Molly Carmel

In today's episode, I'm talking about one of the most powerful shifts we can make — the moment we realize that what feels like darkness might actually be our rise. I share a story about a brunch with my longtime spiritual advisor, Francesca, who helped me reframe a time of deep uncertainty in my life. What I thought was a dark hallway was actually an ascent — and her words changed the way I see growth, healing, and faith. We'll explore how our perspective can transform even the hardest seasons into something sacred — and how to trust that when life feels unclear, it might be preparing us for what's next. Question to carry into your day: Where in your life can you shift your perspective — from "I'm stuck" to "I'm rising"? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you rise a little higher, share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about the sacred and humbling experience of being forgiven — what happens when shame meets empathy and we finally let ourselves be seen. We'll explore the courage it takes to tell the truth, the healing that comes when we stop running from our mistakes, and how forgiveness — especially when it's offered to us — can dissolve shame and bring us back into connection. Question to carry into your day: Where in your life might you be keeping yourself separate — believing you don't deserve forgiveness — when, in truth, it's already waiting for you? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent brings you moments of reflection or comfort, share it or leave a quick review — it helps others find their way back to themselves too. 💛 An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about the fear of success that can appear just when life starts moving forward. This episode explores spiritual growth and what it really means to trust the process when expansion feels uncomfortable or overwhelming. We'll look at how to get out of your own way, meet growth with faith instead of fear, and remember that the stretch is proof you're evolving. Question to carry into your day: Where in your life are you being invited to expand — and can you meet that stretch with faith instead of fear? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you on your healing journey, share it or leave a quick review — it truly helps more people find their way. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about those moments of spiritual growth when life looks perfect on the outside, but something inside feels off. I share how I went searching for a burning-bush kind of miracle — the big training, the faraway teacher, the five-figure mastermind — only to find the real answer was small, tender, and right in front of me. We'll explore how receptivity helps us move from restless seeking to peaceful knowing, and how sometimes the most profound healing comes from the simplest connection — a quiet friend, a cup of coffee, a Tuesday morning moment of grace. Question to carry into your day: What prayer have you been waiting for an answer to — and could you try opening your hands just a little wider this week to see what's already here? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you rise a little higher, share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about what real strength looks like when your body asks you to stop. We'll explore the journey from treating our bodies as enemies to learning to cooperate with them, and why honoring your limits isn't weakness - it's wisdom. Sometimes healing doesn't look like pushing through; it looks like the humility to walk when others run, to leave early, to choose integrity over intensity. Question to carry into your day: Where can you choose to honor your body today instead of pushing it? What might change if you did? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you find meaning in the mystery, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about one of the most overused phrases in spirituality - "It's all happening for a reason" - and how we can reclaim it in a deeper, truer way. We'll explore how this saying can sometimes become a spiritual bypass - a way of tidying up mystery or avoiding pain - and how to instead expand our definition of what "for me" really means. Because sometimes "for me" looks like comfort and clarity… and sometimes it looks like the dark, holy lessons that stretch and grow us in ways we don't yet understand. Question to carry into your day: Where in your life can you expand your definition of what "for me" means - to include not just what feels good, but what might be shaping you on a deeper level? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you find meaning in the mystery, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about the practice of noticing the small moments of safety and peace that help us regulate when the world feels like one long trigger. We'll explore how our nervous systems search for safety in all kinds of ways - from food to scrolling to control - and how recognizing "glimmers," a concept from Deb Dana's training in Polyvagal Theory, can bring us back to gratitude, calm, and what actually sustains us. Question to carry into your day: What's one glimmer you can notice today - one small, ordinary moment that reminds your body that you're safe, alive, and deeply blessed? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you find your own glimmers of peace and gratitude, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about one of the hardest lessons for helpers and healers - how to love others without losing yourself. We'll explore the difference between caring and caretaking, why overgiving often comes from fear, and how including yourself in the circle of care makes your love steadier, kinder, and more sustainable. Question to carry into your day: Where in your life are you overgiving or overdoing in the name of love - and what would it look like to care for yourself with that same devotion? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you remember that caring for yourself is part of caring for others, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about what happens when something that started from the heart starts to feel heavy — and how choosing smaller, slower, and simpler can actually open us to the biggest kind of freedom. We'll explore how ego can sneak into even our most soulful projects, why "making it big" isn't always the answer, and how letting go of control can bring back joy, connection, and ease. Question to carry into your day: Where in your life are you trying to make something bigger — when your heart might be asking you to make it lighter, smaller, or more sincere? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Website: www.mollycarmel.com Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you find a little more ease in your life, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about the quiet power of alignment — those moments when your head, heart, and actions finally agree. We'll look at how easy it is to make choices from fear or scarcity (especially around money), what it feels like when you act from truth instead, and why peace is the best sign that you're right where you're meant to be. Question to carry into your day: Where in your life are you being invited into alignment - and what might shift if you followed the choice that simply feels right? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you find your own sense of alignment, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about the practice of noticing where your energy goes, and what happens when you choose to put it where it truly matters. We'll explore how easy it is to lose sight of our priorities, what it really means to take life both more seriously and less seriously, and how a few simple shifts can bring you back to center. Question to carry into your day: Where's your focus right now, and does it match what really matters to you? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you refocus on what really matters, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who might need that reminder today. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about those moments when you really don't want to do the thing — and what can happen when you do it anyway. We'll explore how commitment can carry you through resistance, what my Pocket Sage Pema Chödrön has to say about staying open when it's hard, and the kind of magic that shows up on the other side of "I don't feel like it." Question to carry into your day: Where in your life are you tempted to bail on something that might actually be good for you if you stayed committed in that deeper, warrior way? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent helps you find courage in the moments you'd rather turn away, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs a reminder to stay open. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm talking about the fear that keeps so many of us stuck — the fear of getting it wrong. We'll explore how perfectionism can disguise itself as protection, and how real freedom begins when we let ourselves start messy. I'll share how The Daily Ascent almost didn't happen because I was waiting for everything to be perfect… and what finally made me begin. Question to carry into your day: What's one thing you've been waiting to start because you're afraid of messing it up? And can you love yourself enough to take even the smallest, most imperfect step toward it today? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent reminds you that you don't have to be perfect to begin, make sure to subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who's been waiting for the right time to start. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Ever catch yourself sure someone else dropped the ball… only to realize it might have been you? Yeah, me too. In this episode, I share a story about a time I completely checked out, blamed someone else, and got smacked with one of those spiritual two-by-fours that remind you what real freedom feels like. Spoiler: it isn't in being right. Question to carry into your day: Where might taking responsibility set you free? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent hits home for you, subscribe and share it with someone who's ready to stop avoiding and start evolving. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

In today's episode, I'm sharing how one tiny dinner-table moment with my 15-year-old goddaughter catapulted me straight out of adulthood and right back into my teenage self — and how a Celtic prayer helped me find my way back to love. Whether it's parenting, friendship, or just life being life, this one's about the messy magic of being human — and the peace that comes when we stop needing to be right and start showing up with an undefended heart. Question to carry into your day: What might happen if you set down your armor and chose connection instead? Connect with Molly Carmel:  Email: dailyascentpod@gmail.com Instagram: @mollycarmel Subscribe on YouTube Amazon Storefront (in case you want to hang out with my Pocket Sages) If The Daily Ascent hits home for you, subscribe, leave some love and share it with someone who might need a little reminder that growth can be gritty - and still sooooo good. An Operation Podcast production | @OperationPodcast

Welcome to The Daily Ascent — a quick, meaningful moment in your day to pause, breathe, and come back to yourself. I'm Molly Carmel: therapist, coach, business owner, sister, godmother, dog mom, and a woman who's learned the hard way that real healing doesn't come from chasing fixes — it comes from finding truth. Each weekday, I'll bring you real stories, simple insights, and honest reflections from my own winding path of recovery and growth. Together, we'll explore what it means to live with intention, stay grounded, and keep climbing — one small step at a time. It's honest. It's hopeful. It's like your favorite morning ritual — the one that always leaves you feeling a little lighter, a little clearer, and a lot more human.

Tune in to this episode as Molly shares why she is taking a break from the show. We all know that from time to time, it's important to do an inventory of our lives to see what is working and what is not. Creating content for different social media platforms can be very rewarding, but it's also a lot of work. When the content comes from a place of obligation instead of passion, you know it's time to hit the pause button. Check the links below to know where you can keep in touch with Molly! Episode Quotes "Sometimes the road to knowing what you want to do is really knowing what you don't want to do." About Molly Carmel Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the BeaconProgram, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast. Connect with Molly THANK YOU for being a part of my life for the last two and a half years! As a BIG tytyty I'm offering you FORTY percent off my retreat on September 10th using the code MOLLY40 - sign up here! Join the WAITLIST for our amazing ALL IN INTENSIVE COACHING in September here: mollycarmel.com/all-in-intensive-coaching. Also this is MOST DEFINITELY not goodbye - LOTS of ways to still keep in touch!!! Join my list for my Sunday Love Letter, and a free mini masterclass: mollycarmel.com/signup Purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: mollycarmel.com/buws Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: facebook.com/groups/buwsbook Come hang with me on social media! IG (I love a DM!): @mollycarmel YouTube: Molly Carmel TikTok: @realmollycarmel Facebook: facebook.com/mollycarmel.buws

In this episode of What You're Craving, Molly connects with Rachel, a member of the Breaking Up with Sugar community. Rachel shares her journey and her current struggles, dealing with imposter syndrome and the fear of detaching even a little bit from her eating habits. She explains that even the thought of being a little more flexible with her diet makes her experience fear and shame. Rachel shares that weighing and measuring food helps her feel in control, and although she has had overeating episodes, she has been on a successful journey, which makes her even more afraid of falling off the wagon. The key question here is: how to feel safe when you reach a certain level of progress? Perfectionism can be tricky, even more for someone trying to heal their relationship with food. Molly encourages Rachel to expand her identity as someone trying to heal instead of someone trying to follow the plan perfectly. Tune in to learn more! Episode Quotes "The only anesthetic for shame is going to be food. It's a profound rejection. It's literally what the brain is trying to protect us from completely." "Funny thing about diets: they don't take into account the human spirit, they don't take into account biodiversity, and they don't take into account even the healing of the endocrine system." About Molly Carmel Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the BeaconProgram, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast. Connect with Molly Join the WAITLIST for our amazing ALL IN INTENSIVE COACHING in September here: mollycarmel.com/all-in-intensive-coaching. Join my mailing list for info (+ discount!) on our SELF-LOVE CAMP coming in August, my Sunday Love Letter, and a free mini masterclass: mollycarmel.com/signup You can purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: mollycarmel.com/buws Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: facebook.com/groups/buwsbook Come hang with me on social media! IG (I love a DM!): @mollycarmel YouTube: Molly Carmel TikTok: @realmollycarmel Facebook: com/mollycarmel.buws

In this solo episode of What You're Craving, Molly gives her opinion on a topic that has been getting some attention lately: injectables for weight loss. First and foremost, we need to acknowledge that it is a medical intervention, and it needs to be treated that way. And guess what? There is nothing wrong with asking for medical support to lose weight. On the other hand, it won't help if the person taking it stops paying attention to their eating habits and neglecting their health. Cultivating healthy habits, having a balanced diet rich in protein and fiber, and exercising still play an essential role in this process. Molly invites you to see injectables for weight loss as another tool in the toolbox, not a magic wand that will solve all the problems. And if you are considering making use of this tool, don't forget to weigh the pros and cons, and most importantly, don't treat it like a quick fix. Tune in to learn more! Episode Quotes "Maybe it's a beautiful thing to get some help. Maybe we don't really know what we're talking about and maybe we need to set aside all of these prejudices that diet culture has put into us that the only way it works is through hard work." About Molly Carmel Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the BeaconProgram, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast. Connect with Molly Sign up for CAMP SELF-CARE - find what may be the missing link for you to be living the life you deserve - learn more at: mollycarmel.com/camp-self-care. Join the WAITLIST for our amazing ALL IN INTENSIVE COACHING in September here: mollycarmel.com/all-in-intensive-coaching Join my mailing list for info (+ discount!) on our SELF-LOVE CAMP coming in August, my Sunday Love Letter, and a free mini masterclass: mollycarmel.com/signup You can purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: mollycarmel.com/buws Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: facebook.com/groups/buwsbook Come hang with me on social media! IG (I love a DM!): @mollycarmel YouTube: Molly Carmel TikTok: @realmollycarmel Facebook: facebook.com/mollycarmel.buws

In this episode of What You're Craving, Molly connects with Jean Ferrari, a member of the Breaking Up with Sugar community. Jean details what it was like to join the group, what led her to make this decision, and how she could identify that her eating habits were part of something related to an eating disorder. Jean wasn't sure if she had an eating disorder or even if the program was a good fit for her. At one point, she decided to join the community nonetheless. She realized that something was off when she started noticing unusual habits like binging, eating unhealthy foods daily, and using alcohol as a coping mechanism. When Jean realized that the program was a real deal and was a considerable investment for her, she decided to take the program more seriously and try to get helpful insights from the other participants. Even on vacation, Jean followed the plan and connected with the group. Consistent progress is way better than perfection. Tune in to learn more! Episode Quotes "It was an opportunity to connect my head with my heart, and to get through that program I really needed to be vulnerable." - Jean about joining Breaking Up with Sugar. About Molly Carmel Molly is a leading addiction and eating disorder therapist and the founder of the BeaconProgram, which offers individual and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive relationships with food and dieting. She is also the author of 'Breaking up with Sugar' and the host of 'What You're Craving' Podcast. Connect with Molly Sign up for CAMP SELF-CARE - find what may be the missing link for you to be living the life you deserve - learn more at: mollycarmel.com/camp-self-care. Have questions about the program? Join us for a Camp Self-Care Sneak Peek, August 8 at 4pm - here's the link to sign up: molly-carmel.com/checkout Join my mailing list for info (+ discount!) on our SELF-LOVE CAMP coming in August, my Sunday Love Letter, and a free mini masterclass: mollycarmel.com/signup You can purchase the Breaking Up with Sugar course here: mollycarmel.com/buws Become a part of the Breaking Up with Sugar FB Group: facebook.com/groups/buwsbook Come hang with me on social media! IG (I love a DM!): @mollycarmel YouTube: Molly Carmel TikTok: @realmollycarmel Facebook: facebook.com/mollycarmel.buws