Life and Laughter

Barbara Brannen's book, "The Gift of Play: Why Adult Women Stop Playing and How To Start Again" is a wonderful instruction guide for bringing more playfulness, joy and laughter to your life.

I loved talking with her about the book and the story behind it.

Please rate, review, share, subscribe and follow!

This time of year, graduates are getting ready to fly out of the nest and start a new chapter.

Well, I think we should, too. Start a new chapter.

Here's some advice to get you moving into a new and (hopefully) exciting adventure.

Please rate, share, subscribe, follow and all the things!

In Barbara Brannen's book, "The Gift of Play: Why Adult Women Stop Playing and How to Start Again" she writes about finding your Heart Play.

I go through the exercise with you in this episode so you can bring more fun into your life!

Please, follow, rate, review, subscribe and share this podcast!

When we think of female leadership, we often think of women running companies or serving in political office. We don't often think of how every woman has the capability to be a leader - whether it's in your own home, your work, your school or your family.

We encourage women to step up, show up and find their own leadership voice with these tips from strategist Amy Weiland.

Amy Miller-Weiland (she/her) is an award-winning learning strategist with 20 years of experience in professional education.

She's been fortunate to lead numerous teams of brilliant professionals and has served in various roles including Performance Strategy Manager, Director of Training and Development, and Vice President of Consulting. Her current role as Vice President of Professional Services at YouScience provides an opportunity to oversee the consulting division and forward the collective effort to make meaningful educational pathways available to all students.

Her creative yet pragmatic approach to development has contributed to the learning ecosystems at large organizations including Verizon, Disney Interactive, Walmart, General Electric, Aetna, Panera, Nordstrom, State Farm, TD Bank, and the University of Notre Dame.

Amy’s academic background in Psychology with a focus on neuroscience, shapes her behavior-driven approach to learning and also business performance metrics. She also applies cognitive psychology principles into learning strategies to create memorable experiences learners can apply to their daily roles with confidence.

Amy lives in South Jordan, Utah with her hilarious husband of 23 years, Thad, and her wonderfully creative children, Kit and Ike.

We all worry at times (usually at 2 a.m.) but if you feel like you're ALWAYS worrying, this episode offers some tips to get out of your worry brain.

Please rate, share, subscribe and/or follow to help get this podcast to a bigger audience. Thanks for listening!

I have terrible social skills but I'm trying to get better. I'm working to get past the loud voices in my head that tell me no one wants to be my friend. That voice is just me as a little girl. I've spent the last couple of years trying to make and be a friend.

Please like, share, rate, review and subscribe to help get my message out!

Motherhood is often raised to the level of sainthood, but who the hell wants to be a saint? Especially when it means dealing with toddlers, tweens and teens. Instead of talking about how great motherhood is, let's talk about how hard it is. Let's be real about what mothers need and start giving it to them!

Please rate, review, share, follow and subscribe to this podcast to bump it up in search engines.

Thank you for listening!! Love you all. :)

This podcast episode almost didn't happen - because procrastination.

Luckily, I got the kick in the pants I needed to refocus and record this episode.

Why do we procrastinate? What's the difference between procrastination and laziness?

How can we stop judging ourselves when we procrastinate?

All these questions - and more - are in this episode!

Dr. Corrine Ellsworth-Beaumont is changing breast cancer education around the world. Her breast cancer symptoms graphic design is educating women and doctors, and changing the conversation about early screening and detection.

This episode is so valuable. Share with your family and friends - it might save a life.

Ellsworth-Beaumont is the founder and CEO of the Know Your Lemons Foundation as well as Dandelion Health, and has been featured on CNN, BBC News, ITV, various radio stations and numerous publications in the health, beauty, technology, and design fields. She is an advisor for the World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, a member of the World Cancer Day campaign committee, and frequently presents at global conferences, such as the United Nations Civil Society Conference and the World Cancer Congress discussing equitable ways to empower patients, particularly women, to better navigate breast health, and has received two Webby nominations for the Know Your Lemons app she designed.

When we worry about what others think of us, it diminishes our power. We start acting in ways we hope they will find acceptable, even at the expense of our own souls.

What other people think about you is not your problem. WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

Ryan Carver is changing the conversation around aging and weakness. His program works with adults over 50 to bring them back to optimal health through strength and mobility training. His results are incredible! If you're getting older (and who isn't) listen up!

Ryan Carver is the owner and master trainer at Leverage Fitness Solutions where they specialize in helping adults 50+ battle their injuries, illnesses, and aging to exceed previous fitness and performance levels and defy the status quo around aging. Ryan graduated from the University of Utah in Exercise Science and Nutrition, has multiple certifications and specializations. Was a finalist for international personal trainer of the year in 2020 and was just awarded fitness professional of the year by the Medical Fitness Network. He's a proud father of 4, masters athlete, and author.

The princess model of relationships isn't exactly healthy. In this solo episode, I discuss various princesses and the danger of their relationships. 

You might recognize your own behavior, for better or worse.

AND -- become a monthly subscriber to my podcast for $4.99 per month. It gives you access to my monthly newsletter and subscriber-only podcast episodes! Visit my Anchor platform to subscribe. 

Nan Seymour is a poet, storyteller and activist. For the second year in a row, Nan has held a vigil for the Great Salt Lake during the Utah State Legislative Session to bring awareness to the lake's dire state, to encourage lawmakers to create effective conservation policy and to bear witness to the demise of this beautiful ecosystem. 

She invites everyone to walk to the shores of the lake and to send love to this great body of water that is home to millions of birds and wildlife.

What happens when your mind doesn't behave rationally?

As I prepared for my TEDx Bountiful presentation in February, my mind went through all the emotions. It was wild.

Your mind is not necessarily your friend. You don't have to believe it. 

Angel Shannon (Mama Angel) talks about bringing feminine energy and maternal love to the world through radical self-love and compassion.

Angel has been in media, communications and promotions for 30+ years. her primary goals have shifted from marketing to public speaking. She currently has a series of speaking engagements entitled: "Rebalance, Refresh, Reenergize your Life's Passion".

She loves to get out in front of a bunch of stressed-out women and help them shed the pressure. Her ultimate dream would be to have a women's day retreat and yes, she’s already created my preferred sessions, menu, peaceful location, handouts and the day's itinerary. A little visualization/manifestation is always good, right?

Angel's specialty is opening up the hearts and spirits of women that feel trapped in the life they're living. She says, “Remember, you always have a choice.”

Happiness takes practice. It's not automatic or even easy, but happiness experts have given some tips to increase your levels of happiness.

What do happiness experts do every day?

Listen and you'll find out!

I talk to my friend (and former boss) Brian Berndt about his creative mind and how creativity keeps him feeling young.

Brian Berndt recently retired after a successful career in city planning and administration. He now has time to focus on being a daily tinkerer, a lover of life, an intrepid traveler, a culinary ninja and an artist who has now moved into a new phase of his life.

He is often seen riding his bike or hiking in the mountains. Today, he wears flip flops and shorts instead of a suit and tie, and finds complete satisfaction in collecting experiences instead of things.

Most days he is busy in his studio or kitchen. His philosophy is that the best things come from living outside your comfort zone. He and his wife are the proud Parents of three and Grandparents to nine.

We've all been told to live our dreams and follow our North Star, but what if we have no idea what that is?

In this solo episode, I give some tips and ideas to help guide you along your path.

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As a young man, Salt Lake City native Marc Stephens served in the Army in Special Forces (Green Beret) and majored in history at Westminster College and Vedic Science at Maharishi International University. 

He studied with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1970-71 and became a Teacher of Transcendental Meditation (TM). He started the TM Center in Salt Lake and was the Chairman & Director from 1971-75 and Houston 1975-76.

He spent over thirty years as an executive in advertising and marketing from 1977-2008. In 2008 he was re-certified as a TM Teacher and worked in New York City to develop the first marketing plan for TM and was the Managing Director for The Center for Leadership Performance, the organization for TM in Business in New York City.
He has been the Utah TM Director since 2011 and lives with his wife Julie. They have six children and 14 grandchildren.

On this winter solstice, the longest night of the year, we turn to light.

Bonfires, candles, twinkling Christmas trees, stars - we always seek the light.

Sometimes you're a light for others and sometimes you look for light to help you through. Either way, light will guide us home. 

I talked with the hilarious and insightful Leta Greene about beauty, confidence, stepping into your power and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Leta is an international speaker and author of two best-selling books. She inspires each of us to embrace what makes us hot and amazing!

Thanks for listening! 

In yoga, there's a practice called Santosha - learning how to be content.

When we start dropping the idea of perfection and love the real life we're living, everything changes. 

Listen in and let me know what you think!

My guest on this podcast is my producer Roger Tuttle who is also an award-winning Photojournalist, teaching at the University of Utah. 

His images are powerful and he uses emotion to connect with the viewer. We talk about how to apply that lens to our daily lives, no matter your level of photography.

Thanks for listening!! 

We face emotional pollution all day long, from the negative co-worker to the pissed-off teenager.

In this solo episode, I talk about some ways to protect yourself. 

Thanks for listening!

Merrilee Buchanan is CEO and Founder of Villa Leadership, an organization that trains women to be leaders all over the world.

I talk with Merrilee about what it takes to create the structure for women to be mentored and to succeed as leaders.

Thanks for listening and thanks to my monthly supporters!!

We often get anxious or sad or discouraged about things that haven't happened - the dream job, the dream house, the dream vacation.

When we get stuck there, we forget all the good things that happen all the time. We forget the small wins, the successes and the accomplishments that take us step by step along our journey.

Let's remember to celebrate the wins and be hopeful for even better things to come!

Stacey Van Roosendaal is open about her journey with anxiety and depression. She wants you to know you can be successful and still be sad and you can be sad and still be successful. If you are struggling, she wants you to know “it gets better!”

Stacey “The Loan Lady” teaches people to work smart, leverage, and systematize so they can create wealth, reach their goals, and live their best life.  Stacey owns a mortgage company, Sundance Lending Company.

Thanks for listening and thank you to my monthly supporters for helping to keep this podcast going!

Lying affects your mental and physical well-being.

But why is it so hard for us to tell the truth?

In Stuart Brown's book, "Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul" he talks about eight play personalities.

Understanding your play personality might help you play more! And that's good for everyone.

Thanks for listening to this solo episode!

I brought my sweet husband back for my 50th episode!!

We talk about the top 5 things men and women want from their partners.

I reached out on my social media channels to hear from women, so listen in, men!

Please rate and review, and become a monthly supporter for $4.99!!

Do you find yourself saying yes to ALL the things because you want people to like you?

Here's a podcast that can help you decide when to say yes - and when to say no.

Please rate and review - and become a monthly supporter for only $4.99!

We all have those days where we'd rather stay in bed, eat ice cream and binge-watch Netflix.

That's okay for a while, but eventually, we need to come back to life.

This episode talks about ways to work yourself out of a funk. :)

Thanks for listening! Please rate, review and share - and join my monthly supporters for only $4.99 a month!

How do we keep going when we feel broken?

How do we reconnect to the light inside us?

In this solo episode, I talk about my experience and what helped me to rediscover my light.

You can expect cracked Buddhas, sit-ups, and a lotus flower.

Please rate and review!

You can join my monthly supporters or make a donation on my Anchor home page.

Thanks for listening!

What does it mean to ground yourself? Hint: It doesn't mean sitting in a corner. Well, I guess it can. It depends on what you need.

Listen to this episode about grounding.

Thanks for supporting this podcast by listening, rating and reviewing. 

You can help keep it ad-free by becoming a monthly supporter or making a donation on the Anchor page.

Thank you!

Michelle Lewis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Hypnotherapist

She has spent her career working with adolescents and adults addressing various emotional issues, but loves working in wellness! 

She started this career path as a health and wellness coach helping clients achieve their health goals. She loves helping people identify and break patterns of self-sabotage in emotional eating, challenge shame and negative self-talk around their body image, improve motivation, and in general, helping people get out of their own way!

She wrote a chapter in a book titled Breaking Free: Overcoming Self-Sabotage and had several television and radio interviews on stress management, body image, emotional eating and Binge Eating Disorder.

Please rate, review and share this podcast!

Become a monthly supporter for only $4.99 to keep this podcast AD-FREE!

You've had experiences with awe. Maybe when your child was born or maybe standing at the top of the Himalayas.

Awe is that feeling of deep connection to something bigger than ourselves.

You can practice awe and bring more connection and love into your life.

Thanks for listening!

If you'd like to help support this podcast, you can become a monthly supporter for only $4.99 a month. Go to my Anchor podcast page and find the link to sign up. 

You might have noticed a wee bit of upheaval in the world. 

There are many who believe this chaos is actually moving us closer together by uprooting anger, hate and disconnection, so it can be addressed.

I believe that right now on the planet, there is so much more love than hate. 

It's at a tipping point where the balance has shifted to compassion and inclusion. Let's not f*** it up.

Thanks for listening! 

Help support this podcast by becoming a monthly supporter on my Anchor platform, or purchase my Life & Laughter book (a compilation of the first 10 years of my humor column) for $12. Venmo me $12 and your address to @peri-kinder.

Get in some good trouble!

Karla M. Jay is the award-winning author of When We Were Brave and It Happened in Silence and her newest book, The Puppet Maker’s Daughter, which is also up for several awards.

I talk with Karla about her writing process, the importance of stories and why we can't learn from history.

Originally from the east coast, she makes her home in Salt Lake City. Over the years she has written in several different genres, but currently is focused on historical fiction. When she's not writing, she's reading, gardening, playing with her dog, or traveling to new places to try to find a story that has never been told.

Thanks for listening. Please rate and review, and become a monthly supporter to help keep these podcasts coming!

Parenting with joy is about self-care, mindset and letting go of the need to control every damn thing.

The more you step back, without stepping away, the happier your kids will be. Give them some space. Give yourself some space.

Everyone breathe.

Thanks for listening! Please rate and review, and consider becoming a one-time or monthly supporter.

Ashton Palmer is a full-time swim coach, working as the head age group coach of Wasatch Front Fish Market, Utah's premiere club swim team.

She also coaches the Cottonwood High School swim and water polo teams.

Ashton has two swimmers in her program who are transgender and have been banned from competing. I talk with Ashton about the ramifications of such a ban, and how we can support these young people. 

You can help support this podcast by donating or becoming a monthly supporter on the Anchor platform. Please rate, review and share!

Thank you. 

I know you've been eagerly waiting for TWO weeks to get these five tips that will make your life happier, lighter and less judgey. 

Please rate, review and follow this podcast, or I will hunt you down and steal your cat.

Love you all!

Look around you. Are you at work? At home? On a beach? In an office?

Are people having fun?

There's always that ONE person who stresses over ALL THE THINGS.

Is that person you?

Here are five (out of 10) tips to help not take yourself so seriously.

Please rate and review this podcast, and you'll receive my undying gratitude - FOR FREE!

Also, you can support this podcast by becoming a monthly supporter for less than $5!

As always, thanks for listening. 

We all do it.  We turn on our phones or tablets or computers and scroll ourselves into a depressive trance. Well, stop it. In this episode, I talk about doomscrolling and give a few tips on how to wean off your social media addiction. As always, you can help support this podcast by becoming a monthly sponsor on my Anchor page, or by purchasing my Life & Laughter book for $12. Just Venmo me @Peri-Kinder. Thanks for listening!!

Natalee Falk talks to me about literally finding her voice. Although she's been singing and performing since she was 2 years old, she didn't truly discover her real voice until recently. Listen to how she found herself - and where she goes from here.

"My story starts at the departure from the life I was 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 to live, and the success I was 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 to be. 

When I moved to Nashville 8 years ago, I had no idea that the career I was about to launch and spent my childhood and young adult life pursuing with my sister, would instead be coming to an end. After the split from my sister, and another foundation falling underneath me when my parents divorced at the same time. I spent an agonizing 8-year continuum of grief - letting go of who I thought I was and was supposed to be, so that I could discover who I was and was 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑡 to be.   

What I found was a neglected girl underneath…on the endless treadmill - desperate to be felt and seen… and heard her whole life. But singing without a say. A voice without any choice. Living by the agenda that my parents and the music industry had for me. After a journey of unlearning all that I was raised to believe about who I was an artist, a girl, a daughter, a sister… I learned that the departure from my old life would not be the story that I was supposed to tell. Instead, this new story I would tell would have to be my 𝑜𝑤𝑛. And in many ways, finding my voice…. for the first time."

Right off the bat in this episode, I made a mistake.

For some reason, I said there were five skills this week. I lied. There are only four.

I wasn't going to edit that because I don't try to hide my mistakes. I put them out for the whole world to see and ridicule.

Also, Roger got super-creative with music for this week's episode. Check it out. :)

Here's a list of all eight improv practices:

Agree and Build Listen to Understand Be authentic Help others look good Don’t be afraid to fail See and create the world around you Be in the moment Learn how to have fun

Thanks for listening. Please rate and review this episode, and maybe become a monthly follower on my Anchor platform. 

Improv is learning how to be adaptable, flexible and ready to pivot at any time.

Practicing the key concepts of improv can help you be a better person. And who doesn't want to be a better person??

I cover four concepts today:

Agree and Build Listen to Understand Be authentic - be honest, not funny Help others look good

And I'll cover four more concepts in two weeks. 

Rate and review this podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and send me your feedback!

You can also become a monthly supporter on my Anchor platform - for super cheap. Thanks for listening. 

Randall Carlisle has been in broadcast for more than 50 years and is a well-known face in Utah.

He now works for Odyssey House, a non-profit that helps thousands of people each year struggling with drug or alcohol misuse. With its residential programs, out-patient treatments, teen programs and sober housing, Odyssey House is on the frontline providing loving care.

Randall is very open about his own alcoholism and how he's stayed sober for many years.

I had an open and enlightening interview with Shawn. We talked about how avoiding discussions about race really limits our ability to grow and connect as a society, and having tough conversations is the only way forward. I appreciate his candor and his knowledge when it comes to diversity and racism.

Shawn Newell is a resident of Cottonwood Heights, serving on its city council. He serves as a community integrator working as the vice president of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP, a former Commissioner on the Governor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission, and heads the Utah Multicultural Civic Council and is a member of the ME4U coalition. 

Shawn is a member of the Utah Manufacturer’s Association Board, the workforce and Economic Development Advisory Board at Salt Lake Community College where he has served as the Alumni Council President for Salt Lake Community College and a Trustee for SLCC. 

Mr. Newell is a Civility Ambassador for World Civility through iChange Nations. Additionally, he serves on the Utah Courts Committee for Self-Represented Parties, a member of the Utah State Board of Education, and as a President’s Ambassador for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Newell also serves on the Utah State Department of Workforce services as an appointed Board member.

Shawn is a graduate of the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College and has a Masters of Management degree from the University of Phoenix

You wouldn't think that spelling would bring about any kind of life lesson, but you'd be wrong. 

In this episode, I talk about three lessons that taught me how to forgive mistakes, stop listening to critics and find my power.

You can help support this podcast by becoming a monthly supporter on my Anchor page! Even a small donation helps keep this podcast going.

You can also purchase my Life & Laugher book for only $12 through Venmo @peri-kinder.

Thanks, everyone, for listening! Go out there and . . . spell . . . words.

I thought for this 20th episode, I'd talk with my podcast producer, Roger Tuttle.

Roger is an award-winning photojournalist and a Professor of Communications at the University of Utah.

We share our favorite photos and talk about the emotional connection pictures and images create.

I've posted these photos on my Facebook and Instagram pages. Please share your favorite photos and tell the stories behind them.

Thanks for listening and thanks for my monthly supporters! You guys rock!

The Power of Positivity is not just a feel-good, slap a smile on your face kind of power. It's a genuine connection to kindness and love, and a reminder that we're all in this together. For better or worse.

On this episode, I talk about what the Power of Positivity is - and what it isn't. 

Please rate and review this podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks to all my Life & Laughter listeners!!

Laughter has been proven to help people connect, heal, play and love.

In this episode, I talk about the ways laughter is good for us:

L - Let go

A - Authentic Connection

U - Upshifts Energy

G - Grounds us in the moment

H - Happiness 

Thanks to all my listeners for following my podcast! If you're interested in becoming a monthly supporter, it costs as little as $4.99!

Lots of love and laughter!!

In this solo episode, I talk to myself about how we need to step back, take a breath and redefine how we view success. 

We need to soften and have fun and relearn how to play. 

Enjoy this episode!

You can help support this podcast by becoming a monthly supporter, for as little as $4.99 per month. Or you can purchase my Life & Laughter humor column compilation for $12 on Venmo @Peri-Kinder. Thanks for listening!! Love you all. 

For more than 30 years, Mary Nickles has been a figure of trust and intelligence as an anchor on KUTV2 in Salt Lake City. She is dedicated to the community and is an advocate for truth, even as the media has been under attack. Mary was influenced by her parents, her big family, and her hometown of Renton, Washington - and she's a wicked volleyball player.

Ten years ago, Mary shared her very public battle with breast cancer and encourages women to get regular mammograms.

Mary and her husband, Kent, live in the Salt Lake Area with their twins, Zachary and MacKenzie.

Tom Haraldsen is an award-winning newspaper editor and journalist, and author. He's a San Francisco Giants fan, a super-great guy - and my husband. 

In this podcast, we talk about how to become a more supportive partner and work together to build something really cool.

You can help support my Life and Laughter Podcast by purchasing my Life & Laughter book for $12. You can Venmo me @Peri-Kinder or reach out at pkinder04@gmail.com. You can also support this podcast with a small monthly donation. Thanks for listening!

Have a great New Year!

I talk to myself on this episode, discussing a couple of examples of how the thoughts we think create the world around us.

Thoughts are powerful. Think carefully. 

You can support this podcast by making a donation on Anchor or purchasing my Life & Laughter book for only $12! Venmo me @Peri-Kinder

Thanks for listening!

In my first episode, I talk with my husband (veteran journalist and editor Tom Haraldsen) about how busy-ness addiction moves us toward fear - and away from love. We discuss the signs you might be addicted to being busy, including: Feeling guilty when you rest, Always talking about how busy you are, Living on sugar and caffeinated beverages.

I also give some tips to help practice stillness, like: Scheduling time to rest, Notice multitasking

As promised, listeners are invited to purchase my Life & Laughter book (a compilation of 10 years of humor columns) for only $12! 

Just Venmo $12 plus your name and address to @Peri-Kinder and I'll get it shipped out to you! Thanks for listening!