Exercising, overall wellness, and fitness are associated with weight loss. Social pressure pushes people, especially women, to pursue the perfect body, a flat stomach, and elite athletes' body fat levels. 

Our guest, Andrea Meyer, mother of three kids, a lovely boy, and a pair of beautiful twin girls, decided to do something to change that narrative. She believes that exercising is about feeling good in our bodies. It is about feeling a better spouse, mom, and partner.

Andrea is the Founder of Real Tired Mama Coaching and is passionate about helping other women find their inner athletes. She is all about guiding women to find the motivation that resides within them and discover a way to put their physical, mental, and emotional health and wellness first.

We had a fantastic conversation about Andrea's transition from corporate America to entrepreneurship, the social pressure on women to look in a certain way and the true purpose of exercising. We delve into the importance of mothers taking the time to heal to regroup after giving birth, how Real Tired Mama came to life, reinforcing the idea of simply moving our bodies, and how crucial it is to give ourselves credit for every small win. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• Could you talk about what you do? (2:06)
• What was your motivation behind Real Tired Mama? (10:30)
• What do you think is the biggest block for women moving forward right now? (14:00)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why it is crucial to find joy in whatever type of exercise we decide to engage in (3:36)
• About how Andrea allowed herself to heal after giving birth (7:16)
• Society tries to put in our heads that we are not good enough (12:34)
• We must give ourselves credit for our wins and treat ourselves more gracefully ( 17:10)

Resources:

• Real Tired Mama Coaching website
• Real Tired Mama Instagram
• Real Tired Mama Facebook
• Linktree

Let's Connect:

• WRAR, Inc Facebook
• WRAR, Inc LinkedIn
• WRAR with Sparks Instagram
• Linktree

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, in our monthly meeting with WRAR Inc's Executive Operations Coordinator, Katharine Blue Preston, we have another straight-to-the-bone conversation about past traumas and PTSD, depression, dealing with our emotions, and the relationships with our mothers. 

We reflect on the need to recognize and be at peace with the idea that it's okay not to be okay sometimes. Although our brains are incredible machines, they need an oil change from time to time, and that's why we must have compassion for ourselves. Kathy talks about the challenges she is facing and how her furbabies help her get out of bed every day. We also talk about our relationship with our mothers, how we managed our issues with them differently, and why it's so hard to stay away from our parents, even when we have a toxic relationship with them.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Kathy's MDD diagnosis (2:33)
• It's okay not to be okay all the time (6:33)
• Kathy's PTSD and our traumatic experiences (9:08)
• Kristin's harrowing memory she boxed away many years ago and how understanding our past can help us understand our present (11:36)
• About Kathy's relationship with her mother (18:02)
• The importance of forgiving our mothers for their mistakes, just as we need to forgive our mistakes as mothers (24:14)

Let's Connect:

• WRAR, Inc Facebook
• WRAR, Inc LinkedIn
• WRAR with Sparks Instagram
• Linktree

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One thing that makes selling so hard is that the salesperson is entirely accountable for pretty much every result they get. They decide who to call, when, what approach to the sales conversation they'll give, and how to offer their product. The pressure adds as the results take time to show, and the whole experience of selling becomes highly stressful and frustrating. 

Today's guest, Shawna Roch, developed a unique approach to sales, which helped her achieve outstanding success in sales. For her, selling is about building relationships, having conversations with people, and creating authentic and transparent connections. 

Shawna Roch is a Mindset and Sales Success Coach, Founder of The Aligned Selling Method, Speaker, Author, and Real Estate Investor. Shawna is a specialist in assisting female entrepreneurs in embodying their Sexy Sales Goddess Archetype, stopping being scared of selling, and taking their businesses to the next level. For decades, Shawna has helped women have that lightbulb moment where they meet with who they really are and step into the power of ownership.

In this episode, we dive deep into Shawna's unique approach to sales, her drive, her passion for helping other women thrive in their businesses, and her mission to change the language around selling. We also talked about the free Bootcamp she is hosting on April 25th and her Aligned Sales method pillars. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Shawna shares details of her mission to make people change how they see selling (2:08)
• Selling is about treating people how we would like to be treated in a sales conversation (4:05)
• The importance of learning to craft our conversations and connect with our clients in an aligned way (7:45)
• How to change the language around sales, and why this is so important (14:58)
• The importance of identifying where we are holding ourselves back (21:44)

Resources:

• Shawna Roch website
• Join Shawna's FREE 5-day Aligned Selling Mindset Bootcamp

Connect with Shawna:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Let's Connect:

• WRAR, Inc Facebook
• WRAR, Inc LinkedIn
• WRAR with Sparks Instagram
• Linktree

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gayle Dyllon was a glowing teenager when a harrowing disgrace hit her life. As she was too young and didn't know how to cope with such a tremendous loss, she unconsciously blamed herself for what had happened. The blame and the unsettling sensation of not belonging led her into a life of drug and alcohol abuse and several abusive marriages. 

For years, Gayle thought that the change she needed in her life would come from an external source. But it wasn't until she walked into a Centers for Spiritual Living that she realized the change she needed was inside of her. 

Rev. Gayle Dyllon is an Oola Life Coach at MessedUp2BlessedUp, Author, and Speaker passionate about helping people get out of the dark places she has been herself. Gayle is also the Spiritual Director of Practical Everyday Wisdom Center for Spiritual Living in Washington. 

In this episode, the inspirational Gayle shares her story of drama and trauma, the devastating effects of living a life feeling guilty, and how she recovered from her addictions. We also talk about fear, limiting beliefs, or monkey minds, as Gayle calls them, and the power of treating ourselves with compassion. We delve into the religion that saved Gayle's life, and she also shares a blessing with us. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Gayle's traumatic experience that would change her life (3:32)
• Gayle kindly shares a powerful blessing (7:23)
• The conversations between our conscious and subconscious minds and how we set our fear base (17:58)
• How Gayle uses her own experiences to help other women (22:53)
• The pandemic showed us we are more connected than we thought we were (34:13)

Resources:

• MessedUp2BlessedUp website
• MessedUp2BlessedUp Facebook
• MessedUp2BlessedUp Twitter

Connect with Gayle:

• LinkedIn

Connect with Me:

• WRAR, Inc Facebook
• WRAR, Inc LinkedIn
• WRAR with Sparks Instagram
• Linktree

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are so used to living plugged on 110 volts, watching TV while checking our phones, or playing a mobile game while watching a movie, that we forget how powerful and transformational stopping for a minute can be. 

Today, our guest, Kimberly Allen, brings a message as simple as powerful, practical as transformational: simplify things and give our minds a break. 

Kimberly Allen has over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry; she is the CEO and Owner of Kimberly Allen Meditation & More, an expert in meditation, stress relief, and mindfulness, and a health coach. Kimberly holds a BS in Exercise Physiology, an MS in Nonprofit Management, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Lifestyle Medicine. 

In this episode, we have an inspiring conversation about the fast-paced life we are used to and her deep desire and mission of living an uncomplicated life. We talk about the power of being present and enjoying the things we do, one at a time. Kimberly also shared her journey in accepting her limitations and facing her fears in voice training. We dive into the details of her yoga practice and the evolution she experienced through it. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• I appreciate everything that you're bringing to the world. You bring all these simple ideas and ways of being that we desperately need. Tell us some about that (9:23)
• Isn't that our limiting beliefs stop us in our tracks? (21:07)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Kim talks about the power of sitting in silence without an agenda (10:52)
• Simplifying our lives is not an easy task (11:34)
• Even simple feedback can take us to dark places of insecurity and self-doubt (21:19)
• The importance of sharing stories and expressing ourselves using different channels, not just words (24:36)

Resources:

• Kimberly Allen Meditation & More website

Connect with Kimberly:

• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

Let's Connect!

• WRAR, Inc Facebook
• WRAR, Inc LinkedIn
• WRAR with Sparks Instagram
• Linktree

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I'm joined by WRAR Inc's Executive Operations Coordinator, Katharine Blue Preston, to have a thought-provoking conversation about WRAR with Sparks, adapting to life's changes, marriage, motherhood, and wellness.

After 20 years of constantly relocating, Kathy is about to find her forever home now that her husband is about to retire from the military. She kindly shared the changing emotions of being in constant movement, how hard it is to build a consistent routine in such a chaotic lifestyle, and the excitement of finally settling down. We discuss the importance of presence and enjoying every moment we are lucky to experience. 

We also delve into Kathy's passion for music, how moving around affected her desire to belong to a band, and the exciting opportunities settling down brings. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Kathy shares what is going on in her world (5:06)
• About the life of a military spouse (7:05)
• The importance of identifying the obstacles in our lives and dealing with them (9:27)
• Change is one of the most challenging things to do. How we can embody change (14:14)
• Kathy's passion for music and her desire of rejoining the band (20:19)

Let's Connect:

• WRAR, Inc Facebook
• WRAR, Inc LinkedIn
• WRAR with Sparks Instagram
• Linktree

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although the last few years have been tough on all of us, they also promoted a stronger sense of community and emphasized the crucial importance of communication; they made us realize how much we need each other. 

For some, the loneliness imposed by the forced isolation we've endured was highly challenging; for others -those who turned loneliness into solitude- it created space for insights and personal and professional growth. 

In this episode, we glance at the beginning of a journey full of meaningful conversations with people from all walks of life. We explore the need to feel comfortable being uncomfortable, the importance of paying attention to what we say, how we say it, and the vital importance of nurturing meaningful conversations. We talk about the courage needed to see and change the things that would make our lives easier, more aligned with who we really are, and pointed at our goals' direction. 

This show is about bringing women together in sisterhood, learning to love themselves and each other, and empowering their voices, their roars. 

Together, we'll discover how loud your roar is and make it as loud as you want it to be. Hop on and join us in this journey!

Resources:

• WRAR, Inc Facebook
• Kristin Sparks website
• Kristin Sparks LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that even if we decide to ignore or not celebrate, the world around us reminds us about it. With giant billboards on the streets, YouTube ads, and virtually every company having Valentine's Day promotions, it is almost impossible not to think about it. Still, although the primary goal of the holiday is to celebrate love and raise a spirit of positivity, many people struggle on February 14th. 

In today's episode, we analyze Valentine's Day from the Women Real & Raw perspective. We discuss how challenging this celebration can be for single people and unhappy marriages. We talk about how society associates being single with being sad or unwanted, not contemplating that people might be single by choice, and how that negative association makes them think those who are single suffer during this holiday. We also discuss how being in a relationship is overrated and why many people prioritize having a reliable partner over their own happiness. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Valentine's Day can be a difficult day for a lot of people (5:24)
• People's view on being single, and what they suppose single people feel on Valentine's Day (6:13)
• About the things we are willing to give up to have a relationship (9:18)
• Valentine's Day and social media vs. real life (10:43)
• We need flowers every day, not just on Valentine's (13:06)

Let's Connect:

• Women Real and Raw website
• Women Real and Raw Instagram
• Women Real and Raw Facebook
• Book: Kristin Sparks - The Book On Joy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first days of every year are usually stacked with big plans, strong and ambitious desires, and life-changing resolutions that, unfortunately, almost always end up not coming true. Perhaps because of the way we are wired, we tend to follow trends, proven strategies, or others' recipes for success and expect they work for us as they did for them, and that might be a core mistake. 

Today's episode is about finding the goal-achieving system that fits perfectly for each one of us. We explore the importance of finding the right person to hold us accountable, with enough authority and love to call out our shit, and why writing down our desired goals is crucial. We also discuss the difference between seeing resolutions as goals and as action steps and how essential it is to avoid being overwhelmed by our plans, causing us to shut down completely.

Our conversation also touches on creating space for new things, both figuratively and physically, finding the balance between keeping what makes us feel alive and connected and decluttering what no longer serves us. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• We don't need to take action on every plan; we must find out what serves us better (5:18)
• About future plans, good news, and giving back. The letter from the IRS (6:24)
• The different ways to look at resolutions (13:25)
• Why spouses aren't the best person to hold us accountable (17:17)
• Detours and backroads are always welcomed (24:27)
• About how decluttering is an essential part of growth (34:03)

Let's Connect:

• Women Real and Raw website
• Women Real and Raw Instagram
• Women Real and Raw Facebook
• Book: Kristin Sparks - The Book On Joy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, in the second and last part of our interview with the amazing Carla Cannon, we explore her relationship with the church a bit deeper. We go through the foundational teachings she got there and carried for the rest of her life and the things she had to unlearn. 

We also talk about trust, relationships, faith, and getting ourselves away from what is not good for us, regardless of people's opinions. Finally, closing this two-part interview, Carla shared her thoughts on authenticity, her most authentic connections, and the freedom, peace, and healing process she is experiencing through the writing of her latest book. 

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

• About society's need for duality and separation (1:39)
• Carla talks about trust and her relationship with it (4:31)
• About the life-changing decision of focusing on ourselves (7:01)
• Being the expression of God's heart (8:15)
• About Carla's healing experience of writing (12:19)

Resources:

• Carla Cannon, The Trailblazer website
• Woman Heal with Carla Cannon podcast
• Carla Cannon books

Connect with Carla:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.