At least once a week, I sit down to write a social media post and I want to start it with, “YOU GET TO CHOOSE.”

Every day, no matter where things stand with the world, we get to choose - so many things. 

We get to choose how we show up. 

We get to choose who we share our energy with.

We get to choose who gets the best pieces of us.

We get to choose how to honor ourselves.

We get to choose how to live out our core values.

We get to choose it all. 

This year, more than ever, we have had the responsibility of big choices. In this episode, I share three really powerful examples of what you get to choose right now, as these seem to be popping up over and over in my life and in the lives of others in our community:

Listen in to get inspired and fired up about the choices you get to make today and #everydamnday.

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Sophia Yen, MD, MPH is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pandia Health, birth control delivery. She has a passion for making women’s lives easier, preventing unplanned pregnancies, and educating women about #PeriodsOptional.

With more than 20 years of experience in medicine, she is board-certified in Adolescent Medicine. She graduated with a B.S. from MIT, M.D. from UCSF Medical School, and M.P.H. from UC Berkeley in Maternal Child Health. She serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Stanford Medical School.

Dr. Yen's company, Pandia Health, is the first-ever female doctor founded birth control company. Men have been leading an industry they know little about, which is crazy to think about. But now, women across the country are turning to Dr. Yen and Pandia Health for birth control (pill, patch or ring) and telemedicine needs. Plus, the science and safety behind skipping your period is a topic often not talked about. In fact, 66% of women have never been informed by their doctor that they can safely stop their period. Dr. Sophia Yen is on a mission to help educate women about this crucial health topic.

Listen in to hear Dr. Yen share:

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Amy Fish is the author of I WANTED FRIES WITH THAT: How to Ask for What You Want and Get What You Need. She is also the “Chief Complaints Officer” (also known as the Ombudsperson) for Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, which has more than 50,000 students, and where she spends her days investigating, analyzing (and mostly resolving) complaints for a whole variety of people. Amy's insights and wisdom have been featured in and on Reader's Digest, CBC-TV Canada, CBC Radio Canada, Global TV Canada, The Huffington Post, and many other publications. She lives in Montreal with her family and believes we all can make the world a better place by standing up for ourselves — even about the small things.

Listen in to hear Amy share:

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Lora Cheadle is a transformational thought leader and media personality who empowers women to let go of judgment, overcome the need to please, express themselves fully, and find uninhibited success and joy every day. Using the five steps of FLAUNT! , she encourages others to take the lead in the dance of life despite any external circumstances. She is the author of the bestselling book FLAUNT! Drop Your Cover and Reveal Your Smart, Sexy, & Spiritual Self.

Lora came on the show to share an extremely vulnerable and powerful story around self trust and self worth. I know you’ll learn some really valuable lessons from her. 

Listen in to hear Lora share:

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Soooo… I’m taking a memoir writing class. I do not know the first thing about writing a memoir. I don’t know if I even want to write a memoir. But I do know that I want to be a better writer. 

At the end of my first writing class, our teacher gave us an assignment, “Write 700 words about your topic. And don’t try to make it the best piece of writing you’ve ever done. Make it mediocre.”

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to be mediocre? When did you decide to try something just for the sake of trying it and letting yourself practice?

Most of us are constantly tied up in measuring progress and growth. We are aiming to get closer to perfect with every step.

It’s ok to stop measuring progress sometimes. It’s ok to not track metrics. It’s ok to be totally imperfect and messy and just play around in order to learn and grow and have fun.

It’s ok to simply practice.

In giving yourself permission to practice, you get to show up without judgement. You get to step outside of your head and ignore metrics that you might otherwise mistakenly attach to your self worth. You get to be creative and just have fun. Remember fun? Yeah, me neither…

Listen in to hear all about how you can give yourself permission to practice and step away from a constant push for progress and perfection. This might just be the breath of fresh air you need!

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Leslie Lyons is the Founder of Bombshell Movement Studio in Chicago, host of the Beyond the Pole: Tales from the CEO podcast, and a sales and leadership coach for female entrepreneurs. With a background in corporate sales, youth ministry (yes-she’s a Christian and the owner of a pole studio!), and as a leader for studio owners throughout the US, Leslie has spent her life pouring into women emotionally and spiritually. Now, more than ever, her dedication to helping entrepreneurial women lead with their heart and head is the exact type of leadership we need.

Listen in to hear Leslie share:

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It’s ok if you’re tired.

Over the last I have had many conversations with clients and colleagues and loved ones who are just tired. 

We are tired of being home with everyone everyday. We are tired of shifts and changes to job status. We are tired of constantly worrying about health and safety around COVID. We are tired of adapting to uncertainty and unpredictability. We are tired of distance learning (bless our teachers!). We are tired of having no personal time or personal space. We are tired of politics. We are tired of social media. We are tired of feeling disillusioned. We are tired of trying to just get through it. 

The just get throughedness of 2020 is wiping us out, if we’re being honest. 

I’m giving you permission to OWN & HONOR your fatigue.

You should feel tired. Bone tired. 

But, in spite of your fatigue, you do have to keep going. 

Listen in to hear 8 ways you can own, honor, and even recover a little from your fatigue.

Links mentioned:

• Get updates about our upcoming Gratitude Challenge: shamelessmom.com/newsletter

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Stefanie Wilder-Taylor a Shameless Mom of 3, the author of 5 books, and the host of 3 podcasts. She has also been a stand up comic, a writer on various TV shows, and the host of the NickMom show, Parental Discretion. When she’s not hosting one of her 3 podcasts (For Crying Out Loud, Bored AF, and Rose Pricks), she’s teaching writing classes to people like ME! 

Stefanie co-hosts her podcast For Crying Out Loud with Lynette Carolla. Their show was the first “parenting” podcast I ever listened to. I have not missed an episode in 5+ years. Stefanie and Lynette and so brilliant and so funny. Stefanie has been on my Dream Guest List for years, so I’m fired up to finally have her here with us. 

Listen in to hear Stefanie share:

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There is a huge difference between being connected and actually connecting. 

Most of us are very connected. We are constantly tapped into social media, news outlets, our inboxes, TV shows, games & apps on our phone, and online shopping. So many opportunities to be connected each day, right?! 

How are these connections making you feel? 

Being connected in so many places and spaces that don’t allow for deep connection and vulnerability with other humans can leave us feeling drained, exhausted, frustrated, hopeless, powerless, depressed, and anxious. Being so constantly connected can instill self doubt, fear, and anger. Being constantly connected can feel so constricting.

On the other hand, actually connecting in deep and meaningful relationships feels restorative, regenerative, freeing and joy filled. Meaningful connecting can instill hope and power and gratitude. This feels expansive instead of constricting. Connecting positive impacts our physical, mental, and emotional health. YES!

Can you see the difference between being connected vs actually connecting? It’s pretty profound. 

Listen in to learn how you can spend less time being connected and more time actually connecting. 

Links mentioned:

• Get the free replay of my Tenacious Mamas Business & Leadership Workshop: email us at [email protected]

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Dr. Alexandra Owensby is running for the Congressional seat in Kentucky's 4th district. In addition to that, she's working at her local hospital during the pandemic. After leaving an abusive marriage, Dr. Owensby put herself through nursing school as a full-time single mother of two, utilizing student loans. While working the night shift to make childcare more affordable, she was able to minimize time away from her children. After graduating and earning her RN S\status, Alexandra obtained a position as an ICU nurse. Though still struggling to make ends meet with a salary below $40,000.00 annually, she was able to make it with assistance from the Children’s Health Insurance Program, due to their zero-dollar co-pays for medicine, dental care, and clinic visits. Dr. Owensby believes strongly that this type of Healthcare is what all American families deserve access to. Alexandra’s journey through hardship and the American education system has inspired her to run for Congress as Kentucky’s 4th District Representative. She is not a politician born into money, nor is she a millionaire business owner looking to boost her image. Dr. Alexandra Owensby’s story is the spark that moves an average American citizen to ask for the opportunity to lead in a city where most do not. 

Listen in to hear Alexandra share:

Links mentioned:

• Connect with and learn more about Alexandra: Alexandra Owensby

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