Elkevate Your Life
Welcome to Elkevate, the podcast where real talk meets heartfelt advice. I'm Elke, often called "Mama Elke" by those around me. With years of experience lending a listening ear to friends, family, and even complete strangers, I’ve created a space where you can find comfort and wisdom.
Each week, join me for Mindful Mondays,
Or Fun Fact Fridays where I share hot takes on taboo topics and life lessons I've learned the hard way. Plus, I’m excited to offer you a chance to be part of the show! Use our personal link to submit your anonymous stories and get thoughtful advice from yours truly. Whether you need a shoulder to lean on, a friendly ear, or just some solid guidance, I'm here for you.
Tune in to Elkevate for honest conversations, practical advice, and a dose of empathy every week. Let’s navigate life together.
Episodes
94 episodes
How A Noisy Woodpecker Taught Me To Be Vigilant And Patient
A woodpecker at dawn, a frog at dusk, and a landlord who thinks reflective tape can fix everything—sometimes life turns your window into a drum. I walk through the real costs of chronic noise on sleep, mood, and autoimmune health, and how persi...
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Season 5
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Episode 20
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15:46
Change Tests Us; Gratitude Transforms Us
When holiday plans fall apart the day before the big meal, the question becomes simple: react or respond? We open up about a canceled Friendsgiving, the sting of last-minute changes, and the choice to pivot with intention. Instead of chasing pe...
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Season 5
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Episode 19
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28:08
Choosing Practical Over Flashy Sparks A Lesson In Gratitude And Balance
A pair of boots can say a lot about a season. We start with a sparkly temptation at the Discovery Shop—where every purchase supports the American Cancer Society—and a choice between glossy gold drama and everyday practicality. That fun fork in ...
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Season 5
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Episode 18
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27:10
Choosing Yourself Comes First
We revisit the theme of choosing yourself first with a quick, candid check-in and answer listener questions about mixed signals, busy schedules, and mismatched communication styles. We share simple scripts for asking directly, setting boundarie...
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Season 5
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Episode 17
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19:20
Choose Yourself First because your Self Assurance Will Ensure Love to Last
What if the simplest way to improve your relationship is to stop disappearing inside it? We dive into the heart of self-assurance—how to hold your values, routines, and voice—while building a love that actually fits both people. With guest Mr. ...
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Season 5
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Episode 16
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31:55
Protecting Your Peace At Home And Beyond
A woodpecker moved in under the neighbor’s sill and turned our nights into chaos—and that’s where the real story starts. Between disrupted sleep, apartment runaround, and a stubborn respiratory bug that triggered asthma, we found a sharper voic...
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Season 5
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Episode 15
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22:19
We Thank Our Veterans While I Wage A Late-Night Standoff With A Woodpecker
A moment of gratitude turns into a real, lived-in story about resilience, community, and the messy beauty of everyday life. We open with a heartfelt salute to veterans—friends and family who chose service, carried the weight of duty, and brough...
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Season 5
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Episode 14
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11:30
Facing Narcissism And Finding Peace
Some weeks demand more honesty than polish. I share the heaviness of caring for Chanel as Cushing’s disease reshapes our days, and I open up about recognizing narcissistic patterns that have touched my life and the lives of people I love. Not t...
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Season 5
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Episode 13
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30:18
Travel Reveals Who We Really Are
Two longtime friends compare notes on how travel exposes hidden habits, unspoken needs and the pressure points that surface when comfort, money and pace collide. We talk about boundaries, blowups, and how honest check-ins can save both the trip...
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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30:41
From Gaslighting to Boundaries: A Practical Guide to Emotional Manipulation
Ever walked away from a conversation feeling smaller, confused, or guilty without knowing why? We put words to that fog. This Mindful Monday dives into emotional manipulation—the subtle tactics that chip away at self-trust—and offers practical,...
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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23:01
Obstacles as Opportunities: Reframing Life's Challenges
Have you ever wondered why certain challenges keep appearing in your life? What if these obstacles aren't random roadblocks but carefully orchestrated opportunities guiding you toward your next evolution?The co...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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25:30
A Body in Motion Stays in Motion: How to Keep Going When You're Tired
Ever walked in the door after a long workday, completely drained, knowing you should exercise but feeling the magnetic pull of the couch? That's exactly where today's conversation begins.After losing 35 pounds over summer, I've learned ...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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19:38
Earthquakes, Heatwaves, and California's 175th Birthday: A Candid Conversation
Earthquakes, heat waves, and an unexpected September summer - California is showing off its wild side this month! After a brief absence due to a power outage and an autoimmune flare-up, I'm back to share what's been shaking in our Golden State....
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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19:16
Eclipse Season and Marriage Wisdom
Have you ever felt the powerful energy shift during eclipse season? The September Blood Moon just passed through our skies, bringing transformation, emotional clarity, and new beginnings—even for those of us who couldn't see it directly.
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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27:01
Navigating Relationship Struggles: When Love Gets Complicated
Today's episode delves into the challenging reality of navigating a marriage when the relationship dynamic has dramatically changed after the wedding, featuring personal reflections on communication breakdowns and unmatched efforts toward impro...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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30:01
Crossroads in Love: When to Stay, When to Walk Away
Relationships start with excitement and butterflies, but what happens when the shine wears off and one person seems to be carrying the weight of maintaining the connection? In this raw, vulnerable episode, I step away from my usual advice-givin...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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26:58
How do we escape the patterns that hold us back?
Have you ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of behavior you desperately want to break? This raw and personal episode explores the challenging journey of breaking free from unhealthy patterns that hold us back from living our fullest lives.<...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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14:33
The Frequency of Joy: How Your Thoughts Shape Your Reality
Have you ever wondered how some people maintain their calm when everything around them seems chaotic? In this heartfelt conversation with mindfulness practitioner Jeff Parra, we dive deep into practical strategies for staying grounded when life...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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53:22
You Deserve Someone Who Meets Your Standards
What if finding your perfect match was less about luck and more about strategy? That's the question at the heart of our multi-generational conversation about modern dating featuring my daughter Brooklyn (Gen Z) and returning guest Sarah (Millen...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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36:54
Navigating Change: Finding Peace in Life's Transitions
Change can feel overwhelming, but what if we viewed it as an adventure instead of an obstacle? That's the central question explored in this heartfelt Mindful Monday episode that dives deep into the art of positive reframing.As I share m...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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30:02
Healing Beyond Medicine: My Journey with HBOT Therapy
Chronic health struggles lead to unexpected healing through hyperbaric oxygen therapy and chiropractic care, transforming energy levels, appetite, and sleep quality after just one session.• Recently diagnosed with rare autoimmune diseas...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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28:15
Masculine Frame and Modern Romance: Finding Balance in Modern Dating
Special Male Guest Tommy Anthony joins us for a candid conversation about modern dating from a male perspective, exploring intentional connections in a swipe-right culture and the importance of maintaining one's authentic self while searching f...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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1:58:41
When Plans Unravel: Navigating Life's Retrograde Moments
Mercury is in retrograde, turning a perfectly good day into chaos and teaching us that when we release expectations, we can be pleasantly surprised by outcomes. Everything happens for a reason, even when our plans get derailed unexpectedly....
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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8:46
Swipe Right, Ghost Left: Dating in the Digital Age
The dating landscape has transformed dramatically, leaving many singles adrift in a sea of apps, ghosting culture, and impossibly high standards. What happened to authentic connections and honest communication?Today's episode dives deep...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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34:22
Birthdays, Breadcrumbs, and Breaking the Ghosting Cycle
Elke and Sarah delve into birthday celebrations, dating insights, and relationship wisdom following listener feedback on modern dating challenges.• Elke hosted a rave-themed joint birthday party that reminded her not to place expectatio...
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25:46