Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa

What if your procrastination was trying to protect you? In this eye-opening episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith explores the deep roots of self-sabotage, especially for high achievers and perfectionists. She explains how self-doubt, shaped by early life experiences and trauma, fuels cycles of procrastination, overthinking, and burnout. Elyssa introduces self...

What if procrastination, perfectionism, and people-pleasing weren’t personal flaws—but trauma responses? In this powerful solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith explores the hidden roots of self-sabotage. She breaks down how big T, little t, and what she calls “tiny t” trauma shape our behaviors and belief systems—especially when those emotional needs go u...

Struggling to stick with healthy habits? You’re not broken—your nervous system just needs a new approach. In this uplifting solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith breaks down what it really takes to create lasting lifestyle changes. From battling perfectionism to finding your deeper “why,” she shares simple, science-backed strategies to help you build habits that actually stick. Whether...

Are you burned out—or just out of alignment? In this empowering solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith takes a deep dive into the root causes of burnout for high-achieving women. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about doing too much—it’s about abandoning yourself. Elyssa explores how ignoring your own desires in favor of perfectionism, people-pleasing, or obligation leads to chronic exhausti...

What if feeling lost is exactly where you're meant to start? In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith sits down with Hilary Spiritos, a pathfinding coach who specializes in helping young adults navigate major life transitions. Together, they explore how self-sabotage, inner child work, and societal expectations shape the post-high school journey. Hilary shares how courage, safety, and d...

Is your to-do list silently running the show—and running you into the ground? In this solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, host Elyssa Smith dives into the emotional and psychological weight of to-do lists. She explores how the freeze survival response, perfectionism, and childhood conditioning contribute to chronic overwhelm. More than just a time management issue, Elyssa reveals how our nervous s...

Is your sleep a nightly struggle? You're not alone. In this heartfelt episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith sits down with Tracy Hannigan, a sleep therapist who brings both personal experience and professional insight into the complex world of insomnia. Together, they explore how perfectionism, emotional regulation, and the drive for control can disrupt sleep—and how self-compassion and joy...

Do you feel stuck in your own head, second-guessing every move? In this eye-opening solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith tackles the hidden drivers behind imposter syndrome, analysis paralysis, and self-doubt—and how they stem from deep-rooted childhood programming. She explains how the survival brain keeps us small in the name of safety, and why even the most capable women can feel pa...

What happens when high achievement collides with unresolved trauma? In this powerful episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith sits down with Caitlin LoCascio King—a business attorney turned social media strategist—to unpack a deeply personal and transformative journey. From her unexpected pivot out of Navy ROTC to building a successful career in branding and marketing, Caitlin shares her raw, r...

Is your drive for perfection keeping you in survival mode? In this solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith breaks down the powerful and often painful link between perfectionism, anxiety, and childhood messaging—especially for high-achieving women. Drawing from trauma-informed insights, Elyssa explains how the need to “perform perfectly” for love, validation, or safety in early life can ev...

Can perfectionism, shame, and stress actually make you sick? In this deeply insightful episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith is joined by Inna Topiler, clinical nutritionist and expert in autoimmune wellness, to explore the powerful—and often overlooked—link between self-sabotage and physical health. From her personal experience living with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism to her professional...

Why do so many women feel responsible for everyone else’s comfort—often at the cost of their own? In this revealing solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith digs deep into the roots of people pleasing and how it’s tied to sexist societal programming that starts in childhood. From the pressure to "be nice" to the hidden toll it takes on women’s mental health, Elyssa unpacks why so many wome...

What does it take to leave the familiar behind and step fully into alignment? In this inspiring episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Christiana Garza, visionary entrepreneur and co-founder of Her Society Solutions. From humble beginnings as a virtual assistant in 2014 to creating a platform that supports female founders in building systems and scaling with soul, Christiana's story...

Think you’re just lazy or unmotivated when you procrastinate? Think again. In this episode, Elyssa breaks down one of the most misunderstood habits—procrastination—and reframes it in a way that’s compassionate, empowering, and deeply insightful. What if that moment you “put something off” isn’t about laziness at all, but a survival response rooted in your nervous system? You’ll learn how to differ...

What happens when your identity is tied to your performance—and life forces you to stop performing? In this powerful episode, Elyssa sits down with Rebecca Lomax, a wealth relationship manager, speaker, and former dance artist whose journey from the stage to the financial world will move and inspire you. After a concussion forced her to rethink everything she knew about herself, Rebecca had to reb...

You wouldn’t talk to your best friend the way you talk to yourself—so why is your inner voice so cruel? In this episode, Elyssa shines a compassionate light on one of the most common struggles for high-achieving women: negative self-talk. She unpacks how perfectionism, shame, and self-doubt drive the relentless inner critic and how this can manifest as anxiety, depression, or even paralysis when p...

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but it can come with support. In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Elyssa is joined by play and parenting coach Jill Lerman to talk about emotional regulation, conscious parenting, and how to create a joyful, connected family life. They explore the power of play not just for kids—but for adults, too—and why modeling emotional intelligence is one of the mos...

Are you operating in your zone of genius—or just stuck in survival mode? In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa explores the concept of the "zone of genius," as defined by Gay Hendricks, and why aligning your work and life with your unique talents and passions is the key to success, fulfillment, and emotional well-being. She also dives into self-sabotage, survival mode, and the nervous syst...

Are you constantly pushing yourself but still feeling drained? In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa and Melissa dive into the unique challenges high achievers—especially women—face in managing time, energy, and mental health. They discuss the overwhelming nature of endless to-do lists, the dangers of all-or-nothing thinking, and the reality of burnout in entrepreneurship. Melissa shares h...

Are you constantly busy but never feel like you're getting ahead? In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa dives into the overwhelming busyness that so many women experience and shares practical strategies to help you reclaim your time and streamline your life. She unpacks the societal pressures that keep women stuck in survival mode, the impact of technology and emotional triggers, and the c...

What if fear wasn’t something to fight, but something to befriend? In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Priya Patel, a coach and podcast host, to discuss the journey of self-trust, overcoming fear, and stepping into confidence. Priya opens up about her struggles with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the fear of being 'othered', sharing how she has learned to navigate thes...

Ever felt like you don’t truly deserve your success? That one day, someone will find out you’re not as capable as they think? You’re not alone—this is imposter syndrome, and it holds far too many people back from stepping into their full potential. In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa takes a deep dive into the origins, impact, and hidden effects of imposter syndrome. She uncovers how chi...

Have you ever felt stuck in your career, burnt out, or unsure of your next step? In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Katrina McGhee, career break coach and author, to explore how taking time away from work can lead to clarity, transformation, and renewed purpose. Katrina shares her personal journey of leaving her corporate job for a 20-month career break, how it reshaped h...

🎙️ Episode Summary: Perfectionism might feel like your superpower, but what if it's actually keeping you stuck? In this episode, Elyssa breaks down the origins of perfectionism, how it shapes your self-worth, and why it's tied to burnout, procrastination, and negative self-talk. She shares eye-opening insights on how to shift from perfectionism to a growth mindset, so you can step into your full p...

In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Paige Gott, an accountant and virtual CFO, to discuss her inspiring journey from traditional employment to entrepreneurship. Paige shares how she built a thriving business while balancing motherhood and personal growth, tackling challenges like imposter syndrome, pricing struggles, and setting boundaries. Through creative financial solut...