Mic'd Up & Unfiltered with Kristine & Amy

Kristine Barnes and Amy Dabbelt
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Two women navigating life, health, home, and business—out loud. We’ve lived a lot of life and we’re still learning as we go. We share what’s working, what’s not, and everything in between—through honest conversation and practical insights to help you simplify, reduce body burden, and create a life that actually works.

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 25: What Are You Numbing? Alcohol, Addiction & the Long Road Back to Yourself

    Alcohol is deeply woven into our culture — celebration, relaxation, friendship, dating, stress relief, fitting in, and sometimes escape. But how often do we stop and ask what it's actually adding to our lives… and what it might be taking away? In this episode of Mic’d Up & Unfiltered, Amy and Kristine have an honest conversation about alcohol — from social drinking and drinking culture to dependence, addiction, sobriety, and healing. Amy shares her experience with alcohol dependence and the work it took to heal what she had spent years trying to numb, while Kristine shares her perspective from loving someone with alcohol dependence and becoming increasingly aware of the effects alcohol has on her own body and well-being. Ultimately, this conversation is about more than drinking. It's about paying attention to what we use to cope or escape, understanding why we reach for it, and building a life we don't need to escape from. Want to go deeper into what it looks like to build that life? Listen to Episode 10, Finding Balance in a New Season, where we talk about the six pillars Kristine uses to come back to herself: nourishment, rest, movement, spirituality, play, and purpose. https://open.spotify.com/episode/76jP1NODEJ7J0C9gDYs5ks?si=8WW8PijSQK6hZ7v1Ym6_Kw If you're ready to stop drinking — or you're wondering whether alcohol has become a bigger part of your life than you want it to be — you don't have to figure it out alone. Support & Resources: SAMHSA National Helpline — Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information for mental health and substance use disorders.1-800-662-HELP (4357)https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator — Find evidence-based alcohol treatment and learn how to choose quality care.https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov/ Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) — Find local and online AA meetings and recovery support.https://www.aa.org/find-aa SMART Recovery — Free meetings and practical, evidence-informed tools for changing addictive behaviors, including alcohol use.https://smartrecovery.org/meeting A note about stopping alcohol: If you drink heavily or regularly and think you may be physically dependent on alcohol, talk with a healthcare professional before suddenly stopping. Alcohol withdrawal can be serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. Content note: This episode includes conversations about alcohol dependence, childhood trauma, abusive relationships, and sexual assault.

  2. Aug 10

    Episode 24: Planes, Pythons & Packing Problems: Travel Fears, Funny Stories & Our Must-Have Hacks

    Packing cubes? Check. Passport? Check. A plan for when your brain starts spiraling before a trip? That one's a little harder. With a trip to Toronto just days away, Amy and Kristine dive into all things travel—from overpacking and travel anxiety to airplane must-haves and the little tricks that make traveling easier. Kristine shares the simple mindset shift that helped her overcome panic attacks while traveling, while Amy proves that not everyone needs an itinerary after backpacking through Europe with no hotels booked. Along the way, they swap stories about wildlife encounters, favorite travel gadgets, surprisingly gross airplane tray tables, and the travel moments they'll never forget. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or someone who gets anxious just thinking about leaving home, this episode is packed with practical tips, honest stories, and plenty of laughs before your next adventure.

  3. Aug 3

    Episode 23: The 15-Minute Relationship Check-In We Should All Be Doing — with Merlene Austen

    What if keeping your relationship strong could start with one simple conversation a day? This week, our friend Merlene Austen joins us to talk about relationships, communication, and the practical tools she and her husband have spent years sharing through premarriage and marriage retreats. We dig into the Daily Temperature Reading—a simple five-part check-in built around appreciation, new information, puzzles, complaints with requests, and hopes and dreams—and how having a structure for communication can help us stay connected BEFORE things pile up. We also talk about the words that can completely change a conversation (“You always…” vs. “I feel…”), making intentional deposits into each other’s Love Banks, and continuing to invest in passion, intimacy, and commitment as a relationship grows and changes. Whether your relationship is thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between, this conversation is full of simple tools for communicating better, staying connected, and continuing to choose each other. 💚 Resources mentioned:Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts — Les & Leslie ParrottHis Needs, Her Needs — Willard F. Harley Jr.Paired — Couples & Relationship App

  4. Jul 27

    Episode 22: From Dog Food to Dust Mites...should we be concerned?

    Have you ever fallen down an internet rabbit hole and come out wondering if you should wash your pillows, feed your dog differently, or completely rethink your morning routine? Welcome. You're our kind of people. In this episode, we talk about everything from homemade dog food and sleep to dust mites, enzymes, tea, coffee, and why "clean living" goes way beyond the products we bring into our homes. We don't always know where these conversations are going when we hit record, but we've learned that's usually where the magic happens. --- Enjoyed hanging out with us? Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss an episode. If this conversation resonated with you, we'd be so grateful if you'd leave a 5-star review or share it with a friend.

  5. Jul 20

    Episode 21: The Power of Words, Protecting Your Peace & Doing It Scared

    What if changing just one word could change the entire way a conversation feels? In this episode of Mic'd Up & Unfiltered, Amy and Kristine dive into the power of language, the stories we tell ourselves, and what it means to build a life that actually feels like yours. Along the way, they laugh, overshare, go wildly off-topic, and have some surprisingly honest conversations about relationships, resilience, parenting, and doing scary things anyway. Because sometimes changing one word really can change everything. ---If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you'd subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. Your support helps us keep these conversations going.

  6. Jul 13

    Episode 20: From Hot Mess to Heartfelt; Customer Care, Community & Connection

    What do customer service, strong friendships, healthy marriages, and thriving businesses have in common? They all grow from the way we care for people. In this episode of Mic’d Up & Unfiltered, Amy and Kristine laugh their way through stories, memories, and a few unexpected tangents as they explore why thoughtful service still matters, how simple acts of kindness leave lasting impressions, and why they're reimagining Facebook parties as Healthy Home Workshops centered on education, connection, and real value. From Kristine's waitressing days to Amy's inner investigator, the conversation naturally weaves into friendship, marriage, protecting what matters most, and creating a life filled with genuine connection. Come for the laughs, stay for the reminders that the little things often become the big things—and that how we show up for one another matters more than ever.

  7. Jul 6

    Episode 19: Save the Bees? Bill Kaufman on Pollinators, Food & What Nature Is Trying to Teach Us

    In Part 2 of our conversation with Cornell Master Beekeeper Bill Kaufman, we go deeper into the world of bees, pollinators, agriculture, and what it really means to “save the bees.” Bill breaks down how industrial agriculture depends on transported honeybees, why monocropping impacts our soil, pollinators, and food quality, and what regular people can actually do to support bees right in their own backyards. We also explore wild honey, swarms, queen bees, royal jelly, drones, invasive plants, dandelions, clover lawns, and why nature often works best when we stop trying to control every single thing. Even as someone who has spent years learning about health, food, and the environment, Kristine found herself learning something new throughout this entire conversation. This episode is fascinating, funny, and full of moments that may make you look at your yard, your food, and those little bees a whole lot differently. Learn more about Bill and his honey products at:https://www.itsallbetter.com Read Bill's monthly column in the American Bee Journal:https://americanbeejournal.com Follow Bill online:https://www.facebook.com/billthebeekeeper

  8. Jun 29

    Episode 18: What the Bees Know with Bill Kaufman; Raw Honey, Gut Health & Nature’s Wisdom

    What happens when Amy tastes truly raw honey for the first time and immediately says, “This is nothing like the honey from the grocery store”? That moment sparks a fascinating conversation with master beekeeper Bill Kaufman about what real honey actually is—and why most of us have never tasted it. In this episode, Amy and Kristine sit down with Bill to explore the surprising world of bees, from how honey is made to why “raw” and “cold extracted” matter. They discuss commercial versus small-scale honey production, bee gut health, pollen, bee bread, chemical-free beekeeping, food quality, and the incredible role bees play in our ecosystem. Bill also shares unforgettable stories of rescuing honeybee colonies from inside homes, explains why bees often respond to calm energy, and introduces the beautiful philosophy of “Be the Tree.” Whether you love honey, care about clean food, or simply enjoy learning from nature, this episode may forever change the way you look at a spoonful of honey. Want to taste the difference for yourself? You can learn more about Bill’s honey and products at www.itsallbetter.com

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Two women navigating life, health, home, and business—out loud. We’ve lived a lot of life and we’re still learning as we go. We share what’s working, what’s not, and everything in between—through honest conversation and practical insights to help you simplify, reduce body burden, and create a life that actually works.

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