Today's episode on the Cracking Open podcast is someone who I would consider a cherished guide in my professional journey over the last two decades. Mary Pipher, Ph.D. is a truly extraordinary psychologist who specializes in women, trauma, and the effect of culture on our mental health.I first came across Mary's work twenty years ago when I was teaching at an all-girls school in San Francisco. I was feeling lost on how to best provide emotional support to my students when they felt left out with friends, insecure about their bodies, navigating challenges in their home lives, or struggling with feeling worthy. A fellow teacher recommended that I read a book called Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher. When I read her words below, I knew I had found the right guidance:“Girls struggle with mixed messages: Be beautiful, but beauty is only skin deep. Be sexy, but not sexual. Be honest, but don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Be independent, but be nice. Be smart, but not so smart you threaten boys.” Ever since, I have read anything and everything that Mary has written and it has always been a compassionate, wise, and safe place to land. And because of this, I am pinching myself that I got to have this conversation with her and share it with all of you.Mary graduated in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley and received her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska in Clinical Psychology. She was a Rockefeller Scholar in Residence at Bellagio and has received two American Psychological Association Presidential Citations, one of which she returned to protest psychologists’ involvement in enhanced interrogations at Guantánamo and other black sites.She is a community organizer and activist for many causes and has authored 11 books including 4 New York Times bestsellers. Her latest book is A Life in Light, a luminous new memoir that taps into a cultural moment to offer wisdom, hope, and insight into loss and change.In today’s episode, Mary reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect, solve every problem, or "fix" anyone. She also helps us remember that we live in a universe filled with love and light that surrounds us and is available to us, at all times. I will leave you with her wise words:“I think a wonderful life doesn't mean that a person hasn't had a lot of tragedy. It means they've had a big, rich life where they’ve been able to experience a really wide range of emotions and people and adventures and learnings of all different kinds.And of course, in terms of loving fiercely, the price for loving fiercely is the pain of goodbye, but I would always choose to love fiercely.”Love,MollyLearn more about Mary Pipher herePurchase Mary's latest book A Life In Light hereConnect with Mary on FacebookLearn more about Molly Carroll hereConnect with Molly on Instagram and FacebookFeeling Stuck?It's Your Time To Get UNSTUCK3-Month Small Group Coaching ProgramStarting October 5, 2023Book a FREE discovery call with Molly today!

This will probably be the hardest newsletter I will write about a Cracking Open podcast guest, and I avoided doing it for as long as I possibly could because I didn't want to face my heartbreak. My honored guest today is Mark Dahir, the CEO of Heart Ministry Center, a non-profit organization based in Omaha. Their mission is to provide healthcare, food, and a way forward for people severely affected by poverty, and Mark had an unquestionably positive impact on the company, its employees, and the community they serve over the many years he was a part of it. Mark and I had our deeply heartfelt conversation, which you can hear on the podcast today, back in May. On August 3rd, just 3 weeks ago, Mark suddenly and unexpectedly died from a massive heart attack. He was a healthy and active 48-year-old man, a loving father to his daughter Whitney, a loyal son and friend, and a mentor to his sober community. His death has left his friends and family shocked and saddened. At his funeral, it was frequently said that Mark gaveall of his heart to everyone he met. He certainly has left a huge hole in the hearts of all whose lives he touched, including mine.My wish for this episode is to honor Mark’s life. You will hear his story about his complicated past of addiction, mental health, and serving time. You will also hear his joy and sense of purpose as he talks about fatherhood, truth, redemption, God, service, sobriety, and hope for himself and those he mentored along the way.  Mark lived every day with intention and passion. He embodied Heart Ministry Center’s guiding motto – Dignity for All – and the organization’s core values of compassion,community, accountability, and excellence. He impacted the lives of tens of thousands of people. It is an honor to have this conversation recorded. My biggest hope is to give his daughter, family, and friends a place to land when they are deeply missing Mark's deep voice, prophetic wisdom, unending energy for change and growth, and most importantly to remember Mark’s main motto in life – be a humble worker of the heart.Love,MollyFor more information about Heart Ministry Center, its mission, and its resources, please visit:HeartMinistryCenter.orgFacebook.com/HeartMinistryCenterInstagram.com/HeartMinistryCenterLearn more about Molly Carroll hereConnect with Molly on Instagram and FacebookFeeling Stuck?It's Your Time To Get UNSTUCK3-Month Small Group Coaching ProgramStarting October 5, 2023Book a FREE discovery call with Molly today!

Cracking Open podcast has so many incredible guests lined up for you this season! Today's guest is Emily Paulson – a writer, Certified Professional Recovery Coach, TEDx Speaker, and the Founder of Sober Mom Squad. She is passionate about ending the shame and stigma of mental health and substance use disorders, and her own recovery path is focused on ruthless honesty, grace, self-love, and the belief that sharing our truth with each other is the best resource of all.Emily opens up about her struggle with alcoholism and how it led her to get sucked into the culture of multilevel marketing. This path made her millions but soon felt dishonest and exploitative. Once she got sober, she was able to clearly see the problematic environment of multilevel marketing and the many victims that get caught up in it.She has since authored two books: Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life, and her newly published book Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing. Emily has given two powerful TEDx talks, challenging the status quo of parenting, alcohol use, and feminism as we know it. She has also been featured in major publications such as the Today Show, New York Times, Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Next Question with Katie Couric, and the Tamron Hall Show.Today's episode is ultimately about choosing compassion over shame when you reflect on your past choices. Emily helps us understand that when we feel lonely, afraid, or have unresolved trauma, we often make decisions that we think will lead us to feel connection and "normalcy" but more often than not those decisions only lead us further away from ourselves and our truth. And when we are healed and whole, our decisions and truth become much more clear and help light the way to the life we were always meant to have. Emily’s story is one of truth, sobriety, and how to get honest about the world and people around you, but most importantly with yourself.Love,MollyLearn more about Emily Paulson herePurchase Emily's books hereListen to Emily's Tedx Talks hereConnect with Emily on Facebook and Instagram Learn more about Molly Carroll hereConnect with Molly on Instagram and FacebookFeeling Stuck?It's Your Time To Get UNSTUCK3-Month Small Group Coaching ProgramStarting October 5, 2023Book a FREE discovery call with Molly today!

Hi everyone! I hope you have had a wonderful summer. I've missed being with you! My July was spent soaking up precious time with my family, relaxing, and hitting the pause button on the daily rush of life. It's so important to remember to take time for ourselves to refill our cups in all the ways we need.One of my favorite things I did during my break was re-listen to all of the amazing guests that have visited the Cracking Open podcast thus far. And – WOW! We have had some spectacular guests in Seasons 1-4! I was astonished all over again by the profound wisdom, intriguing conversations, and depth and vulnerability of every single guest that has come on the podcast. In fact, I found myself in such deep awe and gratitude, that I decided to gather some of my favorite clips from the past four seasons and put together a recap episode filled with golden nuggets of wisdom that were shared by some of our guests.It was honestly really hard to choose which ones to highlight because each episode shares an immense amount of wisdom, truth, and vulnerability. But in order to avoid making this episode several hours long, I followed my gut and chose several clips that I know you will love revisiting again too.I created the Cracking Open podcast to help people feel less alone and more hopeful. There is so much light,  even during our darkest hours, and our Cracking Open moments are what teach us the most about life and love.Love, MollyP.S. Do you know what the common thread is among all of the guests that have visited the Cracking Open podcast? The answer might surprise you... they put themselves first. They have been through the ups and downs of life, like we all have. They have faced hardships, challenges, heartbreak, and loss. They have come face-to-face with life-changing, life-defining moments. And in those moments, they chose themselves. They chose to heal; to live their truth; to show up with vulnerability and authenticity; to radically shift their circumstances; to go for the dreams they had been holding back on... it was their time and they knew it and leaned into it. Are you ready to put yourself first? Are you ready to choose YOU?It's Your Time: 6-Month Group Coaching Program with Molly CarrollStarting September 2023Interested in learning more?Book a free discovery call with Molly Carroll here.

I have had the great blessing of witnessing people's stories over the last 30 years as a therapist and teacher. During this time, I have learned to identify various archetypes – universal models of people's personalities that play a role in influencing their human behavior. Carl Jung, who founded the field of analytical psychology, developed 12 Archetypes including The Sage, The Innocent, The Explorer, and more.Through my own work in the field of psychology and human studies, I have identified another archetype that I named The Lighthouse. This archetype illuminates the parts of ourselves that are hidden or unseen. They shine a light on new ideas, perspectives, inspirations, and insights into human soulful experiences. The Lighthouse also teaches us how to become whole and accept all parts of ourselves by offering us new ways to process and integrate the darker experiences we have had in life, such as death, divorce, or disease.Today’s guest on Cracking Open, Suzanne Anderson, MA, is one of the most beautiful examples of The Lighthouse I have ever come across in my life. Suzanne is the founder of The Mysterial Woman, a psychologist, coach, leadership consultant, transformational teacher, and author of the newly released memoir & guidebook You Make Your Path By Walking. Her pioneering work in guiding women to awaken their full Feminine and Masculine strengths combines insights and practices from ancient wisdom, depth psychology, and modern neuroscience. Combining her graduate studies in women’s developmental psychology together with her decades as a leadership consultant, Suzanne wisely guides women to awaken to the next level of consciousness and leadership capacity, making the changes in themselves they want to shape in the world.She is an incredibly bright light, who has also learned how to navigate through immense darkness. Suzanne lost her beloved husband to suicide in 2013, and in the coming months also lost their island retreat center, her cat, her community, her company, and the future they had created together. Suzanne shares with us how she made it through this dark night of the soul with a certainty that this was a transformation and an awakening to reclaim her power and bring her to a place of greater compassion and love. As a Lighthouse, Suzanne shows us that when life has sent us on a deep dive into the darkness, that through practices in ancient wisdom, depth psychology, and sh*t loads of love, compassion, and support, we can rise and reawaken back into the light, more vibrant than ever before.Love,MollyLearn more about Suzanne Anderson and The Mysterial Woman herePurchase You Make Your Path By Walking hereConnect with Suzanne on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Learn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

The topic of boundaries was one of the first things I studied in my graduate school program – how to create boundaries as a therapist and how to teach and encourage clients to create their own boundaries in order to have healthier relationships and make better choices.Regardless of where you may be in your journey with boundaries, we can all acknowledge the importance of having healthy boundaries in our lives. Today's podcast guest, Melissa Urban, is a total boundary badass and an authority on helping people create lifelong healthy habits. She is the co-founder and CEO of Whole30, a 30-day program created to help you curb your cravings and bad habits, boost your metabolism, heal your digestive tract, and calm your immune system.Melissa is also a seven-time New York Times bestselling author (including the instant bestseller The Book of Boundaries), has been featured by People, Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and CNBC, and is a prominent keynote speaker on boundaries, building community, health trends, and entrepreneurship.“Boundaries aren't selfish. They're acts of kindness, designed with love for them and you.” ~ Melissa Urban, The Book of BoundariesIn this enlightening conversation, Melissa provides us with step-by-step instructions on how to identify healthy boundaries and set and hold those boundaries so we can feel empowered, reclaim our voices, and live a more balanced lifestyle. She also opens up about her own Cracking Open moment of overcoming a five-year drug addiction in 2000, and how facing a childhood trauma was a huge catalyst in helping her realize the power of boundaries in staying sober and feeling more alive.These podcast episodes always seem to show up at the perfect time in my life (can you relate??). Before I interviewed Melissa, I was struggling with some boundaries in my own life, and she helped me remember that having and holding my boundaries is actually a healthy (and necessary!) act of self-love.I hope that today's podcast episode helps you find the courage to create and hold the boundaries you need to live your own healthy, vibrant, and joyous life.Love,MollyLearn more about Melissa Urban hereLearn more about Whole30 hereConnect with Melissa on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and FacebookFollow Whole30 on Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and FacebookLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

How is your mental health these days? In recent years, our society has grown more accustomed to discussing this very important subject. We have normalized checking in with ourselves and each other, increased our compassion for those who are struggling, and have more resources than ever available to us to educate and guide us toward improving our mental health.  Dr. Christina Bjorndal, ND is on the Cracking Open podcast today, and she is considered an authority in treating mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders using a naturopathic physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual approach.  Dr. Chris is not only a professional expert and doctor who has studied and researched mental illness for many years, but she also has deep personal experience with her own mental health challenges. She openly and courageously shares with us about her own struggles with bipolar disorder, depression, and multiple suicide attempts, and how she now lives a life free from suicidal ideation, using the tools from her own medical practice to successfully manage her depression and bipolar disorder with loads of compassion and love.This episode with Dr. Chris is thoroughly relatable. Every single one of us seems to be struggling ourselves and/or knows at least one person who is. Many experts believe that we are actually in the throes of a mental health crisis. Whether from the pandemic isolation, social media, genetics, the chaotic hustle of life demands, the pressures we put on ourselves, and on and on... the struggle is real and it is all around us.That is why I am especially grateful for Dr. Chris' presence in our community today as a modern-day lighthouse guiding us with her medical wisdom, personal storytelling, and true compassion. We could all use a Dr. Chris in our lives, leading us to a place of profound healing and radical acceptance. May we all find healthy ways to lay our burdens down. May we all have the courage to ask for help when we need it. May we all find freedom from suffering. Love,MollyIf you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis or contemplating suicide, call or text 988. In emergencies, call 911, or seek care from a local hospital or mental health provider.Learn more about Dr. Christina Bjorndal hereSign up to receive The 4Rs: Tools for Working With Difficult Thoughts here Connect with Dr. Chris on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and InstagramLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

Everywhere I turn, people are talking about menopause. Finally! This phase of life that used to be ignored, or even considered shameful, is now getting its long overdue spotlight as a worthy wellness topic and normal rite of passage for women.Oprah recently produced a special with a panel of experts on the subject of perimenopause and menopause. Naomi Watts has helped create a line of holistic beauty & wellness products for menopausal women. And Dr. Mary Claire Haver is inspiring, educating, and empowering thousands of women to navigate this stage of life with confidence by helping them create sustainable, healthy habits.Dr. Haver is on the Cracking Open podcast today, and I am so excited to share her wisdom with you all!She is a wife, mom, physician, and entrepreneur who has devoted her adult life to women's health. As a Board Certified OBGYN, Dr. Haver has delivered thousands of babies, completed thousands of well-woman exams, counseled patients, taught residents, and done everything an academic professor and OBGYN could do.As her patient population aged, Dr. Haver was overwhelmed with the number of complaints and concerns her patients had with weight gain while going through menopause. For years, she told her patients to eat less and exercise more. It wasn't until she, too, experienced the changes of menopause and mid-life weight gain that she realized this advice didn't work and ultimately led to her creating and developing her online program, The Galveston Diet, which currently has over 100,000 students and helps women reach their health and wellness goals through an anti-inflammatory approach to nutrition. She additionally became certified in Culinary Medicine in 2019, specializing in medical nutrition, opened the Mary Claire Wellness clinic in 2021, and released the book version of The Galveston Diet in January 2023. She is a leading voice in social media in the realm of menopause education and has over 2 million TikTok followers.In our conversation today, Dr. Haver is not only generous with her expert advice around perimenopause and menopause, but she also shares her own life experiences that have helped shape her and enabled her to compassionately relate to her clients and Galveston Diet participants.There are many incredible women who are leading the movement around normalizing the conversations and healthcare of menopause, and I am deeply grateful to Dr. Mary Claire Haver for being a dedicated, innovative, and extraordinary champion of perimenopausal and menopausal women everywhere. Love, MollyLearn more about the Galveston Diet, and purchase the book hereConnect with Dr. Mary Claire Haver on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedInLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

Life can often be so predictable. Each day I wake up, have coffee, get my kids to school, and go to work. But sometimes there are days when things happen that are completely unexpected. That sums up my experience interviewing today's podcast guest Brian Burns, and I could not be more grateful for it.Brian Burns is the award-winning writer and Executive Producer of the hit television series Blue Bloods on CBS, HBO’s Entourage, and Will Ferrell’s hit comedy film, Daddy’s Home.Brian has served as Executive Producer of Blue Bloods for nearly 300 episodes over a record 13 seasons, & has personally written over 50 episodes of the long-running hit police procedural.Prior to Blue Bloods, Burns wrote and produced many seasons of Entourage on HBO, where he was nominated multiple times for an Emmy and Writer’s Guild Award.Based on his experience as a new stepfather, Burns wrote Daddy’s Home for WillFerrell and Adam McKay, which went on to be one of Ferrell’s most successful box office hits.So I predicted we would mostly talk about writing and producing TV and movies, which we did. I also figured we would spend a little bit of time discussing his incredibly tight-knit family, which consists of other career heavy-hitters like his father, Edward J Burns, an NYPD police sergeant and former Spokesman for the NYPD, and his brother Ed Burns, the well-known actor and director with whom he created the ABC sitcom That’s Life and the NBC sitcom The Fighting Fitzgerald’s starring Brian Dennehy and Connie Britton.But our conversation held SO much more than just Hollywood and his incredible and successful creative endeavors.In a beautifully unplanned and organic way, our conversation traveled far and wide, as all the best ones do. We discussed the death of his mentor and dear friend Rocco, his mother's passing during the pandemic, and his journey to sobriety that helped him become a better father, writer, and human being.Brian shares intimate stories about facing the fears that were holding him backfrom living an honest and (sometimes) HARD life. But it was those “hards” in life that forced him to have intimate yet difficult conversations with his loved ones, led him to start training and running marathons, and finally allowed him to get to the truth about his relationship with alcohol.This episode is the longest interview I have released yet, and it's worth every single moment. Join us for this captivating and deeply authentic conversation filled with unexpected turns and immense hope. Our talk left me with an enormous amount of faith in the goodness of people.We are all striving to be healthier in our bodies, minds, and spirits. And regardless of how well-known our work is, or how successful we may be in the world, we all struggle sometimes in life as we try to find ways to connect more deeply to ourselves in order to strengthen our connections to our loved ones.May this conversation strengthen your own connections and give you hope for what's possible.Love,MollyConnect with Brian on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookResources mentioned in this interview:Book: This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Lifeby Annie GraceBook: The Honey Badgerby Robert Ruark

I always appreciate it when people tell the truth as they see it and don’t sugarcoat or beat around the bush. I trust that raw honesty and find myself reaching out to the truth-tellers when I need advice and support.Liz Pryor, today’s guest on the Cracking Open podcast is one of these incredible truth-tellers.She is the published author of two books: What Did I Do Wrong?, a book of advice on female friendship, as well as her provocative and moving memoir, Look at You Now, which promptly became a Chicago Tribune bestseller.Liz has blessed the TEDx stage and appeared on Good Morning America as their advice guru on family and friendships. Her work has been featured in Redbook, Elle, Forbes, Good Housekeeping, and People, and she contributed to the anthology, 65 Things to Do at 65, alongside Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda.Join Liz and me as we talk about letting go of unhealthy friendships, and how to help our kids find a better balance with their device usage. We also take a deep dive into Liz’s own “cracking open” story that held deep lessons for her around loss, motherhood, family, and friendship.Liz lives in Los Angeles and is totally convinced that her job as a single mother to three kids has given her most of the scrappy wisdom that comes from living everyday life. I’m so glad she is here today to share that wisdom with all of us.Love, MollyLearn more about Liz Pryor hereListen to Liz’s TEDx talk hereConnect with Liz on InstagramLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

For months now my team has been encouraging me to do a solo podcast episode where I talk, teach, and just riff about life, parenting, psychology, and anything else that I am inspired by that may also resonate with our listeners. I initially had a lot of resistance to this idea.  Maybe it was the mixture of fear and the choir of voices telling me, “Who would want to listen to just me, and what would I talk about for an hour that would be interesting to the Cracking Open audience?” But then my dear friend (and episode 9 podcast guest) Tory Junkin offered to interview me and I knew immediately that it was a resounding YES. I have to tell you - this is by far the most vulnerable and honest I have ever been in public. With Tory’s loving guidance, we talk about what I have learned from interviewing guests for 35 podcast episodes (and counting!) and how I am drawn to my guests' vulnerability but am honestly scared to show my own. Tory asks poignant and direct questions about what I have learned as a therapist – about victimhood and being too attached to the stories that don’t serve us anymore, while also touching on the power of surrendering to true forgiveness. As Marianne Williamson has said, “As long as I hold back forgiveness, I hold back my own healing as well.”Join us as we discuss the ups and downs of parenting, how I still catch myself numbing out when I am in grief over the loss of my parents, how our judgmental minds can separate us from true connection, and what is inspiring me about life right now.  Ultimately through our back-and-forth conversation, we explore the art of accepting, understanding, and processing emotions in order to experience a transformative life.And I must say, not once during our interview did my fearful voices come in. In fact, I feel incredibly confident this is an episode that you will learn a lot about and will love listening to. A huge thank you to my Cracking Open team for believing in me and encouraging me, and to Tory for knowing how to make me feel safe enough to walk in my truth with you all.Love,MollyLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

More and more these days, I find myself drawn to people who are doing inspiring and brave things in the world but whose journeys along the way came with challenges, hardships, and “cracking open” moments that developed their characters, passions, and souls.Today’s guest is a beautiful example of this.Larry Zier is a father of four girls, a loving husband, and a successful owner of two occupational therapy clinics in Chicago and Omaha. His passion is working with children, and he enjoys running, biking, yoga, boxing, and anything that will get him outside. His life is full of joy, love, and success.It wasn't always this way, however. His peace has been hard-earned.Larry’s father died when he was in high school. This traumatic event catapulted him into a life of drinking and drugs – not only to numb the pain of losing his father but also to cope with his feelings of shame, anxiety, and loneliness.The years of his addiction brought many wake-up calls including a party with a heroin-addicted grandson of a famous Hollywood star and getting a DUI. Finally, he forced himself to get sober, and through his journey back to sobriety, found his own voice and was finally able to face the grief of losing his father. From this space of clarity and healing came a deep calling to help children and families. Larry earned his clinical doctorate and became an occupational therapist to work with children in an area that is little understood and certainly underserved. He now helps children achieve their highest potential physically, emotionally, and socially. His approach is to treat each child individually, always keeping their unique strengths and differences in mind. He strongly believes in the role of family involvement, as well as collaboration with caregivers, teachers, and other professionals, as integral to a child’s growth and overall success. In this episode, Larry teaches us that true connection comes from learning how to regulate your nervous system. He even helps me navigate a challenging incident with my daughter in real time!Join me as Larry helps us all realize that life (and parenting!) is truly about connection instead of compliance, teaches us how to repair when there is a rupture, and guides us toward the power of presence we all experience when we have the courage to embrace the truth in our hearts.Love, MollyLearn more about Larry Zier and the work he does hereLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

One day, while driving home after dropping off my daughter at school, I listened to a Mel Robbins podcast interview with Dr. Russell Kennedy. He shared how he had gone to medical school to become a doctor and neuroscientist, done hundreds of hours of therapy, become a yoga and meditation teacher, traveled to India, tried medications and plant medicine, and was even a stand-up comedian! And yet through all of it, he struggled with crippling anxiety for decades. While listening I began crying because I felt a part of his story, was a part of my story as well.  I am a therapist and coach, have traveled to India and met the Dalai Lama, done hundreds of hours of therapy, tried plant medicine, published two books, have spoken on two TED stages, and have been raising two kids. Although all of this has brought me great joy in my life, I have also been running my body from a place I call "anxiety adrenaline" for most of it.Dr. Russell Kennedy, aka “The Anxiety MD”, specializes in the art and neuroscience of helping people recover from anxiety disorders. He knows anxiety from the inside out, as he developed his own anxiety disorder as a result of growing up with a dad with severe schizophrenia.We are all so lucky to have Dr. Russ join us for today’s episode of Cracking Open. He shares his personal story of how he healed his anxiety and teaches us that anxiety is simply old trauma energy that is stuck in our body and nervous system which sets off alarms over and over again telling us that we are not safe.   His award-winning book and audiobook, Anxiety RX, has sold more than 30,000 copies to date. Dr. Russ teaches a practical, actionable program for anxiety relief that incorporates a combination of the latest in neuroscience, with the grounding wisdom of the body, with the ultimate goal of relieving the anxious thoughts of the mind. Blending neuroscience with a more artistic approach he learned through living at a temple in India, taking psychedelics, and being a natural and gifted intuitive, Dr. Kennedy gives a unique and never-before-seen understanding of what anxiety truly is and exactly how it can be successfully treated. Join us as we discuss the brain, the lasting effects of unresolved childhood trauma, and how he believes deeply in non-traditional treatments for anxiety.Over 40 million people struggle with anxiety – 1 in 5 adults and 5.6 million kids.This is a staggering number and a lot of people who have anxiety keep it quiet due to shame and stigma.  But today we are blowing the lid wide open and shining a light where it is so desperately needed.If you, or anyone you love, struggle with anxiety, I highly recommend you tune in to what Dr. Russ Kennedy has to say. It could be a game-changer for you like it was for me.Love, MollyLearn more about Dr. Russ Kennedy hereGet a copy of Anxiety, Rx here  Connect with Dr. Russ on InstagramLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapConnect with Molly on Instagram and Facebook

Welcome to Season 4 of the Cracking Open podcast!  I am so excited to share with you all the wonderful guests we have lined up this season. Get ready for more incredible personal stories about cracking open moments, helpful tips and tools on how to handle the stressors of parenting, a deep look into how we can heal anxiety,  wisdom on how to live an honest and healthy life after addiction, and so much more!  We are kicking off this new season with Linda Sivertsen, a woman whom I have admired and learned from for many years – not only as an accomplished writer, but as a mom, woman, and fellow soul seeker.Linda always wanted to be a writer. And even though she was in the bottom third of her class academically, she had a dream one night where she saw herself as a writer of several books. That was all the encouragement that this dreamer needed to persevere through her old stories of not being good enough. Today Linda Sivertsen is known throughout the world as "Book Mama".  She is a book proposal doctor, author whisperer, agent connector, idea-fairy, and huge-hearted cheerleader of creativity for writers of all genres–and every gold-plated publishing dream. In the past twenty-four years, she has authored & co-authored eleven books. Her titles have won awards and hit all the lists as an author, co-author, and former magazine editor and ghostwriter. Not only is Linda a midwife of 6- & 7-figure book deals at her bi-monthly writing retreats in Carmel, but she is also the host of the top-ranked Beautiful Writers Podcast, a favorite stop for writers on tour. Throughout all of this incredible work in the literary field, Linda's driving force has been to publish sustainably. Naïve and optimistic enough to believe in magic, she’s on a mission to save forests via her role as a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Ambassador.Her work has been featured on CNN, E!, Extra, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the NY Post, the International Business Times, NY Post, Family Circle, Teen Vogue, The Huffington Post, and on the TEDWomen stage.Tune in to this inspiring and soul-searching conversation with Linda, as she shares with us the importance of finding your "why" in life, and how to move past your fears so you can follow your dreams.  Love,MollyLearn more about Linda Siversten and her virtual and Carmel writing retreats hereGet Linda's free top tips for writing and selling your book hereGet a copy of Linda's Beautiful Writers book here  Connect with Linda on Facebook, Instagram, & TwitterLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapFind me on Social:InstagramFacebook

Three years ago to the day that I lost my mom, the most devout Catholic I've ever known, I interviewed this week's podcast guest, who just so happens to be the daughter of a nun. Life is full of surprises, but rarely any accidents.Liz Dozier is the Founder & CEO of Chicago Beyond, an organization whose mission is to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to live a free and full life. Since its inception in 2016, Chicago Beyond has invested more than $40M in barriers to equity – from education, to youth safety, to health, wellness, and beyond.Raised by her mother, a former nun, and a father who was incarcerated, Liz has long felt called to lead a life of service, to root for the underdog, to elevate those in need, and to shine a light into the darkness. Her career journey is a beautiful summation of all of these. In 2009, Liz became the principal of Fenger High School, at the time known as one of the most violent and underperforming schools in the city of Chicago. Keenly aware of the correlation between these factors and the effects of traumatizing events outside of the classroom affecting these students, she quickly implemented many changes in the school that had dramatic and long-lasting positive effects on the school and its students' lives. Under Liz's leadership, Fenger became the first Chicago school to institute CARE teams to surround youths in crisis, the entire staff became trained in de-escalation and trauma-responsive approaches, and the school implemented grief counseling and anger group therapy sessions. The result? The school went from a 19% dropout rate to 2% and experienced double-digit increases in school attendance and graduation rate. Not only that, but Fenger became one of the district leaders in restorative justice, social-emotional learning, and academic interventions. Liz is a beautiful example of how one person can make a massive difference in improving the lives of those around them. She inspires us to remember that we all have the power to stand up for individuals and communities who are marginalized, traumatized, struggling, and desperate for someone to shine a light into the darkness. “I believe in people. Period. Full stop. I believe in the power of calling out inequities and calling in righteous and radical truth.” ~ Liz DozierTune in and bear witness to the awe-inspiring radical truths that Liz shares with us on the Cracking Open Podcast today. I hope it inspires you to shine your own unique and special light out into the world.Love,MollyLearn more about Chicago Beyond here Follow Chicago Beyond on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter Follow Liz on TwitterLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapFind me on Social:InstagramFacebook

Have you ever had a conversation with someone you just met, where time seems to come to a standstill and it feels like you have known this person for years? This is exactly what it felt like when I interviewed Tami Simon. Tami is the Founder and CEO of Sounds True, a wildly successful multimedia publishing company that she launched more than three decades ago with a dream and one clear mission – to disseminate spiritual wisdom. Now one of the top publishing companies for many of the leading teachers and visionaries of our time, Tami and her team of more than 110 employees are accomplishing their mission to wake up the world. Sounds True now has the world's largest living library of transformational teachings that support and accelerate spiritual awakening and personal transformation. Tami is not only creating shifts in consciousness through her life's work, however. She actually embodies what it means to live a life of awakening and transformation in her own personal journey which she intimately shares with us in this week's podcast. In fact, Tami admitted to me that this was one of the most intimate interviews she has ever given. Not only do we talk about the "why" behind her creation of Sounds True, but we also take a deep dive into her marriage, and discuss one of her deepest desires – to have soul freedom and help others discover their pure potential.This interview also held deep personal meaning for me. When my dad died in 2011, and again with my mom's death in 2019, there were days I had to drag myself out of bed. Yet even in those darkest of times, I was intuitively drawn to Sounds True's website time and time again. I always felt comforted as I clicked on their website, looking for support and solace in my grief.I have continued to turn to Sounds True when I find myself asking the bigger questions about my existence in this life, or even simply searching for tools to help my clients in the Cracking Open Coaching Program.Sounds True not only provides free resources, online courses, in-depth programs, and events, but it is also the home of many best-selling and beloved authors such as Pema Chödrön, Danielle LaPorte, Marianne Williamson, and Eckhart Tolle. Their newest endeavor is the recent launch of Sounds True One – an online membership that provides access to life-changing teachings and resources to support a soul-filled life.I have an immense amount of gratitude for this incredible library of spiritual resources that Tami Simon has helped bring into the world, and it is an absolute honor to share her story and life's journey with you all today. May her words, stories, and wisdom launch you into 2023 with an open heart, the courage to make any changes you may need or desire, and the deep knowing that you are never alone.Love,MollyCheck out the amazing library of resources at Sounds True Explore Sounds True One  Follow Sounds True on InstagramConnect with Tami on LinkedInLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapFind me on Social:InstagramFacebook

Welcome to 2023. I am so glad you are here!While reflecting on this brand new year and today’s podcast episode, I was reminded of the classic Native American legend called The Tale of Two Wolves.An elder Cherokee is teaching his grandson an important lesson about life. “There is a fight going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other wolf is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith." Then the elder placed a hand on his grandson and said, “The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The grandfather simply replied, “The one you feed.”So instead of setting New Year’s resolutions (which statistically often fail), I encourage you to instead ask yourself, “Which wolf do I want to feed this year?”Listening to today's conversation with Angie DeGeronimo is the perfect way to learn how to feed the healthy and more loving wolf inside of you. Angie is a habit change expert, transformation coach, and author of The Little Wonders Playbook, which provides guidance on simple, daily habits that can drive positive change in every area of your life. She has over 20 years of experience in the holistic health and fitness industry and pioneered the first multi-service wellness center in Silicon Valley to incorporate holistic health and wellness coaching in order to address physical, social, and emotional health.Angie is a sought-after consultant to Silicon Valley executives and Fortune 500 companies in high performance and executive leadership. Her list of clients includes Google, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, and Stanford School of Medicine. She has a special way of guiding us all toward self-compassion, joy, and realistic goals to feed the kind, generous and truthful parts of ourselves as we come into 2023.May this year be full of goodness for you.Love,MollyLearn more about Angie DeGeronimo and the Little Wonders Playbook hereCheck out Angie's 90-Day Transformational Program hereConnect with Angie:FacebookInstagramTikTok Learn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapFind me on Social:InstagramFacebook

Does this time of year bring up conflicting emotions for you? I know it does for me.I truly love buying gifts for my friends and family, attending holiday parties, and listening to Nat King Cole sing Christmas carols in all my favorite stores. But at the same time, I also carry around a pit in my stomach from the overconsumption of too many Christmas cookies and wine, and also from spending so much money! This leads me to often ask myself, “In all this holiday rigmarole, is something missing?”One morning while sitting in silence, I heard in response, “Yes, something is missing, and it is presence.” Gulp. We all know that presence is hard to come by this time of year with the busyness of the holiday season, as we attend parties and performances, wrap up year-end work deadlines, and check off our “to-do” lists.But what I'm realizing is that our presence truly makes the best presents of all.So I am gifting you the presence of this week’s special podcast guest, Candace Blair. Candace has been teaching Kundalini for over 10 years, is an experienced sound healer, a certified “Cacaoista”, a shamanic reiki practitioner & a lead coach for the “Alchemy of Becoming” methodology.But her story was not always one of yoga and meditation. Achieving what she thought was the American dream as a high-salary finance executive on the trading floors in Zurich and London, she was caught up in a lifestyle of drinking, smoking, and partying, while also going through a challenging divorce.When severe back pain brought her to tears on the trading room floor, Candace realized that she needed to stop her destructive lifestyle and uncover what was missing from her life. Thus began her transition from an unhealthy life of chaos and imbalance, into a new life filled with harmony, healing, and peace.In this Cracking Open Podcast episode, Candace not only shares her story of stepping into her true self with patience and love, but she teaches us about the amazing healing practices of Kundalini yoga, reiki, sound healing, and cacao ceremonies – all healing modalities that can help us heal our physical and emotional pains, and also bring us back to our breath, our hearts, and yes - our presence. As a very special gift for all of you, Candace performs the most beautiful crystal bowl sound healing at the end of the episode that will open your heart to receive more love, release trapped emotions in your body, elevate your mind, andraise your consciousness to experience more JOY.Candace is a gift to us all, and this episode is my gift to you. May it inspire you to be more present during this wonderful and busy time of year.I am so deeply grateful for each and every one of you.Merry Everything and Happy Always! See you next year!Love,Molly Learn more about Candace Blair hereCheck out Candace's upcoming events here Learn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapFind me on Social:InstagramFacebook

In talking to friends about their Thanksgiving stories, I began to become even more curious about people's relationships, attachments, and personalities. Why are we so attached to some family members, but not to others? Why do we feel safe around some people, but want to avoid or runaway from others?Why are some of us so uptight about cooking, while others can do itwith ease?Why do we sometimes crave solitude while other times love being ina large group?I have found that one of the greatest times of year to take a deeper look into our choices, our triggers, and even our own souls, is over the holidays. That makes this the perfect time to listen to attachment style expert Dr. Diane Poole Heller this week on the Cracking Open podcast! Diane Poole Heller, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized speaker, author and expert in the field of attachment theory and trauma resolution.This episode is going to blow your mind. Diane teaches us about the four different attachment styles: secure, avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganized. These are styles that we pick up in childhood and carry subconsciously into our adult behaviors. Not only do we go deeply into each attachment style, but we also discuss Diane’s near-death experience, the power of hugging and playing, strategies for coping with, and healing, unresolved trauma, and how to recognize that there are lots of ways to love one another.Her signature approach—DARe (Dynamic Attachment Re-patterning experience)—provides therapists and individuals with relevant skills and practical exercises that facilitate healing from attachment and trauma wounds. Diane is also the author of three books: The Power of Attachment: How to Create Deep and Lasting Intimate Relationships, a practical guide to restoring and reconnecting with our innate secure attachment as adults; Crash Course, on accident trauma; and the audiobook, Healing Your Attachment Wounds: How to Create Deep and Lasting Relationships.Her film, Surviving Columbine, aired on CNN and supported community healing after the Columbine High School shootings.Diane’s training programs, books, lectures, and work as a therapist have helped countless people in their healing journey toward experiencing greater intimacy, wholeness, and more fulfilling relationships. Not only will you walk away from this episode with helpful information about your attachment style, but you will also gain practical tips and tools on how to manage your emotions when you get triggered by the holidays, your family members, and yes - even different cooking styles.xo,MollyLearn more about Dr. Diane Poole Heller here Find out your adult attachment style hereLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapFind me on Social:InstagramFacebook

There are so many gems in this episode but one of my biggest takeaways is the importance of standing in your truth.Shaka shares his story with us about his own reckoning and realization that he initially wasn’t living his truth. Instead, he was living out an interpretation of his life rooted in his trauma. This trauma-informed life eventually led him into a 19-year imprisonment for 2nd-degree murder, seven of those years which were in solitary confinement. These dire circumstances would understandably crush most people's spirits. But Shaka was able to use this experience to uncover his own truth, envision a different future for himself, and hit the reset button on his true destiny.I don't think there are many people in this world who can say that they were able to find their ultimate freedom in a system that is designed to take every freedom away from you. But then again, there aren't many people like Shaka Senghor.The deep vulnerability that a life of imprisonment creates, forced Shaka into prolonged states of introspection and contemplation. In solitary confinement, he found his passion for reading and writing, and was particularly taken with Socrates' words, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” While examining his own life, he realized that he wanted to reclaim his authentic self, and vowed that going forward he would only live in the world in a way that honored his truth. Shaka asked himself the question, “How did I get here?”  And it was this question that changed his life and ultimately became a catalyst for getting him out of prison.In the decade since Shaka’s release from prison, he has garnered multiple awards and fellowships, has lectured at universities, and has both started and worked with nonprofits seeking to lift people up. Shaka has also visited the White House, been interviewed by Trevor Noah and Oprah Winfrey, given TED talks, and published two amazing books – Writing my Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison, and Letters to the Sons of Society: A Father's Invitation to Love, Honesty, and Freedom.I hope that today’s episode inspires you to have some deeper conversations with yourself about living your own truth. Here are some questions to contemplate:Are you honoring your truth?Are you living a life based on your trauma, or on a story that does not serve you anymore?How can you step out of your secrets into an examined life of truth?Love,MollyLearn more about Shaka herePurchase Shaka's book Letters to the Sons of Society hereFind Shaka on Social:InstagramTwitterFacebookListen to Shaka's collaboration with rapper Nas (featured at the end of the interview) hereLearn more about Molly Carroll hereGet your free Body Emotion MapFind me on Social:InstagramFacebook