Most Self-Improved

How do you move from setting goals that fizzle out to living a life that feels deeply aligned with who you are? In this episode of Most Self-Improved, we sit down with coach and vision mapping expert Beth Batson to talk about creating a vision that serves as your North Star.

Beth shares how vision mapping can shift you away from fixing what’s broken and instead guide you toward a future fueled by possibility, clarity, and meaning. You’ll learn how to map backwards from your future self, tend to your vision daily, and embrace both the detours and the magic that life throws your way.

If you’ve ever struggled with fear, doubt, or the overwhelm of “Where do I even begin?” this conversation will help you build a roadmap you can live now — not just someday.

In this episode:

• 1:16 Why traditional goal-setting often fails
• 4:31 How to dream beyond your past experiences
• 7:46 Facing fears and vulnerability in creating your vision
• 13:31 The difference between your goals and vision and how to map backwards
• 20:56 Building resilience and flexibility when life throws detours
• 27:31 Daily and weekly practices to keep your vision alive
• 31:46 Final reflections and takeaways

More:

Learn more about Coach Beth Batson

• Website: bethbatson.com
• Reflect & Reconnect Workbook: Download here
• Instagram: @bethbatson

Connect with Most Self-Improved

• Follow on Instagram: @mostselfimproved

Should you have a baby? What if you want one, but circumstances are beyond your control? And how do you grieve when life doesn’t unfold the way you hoped?

In this deeply moving and pragmatic episode, hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen speak with Merle Bombardieri, clinical social worker, therapist, and author of “The Baby Decision” and “Baby or Childfree?” For decades, Merle has guided people through one of the most life-shaping questions: whether to become a parent or embrace a fulfilling, childfree life.

This episode will speak to you if you are:

• Wrestling with whether to have children
• Coping with grief around infertility or circumstance
• Already childfree, but seeking peace and confidence in your choice
• Curious how to navigate the decision with a partner who feels differently

Merle brings both compassion and concrete exercises to help you uncover what you truly want for your life. This is an episode to bookmark, share, and maybe keep a tissue handy for. (Yes, Erin is back to “pretty crying.”)

In this episode

• 3:00 Merle’s personal journey of questioning motherhood in the 1970s and finding role models
• 7:15 Common fears people face when deciding whether or not to have children
• 10:15 How to think about regret and why ambivalence is a normal part of this decision
• 13:00 Why making peace with mortality can clarify what matters most
• 15:00 Exercises to separate your desires from family or societal expectations
• 17:00 Navigating grief when having a child isn’t possible, and how to hold both loss and hope
• 21:00 When partners aren’t on the same page
• 25:00 How to honor the path not taken
• 27:00 Support networks and organizations for the childfree-not-by-choice community
• 28:00 Practical exercises
• 33:00 Merle’s reminder that this decision is never just about babies, it’s about the life you want

Learn more about Merle Bombardieri

• For more about Merle and her writing, visit her website 
• Find Merle on Instagram 

If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who may be sitting with this question right now. And don’t forget to subscribe to Most Self-Improved and follow us on Instagram @mostselfimproved for more conversations about building your best, most authentic life.

Get the Sunday scaries? Feel stuck in a role that’s “fine” but far from fulfilling? You’re not alone — nearly 80% of people feel disengaged at work, according to Gallup. But what if you could design a career that lights you up instead of draining you?

In this inspiring conversation, career development coach Emily Lamia, founder of Pivot Journeys, shares practical, energizing strategies to help you figure out what’s next — whether you’re dreaming of a bold career change, craving more autonomy where you are, or just wondering if your “dream job” even exists.

Emily’s advice is both compassionate and no-nonsense — and she proves that with the right experiments, support, and mindset, your chances of finding work you love are higher than you think. Whether you’re starting from scratch, juggling “what if” dreams, or trying to tweak your current role to fit you better, this episode will give you the tools (and the push) to take that first step today.

In this episode:

3:47 Emily’s own winding career journey from politics to full-time coaching

6:13 The little experiments approach for testing your new career out

9:40 Stuck and don’t know what you want? Emily’s 3-part process

13:14 Tackling the “I’m too old to change careers” myth — and why identity shifts are part of the process

16:09 What to consider when making a pivot

22:29 The “talk shop” approach 

23:42 What comes after prototyping 

26:01 Why your dream job will change over time — and why that’s healthy

27:50 Redefining success and achievement

29:50 Lessons learned from a pivot that didn’t go as planned 

34:48 The one thing to do today to kickstart your career change

36:06 Getting in touch with Emily and finding the right coach for you

More resources:
Emily’s website: 

The book “Designing Your Life” 

The CliftonStrengths Assessment

Follow Most Self-Improved on Instagram

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by choice — whether it’s small, like deciding on dinner, or big, like changing careers — this episode is your push toward clarity. Decision coach Nell Wulfhart joins hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri to help untangle what’s actually keeping us stuck. From overthinking to fear of regret, this honest conversation offers practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you finally decide and move forward.

Nell shares why taking action — even imperfectly — is often better than staying in indecision, why most decisions are reversible, and how to build your decision-making muscle. You'll learn how to test your dreams in small ways and how the scariest leaps can be the most worthwhile.

In this episode:

3:13 What a decision coach actually does (and why one session is enough)

5:43 How Nell built her decisiveness—and how you can too: “Decision making is a muscle”

7:15 Why fear of regret stops us in our tracks: “The decision making business is really just the regret-minimization business” 

9:08 Overthinking red flags and how to stop them: “Letting the doubt creep into your mind, you could just lose so many opportunities”

12:28 Nell’s tool for overcoming regret: “Learn to separate the decisions from the outcome”

16:01 Nell’s future exercise to help you make decisions 

18:41 What to do when your dream doesn’t feel realistic right now

20:52 Why are we risk-averse? 

25:00 You’ve made your decision. Now what?

More:

Nell offers single-session decision coaching designed to help you stop swirling in doubt and start taking action. For more information, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.

Follow us on Instagram, @mostselfimproved Subscribe and share this episode with a friend who’s stuck on a decision. It might save them hours (or years).

You don’t need a significant other, bestie, or bachelorette invite to see the world. You simply need the desire (which you’ve got), the confidence to take your dreams seriously, and the courage to act on it.

In this episode of Most Self-Improved, hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with Melissa Byron of A Solo Woman Traveling — an expert who curates luxury European tours for women. She’s here to tell you that freedom, fun, and self-discovery don’t require anyone else’s permission. 

“I was about to turn 30,” Melissa remembers of her first solo trip, “and I hadn’t really done any traveling. And I thought, ‘Okay, I can just keep waiting, or I can go on a trip by myself.’”

If you’ve ever dreamed of booking the flight, making pasta from scratch in Italy, or sipping espresso in Paris without explaining yourself to anyone, this episode will have you fired up like a jet engine.

In this episode:
1:35 Bhavana and Erin’s experience with solo travel and their hesitation

5:23 Melissa enters the chat: Solo travel “changed my life in so many ways”

6:15 What keeps us waiting: “In the early days I was saving destinations until I had someone special to go with, and then I realized, 'This is silly. I can always go back.’”

10:48 Avoid Melissa’s travel mistakes 

12:30 How to make friends on trips

13:30 Melissa’s tips for solo travel: Start local and “pay for convenience over anything else”

16:18 Preparing for solo travel

19:00 Your sign to just go: “Look and book”

More:

If you’re interested in learning more about Melissa, her tips, and her trips, make the journey over to her website. Connect with her on Instagram: @ASoloWomanTraveling

Subscribe to Most Self-Improved and DM us your dream solo trip so we can cheer you on!

This is such a fun and informative episode for anyone who has been accused of being picky or secretly wondered if their standards for dating are too high. Dating coach Rachel Simeone joins hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri to unpack what it really means to be picky and what settling feels like.

“Settling comes from a place of fear, a place (of) insecurity,” Rachel says. “The message you're giving yourself is something like, ‘What if I never find anyone else? Maybe I can't get the kind of person I want. Maybe this is all there is for me.’” 

Rachel also shares the inspiring journey of how she found true love after a 17-year relationship crumbled. Whether you're deep in dating app burnout or wondering if you’re the “single for a reason” friend, this episode will give you clarity and encouragement.

In this episode:

2:14 The end of Rachel’s 17-year relationship: “I really wanted to find my true love” 

4:21 Rachel is shocked by who she finds online: “There were just a lot of people out there — I call it ‘single for a reason’”

6:19 How important is physical attraction?

9:54 Setting your dating criteria: “The energy of too picky is very different than the energy of thoughtful dating”

13:01 Dating someone worthy who gives you butterflies

14:49 Defining dealbreakers

15:36 When does being open become settling?

18:42 Your intuition’s role

19:52 If you’re not being too picky then why are you single? Finding answers in patterns

21:27 How to use dating apps strategically and avoid emotional burnout

22:56 Rachel’s advice for meeting people in real life: “This is going to sound strange”

More:

Learn more about Rachel Simeone and her teachings via her website, rachelsimeone.com
Email her at [email protected]
Book a free dating strategy session via her website

Follow Most Self-Improved on Instagram: @mostselfimproved
Show some love to a friend who is single by sharing this episode

Your Most Self-Improved hosts Erin Jensen and Bhavana Chilukuri kick off Season 3 with an episode that might be just the exhale you need. Tricia Dimon, a breathwork facilitator and founder of Breath of Abundance, explains the inner clarity and calm that can be achieved through intentional breath. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected from your intuition, or like your body is carrying stress you can’t name, this one is for you. Learn about a new tool for self-regulation and decision-making that you can try during the episode.

In this episode:

2:17 Introduction of Tricia Dimon, breathwork facilitator 

6:00 What exactly is breathwork?

6:56 Softening trauma and releasing stress  

8:03 How breathwork differs from typical breathing

9:12 How breath can be a bridge back to your intuition, clarity, and confidence

12:06 A guided breathwork session that you can try

22:00 Breathing back into alignment with your true self

25:50 Bhavana and Erin’s takeaways from the episode

More:

To learn more about Tricia’s work, visit her website or purchase her book. 

Follow the show on Instagram: @mostselfimproved

Subscribe and leave a review if this episode moved you or helped you reconnect to yourself. Share it with a friend who could use an exhale.

Maybe you haven’t found the right partner, or perhaps pairing up isn’t of interest at all, but you’d still like to pursue your dream of becoming a parent on your own. In this eye-opening episode, Most Self-Improved hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with Ali Cherry, wearer of multiple hats, including therapist, writer, standup comic and mom. 

Discover Ali’s inspiring story of embracing life on her own terms and her journey to becoming a mom. This heartwarming episode is not only an exploration of what it means to pursue solo motherhood but also a celebration of life's non-linear paths.

This episode also reveals some happy, personal news for one of our very own podcast hosts as the show heads for a break.

In this episode:

2:30 Introducing Ali Cherry: Therapist, writer, and mom

3:19 Ali's journey to solo parenthood: Trying on the idea of solo parenting

5:58 Fears about solo parenting

6:45 Picking a sperm donor: “Shockingly easy”

7:11 How being a solo parent has changed her: “I feel more settled”

9:44 Ali on being the author of her own parenting journey: “I don’t want that story of ‘It’s hard’”

11:20 The process of getting pregnant

14:45 Ali’s parting advice for aspiring solo parents: Acknowledge “life is not linear” and embrace the process

19:40 One co-host announces her own baby news and a Most Self-Improved break

More:

Watch Ali talk about “Being Single in a Coupled World” on YouTube.

 
 Follow Most Self-Improved on Instagram and Subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

It’s a four-letter word with a bad rap, but we’re going to talk about it anyway: envy.

We just exited “Why is everyone in Italy without me?”-season, but there are still times when we feel like we’re lacking or behind — as the only single girl at dinner, or intimidated by all of the influencers and CEOs on our #FYP that seem to have it all (and all figured out).

What’s wrong with us? (Spoiler alert: absolutely nothing!) And what can we do with those feelings? In this episode, life coach Stacy Kim reveals how to: 

• Make envy work for you
• Uncover what you truly want 
• Take steps towards a more fulfilling life 

This green eyed-opening episode redefines this “negative” emotion into a driving force for self-improvement and success.

In this episode:

1:55 The social stigma of envy

3:53 Welcoming life coach Stacy Kim: “I love coaching high-achieving, big-hearted people”

06:31 Defining envy: When it’s benign and when it’s toxic

08:39 Cultural perspectives on envy

11:30 Dealing with envy in a healthy way: “Envy can often tell you what it is that you really want”

16:42 Remedying the sadness and resentment that can accompany envy

19:55 Hone in on what you truly want by letting envy be your guide

21:18 Other common challenges high-achieving women face

22:05 Stacy’s message for high-achieving women: “You’ve got this”

More:

For more information about Stacy and her teachings or to work with her, visit her website. 

You can also read her article on envy penned for The Washington Post. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram, @MostSelfImproved. 

"Most Self Improved" hosts Bhavana Chilukuri and Erin Jensen chat with life and leadership coach Stephanie MacKinnon to explore the elusive balance between effort and ease. If you’ve ever struggled with knowing how hard to push yourself and when to rest, this conversation is a must-listen.

In this episode:

02:47 Stephanie's journey and insights: “It’s a constant cycle of learning and checking in."

04:26 Defining effort and ease and why the word “should” is a red flag for Stephanie

7:17 How to know if you’re burnt out: “Checking in with how we actually feel is actually quite radical.”

10:53 Working beyond the belief that rest needs to be earned

12:30 Redefining what success means to you

15:46 The three questions to ask yourself instead of “What should I do right now?” to invite in ease

17:30 Final thoughts and takeaways

More:

You can read Stephanie’s blog about effort and ease referenced in this episode here. For more information about Stephanie and her work, visit her website (where you can access her free reflection questions). 

You can also follow her on Instagram, where you’ll also find our show, @MostSelfImproved.