Embracing The Fight

Erica Lamar
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Embracing The Fight, a podcast designed to normalize the conversation surrounding physical and mental health issues. I, Erica Lamar, am sharing my journey to healing from thyroid cancer to start the conversation. The goal is to get more people to open up about what they are going through. Rather than suffer in silence, using your voice can start the healing process. Follow me on social media at: Facebook: Embracing The Fight Twitter: @EmbracingFight Instagram: @_embracing_the_fight_ TikTok: @embracingthefight

  1. 5d ago

    When AI Becomes Your Friend

    Artificial intelligence is no longer just helping us write emails, answer questions, or organize our schedules. For some people, AI is becoming something much more personal — a confidant, sounding board, coach, companion, and even a friend. In this episode of Embracing the Fight, host Erica Lamar explores what happens when technology begins to fill emotional spaces once reserved for human relationships. We're talking about the good, the uncomfortable, and the complicated questions surrounding AI companionship: Why are people becoming emotionally attached to AI? Can AI actually help with loneliness and isolation? Why can talking to AI sometimes feel easier than talking to another person? Can an AI relationship become too comfortable? What happens when technology starts replacing human connection instead of supporting it? And where should we draw the line between a helpful tool and an emotional dependency? AI can listen without interrupting, respond without judgment, and be available almost anytime. But does that make it a friend — or simply a very convincing simulation of one? This conversation isn't about being afraid of technology. It's about understanding how technology is changing the way we connect, communicate, cope, and build relationships. Join the conversation: Have you ever talked to AI about something you didn't feel comfortable discussing with another person? Do you believe AI can genuinely become someone's friend? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Thank you for watching Embracing the Fight. Be sure to subscribe, like, comment, and share Embracing the Fight on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, and Bluesky. On Instagram, follow us at @EmbracingTheFight_. Interested in being a guest on the show? Email operations@diversitydesigned.com with the subject line ETF Guest. Hosted by Erica Lamar #EmbracingTheFight #WhenAIBecomesYourFriend #ArtificialIntelligence #AICompanionship #AIAndLoneliness #HumanConnection #Technology #Relationships #MentalWellness #Podcast #EricaLamar #AIConversation

  2. 5d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing How to Work with Difficult People (Without Losing Yourself) from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast BUY THE BOOK! How to Work With Complicated People by Ryan Leak https://amzn.to/4y8aXDB New York Times bestselling author Ryan Leak joins Oprah at her tea house for a practical conversation about navigating difficult workplace relationships. Drawing from his book How to Work with Complicated People Ryan shares why the people we work with, more than the work itself, often determine how fulfilled we feel on the job. He breaks down four strategies for working through challenging dynamics, introduces the idea of an “expectations detox” and offers a powerful reminder: we’re all complicated to someone else. This conversation isn’t about fixing other people, it’s about growing ourselves through greater self-awareness, understanding, and emotional maturity. Oprah and Ryan are also joined by listeners with real workplace dilemmas, tackling questions about bridging generational divides, leading with empathy while still meeting goals and setting healthy boundaries with colleagues who seem beyond complicated. It’s a practical and relatable conversation filled with tools to help anyone build stronger relationships at work and beyond. 00:00:00 - Welcome Ryan Leak, author of “How to Work with Complicated People” 00:04:50 - People problems at work 00:07:00 -We never think we’re the problem 00:07:58 - 4 ways people deal with complicated people 00:11:30 - Importance of partnership 00:12:20 - Expectations detox 00:14:50 - Our unrealistic expectations 00:15:38 - What should we do in the moment 00:18:20 - Be the adult in the room 00:21:00 - Generational differences 00:24:00 - Questions to ask 00:27:50 - How to communicate better 00:29:20 - How to set the tone as a leader 00:33:00 - You choose your reaction 00:34:28 - Why half of Americans quit 00:39:10 - When is it not possible 00:43:00 - How to grow yourself 00:44:40 - One word Ryan lives by Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/oprah/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

  3. Sep 16

    When Life Becomes a To-Do List

    Mental Overload, Burnout & the Invisible Weight of Everyday Life Do you ever feel like your entire life has become one never-ending list of things to do? Appointments. Bills. Emails. Work. Family responsibilities. Health concerns. Errands. Deadlines. Follow-ups. Household tasks. Text messages. Planning. Remembering. Managing. It never seems to stop. In this episode of Embracing the Fight, Erica explores what happens when everyday responsibilities begin to create mental overload, emotional exhaustion, decision fatigue, and burnout. Sometimes the problem is not one major crisis. Sometimes it is the accumulation of dozens of small responsibilities constantly competing for your attention. When life becomes a to-do list, it can be difficult to rest without feeling guilty, enjoy the moment without thinking about what comes next, or even recognize how mentally exhausted you have become. In this conversation, we talk about: • The invisible mental load we carry every day • Why managing life can feel like a full-time job • Decision fatigue and mental exhaustion • The pressure to constantly be productive • Why checking everything off the list does not always bring peace • Learning what can wait, what can be delegated, and what needs to be removed • Creating space to actually experience your life instead of constantly managing it Ask yourself: Am I living my life…or am I just managing it? And here's another question: What is one thing you are tired of managing? Drop your answer in the comments. You may be surprised by how many people feel exactly the same way. If this episode speaks to you, please subscribe, like, comment, and share Embracing the Fight. You can follow Embracing the Fight on: YouTube | Facebook | TikTok | X | Bluesky On Instagram: @Embracingthefight_ If you would like to be a guest on Embracing the Fight, email operations@diversitydesigned.com with the subject line ETF Guest. Thanks for watching! #EmbracingTheFight #MentalLoad #Burnout #MentalExhaustion #DecisionFatigue #Overwhelmed #StressManagement #SelfCare #MentalHealth #LifeBalance #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalWellness #Adulting #Productivity #Rest

  4. Sep 9

    Health Check!!!!

    Health Check: What Are You Actively Doing? We set goals for our careers. We make plans for our businesses. We maintain our homes, our cars, and everything else that matters to us. But what about our bodies? In this episode of Embracing the Fight, Erica asks a simple but important question: What are you actively doing for your health? Are you exercising? Are you paying attention to what you eat? Are you getting the rest your body needs? Are you keeping up with your doctor appointments, screenings, medications, and lab work? Are you asking questions when something doesn't feel right? Most importantly, are you treating your health like something worth investing in? Erica shares pieces of her own health journey and some of the lessons she has learned along the way. Healing isn't always a straight line, and becoming healthier doesn't happen overnight. But we can make the decision to become active participants in our own health. This isn't about being perfect. It's about being intentional. Just as you set goals for your job, business, finances, or home, you can set goals for your body. Learn your numbers. Pay attention to changes. Move more. Make better food choices. Keep your appointments. Ask questions. Advocate for yourself. And when you get off track, start again. Your health deserves more than your attention only when something goes wrong. It's time for a health check. Ask yourself today: What am I actively doing to help my body become healthier, stronger, and better able to carry me through the life I'm working so hard to build? 🎙️ Embracing the Fight Your health is part of the fight. Take an active role in your health and healing.

  5. Sep 2

    Put it Down.

    YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY WHAT ISN'T YOURS How many times have you dropped everything to help someone else—only to realize that you're the one left exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious, and emotionally drained? In this episode of Embracing the Fight, we're talking about what happens when people come to you with their problems, their emergencies, their emotions, and their chaos—and you automatically feel responsible for fixing it. But here's the truth: THEIR DISTRESS DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY BECOME YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. You can care about someone without carrying them. You can listen without absorbing their pain. You can offer guidance without sacrificing your peace. And sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is simply say NO. "Put It Down" is about learning to recognize when you've picked up something that was never yours to carry in the first place. IN THIS EPISODE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT: • Why we feel responsible for solving other people's problems • The difference between helping and rescuing • How constantly absorbing other people's distress affects your own well-being • Getting to the ROOT of the problem instead of repeatedly fixing the symptoms • How to say "no" without guilt • Knowing when to redirect someone to a professional, resource, or support system • Protecting your peace without becoming selfish • Learning that you can love people without breaking yourself for them YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING EVERYONE. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is: "I care about you, but I can't carry this for you." Put it down. Give it back. Point them toward the help they need. And give yourself permission to breathe. 🎙️ EMBRACING THE FIGHT Conversations about the real fight for our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. #PutItDown #EmbracingTheFight #ProtectYourPeace #Boundaries #MentalHealth #SelfCare #EmotionalWellbeing #PeoplePleasing #HealthyBoundaries #SayNo #StopRescuing

  6. Aug 26

    Character Speaks for Itself

    Character Speaks for Itself | When Life Tests What You've Been Praying For What does your character say about you when no one else is speaking on your behalf? In this episode of Embracing the Fight, Erica Lamar explores a powerful truth: character speaks for itself because character leaves evidence. But character isn't built when everything is comfortable. Character is built when it is tested. We pray for patience—and then find ourselves in situations that require us to wait. We pray for strength—and suddenly face something that requires us to become stronger than we thought we could be. We ask God to help us overcome anxiety, fear, and nervousness—and then opportunities arise that force us to confront the very things that make us uncomfortable. Sometimes, the answer to the prayer is the test. Erica shares personal experiences with nervousness rooted in childhood and discusses what it means to confront something that has had power over you for years. Growth doesn't always mean the fear disappears first. Sometimes you have to move forward while your character, confidence, and courage are still being developed. But grief is different. Grief isn't simply another "test" that life gives us. Grief is a natural consequence of loving, losing, and living. It can be unpredictable, painful, confusing, and deeply personal. As Erica says, grief is a strange animal. And while grief itself isn't a character test, how we learn to walk through grief can ultimately shape our character. This episode also addresses the difficulty of receiving advice from people who have never experienced your particular loss or struggle. People may mean well, but they don't always understand the weight of what you're carrying. That's why God can place the right people in our lives at the right time—including mental health professionals and therapists who can provide support, perspective, tools, and accountability as we work through the things that have shaped us. Accountability isn't punishment. Getting help isn't weakness. And being tested doesn't mean you're failing. You may actually be building the character you prayed for. 🔥 TESTED. PROVEN. BUILT. Your character is being shaped right now. Don't waste the process. If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who may be going through a season of grief, anxiety, fear, change, or personal growth. ❤️ SUBSCRIBE TO EMBRACING THE FIGHT Join the Embracing the Fight community and follow/subscribe across our platforms for conversations about faith, life, grief, resilience, personal growth, and learning how to keep fighting when life doesn't go according to plan. YouTube, Facebook, TikTok & other platforms: Embracing the Fight Instagram: @embracingthefight_ 👍 Like this episode 💬 Comment: What has life taught you about your character? 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications ↗️ Share this episode with someone who needs it Embrace your fight. Learn from it. Grow through it. And keep going. #EmbracingTheFight #EricaLamar #Character #CharacterBuilding #Faith #TrustTheProcess #GodsPlan #PersonalGrowth #Grief #GriefJourney #Anxiety #MentalHealth #Therapy #Accountability #Strength #Patience #Resilience #FaithOverFear #LifeLessons #KeepFighting

  7. Aug 19

    What To Do When Your Safety Net Has A Hole In It.

    What Do You Do When the Paycheck Suddenly Stops? What happens when the job you depended on is suddenly gone? Don'r panic. Let's start with a plan.  In this episode of Embracing the Fight, Erica Lamar discusses the closing of Anchor Glass in Warner Robins, Georgia, and the impact on more than 150 Central Georgians who suddenly find themselves unemployed and searching for answers. "When My Safety Net Has a Hole in It" is about what happens after the unexpected—the layoff, the plant closing, the loss of income—and the practical steps you can take to stay afloat while figuring out what comes next. Erica discusses: 🔹 Updating your résumé immediately and beginning your job search before financial pressure becomes overwhelming. 🔹 Taking a closer look at your 401(k) to understand how your plan is structured and whether borrowing or other options may be available to you. Before accessing retirement funds, make sure you understand the rules, taxes, penalties, and long-term consequences. 🔹 Turning your knowledge or dream into a business. You may already have a marketable skill, years of experience, or an idea you've never pursued. AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude can help you brainstorm, research your market, develop a business plan, create marketing materials, organize your ideas, and determine your next steps. 🔹 Finding affordable healthcare. Losing your job can also mean losing employer-sponsored health insurance. Erica discusses resources such as First Choice Primary Care and HRSA-supported community health centers, where qualifying patients may be able to receive healthcare and medications at reduced costs. 🔹 Considering relocation. Your next opportunity may not be in your current city. Sometimes surviving a career transition means expanding your search and being willing to go where the opportunities are. 🔹 Using the resources available to you. There are programs and organizations designed to help people experiencing unemployment and financial hardship. Asking for help during a difficult season can be part of the strategy—not the end of the story. Erica also discusses the heartbreaking story of a husband and wife who reportedly made a suicide pact and killed their children while experiencing serious financial difficulties. Suicide, harming yourself, or harming your family is never the answer to a financial crisis. Money problems can change. Jobs can be replaced. Careers can be rebuilt. Businesses can be started. Help is available. This episode is a reminder that when your safety net develops a hole, you don't stop fighting. You work. You research. You apply. You pivot. You ask for help. You use the resources available to you. And you keep the faith while you move through the process. A door that closes may put you in the hallway—but that hallway can lead to another open door. If you know someone who has recently been laid off, lost a job, or is struggling financially, SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH THEM. They may need to hear this message today. 👍 LIKE this video 💬 COMMENT and tell us what helped you through a career or financial setback ↗️ SHARE it with someone who needs encouragement or resources 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Embracing the Fight and turn on notifications so you don't miss an episode. FOLLOW EMBRACING THE FIGHT ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook & other platforms: Embracing the Fight Instagram: Embracing the Fight_ #EmbracingTheFight #WhenMySafetyNetHasAHoleInIt #AnchorGlass #WarnerRobins #CentralGeorgia #JobLoss #Layoffs #Unemployment #CareerChange #JobSearch #FinancialHardship #StartingOver #Entrepreneurship #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #KeepTheFaith #Resilience

  8. Aug 12

    Hoarding Starts in the Mind

    Do you find yourself holding onto things you know you don't need? Do you tell yourself, "I might need this someday," even though you haven't used it in years? In this episode of Embracing the Fight, Erica Lamar takes a deeper look at hoarding—and why the problem may begin long before the clutter takes over the house. Hoarding can be connected to grief, loss, fear of failure, emotional attachment, unresolved pain, and the difficulty of letting go. Sometimes the objects we keep represent memories. Sometimes they represent plans we never completed. And sometimes holding onto "stuff" becomes a physical manifestation of something we haven't addressed emotionally. In this episode, we discuss: 🧠 Why hoarding can begin in the mind 💔 How grief and loss can contribute to excessive collecting 🎸 Why abandoned hobbies and unfinished goals can become emotional clutter 📦 The difference between keeping meaningful items and accumulating things without purpose 🛍️ How buying multiples and "saving things for later" can become problematic 🏠 How physical clutter can interfere with peace, focus, and everyday life ❤️ Why addressing the underlying emotional issue is just as important as cleaning the house 🤝 The importance of asking for help—and tackling the clutter one room at a time Your surroundings can affect your ability to relax, concentrate, and fully experience your life. When everything around you becomes a distraction, it may be time to ask a bigger question: What am I really holding onto—and why? Decluttering isn't only about creating more space in your home. Sometimes it's about creating room in your mind and your life for something new. If you recognize yourself or someone you love in this conversation, remember that asking for help is okay. Change doesn't have to happen overnight. Start somewhere. Start small. And keep moving forward. 🎙️ Embracing the Fight is dedicated to normalizing conversations surrounding physical and mental health issues and concerns while giving people a place to share their stories, struggles, triumphs, and victories. 💬 Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact: operations@diversitydesigned.com 👍 LIKE this episode 💬 COMMENT and join the conversation 📲 SHARE it with someone who may need to hear this message 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Embracing the Fight Follow Embracing the Fight on Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, and Bluesky. Remember: When you remove some of the clutter from your life, you create space for what your heart truly desires. #EmbracingTheFight #Hoarding #HoardingDisorder #Decluttering #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Grief #Healing #EmotionalHealth #DeclutterYourLife #LettingGo #ClutterFree #SelfCare #MentalWellness #EricaLamar

See All (190)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Embracing The Fight, a podcast designed to normalize the conversation surrounding physical and mental health issues. I, Erica Lamar, am sharing my journey to healing from thyroid cancer to start the conversation. The goal is to get more people to open up about what they are going through. Rather than suffer in silence, using your voice can start the healing process. Follow me on social media at: Facebook: Embracing The Fight Twitter: @EmbracingFight Instagram: @_embracing_the_fight_ TikTok: @embracingthefight

Information

  • Creator
    Erica Lamar
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    190
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Embracing The Fight