Twenty Something with Olivia Burnett

There’s a version of your life you want.But if you’re honest, you probably don’t fully let yourself go there.Because hoping for it feels risky. If you really want it, and it doesn’t happen, that disappointment hits harder.So instead, you stay somewhere in the middle. You work hard, you show up, but you don’t fully expect things to work out.In this episode, I sit down with Blake Barney to talk about a phrase he lives by:“Hope for the highest.”And not in a cliché way—but in a way that actually changes how you think, act, and build your life.In this episode you'll learn:Why we default to expecting the worst (especially in our 20s)How your expectations quietly shape your actions and opportunitiesThe difference between measuring your life by outcomes vs. effortHow habits like vision boards, affirmations, and environment actually rewire your thinkingThe idea of co-creating your life with God, instead of waiting for clarity or confidence firstAnd how to keep going when nothing seems to be working (even when you feel behind)Blake also shares his experience working toward a goal for years with no visible progress—and what it taught him about consistency, identity, and trusting the process.This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck between wanting more and being scared to fully believe it’s possible.Because maybe the shift isn’t doing more.It’s learning how to hope for the highest—and live like it’s possible.Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnettConnect with Blake:Instagram @blakebarney

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly starting over with your health, this episode is for you.Because the problem usually isn’t that you don’t care. It’s that you’ve been taught to approach health in a way that isn’t sustainable.All-or-nothing routines. Extreme plans. Trying to become your “ideal self” overnight.And then when it doesn’t stick, you feel like you failed.In this episode, I’m joined by Natalie Wilson - a fitness coach whose entire philosophy is built around sustainable health, realistic routines, and progress over perfection.But this conversation isn’t just about workouts.It’s about learning how to build consistency in a way that actually fits your life — and shifting your mindset so health becomes something that supports you, not something that overwhelms you.We talk about why most people struggle to stay consistent, what actually works long-term, and how to stop feeling like you’re constantly starting over.✨ What you’ll learn:The 3 shifts that make healthy habits actually stickWhy motivation isn’t the thing you should rely onHow to build routines that fit your real life (not your ideal one)The biggest mistakes people make when trying to “get healthy”How to stop starting over every time you miss a dayWhy extremes and perfectionism are keeping you stuckHow to build a healthier relationship with your body and yourself💬 Connect with Liv:Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett🤍 Connect with Natalie:Instagram: @natwilsonfitness App & Workouts: (insert her app link here)

In your 20s, it can feel like you’re doing everything right… and still somehow falling behind.You’re working, trying to build a life you actually want, navigating relationships, figuring out your faith, and instead of clarity, you’re left with more questions. About God. About timing. About who you’re supposed to become.And if you’re honest, sometimes it feels like everyone else got the memo except you.In this episode, I sit down with Hank Smith - BYU professor and co-host of the Follow Him podcast - to talk about what’s actually going on underneath that feeling.Because what if the reason you feel disconnected from God isn’t because you’re doing something wrong? What if it’s because no one ever taught you what that relationship is supposed to feel like?We talk about spiritual disconnection, overthinking, feeling behind in life, and how to build a relationship with God that actually feels real; not forced, not performative, but personal.This episode is for anyone who:feels like their life doesn’t look how they thought it wouldis tired of feeling behindstruggles to feel close to Godor just wants something that feels honest and groundingYou’re not behind. You’re not forgotten. And you’re not doing this wrong.In this episode, we talk about:Why feeling “behind” might not mean what you think it doesWhat to do when you feel disconnected from GodThe gap between expectations vs. reality in your 20sHow to actually build a relationship with GodWhy your life still has purpose, even if it doesn’t look how you plannedIf this episode resonates with you, send it to someone who’s been feeling the same way.Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnettConnect with Hank: Instagram: @hankrsmith Podcast: Follow Him

Why do so many men feel exhausted, disconnected, and unfulfilled—but struggle to say they’re sad?In this episode of Twenty Something, Liv sits down with men’s coach Nate Johansen to unpack the emotional reality behind burnout—and why it’s often misunderstood.Because what if burnout isn’t just about doing too much… but about being disconnected from who you are?Nate shares why so many men are taught to suppress emotion, how that shows up as exhaustion, isolation, and disconnection, and why so many people feel stuck in lives that don’t fully feel like their own.If you’re a man, this episode will help you understand what you’re actually feeling—and why. And if you’re trying to better support the men in your life, this will give you a perspective you may have never considered.But this conversation is also about all of us.It’s about the quiet ways we ignore what we feel, the roles we step into without questioning, and what happens when we keep pushing through instead of slowing down.In this episode, we talk about:Why burnout might actually be emotional disconnectionThe difference between feeling “exhausted” and actually being depressedHow fear and shame shape the decisions we makeWhy avoiding your emotions keeps you stuckWhat it looks like to reconnect with yourselfWhether you’re trying to understand yourself—or someone you love—this episode will shift the way you see it all.Because maybe you don’t need to fix your life. Maybe you just need to reconnect with yourself.Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast Tiktok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnettConnect with Nate Johansen: Instagram: @nate_johansen

In this episode, I sit down with Shay Martin for an honest and deeply human conversation about what it looks like to keep living after loss. At just 25 years old, Shay’s husband, Tanner, was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. What followed was years of navigating treatments, uncertainty, and learning how to hold onto hope while facing a reality neither of them expected so young. Along the way, Shay and Tanner shared their journey online, building a community of hundreds of thousands of people who followed their story, drawn to their honesty, their love, and the way they chose to keep living fully, even in the hardest circumstances. In 2025, Shay became a mother to their daughter, AmyLou. Just weeks later, Tanner passed away, leaving Shay to navigate grief, motherhood, and a completely reimagined life all at once. In this conversation, Shay opens up about what grief actually feels like beyond the moment of loss, how it changes over time, how joy and sadness can coexist, and what it means to carry love forward instead of feeling like you have to move on. We talk about what helps (and what doesn’t) when someone is grieving, how to support people in hard seasons, and how to keep becoming when life looks nothing like what you planned. Whether you’re navigating loss, heartbreak, or simply a season that didn’t turn out the way you hoped, this episode will meet you there. Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Connect with Shay: Instagram: @tannerandshay Podcast: Grief Witnessed

Health Is Wealth: Building a Fitness Brand with Annika OrozcoBehind every “overnight success” is years of quiet work no one sees. Starting something is hard, but sticking with it is harder.In this episode, Liv sits down with Annika Orozco, founder of Annika, a newly opened fitness studio and gym built around the belief that Health is Wealth. Just days after opening her doors, Annika shares what it really looked like to bring this vision to life: the risk, the pressure, the discipline, and the mindset it took to keep going when things felt uncertain.From losing over 75 pounds to building a business rooted in sustainable habits and real community, Annika opens up about the small decisions that changed everything. Liv and Annika talk about gym anxiety, beauty standards, imposter syndrome, and what it actually takes to create lasting confidence - not just physically, but mentally and professionally too.They also get into the business side of building something from the ground up: putting yourself out there, learning in rooms where you don’t feel qualified yet, staying consistent when no one is watching, and trusting that progress compounds over time.If you’ve been wanting to feel better, start something, or finally follow through on the goals you keep putting off, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.In this episode, you'll learn: • The small, sustainable habits that lead to real change •Gym anxiety, body image, and navigating beauty standards • Taking ownership of your health without shame • Building a business and brand from the ground up • Imposter syndrome, consistency, and doing it anywayConnect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcastTikTok: @twentysomething_podcastYouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnettVisit Annika: Gym + Studio: https://www.annika.com/Annika Memberships: https://www.annika.com/membersInstagram: @annika.wellness @annika.orozco

If you’ve been feeling stuck, uncertain, emotionally overwhelmed, or like life isn’t unfolding the way you thought it would by now, this conversation is for you.In this episode, Liv sits down with author and Of Stone and Clay podcast host Taylor Church to talk about what it actually means to navigate the “in-between” seasons of life, the moments when old versions of you no longer fit, but the next chapter hasn’t fully arrived yet. Together, they explore how to understand your emotions instead of fearing them, why so many of us feel behind in our 20s, and how learning to be present can completely change the way you experience your life.This isn’t a conversation about fixing yourself or having everything figured out. It’s about learning how to live fully inside your life right now, even when you’re waiting for clarity, love, direction, or change.Because when you’re in a season of uncertainty, the last thing you need is pressure to reinvent your entire life. What you actually need are healthier ways to understand your feelings, trust your timing, and stop postponing happiness for some future version of yourself.By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a new perspective on emotions, relationships, and what it means to truly be present — along with practical ways to become more self-aware and grounded in your everyday life.You’ll learn: -Why sadness and uncertainty aren’t problems to fix -How to stop waiting for your life to start -The difference between dating and finding real love -How journaling helps you understand your emotions and beliefs -Why being present changes how you experience joy, relationships, and growthIf you’ve ever felt like everyone else is moving forward while you’re still waiting for your next chapter, this episode will remind you that you’re not behind — you’re human.There’s nothing wrong with being in the middle of becoming.And sometimes, learning how to live fully right now is the very thing that moves your life forward.Connect with Liv:Instagram @twentysomething_podcastTiktok: @twentysomething_podcastYouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett

Grief is something we think we understand — until it happens to us.In this episode, we’re talking about what it feels like when loss doesn’t just hurt, but changes you. Losing someone to suicide leaves behind more than sadness. It leaves shock. Questions that don’t have answers. Guilt you didn’t expect. A quiet realization that people can be carrying far more than we ever see.Bannon Greer shares about losing one of his closest friends and how that loss reshaped the way he moves through the world. How it shifted the way he sees conversations, friendships, and even ordinary days. And how it pushed him to become more intentional — to check in, to show up, to care more deliberately.We talk about the disorientation of grief. The way life keeps moving when yours feels paused. And how small acts of service — simple, consistent presence — can become part of healing.If you’ve ever felt blindsided by loss… If you’ve wrestled with questions that don’t have clean answers… If you’ve felt alone in your pain while everyone else carried on…This conversation is for you.If you or someone you know may be struggling, please know you are not alone. Support resources are listed below.📌 Suicide Prevention & Support ResourcesIf you are in the U.S.: • Call or text 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free, confidential) • Chat online at 988lifeline.orgIf you are outside the U.S.: • Find international helplines at: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlinesIf you are in immediate danger, call 911 (or your local emergency number).If you’re not in crisis but need someone to talk to, consider reaching out to a trusted friend, a licensed therapist, or a local mental health provider. You deserve support.Don't miss out on all things Twenty Something!Instagram: @twentysomething_podcastTiktok: @twentysomething_podcastFacebook: Twenty Something PodcastTwenty Something is hosted by Olivia Burnett

What does it actually look like to bet on yourself?In this episode, I’m sitting down with entrepreneur Andrew Marino — founder of Royal Guard Co, sales leader, investor, and someone who has intentionally built a life that doesn’t follow a straight line. From working in corporate tech and closing millions in revenue, to launching his own all-natural personal care brand, to moving across cities, to even appearing on Hulu’s Are You My First, Andrew has consistently chosen growth over comfort.But this conversation isn’t about résumé highlights. It’s about the pivots.We talk about evolving in your 20s and 30s, outgrowing old versions of yourself, the hidden costs of ambition, dating while you’re still becoming, and how to know when it’s time to change direction. Andrew shares what it means to build a life on your own terms — and why the unconventional path often teaches you the most about who you really are.If you’ve ever felt behind, stuck, or unsure whether you’re allowed to change your mind… this episode is your permission.You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to bet on yourself.

What does it actually take to build a billion-dollar company and still build a life that feels grounded, meaningful, and whole?In this episode, I sit down with Steven J. Lund to talk about leadership, ambition, family, faith, and the quiet decisions that shape a life over time. Steven shares his journey from growing up in California to serving overseas, joining the military after a spiritual prompting, earning a law degree, and helping build Nu Skin into a global company, all while raising a family and staying rooted in his values.We talk honestly about what success really costs, how to take risks without losing yourself, what joy looks like in everyday life, and how to keep faith, purpose, and relationships from becoming sidelined along the way. Steven also opens up about grief, prayer, leadership, and what he’s learned about becoming who you’re meant to be, even when the path isn’t clear.Whether you’re ambitious, searching, rebuilding, or just trying to figure out how to live a meaningful life without burning out - this conversation is for you.

In your 20s, happiness can feel fleeting, like something you’re constantly chasing but never quite holding onto. We get caught in a trap that it will come once we have the right job, relationship, routine, or sense of stability… but what if that’s not how happiness works at all?In this episode, I sit down with Abigail Ferrell, author of Happier Us, to unpack what truly creates lasting happiness and how to build it intentionally. We talk about the biggest misconceptions people have about happiness, why so many of us feel stuck or numb, and what science and faith surprisingly agree on when it comes to joy.Abigail shares practical, step-by-step tools for rewiring your brain for joy, including how your thoughts, words, and daily habits shape your emotional life more than you realize. We explore affirmations, gratitude, the role of community, and how to choose happiness without ignoring hard emotions or real struggles.This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and deeply grounding — especially if you’re in a season where life looks fine on the outside, but something feels off on the inside.If you’ve ever wondered why happiness feels harder than it should… this episode is for you.

Relationships shape nearly every part of our lives: how we see ourselves, how we connect with others, and how we experience meaning and purpose. But most of us were never actually taught how to relate well.In this conversation, I sit down with Jeffrey Mann to talk about the core relationship skills that quietly shape everything else: self-awareness, emotional regulation, responsibility, boundaries, trust, and faith. We explore what it looks like to build a healthier relationship with yourself, how those inner patterns show up in friendships and family, and why our relationship with God often reflects the way we relate to ourselves and others.This episode isn’t about dating advice or quick fixes. It’s about the foundational skills that form who you’re becoming — and why learning to practice them can change the quality of your life, your relationships, and your sense of peace.Instagram: @jeffreymann_Podcast: Mann on the Mic

This episode feels like those special, long, honest girl chats — the kind that usually happen late at night on the couch, in the car after dinner, or through voice notes that slowly turn into therapy sessions. Together, we talk about dating and relationships, confidence as a single person, what actually builds a strong marriage and partnership, femininity, friendship breakups, career pressure, motherhood, the “ick,” worst date stories, and the honest opinions we don’t always say out loud.We dive into the questions so many of us are quietly carrying: How do you stay hopeful in dating when it feels exhausting? What really builds confidence? How do you grow with your partner instead of apart? What makes a marriage last? How do friendships shift as you get older? And how do you navigate becoming softer, stronger, and more self-aware at the same time?This isn’t advice from experts — it’s real, unfiltered conversation between friends who are still figuring it out. From women who inspire me. Honest, funny, thoughtful, and comforting, this episode is a reminder that you’re not behind, you’re not strange for wondering these things, and you’re not alone in the season you’re in. These are the conversations we don’t have enough with our friends — but probably should.Connect with Corinne and Kass on Instagram@corinnecwall@kass_lewis21

What if the desire for love and connection isn’t something to fix but something to understand?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jenet Erickson to talk about why our longing for deep relationships is not a weakness or a failure, but a fundamental part of how we’re designed. From the earliest moments of life, we are wired for connection and that wiring doesn’t disappear just because relationships feel hard, delayed, or different than we expected.We talk about what it means to want love while still figuring yourself out, how to build meaningful relationships at any stage of life, and why feeling behind or unsure doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. Whether you’re single, dating, married, or simply trying to deepen the relationships you already have, with others or with yourself, this conversation is for you.If you’ve ever wondered why you want connection so deeply, or worried that your longing means you’re broken, this episode offers reassurance, clarity, and hope: there is good ahead, and you were always meant for love.

Maybe part of you still wants your ex back. Maybe you’re trying to move on, but you can’t imagine your life without them. Maybe you’re barely sleeping, barely eating, struggling to show up at work, or wondering how you’re supposed to function when the person you loved is suddenly gone. In this episode, I sit down with Cole Zesiger to talk about what you actually do when your heart is broken — not surface-level advice or quick fixes, but the real, uncomfortable work of healing while you’re still in it. We talk about why heartbreak takes over your thoughts, why missing someone can feel all-consuming, and how to begin moving forward and investing in yourself and your future, even when you don’t feel ready. Whether your goal is to save a relationship or finally let go, this conversation offers a clear, honest guide to healing a broken heart, rebuilding your life beyond the relationship, and finding real comfort, clarity, and hope. If you’re hurting and don’t know what comes next — if you’re wondering how to keep going when everything in you wants to hold on — this is where you begin. Connect with Cole: YouTube: @colezesiger Instagram: @coachcolezesiger TikTok: @colezesiger Preorder Ex’s and No’s: coachcolezesiger.com/exsandnos

Building healthy relationships isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes growth brings old patterns, fears, and insecurities to the surface — especially when something in your life is actually going well. In this episode, I sit down with therapist Zach Hazlett (The Outdoor Therapist) to talk about the truth behind building healthy relationships. We explore why positive connections can feel challenging, how awareness often comes before ease, and why you don’t need to be fully “healed” to start showing up differently. We unpack boundaries, what they really are, how they protect your sense of self, and why honoring your needs doesn’t mean shutting people out. This conversation is about self-worth, responsibility, and learning how to grow without putting your life on hold. If you’re navigating change, learning to trust yourself, or trying to build healthier connections in your life, this episode is for you. It offers honest perspective without pressure, perfection, or quick fixes. Instagram - @the_outdoor_therapist www.getoutsidetogether.com

Everyone loves the beginning. Everyone celebrates the ending. Almost no one talks about the middle.The middle is where things feel unclear, delayed, unfinished — where prayers feel unanswered, timelines don’t make sense, and you’re doing your best to trust God without knowing how your story actually turns out.In this episode, I sit down with Wes Wright to talk honestly about what it’s like to live in the in-between. We talk about faith when clarity hasn’t come yet, trusting God when life doesn’t look the way you hoped it would, and learning how to stay steady when you’re still waiting on the thing you want most.This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck, behind, or frustrated by the timing of their life — and needs permission to admit that the middle is hard… without believing it’s pointless.If you’re in the middle of your story right now, this one’s for you.

Do you ever wonder what your body is keeping score of?So many of us carry tension, anxiety, exhaustion, and trauma in our bodies without fully understanding where it’s coming from or how to manage the symptoms. We try to think our way out of it — and end up feeling even more frustrated when that doesn’t work. Or we don’t know where to start and just hope it will eventually “be fine.”Why does stress linger? Why do emotions feel stuck? Why does your body react before your mind can explain it — even when you’ve “moved on”?In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Hatchett, founder of Yoga With Lo and a trauma-informed yoga teacher who helps simplify trauma physiology and mental health in a way that actually makes sense.Lauren explains how trauma doesn’t just live in the mind — it shows up physically in the body. Certain muscles respond to specific emotions, and when those emotions aren’t processed, the body holds onto them. We talk about not only how this happens, but how to safely work those emotions out of the body.We discuss how trauma, stress, and emotion are stored in the nervous system, how the body learns to protect you, and why healing is most effective when it includes both mental and physical processing — this is the often-missing physical side of healing.Lauren breaks down: • how stress and trauma show up physically • why your body reacts before your thoughts do • what trauma-informed healing actually means • how movement supports emotional regulation • and how to work with your body instead of fighting itIf you’ve ever felt like your body is trying to tell you something — but you don’t know how to listen — this conversation is for you.

If you’ve ever prayed your guts out and felt like heaven just… didn’t answer? Yeah. Same. This episode with Brad Wilcox is for anyone who’s felt frustrated, ignored, confused, or honestly just tired of trying so hard and feeling like nothing is shifting. We talk about: Those nights you pray and it feels like your words hit the ceiling wanting good, righteous things… and wondering why they’re not happening Feeling behind in your 20s and comparing your timeline to everyone else’s The weird mix of anger + guilt you feel when God seems far away Trying to trust a God you can’t always feel Building real confidence and self-worth when life feels stuck Why quiet seasons don’t mean abandoned seasons It’s honest. It’s messy. It’s that “guys, I don’t get what God is doing with my life right now” conversation we all have in our heads but never say out loud. And Brad brings the kind of perspective that makes you feel seen, grounded, and reminded that: silence isn’t absence, waiting isn’t punishment, and God is doing more in your life than you think. If you’re in a season that feels slow, quiet, or unfair… this one’s for you. Let it sit with you. Let it breathe. Let it remind you you’re not alone.

Be honest—what have you been avoiding? The DM you won’t send, the room you won’t walk into, the idea you keep saying "I'll do tomorrow", the thing you keep “perfecting” instead of taking action? Kade Peterson hit that wall a few years ago and realized comfort was keeping him from growing into the person he wanted to be, so he broke his comfort zone—loudly, and on purpose. Today, Kade’s platform inspires millions to get comfortable being uncomfortable. We get real about what that actually looks like: having the hard conversation, showing up alone, taking the shot with shaky hands. We sort fear, insecurity, and plus simple ways to take action before you feel ready— and how stretching yourself builds the muscle to handle hard things. Kade also shares how saying yes to discomfort helped him build a business, grow a platform, and meet people he never would’ve reached otherwise. If you’re tired of playing small, this episode gives you clear steps to do the scary thing this week—without waiting for confidence to show up first.