Thrive-Learn-Connect

Hello everyone, Jamie here with a quick update: Max and I are taking a bit of a hiatus while I care for my aunt and help her move to a new home. This week, we're offering up a replay of a Season 1 episode that seems particularly fitting: “Pivot and Adapt.”

This short episode is about breathing through the chaos, leaning into small shifts, and trusting that we can handle more than we think — from getting stuck behind a semi full of ...

In this episode we sit down with Brynn MacLennan, founder of Slate, to uncover why flossing matters way beyond fresh breath: it protects your gums, heart, and even your brain. Brynn walks us through startling stats, her own wake-up stories, and how Slate’s easy-to-use flosser and gum-sweeps make a 30-second habit actually doable for kids, seniors, and anyone with sore hands.

Want to get healthier together? Check out slateflosser.co...

This episode opens with a quick riff on guaranteed income for artists and the ripple effect of arts in our communities, then pivots into the heart of the conversation: your future self. Jamie and Max unpack research suggesting the brain treats future-you like a different person—and how that insight can help us make kinder, wiser choices right now.

You’ll hear practical stories (the “do the dishes for morning-you” test), simple mone...

Fall invites fresh routines—and sometimes overwhelm. In this warm, playful episode, Jamie and Max talk about breaking big projects into doable steps, celebrating “ta-da” moments, and why our brains often relax when they’re in task mode.

Then they head to the game table: childhood classics that sparked sibling rivalries (Monopoly, Uno), brainy word play (Scrabble, Spelling Bee, Wordle, crosswords), strategy builders (chess, backgamm...

In this episode, Jamie revisits the year she ran her business like an experiment—testing ideas, tracking results, and reviewing the data with compassion instead of perfectionism. Max jumps in with a real-world example: learning pickleball as a complete beginner. We talk mindset over metrics, “good shots vs. next-time shots,” and how community makes new skills stick. You’ll hear practical ways to design your own mini-experiments, r...

Some days we’re rivers—wide open, flowing, generous. Other days we’re bowls or even cups—able to receive and give, but in smaller measure. In this on-location episode, Jamie introduces a simple capacity lens for relationships: cups, bowls, and rivers. We explore how knowing your current capacity (and sensing someone else’s) can prevent friction, honor limits, and keep connection kind.

Then we sit down with returning guest Luke Wetz...

Episode 40—cheers to the Back 40! To celebrate our 40th episode, we took the show on the road to Back 40 Meadery in North Spokane. The theme fits: forty episodes strong, and we’re reflecting on the little wins that got us here.

We open with Max’s pickleball insight—big wins vs. little wins—and Jamie connects it to real-life communication: sometimes the “win” isn’t proving you’re right, it’s making the experience better for everyone...

We’re more than our résumés. Yet it’s easy to let titles, salaries, and status define who we are. In this conversation, Jamie and Max explore the cultural scripts that tie identity to employment—and offer simple practices to expand your self-definition with curiosity and kindness.

Highlights:

• Language shifts that reduce “work” baggage (try contribution, practice, craft, service, calling, flow, making).

• Three reflection prom...

This episode is a warm, down-to-earth chat about the magic of storytelling: how our voices carry history, build connection, and even help us heal and imagine the future. We trace storytelling from ancient oral traditions to today’s “digital campfires.” You’ll hear why stories light up the brain (for teller and listener), how they can heal—or harm—and why your voice is an irreplaceable fingerprint. Plus, we share practical ways to b...

Fall carries its own soundtrack—wind in the chimes, rain on the roof, and yes…pumpkin-season comforts. In this episode, we welcome back Hannah, meditation teacher and somatic educator, and the founder of Anam Cara Healing Center in downtown Spokane. We explore why September feels like a fresh “new year,” how seasonal rituals root and steady us, and how sound—from crystal bowls and drums to rain sticks and wave drums—can move the bo...

Welcome to Season 3 of Thrive, Learn, Connect! In our first episode, Jamie and Max dive into the power of singing—not as a polished performance, but as a deeply human act of joy, connection, and self-expression. From car karaoke and childhood songs to beer choir and spontaneous pub sing-alongs, they share personal stories and cultural insights about how song has always brought people together.

Along the way, you’ll learn about the ...

Hello, friends! Get ready to dive into a whirlwind of emotions and insights with Jamie and Max as they wrap up a phenomenal Season 2 of Thrive-Learn-Connect." In this heartwarming episode, they reflect on the joys and challenges of life, including personal stories like eagerly awaiting a daughter's return from Antarctica and finding peace despite external chaos.

Join them in celebrating the beautiful connections made throughout the...

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Thrive-Learn-Connect, Jamie and Max dive into two powerful topics: the meaning behind our names and how to creatively handle toxic relationships. They begin with a reflection on the newly named Pope Leo XIV and the profound significance a chosen name can hold—then pivot to the personal, sharing stories of their own names and what they’ve come to mean over time.

But the episode does...

In this heartening and hopeful episode, hosts Jamie and Max sit down with Jill Reeves, Spokane’s Waste Reduction Education and Outreach Coordinator. From ballet to Bokashi, Jill shares how a life rooted in creativity, compassion, and community has led her to inspire others to reduce waste and live with more intention.

The conversation weaves together the power of words—like “ubuntu,” meaning I am because you are—with small but powe...

In this heartfelt and humor-filled episode of Thrive-Learn-Connect, Jamie (rocking a delightfully husky voice thanks to a stubborn sinus infection) and Max (recovering from a fierce case of “pickle elbow”) reflect on how our past, present, and future shape who we are and who we’re becoming.

Through personal stories, laughter, and a few sniffles, they explore:

• The hidden gifts of our past (including Max’s third-grade grit and ...

What do bubble-blowing, backyard stargazing, art walks, and handwritten notes have in common? They're all simple, soul-filling experiences that cost next to nothing—and they’re the heartbeat of this episode.

Join Jamie and Max as they share some of their favorite “cheap thrills,” from creating pantry-only meals with the help of AI to dancing in the park to free local concerts. This episode is packed with heartfelt stories, giggle-w...

In this episode, Jamie and Max dive into the murky waters of "sludge" – those pesky barriers that slow us down, whether in the form of bureaucratic red tape or self-imposed obstacles in our personal lives. They explore how a little nudge can help clear the way for smoother paths ahead.

But it's not all about struggle! The conversation takes a delightful turn towards the art of thriftiness. Join the duo as they chat about how being ...

In this powerful episode of Thrive-Learn-Connect, we sit down with educator Emily Torres and counselor Sean Barrett, the minds behind an innovative classroom experience called “Fight Club.” No, not that kind of fight—this Fight Club is a space for students to explore their emotions, build trust, and develop emotional intelligence with the support of a counselor-in-the-classroom model.

Together, Emily and Sean have transformed a tra...

We're kicking the week off with some digital decluttering as Jamie and Max share fun and practical tips to "spruce up" your desktop and digital devices for a mini jolt of joy.

Then, roll up your sleeves as we explore planting P's--preparation, patience, and persistence—and how these concepts apply not just to gardening, but to nurturing your personal dreams and goals. Get ready to feel inspired and empowered to create your very own...