If you started a business expecting to learn systems and marketing, but found yourself confronting self-doubt, vulnerability, and personal identity shifts, this episode is for you.

In Episode 15 of The Shared Diary, Lori Phillips and Nicole Cowley dig into the unspoken emotional reality of entrepreneurship. They discuss the daily roller coaster of confidence, the vulnerability of putting your work online, and why growing a business inevitably means rebuilding yourself from the inside out.

Together they unpack: • Waking up inspired only to question everything by the afternoon • Why hearing silence on a post can feel heavier than hearing an outright "no" • Recognizing physical warning signs of burnout and listening to your body • Navigating the guilt of balancing home, family, and ambitious goals • Filtering out overwhelming online advice to rediscover your authentic voice and self-trust

Tune in for honest truth and permission to grow at your own pace.

Download your weekly reflection guide at https://shareddiarypodcast.com

If you have ever caught yourself repeating an old habit and thought, "I know better by now, so why did I just do that again?" this episode is for you.

In Episode 14 of The Shared Diary, Lori Phillips, Debbie Prediger, and Nicole Cowley explore the frustrating gap between knowing better and living differently. They break down why growth-oriented women are often their own harshest critics, how stress and familiar environments pull us back into old reactions, and why true progress is about noticing sooner rather than striving for perfection.

Together they discuss: • Breaking out of shame and self-blame when old habits resurface • How to look at coping mechanisms with curiosity instead of judgment • Why familiar relationships can resist your personal evolution • The emotional weight of hearing "I'm disappointed in you" and how to heal through it • Reframing personal growth as personal mastery and gentle awareness

Grab your journal, give yourself some grace, and join us inside the conversation.

Download your weekly reflection guide at https://shareddiarypodcast.com

Why do some communities feel like home while others leave us feeling disconnected or like outsiders?

In Episode 13 of The Shared Diary, Lori Phillips and Debbie Prediger explore the deeper meaning of belonging and connection. They talk about the power of being welcomed and remembered, the importance of creating safe and intentional spaces, and why community builders need to listen as much as they speak.

They also discuss the two-way energy exchange of community, the difference between being around people who are like us and being around people who allow us to be ourselves, and why people are craving meaningful connection more than ever.

This episode is a reminder that community is not simply about numbers. It is about intention, trust, safety, shared energy, and creating space for people to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported.

The conversation also explores how online communities can lead to lifelong friendships, collaborations, personal growth, and opportunities to share our stories with the people who need to hear them.

The Shared Diary Questions:

What's bringing you joy right now?

What's challenging you right now?

What's inspiring you right now?

What's one thing you're grateful for this week?

Bonus: Who is someone you've met through community that you're grateful came into your life?

The final diary reflection is:

“I'm so grateful that I did the thing that I was scared of.”

Learn more and find the episode archives and reflection guides at:

https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

Ignite is a 4-week program for entrepreneurs and coaches who are ready to create intentional growth and move past what is holding them back.

If you have ever caught yourself looking at your life thinking, "Everything is fine, so why don't I feel happier?"... this episode is for you.

In Episode 12 of The Shared Diary, Lori Phillips, Debbie Prediger, and Nicole Cowley have an honest, unscripted conversation about the difference between being truly happy and simply getting used to your life.

They dive into the subtle guilt that comes with wanting more when nothing is technically wrong, what happens when you start doing inner work and your relationships feel the ripple effect, and why so many of us divide ourselves into separate "buckets" instead of being fully ourselves everywhere we go. Plus, the hosts share a hilarious live moment, dive into rapid-fire questions on routine vs. spontaneity and comfort vs. adventure, and discuss how deciding to say yes to yourself changes everything.

Topics covered in this episode: • The difference between surviving on autopilot and truly thriving • The guilt of questioning your happiness when you have a good life • How personal growth impacts the people around you • Recognizing where you hold back and where you feel "free to be me" • Balancing routines that ground you with adventures that expand you • An introduction to the 4-week Ignite Program starting soon

Connect with the hosts: Lori Phillips: https://beawesomenetwork.com Debbie Prediger: https://debbieprediger.com Nicole Cowley: https://nextstepwithnicolerenee.com

Explore the Ignite Program: https://ignite.debbyprediger.com Download this week's Reflection Guide at https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

What happens when nothing is technically wrong with your life, but deep down you wonder if you are actually happy?

In this episode of The Shared Diary, Lori Phillips, Debbie Prediger, and Nicole Cowley open up about the uncomfortable space between being grateful for what you have and realizing you have been living on autopilot. Together, they discuss the guilt women often feel for wanting more, what happens when internal growth creates friction with old environments, and how to identify where you feel truly "free to be you."

They also share personal stories about navigating major identity shifts, moving through physical and emotional burnout, and breaking the habit of keeping your biggest dreams on a shelf.

Learn more at: https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

Watch the video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@shareddiarypodcast

What happens when you wonder if you are the kind of person who can actually create the life you want?

In this episode of The Shared Diary, Lori Phillips, Debbie Prediger, and Nicole Cowley explore the stories that keep us from trying, the small actions that build evidence, and practical ways to shift language and behavior so you can start creating change today. We share personal examples, mindset shifts, and simple practices you can try this week.

Includes a mention of Ignite, a 4-week program for entrepreneurs and coaches starting August 19.

Learn more at: https://shareddiarypodcast.com/ Watch the video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@shareddiarypodcast

What happens when you accomplish something meaningful but immediately move on to the next goal without taking time to celebrate?

In this heartfelt episode of The Shared Diary Podcast, Lori Phillips, Debbie Prediger, and Nicole Cowley explore why so many of us struggle to recognize how far we have come. They talk about moving the finish line, minimizing compliments, comparing ourselves to others, and believing that success only counts when it looks a certain way.

Together, they discuss whether it is possible to be ambitious and deeply content, why contentment is not laziness, and how competitive sports, childhood experiences, perfectionism, and old beliefs can shape the way we measure our worth.

They also explore imposter syndrome, the importance of taking action before everything feels perfect, and how small, aligned steps can create evidence that you are capable of more than you think. Through honest stories and meaningful reflection, this conversation invites you to redefine success, receive your accomplishments, and remember that you are enough right now.

Learn more at:

https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

Watch the video episodes:

https://www.youtube.com/@shareddiarypodcast

What is really keeping you stuck?

In this heartfelt episode of The Shared Diary Podcast, Lori Phillips and Nicole Cowley explore the emotional weight of feeling unable to move forward, even when you have done the work, read the books, listened to the podcasts, and tried to think differently.

They talk openly about the stories beneath stuckness, the role fear plays in overthinking, the pressure of starting over, social-media comparison, and the ways we can abandon ourselves by staying too long in situations that no longer align with the life we want.

Lori and Nicole also share practical ways to move through stuckness, including pausing instead of pushing harder, changing your environment, asking for support, identifying whether you need clarity or courage, and taking one small action before you know the entire path.

If you have been feeling frozen, behind, overwhelmed, or unsure what comes next, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone, you have choices, and stuckness may be an invitation to listen more deeply to yourself.

Learn more at: The Shared Diary Podcast

Watch the video episodes: The Shared Diary Podcast on YouTube

What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you want is the conversation happening in your head?

In this episode of The Shared Diary Podcast, Lori Phillips and Nicole Cowley explore why we talk ourselves out of the choices we secretly want. They share personal stories about the pressure of "being logical," dealing with the fear of failure, and the relief that comes from finally taking that first step. Whether you are stuck in overthinking or waiting for the "perfect" time, this conversation offers practical shifts to help you build confidence and momentum.

Learn more at: https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

What happens when you spend your whole life trying to fit in, only to realize you’ve lost the real you in the process?

In this honest episode of The Shared Diary Podcast, Lori Phillips and Nicole Cowley explore the courage it takes to be fully seen. Together they share personal stories about being "chameleons" in social settings, the fear of rejection, the habit of rehashing conversations in our minds, and the journey of reclaiming the truest version of ourselves.

They discuss why it's so comfortable to be who others want us to be, how to recognize the signals in our body when we are "contracting," and the freedom that comes from finally opening the diary and being authentic without apology.

If you have ever felt like you were wearing a mask just to belong, this conversation will remind you that your truest energy is your greatest gift.

Learn more at: https://shareddiarypodcast.com/

Watch the video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@shareddiarypodcast