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Zen(ish) Mommy episodes
- Why raising kids and starting a business are similar; from jewelry mogul Dana Rebecca
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In the age of highly-curated social media, where so many people are hellbent on showing perfection rather than reality, someone who is unafraid to speak their truth is refreshing. Dana Rebecca Gordon of Dana Rebecca Designs is known for keeping it honest on social media. Her hundreds of thousands of followers agree that showing up and sharing the small moments in life is appreciated. Dana is not only an entrepreneur; she is also a mom and all-around badass. In this episode, we talk about the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur. While it is great to be your own boss, it can often be a thankless job, and this aspect is often not openly discussed. Dana highlights the similarities between being a business owner and a mother and she shares why she thinks that the mainstream idea of balance does not actually exist. We also talk about the importance of modeling self-love for your children, given the pressures that come with social media. Dana grew up with a mother who loved her body and she acknowledges the impact it had on her. Naturally, we touch on the pandemic, and Dana talks about how, despite how difficult it has been, it has given her perspective both with her family and her business. She has shared special moments with her children and established connections with her community by talking about things that are usually off-limits. There is so much power in speaking your truth, and if you feel afraid to use your voice, our conversation with Dana will inspire you to move past that fear.
Key Points From This Episode:
• Get to know Dana, her background, and how she became a jewelry designer.
• The emphasis Dana’s father placed on education despite not going to school himself.
• Not enough people talk about the obstacles that come with being an entrepreneur.
• There is no such thing as balance; you have to accept that something will always give.
• The importance of taking things day-by-day rather than trying to do it all always.
• A big lesson that Dana learned from 2020; you have to learn to let it go!
• Similarities between being an entrepreneur and being a mom.
• Why Dana prefers to take things one day at a time rather than looking at the big picture.
• The thankless work of raising your teams and your children.
• Our actions leave such a big impression on our children.
• There are so many challenges that come with raising children in the age of social media.
• Ways the pandemic helped Dana to reset and think differently about her family and business.
• Why Dana has fallen in and out of love with her career multiple times.
• What Dana has learned from being real and speaking her truth on social media.
• Social media can distort our reality and disconnect us from the world around us.
• Dana Rebecca’s mission to make women feel special no matter their budget.
• What jewelry means to Dana; it’s not just the piece, it’s about the moment attached to it.
• Coming in at price point first: how this approach is shifting jewelry purchasing.
• What Dana would say to her daughters if they wanted to start their own business one day.
Mom, Slow Down!
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the Zen Mommy58 min - Parenting in today's digital world is exhausting. Learn why being a mediocre parent is sometimes enough!
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Episode : Show Notes.
Calling all parents! You’ve probably realized by now that this parenting gig is tough, but today’s guest will help put an end to all that parental suffering! Welcome to the show our guest, Michelle Gambs, who is a parent coach and psychotherapist with a degree from The University of Notre Dame. After 20 years of coaching parents, a simple philosophy emerged which she turned into the book, titled Stay Away from Option D. It gives parents permission to be imperfect, while still bringing peace to your home. In this episode, she outlines what options A to D are and why you should avoid option D. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the importance of allowing your children (and yourself) to make mistakes, filling your own cup up first, and responding rather than reacting, and Michelle explains the five basic psychological needs of children, why you shouldn’t take it personally when they misbehave, and why it’s okay to celebrate not resorting to option D. It’s easy to parents poorly, and much harder to parent well, so tune in today for some helpful advice!
Key Points From This Episode:
• How much of Michelle’s own experience as a parent went into her book.
• Hear what options A to D are and why you should avoid D.
• What you can do when you do D, starting with showing remorse.
• The importance of allowing your children (and yourself!) to make mistakes.
• A reminder that you’re not alone: whatever you have been through, other parents have too.
• The role of yoga and mindfulness in grounding you and helping you make better decisions.
• Filling your cup up is key to being a good parent; you can’t exhale if you don’t inhale.
• Reacting versus responding: reactions take no thought, responses are thought out.
• What Michelle means when she says children will have their five basic psychological needs met no matter what.
• Why you shouldn’t take it personally when your children misbehave; you can’t take credit for their successes and failures.
• Michelle speaks about comparison and why she believes it is the thief of joy.
• What options A through D look like during the morning and evening routines.
• Michelle uses the ‘broken record’ analogy to point out when to find an alternative solution.
• Hear a bit more about how Michelle strives to keep adapting her parenting strategies.
• Final advice from Michelle: celebrate not doing D, because it’s hard to parent well!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Michelle Gambs on Instagram
Michelle Gambs on Facebook
Michelle Gambs on YouTube
Michelle Gambs
Stay Away from Option D
Sex is a Funny Word
Mom, Slow Down!
Jessica Nicole on Instagram
Self-Love Collective Waitlist
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the Zen Mommy41 min - Just a sneak peek of Season 2
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I feel so honored to have connected with Yoga Alliance and their Unity in Yoga Podcast. Here a little sneak peek at what Season 2 will look like! Calling out to mom's everywhere to unite and connect through experience, love, and growth. Follow me on social
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the Zen Mommy7 min - Disordered eating or eating disorder with specialist, Kate Fisch LCSW
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One of our basic necessities is food, and today we’re diving into this topic with our guest, KateFisch, who is a licensed social worker, practicing psychotherapist, and eating disorderspecialist. Many of us have some quantifiable eating disorder pattern, whether it is binge eating,restricting, or starting to label food as “good” or “bad”. Kate has dedicated her career to eatingdisorders and helping women everywhere overcome patterns of disordered eating. In thisepisode, Jessica and Kate talk about how our relationship with food tends to overflow to allother areas of our lives and how, as women, our conversations often center around what we eatand what we do to lose weight. After touching on the difference between anorexia and bulimiaand when these disorders are more likely to show up, Kate explains why distinguishing between“sometimes” and “all the time” foods is a helpful way to encourage healthy eating while alsoavoiding turning it into an obsession. After all, all foods should be permitted! Tuning in, listenerswill also hear about modeling a healthy relationship with food as a parent, what we can do tohelp our kids build a positive body and self-image, the need for more education and support forpatients and their families, and Kate’s Eating Recovery Academy.Key Points From This Episode:• Understanding that, while food is a source of pleasure, it cannot be your only source.• How our relationship with food tends to spill over into other areas of our lives.• The biological and genetic differences between anorexia and bulimia.• The times in a person’s life when they are most prone to developing an eating disorder.• Jessica talks about her response when her daughter recently said she was on a diet.• The problem with labeling food as “good” and “bad” and feeling guilt around it.• Why it is helpful to think instead about “sometimes” foods and “all the time” foods.• Educating children about a healthy relationship with food by explaining its different purposes.• The shocking prevalence of disordered eating and people’s obsession with food.• How the patriarchy is perpetuated when women fight amongst each other.• Remembering that there is no perfect parent – strive for being a good enough parent.• Learn about Kate’s platform for educating other therapists about treating eating disorders.• The lack of support and education for people with eating disorders and their families.• Advice for how parents can model a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jessica-gershman/supportSupport the show
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the Zen Mommy30 min - Healing Through the Mind-Body Connection with Heidi Straub
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Show Notes.
The mind and the body are not separate entities, even if they are so often treated as such. Physical health and emotional health are intimately intertwined in what’s known as the mind-body connection. Today’s guest is Heidi Straub, Founder and Chief Insight Officer of Health InSight. Health InSight is about helping others transform their lives and achieve their dreams. Life is a rocky road with many bumps and bruises along the way and, even after overcoming the resulting injuries, it may be surprising to find that the wounds are still there. Unknowingly, they can weigh people down and hold them back. Heidi hopes to help people get “unstuck” by nurturing the mind-body connection, tapping into the subconscious mind, and doing emotional release work and rapid resolution therapy. In this episode, she talks about resolving trauma, using the muscle testing approach, and speaking the language of the subconscious mind. We also dive into creating new neural pathways, how Heidi empowers her clients and introduces them to a new way of thinking about healing. During our conversation, she also shares some incredible testimonials from her clients, asserts the importance of acknowledging the weight of emotional baggage, and how she receives energy from her work without taking on her clients’ pain. So make sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
• How Heidi came up with the titles she has given herself, chief insight officer.
• Heidi shares a bit about her background and what she does to help people get unstuck today.
• No one gets through life without experiencing pain – it’s part of the human condition.
• Uppercase-T Traumas are recognized, but lowercase-t traumas aren’t always acknowledged.
• Resolving trauma doesn’t have to be painful – Heidi explains that we don’t have to relive it.
• Heidi’s techniques all revolve around the subconscious mind and helping people tap into it.
• The two approaches Heidi uses – emotional release work and rapid resolution therapy.
• Creating new neural pathways, clearing energy, and shifting our ways of thinking.
• Why guilt doesn’t make us better decision-makers and how we can create a paradigm shift.
• What Heidi’s clients seek her out for and what her clientele demographic looks like.
• What Heidi finds so amazing about the work she does is how it empowers her clients.
• The interconnectedness of our body, mind, spirit, soul, and consciousness.
• A new way of thinking – healing doesn’t have to be a long, painful, difficult process.
• The history of rapid resolution therapy and how Heidi came across it in the first place.
• Some rapid resolution therapy testimonials that stand out to Heidi, both physical and mental.
• The most frequent feedback Heidi gets from clients after a session is that they feel light.
• Just because emotional baggage is invisible doesn’t mean it’s not heavy.
• Being a good mom isn’t being selfish – it’s showing our kids how important self-love is.
• The thoughts we think have such a powerful influence on our lives, says Heidi.
• How Heidi takes care of herself – she doesn’t go into her work with clients as an empath.
• Heidi talks about the importance of maintaining energy in resonance.
• It all goes back to being clear and present so we can have connection, which is the most important thing for human beings.
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport the show
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the Zen Mommy1 hr 3 min - What does 2021 have in store? Let’s check in with the universe to see what 2021 has to offer?
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Episode 11: Show Notes.Welcome back to the Mom, Slow Down! Podcast. I think we are all in agreement that we areready to say, “Goodbye!” to 2020 and a happy, warm “Hello!” to 2021. And hopefully, it will be afar better predicament for 2021 than it has been for all of us suffering through this last year. Fortoday’s episode, I thought I would bring back my friend, Corey Sleet, just to provide somelaughter. During this episode we talk about Horoscopes for 2021, we tackle love predictions, ourhighs and lows for the year, and also just a bit of comic relief! So whether you just need a littledistraction from your daily “new normal”, you want to hear all about our hair goals, or even justto get some new inspiration for your family life, definitely stay tuned for today’s episode!Key Points From This Episode:• We discuss our Peeks and Pits: Highest highs, and lowest lows.• What women do with a man that has a booty.• Corey’s 2021 Horoscope; Corey is a Libra.• Corey shares his future plans as he prepares to move to the suburbs.• Our love predictions for 2021 — what does this year have in store?.• Some advice we’d come across this year that we wanted to share.• Jessica’s 2021 Horoscope; Jessica is a Cancer.Tweetables:“The best advice I got, you can DM me for a more detailed explanation, but the long and theshort of it is — The truth ALWAYS comes out. And I’ve thought about that through this politicalclimate, through work, through relationships with my family, through my friends, clients, and it’sso true!” — @coreysleet [0:00] 22:40L--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jessica-gershman/supportSupport the show
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the Zen Mommy28 min - Dating in your 40s can be tricky to navigate but learn how self love can make you a better dater
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Dating with Courtney WildEpisode 10: Show Notes.The pandemic has put a lot of strain on relationships, and we know many people who have cho-sen to part ways with their partners. Dating looks completely different now, and if you are enter-ing the dating world once again, it’s best to have your wits about you. Today's guest, CourtneyWild, brow artist to the stars and Jessica’s good friend, joins us today to share her dating in-sights. Of course, no conversation on modern relationships can happen without talking aboutdating apps, so Courtney gives us the low-down on what's out there and how to avoid acci-dentally swiping past the love of your life. We also touch on dating as you get older, whereCourtney shares why her 20s were filled with fleeting, ultimately empty relationships. Seeing asthese are formative years in your adulthood, you are still getting to know yourself, which is whyrelationships can be so hard. When you are fearful and insecure, it is hard to act from a place oflove. While external relationships are important, nothing holds more weight than the relationshipyou have with yourself, and we talk about why you should consider dating yourself before get-ting back out there. There is no right or wrong way to re-enter the turbulent world of dating. Justremember to go in with an open mind and heart, and practice a whole lot of self-love along theway!Key Points From This Episode:• The benefits of doing home brow visits during the pandemic for Courtney.• Dating apps and the confusion that comes with which way to swipe.• Courtney’s recent breakup and how she used the opportunity to ‘date herself’ again.• Some of the different dating apps that are available.• Dating in your 20s versus in your 30s – You know yourself better as you get older.• The biggest lesson Courtney learned about dating: Come into relationships whole.• In the moments you are alone, you learn the most about yourself.• Why Courtney stayed in her relationship for so much longer than she should have.• Presence and mindfulness and how this helps you find happiness in the current moment.• How busyness distracts us and helps us avoid the sometimes hurtful truth.• Why Courtney writes down what makes her happy and refers back to it in hard times.• Courtney’s hilarious one-night stand story, right after her divorce finalization.• How to approach dating after a divorce – Go in with an open mind and heart and have fun.• Differences between dating in the Midwest and LA.• The importance of meeting your needs yourself before you expect someone else to.• Self-care and self-love look differently for everyone, so find what works for you!X© Mom, Slow Down! 2020 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jessica-gershman/supportSupport the show
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the Zen Mommy41 min - Marriage isn’t easy and 2020 was especially tough. Join jessica and her husband of 13 years a
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Talking Marriage with Brad GershmanEpisode 09: Show Notes.This year has had its fair share of challenges. We have been spending more time at home withour families and significant others, getting in each other’s faces and spaces 24/7. Most of usknow someone who is going through a divorce or a separation or are confronted with difficultiesand stress in our own relationships. In this episode, Jessica interviews her husband BradGershman to get his take on marriage and growth. Like any other couple, they have had theirups and downs and continue to seek our therapy and professional help to grow individually butas a couple. Brad talks about how he has changed and grown in their marriage and they sharewhat is important to each of them in a happy and successful marriage. The two talk aboutfinding their way around communication and vulnerability, the value of therapy, findinghappiness within yourself, and how yoga and transcendental meditation can transform yourrelationships. Tune in to find out how three little words can change how you show up in yourengagement with your partner!Key Points From This Episode:• The story of how Jessica and Brad met and their first impressions of each another.• The early challenges they faced with Jessica being young and an instant-stepmom.• Why Jessica never wants to go back to being in her twenties!• The difficulty of creating a harmonious partnership between two individuals.• How our culture works against the commitment required to make a marriage last.• Brad talks about how his views of a good marriage have shifted over the years.• The value of having a therapist as a sounding board to bounce thoughts and feelings off from.• Why we often find it easier to communicate with our friends than with our partner.• The role that socialization and gender roles play in making men shy away from vulnerability.• How you can practice MVE (mirror, validate, and empathy) to improve your relationships.• The importance of being happy in yourself and not basing it on the approval of other people.• Why you have to put yourself first before trying to please and take care of others.• Brad shares what learning about and practicing transcendental meditation meant for him.• The ways in which yoga and transcendental meditation can transform your relationships.• The need for date nights to spend time with your partner and work on the relationship.Tweetables:“What I’ve learned and what I feel is more important than anything is communicating.” — B--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jessica-gershman/supportSupport the show
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the Zen Mommy36 min - Jessica interviews Dr. Natalie Marshall, a women’s health expert to talk pelvic floor dysfunction.
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Episode 8: Show Notes.www.vitalizeindy.com There are a host of pre- and postpartum issues that women do not need to keep up with. Peeingwhen you sneeze or laugh, having a bulging belly two years after your baby was born, andsuffering from indigestion every week is not fun and games for anyone, and yet these problemsare so seldom talked about. The good news is that the body wants to be in perfect homeostasisand balance, you just need to create the conditions for that to happen. Today we are thrilled tohave a doctor in the house! We are joined by Dr. Natalie Marshall, the owner of Vitalize PhysicalTherapy in Westfield, Indiana, who talks to us about the important role that a healthy, well-functioning pelvic floor plays in not just our bodies but our lives. Most of the time when patientscome in with complaints about going to the bathroom or having sex it is related to adysfunctional or tight pelvic floor. Dr. Marshall talks about our unhealthy habits of restricting ourdiaphragms, not breathing into our bellies, doing Kegel exercises straight after childbirth, andputting too much strain on ourselves when we should be taking it easy. Listeners can also lookforward to learning more about the condition called diastasis recti and how they can go aboutreleasing tension and trauma from their bodies.Key Points From This Episode:• The most common reasons why people decide to consult with a physical therapist.• Learn what the pelvic floor is and why it plays such an important role in the body.• Why sucking in your tummy and wearing waist trainers are bad for you.• Helping women to get their bodies to work as they are meant to. • The importance of teaching young girls that vulvas are beautiful but all different.• Hear about all the problems that result from pelvic floor dysfunction and tightness.• Why Kegels should be approached with the same care as any exercise.• The lack of information about and support in dealing with postpartum issues.• Why pregnancy and postpartum should not be periods of hard, high-impact training.• Good reasons for seeing a physical therapist during pregnancy and before surgery.• Everything you need to know about diastasis recti and its complications.• Why the pelvic floor needs rehab after childbirth and how you can do it yourself. • Learn how our intuition can be harnessed to release tension and trauma in the body.Tweetables:“The pelvic floor is a set of muscles. It is three layers deep and they span from the pubic bone,that hard bone in front, to the tailbone and back, which is the coccyx – the butt bone and acrossto the sitz bones. It’s a ball of muscles that are basically the floor of your core. It is reallyimportant.” — Dr. Natalie Marshall [0:01:05]MSD 08 Show Notes© Mom, Slow Down! 2020 1. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jessica-gershman/supportSupport the show
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the Zen Mommy30 min - Getting real with fitness trainer and beauty guru Michael Hoess and YouTube creator, Mykul Labs
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Show NotesInterview with Michael Hoess / Mykul Labs.Show Notes.Today we are joined by Jessica’s best friend Michael Hoess aka Mykul Labs, a fitness and personal trainer since 2009 with a string of impressive certifications. He works at The Dailey Method and all over Indianapolis and is also a beauty guru to be reckoned with – he knows more about skincare than all of us combined! When it comes to fitness, Michael believes in getting exposure to all five pillars of fitness to ensure optimal results and reduce the risk of injury, so instead of sticking only to yoga or SoulCycling, he encourages women to do strength training despite the common reservations they have about it. Working with predominantly women in their late 20s to mid-40s, Michael understands the struggles especially mothers have in keeping all the plates spinning, whether they have careers or are stay-at-home moms. Regardless, he urges listeners to keep self-care a top priority because it is the old-but-true story of taking care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else – and that hour you have for a workout might just be the thing that keeps you sane! Tuning in, listeners will hear Michael gush about J.Lo, his favorite skincare ingredients, 45-minute showers, and the soon-to-be-released makeup range for men. Key Points From This Episode:• How Jessica met Michael, the types of classes he teaches, and who his typical clientele is. • Hear how the stay-at-home-mom archetype informs Michael’s damn funny sense of humor!• The five pillars of fitness and the importance of engaging in all modalities for optimal results. • The myth of building muscle and why strength training is a crucial part of women’s fitness. • Advice for working women and stay-at-home-moms who are busy and run on tight schedules. • Modeling self-care to your children instead of getting caught in the selfless martyr stereotype. • Learn about Michael’s interest in skincare and how he keeps his knowledge updated. • The most important skincare ingredients that will keep you looking fabulous year-round. • What Michael is planning to do with all the skincare knowledge he has gained online. • Hear about the makeup that CVS is bringing to market for men and why this really matters. • What Martha Stewart can teach us about creating an all-encompassing lifestyle brand. • When Michael is launching his YouTube Channel and where you can hang out with him. “If you are not getting more than just that one fitness modality, you are not going to see results as well and you are also going to have a higher risk of injury from just working on one specific type of fitness.” — Mykul Labs [0:05:58]“SPF year-round is your most important ingredient because that is going to prevent aging more than anything that you are going to have done anywhere.” — Mykul Labs [0:21:08]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jessica-gershman/supportSupport the show
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the Zen Mommy37 min
About Zen(ish) Mommy
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A place to educate, empower, connect, and laugh. Host Jessica Gershman, a certified yoga instructor, mindfulness practitioner and a busy mom of 4, invites you to explore your own inner journey and…
expand on the topics you need to know to become your own best self advocate - health, sex, parenting, marriage, friendship, and everything in between; plus weekly mindfulness tips to invite a little zen into your life. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday so check back often for the latest. Follow us on Instagram@the_zen_mommy