About Progress

Oh how we WISH each baby came with a manual specific to only them!Well, today's episode is the next best thing. Dina Alexander from the non-profit Educate and Empower Kids is here to go through your toughest parenting questions. From how to handle technology with kids, talking about their maturing bodies, boosting troubled self-esteem, and so much more.Show Notes Educate and Empower Kids' website, Instagram, and FacebookPast episodes with Dina on Technology, Body Image, and PornographyJoin the Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (you can apply now to reserve your slot for January!) My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code “PROGRESS” for $5) Contact Monica for podcast consultingand Progress CoachingJoin Monica on Facebookand Instagram Song Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us suffer from a runaway train-brain. We have good intentions to work on our thoughts and mindset, but it can be so difficult to break long-practiced patterns and start anew.Nancy Jane Smith is a certified counselor or expert on how to shift your inner critic (she nicknamed it, "the monger") into your "biggest fan." Where she wants you to start? By acknowledging and actually feeling our emotions.This is the key to everything! Nancy explain why and how you can do this to move forward to a much happier version of your life.Show NotesNancy's website, book, and podcastJoin the Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (you can apply now to reserve your slot for January!)My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code “PROGRESS” for $5) Contact Monica for podcast consultingand Progress Coaching Join Monica on Facebookand InstagramSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Ellyse Harris quit her beloved job as a teacher to stay home with her newborn son, she found she needed something to remind herself of who she was. So she started to sew dolls of beautiful animals. And then those dolls became something people wanted to buy, and soon without even intending to, Ellyse found herself the founder of a small, but thriving, business.Ellyse is on the show to share how doing something small--creating again for her mental health--lead to so much more. She also shares how being the recipient of the High Five Grant(see this past episodefor more details on that--another round is coming up in January!) is going to go towards pushing her little business to the next level. Show NotesEllyse's websiteand InstagramMama Ladder's upcoming High Five Grant Join my Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (you can apply now to reserve your slot for January!)My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code “PROGRESS” for $5)Contact Monica for podcast consultingand Progress CoachingJoin Monica on Facebookand InstagramSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some days (weeks, and months) are just plain hard. There's no way around it. Except . . . . maybe we can laugh about it? Granted, those laughs might not be appropriate or helpful during all hard trials, but at very least finding ways to see the light even in the hard can miraculously change our perspective.Mandi Winkelmanis on the show to share how her own choice to see the light AND the humor in her dark times has lightened things and changed her views of her own suffering. Show NotesMandi's websiteand InstagramJoin my Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (you can apply now to reserve your slot for January!)My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code “PROGRESS” for $5)Contact Monica for podcast consultingand Progress CoachingJoin Monica on Facebookand InstagramSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know that children's negative actions (anger, lashing out, tantrums, wailing, etc.) are often just the misplacement of their true emotions? (Think: exhaustion, frustration, disappointment.)It's true! Kids who are reacting in negative ways actually need guidance to understand what is really happening within themselves and, in turn, better cope with what life throws at them.This is called "emotional responsibility," where one truly recognizes their emotions, takes charge of them, and cares for them.Mindful Art Company's founders, Candace Little and Becky Farley, are on the show to teach us how to engage with ourselves (this is essential) and our children in a powerful way so they better learn how to do just that.Want to transform your family culture? I can guarantee that this will do just that.Show NotesMindful Art Co's websiteand Instagram (get 50% off their digital products with the code "PROGRESS")Join my Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (doors for December's admittance are closed, but you can apply now to reserve your slot for January!)My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code “PROGRESS” for $5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's hard to stay centered within our social media word as it is, but throw yourself into the middle of the holiday season and you'll easily find yourself spinning out of control.Courtney Casper wants to help you hit pause and reset your life based off of what reallymatters. For her, this includes a life of spirituality, choice, and intention. Listen to learn how to navigate difficult spiritual feelings, pressure to conform to and get caught up in the pulls of social media, and how to make the most of the smaller moments of our day, and the miracle of those small moments amounting to big investments in yourself.  Show NotesCourtney's Websiteand InstagramJoin my Progress Program: LAST few days to join my SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (doors for acceptance are open next week, but you can apply now to reserve your slot for the group meeting time you want!)My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code “PROGRESS” for $5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WE are celebrating TWO YEARS of the podcast! And I mean "we," because About Progress would be nothing without the listeners and the community we have created together.Today, I'm sharing four big lessons this little podcast taught me the past two years, including: Do it for you Consistency trumps everything Progress is messy (embrace the "messy middle") "Done" is better than perfect Additionally, I'm giving a sneak peek to how the show will change next year. The BEST (and scariest) change is that we will literally be hearing more from YOU the listeners. Listen in to hear how!Show NotesMy Interview on Jealousy with Rachel Neilson of 3in30 podcast Join my Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (doors for acceptance are open next week, but you can apply now to reserve your slot for the group meeting time you want!)My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code “PROGRESS” for $5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Body positivity AND swimwear? Yes, both!!Mother-daughter duo Kristie Kemp and June Blackhurst weren't out to create a company when Kristie wanted to simply sew a swimsuit she felt confident in postpartum--but that's what happened! What sets June Loop apart? Instead of buying into having a one-size-only model approach (like most swimwear companies) June Loop strives to show that ALL women belong in beautiful suits and to feel confident about their unique bodies.From having "normal" ladies of all shapes and sizes model and do "try-ons" for their suits, to constantly delivering body positive messages, the ladies of June Loop have a mission to stand out in the fashion business. They deliver by guiding women to FEEL happy, stop worrying over their looks, and instead act fully present in their strong (swim)suit. Show NotesJune Loop's website(use code "holiday30" to get 30% off from November 20-26th!)June Loop's Instagramand Facebook Join my Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women (doors for acceptance are open next week, but you can apply now to reserve your slot for the group meeting time you want!)My new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code "PROGRESS" for $5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How would you respond to your spouse, friend, or sibling who express serious doubts about their faith?Brad Packer--Monica's husband--is on the show today to share what this was like for him. He answers:How he knew something was wrong.What he felt about Monica's struggles.How he supported her.Why he sticks with his faith. Additionally, Monica and Brad go through some Q&A submitted by the listeners, including how they are raising their children in the LDS faith, what resources have been helpful, what other issues are part of Monica's faith crises struggle, and more.If you like the show please share it, subscribe, and leave a review!! Show NotesPrior posts on my faith: here, here, and hereAll the Books that have helped meInstagram, Facebook group, and websitementioned that were helpful resources and supportJoin my Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for womenMy new Work in Progress T-shirt!!(Use code "PROGRESS" for $5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if we changed the way we looked at doubts and times where we face great spiritual darkness? What if we decided instead that this WAS what faith is supposed to look like: a series of spiritual growing pains?Paul Cardall faced a deep spiritual crisis after surviving a heart transplant. Instead of joy, he felt consumed by trying to live up to the great blessing that it was to live. Everything in his life fell a part, and he couldn't understand why God had let him live and not the friends and children with the same congenital heart problems he had.Paul freely shares what faith looks like for him, how he's navigated his own series of darkness and questions, and what we can individually do to move through our own times of doubt and GROW!If you like the show please share it, subscribe, and leave a review!!Show Notes:Paul's Website, new Christmas CD, and his recent Worth of Souls ProjectPast episodes with Paul: hereand hereProgress Program!!! SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for womenContact Monica for podcast consultingand Progress CoachingSongs Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices