P.S. We Expire with Morgan Motsinger

Ep82: Joyous effort, Buddhism, and the path to personal growth with Janet Ettele

In this conversation, Janet Ettele shares her journey of self-discovery, influenced by her love for music and the teachings of Buddhism. She discusses the importance of silence, mindfulness, and the role of storytelling in conveying spiritual teachings. Janet emphasizes the concept of joyous effort in personal growth and the significance of finding a teacher in life. The conversation explores themes of openness, acceptance, and the interconnectedness of all beings, while also addressing the challenges of compassion in a divided world. Finally, Janet reflects on how music serves as a spiritual practice and a means of expression. In this conversation, Janet Ettele shares her journey into writing and storytelling, discussing the process of creating characters and narratives that convey profound teachings on compassion and wisdom. She emphasizes the importance of practice in learning, particularly in meditation, and how it can help individuals overcome the noise of their minds. The discussion also touches on the significance of aligning one's life with core values to achieve inner peace and fulfillment. Janet introduces the concept of the six perfections in Buddhist teachings and how they can guide individuals toward a more compassionate life. The conversation concludes with insights on integrating mindfulness into daily life and the importance of being present in our relationships.
Bio:
Janet Kathleen Ettele is a musician and author who blends her background as a student of Buddhist dharma with her art, seamlessly bringing its teachings into contemporary practice through her writing and music. She has performed with Tencho Gyatso, the niece of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Grammy Award nominee and Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, where Ettele studied music composition, becoming an author decades later was an unexpected but welcome opportunity. Ettele worked in the entertainment industry until becoming a mother. She lives in Connecticut, where she has raised two sons and has happily welcomed the addition of two grandchildren. Ettele has also recorded two CDs, Piano Mandalas and Piano Mandalas-Compassion, which are collections of her meditatively improvised music.
Find Janet:
https://janetettele.com/
https://www.instagram.com/janetettele/
https://www.facebook.com/janet.ettele
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063516554816
https://www.youtube.com/@janetettele8818
 

Ep81: Time Poverty and the Addiction of Busyness with Peggy Sullivan

So here's the thing about "time poverty" — it's just a fancy term for what most of us are doing: running around like our hair is on fire while responding to emails at stoplights and calling it "multitasking."
Being busy is not a personality trait. It's not an achievement. It's not even productive half the time. We've all bought into this hustle culture garbage where we think answering Slack messages at 11pm somehow makes us better humans. Spoiler alert: it doesn't. It just makes us tired humans with eye strain who keep saying things like "I'm slammed" when friends ask to grab coffee.
Here's what I learned from Peggy Sullivan, who sounds like she has her life together in ways I can only dream about: we need to identify all those low-value activities that are sucking up our time like a teenager's gaming console sucks up battery life. You know, the stuff we do that feels productive but is actually just busywork.
And self-care? It's not selfish. It's necessary. It's oxygen mask territory — put yours on first before helping others. But not in that Instagram #selfcare way where you take pictures of your bath bombs while still answering work emails with your pruney fingers.
The path forward isn't some dramatic life overhaul where you suddenly become a productivity guru with color-coded calendars and a perfect morning routine. It's micro steps. Little happiness rituals. It's saying "no" to things that don't align with your values, which is something many of us are still learning to do well into adulthood.
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Peggy Sullivan is a keynote speaker, author, and researcher whose viral TEDx talk, with millions of views, has inspired audiences worldwide to overcome busyness and achieve peak performance without sacrificing well-being. Through her signature Busy Busting Framework—trusted by Fortune 500 companies like Google, Bank of America, and BlueCross BlueShield…she reveals how packed schedules can reduce productivity and fulfillment. With humor, personal stories, and research-based strategies, Peggy empowers individuals and organizations to shift from hustle to purpose, unlocking greater engagement, resilience, and success.
You can find Peggy on her website: www.peggysullivanspeaker.com.
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To learn more about the grief retreat in southern California in September, visit: Oaks Center: Navigating Grief and Loss
Find Morgan on her website morganmotsinger.com
 

Ep80: Battling for bliss: why your happiness is worth the fight

I've been feeling very down but lately, I've felt a renewed sense of determination to pursue happiness. But...how? I'm sharing super practical ways I've been bringing happiness into my life. I also share why the pursuit of happiness is not selfish but an important part of well-being an longevity.
 
Find Morgan on her website https://www.morganmotsinger.com/
Download the free E-Book "Know Thyself" here https://morganmotsinger.myflodesk.com/lpeqn3ujro
Chapters
00:00 The Pursuit of Happiness06:27 Understanding Happiness: Hedonic vs. Eudaemonic12:05 Practical Steps to Cultivate Happiness19:00 Mindset Shifts for Happiness24:11 The Importance of Joy in Life

Ep79: Caregiver PTSD with Dr. Lisa Peña

Dr. Lisa Peña is a doctor of pharmacology, author, mental health advocate, and mother to beautiful children, one of whom has a rare disease. In this heartfelt conversation, Lisa shares her journey as a mother of a child with disabilities, detailing the challenges and triumphs she has faced over the years. From navigating the complexities of autism and a rare gene disorder to advocating for mental health and community support, Lisa emphasizes the importance of education, self-compassion, and radical acceptance. She discusses the impact of caregiving on mental health, the need for systemic change in support for caregivers, and the power of shared experiences in group therapy. Ultimately, Lisa's story is one of resilience, growth, and the ongoing journey of healing.
 
You can follow Lisa on Instagram, order her book Waiting for the Light Bulb, and watch this episode on YouTube.
Chapters
00:00 Navigating Parenthood and Career Changes02:56 The Journey of Advocacy and Community Building05:41 Facing New Challenges: A Diagnosis Journey08:58 Understanding Complex PTSD and Its Impact11:46 The Role of Self-Compassion in Caregiving14:42 Radical Acceptance and Ongoing Healing17:38 Creating Support Systems for Caregivers20:57 The Importance of Education in Handling Hardships23:48 Finding Safety in Uncertainty26:41 The Power of Self-Reflection and Learning30:02 Building Resilience Through Connection32:56 The Need for Preventative Care in Healthcare35:42 Conclusion: Embracing the Journey of Caregiving51:11 Self-Awareness and Seeking Help54:37 Confronting Taboo Topics56:02 The Importance of Support Systems01:01:05 Navigating Grief and Identity01:07:19 The Power of Group Therapy01:15:43 Witnessing Grief and Connection01:26:51 Education as a Coping Mechanism
 
 

Ep78: Grief isn't a competition with Jessica Fein

Jessica and I delve into the profound themes of grief, loss, and hope. We share their personal experiences with the deaths of their children and explore how these experiences have shaped their perspectives on life, relationships, and resilience. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community, self-care, and finding joy amidst sorrow, while also addressing the complexities of navigating grief and the nature of hope.
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Jessica Fein is the author of Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes and host of the "I Don't Know How You Do It” podcast, which features people whose lives seem unimaginable and who find themselves on the receiving end of that statement. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Psychology Today, The Boston Globe, HuffPost, Scary Mommy, and more. Jessica is a relentless warrior in the memory of her dynamic daughter whom she lost to rare disease in 2022. Her work encompasses hope and humor, grit and grace -- the tools that make up her personal survival kit.
 
Watch Jessica's TEDx talk here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClaQkyLnAaw
Learn more about her and grab a copy of her book on her website https://www.jessicafeinstories.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.fein.92/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feinjessica/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-fein-b643b09
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Grief and Loss02:22 Personal Experiences with Grief05:19 The Impact of Sudden vs. Anticipated Loss08:28 The Puncture in the Bubble of Life11:23 Understanding Different Types of Loss14:20 Navigating Fear and Worry After Loss17:26 Finding Hope After Grief20:34 The Role of Positive Psychology23:30 Exploring Purpose and Joy26:32 The Search for Predictability in Life29:19 The Feeling Behind Our Desires32:23 Conclusion and Reflections on Life38:25 Finding Joy Beyond Circumstances39:32 The Purpose of Being Human41:30 Embracing All Emotions44:17 The Complexity of Joy47:04 The Role of Hope52:25 Redefining Hope56:07 Self-Care and Identity01:01:22 Connecting Through Shared Experiences01:05:37 Navigating Conversations About Grief01:10:50 The Power of Connection
 

Ep77: What We Get Wrong About Anxiety with Dr. Russ Kennedy

Anxiety is tough. It keeps you up at night, surprises you at the most inopportune times, and keeps you from pursuing important goals. One of the most difficult parts of anxiety is that you can't talk yourself out of it. Once that spiral starts it feels almost impossible to stop. What's a person to do?
Dr. Russ Kennedy (aka the Anxiety MD) gives some insight into how to think differently about our anxiety and practical tools to manage it. He offers a sophisticated and compassionate exploration of anxiety, challenging traditional psychological frameworks by examining the complex interplay between emotional experience, bodily responses, and unresolved psychological patterns.
Kennedy argues that anxiety isn't merely a cognitive phenomenon, but a sophisticated physiological response. Rather than viewing anxiety as purely mental, he positions it as a deeply embodied experience - an alarm mechanism stored within our physical systems that signals unprocessed emotional experiences.
Drawing from his dual professional background as a physician and comedian, Kennedy brings both clinical expertise and empathetic storytelling to his work. He advocates for a nuanced understanding of anxiety - not as a weakness, but as a complex adaptive response requiring compassionate, strategic intervention.
- Anxiety represents a sophisticated communication system from the body- Healing requires integrated, whole-person approaches- Personal struggles can be reframed as opportunities for growth and understanding
A compelling, research-informed perspective on mental health that destigmatizes and demystifies anxiety's intricate landscape.
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You can find him on his website https://www.theanxietymd.com/homeand on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theanxietymd/
 
Keywords
loneliness, anxiety, trauma, neuroplasticity, healing, self-discovery, emotional wounding, interoception, touch, movement, anxiety, healing, meditation, emotional release, loneliness, self-connection, play, mental health, somatic experiencing, personal growth
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Loneliness and Anxiety06:37 Practical Strategies for Reconnecting with the Body13:36 Trauma and Cellular Memory18:45 Neuroplasticity and Healing35:08 Psychedelics and Self-Discovery45:11 Insights from the Temple Experience51:58 Healing Through Connection and Curiosity01:01:22 The Importance of Play and Emotional Release01:07:00 Addressing Loneliness and Societal Anxiety

Ep76: Are you an over-functioning woman in your relationship? With Dr. Ashley Southard

There's a difficult dynamic in many relationships: over-functioning people (usually women) are together with an under-functioning partner. Dr. Ashley Southard has been a family therapist for over two decades and in the past couple of years has given voice to many unhealthy dynamics couples find themselves in. 
"Over-functioning really speaks to kind of the emotional and mental labor that somebody is carrying in the relationship to keep that relationship going...they are doing the bulk of the relationship work. And conversely, then the under-functioning partner is not carrying the load. They are not really focusing on the relationship. They're not putting the effort and the energy into keeping this relationship functional and healthy. The over-functioning partner is doing nearly all of that work on their own and trying to hold this relationship together with their own hands without the help of their under-functioning partner." (Dr. Ashley Southard)
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Dr. Ashley Southard is a psychotherapist in Scottsdale, AZ, specializing in The Overfunctioning Woman in Love who is struggling with the confusing, exhausting, and lonely dynamics of one-sided, unfulfilling love relationships. With over 20 years of clinical experience treating complex trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and relationship issues, coupled with her own personal journey out of Overfunctioning, Dr. Ashley loves nothing more than creating an emotionally safe space for women to discover that they are not ‘crazy’ or ‘broken’…and that they have the power to become the Self-Restored Woman they were always meant to be! Dr. Ashley is also very active on Instagram, offering life-changing information to “make sense out of the nonsense.” She has amassed a strong following of women who are remembering their power, learning how to come back home to themselves, and healing in community with other Self-Restoring women.
You can find Dr. Ashley at https://www.instagram.com/drashleysouthard
or her website at https://www.drashleysouthard.com/
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Chapters
00:00 Understanding Over-Functioning and Under-Functioning02:34 The Dynamics of Emotional Labor in Relationships05:25 Identifying Practical Examples of Over-Functioning08:27 Navigating Feelings of Discrepancy in Relationships11:20 The Challenge of Making Partners Change14:21 The Pain of the Liminal Space17:20 Stepping Back vs. Quiet Quitting in Relationships29:11 Navigating Communication in Relationships31:19 The Challenge of Parenting with an Under-Functioning Partner35:28 Understanding the Impact of Under-Functioning on Children42:23 Roots of Under-Functioning: Childhood Dynamics47:21 The Cycle of Over-Functioning and Under-Functioning53:51 The Journey of Self-Restoration and What We Deserve01:00:37 Navigating Relationship Dynamics01:02:07 The Risks of Over-Functioning01:04:20 Self-Restoration Journey01:06:34 Facing the Fear of Self-Discovery01:09:00 The Power of Awareness01:11:29 Personal Journey of Transformation01:15:30 Shifting Focus to Self-Change01:18:59 The Importance of Self-Validation01:21:51 Parting Thoughts on Kindness and Compassion

Ep75: Emotional Potty Training: A New Approach to Healing with Rachel Kaplan

It's not often that I hear a metaphor that really sticks. When I heard my guest's approach to processing emotion and healing trauma I latched on immediately. Rachel talks about emotional movement through the metaphor of digestion. When we're kiddos we learn what bodily sensations mean (time to hit the loo!) when we're being potty trained. But who is teaching us about processing emotion? What do we do when we have normal emotional sensations in our bodies? We often learn from our caregivers to stuff them. Don't express them. That there are emotions that are bad or wrong. This results in backed-up emotional systems and it takes work to learn how to process our feelings. Rachel has dubbed her process "Emotional Potty Training" and she shares practical insight, tools, and personal stories on this week's episode. 
 
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Rachel Kaplan, MA, MFT is a licensed psychotherapist, mental-health educator, and author of “Feel, Heal & Let that Sh*t Go: Your Guide to Emotional Resilience and Lasting Self-Love” (New World Library). She is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast, The Healing Feeling Sh*t Show. Her therapeutic and educational offerings can be found at thefeelingsmovment.com.
 
Find her on Instagram @healingfeelingshitshow
@thefeelingsmovement on TikTok and YouTube
 
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Find Morgan at https://www.morganmotsinger.com/
 
Chapters
00:00 The Journey to Emotional Potty Training06:39 Understanding Emotional Signals13:45 Tools for Emotional Processing24:44 Core Wounds and Their Impact33:33 Healing Through Self-Compassion40:25 Understanding Overwhelm and Emotional Check-ins46:14 The Nature of Emotions: Finite vs. Infinite52:05 Navigating Emotional Expression and Intellectualization57:48 Parenting, Emotions, and the Balance of Needs01:04:47 The Power of Anger: Understanding and Expressing It01:12:34 Transformative Anger: Harnessing Its Energy

Ep74: Take Care of Your Boobies: The Past 8 Months of Breast Scaries

I recorded this episode the day I got a breast biopsy. 
I'm a pretty private person, but sharing what this experience was like from first lump and concerning symptoms to biopsy results is important *spoiler alert: results came back all clear! 
What were my first symptoms? What is it like to get a mammogram? How did I manage my fear and worry about big scary possibilities? What does it mean to have dense breasts? Why did I do further testing even though my mammogram didn't show anything? What is a breast ultrasound? What is a breast MRI like? How was the experience of getting a breast biopsy?
In this episode, I tell you what the timeline and steps were to final results, how to deal with worry while waiting for testing (and the sleepless nights that inevitably show up), and explore why we don't share our hard things (or at least why I have a hard time with this). I also have a little rant about healthcare system issues in the US and what to do when you're worried about paying for testing and treatment. 
If you find this episode helpful, please share with a friend, leave a rating and review on whatever platform you listen.  
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Find me on InstagramBook me to speak at your corporate or private eventSend me an email at hello@morganmotsinger.com

Ep73: Gratitude and Grief: Finding Your Path From Pain to Purpose with Kelly Buckley

Kelly was in the healthcare space, working with families in the intensive care unit and oncology nursing. While she spent a good amount of time around grief and loss, nothing prepared her for what it was like to navigate losing her son 15 years ago. 
 
She shares about the early days of shock, disbelief, and grief and how she dealt with anxiety, relationship changes, and still showing up for her other son. We discuss how grief has changed over the years and how she has used her experiences to connect on a deep level with other bereaved moms. 
 
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Kelly Buckley is a gratitude practitioner, speaker, author, and the host of the Broken, Beautiful, Me podcast. With over 30 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Kelly turned her own journey through profound grief into a mission to inspire and support others. Her work focuses on using gratitude and storytelling to navigate life’s challenges, foster resilience, and create meaningful connections. Through her podcast and public speaking, Kelly provides a compassionate space for sharing stories of healing, hope, and personal growth, empowering others to embrace life’s beauty even in the face of adversity.
 
You can find Kelly at https://www.kellybuckley.com/
 
Chapters
00:00 Journey Through Grief: A Personal Story02:51 The Impact of Loss on Family Dynamics05:52 Navigating Anxiety and Grief08:50 The Messiness of Grief and Self-Compassion11:56 Relationships in the Wake of Loss14:53 Finding Support and Understanding17:51 The Role of Medication in Grief21:04 Communicating Grief: What to Say and What Not to Say23:58 The Unpredictability of Grief26:46 Embracing Vulnerability in Grief29:59 The Power of Sharing Your Story40:02 Embracing Vulnerability in Grief43:48 The Healing Power of Writing46:08 Finding Flickers of Light in Darkness50:41 The Evolution of Grief Over Time54:41 Resilience Redefined01:08:34 Final Thoughts on Healing and Connection