Épisodes

  • Back to the Basics, Baby

    Back to the Basics, Baby
    Sep 3 2025
    ✨ Episode Summary: Welcome to Season 2! In this warm and witty kickoff, your favorite stress therapist brings us back to what matters: stillness, consciousness, and the radical magic of not saying “I’m tired.” Through heartfelt stories (including a rainy river trip that turned into a core memory), this episode reminds us why meditation matters and how we can reclaim our peace—one breath at a time. It all leads to a gentle guided breath meditation to help you get grounded, get quiet, and just be. Whether you're new or returning, this episode is your loving nudge to start again—with humor, honesty, and heart. 🧘‍♀️ 3 Key Learning Points:
    • Tired is a choice—stop saying it! You create your reality with your words. Saying “I’m tired” only fuels the fatigue.
    • Complaining makes things worse. Every. Single. Time. Even in miserable moments, keeping humor and presence can transform the experience.
    • Meditation is not about nothing. It’s training your mind to focus on one thing—your breath, a mantra, or stillness—and taking custody of your consciousness.
    💫 Mentions & Shout-Outs:
    • 🛶 Rainy canoe trip with Andre – a core memory filled with laughter and no complaints.
    • 📿 "You create your reality" – inspired by Parmahansa Yogananda.
    • 🧠 Quote nod to Michael A. Singer – on the mind being separate from the self.
    • 📵 The Brick – a real gadget the host uses to remove distractions from her phone.
    • 💬 Classic quote reimagined: "All of man’s problems stem from his inability to sit quietly in a room alone for 15 minutes."
    • 🧘‍♂️ Guided Meditation Included – a back-to-basics breath-focused meditation with gentle grounding.
    • 📩 Special Love for Owen Flake – for producing the show with care and clarity!
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    29 min
  • Pickleball Energy for Your Soul: The Secret to True Motivation

    Pickleball Energy for Your Soul: The Secret to True Motivation
    Aug 19 2025
    🪷 Show Notes: Ever wonder why you just can't seem to get motivated — even for the stuff you actually want to do? In this soul-sparking episode, Cheri breaks down the true nature of motivation and why it's not what you think. Spoiler: it doesn't magically show up before the action... it comes after. From her early days working with people living with schizophrenia to her own personal spiral of stress and transformation, Cheri shares raw stories, real science, and hilarious truth bombs that will make you want to lace up your sneakers (or at least drink some water). We unpack the little-by-little mentality, the “Pickleball Principle,” and the magic of doing less so you can feel more. Plus, a peaceful guided meditation using the powerful mantra “Om” awaits at the end — perfect if you’re ready to start showing up for yourself with love, not pressure. ✨ 3 Key Takeaways:
    • Motivation follows action, not the other way around. If you're waiting to feel motivated before you start, you'll wait forever.
    • Do less, feel better. Start small and stop on a high note — your brain and habits will thank you.
    • Feel good first. When a behavior feels good, you’re far more likely to stick with it (hello, pickleball people!).
    🙌 Mentions & Shout-Outs:
    • 🧠 Volition vs. Motivation — insight from psychiatric work
    • 🧘‍♂️ Davidji – Cheri’s beloved meditation teacher & voice of “RPM: Rise, Pee, Meditate”
    • 🎾 Pickleball People – the ultimate metaphor for effortless motivation
    • 🐾 Cheri’s Retreats – beachy, mountainy, dog-friendly, magical (come along!)
    • 🎵 Sonic Yogi – musical support for the guided Om meditation
    • 🛠️ Cheri’s garage – a hot mess, but metaphor gold
    • 💧 Hydration struggles & spousal water-bragging rights 😂
    • 🚘 Shout-out to her “CHEROKEE” license plate — and the evolving school of “Cheri Flake School”
    🧘‍♀️ Guided Meditation Included: Yes! A short, centering mantra-based meditation using “Om” to bring you back to center and energize your mind. Produced & edited with heart by 🎧 Owen Flake.
    Hosted by Cheri Flake, The Stress Therapist.
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    28 min
  • No One Is Coming to Save You....And that's GOOD News!

    No One Is Coming to Save You....And that's GOOD News!
    Jul 30 2025
    ✨ Episode Summary: In this fiercely empowering episode, Cheri Flake dives deep into the illusion of control and the ultimate truth: you are the master of your life. Through reflections on Lucinda Williams' haunting lyrics and personal stories from her therapy practice, Cheri explores how we give our power away—and how to take it back. She challenges us to stop waiting for permission, resolution, or the perfect moment, and instead embrace radical responsibility for our healing and joy. The episode wraps with a powerful guided chakra meditation to help you turn inward and reconnect with your innate light. 🧠 Three Key Learning Points:
    • 🌪️ Control is an Inside Job: Real empowerment begins the moment you take 100% responsibility for your life—no exceptions, no blame.
    • 💡 Joy Isn’t Lost, It’s Buried: Stop searching “out there”—happiness lives within, waiting to be uncovered through stillness and silence.
    • 🔥 Unresolved Isn’t Always Unfinished: What you can’t fix might be sacred. Acceptance can be the most divine protection of all.
    📣 Mentions & Shout-Outs:
    • 🎸 Lucinda Williams – Her song “Joy” is a soulful metaphor for the search we all do outside of ourselves.
    • 📚 Wayne Dyer – His teachings on radical responsibility helped shape this episode’s core message.
    • 🧘‍♀️ Silent Retreats – Cheri shares insights from her mountain retreats and upcoming offerings.
    • 📍 Georgia Retreats – 🍂 September 2025 in the Blue Ridge Mountains & 🏖️ Jekyll Island retreats: meditation, yoga, and transformation in stunning locations.
    • 💌 Join the mailing list at ilovetherapy.com so you don’t miss a thing!
    • 📲 Instagram: @thestresstherapist
    • 🐦 Twitter/X: @estresstherapy
    🎧 Production Credit: Big love and thanks to 🎧 Owen Flake for producing and editing this episode with care and clarity.
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    29 min
  • Manifesting Without the Ick

    Manifesting Without the Ick
    Jul 16 2025
    🌀 Episode Summary: In this delightfully candid and mind-opening episode, Cheri Flake (a.k.a. your friendly neighborhood Stress Therapist) dives into the often-cringey concept of manifestation—but from a place of authenticity, clarity, and spiritual alignment. With a touch of skepticism and a whole lot of soul, Cheri shares real-life stories about manifesting the impossible: from her dream house (hello, Zillow magic and Ganesh chants!) to her new car (cue divine dealership intervention). The episode wraps with a heart-centered “Peace In, Peace Out” meditation that helps you become a magnet for the calm and clarity you're seeking. 🧘‍♀️✨ 🔑 Three Key Learning Points:
    • Specificity is Power: Get crystal clear on exactly what you want—not what you “should” want. Manifestation only works when you're aligned with your true desires.
    • Feel It to Believe It: Emotions fuel manifestation. Pair your intentions with genuine, heightened feelings to convince your brain (and the universe) that it matters.
    • Divine Timing Loves a Listener: You’ve got to show up, pay attention, and be open to nudges, signs, and sacred coincidences—even if they arrive disguised as a grocery cart exchange.
    💫 Mention & Shout-Out Section:
    • 📚 The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer – Sheri says, “Don’t read the back. Just read the book. Trust me.”
    • 🧘‍♂️ Paramahansa Yogananda – On how money can be sacred and surrender is strength.
    • 🧠 Wayne Dyer – His advice on focusing your thoughts with emotion and intention.
    • 🎶 Cheri's new band! (Yup, she’s singing and her heart is wide open.)
    • 🏡 Andrew “Gilby” Gilbert – Rock star real estate agent in Atlanta (Keller Williams).
    • 🐘 Ganesh – Remover of obstacles, featured in Sheri and Violet’s adorable manifesting chant.
    • 🚗 Kia Sorento SX Prestige Plug-In Hybrid – Her new dream car (times three!).
    • 🔮 Guided Meditation: Peace In, Peace Out – A gentle, grounding practice to help you receive and radiate peace.
    🎙️ Credits: Produced & edited with love and skill by Owen Flake 💻🎧 Want more magic like this?
    👉 Follow @stresstherapist on Instagram
    👉 Follow @stresstherapy on Twitter
    💌 Visit ilovetherapy.com to join Cheri's mailing list, book retreats, or (if you're in Georgia) schedule a therapy session. Until next season…
    You got this. 💖
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    28 min
  • Stop Ghosting Yourself!

    Stop Ghosting Yourself!
    Jul 2 2025
    📝 Episode Summary: In this heartfelt episode, Cheri unpacks the sneaky habit of putting everyone else first—even strangers—and what it really means when we constantly flake on ourselves. She calls it Southern Hospitality Syndrome: a charming but toxic blend of kindness and chronic self-abandonment. With her signature warmth and wit, Cheri shares personal stories, including a hilarious tale of 20 years of polite miscommunication, and offers real-world tips on how to finally treat yourself like someone you actually care about. Stick around for a guided chakra meditation focused on the heart, throat, and third eye to help you align with self-love and truth. 🔑 Three Key Learning Points:
    • Self-Abandonment Looks Polite: Being ultra-kind to others while bailing on your own needs is still abandonment—just with a smile.
    • Calendar It Like You Mean It: Treat personal commitments like appointments with someone important (spoiler: that’s you).
    • Confidence = Equality: True confidence isn’t about being better—it's knowing you're just as valuable as anyone else at the table.
    📣 Mentions & Shout-Outs:
    • 🎵 “Bless Your Heart” by Megan Moroney – for a little Southern passive-aggression education
    • 🏃‍♀️ Peachtree Road Race – Cheri’s one and only running moment (cheers included)
    • 🧘‍♀️ Vista Yoga in Atlanta – Cheri teaches there on Thursday nights
    • 🌐 Website: ilovetherapy.com – retreats, classes & all the good stuff
    • 📧 Join the email list for stress-free updates & surprises
    • 🙌 Producer Credit: Big thanks to Owen Flake, the silent hero behind the scenes!
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    29 min
  • What Do You Want (Your Desires Aren't Going Anywhere)

    What Do You Want (Your Desires Aren't Going Anywhere)
    Jun 18 2025
    ✨ Episode Summary: In this soulful and spirited episode, Cheri explores the powerful pull of desire—how our deepest wants keep whispering to us, no matter how long we've ignored them. Through candid storytelling, humor, and a heartfelt guided meditation, she helps you reconnect with your inner truth and reminds you that joy is a spiritual directive. Whether it’s a creative spark, a childhood dream, or a mysterious calling, your desires aren’t random—they’re sacred. Plus, there’s a writing prompt to help you get clear and real about what you truly want. 📌 Three Key Learning Points:
    • Desires Don’t Expire: Longings that come from your heart will keep nudging you until you pay attention—and that’s a good thing.
    • Flip the Script with “Not This”: Clarity often starts with defining what you don’t want. Let that contrast guide you to truth.
    • Ditch the “How” Trap: You don’t need to figure out the logistics—your job is to dream clearly. Let the universe handle the delivery.
    💫 Mentions & Shout-Outs:
    • 🧘‍♀️ Meditation by Davidji – Guided heart-centered journey into your desires.
    • 🐴 Equine Therapy Story – A powerful reminder that “I don’t know how” is not a reason to quit.
    • ✍️ Writing Prompt – “What do I truly desire?” (Don’t overthink—just write.)
    • 🌄 Retreats in Georgia – Meditation + yoga in dreamy mountain settings: Retreat Info
    • 💌 Join Cheri’s Mailing List – Sign up here so you never miss a retreat, episode, or soulful tip.
    • 📲 Follow Cheri Online – @thestresstherapist on Instagram | @stresstherapy on Twitter
    • 🌟 Rate & Review the Show – It helps so much. Thank you for spreading the calm!
    🎛️ Episode Production: Produced and edited by Owen—a creative force behind the scenes, helping shape the energy and sound of each episode with care and clarity. 🎧✨
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    29 min
  • Classic Replay! Meditation- -Where to Start

    Classic Replay! Meditation- -Where to Start
    Jun 11 2025
    🪷 Episode Summary: In this classic replay, Cheri Flake brings us back to basics with heartfelt humor and soulful honesty. Through personal stories, down-to-earth wisdom, and a warm shout-out to Louise Hay and Davidji, Cheri shares how to truly begin a daily meditation practice—without overcomplicating it. Whether you're a binge meditator, a meditation dropout, or totally new to the cushion, this episode is your permission slip to just start—three minutes at a time. Bonus: includes a calming breathwork-based meditation to kickstart your practice with presence and grace. ✨ Three Key Learning Points:
    • Three Minutes > Zero Minutes: Starting small, even just three minutes a day, beats lofty goals you never stick to. Build the habit, not the hype.
    • RPM = Rise, Pee, Meditate: This simple formula helps anchor your practice before the world (or your phone) steals your focus. Mornings work best—even for night owls.
    • Feel Good to Change: You can't shame yourself into transformation. Real change starts with compassion and showing up, not should-ing yourself into guilt.
    💌 Mentions & Shout-Outs:
    • 📖 Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki – Back-to-basics spiritual inspiration.
    • 🎉 You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay – The queen of affirmations and thought power.
    • 🌬️ 16 Seconds to Bliss by Davidji – Breath practice featured in the episode.
    • 🎙️ The Skeptic Metaphysicians – Podcast Cheri recently guested on. Woo meets wonder.
    • 🧠 Quote Drop: “Your personal reality creates your personality” — Joe Dispenza.
    • 🎯 Accountability Tip: Text a friend “RPM” every morning to build the habit together!
    • 💻 Cheri’s site: ilovetherapy.com – For retreats, consults, and sweet stress therapy mailers.
    Produced and edited by Owen Flake | Audio production, editing, and creative direction 🎛️🎚️🎧
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    29 min
  • Think Like the You You’re Becoming

    Think Like the You You’re Becoming
    Jun 3 2025
    In this heartfelt episode, Cheri Flake dives into one of the most transformative (and tricky!) mindset shifts of all: thinking like the version of you that you want to become. With wit, warmth, and wisdom from decades of therapy work, she unpacks why we’re not our thoughts—and how to separate from them using meditation, mindfulness, and sneaky brain hacks. This episode includes a powerful guided mantra meditation using Ham Sa (“I am That”), and even features an original song, “Joy,” by her band 13 Stories, written 18 years ago with this very message in mind. ✨ 🌟 Key Learning Points:
    • You are not your thoughts—you're the one noticing them. Meditation helps you see that thoughts are just options, not truths.
    • Convince your toddler brain by using affirmations with emotion and storytelling to make your beliefs feel real and sticky.
    • Flip the 'what ifs' to serve you. Instead of catastrophizing, play out best-case scenarios with emotional clarity.
    📣 Mentions & Shout-Outs:
    • 💻 Byron Katie’s “The Work” — Mind-shifting reframing tools.
    • 📖 Bhagavad Gita translated by Stephen Mitchell — A poetic and soulful sacred text.
    • 🎶 “Joy” by 13 Stories — Sheri’s song featured by Wayne Dyer on Hay House Radio.
    • 🎤 Wayne Dyer’s Inspiration Show on Hay House — For the spiritual spark plug vibe.
    • 🧠 Tip: Label your thoughts (“future,” “worry,” “planning”) to make them easier to release.
    • 🦋 Butterfly "what-ifs" — A sweet metaphor for gently redirecting anxious or repetitive thoughts.
    • 📧 Sheri wants to hear from you! Email her how you're taking control of your thoughts.
    🎧 Guided Meditation Included:
    Yes! A beautiful mantra-based meditation using Ham Sa (“I am That”) to help you gently return to center and reclaim your narrative. 💫 Final Thought:
    You’re allowed to change your thoughts. And when you do, your whole life shifts with them.
    Produced and edited by Owen Flake | Audio production, editing, and creative direction 🎛️🎚️🎧
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    28 min