I've Got it All Figured Out

Do parasites have anything to do with your mental health? Is it possible to conquer paper overwhelm? When is it time to trust and when is it time to act? Sound like things you would like to figure out? Me too. Let's talk to Roberta all about it.

We often wonder what we can do to make the world a better place.  And then we often feel overwhelmed and unempowered when we ponder the enormity of the task. What if you could just make one place in the world better for just one person? That's what Rachel Brown has figured out, and listen in to find out how she does it. You can also check out Rachel's Christmas Advent books here: Learn of Me: A Children's Study of Christ and Titles of Christ: A Christmas Advent

You remember when Law & Order episodes would promote an episode as being "Ripped From the Headlines!" because it borrowed a plot line from a current event? Well, Matt Millarc's life was ripped right off the pages of scripture. Press play to find out exactly what I mean.

I have figured out what my mom wants for Mother's Day. In this episode I share what it is and recount my experience last year with my mom and sisters. I hope you enjoy it!

Marvia is one of my favorites. She is wonderful and wise, she knows about fruit flies. Since second grade she knew, she wants to put her hands on you. Though we're born from diff'rent mothers, we're now sisters (married brothers). In fifteen minutes you'll have no doubt, you'll know she's got it figured out.

Why is fashion important? Do you ever even think about it? Paige will tell you why the clothes you wear communicate volumes before you can even open your mouth, and help you think about your wardrobe in a whole new way. Please leave a review, share and subscribe. Any questions? I'll read any email you send to figuredout@zohomail.com.

What is your worst nightmare? Ok, what is your worst nightmare within the realm of possibility? Meaning, skip the zombies and spiders the size of military tanks. Think more along the lines of being trapped in a foreign country, with children, without a spouse, living under marshal law and coming face to face with the undeniable fact that you are going to be in a fight for your life that you never imagined. Now you are standing in Danielle's shoes in 2022. Hear the whole story and what she has figured out.

Alysia was sick and tired and wearing either or C or D cup. Now she is feeling great IN her body, ABOUT her body and back to her original size. Let's find out how she figured it all out...

This is the episode where everything changes. This is the episode where you get to meet Becky Baird. Becky is another one of the great people that I met while I was in the theater department at BYU. We became friends and even roommates. In this episode she talks about her career and where it has taken her, being single in a very family centered church, budgeting, how her identity and its relationship to alopecia and how that has evolved throughout her life and some things to consider before you talk to total strangers about their medical history. Here is her show: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/monsters-inc-laugh-floor/  Please share this like, share and subscribe! If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me at figuredout@zohomail.com

I branched out and decided to interview someone on my husband's side of the family.  Carolyn has spent much of her life focusing on motherhood and education, and we talk about how those themes have worked together throughout her life and what she has figured out so far in those areas. We also talk about getting answers to prayers, feeling like a failure as a mother, the paradoxical mix of low self-esteem and high expectations, the Socratic method, the need for grandparenting conferences, Turkish delight, and how it's not just truth and values the affect people's choices and values, it's also priorities. Let me know what you think by leaving a review or emailing me at figuredout@zohomail.com.

Chaliese is another one of my college friends who is has done and is doing great things in life. We talk about managing family calendars and activities, the parenting balancing act, and how to find time to pursue your own interests and improvement during the demanding years of motherhood. I have admired Chaliese for years, which is why it made me so crazy when I saw her post on social media things that I didn't agree with! We talk about getting to the same place via different routes and discuss the challenges of social media in these times with such hot button issues. Please reach out to me at figuredout@zohomail.com with any questions or comments. Review, subscribe and share!

WARNING! This is not a stand alone episode, you may want to go back and listen to episode 7, How Netflix is Ruining Your Life, if you haven't heard it or if you don't remember it vividly. This is a shorter episode, it is just a quick conversation between me, my cousin Jim Webster and his wife Kim. Jim talked about an incident he had with his wife when he recorded episode 7 with me and he did a great job elaborating on his perspective. But now its time, for the rest of the story.

Meet Richard Allen today! I met Richard in 1996 when we were students at Brigham Young University. I recently reached out to him when I saw on social media that he was going in for brain surgery that would turn him into Ironman! He then graciously agreed to come on my show and share what he has figured out. We talk about Richard's miraculous birth, squid hats, humility in parenthood, pondering the question "What great thing have I been saved for?", learning that everything doesn't have to be about me, how perspective can help increase patience and lastly, dealing with a difficult diagnosis. Thank you for checking out this episode! Please rate, review and share wherever you are online. Please reach out to me at figuredout@zohomail.com, with any questions or comments, especially if you would like to nominate someone to be on the show!

Mandy is a life long friend of mine that I don't get to spend enough time with. She is an amazing woman, entrepreneur, wife and mom to four great kids. We talk about family, the importance of belonging, triathlon, her personal journey with a rare blood clotting disorder, life plans changing, surviving a stroke, the liberating effects of personal responsibility, the value of the individual, and of course much more! I know you'll enjoy it. You can find out more about Mandy at https://mandysommers.com Please subscribe, review and share this podcast. And please feel free to reach out to me at figuredout@zohomail.com 

Meet Coach K! Our family has been lucky enough to have John Kundmueller coach two of our boys for their middle school basketball team. In this episode we talk about his path to God, the importance of teaching boys to become men, parenting, how to make a great steak, how smoked meats can build community in a time of COVID, and leadership and mentoring. Before we get to that though, Coach turned the tables on me and asked me why I decided to start the podcast. Let me know what you thought of this episode at figuredout@zohomail.com and please rate, review and share!

In this episode you get to meet my youngest sister Dezra Helgeson. We talk about a lot of things but mainly her journey to figuring out how to make long road trips with her SEVEN children. If it works for them, it just might work for you too! Let me know what you thought of this episode by emailing me at figuredout@zohomail.com or leave a rating and review.

Anna and I were in the theater department together at Brigham Young University. We talk a lot about homeschooling and theater passion projects at the beginning of the episode, but then we move on to green smoothies, gratitude and trying to find happiness during the pandemic that is lasting much longer than any of us could have supposed. Let me know what you thought of this episode by emailing me at figuredout@zohomail.com or leaving a rating and review. 

I interview my amazing brother and he tells us about how to cut a watermelon, how to find your life's purpose, and what to about it.  We also get a little taste of his experience with getting off diabetes medication, raising good kids, and his vast and fascinating knowledge of Revolutionary War stories. Please review and subscribe!

This is the second half of the interview with my cousin Jim Webster, Attorney. In this episode we pick up where we left off, talking more about his stroke, his work with bankruptcy and divorce, and the life lessons he has taken away from both.  Jim also opens up about a very specific incident with his wife Kim.  We will be hearing from Kim in a special episode that will follow this one very soon!  Jim mentions Sue Johnson's book Hold Me Tight, which you can see here: https://booksbillion.com/hold-me-tight-seven-conversations-for-a-lifetime-of-love-pdf.html Please take the time to like, subscribe or comment! You can reach me at figuredout@zohomail.com.

It is hard to know what to say when someone is going through a tragedy such as death of a loved one, divorce, or unexpected turn in life. I talk with my cousin Jim Webster, a divorce and bankruptcy attorney in Arizona, about losing our fathers, assigning meaning to the events in our lives and surviving a stroke during COVID.