The Hats Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kerri & Melissa
The Hats Podcast is for anyone who wears many hats - mom, friend, business owner, athlete, sister, traveler, fashionista, doctor, etc. - and wants tips on how to balance their hats with style and grace! This show offers listeners personal stories from hosts Melissa Dumaz, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Kerri Harper-Howie, an attorney and business owner, as well as tips for how they balance the many hats they wear. Join Melissa and Kerri for a fun and funny few minutes and learn a little something along the way!
Season 8 was different than all the others. So, we had to mix things up for our closing episodes as well. Episode 198 was all about the highs and lows of Season 8 from co-host Melissa and Kerri's perspectives. This final episode of Season 8 is how their husbands, Khalel and Sanford, felt being on the hot seat all season long. Listen in to see how it went for them.
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Well, maybe we didn't say everything - impossible, right? But, we talked about fatherhood, sex, layoffs, dates, being black men and so many other things. Listen to co-hosts Kerri and Melissa wrap up season 8 and our favorite moments from this unique season with our husbands as our only guests.
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Men balance life differently than women ... at least our husbands, Khalel and Sanford, do. They even see the need to balance through a different lense. So, co-hosts Kerri & Melissa thought the Hatters could benefit from hearing how they balance their busy lives and careers with our busy lives and careers. They shared some insights even we had not thought of. Listen in so you can get them too!
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You've made it through Black Friday (which is not a full week!) and Cyber Monday. So, you may already have gotten all the gifts you will purchase this holiday season. But, if you are still trying to figure out the perfect gift for that last person on your list, this is the episode for you. Co-hosts Melissa and Kerri share some best bets on how to be a thoughtful gift giver, and how to gingerly receive gifts that may not suit your tastes!
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"Turn off the lights! And, come closer." Yes! Barry White invokes the romance in all of us. Listen in to this episode where Kerri and Melissa welcome their husbands Sanford and Khalel to talk about how to keep the romance alive in relationships ... even when it seems impossible!
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After George Floyd died, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa felt compelled to record The Black Woman Hat. It is one of the shows most listened-to episodes of all time, and for sure one of the most emotionally raw. On this episode, the co-hosts welcome their husbands to share about being Black men in America - the ups, downs, stereotypes and everything in between. If you've ever wanted real and authentic insight on what it's like to be a Black man in America, this is a must-listen-to episode!
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In our busy lives, having a hobby becomes vital. Hobbies decrease stress, increse confidence and can expand your horizons. Explore this topic with co-hosts Melissa and Kerri who talk about their hobbies and give you tools and tips that will allow you to incorporate satisfying and fulfilling hobbies into your already hectic lives.
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Everybody loves a good date night. And YET! Everybody struggles at times to consistently plan and execute them. Whether you have kids, animals, parents or intense careers (or all four of the above!), making sure you and your boo take time to nurture your relationship one-on-one is vitally important to keeping things fresh, connected and intimate. Listen to co-hosts Kerri and Melissa dish about date nights with their husbands, Sanford and Khalel. And, learn how you can make dates nights a more regular affair.
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Change is inevitable. For better or worse, change also impacts relationships. Individual interests and ideals change, finances change, family structure changes, and the list goes on. The Relationship Evolution Hat explores what happens to relationships over time and how they can evolve. Listen in as co-hosts Kerri and Melissa welcome their husbands for another episode to talk shop.
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Last week we talked fatherhood, and sometimes fathers are important role models in our lives. But, a role model can come in many shapes and sizes. In this episode, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa explore what it means to serve as a role model (whether you choose to be or not), and how to find one when you need one.
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Melissa and Kerri both had fathers that were absent for much of their childhood and all of their adulthood. To have active and wonderful fathers in their own households has been a beautifil experience. Listen to their husbands, Khalel and Sanford, talk about their experiences as sons of actively involved fathers and fathers to multiple children. This is a fun and enlightening episode for anyone who knows and loves a father.
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Are forgiveness and reconcilitation the same thing? Not quite. While both are extremely important to healthy relationships - which inevitably experience hurt and rifts - they can be quite distinct processes with very different outcomes. If you've struggled with moving past pain in a relationship, go back and listen to episode 24 The Forgiveness Hat, and then fast forward and list to this episode. You will then understand the clear differences between forgiveness and reconciliation, and be able to assess whether your current situation requires one or both.
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Black women are having a moment. Asian women are having a moment. Women are having a moment. The United States is having a moment! Vice President Kamala Harris earned the nomination of the Democratic party and is now running for POTUS! This is a MOMENT!!
We are excited to introduce The No Agenda Hat series. In each of these episodes, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa will take a beat to talk and record without an agenda. It may be about a historic event happening, a significant time in our lives, or simply a subject that was not on our list, that defies topic questions and warrants a deviation from our regular programming. So, indulge us as we share without an agenda because we MUST talk about this MOMENT!
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We shared recently about the devastating loss of dear friend of The Hats Podcast, Waraire Boswell. His passing reminded us that life is short and we have limited opportunities to say all the things we need to say. So, we tried in this episode to capture some of the messages we want to convey to some of the most important people in our lives. We get raw and vulnerable in this episode. We hope to inspire others to do the same.
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At your first high school party, someone passed around red cups holding "punch". When you put the cup handed to you up to your mouth, your nose tells you that this is no ordinary punch! What do you do? What about when the joint is passed around outside the office party? Or, when you go shopping with girlfriends and everybody else is spending amounts of money you know you don't have? Peer pressure comes at many ages and most environments. Listen to this episde of The Hats Podcast to get insights on how you can resist peer pressure, and how you can teach your kids to do the same. Also learn when you should give in to positive peer pressure!
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"Honey, I got laid off." The words are said. What happens next? Co-hosts Kerri and Melissa's husbands share what happened to them after they had to utter these words ... more than once. Listen in to find out what Kerri and Melissa did right and wrong when they found out their husbands had been laid off, and how both households managed to get to the other side of layoffs that impacted their lives.
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It's a moment so many adults dred - you have to walk into your home or get on the phone and inform your partner or loved one that you have been laid off. What happens in that moment can be groundshifting for any relationship. Will an earthquakegive create a divide in the relationship and household that cannot be bridged? Or will the earth squeeze together creating a mountain you agree to climb together. Listen in to hear how Kerri and Melissa handled the MULTIPLE times each of their husbands got laid off.
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CEO. CFO. CMO. CHO? What is a Chief Household Officer? Co-hosts Melissa and Kerri explore this concept in this episode. Households do not run on their own. Somebody has to drive the ship. Sometimes it's one person, in other households there are co-CHOs. Listen in to find out how things flow in Melissa and Kerri's homes, assess how your your household functions, and decide if you want to keep things the same or do a few things differently.
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The wedding is over and it's time to take a break from it all - the planners, the family, the wedding party, the OPINONS!! Your honeymoon is designed to be a moment in time to help you and your new spouse transition from your single days into married life. A little break before reality sets in! Melissa and Kerri have very different honeymoon stories. Listen in to hear how they honeymooned, and get some tips and insights on how you can plan the right honeymoon for you and your partner.
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As they say, perception is reality. Your perspective in life, how you see the world, is based on how you choose to perceive things around you. Do you view things through the lense of a victim? Do you assume that people around you are there to support you? Do you see the glass as half-empty or half-full? Does your perspective differ based on the environment in which you find yourself? Listen to Kerri and Melissa, along with their husbands Sanford and Khalel, talk about how their perspectives in life have shaped their marriages, outlooks, parenting and other areas of their lives.
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Wedding bells are ringing! Actually, neither Kerri nor Melissa got married in churches where said bells would likely ring. They have very different wedding stories, but they have each yielded marriages the co-hosts feel blessed to be in. Listen to their wedding stories and get tips you can use when planning your wedding, being in someone else ceremony or sending off your child in matrimony.
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It's been decided - you can't imagine life without this person and you want to get married. Yay! It's an exciting time. But, how do you get from that thought to the ring on the finger? Kerri and Melissa's husbands, Sanford and Khalel, joined them for The Engagement Hat. Listen in to how these guys proposed and get some tips to figure out if you (and your partner!) are ready to pop the BIG QUESTION!
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The new component to this season - Kerri and Melissa will welcome their husbands for evey guest episode! It's a big twist, and maybe a little bit of a gamble. But, we are excited to share more from the guests whose episodes have gotten the most listener downloads than anyone else. In the Supportive Partner Hat, Kerri and Melissa (who will still bring you "just them" episodes every other week) talk about what it means to be and have a supportive partner in life. Many people have partners; not all of them get the support they need from their partners. Listen in to get tips on how to be a better partner to your loved ones.
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Hello Hatters! We are so happy to finally be back with you again! This has been our longest hiatus ever - thank you for continuing to listen while we prepared to bring you a season like no other. No, we are not going all Gossip Girl as the title would suggest. Instead, we are bringing you what we have to say on the topics, as well as that of our most populat guests - OUR HUSBANDS!! When we bring our husbands to the show, you all listen and share episodes in greater numbers. As they say, we have decided to give the people what they want. So, look forward to Kerri & Mel's usual banter and get ready to hear from their husbands, Sanford & Khalel, every other week!
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A lot of planning and thought go into publishing The Hats Podcast. We have a LOT of ideas. Some of the episodes from Season 7 have been brewing for years, others a few months. But, they are all topics co-hosts Kerri and Melissa have been passionate about bringing to the listeners. What a rich season it has been! Here's a recap you can listen to and see if your highlights are the same as ours!
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What most of us know about incarceration comes from television shows and movies. As we all know, things are not always as Hollywood would have them seem. Prison rights activist Yolanda Williams gives us an up close and personal look at life behind bars - how a preacher's kid could end up there and redemption that can be found in the act of wrongdoing. Yolanda's story is fascinating and inspiring.
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It's a presidential election year. So, it is only right that we hear from a politician, right? The Hats Podcast is excited to welcome Pasadena School Board Member Patrice Marshall McKenzie to the show to discuss the transition from supporting elected officials to becoming one. Patrice shares with us how politics can be conciliatory and practical, and serve the best interests of all constituents. Her calm confidence and kindness will make you think "hunh, maybe I should consider a run myself!" Maybe not; but, she will make you have a little more faith in the folks running our government.
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The Brady Bunch. The most iconic American blended family. With a few bumps in the road smoothed over by a loving mom and dad, they made combing two families into one all look so easy. But, navigating stepparenting, disciplinary styles, new spouses, new siblings and many other issues that arise in the course and scope of creating a new family where one previously existed can be extremely challenging. Listen to our guest RaShawn Vogelzon share how she created a blended family that incorporated her children, her second husband's children, her first husband and her new husband's second wife. Wow! Seems impossible, right? Well, it isn't. Listen in to find out how she did it and get tips on how to make all households, blended or not, happier, more peaceful places to be.
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If you are going to wear many hats in life, you will have to hold yourself accountable to yourself and others. Accountability to yourself allows you to set boundaries that prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. Accountability to others opens the door to trust and relationship building. Listen to this episode which answers the following questions about accountability:
- What does it mean to be accountable?
- In what contexts is accountability most important?
- How do you deal with people who are not being accountable for their actions?
- Tips to make sure you are being accountable to yourself and others.
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What is the little thing that makes you speak a little softer, kinder, or more gently? How does that little thing interact with the impulse to drive hard to get results and advocate forcefully? Some say that we are describing the competing energy forces inside of all of us - feminine versus masculine energy. This was not a topic co-hosts Melissa and Kerri knew much about. So, unbeknownst to them, they wisely used their feminine energy instincts to ask for help from guest expert Dr. Zerri Gross. Listen to this episode to learn about how both types of energy reside within all of us and how we can balance them as needed depending on what we are facing each moment.
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Are you driven to always be number one? Do you jump through hoops to be the best of the best? If you answer either of these questios yes, you may have a strong competitive spirit. But, does being competitive mean always going against others? Does it also mean detracting from the success of others who inevitably beat you sometimes? Find out the answers to these questions and consider whether your competitive spirit is a positive driver or negative alienator.
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People of color have mixed experiences with law enforcement. Rarely do we get an insider's perspective behind the badge. And, even less frequently do we hear the voices of women officers. The Hats Podcast wanted to have this conversation, and former Secret Service Agent Holli Draines agreed to have it with us! Holli's story of life in law enforcement is inspiring, and a wonderful reminder of those "behind the blue wall" who truly honor their duty to protect and serve.
Explore Holli's Security Company
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If you are listening to this episode, then you may not be in the middle of a digital detox because you have to find us digitally! But, we hope that what you get out of this episode is that a digital detox, while necessary from time to time, can take many different forms. You can go cold turkey and sequester away in a cabin in the woods with no electricity, keep everything the same but reduce social media posts from 10 to 5 per day, and many other things in between. If you've been wanting to change the way you engage digitally, listen to this episode for tips and tricks for how to make it work. The benefits of a digital detox can be life altering!
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Pioneering podcaster Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of the wildly successful podcast Therapy For Black Girls joins The Hats Podcast to talk about how women can heal through sister relationships. There is nothing quite like that moment when passing another woman and receiving the smile and nod that say "Sis, I see you!" And, those laughs and tears shared over brunch? Whole television series have been rooted in those sisterly occasions. Listen to co-hosts Melissa and Kerri discuss the unique bond between sisters (blood-related or chosen) and how we can heal through these deep and lasting relationships.
Buy Dr. Joy's book: Sisterhood Heals
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Hope is the fuel that keeps us charging forward during the most difficult circumstances. When we consider the state of world - or, even our own lived experiences - living in a state of hope can feel naive. This episode of The Hats Podcast helps you see why hope is not naive, but necessary. And, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa give tips to move through the inevitable bouts of hopelessness you will encounter along the way.
Why the World Needs Hope
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Any time we discuss death, the subject is emotional. This time it's emotional and controversial. The law in California changed some years ago to make the state one of the 11 that allow doctors to give people a lethal dose of medicine to end their lives. There are rules and circumstances that must be followed and exist, respectively. Returning to the show for a third time, guest therapist Thomas Pier walks us through the entire process. It's no exagerration to say listening to this episode could be a matter of painful life or peaceful death.
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"Girl, did you know that ...." Anytime a conversation starts this way, there is a good chance you are gossiping. But, what exactly is gossip, what are its consequences, and are there moments when gossip is a good thing? These are the issues Kerri and Melissa explore in this episode, while sharing personal stories about how gossip has impacted their lives.
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Foreplay is not what you think it is. Well, it probably includes things that automatically come to mind. But, it can (and, arguably should) be so much more than something that leads to sex. If you've never thought of vacuuming as a form of foreplay, this episosde is a must-listen for you! Sex therapist and radio show show Dr. Jeshana Avent-Johnson schools us on many of the ways foreplay extends beyond the bedroom and into daily moments of you and your intimate partner's lives!
Meet Dr. Avent-Johnson
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Happy 50th Anniversary hip hop!! Tracing the roots, trunk and branches of hip hop music in one podcast episode is an impossible task. Festivals, documentaries, movies, articles and so much other media has been produced this year alone to celebrate this iconic, unapologetically Black art form. Co-hosts Kerri and Melissa could not think of a better way to usher in the next 50 years of hip hop than to invite their husbands - ultimate, hard core hip hop fans - to wax poetic on this true love of theirs. Listen in to their lively and in depth discussion of the topic. But, wait ... you will hear at the end ... there are so many words left unspoken! So, here are words of hip hop wisdom from them both:
Sanford says: There are a host of incredible MCs from coast to coast (and the continent) who were not mentioned by name in this episode. Nonetheless, their contributions to the advancement of the hip hop art form is just as important. We hope you enjoy!
Khalel top 10 favorite Hip Hop Artists of all time:
Nas Rakim Jay-Z KRSOne Kool G Rap GZA Pharaoh Monch Snoop Dogg Ice-T Beanie Siegel No order.
In the past 159 episodes, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa may have led you to believe that they are living the dream of perfectly balanced lives. Not so much! In this episode, the co-hosts explore the idea of whether true "balance" is possible; and, if it is how do we get there; and, if it isn't, how do we reconcile with not showing up 100% in every area all the time. Their discussion is enriched by the commentary, feedback and insights of guest expert therapist, world traveler and tech innovator Tiffany Green. This is an episode that will leave you feeling lighter, more empowered and ready to say yes ... and no ... a lot more often!
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Drugs. Gambling. Food. Pleasure. Thinness. We can become addicted to anything. In this episode, guest therapist Gali Barak gives us an inside view into her own struggle and recovery from addiction, insights on how to help loved ones seized by addiction and help understanding and responding to the humanity behind addiction. Co-host Kerri, a self-proclaimed sweet treats addict (she explains this in the episode), has been especially anxious to talk about addiction. This is an episode you do not want to miss.
Meet Gali Barak - An Expert on Addiction
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Apologizing has become an art form everyone needs to master. It used to be that apologies were about preschoolers hitting each other on the yard, a spouse betraying a spouse, a boss being overly critical. Now, an apology can be the difference between international humiliation, death threats and losing you entire livelihood. Cancel culture is real. In this episode co-hosts Kerri and Melissa talk about the art of the apology and how you can hone this crucial skill for issues large and small.
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Having been personally touched by suicide death, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa have been wanting to talk about suicide for quite some time. The word suicide gives rise to so many emotions - fear, shame, guilt, remorse, frustration and more. Listen to two bold and beautiful Black women discuss their lifelong and ongoing struggles with mental illness and suicidal thoughts. Together, T-Kea Blackman and Jordan Scott bravely and candidly share the difficult journeys that brought them together and led them to found Black People Die By Suicide Too. Their voices and stories are riveting.
Meet T-Kea and Jordan
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Finals are coming up. Tomorrow is your BIG INTERVIEW. Your kid is having a hard time with math. Yesterday your mother had a biopsy and you are waiting for results. The list of stressful situations in any Hatter's life is infinitely long and varied. It can be very tempting to eat your way through these difficult times. In fact, there is science behind why we do so. Listen to this episode with guest experts and founders of The Eatwell Exchange, Ashley Carter and Jasmine Westbrooks. They share insights on why we stress eat and how we can break the habit!
Discover Eatwell Exchange
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Did you know empathy is different from sympathy? Many people think they are synonymous, but they are not. They are both important building blocks in relationships and necessary to see and fully recognize the humanity in others. But, they manifest differently and yield different responses to others. Are you an empathetic person? If no, can you adopt a more empathetic mindset? Find out more about yourself and this vital character trait in this episode of The Hats Podcast.
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Raise your hand if you have been a member of a relationship (moms, friends, children), professional (lawyers, doctors, singers), activity (runners, chess players, anime) or any other type of organization. Co-host Kerri is the epitome of a joiner having been a member of at least 4 organizations since college, co-Melissa not so much! Wherever you lie on the joiner spectrum, this episode answers the following questions and more:
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What does it mean to be a joiner?
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What are some of the benefits of being a joiner?
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How can you expand your social circle if you are not a natural joiner?
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What are some ips for managing all of your joining activity?
Thank you for being a joiner of The Hats Podcast family!
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We have been wanting to talk about infertility. It would have been great to include this episode in the Focus on the Family Series. But, we needed the right guest and we finally got her on the mic. Listen to newscaster Jeannette Reyes share her painful, beautiful and unique story of how taking command of her own health alerted her to very unexpected infertility issues and her path to having a lovely little girl. In this episode, we answer the following questions:
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When did you first realize that you might have a challenge conceiving?
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Infertility can be an emotional rollercoaster. What were some of the most challenging moments you faced during this journey?
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What role did medical interventions or treatments play in your path to becoming parents, and how did you decide which options were right for you?
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Many couples face emotional and financial challenges of infertility treatments. How did you manage those challenges, and do you have any advice for others in a similar situation?
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Have you ever wondered what people on a show do when the show goes on a break? We have! So, we decided to share with you what we - co-hosts Melissa and Kerri - did during our rather extended hiatus between Seasons 6 and 7. Not only that, but we share some insights into why taking a hiatus maybe helpful (and, sometimes necessary), and how to overcome obstacles to taking a hiatus.
Why you should take a hiatus
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Dear Hatters, YOU have been on our minds for these past weeks of our hiatus! We are so very happy to be back with you and launch Season 7. Surely, this will be a lucky season. Why? Because we are finally getting the chance to have so many of the conversations we've been waiting months and years to have! Listen to the our Season 7 opener to get a peek under the tent on Season 7, which starts next week!! You will be glad that you did.
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We said we were going to get up close and personal, and BOY DID WE!! We covered so many different heart gripping topics with wonderful guests and by sharing our own personal stories. We did not expect the season to be as rich and deep as it turned out to be, but we are proud of all of that was revealed. In this closing episode we share our favorite moments ... and, there were many!
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Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: mom guilt.
Moms want to do it all - bake cupcakes for the bake sale, attend every performance, comfort sick kids, be a good wife/sister/friend/employee [INSERT ANY OTHER HAT YOU MAY WEAR!], etc. And, we want to do all of these things optimally and executed with perfection. But, when one of our non-mom responsibilities interferes with our ability to be the mom we want, mom guilt - a uniquely painful type of guilt - can sometimes creep in. In this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri answer these questions and more:
- What is mom-guilt and how common is mom guilt among parents?
- Mom guilt can manifest differently in different stages of parenting. How does it evolve over time?
- Parenting styles and societal expectations can influence mom guilt. How can mothers navigate these external pressures while staying true to their values and parenting choices?
- What are some practical strategies or coping mechanisms for mothers to address and manage feelings of guilt, especially when balancing work, family, and personal life?
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Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: multiples.
A missed period often means a woman is pregnant. If the doctor confirms the pregnancy, the woman will go through a number of standard procedures to check the health of the fetus, including an ultrasound. The ultrasound is initially used to hear the fetus's heartbeat. But, what happens when the docto discovers two heartbearts? Or every three? Special guest Saidah Grayson has a bittersweet, beautiful story to share about being pregnant with and the mom of multiples.
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Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: family traditions.
Every Christmas morning, Kerri makes a baked french toast for her family. Every Sunday growing up Mel's family had Sunday dinner. Family traditions are the glue that keep families together and connected over the years - sometimes for good, sometimes not so much. In this episode, Kerri and Mel talk about their family traditions past and present, and offer tips for how you can create, maintain and transform some of your own.
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Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: the only child.
Conventional wisdom says that parents must have at least two children in order for a child to get all of the emotional, social and developmental stimulation she needs. Not so, says our guest, pediatrician Keila Trimble-Cox, MD. She and her husband decided to have just one child, and she and their entire family are thriving in every way. Listen to her family story and get some understanding about the dynamics of families with one child, and tips on how to decide if this is the right-sized family for you.
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: the importance of family.
Family is not a given. As an adult, sustaining and creating family relationships is a choice. Co-hosts Kerri and Melissa do not know how they've waited this late in this series to discuss the WHY of families, but here they are now offering insights on this important topic. Whatever shape, form or fashion your family takes, they encourage you to cultivate family relationships for a variety of different reasons. Listen in to hear them.
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: disciple.
To spank or not to spank? That is the million dollar, ultra-controversial, argument-inducing, deeply-researched question parents have to answer when they become parents. And, this episode of The Hats Podcat, co-host Melissa and Kerri do just that. Listen in to hear their different approaches to discipline overall, and get some discipline tips you may incorporate into your family or share with someone else.
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: families with no kids.
Some would challenge the whole idea of this episode - how can you have a family if there are no kids involved? The answer - it's easy. Put together two people with a beautiful love story who have decided to be the favorite aunt and uncle and who take the best care of their fur-baby, and you have the makings of a beautiful family. Kerri and Mel's guest Laura Monfredini shares with The Hats Podcast how her and her husband's decision not to have kids has resulted in a fulfilling life that they cherish and would not change for anything in the world!
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: co-parenting.
Court dates, custody agreements, splitting holidays and birthdays, child support. Parenting a child with a parent with whom you are not in a relatioship can be rife with highly emotional and stressful situations. The Hats Podcast guest Rashaan Washington has been through it all ... twice. But, he has fought relentlessly for the best for his boys every step of the way. In this episode he shares the trials and triumphs he has experienced with grace and humor that will have you rooting for him and any parent who finds himself (or herself) in a similar situation. In this episode co-hosts Melissa and Kerri discuss with him:
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What things were most important to you in coming up with your custody arrangements?
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Single dads often get a bad rap for involvement on your children’s lives. Why is it important for you to stay actively involved in your kids’ lives?
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What tips can you offer parents who are transitioning from parenting in the same household to parenting in different households?
Connect with Rashaan aka Shaany LaBrea
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: having more than one kid.
Kerri and her husband knew with absolute certainty they were done having children after their second was born. Mel and her husband knew that their family was incomplete after their second. Many families go on to welcome 4th and 5th children. In this episode, Kerri and Melissa share what life is like being moms to more than one child. In this episode, they answer the following questions:
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How do you support each child’s level of growth and development/achievement while allowing each kid to be their own individual?
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Does each child have different privileges and consequences or are they the same?
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How do you foster healthy sibling relationships between your children?
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How do you foster individual relationships with each child?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: mixed race families.
If you are a Hatter, there's a good chance you remember the Spike Lee Joint Jungle Fever. It was one of the biggest movies to shine a spotlight on mixed race couples - then a very controversial topic. While society appears to have advanced leaps and bounds when it comes to accepting this type of love, there are still many complexities involved in mixed race relationships. Listen to our guest Kate Blocker share her story about being a white woman married to a Black man and raising their Black son. Her perspective is raw and real and impactful.
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: adoptees.
Last week we had a brief discussion with our guest about the experince of parents who adopt children - go back and llisten to that episode if you have not. This week, our guest Jesyca Luek, LMFT talks about her experience as a transracial adoptee and her work with other adoptees. Her story is moving and insightful, and the voice she gives other adoptees and their families is impactful. In this episode, we answer the following questions and more:
- What are some of the benefits and challenges of being adopted?
- What should potential adoptive parents be mindful of as they work toward adoption?
- What is something about being adopted that is not talked about enough?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: LGBTQ-led households.
Hollywood depicts traditional families as having a mom, dad, 2.5 kids, a dog and a house with a picket fence. Today, we know the reality is that some families have two dads, two moms, a transgender parent or any other combination commonly found in LGBTQ-Led households. Co-hosts Melissa and Kerri were thrilled to welcome back past guest expert Thomas J. Pier, LCSW (if you have not listend to The End of Life Hat, it is a MUST!) to discuss another of the hats he wears - husband to his spouse and dad of his transracial adopted children. Listen to him share their family story, one that will resonate with every type of family. In this episode, we answer these questions:
- What are some of the struggles LGBTQ-led households face when having children?
- How do you respond to questions from children about why their family looks different than other families?
- What are some common misconceptions about LGBTQ-led households?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: inlaws.
Many and haunting are the stories about overbearing inlaws. Conversely, some may complain they don't get enough support from their extended family. In this episode, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa talk about their experiences with inlaws and give numerous tips for how to navigate this potentially landmine-riddled relationship.
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: infidelity.
Those who are closest are those who are able to hurt us the deepest. Infidelity takes many shapes - romantic, financial, and more. Whatever it looks like, acts of infidelity leave trails of tears in their wake. In this episode of The Hats Podcast, Kerri and Melissa welcome relationship recovery expert therapist Paul Bashea Williams, to answer the following questions:
- How do you define infidelity in a relationship?
- What are the different forms of infidelity?
- What are some of the common reasons people cheat?
- What does healing/recovery look like after infidelity?
Learn more about Paul Bashea Williams
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: family time.
Do you do a family dinner? Kerri doesn't. Melissa does. Kerri does a family breakfast on weekends because that works better for her family. Family time is not about following the norms of what every other family is doing or even what your family has done in the past. It's about finding ways to engage in shared moments with your family to make memories that last a lifetime. In this episode, Kerri and Melissa answer the following questions you've always wanted to ask a therapist and a lawyer:
- What makes family time "quality time"?
- How do you engage kids in family time?
- What are some creative family time ideas?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: the end of life.
This is a family matter that no one wants to think about; but, everyone will face: the end of a loved one's life. This episode is not about the death of a family member. Instead, with the help of guest expert Thomas J. Pier, LCSW, this episode will answer the following questions:
- Whole families are impacted by someone nearing the end of life? How do you support the whole family through this process?
- From a mental/emotional health perspective, what do you recommend people do to try and prepare for this stage in life?
- What are key considerations for someone supporting another near the end of their life?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: family values.
You often hear about corporate values. But, what your family values? If you have not taken time to craft them, it is never too late. Last week, co-hosts Kerri Harper-Howie and Melissa Dumaz talked abou family conflict (go back and listen to that deep and moving episode if you have not). When families come up with values they will live by, it helps to avoid catastrophic family conflict and conflict in the world around us. In this episode, Kerri and Melissa answer these and other questions:
- Why do we need family values?
- What are some examples of family values?
- How do you teach your children about your family's values?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: family conflict.
The say those who are closest to you are those who can hurt you the most. Family conflict is different than conflict in the workplace, the playground, or anywhere else. It cuts deeper and often lasts longer. Listen to this episode in which co-hosts Kerri Harper-Howie and Melissa Dumaz get up close and personal by answering the following questions:
- How does family conflict different from others types of conflict?
- How do you avoid family conflict crossing generations?
- Can family conflict always be resolved?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: daughters.
In this episode, co-hosts Melissa Dumaz and Kerri Harper-Howie explore wearing the daughter hat. It generally seems straightforward. But, when you ponder the following questions, it can quickly get complex:
- Why do we "raise our daughters but love our son"?
- As a member of a sandwich generation, why does it seem that much of the raising of our parents fall on daughters?
- What does it mean to be a "good" daughter?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: polyamory.
Polyamory guest expert Jerome Triplin II gave us a LOT of information in Part I. But, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri were like, tell us more! So, they asked:
- How do you decide where you sleep?
- How do you handle relationships between siblings?
- With multiple relationship responsibilities, do you ever get alone time?
Jerome was nice enough to come back and anwer these questions and more!
Follow Jerome on Instagram @talkorgasmswithtrip.
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: polyamory.
The nuclear family has been the traditional model in the United States for centuries - mother, father, 2.5 kids, a dog and a home with a picket fence. Polyamorous households, however, are present in many cultures around the world, and there is increasing conversation and awareness about this form of family in the US. Listen to this episode with guest therapist and polyamorist Jerome Triplin II who shares insight and expertise on polyamory, and answers these and other questions you've always wanted to ask about polyamory:
- What shapes do polyamorous relationships take?
- How do you set boundaries in polyamorous relationships?
- What are communication models in polyamorous relationships?
Follow Jerome on Instagram @talkorgasmswithtrip.
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which spark some intrigue! This week: sisters.
Books, movies, and scientific studies have been dedicated to exploring the fascinating relationship between one of the most complex relationships between women - being sisters. Kerri and Melissa both have biological sisters, sorority sisters, and sister friends. In this episode they address the following questions you always wanted to ask a lawyer and a therapist but were afraid to ask:
- What makes the sister relationship so complex?
- Why is it important to have sisters - biological or otherwise?
- How can we strengthen and/or repair relationships with our sisters?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which sparked some intrigue! This week: delivery.
You've seen baby delivery in the movies enough to conjure the image - a woman lies on a bed sweating, breathing heavily, yelling obscenities at everyone in the room and refusing to participate the inevitable delivery of the baby. But, not all delivery stories are the same. Listen to this episode where you will hear Melissa & Kerri and their guest expert Dr. Antonia Cotwright answer the following questions (and others) you've always wanted to ask a doctor, a lawyer and a therapist but were afraid to ask:
- How do women prepare for delivery?
- What are factors to consider of someone wants to have a VBAC?
- How can we be advocates for Black maternal health?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Welcome to the Focus on the Family Series! In the next few episodes, we will explore the ins and outs of family life - how they start, how they grow, what shape they take, etc. The notion of the nuclear family is so yesterday! Listen to each episode and see which elements of family resonate with you, which could not be more different, and which sparked some intrigue! This week: pregnancy.
How cool is it that the week we launch The Pregnancy Hat episode, Rihanna announced via a spectacular Super Bowl performance that she is pregnant with her second child! We assume that means this episode is destined for greatness, just like her! In this episode, some of the questions we answer that you've always wanted to, but been afraid to, ask a lawyer and a therapist, are:
- How will I know if I'm pregnant?
- What are some common challenges with pregnancy?
- What if I'm having a hard time getting pregnant?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Music is a universal language. And, it is one that The Hats Podcast guest Tanisha Hall speaks in many dialects. Tanisha plays multiple instruments, has a heavenly singing voice, writes music and has trained hundreds of students to do it all. In this episode, The Hats co-hosts Melissa Dumas and Kerri Harper-Howie answer the following (and other) questions:
- Am I too old to start taking music or singing lessons?
- When do I let my child stop taking music lessons?
- Do I have to have talent in music to become Beyonce or John Coltrane?
Listen in for the answer to these questions and more!
6 Different Ways to Learn to Play a Musical Instrument
Learning to Sing a Any Age
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
The choice to wear multiple hats requires a sense of ambition. Without ambition, your chances of succeeding in any area of your life, let alone several, decrease. In this episode co-hosts Kerri Harper-Howie and Melissa Dumas answer the following questions you've always wanted to ask a lawyer and a therapist, but were afraid to ask:
- What is the defition of ambition?
- When is ambition good for you, and when is ambition a problem?
- How can I become more ambitious?
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Reunited and it feels so good! We are happy to open Season 6 talking about reunions of all types - going back to a job, gathering family at the park in matching t-shirts, re-connecting with an old love, and more. Life often presents us with opportunities to revisit situations. In this episode we give you some tips to know when you should say yes to a reunion invitation, or leave an old thing in the past. Questions you will hear answered:
- Should I go to my high school reunion?
- Should I give my ex a second chance?
- Do I want to work with my old boss again?
Resources:
When to reunite with an ex
Secrets to a successful family reunion
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
HEELLLLOOOOOOO Hatters! Oh how we have missed you. And, oh BOY, what a fantastic season 6 we have in store for you. Are you ready for polyamory, pregnancy and patience?!?I We will have all of that for you and MORE! Listen in to get a feel for all the Hats we will explore in Season 6. New episodes launch NEXT WEEK!!!
The Renaissance Season has been truly ecclectic. We started with our video podcast 100th episode, "The Authenicty Hat", and finished with The Renovation Hat, an episode where we shared our renovation stories. In between, we talked about spirituality, envy, disability and so much more! Listen in to hear us share out favorite moments from Season 5 and a tiny little bit about Season 6.
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Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Dust. So much dust. That's what stands out most when we think and talk about renovating our spaces. Co-hosts Kerri and Melissa both recently completed renovations in their homes. They did things very differently and with different budgets. Listen to this episode to get all sorts of tips to survive - yes, you have to survive a renovation! - your next attempt to update and beautify your space. All that dust ultimately ends up being worth it when you get to live and use your space in the most optimal way. But, seriously - how do you deal with all the dust!! Yes, we talk about that too!
Resources:
Better Homes and Gardens Renovation Tips
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Still today people of color and women find themselves marking that incredible milestone ... the first to ever INSERT ACCOMPLISHMENT. Our guest today is no exception. Vicki Phelps-Chancellor is the first Black woman to lead McDonald's almost $1 billion advertising co-operative, OPNAD. A successful McDonald's franchisee, she leveraged her previous successful career in marketing to ascend to this position, after much dues paying and hard work. Listen to her inspiring story and tips that may help you become the first to INSERT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Resources:
Some Famous Firsts
Some More Female Firsts
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Some people get the jitters thinking about raising their hand in class to ask a quesion, let alone getting up in front of a large crowd to deliver a presentaion or speech. Others thrive on the stage and seek out opportunities to share their message with as many people as possible. This episode has tips for everyone on the spectrum - how to take the inital plunge into public speaking, and how to get better at it if you've been speaking publicly for a while.
Resources:
Get Better at Public Speaking
Glossophobia - It's a Thing!
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Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Healthy relationships require a level of interdependence that keeps couples connected and moving forward equally together. At some point, interdependence can transform into codependence, an unhealhy relationship status that prevents partnership and feeds on one person taking advantage of the other who serves in a caretaker role. Codependence can be detrimental to health, and can turn fatal. Listen to this episode featuring guest expert Dr. Natalie Jones who helps us understand the warning signs of a codependent relationship and provides tips for helping yourself or others get out of one.
Resources:
Warning Signs of a Codependent Relationship
Understanding Codependency and Addiction
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Wear a lot of hats? You experience stress. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. But, stress does not have to have the final word! In this episode, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa tell you a surprising truth about stress that may help you better manage it. It's not rocket science. It's simple and straightforward information that will change the lens through which you view stress.
Resources:
What are the main causes of stress, and how can we manage it?
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Individuals with disabilities move through our society with a desire to be treated just like everyone else. But, various obstacles - logististical and developmental - can get in the way. In this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri welcome Tennille Tatum Evans who discusses her journey to becoming a mom and special needs advocate and entrepreneur in the wake of have a child born with severe cerebral palsy. It is touching and empowering to hear her and her son Tatum's stories.
Respectful Disability-Related Language
Outdoor Activities for Children with Disabilities
Outdoor Activities for Adults with Disabilities
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Whatever kind of school your kid goes to, you're in the thick of the first quarter/trimester/semester. Homework has gotten very real! Do not fret. Helping kids with their homework is an actual thing! No, you are not alone in feeling like you are the only one struggling through it everyday. Listen to this episode as co-hosts Kerri and Melissa share their homework (war) stories and tips on how to make the whole homework ordeal less of ... well, an ordeal!
Resources:
8 Make-Homework-Easier Hacks
Things to Consider When Hiring a Tutor
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
If you are wearing the envy hat, it is probably green. Why is that? Because when you are feeling envious of others, it can make you feel sick - mentally and physically. On this episode, co-hosts Kerri & Melissa share their experiences with envy, discuss how it is different than jealousy, and offer tips for handling these green hat wearing days!
Resources:
Conquer feelings of envy
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Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
People who wear many hats often feel as though they have to bear the weight of all those hats alone. This feeling is grounded in a variety of different factors - superwoman syndrome, fear of vulnerability, lacking the words to ask for help, etc. In this epiode, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa dive into the subject of why so many of us struggle to ask for, and therefore receive, the help we need, and how to overcome those barriers.
Resources:
Why don't we ask for help?
Ask for and get the help you need
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Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Co-hosts Kerri and Melissa both have hearts for service. They share a mission in life to positively impact the lives of others in a variety of ways. This week, they talk about how they continue to find time to serve others by wearing the community service hat, and bring in an expert on the matter, Fatima Djelmane Rodriguez, to discuss her long career in public service. You will be moved to get out and help someone today!!
Resources:
Learn about Ronald McDonald Charities
Sneak community service into a busy schedule
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
If you follow her on any of her social media platforms, you know that co-host Melissa Dumas is all about maintaining her healthy lifestyle ... even taking workout equipment on vacation! In this episode, Melissa sits in the hot seat and answers questions from co-host Kerri Harper-Howie about what it took for her to finally get to the point where nothing came between her and her fitness goals, and how she keeps it right and tight all year long!
Resources:
Follow Melissa on Instagram @teamdumas
How to Maintain Your Weight
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Co-hosts Melissa and Kerri have different needs as women, black women and people who are black. In this episode, they dive into what happens when the variety of hats that we wear in life - most of them which we did not choose - intersect and allow (force?) us to show up and present ourselves to the world in different ways. For this episode, they are joined by expert Eva Vega Olds, who speaks passionately on the topic and pushes us to question the privileges, or lack thereof, and presentations that others seek to use to define us, and how we can resist any falsity therein and decide how we most authentically want to show up in the world.
Resources:
Kimberle` Crenshaw discusses her phrase intersectionality
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That moment, person, idea, opportunity that you said yes or no to that you wish you could go back and change. Regret. We can wallow in regret and agonize about how things can be different if only ... or, we can find a way to learn from mistakes and move on. In this episode, Kerri and Melissa what regret is and feels like, and how we can use missteps we make to catapult ourselves into something bigger and better.
Resources:
The Psychology of Regret
Healing From Regret
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Loyal Hatters know how often co-hosts Melissa and Kerri quote Donald Bell, Sr., pastor, author and life coach, whom they affectionately call Pastor Bell. His wisdom infuses their lives - their marriages, parenting, and day to day thinking. Pastor Bell shares that wisdom here (finally!). You will not hear him try to convert anyone to any particular way of thinking or system of beliefs. His words and wisdom will move anyone of any faith or no faith to think deeper about humanity and the way we lead our lives. This is a long episode. It is worth every second.
Resources:
Find Donald Bell, Sr.
What is spirituality?
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All things come to an end - good and bad. But, sometimes it is hard to know when it is time to intentionally bring something to a close. In this episode, co-hosts Kerri and Melissa explore the topic of quitting in a variety of contexts, and provide tips and insights to know when to hold'em and to know when to fold'em.
Resources:
How to know when to quit
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Some believe that you cannot truly love others unless you first love yourself. Emotional baggage, trauma and other factors can make self-love more difficult than it seems. In this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri welcome Keyonna Monroe to discuss what self-love is and how we can add more of it to our lives.
Resources:
What is self-love?
Ways to practice self love
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If the idea of walking into a room of strangers with the goal of making business contacts scares the bejeezus out of you - you are not alone! But, networking is important and it does not have to terrify. In this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri discuss networking and provide lots of tips to help you take small bites at the networking apple and come out on the other side feeling emboldened and ready to take your business to the next level!
Resources:
Why networking is important to your career
How to network effectively
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The Great Resignation is the talk of the news. The pandemic pushed many to confront the reality that their jobs or carers were not meeting their needs - emotional, financial, social, otherwise - and they wanted change. In unpredecented numbers people quit jobs and careers they had for decades and started fresh in new fields. If this transition may be on the horizon for you, listen to how The Hats Podcast guest Letisha Bereola managed it herself and now coaches others how to do the same.
Resources:
Managing the Great Recession
Test your career change acumen
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Early birds v. night owls? Who wins the battle of the bedtime? Listen to this episode where lifelong early riser Kerri, and recovering night owl Melissa share their perspective on why starting the day early is one of the best ways to ensure success each day. Melissa shares especially helpful tips for anyone interested in making the transition from 3:00am bedtime to 5:00am alarm clock.
Resources:
Early Bird vs. Night Owl
Guide to Becoming a Morning Person
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Whether you have a green thumb and a backyard or patio full of flourishing plants and flowers, or a black thumb that kills every living green thing you touch, this episode will speak to you. Co-hosts Kerri and Melissa welcome guest Thomas Releford, who has built (grown?) a thriving plant business in sunny Southern California. Tom sheds (indirect?) light on how the expert and novice gardener can make the world a little more beautiful and some unexpected benefits of surrounding oneself in more of Mother Nature's beauty.
Resources:
Meet Tom aka Plantbrothertothenight
Learn how to garden
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The Hats Podcast kept it all the way 100 for its - GASP! - 100th episode!!!! In this first ever LIVE episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri share their most authentic selves, discuss the challenges of moving through a world not always ready for our most authentic selves, and share tips and stories for how to present your most authentic self at all times - no matter how challenging! Want to watch it live? Click HERE!
Resourcces:
7 Strategies to Be Your Most Authentic Self
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Numerology says something key to the number 5 is the need for variety and exciting experiences. As things would have it, that is EXACTLY what The Hats' Season 5 will bring! The variety that you will hear this season is why we are calling it our renaissance or potluck season. There's a little bit of something for everybody! Listen in to this season opener to learn a little more about the season and look forward to having your interests stimulated in all the different ways!
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So, we can't exactly close the door on adulting as that is what we now are required to do ... forever and ever! But, this season we covered so many amazing topics that we all need to be thinking about as we move deeper into our adulting and aging season of life. Listen in to Melissa and Kerri recap Season 4, sharing tidbits about their favorite episodes.
We will be back this summer after a brief hiatus with what we are calling our Potluck/Renaissance Season 5 ... there will be a little something for everybody!
Vaginas. Masturbation. Sex. Co-hosts Melissa & Kerri talk about it all in this episode, guided by obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Kameelah Phillips. Oh, and did you know that sexually transmitted diseases are now called sexually transmitted infections? No? Then, you definitely need to listen to this episode. It will leave you feeling keenly aware of your sexual health, or very aware that you have not been thinking about it enough!
Resources:
Meet Dr. Phillips
The CDC on sexual health
Facts about male and female masturbation
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Resentment is a powerful emotion triggered by emotional experiences - betrayal, disappointment, abandonment, etc. Dealing with both the originally traumatizing experience as well as the resentment that follows can make healing a difficult process. Listen in as Kerri and Melissa tackle this complex topic and provide tips on how to prevent resentment and maintain emotional well being.
Resources:
Signs you are experiencing resentment
Releasing and avoiding resentment
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Trauma touches all of us in ways large and small at some point during our lives. If trauma is inevitable, knowing how to heal from it is not. In this episode, we welcome world renowned psychologist, Dr. Thema Bryant, to share tools and tips for how we can begin the journey of healing from trauma.
Resources:
Meet Dr. Bryant and learn about her new book
10 Ways to Heal From Trauma
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This is a special episode indeed! Co-host Melissa turns the microphone on co-host Kerri and asks Kerri all about sensuality. As a sensual dance teacher and former pole dancing instructor, Kerri has been actively in touch with her sensual side for years. Listen as she shares some othe sensuality secrets she imparts to the women who take her dance workshops. You will finish this episode wanting to engage all five of your senses! Resources: Dance as sensuality
Engage your 5 senses
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Yes: we are going THERE! We are talking about The Sex Hat. We were called out by a Hatter who told us we could not have a season about adulting if we did not talk about it. So, join us in this episode while we touch on this huge topic. Fortunately, guest expert Dr. Nazanin Moali, host of the hugely successful podcast Sexology (over a million downloads!), guides our discussion fluidly and with sensual wisdom. Dr. Moali shares excellent tips for how to keep things fired up in the bedroom and how to have open and honest communications with your partner about sex. Do not miss this episode! Resources: Meet Dr. Moali and Her Podcast Sexology
How to talk about sex
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Hamburger and fries, or kale salad? Food may seem like the only area we have to focus on when it comes to making healthy choices. But, in this episode, Kerri and Melissa discuss the many areas in life in which we should be conscious and intentional about choices we make. The goal: living an overall healthy lifestyle, not just eating a healthy diet. Listen in for tips on how to get there! Resources: Living to 100 through living a healthy lifestyle (and genes, of course!)
Jumpstart you healthy lifestyle
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Western medicine is the dominant force in American health. But, there is a large community of eastern medicine-based holistic health practitioners that look outside of big pharma and common medical procedures for cures, to methods of healing that have been around for centuries, focus on the mind, body, spirit connection and rely on nature-based remedies. What our guest expert Dr. Lisa Upshaw Hollingsworth shares with us is that the worlds of western medicince and eastern holistic medicine do not have to clash, but can compliment each other in meaningful ways to help you be the healthiest you possible. Resources:
Understanding holistic medicine
Connecting western and eastern medicine
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It's a cliche - the only thing guaranteed in life is change. As constant and inevitable as change is, it continues to be one of the most challenging aspects of life. Change can be welcome, yet scary. Necessary, yet challeging. In this episode, Kerri and Melissa discuss some of the challenges around change - how to decide when change is necessary, and how to move through it as painlessly as possible (WARNING: zero pain is often IMpossible!). Resouces: Managing change in the workplace Personal change management
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Welcome to the Financial Focus Series! In the next several episodes you will hear co-hosts Melissa and Kerri and guest experts discuss some important topics relating to money. This week we talk financial planning with guest expert Jala Eaton. Did you know that a lawyer should be part of you financial planning team? Your financial plan likely cannot be executed without some key documents being created. Listen in to find out what some of those documents are so you can take your next steps to financial fortitude!
Resources:
Assembling your financial A Team
Knowing when to hire a financial advisor
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Welcome to the Financial Focus Series! In the next several episodes you will hear co-hosts Melissa and Kerri and guest experts discuss some important topics relating to money. This week we talk credit with guest expert Javares Banks. Your credit is arguably one of the most important elements of your financial health. Having a strong credi score opens the door to larger purchases, lower interest rates on what you buy and more! Listen in for other reasons why credit matters, and simple, manageable tips on how to improve yours!
Resources:
Why good credit matters
Strategies to improve your credit
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Welcome to the Financial Focus Series! In the next several episodes you will hear co-hosts Melissa and Kerri and guest experts discuss some important topics relating to money. This week we talk money management with guest expert Jacent Wamala. Did you know there's a difference between having a budge and managing your money? If no, this is definitely the episode for you! If yes, listen to Jacent share tips to help you take you money management to the next level!
Resources:
What is money management and how do we do it?
Tips to manage your money
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Welcome to the Financial Focus Series! In the next several episodes you will hear co-hosts Melissa and Kerri and several guest experts discuss some important topics relating to money. This week we introduce the series and talk about budgeting - how to make a budget and how to live within one. Listen in each week to gain excellent insight on getting your finances under control, and preparing for your future financial stability.
Resources:
Tips to Staying Financially Focused
Budgeting 101
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If you watch or read the news lately, you will see: increasingly we need more ways to take care of ourselves. Not just our medical health in the midst of the pandemic, but our physical safety as well. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri welcome Robert Kingi, 1st Degree Blackbelt and owner of the award winning Kingi Kajukenbo. Robert shares the fascinating story of his family's karate journey (they are all black belts!) and some tips about how we can guard our personal safety more carefully.
Resources:
Meet Robert Kingi
Personal Safety Tips that Might Save Your Life
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When we posted this episode in July 2020, it went on to become one of our most listened to episodes, with social media feedback. After recently listening to so many people question whether we truly can include "happy" in our traditional new year greeting, we decided there is one great way to start the year with optimism and a positive outlook - set a some goals! So, we decided to do a rare thing and re-publish this episode so OG Hatters can find rediscover some golden nuggets and new Hatters can have a fresh experience with it. Regardless of whether you achieve your goals, this time of year typically called resolutions, the sheer act of setting them starts you year off on the right note. So, listen in and start planning to finish 2022 with a stronger, better, more grateful you!
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Guns: the protection and power they provide; the concern and fear they raise. This is a topic we know sparks controversy from many different perspectives. And, that is exactly why Melissa and Kerri are discussing it with an expert in a neutral but interesting way. This episode explores how Geneva Solomon took fears she had about being on her own with a child and transformed them into a thriving business that focuses on gun safety above all else. Geneva shares tips for buying, using and storing guns safely, and candidly discusses the difficult journey she's had in a white male dominated world. It is an episode you will not want to miss.
Resources:
Get to know Geneva Solomon
American Academy of Pediatrics on Gun Safety in the Home
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Why are we publishing The Fear Hat during the holiday season? Because although the holiday season is often filled with laughter and cheer, it can also be riddled with anxiety, intense expectations and, yes, fear. Kerri and Melissa's gift to you is an open discussion of fear and how it can be managed and dealt with now and any time of the year. We wish you a magical holiday season!
Resources:
How to face your fears
Stress and anxiety during the holidays
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Red, white, rosé and everything in between. The world of wine is vast and tasty. In this episode, we are privileged to welcome sisters Leslie and LeAnn Jones who recently opened the first and only wine bar in Inglewood, California. The sisters shared with us their journey to opening a wine bar despite neither of them having a background in the field. They also provide some great insider tips about how to get to know more about wines - especially wines from Black-owned vineyards, which their bar specializes in - and, how to develop your pallet to experience and enjoy the many flavors that can be enjoyed in your next bottle.
Resources:
Get to know the Jones sisters
A Beginner's Guide to Wines
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It's that time of year again! Families are moving around the country and the world to see other family and friends, or create their own family memories. Actually, this is probably true all year 'round ... winter holidays, spring break, summer vacation and so on. Whatever time of year it is, the tips that Melissa and Kerri share in this episode will help you master your next family trip! Note: this is different that Episode 26 - The Vacation Hat. Traveling as a family, especially with young-ish children, is a trip for parents, not a vacation. Plenty of fun to be had for sure. But, it is a very different kind of fun! Enjoy making family memories you all will treasure for a lifetime!
Resources:
Difference between a trip and vacation
Hacks to master the family trip
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Home is wear the heart is. And, sometimes your "heart" needs a makeover. In those moments, you may be able to find all the inspiration you need watching HGTV or scrolling through Pinterest. Other times, you need the help of a professional. This episode has just what you need! Joining Kerri and Melissa is Genelle Brooks-Petty, interior designer extraordinaire. Having designed homes all over the world, the co-hosts are privileged to have her share insights and tips for how to make your abode a space you love inside and out!
Resources:
Get to know Genelle
Design hacks for your budget
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Some of our fondest and most frightening memories are related to time spent with family and friends at amusement parks. As the name suggests, there's some sort of amusement for everyone - death defying rides, indulgent foods, impossible games and everything in between. In this episode, Kerri and Melissa share a little bit about the history of amusement parks, some of their best memories and tips for how to best navigate the occasional chaos that comes with a trip to an amusement park!
Resources:
10 Awesome Family Friendly Amusement Parks in the US
50 Tricks for Surviving Amusement Parks
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Father Time marches forward whether we want him to or not. As he does, we can fight him tooth and nail; or we can yield to his power and embrace the beauty that comes with the wisdom of aging. Appreciating and valuing our loved ones, and learning from inevitable adversity and challenges we overcome. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri welcome Sharon Kay, a widow who has had to accept that her retirement years have and will continue to look differently than she expected; but, who has embraced the process and is aging with poise and grace we all can aspire to.
Resources:
Tips for Aging Gracefully
Planning for retirement
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Getting over a cold is usually pretty straight forward - get rest, drink plenty of fluids, and let your body do it's thing. But, when you experience emotional illness, healing can be more challenging and the answers not as obvious. Sometimes we don't even know that we are suffering from an emotional wound, but the symptoms we experience can be painful and scary. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri discuss how to identify emotional health concerns and offer tips for getting past them.
Resources:
What is emotional health?
Healing from emotional wounds?
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No one wants to think about what happens when a spouse dies. But, sometimes we have to imagine the unimaginable - the sorrow, the pain, the grief, the fear, the healing, the moving on, and so many other things in between. In this episode, widow Alexis Crump-Robinson shares with us the tragedy and triumph that she experienced after becoming a young widow with a young child. Her journey to healing is truly inspiring; and though everyone's path will be different, hers can be seen a a roadmap to fulfilment and a happy next.
Resources:
Life as a Widow or Widower
Finding a support group after losing a spouse or partner
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When you wear many hats, you will sometimes feel overwhelmed. Partly, this is because the more others see you take on, the more they will encroach on your space and time. You will also tend to tell yourself that you can do and accomplish more than you legitimately can. A way to avoid both of these problems is to set healthy boundaries for others and yourself. The process of setting reasonable and healthy boundaries can be tough, especially if you already are in a state of being overwhelmed. Listen in as Melissa & Kerri give you tips for how to set healthy boundaries, and overcome obstacles to doing so.
Resources:
Why Personal Boundaries Are Important and How to Set them
Setting Boundaries as Self Care
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When you wear many hats, you will sometimes feel overwhelmed. Partly, this is because the more others see you take on, the more they will encroach on your space and time. You will also tend to tell yourself that you can do and accomplish more than you legitimately can. A way to avoid both of these problems is to set healthy boundaries for others and yourself. The process of setting reasonable and healthy boundaries can be tough, especially if you already are in a state of being overwhelmed. Listen in as Melissa & Kerri give you tips for how to set healthy boundaries, and overcome obstacles to doing so.
Resources:
Why Personal Boundaries Are Important and How to Set them
Setting Boundaries as Self Care
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We are BACK!!! We have spent our time away recharging and recording! Co-hosts Melissa and Kerri cannot wait to share what's in store for Season 4 - possibly our best yet with intense focus on building a better, stronger, more empowered you! The topics will range from setting boundaries, to making financially sound decisions, to firearms, to interior design, and more. This season has a hat for everyone!
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They say the third time is the charm, and we agree!! We had a blast sharing so many interesting hats and fascinating guests. We hope you enjoyed it too! In this closing episode, we give you a brief recap of what happened in Season 3. Soon, we will let you know what will happen in Season 4. Our prediction: great things are to come!
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Welcome to the Great Outdoors Series! Over the next few weeks, Kerri and Melissa welcome guests to talk about enjoying the great outdoors through a variety of activities. The guests will share insights for outdoors novices and experienced outdoors-folk. After more than a year of being cooped up inside, it's time to enjoy mother nature at her finest!
Racing down a hill with two sticks on your feet and maybe a couple of poles in your hand sounds ... exhilarating and terrifying at the same time! In this final episode of The Great Outdoors Series, Kerri and Melissa welcome Heather Alizadeh who shares her lifelong journey of skiing as a child to passing the legacy of the slopes to her husband and children. Hers is a moving and inspiring story!
Resources:
To Ski Lesson or Not to Ski Lesson ...
Best Skiing in the US
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Welcome to the Great Outdoors Series! Over the next few weeks, Kerri and Melissa welcome guests to talk about enjoying the great outdoors through a variety of activities. The guests will share insights for outdoors novices and experienced outdoors-folk. After more than a year of being cooped up inside, it's time to enjoy mother nature at her finest!
Sailing ... just saying the word and imagining yourself aboard a sailboat gliding through the sea can bring a sense of calm and ease. This week, Kerri and Melissa welcome Captain Catherine Phillips to discuss how one can learn how to sail (it's more accessible than you think!), and then take sailing to the next level with long journeys and competitions. It will be a ride to remember!
Resources:
Find a place to learn sailing
Sailing Competitively 101
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Welcome to the Great Outdoors Series! Over the next few weeks, Kerri and Melissa welcome guests to talk about enjoying the great outdoors through a variety of activities. The guests will share insights for outdoors novices and experienced outdoors-folk. After more than a year of being cooped up inside, it's time to enjoy mother nature at her finest!
Hiking can happen anywhere. Urban hikes can take you through the streets of the urban metropolis where you live. On a nature hike you may find yourself dwarfed by centuries old redwoods that tower above. In this episode, we welcome veteran hiker Azja Pryor to share with us tips and tricks for making your next hike - your first or your thousandth - a safe, serene experience to enjoy and remember.
Resources:
Hiking as a family
What you need to know before you go hiking
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Welcome to the Great Outdoors Series! Over the next few weeks, Kerri and Melissa welcome guests to talk about enjoying the great outdoors through a variety of activities. The guests will share insights for outdoors novices and experienced outdoors-folk. After more than a year of being cooped up inside, it's time to enjoy mother nature at her finest!
Camping and all its many forms is a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors by moving there temporarily. In this episode, Kerri & Melissa welcome Angela Arnold-Brownlee to talk about camping, with a particular focus on glamping! Listen in and get ready to plan your next overnight excursion in mother nature!
Resources:
Explore backyard camping
58 awesome camping tips
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Welcome to the Great Outdoors Series! Over the next few weeks, Kerri and Melissa welcome guests to talk about enjoying the great outdoors through a variety of activities. The guests will share insights for outdoors novices and experienced outdoors-folk. After more than a year of being cooped up inside, it's time to enjoy mother nature at her finest!
Fishing is not a sport many women participate in. But, expert fisherwoman Tiffany Moore is an exception! Kerri and Melissa welcome her to discuss her many fishing excursions and get her to share some tips for anyone interested in learning how to cast a line and enjoy this peaceful and empowering sport!
Resources:
Follow Tiffany's Fishing Journey
Fishing 101
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Welcome to the Great Outdoors Series! Over the next few weeks, Kerri and Melissa welcome guests to talk about enjoying the great outdoors through a variety of activities. The guests will share insights for outdoors novices and experienced outdoors-folk. After more than a year of being cooped up inside, it's time to enjoy mother nature at her finest!
Kicking off the series - the Beach Hat - Melissa and Kerri talk just among themselves about many ways they enjoy the beach and new things to discover in the sand and surf.
Resources:
We can't imagine it, but here are some tips on what to do if you hate the beach
Throwing a great beach party
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Divorce has many perspectives. After we published our first episode on divorce (SO SO good: The Divorce Hat), Jean Wesly Michel let us know that the guys have something to say about divorce too! So, we asked him to join us to share the male perspective on this topic. Our male Hatters will appreciate his candor and openness about going through a painful divorce, and our lady Hatters will get some great insight on how to support our guy friends who are going through it!
Resources:
Coping with divorce as a man
Is divorce harder on men than women?
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To become a wife is a choice many women make. But what does the decision to take on that role entail and require? Indisputably, every woman will wear this hat differently. And, the hat a newlywed wife wears may look very different than the hat rocked by a woman who has been wifeing for 15 years. In this episode, Kerri and Melissa share how they wear the wife hat and offer some tips for women out there who may want to switch out their current wife hat to don another.
Resources:
11 guys share what they look for in a wife
Happy wife, happy life??
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When you say "I do" - to marriage, a domestic partnership, a long term relationship, etc. - you are telling the person on the other side of your relationship that you committing to them. What is being committed to is completely up to the people in the relationship. There is no one-size-fits-all formula. But, there are some guiding principles that can help couples assess how to keep commitment alive and well in their relationships. Listen in as Melissa and Kerri welcome their husbands back to the show to talk about what commitment can look like in healthy and happy relationships.
Resources:
Stages of committed relationships
Is fear of commitment real
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In the middle of an important conversation, you can be doing many things. One of the most important things you should be doing is listening. Not halfway listening while texting, thinking about all the other things you wish you were doing, or any other number of things that may distract you from the speaker's words. But, actively and intentionally listening to the person with whom you are conversing. Such listening is not always easy. To help you become a better listener, tune in to hear co-hosts Melissa & Kerri share their struggles with listening and tips for how they are working on becoming better listeners.
Resources:
How to be a better listener
Active listening through digital communications
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Cannabis is still kind of controversial. In California and many other states, you can walk in and buy marijuana in a local dispensary. Federally, it is still criminally prohibited. Some people laud its medicinal effects; others say it’s a gateway drug. So, let’s talk about it. Listen to this episode with special guest Iman Hobbs Brown, a cannabis expert whose cannabis baked goods brought her father back to great health! We certainly learned a lot, and even the most frequent users will too.
Resources:
Medical Marijuana
Overview of the legal status of cannabis
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Want to wear many different hats? No problem - just perfectly manage your time! Of course, doing so is often much easier said than done. There can be many obstacles to effectively managing the 24 hours we get each day. We've talked about why in previous episodes - procrastination, anxiety, failure, impostor syndrome, etc. (go back and listen to those episodes if you haven't already!). In this episode, we directly tackle the topic of time management. We talk about obstacles to effective time management, why we need to overcome those obstacles, and how to do so.
Resources:
Understanding time management
Time management - a key soft skill
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Anxiety is normal. Anxiety is a symptom of severe mental illness. Both of these statements can be true. What you need to figure out is whether your level of anxiety is positively driving you to achieve the goals you have for your life, or so extreme that it leaves you frozen and unable to move. On this episode, The Hats welcomes Glenna Anderson, DSW, LCSW to unveil the secrets to managing anxiety.
Resources:
Meet Dr. Glenna
Managing mental health during the pandemic
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Can it be a coincidence that we were late publishing this episode? It was NOT planned that we would publish this as an evening episode instead of our usual 6:00am publication time. But, we (and, by we, we mean Kerri) procrastinated; and, therefore, our publication was late. Procrastination happens to all of us. But, it is avoidable. Listen to this episode as we discuss tips (that Kerri clearly needs to re-visit!) and tricks to preventing and addressing procrastination tendencies that we all experience.
Resources:
How to stop procrastinating
Why we procrastinate
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Work calls. Date night is necessary. A friend is in need. All these circumstances and so many more require parents to ask: Who is going to watch the kids? The answer to this question can be fraught with worry and stress. But, it does not have to be! Listen in to this episode during and hear expert guest Andrea Mozelle break down the process of finding the right childcare for your (or a friend's) family.
Resources:
Finding a babysitter you can trust
Legal considerations when hiring a nanny
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Faecbook
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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"You should talk to somebody." This is not a judgment, but sage words of wisdom from whoever is sharing it with you. In this episode, co-host Melissa shares about her journey to being that somebody. It was not an easy road, but one on which she embarked with enthusiasm knowing that through her training as a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist she could help and impact so many. Listen in to hear more about Melissa's story and some tips on when you should consider seeking her or another's professional's services.
Resources:
Guidance on how to become a therapist
Signs you might need to see a therapist
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Is your career satisfying - personally, professionally, mentally and emotionally? If not, what are you doing about it? These questions are easy to ask; but, we are not always prepared for the honest answers they yield. If you seek more clarity on whether your current career is right for you, are considering a significant career change, or simply want to get guidance on how to start thinking differently about what the future may hold for you professionally, listen in to hear expert Jennifer McClanahan-Flint shed light on this topic. She shares tips and tools guaranteed to give you an Aha! moment (or several) as you consider your next professional moves.
Resources:
Meet Jennifer McClanahan-Flint
Setting professional development goals
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So many lawyer jokes, so little time! There are few professions that are the butt of so many jokes, yet necessary to so many areas of our lives. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a lawyer or found yourself questioning whether your circumstances require one, listen in as co-host Kerri gives the inside scoop on what life is like on either side of the versus.
Resources:
Do you need a lawyer? Maybe.
Perspectives on what it's like to be a lawyer
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Get ready, get set, get organized! Spring is a time of fresh starts and renewal. It can be hard to do either if there is stuff out of place everywhere and you are spending too much time trying to find things lost in the mess. Listen in to this episode to get tips on how to organize your home without feeling overwhelmed. Our guest, expert organizer Tanisha Porter, shares invaluable tips on how to downsize without sacrifice. You will finish this episode ready to tackle messes large and small!
Resources:
Meet Tanisha Porter
DIY: Organize Every Room in Your Home
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Failure. Just saying the word can make us do a hard stop and fill our minds with the unimaginable. Failure is commonly paired with negative emotions and responses: fear, anxiety, and paralysis to name a few. But, failure can also be one of our greatest sources of learning and motivation. Listen in as Melissa & Kerri tackle this harrowing, yet inspirational topic that we all face no matter what type nor what quantity of hats we wear.
Resources:
Motivation after failure
Lessons to learn from failure
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Everyone has a dream. Some dream of spending a year dedicated to visiting every continent. Others dream of losing that final five pounds. Others dream of becoming president. The challenge is not having a dream, but achieving it and living it. Our guest this week, Camille Arianne, had a dream of creating a niche beauty product ... and she did it! Listen to her journey of having and then bringing her dream to life. Get inspired along the way to take one step closer to living yours!
Resources:
Meet Camille Arianne
Start living your dreams
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Did you know there are seven different types of rest? Yep, SEVEN! Co-hosts Melissa and Kerri took some much needed creative rest during the hiatus between this Season and Season 2. What kind of rest do you need to ensure that you are fully recharged in every area of your life? Listen in and learn about the different types of life pauses that will help keep you balanced, refreshed and restored!
Resources:
Seven types of rest
Why we need to rest
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Bittersweet for sure - but Season 2 of The Hats Podcast has come to a close. In short: it has been a phenomenal season! Kerri and Melissa sharing openly on so many topics, and phenomenal and engaging guests enlightening us on their areas of expertise. Listen to our summary of the season, and get a sneak peek under the curtain of Season 3. So many great episodes to re-visit and look forward to!
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Welcome to the Love Series! Each week, we will feature a new guest and expert who will discuss the long and winding road that leads to love. In the Re-Marriage Hat, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri welcome guest Hejira Nitoto, a fitness expert and successfully re-married entrepreneur. Together, the ladies discuss healing from a failed marriage and re-opening ones heart to love.
Resources:
Why you should consider re-marrying
Re-marrying an ex-spouse? Maybe ...
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Welcome to the Love Series! Each week, we will feature a new guest and expert who will discuss the long and winding road that leads to love. In the Divorce Hat, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri welcome Genoveva Talbott, and expert in all things divorce. Together, the ladies tackle the emotionally wrenching and potentially liberating topic of divorce.
Resources:
Meet Genoveva Talbott
How to have a healthy divorce
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Welcome to the Love Series! Each week, we will feature a new guest and expert who will discuss the long and winding road that leads to love. In the Marriage Hat, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri welcome their husbands to the show to share tips on how to successfully navigate the twists and turns of modern marriage.
Resources:
Check out The Love Challenge by co-host Melissa Dumaz
Tips for a happier marriage
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Welcome to the Love Series! Each week, we will feature a new guest and expert who will discuss the long and winding road that leads to love. In the Single Mom Hat, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri welcome guest Neferteri Plessy, Founder and CEO of Single Moms Planet, a resource for connecting and celebrating single moms. Together, the ladies discuss the trials and triumphs of dating and finding love as a single mom.
Resources:
Meet Neferteri Plessy
Surviving and Thriving as a Single Mom
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Welcome to the Love Series! Each week, we will feature a new guest and expert who will discuss the long and winding road that leads to love. In the Dating Hat, world renowned coach and speaker David Burrus joins co-hosts Melissa & Kerri to discuss the subject of dating. David offers do's and don'ts for single folks looking to find their happily every after.
Resources:
Meet David Burrus
Tips for successful dating
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The relationship has high peaks and low valleys. The party is jumping, but people are starting to look nervous. The job is easy to perform, but stagnant. The circumstances vary, but they all beg the same question: When is the right time to leave? In this episode, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri explore this question and offer tips to know when you need to leave and how to leave when staying feels much easier.
Resources:
When to leave love
When to leave your job
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Tupperware, sex toys, jewelry, spa products. Chances are you have learned about and perused these and other types of items in someone's living room from an enthusiastic someone who is an expert in how these items can change your life. Perhaps you've avoided such invites because you thought the companies selling these items were kind of sketchy. Well, we were not satisfied with guessing about the ins and outs of network marketing, and decided to get more information. Listen in as co-hosts Melissa & Kerri learn from expert and high achieving network marketer Beth Griffin. Beth shares with us what to seek out and what to avoid should we be interested in getting involved in this multi-billion dollar industry and how you can find success with the right model for you.
Resources:
What is Network/Multilevel Marketing?
Meet Beth Griffin
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There are many tangible things that scare us - natural disasters, wild animals, violence. But, few things terrify us more than making ourselves vulnerable to others. Yet, the ability to be vulnerable and open ourselves up to others completely is arguably the single most important thing we need to do to truly and fully connect to others. Melissa and Kerri both get vulnerable in this episode as they tackle this topic.
Resources:
Why we need to embrace vulnerability
How to be more vulnerable
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Are you waiting to exhale? Feeling frazzled and overwhelmed? Clear on how to meet everyone else's needs, but don't even know what yours are? If yes, it may be time for some desperately needed self-care. In this episode of The Hats Podcast, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri welcome self-care expert Dr. Zoe Shaw. She has written a soon-to-be published book on how to engage in self-care daily and to think expansively about what it means to care for ourselves. Massages are great; but, meditation can be as well. Listen in for excellent tips and wisdom on how to take the best care of yourself possible!
Resources:
Meet Dr. Shaw
A Year of Self Care by Dr. Zoe Shaw
50 Ways to Engage in Self Care
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Women have plenty of smart, funny, interesting, important and necessary things to say. But, study after study has shown - and this year's Vice Presidential debate highlighted - the fact that when women are speaking our words are interrupted and our voices are silenced. It's time to end that. In this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri take on all the folks (let's be honest: MEN!) who feel that it is okay to prevent women from getting their points across and sharing their insights and intellect. In this next year, let's use the ideas and tips shared to prevent our voices from being silenced and help them to shine!
Resources:
Learn to stop interrupting people
Men interrupt women - let's end it
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Facbook
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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Gifts come in many forms - wrapped in beautiful paper, as an email containing a gift card, in a box delivered to your door. But, in this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri talk about those gifts that come from within. Listen in as they discuss the personal gift hat - something unique we all have inside of us to share with and make an impact on the world. Joining Melissa and Kerri is author, fitness expert and personal gift guru Claudine Cooper. In this episode learn how you can discover your personal gift(s!?) and use it (them?!) to improve your life and that of others around you.
Resources:
Get to know Claudine
Understanding your personal gifts
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Facbook
thehatspodcast@gmaill.com
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Gifts come in many forms - wrapped in beautiful paper, as an email containing a gift card, in a box delivered to your door. But, in this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri talk about those gifts that come from within. Listen in as they discuss the personal gift hat - something unique we all have inside of us to share with and make an impact on the world. Joining Melissa and Kerri is author, fitness expert and personal gift guru Claudine Cooper. In this episode learn how you can discover your personal gift(s!?) and use it (them?!) to improve your life and that of others around you.
Resources:
Get to know Claudine
Understanding your personal gifts
Connect with us:
Facbook
thehatspodcast@gmaill.com
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What it means to be an adventurer has changed dramatically through the centuries and within this past year. In whatever time and place you may find yourself, there is adventure to be found everywhere - even in your own backyard. If you've been suppressing your adventurous spirit or just looking for new ways to explore, listen in to this episode for ideas and tips on how to find adventure anywhere you look!
Resources:
Finding adventure at home
Turning everyday life into an adventure
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Parents age. Children have accidents. Close friends become ill. These, and many other circumstances, can place you into the role of a caregiver - short or long term. In this episode of The Hats Podcast, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri welcome expert Angela Mozelle, who walks them through the role of a caregiver, processing feelings around being a caregiver, and how to select the right caregiver for your loved one. This is an episode that will speak to everyone at some point in their lives.
Resources:
Connect with Angela Mozelle
Caregiver vs. Caretaker
Process Your Parent's Aging
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"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" At least that's what the crooners say about the winter holiday season. But, what if: it's just not. What if you don't feel like celebrating? What if you don't want to gather with family, do fireworks, do the egg hunt, find the "perfect" romantic gift, pick out a cool costume or do whatever the current or upcoming holiday requires (because isn't there another holiday next week??)? Melissa and Kerri discuss these un-holiday feelings in this episode and give some tips on what to do if you're feeling pretty meh about the holidays. Sneak peek: it's perfectly fine to sit this one out!
Resources:
Being happy during the holidays without celebrating
Celebrate life
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It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superwoman! Well, that's not exactly what we mean by Superwoman in this episode. But, we do mean someone who seems to be able to do it all without breaking a sweat and looking fabulous while doing so. While we all occasionally channel our inner hero or heroine, sometimes the "Super" prefix can carry with it a tremendous amount of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. And, taking off the Superwoman Hat can raise feelings of guilt and self-doubt. Fortunately, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri were able to consult with expert Nichomi Higgins, LMFT to help us parse through the complexities wearing this hat creates.
Resources:
Meet Nichomi Higgins
From Superwoman to 'Super' Woman
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Hosting for the holidays will be totally different this year. But, we imagine everyone will strive to adapt their holiday celebrations to address safety concerns around the pandemic, while maintaining some traditional elements as well. Our events may be smaller and outdoors; but, some of us will still wear a hostess hat. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri share tips to on how to wear this hat whether you are hosting 2 or 200 people. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season!
Resources:
Hosting safe events during the pandemic
A cookbook for all the holidays
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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Yelling, hitting, betraying and hurting. These are the types of behaviors we see manifested when someone is angry. It seems so obvious - he's angry and that's why he's doing those things. So, why talk about it? As it turns out, anger, its reality and its manifestations, are often misunderstood. This includes the anger ascribed to Melissa and Kerri as Black women. So, we decided: let's talk about what it means to wear the Angry Hat, dispel some myths and give some tips. Joining the co-hosts for this conversation is renowned expert Patrice Douglas, PsyD. Dr. Douglas sheds brilliant light on the topic of anger in her knowledgeable and relatable way.
Resources:
patricendouglas.com
Understanding anger
Healing from anger
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This morning you woke up feeling a certain kind of way. Happy that you got enough sleep; frustrated that your slumber was interrupted. Excited about a new opportunity that's coming your way; frightened at the prospect of trying something new. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri discuss that while juggling the ups and down of emotions and life circumstances that are occurring, let gratitude find its way into your heart and mind. It will help stave off the negative and reinforce the positive. But, sometimes, it's not easy to mix gratitude into the daily. Listen in for tips on how to do just that.
Resources:
Gratitude is good for your health
Give thanks
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You think you are; but, are you really? We present ourselves to the world according to the various hats that we wear. But, sometimes we feel as though we are presenting a fraudulent picture. We feel as though we are lying to ourselves and others about who we are and what we can do. If you've ever felt like an impostor in your own life, this episode featuring expert guest Stevon Lewis, LMFT will help you! Melissa, Kerri and Stevon discuss what Impostor Syndrome is, how to identify it in yourself, and tips for knowing how to deal with it yourself and when you may need professional help to handle it.
Resources:
Take Stevon's Impostor Syndrome Test
Understanding and dealing with Impostor Syndrome
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Our opinions about how others should live their lives, or how we should be living our own lives differently often color the way we view the world. In other words, we often judge people for their decisions and behavior. Exercising good judgment is a key component to living a healthy life. But, judging others or yourself harshly because you believe poor judgment is being exercised can damage relationships and self-esteem. Listen in to this episode to hear Melissa and Kerri share stories and tips about judgment - when we need it, when we don't, how to decipher between the two, and how to convey our judgment to others in a positive way.
Resources:
The Elements of Good Judgment
How to Effectively Give Negative Feedback
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Parenting your unique child comes with no guidebook or instructions. Yet, fewer jobs will be more challenging. Or, in our world - fewer hats are more difficult to wear. When your parenting approach is riddled with shame, and all of its manifestations, wearing the parenting hat will be doubly challenging for you, and being parented by you can be painful and damaging. If you have ever struggled to shame-proof your parenting hat or repair damage caused by using shame as a parenting technique, this is the episode for you. We are privileged to welcome expert and best selling author Mercedes Samudio LCSW who provides so much knowledge and wisdom on this difficult topic. You will finish this episode feeling empowered with new ways to parent and develop relationships with your children.
Resources:
Understanding shame-proof parenting
https://shameproofparenting.com
Connect with us:
Mercedes Samudio can be found on all social media channels @diversityinparentinginc.
The Hats on Facebook
The Hats on Instagram
The Hats on Twitter
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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Wanderlust ... anybody suffering from it these days? We sure are! We miss the chance to hop on a plane and head off to places far and unknown to zone out and enjoy some downtime. But, if there is one thing we believe, it's that the health and social pandemics that have seized our society will pass. And, there will come another day when we can pack our bags and explore new places. When we do, we may need to be reminded how to wear the vacation hat! In this episode of The Hats, Melissa and Kerri share stories about some of their favorite vacations in the past, and tips on how to wear your beach hat (or ski cap for the cold lovers!) with style and grace!
Resources:
Travel Trends You Don't Expect
Traveling on a budget
Good luggage matters
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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You have an idea. You've built the prototype. You've perfected the service. You've selected the location. You have a name. What you don't have, is customers. You've come to the right place! In this episode, Melissa and Kerri welcome marketing expert Melanie Bullock to the show! With almost two decades of experience in marketing, serving some of the biggest companies and newest brands, Melanie provides some expert tips on how to successfully market your business. And, guess what? She just started a new one and it has been a success from the start! Listen in to learn her secrets to success!
Resources:
hello@melaniebullock.com
Melanie's New Idea
Instagram & Twitter: @mbcraftcocktails
From concept to market
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Forgive and forget. This is a practice we strive to integrate into relationships with loved ones, professional colleagues and others generally in society. Sometimes we need to focus on forgiving ourselves. Having a forgiving mindset is proven to be mentally and physically beneficial. But, forgiving can be hard. Forgetting can be even harder. Listen in as Melissa and Kerri share deeply personal stories about how they have struggled to forgive in the past and share tips for how you can increase your forgiveness capacity for others and yourself.
Resources:
Why we should forgive
How to forgive
Forgiving yourself
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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In the middle of a pandemic where everything is virtual, why on earth are we talking about fashion? Two very good reasons. First, fashion always matters. Whether your fashion has evolved into a pajamas-sweats-pajamas-repeat rotation, or you wear a dress and heels for your webcasts, you are still a part of the fashion universe. Second, we are THRILLED and PRIVILEGED to welcome as our first podcast guest renowned fashion designer (yep, he's dressed Jay Z and has been listed on must know designer lists in GQ, to name a couple of accolades) Waraire Boswell. Listen in as Kerri and Melissa get him to open up about the art, business and politics of being a fashion designer. You will NOT want to miss this!
Resources:
waraire.com
Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @waraireboswell
Fashion during the pandemic
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Many of us strive for success and achievement in all that we do. This is a trait that leads many of us to enjoy successful careers, fulfilling relationships and generally happy lives. In too strong of a dose, however, the internal drive for success can go too far and bubble over into perfectionism, which can counteract our efforts to achieve. Listen in to this episode where Melissa and Kerri share their experiences with perfectionism, give tips on how to wear the perfectionist hat, and help identify when your efforts alone may not enough and you may need to seek professional help when wearing this hat.
Resources:
The signs of perfectionism
How to Be an Imperfectionist by Steven Guise
Find a therapist who can help
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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Welcome back to The Hats Podcast! We have been working busily to bring you an incredible Season 2 filled with tips and guests and new ways to connect with us. Listen in to find out what we have in store!!
THANK YOU Hatters for downloading The Hats Podcast 1000+ times! Thank you for supporting us through 20 episodes! Thank you for all of the positive feedback! Thank you for sharing the podcast with others! In this episode, co-hosts Melissa and Kerri celebrate podcast milestones, talk in detail about the journey to publishing The Hats, their favorite episodes and offer a SNEAK PEEK into Season 2 and other cool things The Hats will be doing in the upcoming weeks and months.
Resources:
Listen to all episodes here!
Tips for how to start a podcast
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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Our unique outlook on the world is ours and ours alone. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri discuss what it means to control the lens through which your outlook is tinted. In other words - do you walk through the world wearing rose colored glasses, or is your outlook stripped of filters and colored only with stark reality? The co-hosts discover that though they share many similarities, their outlooks differ in important ways. Listen in to hear tips on how to incorporate the rose colored glasses hat into your life (if you would like to wear this hat) or continue to wear it more consistently and with balance.
Resources:
Melissa mentions her friend Robin Ayers' excellent insight during the episode. You can find more information about her HERE.
Glass-Half-Empty vs. Glass-Half-Full ... Where do you fall?
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If you wear many hats like co-hosts Melissa and Kerri, chances are you are juggling many different tasks, objectives, and to do lists all at the same time. Life can quickly get overwhelming. In those moments when you feel most overwhelmed, it can be helpful to reset by reflecting on what exactly it is you are trying to accomplish in the various arenas where you wear a hat. A part of this reflection should include setting goals that will help organize your thoughts and your life. Listen in as the ladies share some of their personal goals, and tips for how you can set S.M.A.R.T. goals that will keep you on track to accomplishing your objectives.
Resources:
How to set SMART goals
SMART Goals Worksheet
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Money talks! Put your money where you mouth is! Time is money! So many phrases (surely there are others!), and they essentially boil down to one thing: your money has power. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri talk about how to use money to make powerful statements to those around you - local businesses, national actors and global companies. Tune in for tips on how to wear your consumer hat in a way that will have impact, as well as how to manage challenges that can arise when wearing your consumer hat makes your life more difficult.
Resources:
Becoming a Mindful Consumer
Support Black Businesses
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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You choreograph a dance ensemble. You draw an artful masterpiece. You craft a moving poem. Or, maybe you feel like you don't have a single creative bone in your body! Melissa oozes creative juices. Kerri questions whether there is a creator within. The truth is - we all can find ways to create, whether the method be traditional or off the beaten path. Listen in as Melissa and Kerri share their experiences wearing the creator hat, and offer tips to help you brave wearing yours!
Resources:
What Does It Mean to Create?
Train Yourself to Be More Creative
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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Raise a fist. Shout a chant. Donate dollars. Paint a work of art. There are many (infinite?) ways that you can protest, that is sound your voice against the status quo. If you find yourself wanting to let someone, something, some institution or anything at all know that you do not approve of their behaviors or words, this is a can't miss episode! Here, Melissa and Kerri share how to wear one of your most powerful hats - the protester hat. The co-hosts share ways that they have protested, protests they have seen that moved them, and protests they plan to try out themselves. Listen in to learn more!
Resources:
What does it mean to protest?
198 Nonviolent Ways to Protest
Official Black Wall Street
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Raise a fist. Shout a chant. Donate dollars. Paint a work of art. There are many (infinite?) ways that you can protest, that is sound your voice against the status quo. If you find yourself wanting to let someone, something, some institution or anything at all know that you do not approve of their behaviors or words, this is a can't miss episode! Here, Melissa and Kerri share how to wear one of your most powerful hats - the protester hat. The co-hosts share ways that they have protested, protests they have seen that moved them, and protests they plan to try out themselves. Listen in to learn more!
Resources:
What does it mean to protest?
198 Nonviolent Ways to Protest
Official Black Wall Street
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
Raise a fist. Shout a chant. Donate dollars. Paint a work of art. There are many (infinite?) ways that you can protest, that is sound your voice against the status quo. If you find yourself wanting to let someone, something, some institution or anything at all know that you do not approve of their behaviors or words, this is a can't miss episode! Here, Melissa and Kerri share how to wear one of your most powerful hats - the protester hat. The co-hosts share ways that they have protested, protests they have seen that moved them, and protests they plan to try out themselves. Listen in to learn more!
Resources:
What does it mean to protest?
198 Nonviolent Ways to Protest
Official Black Wall Street
Connect with us:
thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
He said. She said. They said. The children said. You said. There are many sides to every story, and just as many sides to arguments and disagreements. But, a middle ground often must be found to preserve relationships with family, friends and business associates. In this episode of The Hats, Melissa and Kerri offer tips you can use to mediate disputes between others, and disputes in which you find yourself in the middle.
Resources:
A checklist for mediating difficult conversations
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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It can be hard to find the words or actions to express how you feel when grieving, or know how to support a friend or loved one when they are grieving. In this episode, Melissa and Kerri tackle the painful subject of grief, and offer advice and tips on what to do (and not do) when you or someone you know experiences a loss.
Resources:
Find a therapist
Find an online support group
Find a book about dealing with grief
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
Thank you for listening. We tip our hats to you!
The beauty, the burden. The triumphs, the traumas. The serenity, the subjugation. The love, the loss. There are not enough word pairs to describe what it means to wear the hat of being a black woman. This is a hat we wear with honor and pride; but, which carries with it so much pain, struggle and strife. Listen in as Melissa and Kerri get as personal as they have ever been, unleashing a torrent of feelings and ideas about this most delicate and dynamic of hats they wear.
Resources:
The 1619 Project
Black Women's Organizations
How to be an anti-racist
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thehatspodcast@gmail.com
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So, what's for dinner? This very simple question does not always have a simple answer. It can be tough for the person in your house who is responsible for feeding the household to come up with fresh ideas for yummy food, and even more taxing to find time to grocery shop, food prep and cook. If that's you, listen in as co-hosts Melissa and Kerri share their tips on how to wear the chef hat!
For additional cool ideas:
Awesome cookery and recipes
Recipes for every occasion
Take a lesson to enhance your skills in the kitchen
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Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
It's that time of year again ... spring going into beach season! Or, fall going into holiday dress season. Or, winter going into Valentine's season. All year 'round, many of us are trying to find the motivation to get more fit. In this episode about the athlete hat, Melissa & Kerri discuss wearing their athlete hats to help them get in shape. Yes, the athlete hat gets lopsided; and, maybe a little snug at times. Listen in for some tips on how to get back on the exercise wagon, and wear your athlete cap with ease!
Need some great exercises ideas:
Lots of different workouts!
Yoga
Running apps
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It's tough to sum up what mothers mean to us. In a word, can we say: everything? We all come from a mom; and, whether your mom is a rockstar, a nightmare or something in between, a mother's role in her child's life is uniquely central. In this episode of The Hats, Melissa & Kerri talk about their paths to motherhood and how they navigate the world wearing this incredibly complicated and dynamic hat.
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facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening. We tip our hats to you!
Who can always keep all of their hats upright and perfectly placed at all times - NOBODY! In this episode, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri discuss what to do when one of your hats goes lopsided. You don't always know which hat will falter in any given moment. But, there are some things that you can do to help get your hats in line again, regardless of which hat goes lopsided and when this inevitably happens. Listen in to get some tips!
Resources to help when you get:
Overwhelmed
Disorganized
Out of Control
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The pitter patter of little feet was cool ... until those feet were big and they needed to be headed toward a desk to do some work! Many of us living the Covid-19 quarantine life are also homeschooling our kids unexpectedly. While plenty of families decided to homeschool before this, most did not. And, this has been the most difficult transition for many. Listen to this episode to hear tips on how to make homeschooling easier for the bigs and littles in your household.
Resources to mix up your homeschooling lessons:
ixl.com
duolingo.com
education.com
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facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening. We tip our hats to you!
Goodbye office. Hello living room! Yet another transition brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic--millions of workers no longer able to safely social distance while working in their usual location. In this episode, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri discuss wearing the working from home hat, including a discussion of sharing the home with another adult working from home, as well as working remotely while homeschooling.
Resources:
For Homeschooling
For working from home
Connect with us:
facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening. We tip our hats to you!
At any given moment, there is likely to be a local, state or federal election around the corner. It is easy to ignore the confusing and sometimes overwhelming electoral process; but, engaging in politics is one of the most important hats we wear as citizens of a democracy. In this episode, Melissa & Kerri talk about how to wear the political hat with ease.
Some resources to consider:
npr.com
reddit.com
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facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening. We tip our hats to you!
Social distancing. What does it mean and how can we do it and maybe even have a little fun? That's what Melissa & Kerri talk about in this episode.
Here are some resources to consider: --Consider some of the streaming services if you haven't already signed up: netflix.com, hulu.com, disneyplus.com --Some great ideas for couples in Melissa's book: The Love Challenge --Go old school and get some board games Please share tips on how you are staying sane, or submit a question about other possible resources:
facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for listening. We tip our hats to you!
COVID-19. It has thrust us all into territories unknown - required to stay home, washing our hands like crazy, sanitizing every surface, keeping others at bay. This is a hat no one would have EVER guessed any of us would wear. But, Melissa and Kerri have your back. In this episode they give you loads of tips on how to wear your quarantine hat and stay sane!
If you need help or information during these times, here are some places you can start: CDC Grocery delivery Job Opportunity Help getting essential items Help for single parents Please share tips on how you are staying sane, or submit a question about other possible resources:
facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast thehatspodcast@gmail.com Thank you for joining us. We tip our hats to you!
On this episode of The Hats, co-hosts Melissa & Kerri talk about being businesswomen. Owning two very different types of businesses - one an individual contributor and the other as a member of a family business with many employees - the co-hosts share what sparked them to start their businesses and tips for how to balance issues that come up when you are an entrepreneur - branding and expanding your business, how to handle employee concerns, how to balance the ebb and flow of income, etc.
We would love your feedback about this or any other episode! Please share your tips with us or ask us a question by reaching out on any social media outlet: Facebook: facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast You can also reach us via email: thehatspodcast@gmail.com. Thank you for listening! We tip our hats to you!
On this episode of The Hats, co-hosts Melisssa and Kerri share with listeners how their friendship began and how it continues to grow. In addition, the ladies spend most of the episode sharing practical tips on how to balance the friend hat when we wear so many others, how to make time to nurture existing friendships, how to make new friends as an adult, how to mend fences when friendships go through difficult changes, and when to let go of friendships. We would love your feedback about this or any other episode! Please share your tips with us or ask us a question by reaching out on any social media outlet: Facebook: facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast You can also reach us via email: thehatspodcast@gmail.com. Thank you for listening in today! We tip our hats to you!
In the first episode of The Hats Podcast, you will meet co-hosts Melissa and Kerri. They will share a little bit about themselves, and what the podcast is about. Sneak peak: Melissa is a licensed marriage and family therapist and Kerri is a lawyer. The Hats Podcast is about their experiences in these professions as well as the many other hats they wear - friend, wife, chef, traveler, and so on. If you wear any, all or other types of hats, this is the podcast for you! Learn their tips for balancing multiple hats with style and grace, and share yours as well!
Facebook: facebook.com/TheHatsPodcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/thehatspodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHatsPodcast You can also reach us via email: thehatspodcast@gmail.com