A primary tenet of the work we do is the power of “Connection as Prevention.” Whether we are talking suicide prevention, mental health challenges, substance use, physical illness or any other condition that creates a feeling of isolation, connection is prevention. In this episode, Karen and Lynn talk through the impact of social isolation and loneliness, how epidemic it truly is, and how connecting with others is key to healing and prevention.

Each of us has learned how to navigate the world through our family, community and collective cultures ... and this includes our relationship with emotion. How do you engage with your own emotions? How do you engage with the emotions of others? Join Karen and Lynn as they unpack all of the conditional messaging we've received and how to unlearn and relearn a more natural, more human way of being with our emotions.

In the last few weeks, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people reaching out to us regarding compassion fatigue and burnout. Some are organizations looking for new ways to support their employees. Others are individuals who have reached their tipping point and can no longer function in their work environment due to overwhelm, the ongoing pressure of trying to "catch up," and a feeling of disconnection from themselves and others. Join Karen and Lynn as they describe the impact of compassion fatigue and burnout and how connection and emotional wellness are the keys to change and healing.

Our lives are constantly in transition, but are we aware of how we are navigating them? Karen and Lynn talk through the transitions occurring in their own lives and how creating pause can help us extend empathy to ourselves through the process.

The Impact of Collective Trauma

Life can often provide us with opportunities to reflect on how our life is working. Are there things that are important to us ... that we would like to hold onto? And, are there things that no longer serve us or align with the person we are becoming? In this episode, Karen and Lynn share on ways that they have been reflecting on their lives and the power of holding on and letting go.

What is the Community Living Room? The Community Living Room is grounded in the present, offering a healing space for people to be seen, heard, and valued just as they are. It is focused on present-moment connection and support.

We talk to many people in community through our work and an overwhelming majority of people express feelings of exhaustion. When we take the time to slow down and look at all we are holding, it is not surprising. Join Karen and Lynn as they unpack the many layers of "challenge" that each are holding and how our exhaustion is not only warranted but very, very real.

Join us for the recording from our LIVE podcast hosted by the Women's Fund for the Fox Valley Region - Connection Matters, sponsored by Barbara & William Kelly. Hosts Karen Iverson Riggers and Lynn McLaughlin discuss Normalize a New You: Pandemic Recovery for Women. The global pandemic put our lives on hold. We had so much on our shoulders, we lost people, experiences, and opportunities. We are no longer the same person we were three years ago. Together we explore how we can normalize and give ourselves permission to let go. Connection matters, you are not alone.

In the realm of emotion, very often there is a vary narrow box of "acceptable" emotional expression. Too much joy or excitement falls into that category. Join Lynn and Karen as they talk through the very essence of joy and creating space in our life to fully experience it.

Taken from the poem "An Invitation to Brave Space" by Mickey ScottBey Jones, this episode addresses one of the more challenging aspects of being human - acknowledging when we cause harm to another person. And yet, it is inevitable and a piece of the human condition. In this episode, Karen and Lynn talk through their own challenges of causing harm and the process they used to honor their emotions in the mess of it and heal.

We hear often that we should love ourselves more, but what exactly does that mean and, more importantly, how do we begin to do it? Join Karen Iverson Riggers and Lynn McLaughlin as they talk about their own journeys in self-love.

If you experience moments ... hours ... days of feeling overwhelm, know that you are not alone. The pandemic is still affecting us friends. And, let's be honest, we were feeling the overwhelm and stress of life prior to that. The pandemic just served to amplify it and the feelings of overwhelm are hitting us much more frequently. Join Karen and Lynn as they talk through the feeling of overwhelm, ways that we can acknowledge it and move through it in healthy ways.

Have you ever heard the Albert Einstein quote, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid." We are all unique human beings with very different life experiences, dreams and aspirations. Yet much of being human has us comparing ourselves to others ... much to our demise. In this episode, Karen and Lynn talk through the challenges of comparison and how we can best embrace and love ourselves exactly as we are.

As we approach the end of the year, people often begin to think of resolutions for themselves in the new year. It's usually something they want to do more of, less of, or completely eliminate. The absolutes of resolutions result in a good/bad or right/wrong outcome which can be filled with shame. What if instead we set an intention for the year? Join Lynn and Karen as they share their 2023 intentions and how they incorporate self-compassion, curiosity and presence throughout the year.

The holiday season is upon us and, although it can be stressful and challenging for many, we can find magical moments to savor. Join Karen and Lynn as they share their own magical moments where they found themselves savoring life. By slowing down, being present and noticing life through our senses, we will find moments to savor every day.

In a world that screams "Urgent! Faster! Do More!" under the veil of capitalism and white supremacy, it is vitally important for each of us to prioritize rest. In her book "Rest is Resistance - A Manifesto," Tricia Hersey talks passionately about rest as a form of resistance and how liberation begins with honoring our bodies. In this episode, Karen and Lynn talk through all of the demands of ordinary life and how the holidays can require us to do even more. Intentionally creating time for rest, as well as sleep, has never been more important to our wellness.

Happy Holidays? Or not so much. For many people, the holidays are anything but happy, and the expectation to feel happy can be incredibly overwhelming. Some people may be dealing with deep grief for people who are no longer part of their holiday celebration. Others may experience a complicated, emotion-filled day with stress, confrontation or unhealthy family dynamics. Whatever your holidays look like, know that the emotions surrounding them are real, valid and ok. Join Karen and Lynn as they talk through the realness of the holidays and slowing down to allow for all of the feels.

According to Gabor Mate, a leading expert on trauma, a child has two needs as they develop. The first is an attachment with the people who help them survive; the second is the need to be authentic. Oftentimes, a child needs to choose between the two ... especially in the realm of emotion. Can I share my emotions authentically? Or do I need to suppress that piece of me to be a good and nice child? Join Karen and Lynn as they dive deep into the connection between the two and how we can begin to heal and show up as our authentic selves.

Have you heard people talk about holding space for others? What in the world does that actually mean, right? Karen and Lynn unpack this concept of supporting people and share how impactful it has been in their own lives.