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In the latest episode of The Echo Effect's ‘Spotlight Series: Women of Influence,’ Sibel McGinnis, founder and moderator of Morning Coffee Meetings along with regular members of her daybreak conversations, discuss how they brew healthy female friendships that span everything from multiple time zones to mixed cultures and varying demographics.

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Episode Transcript

Imagine being part of a community where women encourage each other without judgment or competition Sound like a myth? Join us as we pour into the world of sisterhood to grasp how a tribe of women uplift, inspire, and understand each other's struggles, but also celebrate their triumphs.

 In our Spotlight series, women of Influence, we shine the light on dynamic inspiring women who embody elegance and excellence in their respective fields as they share their testimony of resilience, passion and perseverance, showcasing the transformative power of determination and innovation.

On this episode of the Echo Effect, unfiltered Connections, Real Talk about Unity without the Drama with Sibel McGinnis, we explore the importance of support among women, discussing how to build strong drama-free relationships that foster growth, creativity, and wellness in our lives, and those we love.

Introduction

"Welcome to The Echo Effect, the official podcast of the Echoes & Vine magazine. I'm Jenny Cline, Editor-in-Chief, and your host. In each episode, we invite you into authentic conversations with inspiring women whose diverse backgrounds embody elegance, resilience, and purpose.

Together, we explore personal stories, hard-earned wisdom, and graceful approaches to self-improvement. Our guests share wisdom on everything from elevated living to shaping culture through the arts, leadership, and community, celebrating the beauty and resilience that women bring to all they do.

Whether you're a student, homemaker, retiring professional, or simply a seeker of inspiration, The Echo Effect is here to connect you to a community of women on this journey of elegant transformation. Join us to be uplifted, empowered, and inspired by voices that celebrate elegance in all forms."

Scene Setting

 Sibel

We have the ladies from Morning Coffee Meetings to discuss the importance of unity and support among women. We are often pitted against each other. Dramatic. Catty. Dare we even mention the ‘B’ word?

We are up against an inaccurate trope, a false narrative, and quite frankly, a barrier to connection for meaningful relationships that damage our image among society. The truth is, we build strong sportive circles. Spaces where women can thrive uplift the collective environment for everyone.

In this episode, we will discuss the benefits of female friendships and share practical advice on how to build healthy drama-free relationships.

Bonus Content!

Is your cup overflowing with connection, or are your friendships leaving you feeling empty?

Most of us can’t imagine our mornings without coffee. You shouldn’t imagine your friendships without these 5 coffee-inspired practices. Once you try them, they’ll change the way you brew stronger bonds.

Bonus Content

 The Impact of Women Supporting Women

Jenny

Ladies, welcome to the show. It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to sit down over a shared cup of coffee like this (albeit virtually), but the important thing is we are here together. Girl talk has always been a cherished pastime, but setting aside time for it, the days do seem to get away from us.

The older we get. I'll never forget my experience in the US after living abroad for so many years, feeling like a blank slate without much of a support system. It was a daunting transition, but one that unexpectedly led to some of the most meaningful connections in my life. I enrolled in etiquette lessons for personal development, and every other week I'd meet up with a group of women who became more than just classmates.

We'd share laughter and vulnerabilities, and I felt seen and heard in a way that was exactly what I needed during that time. In less than a year, we created new traditions and milestones together. It struck me how powerful those friendships were in my life. It made me realize just how important female friendships can be.

I got so much more than I expected from a course, not just something to pass the time or learn new skills, but friendships that developed into chosen family and got me through a difficult time.

Sibel

 According to over 20 years of research by Holt-Lunstad: strong social Connections can have a profound impact on our wellbeing.¹ With this in mind, I would love to hear from each of you, what role have female relationships played in your life and how have they impacted your personal growth and wellbeing?

Cassandra

I’ll say that I have had work experiences where my supervisor has my back, and when that happens, it's very freeing and your work productivity soars. You also feel much happier at work. something guys say when they have their best buddies, guys having their back, but it turns out it also applies to women.

So, I think it's a very profound thing, and I wish more people have this experience of having people they report to having their back, really supporting them on their side.

Heather

I can certainly relate to Cassandra's point in the workplace, having those female friendships that are supportive. I've also had both. On a personal side, I've been the type who has a very small select group of friends. As I look back over different phases of my life, I kind of have one or two from each phase.

One of my longest-term best friends was somebody who I met through guys that we were dating. They were friends, we were girlfriends. The guys are long gone. We are still friends, and it has been nearly 30 years.

Sibel

In my experience over the years with Morning Coffee Meetings and in life, I think I was very lucky with friends. Over the years we've shared a lot of things that matter to us.

We weren't able to share these things in our close circle with family and friends because often we are judged or overlooked with our stories. Because the closest ones to us, usually don't see the signs of struggle or signs of joy as much as they see the criticizing points. With morning coffee, I feel so confident that I can share anything with the circle of women I have, and I wouldn't be judged for any of it.

In fact, everyone in that meeting would be supporting us. Helping me to become the best version of myself. So I'm very happy actually, that I created this circle of friends and eventually it turned into a supportive group of ladies that really care for each other.

Elif

Growing up I was very close to my dad. That made me more relatable to men. I had male friends during my early teenager years. And later, I got into a male dominant work environment, which made me even more relatable to the men. However, looking back I see that throughout all these times, even though I found myself more relatable to the males.

My female friends were always my anchor. They were my fixed point of the compass that I could go back anytime without any judgment. I knew that they wouldn't judge me no matter what. Whenever I got stuck in any situation and I was navigating a turning point, my female friends always side by me and they were helping during those times.

This is so near and dear to me, and I am giving this idea to my kids as well. My 19-year-old son once told me a couple years ago, referencing to one of my childhood female friends, that he wanted to have a very strong friendship with one of his friends, just like our friendship.

I am so glad that I set the example to him, showing how friendships are not luxury, but a need.

Jenny

I love Elif, that you are setting the example for men. It's not often we hear them say that at such a young age. That's so promising. We have fought for generations to be in that position where they're taking advice from us, not begrudgingly, but he's looking at you with admiration. To respect other women, it begins at home by respecting his mother.

You're the one that's giving him unconditional love. It's very hard for men to grow a sense of respect for women if it doesn't begin at home.

Would anyone else like to talk about how their dynamics changed with women, what your personal experiences are with female friendships?

Are they healthy? Are they catty? Do they fit the stereotype? Are they tropes?

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Agata

When I think about my adult friendships up until Morning Coffee, it was mostly friends from school. It feels like those friendships where thanks to fate, right? It's so random to find yourself in the same class or school.

Up until high school, I wasn't very selective. I was just accepting things as they were. As I started to be interested in personal development, this is where I started: to clear toxic friendships and toxic vibes from people. I'm happy to say many of the friendships from high school survived up until today.

But indeed, uh, I have to say I find it difficult to meet new friends now, there is a neighbor possibility, but as for work... I have this core belief: I shouldn't become too intimate in my relationships with coworkers because there can be some personal disagreement and it can affect work. I just do everything to avoid that happening. In my experience, the best way to avoid this type of situation is to have strong boundaries at work and don't become too friendly.

The Complexities of Sisterhood: Navigating Conflict and Relational Aggression

Jenny

I love that you mentioned that because we talk about healthy relationships and friendships, but I do want to get into the tension that is caused in relationships.  

I've noticed that in my own life, women's relationships can be some of the most rewarding and supportive, but they can also be complex and challenging. I have had friendships where women can be brutally dismissive when misunderstandings can lead to hurt feelings and distance. I've Been in situations as if I am competing with a fake image or false narrative for acceptance and validation, and I've seen how this can create tension and conflict.

What's your advice when you feel like this is happening to you or you see it with someone else?

Cassandra

A lot of people will relate when I say that I'm not very good at handling this. A lot of times it is far easier to stonewall people when things get heated. And patience is a virtue that has unfortunately been buried.

When things get heated up, it is usually best way to cool down first because you can't solve problems when both people are mad. So give it some time, then the answers will come.

Yes, you may step away, but to stonewall or lash out, both of which you may regret later on. I'm saying this coming from a point of view where I'm not perfect in handling all situations, but I think this is a guiding light forward.

Sibel

Honestly, when I think about my challenges with female friends, I agree with her. We always have this urge to just lash out and say whatever we feel like, which is in a sense, admirable because we are being honest to ourselves. However, in the sense of having good relationships and conversations, I think it's better that we wait a little bit before we speak.

You actually say the worst things when you are angry at someone. If you think about what you are going to say for a little bit. Your feelings, your emotions calm down, and you have better choices of words or how you express yourself in general. One of the things I always try to do is to rehearse my conversation and think about from a perspective that I can find the middle ground, because there will always be two perspectives, if not more in a disagreement.

If you only focus on your side of the story, you'll always get it wrong. If you only focus on the other person's perspective, you will also get it wrong. But if you can find a middle ground and understand the best outcome for everybody, I think you manage the situations a little better.

In my case, I have a lot of friends that I know from different circles. To Agata's point, before Morning Coffee, we weren't as connected internationally as before. Obviously, there are different cultures, different beliefs, different understandings of the same things. So, it's very hard to manage and be acceptable by the community with what you are, who you are, and how you go about life.

I think we did a very good job of streamlining that process. One of the famous phrases we always use is, don't just say: I disagree. I think you're wrong. Instead, we say: Let me share my opinion on it. So, I am not dismissing you at all. I'm just sharing my opinion, and I will continue to use that phrase throughout my life.

That's one of the things I learned from my Morning Coffee community.

Heather

I absolutely agree with pause, breathe, wait, and give it time. I think it's important to be willing to be the first person to approach the other when there is a disagreement or tension or something just feels off. With that, I think it's very important to be equally aware of whether or not the other person's going to be receptive because we may have stepped away and taken the time to cool off, compose our thoughts, consider the other person's perspective.

We also have to be prepared for the fact that they may not have yet, and they may be completely unreceptive. That can have a significant impact on whether or not an attempt to mend the divide will be successful. I think we also have to be prepared when going into a situation like that with the fact that they may have no interest in mending the divide for whatever reason.

That can be very difficult, especially if it is somebody in our closer female circles. I'm speaking unfortunately from experience here. But if you go in prepared for the worst but hope for the best sort of thing, being very sensitive to whether or not they're going to be receptive or they've had enough time. The environment can be key to that as well. It's worth making the effort, even if it's not always successful.

Though, I will say, more times than not, I've had success with that. Sometimes you just have to realize that they were there for a time and both parties have to move on.

Jenny

Heather, my grandmother used to say that people will come in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime, and I think I've had more heartache, more heartbreak, from letting go of the women in my life, whether that was, mutual, one-sided, or something completely outside of my control.

Um, it's just, it makes me emotional just thinking about the women that I've lost in my life because it's just different. It definitely took me longer to get over losing a female friendship than any relationship with a guy that I was ever with. It just, it, it hurts differently.

Any woman out there, I think, can understand that. That's important what you say because there can be a lot of self-sabotage when we lose these relationships. Not only the conflict that happens during it, but the aftermath. You have to recognize the difference between what you can do differently. What you could do better. and What needs to change.

And then some things are not about you at all.

Elif

I have come to the consensus, after a certain age, I don't have to be very close friends with everybody. It is okay not to be liked; not to be very close. All my relationship circles are nested circles between each other. My family and very close friends are in the center.

It is okay to have the disagreements. Sometimes we just need to put somebody from inner circle to the outer circle based on where they are positioned through our lifespans.

Just like your grandma said, Jenny, maybe they were here just for a season.

They can be in the inner circle and if that season is over, I can move slightly over to the outer circle. In the past, the most heartbreaking part for me, and I had hard time understanding that. Sometimes, my female friends, some of them would go cold shoulder, and I, I wouldn't understand the reasoning behind it.

Now when that happens, I’m questioning: what is she not happy about her life? Something bothers her, if there's no big issue between us. If she's showing me cold shoulder, there must be something making her upset in her life. Either she's not happy with her family life, work life, relationship to herself, or something bothers her that this is her outlet to show it.

That gave me a little bit more peace. It is just like you said, Heather, it is not always about us. Sometimes there are things going on in other person's life and I cannot control that. And it is okay. It is okay to leave that person at the outside of the circle.

Make it yours!

Agata

I agree. Definitely. The rupture of a female friendship hurts way more than any boyfriend breakup, you know? I feel like between female friends, we are just so emotionally between us. We share things that we wouldn't share with men. Any trust issue with a female friend hurts so much more.

In case of any conflict situation, my strategy is not to get into accusation. If I feel like someone is accusing me, I try to take my distance and think about her feelings.

Don't really take it personally at first. Just focus on her. Let her know that I feel her. I see what she means. Most of the time, it's resolving the conflict already, the fact that I'm not fighting back. I'm saying I hear you and I'm sorry that you feel this way.

And then the pressure seems to go out and then we can talk facts later.

Sibel

You know, with morning coffee I just spoke from my heart. The preparation comes from the years of experience I had in training, public speaking, and corporate settings.

So this podcast, us having this kind of conversation without a lot of planning, fits right into the goal with Morning Coffee. There's research that I wanted to share by Underwood & Ehrenreich that women's friendships can be particularly vulnerable to relational aggression, which can include behaviors like social exclusion, gossip, and manipulation.³ This fits right into what we were just talking about. According to a study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, women who experience relational aggression in their friendships may be more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem.²

Like Agata said, it hurts more when female friendships are hurt by certain aspects, whether it's personal, social, whatever that may be. But we have to acknowledge the need for empathy and understanding in our friendships, especially when conflicts and misunderstandings arise.

People go through a lot of things. Life is busy. Life is very challenging for a lot of people.

It's important to acknowledge before we let our mind start creating scenarios. Communication is the key here. I know some of my friendships are still in place because of the communication I had with them.

I want to remind everybody one more time, if a friendship is coming to end of its season and you know it, instead of having feelings that are not spoken out, having a meaningful conversation and trying to understand both sides will help.

Maybe even salvage the friendship. Research indicates that people often think about what other people are thinking about them. Think about this for a second, it's complicated in a way, but I'm worried about what Jenny is thinking about me, and Jenny is worried about what I think about her.

To a point that we can never worry about what we actually think about that person. Maybe we should stop that inner voice and start having real conversations with friends.

Jenny

Naturally I have to comment. It's true. I mentioned that a little bit about self-sabotage to Heather, and that you create these conversations in your head that haven't actually happened.

You make up what's happening on the other side because I think, at least for me, I'm definitely more critical and harsh to myself because I am a people pleaser. I'm a fixer and I'm an empath. All of these things… My whole life's mantra because of what I went through in my adolescence was to do no harm. In trying not to harm others, I oftentimes end up hurting myself.

By doing that because I retreat into myself, I may pull back. I'm not as talkative. What may have been, why did you cancel plans last weekend? And I am thinking the worst about myself and trying to fix it, and this person maybe doesn't want to be around me, or I did something wrong. Instead of just saying, oh! Was it because your car broke down? Because maybe that's what it was.

Then, now that person is also thinking, why doesn't she talk to me as much as she did? Or she doesn't seem as bubbly as she normally does. Something is off. So, there's this thing happening in the middle that doesn't even need to exist.

It's creating this distance that wouldn't have been there otherwise all because of the misunderstanding that you made up.

Sibel

It's time to ask one of our ladies, did you ever experience a friendship falling apart because of misunderstandings?

Cassandra

Oh, yeah, sure. I had this best friend from university. We disagreed over something. But I blocked her, and I unblocked her. I have strong opinions against it. She has strong opinions for it. And she's like, it doesn't make sense to her that, that I blocked her.

After that, the conversation went dead. Even after I tried to reach out to her several times. So, it happens.

Heather

From late high school to post high school, there was a girl that I had been friends with, goodness, probably since we were about eight, seven, somewhere in there.

Over the years, we managed to maintain this friendship. We never went to the same school. It was more by proximity. She lived in the neighborhood, and we met playing in the street back when kids used to do that.

When we hit high school, the dynamic changed a bit. She was making new friends in her high school. I had friends in my high school. The first year or so that wasn't really an issue.

I think it was our junior year. She made a new friend, and the other girl I think did not like me or felt threatened by me or something. Before I knew, I was pushed to that outer circle as, Elif, if my might say. There wasn't like a particular falling out, it was just a shift in the dynamic and it just didn't work anymore. And they had proximity every day doing the things they were doing.

Then we just drifted apart.

We tried to resume the friendship a couple times.

I did go to her wedding a few years later, but that was the last time I saw her. And this was a very long time ago. So sometimes it just happens. That one was my first big female friend heartbreak. I still look back at it sometimes, could I have done anything different? I don't think so, because life just changes us and we move on.

I think it gets easier as you get older. But that first one I think is always the hardest. Kind of like your first heartbreak with, a romantic partner. Yeah, it was rough.

Sibel

Absolutely. Thank you so much for sharing Heather. As you get older, you handle these situations a little better because you build support systems. You have family members, you have friends that support you in heartbreaks.

With Morning Coffee, we did a great job of building this community of support. Over the years, some of us have been through a lot of challenges. We were able to reunite in the meetings and talk about these things.

When I moved out of my big beautiful house and bought this fixer upper, it was really tough for me. When I had my son, I went through a whole change of feelings, schedule shifts, and life changes.

You ladies were always there. As women, we need that support. We need other ladies who will be there no matter what. I really appreciate that. Over the years, you have been the greatest support for me that I can always fall back on. Thank you.

Elif

I had up and downs with some of my very close friends over the years. One significant one was not based on a misunderstanding but based on a disagreement on the parenting style. I can be sometimes controversial. I like debating concepts.

I enjoy learning from those conversations, but not everyone likes that. In one of my friendships, we had a disagreement on a parenting subject. That was the end of my season in her life. She needed to take a break from me and she stepped back. I was perfectly fine with that because she needed distance.

Three years later she came to me and she said, yes, we had the disagreement. But I'm over it. I still disagree with you, but I miss you. So, that was the reunion, and I really enjoyed our reconnection.

Actually, I like disagreements because I feel like it is growing the relationships.

Jenny

That makes a lot of sense, Elif because without tension, it almost tests the relationship, how do you know what kind of quality it has?

If everything is easy, if things are simple and the relationship is not challenged, like a romantic relationship or a professional relationship - challenges really show you: how are we going to get through this? How well do we work with one another? When things are so easygoing, you can't really tell if that's just having fun. We've all heard that: "Just having fun." In some relationships and that's not really anything of substance.

How is it going to last over the years? I think it's been three and a half years that I've been part of Morning Coffee. Sibel mentioned we've all been through some challenges, whether that's moves, new births. There's just been a lot. Women have come and gone, whether it was geographically that we were separated, that they weren't able to come back. You feel that when their presence is no longer there. You definitely notice.

Sibel

I think it's safe to say that these loving acts of kindness and presence have made an impact on all of us.

Jenny

I look at all of you now and it's unimaginable to me that there was once a time I didn't know your names or faces. My new reality is, I can't think of spending my Saturday mornings without you, and it's been that way for nearly four years. I think about how we were always there for each other, through every milestone, every holiday, and all the everyday ordinary miracles in between. Like saying good morning to each other's spouses and kids and fur babies as they pop in the frame some mornings. There is no one else like you, and I can't imagine a world without you in it.

Sibel

Thank you, Jenny. So with morning coffee, one thing we did well is consistency.

Over the challenging times in my life, Morning Coffee Meetings were the only thing I showed up no matter what, and especially in the last year. I believe we only canceled once or twice because I wasn't feeling well, but I always showed up and I know you showed up.

I think consistency is key with friendships and sometimes we get overwhelmed. There's a lot of things happening in everybody's life and you feel like, I will respond to that text message later. Which I confess I do with Jenny, but I know she gets it. If you don't receive an immediate answer to your question with a text message, you have the control over what you think about it.

With Jenny and I, I know she gets me because I'm so busy and I feel overwhelmed with a lot of responsibilities in my life, but at the end of the day, when I go back to her messages, I make sure that I explain my feelings and my thinking so she knows that I'm not bluntly ignoring her.

This is one example only. But everything in life, if you receive a good gesture, don't wait on it. Make sure you acknowledge it, make sure you say something nice back. I think one of the struggles with ladies is that we get so overwhelmed, we overlook good moments. Try to catch those good moments because Jenny is doing an incredible job with this.

When we have a birthday... we have a special moment in Morning Coffee... Someone accomplishes something that we need to celebrate. Jenny is right there to say the right things from the bottom of her heart. Not just made-up words to make you feel good about yourself. I just appreciate it so much.

I think we all can learn from her in the sense of how to follow up. How to make someone feel special or cared for.

Prioritizing the Women Who Matter

Jenny

That leads me the last question that I had for you ladies today. What do we do to nurture these relationships to make them grow? How do we sustain them? What makes it work? We talked about what happens when there's conflict, but then how do we create all the good vibes and keep that energy going so that they do stay healthy, that we can rely on these relationships and they remain supportive. Not just what we get out of it, but what are we putting into it as well to ensure that these relationships survive?

Elif

When I look at my friends, I share different things with all of them. With my Morning Coffee friends, we share self-improvement, self-care. Some of my friends, I share my career level issues. Some other friends, I share more on parenting. Some of them are emotional connection, and this is on a rotation.

I feel like my friendship tribe is my therapy circle around me. I need to invest to give them the same feeling while they are also giving me support in different aspects. So I try to make time.

It is challenging because not only am I busy, my friends are also busy. For example, yesterday I was with two of my friends and we had to schedule that gathering a month before.

While I'm juggling so many things, sometimes I drop the ball. So I need to really plan ahead. We truly enjoyed our time, so it is all planning and investing.

Agata

Unfortunately, with adult friendships, consistency is a real challenge. It's really hard to keep up with everyone. To do a weekly checkup like we do. It’s an exception in my life too, as such regular and consistent contact with you ladies.

But what I think is really important: the quality, the presence, the attention that we put in the little time we have to share together is key.

When I with my friends, I really try to be there. I don't touch my phone. I give them full attention, full presence. I really listen an I remember what they say. I try to memorize as much as possible and make them feel heard. And I think it's making up for the last time we have together.

Sibel

Agata, you're really, spot on. We have to leave everything behind and focus on that moment only. It's very difficult in the technology era not to check your phone or receive a notification and get distracted.

Cassandra

Oh yes. All the ladies have shared very valuable advice.

Being present is a must if we want to have quality female friendships. I have first handedly experienced the transience of female relationships; they come and go. Even the good ones.

So being present is probably the best way to mind the wisdom and cherish the good memories that are there or maybe learn from.

I've also been reading some very heartbreaking stories of people passing away. They say some people are here today and gone the next. So, it's all the more important; live in the here and now.

Heather

I've literally just been thinking about this over the past week. I've had a challenging summer personally. So, I have been poor on my contact with friends and family across the board.

Thankfully long-term friends, including you ladies, they understand. They know I unfortunately have some phases like this for various reasons, but I have been thinking because of that to try to schedule. Morning Coffee is a perfect example.

Whether it's phone calls, zoom, whatever, with some very long term, but more distant friends. Even if it's once a quarter, once a month. Where it's possible, set a standing date with those people who are important to you and just plan it. Put it on the calendar and make it happen.

Otherwise, it's too easy to do what I did this summer. Before you know it, a month, two months have gone by you've lost touch with people. That is not the best thing for any of us. We need those connection points even at the times we feel like all we want is to be on our own and deal with whatever we have going on.

Collective vs Community: Connections Across Life Stages and Beyond Traditional Boundaries

Jenny

 Morning Coffee has provided this dynamic for us to have healthy relationships, how we use that in our everyday lives, and challenges that we faced that we've been able to overcome by what we've learned from morning coffee.

Sibel

This is something we created years ago and it seemed to be working for all the ladies. So I appreciate you showing up and seeing the goodness in it together.

Bye ladies.​   

Closing Segment

Jenny

 Ladies, thank you for your time and insights today to our audience. Thank you for tuning in. If you'd like to learn more about Sibel, please visit Arbor of the Vine.com for the latest issue and read her feature article, "Unfiltered Connections, Real Talk about Unity without the Drama." Connect with her at Buy Me a Coffee.com/Morning Coffee Meetings to join her and all of the ladies.  

Subscribe at Arbor of the Vine.com where we believe that every woman deserves a supportive environment that fosters spiritual growth, creativity, and wellness. As part of The Vine Collective, you'll find a range of resources and platforms to connect, learn, and thrive through our subsidiaries, including The Echoes and Vine Magazine, the Word on the Vine Newsletter, the Echo Effect podcast, the Emerging Voices, youth Writers Guild, and Lore Leaf Studio.

Together, we're not just building a community. We're co-authoring a testament to the power and beauty of female influence.

Sibel

 Meet us for Morning Coffee for our virtual gatherings where women share stories, experiences, and inspiration through guided discussions and insightful conversations, building relationships in a sportive community.

You can join at buymeacoffee.com/morningcoffeemeetings

Let's build a positive environment that fosters growth, creativity, and wellness.

Article by Jenny Cline, Interview co-hosted with Sibel McGinnis, entrepreneur, corporate trainer, and founder of Morning Coffee Meetings

Setting the Table

Normally, corporate training with Sibel McGinnis involves a boardroom pitch or a polished stage speech. Except for Saturday mornings, when guidance begins outside the office with a mic and a mug.

For the ladies of Morning Coffee Meetings, friendship isn’t something you can brew in an instant. It’s their morning ritual, a familiar cup that sustains the day. Week after week, international members gather not to compete, but to confide. In their presence, shared struggle and triumph steep together into the perfect blend. The vision they brought to life: a sisterhood grounded in authenticity, not controversy.

Just browsing? A follower? If you felt in tune with our message—even for a moment—it only takes seconds to become a free subscriber, and that tells us our work reached you. When you become an E.V.E. (Echoes & Vine Enthusiast), you help sustain women-centered spaces for elegance, growth, and presence.

Anchors and Allies

Research supports what these women know instinctively: strong social ties improve health, resilience, and even longevity. Guest, Cassandra, described workplace support from a female supervisor as:

“Freeing—your productivity soars because you know someone has your back.”

Another likened her decades-long friendship to “chosen family,” proof that not every bond fits the tired stereotypes.

Sifting Complexities

They do not sentimentalize loss. Friendships shift—sometimes by drift, sometimes by disagreement—and the hurt can be sharp. One woman observes that people arrive:

“For a reason, a season, or a lifetime.”

Heather acknowledges that losing a female friendship can wound more than a romantic breakup. The group’s counsel is plain: give heated moments time, be the one to reach out when you can, and accept that not every ending demands closure.

No friendship, however strong, is free from challenge. Misunderstandings, relational aggression, and unspoken expectations can fracture even the deepest ties. These women do not shy from speaking about conflict, missteps, and even heartbreak. But rather than offer tidy formulas or universal fixes, they leave us with an open question: how do we decide which relationships deserve the daily pour of attention, and which ones must be gently set down?

She goes on to say:

“Sometimes you just have to realize they were there for a time.”

That question is not fully answered here — nor should it be. The richness lies in the unscripted moments you’ll only hear in the full conversation, where each woman’s story adds another flavorful note.

A Recipe for Connection

If there is one main takeaway from their story, it’s the power of consistency as the foundation for healthy, lasting female friendships. “Over the challenging times in my life, Morning Coffee Meetings were the only thing I showed up for, no matter what,” Sibel says.

“I believe consistency is key with friendships.”

Others reflect on the same truth: nurturing relationships takes deliberate attention. A turned-off phone, a remembered detail, a birthday celebrated without fail… These small acts accumulate into something enduring.

What Sibel has established illustrates this core message: more than a networking group, her creation is a counter-narrative to a world eager to pit women against one another.

Her simple yet vital recipe reflects the main theme:

• Prioritize presence.

• Choose compassion over assumption.

• Accept that some friendships, like a discerning palate, evolve naturally over time.

These, above all, sustain unity without drama.

Listen to The Echo Effect’s Spotlight Series: Women of Influence and hear the full conversation with Sibel McGinnis and the women of Morning Coffee as they discuss the rituals, the resilience, and the reality of making healthy female friendships a priority.

Tune in on September 17th for the full podcast with Sibel McGinnis on The Echo Effect's 'Spotlight Series: Women of Influence,' only on Spotify.

Full Episode on Spotify

Bonus Content!

Is your cup overflowing with connection, or are your friendships leaving you feeling empty?

Most of us can’t imagine our mornings without coffee. You shouldn’t imagine your friendships without these 5 coffee-inspired practices. Once you try them, they’ll change the way you brew stronger bonds.

Bonus Content

Searching for a meaningful way to gather your friends or team and explore new ideas, share perspectives, and grow together?

Become a Patron! Give the gift of meaningful connection and personal growth by supporting Arbor of the Vine. Your patronage helps keep our words open and accessible to every woman who needs them. As a thank you, gift using the link below and receive a free digital download to help you focus on what truly matters: your well-being, goals, and relationships. Contribute and watch what grows.

Send a gift today!

Make it yours!

Podcast Participants

Jenny Cline, Host & Editor-in-Chief

Once a brand ambassador, now an editorial helmswoman and serial dot-connector. I've worked in policy, radio, and education, but the heart of my work is always the same. Ensure people have a seat at the table. Preferably with tea. And biscuits. The good kind.

Sibel McGinnis, Co-host & Subject Matter Specialist

Some people do brunch. I do breakthroughs – fresh soft skills with strong impact and a swirl of good conversation. I'm Sibel, a corporate trainer, community builder, and founder of Morning Coffee meetings. Arrive with coffee; stay for the connection.

Agata R.

Residing in Paris, Agata is a dietitian specializing in longevity. She researches innovative nutritional approaches to extend lifespan and healthspan. Agata travels extensively, exploring nutrition-related traditions across cultures, and shares her insights on longevityingredient.com

Cassandra L.

Based in Hong Kong, Cassandra is a writer, artist, musician, and entrepreneur who enjoys travelling. She is writing her next book and will announce details on her blog leeyieng.com

Elif T.

Engineer of manufacturing systems by day, negotiator of vegetable treaties by night. As a mom balancing the very different worlds of elementary school and college, I’ve learned that parenthood is its own epic saga—full of plot twists, cliffhangers, and the occasional comedy. I recharge with historical fiction, hikes that clear the mind, and deep conversations with friends that stretch as wide and winding as mountain trails. If it involves problem-solving, fresh air, or a story worth getting lost in, I’m there.

Heather B.

When not immersed in academics, Heather enjoys exploring diverse cultures through international travel, broadening her understanding of the world. Her blend of military service, scholastic rigor, and political curiosity informs her approach to challenges and opportunities.

Share Arbor of the Vine: A Literary Garden of Feminine Grace

When the prevailing archetype insists on portraying women as rivals—catty, dramatic, incapable of sustaining trust—it takes a certain kind of courage to rise above the watercooler gossip. This episode of The Echo Effect’s Spotlight Series gathers Sibel McGinnis and the women of Morning Coffee discussing how deliberate connection sustains healthy, female friendships.

Article by Jenny Cline, Interview co-hosted with Sibel McGinnis, entrepreneur, corporate trainer, and founder of Morning Coffee Meetings

Setting the Table

Normally, corporate training with Sibel McGinnis involves a boardroom pitch or a polished stage speech. Except for Saturday mornings, when guidance begins outside the office with a mic and a mug.

For the ladies of Morning Coffee Meetings, friendship isn’t something you can brew in an instant. It’s their morning ritual, a familiar cup that sustains the day. Week after week, international members gather not to compete, but to confide. In their presence, shared struggle and triumph steep together into the perfect blend. The vision they brought to life: a sisterhood grounded in authenticity, not controversy.

Anchors and Allies

Research supports what these women know instinctively: strong social ties improve health, resilience, and even longevity. Guest, Cassandra, described workplace support from a female supervisor as:

“Freeing—your productivity soars because you know someone has your back.”

Another likened her decades-long friendship to “chosen family,” proof that not every bond fits the tired stereotypes.

Sifting Complexities

They do not sentimentalize loss. Friendships shift—sometimes by drift, sometimes by disagreement—and the hurt can be sharp. One woman observes that people arrive:

“For a reason, a season, or a lifetime.”

Heather acknowledges that losing a female friendship can wound more than a romantic breakup. The group’s counsel is plain: give heated moments time, be the one to reach out when you can, and accept that not every ending demands closure.

No friendship, however strong, is free from challenge. Misunderstandings, relational aggression, and unspoken expectations can fracture even the deepest ties. These women do not shy from speaking about conflict, missteps, and even heartbreak. But rather than offer tidy formulas or universal fixes, they leave us with an open question: how do we decide which relationships deserve the daily pour of attention, and which ones must be gently set down?

She goes on to say:

“Sometimes you just have to realize they were there for a time.”

That question is not fully answered here — nor should it be. The richness lies in the unscripted moments you’ll only hear in the full conversation, where each woman’s story adds another flavorful note.

A Recipe for Connection

If there is one main takeaway from their story, it’s the power of consistency as the foundation for healthy, lasting female friendships. “Over the challenging times in my life, Morning Coffee Meetings were the only thing I showed up for, no matter what,” Sibel says.

“I believe consistency is key with friendships.”

Others reflect on the same truth: nurturing relationships takes deliberate attention. A turned-off phone, a remembered detail, a birthday celebrated without fail… These small acts accumulate into something enduring.

What Sibel has established illustrates this core message: more than a networking group, her creation is a counter-narrative to a world eager to pit women against one another.

Her simple yet vital recipe reflects the main theme:

• Prioritize presence.

• Choose compassion over assumption.

• Accept that some friendships, like a discerning palate, evolve naturally over time.

These, above all, sustain unity without drama.

Listen to The Echo Effect’s Spotlight Series: Women of Influence and hear the full conversation with Sibel McGinnis and the women of Morning Coffee as they discuss the rituals, the resilience, and the reality of making healthy female friendships a priority.

Tune in on September 17th for the full podcast with Sibel McGinnis on The Echo Effect's 'Spotlight Series: Women of Influence,' only on Spotify.

Full Episode on Spotify

Bonus Content!

Is your cup overflowing with connection, or are your friendships leaving you feeling empty?

Most of us can’t imagine our mornings without coffee. You shouldn’t imagine your friendships without these 5 coffee-inspired practices. Once you try them, they’ll change the way you brew stronger bonds.

Bonus Content

Searching for a meaningful way to gather your friends or team and explore new ideas, share perspectives, and grow together?

Become a Patron! Give the gift of meaningful connection and personal growth by supporting Arbor of the Vine. Your patronage helps keep our words open and accessible to every woman who needs them. As a thank you, gift using the link below and receive a free digital download to help you focus on what truly matters: your well-being, goals, and relationships. Contribute and watch what grows.

Send a gift today!

Make it yours!

Podcast Participants

Jenny Cline, Host & Editor-in-Chief

Once a brand ambassador, now an editorial helmswoman and serial dot-connector. I've worked in policy, radio, and education, but the heart of my work is always the same. Ensure people have a seat at the table. Preferably with tea. And biscuits. The good kind.

Sibel McGinnis, Co-host & Subject Matter Specialist

Some people do brunch. I do breakthroughs – fresh soft skills with strong impact and a swirl of good conversation. I'm Sibel, a corporate trainer, community builder, and founder of Morning Coffee meetings. Arrive with coffee; stay for the connection.

Agata R.

Residing in Paris, Agata is a dietitian specializing in longevity. She researches innovative nutritional approaches to extend lifespan and healthspan. Agata travels extensively, exploring nutrition-related traditions across cultures, and shares her insights on longevityingredient.com

Cassandra L.

Based in Hong Kong, Cassandra is a writer, artist, musician, and entrepreneur who enjoys travelling. She is writing her next book and will announce details on her blog leeyieng.com

Elif T.

Engineer of manufacturing systems by day, negotiator of vegetable treaties by night. As a mom balancing the very different worlds of elementary school and college, I’ve learned that parenthood is its own epic saga—full of plot twists, cliffhangers, and the occasional comedy. I recharge with historical fiction, hikes that clear the mind, and deep conversations with friends that stretch as wide and winding as mountain trails. If it involves problem-solving, fresh air, or a story worth getting lost in, I’m there.

Heather B.

When not immersed in academics, Heather enjoys exploring diverse cultures through international travel, broadening her understanding of the world. Her blend of military service, scholastic rigor, and political curiosity informs her approach to challenges and opportunities.

Growing Passion and Planting the Roots of Exploration and Growth in the Italian Countryside

For this couples retreat, we ⁠partnered⁠ with the ⁠Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort⁠.

Listen as we take a brief pause to reflect on our stay in Tuscany while blending sensory-rich storytelling with themes of sustainability, reconnection, and conscious luxury.

We invite you to rediscover what it means to travel with intention, where restoration meets responsibility and self-care is soul-deep. #echoesatargentario

Listen now on Spotify!

🎙️TRANSCRIPT

Travel isn’t just about where you go, but who you become in the process. I’m your host, Jenny Cline, Editor-in-Chief of Echoes & Vine Magazine, and today we visit the rolling hills of Maremma, along the Tyrrhenian coast, in the quiet embrace of Tuscany.

This isn’t a review. It’s a love letter to a place, a partnership, and a deeper kind of presence.

In this episode, we’ll revisit our couple’s retreat at Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort. You’ll hear what it means to slow down with intention, how design and ecology can co-exist beautifully, and why thoughtful travel is the new standard for luxury.

We arrived with a shared intention: to reconnect. Not just to each other, but to the version of ourselves that had been buried beneath responsibility and routine.

The first thing you notice is the quiet. Not the absence of sound, but a kind of natural hush—like the land itself is exhaling. Gravel paths crunch gently beneath your feet as you walk the grounds, and in the distance, you can hear the soft clink of cutlery from the Club House terrace, mingled with birdsong and the occasional rustle of wind through olive trees.

The air carries a blend of salt from the nearby sea, rosemary warmed by the sun, and something faintly mineral, like earth just turned. It smells like patina, but also fresh, but not sterile. Alive.

Mornings begin with soft light spilling over the hills, glazing everything in gold. The terrain undulates gently, enveloping you rather than neon skylines parading about. There’s no pressure here to do anything except be mindful of the shifting light between branches, to the feel of the breeze caressing your skin, to the calming of your nerves from being unplugged.

All your senses are rejuvenated. Whether it’s the sound of the waves lapping at the shore at the private beach club, the soft feel of a terry cloth robe after a deep tissue massage, or the sight of your partner’s smile over shared laughter on the golf course, and the scent of a gourmet dinner, nothing insists. Everything invites.

You start to realize how rare it is to experience authenticity, of not trying to be convinced of anything.

Argentario isn’t fabricated. It has no need to perform. It just is. And somehow, that enables you to just be.

🎙️Luv, we’ve traveled a lot together – 50 countries and counting. What felt different this time?

🎤 I think it was the way the place encouraged us to relax and be in tune with each other. From the couple’s massage, horseback riding, walking the golf course – everything was private and spaced out. I felt like we had the entire resort to ourselves and we didn’t need to mingle unless we wanted to. It was spacious in more ways than one.

🎙️ You mentioned feeling different. What was that like for you?

🎤 I felt like a weight had been lifted. It wasn’t just relaxation—I felt like all the noise that takes up space in our relationship had been cleared and we were able to be closer together.

🎙️ Aww. Now, let’s talk sustainability, because Argentario doesn’t just look conscious—it is. The resort uses renewable energy, harvests from its own organic gardens, and minimizes waste without compromising comfort.

What surprised you most about their approach?

🎤 Honestly? I didn’t notice it at first. Which I think is the point. Nothing was branded “green” just for show.

🎙️ Exactly – it was just seamlessly integrated; and that’s the future of travel. No guilt. No excess. Expertly curated and very intentional.

🎙️ For those of you listening who are planning your next getaway, we’ve put together something special and it’s free for our paid subscribers. Our Eco Chic Travel Essentials guide is a digital workbook to help you pack with purpose, care for your body during transit, and reflect before you even step foot on the plane.

Think organic solutions. Natural fabrics. Beauty and skincare that don’t compromise your values. Our travel journal is more than a checklist—it’s a mindset.

You can find it through the link in today’s show notes.

Read the Full Story

🎙️ If you had to sum up Argentario in one word, what would it be?

🎤 Riflessione or reflection. To pause. To ask down to earth questions of ourselves, and to listen for answers in the most natural places.

🎙️ There are many demands that urge us to consume and move at an unsustainable pace, but perhaps the most indispensable thing we can do is live with intention.

If you’ve stayed at Argentario, we’d love to hear your reflections. Tag us using #EchoesAtArgentario, or chat with us and join our growing community of thoughtful travelers.

Interview and article by Jenny Cline featuring Deanay Cox of Cox Signature Homes

In our Spotlight Series: Women of Influence, we shine the light on dynamic, inspiring women who embody elegance and excellence in their respective fields as they share their testimony of resilience, passion, and perseverance, showcasing the transformative power of determination and innovation.

On this episode of The Echo Effect, we scan the blueprints from how Deanay Cox laid the foundation for her success, to designing the lifestyle of her dreams. As co-owner of Cox Signature Homes, Deanay shares her journey from a career in sports to the forefront of real estate. Her story is one of resilience, adaptability, and breaking barriers in male-dominated industries.

This video has no sound.

Get ready to take a tour of her remarkable journey and discover the keys to unlocking your own potential!

Deanay candidly shares her evolution from real estate agent, investor, and now a partnership in construction. Through her experiences, we'll excavate the essential traits and strategies that have cemented her status as a mainstay, including the importance of building a strong support network, renovating one's mindset, and investing in personal growth.

From Gridiron to Groundbreaking: Deanay Cox on Grit, Grace, and Gratitude

By the time Deanay Cox walks into her first real estate development meeting, she already understands the quiet weight of being the only woman in the room. Years earlier, she learned to navigate that kind of silence, working in the high-intensity, hyper-masculine world of the NFL. There, she'd hone the skills she’d later use in a different field: resilience, decisiveness, and the kind of presence that doesn’t ask for permission.

Listen on Spotify

Read more

In recognition of National Teen Self-Esteem Month, we take a comparative look at teen and adult mental health. Even in our common ground, teens are developing a growing resilience to challenges and overcoming the same difficulties faced by adults. We'll hear from a young lady who highlights the ways in which she's coping and rising towards endless possibilities.

Interview and article by Jenny Cline featuring Chanel F., Echoes & Vine Magazine Youth Voiceover Artist

Listen to the full podcast with Chanel on The Echo Effect's 'Echolettes' series, only on Spotify.

Full Episode on Spotify

Mental Health Concerns

Given that 20.17% of teens experience major depressive episodes and 31.1% of adults experience anxiety disorders, what strategies do you use to prioritize your mental well-being?

Sometimes life just feels like… a lot. School, friends, family stuff, it can all pile up. When that happens, I’ve learned to slow down and do simple things that help me feel better. I’ll listen to music, draw, play with my friends and spend time with my family. That helps me not keep everything bottled up.

Talking to my mom or one of my friends helps too. Even if they don't know it all, just talking things out makes it not feel so heavy. I've also gotten better at being able to say, "Hey, I need a break" or "I don't really want to talk right now." And that's okay. I think more of my peers are getting comfortable talking about how they feel, and that's a good thing. Asking for help doesn't mean there's something wrong with you, it just means you're trying to take care of yourself, and that's actually healthy.

Social Media and Technology

With nearly half of teens online almost constantly and 73% using social media to learn about social issues, how do you navigate the benefits and drawbacks of social media? What strategies help you maintain a positive online presence?

Social media's kind of like a mixed bag, it's wonderful, but it can also play games with your head as well. I enjoy using it to post with friends, find outfit ideas, or see cool videos and edits. However, sometimes there's too much, particularly when everyone's just sharing their "perfect" world or there's drama everywhere.

What truly works is keeping my feed positive and full of good vibes. If a person's posts drain me or make me question myself, I just unfollow, to just keep my peace. I follow pages that make me happy, inspire me, or brighten my day. And when I post, I don't pretend to be perfect. If it's silly, spontaneous, or just for kicks, that's okay too. No pressure, no stress.

Also, I need to prompt myself to log off sometimes. I set boundaries or timers so that I don't scroll forever. Balance is everything. Social media's cool, but real life is more precious, especially your feelings.

Bullying and Peer Pressure

Considering that workplace harassment remains a significant issue among adults, 19.5% of high school students experience bullying, and yet 64% of teens have supportive friend networks, what qualities make a friendship strong and supportive, especially during tough times? How do you build relationships that provide emotional support, and how do you help others feel seen and supported?

 A good friend is one you don't really have to pretend with, and you can be your goofy, quirky self, and they're okay with it. My best friends try to inspire me to be the best I can be, which I try to do the same for them. And when I'm not feeling great they cheer me on.

In terms of issues, like peer pressure or bullying, having backup is a huge thing. I'm that kind of friend, if someone appears upset or is being left out, I'll get involved or invite them in. Even a casual, Hey, are you okay? Can be magical. I also take care to remind my friends that it's okay about what they're going through.

You don't have to solve it. You just have to listen. Every now and then and I ever feel someone is pressuring me to do something I don't wanna do, I stay true to my feelings. Good friends don't pressure you. They encourage you. Being a good friend has nothing to do with being popular. It's about being present, being kind, and ensuring that no one's ever alone.

Based on recent data, here is a comparison between teens and adults across various mental health and social factors:

Mental Health Concerns

• Teens: Approximately 20.17% of U.S. adolescents aged 12-17 reported experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the past year (Mental Health America 2024).

• Adults: In 2024, an estimated 57.8 million adults in the United States (about 19% of the population) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any form of mental health care (The Zebra 2024).

• Positive: In 2024, 70.4% of adolescents aged 12-17 reported having a positive relationship with their family, which can help mitigate mental health concerns (Mental Health America 2024).

Social Media and Technology

• Teens: Nearly half of U.S. teens (46%) reported being online almost constantly, with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat being widely used (Pew Research Center 2024).

• Adults: Data specific to adults' social media usage in 2024 is limited. However, previous studies indicate that adults also engage significantly with social media platforms, though usage patterns may differ from those of teens.

• Positive: In 2024, 73% of teens reported using social media to learn about social and political issues, indicating a positive trend in civic engagement (Pew Research Center 2024).

Bullying and Peer Pressure

• Teens: In 2019, 19.5% of high school students reported being bullied on school property (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019).

• Adults: Workplace harassment remains a significant issue among adults (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 2024).

• Positive: 64% of teens who have made a new friend online say they have met new friends on a social media platform, which social networks may help reduce the impact of bullying (Lenhart 2015).

References:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022. "Mental Health Surveillance Among Children—United States, 2013–2019." MMWR Surveillance Summaries 71 (2): 1–28. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7102a1.

• Lenhart, Amanda. 2015. "Teens, Technology and Friendships." Pew Research Center. August 6, 2015. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/08/06/teens-technology-and-friendships/.

• Mental Health America. 2024. "Youth Data 2024." Mental Health America. Accessed February 2025. https://mhanational.org/issues/2024/mental-health-america-youth-data.

• Pew Research Center. 2024. "Teens, Social Media and Technology 2024." Pew Research Center. Accessed February 2025. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024.

• The Zebra. 2024. "Mental Health Statistics in 2025." The Zebra. Accessed February 2025. https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/mental-health-statistics.

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 2024. "Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace." Last modified April 29, 2024. Accessed February 2025. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-harassment-workplace.

About

Weathering Resilience

This summer, let your voice emerge and take you places.

From journaling to podcasting to publishing: the Emerging Voices Youth Writers’ Guild is your creative lab, support circle, and summer adventure in one!

Apply Now!

Join Serenity Cole on a journey of self-discovery, as she shares her personal story of finding solace in the natural world. Learn how to nurture your mind, body, and spirit, and unlock a deeper sense of calm, clarity, and connection with the transformative power of plants. Get ready to blossom into your fullest potential.

Interview and article by Jenny Cline featuring Serenity Cole

Full Episode on Spotify

Episode Transcript

Jenny:

Welcome to The Echo Effect. Today, we welcome Serenity Cole. As a mom and working professional, Serenity has mastered the art of prioritizing self-care in a busy world.

Inspiration recently called upon me to dig beyond surface-level self-care. I want to explore the personal practices that seemed to be taking my friends on some kind of Shamanic astral trip - in other words, how do I get to that deep state of relaxation and delight?! While not a Shaman, Serenity connects with the earth on an intimate level, even while the universe we inhabit may feel vast, inundated, yet simultaneously devoid. From her love of plants to her transcendent experiences in nature, I'm curious to learn how she taps into a deeper sense of peace and joy.

As we explore these themes, I hope to inspire our community to cultivate a stronger connection with themselves and the natural world. Connecting with a sense of oneness has the power to transcend boundaries and flourish as our most authentic selves.

So, let's get vulnerable, and weed through wilted self-care and plant something new. “Welcome, Serenity!"

Can you share with us how your passion for plants began and how it's evolved over time?

Serenity:

Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me today. I am so thrilled to share some of my experiences that I've had. My passion for plants, it actually started during the COVID pandemic.

It slowed the world down. It isolated us to our own pockets of the world. A family member suggested since I was going to be home, I should purchase plants for my patio. Initially, I declined the idea because I had a less than stellar history of taking care of plants.

With the world having slowed down, I figured, why not? I'm going to be home anyway. So I went out, I purchased about eight tropical plants. I really had expected them to all die. Most of them did, except for two that survived. What I learned with that time is I really loved being outside with plants.

When I was sitting outside on my patio, I would feel like I was in my own world. That was very reassuring. It was very peaceful. And then at the end of the next season, the plant survived. I was actually very shocked and surprised by that, it also helps to reinforce that I could be successful with plants, which was different than what I believed prior to this experience.

Jenny:

I can relate to that because. I haven't taken care of many plants. I think we overcomplicate it because it seems like there's a lot that goes into it: going to the nursery, and can you trust getting it from the corner grocery store? It's like a goldfish. You win something at the fair and pretty much are wondering, how long is this thing going to survive?

If you are not used to taking care of them, do you really invest in something from the nursery? I relate to the apprehension of, “oh gosh, this is life!” You want to see it thrive and survive. Who wants to be the culprit if it didn't make it?!

So yes, exactly.

What's it like for you to be among nature and how you experience the world around you when you're surrounded by greenery? After the pandemic, you still took care of your plants and you transitioned from having them in your home to expanding that environment. Can you tell us more about that?

Serenity:

I have always enjoyed being outside in nature. I was fortunate that I grew up in a rural area where being outside among nature, among plants, it was the norm. My family had gardens. We had farmland. Growing plants, and growing it more so for food than necessarily for connection - it taught me to have an appreciation for nature and what nature can do and provide for you.

I remember as a child, being outside was also a place that I felt free. I could run, jump, yell, scream at the top of my lungs. I was permitted to do so because I was outside.

It was a very freeing experience. But when I grew up and I moved away for college, I went to a much busier city where being outside was not the norm anymore. So I adapted to being indoors.

But nature still has that way of calling to you and beckoning to you.

As an adult, having plants inside my home, it was a way of me bringing the outside indoors with me. That has allowed me to become a lot more receptive to nature.

When I touch a leaf of a plant, for me, it feels like I'm being transported to a different space. And it's a space where I can be that child again, where I can be free. I can be at peace and the world can slow down for me.

So that is encouragement to continue to expand and invite more of nature by way of plants into my home.

Jenny:

I've read about this connection where as adults, we lose touch with, even just the feeling of taking off our shoes and our socks. Walking through a patch of grass and just feeling that connection with the earth.

Our listeners don't know this, but you and I have been to several botanical gardens, outdoor gardens, and I have seen what this transcendence looks like. It is something that, really I cannot describe with words, but I have seen it.

Right before we started this podcast, we were talking about, I'm a Harry Potter fan. So for me, I imagine it’s kind of the same experience going to Warner Brothers Studios. It's this magical experience where it makes you feel like a kid again.

For you, that's that playground, earthy experience of just feeling alive and feeling free. There is just this childlike enthusiasm that is happening for you in that moment.

I think it's something that's very accessible. Something that doesn't cost a lot of money. Doesn't take a lot of planning. It is something that we don't even have to step outside to do. That’s what we're learning today. I love that.

Obviously, your love for plants has been evident in your writing as it explores personal growth and the human experience. How do you think your relationship with plants has influenced your perspective on these topics?

More from Serenity

Serenity:

What I have found is that nurturing the plants, they've taught me how to nurture myself. When their needs are being provided, they flourish and they grow. But it does require patience. That's how I think it relates to myself.

When I have what it is that I need, I can grow. I can flourish. I can prosper. I can stretch up to the sun and spread my wings. Like how the leaves of a plant do.

Jenny:

When we have that connection with nature in our own lives, especially when we're in urban areas and green spaces might be limited, how are we supposed to cultivate that connection? What are your recommendations for that?

Serenity:

Aim to create a space to invite nature into your home. Be open with yourself to explore what that looks and feels like for you.

It might be having just one plant in your home, or it could be having 10, or it could be not plants at all. It could even be in different forms, like a picture of the ocean near a window. That way, you can go sit in that chair and look at the world outside of that window.

I think if you start doing that and start cultivating, even if it's a small little space in your home that you can connect with and represents for you, bringing sort of, like me with my plants, of being able to touch the outside from inside.

Jenny:

Our home when we lived in England, we had mint. My husband said that is something that I promise you, you cannot kill. Grows like a weed! And sure enough, it did. We just had this whole plant bed of mint. I actually felt quite proud of myself.

I was taking such good care of it. It had bloomed and blossomed into this whole bed. It pretty much grew like a weed, which I did not know. I think it took him about a year to tell me how much it could flourish on its own.

If you had any advice, what would you give to someone who wanted to tend to plants, but doesn't know where to begin?

Serenity:

Well, actually, right. How did that make you feel? It made you feel like you were a winner. Empowered. It made you feel successful and that you can do it. That you can provide for this plant in a way for it to thrive and to grow.

Taking care of plants, that is one of the ideal situations. You would start with a plant that's a little more sturdy. Mint actually might be the thing. Starting off with plants that flourish very easily, more of what they would categorize, like a weed type, because they thrive and they can adjust.

You also have to open yourself up for trial and error. The same way that you have to do in life. Some things are going to work, some things are not.

I would also say that it helps a lot starting with a plant that's already established.

What I mean by established is one that's already rooted. It's already full and big in size. It has full leaves. These plants can be considered older, so they can be more tolerant to conditional changes as you learn to take care of them.

And so it's sort of like having an older mentor that's already established. They have more patience to guide you while you learn. It's also an example of where you're trying to develop yourself to be like that mentor, or in this case, like that older plant where you want to establish yourself to be - fully rooted, large in life, with full wings that you can spread.

Jenny:

I love that idea. Could you give us some recommendations? We have mint as our apprehensive starter. You can't mess this up. I think expert level is an orchid. A lot of us are familiar with that concept.

Can you give us some intermediate, mid-level kind of ideas? Something that we could easily pick up from the grocery store.

Going to a nursery I think can also be quite intimidating, but also helpful. If you could walk us through, maybe even a challenge of going to a nursery. Do they expect you to know what you're doing when you go there? Do you find in your experience that they're quite helpful?

Can you walk us through what it's like going to a grocery store and making a selection from what's available?

And also, for those who feel up to it, what's it like going to a nursery and picking out our selections?

Serenity:

There definitely are different types of situations that you're going into, and you'll get different results.

When I purchased my tropical plants, I just went to the local Home Depot and saw a bunch of plants and said, okay, let's just try it out. I learned it can get quite expensive, especially if you're purchasing those older established plants.

I didn't initially want to make a huge investment, because I didn't know, okay, is this thing going to survive or not? I just randomly purchased things that I thought were pretty and brought them home. So that avenue of it is less daunting. It doesn't feel so intimidating.

However, going to a nursery has the bonus and the benefit of, you have a lot of help there. You have people who are very much involved and engaged with different types of plants and how to care for plants.

They can give you tips. They can give you advice. They can actually guide you and steer you towards the best type of plants for you. You can tell them what type of growing conditions you have in your home. A home that's a bit dry? High humidity? A lot of natural lighting?

Going to a nursery is beneficial in that sense of you can talk to someone there and tell them, “Hey, this is the conditions that I have.” What does that look like? What type of plants can you guide me towards?

There are some base plants that were probably better options to start with.

One of them is spider plants. Spider plants are very hardy, very sturdy. They are that weed-type plant where you get one and once you kind of learn, they just take off like your mint.

Another plant that I love is called a cast iron plant. They're very forgiving. I still have that plant today, four years going into five years later.

I recently purchased a ZZ plant. Those are actually very common to find as well. I got that from Aldi's. I think it was $10 or $15? That's an easy buy and investment.

Try not to be intimidated by going to the nursery because it is a good place for people to give you advice. They're just people who love taking care of plants. And so, they have a wealth of knowledge.

There's also apps as well. Now you can use as identifiers for the type of plant that you have. It can also diagnose conditions of what's going on and what you could do to treat the plant.

Another thing that I've gotten into is plant swaps. Plant swaps are where people take their excess plants and they trade it with someone for another plant.

Plant swaps are a lot more informal than going to a nursery. It can be in your community or your neighborhood. I go to one that's at my local library.

I love it because you're trading with someone. We both walk away with a win-win situation. That person who has been taking care of this plant can share and guide you as to what the plant is, and what those plants’ needs are. So that way you can flourish with yours as well.

Jenny:

I suppose you could also go to the nursery with a set budget and just say, this is my budget. This is what I'm looking for. These are my conditions. Hopefully, they would have something that could work. Obviously a five-dollar budget isn't going to get you very far, but if it is something that you're looking to pick up a new hobby and make an adequate investment in- I’m sure you can find something to make it work.

Well, thank you so much! I think we have some great ideas to seed. Think about how we're going to plant these. And hopefully, cultivate some new ideas as far as our self-care. And really thinking about our whole theme for February, this idea of new ways of thinking about, how we are going to love and pamper ourselves, healthy ways, and what that can look like.

So thank you so much, Serenity, for your time today. We really appreciate it. I love that idea of the swap. If one doesn't exist in your area, you can always start one of your own.

Serenity:

Absolutely. I hope I was helpful and beneficial for someone listening today. Thank you so much.

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In our Spotlight Series: Women of Influence, we shine the light on dynamic, inspiring women who embody elegance and excellence in their respective fields as they share their testimony of resilience, passion, and perseverance, showcasing the transformative power of determination and innovation.

Join me, Jenny Cline, on The Echo Effect's ‘Spotlight Series: Women of Influence,’ featuring Deanay Cox, a real estate professional who's building an empire by defying industry norms and pushing past obstacles. With a career that has laid the groundwork for excellence, Deanay's expertise in real estate, investing, and construction offers a unique perspective on navigating male-dominated industries. Join us as she shares her insights on negotiating equality, the importance of representation, and how women can build equitable partnerships to achieve their goals.

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I'm Ashley Fitzpatrick, a veteran of the US Air Force and fitness enthusiast. My unique blend of military discipline and holistic knowledge has helped me break through barriers and achieve transformative results. Discover the exact strategies I use to build unstoppable resilience, overcome self-doubt, and achieve my most ambitious goals. Get ready to reboot your resolutions and unlock a stronger, healthier, and more confident you!

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January has come and gone. So, it's time to assess our progress on those New Year's resolutions. Maybe you're crushing your goals, or perhaps you're struggling to stay on track. Either way, it's time for a mission reboot! Join us as we chat with Ashley Fitzpatrick, a veteran of the US Air Force who's on a mission to help you transform your wellness journey. Drawing on her military experience and expertise in healthy living, Ashley will share inspiring insights and practical advice to help you overcome obstacles and reach your full potential.

Interview Transcript

Jenny:

Okay. So Ashley, how did your military experience influence your approach to wellness?

Ashley:

Honestly, the military built my whole mindset around discipline and consistency. With being in the Air Force, it's all about performing your best every single day.

That kind of routine, it just stuck with me. I approach fitness and wellness the same exact way now, till this day, even with me being out of the military. It's not about waiting for motivation to hit. It's about building habits that keep Me going every single day. There are days that I don't feel like working out.

I feel like that's just completely normal to everyone, it's just staying consistent, making sure that you show up every single day is what matters.

Jenny:

I'm definitely guilty of that.

I just this morning looked at my gym equipment and I don't have far to go, so I've made it pretty easy on myself. And still the motivation, I use it as a scapegoat to go, you know, it's a little cold today, maybe not today. Is that a headache I feel coming on? Maybe tomorrow. And I think that's really interesting when you say not waiting for motivation to hit.

When you feel that lack of motivation pulling you in the opposite direction, what is your recommendation for getting over that hurdle? I mean, in the literal sense and, uh, metaphorically, for not buying into the excuse of not today.

Ashley:

So, over the years, with me working out, I've had a lot of friends, cousins, and family members always asking me, how do you go to the gym every single day?

It's sometimes so daunting, like it's a daunting task that you just don't want to do. You're exhausted from working, you're exhausted from running errands, and you just want to just go home, sit on the couch, relax, put your feet up. At the end of the day, you have a goal, whether it's to lose weight, to gain weight, build muscle, whatever it is, you just have to keep that in the back of your mind and just say, “what am I doing to meet that goal?”

Sitting on the couch is not going to allow you to meet that goal. So let's just say an example. Today. Whatever happened, whatever obstacles, you're just so exhausted and you just feel like you can't make it do five pushups, 10 sit ups before you even get in the shower and just make sure that whatever is going on in the day you show up.

It's hard. No matter what you do every day, you're not going to be motivated, and that's just the reality of it. There's nothing that's going to push you physically to get up and go. It's something that’s a mindset. You have to do something, even if it's so small, to get a little bit closer to your goal.

Jenny:

That makes it sound more manageable.

And I like how you say the word daunting, because I mean, just someone who loves fitness, it's something that they look forward to and it's a motivating fact. But I think for other people, like you said, that's not a routine yet, it's something that you're starting out. It's not yet a habit.

Maybe that's not a motivator for us. It's something that…we're trying to build those practices. I think what stuck with me when you said try to do five push-ups, five sit ups, something to get you towards your goal, because doing nothing will achieve nothing. It's kind of like, pick up five things when you leave a room.

You can do that. You know, I may not feel like doing spring cleaning this Saturday and overhauling my entire, house just to get it ready for a big purge. But, I can pick up five things when I leave the room and put it away. And that's what that sounded like to me. So, very manageable.

And it doesn't seem like I have to climb Mount Everest by the end of the month. All I have to do is just one foot in front of the other, and that sounds like something where I don't have any excuses that I can't manage that.

So to make it fun, how can we reboot our resolutions and get back on track when we encounter setbacks or plateaus? And I know we touched on this a little bit, but I want to hear it from a military perspective.

Ashley:

In the new year, It's normal. Everyone has their resolution of: I'm getting back in the gym.

And once it gets towards the end of the month, you look back and you're like, I really didn't make it to the gym that much as I thought I would. Setbacks are normal. It's part of the process. People think progress is just a straight line. But in reality, it's a roller coaster. You're going to have your ups and downs.

Some days are going to be great. Some days are not. The key to getting back on track is resetting your mindset and approach. There are four important points to achieving your goal.

The first is re-evaluate your goal. Sit back, think about what's going to help you get to that big goal. Is your goal too big? Is it too vague? Do you need to make adjustments to be more realistic and break that down into smaller steps to be able to achieve the goal?

Second is focus on consistency over perfection. Missing a workout or eating off your nutrition plan isn't failure. What matters is what you do next. So, let's say your workout plan is five days a week, but you only made it four days, you know, Monday through Friday.

So, guess what? Try to sacrifice your Saturday and get in the gym. Do that extra little workout. Let's say that you are eating great Monday through Friday and one day you accidentally have a cheat day and it's off your nutrition plan. What do we do? Just make sure that the next day you eat great.

The third one would be: change things up.

If you hit a plateau, that means your body has adapted and you need to mix things up. Try a different workout, change your nutrition, add some more rest days. Your body needs a shock and you need to change your routine. I personally change my workout routines every two months.

If you get tired of what you're eating, make sure you look up new recipes. It's so easy with Pinterest, chat GPT, you can chat GPT things that you have in your pantry and it'll make a list for you. So, there's no excuses. And just don't get complacent.

The most important final thing is give yourself grace. Nobody is perfect. Keep showing up. Don't let your excuses get in the way because you will never meet your goal that way.

Jenny:

That word ‘excuses’ is coming up quite a bit, and it kind of leads me to my next question. Does accountability play in achieving wellness goals and how can we leverage support systems to stay motivated?

You just mentioned Pinterest and AI helping us with staying on track with our nutrition and those are great tools to help us out through the week. Do you have any recommendations on not necessarily being codependent on a partner to get us to the gym (I'm not talking about myself)… Uh, what are your thoughts around that?

Ashley:

So, there's a few things. Accountability is huge - it keeps you from ghosting your goals. It is easy to make excuses when no one is watching. But when you do have people checking in on you sometimes, it's more likely that you follow through. So, let's say, for some people this may be an option, for others may not:

Finding a gym buddy or an online community, knowing someone else is counting on you makes a huge difference. I, in the past, have used trainers (and I still have a trainer currently only because sometimes I have issues with my accountability) and using a gym buddy or a trainer in a sense, is going to hold you accountable to showing up in the gym.

There were days where I would tell a friend of mine, I'm just so sorry. I had so many things going on today. I don't think that I'll be able to make it to the gym. My friend would be, “hey, I'm at the gym. Figure it out.” And it was amazing. Because it pushed me, even if I didn't want to.

Another would be track your progress. It could be many ways, whether it's the fitness app, a journal, weekly check-ins. Just so you can see how far you have come in your process.

I take weekly pictures at the end of the week, and to me, I love doing that because your eye may not be able to see the physical change. But when you have photos, over time, you're able to see the progress that you've made. Oh, my arms look a bit stronger and defined. Or my waist looks slimmer. Whatever your goals are, you're able to see that over time.

And your goals - telling people what they are makes them real. Having someone in your corner, they're hyping you up saying: “How's everything going with the gym? I noticed that you look a little bit more tone.” So being more vocal about it also helps.

Jenny:

What was the transition for you like, where before you had accountability and an expectation that you had standards to meet.

Someone was monitoring your progress, and maybe you can explain this better. But when you have standards as far as weight and minimum requirements for fitness, and there were accountability partners - just by default as far as group physical fitness, explain what that was like to be in the military - be part of a community. And now out on your own where no one's telling you what that standard is anymore and there's no mandatory.

Ashley:

Before joining the military, I couldn't even do a push-up. And it freaked me out because I knew that was part of being in the military and the standards that needed to be met.

So, when I went through basic, that's the majority of what you're doing. You are working out every single day and building yourself. That is what started my journey of loving fitness. Once I was through basic training and tech school, all we did was work out and I fell in love with it. Into my military career, as you said, there are standards that need to be met every year.

It held me accountable I had to make sure I was fit throughout the years to meet those standards. Now that I am out, you're correct. I don't have anybody to technically be accountable of what I'm doing every day, but one thing that has stuck with me my entire life and still to this day is my grandmother.

She is 94 years old. We used to tell her all the time, you should take it easy. You should relax. And she said, which stuck with me, “si te sientas, te mueres.” Which is in translation, “if you sit down, you die.” And she used to always tell us, you have to keep moving. You have to keep your body going. The moment you get older and you start sitting down and relaxing, that's it. That's when your body starts to deteriorate. That just keeps me moving every single day.

Jenny:

I think that's kind of the opposite of what we're encouraged to do, because our society in America, at least, is just this nine to five hustle that's never a nine to five. It can typically be more like a seven to seven at best, and then there's all these responsibilities at home.

So, when you finally get this opportunity to relax and chill, not that that is bad, but I think maybe we should start looking at what do we consider relaxing? What do we consider as taking a moment for self-care and pause? I think we need to make sure that those things are actually caring for ourselves and not doing more harm than good. Because a lot of this chill mentality is not doing us any favors.

It's one thing at a holiday time and watch a family movie together. But when that becomes where we're sitting in front of the television every night and watching a movie together instead of doing something more active…why aren't we having dinner and then going for a walk like a lot of cultures do?

They sit down for mealtime. They all prepare the meal together. Then they go for an evening walk together. They may come back and play games. There are more things that we could be doing, like you said, to stay active than this. The definition of rest that we have kind of taken advantage of that concept, and given it something that I think it was never intended to be, and we've manipulated it into something…

Well, “I deserve this,” and I think what we need to think about - is what is good for our bodies? What does it truly deserve? I think we need to consider the fact that what our bodies are deserving of is things that are good for it for the long term, not just what feels good in the moment.

And if we change our way of thinking, like you said, our mindset about that, what can feel good in the moment can be retrained. We can reframe our thinking about what feels good.

And what's one crucial piece of advice you'd give to someone who is struggling to make progress on their wellness journey?

Ashley:

Stop over complicating it. Progress isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about doing something consistent. Start small with walking more, drinking more water, getting enough sleep.

Sleep is important for recovery. Once those habits stick, build from there.

An example: if your goal is to build muscle and eat healthier, start with baby steps. Track what you're eating for about a week. Don't even start working out yet. If you try to do everything at once, you start to get overwhelmed.

At the end of the week, reevaluate your foods, what you have consumed. Are you eating enough protein? Are you meeting your calorie goals? Are you eating too many calories?

Make changes and the following week, start easy and light in the gym. Keep up with your nutrition and also incorporate your gym routine. Make sure you show up every day, get yourself into a routine, and let your body know, “hey, we're doing this!”

We are showing up every day. We’re going to start eating healthy, and we're going to start working out. Over time, these small changes add up. Before you know it, you're getting stronger, you're getting healthier, and you're getting closer to your goals.

And most importantly, don't compare yourself or your journey to anyone else's. Your progress is your own. As long as you're moving forward, you're winning.

Jenny:

That sounds like it's not just getting your body to accept the changes that are happening by going about it that way. But also allowing your mind to accept - we're making changes. Because as humans, we can be very averse to change. And so introducing it in this way - that is allowing time for acceptance.

I think it's something that we can start to wrap our heads around and say, okay, we're going at a pace that I understand that I can adjust to, and maybe we won't be so quick to jump ship. I know you're Air Force, so maybe, but, uh, yes.

So thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and imparting your techniques to us so that we might have some success that you have had with your wellness journey, and hopefully incorporate some of these practices into our own fitness journeys as well. So that we can maybe have some results that we're all aiming to have so, uh, we'll continue to “Aim High” [United States Air Force mantra].

Thank you so much Ashley!

Ashley:

No, thank you for having me.

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Interview by Ashely Fitzpatrick

What happens when a former government employee trades protocol for freedom of speech?

What will she reveal as she sets down the pen and picks up the mic?

Get ready for a rare glimpse into the introverted world of the Editor-in-Chief of Echoes & Vine Magazine and her mission for the role.

In this episode: editor-in-chief of Echoes & Vine Magazine, Jenny Cline, shares her journey and vision for the Arbor of the Vine community

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Beyond the Byline

(interview transcript)

Where did you get your start in the industry?

From the moment I began my career in editorial in 2005 at American Lawer Media, to my most recent role as a Program Coordinator with the United States Air Force, my journey has been defined by a continuous quest for excellence and innovation. These diverse experiences have equipped me with a unique skill set and a profound understanding of the multifaceted world of business and marketing. Now, as Editor-In-Chief for the new quarterly magazine, I am filled with enthusiasm and anticipation for the opportunities that lie ahead.

How did you grow into your role?

During my tenure at ALM, I honed my editorial skills and developed a keen eye for detail, which laid the foundation for my career in communications. Transitioning to radio with Clear Channel Broadcasting further broadened my horizons, allowing me to explore the dynamic world of media and entertainment. Here, I learned the importance of audience engagement and the power of storytelling, elements that are crucial for an editorial team. These early experiences were instrumental in shaping my professional journey and instilling in me a passion for creating impactful content.

Have you worked in any other field?

My role as a global brand ambassador for several leading international companies was a pivotal phase of my career. Representing these brands on a global stage for six years required not only a deep understanding of brand identity, but also the ability to adapt and connect with diverse audiences. This experience taught me the nuances of brand management and the significance of maintaining a consistent brand voice across different markets. It was a challenging, yet rewarding experience that significantly enhanced my communication and leadership skills.

What prepared you the most for where you are now?

The most transformative chapter of my career, however, has been my role as a Program Coordinator with the United States Air Force. Leading specialized teams in policy, finance, and education required a high level of strategic planning, coordination, and leadership. This role allowed me to develop a holistic understanding of organizational dynamics and the importance of cohesive team effort in achieving organizational goals. The skills I acquired here – from ethics, to project management, security and policy compliance – will undoubtedly prove beneficial in the start-up of this new venture.

What kind of Editor-In-Chief will you be?

Looking ahead, my work experience and future plans are centered around leading a holistic publication that does more than just inform – it connects, inspires, and transforms. As Editor-In-Chief, I envision a collaborative and inclusive editorial process that empowers diverse voices. Our initiative aims to redefine storytelling through a fresh, inclusive lens and create content that resonates personally with our members. This venture is a testament to our collective dedication and cultivated spirit, and I am committed to ensuring its success.

What can we expect for the publication?

Our publication will offer partnership opportunities in trends, culture, and impactful stories of the finest quality. By delivering innovative storytelling formats and leveraging multimedia, we aim to create immersive content that captivates our audience. Our commitment to transparency and ethical journalism will ensure that we provide credible, engaging, and thought-provoking content. Together, we can create a narrative landscape that reflects the world we envision – and inspires through the art of storytelling.

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Her Centerfold

Jenny Cline:

Sometimes we feel very alone and isolated on these journeys. We hear advice where we say, if you're going to work on something, keep it to yourself, wait till you achieve your goals and keep it close to the chest because you don't know what kind of negative energy will come your way or people will shoot your ideas down.

But I think the idea of telling a safe network, people that would push you to succeed, that are rooting for you, I really like that idea of involving them because there's a certain level of accountability there, but also making something fun. As Americans, I think we put our nose to the grind so much that we lose steam when we start to try to do something new.

And then it's even harder when it's something that we're unfamiliar with.

Judy Lee: So I didn't tell all my friends in the beginning. Because I didn't know if I was even able to do the job, right? So, I did actually wait a year before I told my friends. I did wait, but what I did was...

Welcome to The Echo Effect, the official podcast of the Echoes & Vine magazine. I'm Jenny Cline, Editor-in-Chief and your host. In each episode, we invite you into authentic conversations with inspiring women, whose diverse backgrounds embody elegance, resilience, and purpose. Together, we explore personal stories, hard-earned wisdom, and graceful approaches to self-improvement.

Our guests share wisdom on everything from elevated living to shaping culture through the arts, leadership, and community - celebrating the beauty and resilience that women bring to all they do. Whether you're a student, homemaker, retiring professional, or simply a seeker of inspiration, The Echo Effect is here to connect you to a community of women on this journey of elegant transformation.

Join us to be uplifted, empowered, and inspired by voices that celebrate elegance in all its forms.

BREAK:

Do you want to grab coffee outside the office?

Actually, I attend this motivational group, Morning Coffee, and it's my weekly pick me up. We meet Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. It's like one big coffee date with women from all over the world.

That sounds amazing. How do I join?

Just buy me a coffee.

Morning Coffee.

Fueling growth and connection, one cup at a time.

Visit buymeacoffee.com/morningcoffeemeetings

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