This is a VERY special episode…why? Because we just hit one year of the show! Episode 52, hallelujah! And I thought what better topic to dive into than the theme that has stretched me the most: Vulnerability - the real kind.

I share why I didn’t launch right away holding episodes and marketing for months, how safety and vulnerability actually work together, and the hard truth I had to face about hyper-independence and emotional availability.

And this episode isn’t without me taking off the mask and dropping the armor for a behind-the-scenes look at how I’m personally challenging myself to explore deeper vulnerability in my own life. Because we’re all just works in progress figuring it out together.

Stay tuned to the end for a special offer!

Highlights:

(04:35) – The real reason I froze on launching the podcast for eight months

(5:55) – The symbiotic relationship between vulnerability and safety

(9:11) – Revisiting a five-year relationship twelve years later and the shocking truth it revealed

(12:25) – Hyper-independence as a trauma response and how it quietly kills connection

(17:45) – What my new relationship taught me in real time about true vulnerability

(22:00) – Showing up before you’ve perfectly figured it out & closing the gap

(27:05) – A behind the scenes note from my producer; plus an invitation to explore vulnerability even deeper

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

It’s officially 2026, and I’m here with a quick reality check: the Gregorian “new year” is a made-up date, but we can still use it for momentum.

Today I’m walking you through the framework from my book, “The Less Effect: Design Your Life for Happiness & Purpose”. We dive into how “less” isn’t just about stuff, but about alignment in all areas.

We’ll start with the easy wins (your physical space), then move into your social environment (who guides you closer to you), and finish with habits (are you driving the ship, or are your habits driving you).

Simple, yes. Life-changing, also yes.

Highlights:

(01:45) - New Year pressure check, it’s just another day - use it, don’t worship it

(03:10) - The only question that actually matters: “How can I be more of ME in 2026?”

(05:05) - “The Less Effect” intro, consumerism, overwhelm, and the “aha” breaking point

(08:20) - Relationship declutter and the truth about “neutral” people

(10:20) - Habit loops explained, cues, behaviors, payoffs & how to swap the patterns

(16:55) - Free book giveaway, plus how to write your own book with SJ

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

If there’s one thing blocking you from love in your life, it’s this: being the “cool girl” (or guy).

Nothing amazing that I’ve attracted in life came from being nonchalant - it came from being unapologetic…and a little delusional. In this episode, I touch on the people-pleasing identity I carried for years and the pride I carried for staying chill and unbothered. How what I feel and expressing it fully (after all - I am a Pisces!) has changed my relationships, my dating life, and the way I show up for myself and my values.

We explore the difference between being desired and being valued, why we often gaslight ourselves before anyone else does, and how radical honesty must become the foundation for self worth. Learn how being “low-maintenance” is just a fancy costume for self-betrayal and the beautiful love and honoring that came in once I stopped performing and started living in deeper truth.

Highlights:

(02:12) When (and why) I decided never to be the cool girl again

(02:53) Why low maintenance is often code for self betrayal

(4:51) Desire vs value and how I learned to spot the difference

(14:55) Radical honesty and breaking the habit of gaslighting ourselves

(16:44) My soulmate journal and where I was going wrong

(23:55) A coaching session that woke me up to my own BS

Listen to SJ’s Coaching Session with Relationship Coach, Christine Hassler: Maybe There Isn’t a Problem At All

Check out Christine Hassler and her program, Be The Queen

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

This episode is a continuation of one of the most vulnerable things I’ve ever shared: a peek into the trauma mapped inside my brain. Sitting with Sarah Murphy for part two of my brain mapping session changed the way I understand my past, my nervous system, and the way healing really works. And wow, was it validating.

We talk honestly about sleep, anxiety, anger, resilience, and what happens when your brain has been stuck in survival mode for years. If you’ve ever wondered whether your body can truly recover, or if you’re just wired this way forever, this conversation might open a door you didn’t know existed.

Highlights:

(01:52) Seeing fight or flight show up on a brain map, and why it was strangely validating

(05:47) Why anger is harder to access than sadness, especially for women

(09:08) Gamma brainwaves, heightened awareness, and how healing actually happens

(15:38) Trauma, insomnia, and why the brain struggles to let go on its own

(18:10) What it feels like when your nervous system finally feels safe

(22:45) Training resilience so old triggers stop running your present

To learn more about Omni Neurofeedback, visit https://omnineurofeedback.com/

To book a Discovery Call with Sarah Murphy: Email [email protected] and mention “SJ” for $100 off your brain mapping session

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

This episode is part one of a two part series, peeling back the curtain to my most expensive asset: my brain! You’re getting a front row seat to a live session walking through the results of a Brain Mapping session. Seeing my brain patterns laid out in front of me was equal parts nerve-racking and validating. After years of living in hyper vigilance, grief, and insomnia in my past, I finally got to see how my brain adapted and protected me.

Learning what my brain has been carrying showed me how much is actually possible when you give it the right support. If you’ve ever wondered if there’s hope for your mental health and past trauma, you don’t want to miss this.

Highlights:

(01:36) Why I finally said yes to getting my brain mapped

 (05:22) The moment delta waves and years of insomnia suddenly made sense

 (10:14) The surprising link between creativity, calm, and my theta patterns

 (14:58) When Sarah spotted the memory and trauma markers I did not expect

 (21:40) The honest conversation about presence, hyper vigilance and feeling safe again

 (31:10) What my tired beta waves revealed about pushing through for too long

To learn more about Omni Neurofeedback, visit https://omnineurofeedback.com/

To book a Discovery Call with Sarah Murphy: Email [email protected] and mention “SJ” for $100 off your brain mapping session.

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

This one is personal, one where I am taking you through my celibacy journey - yes, you read that right. What it has revealed about my relationship with self and how it completely shifted my sense of worthiness, intimacy, and magnetism. This isn't about being anti-sex or anti-pleasure. This is about no longer abandoning myself for validation or escape.

Over the last year and a half, choosing celibacy has opened my mind in ways I never expected. It pushed me inward, cleared out old patterns, and rebuilt my sense of safety and connection from the inside-out. If you have ever confused sex with intimacy, felt stuck in cycles that drain you, or simply can’t understand why you’re not attracting what you desire: tune in to start clearing the path. 

Highlights:

(01:42) How my decision to become celibate really started

(04:32) The sneaky ways we outsource validation through sex

(06:55) Why everything you desire lives in the work you’re avoiding

(12:07) Celibacy as the ultimate filter for aligned relationships

(17:59) How disconnection from your body blocks magnetism

(29:44) Recycling sexual energy and tapping into life force creativity

Listen to Episode 11: My Sobriety Journey & Deconstructing Addiction 

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

Welcoming my first guest on the show, my sweet Landon Hail. If you have had the pleasure of getting to know this incredible boy through my social media, you know he is a very unique soul. He showed up with his full heart, his big imagination, and all the stories he’s been dying to tell you (and honestly, I was just along for the ride).

There’s something incredible about hearing how a seven year-old experiences creativity, family, and faith. We covered everything from songwriting to cassette tapes to meeting rock stars - and yes, I teared up more than once. This episode is tender, hilarious, chaotic in the best way, and such a sweet snapshot of our world together.

Highlights:

 (01:36) Landon’s emotions when handed a mic

 (04:20) The emotional moment behind his original song

 (08:54) Meeting Travis Clark and accidentally boarding the wrong tour bus

 (11:26) Landon explains manifestation in his own words

 (14:10) Are you listening, Wesley from The Lumineers?

 (27:11) Landon’s heartfelt prayer

Pre-order Jenny Robinson Clark’s children’s book, Are You Here? on Amazon!

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

This episode digs into something so many of us neglect the crucial role it plays: the way we speak to ourselves and about our circumstances. Our words shape so much more than our mood. They shape our choices, our limits, and our sense of who we are. The best part is that shifting this starts with tiny, doable tweaks, not a full life overhaul.

I break down why your brain clings to old stories, how negative language keeps you feeling stuck, and why imposter syndrome shows up right when you think you are finally leveling up. You will hear real examples, honest tough love, and simple reframes I use every day in my own life. If you are ready to feel lighter, clearer, and a lot more powerful, this one is for you.

Highlights:

(01:42) Why  words shape everything that creates your reality

(05:58) How negative language quietly traps you in a rut

(12:14) Understanding the brain patterns that reinforce old stories

(18:47) Imposter syndrome archetypes and why they hit so hard

(26:09) Shifting your limitations into truth

(31:40) Using small reframes to build confidence and break old habits

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

In this episode, I’m talking about what it really means to live in your fullest expression - because LIFE itself stands for Living In Fullest Expression. 

I share how years of conditioning, fear of rejection, and people-pleasing keep us small, and why choosing truth over comfort is the only way to live free.

I also explore the negative impacts from suppressing your truth and silencing your soul. This one’s about finding your voice, shaking over faking, and remembering that expression isn’t selfish- it’s healing.

Highlights:

(02:15) – What not living in your fullest expression looks like

(06:40) – Why fear of rejection keeps us small

(10:05) – How grief helped me find my voice

(15:20) – The real cost of suppressing emotions

(20:45) – The science behind expression and physical health

(27:10) – A simple practice to start living in fuller expression today

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

In this follow-up to Part 1, I’m sharing the next set of personal signs that showed me my nervous system was actually healing. From giving without guilt to finding joy in the tiniest moments, these shifts are proof that peace doesn’t always arrive with fireworks - it often sneaks in quietly.

I get real about what healing looks like, that it can be messy and human (and sometimes hilarious). Calm isn’t a destination - it’s a practice your body learns over time. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re making progress, this may just be the conversation you needed to hear. 

Highlights:

(02:05) – How “faking it till you make it” opens your capacity to receive

(05:45) – When challenges no longer define your life

(09:20) – The connection between safety and vulnerability

(14:55) – What oversharing means and finding balance in being open

(18:10) – The simple joy of everyday moments

(23:40) – Holding more without chaos or burnout

Resources:

Join SJ’s Winter Writing Retreat: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK! 1/29-1/31 in Denver, CO (Discounted Room Rate ends 1/14/26)

• Follow SJ on Instagram
• Download the Free Identity Workbook
• Grab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here.
• Buy The Less Effect on Amazon
• Follow Landon Hail Press on Instagram
• Download the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring Authors
• Book A Free Consultation with Landon Hail Press

This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio