The Well-Tended Life

Keri Wilt
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Well-Tended Life Podcast is all about intentional living, that’s inspired by my great-great-grandmother’s classic book “The Secret Garden”. A Well-Tended Life is not a set it and forget it life, nor is it a perfect life. It is worked on every day, in the sunshine and through the storms. And the truth is, what worked in our life-gardens last season, may not work in the next. That’s why here at The Well-Tended Life Podcast, we interview people who have grown and bloomed true in a variety of seasons and are willing to share their well-tended wisdom and weed-whacking advice with us!This season we are going to talk about: Rest, Fear, Addiction, Busyness, Growth, grief, Friendship, Relationships, Time Management, Self Care, Pivots, Expectations, Wandering, Gratitude, Overcoming, Hard Work, Goals/Intentions, Relationships, Health, Fitness, Change, Secrets, Letting Go, and so much More! So, meet me back here each week and we will dig in together to discover what’s keeping you locked up tighter than The Secret Garden and unearth the tools that will keep you growing and blooming through every season.“Where you tend a rose…a thistle cannot grow.” - The Secret Garden

  1. FEB 18

    Episode 83: Permission to Pause with Karen Bartholomew

    In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with coach, speaker, and founder of the PAUSE Method, Karen Bartholomew, for a powerful conversation about slowing down in a world that constantly pushes us to perform. Karen shares her deeply personal journey — from feeling invisible as a child, to becoming a high-achieving single mom running on empty, to finally reaching a breaking point that forced her to ask: Who am I beneath all of this doing? What followed was a courageous season of stepping back, unraveling old stories, and redesigning her life from the inside out. Out of that transformation came her 5-step PAUSE Method — a framework that helps women recognize patterns, untangle past conditioning, shift limiting narratives, and embody a new way of being. We talk about: 🌿 The courage it takes to slow down 🌿 Why we teach people how to treat us 🌿 The difference between masculine striving and feminine receiving 🌿 Letting go of relationships that no longer fit your season 🌿 How to ask, “What do I need right now?” — and actually listen 🌿 Why peace isn’t something you chase, but something you choose Karen reminds us that slowing down isn’t falling behind — it’s catching up to who you were always meant to be. 💛 Here are a few heart taps from this episode: 1️⃣ You don’t need a crisis to deserve a pause. 2️⃣ Slowing down is courageous — it means choosing truth over performance. 3️⃣ We often live inside stories that are no longer true. 4️⃣ Awareness is the first step to freedom. 5️⃣ You can redesign your next chapter at any time. 6️⃣ Peace isn’t something you earn — it’s something you choose. 7️⃣ Ask yourself daily: Is this aligned with the life I’m creating? If you’ve been running on empty, managing everyone else’s needs, or craving space to simply breathe and be — this episode is your invitation to pause. Connect with Karen Bartholomew: Website: https://karenbartholomew.com Instagram & Facebook: @karenbartholomew A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    1h 1m

  2. JAN 21

    Episode 82: Hope All the Way Through with Theo Boyd

    In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with author and grief advocate Theo Boyd to talk about the kind of loss that changes everything—and the kind of hope that meets you there anyway. Theo shares the story behind her books My Grief Is Not Like Yours and her follow-up USA Today best seller, Hope All the Way—including the tragic loss of her mother, the complicated layers that followed, and how she began journaling her way through the unthinkable. We talk about why grief shouldn’t be compared, why so many people feel pressure to “move on,” and what it looks like to hold sorrow and strength in the same hands. We also explore the “signs” Theo began noticing in the darkest moments (including one unforgettable detail she calls Peanut Shells)—and how those sacred little reminders became anchors of comfort, faith, and healing. If you’ve ever wondered, Am I crazy for noticing this?, you are going to feel so seen. This conversation is tender, honest, and deeply practical—full of permission to be sad, tools for walking alongside others, and encouragement to tend to your own heart first. 💛 Here are a few heart taps from this episode: 1️⃣ Grief is not a competition—the hardest loss is the one you’re living. 2️⃣ Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is simply show up and sit—no fixing required. 3️⃣ Don’t ask, “How can I help?” Offer something specific: groceries, laundry, a walk, a nap. 4️⃣ If you don’t deal with grief, it will deal with you—often later, and often louder. 5️⃣ Hope is still here… but we have to open our eyes to see it. 6️⃣ “My hobby is my health” might be the most life-giving reframe you’ll hear all week. 7️⃣ Healing often starts with one simple practice: breathe. If you’re walking through loss—or loving someone who is—press play. This episode is a reminder that even in barren seasons, something beautiful can still grow. Connect with Theo Boyd: Website: thinktheo.com Email: info@thinktheo.com Social: @thinktheo (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads) Thelizabeth “Theo” Boyd was born and raised on a farm in Whitney, Texas, named after her grandmothers Thelma and Elizabeth. Known as “Theo” since middle school, she began writing poems with her father and learning resilience from her mother. She pursued higher education later in life, becoming a high school English and Creative Writing teacher—earning “Rookie Teacher of the Year” her first year—and contributing as a newspaper column. Her upcoming book, Hope All The Way: Discovering Divine Signs in Life After Loss A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    1h 1m

  3. 11/26/2025

    Episode 81: Feel It, Don’t Fear It with Alyssa Scarano

    In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with trauma-informed therapist and founder of The Collective Therapy & Wellness, Alyssa Scarano. Together, we explore one of the most transformative truths of tending your life: when you heal yourself, you expand your capacity to heal the world around you. Alyssa shares how her own story—through art, writing, therapy, motherhood, and advocacy—shaped the way she views emotions not as problems to fix, but as signals to listen to. She offers powerful analogies (think Spidey senses and dashboard warning lights) that help us see our feelings as guides toward boundaries, needs, and deeper self-connection. We also talk about emotional regulation (for us and our kids), the difference between thoughts and feelings, how social media keeps us distracted and disconnected, and why it’s time to retire the “good girl” and start using our true voice. Alyssa also opens up about parenting a neurodivergent child, broken systems, and the courage it takes to keep advocating while still choosing ease and joy where she can. 💛 Here are a few heart taps from this episode: 1️⃣ Your emotions aren’t inconveniences—they’re information. 2️⃣ Big feelings need calm, not correction. 3️⃣ You always have a choice in how you respond. 4️⃣ Boundaries are an act of self-love and self-preservation. 5️⃣ Healing your inner child changes how you show up for others. If your heart needs permission to feel, breathe, and come back home to yourself, this conversation will meet you right where you are. About Alyssa Scarano: The Collective Therapy & Wellness—Online Therapy & Coaching A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    54 min

  4. 10/22/2025

    Episode 80: Goodness That Grows with Mary Latham

    In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with storyteller and kindness champion Mary Latham, founder of the nonprofit More Good Today. After losing her incredibly optimistic mother, Mary set out on a cross-country journey to gather stories of goodness—and what she discovered changed her life. Over the course of three years and 43 states, Mary stayed with strangers and collected hundreds of real-life stories of human kindness. Her mission? To bring hope into hospital waiting rooms and remind us all that light still exists—even in our darkest moments. Our conversation dives into grief, goodness, and what it really means to be present for one another. Mary shares how listening without judgment, giving your time freely, and choosing to see the good can quite literally transform a life—starting with your own. This episode is a gentle, powerful nudge to slow down, look up, and love people better. 💛 Here are a few heart taps from this episode: 1️⃣ Sometimes, grief becomes the unexpected push that leads us into our most extraordinary purpose. 2️⃣ Despite what the headlines say—there are more kind and decent people in the world than we often realize. 3️⃣ Everyone you meet is carrying something. Let’s never assume otherwise. 4️⃣ A single act of kindness can echo through someone’s life for years—sometimes even decades. 5️⃣ Are we truly listening? In a noisy world, real connection starts with being fully present. 6️⃣ It’s okay if someone isn’t as present as we wish. Let’s meet them with grace—and lovingly invite them back to the moment. So if your heart needs a reminder that goodness still grows, this episode is for you. Hit play and soak in this beautiful, hope-filled conversation. Connect with Mary Latham: In 2016, Mary Latham set out in her late mother’s Subaru, "Old Blue," on a cross-country journey to collect stories of human kindness from all 50 U.S. states. Over three years and 43,000 miles, she stayed in 154 strangers’ homes and shared her mission -More Good- at schools, churches, and community groups. Her journey gained national attention on platforms like MSNBC, The Today Show, and The Washington Post. Now the founder of More Good Today Inc., Mary is writing a book of these stories to donate to hospital waiting rooms and continues speaking to inspire hope and unity across the country. Website: https://www.moregood.today/ A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    46 min

  5. 09/01/2025

    Episode 79: Honoring dreams. Healing grief. Living fully. With Laura Carney

    In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with writer and bucket-list finisher Laura Carney for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about saying yes to life—even in the wake of loss. When Laura found her late father’s handwritten bucket list—left unfinished after his sudden death at age 54—she made a bold decision: she would complete it for him. What started as a tribute to his life turned into a powerful journey of healing, self-discovery, and joy. Together, we explore the ways that tending to our own dreams can also help us tend to our grief, how rest and fun can be sacred acts of growth, and how surrendering to life’s callings can lead us exactly where we’re meant to be. This episode is full of soul-stretching wisdom and reminders that living with intention doesn’t always mean doing big things—it’s about listening to your heart, choosing joy, and believing that you are worthy of both healing and happiness. 💫 Here are a few heart taps from this episode: 1️⃣ Laura shared vulnerably about fearing she was like her dad in the ways she didn’t want to be—until she realized she’d been seeing him only through the eyes of her childhood. 2️⃣ If you’ve forgotten that life is meant to be fun—pause and ask yourself: what are you even doing? 3️⃣ Your bucket list doesn’t have to be epic. Sometimes the smallest longings are the ones your soul most needs you to honor. 4️⃣ Don’t work for rest. Work from rest. 💛 So grab your journal and open your heart—this episode is an invitation to live more fully, tend more gently, and say yes to the life that’s calling you. Hit play now—you don’t want to miss this one. Learn more about Laura here: https://myfatherslist.com/ A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    1h 10m

  6. 08/27/2025

    Episode 78: Forget the Fairytale: Rewriting the Stories That Hold Us Back with Deb Miller

    In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with Deb Miller—author, professor, grandmother, and truth-teller—for an honest and inspiring conversation about rewriting the stories we’ve been handed and daring to create a new kind of happily ever after. Deb’s memoir Forget the Fairytale is both a personal journey and a call to women everywhere to release outdated scripts about who we should be, what a “good girl” does, and where our worth comes from. Through her own experiences of heartbreak, resilience, reinvention, and joy, she shows us how forgetting the fairytale can actually be the beginning of living more freely, authentically, and happily. We talk about the cultural conditioning that keeps women small, the power of claiming our own stories, and how even Disney princesses have evolved from damsels in distress to warriors of their own destiny. Deb also shares the tender wisdom of her daughter’s words, her reflections on motherhood and career pivots, and why choosing happiness is not only possible but powerful. Whether you’re navigating divorce, reinvention, or simply ready to stop living by someone else’s rules, this conversation will stir your courage, spark your imagination, and remind you that it’s never too late to write a new story. ✨ Here are a few Heart Taps from this episode: 1️⃣ Fairytales reflect culture—but they don’t have to define your life. You can change the story and the ending. 2️⃣ Happiness isn’t about circumstances—it’s about the choices we make every day. 3️⃣ Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is show your kids (and yourself) what strength looks like. 4️⃣ Transformation often starts with a moment—whether it feels like a slap in the face or an unexpected epiphany. 5️⃣ Forgetting the fairytale doesn’t mean giving up hope; it means creating your own version of happily ever after. 🌸 So grab your journal and settle in—this is a conversation about courage, freedom, and finding joy in the story you choose to tell. CONNECT WITH DEB HERE:  https://forgetthefairytale.net/ A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    51 min

  7. 07/09/2025

    Episode 77: Healing, Horses, and Honoring Your Season with Sue Willoughby

    In this episode of The Well-Tended Life podcast, I sit down with transformational coach and equine-guided wisdom sharer Sue Willoughby for a beautiful conversation about growth, presence, and the unexpected power of horses in the healing journey. With roots in many paths and a deep passion for helping others navigate life transitions, Sue brings a gentle yet powerful presence to her work. Through her equine-assisted coaching practice, she invites people to connect with themselves in a whole new way—by learning from the intuitive, non-verbal, deeply perceptive nature of horses. We talk about the importance of play, curiosity, and learning to accept and adapt to the seasons of our lives. Sue also shares her personal journaling practices, her thoughts on gratitude, and how mindfulness—especially when paired with equine wisdom—can lead to lasting transformation. Whether you’re in a season of transition, seeking a deeper connection to yourself, or just curious about how animals can help us heal, this conversation will stir your spirit and offer gentle guidance. 🐴 Here are a few heart taps from this episode: 1️⃣ Horses are powerful mirrors. Their natural sensitivity and herd instincts help us recognize what we might be missing—and open the door to transformation. 2️⃣ Equine coaching isn’t about the horse. It’s about you—and how the horse reflects your strengths, struggles, and spirit. 3️⃣ Let play be a part of your practice. It’s as essential to growth as work and rest. 4️⃣ Journaling can anchor your week and awaken gratitude. It’s a tool for tending, not just tracking. 5️⃣ Life has seasons. When we stop resisting and start listening, we can move through them with grace. 🌾 So grab your journal and open your heart—this episode is full of soulful reminders and unexpected wisdom from the pasture. Hit play and let your journey unfold. Connect with Sue Willoughby: Willoughby Coaching A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    53 min

  8. 05/28/2025

    Episode 76: The Thoughts That Changed Everything with Judith Belmont

    Have you ever stopped to think about the power of a single thought? Not just the passing kind, but the ones that shape your beliefs, your reactions, your inner world? In this episode of The Well-Tended Life, I sit down with author, psychotherapist, and emotional wellness expert Judith Belmont to explore the life-changing power of tending to your thoughts. With over 40 years of experience in the mental health field and 11 books under her belt, including her latest 110 CBT Tips and Tools, Judith shares simple, practical strategies to shift the way we think, feel, and live. We dig into the core of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), talk journaling as a transformational practice, and learn how reframing regret, embracing self-compassion, and being flexible in our thinking can help us bloom in even the toughest seasons. Here are just a few heart taps from this episode: The quality of your thoughts determines the quality of your life. Period.Regret can keep us trapped in the past—but it can also reveal what matters most to us.Journaling isn’t just for venting—it’s a tool for reflection, reframing, and healing.We confuse thoughts and feelings all the time, and that confusion can keep us stuck.Positive reframing doesn’t erase the past—it gives it a new, empowering narrative.If your mental garden feels overgrown with stress, perfectionism, or self-doubt, this episode is your invitation to start weeding with love, one thought at a time. Connect with Judith Belmont: With over 40 years of experience in the mental health field, Judith Belmont is a leading voice in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). She’s the author of 11 books, including her newest release, 110 CBT Tips and Tools, packed with actionable strategies for managing anxiety and depression. Judith shares how blending breathwork with cognitive techniques can offer powerful new pathways to intentional living, perfectly aligning with the heart of The Well-Tended Life.  Learn More About Judith HERE: www.belmontwellness.com Order her book here: 110 CBT TIPS and Tools: Proven Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Strategies for Working Through Anxiety, Depression, Perfectionism, Anger, Regret, Stress, and A Whole New Way To Journal Interested in learning more about my life-tending journal process? Click Here for Your Free Life-Tending Journal Template CULTIVATE U: A Life Changing  6-Week Virtual Masterclass THIS IS YOUR SEASON. It’s time to CULTIVATE U: to water YOUR dreams, to unearth YOUR gifts, and finally tend to YOUR relationships, weeds, and needs. Are you exhausted from watering everyone and everything else but you? Could your life, dreams, or relationships use some tending? Would you like to start living a life with less anxiety and more intention? Then click here for info on the next masterclass!  Speaking Of Are you looking for a unique speaker? I would love to be a part of your next event! Let’s chat: keri@keriwilt.com Let’s Get Connected I want to cheer you on as you begin to clear away the clutter and debris that is keeping your from growing that thing that only you were meant to grow! Click below on your favorite social channel and introduce yourself in my DMs. Instagram OR Facebook

    59 min
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About

The Well-Tended Life Podcast is all about intentional living, that’s inspired by my great-great-grandmother’s classic book “The Secret Garden”. A Well-Tended Life is not a set it and forget it life, nor is it a perfect life. It is worked on every day, in the sunshine and through the storms. And the truth is, what worked in our life-gardens last season, may not work in the next. That’s why here at The Well-Tended Life Podcast, we interview people who have grown and bloomed true in a variety of seasons and are willing to share their well-tended wisdom and weed-whacking advice with us!This season we are going to talk about: Rest, Fear, Addiction, Busyness, Growth, grief, Friendship, Relationships, Time Management, Self Care, Pivots, Expectations, Wandering, Gratitude, Overcoming, Hard Work, Goals/Intentions, Relationships, Health, Fitness, Change, Secrets, Letting Go, and so much More! So, meet me back here each week and we will dig in together to discover what’s keeping you locked up tighter than The Secret Garden and unearth the tools that will keep you growing and blooming through every season.“Where you tend a rose…a thistle cannot grow.” - The Secret Garden

Information

  • Creator
    Keri Wilt
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    84
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Well-Tended Life
  • Show Website
    The Well-Tended Life