Life Talks with Lauren

Ep. 159-How I Went from "I Just Don't Get Along with Other Girls" to Becoming an Unapologetic Girl's Girl

What does it even mean to be a “girl’s girl?” Does it mean we only respect women, and we hate on men? Do we have to unfailingly support each other, even when we’re in the wrong? And also - what can we do to celebrate and show up for the women in our lives? Those are questions I had, so I did some research.

Listen to the episode now to find out what I discovered, or if you prefer you can read the blog post version here. 

And as always, subscribe to stay in the know for future episodes and connect with me on Instagram @laurenmkepler!

Ep. 158-What Do Seasons Have to Do with Mental Health & Joy?

On January 6, 2025, I sent a 15-minute voice message to my good friend, Sami. She and I have gotten in the habit of sending weekly voice messages back and forth as a way to check in, motivate each other, and share what’s going on in our lives and minds. In my message to her on the 6th, I reflected on my thoughts about the upcoming year, and how it relates to my feelings about seasons. It inspired me to write a post on my exploration of embracing the push and pull of the seasons. Not just literal seasons based on weather, but also life’s seasons. How is it all intertwined? And how can we find beauty and comfort in different phases, especially the ones we enjoy the least?

 

What can we learn from women’s menstrual cycles, video games, and even goths about how to slow down and enjoy the seemingly unenjoyable? That’s what I intend to explore in this week's episode. To read the blog post version, click here. 

 

If you enjoyed this episode, connect with me on Instagram and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss future episodes!

Ep. 156: Did I get the job? | How the job hunt is going | My past experiences in finding work

You know how some things in life can bring up insecurities you thought you'd overcome? Like getting back into the dating world for the first time in a while. Or trying a new hobby. Or job hunting after being out of work for a while (or just getting your first job). That's been me lately. I've started looking for work as I make my way through a divorce, and let me tell ya--it's not for the faint of heart. BUT the good news is there are so many resources to help prepare. And it helps to have a community of supportive people that love me and see the best in me. They genuinely keep me afloat. So in this episode, I'm sharing my past history with finding jobs, how that's changed this time around, and what I did to prepare for my most recent job interview. 

Much like anything scary in life--there is so much to learn! And this experience has been no different. So come hang out with me while I share all the ups and downs of being on a job hunt. Hopefully you'll learn a thing or two :) If you wanna talk about it, come find me on Instagram! I'm @laurenmkendrick. 

Oh, and here are some of the YouTube videos I watched to help me prepare: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOpVzPapMws

https://youtu.be/prW5jqJ6xwA?si=-sgMgajKZIQd3cns

https://youtu.be/IV30jAw7dxA?si=xYQUr189_pfGI1n6

https://youtu.be/-QXAG3AT1p0?si=8zdFUyJi8gQXnv34

https://youtu.be/fYHR0KgnGHU?si=y0HqC6m2_h7or5jX

 

Talk to you soon!

Lauren

Ep. 155: Let's Talk Making Friends in Your 30's or After Moving to a New Place

Let's be real-making friends at any phase in life is intimidating. Especially as you get older and have more on your plate, or after moving a few states, across the country, or even across the world. I think we've all heard the advice on where to find friends (joining clubs, work, school, etc.), but how do you cultivate the right mindset to attract healthy friendships? Let's talk about it!

After listening, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode. You can reach out to me on IG @laurenmkendrick. Can't wait to hear from you! 

Ep. 154-Let's Talk Self-Validation

Do you ever feel insecure about your weight, how you think others perceive you, etc.? Because, same. Recently, I haven't been feeling pretty--and I know how trivial that sounds. But (especially as women) we think about our appearance so often. To the point where we're willing to spend thousands of dollars and torture ourselves just to look a certain way. But what truly makes us beautiful, and how can we learn to validate ourselves when we feel insecure about how we look? Let's discuss. You can always reach out and tell me your thoughts about this episode by connecting with me on Instagram @laurenmkendrick. Love you!

Ep. 153: Let's Talk Vulnerability and Oversharing

Is it hard for you to open up to people, or does it come naturally? For me, it's a mixture of both. People often ask how I'm able to be so vulnerable--especially with how much I share on this podcast, and how much I used to share on social media. And honestly? I do it so I feel less alone, and in hopes that you'll feel less alone too. How can you tell the difference between being vulnerable and oversharing? Let's talk about it! Dive into the episode and share your thoughts with me on Instagram @laurenmkendrick. Can't wait to hear from you! 

Ep. 152-Embracing Platonic Love and Women Friendships

As women, we're conditioned to prime ourselves for romantic love. So much so that when we struggle to find a long-term romantic partner, we think there's something wrong with us. But what about platonic love? The intimacy we share with our girls through laughter, secrets, asking for advice, and so much more. I wouldn't be where I am today without my female friendships, and I'm curious to know if you feel the same. You can share your experiences with me on Instagram @laurenmkendrick. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the episode!

Ep. 151: Let's Talk Times When you Feel "Meh"

You ever have those days or weeks where you're just in a funk? And you just wanna hide away, but you still have to show up as if everything is fine. I experience them more often than I'd like to admit, but over time I've learned how to support myself through it. So let's talk about it. 

I'd love to hear your experience with the life lows and how you get yourself through it. You can find me on Instagram @laurenmkendrick. I'd love to hear from you! 

Ep. 150: Let's Talk Body Image

Body image and how comfortable we feel in our skin is such an individual journey. We come from a multitude of experiences that shape the way we feel, and that often leads to struggling to accept the body we're in. In this episode, let's talk about some of the things that impact how we relate to our own bodies, and think about others. 

Give it a listen and if you want to connect to me further, you can find me on Instagram @laurenmkendrick. Enjoy!

Supporting your Mental Health & Reigniting your Commitment to Self-Love

In this episode, I share my current mental health challenges and ways I support myself through it. I also talk about the importance of developing an external support system, because as much as we try to convince ourselves--we can't do it alone. 

I'd love for you to reach out to me anytime with thoughts or questions on the episode, or just to connect. You can find me on IG @laurenmkendrick.