Is your "perfect" life built on a hollow foundation?

From the outside, Holly McNeill had it all: the handsome husband, the beautiful home, a thriving career, and children. It was the "idyllic," picture-perfect life we are told to want. But inside, a destructive narrative of low self-worth and the belief that she was "unlovable and unworthy" was quietly rotting the structure from within.

Eventually, the house of cards collapsed in what Holly calls "The Inevitable Crash"—a terrifying health crisis during the rise of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that left her paralyzed by shame and fear for two weeks while awaiting medical results.

In this raw and vulnerable conversation, host Rita Ernst (Transformational Coach and founder of Ignite Your Extraordinary) sits down with Holly to deconstruct how Rose From the Ashes of Shame & Unworthiness.

Grab the complimentary companion self-reflection guideConnect with Holly

Watch Holly' Podcast

What if the thing you’ve been muting your entire life is the very thing meant to heal you? Grab the companion journal

In this deeply moving episode, Rachel shares how being literally hit by a truck became the catalyst for reclaiming a dream she had silenced for decades. While out for a run with her husband, Rachel was struck by a truck, leaving her with a compression fracture and alone in a trauma room for nine hours, without her phone, family, or certainty about her future.

In the middle of shock and pain, something unexpected happened: she began to sing.

That moment revealed what years of perfectionism, fear of judgment, and self-doubt had buried: her identity as a singer and her ability to regulate her nervous system through creativity. What started as a small act of survival became a powerful lesson in emotional regulation, resilience, and rewriting self-limiting narratives.

This episode is especially for highly sensitive people (HSPs), perfectionists, and overwhelmed entrepreneurs navigating imposter syndrome, burnout, and the relentless pressure to succeed. Rachel walks us through the small, imperfect steps that rebuilt her confidence, from hiring a virtual voice coach during recovery to performing on the very stage she once avoided, and eventually seeing herself on a Times Square billboard.

We explore:

• How self-limiting beliefs and perfectionism mute our most meaningful dreams

• Why confidence is built through action, not waiting until you feel “ready.”

• Overcoming imposter syndrome at work and in entrepreneurship

• Emotional regulation skills during trauma, burnout, and high stress

• The power of “borrowed belief” when your inner critic is loud

• Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset in business and personal reinvention

• Why so many entrepreneurs regret not being bolder, and how to stop repeating that pattern

Rachel’s story is a masterclass in cognitive reframing, resilience, and choosing expression over fear. It’s a reminder that healing doesn’t always come from pushing harder, but from finally letting yourself be seen.

If you’re an entrepreneur struggling with self-doubt, burnout recovery, work-life balance, or the fear of failure, this episode will challenge you to ask:
What dream are you still muting, and what might happen if you let it speak?

🎧 Listen now for inspiration, mindset shifts, and permission to stop dying with your music still locked inside.

Connect with Rachel:www.racheldruckenmiller.comRachel's TEDxLightbulbs Music VideoRachel's Podcast Playlist

What if the reason your marketing isn’t working has nothing to do with your tactics and everything to do with how you’re positioning yourself?

In this Season One finale of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita is joined by Brad Luttrell, founder of Prologue Stories LLC, for a powerful live conversation on marketing, storytelling, personal branding, and relationship-driven growth.

At the center of this episode is a game-changing idea:
👉 Are you positioning what you do as a painkiller, or just a vitamin?

Most businesses, entrepreneurs, job seekers, and personal brands unknowingly market themselves as “nice-to-have” solutions. Brad breaks down why this approach fails, how to identify the real pain your audience is trying to solve, and why people are willing to pay a premium for immediate relief, not long-term promises.

• The painkiller vs. vitamin framework and how it applies to marketing, sales, and personal branding

• Why feature-based messaging doesn’t convert—and what to say instead

• How internal teams lose context and assume their message is clear when it isn’t

• Why you can’t rush trust or assume relationship buy-in

• How to build a warm network so you never have to rely on cold starts

• Why content marketing is a long game (and why “instant results” are a myth)

• The 80/20 content rule that builds emotional connection without selling

• How consistency compounds into momentum over time

Brad also shares his entrepreneurial journey, from founding and scaling GoWild, navigating rapid growth, fundraising, and market collapse, to ultimately shutting it down and discovering his true strength as a storyteller. That realization led to the creation of Prologue Stories, where he now helps companies clarify their messaging, reposition their brands, and launch podcasts that actually resonate.

• An entrepreneur, founder, or business owner

• A marketer, consultant, or creative

• A career changer or personal brand builder

• Someone struggling to explain what they do in a way that clicks

• Tired of chasing tactics and ready to build trust, clarity, and demand

The episode closes with a powerful reminder:
👉 Don’t assume your audience knows you.
👉 Don’t lead with vitamins.
👉 Build the relationship and offer the painkiller when it matters.

Because you never know who’s paying attention.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Audible.

Do you feel stuck in self-doubt, constantly battling negative thoughts, or struggling with an inner critic that never seems to rest? In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita sits down with executive coach, workshop leader, and international speaker Michelle Phillips to explore the transformative power of discovering, naming, claiming, and taming your internal narrators.

Michelle shares her personal journey of identifying her relentless inner critic, Wanda, and her empowering inner coach, Grace, offering practical strategies to take control of your thoughts, emotions, and personal destiny. Learn how to create emotional distance from self-criticism, invite supportive inner voices, and reclaim your personal power—both in your relationships and within yourself.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How naming your inner critic can create an emotional buffer and stop self-sabotage.

• The difference between your inner critic and inner coach, and how to summon your supportive voice.

• Techniques to process emotions, prevent negative spirals, and manage stress effectively.

• How to use awareness and forgiveness to reclaim agency and strengthen relationships.

• Insights from Michelle’s work with Fortune 100 & 500 companies on mastering mindset and emotional intelligence.

Whether you’re navigating self-doubt, emotional overwhelm, or career transitions, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you quiet your inner critic, strengthen your confidence, and make empowered decisions.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Audible.

What happens when being late to a dinner changes your entire leadership philosophy?

In this episode of The Story I'm Telling Myself, host Rita sits down with John Brooks, CEO of Warehouse on Wheels, to explore a transformative moment that redefined his approach to business leadership and company culture.

John shares the remarkable story of arriving late to a CEO dinner—only to find himself seated between two intimidating strangers in the back corner. Those strangers turned out to be Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, co-authors of the bestselling leadership book "Extreme Ownership."

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• The four words that transformed a $37M company: "If not us, then who?"
• How John grew Warehouse on Wheels from 2 locations and 4,000 trailers to 37 locations and 37,000 trailers
• Why every employee at his company has the CEO's personal cell phone number
• The "Ultimate Expectations Letter" that empowers team members to act without permission
• How to measure employee engagement like an operating process (99.9% participation rate)
• The meaning behind the red chairs in the boardroom and what they represent
• Why John prefers "team" over "family" when describing company culture
• The simple 5-measure operating system that drives decentralized command
• Practical extreme ownership principles you can implement in your organization today

About John Brooks:John Brooks is the CEO of Warehouse on Wheels, a company providing cost-effective storage and logistical solutions for manufacturing, distribution, and reverse logistics companies. Under his leadership, the company has experienced exponential growth while maintaining a culture of accountability, ownership, and purpose.

Key Topics Covered:Leadership development | Extreme ownership | Company culture | Employee engagement | Business growth strategies | Navy SEAL leadership principles | CEO insights | Entrepreneurship | Team building | Decentralized command | Humble leadership | Performance accountability

Connect with John Brooks: LinkedIn @JNBrooksSIV

Sometimes being late is exactly what you need. Tune in to discover how one unexpected dinner conversation sparked a leadership revolution.

🎧 Subscribe to The Story I'm Telling Myself for more inspiring conversations about transformative moments, leadership lessons, and the stories that shape who we become.

#Leadership #ExtremeOwnership #BusinessPodcast #CEOInterview #NavySEALs #CompanyCulture #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #TeamBuilding

In this powerful episode of “The Story I’m Telling Myself,” host Rita sits down with global executive assistant trainer and bestselling author Bonnie Low-Kramen (Be the Ultimate Assistant, Staff Matters) to unpack the true cost of burnout, poor boundaries, and the internal narratives that keep high achievers—especially women—stuck in toxic work habits.

Bonnie shares her dramatic wake-up call after years of overwork as the longtime personal assistant to Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, including the moment a doctor linked her double pneumonia to extreme stress and lack of rest. Rita reflects on her own mental burnout during a demanding travel-heavy consulting role, revealing how “being indispensable” can drive us into exhaustion, resentment, and self-betrayal.

Together, they explore:

✨ Burnout warning signs and why high performers ignore them
✨ The myth of indispensability and how it harms women in the workplace
✨ How people-pleasing, overcommitment, and gratitude culture fuel burnout
✨ The employer’s duty of care vs. personal responsibility
✨ Why boundaries are essential for long-term career success
✨ Practical, real-world strategies to speak up, renegotiate expectations, and reset balance
✨ How AI tools can support smarter, more sustainable work
✨ Why “it’s a marathon, not a sprint” when it comes to career and wellbeing

If you’ve ever struggled with overworking, people-pleasing, feeling undervalued, or believing “they can’t do it without me,” this episode offers clarity, compassion, and actionable steps to help you reclaim your time, energy, and self-worth.

In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita sits down with Kelly Blackmon, founder of BE Consulting, for a powerful and timely conversation about the future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in today’s workplace.

With DEI facing public scrutiny, political backlash, and leadership burnout, Kelly challenges the idea that DEI is “dead” and instead explores how it can evolve through emotional intelligence, empathy, and human connection.

Together, Rita and Kelly unpack:

• Why DEI efforts rise and fall in cycles, and how to break the “DEI crisis cycle.”

• The emotional intensity after 2020 and how high emotion can spark change but sabotage sustainability.

• The rise of “reverse racism” and what happens when any group feels “othered.”

• The psychology of victimhood, choice, and empowerment in identity conversations.

• How labeling fuels tribalism, and why connection must come before identity.

• Why the workplace has become the new community, and how leaders can create cultures of belonging and purpose.

💡 Key takeaway: DEI isn’t dying, it’s transforming. Real progress starts when we connect human to human, build common ground, and lead with emotional intelligence instead of ego.

📚 Connect with Kelly Blackmon:

• Book: Future Proofing HR Today (available on Amazon)

• Free Culture Kit: beconsulting.com

• LinkedIn: Kelly Blackmon / CultureEQ

🎧 Listen to The Story I’m Telling Myself on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Audible for honest conversations that challenge what we believe about leadership, growth, and the stories we tell ourselves.

#DEI #LeadershipPodcast #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #TheStoryImTellingMyself

Ever felt like you're one mistake away from being “found out”? That no matter how accomplished, capable, or praised you are… there's still a voice whispering you don’t belong?

In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita sits down with educator, author, mentor, and former CPA Deborah Kevin to peel back the layers of impostor syndrome, high-achiever burnout, perfectionism, and the invisible weight many women carry in silence.

Deborah shares her journey from corporate over-performer to abuse survivor to empowered author and book coach, revealing how trauma, childhood programming, and a fear of visibility can shape a lifelong “fraud story.” Through art-therapy lessons (yes, including Shrek!), internal work, and learning to trust her voice, she rebuilt her sense of worth from the inside out.

Together, Rita and Deborah explore:

• Impostor syndrome and the “fraud mindset” in women leaders

• How perfectionism becomes emotional armor

• The link between trauma, self-doubt, and overachieving

• Healing after abusive relationships and reclaiming visibility

• Why entrepreneurship can trigger (and ultimately dissolve) self-worth wounds

• The courage to publish your story and own your voice

• Practical tools to quiet the inner critic and build true confidence

You’ll learn actionable strategies for breaking free from self-doubt, challenging the internal critic, building safe and empowering community, and stepping into your worth without needing external validation.

✨ If you’re a high-performing woman, recovering perfectionist, or someone doing the deep inner work to stop “proving yourself” and start believing in yourself, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Audible

In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst sits down with Dr. Nikki Lanier, CEO of Harper Slade and founder of the Rare Woman Collective, for an honest and deeply moving conversation about fear, race, motherhood, and the narratives that shape our lives.

Through the lens of her lived experience as a Black mother raising a son in America, Dr. Lanier opens up about the emotional reality of preparing her child to navigate a world that often misreads his worth and humanity. From creating a “police pouch” to protect her teenage son, to redefining what it means to lead with grace and courage, she invites listeners to reflect on the stories society assigns us , and how we can disrupt them.

Together, Rita and Dr. Lanier unpack powerful themes of racial equity, leadership, fear management, emotional intelligence, and advocacy. They explore how fear can both protect and paralyze us , and how to transform it through connection, awareness, and intentional action.

Key topics include:

• The emotional toll of racial narratives on Black families

• The “police pouch” story and redefining safety through love

• Fear as both a survival tool and a limiting belief

• How white allies can engage in advocacy with grace and empathy

• Building authentic multicultural workplaces and communities

🎧 Tune in to The Story I’m Telling Myself on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Audible to hear a conversation that challenges bias, inspires reflection, and reclaims humanity — one story at a time.

#TheStoryImTellingMyself #RitaErnst #DrNikkiLanier #RacialEquity #Motherhood #FearAndCourage #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #BlackMothers #SocialChange #Advocacy #PodcastDescription #StorytellingPodcast

In this powerful episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst sits down with Dr. Nikki Lanier, CEO of Harper Slade and founder of the Rare Woman Collective, for an honest and deeply moving conversation about fear, race, motherhood, and the narratives that shape our lives.

Through the lens of her lived experience as a Black mother raising a son in America, Dr. Lanier opens up about the emotional reality of preparing her child to navigate a world that often misreads his worth and humanity. From creating a “police pouch” to protect her teenage son, to redefining what it means to lead with grace and courage, she invites listeners to reflect on the stories society assigns us , and how we can disrupt them.

Together, Rita and Dr. Lanier unpack powerful themes of racial equity, leadership, fear management, emotional intelligence, and advocacy. They explore how fear can both protect and paralyze us , and how to transform it through connection, awareness, and intentional action.

Key topics include:

• The emotional toll of racial narratives on Black families

• The “police pouch” story and redefining safety through love

• Fear as both a survival tool and a limiting belief

• How white allies can engage in advocacy with grace and empathy

• Building authentic multicultural workplaces and communities

🎧 Tune in to The Story I’m Telling Myself on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Audible to hear a conversation that challenges bias, inspires reflection, and reclaims humanity — one story at a time.

#TheStoryImTellingMyself #RitaErnst #DrNikkiLanier #RacialEquity #Motherhood #FearAndCourage #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #BlackMothers #SocialChange #Advocacy #PodcastDescription #StorytellingPodcast