Heyyyy friends! In this episode, I am sitting down with Esther Bontrager, a wife and mama to a beautiful growing family. Esther is the sweetest soul and she's passionate about helping women/teachers navigate the world of homeschooling and find ways to inspire their kids to thrive and grow. You can find so much goodness over on her podcast Homeschool with Excellence.

This episode is one of those conversations that just flows - the kind where you start talking about one thing and suddenly realize you’re naming a whole season of life.

Instead of a traditional interview, this episode is a real, honest conversation about what’s been shifting after the 14-Day Reset with Cathy Heller - from identity and self-trust to homeschooling, freedom, and what we’re dreaming up next.

We talk about unlearning old stories, letting go of identities that no longer fit, and choosing a softer, more aligned way forward - without burning everything down or forcing clarity.

If you’ve been feeling that quiet nudge that something in your life is changing… this one’s for you 🤍

⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps

00:00 – Letting the conversation unfold

We start by letting go of control, perfection, and “doing it right” — and talk about what happens when you trust the conversation to go where it’s meant to go.

07:00 – The 14-Day Reset & choosing peace as a standard

How the reset shifted our internal world more than anything external — and why peace, not pressure, is becoming non-negotiable.

14:00 – Shedding old identities & the start-stop cycle

Letting go of dabbling, proving, and constantly restarting — and choosing commitment over perfection.

21:00 – Feelings over outcomes

Why choosing how you want to feel changes everything — and how to access those feelings now, not someday.

29:00 – Releasing people-pleasing & reclaiming your voice

A real conversation about letting go of how others perceive you and why that freedom matters more than we realize.

35:00 – Homeschooling, curiosity & redefining learning

We dive into homeschooling, reading aloud, creativity, and what it really means to raise curious, thoughtful humans.

49:00 – Big vision, freedom & what’s next

Dreaming forward — podcast growth, writing, workshops, and choosing an unrealistic future on purpose.🤍

This conversation is for anyone who feels the quiet pull to live differently - and is ready to stop abandoning themselves in the process.

🔗 Resources/Shout Outs

A Thomas Jefferson Education

Cathy Heller - Cathy just celebrated her 1,000th podcast episode 🎉 and as a little celebration gift, she’s opening up This Abundant Lifewith a $1 trial for one week.

Rachel Demille

At the heart of it, this episode is about:

1. Unlearning the “be realistic” conditioning
2. Letting go of identities rooted in pressure, guilt, and proving
3. Choosing standards over goals
4. Living from alignment instead of urgency
5. Creating a life and work that actually fit
6. Trusting yourself enough to choose differently

It’s not about having it all figured out.

It’s about noticing what you’re outgrowing - and letting that be okay.

If this episode resonated, I would LOVE for you to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the upcoming conversations with women who chose freedom, alignment, and a different way of living.

Thanks for being here 🤍🎙️

Quick note: this includes an affiliate link. It doesn’t change your price and helps support this little corner of the internet 🤍