Beautiful Shifts

Poet Hannah Rosenberg joins us to talk about finding beauty in everyday life through poetry and turning a personal passion into meaningful work. Through her upcoming debut book, Same, she captures love, friendship, marriage, and motherhood with honesty and grace—and even reads a few of her beautiful poems about the changing seasons of life. Listen to this heartfelt conversation about creativity, connection, and the magic found in o...

Therapist Shannon Ricks shares about her journey through chronic illness, perfectionism, and faith transition—and how learning to listen to her body instead of fighting it became the foundation for healing. Drawing from her personal story and clinical experience in eating disorder recovery, Shannon shares insights on body neutrality, intuitive eating, and self-compassion. She also explores how beauty standards and perfectionism aff...

In this episode, Alyson Paul Deussen shares her remarkable journey through life’s transitions—embracing motherhood, becoming the parent of a newly out gay son, navigating shifts in faith, facing the heartbreaking loss of her son Stockton to suicide, and transforming grief into powerful advocacy. With over 30 years in nonprofit leadership, Alyson has worked with Mama Dragons, Affirmation, Love Loud, and the Utah LGBTQ Suicide Preven...

In this episode, we sit down with Erin Proctor, the voice behind @toddler.frat.house, who went from sharing the raw, funny truths of motherhood to surviving a Covid-induced stroke that changed the course of her life. Erin opens up about her subarachnoid hemorrhage, the challenges of living with a traumatic brain injury, and the hidden struggles of recovery while raising four kids. She also shares how her experience led her to advoc...

In this powerful episode, Ashlee Boyson shares her journey through unimaginable loss after the infidelity and murder of her husband in 2011. Just months after welcoming her fifth child, Ashlee faced trauma that reshaped her life—and eventually led her to healing, advocacy, and helping others. She has shared her story on Dateline, Dr. Phil, True Crime Daily, and more, and continues her work through her blog The Moments We Stand, her...

In this moving and eye-opening conversation, Jorge Nunez shares how poetry became the lifeline that helped him escape gang life in L.A., endure prison and deportation, and ultimately build a new life as a father, teacher, and poet. From writing his first poem in a juvenile probation camp to teaching in the same prison where he once served time, Jorge’s story offers a powerful glimpse into resilience, transformation, and the healing...

In this re-released episode, Molly Bice Jackson—author of The Commodity of Connection, keynote speaker, actress, and child loss survivor—shares how grief, creativity, and connection have shaped her story. With warmth, humor, and honesty, Molly talks about growing through life’s hardest moments and how meaningful connection continues to guide her work and life. We loved this conversation and know it will leave you reflecting on the ...

In August 2022, our friend and neighbor Dan Wadsworth sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. In this inspiring conversation, Dan and his wife Michelle reflect on the journey they’ve been on since—navigating uncertainty, finding strength in each other, and learning to adapt to a new reality. Their story is one of courage, deep love, and discovering what you’re truly made of. We're s...

As part of our summer series resharing some of our most popular episodes from Season 2, we’re bringing back this conversation with our dear friend Susie Augenstein. We thought it was the perfect episode to re-air this June, as Susie is a fierce and thoughtful advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals here in Utah.

In this heartfelt and wise conversation, Susie opens up about navigating major life transitions like the empty nest phase, and ...

Today we’re wrapping up Season 3 highlighting favorite moments and themes from the second half of the season. We share plans for the podcast over the summer and look ahead to what’s coming in Season 4. We also talk about The Next Day by Melinda Gates—a book we both recently read—and how her insights on navigating life transitions connect with the stories shared on our show.

A huge thank you to all our amazing guests this season! ...

In this episode, Nate Meikle—husband, father of four, author, leadership professor at the University of Kansas, Stanford Law graduate, former sideline reporter, and host of the Meikles and Dimes podcast—shares the story behind a series of unexpected decisions that shaped his life and career. From walking away from traditional job paths to pursuing a PhD in his mid-30s, Nate reflects on what it’s taken to follow his own intuition in...

When Aimee lost her husband in a tragic car accident just three days after their wedding, it marked the beginning of a life-altering transformation—one shaped not only by grief, but by a traumatic brain injury that changed how she experienced the world. Years later, while serving in a high-level leadership role in the LDS Church, Aimee made the life-altering decision to step away from her faith, leave her marriage, and confront the...

In this episode, we sit down with Samantha to talk about how journaling became a powerful tool during her divorce and life as a single mom. She shares how writing helped her navigate difficult emotions and transitions, and how she now helps women tap into this same healing process through journaling. Samantha explains her approach and how it helps women reconnect with their inner voice, and how it can be a tool for healing. 

We r...

Andrea, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and Medical Director at LEVO, brings over 16 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment. In this episode, she shares how her own journey with anxiety led her to a career in psychiatry, and how personal experiences with ADHD and anxiety in her family have shaped her compassionate, holistic approach. Andrea explains the importance of seeing the whole person—biologically, psyc...

In this heartfelt and candid conversation, Kellie Adams shares her journey through addiction and transformation to sobriety. From beginning to drink at a very young age to becoming completely dependent on alcohol, Kellie opens up about the turning point that led her to get sober in 2014—and how that decision changed everything. Her story is raw, relatable, and filled with both honesty and humor.

Much like her memoir Shit I Do Sob...

How can we stay grounded, compassionate, and open when navigating conversations around politics, religion, or other high-stakes topics? In this episode, we’re joined again by Brandie Paterakis—licensed therapist and founder of Blue Bee Counseling—for a conversation about how to have meaningful, and sometimes messy, discussions with friends, loved ones, and even our children and spouses. We talk about how she approaches interpersona...

Becki Andrus shares the deeply personal story of how she came to the decision to end her marriage—despite doing everything “right.” With honesty and grace, she talks about what it was like to stay for years in a relationship that began strong but transitioned to one that looked great from the outside but left her feeling stuck, unseen, and spiritually conflicted on the inside.

In this conversation, Becki opens up about breaking f...

Kecia Cox is a mother of seven, including three incredible children with Down syndrome. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her journey into special needs parenting, the unexpected paths that led to adoption, and the unique joys and challenges of raising twins. Kecia opens up about the mindset shifts she’s embraced along the way and the lessons she’s learned about inclusion, community, and love.

Her perspective on raising ...