Curious And Curiouser Podcast

Join Tracey and Cayly in this week’s episode as they tackle the following question (submitted to them by a listener who shall remain nameless because they failed to ask her if they could use her name and/or an alias):   Why do we want to change and evolve, and why can’t we just be content with our lives as they are right now?   Good question, anonymous listener!   It’s true that Tracey and Cayly talk all the time on the show about the importance of putting yourself in uncomfortable situations, stepping outside your comfort zone, and doing hard things in order to grow and evolve in your life. But they’ve never actually talked about why growing and evolving are things to aspire to in the first place.   Well, they’re finally going there in this discussion. They talk about how challenging yourself is essential to building confidence, why change is inevitable, and why growth is necessary for staying healthy and engaged in an ever-evolving world.   They hope you enjoy this conversation and find it useful! And many

Why do we feel compelled to compare ourselves to others and what are the negative consequences of doing so?   This is the question Tracey and Cayly are attempting to answer in this week’s episode of the Curious & Curiouser Podcast. They also offer a quick vocabulary lesson to help distinguish between envy and jealousy, and talk about which of these feelings is most at play when we find ourselves drawing comparisons between our lives and the lives of those around us.   Tracey and Cayly describe how comparison-making has gone awry in their own lives, and explore the ways in which putting someone up on a pedestal can be a barrier to building a relationship with them.   The ladies also offer some tips on disrupting this pattern of comparing and discuss the role social media plays in potentially exacerbating this urge to compare.   This is a topic that touches on every other question so far addressed on the show, and is important for the far-reaching implications this comparison game has on almost every aspect

Get ready for a little ranting from Tracey and Cayly on this week’s episode of the podcast. Because they were feeling a little feisty when this was recorded and eager to clear up some misinformation they recently heard from well known Crossfit coach, Ben Bergeron, regarding nutrition and body composition.   Which brings us to the overarching question(s) for today’s show:   How do you filter out not helpful information from so-called experts regarding fitness and health? And what’s the downside to the amount of access we have to a plethora of information about health, fitness, and nutrition on the internet?   This is gonna be good.   Tracey and Cayly start by debunking Ben’s claims about body fat percentage, call out the American Heart Association for distributing false claims about coconut oil, and highlight the inaccuracy and glaring biases that play out in the new Netflix documentary What The Health.   They’re also talking about the problems with internet “experts” and celebrity trainers, who are often hand

Can we have it all? Career, relationship, family, other interests? And what are some of the hard decisions we have to make when defining that for ourselves?   Deep breaths before this one, gang.   Because on this episode of Curious & Curiouser, Tracey and Cayly are breaking down the myth that “having it all” is desirable, possible, or even a real thing — at least as our culture likes to define it.   They talk about choosing career over love or motherhood over career or choosing not to have children for the professional freedoms doing so might afford you.   Tracey and Cayly talk openly about some of the hard decisions they have had to make in their own lives up to this point, at times putting career or relationship in the backseat to pursue other passions. They also talk finances (does it matter who makes more money in a partnership?), balance (not a real thing), and the role social media and celebrity play in convincing us we need to have it all in order to be truly successful.   There’s also a fairly ent

Let’s face it. We live in a culture that likes to label things, a culture that likes dichotomies, a culture that is uncomfortable with grey areas and uncertainty and things that don’t fit neatly into predetermined boxes.   And this preference applies to our emotional experiences as well. Which is why we like to label emotions as either “good” or “bad”, “positive” or “negative,” and then avoid the so-called negative emotions as much as possible. But what if these labels aren’t actually helpful or useful or even true?   That’s the conversation Tracey and Cayly are having on today’s episode of the podcast. Specifically, they’re asking the question:   What happens when we stop labeling emotions as good or bad and just allow them to be?   They talk about anger, fear, sadness, anxiety, grief — all emotions that get tossed into the arbitrary “Bad Emotions Box” — and explore the ways in which these emotions are not inherently negative and can even contribute powerfully positive experiences to our lives.   Tracey and

This week on the podcast, Tracey and Cayly are revisiting the topic of relationships and diving into some potentially uncomfortable territory to talk about the possibility of creating rules in your relationship that fall outside the box of societal expectations.   Whoa.   The question we’re addressing throughout the entirety of the conversation is this:   What happens when you get curious about the kind of relationship you really want and make space for the idea that the answer might be unconventional?   Getting in touch with your desires and designing a relationship with your partner — or multiple partners — that takes all of those desires into account can be a scary but ultimately liberating process. In today’s episode, Tracey and Cayly discuss the ways in which this process might unfold over time and offer advice about how to initiate a dialogue with your partner that might be challenging and bring with it a ton of discomfort for both of you.   We’re also talking about how we define a successful relationsh

How do you build confidence and learn to trust yourself? These are the questions Tracey and Cayly are tackling on this week’s episode of the podcast.   Over the past several years, we have both dedicated a significant amount of time and energy to the practice of recognizing and exercising our intuition, and have both seen profound shifts in our lives as a result of our efforts. In this conversation, we describe our individual journeys through this process and offer actionable advice on how to start building your own intuitive muscle.   We talk about the benefits of doing hard things, the necessity of embracing discomfort as essential for building resilience, and how taking risks — and even failure — can facilitate greater self-trust and confidence.   We loved this discussion and am confident (pun intended) that you will love it, too. There are so many great resources in this episode and I sincerely hope you find it useful and insightful.   As always, sharing is caring, so please forward this episode to a frie

Are you a small business owner, creative entrepreneur, or someone thinking about venturing out on your own soon? Then this week’s episode of the Curious & Curiouser podcast is for you.   Tracey and I are back with the conclusion of our conversation with Liz Winters of Sprout Wellness. Today, we are talking all about self-employment and exploring the question:  How do we define success and what does this really look like?   We might not have all the answers, but we do offer some insights into the pros and cons of running your own business, how to navigate the self-doubt that inevitability arises in this process, and the importance of building a network of other small business owners to support you through the ups and downs of working for yourself.   I really enjoyed this half of our discussion with Liz and hope you find it enlightening as well. Being surrounded by strong women who are kicking ass and taking names, taking risks and working on their own terms, has been essential for me as my business has gro

This week, Tracey and Cayly welcome their friend, Crossfit coach and nutrition expert Liz Winters, to the show to talk about all things food, mindful eating, and how to negotiate with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. This conversation was so much fun to have, and Liz offers a ton of useful insights into cultivating a healthier, more sustainable relationship with food. Please note also that the microphone did not pick up Liz’s voice quite as clearly as it did Cayly and Tracey’s, so please bear with them through a few sections during which she is a little bit challenging to hear. Highlights from this episode include:   - Who is Liz Winters of Sprout Wellness? (http://www.sproutwellnesspdx.com/aboutliz/) - Liz’s work with postpartum women - Do men seek out nutritional support as well? What has Liz’s experience been working with men in this capacity? - How Liz got into the nutrition and fitness industries and her experience with childhood obesity - Cayly and Tracey’s experiences being on a vegetarian diet - How does

Today's episode is an exploration of the intersection between Tracey's work and Cayly's work, talking all about the benefits of combining mental health therapy with acupuncture or other forms of bodywork for facilitating and often accelerating healing. They hope this episode inspires you to take a chance on a healing modality you may have been hesitant to try and empowers you to become a more active participant in your own healing journey by taking the brave step of asking for help. Because none of us can do this human existence thing alone. Not Tracey. Not Cayly. Not anyone. Other highlights from the episode include: - How utilizing multiple modalities simultaneously can help accelerate the process of healing - Cayly and Tracey’s experiences combining therapy with bodywork - A quick and dirty breakdown about how acupuncture works from a biomedical perspective - Chris Kresser (https://chriskresser.com) and his series of articles about how acupuncture works from a biomedical perspective (https://chriskresser.c

What if the stories we believe about ourselves and the world aren’t true? This week’s episode is an important one, y’all. We’re talking all about the stories we tell about ourselves and the world, and exploring the transformative power of questioning your assumptions, challenging your beliefs, and changing your story. We offer advice about how to begin this process of change, complete with a sweet visual aid courtesy of Tracey. Cayly also talks about how a recent episode of the podcast helped her to start shifting an outdated story in her own life. Other highlights include:   - The kinds of stories we tell ourselves - Cayly’s current effort to challenge her inherent assumptions about herself and the world - Our brains are designed to make meaning out of things - Tracey’s old story and how she changed it - How changing your story can be both liberating and terrifying - The difference between comfort and familiarity - How discomfort motivates change - Worries about what other people will think when we decide to

In today’s episode of the podcast, Tracey and Cayly are discussing self care, talking specifically about how true self care is often doing the things that are hard and not particularly comfortable — like paying your bills and having strong boundaries. They also address the question of how to practice self care amidst the less-than-awesome political climate currently dominating the news cycle in the U.S. If you’re bothered by the idea that self care is often reduced to a litany of massages, pedicures, and afternoons relaxing with a glass of wine, this episode is for you. Tracey and Cayly are calling bullshit on this very limited definition and are having a more nuanced conversation about self care. Highlights from this episode include:   - Examples of self care that go beyond massages and pedicures - How your body’s stress response sometimes calls for a more active type of self care - Why Cayly’s therapist recommended she start a boxing class - Why self care is sometimes doing the hard thing - Brene Brown and

This week, Tracey and Cayly are talking relationships and attachment — a topic about which Tracey is an expert and something she works on regularly in her work with clients. She gives a brief history of attachment theory and breaks down the three main attachment styles that play out in adult relationships. Cayly and Tracey talk about their own attachment styles and about how doing the work to shift their less desirable patterns has been key to creating healthy, happy intimate partnerships in their own lives. They also offer tips about how to begin this process in your own life. If you're a person in a relationship — or a person interested in one day being in a relationship — this episode is for you. You don’t want to miss this discussion. So much useful information here! Specific highlights include:   - John Bowlby and Attachment Theory  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bowlby - The three stages of attachment, ages 0-3 yrs. - Defining secure attachment, anxious attachment, and avoidant attachment styles in

Episode 9:  What is manifesting? Does manifesting actually work? In this week’s episode, Tracey and Cayly talk about manifesting — a word they see being tossed around a lot in the self-help and personal development arena — often to the detriment of those who fall prey to the hype. They discuss the ways in which our attempts to manifest can go wrong and leave us feeling less content in the end. They also talk about how to manifest effectively and what that looks like in their own lives. Other highlights include:   - How do we define manifesting? Do Tracey and Cayly believe in it? - Relationship between spirituality, religion, and manifesting? - Our thoughts about The Secret and our gripes with it (https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1582701709) - How Cayly got sucked into the Secret for a while when she was younger and her experience with it - How Tracey talks with her clients about manifesting in their lives - The difference between passive and active manifesting - Can you manifest a partner? How? -

In this episode, Tracey and Cayly continue the conversation about sex from last week. This time around, they are debunking some of the myths floating around about sex, sexual pleasure, and our bodies. Once again, the conversation is very open and honest and uses proper anatomical language. Tracey and Cayly also get a bit political at the beginning of this episode and are not shy with their opinions regarding the current healthcare debate. Highlights include:   - How Tracey and Cayly felt after learning about the healthcare bill recently passed by the House of Representatives - Why we should talk about sex, vaginas, and female bodies more openly - Does having an STI mean someone is dirty or careless or slutty? - What happened when Tracey asked for STI testing at her doctor’s office - Discomfort around getting tested for STIs - What does it mean to “lose” your virginity? - Thoughts about hymens and purity and all the lies we’re told about these things - How do we assess purity for men? - Should we fake orgasms

In this episode, Tracey and Cayly talk about sex, sex education, and sexual desire. Please note that they talk very openly and honestly about these topics, use proper anatomical terminology for all male and female body parts, and do not shy away from things like masturbation and sexual pleasure. If any of these topics offend you, this episode might not be for you. But if you want to listen to some unfiltered dialogue about sex and desire, I’m confident you’ll love this discussion. Specific highlights include:   - What does “normal” mean when it comes to sex and desire? - How our society defines normal and how we got here - How misinformed we are about sex and our bodies from a young age - When and what Tracey and Cayly first learned about sex - Messaging we received as teenagers about sex - Spoiler alert:  Cayly has had sex (Gasp!) - Are we allowed to have multiple partners? What number is “normal”? Do we share our numbers with new partners? - The importance of masturbation, especially for women - Prioritizin

  In this episode, Tracey and Cayly revisit the subject of body image to flesh out some of the ideas they didn’t have time to fully explore on episode two of the podcast. Highlights include:   - Fluctuations in how we feel about our bodies - Relationship between digestion and body contentment - How our experiences with crossfit and weightlifting have changed how we feel about our bodies - Shout out to Intrepid Athletics PDX - What do the numbers (on the scale, on clothing tags) mean? - Tracey gets double unders! - Do Cayly and Tracey cover their gray hairs and why (or why not)? -How does your body change as you age and how does this affect your contentment with it? -How Tracey models healthy body image for her kids -What happened when Cayly weighed herself for the first time in a year -The longevity of our bodies - And more!

In this episode, Tracey and Cayly explore how owning the seemingly crazy things about yourself can be beneficial and actually create more intimacy in your relationships. Highlights include:   - “Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person” (Please note that we attributed this article to Oliver Burkeman instead of Alain de Botton, who actually wrote it. Oops! Sorry!) - Naming the elephant in the room - Brene Brown and the antidote to shame   - Who do you share your crazy and shame story with? - Sharing your crazy and building trust - How Cayly and Tracey both own their crazy with their current partners - Building intimacy by being vulnerable - How owning your crazy with a partner can normalize it - Naming your idiosyncrasies gives others permission to do the same - Taking responsibility for your own stuff even while sharing it with others - Self-compassion and allowing yourself to be imperfect - And more!

In this episode, Tracey and Cayly discuss decluttering their social lives, including how they have both gone about this process and what reasons they have for doing so. Other highlights:   - Why does this topic leave Cayly feeling nauseated? - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - How do we define social decluttering? - How many people can you realistically connect with on a deep level? - Decluttering Facebook and why Cayly unfriended half her Facebook friends - Guilt, obligation, convenience and how these play into ending friendships - Should we wish everyone Happy Birthday on social media? - Can social decluttering happen naturally when we are our authentic selves? - How big life events contribute to changes in friendship - Can ending a friendship be a kind act? - Letting go of people who add bad things to your world - Can you declutter family members? - What do you do when there is no closure? - And more!

In this episode, Tracey and Cayly talk about motherhood, exploring the different choices they have each made with regard to this topic. Highlights from this episode include:   - When did each of them know how they felt about motherhood for themselves? - How motherhood helped Tracey heal from childhood wounds - The biological clock phenomenon - The birth of Tracey’s son and adoption of her daughter - Did Tracey ever regret her decision to have children? - How divorce has affected Tracey’s mothering journey - How Cayly’s religious upbringing affected her experience of not wanting to be a mother - What do you say to people who ask you when you’re going to get married and have kids? - How Cayly’s mom felt about her decision to not have kids - Is it selfish not to have children? - Bridging the gap between mothers and non-mothers - And more!