Welcome To The Real Us.
We’re Elizabeth Kraus and Sheila Lamont. We met as neighbors in Boulder, Colorado in 2010, and our friendship grew during frequent hikes in the foothills. We were great friends until…..we weren’t. Our friendship “paused” for eight years until we reconnected in a meaningful way when Sheila picked up the phone to have an eight-year-overdue honest conversation.
Although we now live thousands of miles from each other, we stay close with our imperfectly honest phone calls and written thoughts. We learn something from each other every time.
We welcome you to eavesdrop on our conversations and read about what we’re thinking. We hope that when you do, you learn a little about us and a lot about yourself.
Candid Conversations
Adventures in Non-Monogamy
Elizabeth and John have formed a meaningful and healthy relationship, but they are skeptical about being life partners. They’ve decided to engage in a non-monogamous arrangement to allow them to look for a long-term life partner while enjoying their time together. Sheila joins Elizabeth for a candid conversation about the pluses and minuses of an “intimate friendship.”
Reconnecting With Our Teenage Selves
Our teenage years are formative for who we become. So what happens when we rekindle relationships forged at that stage of life? Sheila explores the magnetic pull of past loves and friendships, revealing how revisiting the emotional landscape of our youth can reignite old flames—or spark new, surprising joys.
Healing from LA Fires: Quick Aid While Striving for Systemic Changes
Have you ever felt helpless watching tragedies unfold on the news? In this episode, Elizabeth and Sheila discuss the LA fires and explore the question: Can we actually make a difference, or should we just focus on less hopeless efforts?
Risking Rejection to Be Me
My 2025 goal is to risk judgment, rejection, and loneliness to be my authentic self.
When Life and Love Don’t Have to Be Hard
In this episode, Elizabeth interviews the couple whose relationship she most admires. Mikela and Philip Tarlow are partners in life, love, and work. Working with them in her twenties opened Elizabeth’s eyes to the possibility that life and love don’t have to be hard.
Who Is Your “Person”?
What does it mean to be someone’s person? Sheila explores how that concept has evolved, expressing the hope that this evolution creates more space, and expands the way we think about our relationships.