How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real Podcast

The Cornell Seven case has sparked a much bigger conversation than one group chat or one college campus.This week, Jenn and Rietta unpack the allegations surrounding the Cornell Seven and use the case as a jumping-off point to talk about consent, intoxication, accountability, and what happens when the way we understand sexual assault doesn’t always line up neatly with the way the law is written.What does it mean when someone voluntarily becomes intoxicated? Where does personal responsibility end and criminal responsibility begin? And as women, how do we navigate laws that can feel very different from the conversations we’ve been taught to have about consent and safety?This isn’t about deciding the Cornell Seven case ourselves. It’s about looking at the questions the case raises—and realizing just how complicated the answers can become once they leave social media and enter a courtroom.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Jenn and I have an honest conversation about women's bodies, body image, and learning to accept the body you're in—even when your relationship with it hasn't always been easy.Jenn and I grew up having very different experiences with our bodies. Jenn grew up being thicker, while I spent much of my younger life being naturally thin. But despite starting in completely different places, we've both had to navigate insecurities, changing bodies, comparison, and learning what it actually means to feel comfortable in our own skin.We talk about the pressure women face surrounding weight and appearance, how our relationships with our bodies change as we get older, and why reaching a certain size or number on the scale doesn't automatically create confidence.In this episode, we discuss:• Growing up with different body types• How childhood and adolescence shape body image• Being thin versus growing up in a thicker body• The pressure women feel surrounding weight and appearance• Comparing our bodies to other women• How our bodies change throughout our lives• Learning to separate weight from self-worth• The complicated relationship between fitness, health, and appearance• Learning to appreciate the body you have now• What body acceptance actually looks like• Giving ourselves the grace we often give everyone elseOur bodies are going to change. They're supposed to. Learning to love yourself isn't about finally reaching the perfect weight, size, or shape—it's about realizing your body was never something you needed to earn the right to feel good about.This conversation is about giving ourselves a little more grace, letting go of impossible expectations, and learning to appreciate the bodies that have carried us through every version of ourselves.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Jenn and I talk about why we care so much about what other people think and what it actually takes to stop allowing their opinions to control our choices.People constantly tell us to stop caring, be ourselves, and ignore the judgment. But no one really explains how to do that. We discuss why the fear of being disliked, misunderstood, or disappointing someone can become so powerful and how it keeps us living according to expectations that may not even belong to us.We also talk about comparison, approval, confidence, and learning to decide whose opinions truly deserve space in your life. Not caring what others think doesn’t mean becoming cold or inconsiderate. It means trusting yourself enough to make choices that are right for you, even when other people don’t understand them.In this episode, we discuss:• Why we care so much about other people’s opinions• The difference between considering feedback and living for approval• Deciding whose opinions actually matter• Why people aren’t thinking about us as much as we believe• Getting comfortable with being misunderstood• Learning to let people be disappointed• The pressure to be liked by everyone• Comparing your life to someone else’s• Questioning whether your goals are truly yours• Building confidence by keeping promises to yourself• Accepting that not everyone will understand your choices• Caring more about what you think of yourselfYou may never completely stop caring what other people think, and that doesn’t have to be the goal.The goal is to reach a point where your opinion of yourself carries more weight than the opinions of people who aren’t living your life.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Jenn and I talk about closure, what it means to each of us, and whether we actually need it in order to move forward.We're often taught that healing requires one final conversation, an explanation, or an apology. But what happens when that conversation never comes? Or worse, when you finally get the answers you've been waiting for and they don't make you feel any better?We talk about why closure may be overrated, the difference between getting answers and actually healing, and why sometimes the person who hurt you simply isn't capable of giving you what you're looking for.In this episode, we discuss:• What closure means to us• Why we crave answers after being hurt• Waiting for an apology that may never come• Why getting answers doesn't always bring peace• Accepting that you may never know why• How our brains fill in the blanks when we don't have answers• Why closure doesn't mean forgetting• Whether forgiveness is actually necessary to move on• Creating your own closure• Letting go of the need for someone else to understand your pain• Choosing peace instead of continuing to search for answersSometimes closure isn't getting the explanation you wanted. It's reaching the point where you realize you don't need one anymore.This conversation is about letting go of the idea that someone else has to give you permission to heal and recognizing that sometimes, moving forward is the closure.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Jenn and I have an honest conversation about something so many women struggle with but rarely talk about—friendship as an adult.Making friends isn't as easy as it was when we were younger. Between busy lives, changing priorities, and personal growth, finding people who truly align with you can feel overwhelming. We talk about why some friendships naturally evolve, why others end, and how setting healthy boundaries can sometimes reveal who was never meant to stay.We also dive into the importance of trusting your intuition. Looking back, we've realized that many of the situations that hurt us most happened because we ignored that quiet inner voice. Intuition isn't usually loud or dramatic—it often shows up as a simple feeling or thought telling you, "Don't do that." Learning to listen to it can change everything.In this episode, we discuss:• Why making friends as an adult feels so different• Finding people who genuinely align with you• Maintaining healthy friendships• Setting boundaries without guilt• Why some people take boundaries personally• Learning to trust your intuition• The quiet ways intuition tries to protect us• Why history doesn't obligate you to stay in a friendship• Letting go of relationships that no longer serve youFriendships are meant to add to your life, not drain it. This conversation is a reminder that it's okay to outgrow people, trust your instincts, and make room for relationships that feel safe, reciprocal, and genuine.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Jenn and I dive into the conversation every woman deserves to hear—perimenopause.For years, we've been told that mood swings and hot flashes are just part of getting older, but the reality is that perimenopause can begin much earlier and affect nearly every aspect of your life. From anxiety and brain fog to weight changes, sleep issues, and hormonal shifts, we talk openly about the symptoms so many women experience without realizing what's happening.We also discuss hormone replacement therapy (HRT), other treatment options, the importance of advocating for yourself, and why regular health screenings and finding the right provider can make all the difference.In this episode, we discuss:• What perimenopause actually is• Common symptoms that often go unrecognized• Anxiety, brain fog, sleep changes, and mood swings• Weight changes and hormonal fluctuations• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)• Other ways to manage symptoms• The importance of regular health screenings• Finding a provider who listens to you• Why women need to advocate for their own healthWomen's health isn't talked about nearly enough, and too many women spend years wondering what's wrong with them when they're actually experiencing a normal stage of life. This conversation is honest, informative, and a reminder that you know your body better than anyone else.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Danielle Kepics to talk about childhood loss, family estrangement, and why so many women feel dismissed when seeking medical care.Danielle shares what it was like losing her mother at a young age and being left to navigate life with a narcissistic father. We discuss the difficult decision to create distance from family, why estrangement is sometimes the healthiest option, and the guilt that often comes with it.We also dive into her decision to leave conventional medicine and open her own practice, her passion for advocating for women, and the ongoing conversations surrounding hormone replacement therapy and women's health.In this episode, we discuss:• Losing her mother at a young age• Growing up with a narcissistic father• Family estrangement and setting boundaries• Leaving conventional medicine• Opening her own practice• Why women are often dismissed in healthcare• Advocating for yourself as a patient• The evolving conversation around HRT and breast cancer riskThis conversation is honest, empowering, and a reminder that sometimes healing requires questioning everything you've been taught.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Jenn Morrison to talk about surviving childhood loss, redefining family, and rebuilding your life after abuse.Jenn shares what it was like losing her mom at a young age, feeling alone from the age of 17, and growing up without ever truly feeling like she had a mother figure. Over time, she had to redefine what “mom” meant to her — and eventually create that feeling of home and safety for herself.We also talk about surviving an abusive relationship, the emotional toll of starting over, and how she ultimately manifested the life she once only dreamed about — now living in Hawaii with her husband.In this episode, we discuss:• Losing her mom at a young age• Feeling alone from the age of 17• Redefining what “mother” and family mean• Growing up without stability or support• Surviving an abusive relationship• Rebuilding confidence and self-worth• Manifesting a completely different life• Creating a new beginning in HawaiiThis conversation is emotional, inspiring, and a reminder that your past doesn’t have to decide your future.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Chris Wasko to talk about healing from deep-rooted trauma and stepping into a completely unexpected spiritual path.Chris shares what it was like growing up with two narcissistic parents and how that environment shaped her early life. As she began doing the work to heal, something unexpected happened — she started hearing her maternal grandfather, opening the door to her abilities as a medium.We talk about what it looks like to navigate that kind of awakening, how she learned to trust it, and why she ultimately shifted her focus toward energy healing and helping the living — especially old souls and cycle breakers trying to rewrite their stories.In this episode, we discuss:• Growing up with narcissistic parents• The long-term impact of childhood trauma• Beginning the healing journey and doing the inner work• Hearing her grandfather and discovering her mediumship• Learning to trust and develop intuitive abilities• Transitioning into energy healing• Supporting old souls and cycle breakers• Breaking generational patterns and creating something newThis conversation is powerful, eye-opening, and a reminder that healing doesn’t just change your life — it can completely transform who you become.

In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, I sit down with Dr. Neosho Ponder to talk about resilience in the face of unimaginable circumstances.Dr. Ponder shares her journey of battling breast cancer while experiencing homelessness — not just during treatment, but even now — and how she found strength, faith, and purpose through it all.We talk about what it means to keep going when life doesn’t let up, how humor and faith can coexist with pain, and how she turned her experiences into her book God’s Got Jokes.In this episode, we discuss:• Being diagnosed with breast cancer• Experiencing homelessness during and after treatment• Navigating survival when life keeps stacking the odds• The role of faith in healing and resilience• Finding humor in the darkest moments• Turning pain into purpose through writingThis conversation is raw, powerful, and a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, there is still a story worth telling.If you would like to purchase Neosho's book or just connect with her, you can do so on her website. https://www.neoshocponder.com