Social Leopards

Beth narrates a short blog exploring seven meaningful holidays from around the world — Diwali, Hanami, Eid al-Fitr, Hanukkah, Nowruz, Día de los Muertos, and Kwanzaa.

She reflects on how these traditions teach connection, gratitude, renewal, and shared humanity.

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Beth responds personally to all communications received. 

Buy Beth Butram a coffee at ko-fi.com/bethpodcast. Never required, always appreciated! 

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Host Beth explores the practice of slowing down in a culture that glorifies constant productivity. Through personal stories and practical suggestions, she explains how intentional pauses can restore presence, creativity, and a deeper sense of 'enoughness.'

Listeners are encouraged to try small rituals like mindful breaks, slow dinners, and unhurried tasks. Reclaim time, reduce guilt around rest, and live more fully.

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Beth r...

Sometimes connection isn’t found in big gestures. It’s in the quiet act of being present. In this episode, Beth explores how showing up for the small, everyday moments can rebuild a sense of belonging in a world that often feels disconnected. From shared smiles with strangers to conversations that linger, she unpacks how real connection starts with intentional attention.

Whether you’ve been feeling isolated or simply craving more m...

We all have those moments when our minds wander straight into the land of what ifs. What if I fail? What if I say the wrong thing? What if this doesn’t work out? In this episode of Social Leopards, Beth unpacks the anxious energy behind those questions and explores how we can make peace with uncertainty, instead of trying to outthink it.

Through personal reflection, humor, and a few surprising insights, we’ll look at how fear often...

Gratitude season is here, but what if you’re not exactly feeling the “overflowing abundance” energy this year? In this Thanksgiving episode, Beth takes a refreshingly honest look at what gratitude actually feels like when life is messy, busy, or just plain human. With warmth, humor, and a few small reflections, she explores how thankfulness can coexist with chaos—and how to find comfort in the quiet, unpolished corners of everyday ...

In this bonus mini-episode, Beth shares her short story called "A Soft Place for Gratitude," following Aya as she discovers quiet moments of thankfulness on a peaceful hillside. The tale shows how gratitude can be found in small, simple moments rather than big celebrations.

This episode closes with a set of gentle affirmations to help you notice the steady, luminous things supporting you through the holiday season.

Did you enjoy wh...

Beth opens Season 5 with a candid conversation about the inner critic, exploring why it shows up, how it holds us back, and practical, compassionate ways to respond instead of surrendering to self-judgment.

Listen for simple strategies to help you move forward with more confidence and less noise.

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Beth responds personally to all communications received. 

Buy Beth Butram a coffee at ko-fi.com/bethpodcast. Never required but ...

In this episode, Beth reflects on Ryan Delaney's essay about the modern loneliness epidemic and how digital convenience has eroded everyday human connection. She shares personal stories, practical suggestions—like choosing conversation over self-checkout and joining Meetup groups—and emphasizes the importance of intentionally creating moments of presence to rebuild meaningful relationships.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR:

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In this episode, Beth recounts Skip Concannon's story. He relocates his family from Boston to rural Oregon and discovers that the move forces a deeper reckoning about identity, purpose and family life.

Stripped of professional validation and surrounded by quiet, he learns practical skills, leans on a new community, and finds value in presence and humility rather than constant productivity.

This episode explores how slowing down can...

Ready to trade sleepless nights for real rest? Discover the game-changing science behind better sleep in this week’s episode! Host Beth dives into Tara Parker-Pope’s expert insights and shares the proven strategies that finally helped her drift off—no matter how stubborn her insomnia.

Tune in for eye-opening tips like ‘cognitive shuffling,’ the secret power of ‘nappuccinos,’ and simple bedtime rituals that actually work. Plus, find...

Are you prone to the occasional midnight meltdown or just a reality check? In this week’s episode, Beth gets real about Lina’s epic article, "The 2 AM Urge to Reinvent Your Entire Life." Why do those late-night brainstorms feel like pure genius (especially when your ADHD brain is riding the chaos express)? And why do those big plans usually fizzle out by sunrise? Tune in for tips like jotting down wild ideas before they vanish, giv...

This episode contrasts the viral "Sunday reset" with a gentler "Sunday recharge," featuring a somewhat anonymous Substack creator, who writes about choosing rest over productivity. It highlights simple rituals that can refill your energy instead of exhausting it.

Beth reflects on how prioritizing small restorative habits reduces stress and impulse spending, offers permission to make Sunday your own opportunity to recharge and feel ...

In this episode, host Beth reads a letter from "L" about Eldest Daughter Syndrome — the emotional toll of being thrust into caregiving, responsibility, and perfectionism early in life. Through personal reflections and poignant examples, the episode explores how this role shapes identity, causes burnout, and makes boundaries feel foreign, while offering hope through unlearning, self-compassion, and reclaiming one’s life.

About this ...

If you’ve ever wondered what it truly takes to begin again at the end of a marriage when life seems to be literally falling apart all around you, this episode is for you. Beth shares a story of raw, unfiltered reality of starting over after divorce—no tidy bows, just the honest truth behind survival, strength, and the quiet heroism found in everyday moments. Featuring the deeply personal writing of Substack creator Salwa, this stor...

Host Beth reads and reflects upon Mary Jackson's essay about a client, Lisa, who dreads lunches with her friend Monica because conversations are one-sided and emotionally draining. It’s a truly relatable episode for many of us who struggle to achieve a mutually fulfilling friendship.

The episode explores emotional labor, the importance of reciprocity in friendships, and a simple boundary technique Lisa uses to shift the dynamic tow...

In this episode Beth shares Vera Hart's essay on healing (What Real Healing Looks Like: Rewiring the Body After Psychological Abuse), exploring how trauma rewires the body and the steps toward real recovery: naming harm, rebuilding safety, recognizing trauma bonds, and resisting societal shame.

Through personal reflection and simple practices—setting boundaries, creating calm spaces, and allowing grief—listeners are invited to shif...

This episode explores low-key, gentle habits that support mental health—you’ll have to listen for the details! Drawn from Karun Paul's "The Introvert Letter," the host reflects on how these small rituals create calm, reduce pressure, and honor individual rhythms.

Listeners are invited to slow down, subtract the noise, and embrace peaceful, sustainable self-care routines that work for them.

About this week’s featured contributor:

Ka...

In this compelling episode of Social Leopards, host Beth delves into the intricacies of coercive control with insights from survivor and writer Samara Knight. Samara shares her journey through emotional abuse, highlighting how victims often lose their sense of choice and autonomy in relationships where control doesn’t leave physical scars. Through testimonies and personal reflections, the episode sheds light on the profound challen...

In this episode of Social Leopards, host Beth dives into the complex world of gaslighting, a psychological manipulation tool where individuals distort reality to gain control. Beth shares the experiences and insights on identifying and dealing with gaslighters, featuring a powerful article from Substack author Anton Volney. Volney's piece, "The Upside Down," explores the heartbreaking reality of living with manipulation, reminding ...