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Welcome to Listen for REAL — a podcast where we expand our perspectives and connect more deeply through earthy conversation, curiosity, and soul-level revelations.
I’m Jen Oliver — a woman shaped by a lifetime of privilege, inherited beliefs, and an echo chamber that once kept my limited worldview comfortably intact.
That way of living (and viewing others) no longer works for me. It kept me performative, judgmental, and disconnected from the fullest expression of my truth — and distanced from other people.
This podcast began as the antidote to that echo chamber. A space to lean into conversation with others whose world view, lived experience or belief system differed from my own.
And now, in this new season, the show is evolving.
We’re doubling down on the practice of truth-telling - I ask my guests to share a moment of truth or personal revelation that pushes past the more palatable things that we have been trained to say.
Each episode brings unfiltered conversations, raw human honesty and courageous storytelling you can't get from scripted media. In addition, you will hear coaching, inner-work tools, and my own admissions to help us all step into a more honest, liberated, expansive way of being.
There is no quicker way to pry open my mind than by telling me your truth —- Join the conversation.
Recent Episodes
90
Aug. 4, 2026
Dad. Hollywood. If he were alive, how would he feel about me saying this?
Jeromy Zajonc sat in the hot seat this episode, or as close to it as a chair across from an old friend can get. Jen asked him the question she asks every guest: name a moment you had to tell the truth. He came back with two. The first goes back to his dad. Big personality, bigger reputation, a helicopter stunt pilot for Hollywood’s biggest films and Kona Ironman finisher and he raised Jeromy along with his brother. Everyone who knew his dad saw the legend. Few saw the temper that turned physical
89
June 3, 2026
No One Judges You Harder Than You
She was discovered hitchhiking on a busy interstate. Barefoot. Tasmanian devil boxer shorts. Ripped t-shirt. Her dog — off leash — right beside her as cars raced past them. That's the story Michele Capots told her 16-year-old nephew over dinner. The nephew who had just ghosted her after finding out she'd been hospitalized for severe depression. This episode is about what happens when you finally stop protecting people from your truth — and what it costs you when you don't. Michele is a mental
88
April 21, 2026
When they turn their back on you & you still tell the truth
J. Ross Parrelli is a rapper, slam poet, educator, and founder of Beats Lyrics Leaders — a hip hop arts education organization that has worked with over 50,000 students across 150+ classrooms, from military academies to Native American reservations. In this conversation, J. Ross and Jen go deep on what it actually costs to speak your truth and what it gives back. J. Ross shares the story of being publicly defamed for standing and serving on matters she believed in. They also get into killer st
87
March 10, 2026
The truth is…I left a “good” marriage with no villain and no logical explanation
Episode overview In this candid, tender conversation, Jen Oliver and Jen Aks discuss what it means to tell the truth and end a relationship—especially when it was seemingly “really good.” There was no villain and no tidy explanation that satisfies logic. Jen Aks shares the pivotal choice to leave her 20-year marriage, the internal cost of trusting her body when her mind demanded proof, and how truth-telling reshaped her relationships, parenting, identity, and purpose. The conversation moves fr
86
July 1, 2025
If AI was driven by your soul - what answers would it give!
I once believed - ignorantly - that “guidance” according to our star signs & astrological charts was for softheaded people needing the power of suggestion to make decisions. This conversation with Rachel Loewenherz blew my echo chamber wide open. Rachel shares her journey from a traditional background, Ivy League education, and corporate career to embracing spirituality and astrology. Along the way she experienced tremendous losses and health challenges - which along with her expertise - also i
85
May 19, 2025
Online dating with no pics - just your values?
I was always intrigued by the premise behind “Love Is Blind” - a reality show where singles try to find a match and fall in love -- without ever seeing each other face-to-face, as emotional connection attempts to conquer physical attraction. Full disclosure, I don’t watch TV so I haven’t seen an episode but still, the notion of moving beyond physical appearance and chemistry feels simultaneously intriguing and super risky. Then @Drew Taylor Cohen caught my attention with a post detailing her ex
84
April 28, 2025
“Act like a man!” and Break the Glass Ceiling with Dr. Kasi Lacey
My conversation with Dr. Kasi Lacey speaks to a common experience among many; a woman and leader confronting the glass ceiling in an organization. Kasi was passed over more than once for positions she was eminently qualified for “because they were instructed to hire a man…” Her encounter with gender bias became an inflection point; she did a new thing and made the decision to walk in and “act like a man” and demand the job she had more than earned. Kasi deliberately mimicked the hubris and asse
83
April 22, 2025
Disordered eating and silencing yourself share a solution; listen to your body!
In this conversation, Amber Abila and I discuss the challenges many of us face when it comes to listening to our bodies, setting boundaries, and giving voice to what’s true for us. Amber is a binge and overeating coach, while I coach people to speak with impact and clarity from their truest voice. We both see huge overlap in our coaching practices and agree that listening to our body is crucial for understanding our needs and then getting them met - whether that is with moderate amounts of nour
82
April 14, 2025
Coming home to yourself and the dismantling that requires
I don’t often use the word “enlightening” but this conversation with Lara Waldman was just that. We explored our stories of spiritual awakening, the ways that we understand this elusive term called “manifestation,” and our unique journeys of self-discovery. This was a topic of conversation that I once would have labeled heretical and taboo because it didn’t align with my limited viewpoint or echo chamber. What a loss that would have been. Lara shares her personal experiences to illustrate the i
81
April 7, 2025
The “echo chamber” of the American military expands my own
When echo chambers collide you get the best conversation! I sat down with Justin Cauthen, a man with 20 years of military service and five combat tours to his credit - not to mention leadership roles in situations and countries where hostility is often the norm. His story is powerful. And so is his heart. We talked about things that matter deeply—PTSD, suicide, the ripple effect trauma has across professions, the toll military life takes on spouses and kids. Justin shared with such humility and
80
March 31, 2025
We limit ourselves by the stories we believe
Y’all, this episode with Bara Mann was one that I want you to be a part of. We talked about belonging, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves—especially the ones that no longer serve us. Bara shared her childhood moments of trying to fit in - and I talked of what that looks like as an adult. I’ve been that chameleon too—fitting in everywhere, but not necessarily showing all of me. This conversation was about breaking down the invisible walls we put up, and finding courage to speak from our
79
Feb. 23, 2025
“Horribly Lovely” - A conversation with Jon Kohrs
Reading “Horribly Lovely” was exactly that…and, I could not stop turning the pages. My conversation with the author, Jon Kohrs, went deep as we talked about his “Horribly Lovely” journey. I will avoid spoilers, but this newly released book may cause you to reconsider many things. I confess to sitting in judgment of people and behaviors that Jon’s writing exposes; from addiction to marital infidelity, he opens the door wide open to us with each chapter. This conversation opened me up to a greater