Masks Off: Inner Freedom For People-Pleasers and Perfectionists

The "Motherhood" Mask

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wow!!! In this episode Kim and Tia really take off their masks and show how they overparented in the past and lost their identities as a person. Weari...

It Takes Two to Tango

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Taking personal responsibility in relationships is so hard. Most of the time we just want to blame the other and point out what the other person is do...

Escaping On My Little Green Bike

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like you just need to run away and get away from life and the people in your life? This is a very common pattern for most people. Rat...

Just Hit the Easy Button

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel so overwhelmed with life and other people that you just want to “hit the easy button” and have everything be easy.  Do you b...

Get in the Game with Guest Megan Bendtzen

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are you ready to laugh? This was such a fun and yet, important conversation that Tia and Kim had with Megan. Megan is trying to bring more fun, play a...

It's Never One and Done

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do whenever people don’t agree with you? What do you do when you are faced with a situation that activates you and you can’t control t...

The Do Over

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How often have you said or done something to someone and instantly regretted saying or doing that thing?  If you have a conflict or an argument w...

Intentional Living with Dara Kurtz

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This conversation with guest speaker Dara Kurtz covered many topics including how to cultivate healthy relationships, dealing with grief and loss, as ...

The Shadow Warrior

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you use food, work, caretaking, alcohol or any other numbing activity to avoid your feelings and to avoid being vulnerable with another? ...

The "Avoidance" Mask

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that avoidance is a strategy for dealing with anxiety or worry? Have you ever noticed that you go into avoidance mode whenever you feel a...

Providing Possibility in Rethinking Schools with Guest Robert Astwood

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Astwood, our guest on this episode, has an amazing and infectious, inspiring energy. Robert has such a vision for rethinking the way we school ...

Connection Over Comparison

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim and Tia have a fun conversation about comparison.  They used Brene Brown’s newest book “Atlas of the Heart” as a spring...

The "Saboteur" Mask

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How many times have you told yourself that you were going to start eating healthier, start exercising, start organizing your house or reach out and me...

Pain Is Your Power, If You Allow It with Dinuka Ranasinghe

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Robin Arzon, a popular Peloton instructor, often states that pain is your power. This can be true and pain can be a powerful portal to healing and gro...

The Only Way Out Is In

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever wonder why an event or behavior can trigger one person and that same event or behavior has absolutely no impact on another? Do you find th...

The "Protector" Mask

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How easy is it for you to let others “see into” your heart.  Do you consider yourself to be guarded when it comes to allowing others to see y...

Compassion is the Glue with Andrea Gonzalez

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to know more about anxiety and mental well-being, Andrea Gonzalez is your person. She is a clinical psychologist who has so much wisdom. I...

Protect Your Peace

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We all have life situations going on and some of us handle them better than others. It can be hard and overwhelming to stay peaceful whenever we feel ...

The Golden Child Mask

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are you an overachiever, a perfectionist, or a people pleaser? If so, it is very probable that you were a “golden child” when you were young. As t...

Drop the Rope with Prachi Malhotra

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our latest guest, Prachi Malhotra quotes, “drop the rope or you will get rope burn.” What does this mean? According to Prachi, if we don’t learn...

My Way Or The Highway

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you consider yourself to be controlling and sometimes aggressive? If a person confronts you, do you feel challenged and must dominate? Do you need ...

Are You a Pretzel?

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever experienced a time or maybe it happens a lot where you allow another to completely unravel you? Maybe you have been in a situation where...

Getting Curious about Uncertainty with Sylvia Farbstein

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you able to be curious about the uncertainty of life? Or, are you the type of person who has to have everything planned out and be in control? Whe...

Are You Living From the Neck Up?

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you spend most of your time living in your head? How often do you pause and check in with your heart? Do you pay attention to your body? It is norm...

Yes You Can

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you the type of person that says “yes I can” or do you repeatedly say no I can’t? If you find yourself continually telling yourself that you...

Is Stress Your Superpower? with Christa Bevan

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you handle stress in your life? Does it overwhelm you or do you know how to regulate yourself? How did the role models in your life handle stre...

Grateful for the Reminders

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

So often when we are stuck in the muck of our feelings and or thoughts, we can’t see the gift in the lessons that are there. We want to avoid pain a...

Reframe Under Pressure

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you respond to external pressures in your life? Do you have a negative “gloom and doom” reaction to external pressures? Do you have a posit...

Feel Love, Be Love, Extend Love - Conscious Relationships with Carrie Jeroslow

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is a conscious relationship? Do you have any conscious relationships in your life? Most of us were probably raised in unconscious relationships. ...

Sitting on the Stairs

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

So many of us have experienced trauma as young children but we never thought of it as trauma. Usually when we think of trauma we think of some huge tr...

The Rebel Mask

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you wear the rebel mask? Do you remember being told as a child that you were a “difficult child” or a rebellious child?  Do you know peopl...

It Starts with Us - “A New Paradigm of Education” with Carrie Jeroslow & Jen Zash

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you have children in school or not, you will want to hear this incredible conversation with Carrie Jeroslow and Jen Zash. They came on our pod...

Tree Wisdom

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim and Tia talk about the difference between storms that caused us to become resilient as a way of surviving versus storms that helpe...

To Thy Own Self Be True

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find yourself trying to please others all the time? If so, how does that make you feel when you try to please someone else instead of being tru...

Badge of Busy-ness with Jenn Taylor

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This marks the 100th episode of Masks Off! We have utterly enjoyed recording this podcast and hope that you have enjoyed listening. We appreciate all ...

Ebb & Flow of Expectations

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever find yourself having an expectation of someone or something only to be disappointed when that expectation was not met. As the below quote ...

Peacemaker Mask: Part 2

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever avoid conflict with another just to keep the peace? In this episode Kim shares how she as a child avoided conflict in order to keep others...

Double Up with Self-Kindness with Tanya Otterstein-Liehs

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to love yourself?  Are you in the habit of criticizing yourself or are you good at giving yourself compliments and self approva...

Peacemaker Mask

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever put yourself in the middle of other peoples’ conflicts when it was not your business to do so? If so, did you ever wonder why you trie...

All or Nothing

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is such a profound quote by Rumi and one that can be so helpful for those that wear the perfectionist mask. In this episode Kim shares her challe...

Empowering GenZ with Eden Gold

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This amazing young woman, Eden Gold, opens up and is very vulnerable as she shares her story and now helps teens and young adults. She is determined t...

Struggling vs Suffering

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It is often said that pain in life is inevitable, but suffering is optional.  Do you even notice when you are suffering? Do you find yourself com...

Are You Feeding the Fire?

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is pressure serving you in your life or is it hindering your day-to-day well-being? Do you feel pressure to be perfect? Do you feel pressure to meet u...

Reinvent, Reclaim, and Reimagine with Debra Lee May

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like you have lost your voice and you just don’t feel like you are yourself? Do you ever feel like you have lost yourself and that ...

Mountain Tops

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How many times have you been in a rut or a difficult time in your life and felt like you would never see the light at the end of the tunnel? Do you ab...

Stepping into a New Dance

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Without even realizing it we are living out patterns or roles. These roles and patterns become our masks. We don’t consciously do this. We fall into...

Fireflies and Mudpies with Jen Zash

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How easy is it for you to play in your life? Do you cringe at the thought of playing? Or, do you think to yourself “I am too busy to play.” Whethe...

Riding with the Rip Tide

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine being caught in a rip tide. What is the first thing that you are told to do if you get caught in a rip tide? Do you flow against it or ride wi...

Healing Takes Time

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you find yourself in a difficult space and having a really hard time, is it easy or difficult for you to reach out and ask for support? Do you fe...

Triggers Are the Messengers with Guest Deb Blum

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us have developed coping strategies throughout our lives because we did not know how to deal with pain in a healthy and effective way. So many...

Permission to Be

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the previous episode, Kim and Tia talked about how we navigate the “storms” in our lives. Often times, there are lessons to learn from these st...

Surviving a Storm

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you respond when you feel that you are in the midst of a “storm”? Do you try and control everything around you or do you take one step at a...

The Relationship Mask with Guest Margot Zaher

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel that your relationships with others whether it be a boss, significant other, children, friends etc… are healthy? Do you show up as real ...

Brain Fog

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever find yourself in one of those head spaces where you feel like you are in a total fog? Do you feel like you are flying circles in an airpla...

Is Your Mind a Prison?

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like you are stuck in looping thoughts or a pattern or behaviour that never goes away? Are you stuck in depression, anxiety, or addic...

Take Your Hands Off the Wheel

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the hallmark symptoms of co-dependency is enmeshment and caretaking. The truth is that we are only responsible to take care of ourselves and th...

The Purpose of Pain with Guest Janet Philbin

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you try to avoid pain, you are not alone. We are wired to move away from pain and move toward pleasure. The issue is that as we move away from pain...

Walls or Bridges?

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find it easy or difficult to hold a boundary with others. Do you get so stuck in your position that you build a wall between you and the other ...

Embracing Contrast

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you in resistance to the “as is'' especially if that reality is painful? Do you move away from pain and continually seek out pleasure? Our minds...

Re-Align to Thrive with Style with Guest Diana Lockett

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is an amazing and deep conversation with Diana. She shares many insights and wisdom and one in particular is how and why as children we m...

Head vs. Heart

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you make decisions in your life, do you make them only from your head or only from your heart, or do you balance the two? Do you make impulsive d...

Dancing with Conflict

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What type of conflict avoider are you? Do you fight when you are in conflict with another and do you blame and deflect taking responsibility because y...

Courage Over Comfort

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you afraid of choosing courage over comfort?  Do you hold back from speaking up or setting a boundary because it is easier to be quiet and st...

Live Outside the Box with Guest Deborah Hanlon

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

So Excited!!!!! Our first guest episode is with Intuitive Coach Deborah Hanlon. In this episode we talk about roles and expectations that we place upo...

Is Your Heart Leading the Way?

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle to make decisions in your life? Do you make pros and cons lists when making a big life decision? Do you overthink things or do you ten...

Where Does Your Compass Lead You?

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim and Tia talk about their new online course, True North. One of the main intentions for this course is to teach how to take teachin...

The Art of Letting Go

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you find yourself trying to control another by saying the same thing over and over again? Or perhaps you ask prodding questions or get up...

Conscious Covid

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim shares more of her experience with having Covid and the lessons that she learned. While there were many moments of being in fear a...

Stuck in the Muck?

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel like you are perpetually stuck in the muck? Do you feel like a black cloud is always following you? Do you consistently resist life and fi...

Finding Your Own Peace

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find yourself looking outside of yourself to find peace and comfort? Do you wish and want others to make you feel better because you don’t kn...

It's an Inside Job

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim and Tia share the process of going inward and deconstructing very old patterns. Very often many of us seek outside validation to f...

Navigating the Waters

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim and Tia talk about the antidote when we feel that resistance to stepping into the arena. What can we do when we feel too fearful o...

Are You Camouflaging?

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At the start of season 2 Kim and Tia talk about the consequences of putting our masks back on or not fully removing them and playing roles. It can fee...

Looking Back at Your 2020 Yardstick

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What a year 2020 has been. Kim and Tia take a look back and reflect on all the growth and challenges that the year has brought them. As the quote belo...

Embracing the Valleys

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim and Tia discuss the importance of embracing our valleys or in other words embracing our pain or discomfort. Life will always have ...

Is Your Valley Becoming a Gorge?

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel like life is a constant struggle? Do you feel like you are in a perpetual state of feeling triggered and reactive to life’s events and o...

Are You in the Wilderness?

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the last episode Kim and Tia talked about being in the arena which means showing up and being vulnerable. In this episode they continue the convers...

Deer in the Headlights

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How comfortable are you with vulnerability? Do you find it hard to step into the arena and share your truest self with others or do you hide behind a ...

Here and Now

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you live with presence or do you continually find yourself worrying about the future? Are you able to show up and be yourself with people or do you...

Plant Your Apple Tree

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

So often in life we are attached to outcomes that we want and expect and when those outcomes don’t come to fruition, we can be left feeling angry, u...

Slowing the Free Fall

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the previous episode, Kim and Tia discussed that when we believe the thoughts and stories we tell ourselves, we create suffering for ourselves. Ess...

Pummeled by an Avalanche

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you allowing the thoughts and stories that you tell yourself to make you feel like you are being pummeled by an avalanche?  Are your fears, w...

Climbing Out Of Our Rabbit Hole

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for our FREE Balancing Your Backpack Course go to: https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack In this episode K...

You Can Run But You Cannot Hide

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for our FREE Balancing Your Backpack Course go to: https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack Check out our oth...

Dancing in the Rain

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 50!! Life does not have to be as difficult as we make it sometimes. Most times we are making our reality much more difficult than it needs to ...

Which Way Does the Wind Blow You?

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you notice that your thoughts are going back and forth in your mind all day long like a ping pong match? Do you constantly judge everything as good...

Walking with Fear and Uncertainty

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you find yourself trying to get rid of or ignoring your fears and anxieties? How often do you notice that you are trying to control peopl...

Is Uncertainty Stealing Your Joy?

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When we get stuck in the “what ifs” in life, we often get stuck in a spiral of fear. Then we get caught on the thought train and worry that if thi...

The Body Leads the Way

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the last episode Kim and Tia talked about giving ourselves permission to slow down and rest. In this episode they continue the conversation and tal...

Permission Slips

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

During these busy and hectic times do you feel a constant flow of overwhelm? Are you constantly under the gun? Do you put your oxygen mask on before a...

Coming Up For Air

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for our FREE Balancing Your Backpack Course go to: https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack Check out our oth...

Drowning In Your To-Do List?

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for our FREE Balancing Your Backpack Course go to: https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack Check out our oth...

Sharing Our Journey

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for the FREE Balancing Your Backpack Course go to https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack In this episode Ki...

Always a Work in Progress

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for the FREE Balancing Your Backpack course go to https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack Are you aware of y...

Stay In Your Lane

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for the FREE Balancing Your Backpack course go to https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack It is so typical f...

Big Announcement!!

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To sign up for the FREE Balancing Your Backpack course go to https://unlocking-authenticity.teachable.com/p/balancing-your-backpack In addition to ann...

Balancing Act

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you striving to have perfect balance in your life? Or, do you have no balance at all? Are you completely out of alignment and therefore, out of ba...

The Thought Train

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How often have you found yourself caught in a mental tailspin because of a situation that you thought was overwhelming? Have you ever noticed yourself...

Reclaiming Your Worth

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kim and Tia continue the conversation on worthiness. They discuss how difficult it can be to know our worth and value. It can be diffi...

Are You Hiding?

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel that your life is flat?  Do you feel dull or dimmed down? Another way of asking the question is do you feel like you are playing smal...