Creating Sunshine

In this episode of the Creating Sunshine Podcast , Sarah sits down with Meg McDaniel , NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Precision Nutrition L2 Master Coach, for a powerful conversation about strength training for women , navigating grief , and learning what self-love actually looks like in real life. Meg shares how they found weightlifting during one of the hardest seasons of their life, newly...

In this episode of Creating Sunshine , Sarah sits down with Kaytlyn Gilner , host of the Not So Dumb Blonde podcast, to talk about what trauma really looks like in everyday life and how it impacts anxiety, relationships, and self-trust. Kaytlyn shares practical tools (including DBT skills ) to help you step out of people-pleasing, stop self-gaslighting, and learn the difference between anxiety vs...

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Dee Komaromi (CPA and founder of Kids Money Academy) to talk about practical, doable ways to raise money-smart kids without making money a scary or taboo topic. Dee breaks down her age-based allowance approach, the Save/Spend/Give jar system, and the mindset shift that helps parents stop saying “no” and start teaching kids how to plan and save. You’ll also hea...

Jordan Trapp (naturopathic doctor + founder of Unshakeable Wellness) shares the story that brought them from a traditional medicine path into naturopathic, root-cause care — and how a chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) diagnosis reshaped priorities, mindset, and purpose. In this conversation, Sarah and Jordan talk about navigating cancer survivorship, the hidden weight of “the good cancer” comments, s...

Marketing expert Sarah Taylor shares what small business owners can’t learn from a prompt: real-world experience, customer psychology, and the power of human connection in an AI-heavy world. In this episode, we break down Sarah’s 3 Gaps Framework (mindset, visibility, strategy), the most common marketing mistakes, and simple ways to show up consistently without spending your whole life on social m...

After treatment ends, many survivors expect to feel “back to normal” — but the emotional whiplash can be the hardest part of the journey. In this episode, Sarah is joined by breast cancer survivor and Not Today Cancer founder Jen Delvaux to talk honestly about identity, fear of recurrence, and how to rebuild a life that feels strong and joyful again. Together they discuss practical, science-backed...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking "I'm not good enough," "I always mess this up," or "who am I to even want more" — and just... believed it? No questions asked? Most of us are walking around on full autopilot, being run by thoughts we never even chose. Thoughts handed to us by a parent, a boss, an ex, a hard season we survived. And we've been accepting th...

Lindsay Heiserman shares how combining exercise science, counseling training, and life coaching creates a more complete path to health—because you can’t separate mental wellbeing from physical wellbeing. Together we talk about simple, doable self-care (even on your busiest days), stress relief through movement, and how to rebuild body confidence after injury, illness, or major life changes. Key ta...

Erika Aviña of Prosperity Planning breaks down what a “wealth plan” actually is—beyond just budgeting—and how to build financial confidence even if you feel behind. We talk money mindset, common blind spots (subscriptions, variable spending, uninvested retirement accounts), and practical steps you can take this week to create more peace and options. Key takeaways Most people were never taught mone...

Are you on a personal growth journey but feeling like the people closest to you just don't get it? In this solo episode, Sarah gets real about one of the most misunderstood parts of doing the inner work — finding the right support system — and why you can't expect the people already in your life to automatically show up the way you need. Sarah shares her own journey of trying to do it alon...

What happens when you spend years doing the mindset and health work — and then life really tests you? Tracy Kasper knows firsthand. In her early thirties, Tracy's daily diet consisted almost entirely of grilled cheese, quesadillas, and pizza. Then came an autoimmune diagnosis that she ignored for two years out of sheer stubbornness. When she finally committed to a 30-day elimination program in...

What if sharing your story was the most generous thing you could do for someone else? In this episode, I sit down with Alex Catedral — documentary filmmaker, founder of Catedral Collective, and the first male guest in nearly 100 episodes of the Creating Sunshine Podcast — for a conversation that genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Alex has spent his career helping founders capture and share their s...

What I'd Do Differently Starting My Personal Development Journey Over Again If you could go back to the beginning of your personal development journey, what would you do differently? In this solo episode, Sarah gets personal and shares the four things she wishes she had done sooner — lessons learned through 2.5 years of consuming without acting, a business coaching investment that came too ear...

Episode summary Sarah sits down with their dear friend Rae for a real, free-flowing conversation about the season they’re both in: releasing what’s no longer aligned, creating from a “clean vessel,” and choosing legacy, peace, and community on purpose. They share why in-person connection is the next chapter for both of them—and invite listeners into their next Full Moon-inspired event designed for...

Life doesn’t always follow the plan, and that doesn’t mean you’re failing. In this solo episode, Sarah shares a powerful reminder that it’s okay to be “late,” miss a deadline, or need extra time to process. She recaps the Women Who Rise event in Columbus, Nebraska, what happens when you get in the right room, and why safe community can change everything. Sarah also opens up about grief, showing up...

In this special 100th episode of the Creating Sunshine Podcast, I’m joined by my two favorite people in the world—my daughters, Emma and Bella—to celebrate how far this journey has come over the last two and a half years. We talk about what “creating sunshine” means in real life, what they’ve learned from watching me take risks and build a dream, and the behind-the-scenes moments you don’t get to...

In this episode of Creating Sunshine, Sarah sits down with Roni McGuire, founder of Shine On & Glow and creator of the Motifesting Method®—a framework that blends mindset, vision, focus, and action. Roni shares her transformation from Wall Street executive to entrepreneur and explains how women can leverage the skills they’ve built through careers, motherhood, and community leadership to creat...

In this solo episode of the Creating Sunshine Podcast, Sarah talks about the power of community, connection, and friendship—and why real support can change everything. After doing market research on Instagram, Sarah noticed one message coming through loud and clear: women are craving in-person connection. She shares why she’s transitioning The Sunshine Era from a virtual membership into an in-pers...

If you’ve been feeling the pull to create something more, but your full-time job and real life already take so much from you, this episode is for you. In this episode of Creating Sunshine , Sarah sits down with Erin Mikayla (corporate professional + entrepreneur behind EMC Bartending and Queen of Collaborations ) to talk about what it really looks like to build a dream after work . This is not a “...

In this episode of the Creating Sunshine Podcast, Sarah sits down with brand photographer Kaysha Van Der Heyden of Branding by Kaysha to talk about confidence, body image, and what it really takes to show up on camera. If you have ever said “I’ll book photos when I lose weight,” or you avoid being in pictures with your family, this conversation is your gentle push to take the photo now. Kaysha sha...

When something painful ends, the impact does not automatically end with it. In this solo episode, Sarah talks about the pressure people put on you to “be over it” because the event is in the past, and why healing follows a timeline that belongs to the person living it, not the people watching it. You’ll learn how to recognize when someone’s impatience is really their discomfort, how to ask for the...

When you're diagnosed with breast cancer, you're often told you only have one option for reconstruction. You're told your nipples can't be saved. You're told you'll need tissue expanders and multiple surgeries over a year or more. But what if everything you've been told isn't the whole truth? In this powerful episode, I sit down with my breast reconstructive surgeon...

After 27 years at Costco, nearly 20 as a senior manager, I made the life-changing decision to walk away from corporate life and bet on myself. But this wasn't a spontaneous choice—it was the culmination of a transformative year that included a stage three cancer diagnosis, financial struggles, and the realization that I was missing my daughters' lives. In this deeply personal solo episode, I'm sha...

In this powerful conversation, Sarah sits down with Kaitlin Anthony, the anti-business business coach women can't stop talking about. Kaitlin shares her journey from celebrity fashion stylist to multiple six-figure founder of The BEAM Life, opening up about the financial struggles that came with trying to portray a certain image, the importance of building businesses rooted in identity rather...

Ready to get clear on what you want for 2026? In this solo episode, I'm walking you through a powerful 5-section journaling practice called "Get Your Shit Together for 2026" that will help you close out 2025 and create an intentional roadmap for the year ahead. Plus, I'm sharing how to use ChatGPT or Claude (free!) to turn your journal answers into a personalized clarity map with...