Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes

Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook & Dr. Stephanie Ellis
  • 5.0 (10)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Welcome to Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes. A mostly-serious show where two mental health professionals work together to teach you about having security, freedom, and luxury, in EVERY area of your life. Dr Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis coach you on the path to mental wealth, covering topics from sex and relationships, communication and self-care, work and parenting, and so much more.

  1. 2D AGO

    Communication Answers: Giving Feedback, Setting Boundaries, and Using AI Wisely

    How do you give difficult feedback without sounding harsh? What do you do when someone interrupts, shuts down, or refuses to change? In this listener Q&A episode, Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis answer practical questions about communication in real life. Topics include delivering underperformance feedback at work, dealing with someone who refuses to change, balancing assertiveness with respect, handling interruptions, and ending conversations without feeling rude. The conversation also explores communication in virtual meetings, how therapy can help improve communication skills, mediating conflict between colleagues or children, and managing stress during difficult conversations. You will also hear a thoughtful discussion about when and how AI can be used responsibly in communication without replacing your own skill development. Throughout the episode, the focus remains on emotional regulation, preparation, boundaries, and building stress tolerance so you can stay composed when conversations get hard. Send your questions to richthoughtspoorjokes@gmail.com and subscribe for more conversations about communication, relationships, and mental wellness. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    45 min

  2. FEB 4

    Sex, Desire, and Intimacy Questions We Hear All the Time

    You asked, and we answered. In this episode, we respond to real questions about sex, desire, intimacy, and communication. In this listener Q&A episode, Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis respond to questions that often come up in therapy offices but are rarely talked about openly. Topics include sex after 60, changes in desire across the lifespan, communicating sexual needs, feeling too busy or disconnected for intimacy, and navigating shame, embarrassment, or mismatched desire in relationships. The conversation also explores practical and emotional questions around sexual health, including menopause, erectile changes, safety and testing, waiting for sex, buyer’s remorse, pornography, sex toys, and how early sexual experiences shape expectations later in life. Throughout the discussion, the focus remains on self awareness, values, consent, curiosity, and building intimacy that actually works for the people involved. This episode is grounded, direct, and compassionate, offering perspective rather than prescriptions and encouraging listeners to reflect on what they want, what matters to them, and how to talk about sex in ways that strengthen connection rather than create distance. Send your questions to richthoughtspoorjokes@gmail.com and subscribe for more conversations about mental wellness, relationships, and meaningful connection. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    50 min

  3. JAN 28

    Executive Functioning Skills for Prioritizing, Planning, and Follow Through

    Why do planning, time management, and productivity feel so hard even when you know what needs to be done? In this episode, we break down practical executive functioning skills that support follow through. In this episode, Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis explore advanced executive functioning skills related to prioritizing, planning, organization, time management, and monitoring progress. The conversation focuses on why productivity often breaks down and how small, practical adjustments can make goals easier to reach. Topics include how to set priorities based on values, realistic planning strategies, common thinking traps like the planning fallacy and task completion bias, and ways to reduce wasted effort. The episode also covers tools for organizing materials, managing time and attention, handling procrastination, and knowing when emotions are interfering with efficiency. Throughout the discussion, the focus remains on responsibility without shame, customization over comparison, and building systems that work with your brain rather than against it. Subscribe for more conversations on mental wellness, executive functioning, and practical strategies for daily life. Questions can be sent to richthoughtspoorjokes@gmail.com. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    44 min

  4. JAN 21

    Why is Getting Started SO Hard?

    Why is it so hard to get started, stay regulated, or slow yourself down in the moment? In this episode, Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis focus on three executive functioning skills that shape everyday behavior: activation, emotional regulation, and behavioral self control. Together, they explore why starting tasks can feel so difficult, how emotions can take up more space than we expect, and what happens when reactions move faster than intention. The conversation looks at common patterns like procrastination, urgency driven motivation, overwhelm, impulsive responses, and difficulty pausing before acting. You will hear why both self criticism and self indulgence tend to make these struggles worse, and how responsibility without shame creates more room for change. Practical strategies include aligning tasks with values, borrowing structure from others, using visual focus to initiate work, creating space to edit responses, and building systems that support both present self and future self. This episode continues the Executive Functioning series and leads into the final discussion, where more advanced skills and integration will be covered. Subscribe to follow the full series and send your questions to richthoughtspoorjokes@gmail.com. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    32 min

  5. JAN 14

    Memory, Focus, and Why Multitasking Fails

    Episode 2 of our four part series on executive functioning. Why is it so hard to remember things, stay focused, or follow through even when you care? In this episode, Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis take a closer look at three core executive functioning skills: memory, focus, and mental effort. Together, they explore how working memory actually functions, why multitasking strains the brain, and what really affects our ability to stay alert and engaged. The conversation covers common frustrations like forgetfulness, distraction, and difficulty finishing tasks, and explains why shame and self criticism tend to make these problems worse. You will also hear practical ways to support your brain, including reducing cognitive overload, using timers intentionally, and customizing strategies based on how you actually function rather than how you think you should. This episode builds on the foundation from Part 1 and prepares listeners for the next discussion in the series, where additional executive functioning skills will be explored. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    40 min

  6. JAN 7

    Why You’re Not Lazy: Executive Functioning Explained

    What if the reason you struggle with focus, follow-through, or motivation isn’t laziness or lack of willpower? In this foundational episode, Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis break down what executive functioning actually is: the mental skills that help you plan, focus, regulate emotions, and follow through in daily life. You’ll learn why shame, grit, and “just try harder” don’t work, how executive functioning is influenced by your brain and development, and what does help instead: responsibility without shame, customization, sleep, and realistic supports. This episode lays the groundwork for the entire series, where we’ll explore memory, focus, activation, emotional regulation, time management, procrastination, and more; with practical examples for work, parenting, relationships, and mental wellness. Welcome to Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes. A mostly-serious podcast where Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis coach you on the path to mental wealth by helping you find security, freedom, and luxury in every area of your life. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    35 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    What Does it Take to Build Work Resilience?

    We're wrapping up our series on Work Wealth by focusing in on how you can develop (and maintain!) resilience in the workplace. Welcome to Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes. A mostly-serious podcast where Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis coach you on the path to mental wealth by helping you find security, freedom, and luxury in every area of your life. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    35 min

  8. 12/24/2025

    The Secrets to Good Communication at Work

    It's a classic podcast team-up episode! And by that we mean: "go back and make sure you've listened to the communication series, because it's the perfect pairing for this laser focused lesson on communicating at work". Let's talk about boundaries, listening, self-awareness, and so much more. Welcome to Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes. A mostly-serious podcast where Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis coach you on the path to mental wealth by helping you find security, freedom, and luxury in every area of your life. Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes, is brought to you by Compass Coaching. At Compass Coaching, we specialize in executive coaching by collaborating with you on your goals, giving you reliable information, skills development practice opportunities, goal-oriented behavioral strategies, and help in tailoring these skills to your specific situation. We offer both topic-specific, empirically-based programs for businesses, organizations, and companies, all built on cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused principles. Learn more and connect with us at www.compasscoachingforlife.net

    44 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to Rich Thoughts, Poor Jokes. A mostly-serious show where two mental health professionals work together to teach you about having security, freedom, and luxury, in EVERY area of your life. Dr Roxy Riefkohl-Cook and Dr. Stephanie Ellis coach you on the path to mental wealth, covering topics from sex and relationships, communication and self-care, work and parenting, and so much more.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Roxy Riefkohl-Cook & Dr. Stephanie Ellis
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Compass Coaching, LLC