E58 Conversations with Pillow Talk Authors

E62 AMA Therapy Edition

Insights with Us has its first AMA! The theme of this AMA: regulation and interpersonal dynamics. We talk about the window of tolerance, the emotional backpack, and attachment styles if they were buckets waiting for love.    If you have any questions you’d like answered in a future AMA, send questions to: insightswithus@gmail.com [insightswithus@gmail.com] OR @insightswithuspodcast    01:15 Q1: Do therapists care about their clients?   04:44 Q2: How can you repair with yourself when the person you’re in conflict with isn’t interested? 05:34 Window Of Tolerance 09:01 Acceptance And Perspective 13:52 Meaning Making And Grief   19:34 Q3: How do I change the way I regulate my nervous system? 24:15 Emotional Backpack Metaphor 26:34 Building Regulation Skills   37:35 Q4: Can you explain attachment styles to me? 41:00 Four Attachment Categories 43:16 Secure Attachment 44:43 Preoccupied Anxious 46:15 Dismissive Avoidant 47:33 Disorganized 54:22 Reassurance Heals 01:02:24 Repair After Ruptures

E61 NextTherapist with Stephanie Sonntag

Stephanie Sonntag, chief therapist and co-founder of NextTherapist joins Insights with Us! NextTherapist is a platform created to address the challenge of getting therapeutic support when you need it, instead of waiting weeks for a potential fit. Stephanie shares her journey of uncertainty and trying several different paths including journalism, non-profit work, mental health work and advocacy, before settling into EMDR and being a business owner with the drive to help others.  We emphasize the importance of therapist-client fit, the realities of entrepreneurship, and the value of authenticity and acknowledging ongoing anxiety and struggle.   Check it out: https://nexttherapist.com/ [https://nexttherapist.com/] @nexttherapist   What to expect in this episode: 00:16 Meet Stephanie and Next Therapist 04:19 Stephanie’s Winding Career Path 11:58 Becoming a Therapist and the Myth of Having It Together 20:48 Private Practice and Burnout 22:39 The Idea Behind Next Therapist 27:23 Why Fit Matters 34:09 How Next Therapist Works 42:05 Building The Platform 49:01 Big Dreams 53:25 Authenticity And Being Human

E60 The Whole Picture of Health

How can you follow your dreams while honoring your limits? I want to share with you my journey of learning about my body, my chronic pain, and the decades it took to start understanding my rhythm. I had to grieve the life I thought I would have, shifting from “pushing through” to listening to my body, setting boundaries, and experimenting with new ways of showing up including: cycle-based tracking, flexibility with my routine and workouts, and having curiosity for what my body tells me.   I end with reflective questions encouraging you to zoom out, notice patterns, trust your experience, and set yourself up for success.    01:46 Dreams vs Capacity 05:00 Pain Since Childhood 08:50 College Burnout Coping 10:48 TMJ Diagnosis Breakthrough 15:21 Acceptance and Boundaries 18:41 Tiny Goals and Self Compassion 21:29 Cycles and Fitness 31:51 Chronic Pain and EDS Clues 37:16 Zoom Out Reflection Questions

E59 Say Yes to Life with Ginny MacColl

This episode of Insights with Us features Ginny MacColl, Guinness World Record holder as the oldest female ninja competitor, former Broadway dancer in Pippin (1974–76), commercial actor, and mother of two incredible children, including Ninja Warrior Jesse Graff. In this episode, Ginny shares what it’s like performing under pressure and the mental strategies she uses on American Ninja Warrior. Ginny advocates for strength training and resistance work for mobility and bone-loss prevention, discussing osteopenia, menopause-related bone density loss, and the value of proper form and trainers. She discusses the joys of life after 60, finding fun in new adventures, and her dreams for the next few decades.   You can find her on instagram: @ginnymaccoll    What to expect in this episode: 00:16 Meet Ginny MacColl 01:48 A Joyful Memory 06:29 Broadway to Commercials 09:42 Nerves and Ninja Mindset 17:33 Aging Strong and Saying Yes 29:07 New Goals 35:34 Returning to Acting 43:45 Osteopenia Wake Up Call 47:15 Strength Is Ageless 52:46 Daily Goals and Micro Habits 01:02:15 Resilience Through Hard Seasons 01:05:13 Conclusions

E58 Conversations with Pillow Talk Authors

Listen to the journey of four contributors to the bestselling anthology Pillow Talk, noted as a CBC 2026 books-to-read pick. We explore their stories, writing processes, and what’s next for each of them.  Author 1: Simarbir. @simar.bookish.dreamer Author 2: Kate.  @heskett.kate  Author 3: Andrea. @the_world_of_caracopia  https://caracopia.com/ [https://caracopia.com/] https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheWorldofCaraCopia https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorldofCaraCopia [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorldofCaraCopia] Author 4: Dean. @dees.healing.hands  https://substack.com/@boyswhobleed [https://substack.com/@boyswhobleed]    What to expect in this episode: 01:36 Meet Simarbir (Lessons in Loveology) 05:39 Writing Boundaries And Humor 09:59 Erotic Literature Hack 20:52 Shoutout And Brave Stories 25:14 Meet Kate (Pineapples in the Snow) 29:21 Identity And Vulnerability 37:47 Safe Spaces And Community 47:40 Meet Andrea (Sex Education) 52:32 Asexual Validation 56:39 Self Acceptance Shift 01:08:06 Meet Dean (Boyfriend Duties) 01:11:18 Writing Boyfriend Duties 01:18:10 Love In Mess of Being Human 01:28:04 Print vs Audiobook 01:30:14 Love Stories