The Myth of the Balanced Life (What to do Instead)

Get 40% off at Little Things Studio - SHOP NOW    I’m about to say something that might make you want to tune out: you don’t need balance. You don’t. What you need is clarity and courage. You need to stop measuring your life against some invisible checklist that was never yours to begin with. Balance is a myth, and it’s keeping too many of us stuck, exhausted, and chasing something that doesn’t exist. I know the dream of balance sounds good, but here’s the truth: you don’t have a balance problem—you have an expectation problem. Today, we’re going to break that myth wide open and build something better. Something that actually leads to peace, purpose, and sanity. Here’s what nobody tells you about balance: it’s often a trauma response disguised as productivity. It’s our attempt to control everything so we don’t feel like we’re failing at anything. But friend, you weren’t created to juggle it all. You were designed to live with intention. To honor the seasons. To walk in the beautiful rhythm of a life led by purpose, not pressure.   Timestamps: (00:29) - Balance Is a Myth: The Lie That’s Keeping Women Stuck and Exhausted (03:29) - Why “Balance” Is Broken (and What It’s Really Costing You) (06:39) - God Calls You To Be Faithfully Aligned with His Purposes (06:55) - How Life-Giving Rhythms Bring More Peace Than Balance Ever Could (08:32) - Practical Steps to Build Rhythms That Restore Your Sanity and Strengthen Your Faith   WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE   Links to great things we discussed:    Catalyst Mastermind Alli’s Product Recommendation - Acid League Toasted Thai Coconut Living Vinaigrette Start your Free 30-day trial of Uplift! I hope you loved this episode! 🎉 Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a thing. And guess what? We're on YouTube! If you're loving the content, show us some love by leaving a review and giving us some stars—it means the world to me! Take care, and stay fabulous!    xo, Alli

Get 40% off at Little Things Studio - SHOP NOW    We’re continuing our Health and Wellness Series today with my dear friend, Jordan Lee Dooley. Jordan is a bestselling author, podcast host, and a steady voice of truth for women who feel caught between hustle culture and holy living.   She has such a gift for helping us untangle the confusion around health and faith, so we can stop striving, stop chasing perfection, and start living with peace. In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to be good to your body, not through the latest trends, rigid rules, or guilt-driven routines, but through stewardship, simplicity, and grace.   Jordan gets real about how even good things—like caring for our health—can quietly slip into idol territory if we’re not careful. You’ll discover how to find freedom, joy, and a sense of purpose in caring for your body the way God intended: with wisdom, not obsession.   This conversation is going to encourage you, challenge you, and remind you that true wellness isn’t about striving harder—it’s about living lighter, with faith firmly at the center. Timestamps: (04:00) - Why Getting to the Root Cause of Your Health Struggles Is a Process (11:50) - The Habits Jordan Once Thought Were “Healthy” and Why She Let Them Go (14:54) - The Truth About Being Good to Your Body: Stewardship Over Perfection (19:29) - The Simple First Step You Can Take Today to Start Honoring Your Body Well (23:28) - The Obstacles That Keep Women from True Health and Freedom WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE Links to great things we discussed:    Catalyst Mastermind Jordan’s Book - Be Good to Your Body Jordan’s Song Recommendation - Isn’t He Good Jordan’s Product Recommendations - Crunchi Highlighter & Pumpkin Spice Bone Broth Protein The Uplift app is here! Try it free for 30 days. Get 40% off at Little Things Studio - SHOP NOW  I am proud to co-own Little Things Studio, a wonderful woman-owned small business in Nashville, TN. We create each piece with great care and can't wait for you to experience the love that goes into every item. Whether you visit our store or shop online, you'll find that all our products are crafted with love right here in the USA.   I hope you loved this episode! 🎉 Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you’re always in the loop. And hey, while you're at it, why not pop over to our YouTube channel and check us out? If you're feeling the love, leave a review and sprinkle some stars—your support truly means the world to me! Take care, and keep shining bright!    xo, Alli

Get 40% off at Little Things Studio - SHOP NOW  What if I told you burnout isn’t about your calendar? It’s not. That bone-deep weariness—the kind that sleep doesn’t touch—doesn’t come from doing too much. It comes from doing too little of what actually matters. The problem isn’t your schedule; it’s your soul running on fumes. We’ve been told the story that burnout is all about overcommitting, overachieving, and overdoing. And sure, sometimes that’s part of it. But for most of us—the givers, the helpers, the women holding everything together—burnout isn’t about piling on more. It’s about what we’ve cut out. We’ve quietly deleted the very things that restore us. You can perfect your morning routine, turn off every notification, and still feel empty. Because burnout isn’t about how busy your days are—it’s about how fulfilled your heart is. And here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck in depletion. Today, we’re going to talk about how to reclaim what fuels you, reset your rhythm, and start living from a place of fullness instead of running on empty.   Timestamps: (00:39) - The Surprising Truth: Your Burnout Has Nothing to Do with Your Calendar (03:27) - Why Doing Less of What You Love Might Be Draining You (05:13) - The 3 Hidden Sources of Burnout You Don’t See Coming (07:58) - Soul Neglect & Overcarrying Leads to Emotional Exhaustion (12:06) - 3 Practical Steps to Move from Burnout to Real Alignment   WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE   Links to great things we discussed:    Catalyst Mastermind Alli’s Product Recommendation - Apple AirTags Start your Free 30-day trial of Uplift! Get 40% off at Little Things Studio - SHOP NOW  I am proud to co-own Little Things Studio, a wonderful woman-owned small business in Nashville, TN. We create each piece with great care and can't wait for you to experience the love that goes into every item. Whether you visit our store or shop online, you'll find that all our products are crafted with love right here in the USA.   I hope you loved this episode! 🎉Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a thing. And guess what? We're on YouTube! If you're loving the content, show us some love by leaving a review and giving us some stars—it means the world to me! Take care, and stay fabulous!    xo,   Alli

Get 40% off at Little Things Studio - SHOP NOW!   We’re back with another episode in our Health & Wellness Series, and today we’re diving deep into emotional health with one of my favorite people on the planet, Niro Feliciano. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know Niro is a powerhouse of wisdom. She’s a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and the kind of friend who always knows exactly what to say when life feels overwhelming.   Her new book, All Is Calm(ish), couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s the guide every woman needs before the holiday whirlwind begins. Because let’s be honest—this season that’s supposed to be full of joy? It often leaves us frazzled, overcommitted, and wondering how we got so far from peace.   In this episode, Niro and I get real about the emotional toll of the holidays. We talk about the invisible pressures we put on ourselves, the myth of perfection, and how to rewrite the script before December even starts. You’ll hear us laugh, share stories, and dig into the science behind stress—and how faith can be the anchor that steadies us.   You’ll leave this conversation with practical, grace-filled strategies to help you show up with more calm than chaos, more presence than pressure, and a peace that doesn’t disappear when the wrapping paper does.   Timestamps: (01:21)- The Reason the Holidays Feel So Hard (04:39) - How to Set Boundaries That Protect Your Peace This Holiday Season (14:46) - The Super-Toxic Expectations We Quietly Pile on Ourselves (22:34) - Clear Signs You Need to Set Boundaries Before Burnout Hits (26:28) - Navigating Grief During the Holidays    WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE   Links to great things we discussed:    Niro’s Book - All Is Calmish: How to Feel Less Frantic and More Festive During the Holidays Niro’s Song Recommendation - Been So Good Niro’s TV Recommendation - Ted Lasso Niro’s Book Recommendation - The Tell Niro’s Product Recommendation - Curls Rock Get 40% off at Little Things Studio  I am proud to co-own Little Things Studio, a wonderful woman-owned small business in Nashville, TN. We create each piece with great care and can't wait for you to experience the love that goes into every item. Whether you visit our store or shop online, you'll find that all our products are crafted with love right here in the USA.   I hope you loved this episode! 🎉 Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you’re always in the loop. And hey, while you're at it, why not pop over to our YouTube channel and check us out? If you're feeling the love, leave a review and sprinkle some stars. Your support truly means the world to me! Take care, and keep shining bright!    xo, Alli

Join the Catalyst Mastermind !    You know what to do, so why aren’t you doing it? You’ve got the plan, the Pinterest board, and the color-coded calendar to prove it. Maybe it’s the business idea that’s been “almost ready” for six months, the book still inside you, the course you’ll launch someday, or the hard conversation you keep postponing.   I’m not judging. You’re in good company. Every ambitious woman I know has had that 2 a.m. moment of frustration: I know exactly what to do, so why can’t I make myself do it? We tell ourselves it’s a motivation problem, but what if it’s actually something deeper?   Here’s the truth: it’s not about willpower, laziness, or even time. It’s about identity. The gap between who you believe you are and who you’re becoming is where resistance lives. That’s why it feels so hard—you’re stepping into a new version of yourself, and your old identity is fighting to stay in charge.   But here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck. You can close that gap. You can start showing up as the woman who already does the thing, even before it feels natural. That’s how transformation works—it’s not about waiting until you feel ready, it’s about acting like the future you right now.   So today, let’s stop rehearsing the plan and start living it. Let’s stop waiting for perfect timing and start trusting that God has already equipped you for this moment. You don’t need more motivation—you need to believe you are the kind of woman who follows through. And once you believe it, you’ll finally do the thing you were made to do.   Timestamps: (00:47) - The Real Reason You’re Not Doing What You Already Know to Do (03:46) - What the “Identity Gap” Really Is (and Why It Changes Everything) (05:16) - The Most Common Identity Gaps Keeping Ambitious Women Stuck (07:43) - Three Powerful Identity Shifts That Can Change Everything (09:56) - Three Simple Actions to Close the Gap and Move Forward This Week WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE     Links to great things we discussed:  Alli’s Product Recommendation - These Are the Good Old Days Banner Start your Free 30-day trial of Uplift! I hope you loved this episode! 🎉Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a thing. And guess what? We're on YouTube! If you're loving the content, show us some love by leaving a review and giving us some stars—it means the world to me! Take care, and stay fabulous!    xo,   Alli

Join the Catalyst Mastermind!    We’re in our Health & Wellness Series, and today we’re diving into a topic that’s way more important than most of us realize. If you’ve been feeling tired, bloated, anxious, or just off—even when you’re “doing all the right things”—this episode is for you.   We’ve already chatted with Dr. Nicole Cain about how gut health affects way more than digestion (hello, anxiety and mood swings). But today, we’re going deeper with holistic health coach Hannah Aylward. She’s on a mission to help women heal their digestion, balance their bodies, and finally feel like themselves again.   Hannah’s breaking down what’s really going on when your gut is out of whack—and how it’s messing with your energy, hormones, and emotional health. We’re talking about the foods that help, the ones to avoid, the truth about probiotics, and simple steps you can take today to get your gut working for you, not against you.   This episode could totally shift how you think about your health. Because when your body starts working in harmony? You don’t just survive—you thrive.   Timestamps: (05:48) - The Biggest Myth Women Still Believe About Gut Health (and What’s Actually True) (08:04) - Why You Still Feel Bad Even When You’re Eating Healthy (23:22) - The Ways Gut Inflammation Impacts Your Mood, Hormones, and Health (23:32) - Affects of Inflammation in the Gut (27:19) - The One Health Practice Hannah Never Skips—and Why You Shouldn’t Either   WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE   Links to great things we discussed:  Hannah’s TV Recommendation - Bachelor in Paradise Hannah’s Book Recommendation - Mind Your Body Hannah’s Skincare Recommendation - Naturium Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Gel The Uplift app is here! Try it free for 30 days. I hope you loved this episode! 🎉 Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you’re always in the loop. And hey, while you're at it, why not pop over to our YouTube channel and check us out? If you're feeling the love, leave a review and sprinkle some stars—your support truly means the world to me! Take care, and keep shining bright!    xo,   Alli

Join the Catalyst Mastermind !    If you’ve ever been told you’re too much—too sensitive, too intense, too ambitious—this message is for you. Maybe you’ve left a room feeling like you should’ve shrunk yourself to fit in and played it safe.    Smiled and nodded instead of speaking up. And somewhere along the way, you started to wonder if the problem was you. But hear me loud and clear: You are not the problem. You’re not too much. You’re just in the wrong rooms.   Let’s talk about the right ones—the rooms where your energy isn’t drained, it’s doubled, where your “unrealistic” dreams spark something in others. Where your passion is seen as purpose, and your depth doesn’t make people uncomfortable—it makes them come alive. Because the right people? They don’t ask you to tone it down. They look at you and say, “More of that, please.”   So if you’ve ever second-guessed your voice, your ideas, or the way God wired you, lean in. This conversation might be the permission slip you’ve been waiting for. Because the right room doesn’t just accept your fullness—it celebrates it. And, it’s time you walked boldly into that space.   Listen in to learn more:   (02:42) - The Real Reason You Feel Like Too Much (06:03) - The Three Kinds of Wrong Rooms That Drain Your Confidence and Dim Your Light (07:28) - You Were Designed With Purpose (08:44) - What the Right Rooms Look Like (10:52) - Your Blueprint for Finding and Creating the Right Rooms   WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE   Links to great things we discussed:    Alli’s TV Recommendation - Only Murders in the Building I hope you loved this episode! 🎉Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a thing. And guess what? We're on YouTube! If you're loving the content, show us some love by leaving a review and giving us some stars—it means the world to me! Take care, and stay fabulous!    xo,   Alli

Join the Catalyst Mastermind today!    Some truths are just too good to hear only once. That’s why I’m bringing back the most powerful moments from my favorite solo episodes—because real transformation doesn’t happen in a single “aha” moment. It’s built through repetition, reflection, and showing up again and again. We don’t just need inspiration—we need truth on repeat until it moves from head knowledge to heart habit. These aren’t just feel-good soundbites. They’re practical, proven strategies rooted in science and soul to help you manage stress, reclaim your joy, and step boldly into who God created you to be. Because when your mind, body, and spirit are finally aligned? You don’t just get by—you lead with clarity, create with confidence, and live with purpose. So take what speaks to you, leave the rest, and come back anytime you need a reset. You’re not behind. You’re becoming.   Timestamps: (01:10) - Simple Action Steps to Build a Life You Actually Love (09:03) - Why a Physical Reset (and a Change of Scenery) Might Be Exactly What You Need (11:26) - How to Manage Stress Before It Manages You (15:47)- The 10-Minute Happiness Hack That Can Literally Rewire Your Brain (21:48) - Game-Changing Steps to Start Partnering With Your Body This Week   WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE   Links to great things we discussed:    Catalyst Mastermind I hope you loved this episode! 🎉 Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you’re always in the loop. And hey, while you're at it, why not pop over to our YouTube channel and check us out? If you're feeling the love, leave a review and sprinkle some stars—your support truly means the world to me! Take care, and keep shining bright!    xo, Alli  

Join the Catalyst Mastermind - Sign up today! Is this you? You’re the go-to girl, the one who holds it all together. But at 2 a.m., you’re wide-eyed, Googling “how to feel like myself again.” Your Instagram feed is curated, but yesterday you cried in the Target parking lot. (No judgment—I’ve been there. More than once.)   Here’s the deal: you’re not broken. You’re just living a life that was never meant to run on hustle and hustle alone. Most women aren’t overwhelmed because they’re doing it wrong—they’re overwhelmed because no one ever told them they could stop and ask, What do I actually need?   Between soccer practice and science projects, we’ve mastered productivity. But peace? That feels like a luxury. If your life looks full but feels bone-dry, that’s not failure—it’s a flashing neon sign saying, Something’s gotta change. So today, we’re not tweaking your to-do list. We’re reimagining it.   Timestamps:   (00:52) - The Hidden System You Built Without Realizing It (04:30) - Why “Low Maintenance” Is Secretly Holding You Back (05:02) - What Strategic Living Really Looks Like (and Why It Matters) (05:31) - The Cost of Living When Your Time Isn’t Your Own (09:08) - 3 Powerful Actions You Can Take Today to Reclaim Your Life WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE Links to great things we discussed:    Catalyst Mastermind Alli’s Skincare Recommendation - Aestura ATOBARRIER365   I hope you loved this episode! 🎉 Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you’re always in the loop. And hey, while you're at it, why not pop over to our YouTube channel and check us out? If you're feeling the love, leave a review and sprinkle some stars—your support truly means the world to me! Take care, and keep shining bright!    xo,   Alli

The Uplift app is here! Try it free for 30 days   We’re diving back into our Health & Wellness Series today, and I’ve got a treat for you—Dr. Allison Cook is back! She’s one of your all-time favorite guests (and mine too), and every time she joins me, it’s like a masterclass in emotional health with a side of grace. Allison is a brilliant therapist who helps women understand their emotions without shame—no guilt trips, no fluff, just real, practical wisdom. She has an incredible way of making life's messy parts feel manageable and even hopeful. In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that's always relevant: how to handle emotions in a way that’s actually helpful. It's not just about managing them; it's about learning to make them work for you, not against you. This conversation is one you won't want to miss and will likely find yourself revisiting because it’s that good.   Timestamps: (04:33) - Untangling the Messy Mix of Emotions We All Carry (05:17) - Why Quick-Fix Emotional Solutions Can Be So Dangerous (11:38) - How to Name, Frame, and Brave Your Way Through Hard Emotions (13:28) - The Life-Changing Gift of Conscious Awareness (17:16) - Spotting and Stopping Self-Gaslighting in Your Daily Life WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE   Links to great things we discussed:    Alison’s Song Recommendation - Fortnight Alison’s TV Recommendation - Couples Therapy Alison’s Movie Recommendation - Inside Out 2 Alison’s Book Recommendation - Wayfaring Alison’s Product Recommendations - LMNT Drink Mix, L'Oreal Paris Root Cover Up, Brooklinen Down Comforter I hope you loved this episode! 🎉 Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you’re always in the loop. And hey, while you're at it, why not pop over to our YouTube channel and check us out? If you're feeling the love, leave a review and sprinkle some stars—your support truly means the world to me! Take care, and keep shining bright!    xo,   Alli