Not Your Average Lives Podcast

Episode 395: What Would You Put On A “Before I Die” List?

mindset Mar 07, 2024

In today’s episode, I explore the profound impact of confronting mortality and emphasize focusing on filling the life you have left with meaning and joy by creating a 'Before I Die' list. Or perhaps it’s better termed “What I Want to Do More of” list?

Triggered by a friend's unexpected death and another friend's close encounter with it, I reflect on the fragility of life and the necessity of prioritizing experiences and connections that align with personal values over mundane To Dos.

I talk about:

  • The unpredictability of life and the importance of living a life aligned with what you love most.
  • The significance of identifying your personal values and how those narrow down what you should be doing, in case you are unclear.
  • A few personal examples of actions I’ve taken to bring more of what is important to me into my life.

What happened to my friends is proof that life is truly is unpredictable so I encourage you to actively pursue what brings you joy...

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Episode 394: A 30th College Reunion Question That Changed Her Life, with Delia Lloyd

Uncategorized Feb 28, 2024

Today's guest is Delia Lloyd, a multifaceted professional with a rich and diverse background spanning higher education, media, policy, and the nonprofit sector. My desire to have a conversation with Delia sprouted from an article she wrote about a conversation she had with a group of college friends at her 30th reunion that started with an impromptu question posed by a classmate about long term goals.

What she found unusual wasn’t the goal itself that each person shared - you’d expect different goals from a group of people who had pursued different paths in life - but the epiphany she had later, upon further reflection, about the way in which each person responded to the question. 

As I was reading her words, I realized I had a kindred spirit in Delia. Her goal setting style, common with go-getters and Type A personalities, wasn’t setting her up for success. And her reunion provided her with a shake-up. It created an opportunity for deep reflection that led...

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Episode 393: Tap Into Your Creativity By Capturing Memories

mindset Feb 22, 2024

In today’s episode, I dive deep into the realm of creativity by sharing a recent creative project I completed that brought me unexpected joy.

Understanding the tendency many of us have to disregard our creative spirit in the busy, time-crunched world we live in, I emphasize the importance of recognizing our innate creativity, which often lies dormant due to the constant bombardment of information and responsibilities we face in our day-to-day lives. 

I talk about:

  • The idea that instigated a creative project I embarked on over the holidays, and why I was inspired to do something I had never done.
  • The multiple benefits it brought and why my project is something everyone should do.
  • How I was inspired to run a 4 week Creativity Challenge with a small group of women, for accountability, where we select and complete our own individual creative project.

As I unveil the details of my chosen project, let my actions inspire YOU to begin your own creative project. Maybe...

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Episode 392: Turn Strangers into Friends While Eating, Drinking, and Hiking in Italy, with Jackie Parsons

health mindset travel Feb 14, 2024

Today’s guest is Jackie Parsons, co-owner of Hedonistic Hiking. With an extensive background as a tour guide since 1992, Jackie and her husband Mick founded Hedonistic Hiking in 2007. Their passion for combining gastronomic delights with invigorating hikes has resulted in unforgettable, all-inclusive tours in Italy and beyond.

Jackie's journey from studying languages and leading tours in Europe to specializing in walking tours in Italy since 2000 is truly inspiring. Her involvement in a Raleigh International expedition to Chile fueled her enthusiasm for exploration and understanding diverse cultures.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • How she started her business Hedonistic Hiking that was rooted in her passion and extensive experience as a tour guide.
  • The challenges she faced while establishing and running her business with her husband
  • Incorporating her values and philosophy to their tours
  • The importance of cultural immersion in the overall experience that traveling on your own...
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Episode 391: Four Anti-Cancer Strategies You May Want to Try

health mindset Feb 07, 2024

Today's episode is a personal dive into my journey of transformation towards a healthier and more vibrant life. I’m sharing this valuable information because, as I approach my 65th birthday, I feel better than I have in a loooong time. From nutritional shifts to detoxification strategies and lifestyle adjustments, I'll be sharing the impactful changes that I’ve adopted over the past year.

In this episode I talk about:

  • Embarking on a health journey that started with a significant nutritional change that I learned from a cancer survivor.
  • The recommended supplements that have influenced my improved health and how they contribute to cellular health, inflammation reduction, and immune support.
  • The invisible toxins that invade every part of our lives and the ones I’ve chosen to eliminate from mine. 
  • A simple detoxification strategy that improves lymphatic drainage and balance, while also increasing bone density in as little as 10 minutes a day.

As I enter my...

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Episode 390: Why Won’t My Adult Children Listen (or Talk) To Me? with Renee Langmuir

family mindset Jan 31, 2024

In today’s episode, I'm thrilled to have a returning guest, Renee Langmuir. After I first interviewed her, we decided we had more to talk about so I invited her back for a great topic: parenting adult children! I have a strong suspicion this our conversation will resonate deeply with many who are navigating rocky relationships with their children who are now grown.

Renee, a mother of a daughter and a son, shares her insights from her experiences and includes compelling research that sheds light on the complexities that arise when our children enter adulthood. 

What makes this episode particularly valuable is the diversity in her and my life as young mothers raising children, showcasing the truth that we are all unique with different experiences and backgrounds and how important it is to remember that is true for our children too. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The trauma she experienced and how it affected her children in its aftermath.
  • Her determined desire to...
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Episode 389: Is It Possible Your Assumptions Are Total Fiction? with Ann Richardson

aging inspiration Jan 25, 2024

EP389: Today’s guest is the inspiring Ann Richardson. At 81 years young, Ann defies age stereotypes and continues to pursue her passion for writing, particularly focusing on the joys and experiences of being an older woman.

In her latest book, "The Granny Who Stands on Her Head: Reflections on Growing Older," Ann shares her perspective on aging, celebrating the unique aspects of later life. As a seasoned writer with a background in addressing health and social care issues, Ann has transitioned to crafting narrative books that allow individuals to express their inner thoughts, experiences, and emotions in their own words.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • How true love led her to leave America and build a life in England.
  • Her passion for writing and her evolution to creating books and blogging on topics covering a diverse range of subjects.
  • Recent assumptions she’s made and how off-base they were to reality. 
  • The life lessons she’s learned and why she looks...
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Episode 388: Alcohol Almost Killed Her (Twice) But She Kept Drinking, with Janet Gourand

mindset Jan 18, 2024

Today’s guest is Janet Gourand, the founder of Tribe Sober, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals in overcoming alcohol dependence. Janet shares her personal journey through alcoholism and explores the importance of breaking the cycle of dependency.

Our conversation delves into the impact of alcohol on health, relationships, and overall well-being, shedding light on the challenges faced by those struggling with alcohol-related issues. Janet shares her candid and relatable perspectives on the challenges associated with alcohol consumption. 

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Personal experiences relating to alcohol that affected both Janet’s and Laurie’s lives.
  • The health implications of alcohol consumption.
  • The profound influence of alcohol on family dynamics and coping mechanisms related to body image and weight.
  • Suggestions for people dealing with alcohol problems, whether their own or loved ones.

Janet offers valuable advice on recognizing...

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Episode 387: My Hottest Tip For Success On Your 2024 Resolutions

mindset Jan 14, 2024

Today I want to talk about my hottest tip for success on your 2024 resolutions and it's based on my personal experiences with setting and achieving goals.

There is ONE SURE THING I've found to be the magical component that helps me stay focused and guarantees I'll achieve a goal. I have proof of this in hitting two big goals I set that I share in this episode.

But in both instances, I didn't just achieve the goal I had set, I KILLED IT! I had more success than I thought possible and found myself accomplishing tasks and getting results I didn't know I was capable of.

I break this conversation into two parts, first talking about the tip and the 3 reasons why, if you don't apply it, you'll likely give up on the pursuit of your resolutions, and then I share how I'm using it for one of my big 2024 resolutions and how this resolution may involve you.

If you are serious about your new year's resolutions, aka goals, and you don't want to fail, this is a must-listen episode. This tip,...
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Episode 386: Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work!

mindset Jan 04, 2024

Can you believe it’s already the start of 2024? This marks 4 fantastic years of weekly conversations I've had with incredibly inspiring people who are proof that our second half can be so much more rewarding than our first if we simply listen to our heart and share our wisdom from our lived experiences.

I’m beyond thrilled and grateful to embark on another trip around the sun with you and to kick it off, I’m diving deep into the concept of New Year's resolutions — and why I got bothered enough by a couple of social media posts I saw that I wanted to share my thoughts with you. 

Let’s set the record straight: Resolutions aren’t merely wishful thinking; they’re about setting purposeful goals and crafting actionable plans. I want to challenge the negative bias around resolutions by breaking down the key components necessary for effective goal-setting. We’ll talk specificity, the importance of tracking progress, and the magic of...

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