Real Talk | Real Change

From murdering dessert buffets to drinking gallons of garbage coffee at AA meetings, our girls spill the tea on what foods and bevvies they'd (almost) wait in line for. Flavored coffee, or nah? Are all fries created equal? Where DOES Shannon get her burgers from? Why Elisha will thrive on a desert island, Swiss Family Robinson-style, while Shannon will be dead within a week. And what's the best thing about convalescing in recovery after plastic surgery? You'll laugh, cry, maybe vom in your mouth a little, it's all good insight on who treats their body as a temple, and who eats like an unsupervised toddler at Golden Corral.    Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon https://www.patreon.com/realtalkrealchange/posts to join.    Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website https://realtalkrealchange.com, connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/realtalkrealchangepodcast/, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealTalkRealChangePodcast, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

There seems to be a general surface level understanding of what the word "ego" actually entails, and it's long been framed in the negative - reserved for blowhard businessmen, or "egotistical" celebrities. BUT, everyone has an ego, and not all of us are narcissistic presidents, so how does your average Joe ego serve (and fail) you? Referencing the teachings of Eckhart Tolle (renowned expert of ego deconstruction) - and a touch of Buddhist theory - Elisha & Shannon dig in on what they believe the ego is, how it drives and "protects" us, and how to disentangle from its often unhealthy influence. Tackling the pretty big topic of "ego" is one of Elisha's current favorite hobbies (along with getting high on edibles and watching Ted Talks in bed with her New Friend), and Shannon's here to test our her new podcast voice on y'all, so you will not want to miss this honest, intensive delve into the great and powerful ego that directs us all from behind the curtain.   Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon https://www.patreon.com/realtalkrealchange/posts to join.    Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website https://realtalkrealchange.com, connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/realtalkrealchangepodcast/, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealTalkRealChangePodcast, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

Kids are notorious for a bordering-on-pathological questioning of absolutely everything (non-stop, over and over)...and how a parent responds shapes the type of person that kid grows into. For example, if you were raised with a strict emphasis on compliance over curiosity? Well, there's a good chance you're now a chronic people pleaser. And those habits are super difficult to break out of - just ask Elisha, who is questioning with intent in her business, and her relationships. Or Shannon, who has all but surgically removed ego from her role as a business owner, welcoming questioning on all levels. And when you have the benefit of kids asking those questions that you've never really questioned, yourself? Turns out you could be a really cool, totally easy going mom raising confident, inquisitive kids who won't end up apologizing for their place in the world. Join us on this earlybird special of Real Talk, Real Change, where we're unraveling Enneagram types, learning to question everything we were once taught as true and correct, and pissing off members of clergy.   Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon to join.    Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

Elisha's flying solo hosting RTRC today, but we've got a very special guest to fill in for Shannon. If you've been following along from the start, you'd have heard mention of the name "Joshua Sharp" many times, and it's just kinda fitting that Josh introduces himself on his and Elisha's one year anniversary of living together. Get a privileged peek into what's been a pretty unconventional relationship from the get go, and hear how Josh and Elisha - already separately on the paths of spirituality and self betterment - just happened to find each other at the exact right time. Josh shares how the past year has helped him grow - from relating to children as a guide rather than an authority, living soundly in the now, getting peed on as an adult, and how his and Elisha's very different ideas of vacationing have panned out. And wait until you hear how Josh describes his feels for Elisha (swwwwwoooonnnn). It's not often we get to eavesdrop the inner chaos and communion of a blossoming romance, and especially one this intentional and evolved, so please join us for the very best front row seats.    Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon to join. And help us come up with a new name for the “fan club”   Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website https://realtalkrealchange.com, connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/realtalkrealchangepodcast/, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealTalkRealChangePodcast, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

As we're dipping our toes back into what's "normal" these days, you might have noticed some people struggling to adapt. In today's Real Talk, Real Change, Elisha and Shannon spotlight our universal responses to collective trauma, and in particular, our own personal resilience. For those of us fortunate enough to survive the pandemic with our families and friend circles intact, there's still a lot of acquired anxieties to contend with. Are you feeling overextended in how you socialize? Having difficulty dealing with post-pandemic vaccination etiquette? Feeling vulnerable to "triggering" words and scenarios? We've got some real talk on sensitivity and personal responsibility, and some advice on how to refine who actually deserves your social energy. Join us for some solid tools on how to step forward from these Unprecedented Times into a you that works in your best favor. P.S. We need your help coming up with a new term for "fan club" ("hype harem?"), so would love to hear some suggestions. Thanks so much for joining us on this awesome adventure, btw, and we're having such a blast making RTRC Reels on our Instagram.      Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon to join.        Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and share your favorite episodes across social media. https://www.instagram.com/realtalkrealchangepodcast/

We will be back with a fresh episode next week but for now enjoy this very popular episode from awhile back. Have a great week and thanks for listening.   Breaking up is hard to do, but why aren't we talking more about the devastating heartache of breaking up with your best girlfriend? It's weird, right? Because basically every woman you know has been through this, and yep, it hurts waaay worse than breaking up with a lover. There's a very special type of friendship that occurs when two girls/women make that instant connection, a deep, obsessive enmeshment where you become joined at the literal hip. And if (or when) that friendship falters, it can be just as intense in its conclusion. Elisha and Shannon share their ex-bestie histories: the warning signs to look out for, how forming close relationships with employees can be a lousy idea, and that ghosting is a pretty shitty way to end things with a friend. And sometimes, those deep, trusted friendships grow toxic, as you love that person so hard that they learn they can get away with treating you like garbage. We're curious to hear your stories of "best friends forever" gone south, and especially from the fellas listening in - does this also happen to you? Do you settle your differences with a quarrel before heading out for mimosas? Follow Us on Instagram! Real Talk | Real Change Podcast @realtalkrealchangepodcast Elisha Alcantara @elishaalcantara Shannon Beekman @shannonkbeekman

We're here with insta bestie Kyle Alexander of Pretty Sweet Sugaring, but we're not just chatting about a fabulous eco-friendly, all natural, all organic, culturally ancient alternative to body waxing, today. Nope, this episode is for entrepreneurs new and old, those who seek fulfilment in their jobs (or, don't), mentor-hungry social media zombies, for those of us who feel our job might define us, and anyone, really, who needs help finding a new life focus. Quarantine has given us pause to truly assess what makes us happy, and what's happening is a Renaissance Faire of folk - mostly women, mind you - striking out and creating their new realities. This episode will empower you, help you find your Shovel Buddies, hype community over competition, and hone your social and business networks to discover what truly serves you. It's also about getting those silky smooth baby seal feels from a fresh body sugaring, y'all. ;)   Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon to join.      Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

Shannon's often joked here about her ADHD, but today we're actually gonna delve into something that is surprisingly common in kids...and frustratingly undiagnosed in adults. If you're a neurotypical type, crossing paths with someone with ADHD can be a little perplexing. What can feel like dismissiveness, or a lack of care, is actually pretty easily explained if you're prepared to understand what makes them tick. And once you start to get it, you can begin to fully appreciate your funny, empathetic, generous co-worker or loved one for who they truly are - and yes, despite what you might feel sometimes, they love you, too. This episode has been a long time coming, and we're fortunate to bear witness to the inner workings of someone who has lived their entire life with ADHD. Join us as we discover why so many folk with ADHD can be found in AA meetings, whether Shannon is truly a genius or not (jury's out), if your friend could possibly have ADHD - or just be a garden variety asshole -, and the many, many cool things about being neurodiverse. Wherever you are on the spectrum, if at all, we know you'll walk away from this episode with a greater understanding and appreciation of both Shannon, and all of the wonderful and diverse ADHD people who share your world.     Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon to join.        Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

  Is your mom, like, the BEST MOM, EVER? Do you and your mom chat on the phone for hours, every single day? Do you have matching handbags, and make an annual pilgrimage to Kauai together? If this is you, this may not be the episode for you - and we say that with all the love and support (and slight envy) towards folks who have strong, healthy relationships with their parents. Because many of us don't, and with the yearly triggerthon of Mother's Day on the near horizon, we're getting all tripped up in our feelings. Having a set day to celebrate your mother - or being a mother - kinda seems a little manipulative. Like there's some obligation to behave or feel a certain way, and unspoken expectations inevitably lead to crushing disappointments. If you're a motherless person - by choice, by necessity, by loss, whatever - you may find a little solace in today's episode. We choose to celebrate (or not celebrate) however we want, in whatever way that makes sense to us. Zero obligation, nada guilt. And that's pretty freeing. We're always here to chat mom-daughter relationships, and if you're actually looking for a unique gift for a mom, or mother figure, or yourself, sign up for our ~super exclusive~ RTRC Fan Club! Cheeky bonus episodes and bawdy tales of Shannon regularly humiliating herself are far better value at $5 per month than bottomless mimosas made from stale well champagne and eggs Benedict that have been sitting under a heat lamp for 6 hours. No more wire hangers, just real talk about moms and motherhood.   "Mother relationships show up in different ways, and we all feel all kinds of ways about it. This episode is not for people who are all "my mother's the best!"" - Elisha Alcantara   "Having a mother that has passed is so much more socially acceptable than having a mother who is alive that you don't have a relationship with." - Shannon Beekman     Do you want more content from us? Join our fan club for exclusive episodes, giveaways, exclusive events and so much more. Visit Patreon to join.        Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes! Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of Real Talk Real Change with your hosts, Elisha Alcantara and Shannon Beekman. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and share your favorite episodes across social media.

If you had to choose one zeitgeist of 2020-21, it would be the discussion about race. America, especially, is experiencing deep growing pains right now, as seemingly two divides wrestle with both the historical and current context of racism in our society - and a centuries-old simmer has finally hit boiling point. Join our buttery-voiced podcast babes as they start to peel back the many-layered onion that is systematic racism, "cancel culture", our misconceptions of "other", and just how impactful language and pervasive stereotyping can be in furthering or cementing our prejudices. It's a gigantic, sensitive topic, and one that we'll likely revisit in the future, especially as we're constantly evolving and evaluating our understanding of the intricacies of racism. Elisha and Shannon want to provide a space where it's easy to talk about race without fear of being dragged, where everyone gets a chance to learn and adjust their preconceived notions. None of us are perfect, and we're all here to improve ourselves so we can be better friends, lovers, and community members. Want to be a true ally, and fight the real fight against racism? Step up and come with us.  

If you're a Real Talk, Real Change fan club member, you'll know that Shannon and Elisha drop weekly voice memos to put a lil' pep in your day - and Shannon's latest was about self-advocacy. Why do we find it so freaking difficult to put our best needs on the table, at work, in a relationship, with our family? It's surprisingly common for people pleasers to take on way too much by saying "Yes" to absolutely everything. And it's because we often feel our worth is based on what we can give to others, but this always leads down a path to resentment, passive aggressiveness, and discontent. It's a struggle to self advocate, we get it, but with practice - and some guidance from your hosts who have BEEN THERE - you can make your every relationship so much better. Listen in on Elisha and Shannon's evolution from "Yes" gals to self advocating pros, and never give up your place to a gym bro ever again.

Elisha and Shannon are on a personal mission to demolish one of those lingering social taboos - $money$ - and why we are so reluctant to talk about it. Specifically women. And even more specifically, AMERICANS. What is it about the transparency of personal finances that feels so... shameful? Special guest Sarah Blanchfield is here to demystify our relationships with money, blending her skills as a financial and behavioral therapist with sound financial strategy. Many of us inherit a boatload of generational trauma, and money management is surprisingly right up there as a major contributing life stressor. Join Sarah and your hosts as we ditch the generic budgeting spreadsheets and implement a true plan for sustainable financial success, no matter your income level. And this is pretty huge, y'all - one lucky RTRC listener will win access to Bulletproof Bootcamp, Sarah's online self-study budgeting course! Click here for a complimentary financial strategy session! Instagram Pinterest Facebook

We here at RTRC love a "girl leaves unfulfilling corporate job to follow her passions and becomes a raging success" story, and Lea Dixon - or The Platter Girl, if you're in the know - is a shining example. When Lea returned to her job from maternity leave to find her co-workers wrangling the same tedious issues from before she'd left, she had a lightning bolt moment of how to extract herself from the misery of 9-5. Cheese. Charcuterie is back in style, but Lea's been doing it longer (and better) than most, bringing a fun whimsy to grazing plates paired with gorgeous photography, an authentic social media presence, education, networking, and partnering with Oregon's incredible local vendors. SMART. Grab yourself some crackers and stuffed olives on a toothpick, and listen in on how Lea got to where she is, what's her very fave cheese, Elisha's best business tip for self-marketers, and the increasing growls of Shannon's tummy.  Instagram: the_platter_girl Website: https://www.plattergirl.com/

Shannon's flying solo with some Cheez-its this week, but that's okay as she and our special guest have loads to discuss. Welcome to Part 2 of our episode with Sarah Centrella - life coach, podcaster, author, and single mom - and if you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go do that now (we'll wait). So, it's no shocking revelation that women in their 30s and 40s tend to focus on the here and now, and once their kids fly the coop they're left suddenly wondering who they really are. Sarah's here to tell you that you can either float along with life, or create your own path. And guess what? Most of us already know how to manifest a dream, we just don't even realise it. The real question is, dear listener: what's next? Join us for an episode that shows you how to make REAL CHANGE, in simple, doable steps that you can get started with right away - and learn how to get loads of freebies from Sarah's teachings that will propel you towards living your true, authentic future.  Instragram: @sarahcentrella Website: www.sarahcentrella.com

Most of us have experienced that "perfect shitstorm" reckoning, where life reveals what rock bottom truly is... and that's why Sarah Centralla's story is so relatable. Come along for the ride as this inspirational author, motivational speaker, and single mom of three kids lays bare her ascension from a life in tatters, to a life filled with passions and joys. Learn the huggeee difference between slapping the word "success" on a vision board, to truly manifesting the life you want to have with a future board. And for those of you rocked by raising kids through those difficult stages? Let Sarah guide you on how to make conscious decisions to bring love and positivity into your home. Kids pick up their cues on how to communicate and interact with the world from YOU, so if you want to parent differently to how you were raised - and real talk, this is so many of us - we're gonna show you how. Sarah also asks our viewers, "How can you expand your world?" And spoiler alert: it's not as hard as you might think. Join us for Part 1 of our interview with Sarah (and stay tuned for whether Snacks the hamster makes it to Part 2). Instragram: @sarahcentrella Website: www.sarahcentrella.com 

We've got a snappy little episode for you today! Britney Spears has been in the news lately, and if you saw the recent documentary, you likely would have recoiled in disgust at how Ed MacMahon "interviewed" 10 year old Spears. Nuh uh. Elisha and Shannon get HEATED over the dual infantilization and sexualization of young women in the spotlight, and the double standards of celebrity. How girls learn from a very young age to "ask permission" with their language, and how - through actions and words - we're taught that our bodies, thoughts, and power belong to anyone but ourselves. How we skirt around direct communication lest someone think we're a bitch, a nag, or just too extra. Your RTRC hosts want you to pay attention to how you communicate, and advise on how to ditch the ingrained language that trips us up in life. After all, "It's Britney, sorry!" doesn't quite have the same ring.  

Many of us feel a warped secrecy and disconnect when it comes to our bank accounts. How much we make. How much we spend. How we spend it. All the unnecessary denial and shame that comes with money, whether loaded, or living paycheck to paycheck. Maybe this stems from our childhoods, picking up negative financial habits from our parents? All we know is that most of us spend well beyond our means, and none of us are actually TALKING about it. Well, we're talking about it, now, and you'd better not fall asleep *pokes Shannon*. Elisha recalls being forced to lie to her mother's creditors on the phone when she was a child, saying her mother was away on "African Safari". Shannon discusses her hands-off approach to running her business for the first 8 years, and how well that worked out for her. Plus our hosts share their top 2-3 tips on money, learned from some pretty hard lessons, and both are here to remind you that you're not alone. Money mismanagement can be pretty freaking overwhelming, and the only way you're ever going to be able to afford to book that world trip is to 'fess up to your bad habits, and work to change them. In this repeat episode, we return to the gentle discourse involving money talk as we have a tough financial talk in an upcoming bonus episode, exclusive to our new Fan Club. Using these skills, we can be reminded of the importance of breaking the money chat taboo. Let's do this!

Spin instructor. Hair stylist. Survivor. We've had Lianne Saffer on Real Talk | Real Change before, but in the time since, she's been racking up the 5 star reviews with her compelling memoir, Please Don't Send Me Flowers. We chat about partner abuse that doesn't leave a bruise, keeping kids appraised of everything life throws at us in an authentic way (especially with the shitty stuff), what it's like to truly meet the love of your life, and what NOT to say to your buddy who's been diagnosed with cancer. For someone who has had more than her fair share of hard knocks, not even her Jeep catching fire during our recent ice storm can get this gal down. If you haven't yet met Lianne, you're about to. Join us for some real talk about adapting to real change with this beautiful badass.    Instagram: @liannesaffer  Website: www.liannesaffer.com Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735926604

Today's special guest on RTRC is on the cusp of launching her niche company that will literally revolutionize the rideshare industry, and we're here to be their ride-or-die hype team. Trenelle Doyle pulled on past skills to found Go Girl Ride (or GG, for those in the know), a Black-femme-owned, Portland-based, all-inclusive LGBTQ+/non-binary rideshare. Trenelle's natural knack for people and advocating for their safety was piqued as an Uber driver... and an unsettling number of her customers shared stories of creepy, unsafe drivers. When American Express 100 for 100 "Founders of Change" program took notice, their GoFundMe took off, and her rock solid team was assembled to bring GG from incubation period to reality. With a unshakable commitment to community - donating 10% of ride revenue to causes local to each city - and initial focus on cities with high rates of human trafficking, Go Girl Ride is poised to make real change in our communities for sex workers and other demographics vulnerable to predatory drivers. This episode will INSPIRE you, and Trenelle's "pure heart" mission is simply infectious. You'll want to tune in for her unique entrepreneurial wisdom (and a chance to win a rad GG Safety Kit!). Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohnellyv/ Website: https://trenelle.com Folks can contribute to our iFundWomen campaign here: https://ifundwomen.com/projects/go-girl-ride

Coming to you straight from under two feet of Portland ice and snow, your fave hosts are talking "resilience": have you got it, where does it come from, and how do you get you some. It's difficult to not flail and catostrophize when you're surviving through a no-end-in-sight pandemic, wildfires, political unrest, and a 40 year ice storm, but a resilient attitude towards all the shit life throws at you isn't something you're born with - and nor does it mean you have to reshape yourself into an emotionless robot to survive the day to day. Elisha and Shannon dig into where resilience might stem from (ie: maybe childhood trauma, or PTSD), using perspective as a compass to guide you through every crisis, and how you can still be a sensitive human being without wallowing in your sad feels. By training yourself in how you meet future challenges, you can not only overcome them, but you're also modeling healthy behaviors for your children... saving them from a lifetime of grappling with unnecessary angst. Do you consider yourself a resilient person? Or do you go weak-kneed at the whiff of a crisis? Shannon and Elisha have a PLAN that actually works, getting you on the path to building resilience that will help you cope with whatever 2021 can fling your way.