In this personal solo episode, I’m sharing why I’ll be pressing pause on The Feisty Heroine Podcast this summer as I prepare for surgery, focus on healing, and reflect on what’s next for this journey.

As spring blooms across the Midwest, I’ve been thinking a lot about seasons of change, rest, legacy, and what it means to truly honor yourself. From the irises blooming around my family’s farm—flowers deeply tied to the women in my family—to a powerful story about how this podcast impacted a listener all the way in Albania, this episode is a reminder that our stories matter more than we realize.

This conversation is for any woman navigating burnout, healing, life transitions, or the need to slow down and reconnect with herself.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why I’m taking a break from the podcast this summer
• Preparing for surgery and prioritizing healing
• The emotional story that reminded me why I started this podcast
• Family traditions, irises, and the women who shaped me
• Why rest is not weakness
• Creating space to reflect, realign, and begin a new chapter

This isn’t goodbye and it’s simply a pause before what comes next.

Make sure to subscribe to The Feisty Heroine Podcast so you’ll be the first to know when new episodes and inspiring interviews return.

💋 Stay feisty, stay free, stay you.

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Website: thefeistyheroine.com

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In this episode of Feisty Fridays, I’m diving into a realization that stopped me in my tracks this week. I heard that we may soon have our first trillionaire.

And instead of feeling inspired… I felt unsettled.

Because while the world tells us to work harder, climb higher, and chase more, so many women are feeling burnt out, disconnected, and stuck in cycles that don’t actually fulfill them.

In this episode, I share my personal shift away from hustle culture and toward a simpler, more self-sufficient way of living. From learning how to split wood and plant a garden to reconnecting with my roots, I’ve discovered something powerful:

Self-sufficiency isn’t about survival, it’s about self-trust.

And when you trust yourself to take care of your own life, everything changes, especially your relationships.

I talk about:

• Why hustle culture may not be the path to true fulfillment
• How self-sufficiency builds confidence, independence, and emotional security
• The connection between self-trust and breaking free from toxic relationships
• Why more women are waking up and redefining what success actually means

If you’ve been feeling the pull to slow down, simplify, and reclaim your independence, this conversation is for you.

Because the more capable you become, the less you settle.

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What if the reason you’ve never felt fully “at home”…is because you’ve been looking for it in the wrong places?

In this deeply personal solo episode, Rachel shares her journey through small-town life, big-city independence, and everything in between—from living in New York City and buying her first apartment to returning to her hometown and questioning what “home” really means.

Inspired by the movie Elizabethtown and a quiet moment planting a garden with her father, this episode explores the emotional reality of feeling in-between versions of yourself—when you’ve grown, changed, and no longer fit where you once belonged.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why “home” isn’t a fixed place or feeling
• The identity shift that comes with growth and change
• The pressure of timelines, relationships, and “where you should be” in life
• What it means to feel lost, disconnected, or in-between
• And how to finally stop searching and start feeling at home within yourself

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite belong where you are…
or like you’re still searching for something you can’t quite name…This episode is for you.

Because home isn’t a place.
It’s something you build.

And eventually…you realize you’ve been carrying it with you all along.

Stay feisty. Stay free. Stay you.

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Why are women still being judged… just for existing?

In this Feisty Fridays episode, we’re diving into the pressure women face to look, act, and show up a certain way just to be accepted and what happens when we start opting out of that performance.

From the recent backlash toward Lana Condor on the red carpet, to everyday expectations around appearance, behavior, and “being enough,” this episode explores how deeply these standards are ingrained—and why so many women are quietly done playing the game. Link to the article is here.

We also get real about:

• The subtle ways women are taught to shrink, adjust, and perform for approval
• How these patterns show up in relationships, self-worth, and over-functioning
• The emotional toll of constantly being evaluated
• What it actually looks like to stop performing and start choosing yourself

If you’ve ever felt like you had to be “just right” to be loved, accepted, or chosen… this conversation will hit home.

Because you’re not too much.
You were just never meant to fit into a box that small.

✨ Stay feisty. Stay free. Stay you.

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Website: thefeistyheroine.com

What actually happens after you finally choose yourself?

Not the polished version.
Not the “everything falls into place” fantasy.
But the real, messy, in-between.

In this revisit episode, I’m joined again by Joanna Lay, licensed psychotherapist and returning guest, whose life has completely transformed since our first conversation. (Make sure to listen to her first episode released on 9/10/2025)

Eight months ago, she made a bold decision—leaving her life in San Francisco and moving across Europe with her dog. No perfect plan. No guarantees. Just a deep trust in herself.

And what she’s learned since?
This is the part no one talks about.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it really looks like after you stop over-functioning and chasing validation
• The emotional reality of starting over (and why growth isn’t always graceful)
• How to trust yourself when everything feels uncertain
• Letting go of timelines and redefining success on your own terms
• The quiet confidence that comes from living in alignment

If you’ve been holding it all together on the outside but feel drained on the inside…
If you’re craving a life that actually feels like yours…
If you’re standing at the edge of a big decision…

This conversation is your permission to trust yourself.

Because choosing yourself isn’t the finish line.
It’s where everything begins.

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Let’s talk about something that honestly shouldn’t still be happening—but is.

In this Feisty Fridays episode, I’m diving into a story that stopped me in my tracks… and might just do the same for you. Professional runner Emma Bates lost a sponsorship—not because she failed, not because she broke a contract—but because she chose to have a baby.

And here’s the truth, heroine… this isn’t just about running. This is about the message women keep receiving over and over again:

👉 You can be powerful… but only under certain conditions.

From elite athletes to everyday women, we’re told to chase success, build a life, have a family—but somehow never let one impact the other. And when it does? We’re the ones who pay the price.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The ongoing double standard women face in career and motherhood
• Why this pattern keeps showing up (and why it’s not by accident—it’s systemic)
• The pressure to “do it all” and why it’s quietly breaking us
• And the powerful shift we can make to start living life on our terms anyway

This is your reminder that your worth is NOT conditional. Not on your productivity. Not on your relationship status. Not on how well you juggle everyone else’s expectations.

You don’t have to shrink to fit a system that was never built to hold you.

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Where are the women in history… and why were their stories erased?

In this episode of The Feisty Heroine Podcast, I sit down with historical fiction author and women’s history advocate Kerry Chaput, creator of Badass Women in History, to uncover the truth about the women history forgot.

We dive into how historical narratives shaped the way women see themselves today, from relationships to self-worth, and why strong, independent women have always challenged the status quo.

This conversation isn’t just about the past.
It’s about what happens when women stop waiting for permission and start choosing themselves.

✨ In this episode, we talk about:

• Forgotten women in history and why their stories were erased
• How history impacts modern relationships and identity
• Breaking toxic cycles and reclaiming your voice
• Why powerful women are still seen as a threat
• Choosing yourself instead of waiting to be chosen

Kerry Chaput is the author of The Secret Courtesan and founder of Badass Women in History, where she brings hidden female stories back into the spotlight. You can find her work here:

Instagram: @kerrywrites

Website: kerrywrites.com

If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your voice, or your place in the world… this episode is for you.

Find more of my inspirational content or contact me below:

Website: thefeistyheroine.com

YouTube: @thefeistyheroine

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Email: [email protected]

Feeling overwhelmed by the noise of the world right now? You’re not alone.

What if the exhaustion you’re feeling isn’t burnout… but awareness?

In this Feisty Fridays mini-sode, we’re talking about what it really means to slow down in a loud, chaotic world—from constant news cycles and social media pressure to the deeper awakening that happens when you start questioning everything.

Rachel shares her personal journey of stepping away from the “single and searching” narrative, finding peace in solitude, and why choosing yourself can feel like the most rebellious thing you can do right now.

This episode dives into:
✨ burnout and nervous system overload
✨ social media fatigue and digital overwhelm
✨ awakening to societal expectations (especially for women)
✨ choosing a slower, more intentional life
✨ reconnecting with your authentic self

If you’ve been craving a simpler life, more clarity, and a little space to breathe… this one is for you.

Because sometimes the most powerful move isn’t doing more.
It’s doing less—and finally hearing yourself again.

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In this deeply moving episode of The Feisty Heroine Podcast, Rachel Beck sits down with Gabi for an honest conversation about grief, widowhood, motherhood, healing, and what it means to rebuild your life after loss.

Gabi shares her story of being widowed after nearly 17 years of marriage, raising four children, navigating trauma and survival mode, and slowly finding her way back to herself. Together, Rachel and Gabi talk about how women are often taught to play the supporting role in their own lives, and what it looks like to reclaim your voice, your joy, and your identity when everything changes.

This episode explores the reality of caregiving, sudden loss, personal reinvention, women’s independence, midlife healing, and choosing yourself after heartbreak. It is also a powerful reminder that life can still be beautiful, meaningful, and full of possibility, even when it does not turn out the way you planned.

If you are healing from grief, divorce, loss, burnout, or a life that no longer fits, this conversation will meet you there.

In this episode, we talk about:
* Grief and widowhood
* Rebuilding after loss
* Women reclaiming their identity
* Motherhood and resilience
* Healing through music, movement, and joy
* Why it is never too late to reinvent yourself
* Choosing yourself instead of waiting to be saved

If you’ve ever had to start over, this episode will remind you that your life is still yours to live.

You can donate to fund the research of Prion Disease here: https://www.prionalliance.org/

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In this Feisty Friday mini-episode of The Feisty Heroine Podcast, Rachel Beck shares a personal moment that sparked a deeper reflection about marriage, independence, and why women deserve time to truly know themselves before making life-changing commitments.

After seeing a young bride-to-be celebrating her engagement, Rachel reflects on her own experience getting engaged at 24 and how cultural expectations still pressure women to follow a traditional timeline: graduate, marry, buy a house, and start a family.

Drawing on psychology research about brain development, she explores why our twenties should be about self-discovery, personal growth, and building independence, not rushing into lifelong commitments before we fully understand who we are.

This episode is a powerful reminder that women don’t need to follow society’s timeline to live a meaningful life. Whether you choose marriage, partnership, or an independent path, the most important relationship you’ll ever build is the one with yourself.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to settle down, questioned traditional relationship timelines, or are learning to choose yourself first, this conversation is for you.

✨ Topics in this episode:

• Why women feel pressured to marry young

• Brain development and decision-making in your twenties

• Marriage, independence, and societal expectations

• Settling vs selecting a partner

• Why building your identity first matters

This episode is for women who are redefining relationships, reclaiming their independence, and choosing to build a life on their own terms.

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