Ep. 72: Integration After the Upheaval...A Solo Episode

Ep. 72: Integration After the Upheaval...A Solo Episode

I sold a house. Traveled solo for a month. Lost relationships. Built new ones. Made mistakes. And guess what? I was okay. The season four finale of Make Discomfort Your Bitch is about walking new paths — and learning not to let your most reactive parts decide they're wrong just because they're uncomfortable. New chapter? No. New book. MORE ABOUT ME: I'm a mental health therapist, speaker, author and educator who helps organizations bridge the gap between knowing and doing the things that foster well-being, resilience and success. With expertise in school counseling, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional intelligence (SEI), I help teams address the root causes of issues such as burnout, communication breakdowns, and resistance to change—rather than just treating surface-level symptoms. My engaging, evidence-based approach equips audiences with the skills to navigate discomfort, build trust and create healthier, more adaptive workplaces. I'm also a "Resolutionist" with Empowered Workplace Dispute Resolution [https://empowered-workplace.com/], where I leverage my trauma-informed expertise to guide difficult conversations with compassion and clarity. I create safe spaces for resolving conflicts, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Whether working with frontline workers, organizational teams or educational leaders, I help people feel seen, heard and valued—transforming disputes into deeper understanding. MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME: * Subscribe to my newsletter [https://cheranderton.substack.com/] for exclusive content, the latest news and more! I post a few times a month so I won't be inundating your inbox * Book me for a workshop or speaking event! [https://www.cheranderton.com/] Email me at cher@cheranderton.com * Read or listen to my book Could It Be Better? [https://www.cheranderton.com/book] An unorthodox approach to experiencing more joy and connection in relationships * Find me @cheranderton on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cheranderton/] Disclaimer: My podcast and other work on social platforms are for educational purposes only and are not meant to be a replacement for professional mental health services. We are not creating a client/therapist relationship through social media, including comments and direct messages. This platform is not monitored 24/7 so if you feel unsafe or need immediate help in any way, please call an emergency number that can meet your needs.

Ep. 71: Faith in the Fire: A Conversation with Rabbi Melinda Bernstein

What if faith doesn't begin in certainty, but in our willingness to sit with discomfort as a sacred teacher — one that guides us toward presence, humility, and purpose? In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Melinda Bernstein, a freelance rabbi and spiritual guide, to explore how life's hardest moments can become pathways to deeper faith and connection. Together, we talk about what it means to hold paradox — grief and gratitude, faith and frustration, surrender and strength — and how the path to resilience often asks us to soften rather than strive. If you've ever wrestled with your beliefs, questioned what's next, or felt the ache of spiritual exhaustion, this conversation is for you. It's an invitation to rediscover faith not as certainty, but as a living, breathing practice of returning — again and again — to presence and wholeness. MORE ABOUT MELINDA: Melinda Bernstein is a freelance rabbi, ceremonialist, and embodiment teacher who guides people through life's most intimate thresholds — grief, love, loss, identity shifts, and spiritual awakening. Drawing from Jewish wisdom, Kabbalah, trauma-informed practice, and decades of lived experience, she helps others meet discomfort without collapsing or hardening. Her work centers on nervous system repair, emotional maturity, and returning to wholeness through grounded presence rather than performance. Discover more: MelindaBernstein.com Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/RabbiMelinda] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindabernstein/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rabbimelindabracha/] MORE ABOUT ME: I'm a mental health therapist, speaker, author and educator who helps organizations bridge the gap between knowing and doing the things that foster well-being, resilience and success. With expertise in school counseling, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional intelligence (SEI), I help teams address the root causes of issues such as burnout, communication breakdowns, and resistance to change—rather than just treating surface-level symptoms. My engaging, evidence-based approach equips audiences with the skills to navigate discomfort, build trust and create healthier, more adaptive workplaces. I'm also a "Resolutionist" with Empowered Workplace Dispute Resolution [https://empowered-workplace.com/], where I leverage my trauma-informed expertise to guide difficult conversations with compassion and clarity. I create safe spaces for resolving conflicts, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Whether working with frontline workers, organizational teams or educational leaders, I help people feel seen, heard and valued—transforming disputes into deeper understanding. MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME: * Subscribe to my newsletter [https://cheranderton.substack.com/] for exclusive content, the latest news and more! I post a few times a month so I won't be inundating your inbox * Book me for a workshop or speaking event! [https://www.cheranderton.com/] Email me at cher@cheranderton.com * Read or listen to my book Could It Be Better? [https://www.cheranderton.com/book] An unorthodox approach to experiencing more joy and connection in relationships * Find me @cheranderton on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cheranderton/] and TikTok Disclaimer: My podcast and other work on social platforms are for educational purposes only and are not meant to be a replacement for professional mental health services. We are not creating a client/therapist relationship through social media, including comments and direct messages. This platform is not monitored 24/7 so if you feel unsafe or need immediate help in any way, please call an emergency number that can meet your needs.

Ep. 70: Coming Home to Ourselves with Kat Conrad

What if self-awareness isn't something we think our way into - but something we feel our way back to? In this episode, I sit down with Kat Conrad, a leadership consultant and incredible human, for a deep and practical conversation about what it really means to develop self-awareness. Together, we explore how reconnecting with our bodies opens access to the wisdom, grounding, and connection we so often try to find through overthinking or overdoing. Kat shares powerful tools and insights to help us slow down, tune in, and trust the messages our bodies are sending—so we can move through the world with more presence, agency, and compassion. If you've been craving a more integrated, sustainable way to lead, live, and relate, this conversation is your invitation to come home to yourself. MORE ABOUT KAT: After two decades in executive roles and advising over 100 CEOs, I founded Katalyst Consulting around the simple truth that bigger awareness creates better business. I show small business leaders that mindfulness isn't separate from strategy—it IS strategy. My first awakening came while managing multiple teams during explosive growth in hospitality. Despite outward success, I was so burned out that my hair started falling out in patches as my body literally rejected the relentless pace and constant chaos. When my business coach Janice introduced me to mindfulness and energy management, it was like finding the operating manual I never knew was available. I discovered that sustainable success in business doesn't just require strategy and systems; it demands leaders who are self-aware, present, and grounded. Today, I help small business owners untangle overwhelming challenges and build pathways towards their goals. Through my signature CLEAR Method, I blend strategic consulting with mindfulness coaching, guiding clients to replace chaos with clarity, turn endless workweeks into focused productivity, and build organizations where people enjoy showing up and success stops feeling like such a struggle. I've always been the natural organizer and problem-solver, from mediating playground disputes to unraveling complex business challenges. Now I use that gift to help CEOs optimize their businesses from the inside out to achieve the growth they want while keeping their sanity and values intact. Website: https://www.mykatalystservices.com/ [https://www.mykatalystservices.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-conrad-phx/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-conrad-phx/] MORE ABOUT ME: I'm a mental health therapist, speaker, author and educator who helps organizations bridge the gap between knowing and doing the things that foster well-being, resilience and success. With expertise in school counseling, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional intelligence (SEI), I help teams address the root causes of issues such as burnout, communication breakdowns, and resistance to change—rather than just treating surface-level symptoms. My engaging, evidence-based approach equips audiences with the skills to navigate discomfort, build trust and create healthier, more adaptive workplaces. I'm also a "Resolutionist" with Empowered Workplace Dispute Resolution [https://empowered-workplace.com/], where I leverage my trauma-informed expertise to guide difficult conversations with compassion and clarity. I create safe spaces for resolving conflicts, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Whether working with frontline workers, organizational teams or educational leaders, I help people feel seen, heard and valued—transforming disputes into deeper understanding. MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME: * Subscribe to my newsletter [https://cheranderton.substack.com/] for exclusive content, the latest news and more! I post a few times a month so I won't be inundating your inbox * Book me for a workshop or speaking event! [https://www.cheranderton.com/] Email me at cher@cheranderton.com * Read or listen to my book Could It Be Better? [https://www.cheranderton.com/book] An unorthodox approach to experiencing more joy and connection in relationships * Find me @cheranderton on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cheranderton/] and TikTok Disclaimer: My podcast and other work on social platforms are for educational purposes only and are not meant to be a replacement for professional mental health services. We are not creating a client/therapist relationship through social media, including comments and direct messages. This platform is not monitored 24/7 so if you feel unsafe or need immediate help in any way, please call an emergency number that can meet your needs.

Ep. 69: Staying With the Stretch of Becoming With Venus O'Hara

What if the discomfort we avoid is actually the doorway to the life that's trying to emerge? In this episode, I sit down with Venus O'Hara—sexual wellness educator, author, podcaster, and creative force—to explore what it really means to allow ourselves to be transformed by life. We talk about the unease that comes with shedding old identities, leaving familiar structures, and choosing pleasure, presence, and aliveness over control. From navigating reinvention as a solopreneur to trusting the body as a source of wisdom, this conversation invites a deeper relationship with discomfort—not as something to fix, but as something to listen to. If you're standing at the edge of change, feeling the stretch of becoming, or sensing that your body knows more than your mind is ready to admit, this episode is an invitation to soften, stay, and let yourself be changed. MORE ABOUT VENUS: I create content on sexual wellness and healthy living via YouTube, my podcast, and my website. As a solopreneur, I collaborate with editors, designers, and VAs to bring my vision to life. In 2009, I left luxury real estate and launched VenusOHara.org, which led to three published books and international media features in The Guardian, El País, Catalunya Radio and more. Since 2010, I've also worked as a commercial actress and model in global campaigns for Volkswagen, Ikea, FIFA, Sprite, and Pfizer. My collaborations with leading sexual wellness brands began in 2014. Today, I produce educational content, consult on sex tech, and develop products and wellness apps. I host The Orgasmic Lifestyle Podcast (top 5% globally) and create ASMR meditations on Insight Timer. My latest book, Orgasmic Manifestation, has been featured in El País, Apple News, Grazia UK, and Bustle. Currently, I focus on courses, digital products, coaching, and pleasure education. https://www.linkedin.com/in/venusohara/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/venusohara/] https://www.instagram.com/venusohara/ [https://www.instagram.com/venusohara/] MORE ABOUT ME: I'm a mental health therapist, speaker, author and educator who helps organizations bridge the gap between knowing and doing the things that foster well-being, resilience and success. With expertise in school counseling, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional intelligence (SEI), I help teams address the root causes of issues such as burnout, communication breakdowns, and resistance to change—rather than just treating surface-level symptoms. My engaging, evidence-based approach equips audiences with the skills to navigate discomfort, build trust and create healthier, more adaptive workplaces. I'm also a "Resolutionist" with Empowered Workplace Dispute Resolution [https://empowered-workplace.com/], where I leverage my trauma-informed expertise to guide difficult conversations with compassion and clarity. I create safe spaces for resolving conflicts, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Whether working with frontline workers, organizational teams or educational leaders, I help people feel seen, heard and valued—transforming disputes into deeper understanding. MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME: * Subscribe to my newsletter [https://cheranderton.substack.com/] for exclusive content, the latest news and more! I post a few times a month so I won't be inundating your inbox * Book me for a workshop or speaking event! [https://www.cheranderton.com/] Email me at cher@cheranderton.com * Read or listen to my book Could It Be Better? [https://www.cheranderton.com/book] An unorthodox approach to experiencing more joy and connection in relationships * Find me @cheranderton on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cheranderton/] and TikTok Disclaimer: My podcast and other work on social platforms are for educational purposes only and are not meant to be a replacement for professional mental health services. We are not creating a client/therapist relationship through social media, including comments and direct messages. This platform is not monitored 24/7 so if you feel unsafe or need immediate help in any way, please call an emergency number that can meet your needs.

Ep. 68: Uncomfortable Truths and Radical Humanity with Corey Leak

This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with Corey Leak, host of The Existential Podcast, and this one goes deep. We talk about everything — from his journey through a cancer diagnosis, to the realities of working in DEI in today's world, to his powerful story of faith deconstruction and how it shapes the way he moves through discomfort. It's one of those conversations that doesn't tie things up neatly — it opens them. We explore identity, growth, courage, and what it really means to stay human when life tests you. It's raw, rich, and full of the kind of insights that stay with you long after listening. MORE ABOUT COREY: I'm a 47 year old cancer survivor, husband and father spending my time contending for a better world. Instagram: @coreyevanleak MORE ABOUT ME: I'm a mental health therapist, speaker, author and educator who helps organizations bridge the gap between knowing and doing the things that foster well-being, resilience and success. With expertise in school counseling, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional intelligence (SEI), I help teams address the root causes of issues such as burnout, communication breakdowns, and resistance to change—rather than just treating surface-level symptoms. My engaging, evidence-based approach equips audiences with the skills to navigate discomfort, build trust and create healthier, more adaptive workplaces. I'm also a "Resolutionist" with Empowered Workplace Dispute Resolution [https://empowered-workplace.com/], where I leverage my trauma-informed expertise to guide difficult conversations with compassion and clarity. I create safe spaces for resolving conflicts, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Whether working with frontline workers, organizational teams or educational leaders, I help people feel seen, heard and valued—transforming disputes into deeper understanding. MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME: * Subscribe to my newsletter [https://cheranderton.substack.com/] for exclusive content, the latest news and more! I post a few times a month so I won't be inundating your inbox * Book me for a workshop or speaking event! [https://www.cheranderton.com/] Email me at cher@cheranderton.com * Read or listen to my book Could It Be Better? [https://www.cheranderton.com/book] An unorthodox approach to experiencing more joy and connection in relationships * Find me @cheranderton on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cheranderton/] and TikTok Disclaimer: My podcast and other work on social platforms are for educational purposes only and are not meant to be a replacement for professional mental health services. We are not creating a client/therapist relationship through social media, including comments and direct messages. This platform is not monitored 24/7 so if you feel unsafe or need immediate help in any way, please call an emergency number that can meet your needs.