The Adventure Paradox

I love when a conversation leaves me both inspired and calm at the same time, and this sneak peek with Sneha Villalva does exactly that. Before her full interview airs on Friday, November 7, I wanted to share this short and powerful moment with you. Sneha is a storyteller, speechwriter, and award-winning author who has spent over twenty years helping people find their voice and share it with confi...

What if the wildest adventure isn’t in a faraway forest or on a mountaintop, but right outside your door? In this episode, I talk with Susie Spikol , an award-winning naturalist, author, and environmental educator who has spent over thirty-five years helping people rediscover their sense of wonder. From exploring the sidewalks of Brooklyn to teaching families in rural New Hampshire, Susie reminds...

Stop scrolling. Step outside. What if the adventure you’ve been seeking has been right beneath your feet all along? In this mini episode, I share a playful and heartfelt conversation with Susie Spikol , a naturalist, author, and lifelong environmental educator who reminds us that wonder is waiting for us in the ordinary. From searching for spiders with schoolchildren to rescuing an owl from her ch...

What if your current reality is just yesterday’s burrito, a reflection of the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs you digested long before today? The good news: you get to choose what you’re cooking up next. In this episode, I sat down with Iena SpiritWalker, a psychic healer, author, and spiritual business mentor who helps women turn their gifts into freedom and flow. Iena’s story is both surprising...

Sometimes we take life a little too seriously. In this minisode, I invite you to play, to explore, and to try something new. I decided to put on a bright green wig today, and what began as a bit of fun turned into a deeper reflection about how we see ourselves and how the world sees us. It is amazing how quickly our energy can shift when we give ourselves permission to be curious, bold, and a litt...

I met Arwen Becker by accident in the Aspen airport. Her red hat caught my eye with a mysterious number, 29029, the height of Mount Everest in feet. That number captures something I believe deeply: we are capable of more than we think when we show up for the adventure that is seeking us right now. Arwen is a six-time finisher of the 29029 x Aspen endurance challenge, where participants hike a moun...

Sometimes life invites us to climb mountains we never expected. Not to conquer them, but to discover who we become along the way. Today’s episode is a sneak peek into my conversation with Arwen Becker , a woman whose journey reminds us that the adventure is happening right now, wherever our feet are planted. The full episode airs this Friday , and trust me, you’ll want to hear the rest of her incr...

Some conversations stay with you long after they end, and my talk with Michelle Kuei is one of them. Michelle is a confidence coach, author, and international speaker who has an incredible story of resilience and transformation. After being involved in a car accident at the age of eleven, Michelle turned her pain into purpose and has made it her mission to empower others to rise above self-doubt a...

Sometimes the smallest moments carry the biggest transformations. A smile at the post office, a kind word at the coffee shop, or even a pause to savor the beauty of right now can shift the way we experience life. In this minisode I share a heartwarming conversation with Jackie Woodside, TEDx speaker, USA Today bestselling author, and host of the Conscious Living Podcast. Jackie’s favorite response...

What if happiness is not something you chase, but something you choose every day? In this conversation from the Speak Truth to Live Summit with Jackie Woodside , one of our most celebrated speakers, you will hear from a woman who embodies what it means to live “happy and blessed.” Jackie is a USA Today and international bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and the creator of the Money Vibe book and f...

Sometimes life gives us a surprise that turns out to be a gift in disguise. What we thought was a setback can actually become the very thing that opens the door to something even better. In today's minisode, I share a story about a pony who reminded me how powerful it is to trust the journey. What looked uncertain at first became a chance to witness connection, and the beauty of finding the r...

Every adventure begins with a wholehearted Yes. In this conversation, I sit down with Dana Hunter Fradella, a transformational success coach, founder of Girls Who Recover , podcast host, speaker, and mom of three. Dana embodies possibility, guiding women into lives filled with freedom, confidence, and joy. We talk about saying yes to life’s invitations, living from worthiness, and how recovery is...

There is something magical that happens when we spend time with horses. They remind us to slow down, to listen with more than our ears, and to feel the invisible conversations happening all around us. Horses aren’t just here to carry us or compete with us, they are here to guide us back to ourselves and to the Earth. In this episode, I get to sit down with Kathy Pike, a woman I have admired for ye...

This minisode is straight from my heart and from one of the clearest downloads I ever received in my recovery journey: You are ready when you say you are. I had spent so much of my life waiting. Waiting for the right time. Waiting for permission. Waiting until I felt perfect or prepared enough. But the truth is, readiness doesn’t come from the outside. It is an inside job. And when you decide, thi...

There is a wild, untamed energy within each of us, the same kind of spirit you see in a herd of horses when they pivot together in perfect harmony. It’s the essence of who we are before the noise of life layers over it. In this conversation with my guest, Mielle Fox , we explore what it means to return to that Wild Heart energy, how horses mirror back our truth, and the science that proves their r...

What really makes you come alive? Is it the house you live in, the title on your resume, or the milestones you have worked so hard to reach? Or is it something much more simple, like the moment you find your voice, join in song with others, or allow yourself to be seen just as you are? In this episode, I sit down with fellow TEDx Spokane speaker, Barron Peper. Barron is an architect, singer, and m...

In this bite-sized episode of The Adventure Paradox Podcast , Cat dives into the paradoxes of life, nature, and the human experience. Through the lens of predator and prey, focus and awareness, desire and action, Cat explores how duality shapes our lives—and how embracing both sides of the coin leads us to wholeness. From publishing a book to starting a podcast, from parenting choices to social me...

There comes a time when you realize the very thing you built no longer feels right, and it takes courage to pivot into what truly lights you up. Michelle Thames knows this journey well. She went from being fired from her healthcare job to becoming a visibility strategist, award-winning podcaster, and CEO helping women get seen and paid for their gifts. Michelle has a gift for keeping it real. She...

Some days it feels like the world is coming at us faster than we can breathe. The screens, the noise, the pressure to keep up. It can leave us overwhelmed and disconnected from what really matters. What if the discomfort we try so hard to avoid is actually where the healing begins? That is exactly what I explored with Yarona Boster. She is an advanced certified life coach, TEDx speaker, bestsellin...

Episode Summary : We’ve reached a huge milestone — over 200 episodes of the podcast! In this special celebratory episode, we take a heartfelt look back at the journey so far, from the very first recording to the countless inspiring conversations that shaped this space. I share behind-the-scenes reflections, lessons learned along the way, and the impact these stories have had on our community. This...

What happens when your travel plans get flipped upside down by a very determined little cat? In this episode, I sat down with Beth Mills and Robey NeJame, a sweet and adventurous couple I first connected with through our Teton Valley community. What started as a two-year road trip with their cats turned into an unforgettable story filled with love, loss, and the incredible kindness of strangers. J...

There’s a reason horses keep showing up in my life. And if you are listening to this conversation, maybe you have felt that call too. There is a deep wisdom they carry. One that does not need words to be felt. When I met Gloria Lybecker, I knew instantly she was someone who had walked with that wisdom for a long time. Now, she helps others remember it for themselves. Gloria is a transformational f...

It’s full-on summer… and there’s some FUNK in the air. Not the groovy, bass-heavy kind—but the kind that settles into your mood after something beautiful ends or when life’s demands hit hard. In this episode, we explore what “funk” really is, how to name it, sing it, own it, and move through it with humor, grace, and soulful tools. Cat shares her own post-anniversary-trip funk story, complete with...

There was a point in my journey when I realized the process I was following didn’t feel good anymore. It felt heavy and disconnected from the life I wanted. That’s when I came across Kimberly Severson’s message, and I knew her voice needed to be heard. She is a mom, a coach, and the host of Weight Loss Doesn’t Have to Suck . After trying every diet under the sun and still feeling disconnected from...

Sometimes the simplest shift in your daily rhythm can unlock the clarity and momentum you’ve been waiting for. In this energizing episode, I reconnect with book writing mentor Joshua Sprague, who joined us during the Speak Truth to Live Summit . Joshua has helped over 13,000 people start and finish their books, and his approach to creativity is as practical as it is powerful. In this conversation,...