A quick update to tell you I'm taking a little break from episodes! I will likely be back in some amount of weeks :) xo

** this break has gone on much longer than intended & isn't ending anytime soon!!

Jordan and I talk about many things under the sun, such as going to bed and waking up with the sun, the comment our appliance installer made about our handiness and what we are doing now, Jordan chopping wood and Demetra planting the garden, Jordan’s new program, Jordan’s dreams, the cute things about our island, what we had to let go of in getting married, and much much more

In this episode Jess and I talk about our past experiences with men following us home, cat-calling, and being predatory, and what to do in these situations. We discuss verbal boundary setting, how to tell someone you’re not interested in communicating with them, what signs to look for when someone might be dangerous, and the various ways a situation can escalate. We also talk about our own experiences with self-defense training as women, different types of martial arts, and how important it can be to have the knowing that you can physically protect yourself. We also both love men and share the perspective that having had negative experiences with some men does not extrapolate to men in general, and we talk about shifting this story, our appreciation for men, and the protectiveness of men around us.

Jess's linktree: ways to work with her, free offerings, etc

Jess's Facebook (where she writes most of her content)

Jess Mather, Cpt, Lpta, Sfg, FRCms, Fms, is a strength and rehab professional who helps others relieve symptoms and build a strong, healthy body with sustainable, safe, and proven strategies. With over 13 years of experience supporting thousands of individuals from 9 to over 99, she has repeatedly witnessed the body's ability to strengthen and heal regardless of circumstance. Jess has spent the last 8+ years online helping clients in over a dozen countries through private coaching, courses and group programs. Jess is also a board-accredited educational provider in multiple states through both the Physical and Occupational Therapy Boards and the founder of the Chronic Pain & Trauma Curriculum to teach other health providers how to work with chronic pain through a trauma-informed lens. She blends her background in physical therapy, trauma healing, and strength training to create a unique experience for each one of her clients and students.

Other links:

Demetra's Instagram

Who Demetra did the ASST training through: Raw Power Self Defense (LA based)

In this episode (and about 2 years into our marriage), Jordan and I discuss what it was like for us to get engaged. Jordan talks about having anxiety and questioning everything, I talk about how I handled him feeling that way, and we both talk about the many different things our minds did to try to protect us. We especially focus on the societal narrative for how you "should" be feeling during this time, versus the reality of how most people actually feel! Engagement anxiety is a very real thing, and it's not a "condition" as much as it is just very normal. If we don't work through these feelings during our engagement, it's likely they'll surface in the first year of marriage. These life events are a big deal, and we're here to talk you through it!

Jordan's article: Engagement Anxiety: Why am I more afraid than happy?

Direct, live support from Jordan Gray: The Circle

In this episode it's my turn to ask Jordan questions that he wasn't told ahead of time! Topics range from what made him want to marry me, to his suicide attempt at 15 and becoming a father in the future, & more. This is a companion episode to the previous one, where Jordan asks me questions.

In this episode Jordan interviews me, asking me 5 deep questions about life that he did not tell me ahead of time. This is a very intimate episode full of tears & laughter :) topics include what I miss about the beginning of us dating, the biggest thing I've learned about sexual energy, what I want our future children to know, & more. Stay tuned for next episode where we do the reverse, with different secret questions!

Jordan & I talk about our choice to live on a little island in a 120-year-old house, what we love about it and what we dislike, the many factors that go into choosing where to live, the underbelly of fantasies of ways of living, & how there are always going to be parts you don’t like of things you want in life.

Jordan & Demetra hang out and talk about many different things including: Jordan’s list of his favorite funny things Demetra has ever said, how we’re sick of the polarity world and how fragile people’s polarity seems to be, changing with your partner, beauty culture and hair, botox, nails, & makeup, and our journeys with coffee.