Your Zen Friend

Send Lauren a text!

On this episode I am excited to have an interview with my friend, Amy Mann. Amy received a heart transplant four and a half years ago after living with a heart condition known as HCM or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Amy shares her experience as an immunocompromised individual living through Covid. Amy also shares the exciting advocacy work she is currently involved in. If you haven't already listened to Part 1 of this interview, check that out first!

Before we get to our interview I will share what's bringing me more zen lately. I've talked in the past about how I love to read. There are times in my life, however, where focusing on complicated novels is just not in my wheel house. During these times I turn to middle grade books. Here are some I've enjoyed lately: 

• "The Miscalculations of Lightening Girl," by Stacy McAnulty
• "The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise," by Dan Gemeinhart
• "When You Reach Me," Rebecca Stead

If you like this episode and would like to help this podcast to grow and reach more listeners here's what you can do to help: 

• Subscribe! You can do this on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
• Share your favorite episode with a friend
• Rate and review the podcast by going to your podcast app. Not sure how to do this? Drop me a DM or email or search how to rate and review podcasts on youtube

I'd love to connect with you!
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com

Amy's Bio:
Amy is the mother of four wonderful humans and married to a fantastic man named David.  She has lived, worked and received an education in both England and the USA . Amy is a former midwife, who worked at a bustling hospital in London, England. In August 2021, Amy moved with her family from Connecticut to Southern California.

Amy has extensive experience working for and volunteering for cardiac nonprofits in strategy, project management, and project coordination. Amy is currently volunteering and working on projects relating to cardiac and organ transplant patient advocacy and awareness. Amy is also on a clinical trial steering committee for a biopharmaceutical company that has developed a drug to treat Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. 

When not volunteering or working on advocacy related to HCM and organ transplants, Amy enjoys swimming, hiking, biking, and yoga. Amy is a qualified Yoga Alliance 200 hrs. yoga teacher. Amy also loves traveling and spending time with her family.

Find Amy on TikTok: AmyMann99
Find Amy on Instagram: AmyMann999 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On this episode I am excited to have an interview with my friend, Amy Mann. Amy received a heart transplant four and a half years ago after living with a heart condition known as HCM or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Amy shares her story of growing up with HCM after being diagnosed at the age of 5, experiencing heart failure as a mother of four and the conflicting feelings that go with receiving a donor heart. I think you'll find Amy's story as inspiring as I do. 

Before we get to our interview I will share some podcast news. The short guided meditation known as a Drop of Zen, will now come out as a separate stand alone episode. A Drop of Zen will be released every Friday. If you're already subscribed to Your Zen Friend, all podcast episodes, including A Drop of Zen will be delivered weekly to your podcast app! 

If you like this episode and would like to help this podcast to grow and reach more listeners here's what you can do to help: 

• Subscribe! You can do this on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
• Share your favorite episode with a friend
• Rate and review the podcast by going to your podcast app. Not sure how to do this? Drop me a DM or email or search how to rate and review podcasts on youtube

I'd love to connect with you!
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

Amy's Bio:
Amy is the mother of four wonderful humans and married to a fantastic man named David.  She has lived, worked and received an education in both England and the USA . Amy is a former midwife, who worked at a bustling hospital in London, England. In August 2021, Amy moved with her family from Connecticut to Southern California.

Amy has extensive experience working for and volunteering for cardiac nonprofits in strategy, project management, and project coordination. Amy is currently volunteering and working on projects relating to cardiac and organ transplant patient advocacy and awareness. Amy is also on a clinical trial steering committee for a biopharmaceutical company that has developed a drug to treat Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. 

When not volunteering or working on advocacy related to HCM and organ transplants, Amy enjoys swimming, hiking, biking, and yoga. Amy is a qualified Yoga Alliance 200 hrs. yoga teacher. Amy also loves traveling and spending time with her family.

Find Amy on TikTok: AmyMann99
Find Amy on Instagram: AmyMann999 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On this episode I am excited to have friend of the pod, Tennette Correia with me to discuss our first Book Club pic! We will talk about, "Finding Me," the memoir by Viola Davis. We will share our thoughts on the extreme poverty Viola grew up in, the racism she has faced throughout her life, the challenges of growing up in addiction and the theme of forgiveness. 

If you would like to read Viola Davis' book, find it here: https://a.co/d/coFq8sg

We will end our episode with a Drop of Zen and I will guide you through a meditation on forgiveness. 

If you like this episode and would like to help this podcast grow and reach more listeners here's what you can do to help: 

• Subscribe! You can do this on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
• Share your favorite episode with a friend
• Rate and review the podcast by going to your podcast app. Not sure how to do this? Drop me a DM or email or search how to rate and review podcasts on youtube

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On today's episode I have some fun updates including how I'm currently working on a project with a former Your Zen Friend guest. I will also tell you about an upcoming interview I'm excited to bring you. Then I will talk about cultivating self compassion and share with you a short exercise I like to practice when I am having a difficult day. 

We will end our episode with a Drop of Zen and I will guide you through a loving kindness meditation. 

If you like this episode and would like to help this podcast grow and reach more listeners here's what you can do to help: 

• Subscribe! You can do this on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
• Share your favorite episode with a friend
• Rate and review the podcast by going to your podcast app. Not sure how to do this? Drop me a DM or email or search how to rate and review podcasts on youtube

I hope you'll join us for our Book Club Read: "Finding Me," by Viola Davis.
https://a.co/d/coFq8sg
 
Read "Finding Me," and then submit your questions or comments and I might read yours on the air on our Book Club discussion that will be released on Tuesday, March 21st. You can message me by sending me an instagram direct message, email me or message me on our private facebook group. All of those links are below. 

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

On this podcast I mention:
Young House Love
Instagram: @younghouselove
Blog: https://www.younghouselove.com/

Game: "What Do You Meme?" https://a.co/d/fHMhvRE

Middlebury Furniture https://www.middleburyfurniture.com/

The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristen Neff, PH.D.

Kristen Neff's Self Compassion Quiz: https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-test/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On this episode I am excited to have an interview with my friend, fitness instructor and studio owner, Jeanine Parsons. We talk about how she came to work in the fitness industry, what led her to open her own fitness studio and how joining a fitness studio can help you reach your fitness goals and have fun working out. 

Before we get to our interview I will share how I keep myself moving and grooving and working out on a regular basis. 

We will end our episode with a Drop of Zen (a short guided meditation). I will guide you through a mediation on cultivating self compassion.

If you like this episode and would like to help this podcast to grow and reach more listeners here's what you can do to help: 

• Subscribe! You can do this on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
• Share your favorite episode with a friend
• Rate and review the podcast by going to your podcast app. Not sure how to do this? Drop me a DM or email or search how to rate and review podcasts on youtube

I hope you'll join us for our Book Club Read: "Finding Me," by Viola Davis.
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Memoir-Viola-Davis-ebook/dp/B099WXTZGM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=finding+me&qid=1676247515&sr=8-1
 
Read "Finding Me," and then submit your questions or comments and I might read yours on the air on our Book Club discussion that will be released on Tuesday, March 21st. You can message me by sending me an instagram direct message, email me or message me on our private facebook group. All of those links are below. 

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com

Jeanine's Bio:  Jeanine Parsons lives in Newtown, CT with her husband Jim and their four children. Jeanine was a former professional dancer who trained as a fitness instructor after starting her family. 

Some of the fitness classes Jeanine has taught include: Body Pump, P90X, Insanity, Pilates, TRX and Boot Camp. After taking her first Barre class Jeanine was hooked and knew this was what she was looking for -- a way to incorporate dance, Pilates, and yoga into a fitness program that helps others build long, lean, beautiful muscles.

After receiving her certification in Barre, Jeanine began pursuing her dream: To open the very best Barre studio in Newtown, CT!  Barre Boutique, is centrally located on Route 25 (Main Street) and is a warm, inviting, and welcoming space. 

Find Jeanine on Instagram: @barre.boutique 
Or check out her fitness studio's website: https://www.barreboutiquect.com/

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On today’s podcast I will share some relationship makers and breakers when it comes to adults relating to tweens and teens. And I mange to talk about Gunther Gebel-Williams.  He is one of the most famous wild animal trainers of all time. Think of a blond man in an opened sequined shirt with some tigers and that's him! Listen in to find out how I compare Gunther and his lion taming to parenting tweens and teens. 

Gunther Gebel-Williams: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunther_Gebel-Williams

Relationship breakers I discuss are:

• Being reactive when your children share something with you
• Telling tweens and teens they can't have a boyfriend or girlfriend  until they are a certain age
• Forbidding tweens and teens to be friends or romantic partners with a particular person

Relationship makers I discuss are:

• How to be neutral with your facial expression and tone of your voice when your tween or teen tells you something that shocks or upsets you
• How to respond to shocking or upsetting information in a way that keeps your child sharing with you
• Questions to ask when your tween or teen tells you they like someone or are "going out, " with someone
• How to help your tween or teen set healthy relationship perimeters with friends and boyfriends or girlfriends
• How to help your tween or teen come up with relationship deal breakers for their friendships and romantic partners
• How to help your tweens or teens navigate difficult conversations with friendships or romantic partners
• How to help your tweens or teens to navigate how to move forward when a friendship or romantic relationship ends

I hope you'll join us for our Book Club Read: "Finding Me," by Viola Davis.
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Memoir-Viola-Davis-ebook/dp/B099WXTZGM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=finding+me&qid=1676247515&sr=8-1
 
Read "Finding Me," and then submit your questions or comments and I might read yours on the air on our Book Club discussion that will be released on Tuesday, March 21st. You can message me by sending me an instagram direct message, email me or message me on our private facebook group. All of those links are below. 

In our Drop of Zen today (our short guided meditation) I will lead you through a short guided meditation. 

If you like this episode please subscribe! It also will help others to find this podcast when you leave a 5 star rating and review. 

If you have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode please reach out. 

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On today’s podcast I will get honest and vulnerable as I share how I have been struggling to find balance in my life lately. I'll talk about how I decided to make a big change in my work life and what I'm doing to move through some difficult feelings.  I'll also talk about some ways I am caring for myself in effort to become more balanced. 

I hope this episode will be helpful to you! I look forward to hearing how you find balance in your life.  

On this podcast I mention:

• The Balance Bound Planner: https://www.balancebound.co/shop/2023-weekly-planners
• Happier in Hollywood Podcast: https://happierinhollywood.com/podcast/

I hope you'll join us for our Book Club Read: "Finding Me," by Viola Davis.
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Memoir-Viola-Davis-ebook/dp/B099WXTZGM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=finding+me&qid=1676247515&sr=8-1
 
Read "Finding Me," and then submit your questions or comments and I might read yours on the air on our Book Club discussion that will be released on Tuesday, March 21st. You can message me by sending me an instagram direct message, email me or message me on our private facebook group. All of those links are below. 

In our Drop of Zen today (our short guided meditation) I will lead you through a short breathing exercise where we tap on meridian points on the finger tips. 

If you like this episode please subscribe! It also will help others to find this podcast when you leave a 5 star rating and review. 

If you have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode please reach out. 

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On today’s podcast I will have an interview with Friend to the Pod Tennette Correia.  I will be asking Tennette to tell us about 3 books she has loved, 1 book she has hated and what she has been reading lately. Does this sound familiar to you? I borrowed this format from one of my favorite podcasts, "What Should I Read Next." Listen to "What Should I Read Next," wherever you find podcasts. You can also listen and learn more about this podcast and host Anne Bogel here: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-should-i-read-next/

On this podcast we mention the following books:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Pillars of the Earth by Earth by Ken Follett
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

I hope you'll join us for our Book Club Read: "Finding Me," by Viola Davis
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Memoir-Viola-Davis-ebook/dp/B099WXTZGM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=finding+me&qid=1676247515&sr=8-1
 
Read "Finding Me," and then submit your questions or comments and Tennette and I may read yours on the air on our Book Club discussion that be released on Tuesday, March 21st. You can message me by sending me an instagram direct message, emailing me or message me on our private facebook group. All of those links are below. 

In our Drop of Zen today (our short guided meditation) I will lead you through a short breathing mediation. 

If you like this episode please subscribe! It also will help others to find this podcast when you leave a 5 star rating and review. 

If you have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode please reach out. 

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

And be sure to join our private facebook group where we keep the conversation going in between episodes: www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On today’s podcast I will be talking to you about a parenting technique called Gentle Parenting - what it is, what it isn't, the pros and cons and how you can use techniques from Gentle Parenting with the children in your life. But first I'll talk about what's bringing me a little more zen right now as I try to stay warm and cozy during these cold winter months. 

I have been hearing and seeing the term Gentle Parenting a lot lately. And I was like, WHAT is this?  So I did some research and read up on the term and thought…… this sounds A LOT like Authoritative Parenting, which I learned about while getting my masters degree in counseling. I learned that Authoritative Parenting  is backed by research and many experts agree that it is THE most effective type of parenting. There are a lot of proven benefits to this type of parenting. And guess what... Gentle Parenting is actually the very same technique as Authoritative Parenting. I'll tell you why I think the name change is beneficial. I'll also tell you what the four elements of Gentle Parenting are and give you some examples of how you can use these elements in your own parenting or caring for children and teens. 

In this episode I mention the book "Make the Bread, Buy the Butter," by Jennifer Reese. https://a.co/d/apDmiqn

I also share a quote from this website: https://parentingscience.com/authoritative-parenting-style/#:~:text=Kids%20raised%20by%20authoritative%20parents,like%20delinquency%20and%20drug%20use.

In our Drop of Zen today (our short guided meditation) I will ask you to identify something you would like to offer yourself forgiveness for. 

If you like this episode please subscribe! It also will help others to find this podcast when you leave a 5 star rating and review. 

If you have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode please reach out. 

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

And be sure to join our private facebook group where we keep the conversation going in between episodes: www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com 

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health. 

Send Lauren a text!

On this podcast I am excited to have an interview with friend of the pod, Cassie Keeley! We talk about her life living on a rural farm in Massachusetts and her job in Animal Control. Cassie has some fun stories to share including one where she was called in to assist with a bear who had broken into someone's home and was ransacking their kitchen. Don't worry, it has a happy ending for all, including the mischievous bear. 

We will also discuss some misconceptions about black bears, what it's like to care for a menagerie of animals that includes two local celebrity pigs and how Cassie believes Animal Control should be renamed Animal Protection.  

Before we get to Cassie's interview I will tell you about how I'm using Alba Botinica Hawaiian Hand and Body Lotion to bring me a little more zen this winter. Here's a link to the product on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alba-Cocoa-Butter-Lotion-Ounce/dp/B001E0SE58/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4%3Aamzn1.sym.eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4&cv_ct_cx=alba+hawaiian+hand+and+body+lotion&gclid=Cj0KCQiAz9ieBhCIARIsACB0oGL2maNRvBzcac_tdYgeQMH7nRrowNnWou-k_jGLxr7D9sJee3YLh-UaAh-TEALw_wcB&hvadid=580967791873&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9003349&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17936968762121235690&hvtargid=kwd-7029880391&hydadcr=28975_14571552&keywords=alba+hawaiian+hand+and+body+lotion&pd_rd_i=B001E0SE58&pd_rd_r=c703a7fd-4fac-4e5c-a135-b73fb6dfdf61&pd_rd_w=iaEHp&pd_rd_wg=2lyRL&pf_rd_p=eff26b9b-e255-411b-a40d-eccb21f93fe4&pf_rd_r=Z0AC42ED8D24D58PR4W0&qid=1675039217&sr=1-1-5985efba-8948-4f09-9122-d605505c9d1e

We will end our episode with a Drop of Zen (a short guided meditation). I will guide you through an exercise designed to help you drop in and identify one thing you can do for yourself to help fill your own cup. 

If you like this episode and would like to help this podcast to grow and reach more listeners here's what you can do to help: 

• Subscribe! You can do this on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
• Share your favorite episode with a friend
• Rate and review the podcast by going to your podcast app. Not sure how to do this? Drop me a DM or email or search how to rate and review podcasts on youtube

If you have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode please reach out. 

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourzenfriend

Email me at: [email protected]

Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/yourzenfriendpod/

For more information on Lauren's counseling services check out: www.LaurenCounseling.com

Cassie's Bio: Cassie is a mom of three humans, and a life long animal adorer. She  currently works as an animal control officer in a small town in rural Massachusetts. Cassie previously worked as a veterinary technician, a manager of a pet store, and a certified personal trainer. She owns a hobby farm with her husband, taking care of approximately thirty five different animals they consider pets and life long friends. Cassie likes to think of herself as a wild animal protector and is passionate about helping to educate the public on the benefits and importance of wild animals. She is also known give rides to animals in need and is always happy to get them to the amazing humans who work hard to rehabilitate them. 

https://www.sheffieldma.gov/animal-control

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended to be a replacement for diagnosis, mental health therapy or psychological treatment of any kind. Please consult with your doctor or mental health provider in order to care for your physical or mental health.