The St. Louis Girl Podcast

Pam and Lauren Stewart Discuss Lessons in Courage and Bravery: The Alice Effect

Fortunate to have a friend in Lauren who shares insightful ideas, asks relevant questions, and encourages me to think through situations, I was happy to talk with her about strategies for dealing with toxic people we sometimes have to be around. Not wanting to pander to their inappropriate behavior, we spoke about The Alice Effect. The reality is that we can find ourselves in a situation where somebody is making it a less happy place for us. We can choose to be the bigger person, keep our energy level high and not let people bother us, talk to someone if we feel they are open to listening and find our Zen place. Jessica Kutcha-Miller, an ombudsman at Washington University advises to think about the time and place to have these conversations. The Alice Effect is a lesson in bravery, courage, and accountability. It is a friendship born from appropriate, emotionally mature behavior. After mounting frustration, I asked Alice something and it was the straw the broke the camel’s back. Alice burst into tears and then came back from it. Alice demonstrated backbone and moxie and was able to accept my apology-after she pointed out why I had hurt her feelings. We were able to move forward. I’m grateful to say that Alice and I are friends and I am forever humbled by her example. What I learned is that I can say something in the right way with kindness and respect with the intention of everyone getting their needs met, it becomes a win/win situation. Lauren suggests that as women we can appreciate an apology and if need be, work on the something that needs to be smoothed over or healed. Lauren also reminds us that it’s, “hard to hate up close. (although she doesn’t advocate the use of the word hate) If you get to know someone, learn their story and take the time to get to know someone, there is usually more of a sense of connection, empathy, and less toxic feeling. Sometimes this can grow into a beautiful, unexpected friendship.” Lauren reminds me that there’s not any one way to do this, that’s right. We use our gut and experience and lean on what others have taught us, what we know about the experience, and apologize when we screw up. Many thanks to Lauren who is a wise, loving being. I’m lucky to call her a friend, too. Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! Use the Alice Effect and take the high road. #stlouisgirlstorytelling.com #stlouisgirlpodcast #strategiesfordealingwithtoxicpeople #braverycourageandkindness #thealiceexample

Feed Your Greens Microgreens: Todd Peterson

I had no idea what microgreens were until my friend Suzanne pointed me toward the microgreen table at the Goshen Farmers Market in Edwardsville. I ended up meeting Todd, an organic, microgreen farmer who listened to a podcast, and decided to combine his love of gardening with a new venture. After learning more than he thought possible, he loves the actual growing of the greens. Grown in light, microgreens are grown in a 7–10-day growth cycle and pack a nutritional punch. They are grown from seeds and are harvested before they are mature plants and become bitter. Todd grows his microgreens in his basement; he created a precontained grow environment. There are no pesticides used. He controls everything including high intensity LED lights. Microgreens are nutrient dense and offer health benefits (check the website) as well as tasting good. They can be added to anything you can imagine including chocolate chocolate chip zucchini bread. (I tried. And it was good. Message me for the recipe. Happy to share.) Thanks, Todd for always putting sunflower greens aside for me every week! Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! Eat your greens! #stlouisgirlstorytelling #stlouisgirlpodcast https://feedyourgreen.com/ www.feedyourgreenmicrogreens.com social media: fygmicrogreens Note: Todd has since taken a full-time job and no longer sells his microgreens at the Farmers Market or to individuals. We will miss him and his greens!

Feeling Lighter with Michelle Rubin

Michelle, an LPC, mental health therapist and psychotherapist, uses a variety of modalities and strategies to help, support, and encourage her clients. Listen here as Pam and Michelle discuss how Michelle uses reflection, objective feedback and cheerleading. “The reflective part is so that people can reflect on their own. Determining the direction of your life, who you want to be and what you want to do. This needs to come from us”. She also layers in an energetic and spiritual point of view including guided meditation. Michelle used her gifts of objective feedback and reflection with me. Using guided meditation, Michelle asked me what I wanted: “I want to feel lighter.” Michelle reframed perfectly: You want to live, and work based on your values which are truth and working in an ethical way. I added, “The bigger part: I would like to feel a little bit lighter and less angst”. After the guided meditation I did feel lighter giving myself permission to feel instead of think. I would find that over time the angst would go away. This felt good. Following my heart, intuition and inner wisdom always does! michellerubinlpc.com http://www.claytonwellnesscenter.com/ Expect Good. Defy Gravity! Sparkle On. Shine your inner light!

Shari Brune: Friends for Life

Shari Brune creates community, connection, and inspiration just by being herself! Spend a few minutes in the company of Shari and you will immediately feel as if the world is a better place. She is simply a bright light in our world. And I feel lucky to know her. Shari and her daughter Paige are part of the Friends Group here in St. Louis. Started twenty years ago by Shana Meyer who created Abilities Awareness at Shendoah Valley Elementary in the Parkway School District Shana wanted to celebrate everybody’s abilities. It was an idea for her own daughter Gabby-and all the kids benefited. With the support of Bruce Hunter, the Principal and the entire staff, our students came to understand their own abilities as well. While it takes a very special person to do what Shana did, it also takes a very special person like Shari to step into those very big shoes and take over the Girlfriends Group when Shana and her family moved. When asked to chat about the Friends Group, Shari answers, “That’s my favorite thing to talk about!” Working diligently to create a space where the young adults can come together, the Friends Group is also a place for parents and families. It’s the place to share strategies and to bounce ideas off people who walk in the same shoes. “Nobody can do this by themselves. We share encouragement, Insight, advice, and suggestions from one another. We laugh and cry and share a lot of meals!” Shana wanted to get everyone together and kicked it with a pajama party at her house, calling it The Girlfriends Group. This group is now celebrating twenty years, and they are still going strong. Along the way, they included dads, siblings and other family members and it became the Friends Group. Shana’s idea was for inclusiveness which supports the involvement of the entire family. The Friends Group collaborate with community organizations including The Down Syndrome Association and The Pujols Family Association. The organizations work together referring back and forth with one another. The Friends Group is interwoven yet separate. Shari says, “They support what we do. We have a special niche because of the parent connection. It’s amazing to have the moms and dads come together and have that time of sharing and fun. We have a great time celebrating with these young adults. We love being together as a group.” From a grass roots beginning based on the needs of a child to the Golden Friends of today, Shari Brune is keeping the light of the Friends Group shining. Expect Good. Defy Gravity! Sparkle ON. Bring your unique and special abilities to the world. To find out more, contact: Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis https://dsagsl.org/ The Pujols Family Association https://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/ To read more about the Friends Group: https://www.stlouisgirlstorytelling.com/post/friends-group-moms-and- daughters-on-a-fitness-journey #shiningalight#friendsgroup#community#connection#inspiration

Julie James: Functional Health Practitioner with Wholistic Functional Health

Julie’s journey to holistic health started the way a lot of functional health practitioners start-with her own health struggles. Listen here as Pam and Julie talk about the plan that veered off, what functional health is and how a practitioner like Julie takes a whole-body approach putting all the pieces together, navigating a way for our bodies to heal and maintain a state of balance. As an added bonus, Julie helps you look at what stressors are doing and teaches us to trust our bodies. She will walk with you on this wholistic journey. #stlouisgirlstorytelling#stlouisgirlpodcast#wholisticfunctionalhealth#juliejames Expect Good. Defy Gravity! Sparkle ON. Wholistic Health for Everyone. https://www.facebook.com/wholisticfunctionalhealthJJ https://www.wholisticfunctionalhealth.com subscribepage.io/wholisticfunctionalhealth