Al Carraway is the author of the best-selling books, “Wildly Optimistic,” “More Than the Tattooed Mormon,” and “Cheers to Eternity!” She has spent the last 10 years traveling worldwide, inspiring others to love life, even through difficult times. Her passion is to tell everyone that happiness exists, and it comes from loving yourself and keeping faith in a Higher Power, through the hard, in the unwanted, and the unexpected times. Because through it all, we have every reason to be wildly optimistic. 2016 — Woman + Biz Award. 2014 — Donald C. Sloan Speech Award. Al is authentic, vulnerable and inspiring. We hope you enjoy this episode! Please rate, review and share with a friend! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

In Nikki’s own words, "I lived a fluffy cloud life...until I didn't."  She grew up in a happy family and experienced people as mostly good and life as mostly wonderful.  When she learned, as a young mother of two, that her husband had a serious drug problem, her world began to crumble. It was after her first divorce, that she went back to school to become a therapist (and yes, I said first divorce... a second was in her not-so-distant future). She had many dark days; many cry-in-my-closet nights, and many times when she could not see how she would make it through one more day.  AND YET, SOMEHOW SHE MADE IT THROUGH.  AND SO WILL YOU, whatever you are going through. Join Niki Bennett as she talks with Nikki Harmon about divorce(s), determining who you really are and creating your own story to realize your destiny.   You can find more about Nikki Harmon and connect with her at https://nikkiharmontherapy.com/about   You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please, please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

Today’s guest is Seth King, who describes himself as “Just a dad with good handwriting trying his very best.” I have been to Seth’s local comedy improv show, “The Sock Puppets” and have followed his instagram account for the past couple of years, where I have been wildly entertained by his antics - dressing up as - and actually becoming - hilarious characters as he drives carpool to school with his teenage daughter, writing his children hilarious excuses for being late to school and the latest, filming his wife as “Ambien Angie,” where she unknowingly participates as different TV characters from the 70’s and 80’s, while she is taking Ambien for a short period of time to deal with the after effects of Covid-19. Seth has a gift for making people laugh and also the courage to speak his truths about dealing with mental health issues. If you’re not already familiar with him on social media, check out “Late Notes” on Instagram.  You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

Being born with one hand has never stopped Sharie from accomplishing her goals. From playing the violin and piano to mastering incredible hairstyles and working in a factory making bath bombs or conquering her fears by learning to swim as an adult, Sharie never stops learning, growing and CONQUERING. Listen in, as she shares her story of love, loss and overcoming obstacles. (Spoiler alert: her one handedness isn’t one of them!) You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

Mary Martin is an extraordinary example of turning tragedies into triumphs. Listen in, as she shares her heartbreaking story of being diagnosed with a debilitating disease at the height of her dancing career and how she has learned to deal with the obstacles that she faces every day. Her story will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

Kirk Voss is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Since 2006, he has worked with individuals, couples and families to heal and address a variety of emotional and relational issues. Kirk believes that what often brings clients to therapy is their loss of balance - clients either desire to attain a personal balance of positive well-being, or to restore the balance which as been lost. In this episode, Kirk discusses the underlying core needs behind all of our emotional challenges and brings solutions for relationship hurdles. Don’t miss this one!! You can find more about Kirk Voss at his website https://kirkvosstherapy.com/.  Kirk also runs an excellent podcast called EmotionalAlly that we highly recommend.  Check it out wherever you get your podcast or at https://kirkvosstherapy.com/podcast-page You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

*PARENTAL GUIDANCE: Santa spoiler included as part of one of Richard's stories!*  Each of us has a story.  Most contain common features - adventure, some sort of crisis, a struggle, learning, growth and ultimately, triumph over adversity. Just last week, I took on a challenge to write my autobiography in one page. I cheated. I wrote two pages. It was difficult to sum up a lifetime of challenges and opportunities that have molded me into who I am today; or at least, who I think I am. As I pondered over the experiences that have transformed me, challenged me or made a difference in my life, I noticed something. All of those experiences were very difficult. Infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, divorce, betrayal - painful, painful things to go through. And yet, those experiences each brought with them a message. That I CAN. That I am not what happens to me. That time truly does heal. And that there is always, always hope. I'm kicking off season two with one of my personal hero's - Richard Paul Evans.  His story is nothing short of amazing (and I'll bet it's one you haven't heard before). Richard is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels. There are currently more than thirty-five million copies of his books in print worldwide, translated into more than twenty-four languages. Richard has won several esteemed awards and is the founder of, “The Christmas Box International,” an organization devoted to maintaining emergency children’s shelters and providing services and resources for abused, neglected or homeless children, teens and young adults.  You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

In this episode, the backseat drivers discuss the difficult and sometimes painful process of decision making. Don’t miss the crucial ending, and don’t worry, Backseat Driver is here to stay. More episodes coming soon! You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend!  P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show.   Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions.  Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

Even therapists need therapy! Have you ever wondered if your therapist has a therapist?  Have you ever wanted to listen in on one of their sessions?  Now's your chance!  Listen in as Mark counsels Niki on breaking her addiction to the small screen and then Niki counsels Mark on breaking his addiction to perfectionism.    You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message

By simplifying and organizing your life to include what is essential and eliminating what is not, you can create a life that is built around meaning and purpose.  Join the Backseat Drivers, Niki and Mark, for a discussion with Anna McKeown and learn more about Essentialism and how you can apply it to improve your life and relationships.   Get started by taking the Essentialism Quiz at https://gregmckeown.com/quiz/ Anna McKeown is an accomplished actress, mother, wife, homeschool headmistress and an early influencer of the 'Essentialism' movement.  Anna is married to Greg McKeown author of the New York Times bestselling book 'Essentialism - The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.  Find out more about Essentialism at https://essentialism.com/ or buy Greg McKeown's book at https://amzn.to/3bZDPXv.  Greg just released a 21 Day Essentialism Challenge for $49. You can get this for free if you buy the recently released paperback of Essentialism at https://amzn.to/3bZDPXv.  You can connect with Niki Bennett at https://www.ascentcoachingandtherapy.com/ P.S. If you like this podcast, please share it with a friend! P.P.S. Please please (pretty) please leave us a review on iTunes!  Your reviews help others find out about our show. Contact us at [email protected] with show ideas or questions. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/backseatdriver/message