Dissociating, or disassociating, depressed or isolated? Reconnect with your mind and body using this visualization exercise where your roots extend and connect outwards. Then get motivated to continue making a difference in the world. Being connected is resistance.

Credits, contact, and more info

This podcast series was created, written, edited, produced and is hosted by Jen deHaan.

Jen has a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Developing Healthy Communities: Nutrition, Behavior, and Physical Activity from Tufts University, a degree in adult education in the arts, and various certifications and experience in group fitness instruction.

Artwork, logo, and graphics: Jen deHaan.

Chat with us on Discord! Join the discord channel for this show here discord.gg/heTSW9WnN5

Transcript: On episode pages found here.

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This podcast is a StereoForest production. Made and produced in British Columbia, Canada.

The content provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health services, therapy, counselling, or medical care. The views expressed are personal opinions and experiences, and individual results may vary. If you have specific mental health concerns, please consult with qualified healthcare professionals. We have some resources to get started here to search for local resources. Please see this page on our site for more info.

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This is a Stereo Forest production from StereoForest

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.com.

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Information, resources and opportunities to support the show

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and connect with others are available at StereoForest

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.com slash Daily Reconnect.

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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes

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only and is not a substitute for medical

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advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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If you have specific mental health concerns, please

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consult with a qualified health care professional.

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Now on to the show.

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In today's episode we'll practice a tree root

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visualization that helps you ground yourself by connecting

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to the earth beneath you and then outwards

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as a foundation for being present.

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You'll be able to do this visualization no

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matter where you are or what you're doing.

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So welcome to the Daily Reconnect.

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I'm your host Jenda Hahn and this brief

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episode will help you reconnect to the present

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when you're feeling disconnected or dissociated from the

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world.

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Together we will re-engage with this wild

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world, our bodies and our minds.

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So let's reconnect with reality.

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Today we're going to root ourselves to the

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ground and notice what's going on around us

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using visualization in order to reconnect with each

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other.

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You can choose to physically look at nature,

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you can be within nature or you can

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visualize it from wherever you are.

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You can use whatever you have in your

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space whether it's urban or indoors or you're

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in the middle of a forest.

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After this exercise we will get motivated to

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start our day.

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So take whatever works for you during this

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exercise and throw away whatever doesn't.

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Revise whatever you wish while you're going through

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the steps.

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You don't have to follow any of this

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exactly.

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I'm giving you permission to improvise right now.

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For example if something doesn't work for you

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just focus on the sound of my voice

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and not the words or connect in your

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own environment however fits best for you.

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Take this moment for yourself to focus and

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reset.

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That's the most important thing for today.

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So on to the exercise.

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Take a moment to get comfortable whether you're

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seated or standing or if you're walking find

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a comfortable pace.

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Begin by taking a deep breath in and

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then slowly release it and allow your body

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to settle.

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If you're visualizing nature take a moment to

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choose a place you know well.

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If you're in nature perhaps on a walk

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notice your environment.

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Imagine or experience your feet making contact with

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the earth beneath you.

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Whether you're indoors or outside visualize the ground

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below the floor below the building extending deep

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into the soil.

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Picture or look at your feet firmly planted

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on the earth.

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See the delicate roots beneath your feet connected

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to you and to each other.

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These roots begin as thin tendrils pushing gently

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into the soil.

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Feel them extending from the soles of your

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feet reaching downward and then outward.

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This is connecting you to a wide network

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of roots extending under your feet to those

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of your neighbors and those neighbors to their

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neighbors.

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As you breathe in think of your roots

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growing stronger.

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As you exhale those roots they push deeper

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and outwards.

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These roots are flexible yet strong anchoring you

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to this present moment.

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Now think or look at a giant majestic

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tree.

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Perhaps it's an evergreen, a giant fir tree,

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or a sequoia tree.

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Just as these large trees withstand changing weather,

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changing times, changing climates, think of your root

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system handling an emotional storm.

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If you're feeling overwhelmed right now imagine your

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roots growing especially deep and wide creating a

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strong foundation for you.

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During calmer times a spring day your roots

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can gently pulse with each breath maintaining a

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steady connection.

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Now let's think about where you are right

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now for real.

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So now let's extend that awareness beyond and

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outwards.

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In forests trees communicate within a forest through

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root networks and fungal helpers.

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It's fascinating but a search for later on.

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But right now let's imagine your roots working

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with the root systems of others around you

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creating a supportive community beneath the surface.

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You remain distinct yet connected to something larger

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than yourself.

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And now let's briefly think of connecting with

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our space wherever you are right now.

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Think about someone or something that was in

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that space before you something or someone that

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isn't troubling.

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It might be an ancestor, a family member,

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a friend, a pet, a great walk you

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took in the snow where you are right

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now.

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Or maybe it's an event that occurred in

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that place or even a piece of furniture

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that used to be there.

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Now return your thoughts to the ground.

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Your roots are reaching out beneath the ground

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or the floor where you're standing or sitting

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and those roots are connecting in that shared

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space to that person, that thing, that event,

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that pet, that big snow day.

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Now take a moment to appreciate this dual

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awareness, the now, the reality where you are

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right now, and the past reality.

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Those two realities are grounded and connected through

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those roots.

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When you're ready to conclude this visualization return

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your awareness to your feet and the sensations

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in your feet.

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Move them around a bit.

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Return your attention to the space that you're

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in.

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If you're visualizing somewhere else, return to where

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you are right now.

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And now let's return your attention back to

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this moment.

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So as we return to this day with

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this renewed sense of presence, remember that the

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clarity that you've just cultivated isn't just for

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you alone.

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It's a powerful tool that we can share.

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In a world that often leaves us feeling

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isolated and powerless, know this.

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Your awakened presence matters.

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When systems that can include exploitation and control

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want us disconnected and afraid and isolated, simply

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being fully present can become an act of

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resistance.

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You are not alone in your struggles or

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your hopes.

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So many others are coming to these same

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realizations that together our collective energy can reshape

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what might seem impossible at times.

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So today carry this awareness with you, whether

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it's reaching out to a neighbor or supporting

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a local project or an online project or

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simply sharing your authentic voice in a conversation.

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These small acts create ripples that join our

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roots with others in a much wider network,

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a much wider reality.

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Your worth isn't measured by your productivity or

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what you consume.

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Your power lies in connection to yourself, to

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others, to the collective possibilities we can imagine

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together.

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So take one small action today that connects

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you to something larger than yourself, even if

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that action was what you just did there,

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reconnecting with yourself, refreshing your drive or getting

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healthier.

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This is all how we build resilience and

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resistance.

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This is how we create change and this

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is how we transform the systems that weren't

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really designed for us to thrive.

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You are present and you're powerful too and

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you're part of something greater.

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So that's it for today, Wednesday, March 5th.

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Thank you so much for joining me here

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today and let's connect again on Friday.

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Thank you for listening to The Daily Reconnect.

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Episodes are released on Monday, Wednesday and Friday

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every week.

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This show was created, written, hosted, edited and

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produced by Jen DeHaan.

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Links to contact information, ways to support the

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show, transcripts, the free newsletter and our community

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discord can be found in the show notes.

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This is a Stereo Forest production.