This episode is brought to you by the Annas who recorded this in the same state, in the same house, in the same living room, on the same couch. For this reason the audio quality isn't as crisp as it is on other episodes, but the content is just as juicy.

After exploring the different experiences that folks may have of Christmas in Pt. 1, this episode is about the different ways that we can support ourselves and each other through this big time. The Annas share different somatic practices (such as a hug) that might be useful while at the dinner table on Christmas Day or throughout the Christmas holidays more generally.

The hope is that this episode will serve as a tool and a companion to provide guidance and comfort to you and your little people as we navigate our way through the Christmas break and into the New Year.

We can't wait to see you all next year! Stay juicy folks!

Follow us on Instagram at @howtohostadinnerparty to stay up to date with behind the scenes and future episodes.

This episode is brought to you by the Annas who recorded this in the same state, in the same house, in the same living room, on the same couch. For this reason the audio quality isn't as crisp as it is on other episodes, but the content is just as juicy.

This episode is an exploration of the big feelings that emerge for so many people at Christmas. It is an acknowledgment of the magic, the connection and the joy that is experienced by many at this time of year, but also an acknowledgment of the loss, the loneliness and the grief that is experienced by many. We get curious about the ways in which both experiences can be held and nurtured.

We discuss the reasons for the overwhelm experienced at this time of year and what can be happening for folks on a neurobiological level. We also explore some ways that we can support our nervous systems during this big time, on Christmas day at the dinner table, but also more generally throughout the holidays. There will be more on this in Christmas Couch Special Pt.2.

Follow us on Instagram at @howtohostadinnerparty to stay up to date with behind the scenes and future episodes.

Mary Oliver teaches us that 'Joy is not made to be a crumb'. In this episode we consider that joy, pleasure and aliveness might actually be a juicy cake, covered in icing.

This episode explores how we hold, define and practice pleasure in our own lives. We talk about the politics of pleasure and reclaiming it as our birthright from the reigns of the chief thief of our joy - capitalism.

We hope this episode places pleasure back where it belongs, in the small, micro moments of your day-to-day lives and in those moments re-remember what it means to be human.

References:

Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey

Euphemia - full spectrum pleasure coach

"microdosing pleasure"

Andreas Weber- Matter and Desire: An Erotic Ecology "Having the courage to feel your own needs and also to trust those feelings amounts to having the guts to stand up publicly and demand a different politics, one suitable to the demands of aliveness.”

Adrienne Maree Brown- Pleasure Activism All of their work is amazing but I quoted Pleasure is our measure of freedom

The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love

“Concepts like self-acceptance and body neutrality are not without value. When you have spent your entire life at war with your body, these models offer a truce. But you can have more than a cease-fire. You can have radical self-love because you are already radical self-love.”

These are hard times, uncertain times and divided times.

In this episode we talk through our bodies response to the referendum outcome in Australia over the weekend and ways in which we are attending to the pain and grief in our hearts for our kin who are suffering all over the world.

We dive into polyvagal theory as a way of understanding the states of our being and why numbness, disassociation, rage and disconnection arise in our bodies. We explore different ways to move into regulated presence, through social connection and deep listening.

This whole episode leans on the wisdom and work of Joanna Macy in our conversation to move through gratitude, joy and newly imagined possibilities.

References:

Hieroglyphic Stairway by Drew Dellinger

Vikki Reynolds - "Resisting Burnout"

Joanna Macy - The Work That Reconnects

Stephen W. Porges - Polyvagal Theory

Bayo Akomolafe - The Times are Urgent: Let’s Slow Down

In this weeks episode we explore the power of collaboration and intention when organising a party. We name and normalise both party hosting and attending anxiety, especially for highly sensitive children and adults (like us). We discuss ways to support children and adults to be able engage in parties in a meaningful way. We reminisce about a simpler time in terms of children’s birthday parties, where Women’s Weekly birthday cakes were king and pass the parcel in the backyard was enough. We ask the question, are we having the parties that our ancestors dreamed up for us?

This episode acknowledges that in social situations, we can't always choose who we have around us. We explore the idea that our dinner party guests can be like mirrors, reflecting parts of our subconscious back to us. As a way to manage the feelings that arise in us as a result of our guests (aka anyone in our world) we explore the magic of boundaries and the idea of nature as a co-host, a space-holder and a powerful regulator.