The Karen Kenney Show

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how you can stop looking and waiting for healing, support, or encouragement from the people and places that may not be willing (or able) to offer it.

I also share a few ways to reclaim your peace and to recognize the human and animal relationships that truly nourish you.

We also get into where you might find some steadier sources of love - so you can feel more empowered in how you care for yourself and connect with others! ❤️

KAREN KENN...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, we're exploring three ​different kinds of ignorance and how recognizing them in ourselves can help us ​to grow, take responsibility, and respond ​to others and life with more curiosity and compassion.

I talk about innocent ignorance, when we simply don’t know​ or don't yet know better; willful ignorance, when we avoid information that challenges us​ or makes us uncomfy; and belligerent ignorance, when we aggressively reject (like an asshole) what we could actually learn​ if we kept our hearts and minds open.

You’ll hear why staying open-min...

In this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why trusted experts, hands-on experience, and human connection still matter in a digital age.

From your smarty-pants car guy - to that friend with a unique skill and "know how" that you admire...

The people around us are such a rich resource and can offer us the kind of lived wisdom that a quick internet search just can’t provide.

Consider this your encouragement to go old school and pick up the phone, reach out to connect and let's keep learning from on...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the old saying "blood is thicker than water," and why I don't buy it.

​I​'ve seen families ​use ​t​hat old adage to ​try to control ​​people and the narrative, keep ​those old secrets​ buried​, and demand loyalty​...

​Even when those relationships ​have already cause​d real harm.

I ​​discuss finding the "right distance" with family​ members, ​ranging from ​w​icked close - all the way to no contact​ - and the grief ​and sadness that can come with ​t​hat not easily made decision.

I also ​g​et into...

OK, so here's the thing.

Somewhere along the way we all got told to "document everything." (I’m looking at you Gary Vee )

Now it feels like we can't go to the grocery store, a concert, or our kid's soccer game without thinking, “How can I turn this into a post?”

The other day I left my phone at home (once on purpose, once by mistake).

At first I was like, "Oh no!" (mostly because I want to be able to call AAA if it’s necessary )

But then it turne...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the difference between being an Illuminator and a Diminisher.

And why some people can make you feel seen, lit up, and welcome, while others can make you feel kinda' invisible.

I tell a story about some recent experiences of being in rooms with people I've known my whole life who never asked me a single question about myself. (WTF is up with that? 😆)

And how familiarity can breed contempt when folks decide who you are, stick you in a box, and never upd...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why we need to stop half-assing our lives, work, the art we make, and our relationships!

Because of what it really says about our self-respect when we keep settling for “good enough.”

I share a real-life story about a worker with a kinda’ crappy attitude, who left streaky results, and showed practically zero care.

And how that kind of half-hearted effort slowly poisons your reputation, your relationships, and your ability to grow. (Forget about those referrals, kid)

So, if you’re tired...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to have the courage to be loved.

By taking a look through the lens of the one-and-only Dolly Parton’s life, legacy, faith, humor, and big-hearted generosity.

I share how Dolly managed to be wicked authentic, outspoken, and spiritually grounded!

All while still being one of the most beloved humans on the planet (a recent poll out of UMass Lowell gave her an amazing net favorability rating of +65!).

I also explore the difference between trying to be...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how the internet has trained ​so many people to believe that every thought ​they have deserves a comment, ​their ​opinion, or a post​...

And why that ​shit doesn’t ​really fly in real life.

I ​t​ell a ​couple of stories about unsolicited opinions (​given both online and in person)​ and the emotional impact they can have​ on the receivers.

I​ also share how ​you can start using ​your voice more thoughtfully​ by revisiting the “three gates” of communication​!

These questions are simple, yet powerful:

...

My guest today is legendary, bestselling author Steven Pressfield, who's known for his work on creativity, self-discipline, and how to overcome the inner force of what he calls, "capital R" - Resistance.

He’s written 25 books including the wildly popular - The War of Art, Turning Pro, Do The Work, and Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be - which have influenced tons of successful writers, thinkers, artists and entrepreneurs - including Ryan Holiday and Rich Roll.

Steven wrote for 27 years before his first novel The Legend of Bagger Vance got published and ma...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what I call spiritual roadmaps - those​inner ​"TripTiks" that help us ​to move from where we are ​-to​- where we really want to be​.

I share a​ story about driving cross-country with ​one of those old-school, highlighted, AAA paper maps and how that kind of customized route is wicked similar to spiritual mentoring, coaching, and doing your own inner work.

We dive into why ​reading more books, ​listening to another podcast, and ​buying another course ​(aka: just gathering more information) isn’t enough ​to create change...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why it’s so important to come to your own conclusions - instead of blindly believing what the so-called social media influencers, armchair experts, critics, or even your loved ones say.

I share a fun story about going to see Christopher Nolan’s new movie The Odyssey, and how the internet lost its mind with opinions about it.

From there, I dive into the dangers of online influencers running rackets (like the “trad wife movement”), the sneaky ways people profit off of your self-doubt, and how...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what happens when we walk through life with only one “tool”.

Which is usually our default reactions like - anger, shutting down, the silent treatment, judgment, or trying to fix everyone but our damn selves – and how that keeps our world and our relationships wicked small.

I tell a story about my love for Swiss Army knives and Leatherman tools when I was a kid and ​use them ​as a metaphor for expanding your emotional and spiritual toolkit - ​now that we're grown-ass adults. 😆

We dive in...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I​'m exploring ​​what it means to “talk​ to younger you” ​- by ​l​ooking through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and “parts work”. (#notatherapist)

I also ​tell a story about a middle-of-the-night moment where I woke up ​heard myself say, “I’ve got you,” ​several times and how that ​sparked a deeper conversation about exiles, protectors (managers + firefighters), and our capital-S Self​!

I ​share a little bit about the 8 C’s of Self ​a​nd Self-Leadership (like curiosity, compassion, confidence, and calm)​ and why naming and befriending your parts can be ​f​un a...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what I call “the conveyor belt” in our relationships.

That sneaky belief that we’re somehow more evolved, more spiritual, or doing “more work” on ourselves than our partner or the people around us.

I get into how, if we're not careful, this mindset can create hierarchies of “specialness”, insidiously erode connection, and block the love from flowing between you.

So, instead of weaponizing our personal growth or psychoanalyzing our sweeties...

How about we keep the focus on dealing with our “own blind...

In this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the ​"missing pieces​" in our live​s.

Not just the painful things that happened to us​, but ​also the love, protection, ​witnessing, or tenderness ​that we didn’t get​, ​but should have.

W​e get into how that silent absence ​of what was missing, can become its own kind of ​not often talked about trauma.

I share about a recent death in ​t​he family​ and why I’m ​sad about and grieving ​a​ person I never met or got ​the chance to know​.

I also connect how that ti...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to “hold on loosely, but don’t let go” - not just in our relationships with others, but in how we treat ourselves.

I share stories about a band, baby birds and bugs, a fantastic new book, and my own body - to explore why over-controlling, pushing too hard, and demanding “magic fixes” can actually slow down our healing.

We dive into giving ourselves more space, time, and compassion - partly inspired by real life stories and experiences and also by Dr. Sul...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to “worry a little bit” - especially about the people in your life who always look like they’ve got their shit together.

I tell a personal story about being considered the “strong one” and why those folks often don’t get checked on.

I also share why asking a simple, “Hey, how are YOU doing?” - can actually mean the world.

This is a little loving nudge from my heart to yours to reach out, be curious, and check on you...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about 6 powerful things that my therapist, Daphne Rose Kingma, taught me back when I was in my 20’s and living in California - that totally changed how I relate to myself and other people.

I share the story of finding an old journal from my early yoga teacher training days and the little “love note” cards Daphne wrote for me that have stayed with me for nearly 30 years.

We dive into learning how to​:

•​ Ask for what you need

•​ Notice what you’re not askin...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how to stop abandoning yourself.

Self abandonment shows up in lots of ways, like:

When you say yes when you mean no (like going out even though you're exhausted), or by people-pleasing, joy sucking perfectionism, and always putting yourself last.

If you’re ready to build better boundaries, deepen self-trust, and practice more self-compassion, then this episode of The Karen Kenney Show is for you. ❤️

KAREN KENNEY BIO:

Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, podcaster, certified spirit...

I recently overheard a conversation (yeah, there’s no denying it - writers are serial eavesdroppers) - where someone was struggling with a previous verbal commitment they had made.

They'd given their word to someone about something… but then the facts and situation changed, and they were grappling with what to do.

I’m paraphrasing - but they said something like, “I gave my word, but now that relationship and person are really different.”

From what I could grasp, they felt as if they’d kind of been bamboozled.

And since they were a...

Do you ever just catch yourself feeling a little extra cranky, nitpicky, or just sort of over it… even though nothing is technically wrong?

Yeah, me too. 🙋🏼‍♀️

It occurred to me the other day (as I was falling asleep) that maybe I could use a little "attitude adjustment". 😳

And I'm pretty sure that that’s exactly what sparked this week’s episode of The Karen Kenney Show where I share a simple practice that came to me in the middle of the night:

The little "librarians" in my head call this sucker a “​Gratitude...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to make a positive contribution in your life - especially when you’re feeling stuck, scared, or like you’re falling behind.

I share a little bit about working on my memoir and why author Ryan Holiday says that chasing word or page counts can backfire, and how shifting to small, doable daily actions can change everything.

We revisit Kaizen (continuous improvement through tiny steps), and I show you how to apply the concept in your writing, money, fitness, relationships, and...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why simply showing up for the people you love - matters more than you might think.

I share the story of my first-ever art exhibition (eeeek!), the friends who showed up to surprise me there (“We got you, Motherfucker!” 😆), and how that moment healed an old part of me that had gotten used to “going it alone.”

We dive into what I call your “Balcony People” - the ones who are up in the stands creating a rumpus and cheering their faces off for you - and why t...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the powerful difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion and why it matters in how we move through the world.

I share a personal story about my mixed media art piece that I created for “The Mothership” Exhibition - in honor of my mother on the 45th anniversary of her murder - and how watching strangers interact with my work revealed, in real time, the shift from sympathy to empathy and beyond.

We explore:

- How sympathy creates distance

- How empa...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really looks like to say yes before you’re ready… even when your nervous system is wanting to hold out for certainty.

I share the wild, kismet kind of story of how I unexpectedly ended up invited into my very first art show, “The Mothership,” and why I said yes - even though I had no piece made, no plan in place, and a whole lot of self-doubt.

I walk you through the magic of following the red threads of connection, trusting your Spi...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really looks like to show up for yourself and others even when you don’t feel like it.

I share how a “meh” start to my morning turned into both a strength training workout and a new podcast episode!

It was also a reminder of the exponential impact and importance of keeping our word to ourselves and how that decision builds self-trust, self-discipline, and an identity of being “the kind of person who” follows through.

If we can create some consistenc...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it means to find the new ​"right distance​" in ​our relationships​.

Whether ​t​hat's choosing to be ​w​icked close​ to some people - while having to keep a few other humans a little ​bit at arm’s length​.

The thing is, sometimes being all up close and cozy is where it's at - and ​sometimes what we need to do consider is if it makes more sense to go ​"no contact​" for a while.

I share why communication breakdowns, unacknowledged feelings, and old trauma patte...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why it’s so important to stop believing everyone else’s opinions and to start finding out for yourself what rings true for you.

I share some wicked funny and surprising stories from a recent “experiment” I did selling my stuff online.

I dive into how these real-life encounters with total strangers reminded me that people are far more complex, interesting, and kind than the internet (and our assumptions) make them out to be!

I also invite you to get curious about some of...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why ​"you can’t get there ​from here​."

​Especially when​ "there" is a new way of thinking, being, and doing and “here” is you clinging to your same old ​stories, ​beliefs, and behaviors.

Telling a ​tale about a snowy dead-end street​ in my hometown, showing a ​fun stick-figure drawing​ that I did, and sharing some down-to-earth spiritual tools​...

I dive into how taking tiny baby steps, developing some self-awareness, and committing to a simple ​Daily ​Spiritual ​Practice​ (DSP) can help you ​to finally let go of what’s familiar ​- so...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the power of enough - the radical, life-changing shift that happens when we stop chasing the elusive “more-more-more” and start recognizing and appreciating what we already have.

I share one of my favorite stories from Kurt Vonnegut about Joseph Heller, and how Heller’s one line, “I’ve got something he can never have… the knowledge that I’ve got enough,” has stayed with me for years!

We dive into a little wisdom from the Stoics, the yogic​ principle of ​Santosha (contentment), and discuss how our endless comp...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what I’m calling ​"your own personal Fight Club​" – that private, often silent battle that every single one of us is d​ucking, bobbing, and weaving and sometimes still getting knocked on our ass by.

I share a wicked ​​familiar driving story (​u​se your feckin' blinkah'!!!​ 😆) to show how easy it is to leap to judgment, and how I’ve trained my mind instead to pause, get curious​, and remember ​that I have no idea what somebody else is going through.

I riff on that famous quote, “Everyo...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about why you can't explain yourself to everybody all the time and how trying to do so, will just wear you the heck out!

I also share how the tendency to over explain is often rooted in a fear of being misunderstood, and yet our words often get filtered through other people’s history, trauma, beliefs, and stories long before they land anyway.

Which means that the "message sent is almost never the message received.”

We dive into why some of us became over...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it means to live with the consequences of being yourself… the good, the bad, and the kinda’ messy in-between.

I share how so much of my work with others and my life was/is about learning how to own our brilliance and our bullshit.

So, we take a look at how our past conditioning, familiar patterns, and played out stories often shape how we show up in the world - sometimes for the better and sometime for the so not soothing worse.

I...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about regret.

You know, the stuff we wish we hadn’t done, the chances we never took, and the future regret we can possibly prevent - if we’re willing to get honest and take some action.

I break down these three types of regret and share how a little self-awareness, self-forgiveness, and courage can help us make peace with the past and do better moving forward!

I also share how I’m using this in my own life as I write my book a...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk with author, spiritual intuitive, oracle expert, and artist Colette Baron-Reid about her new book - The Art of Manifesting: A Meditative Drawing Practice to Rewire Your Brain and Create Your Reality.

We discuss Colette’s AM Method (Art of Manifesting ) - which uses doodles, circles, lines, and gratitude bubbles - and how it brings together the power of neuroscience, spirituality, and creativity in a practical, grounded, and embodied way!

These are beginner friendly and simple practices that can also help you to regulate your nervous sy...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it really means to be “in the commitment business.”

I share some stories about yoga classes, Spiritual Mentoring, and my Sweetie’s life as a professional musician to illustrate the difference between being committed to the idea of change -vs- taking the gosh-dang consistent actions that actually create it!

We’ll look at human nature, the psychology of commitment, and how places like Planet Fitness - and personal items, like unused guitars, and dusty yoga mats - reveal what we’re committed to (or not). H...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how important it is to think for yourself - especially in the age of influencers, grifters, and bro-science “experts” - including those being revealed in the Epstein files.

I share a little modern-day PSA about being on the lookout for online scams, shady spiritual teachers, coaching programs with “culty” vibes, and podcasters who try to sell us an image, rather than the truth.

I add in a favorite Bruce Lee quote about how a “good teacher protects you from their own influence” and will do their bes...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about what it feels like to be alive in a world that seems like it’s on fire - the grief, fear, anger, overwhelm and helplessness so many people are carrying.

I connect the dots between abusive power and how those in power benefit from keeping us exhausted, distracted, and in despair.

I also remind us that “they’ve always killed the helpers” - from Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. to the modern-day helpers in the streets - and why that makes our presence...

On this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about how our actions are the true voice of our heart.

I share some real-life stories about human kindness, integrity, character, and choosing to do the right thing.

Like the stranger who owned up to dinging my car, and the “dressing room angel” who helped me get ready for a funeral during an extra hard week, and my old childhood friend who remembered me as the kid who always shared her snacks!

Together, we look at how our everyday actions reveal way more abou...