I remember watching one of my kids face a problem that I could have easily stepped in and solved. Every part of me wanted to jump in and fix it. I wanted t take away the frustration I saw on their face. But something in me said, “Step back. Let them…
You know, listening to my conversation with Leslie, I couldn’t help but think about how many times in life we all hit that moment when the story we thought we were living suddenly changes. Maybe it’s a marriage that doesn’t last. Maybe it’s kids gro…
Hi, I’m Ann — podcast host, writer, photographer, and proud mom of five amazing kids (three of whom are also neurodivergent). And here’s something I want to say loud and clear: I have autism. I have ADHD. I am also dyslexic. I jokingly say I have…
🧠 Mental Health Is Health: You’re Not Alone and You’re Not Broken Real Talk with Tina and Ann Let’s get something straight right out of the gate:Mental health is health. Period.It’s not a luxury. It’s not a weakness. It’s not a punchline. It’s you…
What happens to love after loss? Does it vanish into memory, or does it find new ways to stay alive in us? That’s the question at the heart of this week’s Real Talk with Tina and Ann. My guest, Tony Stewart, lived this question firsthand through hi…
“When pain and passion meet, you have purpose.”Let that settle for a second. Most of us spend a good portion of our lives trying to avoid pain and chasing passion as if it’s only reserved for the lucky or the chosen. But what if your deepest callin…
In today's episode, we’re getting real about something that’s not just inspirational, it’s transformational. Let’s talk about the journey from broken beginnings to becoming your best self. Now, maybe you weren’t technically raised in an orphanage,…
“When you grow up inside a secret, you learn how to survive in silence. But survival isn’t the same as living.” On this episode of Real Talk with Tina and Ann, I sat down with my dear friend and returning guest Denise Bard to unpack one of the most…
"Self-Worth vs. Self-Esteem: Why Knowing the Difference Changes Everything" Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt… “not enough”? Maybe it was after a rough day when the world made you question your value. Maybe it was after a success—and odd…
Some stories, in our very own lives, sit quietly—unspoken, unanswered, unexplored. Recently, I watched the Mariska Hargitay documentary. What stayed with me wasn’t just her courage or her advocacy (though I’ve long admired her for that). What hit m…
Living Neurodivergent: The Beautiful, Baffling, Brainy Ride Ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went in there?Welcome. You may be entitled to compensation… or at least a sticker. Hi, I’m Ann Kagarise (co-host at Real Talk with…
I recently watched the Mariska Hargitay documentary, and I don’t say this lightly--it shook me. Not in a loud, dramatic way, but in that quiet, unsettling way when something grabs your soul and whispers, "Something Isn't Right." It touched me on so…
There’s a phrase I used to whisper to myself on hard days. Days when the world felt too loud, and my heart felt too cracked to carry on. “I’m broken.” But I never finished the sentence. I stopped short, as if brokenness disqualified me from a…
This is for every adult still peeling back the layers to understand what really happened behind the family photos. Some of us still carry pieces of our childhood that we were never allowed to say out loud.Some of us were taught that good families d…
I wrote this after I watched 'My mom Jayne' by Mariska Hargitay. I posted it on Real Talk with Tina and Ann...so this is what I wrote. Being raw and real is what we do here. This is Ann from Real Talk with Tina and Ann. I just watched the Mariska Ha…
Understanding Cries for Help: The Line Between Attention-Seeking and Connection Have you ever witnessed behavior that seemed like attention-seeking but, upon closer inspection, was really a cry for connection? This common misunderstanding is someth…
Finding Peace in a Chaotic World: Prioritizing Mental Health In a world that constantly bombards us with distressing news, our mental health has never been more vital. With each headline flashing negativity and division, it’s easy to feel overw…
I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the word Stigma. When trauma happens theres an automatic stimga. A label. All of a sudden you are that person in the room that had something happen to them. You are no longer that person that you were,…
The Transformative Power of Embracing Pain Embracing Pain, Finding Growth is difficult but a must. Embracing your pain with honesty and vulnerability is essential for true healing and personal growth. In a culture that often encourages s…
When Trust Shatters: How to Heal and Rebuild After Deep Hurt What happens when someone you trust deeply causes you to lose faith in humanity? How do you move forward after betrayal or disappointment from someone you care about? On a recent episode …
