In this episode, Ana Cruz reflects on how our understanding of friendship evolves as we do. From the independence of being the “new kid” to the calm wisdom of a friend named Grace, she explores how the people in our lives help us grow — sometimes long before we realize it.

Ana shares stories of friends who began as background characters and slowly became main ones, the quiet persistence of a friendship that stretched across decades, and the way her own children now carry those lessons forward in their lifelong bonds.

It’s a heartfelt conversation about chosen family, belonging, and the kind of friendship that doesn’t need daily proof — only presence.

And as Ana looks toward the years ahead, she imagines a “Golden Girls” compound filled with laughter, honesty, and love — a reminder that maybe friendship is the real love story, the one that keeps unfolding long after everything else changes.

This episode explores what travel really teaches us — not just about the world, but about ourselves. Ana shares how solo adventures helped her rediscover her rhythm, and how a trip through three countries with a close friend revealed the quiet art of communication. From laughter in a tiny Barcelona café to the tension of unspoken expectations, this story invites you to look at the spaces between connection and independence. Because sometimes the real journey isn’t the miles you travel — it’s the courage to say what you need and still stay open to love.

Guilt doesn’t live in the middle.
It’s either not enough… or too much.

In this week’s episode of Quietly Released, I share one of my earliest memories of guilt and how it connects to the patterns so many of us still carry today.

From childhood stories to motherhood, to the quiet ways we project expectations onto ourselves — this episode is a reminder that most guilt is self-imposed… and it’s time to let some of it go.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

What happens when your passion starts to feel like just another job?

In this episode, I share the winding road of turning my love of travel into retreats, why I had to pivot, and the surprising freedom that comes when we stop chasing perfection. We’ll talk about the roles we play at home, the person we get to become when we travel, and the beauty of allowing passion to be messy, imperfect, and deeply human.

If you’ve been holding back on something you love because it isn’t “perfect” yet, this conversation is for you. And if adventure calls to your heart the way it does to mine, you’ll hear more about the girls’ trip I’m hosting in 2026 — an invitation to laugh, connect, and discover together.

Sometimes the road to where we’re going feels completely wrong — full of detours, back roads, and unexpected turns.

In this episode, I share a story about following my GPS to Mississauga and realizing how much it mirrors life, goals, and plan.

From career detours in my twenties, to bold goals, to one sentence that changed the course of my life — this is about trusting the destination, even when the route doesn’t make sense.

Grab your journal and reflect with me on the questions: Where are you doubting your path? What detours have been blessings in disguise? And how can you see, feel, and create the vision of the life you truly want?

This episode was recorded with a full heart — on the way home from a memorial that stirred something deep in me.

It’s about legacy.
Not the kind we build for show, but the kind we live into quietly — through love, presence, and the people who remember how we made them feel.

I share the story of a friend’s father, the quiet impact he left, and the reflections that surfaced during that long, thoughtful drive.
We’ll explore memory buckets, unexpected life lessons (like the ones learned alone on a hill in Italy), and what it really means to create a life that matters.

Because in the end, what we leave behind isn’t what we built.
It’s how we showed up.
And who we loved — deeply, quietly, and well.

🪞This one’s an invitation to slow down… and ask yourself:
What are you pouring into your life?

What if the most powerful things you’ve done… were the things no one saw?

In this episode of Quietly Released, I’m sharing a deeply personal reflection on the moments that shaped me — from a single comment in grade school to the quiet strength it took to start over after divorce.

We’ll talk about the ache of being unacknowledged, the difference between attention and connection, and the quiet ways we become the lead character in our own lives. I’ll share stories about parenting, social media silence, bakery fry pies, and the reminder that just because you’re quiet doesn’t mean you’re not powerful.

If you’ve ever felt unseen while doing something brave… this one’s for you.

What Portugal Taught Me About Freedom

In this episode of Quietly Released, I share why Portugal has become so much more than a travel destination — it’s where I feel most myself.

I talk about the quiet shift that happens when I’m there, the unexpected rhythm of working abroad, and how your environment can shape your energy, your presence, and your joy.

From a breathtaking first glimpse of Porto to building a business that bridges mortgages, retreats, and freedom — this is a personal story about place, pace, and remembering who you are.

Because sometimes, the most life-changing thing you can do… is go somewhere that lets you breathe a little deeper.

🧭 Ready to explore what freedom feels like for you? Tune in now.

What if your definition of success was never really yours to begin with?

In this episode, Ana Cruz shares the quiet unraveling of work, worth, and old beliefs — shaped by childhood memories, immigrant grit, and years of self-reliance. From a grocery store moment in Ontario to the internal shift that came in her 40s, Ana reflects on how success used to mean exhaustion… and how she’s redefining it on her own terms.

You’ll hear:
• The unexpected childhood story that shaped her money mindset
• How hustle culture and immigrant work ethic tangled with her identity
• Why mental exhaustion counts — and why rest doesn’t need to be earned
• What it means to build a life that feels good, not just looks good

This is for the woman quietly asking: Is this really it?
You’re not broken. You’re just becoming.

🧭 quietlyreleased.com
📸 Instagram @quietlyreleased

What if money wasn’t just about numbers — but about peace?

In this episode, Ana Cruz shares the personal story behind her decision to become mortgage-free by 50, the financial strategies that helped her get there, and the quiet liberation that comes from understanding your numbers — even when you're doing it alone.

You’ll hear:
• How a new build in 2021 sparked a shift in mindset
• What she let go of — including the myth that success = stuff
• A simple way to start reviewing your own mortgage, without shame
• Why financial clarity is emotional clarity, too

This isn’t about hustle or spreadsheets.
It’s about reclaiming agency.
And learning how to define wealth on your own terms.

🧭 Find Ana’s mortgage work, retreats, and Portugal-based experiences at QuietlyReleased.com
📸 Connect on Instagram @quietlyreleased