Self Care Summer Series on the Friend Request Podcast

August 24, 2022

In this 11-episode series, Justin Lamb, host of the Friend Request podcast, talked to former guests and experts in their field to review the tangible results and effects of REAL Self Care. He also sprinkled in some special episodes, so get ready to have a damn good time!! For now, though…drink more water. (and if you just read this and thought, “Wow, I need to drink more water.” – You’re welcome!)

Self-Care Series Topics

  • Introduction

  • Cooking

  • Exercise

  • Alcohol

  • Meditation

  • Writing

  • Human Contact

  • Self-Pleasure

  • Personal Finance

  • Digital Detoxing

  • Self-Care Summary

Justin takes you on a deep dive into the mental health benefits of cooking your food. We hear from Zen Chef Aaron Cozaad and Plant-based Nutritionist Lauryn Carroll. Another surprise appearance by a special someone is in store, too. Topics covered include stress, anxiety, mindfulness, and of course…food. Sit back, put a pot on to boil, and get ready to find out the REAL benefits of cooking as a form of self-care.

Our Self-Care Summer continues with exercise. Exercise can be a triggering word for some, often misunderstood. In this episode, we clearly define exercise and discuss all of the benefits that come from it, both mentally and physically. We also discuss the easy ways to get started and give some examples of what not to do, including ensuring you are entering it with the right intention. Guests include a therapist, a nurse, a personal trainer, and a former bodybuilder. So please turn on your video games and hop on the treadmill (that will make sense later), and let’s continue our self-care journey together.

BetterHelp sponsors this episode. If you’re struggling with finding the right intentions in your life, BetterHelp may be an excellent place to start. Head to http://www.betterhelp.com/friendrequest/ to get started and get 10% off your first month.

Justin celebrates three years sober and discusses alcohol and its role in self-care. What do we know about alcohol? How much of what we know is a fact, and how much is assumed or passed down information? Is a glass of wine good for you? This episode dives into the nitty gritty of drinking and provides a roadmap to assess your choices regarding alcohol. As Justin says many times throughout the episode, he’s not telling you to get drinking, be more aware of what you put into your body.

Bravus Brewing and WellBeing Brewing sponsor this show. Head over to Bravus.com or wellbeingbrewing.com and use code FRIENDREQUEST to save 10%

Sober Curator Pro Tip: You can also check out all of Justin’s NA Beer reviews HERE in our site’s Happy Every Hour NA Beers & 90s section.

Meditation can come in many forms, but it is often misunderstood or assumed by people that do not practice it. So what is meditation? How can it benefit you? This week, we discuss meditation and how it can improve your overall well-being, and health, and even alter your genes! Join Stacy Gissal and Aaron Cozaad as they inform you of different types of meditation, some common misconceptions about meditation, and where you might find an excellent place to start adding meditation as part of your self-care routine.

Writing in a journal or doing some form of regular writing practice has been proven beneficial to your overall mental health and is used in several therapy practices for people of all ages to help learn better self-regulating techniques and uncover and process past traumas or hard feelings. Katie Allen joins us to discuss writing practice as a form of self-care and discusses the process and the benefits of doing it regularly. Please find out more about Katie or join her writing workshops at http://www.KatieAllen.net

How often are you engaged with another person? How many hugs are you giving and receiving each day? In this Self-Care Summer episode, we are joined by licensed therapist Jenny Helms to discuss the benefits of human contact and physical touch. We will discuss the mass isolation we have faced during the pandemic and the effect that it has had on many people across the globe. Then we’ll talk about all of the benefits of human contact, physical touch, and hugs, including how to get past those awkward hugs where you’re wondering if someone is cool with hugging or not. Follow Jenny on all social media platforms @JennyAnnHelms for more on your overall wellbeing!

Sex Therapist Sarah Tomakich joins us to discuss self-pleasure and masturbation. Whether you want to reduce body shame and anxiety, have a better sexual relationship with your partner, or are simply curious about the benefits of a regular masturbation practice, this episode is for you. Among other topics, we discuss what it means to feel distressed about touching yourself, the lack of education surrounding self-pleasure, and how orgasm isn’t necessarily the goal of self-pleasure, exploration, and masturbation.

Find out more about Sarah on her website http://www.SarahTomakich.com

Join us! Become a Patreon supporter at http://www.patreon.com/friendrequestpod

This episode covers everything: balancing a budget or learning your money story. We are joined by licensed therapist Jenny Helms, Licensed Social Worker, and Financial Therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin to learn about personal finance and where it fits into a healthy self-care routine. Suppose money makes you feel icky, or you have deep-seated beliefs about money being evil or good or representing something more. In that case, this may be the perfect time to take a breath and learn about a money story and how it affects your underlying thoughts and feelings about money.

Jenny Helms, LCMFT – @JennyAnnHelms Lindsat Bryan-Podvin, LSW, FT – http://www.mindmoneybalance.com

How much do you use your smartphone? Do you know what that use means? This week we are discussing smartphone use and digitally detoxing or cleansing. We are challenging each other to take a break from our devices and see how long we can last. Report your digital detox story to Justin at [email protected]. Good luck!

This final episode summarizes all that we learned this summer during our Self-Care Summer series. What was your favorite part?

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Questions or comments? Email [email protected]

NA BEERS AND 90s: Sober Curator Justin Lamb is dedicated to tasting great (and sometimes not so great) NA beers and showcasing his amazing collection of memorabilia from the ’90s.

TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.

Resources are available

Resources are available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

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