Wow... we can honestly say it's been a whirlwind since we started the podcast. It's hard to believe we are already wrapping up our second season, but here we are!

Today, K-Dog and I go back to our roots and bring out some more #RealTalk. We do a quick revisit of where this journey began, as well as some reflection of Season 2. We took in so many goodies from so many incredible people this season, and now it's time to digest!

Join us as we also talk a bit about what's to come in Season 3. Moving forward, we will be taking a closer look at ourselves, our past, and the effects these experiences have had on other relationships.

Our journey of learning and growth has continued throughout this project, and we are so excited to share all the new things we learned!

Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405

WOW...am I right? These profound words are just a taste of the insight that Lisa Medley shares with us on today's episode.

Lisa knows that your body is a sacred vessel for your best self, and she is here to teach us how to come home to our bodies and value their wisdom. Being a highly sensitive person and empath made things difficult at times - particularly when she was younger and less aware of her blessings.

That said, it is a huge piece of what brought her to where she is today. In our conversation with Lisa, we talk about so many goodies such as:

• How her relationship with her mother has contributed to who she is
• How their relationship has evolved over time
• What Selfish really means
• What true self-care is
• Relaxation vs. Restoration
• An insight into how the brain affects the body
• And so much more!

Want to learn more about Lisa? We don't blame you! You can find more of her:

1. On her website
2. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube @lisamedley

Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405

You know when you find someone who just gets it?

That's what it was like when we met Sara Deacon, and we knew she absolutely had to be a guest!

Sara Deacon - A.K.A. The Adulting Coach - is just that. She is someone who gets how difficult it can be to both be an adult and be raising them. She's here to help guide parents, teens, and young adults through the crazy world of adulting. If you are in this boat like so many others, our conversation with Sara today is one you MUST listen to!

Because it's what we do, we start by diving into Sara's relationship with her mom, how it changed as she grew, and how it helped to shape who she is and what she does. From people-pleasing, to the desire to rebel, to expectations and even conversational baggage - we touch on it all!

Finally, we get the opportunity to talk with Sara about what it's like raising her adolescent sons. We discuss some of the similarities and differences from raising daughters.

We know that after listening to today's episode, you are going to want to learn more about Sara. You can find out more about her coaching services, the community she is building, and the amazing resources she can provide you and your growing children almost everywhere! Including:

• Her website
• Her Facebook or Instagram
• Her YouTube
• And even LindkIn!

Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405

If you've listened to our story, then you know it had plenty of its own ups and downs. However, we can gratefully say that divorce was never something that played a part in our unique journey. Because of that, the effect it can have on a parent-child relationships wasn't really something we had thought about.

Until we met the brilliant Lisa Johnson of Been There Got Out. Lisa and her partner Chris, after each having been through their own high-conflict divorces, created a space where they can - through their certified coaching services - provide expert and strategic guidance to those leaving toxic relationships.

After spending some time talking to Lisa, we realized that our listeners and their clients that are also parents had a lot in common: something BIG is happening in their worlds, and it is affecting their relationship with their children. They are facing disconnect and frustration, and don't know how to have the difficult but necessary conversations to bring them closer together.

So that's what today's episode is all about! We welcome our guest, Lisa Johnson, as she shares with us her expert insight and advice for parents who may be struggling with a high-conflict divorce. We talk about how to navigate this rocky road with your teens and young adults, and how to remain connected and close to them during and after the process.

Does this sound like you? If you think Lisa and Chris can help guide you, you can find out more about them:

• On their website - https://beentheregotout.com/
• On their Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/been_there_got_out
• On their Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BeenThereGotOut

Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405

We talk a lot about how changing or opening up your perspective and mindset is one of the keys to this journey. And I'll admit it... sometimes we get so caught up in the what that we forget to talk about the how.

That's why we decided to make today's episode all about the How!

One of the tools we found especially useful was learning about the common negative thinking patterns that we can get caught in as humans. Once we were aware of these "mind traps", we started to look at which ones popped up the most for us, when we fell into these patterns, and - most importantly - why.

So, join us today as we go over 10 of the most common negative thinking patterns, give some real-life and rhetorical examples, as well as share steps on how to recognize and shift these patterns in your own thinking!

1. All or Nothing Thinking
2. Overgeneralization
3. Mental Filter (what you focus on expands)
4. Discounting the Positive ~
5. Jumping to Conclusions
6. Magnification/Minimization
7. Emotional Reasoning
8. "Should"ing Yourself
9. Labeling
10. Personalization/Blame

Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405

***If you haven't listened to our last episode - "Looking at High School through a Neurodivergent Lens" - we recommend checking that out first!***

It's SO easy to get caught up in the "what ifs" of life. As parents, we can easily fall into this trap not just with ourselves, but with our children as well.

~ What if they don't pass that class?

~ What if they don't get into a good college?

~ What if they don't get a well-paying job and struggle to make ends meet?

As common and valid as these fears are, focusing on the negative "What Ifs" adds an extra layer of pressure and stress. For some of us, it can even send us into a spiral of anxiety and depression. It can easily happen to us and our teens.

So, how do we shift this focus?

By following up your "What Ifs" with "Why?"

~ Why am I afraid of them not passing that class?

~ Why do I believe getting into a good college is the only/correct path?

~ Why do I feel like a well-paying job will = success/happiness for my child?

Then, once you've come up with answers, ask yourself "Why?" again. And again. And again. Channel your inner toddler and keep asking yourself the same question. The answers you come to will start to shift your focus from What Ifs to What Is.

Once you move away from the 'what ifs' and focus on the 'what is', that's when shift happens! Tune into this week's episode to learn more about what we mean.

If your teenage daughter is struggling with achieving all the "normal" high school things, this is an episode for you!



Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405

High school.

It's a term that can bring to the surface a plethora of emotions and thoughts - some good, some bad, and some in between.

Navigating this intricate web of emotions, relationships, academic pressures, and self-discovery in high school can feel like a rollercoaster with exhilarating highs and daunting lows. Basically, high school is A LOT for anyone.

Next, let's look at the how most high schools are structured. They cater to the "normal" route that leads towards a single definition of "success" - a definition created by our society that is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain (which is a whole different can of worms!). In this fashion, we are almost setting our youths up for failure.

Then, let's add in powerful tools that can be used for great evil: Social Media and the Internet. High schoolers today have no way of turning down the noise. To some degree, you could relate these teens' lives being on constant display to the pressures of fame.

Finally, we mix in a little neurodivergence. As if the "normal" path wasn't difficult enough, now we are asking someone to follow it when it doesn't suit them or is even detrimental to their overall well-being. But, it's what is expected so we ask them to push on.

I don't know about you, but when I look at it all like this, it looks like a recipe for disaster. At least I know it was for me (Abigail), and I know it is and has been for others.

So, that's what our conversation today is all about! We dive into these subjects and share more about my own high school experience. We discuss what we would have done differently knowing what we know now.

If your teenage daughter is struggling with achieving all the "normal" high school things, this is an episode for you!



Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405

Okay everyone... this is a MUST listen!

I mean if you were to ask us they are all "must listens", but if you are picking and choosing, CHOOSE THIS ONE!

Today's episode is extra special for a few reasons:

1. We introduce The ParenT(w)een Connection for this first time on The Mother Daughter Journey!
2. It's our first time having 2 amazing guests at once!
3. Our guests - Clarissa and Joe Constantine - are hilarious, a blast to be with, down to earth, and doing incredibly important work. We are SO lucky to have had this conversation with them!

When we first started this podcast, a big reason behind this creation was to provide a space where mothers and daughters going through the tough transitions of a maturing relationship can just listen, be, and learn. Especially, though, we were hoping to provide comfort for those going through this transition while also learning to love all of themselves no matter what their brain chemistry is.

This is the beauty of Clarissa and Joe and what they've created with The ParenT(w)een Connection. Thanks to them and all the professionals they are working with, we now have a judgment-free zone where parents and other members of 'the village' can connect with each other & with pros to support each other and your t(w)eens.

I mean, how awesome is that???!!! The ParenT(w)een Connection is something we wish we had at the time, and we are so excited to be a part of something that can help others that are going through similar situations.

So, with all that being said, join us! Not only do we dive more into what The ParenT(w)een Connection is and how it can help, but you also get a sneak peek inside the brilliant and beautiful minds and lives of the people who have created it.

Of course this wouldn't be The Mother Daughter Journey if we didn't talk about Clarissa's:

1. Relationship with her mother as a child
2. How it did and didn't shift as they grew
3. How her relationship with her mother impacted who and where she is today
4. PLUS! We get to hear from Joe and his observations on the effect Clarissa's relationship with her mother had on their relationship and others.

Seriously. We know this is a longer than usual episode, but it is SO WORTH IT!

Where to find more information on The ParenT(w)een Connection and learn more about Joe and Clarissa:

• The ParenT(w)een Connection Website
• Their Facebook Group
• On Instagram

Music composed and produced by:

Ben Tackett

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0155f8866a94fb9405