Stop Wasting Your Life

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava sits down with her longtime friend Drew Majors to talk about navigating your early twenties, mental health, and redefining success. Drew shares his journey through emotional highs and lows, being initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and ultimately finding clarity through therapy. He unpacks three key concepts that changed his life: filling your...

In the final episode of the anxiety series, Ava shares a vulnerable story from her trip to Florence where panic attacks, sickness, and the urge to run home threatened to take over. But at the center of it all wasn’t fear. It was love. This episode is about the friend who stayed. The one who sat on the stair, closed the laptop when it was time to stop spiraling, and reminded her, “You’ve done it be...

In part two of our anxiety series, Ava shares the story of the Paris trip that didn’t go as planned. What was supposed to be a dream vacation quickly turned into panic attacks, overwhelming triggers, and the difficult decision to go home. Through it all, she learned a powerful truth: you cannot always control when anxiety shows up, but you can choose how you respond to it. This episode is about se...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life, Ava explores anxiety through her “ledge” metaphor. She describes anxiety as standing on the edge of a terrifying drop, where panic feels inevitable and overwhelming. But after a conversation with her therapist, she begins to see that not every ledge is meant for falling. Some are like the breathtaking “woah ledge” she’s experienced on the Nepali Coast, ex...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava sits down with Rick Mumford to talk about finding hope with God after devastating loss. Rick shares the story of losing his son, Mac, and how grief challenged his faith yet ultimately drew him closer to God instead of pushing him away. Together, they explore grief, doubt, suffering, and the hard questions that arise when life feels shattered. This co...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava Heinbach speaks with author Bryan Welch about how grief can become a powerful teacher. After losing his son, Bryan reflects on how profound loss reshaped his understanding of love, compassion, joy, and what it means to be human. Rather than closing him off, grief opened Bryan to deeper empathy, unconditional care, and a greater awareness of life’s in...

In this episode, Ava Heinbach speaks with Nate Larkin, a former pastor and founder of the Samson Society, about his decades-long struggle with porn and sex addiction, the shame that kept it hidden, and the recovery that transformed his life and marriage. Nate shares how early exposure to pornography, emotional vulnerability, and strict religious expectations led him to live a double life in minist...

In this episode, Ava sits down with the legendary Mama Meg to unravel the story of her biggest heartbreak, the quiet warnings she ignored, and the inner compass that eventually pushed her toward a better life. Together they explore gut instincts, red flags, post-breakup grief, and finding clarity after chaos. It’s a conversation filled with honesty, humor, and the kind of lived-in wisdom you can o...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava sits down with her producer, Kate Kruse, to talk about how volunteering can help you find purpose, community, and connection. Kate shares how moving to Kansas City with almost no friends led her to volunteering, and also tells the unforgettable story of Halo , an eight-year-old rescue dog she once found on the side of the highway and who is now looki...

In this solo episode, Ava opens up about her favorite grounding exercises — the simple, practical tools she’s used since childhood to calm anxiety, soften overwhelming emotions, and reconnect with the present moment. She breaks down what grounding really means, the different types (physical, sensory, mental, and emotional), and shares her personal go-to techniques for each one. Whether you’re look...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , host Ava Heinbach talks with Brooklynn Sumonja — a single mother, military member, and woman of faith — about finding strength, purpose, and grace through motherhood. Brooklynn opens up about facing an unexpected pregnancy, walking through shame and fear, and learning to rely fully on God. She shares how becoming a mom transformed her faith, healed her h...

In this heartwarming and entertaining episode, Ava sits down with Mimi — her lifelong friend, honorary grandmother, and former TWA flight attendant — to talk about what it was really like to work the skies during the golden age of flying. From meeting celebrities like Maria von Trapp and Jimmy Dean (yes, the sausage man) to navigating beauty standards, cigarette-filled cabins, and unexpected turbu...

In this powerful episode, Ava talks with Danny Crawford , who shares his journey from addiction and rock bottom to redemption through faith. After years of partying, drug abuse, and a near-fatal psychosis, Danny found healing in recovery and a renewed purpose through Jesus. Now sober and helping at-risk youth in Kauai, his story is a powerful reminder of hope, surrender, and the freedom that comes...

In this heartfelt episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava welcomes back her close friend and roommate Hannah Jarrah for an open conversation about big emotions — how they show up, how they feel in her body, and how she moves through them with more compassion. Hannah shares her personal journey with anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation, emphasizing that emotions aren’t problems to be “fixe...

In this heartfelt solo episode, host Ava Heinbach returns after a short break to open up about where she’s been, what she’s been going through, and how she’s been learning to navigate her big emotions . Ava vulnerably shares that she stepped away from the podcast to prioritize her mental health after a difficult personal situation that resurfaced emotions from a past relationship. She describes ho...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava sits down with her longtime friend, Kanak Michael Masten. Kanak opens up about being adopted from India at age five, growing up in the U.S. with white parents, and the incredible experience of reconnecting with his birth family years later. Along the way, Ava and Kanak share hilarious memories from their friendship — from sneaking around strict colle...

What would make someone walk away from a six-figure career to start over from scratch? In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , host Ava Heinbach sits down with entrepreneur and father of three, Mitch Case , to unpack the bold decision he made to leave behind his stable engineering and sales career in pursuit of a more meaningful life. Mitch opens up about the turning points that shifted his pr...

In this episode, host Ava Heinbach and her mentor and “second mom,” LeeAnn Shaw , continue their conversation on cultivating a growth mindset . Building on last week’s discussion, they introduce 10 practical strategies—“the 10 Ps” —that help shift from a fixed mindset to a growth-oriented one. The 10 Ps they unpack are: Pain – facing it head-on and using it as purpose. Perspective – shifting your...

In this wisdom-filled and practical conversation, host Ava Heinbach sits down with her longtime mentor and “second mom” LeeAnn Shaw to unpack what it means to have a growth mindset. From personal stories and life’s unexpected valleys to strategies for building resilience, Ava and LeeAnn explore what it means to pivot, move forward, grow, and create a purposeful life. They talk about the difference...

This episode of Stop Wasting Your Life features Ava and her energy healer, Jamelle, diving deep into energy cords and how they shape relationships, especially with our partners . They explore what energy cords are, how they create lingering attachments after breakups, and why cutting these cords is key to emotional freedom. Ava shares her own struggle with still feeling tied to her ex-boyfriend, a...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava sits down with energy healer and wellness coach Jamelle Zablow-Maloney to explore the often misunderstood world of energy work. They cover the science of Reiki, electromagnetic fields in humans, energy cords and so much more. Jamelle unpacks how energy healing isn’t just a spiritual practice, it’s deeply rooted in biology, physics, and emotional scie...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava sits down with Mary Long, a professional soccer player for the Kansas City Current, to talk all things soccer, confidence, and chasing your dreams—even when people tellyou not to. From growing up in Kansas City to scoring her first pro goal, Mary shares the highs, the setbacks, and what it really means to believe in yourself. Plus, rapid-fire questio...

In this episode, Ava sits down with one of her best friends, Ashlee, to talk about her journey through depression, therapy, and inpatient mental health treatment. Ashlee opens up about the moments that nearly broke her, the love that helped her hold on, and the healing that followed. With honesty, heart, and a touch of humor, the two reflect on grief, growth, and the truth that even beauty can com...

In this moving episode, Ava sits down with her friend Jordan Jacobs, who became paralyzed in 2022 after a brain tumor surgery. Jordan opens up about his life before and after the diagnosis, the emotional challenges of living with paralysis, and how he’s found purpose in creating music and bringing joy to others. Through vulnerability and wisdom, Jordan reminds us that life is a gift—and that even...

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Life , Ava sits down with longtime family friend and functional medicine expert, Dr. Randy James , to challenge the myths around women’s health—especially the belief that pain, irregular periods, and hormonal chaos are just “part of being a woman.” They dive deep into how young women are taught to treat their symptoms as normal, why that messaging is dangerous,...