In this episode, Gage and Kristal get real about anxiety—what it feels like, why it shows up, and what actually helps. From sweaty palms to spiraling thoughts, they break down the mind-body connection and give some tried-and-true tools to live by if you experience it.

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Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal? click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

1:52 Gage defines anxiety

4:16 your brain doesn't know the difference between real and imagination

4:36 definition of anxiety in YT terms

6:14 the Case of the Missing Baseballs

8:23 Kristal still experiences anxiety even after 23 years of this work

13:22 Kristal dives into yoga therapy and anxiety from this perspective

18:10 Gage argues rationale

19:19 can breathing help

21:12 Kristal’s advice

22:12 Gage’s final advice about his toolkit for anxiety

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.

Gage is invited to his cousin’s wedding and he has a bunch of questions and a few rants. So, Kristal dives into the do’s and don’ts of wedding etiquette—from gifts and dress codes to rehearsal dinner confusion and whether or not it’s okay to sneak a peek at the Final Four during the vows.

Something good to say? Leave a review or give us a shout out on social media. We would totally appreciate it!

Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal? click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

1:35 gift rant

5:18 generational differences

6:36 rehearsal dinner expectations

10:53 actual wedding day attire

15:50 hey DJ can I request a song?

18:16 Gage isn’t dancing, but his GF may have other plans

22:17 Best/Worst time for a wedding if your a sports fan

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.

Gage shares how lifting weights became his therapy for dealing with anxiety, and Kristal explains why that worked. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or just trying to get consistent, this episode offers simple, real-life ways to use movement as medicine. No gym membership required.

Something good to say? Leave a review or give us a shout out on social media. We would totally appreciate it!

Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal? click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

2:45 Gage connects mental health and exercise thru yoga therapy

6:05 different types of mental health issues and the exercises that are beneficial

9:35 moral of the story, find what works for you

9:56 the one thing that makes it work

20:46 Gage’s one recommendation

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.

You’ve heard Gage and Kristal’s side, now it’s Sarah’s turn.

In this follow-up episode, we finally get to meet Sarah and hear her take on what it was like meeting Gage’s parents for the first time. Was she nervous? Did she feel ambushed? And what was really going through her head at dinner?

Something good to say? Leave a review or give us a shout out on social media. We would totally appreciate it!

Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal?

Click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

1:18 Meet Sarah, the GF

2:55 Defining “official”

4:36 Sarah’s version of events

13:30 Gage makes a baaaaaaad comparison

16:16 Sarah’s Advice, all optional of course.

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.

Is there ever a right time to introduce your girlfriend/boyfriend to your parents? Listen to find how Gage made that decision-or how the decision was made for him-and how it went!

Something good to say? Leave a review or give us a shout out on social media. It would really help and we would totally appreciate it!

Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal?

Click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

1:36 Gage gets BUSTED

6:03 Commitment level matters

10:29 Did Gage’s parents make his girlfriend feel uncomfortable at any point?

15:31 Kristal just wants to be getting closer to having grandkids

17:37 Advice, optional of course.

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.

Is Work-Life Balance even a thing? We tackle this very question with a special guest, Ellie, Gage’s younger sister who is also experiencing her first real job and struggling with this same question.

Something good to say? Leave a review or give us a shout out on social media. It really helps us and we would totally appreciate it!

Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal?

Click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

1:00 Meet Ellie

2:46 Gage’s definition of work life balance

3:44 Ellie’s definition of work life balance

4:09 Kristal’s definition of work life balance

9:34 To do the cool sh*t in life, it takes a lot of work

19:49 Sometimes all you need is a-little acknowledgement

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.

After a five-day break, Gage talks about the anxiety creeping in before Monday hits. Kristal shares simple ways to ease the “Sunday Night Scaries” and how to shift your mindset for a smoother start to the week.

Something good to say? Leave a review or give us a shout out on social media. We would totally appreciate it!

Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal? click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

2:26 Gage talks about his coping mechanisms

5:15 Kristal knows it as the Sunday blues and dives into why it happens

10:40 Sunday scaries/blues can have long term effects

12:27 Kristal breaks down what could cause the Sunday scaries in relation to your work week

16:15 Kristal realizes it's not the work week for Gage but his expectations

20:07 Kristal’s recommendations for the weekend

22:04 why exercise is always a good option

We want to hear from you! Reach out to Adviceisoptional@gmail.com.

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.

Gage comes home to his childhood room turned guest room, and both Gage and Kristal have their own ideas as to how Gage reacted to the transition.

Something good to say? Leave a review or give us a shout out on social media. We would totally appreciate it!

Interested in your own Coaching Session with Kristal? Click on https://kristalfiorentino.com/life-101/

Highlights:

2:25 everything is different

6:54 We have to take accountability at some point

8:43 Gage says he doesn’t give a shit

9:30 Gage compares home to a really annoying Air BNB

17:55 Gage breaks down his mom’s design choices.

19:20 Gage’s last bit of advice about coming home

We want to hear your ideas! Reach us at Adviceisoptional@gmail.com .

Advice is Optional" is a conversational podcast. The insights we share are personal opinions, not professional advice, and are intended to foster understanding, not to substitute expert guidance. Remember to consult qualified professionals for any medical, legal, or psychological concerns.