Empower Hour

Empower Hour
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Empower Hour is your weekly dose of real talk, practical wisdom, and hope-filled conversations—hosted by therapist April and her friend Audrey, a down-to-earth cultural observer with a heart for truth. Together, they unpack life’s challenges with compassion, clarity, and a little humor too. Whether you’re navigating stress, relationships, parenting, or just trying to make sense of the chaos around you, you’ll leave every episode feeling seen, equipped, and empowered. No fluff. No preachiness. Just honest insights and encouragement you can actually use.

  1. Jul 13

    Human Design: Could Understanding Your Energy Change the Way You Live?

    What if the way you make decisions, handle emotions, communicate, and even rest isn't random—but part of how you're uniquely wired? In this episode of Empower Hour, we're thrilled to welcome Carly Young back to the podcast! Last time, we explored holistic wellness. This time, we're diving into one of Carly's favorite topics: Human Design. Whether you've heard of Human Design before or this is your first introduction, Carly breaks it down in a practical, easy-to-understand way. Together, we explore how understanding your personal energy blueprint may help you better understand yourself, your relationships, your parenting, and the way you move through life. As always, our goal isn't to tell you what to believe—but to encourage curiosity, self-reflection, and meaningful conversations. What Human Design is and where it comes fromThe five Human Design energy typesWhy different people make decisions differentlyHow your energy may impact relationships, parenting, and communicationThe difference between working with yourself versus constantly working against yourselfApril and Audrey each have their Human Design charts interpreted live by CarlyHow understanding yourself can lead to greater self-awareness and authenticity Whether you're simply curious or already familiar with Human Design, this conversation offers plenty to think about. Carly Young is a holistic wellness coach passionate about helping people better understand themselves through Human Design, movement, nervous system regulation, and whole-person wellness. She offers personalized Human Design chart readings and coaching to help individuals better understand their unique energetic blueprint and how they naturally operate in the world. Connect with Carly: Instagram: @carlyyoungfitWebsite: heartandcoretraining.com If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Empower Hour, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves learning more about themselves and others.

  2. Jun 1

    What Your Teen Isn’t Telling You, But Needs You to Hear

    Guest: Serenity Calhoun In this deeply personal episode of The Empower Hour, April sits down with her 19-year-old daughter, Serenity, for an honest conversation about teen mental health, drug use, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and what it was like to walk through that season as both a daughter and a mother. Serenity shares what she wishes parents understood, including: Suicidal thoughts can feel isolating, shameful, and confusing, especially when a teen does not realize they are not alone.Some teens hide their pain well, even in homes where mental health is talked about openly.Drug use is not always “just experimenting.” Sometimes it becomes a way to escape pain, shame, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm.Self-harm can become a harmful coping mechanism when a teen does not know how else to regulate what is happening inside.Parents cannot control everything, and not every warning sign is obvious.When a child is in crisis, sometimes the most helpful thing is not a perfect speech. Sometimes it is sitting with them, staying calm, listening, and not trying to rush them out of the pain. April and Serenity also talk about hospitalization, residential treatment, finding the right therapist, and why healing often takes time, patience, support, and more than one attempt at getting help. This episode is for parents, caregivers, teens, and young adults who need hope and practical understanding in a scary situation. Resources: If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. Free, confidential support is available 24/7.You can also chat with 988 at 988lifeline.org.Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis support in the U.S.NAMI offers education and support for families navigating mental health concerns at nami.org. Please share this episode with a parent, caregiver, teen, or young adult who may need to hear: you are not weird, you are not alone, and help is worth trying one more time

  3. May 25

    Stepmom Guilt, Blended Families, and the Weight Women Were Never Meant to Carry

    Episode Guest: Jessica Koptis, The Steady Stepmom This week on The Empower Hour, we sat down with Jessica Koptis, also known as The Steady Stepmom, for an honest and deeply relatable conversation about blended families, step parenting, guilt, boundaries, and the emotional weight so many moms carry. Jessica shared her personal story of walking through divorce, becoming part of a blended family, and learning how to stop carrying everyone else’s emotions. As a mom of three and stepmom to three, she brings wisdom, compassion, and lived experience to a role that is often misunderstood. In this episode, Jessica talks about the pressure many stepmoms feel to be perfect, love instantly, keep the peace, and hold the family together. She also shares the heart behind her guide, The Glue, a method for women who are done carrying everyone else’s emotions and are ready to find themselves again. Follow Jessica on Instagram: @thesteadystepmom Check out her guide, The Glue:The Method for women who are done carrying everyone else’s emotions. Thank you for listening to The Empower Hour. If this episode encouraged you or made you think of someone who needs to hear it, please share it with a friend.

  4. May 4

    How to Raise Resilient Kids in Therapy-Speak Culture

    Jess Gambill, LCSW and one of Empower Counseling’s Idaho counselors, is back on Empower Hour for a conversation that so many parents need right now. In this episode, April and Jess talk about the way words like trauma, triggered, abuse, and toxic have become everyday language, especially for kids and teens. While it is a good thing that this generation is more aware of mental health, there is also a growing problem: not every uncomfortable, upsetting, or disappointing experience is trauma. Jess shares from both her professional experience and her personal experience as a mom of twin boys, including what it feels like when a child calls a consequence “abuse” or threatens CPS because their phone was taken away. April and Jess talk honestly about how hard those moments can be for parents, why anger is a normal reaction, and how parents can respond with both empathy and clarity. This conversation is not about dismissing real trauma. It is about helping kids understand the difference between true abuse, traumatic experiences, big emotions, normal consequences, and everyday discomfort. When kids learn the difference, they become more emotionally intelligent, more resilient, and better prepared for real life.  April and Jess discuss: What “big T trauma” actually meansWhy social media has changed the way kids talk about mental healthHow words like “triggered” and “abusive” can become shutdown phrasesWhy parents often feel stuck when they do not want to invalidate their child, but also know the label is not accurateThe difference between validating a child’s feelings and validating the wrong labelHow to respond when a child says, “You’re abusing me” over a normal consequenceWhy taking a pause can be better than reacting in angerHow asking “Walk me through how we got here” can help kids take ownershipWhy parents should be willing to ask, “What could I do better?”How uncomfortable moments can build resilience instead of fragilityWhy kids need accurate language so they can recognize real abuse when it happens

  5. Apr 13

    8 Truths That Might Change Your Life This Week

    This episode is a little different…and one you’ll probably feel. No guest today. Just us diving into the hard truths people don’t always want to hear… but probably need to. We’re talking about: Why you might not actually be overwhelmed…just overcommittedHow your thoughts are shaping your reality (more than you think)The truth about motivation…and why waiting on it is holding you backWhy guilt doesn’t always mean you’re doing something wrongWhen to stop over-processing and just let things goThe difference between being liked vs. being respectedAnd why healing doesn’t always feel peaceful If something hits, don’t just nod along. Do something with it this week. We’d love to hear what stood out to you! Message us or leave a review… it helps us reach more people and keep these conversations going.

  6. Mar 30

    The Communication Mistake Most People Don’t Know They’re Making

    This week we sat down with Megan McCaleb, improv trainer, comedian, and award-winning author of Not My Plan — Sucking it in Until I Had to Push it Out. Megan teaches applied improv and humor to help people improve communication, handle conflict, manage anxiety, and become more confident in everyday life. In this episode, we talk about the powerful improv concept of “Yes, And,” suspending judgment, learning to stay present in hard moments, and how improv is being used with first responders, corporate teams, and everyday people to build connection and emotional resilience. If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, pressure, communication, or fear of judgment, this episode will give you simple, practical tools you can start using immediately.

  7. Mar 16

    Train Your Body Without Abandoning Your Mind | Carlie Young

    In this episode of Empower Hour, April and Audrey welcome Carlie Young, a holistic wellness mentor, Reiki Master Teacher, human design guide, and IFBB Figure Pro. Carlie is the founder of Heart and Core Training Studio in Boise, Idaho, where she blends strength training, nervous system regulation, and energy work to help women reconnect with their bodies and build sustainable wellness. The conversation explores the powerful mind–body connection, how trauma and burnout can show up in the body, and why movement, breathwork, and nervous system regulation are essential for healing. Carlie also shares insights about fascia, emotional release through movement, and how keeping small commitments to yourself can rebuild trust with your body. Carlie gives listeners a preview of Human Design, an energetic blueprint that helps people understand how they are uniquely wired to interact with the world. Learn more about Carlie:HeartandCoreTraining.comInstagram: @CarlieYoungFit | @heartandcoretraining

  8. Mar 9

    Mental Health & EMS: What First Responders Wish You Knew

    Content Note:This episode contains discussion of suicide, self-harm, and mental health crises in the context of EMS work. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Empower Hour, April is joined by a special guest: her husband, Jeremy Thorndyke, a firefighter-paramedic with decades of experience in emergency services. Jeremy shares what it’s really like responding to emergencies and why mental health calls are becoming a growing part of EMS work.  Together, April, Audrey, and Jeremy discuss the gap between mental health needs and the training EMS providers receive. Jeremy shares real stories from the field that highlight how misunderstandings around mental health can lead to unnecessary hospitalizations, broken trust in the system, and missed opportunities to help people in crisis. They also explore the difference between self-harm and suicidal intent, why specialized mobile crisis units can make a difference, and how first responders themselves are often carrying heavy emotional burdens from the work they do. This conversation offers an honest look at the challenges EMS professionals face and why better education, resources, and collaboration between mental health professionals and first responders are so important. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that help is available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available nationwide for anyone needing support.

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About

Empower Hour is your weekly dose of real talk, practical wisdom, and hope-filled conversations—hosted by therapist April and her friend Audrey, a down-to-earth cultural observer with a heart for truth. Together, they unpack life’s challenges with compassion, clarity, and a little humor too. Whether you’re navigating stress, relationships, parenting, or just trying to make sense of the chaos around you, you’ll leave every episode feeling seen, equipped, and empowered. No fluff. No preachiness. Just honest insights and encouragement you can actually use.

Information

  • Creator
    Empower Hour
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Empower Hour
  • Show Website
    Empower Hour