Today, we’re hitting pause and looking back on our very first year of Bubbles & Breakdowns. Fifty-two episodes later, we’re reflecting on where we started, the conversations that hit closest to home, and how much we’ve grown in this process. And yes; Season 2 is officially happening! But before we rush into the next chapter, we wanted to take an intentional moment to celebrate how far we’ve come and refocus on what matters most. Grab a glass to toast to our first year and join us for a trip down memory lane, and let us know: what’s made the biggest imprint on you this year?

Big Thank You to our Season 1 Guests:

• Francesca Thomson: https://healthierholidays.com/pages/about-our-founder
• Lauren DeCicco: https://drlaurendecicco.com/ 
• Keesha Scott: https://keeshascott.com/
• Monica Packer: https://www.aboutprogress.com/
• Ellen Meyer: https://ellenmeyercoaching.scoreapp.com/
• Sarah Heinss: https://musetherapy.co/

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

We sit down with Sarah Heinss from Muse Therapy to unpack the urgency trap of modern life, exploring how technology, childhood conditioning, and societal pressures keep our nervous systems locked in a perpetual state of fight-or-flight. Sarah breaks down the science of why our bodies confuse everyday emotional stakes with physical danger, and makes a powerful case for why rest and adult play are not luxuries, but essential biological tools for nervous system regulation. By learning to slow down and reclaim low-stakes, unstructured fun, we can signal safety to our brains, move out of survival mode, and unlock the creative energy that busy adult lives so often suppress.

Sarah Heinss is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and the Founder and Lead Therapist at Muse Therapy & Wellness in Chicago. With over 15 years of background in the visual arts, storytelling, and media, Sarah uniquely bridges the gap between clinical expertise and creative life. She specializes in helping high-achieving individuals, artists, entrepreneurs, and Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) break free from chronic burnout, perfectionism, and the exhausting pressure to constantly perform. She is passionate about the restorative power of unstructured fun, and the importance of reclaiming a sense of playfulness and spontaneity in adulthood.

• Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahheinss 
• Work with Sarah Heinss: https://musetherapy.co/ 
• Dopamine Culture: https://www.instagram.com/p/DasG2_dSylU/?igsh=MXNpb2VqOGs2NnB1MA== 
• Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

Have you ever opened up about something painful only to hear, "Everything happens for a reason”, "Just stay positive”, or “it could be worse"? Chances are, the person saying those words meant well. Most people aren't trying to dismiss our feelings; they're trying to comfort us. But sometimes, those well-intentioned responses can leave us feeling unheard, misunderstood, or even guilty for experiencing difficult emotions in the first place. Today, we're talking about toxic positivity; the pressure to maintain a positive attitude no matter what's happening in our lives. We'll explore what toxic positivity really is, why it's become so common in our culture, how it can affect our emotional well-being and relationships, and what healthy, genuine support looks like instead. Because true resilience isn't about pretending everything is okay; it's about making space for the full range of human emotions while finding hope in honest and meaningful ways.

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

Have you ever ignored that little voice inside you, only to realize later it was right all along? If you're a woman in your 40s, chances are you've had that experience more than once. Somewhere between raising kids, building a career, caring for aging parents, supporting a partner, and keeping everyone else's lives running smoothly, it's easy to lose touch with your own inner voice. We become so focused on meeting everyone else's needs that we start second-guessing our own instincts. In today's episode, we're talking about why that happens, why your intuition deserves more credit than you may give it, and how to reconnect with the inner wisdom that's been there all along.

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

Ever feel like you’re running a marathon you didn't sign up for, with a backpack full of everyone else's expectations? Today, we are pulling back the curtain on a crisis so many of us are quietly drowning in: the perfect storm of burnout. Today, we get to unpack exactly why we are wired for this exhaustion.  But it’s not just in our heads; it’s in our changing biology during these middle third years, leaving us running on empty in a modern workspace that has completely fractured. If you are living on autopilot, bouncing from one fire to the next, this episode is your permission slip to stop surviving and start fighting for calm. We're sharing personal rock-bottom moments, raw career realities, and some practical tools you can use to compartmentalize your work, change your frequency, and reclaim your peace.

Today we are joined by the brilliant Ellen Meyer; she is a strategist, coach, and self-described "Professional Hypewoman" for working women and executive leaders. You'll see...She cuts through the noise of standard corporate coach-speak with depth, humor, and zero script.

After 20 years climbing the corporate ladder, Ellen now runs Grounded Growth LLC, where she does coaching and keynotes ​on burnout, workplace BS, and leading organizational change. She is obsessed with brain science, habit formation, and human psychology...and figuring out how women can heal burnout without burning their whole life down.

Don't know where to start? Visit Ellen’s Website and Take her Free Quiz to understand your personal pattern: https://ellenmeyercoaching.scoreapp.com/ 

Follow Ellen on Instagram: @heyellenmeyer

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

When kids enter the picture, the marriage dynamic shifts from "us against the world" to "us managing the household." Today we are chatting on how we are, or maybe we’re not keeping the love alive. Let’s see if we can find some actionable, bite-sized strategies to protect our relationships, rediscover intimacy, and communicate through the noise of family life; all without the guilt of prioritizing their marriage.

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

We’ve all been there one time or another; when the exhausting reality of the "all-or-nothing" mindset hits us like a flailing toddler’s arm across our face. We live in a world that praises flawless execution, but what happens when striving for perfection actually paralyzes us? Today, we are joined by the lovely Monica Packer. She’s an acclaimed host of the About Progress Podcast, progress coach, upcoming author, and a recovering perfectionist who has spent years helping women dismantle the pressure to do it all flawlessly.

• Monica Packer: https://www.aboutprogress.com/
• Pre-Order Sticky Habits: https://www.aboutprogress.com/stickyhabits

Theme Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic 

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

Ever feel like you’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, even when things are going great? In this episode, we’re breaking down the anxiety trap; that exhausting cycle where what-ifs and worst-case scenarios quietly hijack your mind. We’ll explore how anxiety acts as a thief in the night, stealing your present-day joy, shrinking your world into a fortress of fear, and keeping you from fully experiencing the rich, vibrant life you deserve. On the previous episode, we talked about rumination, which focuses on things in the past. Now, we’re talking a look at anxiety which comes while thinking of your future. If you're tired of sitting on the sidelines of your own existence and are ready to reclaim your peace, press play; it’s time to stop just dealing with the worry and start truly living.

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

Ever find yourself trapped in an endless loop of replaying an old argument or obsessing over a worst-case scenario? In this episode of Stress-Inducing Rumination, we take a look at why our brains get stuck on these exhausting mental tracks. Often, rumination stems from a misguided survival mechanism that’s just triggering a chronic stress response. We dive into strategies to break the cycle. Managing your thoughts isn't about achieving a perfect, quiet mind overnight; it's an empowering act of reclaiming our mental energy, time, and peace. Let’s discover how stepping away from the loop can open the door to a calmer, more intentional life; that sounds great to me!

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic 

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!

We’ve all heard the phrase, "Women are just naturally better at multitasking." It’s often handed to us as a compliment; a badge of honor for the mom hopping on a corporate conference call while pouring milk into a sippy cup, or the professional seamlessly triaging emails while coordinating a family calendar. But is it actually a superpower, or is it a survival mechanism for a heavy cognitive load? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the "multitasking myth." We explore why multitasking isn't an innate female skill, but a systemic female issue. We talk about the hidden cost of "task-switching," the invisible labor that drives it, and how to build boundaries to reclaim our focus.

Music by: Matthew McGrath https://www.instagram.com/matthewmcgrathmusic

https://www.instagram.com/bubbles_and_breakdowns

And remember, after every breakdown, don't forget the bubbles!