Right in Front of My Face

This episode is a little different — and honestly, one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had on the podcast. It all started when someone threw a rock through the window of my husband’s pediatric dental office in Green Lake. That incident led me down an unexpected path of navigating city programs, talking to local leaders, and eventually, sitting across from Sara Nelson, President of the Seattle City Council. Sara joined me in my home studio for a candid, unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to lead in this city — and why she’s running for a second term. We covered a lot: the realities of public safety, support for small businesses, addiction treatment, housing, and the power (and limits) of what City Council can actually do. She didn’t dodge a single question, and nothing was edited out. What you’ll hear is an open, honest exchange between two people who care deeply about Seattle and want to see it thrive. In this episode: Back to Business Fundcancan’t A quote that stuck with me was: “I ran to fix the city — and I’m not done.” If you live in Seattle, I hope this episode helps you feel more informed and connected to the people shaping our future. And I hope it reminds you that your voice matters — not just on social media, but at the polls. Connect with Sara Nelson: Website: https://www.saraforcitycouncil.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraforcitycouncil You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com. If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories. And as always, don’t forget to look around—you never know what’s happening right in front of your face. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/

Sometimes the most heartbreaking moment of your life became your most beautiful lesson. In this episode, I sit down with fashion publicist, writer, and mom Sydney Mintle to talk about love, loss, and what it means to face death with presence and peace. Sydney’s husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with glioblastoma—an aggressive form of brain cancer—and within just over a year, he passed away. But this isn’t just a story about loss. It’s about how one family chose beauty over bitterness, honesty over fear, and how Jeff’s legacy continues to bloom—literally. From parenting through grief and embracing death doulas, to composting Jeff’s remains and traveling the world to spread his soil, Sydney shares a deeply moving journey of intentional living, radical acceptance, and spiritual grace. In this episode: This conversation will change the way you think about grief, death, and what it means to truly live. Whether you’ve experienced a personal loss or want to better support someone who has, this episode is a gift. Connect with Sydney: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydlovesfashion Jeff's Obituary: https://www.sydlovesfashion.com/blog/jeff-mintle-legacy-get-involved You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com. If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories. And as always, don’t forget to look around—you never know what’s happening right in front of your face. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/

What happens when you spend your whole life performing at the highest level, only to realize, in midlife, that you've been quietly carrying a mental health condition that almost no one talks about? In this episode, I am joined by Jud Heugel: pediatrician, health tech CMO, father, ultra-endurance athlete, and now—mental health advocate. After years of living in silence, Jud opens up about his journey with bipolar disorder, why he kept it hidden, and what changed when he decided it was finally time to share his truth. What started as a casual chat about podcasting turned into one of the most powerful conversations this show has ever held—because Jud's story is not just about bipolar. It's about resilience, self-acceptance, and using your life experiences as fuel for something bigger. In this episode: Jud, you’re forwarding progress in all ways and it’s very humbling that you chose Right in Front of My face to as your starting line to opening up about bipolar. Thank you. You can find Jud at https://www.thebalancedathlete.org/ and Substack: The Balanced Athlete. You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com. If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories. And as always, don’t forget to look around—you never know what’s happening right in front of your face. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/

What if artificial intelligence is not just the next innovation—but the final one? If you've felt overwhelmed, under-informed, or just plain scared about AI and what it means for your future and your children’s—this is the episode you need to hear. In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with author Martha Brockenbrough to explore the real impact AI is already having on our lives—and the terrifying potential it holds for the future. Martha, author of Future Tense: How We Made Artificial Intelligence—and How It Will Change Everything, helps break down incredibly complex issues into relatable truths that all of us—especially those of us in midlife—need to understand. In this episode: But it’s not all doom and gloom—we also talk about the power of empathy, the human capacity to care, and how we can reclaim our futures by staying informed, asking questions, and centering people over profit. Connect with Martha: Website: https://martha-brockenbrough.squarespace.com Get her books: https://martha-brockenbrough.squarespace.com/books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthabee/ You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com. If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories. And as always, don’t forget to look around—you never know what’s happening right in front of your face. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/

We’re three episodes into this season, and I’m so excited to bring you this conversation with my friend Cara Rosellini—standup comedian, writer, actress, mom, and just an overall phenomenal human. This episode is a bit of a departure—it’s less of an interview and more of a candid chat between two women trying to figure out what it means to show up, be vulnerable, and create something new in middle age. Cara and I talk about: – Coming back to work and creativity after years away – What it’s really like to navigate social media and self-promotion when you’re 40+ – The fear of being seen—and doing it anyway – The beauty of failing big and trying again – And why staying true to yourself is the only path forward This one’s for everyone who’s ever felt frozen, stuck, or unsure if they’re still relevant. (Spoiler alert: you are.) We see you. We are you. Let’s keep going—and maybe even fail big together. Connect with Cara: cararosellini.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cararosellini You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at rightinfrontofmyface@gmail.com. If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories. And as always, don’t forget to look around—you never know what’s happening right in front of your face. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/

How do we truly understand power? And what happens when we reframe the way we give—and take—permission in our lives? In this episode, I sit down with Maria Witkop, a former FBI agent, author of Reach: Rewriting the Story of Power, and a woman with an incredible story of resilience, intuition, and human connection. I have to admit, I was more intimidated by this interview than any I’ve done before. I mean, how do you sit across from someone trained to see right through people? But from the moment she walked into the studio, Maria defied every expectation I had. Maria’s journey from HR recruiter to federal agent wasn’t just about shifting careers—it was about shifting her own perception of what was possible. She shares how growing up in a home shaped by addiction gave her an innate ability to read people, a skill that would serve her as she navigated high-stakes FBI interviews and investigations. Grab Maria’s book, Reach: Rewriting the Story of Power, here: https://www.amazon.com/Reach-Rewriting-Story-Maria-Witkop/dp/B0BNH11ZS3 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonhull/ Get social and find me on Instagram. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate Get to know them at their website Leave a 5 star review on Apple Pocasts and get a shoutout in the next few episodes!

OK everyone, as my favorite podcaster Danny Pelligrino says, pull over if you’re driving. This episode is one of my absolute favorites because we’re talking about something that seems to be of interest to a lot of middle aged people - how do I look my absolute best? With such an overwhelming amount of options on every spa menu, I figured more people than just me might want to know the details of every procedure out there. The are SO MANY OPTIONS available on how to fight the aging process - injections, lasers, threading, body contouring, GIVE ME IT ALLLLLL! Here we go. We also segue into skin care which is a super passion of mine, so buckle your seatbelt. If you’re a beauty junkie like me, this episode is for you. I invited Audi Padmasuta, Aesthetics Nurse Specialist at SkinSpirit in Seattle, to sit down with me and walk me through alllll the options for maximizing our snatched jawlines, eliminating our pigment, tackling our fine lines and ultimately feeling our best. We mention it all... procedures, facials, and home care. It’s quite literally my favorite topic so prepare for a deep dive. In our discussion, we chat about how we can present our best self, but we also discuss how skewed our desires are, how we foolishly compare ourselves to filtered social media images , and how we can all do a better job of presenting our real selves to the world in the healthiest way possible. A year has passed since this interview and I’m now 46, but this conversation has helped me make my decisions about my body and face in the most informed way possible and I hope it will help you too! I hope this conversation has prepared you for your next spa trip or treatment. I could literally talk about skin care all day and am going to post some of my favorite things that have worked for me on Instagram. I’m on a constant skin care journey and will share all I’ve learned. Have fun trying all these new products - let me know on Instagram what you like and what you’re trying! Find Audi on IG at beautiflow by nurse audi (all one word). Or in person if you’re in the area at SkinSpirit University Village. If you like this podcast, please give it five stars on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share it far and wide! The people need this information! Have a great day and remember this week to keep asking questions - you never know what’s happening right in front of your face. Audi’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/beautiflowbynurseaudi/ Dermalogica Moisturizer: https://www.dermalogica.com/collections/moisturizers/products/dynamic-skin-recovery-spf50 Alastin tinted sunscreen: https://alastin.com/products/hydratint-sunscreen-spf-36?srsltid=AfmBOorNI1ZqRuORywYGIsNIKvISPs6JRFUOxRJY3BCHR3DGUh31S2P- Clinique Take the Day Off Balm: https://www.clinique.com/product/20011/6424/skincare/makeup-removers/take-the-day-off-cleansing-balm Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: https://us.elemis.com/pro-collagen-cleansing-balm.html Paula’s Choice Enriched Calming Toner: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-enriched-calming-toner/125.html Revision Soothing Facial Rinse: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-enriched-calming-toner/125.html ZO Exfoliating Polish: https://zoskinhealth.com/us/exfoliating-polish-gbl-full-size-900400.html?srsltid=AfmBOorLEy6fPcJat3avzVLkZUekdaBBZPp7BU-ZSe7MZ02IuchQYVbd Sente Ultra Nourish: https://sentelabs.com/products/sente-dermal-repair-cream?srsltid=AfmBOorJ6rC3CvCzCeBIaFyJ7x4okYrAPdipk4Nej3p1YZEvNZ3e3NQO ColoreScience Tinted Moisturizer: https://www.colorescience.com/collections/total-protection-collection/products/sunforgettable-total-protection-face-shield-flex-spf-50 Disclaimer: This info is for general knowledge and entertainment only and doesn't constitute medical advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any significant lifestyle changes. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere...

Welcome to Season 5 of Right in Front of My Face! It's been a long time coming, but here I am, back in action with my latest fascination and topic - middle age. This new season is all about my coming to terms with being closer to 50 than 40, and asking the questions that we all seem to have as we cruise - or crash - directly into the middle of our lives. This season starts with Dr. Katie Dinello, functional medicine doctor. I'd always been skeptical of anything other than Western medicine right up until I had a major change in my body that my healtcare team couldn't understand. I found Dr. Dinello, and my first appointment with her was life-changing. Her approach was so different and so healing that I felt a strong need to share her philosophy with the world. I hope you can learn something from our conversation that may give you some insight into your own health, and that you come with me on this journey through middle age. At the time of our interview, Dr. Dinello was living in WA, but has since moved East. You can still find her on IG: here Disclaimer: This info is for general knowledge and entertainment only and doesn't constitute medical advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any significant lifestyle changes. Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate Get to know them at their website Get social and find me on Instagram. Leave a 5 star review on Apple Pocasts and get a shoutout in the next few episodes!

In the nation's biggest Covid pivot, Roe V. Wade was overturned on June 24th and I knew that I wanted to address it as the last episode of season 4. Kia Guarino, Executive Director of Pro-Choice Washington, the only agency in WA State whose sole focus is on "political and legislative adovcacy for reproductive freedom in WA State," sits down with me to discuss how this happened and what we can do to move forward. The reversal of Roe V. Wade is done and there is currently a federal abortion ban on the table, so policy is one of the only tools we have to keep abortion accessible to all people. But I'm not sure many of us understand what to do or how to apply ourselves to policy change and that's where Ms. Guarino comes in. My hope for this episode is that you leave with a sense of what the truth is, and get some tools to help normalize the word abortion and the conversations that surround it. Pro-Choice Washington's How to Talk About Abortion Guide Join Pro-Choice WA 26,000 members Walker-Johnson Real Estate

Today we're talking about the most personal of Covid pivots. My podcast sponsor Cassie Walker-Johnson is with me today to discuss her covid pivot of a breast cancer diagnoses. Cassie is my friend. She is a successful real estate agent, she's a mom, a wife, an incredible connector and networker and in December of 2020 she got a call that 1 in 7 women will get - the call from the doctor telling her she has cancer. Over the next hour, Cassie is going to share her experience so please know we talk about cancer, surgery and chemo. We also talk about helping our sisters that get diagnosed and about how we can best serve each other. Cassie's mom asked me if this was going to be a "silver lining" podcast and I assure you it is. It's the most honest conversation about cancer I've ever had, and I hope you learn as much from it as I did. This interview is meant to serve as a tool. Cassie wants her experience to help others who get this diagnosis and remind us that there are silver linings even in cancer.

Today, we're talking about a Covid pivot I've seen lately - divorce. Strange that being locked in a house with your partner would make you questions your life's choices... Because I'm hearing anecdotal evidence about more people splitting this year than in the past, I decided to do some research on whether or not what I was hearing on the street was actually true. Turns out, it might be. Rather than turning to a divorce lawyer for statistics and doom, I thought it would be more illuminating to hear from a Gottman certified marriage therapist - maybe we can come out of this 50 minues with some advice and hope rather than doom for our relationships. Enter Zach Brittle. Zach is a gottman certified marriage therapist, best selling author and also a podcaster. His show Marriage Therapy Radio provides weekly insights into the daily struggles of marriage and offers a look into the science behind relationships. For anyone in a partnership, this episode isn't a downer - it's meant to give us all some new tools and perspective as we all reset post-covid. Let's face it - most relationships could benefit from some new tools in the toolbox. Find Marriage Therapy Radio on IG Find Right In Front of My Face on IG Thank you Sponsors!!!!! Johnson and Walker Real Estate and on IG @johnson_and_walker

Erin Quick is the CEO and Co-Founder of PairTree, a company that is modernizing the adoption process. Erin is a powerhouse - she's founded three successful startups, she's a Puget Sound Business Journal 40 under 40, she's a marketer and branding professional, and maybe most importantly, Erin is also a mother. When Erin's fertility path led to adoption, she, as a marketer and brander, began asking questions about the process and wondering why it had to be the way it was - expensive, discriminatory, and long. After deviating from the norm and adopting two kids with her own team, her circle started reaching out for help. That circle grew, and before she knew it, she realized her calling was to modernize adoption and figure out how to allow all families to grow without an agency if they so desired. All in Spring of 2020. While she was homeschooling a Kindergartner and Pre-schooler. It's not often that you get to speak to a visionary. This interview is one where I walked away knowing that I was speaking to someone who is going to change the world. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Trigger warnings - we talk about infertility, miscarriage and loss in this episode. We discuss adoption, placement and all the things that come with it. If you are considering adoption or placement please find PairTree here. PairTree on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pairtreefamily/ Please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Thank you to my sponsors: Johnson and Walker Real Estate Jon Grus at Element Mortgage

The last two years have me wondering "why on Earth would anyone rational go into politics?" The political landscape seems toxic at the moment and because we need rational, intelligent people to run, I think a lot of us wonder who in their right mind would do it? Dr. Lelach Rave reached out a couple of. months ago because she decided to leave a successful Pediatric medical practice to run for an open State House Representative spot in my district. She explained that she felt like if we got things right with kids and health in Olympia, everything else owuld follow. I was intrigued. The next hour is not an endorsement, but rather a conversation between two citizens. Dr. Rave's pivot during Covid fit the theme perfectly and I wanted to get to know the woman behind the campaign. Enjoy. Find me on Instagram Thank you to my amazing sponsors: Johnson and Walker Real Estate Element Mortgage

Emily Cherkin, The Screentime Consultant and I had one of the most thought-provoking conversations to date on the podcast this week. If you are someone who has concerns and questions about whether or not to toss your child into the world of social media, don't move. You need to hear this. Find Emily Cherkin on her website On her YouTube Channel And on her Instagram Thank you to my sponsors Johnson and Walker Realty And Element Mortgage

Founder and Owner of The Pilates Hub, Nathalia Gorosh, sits down with me to discuss how her new business came to be. It's a conversation about partnership, trust, and learning to listen to your own instincts. She shares her story and includes tips on how to be a smarter business owner, and why knowing and trusting your vision is the key to success.

Keeping in theme with Covid pivots, Erin Skipley, founder of Contour + Ink and LA Makeup artist shares her story of manifesting her dream studio in Beverly Hills and keeping it alive during 2020. She changed course and is now a top instructor in her field of restorative beauty. Erin is a hustler - it's not that she doesn't have imposter syndrome, it's just that she's learned to work through it. Her resiliance is something we can all learn from. Find Erin on IG at @Contour.and.Ink And me @rightinfrontofmyface

Dr. Rao is so much more than just a physician. He's a visionary. I've heard him described by his peers as a "legend." A "Genius." and "the coolest person ever." True story - these are words used by doctors, his peers and his patients. He's made a career choice reflective of his own values, and continued learning in his own right with his newest venture into the world of handcrafted footwear through his IG and YouTube Welted Ware. This conversation covers some ground but it includes the state of modern D1 athletes during Covid, the challenges they face moving forward, and how sports medicine is evolving to handle the new science that is college sports. Find me on Insta

Kristi Lord and Lindsay Droz, co-founders of L'Avant Collective sit down with me to discuss their posh plant-based cleaning product company, share their philosophy and mindset, and reveal their secret to keeping resilience through Covid. RIFOMF listeners get a 20% discount code - 1st ever!! Go to www.lavantcollective.com use code RIF20 to score yourself some of Gwynneth Paltrow's favorite cleaning supplies. Season 4 will continue to inspire as we discuss career pivots and success during pandemic. Keep asking questions - you never what's happening right in front of your face. @rightinfrontofmyface on IG @infrontofmyface on Twitter

It’s been a long ride for season 3, people. This is actually going to be my last podcast for this season and I want to go end on this episode specifically because of the topic. Burnout. This is a personal episode for me because I’m processing my own burnout at the moment. In September, when my kids went back to school, I suddenly had some silence and space to realize how much emotion I’ve been carrying around for the last year. As I got the Google photo memories of last September that included my son doing school alone in our basement, I realized just how much sadness, fear, grief, and anxiety I’ve been shouldering and it really truly triggered me to the point where I had to just take a pause and honor what I was feeling. It wasn’t anxiety, it wasn’t depression - it was almost a weird apathy and detachment. As I do, I was chatting with one of my friends about how I was feeling and she said, “I think you should talk to Lori Prutsman…because it sounds like you’re just completely burned out.” Lori is the Seattle burnout coach - she’s a corporate powerhouse turned Life Coach who is now dedicating her life to helping people through burnout and finding the best version of themselves. As someone who experienced very real physical and mental burnout, she’s an expert in getting through this phase and coming out successful on the other end. In this episode we talk about what the real definition of burnout is, I reveal a bit about my own struggle, and we talk about how to get through it. If you take nothing else from this hour, know that if you are having these feelings, you are absolutely not alone. I want to leave you all with a thought. I read this online - Burnout reduces productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give. But the truth is, you have more to give. You are more than these feelings. I am actively trying to practice what we talked about in this episode and that includes being honest with myself about how I’m feeling and seeking help - with therapy, with letting my family know when I’m overwhelmed, and most importantly, trying to do things that fill my cup with joy. And one of those things is this podcast. I am kissing season 3 goodbye because next season I have a new focus - that focus will be on people who have made something wonderful during Covid. It includes sharing the stories of several female business owners who have taken opportunities, bet on themselves, and are absolutely crushing it. I am beyond proud of the first 3 seasons of this podcast - but season 4 is going to be all about inspiration, joy and success. It’s going to be the bucket filler season and I hope that you’ll continue to join me for the ride. Thank you so much for your support and continuing to adventure with me. You can find me on insta @rightinfrontofmyface, on twitter @infrontofmyface and via email infrontofmyface@gmail.com. You can find Lori Prutsman here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleBurnoutCoach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seattleburnoutcoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theburnoutcoach/

Today’s topic deals with the one thing that has been literally in front of my face non-stop for the last 18 months. My children. Dr. Kate Monahan Phd, CFLE is a Developmental Psychologist and an expert in childhood development. Her company Parent With Science is dedicated to helping parents through their journey with advice based in science, not trends or Google. Her instagram @parentwithscience is an awesome follow. She’s done all the research for us and tries to pass along what works for kids from a scientific perspective. Her straightforward advice is usually dead on. She just wrote a book called “How to Be a Relaxed mom - the three secrets to avoid modern mom stress and raise great kids.” Dr. Kate, I need you now. And so do all of us. This is a conversation for everyone - moms, dads, anyone who is with a child and needs someone on their team to give them actual practical strategies, no judgement, and a high five. This is a longer conversation than usual because I didn’t want to cut anything out. Buy her book here: Book sessions with her here: