Prickly and Blooming

In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Laura speaks with host Jessie Browning about taking care of herself after her first panic attack. She shares how that moment forced her to address many different things including her mommy drinking and how a Facebook ad motivated her to scale it back. She also discusses why she's at her best when she's a working mom versus being a stay at home mom.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:01] Intro
• [02:44] Laura's relationship to Texas
• [05:36] Meet Laura
• [06:34] Her first panic attack
• [11:15] Taking care of herself
• [17:19] Virtual therapy
• [19:50] Her drinking journey
• [26:48] Stay at home mom vs working mom
• [36:15] Taking care of her health
• [42:32] Her walk with the Lord
• [46:09] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [51:31] Contacting Laura
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Enneagram Type Seven
• This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol: Find Freedom, Rediscover Happiness & Change Your Life by Annie Grace
• Dark Night of the Soul
  

Standout Quotes:

• "If my cup gets a little low, I immediately feel it and I immediately know I need to do XYZ." -Laura [17:08]
• "I stuck it in the garbage. I lifted up paper and stuck it in there so my husband wouldn't see it. And that was the moment where I was like I'm hiding something from my husband. This feels dangerous." -Laura [20:34]
• "I'm my best when I can pick my kids up from school and be 100% with them, and then send them to school and be 100% with my business. That's when I'm at my best." -Laura [30:31]
  

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Diana speaks with host Jessie Browning about the moment she realized she was "going the wrong way." As she was learning about diabetes during training, she discovered that she had seven of the nine risk factors for the disease. Diana shares how this moment made her reflect on the legacy she had inherited and question what kind of legacy she wanted to leave for her two children. Listen as she discusses how she worked through her emotional state through counseling which then helped her access her dream.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:01] Intro
• [07:34] Meet Diana
• [14:03] "I'm going the wrong way"
• [18:23] Masking pain
• [27:51] Food is her vice
• [34:25] Starting small
• [41:12] Counseling
• [43:49] How it affected her personal life
• [48:45] Her coaching business
• [52:52] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [59:19] Contacting Diana
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
• Breaking Free by Diana Guintu
• September 11
• UGGs
• 2011 Lesson #2 : Don't Carpe Diem by Glennon Doyle
• Inside Out
• "Joy & Pain" by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
  

Standout Quotes:

• "Have you ever been driving on a one-way street, like the wrong way? Like you're in the one way and then you realize, 'Oh crap. All these cars are coming towards me. I'm going the wrong way.' Like that moment of realization that you're going the wrong way." -Diana [15:40]
• "I encourage new counselors. I think that's good, because you're building a relationship with someone. It's very deep. And sometimes people see counselors for way too long where it's sort of like now they become more, you know, part of your life, and I think you need someone that is not part of your life." -Diana [42:28]
• "When you get in a better place and you do some of that honoring of the pain, and you rediscover who you are, suddenly you give permission for your dreams." -Diana [47:32]
  

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Jody speaks with host Jessie Browning about returning to her home state of Texas after living in California. She shares what she learned during her 17 years as a special education teacher in Pflugerville. She also discusses why she moved back to San Angelo in 1990 and opened her business, Jody Aesthetics.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:01] Intro
• [02:36] Meet Jody
• [10:47] Meeting her husband
• [13:11] Starting her beauty business
• [19:34] Offering an experience
• [22:02] Her art background
• [27:42] Her experience starting a business
• [33:08] What Texas means to her
• [38:22] How she met her husband
• [46:32] What teaching taught her
• [50:19] What brings her back everyday
• [55:56] Jessie's birthday
• [58:01]Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [1:05:02] Contacting Jody
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Osmosis Beauty
• AskDrBen Podcast
• Kerrville Folk Festival
• The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider
  

Standout Quotes:

• "These two hands made every penny that's come through that door." -Jody [18:27]
• "I don't want that rush hurry stuff anymore." -Jody [34:19]
• "I think everything you do in your life teaches you something." -Jody [46:45]
  

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Jess Norman never thought she would get a divorce, but she found herself in a Wal-Mart parking lot telling her dad on the phone that she was getting one. Growing up in the church, she thought she would be disowned if she did, but that didn't happen.

In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Jess speaks with host Jessie Browning about getting a divorcing her first husband. She also shares how she discusses and works through issues with her now-husband on their podcast, Moving On.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:04] Intro
• [01:05] Listener's survey
• [03:08] Meet Jess Norman
• [12:41] Never thought she would get a divorce
• [15:52] Heading to Texas
• [22:34] Divorce at 32
• [27:14] That was it
• [30:34] A different love language
• [38:06] Alone for the first time
• [42:34] Top fears of her divorce
• [44:10] Jess' and Jay's endgame
• [48:27] Where Jess' life is now
• [56:42] Moving On podcast
• [1:01:48] Love for fears
• [1:04:01] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [1:12:21] Contacting Jess Norman
• [1:14:54] Outro

Standout Quotes:

• "I read this neat thing today that said 'When we're waiting on God, God's usually waiting on us.' I thought that was really beautiful. So I'm positive that God was waiting on me for three years, not to get divorce, but to find my way, which way I was going to go" -Jess Norman [29:30]
• "We're always on the same page where the things that we do during the weekend are for when our kids are in their 20s." -Jess Norman [45:06]
• "I'll give you love for your fears." -Jessie Browning [1:03:12]

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Kenna speaks with host Jessie Browning about going through two life-changing moments: the end of her first marriage and getting diagnosed with (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) ADHD. She talks about the events that led to her divorce, what she did to move on and how she met her now-husband. She shares what she's learned through her ADHD diagnosis and how eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has led her to process her trauma.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:01] Intro
• [06:37] What does a fox say?
• [08:44] Meet Kenna
• [10:36] The end of her first marriage
• [24:29] Nothing left and the aftermath
• [32:04] Moving on and dating
• [41:02] A fight with Mom
• [43:26] Back to the workforce
• [51:49] Diagnosed with ADHD
• [1:01:54] EMDR therapy
• [1:08:22] The craft beer industry and #MeToo
• [1:19:17] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [1:26:25] Contacting Kenna
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer
• Cool Hand Luke - Shaking The Bush, Boss
• Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead - I'm Right On Top Of That, Rose
• Ylvis - The Fox (what does the fox say?)
• Mercer Black on Prickly and Blooming
• Big Bend Brewing Company
• Moms living with add/adhd Facebook Group
• A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers by Sari Solden and Michelle Frank
• Meet the local woman who set off a #MeToo movement in the beer industry
  

Standout Quotes:

• "It wasn't just the betrayal of my husband that I made vows with. It was this woman that was supposed to be my best friend that I confined in. Imagine your best friend that you've confined all these things, all these stories, all your thoughts, all your dreams, to take those and then use everything against you, like twist everything around, there was no way I could win." -Kenna [31:34]
• "There's a whole bunch of things that I didn't realize went along with ADHD." -Kenna [58:59]
• "One of the things I recommend when you're diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is to go find online support groups." -Kenna [1:06:40]
  

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Karen speaks with host Jessie Browning about finding her joy. She talks about how she went from engineering and law to writing her books, including her most recent one, The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change without Losing Your Joy. Karen also shares how she came up with her definition of what it means to be an activist. 

Episode Timeline:

• [00:01] Intro
• [00:57] Listener survey
• [03:38] Meet Karen
• [06:17] Baseball card stats
• [07:12] Her relationship with Texas
• [08:45] From engineering and law to writing
• [13:27] How she keeps her joy
• [18:43] When she decided
• [25:24] Journaling, sketching and photography
• [34:59] A different brain space
• [38:17] Defining activism
• [46:55] Finding joy when there's sorrow
• [55:26] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [1:00:06] Contacting Karen 

Resources Mentioned:

• The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond
• Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer
• The Beauty of Different: Observations of a Confident Misfit by Karen Walrond
• ONE Campaign
• Disquiet Time: Rants and Reflections on the Good Book by the Skeptical, the Faithful, and a Few Scoundrels edited by Jennifer Grant and Cathleen Falsani
• Hurricane Harvey 

Standout Quotes:

• "The way that you keep joy is first of all, the very first thing you have to understand the difference between joy and happiness." -Karen [13:58]
• "I think a lot of people are under the misconception that joy can't be cultivated." -Karen [17:30]
• "So now that starts to feel a little better and more accessible, and now it's possible for you to start thinking, 'Oh, you know what? Activism isn't this scary, intimidating thing. And it actually can be something where I harness this stuff that I really love to do anyway and figure out how can I be of service." -Karen [46:53] 

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Maria speaks with host Jessie Browning about launching IssueVoter, a non-profit organization that provides everyone an equal voice in democracy by making civic engagement accessible, efficient and impactful. Maria talks about her political experience that led her to this. She also shares what it was like growing up in Austin compared to now.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:02] Intro
• [03:11] Listener survey
• [05:04] Meet Maria
• [07:04] Maria's relationship to Texas
• [12:39] The plan after college
• [14:53] Her experience with the legislature
• [17:05] Working on a political campaign in Iowa
• [23:56] Leaving New York
• [27:24] IssueVoter
• [35:15] Moving back to Austin
• [44:16] What's next with IssueVoter
• [51:35] Maria recommends to visit Austin
• [53:32] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [1:00:56] Contacting Maria
  

Resources Mentioned:

• How The Iowa Caucuses Work - And Why They're Important
• Enneagram
• El Cosmico
• NYC BigApps
• Big Top Candy Shop
• Monkey See Monkey Do
• Clark's Austin
• GSD&M
• Frank & Angie's
  

Standout Quotes:

• "People are not hearing about, like every single week, there are decisions being made, and we don't know about them. And it's true, some of these decisions don't really affect you. I mean not every bill is going to always affect every single person's day to day life, but they are bills that could be on issues that you care about and that do affect you and you don't even know about them." -Maria [20:03]
• "Like any non-profit, like any tech non-profit, like any new venture, I would say there's definitely been ups and downs. It's not all like roses all the time, but big picture, I am really happy with what I'm doing and the impact we've been able to create in the world so far." -Maria [31:28]
• "When I say use IssueVoter, it's not just like selfish. Use IssueVoter. We are starting to see and we know that it impacts people's habits around civic engagement, when then the big picture, of course, is how we influence policy that affects our lives and create a better world and shape the world around us and have member of Congress truly represent their constituents. So that is the vision, like we want to truly have everyone's voices be heard." -Maria [52:56]
  

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming Podcast, host Jessie Browning revisits her first episode to give an understanding of who she is and how she came to this project. At age 35, Jessie theoretically adored her life; she was a mama to four children and owned multiple businesses with her husband. But without an ability to cope or care for herself, an isolating darkness crept in. Through reckless self care, therapy, and lots of candor; Jessie found her joie again. She created Lajoie Society to embolden others to do the same. Each week, we will meet a woman who has an authentic story to share. Undoubtedly, Jessie will be sharing her big heart, unusual life, and countless theories with you along the way.

Episode Timeline:

• [03:26] Jessie shares about how she met her husband in My Space years ago
• [05:28] Having four children in a wild succession
• [06:44] Jessie talks about her passionate motivation to start this podcast
• [09:04] The meaning behind the names: Prickly and Blooming and Lajoie Society
• [10:02] The significance of the cactus to Jessie: thorns and flowers, joy and pain, all needs to be celebrated
• [11:22] Who are going to be guests on this podcast? "Regular" women that have something to share to help move, inspire and motivate other women
• [12:25] Jessie opens up about her story and the pain that lead to her joy
• [19:09] Facing shame and guilt, trying unsuccessfully to "forget about it"
• [20:15] Jessie promised herself she will never be drunk again
• [22:10] Jessie decided to take back her body, losing weight, exercising and not drinking that much
• [24:39] Yoga set Jessie's heart on fire
• [28:06] Starting a food log and learning about the right nutrition choices
• [30:11] The moment Jessie decided to be a stay-at-home Mom
• [32:55] Jessie experiencing losing herself and questions her roles and identity
• [33:29] Drinking to cope was not suitable anymore
• [35:38] How yoga and meditation brought Jessie up into her physical and mental strength
• [37:03] Jessie found a therapist that lead her into the problem that was holding her back
• [39:17] Starting EMDR sessions (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy)
• [40:35] You don't need to suffer alone
• [41:52] Share your story and that can change the life of others
  

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, Kim Kaupe speaks with host Jessie Browning about moving to Texas during the pandemic and the experience so far. She also talks about becoming an accidental entrepreneur and the importance of celebrating your accomplishments. Listen to why you should actively publish your accomplishments on Linkedin and stop waiting to be picked.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:03] Intro
• [10:32] Meet Kim
• [11:00] Moving to Austin
• [14:32] Remote working
• [16:10] Kim's companies
• [22:27] An accidental entrepreneur 
• [24:52] Celebrate your accomplishments
• [31:16] Using LinkedIn
• [39:39] Stop waiting to be picked
• [44:26] What happens when she has a crap day
• [46:43] Her experience in Texas
• [52:50] Coffee With Kim
• [56:59] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [1:05:37] Contacting Kim
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Shark Tank
• Texas Longhorns yells and cheers
• Boomerang Generation
• Kim's 5 Biggest LinkedIn Tips
• LinkedIn creators
• TikTok Creator Fund
• Instagram Creators
• The Oregon Trail
• Meeting The JTs | Monica Danna
• Tim Ferriss
• Tiny Boxwoods
• Capital Factory
• Coffee With Kim
  

Standout Quotes:

• "That was the farthest thing from my mind ever, that I ever thought I could do, but kind of the rest is history. Started the company at 25 and honestly, planned for it to fail, because 92% of startups do fail. So I actually had an entire business plan of what would happen when I failed, and I had no business plan for success, which is quite ironic." -Kim [24:27]
• "You should be screaming this from the rooftops. And not only that, but most of the time, your friends, your family and those people around you, like they're ready to applaud you. They're ready to buy you a cake and put a sparkler in it, but if you don't tell them that you're celebrating, how are they supposed to know?" -Kim [28:56]
• "Your career is not a kick ball. Stop waiting to be picked." -Kim [40:03]
  

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Bright Ideas Only website

Career Capital website

In this minisode of Prickly and Blooming, Jessie is interviewed by Barbara Schroeder, creator of Netflix's Evil Genius and PodcastOne's Bad Bad Thing. Jessie was recently named one of the finalists for Podcast One's SELF MADE Competition and has the chance to win a podcasting contract worth $100,000. Jessie shares the idea behind Prickly and Blooming while Barbara shares her thoughts on the podcast.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:02] Intro
• [04:47] The idea behind the podcast
• [08:48] Barbara's thoughts on the podcast
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Bad Bad Thing - PodcastOne
• Aura app
  

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In this episode of Prickly and Blooming, host Jessie Browning speaks with Buck about living in a small town. Buck shares how she ended up in Texas and then in Marfa, where she runs a store and offers an artist residency. She talks about the importance of contributing and how she contributes through her position as city council member.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:03] Intro
• [04:08] Meet Buck
• [07:07] What does Texas mean to her
• [09:10] Moving to Texas and first impressions
• [11:37] Born on the web
• [15:21] How she ended up in Marfa
• [20:22] Wrong Marfa and Camp's art
• [24:37] Getting involved with the art scene
• [27:09] Relationship to small town politics
• [31:17] Biggest contributor to her Texas pride
• [33:35] Small town's big presence
• [38:36] Possibly El Paso
• [41:46] Jessie's rapid fire questions
• [46:23] Contacting Buck
  

Resources Mentioned:

• bbGun
• Cobra Rock
• Convenience West BBQ
  

Standout Quotes:

• "I'd like to say that I was born on the web." -Buck [12:55]
• "Our store is very artist driven." -Buck [25:41]
• "I've always said that I think the most important word, and especially in a small town, is the word contribute. If you're not contributing, then kind of like I'm just not really much interested in you. I really feel like people need to contribute." -Buck [28:16]
  

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In the second episode of this two-part series, Maylee Willson continues her honest conversation about alcoholism with Prickly and Blooming host Jessie Browning. She talks about the events leading up to February 27, 2018 when she checked into a treatment center to detox. Maylee has been sober since February 28, 2018. 

Listen to how she adjusted to life after treatment. She shares her experience attending her first AA meeting and how those meetings saved her life.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:03] Intro 
• [02:24] Something's gotta change 
• [06 35] The last selfie before getting sober 
• [07:38] Word of the year: commitment 
• [09:05] February 27, 2018 
• [12:25] Going into treatment 
• [14:23] Her first AA meeting 
• [17:16] Brene Brown Book Club 
• [18:15] "Rehab is gonna suck" 
• [24:40] Family Day 
• [26:16]Untamed by Glennon Doyle 
• [29:19] Finding her sponsor 
• [34:12] Adjusting to life after treatment 
• [38:08] Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis 
• [44:43] Word of 2020: community 
• [46:47] Jessie's rapid fire questions 
• [50:19] Contacting Maylee Willson 
• [51:34] Outro 

 

Resources Mentioned:

• Alcoholics Anonymous 
• Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis 
• I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough" by Brené Brown 
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle 
• Serenity House
  Standout Quotes:
  
• "I think the more that we share our honest, real stories about what alcoholism looks like and who it affects, the more we can reach other people who are suffering and maybe affect them to step out of the storyline they've been living and try a new one." -Jessie Browning [01:23] 
• "That was the first AA meeting that I've ever gone to and that was the first time that I ever said out loud 'I am an alcoholic' and that was the first time in my life that I met people who knew what I felt like." -Maylee Willson [14:36] 
• "Treatment got me sober. It gave me a safe space to get clean and it taught me a lot, but then AA has kept me that way. AA is really what has saved my life." -Maylee Willson [35:03]
  Connect:
  

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LillyCakes Quilting on Facebook 

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Email Maylee Willson

In this special minisode of Prickly and Blooming, host Jessie Browning dives into some Texas history and talks about Barbara Jordan, the first African American elected to the Texas Senate since 1898 and the first Southern African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:03] Intro
• [00:41] Barbara's speech at Nixon's impeachment hearings
• [02:01] About Barbara Jordan
• [06:25] Barbara and LBJ
• [07:02] A launch into the national spotlight
• [08:46] Retiring from political life
• [09:23] Her legacy
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Barbara Jordan: Speech on Impeachment
• How Barbara Jordan's 1974 Speech Marked a Turning Point in the Watergate Scandal
• Barbara Jordan
• Rep. Barbara Jordan 1976 Democratic National Convention Keynote Speech Transcript
• Black Texas Women: 150 Years of Trial and Triumph by Ruthe Winegarten, Janet G. Humphrey & Frieda Werden
• Bold Women in Texas History by Don Blevins
  

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