What does it actually take to become more emotionally intelligent? In this episode, Brielle and Michael share how they each work on it day to day: journaling, check-ins, getting curious instead of reactive, and changing the beliefs underneath our emotions. We're not perfect, and we're not experts. This is what's working for us.

00:00 Welcome back to the Ma-Honeys

01:09 Today's topic: emotional intelligence

02:05 Why affirmations alone don't work (the thermostat analogy)

03:12 Taking feedback and growing up emotionally

04:41 Music as a metaphor for the mind

06:09 Brielle's routine: journaling and asking herself questions

09:58 Autopilot, and setting check-in timers

13:30 "Emotions validate what you believe, not what's true"

14:50 Shadow work: whose voice is that?

16:09 Useful and resourceful vs. right and wrong

17:02 Why the best athletes stay calm

18:05 Getting triggered: pause, get curious, respond

20:20 How we handle disagreements in our marriage

21:06 The cost of holding grudges

25:15 Emotions and the body

27:08 Why kids should be taught emotional intelligence

28:25 You can't breathe your way into a new belief

29:37 How do you change a belief? Step by step

34:57 Core beliefs and confirmation bias

37:05 Why coaching and being pushed helps you grow

39:13 A message for anyone going through a hard time

41:36 Brielle on changing her beliefs during a hard season

42:56 Man's Search for Meaning and the power of faith

44:40 Wrap-up

Books mentioned:

When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

You Are the Placebo by Dr. Joe Dispenza

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend. Send us your comments, questions, or topics you'd like us to cover!

CONNECT WITH US

The Ma-Honeys: @ma_honeys.podcast

Michael:

@the.michaelmahoney

Brielle:

@brielle_colleen

@brielle.colleen.music

Our son Roman isn't even two yet, but we're already thinking about his education. In this episode, Brielle and Michael share why they're leaning toward homeschooling Roman and their future kids instead of traditional public school.

00:00 Welcome back to the Ma-Honeys

00:45 Today's topic: why we're leaning toward homeschooling

02:13 Looking at school like any product: who's behind it and what are their values?

03:25 Respect for teachers: it's the system we question

04:25 How much of what we learned in school do we actually use?

06:04 The Industrial Revolution roots of public school

08:20 Brielle: everyone learns differently

09:50 The "father of American education" homeschooled his own kids

10:47 Keeping other people's beliefs out of our kids' education

11:40 Our views on gender topics in schools

12:39 Napoleon Hill's "Outwitting the Devil" and the power of suggestion

15:12 Brielle's public and charter school experience

19:17 Intermission: we're back, recording from Utah!

20:30 Our homeschool vision: creativity first

22:07 Letting kids move and burn off energy

23:33 "What about socialization?" Social interaction vs. social conditioning

24:43 Entrepreneurship, door knocking, public speaking, and sports

26:50 What we were exposed to in school

29:13 Core subjects and the freedom to fail

31:40 The NASA creativity study (Dr. George Land)

34:05 Losing and rediscovering our creativity

38:20 Gratitude, and a challenge to working parents

40:54 What about single parents?

41:58 Homeschool families: we want to hear from you!

42:58 Wrap-up

Are you homeschooling or thinking about it? Comment below or reach out. We'd love to learn from you! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend.

CONNECT WITH US

The Ma-Honeys: @Ma_honeys.podcast

Michael:

@the.michaelmahoney

Brielle:

@brielle_colleen

@brielle.colleen.music

Brielle and Michael are back after a short break to fix their audio! This week they talk about how becoming parents to their son Roman (21 months) has changed them as individuals and as a couple.

00:00 Welcome back to the Ma-Honeys

00:18 Back after a break (goodbye, audio issues!)

01:04 Recording from home

01:20 Today's topic: how parenthood changed us

02:13 The biggest change: going from zero kids to one

02:40 Brielle: less independence, more structure

04:50 Michael: living and modeling your values

06:35 Sleep, schedules, and night wakings

08:30 More intention in our daily routines

09:33 Filling your cup: faith, prayer, and energy

11:30 Releasing expectations

12:20 The diaper blowout story

14:00 Learning joy from a toddler

16:50 Slowing down and being present

17:45 Mother's intuition and "what if I'm not a good mom?"

20:40 Brielle chasing her music dreams

24:10 Being an example for our kids

28:35 Honoring stay-at-home moms

30:40 Better communication as a couple

31:50 A word for those who aren't parents yet

33:20 Michael on becoming a dad later in life

36:35 The twin baby boys debate

38:07 Wrap-up

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend. Send us your comments, questions, or topics you'd like us to cover!

CONNECT WITH US

The Ma-Honeys: @ma_honeys.podcast

Michael:

@the.michaelmahoney

Brielle:

@brielle_colleen

@brielle.colleen.music