Chronically Candid

A piece Morgan wrote for the Lawrence Times (never got published) about her favorite local coffee spot, La Prima Tazza.Instagram | Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

For Episode 16, Morgan sits down with Tayanna (Tay) Nelson, the photographer and owner of GoodBodies, a KC boudoir photography business, and Hey Tay, a queer-focused KC wedding & portrait photography business. Morgan and Tay talk about why Tay's photography focuses on marginalized identities, what trauma-informed boudoir means & what it looks like in Tay's studio, unpacking society's body & beauty expectations imposed upon us, Tay's advice to 'stay in your lane' and 'keep your eyes on your own paper' when it comes to other peoples' bodies & their supposed health status, what Fat Camp is and how it's a middle finger in the face of what 'fat camp' has meant in the past, what's behind the hate directed toward fat people and LGBTQIA+ folks, and the persistent joy of queer love even in the face of hateful legislation.Whew! It's a fun and loaded episode. Enjoy!You can learn more about Tay's work and enjoy her good humor by following her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTokgood-bodies.com | hey-tay.comYou can learn more about Morgan and her work by following her on Instagram | morganbarrett.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 15 of the Makers, Dreamers, Doers podcast, Morgan talks with her longtime friend, Jess McLaughlin—In 2019, Jess suffered a serious mental health crisis that landed her in the hospital for months, rendering her catatonic and unable to communicate. Today, Jess is living a full life as a working mom and wife, fully recovered from her traumatic 2019 experience thanks to ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). Jess shares what it was like living through encephalitis, psychosis, and catatonia, losing weeks to memory loss, and ultimately coming out on the other side of what was a grim, life-threatening situation with no real answers as to the cause. Morgan and Jess also talk about how their childhood experiences with divorce, anxiety, and mean-girl antics have shaped who they are today and the way they approach life.morganbarrett.co | @morganbarrett__ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 14 Morgan sat down with Jillain Williams, longtime friend and the Assistant Executive Director at the Kansas City chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to talk about alcoholism and sobriety.Trigger Warnings: Addiction & RapeJillain stopped drinking alcohol in 2018 after a night where she said something hurtful to a friend - it was the wake up call that made her realize that drinking was not working for her, and she needed to quit. Morgan made the decision to stop drinking in April 2023, not after any particular event, but after 15 years of consuming alcohol on an increasingly regular basis. She wanted to be more present with her kids and husband, and the shame and guilt she felt after a night of drinking became no longer worth it to her. She made a list of pros and cons to quitting, and 9 weeks later, she's feeling really good about the decision to live alcohol-free.Jillain and Morgan talk about their journeys to sobriety, leaning on therapy to work through trauma, what’s changed in their lives since they quit drinking, the rewards and challenges of being a sober person, the drinking culture, alternatives to AA and its definitions and approaches, and more.And one last note: If you are struggling with your consumption of alcohol or just curious about getting sober, Jillain and Morgan are both safe people to reach out to and are happy to lend an ear.Books mentioned in this episode:Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life by Sharon BlackieUntamed by Glennon DoyleRising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution. by Brene BrownThe Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der KolkYou can connect with Jillain on Instagram at @justjillyinkc and you can connect with Morgan on Instagram at @morganbarrett__ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Where My Heart Beats — Read this piece of writing at https://www.morganbarrett.co/post/where-my-heart-beats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 13 of the Makers, Dreamers, Doers Podcast welcomes Panta Flórez of Maseualkualli Farms in North Lawrence, Kansas. Maseualkaulli (Mah-say-wahl-kwa-lee) Farms means “The Peoples’ Farms” in Nahuatl, an Uto-Aztecan language spoken by ~1.5 people in Mexico today. Maseualkualli Farms is a no-till, no fossil fuel farm that sustainably grows seasonal produce for restaurants, farmers markets, and for food security work in Lawrence. In addition to operating the Farm, Panta is an educator who speaks on topics such as food sovereignty, food justice, sustainable agriculture, and Indigenous Mexica plant ecologies.In our conversation, we talked about why representation in farming matters, what sustainable agriculture can be, what Panta’s project ‘Food as a Public Work’ is all about and what it aims to achieve (including creating a living wage for farmers), and, Panta offers a history lesson on why the landscape of agriculture (pun intended) looks the way it does today in the United States, and how Indigenous modes of farming have been proven (by Western science) to be more sustainable, more bountiful, and just… plain… smarter. Books mentioned in this episode:Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall KimmererForest Bathing, How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing LliFlora: The Aztec HerbalLearn more about Maseualkualli Farms and Food as a Public Work at https://www.masefarm.org/. Write a letter of support for the Food as a Public Work project here. Follow Maseualkualli Farms on Instagram.Learn more about Morgan at morganbarrett.co and follow her on Instagram at @morganbarrett__ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Lessons Learned in the Garden — 5 Things I Didn't Want the Garden to Teach Me (But It Did Anyway)There have been many lessons learned in the garden — sometimes they're painful and inconvenient, but they're always worth it. Here are 5 things I didn't want the garden to teach me, but it did anyway.Read the full post at https://www.morganbarrett.co/post/lessons-learned-in-the-gardenFollow Morgan on Instagram at @morganbarrett__ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In Fireside Friday #11, Morgan goes off-script and talks about a conversation she had with her husband, Kory, about rumination stealing her joy. If you are anxiety-prone, or have allowed worry to overtake your joy, this one's for you.morganbarrett.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Creativity Online & Willing to be 'Cringe', Exploring the Outdoors with Kids, & Raising Daughters Who Feel Confident Setting Boundaries with Abbi HearneIn episode 12, Morgan talks with Abbi Hearne, adventure photographer, mother, wife and desert-dweller. She and her husband started a successful (like, really successful) adventure photography business, which is how we ‘met’ online. Abbi and I share a commitment to raising our kids out in nature - Abbi and Calle are raising their daughter in the Utah desert for half the year, and among the glaciers in Alaska the other half of the year. We talk about how we’ve adjusted our expectations for outdoor exploration now that we are parents, and the challenges and mega rewards of adding little ones to our adventures.We talk about our shared desire to raise daughters who are confident in themselves beyond their looks, and who are able to set and protect boundaries, despite growing up in a culture which objectifies them literally from birth (“oh look at those blue eyes! She’s going to break some boys’ hearts one day!”) and which tells them to place others’ comfort ahead of their own needs. We cover our own experiences with rejecting the cultural expectations that are placed upon women, and the people who have helped show us that we are more than the way we look.Abbi shares about her relationship with her late father, who passed away in late 2022 from a brain tumor — he was diagnosed in 2018, given only months to live, and Abbi and her family ended up getting 4 more years with him, including the opportunity for him to meet his first grandchild, Hyder (Abbi & Callen's daughter). Finally, Abbi shares how she found her (current) creative passion in adventure photography; We talk about daring to try out a variety of creative pursuits and being willing to be viewed as 'cringe’ and the importance of putting yourself out there creatively.Book mentioned in this episode:The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp and Paula SpencerFollow Abbi on Instagram @abbihearne / Follow The Hearnes Photography at @thehearnes / Follow Morgan at @morganbarrett__ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 11, Morgan talks with her longtime friend and therapist practicing in New York, Kerry Higgins, LCSW about all things therapy: What therapy is, what it isn't, types of therapy, and how to find a therapist who's a good fit for you. We focus on a few different aspects of some therapy practices, including inner child work, reparenting, practicing gratitude, and generational healing. If you are wary of therapy or have had a bad experience with therapy, this episode was created with you in mind.Books mentioned in this episode:I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jeanette McCurdyThe Dark Side of the Light Chaser, Debbie FordThe Untethered Soul, Michael SingerLiving Untethered, Michael SingerColleen Hoover Gave Trigger Warnings a Pass - "Colleen Hoover was given the option of including trigger warnings at the beginning of her smash-hit book. It Ends With Us and instead chose not to include them for fear of ruining the twist."Follow Kerry on Instagram at @authenticallywelltherapyFollow Morgan on Instagram at @morganbarrett__ and learn more about her creative endeavors at morganbarrett.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 10, Morgan talks with her friend, Queren King-Orozco, who is a Master Gardener, herbal aromatherapist, event producer, and Mexican Immigrant (Dreamer) & mother to two (including a child with disabilities).Queren shares her immigration story — she and her family immigrated to the United States from Mexico in 2000. She talks about what it was like assimilating to American culture as a child while her life was in upheaval, including the deportation of her father and brother (her brother is still not able to join his family in the US, almost 20 years later). We also talk about learning a second language and the discrimination and prejudice Spanish-speakers face in the United States.Queren's son Asher (age 2) was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder, called AUTS2 syndrome. AUTS2 syndrome is an 'intellectual disability (ID) syndrome' caused by genomic rearrangements, deletions, intragenic duplications or mutations disrupting AUTS2. Queren talks about what it's like raising a child with disabilities, including balancing caring for a child with special needs and a healthy child (her 7-year-old daughter, Bostyn). We talk about her hopes for Asher's future, and how Queren does her best to remain grateful for and present in the reality of where Asher is at developmentally and health-wise today, as well as the evolution of the language used when talking about people with disabilities and accepting the label of 'having a child with disabilities', and how Queren takes care of her own physical/mental/emotional health as a mother.About AUTS2 Syndrome - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9008325/#:~:text=AUTS2%20syndrome%20is%20a%20genetic,19)%20of%20the%20AUTS2%20geneThe research paper Queren references in our conversation - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27075013/ From the article: "All patients have borderline to severe ID/developmental delay, 83-100% have microcephaly and feeding difficulties. Congenital malformations are rare, but mild heart defects, contractures and genital malformations do occur. There are no major health issues in the adults; the oldest of whom is now 59 years of age. Behaviour is marked by it is a friendly outgoing social interaction. Specific features of autism (like obsessive behaviour) are seen frequently (83%), but classical autism was not diagnosed in any. A mild clinical phenotype is associated with a small in-frame 5' deletions, which are often inherited. Deletions and other mutations causing haploinsufficiency of the full-length AUTS2 transcript give a more severe phenotype and occur de novo."Book mentioned in the episode:In The Country We Love, Diane GuerreroFollow Queren on Instagram at @amongthethistleFollow Morgan on Instagram at @morganbarrett__ and learn more about her at morganbarrett.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Fireside Friday #10 // The Brightest Little LightsSomething a little lighter for your Friday, yes?A Fish Who Swims in WineAnd My Shadow Is MeWere admittedly a little heavyI love a good think pieceSomething that digs deepBut I also can seeThat it’s good to sprinkle inThings that have a lighter energyThe world already weighs on us so muchSometimes it’s like — enoughSo let me share with youSome of my joyWhich these daysComes mostly in the formOf a little girl and a little boy...Read the full poem at morganbarrett.co/post/the-brightest-little-lights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 9, Morgan sits down with the Executive Director of Kanbe’s Markets, Maxfield Kaniger, about what food insecurity actually means, equity and access when it comes to the food we eat, community-led non-profit work, and how Kanbe’s is helping to address the problem of food inequity in Kansas City. Kanbe’s Markets is a 501c3 non profit that provides access to fresh, healthy foods in the areas of Kansas City designated by the USDA as a “food desert,” where residents lack consistent access to healthy and affordable food. Access to healthy food is critical for every human - if you’re a human, this podcast episode is for you. I hope you enjoy our conversation and learn something new along the way.Learn more about Kanbe's Markets and support their mission at kanbesmarkets.orgLearn more about Morgan's creative pursuits at morganbarrett.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Fireside Fridays are readings of Morgan's poems and prose.Read A Fish Who Swims In Wine at morganbarrett.co/post/a-fish-who-swims-in-wine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 8, Morgan talks with Faith (Fizzy) Shropshire, a mother to a child with cystic fibrosis, content creator, event planner, and student, about what it's like to be a Black family in the cystic fibrosis community, parenting a child with CF, disparities in health care in general between white people and people of color, distrust by Black Americans of the American health care system due to medical racism (e.g. the Tuskegee Experiment), how society and health care can do better by and for the Black community and eventually build up trust that has been repeatedly degraded throughout history, and health equity when it comes to groundbreaking therapies like Trikafta (https://www.vrtx.com/) and continuing the fight for a cure for everyone living with cystic fibrosis.Fizzy's son, Felton (V) is a 5-year-old living with CF. Cystic fibrosis is often believed to be a Caucasian disease, yet. an estimated 15-20% of the CF population are people of color. This common misunderstanding of who the disease can and does affect leads to disparities in the health care and outcomes between white people living with cystic fibrosis and people of color living with cystic fibrosis. V, for example, was diagnosed later than he should have been because doctors told his mother he wouldn’t have inherited cystic fibrosis because "cystic fibrosis is something that little white kids get". His health was impacted as a result.References:https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-10-31/cystic-fibrosis-screening-often-misses-black-hispanic-babieshttps://cff.org/community-posts/2019-11/cf-care-writing-next-chapter-togetherhttps://cystic-fibrosis.com/living/lung-function-pochttps://academic.oup.com/tropej/article/55/5/281/1677262https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843483/https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/what-is-the-tuskegee-study#:~:text=With%20no%20informed%20consent%2C%20hundreds,the%20Tuskegee%20Institute%20in%20Alabama.https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Chronically Candid at morgannbarrett.substack.com/subscribe