Let’s face it: when a year doesn’t go as planned, it’s usually because something bigger is trying to break through.

In this episode of Hot Mess Magic, Michelle shares how 2025 brought everything to a full stop—getting flagged, losing monetization, killing two podcasts, firing a promoter, and grieving the death of an identity she wasn’t ready to let go of. What looked like chaos was actually clarity trying to surface.

This isn’t a story about pushing harder or fixing the mess. It’s about what happens when control becomes the problem, when instant gratification keeps you stuck, and when starting over feels like failure—even though it’s the only honest move left. If you’re planning the next chapter without acknowledging what already ended, this episode will hit close to home.

You’re not alone.

Your people are here.

IS THIS EPISODE FOR YOU?

Listen if you’re:

• Burned out from forcing something that no longer fits
• Grieving an identity you’ve outgrown but don’t want to admit
• Focused on money, metrics, or momentum instead of alignment
• A high achiever who hates being told to slow down
• Planning the future without honoring the last ten years

This episode is for people ready to stop pretending the push is working.

WHAT GETS EXPOSED

• How control disguises itself as commitment
• Why identity death often looks like failure first
• The lie of instant gratification and the cost of avoiding the long game

BURKE BOMBS 💣

💣 “I was focused on the money. The numbers.”

💣 “I didn’t see the fact that everything needed to crumble.”

💣 “You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why does starting over feel like failure?

Starting over feels like failure when your identity is wrapped up in what you’ve built. When something has to end, it can feel like you lost ground instead of gained clarity. In reality, it’s often the moment alignment finally catches up.

How do you know when control is the problem?

When everything requires force to keep moving—when clarity disappears and pressure increases—control has replaced trust. Roadblocks aren’t punishment. They’re invitations to stop, reflect, and change direction.

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

• The moment the podcast universe hit pause
• Why monetization and metrics clouded perspective
• Killing two shows and grieving the identity tied to them
• Firing what was out of integrity
• Learning to play the long game after ten years of forcing

ABOUT MICHELLE BURKE

Michelle Burke is the bestselling author of Hot Mess Magic, keynote speaker, and host of the Hot Mess Magic podcast.

She doesn’t do curated advice or toxic positivity. She exposes patterns, calls out dysfunction, and gives people permission to stop pretending and trust themselves again.

This isn’t self-help.

It’s self-trust.

📧 Newsletter: https://michelleaburke.substack.com/

📱 Instagram: @michelleaburke

🌐 Instagram: @hotmessmagicmedia

📖 Book: Hot Mess Magic – Discover the Magic in Your Mess

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