The Kindred & Brave Project

Season 3: Episode 4 Micro Moment // Learning Your Grief

In this micro episode, I share the stories about how I’ve learned about my grief since my mom died. 
Learning about our grief is a way to understand how it shows up in our bodies and brains (hint: our body knows first). It’s a vulnerable choice to sit with the grief as it comes and examine the emotions it brings us. 
It’s self-awareness and self-compassion. 
 
Resources // 
Season 3: Episode 3 Collective Grief // with Claire Bidwell Smith 
Thank you for listening. Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid, and the universe has your back.
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy 

Season 3: Episode 3 Collective Grief // With Claire Bidwell Smith

Claire Bidwell Smith is a licensed therapist, international speaker, and the best-selling author of five books on grief and loss, published in 22 countries. Widely recognized as a leading voice in contemporary grief work, she has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Scientific American, Goop, and Oprah Daily, among many others.
Today, we have a conversation about what grief is, and the specific ways that we are experiencing it in 2026. Claire sheds light on how our grief needs safety and connection, how community can help us, and the value of empathy when there is collective and disenfranchised grief. 
Claire expresses hope for the future generations in holding space for grief and supporting others when they experience this inevitable, human emotion. 
Thank you for listening. Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid, and the universe has your back. 
Resources //
https://clairebidwellsmith.com/
https://www.instagram.com/clairebidwellsmith/
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy 

Season 3: Episode 2 Wintering // The Process of Going Inward

In today’s episode, I share with you the concept of Wintering, based on Katherine May’s book of the same title, as well as the feelings of sorrow many of us are experiencing not just due to the season, but because of the state of the world. 
Also, I share a bit about SAD, better known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, brought on in these cold, dark months, and ways to care for ourselves physically and emotionally. 
Thank you for listening. Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid, and the universe has your back. 
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy 

Season 3: Episode 1 The Great Shedding // Expectations Undone

In this first episode of 2026, Year of the Horse, I’m here to talk to you about the power of releasing expectations. I’m sharing the nitty-gritty details of why this practice matters and how it can help you build a new muscle and distress tolerance. With stories about motherhood and self-care, I hope you take what you need and know that you aren't alone.
A gentle reminder that it’s still winter, we can move slowly and gently as we shed last year. 
 
Thank you for listening. Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid, and the universe has your back.
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy

Season 2 Episode 15: ADHD & Our Neurospicy Journey

October is ADHD awareness month, and in honor of that & my own kiddo today, I share some candid stories about what this journey has looked like for us as a family. It’s an episode that sheds light on how having a neurospicy kiddo impacts the family as a whole and flips the script on what we “typically” learn about parenting.
I leave you with some of our hardest moments and biggest wins, as well as how to think about showing up for your students, friends, or relatives who have ADHD. 
Thank you for listening. Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid, and the universe has your back. 
Resources:
https://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/
Dr. Becky “The Single Most Important Parenting Strategy” 
Inspired by this Moth Card Deck -
Think about:
A time you felt the HEAT.
A time you got burned.
A time you fanned the flames.
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy-

Season 2 Episode 14: Midlife in the Wild // Finding Home

Hello - I’m back! Today, I talk about the summer I accidentally took off from here and what I’ve learned from falling apart. 
This episode isn’t about putting a pretty bow on the unraveling that is bound to happen in midlife; it’s about learning to turn within when your compass goes awry. 
It’s an honest chat about the inner work that never ends if we want to keep choosing ourselves. 
 
Resources // 
 
https://brenebrown.com/articles/2018/05/24/the-midlife-unraveling/
 
Thank you for listening. Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid, and the universe has your back.
Mandy

Season 2 Episode 13: Welcoming The Second Half of the Year

Today, I share all the things that have gone wrong in the last few months and how I realized that our lessons are in learning and that learning takes time, discomfort, and pushing against old ideas.
 
We have the opportunity to refuel - be it with grace, forgiveness, and the reminder that you know best how to fill your own tanks. 
 
Welcome to a brand new half of 2025. I hope you can take what you need. 
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy

Season 2 Episode 12: Letting Go of Should & Releasing Control

Does anyone else have some anxiety about how the first half of the year has gone? Maybe you aren’t “on track” with your goals, or life is "lifing" too hard that you feel stuck?
Today, I want to share some ideas about what happens when our brain tries to take control by using some of my own stories about the last 6 months. Spoiler: not a lot has gone as planned. 
I’ll leave you with some reminders & a lucky duck glimmer that I hope will make you feel seen & have a giggle at the unpredictable nature of life.
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy 

Season 2 Episode 11: Renegade Grief with Carla Fernandez

In this episode, I talk with Carla Fernandez, author of Renegade Grief and co-founder of The Dinner Party. We share grief stories and the power of connection during times of grief and loss. Carla shares important insights for how to navigate the Mother's Day and Father's Day holidays and ways to be an ally for other grievers and create rituals. 
 
https://www.carlafernandez.co/
 
https://www.thedinnerparty.org/
 
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy 

Season 2 Episode 10: A Eulogy // The Life of My Beloved Mama

I’m sharing something special with you all today. After 5 years I finally got the courage to write a eulogy for my mom.
 
We never got to have a service and I was never able to honor her in this way; I’m sharing some of the stories that describe who she was as a person, a mother, colleague, and grandmother. 
 
My hope is that you can learn more about me by learning more about her - some might say we are two peas in a pod.
 
This is also a testament that your grief journeys and rituals can look like whatever you want or need them to. If you never got to speak about your person the way you’d hoped you can use this as a practice for yourself. 
 
Thank you for listening.
Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid and the universe has your back.
With Gratitude,
 
Mandy