The High Functioning Hot Mess Podcast

What if the reason so many of us feel overwhelmed, distracted, and dysregulated isn't because we're doing life wrong—but because we're trying to navigate a world our nervous systems were never designed for?In this episode, Elizabeth explores what modern women can learn from the rhythm, simplicity, and attention of pioneer life without romanticizing the past. From endless notifications and Pinterest boards to sourdough, gardening, and unplugged days, this conversation dives into why so many of us feel overwhelmed and how we can create more intention in our everyday lives.Why modern life can feel so dysregulatingThe difference between being busy and being purposefulHow technology can support us—or consume our attentionThe hidden cost of constant comparisonCreating more rhythm and intention in daily lifeWhat Elizabeth is learning from gardening, sourdough, and taking real days offToday's episode is sponsored by Small Town Beauty by Asia, a handmade beauty brand rooted in faith, confidence, self-expression, and genuine connection. From lip glosses and lip treatments to blushes and other beauty favorites, their products are thoughtfully created to help you feel beautiful in a way that feels authentically you.✨ Use code HOTMESS15 for 15% off your order.Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsNow on TikTok! The High Functioning Hot MessIn This Episode:Today's Sponsor

We’re finally getting into the books! In this episode, I’m diving into the very first installment of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved series — Little House in the Big Woods — and I have a lot of feelings about it.As someone who lives about an hour from Pepin, Wisconsin (where Laura was born!), this book hits a little differently for me. I share about driving past the site of the original log cabin last fall on the way to my friend Kaysee’s wedding, visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Pepin, and why being this close to this history feels so special.Links & Resources• Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum — Pepin, WI• Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls WilderEnjoyed This Episode?If this episode brought out your inner pioneer girl, it would mean the world if you shared it with a friend who loves Laura Ingalls Wilder as much as we do. And if you’re not already following The High Functioning Hot Mess, go hit that subscribe button — we’ve got more Little House content coming your way before the Netflix reboot drops in July.Leave a rating or review wherever you listen — it genuinely helps more people find the show. And come find me on Instagram @thehighfunctioninghotmess to keep the conversation going. I want to know: did you grow up with these books? Do you have a favorite chapter from Little House in the Big Woods? Tell me everything.Next up in the series: Little House on the Prairie — the Ingalls family heads west, and things get a lot more complicated. See you there. 🌾Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsNow on TikTok! The High Functioning Hot Mess

Before this became a summer series… before it became something I wanted to share… Little House on the Prairie was something that quietly found me in a season where I really needed it.In this episode, I’m sharing the story of how I reconnected with the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as an adult—and how what started as a nostalgic, late-night read turned into something much deeper.What it looked like to slowly get pulled back into the series—one book at a timeWhy Laura’s growth throughout the series resonated so deeply with meHow themes like growing up, letting go, and starting over still feel relevant todayWhat this series helped me process during a season of anxiety and transitionAs I kept reading, I realized something I wasn’t expecting:Even though these stories take place nearly two centuries ago… the emotions are the same.Growing up. Letting go. Figuring out who you are. Leaving what’s familiar. Building something new.And in a time where everything in life can feel overwhelming, fast, and overly complicated… there was something incredibly grounding about coming back to something simple.Later that year, I had the chance to visit Pepin, Wisconsin—Laura’s birthplace—and stop by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.It was one of those moments that feels small on paper… but meaningful in a way that’s hard to explain.This wasn’t just about reading a series of books.It was about remembering that:Life doesn’t have to be so complicatedWe don’t always need to be “working on ourselves”There’s something deeply supportive about simplicity, rhythm, and familiarityNext week, we’re diving into the original Little House on the Prairie TV series—what made it so beloved, and my thoughts as we head into the upcoming reboot 👀If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram so I can see you’re listening!And if you’re loving this series, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss what’s coming next.Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsNow on TikTok! The High Functioning Hot Mess✨ In This Episode:🌿 Why This Story Matters🧵 A Full-Circle Moment🌞 What I Took Away🎧 Coming Next💌 Let’s Stay Connected

Modern dating can feel like a full-body stress response… and if you’ve ever confused anxiety for attraction or felt exhausted by dating apps, this episode is for you.Elizabeth is joined by Sarah Harkness, founder of Austin Elite Matchmaking and creator of The Frequency of Love method. Together, they dive into what’s actually happening in the dating world right now—and why so many high-functioning women feel overwhelmed, burnt out, or stuck in the same relationship patterns.Sarah shares how her personal experiences with heartbreak, unhealthy relationships, and healing led her to blend psychology, nervous system regulation, and matchmaking into a completely different approach to love.This episode is a powerful reminder that the relationship you’re calling in is deeply connected to how safe you feel within yourself.Why modern dating feels so overstimulating, fast-paced, and disconnectedThe difference between chemistry vs. nervous system activationHow attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, disorganized) show up in datingWhy “butterflies” might actually be a stress response—not attractionWhat healthy attraction really feels like (and why it can feel… boring at first)How dating apps can amplify nervous system dysregulationThe concept of The Frequency of Love and how your internal state shapes who you attractWhy self-awareness and regulation matter more than strategyHow to date more intentionally (without burning out)The role of community, connection, and real-life interactions in finding a partnerWebsite: https://www.austinelitematchmaking.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austin.elite.matchmakingTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@austin.elite.matchmakingIf this conversation resonated with you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram—I love hearing what lands for you 🤍Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsNow on TikTok! The High Functioning Hot Mess💫 What We Talk About🔗 Connect with Sarah🎧 Loved this episode?

In today’s episode of The High Functioning Hot Mess, I’m joined by our very first returning guest, Jesie Steffes — and this conversation is every bit as nourishing, thoughtful, and grounding as you’d expect.Jesie first joined me back in episode 3, and after hearing how deeply that conversation resonated with so many of you, I knew we had to bring her back. This time, we’re diving even deeper into what it means to be a highly sensitive person in a world that often rewards rigidity, hustle, and pushing through.We talk about why traditional wellness advice can backfire for highly sensitive people, the difference between routine and ritual, and how language alone can shift the way our nervous systems respond to habits, healing, and self-care. We also explore Jesie’s beautiful work through Seasonal Self and the power of living in rhythm with both the outer seasons and our own inner ones.This episode is a gentle invitation to stop trying to become less sensitive and start building a life that actually supports the way you were made.In this episode, we talk about:Why so many HSPs grow up trying to “toughen up”How diet culture and rigid wellness routines can dysregulate sensitive nervous systemsThe difference between routine, ritual, rhythm, and disciplineWhy language matters so much in healing workHow to create supportive conditions instead of obsessing over outcomesThe role of intuition in nutrition, movement, and self-trustLiving seasonally and why it can be so grounding for highly sensitive peopleThe beauty of honoring inner seasons like grief, growth, rest, and emergenceSmall ways to begin practicing seasonal living right nowA few reminders from this conversation: You do not need to force yourself into systems that were never designed for your nervous system. You are not failing because rigid routines don’t work for you. There may be a softer, more sustainable, more aligned way — and it might actually work better.Connect with Jesie:Jesie Steffes is a therapist, writer, and the creator of Seasonal Self, a beautiful monthly virtual gathering designed to help people live more rhythmically and seasonally. You can connect with her on Instagram at @jesie.steffes.healing and find her weekly essays on Substack through Sated Soul.https://www.jesiesteffes.com/Jesie also shared upcoming Seasonal Self gatherings during this episode, including:April 12 — Values as lived orientations, with animal wisdom from the wolf.May 17 — Intuition, with animal wisdom TBDIf this episode resonated with you:Send it to a friend, share it to your stories, or tag us with your biggest takeaway. And if you’ve been curious about living more seasonally, this is your sign to start paying attention to the rhythms happening both around you and within you.Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsNow on TikTok! The High Functioning Hot Mess

In this solo episode, Elizabeth shares a candid Q1 life and business check-in, reflecting on the seasonal energy shift that spring brings and what’s currently unfolding in her world.She opens up about navigating grief after the loss of multiple family members, the surge of creative ideas that has followed, and what it’s like having a multipassionate entrepreneurial brain. Elizabeth also shares updates on her functional nutrition practice, her evolving approach to social media (including her newfound love for TikTok), and the inspiration behind new ideas like Feel Good Fit Club and an upcoming course designed for highly sensitive women.This episode is a behind-the-scenes conversation about creativity, healing, seasonal living, and learning to build a life where multiple passions can coexist.Work with Elizabeth: Click hereConnect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsNow on TikTok! The High Functioning Hot Mess

It’s my birthday week, so we’re doing something different.For the first time ever, I have a guest with a Y chromosome on the podcast — my husband, Tye. This episode is giving 2016 YouTube boyfriend tag energy… except we’re married, talking about grief, nervous systems, faith, law enforcement, Kwik Trip, and whether egg rolls at the Wabasha Kwik Trip taste superior (they do).We talk about:Our blind date origin storyHigh Functioning Hot Mess marriage edition:Who spirals fasterWho’s more dramaticWho apologizes firstWho cries at dog videosWhat being married to a police officer has taught me about stress and nervous systemsHow grief shaped our first year of marriageThe reality of faith evolving (and praying out loud feeling awkward)Big “what’s next?” season-of-life conversationsAnd obviously… an entire segment dedicated to Kwik TripThis one is light, but it’s also layered.Send it to a friend (or your husband).Leave a rating or review — it helps the podcast reach other high-functioning hot messes.Come hang out with me beyond Instagram through the podcast + newsletter.And as always…See you next time. ✨Work with Elizabeth: Click hereConnect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsNow on TikTok! The High Functioning Hot Mess🤍 If You Loved This Episode

If you’ve ever looked “so put together” on the outside… while privately running on fumes, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.Elizabeth sits down with Holly Lambrecht, founder of Stillroot & Co, where she partners with small business owners to move out of burnout and into clarity, systems, and sustainable growth. Holly shares her story of running a boutique straight into burnout, the identity shift that came with closing it, and how she rebuilt her work around calm, aligned support—helping business owners create back-end structure that actually supports their life (and nervous system).The invisible emotional toll of entrepreneurship: the 3am thoughts, financial stress, and “hamster wheel” energyWhy systems aren’t just productivity tools—they’re a pathway to rest, boundaries, and being able to walk away“If it lives in your head, how do you ever step away from it?” 🔥Holly’s approach to creating business calm without uprooting your nervous systemWhat being “ready for support” actually means (trust, letting go, and releasing micromanagement)Why community changes everything for women in business (Sister Circle + being held through hard seasons)Redefining success as peace, energy, and rhythm—not growth at all costsNervous system regulation practices for business owners + moms (breathwork, embodiment, craniosacral therapy, sound baths, hypnotherapy, and more)Permission slip of the episode: “You do not have to earn your rest.”A Good Ass Hair Day dry shampoo (Holly loves it as a hairstylist—and it’s non-aerosol).Instagram: @still.rootcoWebsite: stillrootco.comSister Circle (Wisconsin-based women’s business education + community)Sister Circle Summit (April, two-day conference)6th Annual Sister Circle Summit 2026 VIP Access discount code STILLROOT to saveShare it with a business bestie who’s been carrying everything in her head. And take Holly’s permission slip with you this week: you don’t have to earn your rest.Work with Elizabeth: Click hereConnect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsWhat We Talk AboutFavorite Beauty / Wellness ProductConnect with HollyMentioned in the EpisodeIf You Loved This Episode…

Wedding season can be beautiful… and also wildly dysregulating. In this episode of High Functioning Hot Mess, Elizabeth sits down with Cassie Thomas, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) based in Colorado, to talk about the cultural pressure cooker of being a bride — from planning overwhelm and perfectionism to body image spirals, stress physiology, and the post-wedding crash no one warns you about.This conversation is equal parts validating and practical: how to tell the difference between “I want to feel good” and “I’m trying to earn worthiness,” how to set boundaries with well-meaning (but loud) opinions, and how to protect your nervous system so you can actually be present for the days that matter — not just the photos.Why wedding planning can feel like an emotional + physical marathon (even in your 30s with “a fully developed frontal lobe”)The overwhelm of Pinterest + social media inspiration…and how it pulls you away from what you actually wantThe pressure to look “perfect” and how bridal body image can flare up even if it’s not usually your struggleDress shopping + alterations culture (including harmful “goal weight” messaging) and what brides deserve insteadHow stress impacts mood, metabolism, and the body’s ability to feel safe (and why fat loss is not a “wedding sprint”)A simple, powerful “turn down the noise” ritual (hello, sauna + airplane mode) for daily regulationThe post-wedding crash and why it’s normal to grieve the shift after the big dayA reminder every bride needs: you’re already enough — and your partner already believes thatCassie Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor serving clients in Colorado and Wyoming. She is EMDR-certified and supports clients navigating complex PTSD and chronic health conditions.Instagram: @flourishnocoFacebook: Flourish Counseling and WellnessWebsite: https://www.flourishnoco.org/ EMDR therapy (Cassie is certified)Kinders seasoning (steak/burger seasoning)Face Reality hydrating skincare line (Colorado winter dryness approved)Share it with a bride-to-be, a newlywed, or your friend who is deep in the Pinterest spiral 😅 And if you’re listening and thinking, “Wait… I’m not okay,” please know you’re not alone. You’re human — and you deserve support.Work with Elizabeth: Click hereConnect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsThis episode is for education and support, and is not medical or mental health treatment. If you need individualized care, reach out to a licensed provider.In this episode, we talk about:About today’s guest: Cassie Thomas, LPCConnect with Cassie:Mentioned in this episode:If you loved this episode…Friendly note / disclaimer

A Recovery Year, A Return to Self: Healing, Slowing Down, & Trusting What’s NextAs the year comes to a close, Elizabeth reflects on 2025 as a recovery year — one marked by nervous system healing, somatic therapy, slowing down, and learning to trust herself again.In this solo New Year’s Eve episode, she shares how stepping away from social media, reconnecting with her body, exploring intuition, and choosing softer systems over force led to unexpected alignment in both life and work. From starting Vitality Vignette, finding an office space that feels deeply supportive, to finally launching The High Functioning Hot Mess Podcast, this year was gritty and gentle — and deeply transformative.Elizabeth also looks ahead to 2026 with grounded optimism, sharing how she’s learning the difference between forcing and healthy expansion, and how she plans to honor her sensitivity while still pushing herself toward growth in her Feel Good Fit Era.This episode is an invitation to reflect, slow down, and enter the new year with trust instead of pressure.Why 2025 became a recovery year for mental health and the nervous systemHow somatic therapy helped rebuild a sense of safetyStepping away from social media and reclaiming creativityReclaiming intuition through workshops with Jesie SteffesLetting go of forcing and embracing aligned momentumWhat it looks like to honor sensitivity and growth going into 2026What has my body been asking me for more of this year?What worked for me this year — even in small or imperfect ways? (Think: habits that stuck, foods that felt grounding, routines that felt supportive.)When do I feel most nourished — physically and emotionally? What meals, rhythms, or environments support that?How does stress show up in my body?What helps my nervous system feel safest and most settled? What am I already doing that I want to protect?If this year were about support instead of pressure, what would change?If we zoom out 6 months from now, what would tell you that these things (actions, habits, routines) are working?✍️ Join the Vitality Vignette newsletter: (weekly reflections on slowing down, intentional living & nourishment) → Join here🎙️ Episode 3 with Jesie Steffes: → Listen here🌿 Seasonal Self & Workshops with Jesie: → Learn more here (Upcoming Body Image Workshops)The Seasonal Self✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, or sharing the podcast — it’s one of the best ways to help this space grow gently and intentionally.Here’s to a new year filled with softness, self-trust, and what’s meant for you. 💛Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsThis podcast is not medical advice.In This Episode, We Talk About:Journal Prompts Shared in This Episode:Links & Resources:

Healing Beyond Supplements with Carolyn KrueskampIn this episode of High Functioning Hot Mess, Elizabeth sits down with women’s health dietitian and personal trainer Carolyn Krueskamp for an honest, grounding conversation about healing that goes far deeper than food, supplements, or protocols.Carolyn shares her personal journey through chronic stress, mold exposure, migraines, relationship upheaval, and burnout — and how true healing didn’t begin until her nervous system finally felt safe. Together, Elizabeth and Carolyn unpack why you can’t supplement your way out of fight-or-flight, how emotional healing and physiology are deeply intertwined, and what it really looks like to start over gently.This episode is for the high-achieving woman who’s “doing everything right” — yet still feels stuck.In this episode, we talk about:Why nervous system regulation must come before supplements and protocolsThe hidden cost of chronic stress on hormones, metabolism, and cyclesRebuilding a life, business, and body after everything falls apartLetting go of people-pleasing and learning to trust yourself againWhy healing happens in relationship — not isolationCarolyn KrueskampInstagram: @nutritionbycarolynkConnect with Carolyn via Instagram DM (mention the podcast!)FreshMade Professional SkincareClean, locally made skincare formulated by a Wisconsin-based estheticianPrimal KitchenAvocado Mayo (used as the base for Carolyn’s Big Mac bowl sauce)Carolyn is offering a limited one-time HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) review for podcast listeners.Includes a custom video breakdown + personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement recommendationsNormally not offered as a standalone service$297 | Available to the first 5 listeners who DM Carolyn and mention this episode🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned🧪 Special Podcast Listener Offer

In today’s solo episode, Elizabeth invites you into the sweetest, coziest recap of her Year of ✨Hobbies✨ — the experiment that helped her heal, reconnect with joy, and stop living in constant self-improvement mode. What started as a chaotic post-wedding spiral turned into one of the most transformative years of her life… thanks to bread, dirt, yarn, music, glitter, books, and play.If you’ve been craving more fun, softness, or creativity in your life, this one will inspire you to try something new — even if you’re not “good at it” yet.🌾 Why she created the Unglamorous Glow Up after her wedding and what she realized was missing 🍞 How a cozy night making sourdough with her friend Emma sparked the entire Year of Hobbies 🪴 The garden that took over her backyard and the life lessons it gave her 🧵 Her adventures with needle-inclusive hobbies (crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery) — including what stuck and what didn’t 🪡 The sewing project that surprised her and why she’s setting up a craft room for 2026 🎹 How bringing a free piano into her home unlocked a deeply emotional, nostalgic part of her 💎 Her unexpected obsession with diamond art (and why it’s the perfect low-stress winter hobby) 📚 Her reading renaissance — from Little House on the Prairie to Minnesota-based rom-coms 🧘‍♀️ How movement became a “fun hobby” for the first time ever and why it’s healed so much ✨ Why 2026 is becoming My Feel-Good Fit Era — a soft, playful, inner-child-honoring approach to movementSourdough: 10/10 must-try, 6/10 doabilityGardening: 7/10 doabilityCrochet / Cross-Stitch / Embroidery: 5/10 doabilitySewing: 6/10 doabilityMusic: 8/10 doabilityDiamond Art: 10/10 doabilityReading: 10/10 doabilityMovement: 8/10 doability (walking = 10/10, weather permitting!)✔️ You want a hobby but don’t know where to start ✔️ You crave more fun, play, or softness in your routine ✔️ You’ve felt stuck in self-improvement fatigue ✔️ You’re healing your inner child ✔️ You want movement to feel good — not punishing ✔️ You want inspiration for winter hobbiesNo pressure. No rigid routines. No “new year, new me.” Just trying things, letting yourself be a beginner, and seeing what feels good — for your brain, body, and Little You.Sourdough Sandwich Loaf RecipeWooblesJessica Brooke PhotographyStrong Soul | Sculpt Cycle FlowYou can still enter the High Functioning Hot Mess launch giveaway! ✔️ Rate, subscribe, and review the podcast ✔️ Screenshot your review & send it to Elizabeth on Instagram (@elizabethalicerd) ⭐️ Bonus entry: Screenshot the episode you’re listening to, share it to your stories, and tag @elizabethalicerdWinner announced Friday, December 12, 2025!Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsThis podcast is not medical advice.In this episode, Elizabeth shares:Hobbies She Tried This Year & Their “Doability Scale”This Episode Is For You If…Join My Feel-Good Fit EraLinks MentionedGiveaway Details