In this episode Karin explains the reason why she took a break from publishing podcasts during this past month. She describes the personal health crisis that struck her family but focuses mostly on what she's discovered to be helpful during this time. She also offers some advice on what to do if you have someone in your life who is going through a personal tragedy or is struggling with a life-threatening disease (see episode #15). She closes with a story about replacing judgment with curiosity in the face of life events, even when it seems obvious that that they are good or bad.

Karin doesn't know when she'll be back to her regular podcasting schedule, but will publish episodes when she can over the next few months. Thank you for listening!

Learn more about Karin:

website: www.drcalde.com

Instagram: @theloveandconnectioncoach

Listen to Karin and Brooke discuss the importance of friendships and how to bring more of them into your life.

Friendships - including intimate relationships - fortify our mental health and, consequently, our physical health. When we don’t have these relationships, it can have a negative effect on our brain and can become harder to deal with stress and adversity.

Hear Brooke talk about how to attract new friendships into your life and why having one deep relationship, such as with a romantic partner, isn’t enough. She and Karin also discuss how women in midlife can manage the discomfort that comes up when trying to make new friends at a time when their lives are changing and have more available time.

Developing new friendships isn’t easy. Brooke and Karin discuss the importance of patience, intentionality, persistence, and the need to take risks and be vulnerable. And, possibly, most importantly, the need to be a friend to yourself first so you have a healthy, balanced foundation to start from.

Brooke Ledbetter is a writer, coffee professional, dog mom, and aspiring plant mom. She enjoys writing about mental health, spirituality, relationships, and above all, hope.

After a seismic displacement of her core group of friends, she began to ask the question: is there a better way to do friendship? Through a lot of searching, healing, praying, and research, her debut book, "Closer than a Brother," was born. It is a celebration of friendship and an invitation to grow in being a friend. Its estimated release date is March 6, 2025 and will be available for purchase wherever books are sold.

She lives in Lewisville, Texas with her mini aussie Juniper, where she is actively involved in her church and community. When not writing, you can find her at various coffee shops reading, or at home, trying desperately to keep her plants alive. Success rate is currently 50/50.

Learn more about Karin:

website: www.drcalde.com

Instagram: @theloveandconnectioncoach

Learn more about Brooke:

IG: @brooke.e.ledbetter

Follow her on Substack

This heartfelt conversation starts with how Karin and Matt are coping with the results of the election, which occurred two days prior, including how they are managing the difficult emotions and taking care of themselves during challenging times like these.

Then, because when we take care of ourselves we are also taking care of our relationships, the heart of the conversation focuses on how to build strong, loving relationships.

Hear Matt and Karin talk about how being in love isn’t enough, the importance of understanding ourselves and what we need, the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) framework, how he and his partner overcame some significant life challenges, and how that all informs how Matt helps his coaching clients have strong, healthy relationships.

Learn more about Karin:

website: www.drcalde.com

Instagram: @theloveandconnectioncoach

Learn more about Matt:

FB: @growingmorejoy

IG: @growingmorejoy

The Real, Messy Relationship Podcast (Spotify)

Freebie: Get Your Partner to Open Up Guide