In this intimate conversation, I sit down with longtime friend and community member, Rev. Erin Goodman, for a raw and meaningful dialogue about suicide, healing, and the lived experience of mental illness. Erin shares her personal journey through acute crisis and her path forward, now working within the healthcare system to train clinicians and advocate for peer-led, trauma-informed support.

We talk openly about what it really feels like to be in the dark, how stigma keeps us silent, and what it means to rebuild a life worth living. Whether you or someone you love has faced suicidal thoughts, or you simply want to show up better for others, this episode is an invitation to witness, understand, and begin the brave work of talking about what’s often left unsaid.

3 Takeaways for Listeners:

• Lived experience is powerful medicine. Erin’s story shows how what once nearly ended her life is now at the heart of her work—and why sharing your truth might help someone else stay alive.
• We don’t need perfect answers, just presence. Sitting with someone in their pain is more powerful than trying to fix it.
• Hope lives in connection. Real recovery happens in relationship—with peers, professionals, and people who see you as whole even when you feel broken.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Opening thoughts on why we need to talk about suicide openly

05:34 – Erin’s personal journey through acute mental illness and hospitalization

13:10 – What people misunderstand about suicidal ideation

21:52 – The shame and silence around suicide in families and communities

27:36 – How cultural and spiritual beliefs impact how we talk (or don’t talk) about suicide

34:03 – What helped Erin in recovery—and what didn’t

42:45 – Creating safety plans and the role of peer support

51:22 – Working with clinicians: what Erin teaches in the healthcare system

59:10 – The importance of presence over fixing

01:04:30 – The gifts and boundaries of lived experience

01:11:19 – Hope, recovery, and what’s changing in mental health care

01:16:40 – Final reflections and encouragement to keep talking

Want more? Coaching, mentorship and intuitive guidance to help you make the shift you’ve been waiting for.

1:1 Coaching Consults

→ Book your FREE consult >>> here or email me directly at robyn@robynivy.com

FLOW Women’s Fellowship

→ Join FLOW, my monthly women’s fellowship

🔗 Connect with Robyn Ivy

🌿 Instagram – @robynivy

🧠 Website – www.robynivy.com

🎧 The Robyn Ivy Podcast – Listen on Apple | Spotify

💌 Email – robyn@robynivy.com

💌 → Hop on the email list for soulful updates + invites

MORE ABOUT ROBYN IVY:

Robyn Ivy sees people for a living.

A trusted coach, intuitive and fierce advocate for tree portals and a creative life, she spent over 20 years as a commercial photographer, honing her powerful skills as a witness.

Host of the Robyn Ivy Podcast, where she discusses how to be more present to our lives and create what’s next with today’s prominent thought leaders, spiritual mentors and creative guides.

Robyn mentors clients 1:1 through transitions, deep growth and meaningful change in a fun and inspiring way. Her workshops, groups and programs offer you insights and practices to live more confidently, creatively and from your truest wisdom.

You will often find her traveling in a camper van, sitting with the trees or capturing the beauty of nature. Raising her now grown sons Rook and Cole is her best work yet.

In this solo episode of The Robyn Ivy Podcast, I reflect on a recent snowstorm in Rhode Island as a surprisingly rich metaphor for how we prepare—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—for life’s unknowns. From overbuying at the grocery store to charging batteries just in case, I explore what our storm prep styles reveal about our inner lives.

With my signature mix of story, honesty, and grounded wisdom, I offer you a deeper look at how we respond to change, uncertainty, and responsibility. Whether you’re someone who stockpiles batteries, forgets the flashlights, or skips prep altogether, this episode will help you better understand your patterns and build more meaningful resilience.

If you’ve ever felt like you were bracing for impact—or caught in a life storm you didn’t see coming—this one’s for you.

3 Takeaways for You:

• Your prep style is personal intel. How you handle physical storms mirrors how you approach uncertainty in general—notice your patterns.
• Presence matters more than perfection. When challenges hit, tuning in to your senses and practicing gratitude can shift stress into awe.
• Real preparedness includes your mindset. The balance between practical readiness and trust is where true resilience lives.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Storm prep in Rhode Island

03:32 – Embracing the unknown

09:53 – Grocery store instincts + impulse prep

10:58 – Trusting yourself in unpredictable moments

14:27 – How we prepare for life’s storms

19:24 – Overpacking, independence, and winter reflection

27:36 – Knowing who you become under pressure

33:59 – Storms as mirrors: fear or love?

36:10 – Stewardship and growth

43:10 – Midlife shifts and inner strength

Stay Connected:

🌐 robynivy.com

📸 Instagram: @robynivy

💌 Email: robyn@robynivy.com

🎧 Listen on Apple | Spotify | & More

💫 Want more? Mentorship opportunities and intuitive guidance sessions that can help you make the shift you’ve been waiting for.

💌 → Hop on the email list for soulful updates + invites

🔥 1:1 Coaching Consults

Enjoy a powerful 1:1 session designed to help you get clear, feel more purposeful, and walk away feeling lighter and more aligned.

→ Book your FREE consult >>> here or email me directly at robyn@robynivy.com

🌿 FLOW Women’s Fellowship

If you’ve been craving grounded conversation, real connection, and a space where you don’t have to have it all figured out—FLOW is for you.

→ Join FLOW, my monthly women’s fellowship

MORE ABOUT ROBYN IVY:

Robyn Ivy sees people for a living.

A trusted coach, intuitive and fierce advocate for tree portals and a creative life, she spent over 20 years as a commercial photographer, honing her powerful skills as a witness.

Host of the Robyn Ivy Podcast, where she discusses how to be more present to our lives and create what’s next with today’s prominent thought leaders, spiritual mentors and creative guides.

Robyn mentors clients 1:1 through transitions, deep growth and meaningful change in a fun and inspiring way. Her workshops, groups and programs offer you insights and practices to live more confidently, creatively and from your truest wisdom.

You will often find her traveling in a camper van, sitting with the trees or capturing the beauty of nature. Raising her now grown sons Rook and Cole is her best work yet.

Starting over is awkward. Whether you're back at the gym, wrestling with grief, or stepping into a new routine, the beginning can feel clunky and emotional.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing a very real week from my own life—post-snowstorm, post-holiday, mid-humbling workout. I talk about what it’s like to be a beginner again, how hard it is to make decisions (even when you want to change), and why it’s okay to start messy.

You’ll hear about building emotional and physical strength, the difference community can make, and how doing “reps”—in any part of life—is what truly creates change.

If you’re in a season of starting again, this episode will help you feel less alone and more capable than you thought.

3 Listener Takeaways:

• The courage to begin again isn’t flashy—it’s honest, human, and repeatable.

• You don’t need motivation. You need momentum. One rep at a time.

• Give yourself grace. Starting over is still forward.

Timestamps:

00:00 Starting Again: Fresh from the Gym

03:45 Stop Overthinking, Start Deciding

09:11 Overcoming Indecision and Sabotage

13:44 Exploring Faith and New Beginnings

22:01 Reverence and Connection Through Song

27:16 Grief, Gratitude, and Scent

34:00 Embracing Presence and Self-Awareness

41:10 Discovery Call Invitation

Stay Connected:

🌐 robynivy.com

📸 Instagram: @robynivy

💌 Email: robyn@robynivy.com

🎧 Listen on Apple | Spotify | & More

💫 Want more? Mentorship opportunities and intuitive guidance sessions that can help you make the shift you’ve been waiting for.

💌 → Hop on the email list for soulful updates + invites

🔥 1:1 Coaching Consults

Enjoy a powerful 1:1 session designed to help you get clear, feel more purposeful, and walk away feeling lighter and more aligned.

→ Book your FREE consult >>> here or email me directly at robyn@robynivy.com

🌿 FLOW Women’s Fellowship

If you’ve been craving grounded conversation, real connection, and a space where you don’t have to have it all figured out—FLOW is for you.

→ Join FLOW, my monthly women’s fellowship

MORE ABOUT ROBYN IVY:

Robyn Ivy sees people for a living.

A trusted coach, intuitive and fierce advocate for tree portals and a creative life, she spent over 20 years as a commercial photographer, honing her powerful skills as a witness.

Host of the Robyn Ivy Podcast, where she discusses how to be more present to our lives and create what’s next with today’s prominent thought leaders, spiritual mentors and creative guides.

Robyn mentors clients 1:1 through transitions, deep growth and meaningful change in a fun and inspiring way. Her workshops, groups and programs offer you insights and practices to live more confidently, creatively and from your truest wisdom.

You will often find her traveling in a camper van, sitting with the trees or capturing the beauty of nature. Raising her now-grown sons, Rook and Cole, is her best work yet.