The Inspired Collective Podcast

Ever sent a six-word text and followed it up with three paragraphs explaining what you meant? Or found yourself defending a decision nobody actually questioned? We've all been there. This week on The Inspired Collective , we're talking about the art of saying less and meaning more. From over-explaining and nervous talking to uncomfortable silences and learning when to stop defending ourselves, we'...

What if the version of you everyone remembers isn't the version of you anymore? After spending the anniversary of her mom's death with her sister, Karli found herself thinking about the stories we inherit, the labels other people put on us, and how easy it can be to believe our past has already decided our future. In this episode, Karli and Renee talk about reinvention,  not the dramatic, burn-you...

This week on the Inspired Collective, Karli and Renee get delightfully honest about the unofficial list of things that make life better: girls trips, laughing until you cry, blasting songs that transport you back to childhood, fresh sheets after an everything shower, and the tiny moments when someone remembers something meaningful you said months ago.  If you have been moving through life on autop...

We’ve changed careers, built businesses, raised families, reinvented ourselves more than once and somehow became women in our mid-30s who generally look like we know what we’re doing. Spoiler: we absolutely do not. This week, we’re sharing the things we’re embarrassed to admit—from tying our identities a little too closely to productivity and struggling with parts of motherhood we thought would co...

A little delusion might actually be necessary to build the life you want. You have to believe you can start the business before you know exactly what you’re doing. Apply for the thing you might be under qualified for. Walk into the room and decide you belong there before anyone else confirms it. That’s the good kind of delusion. But then there’s the other kind...the kind where every ex is a narcis...

How many times have you said “sorry” today for something that didn’t actually require an apology? Sorry to bother you. Sorry for asking. Sorry I didn’t text back. Sorry for saying no. Sorry for taking up approximately four inches of aisle seven at Target. This week, we’re talking about our complicated relationship with apologizing—and how Girl, Stop Apologizing first made us realize just how often...

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 s...

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, a...

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...

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 wome...

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 tal...

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...

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...

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 fe...

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....

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...

Not every opportunity is meant for you… even if it looks perfect on paper. In this episode of The Inspired Collective , we’re talking about the pressure to say yes to things that sound impressive, look successful, or make sense to everyone else,  while quietly ignoring the part of you that knows it’s not aligned. From relationships and careers to social circles and life decisions, we unpack why so...

This week’s episode is a little different,  and honestly, one of our favorites yet. We’re bringing you live inside NACE Houston’s 2026 Trends event for a candid conversation on where the event industry is headed next. Joined by leaders from BBJ La Tavola and Wolfgang Puck Catering, we talk about the trends shaping weddings, corporate events, and guest experiences across the country. From the influ...

Friendships look a lot different when you’re no longer just looking for people to go out with, you’re looking for people who truly know you. In this episode, Renee and Karli dive into the evolution of female friendships, from college friendships and seasonal connections to the women who become your safe place in adulthood. They talk about feeling isolated in different phases of life, learning how...

Let’s be honest— a lot of us didn’t learn how to be fully ourselves… we learned how to be easy to love. Not too emotional. Not too needy. Not too complicated. And on the surface? It works. People stay. Things feel fine. But underneath… you’re overthinking everything you say, downplaying what you need, and slowly losing parts of yourself just to keep the peace. In this episode, we’re talking about...

Mentorship sounds simple, find someone successful, learn from them, grow. But in reality, it’s a lot more nuanced than that. In this episode, we’re joined by Shannon Tarrant to talk about what mentorship actually looks like, from finding the right person to knowing if you’re even ready for it. We get into the difference between mentorship and coaching, why most people are really just looking for v...

This episode is a little different. To celebrate our “Dirty 30,” we let the conversation go wherever it wanted… and it turns out, that’s exactly where the honesty lives. From overthinking texts and mentally planning our exit from events, to the unspoken rules we all follow in everyday life, we’re talking through the small, oddly specific things we all do, but don’t always say out loud. It’s funny,...

You’re showing up. You care. You’re putting in the effort.  So why does it still feel like something isn’t landing? In this episode, we’re unpacking the subtle disconnect that happens in relationships when we give love the way we want to receive it… instead of how the other person actually experiences it. From friendships to marriage to everyday interactions, we’re talking about:  Why good intenti...

This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered: is this just a hard season… or have I outgrown it? In this episode, we sit down with Jorden Dolan, founder of Savory Events, to talk about what it really looks like to pivot, not out of fear, but out of alignment. From building a successful catering company in California to navigating the chaos of a global disaster, pivoting into travel catering, and ulti...

Overthinking is one of those things that feels like you’re doing something…when really, you’re just keeping yourself stuck. In this episode, we’re sharing three truths we learned the hard way, the kind that would’ve saved us years of going back and forth, second guessing, and waiting to feel “ready.” We talk about why clarity doesn’t come before action, why trying to make decisions that make sense...