Refined and Unapologetic

What happens when you stop settling for the life you think you’re supposed to live—and start paying attention to the life that’s calling you?
In Episode 8, Jen and Gina sit down with Jessica Jackson, founder and CEO of Jacked-Nutrition, Certified Personal Trainer, Precision Nutrition PN2 Master Coach, coach, guide, and lifelong student of what it means to actually live the life you’ve been given.
She also describes herself as “wildly curious + unwilling to settle.”
And that was pretty much all we needed to hear. 
After years of building businesses, coaching people through physical transformation, and chasing goals of her own, Jess became increasingly interested in the work underneath all of it: self-awareness, calling, identity, discipline, and the gap between knowing what matters to you and actually living in alignment with it.
That journey led her to create NOTG Life — Life North of the Ground, built around a simple belief: every day you wake up north of the ground is another chance to live like you mean it.
And this conversation goes far beyond nutrition and entrepreneurship.
We talk about trusting yourself enough to follow an idea, take a risk, change direction, and build a life that actually feels like yours. Jessica shares the story behind Jacked-Nutrition, the realities of entrepreneurship that don’t always make it onto social media, and how her definition of health, success, and fulfillment has evolved along the way.
We also get into something so many of us wrestle with:
How do you know when you’re being called toward something more—and when you’re simply afraid to leave what’s comfortable?
We talk health without obsession, ambition without apology, curiosity, identity, discipline, taking chances, and the places in our lives where we may still be settling without even realizing it.
Jess believes ambition needs structure, awareness should lead to action, and gratitude for the life you’ve built doesn’t require you to stop becoming.
So we ask Jessica a question we’re asking ourselves, too:
What’s calling you right now that you haven’t fully said yes to yet?
Because refining your life isn’t about having it all figured out.
Sometimes it’s simply being brave enough to listen when something inside you says…
There’s more for me.
You’re north of the ground. Live life full send.
And never apologize for refining your life like you mean it.
Follow Jessica: @jessjackson.life
Support Jacked-Nutrition: @jackednutritionlex

There comes a point in life when you realize...I don't have to do this anymore. Welcome to The Midlife Bullshit List—the things we've officially, permanently, and unapologetically decided we're DONE with. For this episode, Jen and Gina each made their own list of five things without sharing them beforehand. No comparing notes. No editing each other. And definitely no asking, "Is this too petty?" From one-sided relationships and other people's drama to uncomfortable shoes, saving the good stuff for "someday," doing what we're supposed to do, and waiting for someone else's permission to live the life we actually want—we're calling bullshit on all of it. Some of our lists are funny. Some get surprisingly deep. And a few may have you yelling, "YES!" right along with us. Because one of the best things about getting older is realizing you don't owe everyone an explanation. You can change your mind. You can want more. You can protect your peace. You can wear the comfortable shoes. And you can stop saving your life for some imaginary special occasion. Being here IS the special occasion. So grab your coffee, or your wine, and make your own Midlife Bullshit List along with us. Then ask yourself: What am I still tolerating, explaining, postponing, or doing simply because I think I'm supposed to? Maybe it's time to cross a few things off your list. And never apologize for refining your life like you mean it.

If you could sit down with your 30-year-old selffor five minutes, what would you tell her?

Would you tell her to stop worrying so much aboutwhat everyone thinks? Take the picture? Wear the swimsuit? Take care of herbody? Let some friendships go? Stop believing she has to have her entire lifefigured out?

Or maybe you'd simply tell her...

Enjoy this. It goes faster than you think.

In this episode, Jen and Gina look back at thewomen they were in their 30s—and all the things they've learned since.

We're talking about plans that didn't go accordingto plan, changing friendships, careers and identity, body image, peoplepleasing, getting in the damn picture, and finally realizing that not everyonehas to like you.

And this conversation also became a tribute to oneof our greatest idols, Dolly Parton, woman who has alwaysembodied so much of what Refined & Unapologetic means to us:knowing who you are, staying true to yourself, giving generously, aging on yourown terms, and never apologizing for being exactly who you were meant to be.

There are things we'd absolutely do differently.

There are things we're incredibly gratefulhappened exactly the way they did.

And there are still plenty of things we haven'tfigured out.

Because this conversation isn't really aboutwishing we could go back.

We don't.

It's about asking a better question:

What will my 70-year-old self wish I had donetoday?

Whatever your age, there's still time to changeyour mind, take the trip, make the call, get in the picture, start somethingnew—or simply appreciate the life you're living right now.

So grab your coffee or wine and join us as welaugh, reflect, share a little hard-earned wisdom, and celebrate a woman whoreminded generations of us that you can be kind, strong, glamorous, generous,ambitious—and completely, unapologetically yourself.

Here's to getting older, getting wiser, and never apologizing forrefining your life like you mean it.

What does hope look like when the life you knewchanges forever?

In our first guest episode of Refined &Unapologetic, we sit down with Dr. Tammy Hershinow for a deeplypersonal conversation about love, unimaginable loss, grief, resilience, andultimately—hope.

In September 2024, Tammy lost her adult son, JohnHenry, to suicide. John Henry was a beloved son, brother, friend, teacher, andman of faith who loved fishing, sports, his students, and his family. Justweeks after his death, Tammy faced another devastating life change when hermarriage ended.

There is no roadmap for rebuilding after that kindof loss.

And Tammy doesn't pretend there is.

Instead, she shares honestly about what it means to keep putting one foot infront of the other, what people often misunderstand about grief, the importanceof allowing others to show up for us, and how she's found purpose in helpingothers.

Today, Tammy serves as a Field Representative withthe American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, using her experience and hervoice to remind people that they are not alone.

This isn't simply a conversation about loss.

It's a conversation about what comes after.

About finding purpose without forgetting.

About carrying grief and joy at the same time.

And about choosing hope—even when hope looks verydifferent than it once did.

If you're grieving, rebuilding, supporting someonewho is struggling, or simply walking through a season you never expected, wehope Tammy's story reminds you that your hardest chapter does not have to beyour last.

Because sometimes refining your life isn't aboutbecoming someone new. It's learning how to keep living when life has made yousomeone different.

Contentnote: This episode includes discussion of suicide, grief, and loss. Please takecare while listening.

Have you ever convinced yourself you just needed “a little more time” beforeyou started?

One more certification.
One more pound lost.
One more draft.
One more plan.
One more reason to wait.

We’ve been there too.

In this episode, Jen and Gina have an honest conversation about howperfectionism almost kept Refined & Unapologetic from ever launching. Fromtaking hundreds of photos trying to get the “perfect” one to overthinking everyword in our first few episodes, we realized something surprising…

Perfectionism isn’t really about getting everything right.

It’s often about protecting ourselves from getting hurt.

Together, we unpack why so many people wait until they feel ready, why“perfect timing” rarely exists, and how fear often disguises itself aspreparation.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

● Why perfectionism almost delayed this podcast

● The hidden fears behind “I’m just not ready yet”

● How overthinking keeps us stuck

● Why progress will always beats perfection

● A simple challenge to help you take one imperfect step this week

Because the life you’re waiting for isn’t on the other side of perfect.

It’s on the other side of starting.

So this week, stop waiting for the perfect moment.

Take the imperfect step.

We’ll be right there with you.

Because you never have to apologize for refining your life like you mean it.

How many times have you answered the question, “How are you?” with one word…
Busy.
Somewhere along the way, being busy became something we wear like a badge of honor. We equate full calendars with success, exhaustion with productivity, and constantly saying “yes” with being a good spouse, parent, friend, or employee.
But what if being busy isn’t the goal?
In this episode, Jen and Gina unpack the difference between being busy and being intentional. They share personal stories about seasons of overwhelm, the temptation to use “busy” as an excuse, and how small daily choices reveal what truly matters.
You’ll hear:
-Why “I’m too busy” has become our default response
-The difference between being productive and simply being occupied
-How boundaries, not time, are often the real issue
-Why balance may not be the goal
-How to identify where your time is actually going
-A simple 24-hour challenge to help you align your calendar with your priorities
Because refining your life isn’t about finding more hours in the day.
It’s about being intentional with the ones you already have.
Grab your coffee, lace up your walking shoes, or settle into your commute…this is a conversation every busy person needs to hear.

In Episode 1, we talked about giving yourself permission to want more.
In this episode , we’re talking about what comes next.
Because the life you want isn’t built by one big breakthrough, it’s built by the small choices you make every single day.
In this episode, Jen and Gina explore the difference between settling and raising your standards, why ownership is empowering (not shameful), and how the little decisions we often overlook shape the lives we’re living.
Inspired by the principles in The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, we discuss why success isn’t about doing something extraordinary once, it’s about doing the ordinary consistently.
You’ll learn:
• Why awareness without action changes nothing
• The difference between excuses and ownership
• How small daily choices create extraordinary results over time
• Practical ways to start raising your standards today
• A simple challenge that will move you one step closer to the life you want
Remember…
Your future isn’t built in giant leaps.
It’s built one decision at a time.

Can you be grateful for your life and still want more?

Jen and Gina believe the answer is absolutely yes.

In this first episode of Refined & Unapologetic, we share the personal stories that inspired this podcast and the life-changing lesson we both learned through divorce, career transitions, grief, sobriety, friendship, and rebuilding our lives from the ground up.

We discuss why gratitude is not the finish line, but the foundation. Why wanting more for your life doesn’t make you selfish or ungrateful. And how raising your standards can change everything.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, lost a piece of yourself, started over, or simply wondered if there’s more available to you, this conversation is for you.

Because you don’t have to apologize for wanting more.

And you don’t have to do it alone.