Sharing The Middle

Sometimes the most important thing you can model is stopping before you break.

Lacey and Sara sit down for a raw conversation about what happens when two people who talk about rest for a living realize they've run out of things to give. Lacey's family has been through it, job loss, barriers at every turn, the kind of season where you wake up and realize you're just done. Sara's overbooked, overpoured, and clear-eyed about what happens when your resource cups hit empty. This isn't a rock bottom episode. It's actually harder than that, it's two people who are mostly okay, physically improving, financially making it work, and still choosing to step back because capacity isn't the same as energy.

They talk about what it means to pause something you care about deeply, to say "I have nothing left to give" without shame, and to practice what you preach even when it's uncomfortable. Sara shares the wall metaphor that's been sticking with her: the wall isn't there to break through. It's there to lean against while you rest. If you've been running on fumes and can't point to a single dramatic reason why, this one might be the permission slip you didn't know you were waiting for. We'll be back when we're back.

Until then, keep finding the small joys. Notice a good smell. Notice the leaves. We'll meet you there. Sara is starting a channel of her own about the pure joy of sorting. Follow @practicalhug on TikTok and we will point you to it from the bio once it has a name.

This one got big in the best way. We started with Lacey's shame story about being called "too dramatic" as a kid — and somewhere along the way, we landed on silk robes, talk show beds, and the power of living your life out loud. Turns out, when you're told your feelings are too much, you learn to shrink. And when you shrink long enough, you start to believe the universe doesn't want big things for you. Spoiler: it does.

Sara and Lacey dig into how childhood shame becomes the box we live in as adults — until we realize we get to rewrite the rules. They talk about the difference between shame that protects and shame that diminishes, why "of course it's me" is a perfectly reasonable thought to have, and how chronic illness might just become a feature instead of a bug. It's messy and hopeful and honestly, a little bit of a breakthrough in real time.

If you've ever felt too much, too loud, or too whatever — this one's for you. Listen in and see what happens when you stop asking permission to take up space.

We're starting something new on No Shame in Our Game. Sara turns the mic around and Lacey becomes the guest, and we're kicking off with the word Lacey uses to beat herself up that she hasn't done nearly as much work on as the other one: dramatic.

Big feelings, where they come from, what it costs to spend years making yourself smaller so other people are more comfortable. We went two episodes on this one because it kept going somewhere real. Part two is next week.

Timestamps

1. 00:00 — Welcome + introducing the new format
2. 01:00 — Sara sets the stage: where "no shame" started and why it matters
3. 03:30 — Guilt vs. shame: what Brené Brown got right (probably)
4. 06:00 — Lacey's topic: dramatic, big feelings, and the word she hasn't worked through yet
5. 09:30 — Where it started: being the biggest feeler in a house that didn't have room for it
6. 13:00 — Reality TV as a safe space to watch big feelings from the outside
7. 15:30 — "I self-edit so much I don't even know what that would look like"
8. 17:00 — The Joe story: "I am afraid of your big feelings"
9. 18:30 — What would it feel like to just... not edit?
10. 20:00 — The Midwest lane: you can be happy, but not too happy
11. 21:30 — Saying out loud that you're smart, pretty, and likable — and the qualifying that follows

Brené Brown's work on shame vs. guilt — brenebrown.com

Miss Rachel's "Big Feelings" song — because apparently it's doing real work in Lacey's house

K-Pop Demon Hunters / Golden — Lacey's K-Pop moment that actually made a point

What's a word someone used to describe you growing up that you're still working to shake? We'd love to hear it.

Submit a Joy Moment or Submit a Question with us at pracitcalhug.com/submit .

In this mini check‑in, I’m sharing a very real slice of my midlife: RSV running through our house, living with ME/CFS, and parenting a baby who does not believe in sleep. Instead of pretending everything is fine and polished, I’m talking honestly about what it looks like to keep showing up for Sharing the Middle when planning conversations with guests feels nearly impossible.

I walk you through a new “hybrid” approach I’m trying for scheduling guest interviews that builds in radical flexibility for both me and my guests, and I reflect on how chronic illness and this particular season of parenting are reshaping my expectations around sleep, routines, and consistency. This is an episode about letting things be different than they were before, honoring my actual capacity, and staying messy out loud so you feel less alone in your own middle.

1. 00:00 – Welcome to Sharing the Middle + RSV and an exhausting week
2. 01:00 – Why planning guest conversations feels almost impossible right now
3. 02:00 – The new hybrid “flex window” I’m trying for scheduling recordings
4. 03:00 – Letting guests cancel first and making room for my own flakiness
5. 04:00 – Sleep chaos, chronic illness, and how this baby season is different
6. 05:00 – Allowing this chapter to look different and noticing the good in it
7. 06:00 – Being messy out loud + updates on other JSM shows and submissions

If you’re in your own messy middle and you’re willing to share it, I would love to hear from you. You can submit a story, a Joy Moment, or a question for No Shame in Our Game at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit. You’ll be able to choose which show you’re submitting for, and then we can figure out the details together.

I sat down with my dad to talk about where my love of Christmas decorations actually comes from. I learned so much, and also realized lots of ways my attitude toward Christmas decor can help me with my other messy middles

We traced it back to his childhood in Cincinnati, going downtown to see the massive Christmas window displays. Then to the era of cutting down trees so big they had to be shoved through doorways with a running start. And eventually to our family's current setup featuring a 16-foot tree, 27 strands of lights, and so many handmade and gifted ornaments to tell much of our family story.

This conversation gave me something I didn't expect. It's not about perfection or magazine-worthy aesthetics. It's about embracing what my dad calls "grandiose chaos" - the kind of Christmas that's overflowing, colorful, chaotic, and full of genuine joy.

We cover the logistics of transporting a freshly-cut tree in a 1964 Ford Galaxy convertible, why bubble lights are non-negotiable, how my dad became the MacGyver of Christmas repairs, and why every ornament on our tree tells a story. From wedding favors to Coca-Cola memorabilia to the things my mom made.

Whether you're the type of person who loves an all-white-lights Christmas tree or a tacky decor lover, I hope you see some of your own traditions in this episode.

Real Talk Conversations Guide - A framework I created for having intentional conversations with people in your life to document stories and make connections. If you want to have a conversation like this with someone you love, this guide walks you through how to do it.

Enjoying these conversations?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And if you have a minute, leave a rating and review - it helps others find the show.

Keep the conversation going:

Join the Joyful Support Village (it's free)

More from me:

• All JSM Podcasts
• Website
• Newsletter: The Practical Hug

Let's connect:

Instagram: @laceyshares | TikTok: @laceyshares

Want to share your story on Sharing the Middle?

Fill out the form at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit

Questions about the show or working with me?

Email: [email protected]

Three years ago this Halloween, my life changed forever. What started as unexplained fatigue became an ME/CFS diagnosis that reshaped everything—my career, my body, my future. But then came the plot twist I never saw coming: an IUD pregnancy that actually improved my symptoms.

In this deeply personal anniversary episode, I'm sharing the full story—from the Halloween 2022 moment I realized something was seriously wrong, to the shocking positive pregnancy test, the missing IUD mystery during my C-section, and how I figured out what probably happened (spoiler: menstrual cups and IUDs don't always play well together).

This episode is for anyone navigating chronic illness, making impossible decisions about their future, or wondering if the universe might know better than they do. It's about grief and building simultaneously, trusting your path when you can't trust your body, and finding gifts in the places you least expect them.

• The Halloween 2022 turning point that marked my "before and after"
• What ME/CFS actually means (and why "chronic fatigue" doesn't capture it)
• How I learned to pace my energy and listen to my body after a lifetime of ignoring it
• The IUD decision that was supposed to be "responsible"
• July 2024's 0.1% surprise: a positive pregnancy test
• The scary lack of research on pregnancy with ME/CFS (and the 1/3 statistic I clung to)
• How pregnancy actually improved my symptoms instead of making them worse
• Taking the European vacation we'd canceled due to illness
• The C-section discovery: my IUD was completely missing
• The menstrual cup revelation and important PSA
• Life six months postpartum with baby Violet
• How chronic illness shaped JSM and made me a better parent
• What I'd tell anyone in year one of their diagnosis

• [00:00:00] Introduction and overnight curls
• [00:03:00] Halloween 2022 - The moment with my mom on the couch
• [00:05:00] Getting the ME/CFS diagnosis
• [00:07:00] Learning to pace and listen to my body
• [00:08:00] Building Joyful Support Movement during this time
• [00:09:00] The IUD decision and family planning
• [00:09:30] July 2024 - The positive pregnancy test
• [00:10:00] Researching ME/CFS and pregnancy
• [00:11:00] Plot twist - Feeling better during pregnancy
• [00:12:00] The European vacation redemption
• [00:13:00] The missing IUD during C-section
• [00:14:00] PSA about menstrual cups and IUDs
• [00:15:00] Six months postpartum update
• [00:16:00] Gratitude and perspective
• [00:18:00] Invitation to share your story

Learn More About ME/CFS:

• ME Action Network
• Bateman Horne Center

Connect & Share:

• Join the Joyful Support Village
• Share your messy middle story
• Instagram: @joyfulsupportmovement
• Watch on YouTube

Products Mentioned:

• Shower chair on Amazon
• "I Have to Go Lay Down Now" sweatshirt

Mentioned in this episode:

Cubtail

Cubtale

I talk with Magalie René about rebuilding her business after getting diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I loved this conversation because of the fact that I have hypothyroidism. We're dealing with opposite thyroid issues, but so much of what she's going through landed for me.

Magalie ended up in the ER three times with racing heart and anxiety attacks before she finally asked for a thyroid panel herself. Once she got the diagnosis, she had to completely restructure how she runs her business—because hyperthyroidism puts your body on overdrive, and she was already in hustle mode. Something had to give.

We get into what hyperthyroidism symptoms actually feel like, why 80% of people with autoimmune disease are women, and this connection between poor boundaries and autoimmune issues that honestly blew my mind. Magalie also talks about becoming "unavailable for bullshit" in both her personal life and work, which is something I'm also working on. I hope you get as much out of our conversation as I did.

• Your body is trying to tell you something—listen to it
• Weight loss, constant productivity, and high energy can be signs your body is in crisis, not thriving
• Poor boundaries may be at the root of autoimmune issues (80% of sufferers are women)
• Being "unavailable for bullshit" is self-care, not mean
• Slowing down creates space for better ideas and easier paths to your goals
• The middle might be the new normal—and that's the upgraded version
• You're tired because your body is tired; the thought follows the feeling

• [00:02:00] Introduction to Magalie and the messy middle
• [00:05:00] Diagnosis with hyperthyroidism and rebuilding her business
• [00:06:00] What hyperthyroidism actually does to your body
• [00:07:00] Why 80% of people with autoimmune issues are women
• [00:11:00] Moving too fast means missing out on creativity and aligned ideas
• [00:14:00] The autoimmune-boundary connection that changed everything
• [00:16:00] "I'm unavailable for bullshit now"
• [00:17:00] Racing heart, anxiety attacks, and the journey to diagnosis
• [00:22:00] Restructuring the backend of her business for flow
• [00:26:00] Advice: Listen to your body and love your life

"Listen to your body and love your life. If there's something you don't love about your life right now, shift it. Shift it now. Work on shifting it now because your body eventually will respond to that."

• Instagram: @magalierene
• magalierene.com
• Renaissance Woman Virtual Retreat: "Divorce to Destiny" – October 26-27, 2025
• Quantum Reinvention, the 4 stages to level up fast

Lacey Shares: Friendly Reminders mugs at laceyshares.com – sassy, pretty mugs with friendly reminders for you or whoever's watching you drink your coffee

Enjoying these conversations?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And if you have a minute, leave a rating and review - it helps others find the show.

Keep the conversation going:

Join the Joyful Support Village (it's free)

More from me:

• All JSM Podcasts
• Website
• Newsletter: The Practical Hug

Let's connect:

Instagram: @laceyshares | TikTok: @laceyshares

Want to share your story on Sharing the Middle?

Fill out the form at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit

Questions about the show or working with me?

Email: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Buoy Hydration

Welcome to No Shame in Our Game: Where self-help meets community support.

This is the podcast that doesn't care about the right step, just your next step.

Not sure how to start a budget? Need help with home systems? Wondering about etiquette or boundaries? We're Sara and Lacey, your loving aunties who care about how your life feels, not how it looks.

We're co-founders of the Joyful Support Movement, and we created this podcast because we believe you shouldn't have to figure out life alone. We answer your real-life questions about home management, budgeting, life systems, and anything else where you're not sure where to turn.

We're anti-girl-boss, pro-community. No shoulds. No shame. Just possibilities and support.

Submit your questions at

Welcome to No Shame in Our Game: Where self-help meets community support.

This is the podcast that doesn't care about the right step, just your next step.

Not sure how to start a budget? Need help with home systems? Wondering about etiquette or boundaries? We're Sara and Lacey, your loving aunties who care about how your life feels, not how it looks.

We're co-founders of the Joyful Support Movement, and we created this podcast because we believe you shouldn't have to figure out life alone. We answer your real-life questions about home management, budgeting, life systems, and anything else where you're not sure where to turn.

We're anti-girl-boss, pro-community. No shoulds. No shame. Just possibilities and support.

Submit your questions and join us for real conversations about real life.

Connect with us:

Instagram, TikTok & Threads: @joyfulsupportmovement

Join The Village: village.joyfulsupportmovement.com

Newsletter: joyfulsupportmovement.substack.com and join us for real conversations about real life.

Connect with us:

Instagram, TikTok & Threads: @joyfulsupportmovement

Join The Village: village.joyfulsupportmovement.com

Newsletter: joyfulsupportmovement.substack.com

Welcome to No Shame in Our Game!

We are evolving from No Shame in the Home Game, and putting it on steroids (in a good way, not like a roid rage way). We're expanding from home management questions to being your resource for anything in life where you're not sure where to turn.

Not sure how to set up a laundry system? Ask us. Not sure how to start a family budget? Ask us. Not sure about the etiquette of gift-giving with neighbors? Ask us. Think of us as your loving aunties or big sisters who care about how your life feels, not how it looks.

We talk about why the self-help industry feels icky to us, why we don't do shoulds, and how community support beats solo hustle every time. We share our Enneagram helper energy, our love of advice-giving, and why shame has no place in getting help with life.

Plus, we get into Sara's perfect thrift store shirt from Zara and Lacey's wild week of unexpected TikTok validation involving the Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears,” trend.

• Why we're expanding beyond home management to all-life questions
• The difference between toxic self-help and community support
• How to submit your questions anonymously
• Why we focus on possibilities instead of shoulds
• The three pillars of Joyful Support: Story, Joy, and Step
• Why we're anti-girl-boss and pro-making-life-easier

• Submit your questions
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on TikTok
• Follow us on Threads
• Join The Village community
• Subscribe to The Practical Hug newsletter

We're so glad you're here. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or you're just joining now, we appreciate you being part of this journey with us.

I sit down with Dr. Catrina Mitchum to hear about her journey through multiple sclerosis diagnosis while balancing academic demands, motherhood, and career transitions.

We explore the challenges of recognizing chronic illness symptoms when life is already demanding, how healthcare providers sometimes miss critical signs, and finding clarity through articulating our experiences. Catrina shares how she managed dissertation writing in 15-minute increments while dealing with early MS symptoms and what ultimately led to her leaving higher education.

• How chronic health conditions can be misattributed to stress or other common causes
• Navigating diagnosis while teaching, parenting, and completing a PhD
• The importance of finding community who understand your specific challenges
• How to communicate limitations to family members when cognitive symptoms arise
• Transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship with purpose

For those managing chronic illness, working in higher education, or navigating significant career transitions, this conversation offers validation and practical insights for creating systems that work when traditional support structures aren't available.

• Catrina Mitchum Learning Design
• Connect with Catrina on LinkedIn
• Catrina's YouTube Channel

Enjoying these conversations?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And if you have a minute, leave a rating and review - it helps others find the show.

Keep the conversation going:

Join the Joyful Support Village (it's free)

More from me:

• All JSM Podcasts
• Website
• Newsletter: The Practical Hug

Let's connect:

Instagram: @laceyshares | TikTok: @laceyshares

Want to share your story on Sharing the Middle?

Fill out the form at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit

Questions about the show or working with me?

Email: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Buoy Hydration

Cubtail

Cubtale