The Inspired Collective is officially one year old and somehow we have 43 episodes to prove it.

After a summer of travel, big life changes, motherhood, moving, slowing down and generally abandoning a few of the plans we swore we were going to accomplish, we’re finally back together for a much-needed catch-up.

Renee shares what it’s been like moving in with Patrick, Karli talks about spending the summer soaking up every minute before Oliver started kindergarten, and we get into the very important topics of moving in Texas heat, kindergarten homework, questionable sunburn remedies and whether or not anyone should ever move their own belongings again.

But we’re also looking back at the last year of The Inspired Collective....how nervous we were when we started, how much the podcast has changed, what we’ve learned from each other and why hearing from the women who listen has become one of our favorite parts of doing this.

Plus, we’re talking about what we want year two to look like: deeper conversations, more listener involvement, more Asking for a Friend, a little more silliness and hopefully a whole lot more of you.

Think of this episode as sitting down with your girlfriends after a summer apart and realizing you have approximately 47 things to catch up on.

In this honest, funny conversation, Karli is joined by her friend Katie to talk about the reality of working motherhood,  the mental load, the guilt, the invisible responsibility, and the constant tug-of-war between work, family, friendships, and self-care. With school starting the next day for both of their kindergartners, they get real about the chaos of parenting, the importance of a village, and how motherhood changes your priorities, your friendships, and even the way you see yourself.

We talk about gratitude all the time...but what about the thank yous we've carried around for years and never actually said?

In this episode, we're diving into the people who quietly changed the course of our lives: the teacher who believed in us, the family that stepped in when no one else could, the mentor who saw potential before we did, or even the stranger whose kindness showed up at exactly the right moment.

Before that, we're kicking off another round of Asking for a Friend, where we debate life's surprisingly relatable questions:

• Is it weird to obsessively Google how someone died?
• Is running a background check on your friend's new boyfriend ever justified?

Then we get honest about gratitude, vulnerability, grief, and why saying "thank you" can sometimes be harder than we expect.

Maybe someone changed your life without ever realizing it.
Maybe today is the day you finally tell them.

Somewhere along the way, women were taught that being taken seriously meant becoming serious.

Less personality.
Less humor.
Less color.
Less...you.

But what if that's exactly backwards?

In this episode, we're talking about why the women who leave the biggest impression aren't always the loudest or the most polished—they're the ones who are comfortable being fully themselves.

We dive into:

• Why women often feel pressure to "tone it down" professionally
• The difference between confidence and performance
• Why personality isn't unprofessional
• Reclaiming playfulness, humor, and joy as adults
• How authenticity actually makes you more memorable—not less respected

Because success doesn't require becoming someone else.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do...
is stop editing yourself.

What happened to the dreams we used to talk about so freely?

As kids, we dreamed out loud without overthinking it. We wanted to travel, start businesses, learn new skills, move across the country, and live big lives. Somewhere along the way, practicality took over and "maybe someday" became our default answer.

In this episode, we're talking bucket lists—the big dreams, the tiny dreams, the things we've been putting off, and the reasons we keep waiting for the perfect time.

We share what's currently on our bucket lists, the lessons that changed how we think about time, and why living intentionally matters more than ever.

If you've been telling yourself you'll do it later, this conversation might be your reminder that later isn't guaranteed.

Because life isn't waiting.

Remember when people used to ask what you wanted to be when you grew up?

Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped dreaming out loud. We traded adventure for practicality, postponed the things that light us up, and convinced ourselves we'll finally start living "when life slows down."

In this episode, we're talking about bucket lists, but not just the skydiving, safari, or travel kind. We're talking about the quieter dreams too: learning a new skill, taking a chance on yourself, spending intentional time with your family, building community, or finally pursuing something you've wanted for years.

Karli shares the deeply personal story of a teacher who changed her life forever and the lesson she left behind about living with intention. Together, we explore why so many of us wait for the "perfect time," why dreaming has somehow become embarrassing as adults, and how to start creating a life you don't have to keep postponing.

Because maybe your bucket list isn't about dying.

Maybe it's about finally starting to live.

Before we start giving advice in Asking For A Friend, we figured it was only fair to expose ourselves first.

In this episode, we're sharing some of our most embarrassing misunderstandings, questionable dating decisions, awkward moments, and stories that still make us cringe years later. From believing walking miles and driving miles were different, to calorie-counting brownie batter, to dating red flags that should have been obvious, absolutely nothing is off limits.

If you've ever replayed a conversation at 2 a.m., believed something wildly incorrect for way too long, or made a decision that still makes you laugh and cringe at the same time, welcome. You're in good company.

And one quick warning: if you've got little ears in the car, you may want to save this one for later.

Have you ever felt exhausted before your day even started?

Between social media, breaking news, work stress, comparison culture, economic uncertainty, and a never-ending stream of opinions, it feels like everyone is carrying a little more than they were meant to.

In this episode, we're talking about anxiety, overstimulation, burnout, and why even people who don't consider themselves anxious are feeling emotionally maxed out right now.

We discuss:
• why the internet makes it feel like you're always behind
• doomscrolling and information overload
• the difference between anxiety and overstimulation
• comparison culture and the pressure to optimize everything
• how loneliness can exist alongside constant connection
• practical ways to protect your peace and calm your nervous system

If you've been feeling overwhelmed lately, this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.

This week, we’re unpacking the advice we used to believe without question… and whether it actually holds up in real life.

From “everything happens for a reason” to “if they wanted to, they would,” we’re talking about the viral one-liners, motivational quotes, and productivity mantras that shaped us,  and the ways some of them quietly created guilt, burnout, pressure, and unrealistic expectations.

We dive into:

• why “you have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé” feels deeply personal now
• the truth about “fake it till you make it”
• whether forgiveness is actually required to move on
• how mental health changes the way we view effort and communication
• and why some advice isn’t wrong… just incomplete

It’s funny, honest, a little emotional, and probably the most nuanced conversation we’ve had yet about growth, relationships, and figuring out what advice actually deserves a place in your life.

Everyone says they want balance. Better routines. Better habits. Better work-life boundaries. But what if balance isn’t actually what we’re chasing?

In this episode, we’re talking about the uncomfortable truth behind “having it all together” and how so many high-functioning people confuse balance with control. From mental load and perfectionism to social media pressure, hyper-independence, burnout, and the fear of uncertainty, we unpack why letting go can feel so hard, and why true peace might actually come from surrender instead of structure.

We also dive into:

• The seven different types of rest
• Why control can feel emotionally “safe”
• Social media’s obsession with productivity culture
• The difference between discipline and overcontrolling
• Learning which “balls” in life are glass and which are rubber
• Why some of the best moments in life are the unplanned ones

If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to keep everything perfectly managed, this episode is your reminder that you are allowed to rest, pivot, disappoint people occasionally, and still be okay.

Because maybe balance was never supposed to mean perfection in the first place.