Take This Personally with Morgan Huelsman

Jessica Buchanan was a schoolteacher from Ohio who followed a calling to serve overseas. That calling led her to East Africa, meaningful humanitarian work, and eventually into one of the most terrifying experiences imaginable. Jessica shares the full story of how she was kidnapped in Somalia, held hostage in the desert for 93 days, and ultimately rescued by SEAL Team Six. She opens up about the moments leading up to her capture, the role intuition tried to play, what captivity was really like, and how she survived mentally when survival felt impossible. We also talk about the aftermath from PTSD, rebuilding identity, motherhood, faith, and what it means to “survive survival.” 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast for more episodes. 📲 Follow @jessicacbuchanan on Instagram. 📲 Follow @takethispersonally on Instagram. 📲 Follow @webgirlmorgan on Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Braden is officially back, but this time as my fiancé. 🤍 We are sharing the entire engagement story from both perspectives: designing the ring, coordinating the surprise with my family, the chaos leading up to the proposal at Botanica… and yes, the peacoat that almost caused our biggest fight right before he proposed. From the moment he asked my dad for permission to the exact words he planned to say on one knee, nothing is left out. Braden shares the ring details including the story he was trying to tell with the hidden halo meaning, why the Christmas scene felt right, and Remi's very on-brand reaction to her permanent dad. 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast for more episodes. 📲 Follow @takethispersonally on Instagram. 📲 Follow @theoriginalbraden on Instagram. 📲 Follow @webgirlmorgan on Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From growing up without modern technology to teaching English, raising children, exploring archaeology, flying planes, riding motorcycles, and living alone on the land she loves for over three decades, my 87-year-old Grandma Bernie reflects on the choices that shaped her life and the lessons she’s still learning. I sit down with her on the Kansas farm she’s called home for decades. What unfolds is an honest, curious, and adventurous conversation about independence, love, regret, science, nature, and what it really means to live a full life. This episode is all about resilience, questioning what we think we know and some of the most powerful advice you may hear today "don't hate. grab life and go!" 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast for more episodes. 📲 Follow @takethispersonally on Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morgan brings in Dr. Marina Rosenthal, a couples therapist specializing in high-conflict couples. Dr. Marina Rosenthal breaks down what makes “high-conflict” couples different from other couples, why standard tips sometimes fail, and how trauma or neurodivergence can disguise itself as intentional hurt. She explains how to spot destructive communication patterns, why “zero conflict” isn’t the goal, and the radical, but doable, acts both partners can take to repair after a fight.  We also cover realistic expectations (including whether major life decisions like having children are dealbreakers), sex and body-image issues in long-term relationships, and how to reframe differences as strengths instead of threats. Whether you’re dating or deep into a long partnership, you’ll get clear tactics and mindset shifts to try right away. Follow Dr. Marina: @drmarinarosenthal Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morgan and Morgan dive into everything from the latest celebrity news to real-life awkward encounters. They kick things off with Taylor Swift’s engagement... discussing their reactions, what it means for Swifties everywhere, and how a major pop culture moment can sneak its way into your own life decisions. Then, they move into The Summer I Turned Pretty, sharing their hot takes on the love triangles, messy heartbreaks, and why some characters just don’t deserve a Parisian glow-up. Along the way, they recount hilarious and cringe-worthy public recognition moments, the viral AI rabbit trampoline video that had them questioning reality, and how Morgan's sister has been inspiring real-life health victories. Follow Morgan Massengill: @morganmassengill Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From starting a nonprofit at just 15 to leading a multimillion-dollar organization serving hundreds of children daily in Uganda, Sarah’s journey is one of vision, grit, and heart. In this episode, she shares the challenges of leadership, balancing personal sacrifices with professional passion, and the power of staying present through it all. We dive into the lessons learned over 18 years, the launch of a new campus, and how one boy named Shaki changed everything. Whether you’re dreaming of starting your own impact-driven venture or just need inspiration to believe it will all work out, this conversation is for you. To get involved in Action in Africa: www.actioninafrica.com Follow Action in Africa: @hollywould11 Follow Sarah: @sarahnininger Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and her son Nate join this week's episode! Nate is the 22-year-old founder of 21 Pineapples, a Hawaiian shirt company on a mission to spread joy, break stereotypes, and change the world with love. Nate, who has Down syndrome, shares his humor, wisdom, and heartfelt outlook on life reminding us all to “be a good human.” Holly opens up about their journey, the challenges and gifts of parenting, and her own resilience as a cancer survivor. Together, they discuss family, acceptance, and why embracing the unexpected can lead to the most beautiful parts of life.  Follow Nate (21 Pineapples): @21pineapplesshirtco Follow Holly: @hollywould11 Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens after veterans return home? For many, it’s a silent struggle filled with isolation, trauma, and lack of support. Jeff Upton shares how We Are Building Lives is stepping in to change that by offering housing, hope, and second chances. He and Morgan talk about the veterans behind the statistics, the challenges of rebuilding from nothing, and how one act of kindness can ripple into life-changing impact. More information on We Are Building Lives: www.wearebuildinglives.org Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Army veteran Scotty Hasting survived being shot ten times in Afghanistan. He recalls the ambush that started it all, the recovery process, the survivor's guilt that haunts him, and the different means of therapy he's used to heal. Learning to find his way again, Hasting discovered his voice and a talent for songwriting about the things he's been through. Now he's helping others heal and connect through his music, including one of his fellow late soldier's families. Follow Scotty: @scottyhastingmusic Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morgan answers questions from Take This Personally listeners on a range of topics. She shares helpful advice when looking to change careers, becoming a therapy animal team, working in social media, and how to date in this modern world. She answers the big question, "is he the one?" and how her new boyfriend handles her public life. She gives the biggest misconception of herself, if her high school bullies have ever reached out, and how she protects the quality of her friendships.  Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the foods marketed as “healthy” are actually keeping you stuck? Tasha Rosales shares how years of gut issues, gestational diabetes, and chronic fatigue pushed her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about health. What started as a quest to heal her body turned into a full family transformation. From raising informed eaters (not restricted ones) to finding real balance in a world of conflicting nutrition advice, Tasha walks us through how her family now eats 85–90% real, whole foods and why it's not about perfection or fear, but intention. She gets candid about the moment she realized being too restrictive backfired with her kids, the emotional impact of imagining life if they hadn’t made these changes, and the shocking truth about what’s really in our spices, snacks, and “health” foods. Follow Tasha: @wellness.homemade Her website: www.wellnesshomemade.org Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Functional Health Expert Stefanie Adler unpacks the word “healthy” and why most things we’ve been told in modern times are wrong. She shares why many women are unknowingly deficient in minerals and how this overlooked issue affects metabolism, hormones, and everyday energy. She dives into the root causes behind modern health issues from Candida overgrowth to unexplained infertility and how it’s linked to mineral imbalance, toxic buildup, and stress. Plus, the empowering truth behind why the postpartum experience can be a joyful one. Follow Stefanie: @stefanieadlerwellness Her website: www.stefanieadler.com Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if new parents aren’t failing, but simply unsupported? Morgan sits down with Michelle Pool, nurse at Maven Clinic and the person behind One Minute Milk Bites, for an honest, deeply validating conversation about breastfeeding, postpartum mental health, and why modern parents feel so overwhelmed. Michelle shares her own journey from struggling new mom to lactation expert, breaking down why breastfeeding can feel impossibly hard, how baby instincts actually work, and why the “breast is best” messaging has caused more harm than help. Together, they explore postpartum depression, the loss of the village, C-sections vs. vaginal birth, and the quiet identity shift that happens after a baby arrives. This episode is for: New and expecting parents Partners who want to show up better Anyone who’s ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?” If you’ve ever felt alone, unsure, or like you’re not enough, this conversation is your reminder: your best is good enough, and you are the perfect parent for your baby. 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast for more episodes. 📲 Follow Michelle on Instagram @one_minute_milk_bites 📲 Follow @takethispersonally on InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode is equal parts chaotic, honest, and deeply meaningful as Morgan is joined by her sister Taylor and her 11-week-old niece, Collyns for a special holiday week conversation. Taylor opens up about becoming a first-time mom, what no one truly prepares you for after birth, and how motherhood reshapes everything. From marriage and identity to sleep, patience, and trust in your own instincts. They talk candidly about pregnancy plans going out the window, postpartum realities, breastfeeding struggles, Bell’s Palsy in the midst of recovery, and the emotional weight of those early weeks that don’t get talked about enough. From choosing the right partner, navigating life with dogs and a newborn, and leaning on community, to trusting your “mom gut” and tuning out outside noise, this episode is an honest look at what it really means to bring a life into the world. It’s a sister conversation filled with love, laughter, tears, baby noises, and perspective for anyone who’s a mom, hopes to be one someday, or just wants a deeper understanding of this season of life. 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast for more episodes. 📲 Follow @takethispersonally on Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The holidays can be magical: full of twinkly lights, sweet treats, and time with people we love. But they can also shine a spotlight on grief, change, loneliness, and the complicated emotions so many of us quietly carry this time of year. In this episode, Morgan shares vulnerable listener voice notes about the real struggles happening behind the highlight reels. From divorce, illness, mental health battles, and career changes to navigating grief after losing parents, partners, or friends, these stories remind us we’re never as alone as we think. Morgan opens up about her own mixed year and responds to each message with empathy and honesty, creating space for anyone who’s simply doing their best to make it through the season. If this time of year feels heavy, messy, bittersweet, or complicated… this episode is for you. 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast for more episodes. 📲 Follow @takethispersonally on Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rhaina Cohen (author of The Other Significant Others) joins us to reframe how we think about friendship: past, present, and possible futures. Rhaina explains why intense platonic bonds once held public, ritualized importance (think “sworn brotherhoods” and romantic friendships of the 17th–19th centuries), how marriage’s role shifted to demand emotional everything-ness, and why that cultural shift squeezed out space for friendships. What you'll get out of this episode: The friendship that inspired Rhaina's book Historical models of deep same-sex friendship and how they differ from modern assumptions Why modern romantic relationships often eclipse friendship and why that harms us Real-life choices Rhaina and her husband made (communal living, prioritizing friends) and practical tips to preserve friendships How to be a better friend: rituals, calendars, play, and honest conversation Handling jealousy and myths about opposite-sex friendships If you want to build stronger platonic connections, rethink where you live and who you share life with, or simply appreciate how friendship can anchor a life, this episode is for you. 📕 Get The Other Significant Others on Amazon 📲 Follow Rhaina Cohen on social media: @rhainacohen 📲 Follow the podcast: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media is everywhere and it’s changing the way we think, feel, and interact. Amanda White, licensed therapist and host of Nuance Needed, returns to unpack the real impact of viral trends, rage bait, and online advice on our mental health. Amanda shares practical strategies for: Recognizing and avoiding misleading or extreme content online. Reclaiming your attention in a world designed to distract you. Practicing psychological flexibility and healthy boundaries in daily life. Taking small, intentional steps toward balance and wellbeing. Whether you scroll daily or just peek at trends, this conversation will make you rethink how you interact with social media and help you take back control of your mind. 🎧 Follow Amanda’s podcast Nuance Needed for even more insights into mental health and navigating the online world.  📲 Follow Amanda on social media: @therapyforwomen 📲 Follow the podcast: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morgan shares the most personal and transformative part of her health journey yet, the cleanse and lifestyle overhaul she’s been doing to heal from long COVID and chronic inflammation. Joined by integrative nutritionist Cara Clark, the two walk through every step of Morgan’s process: the hard conversations, the dietary changes, the mindset shifts, and the surprising challenges of trying to stay healthy in a world that doesn’t always make it easy. Morgan opens up about: ✨ What finally pushed her to start a full-body reset✨ The emotional and physical challenges of her 8-week protocol✨ What she learned about inflammation, stress, and her own habits✨ How long COVID affected her body more than she realized✨ Why “feeling fine” is not the same as feeling good✨ The meals, routines, and supplement habits that helped✨ How her boyfriend supported the process (and felt better too!)✨ The truth about online wellness trends, including parasite cleanses✨ Why healing is slow, individual, and absolutely worth it Whether you're struggling with chronic symptoms, curious about functional healing, or just trying to feel better in your everyday life, this candid conversation offers guidance, encouragement, and a reminder that you don’t have to accept feeling “not great” as normal. Follow Cara: @caraclarknutrition Cara's website for more information: www.caraclarknutrition.com Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microplastics are everywhere. In the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. In this episode, Morgan talks with Microplastics researcher Dana about how microplastics affect our health and the environment. Dana breaks down the science behind primary and secondary microplastics, explains how everyday items like tires and plastic products contribute to the problem, and shares practical ways we can all reduce our plastic footprint. Learn why microplastics are a growing threat to food security and plant growth, and discover the hope in knowing that small changes, combined with community and governmental action, can reverse their effects.  Follow Dana: @dankazh Get the Free Microplastic Scanner App: App Download Link Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Baxie: a 78-year-old teacher, wife, mother and grandmother who has lived a life full of love, laughter, and resilience. From a chance-meeting college romance to raising three kids, decades in the classroom, and caring for her husband through Alzheimer’s, Bax shares the lessons that have guided her through life’s toughest and most joyful moments.  Learn more about Abe's Garden: www.abesgarden.org Follow Morgan: @webgirlmorgan Follow Take This Personally: @takethispersonallySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.