Becoming Obsessed® | Personal Growth Podcast for Ambitious Women

In this episode: we’re celebrating taking care of yourself and not letting the way we look, or the way we think other people perceive us, hold us back from loving ourselves and building a life that we truly love.

Aïda Touré is the founder of Texture, a body care brand focused on supporting the skin’s natural balance and helping people feel more at home in their bodies. While working full-time in tech education, she’s building Texture from the ground up and stepping into a new definition of success on her own terms. Aïda shares her journey of creating Texture, and how she’s spreading the awareness that skin is not perfect and that’s okay - it has texture and it changes because we are human. Aïda and Teresa talk about taking the pressure off of what it looks like to build a business and how you don’t have to go “all in” to be successful, the value of holding space for play in your work-day, and why the most important thing you can do is listen to your body.

If you’re feeling pressure for your life to look a certain way, struggling with comparison, or putting a timeline on your business that doesn’t feel right, this episode is your reminder that there is a different way to build a life and a business that actually supports you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• We all go through seasons in our life and it’s ok if our bodies go through changes also. We are human and we don’t need to hold ourselves to perfection because perfection doesn’t exist.
• You don’t have to go “all in” to still build your business.
• Everything is about balance; holding space for play your work day can actually increase your motivation to get work done.
• Don’t be afraid to switch up your work environment - if things are feeling stale in your home office, try going to a coffee shop.
• What works for someone else might not work for you - listen to your body and do what you can now to take care of yourself.

I do believe that each one of us has potential. You just have to do the work and find what it is that you can really bring into this world; what it is that you're passionate about and that you're willing to work hard for. - Aïda Touré

Connect with Aïda:

• Website: https://textureskin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/textureskincare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564654005741

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: building a life and business you love, work-life balance, female founders, health and wellness, ambitious women

In this episode: having the honest conversation with yourself on where you could use support in life and business and releasing the pressure to do it all alone.

Gwendolyn Young is the strategic operations partner trusted by visionary CEOs and high-performing organizations seeking clarity, efficiency, and sustainable growth. With 25+ years of expertise in administrative leadership, she transforms operational overwhelm into systems, structure, and strategic execution.

Gwendolyn shares her story of being diagnosed with systemic lupus and how the diagnosis gave her the ability to step back and figure out how to create a life and business that made sense for her. She shares the value of perspective and how even when life feels like it is throwing you challenges, it may be the push you need to build something that will benefit you in the long run. Gwendolyn and Teresa also discuss when to get help in your business, how to get specific about the roles you need to fill, and the importance of recognizing your true capacity so you can show up and do your best work.

If you are looking for extra support in your business, or need a reminder that you don’t have to do it all alone, this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Sometimes what looks like a disruption in life is actually what sets you on the path to building a life that is more aligned with your goals.
• Having a strong support system and community during moments when life is “stretching” you is crucial. Find people in your life who will remind you how strong and brave you are when times are tough.
• Ask yourself: What do you need to thrive and build a life and a business that makes sense for you? How can you implement systems into your business that support that?
• Be honest with yourself about what your true capacity is - if your plate is too full, how can you show up to do your best work?
• Get clear on what type of support you need in your business. That will help you determine exactly what types of roles you need to hire to get that support.

What started as a major disruption became the catalyst for building something that has served both my life and the people that I support, and I absolutely love it. - Gwendolyn Young

Connect with Gwendolyn:

• Website: https://www.yourvirtualadminexpert.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youradminexpert/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youradminexpert
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youradminexpert
• Leading Behind the Scene Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-behind-the-scene/id1874961799

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: hire a virtual assistant, operations support for small business, outsourcing for solopreneurs, building a life you love, creating a business that works for you, work-life balance

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Have you ever wondered why you feel more pressure after achieving success than when you were a beginner?

In this episode: why you can feel disconnected from the life you always wanted, even after you built it, and the simple mindset shift that helps you love it again.

You built the life you dreamed of: the home, the relationships, the clients, the work. So why are you waking up asking, “is this all there is?” In this solo episode, I get honest about two weeks of dread and what’s actually underneath it. Somewhere along the way, success flipped off my beginner’s mindset and replaced it with pressure to have every answer before I’d walked the path. We dig into how that pressure disconnects you from the life you built, why the fraud feelings are just a symptom, and how getting back to “I can figure it out” helps you enjoy your work again.

Key takeaways

• Feeling disconnected from the life you built usually isn’t about the life itself. It’s often the pressure you’ve put on yourself to have it all figured out.
• Imposter syndrome, fraud feelings, and fear of failing are symptoms. The root cause is losing your beginner’s mindset.
• Success can quietly flip a switch: once you’ve figured out one area, not knowing in a new one starts to feel like failure.
• No one is asking you to have the answers before you’ve done the work. You’re valued for your ability to figure it out.
• You can’t overthink your way to the answer. Clarity comes from acting, talking it through, and iterating.
• It’s normal and healthy for things to take time, and a beginner’s mindset is something you practice, not something you have once and keep forever.

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: why don’t I love my life, feeling disconnected from your life, unhappy after success, beginner’s mindset, imposter syndrome for female founders, entrepreneur anxiety, mindset shifts for female founders, falling in love with the process.

In this episode: how we are becoming obsessed with aging as you are, becoming stronger, hotter, happier, and more in love with yourself and your life as you age.

Lorraine C. Ladish is a writer and full-time creator who launched Viva Fifty Media at 50. Now 62, she shares her active-aging journey through fitness, wellness, and honest storytelling, encouraging women to embrace reinvention and keep moving forward at any age. Teresa and Lorraine talk about why people fear aging, the practice of approaching situations with curiosity rather than judgment, and the importance of accepting what you cannot control. They also discuss the value of actively pursuing what you want in life, even when it’s hard, because tomorrow is never guaranteed, so you might as well go after the life you want today.

This episode is for anyone struggling with the idea of aging or excited for what is to come. This is your reminder that you have so much to look forward to.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• You can do hard things. Sometimes that looks like showing up even when you’re scared and doing it anyway.
• Aging gives you something nothing else can: time and experience.
• Sometimes you just need to accept that certain things in life are inevitable, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can actually enjoy the life you have ahead of you.
• We have no idea what the future holds, so how can you feel more fulfilled in your life now? Does that look like taking care of your mental health, physical health, and practicing stress management?
• In a society that is very hard on women, how can we encourage more collaboration over competition in our communities?
• Approach situations with curiosity, rather than judgement.

We don't stop wanting to do the things we love just because we get older. - Lorraine C. Ladish

Connect with Lorraine:

• Personal Website: https://www.lorrainecladish.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorrainecladish
• Viva Fifty!: https://www.vivafifty.com
• Substack: https://www.aginglikealegend.com

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: embracing aging, curiosity over judgment, living a life you love, community, collaboration over competition

In this episode: how the stories you tell yourself and tiny mindset shifts in your perspective will set you on a positive path to living a more fulfilling life.

Julie Cole is a trailblazing entrepreneur, celebrated speaker, and co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, the iconic brand that grew from a basement startup into a multi-million-dollar success story.

Teresa and Julie talk about how your perspective is your secret sauce - the one thing you actually have full control over, and how training your brain to look for the good instead of catastrophizing can completely shift your reality. They also get real about the unglamorous side of entrepreneurship, the privilege that often goes unacknowledged, and why building a business like a mother instead of like a man is actually a superpower. Plus, a conversation about why quitting is for winners, how to know when it's time to walk away, and the sunk cost fallacy that keeps all of us clinging to things that no longer serve us.

This episode is for anyone who needs permission to stop sweating the small stuff, stop complaining, and start taking action - a reminder that everything is “figureoutable”, and you have more power than you think to build a life you truly love.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Going after the life you love may look unconventional at first. But as long as it makes sense to you, that is all that matters.
• Finding a work-life balance not only has a positive impact on your life, but also on those around you.
• There is value in recognizing what privilege looks like in entrepreneurship, whether that be financially, circumstantially, or in one’s upbringing.
• You are the author of your own story - what you tell yourself has power.
• If you are unhappy with your life - take a break from social media and the comparison game that goes along with it. You have control over who you let influence you and who you let in your life.
• Know your capacity: It’s ok to set boundaries and be selective with whom you give your energy to - there’s only so many hours in the day.

We don't need to lead like men. We can lead like women, and we can lead like mothers and be very effective. - Julie Cole

Connect with Julie:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mabelslabels www.instagram.com/juliecoleinc
• Website: www.mabelslabels.com
• About Julie: www.mabelslabels.com/juliecole

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: building a business as a mom, work-life balance for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship mindset, perspective is your secret sauce, women leadership and motherhood, flexible work culture, scaling a small business, avoiding burnout as an entrepreneur, building a life you love, living a life you love

In this episode: how leaning into what makes you different is the differentiating factor that makes people want to work with you.

Lucy Bedewi is the brand messaging strategist and copywriter behind My Write Hand Woman. She has scaled her business to multi-6-figures by the age of 22, working with top coaches, irreverent brands, highly-differentiated businesses, and personality-packed e-commerce companies. Lucy inspires women to get clear on the articulation behind their business, move into their bigness, and create messaging that’s easy to buy from.

Lucy and Teresa talk about how leaning into what makes you different is actually the hidden superpower that sets you apart from everyone else, how instead of chasing perfectionism, it’s better to just take action first, and how you have the freedom to make life the way you envision it. They also stress the importance of ditching the black and white expectations, and living in the grey area - that’s oftentimes where you’ll find yourself the happiest.

This is for anyone who needs a reminder that there is no one else like you and by owning your authentic self, you’ll attract the people that you are meant to work with.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• It takes courage to show up as your authentic self, but by doing so, you attract the right people that will want to to work with you.
• Leverage your unique qualities and abilities to build a brand that makes sense for you. Lucy owned her unique work flow, rather than fighting it, and by doing so, was able to build a successful business out of that.
• Perfection doesn’t exist - don’t hold yourself back trying to achieve it. It’s better to take action, and then you can always make strategic tweaks to continue to get closer to the results you’re hoping for.
• It is possible to build a business and a life you love - Lucy is able to structure her life in a way, where she has a home base to always go back to, but also the ability to travel and work abroad if she wants to.
• Life is not black and white, it’s often in the grey area where you find what works for you, and make choices that will truly make you happy.

We all have traits, and those traits have this fun little cocktail that go into our body and go into our voice, and that is what you can put on the page that makes you interesting. - Lucy Bedewi

Connect with Lucy:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mywritehandwoman/
• Website: https://www.mywritehandwoman.com/
• What’s Your Brand Messaging Super Power Quiz: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/67979624c16f720015e296ad
• Listen to the Unicorn Messaging podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unicorn-messaging/id1753099196

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: brand messaging strategist, unique brand voice, copywriting, unicorn messaging, personal brand messaging, embracing your authentic self, differentiate your business with copy, email copywriter for entrepreneurs, brand voice development, work life balance, building a life you love

In this episode: why you should make the first move in new friendships and community…even if it’s uncomfortable.

Alana Strong is a former teacher turned real estate agent and community builder in The Woodlands, Texas. She founded The Woodlands Women’s Collective, a 10,000+ member community north of Houston connecting women through events, networking, and friendship.

Alana and Teresa talk about the value in having a community and how oftentimes many people are searching for the exact same thing - but sometimes you have to be the one to take initiative to get it started, and that’s ok. They also discuss how your reality is the stories you tell yourself, and how shifting a few tiny things in your mindset can open up so many wonderful possibilities to build a life and a community you love. Plus, a bonus conversation about all things reality TV, and why you definitely need to start watching Survivor.

This episode is for any girly feeling a little stuck in her life: a reminder that there are no rules, and she has the power to take the reins back and build a life and a community she truly loves.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• To build new friendships or community, you may need to make the first move, but you'll often meet others looking for the same kinds of connections.
• An established community is a great way to meet people and make new friendships, but it also takes effort. You have to put in the work to cultivate those friendships outside of your community space.
• There are no rules - if you want to make something happen, give yourself permission to go out and do it.
• Collaboration vs. competition in female spaces is a practice. Ask yourself: What does it actually look like, and what does it actually mean to focus on collaboration over competition?
• Your reality is the stories you tell yourself - you have so much power to truly build a life you love, simply by just changing the narrative.

Life is too short to sit around hating it. - Alana Strong

Connect with Alana:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanastrongg/
• The Woodlands Women’s Collective: https://www.instagram.com/thewoodlandswomenscollective/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twwcollective
• Website: http://www.thewoodlandswomenscollective.com
• Pretty Chatty Girls Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pretty-chatty-girls/id1895327217

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topic: woodlands women collective, adult friendships, how to build local community, women's networking events, friendship vs community, collaboration over competition

In this episode: becoming obsessed with doing the inner work, so you can build a life and a business you love…while also taking care of yourself.

Denise Alba is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Founder & CEO of BRAVE Wellness Studio in San Diego. She blends mental health, trauma-informed yoga, and business mentorship to support community healing, generational growth, and aligned leadership rooted in purpose.

Denise and Teresa talk about the benefits of having a strong community when healing, how healing and showing up for yourself look different for everyone, the value in taking a step back to check in with yourself when things don’t feel aligned, and most importantly, that you have the power to change your situation.

This episode is for anyone who needs the reminder that you don’t have to choose between ambition and well being.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Your business can’t outgrow your personal growth. It’s so easy to get caught up in the cycle of growing and scaling your business…but if your life doesn’t fulfill you while you’re doing it, what’s the point?
• Having a strong foundation in community circles speeds up your healing process. Denise found that when creating accessibility to yoga classes, retreats, and community spaces, combined with therapy, there is a noticeable change in healing, confidence, and networking.
• Be mindful of your energy and when to protect it. Take note at networking events who gives you energy and who drains it.
• Healing looks different to everyone, and part of the journey is identifying what works best for you.
• If certain things in your life are causing you stress or anxiety - take a step back and ask yourself “What can I do about this?” Remind yourself that you are in control, and you have the power to do something about what you’re feeling.

We have to slow down in order to really get the signals, because we're just not wired to receive everything, this information, and to do life the way that we are right now, which is why there's so much anxiety and depression and loneliness in our world. — Denise Alba

Resources:

• By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult: https://bookshop.org/p/books/by-any-other-name-a-novel-jodi-picoult/aea2c8d9bf115229?ean=9780593497234&bkshp-astro=t
• Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Phd: https://bookshop.org/p/books/women-who-run-with-the-wolves-clarissa-pinkola-estes-ph-d/5e495faa24961d97?ean=9780345409874&bkshp-astro=t

Connect with Denise:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deniseaalba/
• Brave Wellness Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravewellnessstudio/
• Website: https://www.denisealba.com/
• Brave Wellness Studio: https://www.bravewellnessstudio.com/

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: community healing, yoga, holistic mental health, personal growth, self care, mindfulness, mental wellness, community support, entrepreneur burnout, yoga therapy, inner work, self awareness, business mentorship, anxiety relief, mental health tips, emotional well-being, balance in life, wellness retreats, building a life you love, balance in business

In this episode: how you can enjoy your next trip abroad and be obsessed with it, instead of obsessing over it.

Teresa gives a quick check-in from her 3-week vacation in Greece. She shares her top three tips that she has learned throughout her travels, from mentally preparing for your trip and how to not allow inconveniences or stressful situations to ruin your time; packing not for perception, but more for how you want to feel; and how to navigate dealing with body-image comparisons and recognizing your own beauty.

This episode is for anyone about to go on an exciting trip, and how to make the most of their time there.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Prioritize mentally preparing for your trip. Ask yourself: What do you want to feel like and how can you prepare for every aspect of the trip, not just the “picture-perfect” parts?
• When you’re traveling, there are so many things that are not going to go perfectly - and that’s ok. It’s just part of the experience and how you choose to handle it.
• Dress how you want to feel more than how you want to be perceived - focus on what makes you feel comfortable and confident, so that you can enjoy your time on vacation.
• In a world where “skinny-talk” has transitioned to the forefront in media, it’s important to note that you can love your body and want to live a healthy lifestyle, and also feel the pressure to fit a certain standard.
• Your first thought is not who you are - It's your conditioning. Your second thought, and how you engage with it, is who you truly are.

If you are only posting content for yourself and to be perceived, do not make it a full-time job. Make enjoying yourself the full-time job and capture the memories. - Teresa Stastny

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: self-love, mental preparation for travel, body positivity, travel mindset, travel tips for women, overcoming comparison, managing expectations while traveling, embracing imperfections, decision fatigue while traveling, enjoying the moment on vacation, finding joy in travel experiences, navigating new environments, dressing for comfort while traveling, managing social media pressure, traveling without comparison, living a life you love

In this episode: how switching up your space and creating a solid sales routine, surrounded by places and things you enjoy, can actually improve your sales strategy and mindset.

Alyssa Moorhead runs an 11-year-old DFY Lead Generation Agency for bold, unicorn category-of-one business owners. She helps women generate new leads through IG Stories and IG DMs to make ethical sales to dream clients for service-based agencies and high-level mentors. Alyssa shares the steps she took when scaling her business, including creating a “hiring wish list” to determine where she needed the most support, and how to structure her business to make that happen. Alyssa and Teresa also talk about how to navigate Instagram to find warm and hot leads, email marketing, whether using automation makes sense for your business, and the ins and outs of sales content.

If you are someone who is dreading the sales side of your business or struggling to turn your Instagram stories and DMs into consistent client conversations, then this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Build yourself a “hiring wish list” for all of the roles you need the most support in as you are scaling your business.
• Build a morning routine and a sales morning routine - this allows you to create time for yourself, while also budgeting in a daily time to stay on top of your leads and more urgent tasks for your business.
• Take time to look at who is viewing your Instagram stories - there could be a lot of hidden leads there.
• Using an automation may not make sense for every business model.
• Sales is a practice - you have to be practicing on an ongoing basis.

Letting go of the “shoulds” changed my life. - Alyssa Moorhead

Connect with Alyssa:

• Website: https://alyssamoorhead.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssalmoorhead/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-moorhead/
• Sassy Sales Tips Email List: https://alyssamoorhead.myflodesk.com/emailsignup

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

topics: sales content, ethical sales, lead generation, Instagram marketing, sales strategies, women entrepreneurs, morning sales routine, marketing versus sales, client relationships, social media sales, sales coaching, DM sales, audience engagement, sales conversion, sales process, content creation for sales, personal branding, small business marketing, building a life you love, business that supports you