Ready to upgrade your approach to challenging conversations? In this episode of The Grit Show, Shawna Rodrigues uncovers the surprising science behind mirror neurons—those “copycat” brain cells at the root of empathy, communication, and even emotional contagion. Shawna shares a fascinating story from a groundbreaking 1992 study in Parma, Italy, showcasing how a monkey’s brain responded to a researcher eating ice cream, changing everything we know about human connection.

Curious why your mood sets the tone in any interaction, or why tension can seem contagious in a room? Discover how mastering your own emotional state can transform tricky discussions, both at work and at home. With real-life examples and practical tips, Shawna guides you to harness this brain science to create smoother, more empathetic conversations.

Tune in to start using your “superpower” for deeper, more meaningful connections!

Shawna Rodrigues has been hosting the The Grit Show, since 2022 and has loved every minute of it. She has an award winning career in the government and non-profit industry, an LCSW, and a passion for making a impact.

She is currently facing her biggest plot twist yet—a breast cancer diagnosis in early 2025—this year is about her fight, victory, and healing. Join her warrior community Being Honest and check out the podcast episode where she shares more.

Connect with her journey:

Instagram @Shawna.Rodrigues | Everything else: https://linktr.ee/37by27

Follow us on Instagram: @The.Grit.Show or Shawna @ShawnaPodcasts

Grab your copy of our Self-Care Coloring Pages & as a bonus, you’ll get weekly email reminders when episodes come out!

https://ColoringPages.TheGritShow.com

You can also purchase the full-size gift worthy Color of Grit Adult Coloring Book here bit.ly/TGSMermaid

Really love us and want to show it??

Give us a review on your favorite platform and share this (or any) episode with a friend.

Word of mouth builds podcasts - we appreciate your support!!

Ever cross everything off your to-do list, only to feel your stress stubbornly hanging around? As part of our Summer of Encores series, The Grit Show brings back a fan-favorite with guest Matt McKinnon for a heartfelt encore focused on demystifying the “stress cycle.”

Revisit this powerful episode with host Shawna Rodrigues and Matt as they unpack surprising insights from the popular book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. They explore why simply solving problems doesn’t always clear stress from your mind and body—and share personal stories that reveal what really helps us complete the stress cycle. Expect smart, actionable tips involving laughter, movement, creativity, and even 20-second hugs! Whether you're navigating burnout, managing daily anxiety, or just looking for more effective self-care strategies—this episode is for you.

If you’d like to keep learning and explore into actionable solutions, blissful rest, and how to navigate modern stressors, don’t miss the follow-up episode: Actionable Solutions, Blissful Rest & Modern Stressors – How to Escape Burnout: Part 2 (Ep. 58).

Tune in for a fresh perspective on how to truly thrive, not just survive.

Our guest Matt McKinnon has a master's degree in social work with over 15 years of experience in home visiting. His most recent work supported individuals and families navigating the end of life through his work in hospice. Matt is passionate about helping individuals navigate difficult circumstances and supporting the journey towards well-being. Through his work and personal experiences, Matt brings a unique perspective to discussions on burnout, stress management, and self-care. With a compassionate and empathetic approach, he is someone learning alongside us, and providing the knowledge he's gained to positively impact others. Matt's expertise in social work combined with his commitment to improving mental health makes him a valuable voice in conversations surrounding burnout, stress, and emotional well-being.

Shawna Rodrigues has been hosting the The Grit Show, since 2022 and has loved every minute of it. She has an award winning career in the government and non-profit industry, an LCSW, and a passion for making a impact.

She is currently facing her biggest plot twist yet—a breast cancer diagnosis in early 2025—this year is about her fight, victory, and healing. Join her warrior community Being Honest and check out the podcast episode where she shares more.

Connect with her journey:

Instagram @Shawna.Rodrigues | Everything else: https://linktr.ee/37by27

Follow us on Instagram: @The.Grit.Show or Shawna @ShawnaPodcasts

Grab your copy of our Self-Care Coloring Pages & as a bonus, you’ll get weekly email reminders when episodes come out!

https://ColoringPages.TheGritShow.com

You can also purchase the full-size gift worthy Color of Grit Adult Coloring Book here

Ready to transform how you approach life’s challenges? On this special anniversary episode of The Grit Show, Robie Lawrence steps behind the mic to share the timeless lessons he’s learned from ancient Taoist wisdom, filtered through the gentle wit of Winnie the Pooh. Discover why chasing success and grinding expectations led to more stress than satisfaction, and how shifting focus toward the natural flow of life brought surprising peace and authentic joy. From lessons on the golf course to unexpected twists in his career path, Robie unpacks concepts like “Wu Wei” and the power of the “uncarved block”—and why letting go of rigid plans may be exactly what you need.

Curious how existential dread, hustle culture, and Taoism connect? Tune in for profound insights and practical inspiration that just might change your perspective on achieving happiness, well-being, and fulfillment.

Robie Lawrence is the guest host for this special anniversary episode of The Grit Show. A Brown University alumnus who wrestled internationally in his youth, Robie's life journey took him from high-achieving student and athlete to discovering transformative wisdom through "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff during college. This introduction to Taoist principles of natural flow and childlike openness helped him move from stress and existential dread to peaceful acceptance and joy. Although still a newlywed, he is married to the girl of his dreams—someone he first kissed when he was 16. As Shawna Rodrigues' husband, Robie steps behind the mic to celebrate the milestones of both the podcast and their partnership, offering listeners gentle wisdom and inspiration for approaching life's challenges with greater ease and authenticity.

If something about this episode resonated with you and you want to reach out to Robie, send a message to Shawna on Instagram (@ShawnaPodcasts)– she promises to get it to him!

Follow us on Instagram: @The.Grit.Show or Shawna @ShawnaPodcasts

Grab your copy of our Self-Care Coloring Pages & as a bonus, you’ll get weekly email reminders when episodes come out!

https://ColoringPages.TheGritShow.com

You can also purchase the full-size gift worthy Color of Grit Adult Coloring Book here bit.ly/TGSMermaid

Really love us and want to show it??

Give us a review on your favorite platform and share this (or any) episode with a friend.

Word of mouth builds podcasts - we appreciate your support!!

Are you standing at a crossroads, feeling uncertain about what’s next? As part of our Summer of Encores series, this powerful episode of The Grit Show brings back a conversation with Lauren St. George—a change facilitator who has helped countless people navigate life’s messiest transitions with intention and creativity. Shawna Rodrigues and Lauren chat about why uncertainty is often our biggest opportunity for personal growth, and how embracing the fear of change can lead you to your next exciting chapter. You’ll hear about innovative tools, like the Five Whys, and group coaching secrets for breaking free from feeling stuck.

Whether you’re considering a career shift, retirement, or just searching for renewed purpose, this encore conversation delivers empowering strategies for moving from “lost” to “purposeful.” Listen in to discover how creativity, supportive communities, and simple mindset shifts can be your best allies in times of transition.

Lauren St George is a creativity expert and change facilitator. She helps companies and individuals navigate change, overcome big hairy challenges, and imagine bold solutions. Lauren is the founder of What's Next, a one-of-a-kind, highly engaging program that helps people figure out their best next chapter. Often this need for change is triggered by a major life event (divorce, grief, empty nester, retirement) or feeling stuck and unsure on what to do next (career, purpose, happiness). At the heart of it, we are all looking to live a more fulfilling life and Lauren has helped hundreds of people find theirs.

Connect with Lauren:

Website: www.answerwhatsnext.com

Instagram: @answerwhatsnext

Shawna Rodrigues has been hosting the The Grit Show, since 2022 and has loved every minute of it. She has an award winning career in the government and non-profit industry, an LCSW, and a passion for making a impact.

She is currently facing her biggest plot twist yet—a breast cancer diagnosis in early 2025—this year is about her fight, victory, and healing. Join her warrior community Being Honest and check out the podcast episode where she shares more.

Connect with her journey:

Instagram @Shawna.Rodrigues | Everything else: https://linktr.ee/37by27

Follow us on Instagram: @The.Grit.Show or Shawna @ShawnaPodcasts

Grab your copy of our Self-Care Coloring Pages & as a bonus, you’ll get weekly email reminders when episodes come out!

https://ColoringPages.TheGritShow.com

You can also purchase the full-size gift worthy Color of Grit Adult Coloring Book here bit.ly/TGSMermaid

Really love us and want to show it??

Give us a review on your favorite platform and share this (or any) episode with a friend.

Word of mouth builds podcasts - we appreciate your...

Ever wonder why some people show up for you in life’s toughest moments—and why it often isn’t who you expect? In this heartfelt episode of The Grit Show, host Shawna Rodrigues shares eye-opening lessons from her own healing journey after surgery. She reveals how authentic support, community, and generosity come from the most unexpected sources, and offers a refreshing perspective on letting go of personal expectations. If you’re looking to explore themes of resilience, vulnerability, and the power of genuine human connection, this conversation provides both inspiration and practical reflection.

Tune in for stories of gratitude, surprising acts of kindness, and Shawna’s take on how being open to receive can change everything—whether you’re recovering, seeking support, or looking to be a bright spot in someone else’s life.

If you are interested in supporting Shawna during the final stretches of her healing journey you can learn more here: https://bit.ly/SupportSR - you can also add those pictures she mentioned to her posts on Facebook or Instagram – follow the links below!

Shawna Rodrigues has been hosting the The Grit Show, since 2022 and has loved every minute of it. She has an award winning career in the government and non-profit industry, an LCSW, and a passion for making a impact.

She is currently facing her biggest plot twist yet—a breast cancer diagnosis in early 2025—this year is about her fight, victory, and healing. Join her warrior community Being Honest and check out the podcast episode where she shares more.

Connect with her journey:

Instagram @Shawna.Rodrigues | Everything else: https://linktr.ee/37by27

Follow us on Instagram: @The.Grit.Show or Shawna @ShawnaPodcasts

Grab your copy of our Self-Care Coloring Pages & as a bonus, you’ll get weekly email reminders when episodes come out!

https://ColoringPages.TheGritShow.com

You can also purchase the full-size gift worthy Color of Grit Adult Coloring Book here bit.ly/TGSMermaid

Really love us and want to show it??

Give us a review on your favorite platform and share this (or any) episode with a friend.

Word of mouth builds podcasts - we appreciate your support!!

This episode of The Grit Show is part of our Summer of Encores series—bringing back some of our most impactful and talked-about conversations.

Curious about why your diet never seems to stick, no matter how hard you try? This eye-opening conversation with New York Times bestselling author and intermittent fasting expert Gin Stephens will shift your perspective. Host Shawna Rodrigues explores how intermittent fasting challenges traditional diet culture and exposes the myths behind “frequent snacking” and metabolism. Gin shares the science of insulin, hunger hormones, and a powerful process called autophagy (think: your body’s natural cleaning crew). You’ll hear personal stories, unexpected truths about exercise and weight loss, and why fasting isn’t about starving yourself—it’s about giving your body what it needs to thrive.

Ready for real food freedom, sustainable energy, and health benefits that last? Tune in and see why so many are rethinking their approach to eating—and feeling better than ever!

Gin Stephens is the author of The NY Times and USA Today bestseller Fast. Feast. Repeat. (2020). She also wrote 28-Day Fast Start Day-By-Day (2023) and Delay, Don’t Deny: Living an Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle (2016, 2024), both Amazon #1 best sellers in the weight loss category, as well as Clean(ish): Eat (Mostly) Clean, Live (Mainly) Clean, and Unlock Your Body's Natural Ability to Self-Clean (2022), another Amazon #1 bestseller in several categories. Gin has lived the intermittent fasting lifestyle since 2014, losing over 80 pounds. She is the host of 2 top-ranked podcasts: Intermittent Fasting Stories and the Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting for Life podcast (w/cohost Sheri Bullock).

Connect with Gin

Website: ginstephens.com

Books: www.ginstephens.com/get-the-books.html

You can join her private community by going to ginstephens.com/community

Shawna Rodrigues has been hosting the The Grit Show, since 2022 and has loved every minute of it. She has an award winning career in the government and non-profit industry, an LCSW, and a passion for making a impact.

She is currently facing her biggest plot twist yet—a breast cancer diagnosis in early 2025—this year is about her fight, victory, and healing. Join her warrior community Being Honest and check out the podcast episode where she shares more.

Connect with her journey:

Instagram @Shawna.Rodrigues | Everything else: https://linktr.ee/37by27

Follow us on Instagram: @The.Grit.Show or Shawna @ShawnaPodcasts

Grab your copy of our Self-Care Coloring Pages & as a bonus, you’ll get weekly email reminders when episodes come out!

As part of our Summer of Encores—revisiting standout episodes while host Shawna Rodrigues focuses on her breast cancer journey—we’re bringing back this powerful and fan-favorite conversation from January 2023.

In this re-release episode of The Grit Show, psychotherapist Will Halpin joins Shawna to unpack the transformative approach of Internal Family Systems (IFS). What if your mind isn’t a battlefield, but an orchestra—filled with anxious flutes, perfectionist violins, and maybe even a snarky drummer or two?

Together, they explore how understanding your “internal parts” can lead to greater self-awareness, emotional healing, and real change. Curious about concepts like protectors, exiles, or the 8 C’s of healing? You’ll hear relatable metaphors, real-life insights into anxiety and people-pleasing, and accessible mental health strategies you can start using right away.

Whether this is your first listen or a meaningful return visit, this encore episode is packed with practical wisdom and fresh perspective on how to bring more compassion and clarity into your inner world.

Will Halpin is a psychotherapist and public health social worker with over 22 years of experience working in community health center settings and in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts. Earlier in his career, he developed programs and a comprehensive curriculum with the Boston Public Health Commission to train providers on best practices in working with people struggling with crystal meth abuse and dependence. Most of his clinical experience has been working within the LGBTQAI+ population, and specifically complex/developmental trauma and substance abuse. He has trained in a variety of treatment modalities to offer a variety of options when working with survivors of trauma, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). He also enjoys training new practitioners who are learning IFS as an assistant course instructor for over three years, working with providers from India, Canada and all over the US. When he is not at work, you can find him in the mountains, in a lake, or in the woods enjoying whatever outdoor recreation is available in that particular season.

Connect with Will - WillHalpin.com

Learn more about IFS - IFS-Institute.com

Books:

Self Therapy by Jay Earley

You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For - Dr. Richard Schwartz

Shawna Rodrigues has been hosting the The Grit Show, since 2022 and has loved every minute of it. She has an award winning career in the government and non-profit industry, an LCSW, and a passion for making a impact.

She is currently facing her biggest plot twist yet—a breast cancer diagnosis in early 2025—this year is about her fight, victory, and healing. Join her warrior community Being Honest and check out the podcast episode where she shares more.

Connect with her journey:

Instagram @Shawna.Rodrigues | Everything else: https://linktr.ee/37by27

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Are you curious why some people seem to effortlessly manifest their dreams while others struggle to achieve their goals? In this compelling episode of The Grit Show, host Shawna Rodrigues sits down with neuroscience-trained life purpose coach Monica to explore the science-backed secrets behind manifestation, mindset, and self-belief. Discover how your brain’s “reticular activation system” actually filters your reality—and how, with practical techniques, you can rewire these filters to invite more opportunity, happiness, and abundance.

Monica shares eye-opening client stories on transforming old beliefs and empowering yourself through intuitive routines and mirror work. If you've ever wondered about the intersection of neuroscience, manifestation, and intuitive living, this episode teases tangible tools to create lasting change. Get ready for inspiration and real talk about unlocking the vibrant, purpose-filled life you deserve!

Monica is a certified life-purpose coach and applied neuroscience specialist who is passionate about helping women rediscover their spark and create lives they genuinely love. Her mission is simple but powerful: to help others tap into the brain’s potential, break free from limiting beliefs, and move toward a life of joy, freedom, and abundance.

Monica’s coaching framework, The Neuro Fulfillment Method, blends neuroscience-backed strategies with soulful self-discovery to empower women to design lives that feel truly aligned. Through personalized 1:1 coaching, transformative workshops, and weekly WhatsApp support, she guides her clients to reconnect with their purpose, build unshakable self-belief, and develop actionable plans for meaningful change.

She’s also a full-time traveler, adventure junkie, and total foodie who believes life is meant to be savored and explored. Whether she’s diving into local cuisines, chasing epic sunsets, or planning her next adrenaline-filled experience, Monica is always embracing life to the fullest.

Connect with Monica:

Instagram - @coachingbymonica

Website- coachingbymonica.com

Podcast - Notes from a Neuro Nerd: The Science Behind Living Your Best Life

Here is that link to the freebie: https://coachingbymonica.com/intuition

Shawna Rodrigues has been hosting the The Grit Show, since 2022 and has loved every minute of it. She has an award winning career in the government and non-profit industry, an LCSW, and a passion for making a impact.

She is currently facing her biggest plot twist yet—a breast cancer diagnosis in early 2025—this year is about her fight, victory, and healing. Join her warrior community Being Honest and check out the podcast episode where she shares more.

Connect with her journey:

Instagram @Shawna.Rodrigues | Everything else: https://linktr.ee/37by27

Follow us on Instagram: @The.Grit.Show or Shawna