The Adventure Paradox

What happens when you finally achieve everything you thought you wanted, but still feel like something is missing?

In this episode, I sit down with Jason Connell, licensed therapist, meditation teacher, and author of When Success Isn't Enough: Why High Achievers Feel Empty and What to Do About It, for a conversation about success, self-worth, happiness, and what it really means to feel fulfilled.

Jason shares the moment he realized that the success he had worked so hard for wasn't making him happy. Standing in front of 2,000 people and receiving the standing ovation he had always wanted, he was surprised to discover that he felt deeply unhappy inside. That realization eventually led him to therapy and a much deeper understanding of himself.

We talk about the ways achievement can become tied to our sense of worth, why high achievers often struggle to ask for help, and what happens when we become disconnected from our bodies and emotions. Jason also shares how learning to accept support and reconnect with his body became important parts of his own healing.

We also explore vulnerability, real human connection, AI and the wisdom of the body, and the idea of "negotiating with life." What happens when we keep waiting for the next relationship, promotion, milestone, or achievement before allowing ourselves to be happy?

Maybe the adventure isn't waiting for us somewhere ahead.

Maybe it's happening right now.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why success doesn't always lead to happiness or fulfillment
• How achievement can become connected to self-worth
• The importance of reconnecting with your body and emotions
• Why high achievers can struggle with asking for help
• The difference between performing and being fully yourself
• Vulnerability and sharing your story with intention
• The role of real human connection in healing
• What AI can and cannot replace when it comes to human connection
• How somatic resourcing can help us work with fear and anxiety
• What it means to stop negotiating with life and be present with what is

Connect with Jason

• Website: https://jasonconnell.co/
• Facebook: jason.connell1031
• Book: When Success Isn't Enough: Why High Achievers Feel Empty and What to Do About It

Sometimes the next adventure isn't about achieving more. It's about learning to be fully present with the life that's already here.

Adventure on!

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✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

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What happens when the books everyone says nobody wants turn out to be exactly the stories people love?

I was SO excited to talk with Bridget E. Baker! I've devoured her books, including her wonderfully unexpected horse shifter fantasies, and hearing the stories behind them was such a treat. After years of traditional publishing rejections, Bridget chose to publish her own way. Seven years and 60 books later, she's proof that you don't have to fit the mold to find your readers.

One of my favorite stories was about Denver, her family's grumpy horse who suffered a devastating leg injury. When the vet recommended euthanasia, Bridget sought another opinion. Around the same time, a fantasy book everyone said nobody wanted took off and helped pay for Denver's surgery. How incredible is that? Sometimes the things others tell us won't work become the very things that open unexpected doors.

We also talk about faith, friendship, loss, and learning to trust your own path, even when it looks nothing like the plan.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Why Bridget calls her unconventional books “hamburger enchiladas”
• Going independent after years of traditional publishing rejections
• The unexpected success of her horse shifter fantasy series
• Denver's remarkable recovery and the memoir he inspired
• How loss changed Bridget's perspective on time and priorities
• The role of faith and friendship in life's unexpected turns
• Why knowing your worth can change the choices you make

Connect with Bridget:

• Website: bridgetebakerwrites.com
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/750807222376182

What idea have you been holding back because someone told you it wouldn't work? What might happen if you gave it a chance anyway?

Bridget's story reminds us that the adventure rarely follows a perfect plan. Sometimes the unexpected path leads us exactly where we're meant to go, and the things that make us different are what help us connect with the people who need our stories.

I loved this conversation, and I hope you do too!

Adventure on!

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

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What if getting dressed was less about impressing others and more about feeling good in our own skin?

I had so much fun catching up with my friend Mo Lang after we co-hosted our first cabi Fall Fashion Week event at the ranch. We talked about clothes that make us feel good, how our bodies change, and finding pieces that work for real life, from walking dogs to a board meeting.

Sometimes we're ready to wear red from head to toe. Other days, we want cozy clothes and nothing with a button. Both are perfectly fine!

We also shared a little love for our fur babies, including tiny Baby Dove, who's been stealing our hearts. And as we wrapped up, we made space for a beautiful prayer from Heidi Jost, celebrating who we are, where we are, and all that we're still called to do.

Maybe kindness starts with the small things, wearing something that makes us smile, giving ourselves grace, or taking a moment to pray and reconnect with what matters.

What is one little thing that could bring you joy today?

A Few Good Things to Check Out

• Cabi Fashion: https://www.cabionline.com/

A little kindness, a little joy, and a little faith can go a long way.

Adventure on!

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

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What happens when life gives you something you never could have imagined, and you have to figure out how to keep living from there?

I had a really meaningful conversation with Steven Ferrara about grief, loss, spirituality, and the choices we still have when life completely changes.

Steven lost his 23-year-old son, Christopher, in a car accident. Years later, he lost his wife, Ally, after 38 years of marriage. After Christopher's death, Steven began journaling every day, eventually filling around 30 journals. Years later, when he finally read them back, he discovered the small shifts in perspective that had slowly changed the way he understood grief.

One of those shifts was moving from “what could have been” to “what can be.”

We talked about grief without turning it into an identity, meditation, the space between our thoughts and our choices, and Steven's belief that even our hardest experiences can contain something to learn.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Losing his son and finding a way through the rawness of grief
• The shift from “what could have been” to “what can be”
• Why Steven believes grief is not a destiny
• Learning to observe our thoughts and emotions without becoming them
• How meditation helped him create more space and quiet
• Seeing life as a classroom rather than something that's here to torture us
• Finding gratitude without pretending the loss didn't hurt
• The question, “What is here for me to learn?”

Connect with Steven Ferrara

• Website: https://www.stevenferrara.com/
• Book: https://www.stevenferrara.com/#bookinfo
• Substack: https://stevenferrara.substack.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenferraraauthor/

Learn more about Transcendental Meditation: TM.org

One question I kept thinking about after this conversation was this:

What might be here for you to learn, even in something you never would have chosen?

That doesn't mean we have to rush through grief or pretend painful things don't hurt. Steven was very clear that sadness can still be there.

Maybe the invitation is simply to leave a little room for another way of seeing what happens next.

Adventure on!

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

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Have you ever woken up wanting to stay in your pajamas, only to find yourself wearing gold sparkle pants? That was me.

It's fall fashion week back at the ranch, and what started as a little fashion experiment turned into a conversation about identity, unexpected changes, horses, and those days when nothing seems to make sense.

I can be the cowgirl in my Carhartts, the businesswoman who dresses up, and the person who wants to change into something soft and comfortable and write for the afternoon. They're all me. And sometimes, life asks us to embrace that same flexibility.

I pulled a card from our Horses for the Family deck that morning called “The Dream Can Change.” It felt like the perfect reminder that we're allowed to change direction. I also shared a story from Black Beauty about a horse who recognized danger when the humans around him kept pushing forward. It made me think about knowing when to listen, when to keep going, and when it's time to let go.

In this episode, I talked about:

• Embracing the different sides of ourselves.
• Why the dream can change, even when we thought we knew the plan.
• Knowing when to cowgirl up and when to slow down.
• What Black Beauty teaches us about listening and letting go.
• Reconnecting with ourselves through the wisdom of horses.
• Allowing ourselves to ask for support when life gets hard.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Cabi: https://www.cabionline.com/
• Luxe It: https://www.luxeit.com/
• Fall Fashion Week at the Ranch: If you're in Teton Valley and would like to join us for our fall fashion events, send us an email at [email protected]
• Horses for the Family Cards: Pre-order coming soon!

Not every day is a rhinestone party. Sometimes we need to show up, and sometimes we need to rest. We can make room for both.

What if you didn't have to make everything make sense today?

Some days call for sparkle. Some days call for soft cotton. And sometimes, we need a little of both.

Adventure on!

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

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Email: [email protected]

Sometimes the adventure begins when the life you've built no longer feels like it fits.

In this episode, I sit down with Cathy Derksen, founder of Inspired Tenacity, international speaker, publisher, and 28-time #1 bestselling author. After a major life transition in her 50s, Cathy found herself called to share her story, eventually discovering a new mission in helping other women share theirs.

We talk about reinventing yourself in midlife, the courage it takes to share your story, and the imposter syndrome and fear of judgment that can keep us from stepping into the next version of ourselves. Cathy also shares why community matters so much when we're making a big change, especially when the people closest to us don't quite understand what we're becoming.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Reinventing yourself when your old life no longer fits
•  The role of inspiration, courage, and tenacity in major life changes
• Moving through imposter syndrome and fear of being seen
• Why the right community can help you become who you're meant to be
• The power of asking for what you want
• How sharing your story creates a ripple effect

Find Cathy at:

• Website: https://inspiredtenacity.com
• Get a copy of Cathy's published books: https://inspiredtenacity.now.site/new_book_projects
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyderkseninspiredtenacity
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.derksen.3/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspired_tenacity
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inspiredtenacitypublishing

What story, dream, or possibility has been quietly asking you to give it a voice?

Maybe the adventure isn't about becoming someone completely new. Maybe it's about finally giving yourself permission to become more fully who you've been all along.

Adventure on.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

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Email: [email protected]

Life has a way of asking us to show up for everyone else, but what happens when we are the ones running on empty? Between family, animals, relationships, and all the unexpected things life throws our way, it is easy to keep pushing until we finally crash.

In this minisode, I’m sharing some real life moments, the small wins worth celebrating, and a question I think we all need to ask ourselves: Who takes care of me?

I’m exploring the balance between self care and community, recognizing the signs of burnout before we reach collapse, and why we need people who support us as we grow into the next version of ourselves. I also share a preview of my conversation with Cathy Derksen, a 28 time bestselling author, about writing your next chapter, finding your people, and giving your dreams room to grow.

Because the adventure isn't just about how far we can push ourselves. It is also about knowing when to pause, asking for support, and surrounding ourselves with people who help us become who we are meant to be.

As Dr. Claire Zammit says, “You can't become yourself by yourself.”

In this episode:

• Recognizing burnout before reaching the point of collapse
• Celebrating small wins and finding gratitude in everyday life
• Making self care a priority, even when others depend on you
• Finding a community that supports your dreams and transformation

Take a moment today to check in with yourself. 

What do you need? 

What can you let go of? 

And who is helping you grow?

You matter in the care you give to everyone else, too.

Adventure on.

Links and resources

• Horses for the Family and CABI Fashion Party: Interested in joining us at the ranch or shopping with us virtually? Email [email protected] to learn more.
• Mental health support: If you or someone you know is in crisis in the United States, call or text 988 for support. For medical emergencies, call 911.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

🌟 Stay Connected & Support the Show

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Email: [email protected]

What happens when the thing you've always relied on to get through hard things stops working?

I loved getting to reconnect with Dr. Donald "Skip" Mondragon, who I first met at SpeakFest in Savannah. Skip is a retired Army colonel, physician, national wrestling champion, author, husband, dad, and grandfather. But in this conversation, he opened up about something much more personal: his experience with depression and learning that he couldn't simply "muscle through" it.

Skip shared the story of the day he found himself under his desk, finally realizing he needed help. We talked about the signs he hadn't recognized, the importance of asking for support, and the small things that helped him begin to climb out of that dark place.

In this episode, we talked about:

• The "tough guy" mentality and why pushing harder doesn't always help
• Recognizing the signs of depression
• Asking for help and finding the right support
• The role of sleep, movement, sunlight, laughter, and gratitude
• How our breath can help us slow down and respond differently
• Processing trauma and finding your "battle buddies"
• Why we don't always see what's happening inside ourselves

Connect with Dr. Donald "Skip" Mondragon

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donald.mondragon.92/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr._skip.mondragon
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin,com/skip-mondragon-66a2b436/
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/YMmhTsdDX2g
• Book: Wrestling Depression Is Not for Wimps on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Skip-Mondragon/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASkip%2BMondragon

One thing I took away from this conversation is that strength doesn't always look like pushing through. Sometimes it looks like admitting you need help.

And if the first call doesn't work, make another call. Find another person. Try another approach.

You don't have to do it alone.

Adventure on.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

🌟 Stay Connected & Support the Show

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October is here, and this month we’re talking about stories. The stories we tell ourselves. The stories we write. The stories we decide are finally ready to be shared.

There’s something I’ve noticed in talking with all of the authors coming to the podcast this month. So many of them had a moment that changed everything. Something happened that made them realize they had a story that needed to get out into the world.

And sometimes the story that feels the hardest to tell is the one someone else needs to hear.

In this minisode, I share a little about what’s coming this month and the connection between our stories, our health, and the way we see ourselves. We’ll be talking about depression, success, healing, publishing, finding your voice, and the stories we create about what we can and can’t do.

I also talk about something I’ve learned from horses and animals: sometimes being present enough to listen can help us hear what we already know.

In this episode:

• The stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we’re capable of
• Why difficult experiences can become stories worth sharing
• How your story might become medicine for someone else
• What books can teach us about seeing another way
• What horses and animals can teach us about presence and truth
• Why you can change direction when the path you’re on no longer feels right

A reflection to take with you:

What story are you telling yourself right now?

And is it still true?

Maybe it’s time to turn the page.

Adventure on.

Learn more, request the workout, explore Horse Adventure Coaching, or ask about Horses for the Family emails us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

🌟 Stay Connected & Support the Show

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Email: [email protected]

What if fear isn't something you're meant to avoid, but something that's pointing you toward the life you're meant to live?

In this episode, I sit down with Lynda Sunshine West for a heartfelt conversation about fear, healing, and the incredible power of sharing our stories.

Lynda opens up about growing up in an abusive home, how those early experiences shaped decades of people pleasing and self-doubt, and the life-changing decision she made at 51 to face one fear every single day for an entire year. That journey didn't just transform her relationship with fear. It ultimately led her to help hundreds of others bring their own stories into the world through publishing.

We also explore what happens after you write the book. The vulnerability of letting people read your story, why so many of us seek validation from others before trusting ourselves, and how sharing our experiences can become part of our own healing while helping someone else feel less alone.

Whether you've been dreaming about writing a book, struggling with self-doubt, or simply looking for the courage to take the next step in your own life, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that your story has value, and someone out there may need to hear it.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How childhood experiences can shape our fears and beliefs for years
• Why people pleasing is often rooted in fear rather than kindness
• Lynda's challenge to face one fear every day for 365 days
• The surprising connection between fear, judgment, and self-worth
• How writing your story can become part of your healing journey
• Why your voice matters, even if others have written about similar topics
• The difference between seeking validation from others and trusting yourself
• What it really takes to bring a book from idea to publication

Connect with Lynda:

• Website: https://actiontakerspublishing.com
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lyndasunshinewest
• Grab a copy: Let Me Tell My Story
• Coming Soon: Let Me Tell My Story Podcast

Fear may be part of the adventure, but it doesn't have to write the ending. 

Adventure on!

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

✨ Join the Spiritual Horse Seeker Summit

👉 Go here to HEAR my Tedx talk 

✨ Order Wings of Purpose — now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYL381CS

👉 Book Launch Party, June 27th in Jackson Hole, WY: https://butterflymarch.com/

🔥 Ever thought about how you can incorporate your love of horses in to your work as a mom, coach, teacher, facilitator or business owner? Now is the time to take your understanding to the next level with our Horse Adventure Coaching Certification. ($833 SAVINGS THIS SUMMER ONLY!!!) 👉 Get certified now!

🌟 Stay Connected & Support the Show

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Email: [email protected]