted phishing and social engineering attacks.

Anger gets a bad rap. But it can inspire action, set clear boundaries, and even… cause you to break into song? Yes, indeed. In this episode, Michelle and Kathy get vulnerable about some day-to-day events that have sparked anger. They share coping mechanisms for moving beyond challenging emotions and transmuting the negative into positives.

With many meteor showers coming in the upcoming weeks, Kathy and Michelle consider wishes on those shooting stars. We’ve all got various things we’d wish for, and sometimes we make wishes for others. As we've got WordCamp US a few weeks away, we talk a little about our preparations as well as influence and reputation in a community space.

When you find success in a new field or venture, it can typically be traced back to some kind of learning or expanded perception. Our entire reality is inviting us to continually open up to a new way of perceiving things, or a new paradigm of understanding. It’s usually our own limiting beliefs and viewpoints that get in the way of an entirely different reality. In this episode, Kathy and Michelle discuss various paradigm shifts and expanded awareness that have led to new beliefs, greater compassion, and continuous learning.

Whenever there are challenges, there are people looking to help. Whether it's a neighbor who goes out of their way to help or a friend lending a hand, be open to receiving assistance. Sometimes that assistance might even come in inexplicable ways.  These "angels" may not have wings or halos, but rather could be everyday individuals who bring light into the world through their actions. Michelle and Kathy share some instances where they've received unexpected help from sometimes unexplainable sources.

In this episode, Michelle and Kathy talk about numerous things, as they often do. But they explore something dear to their heart: community. Michelle shares a story of a community that sprung up around a mysterious pantry organizer and how the guesses of its purpose brought people together. They share cautionary tales of businesses that try to bolster a community by force and how those inauthentic efforts fall short. All communities need one thing: authentic efforts to be of service.

When building a brand or reputation, many might consider creating a specific persona that meets the need of their market. Unfortunately, doing so means building something that isn't true to yourself, and it can create exhaustion trying to keep up the appearance of the facade. In this episode, Kathy and Michelle talk about the critical role of authenticity in personal branding and reputation development. They explore strategies for staying true to yourself while cultivating a strong professional image, share personal experiences, and offer practical advice for listeners looking to enhance their personal brand without compromising their values.