The Calm Collective - a wellness podcast for women

What do you do when your child calls you from school, heart-broken and wanting to be picked up because of a haircut and a group of mean kids? 

I’m sure, like many of us, your first instinct is to rescue. You want to drive to the school, pick them up, and protect them from the world. But this week on The Calm Collective, Ashlee is sharing why that "rescue" might actually be doing more harm than good.

She’s taking you behind the scenes of a recent, raw experience with her 13-year-old son—from the anxiety of a new haircut to navigating mean kids at school. We explore the difficult transition from being the "Rescuer" to becoming the "Empowering Coach."

In this solo episode, Ashlee dives into:

• The Drama Triangle: How to spot when you’re falling into the "Rescuer" role and why it unintentionally reinforces a victim mentality in our kids.

• Self-Regulation in the Storm: The exact tools she used to calm her own physical stress response (the "Mama Bear" activation) so she could show up for her son with clarity, not impulsivity.

• The "Guidance Counselor" Victory: Why letting your child use their own voice to set boundaries is the ultimate confidence builder.

Parenting isn't about removing every obstacle; it’s about giving our children the tools to climb over them. If you’ve been feeling "activated" by your child's struggles lately, this episode is a roadmap for coming back to center and leading from a place of empowerment.

Wanna chat more about this or any of our episodes? We'd love to hear your feedback - connect with us here: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

What if the key to a calmer home isn’t a better schedule, but a better boundary?

This week on The Calm Collective, Ashlee and Colleen are getting honest about the high-stakes challenge of raising independent kids in a world designed to distract them.

We explore the vital link between our own emotional regulation and our children’s behavior, diving into why "gentle parenting" doesn't have to mean "no boundaries." 

Join us as we discuss:

• The Screen-Free Shift: How a simple backpack of activities can reclaim family dinner time.

• The Boredom Benefit: Why we need to stop "arranging" our kids' lives and let them figure it out.

• The Summer Sanity Saver: How structured routines and daily checklists turned chaos into cooperation.

• Co-Regulation: Why your office door rule (and your own self-care) is actually a gift to your kids.

It’s time to trade the tech-tantrums for a little more presence and a lot more peace. Whether you’re navigating different family rules at the rink or trying to survive a public meltdown, we’re here to help you stay calm, stay firm, and stay connected.

Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

In this powerful conversation, Ashlee and Colleen sit down with burnout and alignment coach Mel Grime to unpack what burnout really is — and why so many high-capacity women are silently living in it.

Burnout isn’t just being tired. It’s chronic stress without relief. It’s functioning on empty. It’s the pressure to perform across career, motherhood, relationships, and home — all while appearing “fine.”

Mel shares her personal story of hitting a breaking point after years of people-pleasing and perfectionism, and explains why traditional self-care advice often doesn’t work when someone is deeply burned out. Instead of quick fixes, she walks us through the power of small, safe, incremental healing — and why recovery requires patience, community, and self-compassion.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between stress and true burnout

• Why high-functioning women are especially vulnerable

• The hidden impact of unpaid labor and mental load

• Why asking for help feels so hard

• How to begin healing when you feel completely depleted

• The role of community and vulnerability in recovery

  
  

  This conversation is honest, validating, and deeply reassuring for any woman who feels like she’s carrying too much for too long.If you’ve been running on empty — or know someone who is — this episode is one to share and try out Mel’s supportive community free for 30 days: The Aligned Woman Membership

  
  

  General close: Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

In this solo episode of The Calm Collective, Colleen shares heartfelt reflections on the role of community during life’s hardest seasons, including the loss of her daughter, Ainslie, in 2018 and another challenging chapter in 2024.

Through honest storytelling, she explores what real support actually looks like—the people who show up quietly, consistently, and without needing the right words—and reminds listeners that true community isn’t about everyone, but about the right people at the right time.

Colleen also offers gentle encouragement and practical insight on building meaningful connections through vulnerability, intentionality, and mutual care, inviting listeners to take small steps toward creating the kind of community that can hold them through both grief and healing.

Please share with someone who has been there for you.

Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

And we encourage you to share this with one person you know who could benefit from this conversation.

Adult friendships aren’t failing, they’re being tested.

In this solo episode, Ashlee dives into why connection feels harder in your 30s and 40s, why some friendships quietly fall away, and why that doesn’t mean anything has gone wrong. Between family, work, kids’ schedules, and constant overstimulation, many of us are craving deeper connection… while feeling too exhausted to maintain it.

Ashlee unpacks:

• Why outgrowing friendships is often necessary (not selfish)
• How to tell the difference between acquaintances and true friends
• Why surface-level connection feels draining instead of fulfilling
• The role your nervous system plays in boundaries, clarity, and connection

She also introduces Regulate, her 6-week program designed to help you calm your nervous system, stop overgiving, and create relationships that actually feel supportive, not obligatory.

If you’ve ever thought “Why does friendship feel so hard now?” this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen in, then share it with someone who’s been on your heart.

In this episode, Ashlee and Colleen have an honest conversation about something so many women feel—but rarely say out loud: loneliness.

They explore why adult friendships can feel harder than ever in a hyper-connected, tech-driven world, and how social media often gives the illusion of connection without the depth of real community.

From parenting-centered friendships to introversion labels, busy schedules, and fear of vulnerability, they unpack the subtle ways we avoid building the connections we actually crave.

Ashlee and Colleen share personal stories, reflections on grief and life transitions, and practical ways to begin shifting from isolation to intentional community—without needing a massive social circle.

This episode is an invitation to take inventory of your relationships, redefine what community means to you, and take small, courageous steps toward deeper connection and support.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, unseen, or longing for more meaningful relationships, you’re not alone—and this conversation is for you.

Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

In this episode, Ashlee and Colleen sit down with Alex Long to talk about what it really looks like to align your life with your priorities—and continue evolving as you grow. Alex shares her powerful journey of leaving an abusive marriage, rebuilding her life, and redefining success beyond titles, roles, and external expectations.

This conversation explores why there’s no single breakthrough moment or magic solution, but rather an ongoing practice of self-honesty, recommitment, and alignment.

Together, they discuss letting go of old identities, setting clear priorities, celebrating small wins, and consistently choosing actions that reflect who you are becoming.

If you’re navigating change, craving more authenticity, or feeling called to evolve into the next version of yourself, this episode is a grounded reminder that meaningful growth happens one intentional choice at a time.

Follow Alex here: Alex Undefined

Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

In this episode, Colleen is talking about a very unsexy day in her life — the simple, mostly free habits that actually keep her feeling happy, energized, and yes, pooping daily.

She dives into morning sunlight, walking, protein at every meal, sitting down to eat, and small nervous system resets — the boring stuff that truly supports gut health, mental health, and hormone balance.

Ladies, if you’ve ever felt like you need all the fancy tools, biohacks, or trends to feel good, this episode is your reminder: you don’t. Foundations first, consistency matters, and simple rhythms are what make the real difference.

Tune in and discover why the unsexy habits are the secret to feeling good every day.

Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

“I know what I need to do… so why can’t I follow through?”

If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, this solo episode is for you. Ashlee unpacks the gap between awareness and action—why knowing isn’t the problem, and why implementation can feel so hard even when the answers are clear.

She explores the hidden layers of resistance that keep women stuck, including fear of change, self-worth blocks, nervous system dysregulation, and the subtle fear of outgrowing people or identities. Rather than pushing harder or adding more to your plate, Ashlee invites you to start smaller, calmer, and more intentionally, building self-trust through tiny, consistent actions.

This episode is a compassionate reminder that you don’t need more discipline—you need safety, support, and a regulated nervous system to create lasting change.

Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠

In this episode, Ashlee and Colleen dive into one of the most overlooked ingredients of successful goal-setting: consistency.

They unpack why motivation fades, how the all-or-nothing mindset keeps people stuck, and why showing up imperfectly still counts.

Through real-life examples—from fitness and meal planning to breathwork and self-care—they explore how small, sustainable actions create momentum over time.

This conversation is a reminder that consistency doesn’t mean perfection; it means having a plan, staying curious, and continuing even when it feels messy.

If you’ve ever set a goal with the best intentions only to fall off track, this episode will help you rethink consistency, build trust with yourself, and create habits that actually last.

Connect with us on Instagram - we love to hear your feedback: ⁠Ashlee⁠ & ⁠Colleen⁠