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Listen for REAL

By: Jen Oliver
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  • Summary

  • I'm Jen - a white, cisgendered, straight-identifying, American-born woman with a history of Christian and conservative influences. My lived experience is one of solid economic security and educational privilege. All of this shaped the lens through which I viewed life for the majority of my adult years - and it created a comfortable echo chamber where “my existing views were neatly reinforced and alternative ideas were rarely considered…” This no longer works for me. I decided to pursue meaningful work, passion projects, and relationships that would serve as "antidotes to the echo chamber." This podcast is part of that work. Rather than put people in stereotypical boxes - I want to grow more curious and open minded. This means listening deeply to another person’s perspective, especially those who differ from me. It means challenging my old paradigms and assumptions. I pursue this on a public platform because I want to foster this mindset shift in our culture. My guests and I believe that conversations heard here will spur more healthy exchanges, marked by a spirit of inquiry with and for the people in our lives (especially those whom we don’t know or understand yet). Join the conversation.
    2020-2024 Listen for REAL
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Episodes
  • Sisterhood: We are Stronger as a Collective!

    Sisterhood: We are Stronger as a Collective!
    Apr 22 2024

    I am back with the insightful Christie Watrous for a heartfelt conversation on the intricacies of sisterhood. We get REAL about the social conditioning that often pits women against each other and share our own journeys toward meaningful connections.


    Christie and I discuss our shared passion around holding space for other women and the transformative experience of being seen in our most vulnerable moments. We emphasize the significance of environments that encourage curiosity over comparison.

    I talk about my commitment to creating Red Tent (a best selling book by Anita Diamont)gatherings; the kind of where women can gather to find solace and solidarity amidst life's challenges. isterhood that holds the potential to transform personal growth and communal resilience.

    --------- HIGHLIGHTS ---------

    0:03:33 - Reconnecting Through Sisterhood and Intimacy

    0:14:18 - Understanding the Concept of Containers

    0:22:44 - Building Sisterhood and Safe Spaces

    0:33:52 - The Importance of Passing Down History

    0:39:46 - Exploring Erotic and Personal Voice

    Our Guest: Christie Watrous

    Christie (she/her) is currently a Sex & Relationship Coach practicing in Folsom, CA. She is clinically trained with a Master’s in Social Work and has spent most of her career working in a wide variety of grassroots and non-profit settings ranging from runaway and homeless youth to adults with traumatic brain injuries. She graduated from the Advanced Sex & Relationship Coaching Program with the Somatica Institute. And most recently, Christie completed a sex educator mentorship program with the Back to the Body team and received her certification as a facilitator of The Lotus Lift Meditation ©, created by Pamela Madsen & featured in Oprah Magazine.

    Christie's practice focuses on helping those whom identify as women to stay connected to their bodies in the midst of life transitions. She helps women discover their own unique erotic energy, prioritize pleasure, explore desire and integrate this awareness into daily life. Her work is inspired by her own mid-life embodied journey back to her erotic self and fuels her passion for women’s sexual wellness.

    As the founder of Embodied Life Transitions providing 1:1 Coaching for women, Christie also facilitates a collaborative community based Book Club called “Between the Covers”. She hosts a monthly, sex-positive Sisterhood Happy Hour with a focus on sexual wellness for women and teaches her own in-person experiential workshops in Historic Folsom as part of the Back to the Body Collective. She is an advocate for women's sexual wellness & is passionate about creating spaces for sisterhood, intimacy, and connection in her community.

    website: https://www.embodiedlifetransitions.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-watrous-b3b350172/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedlifetransitions/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embodiedlifetransitions/

    About Jen Oliver:

    I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

    REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

    email: jen@REALjenoliver.com

    podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

    website: REALJenOliver.com

    LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

    Instagram: @realjenoliver

    Facebook: @realjenoliver

    If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.
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    46 mins
  • Pleasure is our birthright

    Pleasure is our birthright
    Apr 8 2024
    My conversation with Christie Watrous expands my limited viewpoint…again. We unpack what it means to connect with our bodies and each other, defining intimacy and pleasure in REAL terms. Spoiler alert: intimacy and pleasure are not always sexual and wow sometimes they are - AND it can look different than what the culture dishes up. As the founder of Embodied Life Transitions, Christie brings her personal experience of transformation and empowerment to our discussion, offering insights into reclaiming our bodies and desires. We talk candidly about our need to deconstruct shame narratives and embrace the pursuit of pleasure, which extends beyond the confines of the bedroom and into the joy of our simple daily rituals, from sipping a warm beverage to soaking in the melody of our favorite tune.Christie and I confront our individual and collective truths - from unhealthy self-concepts to narratives that frame the end of a marriage as failure. Join the conversation. Resources referenced:Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski Ph.D.--------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS ---------(0:00:01) - Exploring the Erotic and Love(0:10:10) - Prioritizing Pleasure and Desire(0:24:10) - Unpacking Shame and Embracing Truth(0:30:55) - Deconstructing Shame and Celebrating Growth(0:41:59) - Human Need for Connection and Intimacy(0:48:02) - Exploring Sexuality and Intimacy Beyond Stereotypes(1:00:28) - Navigating Consent and Boundaries in RelationshipsOur Guest: Christie WatrousChristie (she/her) is currently a Sex & Relationship Coach practicing in Folsom, CA. She is clinically trained with a Master’s in Social Work and has spent most of her career working in a wide variety of grassroots and non-profit settings ranging from runaway and homeless youth to adults with traumatic brain injuries. She graduated from the Advanced Sex & Relationship Coaching Program with the Somatica Institute. And most recently, Christie completed a sex educator mentorship program with the Back to the Body team and received her certification as a facilitator of The Lotus Lift Meditation ©, created by Pamela Madsen & featured in Oprah Magazine.Christie's practice focuses on helping those whom identify as women to stay connected to their bodies in the midst of life transitions. She helps women discover their own unique erotic energy, prioritize pleasure, explore desire and integrate this awareness into daily life. Her work is inspired by her own mid-life embodied journey back to her erotic self and fuels her passion for women’s sexual wellness. As the founder of Embodied Life Transitions providing 1:1 Coaching for women, Christie also facilitates a collaborative community based Book Club called “Between the Covers”. She hosts a monthly, sex-positive Sisterhood Happy Hour with a focus on sexual wellness for women and teaches her own in-person experiential workshops in Historic Folsom as part of the Back to the Body Collective. She is an advocate for women's sexual wellness & is passionate about creating spaces for sisterhood, intimacy, and connection in her community.website: https://www.embodiedlifetransitions.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-watrous-b3b350172/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedlifetransitions/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embodiedlifetransitions/ About Jen Oliver:I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:email: jen@REALjenoliver.compodcast website: ListenForREAL.comwebsite: REALJenOliver.comLinkedIn:@realjenoliverInstagram: @realjenoliverFacebook: @realjenoliverIf you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Two women and a conversation about race and grace

    Two women and a conversation about race and grace
    Mar 18 2024
    Here I am, a white chick, learning what’s appropriate to ask of a black woman when it comes to her lived experience. Thank God for Wanda Smith who is grace and wisdom embodied into one beautiful human. I ask a lot of careful, race-related questions because I am so afraid of doing it wrong - but she gets me.Our conversation highlights the importance of curious dialogue to create empathy and self-awareness. We talk about the importance of being in circles with safe people who get us and forged even greater bonds discussing grief and struggle. So grateful. Join us…Resources mentioned during this podcast:Ms. Wanda's Full Circle Radio - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iammswandaShe Believed, Vol II Book - https://www.amazon.com/She-Believed-II-Unapologetic-Determined/dp/1726711714/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mfAeqDkSrASMo9NsegZpPQ.4CyGlegEqkNbQ_XXYOPhAZD_XoTu40yzst8E0qM112w&dib_tag=se&qid=1710719111&refinements=p_27%3AWanda+Abney&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Wanda+AbneySB188 The CROWN Act signed into law, making California the first state to ban hair discrimination in work and school - https://www.thecrownact.com/californiaWanda Smith's Bio:Wanda Smith is a highly sought-after speaker, coach, moderator, talk show host and Founder of SpeakHer Consulting LLC. Ms. Smith walks alongside those who seek to become confident speakers by helping them craft a message that supports their vision and authentic voice.Wanda is the host of Full Circle, a weekly radio show dedicated to empowering black women through conversation. Each week she hosts lively dialogue aimed at inspiring women to achieve their desired vision for their lives. You can hear “Ms. Wanda’s Full Circle Radio” on your favorite podcast platform.Wanda is enthusiastic and has a heart for seeing people thrive in every situation. As a 20-year cancer survivor, she readily shares stories of her journey on stage and in workshops. In the anthology, She Believed, Vol. II, her chapter, “Freedom by G.R.A.C.E.”, recounts the steps she took to heal after a painful divorce. Her talk “Becoming Ms. Wanda” is one of the most viewed segments on Creative Mornings, the world's largest face-to-face creative community.Wanda obtained her coaching certification from the UC Davis Coaching for Life and Work Program to add to her more than 25 years as a training and learning development professional for the State of California. By developing meaningful relationships with her clients, Wanda is an expert at creating space for individuals to disrupt thought patterns, get clear and show up and deliver their message with confidence. As a result, her clients grow their businesses, gain visibility in their organizations and become community leaders.In 2019, Wanda was recognized as an Exceptional Women of Color by the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation. When not speaking or training, Wanda can be found spending time at the ocean, traveling or training for her next 5K.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/full_circle97.5/?fbclid=IwAR3DslCSI_RO9pO7WOo4jCbPmKCzgPPRDZO2qhSgO-g6c1VAlfG4kk5T318Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045496076412LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanda-smith-b1003b125/ About Jen Oliver:I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:email: jen@REALjenoliver.compodcast website: ListenForREAL.comwebsite: REALJenOliver.comLinkedIn:@realjenoliverInstagram: @realjenoliverFacebook: @realjenoliverIf you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver. About Jen Oliver:I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:email: jen@REALjenoliver.compodcast website: ListenForREAL.comwebsite: REALJenOliver.comLinkedIn:@realjenoliverInstagram: @realjenoliverFacebook: @realjenoliverIf you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.
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    59 mins
Social Sciences Relationships
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