Shameless Leadership

Jasmine Bradshaw is a researcher, anti-racist educator, and podcaster who truly believes that creating a more loving, inclusive, and just society starts within the sacred walls of our homes. Her podcast, First Name Basis, exists to give parents and caregivers the tools they need to raise anti-racist families. Each week we wrestle with hard questions and use the answers to create the world we want. A world where every single one of our children can be exactly who they are and reach their full potential. She hopes her community makes parents feel empowered and gives them the confidence they need to create lasting change in their sphere of influence. I asked Jasmine to return to the show when I learned that she has a new online course opening up for enrollment, Ally Elementary. I know how invested you all are in raising anti racist children, so I asked Jasmine to come back to talk about how we can talk to our kids about race in an ongoing conversation - because anti racism work is work that has no final destination. While this is a heavy topic, Jasmine and I still manage to bring you a few good laughs. I hope you’ll learn a few things in this conversation and be inspired to keep the conversation going in Jasmine’s Ally Elementary course. Listen in to hear Jasmine share: Why anti-racist parenting is so critical for our children Why anti racist education is controversial and why not talking about it perpetuates racism Exact steps to take when your child (inevitably) says something racist The 5 B’s of upholding anti racism in your family How to have curious conversations around race and bias with other people Why it’s the role of white people, not Black people, to call out discrimation, bias and harm when it happens The importance of calling out systems of oppression as the problem around race - not skin color Links mentioned: First Name Basis podcast episode: Critical Race Theory First Name Basis podcast episode: Oh No! My Child Said Something Racist Free Race Talk Road Map: First Name Basis Get on the WaitList for Ally Elementary Connect with Jasmine First Name Basis on IG First Name Basis on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’ve been sitting on this episode for awhile because it feels like a big responsibility to open up this conversation. The longer I sat on this topic, the more content I came up with - to the point that it seemed there might be no end to my list of “Reasons Why Moms Make Better Leaders At Work.” I am releasing this list today while fully acknowledging that this is probably just the beginning of this conversation. It’s a damn good start. Motherhood makes you a better leader. Full stop. AND… Motherhood makes you a better leader than others in the workplace. Full stop. Whether it’s your ability to be endlessly patient with other people, ruthlessly diligent with your time, or relentlessly adaptable, innovative, and nimble - motherhood trains you to show up and show out in leadership in ways you never knew you were capable of. From productivity to creativity to advocacy to future thinking, motherhood trains you to lead like no other. This episode is for those of you who haven’t quite realized your full potential in leadership in your work because you haven’t quite fully embraced the superpowers you harness as a women who has been trained by a top notch army of generals: your children - and an entire society that positions (forces) women to work their asses off without any recognition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Traci Baxley is a mother of five, consultant, educator and coach dedicated to supporting families, organizations and corporations in developing diversity & inclusion practices that lead to meaningful relationships, genuine belonging and high productivity. She is also the creator of Social Justice Parenting®, a philosophy that moves families from fear-based parenting to creating spaces of belonging through compassion, radical love and social justice engagement. Her book, Social Justice Parenting, comes out next week on October 19th. This is a book you definitely want in your home library. As part of Traci’s book launch, I will be joining her for her virtual book launch party on October, 20th. This will be a one hour conversation with Traci and me, as well as audience members, as Traci shares stories from the book and talks through some of the most critical things we need to face if we want to parent our children through the lens of social justice values. Sign up to join Traci and me live for this virtual conversation at shamelessmom.com/justice. Listen in to hear Traci share: Why we must go beyond becoming allies and activists ourselves, and also raise our children to become activists Her identity as a mother of 5 who has biracial children, neurodiverse children, and children with mental health struggles The pushback she gets being in an interracial marriage What fear based parenting looks like - especially in comparison to social justice parenting How to start shifting gears into social justice parenting How to talk to your kids about race in small ways that have big impact Why you can’t always be the fixer for your kids - and the importance of listening for clarity & empathy not just to solve problems as a parent How parents in mostly white communities can raise conscientious children who are invested in racial equity and social justice The importance of learning about and talking about Black joy with your kids Links mentioned: Join Traci and me for Traci’s virtual book launch on October 20th Buy the Book: Social Justice Parenting by Dr. Traci Baxley Connect with Traci: Social Justice Parenting Traci on IG Traci on FB Traci on LinkedIn Traci on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyday you have the chance to show up for yourself, your family and your community in a myriad of ways. On hard days, showing up feels nearly impossible. Heck, some days it is impossible. As we endure the most relentless of seasons, there are a number of ways you can show up, one small step at a time - to keep up your drive, your sense of self, and a bit of momentum. Showing up in small ways over a long period of time makes a really big difference in the entire trajectory of your life. How do I know this?? Because I’m the poster child for showing up in small ways one million times over again. It’s what I do. It’s how I built an award winning fitness business. It’s how I built this podcast (that’s nearing 600 episodes), it’s how I kept going when infertility felt like it would win over and over again. Showing up doesn’t have to be a big production. It can be small, simple steps that keep you moving forward just a bit at a time - enough to help you see that you are actually moving forward. In this episode, I share 7 simple ways you can show up for your life. Practicing any one of these will have great impact over time. Let’s keep showing up, my friends. Link mentioned: Join Traci and me for Traci’s virtual book launch on October 20th: Social Justice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Khalilah Lyons is the founder of Answer the Moment, LLC, as well as a keynote speaker, mentor, advisory council member, thought leader. She is also a diversity, equity and inclusion leader devoted to the advocacy of the underrepresented and untapped talent in others. Through her practical approach, she integrates passion and purpose to disrupt narratives and create cultures of inclusion where people can connect as humans, live human excellence. Khalilah is also the managing director and co-founder of Candidly Connecting, where she ignites bold and essential conversations with children and their parents. Through this online platform and upcoming podcast, parents are equipped with tools, resources, and role models to begin having real dialogue and understand the diverse resilience that enables communities to thrive. With digestible coaching and a dynamic, online community, parents and children can create diversity and inclusion naturally in their daily lives through the power of storytelling. Listen in to hear Khalilah share: How hard experiences in 2019 fertilized her current foundation The importance of “believe, breathe, be” as we navigate hard times and non-linear growth and healing What inspired her to start having candid conversations around talking to kids about diversity and inclusion the same way we talk about eating healthy and other given conversations we have with our kids How Candidly Connecting is creating the space for ongoing integration of stories of diversity How to interpret stories with our heads, hearts, hands The opportunity we have as parents to leave a legacy of changing communities How to redefine privilege in order to leverage your power for change The importance of acknowledging your lived experiences as achievements Links Mentioned: Candidly Connecting Khalilah on LInkedIn Khalilah on Instagram Linkedin: Veronica Appleton Veronica Appleton Thank you to our sponsors: MamaZen: Go to your app store or Google Play and download MamaZen today. Use PROMO CODE: shameless for a FREE TRIAL so you can try MamaZen for yourself. Thrive: Start thriving and help women in need today by going to ThriveCausemetics.com/shameless for 15% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I recently made a big, bold move that resulted in a pretty awesome win. I couldn’t decide if I should share this win publicly. It felt a little braggy and privileged to share a big win when so many people are struggling right now. As I kept this win to myself over the course of a few weeks, I started to think about the consequences of not sharing. When we don’t share our wins, we don’t get to fully experience the power of that feeling of “I made that happen!” We don’t help others see what is possible. We don’t get to fully own the things we build, the ways we show up, the ways we are growing, the full capacity we have to do great things. When we don’t share our wins, we don’t let our legacies live out loud. I decided I was not ok with keeping this win to myself. So, I’m sharing it with you on today’s episode. This is a win 18 years in the making. It’s the result of me slowly, systematically building something - one tiny step at a time - in order to land in a certain place to meet a specific “vision board goal” My hope is that this episode will give you permission to share your wins - loud and proud. We need to see women winning right now. We need to see moms winning right now. We need to see the power and potential of taking one tiny step at a time. Can we agree to own our wins in order to live our legacies out loud moving forward? Links Mentioned: Download my free Shameless Motivation Coloring Book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DarNesha Weary is a Shameless Mom of 2 young adults, the owner of Black Coffee NW, a community leader, an event organizer, a culture shifter, and a change maker. I discovered DarNesha while following Black Coffee NW on social media and knew I wanted to invite her on the show. Over the last year I’ve watched her family build and rebuild their business as they have been the target of hate crimes. I’ve watched her hire her 17 year old daughter as the President of her company. I’ve seen her turn a coffee shop into a place where community is birthed and nourished. I’ve been in total awe of DarNesha’s mission. When I found out we had a friend in common, I took the opportunity to reach out in my typical stalker fashion to invite her into a conversation here. I’m so delighted that she said yes. Listen in to hear DarNesha share: How she’s learning who she is as a woman at the age of 42 What inspired her and her husband to open Black Coffee NW How she has handled acts of violence to her business and staff How abundant thinking has deeply impacted her success - especially on hard days The importance of expecting and normalizing mistakes Why she’s building an elevated coffee shop experience in order to create a community hub for conversations and connections - and why this is so important Why she named her 17 year daughter president of the company Why she doesn’t want blindly loyal customers - but conscientious consumers who are ready to take action to help them live the mission How growing her business is part of her healing journey as a mom and Black woman Links mentioned: Learning more about Black Coffee NW, their locations, and their events in Seattle Black Coffee NW on IG DarNesha on IG FB/TWITTER/TIKTOK @blackcoffeenw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I recently completely lost my shit at the bank. Through a series of events that were unexpected and inconvenient, I was unable to get what I needed at my bank - on two separate occasions within the same week. This led to a meltdown in my car on a Tuesday afternoon. Screaming and crying in the bank parking lot. If you’re imagining me red faced, slobbering and irrational - like a toddler, you would be right. As I tried to collect myself in order to drive, I started piecing together a few things…. So many things keep getting harder as a result of this pandemic. The demands on us keep becoming more and more energy consuming - whether it’s the constant worry, the constant decision making, or the constant work-arounds we have to create to make things happen in new ways. We are out of patience. When our patience is stretched so thin, OF COURSE we are going to have toddler-like meltdowns in our cars. We are all trying so hard to keep it together, but the constant adapting to more difficult situations has pushed us into an epidemic of pandemic impatience. We are all walking around just one disappointment away from losing our shit #everydamnday. Am I right? For me it was the bank situation. Maybe for you it’s the grocery store being out of your favorite snack (I also cried recently when Trader Joe’s was out of dark chocolate peanut butter cups). Maybe it’s a passive aggressive comment made by a boss or a family member. Maybe it’s your child (or partner) pushing your buttons one time too many on any given Tuesday. The things that used to roll off us are now major triggering events - because we are so, so tired. We have been navigating this pandemic for over 555 days now. 555 days. In this episode, I talk through 4 reasons you are feeling ALL THE FEELINGS right now and a few tips to help you keep going. We must keep going. We will keep going. We can keep going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup is dedicated to helping women everywhere create a life they love, encouraging her more than 1 million subscribers to follow their dreams and reach their goals. She is the host of the wildly popular Do It Scared podcast, as well as the founder of the Living Well Planner® and Elite Blog Academy®, as well as the author of six books, including her newest bestseller, Do It Scared®: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Obstacles, and Create a Life You Love. Her practical advice has been featured all over, including Family Circle, Entrepreneur, TIME and Fox News. Ruth has been on my radar for years. She is widely known to be a powerhouse of a story teller, creator, and leader. I was so touched when she said she would be a guest on the show. And I was deeply honored when she shared what she wanted to talk about. We dig deep into her past as she uncovers how she went from an extremely hopeless rock bottom season to actively choosing to live. Listen in to hear Ruth share: How the trauma from her childhood sexual abuse resurfaced as depression in college and led to her first suicide attempt The one thing that helped her regain a will to live after 2.5 years of being hospitalzed for multiple suicide attempts How she and her therapist shifted their conversation into a journey to live instead of always living in the past and processing trauma The power of looking back and identifying your rock bottom moments in order to find power & strength in future hard seasons of your life Why it’s ok to let others hold hope for you if you can’t hold it for yourself The first tiny step to take if you’re in a rock bottom situation or really hard season Her advice for moms who looking to change paths in life Links mentioned: Join my free Hope, Happiness, and Mental Health Challenge Join Ruth’s Activate program Learn your fear archetype: Do It Scared Ruth on social media: @ruthsoukup @livingwellspendingless @livingwellplanner @eliteblogacademy Read about Ruth’s mental health journey from the very beginning Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to https://www.talkspace.com/, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last May, as we approached the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, I decided to share my own story around mental health and, specifically, around my diagnoses of PTSD and General Anxiety Disorder. I heard from so many of you who could relate to my story. A large number of those of you who reached out to say “me too” also shared that you struggled with the same diagnoses. Given this feedback, I thought it might be helpful to share what treatment/management modalities have helped me the most since being diagnosed. Overall, my diagnoses have given me so much clarity. They have solidified who I am in so many ways. I really understand why my brain works the way it does and how I can use this in my favor. This has been such a huge relief. As I share some of my tools in this episode, I cover everything from medication to exercise to calendar management to my precious morning coffee routine. Whether or not you share my diagnoses, I think you’ll find some of these tools essential to managing your mental health as we continue to navigate the state of the world. If you have any feedback or need any support, please reach out. I would be honored to be a part of your healing journey. Links Mentioned: Join our free Hope, Happiness and Mental Health Challenge SMA Ep 544: My Mental Health Diagnosis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Frew is a wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker. She has a successful podcast called “Husband in Law” that she records with her husband, Matt, and her ex-husband, Steve. Together they are sharing their stories of love, marriage, coming out, divorce, remarriage, and co-parenting to help others know they are not alone. They also co-own The BOLD Logic. A company devoted to helping people go from living in an “I should” mindset to taking BOLD action toward keeping and reclaiming their sense of self. Jessica is a firm believer that by knowing and understanding what it is you really want in life you can BOLDly create a life you love, no matter what your circumstances. Listen in to hear Jessica share: The process of finding out her husband was gay a year and a half into her marriage How she, her ex-husband, and her current husband have owned and shared their story in a way that helps other couples What a mixed orientation marriage is and how it works for different couples The disservice we do to our children when we hold a narrow view of what marriage and family look like What it’s like to be a member of a Mormon church and have a family that looks drastically different from a typical Mormon family How she knew when to follow her intuition vs letting her ego go How she navigated the hardest early years of her second marriage and the truth about hard seasons in marriage The importance of healthy boundaries that bring others in - not just setting boundaries as defensive armor How she listens to herself when things don’t go as planned, as well as the specific questions she asks herself in times of turmoil Links mentioned: Join my free Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge Podcast: Husband In Law Jessica on IG: @husbandinlaw Resources and Journal: The Boldlogic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How often have you made yourself smaller because you didn’t want to make other people feel uncomfortable? You didn’t want to outshine someone, you didn’t want to hold someone responsible, you didn’t want to make someone take a closer look at themself? Perhaps you find yourself keeping your voice quiet and small because you are worried that your louder, bigger voice would make too much noise for another person. Sometimes it is absolutely appropriate to make space for others. But sometimes the space you are making for others is at your own expense. That is not appropriate. If you are an over-giver or a people pleaser, you probably know well the pain and exhaustion of tiptoeing around someone else. You know the resentment that comes with biting your tongue and taking someone else’s crap. You know the regret that comes with letting someone say or do something gross and not calling them on it. I’m giving you permission to use your voice more loudly, more clearly, and more frequently. I’m inviting you to set better boundaries that keep the right people out of your life and invite the right people in on your terms. This is about you having clarity around what you stand for and what you stand against. This is about knowing who you are and who you want to give your energy to. This is about letting other people be responsible for themselves instead of you feeling like you must keep them comfortable at all times. In today’s episode I walk you through a handful of situations in which you might want to consider how you’re sacrificing yourself in order to make others more comfortable - and how to stop doing that. Links Mentioned: Join my free Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicole Lynn Lewis is a mom of 4, a social entrepreneur, and the founder of the nonprofit Generation Hope. As a teen mother, she put herself through the College of William & Mary, starting as a freshman when her daughter was just three months old. She has been named a CNN Hero and won the Roslyn S. Jaffe Award. She has appeared on CNN, NBC Nightly News, “Good Morning America,” and her journey has been covered in the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, TeenVogue, Chronicle for Higher Education, and others. Her book "PREGNANT GIRL: A Story of Teen Pregnancy, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families" is out now. Nicole’s story is going to open your eyes to what it’s like to be a Black teen mom in college, as well as all the ways our current college system is set up to ensure success only for its most privileged students. Listen in to hear Nicole share: Her mission to write Pregnant Girl - in order help society have a better understanding of teen pregnancy Her experience going to college and living on campus as a Black teen mom Why it’s so critical that we stop hiding, shaming, and punishing teen parents by marginalizing them and taking resources from them How to support the 25% of our college students who are young parents The stereotypes we hold against teen parents - and the truths behind them How precarious and isolating it is to be a teen mom in college and the toll it takes on mental health How teen parents and students of color have to constantly prove their worthiness to get ahead - in ways students of privileged never do The racist systems and policies that keep parents of color from entering and graduating from college How her non-profit, Generation Hope, supports college students financially and emotionally Why Pregnant Girl is a must read for any teen mom and anyone who carries privilege Links mentioned: Join my Hope Happiness and Mental Health Challenge Connect with Generation Hope Book: PREGNANT GIRL: A Story of Teen Pregnancy, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families Nicole on Twitter and Instagram: @supportgenhope and @nicolelynnlewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The chaos & clutter are real. Not just in our homes, but in our heads, my friends. As we continue to navigate the most challenging and relentless season of most of our lives, it is easy to let our minds get the best of us. The overwhelm is real. The fear is palpable. The stress is justified. It is in these moments that our minds tend to run away without our permission. We go to worst case scenarios. We write stories with horrific endings. We let all our wiring go haywire as we imagine how bad things could get. As I’ve been on coaching calls with clients over the last couple weeks, we have been working on calming the mental chaos & clutter. Because, even under the hardest circumstances, you get to choose how you manage your thoughts and how you see your position of power in sticky (if not terrifying) situations. In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through 6 questions to ask yourself in order to calm the chaos and clear the clutter in your head. This will allow you to create space for “what is true and what is beautiful” (as Glennon Doyle teaches us) in those moments that are keeping you stuck in overwhelm right now. Links Mentioned: Join my Hope Happiness and Mental Health Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrea Owen is the author of 3 books, a global speaker, certified life coach, and hell raiser who helps high-achieving women maximize unshakeable confidence, and master resilience. She has taught hundreds of thousands of women tools and strategies to be able to empower themselves to live their most kick-ass life through speaking, her books, coaching, and her wildly popular podcast, Make Some Noise, with close to 3 million downloads. Andrea has become one of my favorite COVID voxer buddies. When she told me about her newest book, Make Some Noise: Speak Your Mind and Own Your Strength I immediately told her she had to come back on the show. Andrea talks as fast and as loud as me - so buckle up, friends. This convo is fire. Listen in to hear Andrea share: Why she decided to write her book, Make Some Noise, in this pivotal moment in history The reality of women fearing shining too bright The solution to start taking up space and start shining (a little) more The questions to ask yourself if you feel yourself hesitating to take up space How we fall into internalized misogyny How to talk about other people from a place of curiosity instead of judgement and gossip The 4 steps to start unlearning How she built an entire relationship while ignoring her intuition - and ultimately ended up in her enabling her partners drug addiction and doing drug deals in Mexico Why women’s empowerment starts with women asking for what they want Links mentioned: Join for info on my Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge: shamelessmom.com/newsletter Listen to the Make Some Noise podcast Get Andrea’s book, Make Some Noise: andreaowen.com/noise Get the free Make Some Noise Workbook and bonuses andreaowen.com/msn Andrea on Instagram Andrea on Facebook Andrea on Twitter Andrea on YouTube Andrea on Pinterest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did we get here? 12 weeks ago we kicked off our Lead Like A Mother Summer Series. This was back in June when the world was full of hope and it looked like things could be really turning around in this pandemic. 12 weeks later, we are still here. And so is the pandemic. As we close out this series, I want to invite you to consider how the lessons of this series apply to you at any time, in any season. No matter how hard the world becomes - or how GREAT it becomes, a few things remain true: It is likely that YOU will continue to be the single most force that holds you back from getting what you want and need, so you must stay keenly connected to habits that don’t serve you Your brain WILL revert to negative thought patterns and dysfunctional loops routinely, so you must constantly check what you’re letting in and how you’re framing your situation Your innate ability to lead is a privilege and a responsibility not to be taken lightly. In this episode, we will dive into these 3 truths so that you can continue to feel strong, powerful, and capable even when you don’t feel in control of what is happening around you. We continue to be in this together, my friend. I GOT YOU. Link mentioned: Join for info on my Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Abby Medcalf is a Relationship Maven, psychologist, author, podcast host, and Tedx speaker who has helped thousands of people think differently so they can create connection, ease, and joy in their relationships (especially the one with yourself)! With her unique background in both business and counseling, she brings a fresh, effective perspective to life’s struggles using humor and her direct, no-nonsense style. With over 30 years of experience, Abby is a recognized authority and sought-after speaker at organizations such as Google, Apple, AT&T, Kaiser, PG&E, American Airlines, and Chevron. She’s been a featured expert on CBS and ABC news, and has been a contributor to Huff Post, Women’s Health, and Bustle. She’s the author of the #1 Amazon best-selling book, “Be Happily Married, Even if Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing,” and the host of the top-rated “Relationships Made Easy” Podcast. Her new book, "Negative Thinking Sucks (and Not in a Good Way) will be out soon! Listen in to hear Abby share: How her path as a recovering heroin addict living in Israel led her to her current work Why competition, not communication, is crushing your relationships What competition in relationships looks like The concept of sharing, adding, and subtracting resources A total reconceptualization of sharing “plates” with your partner in terms of each other’s duties and responsibilities How to stop feeling like you’re always doing more than your partner The exact way to have a conversation around household duties and division of labor How to practice having faith in love and not fear How confirmation bias erodes our relationships and how to see your relationships through a healthier lense Acknowledging that we all want the same thing - to feel love, connected, and accepted Links mentioned: Get my free 15 Minute Manifest Connect with Abby Free Guide: The Complete Guide To Effective Communication In Every Relationship Instagram: @abbymedcalfthriving Facebook LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Channel: Abby Medcalf Thriving Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the struggles you shy away from sharing are actually the stories that give way to your superpowers? When we go through hard things, we often want to move away from them, forget they happened, and continue on our merry way without owning the profound impact of hard circumstances. Of course, this makes a ton of sense. I mean, sitting in hard things is never fun. But sometimes when we walk away without owning how our struggles have shaped us, we miss out on the huge opportunity to see how we are made so much stronger by what we have endured. When you take some time to look closely and critically at your struggles, you can see where there might be loose ends in the final chapters of the story. You might even see where you have left a story unfinished - and let it continue to nag at you, or even plague you. In this episode, we’ll look at the power you can find in looking closely at your struggles and their corresponding stories. We’ll talk through how you can rewrite the endings to these stories in order to own where you hold power. This will help you see how that power has you poised to move forward in your life in bold and brave ways. Tune in to learn 6 steps you can take to reposition your struggles as stories that pushed you to grow & learn and shaped you into who you are today Link mentioned: Get my free 15 Minute Manifest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JoAnn Crohn, M. Ed is a parenting educator and former elementary teacher who helps moms feel confident in everything from raising empowered, self-sufficient kids to dropping the anxiety and guilt out of modern parenthood. She’s an accomplished writer, author, podcast host of the No Guilt Mom podcast, and speaker, appearing in national media and founder of the parenting site, NoGuiltMom.com. Her specialty is talking to both parents and kids - with her self-paced digital courses for kids and parents in handling big emotions, creating a morning routine, and conquering the homework drama. JoAnn created the most awesome book/workbook for kids, Me and My Friendships. After digging into the book myself, I knew I had to have her on the show to share with us how we can help our kids build healthy friendships. Listen in to hear JoAnn share: Her personal experience in friendship struggles as a kid that led her to writing a book about friendship for kids The key characteristics of being a good friend that we can teach our kids from an early age 3 tips you can use to help your kids have better friendships Why modeling listening, especially reflective listening, is so valuable to your kids How to help kids with self regulation during hard emotional moments What to do if your kids don't want to listen to your friendship advice What to do if your kid comes home from school complaining about a friend How to talk to your kids about being an upstander with friends When you should intervene in friendships vs when you should let them figure it out on their own Links mentioned: Get my free 15 Minute Manifest Connect with JoAnn and get her free workbook: No Guilt Mom Podcast: No Guilt Mom Book: Me and My Friendships by JoAnn Crohn Social Media: @NoGuiltMom (Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Becoming a better leader is a practice that requires thoughtful and intentional action over time. It’s all about how you repeatedly show up, how you decide to shine, how you share your gifts with the world. Last week we talked about why it’s important to follow inspirational leaders, take uncomfortable action (and talk about it), own and acknowledge all the places you’re already leading, and create affirmations that position you as a leader #everydamnday. This week we will dig into 4 more ways you can lean into leadership in your daily life - in order to build confidence and conviction as a leader; in order to have greater impact; and in order to build the relationships you need to take your leadership to the next level. Whether you are the bright and bold leader type or the more quiet and thoughtful leader type, learning how to practice leadership will light you up in ways that will totally fill your cup, as well as inspire and inform who you are becoming and the impact you can have on the world. Let’s LEAD, my friends. Links mentioned: Get my free 15 Minute Manifest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2016, Sarah left a successful, decade-long career in corporate healthcare in favor of work that better aligned with her passion and purpose. After serving for two years as a freelance consultant to small businesses and start-up nonprofits, Sarah founded The Beautifull Project - a storytelling collective that invites women back to their bodies and into a world where they belong with substance and with strength. Sarah is a gifted storyteller with a skill for using her own experience as a woman navigating the world in a fat body to invite her audience to encounter the parts of themselves they hide away from the world - the parts they believe to be “too much”. Addressing everything from too-big bodies to a fear of failure that cripples confidence, Sarah amplifies a message that moves beyond a body positive sentiment and creates a movement that makes room for everybody to tell their truth and take up space. She draws out confidence and courage. She believes in being free and full. And she will make a believer out of you, too. Sarah was a guest on the show a couple years ago. That incredible conversation led me to asking her to be a part of our 2021 Shameless Mom Con Collective. As I predicted, Sarah blew us away with her poignant and powerful storytelling. I was so moved by her talk that I asked her if I could share this conversation with you all. I’m so delighted and grateful that she said yes. Listen in to hear Sarah share: How her Ted talk landed her naked on stage The rules and limitations that are put on bodies - even as we embrace a wider range of “acceptable” body types The constant conflict of taking up space Her process of ending her marriage, starting her entire life over again - and finally saying yes to her body and her sexuality The power of letting your shoulders down and letting go Her 3 tenants of taking up space Links mentioned: SMA Ep 366 with Sarah Stevens: The Beautifull Project: The Truth About Fatness and Thin Allies Connect with Sarah: The Beautifull Project or By Sarah Stevens Sarah on social: @bysarahstevens and @thebeautifullproject Thank you to our sponsor: Thrive: Start thriving and help women in need today by going to ThriveCausemetics.com/shameless for 15% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I am constantly reminding moms that - even if you didn’t sign up for it - you are already a leader. You lead in your households and in your communities. You lead in your relationships and your workplaces. There is no way around it. You are a leader. You might be a loud and proud leader. Or you might be the quiet and mighty type. You might be timid, but thoughtful about how you lead. Or you might be the wild and impulsive type. No matter how you lead, there is always room for improvement. Because with improvement comes the opportunity for great impact and more ripples of impact. Over the next two weeks, I’m going to share specific steps you can take to become a better leader, no matter what your current leadership style is. This week, we will cover how to find leaders who inspire you, how to take uncomfortable and talk about it publicly, how to own your title of leader, and 5 affirmations you can use to step into leadership with more confidence and pride. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Founder, leader, and community builder, Shannon Siriano Greenwood knows the benefits of building her network with meaningful relationships over bountiful connections. As the CEO of the Rebelle Brand, her work supports working women in creating meaningful connections that will support them both professionally and personally. Women network differently. And quite frankly, most of us hate networking all together, but now more than ever we recognize that having a supportive community is a vital human need. Rebelle brings together women who are building their Wolf Pack, as defined by Abby Wambach, “a crew of brave and honest women to support you.” I invited Shannon on the show to talk about her entry into motherhood and the mental health journey that took her years to find her way to a diagnosis. We covered everything from Postpartum Depression to mental health medication to why women shy away from talking about their mental health. Listen in to hear Shannon share: Her journey into motherhood - experiencing anxiety and depression from the day her first child was born Her 2-year journey to finally being diagnosed with Postpartum Depression The pervasive inner dialogue of her anxiety and depression Her AHA moment of sitting in the pediatrician’s office sobbing for no particular reason The differences in how Postpartum Depression showed up between her first and second child Her life changing, potentially life saving decision to get on medication and how it’s impacted the last 3 years of her life The role of shame in moms keeping quiet about the truths around their mental health The importance of having various friend groups & social circles to meet your various needs in order to thrive Why connection with new people - especially new people who are different than you - is so important Her perspective on what connection and gatherings will look like as we transition out of the pandemic Links mentioned: Join our membership community, Momentum Mamas Connect with Shannon Social media: @ssiriano and @readytorebelle Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever turned down an opportunity in leadership because you assumed that it would just be too much work? Yeah, me too. Have you ever stopped yourself from applying for a position in leadership because you assumed you weren’t quiiiite qualified? Yeah, me too? Have you ever shoved a dream to the far back burner because you haven’t seen anyone like you accomplish something similar, so you can’t even imagine how you might make it happen? Yeah, me too. When it comes to going for the big stuff, stepping up to lead, and showing up in new ways, we often let doubt be our default. You assume you aren’t qualified and that someone else can do it better. You look around and don’t see any examples of people like you who have done it before, so you assume it’s not for you. You think through what it would look like to be successful in a new role or new space of leadership and you’re immediately exhausted by your own perfectionism and the idea of how hard you’d have to work to be the perfect fit, that you sit down before you even start to stand up. Let’s take a closer look at why you’re holding yourself back from leading in bigger and bolder ways. It’s likely that your self-doubt default is holding you back - perhaps for good reason. Listen in to dive deep into 4 reasons women shy away from leadership and how you can (lovingly) get over yourself in order to stand up in all the places you want to take up space. Links mentioned: Join our membership community, Momentum Mamas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Danielle is a mom to three kids and two rescue dogs. She and her husband, Adam, started Marriage and Martinis while going through the most intense, chaotic time in their lives. Their goal is to show a real marriage at its core; one in which both people greatly love each other, but also in which it has been difficult and messy. Danielle and I connected as newbie podcasters a few years ago. From the moment I learned of her show and started stalking her ridiculously funny Instagram account, I wanted to be friends with her. She is real and raw to the core; she is not afraid to dig into hard, messy conversations; and she is so eager to support others as they wade through all the work that comes with marriage. After you listen to this conversation, you are definitely going to want to subscribe to the Marriage and Martinis podcast and go get Danielle’s book, Date Night Questions. Listen in to hear Danielle share: The importance of talking about life and your personal evolution with your partner - not just always talk about points of contention and the hard parts of your partnership Why Danielle and Adam started a podcast at a low-low in their marriage The truth about the smoke & mirrors of all marriages What it has felt like to be completely open, honest, and vulnerable with their life/marriage in such a public way Her two truths about marriage that she couldn’t see coming when they started the show - that might totally help you in your marriage How to frame questions and conversations for healthy communication and growth in your partnerships All the goodies about her and Adam’s ebook, Date Night Questions, and how to use the book to support healthy, fun, and productive conversations in your marriage or partnership Links mentioned: Join my free workshop, 5 Ways to Shine Like A Mother Podcast: Marriage & Martinis Get your copy of Date Night Questions Instagram: @marriageandmartinis Facebook: @marriageandmartinis Twitter: @marriagemartini YouTube: Marriage & Martinis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It might sound suspicious to you when I suggest there is a downside to positive thinking. But, hear me out…. Positive thinking serves us well when it’s authentic - because of course, it feels good to feel good. But pushing ourselves into positive thinking does not serve well when it’s inauthentic. If we feel like crap, sometimes we need to honor the crap and embrace the suck - not invalidate it by trying to force a smile and a good attitude. In honoring the crap and embracing the suck, we ultimately become more resilient and resourceful. We more deeply understand ourselves as well as the human condition. This creates more space for us to be compassionate and empathetic humans who can survive, cope and thrive under a wider variety of experiences. Listen in to learn why positive thinking does not always serve you - and how it can be downright dangerous at times. You’ll also learn how to work toward neutral thinking instead of emotionally bypassing hard feelings. This can be a game changer in how you experience emotions and manage your thoughts and feelings in the long run. Links Mentioned: Join my free workshop, 5 Ways to Shine Like A Mother Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the past two decades, Colleen Echohawk has served the most marginalized people living in the Greater Seattle community. As the head of Chief Seattle Club, a non-profit dedicated to the rapid re-housing of urban Natives, Colleen led the effort to create nearly $100 million in new affordable housing in Seattle. Under Colleen’s leadership, Chief Seattle Club has received recognition from the Puget Sound Sage Visionary for Justice Award (2018), the Neighborhood Builder Award (2017), and the Municipal League of King County’s Organization of the Year (2016). Colleen is an enrolled member of the Kithehaki Band of the Pawnee Nation and a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Lake. Colleen and her family have been proud to call Seattle home for over two decades. In her spare time, she loves to read, sing karaoke, take her dog Rizzo for a walk, listen to National Public Radio, and cook delicious food for her friends and family. She has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the 21 Leaders to watch in 2021 by Seattle Magazine, the King County Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service (2020), Seattle’s most influential people by Seattle Magazine (November 2019), and many more. I got to hear Colleen speak a couple months ago and I immediately knew I wanted to ask her to be a guest on the show. I was so delighted and honored when she said yes. We could have spoken for hours. She is a powerhouse of a woman and leader and her mayoral platform is extraordinary. I know you will be so inspired by Colleen’s stories and leadership. Listen in to hear Colleen share: The cost of leadership when you’re a mom Her role as the first Indigenous women running for mayor in a major city The identities she carries as a mayoral candidate, Indigenous woman, eldest sister of 7 siblings, and Shameless Mom How she is using her mayoral platform to protect Seattle’s most vulnerable citizens How being an Indigenous women informs her leadership and deep desire to be a public servant The evolution of Native identity in leadership The intersection of motherhood and leadership and how her kids help her keep boundaries Her background serving Native people experiencing homelessness and how it’s the foundation for her mayoral campaign How she wants to see change and evolution in policing in Seattle Her focus on providing the city of Seattle an equitable recovery from COVID Her advice to other women who might be considering running for office Links mentioned: Join my free workshop, 5 Ways to Shine Like a Mother Echohawk For Seattle Colleen on Instagram Colleen on Facebook Colleen on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In last week’s podcast episode, I called out your negative thought patterns. These are the thoughts that get stuck in your head and keep you spinning in negative spaces - often keeping you totally stuck in your life. It’s hard to recognize your negative thought patterns - because they have likely been an unconscious part of you for a very long time. And it can feel really frustrating to acknowledge that some of these very non-productive thought patterns have been a part of you for a long time. But, it is in recognizing and owning these patterns, you can start changing them. From there, you can stop staying stuck in your negative thoughts. This can be super liberating! This week, I’m going to talk you through 5 ways to overcome these negative thought patterns. You have the power to change the way you think, to shift the way your brain works, to evolve your go-to thoughts in order to be more powerful in your life #everydamnday. In this episode we will address everything from identifying negative thought triggers to standing up to your inner critic to how to change your state in order to change your brain chemistry. This episode is packed with tools that you can use right away to start using your brain in more productive and positive ways. Link mentioned: Join my free workshop, 5 Ways to Shine Like a Mother Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cindi Bright is the President of The Bright Group, a management consulting firm focusing on the ecosystems of corporate America impacting and impeding progress for brown and Black people. She is the Producer and Host of HeartBeat radio, focusing on the “heart condition” of this country impeding diversity progress. With decades of experience in corporate America as a former Human Resources executive in organizations, diversity and leadership, she formerly led HR for three financial services businesses. A former candidate for public office in 2018, her platform has become a highly sought-after show to air the voices of people, and to influence public policy to improve the lives of Black and brown people. Cindi is a successful plaintiff in a Discrimination lawsuit, where she faced personal discrimination for speaking out on issues of injustice. At the time of her jury verdict, she was the second largest plaintiff verdict for the State of Washington. I have known Cindi for years, as she was a personal training client of mine some 15 years ago. I invited her on the show to talk about her new book, The Color of Courage, Crushing Racism in Corporate America. This book is a personal story of triumph over obstacles to inspire others to stand in their truths and to challenge corporate America to address the inequities at play for brown and Black people. Listen in to hear Cindi share: Her public firing at the hands of a white woman How she won her court case, becoming the second largest plaintiff verdict in a discrimination case in WA state How she was portrayed as a Black woman while on trial How her company used her mental health and sex life against her in court Why Robin DiAngelo, the author of White Fragility, is dangerous to Black women’s prosperity Examples of how white women center themselves What white women can do in the workplace to center Black women instead of centering themselves How she summons the courage to play large and take up space in a world that tries to keep Black women small Why nuance matters in conversations around race and how Cindi kindly helped me add some nuance to a statement I made in our conversation Why her book, The Color of Courage: Crushing Racism in Corporate America needs to be read by everyone Links mentioned: Join my free workshop, 5 Ways to Shine Like A Mother Connect with Cindi Cindi on Twitter Cindi on Instagram Cindi on Facebook Cindi on Tik Tok Thank you to our sponsor: Lovevery: Free shipping at lovevery.com/shamelessand use the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m not gonna lie, you might feel totally called out by today’s episode. But I think and hope it will ultimately really help you to see how your brain is holding you back at times. Here’s the deal… You likely have a bunch of negative thought loops running through your brain all.the.time. Know that you are not alone in this. Not even a little bit. Also, know that these loops that just keep playing on repeat are so dangerous over time. They keep you small. They keep you quiet. They keep you sad and frustrated and exhausted. They keep you from enjoying some of the best parts of your life. They keep you from seeing what your life could be. So, let’s shut them up, shall we?! In today's episode, I talk you through 7 common negative thought patterns I learned about from Dr. David Burns: All or nothing thinking Overgeneralization Magnification/Catastrophizing Emotional Reasoning Should Statements Rumination Overthinking I’ll admit, when I first learned of these I was like, “DAMN, HE LIVES ALL THE WAY IN MY HEAD.” But I also felt a little relief in knowing that the loops in my head are common loops and they can be retrained, or rerouted, if you will. Listen in to dig into these common negative thought patterns so you can learn how to retrain your brain in more functional and productive ways. Links mentioned: Join my free workshop, 5 Ways to Shine Like A Mother Book: Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by Dr David Burns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mia Hemstad is a wife and a mom of 2 little kiddos. Mia works as a Paid Family Leave and mental health advocate—writing and speaking online and advocating at the policy level for systemic change. After surviving postpartum depression and anxiety twice, and later being diagnosed with PTSD and depression, Mia is passionate about helping mothers leave the burnout cycle behind through her writing, speaking and coaching to support moms in navigating self-care and mental well-being in motherhood. Mia was one of the speakers during the Shameless Mom Con Collective this past spring. As she gave her impassioned talk, all of our attendees saw parts of themselves - the parts that most folks don’t talk about. The messy parts. The ugly parts. The parts full of tears, anger, and even rage. The parts that might lead to a diagnosis of depression or anxiety. The parts that might require medication. Mia’s talk was so powerful and also full of tactical advice, so I decided I had to share it here - where more of you who struggle with mom burnout can put her tips into action in order to start healing the parts of yourself that might have you feeling like you’re barely hanging on by a thread. Links mentioned: Get my info about upcoming events and workshops Connect with Mia and her resources: Mia Hemstad Follow Mia here: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You have anywhere from 6,000-60,000 thoughts per day, depending on which research study you trust most. Let’s just take the low estimate of 6,000 thoughts per day and consider the impact of that many thoughts on the course of your day. We know that our thoughts determine our feelings & emotions which then determine our actions. Therefore, at least 6,000 times per day, you have a thought that makes you take action - or not. Some of our thoughts make us brave and bold. They give us permission to take courageous action and then we bask in the glory of proving our strength and power. Other thoughts make us take rash action - sometimes causing harm to ourselves or others. This can send us into a downward spiral of negative follow up thoughts: What was I thinking? I can’t believe I was so stupid. I’m so embarrassed. I am completely ashamed. And other thoughts make us freeze. We decide that we aren’t ready or qualified to be courageous. Not yet. Not today. New awareness of your 6,000 - 60,000 thoughts per day might feel overwhelming, if not downright daunting. But, here’s the thing… You are 100% capable of becoming a better thought manager. This means you can manage your thoughts in order to manage your actions. YAY. Listen in to hear how your thoughts determine your actions and how you can become a better thought manager starting right now. Links mentioned: Download my Shameless Motivational Coloring Book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Delphine Carter is the Founder and CEO of Boulo Solutions, a career matching service that helps women stay in and return to the workforce. Boulo has now helped over 1,000 women and has generated over $1M in revenue. Delphine was able to fund Boulo’s $500,000 seed stage while working and raising children during the pandemic. I asked Delphine to join me on the show because of the massive shift we are seeing around moms and the workplace right now. Millions of moms have left the workforce in the last year. Many millions more have had to navigate new terms of working from home or working in other creative ways during the pandemic. We are at a critical time for moms in the workplace. There is the chance to totally renegotiate what work looks like for everyone and moms are poised to work in more flexible ways than ever before. Delphine is helping make that happen. Listen in to hear Delphine share: Her realization that “I could not be whole without my work” How she helps genius moms get seen professionally How Boulo helps moms qualify themselves for jobs that are a perfect fit for their specific needs Why Boulo only works with companies that create flexible working environments for moms and dads How forward-thinking managers need to shift expectations around goals vs time invested on a job or task The benefits of having moms in C Suite position The significance of empathy in corporate culture The challenges around childcare post pandemic when 40% of childcare centers nationwide have closed and what is open is ridiculously expensive The exact conversation you can have with your employer to ask for a more flexible schedule Why we must erase the phrase “just a mom” from all vernacular Links mentioned: Help us help you by filling out the Shameless Summer Survey Connect with Delphine: Boulo Solutions Connect with Delphine on LinkedIn Connect with Delphine on Facebook Connect with Delphine in Instagram Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the entire month of June, I have been talking about how you might be getting in your own way, why you might be getting in your own way, and how procrastination & perfectionism are keeping you stuck. This week we will wrap up the month by talking about 5 steps you can take to get out of your own way. Look, we all get stuck. We all struggle with self doubt, analysis paralysis, and perfectionism from time to time. We overthink, over worry, over research, and over plan because we want to do things well - we want to make the BEST choices or make the BEST decision. When we are stuck, sometimes we cannot see our way out. We cannot see the next step. This can feel scary and stifling and can even shut us down completely. Today, I’m going to share 5 steps you can take to get out of your own way and stop staying stuck. These simple strategies are tools that will get you moving and KEEP you moving as you take action in the direction of your dreams. I’m delighted to be wrapping up the first month of my Summer Series. In month 2 (July), we will dive into a new theme: Retrain Your Brain. You definitely don’t want to miss this content! Link mentioned: Help us help you by filling out the Shameless Summer Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Irina Gonzalez is a Latina, bisexual, sober Shameless Mom. She is also an editor & freelance writer covering parenting, recovery, and Latinx culture. Currently, she is the Content Marketing Manager at Tempest, a membership program that empowers you to live alcohol-free. She is also the creator of the Pandemic Mama podcast, which brings you real conversations about having a baby during COVID-19 times. Her work has appeared in over 50 publications, including The Washington Post, O! The Oprah Magazine, Parents, and more. She is a new resident of Denver, where she lives with her husband, spunky toddler, and their fur babies. I recently heard an interview my dear friend Laura Cathcart Robbins did with Irina and I immediately knew I wanted to ask Irina to join me in the Shameless Mom Academy. She is brilliant in so many ways and extremely generous in the ways she shares her stories. I think this conversation will open your eyes and inspire you to look at some of your coping skills to assess what’s working and what’s not - and what coping mechanisms might help you the most. Listen in to hear Irina share: Why balance is a “damn bad idea” How she’s juggling being back at work full time, caring for her 14 month old, and finding a sense of self The unique intersections of her identities as a Latina, bisexual, sober, mother and writer Her journey into sobriety The labels of “alcoholic” vs “alcohol use disorder” Why the 12 step recovery framework doesn’t resonate with her How moms are not being supported by Mommy Wine Culture The connections she made between her alcohol use and anxiety 8 coping mechanisms she’s using to deal with anxiety and managing her mental health in a pandemic How she’s taking pride in “showing up as who I am and being vocal about it!” Links mentioned: Download my free Shameless Motivational Coloring Book Connect with Irina Irina’s Podcast: Pandemic Mama Book: Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker Book: Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker Podcast: Forever 35 Irina on Instagram and here Thank you to our sponsor: Thrive: Start thriving and help women in need today by going to com/ThriveCausemetics.com/shameless for 15% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A couple years ago, I had a major AHA. I was reading Jon Acuff’s book, FINISHED, and he was talking about perfectionism and the connection between perfectionism and procrastination. Society tells you that procrastination is a sign of laziness or a lack of commitment. Society makes procrastinators feel like crap. But Jon pointed out that procrastination can often be a form of perfectionism. We already know that perfectionism keeps us in our own way - BIG TIME. It prevents us from starting and even more so from finishing. Same with procrastination. We often procrastinate because we are spinning in perfectionism: What is the next right step? Should I go with option A or option B? What if I can’t finish? What if I can’t even start? What if I fail and other people judge me? What if, what if, what if???? Any of this sound familiar? All of this month, we are talking about getting out of your own way. Perfectionism is a huge way that we get in our own way and procrastination is often a major symptom of perfectionism. Listen in to learn more about how perfectionism and procrastination might be keeping you super stuck in your own way. Links mentioned: Download my free Shameless Motivational Coloring Book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laura Cathcart Robbins is an author, writer, podcast host, mother of Miles and Justin, Hon’s GF, dedicated inclusionist, disruptor, thought leader, ally, volunteer, storyteller, public speaker, and often the only one in the room. She is also a freelance culture writer and host of the popular podcast, The Only One In The Room, living in Studio City, California. Her recent articles in HuffPo and The Temper on the subjects of race, recovery, and divorce have garnered her worldwide acclaim. She currently sits on the advisory boards of the San Diego Writer’s Festival and the Outliers HQ podcast Festival. This is a super special conversation from inside the Shameless Mom Con Collective. I invited Laura to come have a conversation with me about sharing women's stories, as we have collectively shared hundreds and hundred of womens’ stories over the last few years. The power of sharing our stories is so significant and I knew Laura would have a lot of insight into this. I hope this conversation inspires you to share your stories in the spaces you feel safe to do so. Listen in to hear us share: What inspired us to start making space for other women’s stories What we’ve learned after sharing hundreds of women's stories over the last few years Some of our favorite stories that we’ve shared on our podcasts Why we are all more powerful when we start sharing our stories How to create safe spaces for women to share stories Links mentioned: Download my free Shameless Motivational Coloring Book Podcast: The Only One In The Room Connect with Laura: theonlyonepod.com Thank you to our sponsors: Hello Fresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/shameless12 and use code shameless12 for 12 free meals, including free shipping! Happy Dance: Right now, SHAMELESS listeners get 15% off their first Happy Dance order. But only when you go to Doahappydance.com/SHAMELESS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week we kicked off our June theme, Get Out Of Your Own Way, discussing 7 ways you might be getting in your own way. This week we are digging deeper to explore WHY you might be getting in your own way. The WHY matters! If you can recognize why you’re getting in your own way, you will have the power to see patterns and threads that you likely repeat throughout your life - likely keeping you feeling stuck at times. In this episode, we will dig into everything from social conditioning to self limiting beliefs to self doubt to trauma - all of which can play a major role in keeping you stuck. In looking inward at your WHY, you will begin to see how you can heal some of these patterns and start to build new, more functional patterns - which will ultimately propel you forward. Links Mentioned: Download my free motivational coloring book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Known for her raw, honest, and grounded approach to self-help and spirituality, Elizabeth DiAlto specializes in helping women embody self love, healing, wholeness, and liberation. Her body of work has evolved out of 12+ years of experience across several fields including: Fitness, Self-Help, Wellness, Spirituality, Coaching, Personal Development, and Healing -- the last seven of which she’s spent helping women untame themselves. Everything she does is also informed by her own healing and education around embodiment, energy medicine, self love, collective liberation, boundaries, body image, trauma, healthy relationships, and identity. Elizabeth is the creator of Wild Soul Movement and the Wild Soul Archetypes Quiz, founder of The Institute for EMBODIED Living, and host of the EMBODIED podcast - which has been downloaded over 3 million times. I’ve known Elizabeth for over 10 years. Watching the evolution of her work has been incredible. She shares her growth in such beautiful ways - that allow you to grow within her. You’re going to love this conversation. Listen in to hear Elizabeth share: The importance of listening inward to gain self knowledge and expand your perception of what you think you’re capable of The energetic exchange that is an archetype Why learning about your Wild Soul Archetype will help you lean more into who you already are but might not be able to see yet The importance of healing, wholeness and liberation for all moms Her 5 part framework for self love Why it’s important and LIBERATING to identify what you suck at Specific practices to get grounded and get out of your mind and into your body Links mentioned: Connect with Elizabeth Take the Wild Soul Archetype Quiz Listen to Elizabeth’s Podcast: Embodied Download the Embodiment Bible: Embodiment Bible Elizabeth on Instagram Elizabeth on YouTube Elizabeth on Facebook Thank you to our sponsors: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Lovevery: Free shipping at lovevery.com/shamelessand use the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Ana Luisa: Go treat yourself and your loved ones and use my code SHAMELESS to get 10% off at https://www.analuisa.com/shameless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EEEK!! This is the first week of our Summer Series: Lead Like A Mother! Every Monday this summer, I will be sharing content around how to help you lead in bigger, bolder, braver ways. For the month of June, we will be talking about how to get out of your own way. We will kick this off by talking through 7 ways you might be getting in your own way. From playing small to getting stuck in analysis paralysis to being the gatekeeper of all.the.things., we all get in our own way - on the regular. This episode will open your eyes to the ways you consciously and unconsciously get in your own way - which will be the first step in starting to GET OUT of your own way. Let’s dig in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephannie Weikert is a Certified Yoga Therapist who teaches smart, capable men and women to manage stress with some of the most fundamental, yet little-known principles of yoga. She’s been teaching therapeutic yoga for stress in studios, hospitals, businesses, and with her 1:1 students since 2005. And now she’s on a mission to make meaningful personal growth doable and practical with her signature Make Peace with Stress method so more people can get unstuck from patterns of stress and be more present, calm, and confident—all without becoming a die-hard yogi. When not mentoring people who struggle with stress, Stephannie can usually be found under a pile of books or working on writing her first book about how to take charge of your chaotic mind and focus on what’s really important to you. I asked Stephannie to come on the show to talk about how she helps people manage stress, but also to share her own stories around mental health and sexuality that have guided her coaching over the years. Listen in to hear Stephannie share: How compartmentalizing different parts of our lives leads to hiding and shame How she used numbing habits (esp drugs & alcohol) to cope How her compartmentalization led her to struggling with Trichotillomania to the point of pulling out all of her eyelashes and eyebrows The moment when she finally and truly saw herself and decided to start to change her habits How she was able to create an entire new set of coping skills that served her throughout her life How her she noticed shifts in her sexuality in her forties and how she responded How we all have a inner compass that is exactly right How to use self study, surrender and intention setting to manage stress and your life Why you should pay more attention to discomfort and stress - and what it’s trying to signal The gifts of yoga that carry over into all areas of life Links mentioned: Connect with Stephannie Stephannie on Instagram Stephannie on LinkedIN Stephannie on Facebook Thank you to our sponsor: Gemmist: Go to Gemmist.com to get your personalized recommendation and enter SHAMELESS at checkout for 20% off and free 2-day shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is your summer planned all around your child(ren)’s fun? When I look at everything we have planned for the summer, it’s clear that this summer (like all summers) is the Summer of Vinnie. Camps, camping, beach trips - all for the kiddo! And what about YOU? What are you planning for your summer fun? If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m a big fan of Summer Bucket Lists. Every year, we create a family summer bucket list that includes all the fun family activities we want to pack into the summer. AND THEN, I create my own Summer Bucket List - the things I want to do just for me this summer. Some of these things are small, some a bit more luxurious and indulgent. It’s funny that whenever I sit down to create my Summer Bucket List, I have to think through, “What is even fun for me anymore???” If you’re like me, this episode is for you. Join me to tap into how to make fun for yourself this summer. I promise you won’t regret it. Let’s make Summer 2021 one for the books, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sabrina Torres stands out in a crowd. With her unique point of view about the power of organic growth, engaging content, bold colors, and coffee (lots and lots of coffee), she started Be Truly Social, a social media marketing and sales company that helps business owners around the globe by making their social media pop in a busy online world. From her home in Nashville, Tennessee where she lives with her soon-to-be wife Jen and four children with autism, she puts her caffeinated energy to good use for her clients who range from solo startups to multi-million dollar organizations. They, together, also own a boutique ecommerce site, Great Democracy Tees. I’ve been following Sabrina online for awhile now and as I’ve seen her share different layers of her story, I knew I wanted to have her as a guest on the podcast. She is a force and a giver. She is going to open your heart and mind as you hear her story about coming out and leaving her marriage in order to become more fully who she has always been. Listen in to hear Sabrina share: Her process of coming out as a pastor’s wife How she’s coparenting with her wife-to-be, Jenn, and Jenn’s ex husband, all under one roof How she discovered she was gay and decided to leave her marriage The losses she experienced with coming out Why she thinks she would not be alive if she had not met Jenn and the dangers of denying one’s sexual orientation What it’s like parenting 4 children on the autism spectrum How her children's disabilities inspired her to become an entrepreneur Her lack of fear around sharing her identities around her sexual orientation and race vs her fear around building her sex toy business Why she’s so passionate about her new sex toy business Links mentioned: Connect with Sabrina Sabrina’s tee shirt company Boxx Bar on Instagram Sabrina on Instagram Sabrina on LinkedIn: @sabrinasocial Thank you to our sponsor: Gemmist: Go to Gemmist.com to get your personalized recommendation and enter SHAMELESS at checkout for 20% off and free 2-day shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all carry doubt. Even the most polished and pretty people on the internet. For real. In recent months, a number of people have applauded the ways I’ve shown up online and in my business over the last year. Friends - it is NOT without doubt from time to time. I have doubt on a fairly regular basis, especially when things around me feel out of my control and unpredictable. So, you know, like every single day of 2020. That said, I know how to manage doubt - perhaps on an expert level - because dread is one of the gifts (shall we call it?) of my anxiety. I manage a lot of dread. Like, every morning when I wake up. And this has been the case for as much of my life as I can remember. This dread tries to tell me that things will be hard and maybe I won’t be able to figure them out or get them done or perform at the level I want. This dread leads to a lot of doubt, so I have to call him out as the big fat liar he is. Because I manage anxiety and the accompanying dread on the daily, I am intimately connected to feelings of doubt. I have worked to overcome this doubt with some simple mental reframes that work very predictably well for me - thankfully! After receiving so many compliments on how I’ve powered through the last year, it occurred to me that you are not seeing the full truth (read: doubt) behind my Instagram photos - and that’s not fair. So, listen in to hear me share more about doubt and the 4 specific simple ways I reframe doubt #everydamnday. What is true and what is beautiful ID the hard feelings ID where you have power in terms of options and paths forward ID your superpowers and how you can apply them to this situation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica is the Creator/CEO of Front Seat Life, Myers-Briggs Expert, Life/Business Coach for Intuitive Women, Author, Keynote Speaker, Podcaster, and Former Psychotherapist. She is an ENFJ, truth teller, F bomb dropper, lover of all things Maui, and fiercely dedicated to helping you be unapologetically who you are. Jessica is a total go getter who has hustled her way to success in so many areas of her life. And now she’s ready for some rest and possibly even some, gulp, balance. She has seen the impact of hustle on her own life and the lives of so many women. Our obsessive need to hustle comes at a great cost. And it’s time to talk about that. Listen in to hear Jessica share: What prompted her to start “healing her hustle” How to heal the hustle and still be ambitious and driven Why we are hustling - as a result of nature and nurture How 25% of us are innately programmed to always be looking for what’s next - and how this makes hustle to the point of burnout How the patriarchy has forced women and POC to hustle in order to succeed and in many cases, just survive How she realized she was hustled out and how she started to heal The rule she made for herself to break her unhealthy phone habit and the immediate and massive impact it had Why is so important to design a life for your specific personality type How to embrace who you truly are and then lean into your truest self Links mentioned: Watch my free business training and learn about my Tenacious Mamas Mastermind Join Jessica for Healing the Hustle Summer School Podcast: Front Seat Life Quiz link: jessicabutts.com IG: @frontseatlife Thank you to our sponsors: Ana Luisa: Go treat yourself and your loved ones and use my code SHAMELESS to get 10% off at https://www.analuisa.com/shameless. Gemmist: Go to Gemmist.com to get your personalized recommendation and enter SHAMELESS at checkout for 20% off and free 2-day shipping. Happy Dance: Right now, SHAMELESS listeners get 15% off their first Happy Dance order. But only when you go to Doahappydance.com/SHAMELESS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s be honest… growth is scary. It involves dancing with the unknown. Yuck, right? I’d rather dance alone in the safe isolation of my bathroom, thank you very much. But growth is also incredibly rewarding. Growth shows you what you are capable of. It proves to you that you are strong, gifted, talented, and worthy in ways you didn’t know. This can be a game changer. So, why do we stay stuck in fear when it comes to growth? I think we fear growth because a lot of the most influential people in our lives also fear growth. They didn’t/don’t model growth to us. They modeled complacency. Complacency seems safer, more secure. Let’s not take chances. Let’s not risk failing. Let’s not make mistakes. When I stopped fearing growth and started taking chances, I found new people to surround myself with. People who were committed to doing new things in unconventional ways - in order to let their unique gifts and talents SHINE. I saw women around me breaking the mold. And I became friends with those women. Then I started breaking the mold too. This is how you step out of fear and into growth. You find the places where you can be connected and supported by other people who don’t want to stay in fear, who don’t want to be isolated in constant self doubt, who won’t settle the way things have always been. And from there, you start to believe in the possibility of a new reality and new rules. You start to believe that you are a trailblazer and a change maker. That you can grow and thrive in any direction you want. Listen in to hear 3 reasons moms secretly fear growth and how you can overcome your fears around growth. Links mentioned: Watch my free business training and learn about my Tenacious Mamas Mastermind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pauline Cheung is a women’s leadership speaker and coach on a mission to show professional women how to trust their voices and create professional and personal success – without conceding to people-pleasing and perfectionism. Despite 12+ years as an international executive working with Fortune 500 C-suite and senior-level leaders in the areas of strategy, marketing, and business development, Pauline comes from humble beginnings. She knows how challenging it is to step into the unknown and navigate the fear of failure and judgment. Her deep compassion for women wrestling with similar desires and demons helps her coaching clients and audience members break out of their fears and step into full visibility as their unique and brilliant selves. Listen in to hear Pauline share: How she had to juggle work with motherhood as her child needed extra medical attention How she’s working on harmonizing her work and home life - and why the concept of harmonizing is more full of ease than seeking “work life balance” Why time is currency and the value of time - sometimes over money How she grew up with the message, “It’s not safe to be me”, as a Chinese girl growing up in England How she found safety by making others happy - and the costs of making others happy How she recognized the truth about fear and stopped letting it preventing her from going after the things she wanted (even if she didn’t know how she would actually get them) Her journey from corporate to culinary school to coaching other women The 3 specific ways women stay in their own way, preventing them from taking a stand in their life What belonging actually looks & feels like, and how to own who you are to create a more confident sense of belonging How we can overcome the constant internal battle of being “too much” and “not enough” at the same time Links mentioned: Connect with Pauline Get Pauline’s Confidence Guide: 5 Ways to Practice Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and into Greater Confidence Thank you to our sponsors: Gemmist: Go to Gemmist.com to get your personalized recommendation and enter SHAMELESS at checkout for 20% off and free 2-day shipping. Hello Fresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/shameless12 and use code shameless12 for 12 free meals, including free shipping! Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier this year I received two mental health diagnoses. One did not surprise me at all, but the second did. I have been processing and thinking through the gift of diagnosis a lot over the last few months. Yes, the gift of diagnosis. Receiving these diagnoses was more affirming and validating than I ever could have imagined. Instead of feeling plagued by some parts of myself that have been bewildering since I was very young, I now feel stronger and more connected to who I truly am and WHY I am who I truly am. What a relief! My mental health diagnoses are not my weaknesses, they are my superpowers. Because of them I am more compassionate, more empathetic, more conscientious, more thoughtful, more intentional, more talented in unique ways, more creative, more adaptable to things others can’t adapt to, more capable in ways others aren’t, and more sensitive to the world and other people in so many ways that make me a better citizen. So, ye, I am delighted by my diagnoses - and everything that comes with them. Including medication. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I am sharing my story with you because mental health diagnoses are not something to be ashamed of. And mental health diagnoses are not uncommon - which I learned quickly as I shared my story with friends over the last few months and had so many of them quickly reply “me too.” My hope is that this episode provides light and hope for anyone who might be struggling to see all their gifts right now. You are not alone. Links mentioned: Join my free business training: 3 Essential Building Blocks To Growing A Successful Business National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline: 800-950-6264 Depression Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trudi Lebron is an entrepreneur, coach, consultant, podcaster, and speaker working with social impact leaders, and transformative coaches who want to increase the impact of their efforts. Trudi is the creator and head coach of BeABoss a personal and professional development program for Millennial Women of Color, works with entrepreneurs to help them start social impact businesses, and supports social impact executives with leadership coaching, strategic planning, and creating systems and practices to bring alignment between your personal values and the way you work. I asked Trudi to come on the show because I knew her story around motherhood as well as the deep impact of her professional work. I have been dying to interview her for a couple years now - and I can tell you this conversation was worth the wait! Listen in to hear Trudi share: Her experience of dropping out of high school and becoming a teen mom to two babies by age 16 How her traits of being stubborn and making her own rules served her well as a very young mom - and now as she has paved her way to multiple layers of success in education and business How she can see the privilege she carried as a teen mom and why seeing all our layers of privilege is so important How attaining her GED all on her own was the most impactful lesson of her life How the welfare system tried to make her choose between food stamps and getting her college education - and how the system is designed to keep people in the margins down How her experience as a Latina teen mom fueled her entire career How she constantly chose to capitalize on her strengths in order to build success How she uses discernment around her role as a mother to Black sons vs business consultant to lead conversations around her justice, diversity, equity & inclusion work How she was able to listen to the urgent needs of her industry to show up & serve in a completely transformational way in 2020 Why we need to move from consumption of race education to taking action toward equity Links mentioned: Join my free business training: 3 Essential Building Blocks To Growing A Successful Business Connect with Trudi Attend Trudi’s May event, Show Up & Serve Trudi’s podcast: Business Remixed Trudi’s podcast with Weeze Doran: That’s Not How That Works Trudi on Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Ana Luisa: Go treat yourself and your loved ones and use my code SHAMELESS to get 10% off at https://www.analuisa.com/shameless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m not going to pretend that boundaries are easy. They are tricky and sticky and often intimidating. But boundaries are also the KEY to liberating our time and energy and mental space. Telling you to simply “have better boundaries” is not helpful. It’s like telling a worry wart to “just stop worrying.” So, instead of telling you to have better boundaries, I’m going to give you three actionable steps you can take to start building better and more brave boundaries. I want you to have more time, energy, and mental space for YOU, as well as for the things and people who deserve the best parts of you. Listen in to learn 3 steps you can take to build braver boundaries #everydamnday. As you implement these over time, you’ll find that you feel increased ease and power throughout your days and within your relationships. This will feel totally liberating, my friend! Link mentioned: Join my free business training: 3 Essential Building Blocks To Growing A Successful Business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices