🎙️ Episode 102 — Am I Having a Midlife Crisis… or Finally Waking Up?

So here’s the thing — a midlife crisis doesn’t always look like a red sports car or a dramatic haircut ✂️🚗. Sometimes it looks like sitting in your driveway sobbing because you have to make dinner again 🍲😭. Or catching your reflection in the mirror — messy bun, yesterday’s mascara — and realizing you don’t even recognize yourself anymore 🪞🙃.

In this episode of Chaotic Compass, I’m getting real about what midlife really feels like. I’ve been asking myself: Am I having a crisis… or am I just finally waking the hell up? ⚡

Here’s what we’re diving into:
✨ The truth about midlife crisis vs. midlife awakening (and why awareness isn’t collapse)
✨ Signs you might actually be waking up, not falling apart — like craving deeper conversations, feeling irritated by the same old routines, and mourning the old hobbies you let go of
✨ The loud chaos of midlife — from marriage arguments on repeat 💍➡️😤 to kid chaos 🧒🧦, endless spreadsheets 📊, and a body that doesn’t bounce back like it used to 😩
✨ Practical ways I’m trying to find myself again: 15-minute joys ⏱️, shifting from shoulds to wants ✅➡️💙, and letting this messy podcast be my outlet 🎙️

If you’ve ever sat in your car whispering “Is this it?” 🚘💭 or stared at your color-coded family calendar wondering why your name isn’t on it 🗓️, this episode is for you. You’re not crazy. You’re not alone. And maybe you’re not in crisis at all — maybe you’re just finally waking up. 🌱

👉 Grab your drink 🍹, hit play ▶️, and let’s navigate this messy, midlife awakening together.

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

🎙️Episode 101 – Boats, Concerts & Chaos: Navigating the Beautiful Mess of Summer

This summer was nothing short of chaotic — and I’m bringing you along for every wild, beautiful, and downright ridiculous moment. In this episode, I share how I:

⚓️ Earned my boater safety card and braved a terrifying but exhilarating solo trip on our 13-foot Boston Whaler.
🎶 Took Kylie to an elegant Laufey + Virginia Symphony concert, soaking in music, tears, and a night of pure beauty.
🚗 Survived the windshield saga after Ryan’s “fix” turned into a DIY disaster (thank God for insurance).
🏝️ Escaped Ocracoke just before a hurricane evacuation — with torrential downpours, lightning scares, and unforgettable family memories.
🌳 Watched a tree beside our house get struck by lightning, frying my upstairs TV and kitchen lights (RIP tree).
💦 Took all the kids to Water Country USA, only lost the boys for ten minutes, and paid $40 for drinks that should’ve come with a beach house.

It wasn’t a perfect summer — it was messy, unpredictable, and filled with anxiety, laughter, and growth. But that’s life, right? Between the hurricanes and lightning strikes were moments of independence, beauty, and family connection that made it all worth it.

If you’ve ever had a summer that looked nothing like Instagram but still left you grateful and a little changed, this one’s for you.

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

🎙️ Episode 100: 10 Years Later – Navigating the Chaos, Choosing Life and Healing

Ten years ago, on Memorial Day, I almost didn’t make it. I was in a dark place, convinced the world — and even my kids — would be better off without me. Today, I’m here, celebrating my 100th episode of Chaotic Compass.

In this raw and unedited conversation, I share the lessons I’ve learned over the past decade — from hitting rock bottom to choosing life again and again. My hope is that this story reminds you that you’re never too far gone, and that starting over is not failure…it’s strength.

✨ In this episode, I talk about:

Why finding your “why” (mine is my kids) can keep you grounded.

How therapy isn’t a dirty word — it’s a tool for survival and growth.

Why healing isn’t linear and what to do when you backslide.

How to rewrite your story and reclaim your voice.

Why real connection saves lives (and how isolation almost took mine).

💡 Whether you’re in the middle of your own chaos or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that you are not broken, you are not alone, and you always have another chance to begin again.

📌 Resources mentioned:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text if you’re in crisis.

👉 If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or let me know how it hit home for you. Your support is what keeps this chaotic little compass moving forward.

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

🎙️ Episode 100: 10 Years Later – Navigating the Chaos, Choosing Life and Healing

Ten years ago, on Memorial Day, I almost didn’t make it. I was in a dark place, convinced the world — and even my kids — would be better off without me. Today, I’m here, celebrating my 100th episode of Chaotic Compass.

In this raw and unedited conversation, I share the lessons I’ve learned over the past decade — from hitting rock bottom to choosing life again and again. My hope is that this story reminds you that you’re never too far gone, and that starting over is not failure…it’s strength.

✨ In this episode, I talk about:

Why finding your “why” (mine is my kids) can keep you grounded.

How therapy isn’t a dirty word — it’s a tool for survival and growth.

Why healing isn’t linear and what to do when you backslide.

How to rewrite your story and reclaim your voice.

Why real connection saves lives (and how isolation almost took mine).

💡 Whether you’re in the middle of your own chaos or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that you are not broken, you are not alone, and you always have another chance to begin again.

📌 Resources mentioned:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text if you’re in crisis.

👉 If this episode resonates, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or let me know how it hit home for you. Your support is what keeps this chaotic little compass moving forward.

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

Episode🎙️ 99. Back from Burnout: Navigating Midlife, Meltdowns & Figuring Sh*t Out

I’m back—and wow, it’s been a ride. In this brutally honest comeback episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the chaos I’ve been living through. From the end-of-school madness to full-blown burnout, I’m talking about what it’s really like to hit a wall in midlife and wonder if you even recognize yourself anymore.

I share the ugly moments—crying in the car, sitting alone at a bar just to find peace, feeling disconnected from my marriage, and overwhelmed by motherhood and mental noise. I’ve been stuck, overstimulated, and running on fumes. This episode is messy, real, and completely unfiltered.

If you’ve been feeling lost, exhausted, or like you're carrying more than your share of the weight—this one's for you. No fixes, no polished advice—just truth, reflection, and figuring it out one breath at a time.

In this episode, I talk about:

Where I’ve been and why I disappeared

What burnout has looked like in my day-to-day life

Feeling invisible in my own marriage and life

Crying in parking lots and sitting in silence just to feel something

Why I had to stop trying to fix everything

Using this podcast as my safe space again

How I’m learning to trust myself and my voice

Why I’m choosing real over perfect going forward

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

Episode🎙️ 98. The Exhaustion No One Talks About: Navigating The Weight Of it

Hey guys. Today’s episode is different. I’m not showing up with a plan, a pep talk, or a solution—I’m just showing up real. Lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of it all, and if you’re anything like me, you probably are too. So I’m sharing something deeply personal—words I wrote on a day when everything felt like too much.

This one’s for the woman who wakes up already tired. The one who pours and pours until there’s nothing left, then smiles anyway. It’s for the moms, the partners, the professionals, the dreamers—trying to hold it all together while quietly falling apart.

There’s no filter here. Just truth. If this resonates with you, if it makes you feel a little less alone—then this episode did its job.

Share it with someone who needs it. Or reach out and let me know how you’re really doing. We weren’t meant to carry it all without a place to rest. Let this podcast be that place—for you, for me, for us.

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

Episode🎙️ 97. F*ck Winter – Navigating Seasonal Chaos, Work-Life Balance & Finding Joy

This week, we are over it – and by it, I mean winter, exhaustion, and the never-ending grind. If you’re also feeling like Mother Nature is playing mind games, your job is sucking the life out of you, and joy feels like a distant memory, this episode is for you.

🔥 Here’s what we’re diving into:
✔️ Weather whiplash: One day it’s 70 and sunny, the next I’m shoveling snow. What kind of gaslighting BS is this?
✔️ Work vs. passion: My real job is stealing time from my podcast, and I am not okay with it.
✔️ The chaotic art of “family time”: We took all four kids to a Norfolk Admirals hockey game—shockingly, it was not a total disaster.
✔️ Forcing joy (because why not?): From sitting in the sun with cider to prioritizing date nights, I’m on a mission to make joy happen.
✔️ Marriage & mental load: Ryan has been MIA (for work, not emotionally... mostly), and I’m trying to balance everything.

🎧 If you’ve been feeling stuck in the daily grind, THIS is your reminder to carve out moments of joy – even if you have to force it.

💬 What’s bringing YOU joy right now? Message me, DM me, send a carrier pigeon – I wanna hear it!

📌 Up Next: Back by popular demand – a deep dive into manifesting (WTF is it really, and how can you actually use it to change your life?).

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

#PodcastLife #FuckWinter #MomLife #MarriageStruggles #WorkLifeBalance #FindingJoy #HockeyMom #SelfCare #SeasonalDepression

Episode🎙️ 96. Breaking Up With Comparison: Navigating How to Embrace You

Description:
In this solo episode, I get real about the struggles of comparison, exhaustion, and the pressure to keep up with unrealistic expectations. I open up about navigating life while solo parenting, balancing work, and feeling overwhelmed—yet still showing up. With humor and authenticity, I explore the impact of social media comparison, imposter syndrome, and how shifting my mindset can turn envy into inspiration. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just trying to survive, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:
✅ The reality behind social media’s “perfect” lives—spoiler: it’s not real.
✅ How comparison steals joy and individuality.
✅ The importance of showing up, even when exhausted.
✅ Turning comparison into inspiration instead of self-doubt.
✅ Practicing gratitude and celebrating small wins.
✅ Learning to speak kindly to myself like I would to a friend.
✅ Embracing the process—whether it’s parenting, work, or podcasting.

Mentioned in this Episode:
👩‍👧‍👦 I share my chaotic week of solo parenting and meal prep wins.

🏠 A hilarious insight into Ryan’s “pace” when it comes to home projects.

💤 The struggle of finding motivation while balancing life’s chaos.

🤯 A deep dive into why I compare myself to others and how to shift my perspective.

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend! Your support keeps Chaotic Compass going! 💙

Hashtags: #ChaoticCompass #PodcastLife #MomLife #SoloParenting #ComparisonTrap #MindsetShift #SelfGrowth #AuthenticLiving #ImposterSyndrome #ParentingWins #FindingBalance #RealTalk #MentalHealthMatters #PodcastCommunity

Episode 95: Fighting Fair – Navigating Conflict Without Chaos 🎙️

Description:
Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, but how do you fight fair? In this episode of Chaotic Compass, Stefanie gets real about the struggles of communication, emotional triggers, and how misunderstandings can spiral into chaos. From personal challenges with her husband Ryan to learning how to express needs without resentment, she explores how to navigate love and arguments without losing yourself in the process.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Why healthy conflict is crucial in relationships
✅ How different communication styles impact arguments
✅ The role of love languages in resolving disagreements
✅ Strategies for keeping emotional balance during conflict
✅ How to communicate needs without feeling guilty

Mentioned in this Episode:
💬 The struggles of feeling unheard and unseen in relationships
📆 Transitioning from a physical family calendar to Google Calendar for better organization
🧘‍♀️ The importance of self-care and personal outlets in maintaining relationship balance
🍏 Blake’s Hard Cider – Stefanie’s drink of the episode

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Don’t Forget
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who hates the cold, loves cider, or has strong feelings about TikTok! And leave a review—it helps the chaos continue!

#Relationships #Communication #Marriage #FightingFair #LoveLanguages #ChaoticCompass

🎙️ 94. Chaotic Couples Episode: Navigating Our Life

In this kid-free episode of Chaotic Compass, Ryan and I sit down with a few drinks and dive into the chaos of our life together. We start with a taste test of fancy tonic waters (because why not?) and somehow end up reminiscing about some of our most chaotic moments—like that time our car broke down in the middle of a swamp with a boat in tow. 🚗💨🎣

But beyond the mishaps, we get real about what we’ve learned from each other in our relationship. From technology lessons (yes, Ryan finally ditched his Blackberry) to parenting in a blended family and figuring out how to actually fight fair, this episode is full of laughs, lessons, and a little bit of marital roasting.

Plus, we’re bringing back the habit of focusing on small wins instead of just venting about the chaos—because let’s be real, life is wild, but there’s always something good to celebrate.

Tune in for:
✔️ A (hilarious) tonic water taste test
✔️ Our most memorable chaotic moments—including breakdowns (both mechanical & emotional)
✔️ Lessons learned in love, parenting, and patience (or lack thereof)
✔️ Why the opposite of love isn’t hate—it’s indifference
✔️ A reminder to find the good in the chaos

Pour yourself a drink and join us for some unfiltered, real-life relationship talk. Cheers! 🥂

Let’s Connect!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.
💻 Visit me at Chaotic Compass.
📱 Follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
✉️ DM me or drop your chaos stories—I’d love to share a laugh with you!

Don’t Forget
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who hates the cold, loves cider, or has strong feelings about TikTok! And leave a review—it helps the chaos continue!

#MarriageChaos #BlendedFamily #PodcastLife #RelationshipTalk #FightingFair #LifeLessons #ParentingStruggles #TonicTasteTest #ChaoticCompass