Let's Circle Back to That

Heather Johnson
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🎙️ Welcome to "Let's Circle Back to That"! Join Anne & Heather for real conversations about friendships, community, and everyday joy. Subscribe for laughs, inspiration, and genuine connections. 💬❤️ #Podcast #Friendship #Community #Joy Explore our episodes to learn how we build lifelong friendships, foster vibrant communities, and find joy in the little things. Perfect for anyone seeking positivity and genuine connections!

  1. 5D AGO

    S2E09-Staci West- Before the Pause: Menopause, Mentorship & Building Stronger Communities

    What happens when a former newspaper reporter pivots into Communications and PR… and then becomes one of the biggest champions for women's health and community leadership in the Tri-Cities? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, we sit down with Staci West — former Tri-City Herald reporter turned communications leader at Battelle/PNNL and Bechtel — to talk about legacy, menopause, mentorship, and what it really means to support women. We circle back to: • Growing up Seattle-focused and learning to love the Tri-Cities • Why the Women in Business Conference (800–900 attendees!) matters more than ever • How menopause is a justice issue — and why we deserve research dollars • Bone density, colonoscopies, DEXA scans, and investing in long-term health • Why teenage years are critical for bone health • How to be a GOOD volunteer (and why flaking helps no one) • Using nonprofits to build your portfolio and career skills • Curly hair tips (yes, including blue perms) • Why subtitles are now mandatory • Legacy thinking after 50 • Exposing kids to trade unions, nonprofits, and broader career pathways   We also shout out powerful local leaders like Michelle Whitney, Abbey Cameron, Bo Ruff, and organizations making waves in women's advocacy. If you've ever wondered: – Why we don't talk enough about menopause – How to mentor the next generation – How to volunteer strategically – Or how to build community intentionally This episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Every review helps us grow this community beyond the Tri-Cities. #CircleBack

    1h 4m

  2. FEB 23

    S2E08 — Jet Richardson: Building Wealth, Building Cities- Urban Planning, Habitat for Humanity, and the Future of the Tri-Cities

    What does urban planning have to do with generational wealth? More than you think.   In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, we sit down (in a massage chair, naturally) with Jet Richardson — Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Tri-County Partners, urban planning enthusiast, former Peace Corps volunteer, and one of the most civically engaged leaders in the Tri-Cities. From "eyes on the street" and the evolution of South Richland to medieval city cores in Estonia, Jet connects the dots between city design, homeownership, and long-term community health. We talk about: • Why starter homes matter (and why we don't build them anymore) • The impending million-unit housing deficit in Washington State • How Habitat homes have generated over $60 million in local wealth • Urban planning lessons from Senegal, Chicago, DC, and Finland • Why resistance to change actually means people care • What effective service should really look like • The power of transparency and trust in nonprofit leadership • Why Habitat needs "a bajillion" volunteers Plus: Anne's old bedroom studio tour (VHS player included), Ewan McGregor admiration, Disney lighting Carlsbad Caverns, moats in Richland, and reindeer for dinner. Jet reminds us that community isn't accidental — it's built. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation. ⭐ If you love leadership, cities, and real community-building, rate & review to help new listeners find us. 💬 Share this episode with someone who cares about the future of where we live. #BelieveInPodcasts

    1h 12m

  3. FEB 16

    S2E07-Natalie Abersfeller: Do The Thing- Confidence, Community, & Finding Your Stride

    "The most effective way to do it is to do it." — Amelia Earhart In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, Anne and Heather sit down with Natalie Abersfeller for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about confidence—how we build it, lose it, and learn to find our stride again in new seasons of life. We kick off with a new intro segment featuring a leadership quote and a guessing game, then dive into big questions: Do busy people really get more done? What role does hustle culture play in our confidence? How do postpartum changes, hormones, aging, and comparison quietly reshape our expectations of ourselves? Natalie and Anne reflect on a decades-long friendship that truly began with a high school car accident by, the power of cross-generational communities like PEO, and why gathering people is more than a personality trait—it's a way of creating confidence for others. We also talk communication tools from therapy, learning to receive constructive feedback, and how family norms shape the way we handle conflict and connection. Then Natalie takes us into the world of barrel racing—how she found the sport later in life, the camaraderie among women riders, what it takes physically and mentally to compete, and why confidence is built one ride at a time. From caring for horses to racing by fractions of a second, this community is rooted in support, resilience, and showing up. We wrap things up with a cozy cookie taste test that ties together food, family, memory, and community—because confidence can grow in the smallest, sweetest moments too. 🎧 Listen now and circle back with us. 💬 What's something you did before you felt ready? ⭐ Rate, review, and share to help new listeners find the pod.

    53 min

  4. FEB 9

    S2E06- Anne & Heather: The Questions We Never Finished Answering- "Pop Culture, Community, and All the Things We Said We's Look Up"

    We said we'd circle back- so here we are. In this Season 2 Circle Back episode of Let's Circle Back to That, hosts Anne and Heather revisit the questions, pop-culture debates, historical curiosities, and community conversations we promised to research during past interviews—and then promptly moved on from. From Bridgerton hot takes, Queen Charlotte fact vs. fiction, and whether people in Regency-era ballrooms smelled (spoiler: probably), to Broadway puppetry that doubles as a full-body workout, Fiji's deeply communal culture, theatre chaos involving elephants and tigers, and the psychology of reality TV, this episode is curious, funny, and unexpectedly thoughtful. We also explore: • What "never underestimate the power of a small group of people" really means • Why so many Tri-Cities nonprofits seem to have been born in the mid-1990s • How much community involvement is sustainable in adult life • What motivates people to serve—and when it's okay to pull back • And why sometimes adulting just means doing things we don't enjoy Plus: rapid-fire questions for Anne, the return of Dear Abbey, Dear Heather, and plenty of joyful side quests along the way.   🎧 Listen now and tell us what you want us to circle back to next. ⭐ Rate, review, and share to help new listeners find the show.

    1h 9m

  5. FEB 1

    S2E05- Liz McLaughlin- Compassion is the Work: Philanthropy, Prevention, & the Work of Community

    What does it really mean to build community—and who are we responsible for when we do? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, we sit down with Liz McLaughlin, a Certified Fundraising Executive and Chief Development Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin County, to talk about compassion in action. From growing up with powerful examples of generosity to shaping a career rooted in service, Liz shares how philanthropy is about far more than fundraising—it's about prevention, accountability, and lifting communities from the ground up. Along the way, we circle back to cross-country skiing and downhill mishaps, Spokane (Bloomsday) nostalgia, Broadway's Suffs, Main Street USA moments, Bunco friendships, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is just start—even if it's not perfect yet. If you've ever wondered how to help, where to give, or how small actions create lasting change, this conversation will stay with you. 🎧 Listen now, and if this episode resonates, rate, review, and share it with someone who believes in showing up for others.

    1h 16m

  6. JAN 26

    S2E04 — Cynthia MacFarlan: What Changes When Someone Believes in You: Therapeutic Riding and Trust That Opens Doors

    Some growth begins with trust—not in yourself, but in something steady enough to carry you. This week on Let's Circle Back to That, we sit down with Cynthia MacFarlan, founder of TROT – Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities, to talk about what happens when individuals are given the chance to trust a horse—and how that trust unlocks confidence, communication, and possibility. Cynthia shares stories from over 12 years of therapeutic riding, from a shy, nonverbal child learning to step forward, to riders whose families witness abilities they've never seen before. We talk about why horses are such powerful partners, how rotary movement and neuroscience support growth, and why the impact of equine therapy shows up far beyond the arena. In this episode, we explore: • Why trust comes before confidence • How therapeutic riding supports physical, emotional, and communication growth • What families notice when their loved one realizes they can • The role of volunteers and quiet consistency • Cynthia's transition into "inspirement," not retirement • And why riders never age out—only horses do Plus—frozen pizza vs. Texas Roadhouse, Texas Roadhouse butter, and dreaming about what comes next. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ⭐ If this episode resonates, please rate, review, and share—it helps new listeners find the show

    56 min

  7. JAN 19

    S2E03 — Emily Nielsen-Live Healthy Until You Die: Nutrition as Medicine, Community as a Health Metric, & Becoming a Scientist in Your Own Body

    What if we stopped normalizing feeling terrible—and started asking better questions about our health? In this episode of Let's Circle Back to That, we sit down with Emily Nielsen, certified nutritionist (CN), certified nutrition specialist (CNS), and founder of a thriving integrative health practice built entirely without debt while navigating burnout. Emily shares her journey from nearly dying in her twenties to rebuilding her health, her career, and her life—starting from her basement and growing into a full multi-practitioner practice. We talk about: Why nutrition is medicine (but never the whole story) Rapid Aging or "reverse puberty" and how to cushion the symptoms instead of fighting your body Chronic illness, trauma, identity, and why some brains feel safer staying "in the hole" Preventative care vs. waiting until you're sick enough to deserve help Why community is a measurable health metric Parenting teens, food freedom, and being a "nutrition detective" The Wednesday Waffle 🧇—and how intentional connection can change your relationships If you've ever felt stuck in your body, overwhelmed by health advice, or curious how art and science can meet to support total wellness—this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ⭐️ Rate, review, and share with someone who wants to live well for the long game

    1h 4m

  8. JAN 12

    S2E02-Heather Lee — Protecting the Lamb: Advocacy, Sobriety, and Leadership

    What does it actually mean to protect people—without losing yourself in the process? Heather Lee joins us for a raw, funny, and deeply thoughtful conversation about advocacy, sobriety, leadership, and responsibility. From seven years of sobriety to military service, veteran advocacy, and navigating burnout in service-driven work, Heather reflects on what it means to speak up—for others and for yourself—without apology. We talk about why women are taught to endure instead of advocate, how saying no can be an act of leadership, and why so many people wait too long to ask for help. Heather shares powerful insights on recovery, generational responsibility, friendship, and the quiet consequences of not preparing—for jobs, aging parents, or the end of life. This episode is for anyone who feels the weight of responsibility, wants to lead with integrity, or is learning how to protect what matters most—without disappearing in the process. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts. ⭐️ If this episode resonates, a rating, review, or share helps new listeners find the show.

    1h 6m
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About

🎙️ Welcome to "Let's Circle Back to That"! Join Anne & Heather for real conversations about friendships, community, and everyday joy. Subscribe for laughs, inspiration, and genuine connections. 💬❤️ #Podcast #Friendship #Community #Joy Explore our episodes to learn how we build lifelong friendships, foster vibrant communities, and find joy in the little things. Perfect for anyone seeking positivity and genuine connections!

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