Practicing Connection
Improve your resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world.
Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch host this exploration of personal and collective practices that empower us to work together to help each other, our families, and our communities improve our resilience and readiness.
Episodes
100 episodes
2026 Reset: Creating Space, Choosing Direction
Before you set new goals for 2026, take a pause. This episode guides you through a gentle two‑part reset - honoring what you’re completing and choosing one honest intention for how you want to move through the year, withou...
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Episode 53
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13:01
Beyond Sleep: Four Kinds of Rest We All Need
If you’re exhausted but time off hasn’t really helped, the problem might not be how much you rest, but what kind of rest you’re getting. This episode explores four different kinds of rest - physical,...
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Episode 52
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17:19
Flamingos and Focus Days: One Simple Practice for a More Intentional Year
Before rushing into big resolutions, what if you paused to ask: "What needs to stop, what deserves to stay, and what small experiment could actually support the life and work I want?" In this reflections episode, Coral and...
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Episode 51
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16:35
Leading Through Uncertainty: Navigating Ambiguity as an Adaptive Practice
Leading in uncertainty is not about having all the answers; it’s about how you show up when you don’t. In this episode, explore two simple practices that help you anchor in what matters and keep moving, even when the path ...
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Episode 50
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12:16
Letting Go to Move Forward: Creating Space for Your Next Self
Feeling between versions of yourself - no longer who you were, not yet who you’re becoming? In this episode, learn two simple practices to release what no longer fits and take aligned, micro‑actions that move you forward w...
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Episode 49
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12:15
7 Small Practices for Better Conversations
In this episode of Practicing Connection, Coral and Jessica explore empathetic listening: what it is, why it matters, and how a few simple shifts in how you listen can deepen your relationships and improve how you work with others.
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Episode 48
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12:17
3 Simple Ways to Find Gratitude in Tough Moments
Ever find yourself juggling tough projects or caring for others while your own energy dips?In this episode, discover three practical gratitude habits you can use to find steadiness and clarity - no matter what your day brings.<...
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Episode 47
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10:04
Fuel your Day with Savoring: The “Catching Joy” Practice
If you feel like your emotional 'gas tank' is running empty, this episode is for you. We're diving into savoring - an intentional, evidence-based skill for actively amplifying the joy and positive feelings that are already there.
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Season 6
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Episode 47
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13:27
Reconnecting with Wonder to Spark Creativity
When the complexity of your work leads to burnout and tunnel vision, where do you find the energy to create solutions? Today, we're exploring the science of awe - that powerful feeling we experience in the presence of somethi...
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Episode 46
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13:09
Ending the Day Strong: A 5-minute Daily Reset
Feeling stretched thin? Try this simple 5-minute daily practice to get yourself untangled and take small steps to move out of overwhelm, help you notice what fuels you, and set you up for a calmer tomorrow.
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Episode 45
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18:54
Planting Seeds: 3 Minute Connections That Transform Your Relationships
What if three minutes a day could transform your relationships- and your whole sense of connection? Discover how tiny, intentional gestures can spark big ripples across your community.In this episode of the Prac...
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Episode 44
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8:24
Cultivating an Engaged Attitude
How do teams build real momentum and commitment together? Discover how small shifts - like rotating leadership and showing authentic presence - can spark engagement and creativity in group projects.In this episo...
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Episode 43
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10:23
Shifting from “Should” to “Get To” for Renewed Energy at Work
What powers you at work: pressure or purpose? This episode gives you one simple language hack to turn daily obligations into energizing opportunities.In this episode of the Practicing Connection podcast, Jessica and Coral explore ...
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Episode 42
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9:24
Take Charge: Small Shifts to Grow Your Autonomy
If you’ve ever wanted more ownership in your work or home life, this episode is for you. We’ll walk through a quick autonomy audit - a simple way to discover and grow your personal agency, starting today.In this...
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Episode 41
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11:28
Motivation Mapping: Leading with Purpose
When was the last time work truly energized you? Today, discover how to pinpoint what’s fueling you and learn practical ways to reconnect with your deepest motivators - so your work supports both your goals and your values...
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Episode 40
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8:51
Scaling Your Skills: Feedback & Mentorship That Works
Feedback and mentorship aren’t just buzzwords - they’re the shortcuts to better skills, stronger confidence, and real momentum. Discover a simple, practical approach that makes getting feedback and finding a mentor less in...
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Episode 39
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9:25
Don’t Keep It to Yourself! Creating a Culture of Shared Learning
What if the fastest way to master any skill was to teach it to someone else? This episode reveals how sharing your learning not only helps others – it solidifies your own growth, strengthens your team, and can transform yo...
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Episode 38
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12:18
5 Strategies for Integrating New Skills into Daily Practice
Are you ready to move from “learning” into doing ? Today we're sharing 5 strategies that can help you integrate new skills into your daily practice, to reduce that overwhelm and remember what y...
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Episode 37
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10:56
From Outreach to Impact: Extension’s Role with Military-Connected Communities. With Rachel Brauner and Karrie Calloway
This episode of Practicing Connection explores the incredible bridge-building work happening in Texas with guest Karrie Calloway - military liaison, educator, chef, and advocate - who doesn’t just connect resources, but transforms lives....
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Episode 36
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30:40
From Networking to Meaningful Connections: Learning Together
Professional development isn’t just about the content - it’s about the people.Whether it’s a quick follow-up question, a shared takeaway, or an invitation to debrief, connecting with others during a learning event can spark fre...
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Episode 35
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6:38
Military Kids and Public Schools: Finding Common Ground Together. With Mark Paolicelli and Dulce Carrillo
When a redistricting proposal put military children’s routines at risk, two communities came together, transforming crisis into collaboration. Discover how a proactive partnership made all the difference.Jessica Beckendorf welcome...
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Episode 34
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41:01
Turn Learning into Action with "Spark, Shift, Share" Notetaking
Do you ever sit through a workshop, scribble endless notes, and then never look at them again? Discover a notetaking method that helps you capture what matters - and actually use it. Get ready to spark ideas, shift your mi...
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Episode 33
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9:08
Meaningful Growth: How to Make the Most Out of Every Learning Opportunity
Are you tired of leaving conferences or trainings feeling overloaded - like you missed what mattered most? Today, we reveal a simple, powerful practice that can turn every professional development opportunity into meaningf...
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Episode 32
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10:37
The Mid-Year Check-In: Reflect, Recalibrate, Recommit
Are you moving through the year on autopilot, or making the most of your intentions? Take a purposeful pause with us with this guided mid-year check-in designed to help you reflect on the year’s journey so far, realign your goals, and reset ...
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Episode 31
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10:23