Create Your Kindspace

Two Years of Podcasting: Celebrating Kindness in Conversation

I can’t quite believe that it’s nearly two years since I started this podcast. I don’t know if you are like me, but I rarely ever stop to acknowledge my achievements, let alone share how I feel about them. But two years is incredible and I’m actually really proud of what I’ve created. I have had some truly beautiful conversations, and it fills me with so much joy to be able to share them with you. So in this very special episode, I’m recollecting some of my favourite pieces of advice and moments from the show, and I really hope that you enjoy it.

 

Timestamps:

00:00:00             Celebrating two years of podcasting

00:02:49             The podcast’s core mission and values - holistic wellbeing & kindness

00:08:44             Growth through adversity and taking action

00:15:05             The power of community, connection and safe spaces

00:24:02             Embracing creativity and variety

00:29:44             Favourite moments and guest wisdom

00:31:51             The comparison trap and finding your own path

00:34:46             Reflections on my podcasting journey

00:36:55             Share your stories about how you create your kindspace

 

Links:

Share your stories about how you create your kindspace, leave a voice note for Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-laurenson/

 

Transcript:

https://createyourkindspace.com/two-years-of-podcasting-celebrating-kindness-in-conversation/

 

Next month is officially the two year mark since I published the trailer to launch the show. So to celebrate I’d like to do a special episode that will collate all the ways my guests and you my beautiful listeners, create your kindspaces. So I’d love to hear from you. Whether your kindspace is something you’ve always gravitated towards, or something you’ve started doing more recently, I’d love to hear your stories and how it helps you to feel more centred and balanced. Perhaps you’ve even been inspired to try something after listening to one of my guests talk about their work or how they create their kindspace. I’d love to also see your pictures too, perhaps you have a favourite spot in your home or maybe you love the outdoors, maybe you love Munro bagging, or listening to live music, or spending time with family. If you have pictures that show us that kind of insight into what lights you up. It would bring me so much joy to see your smiling faces. So to get in touch with me, you can look me up on LinkedIn, it’s just Caroline Laurenson and if you want to, you can leave me a little voice note or you can message me on social media, the handle is just @createyourkindspace. I think we’re on pretty much most of the platforms, but not X cause I deleted my X account. But yeah, I would love to hear from you. Yeah, let me know how do you create your kindspace?

 

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

The Stress-Inflammation Cycle: Breaking BAD with Dr. Monika Gostic

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us.

Sometimes I get so fed-up trying to figure out what to eat and after I’ve looked after everyone else, I just don’t have the physical or mental energy to meet my own needs. If you’ve ever said this, I have the perfect guest for you. Dr Monica Gostic is a dear friend of mine. Not only is she an incredible scientist and teacher, she’s also an award-winning businesswoman and champion powerlifter. So keep listening to find out more about how stress impacts our physical wellbeing and how a lifestyle medicine approach can help reduce inflammation. So if you’re ready let’s dive in to find out more about Monica’s unique approach to wellness, which starts with encouraging us to be a little bit more BAD.

Timestamps:

00:02:05             Monica’s Journey to Becoming a Nutrition Coach

00:07:03             The "BAD" Movement – Balanced, Authentic, Deserving

00:12:19             Lifestyle Medicine and the Impact of Stress

00:14:31             Nature and Movement as Stress Antidotes

00:19:50             Managing Chronic Health Conditions

00:23:33             Your Gut Microbiome

00:27:56             The Mental Overwhelm of Managing Your Diet

00:29:35             How to Make Little Adjustments to What You Eat

00:35:21             Progress Over Perfection – Building Healthy Habits is Like Training Muscle

00:38:15             One Size Doesn’t Fit All and the Danger of Weight Loss Influencers

00:42:45             The Benefits of Working with a Coach

00:48:33             Being a Role Model for the University Students

00:49:51             How Monika Got Into Powerlifting

00:56:23             Strength Training for Women

00:59:36             Variety is the Key to Monika’s Kindspace

01:03:12             Monika’s Programmes and Research (and How to Get in Touch)

Links:

Website: https://monikagostic.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrMonikaGostic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthnfitness_coach/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmonikagostic/

Bored of Lunch: https://boredoflunch.com/

21-Day Research Programme: https://monikagostic.com/programmes/

Transcript:

https://createyourkindspace.com/the-stress-inflammation-cycle-breaking-bad-with-dr-monika-gostic/

Monika shares some incredible advice, and there is one quote that really sums up everything that we talked about, where she said “let's really start feeling amazing in our body. So to the point that we are radiating that energy and happiness and it just overflows to our children, to our spouses, and everything else that we're doing.” Some pretty fantastic advice isn’t it? So if you’re feeling like you need to address the balance in your life, I highly recommend checking out Monika’s content and connecting with her, she is such a generous kind person and I am very blessed to have her in my life.

I’d love to know what your key takeaways were from this episode, why not share them on social media and tag us @createyourkindspace. Remember to subscribe as well so you never miss an episode.

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

The Art of Writing in the Digital Age with Sara Matthews

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us.

Now does anyone else find it hard making friends as a grown up? To be fair I’ve never been very good at making friends, as a child I was painfully shy. And it’s actually really rare to find people you connect with instantly. But my next guest is 100% one of those people. Sara Matthews is the founder of Baravere Studies and I cannot wait for you to meet her.

Timestamps:

00:02:31             Sara's creative journey and background

00:07:41             How creatives often wear many hats

00:10:38             Overcoming the barriers to creativity     

00:14:04             Creativity as a wellbeing tool

00:16:07             The birth of Artful Encounters

00:20:03             What does the research say?

00:22:08             Building community through creative workshops

00:24:03             The power of handwriting vs. digital tools

00:29:02             AI is a tool, don’t be afraid to experiment with it

00:34:43             Conversations with AI

00:37:03             The European Chatbot Summit in Edinburgh

00:43:35             How does a creative like Sara switch off?

00:46:04             Mother's Day workshop announcement

00:50:08             Where to connect with Sara

 

Links:

Website: https://www.baraverestudio.com/

Sara’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramatt2025/

Sara’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adsycreative/

Baravere Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baraverestudio/

Mother’s Day Event: https://createyourkindspace.com/mothers-day-creative-writing/

European Chatbot & Conversational AI Summit: https://theeuropeanchatbot.com/

 

Transcript:

Link to the transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/the-art-of-writing-in-the-digital-age-with-sara-matthews/

 

It’s so interesting the linkage between technology and creativity. I think it is one of the things that I love most about what I do now. But like most things in life there does need to be a balance, and I hope that what comes across in our conversation is that technology should support rather than replace creative processes and that human touch.

I think the other thing that struck with me from our conversation is how important it is to have an outlet for self-expression, whether that’s something like journaling or a creative hobby like painting, or music.

So if you wanna join the conversation, you wanna get in touch and let me know your thoughts about this episode, I would love to hear from you. Also if you could give this episode a like and share on social media that would also be really helpful.

And a final thing, if you’re in the Aberdeen, it would be so wonderful to see you at our Mother’s Day event that we’re planning on the 22^nd of March. So make sure to check out the show notes. And I’m also gonna pop a link to the European Chatbot and Conversational AI summit, just in case you’re in Edinburgh that week as well.

 

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Caroline Laurenson on the Power of Daily Journaling

In this behind-the-scenes solo episode, I reflect on 2024 and how I ended up publishing the Create Your Kindspace guided journal. I did a lot of things last year that stretched me and I’m so glad that I took the time to invest in myself and focus on fewer but more meaningful projects. So grab yourself your favourite tea or coffee and join me for an intimate look at how a year of consistent journaling transformed both my personal and professional life.

Timestamps:

00:01:14             My Double Life on TikTok

00:03:34             The Power of Storytelling and Catching the Speaking Bug

00:06:08             The Power of Morning Journaling

00:09:56             Creating the Kindspace Guided Journal

00:11:11             Personal Reflections on 2024

00:12:14             Looking Forward to 2025

00:13:39             Do you have a word of the year for 2025?

Links:

Journal with Me: https://createyourkindspace.com/journal-with-me/

International Women’s Day Talk: https://createyourkindspace.com/stories-that-shape-us-with-caroline-laurenson/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-laurenson/

Transcript:

https://createyourkindspace.com/caroline-laurenson-on-the-power-of-daily-journaling/

If you’ve liked this episode, please screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. I would absolutely love to hear from you. It would also be so wonderful if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to find it.

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Pelvic Health Myth Busting with Rosie Davie

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us.

So right before the festive holidays I caught up with Rosie Davie, a physiotherapist who traded the rugby field for a mission to transform women's health care. I think it’s a topic that we don’t talk about enough and advice can often be unhelpful or outdated, so I’m so delighted to have Rosie help shine a light on the issues and share her top tips and advice.

Timestamps:

00:02:15             Introduction to pelvic health

00:04:39             From sports physio to pelvic health specialist

00:12:11             Understanding the gender health gap

00:17:33             Breaking down pelvic health taboos and the lack of education

00:19:43             How marketing preys on women’s vulnerability

00:25:02             A holistic approach to women's health

00:36:57             Supporting women post trauma

00:39:02             What’s next for Rosie’s business

00:45:25             Creating a kindspace through movement, puppies, family, friends and the beach

00:49:39             Where to get in touch with Rosie

 

Links:

Website: https://rosiedaviephysiotherapy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosiedaviepelvichealth/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-davie-a47237156/

Access Rosie’s Pelvic Health Resources: https://rosiedavie.teachable.com/p/aboutrosie

 

Transcript:

https://createyourkindspace.com/pelvic-health-myth-busting-with-rosie-davie/

I am sure I am not the only one after this discussion feeling empowered that our pelvic symptoms are not just something that we have to put up with as women. Yes, our bodies go through significant changes through pregnancy, motherhood and beyond in the transition to menopause, and these changes they are natural, but there are proactive and holistic approaches that can help us to improve how we feel and also allow us to still do the things we love. I think the call to action here is to prioritise our pelvic health and if we’re not getting the answers we need, seek out specialist support from someone like Rosie.

Thank you so much for listening all the way to the end, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, please screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would also be so wonderful if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Be Kind to Your Gut with Gemma Stuart

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us.

I have had some truly wonderful guests this year and I’m really excited for you to meet my last guest of 2024. She’s a super straight-talking entrepreneur, passionate about her mission to support people with their digestive health and break the taboo of talking about poo. So let's dive into my conversation with Gemma Stuart, founder of Gut Wealth

Timestamps:

00:02:13             Gemma’s journey from IBS sufferer to founder of Gut Wealth

00:05:29             The social and emotional challenges of digestive health

00:08:24             Gemma’s five core tips for managing gut health

00:20:23             Entrepreneurship: The realities behind the scenes

00:31:36             The importance of listening and the power of kindness

00:37:31             Creating Your Kind Space: Gemma’s wellbeing practices

00:41:45             Reflections on our word of the year

00:45:54             Where to connect with Gemma and find out more about Gut Wealth

 

Links:

Website: https://www.gutwealth.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gutwealth.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutwealth.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastuart/

 

Transcript:

https://createyourkindspace.com/be-kind-to-your-gut-with-gemma-stuart/

What a fantastic way to end 2024! I think the big takeaway for me from my discussion with Gemma was the power of being honest about our struggles - whether that's with our health, our businesses, or just life in general. Gemma's openness about living with IBS and the realities of running a business really resonated with me.

Thank you so much for being part of the Create Your Kindspace community this year. I've loved sharing these conversations with you, and I can't wait to bring you more inspiring guests in 2025.

Until then, keep creating your kindspace.

Thank you so much for listening all the way to the end, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, please screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would also be so wonderful if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.

 

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Tips for an Organised, Stress-Free Home with Debbie Junor

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us.

Our homes are such an important aspect of our wellbeing. But for many of us, they can be a source of stress and overwhelm when our stuff becomes too much to manage. Today’s guest Debbie Junor from Clean Slate is going to share all her top organising and decluttering tips and also how to approach more challenging things like bereavement, children’s toys and gifting in the run-up to Christmas.

Timestamps:

00:02:08 How Debbie became a professional organiser

00:06:40 Decluttering is not just about hoarders

00:09:44 How to get the stuff out of your home

00:16:54 Debbie’s advice for bereavement and sentimental items

00:21:40 Giving and receiving gifts without the guilt

00:24:33 Children’s toys and capturing memories

00:30:16 The rewards of helping people transform their living spaces

00:32:29 Challenges of running an organising business

00:37:04 The APDO community and professional support opportunities

00:41:25 Where to start on your decluttering journey

00:45:27 Debbie's kind space and future plans

 

Links:

Clean Slate Website: https://cleanslateuk.co.uk/

Debbie’s Countdown to Christmas Planner: https://cleanslateuk.co.uk/countdown-to-christmas-planner/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleanslateuk.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanslateuk.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-junor-90500419a/

APDO the UK's professional body for Declutterers and Organisers: https://www.apdo.co.uk/

 

Transcript:

https://createyourkindspace.com/tips-for-an-organised-stress-free-home-with-debbie-junor/

 

There is something so very freeing about letting things go, but often that can be hard to do on your own, and so I can see how working with someone like Debbie would make such a massive difference and kind of help you get back not only your physical space but also lighten some of that mental load too. So I really hope that you enjoyed this episode and you’re able to kind of implement some of the ideas that we talked about.

Thank you so much for listening, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, please screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would also be so wonderful if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.

 

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Essential Alexa Tips and Tricks for Busy Families

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us.

In today's episode, we're diving into the world of Alexa smart speakers. Last month I had the huge honour of performing a show as part of the Aberdeen Science Festival and I wanted to share it with you too. The show covered some of our favourite family-friendly tips and tricks to help you make the most of your Alexa. There’s so much that people don’t know about these devices, so let's jump in and discover how Alexa can create a kinder, smarter space for you and your family.

 

Timestamps:

00:01:10             Introduction and Overview

00:08:33             Important Data Privacy Advice

00:14:09             Getting Started and the Basics

00:16:02             Family-Friendly Features

00:18:36             Customising Your Alexa Experience

00:20:30             Some Alexa Skills to Try

00:25:57             Flash Briefings and Widgets

00:30:18             Hidden Features and Accessibility

00:33:07             It’s Quiz Time

00:36:57             Inspiring the Next Generation of Voice Developers

00:38:19             Resources for Further Learning

00:39:32             End of the Show Alexa Musical Piece

 

Links:

What can I say to Alexa? Book: https://tltechsmart.com/what-can-I-say-to-Alexa

HuggingFace https://huggingface.co/

Claude https://claude.ai/

Amazon Party Rock https://partyrock.aws/

Voice Flow https://www.voiceflow.com/

Vector Shift https://vectorshift.ai/

Alexa Skills Kit: https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/start

Alexa Developers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbx0SPpWT6yB7_yY_ik7pmg

Dabble Lab: https://learn.dabblelab.com/alexa/

Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-alexa

 

Transcript:

https://createyourkindspace.com/essential-alexa-tips-and-tricks-for-busy-families/

 

Outro:

It was so much fun putting on this show. I think I slightly underestimated how much work it would be, but I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to share our Alexa knowledge. It was so amazing to share the stage with my daughter Eilidh too. If you’ve listened to this in audio format, you might also want to check out our YouTube channel for the video, where you’ll see our Alexa demo come to life when Eilidh pops out of the smart speaker box for the first time. If you’re looking for the list of resources mentioned, I’ve also popped these in the show notes for you. And of course if you have any Alexa questions, I’d be delighted to help.

Thank you for listening all the way to the end, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would be so wonderful as well if you could rate and review the podcast as this helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.

 

Disclaimer:

The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast.

Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.