Ann Dowsett Johnston (Author of Drink): Writing Your Recovery
Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.
Ann Dowsett Johnston is an award-winning journalist and the bestselling author of Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol, a book named one of the top 10 of the year by the Washington Post. Ann is also now a psychotherapist, and my mentor and writing coach.
Ann joins me for a discussion about the new face of women’s recovery, and the powerful role that writing can play for women recovering from addictions and over-drinking, eating disorders, illness, and trauma. We also discuss the new ending Ann has planned for the 10th-anniversary edition of Drink and what Ann is exploring in her second book, which she’s hard at work on now.
We discuss why, almost 10 years later, as Ann so aptly stated in Drink, alcohol is still “the modern woman’s steroid”, and how the overwhelm and stress of the pandemic has spiked drinking levels and continued to normalize women’s drinking as a...
Kathryn’s Story: Binge Drinking and Breast Cancer
Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.
Join me as I interview Kathryn Elliott, a heavy binge drinker for over 20 years and recent breast cancer survivor. Kathryn shares her story of binge drinking including her frequent blackouts and resulting guilt and shame. She explains why binge drinking often goes unchecked for too long. She also shares the breast cancer diagnosis that came on the heels of her decision to go alcohol-free, and the tremendous gifts that have come from that challenging time in her life.
Now an alcohol-free certified coach through This Naked Mind, Kathryn helps others break the binge drinking cycle and find their own freedom. She provides some helpful strategies for anyone struggling to control their binge drinking. Find out more about Kathryn at: www.thealcoholmindsetcoach.com
Are you questioning your own drinking? Start here (it’s free!): www.wendymccallum.com/myths
The Midlife Therapy Every Woman Should Know About with Erika Burger
Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.
Sarah and I (finally - we've been patiently waiting for this chance!) interview Erika Burger, a pelvic floor physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience.
We discuss the role of pelvic floor health for women (men, and children), why we’re not talking about it enough, and the surprisingly long list of common midlife women’s wellness conditions that this specialized yet rarely discussed branch of physiotherapy can support, including vaginal pain, sciatica and back pain, bladder issues, and frequent urination.
Sarah and I share our personal stories of pelvic floor physio treatment and the incredible results we had.
This was an eye-opening conversation for both of us, so we know you will find it invaluable!
Erika Burger: https://www.thepelvichealthclinic.ca/
Grab Wendy and Sarah’s free peri/menopause checklist, here: https://www.wendymccallum.com/perichecklist
Wendy's Nojito Recipe
This is my favourite mocktail!
Mix over ice:
2 tbsp+ elderflower syrup (IKEA sells this, as do many specialty markets and food stores - add to desired sweetness)
juice of 1/4 lime
a 1/4 cup or so of fresh mint leaves, muddled or crushed a bit
soda water to fill the glass
garnish with more lime.
Socializing Without Alcohol – Mitch Cobb, Libra NA Craft Beer
Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.
I chat with Mitch Cobb, Co-Founder and CEO of Upstreet Brewing and Libra Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer about the alcohol-free drink market, the sober curious movement, and our shared mission to normalize socializing without alcohol.
Mitch shares how he came to start a craft brewery on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and soon after began exploring his own relationship with alcohol, as well some fascinating behind-the-scenes details on how alcohol-free beer is made and marketed.
This is a fun and light conversation around what it means to find your balance and how having a great alcohol-free alternative on hand can make that easier.
For free tools and resources for making change around alcohol, burnout, or midlife, visit: www.wendymccallum.com/learn-with-wendy
Libra Alcohol-Free Craft Beer: www.drinklibra.ca
Smoky Butternut Chili
A new twist on an old favourite, this veggie chili packs a double-whammy protein punch (beans & quinoa ) and is really filling as a result. One of my family’s favourites, you could also easily cook this stovetop if you prefer!
Ingredients:
1 c rinsed & drained quinoa 4 c water
1 large red onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 sweet bell pepper, diced
4 c peeled & cubed butternut squash (cut 1/2” cubes, you’ll need about 1 small squash or 1/2 a large squash)
2-398 mL cans black beans, rinsed and drained, or 3 c cooked
1-28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1.5-2 tbsp of chili powder (use 2 if you like it a little spicy)
1 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
juice & zest of one lime
To make:
In a slow cooker, add quinoa, water, onion, garlic, bell pepper, squash, beans, crushed tomatoes, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, salt, and pepper and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low...
Midlife Desire Debrief: The Burnout Connection
Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.
Sarah and I reflect on our recent mind-blowing interview with Dr. Lori Brotto, psychologist, professor, and renowned sexual health researcher about women’s desire in midlife.
We dig into:
the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire
the connection between desire and stress
the challenge that burnt-out, overwhelmed women have when it comes to responsive desire and
our thoughts on how women can lay the groundwork for increased desire with self-care and boundary-setting.
It's a good one!
Free Burnout Checklist: www.wendymccallum.com/checklist
Women’s Desire in Midlife with Dr. Lori Brotto
Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.
Let's talk about sex, baby!
Sarah and I interview Dr. Lori Brotto, psychologist, professor, and renowned sexual health researcher about women’s desire in midlife.
This is a discussion you won’t want to miss! Topics include the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, the impact of midlife hormonal changes on desire, the connection between stress and lowered desire, how to identify your personal “gas pedals v brakes” when it comes to desire, the importance of scheduling intimacy and sex, and the impact of mindfulness on desire. This is a jam-packed episode that will give you a brand-new perspective on desire!
Grab Wendy and Sarah’s free perimenopause/menopause checklist, here: www.wendymccallum.com/perichecklist
Banana Chocolate Chia Breakfast Cookies
Great news! Breakfast cookies are a thing, and these just happen to be gluten, dairy & and refined sugar-free, but somehow still decadent enough to eat for dessert!
Ingredients:
2 mashed ripe bananas
1/3 c maple syrup
1/4 c coconut oil, melted
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
3 c slow cook rolled oats
1/4 c sunflower seeds
1/4 c raisins
1/3 c dark chocolate chips
2 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
To make:
In a medium bowl, combine mashed bananas, maple syrup, coconut oil, egg and vanilla.
In a large bowl, combine oats, seeds, raisins, chocolate chips, chia, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix well,
Add wet to dry and combine.
On parchment-lined baking sheets, drop cookies in about 2.5 tbsp amounts (about 8 per sheet), They won’t really spread much, so they don’t need a lot of space in between them. Lightly press the top of each with a spatula to gently condense (not flatten!).
...
Your One Big Thing (and 3 Keys to Lasting Change)
Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.
What is your “one big thing”?
That one area of desired mental or behavioural change that you have been struggling with for years?
How would achieving the permanent change you desire in that area make everything else in your life that much easier?
In this episode, I discuss why we struggle with making lasting change and the three keys to approaching your “one big thing” differently in 2022 so that you finally achieve the outcome you desire.
Tired of making resolutions that only last a few weeks? Lasting change is possible – try different this year, not harder!
Start changing the beliefs that are keeping you stuck in drinking now: www.wendymccallum.com/myths
Author & Host
Wendy McCallum
Certified Burnout & Balance Coach
Wendy McCallum is Certified Coach and Wellness Expert with over 10 years of experience. She’s also a This Naked Mind Certified Coach who has been living (blissfully) alcohol-free since January 2018. Wendy is a high-achiever who lost her way, but came back better than ever. After much soul-searching and a few false starts, she left her 12-year career in law committed to designing a more balanced life she didn’t need to escape from. Wendy now teaches busy people how to reclaim time for themselves, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. She also helps them replace unhealthy coping mechanisms (like food, alcohol and social media) with healthier habits. IMPORTANT: Blog content including Wendy's podcasts are for information purposes only and not intended in any way to be health advice. Please see full Terms of Use, by clicking on the link in the footer of this page, for details.
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