Leading With Heart

Some journeys change us so deeply that we can hardly recognize the person we used to be. That’s the story of today’s guest, Audra Carpenter.

Audra first joined me on the podcast two years ago, at a time when she was simply trying to survive. Since then, she’s walked through the fire of inner work, healing, and transformation, and has emerged stronger, braver, and more herself than ever before.

In this conversation, Audra opens up about her journey from survival mode to thriving. She shares how community, self-forgiveness, therapy, and even the courage to face her deepest fears have helped her rewrite her story and truly step into the identity she once only dreamed of.

We talk about the power of envisioning who you want to become, what it looks like to do the hard work of healing, and how every small step forward builds a foundation of confidence and self-trust. Audra’s story is raw, real, and a reminder that transformation is possible for all of us.

If you’ve ever felt stuck under the weight of shame or wondered if you could really become the woman you aspire to be, this episode will give you hope, courage, and practical insight into what’s possible when you refuse to give up on yourself.

In this episode:

• Inspiration to face your own “I did it” moment
• A deeper understanding of how community and support change everything
• Encouragement to keep moving forward, even when it’s hard

This is an episode you’ll want to come back to anytime you need a reminder that growth is always possible.

RESOURCES:

Listen to Audra’s previous episode:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-depression-interview-with-audra-carpenter/id1690855329?i=1000630945785

2026 Retreat Waitlist:

https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/retreats

LYL App Waitlist

https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/app-waitlist

Join the Strong and Resilient Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/336774597179247

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode78

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

If you’re waiting to feel like the woman you’re becoming before you act like her… you’re doing it backwards.

Welcome to the final episode in our 4-part “Interrupt the Pattern” series, where we close the loop on what it really takes to shift your habits, beliefs, and identity, for good.

This week, we’re talking about identity-based change and why it’s the key to lasting transformation. We’ve spent the last few weeks recognizing the patterns that no longer serve us, learning how to pause and interrupt them, and replacing them with new behaviors. But this is where it “sticks”

Inside this episode, I’m sharing:

• How to anchor your new habits in the identity of the person you’re becoming
• A journaling prompt that will rewire your brain and reshape your life
• A sneak peek at the Lead Your Life App launching September 8th!

Small shifts. Repeated often. That’s how you become her.

RESOURCES:

Questions to reflect on:

Who do you need to be: what kind of person do you need to become and what kinds of things does this person think, say or do?

Write down: I’m becoming the kind of person who (fill in the blank)

APP Waitlist: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/app-waitlist

Pattern Interrupt Episodes:

Week 1: Interrupt the Pattern: You're Not Broken, You're Wired That Way: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-youre-not-broken-youre-wired-that-way/id1690855329?i=1000715461472

Week 2: Interrupt the Pattern [Week 2] - The Power is in the Pause https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-week-2-the-power-is-in-the-pause/id1690855329?i=1000716477403

Week 3: Interrupt the Pattern [Week 3] - New Pattern New Programming

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-week-3-new-pattern-new-programming/id1690855329?i=1000718664561

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode77

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

We’ve named the pattern.  We’ve practiced the pause. Now it’s time to rewire.

In this episode, I’m sharing the real-life next step in our “Interrupt the Pattern” series, and it’s the part where true change begins. Because awareness is powerful, but action is what rewires the brain.

I get a little personal in this one and open up about a pattern I’ve been working on in my own life, how it shows up, what I’ve learned from it, and what I’m choosing to do instead. (Spoiler: It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.)

Together, we’ll talk about:

• Why your brain resists change, and how to work with it, not against it
• How to uncover the real need hiding behind your old habit
• How to name a new behavior that supports who you’re becoming

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware, and learning how to interrupt the loop and choose a new path, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar.

So take a deep breath, tune in, and ask yourself: What do I want to do instead?

RESOURCES:

Pattern Interrupt Episodes:

Week 1: Interrupt the Pattern: You're Not Broken, You're Wired That Way: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-youre-not-broken-youre-wired-that-way/id1690855329?i=1000715461472

Week 2: Interrupt the Pattern [Week 2] - The Power is in the Pause https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interrupt-the-pattern-week-2-the-power-is-in-the-pause/id1690855329?i=1000716477403

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode76

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Ever find yourself stuck in the same frustrating loops, overcommitting, spiraling into self-doubt, or working yourself to the edge of burnout, and wonder why you keep doing it?

It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because you’re wired that way. But here’s the good news: your wiring can change.

In this powerful kickoff to our July series, I’m talking about the habit loops and mental patterns that run our lives on autopilot, often without us even realizing it. Drawing from habit science and real-life examples, I explain how your brain is simply trying to protect you… even if the patterns it’s built are no longer serving you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we repeat patterns we know are unhealthy
• How your brain creates, and clings to, habit loops for survival
• Why self-awareness is the most underrated tool for change
• How to shift from judging your patterns to witnessing them with compassion

This isn’t about fixing yourself, it’s about finally seeing yourself clearly. Because once you see the loop, you can interrupt it.

RESOURCES:

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode75

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Ever find yourself stuck in the same frustrating loops, overcommitting, spiraling into self-doubt, or working yourself to the edge of burnout, and wonder why you keep doing it?

It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because you’re wired that way. But here’s the good news: your wiring can change.

In this powerful kickoff to our July series, I’m talking about the habit loops and mental patterns that run our lives on autopilot, often without us even realizing it. Drawing from habit science and real-life examples, I explain how your brain is simply trying to protect you… even if the patterns it’s built are no longer serving you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we repeat patterns we know are unhealthy
• How your brain creates, and clings to, habit loops for survival
• Why self-awareness is the most underrated tool for change
• How to shift from judging your patterns to witnessing them with compassion

This isn’t about fixing yourself, it’s about finally seeing yourself clearly. Because once you see the loop, you can interrupt it.

RESOURCES:

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode74

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

If the idea of rest makes you feel guilty, unproductive, or just plain uncomfortable… this episode is for you.

In this eye-opening conversation, Christina flips the script on everything you thought you knew about rest, and explains why it's not just a luxury, but a leadership essential.

Too often, we wait for burnout to force us to rest. But what if rest could be strategic? What if it could actually increase your performance, creativity, and presence, in your work and your life?

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why “default rest” often doesn’t work—and what to do instead
• The 7 types of rest (it’s not just naps and bubble baths!)
• How to build a high-ROI rest routine that fits your unique needs
• Why micro-rest is more powerful than once-a-year vacations
• How to overcome the guilt that keeps you from slowing down
• Simple ways to protect your peace and build rest into your daily rhythm
  
  
  

Rest isn’t lazy. It’s leadership. And this episode will show you how to make it intentional, consistent, and aligned with the woman you want to become

RESOURCES:

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode73

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

We’ve been sold a version of leadership that’s breaking us.

In this fiery, unfiltered episode, I’m calling out the leadership lies that are burning brilliant women out, especially in the military world. From the glorification of hustle to the pressure to be everything to everyone, we’re unpacking the toxic systems that were never built for women like us… and talking about how to lead differently.

This isn’t just a vent session, it’s a wake-up call and a personal invitation to stop performing your worth and start reclaiming your peace.

We’ll dive into:

• The roots of burnout in military and mission-driven leadership
• Why the “first in, last out” mindset is not sustainable (or admirable)
• How to start unlearning the hustle and rewriting the rules
• What leadership can look like when you lead with breath, boundaries, and your whole self
• A powerful permission slip to protect your energy and redefine success on your terms
  
  
  

This episode is raw, honest, and from the heart. If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding it all together but losing yourself in the process… this one’s for you.

You don’t have to lead like everyone else. You get to lead like you.

RESOURCES:

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode72

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Welcome to the final episode of our 4-part mini-series on energy management! If you’ve been with me from the beginning, then you’ve already learned how energy influences your leadership, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We’ve talked about energy zones, how to restore what’s been depleted, and what to do when burnout looms.

In this powerful closing episode, we’re bringing it all together.

You’ll learn how to build your personalized energy system, a repeatable rhythm that supports your leadership, protects your peace, and honors the human behind the mission. We’ll walk through a 4-part framework rooted in the science of habit formation, inspired by Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Energy isn’t just something you have, it’s something you build. And systems, not willpower, are the key to sustaining it.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
- Build a personal energy rhythm that works with your natural flow
- Align your tasks with your real-time energy levels
- Design micro, meso, and macro recovery rituals that actually recharge you
- Create protective systems and beliefs to sustain your energy long-term
- Shift your identity from “pushing through” to a leader who honors her limits

RESOURCES:

North Star Meditation: https://fabulous-pioneer-9504.kit.com/de6f72ebb6

Atomic Habits - James Clear

Answer these questions:

1. I am the kind of person who protects her energy by [fill in the blank]. 
2. My signs of depletion are what? 
3. My energizing habits include what? 
4. Here's how I recover when I feel drained.
5. A boundary I will hold this week to protect my energy is blank.

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogi

Podcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.com

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode71

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

You don’t have to have all the answers to be a powerful leader, but you do need to create space for better answers to emerge.

In this inspiring continuation of our conversation, Brooke Brzozowske and I go deeper into the internal experience of leadership, the fear of not knowing, the pressure to perform, and the courage it takes to stay grounded in presence rather than perfection.

Brooke shares how reflection, vulnerability, and emotional self-awareness can radically shift the way we lead ourselves and others. We also dive into her own bold career transition as she leaves federal service after 20 years to pursue purpose-aligned entrepreneurship full-time. Her story is a beautiful reminder that leadership is just as much about who you're becoming as what you're doing.

If you've ever felt like you're juggling it all and still questioning if you’re doing enough, this episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and equipped to lead from a deeper place of truth.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why vulnerability can build more trust than always having the right answer
• The importance of self-awareness and reflection in leadership
• How to navigate transition in a way that aligns with your values
• Why curiosity is the antidote to burnout, judgment, and stagnation
• The powerful difference between performing leadership vs. embodying it
  
  

RESOURCES:

Connect with Brooke Brzozowske:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upuntilnow_leadership_coaching/

Website: www.tilnowcoaching.com

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-brzozowske 

Workbook: https://thislittleconsultingfirm.kit.com/products/overwhelm-to-action-workbook

Join the Strong and Resilient Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/336774597179247

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode70

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

What if the most effective leadership isn’t about always having the answers… but about being bold enough to create space for the real problems to surface?

In part 1 of this 2 part powerful conversation, I sit down with leadership communication coach Brooke Brzozowske, founder of Up Until Now Coaching and a seasoned federal leader with decades of experience navigating complex organizational change. Together, we discuss a common leadership mindset that many of us have heard (and maybe even said): “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.” And we explore why that approach might be doing more harm than good.

Brooke shares how our obsession with quick fixes and polished answers can cause us to miss the heart of what’s actually happening in our teams. Through curiosity, courage, and intentional listening, she reveals how leaders can create trust-filled environments where real conversations thrive and real progress is made.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why the “only bring me solutions” mindset can limit real leadership
• The difference between performing leadership and living it
• How curiosity creates space for deeper trust and innovation
• The value of asking better questions, especially when problems feel messy
• How to create a culture where unfinished ideas are welcomed

Listen in and challenge your default approach to leadership, it might just transform how you show up, and be sure to stay tuned next week for part 2 of the interview to wrap up this conversation!

RESOURCES:

Connect with Brooke:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upuntilnow_leadership_coaching/

Website: www.tilnowcoaching.com

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-brzozowske 

Workbook: https://thislittleconsultingfirm.kit.com/products/overwhelm-to-action-workbook

The Coaching Habit - Michael Bungay Stanier

The Advice Trap - Michael Bungay Stanier

SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode69

Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi

More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.

I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.

Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.

**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.