Cowgirls Over Coffee

This week, Thea and Meg sit down for a raw, winding conversation about what it means to enter a new year not with optimization in mind, but with intentionality, margin, and the audacity to savor the actual living.As Cowgirls Over Coffee returns for 2026, Thea Larsen reflects on five years of marination on building, learning, and finally understanding what it means to operate from a place of depth rather than velocity. Joined by her best friend and frequent collaborator Meg, this conversation doesn't traffic in resolutions or productivity hacks. Instead, it examines the quiet revolution that happens when you stop managing your life like a crisis and start treating yourself like a resource worth protecting.What emerges is a candid meditation on the privilege and paradox of getting older: the stability that allows you to close doors, the self-awareness that clarifies what actually matters, and the hard-won wisdom that your twenties are, in fact, overrated. Thea and Meg discuss the shift from operating at the edge of capacity (always redlining it, always seeing how fast you can go) to choosing to drive at 75 instead of 95. Because you've finally figured out that sustainable speed gets you further.Listen In For…Why the arbitrary nature of the New Year doesn't make it meaningless, and how collective energy shifts the game.The brutal honesty of a come back and what it means to rebuild baseline capacity.The evolution from psychological safety concerns to higher-order needs as you stabilize your life.What it means to manage yourself as a resource instead of constantly operating at just above empty.The difference between slower, softer, and deeper.Why efficiency optimization can become its own trap, and what happens when you shift from external factors to internal anchors.The power of iteration in conversation, and why the membership side of Cowgirls Over Coffee has changed everything.What "savoring" looks like when applied to fitness, prayer practice, and life in general.The case for operating with a half-full tank instead of running on fumes in the name of productivity.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)00:00 Why this year feels different.05:00 Meg's massage therapist drops wisdom about your twenties being overrated.09:30 Stability, self-awareness, and the gift of caring less.13:45 Fitness, injury recovery, and the cost of falling off baseline.18:20 The shift from optimization to savoring.20:20 Managing energy and priorities from an anchored place.21:00 The gas tank metaphor: operating at half full vs. running on empty.22:00 What it means to go...

There's the version of yourself you've been told to be and then there's the one who shows up when the recording keeps going because the conversation is too good to stop. This week, Thea, Audrey, and Lana couldn't stop yapping, and what unfolds is a raw examination of the work that doesn't show up in your business plans: discernment, friendship dynamics, and the discipline of knowing which race you're actually running.This conversation is what happened when we realized we weren't done processing, and hit record again. Audrey shares her journey of being labeled "too much" and why she's finally done apologizing for taking up space. Lana dissects the difference between friends who project their bench onto your Olympic aspirations. And Thea reminds us that agility (not rigid planning!) is the only framework that serves the most demanding lives.What emerges a conversation about frameworks: how to schedule your life first, how to recognize when advice is actually projection, and why the most important work you'll do in 2026 will very likely be the discernment no one sees.LISTEN IN FOR...The "too much" narrative women inherit and why reclaiming it is an act of sovereignty.Audrey's "green broke" revelation: what happens when structure collapses and you have to rebuild from authenticity instead of achievement.The Olympic team metaphor: understanding friendship dynamics when some people want to jog around the track and others are training for gold.Why verbal processing is simply how some of us think.The projection problem: how to recognize when you're giving advice to yourself instead of trying on someone else's limitations.Agility as the antidote to rigid planning and why asking "what do I really want right now?" is the most strategic question you can ask in the new year.The work that moves the needle: discernment, rest, and friendship.Why scheduling your life first is the litmus test for whether you're creating the life of your dreams or just checking boxes.Eldest daughter energy, second child chaos, and birth order baggage we're all still unpacking.The courage to protect your time and energy without apology (because it's okay to let people find their own team).TL;DR (MINUTE BY MINUTE)00:00 The episode that wasn't supposed to happen: why conversation deserves more than a hard stop.02:30 The open seat invitation: this is a group chat, not a lecture series.03:50 "Green broke" and barely broke: Audrey's sweatshirt and the second child who learned to boss herself around.04:30 When structure collapses: the bro energy that got her far, and the authenticity that got her further.07:00 "You're too much": unpacking the narrative women are handed...

There's a particular exhaustion that comes from living half-invested in your own life, when you're saying yes to everyone else's timeline while your own dreams accumulate dust. This week, we're pulling up a chair to the table we've been setting for five years, laying out every strategic detail, hard-won insight, and unfiltered observation about what it actually takes to build a life that doesn't require you to choose between future goals and presence, checking boxes and your nervous system, momentum and moments.Thea, Meg, Audrey, and Lana convene to kick off 2026 with the kind of conversation that feels less like a podcast episode and more like the group chat you've been craving. No disclaimers. No hedging. No apologizing for wanting it all. Just four women who've spent half a decade living the methodology for sustainable achievement, discussing every single strategy, planning framework, and operational principle they've tested alongside 1,300+ women.Please note: this isn't a teaser for what's inside the membership. This is the full playbook with nearly 50 pages of distilled wisdom, and the core methodology that's transformed businesses, marriages, and the daily operations of women who refuse to settle for good enough. Because if five years has taught us anything, it's this: the answer isn't hustling harder or culling your dreams. You need better infrastructure, and you definitely need a village. We start again here.Listen In For…Why five years of experimentation has led to giving away the entire methodology for free and what that signals about the conversation we're ready to have in 2026.The antidote to "you can have everything, but not at the same time": compounding instead of choosing, cultivating practices instead of burning out.What actually changes when you stop treating your ambition like something to apologize for and start treating it like the data it is.Why isolation and withdrawal are the default response to exhaustion, and how intentional connection becomes the counterintuitive path forward.Why we're done with the shame narratives and ready for nuanced conversations that honor complexity when it comes to entrepreneurship, motherhood, family, and ambition.The art of finding your people, developing friendships that feel like infrastructure, and surrounding yourself with women who elevate rather than diminish.Why overcomplication is a defense mechanism and how embracing practices creates the ease that allows you to do more with less friction.The shift from performative planning to operational excellence.How to quit overthinking and start iterating: taking imperfect action to generate the information you need to refine your approach.What "nutrient-dense life" actually means: high quality, deeply satisfying, strategically designed to nourish.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)00:00 Five years of Cowgirls Over Coffee and 1,300+ women later, here's what we've learned.04:45 The full methodology drop: 40 pages of our methodology free.li...

You can take the girl off of the ranch, but you can’t take the cow trails out of her metaphors. When Lindsay shared that the first time her son stepped onto a sidewalk he called it a “cow trail for people,” we knew we were in for a good one. This episode isn’t about slowing down or speeding up, but finding your footing when everything familiar shifts. From feed store counters to city sirens, we’re unpacking what happens when convenience meets capacity, and why your best practices still apply … even when your groceries can be delivered to your doorstep.This week we welcome Lindsay Garber, formerly a top-tier ranch wedding photographer, and now the fourth-generation force inside her family’s western wear & feed store in Albuquerque. She’s traded gravel roads for Trader Joe’s, but what grounds her is the same: purpose, people, and a love for the culture that raised her.Together we explore why leaving town won’t fix a life that’s running on fumes, and why the basics still matter whether groceries are a seven-hour round trip or seven minute away. We talk about context over tactics, conversation as a catalyst, and how retail has its own seasonality: chickens, rodeo, fairs, film crews, and yes, the surprise delight of French cowboys. Through it all runs a throughline we live by at Cowgirls Over Coffee: when the landscape shifts, your practice (water, sleep, vegetables, reflection, and real connection!) keeps you steady.Listen In For …Why swapping ranch life for city life changes the scenery but not the work of caring for your capacity.How conversation functions like binoculars, giving you context so you can actually see what’s coming.A practical reminder that the “next level” still runs on the same basics: sleep, hydration, nourishment, and honest check-ins.The difference between exhaustion on the ranch and monotony in town, and how to break both with intentional moments of awe.What retail teaches about seasons (spring chicks to fall fairs to pilot season) and how to plan without losing presence.The store as tether: how tending a legacy space can anchor identity and community in the middle of a metro.Why mastering yourself outperforms mastering the hustle, especially when opportunities arrive faster because you planned well.A gentle reframe for over-capable women: you don’t need a 12-step overhaul; you need faithful follow-through on what already works.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)04:30 Lindsay’s move: from “most rural” New Mexico to the heart of Albuquerque; what changed and what didn’t.09:40 Context over geography: leaving town won’t solve capacity problems without deliberate practices.15:20 Conversation as a tool: the “binoculars” for seeing the ship; tactics make sense once you have context.21:35 City monotony vs. ranch exhaustion: different drains with the same antidote: intentional rest and wonder.27:10 Retail seasons 101: chickens, rodeo, fairs, film crews … and the unexpectedly punchy French cowboys.32:45 Legacy as anchor: keeping a 75-year family business human in a humming city.38:50 The faithful basics: water, sleep, vegetables, and how simple habits power real next-level growth.43:30 Wrap-up + invitation to carry the conversation forward.Where to Go From HereJoin the conversation: What did this conversation remind you to tend? Your routine, your rest, your roots? Screenshot and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and keep the conversation going.

As September closes, forget lukewarm goals because this conversation is about striking the match yourself. Kelly of Western Workouts joins us for a conversation about the kind of fire fueled by self-belief, reckless confidence, and a refusal to waste energy on what doesn’t matter.This episode began, as many of our best ones do, with a yap-and-cheer session that turned into a bonfire of ideas. We talk about why spite may get you moving, but it never leaves you satisfied, and why a process you love always beats an outcome that looks shiny but feels empty.Kelly brings her perspective from training horses, bodies, and minds. We add our lens of capacity, discernment, and real-life integration. Together we unravel what it means to build a fire of our own; whether that means claiming your time back from distractions, letting go without fanfare, or saying yes to hard things without fearing how hard they’ll be.Listen In For …Why a self-belief bonfire outlasts a spite-fueled spark every time.The practice of reckless confidence: deciding you’ll figure it out, then getting to work.How to be unbothered by noise, urgency, and opinions that don’t serve you.The case for integration over silos when it comes to motherhood, work, and identity.When to simply step back into the bushes: no drama, no debate, just disengagement.Why discipline is less about willpower and more about respecting your own energy.How patience and slow-burn often set the stage for your boldest moves.The role your people play in elevating your fire instead of draining it.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)00:00 September check-in and the fire worth tending.06:15 Spite vs. self-belief: why empty wins don’t satisfy.10:00 Process over outcome: act, adjust, repeat.25:30 Practicing being unbothered: disengaging with grace.30:00 Integration > silos: motherhood, work, identity.36:20 Reckless confidence and pouring the gasoline at your feet.42:45 Circles, standards, and raising your own algorithm.48:00 Closing: presence through the holidays, confidence that sustains.Where to Go From HereJoin the conversation: Screenshot this episode and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and @westernworkouts on Instagram/Threads—tell us where you’re pouring your gasoline this season.Grab the free Routine Playbook: Build daily structure that makes acting (and adjusting) easier.Connect with Kelly: Follow Western Workouts for strength, stamina, and no-nonsense confidence.Stay in the loop: Subscribe, review, and share so more women can light fires that actually last.

There’s the kind of work that looks good in a highlight reel, and then there’s the kind that smells like bleach in July, stretches four feet from tip to tip, and requires the audacity to keep going when it would be easier to quit. This week we sit down with Cassie Everson of Wanderlust Skulls to talk about the ditch, the mountaintop, and the discipline of making art that endures.Artist and entrepreneur Cassie Everson has been shaping the modern Western aesthetic for nearly a decade through her work as Wanderlust Skulls. If you’ve ever saved an image of a painted longhorn skull to your Pinterest board, chances are you’ve already encountered her signature pieces: bold, abstract, distinctly Western, and always authentic.But this conversation isn’t a how-to on creative business, it’s a rare look into the unglamorous, cyclical reality behind it. Cassie shares the unlikely origins of her work, from finding her first skull in a secondhand shop to teaching herself taxidermy with YouTube and grit. She talks candidly about debt, slow shows, and why art requires you to sell not just an object but a feeling. What emerges is not a formula but a paradox: the work isn’t easy, yet over time it generates a surprising sense of ease if you can resist both the panic of failure and the intoxication of quick wins.Listen In For …How Cassie defines her “modern Western abstract” style and why authenticity matters in both art and business.The early, unvarnished realities of teaching yourself taxidermy.What art reveals about selling feeling rather than product, and why story is central to connection.A candid look at the cycles of business: the moments of debt, the long seasons of silence, and the resilience required to keep going.Why meeting both the ditch and the mountaintop with the same determination becomes a critical entrepreneurial skill.The paradox of ease versus easy, and how structure allows a business to feel lighter without diminishing the work.The Vault: Cassie’s forthcoming collection of jumbo longhorns with rare shape and scale, designed as bespoke heirloom pieces.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)00:00 Why conversation dissolves comparison.05:30 Cassie’s origin story: from a thrifted skull to a modern Western aesthetic.12:00 Real vs. replica: how to identify authentic skulls and why it matters.18:40 The messy middle: early shows, financial setbacks, and learning to continue.24:15 Art as feeling: commissions, story, and connecting beyond the visual.29:50 The difference between ease and easy, and what it demands of us.34:30 The Vault preview: jumbo longhorns, rare breeding, and bespoke design.39:00 Closing: seasons, sovereignty, and the practice of mastering your craft.Where to Go From HereYour turn: what hit home? Tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and @wanderlustskulls, and let’s prove that real talk travels farther than highlight reels.Trade scrolling for structure: Download the Routine Playbook. A quick-win guide to creating sustainable practices that feel less like obligation and more like sovereignty.Collect the art, meet the artist: Explore Cassie’s pieces at wanderlustskulls.com and follow her on Instagram @wanderlustskulls for a...

Fall is here and we’re not tiptoeing into it. Today we talk about going all in without burning out, rebuilding stamina after a slow season, and choosing sustainable momentum over shiny sprints.In this conversation, we welcome back my dear friend Audrey Hall, a creative, builder, and wholehearted go-for-it gal who knows what it takes to strategically ramp back up. Together, we unpack what “locking in” looks like when you’re balancing real life: kids, careers, recovery seasons, and the call to create again.We talk about scheduling as stewardship, fluid structure (yes to time blocks, no to rigidity), and the crucial difference between capacity and consistency. You’ll hear us reject the tired binary of “hustle harder” vs. “slow way down” and instead build a practice that honors both ambition and sustainability. From self-mastery to seasonality, we explore why momentum sticks when it’s grounded in honest constraints, hydration-and-all.We also get practical: experimenting with expectations, noticing when to pause before you tip into burnout, and re-training your stamina at work, in your body, and in your calendar. If you’ve felt the nudge to go all in but you’re wary of old patterns, this one is your invitation.Listen In For …Why pairing structure with fluidity lets you move fast without snapping your bandwidth.How to treat scheduling as stewardship of time, energy, and attention.A simple lens for “capacity before consistency” so your progress is sustainable.The mindset shift from binary choices to both/and thinking (success and ease).How to rebuild stamina after a long rest without shaming your pace.A practical reframe for goals: train for the distance, check your direction, take water breaks.What it means to practice self-mastery now (not who you were at 25, 30, or last year).Why “locking in” can include Slime Sundays, date nights, Bible study, and all the parts of a real life, on purpose.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)Times are approximate.00:00 Opening: why we’re “locking in” for fall and inviting you into the conversation.04:00 Calendars as clarity: scheduling that feels empowering.08:45 Coming out of hibernation: Audrey on starting from “zero” and finding traction.12:30 Capacity before consistency: the stamina metaphor and sustainable progress.16:40 Seasonality in real life: mom-mode, build-mode, and rejecting scarcity.21:15 Fluid structure: observing burnout signals and knowing when to set it down.26:00 Self-mastery in this season: goals, pace, water breaks, and course checks.31:20 The middle ground: ditching the hustle/slow binary and choosing both/and.35:10 Permission slip: “Lock in with us” and how to start today.38:30 Wrap-up + six-week check-in invitation for accountability.Where to Go From HereQuestion for you: What’s your first non-negotiable as you lock in for fall—the one practice that makes everything else easier? Screenshot this episode and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee with your answer so we can crowdsource strategies that actually hold.The FREE Routine Playbook. Your step-by-step for routines that protect capacity (so consistency can finally kick in!). Get Yours HereJoin the Cowgirls Over Coffee Lifetime Membership. Where conversation, accountability,...

September invites fresh structure and, if we’re not careful, fresh burnout. In this conversation, licensed professional counselor and Enneagram coach Becky Lauridsen reframes self-care as protection (not pampering) and opens the door to brain health with neurofeedback. From postpartum anxiety and over-functioning to rodeo performance and concussion recovery, we explore how to build capacity on purpose, before the crash out.Becky shares the origin story of IOWEME (“I owe me”), a preventative, accessible, guilt-free self-care model born from her own burnout and postpartum anxiety. We unpack the crucial difference between self-indulgence (instant relief, little ROI) and true self-care (sometimes uncomfortable, always compounding). We also trade the myth of work–life balance for work–life harmony: a “pleasing arrangement of parts” calibrated to your actual rhythms (hello, 5:30am clarity!).Then Becky takes us into ROAM (Rodeo Optimization and Mindset) and explains low-energy neurofeedback as a practical path to brain health. Think “parking brake off” for your frontal lobe: better regulation, focus, and recovery after high-intensity performance (for athletes and their horses). If you’re craving capacity that’s truly sustainable, this one’s for you.Listen in for …The self-care vs. self-indulgence distinction, and why protection beats pampering.The IOWEME model: preventative, accessible, and simple mental-health support.Work/life harmony (not balance): designing a “pleasing arrangement of parts.”The “check-engine light” for burnout (irritability over the stray socks = signal).Neurofeedback 101: electrical vs. chemical brain systems, suppression, and flexibility.The “parking brake” metaphor: why so many high-capacity women feel stuck in Delta.Performance & recovery for rodeo athletes, and why brain care must match body care.The pony case study (!) and what equine sessions revealed about regulation.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)00:00 “Conversations” > “episodes” + why listener feedback matters.01:11 Meet Becky: LPC, EMDR, Enneagram coach, LENS neurofeedback provider.06:17 Postpartum anxiety, burnout, and the wake-up call: it starts with me.10:01 IOWEME origin: from reactive therapy culture to preventative care.12:32 Responsibility & boundaries: self-care as non-negotiable, not “extra.”16:00 Self-indulgence vs self-care (instant relief vs lasting effect).18:54 “Outweigh the indulgence”: a practical rule that still leaves room for fun.23:44 Non-negotiable habits: why early-morning quiet time compounds.27:34 Work/life harmony > balance; design for your real energy ebb and flow.31:47 ROAM begins: from rodeo roots to neurofeedback certification.35:49 Neurofeedback explained: amplitude, frequency, suppression.38:59 The parking brake brain: lifting Delta lock for flexible regulation.41:01 Equine neurofeedback: the pony case and practical behavior change.43:35 Head trauma, concussions, CTE risk, and recovery as standard practice.47:26 Where to find Becky + what’s next.Where to Go From HereQuestion for you: When the day feels heavy, which shows up first: self-indulgence or true self-care? Screenshot and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee with your answer so we can crowdsource smart strategies that actually stick.The FREE Routine Playbook. Your step-by-step for routines that protect capacity (so consistency can finally kick in!). Get Yours HereJoin the Cowgirls Over Coffee Lifetime Membership. Where conversation, accountability, and routines become infrastructure....

September has a way of sneaking up on us. The commitments start rolling in, the days get shorter, and suddenly the pressure to “get it together” hits full force. In this “season-two” kickoff of Cowgirls Over Coffee, Thea and her dear friend Meg share how one simple conversation shifted their entire perspective on the September spiral, and why the reset you need may not actually start with another routine tweak.For many women, September feels like a fresh start wrapped in glossy anxiety. The casual pace of summer fades, structure snaps back into place, and expectations start piling up. The natural response? Double down, do more, and try to wrestle order out of chaos.But in this episode, Thea and Meg explore what happens when you pause before reacting. Their conversation ranges from seasonal transitions to family rhythms, the pressure of rural grit, and the reminder that we’re not meant to navigate life alone. Along the way, they uncover a surprising truth: what often feels like burnout might actually have a different root cause.You’ll walk away with a practical reframe for the fall, an invitation to anchor your routines in depth instead of hustle, and permission to reach out instead of powering through. If September already feels frenetic, maybe the best reset is as simple as picking up the phone.Listen in for …Why September often triggers “fresh start pressure” that turns into burnout.The hidden cost of powering through on your own.How conversation can act as infrastructure for your routines.A practical fall reset: channel intensity into depth instead of just more doing.TL;DR (Minute by Minute)[00:00] Why this feels like Season Two.[02:10] The fog-lifting effect of conversation.[06:20] Why September hits harder than summer.[10:08]  Grit, buried feelings, and the cost of powering through.[14:45] A surprising realization about what’s really behind burnout.[17:18] Channeling intensity into depth instead of productivity.[20:18] Living in neutrality and curiosity when routines get shaky.[24:32] Work examples: how conversation resets productivity.[29:26] What’s next for this new season of Cowgirls Over Coffee.Where to Go From HereWe want to know: does burnout for you feel more like exhaustion or like loneliness? Screenshot and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee with your answer.The FREE Routine Playbook I mentioned. Your step-by-step playbook for routines that actually stick, because capacity has to come before consistency: TAP HEREJoin the Cowgirls Over Coffee Lifetime Membership where conversation, accountability, and routines become infrastructure. LEARN MORE HERELet’s keep the conversation going: find Thea at @thea.does.the.thing and Meg at @meg.scales.

This week Thea is joined by longtime friend and former western wedding photographer Lyndsey Garber for a reflective conversation about capacity, season of life shifts, and the slow, steady work of staying faithful in the little things.Together, they talk through the emotional complexity of leaving something that’s still working, what it feels like to carry a big vision when there’s no margin left, and how to navigate the tension between knowing you’re made for more and also being at your limit.Topics explored include:How to recognize when a season is ending even while you’re still succeeding in it.Why exhaustion and ambition so often co-exist.What it looks like to rebuild capacity through small, daily choices.Learning to audit energy and attention without slipping into a poverty mindset.How presence becomes a practice when margin is low.This conversation holds space for the in-between moments where you know you’re on the edge of something new, but it hasn’t fully taken shape yet. We chat about ambition, presence, exhaustion, time scarcity, and that sneaky poverty mentality that shows up in your calendar, your body, and your grocery store anxiety. And mostly, it’s about what it takes to stay steady and self-respecting in the middle of a capacity crisis without losing your fire or your footing.There’s no 5-step framework here. Just two women and a conversation about what’s working, what’s shifting, and how we keep showing up for the lives we believe in.Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingWe talked about what no one sees: the ordinary, unglamorous work that builds something sustainable. If you’re in that part of the process, we’d love to hear about it. Tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and let us know what “faithful in the little things” looks like for you right now.

Sure you can handle it all, but where is taking you? In this deeply personal, wildly validating summer conversation, Thea sits down with longtime friend and Cowgirls Over Coffee original Audrey Hall to unpack a question many of us are circling: What happens when your capability becomes your identity … and your margin disappears?This is an episode for the woman who’s built a life she’s proud of and is left asking why it still feels so hard. For the one who gets it done, who performs under pressure, who’s known for delivering but lives in depletion.Together, Thea and Audrey explore:Why “high performance” starts to feel like a trap.The difference between nurturing your ambition vs. demanding from it.What it really costs to prove your capability over and over again.How excellence can mask burnout.Why we sometimes feel safer in stress than in stillness.And, what it means to move from rocky soil to something more nourishing.You’ll hear stories about rodeo royalty, sad girl eras, and gym floor epiphanies but underneath it all is a real-time conversation about rebuilding your relationship with ambition, restoration, and joy. If you’ve ever said, “I’m not afraid of the effort, but dang I’m tired of proving my worth through it.,” this one’s for you.Mentioned in this episode:Follow Audrey Hall on Instagram at @audreyetta.Listen to Audrey’s new podcast, Cowgirl Church.Books by Trevor Mowad: It Takes What It Takes and Getting to Neutral.Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingScreenshot this episode and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee with your favorite takeaway. Tell us your flavor of patience, your version of presence, or what kind of soil you’re growing in this summer.

What happens when you pair a visionary with a finisher, and give them a platform to celebrate the real women shaping western life and style?This week Thea sits down with Ali Dee and Nicole James, the co-founders of Western Life & Style, for a conversation rooted in real-life entrepreneurship, deep collaboration, and the kind of bold vision that grows when women stop waiting for permission.From warehouse pop-ups to showroom floors, from a simple Instagram page to a platform that now honors Western women across the country, Ali and Nicole share the behind-the-scenes of how Western Life & Style came to life, and how the 30 Over 30 Awards became a movement of recognition, reunion, and representation.Inside this episode:How their dynamic as visionary and executor has fueled years of successful partnership.Why the Western Life & Style 30 Over 30 Awards were created and what makes them different from typical honors.The unexpected emotional impact of giving Western women their moment in the spotlight.How they build momentum without overthinking or getting stuck in fear.The real power of honoring women who are often behind the scenes, doing the unseen work.Maybe you’ve hit pause on your vision. Maybe you’ve started and stopped more times than you’d like to admit. Or maybe, like so many of us, you’re in that frustrating middle space between the idea and the arrival. Wherever you are, this episode will meet you right where you’re at with permission, encouragement, and a nudge to be just delulu enough to keep going.Mentioned in this episode:Western Life & Style on InstagramAli Dee Brand, Rodeo Ranch, and Ali.Dee.CEOZona Girl Nava – Nicole’s digital marketing agency.30 Over 30 Honoree List Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingWe want to hear the behind-the-scenes version of what you’re building, what’s messy, what’s meaningful. Screenshot this episode, tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and share what vision you’re chasing!***If this episode resonates with you, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

What if summer wasn’t something that just happened to you, but something you created on purpose? In this episode, I sit down with Cowgirls Over Coffee’s own Lana Wilkes for a real-deal conversation about what it actually takes to create a summer that feels restorative, anchored, and worth remembering. NOT another one that races by in a blur of chaos, laundry, and vague "maybe we'll do that someday" plans.Overheard in this Episode: Why "maybe" is killing your summer.How to set anchor experiences that actually happen.The difference between chasing easy and creating ease.Why your routines should change with the season.The myth of the "perfect summer" and the real work of experiencing it.We're not campaigning for a Pinterest-perfect summer schedule, but challenging you to claim your time, set anchor experiences, and take the administrative burden of daily life off the plate, so you can actually enjoy the season you’re in. Whether you’re road-tripping to Alaska with five kids or just trying to get to the dang lake more than twice this summer, this episode will give you the perspective shift (and tactical insight) to make it happen.I also mention that you can use my Reset Ritual to help set the tone for summer. This is the exact framework I use anytime I need to reset. It’s genuinely not just for seasons of productivity or burnout, but for setting yourself up for presence at any time! Use it to set the tone this summer: download it here for FREE.Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingTell us what you’re planning on purpose this summer. Screenshot this episode, tag @cowgirlsovercoffee because we want to hear the real version: what works, what doesn’t, and what you’re learning along the way.

If you’ve ever looked up in late July and realized summer flew by before you even caught your breath, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my personal summer strategy and showing you exactly how I’m prepping for a season of presence and restoration without letting the whole thing unravel into pure mayhem. You’ll hear the exact process I’m using this week to pre-game for summer and keep my wellbeing, family, and calendar deliberately aligned with the summer experience I’m choosing.What you’ll get out of this conversation:My “anchor experience” strategy for planning around the summer experience I want to cultivate.What obligations actually belong on the calendar this summer.How I’m adjusting routines and habits for the season ahead.A no-shame approach to auditing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.I talk meal planning, bedtime flexibility, and running a home without sacrificing summer or letting it all become a dumpster fire.What can be decided now to reduce friction, mental load, and last-minute stress.And if you’re craving a little more support this summer, I’ve got something for you. I’ll be sending out weekly emails all summer long. Short and simple notes from me to you with ideas, reflections, reminders, and a few of my favorite things to help you stay on track with a season of calibrating for presence and wellbeing. You can sign up here.Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingDo you have summer traditions that keep you grounded? Are you doing anything differently this year? Tag Thea on Instagram@cowgirlsovercoffee. We want to hear what’s working, what’s shifting, and what you’re reclaiming.Sign up for Thea’s Summer Email Series to help you stay present, get grounded, and reclaim your season. Join here

This week, I’m joined by my good friend and western lifestyle photographer, Brooke Juma Ehlers, for a conversation that hits home in all the right places. We talk about what it really takes to build a business alongside your life without losing yourself in the process. If you’ve ever felt like your ambition and your exhaustion are in a standoff, this episode is for you.We chat about:The mindset shift that comes when “go hard” stops working.What slow burn really looks like in business and at home.Why connection is the strategic advantage most women are missing.The difference between doing less vs. doing what actually matters.What to do when your identity is built on overworking and you’re ready to change.Brooke shares how she’s shifting gears a bit from a full-time wedding photographer to launching Western Wedding Roundup, and why she’s no longer chasing “fast growth at all costs.” We discuss delegation, setting timers, reworking the way we spend our time, and how small decisions can create big freedom.This one’s for the woman with a head full of ideas, a calendar that’s borderline unmanageable, and a quiet knowing that something’s needing to shift. Whether you’re a rural creative, a solo entrepreneur, a ranch wife, a mom, or all of the above … this episode is your permission slip to stop white-knuckling it through every single day with that slow burn.Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingScreenshot this episode, tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and tell us about your biggest takeaway or what “slow burn” looks like for you. Because the more conversations we’re having, the quicker we iterate, the faster we find our capacity and the better we feel doing it!Follow Brooke on IG:  @_brookejumaphotography_Learn more about Western Wedding Roundup

May doesn’t come with twinkle lights, gifts, or permission to reset and yet it’s one of the most intense months on the calendar. In this unfiltered episode, I sit down with Meg to talk how we’re navigating this high-pressure month when you’re running a business, raising a family, and trying to stay sane in the middle of wind, branding season, and end-of-school-year chaos.We chat candidly about how the myth of “doing it all” is still showing up in subtle ways, how systems become strategy when your whole life feels over-committed, and why managing your capacity has nothing to do with being less ambitious. This episode is equal parts coaching session, permission slip, and reminder that the goal isn’t to fix everything.In This EpisodeWhy May feels like December without the joy.The “net stress analysis” I use to make hard choices (like skipping a big award event).How to measure the real cost of saying yes: emotionally, logistically, and energetically.The myth of linear priorities and why “family over business” isn’t always a useful frame.How systems aren’t just about efficiency, instead they’re your lifeline in seasons of unpredictability.Why long-range planning creates margin.The difference between working in your life and working on your life.Favorite Moments“If everything is getting done, why am I still overwhelmed?”“You’re the COO of your own life. You have departments and you need systems.”“Sometimes we live in a myth of overwhelm. And that myth is costing us margin.”Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingIf you find yourself checking all the boxes and still wondering why you feel maxed out, we’d love to hear what part of this conversation hit home. Screenshot this episode, tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and tell us about it!***If this episode resonates with you, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Screenshot this episode, tag @CowgirlsOverCoffee, and share your biggest takeaway or how you’re planning to build more discipline in your life. Let’s keep the conversation going!Resources & Links:Learn more about Cowgirls Over Coffee Membership CommunityConnect with Thea and the community:Follow on Instagram @CowgirlsOverCoffee     Follow on Facebook @CowgirlsOverCoffeeMake sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss a convo!

There’s a very specific kind of exhaustion that hits when you're holding it all together on the outside… but inside, you're at your limit. You’re still getting the things done, still showing up, still checking the boxes,  but it feels like you’re losing your grip on your own margin, your own pace, your own presence. So, if you’ve ever felt like you’re holding it all together by sheer force of will, baling twine and 27 lists … this episode is for you.In today’s episode, I’m sharing the exact reset ritual I’ve used for years to get myself out of overwhelm, off the floor (literally, at one point), and back into action in a way that feels grounded and deliberate, not frantic..In this episode:The story behind this ritual and how it pulled me out of the hardest season of my life.Why “doing less” or “saying no” isn’t always the right next move, and what to do instead.The difference between habits, routines, and rituals (plus the psychological and neurological science that backs it up).A full, step-by-step breakdown of the Reset Ritual. Exactly what I do, how I do it, and how to make it yours.Snag the Workbook for FREEThe Reset Ritual Playbook I talk about in this episode is totally free. It’s the exact framework I use myself, plus a video walkthrough where I go deeper on each step. You can print it, use it with your iPad + Apple Pencil, or just jot it all out in your notebook.Tap here to get it now!Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingTake a screenshot of this episode and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee with your biggest takeaway. Whether you follow this ritual to the letter or remix it your own way, it’s all about having tools that actually work for your real life. ***If this episode resonates with you, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Screenshot this episode, tag @CowgirlsOverCoffee, and share your biggest takeaway or how you’re planning to build more discipline in your life. Let’s keep the conversation going!Resources & Links:Learn more about Cowgirls Over Coffee Membership CommunityConnect with Thea and the community:Follow on Instagram @CowgirlsOverCoffee     Follow on Facebook @CowgirlsOverCoffeeMake sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss a convo!

Why is it that even when we know what we should do … when we have the plans, the goals, and even the desire, that we still don’t follow through? In this honest conversation, Thea Larsen sits down with her good friend and wellness expert Kelly Altschwager of Western Workouts to unpack the layers behind discipline, consistency, and what actually holds women back in the messy middle of growth, ambition, and identity.This episode is for the woman who’s already doing the work, but still feels stuck. Who’s exhausted by the cycle of overthinking, overcommitting, and under-recovering. Who wants to move forward, but just can’t seem to start. If you’re navigating fatigue, lack of follow-through, and the tension between what you want to do and what you actually have capacity to do… this one’s for you.In this episode, we explore:Why discipline often isn’t the starting point (and what comes before it).How capacity, nervous system regulation, and sleep hygiene affect your ability to follow through.What it really means to be consistent, and why you need rest as much as you need action.Why it’s not self-sabotage, but often self-protection (and how to tell the difference).The problem with waiting for motivation, and how to build momentum by starting smaller.The difference between physical exhaustion and emotional depletion, and why it even matters.Why personal planning systems need to be customized, flexible, and rooted in self-awareness.Perfect for you if:You're feeling overwhelmed by competing roles (motherhood, business, marriage, friendship).You’re craving structure but feel depleted, overstimulated, or burnt out.You’re tired of generic wellness advice and need something that actually fits your life.You want strategic, sustainable tools for habit-building, wellness, and productivity, that won’t end in burnout.Resources Mentioned:Learn more about Western WorkoutsExplore our full library of planning tools, frameworks, and member resources at cowgirlsovercoffee.comLet’s Keep the Conversation GoingTake a screenshot of this episode and tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and @westernworkouts with your biggest takeaway or breakthrough. Share what part of your process you're reevaluating, or what you've learned from failing forward. We grow stronger through the conversations where we learn from each other! ***If this episode resonates with you, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Screenshot this episode, tag @CowgirlsOverCoffee, and share your biggest takeaway or how you’re planning to build more discipline in your life. Let’s keep the conversation going!Resources & Links:Learn more about Cowgirls Over Coffee Membership CommunityConnect with Thea and the community:Follow on Instagram @CowgirlsOverCoffee     Follow on Facebook a...

What does it really take to write, design, publish, and sell your own cookbook … while raising babies, running a ranch, and building a business from scratch?In this conversation, Thea Larsen sits down with her longtime friend and fellow ranch wife Meghan Gates to talk about the journey behind Foundations of Beef, the cookbook that went from idea to full-scale hardcover bestseller. From learning to cook with what you have to navigating the chaos of self-publishing, this episode pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes grit, strategy, and heart it takes to build something from the ground up.Meghan shares the origin story of her book, born out of real-life questions from direct-to-consumer beef customers, and how she created a practical, rural-rooted cookbook that teaches confidence in the kitchen. Together, they unpack the value of whole-animal cooking, the skills every home cook should master, and the beauty of doing things before you're fully ready.This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered what to do with a chuck roast, felt intimidated by organ meats, or needed a reminder that building something meaningful often starts in the middle of the mess.What You’ll Hear In This Episode:The backstory behind Foundations of Beef and how a free soup cookbook helped build Meghan’s email list.Why beef shares are growing in popularity, and how to help customers feel confident using every cut.What it really looks like to self-publish (and sell) a cookbook as a ranch wife with young kids.The core kitchen skills Meghan believes every cook should master.Real talk on recipe testing, meal planning, and cooking with a rigid palate.Why sometimes the best business ideas come from answering the same question over and over again.How entrepreneurial women are creating ecosystems of income that align with their lifestyle and valuesConnect with Meghan Gates:Follow her on Instagram: @meghanlynngatesGrab the Foundations of Beef cookbook (hardcover or digital): goodhandle.net. On pre-sale now for just $29.85.Loved this episode?If this episode made you think differently about food, business, or what’s possible from your kitchen table, share it with a friend, screenshot it, or tag @cowgirlsovercoffee and @meghanlynngates on Instagram. Your feedback fuels this movement. Let’s keep the conversation going!Join the Cowgirls Over Coffee Membership – Your space for planning, productivity, and resilience-building, with the community to back you up.Follow Thea on Instagram – More behind-the-scenes conversations and strategies for balancing ambition with daily life.***If this episode resonates with you, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Screenshot this episode, tag @CowgirlsOverCoffee, and share your biggest takeaway or how you’re planning to build more discipline in your life. Let’s keep the conversation going!Resources & Links:Learn more about Cowgirls Over Coffee Membership CommunityConnect with Thea and the community:Follow on...

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of cyberstalking, grooming, legal system failure, and trauma - particularly involving minors. Listener discretion is advised, especially around children.In this powerful and courageous episode, Thea Larsen and Lana Wilkes sit down with Cathy Holman, also known as Prairie Wife, to unpack a reality that one rural family was quietly living through: cyberstalking, grooming, online harassment, and a justice system that doesn’t show up for our children.Together, they open the door to a deeply personal and brutally honest conversation about what happens when women refuse to stay silent. Cathy shares how her family was targeted, the legal and emotional battles that followed, and why she’s speaking up now, not just for her kids, but for every family.In this episode:What it’s like to face harassment in a tight-knit, rural community.The legal gaps in stalking and child protection laws and how they’re failing families.The emotional toll of advocacy and the personal cost of courage.Why silence and image-protection often enable predators.What it looks like to advocate for systemic change while raising children and running a household.Whether you're a mother, a teacher, a friend, or a woman trying to raise kids in a digital world, you need to hear this.Links:Following are the links to the timelines and victim impact statements Cathy mentions in our conversation.Case Timeline: Gillian HolmanCase Timeline: Preston SorensonVictim Impact Statement: Gillian HolmanVictim Impact Statement: Preston SorensonVictim Impact Statement: Cathy HolmanVictim Impact Statement: Brandi SorensenVictim Impact Statement: Dan HomanVictim Impact Statement: Ryan SorensenYou can follow developments in the case and the media coverage as Cathy and Brandi are working to bring awareness to the need law changes by following Cathy on Facebook at Prairie Wife or on her blog at Prairie Wife In Heels.If this episode sparked questions, reflections, or fire in your gut … don’t keep it to yourself. Tag @cowgirlsovercoffee on Instagram with your takeaways or questions. This isn’t a one-and-done conversation. We’re committed to keeping the spotlight on this issue, supporting needed changes, and creating a space where conversation leads to action.Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps more women like you discover strategies for ambition, balance, and...