Resilient with Jessica Boarman

48. Reimagining Grief with Kate Doerge: Turning Pain into Purpose After Loss

What did you think of this episode? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2387664/fan_mail/new] What if grief isn't something you "get over" but something you learn to carry differently? In this heartfelt conversation, Jessica sits down with grief coach, speaker, nonprofit founder, and author Kate Doerge to discuss her new book, Reimagining Grief, and the profound losses that shaped her mission. After losing both of her parents and later her 16-year-old daughter, Penny, Kate found herself questioning many of the cultural narratives surrounding grief and searching for a more hopeful way forward. Together, Jessica and Kate explore what it means to honor those we love while continuing to live fully. They discuss signs from loved ones, the importance of community, turning pain into purpose, and why movement, connection, and meaning-making can be powerful tools in the grieving process. Kate also shares the inspiring story behind Penny's Flight Foundation and how her daughter's legacy is helping fund research and bring hope to families affected by neurofibromatosis (NF). Whether you're grieving a recent loss, carrying a grief that is years old, or supporting someone who is hurting, this conversation offers comfort, encouragement, and practical ways to move forward without leaving love behind. "It's not your lifespan that matters—it's your wingspan." — Kate Doerge In This Episode, We Discuss: * Why grief may need to be "reimagined"  * The limitations of the traditional five stages of grief  * Finding signs and continued connection with loved ones  * The healing power of movement and community  * Creating a "love cocoon" during life's hardest moments  * How to turn pain into purpose  * The story behind Penny's Flight Foundation  * Why joy and grief can coexist  Connect with Kate * Kate’s website: www.katedoerge.com [https://www.katedoerge.com/] * Kate’s Instagram: @katedoerge  [https://www.instagram.com/doergek/] * Penny's Flight Foundation website: www.pennysflight.org [https://pennysflight.org/] * Preorder the Book: Reimagining Grief (available June 16)  [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3KN3SKN/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_5CGXNS2CMS54N6M9TQMM?linkCode=ml1&tag=jessicaboar00-20&linkId=40be1b2eac0657b2467a91fe00f0816d] Thank you for tuning in to the Resilient Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode. Connect with Jessica Boarman: * Website: www.jessicaboarman.com [https://jessicaboarman.com/] * Instagram: @Jessica.Boarman [https://www.instagram.com/jessica.boarman] Do you know your emotional superpower? Take the free quiz by clicking here! [https://jessicaboarman.com/quiz] Support the Podcast: If you found value in today's episode, consider leaving a review or sharing it with a friend. Your feedback helps us reach more people and make a greater impact.

47. Fasting from What’s Numbing You with Wendy Speake

What did you think of this episode? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2387664/fan_mail/new] If you’ve ever reached for your phone or something sweet just to take the edge off a hard day…this conversation will feel very familiar.  In this episode, I’m sitting down with Wendy Speake to talk about the habits we lean on when life feels heavy and what it looks like to gently step away from them so we can reconnect with God in a deeper, more honest way. Wendy shares the heart behind her well-known fasts and reframes them not as rules or restrictions, but as invitations. We talk about what happens when we stop numbing and start noticing, when we sit with our emotions instead of scrolling past them, and how that shift can actually lead to healing, clarity, and a more grounded faith. If you’ve ever felt disconnected, distracted, or just a little overwhelmed, this conversation meets you right there. We also talk about Wendy’s upcoming devotional, A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving, releasing later this year. In it, she introduces the idea of an “ask fast," a 30-day journey of turning our constant requests into praise, even in seasons that don’t feel good. It’s a powerful reminder that gratitude isn’t just for the easy days…and that God is still worthy in all of it. You can follow Wendy [https://wendyspeake.com/]on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wendy_speake/]and learn more about her work online, and be sure to preorder A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving t [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400333210/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_M28WRXS6TFJ1AGNEF5V3?linkCode=ml1&tag=jessicaboar00-20&linkId=02530a869996e374e1872595725fa3a4]o join her in this meaningful 30-day journey. Trust me...you’ll want this one in your hands when it releases. Thank you for tuning in to the Resilient Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode. Connect with Jessica Boarman: * Website: www.jessicaboarman.com [https://jessicaboarman.com/] * Instagram: @Jessica.Boarman [https://www.instagram.com/jessica.boarman] Do you know your emotional superpower? Take the free quiz by clicking here! [https://jessicaboarman.com/quiz] Support the Podcast: If you found value in today's episode, consider leaving a review or sharing it with a friend. Your feedback helps us reach more people and make a greater impact.

46. Journaling Isn’t About Being Good at It

What did you think of this episode? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2387664/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we’re taking the pressure off journaling and getting back to what it actually is—a simple, honest way to process what you’re carrying. If your thoughts feel loud, tangled, or overwhelming, journaling can help create clarity by getting them out of your head and onto paper. We talk about what’s really happening in your brain when you write—how putting words to your emotions can help regulate stress, interrupt overthinking, and bring a sense of relief. I also walk through different ways to journal (without overcomplicating it) and how even a few minutes can make a difference. We also touch on the difference between digital and paper journaling, and how the tool you choose can shape your experience. Whether you type, write by hand, or do a mix of both, the goal is the same: creating space to be honest, process what’s real, and take your next step forward. Thank you for tuning in to the Resilient Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode. Connect with Jessica Boarman: * Website: www.jessicaboarman.com [https://jessicaboarman.com/] * Instagram: @Jessica.Boarman [https://www.instagram.com/jessica.boarman] Do you know your emotional superpower? Take the free quiz by clicking here! [https://jessicaboarman.com/quiz] Support the Podcast: If you found value in today's episode, consider leaving a review or sharing it with a friend. Your feedback helps us reach more people and make a greater impact.

45. Practical Optimism vs. Toxic Positivity

What did you think of this episode? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2387664/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we’re unpacking the difference between practical optimism and toxic positivity—two things that sound similar but feel very different in real life. One tells you to ignore what’s hard. The other makes space for it. If you’ve ever felt dismissed by phrases like “just stay positive” or “everything happens for a reason,” this conversation will likely hit home. We walk through what each mindset actually looks like, from how they handle pain to how they show up in everyday language. Practical optimism acknowledges reality and asks, “What can I do next?” while toxic positivity avoids discomfort and pressures you to feel okay when you’re not. If you’re navigating something hard—or supporting someone who is—this episode offers a more grounded way forward. One that allows honesty, encourages action, and reminds you that you don’t have to fake positivity to keep moving. Thank you for tuning in to the Resilient Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode. Connect with Jessica Boarman: * Website: www.jessicaboarman.com [https://jessicaboarman.com/] * Instagram: @Jessica.Boarman [https://www.instagram.com/jessica.boarman] Do you know your emotional superpower? Take the free quiz by clicking here! [https://jessicaboarman.com/quiz] Support the Podcast: If you found value in today's episode, consider leaving a review or sharing it with a friend. Your feedback helps us reach more people and make a greater impact.

44. You Don’t Have to Believe Every Thought You Think with Erica Ligenza Gwynn

What did you think of this episode? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2387664/fan_mail/new] If you’ve ever felt stuck in your own head with spiraling thoughts, quiet insecurities, or that constant pressure to hold everything together, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.  In this episode, Jessica sits down with Erica Ligenza Gwynn, author of That's Just Not True, to talk about the subtle lies so many of us carry…the ones that sound convincing but keep us anxious, overwhelmed, and questioning our worth. Together, they unpack how our thoughts shape the way we experience our lives and why not every thought we have deserves to be believed. Erica shares her own journey of letting go of labels like “anxious” and learning how to approach her thoughts with curiosity instead of judgment.  You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on what it looks like to replace internal narratives with something steady and true, along with simple, tangible tools to help you process what’s really going on beneath the surface.  If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure how to quiet the noise in your mind, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone and you don’t have to believe everything you think. You can find more about Erica on her Website, [https://ericagwynn.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ericaligenza/], and you'll definitely want to order her book here! [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0800747208/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_BY00FHTRN59SJ1YVV4CE?linkCode=ml1&tag=jessicaboar00-20&linkId=2c0d676f480699c3eb6770ec531d4f4c]  Thank you for tuning in to the Resilient Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode. Connect with Jessica Boarman: * Website: www.jessicaboarman.com [https://jessicaboarman.com/] * Instagram: @Jessica.Boarman [https://www.instagram.com/jessica.boarman] Do you know your emotional superpower? Take the free quiz by clicking here! [https://jessicaboarman.com/quiz] Support the Podcast: If you found value in today's episode, consider leaving a review or sharing it with a friend. Your feedback helps us reach more people and make a greater impact.