Upbeat Synergy with DJ Adrian Smart: Empowering Yourself and Others
Get ready to feel inspired and heartened. In this moving episode, Adrian Smart shares his story for the first time. It’s an incredible story of hope, resilience, grit, love, determination, and humanity. Adrian tells us the personal challenges and tragedies he experienced growing up in Tanzania and South Africa, and how he made his way to the US (it’s a breathtaking story).
If you know/follow Adrian, you see how he infuses positivity into every post/interaction. While his positivity is genuine and authentic, this episode shows a different dimension of Adrian, which makes me appreciate and admire him even more.
This episode gives us what we need to empower ourselves and others. Among the powers we discuss are:
controlling what we can
listening to understand
aligning your energy
respecting yourself and others
feeling seen and heard
seeing and hearing others
helping in direct and indirect ways
living mindfully
acknowledging your good fortune
connecting to yourself and others
The power of you.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a feel-good episode, but it’s so much more than that. It’s life- and soul-affirming.
You can find/support Adrian:
through his DJ Facebook page: LP&H Entertainment and email lphentertainmentbusiness@gmail.com
through his business, Synergy Efficiency, which specializes in upgrading attic and garage insulation: : synergyefficiencyidaho.com; wearesynergy208@gmail.com
You can support the cause to create safe, long-term housing for abuse victims by purchasing a bear at https://babybearsclub.com/
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Methods Not Politics: How to Become Informed and Not Misled (by Others and Yourself!)
In this timely and informative episode, Rhetoric Rob [Watkins] advises not on what to think, but how to think.
We also cover:
How to detect bias in information sources and hidden agendas
How to avoid common fallacies
How and why our brains are wired to reject certain truths (and how to override that)
Why changing your mind is a source of intelligence and maturity
How to avoid common fallacies
How to prevent closed-mindedness
How to equip your kids to be comfortable with divergent views, form and communicate their opinions, spot fake news, and identify argument gaps in a way that’s effective and fun
Dr. Watkins is a professor of rhetoric and Idaho State University. Find more helpful insight and tips on his Instagram page, @rhetoric_rob
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
Politics Schmolitics: Seeking Perspective, Balance, Critical Thinking, and Hope
Having majored in political science and minored in psychology, I am particularly interested in politics and human dynamics. I am also continuously committed to learning, growing, and connecting - as you likely are, too.
In this solo episode, I approach politics through the lens of balance and nuance. I offer insight on:
prioritizing truth over ideology
avoiding common misconceptions
recognizing manipulative tactics
identifying red flags
finding common ground and discussing politics maturely and constructively
evaluating political ideas and policies
sourcing credible information
maintaining perspective
balancing between apathy and burnout
doing your part to improve the world
preserving hope
I hope you finish feeling informed, grounded, discerning, and inspired.
I hope this opens your eyes, mind, and heart.
I hope you feel even more connected to yourself and to others.
Thank you for listening.
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
Fempowered: Making Your Mess Your Message
In this hard-hitting yet cozy episode, I sit down with the SheEO herself: Sheena Daniels. Sheena is a podcast host, businesswoman, yoga instructor, and female empowerer. She shares tough lessons she’s learned upon getting a divorce and leaving the LDS church. We also get into:
how to connect with yourself and your kids
how to empower yourself and your kids
how to reduce shame and guilt
how to learn to trust yourself
how to use your body as a healing tool
the power of the pause and the necessity of stillness
how your mistakes are your entry points for connection
how to make your mess your message
It’s good. Oh, so good.
Find Sheena on Instagram @shelyfe, and listen to her on Pivot and Pursue, the podcast she hosts with Britney Neibaur
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
Why Both Giving and Taking Are Crucial for True Connection
I identify a certain blind spot you might have that’s interfering with your friendships, relationships, and social interactions, and how to address it. I explain why giving and taking are equally important.
I suggest what to do if you find yourself imbalanced on either side. I guide you on how to tell if you dominate conversations.
I also share a tip for preserving your battery if you find yourself depleted during social interactions.
It’s a short - but important - episode.
Thanks for listening,
w
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
Off Brand: Choosing Connection Over Commodification and Authenticity Over Algorithm
I start this free-flowing solo episode with no set topic or structure. In this age of personal branding, formulaic creating, and calculated sharing, I discuss prioritizing connection over commodification. I tell how after extensively researching and studying the best marketing practices, I opted for authenticity over algorithm. I note where I think social media is heading, and suggest what to do about it.
What comes forth ultimately coalesces into a theme of reclamation: of self, of creativity, of privacy, of time, of authenticity, of soul, of passion, of balance, of LIFE. Whether you have a personal brand or not, this episode touches on something we can all relate to: choosing how we show up in the world, and how we individually and collectively shape that world.
We’re all in it together.
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
x,
w
Self Investment: Maintaining Your Sense of Self Amid Life's Shifts
I somehow got my long-time friend Amanda Frost to agree to come on, and I think you’ll be glad I did. In this light-hearted - yet substantive - conversation, we cover quite a bit of ground. After revealing our real reasons for posting outfits of the day on social media, we continue on to chat about the importance of:
immunizing yourself against shifting trends and opinions by determining what works for you
identifying what works for you and what doesn’t, from your personal aesthetic to your ideology to your lifestyle
allowing flexibility in your perspectives and routines
investing continually in your self and your craft
communicating directly
discovering it’s less about looking good, and more about feeling good
recognizing and appreciating beauty in everyone
As Amanda framed it, this was simply a play date - and you’re invited.
Follow Amanda on Instagram @amandafrostbeauty
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
Re-branding Weirdness: Why Daring to Be Different Brings You Success
It’s nice - even preferred - to feel special, right? To feel exceptional? However, to be special and exceptional requires being different. So why do we disparage weirdness? Why do we actively criticize/avoid it?
I get into why.
I also get into why we shouldn’t; why our oddities should be celebrated and even cultivated. I share some of my own weirdo tendencies, and offer a pretty strong argument on letting your freak flag fly (whatever that means to you).
Be you. Be awesome. You little weirdo.
xx,
w
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
Land of the Brave: Impacted by History, Shaped by Culture, Misunderstood by Many
Wow - I did not expect this conversation to go as deep or as long, but man am I glad it did. If you want a comfortable, superficial, breezy listen, this isn’t it. If you want a meaningful, profound, and heart-opening listen, this is it. Do with that what you will.
In this episode, I sit down with someone I’ve known since elementary school: Catlin Palmer, LMSW and published author. I initially asked Catlin, a licensed therapist and Ute tribe member, to come on to share his work incorporating Native American culture and spirituality in recovery (interesting, right?!). While we did cover that, we also [un]covered so much more.
Throughout our dynamic session, Catlin candidly relays how his personal experience with OCD and substance abuse inform and heighten his efficacy as a counselor. As if that wasn’t deep enough, the conversation really intensifies (in a good way) when Catlin explains the role of Indigenous culture and history in understanding not only his specific clients, but the community as a whole. (Note: Catlin is careful to speak to his own knowledge and experience, and not for Indigenous people as a whole.) He clarifies how and why Indigenous people are so often misunderstood, and how damaging and frustrating that can be. THIS MATTERS.
Catlin emphasizes rather than pity, retribution, or compensation, he simply seeks awareness: of what the Indigenous people experienced, of why the ripple effect is so extensive, and of how the history is still relevant.
We spotlight the importance of identity - personal, cultural, national - and how threatening/losing it can damage our lives, our health, and our connections (to ourselves and to others).
Thank you for listening. xx
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
Find Catlin on Instagram @flomentum_movement
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Fulfillment: Growing Your External Value While Understanding Your Internal Value
In this short solo episode, I tackle the timeless, universal question of how to live a balanced and fulfilled life. Easily done in 30 minutes, right? Despite the little time, I cover big ground and offer important distinctions that may seem minor, but actually make all the difference: when to push and when to pivot; how to integrate discipline and rest; and how to differentiate between self worth and self confidence. I also present a pretty convincing (if I do say so myself) re-frame for why you should shoot your shot, no matter how many similar products are on the market, no matter how many like thoughts are in the literature, and no matter how many fish are in the sea.
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
The book I reference is Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima.
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
xo
w
Defying Gravity and Age Limits: Flexible Living with Adult Gymnast Peyton Kiggins
In this playful and inspiring episode, I sit down with competitive adult gymnast Peyton Kiggins. Daring to defy society’s age limits, Peyton shares why she re-entered competitive gymnastics, and how she’s a stronger competitor now than when she was younger. Peyton tells us how she stays fit mentally and physically, and what she does to minimize injury and maximize growth and FUN. She highlights the crucial role of playfulness, and offers a helpful and empowering re-frame for failure. She exemplifies how we can do far more than we think - and are often told - we can. Peyton’s approach to gymnastics - and life in general - is remarkably healthy, balanced, and motivating. Listen, and you’ll see what I mean.
Find Peyton on Instagram @peytonamore
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Giving Life: Different Ways of Mothering, Nurturing, and Living
As we’ve hopefully come to recognize now, there are multiple ways to be and to live, and motherhood is no exception. To me, motherhood symbolizes nurturing, loving, and life-giving.
In this short solo episode, I explore the various manifestations of motherhood, beyond the traditional sense. I outline ways one can be a mother, ie a life force, without children of one’s own (so to speak). I reveal my own experiences with pregnancy and motherhood (something I haven’t previously publicly shared), and my current thoughts on potentially being a parent myself.
Thank you for listening.
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Visit https://clearstem.com/?ref=eubxjtws and use code WHITNEYRICHARDS for 15% off!
x,
w
Be Interested, Be interesting: Living a Dynamic Life on Your Terms
In this short solo episode, I share one of my top tenets in life. This approach helps you see more, experience more, learn more, contribute more, connect more, and thrive more. It improves your communication, enhances your understanding, revitalizes your relationships, and boosts your happiness. It opens doors, dissolves barriers, illuminates opportunities, and makes life FUN.
Okay okay, I know - those are some big claims. Basically, I talk about how to have a rich life that benefits you and the people around you, no matter your budget, your location, your history, or your social life.
Thank you for being here.
xx
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Sorry/Not Sorry: How to Apologize When You're Sorry, What to Say When You're Not
Are you sorry? Should you be sorry? Do you apologize excessively? Are you unsure of how to connect with someone during a disagreement/misunderstanding (personal or professional)?
In this episode I diverge from all the apology guidance I’ve seen, and specify where I differ. I reveal a hot take (you may agree, you may not) on what not to apologize for, and what actually weakens our apologies. I clarify what an apology is and is not, and outline 7 clear steps to apologize effectively. I identify our true objective with apologies, and advise on how to frame it so both sides feel fulfilled. I highlight common landmines to sidestep when apologizing, and uncomfortable truths that just may transform your approach, relationships - even life (big claim, I know!).
I also share formulas for what to say when you don’t think you even did anything wrong, but you still care about the person/relationship - personal or professional.
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Thank you for being here. xx
Straight Talk: Communicating Directly
It’s my absolute (and long-awaited) pleasure to introduce the podcast’s new monthly guest: Brooke Anderson - who so happens to be my sister and BFF. In this “soft opening” first episode with her, we talk about…talking. Direct communication, to be specific (and direct!): what this looks like, what it doesn’t look like, what it means, what it yields. Naturally, this leads us to touch on other topics relevant to all of us: boundaries, co-dependency, self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-accountability, relationships/friendships. Trust me, this is merely a nibble of the treat we have in store for you.
Brooke is a mother and a photographer committed to helping other parents break into the photography industry by creating their dream job without sacrificing their parenthood. She offers training on starting your own thriving photography business. She also just released iPhone Camera Academy, a mini photography course showing how to shoot and edit polished photos using only your phone. (She’s also my soulmate creative partner and forever business partner.)
Follow her on Instagram/Facebook for more helpful tips and inspiration: @thehomebodybybrooke and @brookerichardsonphotography
Connect with me on Facebook/Instragram @the_nativist
Let Life Be Easier
If you’re like me, you make life 10x harder than it needs to be. Because you’re exhaustively overthinking, because you’re obsessively problem solving, because you’re overly complicating.
In this short episode, I share realizations I’ve made, and techniques I’ve used, to flow with life, not against it. I offer perspectives and identify possible energy and time sucks that are zapping you dry. You might be surprised.
Love you.
Whitney
Connect with me on Facebook and instagram @the_nativist
Greater Expectations
Want to maximize peace and happiness and minimize disappointment? This is your episode.
Expectations. They powerfully influence our perceptions, our experiences - and therefore our lives. They impact our relationships, our careers, our productivity, our accomplishments, our peace and happiness (or lack thereof).
So they’re probably worth thinking and talking about, yeah? Excellent. You’re in the right place. In this episode, I offer perspectives on the different roles expectations play in our lives, and I offer tips on cultivating success.
Thank you for being here.
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
Silverevolution
In a world of black and white, gray can be revolutionary, whether you’re accepting life’s nuances or your hair’s natural color. What if we leaned into the gray, instead of fighting or ignoring it? Meg Holmes shares her experience doing just that, by transitioning to her natural hair color and letting her silver shine through. She shares her steps, her thoughts, and her advice, including surprises she’s encountered along the way. We discuss how your beauty is for you to define, and how options empower us all. There are some gold nuggets of wisdom in here, including the dynamic questions Meg suggests asking yourself when. contemplating any life decision.
Beauty on YOUR terms.
You can connect with Meg on Instagram @megstoho and follow along on her journey. Her account is private, so shoot her a friend request and cross those fingers she accepts.
Thank you. Love you. Mean it.
You can find me on Facebook or Instagram @the_nativist
Image by Brekka Hartman Photography
Image by Brekka Hartman Photography
Change Your Focus, Change Your Life
What you feed, grows. What you focus on becomes your reality. If you want to change your reality, you must first change your focus.
What you focus on affects your life, your relationships, your environment, and the world. Sound dramatic? I’ll explain why it’s not. I’ll also offer different ways of evaluating how you’re spending your most valuable currency (your focus), and suggest various ways to upgrade this. Some of these may surprise you.
The considerations are complex, but the solutions are simple. Come join me.
Find me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
The Power of Sensitivity
Do you feel emotions intensely? Struggle thinking/speaking on the spot? Feel affected by loud sounds/smells/etc? Maybe you know someone who does/is.
I am on a crusade. My cause? To rebrand sensitivity. I aim to spotlight how being sensitive benefits ourselves, others, and the whole wide world. Let's make "You're so sensitive" a compliment, not an insult.
In this episode, I explain what it means to be a highly-sensitive person, and how that’s reflected in our physiology. I reference fascinating studies showing it’s not just nature vs. nature: we were born this way, baby! I share a short quiz to guide you in assessing if you/people you know could qualify as highly sensitive.
I offer new ways of viewing highly-sensitive people, some [all?] of which may be a relief to you, if you’re sensitive.
Love you. Mean it.
Book referenced: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain (HIGHLY RECOMMEND everyone read this - not just if you’re sensitive)
Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @the_nativist
