We all experience change each and every day. Recognizing and accepting change when it occurs can be challenging. With a short phrase "It's like this now," we can extend self-compassion, love and acceptance to where we are in the present and honor how temporary it can be. Join Lynn and Karen as they talk through the powerful shift that can happen when we stay grounded in the present.

We have all experienced times in our life where we may have felt defective or broken. Navigating life is complicated and hard at times. In our work, Karen and I often share with others the value that we hold that all people are fundamentally whole. We believe that we were born whole and are impacted by a myriad of experiences that cause us to question it. Join us as we share the powerful shift that can occur, in ourselves and our relationship with others, when we embody the concept that there are no broken people.

We are all connected. Whether it is a tragic event that is far from us or one in our backyard, we feel the emotion, grief and empathy as if it is our own. Empathy for the human experience is universal and deeply needed in our world. Join Karen and Lynn as they share their own experiences of connection with near and far and how they navigate through the emotions.

In the work that we do, we often hear about the conditioning and pressure many feel to stay positive or happy. Here's the real deal folks ... it is an impossible ask. As human beings, we all experience ups and downs and moments of no direction at all. So know that whatever you are experiencing, however you are showing up in the world, you are not alone. Join Karen and Lynn as they take a REAL look at all people are carrying and the power of connection to lighten our load.

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.