Emotionally Uncomfortable

"The work is never done. You just become a different version of yourself." In this Case Study episode, Heather and Tara Morse dig into how she built her practice by following a path that didn't always make sense to others and navigating skepticism while staying anchored in what she knew was right for her. This conversation moves beyond surface-level change and into the real work: learning to shift from rumination into self-awareness, choosing how you want to feel, and taking action from that place, and developing the kind of self-trust that can only come from doing hard things on purpose. Because at the end of the day, growth shows up in the uncomfortable moments where you're asked to trust yourself before you feel ready, and you can't outsource feeling whole. What to listen for: ☑️ Why moving from rumination into self-awareness is essential for change ☑️ One of the first big hurdles in growth is having enough self-trust to get support ☑️ The importance of understanding where we are to understand where to go next "A lot of that is honestly getting to that point where you're expanding, then you're uncomfortable, and then you have this felt experience of, 'I did it.' If we don't challenge ourselves, make ourselves uncomfortable, and put ourselves in those situations, there's no self-trust." ☑️ In order to have that felt experience of self-trust, you have to challenge yourself ☑️ Why hard skills are cheap and emotional intelligence and soft skills matter most ☑️ We can't outsource feeling whole, and no technology is going to change that "It's always going to be the small actions. I had to let myself feel what I was feeling. I knew that was part of it. But then I had to make a choice that I didn't want to feel this way anymore. So part of that action was taking the step, reaching out for help." ☑️ The work isn't waiting for motivation; it's embodying discipline in necessary ways ☑️ The only thing that creates transformation is boundaries that you hold with yourself ☑️ How increasing your capacity can increase your sense of lightness at the same time *** About Tara Morse: Tara Morse is a licensed therapist, entrepreneur, and the founder of 3Rivers Therapists, a multi-location mental health practice serving children, adolescents, and adults across Pennsylvania. With more than 15 years of experience in the field, Tara has dedicated her career to helping both clients and helping professionals build resilience and create sustainable paths forward. As a business owner, leader, wife, and mother, Tara is passionate about the intersection of mental health, leadership, and entrepreneurship. She speaks about the identity shift from helper to leader, the importance of building capacity rather than constantly doing more, and how purpose-driven professionals can create businesses and workplaces where people truly work, heal, and thrive. Connect with Tara: Website: www.3riverstherapists.com Instagram: @3riverstherapists & @tcm1181 *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me inside the Energetic Time Management Accelerator, a focused experience designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Join the Energetic Time Management Accelerator: www.heatherchauvin.com/time Explore the top episodes listeners come back to when they're stuck, burned out, or standing at the edge of a big shift: www.heatherchauvin.com/10 Follow Heather on Instagram: www.instagram.com/heatherchauvin_

"When I find myself going back to that reactivity mode or older way of thinking, I have to step back and ask, 'What do I really want?'" In this episode, Heather and Alexis Dean explore what it really means to take ownership of your ambition, your emotional world, and the desires you keep pushing aside. The things that irritate or trigger you aren't random; they're signals pointing directly to where you're being asked to grow. This conversation challenges the instinct to blame, label, or control, and instead invites you into a deeper level of self-responsibility, curiosity, and intention. Because when you stop outsourcing your discomfort and start listening to it, you unlock a completely different way of leading your life, your work, and your relationships. What to listen for: ☑️ The things that piss you off are a guide around where you need to do more work ☑️ Women need to feed their ambitions so they don't end up resentful and angry ☑️ Using curiosity to uncover where you're holding yourself back "If you're the one who has the pull and the desire to move a vision forward, and that's your natural gift, it's on you to accept and to lean into it. My resentment was actually me trying to blame somebody else for my own emotional discomfort." ☑️ Discerning between "hard" and emotionally uncomfortable actions ☑️ Operating from a collaborative lens rather than controlling others ☑️ Living your life intentionally instead of following gender norms "It's fine if you want to follow gender norms. The challenge is when people don't actually press pause and examine, 'Is this serving us? Is this how we want to lead our lives and live and work and everything else?'" ☑️ Why using labels is often just a way to avoid feeling our emotions ☑️ Navigating societal norms as a new mother who also runs a business ☑️ What can you do today to create more space and time flexibility? *** About Alexis Dean: For more than two decades, Alexis Dean has helped leaders build teams rooted in trust, accountability, and emotional courage. She believes that good people don't automatically create strong cultures, intentional leadership does. As the founder of Two Roads Training & Team Building, Alexis works with executive teams to help them build high-trust environments where performance and humanity can coexist. She's known for making the conversations most people avoid feel practical, doable, and transformative. Alexis is also the founder of The Dovetail Community, a mastermind and retreat experience for women leading 7- to 9-figure companies who want growth without losing themselves in the process. Alexis's work isn't just about boardrooms, it's about what happens at home, too. She believes women are often leading their families emotionally, strategically, and logistically, whether or not anyone names it that way. In a culture that still questions women's authority, stepping fully into leadership, at work and at home, requires clarity, boundaries, and a willingness to be misunderstood. Connect with Alexis: www.tworoadsteambuilding.com Instagram: @alexis.dovetail and @tworoadsteambuilding *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me inside the Energetic Time Management Accelerator, a focused experience designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Join the Energetic Time Management Accelerator: www.heatherchauvin.com/time Explore the top episodes listeners come back to when they're stuck, burned out, or standing at the edge of a big shift: www.heatherchauvin.com/10 Follow Heather on Instagram: www.instagram.com/heatherchauvin_

"You see this dissonance between the current you and the past you or other people, and the only gap across the bridge is action and implementation." There's a moment when you realize the life you're living and the life you actually want are no longer aligned, and no amount of thinking, planning, or hoping is going to close that gap for you. In this episode, Heather and Melissa Apa explore that tension as she shares what it looks like to navigate a child's diabetes diagnosis, the weight of ongoing crisis, and the secret decisions that change everything over time. This isn't a conversation about doing it perfectly or becoming a "better" person. It's about learning how to live, lead, and even thrive inside circumstances you didn't choose, without letting them define you. What to listen for: ✨ The power of managing a disease like diabetes without making it your identity ✨ Melissa's experience getting her child's diagnosis and navigating the initial stress ✨ The trap of thinking life will finally be manageable after the crisis you're walking through "I was like, my life is clearly just going to continue to be chaos, and I need to figure out how to still be able to get to joy and thriving and loving life because we only get one life, and this is the one I have, so I would like to enjoy it." ✨ The secret, silent decisions we make internally when we're finally ready to change ✨ How Melisa's multi-year experience of dealing with crisis made the journey more easeful ✨ Managing life with a chronic disease isn't a morality issue; it's just what's happening "You're not morally a good or bad person if you're struggling to control a chronic disease. You just don't have the right information, the right tools, or the right support. It doesn't mean that you're bad." ✨ Teaching kids how to advocate for themselves, especially with health issues ✨ Learning how to thrive with your disease rather than settling for just managing it ✨ Why action and implementation are required to experience behavioral change "The biggest thing that I see in the people who don't make changes is that they don't even see it as a possibility. It's never even occurred to them that it doesn't need to be this way. They have accepted that it will always be hard. That's not what I want you to accept. We need to accept some things, and we need to challenge some others here." ✨ How Heather helped Melissa recognize that chronic overwhelm was her comfort zone ✨ Being emotionally calm is the foundational work to build stability and systems from ✨ Why your leadership and how you manage your energy directly affect your family *** About Melissa Apa: Melissa Apa is a Clinical Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with over 15 years of experience—turned diabetes coach. She is a runner, and mom of two boys, including one living with type 1 diabetes. Drawing on both her professional expertise and personal journey, Melissa helps people with diabetes and parents of children with diabetes move from surviving to thriving. Her mission is to empower families to develop the autonomy, calm, and confidence needed to navigate daily management and embrace life fully. Connect with Melissa:Website: www.insulininspired.com Instagram: @melissaapa_ *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Apply for the next 1:1 Coaching Cohort:https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the Energetic Time Management Accelerator: https://heatherchauvin.com/time

"I don't have to fall into the drama and the nonsense and everything else, and I can take all the amazing things I'm learning and come into a new season." For many women, being "good" means holding everything together for everyone else. But at some point, the question begins to surface: When did good enough become good enough? In this episode, Heather and Laurie Wintonick explore what it really looks like to grow into the next version of yourself without blowing up the life you've built. From letting go of guilt and redefining what it means to be a "good woman," to navigating the tension that comes when others don't support your evolution, this conversation is about choosing yourself with intention. Because when you stop abandoning your own desires and start honoring what you truly want, you don't just change your life, you become the version of yourself you were always meant to be. What to listen for: ✨ What it really means to "be a good woman" without abandoning yourself ✨ The importance of asking yourself, "When did good enough become good enough?" ✨ Figuring out what you really want and getting unstuck without blowing up your life "I wanted to be able to be professional and have a career while also being an amazing mom, and I don't feel like you have to decide one or the other. You can absolutely a thousand percent do both, but you have to be really intentional about it." ✨ Prioritizing what's important and leveling up your life in the process ✨ Navigating the tension when other peopledon't support your growth journey ✨ Are you being blocked, or are you refusing to take a stand for how you want to feel? "If I want to do something, I'm gonna go do what I want to do because at the end of the day, the only person I'm hurting by not doing it is me. And if I'm hurting myself, then in reality, I'm not the best version of myself, so everybody's gonna suffer because of that." ✨ Letting go of guilt because women are allowed to give themselves permission ✨ The more you grow, the more you realize who's actually in your corner ✨ How doing the work brings you to the person you're here to be *** About Laurie Wintonick: Laurie Wintonick is a powerhouse coach, executive leader, and speaker with over 30 years of C-suite business experience in operations, strategic planning, and leadership development. Laurie's career began as a receptionist at 21, but her drive, curiosity, and people-first approach quickly propelled her to the executive level—serving as Executive Vice President at a top financial planning firm, where she mastered every side of business from sales/operations/finance to HR and strategic growth. Currently, Laurie runs her own Coaching and Consulting Firm - Boringly Consistent, where she contracts as a Fractional COO, as well as a Business, Executive, Performance, Mindset, Wellness, and Master Life Coach. She is also the Head of Business at Beyara—a company deeply aligned with Laurie's mission—to help female entrepreneurs build and scale businesses and lifestyles that align with their deepest values—combining mindset, business mastery, and strategic growth with lives they truly enjoy. Connect with Laurie: Website: www.beyara.com Instagram: @lillg23 and @beyarawomen LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauriewintonick/ *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Apply for the next 1:1 Coaching Cohort:https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the Energetic Time Management Accelerator: https://heatherchauvin.com/time

"Having the freedom to decide this is what I choose to do now or another time, that to me is that time-rich feeling." In this episode, Heather and Christine Landis gently (and sometimes unapologetically) challenge the way we think about productivity, responsibility, and the stories we tell ourselves about success. Together, they unpack the invisible labor so many women carry, the exhaustion of decision fatigue, and the cultural conditioning that convinces us we must do everything ourselves to be "good" partners, mothers, leaders, or humans. This isn't a conversation about outsourcing tasks for the sake of efficiency; it's about buying back your time so you can reclaim your energy, your joy, and your capacity to live intentionally rather than by default. Christine invites us to reimagine what it means to be "time rich," to stop apologizing for spaciousness, and to consciously plan for joy as a foundational part of an aligned life. What to listen for: ✨ Understanding house management, and giving ourselves permission to outsource ✨ Identifying the invisible load you carry and the decision fatigue that comes with it ✨ Becoming "time rich" by letting go of the need to do everything yourself "It's not about delegating laundry or delegating meal prep. It's about reclaiming your fucking life and reclaiming how you want to feel." ✨ If we want men to step up, we as women need to better value our own time ✨ Giving yourself more capacity with that time, not doing more of something else ✨ The importance of not judging or defending the spaciousness you bought back "Planning for joy is really important. You can't be reactionary. You have to put that thought out there and look ahead into your week, your month. It doesn't have to be this big five-year plan, but even just protecting your time on a doable, regular basis." ✨ Focusing on the life you want rather than living by default ✨ Planning for your joy instead of being reactive to what's coming at you ✨ Valuing yourself and your time differently, and the challenges that come with it About Christine Landis: Christine Landis is the founder of Peacock Parent and the creator of Proxy, a text-based thinking partner for home life. A former fintech CEO who inherited and grew her family's company before selling it, Christine thought retirement would bring freedom — but instead it clarified her mission. She realized that time, not money, is the real measure of success. Today, she uses her decades of operational experience to help high-achieving families reduce the mental load, delegate with confidence, and buy back time for the moments that matter most. Through Peacock Parent's guides and Proxy's fast, judgment-free responses, Christine is redefining what modern support at home can look like. Connect with Christine Landis: Website:https://peacockparent.com/ Instagram: @PeacockParent Text: 820-PEACOCK (820-732-2625) Try Proxy: Use code HEATHER for 3 months free ($450 value). Purchase the 3-month plan, complete your profile, and get a thinking partner in your back pocket via text. https://proxy.peacockparent.com/purchase *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Apply for the next 1:1 Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the Energetic Time Management Accelerator https://heatherchauvin.com/time

"Marketing is required in any business, and the marketing landscape is constantly changing. You have to evolve with it." In this episode, Heather and Jess Shirra break down what it actually looks like to evolve with the marketing landscape without burning yourself out or throwing money at strategies that don't move the needle in your unique business. This is a real conversation about the identity shift that comes with hiring a team, the weight of holding the bigger pieces alone, and why bringing in the right marketing leadership at the right time can change everything. If you've ever felt the pressure to "figure it out" yourself, questioned your strategy, or wondered whether you're investing in the right things, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, support, and building a business that honors your lifestyle, not just your revenue goals. What to listen for: ✨ The identity shift and initiation that come with hiring a team for your business ✨ How the heaviness of holding the bigger pieces can negatively impact your work ✨ Understanding the right hiring order for team members, and finding their best role "The CMO role is almost like having insurance for your marketing budget and marketing efforts. Someone inside your business is making sure you're not wasting money, spending too much, or focusing on the wrong thing,s and that every single little bit of energy, effort, revenue, like budget is being directed towards the most needle-moving things." ✨ Hiring a Chief Marketing Officer who honors your lifestyle and goals ✨ Why you need a marketing strategy and a dedicated lead-generation funnel ✨ The importance of asking for support in advance so you don't expect instant ROI "If you have a strong CMO, what that person will do is hear your ideas and then think about that in the bigger picture of where we're going, and this thing actually does make sense, or it's going to actually make that other thing faster or better." ✨ The importance of having a solid marketing strategy in place, even if you're new ✨ Building self-trust and navigating the lack of ethics in online marketing ✨ Understanding there's no one right way to market a business About Jess Shirra: Jess Shirra is a Fractional CMO and the founder of The CMO Office, where she partners with 7- and 8-figure creators and brands to bring them the clarity, direction, and leadership they've been missing in their marketing. Over her 15-year career, she's led marketing for global brands like Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Strava, and Deloitte, and has supported top creators including Jenna Kutcher, Lori Harder, and Vanessa and Xander Marin. Jess' superpower is her ability to cut through the noise and help founders understand what their businesses truly need to grow. Connect with Jess: Website: https://www.thecmooffice.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketing.by.jess LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicashirra/ *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"A lot of good things happen when we grab control of that space between our first in our second thought. There's a lot of gifts that come from just taking agency back over your own thoughts before you act." What happens when we stop trying to manage emotions and start taking responsibility for the space between reaction and choice? In this episode, Heather and Chris Cullen explore a deeper, more grounded conversation about emotional regulation, gender dynamics, and why so many well-intentioned approaches to growth and healing are failing most men. They talk about respect versus control, collaboration versus competition, and how reclaiming agency over our second thought can radically change the way we relate to ourselves, our partners, and our families. This isn't about "fixing" men or "watering down" women; it's about creating environments where both can actually show up differently. What to listen for: ✨ Why men are realizing that the old ways of "managing emotions" aren't working ✨ What makes traditional therapy feminine in a way that doesn't always support men ✨ The men in your life aren't "unmotivated"; they just have different needs "Men want to feel respected, women want to feel admired. Part of the respect is bringing us into the equation versus telling us what to do. Making it pro-social for a purpose bigger than you will help ignite that flame." ✨ How to create space for men to feel respected and supported in their growth ✨ When women reclaim their power, men will naturally show up differently ✨ Shifting into relationship as collaboration versus competition "If you come to me with a chin up and chest out, like, 'You need to do this', you're probably getting it right back. And I don't know that that friction creates a great environment to express or feel." ✨ Your first thought may be reactive, but you're always in charge of your second thought ✨ It's not your spiritual journey to manage your children or partner's experience ✨ Navigating the fear of anger when the men in your life are struggling About Chris Cullen: Chris Cullen is a keynote speaker, author, and founder of Win Within, where he helps people and organizations unlock their best through mindset training. A former Division 1 athlete and two-time Ironman finisher, he brings real-world lessons on resilience, growth, and performance into his talks and workshops. Over a decade in the medical field, he generated more than $100M in sales and led high-performing teams across the U.S. and Canada before shifting his focus to mindset and culture. He is the author of I Get To: Change Your Words, Change Your Life, a book that explores how three simple words can transform self-leadership, performance, and workplace culture. Chris also serves as the mental conditioning coach for the University of Georgia softball team, guiding Division 1 athletes with tools to sharpen their mindset and identity. His work blends science, story, and strategy to help others lead themselves first—and thrive in life, sport, and business. Connect with Chris Cullen: Website: https://www.chriscullen.com Instagram: @chriscullen_c3 Book: I Get To: Change Your Words, Change Your Life: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-get-to-chris-cullen/1148030572 *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"Almost everybody will overestimate how much they can grow in one year. At the same time, they underestimate how much they can grow in five." In this episode, Heather talks with Jay Papasan about why doing more isn't the answer, how relentless productivity can actually work against you, and what happens when you commit to the one thing that truly matters. This is a conversation about focus as a skill, boredom as a feature of mastery, and the quiet, intentional choices that make everything else easier (or unnecessary). If you're tired of spinning your wheels and ready to aim strategically instead of swinging harder, this episode will reframe how you approach your goals, your time, and yourself. What to listen for: ✨ What "the one thing" is, and how it applies to life roles and responsibilities ✨ How addiction to productivity is harming us and how to choose aligned priorities ✨ Training your brain to narrow its focus so that you make the most of your actions "You get to pick where you're aiming the tool. You ask the question, 'What's the one thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?'" ✨ Why doing tasks earlier in the day helps bypass resistance and distraction ✨ Implementing the essential practice of "goals before phones" to stay on track ✨ Working with the human element when accountability doesn't work "What would your world look like if every day, before you look at your phone, you had to look at your goals? When people are reminded of their priorities, they're more likely to keep them." ✨ What happens on the other side of being strategically focused and intentional ✨ How to make peace with the boredom of success that's required for mastery ✨ Getting honest about how suffering and self-sabotage are serving you (or not) About Jay Papasan: Jay Papasan [Pap-uh-zan] is a bestselling author who has served in multiple executive leadership positions during his 24-year career at Keller Williams Realty International, the world's largest real estate company. During his time with KW, Jay has led the company's education, publishing, research, and strategic content departments. Jay is also CEO of The ONE Thing training company Produktive, host of The ONE Thing podcast, and co-owner, alongside his wife Wendy, of Papasan Properties Group with Keller Williams Realty in Austin, Texas. He is also the co-host of the Think Like a CEO podcast with Keller Williams co-founder, Gary Keller. In 2003, Jay co-authored The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, a million-copy bestseller, alongside Gary Keller and Dave Jenks. His other bestselling real estate titles include The Millionaire Real Estate Investor and SHIFT. In September 2025, Jay will celebrate the launch of his first solo title, Rookie Real Estate Agent. Jay's most recent work with Gary Keller on The ONE Thing has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide and garnered more than 500 appearances on national bestseller lists, including #1 on The Wall Street Journal's hardcover business list, and has been translated into 40+ different languages. Every Friday, Jay shares concise, actionable insights for growing your business, optimizing your time, and expanding your mindset in his newsletter, The TwentyPercenter. Connect with Jay: Website: https://jaypapasan.com Facebook and Instagram: @jaypapasan The ONE Thing book: https://the1thing.com *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"At the end of the day, our brains are wired to crave peace and order, and our outer environments can mirror our inner environment, or vice versa." In this episode, Heather sits down with Katy Wells to explore overconsumption and overcommitment, as well as the many forms of clutter that quietly erode our patience, focus, and presence. Many women find themselves struggling to concentrate or feeling constantly overwhelmed, which leads them to wonder, "What's wrong with me?" This conversation reveals that it's decision fatigue and unexamined accumulation pulling attention in too many directions at once, not a personal failing. Together, Heather and Katy unpack the deeper layers of clutter rooted in identity, loss aversion, and the guilt that keeps us holding on long past usefulness. What to listen for: ✨ The three different types of clutter that lead to continued overwhelm ✨ One question to break free from identity clutter and the guilt that comes with it ✨ Why the endowment effect keeps us from releasing what no longer aligns "Loss aversion is a real thing. I don't want to feel like I failed at getting healthier or that I'm using my money the wrong way. It's helpful to reframe that loss and say, 'You know what, I did what I could', or 'Here's five other ways I'm working on my health that are simpler and better for me that don't involve a Peloton', so I feel confident in letting go." ✨ Navigating the emotional discomfort that comes with releasing things ✨ The science behind the sudden urge to declutter when we've decided to change ✨ Why women struggle to change their behavior and opt out of consumerism ✨ How to create micro counterculture moments that support the life you want to live "Cultural pressure, societal pressure, or 'this is just the way it is', can make us feel like, 'Well, I guess this is just what we're gonna do', because they play to the part of our brains that wants the best for our kids. It's so nuanced, and the guilt is real as a parent." ✨ How to make decisions as a family unit around commitment clutter ✨ Ways you can give gifts without adding more clutter to other people's lives ✨ How to talk to your kids about shifting from material gifts to experiences About Katy Wells: Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place, helps families break the cycle of clutter that keeps coming back—no matter how many times they've tried to get it under control. As the creator of Holistic Decluttering and host of The Maximized Minimalist podcast (5 million listens), Katy's been featured on NBC, Martha Stewart, and Real Simple for her approach that gets to the root of why we hold onto things we don't need. She teaches families how to let go of what's weighing them down so they can create an easy-to-manage home and finally stop feeling overwhelmed every time they walk through the door. Connect with Katy: Read Making Home Your Happy Place—A step-by-step guide to breaking the clutter cycle for good: (link available soon) Listen to The Maximized Minimalist—Real talk and practical strategies for simplifying your home, mind, and life: https://plinkhq.com/i/1460805372 Get once-a-week encouragement with behind-the-scenes strategies, actionable tips, and honest insights you won't find anywhere else: https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"Success is your child getting what they want out of life, including who they want to be and how they want to be." College is rarely the right next step for our kids, yet parents are so bought into this outdated view of education and success. In this episode, Heather sits down with Degree Free founder, Hannah Maruyama, to unpack the best ways to support our teens in building skills that help them uncover their passion at the right time, rather than shoving them back onto the "education" conveyor belt that saddles them with freedom-stealing debt. This isn't about being anti-education; it's about being pro-reality, and Hannah brings the data, the strategy, and the cultural nuance to help parents support their kids with clarity, not fear. What to listen for: ✨ Stepping into a leadership role as a parent, rather than controlling ✨ Understanding that college isn't actually the "traditional" path we think it is ✨ The moment Hannah realized that college wasn't teaching her anything "Being strategic about what I needed from work, finding what I needed to learn, and then learning it in the most effective way possible for me at the time, within the budget that I had, I was able to get to my goal very quickly." ✨ How COVID opened parents' eyes to where the education system fails kids ✨ Why academic book smarts aren't always relevant in the real, working world ✨ Navigating the "failure to launch" and why pushing them into college isn't the fix "That space in between high school and college, where we feel like we have to funnel kids into something right then, is imaginary. It doesn't exist. The reason kids stall out at that time is that we've told them that the cutoff is coming so soon when it's not." ✨ The fallacy of pushing kids into choosing their future profession at 18 ✨ If GPA doesn't matter after high school, why are we killing our kids over it? ✨ Questions you need to ask as a parent to help guide your child's future "You have these kids that are handcuffed, and they're 22 years old. They have no freedom. Their whole life trajectory has been laid out because they made this crucial, incorrect decision at 17 or 18 years old, all because no one asked them, 'What do you want your life to look like?'" ✨ Navigating your child's future while questioning your own in midlife ✨ Two questions you should never ask your kids if you want to support them ✨ The mindset shift that will help your kids stack skills and find their passion About Hannah Maruyama: Hannah Maruyama is the founder of Degree Free, which helps parents and their young adults create custom career roadmaps so they can launch their lives. From tech to trades, any job under the sun. With her husband Ryan, she runs @degreefree on TikTok, which has over 500,000 followers and 150,000,000+ views, and the Degree Free Podcast (a top US Careers Podcast). She also co-wrote The Degree Free Way: How to Help Your 16-20 Year Old Build the Life They Want, which has sold more than 16,000 copies nationwide. Connect with Hannah: Website: https://degreefree.com/ The Degree Free: https://degreefree.com/book YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DegreeFree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@degreefree Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/degreefree/ *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"Money is one of those things that people just consider as an afterthought. The older you get and the more responsibilities you have, you start to realize money is a tool, and it's required for health and happiness." In this episode, Heather sits down with Douglas and Heather Boneparth to dig into the often uncomfortable but wholly necessary work of talking about finances with your partner. Together, they unpack what really happens beneath the surface when couples avoid money conversations, and how bringing these truths forward can transform the intimacy, teamwork, and emotional safety in your relationship. Explore the stories we inherit around money, why it feels so vulnerable to speak up, and the simple shifts that help you feel like you're on the same team again. What to listen for: ✨ Money is not an afterthought; it's a tool for cultivating health and happiness ✨ How Douglas and Heather first understood that they needed to talk about money ✨ Overcoming the fear of speaking up with your partner about finances "You're communicating even when you're not communicating. Your body language, your actions, and the way that you're passive-aggressive about it. You're just failing to say the thing that needs to be said." ✨ Opening the door to teamwork and shared responsibility in your relationship ✨ Letting go of the "Prince Charming is going to save me" and taking ownership ✨ The importance of acknowledging the impact partners have on one another "The collective ambition needs to come to life here because you share a life together. You still get to be your own person, but you're playing a team game. Championships are won through team efforts, and this is what collaboration is all about. Your marriage is essentially a collaboration of life, and money is this game that you don't get to opt out of." ✨ Why freedom is emotionally uncomfortable and how to navigate that ✨ The question Douglas and Heather ask every couple to bring them together ✨ The power of energetic time management and chasing the feeling you're after "It's not the thing you want, it's the feeling. You say you want more money, more accolades, another book, this, this, this. Amazing. Take it. But what's the feeling you're after?" ✨ The importance of valuing the journey as much as you value the end goal ✨ Benchmarking your money goals and navigating the resistance that comes up ✨ Understanding that intimacy is directly connected to your financial health About Douglas and Heather Boneparth: Heather and Douglas Boneparth are the co-authors of Money Together: How to find fairness in your relationship and become an unstoppable financial team. By day, Douglas Boneparth is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and the founder of Bone Fide Wealth in New York City. Heather spent more than a decade as a corporate lawyer before joining the firm as the director of business and legal affairs. They also co-write a weekly newsletter, The Joint Account, which helps couples talk about money. Connect with Douglas and Heather: Money Together, available in all formats and at http://www.domoneytogether.com The Joint Account, available on Substack at https://www.readthejointaccount.com Bone Fide Wealth, visit https://bonefidewealth.com Everywhere on social: @averagejoelle + @dougboneparth ******* For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): heatherchauvin.com/membership

"When resistance is coming up, it's just trying to show you something, and it's an area in your life that can be healed, that can stretch you, that can put you in a position and in an opportunity for you to step into what's next for you." In this episode, Heather sits down with Tracy Matthews to dig into how we master resistance, find the courage to move toward our big visions, and cultivate a more profound sense of trust in ourselves and the universe. Whether it's navigating health issues, parenting children, or building a business, we all bump into those uncomfortable subconscious blocks and stories that keep us stuck. In this conversation, Heather and Tracy share their own experiences overcoming fear, resistance, and failures, along with powerful insights into what it takes to conquer them. What to listen for: ✨ Choosing yourself and "leaning in" to master resistance ✨ Why resistance is a moment to pause and question what it's doing for you ✨ How to dissolve resistance when it inevitably comes up "In the practice of just putting it out there and butting up against that resistance, you actually dissolve and dissipate the feeling because resistance is your body, mind, and subconscious trying to keep you from stepping into what's next for you or to a bigger capacity." ✨ Putting yourself out there and facing the fear of rejection ✨ How to be your own cheerleader and move through resistance ✨ The identity shifts that come up when we lean in new directions "If you resist it, that's literally the next door you should probably open. And if you want to buy back so much of your time and energy, open the doors that you're absolutely terrified to open, because that's going to buy back so much of your energy." ✨ Navigating the hidden shame that comes with setting big goals ✨ The power of pivoting and "failing" when it's aligned ✨ Trusting that the universe will show you the way forward "Sometimes you just have to sit in that discomfort, in that resistance, in that space of not knowing, knowing that if you trust yourself enough, the answer is going to drop in." ✨ Understanding your intuitive 'yes' and 'no' when making decisions ✨ Using resentment to uncover your boundaries ✨ Why business is the biggest crash course in personal development About Tracy Matthews Tracy Matthews is a Creativity, Branding, and Reinvention Expert, a Best-Selling Author, and the Host of the Top-Rated Creatives Rule the World Podcast. As a serial entrepreneur, she's reinvented herself several times and built multiple 7+ figure businesses. She believes creativity is the biggest gift for navigating challenges, living a more fulfilled life, and having fun while creating wealth. Notable media placements include The Today Show, Entrepreneur, InStyle Magazine, and Elle. Through her podcast, blog, social media platforms, coaching, and programs, she inspires over 200,000 people weekly to launch, grow, and scale successful creative brands. You can find more information at TracyMatthews.com. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her partner Jason, his two daughters, and her doodle, Roxy. Connect with Tracy: Website: https://creativesruletheworld.com Podcast: https://pod.link/1050430716 Book: https://desiredbrandeffect.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtracymatthews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamtracymatthews ******* For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book your audit here: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit

"You can't talk about living your best life without talking about money and you can't talk about money without facing what you're afraid to feel." In this episode, Heather sits down with Tess Waresmith for a powerful and emotionally honest conversation about death, money, and the stories we carry around both. From end-of-life planning to modern parenting and breaking financial cycles, they dig into what it really means to be resourced. Not just financially, but emotionally too. Whether you're navigating aging parents, raising kids, or running a business, this conversation will challenge you to take radical responsibility for your future and give you a compassionate push to finally look at what you've been avoiding. ✨Why emotional capacity and financial literacy go hand in hand and how to build both ✨The psychology of money: avoidance, anxiety, identity, and invisible labor ✨How to teach kids financial independence without over-rescuing or enabling This one's for the woman carrying it all - past, present, and future, finally ready to take her power back. About Tess Tess is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and the founder of Wealth with Tess, a financial education platform and community, to help people gain agency over their money so they can retire comfortably and have the options they deserve. A sought-after financial expert and on-air contributor, featured on Forbes, CNBC and Business Insider, her free money and investing workshops have drawn thousands of attendees, and hundreds have transformed their financial futures through her straightforward and supportive learning programs. Her approachable, no-jargon money tips inspire a 100,000+ community on Instagram at @wealthwithtess. Whether you're short on time or totally new to personal finance, Tess proves that you don't need Wall Street-level expertise to build wealth, you just need to decide it matters and take action. Connect with Tess www.wealthwithtess.com https://www.instagram.com/wealthwithtess/?hl=en https://www.wealthwithtess.com/founders www.wealthwithtess.com/fi ******* For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book your audit here: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit