P.S. We Expire with Morgan Motsinger

Ep60: When your dream doesn't make sense with Stefanie Boyce

What if you've got a dream for your life but it doesn't seem possible with your current circumstances?
Stefanie and I are both part of the "Child Loss" club, which is just a nice way of saying we've both had our children die from Sanfilippo Syndrome. Today we're discussing the reality of having children with a debilitating and terminal disease, what to do when you've got a vision for your life that just doesn't match up, and what to do in the season of waiting. 

Ep59: Sex, Shame, and God with Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers

How did you get your views about sex and sexuality? What contributed to your sexual ethic? We learn about sex, shame, and sexuality from our parents (through what is said or not said), movies, pornography, friends, magazines, and more. But how often do we challenge our views and really dig into what we believe and why. This conversation with Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers is a great way to start asking those important questions. 
We discuss some of the downstream affects of sexual shame, the outcomes of purity culture (and what purity culture actually is), and how to raise our children in sex-positive households. 
Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers is a licensed sex and gender feminist psychotherapist, best-selling author, researcher, emeriti professor, and media personality whose expertise spans sex therapy, spiritual intimacy, parenting, and social justice. Her revolutionary perspectives have been expressed on platforms such as Spirituality & Health, Refinery 29, Vocal, Medium, and Bust Magazines, along with many podcast, radio, news, and TV interviews. Known for exposing the impact of sexual shame on our ability to securely attach to our partners, and instruct our children to attach to theirs, Dr. Sellers’ book Sex, God, & the Conservative Church – Erasing Shame from Sexual Intimacy has had a global impact. Her latest book, due out June 1, 2021, Shameless Parenting – Everything You Need to Raise Shame-free, Confident, Kids and Heal Your Shame Too! was a New Release Bestseller in five categories. She speaks throughout the world on how to heal, and how to raise shame-free relationally confident children. She can be followed on Instagram @DrTinaShameless
 
Dr. Tina's website
Dr. Tina Shameless on Instagram 
Resources for parenting with sex-positive intention
Book: Shameless Parenting: Everything You Need to Raise Shame-free, Confident Kids and Heal Your Shame Too!
 

Ep58: Emotional Eating--The Cool Science Behind Why We Eat When We're Stressed

I find myself rummaging in the cupboard when I'm particularly stressed out. But why do I do that? Why do we emotionally eat?
I'm in an anatomy and physiology class right now, focusing on the nervous system. We started learning about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and my mind lit up about one thing in particular: how digestion relates to the stress state. These branches of the autonomic nervous system are in charge of the "fight or flight" and "rest or digest" states. So what does stress have to do with eating? 
I think eating is like a cheat code. It helps us bump ourselves out of the fight or flight state by forcing our bodies to rest and digest. It's a brilliant strategy if you think about it! But what happens when we don't manage our stress in other ways? 
This episode is about mindfulness, gratitude for the wisdom of our bodies, and practical tools to help reduce stress and introduce more mindfulness into how we eat, because eating isn't just for fuel, it's also for pleasure!
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In the beginning of the episode, I tell you about Brick. If you want to learn more and get your own handy tool, you can find it HERE. 
 
You can find me on Instagram and YouTube, or visit my website for more info about speaking for your next event or retreat. 

Ep57: Who wrote the script for your life?

We're all members of the cast in this big play called life. For the majority of our lives, we play along, delivering our lines, and embodying the character we were told to play. 
But what happens when we realize we don't like how the script is written? What if this character that was written for me doesn't really fit? We can start to intentionally change the script. Write a different story. Say the lines that resonate with who we truly are. 
Additionally, we like to hold other people to a script that we've written for them, not understanding the damage we're doing when we demand that others behave in a certain way according to our plans. When we can release people from our expectations, we give them the gift of being exactly who they are. Does that mean we allow any and all treatment? No way, but we can co-write the play.
Enjoy this week's episode. If you want to hear more from me, you can come hang out with me on the socials (I'm on Instagram the most). Join me https://www.instagram.com/morgan_motsinger/
 

Ep56: When You Feel Like Giving Up

I came across a poem that made me feel incredibly hopeful:
 
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” -Albert Camus
 
I found a small snippet of this poem when I was cleaning out my office and found the book I purchased years ago as a guest book for Anni's funeral. When I needed it, I couldn't find it, but a year after her funeral--there it was.
This poem was just what I needed in this moment, and it sparked this deeper thought about this big question:
What do we do when we feel like giving up?
I hope today this episode offers some hope amidst the hard things, gives you some practical advice on how to handle naysayers and dream-squashers (including that critical inner voice), and how to keep going when you can't quite make out the light ahead. 
 
If this episode means something to you, please take a moment to give the show a rating and subscribe. 
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You can find me (Morgan) over on Instagram or on my website www.morganmotsinger.com

Ep55: Relationship pitfalls, attachment, and finding yourself: couples therapist Brooke Bergman

You've probably heard "attachment theory" (anxious attached, avoidant, etc), and the term "codependent", but what does that actually mean? And how does it practically show up in our relationships?
 
We get bogged down by terminology and we diagnose our relationship troubles, handing out labels left and right. Labels may not be very helpful, but what is helpful is understanding how we show up in our relationships, and how our perspective on our close relationships is formed by our first relationships with our parents and immediate family. 
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Brooke Bergman is a relationship coach and licensed family and marriage therapist.
She has a particular interest in entrepreneurial mental health, recovery from religious fundamentalism and trauma, divorce recovery, modern dating and modern marriage, women's body image and disordered eating, and supporting healthy romantic partnerships as a vehicle for creating a more stable and vibrant society. 
In addition to working with her own clients, she provides consultation services through ZenFounder, an organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs’ mental health and relationship needs.
 
You can find her on her website https://www.brookebergman.com/
 

Ep54: How do we help when we’re overwhelmed ourselves? Co-regulation and somatic healing with Rita Bozi

Rita is a powerful force for good. The main topic of our conversation? How to be a more humane human. 
 
What does it mean to be human? How do we exercise compassion when we are overwhelmed and feeling stuck ourselves? What can we do to fix some of the biggest problems humanity is currently facing?
Rita teaches us about the importance of embodiment and somatic work, which involves listening to the cues and signals from our bodies. We discuss the importance of non-verbal communication and how it contributes to polarization and a sense of unease and unsafety. We also talked about the impact of trauma on our perception of danger and fear, and how it can affect our interactions with others.

Ep53: 3 Beliefs for a Happier Life

We all want happier lives, right? But sometimes happier feels out of reach, and maybe it feels more like if life could just suck LESS, that would be great. 
What beliefs can we adopt to create a happier life?
Sharing three beliefs you can take on to have a happier life right now. 
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Find Morgan on Instagram @morgan_motsinger
or her website https://www.morganmotsinger.com/  where you can find her services like speaking, and how to book her for your podcast. 
 

Ep52: Anni-versary: 1 Year Without Anni

This past year has felt like a dream. A bit fuzzy, foggy, and scattered. Passing the one-year milestone is a bit bizarre and I have lots of feelings about it. 
 
This week I'm sharing the past year's ups and downs and what has helped me navigate grief. 
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Find Morgan on Instagram: @morgan_motsinger and her website: morganmotsinger.com
 

Ep51: Curious minds want to know: tapping into your creativity

Our creativity is a hallmark of our species. We have a unique ability to tap into meaning and something deeper than our basic needs. 
 
So, what exactly is creativity? Why should we care about expressing it (especially if no one else ever sees it)? How does creativity feel? And the golden question, how do we cultivate even more creativity in our lives?
 
The books I recommend on this episode are:
Big Magic by Elizabeth GilbertThe Creative Act, A Way of Being by Rick RubinResonate by Alex Wolf
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You can find Morgan on Instagram and her website.