Struggle Care

This bonus episode explores coping skills and emotional regulation. It explains the concept of emotional regulation and the importance of responding to life's demands. The podcast discusses the 'window of tolerance' and various coping skills for managing stress. It emphasizes widening the window of tolerance and the role of self-compassion in navigating negative experiences.

Dr. Raquel Martin, a psychologist, discusses alternatives to mindfulness, such as a "stress kit" and customized therapy. They explore the distinctions between Eastern and Western approaches to mindfulness and the significance of accepting emotions without judgment. They also discuss using sensory experiences as coping skills and the impact of removing smartphones from schools. The conversation wraps up with plans for a struggle care philosophy curriculum.

Eve Rodsky, promoting a new solution to the division of labor problem. How women shoulder most unpaid domestic work. How her book, Fair Play, offers practical ways to divide labor. The mindset shifts needed for fair play. The harmful norms hurting us all. The importance of accountability and trust. The mental load of tasks. Viewing boundaries with a fresh perspective. Finding your "unicorn space".

Katie Soro, an interior designer, discusses the importance of beauty in home design and challenges traditional rules. They explore the transcendence of beauty in interior design and how personal artwork holds more meaning. There is a segment on designing with kids and pets, and tips for finding affordable and meaningful artwork for your walls. They also discuss the process of designing a study in a house and emphasize prioritizing beauty and art in daily life.

Mercury Stardust, a professional home maintenance technician and activist, discusses creating a safe space in the male-dominated handyman world. They emphasize practical and accessible home maintenance solutions for renters. They also explore the mental health struggles of being a prominent content creator and trans woman, setting boundaries, and choosing the inclusive title of their book, 'Safe and Sound'.

Rachel Nielson, founder of the 3in30 Podcast, discusses the importance of parenting values over rules. She shares insights on identifying and embracing your values, the connection between values and success in motherhood, and how to navigate conflicting values with parenting partners. Rachel's program helps women uncover their values through reflection and introspection, allowing them to prioritize what's important for their unique families. Embracing your values leads to greater happiness and a positive impact on the world.

Certified Professional Organizer Alison Lush shares her gentle approach to organizing. Topics discussed include organic organizing, dealing with clutter, organizing different zones in your space, honoring memorabilia, and creating a personalized decor. They also touch on saving money on subscriptions and meal preparation, managing work-life balance during the pandemic, and setting boundaries. A brief discussion about Alison Lush and an advertisement for 'Mom in Mind' podcast are included.

Dr. Lesley Cook, a psychologist, discusses the balance between self-compassion and personal growth. They explore self-compassion in relation to shame and how it can be learned and passed down. The podcast also touches on the duality of compassion and accountability, and the transformative power of self-compassion in shifting from shame-based behavior.

I’m excited to introduce you to today’s guest. Imani Barbarin is a disability rights and inclusion activist and speaker who uses her platform for conversations around the disability community. I’ve followed her for a while on TikTok and appreciate the way she expresses her opinions and helps educate the rest of us. Come join us now!Show Highlights: How Imani explored and discovered her passion for advocacy for disability and inclusion rights How climate change and disability are linked Why environmental ableism is a real thing How people have become victims of their non-nuanced thinking, only wanting to be on the “right” side Why the COVID pandemic has become a “mass-disabling” event, especially regarding mental health Examples of ways in which the environmental movement has left those with disabilities behind Why society has a general disdain for disabled people and believes that they don’t (or won’t) contribute to society How the luxury of abled people trumps the necessity of the disabled What the function of capitalism is on disabled bodies How disabled people are used as pawns in the pro-choice/pro-life debate Why there is inherent racism in the pro-life movement What laziness is and is not Resources:Connect with Imani: Website and InstagramResources mentioned: https://www.sinsinvalid.org, https://disasterstrategies.org, https://www.americanprogress.org Connect with KC: TikTok and InstagramGet KC's Book, How to Keep House While Drowning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, we are diving into executive functioning, which is a popular term being bounced around in mental health communities. I want to take a closer look at what it means and how it shows up in people’s lives. Join me to learn more from today’s guest!Dr. Lesley Cook is a psychologist who does a lot of work with ADHD and other neurodivergencies. Born and raised in Hawaii, she now lives in Virginia and works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lesley and I met on TikTok, and I’m happy to have her here today!Show Highlights: A common-language definition and explanation of executive functioning How executive function deficits show up in someone’s life How shame, guilt, and inconsistent performance are clues to executive function problems The difference between motivation and task initiation Why the underlying issue with lack of motivation is more about what a person values How a person’s sense of self is affected when they believe their authentic self is “bad” Why external supports are necessary when an internal system is down Why rhythm is better than routine for those with executive function disorder How neurotypical people experience interruptions with executive functioning on a regular basis because of overload and anxiety How blips in executive function occur in neurotypical people with predictability and response to intervention—as opposed to someone with a diagnosis How someone with ADHD can have incredible deficits in executive function on days when everything is going their way–and won’t respond reliably to normal interventions How to build into each day differing levels of acceptable outcomes–and give yourself permission to choose what fits your needs at that moment Lesley’s advice to those who think they have executive functioning issues Resources: Connect with Dr. Lesley: TikTok and InstagramConnect with KC: TikTok and InstagramGet KC's Book, How to Keep House While DrowningFind great resources about executive functioning:  www.understood.org, www.psychologytoday.com, and https://chadd.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices