BEAM Stories

The Jenga Puzzle of Summer

For kids, summer is a time of popsicles, swimming and sprinklers, summer camp and late nights. For parents, summer is the ultimate logistics puzzle of caregiving while continuing work and life responsibilities with a shifting, unpredictable schedule.    In true "summer" fashion, Amy's summer went haywire. She's coming back after a short break with this episode to explain more about what to expect from our upcoming summer series.   Show Notes About Amy Kugler: * Check out Amy's website [https://www.notion.so/The-Daily-7105b182bbe04ef8a27e5848bad7459d?pvs=21] and writing [https://www.notion.so/Bookshop-com-account-687b5fd4b91a4c4b98ef442debe18aa0?pvs=21]. * Sign up for Unscripted [https://www.notion.so/AmyLizKugler-048b130c30ce49b584d41613d19347f8?pvs=21], Amy’s bi-monthly newsletter. About the Show: BEAM Stories is a production of BEAM [https://www.notion.so/The-Daily-7105b182bbe04ef8a27e5848bad7459d?pvs=21], a venture dedicated to amplifying the untold stories of motherhood and building public/private/advocacy partnerships to shift policy for moms nationally and globally. * For more information about BEAM, visit welcometobeam.com [https://www.notion.so/Bookshop-com-account-687b5fd4b91a4c4b98ef442debe18aa0?pvs=21]. * Share your own perspective on BEAM’s website [https://www.welcometobeam.com/share-your-story]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

In Praise of The Auntie Life

We say "it takes a village" to be a caregiver, but we often don't give the praise to who actually makes up that group. As a mom, building a community that sees you in your many roles and helps lift the burdens is life-giving.  Aunties - friends, blood relatives, it doesn't matter - are often the unsung heroes of making motherhood work. In this episode, Claire Gould -  founder of GetClarified and the most intentional auntie we know - discusses how she has chosen the auntie life and the intentional choices that support her life and the lives of so many around her. This conversation is a treasure trove of insight, wisdom, laughs, and a bunch of resources to learn more about how we can build a collective community that lifts everyone up.   Show Notes More about Claire Gould & show mentions: * Connect with Claire on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/getclairefied] * Incredible humans mentioned in this episode (with links) include: * Tash Haynes: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itstashhaynes] and website [https://www.itstashhaynes.com] * Monique Melton: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/moemotivate] and Shine Bright School [https://www.shinebrightschool.com] * Rachel Cargle: Rachel’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rachel.cargle], The Loveland Foundation [https://thelovelandfoundation.org/], @richauntiesupreme [https://www.instagram.com/richauntiesupreme], and book A RENAISSANCE OF OUR OWN [https://www.elizabethsofakronshop.com/renaissance-2023] * Chrissy King: Instagram, website [https://chrissyking.com/], and book THE BODY LIBERATION PROJECT [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-body-liberation-project-how-understanding-racism-and-diet-culture-helps-cultivate-joy-and-build-collective-freedom-chrissy-king/18576723?ean=9780593187043] * Ruby Warrington: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rubywarrington] and book WOMEN WITHOUT KIDS [https://bookshop.org/p/books/women-without-kids-the-revolutionary-rise-of-an-unsung-sisterhood-ruby-warrington/18423276?ean=9781683649274] * Alok Vaid-Menon: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alokvmenon] and book BEYOND THE GENDER BINARY [https://bookshop.org/p/books/beyond-the-gender-binary-alok-vaid-menon/13059384?ean=9780593094655] * JustUS Podcast: Apple podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/justus/id1650278843], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/justus_pod], hosted by Tashira Halyard [https://www.instagram.com/politicsandfshn] and Margo Lindauer [https://www.instagram.com/margo.lindauer] About Amy Kugler: * Check out Amy's website [https://www.notion.so/The-Daily-7105b182bbe04ef8a27e5848bad7459d?pvs=21] and writing [https://www.notion.so/Bookshop-com-account-687b5fd4b91a4c4b98ef442debe18aa0?pvs=21]. * Sign up for Unscripted [https://www.notion.so/AmyLizKugler-048b130c30ce49b584d41613d19347f8?pvs=21], Amy’s bi-monthly newsletter. About the Show: BEAM Stories is a production of BEAM [https://www.notion.so/The-Daily-7105b182bbe04ef8a27e5848bad7459d?pvs=21], a venture dedicated to amplifying the untold stories of motherhood and building public/private/advocacy partnerships to shift policy for moms nationally and globally. * For more information about BEAM, visit welcometobeam.com [https://www.notion.so/Bookshop-com-account-687b5fd4b91a4c4b98ef442debe18aa0?pvs=21]. * Share your own perspective on BEAM’s website [https://www.welcometobeam.com/share-your-story]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Guiding a New Generation of Leaders

Where do we get the language for our goals and what we value? For most of us, defining our values was often billed as a team-building exercise, stuck in the middle of a corporate retreat. Today's guest argues that we need to have those leadership development conversations sooner, that they can be woven in the fabric of our discussions at home and in elementary school.  As a certified master coach, Stacy Harris is passionate about helping anyone discover their values and purpose to make a lasting impact. As a mom and caregiver, she's exceptionally good at working with young adults to determine the values underlying behavior and coaching them to embody, explore, and uncover more about themselves in the process. More about Stacy Harris: * For more values exploration, visit www.myyearahead.com/BEAM [https://www.myyearahead.com/BEAM].  * Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyharrisnw/] Keep in touch with BEAM and Amy Kugler: * Follow BEAM on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beam4moms] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beam4moms] * Follow Amy on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amylizkugler] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amykugler/] * Sign up for BEAM Stories [https://beamstories.substack.com/] for a free subscription Produced by BEAM [https://www.welcometobeam.com/] as part of the BEAM Media Network. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Mapping Our Stress To Shift Culture

When we hear the word “stress” as caregivers, our minds can go in a million directions. The American Psychological Association reports that 34% of adults report that stress completely overwhelms them on most days. And yet, if we can’t measure it and give ourselves the language to talk about its impacts, we can’t make a different in our world and society. In this episode, Dr. Molly Dickens, a stress physiologist and founder of The Maternal Stress Project, argues that there are numerous inputs of stress impacting maternal health, many of which go unnoticed or unnamed. To figure out the full discussion and find solutions on individual, societal and policy levels, we need to map it all out.   More about Molly Dickens, Ph.D. * Learn more about the Maternal Stress Project and subscribe here [https://maternalstressproject.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search]. * Connect with Molly on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-dickens-phd-320a522/] Keep in touch with BEAM and Amy Kugler: * Follow BEAM on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beam4moms] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beam4moms] * Follow Amy on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amylizkugler] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amykugler/] * Sign up for BEAM Stories [https://beamstories.substack.com] for a free subscription     Produced by BEAM [https://www.welcometobeam.com] as part of the BEAM Media Network. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Demystifying Mental Health and EMDR

Are you healing or are you coping? Of those who responded to our initial BEAM Survey, 76% of mothers and caregivers wanted to access mental health support and only about 45% sought some form of treatment. There's still a stigma around mental health treatment and barriers to access approachable, inclusive care.  In this solo episode, Amy Kugler opens up about her history of counseling and therapy - specifically diving into her stories around her current EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). This vulnerable conversation covers pregnancy loss and conversations about high anxiety and depression. If you have a story about your own journey with your mental health, we'd love to hear it. Please share it with us here: https://www.welcometobeam.com/share [https://www.welcometobeam.com/share]  Show Notes: * This episode is only to share one perspective and story around mental health treatment. It is anecdotal and not prescriptive on any mental health issues, nor should it be used to diagnose.  * Learn more about various mental health treatments via SAMHSA.gov [https://www.samhsa.gov/] * The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline [https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline] is free and confidential: 1-833-TLC-MAMA * If you're struggling and need to talk to someone immediately, dial 988 for free and confidential support.    ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.