About Progress

A year or two ago, I did a whole deep dive on positive thinking—and while we all know the importance of believing in ourselves, science actually shows that if you don't already have a strong sense of self-worth, positive thinking can backfire and hurt you more. That research uncovered by my friend Dr. Marisa G. Franco, was the result of years of study that completely changed how she thinks ab...

Patrice Washington opens up about a truth so many of us recognize but rarely say out loud: her busyness was never really about productivity — it was about earning love. She traces it back to childhood, to always being "the smart one," and how achievement became the way she proved her worth. Even after years of therapy and real self-awareness, she found herself still trapped in cycles of hurry long...

I can't believe it — we recorded a live episode of About Progress, and you're invited to join us for the whole thing. My friend Julie Rose, an NPR journalist and incredible interviewer, took the mic and asked me everything: how Sticky Habits went from a failed course to a published book, what 10 years and four million downloads of podcasting has taught me, and why I finally stopped waiting for per...

In this episode I'm getting real with you the day before my book Sticky Habits officially publishes. This isn't a heavily outlined or scripted episode — it's a fireside chat where I'm sharing honestly about what this moment feels like from the inside. I talk about the intense, exhausting year it's been, the stress that's shown up in my body, the self-doubt that keeps creeping in alongsid...

Heather Chauvin has a metaphor for change that's going to stick with you: double dutch. You're standing outside the ropes, terrified of getting smacked, but the courage is in jumping in anyway — even if it hurts. In this clip, Heather gets into why personal development and self improvement rarely happen in comfort, and why building real confidence means being willing to jump back in after you've b...

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simpl...

If you've ever felt like you're the only one who notices what needs to be done in your home—and you're tired of carrying that invisible weight—this episode is for you. I'm sitting down with Sam Kelly, therapist-turned-coach and author of the upcoming book Notice and Do, to talk about how we can teach our kids to share the mental load without adding another complicated system to our plates. We...

If you've ever walked into a room and felt like you just don't fit — this one's for you. In this clip, Jasmine Bradshaw shares something that completely reframes what it means to feel different: the very thing that makes you feel like an outsider can actually become one of your biggest tools for connection. This is personal development in its most practical form. Jasmine breaks down how she learne...

I'm opening the 2023 time capsule — the year I had a newborn who wouldn't sleep, a body that wouldn't cooperate, and a podcast that hit a wall. I called it my survival year. But amid the exhaustion, I found gardening, sourdough, and a community that reminded me being present is being productive. I'm also sharing the conversations that carried me through — Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife on self-expans...

I'm sitting down with life coach Michelle Gauthier to unpack people-pleasing — that thing so many of us do disguised as just being nice. Michelle drops a reframe that gave me a full-body reaction: people-pleasing isn't really about kindness, it's about trying to control how others see us. The real gift of this conversation is Michelle's Love and Fit Test — two simple questions that help you pause...

Brooke Snow gets real about the moment everything fell apart — and the moment that changed everything. After a near-death experience following childbirth, Brooke was quietly battling PTSD, panic attacks, and a depression that showed up as anger and disconnection from the people she loved most. In this clip, she takes us to the breaking point: a moment of losing her temper with her kids that left h...

I'm taking you behind the scenes of how my book, "Sticky Habits," came to life. It's a journey that almost didn't happen, rooted in my personal struggle with perfectionism and the need for habits that align with who we truly are. I learned that traditional habit-formation methods often ignore the unique challenges women face, particularly with invisible labor and mental load. This realization push...

In this episode, I sat down with Elise Kirk to explore her journey with emotional eating, a coping mechanism that reveals more about deeper unmet needs than a lack of discipline. As a mother of five, Elise candidly shared how her struggles with dysregulation affect her everyday life, leading us to uncover the wisdom hidden in her behaviors. Our conversation delved into understanding how seemingly...

If you've ever called yourself lazy or a bad housekeeper for having a messy junk drawer, this one's for you. Tracy McCubbin, professional organizer and self-proclaimed "child of a hoarder," breaks down why so much organization advice misses the emotional root of clutter — and how to stop being a perfectionist about your home. Tracy gets honest about the shame so many of us carry around our spaces,...

I'm taking you behind the scenes of how my book, "Sticky Habits," came to life. It's a journey that almost didn't happen, rooted in my personal struggle with perfectionism and the need for habits that align with who we truly are. Throughout my path, I realized the habit-formation methods available often overlooked the unique challenges women face, particularly in terms of invisible labor and...

In this tribute episode of "About Progress," I honor the legacy of my dear friend Carol Lynn Pearson. Her life spanned 86 years, during which she was a celebrated poet, playwright, and activist, prominently championing marginalized voices in the LGBTQ+ community within the LDS faith. Reflecting on our friendship, a lingering regret remains with me: the times I allowed life’s challenges to pull me...

Monica Packer opens up about a regret that's still a little raw — literally. After falling down the stairs at 33 weeks pregnant, breaking her finger not once but three times, and going through surgery wide awake at 37 weeks, she discovered something unexpected in her recovery: the scar tissue left behind wouldn't budge, no matter how hard she worked at it. It's a story about a broken finger on the...

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simpl...

I don't know about you, but I've spent way too many years thinking that if something felt hard, I must be on the wrong path. Turns out I was dead wrong — and this episode is me finally saying the quiet part out loud. I'm walking you through six lessons I've picked up from a decade of About Progress (plus a very embarrassing, very nerve-wracking turn in a community play) about what it actually feel...

If you've ever laid your head down at night feeling like nothing was ever enough, this one's for you. Jess Massey gets real about her own hustle culture rock bottom — the tunnel vision, the urgency addiction, the belief that everything is important (which really means nothing is). She opens up about what it cost her: presence with her husband, her friendships, her own mental health, all sacrificed...

In this month's Remember When episode, I take a deep dive into the unforgettable year of 2022. Amidst global headlines I navigated personal challenges, including an intense pregnancy and significant shifts in my podcasting journey. Reflecting on these events, I’ve learned how embracing fun and resilience has been crucial for my family healing and personal growth. Join me as I explore professional...

In this episode, I chat with Rachel Nielson about the all-too-familiar feeling of being a 'martyr mom' and how it can leave us feeling drained and disconnected. We dive into the idea of embracing our personal values as a way to get out of that rut and truly enjoy motherhood. Rachel shares some fantastic tips on how to figure out what matters most to you and how to bring those values into your life...

If you've ever felt like your home (or your life) has to look Pinterest-perfect to count as "organized," this one's for you. Mika Perry breaks down why organization isn't about perfection at all — it's about preparation. She shares one of the simplest mindset shifts for how to be happier with your systems: don't wait around for motivation, because action creates motivation, not the other way aroun...

In this episode I chat with Meagan Briggs, who shares her remarkable journey from reading occasionally to devouring over 150 books a year. Our conversation dives into how she reignited her love for reading and the role it plays in her life as a busy mom. Her story is an inspiring reminder of the importance of carving out time for ourselves, even in the midst of motherhood. Join us as Meagan offers...

If you're a mom who always ends up last on your own list, this one's for you. Jamira Pollard breaks down why putting yourself first isn't selfish — it's the foundation that lets you show up for everyone else. This clip is full of practical, no-cost ways to practice self-care for mothers: reading for fun, borrowing free library audiobooks, taking five quiet minutes before the day gets away from you...