Chiming In

Why Vulnerability Feels So Intimate: Showing Up Without Armor

What happens when we stop protecting ourselves and allow ourselves to be fully seen? 🤍 In this episode, we take a deep dive into vulnerability as one of the most intimate and transformative experiences we can share with another person. We talk about the (perhaps unnecessary) armor we wear to protect ourselves and why it can feel so risky to take it off. True connection  begins the moment we start showing up dressed in nothing but  authenticity. https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/love-on-the-spectrum-u-s #vulnerability #emotionalintimacy #personalgrowth #relationships #authenticity #selfawareness #wellnesspodcast #chiminginpodcast #loveonthespectrum

Why Life’s Milestones Feel So Crazy & Emotional — Even When We See Them Coming

Graduation. Mother’s Day. Big moments that somehow sneak up on us no matter how much we prepare 🎓🤍 In this episode, we talk about the emotional whiplash of milestones — how quickly time moves, how surreal it can feel watching our children grow, and why these transitions can leave us asking, “Wait… how did this happen so fast?” We reflect on the beauty, grief, pride, and disbelief that often live side by side during life’s biggest moments, and how easy it is to get swept up in planning and expectations while forgetting the simple things that matter most. The conversation ultimately comes back to connection: the reminder that we don’t actually need a holiday, milestone, or special occasion to tell people what they mean to us. This is a conversation about time, love, family, and learning to say the important things while we’re living them. https://open.substack.com/pub/elysewendy/p/wtf-and-yay?r=2jb6rt&utm_medium=ios #graduationseason #mothersday #familylife #personalgrowth #parenting #lifemilestones #wellnesspodcast #chiminginpodcast

Signs from the Universe: Finding Meaning, Connection & Comfort on the Road

Do the people we love ever send us signs — even when they’re not physically here? ✨ In this episode, we share stories from a recent road trip that took us through six hotels in ten days — reconnecting with family, stepping out of our comfort zones, and finding unexpected moments of connection along the way 🚗 As we moved from place to place, we began noticing something deeper: the feeling of being guided, seen, and supported — through people, timing, and small moments that felt like more than coincidence. We talk about what it means to feel “at home” even when you’re constantly moving, and how being fully yourself can open the door to the kind of connection that doesn’t fade with time. #spiritualgrowth #signsfromtheuniverse #personalgrowth #travelstories #connection #mindfulness #wellnesspodcast #chiminginpodcast #everettguitars #stauntonva

“Normal” Does Not Exist (Part 2)

What does it actually feel like to experience the world differently? 🤍 In Part 2 of the “Normal does not exist” conversation, we move beyond the idea of what’s normal and into the lived experience of being neurodivergent — including autism, masking, high sensitivity, and the unique ways people navigate everyday life. Elyse reflects on how her mind works — from extraordinary pattern recognition and emotional awareness to the ways some things have been extra challenging. We also explore: • Masking — what it is and why it can be exhausting • Sensory sensitivities (light, noise, environment) • Stimming and self-soothing behaviors • The gap between strengths and challenges • Why some abilities don’t feel “special” from the inside The conversation expands into something bigger — the idea that neurodivergence is not a disorder to fix, but a different way of being. A different way of sensing, connecting, and moving through the world. We also touch on the emotional impact of seeing representation, the importance of safe and accepting environments, and how many people have spent years hiding parts of themselves just to fit in. This is a conversation about awareness, acceptance, and what becomes possible when we stop forcing ourselves into a definition of “normal.” Part 2 of 2. #neurodivergent #autismawareness #masking #highlysensitiveperson #mentalhealthawareness #personalgrowth #identity #chiminginpodcast

There Is No “Normal”: Late-Diagnosed Autism, Neurodivergence & Identity (Part 1)

What does “normal” even mean — and who gets to define it? 🤍 In this first part of a two-part conversation, we explore neurodivergence, late-diagnosed autism, and the idea that “normal” may not exist at all. Elyse shares her personal challenges and reflections, including what it feels like to move through the world with heightened awareness, sensitivity to energy, and a tendency to observe more than participate — until the right conversation opens everything up. We talk about: • The concept of “spoons” and how everyday tasks can feel draining 🥄 • The highly sensitive person and emotional overwhelm • Why the spectrum is not a straight line — but more like a full circle • The gap between strengths and challenges • Late diagnosis and the experience of finally recognizing yourself We also reference the work of Katherine May and resources like Embrace-autism.com that helped bring clarity and insight. This is a conversation about identity, awareness, and rethinking how we understand ourselves and each other. Part 1 of 2.