บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ Sparkles and Sunshine Episode 8- Todd "Your presence matters"

podcast is is just tremendous. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:53.360 So thanks for the opportunity. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:03:01.680 And I'm I'm staring at the the Grogu Yoda coffee cups right now that Erica gave me. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:17.039 And Erica, the only thing you forgot to add in that intro was one of our co-presenter when we did our five-hour continuing ed class this past conference, because let's be honest, it was so absolutely amazingly fun. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:26.800 And I think Todd was that perfect balance also for the two of us because we would bring the energy sometimes a little bit excessively high, and he was really great to ground us. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:29.919 So anyway, Todd, we're excited to learn more about you. 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:35.520 Yeah, Rachel, if I would have included everything, I would have taken over the entire podcast. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:40.560 I can't, I have lost count on how many times Todd and I have presented on various topics. 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:46.400 I've lost count on how many times we've helped students, I have lost count on how many times we have helped the profession. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.840 I just, there are so many things and we'd be here all day. 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:52.159 But it's not about us, it's about Todd. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:53.439 So Todd, yes. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:57.599 Tell us, tell us, tell us the things, tell us the things about you. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:03:58.800 Like, what do you do? 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:00.000 What do I do? 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:01.199 That is a great question. 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:13.280 I uh during the school year, uh between the months of September and May, I have the incredible privilege and pleasure of getting to be an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota in our music therapy program. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:15.599 It's been in existence since 1972. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:20.639 While I'm there, I get to teach classes, uh, which I just love. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:27.360 It's a great mix of classes in that I get to have our students pretty much from the beginning until about halfway through. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:30.399 And then my incredible colleague, friend, and mentor, uh Dr. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:34.079 Mike Silverman gets them for the other half of their way through. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:48.000 So it's pretty fun to get to teach these incredible freshmen and sophomores and half juniors as their hunger grows and their excitement grows and and and their intrigue grows, and they themselves, personally and professionally, grow. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:49.360 So it's it's fun to get to do. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:57.680 I then get to do a little bit of clinical work in the afternoons in our on-campus music therapy clinic, which is so it's so incredibly perfect for me. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.879 I've I've people have asked me over the years, do you like teaching? 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:10.319 And I'm like, absol

freaking literally, because I get to teach and I get to learn, and I get to help others all at the same time, whether it's our students or our service users or or myself. 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:11.360 So it's it's fun. 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:24.720 And then I get to dabble in a little something called research every now and then, which is kind of it feeds my nerdy side when I can't it is, but when I can't play Legend of Zelda or watch a Star Wars movie, this is another way to feed my nerd side. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:26.879 So it's it's awesome. 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.639 And we all know about research. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:34.480 Like it's it's just one way to hopefully help the profession and and and learn at the same time. 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:35.680 What else do you want to know about me? 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:36.560 I don't know what else to tell you. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:37.279 What else do you want to know? 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:38.879 Um, how long have you been in the field? 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:41.439 Oh, mathing at 9 28 a.m. 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:42.079 in the morning. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.199 I start, I'm gonna get my calculator out. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:45.839 That's a good question. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:49.519 So some of us kind of just look at our certificate and then do the math that way. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:50.800 Certificates at work. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:52.000 All right, so let's see. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:56.480 I graduated from my internship in 1998. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.079 So 2026 minus 1998. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:01.839 28 years. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:02.480 Wow. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:03.680 28 humbling. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.240 Thank you for doing work. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:07.279 Thank you for your service. 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:08.959 Holy, that's a long time. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:09.600 I like that. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:12.319 I it's an honor to get to do what we get to do. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:15.279 I mean, to me, there is nothing more amazing. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:22.480 I'm biased, of course, but there's nothing more amazing than to get to be a music therapist and to help others through through music. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.279 So yeah, gosh, I'm 28 years. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:26.000 That's crazy. 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:26.560 I'm old. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:29.920 Oh, this might be a fun another math question. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:31.600 How many years of parenting? 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:32.480 Uh, that's easy. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.319 Anya is 21. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:35.759 And no, 22. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:37.600 I should know how old my daughter is. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:38.399 My gosh. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:39.680 We won't tell her. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:40.480 She's sleeping. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.360 Ani was born in 2004. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:44.399 She's 22. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:45.680 She turned 22. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:46.480 Oh my gosh. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.079 I have been a daddy for 22 years. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.199 And how long have you been a fur baby daddy? 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:53.839 Seven. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:54.480 Yeah. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.800 Why do I know that faster than I know my own? 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:57.199 Right. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:59.759 I was thinking like that says something right there. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:02.560 That like it was that was a super quick response. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:07.199 Like, I we understand the priorities now and where they're set up. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:08.319 That is fantastic. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:12.000 She also just turned seven last week, so there's there's that. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.319 Oh, happy belated birthday! 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:15.279 Thanks. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:17.839 Okay, I know you've got a lot of them. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.839 So choose maybe a few. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:21.519 Perfect if you could choose one. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:22.639 Claim to fame. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:24.319 Claim to fame. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:27.120 I would have to say. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:29.680 I'll do a recent one. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:30.399 How about that? 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.600 I'm talking about Legend of Zelda in video games. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.839 I beat the original Legend of Zelda game in one day. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:38.560 Wow. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:38.879 Oh. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:46.160 You know, it was just one of those, like, I need a self-care, self-compassion kind of moment, and I need to like shut down with some other stuff. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.160 And I'm like, I'm gonna play a video game. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:53.600 And within like four hours, it wasn't like an all-day 24-hour thing because I was gonna ask, how long? 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:54.959 Yeah, no, four hours. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:55.920 That's impressive. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:58.000 And you weren't like speed playing? 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:01.040 I mean, I don't I I don't think so. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:12.319 You know, but like when you know something so well and it's like automatic, and it was just it was four hours of I am doing some self-care, self-compassion, and ain't nobody gonna bother me. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:16.720 For me, I'm thinking to myself, how can I get four hours uninterrupted? 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:18.560 You know, like no across the board. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:22.959 Like that to me seems like such an amazing goal. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:29.040 Like someday I'm gonna get there where nobody's gonna talk to me for four hours straight. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:34.000 It was so for me, it was my wife was at work. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:39.200 Our youngest daughter is working up at an overnight camp all summer long, so she wasn't around. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:50.559 The the the puppy, who's literally right there, participating

in the podcast, she was just sitting with me the entire time, and the other one was studying anatomy because she's taking anatomy online this summer. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:55.840 So I I had four hours of so and I never done that before. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:09:05.360 So I I don't know if it's a Guinness book of world record kind of thing, but it's my personal claim to fame that I think I beat it faster than anyone else has ever beaten it. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:17.519 Yeah, so there's actually a YouTuber that my husband sometimes follows, and which is it's called something along the lines of you can beat video games, and he goes through all the old video games and like has all these tricks and hints. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:19.039 Do you know what I'm talking about, Todd? 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:22.080 I haven't seen it, but but yeah, yeah, I totally get that. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.879 Oh my gosh, but it's amazing, and I feel like he's definitely gone through Zelda. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:36.639 And I I think he even figured out how to hack like Tetris to be able to get the highest number of points or whatever, like when it gets super fast, like the further you go on, right? 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:37.519 Serious? 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:42.720 Yeah, no, I mean there's like a whole thing that's where that can be your next four-hour thing is that you go down a major rabbit hole. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:47.679 Like he goes through Mario Brothers and like you know, all of the the great games from our childhood. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:48.639 Love that. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:49.840 That's so cool. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:51.120 Oh, okay. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:53.039 Well, we're gonna keep on doing math. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:53.759 Okay. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:55.919 How many years of driving? 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:04.080 I have been driving for 35? 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.519 35 years. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:07.039 That's a long time on the road. 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:07.919 Hold on. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:09.519 Everybody's gotta do the math. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.559 Oh, literally, this is the question that trips up everybody. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.639 Everybody's like, oh, crappy doodles. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.039 Erica even had to do it like seven times and still got it wrong. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.120 Right, so it was I was I was I was 16. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.080 It was my question. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:21.679 Oh how do we do this math? 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.039 This is like algebra. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.559 Ah, okay. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.639 Okay, wait. 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:29.039 20, 20, 26. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:31.279 No, okay, so I'm just oh no, wait, I know how to do this. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:32.080 Just do your age. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:34.080 51 minus 16. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.360 Yeah, 35. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:36.000 Got there. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:36.879 You got there. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.279 Woo! Wow. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:43.279 You know, you think about it, like the film of music. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:44.960 Fundamentally, it's math. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:47.360 Writing notes and breaking down like it's math. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:52.480 You would think we as musicians would not hurt so hard when it comes to math. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:59.440 And yet I swear to God, every single music therapist that comes on is like, oh, ow, yeah, yeah, hands down. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:10:59.679 Yeah. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:03.440 So I'm gonna put a collage together of everybody at this moment. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.720 Like it's gonna be so funny. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.600 Oh, that'd be fun. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.399 Okay, so then go to junk food or snack. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:09.200 Popcorn. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.159 Any flavor? 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:11.440 More butter the better. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:11.919 Okay. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:12.320 Yeah. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:13.600 Any salt? 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:16.320 I mean, I'm not too much of a salt fan. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:22.399 You know, but but I mean, yeah, like I'm excited to go see what's the movie that just came out? 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:23.840 The the the the Odyssey. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:27.679 And like movie theater popcorn, like they do it perfectly. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:33.360 Like they've got just the right mix of butter and salt, so that you buy a bigger drink. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.960 Like, it's it's it's all marketing. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:36.480 Like they they just want you to be thirsty. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.840 But yeah, I love popcorn. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:43.759 I I I I whenever I'm writing or whenever I'm grading, or you know, whatever I popcorn's my go-to. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:44.480 Love it. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:45.840 Oh, so good. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:46.960 That's so good. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:47.600 Uh uh. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.960 Are you running any businesses currently? 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.600 Not me. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:54.480 No. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:56.720 Ooh, do you want to give a plug for your wife? 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:57.120 Can I? 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.399 Can I give a shameless plug? 00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:58.799 Yes. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.200 Yes. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:07.440 Uh my amazing, incredible wife, way better half than me, owns an event planning business called Shalom Events. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:21.039 And she actually recently went international and and helped, like, does it have a So one of our friends, one of our colleagues that we know, Lindy Walker, did a little social event at the World Congress of Music Therapists. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:21.519 Right. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:24.559 And when we were there, Brent helped. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:25.440 She's got internet. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:29.200 She took pictures of the

event, she's gonna use them like in her marketing, and she's so good. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.480 Shameless plug for her. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.039 That's amazing. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:31.919 No, I don't have any. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.600 What is her service area? 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:43.519 Like, where does she typically, when she is stateside and not living her best international life, what is where can people who are listening expect to get in touch with her about? 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:45.200 Um, Minneapolis, St. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.799 Paul, and all the surrounding cities and areas. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:49.759 Perfect. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:13:02.159 One of the things that is so important to both Eric and I when we started this podcast was really about finding joy and finding joy in little things and big things, but in everything and every day. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:05.360 So, what has brought you guys joy this week? 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:09.759 I would say the biggest thing that's brought me joy over the last week is is family. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:19.279 I uh Brenda and I just had a chance to spend two weeks together away, and we've never done anything like that, ever. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:33.279 And just the opportunity to share in the memories that that that we created and we we engaged in and the privilege that that we had to to have access to those memories, it was amazing. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.399 It was absolutely amazing. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:47.519 And then to come home and see our oldest daughter who had taken care of the dog for two weeks all by herself was another high of wow, this is joyful. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.919 Like you did this, we're so proud of you. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:57.840 And then the dog sponkers when when when I came home, she's a little attached to me. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.519 But at the center of all that, the the connector with all that is is family. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:04.159 Family brings brings joy for sure. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.639 That is so awesome, Todd. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:12.639 I'm going to piggyback off of that because I also had a family-related joy recently. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:14.799 My oldest is in gymnastics. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:18.639 And for those who have listened to the other episodes, you already know. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.919 You already know. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:21.679 Pay attention to episode three. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:45.519 Anyway, I was watching her in gymnastics, and lo and behold, it brought me joy because it wasn't of something that she did in one of the little obstacles, it was how she helped somebody else on the team, and they were doing some move on some bar thing. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:47.360 I don't know the terms, okay? 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.879 We all know this, friends. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:54.159 And this other friend is significantly shorter than my oldest. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:59.919 If

anybody knows my kids, my kids are destined to be over six feet tall. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:04.480 So they have always been the tallest kid in their class. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:09.360 And my daughter towers over the other 12-year-olds. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:14.559 And so there's a 10-year-old in her group that is half the height of her. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:26.240 So, as you can about imagine, getting up on the bars in gymnastics is can be a little challenging for individuals who are vertically challenged, myself included. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:38.000 And my daughter did a beautiful job of breaking down the steps and helping her friend gain that self-confidence and that self-esteem that they could do it. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:46.960 And I kid you not, the next try that this friend or teammate did after my daughter had helped her, she got it and she got up on the bar. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:49.440 And it just brought me so much joy. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.440 She didn't know anybody was watching. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:53.840 There was nothing that she was trying to prove. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:56.080 It was her genuine self. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:05.600 And by the time my brain was registering everything and the time had passed, then I brought my phone out and tried to capture at least a photograph of the aftermath. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.279 But I mean, I I tried. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:18.399 So that brought so much joy because as a parent, you always, or at least for me, I often wonder what are they gonna carry on from their parents. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:27.360 And I know that I went into a helping career because I genuinely love to help and care. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:40.559 And I don't know how much of that really will translate to my kids, but those moments give me a little hope that oh, oh there's a little me in there. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:47.360 There's a little me in there, and it's like showing up organically, and yeah, it was it was such a joyful moment. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:50.639 I actually think it's better that you didn't record it, right? 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:53.600 Because that to me makes it even more authentic. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:17:00.720 And I had a moment like that as well, Erica, this weekend where um somebody came up to me and was like, Is that your daughter? 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.399 And I was like, Oh crap. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:04.000 Yes, that's mine. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:16.799 And it was a gentleman who was pushing a woman in a wheelchair, and he said, I just wanted to let you know that your daughter was so wonderful and asked if she could hold the door open for us as we went through. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:19.680 And we just wanted to make sure that we let you know, right? 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.519 I wasn't there, I had no idea. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.440 I would never have known, right? 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:31.200 But she just did that, and I was like, Oh my gosh, my my little human, there are redeeming qualities that are definitely me that are part of this person. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:37.440 Not that my husband wouldn't do something like that too, but you know, it's it's those validating moments like, yes, things are getting through. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.799 Like of all of really it's like throwing spaghetti at the wall, right? 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:54.240 You just hope some things are sticking, and when you get those validations that the right things are sticking, you're like, okay, okay, it's not just all of my neuroticisms and the things that you know are gonna lead to therapy later on, like some of the good things are actually sticking. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.559 Yes, you know that yeah. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.160 Oh that's so good. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:17:59.839 Those are beautiful. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.200 We all those are beautiful. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.720 I love this. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.720 I love this so much. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:12.799 And then of course, you know, part of why it's important to find joy in life is because the reality is that life is just not always joyful. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.559 Like we want it to be, but it's just not. 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:24.480 And it's it's got lots of challenges and it's got moments where we have to kind of just breathe and go, yep, let's just figure out how to get through this because it's gonna we're gonna find the joy afterwards. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.799 So, what are some challenges you guys have overcome? 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:34.960 For me, and and those of you that that that know me, um, know that I I have a immense fear of flying. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.240 Rachel, did you not know that? 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.240 I didn't understand that in your intro. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.200 You're welcome. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.160 Thank you. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.759 No, I had no idea. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:49.039 I know that you always drive everywhere, but in terms of our region, but I figured that was just because it is a very drivable region. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:55.759 Sunday, I flew nine and a half hours home and proud of you. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.880 So proud of you. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:57.839 Stop. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.720 But thanks. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.960 It goes back to family too. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:04.799 You know, I uh Brenda was with me, and you know, she's my rock. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:10.000 She's the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and I probably would have done it, I think, without her. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:14.079 But to to have her there for that for that flight, you know, there and back. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:20.240 It so I did it, and I I feel relieved, of course, that that stressor is behind me. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:28.559 The next time I fly, it'll be in November to be with my entire family for Thanksgiving, which we haven't done in a long

time. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:37.200 Yeah, that's that's that's a little obstacle that that I've just kind of struggled with and pushed through and struggled with and pushed through and struggled with and pushed through. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:51.440 And each time I push through, I I I feel not only a an immense sense of relief because it's behind me, but I also have this reflection of, come on, Schwartzberg, like you did it, and you can do that. 00:19:51.599 --> 00:20:00.079 And and I use it as an opportunity with my daughters as an example of, you know, when things stress you out, there is always a way through. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:04.480 You know, it's it's not blow yourself up by your bootstraps, it's not that. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:19.279 It's lean on the people or lean on your resources around you that validate your fear, validate your concern, validate the thing that's that's that's worrying you, and and help you push through it. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.559 That's huge. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.000 That's amazing. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:22.880 Oh, thank you. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.599 Kudos. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:24.960 Wait in no way to push through. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:34.079 Like if somebody who has like mega fears with certain things that like are debilitating, and I can't some of them I can't overcome, like that's amazing. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.440 Like really amazing. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.720 Okay, Erica, your turn. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.839 Pronouncing words. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.319 Okay. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.759 Okay, till more. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.200 Words. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:50.720 So right now, in the present moment, there are these trends that occur on this stuff called social media. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.200 Okay. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:21:08.880 And some have created a career out of trending things and like collecting these and then trying to put them all in one spot so that way if one person would like to look at all the things that are trending on this social media platform and this social media platform, then they can find it and get it. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:14.559 Well, one of these hot topic items was introduced to me last week. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:20.720 And the first time I heard it, I was like, excuse you, because it sounded like they kind of sneezed. 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:22.240 And I was like, What? 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:30.880 And what they were describing, friends, are these little tiny, like no taller than three-inch little people almost. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:41.440 But they don't have fingers, they don't have toes, they're bold and they glow in the dark if you kind of put them underneath uh light, and they just really, really love them. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:45.920 And they find everything so cute about them, and they're all in these like different poses. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:51.359 They come in these mystery boxes, so you don't know which pose you're going to get until you open the box. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.799 Okay, you ready for it? 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:55.519 They are called smiskies. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.079 Okay. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:58.000 So, yep, excuse you. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:58.400 What? 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.359 Did you sneeze? 00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.839 No, I didn't. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.880 Not sneeze. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.960 They're called smiskies. 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:08.640 And when I was talking about them, I was like, smis how do you spell that? 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:12.720 So S M I S K I Smiski. 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:17.119 And so then I bought a box for the team. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:20.960 And it's it's being counted towards one of my positive acts for the month. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:27.200 So each one on Thursday, each of my employees is gonna get a little box of these smiskies. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.160 Oh my gosh. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.279 Well, YouTube, sorry, you can't even see it because our background. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:31.759 There we go. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.880 Smiskies. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:34.799 And we're gonna see what happens. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.640 Everybody's gonna find out what they get. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.000 And great. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.920 Go in the dark figures. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:45.200 I overcame my challenge of not being able to pronounce this word. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.759 And now my Google search has it. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.680 Yeah, so everybody look it up. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.759 It's trending hardcore. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:59.119 I actually, when I was looking at the website, really, really want their little zipper clips because they're so cute. 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:05.039 They're like hugging the zipper, and it kind of just adds an extra input when you're trying to find a zipper to something. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:08.240 And they've got little purse charms. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:19.519 Right now, my employees really love their the the ones, the things that go on your desk all really any any hard surface or flat surface, but they're not so much into the straw covers or the keychains or purse charms. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:22.720 But yeah, that's that's a challenge I overcame. 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.400 There's a display shelf. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.680 Did you find it all? 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.680 There's a display shelf. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:30.240 I also kind of leads into my next one. 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:37.519 So I'm trying to prevent another parenting fail with my daughter, and she also gets one of these. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:41.599 Because I'm supposed to be able to read my daughter's mind. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:44.880 And I know she loves all the social media platforms. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:47.359 So I'm preventing a parenting fail. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.039 And maybe you all can do that too.

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:51.359 But Todd, now is the time. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:54.960 We would love to hear a parenting fail of yours. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:57.759 It could have happened recently, it could have happened in the past. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.720 It does not matter. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:02.079 We just want one parenting fail. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:14.400 Well, we can start with one, and then I think we're gonna end up having an episode where people will just write in parenting fails, and it'll be an all-out parenting fails phenomenon because there's just so many. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:18.480 My oldest is 22, as we found out just a bit ago. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.480 The youngest is is 18. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.480 You have so many. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:33.440 So many learn from together that's that's that's 40 years of of parenting failures, parenting growth opportunities. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.480 Good lordy. 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:43.599 I'm gonna say early on, as first-time parent, I remember some of y'all may know that that my primary instrument is is piano. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:46.720 And I've been playing since I was wee little. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.920 Uh three. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:25:00.400 When when we brought Ani home, uh Anya home from the hospital, Brandon and I, so we came in, she was born in January, and if it was like frickin' cold outside, um, because that's what it is in the winter in Minnesota. 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:06.000 Um she was in this like carrier that like snapped into like the the what's it called? 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.640 Stroller. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:08.720 Oh gosh, there's so many things I could tell you about that. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:17.599 Anyway, okay, so uh you remember the first time we had to like like hook in like the the the carrier into like the back seat, and you're like, where does this go? 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.799 And like like how do I how do I like connect this? 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:23.200 I can't reach into the seat to get it to buckle. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.000 Okay, anyway. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.039 Whole other story. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:37.279 But anyways, so we brought her home and she was in this carrier and she had like this cover that was over her um because it was cold outside, and so she was all swaddled in there, and then the cover was all on her, and we just put her down. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:49.680 I remember Brett and I so we put her down like in the this little tiny little like living room that we had, and Brett and I sat down on the couch, and we literally both said at the same time, now what? 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:51.839 What do we do with this thing? 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:58.400 She doesn't need to eat for another hour, she doesn't need to like be changed until she starts crying again, probably in five minutes. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:02.480 Uh it was like on the in the like we can't play with her because she's

four days old. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.039 So we're like literally said to each other, now what? 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:07.920 So we just gotta let her sit there. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:09.759 And we both fell asleep. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:12.079 I mean, we didn't forget about her. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:16.720 People out there, please don't think that I hurt my child. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:18.240 We fell asleep. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:21.119 We were so exhausted exhausted, especially Bren. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:25.440 I mean, you know, what Bren went through, what moms go through uh in in labor. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.119 Like she was she was done. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:30.240 And uh we woke up like six hours later. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.920 Whoa! What? 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.519 Um that's impressive. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.319 We were like, are they gonna take her away from us? 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:38.160 No, there are worse things. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:38.880 I know. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:43.519 So then a couple years later, Ani was was starting to walk around. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:46.160 And not a couple years, I guess like what, 18 months later? 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.119 Um, give or take. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.400 So she was starting to walk around. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.279 So I have a piano. 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:52.880 This is where I was going with the whole piano thing, but then I remembered like the first day we brought her home. 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:56.160 So you know how you like babyproof things, right? 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:56.720 Yeah. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:00.880 Your cabinets and your electrical outlets and your stairs and okay. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:03.519 So apparently you need to baby proof a piano. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.240 Did you know this? 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.839 Uh no, same more. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:10.720 So I always leave my my lid on the piano open. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:14.880 Um, she reached up and she was just like playing on the keys a little bit. 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:17.279 I'm like, oh my gosh, that's so cute. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:19.839 And I was just listening to her from the kitchen. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:22.240 I'm like, that's awesome! She's playing the piano. 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:26.160 She's a future blah blah blah famous pianist. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:28.559 And all of a sudden I hear wailing. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:32.880 I don't know how the lid fell, but it got her fingers. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:36.079 And I'm like, oh my gosh, all I had to do was just close the lid. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.759 But I wanted it to be accessible. 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:42.000 I wanted her to be able to like play the piano and you learn. 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.279 Yes, Owie. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.880 Yeah, big Owie. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:48.240 Thankfully, she was not um scared of the piano. 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:52.880 Yeah, and was it one of

those covers that kind of came down hard? 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.960 Oh it yeah. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:59.119 Oh no, yeah, it wasn't a slow thing. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:02.240 It was she's fine, she's good. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:15.279 And honestly, the story of when like the first day you brought her home, like when kids are at the potato stage, right, where they literally just sit there, they can't do anything, they eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.799 Like that is their existence. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:23.599 Like, it is really hard, as especially as a parent, because and right after, because you're so tired, you're like, I don't know what I'm doing. 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:30.799 And then especially as the female, the hormones are just like you know, all over your body, and you have no idea what's going on. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.160 You can barely see straight. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:35.839 You're sweating up a storm because life so relatable. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:44.240 Okay, well, my epic parenting fail, um, I wish was when my kids were really young, but sadly it's not. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:49.119 So, as with all of my good parenting stories, there's a little bit of a backstory here. 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:58.720 So, one of the things that my daughter and I love to do is we don't cut our hair usually for about a year and a half to two years because then we donate it, right? 00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:00.319 And we pick different organizations. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:06.480 We have done Wigs for Kids that's based out of southeastern Michigan, and they make uh wigs for kids with cancer. 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.759 So we really have loved them. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:15.279 Uh, we also did another one recently that I'm completely blanking on the name because well, but that's just where I'm at. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:27.519 But it's another organization that makes that focuses primarily on kids, and it's not just cancer, but it's any kid who has like a variety of issues that for whatever reason is losing their hair, maybe alopecia, whatever it might be, that will benefit from a wake. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.720 So it's something that we do. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:29.759 It's a lot of fun. 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:40.079 I love the idea of being able to teach my daughter how to give back in like a very easy way because hair grows, it's not a big deal, it doesn't cost any money, it's wonderful. 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:40.720 Okay, fine. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:44.640 So she and I have done this together probably three times now throughout her life. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:49.119 Anyway, the last time we did this, it was let me think about this now. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:51.279 I think it was it was over a year ago now. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:54.160 I think it was right around both of our birthdays in the spring. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:30:02.960 And her and also part of the challenge we had with her as her hair

has been growing out for this, as because she was so young, she wasn't taking care of it, right? 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:11.440 So it got to a point where we're like, we need to get a minimum number it length so that we can chop it off and start again because oh my gosh, it was such a struggle to get her to brush it. 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.720 Fine, not a big deal. 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:15.680 Okay, so this last time it's gotten really long. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:20.880 My hair is super duper long because it's probably been about a solid two years, right? 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:23.039 And I'm like, let's go, let's cut it really short. 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:24.400 This is gonna be amazing. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.519 I'm super excited. 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:28.400 I'm telling my daughter, I'm like, I think we're gonna probably end up. 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:31.039 I think she cut off 10 inches of hair. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:34.799 I think I may have done 11 or 12 or whatever. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:37.440 Anyway, regardless, we it was like a massive donation. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.400 It was great fun. 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:39.680 At least I thought so. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:43.200 Anyway, we have a great woman that we go to who's fantastic with kids. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:46.880 We've been taking both kids to her ever since really we started cutting their hair. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:49.680 Anyway, we're joking around, we're having a great time. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:52.400 My daughter gets a very traditional bob, right? 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:55.599 Because it works well, it grows out nicely, everything is awesome. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:31:06.000 We have a tradition where we will go get our hair cut, we put it in the mail, and then we go and we get a pastry or we get something special to sort of signify it. 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:13.279 Okay, what I didn't realize after we got her hair cut the last time was that first of all, we got it cut shorter than she wanted. 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:16.799 But of course, she didn't tell me this, which is of course a theme, right? 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:19.599 You know, because again, I'm supposed to know. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:33.599 And what I also didn't realize, and this is where the worst possible fail could come in, is that my daughter prides herself every year for her school pictures that she has two French braids in her hair. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:35.440 This is how she always has her hair. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:45.680 We have our pictures up on our stairs, and each year we have like as the one stair goes up, there's the next year's picture, and it's great, and we can see the kids throughout the years as they're getting older. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.519 It is super cute, and I love this. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.759 Okay, so I can see all the French braids. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:54.720 However, come picture time, somebody's hair was not quite long enough. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:57.519 I was able to do a French braid. 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:01.599 But the problem was you couldn't see. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:16.880 I got it, so like the end of the braid was right at the nape of the neck, so it didn't show at all when it came to the picture, which was the most unacceptable thing that has ever happened, for which I didn't know that this was really what was necessary in life. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:38.480 And so the reality was my daughter is sobbing right before picture day because she cannot believe the audacity that I had to cut her hair so short and the forsaken Bob, because now she's anti-Bob, because that of course is the issue. 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:41.599 And she insisted we had to do the retake. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:47.759 I did two braids on either side of her head, like I found unique ways, and she was like, Why can't you get me extensions? 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:53.039 You don't understand, like all out freaking out. 00:32:53.920 --> 00:33:02.960 And um, I have learned my lesson that I will never, if we do this hair donation again, which I don't even know if we're gonna do it as a joint thing again, obviously. 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:09.680 It's never gonna be that short, and it continues to be an issue because now she's like, Mommy, look how long my hair is. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:11.839 Look how amazing it is. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:14.240 I just love all of my berades. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.680 And I'm like, Yes, dear. 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.480 So there you go. 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:18.160 There's my epic failure. 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.119 Wow. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:22.480 Yeah, isn't that isn't that amazing, Erica? 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.519 Classic. 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.200 Very classic. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.079 It's very classic. 00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:34.480 And you know, as much as we fail, there's so much more that we get to learn from it as well. 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:39.119 And it's a great segue to where we get to lead this podcast next. 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:42.160 What's something that you have learned recently? 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:49.039 It could be anything, it could be from a book, it could be from anything that you've heard from another podcast or from the radio. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:50.720 I mean, who listens to the radio still? 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.519 I do. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:55.039 And or through your veils. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:58.319 So, Todd, what have you learned recently? 00:33:58.640 --> 00:34:01.119 I read a lot of like different things like here and there. 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:06.079 Like sometimes I'll like randomly read an article about music therapy. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.039 Imagine that. 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:13.039 Sometimes I'll read an article that is has nothing to do with music therapy whatsoever, but there's always a connection that you can make. 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:18.559 And then like sometimes I come across

this article and I'm like, wow, that's so flippin' cool. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:29.360 So the other day, I was reading that scientists recently discovered a new planet that is like bordering like this like new like star. 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.960 Like everything is new about it. 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:31.599 I don't know. 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.519 In our galaxy? 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:38.320 So I'm still unclear on that, but I think it's not in our galaxy. 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:40.480 Don't go for follow-up questions, friends. 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.920 Okay, Todd is learning. 00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.960 I'm learning. 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:46.800 So I'm like, you know, this is pretty damn cool. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:50.639 I'm like this, like I'm always hungry for like more information. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:35:00.480 So I recently went, y'all know, I I recently had the privilege and opportunity to to go to Italy and never been anywhere like that before. 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:07.920 And it gave me this incredible introspection of just honestly how small the world really is. 00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:14.239 And then I read this article while I was in Italy that a new planet had been discovered around this new star that had been discovered. 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:16.079 And I'm like, that's amazing. 00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:37.280 Like, not only is our world really small, but our existence, like our galaxy and outside of our galaxy, like it's ginormous, but the potential for someone else to be like another Todd, Rachel, or Erica out there, like just grew again because this new planet was was was discovered. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:44.079 So it it it just gave me this really cool introspection that we need to be more kind to one another. 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:46.880 We need to be more open to learning about one another. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:56.239 No matter if we're here in the city of Shakapee, which is for those of you that don't know, it's a little suburb south of Minneapolis, or it's somewhere in Michigan. 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:58.320 Rachel, I can never remember what city you're in. 00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:59.119 I think it's Ann Arbor. 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:00.960 Absolutely in Ann Arbor. 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:02.639 I know, I know, I'm joking. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:04.079 Uh blue. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:23.440 So you know, or or it's in Italy, and I'm talking to like these incredible people in Bologna, and we're connecting about human things, and it just gave me this really cool moment of be open to learning more about yourself and learning more about others. 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:28.000 And that was that was my deep dive nerd self-introspective moment. 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:45.519 Well, I love that you started on the nerd train because I'm gonna continue the nerd train, but I'm gonna go on a psychology nerd train today because I am giving a presentation in a couple days for a group of social workers, and it's part of they're

getting some continuing ed units for it, and I'm really excited about it. 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:58.800 But in preparation for it, I was doing a deep dive into some different articles that are present, things where I could learn maybe a little bit more just to help add to the presentation that I typically end up giving in various areas. 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:04.000 Anyway, so this concept and this theory I discovered through the article. 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:09.039 It's called a systematic review of music therapy intervention used to address emotional needs of older adults. 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:09.760 Right? 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:15.039 It's uh an article that was in The Arts in Psychotherapy, or the journal, I should say. 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:21.039 And it's called the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, right, known as SST. 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:26.159 And the concept of it, so it was developed by psychologist Laura L. 00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:36.320 Karstensen, I believe, in the 1990s, and explains how people prioritize emotionally meaningful goals and relationships as they perceive the remaining time in life to be limited. 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:41.920 The central idea is that the awareness of time passing influences what people value and pursue. 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:51.280 So when individuals perceive their future as expansive, they focus on knowledge-related goals, such as learning, career development, and forming new social connections. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:38:02.079 But when they feel that time feels limited, they prioritize emotion-related goals and they're seeking immediate emotional satisfaction and meaningful social interactions. 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:08.000 And why this was something that I was specifically interested in is specifically because of my work with seniors. 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:30.480 And it helps give that added perspective of the things that when I'm working with individuals maybe with a dementia diagnosis or even those with a life-limiting diagnosis, for example, like cancer or Parkinson's, reality is they're gonna want to focus more on those emotionally meaningful situations that instead of something like gaining or increasing knowledge and things like that. 00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:35.039 So I just thought it was really interesting and you know me, I love learning. 00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:36.400 So there you go. 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:38.079 There was there's my little nuggets. 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.679 That's really cool. 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:40.400 I know. 00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.840 Did you know that theory, Todd? 00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:50.320 I feel like you of all people would probably have known it, but I I didn't, but I was I I just Googled it. 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.519 But yeah, send me the article. 00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:53.039 Um I was just Googling the theory. 00:38:53.360 --> 00:39:01.440 It's very much the article is a very broad stroke kind of thing, but what I appreciated was the reference to this because I never heard of it before. 00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:05.519 And I may end up utilizing that as part of this presentation. 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.559 So that's cool. 00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:12.880 And it's it's got applicability uh across ages, across people that that we we get to work with. 00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:13.679 So that's cool. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.559 That's really cool. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:16.000 Oh my gosh. 00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:17.280 I want to learn so much more. 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:20.480 Okay, okay, so speaking of learning, right? 00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:23.519 As we all know, we love our students. 00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:25.440 Our students make everything better. 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:31.280 Our students are part of what keeps us feeling young and excited in this profession. 00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:33.519 And they like to ask questions. 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:40.320 And I wish they would ask more questions because I feel like the more questions they ask, the more opportunity for all of us to learn. 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:56.159 But the question for us to focus on today, and Todd, we chose this question just for you, based upon all of your amazing strengths as a professor and as a human being, is how do I write better treatment goals and session notes? 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:56.880 Discuss. 00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:59.679 There's a couple ways that I I I kind of want to answer it. 00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:09.119 In our music therapy classroom, which also serves as our clinic room as well, we have a sign that was made by one of our graduating classes. 00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:11.840 Um, Erica's probably seen this, I'm sure. 00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:18.960 It sits up on like a stereo cabinet where like we keep our computer and stuff in the classroom. 00:40:19.199 --> 00:40:24.639 And the sign that the students made says, it depends. 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:27.119 Because that's kind of our answer. 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:29.360 That's always what I say. 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:33.199 I'm like, just like everything in the field of music therapy, it depends. 00:40:33.599 --> 00:40:34.559 Really does. 00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:37.679 Um, and it's not just an answer for music therapy. 00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:39.599 Like, it could be an answer to our kids. 00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:40.480 It depends. 00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:42.320 So that's one way I want to answer it. 00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:48.400 Is it it really does depend on a variety of variables. 00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:51.440 Who are we writing this treatment plan with? 00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:54.960 Why are we writing this treatment plan with them? 00:40:55.280 --> 00:40:57.119 What what was the referral? 00:40:57.280 --> 00:40:58.800 What was our assessments? 00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:04.480 Uh, you know, all of that, all of that is is is the stuff that goes into the it depends. 00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:11.360 The other way to answer this is is why I was choosing the

words doing with our service users. 00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:20.480 I do not believe at all that we can do our work without intentionally involving our clients. 00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:25.599 I call them service users, their family members, if if that's if that's accessible. 00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:28.159 We have to write with them. 00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:30.719 We have to conduct our sessions with them. 00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:34.639 And we often talk about well, we're an evidence-based practice. 00:41:34.880 --> 00:41:54.559 And you know, really what that means is that we are we are working within those three tiers of what do the service users want, what's their values, what's their what do they want out of engaging in music therapy with us. 00:41:54.800 --> 00:42:01.519 And then, you know, it's our expertise, it's our lived experience, and then it's the best available research. 00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:07.199 So it's those three pillars that that inform how we write our treatment goals. 00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:11.679 And it's also those three pillars that inform how we then document our sessions. 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:16.960 No one has ever told me what order to put those three pillars in. 00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:23.840 However, I always put my service users, my clients, patients, but I always put them first because they're coming to me. 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.960 I'm not going to them. 00:42:25.119 --> 00:42:31.440 They're coming to me seeking support in growing one area of or or or areas. 00:42:31.840 --> 00:42:38.480 And so by working with them and listening to them, we together will determine, okay, what are we gonna work on? 00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:48.000 And so before every music therapy session, even though I have a treatment plan that I've written with them and they've approved the treatment plan, I always ask them before we start any session, how are you doing today? 00:42:48.239 --> 00:42:50.960 Do you still want to work on this with me today? 00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:55.920 Or is there something else that's kind of come up that that you would like to work through? 00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:57.039 So it's all about them. 00:42:57.199 --> 00:43:02.320 As far as writing documentation, my documentation has changed over the years. 00:43:02.559 --> 00:43:04.800 It used to be a whole lot longer. 00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:10.239 And by longer, I mean like I think I would write a dissertation after every single session. 00:43:10.559 --> 00:43:16.639 And uh there once upon a time I I had the privilege of working in in nursing homes, long-term care. 00:43:17.039 --> 00:43:29.039 I worked on a unit that had about we had 22 beds, 24 beds, and the whole facility was made up of seven units um in one floor and four units on another floor. 00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:32.559 So there was almost 300 residents in the nursing home. 00:43:32.639 --> 00:43:35.760 But I I was specifically in charge of one unit. 00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:40.079 Brenda, if this was pre-kids, Brenda would call me and say, You coming home yet? 00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:42.559 I'm like, I just have a couple more notes to write. 00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:45.039 She's like, Okay, should I eat without you? 00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:55.519 Because we do, we we have that ethical duty to our service users to make sure that that we timely and accurately write what happened in in the session. 00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:59.760 So over the years my documentation has changed from writing everything all things. 00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:03.119 That happened in the session to writing what do the kids call it now? 00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:04.000 Spark notes? 00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:05.280 We used to call it Cliff Notes. 00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:06.960 So it it's shorter. 00:44:07.119 --> 00:44:12.000 I read this book in when when I was doing a doctoral studies. 00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:13.920 Makes it sound like I only read one book. 00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:14.880 I read a lot of books. 00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:18.159 But this one book that I read, it was a self-care, self-compassion book. 00:44:18.400 --> 00:44:19.840 It was called Write It Down, Make It Happen. 00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:21.440 If you don't write it down, it's never going to happen. 00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:23.840 And our documentation is kind of that that. 00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:25.599 And I I tell our students this. 00:44:25.760 --> 00:44:31.199 If you don't write it down, it A didn't happen, and B won't happen in the future. 00:44:31.280 --> 00:44:33.199 And that's what documentation to me is all about. 00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:37.920 What is what happened during the session, and then what is your plan for the next session? 00:44:38.239 --> 00:44:40.239 So that's that's kind of where I'm at with that. 00:44:40.559 --> 00:44:41.519 I have nothing to add. 00:44:41.920 --> 00:44:51.440 So I well the thing that I will add is this is how I used to train my interns, especially when I had them with writing specifically hospice documentation. 00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:56.400 Is my big thing is always let's work smarter and not harder. 00:44:56.559 --> 00:45:05.760 And the way that we got around doing that was that I created a very specific rubric which had every single thing and it was like a bullet point to make sure you didn't leave every anything out. 00:45:06.239 --> 00:45:16.800 And it allows for that opportunity to individualize and do all the things that need to happen so that it's very clear cut, but it's it spells out this is exactly the information that you need. 00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:21.119 So for example, when you walk into a room, what are you seeing? 00:45:21.360 --> 00:45:24.800 Where is your patient or your client sitting or standing? 00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:25.840 Did you move them? 00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:27.119 Did you go somewhere else? 00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:28.400 What do they look like? 00:45:28.559 --> 00:45:29.920 Was there any perceived pain? 00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:30.800 What did you notice?

00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:32.159 Is there anybody around them? 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:33.599 Was there any family present? 00:45:33.760 --> 00:45:36.400 Were there any other, you know, staff members present? 00:45:36.559 --> 00:45:42.880 And just helping them to lay out all the specific things to paint the picture so that somebody reading your note knows exactly what's going on. 00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:43.440 Right. 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:47.599 And then the next thing was always, what was the music that you use for the intervention? 00:45:47.760 --> 00:45:49.440 Was it an age-appropriate music? 00:45:49.599 --> 00:45:54.239 Was it something where they specifically asked for recorded music that day? 00:45:54.480 --> 00:45:55.599 You know, and spelling that out. 00:45:55.679 --> 00:45:58.960 So any music therapist going in knows exactly what it is. 00:45:59.119 --> 00:46:01.519 If they had to cover for you, they know what they're doing. 00:46:01.920 --> 00:46:13.199 And then the way it worked in the hospice world was I had them do a however statement, which helps with Medicare guidelines in terms of, you know, you always want to make sure in hospice you're showing decline, right? 00:46:13.280 --> 00:46:20.400 So there would be one statement and it de what depending on what you were seeing when you walked in would determine which side of the however it went on. 00:46:20.559 --> 00:46:23.679 But essentially you would highlight these are all the strengths, right? 00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:32.800 Where maybe the person had a significant increase in lucidity during the session, for example, somebody with Alzheimer's, and these were all the positive responses you saw. 00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:35.599 However, these were also the declines. 00:46:35.679 --> 00:46:42.480 You know, maybe it was that the period of time for which lucidity lasted was less as compared to a previous session, right? 00:46:42.559 --> 00:46:44.559 So you're still noting these declines overall. 00:46:44.800 --> 00:46:50.400 They can still be really successful, and it's all very generic, and then go into the finer details. 00:46:50.559 --> 00:46:52.800 And then also including changes in affect. 00:46:52.880 --> 00:46:53.519 What did you notice? 00:46:53.679 --> 00:46:54.880 Were there any changes? 00:46:55.039 --> 00:47:00.239 And then also at the end is where did you were they able to acknowledge you when the session was over? 00:47:00.400 --> 00:47:01.599 Could they verbally acknowledge you? 00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:02.639 Did they make eye contact? 00:47:02.719 --> 00:47:03.840 Whatever that might look like. 00:47:04.079 --> 00:47:10.239 And then also, did you move them somewhere, or did they stay, if they were in their room laying in bed, did they stay in their bed? 00:47:10.400 --> 00:47:12.320 Or did you move them to a different area? 00:47:12.480 --> 00:47:13.280 What does that look like? 00:47:13.440 --> 00:47:14.880 What were the overall changes? 00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:20.239 And then any did you coordinate with the staff at all if they were in a facility or with the family, if they're at home, things like that. 00:47:20.320 --> 00:47:22.159 And so I spelled it all out for everybody. 00:47:22.320 --> 00:47:23.280 So they all had it. 00:47:23.360 --> 00:47:25.039 So they just didn't have to think as hard. 00:47:25.199 --> 00:47:29.119 Because I think sometimes with students, they go, Oh my gosh, there's so much information. 00:47:29.199 --> 00:47:34.480 How do I possibly organize it in my brain and get it down on paper in a way that's meaningful? 00:47:34.719 --> 00:47:38.320 And I'm also not writing, you know, a thesis every time I sit down to write notes. 00:47:38.400 --> 00:47:43.199 And it's like, nope, these are your bullet points, these are the things that make the biggest difference, and go from there. 00:47:43.360 --> 00:47:49.519 And I will also say that the majority of the notes that were being written, especially in the hospice context, it was a narrative note. 00:47:49.599 --> 00:47:51.840 So we could get away with a lot of these things, right? 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:58.400 Which is not, I recognize is not always the case in every single population, everything single setup, but that's what kind of worked for us. 00:47:58.559 --> 00:48:12.880 And then when it comes to treatment goals, I think the easiest way to write a treatment goal is if you have the opportunity to collaborate with the client or the patient or the service user and have their input, that's always really helpful. 00:48:13.119 --> 00:48:23.599 And if you don't, I make it as generic as you can possibly get away with so you have the greatest amount of wiggle room when it comes to writing the interventions, right? 00:48:23.760 --> 00:48:38.480 So making the broad strokes for which then you can utilize the interventions as it's supposed to be, to be very specific and really allowing that treatment plan the flexibility it needs so that you're not stuck to it. 00:48:38.880 --> 00:48:47.840 That's something that I always hate is when I would write a treatment plan and it was too specific and I wouldn't have the wiggle room to move outside of it when I knew other things were probably necessary. 00:48:48.000 --> 00:49:07.679 And sometimes that means that when I define some of my interventions, I will specifically say as needed, or if the opportunity presents itself, right, at every session, you know, so it gives me that wiggle room to use what I need to use in the moment, but I'm not, you know, beholden to it. 00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:08.800 Beautifully said. 00:49:08.880 --> 00:49:13.599 And I I would just add that you know, it's measurable. 00:49:13.760 --> 00:49:14.960 I mean, smart, right? 00:49:15.119 --> 00:49:17.519 Like specific, measurable, attainable, realistic timeout. 00:49:17.840 --> 00:49:23.039 But at the same time, like you were saying, write it broad enough so you're not backing yourself into a corner. 00:49:23.280 --> 00:49:34.320 I remember

early, early on in my career, maybe even going back to like practicum, like I remember putting like songs that I would use into an objective. 00:49:35.039 --> 00:49:38.400 What if one week my service user doesn't want that song anymore? 00:49:38.719 --> 00:49:41.199 Or listing instruments I would use. 00:49:41.440 --> 00:49:55.920 So, you know, I keeping it broad enough, but specific enough so that it gives you that accountability and measurable enough so that you can really be able to reflect on the the progress that that your service users are making with you. 00:49:56.159 --> 00:50:02.239 I had something else that I was gonna say too, that you like totally like like triggered my mind thinking, and now I can't remember what it was. 00:50:02.400 --> 00:50:04.159 Oh! Um, so narrative. 00:50:04.320 --> 00:50:09.599 So like all three of us, I'm sure you all can tell by listening to these beautiful podcasts, all three of us like to like talk. 00:50:09.920 --> 00:50:14.880 What we don't like talking about ourselves. 00:50:15.199 --> 00:50:16.800 No, no, no, never. 00:50:17.119 --> 00:50:17.679 Right. 00:50:17.920 --> 00:50:20.880 I stopped I stopped doing a straight narrative. 00:50:21.039 --> 00:50:25.840 And in my mind, I think soap notes, but I write it as a narrative. 00:50:25.920 --> 00:50:30.320 But I keep myself somewhat structured by writing kind of a soap note. 00:50:30.639 --> 00:50:36.719 There's different types of documentation styles, but I I basically now just do a narrative within a soap kind of framework. 00:50:37.039 --> 00:50:47.920 The only thing I have to add is that piggybacking off of what Rachel had just said, Todd, what you said was beautiful because it's so relatable on so many levels and creates a great framework. 00:50:48.159 --> 00:50:51.280 And then Rachel comes in with her sparkles. 00:50:51.440 --> 00:51:05.519 So I want to add to Rachel's sparkles with a little bit of sunshine, in that when we're writing the treatment goals and like the short-term objectives that go into it, obviously we're working on the big picture with that goal. 00:51:05.679 --> 00:51:13.760 And it's it's like a beautiful like arch, is sometimes how I describe it with some of our interns and our students and some of our young employees. 00:51:14.079 --> 00:51:22.639 And you decide what long-term goals you're going to choose that kind of address that big arch. 00:51:22.800 --> 00:51:27.119 And then in between those goals, you've got those short-term objectives. 00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:36.880 And although, yes, we want it to be immeasurable and obtainable and set everybody up for success, a part of setting everybody up for success is thinking 27 steps ahead. 00:51:37.039 --> 00:51:42.480 It's sometimes not as much about what's on the paper, but what's happening in front of you. 00:51:42.639 --> 00:51:56.320 Yes, maybe someday, and I think a good point that you made, Todd, is that before you even start anything, like getting to the nuts and bolts and the heavy part of the therapy, you gauge where is the client today? 00:51:56.559 --> 00:51:58.000 How are they showing up today? 00:51:58.159 --> 00:52:02.239 And it's even more important for us to even be like, how am I showing up today? 00:52:02.400 --> 00:52:04.079 Did I get enough sleep last night? 00:52:04.239 --> 00:52:06.719 Did I, am I ready for this intervention today? 00:52:06.880 --> 00:52:08.400 Is this, is this happening? 00:52:08.639 --> 00:52:17.039 Am I prepared for what could be a very high arousal day, low arousal day for not only myself, but also the client? 00:52:17.199 --> 00:52:35.920 So even though you've got these beautiful treatment goals and these beautiful short-term objectives, it does come back to being more prepared to what's going to show up that day for the client and for yourself and any other variable that could potentially happening in their lives and also your lives. 00:52:36.079 --> 00:52:38.000 Some days can be super, super heavy. 00:52:38.079 --> 00:52:41.440 And I can't speak for everybody, but I know those are the days for me. 00:52:41.519 --> 00:52:58.800 If I'm personally going through something heavy, I process by being able to serve more, by being able to create joy and happiness in others around me because that gives me that extra sunshine or that extra sparkle in my week because I feel they're still good in the world. 00:52:58.960 --> 00:53:00.559 I feel grounded when I do that. 00:53:00.800 --> 00:53:02.719 That might not be the same for my clients. 00:53:02.960 --> 00:53:05.679 They might not want to play their favorite song. 00:53:06.079 --> 00:53:16.400 Sometimes what they need is to sit in silence and to do nothing and to have that space in the session to be able to do so, to show up in their authentic self. 00:53:16.559 --> 00:53:22.480 So, yes, we do need to have goals and short-term objectives and to be able to translate that. 00:53:22.639 --> 00:53:34.480 That's part of our job, is to be able to translate what it is that's happening in the session and place it on paper so that we can abide by all of the rules on the outside because we're ethical, we do best practice, that's what we get to do. 00:53:34.719 --> 00:53:40.400 And also, I want to be able to remind everybody there that there's very much a human side to this as well. 00:53:40.639 --> 00:53:43.360 So those are my two bits of radius of sunshine. 00:53:43.519 --> 00:53:47.679 Oh my God, look at all of our sparkle and sunshine and what is Todd. 00:53:47.840 --> 00:53:49.039 What should we call him? 00:53:49.280 --> 00:53:49.920 Our planet? 00:53:50.079 --> 00:53:50.639 I don't know. 00:53:51.039 --> 00:53:51.840 Planet. 00:53:52.320 --> 00:53:55.440 The new planet! The new planet, Todd. 00:53:57.199 --> 00:53:59.840 Our universe is expending with Todd here. 00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:01.360 That's clearly what it is. 00:54:01.599 --> 00:54:05.920 Well, you know, and talking about students, of course, it this works out really well.

00:54:06.159 --> 00:54:11.199 Because one of the things that we also do love to highlight is something we wish we had been told earlier in our career. 00:54:11.360 --> 00:54:15.039 Obviously, the three of us have been doing this for, you know, a hot minute. 00:54:15.280 --> 00:54:26.400 And, you know, what are some things that we wish have been we had learned earlier in our career that could have really benefited us, maybe right after we were students and learned how to write a session plan and a session note. 00:54:26.719 --> 00:54:27.519 Just one. 00:54:28.320 --> 00:54:30.800 You can share a couple, it's totally fine. 00:54:31.039 --> 00:54:34.239 You do there's so many things I wish I was told. 00:54:34.480 --> 00:54:38.159 I do have one thing, but but I'm gonna like like lead up to it. 00:54:38.559 --> 00:54:41.679 Being Jewish, I should not get tattoos. 00:54:41.920 --> 00:54:42.800 Put it that way. 00:54:42.960 --> 00:54:49.280 Um, because technically, being Jewish, you can't get a tattoo if it you can't be buried in Jewish cemetery if if if you have tattoos. 00:54:49.440 --> 00:54:52.719 So I've always said, and I have a book. 00:54:53.039 --> 00:54:54.559 Recently told someone this. 00:54:54.719 --> 00:54:57.599 I've never told anyone this, and so now everybody, everybody's gonna know this. 00:54:57.679 --> 00:55:02.000 I have a book that's in my nightstand of all the tattoos that I wish I could get. 00:55:02.159 --> 00:55:08.960 And most of them are statements of things that I wish I was told, or that I strive my best to live by. 00:55:09.199 --> 00:55:12.400 One of them, my grandparents taught me at a very early age. 00:55:12.480 --> 00:55:19.920 My parents taught me at a very early age, and that was strive to think and say and do what's right so that you help and never hurt. 00:55:20.079 --> 00:55:20.800 So that's one. 00:55:21.039 --> 00:55:24.239 The other one is the more you learn, the more you learn that you have more to learn. 00:55:24.320 --> 00:55:30.239 Um we've kind of all three kind of alluded to that, you know, throughout this really amazing conversation. 00:55:30.559 --> 00:55:41.679 The one though that that I wish people would have told me career-wise, um, but then it relates to personal as well, is it's okay to live in a mess. 00:55:41.920 --> 00:55:43.599 It's okay to be messy. 00:55:43.840 --> 00:55:44.960 Nothing is perfect. 00:55:45.199 --> 00:55:47.840 Nothing ever goes the way you plan it to go. 00:55:48.320 --> 00:55:54.719 Therapy is messy, teaching is messy, parenting is messy, life is messy. 00:55:54.880 --> 00:56:04.320 And instead of always trying to clean up the mess so that it's pristine and perfect and the way you want it to be, embrace the mess. 00:56:04.559 --> 00:56:05.440 Live in the mess. 00:56:05.760 --> 00:56:15.920 And and that that's something I wish someone would have told me early on is that it's it's okay to get messy because practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes progress. 00:56:16.239

--> 00:56:16.880 That's my thing. 00:56:17.440 --> 00:56:18.480 Embrace the mess. 00:56:19.199 --> 00:56:20.719 That is so brilliant. 00:56:21.199 --> 00:56:22.079 And I love that. 00:56:22.480 --> 00:56:23.360 I love that so much. 00:56:24.719 --> 00:56:33.440 Because I think that is something that is really hard to do, is find ways to embrace the messiness of life. 00:56:33.760 --> 00:56:37.519 And as you said, it comes in all facets of existence, right? 00:56:37.599 --> 00:56:45.280 It's not just the professional, it's literally just the act of being human and existing. 00:56:45.599 --> 00:56:53.119 Now, my question is if you were gonna get embrace the mess as a tattoo, where would you get it? 00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:54.400 Like where? 00:56:54.880 --> 00:56:56.480 Yeah, well, where on your body? 00:56:56.719 --> 00:57:01.519 Like, would it be like a bicep, like you'd flex and then mine aren't big enough. 00:57:02.719 --> 00:57:03.119 Yes. 00:57:03.760 --> 00:57:06.559 Um toothpicks over here. 00:57:06.880 --> 00:57:08.719 Or would it be like a tramp stamp? 00:57:08.800 --> 00:57:11.920 Like double meeting. 00:57:12.239 --> 00:57:12.559 No. 00:57:13.679 --> 00:57:16.719 No, I I I would want it somewhere that I could see it. 00:57:16.880 --> 00:57:19.039 And and and so that others could see it. 00:57:19.360 --> 00:57:21.920 I I don't know, like maybe like like here. 00:57:22.320 --> 00:57:23.519 Okay, so on the forearm. 00:57:23.840 --> 00:57:25.360 Yeah, is that what that's called? 00:57:25.760 --> 00:57:26.880 Um I don't know. 00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:27.760 Ask your daughter. 00:57:27.840 --> 00:57:28.800 She's taking biology. 00:57:29.039 --> 00:57:30.000 Yeah, ask your daughter. 00:57:30.480 --> 00:57:32.079 She is she's rocking it. 00:57:32.239 --> 00:57:32.559 Yeah. 00:57:32.719 --> 00:57:36.239 I think I think I would do it like here, on the on the forearm. 00:57:36.559 --> 00:57:39.199 You know, that way, you know, I could see it, others could see it. 00:57:39.360 --> 00:57:41.280 I haven't put that in my little notebook. 00:57:41.360 --> 00:57:43.199 Like, where would I put these tattoos? 00:57:43.280 --> 00:57:47.519 I just have like a list of tattoos that I would get or statements that I would get that would be tattoos. 00:57:47.840 --> 00:57:50.480 Now you know what to do for the rest of the day besides cleaning your garage. 00:57:51.760 --> 00:57:54.320 Well, the garage, the garage needs to come first. 00:57:54.480 --> 00:58:00.800 I'll think about where all of my statements or all my tattoos will go as I'm cleaning up my garage. 00:58:01.039 --> 00:58:01.840 See, I love this. 00:58:01.920 --> 00:58:05.599 And also I share that same sentiment with tattoos, and that's why I don't have any as well. 00:58:05.840 --> 00:58:07.039 You and I understand each other. 00:58:07.199 --> 00:58:08.559 But I was really excited this weekend. 00:58:08.639 --> 00:58:11.920 I got henna tattoos with my daughter, and I don't know if it'll show up. 00:58:12.079 --> 00:58:12.480 Hang on. 00:58:12.559 --> 00:58:13.679 Oh, it's on this hand. 00:58:13.920 --> 00:58:33.599 See, but we did um like oh like a little design, and then I'm describing it for those who obviously aren't watching this on YouTube, but there's little hearts with musical notes in it, and my daughter was so excited, and she got her thing, and it's like a leafy thing, and you know, but like that's and I've done a temporary tattoo, but that's literally as close as I will come to the tattoo thing. 00:58:33.679 --> 00:58:35.679 Erica, how but do you have tattoos? 00:58:35.920 --> 00:58:36.800 No, no, no. 00:58:37.280 --> 00:58:39.039 Do you have any desire to get a tattoo? 00:58:39.199 --> 00:58:42.639 Oh, there's plenty of desire to actually do it. 00:58:42.800 --> 00:58:45.039 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:58:45.199 --> 00:58:56.880 Um, and it's not a pain thing, it's more of to be completely honest, in my eyes, and I know that technology allows people to get their tattoos removed, but it's so permanent for me. 00:58:57.119 --> 00:59:04.719 And I could see myself desiring a design for 20 years, and then after that, I'll be like, well, that was dumb. 00:59:04.880 --> 00:59:08.719 And then it will be one of those things that I learned, like a lesson learned. 00:59:08.880 --> 00:59:09.440 I don't know. 00:59:09.599 --> 00:59:18.159 But yeah, no, I've got so many desires, so many desires for a tattoo, but to actually go and do it, probably not because it just feels so temporary. 00:59:18.320 --> 00:59:21.679 And to get it removed, I will always know that it's still there. 00:59:21.920 --> 00:59:23.440 Be like, oh wow, remember that? 00:59:23.599 --> 00:59:24.159 Remember that? 00:59:24.400 --> 00:59:44.239 I mean, a really a really great rabbit hole to go down if ever you need some really good laughs are tattoo fails because there are some amazing ones that are just epically terrible, and there are some amazing artists out there, and you know, I like kudos to anybody who really can make incredible art, and I think it's just phenomenal. 00:59:44.480 --> 00:59:49.280 But sometimes there are certain ones where you're like, mmm, that could have gone better. 00:59:49.440 --> 00:59:50.000 Oh, yeah. 00:59:50.159 --> 01:00:04.000 I admire those that do the sleeves, like they get their whole arm done, and it's like one either large design that kind of takes over their arm, or it's like a uh combination of a bunch of various things that really mean something to them. 01:00:04.159 --> 01:00:06.559 Like, yes, I think they're so cool. 01:00:06.719 --> 01:00:12.719 I often awkwardly stare at them often in public, even though I don't really are just to be like, I want to know. 01:00:12.880 --> 01:00:14.480 Yeah, what is the story behind? 01:00:14.880 --> 01:00:16.079 Yeah, what's the meaning? 01:00:16.239 --> 01:00:17.920 Yeah, why did you do this? 01:00:18.159 --> 01:00:19.440 Why'd you choose this? 01:00:19.679 --> 01:00:20.960 I'm such a

therapist. 01:00:21.440 --> 01:00:22.880 But yeah, I love it. 01:00:23.039 --> 01:00:24.000 Oh, is it my turn? 01:00:24.320 --> 01:00:26.000 So yeah, I'm curious, Erica. 01:00:26.079 --> 01:00:27.679 What do you wish you had been? 01:00:27.920 --> 01:00:29.519 Someone had told you early in your career. 01:00:29.840 --> 01:00:32.320 Okay, so this was kind of activated yesterday. 01:00:32.400 --> 01:00:33.920 So this is fresh. 01:00:34.320 --> 01:00:39.280 And I kind of forgot about this until somebody else had kind of brought it up in their own way. 01:00:39.599 --> 01:00:57.519 And I might bear with me because this might get lost in translation, but I am basically trying to say that during my internship, working more than 60 hours a week felt normal because that simply was the culture of the environment that I was in. 01:00:57.840 --> 01:01:13.280 Looking back, I wish I had understood that something being normalized does not necessarily mean that it is healthy, that is sustainable, or that it's the only way to be successful in this profession. 01:01:13.599 --> 01:01:19.440 I was so young, so naive, and I was like, oh, well, then this must be the expectation for all music therapists. 01:01:19.519 --> 01:01:23.440 This is how we can justify ourselves within a larger company. 01:01:23.840 --> 01:01:26.159 And that's what we need to do. 01:01:26.480 --> 01:01:36.239 I never saw our counterparts, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, feeding therapists, physical therapists that we all shared an off with office with. 01:01:36.559 --> 01:01:43.840 I never saw them, unless they were leaving for vacation, stay beyond their time frame or come in super early. 01:01:44.079 --> 01:01:49.199 Whereas my supervisor and I, we were the first ones in the building and often the last ones to leave. 01:01:49.280 --> 01:01:57.519 And the only reason why we had to leave was because we had another function to go to, or we were doing an in-home, and that was the last thing for our day. 01:01:57.760 --> 01:02:05.360 And I'll be kind of, I'll be really honest, I ended up doing a six-month internship in four months because of how many hours that was. 01:02:05.599 --> 01:02:08.559 And that kind of contributed to my busy work and busy time. 01:02:08.719 --> 01:02:15.679 And yeah, I just kind of wish that at that time I could have been able to have conversations with my supervisor. 01:02:15.840 --> 01:02:20.320 I'm sure I would have if I asked, but I just didn't have the wherewithal to even think to ask. 01:02:20.400 --> 01:02:21.599 I just thought this was the norm. 01:02:21.840 --> 01:02:25.519 What would have been her ideal music therapy job? 01:02:25.760 --> 01:02:31.840 Would have been her ideal workload because she was meeting the demands of the company. 01:02:31.920 --> 01:02:36.480 And therefore, I was helping her meet the demands of the company. 01:02:36.639 --> 01:02:42.400 And it kind of just was like, I could see her pain, I could see her burnout, I

could see all these things showing up. 01:02:42.559 --> 01:02:44.480 And I thought, oh, well, this is normal. 01:02:44.639 --> 01:02:45.440 This is just normal. 01:02:45.599 --> 01:02:49.360 And then also trying to figure out how to implement all this internship stuff. 01:02:49.440 --> 01:03:15.360 So internship assignments or tasks or um direct hours was really challenging because I was trying to squeeze it in to my supervisor's workload, where my supervisor, yes, she had extra stuff that she got to do that was work-related, but it was nowhere near the amount of expectation that the intern had when you had so many assignments that, yes, absolutely loved every single one of them. 01:03:15.519 --> 01:03:16.719 But it was hard. 01:03:16.880 --> 01:03:17.519 It was so hard. 01:03:17.599 --> 01:03:34.960 And oftentimes I brought work home with me because there were just not enough hours in the day to be able to see the clients, plus do the documentation, plus do everything that you need to do as a music therapist, and then on top of that, the internship and all the fun stuff that goes with that. 01:03:35.119 --> 01:03:46.480 So I wish that I would have been able to define normalize or a normal quote unquote and being able to dream a little bit more about what the ideal music therapy job is. 01:03:46.719 --> 01:03:47.679 And now I have it. 01:03:48.079 --> 01:03:48.639 Absolutely. 01:03:48.800 --> 01:03:50.480 I have it now, I get to live it every day. 01:03:50.880 --> 01:03:54.960 Back then I didn't know, and I thought that that you had to hustle to something. 01:03:55.360 --> 01:03:56.480 Hopefully it helps somebody too. 01:03:56.880 --> 01:03:57.440 That's so real. 01:03:57.679 --> 01:04:12.880 And I think also I grew up in an environment where work ethic was considered the most important thing, and having a very strong work ethic and you know, fully committing a hundred percent of the time all the time to something was what was most important. 01:04:13.199 --> 01:04:14.880 And so I too share in that. 01:04:15.039 --> 01:04:31.519 And I think I I think that's part of why I put up with not great situations and workspaces for as long as I did, because I was like, Nope, I'm still gonna give a hundred percent, it's gonna be fine, it's gonna get better, everything's gonna get better as long as I keep giving and giving and giving and giving and giving. 01:04:31.840 --> 01:04:35.679 Yeah, and it doesn't I don't know if there's like there probably is now. 01:04:35.760 --> 01:04:37.760 It's been a hot second since I've been in school. 01:04:38.079 --> 01:04:48.639 But the school that I went to to become a music therapist, they had done everything that they could have done in the time and within the skill set that they had at that time. 01:04:49.119 --> 01:05:00.320 And I don't think we really touched upon upon any of this in any of the coursework and career prep and career development and all the other fun classes that I took. 01:05:00.480 --> 01:05:03.440

And it just it never really came up. 01:05:03.679 --> 01:05:07.920 So therefore, it kind of didn't exist, and not in a bad way at all. 01:05:08.079 --> 01:05:08.800 Not in a bad way. 01:05:08.880 --> 01:05:12.000 It's just kind of one of those things, and then you just did it. 01:05:12.400 --> 01:05:19.280 Listening to both of you, y'all learned earlier, I learned earlier in this conversation. 01:05:19.519 --> 01:05:22.400 I doing this for what do we say, 28 years? 01:05:22.719 --> 01:05:26.159 Being a product of the 80s, essentially. 01:05:27.039 --> 01:05:28.800 Rachel and I are a product of the 80s, but okay. 01:05:29.280 --> 01:05:29.679 Yeah, yeah. 01:05:29.840 --> 01:05:31.039 This is why we're all good friends. 01:05:31.119 --> 01:05:32.320 I think it's a generational thing. 01:05:32.400 --> 01:05:33.920 That's kind of what I'm trying to say. 01:05:34.159 --> 01:05:44.480 I feel like when I look at my parents, when I look at my grandfather, and I see what time they woke up to get to work. 01:05:44.880 --> 01:05:51.119 And how sometimes I never I always I don't think I ever saw them take a break. 01:05:51.440 --> 01:05:54.000 They they they they worked retail, furniture retail. 01:05:54.239 --> 01:05:59.760 And and and I I don't think I really remember seeing them ever pause. 01:06:00.480 --> 01:06:02.639 And they just worked, worked, worked, worked, worked. 01:06:02.719 --> 01:06:08.800 I remember spending the night over at my grandparents' house, you know, every now and then, maybe a couple times a month. 01:06:09.039 --> 01:06:15.360 And I just remember my grandfather on the phone with his with his brothers talking about the business. 01:06:15.519 --> 01:06:18.880 So it was like business all day long, and then all night long. 01:06:19.039 --> 01:06:22.239 And then you go to sleep for just a couple hours and you wake up and you rinse and repeat. 01:06:22.400 --> 01:06:23.519 And you're happy about that. 01:06:23.760 --> 01:06:25.599 At least it seemed like you were happy about that. 01:06:25.760 --> 01:06:27.679 And just that that commitment to work. 01:06:27.840 --> 01:06:33.280 I wish now I could go back, similar to what you were saying about your internship supervisor, Erica. 01:06:33.519 --> 01:06:42.159 I wish I could go back and have a conversation with my grandfather now and say, it was very much like the questions y'all have been positing uh during during the chat today. 01:06:42.400 --> 01:06:44.320 Where was your sunshine and sparkle? 01:06:44.400 --> 01:06:45.760 What brought you joy? 01:06:46.000 --> 01:06:53.519 What what were the difficulties that you experienced that maybe you didn't tell anyone that you compartmentalized? 01:06:53.679 --> 01:06:58.159 Why did you teach me through modeling interaction how to compartmentalize? 01:06:58.480 --> 01:07:00.000 I maybe I'm wrong. 01:07:00.159 --> 01:07:02.559 I I think it's a generational thing. 01:07:02.719 --> 01:07:12.400 And then it's only recently, and by recently, I mean like within the last 15 years, 20 years, that we begun to have these kinds of conversations. 01:07:13.199 --> 01:07:17.199 Um centered within, grounded within self-compassion. 01:07:17.360 --> 01:07:26.800 And so it's it's an interesting thing, and and um I wish we talked about it more in in our college programs. 01:07:27.039 --> 01:07:27.440 I really do. 01:07:27.840 --> 01:07:36.079 That's a great segue, honestly, because we talked about having conversations and what would bring you joy, it would bring you sunshine. 01:07:36.239 --> 01:07:40.719 So we like to take a moment to talk about our sweet treat of the week. 01:07:41.039 --> 01:07:44.559 And our sweet treat can be literally anything. 01:07:44.639 --> 01:07:50.639 It doesn't necessarily have to be a literal sweet treat, although I could talk about dark chocolate for days. 01:07:51.199 --> 01:07:52.079 In fact, years. 01:07:52.239 --> 01:07:53.840 However, it's not about me. 01:07:54.239 --> 01:07:57.599 So sweet treats can also be a favorite small win. 01:07:57.760 --> 01:08:04.960 It could be a favorite product, it could be really a moment of time, just something that's your sweet treat. 01:08:05.119 --> 01:08:08.719 So without further ado, Todd, do you have a sweet treat? 01:08:09.039 --> 01:08:10.320 These are chocolates. 01:08:10.559 --> 01:08:11.199 Ooh, done. 01:08:11.280 --> 01:08:11.519 Check. 01:08:11.679 --> 01:08:11.920 Yep. 01:08:12.079 --> 01:08:24.000 So so so for those of you that are listening to the podcast, I'm holding a sealed bag with little yellow looking balls on the inside that are maybe like the size of whoppers. 01:08:24.319 --> 01:08:29.600 And I offered Anya, our 22-year-old, um, one of these yesterday. 01:08:29.840 --> 01:08:31.119 I said, you gotta try this. 01:08:31.359 --> 01:08:32.720 She said, what is it? 01:08:32.960 --> 01:08:36.159 And I said, it's lemon cello, chocolate balls. 01:08:36.560 --> 01:08:38.560 Right, so close your mouth. 01:08:38.640 --> 01:08:42.399 Uh both of us are covers like, yes, please, let's go. 01:08:43.039 --> 01:08:43.840 We're coming over. 01:08:44.239 --> 01:08:44.720 Sure. 01:08:44.960 --> 01:08:49.199 You actually have my my uh cooler, so come over anyway. 01:08:49.600 --> 01:08:51.359 I need to get I need to get my cooler anyway. 01:08:51.520 --> 01:08:56.960 And uh so yeah, so these are these are chocolate-filled lemon cello balls. 01:08:57.119 --> 01:08:58.640 And they're so good. 01:08:59.520 --> 01:09:00.399 So good. 01:09:00.720 --> 01:09:04.079 I only have two of these tiny little bags. 01:09:04.319 --> 01:09:08.159 And there's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. 01:09:08.399 --> 01:09:09.279 There's oh, that's weird. 01:09:09.359 --> 01:09:10.560 Uh so there's thirteen. 01:09:10.720 --> 01:09:11.920 Lucky number thirteen. 01:09:12.079 --> 01:09:15.439 Uh there's thirteen of these little tiny little chocolate-covered lemon cello balls. 01:09:15.520 --> 01:09:16.399 And they're

just like whoppers. 01:09:16.479 --> 01:09:20.640 Like if y'all can think about the consistency of a whopper and it's kind of crunchy, but then it's good on the inside. 01:09:20.800 --> 01:09:22.079 It's literally what it tastes like. 01:09:22.159 --> 01:09:27.359 And so it's lemon on the outside, and then it's it's just good and amazing chocolate on the inside. 01:09:27.680 --> 01:09:30.239 Is this another one of those magical things that came from Italy? 01:09:30.399 --> 01:09:30.560 Yeah. 01:09:30.800 --> 01:09:33.680 It was like Italy or Aldi, can please tell me. 01:09:36.720 --> 01:09:45.520 I need to f one of the things that I need to do is I need to find where I can replenish my stash of chocolate-covered lemon cello balls. 01:09:45.920 --> 01:09:51.600 Um, because these are gonna be gone in like the next 12 hours. 01:09:51.920 --> 01:09:53.520 Oh, that's a really good one. 01:09:53.680 --> 01:09:58.720 So, mine, we're gonna get a little crunchy here, but not crunchy in a texture way. 01:09:59.279 --> 01:10:01.039 Crunchy in, I know, sorry. 01:10:01.279 --> 01:10:05.840 In we're gonna get back to our roots with the earth and things like this. 01:10:06.000 --> 01:10:06.960 No, just bear with me. 01:10:07.199 --> 01:10:08.399 Are you eating dirt again? 01:10:08.560 --> 01:10:10.560 Uh no, no, I've kind of broken the habit. 01:10:10.640 --> 01:10:16.399 Though I will say when I was younger, my mother would say if we didn't like what was for dinner, we could go out to the garden and eat eat dirt and worms. 01:10:16.640 --> 01:10:18.079 I mean, it was just like that's just normal. 01:10:18.239 --> 01:10:18.640 It's fine. 01:10:18.880 --> 01:10:20.079 Anyway, whatever. 01:10:20.479 --> 01:10:26.960 But I had the opportunity over the weekend to go to an event where they had a bunch of local vendors. 01:10:27.199 --> 01:10:32.800 And this facility that ended up having a ribbon cutting, it had all kinds of holistic therapies that were a part of it. 01:10:33.199 --> 01:10:50.079 And anyway, this company I discovered, it's called Hand and Heartwork, and their slogan on their business card is creatively cultivating self, love, and community through nature pathy and elementary healing. 01:10:50.319 --> 01:10:57.039 And so they have teas, they have soaps, they have lotions, they have all kinds of things. 01:10:57.359 --> 01:11:04.000 And I don't know if our listeners can hear, but I have definitely had a cold for a while, and my voice has been a hot mess. 01:11:04.319 --> 01:11:06.560 It started out just as some laryngitis. 01:11:06.720 --> 01:11:10.640 We've talked a little bit about in past episodes the poor air quality. 01:11:10.800 --> 01:11:16.319 The combination of the two just really has destroyed not only in my chest, but my throat, it's been a disaster. 01:11:16.800 --> 01:11:25.600 So I was speaking with the owner who is manning this booth, and I got some of their ground tea, and the quote on it is I am rooted. 01:11:26.000 --> 01:11:32.319 And it what's amazing about it, so is a lot of the I'm of course a big advocate for throat coat tea. 01:11:32.399 --> 01:11:35.279 I love that, and what makes it so good, of course, is the licorice root. 01:11:35.439 --> 01:11:36.159 That's a part of it. 01:11:36.239 --> 01:11:54.319 But so not only does this have licorice root, but it also has marshmallow root, which is another great thing that helps, it's another plant that helps to provide additional lubrication to your throat so that it recover makes you recover faster if it's inflamed or not feeling great. 01:11:54.800 --> 01:11:57.439 And so it gives these great descriptions. 01:11:57.520 --> 01:11:58.560 So I'm gonna read the back of it. 01:11:58.640 --> 01:12:05.199 So it says ground holds you not to rush rush your rising, but to sit beside you in the stillness. 01:12:05.439 --> 01:12:09.119 This blend does not push, it softens the earth beneath you. 01:12:09.439 --> 01:12:09.680 Right? 01:12:09.760 --> 01:12:14.159 So it says marshmallow root wraps you in safe and gentle protection. 01:12:14.640 --> 01:12:18.640 Licorice root restores what has been depleted, quietly rebuilding. 01:12:18.880 --> 01:12:24.159 It also has some lemon balm in it, which lifts the edges of your spirit, allowing you to feel lighter. 01:12:24.479 --> 01:12:29.039 And then calendula, I don't know if that's how you say it, because what do I know? 01:12:29.359 --> 01:12:32.399 It brings in small, steady light that is always there. 01:12:32.800 --> 01:12:34.319 And it has been amazing. 01:12:34.399 --> 01:12:40.479 And I swear to you, after having one cup of it, my throat felt like instantly better. 01:12:40.720 --> 01:12:42.720 Like it was unreal the difference. 01:12:42.800 --> 01:12:51.439 And I added a little bit of honey to it, but it was just heavenly, and it's just a very good, again, crunchy business. 01:12:51.520 --> 01:12:56.880 And it was this woman's daughter that did the henna tattoos on for my daughter and I. 01:12:56.960 --> 01:12:59.840 It was like a whole business thing with all of them being there. 01:12:59.920 --> 01:13:01.760 It was absolutely wonderful. 01:13:02.239 --> 01:13:07.920 And I really, really was excited to help support her, and I'm hoping to get more of it. 01:13:08.079 --> 01:13:09.199 So there you go. 01:13:09.520 --> 01:13:12.319 That is my super duper sweet treat. 01:13:12.720 --> 01:13:13.760 That is amazing. 01:13:14.000 --> 01:13:18.399 Yeah, and it's local a couple towns over here in southeast Michigan. 01:13:18.479 --> 01:13:22.319 So really yeah, I really like supporting obviously things that are local. 01:13:22.479 --> 01:13:23.840 So that's beautiful. 01:13:24.319 --> 01:13:32.239 That is absolutely do other folk do do other family members uh use it as well, or is it just you or um I haven't been sharing. 01:13:32.800 --> 01:13:38.479 Um so my husband's been having trouble with this cold that's been going on as well. 01:13:38.880 --> 01:13:44.720 And I got him some

additional breathe easy tea as well as lots of things for the throat and things like that. 01:13:44.800 --> 01:13:49.359 But I am holding this one close to me and it's very reasonably priced for what it is. 01:13:49.600 --> 01:13:51.760 So I was very, very excited for it. 01:13:52.000 --> 01:13:55.600 And we can go ahead and do our next question, actually. 01:13:56.479 --> 01:14:07.279 Which, you know, it this is this is a really important one for us because it's all about finding that silver lining in the moments where life is really hard. 01:14:07.439 --> 01:14:13.359 So, you know, we call this where do you find sparkles and sunshine in the hard moments this week, right? 01:14:13.439 --> 01:14:15.840 So, what helped you get through a harder moment this week? 01:14:15.920 --> 01:14:17.039 So, Todd, how about for you? 01:14:17.119 --> 01:14:18.000 Why don't you get us started? 01:14:18.239 --> 01:14:27.039 So, this morning, uh, as I was preparing to have this incredible opportunity to chat with you and and Erica, I chose my coffee mug intentionally. 01:14:27.119 --> 01:14:30.079 And I have a lot of different coffee mugs, like I'm sure like we all do. 01:14:30.239 --> 01:14:36.720 Um, you know, and and everyone has a story, every coffee mug has has a message on it or something like that. 01:14:37.039 --> 01:14:47.119 So this one, the the one I chose today, uh some of y'all that are watching the video um may have noticed, or you'll see, it's it's it's a Superman coffee mug. 01:14:47.279 --> 01:14:52.399 And yes, I love Star Wars, yes, I love video games, especially Legend of Zelda, we know this already. 01:14:52.640 --> 01:14:55.359 But I also collect Superman comic books. 01:14:55.439 --> 01:14:57.359 And I have for decades. 01:14:57.760 --> 01:15:03.039 And the reason that I got into Superman was because I mean at first it was just cool. 01:15:03.199 --> 01:15:06.800 Like as a little boy, like you're always like, eh, what superhero do you want to be? 01:15:06.960 --> 01:15:10.079 I want to be Spider-Man or I wanna be b I wanted to be Superman. 01:15:10.319 --> 01:15:15.119 So the more that I learned about Superman, the more that I really realized, wow, this is this this this is cool. 01:15:15.359 --> 01:15:18.720 So I chose this coffee mug today because of this question. 01:15:19.039 --> 01:15:24.800 And I don't know if y'all know, but it's not an S that's on his chest. 01:15:24.960 --> 01:15:25.680 It's not. 01:15:25.840 --> 01:15:30.960 It's over the years, everyone's thought it Oh, it's S for Superman. 01:15:31.119 --> 01:15:31.600 It's not. 01:15:31.680 --> 01:15:43.520 Um it's actually the you know how like like in old English days, people would have like their coat of arms or their in and like they would have pictures on the shields, like this family stands for this or this or this. 01:15:43.840 --> 01:15:49.279 So it's the coat of arms for the house of L, um, which that's that's Superman's from. 01:15:49.359 --> 01:15:51.760 It means Cal L

or the House of L. 01:15:52.479 --> 01:15:58.560 And the the S, which is not an S, is the symbol for the House of L. 01:15:58.720 --> 01:16:00.720 And it means hope. 01:16:00.960 --> 01:16:05.840 And maybe it was meant to be that I would always like really like Superman. 01:16:06.000 --> 01:16:25.760 But as a therapist, as a father, as a community member, I always I always have hope in the world and in people around me, even though when things get like the the question, when when things get challenging, difficult, dark, confusing, messy, like we talked about a bit ago, I always have hope. 01:16:25.920 --> 01:16:26.720 I always do. 01:16:26.880 --> 01:16:34.640 Um I know that by leaning on family and friends, colleagues, my neighbors, I know that that we can always figure it out. 01:16:34.720 --> 01:16:37.199 And and I always have that endless optimism or hope. 01:16:37.439 --> 01:16:40.960 And so I I I chose I chose this on purpose for this question. 01:16:41.119 --> 01:16:42.560 I was so excited to get to this question. 01:16:42.640 --> 01:16:44.720 Um because let me talk about Superman. 01:16:44.880 --> 01:16:49.039 But the S that is not an S is his symbol for hope. 01:16:49.199 --> 01:16:52.000 So he gives hope to humanity. 01:16:52.079 --> 01:16:54.159 And so that's that's why I always believe in. 01:16:54.239 --> 01:16:58.960 I I I I have hope that that we can always find a way through. 01:16:59.600 --> 01:17:01.119 Oh my god, that's so good. 01:17:01.279 --> 01:17:02.399 I have no idea. 01:17:03.039 --> 01:17:03.439 Sweet. 01:17:03.680 --> 01:17:04.159 Too sweet. 01:17:04.399 --> 01:17:05.279 Today I learned. 01:17:05.520 --> 01:17:06.960 Well, my see, I can barely talk. 01:17:07.039 --> 01:17:07.840 I'm so speechless. 01:17:08.000 --> 01:17:09.520 Oh, Erica, your turn. 01:17:09.760 --> 01:17:11.039 What brings me sunshine? 01:17:11.279 --> 01:17:21.039 So I, if you haven't already figured this out, love giving gifts, especially if it's gifts that bring people joy. 01:17:21.199 --> 01:17:24.800 And this weekend, we have a family reunion. 01:17:25.359 --> 01:17:31.279 And it's a little shindig that we typically host at our house, at my house. 01:17:31.520 --> 01:17:36.960 And the first time that we did this, I decided to come up with a family game. 01:17:37.119 --> 01:17:42.640 Like there's a traditional game that the family plays, and we get that all out, get it all out of everybody's system. 01:17:42.800 --> 01:17:51.600 And for those that don't know, my dad is the youngest of seven, and they grew up on a farm and they did not have a lot of money. 01:17:51.760 --> 01:17:55.920 So they would create games out of things that were around the farm. 01:17:56.079 --> 01:18:02.720 And they created a game called Roll the Ball from a seat of an old tractor. 01:18:03.199 --> 01:18:14.319 Where if I describe this seat, it's supposed to forms to the rear end and it had these holes in it so that when it rained, the water would just go right through instead of it draining. 01:18:14.560 --> 01:18:21.840 Well, they labeled each one of these holes a certain point value, and then they grabbed an old wooden ball. 01:18:21.920 --> 01:18:28.000 And I don't know if they created the ball themselves and weighted it a certain way or not. 01:18:28.239 --> 01:18:38.560 And then you would be a distance from the seat, and then you would just roll the ball, and then the ball would roll down and fall into the seat, an old tractor seat. 01:18:38.640 --> 01:18:43.680 And that has been a game that has been played at most family events that I can remember growing up. 01:18:43.840 --> 01:18:49.119 So whoever has the original game of the kids brings it to this family reunion. 01:18:49.279 --> 01:18:59.680 And I was like, well, I want to start a new one for the next generation, which is my generation, all of my cousins, because we're all like adults and now we have kids and we're like, well, let's see what we can do. 01:18:59.840 --> 01:19:09.840 And instead of doing roll the ball, it's a saran wrap ball full of prizes, and you have to roll doubles in order to be able to get your turn at the ball. 01:19:10.000 --> 01:19:14.000 So I took like this ball concept and kind of amplified it. 01:19:14.079 --> 01:19:16.000 And inside are all these little prizes. 01:19:16.159 --> 01:19:31.920 And what's bringing me sparkle and sunshine this week is I get to, I got all of the supplies this weekend for the ball, and I now get to wrap it and add layers of saran wrap and then hide the gifts inside. 01:19:32.079 --> 01:19:33.680 And there's like little tiny, tiny gifts. 01:19:33.760 --> 01:19:40.640 I'm not gonna give anything away just in case my family members are listening to this episode, but it's it's gonna be super, super fun. 01:19:40.800 --> 01:19:46.560 And we play it every year now at the family reunion in addition to the other game. 01:19:46.880 --> 01:19:48.319 And they love it. 01:19:48.479 --> 01:19:50.960 They absolutely this is the most requested game. 01:19:51.039 --> 01:19:52.000 Because I was like, You sure? 01:19:52.159 --> 01:19:55.279 You sure you don't want me to make something else this time around? 01:19:55.359 --> 01:19:58.159 They're like, no, we want the saran wrap ball thingy. 01:19:58.399 --> 01:20:00.479 So we're really, really excited. 01:20:00.640 --> 01:20:05.359 I don't know if we've yet to call figure out a name for it yet, but that's what it is. 01:20:05.600 --> 01:20:05.920 I don't know. 01:20:06.000 --> 01:20:07.600 I like saran wrap ball thingy. 01:20:07.680 --> 01:20:08.319 I think that's really good. 01:20:08.720 --> 01:20:09.600 That seems like a solid. 01:20:09.680 --> 01:20:11.359 I think you could create a whole theme song for it. 01:20:11.600 --> 01:20:11.760 Yeah. 01:20:12.000 --> 01:20:12.800 I know, right? 01:20:12.960 --> 01:20:14.800 That'd be that'd be a lot of that, yeah. 01:20:15.199 --> 01:20:19.920 I'm trying to think of an acronym for saran wrap ball thingy, but there's no

vowel. 01:20:21.600 --> 01:20:22.960 And it's such a simple gift. 01:20:23.039 --> 01:20:31.760 It does, it does take a bit to get it put together because I think I go through three to four standard size rolls of saran wrap. 01:20:31.840 --> 01:20:32.159 Yeah. 01:20:32.399 --> 01:20:36.079 So it's like 300 feet, 300 to 400 feet of saran wrap. 01:20:36.239 --> 01:20:39.039 So this ball like is huge. 01:20:39.199 --> 01:20:43.199 Um, I don't know, like a beach ball size, like your standard beach ball size. 01:20:43.279 --> 01:20:46.399 It's it's pretty, it's pretty massive and it's heavy. 01:20:46.560 --> 01:20:51.039 And the object is that you have two dye, two six-sided dye. 01:20:51.199 --> 01:20:57.680 And I don't know if I'm gonna add a little more trickery to it because my husband's a gamer and he's got many sided dies. 01:20:57.920 --> 01:21:01.199 So there's like six, eight, ten, all the way up to twenty. 01:21:01.520 --> 01:21:07.039 He even has a hundred-sided die, which friends, you gotta see it to believe it. 01:21:07.279 --> 01:21:10.239 And yeah, I don't know what I want to do. 01:21:10.399 --> 01:21:12.800 I might stick with the six-sided so it can go faster. 01:21:12.880 --> 01:21:15.760 And then when you roll doubles, then it's your turn to get the ball. 01:21:15.920 --> 01:21:20.640 And then however long it takes for the next person to roll doubles, you get to unwrap like crazy. 01:21:20.800 --> 01:21:23.199 So that way you can get it to as many prizes as possible. 01:21:23.439 --> 01:21:25.600 So, how many prizes are inside this thing? 01:21:25.840 --> 01:21:28.239 So every year it keeps growing because I love giving. 01:21:28.560 --> 01:21:30.560 This year it's 35. 01:21:30.880 --> 01:21:32.000 35 little prizes. 01:21:32.079 --> 01:21:34.800 That doesn't even include the 30 pieces of candy that I put in there. 01:21:35.119 --> 01:21:38.560 Are you putting the skis ski what are they called again? 01:21:38.800 --> 01:21:39.439 Skeezies? 01:21:39.680 --> 01:21:40.560 Hold on, I have to look at it. 01:21:40.800 --> 01:21:42.239 Smeeze Smisky. 01:21:42.720 --> 01:21:43.439 Smeiskey? 01:21:43.600 --> 01:21:44.159 Smiskey? 01:21:44.319 --> 01:21:44.720 Smisky! 01:21:45.119 --> 01:21:45.760 Smisky. 01:21:46.079 --> 01:21:46.239 No. 01:21:47.600 --> 01:21:48.720 No, you're not putting them in there? 01:21:48.960 --> 01:21:51.439 I don't think the generation will understand what they're what they are. 01:21:52.000 --> 01:21:56.720 Because we have a separate thing for the kids, and another family member is making one for the kids. 01:21:56.880 --> 01:21:57.920 Yeah, it's a huge deal. 01:21:58.000 --> 01:21:58.720 It's a huge deal. 01:21:58.800 --> 01:22:00.800 If you ever want recommendations, I got you. 01:22:00.960 --> 01:22:06.640 Five below, Dollar Tree, and Amazon white elephant gifts are my go-to. 01:22:07.119 --> 01:22:10.000 I just want to be a family member in your family. 01:22:10.319 --> 01:22:13.199 Erica, you are such an inspiration for life. 01:22:13.439 --> 01:22:14.079 Seriously. 01:22:14.319 --> 01:22:14.800 You're welcome. 01:22:14.880 --> 01:22:16.159 So that's what I'm excited. 01:22:16.239 --> 01:22:17.199 I get to put that together. 01:22:17.359 --> 01:22:18.560 Start putting it together tonight. 01:22:18.640 --> 01:22:21.520 I might run out of spran wrap because I only have three rolls. 01:22:21.760 --> 01:22:22.479 That's so cool. 01:22:22.640 --> 01:22:24.399 Are you gonna take a video of this game? 01:22:24.640 --> 01:22:39.199 Oh, we do every year because the I kid you these family members are competitive and they are wanting to get to the gold because in the center is the most valuable gift. 01:22:39.359 --> 01:22:42.159 And then it just kind of varies throughout. 01:22:42.319 --> 01:22:43.039 Like, I can't. 01:22:43.359 --> 01:22:46.319 Okay, so here's an example of one that's in there. 01:22:46.560 --> 01:22:53.520 In my ball, is I found these oversized granny panties on Amazon. 01:22:53.840 --> 01:22:55.439 I kid you not hard. 01:22:55.680 --> 01:23:01.840 Like, they have to be four feet tall and then like three feet wide. 01:23:02.079 --> 01:23:05.760 I know this because I unwrapped it, and my son's like, what is this? 01:23:05.920 --> 01:23:13.119 And he tries to put them on, and he's like walking around, and the top half of the granny panties is over his head. 01:23:13.359 --> 01:23:17.199 He's like, I can't see the thing of metagramma. 01:23:17.600 --> 01:23:18.319 Stop. 01:23:20.000 --> 01:23:21.520 It was beautiful. 01:23:21.840 --> 01:23:23.680 That is freaking awesome. 01:23:23.840 --> 01:23:24.720 Oh my gosh. 01:23:24.960 --> 01:23:29.279 It's meant to create joy and to have a good time. 01:23:29.520 --> 01:23:41.039 And for however long it takes to play the game, for those two escape from their worries and be in the moment and share time with each other. 01:23:41.439 --> 01:23:42.960 Retire okay. 01:23:46.720 --> 01:23:49.199 I'll share more later, but yeah, that's a little bit more. 01:23:53.680 --> 01:24:09.520 Well then my daughter got jealous, and then I was like, and then immediately my parenting brain went, the next time that they don't share, I'm gonna have one go into one leg and the other one go to the other leg, and then I'm gonna make them clean their toy wrist as they are in them. 01:24:10.079 --> 01:24:14.159 And then my son just recently got some toy handcuffs from Five Below. 01:24:14.239 --> 01:24:17.279 So I think they're also going to be tied together by their wrists. 01:24:17.439 --> 01:24:25.760 So not only bonding through granny panties, but no, instead of the wrists, do their ankles together, so it's like a three-legged thing. 01:24:26.000 --> 01:24:35.760 Oh and and and so on the next podcast, we're going to hear was this an epic fail or was this a parenting success? 01:24:37.119 --> 01:24:37.920 Stay tuned. 01:24:38.399 --> 01:24:38.960 Oh my gosh. 01:24:39.039 --> 01:24:40.560 Yes, it's so good. 01:24:41.520

--> 01:24:42.479 Good times. 01:24:42.800 --> 01:24:46.399 So along that note, uh, hoi. 01:24:47.279 --> 01:24:49.279 Okay, my teeth are burning. 01:24:50.800 --> 01:24:51.119 Okay. 01:24:51.760 --> 01:25:04.079 When I am making this ball, I will listen to my go-to Celine Dion albums and the songs that I resonate with since I believe these albums were released, I'll be completely honest. 01:25:04.319 --> 01:25:08.159 And we often love to know what other people like. 01:25:08.640 --> 01:25:14.720 So the next question is what one song you would recommend that has been resonating with you? 01:25:15.199 --> 01:25:21.039 So I have a song, but I want to preface it by also saying it's not from my favorite band. 01:25:21.520 --> 01:25:27.439 Those of you that know me, and those of you that are about to learn more about me, I Journey hands down is my favorite band of all time. 01:25:27.680 --> 01:25:30.079 Followed extremely closely by Queen. 01:25:30.319 --> 01:25:38.880 But the song that that has been resonating with me a lot this summer just was so much going on and even the last couple years. 01:25:39.039 --> 01:25:41.279 It's actually a song by the Jackson 5. 01:25:41.439 --> 01:25:43.760 And it's it's uh I'll be there. 01:25:44.239 --> 01:25:47.760 And I I just love everything about that song. 01:25:48.000 --> 01:25:55.119 And the lyrics, you know, especially I'm looking at the lyrics right now because I I knew this this question was coming. 01:25:55.359 --> 01:26:01.840 And the ones that say, and this completely aligns with what the three of us just uh unpacked. 01:26:02.079 --> 01:26:04.319 Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter. 01:26:04.560 --> 01:26:07.199 Togetherness, well, it's all I'm after. 01:26:07.439 --> 01:26:08.960 Whenever you need me, I'll be there. 01:26:09.039 --> 01:26:10.239 I'll be there to protect you. 01:26:10.399 --> 01:26:13.119 With an unselfish love that respects you. 01:26:13.279 --> 01:26:15.279 Just call my name and I'll be there. 01:26:15.520 --> 01:26:16.880 We need more of that. 01:26:17.119 --> 01:26:24.720 We need more of that within our own small families, and then the circles that go out from that. 01:26:25.039 --> 01:26:29.279 We need to have more togetherness, connectivity, respect. 01:26:29.760 --> 01:26:32.319 We need more of that in in in our world. 01:26:33.119 --> 01:26:35.279 It takes me back to talking about the planet that was founded. 01:26:35.520 --> 01:26:39.920 All right, you know, it we just need more of I'll be there for you. 01:26:40.000 --> 01:26:43.600 No questions asked, but I wanna I want to be there to support you. 01:26:43.840 --> 01:26:47.680 So that song's really, really been resonating with me the last couple months. 01:26:48.000 --> 01:26:49.920 So it's a great song, for sure. 01:26:50.720 --> 01:26:56.479 And what I'm gonna share today is actually a band that I have newly discovered. 01:26:56.960 --> 01:27:04.319 So this is a group that came to me based upon my SoundCloud recommendation. 01:27:04.399 --> 01:27:09.119 So I have a SoundCloud where I host four or five songs on there that are linked on my website. 01:27:09.199 --> 01:27:15.600 So if people want to get a sense of what I sound like, if they're interested in having me be a music therapist, they have that as a reference point. 01:27:15.760 --> 01:27:15.920 Okay. 01:27:16.159 --> 01:27:20.239 And so this band is called Florian and the Better Hand. 01:27:20.319 --> 01:27:21.760 I'd never heard of them before. 01:27:22.000 --> 01:27:28.479 And I did some perusing of them on this little known site called Spotify. 01:27:28.720 --> 01:27:31.520 And I Erica, I love that you're laughing at me. 01:27:31.840 --> 01:27:35.920 And the song that really resonated with me is called Little Song. 01:27:36.159 --> 01:27:46.079 And I there's nothing in particular in terms of the words necessarily about this group, but they just have a very chill, very relaxed vibe. 01:27:46.319 --> 01:27:50.960 It's just a perfect kind of background music. 01:27:51.520 --> 01:27:54.880 And I just really appreciated the sound that they were going for. 01:27:55.119 --> 01:27:58.479 It just really felt very normal, very natural. 01:27:58.640 --> 01:28:07.439 It's not uh Overproduced, you know, sometimes I really struggle with a lot of modern music today because I find that it it's just it's so much of that overproduction. 01:28:07.520 --> 01:28:09.279 There's a lot of auto-tuning that's going in. 01:28:09.439 --> 01:28:12.399 We lose that authentic experience. 01:28:12.560 --> 01:28:21.359 And even if that means right that people are out of tune, I'd rather have that and be have it be authentic than some of what is out there today. 01:28:21.600 --> 01:28:23.680 And so I really just loved their vibe. 01:28:24.159 --> 01:28:26.479 And I definitely encourage everybody to check it out. 01:28:26.720 --> 01:28:31.039 And of course, you can check it out on our Spotify playlist where we put links. 01:28:31.199 --> 01:28:35.039 We have a playlist going of all the music that we reference on this podcast. 01:28:35.119 --> 01:28:42.159 And so it'll definitely be there for your listening pleasure, as well as, of course, we'll add some Jackson vibe in there. 01:28:42.319 --> 01:28:47.920 And Erica, you can let us know an additional Celine Dion that we can add, of course, for you. 01:28:48.239 --> 01:28:49.039 Oh my goodness. 01:28:49.279 --> 01:28:52.239 Actually, I'm going with something that's old school because I love Celine Dion. 01:28:52.399 --> 01:28:55.279 Um, however, I'm bringing this way back just like you did, Rachel. 01:28:55.439 --> 01:29:04.079 Um, one of my favorite, well, some of you have already discovered that in my past life, not my past life, actually in my current life, I at one point in time was an opera singer. 01:29:04.319 --> 01:29:11.439 And one of the most favorite arias that I would sing is by Puccini, and it's called O Mio Babino Caro. 01:29:11.680 --> 01:29:11.920 Oh.

01:29:12.159 --> 01:29:12.479 Oh. 01:29:12.800 --> 01:29:14.399 Oh, oh, love it. 01:29:14.640 --> 01:29:14.960 Okay. 01:29:15.279 --> 01:29:31.439 And this song is very near and dear to my heart because uh the way that it's written and how the lyrics, and I sing it in Italian, and the way that it it just flows, it's so beautiful and it's so powerful and emotional. 01:29:31.600 --> 01:29:43.439 And for those that you don't know, the translation is Oh my dear papa, and it is about this woman in the opera who is longing to be with her lover and will literally do anything to get there. 01:29:43.600 --> 01:29:46.000 And if she doesn't, she's gonna throw herself into the river. 01:29:46.159 --> 01:29:49.039 A little morbid, but that's basically what it is. 01:29:49.119 --> 01:29:59.119 And at the very, very end of the song, she is pleading to her father in the most beautiful musical way to please let me go. 01:29:59.279 --> 01:30:00.560 Just just let me go. 01:30:00.720 --> 01:30:03.520 And it's so awesome, it brings people to tears. 01:30:03.760 --> 01:30:14.560 I love it, it's beautiful to sing, and I'm gonna bring it back to who I have been inspired by to sing this is the classic OG Maria Calas. 01:30:14.720 --> 01:30:19.920 Maria Calas is the 19th-century opera singer who really brought this song to life. 01:30:20.079 --> 01:30:38.800 And I'm not sure kind of the history, if maybe Puccini kind of was inspired by anything related to her, but she is beautiful in every way and a Greek opera singer, so her diction and anything that she sings in a different language is on point. 01:30:39.199 --> 01:30:44.079 And then there's something about learn from the OGs and the classics and not the trends. 01:30:44.399 --> 01:31:01.920 And for any opera singer out there or an inspiring opera singer, I definitely would hope and kind of inspire you to maybe look into her and read a little bit more about her story and listen to all of her recordings because she's freaking amazing. 01:31:02.960 --> 01:31:03.840 Learn from the best. 01:31:04.079 --> 01:31:11.359 So that's who I have is Maria Kalas and really any of her songs, but specifically I'll go with the Omiobal Bino Carol. 01:31:11.760 --> 01:31:12.079 Perfect. 01:31:12.159 --> 01:31:14.880 Well, I will definitely see what we can do to get that on there. 01:31:15.359 --> 01:31:16.319 Hopefully, it sounds about that. 01:31:16.479 --> 01:31:17.279 I mean, we'll figure it out. 01:31:17.600 --> 01:31:18.399 Let's see what we do. 01:31:19.920 --> 01:31:23.600 And uh Todd, thank you so much for spending uh time with us today. 01:31:23.760 --> 01:31:29.439 It has been so wonderful to have this conversation with you and you know get to know you even better. 01:31:29.600 --> 01:31:39.039 Um, is there anything that you would like to specifically plug certain things that you're working on or excited about before Erica tells us all the places where people can stalk us? 01:31:39.439 --> 01:31:40.560 Rachel, you're so kind. 01:31:40.720 --> 01:31:50.479 I I just want to say thank you for this amazing opportunity for giving me the opportunity to talk with the two of you. 01:31:50.800 --> 01:31:55.199 Like you are some of my most amazing friends, colleagues. 01:31:55.439 --> 01:32:04.960 I have so much respect uh for for both of you and and what you give to not just our profession but the entire communities that that that you serve. 01:32:05.279 --> 01:32:10.000 It's awesome to get to have the opportunity uh to talk with you. 01:32:10.319 --> 01:32:11.600 So I appreciate it. 01:32:11.680 --> 01:32:22.159 I as far as plugging, the only thing I want to plug is that everyone that that's listening to this or or or watching this on YouTube, just take care of yourselves. 01:32:22.560 --> 01:32:25.199 And take care of yourselves to take care of others. 01:32:25.439 --> 01:32:27.840 Continue to to be the great people that you are. 01:32:28.000 --> 01:32:33.199 And if you ever want to chat, if I can ever help you or support you or or or anything like that, reach out. 01:32:33.439 --> 01:32:34.479 You're amazing, Todd. 01:32:34.720 --> 01:32:35.760 Amazing, amazing. 01:32:36.000 --> 01:32:42.800 Well, speaking of amazing, let's tell y'all the amazing ways to s figure out how to stock us and find us. 01:32:43.039 --> 01:32:48.239 We, Sparkles and Sunshine, are on every major podcast platform. 01:32:48.399 --> 01:32:55.760 You name it Apple Podcasts, Podcast Ad Spotify, all the places where you can get your favorite podcast, that's where we are. 01:32:55.920 --> 01:32:59.199 Make sure you type in sparkles and sunshine. 01:32:59.439 --> 01:33:03.439 The whole word, all three of them, all three of them. 01:33:03.520 --> 01:33:06.479 Because if you shorthand it, you'll get a shorthand answer. 01:33:06.640 --> 01:33:10.239 And then you're gonna get frustrated, and then it's gonna become something you've learned. 01:33:10.399 --> 01:33:11.600 So don't do that. 01:33:11.840 --> 01:33:18.000 Learn from us, learn from us, learn from our mistakes, and type in the whole thing: sparkles and sunshine. 01:33:18.159 --> 01:33:24.960 The other places that you can find us is Facebook or on the book of the face and also Instagram. 01:33:25.279 --> 01:33:26.399 We are there as well. 01:33:26.640 --> 01:33:30.960 We kind of post a little highlights here and there, and then also we post our questions on there. 01:33:31.119 --> 01:33:40.560 So if you would like to contribute in a way that is maybe either as a guest or on the side, you can go ahead and submit your responses through Facebook and Instagram. 01:33:40.800 --> 01:33:46.880 And then for the unedited version of this episode, you can find it on our YouTube channel. 01:33:47.119 --> 01:33:48.800 Please subscribe. 01:33:48.960 --> 01:33:57.680 And then there will be links in the description on how to access the podcast and any other fun little tidbits, especially when it comes to information about Todd. 01:33:57.760 --> 01:34:00.880 So if you want to stalk Todd too, because he gave us permission to tag him. 01:34:02.079 --> 01:34:03.439 Then I'm trying to think. 01:34:03.600 --> 01:34:06.720 Oh, the most important thing is that we are official friends. 01:34:06.800 --> 01:34:08.319 And how are we official? 01:34:08.560 --> 01:34:10.560 By having an email address. 01:34:10.880 --> 01:34:12.560 We have an email address. 01:34:12.720 --> 01:34:19.439 The email address is hello at sparklesandsunshine.net. 01:34:19.840 --> 01:34:21.199 Again, that's hello. 01:34:21.680 --> 01:34:25.600 Hello at sparklesandsunshine.net. 01:34:25.920 --> 01:34:28.399 You can email us anytime with anything. 01:34:28.640 --> 01:34:29.680 Parenting fails. 01:34:30.000 --> 01:34:31.199 You just want to say hi. 01:34:31.359 --> 01:34:31.680 Yeah. 01:34:31.840 --> 01:34:32.159 Mm-hmm. 01:34:32.319 --> 01:34:34.000 You want to tell us how weird we are? 01:34:34.239 --> 01:34:35.680 Yes, we welcome that. 01:34:35.920 --> 01:34:37.359 Any and all feedback is welcome. 01:34:37.520 --> 01:34:40.159 And then answering our questions or to be a guest on our podcast. 01:34:40.319 --> 01:34:42.079 Rachel, what else am I forgetting? 01:34:42.319 --> 01:34:44.800 No, I think you actually got them all this time. 01:34:44.880 --> 01:34:46.079 I'm really proud of you, Erica. 01:34:46.159 --> 01:34:47.199 And you didn't even write them down. 01:34:47.279 --> 01:34:47.520 I know. 01:34:47.600 --> 01:34:48.399 This is really amazing. 01:34:48.560 --> 01:34:51.439 But just one more time, just because you're so good at saying it. 01:34:51.520 --> 01:34:52.800 What is our email address again? 01:34:52.880 --> 01:35:04.079 If people want to send us parenting fails, advice, tell us how much they hate our conversations, or really love our conversations, or were inspired by our conversations, or any this, that, and the other. 01:35:04.239 --> 01:35:06.560 Tell me, Erica, what is that email address? 01:35:06.880 --> 01:35:10.000 Hello at sparklesandsunshine. 01:35:10.880 --> 01:35:11.439 Perfect. 01:35:11.680 --> 01:35:12.960 Until next time. 01:35:13.359 --> 01:35:14.000 Bye.