The Consciously (Un)Curated Podcast

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about how important the small, intentional gestures are in a relationship. We share with each other the micro-behaviours that are most meaningful to us. We discuss the concept of feeling wanted, worthy and loved through small intentional ways by the people that mean the most to us in our lives. We remind ourselves that speaking up for what we need and drawing in to others in these micro-intentional ways can truly validate and strengthen not only our confidence but our important relationships.

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about our ability or lack of ability to control the uncontrollable. What are the things we don't have control of, and what do we do with the things we do have control of? We talk about the changes happening in our circumstances, our bodies and with others that make our lives difficult to navigate. What Michelle and Lesley have learned is that we often sit in the subtle art of giving too many F*&^$. Come join us as we discuss our suitcase of "insert poop emoji here". We're glad you're here!

Welcome back to a new season and a new chapter! In this episode, Lesley and Michelle share what's been going on these past months as they enjoyed their hiatus. We also dive into some huge challenges that occurred and the friendship struggles that came along with it. It's a good one, come on in! We're glad you're here.

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the frustration of getting ready for summer. The clothes, the body image, the ‘maintenance’, and all the head work that goes along with that. We give a few tips for things that make us feel ready, some cosmetic pointers and a few money savers that can be the simple things that help us get into our suits. We talk about getting out of our own way when it comes to body image and challenge ourselves to not miss out on life this summer because of our bodies. Come join us on the adventure as we deal with our ever changing bodies as we learn to love ourselves in beach body mode.  We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the phenomenon of social paranoia. That sneaking feeling that others are talking smack about you, or at the very least, the very feeeeling that others are being less than genuine. We discuss what to do when we’ve been really hurt and dishonoured by people who we called family, spouse, colleague and friend. We wish it got easier as we get older when others hurt us, but what we’ve learned is it may not hurt less, but it does get easier to learn to forgive and move forward…we share what the secrets are for doing just that.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the stigma around mental health and the reality of how our emotions, life events and yes, even the weather can impact our well-being on any given day. Well, sometimes it’s a day and other times it’s a whole season of the Grumpies. We share what we’ve learned about how to navigate these times while we tell personal stories from our own lives that we hope you can relate to and maybe even laugh at.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the things that scare them, and the things that had scared them in the past but were so worth doing anyways. We talk about the power of our thoughts and feelings and most importantly the strategies that we use to get us through the things that scare us. We share what we do to accomplish each little step and what victory can look like once you get to the other side. We’ve learned that even little steps bring with it something fantastic, come join us and see…in the end, regardless of the outcome…it is always worth it. We’re glad you’re here!

ln this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about dating and our opinion on things that have traditionally been a part of dating, flowers, opening doors, pulling out chairs, etc. We discuss what chivalry means to us and how it has perhaps changed in the dating world in the past decade. We acknowledge how important it is for some of us to feel taken care of and how one's behaviour, especially when we’re on a date, can make us feel seen…or unseen. We dive into the little nuances of acts of kindness and the role they can play in creating authentic connection with the people you enjoy spending time with. We hope you'll join us. We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the joys and struggles with having adult kids. We share our experiences, our excitement, and, yes, our frustrations with some of the things we’ve learned along the way that have helped us continue to build strong healthy connections with our now grown kids. We hope you’ll join us! We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley share about their love/hate relationship with food.  We talk about how hard it is to find time to cook, eat slowly, and find the motivation to invite people to our table even though we know how important it is.  We share our frustration with the escalating food prices and the endless mental health and physical health issues that seem to be taking over our North American culture around eating.  We discuss how we have changed our perspective on our bodies and our gut health which has helped us manage this love/hate thing we have with food.  We want to invite you, also, to share your wisdom with us on what has been working for you in our DMs.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley share their own journeys with having to say goodbye to relationships, some by choice and others that were a bit messier.  We talk about how we got through without anger or resentment and our tips for when you know it’s time to step out.  We discuss relationship conflict and how we walk into conflict with a good probability that you come out the other side. We share our perceptions on when it’s time to let go and even, sometimes, when it’s time to come back.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about money and the cultural perceptions around being wealthy or not.  We discuss our own struggles with wanting nice things.  We share our thoughts on wealth, materialism and spending as we grapple with cultural norms.  We talk about our own perception around these topics as we try to relinquish judgment and find peace with our current financial situations.  We’d love for you to join us. We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the things we would tell our younger selves.  We discuss the perceived tension between a few different situations that have taught us so much about life and people.  We dive into trust, forgiveness, asking for help, and what serving others does for us.  We share some things we’ve learned about some of our idiosyncrasies that are hard to look at when exploring the “REAL” authentic you, no filter, whew… tough.  We share about the perspective shift that happens in your fifties that is really quite rewarding and talk about the one thing that seems to make it all better.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about their reality with Imposter Syndrome.  We share some thoughts and our own narrative and how we get out of it.  We flip the perspective on how we see ourselves and the other people in the room when we begin to feel like the imposter.  Then we define Imposter Syndrome and surprisingly, have a really positive tilt on it.  You’re going to want to hear this one!  We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the ways that we have learned to see the possibility of flying rather than assume failure.  We talk about past experiences and most of all the small practices that we can do on a day to day that help us learn that we can be courageous and adaptable, and that it does take practice.  We have one EASY question you can ask yourself before one of those big(or small) moments that sometimes can help propel us forward.  We also share our experience on how we open doors and create opportunities for ourselves along the way.  We share a few lies we’ve believed about what the world hands out during uncertain times that now provide excitement and joy as we take the first step toward something new. We hope you’ll join us. We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley take you on a journey as we recount the excitement of growing up in the 70s and 80s.  We share our stories of near 💀 experiences, fighting with siblings, getting launched off playground equipment and learning to solve problems without adult mediation.  We talk about how having some independence and freedom has built resilience, given us perspective and helped us learn to believe in ourselves and our abilities.  We discuss the impact of having knowledge at our fingertips and how this can be helpful and, at times, harmful.  Growing up without technology taught us to listen to our intuition and got us away from the egocentrism that our ‘instant’ world can sometimes create.  We share our knowledge of how growing up in past eras has supported healthy parenting and the need to rely on the wisdom of those who have gone before us.  Lot’s of good nuggets in this one, you’re not going to want to miss!! We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley delve into the topic of intimacy and get a bit spicy as we talk about some keys to creating intimacy in relationships.  We try to debunk a few things and share our experiences around how to navigate tough conversations.  We have found that learning to have meaningful conversation (as hard as that is sometimes) and listening well to our partners can significantly impact ALL the parts of intimacy.  We talk about the struggles of sometimes getting your partner on board with some things and provide some AWESOME resources to support you as you try to create meaningful connection in your relationships.  It’s a good one!!! We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode we get to talk about all the things that we LOVE and how we are learning to NOT feel guilty about making time to do the things that bring us JOY!  We share some examples of these things, we talk about what makes us feel guilty and provide some tips on how to let that go and WHY?? We talk about how we assess what brings us JOY in a healthy, abundant way, and when to let go of things that maybe bring JOY but aren’t healthy.  Touchy…we know! Come join the discussion… We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley expand on all things FEMALE!  We remember the angst of Jr. High School and how we can look back now and know that those moments made us stronger.  We discuss our take on ‘boundaries’, what we’ve learned over the years about guarding our ‘Yes’ and finding our ‘No’.  We share our experiences with getting our periods, having endometriosis and how we parented differently than previous generations based on what we’ve learned as women along the way.  We share a couple of good books that have helped us gain more knowledge around these topics and, of course, laugh a bit. We hope you’ll join us… We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley invite dear friends Michele (one L) and Cindy to join a round table discussion around all things FEMALE!!  We share the similarities we experienced in dealing with our bodies as they changed through adolescence and then again into perimenopause.  We talk about how perceptions are changing around information regarding female issues and the importance of learning about symptoms and supports early.  We all share our tips for getting through this time, right down to specifics about diet, exercise, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), community along with different resources for targeting our symptoms.  You won’t want to miss this one! We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about the big emotions that come from feeling stuck and not seeing a clear path forward, and the cultural pressure that many of us feel about being ‘undefined’.  Lesley shares an up close and personal story from her life and her realization of how certain traumas can certainly create limiting beliefs when we let them.  We grapple with the reality of how much the body keeps the score and share some things we are doing to find healing.  We learn that changing our mindset and certain patterns of behavior can help us push forward to a better reality.  We talk about the fear we experience and what works for us to get ‘unstuck’.  We address the importance of being able to feel all the feels and still move forward as our authentic healthy self…without shame, and sometimes that means to just REST!  What does THAT mean, let’s talk about it. We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley have the really tough conversation about what it feels like to be getting older and dive deep into the frustration of our cultural perceptions of “The Aging”.  We talk about how we are learning to change our perspective and we share a few little tips (and maybe ONE big one) for making the aging journey just a little more palatable.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley unpack 4 practical questions anyone can ask that helped us truly define what is driving us forward.  We talk about the freedom we have found in releasing expectations about outcomes, process and what we thought life should be. We provide examples from our lives of just doing that ONE first small step that helped give us the courage to then take another; along with how to overcome being paralyzed by “The Plan”.  It’s a GOOD ONE!!!! We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode we talk about the impact of our own perception and the perceptions of others about us.   We discuss how our past history, our childhoods have impacted the people that we become, we break down nature and nurture and the function they have had on our beliefs and the perception we have of ourselves.  We share a little about ourselves as children and the misbeliefs that we have had about who we are and ultimately the importance of surrounding ourselves with others who will love us, inspire us, believe in us…just as we are!!  These people will always remind us who our true self is as we discover how essential it is to believe in our perfect purpose.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode we get down to the nitty gritty about navigating tough relationships.  We talk about all different kinds of relationships, what we need to do to maintain healthy relationships, how to stay authentic, what resolution looks like and how to protect our hearts.  We look at the difference between friendships that are for seasons, reasons and lifetimes and the blessing of each of them.   We’re glad you’re here!  

In this episode Michelle and Lesley talk about how they start their new year and what overwhelms them and what keeps them going.  We discuss the importance of our significant relationships and specific things we know that maintain those.  January can be really tough and overwhelming, so how do we keep going when we’re in the deep freeze? We share the things we’ve learned over the past year and what we desire moving forward.  We admit that being uncomfortable and doing the hard thing is ESSENTIAL but allowing hard conversation, making time for deep meaningful relationships (especially with people who may be different from you) will enrich our lives and are necessary for our growth.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode we share some traditions getting ready for Christmas and what that has meant to our now grown children.  We talk about the importance of slowing down and little tidbits for finding peace during the holidays, while discussing the benefits of being in “The Waiting”.  Michelle and Lesley talk about what really brings JOY in the chaos.  We then share about how we get through Christmas “Family Dynamics” and hope that you’ll join us as we bring you our big takeaways of what we’ve learned over the years.  We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Michelle and Lesley discuss the reality of feeling like we are in the messy middle when we are TRYING to get to our True North.  We take a minute to look at what is ONE thing that really allows us to see our true north and remembering that heading to True North doesn’t often look like a straight line…and aren’t we glad!  Sometimes, just committing to be totally IN this season can be the peace that we need to keep going.   We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode Lesley and Michelle reveal the other person’s control freak tendencies and have some fun laughing together and at each other.  Then we dive deep into how our tendencies can be driven by fear and at times make others feel unseen and maybe even mistrusted.  We discuss some strategies for moving into a place of more grace with others and ourselves by looking at the difference between desiring excellence and needing to be in control.  Takeaways: Control doesn’t always mean negative, cleaning your space and being organized can help clean and settle your headspace, ‘aggressive’ is not the same as ‘assertive’, welcome the voices of the people who care about you and truly desire the best for you.   Thanks for joining us, we’re glad you’re here!

In this episode we invite Kelly Smith a prominent Canadian Fashion Designer in to do a closet(soul) edit for us.  We show how the process of building an intentional wardrobe can encourage you to LOVE your body.  Then Kelly provides a few fashion tips for having a few garments that can help you SHINE!  Michelle also reveals her struggles as she whittles her wardrobe down to a few favourite things that make her now feel confident and sexy.  We spend our time together discussing the idea that we can often use clothing as armour to hide our (perceived)flaws, yet how can we embrace getting dressed in the day to enhance and inspire us to be the women we are striving to be.  We’re glad you’re here!

In this episode we unpack the idea of feeling unworthy, of love, or friendship or of being seen.  We ask the question about who decides what beauty is and Michelle shares her story of divorce and how that impacted her sense of self worth. We also explore dating in your 50s and how difficult it is to connect with others at this stage in our lives.  Takeaways: Having people in your life who know you, who you trust and who aren't afraid to tell you the hard stuff.  We discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will love you unconditionally and will contribute to your self-esteem.  Thanks for joining us, we’re glad you’re here!!

In this episode we discuss the reality of feeling not ready to do something, but learning to make the choice to just start anyway.  Michelle and Lesley discuss their process of getting ready for Consciously (Un)Curated and the feelings of risk and vulnerability in exposing all of who we are on public media platforms.  We share our experience with ‘BRAIN FOG” as women in our 50s and how that impacts self-esteem, then learning to see the bigger purpose in the small steps we take each day.  Take-aways: Self care is NOT selfish, do it WITH someone, do it for YOU and, lastly, it’s okay if it scares you!

Today we talk about how it feels when you are really struggling with getting motivated.  How do we reduce how much power we give our feelings while still allowing ourselves to feel?  We recognize the importance of leaning into our feelings as indicators to significant things going on in our world and then discuss how we might respond to those feelings.  Being a woman is a wonderful thing, and we have been given the gift of intuition to guide us in many situations.  We need to listen to those feelings, they are telling us something, but how and when do we respond in healthy ways? Takeaways: How to create space when you are feeling overwhelmed, making the choice to respond in appropriate ways to our feelings, then choosing to adapt and move forward; however small that may be some days.    

In this episode we explore the importance of play.  We introduce different ways that it affects our relationships, our workplaces and our day to day life.  Michelle and I also laugh a little as we play a game of “Would You Rather…”, as a means for you, the listener, to get to know us a bit and allow you to see us having fun together.  We offer tips for being playful and bringing back joy into our lives…even on the days where we just may not have the energy.  Thanks for joining us!

In this episode we will spend time talking about what it feels like to be terrified to start something new, what can happen when you do start, and things to think about if you're looking to live a courageous life.  We discuss the importance of female relationships and how to navigate them.  

At the Edge: Looking at what to do when you feel "STUCK".  In this episode we explore what it feels like when you are unsure what comes next in life and provide 2-3 takeaway on what you can do if you are feeling in freeze mode. 

The reality of growing up female.  In this episode we talk about the different social norms that at times prevent woman from creating true connection with others.  We provide some tips on authentic and clear communication and the importance of empathy while setting clear boundaries.