Katherine Fabrizio, Boomer, psychotherapist with 35 years of experience, joins us to explore the often hidden dynamics between mothers and daughters. Drawing from her extensive clinical work and her book, Katherine dives into how good daughters navigate boundaries, individuation, and maternal expectations—and how understanding these patterns can unlock personal freedom.

💡 In this episode:

• Katherine’s journey from practicing alongside her mother to finding her own voice

• Why the “good daughter” role can feel both protective and paralyzing

• Differentiating narcissistic, borderline, and covert mothers in real-life dynamics

• Recognizing internalized guilt and patterns of approval-seeking

• Practical insights for reclaiming boundaries and autonomy

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome and introduction to Katherine
0:31 – Katherine’s early career and working with her mother
1:56 – Making the difficult choice to leave the shared practice
2:24 – Boundaries and individuation: why they weren’t taught
3:22 – The inspiration for writing her book
4:21 – Reconciling with her mother at the end of her life
5:17 – Understanding different maternal patterns
6:17 – Narcissistic, borderline, and covert mothers explained
11:08 – Reading the 10 scenarios of the “good daughter trap”
14:19 – How childhood patterns shape adult responses and shame
16:40 – Taking charge of your inner child
17:09 – Understanding the difficult mother

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “Staying would break me. Leaving broke her heart—but I survived. So did she.”

• “Boundaries weren’t even a thing back then; learning them was revolutionary.”

• “Many daughters carry guilt for differentiating. Understanding your mother’s patterns can be liberating.”

• “The good daughter cycle is like an accent—you internalize it and it becomes normal.”

• “Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for your mother is to step into your own life fully.”

• “Healing isn’t about erasing the past; it’s about reclaiming your power in the present.”

• “We often try to please to survive. Learning that you can exist authentically is life-changing.”

• “Mother-daughter patterns don’t define you—you define your response to them.”

  
  

🔑 3 Big Takeaways

1. Awareness is freedom. Understanding the maternal dynamics you grew up with allows you to break generational patterns.

2. Boundaries are essential. Differentiating from a mother—even a loving one—can be painful but necessary for personal growth.

3. Healing is relational. Reconciling with the past, while not condoning harm, creates space for autonomy and self-compassion.

   
   

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned

• The Good Daughter Trap by Katherine Fabrizio – available wherever books are sold

• Psychotherapy insights on boundaries, individuation, and mother-daughter dynamics

  
  

🛍️ Online Store Highlight

Katherine chose a card representing self-empowerment and boundary-setting:
"Know your worth, set your limits, honor your story."
Check out our online store here!

📬 Connect With Katherine
Website: Are you a "Good Daughter" Free Quiz https://daughtersrising.info/good-daughter-quiz/
Email: [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/thegooddaughter

https://www.instagram.com/katherinefabrizio/

📬 Stay Connected With Your Host, Yo
Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @yocanny
FB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

Veronica Deraleau—financial coach, Army veteran, fintech leader, opera singer (!), and author of Making Money is Simple—joins us for an eye-opening conversation about money mindset, debt, and the courage to rewrite your financial story.

Through personal experience and her signature ARIA money model, Veronica helps us shift from shame and confusion into clarity and intentionality around money. You’ll walk away inspired, empowered, and ready to take action—from a place of alignment.

💡 In this episode:

• What it means to be “money stuck” and how to break free

• The ARIA money model: Awaken, Reframe, Intention, Action

• Why mindset (not math!) is the first step toward financial freedom

• The surprising role opera played in Veronica’s money journey

• How cultural and family beliefs shape our money stories

• A fresh take on caregiving, values-based spending, and tough trade-offs

• The myth of “having it all” and the power of ruthless prioritization

🎧 Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome0:30 – Veronica’s story: MBA, debt, and transformation2:00 – What “money stuck” means and how shame keeps us trapped2:55 – Excerpt: What is money freedom?4:24 – The ARIA model explained5:20 – Why opera helped fuel Veronica’s financial freedom8:39 – How our “autopilot” thinking gets in the way10:37 – Generational shifts: Comparison, social media, and caregiving12:56 – Hidden spending triggers (especially for moms)14:19 – Teaching kids trade-offs and modeling values-based spending15:46 – Money lessons from high-net-worth individuals17:43 – Shame vs. creativity: What truly motivates change18:42 – Who the book resonates with—and why it surprised her
20:34 – Couples, money, and mismatched financial engagement22:31 – Breaking inherited financial scripts

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Debt will always be the abattoir of creative dreams.” – Elizabeth Gilbert (quoted by Veronica)
“Money freedom starts when we change how we think—not just what we do.”
“You can’t just budget your way out of shame. You have to reframe.”
“Don’t pre-reject yourself. Even trying and failing is feedback.”
“Your values—not guilt—should guide your financial decisions.”

🔑 3 Big Takeaways

1. Mindset is the foundation of financial freedom. Veronica’s ARIA model guides us to awaken, reframe, set clear intentions, and take action—with purpose.

2. We must unlearn inherited money beliefs. From immigrant households to societal norms, we all carry invisible scripts that shape how we view and handle money.

3. Caregivers need to prioritize sustainability. Spending out of love can still lead to burnout and debt. Teaching children about trade-offs is a gift for their future.

   
   

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned

• Making Money is Simple by Veronica Deraleau – available on Amazon

• Website: makingmoneyissimple.com

• Social: @makingmoneyissimple (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest)

  
  

🛍️ Online Store Highlight
Veronica chose our “Trust Your Gut” snarky cat card. Wrapped in red threads and full of attitude, this card captures her message of courage and trusting your inner wisdom.

📬 Connect With Veronica
Website: makingmoneyissimple.com
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Pinterest: @makingmoneyissimple

📬 Stay Connected With Your Host, Yo
Website: girltaketheleadpod.comEmail: [email protected]Instagram: @yocannyFB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!Online Store: girltaketheleadpod.com/shop

Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau, executive coach, author, and global change agent, joins us to explore what it really means to lead with power in today’s chaotic world. Her book Who’s in Charge? is more than a leadership guide—it’s a call to consciousness.

From energy and embodiment to legacy and self-awareness, Sylvia invites us to look inward before stepping outward.

💡 In this episode:

• The difference between transformational and transformative leadership

• How leaders can claim their power by embodying presence

• Why legacy starts with the choices we make daily

• A deeply personal story of writing her own obituary as a turning point

• How joy, art, and truth-telling are powerful leadership tools

  
  

🎧 Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome
8:09 – Book overview: A guide for leaders in a chaotic world
10:03 – Energy, Power, Legacy: The three core elements
12:30 – Why energy management is foundational
24:51 – Awareness, embodiment, and voice: The physicality of leadership
27:00 – Joy in the process: Why embodiment brings freedom
30:12 – Every action counts: Small-scale leadership still changes the world
34:15 – Owning your voice even after past regrets
36:10 – Humility as a powerful leadership trait

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Choose your actions—because when they’re made in choice, they’ll make a difference.”

“Joy comes when we embody who we truly are—not just function how we’ve been conditioned.”

“Leadership isn’t about being at the top—it’s about being in integrity with yourself.”

“You don’t need to be loud to be powerful. You need to be aligned.”

“Spill your story—even if no one’s listening. It’s yours to tell.”

“Follow your bliss. It’s the path to fulfillment and, ultimately, success.”

🔑 3 Big Takeaways

1. Power is presence. True leadership comes from managing your energy, owning your voice, and being fully embodied in the moment—not from titles or external control.

2. Every action builds legacy. Whether you’re a CEO or just starting out, how you respond to daily choices defines your leadership. You are shaping your legacy moment by moment.

3. Leadership is a practice—anchored in truth. Sylvia invites us to “spill our story” and follow our bliss, because when we lead from authenticity, we lead from power.

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned

• Who’s in Charge? by Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau – available on Amazon

• SmartPowerMethod.com – Access Sylvia’s Power Scorecard

• LinkedIn: Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau

🛍️ Online Store Highlight
Sylvia chose the Frida Kahlo card: “Paint your story. Spill your truth.” Her reflection? “Dare to tell your story and your truth—even if no one’s listening.”

📬 Connect With Sylvia

• Website: https://smartpowermethod.com

• Email: [email protected]

📬 Stay Connected With Your Host, Yo

• Website: girltaketheleadpod.com

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram: @yocanny

• FB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

• Online Store: Your Cards & Gifts for Connection

Leadership isn’t just about guiding others—it starts with leading yourself. In this lively and insightful conversation, Beth Chapman Kaufmann and Nicole Santonastaso share how getting clear on who you are, what you do best, and where you’re headed can transform the way you lead.

With plenty of laughs, relatable stories, and practical takeaways, Beth and Nicole dive into CliftonStrengths, True North Statements, and why reflection time is the secret ingredient for intentional leadership. Whether you’re leading a team, your family, or just yourself, this episode will inspire you to embrace your strengths and confidently chart your own course.

💛 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

0:00 Introduction
3:17 Nancy Walton Laurie Chi Omega Intentional Leader Workshop takeaways
8:56 Can you truly lead others when you cannot lead yourself? Modeling intentional leadership for others
11:43 CliftonStrengths: how they make us unique and spark action
29:00 Balcony and Basement clarity
32:31 Human Design as a framework for thinking and problem-solving
34:32 Creating your True North Statement
47:16 Why reflection time is essential for self-leadership
48:42 How to follow Nicole and Beth
52:00 20-something advice for future leaders
53:27 Online store card choices

💬 Memorable Quotes

"Leadership begins with me – I have to do the work myself to move other people.”
"To take time to think about who I am and where I want to go is an incredible gift to yourself and to those around you.”
"When you have confidence in what you do best you don’t have to fear what other people do best.”
"The True North Statement is a way to remind myself: this is who I am, this is why I’m here on this earth—and that helps me decide what to say 'yes' to."
"Don’t be scared to fail…if it doesn’t work, maybe the hypothesis was wrong. We can try something different."

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

1. Self-leadership comes first. You can’t lead others effectively until you know who you are and where you want to go.

   
   

2. CliftonStrengths and True North give clarity. Tools like CliftonStrengths and a True North Statement help you build confidence in your unique strengths and guide your decisions.

   
   

3. Reflection fuels growth. Taking time to pause, reflect, and ask tough questions is essential to becoming an intentional leader.

   
   

🌟 More About Nicole Santonastaso

Nicole Santonastaso, Millennial, RDN, LD, IBCLC, CDCES, CD (DTI), is the Prevention Program Supervisor for Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, Alaska. Her passion lies in increasing food literacy, making movement enjoyable, and building community. She also serves on multiple healthcare committees, supporting team-based care and policy development. A dedicated volunteer for Chi Omega Fraternity, Nicole promotes collegiate women’s wellness through curriculum development and facilitation. She lives in Alaska with her husband and two cats, Edgar and Iris, and loves photography, cooking, and John Mayer concerts.

🌟 More About Beth Chapman Kaufmann

Beth Chapman Kaufmann, Gen X, is the president of Vide Consulting (pronounced Vee-day), where she specializes in leadership development, CliftonStrengths coaching, and group facilitation. A Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Beth is known for her humor, insight, and powerful questions that inspire action. Originally from Kentucky, she now lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two kids.

📬 Connect with Nicole

• Website: nicoledionphoto.com• Email: [email protected]• Instagram: @nicoledionphotography• LinkedIn: Nicole Santonastaso

📬 Connect with Beth

• Email: [email protected]• LinkedIn: Beth Chapman Kaufmann

🎙️ Connect with Your Host, Yo

• Website: girltaketheleadpod.com• Email: [email protected]• Instagram: @yocanny• Online Store: Cards & Gifts that spark connection• FB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

Peggy Sullivan, author of Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More with Less, joins us for a refreshing and deeply practical conversation about why busyness has become the ultimate addiction—and how to break free from it. A self-described “busyness addict in recovery,” Peggy shares her personal wake-up calls, from a stress-induced heart attack to accidentally eating cat food in a haze of distraction, and how those moments pushed her to develop her Busy Busting Framework.

This episode is for anyone who has ever worn “busy” like a badge of honor, felt guilty about slowing down, or wondered how to reclaim time for what truly matters. Peggy shows us that freedom and joy are found not in doing more, but in doing less—intentionally.

💛 We explore:

0:00 – Intro: Why busyness functions like an addiction, complete with dopamine highs

32:40 – What Peggy would tell her 20-something self about slowing down and savoring life

💬 Memorable Quotes

"Busy is a four-letter word — stop wearing it like a badge of honor."
"We get a dopamine hit from busyness, just like any other addiction."
"If you’re too busy for relationships, you’re too busy, period."
"One low-value activity eliminated can give you five hours back in your week."
"Hope is a strategy—optimism points us toward better outcomes."
"The here and the now is amazing if you just take a pause and appreciate it."

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

1. Busyness is an addiction, not a virtue. The constant rush keeps us in a dopamine-fueled haze, undermining health, happiness, and relationships.

2. Subtraction is freedom. Eliminating even one low-value activity or adding small happiness rituals can reclaim hours each week and restore energy.

3. Be present, not perfect. Joy, productivity, and hope thrive when we let go of perfectionism, stop chasing the “next thing,” and focus on the here and now.

   
   

📖 Peggy Reads from Beyond Busyness
Peggy closes the episode with a powerful excerpt on subtraction—sharing a climber’s story of how letting go of the desire to succeed brought focus, joy, and better performance. “Get more by doing less,” she reminds us.

🌟 More About Peggy Sullivan
Peggy Sullivan is a former corporate executive, bestselling author, and speaker who helps people escape time poverty and live with more health, joy, and productivity. Through her Busy Busting Framework, she has helped thousands reclaim 4–6 hours a week for the things that matter most.

👉 Get the Book
Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More with Less is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

📬 Connect with Peggy
• Website: peggysullivanspeaker.com• LinkedIn: Peggy Sullivan

🎙️ Connect with Your Host, Yo
• Website: girltaketheleadpod.com• Email: [email protected]• Instagram: @yocanny• Online Store: [Cards & Gifts that spark connection]• FB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

Judy Henderson and Jimmy Soni join us for a deeply moving conversation about resilience, forgiveness, and hope in the face of injustice. Judy spent 36 years wrongfully imprisoned, a journey that could have broken most people—but instead, she transformed it into a story of grace, growth, and unwavering strength. Alongside Jimmy, her co-author and champion, they share how hope can be actively created, bitterness overcome, and the power of choosing to be better, not bitter.

Judy’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and thrive despite the darkest circumstances. Together, Judy and Jimmy illuminate the personal practices, family bonds, and daily choices that fueled her fight for freedom and her mission to reform the justice system.

💛 We explore:
• The mantra “Don’t be bitter, be better” — a guide through decades of hardship
• How forgiveness played a role, including reaching out to the prosecutor
• The importance of hope and family presence through 36 years behind bars
• Practical daily choices in prison that shaped resilience and dignity
• Jimmy’s relentless advocacy and “breaking through concrete walls” to tell Judy’s story
• Insights about parenting and nurturing children as “miniature adults”
• What Judy and Jimmy would tell their 20-something selves today
• Plus: A heartfelt passage about finding light in the darkest places

🎧 Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome & introductions with Judy Henderson and Jimmy
4:30 – Judy’s resilience: fueled by anger, love for family, and confronting fear
6:30 – Jimmy on Judy’s physical and mental endurance in prison and beyond
11:26 – Judy on forgiveness and writing a letter to her prosecutor
14:07 – Jimmy explains the mantra “Don’t be bitter, be better”
16:25 – Judy and Jimmy share each other’s superpowers: graciousness & breaking walls
18:20 – The uphill battle to publish the book and Jimmy’s warrior spirit
20:17 – Judy reads a poignant passage about hope, choice, and growth in prison
22:17 – Jimmy on the power of family presence and creating hope during incarceration
24:53 – Judy’s message: find your talents and purpose; create your own happiness
26:37 – What Judy and Jimmy would tell their 20-something selves
29:40 – Parenting insights: treating children with respect and nurturing bonds
31:58 – Closing reflections and gratitude

💬 Memorable Quotes
"Don’t be bitter, be better.""Even in chains, our choices remain our own.""I chose to see the humanity in the guards.""Hope isn’t accidental — it’s something you create.""Your children are just miniature adults; their feelings deserve respect.""That thing you think will break you can be a source of profound strength."

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

1. Resilience is a daily practice. Judy’s story shows how small choices — meditation, education, kindness — build unbreakable strength over time.

2. Forgiveness frees the soul. Choosing understanding over anger helped Judy release bitterness and find peace despite deep injustice.

3. Hope is created, not given. Family love, presence, and intentional actions sustain us in the hardest times — and empower us to create light in darkness.

🌟 More About Judy & Jimmy
Judy Henderson spent 36 years wrongfully incarcerated before finally gaining her freedom and becoming a powerful advocate for justice reform. Jimmy is an author and storyteller who partnered with Judy to share her remarkable journey in their book When the Light Finds Us — a testament to endurance, hope, and transformation.

👉 Get the Book
When the Light Finds Us is available wherever books are sold.

Amazon link for the book: https://www.amazon.com/When-Light-Finds-Us-Transformed-ebook/dp/B0CR93DD34

📬 Connect with Judy & Jimmy
[email protected]

judyannhenderson.com

IG: judy.henderson.77312

🎙️ Connect with Your Host, Yo
• Website: girltaketheleadpod.com• Email: [email protected]• Instagram: @yocanny• Online Store: Cards & Gifts that spark connection• FB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

Jim Carlough, seasoned executive, leadership coach, and author of Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success, joins us for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation about the human side of leadership. Through powerful personal stories, Jim challenges the outdated model of command-and-control and instead champions compassion, integrity, and empathy as leadership superpowers.

Jim’s stories span a lifetime—from defending a classmate from a bully in middle school to leading a tech team through a slow-motion sunset with unmatched transparency and care. His message is clear: real leadership isn’t about ego or hierarchy. It’s about consistency, self-awareness, doing the right thing when it’s hard—and knowing when to lighten the mood with humor.

💛 We explore:
• The six pillars of effective leadership
• Integrity: The question Jim has asked himself nightly since 1983
• Compassion: Standing up to bullies and learning from our missteps
• Empathy: How he downsized a team without breaking trust
• Why humor is a powerful tool for reframing tension and reconnecting teams
• Stories from the book that reveal the emotional core of leadership
• What Jim would tell his 20-something self today
• Plus: A surprise giveaway for listeners!

🎧 Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction
0:31 – Meet Jim Carlough: Author, coach, and values-first leader
2:18 – The six pillars: where they come from and why they matter
4:20 – Integrity: The nightly question that shapes Jim’s leadership
10:56 – A pivotal lesson from the youngest city council member
12:53 – Yo’s own integrity test: a personal confession from her 20s
14:59 – Trade show drama: when fairness is put to the test
17:39 – Compassion: The middle school fight that defined Jim’s values
20:56 – A principal’s call and a father’s unexpected kindness
27:41 – Empathy: How Jim led a sunsetting team without anyone losing income
30:59 – The secret to their sky-high employee satisfaction score
33:58 – Giving people choice: The power of transparency and options
35:23 – Humor as a leadership strategy (and FBI pens at LifeScan!)

💬 Memorable Quotes
"Did I do anything today for my own self-benefit at the expense of someone else?"
"You don’t get away with being out of integrity—someone always notices."
"It wasn’t rocket science. I just treated people the way I’d want to be treated."
"We’re not going to win a war pricking people’s fingers!"
"Humor helps people breathe again."

"It will be okay. Adulting is hard—but it will be okay."

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

Integrity is a daily decision. Asking the right question each night can keep you grounded and accountable—even decades later.

Empathy builds trust during change. Jim’s leadership during downsizing shows how transparency, choice, and compassion can retain dignity—and satisfaction.

Humor heals. When tension runs high, a well-timed joke (or penlet) can reconnect a team and reframe fear into resilience.

🌟 More About Jim
Jim Carlough is a seasoned executive and leadership mentor who believes the greatest strength in business lies in human connection. His book, Six Pillars of Effective Leadership, offers timeless guidance and modern relevance for those who want to lead with purpose.

👉 Get the Book
Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and jimcarlough.com

🎁 Special Giveaway!
The first 3 listeners who leave a comment (positive or constructive) on the podcast forum or social post will receive a free signed copy of Jim’s book. Just don’t leave your address—Yo will reach out to you for details!

📬 Connect with Jim
• Website: jimcarlough.com• LinkedIn: Jim Carlough

🎙️ Connect with Your Host, Yo
• Website: girltaketheleadpod.com• Email: [email protected]• Instagram: @yocanny• Online Store: Cards & Gifts that spark connection• FB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

Michele Weldon, Boomer, award-winning author, journalist, and emerita faculty member at Northwestern University, joins us to reflect on the deeply personal and cultural shifts we experienced during the pandemic years. Through her latest book, The Time We Have: Essays on Pandemic Living, Michele invites us to examine how the global crisis changed everything—from how we work to how we grieve.

With her signature wit and emotional clarity, Michele shares how writing through 2020–2024 became both a mirror and a memory, capturing what so many of us felt but never had the words to say. From holding our breath when strangers passed by to the fear of unknowingly infecting loved ones, Michele gives voice to our collective anxiety, love, loss, and resilience.

💛 We explore:

• The story behind The Time We Have
• Writing through grief, fear, and cultural shifts
• How COVID changed relationships, work, and everyday rituals
• The role of misinformation and cultural defaults in pandemic response
• Public shame, gender roles, and the emotional labor of women
• Why we all need "captions" to help us make sense of life
• The sacred, sensory joy of holding new life after loss

🎧 Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction
1:09 – About The Time We Have and why she wrote it
2:20 – How the pandemic changed us culturally and personally
4:45 – Joy, loss, and the strangeness of pandemic rituals
5:43 – Trauma, grief, and the unknown in early 2020
6:40 – Book passage: Fear and protecting loved ones
8:25 – The weight of decisions in pandemic life
9:25 – Lies, disinformation, and a “parallel pandemic”
13:35 – Public shame, gender norms, and the agency to choose
16:27 – Parenting, silence, and how women internalize expectations
18:39 – “Captions” and why we need context to define ourselves
21:27 – Brownie rebellion, self-expression, and family dynamics
23:30 – Can we have too much self-esteem?
25:27 – Participation trophies, parenting patterns, and healing
27:24 – Book passage: The sacred scent of a newborn and pandemic joy
30:47 – What she’d tell her 20-something self

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Every interaction seemed to offer an incendiary fuse.”
“I had to protect him from me.”
“The disinformation was deadly. It wasn’t just a mistake—it was deliberate.”
“Acceptance isn’t surrender. It’s choosing what you will carry.”
“We need captions to understand our lives—not labels, but meaning.”
“The dreams you have—you can achieve, one step at a time.”
“Even the gravitas of the pandemic stepped aside to allow happiness its own space.”

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

1. The personal is historical. Michele's essays remind us that our individual stories during COVID are part of a much larger cultural reckoning.
   

2. Shame is not yours to carry. Public judgment, especially toward women, has long been used to control behavior. We get to decide what we internalize and what we release.
   

3. Hope coexists with grief. In one hospital room, in a COVID-weary world, joy and relief can bloom with the scent of new life. We need to make room for both.

   
   

🌟 More About Michele

Michele Weldon is a veteran journalist, author of seven nonfiction books, and speaker on topics of media, identity, and culture. Her latest work, The Time We Have, chronicles our shared and personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic with humor, grief, and insight. She does private editing and writing coaching, you can contact here: [email protected].

👉 Get the Book
Available at Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, libraries, and online retailers everywhere.

📬 Connect with Michele

•Website: https://micheleweldon.com/

•Instagram: @micheleweldon•Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/michele.weldon.35

⁠•LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-weldon-1209906/⁠

🎙️ Connect with Your Host, Yo
• Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @yocanny
• Online Store: Cards & Gifts that spark connection
• FB Group: Girl, Take the Lead!

Meet Molly Smith – a Gen X Breakthrough & Emotional Wellness Coach, best-selling author, and founder of Next Best Step LLC. Affectionately known as the female “Ted Lasso” for her grit, heart, and contagious optimism, Molly helps people break free from what’s holding them back and build sustainable, soul-aligned momentum.

After 25 years in the corporate world—including time in the C-suite—Molly made the bold pivot to pursue purpose-driven work that lights her up. Through her signature tools like the STEP Formula™ and Mindset Inventory™, along with Dr. Bradley Nelson’s Emotion Code®, she empowers real transformation from the inside out.

She’s also the creator of the Next Best Step Journal, a columnist for FORCE Magazine, and the award-winning author of What the Funk?! (2025). Her mission? Help women ditch perfection and take one meaningful step at a time toward the life they want.

💬 What We Talked About:

0:00 | Intro to Molly Smith

3:00 | What is the Emotion Code?

6:07 | How Muscle Testing Works

11:14 | The Power of Alignment

20:48 | The Mindset Inventory

25:27 | Fear, Scarcity, and Emotional Roots

28:23 | Emotional Healing Practices

32:00 | Book Reading: What’s Your Next Best Step?

33:37 | Molly’s Advice to Her 20-Something Self

Memorable Quotes from Molly:

“Only 5% of how we operate every day comes from the conscious mind.”
“The Emotion Code is pressing the gas on transformation.”
“Our beliefs are just practiced thoughts—and limiting beliefs are the ones that keep you small and stuck.”
“Alignment isn’t a destination you reach once and for all.”
“Living congruently means your values and your actions are in sync.”
“A lot of my funk came from trying to protect myself from humiliation and shame.”

🔑 Top 3 Takeaways:

1. Emotion Code & Muscle Testing:
Unspoken emotions can get stuck in the body and throw us off balance. The Emotion Code helps release these trapped emotions, and muscle testing allows us to ask the subconscious mind yes/no questions to locate them.

2. Pivoting into Alignment:
Want to move out of a funk? Molly’s 3-step process:

What is your current reality?

How do you feel in that reality? (Name it!)

How do you want to feel—and what action has helped you feel that way before?

3. Mindset Inventory = Input Check:
Before we address our thoughts, we must check what we’re consuming. What are you watching? Who are you following? The media, people, and content we take in shape our thinking—and ultimately our results.

Other Resources:Molly’s book: What the funk?! https://amazon.comIFS Therapy with Uri TablorInside Out: Unveiling the Layers of IFSEp. 115 Part 1Ep. 116 Park 2https://open.spotify.com/episode/4j5goFU03mtMnXvCFKlCI9?si=68SyiYxLR6W54nrlXYqWBwFeelings Wheelhttps://feelingswheel.com/

🗳 Molly’s Ask:

She's been nominated for FORCE Magazine’s Top Author & Top Coach awards! Show your support by voting before August 15th:
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Kayla Logue, a bestselling Millennial author, keynote speaker, and founder of the nonprofit Move Into Words, joins us to share her inspiring story of transformation and impact. Through her book Always Squeezing Lemons, Kayla offers a refreshingly honest take on what it means to face adversity, take radical self-accountability, and pursue a life and business aligned with your values.

With a passion for mental and physical wellness—especially for young professionals—Kayla empowers others to redefine success on their own terms, build confidence from within, and turn pain into purpose.

💛 We explore:

• The inspiration behind Always Squeezing Lemons• The courage it takes to face the unknown• How anxiety, trauma, and healing intersect• The truth behind saying "I'm fine"• Her nonprofit’s mission to distribute 1 million journals• Advice she’d give her 20-something self________________________________________

🎧 Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction 1:09 – About the book *Always Squeezing Lemons* 3:17 – Courage book passage & discussion 9:50 – Fear & the unknown 11:22 – Anxiety, trauma & self-forgiveness 15:07 – The meaning behind “I’m fine” 19:11 – The 3 Ds: Dream It, Define It, Do It 21:56 – Nonprofit spotlight: Move Into Words 25:11 – What Kayla would tell her 20-something self________________________________________

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Life in terms of growth is never-ending. We’re always changing and evolving, so we have to take the setbacks and turn them into comebacks.”

“Real confidence isn’t about external validation—it’s about recognizing what we already have and who we care about most.”

“Confidence, leads to courage, which leads to action.”

“When you become courageous, you become a powerful force within this fearful world.”

“Saying ‘I’m fine’ can mean you’re not feeling anything at all, avoiding something, or not processing.”________________________________________

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

1. Own your narrative. When you realize you can be the cause, the problem, and the solution, everything shifts. Start asking: What do I want? Why do I want it? Where do I have control?2. Courage builds over time. It often starts with small actions that reinforce confidence and align us with our purpose.3. Forgive yourself. Vulnerability and healing begin when we extend compassion inward—especially in the aftermath of trauma.________________________________________

🌟 More About Kayla

As the founder of Move Into Words, Kayla is on a mission to distribute 1 million journals to young adults as part of a larger effort to promote accessible wellness tools. Through her story and advocacy, she invites us to transform our mindset and lead with intention.

👉 Support the 1 Million Journal ChallengeA $10 donation = 1 journal delivered.Donate here: https://www.moveintowords.com/support

📬 Connect with Kayla• Website: kaylalogue.com• Email: [email protected]• Instagram: @kaylalogue_• Facebook: facebook.com/kayla.logue

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