The Good Stuff

We’ve got our first in-studio guest! Caitlin met Shea through showing horses and has grown to know her not just as a barn mate, but also as a person and friend. Unlike Caitlin who grew up showing horses (as you heard all about last episode), Shea started competing just a few years ago. Caitlin knows the impact of having this community in her life since she was a kid, but she thought it might be interesting to hear the perspective of someone who came to it as an adult. Shea talks about entering this industry – what parts felt intimidating, whether she felt welcomed, and how she balances such a demanding sport within her marriage (hi, Cowboy Chris!). It really opens up a wider conversation about trying new things as an adult. You are not too old to find a new passion. Enjoy my chat with Shea! 

Episode Timestamps:

00:29 Meet Shea – Starting Horses as an Adult

02:36 What It’s Like Learning the Sport Later in Life

04:12 Scottsdale Show Week & Horse Show Season Begins

06:33 Some Good Stuff – First Podcast Ad & Momentum Shift

08:22 Real Life Update: Nancy Guthrie Conversation

09:23 Shay’s Good Stuff – Olympics, Two-Step & Career News

13:17 How Shay Got Back Into Horses During COVID

16:45 Breaking Into the Horse World as an Adult

19:59 Being the “New Person” in an Established Community

23:10 Confidence in Your 30s & Not Caring What People Think

26:54 Sponsor Break – Hammer & Clay

27:30 First Time Showing at U.S. Nationals

29:07 Seeing Nationals Through Fresh Eyes

30:30 Managing Nerves & Walking Into the Arena

32:33 The Electric Energy of Nationals

34:27 Pressure Is a Privilege – Doing It for the Team

36:40 Lessons From the Barn That Apply to Real Life

39:15 Why Trying Something New Is Worth the Discomfort

42:10 The Joy of Being a Beginner Again

45:00 Final Encouragement – It’s Not Too Late to Start

47:30 Closing Thoughts

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“If I had been doing this only for the blue ribbons that I win, I would have quit so long ago. Because that is not enough to keep you going in this sport.”

Being a competitive equestrian is a big part of Caitlin’s identity. She has shown Arabian horses for 20 years at the local, regional, and national level. It’s a big part of why she built her business The Good Word, Co. and, most importantly, where she has learned so much about life – through triumphs and success, along with heartbreak and disappointment. On the eve of the kickoff to the 2026 season, she felt like it was a good time to dive into all the lessons she has learned over the years. This wisdom has come from competing in this sport, but as you will hear, she pulls on many of these lessons in her daily personal and professional life. She talks about hard work, balancing bigemotions, managing competition within friendships, the benefit of nerves, clapping for others when your world is not going according to plan, and much more. Take a peek behind the curtain of horse competitions and enjoy this episode!

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Intro 0:38 20 Years of Competitive Horse Showing 2:53 Some Good Stuff - Kenny Chesney's Crew Story 11:50 Lesson 1: Strength & Sensitivity Coexist 19:46 Lesson 2: Hard Work Happens Behind the Scenes 24:45 Lesson 3: Don't Let Judges Define Your Horse 29:42 Lesson 4: Never Abuse Someone's Trust 29:47 Lesson 5: Balance Work & Play 34:59 Lesson 6: Everyone Has Different Strengths 39:05 Lesson 7: Your Value Isn't Transactional 42:52 Lesson 8: Let Competition Motivate You 47:04 Lesson 9: Control Your Energy 50:37 Lesson 10: Material Things Aren't What Matter 55:44 Lesson 11: Competition Creates Deep Friendships 1:02:57 Final Thoughts & How to Support

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Happy and sad. Good and bad. Excited and anxious. So often in life, we are balancing multiple emotions over the same event, conversation, or experience. It’s a learning curve to let all these feelings exist in the same moment. This episode looks at this complicated aspect of being human. Caitlin talks about times she has felt this – including a funny recent late work night. She also talks about way more sports than she has any business doing and introduces a new segment called “Some Good Stuff!” She talks about Fernando Mendoza, breeding horses, her grandma’s wardrobe, and franchise quarterbacks all within the same 45 minutes. And somehow, it all flows. Oh – and you all get the first visual of her dog too. It’s a worthwhile watch or listen.

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Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Cold open: football banter & setting the scene

00:16 – Welcome to The Good Stuff podcast

00:28 – Episode theme: when two things are true at the same time

01:24 – Introducing a new segment: Some Good Stuff

02:44 – Some Good Stuff #1: Fernando Mendoza & authentic leadership

07:09 – Why authenticity is what actually draws people in

07:15 – NFL future talk & shutting down negative narratives

09:42 – Some Good Stuff #2: foster care parent TikTok

10:35 – The beauty and heartbreak of foster care stories

13:02 – Why seeing “good” in the world matters

13:38 – Main topic begins: holding conflicting emotions

14:26 – Foster care as an example of two truths at once

16:15 – Grief and peace after losing a loved one

18:39 – “Yes, and” vs “but” — why language matters

20:43 – Different people, same situation, different experiences

22:28 – Dolly Parton, rainbows, and emotional tradeoffs

23:58 – NFL example: injury, opportunity, and mixed emotions

26:22 – Empathy, pressure, and living someone else’s dream

30:53 – Loving multiple teams and conflicting stories

34:47 – A personal work story: seriousness & absurdity coexist

37:48 – Why loving your job doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy

40:35 – Relationships, reactions, and emotional responsibility

43:11 – Grace for others’ experiences you can’t see

44:31 – Managing complexity in healthy relationships

45:27 – Reflection, accountability, and circling back 

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Hi. This is my most vulnerable episode yet. I cry multiple times. If you have been a consistent listener, you probably know who Ben is. If you are new here, Ben was a bonus big brother of mine who passed away at the beginning of 2025. There have been little snippets of him on the podcast over the past year. Now feltlike a good time to dedicate an episode to the things he taught me, stories of how he lived, and the complexities of grieving someone young. If you knew Ben personally, please only watch or listen to this if you think it will help you. I do not want this to make anyone any sadder than you might already feel. Thereis not much more to say. I hope you take something from this episode.

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Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Jumping in the pool & doing what Ben said

00:26 – Welcome to The Good Stuff

00:38 – A different and deeply personal episode

01:12 – Why today’s episode is about Ben

02:46 – Growing up with Ben as family

03:15 – Losing Ben & letting life guide the timing

04:14 – Honoring anniversaries and grief

05:24 – Choosing privacy and intentional sharing

06:44 – Who Ben was and why he mattered

07:02 – Ben’s cancer journey & living vibrantly

08:23 – Celebrations of life and shared impact

09:43 – Grief when someone passes too young

12:22 – Ben as the oldest and paving the way

15:08 – Shifting to lessons from Ben’s life

17:04 – A sticky note, crazy faith, and hope

21:50 – Story 1: My third birthday & the Barbie Jeep

25:40 – What that story says about Ben

26:17 – Story 2: Paddle tennis, losing, and jumping in the pool

29:04 – Story 3: Ben’s meticulous notes to help others

30:49 – Story 4: A moment at the river in Montana

34:29 – Seeing Ben live on through others

37:26 – Two celebrations, one consistent character

39:37 – Quiet kindness and unseen impact

40:29 – What Ben taught me

42:15 – Lessons: strength, integrity, and meaning

43:49 – Honoring people by carrying them with you

44:36 – Final reflections and gratitude

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“I can’t say that New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day are my favorite holidays. I actually think they are super overrated. But, it is an inspiring time as it feels like the world and people around you are motivated to start fresh and do better. And while I am not a big New Year’s Resolution person (because I just like to course correct as issues present themselves), I do like to reflect onthe previous year to see what I can take from it. This year I put together 25 things I learned in 2025. Unlike my birthday episode, these are all really things that presented themselves to me in the last year. Some lessons were tough, some were surprising, and some were affirming. But, I feel like they allare making me a better version of myself as I head into 2026. I hope you feel seen in some of what I chat about. And most of all, I hope you enjoy it!” – xo,Caitlin

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Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro
00:40 – Welcome to The Good Stuff + NewYear’s Eve episode setup01:15 – Why this episode: reflecting on 25 lessons from202503:05 – #1 It’s okay to change your mind04:45 – #2 Your friendships really matter07:10 – #3 You can’t have a village without being avillager14:20 – #4 Do the right thing just because it’s right16:00 – #5 Be good with yourself first18:10 – #6 Nobody is going to do it for you20:00 – #7 Believe in what you’re good at21:45 – #8 We create most of our own ceilings25:30 – #9 If someone is meant to be in your life,they’ll be there26:40 – #10 Don’t wait until it’s too late to saysomething30:15 – #11 Take (and accept) help31:40 – #12 “That person doesn’t need to hear thatthought”35:00 – #13 Let your loyalty be loud37:30 – #14 A friend to all is a friend to none41:00 – #15 You can’t get better without trying42:45 – #16 Imitation is flattering… until it’s annoying44:10 – #17 Cutting my hair changed how I see myself46:15 – #18 Don’t make a relationship your entireidentity49:10 – #19 There’s a difference between being nice andbeing kind51:00 – #20 Honesty should be gentle 53:10 – #21 We’re all just big kids55:00 – #22 See the other person’s perspective (withhumility)57:00 – #23 Treat people how you want to be treated58:20 – #24 You can’t beg someone into caring59:40 – #25 Feelings aren’t facts01:02:30 – Final reflections + New Year’s Eve thoughts01:04:20 – 2026 intention: Weekly Good Stuff episodes01:05:00 – Outro & where to follow the podcast

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We can find joy in the biggest moments and smallest things in life. It is also a word used commonly around the holidays. There is such a focus on seeking joy through the activities we do, traditions we have, and people we spend our time with. Joy is celebratory. Much like hope, it is also active. In this episode, Caitlin goes through many renditions of the word joy – assessing all the places you can find it in your life. She talks about some recent motivation and encouragement she found in her work life. Caitlin also gives her listeners permission to understand that their joy might look different than other peoplein their lives. And, that is OK. People don’t have to always understand what makes you happy, but they do have to respect it. She ends the episode with a story that she classifies as a Christmas miracle. Things get a little weird in a good way. Hope you enjoy this episode. Send it to at least one friend to share with their families this holiday season!

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Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction of The Good Stuff
05:28 – Introducing the word of the episode: Joy
06:18 – What joy really means when you strip it down
07:54 – Why joy feels amplified during the holidays
08:55 – Being “allowed” to be happy during Christmas
10:12 – Gratitude, loss, and rediscovering joy after hard seasons
12:05 – Christmas lights, routines, and everyday magic
13:48 – Finding joy while working late and chasing the life you asked for
18:33 – Seeing joy through Erin Andrews and loving your dream job
22:42 – Being paid for your opinion and owning your confidence
27:25 – Letting yourself feel proud and how joy builds momentum
29:15 – The Christmas soldier story and joy tied to nostalgia

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As we enter the holiday season, so many words and phrasesare thrown around. In this episode, Caitlin and her guest Erica dive into one of those words – gratitude. Caitlin describes Erica as “human sunshine” so she was the perfect person to talk through this word with. Caitlin talks about why she chose Erica for this word, and tells a funny story about how Erica helpedher “practice” podcasting more than a year ago. Erica’s gratitude and positivity have been tested more than once through a variety of things. She opens up about those specific events including a tough breakup and a sensitive holiday season with her family. She shares practical things she does to feel grateful everyday. Listeners are also in for a pleasant surprise guest about halfway through. It will feel like you are in the room with this set of dorm room neighbors, turned roommates, turned lifelong friends. Enjoy this special episode!

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Episode Timestamps:

0:00 – Introductions

2:15 – Introducing Erica: “Human Sunshine”
4:10 – Why Gratitude Was the Perfect Word for This Episode

6:05 – The First Ever Practice Interview (Throwback Story)

8:40 – How the Podcast Format Evolved Over Time
10:20 – Slowing Down Enough to Notice What You Have
12:45 – Why Gratitude Feels Especially Needed This Season
14:30 – Erica’s Definition of Gratitude
16:55 – The “Three Gratitude Things” Nightly Habit

19:40 – Shifting Your Perspective on Tough Days
22:15 – Caitlin on Why Erica’s Presence Feels Grounding
24:50 – Practicing Gratitude in Real-Time Moments
27:30 – What We’re Grateful for Right Now
30:55 – Holiday Traditions, Family, and Simple Joys
33:40 – How Gratitude Shapes Your Daily Mindset
36:05 – Life Experiences That Make Gratitude Deeper
38:50 – Choosing How You React to Hard Situations
41:10 – Why Gratitude Is a Practice, Not a Trait
44:25 – Small Moments That Make the Day Feel Meaningful
47:10 – Final Reflections and Today’s Takeaway

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Aren’t we lucky to live in a world where we can hope for more, for better, for anything really? This question crossed Caitlin’s mind the week before recording this episode, and what betterplace than The Good Stuff to dive into it. Hope might first sound like a feeling you only rely on when you are out of options and feeling desperate. While that is sometimes the case, during this conversation, Caitlin talks about how active hope can be. She also gives you permission to hope when things are alreadygood. She recounts a few standout memories where she felt either the presence or lack of hope and what those mean to her. It’s a trip down memory lane in some ways and a guide for the future in others. Hope you enjoy!

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This episode is going to get you thinking. Caitlin talks about the word guilt, which also bleeds into the feelings of shame, remorse, and regret. She talks about two recent situationsthat inspired this topic. And although she doesn’t give specifics about the details of the event, she is very, very, very vulnerable about the feelings associated with them. Remember when she said she was going to start therapy? Yeah … that hasn’t happened yet, so this is definitely one of those episodesyou all probably feel like you could charge her for. She talks about how forgiveness relates to guilt, why she thinks that someone giving you their forgiveness doesn’t mean you are rid of guilt, and the importance of knowing the difference betweenmoments you are proud of and ones you don’t want to repeat. She also goes into a hypothetical situation involving your grandma and Mango Deck. It’s best not to ask and instead just listen. Enjoy!

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

02:05 – Why Talk About Guilt

04:20 – The Power of Words and Emotion

06:10 – Guilt vs. Shame

08:00 – Owning a Recent Mistake

10:45 – What Forgiveness Really Means

13:20 – Learning from Discomfort

16:15 – When Guilt Comes from Inaction

19:30 – We’re Responsible for How We Treat People

22:45 – Closing Thoughts: Growth Through Accountability

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Your host Caitlin is taking a bit of a risk with this episode. Usually, she comes to you with what feels like an “answer” or a big takeaway. But, this time she is letting you in to the in-between phase. She is in a stage of growth and change in multiple areas of her life at the moment. So, she turned on the microphone to process her feelings with you all. Plenty of people talk about what it was like at point A or B, but not a lot of people detail how it feels on the journey between the two. That is growth. Growth can be painful and uncomfortable. In fact, sometimes it has to be. You are doing something new (or in a new way) for the first time. This episode talks about all these things and more. If you feel like you are in limbo with anything in life, this will help you feel like you’ve got a friend on the path with you. Enjoy!

00:00 – Welcome to The Good Stuff

01:41 – Today’s Word: Growth

02:34 – Growth Is Uncomfortable

03:05 – The Space Between Point A and Point B

05:44 – Caitlin's Story About Growth

07:25 – The Horse Analogy: Getting from Point A to Point B

09:27 – Growing Pains: Literally

15:59 – Leaving Behind What’s Comfortable

19:12 – Growth in Business and Life

27:41 – The Beauty and Pain of Growth

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