CCnDoc Talk

Welcome to the world according to CCnDoc! How do you stay positive? Lately, it seems like we are getting asked this question a lot, so Doc decided it was time for a podcast on the topic! Good call! Is anyone really positive all the time? No! No one can be positive all the time—It’s something we work on every day, and one of us has to work at it harder than the other! In this episode, we talk about what happens when life throws those curveballs and how you can train your brain to see them in a more positive light. 

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First, some handy hiking tips for all hikers! And, as we hike our way through Arizona and New Mexico on our #UnexpectedRoadtrip (check it out on our social media @CCnDoc), we continue to be surprised, amazed and even dumbfounded at some of the folks we are sharing the trail with. We are admittedly old-school hikers, taught by an even older-school hiker, the etiquette of the trail. Is there such a thing? YES! Further, we live in Colorado where Leave No Trace is a very big deal. Suffice it to say there is a new breed of hiker out there, and they're challenging us!

When was the last time you sorted through your phone contacts? If you're like us it's been since we transferred our analog address books to our candy bar phones 20 years ago! Recently Doc set out to go through her phone contacts and get rid of some annoying duplicates that were created by the rivalry between enterprise corporate software and her ios. She had some revelations about herself then and now, and in scaling her contacts from 14,000 to 1400, she had to make some decisions as well as say some goodbyes. Tune in to hear her insights!

Welcome to Season 2 of CCnDoc Talk! A fitting start to the new year and our new season, this podcast focuses on a tool that we call the "Mindfulness Circle", which we created after taking a couple's course through Insight Timer (our favorite meditation app). In the course, they discussed one version of the "Mindfulness Triangle", but true to form that didn’t work for us so we created our own tool! LOL There is no better time than the start of a new year to manifest new habits and practices for a better you!

We discuss how to use the tool and how it can apply to different areas of your life from work to personal goals as well as “coupleness” (mindful couples) and a variety of circumstances from positive to stressful.

Check out the “Freebies” section at our LINK IN BIO for a companion guide to this podcast and a link to your FREE Insight Timer membership!

Do you love your family yet struggle with how to keep your sanity during family holidays? Family dynamics can be challenging even for the healthiest of families. Add to that the stress of these last few years of politics and pandemic, which have certainly stretched many family relationships thin, not to mention the crazy phenomenon of regression that occurs the moment you get back into your family unit (once the youngest always the youngest), and trying to accommodate so many different opinions, tastes, routines and desires into a seamless and peaceful gathering. One where you don’t go home saying, WTF?!? Or feel guilty until the next year’s vacay.

Our conversation is unscripted as always so here are our (aspirational) 8 TIPS for a more sane family holiday vacation in a nutshell:

How do you find joy in a world full of never-ending to-do lists and responsibilities? CCnDoc discuss this balancing act of finding joy within the madness in this episode. Having just come off of their #CelebrationRoadTrip they have been busier than ever and wondering how to get to that place of finding joy in routine tasks and more importantly, making time for the things that give joy every day! 

Well, it’s ABOUT TIME we got back to podcasting after our 6-week #CelebrationRoadTrip (check it out @ccndoc on social media)! In our defense, we had crap reception on the trip and since arriving back home we have spent the last couple of weeks catching up on everything from voting to taxes to medical appointments, fixing and winterizing things around CCnDoc’s On the Rocks. We’re pooped!

WARNING: Harsh words ahead! You may notice a different tone in this Shit Floats podcast, pre-recorded this summer, just after Doc’s retirement. You might detect frustration, sarcasm and even anger at the establishment of corporate America. All great indicators that retirement from corporate America was long overdue! We’re guessing you can relate at this time of the Great Resignation!

Despite our saltiness, there are many pearls of wisdom to be had in this engaging podcast, opportunities for leaders to step up (don’t be a turd), and encouragement and validation for those needing to find a way to swim in or escape the Cesspool.

It’s been said that laughter is The best medicine… As self-dubbed “too serious most of the time” people, we explore laughter, the people who make us laugh, and why laughing often is so important! Join us in laughing out loud today!

Has anyone ever accused you of being selfish? Do you feel guilt when you set boundaries that preserve your mental health or make time just for you? Do you say yes to obligations and events because you can’t say no? How do we get to a place where we feel good about taking care of ourselves without feeling guilty, especially when we are in relationships? Where is the balance?

In this episode CCnDoc discuss the concepts of selfishness and self love and compare them to other concepts like narcissism and entitlement. They also discuss how communication plays a role in dispelling the perceptions of selfishness and share their 1-10 technique for assessing each individual’s level of interest in activities so that no one feels as if the other person is being selfish.

Speaking of selfish, CCnDoc selfishly took a couple of weeks off from podcasting so that CC could recover from her LAST CRC surgery! Thanks for your indulgence and she’s doing quite well, despite the extra trips to the bathroom until her new short and sassy semi-colon adjusts! Follow her journey on social media @CCnDoc.

We always say, "Feedback is like the gift of fruitcake!" What do you do with fruitcake when you receive it? Eat it? Re-gift it? Toss it? No matter what you do with it, you ALWAYS say "Thank you" to the person that gave it to you, first! Then, you can do with it what you like!

This podcast is by request from Doc's former work colleagues. While there is positive and constructive feedback, Doc has always been legendary for delivering tough feedback that actually makes people want to say thank you and often hug her after it's over! Sounds crazy right? But there are some great tools you can use to have those tough conversations.

In this episode, CCnDoc discuss how to deliver feedback, provide examples and share stories of feedback that has impacted them. These feedback tips can be used by anyone, with anyone!

We decided to lighten the mood this episode and talk about some of the coolest places we’ve been on earth and why we think they are the coolest! This was a tough one for us because we have been fortunate to travel to many! Do you have a bucket list? Maybe some of these will land on it! We hope this will inspire you to continue to explore, even if it’s in your own backyard!

Have you ever wondered if you have a closet DIY-er in you? Or maybe you already can't get enough of projects and can relate to Doc's addiction? 

Many of you often express awe at both the number and quality of projects that Doc completes on a regular basis! In CC's family Doc is known as "Amazing Amy" because she can and does do just about everything! Need something fixed? Ask Amy! Need to understand how something works? Ask Doc! Need ideas on how to improve a space and don't know where to start? Yep! Landscaping? That's her too! 

So what drives this crazy behavior to think up, create and execute one project after another? Is it insanity OR just the opposite? Where does all this creativity come from? How does she do it? Does she ever get tired of projects? What does CC think about the endless projects list?CCnDoc answer these questions and more in this episode! Do you DIY? 

And if you're not already following @CCnDoc on social media and seeing all these awesome projects! Join us! 

We truly believe this is one of our best podcasts yet! In this episode, we speak from the heart about Gratitude in terms of our practice of being grateful each day - especially on the bad days. We also discuss what living in gratitude does for us, and we give ideas on how to incorporate it into your own daily habits. During the course of this unscripted discussion, we realized how much forgiveness also plays into gratitude in allowing us to be open and grateful. What are you grateful for today?

LITERALLY! Having recently become an “Ostomate,” CCnDoc discuss their experience as CC adjusts to her new temporary ileostomy between surgeries. This post-surgery discussion is both informative and poignant and contains the signature CCnDoc brand of humor as well as caregiver tips, insight for those with ileostomy and showcases their ability to communicate through crisis. There is something in this podcast for everyone, even if you aren’t a part of the shit show! CCnDoc also share some AMAZING GOOD NEWS! Tune in!

How spontaneous are you? Are you only spontaneous if it’s planned? In this episode we share some of our own spontaneity as well as tips for you to be more spontaneous! Why? Because it’s fun! Everyone can use a little spontaneity in their life. Life is short. Live Bold!

Ever wonder why people talk to themselves or their pets? It's because pets are great listeners! We can take lessons from our animals!

As executive coaches, we’ve tried to convey the value of listening to others for over 20 years! But how well do we do it in our own relationship? In this podcasts we share our own challenges with listening in our relationship and share some tips and strategies for better listening.

People are starving to be heard and for someone to listen to them wholly, unconditionally and without bias or agenda, especially if it’s a loved one. But, our tendency as listeners is to listen just long enough to solve or to interject our own thoughts. People are also in great need of validation and kudos, and part of the listening process is to also acknowledge what you’ve heard them say. This skill is almost as fundamental as listening itself!

There are many types of listening. There is surface listening, listening for intent, listening for what’s not there and even whole body listening! In our book Coaching For Commitment Simplified (available at Apple Books) we share five CLEAR Coaching Skills (Challenge, Listen, Encourage, Ask and Refine). Of these, Listen and Encourage are the most important and if you do nothing else, these will go a long way!

Sometimes people need to be HEARD and that’s all. As coaches we often refer to ourselves as trusted sounding boards. It’s also ok to ASK the person your listening to what their intent is in sharing. Do they just want to vent? Do they want your advice? Do they want you to ask some questions (coaching) to help them figure out their own stuff? This sets the tone for the conversation and makes it easier for the listener and the person talking!

People don’t argue with their own ideas and because of this, listening without an ulterior motive to fix or solve can do wonders for your leadership and your relationships with others!

WARNING: This is a funny yet graphic discussion of the side effects associated with CC’s colorectal cancer treatment. It contains explicit language and is not suitable for all audiences. Not all cancer patient’s experiences will be the same. 

Now that CC is officially done with chemo - YAY! And feeling better each day - we can share (with humor) this conversation about CC’s radiation and chemo side effects. Even in the tough moments CCnDoc found humor and were committed to keeping a positive outlook! She got through it and so can you. You are stronger than you know! 

CC’s radiation was a new short course IMRT (25 days worth in 5 days) and chemo was Folxfox 6. She had some atypically extreme side effects with radiation which led to a 20 lb weight loss in less than a month. Effective, but not a diet she recommends! She was to do a minimum of 6 and a max of 8 rounds of chemo. The oncologist stopped her at round 7 in order to avoid further neurotoxicity and permanent damage… 

CC was considered an “under processor” of chemo which is not as it sounds. Her body and especially her neurology did not like it, which means it took longer to process and get out of her system each round. She had some intense and more rare side effects. As she says, “I was luckier than some, unluckier than others.” Some of the symptoms that CC experienced were not typical for many patients, yet some are very common among her peer group, though not always discussed by research papers; and thus communicating these to her oncologist became critical. Our biggest advice: ALWAYS make sure your docs and nurses know your side effects and their severity! Regardless of how rare a side effect is, if you are experiencing it, let them know!

Changing the way we talk about money, one story at a time! Did you know that money is the number one taboo topic? Yet we all have a relationship with money and it drives almost all of our behaviors! This episode is based on our latest book Courageous Money, where we take you on an adventure through Money National Park. One where you can explore your earliest memories of money and how they formed your money mindset and relationship with money. Courageous Money focuses on storytelling and encourages sharing those stories in households, with friends and even co-workers. We’ve worked with countless clients and families of means over the years and this book was our way of sharing these skills with the masses, because as one of our friend’s said, “Everyone needs this knowledge!” We agree! Let’s Talk About Money!

Caregiving/Caretaking for anyone is a tough job! Often times the caregiver loses themselves in the process or forgets to take care of themselves because they are so focused on the person being cared for and in many cases, the person being cared for doesn't feel comfortable sharing or can't share their needs. This podcast began with an honest question from Doc about how she could be a better caregiver/care partner for CC during their Cancer journey. It led to a rich conversation about what was working and what goes into being a good caregiver for someone; including a discussion about how important it is for the caregiver to take care of themselves along the way! 

This podcast was previously recorded on or around round 3 of CC's chemo treatments - She just finished round 7 and has one more to go, then her first surgery in June! Go CC, Warrior Princess! 

We're celebrating our 11th podcast by talking about the number 11 and especially 11:11, a very meaningful number to us; which leads to a discussion about our broad-spectrum spiritual world in detail! We're dishing about everything from signs and feathers to totems and crystals--our metaphysical side. In this podcast, you will get a glimpse into more of our inner world as we share stories about the spiritual signs and symbols we've experienced and how they have contributed to our eclectic and broad-minded CCnDoc brand of spirituality. Born and bred midwestern Lutherans, our lives and encounters have led us to challenge some of our traditional beliefs along the way and made us open to adapting and expanding our minds as we incorporate other ideas from a number of different doctrines and geographies.

"...In numerology, 11 is seen is a “master number” which signifies intuition, insight, and enlightenment. When paired together, 11 11 is a clear message from the universe to become conscious and aware. Many people suggest that seeing 11 11 signifies that your spirit guides are attempting to contact you." (source: lonerwolf.com)

Our road to early retirement in our mid-50’s, much like this podcast, is like the Road to Hana! Full of twists, turns, narrow bridges, a few steep ledges, detours and oncoming traffic, but we are finally here! Doc officially retired from Corporate America last week and we are so excited to begin our next chapter! Tune in to hear how we made it happen as we regale you with stories as well as tricks, tips and tools that you can use to retire early, too!

In this LUCKY 7 bonus episode of CCnDoc Talk, we have a conversation about the mind-body connection and the importance of living a life in authenticity and without fear, worry or anger; because NOT doing so can seriously affect your health!

The basis for our discussion is a book called "Dying to Be Me” by Anita Moorjani. Anita was cured of stage four cancer after having a near-death experience (NDE) and chose to come back to share her experience and the knowledge she gained. This is not a book club or a review. It's a conversation that will shed light on our own personal journey and how we are coping with cancer and all of the emotions it churns up. We are recognizing and letting go of unproductive thoughts and habits and turning to self-love, our brand of spirituality, trust, hope and joy for coping and cure!

Ever try to meditate? That sh*t's hard! This episode is a laugh-out-loud look into Doc's first meditation experience. DO try this at home!

We have begun a practice of trying to meditate for 10 minutes at least once a day. This type of meditation is the kind where you sit alone with yourself and try to quiet your thoughts without a helper tool like guided imagery (music is ok), and you try to stay present in the moment and connect with... "Wait. What am I supposed to connect with?" "Why do these songs all sound the same?" "Was that the UPS guy that just drove up the driveway?" Once"monkey mind" takes over, your toast! 

Today's episode is short and sweet because this week we will share a BONUS longer episode about the impact of a book called Dying to Be Me by Anita Moorjani, on CC's cancer journey. Anita was cured of stage four cancer after having a near-death experience (NDE) and chose to come back to share her experience and the knowledge she gained. This is not a book club or review. It's a conversation that will shed light on our own personal journey, hope, living in authenticity, fear and how we are coping with #cancer in our own lives. We hope you will tune in!