Everyone once in a while…life changes. Unexpectedly. One day you’re going about your business as if things will always be as they are, and the next, it feels like the furniture of your future has been completely rearranged. 

In this deeply moving conversation, bestselling author and Obama White House alum, Marisa Renee Lee shares how a devastating battle with long COVID, layered on top of profound family loss and caregiving, transformed her understanding of grief, identity, resilience, and hope. Marisa is known for her groundbreaking books, Waiting For Dawn, Living with Uncertainty and Grief Is Love, She shares some of the unexpected lessons from living with chronic illness and why joy isn't something we find after suffering—it's something we can intentionally cultivate alongside it.

She also shares her coping strategies to help us stay connected to joy. 

Together, we explore self-compassion, the courage to accept help, resilience, and the small moments that can sustain us through life's darkest seasons.

And…one of her biggest joys at the moment is her 4 month old Portuguese water dog Luna…and you will hear her little squeals in the background. She clearly wanted to play while we were chatting. it made me smile. 

Resource:  marisareneelee.com 

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Welcome to a weekly special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationship stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 70 of the world’s top meditation experts.

And best of all, you can now unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.

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Todays encore episode is with Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald, Trauma researcher and Author of the book, "The Joy Reset: Six Ways Trauma Steals Happiness and How to Get It Back.” Her book isn’t just about finding joy; it’s about rewiring our brains and rediscovering our power to cultivate joy EVEN in the darkest moments of life. 

She describes the barriers that keep us from accessing joy—hypervigilance, emotional numbing, fear of loss, conditioning, guilt, and shame—and then defines ways to tap into positive emotions that can become the very foundation of psychological resilience.

 In our interview she shares some exercises that make joy, hope and gratitude both bite-sized and accessible and how they can show up even in our toughest moments.

I love how she weaves neuroscience into her exploration of trauma and joy, explaining how our brains are biologically wired to both adapt to trauma and heal from it. And…good news…we ARE always biologically capable of joy. 

Quote from her website: "Joy does not exist only in the moments that are free of pain. In fact, the brightest, tiniest, most important pieces can only be found in the dark. I want to teach you how to harness and amplify the power of that glinting magic–because this sustainable, endless light source will do more than help you get through your darkest, scariest, loneliest times."

As always, we’re untangle, the podcast from Muse the brain sensing headband that helps to transform your brain. Use promo code untangle 15 at choosemuse.com for your discount. 

Resource: https://www.drmcmcdonald.com/

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Welcome to a weekly special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationship stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 70 of the world’s top meditation experts.

And best of all, you can now unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you hear the word retreat, you probably imagine an expensive getaway, a yoga retreat in Bali, or a silent meditation center tucked away in the mountains. But what if retreating was something you could do for an hour in your own home—and what if those small moments could transform your sense of wellbeing, creativity, relationships, and overall peace of mind? Sounds pretty good, right? 

Today's guest is Caroline Sylge, a poet, author and journalist and a trusted expert on retreats and retreating. She is the founder of the retreat platform queenofretreats.com, powered by The Global Retreat Company. And she's the author of the book we discuss today, How to Retreat, a Guide to Stepping Away from the Everyday to Find Space for Your Self.

Retreating, she says, isn't about escaping your life—it's about stepping away just long enough to return with more clarity, energy, and purpose.

We explore how anyone can create meaningful "micro-retreats," why doing nothing can actually be deeply restorative, the surprising connection between retreating and creativity, and practical ways to build moments of reflection into everyday life—without spending a fortune or leaving home.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or simply craving more peace, this episode offers practical tools to help you reconnect with yourself and create space for what matters most.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to a weekly special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationship stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 70 of the world’s top meditation experts.

And best of all, you can now unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s encore episode is with guest Katy Milkman, Wharton University Professor and author of the national bestseller, How to Change, The Science of Getting from Where you are to Where you Want to Be. The book was named one of the top 8 books for healthy living in 2021 by the NY Times. Katy has devoted her career to the study of behavior change, inspired by the fact that 40% of premature deaths are due to behaviors and habits we can actually change. She discusses the importance of understanding the barriers that stand between you and the change you’re trying to make so that you can find the right solution to each particular roadblock. Turning an uphill battle into a downhill one is one of the keys to success. She goes through the most common barriers which tend to be short-term rewards or instant gratification, procrastination, and forgetfulness. She provides some great research and tools to support habit change.

Resource: Katymilkman.com

Thanks to our amazing sponsors: Quince, Berkeley Life, Vinted and Jones Road.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to a special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationships stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 75 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all…get 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.

Resource: Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 In today’s encore episode, Dr. Shahrzad Jalali, Clinical Psychologist and Author of the book The Fire that Makes Us: Unveiling the Transformative Power of Trauma, shares her personal journey through trauma, exploring the complexities of healing and the impact of unprocessed experiences on our lives. She shares her wisdom on the importance of understanding trauma, how we can heal the nervous system, and the role of meaning-making in reframing our experiences. Whether it’s a big t or little t, trauma depends on how we each experience it and, whether big or little, she believes that trauma can be a powerful catalyst for growth, and that it is possible to free yourself from the grip of negative emotions associated with it. 

Dr. Jalali introduces her Regulate to Rise program, which offers practical techniques for healing trauma and even dispelling negative emotions. There’s a lot about Jungian psychology here and the significance of mindfulness. She does a beautiful job underscoring the importance of self-awareness, prioritizing true values, and embracing and navigating our own personal journey’s. 

Resource: https://drshahrzadjalali.com

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Are you living someone else’s concept of who you are supposed to be? In this episode of Untangle, our guest is Dr. Ellen Albertson, "The Midlife Whisperer," to discuss why the dip in happiness around age 50 isn't a crisis—it’s a wake-up call. Dr. Ellen breaks down the physiological and psychological changes women face during perimenopause and menopause, and introduces her 7-step framework from her book, Rock Your Midlife. Discover how to silence your inner critic, prioritize self-compassion, and harness the "dragonfly" energy to transform your second half of life into your most authentic and vibrant chapter yet.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The U-Shaped Happiness Curve: Why life satisfaction often dips around age 50 before rising again as we age.
• The "Anti-Authenticity Trifecta": How people-pleasing, perfectionism, and a harsh inner critic lead to midlife exhaustion.
• Nervous System Regulation: Why moving out of your comfort zone triggers a "fight-or-flight" response, and how to use HeartMath and breathwork to find safety.
• Fear vs. Excitement: A psychological hack to reframe your fears as exhilaration so you can start taking joyful risks.
• Dr. Ellen’s 7-Step Framework: A guided breakdown of finding your true self, loving yourself, energizing your body, reprogramming your brain, rehabbing relationships, empowering yourself, and seeking enlightenment.
• The Dragonfly Metaphor: Why the dragonfly is the ultimate symbol for midlife transformation and setting boundaries with people who still see you as a nymph.

About Our Guest: Dr. Ellen Albertson is a psychologist, registered dietitian, and transformational coach who has spent her career working with midlife women. She is the author of Rock Your Midlife: 7 Steps to Transform Yourself and Make Your Next Chapter Your Best Chapter. After navigating her own midlife awakening, surviving breast cancer, and finding new love, she now splits her time between Vermont and Costa Rica, helping women step into their power.

Resources: The midlifewhisperer.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Encoring one of my personal favorite meditations.

Welcome to a special weekly edition of Untangle, Meditation Monday. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationships stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Mondays will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 70 of the world’s top meditation experts.

And best of all, you can now unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.