Rock the Damn Boat

Ever feel pulled toward every $7 course and "quick path to success" that floods your feed? Same. In this Sunday Shortie, Christy gets real about the noise — and why your intuition is still your best compass. In this episode: What intuition actually is (hint: it starts in your gut, not your brain) The mind-heart-gut connection and the science behind it Why somatic awareness helps you know what's tr...

In this episode of Rock the Damn Boat (RTDB) , I sit down with Casey Keen—founder of Alchemy of Motherhood and author of the upcoming book The Alchemy of Motherhood (releasing May 2026)—to talk about the parts of motherhood we don’t talk about enough. After experiencing birth trauma followed by postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA), Casey found herself navigating a system that o...

This week's Sunday Shortie is a personal one. After chatting with Naoma of We Know Marketing, We Promise, and having a deep conversation with my friend Beckie about how to "sell" with heart, I had a huge mindset shift from the unlikeliest of places: Claude. What I discovered changed the way I think about showing up for potential retreat guests without losing the warmth and authenticity that makes...

In this episode of RTDB , I sit down with Ashleigh Auth, founder of Pausitive Women’s Care, for a real, refreshing conversation about women’s health in midlife—and why so many of us feel dismissed, confused, or stuck when it comes to our bodies. Ashleigh is a women’s health provider specializing in perimenopause, menopause, and hormone optimization, with a deeply personalized and holistic approach...

In this episode of RTDB, I’m sharing three things that have been on my mind this week—each one rooted in connection, clarity, and the courage to let go. From virtual coffee chats and online networking to in-person moments at book club and mahjong, I’ve been reminded how powerful the right conversations can be. Not every connection will click—and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to force it, it’s to fin...

In this episode of RTDB, we’re diving into midlife nutrition through a lens that doesn’t get talked about enough: stress, hormones, and how your body is actually responding behind the scenes. I’m joined by Erika Hewlett of Compassion Wellness Nutrition to unpack what’s really happening during midlife—especially when it comes to adrenal function, declining estrogen levels, and the ripple effect the...

In this episode of RTDB, we’re unpacking impostor syndrome—the quiet, persistent voice that makes capable women question whether they really belong. The truth? You’re not alone. Research suggests up to 70% of people experience these thoughts at some point, often despite clear evidence of their competence. Drawing from insights in TIME, we break down the five common ways impostor syndrome shows up—...

In this episode of RTDB , Christy Hughes sits down with Dr. Kathryn Jacob of The Archway to discuss the realities of domestic violence, systemic abuse, and victim advocacy within the criminal justice system . I offer a trigger warning for anyone who is sensitive to this topic. This conversation is deeply personal for Christy. During college, she experienced abuse in a violent relationship—an exper...

In this bonus episode of Rock the Damn Boat (RTDB) , Christy shares a behind-the-scenes reflection on her spontaneous decision to attend the Create & Cultivate conference in Austin, Texas —alone. What started as a last-minute leap turned into a powerful reminder that growth often begins with simply showing up. Surrounded by ambitious founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs, Christy listened to...

In this Sunday Shortie episode of RTDB (Rock the Damn Boat) , Christy shares her excitement about attending the Women in Publishing Summit and reflects on the personal journey that led her deeper into writing. What began as a potential biography after the death of her grandmother Polly eventually transformed into something entirely different, a deeply personal memoir about Christy's sobriety journ...

In this episode of RTDB , we celebrate Women’s History Month with a conversation that proves you don’t have to be famous to make history—you just have to be willing to rock the boat. Our guest, Cindy Sims , was nominated by her daughter Courtney and selected as our Women’s History Month honoree for her remarkable life in unconventional roles. From running a small-town newspaper to working as a wel...

In this Sunday Shortie, Christy shares a raw and honest reflection on what keeps her moving forward in the uncertain world of solopreneurship. Building something of your own can feel lonely, especially when the income isn’t predictable and the people around you don’t always understand the vision. In this episode of RTDB , Christy talks about three simple but powerful mindsets helping her stay grou...

In this episode of RTDB , I’m joined by my former college roommate and co-host of The Screening Lounge , also Christy, for a lively and layered conversation about women in film and television — the trailblazers who rocked the boat, the milestones that changed Hollywood, and the representation gaps we’re still working to close. We talk about historic Oscar milestones, unforgettable movie scenes tha...

In this episode of RTDB, we’re reclaiming a word that many women were taught to fear: assertive. If you’ve ever confused assertiveness with being rude, selfish, or unkind, this conversation will shift that belief. For people-pleasers, Enneagram 2's, and high-capacity women, staying quiet, over-explaining, or softening every request can feel safer. But over time, that pattern leads to burnout, rese...

In this episode of RTDB, Christy sits down with Marin Nelson, founder of Sobrynth.com , for a powerful conversation about creating recovery-friendly workplaces and challenging the unspoken role alcohol plays in professional culture. Approaching eight years of sobriety from alcohol herself, Christy shares incredibly vulnerable stories about her own sober-curious days and how she ultimately got and...

In this Sunday Shortie episode of RTDB, we’re unpacking two classic people-pleasing behaviors that keep us stuck in anxiety cycles: rehearsing conversations before they happen and ruminating long after they’re over . If you’ve ever: Practiced what you were going to say 47 different ways Played out worst-case scenarios in your head Replayed a conversation for hours (or days) afterward Wondered if y...

In this episode of Rock the Damn Boat , I sit down with Alicia "ACE" Easter , founder of Ace Yoga LA , for an honest conversation about leaving corporate life, navigating burnout, and building a career rooted in alignment rather than approval. ACE shares her journey from the corporate world into full-time yoga teaching in Los Angeles—and the emotional, financial, and identity shifts that come with...

In this episode of RTDB (Rock the Damn Boat) , I’m talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough daylight: the increased risk of suicide during menopause — and what can happen when hormone or medication changes impact your mental health. This Sunday Shortie is personal. I’m sharing my own experience with medication adjustments that unexpectedly triggered intrusive and suicidal thoughts —...

In this episode of Rock the Damn Boat , Christy sits down with Jessica Berger , founder of Bundle x Joy and a former PetSmart colleague who left corporate seven years ago to build a purpose-driven pet food brand from the ground up. With more than a decade in the pet industry, Jessica shares what it took to stay the course long before the wins were visible — including the moment her brand finally l...

What happens when time passes between texts, calls, or visits—and shame fills in the gaps? In this episode, I explore theory of mind and how our ability (and tendency) to assume what others are thinking can quietly sabotage friendships. When we haven’t heard from someone in a while, our brains often jump to self-blaming stories: I did something wrong. They’re upset. They don’t care anymore. But wh...

In this honest and grounding conversation, I sit down with Allie Van Fossen , founder of The Body Mind Soul Studio , former travel blogger, and creator of the Yoga with Allie Van Fossen YouTube channel, to explore what happens when passion alone is no longer enough. After years of building a thriving yoga business and online community, Allie reached a quiet but undeniable truth: she no longer felt...

In this Sunday Shortie, Christy reflects on being ten weeks post-corporate—fully in motion, yet quietly questioning what success is supposed to feel like after leaving a decades-long career. This episode explores the tension many women face after a big transition: staying productive without turning life into a constant cycle of self-promotion, metrics, and visibility. Christy shares why she’s choo...

In this episode, I’m joined by Amy Green , founder of NeuroMagic Club , for an honest, validating conversation that connects a lot of dots many women are struggling to name. We talk openly about my own ADHD diagnosis later in life — and how so many symptoms didn’t fully make sense until hormones entered the picture. From perimenopause to chronic stress, we explore how fluctuating estrogen, cortiso...

In this Sunday Shortie of Rock the Damn Boat , I’m sharing a candid reflection on resilience in real time—after the disappointment of postponing a women’s retreat I deeply believed in. When one person’s frustration shows up loudly, it can trigger the “1 in 100” negativity bias : our brains fixate on the single negative response instead of the many quiet affirmations. I unpack how this bias shows u...

In this episode of Rock the Damn Boat , I’m joined by Ellen Scherr —licensed therapist, midlife coach, and Substack writer whose work on midlife and people-pleasing has resonated with women around the world. Ellen shares her midlife pivot from a successful career in sales to becoming a therapist, and how that transition reflects the deeper shifts many women experience in midlife. We explore how ch...