The Rising with Janel Gonzalez

Why is it so hard to put your phone down? In this episode, Janel dives into the science of dopamine and how our constant search for stimulation is affecting our focus, creativity, relationships, and overall well-being. Drawing inspiration from Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke, she shares practical ways to slow down, embrace boredom, reconnect with nature, and restore balance to your brain. Topic...

Does summer always seem to come with pressure to spend more money? From expensive vacations and concert tickets to dining out and keeping up with everyone else's plans, summer can quickly become one of the most expensive seasons of the year. But what if you could create a memorable, joyful summer without draining your bank account? In this episode, Janel shares practical mindset shifts inspir...

Why do so many moms feel like they have to do it all? In this heartfelt conversation, Janel sits down with children's author Emily Busby to discuss modern motherhood, mom guilt, overwhelm, asking for help, postpartum struggles, social media pressure, perfectionism, and the importance of building real support systems. Emily shares the story behind her new children's book, Mommy Is Not an...

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t other people—but the stories you keep telling yourself? In this powerful conversation, psychotherapist and author Chad Taylor joins Janel to discuss addiction, recovery, ego, self-awareness, personal responsibility, emotional healing, and why lasting transformation begins when we stop blaming others and start looking inward. Drawing from his own rec...

What are you using to escape your reality? In this episode, Janel explores the ways we numb, distract, and disconnect from our lives through unhealthy escapism—whether it’s overworking, staying busy, alcohol, devices, fantasy thinking, or avoiding our emotions altogether. This honest conversation is about learning how to stop running from discomfort and start reconnecting with the life that’s actu...

Are you steering your own life—or letting everyone else choose the direction for you? In this episode, Janel explores what it really means to become the captain of your own life. Through the metaphor of navigating a ship at sea, she shares a powerful conversation about personal responsibility, emotional resilience, boundaries, rest, peace, and learning how to reconnect with your own internal compa...

What if this season isn't asking you to do more—but to release what no longer fits? In this episode, Janel explores the concept of identity evolution and why shedding old versions of yourself isn't a crisis—it's a calling. Through the lens of the RISE principles—reflection, intention, simplicity, and enjoyment—this episode is an open invitation to audit who you are now, reconnect wi...

Motherhood can be beautiful, overwhelming, joyful, exhausting—and all of those things can exist at the same time. In this special Mother’s Day episode, Janel opens up about the duality of motherhood, navigating overstimulation, mom guilt, burnout, emotional exhaustion, and learning to find joy in the messy, imperfect seasons of raising children. This honest conversation explores how the RISE princ...

In this episode, we explore what it really means to experience joy—even in the middle of anxiety, grief, and life’s most challenging seasons. Joy isn’t about everything being perfect. It’s about finding moments of light, even when life feels heavy. Janel is joined by Yanina Oyarzo as they talk through navigating stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm while still choosing joy in everyday life. Fr...

Janel returns with a powerful conversation alongside Yanina Oyarzo on healing, identity, and showing up authentically. This conversation explores what it looks like to navigate personal growth, emotional healing, and becoming more aligned with who you truly are. Together, they unpack the tension between who we’ve been and who we’re becoming—and how to move forward with clarity, honesty, and intent...

Do you have to wait for life to feel perfect before you experience joy? In this episode of The Rising, Janel closes out the Back to Basics series by exploring the fourth RISE principle: Enjoyment — and why joy is not something reserved for easy seasons of life. Janel shares how joy and pain can coexist, why joy is actually a birthright, and how learning to notice small “micro moments” can transfor...

What if simplicity wasn’t about deprivation… but freedom? In this episode of the Back to Basics series, Janel explores Simplicity, the third principle of the RISE Living Toolkit — and why learning to travel lighter can transform your mental clarity, home environment, and overall well-being. Simplicity goes far beyond decluttering your home. It’s about removing what distracts you so you can focus o...

What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t lack of motivation — but lack of intention? In this episode, Janel breaks down the second RISE principle and explains how living intentionally helps you stop wandering through life and start aligning your choices with what truly fulfills you. Discover how setting intentions each morning and clarifying your core values can shift your energy, decision-making,...

In this episode of The Rising Refresher Series, Janel introduces the first RISE principle—Reflection—and explains how it helps you reconnect with yourself in a world full of noise, pressure, and distraction. Reflection can look like journaling, walking in nature, meditating for a few minutes, sitting quietly with a cup of tea, or stepping away from screens to breathe and reset. Janel shares how gr...

What if the next chapter of your life started by returning to yourself? In this episode, Janel introduces her new Back to Basics series and shares how years of grief, study, healing, and deep inner work led to the creation of her four guiding pillars: Reflection, Intention, Simplicity, and Enjoyment—the RISE Principles. These tools aren’t about perfection. They’re about alignment, self-trust, and...

In this conversation, TK Coleman breaks down why scrolling (not social media itself) is quietly reshaping our attention, creativity, and sense of purpose—and how to reclaim your life with simple, repeatable practices that reconnect you to your body, your curiosity, and what matters most. In this episode, you’ll learn:  • Why “ scrolling is the new smoking ” and how it shifts us from searching with...

Decluttering tips are everywhere… but why do we keep returning to the same patterns? In this episode of The Rising , Janel interviews TK Coleman of The Minimalists to unpack the deeper layer: emotional clutter —the feelings and beliefs underneath the mess. This episode is for anyone who wants simplicity, peace, and freedom … but feels blocked by anxiety, old narratives, or the pressure to “get it...

If you’ve been living in your head, second-guessing every decision, and feeling disconnected from yourself—this episode is for you. In this episode of The Rising Podcast , Janel sits down with Anna Gannon , an intuitive psychic and intuitive development coach , to demystify intuition and teach practical ways to access your inner guidance in the year ahead. Anna explains intuition as information re...

Jacklynne Marder is a licensed, trauma-focused psychotherapist and trauma-informed yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. She integrates somatic therapy, neuroscience, and mind-body practices to help clients heal trauma, regulate their nervous systems, and feel safer in their bodies. Her work is rooted in the belief that true healing happens not just through insight—but through embodiment. If you’v...

If your closet is packed but you still feel stuck in the same three outfits, this conversation is for you. In this episode of The Rising Podcast, Janel welcomes personal stylist and mom of four, Elly Brown , to talk about practical, down-to-earth style—no celebrity budget required. Elly Brown is a personal stylist, content creator, and founder of Uptown With Elly Brown , where she shares relatable...

If the holidays leave you drained, resentful, or spread too thin, this episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to step back. Janel shares why constant yeses lead to burnout — and how choosing yourself can bring more joy, rest, and presence into your season. Inside this episode you’ll learn: ✨ How to say no with kindness ✨ Why protecting your energy matters ✨ The power of rest (and why it’s...

When life feels heavy or uncertain, gratitude can become the anchor that steadies you. In this heartfelt Thanksgiving episode of The Rising Podcast, Janel shares how to turn thankfulness into a daily practice — one that grounds you, lifts your spirit, and helps you rise above life’s challenges with peace and perspective. She reminds us that gratitude isn’t reserved for perfect seasons or holidays...

In this week’s episode of The Rising Podcast , Janel shares practical tools to help you shop smarter — and more intentionally — during the holiday season. As Black Friday and endless sales roll in, it’s easy to get caught in the rush. But what if you approached spending differently this year? Janel explores how to pause before purchasing, reflect on your “money story,” and bring awareness to what...

At 45, Janel has learned that true peace doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from presence. In this reflective Rising Podcast episode, she opens up about the powerful lessons life has taught her: to accept what is, to stop trying to fix or change others, and to honor her own pace without apology. She shares how releasing control and embracing simplicity can lead to a fuller, freer life — one r...

Ever leave a conversation feeling exhausted, anxious, or heavy — even though nothing “bad” happened? You may have encountered an energy vampire. In this episode of The Rising Podcast , Janel shares how to recognize these subtle drains on your energy and protect your emotional well-being. She explains how energy vampires show up in daily life — from the constant complainers and quiet competitors to...