KPHRED Work - Life Balance Radio

What if the earliest moments of your life—before you even had words—shaped the way you love and trust decades later? In this powerful episode of *Roots and Branches Adoption Stories*, host Janet Munro dives deep into the hidden traumas of adoption with Julie Matye, an adoptee and trauma-informed coach. Julie's personal journey reveals how the shock of discovering her adoption at eight years old ignited a lifelong quest for identity and belonging.

Together, they explore the profound impacts of separation from birth mothers, the complexities of attachment, and the often-unseen scars that linger in our bodies. You'll discover how adoption is not merely a legal process but a deeply emotional experience that can leave lasting effects on an individual's psyche.

Julie shares her insights on critical topics, including:
- The importance of early conversations about adoption and identity
- How secrecy can amplify trauma for adoptees
- Practical strategies for adoptive parents to support their children
- The role of societal perceptions in shaping adoptees' experiences
- The necessity of understanding both emotional and physical impacts of separation

This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in the adoption journey—whether you're an adoptee, adoptive parent, or simply curious about the nuances of identity and belonging. Failing to address these issues can lead to a lifetime of unanswered questions and emotional distress.

Join us for an enlightening conversation that not only sheds light on the challenges faced by adoptees but also provides hope and healing. Tune in to understand why knowing your story matters, and how it can transform lives. Perfect for anyone looking to foster understanding and compassion in the adoption community.

Jim Pehkonen, Dr. Natan Verkhovsky
Out On the Skinny Branches
In this episode of Out on the Skinny Branches, Jim Pehkonen sits down with Dr. Natan Verkhovsky to explore the power of men’s groups and what can happen when men have a place to show up without titles, judgment, or the need to perform. They talk about brotherhood, vulnerability, accountability, and the value of being surrounded by men who are willing to listen, ask meaningful questions, and support one another through both challenges and growth.

The conversation dives into what makes groups like The Freedom Forge different: men are not there because something is necessarily “wrong,” but because they want to keep growing. Jim and Natan discuss the value of reflection, perspective, and allowing the right question to stay with you long enough for your own answer to emerge. It is a conversation about connection, progress, accountability, and the surprising weight that can lift when a man realizes he does not have to carry everything alone.

To join the Freedom Forge:
A men's group on Thursday evening.
7:50 pm ET, 6:50 pm CT, 5:50 MT, 4:50 PT

Google form to register:
https://forms.gle/2d5ntUp7t3GkKYZk6

Jim Pehkonen
Out On the Skinny Branches
In this episode of Out on the Skinny Branches, Jim Pehkonen sits down with Curtis, the founder of a long-running men’s group in Park City, Utah, to explore what really happens when men gather in a confidential, judgment-free circle. Curtis shares how the group began, why healthy masculine connection matters, and how practices like listening, breathwork, meditation, and honest conversation can create a space where men feel safe enough to speak about relationships, work, childhood wounds, and the things they may have carried silently for years.

Jim and Curtis dive into the deeper value of brotherhood: being heard without being fixed, receiving thoughtful questions instead of unsolicited advice, and experiencing the relief that can come from finally bringing difficult things into the light. They also talk about confidentiality, vulnerability, accountability, and the unexpected gift of simply learning to listen better. For any man who has wondered what a men’s group is really like, this conversation offers a grounded look at why sitting in circle with other men can become such a powerful part of healing, growth, and connection.

Would you like to join an online mens group:
Freedom Forge … a men's group on Thursday evening.
7:50 pm ET, 6:50 pm CT, 5:50 MT, 4:50 PT

Google form to register:
https://forms.gle/2d5ntUp7t3GkKYZk6

Jim Pehkonen, Desi Bolin
Out On the Skinny Branches
What if the quality of your relationships is being shaped by patterns you do not even realize you are carrying? In this episode of Out on the Skinny Branches, Jim Pehkonen and Desi Bolin open the door to the Conscious Connection Collective, a co-ed experience created for people who want deeper, healthier, more authentic connection. Together, they explore how old beliefs, protective habits, unspoken needs, and automatic reactions can quietly affect the way we relate to ourselves and to the people who matter most. The journey begins within, because the relationship you have with yourself influences every other relationship you create.

This conversation is also an invitation to do relationships differently. Jim and Desi share how the Collective helps people move from awareness into real-life practice through relationship, integration, completion, creation, inspiration, and nurturing growth. This is not about becoming perfect or “fixing” yourself. It is about becoming more conscious, more honest, more present, and more intentional so you can stop repeating old patterns and begin creating relationships that feel more aligned, connected, and real. If you are ready to understand yourself more deeply and create a different experience in your relationships and your life, this episode is a powerful place to begin.

Check out the website at: www.ConsciousConnectionCollective.com

Michele Rempel, Karen McNamara - California Pulse

What does it take to bring a historic building back to life?

On this episode of The California Pulse, Michele Rempel talks with Karen McNamara about the effort to restore the Atascadero Printery. Once a major printing operation, the building was damaged in the 2003 earthquake and sat neglected for years. Karen and a small group of supporters are working to turn it into a community space for arts, education, performances, and gatherings.

Karen shares the personal story behind her commitment to the project, the progress made so far, and her hopes for what the Printery can become for Atascadero.

Learn more about the project or find out how to help: https://atascaderoprintery.org