The Living on Purpose Podcast

Mari uses her son Xavier's guitar journey to reveal a critical lesson: being in the right room with the right people changes everything. Xavier got fired from lessons for not practicing, but after sitting front row at concerts and watching artists perform live, he asked to take lessons again - he realized he needed a coach and accountability.

What you'll get from this episode:

• Why environment and community matter more than willpower or self-discipline
• The power of being in a room with people who are already doing what you want to do
• How Jumpstart works: you show up as your future self (like member Angie, who came as a gardener and is now literally building her farm)
• Why coaches and accountability are non-negotiable if you want to level up
• The difference between DIY and having someone hold you accountable and show you the way
• Permission to surround yourself with women who say "fuck yeah, I love that for you - how can I help?"

Connect: Follow Mari on Substack at https://substack.com/@mariwuellner | Jumpstart 2027 Waitlist at https://mari-2gcvekcu.scoreapp.com | Join The Crew at www.thecrewcc.com | Subscribe to Living on Purpose Podcast

Mari goes live to share her running journey from April to now - and why it's actually a metaphor for everything. She's been a yo-yo runner her whole life (all in, running half marathons, then all out, throwing shoes in the closet for 6 months to a year). But this time felt different. Her goal wasn't impressive - just run 3 miles with ease and stay consistent.

Why 3 miles? It's the sweet spot where you get real exercise AND reach that mile 2-3 flow state where the inspiration hits. Mari walks through the ugly beginning (April was hard), the gritting (June/July consistency), and the ease (now).

But the real insight? This isn't about being a "runner" - it's about breaking the all-in/all-out pattern and choosing consistency over heroics.

She talks about why casual beats impressive, why starting small and doing it ugly is the only way to actually start, and gives you permission to be a beginner (again and again). If Mari can run 3 miles with ease, you can do the thing you've been putting off.

Connect: Follow Mari on Substack | Subscribe to Living on Purpose Podcast | Join The Crew at www.thecrewcc.com

Mari gets brutally honest about her pattern: she's let herself down more times than she can count. The podcast episode she swore she'd record Tuesday? Still sitting there next Tuesday.

The book she's been "writing" for embarrassingly long? Still in progress. The newsletter she meant to write? Skipped. But here's what she's learned about herself - she doesn't have discipline when it comes to self-accountability. She's accountable to us. So she's done it. She's gathered a group (you), and starting now, she's going Live every single week to record the podcast in real time - messy, unscripted, no hiding. Same goes for the book - you're getting a front-row seat as she writes it essay by essay, in public, in real time. Two commitments. Both happening whether she feels ready or not, because now someone's waiting. This is Mari handing you the appointment book and officially making you the reason she shows up.

Connect: Follow Mari on Substack at https://substack.com/@mariwuellner | Subscribe to Living on Purpose Podcast | Join The Crew at www.thecrewcc.com

Mari welcomes back Elise Enriquez (Crew Productivity Coach) to talk about her massive life pivot: she's moving to Spain on August 1st with her wife Kim and their chihuahua. But this isn't just about a cool relocation story - it's about how systems became the tool that let her actually make the decision. Elise breaks down how she sat with herself to figure out if she was moving towards something (being with family) or away from something (guilt, obligation), how her system helped her answer "is this even possible?" before committing, and how it's now holding all the moving pieces (visas, time zones, logistics) so she doesn't lose her mind. They discuss why women without systems can't make big decisions or go after big dreams, what a "bonus brain" actually is, and why the feeling of having your system work is confidence, pride, and relief. Plus: after seven months of the faculty model and doubling membership, the crew still doesn't feel too big - and that's on purpose.

Connect with Elise: Inside The Crew at www.thecrewcc.com | GQueues app (with extended free trial for Crew members)

Mari welcomes back Mindi Huebner (Crew Identity & Mindset Coach) while recording from her 15-year-old son's bedroom (complete with wallpaper installation chaos) to prove that alignment doesn't require luxury - it requires identity.

Mindi breaks down why "mindset is editing the caption, identity is changing the author" and why the RAS (reticular activating system) brings you what you anticipate and expect. They discuss the 24 karat version of yourself (mapped down to the color of your toenail polish), mental rehearsal technique, "of course" energy, and why vanity is beautiful - you can want something just because you want it. Plus, Mindi's hot seat coaching with brand new member Tania, where one micro-shift (going to bed 5 minutes earlier) became the domino that showed her massive change doesn't require massive overhaul. And how the Crew faculty point to each other instead of tearing each other down - because how others treat you reflects their worth, not yours.

Connect with Mindi: Inside The Crew at www.thecrewcc.com | CEO Identity Quiz at mindihuebner.com/ceoquiz | 24 Karat Goal Getter Intesnsive https://link.optimafunnels.com/widget/bookings/mindi-calendar/24kintensive

Mari welcomes K'ai Roberts Fu - Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Mensa member, retired Argentine tango professional, and author of 12 Mis-Steps (released May 19, 2026) - to pull back the curtain on how 12-step programs can harm trauma survivors. K'ai spent 12 years in various 12-step programs (EA, AA, Al-Anon) and breaks down why the foundational messages - admit you're powerless, be restored to sanity, turn your will over to an outside power - are antithetical to trauma recovery, which centers empowerment, agency, and understanding you're not crazy. They discuss the cognitive dissonance of being told to surrender after surviving abuse, making amends to your abusers, finding "your part" in everything (including being victimized), the lack of oversight that enables predators, why there's no exit strategy, and how Argentine tango helped K'ai reclaim her agency by learning to lead. Plus, the relief of learning that if something doesn't work for you, it's not your fault - it's just not a fit.

Connect with K'ai: 12 Mis-Steps available now on Amazon in e-book and paperback https://a.co/d/0hZaUqCi

Mari gets interviewed by Amy Preble (Crew Relationship Coach) on her podcast It's Nothing I'm Fine, and we're sharing the full conversation here. Amy digs into what The Crew actually is - a faculty coaching collective with six expert coaches covering relationships, identity, productivity, health, business, and marketing for $97/month - and why Mari was either gonna pivot to this model or quit coaching altogether. They discuss the frustration with influencer guru culture that gatekeeps coaching for rich white women, why Mari hired coaches she already trusted with her own life and business, and the magic that's happening inside this community that neither of them could have predicted. Plus, the matriarchal energy that lets women do business without posturing, why members can disappear for months and come back to zero judgment, the Eras Tour comparison that actually makes sense, and Mari's confession about when she says "it's nothing, I'm fine" (spoiler: she just exits left when her feelings get hurt).

Connect with The Crew: www.thecrewcc.com

Connect with Amy: It's Nothing I'm Fine podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-nothing-im-fine/id1889543800

Mari welcomes Aila Frishman - AI coach and founder of Cailence - to expose the boat that's already left the harbor: women entrepreneurs are 25% slower to adopt AI than men. Aila breaks down why women hesitate (the "is this cheating?" narrative, sustainability concerns, and who has time for bro YouTube videos?), what's at stake if we don't catch up (falling behind at work, losing to competitors, AI systems missing women's input), and the paradigm shift: AI doesn't add to your plate, it gives you time back. They discuss quick wins like planning Italy trips in minutes, opening your fridge and asking what to make for dinner, getting to inbox zero, and why it's not too late - just pick ONE tool and talk to it like your girlfriend.

Mari welcomes back licensed therapist Amy Prieb (Crew Relationship Coach) for the first time since 2021 to talk about why we keep having the same fights and what's actually happening in those nanoseconds before we explode or shut down. Amy breaks down the two core attachment wounds - "I'm not enough" (withdrawers who move away from conflict) and "I'm too much" (pursuers who chase partners around the house with energy) - and explains why Tom calls therapy "going to church" while Mari calls it "the pain dungeon." They discuss why insight doesn't lead to change (fucking damnit), how emotions show up in your body first (not your brain), and the relief of learning you don't need to find the "why" if you can just identify the "what." Plus, Amy shares why she stormed out on her husband saying "I'm leaving so I don't have to be depressed about what kind of marriage I have" and then spent the day helping couples save THEIR marriages, and why being in The Crew improved her life "125%."

Connect with Amy: It's Nothing I'm Fine podcast (coming soon) | [email protected] | @itsnothingimfinepodcast on Instagram | Inside The Crew: www.thecrewcc.com

Mari welcomes Amanda Goetz - two-time founder, four-time CMO, author of Toxic Grit, and creator of the Life's a Game newsletter - for a raw conversation about which version of you actually gets to have it all (spoiler: not the same one all the time). Amanda shares why she cried through her first therapy session before asking for divorce, how she builds "minimally viable days" when an A+ isn't possible (movement snacks count!), why she takes a "commute bath" to transition from assertive work mode to silly mom mode, and the dangerous trap of believing "if I just feel grateful enough, I shouldn't ask for more." Plus, the ketamine therapy that let her watch her life like a loving movie, why her parents aren't coming to her wedding, why she studies how mediocre white men make asks, and the permission slip we all need: intentional imbalance over work-life balance because some days you just need to be 80% mom to one kid and give the others 20%.

Connect with Amanda:

• Order Toxic Grit: toxicgrit.com
• Life's a Game newsletter: https://amandagoetz.kit.com/posts
• Website: https://www.amandagoetz.com/