Another solo one!
This episode starts off with me talking about the struggle to find balance in life (again!), then dives a bit into a ramble about boundaries with social media. Finally I go in to the four steps I use for healing.
Enjoy
In this episode I share two stories of friends who are Mom's who came to me, sharing how they're uncertain whether they've made the right choices in life. One works full time, and one stays home with her kids full time. Both of them feel inadequate, unsure and judged.
This episode is not about motherhood; nor is it an episode relevant to only parents. This episode is about something we all face - finding happiness in our own unique juggle of balance in life. Whether you're a full time student, just starting a career, a new Mom, a new Dad, or a world traveler, we all struggle with the comparison game and finding a balance that works for us.
Happy listening.
In this episode I chat with Campfire Conversations founder, Nicolette Louw. Nicolette is a former Speech Therapist who, after navigating her own midlife trauma alone, saw the need for more authentic & healing conversations in our communities. Her journey to seeking deeper conversations with the people around her led her to establish a company called Campfire Conversations.
Campfire is a philosophy, a practise & a structure rooted in holding space, vulnerability, non-judgmental awareness & self-processing. These conversations take place among groups of around five people and these engagements are governed by four central pillars.
In this first ever dive into the "why" behind Nicolette's Campfire Conversations, we unpack how the idea came about, the four central pillars of deeper and more connective conversations, and why this approach to listening and sharing is so important for us individually and as a society.
You can connect more with Nicolette at:
Website: http://www.mycampfire.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_campfire/
Email: n.louw@mweb.co.za
Claudia Goetzelmann is a citizen of the world who’s lived in four continents. Having overcome her own personal journey of healing, she’s now a postpartum doula and a compassionate enquiry facilitator. In fact, Claudia studied under my very own favorite healer, Dr. Gabor Mate!
A former international fashion photographer, today Claudia is a spiritual life coach who spends her time helping others to step into their higher selves with her Permission to Bloom Coaching.
In this episode, Claudia and I discuss it all. From compassion to psychedelic's, Claudia unpacks how she helps her clients find peace in joy in every season of life through radical acceptance.
You can connect with Claudia at https://www.instagram.com/permission_to_bloom/
This episode is an oldie but a goodie. In fact, it is one of my best chats of all time, and a most listened to episode. And I am bringing it back to you in perfect timing friends, because (drum roll…………) we are going to record again in a few short weeks! Stay tuned for the amazing update.
Before I bring you the newest version of the CEO of Self-Love herself, you have to listen to this incredibly raw and inspiring chat we had in 2020.
In this episode, Tracey and I dive deep into her “why” behind the popular @fitnessgirl_za journey. In late 2016, after struggling to recover from a common cold, Tracey-Lee realised that she needed to change her way of life. Her doctor informed her that if she did not lose the weight now and commit to a healthy and active lifestyle, that she would develop diabetes and other catastrophic health concerns. Tracey-Lee realised that her way of life then had led her to gain more than 50KGs in the preceding two years and, as such, she chose to make some serious changes. She embarked on a mission to prove to herself that she could achieve anything she put her mind to.
To remain accountable, Tracey-Lee made the brave and vulnerable decision to share her honest journey on Instagram and created her account @fitnessgirl_za. Initially her intention was for the account to be her commitment device and to act as a visual diary of her own progress and achieved goals. With dedication and commitment and lots of hard work, she endlessly sought the happiness that she believed would undoubtedly be found in her “goal weight”. However, @fitnessgirl_za eventually turned into so much more; it became a testimony of realising her innate worthiness, regardless of her size or weight. That happiness, she realised, was always there irrespective of her weight.
Tracey-Lee is the full package. Not only is she a fitness motivator and body positive advocate/influencer, but she is also a full-time family law attorney. To this day, she holds the eyes of nearly 40,000 women from around the world, all shapes, sizes and nationalities, who are inspired by her truth, humility and very public internal shift from goals to gratitude.
In this episode we unpack how Tracey-Lee’s purpose and intentions for her brand shifted from aesthetic weight conscious goals to self-love and body positive goals; all while sharing her mental health shift publicly and with vulnerability over the last 4 years. We discuss why she is a mental health warrior, her tips for how she handles her anxiety, how she juggles the balance between her legal career and her personal brand, and so much more. Most importantly, we address how “healthy” is the new skinny and worthiness is a CHOICE made within.
It was a dream to speak with such an authentic, raw, and motivational person – I am truly inspired, and you will be too. Happy listening!
To connect with Tracey-Lee online you can find her at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessgirl_za/ (@fitnessgirl_za)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fitnessgirl_za?lang=en (@fitnessgirl_za)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitnessgirlza (FITNESSGIRL)
Website: https://fitnessgirl.co.za/
In the continued spirit of personal development, I am bringing you another solo episode today about “choosing your hard”.
We all heard it growing up, “life isn’t fair”. The truth is, it is not fair, and it is really hard! Staying unfit is hard, getting fit is hard. Staying unhappy is hard, getting happy is hard. Having no boundaries is hard to deal with, setting boundaries is hard if you haven’t been doing that! Change is hard. Life is hard. But we have a CHOICE.
This is a short and sweet solo episode that may be the motivation you or someone you know needs to hear today about making that tough choice.
Happy listening.
Your host,
Christina
Find this podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thehonesthourpodcast/
After last week's episode on goal setting and learning to understand the obstacles to your goals, I got pumped on personal development and was reminded of this amazing chat with a former guest.
Helen Nicholson is the author of a new book titled Mindfulness, How to stay sane in an insane world. Not only is her book making mindfulness easy and accessible to all, but it is a collection of Helen’s personal experiences with burn-out, mindfulness and her own business and personal lessons on how to not just cope, but to thrive in today’s post-pandemic world.
In this episode you will learn about mindfulness verse multi-tasking, understanding the value of deep work, why you need to set aside time for intentional recovery, keystone habits, and so much more. If you have been needing to be inspired to get intentional with your life again, this is the episode for you.
Buy the book at https://www.takealot.com/mindfulness-how-to-stay-sane-in-an-insane-world/PLID90144953
Connect with Helen at https://www.instagram.com/helennicholson92/?hl=en
The obstacles that arise in the pursuit of our goals are sometimes the real goals themselves.
How do we know for sure?
Know your WHY, your values, and your priorities.
Those little speed bumps that show up in the pursuit of our goals are sometimes where the real magic happens, as we are forced to reassess "why are we doing this?" "what do I want to achieve here?" "is my time frame realistic?"
Obstacles help us clearly identify our objectives with our goals and help us have a greater sense of self and inner peace.
In this episode I break down my goals for the podcast, and some "speed bumps" life has put in my way in the pursuit of this Podcast Channel.
I get real and personal, as well as give my own nuggets of wisdom on goal setting.
Enjoy!
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thehonesthourpodcast/
Ashley Abboushi is an international model, human rights activist and CEO of the A Suite Global. If you follow her on social, you will know she is SUPER motivating.
Ashley is committed to helping others live their best life while having fun along the way, and making a positive impact in the world.
In today’s episode, we unpacked Ashley’s story, her why and all her motivational tips to help us live our best lives too. Further, we talked about all things self-worth related. We discussed healthy boundaries, how our perception shapes our reality, and positive social circles.
If you're looking for motivation for your life, this episode is for you.
You can connect with Ashley on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ashleyabboushi/
Today’s guest, Rue Cornfield, is the founder of online health brand “Healthyish”.
Having always been healthy and a fan of regular exercise, Rue found herself feeling low during lockdown with kids at home. Gosh, I can relate to this, and I am sure many of you can too!
Feeling herself slipping into this feeling of low, she sought a way to stay inspired and birthed her little brainchild, healthyish. Rue’s approach to health is simple. She aims for balanced, wholesome foods for the busy and modern person.
The Healthyish brand lives on Instagram where followers can be inspired to prioritise their health in achievable ways. Rue is dedicated to empowering people to aspire to be their most healthyish and happiest selves.
To get to know Rue more, visit her on Instagram at:
Healthyish Lifestyle - https://www.instagram.com/healthy_ish.lifestyle/?hl=en
Healthyish Coach - https://www.instagram.com/thehealthy.ish_coach/?hl=en
Creative Hub - https://www.instagram.com/my.creative.hub_/?hl=en
In today’s episode of The Hones Hour Podcast, I spoke with former social worker and student wellness advocate and mentor, Simone Johnston.
It was enlightening to say the least, speaking with Simone. Her background of working closely with victims of assault and abuse, her vast knowledge of psychology, human emotion, South Africa’s culturally and economically diverse communities, has left me with much food for thought on many things after our deep conversation.
From the poverty cycle to the impact of social media on the mental health of our youth, Simone and I covered it all. We discussed her role as Head of Student Wellness at a South African private school, as well as how parents can work at keeping the lines of communication open with their children to prevent sexual abuse as well as anxiety, depression and general dis-ease in the current societal circumstances we find ourselves in amid the digital landscape and a global pandemic.
To find out more about Simone you can:
Connect with her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iamsimone_johnston/
Listen to her Podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/something-to-say/id1508974308
Meg Faure is an Occupational Therapist, infant specialist, and the co-author of 8 parenting titles, including the best-selling Baby Sense and Weaning Sense books.
Meg has been working with parents for over 20 years, starting out in a clinical practice. Today, Meg has helped thousands of parents across the globe get out of survival mode and into their own rhythm of modern conscious parenting.
As a parenting expert and mum of 3, Meg understands your challenges and has made it her life’s work to support parents with confidence by providing balanced, down-to-earth guidance for raising resilient and happy children.
In today's episode Meg breaks down newborn sleep & feeding routines, and we go in to the concept of helping our children learn to self regulate.
To connect with Meg:
Visit her Website at https://megfaure.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
Download the Parent Sense App at https://parentsense.app/
Founded by local Mom Tiggy Potgieter, Cherry Melon is a line of maternity clothes in South Africa, born out of necessity.
When she was pregnant with her first child 17 years ago, Tiggy saw a need for uncomplicated, every day pregnancy clothes for real-life moms.
Tiggy found that regular, non-pregnancy clothing was too restrictive for a pregnant Moms growing body, as they did not accommodate for all the changes we go through. This is why she went on to organically develop a whole line of clothes that would support a pregnant body, all the way through to the post-partem and breastfeeding journey, and beyond.
Best of all, when you buy Cherry Melon, you can rest assure you are supporting craftswomen with growing families of their own. This is truly a brand for Moms by Moms.
In today's episode, we discussed the journey of Cherry Melon as a business and how the customers needs truly are at the core of their values. Further, we looked at how Cherry Melon compares to other maternity lines and who the ideal Cherry Melon customer is.
To connect with the brand online, visit them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cherrymelonmaternity/?hl=en
To shop Cherry Melon, visit https://www.cherrymelon.co.za/
Dr Jenny Rose is a clinical psychologist, a parent-child expert, and a mom to 3 young girls. Having worked in the field of clinical psychology for over 12 years, she is now a specialist in the field of parenting. Further, Dr Rose lectures at two local universities.
Dr Rose believes in conscious parenting and is on a mission to make information accessible and digestible by all parents through providing resources, tools, and strategies for everyday living. She believes that raising our kids to be secure, resilient, and confident is the ultimate goal.
In today’s chat, we discussed all the things about conscious parenting. We dived in to being aware of our own childhood trauma and triggers, the difference between gentle parenting and conscious parenting, the need for healthy boundaries, sibling relationships and appropriate disciplinary responses. This episode has so much incredible value to all parents.
You can get all these nuggets of wisdom that Dr Rose shares on her Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/drjennyrose/?hl=en. But first, listen to today’s episode.
For more information on the Toddler Play Conference visit https://toddlerplayconference.com/.
To sign up for one of Dr Rose's parenting courses visit https://drjennyrose.com/courses/
Monique Davies is a South African Mom of three, and a practicing Occupational Therapist (OT) in Durban, South Africa. Monique is all about connection and believes that play is the path to understanding and improving a child’s behavior's and development.
I decided to have an OT on the show due to my recent experience with my son who has just begun OT himself. As a Mom who was completely unfamiliar with the field of OT, I was overwhelmed. I did not understand the language of the the OT assessment, I had moments where I blamed myself for some of his delays, and I had sleepless nights worrying about what the future would hold. All in all, I was lost, confused and in a very lonely place trying to wrap my head around understanding my child's developmental needs.
So I was very grateful for this conversation with Monique. Not only to expand my own understanding, but to share it with parents and caretakers near and far so they too can understand more about recognizing the signs of developmental delays, disorders, difficulties, etc. This episode is not just for those with children in OT or for those interested in neuro-diversity.
This episode is for anyone interested in understanding more on the latest evidence based science about early childhood education, childhood development, delays versus disorders, and the power of play in childhood. This episode is not for your to make a diagnosis or assumption on your own. For more information on you or your child's personal neurological needs, please see your local GP for a referral to the right specialist.
For more information on Monique Davies and to connect with her, please visit https://www.instagram.com/theconnectionconsciousmom/?hl=en. For more information on her product Sea Glass Soft Play, visit https://www.instagram.com/seaglass_softplay/?hl=en.
Helen Nicholson is the author of a new book titled Mindfulness, How to stay sane in an insane world. Not only is her book making mindfulness easy and accessible to all, but it is a collection of Helen’s personal experiences with burn-out, mindfulness and her own business and personal lessons on how to not just cope, but to thrive in today’s post-pandemic world.
Buy the book at https://www.takealot.com/mindfulness-how-to-stay-sane-in-an-insane-world/PLID90144953
Connect with Helen at https://www.instagram.com/helennicholson92/?hl=en
Dr Daphne Lyell is a homoeopath and integrative GP with a special interest in all things related to women’s health, child health, gut health, and diet. She focuses on health and building resilience instead of fighting disease.
Dr Lyell also has a particular interest in the birth process and the transformative postpartum period. She has a keen interest in educating and empowering parents. She helps equip them with the knowledge to treat their kids at home.
In this episode, we get to know Dr Lyell a little better, her call to integrative medicine, her focus on women and children, as well as her upcoming Holistic Child Health 101 Course. She has created Homeopathic kits to complement the course, or to be used by parents simply interested in being self-reliant.
I am so honoured to have this chat with Dr Lyell as I saw her as a patient years ago at the beginning of my own health care journey. I can personally attest she is a doctor with remarkable empathy and compassion. She truly cares about each patient individually and is passionate about effective and holistic approaches to getting their body and mind health back on track in an achievable manner.
For more about Dr Daphne Lyell, visit her website at https://drdaphnelyell.co.za/
Find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dr_daphne_lyell/
Hello from your host, Christina Masureik.
This is the first episode I have recorded since December 2020. In this episode I unpack why I took a long break, and what my plans are with the podcast moving forward.
This one will be loved by Mom's who struggle with the juggle, have made mistakes, have had to re-prioritize over and over again, and who still want to make time for themselves and their hobbies without sacrificing their families.
I hope you enjoy the episode!
Love,
Christina