Check out Jennifer here!!

In this empowering episode, Coco Plank sits down with motivational speaker and self-defense expert Jennifer Cassetta for a conversation about personal growth, manifestation, and stepping fully into one's purpose. Jennifer shares her journey to becoming a motivational speaker and introduces her framework, The Art of Badassery—a philosophy rooted in resilience, self-trust, and embodied confidence. Together, they explore the concept of finding your inner dojo, embracing life's challenges as teachers, and using conscious communication and self-talk to reclaim personal power. Drawing from ancient wisdom and modern leadership principles, this conversation is a reminder that the strength, clarity, and courage we seek are already within us—and when we access them, we become leaders who help others rise too.

• Jennifer emphasizes the importance of connecting with a broader audience through relatable storytelling 📖🤝

• The concept of the dojo represents the intersection of mind, body, and spirit in personal growth 🧠💪✨

• Manifestation is a powerful tool for achieving goals and connecting with collective energy 🌟🔮

• Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining personal well-being and focus 🚧🛡️

• The journey to becoming a motivational speaker often starts small and evolves over time 🌱🎤

• Communication and self-talk play a significant role in personal empowerment 🗣️💭⚡

• Resilience is built through embracing challenges and learning from them 🔥💎

• Leadership involves helping others rise and achieve their potential ⬆️👑

• Ancient wisdom teaches that the answers we seek are already within us 🌀📜

• Breath is a powerful tool for connecting with our inner strength 🌬️💛

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Connections
02:40 Navigating Anger and Collective Emotions
05:20 The Role of the Dojo in Personal Growth
08:15 Manifesting and Taking Aligned Action
10:35 The Power of Connection and Community
13:26 Finding Your Inner Wisdom
16:12 The Importance of Different Perspectives
17:58 Finding Your Soul's Purpose
23:05 The Journey to Becoming a Motivational Speaker
27:00 The Art of Badassery Framework
36:00 Ancient Wisdom and Personal Power

Lara's Website https://www.laralovehardin.com/

Buy her book here

In this powerful conversation, Lara Love Hardin joins Courtney "Coco" Plank to explore how connection—through stories, relationships, and community—can become a lifeline. Lara shares her journey from incarceration to authorship, reflecting on health struggles, personal reckoning, and the profound transformation that comes from being truly seen. Together, they discuss the power of memoir to build empathy, the difference between punishment and healing, and how authentic connection can interrupt cycles of harm. Lara also introduces The Gemma Project, her nonprofit dedicated to keeping women connected to critical services during reentry—so jail isn't the default. This episode is a moving exploration of freedom, belonging, and becoming more than your past.



Takeaways

Reading can be a powerful escape and addiction.
Health challenges can lead to profound personal insights.
Authentic connections can transform lives.
Incarceration can change one's perspective on humanity.
Empathy is crucial in understanding community struggles.
The Gemma Project aims to support women post-incarceration.
Memoirs can foster empathy and understanding.
Writing is a skill honed through practice and reading.
Personal growth often requires overcoming fear and shame.
Freedom comes with responsibility and self-acceptance.

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Connection Through Literature
02:47 Navigating Health Challenges and Personal Struggles
05:39 The Impact of Connection in Interviews
08:23 Transforming from Cautionary Tale to Inspirational Figure
11:14 Understanding the Incarceration System
13:58 Creating Change: The Gemma Project
16:42 Empathy Through Storytelling and Memoir
23:36 The Power of Personal Stories
28:28 The Art of Evocative Writing
31:32 Lessons from Incarceration
37:16 Understanding Humanity and Compassion
37:54 Embracing Authenticity and Vulnerability
39:39 Defining Freedom and Responsibility

Check Out Moxies Here!

In this Project Connection episode, Coco speaks with Juliette Blake, founder of Moxies, about how to help young girls build healthy, meaningful connection in a digital world. Juliette shares why ethical tech matters, how the attention economy impacts girls' development, and what it looks like to design online spaces that prioritize safety, autonomy, and well-being over engagement.

Together, they explore digital literacy as a relational life skill, the role of parents and community in shaping girls' online experiences, and how open conversations about technology can foster trust, confidence, and authentic connection—both online and offline.

Takeaways:

• Connection restores depleted caregivers and families. 💛

• Moxies creates a safe, healthy digital space for girls. 🛡️

• Well-being matters more than engagement metrics. ⚖️

• Connection and autonomy support girls' development. 🌱

• Digital literacy is an essential life skill. 📚

• Parents and community shape kids' online experiences. 🤝

• Open tech conversations build trust. 💬

Chapters

00:00 End of Year Reflections and Feelings
02:56 The Launch of Moxies: A New Digital Platform
05:33 Prioritizing Safety and Wellbeing in Digital Spaces
08:12 The Importance of Digital Literacy for Kids
11:16 Building Healthy Relationships with Technology
13:52 The Role of Parents in Navigating Digital Spaces
16:37 Creating a Safe Digital Environment for Children
19:47 Community and Collaboration Among Parents
21:36 Measuring Positive Outcomes in Digital Engagement
24:13 The Future of Ethical Tech for Kids
26:58 Resources for Parents: Navigating Digital Content
29:45 Fostering Open Communication with Children
32:54 Conclusion: Meaningful Connections in a Digital World

Dan's Website

In this episode, Courtney sits down with Dan, founder of Get Your Marriage On, for an honest, energizing conversation about intimacy, desire, and what it really takes to keep passion alive in long-term relationships. Together, they unpack the complexities of sexual connection—from the ways our cultural and family histories shape intimacy, to how couples can navigate the very normal experience of desire discrepancy without shame or blame.

Dan shares the personal journey that led him to develop his intimacy app, offering practical and playful tools that help couples communicate better, understand their individual needs, and bring more intentionality into their sex lives. The conversation dives into the difference between "horizontal" novelty (new experiences, fun ideas, trying things) and "vertical" novelty (deepening emotional connection), highlighting why both matter for desire to thrive.

Throughout the episode, Courtney and Dan emphasize that great sex is built on a foundation of emotional intimacy, personal growth, and daily micro-moments of connection. From scheduling intentional time together to embracing small, consistent acts of affection, they offer couples a roadmap for reigniting passion in a way that feels authentic, sustainable, and deeply satisfying.

This episode is a reminder that sexual connection isn't something you luck into—it's something you build, nurture, and grow together. When couples invest in intimacy, they unlock not just better sex, but a deeper, more fulfilling partnership.

Takeaways

-Connection can be multifaceted, including cultural and familial ties.
-Sexual connection can be both a source of disconnection and connection in relationships.
-Desire discrepancies are common in marriages and can be managed through communication.
-The presence of desire differences isn't the problem; how couples handle them is key.
-Intimacy requires self-confrontation and understanding one's own needs and desires.
-Novelty in intimacy can be categorized into horizontal and vertical experiences.
-Personal growth is essential for maintaining passion in long-term relationships.
-Scheduling connection activities can enhance intimacy and lead to better sexual experiences.
-Small daily acts of intimacy can lead to significant progress in relationships.
-Intimacy is a foundation for great sex, and investing in it can unlock deeper connections.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Connection
03:31 Exploring Sexual Connection
09:00 The Journey to Intimacy
13:31 Desire Discrepancy in Relationships
18:04 Understanding Intimacy and Self-Confrontation
21:18 The Essence of Healthy Selfishness in Intimacy
24:38 Exploring Novelty in Long-Term Relationships
28:15 The Importance of Personal Growth in Relationships
30:44 Connection as the Foundation for Intimacy
42:03 Challenging the Norms of Passion in Relationships

In this heart-expanding episode, Coco Plank and Olivia Reighley explore the many layers of parenting — from building structure and instilling values to cultivating creativity, connection, and joy. Together, they reflect on how to nurture children with clear principles while leaving space for freedom, fun, and self-expression.

The conversation flows from family dinner rituals to ice cream moments, weaving in the role of creativity through clothing as a form of identity and play for kids. They discuss sharing, the importance of seeing the best in everyone, and the balance of energy within family relationships — how each person's rhythm affects the whole.

Coco and Olivia also reflect on the parable of the porcupines, a timeless story about community and connection — how we sometimes prick each other in closeness, yet still need one another to stay warm. It's a reminder that relationships, though imperfect, are where growth and grace live.

Ultimately, this episode is about finding the sweet balance — between discipline and delight, individuality and togetherness — and understanding that parenting, like connection itself, is an energy exchange grounded in love.

✨ Takeaways:

• Parenting thrives on both structure and spontaneity.

• Clear principles help children feel grounded and secure.

• Creativity in clothing and play allows self-expression.

• Sharing teaches empathy and community-mindedness.

• Believing in the best in others fosters connection.

• Energy balance within families shapes harmony.

• The porcupine parable reminds us that closeness can both comfort and challenge.

• Fun and flexibility are forms of nurturing.

• Relationships are the foundation for growth and joy.

• Parenting is an evolving dance of energy, love, and connection.

Sally's Website

In this heartfelt episode of Project Connection, we sit down with Sally Plank, LCSW, for a powerful conversation about healing from the inside out. Sally opens up about her personal experience with neurodivergence and how it has shaped her understanding of stress, regulation, and the nervous system. She shares what she calls "the stress edge" — that moment when overwhelm meets awareness — and how learning to ground herself transformed her relationship with her body and her life.

Through her story, Sally reminds us that healing isn't about perfection — it's about presence. From simple grounding practices to deep self-attunement, she offers wisdom on how to reconnect with yourself and find stability in a world that often feels too fast and too loud.

If you've ever felt stuck in stress or searching for balance, this episode will inspire you to slow down, tune in, and discover the power of coming home to your body.

www.myrelationshipfail.com

In this episode of Project Connection, host Coco Plank sits down with relationship expert Bryan Power to explore why love alone isn't always enough to sustain a healthy partnership. Power shares insights on the essential tools and skills couples need to navigate conflict, communicate effectively, and grow together over time. He also discusses how reflecting on past relationships can help individuals break unhealthy cycles and build stronger connections in the future. Whether you're single, dating, or deep into a long-term relationship, this conversation offers practical wisdom for keeping love resilient and real.

💡 Love isn't enough: Lasting relationships require tools and skills, not just strong feelings.

🧰 Build your toolkit: Communication, empathy, and conflict navigation are essential relationship skills.

🔄 Learn from the past: Reflecting on old patterns helps prevent repeating the same mistakes.

❤️ Intentional connection: Healthy relationships take awareness, effort, and growth from both partners.

🌱 Keep evolving: Personal development strengthens not only you, but every connection you build.

Check out Isabel's amazing work here!

In this episode of Project Connection, Coco Plank sits down with writer and former lawyer Isabel Cowles Murphy to explore the rich, often messy intersection of creativity, motherhood, and self-expression. Together, they unpack what it means to hold space for personal ambition while raising a family, and how the act of creating itself becomes a vital measure of well-being.

Isabel shares candid reflections on redefining success, letting go of societal expectations, and the courage it takes to nurture one's creative voice amidst the noise of responsibility and comparison. From the challenges of marketing creative work to the deeper call for authenticity, this conversation invites listeners to reconnect with their own creative pulse and find meaning in the process—not just the outcome.

✨ Takeaways

• Creativity reflects our overall well-being.

• Balancing motherhood and ambition is a shared struggle.

• Making art matters more than talking about it.

• Unlived parental dreams can weigh on the next generation.

• Self-worth often gets tangled with external validation.

• Creativity flourishes with time, space, and community.

• Marketing and authenticity can feel at odds.

• Joy and fulfillment come from redefining success on your own terms.

Chapters

00:00 Awakening Creativity After Motherhood
02:37 The Struggle of Self-Expression
05:51 Navigating Ambition and Motherhood
08:33 The Importance of Creative Practice
11:42 Balancing Personal and Creative Life
14:26 The Role of Caregivers in Family Dynamics
17:18 Finding Value in Creative Work
20:25 The Complexity of Identity and Self-Worth
23:05 The Game of Life and Creativity
25:56 Navigating External Expectations
29:06 The Challenge of Marketing and Authenticity
31:52 The Impact of Upbringing on Self-Perception
34:24 Writing About Family and Personal Experiences
37:12 The Balance of Personal and Professional Life
39:53 Transcending Pain Through Art
43:04 Reimagining Success and Community
45:44 The Illusion of External Validation
48:45 Finding Joy in the Journey
51:33 Embracing the Complexity of Life