Ever caught your reflection in the mirror and wondered, 'Who's that girl, and why is she making questionable life choices?' Well, you're not alone.

This week we're digging into the grand abyss of self-awareness, inspired by the wise words of Shelly Deval and Robert Wicklund from their 1972 "A theory of objective self awareness" (ah, the '70s, when people were busy asking the real questions....among doing other things).

They tell us we can focus on ourselves or the big, bad world. Then comes the fun part – measuring ourselves up against our own golden standards. Then what? Well, we either bask in our glorious alignment or, more often, scramble to figure out where it all went wrong.

This episode is like a time machine - we're journeying back to my terrible twenties, a time when I majored in Avoidance 101 rather than dealing with those pesky discrepancies. I've had my fair share of foot-in-mouth moments and blind spots that even a lighthouse couldn't illuminate.

But hey, we live, we cringe, we grow. We're also diving into how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) turned my world upside down, and not in an Exorcist kind of way.

So, buckle up, folks! We're diving into the bumpy ride of self-awareness, the art of 'reading the room,' and the awkward dance of setting boundaries. And don't forget that powerful truth bomb dropped by Viktor Frankl, "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom."

Spoiler alert: we're all works in progress. But in the end, self-awareness is a pretty rad tool to have in our survival kit.

Let's Connect

Drop me a line at jen.freefailing@gmail.com, or slide into my DMs on IG: @free_failing.

Resources Mentioned

• What Self Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate it)
• Objective Self-Awareness and Causal Attributions for Self-Standard Discrepancies: Changing Self or Changing Standards of Correctness
• Landmark Theory of Self-awareness by Shelly Deval and Robert Wicklund, 1972.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• That quote by Viktor Frankl we all need tattooed on our foreheads.

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Hi, it's me, Jenni, back with another thrilling episode of Free Failing. This time, I've dragged my friend Meghan Williams into the conversation. She's a harpist, writer, meditation teacher, yoga instructor, and most importantly for this episode, a proud member of the no-kids club.

Let's Talk Child-Free

It seems that the world's default setting is to assume everyone wants a litter of tiny humans, doesn't it? But guess what? Some of us just don't! And we're totally okay with it. We dive deep into the why's, the how's, and the good lord, really's? of choosing to live child-free and the pesky stigmas that seem to chase us around (particularly women).

• Social Media Lies: You know those adorable 'happy plaid families' you see on Instagram? Yeah, well, reality check: social media is a carefully curated fantasy. So let's peel back the filters and tackle the reality, shall we?
• Generational Trauma and Choices: Ever thought about breaking the cycles? We discuss how choosing to not have kids can be a conscious journey to neutralize generations of trauma.

Flying Solo

Who says you need a 'better half'? In this episode, we're also chatting about the liberation and self-awareness that comes from being single.

• Relationships vs. Loneliness: We dive into the dangerous idea of being in a relationship solely to avoid loneliness.
• Personal Space & Growth: We talk about the importance of having your own space, even in relationships, for personal growth.
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Listen in as we recount personal experiences, drop startling statistics, discuss our fears, expectations, and the thrill of breaking societal norms.

Childfree by Choice Stats and Sources:

• Almost half of pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned (Washington Post)
• Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended (United Nations Population Fund)
• Growing share of childless adults in U.S. don’t expect to ever have children (Pew Research Center)

Connect with me

Got your own childfree story to share? Shoot an email to jen.freefailing@gmail.com or slide into my DMs on Instagram @free_failing.

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Ever found yourself mentally high-fiving yourself because of that slightly cryptic Instagram post you put up? You know, the one strategically tailored for your ex or your long-lost BFF to see? Or that day you reached the pinnacle of boredom and decided to make an exclusive "Close Friends" list with a grand total of one member - your ex?

If you're nodding, well, we need to talk.

In this episode, your girl gets down and dirty with the complicated relationship we share with Instagram. Not just the addictive scrolling, but the less-talked-about passive-aggressive communication, the quest for validation, and the good ol' fashioned time sink.

From a deep dive into a personal tale of solitude, reinvention, and screen-time statistics (Spoiler: It’s in the double digits, people), to reflections on toxic relationships, join me as I peek behind the curtain of social media, unmask its impact on my mental health, and learn how to strike a healthy balance.

What does authenticity mean in a world of filters and face-tuners? It means showing the world that it’s okay to not have your life wrapped in a perfect bow. So, let's strive to put the 'real' back in 'real-time updates', shall we?

So remember, kids:

Not everything that glitters on the 'gram is gold. Keep that in mind next time you hit refresh.

For those brave enough to bare their social media souls, Jenni is here for you. Share your stories, or simply connect with me at jen.freefailing@gmail.com or on IG: @free_failing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s lots of reasons people don’t go to therapy. Sometimes it’s cost or accessibility—but frankly, sometimes it’s because we minimize our problems or think therapy couldn’t possibly help us.

Hey again, it's me, Jenni. In this episode of "Free Failing," I've invited my friend Jennifer Mathias to dive with me into the deep, sometimes messy world of our personal therapy journeys. We've both got our share of mom issues and self-reckoning (doesn't everyone?), and we're getting real about the awkwardness of those initial therapy sessions (it's like dating, but…somehow more intimate??).

We're also myth-busting some common misconceptions about therapy - turns out, it's less about quick fixes and more about understanding your own feelings and behaviors. And last but not least, we dive into the concept of "reparenting" ourselves as adults (where spanking is not encouraged, unless you’re into that sort of thing).

Let's Connect

Don't be a stranger! Get in touch at jen.freefailing@gmail.com, or on IG: @free_failing!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever found yourself caught in the parental paradox of changing your kid's and your parent's diapers at the same time? If that sounds like your Tuesday, then this episode is for you.

Join me, your host Jenni Frase, as I sit down with my longtime friend, Ellie Odenheimer-Brin. PhD, Yoga Instructor, and Professional Plate-Spinner, Ellie takes us through the bittersweet journey of caring for aging parents. We delve into the realities of role reversal, navigate the rough seas of eldercare, and confront the stark reality of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

We also get real about the emotional and physical toll of caregiving. Ah, the delicate dance of trying to support while also knowing when to step back. Plus, we dive into the ultimate independence test: convincing your parents it’s time to hand over the car keys. We also head down memory lane, talking about channeling our inner chameleons, shifting roles and personas.

And finally, we address the elephant in the room: end-of-life choices. We tackle this oft-avoided topic head-on, sharing our perspectives on life-prolonging treatments versus quality of life. Ellie and I discuss how our experiences with our parents have made us think about our own aging and end-of-life wishes.

We wrap up the episode by bringing in a dash of dark humor (because, let's be real, we all need to laugh when talking about stuff like this), sharing a hilarious anecdote about a messy attempt at scattering ashes in the ocean. 😬

Let's Connect!

Don't be a stranger! Get in touch at jen.freefailing@gmail.com, or on IG: @free_failing. And don't forget to rate and follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your fave podcasting app.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi guys! I'm Jenni Frase, professional embarrassing storyteller and host of the brand-new podcast: Free Failing. This is a 10-part series where I'll give you my take on failures, anxieties, and a slew of other topics that we usually try not to talk about in the public space.

So why would anyone want to talk about this?

Because...we all just want to feel connected and validated in our weirdness, and this is the place where we'll do just that! Each episode, I'll interview a friend of mine - wait, do I even have ten friends? Okay, well, I might be solo sometimes. The point is, we'll talk about things like how our childhoods shaped us for better or worse, relationship dynamics, addictions, co-dependency, and anything else that makes us feel disconnected when the truth is; everyone else feels these things too.

So if you're like me and thought that you would be absolutely crushing it as an adult by now but instead find yourself clocking double digits of screen time per day, ladies and gentlemen, this is the podcast for you.

Follow Free Failing on Apple, Spotify, or wherever talk radio is downloaded.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.