Holding It Lightly

In this episode, Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart dive into one of the most common phrases in Christianity “Jesus died for your sins” and ask: wait, what does that really mean? Whether you grew up in church, left it long ago, aren't sure what you believe (if anything), or are just curious about the stories we inherit and the ones we choose to keep, this is an open-hearted, often funny conversation about reframing old beliefs and fin...

What if ambition doesn't mean climbing the ladder, but carving your own path entirely? In this episode of Holding It Lightly, Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart unpack what it means to be ambitious, but through a different lens: less about chasing status, power, or money, and more about living with intention, curiosity, and heart. 

If you’ve ever wondered what ambition could look like on your own terms or you just want to laugh along,...

In this episode of Holding It Lightly, Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart get real about what happens when life knocks you down, and you're forced to make changes you didn't ask for. From job losses to heartbreak, they dive deep into how it feels when things don’t go according to plan, and how to move through it when you’re left picking up the pieces.

They talk about the tough parts of transformation, especially when it feels like the...

Money: it’s something we all deal with, but how do we keep it from taking over? In this episode of Holding It Lightly, Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart explore our ever-changing relationship with money: how it intersects with social media, how it evolves through life, and why money itself isn’t good or bad - it’s all about how we approach it. Tune in for an honest, refreshing, and surprisingly funny conversation about a topic that’s...

In this episode, Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart dive into a timely and thought-provoking conversation about the aftermath of Trump's victory in the election. How do we maintain our peace in the midst of the unease we will all experience in the next four years? We explore the tensions between liberals and conservatives, asking the question: Can we love our "enemies" and find the humanity in those who think differently from us? Let'...

This week, Lauren n Brad dive into the question, "WTF is gratitude?" We see it on T-shirts, journals, and in every "live your best life" mantra, but what does it really mean? Is gratitude just another wellness trend, or is there something deeper behind the hype? In this episode, we unpack our mixed feelings about how gratitude is marketed today, explore the genuine purpose behind it, and ask: How can we actually live a life full of...

This week’s episode of Holding It Lightly dives into the concept of the sacred dance. Bear with us, as Lauren shares her experiences at Burning Man, hopefully adding value rather than inducing any eye rolls. The sacred dance is all about letting go and reconnecting with your life force, while the survival dance represents our daily routines and how we navigate life. Both are essential, but it’s in those moments of the sacred dance ...

This week we dive deep into why the midlife crises is so often referenced but so poorly understood. We instead invite you to rethink this period as a profound opportunity to transform - a symbolic death of the old self to make way for the vibrant new life waiting to bloom. 

This episode is particularly special to us, as many of our friends and listeners are navigating this challenging yet transformative phase of life. Lauren Dougla...

I once saw a meme that said "One day, you went out to play with your friends for the last time ever, and you had no idea."  Yeah, we aren't sure it needs to be that way either. In this episode, we look into Getting Younger As We Get Older, how a beginner's mindset can help put you in the right mindspace and heartspace for connection, calm, and wonder. We can move past that pesky literalism that holds us back from greater understand...

In this week's episode, Lauren and Brad are joined by the incredibly talented Patrick McCartney, an actor, improviser, and seasoned Second City performer. Patrick opens up about his journey as a recovering alcoholic, sharing profound insights on spirituality, God, and the transformative power of the 12-step program. We wanted to talk to Patrick about how we can reclaim God and spirit from the Christian fascists, exploring how spiri...

It's opposites week on Holding It Lightly! Last week, Lauren and Brad dove into the art of rest, relaxation, and embracing laziness. This week, they're flipping the script and exploring how to tap into focused energy and find your flow. Join them as they discuss how to channel your energy to plant the seeds for the life you want to grow while also holding it all lightly.

Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart will talk about the balance b...

This week on Holding It Lightly, Lauren and Brad explore the vital case for embracing laziness, relaxation, and the simple act of sitting. Life demands a balance between planning, setting goals, and taking ownership of our experiences. Yet, the most profound moments often arise when we sit peacefully, free from the need to grasp for more.

In our culture of constant ascension, where the pursuit of more power, money, and value domina...

Join Lauren and Brad as they make the case for laziness - sort of....this week explores the art of embracing life's flow and essence while moving beyond a fixation on outcomes. They delve into the concept of creating art for the sheer joy of being and self-expression, emphasizing the value of this pure approach over a results-driven mindset. In this episode, we also discuss the merits of embracing laziness and question the pervasiv...

Join Brad and Lauren on this week's episode of "Holding It Lightly" as they explore the profound themes of deconstruction and reconstruction in personal belief systems. They delve into the challenging process of stepping away from the familiar structures of religion, community, and faith, unraveling and examining each facet along the way. Both hosts candidly share their journeys of deconstructing traditional notions of faith and sp...

Love is on the brain this week! Tune in to this week's episode of where Lauren and Brad explore the profound topic of love. Together they delve into questions like "What is love?" and "How do we obtain it?" guided by the wisdom found in Bell Hooks' book "All About Love." Listen to them examine why society has often presented us with a skewed definition of love and how we can cultivate a more mature perspective to construct a life a...

Join Lauren and Brad for this week's episode of Holding It Lightly as we explore the fascinating realm of Enneagram instincts. They say that while a thought moves at the speed of x, an emotion moves at 10x, and your instinct races at 100x. In this episode, we delve into the three primal instincts that drive us from the depths of our gut: Self-preservation, Sexual, and Social. Tune in to join Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart to disco...

Tune in to this week's episode of Holding It Lightly, where Brad and Lauren explore the powerful themes of faith and self-trust. Join us as we delve into how to cultivate genuine faith in ourselves and in the universe—not the cliché wooden home decor sign kind of faith, but a deep and authentic trust in the natural flow of life. Tune in with Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart to discover how faith serves as the antidote to feelings of...

Welcome to this week's episode of Holding It Lightly! Join hosts Lauren and Brad as they dive deep into the world of healing and self-discovery with special guest Lyssa Mandel. Lyssa, an incredible somatic healer and astrology guru, joins the conversation to shed light on the intricacies of our bodies and share invaluable insights on the path to healing.

In this enlightening episode, Lauren Douglass and Brad Stuart explore Lyssa's ...