Project You 2.2

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever reached your “1-2-3, I’m done with this” point? What began as a funny phrase from my youngest son became a much deeper lesson about adult tantrums, emotional regulation, people-pleasing, and the timeouts we never outgrow. In this episode, I share what happened when hunger turned me into a snarky dinner guest, how our childhood experiences can shape the way we handle...

Send us Fan Mail We spend years preparing our children to become independent, but knowing they will leave doesn’t necessarily prepare us for how it feels when they do. In this episode, Carrie talks with longtime friend, father, scuba instructor, and newly published author Adam Lindale about the transition that happens when adult children build lives far from home. Adam shares what it was like when...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Project You 2.2, Carrie Helmer introduces the seven pillars of the Project You Framework: Awareness, Courage, Connection, Environment, Becoming, Presence, and Contribution. Carrie explains how these pillars can help us understand where we are growing, where we feel stuck, and where one small change could make a meaningful difference. Through stories from her tea...

Send us Fan Mail When Carrie was not quite two years old, she ignored a bright orange “Beware of Dog” sign because everything she had experienced told her Flippy was harmless. Moments later, her young, heavily pregnant mother found her facedown in the driveway with the dog on her back—and jumped a fence to save her. More than 50 years later, the bite marks remain, along with a powerful question: W...

Send us Fan Mail During Carrie’s first year of teaching, a quiet sophomore named Bethany entered her math classroom carrying academic struggles, financial hardship, and very little belief in what her future could hold. Through small moments—snacks, conversations, encouragement, and a classroom where she felt safe—Bethany slowly began seeing herself differently. Her confidence grew, her grades chan...

Send us Fan Mail Why do so many of us wait until we feel confident before we finally take the first step? After 31 years of teaching high school, Carrie noticed something fascinating. Whenever she asked for a volunteer, the room would go silent. Eyes dropped to the floor. No one wanted to be the first. Then one student would slowly walk to the whiteboard... ...and everything would change. In this...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever skipped the pool because you didn't want to wear a swimsuit? Stayed in your seat instead of dancing? Held back from trying something new because you were worried about what other people might think? In this deeply personal episode, Carrie shares a story from third grade about a pair of tan corduroy pants that left her standing against a brick wall while everyone...

Send us Fan Mail Can one small act of kindness change someone's life? During Random Acts of Kindness Week, Carrie challenged her high school students to spend five dollars making someone else's day a little brighter. One group of shy girls chose a simple idea—buying single roses and leaving encouraging notes on random car windshields. At first, Carrie wasn't convinced their idea wou...

Send us Fan Mail Every Christmas, Carrie hangs a tiny pair of white baby shoes on her tree. Most people never notice them—but to her, they tell the story of three little boys, countless bedtime routines, rushed Tuesdays, toasted sandwiches, and a mother's love. In this heartfelt episode, Carrie reflects on the beautiful chaos of raising children, the guilt so many parents carry, and the ordin...

Send us Fan Mail What if one unexpected phone call could change a student's confidence, strengthen a family's relationships, and even transform the way you see people? During her first years of teaching, Carrie started making positive phone calls home—not because students had earned perfect grades, but because they had shown kindness, leadership, perseverance, or character. What she neve...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes the moments we'll treasure most aren't the big milestones—they're the ordinary moments we almost miss. In this episode, Carrie shares stories from a family trip to Mackinac Island with her husband and their three grown sons. From bike rides and bear jokes to rocking chairs, rainbows, and a simple candle, she reflects on how joy often shows up in the smalle...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever noticed yourself becoming a little less patient… a little more guarded… or a little quicker to assume the worst? It usually doesn’t happen all at once. In this episode of Project You 2.2, Carrie Helmer explores the idea of the slow drift—the subtle ways our experiences, conversations, and environments shape who we become over time. We don’t wake up one day and decide...

Send us Fan Mail The stories we tell ourselves and others are doing more than explaining our experiences… they are shaping who we become. In this episode of Project You 2.2, Carrie Helmer explores the subtle ways our words, reactions, and conversations reveal what is happening beneath the surface. From workplace conversations and gossip to teenage belonging and everyday frustrations, we’ll look at...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Project You 2.2 , Carrie Helmer shares the powerful idea of "ping moments" —those subtle experiences that reveal something deeper beneath the surface, much like a metal detector discovering hidden treasure. Drawing from her 31 years as a high school teacher, her coaching work, and personal stories—including a frustrating Apple Pay ordeal and a memorabl...

Send us Fan Mail You’re Not Stuck Because You’re Busy… You’re Stuck Because You Won’t Decide What if the real reason you feel stuck… has nothing to do with time? In this episode of Project You 2.2 , Carrie Helmer challenges a common belief: you’re not stuck because you’re busy—you’re stuck because you haven’t made a decision. So many of us live in the space of “I’ll start soon”… staying productive...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever reached a season of life where everything looks “fine”… but inside, something feels off? In this episode of Project You 2.2 , Carrie Helmer explores the quiet identity shift that happens when the roles that once defined you — teacher, parent, caregiver, achiever — begin to loosen their grip. When the structure fades, the schedule changes, and the life you built no lo...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful way to improve your relationships… isn’t what you say—but how you listen? In this episode of Project You 2.2 , Carrie dives into one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) skills in communication: true listening. Through real-life stories—from the classroom to everyday conversations—she breaks down how quickly we shift focus, interrupt, or try to “fix...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Project You 2.2 , Carrie Helmer pulls back the curtain on the coaching experience—what it looks like, how it feels, and why it creates real, lasting change. This is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what happens when you stop trying to figure everything out on your own… and start working with someone who can help you see clearly, move forward, and stay consis...

Send us Fan Mail Why do some days at work leave you energized… while others leave you completely drained? In this episode of Project You 2.2 , Carrie Helmer explores a powerful shift most people never stop to consider: It’s not just what you’re doing… it’s how you’re wired to work. Through real-life stories—from helping a student go from a “zero” to 100% in minutes… to leading teams and observing...

Send us Fan Mail What if the way you think about work… is the thing that’s keeping you stuck? In this episode of Project You 2.2 , Carrie Helmer shares a deeply personal and honest look at work, purpose, and identity—through stories that will likely feel very familiar. From watching her dad work long factory shifts… to seeing her mom build quiet but powerful impact through cleaning homes… to picki...

Send us Fan Mail What would your younger self say to you if she could sit down across from you today? In this episode of Project You 2.2, Carrie reflects on a powerful moment sparked by Miley Cyrus’ lyrics, “Hey, you… it’s younger you… I’m just checking in to see if you still remember me.” What starts as a simple question turns into something deeper—an honest look at how we slowly lose touch with...

Send us Fan Mail Part 5...In this 5-part series of Project You 2.2, we explore why so many people feel stuck, overwhelmed, and inconsistent—even when they’re trying their hardest to change. Through real-life stories, mindset shifts, and simple behavior changes, Carrie Helmer breaks down the hidden patterns behind burnout, self-sabotage, and starting over again and again. You’ll learn how your envi...

Send us Fan Mail Part 4...In this 5-part series of Project You 2.2, we explore why so many people feel stuck, overwhelmed, and inconsistent—even when they’re trying their hardest to change. Through real-life stories, mindset shifts, and simple behavior changes, Carrie Helmer breaks down the hidden patterns behind burnout, self-sabotage, and starting over again and again. You’ll learn how your envi...

Send us Fan Mail Part 3...In this 5-part series of Project You 2.2, we explore why so many people feel stuck, overwhelmed, and inconsistent—even when they’re trying their hardest to change. Through real-life stories, mindset shifts, and simple behavior changes, Carrie Helmer breaks down the hidden patterns behind burnout, self-sabotage, and starting over again and again. You’ll learn how your envi...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2...In this 5-part series of Project You 2.2, we explore why so many people feel stuck, overwhelmed, and inconsistent—even when they’re trying their hardest to change. Through real-life stories, mindset shifts, and simple behavior changes, Carrie Helmer breaks down the hidden patterns behind burnout, self-sabotage, and starting over again and again. You’ll learn how your envi...