Have you heard of synesthesia? It is when your brain routes sensory information through multiple unrelated senses, causing you to experience more than one sense simultaneously. Some examples include tasting words or linking colors to numbers and letters. My guest this week, Emily Barth Isler, is an author of essays and children's books, including the middle grade novels AfterMath and The Color of Sound, which was published March 5, 2024.  The Color of Sound features a character who, like...

I have a few things we should talk about this week! Do you think I need a permanent co-host?Why is it so hard to get people to talk on the show?Is Taylor Swift causing friendships to end?MahjongIt's a random assortment.  It's a monologue.  I promised I wouldn't do any monologues.  So what should I do about that? Support the Show. Keep up with all things WeSTAT on any (or ALL) of the social feeds: Instagram Threads : westatpod Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Have a topic or want to stay in touch...

Did you know that the  six most common complaints about the sound of a women's voice are: Their voice is too highThey sound like childrenThey don't sound authoritative enoughThey have vocal fryThey use too much upspeakTheir voice is too lowFor a woman who wants to speak up publicly, it can start to feel like we are damned if we do, and damned if we don't.  This week I had the opportunity to talk to Christine Adam, an international voice, accent and communication skills coach, about why...

I am a proud voting American.  From local, national, primary, or general, I never miss my opportunity to participate in my civic duty and cherished right to vote.  I love the process of going to my polling precinct and casting my ballot.  I slap that sticker on my chest and walk around all day with pride, knowing that instead of choosing to do nothing, I chose to vote.  And I believe, that my vote is counted.  It may not win, but it is always counted. But I am aware that I may be in the...

We should talk about Tik Tok.  As a Gen X-er, I cling to my Facebook and I feel fancy that I consistently use Instagram.  But if I'm being honest, I know that this makes me basically an elderly user of social media apps.  YouTube and Tik Tok are the social media apps where Gen Z and Gen Alpha are spending the majority of their time.  So, what's an "Insta-Grandma" to do to try and stay au courant on the trends? Enter my guest, Pamela Wurst Vetrini. Pamela is a content creator, content...

Join Jessica and her pop culture guest of the week, Joey Klei, as they discuss the pop culture topics that are front of mind for them.  Where is Princess Catherine? ***Big correction!! Jessica says MULTIPLE times that the timeline starts 12/23/23, but it really was 12/28/23.  In her excitement, she got the date wrong, a lot.  This is why she is not running for President.Joey reviews the Apple Vision Pro glassesWe should talk about the OscarsDo YOU want to be a part of the next pop culture...

"If we understand there is a biblical basis, there is a theological basis for understanding that transgender people and gender expansive people are created in the image of God -  just like all people- then it makes it easier to .... understand we don't have to choose between our faith and the people we love." Jamie Bruesehoff is an award-winning LGBTQ+ advocate, nationally known speaker, and mother of three, including a transgender child.  She also has a master's degree from The Lutheran...

“I’ve personally witnessed how Chelsey changes the lives of teenage girls for the better. This book is exactly what we all need right now, for our families and for our future voices in the world." —Laura Dern, Academy Award-winning actress and New York Times bestselling author of Honey, Baby, Mine Teenage girls have a lot of assumptions made about them, and they’re not very positive.  Things like, they’re dramatic, they’re mean, they’re overly emotional, and they don’t know really know what...

We Should Talk About That is going on a break for a couple of weeks for a little refresh and re-tooling.  But before I go, I want to take a minute to honor a man who has meant so very much to me, my father in law, Vernard Charles Kidwell, Jr. Vern passed away February 4th, 2024 at the ripe age of 98 and I am just back from a weekend of honoring him and his incredible life.   A WWII veteran and celebrated jazz trumpet player, Vern lived many chapters and I wanted to do my small part in...

This week I welcome Jess Buchanan back on the show to talk about the release of  her second anthology series, Deserts to Mountaintops: Choosing Our Healing Through Radical Self Acceptance.   It was so great to catch up on what's been happening in her world and to discuss this project. In this episode: Find out why this topic was chosen for the anthology seriesHear the process of putting an anthology project together with 18 other authorsTalk about the fear that keeps women from telling their...

In September 2017, after years of physical abuse and sexual torture, Nicole "Nikki" Addimando fatally shot her abusive partner in self-defense.  And in February 2020, Nicole was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for killing the perpetrator of her abuse, where she became part of the 97% of women in prison nationwide who have experienced physical or sexual abuse. Long time listeners of WeSTAT know that I have been personally following this case very closely.  In 2021, I had the...

The WeSTAT community was polled and the results were unanimous, so, welcome to the first WeSTAT episode dedicated entirely to pop culture! In what I hope is the first of a re-occurring series, Jessica is joined by one of her go to pop culture aficionados IRL, Amanda Pedigo. But this isn't just two girlfriends having a chat, Amanda really has her finger on the pulse of all things pop culture. This week we cover: The Golden GlobesJoy Koy: WTH happened?Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and Keleigh...

When women have good information, they make good choices. - Dr. Lauren Streicher Discover the surprising benefits of cannabis for menopause symptoms and beyond. Listen in as Ellen Scanlon shares her insights on using CBD and THC to alleviate pain, improve sleep, and support overall well-being. But what happens when the legal market for cannabis doesn't provide the support women need? Tune in to find out. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how cannabis benefits menopause symptoms...

The business case for diversity is so strong, and unless we create a safe space for everyone to have a conversation, we can't move it forward. - Kori Reed Uncover the silent majority's role in gender equity as Kori Reed challenges men in the workplace to understand, support, and engage in the conversation. In this episode, you will be able to: Explore men's perspectives on gender equity for a fresh understanding of workplace dynamics.Understand the difference between equality and equity to...

If you are in medical school in this country right now, it can be challenging to choose to be trained to provide safe abortions. It's scary out there. The laws are confusing. The medical profession is vast. Why choose abortion care? And I would just say anyone who has made that choice and who is seeking out a seasoned doctor who's done these procedures for longer than I've been alive to learn their craft, those are the heroes that we need more of. - Gloria Riviera If you're feeling frustrated...

Normalizing conversations about our bodies and sexuality can lead to healthier relationships and a sense of empowerment. - Gopi Pillai I am thrilled to have Gopi Pillai join me this week as WeSTAT's very first guest co-host! And together, we are wondering, are you aware of how your body moves and holds itself? Join us as we dive into the importance of body awareness and why we should definitely be talking about our vaginas a lot more.  We also cover a seldom-discussed topic: vaginismus in...

Have you ever doubted your own physical abilities? Believed that you were simply not cut out for sports or fitness? Well, let me share a story that will challenge your perceptions. Meet Alyssa, a woman who thought she lacked natural athletic talent, only to discover an unexpected twist that changed her life forever. This twist led her down a path of self-discovery, strength training, and ultimately, the realization that our bodies are capable of so much more than we could ever imagine....

Happy Thanksgiving! This week I'm doing a cross promotion with my other podcast, Neuroversity and featuring a very special episode. Join me as I have a conversation with the most important autistic voice you will ever hear on this podcast, my daughter Grace.  This is not an inspirational story.  This is not a sad story.  This is Grace's story.    How she remembers finding out she's autistic.    How she sees herself as a neurodivergent teenager.  How she feels about this podcast, and what...

***This episode briefly discusses suicide.  If you or anyone you know needs support, Help is available 24 hours a day at the suicide and crisis lifeline by dialing 988 https://988lifeline.org/ Join journalist and professor Chris Moody as he shares his alarming findings on sextortion  scams that are victimizing thousands of teenage boys. Chris does an exceptional job illuminating the grim reality of these scams, the platforms they're most prevalent on, and how governments are responding. Most...

This episode of We Should Talk About That focuses on an important but difficult topic - suicide prevention and awareness.   ***Help is available 24 hours a day at the suicide and crisis lifeline by dialing 988 https://988lifeline.org/ Jessica Kidwell interviews writer ASA Merritt about his audio fiction story,  "Six Sermons", which explores a church community's response to their pastor's suicide. They have a thoughtful discussion about the complex reasons behind suicide, the desire to make...

Would you like to age gracefully and understand the influences that societal judgment and cultural pressures have on beauty and cosmetics? In this episode of "We Should Talk About That," host Jessica Kidwell engages in a conversation about anti-aging and aging gracefully with Dr. Carolyn Chang, an aesthetic plastic surgeon and vice chairman of plastic surgery at California Pacific Medical Center. Dr. Chang shares her expertise and educates listeners on fighting the natural signs of aging...

Feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of preparing your children for college applications? Join me and my guest, early career development expert Ana Homayoun, as we navigate this daunting journey. I share my own struggle with the pressure, and Ana provides me with invaluable insight and perspective on the fallacy of "finish lines". With Ana's guidance, we explore the importance of executive functioning skills, systems, connections, perspective, and acceptance in shaping our definition. It's...

The key to living a legendary life is to strive to be more like Abe Lincoln.  At least, that is what my guest this week, Jonathan Shapiro, says is the key.  Join us for a conversation  about the principles of the great Abraham Lincoln, and how following seven steps can help us all lead a more extraordinary life. We talk about stoicism, storytelling, humor, river raft rides, the heart of American culture, and the importance of love.  All of which lead us to look at how Abraham Lincoln,...

Did you know: 1 in 5 women will be sexually assaulted while in college or graduate school6% of men will be sexually assaulted while in college or graduate school90% of sexual assaults on college campuses go unreported.More than 50% of college sexual assaults occur in either August, September, October, or November.  This is called the "Red Zone" In the latest episode, I have a deeply personal and tough discussion with my brave guest, Anne, who unveils her own experience of sexual assault in...