This Juicy Life

What if balance isn’t something you achieve… but something you’re constantly being told you’re failing at?In this episode of This Juicy Life, we unpack the complicated relationship many of us have with the idea of “balance.” Why does it feel like we’re constantly failing at it? Who decided we should be able to do everything perfectly at once? And what if balance isn’t about keeping doing everything equally, but about consciously choosing what matters most in each season of life?In This Episode, We Talk About:Why the idea of “balance” can become another impossible standardThe difference between societal expectations and your actual valuesHustle culture, burnout, and the pressure to “have it all”Why ADHD and creative brains struggle to take things off the plateWork/rest cycles, hyperfocus, and honoring your natural rhythmsSeasonal living vs. constant optimizationThe hidden growth inside life’s chaos and changing prioritiesThe power of spaciousness, pleasure, and flexibility“Subtraction neglect bias” and why we keep adding instead of simplifyingLetting ideas rest instead of forcing everything at onceCreating a life that feels aligned, nourishing, and genuinely juicyThis conversation is an invitation to stop measuring yourself against impossible standards and start asking:What actually deserves my life force right now?Resources & Mentions:Derek Thompson’s podcast Plain English, episode with David Epstein: Why Too Much Freedom Is the Enemy of SuccessWork With UsIf you’re craving more clarity, flow, spaciousness, and support while building a life and business that actually feels good, we’d love to help.We work with creatives, entrepreneurs, actors, and neurodivergent big-hearted humans who are ready to second-guessing themselves and start creating from a place of alignment, pleasure, and self-trust.✨ Connect with us:Take me to Aliyah’s WebsiteTake me to Lauren’s WebsiteLoved This Episode?Share it with a friend, rate this episode, tag us on Instagram @juicylifeco, or send us a DM with your biggest takeaway. And if there’s a topic you’d love for us to explore on a future episode, let us know.

How do you become confident before you're ready?In this episode we're unpacking the myth of confidence and talking about what actually creates it.If you’ve been waiting to feel more skilled, more certain, or more polished before putting yourself out there, this conversation will hit. We’re talking about the pressure to feel confident before you begin, the perfectionism that keeps people stuck, and why so many of us have been taught to think about confidence all wrong.If you’ve ever thought, I should be more confident by now, this one’s for you.In this episode, we cover:why confidence feels so elusive for so many peoplethe hidden ways perfectionism blocks growththe relationship between confidence, self-trust, and actionfear of failure, fear of rejection, and worthiness woundswhat it takes to move before you feel fully readyhow to relate to discomfort in a whole new wayIf this episode resonated, we’d love to hear from you.Tell us what landed. What’s your relationship with confidence these days?Learn more about working with Lauren.Learn more about working with Aliyah.And if someone came to mind while listening, share this episode with them.

If you’re a creative person with a million ideas, but with a growing pile of unfinished ones, this episode is for you.So many creative women slowly lose trust in their ability to follow through on their ideas, not because they lack talent or discipline, but because something deeper is happening beneath the surface.In this episode we're unpacking the hidden reasons creative people struggle to follow through on their ideas — from ADHD and creative brain wiring, to cultural conditioning, self-doubt, and the subtle ways we learn to outsource our authority.If you’ve ever found yourself sitting on brilliant ideas, questioning whether you’re capable of bringing them to life, or feeling like your creativity keeps getting stuck somewhere between inspiration and execution, this conversation will help you understand why, and what might help you move forward.In This Episode We Explore:Why creative people often have a “graveyard” (or purgatory) of unfinished ideasHow repeatedly abandoning ideas slowly erodes self-trustThe three common friction points for creative and ADHD brains: starting, sticking with it, and following throughWhy productivity hacks often don’t solve the real problemThe deeper layers of conditioning that impact creative women, including the “starving artist” narrative and societal messaging around success, visibility, and likabilityHow outsourcing authority to experts, systems, and formulas can disconnect us from our intuitionWhy building the capacity to be uncomfortable is one of the most powerful creative skills you can developHow experimenting with tools and strategies that work for your brain can help rebuild creative momentumMentioned in This Episode:➡️ Untangling the Creative FrenzyA self-paced workshop for creative brains who care deeply about their ideas but keep getting stuck somewhere between starting, sticking with it, and following through.Co-created by Lauren McConnell and illustrator/writer Helen Nesberg, this workshop helps you identify where your creative process tends to break down and gives you practical tools to move your ideas forward in a way that works for your brain.Learn more at the link above. ✨ use code SPRINGFORWARD26 before the end of April for $20 off.➡️ Liberated Actress PlaygroundA creative playground for actresses who crave truth, connection, and confidence in their craft and in themselves.➡️ Learn more about working with Lauren & AliyahEnjoyed this episode?Share it with a creative friend who has a “purgatory pile” of ideas waiting to come to life.

What if you are the dating strategy!? In this 100th episode, Aliyah and Lauren flip the script: you’re the one you’ve been looking for, and the more you choose yourself, the clearer (and lighter) dating and relationships become.If you’re tired of turning dating into a referendum on your worth… if you’re done performing, people-pleasing, or chasing “the rules”… and you’re ready to feel more grounded, confident, and magnetic in love — this one’s for you.Listen if you want to explore:How to stop making dating self-worth math (“Why am I not chosen?” → “What’s aligned for me?”)How to break the cycle of self-judgment after dating disappointment (without shutting down)What aligned dating actually looks like when you’re not performing or chasing a personaHow to avoid people-pleasing in dating and get honest about what’s a yes and what’s a noWhy compatibility is about alignment, not proving your valuePermission to desire: how to admit what you actually want in relationships (even if it scares you)How to build confidence in dating by choosing yourself before someone else doesWhat it means to be authentic in relationships — and why integrity is magneticHow to fall more in love with your life (and why that energy changes everything about relating)Why relationships are mirrors (and how relationship patterns shift when you shift)Plus how to start a Special Sauce Journal to strengthen self-trustAliyah is hosting a free live online workshop:The Most Magnetic YouMarch 21 at 10 a.m. PSTA live (not-a-webinar) workshop on aligned dating & relating, somatic embodiment, reflection work, and falling in love with your life — so dating gets lighter and relationships become a reflection of who you truly are.Sign up here:https://www.aliyahobrien.com/

When the world feels heavy, joy can start to feel selfish, and creativity can feel pointless. We're here to tell you that that couldn't be further from the truth!In this episode, we're talking about the emotional “stuckness” so many sensitive, creative humans are experiencing right now: fear, anger, grief, guilt, and the invisible rule that if you’re not suffering, you’re not doing enough. This often shows up as feeling frozen, abandoning your goals, or quietly asking yourself, “What’s the point of any of this right now?”We explore why this isn’t about spiritual bypassing, how nervous system regulation is actually generous, and why living lit-up and creating what matters to you can be a quiet, powerful form of activism.Inside the Episode:Why joy can feel “selfish” right now + the surprising way that belief keeps you stuckThe guilt spiral that sounds like “If I’m not suffering, I’m not doing enough” (and how to get out of it)The difference between staying informed and being emotionally hijacked The nervous system truth: your regulation doesn’t just help you, it helps everyone around you (co-regulation is real)A reframe that might save you: you don’t need to “go global” to make change; your sphere of influence mattersThe “relaxed woman revolution” and why calm is actually a power move - not complacencyHow anger can be fuel for creation (instead of a place you get stuck)Micro-tools to shift out of paralysis: shaking, sounding, journaling, gratitude, sensory grounding, and creative momentumTools & Practices MentionedThese are gentle, nervous-system-friendly ways to support yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed or frozen.“Feeling dates”: set a timer, go be with your emotions (cry, rage, feel), then restShaking + movement to get energy moving (especially when frozen/stuck)Sounding / guttural vocal release (stimulates the vagus nerve; supports calming)Journaling to move thoughts into emotion and create flowGratitude shift (5 things you’re grateful for—simple, fast nervous system pivot)Happy-place sensory visualization (focus on sensations, not just imagery)Somatic naming: “tight chest,” “hot face,” “heavy stomach” to reconnect to the bodyCreativity as a portal: cooking, coloring, making anything, turning on the “rusty tap”Channeling anger into art/work rather than forcing yourself to “calm down”If this episode hit home, send us a message and tell us what's coming up for you lately, or what tool you’re going to try this week.And if you want more episodes with practical reframes and nervous-system-friendly strategies, let us know so we can make them for you!

What if the reason your life hasn’t changed yet isn’t a lack of motivation... but a lack of decision?In this solo episode, Lauren shares a simple but powerful framework for creating real change in 2026, without hustle, burnout, or trying to become a totally different person overnight 😱This conversation is about daily decisions, investing in the future you, and the courage to be seen trying.In this episode, Lauren talks about:Why waiting to feel ready keeps most people stuckThe difference between intuition and impulsivityHow the frontal lobe (aka the “monkey mind”) talks us out of change, and how to work with it instead of fighting itWhy small, repeated decisions matter more than big declarationsHow to invest in your future self without spending moneyWhy “being seen trying” is the missing ingredient for real momentumHow to build courage gently... especially if rejection hits your nervous system hardWhy change is usually subtle, gradual, and easier than we fearIf you’re in that in-between space, between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming... this episode is for you!Additional Resources Discussed:Listen to last year’s This Juicy Life year-end reflection episodeCreative Brain Untangling Sessions with Lauren (90-minute clarity + momentum sessions)Year-end Bonus for ongoing coaching support - DM Lauren if interested in learning more.Free CCC Vision Boarding event — January 14Upcoming Courage Workshop & Challenge — FebruaryIf something in this episode sparked something within, trust yourself to know if now is your time for support.For more information on any of the above, follow Lauren on IG, book a consult call, or check out her website.Happy Holidays to each and every one of you, let it be juicy.

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want… is the permission you’ve been waiting for?In this week’s solo episode of This Juicy Life, Aliyah drops into a real, grounded, and deeply liberating exploration of permission slips — the ones we wait for, the ones we outsource, and the ones we’re finally ready to give ourselves.This episode unpacks how so many of our desires get blocked not by reality, but by old inherited stories - the “rules” we picked up from family, culture, teachers, heartbreaks, and other people’s fears. In this episode, Aliyah explores:The subtle ways we outsource our knowing - and how to reclaim your inner authorityWhy desire is a compass (not a threat)How old stories create invisible fences around joy, creativity, love, rest, and self-expressionThe Byron Katie “Work” questions that soften fear and open possibilityHow to identify the belief underneath your stuck patternWhat happens in your body when you stop arguing with realityPractical tools for clarity - how to listen for what you actually wantThis episode is an invitation to return to yourself, to trust your inner voice, and to remember that the next chapter of your life doesn’t require perfection - just permission.Connect with AliyahWork with AliyahSee you next week!

After a teeny-tiny seven-month hiatus (because intuitive living doesn’t rush), Lauren and Aliyah are back, refreshed, inspired, and ready to talk about all things trusting your intuition, creative flow, ADHD insights, and living life off autopilot.In this catch-up episode, they dive into intuitive living, creative entrepreneurship, and joyful rebellion...how to tune back into your inner voice, get unstuck from hustle culture and societal programming, and make life feel juicy again.We’re talking about:Creative upgrades: new education and practices (from ADHD to somatic work to accidental THC overdoses) that help us support clients and ourselves better.Dating in the wild: real-life soulmate tour updates, plus Aliyah’s dating tip from @bennyinc that’s changing everything.Trusting intuition: how to cultivate a practice of listening to your inner guidance (even when it’s scary.)The rebellion: why we’re saying no to autopilot living, hustle culture, and the constant noise...and yes to building a life that actually feels good.Creative community: updates on the communities we’ve built for visual artists and actors, and how connection fuels our creativity.What's trending on the juicy scale: Including Seasonal rhythms: the beauty of rest, reflection, and letting ideas bloom when they’re ready.It’s a rambly, real, and (hopefully) refreshingly honest conversation about what it means to live intuitively, rebel creatively, and make life juicier in every season.We want to hear from you!-What’s feeling juicy for you right now?-What “least savory” traits are you learning to love or laugh at?-How are you making your life more creative and intentional?Tag us or DM us on Instagram, or drop a comment below. We might feature your insights in a future episode!Connect with LaurenConnect with Aliyah

Psst….Did you know you are the writer, director and lead actor of your greatest movie, aka YOUR LIFE? We’re here to help you win the Oscar baby!!In this episode Aliyah explores the power of somatics and changing your state of being, to transform your life. She shares personal stories, practical techniques, her own fun and weird approaches, and a whole lot of juicy inspiration to help you become the master of your own experience.We are talking about: Somatics: Unlocking your body's wisdom for lasting change. Changing Your State: How to shift your energy and rewrite your narrative. Tools & Techniques: Breathwork, movement, vocalization, and more! The "What If" Game: Opening your perspective to new possibilities. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Attract what you desire by feeling good.Resources:Juicy Life episodes on wholeness and holding yourself in hard times: The Life Changing Effect of Tending to your Nervous System - Minisode Curiosity as a pathway to Self Acceptance and Connection Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule Amy Cuddy's Ted Talk Abraham HicksConnect with Aliyah: Aliyah's Website ⁠aliyahobrien.com⁠ Instagram @aliyahobrien Substack ⁠https://substack.com/@aliyahobrienWe’d love to hear from you @juicylifeco on instagram Stay Juicy sweet friends! xo

Would you date you? This was the question and catalyst that started our beautiful guest today, Ila Casselman, on her own journey to living a juicy life. Ila is an Osteopathic Practitioner best known for her well-known clinical practice in Vancouver where she’s been treating people for their physical and emotions pain for the past 13 years. She holds a Masters Degree in Osteopathic Medicine - and if you don't know what that is, we get into that in this episode. Today she joins us today to talk about her forthcoming book called Love Your Villain. In this episode we're talking about: How to learn to love that part of us most people find unloveable or unlikeable. And how she learned to wake up loving her life, and how you can too. For more on Ila: Follow her on Instagram @thujawellness or visit her website at: www.thujawellness.com

Unsure how to help your people when they are going through it? We get it! This week Aliyah is sharing what’s on her heart: how to really be there for people in crisis without losing yourself along the way. Aliyah said people are often surprised when she shares this advice that we received from our friend and former podcast guest Heather Little, while she was courageously fighting to try to win her battle against cancer. You can listen to her full episode here ♥️ This episode dives into: Why specific offers of help (like bringing a meal) are so much better than saying, “Let me know how I can help.” How to send love and support without making someone feel they have to reply. The magic of holding space for someone’s healing and possibility—and why you don’t need to get stuck in their feelings with them. How to take care of your own energy so you can show up fully for others. This episode is short and sweet, but so important. It’s filled with practical tips and personal stories to help you show up with love and intention. Let’s be lighthouses for each other when things get hard. Thank you for being here—sending you love, always

Reflect, Reclaim, and Reignite: Join Lauren for a Juicy Reflection Process that will have you owning your Power as 2024 comes to a close. In this episode, Lauren guides you through a series of clear, thought-provoking questions to help you look back on your year with clarity and confidence. Whether you’ve been riding high on wins or navigating challenges, this conversation is designed to help you own your journey and step into your power as the year wraps up. In this episode we share: Thoughtful prompts so you can reflect on your growth, lessons, and triumphs An opportunity to reconnect with your vision and values Reframes and insights to help you start 2025 feeling empowered and excited! This episode is NOT about making resolutions or focusing on what didn’t go right. It’s about honoring who you’ve become, celebrating what’s worked, and gaining clarity on how to move forward. You deserve to feel proud of how far you’ve come! This process will have you ready to take on 2025 with gusto! Whether you’re journaling along with us or just reflecting quietly, this episode will leave you feeling inspired, grounded, and ready to make the most of what’s ahead. We'd love to hear how it goes! Leave us a comment, or feel free to get in touch with Lauren: On Instagram: ⁠@lolomccoco ⁠ Via Email: ⁠hi@lauren-mcconnell.com⁠ Book a Free Clarity Call We'll have a fantastic rerun for you next week that will add to the creative fuel!