P.S. We Expire with Morgan Motsinger

Morgan Motsinger
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The title says it all: we expire. And yet most of us live like we have infinite time to become who we want to be, to have the conversations that matter, to stop shrinking ourselves. I'm Morgan. I'm a mother, entrepreneur, and someone who is doing the messy work of rebuilding after loss. On this podcast, I talk with people about the things we usually avoid: death, grief, caregiving, self-trust, and the courage it takes to live deliberately instead of on autopilot. These aren't conversations about becoming perfect. They're about becoming real.

  1. JAN 26

    Ep94: Allison teaches us "The Work" of Byron Katie and I'm the guinea pig

    It's getting real up in here. Allison Evans is BACK, and this time, she's teaching us one of my favorite tools: "The Work" of Byron Katie. Allison is a life coach (and one of Martha Beck's Wayfinder coaches, nbd) who works primarily with women looking to reclaim their lives and be the heroines of their own journeys. She teaches us how The Work works, and I get to be the fortunate example in this lesson. One of the reasons I love the work is because it is very intuitive. I can easily get myself into thinking knots, so any tools that help me get into my body and really feel into patterns of thinking and behaving is extremely helpful. Allison is a Certified Wayfinder Master Coach with an MA in English literature from George Mason University and undergraduate degrees in English and French from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her work has been featured in elephant journal, Thrive Global, and Pathways magazine. She lives in Omaha with the people who inspire her work: her husband, daughter, and son.Links from the episode:Allison's website https://allisonevanscoaching.com/Website for The Work https://thework.com/Documentary "The Divided Brain" https://thedividedbrain.com/Dr. Iain McGilchrist interview on the podcast "Know Thyself" https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/podcast/dr-iain-mcgilchristYou can find Morgan on her website https://www.morganmotsinger.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mindfulness-Based Tools12:46 Understanding the Four Questions of The Work36:19 Exploring Turnarounds and Self-Approval54:12 The Power of Visualization and Slowing Down01:05:38 The Work as a Meditation01:19:19 The Neurological Basis of Change01:30:26 Forensic Examination of Suffering

    1h 25m

  2. 12/09/2025

    Ep93: I'm Good at Being Good - And It's Killing Me with Jen Zorb

    This conversation with Jen Zorb was one of those episodes where I kept thinking "YES, THIS" over and over again. Jen is a therapist with 15+ years of experience, and she created The Pearl Project (I cannot wait to tell you about it).  But first, we dove into something that I think so many of us struggle with: Are we actually living our lives on purpose, or are we just responding to everything that gets thrown at us? When was the last time you actually sat down and thought about what you value most and then had the courage to orient your whole life around that? Jen created The Pearl Project: mental health kits because she kept wishing she could send clients home with something tangible. The work people were doing in therapy was so powerful, but then they'd leave and have to wait another week or two for their next session. Each kit includes: A metaphor or storyScience-based therapeutic contentA tangible object you can touch and holdQuestion decks for reflectionThe whole approach is multisensory because neuroscience shows us we integrate things better when we can touch, smell, see—not just think about them cognitively. Some other great things we dug into together: 💛 How to choose a therapist Real talk: Not every therapist is going to be a good fit, even if they're great at what they do. And it's OKAY to break up with your therapist. You heard it here—Jen said it! 💛 What actually is a trigger? We talked about how "trigger" has become this catch-all word for "this person annoyed me." But in a therapeutic context, a trigger is an event or sensation that activates a specific nervous system response—usually tied to an old hurt or injury. 💛 What to do when you're triggered This is where it gets practical. Jen shares 4 things you can do in the moment when you're activated (and the last one is huge).  💛 The corrective emotional experience This is when you try something new—like speaking up or setting a boundary—and you get positive reinforcement. It starts rewiring your brain. More about Jen and The Pearl Project Jen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. She has helped individuals, couples, and families in a private practice setting and has also worked in a hospital setting, treating the most acute mental and behavioral health challenges. She is passionate about making high-quality, professional mental health support more accessible to the everyday person. The Pearl Project was born out of that passion in 2022! Jen loves a good iced latte and has a competitive streak that mostly comes out on the tennis and pickleball courts. She dreams of travel and the day that all of her kids put their shoes on without having to be asked. Website: www.thepearlproject.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jointhepearlproject Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jointhepearlproject   Find Morgan at: https://www.instagram.com/morgan_motsinger/ https://www.morganmotsinger.com/ hello@morganmotsinger.com

    59 min

  3. 11/12/2025

    Ep92: Alzheimer's prevention and healthy living (that only sucks a little bit) with Rachel Daugherty

    Check out my free resource vault at https://www.morganmotsinger.com/vault   Life can get pretty hairy, pretty quickly. When Rachel's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she was thrust into a caregiving role, something major shifted. She started to think about her own health, and not just from an aesthetic perspective, but from a neuroprotective standpoint. She dug deep into the research about Alzheimer's prevention, brain health, and microhabits that have long-term positive results.    Rachel was an absolute delight to talk to, and her online presence has grown tremendously because of her approachable demeanor, humor, smarts, and heartwarming vulnerability.    More about Rachel:   Rachel Daugherty is the daughter of a woman with Alzheimer’s and knows firsthand the grief, fear, and heartbreak of watching someone you love lose themselves. Her mission is to show people they are not doomed to repeat their family’s story. Through evidence-based tools and the practice of self-connection, Rachel teaches how to change habits from the inside out — seeing each choice as more than an act toward brain health, but also an act of self-love. By helping people reframe their relationship with food, fitness, and health, she empowers them to build self-trust and lasting strength that protects both body and brain. Rachel shows others how to shape their future selves while becoming the strongest, most alive version of themselves now — and she wants to show you how.   You can find Rachel and her amazing work at: Website www.bootyandbrains.co Instagram @bootyandbrains.co   You can find Morgan: Website https://www.morganmotsinger.com/ Instagram @morgan_motsinger

    1h 10m

  4. 10/18/2025

    Ep91: A one-way flight to India that impacted her view of dying with Elizabeth

    What are the gaps in grief care in our culture? What types of supports need to be in place that we have outsourced to healthcare that need to be reestablished in community? This beautiful conversation with Elizabeth explores paths of grief, companionship in the face of death, the social nature of dying, and the importance of everyday acts in caregiving.  I hope this conversation impacts your perspectives on the need for humility and presence in these challenging moments as we reframe illness as a communal journey rather than a solitary medical event. Grief is not a problem to be solved, but an experience to feel and be transformed by.  About my guest:   Elizabeth Johnson is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Peaceful Presence Project, a community-based organization in Oregon dedicated to fostering compassionate end-of-life care. Holding a Master’s degree in Community and Urban Planning, Elizabeth has traveled extensively as an educator and facilitator, cultivating a deep interest in the cultural and social frameworks that shape human experiences of illness, grief, and death. She serves on the leadership council of Public Health Palliative Care International. Additionally, Elizabeth is a graduate and current faculty member of the Anamcara Project, where her work focuses on grief, loss, and resilience. Elizabeth is deeply committed to advancing death and grief literacy within local communities, promoting honest and transformative dialogue around the complexities of dying and bereavement.   Contact Elizabeth:   elizabeth@thepeacefulpresenceproject.org https://thepeacefulpresenceproject.org/   https://www.instagram.com/peacefulpresencedoulas/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/peaceful-presence-project/ https://www.facebook.com/peacefulpresencedoulas   Contact Morgan: If you're interested in being a guest, visit my website at https://www.morganmotsinger.com/contact and fill out the contact form. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/morgan_motsinger/ https://www.youtube.com/@morganmotsinger https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-motsinger/ hello@morganmotsinger.com

    59 min

  5. 09/28/2025

    Ep90: 15-Minute Mindfulness

    This body scan is wonderful for a short break during your day or getting your body and mind ready for sleep. This guided head to toe exercise is a great way to notice areas where you hold tension.    Enjoy!

    16 min

  6. 09/04/2025

    Ep89: Turning your ideas in action

    https://www.morganmotsinger.com/shop/idea-action-30-day-challenge   This episode will lead you through how I think about turning ideas into action. This isn't just about goal setting (yes, I'm familiar with the SMART framework). It's really about becoming a person who doesn't sit on the sidelines of her own life.  There is a framework I use that I'll walk you through in this episode. Whether or not you join me for this 30-day challenge, I hope you start tackling some of those things you've been thinking about for a long time.

    30 min

  7. 07/01/2025

    Ep88: Something is very wrong: how our distracted presence is ruining our relationships

    On a scale from 1-5, how often do you feel like this? I feel I have to sacrifice meaningful conversation because of others' device use. I've given up expecting full attention from people during social interactions. I miss the deeper conversations I used to have before smartphones. I feel sad when I see someone I care about more engaged with their device than with me. I worry that real human connection is disappearing. I feel isolated even when surrounded by people on their devices. I don't know about you, but I can answer five a lot to a lot of those. And I imagine that probably most of us can.  I also know I'm part of the problem. Sometimes, I feel like we're all zombies. We're here, but we're not....here. We live in our own realities even as we are physically present with others.  In this episode, I explore the profound impact of technology on human connection, particularly focusing on how smartphones and social media contribute to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. There's an interesting/terrifying parallel between the experiences of caregivers for those with neurodegenerative conditions and the feelings of isolation that arise from being physically present but emotionally absent in social interactions.  I'm not going to leave you hanging. I share some practical strategies for reconnecting with others and how to manage unhealthy dynamics of distracted presence.  -- Get on my email list, where I periodically share helpful tools for better habits, mindfulness, and general well being: https://morganmotsinger.myflodesk.com/subscribe

    38 min

  8. 06/26/2025

    Ep87: End-of-life conversations we all should be having with Amy Hensley & Erin Putney

    Talking about death isn't really everyone's favorite.  One of the big problems with actively avoiding or maybe just never considering how things are going to go at the end is we miss out on some really important conversations that have a big impact.  This conversation not only explores some of the practical medical implications of certain types of life saving interventions, it also boldly investigates some of the common misconceptions about death, the healthcare system, and what a good death means.  --- Amy Hensley Master of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse How I define myself: mama bear, supportive friend, oldest daughter and sister, compassionate hospice nurse, movie lover, former graphic designer, passionate human, social introvert Bio: I was a graphic designer for nearly twenty years before I went to nursing school. While I worked at a critical access hospital doing everything from birth to death, I got my MSN and then started teaching. During my teaching career, I found my voice and encouraged students to find their voice. Realizing that my passions include end-of-life guided me to become a hospice nurse and end-of-life educator. We all bring to the table our experiences, viewpoints, concerns, biases, and expectations. Giving grace to myself and those around me has helped me have uncomfortable conversations with humor, awareness and understanding. I'm becoming more comfortable with asking for what I want. Erin Putney Master of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse How I define myself: energetic creative, passionate educator, honest conversationalist, proud mom, chill paddleboarder, artistic thinker, former ICU nurse, loving daughter Bio: I love the science behind nursing and even wanted to be a science teacher at one point. I’ve worked in different areas as a nurse, but realize the common thread is having the curiosity to solve problems with data and creativity. My master’s research focused on effective end-of-life education for nursing students, which has been adapted into a workshop for various audiences. My passion is giving everyone the tools needed to cope and be successful. Check out my website: www.teachingcourage.com You can find their work at: https://beforethecasket.com/en-us/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085625110676 --- You can find Morgan on her website https://www.morganmotsinger.com/ Get on her email list here: https://morganmotsinger.myflodesk.com/subscribe

    1h 50m
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5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The title says it all: we expire. And yet most of us live like we have infinite time to become who we want to be, to have the conversations that matter, to stop shrinking ourselves. I'm Morgan. I'm a mother, entrepreneur, and someone who is doing the messy work of rebuilding after loss. On this podcast, I talk with people about the things we usually avoid: death, grief, caregiving, self-trust, and the courage it takes to live deliberately instead of on autopilot. These aren't conversations about becoming perfect. They're about becoming real.

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