Free to Be Mindful Podcast | Helping Professional Moms Find Calm in a Busy World

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Angel Hepp—fellow mom of two, golden doodle lover, and co-founder of Meet Salt Collective, a creative marketing agency that helps businesses connect through powerful storytelling. We talked all about how motherhood and entrepreneurship overlap in the most unexpected (and sometimes messy) ways, and how being clear, whether with your kids or your...

Life has a funny way of making us feel like we’re always racing against some invisible clock — like if we don’t meet certain milestones by a certain age, we’ve somehow failed. But what if we’ve been measuring progress all wrong? In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast , we explore the pressure of timelines — the kind we create in our minds, hear from others, and absorb from social media....

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting—and not lose your, well… you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "My daughter is 16 and is definitely smoking weed. What should I do?" Finding...

In Episode 262 of Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman welcomes Rebekah Taylor, a real estate investor who transitioned from tech after a near-death experience in childbirth. Rebekah shares insights on mindful living, balancing career and family, and building multiple income streams for financial freedom—all while prioritizing self-care and mental health. As a mom of three, she high...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting—and not lose your, well… you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "What can I do when I feel like I’m failing as a parent?" The guilt, the over...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting—and not lose your, well… you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "I really think my kid needs therapy, but I don't want to put up with family...

In this episode, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman chats with Courtney Youngs, author of The Waggle Dance , about life's unexpected twists and turns. Courtney shares her personal story—from career shifts to personal challenges—and how she discovered the power of the Waggle Dance: learning from life’s experiences and sharing those lessons with others, much like bees do. She opens up about how becom...

Confidence... it’s something we all want to feel, yet sometimes, it feels just out of reach. Whether it’s second-guessing ourselves, shrinking in spaces that don’t support our growth, or letting self-doubt take the wheel, so many of us struggle to fully own our power. In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast , we’re breaking down why confidence can feel so hard to hold onto and, more impo...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting—and not lose your, well… you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "How do I handle the guilt of missing important moments because of work and the fe...

Saying no shouldn’t come with guilt... but for many of us, it does. From childhood expectations to cultural influences, we’ve been conditioned to prioritize others’ needs over our own. But constantly saying yes can leave us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from what truly matters. In this episode we explore why people-pleasing feels so ingrained, how it affects our well-being, and...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting—and not lose your, well… you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "How do I protect my child from online dangers while still giving them independenc...

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast! Today, we’re joined by Becca Powers—Fortune 500 sales executive, mindset expert, bestselling author, and speaker—who shares her incredible journey from working at a dollar store to thriving in a 20-year career in technology. In this episode, we dive into Becca’s latest book, A Return to Radiance , and explore the concept of “...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting, and not lose your, well… you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "How can I handle my child constantly whining?" Whining - it’s like nails on...

Ever feel like you’re running on fumes, but somehow, you just keep going? Like a phone with 1% battery, no charger in sight—yet you’re still pushing through? Eventually, that phone dies, and if we’re not careful, so do our energy levels, our peace, and our joy. In this episode, Vanessa gets real about the mental detox high-achieving women and perfectionists desperately need. She shares her persona...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting—and not lose your, well… you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "What are some coping strategies I can teach my child for handling big feelings li...

This week on the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman sits down with Dr. Nikia Smith, an anesthesiologist with a powerful story about moving from burnout to balance and fulfillment. Dr. Smith opens up about the pressures of her demanding medical career, how it affected her well-being, and the brave steps she took to put her health and happiness first. In this heartfelt conversa...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series, a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast. Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions, offering practical advice to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting - and not lose your, well, you know… TODAY'S QUESTION: "What can I do to help my daughter be more confident?&q...

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast , we’re diving into the topic of emotional guarding—the walls we build to protect ourselves from pain but that often keep us from experiencing connection, trust, and joy. Whether it's fear of rejection, past trauma, or societal pressures, emotional guarding can hold us back in many areas of life. Vanessa shares insights on how these walls form...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series, a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast . Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she dives into real-life parenting questions, offering practical advice to help you raise confident kids, nurture stronger connections, and find your calm in the chaos of parenting. TODAY'S QUESTION: "How can I get my child to list...

In this inspiring episode of Free to Be Mindful Podcast, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman sits down with life coach and author Chris Jensen to discuss her powerful journey to sobriety and her upcoming book, Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want . Chris opens up about her personal experiences, including the challenges of navigating sobriety and how it inspired her to help others, p...

In this episode of SEL Book Talks, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, former educator and licensed therapist, shares her insights on the book Hello, Anger by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Mackie Pamintuan.  This book is an excellent resource for parents, educators, school counselors, and mental health professionals working with children in upper elementary grades. Vanessa discusses how the book helps kid...

Navigating change can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to leadership transitions. Whether it’s a new boss at work, leadership shifts in an organization, or changes in personal dynamics, the uncertainty can leave us feeling unsettled. In this episode, Vanessa explores why change feels so challenging, how to embrace the unknown, and strategies to let go of resistance. Through relatable ex...

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series , a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast , where therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, answers real-life parenting questions, helping you reduce the overwhelm, find joy, and live life intentionally so you don't lose your... well, you know. TODAY'S QUESTION: "How can I best support my child who identifies with the...

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast , host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman chats with Alanna Hellman, mom of two under two and founder of Moms Working Overtime . Alanna shares her journey from leaving the corporate world to creating a community where moms can rediscover joy and confidence in the chaos of motherhood. This conversation isn’t just for moms—it’s a reminder for anyone navigating...

In this episode of SEL Book Talks , Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, former educator and licensed therapist, shares her insights on the book 30 Minute Groups on Anxiety Management . This book is a must-have for school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and anyone working with kids under time constraints. Vanessa discusses how the book provides a structured approach to understanding and managing an...