Chronicles of the Phoenix

28. In a world that feels increasingly loud, divided, and exhausting, it can be tempting to pull back, stay quiet, or convince ourselves that leadership belongs to someone else.

But what if leadership has less to do with titles and authority, and more to do with how we show up in our everyday lives?

In this episode, we explore what it means to use your voice with intention, advocate for what matters, and participate in the communities around you, even when speaking up feels uncomfortable. We talk about assertiveness, self-trust, and the difference between being passive, aggressive, and clear. We discuss the messages many of us received about keeping the peace, avoiding conflict, and making ourselves small, and how those messages can impact our ability to lead.

Drawing from our work in leadership development and an upcoming workshop series with Habitat for Humanity homeowners, we explore leadership through a broader lens. Leadership isn't just for executives and elected officials. It shows up in neighborhoods, families, workplaces, schools, and community spaces every day.

Whether you're advocating for your child, setting a boundary, speaking up in a meeting, supporting a neighbor, or simply learning to express your own needs more clearly, this episode is a reminder that influence starts long before a title does.

Because leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room, it's about choosing not to stay silent when something matters.

27. Before looking ahead, we wanted to pause and hear from the people who have been part of this journey with us: our listeners. We asked what episodes stayed with you, what ideas made their way into your real lives, what made you laugh, and what you want more of in the season ahead. Your answers gave us a lot to talk about.

In this season kickoff, we reflect on the themes that kept showing up: learning to trust ourselves, seeking deeper connection, noticing our own growth, holding onto hope, and remembering that sometimes the smallest shifts have the biggest impact.

We also talk about what surprised us about this first year, what we've learned from creating the podcast together, and what your feedback taught us about where we want to go next. And, of course, we get into the stories, banter, travel mishaps, family moments, and humor that you told us are just as much a part of the show as the topics themselves.

More than anything, this episode is a thank-you. For listening, sharing, reflecting, laughing with us, and occasionally putting something you heard here into practice.

We're heading into this next season with the same goal we've had from the beginning: creating honest conversations that leave all of us a little more curious, connected, hopeful, and willing to trust ourselves.

Welcome back to Chronicles of the Phoenix. Let's see where this season takes us.

26. Creativity is often treated like a talent. Something reserved for artists, writers, musicians, or people who consider themselves "creative." But what if creativity is less about talent and more about expression? What if it's one of the ways we make sense of ourselves and the world around us?

In this episode, we're joined by a very special guest, Addie Saylor, who opens our conversation by sharing an original poem she wrote, To My Mirrors, Soulmates, and Loves. The poem itself is beautiful, but what unfolds after is a personal conversation about the story behind it, the experiences that shaped it, and the role creativity can play in helping us understand what we're feeling.

Together, we talk about how writing, art, music, and other creative outlets can give shape to experiences that are difficult to put into words. We explore the idea that sometimes we don't fully understand our emotions until we begin expressing them, and how creating can become a powerful way of processing, healing, and discovering parts of ourselves we didn't know were waiting to be heard.

We also talk about vulnerability, self-expression, and the courage it takes to let ourselves be seen. Not just through art, but through honesty, storytelling, and sharing our voice in whatever form feels true to us.

25. In a world that can feel heavy, divided, and overwhelming, Dolly Parton has long served as a reminder that hope is not just something we feel. It's something we do.

In this episode, we reflect on the extraordinary life and legacy of Dolly Parton, not simply as a musician or cultural icon, but as a leader, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and advocate for everyday people. From her commitment to children's literacy through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, to creating opportunities in her hometown, supporting disaster relief efforts, investing in education, and using her platform to uplift others, Dolly consistently showed what it looks like to turn values into action.

We explore why her story resonates with so many people right now and what leaders, business owners, parents, helpers, and ordinary people can learn from the way she navigated success without losing sight of where she came from. We talk about compassion, community, purpose, and the powerful reminder that making a difference doesn't require fame, wealth, or perfect circumstances.

Most importantly, this conversation invites us to consider our own capacity to create change. Because the lesson isn't that we all need to build an empire. The lesson is that we all have the ability to make an impact, one person, one conversation, one act of generosity at a time.

If you've been looking for a reason to believe that small actions still matter, this episode is for you.

24. What happens when the people who care for everyone else struggle to advocate for themselves?

In this episode, we're joined by Jessica Foley for a conversation about worth, self-advocacy, and the systems that shape how we see ourselves. From therapists to women leaders and entrepreneurs, many of us receive the same message: that being helpful, compassionate, and selfless is more important than recognizing our own value.

Together, we explore the helping profession paradox, why burnout and underpayment have become so normalized, and how years of being undervalued can contribute to self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and difficulty asking for more.

We also discuss the broader cultural pressures women face around compensation, leadership, ambition, and taking up space. Why does asking for a raise feel so uncomfortable? Why is advocating for ourselves often harder than advocating for others? And how do we begin challenging the stories we've inherited about what we're worth?

This conversation is an invitation to examine the connection between service and sacrifice, compassion and boundaries, and the courage it takes to trust yourself in a world that often asks you to shrink.

If you've ever struggled with self-worth, questioned your value, felt guilty asking for more, or wondered whether you're allowed to take up space, this episode is for you.

23. Have you ever found yourself wondering whether your gut is trying to tell you something important, or if anxiety is simply getting louder than usual?

In this episode, we explore one of the most common questions we hear from clients, leaders, business owners, and parents alike: How do I know if this is intuition or anxiety?

We unpack the difference between a warning sign and a worry story, and discuss how our nervous systems provide valuable information without always providing clear answers. Together, we explore what anxiety sounds like, what intuition feels like, and why so many people struggle to trust themselves when faced with uncertainty.

We also look at the role of context, both internal and external, in making decisions. How do we balance the signals coming from our bodies with the facts in front of us? What happens when anxiety drives avoidance, impulsivity, or the pursuit of certainty that doesn't exist? And how do we build the confidence to move forward when we don't have all the answers?

Finally, we discuss why decision-making doesn't have to happen in isolation and how trusted peers, perspective, and community can help us see what we can't always see on our own. Whether you're navigating a business decision, a leadership challenge, a family transition, or a personal crossroads, this episode offers practical tools for learning to trust yourself and move forward with greater clarity.

Sometimes the goal isn't to eliminate uncertainty, it's learning how to listen closely enough that anxiety doesn't get the final vote.

22. Most of us show up differently depending on where we are. There's the work version, the family version, the helper, the achiever, the one who always has it together. Over time, those parts can become so compartmentalized that we lose touch with who we are when all of them come together.

In this episode, we explore what happens when we begin reconnecting with the parts of ourselves we've left behind. We talk about compartmentalization, identity, self-sufficiency, codependence, and the process of becoming more fully ourselves. Along the way, we reflect on themes from Michelle Obama's Becoming and the idea that healing isn't about becoming someone new, but integrating who we've been all along.

We also discuss how growth changes our relationships. As we become more authentic, we often find ourselves wanting different things from friendships, family relationships, and partnerships. What once felt comfortable may no longer fit. What we need from connection evolves as we do.

And because no episode with us is complete without a little life update, we check in with Erin following her recent trip to Europe, hear about some of her favorite moments, and explore how travel can sometimes reveal parts of ourselves we don't notice in our everyday routines.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt lonely despite being surrounded by people, wondered why certain relationships have changed over time, or found themselves reconnecting with parts of themselves they thought were long gone.

Because maybe the goal isn't to become someone else.

Maybe the goal is to stop leaving pieces of yourself behind.

21. We talk a lot about connection, loneliness, and the importance of having support systems. But what if meaningful connection isn't something that just happens? What if it can be intentionally built?

In this episode, we sit down with Molly Keehn, co-creator of CoJourn, a program that combines accountability, self-compassion, and human connection to help people move toward meaningful goals while building deeper relationships along the way. Molly shares the personal story behind CoJourn, from her own struggle with anxiety during graduate school to creating a framework that has helped people strengthen relationships, increase follow-through, and create lasting change.

Together, we explore the power of reciprocity, why so many people struggle to move beyond surface-level relationships, and how connection often emerges when we stop trying to fix one another and simply learn how to listen. We discuss loneliness, vulnerability, the research behind accountability and self-compassion, and why one consistent relationship can have a profound impact on wellbeing.

We also dive into how CoJourn is being used in workplaces, schools, and communities, and why structure can sometimes be the very thing that makes authentic connection possible. Whether you're looking to achieve a personal goal, strengthen a relationship, or simply feel a little less alone, this conversation offers a practical and hopeful path forward.

To learn more about CoJourn, visit www.cojourn.org or connect with Molly and CoJourn on LinkedIn (@cojourn) and Instagram (@cojourninternational).

20. Burnout doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. It’s not just exhaustion or having too much on your plate. Sometimes it shows up as disconnection. From yourself. From others. From the things that once felt meaningful.

In this episode, we explore what burnout actually feels like in real life. The version that looks like functioning on the outside while quietly feeling depleted, irritated, or checked out on the inside. We talk about the “burnout bubble” and how overwhelm can lead to isolation, which only deepens the experience.

We also name the subtle signs people often miss. Avoiding texts, feeling resentful toward things you chose, or constantly defaulting to “I’m just busy” when something deeper is going on.

Most importantly, we offer practical ways to begin reconnecting. Not through major changes or escapes, but through small, intentional moments that bring you back to yourself and others. Because burnout isn’t just about doing too much. It’s about feeling like you’re carrying it alone.

If you’re feeling stretched thin, disconnected, or like you’re showing up without really being present, this episode offers a different way to understand what’s happening and a gentler way to move through it.

19. One year ago, we made the decision to leave full-time work and build something of our own. In this episode, we reflect on what this past year has really taught us. Not just about running a business, but about identity, connection, and what it means to build something while also being changed by it.

We talk about the people who shaped this experience in meaningful ways, the role of connection and community, and what we’ve learned from being in rooms with others who are building something of their own. We also share the mistakes, the moments that didn’t go as planned, and the realities that don’t always get talked about when you step outside of something known and into something new.

Woven into this conversation is a deeper thread. Growth often requires letting go of versions of ourselves we once depended on. There are moments in the process that feel like breaking down before they feel like becoming something new.

This episode is not just for business owners. It’s for anyone who has taken a risk, made a change, or found themselves in the middle of something that is still unfolding.

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Resilience Circle Special Event Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resilience-circle-special-event-cojourn-with-molly-keehn-edd-tickets-1988570843925