Finding The Keys

Julie Phillips - the Baby on the Fire Escape

In conversation with Julie Phillips, author of the “The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mind-Body Problem, she explores with Dr. Christine Forte Klotz her writing on the shifting terrain where motherhood and creativity converge, about seeking to strike a balance between creative work and motherhood. About writers & artists who left their children and those who stayed, and all the societal judgements and struggles around this. Fascinating not only for the insights into the lives of mothers historically but also for examining how we too make these choices around balance.   Julie Philips is an award-winning biographer, book critic, and the author of The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Mothering, and the Mind Baby Problem.     Connect with Julie Phillips and learn more about her work:   Instagram: @julievanphillips [https://www.instagram.com/julievanphillips/]   Twitter: jcfphillips [https://twitter.com/jcfphillips]   Website: www.julie-phillips.com [http://www.julie-phillips.com]     To connect with Christine Forte Klotz, head to:   Instagram: @christineforteklotz   Website: www.forteklotz.com   If you enjoyed this episode please do rate & review so that others can find us! And as always, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Alexa Saxton Thomas - On Art, Motherhood, Breast Cancer Recovery & Self-Care

In this episode we’re joined by artist & mother Alexa Saxton Thomas to talk about balancing the creative work of making art with the creative work of parenting. Alexa shares her experiences on how these two feed each other and how much creativity is an important part of grounding in life - both for children and adults - and also how self expression feeds our self care. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for some further reflections from Christine on our emotion processing as part of self-care. Books Mentioned:   The Baby on the Fire Escape [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-baby-on-the-fire-escape-creativity-motherhood-and-the-mind-baby-problem/18885047?ean=9781324064435] by Julie Phillips   Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted [https://bookshop.org/p/books/between-two-kingdoms-a-memoir-of-a-life-interrupted-suleika-jaouad/11375409?ean=9780399588600] by Suleika Jaouad Connect with Alexa Saxton Thomas and see her work:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-saxton-thomas-8450475/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-saxton-thomas-8450475/]   Instagram: @alexasaxtonthomas To find our host, Christine Forte Klotz, PsyD:   Website: https://forteklotz.com/ [https://forteklotz.com/]   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-forte-klotz-psyd-b9b542a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-forte-klotz-psyd-b9b542a/]   Instagram @christineforteklotz   Don’t forget to leave a review so that others can find us and share with anyone who you think would find this show helpful!   And as always, thank you for being part of this community!

Bonus Episode: Guided Meditation for the New Year

Join Dr. Christine Forte Klotz for this bonus episode of Finding the Keys: to take a moment for self care. To reflect on 2022, meditate on intentions for 2023, and truly check into what we most want and need right now. Genuine nourishment for mind & spirit.   The pdf journal guide that accompanies this episode can be found at www.forteklotz.com [http://www.forteklotz.com]   We thank you for being part of this community and look forward to sharing more in 2023!

The Disorientation & Reorientation of Change with Rich Watkins

The very nature of parenting revolves around the endless change of seeing our babies grow into beautiful little people. As our children develop their identities, we as parents also go through our own identity shifts. Each stage can bring with it a sense of disorientation, but from it there is tremendous potential for growth, development, new experiences.   Rich Watkins is the Founder of Let's Go [https://www.letsgo.so/], a global network helping leaders and organizations make collaboration work. He is passionate about turning ideas into practical tools, personal transformation, and social processes. Change grew bigger on his agenda when he became a dad, dealt with the pandemic, and worked in a remote setup.    Today, we invited Rich to share his experience with self-transformation as he dives into parenthood. Rich talks about his struggles in finding his new identity during his fatherhood transition and how he processes change and uses those learning experiences to grow. As always within this, the theme of interdependence on others is present - reminding us that no matter how we may feel, we aren't alone in a particular feeling or experience.   In this episode, you'll hear: * The interaction of innovation and personal development to parenthood * Learn the "Let's Go Change Loop" * Rich's disorientation and reorientation experience as a parent * The beautiful rebirth of yourself as a parent; and * How to do self-care and prioritize yourself during any transition Connect and learn more about Rich Watkins, head to:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/richardwatkins [https://www.youtube.com/c/richardwatkins]   Website:https://www.richwatkins.com [https://www.richwatkins.com/] To connect with Christine Forte Klotz, head to:   Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/christineforteklotz/ [https://www.instagram.com/christineforteklotz/] Website: https://forteklotz.com/ [https://forteklotz.com/]

Holistic Self-Care: The Mind Body Connection with Janet Li Patel

Carving out time for exercise is certainly a challenge - finding the time or energy especially when balancing life with young children. In today's conversation with Janet Li Patel, we explore how this can become a virtuous cycle - by starting to fit in some exercise, we generate greater energy and strength for all the other activity in our lives. Janet is the owner of RE Pilates (originally PilatesMamas) located in Brooklyn, New York. She first began her career in finance but decided to take a different direction and became a pilates instructor in 2008. Janet has seen firsthand the benefits of Pilates and what it can do for parents, mothers, and fathers. After having children, our bodies undergo many changes, and our time and energy demands can be immense.  Janet discusses how Pilates helps parents find strength and flexibility in their bodies and mindsets. Through breathing work and mindful movement, she also discusses the importance of moving one's body and aims to help all parents who want to take care of themselves and prioritize wellness so they can become more present and engaged parents.  In this episode, you’ll hear: ~How Janet started her Pilates journey  ~How pilates can help us not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally ~How it can be part of modeling healthy habits for our children ~The different demands on our bodies during different stages of parenthood Stay tuned at the end of this episode for some guided breathwork exercises that you can use at home. Connect with Janet Li Patel and learn more about RE Pilates: Website: https://www.repilatesstudio.com/about To connect with Christine Forte Klotz, head to: Website: https://forteklotz.com/