PODCAST · education
Critical Conversations
by Karissa Dean
Welcome to a podcast that challenges social norms and pushes boundaries in personal development and coaching. We dive deep into Critical Conversations, exploring topics that make us uncomfortable—but that’s where real growth happens. Through raw interviews and insights, we’ll break down societal expectations and explore new ways of thinking, living, and evolving. If you're ready to expand your mindset and challenge what you think you know, this space is for you.
Episodes
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Stop Being an Ass. You Don’t Know What’s Possible.
What if the thing standing between you and what you want… is the assumption that it won’t happen? This episode of Critical Conversations is all about assumptions—and how quickly they can close us off from receiving the very things we say we want. I’m sharing some real-life, last-minute “miracles”...
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Quick Update + Let's talk GOALS: Are Your Goals Still Yours?
Welcome back to Critical Conversations. Today’s episode is a little bit of a life update, a little bit of a reality check, and a whole lot of me thinking out loud about goals, accountability, community, action, discipline, and purpose. This is a thick one. Because lately I’ve been doing some...
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Coming Home to Yourself with Laurie Parente
In this episode of Critical Conversations, I’m joined by my mentor, coach, and dear friend, Laurie Parente, for a conversation about what it really means to come home to yourself. Laurie and I are also coming together to host the Come Home Retreat at Cowgirls Unlimited Ranch, October 9–11, 2026....
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Pilates, Ponies & Pork (PPP) Interview with Dr. Jordan Graeme
The horses. The movement. The magic. A new episode of Critical Conversations all about what's coming to Cowgirls Unlimited Ranch this September! I brought on the incredible woman who will be leading the Pilates portion of our upcoming Pilates, Ponies & Pork (PPP) event, and we had such a fun...
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Come Stay & Play: The Story of Cowgirls Unlimited Ranch
She finally has a name. Cowgirls Unlimited Ranch has been a labor of love for longer than I can explain. It's been built through late nights, big dreams, hard lessons, and an unwavering belief that there needed to be a place where people could reconnect—with nature, with horses, with community…
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The Problem With Hope (And Why We Need It Anyway)
Hope isn't the problem. The way we've been taught to use it is. We've been told to hope things get better. Hope someone changes. Hope the opportunity comes. Hope life works out. But hope without action can quietly become powerlessness. In this episode of Critical Conversations, we're talking…
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Debunking Manifestation: What Actually Creates the Life You Want
Manifestation isn't magic—it's intention, alignment, and action. ✨ In this episode of Critical Conversations, I'm debunking the myths around manifesting and sharing what I've learned through my own real-life experiences. Plus, we're redefining the word "manifest" so it feels empowering, not...
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The Power of Presence: Your Gateway to Abundance
What if abundance isn't something you create—but something you learn to notice? In today's episode, we're diving into the power of presence and how being fully present can open the door to a more abundant life. Presence is more than a mindset; it's a practice. And when we learn to slow down, tune...
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Trust Yourself & Everything Changes
In this episode of Critical Conversations, we dive into alignment, intuition, and the power of learning to truly trust yourself. This is a heartfelt conversation about listening to your gut, following your heart, and recognizing that many of the answers we search for already live within us. We…
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Forgiveness Isn’t What You Think
This is one of those conversations that goes deeper than surface-level healing. In this episode, I sit down again with Grace L. Lamour, MS, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor serving the New York, Florida, Virginia, Maryland- to talk about forgiveness—what it really is, why it matters, and...
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Your Business Is a Mirror
This is a real conversation about entrepreneurship—but not in the way you might expect. Because business isn’t just about strategy… it’s about you. The way you think, the patterns you carry, the places you avoid—your business will reflect all of it back to you. In this episode, we talk about how...
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Realignment in Real Time
This one is personal. I’m sharing where I’m at right now—navigating divorce, co-parenting, entrepreneurship, and the very real process of becoming who I say I am. This isn’t polished. It’s honest. A conversation about alignment, self-trust, and what it looks like to keep choosing yourself, even...
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Authenticity Isn’t a Strategy
In this episode of Critical Conversations, we’re diving into something that can’t be curated, filtered, or perfected. Embodiment. There is a difference between practicing something and becoming it. Between performing authenticity and actually living it. Between doing the work and being the work.…
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Accountability changed everything for me.
Accountability isn’t about perfection—it’s about ownership. In today’s episode of Critical Conversations, I talk about accountability in action, why it matters, and why I believe it’s one of the biggest things missing in our society right now. Showing up. Claiming your role. Doing the work even...
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When Integrity Is Tested — We Show Up
In this podcast episode, I interview a local entrepreneur Ryann Reinhofer, who owns Thoroughbred Real Estate Group and also leads a nonprofit organization. Today, we need your help. Please listen to the full episode so you fully understand what is at stake. But this is not the time to just listen…
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No sugarcoating. No silence.
Divorce will test everything you think you know about yourself. On today’s episode of Critical Conversations, I break down the real do’s and don’ts of divorce—what I learned the hard way and what I wish someone had told me sooner. This isn’t just for those going through it. If you love someone…
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Back to the Root: The Real Reason You Feel Stuck
Why do you still feel burned out—even when you’re “doing all the things”? In this episode, we go beneath surface-level solutions to explore what’s really keeping people stuck, exhausted, and disconnected. We unpack why quick fixes like time off, supplements, or pushing through rarely create…
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You Don’t Have to Stay
In today’s episode of Critical Conversation, I’m reintroducing myself and reflecting on what 2025 asked of me as I shed in the Year of the Snake—letting go of what no longer fit, even when it wasn’t easy. I share what I’m carrying forward into the Year of the Horse: movement with intention,...
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What Do I Want?
What if you gave yourself the space to truly ask: What do I want? This episode of Critical Conversations is an invitation to pause, get curious, and listen deeply—so you can move forward with clarity and take aligned action as you enter 2026.
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Stop Lying to Yourself: Can You Actually Handle Your Yes?
Today I’m talking all about intention, accountability, and the truth hidden inside every YES we say. Because the real question isn’t “Do I want this?” It’s: “Can I be accountable to the work required to bring this to life?” It’s a powerful 30-minute chat that’s honest, grounded, and exactly what…
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The Hardest Truth to Honor: What I Need
This Thanksgiving, I’m learning to be grateful for the harder things — the moments where my voice shakes, but I choose to use it anyway. This episode is a vulnerable one. It’s about advocating for myself, honoring what I know I need, and finally saying the things I’ve been scared to speak. If...
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Meeting Myself Again: My Second Vipassana Experience
In this episode, I take you inside my second 10-day Vipassana retreat — ten full days of silence, stillness, and meeting myself in a way only that kind of pause can invite. I share what Vipassana actually is, why I felt called to return, and one of the powerful awakenings that cracked me open in...
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The Space Between Sounds
A tiny pocket of honesty for when you need a breath. I’m heading into my second 10-day silent Vipassana retreat, and before I go, I just want to share a little reminder: it’s okay to be imperfect, messy, and in progress. You still deserve space—to think, to be, to create. Here’s to showing up…
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Raising Emotionally Intelligent Humans Starts with Us
This might just be one of the most important conversations I’ve had all year. In this episode, we dive deep into emotional intelligence — what it really means, why it matters, and how our willingness to be vulnerable can reshape the way future generations experience emotion. I share some of my...
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The Weight of the Word “Victim”
In this episode of Critical Conversations, Karissa dives into a word that carries deep emotional weight: victim. She shares her personal experience of how being labeled with that word early in her divorce was one of the most painful and damaging moments—and why it’s so important to be mindful of...
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Wake the F*ck Up: Confidence Comes First
This might be one of the most powerful episodes I’ve ever recorded. I went all in — talking about my divorce, the importance of confidence, and why change is necessary (even when it’s hard as hell). This one’s for anyone standing on the edge of a shift — ready or not. Because confidence is the...
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Healed People, Healing People
In this episode of Critical Conversations, I share a real-time moment where I had the choice to react—or to pause. A stranger’s unhealed projection could have pulled me into chaos, but instead, I chose to anchor in my healing. This raw and unfiltered chat is about the power of showing up for...
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Do We Ever Truly Deserve? Co-Creating the Life You’re Worthy Of
Today I’m diving deep into a word that has been sitting heavy with me lately: deserve. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, I share a personal moment where I questioned what it really means to deserve—and how powerful we actually are as co-creators of our own lives. If you’ve ever found...
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From Survival to Steady: Nervous System Tools for Conflict
In this episode, I continue peeling back the layers of my own story—because my mess is my message. I share what it’s been like to move beyond survival mode and into a steadier, more grounded way of living. Along the way, I offer simple, practical tools to help you regulate your nervous system…
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The Magic of Retreats & the Power of Integration
In this episode, Karissa recaps the soul-shifting magic of her recent Nicaragua retreat—from horseback rides and farm-to-table meals to quiet revelations and big releases under the stars. But this conversation goes deeper than the beauty of retreat life. It’s about what happens after. When the…
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Life Lately — Divorce, Business & Living in the Frequency of Love
In this episode, Karissa pulls back the curtain on the last 7 months—the unraveling, the realignment, and what it actually looks like to navigate divorce while running a heart-led business. No sugarcoating. No fixing. Just truth. ✨ The truth about being in the in-between ✨ Why it’s not “good” or...
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Karissa with Kristal Desantis
In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Kristal DeSantis—licensed marriage and family therapist, and author of the powerful book STRONG. Kristal’s work focuses on supporting men in their healing and growth journeys, and this conversation was truly epic. We dove into…
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Karissa with Barbara Pike Gonzales
Barbara Pike Gonzales is a personal branding, communications and PR expert known for her collaborative approach to strategic, innovative communications. Leveraging her 20+ year career in corporate marketing, Barbara founded BPG Communications, a boutique personal branding agency that specializes…
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Karissa on Becoming in the Dark
In this raw and soul-baring episode, I open up about the messy, sacred journey of change—and what it feels like to be deeply misunderstood in the process. 2025 has brought me to my knees, into moments where I’ve had no idea what to do next… but I’ve kept showing up anyway. I share what it’s been...
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Karissa with Gina Enconomopoulos
Gina's life story makes her a captivating and inspiring speaker for all audiences. Through raw vulnerability, she shares how she overcame immense adversity—enduring multiple surgeries from childhood, devastating loss, a crisis of faith leading her to join and later leave the convent, the grips of...
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Karissa on Let’s Talk Triggers
Let’s talk triggers — not as something to avoid, but as powerful portals into deeper self-awareness. In this episode, I dive into how our triggers are actually beautiful invitations to take accountability, explore our inner landscape, and shift the way we respond to the world around us. This is...
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Karissa on Accountability & Duality: Holding the Tension of Two Truths
In this episode, I dive into what it really means to take responsibility for our lives without falling into shame or self-blame. We explore the space where personal ownership and compassion coexist—and how duality plays a powerful role in our growth. You can be doing your best and still have room...
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Karissa with Mary Sanders Pt. 2
With a wealth of experience as a self-employed Medical Intuitive and Chiropractor, Dr. Mary is deeply committed to guiding individuals on their journey of personal transformation. She focuses on helping people cultivate thriving health, happiness, and purpose through the powerful tools of energy...
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Karissa with Mary Sanders Pt. 1
With a wealth of experience as a self-employed Medical Intuitive and Chiropractor, Dr. Mary is deeply committed to guiding individuals on their journey of personal transformation. She focuses on helping people cultivate thriving health, happiness, and purpose through the powerful tools of energy...
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Karissa with Brie Sodano
Brie Sodano is a nationally recognized Personal Finance Expert, founder of Cash Confident™, and author of Cash Confident: Practical Money Management For The Modern Women. Brie teaches women how to build wealth and financial freedom. This inspires full life sovereignty and abundance. Her methods…
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Karissa on Drugs, Sex, and Alcohol: Are They Helping or Holding You Back?
This one’s a spicy deep dive into the big three: drugs, sex, and alcohol. I unpack how these elements can influence our lives—whether they’re helping us grow or quietly holding us back. It’s not just about judgment; it’s about awareness, choices, and the impact these factors have on our personal...
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Karissa on Desire and Presence: Finding Peace in What Is
Can we want something more for our lives while still being fully present with what is? Absolutely—and it’s a game-changer. In this episode, I explore the balance between desire and presence, and why learning to be okay with what is can unlock a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment. When we stop...
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Karissa with Carrie Lingenfelter
Carrie Lingenfelter is a former elementary educator, early childhood interventionist, speech therapist, and mother of two. She is passionate about living life fully, raising her children to be the best versions of themselves, and connecting to other parents going through this season of life. She...
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Karissa on Breakups Suck: The Pain, the Lessons, and How I’m Letting Go of Perfectionism
Breakups are messy, painful, and anything but perfect—and that’s exactly what I’m diving into today. In this episode, I share my journey through two recent breakups and the lessons I’ve learned about confronting imperfection, softening the blow, and finding a way forward. It’s raw, real, and all...
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Karissa on Why They Choose Me: Stories, Books, and the Truth About Coaching vs. Therapy
Ever wondered why clients choose coaching with me? In this episode, I spill all the tea about the incredible people I work with, what makes coaching so powerful (and how it differs from therapy), and why this journey lights me up! I also share some personal stories, drop a few book…
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Karissa with Michele DeFilippo
Michele DeFilippo has more than 50 years of experience in book publishing. Her company, 1106 Design, makes it easy for authors to release a top-quality book, keep control of it, and earn more money every time they sell a copy. Michele is on a mission to help authors ask the right questions, avoid...
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Karissa on The Universe Is an Algorithm: How Judgment Blocked My Growth
This one’s raw, real, and straight from the heart. I dive into how the universe works like an algorithm—reflecting back on what we focus on—and how I’ve come to see my past relationships and experiences in a new light. This is my apology for the moments I judged too harshly, the people I...
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Karissa with Dr. Lynn Banis
A few years ago, her life took a turn that she never saw coming. Within three short years, she lost her mom, her little brother, and her husband. She felt like the world around her went dark. Grief hit her hard, and with it came a deep sense of loneliness that she struggled to shake. But through...
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Karissa with Elton Guillen
This week, I had the absolute joy of being interviewed by my dear friend Elton, a full-time coffee farmer in Nicaragua. Elton has an incredible story—he broke free from the hustle of American corporate life and embraced a slower, more intentional pace in Nicaragua with his partner. Along the way,...
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Karissa with Laurie Parente
Laurie Parente is well-known in Mediumship, Angel Connections, and Meditative Healing Journeys. As the CEO and Founder of Parente Inner Harmony Academy, Laurie offers private 1:1 sessions and quarterly live ‘’Reclaim Your Light" Healing Courses. Her passion lies in fostering genuine connections…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to a podcast that challenges social norms and pushes boundaries in personal development and coaching. We dive deep into Critical Conversations, exploring topics that make us uncomfortable—but that’s where real growth happens. Through raw interviews and insights, we’ll break down societal expectations and explore new ways of thinking, living, and evolving. If you're ready to expand your mindset and challenge what you think you know, this space is for you.
HOSTED BY
Karissa Dean
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Critical Conversations have?
Critical Conversations currently has 107 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Critical Conversations about?
Welcome to a podcast that challenges social norms and pushes boundaries in personal development and coaching. We dive deep into Critical Conversations, exploring topics that make us uncomfortable—but that’s where real growth happens. Through raw interviews and insights, we’ll break down societal...
How often does Critical Conversations release new episodes?
Critical Conversations publishes regularly with 107 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Critical Conversations?
You can listen to Critical Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Critical Conversations?
Critical Conversations is created and hosted by Karissa Dean.
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