What if Staying Safe is Keeping You Stuck? Overcoming Self-Doubt with Carlene Marie

What if the version of you that once kept you safe is now keeping you stuck? Lisa Lacy sits down with Carlene Marie, Master Mindpower Coach and author of Enough Already, to explore how self-doubt, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and overachievement become survival identities, even for people who appear confident and successful.From childhood beliefs about not being enough to major life transitions that challenge our identity, this thought-provoking conversation explores self-worth, burnout, emotional resilience, and rebuilding self-trust. Carlene shares practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries, recognizing unconscious patterns, rediscovering personal purpose, and learning to live authentically without constantly proving our worth.In This Episode:How childhood conditioning and unconscious beliefs create lifelong patterns of self-doubt and people-pleasing.Why perfectionism, overachievement, and constantly proving your worth can lead to burnout and self-abandonment.Rediscovering identity, purpose, and personal values through life’s major transitions.Building self-trust through small daily wins, self-awareness, transformational coaching, and asking for help.Setting healthy boundaries, communicating your needs without apology, and breaking free from survival identities.Connect with Carlene Marie:https://carlenemarie.comConnect with Lisa | INSIDE THE EDGE:https://lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive?Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the very intelligence that helped you succeed is now keeping you stuck? Lisa Lacy sits down with Brent Lupia, Performance and Clarity Coach and creator of Externalized Sensemaking™, to explore why intelligent, high-performing people struggle with overthinking, decision paralysis, and mental clarity. Drawing from 18 years in high-stakes security and intelligence operations, Brent shares what happens when a brain trained for urgency and immediate feedback encounters uncertainty, and why thinking harder isn’t always the answer.From recognizing hidden patterns and challenging assumptions to accountability, neurodivergence, and breaking cycles of self-sacrifice, this conversation goes far beyond productivity. Brent opens up about the role he performed to survive childhood, the cost of constantly stabilizing everyone around him, and how learning to understand his own mind helped him rediscover himself. Together, we explore how curiosity, self-awareness, and personal responsibility can help us move forward without losing ourselves in the process.In this episode, we explore:Overthinking and Decision Paralysis: Why intelligent people get trapped in mental loops and how a brain accustomed to high-pressure decisions struggles with uncertainty.Externalized Sensemaking™: How putting thoughts on paper makes hidden patterns, conflicting beliefs, and assumptions visible so we can approach problems differently.Clarity, Accountability, and Personal Growth: Why understanding a problem isn’t the same as changing a behavior, and how repetition, responsibility, and self-compassion support meaningful change.Neurodivergence, Masking, and Self-Discovery: Brent’s experience of recognizing his neurodivergence later in life, becoming the person who kept everyone else stable, and learning what it means to prioritize himself.Breaking Patterns Through Curiosity and Connection: Why asking better questions, challenging our perceptions, and recognizing our shared humanity can transform relationships and the way we navigate life.Connect with Brent | Brent Lupia Coachinghttps://brentlupia.comConnect with Lisa | INSIDE THE EDGEhttps://lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive? Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted, only to discover it isn’t the life you were meant to live? Lisa Lacy sits down with Steve Farrell, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, bestselling author, and co-founder of Humanity’s Team, to explore the journey from extraordinary financial success to spiritual awakening, conscious living, and discovering what truly makes life meaningful.From releasing fear and quieting the constant noise of achievement to recognizing our interconnectedness, Steve shares the personal experiences that transformed his understanding of success. Through a powerful live exercise, reflections on his book The Inner Way, and a heartbreaking story about his sister, this conversation explores what happens when we stop performing for the life we were handed and begin living the one that feels authentically ours.In this episode, we explore:Success Without Fulfillment: Why Steve’s multimillion-dollar Silicon Valley success felt like a temporary sugar high and led him toward a different definition of purpose.Conscious Living and Connection: A guided breathing and awareness exercise exploring how the beliefs “I am alone” and “I belong to something larger” can feel different in the body.Moving Beyond Fear: Why creating stillness, listening to your inner voice, and questioning the path others chose for you can open new possibilities.The Ripple Effect of Authenticity: How presence, compassion, conscious leadership, and everyday interactions can influence our relationships and communities.The Roles We Perform to Survive: Steve’s emotional story about losing his sister, the wake-up call that changed his priorities, and his invitation to live as your authentic self.Connect with Steve | Steve Farrellhttps://stevefarrell.orgConnect with Lisa | INSIDE THE EDGEhttps://lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive? Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if being seen isn’t the same as being known? In a world obsessed with personal branding, social media visibility, artificial intelligence, and polished public images, authenticity may be our greatest competitive advantage. Lisa Lacy sits down with Drew Gerber, CEO and co-founder of Wasabi Publicity, to explore why meaningful visibility begins with knowing who you are, not performing who you think the world wants you to be.From finding your purpose and building authentic relationships to breaking cycles of shame, control, and never feeling good enough, this conversation goes far beyond traditional public relations. Drew shares how self-awareness, accountability, mentorship, and human connection can transform the way we approach business, personal branding, and our relationships with ourselves.In this episode, we explore:Being Seen vs. Being Known: Why authentic personal branding and meaningful visibility begin with self-awareness.Purpose-Driven Public Relations: How understanding your why creates more aligned marketing strategies, stronger trust, and meaningful impact.AI and Human Connection: Why artificial intelligence, social media, and digital perfection are challenging us to rediscover what makes us human.Breaking the Shame and Control Cycles: How releasing perfectionism, embracing accountability, and trusting yourself create room for authenticity.Mentorship, Self-Worth, and Enoughness: Why the right support matters and how asking “What is enough?” can redefine success, happiness, and fulfillment.Connect with Drew | Wasabi Publicityhttps://wasabipublicity.comConnect with Lisa | INSIDE THE EDGEhttps://lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive? Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you voluntarily seek help for addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges, only to be told your anger is beyond a rehabilitation center’s ability to handle? In this brutally honest and sometimes hilarious solo episode of Notes From the Edge, Lisa Lacy shares the story of getting kicked out of outpatient rehab at 40 years old after taking a therapeutic exercise called “The Bullshit Game” a little too seriously.Through personal storytelling, humor, and hard-earned perspective, Lisa explores the importance of trauma-informed care, emotional safety, accountability, and finding recovery resources that meet your individual needs. From outdated rehabilitation practices to the complicated relationship between anger and unresolved trauma, this conversation challenges the idea that recovery should look the same for everyone.In this episode, we explore:The infamous “Bullshit Game” and how a novelty button got Lisa kicked out of rehab.Why traditional addiction treatment and mental health programs don’t work for everyone.Understanding anger as a possible response to trauma, betrayal, and years of survival.The difference between genuine accountability, public humiliation, and trauma-informed recovery.How to find mental health resources, addiction treatment, and recovery support that fit your individual needs.Connect with Lisa | INSIDE THE EDGEhttps://lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive?Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You can look successful, productive, and completely put together while quietly falling apart behind the scenes. In this Saturday Edge Note of Notes From the Edge, Lisa Lacy sits down with Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez, emotional intelligence expert and author of Living with the HEART in Mind, to explore why high achievers often miss the warning signs of burnout until they’ve lost their joy, motivation, and connection to themselves.Together, they examine why pushing harder isn’t always the answer, how emotional intelligence helps us understand what our emotions are trying to tell us, and why boundaries, curiosity, and purpose matter more than temporary self-care fixes. This is a conversation about letting go of the performance of being fine, learning to include yourself in the circle of care, and finding your way beyond survival mode.In This Episode:Why burnout builds quietly and how losing joy can be an early warning sign.How high achievers become disconnected from their emotions while meeting everyone else’s needs.Why emotional intelligence is a learnable skill that transforms relationships, leadership, and well-being.How to establish emotional boundaries without guilt, including the power of saying “maybe later.”Why slowing down, naming your emotions, and embracing curiosity can help you rediscover purpose.Connect with Dr. Lorea Martínez PérezWebsite: https://loreamartinez.comExplore her book, Living with the HEART in Mind: A Practical Guide to Healing from Burnout and Cultivating Purpose: https://loreamartinez.com/living-heart-in-mind/Connect with Lisa LacyWebsite: https://www.lisalacy.comJoin INSIDE THE EDGEGo beyond the public podcast with exclusive weekly episodes, private monthly conversations, and a community built around meaningful human connection.https://www.lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive?Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the very thing you spent your life trying to hide was actually one of your greatest strengths?Coach Willie Blake, entrepreneur, speaker, podcast host, and high-performance coach, joins Lisa Lacy for an honest conversation about growing up with dyslexia, feeling broken in a world designed for different minds, and discovering that self-acceptance can change everything.From struggling with self-worth to embracing neurodivergence and building confidence through small, intentional actions, Willie shares the lessons that helped him stop merely surviving and start leading with his differences.In this episode:The emotional impact of dyslexia on childhood, relationships, identity, and self-worthReframing neurodivergence from a perceived limitation into a source of creativity, empathy, and strengthOvercoming self-doubt, people-pleasing, and the pressure to fit someone else’s definition of normalWillie’s 2% Rule and GPS Goal Method for creating momentum through manageable, consistent actionLetting go of the need to be everyone’s hero, accepting our imperfections, and learning that even the strongest people need supportConnect with Coach Willie Blake:https://coachwillieblake.com/Connect with Lisa Lacy Inside the Edge:https://www.lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive?Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you begin grieving someone you love long before they’re gone?In this deeply personal episode of Notes From the Edge, host Lisa Lacy sits down with Suzanne Sherman, author, memoir editor, and writing coach, to explore childhood trauma, schizophrenia, suicide loss, complicated grief, and the healing power of storytelling.Suzanne was just four years old when her mother developed schizophrenia. At eighteen, she lost her mother to suicide. Decades later, she found the courage to tell their story in her memoir, Living in the Long Shadow: Surviving a Legacy of Mental Illness.But this conversation reveals something profound: sometimes we grieve not only the person we’ve lost, but the life mental illness prevented them from living.Through memories of her mother, decades of unanswered questions, and the decision to finally write her story, Suzanne explores how love, grief, and healing can coexist.In This Episode:Growing Up with a Parent with Schizophrenia: How Suzanne’s childhood changed when her mother’s mental illness emerged, and what happens when children are left to make sense of experiences nobody explains.Suicide Loss & Complicated Grief: The emotional complexity of losing her mother at eighteen, including the grief Suzanne experienced long before her mother’s death.Mental Illness, Family Silence & Childhood Survival: How unspoken struggles, family dynamics, and the need to remain observant can shape a child’s understanding of safety and belonging.Memoir Writing & Healing Through Storytelling: Why Suzanne waited decades to write Living in the Long Shadow, how she found the courage to revisit painful memories, and what writing taught her about her own life.Love Beyond Loss & Finding Meaning: An extraordinary personal experience that changed Suzanne’s understanding of her connection with her mother, the importance of honest communication, and the simple words that helped her persevere: “I can do this.”From the lasting effects of parental mental illness to the courage it takes to tell a deeply personal story, this conversation reminds us that grief doesn’t always begin with death, healing doesn’t require forgetting, and some of the most important conversations are the ones families never learned how to have.Connect with Suzanne ShermanExplore Suzanne’s memoir, writing workshops, coaching services, and weekly memoir classes.Website: https://suzannesherman.comConnect with Lisa | INSIDE THE EDGEJoin INSIDE THE EDGE, a membership community for deeper human conversations, personal exploration, and meaningful connection beyond the podcast.https://www.lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive?Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if artificial intelligence could give us more time to be human?In this episode of Notes From the Edge, host Lisa Lacy sits down with Jon Rossiter, entrepreneur and co-founder of Zoloto, to explore AI employees, business automation, leadership, and the future of work.But the conversation goes beyond technology. Jon opens up about people-pleasing, authenticity, accountability, and why meaningful human connection matters more than ever in an increasingly automated world.What happens when technology gives us back our time, but we still have to decide who we want to be?In This Episode:AI Employees & the Future of Work: How specialized artificial intelligence workers are transforming business operations, automation, and the way entrepreneurs manage their companies.Entrepreneurship, Productivity & Work-Life Balance: Why eliminating repetitive tasks could help business owners reduce stress, reclaim valuable time, and focus on what matters most.Leadership, Accountability & Human Trust: Why taking responsibility, acknowledging mistakes, and building authentic relationships remain essential in an increasingly automated world.People-Pleasing, Identity & Authenticity: Jon’s personal experience of letting go of the need for approval and learning to show up without wearing a mask.Human Connection & the Loneliness Epidemic: Why technology cannot replace emotional honesty, meaningful relationships, asking for help, and supporting one another.From AI-powered business transformation to the deeply human need for connection and belonging, this conversation challenges us to consider whether the future of work should be measured only by productivity or by the quality of the lives we’re creating.Connect with Jon RossiterCo-Founder, ZolotoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrossiterofficial/Connect with Lisa | INSIDE THE EDGEhttps://www.lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive?Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if your biggest financial obstacle isn’t your money, but the unconscious patterns controlling your decisions?Financial advisor, former monk, and bestselling author Doug Lynam returns to Notes From the Edge for a live Enneagram case study with Lisa Lacy, exploring how personality, trauma, fear, and identity shape our relationship with money.In this episode:Why financial stress activates survival instincts and unconscious emotional patterns.How the nine Enneagram personality types influence spending, saving, control, and financial decisions.A live examination of Lisa’s Type 8 personality, including power, boundaries, anger, and the fear of being controlled.How Type 8 and Type 5 personality patterns affect relationships, communication, and financial behavior.How self-awareness, compassion, and intentional choices can transform destructive money patterns into healthier financial habits.Missed Part 1?The Wealth We Can’t Spend: From Marine to Monk to Money Manager with Douglas Lynam.Find it on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-the-edge/id1896943121Connect with Doug Lynam:https://www.douglynam.comConnect with Lisa Lacy | INSIDE THE EDGE Membership:https://www.lisalacy.com/inside-the-edgeWhat did you perform in order to survive?Welcome to the Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.