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Posts tagged ‘Relationships’

Kim Cox: the Psychology of Clutter and Packrat Solutions

moving the podcast – interview from October 8, 2013

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Kim Cox is a professional organizer who specializes in helping people with emotional-attachment issues. Her educational background is in psychology, and I wanted to find out how she uses that training to help people overcome that emotional pull to hold on to their stuff. We talk about how she became a professional organizer, the psychological reasons we become packrats or hoarders, and how she helps people get their lives back under control.

Kim Icon

“It’s my passion to help people get to a place where they know their own system.
It might not look pretty, it may not be the way your family and friends think
you should have it…but it’s what works for you.”

0:00 ~ becoming a professional organizer
4:55 ~ why we hold on to our stuff
10:55 ~ what’s going on in the brain
20:00 ~ using psychology to help packrats
24:20 ~ what it’s like to work with Kim
31:20 ~ “I’ve learned a lot about the brain”

Kim talks about her experience on the tv show Hoarders

Connect with Kim
at Packrat-Solutions.com
on Twitter @packratsol
on Facebook PackRat Solutions
by phone or email
LinkedIn profile

References
Hoarding definition
Hoarders tv show
National Association of Professional Organizers
National Association of Senior Move Managers
American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama
Institute for Challenging Disorganization

Kim is the Membership Chair of the National Association of Professional Organizers – Greater Manchester, NH Chapter. You can find them on Facebook as well. Kim says their meetings are open to the public, and they share a lot of great information that can be useful to anyone, not just professional organizers!

Jamie Golden: finding Forever Families

moving the podcast – interview from October 1, 2013

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(At the time of this podcast, Jamie Golden worked) for the non-profit Children’s Aid Society in Alabama, tweeting occasionally about the things foster kids and newly adopted kids say to her. The tweets are funny, poignant and sometimes heartbreaking. I talked to Jamie about her job last Saturday, then I told her I was going to go home and cry. I did cry when I recounted some of her stories for my parents and aunt, and I was thankful I had a family to share with over lunch.

But it’s not all sad; there are amazing success stories here as well. Jamie’s excited about her job, and her enthusiasm is infectious and inspirational. Take a listen as Jamie talks to me about kids who need forever families, what happens when they age out of the system, myths and misconceptions about foster care and adoption, and how anyone can be an advocate.

Jamie Logo
“My passion…is working with families who are interested
in adopting children from foster care.”

0:00 ~ “I do a lot of different things”
3:50 ~ Children’s Aid Society
6:50 ~ aging out of the system
11:00 ~ the science of finding parents
14:25 ~ misconceptions of foster care & adoption
22:50 ~ “my passion has always been non-profit agencies”
28:15~ “you don’t have to be in the system to love a foster kid”
32:05 ~ modern day orphanages

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Connect with Jamie
on her blog Jamies rabbits
on Twitter @JamiesRabbits
on her podcast The Popcast
podcast on Twitter @popcastpod

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References
Ricky Anderson
Knox McCoy
Children’s Aid Society
Heart Gallery Alabama
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Three Little Words: A Memoir
Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Camellia Network
AdoptUSKids.org

Star Trek Into Darkness with JR. Forasteros

moving the podcast – from June 5, 2013

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I have adored JR. Forasteros practically from the first Storymen video. His laugh is contagious, his enthusiasm is infectious, and wow, I just made him sound like a virus.

But JR. truly is a story man, and that’s something we have in common. Except for the man part. Anyway, we both love stories and characters and really great movies. Like Star Trek Into Darkness!

I was thrilled when JR. agreed to come on the podcast, and it was pure joy to talk about something I love with someone who loves it too. (Bonus points if you can guess how many times we say “right!” to each other.)

JR Title

0:00 ~ Storyman (and trekkie) JR. Forasteros
6:20 ~ reviewing the reboot
12:05 ~ Khaaaannn!
15:35 ~ growing up vs growing old (a Wrath of Khan comparison)
20:25 ~ a non-trekkie viewpoint
22:50 ~ relationships & character stuff
27:25 ~ bras and panties
30:10 ~ boldly going where they’ve never been before?

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Connect with JR.
on his blog JRForasteros.com
on Twitter @jrforasteros
on Facebook
at Storymen.us

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References
Matt Mikalatos ~ mikalatos.com
Clay Morgan ~ claywrites.com
Monster Squad (pre-Storymen videos) ~ Why We Are Attracted to Monsters
The Pros and Cons of “Star Trek Into Darkness” Mystery Villian (Matt Singer review)
Star Trek Into Darkness (JR.’s review)
Movie Quote Monday – Star Trek Into Darkness (my sort-of review)

Leanne Shirtliffe: Don’t Lick The Minivan (and other things I never thought I’d say to my kids)

moving the podcast – interview from May 22, 2013

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Leanne Shirtliffe is a busy woman! And still she took a big chunk of time out of her evening to sit down and talk to me about her new book Don’t Lick The Minivan!

After we figured out how to work the Google Hangout thing, we talked about her writing process, depression and raising twins. And she gives us a special sneak peek at her upcoming projects!

Leanne Square

0:00 ~ “I guess I’m an author” (meet Leanne)Book Cover
8:00 ~ the writing process
18:00 ~ sappy files, depression and found humor
28:00 ~ a husband, twins and lazy parenting
40:00 ~ what’s next for Leanne

Connect with Leanne

on her blog IronicMom.com
on Twitter @LShirtliffe
on Facebook 

Buy the book!

Also!! Renee Schuls-Jacobson is giving away a copy of Leanne’s book. Hop over to read her review and find out how to enter!
RasJacobson.com
Hint: tell her something naughty.
You’ll stay to read the other stories, trust me.

Items of Interest:

Writing Lessons: On Characterization, with Leanne Shirtliffe (more about changing how her husband was originally portrayed)
Don’t throw your pee out the window!
(my review of my review of Don’t Lick The Minivan)
Leanne Shirtliffe answers her fan mail (a bit of video cut from our interview)