Mindful, Kindful Living

Connie Warden

Life doesn’t always go as planned. We get stressed. We react. We miss the exit. And sometimes… we forget to be kind to ourselves along the way. Welcome to Mindful, Kindful Living — a podcast for people who want to slow down, laugh at their humanity, and live with more mindfulness and compassion. I’m Connie Warden, mindfulness teacher and author of Speeding to Compassion, and each week I sit down with thoughtful guests to explore real-life stories — the messy moments, the turning points, and the small shifts that help us move from reaction to reflection. This podcast is for you if you: feel the pressure to be perfectknow that your health is your wealth.want to respond to life with more calm and clarityare curious about mindfulness in everyday situationsor simply want to feel a little more at ease being human We talk about things like emotional intelligence, stress, relationships, resilience, and self-compassion — all through the lens of real stories and honest conversation, with just enough humor to keep things light. New episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays and each one is an invitation to take a breath, reset, and gently steer back toward what matters. If that sounds like something you need, hit follow, and come join us in Mindful, Kindful Living.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Guiding the Next Generation: Danielle Warden’s Journey in Education

    Teaching with Heart: Trauma-Informed Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence with Danielle Warden Host Connie Warden welcomes listeners to the Mindful Kindful podcast and interviews her daughter-in-law, Danielle Warden, a certified classroom teacher with nearly two decades of experience, a mother of four, and a passionate advocate for social emotional learning and trauma-informed teaching. Danielle explains trauma-informed teaching as understanding the whole child and being mindful of how expectations, tone, and reactions affect students. She shares how pausing to consider what lies beneath behavior helps bridge the gap between intent and impact, and emphasizes restorative “repair” through apology and relationship-building to cultivate trust. Danielle recounts classroom practices like check-ins, student sharing, and writing to process strong emotions, highlighting the importance of validating feelings. She recommends The Anxious Generation and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, and outlines a practical framework: notice, pause, choose, repair, and begin again. 00:00 Welcome to Mindful Kindful 00:38 Meet Danielle Warden 01:42 What Trauma Informed Means 03:00 Intent vs Impact in Moments 06:31 Repair and Restorative Practices 07:54 Camping Story with Luna 10:40 Classroom Trauma Check In 13:18 Writing It Out to Reset 16:22 Books That Shaped Danielle 18:11 Notice Pause Choose Repair 22:08 Begin Again Closing Thoughts  Check out my website

    Guiding the Next Generation: Danielle Warden’s Journey in Education
  2. Aug 12

    Unveiling Trauma: The Path to Authenticity with Elizabeth Ormes

    Trauma-Informed Healing for High Achievers: Polyvagal Tools, Burnout, and Authentic Growth with Elizabeth Ormes Connie Warden interviews licensed clinical professional counselor Elizabeth Ormes, who has 28 years’ experience and owns Actualizing Your Best Self, working primarily with high achievers struggling with burnout, perfectionism, and disconnection. Ormes explains her level two trauma professional certification as extensive continuing study to better serve trauma survivors, and describes SSP (Safe and Sound Protocol) and RRP (Rest and Restore Protocol), sound-frequency tools based on Dr. Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory that support nervous system regulation and help clients feel safe enough to go deeper in therapy. She shares a case example of an Ivy League–educated lawyer who, after months using SSP and RRP with therapy, became less catastrophizing and more attuned to bodily needs. They discuss common signs overachievers need help, the “sandwich generation,” brain maturation near age 30, and parting encouragement to seek support, stay curious, and embrace authenticity, including Ormes’ July 17 virtual Independent Women’s Conference appearance. Learn more about Elizabeth on her Website, Linkedin, YouTube, Instagram  00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:00 Trauma Certification Explained 04:38 Polyvagal Tools SSP RRP 09:08 Client Success Story 11:32 When High Achievers Hit a Wall 13:00 Life in the Sandwich Generation 17:01 Letting Loved Ones Choose 21:52 Shedding Layers and Greatness 22:33 Hopeful Parting Advice 25:28 Conference Plug and Closing  Check out my website

    Unveiling Trauma: The Path to Authenticity with Elizabeth Ormes

About

Life doesn’t always go as planned. We get stressed. We react. We miss the exit. And sometimes… we forget to be kind to ourselves along the way. Welcome to Mindful, Kindful Living — a podcast for people who want to slow down, laugh at their humanity, and live with more mindfulness and compassion. I’m Connie Warden, mindfulness teacher and author of Speeding to Compassion, and each week I sit down with thoughtful guests to explore real-life stories — the messy moments, the turning points, and the small shifts that help us move from reaction to reflection. This podcast is for you if you: feel the pressure to be perfectknow that your health is your wealth.want to respond to life with more calm and clarityare curious about mindfulness in everyday situationsor simply want to feel a little more at ease being human We talk about things like emotional intelligence, stress, relationships, resilience, and self-compassion — all through the lens of real stories and honest conversation, with just enough humor to keep things light. New episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays and each one is an invitation to take a breath, reset, and gently steer back toward what matters. If that sounds like something you need, hit follow, and come join us in Mindful, Kindful Living.