Send us a text

In this uplifting episode of the Self-Care Sht* podcast, host Kathy Love sits down with her friend Clayton, a leadership trainer and mindfulness teacher, to explore how a 20-year finance career evolved into a life devoted to presence, service, and practical self-care.

Clayton shares the inflection point that changed everything: a values-based approach to money (inspired by George Kinder) that unexpectedly led him out of finance and into not-for-profit work, meditation, and eventually corporate leadership training grounded in mindfulness and neuroscience. From the “brain’s negativity bias” to why gratitude works on a biological level, this conversation is equal parts science, storytelling, and totally usable tools.

You’ll hear how meditation can live far beyond the cushion—on the pickleball court, in the shower, or in a tough conversation in your kitchen—and why the real magic is noticing (without judgment) and then choosing your next best action. Also: the funniest unexpected benefit of meditation? Becoming “a little less of a jerk.” 😂

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Mind–Heart Alignment: A successful career can still feel misaligned. Mindfulness helped Clayton move from “head only” to a purpose rooted in service.
• Meditation Is a Tool, Not a Trophy: It’s not about bliss; it’s about practicing awareness so you can choose your response when life gets real.
• Negativity Bias Is Normal: Our brains are “Velcro for threat and Teflon for reward.” Gratitude—specific and embodied—helps rebalance the system.
• Everyday Mindfulness Works: Showers, walks, eating, golf, pickleball—if you intentionally engage your senses, you’re training presence.
• Humor Heals: Laughter can downshift tension and create space for wiser choices (and kinder relationships).

👤 About the Guest

Clayton is a leadership trainer and mindfulness teacher who blends neuroscience, soft-skills coaching, and practical meditation for real-world impact. After two decades in finance and a decade in nonprofit fundraising, he now helps teams and leaders build clarity, calm, and courage through mindful presence. He hosts a free Friday Morning Online Meditation featuring centering practice, a short talk, and guided meditation, with open community sharing afterward. (Details and contact in the links below.)

Connect with Clayton:
Friday Morning Meditation

Meditation4Leadership

LinkedIn

Support the show

If you’ve been struggling with emotional codependency or want to learn how to establish a healthy balance of independence and vulnerability in relationships, join Kathy on this transformative journey. Be sure to subscribe to My Self-Care Sht* and leave a review!

Follow Kathy:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

TikTok

X

Books on Amazon

Send us a text

High-end boudoir photographer and empowerment coach Lindsay Hite (Show Your Spark, Boston) joins me to talk about why her studio experience is far more than photos—it’s a nervous-system-aware, hospitality-inspired container for women (and those who identify as women) to see themselves with new eyes. We get into body image, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, EFT/tapping, hypnosis, and how one day in the studio can become an anchor for lasting self-worth. I also share my own session with Lindsay—what terrified me, what surprised me, and how those images still remind me who I am. This is self-care sh*t in action.

Guest: Lindsay Hite, owner of Show Your Spark (Boston), high-end boudoir photographer, hypnotherapist, and certified life & success coach.
Find Lindsay:

• Instagram (Coaching): @lindseyhight
• Instagram (Studio): @show.your.spark
• Studio: showyourspark.com
  (We’ll link these directly in the episode page.)

What We Cover

• From weddings to “show your spark”: Lindsey’s path from luxury destination weddings to founding a studio centered on confidence, identity, and inner light.
• Why it’s true self-care: Curating a safe, trauma-aware, hospitality-inspired experience—music, mindset, makeup, and a whole-day arc—so the photos become anchors for how you want to feel.
• Seeing yourself—really: Kathy’s session story (fear, tears, the reveal) and how the images rewired her inner dialogue about her body and worth.
• Mindset + modalities: How Lindsey integrates subconscious tools—hypnosis, EFT/tapping, journaling, subliminals, meditation—before/after sessions and in coaching.
• Coaching ripple effect: Why Lindsey now mentors photographers to deliver empowerment-first experiences in their own way.
• Real talk on perfectionism & imposter syndrome: Using the tools while building, parenting, and handling life’s curveballs (hello, studio flood + norovirus week).
• Daily self-care sh*t: Candles, quick meditations, cards/affirmations, A Course in Miracles, early-morning solitude, and micro-rituals (yes, the five-minute shower reset).

Favorite Lines

• “The photographs are an anchor for the emotional state you’re in when they’re taken.” —Lindsey
• “She was in me all along. I finally saw her.” —Kathy
• “We go first. As coaches and creators, we embody the mindset we invite our clients into.” —Lindsey

Connect with Lindsay

• IG (Coaching): @lindsayhite
• IG (Studio): @show.your.spark
• Web: showyourspark.com
• 
  
• If this episode helped you “see yourself,” share it with one friend who needs that mirror today.

Support the show

If you’ve been struggling with emotional codependency or want to learn how to establish a healthy balance of independence and vulnerability in relationships, join Kathy on this transformative journey. Be sure to subscribe to My Self-Care Sht* and leave a review!

Follow Kathy:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

TikTok

X

Books on Amazon

Send us a text

In this heartfelt and raw conversation, Doug and I explore the journey of self-discovery, breaking free from codependency, and the power of truly knowing yourself. Doug shares his story of how he spent most of his life letting others define him, until he had a profound awakening that led him to embrace self-love and ownership of his identity. We dive into the importance of personality assessments like the MBTI, the Enneagram, and even human design in helping us understand ourselves at a deeper level. We also touch on relationships—how codependency shows up in partnerships, and how true self-care isn’t about avoiding conflict, but embracing it with honesty and compassion. Doug’s evolution from people-pleasing to owning his boundaries and trusting his intuition in business and life is a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of self-love.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Self-love begins with knowing yourself.
   Doug’s journey highlights that falling in love with yourself starts with understanding your personality, your strengths, and the way you process the world. The more you know, the more confidently you can make decisions aligned with who you truly are.
2. Codependency stems from letting others define you.
   Codependency often arises when we disconnect from our true selves and allow others' expectations to shape who we are. The path to healing begins with reclaiming your identity and trusting your own judgment.
3. True self-care involves tough conversations.
   True self-care isn’t always easy or comfortable. It’s about setting boundaries, engaging in difficult conversations, and honoring your needs, even when it means stepping into discomfort to protect your peace.

Connect with Doug Skoke on LinkedIn

Support the show

If you’ve been struggling with emotional codependency or want to learn how to establish a healthy balance of independence and vulnerability in relationships, join Kathy on this transformative journey. Be sure to subscribe to My Self-Care Sht* and leave a review!

Follow Kathy:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

TikTok

X

Books on Amazon