TAL #048 MARY DOWLING

Mary Dowling.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • What Mary learned about our need to live a life filled with love at any time of life
  • Shifting from long-distance to local caregiving
  • Realizing the reality, dread, sadness, and responsibility of what was ahead
  • Raising children to thrive while watching a parent decline
  • How the emotional process of her mom's Alzheimer's diagnosis was different than her dad's Cancer
  • What she wishes she had done more of when caring for her mom
  • Finding ways to connect with a person in the late stages of dementia
  • Ways of dealing with losing a parent
  • Hitting a wall due to the stress and loss of connection of caring for a person living with dementia
  • Control as a coping mechanism
  • The Clicker! And how Mary channeled her inner MacGyver with Krazy Glue, wires, clamps and batteries
  • Involving her school-aged children in the care of her mom
  • Stepping into her mom's reality
  • Legal guardianship
  • Feeling resentment and losing it after finding support 
  • Delayed grief and the surprising moment that let the emotional floodgates open
  • Retrospectively taking stock of caregiving accomplishments
  • How memories of her mom have shifted two years after her death

 

In AFTER THOUGHTS Colleen shares her feelings for Mary and her mother because of the important roles they played in her life and the life of her father. And then she shares her thoughts on love as it relates to persons living with dementia. 

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“We all want that feeling of being loved and wanted and needed and seen and looked for.”
— Mary Dowling
“You will survive.”
— Mary Dowling
“If you try to pretend like you can do it all and it’s effortless and you’re so on top of it and you’ve got it all together, you’re going to crash and burn.”
— Mary Dowling

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 

SHOW NOTES:

Mary is living a private life off the grid. If you'd like to get in touch with her, contact Colleen below and she'll be happy to connect you. 

The "Bobbin For Apples Pudding Cake"

The "Bobbin For Apples Pudding Cake"

 

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #047 ERICA HORNTHAL

Erica Hornthal.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • Dance/Movement Therapy: what it is and how it is (and isn't) like traditional talk therapy
  • How Erica blended two things that clicked for her and turned them into a career
  • What a dance/movement therapy session looks like
  • Movement therapy to release trauma
  • Acknowledging the emotions we hold in our bodies
  • Movement as a way to quicken therapy
  • Who can best benefit from movement therapy
  • Ways of connection to ourselves and others holistically
  • Body scanning as a way to bring emotional wellness
  • Meeting others in the moment as a way to validate their emotions
  • The science behind movement's impact on our brains and mental health
  • The benefits of emotional release, expression, connection, social engagement, self-awareness, and self-esteem
  • Why your body is your biggest tool for feeling better emotionally
  • How Erica practices what she preaches (and how we can as well)
  • Somatic Countertransference: what it is and how to prevent it
  • Taking responsibility for our emotions
  • Changing your outlook through movement

 

In AFTER THOUGHTS Colleen adds to the discussion about somatic countertransference and how she chose to consciously throw away feelings of negativity.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“It’s okay to not be okay.”
— Erica Hornthal
“We tend to focus on what we’ve lost, not what we’re still capable of.”
— Erica Hornthal
“Your body is your biggest tool to make yourself feel better.”
— Erica Hornthal

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 

SHOW NOTES:

Erica's website for Chicago Dance Therapy

Erica on Twitter

Erica on Instagram

Erica on Facebook

American Dance Therapy Association  

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #046 JACK ARPERT

Jack Arpert.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • What Jack has seen while traveling the world for five years
  • Bridging the gap between fear and possibility
  • The role Jack's mom played in his dream of travel + reflections on their evolved relationship
  • How the wisdom of his 19-year-old self looks different at 27
  • What he is happy not to have looming over him
  • How he finances travel
  • The one thing we can do to live more sustainably
  • His views on America after traveling abroad
  • How to re-evaluate obligations in order to live your dreams
  • The awareness of living a conscious life
  • Connection with others and the power in hearing their stories
  • Ways to get people to talk with you
  • A few of his favorite things for travel
  • How to scare away a grizzly bear
  • How to live bigger
  • A surprising outcome from traveling

 

Then, during AFTER THOUGHTS hear how the heck Colleen met someone who is living such a life of adventure and what she (a self-confessed homebody) shares in common with Jack, a world traveler. And find out what she wants you to do today. 

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“Don’t just walk by someone. At least just smile at them.”
— Jack Arpert
“We need to share what is good inside of us with other people and drag what’s good out of them.”
— Jack Arpert
“When you can live with the ambition to positively affect as many people and as much of the planet as possible, it will come easier to you.”
— Jack Arpert

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #045 JUSTIN BILLS + MÉLANIE KERN

JUSTIN BILLS and MÉLANIE KERN.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • In light of current world affairs, two pastors from different traditions respond to the question, "Why does God allow bad things to happen?"
  • The importance of defining our idea of God
  • How institutions and the Bible inform our ideas of God
  • The biggest question of faith
  • Releasing our need for quick answers
  • Why we let our enemies make us just like them
  • How to bring different tools to the table than the tools evil is bringing
  • Bringing our energies of light and compassion to end the darkness
  • Free will and its role in negative choices
  • The power of being a faithful presence of love and hope in the face of oppression
  • Why the resilience of the human heart is greater than the forces trying to push us down
  • The power in loving and serving people in the midst of pain and suffering
  • Doing the right thing regardless of the government's actions
  • Creating a wildfire of love
  • Asking: "How do I want to respond to this?"
  • Having everything we need, just as we are in this moment
  • Why anger and frustration aren't bad when we are faced with injustice

 

Then, during AFTER THOUGHTS Colleen reflects on the conversation and questions how we can move away from the despair of world news, a new diagnosis, or a misunderstanding and create goodness.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“Do you want to add to the noise or do you want to be raging with compassion?”
— Justin Bills
“Change is not dependent on a government.”
— Justin Bills
“Evil is an absence of goodness.”
— Mélanie Kern
“Light is always stronger than darkness.”
— Mélanie Kern

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #044 MELISSA SWEENEY

Melissa Sweeney.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • Reflections on Melissa's first year of college
  • What things from home she missed
  • Her dream list of care package items
  • What the first day of school was like
  • If she'd choose the same school again
  • The realization of being "the American girl" when studying abroad
  • What it was like to not get an A on a test
  • The difference between high school + college girl drama
  • How family + friend relationships have changed
  • The most challenging part of being away from home in Europe
  • What she wished her parents told her before going to college
  • What she wished her parents didn't tell her before going to college
  • The women's body positivity movement and Instagram
  • Conversation topics on campus in Europe vs. America
  • How college is changing the way she lives
  • How she sees herself now
  • Summer goals and sophomore year goals
  • The surprising difficulty of naming what we actually enjoy
  • Her advice to anyone embarking on something new

Tune in to AFTER THOUGHTS to hear Colleen reckon with the fact she was once the same age as Melissa and about reconnecting with a friend from her own college years, life in the present day, and what it all may mean.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“You need Netflix for college.”
— Melissa Sweeney
“Wouldn’t it be great if people just went places to just go and experience them and not have to take pictures of themselves looking amazing? Like, I sometimes wanna sweat and look at flowers.”
— Melissa Sweeney
“Life is whatever you decide it to be.”
— Melissa Sweeney

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 

SHOW NOTES:

Heathers

Gray Gardens

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Wonderwall by Oasis

Dusk Nightclub

Fubar Nightclub

 

Previous guest episodes mentioned during the show:

TAL with Mélanie Kern

TAL with Beth Marshall

TAL with Gloria Allhiser

TAL with Clare Egan

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #043 GLORIA ALLHISER

Gloria Allhiser.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • Gloria's Everyday Truthtelling Letters as a journey into owning her own crap
  • How reading the feelings of others helped her not feel alone
  • Social media reflecting experiences that were not her own
  • Why connecting through letters is different than through social media
  • Cultivating an intentional audience and a disciplined practice for reflection in her letters
  • Walking the line between sharing what is intimate vs. personal
  • The definition of codependency for Gloria
  • The role codependency plays in living with addictions
  • The nasty beast of active alcoholism 
  • Living in survival mode when alcoholism is present
  • The sigh of relief that is still happening in her life
  • The long road of recovery and rebuilding 
  • When medication is life-saving
  • The partner's overlooked perspective in recovery
  • The illusion of going back to normal
  • Navigating in a never before lived life
  • Viewing marriage in a new way
  • Relationship fallout, new healthy undoings, and rebuilding
  • The value of a new support network

And, during AFTER THOUGHTS Colleen reflects on what Gloria has shared and asks the question, "Are there any truths that we aren't speaking?" 

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“It is so healing to be able to healthfully be able to share these intimate and personal details so that other people can also find courage and compassion.”
— Gloria Allhiser
“We need more voices who stand up and say ‘Hey, I’m experiencing this and this is how I’m working through it’.”
— Gloria Allhiser
“The becoming is what happens with the undoing of all the crap.”
— Gloria Allhiser

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #042 CHRIS MacLELLAN

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • What being the subject of a Pulitzer Prize nominated story was like for Chris and his partner, Richard
  • The power of storytelling for family caregivers
  • Acknowledging the generation the caree is from
  • Retrospective reflections on what he'd do differently
  • What your caree knows and wants from you
  • The two common aspects of caregiving we aren't prepared for
  • Moving past regrets to see the joy of caring
  • What love can do for another's health
  • The four things that contributed to Chris' new healthy lifestyle
  • What mindset and a visit to a psychic have in common
  • How Chris in now sharing stories on a much larger scale
  • The feeling of not being needed after loss
  • Why grief isn't over in a year
  • Ways of cataloging your experience with your loved one
  • His advice to others preparing to live after loss
  • Why even a year ago he could never have had this conversation

Stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS when Colleen shares something that Chris spoke of and why having the conversation about care planning is one of the most loving discussions a couple can share.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“The one person who wants you to take good care of yourself is the person that you’re caring for.”
— Christopher MacLellan
“Be prepared for the rollercoasters.”
— Christopher MacLellan
“My faith tells me that I will see him again. My mind tells me that he’s forever pain-free. And my heart tells me he’s standing right beside me.”
— Christopher MacLellan

 

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 

SHOW NOTES:

TAL #041 TERRY PRINCE

Terry Prince.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • All about getting rid of the stuff a loved one leaves behind
  • What to focus on during this stressful process
  • Who should handle which memorabilia
  • How to set yourself up to sort through things
  • The amount of time to allow for getting through it all
  • What to do with old photographs
  • Tips on storing old ephemera
  • The surprises you may find
  • Sentimental objects and siblings
  • Hidden places to look for objects of value
  • What to pull from the home first
  • How to determine an object's value
  • Preventing conflict among family members
  • When to consider adding a codicle to the will
  • The value of taking photos of the home before clearing it out
  • Considerations in donating objects
  • The Museum of Self
  • Ways to curate family photos
  • The importance of digitally backing up photos
  • What to do with old trophies

Stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS as Terry shows us how to create a Museum of Self. 

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“Expect conflict. It will happen.”
— Terry Prince
“Talk to people, don’t keep it all in while you’re going through the process.”
— Terry Prince
“It will pass in time and it’s gonna be emotional, but it’s a part of life.”
— Terry Prince

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

A vintage Queen Mary pen like Terry mentioned, remember these pens? 

A vintage Queen Mary pen like Terry mentioned, remember these pens? 

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #040 BETH SCIBIENSKI

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • How she and her husband met and who he was as a person

  • Living + loving within chronic illness

  • Beth's biggest struggle in caring for her husband

  • Processing the projected fears of others

  • How we can handle more than we think we can

  • Her "grief button" theory

  • The promise she made to herself after her husband's death

  • The relationship between grief and fear

  • The benefits of massage in her healing

  • The liberation of setting the bar low

  • Radically slowing down life after loss

  • How she learned to be merciful

  • What tapping into her inner wisdom looked like

  • Going from a "we" to a "me"

  • The beauty in accepting what is happening

  • Navigating her congregation through their shared loss

  • Why she'll be writing to Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg

  • Reconsidering intimacy and the "vomit method"

  • The gift she gave herself

  • Considerations to anyone experiencing the first year of loss

Stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS as Beth reads poems about death (that aren't total downers) and shares what the loss of her husband gave her.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“I want my family to know their mom is strong enough to grieve.”
— Beth Scibienski
“Be very kind to yourself and do all the things that you need to do even if they don’t seem like they’re on the right list.”
— Beth Scibienski
“Grief is proof you loved.”
— Beth Scibienski
Image by Mitchell Toy

Image by Mitchell Toy

 

Previous TAL episode mentioned during the show:

TAL with Beth Marshall

TAL with Beth Scibienski in November 2018

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #039 CHARLES LEVIN

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • How the game of poker relates to life
  • How a career in retail, then IT, (and a touch of philosophy) helped create his third career as an author
  • Why writing is more satisfying than retail and IT
  • Pulling from the unconscious mind and creating from the conscious mind to create good writing
  • The thought-provoking ideas of ethics and technology
  • What's important in life and how we define happiness
  • How asking "What could go wrong?" helps drive a narrative
  • The philosophical questions within his book, Not So Dead
  • If we could live forever digitally, would that be okay?
  • Two things to watch for in every movie and television show
  • What writing in the morning keeps us closer to
  • Writing tips, tricks, habits, and techniques
  • The moment Charles first felt like a writer
  • Digital tattoos, longevity engineering, and immortalists 
  • The amazing (and scary) things going on with technology
  • The role of depression to inform living a happy life
  • The power of touch to connect us to ourselves
  • Three keys to happiness
  • The value of getting emotional support, especially when caring for others

Stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS to hear how Charles came to be on the show and which of Colleen's theories of life was proven after meeting him, a post-episode update on former guest Paulie Gee, and learn the signs of depression.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“Really good writing comes from your unconscious, it comes from deep down inside you.”
— Charles Levin
“When I want to gain perspective on life, I walk outside, and I look up at the sky, and it can be day or night, and I realize how small and insignificant we are, and that the crazy stuff that we get hung up on is so meaningless, and won’t matter in 20 years, that we might as well really enjoy the day. So, just getting outside and being a part of nature puts me in my place.”
— Charles Levin
“It seems to me, the really great things in life happen when you put yourself out there.”
— Charles Levin
Charlie with Paulie Gee.Of note: The pizza boxes were for leftovers, not take out (this will make sense when you listen to episode #035). 

Charlie with Paulie Gee.

Of note: The pizza boxes were for leftovers, not take out (this will make sense when you listen to episode #035).

 

The mandate to Colleen from David Sedaris.

The mandate to Colleen from David Sedaris.

Previous TAL episode mentioned during the show:

TAL with Paulie Gee

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #038 BETH MARSHALL

Beth Marshall.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • Why Beth felt like an amateur at grief
  • How journaling helped Beth process her emotions after the loss of her best friend + VW bus driving mom, Beazy
  • Tips for celebrating Mother's Day without a mom (or any big day without that certain someone)
  • A secret weapon in getting through a big day
  • The power in pre-planning
  • Respecting other's wishes to celebrate in a new way
  • How + why Lamar made Beth cry over her spinach omelet
  • What to acknowledge about this year
  • How Beth finds levity in the midst of sorrow
  • The value of sharing stories
  • What to ask for on social media (I LOVE this idea!)
  • When you may want to use crime scene tape during grieving
  • How to support others in grief
  • How to offer help (and why it's not about the taco soup)
  • Why dropping "scripture bombs" is not okay
  • The beauty of a handwritten note
  • The importance of the little things
  • What her 11-year old daughter said that gently helped her out of grieving for her mother
  • Sisterhood, Beth's exciting new project for women

Stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS when Beth shares her middle of the night resources to assist with your grief journey.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“I doubt it’s going to be a bad idea for someone to get a piece of handwritten mail.”
— Beth Marshall
“In the words of theologian, John Mayer, ‘Say what you need to say’.”
— Beth Marshall
“Fine is a four-letter word.”
— Beth Marshall

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #037 JOAN T. RANDALL

JOAN T. RANDALL.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • Joan retells the harrowing space she reached after surviving years of a physically abusive marriage
  • Why listening to your gut instinct is invaluable
  • Why you can not fix abusive people 
  • How Joan rebuilt her life after fleeing her marriage
  • Who her heart and her head are
  • The role accountability plays in creating a mindset shift
  • The power in acknowledging the presence of God
  • Going from $6 an hour to a 6-figure salary
  • How an illness provided her with a deep spiritual awakening
  • What now matters to her and why she stopped watching tv
  • How activating faith can ignite our best self
  • Her advice to anyone in a domestic abuse situation
  • The power of a positive community

 

Then, during AFTER THOUGHTS, Joan shares her 5 Steps to Activate Success to go from broken to brave, victim to victor, and survivor to thriver.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“The one thing I know about hate, it keeps you stuck.”
— Joan T. Randall
“I am light. I am air. I am energy. I am a spirit. I am no longer afraid of transitioning from this body.”
— Joan T. Randall
“There is more to life than just being average, but you have to put the work in.”
— Joan T. Randall

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #036 ANNA LOCKE

ANNA LOCKE.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • Anna's personal struggle with and acceptance of perfectionism
  • Learning to slow down and be compassionate with herself
  • The never ending process of self-discovery
  • The biggest gift of being a woman
  • How to tap into your inner wisdom
  • The lightness of being
  • The origins of perfectionism
  • The value in getting curious about yourself
  • How existing cultural systems affect how we see ourselves
  • Seeing mistakes as learning opportunities, not failures
  • The two sides of our masculine and feminine energies
  • Trusting the pace of your life
  • The embodied wisdom of our bodies
  • Cycle syncing - what it is, how to do it, why it will empower you
  • Living in rhythm with your hormones
  • How to talk to ourselves with love and compassion
  • The fastest way to snap out of perfectionism

 

And, don't miss AFTER THOUGHTS to hear Anna let Colleen know if her desire to have everything in her house look "just so" or "perfect" is a good thing or a bad thing.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“Fat is not a feeling.”
— Anna Locke
“Let’s stop measuring our sense of self-worth by our achievements.”
— Anna Locke
“I am good enough. And I don’t have to be perfect. And my ideas and my voice are worthy of being heard. And I do not have to apologize for who I am or for taking up space. And I am safe. And I am enough. And I can stand in my power and be myself.”
— Anna Locke
“The people you love deserve you at your best.”
— Anna Locke

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #035 PAULIE GEE

pauliegee.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • How Paulie spent 30 years masquerading as a corporate geek
  • How he pointed himself in a new career direction
  • The power of speaking things into existence
  • Advice to anyone who has a similar itch for a life change
  • Why he built a pizza oven in his backyard (it was for more than just the pizza parties)
  • Why Yankee fans make the best oven masters
  • How to influence influencers
  • The story of the pizza place that refused to hire him
  • The importance of having a supportive life partner and how he met his wife of 40+ years
  • Why you won't get take-out at Paulie Gee's
  • The "Paulie Gee Playlist": how many songs are it and which artists will never make it the list
  • His prolific Instagram account (+ what, in his opinion, is wrong with mine)
  • Why his employees can only wear logos from other pizzerias
  • Which toppings are prohibited on his pies
  • The secret ingredient he keeps on hand for his old school Italian patrons 
  • His big surprise about being a boss
  • The two things you need to make a dream reality
  • Who his greatest inspiration in the pizza world is
  • The one thing never to ask him to cook
  • Who he cooks for (hint: it's not you, and it's not me)
  • The part his belief in God plays for him
  • What he considers to be a Holy Trinity
  • The most fearful moment of opening his restaurant 
  • The one thing he can't leave to his head chef to do

 

And, pull up a chair for AFTER THOUGHTS and hear Colleen speak with her favorite DJ and fellow pizza tour participant, DJ CENTER, where he shares his thoughts on Paulie's playlist, his favorite Paulie Gee's pizza, what he's learned from Paulie, and why he thought Paulie was not a real person. 

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“The real risk was not taking a risk.”
— Paulie Gee
“Just do it. Walk through the wall of fear. It’s paper thin and there’s only good stuff on the other side.”
— Paulie Gee
“Commitment is your friend because when you commit to things, the energy that’s inside of you, you’re going to draw out more and make it happen.”
— Paulie Gee
“We all have seeds of greatness in us. You have to be able to bring those seeds out and make them grow.”
— Paulie Gee

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 
You can find DJ Center HERE

You can find DJ Center HERE

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #034 BETH SUERETH

Beth Suereth.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

Hospice:

  • What is it
  • When it should be considered
  • Where it happens
  • Cost
  • When to consider hospice even if the doctor isn't suggesting it
  • How to take a course of action that's different from what the doctor recommends

Considerations before hospice:

  • Who is involved in decision-making
  • Legal documents
  • Funeral wishes
  • How to make an end-of-life plan for the patient
  • The two questions that can get you very different answers

Considerations during hospice:

  • How to inform family members and others
  • How to handle differences between patient and family wishes 
  • How to put a plan into action with the least distress for the patient
  • How to use the time that's left
  • Quality of life
  • Tying up loose ends for all

 

  • And, stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS to hear Colleen read her emotional essay: 24 Hours in the Life of the Death of My Mother

 

If you'd like to take Beth's advice and keep copies of medical documents with you (and be like Colleen and whip medical details out of your proverbial holster with lightning speed) you can create your own binder. 

Click HERE for the link to THE BINDER page inserts.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“There’s always a way around a situation.”
— Beth Suereth
“Preparation and any knowledge at all about what’s to come just helps making the decisions along the way so much easier.”
— Beth Suereth
“I am on this mission to get this information out there.”
— Beth Suereth

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #033 VICTORIA BUDA

Victoria Buda.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • How Victoria transitioned from running a theater to starting a movement
  • The proverbial well she fell into and how she got herself out
  • The sign to close her theater she received
  • What losing professional labels stirred up in her
  • The word "just" and what happens when we say it, and why we say it
  • The Being Me Movement
  • How the death of her father inspires her to live fully
  • The clues toward our true desires within our mistakes
  • Doing what is written on our heart and why we often don't do it
  • The beautiful mission of her "Being Me" podcast
  • The power of intuition
  • The difference in the 20-somethings of today vs. yesterday
  • Helping young adults to step back from media, check in with themselves, and unstory themselves

And, stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS to hear a poem written by one of the Being Me Movement members, Brendan Didio.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“We are all born beautifully perfect and anything that we may judge as imperfect is not imperfect.”
— Victoria Buda
“If you could un-story yourself and unravel all the things that have happened to you, they are not of you.”
— Victoria Buda
“If you have the thought to do it, you have the resources in you to do it.”
— Victoria Buda

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 

SHOW NOTES:

Being Me Movement

Victoria's podcast, Being Me

Victoria on Instagram

"Just "Say No" by Ellen Petry Leanse

Wayne Dyer

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #032 BETH SUERETH

Beth Suereth.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • What to expect in the hospital
  • How to get your loved one the best care
  • Learn the first thing to do when meeting hospital staff
  • Find out which hospital form you'll want on file
  • How to get medical information
  • How much time you should stay with your loved one
  • Common hospital mistakes + how to prevent them
  • Common reasons for readmission + how to prevent it   
  • Why you'll want to pack a notebook + dry erase marker
  • What to watch for with medications
  • How to catch the doctor on rounds
  • How to step-up communication long-distance
  • What happens when the patient is released: how to prepare, what to do, and what to ask
  • A critical piece of information to get from the discharge nurse
  • Hospice care - a positive look at this change in the care plan
  • Preventable hospital death
  • All about altered mental status, dementia, + UTI's
  • The importance of acknowledging our new role of family caregiver
  • How you can get Beth's free booklet "How to Help a Loved One in the Hospital"

 

  • And, stay tuned for AFTER THOUGHTS to learn what to pack in your "911 Bag" so you are ready for an emergency visit to the emergency room

Click HERE for a free PDF list of the contents of the 911 BAG.

Click HERE for the link to THE BINDER page inserts.

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“Never go to the hospital as a patient without an advocate with you.”
— Beth Suereth
“Caregiving is not something you do alone. Period. You have to rope in every remotely willing or even unwilling family members, friends, neighbors.”
— Beth Suereth
“You have an enormous amount of power.”
— Beth Suereth

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #031 SHANNON ELHART

Shannon Elhart.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • A different approach to living a happy life
  • The devastating news she received about her unborn child
  • The "something" that comes up for people in a place of pain
  • How her son's baptism had her look at her "Good Girl Checklist" in a new way
  • The "epiphany bubble" she experienced after asking, "Is this pain ever going to go away?"
  • The 1st and 2nd steps toward healing
  • What Shannon left behind as she healed her life
  • The message society gives us to (not) handle our pain
  • A "stinky" analogy for what not healing is like
  • Why Shannon went to AA and looked deeply at the cause of her drinking
  • The step she believes is missing from 12-step programs
  • The importance of talking with our children about alcohol
  • Awareness of rape and the repercussions in her life
  • How forgiveness gives us freedom

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“Everyone is so deeply loved.”
— Shannon Elhart
“You can choose happiness. You can choose it every day and be present in your life even when things are really painful.”
— Shannon Elhart
“No matter what you’ve done, or what’s happened to you, or what’s come up in your life, you can learn something and grow from there.”
— Shannon Elhart

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

TAL #030 RACHEL MARIE

Rachel Marie.png

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • The idea of home and how it changes
  • Setting out to travel after separating from her husband
  • Coming home to care for her father 
  • Setting out to travel again after the loss of her father, with a new intention 
  • The mountains of people who helped her on her journey
  • Find out how much money was in her bank account when she went to Hawaii
  • Who she saw in others as she photographed their portraits
  • You'll never be able to guess one of the things she packed for her trip
  • The things she got rid of and why
  • One of the last things her dad instructed her to do
  • The urge for invisibility during grief
  • Learn who Maude is
  • Where Rachel will be visiting next to endcap her journey
  • Why people really do make all the difference
  • How she sees herself now and how she's been changed

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“I was checking into life in a different way because I was tapping into some really deep grief I had never experienced before in my lifetime.”
— Rachel Marie
“To be somehow grateful for the darkest things in our life, how beautiful is that? How much more does that open you up to the world and the people around you?”
— Rachel Marie
“The adventure is the journey.”
— Rachel Marie

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

 

SHOW NOTES:

Rachel on Instagram

Rachel's email address: rachelthephotonomad@gmail.com

Rachel's 274 song road trip playlist (it's wonderful + she suggests playing it on random.)

Rachel's photo above taken by Derrick Richardson

And here are photos of Rachel on her journey:

RachelMarie_003.jpg
RachelMarie_004.jpg
Photo by: Mckenzie Leek

Photo by: Mckenzie Leek

RachelMarie_005.jpg
RachelMarie_006.jpg
RachelMarie_007.jpg

 

LET'S DANCE:

Subscribe to the podcast: THE AFTER LIFE

Subscribe to the newsletter: THE LONGEST DANCE

Follow me on: Instagram or Facebook

Email me: Colleen@TheLongestDance.com

If you like what you're hearing, pass the show on to a friend.

If you really like it, SUBSCRIBE / RATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / REVIEW on iTUNES so friends of friends can hear!

TAL #029 CHARLOTTE HAIMES

TOPICS OF NOTE:

  • The job that led Charlotte to create Women Making Waves 
  • The negative effects of toxic work culture
  • Who inspired her to see another way of living was possible
  • Creating the time and space to become herself
  • How sharing our stories helps to create empathy + connection
  • Learning how to be in the bad and the good at the same time
  • The empowerment of taking off the masks we wear in public
  • Embracing not knowing what is happening tomorrow
  • Living with fewer rules and control
  • How her online community, WMW, is shaping her personally
  • Advice to anyone who is thinking of making a work change
  • A great tip to remember when interviewing for a job
  • The power in not forcing outcomes

 

QUOTES OF NOTE:

“I think it’s okay to say ‘I can’t do it all’.”
— Charlotte Haimes
“You need a rendezvous with yourself on a daily basis.”
— Charlotte Haimes
“Being imperfect is okay.”
— Charlotte Haimes

LISTEN TO THE SHOW: