This week, we are talking with Jenny Remington, a professionally trained and certified coach with the International Coach Federation. She has empowered hundreds of professionals, entrepreneurs, and parents to reignite their career, discover their path, or realign their life. Jenny has a gift for bridging the personal with the professional, and encourages her clients to embrace self-care.
We dive into the StrengthsFinder assessment, and talk about why it’s Jenny’s favorite assessment. In the course of our conversation, we discover some deep truths about how we operate. For example, Missy finds out that she is keeping one of her strengths “in the basement” instead of operating from the “balcony” of that strength. Trust us, it makes total sense once you listen.
Jenny does an amazing job of walking us through turning things we think of as weaknesses into strengths. Or, in other words, properly accessing our strengths, even when we’re not completely comfortable doing that, or when we’ve completely forgotten that we have a particular strength.
You’ll have to wait until next week for our Look Listen Learn (LLL) segment. We had so much fun talking with Jenny that we are splitting this episode into two parts. Next week’s episode focuses more on habits, and we talk about our LLLs.
[On a side note, we are still getting used to podcasting. Sometimes… we forget it’s primarily an audio format. We realized that when we’re recording over Zoom, we can see each other and our guest, so we’re nodding our heads or making expressions that mean nothing to a listener. We’ll get there, we promise. Plus, you can always watch us over at our YouTube channel!]
How to chat with us, or follow us, and support us!
We want to hear from you (and we are excited about talking to someone other than ourselves.)
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts! If you’re so inclined to give us a 5-star rating, we’ll love you forever. And who couldn’t use a little extra love?
Leave us a message – via voicemail or use our form – with your questions for experts, or suggestions for future episodes.
Check out our website, where you can find links to all the things!
Musical Notes Our delightfully happy intro and outro theme music, “We Will Get Through This” is performed by Young Presidents, and used under license from Shutterstock.
Austin / Texas Freeze Update and How to Help
Feb 18, 2021
Show notes
Download wherever you listen to podcasts
The show starts at 2:38, but we didn’t want to use up extra electricity doing edits, so you can just FFWD a bit or listen to us chit chat before we jump in.
Today we had a fabulous Strengths Finder Episode with Jenny Remmington scheduled to air but since so many of our listeners here in Austin and Texas are suffering through the Texas freeze and blackout, and struggling to get basic necessities like heat and water, we decided to hold off and instead simply focus on the most important things during a crisis: sending help to those who need it and checking in on friends and loved ones.
Here are some of our top resources that friends shared with us on our Facebook Page (most local to Austin) and we’re also sharing a great recap from Beto O Rourke, who is in Texas helping residents get the resources they need.
We both want to thank you all for your support and your continued well-wishes. It has been a rough week, but we’re very fortunate to live in such a generous and caring community.
Mom & … Steph Barron Hall of Ask An Enneagram Coach
Feb 11, 2021
Show notes
Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
FYI:
We use the word ‘sexual’ a couple times near the end of the episode. It’s not used in a graphic context at all, but within the discussion about the Enneagram. Just a warning, though, if you don’t want that word flying around the inside of your car, or if you’re at work and people might hear you and question what you’re listening to, go ahead and switch to headphones.
In This Episode:
When Susanne reached out to Missy about co-hosting the Mom &… Podcast, one of Missy’s first questions was, “What’s your enneagram number?” Susanne had no idea, and Missy admittedly needed to do some more work to make sure she really knew her number. Thus, our journey into the Enneagram began, ultimately leading us to discover Stephanie Barron Hall’s instagram account, @NineTypesCo, and podcast, Ask An Enneagram Coach.
This week, we welcomed Steph to Mom &… as our guest. (Such an exciting day for us!) We talked about Steph’s Enneagram experience, and why she chose to pursue a career path that incorporates it.
We dive into our types – a 9w8 for Susanne, 9w1 for Missy – and she helps us think through the positives and pitfalls we could encounter since we’re both nines. We explore why learning more about the Enneagram can be vulnerable at first, and later help us become much better communicators. Steph also helps us understand the concept of sub-types, and how those differ from wings.
Stephanie: Brene Brown’s podcast, Unlocking Us, specifically the episode with Emily and Amelia Nagoski, authors of Burnout, and the episode with Tim Ferriss and Dax Shepherd; also… Bridgerton.
Stephanie founded her Instagram page, Nine Types Co. in 2017 as a way to explore her own interest in the Enneagram. It has since grown into a community of people who are learning about the Enneagram themselves and their relationships together. Stephanie specializes in bringing clarity to complex concepts, and communicating the Enneagram in a way that is relatable and concise so that it can be transformative for all.
Musical Notes
Our delightfully happy intro and outro theme music, “We Will Get Through This” performed by Young Presidents, is used under license from Shutterstock.
Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
Friends, you showed up and we loved it! Thanks for hanging out with us, and if you weren’t able to make it to our first Tipsy Ellipses Facebook live, we got you covered.
We’ve uploaded an unedited re-play of the Facebook live event. This makes for a slightly longer episode than usual, and of course, some of the visuals will be lost in this audio-only format. (You can WATCH the replay over at our YouTube channel!)
BUT… it’s still a lot of fun, with recaps of what we’ve learned from our guests so far, and looks ahead at what we’re excited to tackle next. Plus, of course, we serve up a good amount of rambly nonsense. Hashtag tipsy?
Going forward, we will host a Tipsy Ellipses event on the first of each month. This month, we talked so much that we never made it around to touring our studios-slash-cloffices-slash-cludios. And our promised pet introductions didn’t happen, either. So, hey, something to look forward to next month!
Here are some of the main topics if you want to skip around:
1:32 – Susanne gives a shout out to one of her high school best friend’s moms and shares the hilarious quote of hers that she still uses til this day.
6:53 – Missy and Susanne realize they haven’t seen each other in person in over a year and plan a secret rendez vous in a parking lot.
11:10 – Sneak peak at our Jenny Remington episode (coming up in the next couple weeks as a two-parter) and her wise words about willpower, decision making and finding your strengths.
12:10 – Learn the trick to sneaking junk food without your family hearing it.
15:24 – You can buy Girls Scout Cookies ONLINE?!?!
22:03 – Learn how you can leave us anonymous comments or questions (hint – you can also click “What’s Your Question” on our website.)
23:23 – Susanne accidentally spills the beans about a friend of ours who may (or may not) be starting a new podcast, so instead we talk about a friend who DEFINITELY has a new podcast, My Effin Desk by Leslie Gaar.
Mom & . . . Niksen – Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing with Olga Mecking
Jan 28, 2021
Show notes
Episode 1.6: Mom And… Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing, with Olga Mecking
Episode summary:
In this episode, author Olga Mecking joins us to talk about the concept of Niksen. Olga Mecking is a journalist, writer and translator. Originally from Poland, she lives with her German husband and three children in the Netherlands. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The BBC, and The Guardian, among other things. Her first book, “Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing.” is out now with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Some of the Topics we covered this week:
What Niksen is and is not.[TS 1:08] It’s okay to scroll social media, but that’s not Niksen. The Dutch have this word that actually means “to do nothing,” and the concept is to rest your mind and body.
The best definition Olga has found.[TS 2:35.73] It was hard to find the perfect definition for Niksen, but one Olga settled on is: to do nothing without a purpose. So, you’re not actually doing nothing to achieve anything, aside from letting your mind rest and wander.
Other words for Niksen.[TS 3:31.78] There are words for doing nothing in many languages in cultures. Missy’s favorite is a Latvian phrase that loosely translates to “cucumbering around.” Olga talks about how a lot of the words and phrases don’t necessarily mean doing nothing, but they translate to doing something easy or restful.
It’s not meditation.[TS 4:11] Susanne first assumed doing nothing must mean doing something like meditation, and felt like she was doing it wrong when her mind wandered.
Some wandering is good![TS 4:49.49] Olga talks about the benefits of letting your mind do its thing without a purpose. As long it’s not upsetting to you to start thinking about things you want – or need – to do, then it’s fine to let your mind wander. Sometimes you make important connections during that time. Creativity and inventiveness can come out of this time.
The mental load of motherhood.[TS 6:39.52] Niksen gives you moments, however brief, to release yourself from that mental load, freeing up your brain.
Guilt-free Niksening. [TS 7:10.72] It’s a brief time commitment, and there are no expectations, no required equipment, no right way to do it. We talk about valuing things that are not inherently productive (referencing Chris Bailey, productivity expert), and how we do tend to feel guilt when not being productive, whatever that word means to us. We have to learn to also value rest, play, mental health. By taking these small moments, we’re modeling good behavior for our kids.
Obligers. [TS 9:27] Olga brings up Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies, and how for Obligers, in particular, you can adopt Niksen for the benefits that your positive mental health brings to others around you.
Excuses.[TS 10:01.76] We talk about the difference between men and women, and why women tend to feel different expectations on their time. We refer to Backfilling the Busy again, and talked about it being a worldwide phenomenon that women resist taking time to rest or Niks around.
Covid and Niksen.[TS 13:44.01] The concept of face time at the office has changed a lot, now that almost everyone is at home due to the pandemic. This time at home, and the blurred lines between work and home, can pose both benefits and challenges to Niksen. Olga talks about the difficulty of finding time to do Niks when also helping her children with school, and managing life during a pandemic. Sometimes Niksen happens naturally, when she’s just too tired to move.
It’s easier for some than others.[TS 20:20.44] The concept of doing nothing comes more naturally to some people. Olga recommends working with what you have, and how you instinctually operate to make Niksen part your life. We talk about seeing the ability in some of our kids, but not others.
The book is gorgeous.[TS 22:35.48] We rave about the actual, hard copy book and talk about the differences in editions from other countries.
Enneagram and other assessments.[33:30.48] Just for grins, we talk a little about the enneagram and personality assessments. Olga mentions The Big Five, a new one to us.
Her website (with links to buy the book, get her newsletter and more)
How to chat with us, or follow us, and support us!
We want to hear from you (and we are excited about talking to someone other than ourselves.)
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts! If you’re so inclined to give us a 5-star rating, we’ll love you forever. And who couldn’t use a little extra love?
Leave us a message – via voicemail or use our form – with your questions for experts, or suggestions for future episodes.
Check out our website, where you can find links to all the things!
In this episode, we talk to enneagram enthusiast, Jill Johnson, about how to zero-in on our Enneagram numbers, and then how to put that information to work on our quest for self-knowledge and growth.
Some of the Topics we covered this week:
Enneagram Institute and tests [TS 3:50]
You have to be ready for some self-reflection and reading to fully know your number.
Our guesses on numbers[TS 4:45]
Susanne thought she was a 9, and now thinks maybe she is a 6. Missy initially thought she was a 6 and now believes she’s a 9.
On getting confused and how to narrow it down [TS 5:18]
A lot of numbers are easily confused, so you have to look at motivation.
Growth/Stress [TS 5:45]
How different numbers move around the enneagram, and why we shouldn’t focus on our wings just yet.
Using your approach to conflict to narrow down your number[TS 6:25]
Are you Complimentary? (1, 2, 6) – Tend to work together with others to find a solution.
Are you Withdrawing? (4, 5, 9) – Tend to be in their own world, and avoid talking to people about problems.
Are you Aggressive? (7, 8, 3) – Tend to charge ahead and move on, whether people are with them or not.
Knowing your stance helps eliminate six other numbers pretty quickly.
Why we relate to certain numbers.[TS 8:38]
We start breaking down the things about us that help us relate to the numbers we think we are.
Relationship to time[TS 13:30]
What does “relationship to time” even mean?
Sixes are present-focused, nines are past-focused
How to zero in on motivation[TS 16:30]
Nines have a hard time naming what they need.
Jill laments the sheer number of resources out there, but recommends Beth McCord on instagram with great graphics.
Can your number change? [TS 18:39]
In a word: No. Your number is your lens, and you were born with it.
Typing people you know[TS 19:30]
You might think you know someone well enough to type them, but you have to understand motivation to really know. Sidebar: Missy hates the sloth part of nine, but she gets it.
Getting a spouse on board[TS 23:00]
We discuss ideas for bringing up the enneagram and incorporating it into life, like taking a road trip and playing an enneagram audio book, or playing a podcast with the person’s favorite celebrity talking about the enneagram. Sidebars about dry January (what a joke this year) and how nines (Missy) can often express their needs when they feel safe.
How to chat with us, or follow us, and support us!
We want to hear from you (and we are excited about talking to someone other than ourselves.)
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts! If you’re so inclined to give us a 5-star rating, we’ll love you forever. And who couldn’t use a little extra love?
Leave us a message – via voicemail or use our form – with your questions for experts, or suggestions for future episodes.
Check out our website, where you can find links to all the things!
Jen Mann: Mom & . . . Author, Blogger, Throat-Puncher
Jan 15, 2021
Show notes
Episode 1.4: Jen Mann
Episode summary:
This week we talk with the author, Jen Mann, about work-life balance, raising teenagers, knowing who we are, traveling mishaps, and more. We also do the second installment of Look, Listen, Learn, in which we decide the name is sticking.
Some of the Topics we covered this week:
Set up your day to make it work for you.[TS 5:35] Jen Mann talks about time blocking, and how it allows her to write, publish, manage social media, while also raising a family, volunteering, and having some free time to look at whales on social media.
Identity and where we fit in. [TS 7:50] Jen talks about starting her blogging and writing career as a result of feeling lonely and not fitting in. It’s a topic we think a lot of moms will relate to.
The ever-shifting realities of parenting. [TS 12:40] Jen’s kids, along with Susanne’s and Missy’s, are all tweens and teens now, requiring a different kind of hands-on parenting. Jen talks about finding new ways – and new times – to connect with older kids.
Don’t forget who you are.[TS 17:45] The soundbite of the show comes when Jen talks about what she learned while writing her upcoming book about midlife (coming from Random House in 2022). One of her major takeaways was to remember who she is, and not focus on the noise or spend time making comparisons. She said trouble starts when, “I forget who I am.”
People Jen wants to punch in the throat while traveling (her latest book). [TS 30:25] Fun travel and car rental stories.
Other Resources That Came Up
People/Books/Etc. we mentioned:
TikTok comes up a few times – loads of really funny content for women our age, but it’s bothering our kids that we’ve found the app.
Want to mail me something? As long as it’s not a glitter bomb, I love to receive mail:
Jen Mann / TPM, LLC / 7111 W. 151st St., #378 / Overland Park, KS 66223
How to chat with us, or follow us, and support us!
We want to hear from you (and we are excited about talking to someone other than ourselves.)
Please subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts! If you’re so inclined to give us a 5-star rating, we’ll love you forever. And who couldn’t use a little extra love?
Leave us a message – via voicemail or use our form – with your questions for experts, or suggestions for future episodes.
Check out our website, where you can find links to all the things!
When you find yourself with precious free time, do you fill it with actions that get you closer to your goals or do you just backfill the busy work?
What’s Your Question?
Jan 02, 2021
Show notes
The Goal of the Mom & . . . Podcast is to share information that truly helps moms, no matter which phase of parenting/professional grownup conundrum you’re in.
We know what our questions are, but we want to know what’s on your minds so that we can tailor episodes to you, so what’s your question?
To help you narrow things down a bit, here are the kinds of topics we’ll be covering on the show.
Identity-related:
How do you re-find yourself after years of diapers and bottles and toddler snacks being ground into your car upholstery?
How do you go about rediscovering what makes you, YOU?
Are you interested in learning more about tests like
the Enneagram
Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies
Meyers Briggs,
StrengthsFinder, and more!
Career-related:
Curious about when and how to get back into the work force?
Are you interested in completely changing your career path?
Are you confused what the words CAREER PATH even mean for you now?
Do you want to figure out how to make money from following your passion project?
Do you need to find a way to save up some money to fund pursuing your passion in your “free time?”
Life-related:
Balance – is that a real thing or are we kidding ourselves?
Health – mental and physical – Bring on the questions!
Financial-related:
Going back to work? How do you manage your new income?
Becoming a stay at home mom? How do you prepare to budget without your income?
WHAT ARE WE NOT LOOKING FOR?
We want to focus on moms, not on parenting. We will not be answering questions like
“how do I get my kids to take a nap?”
“how do I manage my kids’ screen time?”
Those are all valid – and important – questions. But those are questions for another podcast that focuses on kids. We’re here to focus on you.
Disclaimer: If you leave us a voicemail, we may play it on an episode. We would LOVE that, but if you would not love it, use the form to send a question or comment in writing.
Intro to Mom & . . . Podcast
Jan 02, 2021
Show notes
Welcome to the Mom & . . . podcast.
We’re Missy & Susanne, two moms trying to figure out what comes after “mom”. Whether you’re a stay at home mom of a newborn or a a mom who is already an empty-nester, our podcast will feature interviews with career and life coaches helping moms answer our biggest questions about who we are, what we want to do with our lives, and what we can do today to help get us there.
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