Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris

Jena Burris
  • 5.0 (6)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Welcome to Let’s Get Real, the podcast for women who feel like they’re holding it all together on the outside… but falling apart on the inside. If you’re exhausted from pretending, overwhelmed by the pressure to be everything for everyone, or unsure who you even are anymore—you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy. Let’s Get Real is where we have honest conversations about the struggles most people avoid—healing emotional wounds, losing yourself in motherhood, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to live whole again. I’m Jena Burris—wife, mom, and your host. With a background in marriage and family therapy, life coaching, and years spent navigating life behind the scenes of the NFL and Hollywood, I’m passionate about creating a space where real conversations lead to real healing. Each week, you’ll hear real stories, practical tools, and the reminder that freedom is closer than you think. Because I believe that in order to heal, we have to get real. New episodes every Tuesday. Real talk. Real tools. Real healing. For speaking inquiries, brand partnerships, or workshop opportunities, visit www.jenaburris.com or email jena@jenaburris.com.

  1. 4D AGO

    When Motherhood Feels “Too Much”: Understanding the Highly Sensitive Mom with Elizabeth Cush

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Click here to download it now Ep. 39 When Motherhood Feels “Too Much”: Understanding the Highly Sensitive Mom with Elizabeth Cush Have you ever wondered why motherhood feels louder, heavier, or more overwhelming for you than it seems to for everyone else? Why the school pickup line makes your chest tighten, why constant noise feels like too much, or why you need just five minutes alone before you can even think straight again? If you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “What is wrong with me? Why can’t I handle this like other moms?”  I want you to hear this clearly: Nothing is wrong with you. You might just be a highly sensitive woman trying to survive modern motherhood. In this week’s episode of Let’s Get Real, I sat down with therapist and podcast host Elizabeth Cush, who has spent nearly two decades supporting highly sensitive women through overwhelm, deep processing, and the emotional intensity that so often gets misunderstood. This conversation felt like someone finally turning the lights on in a room I didn’t know I’d been sitting in. Practical First Steps for the Highly Sensitive Mom Here are some of Elizabeth’s simplest, most powerful strategies: 1. Put a hand on your heart and breathe. Physical touch + deep breathing signals safety to your nervous system. 2. Build a micro-community that “gets it.” Just one or two people who understand sensitivity can change everything. 3. Let yourself experiment. There is no perfect routine, no perfect strategy. Try things. Adjust. Repeat. 4. Stop apologizing for your sensitivity. It’s not a liability — it’s a gift. This Episode Is for Every Mom Who Has Ever Whispered “It’s Too Much.” Motherhood asks a lot of us.  But sensitive moms feel that “lot” more intensely — biologically, emotionally, and spiritually. My hope is that this episode feels like an exhale.  A naming.  A homecoming. Because when we understand our sensitivity, we stop fighting ourselves and start caring for ourselves. And that’s when motherhood begins to feel lighter — not because it gets easier, but because we stop carrying it alone. CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH CUSH Facebook:   / aywwpodcast   YouTube:   / @elizabethcushlcpc3220   Instagram:  / awakenyourwisewoman   P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    40 min

  2. JAN 27

    Rebuilding After Emotional Abuse: Finding Yourself Again with Julie Barth

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Grab it here: https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Ep 38 — Rebuilding After Emotional Abuse: Finding Yourself Again with Julie Barth This episode is one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had on the podcast regarding emotional abuse. So many women—maybe even you—know what it feels like to wake up one day and realize, I don’t even recognize myself anymore. Somewhere in the surviving, the caregiving, the giving up pieces of yourself to keep the peace, you lose your voice, your confidence, your clarity, and the parts of you that used to feel alive. In this episode, I sat down with Julie Barth, a writer, mom of six, trauma survivor, and founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach. Julie has lived through more crisis and heartbreak than most people will experience in a lifetime—and she has rebuilt herself every single time. Our conversation is honest, emotional, and full of truth that so many women need to hear. 💛 Julie’s Story Took My Breath Away As she shared her journey, I found myself amazed by her strength and heart. She spent nearly a decade in survival mode: raising a child with a significant medical conditiontraveling constantly for surgeriescaregiving for her husband through terminal cancerraising six kidsand somehow trying to keep life moving forwardWhen her husband passed, she didn’t have space to grieve. She was already numb, already on autopilot, already surviving. That’s when she entered a new relationship—one that seemed freeing at first, but ultimately became emotionally and financially abusive. Listening to her talk about ignoring red flags because she was desperate for relief… I know many women will see themselves in her story. 🧠 What Emotional Abuse Actually Feels Like Julie said something that hit me deeply: “Nothing makes sense anymore. You’re confused all the time.” That’s the part of emotional abuse we rarely talk about—the slow unraveling of your reality. You stop trusting your instincts. You start doubting your sanity. You rationalize what you’d never tolerate for someone else. You shrink yourself smaller and smaller until you don’t recognize who you’ve become. It’s not weakness. It’s survival. ✨ If You’re in This Situation, Here’s What Julie Wants You to Know These were her most powerful pieces of advice: 1. Commit fully. 2. Record yourself in your hardest moments. Julie said: “You forget the pain just like you forget childbirth.” Those videos remind you why you can’t go back. 3. Prepare in small, doable ways. You don’t need a master plan. You just need the next right step. 4. You will survive the messy middle. And on the other side? There is peace. Connect With Julie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_barth_author/?hl=en P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    50 min

  3. JAN 20

    How Avoidant Attachment Impacts Motherhood with Bev Mitelman

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Grab it here: https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Ep. 37 How Avoidant Attachment Impacts Motherhood with Bev Mitelman If motherhood has ever made you wonder, “Why do I react like this?” or “Why do I need so much space when I love my kids so much?” — you’re not alone. So many moms quietly carry the fear that something is “wrong” with them because they get overstimulated, shut down, or feel irritable in the chaos of everyday life. In this episode, Bev Mitelman breaks that shame wide open. Bev is a certified attachment practitioner and the founder of Securely Loved, and she has spent 25+ years helping people understand their attachment patterns so they can reconnect with themselves and the people they love. Her work is deeply personal — she grew up in chaos, learned to shut down emotionally, and rebuilt her own attachment style through healing. Her honesty makes this episode feel like a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. 💛 “Avoidant” Isn’t What Most Moms Think Avoidant and fearful-avoidant attachment styles don’t always look like detachment. They often look like: independence“I’ll handle it myself”keeping things togetherbeing the strong onenever asking for helpnot wanting to feel like a burdenneeding space to breatheThese patterns usually come from childhood experiences where emotions weren’t met with comfort. Maybe you grew up hearing: “Stop crying.” “You’re fine.” “Don’t make a big deal out of it.” “Handle it yourself.” “You’re too sensitive.” So you did. You learned to shut down your needs. You learned to stay quiet. And now as a mom, those patterns show up in the moments when you’re most overwhelmed. 🌱 A Real Moment That So Many Moms Will Relate To One of the most vulnerable parts of this episode is the conversation about the after-school “witching hours.” So many moms feel guilty because: “I haven’t seen them all day — why do I already need a break?” Bev explained that this is actually one of the most common triggers for avoidant wiring: sensory overloadpressure to cook/clean/homeworkhungernoisetransitionsmultitaskingzero downtimeAnd when the nervous system is maxed out, it will shut down or react. Her advice? Create a rhythm that includes together time and alone time for everyone. Togetherness  → Snack  → A few minutes alone to decompress  → Reconnection This builds secure attachment — not avoidant attachment.  And it helps you show up with more patience, presence, and emotional bandwidth. Connect With Bev Mitelman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SecurelyLoved Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/securely_loved/ P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    57 min

  4. JAN 13

    Yelled at Your Kids Again? How to Regulate Your Emotions Before You Explode — with Kristin Cogan

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you: 🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Grab it here: https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Ep. 36 Yelled at Your Kids Again? How to Regulate Your Emotions Before You Explode — with Kristin Cogan There are moments in motherhood that feel so heavy I can barely catch my breath. I love my kids deeply, but there are days where the noise, the mess, the constant needs, and the pressure to “hold it all together” feels like more than I can handle. And suddenly—I snap. If you’ve ever had those moments where you say something you regret instantly, or you find yourself thinking, “Why am I like this? Why am I always on edge?”—this episode is one you won’t want to skip. This week, I sat down with Kristin Kogan, a licensed therapist, coach, and mom of five, who helps overwhelmed, high-achieving moms break the cycles of stress, guilt, and self-doubt. Our conversation felt like a big exhale. It reminded me that I’m not broken… I’m human. And so are you. The Fight-or-Flight Cycle That No One Talks About Kristin explained something I needed to hear: when I’m constantly rushing, my nervous system assumes something must be wrong. It shifts into survival mode. That’s why the smallest thing can trigger a big reaction. It’s not that I’m failing. It’s that my body is overloaded. Slowing down—something that feels unnatural and even uncomfortable at times—becomes the way I tell myself, “I’m safe. I’m okay. I don’t have to rush.” That slowing down helps me regulate, and when I regulate, I can respond with intention instead of reacting out of overwhelm. 🪞 The Identity I Lost (and How I’m Rebuilding It) One of the most impactful parts of our conversation was when Kristin explained why so many moms feel like they’ve “lost themselves.” Before motherhood, I knew what I loved. I knew what made me feel alive. I could rest, create, be spontaneous, spend time with friends, go on walks, dance, read, and actually finish a sentence without being interrupted. Over time, those parts of me started disappearing under the weight of responsibility. And suddenly I woke up one day thinking: “Where did I go?” Kristin uses a method she calls The Ripple Effect Method, made up of four pillars: Physical – the daily habits that help my body feel supportedSocial – the relationships that fill me up (and the ones that drain me)Emotional – the feelings I want to experience more intentionallySpiritual – the life-giving practices that nourish my soulWhen I think about who I used to be before becoming a mom, I’m reminded that those pieces are still there. They just need room again. Connect With Kristin If you want to feel supported, seen, and understood in the messy parts of motherhood, you can find Kristin here: Instagram: @imperfectlywonderfulmotherhood P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    40 min

  5. JAN 6

    From Overwhelmed to Calm: A Guided EFT Tapping Session for Moms with Amy Vincze

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you: 🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Grab it here: https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Ep. 35 From Overwhelmed to Calm: A Guided EFT Tapping Session for Moms with Amy Vincze If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the kitchen, heart racing, noise all around, and thinking “I can’t do this right now”—you’re not alone. Motherhood can feel like one long to-do list where your name always comes last. Between caring for your kids, managing a home, and trying to hold onto some sense of who you are, it’s easy to lose your cool—and yourself—in the process. That’s why this week’s episode of Let’s Get Real might be one of the most powerful we’ve ever done. I sat down with Amy Vincze, an EFT Tapping Coach who has spent over 16 years helping people release stress, anxiety, and the emotional overload that so many moms carry daily. In our last conversation, Amy explained what tapping is and why it works. This time, we put it into practice—together. It’s an episode you can experience in real time. What is EFT Tapping and Why Does It Work? EFT—short for Emotional Freedom Techniques—is a science-backed, body-based practice that helps you release stress and regulate your nervous system. Amy describes it as a combination of: Energy healing (like acupuncture, but using gentle tapping on acupressure points instead of needles).Cognitive therapy (naming what you want to release while you tap).Somatic therapy (bringing your awareness back into your body so you can feel safe again).Facing the “Negative” Feelings We Try to Avoid One of the biggest misconceptions about tapping is that it’s “negative” because it starts by focusing on hard emotions—like overwhelm, fear, or sadness. Amy explains that this isn’t dwelling on the negative; it’s giving those emotions a pathway out. “We’ve been conditioned to push down uncomfortable feelings and just put on a happy face. But the truth is, avoidance doesn’t make them go away—it just traps them in our bodies.” By naming the emotion and allowing yourself to feel it, you open the door for release. And that release is what brings calm back into your mind and body. If you loved this episode, explore Amy’s SOAR with Tapping App—complete with 160 guided scripts, visual tapping cues, and soothing voice prompts to help you find calm anywhere, anytime. Because peace isn’t a luxury—it’s a practice. 💛 Connect with Amy: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/191vWHGCk8/?mibextid=wwXlfr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soarwithtapping9898 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soarwithtapping/ P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    49 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    How Healing Ourselves Can Heal the World with Phyllis Leavitt

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Grab it here: https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 How Healing Ourselves Can Heal the World with Phyllis LeavittHave you ever felt like the world is just… too much? Too divided. Too loud. Too angry. It’s easy to feel helpless when you look around and wonder, “How could anything I do possibly make a difference?” But what if the greatest impact you could ever make on the world starts with healing what’s inside of you? That’s the question we’re exploring in today’s conversation with Phyllis Leavitt, a psychotherapist and author who spent more than 30 years helping people work through trauma, family conflict, and deep emotional disconnection. Her newest book, America in Therapy, takes the same principles she’s used to help families heal—and applies them to an entire nation. Because according to Phyllis, the same wounds that break families are the ones breaking society. And the same tools that restore connection at home can restore compassion in the world. The First Step in Healing: Relief Phyllis shared that when someone begins the healing journey, the first thing she notices isn’t clarity, or joy—it’s relief. Relief that they don’t have to pretend anymore. Relief that they can cry without being judged. Relief that someone finally sees them beneath the layers of coping and survival. That’s the beginning of trust. And from that trust comes transformation. “Whatever happened to you is not who you are.” — Phyllis Leavitt When we experience that kind of acceptance, we begin to soften. We let go of self-blame. And we start to reconnect with the part of us that’s always been whole—just hidden under years of survival. The Ripple Effect of Healing Phyllis has seen hundreds of clients change their lives—and in doing so, change the world around them. Parents who stopped yelling and started listening. Leaders who stopped controlling and started empowering. Individuals who stopped hiding and started showing up authentically. Why This Conversation Matters We’re living in a time of deep polarization and pain. But Phyllis believes—and I do too—that hope starts closer to home than we think. It starts in our hearts. In our families. In the small, daily choices we make to respond with love instead of fear. Healing is not selfish. It’s sacred work. It’s how we make the world gentler, one person at a time. If you loved this episode, click here to explore how healing your own heart can transform your relationships, leadership, and the world around you, starting today. Connect with Phyllis Leavitt: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.leavitt Website: https://www.phyllisleavitt.com/ P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    42 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    Picking Up the Pieces: Finding Yourself Again After Divorce with Nanette Murphy

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Grab it here: https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Episode 33 – Picking Up the Pieces: Finding Yourself Again After Divorce with Nanette Murphy What do you do when the life you built suddenly falls apart? When the home you created, the person you trusted, and the future you imagined—all vanish overnight? I’ve had friends walk through divorce, and I’ve watched the way it shatters not just a marriage, but a sense of self.  And if you’ve ever been there—or loved someone who has—you know it’s more than signing papers.  It’s grief.  It’s identity loss.  It’s learning to live in a world that no longer fits the way it used to. That’s why I wanted to have this conversation. In this episode of Let’s Get Real, I sit down with Nanette Murphy, a Divorce and Life Reinvention Coach who helps women rebuild their lives after their world has been turned upside down. Nanette knows this story firsthand—after twenty-one years of marriage, she found herself facing infidelity, heartbreak, and the long road back to herself. What You’ll Hear in This Episode 🌿 Why grief after divorce can feel like a death—and how to move through it 🌿 What healing really looks like when you can’t go back to who you were 🌿 How to start rebuilding your confidence one tiny step at a time 🌿 Why finding support (coach, therapist, friends) changes everything 🌿 How stepping outside your comfort zone becomes the doorway to peace 🌿 The surprising ways purpose and possibility begin to return Why This Conversation Matters So many women walk through divorce believing it’s the end of their story. They feel ashamed, unworthy, and unsure of who they are without the titles that once defined them—wife, partner, caregiver. But what if this isn’t the end? What if it’s the moment God hands you the pen and says, “Now let’s write the next chapter together”? Nanette said something that stuck with me long after our conversation: “Healing is an active process. You have to be intentional about it.” That line stopped me. Because it’s easy to wait until we feel ready. But healing doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you choose—again and again—to show up for yourself, even when it still hurts. This episode is a reminder that grief and growth can coexist. You can mourn what was and make space for what’s next. You can cry and still hope. You can start over at 30, 50, or 70—and it can still be beautiful. Connect with Nanette Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divorcecoachingwithnanette Website: https://www.livelifenowwithpurpose.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divorcecoachingwithnanette/ P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    45 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    The Truth About Abundant Life with Jennifer Bosma

    Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 Grab it here: https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 Episode 32 — The Truth About Abundant Life with Jennifer Bosma Most of us have heard Ephesians 3:20 — “God can do exceedingly and abundantly more than all we ask or imagine.” It’s a beautiful promise, but sometimes, if we’re being honest, that verse can feel like salt on an open wound. When life looks messy, when you’re overwhelmed, when your prayers seem to go unanswered — the word “abundance” can feel almost cruel. You might start to wonder, If God can do all this, why doesn’t my life look like that? Am I doing something wrong? In this episode, I sat down with Jennifer Bosma, wife, mom, grandma, author, and host of The Front Parking Spot Podcast, to talk about what abundance really means — and what it doesn’t. The Story Behind the “Front Parking Spot” Jennifer’s story starts in a simple moment — three little girls, a double stroller, and a crowded parking lot. Every car in front of her turned left, following the crowd, but something nudged her to turn right. And there, waiting for her, were two open spots right at the front. It wasn’t just a lucky parking moment. It was a metaphor — a reminder that sometimes, the abundant life God invites us into starts with a quiet decision to go against the flow. That day became her life motto: Go for the front parking spot. And not just in parking lots — but in life, motherhood, and faith. In This Episode, We Talk About: How Jennifer’s “front parking spot” story became a picture of faith in motion.Why abundance isn’t about more money, more ease, or more followers — it’s about more trust.The danger of tying abundance to external success instead of spiritual contentmentWhat it looks like to model courage and obedience for your kids (they’re watching how you try, not how you succeed).Why This Conversation Matters We live in a world obsessed with “more.” More money. More productivity. More everything. But real abundance — the kind that doesn’t vanish when life gets hard — begins when we stop chasing and start surrendering. If you’ve ever wrestled with feeling “behind,” or wondered if God’s promises still apply to you, this episode is for you. Because abundance isn’t about getting the front row — it’s about realizing you were invited there all along. Maybe abundance isn’t a destination. Maybe it’s the quiet, everyday courage to believe that even now — even here — you are living inside God’s promise of “more.” So before you go, take a breath. Look around.  And ask yourself:  💭 What would it look like to go for the front parking spot today? Connect with Jennifer: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferjbosma/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@frontparkingspot P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

    42 min
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About

Welcome to Let’s Get Real, the podcast for women who feel like they’re holding it all together on the outside… but falling apart on the inside. If you’re exhausted from pretending, overwhelmed by the pressure to be everything for everyone, or unsure who you even are anymore—you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy. Let’s Get Real is where we have honest conversations about the struggles most people avoid—healing emotional wounds, losing yourself in motherhood, rebuilding your identity, and learning how to live whole again. I’m Jena Burris—wife, mom, and your host. With a background in marriage and family therapy, life coaching, and years spent navigating life behind the scenes of the NFL and Hollywood, I’m passionate about creating a space where real conversations lead to real healing. Each week, you’ll hear real stories, practical tools, and the reminder that freedom is closer than you think. Because I believe that in order to heal, we have to get real. New episodes every Tuesday. Real talk. Real tools. Real healing. For speaking inquiries, brand partnerships, or workshop opportunities, visit www.jenaburris.com or email jena@jenaburris.com.

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