Season Finale does not skimp on the laughter. It's sad to say goodbye to something so good but also heartfelt and filled with so much love.

Samantha and Melissa celebrate the 90th episode of Skirts Up, marking the end of their “nine season,” inspired by Dr. Sue McCready’s numerology theme of creativity, expansion, and nonjudgmental teaching. Also taking note that the season unexpectedly lasted six months due to prerecording and a unplanned show shift.

Melissa shares she’s stepping back to focus inward and on her shop, while Samantha teases Season 5 is already underway and may feature her solo, rotating past guests as co-hosts, or a new permanent co-host.

They reflect on key lessons—“we listen, we do not judge,” curiosity, personal growth, and building a safe, loving community—while discussing frustrations, friendships, gossip, grief (Ada and Waverly), and even never before heard experiences with animal communicators and “ghost” energy.

It end with gratitude, hints of Melissa popping back in, and invite audience requests.

Episodes mentioned:

• Secrets Revealed ( #1 fan favorite)
• Check Your Cracks
• It's A Nine Year
• From Timidity To Assertiveness
• Channeling While Light

Sam's Vulnerable Blog

• Sweet Soul Wellness - FND Journey pt.8

Follow along for updates by visiting Skirts Up and following us on socials.

Samantha and Melissa open their second-to-last episode reflecting on the sadness of ending the podcast, noting behind-the-scenes pressure, shifting plans for the brand, and Melissa feeling spread too thin after a major expo didn’t go as hoped.

They pivot to April awareness for functional neurological disorders (FND) and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, discussing how patients—even children—can be diagnosed yet dismissed by providers, left without care, and facing alarming suicide risk.

Samantha explains her view of FND as a protective “safety loop,” why “trauma” is controversial and subjective, and how Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) uses a hypnosis-like relaxed state to access the subconscious, uncover formative scenes, and reprogram habits via a 21-day recording protocol.

They share bits about the RTT session Melissa had which focused on childhood guilt.

In the end Samantha hits how impactful RTT is for those diagnosed with FND and refers to the success one client recently experienced. There's mention of research and outreach that is in progress with a ring of neuroscientists. and last but not least, Samantha announces a free Zoom FND support event on April 8 at 2:00pm EST. Show your support with #FNDaware.

Several past episodes are unintentionally referred to so here is the list in case its one you missed or would like to revisit:

• Maturing Through Life With a Bestie
• Navigating Neurological Mysteries With Dr. Carolyn Taylor
• Truth Seeker Of Life, Ashley Millilo
• Be That Guy, Dj Logory
• Soul Shattered to Master of Manifesting, Terrie Christine
• Do You Want a Fear Based Life or One That is Questing?

We talk about brainspotting, which Samantha's experience with it can be found in this blog from Sweet Soul Wellness and what the hell, if you missed the episode where she talks about her experience of being diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder (FND) here it is: Journey Through Misdiagnosis, Trauma, and Healing

This is Skirts Up! Learn more about us, follow us on social media, and share your favorite episode with a friend <3

"Nothing good ever happens after 2am" - Wise words of Ted Mosby.

To be honest, recording is weighing very heavy on us as we approach the final 2 episode with the original Skirts Up hosts, Samantha and Melissa. This week just wasn't it for us. Plus the pollen is pollinating and Samantha sounds like a dying frog.

With that being said, this is a flash from the past. Our SECOND episode over, "Adulting and Making friends after 30." Fun fact, this ranks #5 in the top 5 fan favorites. So for those who are new to the show, welcome! This is where is all began.

1. Checkout more episode from the past at Skirts Up
2. Samantha's holistic mental health practice is OPEN and she is hosting a live event in a couple of weeks for those diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder. Learn more at Sweet Soul Wellness.

Samantha and Melissa open by choosing pure positivity over discussing “fails,” linking their improved mood after recording to laughter releasing endorphins, as mentioned in their prior episode with Kathy.

They introduce doula Suzzie Vehrs, who supports families through birth planning, labor, advocacy, and postpartum care that includes rest, emotional processing, chores, and meals, and she explains how American culture often discourages asking for help compared with other cultures.

Samantha shares her birth history, including a 28-hour labor complicated by shoulder dystocia, fever/infection concerns, placenta issues, and postpartum PTSD, while Suzzie explains how fever can escalate risks and defines retained placenta in a way Samantha can understand for the first in 10 years. She continues on explaining the difference between doulas versus midwives/OBs.

Suzzie shares her own story of going from medicalized birth of her own to a home birth, her doula work, her certification, and why she addresses taboo postpartum topics like pain, libido changes, and returning to intimacy through referrals (therapy, pelvic floor PT).

Not only is Suzzie here to talk about the importance of assisting the mother through birth and post partum but helping the partner become educated about the workload of newborn care and feeding. We got it all in this one.

1. Learn how to make sure you have the BEST birthing experience with Suzzie Vehrs by visiting her page, SheBirthsBravely
2. Follow Skirts Up on social media!
3. Visit Samantha’s new mental health business, Sweet Soul Wellness

So much love today! Samantha shares updates about her pets, including a new 3-year-old sulcata tortoise named Tag and Linus the unusually calm and giant “dream puppy.”

Melissa gets a hair fixed by stylist, Caroline, at Salon Pure in Flowery Branch after a big hair dye mistake. (You must see the before and after. GOLD) Melissa was unable to make the recording for this episode so Samantha drops hits about what's to come. Come to find out it sparks a fun core memory between Melissa and her brothers growing up! Laughter Yoga!

Cathy Nesbitt from Canada, a worm advocate and laughter ambassador, joins the show, explaining how Toronto’s 2002 landfill closure motivated her to promote indoor vermicomposting for people in condos and small spaces. Kathy describes worm-bin setups (stacked trays or totes), how aerobic composting avoids odor, how worms and microbes process scraps and paper into nutrient-rich “black gold,” and how classrooms can use worm bins as hands-on science projects.

She also explains laughter yoga—started in 1995 by an Indian medical doctor—as laughter and deep breathing for health and stress relief, discusses online laughter clubs begun during COVID, and invites listeners to her free Tuesday 9:30 a.m. ET Zoom club at kathysclub.com.

1. Work with Cathy for you Laughter Yoga needs

This is one for ALL listeners but particularly our male audience needs to hear what our dear friend DJ has to say.

We interview DJ Logory, creator of “Be That Guy,” who helps young men build confidence through action, accountability, and community.

This is one for ALL listeners but particularly our male audience needs to hear what our dear friend DJ has to say.

We interview DJ Logory, creator of “Be That Guy,” who helps young men build confidence through action, accountability, and community.

DJ describes his version of powerful affirmations via an audio narrated by his 90-year-old self. In other words, manifestation on steroids. One of our favorite words of DJ wisdom was changing beliefs by collecting evidence! It is liquid gold for any of us. It was for us as we navigate a bit of imposter syndrome.

Dj leaves us with amples of tips, tricks, and quotes that will keep you motivated to set your goals and track your habits (collecting evidence of progress). He pulls from the words of Matthew Mcconaughey, Tony Robins, David Bayer, Mark Devine, Jason Van Camp and many more.

This conversation hit on the amount of failure you can run into on your way to a breakthrough and that all you have to do is keep going.

"Dreams are more often crushed by fear than failing."

1. Follow Skirts Up on social media!
2. Visit Samantha’s new mental health business, Sweet Soul Wellness
3. Get your dose of empowerment from Dj Logory, Be That Guy

Kristan Swan, creator of the guided journal Spaghetti on the Wall, discusses how journaling can evolve across life stages—from childhood “emotion dumps” to adult reflection practices—and why a journal can be a safe, nonjudgmental place to say the “scary” or “ugly” things without harming relationships.

The hosts share barriers to journaling, including fear someone will read it and the challenge of not knowing what to write, and describe how Kristen’s journal provides simple prompts that make daily journaling tangible and quick (about 12–15 minutes).

Kristan explains the journal’s structure: a nonjudgmental observer section to record events, and an “experience evaluator” to identify highs, lows, moments of alignment, and “not so much” experiences—designed to reduce reinforcing negative self-talk that can happen with free-form journaling. She shares personal context (being on her third marriage and earlier choices driven by longing for stability, external answers, and fear of self-knowledge) and how journaling can both document progress and, if filtered through self-criticism, entrench shame. She describes creating the first edition about 10 years ago for business-coaching clients to help awareness “bubble up” when conversations felt like repetitive loops.

Post-COVID exhaustion led her to question business coaching, earn a Master’s in Education, realize academia bureaucracy wasn’t a fit, and reflect on “human doing” patterns, over-saying yes, self-worth, self-reliance, and learning to ask for help. The conversation also explores authenticity in professional identity, shedding rigid expectations, and adopting a creative mindset that welcomes not-knowing, curiosity, and possibility.

Kristan emphasizes that getting still and reflecting daily helps people trust themselves, make choices that do less harm to self and others, and reconnect with what genuinely matters.

1. Follow Skirts Up on social media!
2. Visit Samantha’s new mental health business, Sweet Soul Wellness
3. Get your beginner friendly, spaghetti on the wall journal, by visiting Kristan Swan online.

The hosts interview Bev Middleman, a relationship and attachment trauma practitioner and founder of Securely Loved, about how attachment styles shape self-esteem, self-trust, emotional regulation, and relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and romantic partners.

Bev explains attachment as learned behavior formed in childhood patterns of giving and receiving love, and emphasizes it can be unlearned and relearned. She outlines two broad categories—secure vs. insecure attachment—then details the three insecure subtypes: anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and disorganized (fearful-avoidant).

Secure attachment develops from predictable emotional attunement, helping children identify emotions, regulate the nervous system, and communicate needs with boundaries. Insecure attachment exists on a spectrum and is not gendered. Bev describes anxious-preoccupied attachment as driven by an abandonment wound, people-pleasing (fawn) then fighting in conflict, low self-worth, and difficulty with boundaries. Dismissive-avoidant attachment is linked to emotional neglect or stoic/high-demand environments, detachment from emotions, retreating to isolation to self-regulate, and fear of engulfment. Disorganized/fearful-avoidant attachment combines anxious and avoidant traits, is associated with chaotic or abusive upbringings, centers on betrayal wounds, and often shows hot-and-cold intimacy, anger, rage, and hypervigilance.

The conversation connects attachment to stress physiology (fight/flight/fawn/freeze), cortisol, and health. Be sure to take her free quiz at securelyloved.com that provides primary and secondary attachment styles.

1. Check out all of Bev Mitelman's offerings and follow her on social media!
2. Learn more about us on our Skirts Up website
3. Visit Samantha’s new mental health business, Sweet Soul Wellness