About Progress

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

If I can experience a major faith crisis, anyone can. Over the last 12+ years, I've been through an ongoing series of my own struggles with my faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today's episode is an honest share of how this came about for me, what issues I have struggled with and why, what I've done about them, and why I ultimately chose to stick with my LDS faith for life.   Below in the show notes, I've included the past posts I've written on this topic if you'd like to read more about my experience.  I've also included resources that have helped me tremendously. If you know someone who struggles or who is in a leadership position, please share this with them.  My hope is to peel back the shame that many who doubt suffer behind, to show leaders of my church how good and obedient members can still struggle with their faith, and how they can better love and help them through it. Thank you for your support!   Show Notes Prior posts on my faith: here, here, and here LDS website and LDS articles on women giving blessings here and here All the Books that have helped me Lamb of God and Rob Gardner's website Paul Cardall's website Carol Lynn Pearson's website Join my Progress Program: SMALL-group GROWTH coaching for women My new Work in Progress T-shirt!! (Use code "PROGRESS" for $5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Positive parenting is all the rage, and for good reason. But what if praising the good and ignoring the bad behavior isn't working for your spirited, willful child? What if another's special needs or incredible gifts demand a far more unique approach than what worked with other kids in your family?Wendy Bertagnole loves to guide parents through these exceptional parenting moments--because she has had to navigate them herself with her own three children, each with their own challenges that had to be addressed differently.On this episode, Wendy teaches to first ACCEPT your children and then move forward in better addressing what the ROOTS are to their unique needs and challenges. Show Notes:Wendy's Podcast Website, Instagram, Online Workshop for Parenting Kids with Sensory Need,, and BooksProgress Program!!! Doors for application are open for just two more days!Contact Monica for podcast consulting and Progress CoachingSong Credit: "Sweet Promise" and "Warm Lights" by Nicolai Heidlas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices