S2E1: Hard Conversations

We are both so passionate about improving and encouraging better body awareness. One of our favourite episodes from season 1 was Flowing with our Natural Cycles. We’ve had a great response from it and it’s opened up many conversations for us, both internally with our own bodies and externally with friends, students and colleagues.  We’ve since delved in even more, exploring the relationship we each have with our body and learning more about it through tracking the menstrual cycle. In light of that, today we’ve invited Vanessa José along to share her own story ahead of a two part women’s circle event on cycle tracking that will take place online in early October. Vanessa is a dedicated yoga student, teacher and co-founder of Ashtanga Yoga Porto. She has completed Women’s Circle teacher training and hosts circles to connect women with themselves, each other and teachings from yoga, meditation and the Sacred Feminine. Connect with Vanessa: @vanessacjose @ashtangayogaporto  ----------------------------------------- "The menstrual cycle is a reflection of your health. Learn what yours is trying to tell you." - Patrícia Lemos Women's Circle: Cycle Tracking - How to track your menstrual cycle for better body awareness and emotional wellbeing - hosted by Vanessa Jose and Katie Lawrance In this two part event, we'll explore a holistic approach to getting to know your body and your menstrual cycle to foster better body awareness and greater self-compassion part one: Sunday 3rd October 5pm Portugal time introduction to the menstrual cycle and the inner seasons analogy how tracking the cycle can help us sharing circle part two: Sunday 10th October 5pm Portugal time how to know which inner season you're in, how to recognise symptoms helpful resources and further suggest reading sharing circle Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance.

Today you're invited to listen in our our 'debrief' of the week we spent together in Porto, finally reunited again after 2 years. It's hard to believe we've cultivated such a significant friendship over mostly voice messages and podcast recordings! what we got up to reflecting how we have each changed in the last couple of years having true FUN, the need for joy and play feeling calm, held and free in the world choosing calm & quiet over drama navigating a chaotic and intense inner world (finally!) understanding why we live where we do  managing anxiety - stepping back and witnessing it finding peace and comfort in Portugal healing places and how they'll always be with us emotional airport moments packing light (or not), the longing to leave As always, we speak personally, reflecting on ourselves, our friendship and our lives. We hope you feel inspired to reflect on your own journey, too. If you enjoyed this episode, why not send to a friend and chat about it together? This is your invitation to connect with us. Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance.

In this episode we welcome Trainee Counsellor & Life-Coach David Mahoney as our first guest of season two! In this hour long conversation we touch on sobriety, personal development, coming out and marathon training, returning to a topic we explored in season one: the importance of listening, empathy and holding space for one another. You can follow David's gorgeous feed on instagram, @davidmahoneygram full of inspirational quotes, self-care reminders and bibliotherapy! You can sponsor David for the Virtual 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon - he's raising money for the Mental Health Foundation.  Leaving us a review on Apple podcast helps get episodes like these out there to more ears. If you enjoyed listening get in touch and let us know what resonated most with you. Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance.

We're kicking off season two by DOING HARD THINGS! In this episode we discuss approaching hard conversations, seeing them as opportunities for self-reflection and navigating the challenges that hard conversations entail. We go over: Imposter syndrome Noticing where we’re feeling apprehension in our bodies and checking in with the body Emotional dumping The difference between what needs to be said and what needs to be heard Practices that help us avoid emotionally dumping on one another How we navigated a recent disagreement ourselves Just how much we can unpack from a gap in communication between friends Attachment styles and how we're aware of this Making friends as introverts The ABC for approaching hard conversations Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance.

We’ve invited David Greenwood onto Chrysalis Connection for a long and juicy chat. We get deep pretty quickly and talk about: the meaning of life childhood memories and advice for our younger selves altering our consciousness music meditation expectations  what makes us who we are.  We share our own views and speak from personal experience. This was a really enjoyable conversation for Katie and Lauren, we get really excited. if you’re up for it - it’s one hell of a ride. We speak personally, we share our own stories and perspectives. Our hope is that you feel part of the conversation and that perhaps this episode can offer company, empathy and insight. Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance.

After an introspective period of almost hibernation, we’re back with an episode delving into the importance of listening, to ourselves, our bodies, and more compassionately to others. We touch on: language learning yoga, human design sobriety processing emotions We speak personally, we share our own stories and perspectives. Our hope is that you feel part of the conversation and that perhaps this episode can offer company, empathy and insight. On TUESDAY 23.3.21 18:30GMT Katie and Lauren are hosting a virtual sharing circle: Self-care for Sobriety. A safe and supportive space to reflect and explore our own relationships with alcohol in a non-dogmatic, non-judgemental way. Details and tickets can be reserved on Eventbrite. All are welcome who come with an open heart and mind.  Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance.

We're well into season one and who better to invite as our first guest than Adam Lawrance, who lends a hand to the production of our podcast. Listen to our conversation about life and learning with Adam. We chat about: Adam's career in radio finding and living with purpose school days and paper rounds living with type 1 diabetes and raising awareness body image Chrysalis moments in our stories You can find Adam online www.adamlawrance.co.uk or on Insta: @adamlawrance and @type1adam for diabetes related content. Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance. 

Our last episode of the year, recorded on 31st December 2020, is an intuitive and reflective conversation looking back on how we've grown in 2020 and what the year has given us. 2020 really has been a chrysalis of sorts, we had to turn inwards and transform, and we believe it's all about connecting with others while in the chrysalis. This reflective chat is personal and profound, we share a lot about ourselves and how we've grown this this challenging year. We hope you enjoy the extra long episode! We chat about: - what we've learnt about ourselves in 2020 - what carried us through the year - how our relationships with ourselves have transformed - what we're most grateful for We mentioned and quoted the Shelf Help podcast hosted by Toni Jones and and Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram (for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance. www.adamlawrance.co.uk/

We have both found counselling to be insightful and empowering, as getting to know ourselves better is always an investment in the quality of our lives as a whole.  We are not professionals in this area so the following discussion is purely anecdotal. Our aim is to share our own experiences as it can be truly empowering to understand yourself better and invest in your emotional wellbeing.  We chat about: Why have counselling sessions? Reasons to try it, why it's an investment What it's like to have therapy? and share some metaphors to describe it The importance of crying and sharing your worries with someone you trust Cheaper or free resources out there if counselling isn't an option for you right now Season's Greetings! We hope you have a restful and profound festive season. Love and light, Lauren & Katie xx Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance. www.adamlawrance.co.uk/

Heads-up: this episode discusses alcohol, recovery and sobriety. If these topics may be triggering for you, please feel free to pause and listen at a later time or with somebody you trust. We hope to raise awareness about a topic close to our hearts. If you feel that seeking guidance in this area could be useful, we will be sharing resources on our Instagram page and really recommend talking to someone you trust. In this episode Lauren shares what her relationship with alcohol used to be like, the part it played in her life at the time and the reasons why she now chooses not to drink alcohol. We chat about: what it takes to realise there's an issue around alcohol recognising an unhealthy habit and the need for change numbing ourselves, stopping to and choosing to feel every emotion instead of check out when things get tough catalysts on a journey of recovery, including AA the biggest positive takeaways from choosing to go sober language and labels around sobriety and recovery navigating sober social situations accepting changes in friendships that naturally come with a considerable lifestyle change regular practices and useful resources that have a been a massive comfort We quoted Glennon Doyle and Catherine Grey - their books are amazing, 10/10 recommend! Resources we recommend: Laura McKowen's blog - Early sobriety  https://www.hipsobriety.com/home https://thisnakedmind.com/blog/ Russell Brand is an active advocate for sobriety and very vocal about his own recovery too Home podcast with Holly Whittaker and Laura McKowen Alcohol Change UK - sober spring Tempest - personalised online recovery to quit drinking Instagram: @sobercuriouscollective Connect with us: @chrysalisconnection  on Instagram for original content, about us and events) or email us at [email protected] Original music by David Greenwood 2020. Edited remotely by Adam Lawrance. www.adamlawrance.co.uk/ Please note that as this episode was recorded remotely, at times the audio isn't top quality.