Show Notes
In this episode, I sat down with Laura Rubin, writer, speaker, founder of AllSwell Creative, and author of The Big Unlock, for a powerful conversation about journaling, anxiety, fear, gratitude, and how writing can help us get unstuck.Laura breaks down why journaling is so much more than simply writing down your feelings. Through her approach to mindful writing, she explains how intentional prompts can help us recognize patterns, quiet our critical voice, shift our mood, and reconnect with what actually matters.Together, we explore why anxiety is often future-focused imagination, how positive memories can help calm the body, why gratitude works best when connected to the five senses, and how small practices like the “4x4” journaling method and “dopamine push-ups” can create real change in everyday life.This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or curious about how writing can become a simple but powerful tool for mental and emotional well-being. Learn more about Laura: https://allswellcreative.com/ Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/ Grab a copy of Laura's book: https://allswellcreative.com/pages/the-big-unlock 00:00 — Introduction00:58 — Welcome Laura Rubin to Cake for Dinner01:40 — Why so many people feel stuck02:48 — What being “stuck” looks like in real life04:26 — The fear underneath most blocks05:30 — Mindful writing vs. traditional journaling06:28 — Journaling as a tool for embodiment and mood shifts07:17 — The serotonin bath: using positive memories to calm anxiety09:04 — Why nature is so powerful for the mind10:21 — Awe, water, and reconnecting with something bigger13:10 — Why journaling has a PR problem14:31 — The stories and patterns that shape our lives17:04 — Gratitude as a daily practice19:19 — Using the five senses to make gratitude more powerful20:13 — Recognizing your “big rocks” and priorities22:15 — Writing things down to see your patterns clearly23:20 — Why longhand journaling is so effective24:52 — Rock stars need roadies: asking for support27:01 — Externalizing thoughts instead of letting them loop30:44 — The 4x4 journaling method33:20 — Perfectionism and the critical voice35:05 — Giving anxiety a seat, but not control37:06 — Self-compassion and evolutionary fear38:43 — Dopamine push-ups and healthy mood shifts40:56 — Where to find Laura Rubin and The Big Unlock42:16 — Closing thoughts and Cake for Dinner outro
More from Cake For Dinner
What if your drinking doesn’t look like a problem—but it doesn’t feel right either? Kate Bee, founder of The Sober School, joins Cake for Dinner for an honest conversation about gray area drinking, “mommy needs wine” culture, and choosing an alcohol-free life without waiting for rock bottom. Kate shares how she kept her career and life looking together while privately questioning her drinking. We explore the quieter warning signs: making rules you keep breaking, hiding how much you’ve had, and waking up wishing you’d drunk less. We also talk about what women may really be seeking in that evening glass of wine, the cycle of drinking and next-day anxiety, and why sobriety doesn’t have to mean a smaller or less enjoyable life. With different personal experiences of Alcoholics Anonymous, Kate and our host discuss why connection matters—and why support doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. Whether you’re sober curious, taking a break, or already living alcohol-free, this episode offers a compassionate perspective on building a life you don’t feel the need to escape from. Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/ Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Kate Bee : https://www.instagram.com/thesoberschool
Would you stay in your marriage if money weren’t a factor? Tracy Tutor gets candid about financial independence, divorce, mom guilt, and the lessons she wants her daughters to carry into adulthood. In this episode of Cake for Dinner, the Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star joins Keesha Scott for an unfiltered conversation about building a demanding career while raising two daughters—and letting go of the pressure to do everything perfectly. Tracy opens up about co-parenting after divorce, dating younger men, her tendency to choose partners who need saving, and why she believes financial independence gives women the freedom to choose their own lives. She and Keesha also explore whether privileged kids can develop grit, why protecting children from every struggle can hold them back, and what it means to finally choose yourself in midlife. Plus, Tracy shares her unexpected path from acting to luxury real estate, how she responds to being underestimated, and her thoughts on a possible future in reality TV. Honest, funny, and full of hard-earned perspective—this is a conversation about ambition, imperfect motherhood, and finding the courage to start again.
When does helping your child become rescuing them—and how do you know when they truly need you to step in? Double board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Saltz joins Keesha Scott on Cake for Dinner for an honest conversation about parenting anxious kids, motherhood, and the pressure to get everything right. Dr. Sam shares why connection matters when working with teenagers, how she sees social media affecting their emotional lives, and why parents need compassion and validation, too. Keesha opens up about raising a daughter with OCD and why a child’s biggest achievements aren’t always reflected in grades or college acceptance letters. The conversation also takes a deeply personal turn as Dr. Sam discusses fertility treatments, miscarriages, and discovering she was pregnant shortly before a planned embryo transfer to a surrogate. Together, she and Keesha reflect on the loneliness of infertility and what it takes to keep showing up for work and family while struggling privately. Plus, Dr. Sam answers listener questions about sleepaway camp anxiety and nail biting, explaining why understanding the individual child matters more than finding one rule for everyone. Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/ Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Dr Samantha Saltz : https://www.instagram.com/doctorsamllc/
"I smoked weed when I was a kid and turned out fine." If you've ever said that or thought it, this episode is for you. John Puls is a licensed clinical social worker, master certified addiction professional, adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University, and expert witness who specializes in addiction and mental health. He joins Cake for Dinner to explain why today's cannabis should be treated as a completely different drug. Potency is much higher now, and vapes are nearly odorless, so teens can use almost anywhere, anytime. We get into cannabis-induced psychosis and why adolescents and young adults are the most vulnerable group. John explains how THC can quietly erode a teen's ability to cope with anxiety, and how parents' instinct to rescue can feed that same cycle. Then we zoom out to the harder questions: how to tell a phase from a real problem, when therapy stops being optional, and how to step in without wrecking your relationship with your kid. We also talk honestly about parenting a difficult teen, why your own nervous system matters, why scare tactics backfire, and what it means to be "honest-ish" as a sober parent. This episode includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 (U.S.) to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/ Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow John Puls : https://www.instagram.com/full_life_cc
Are we punishing children for being children? And can we set firm boundaries without relying on shame, disconnection, or control? In this episode of Cake for Dinner, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe—parenting educator, former psychologist, and bestselling author of Discipline Without Damage—challenges common approaches to discipline and explores what children’s behavior may be communicating. We talk about raising strong-willed and highly sensitive kids, why kindness during a meltdown isn’t the same as giving in, and how to balance compassion with clear expectations. Vanessa shares her approach to co-regulation, while both women get honest about the gap between knowing about parenting and navigating it with your own child. The conversation also explores ADHD, personal experiences with childhood OCD and school anxiety, the environments children need to thrive, and the pressure to look like a perfect mom online. If you’ve ever wondered why familiar parenting strategies aren’t working for your child—or felt judged, overwhelmed, or like you’re failing—this conversation offers a different way to understand the struggle. Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/ Book Pre Order CAKE FOR DINNER: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H5CW77FP?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0H5CW77FP&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=ca66e48c-1d99-4095-a35e-8d40794ffd1d&nodl=1 Follow Dr Vanessa LaPointe : https://www.instagram.com/dr.vanessalapointe