Make Some Noise with Andrea Owen

The free workshop: Live Like You Give a Damn (As the World Burns) is happening tomorrow! Tomorrow, December 18th at 3 p.m. Eastern, I’ll walk you through how to keep your heart open, grounded, and intact during hard seasons of life, so you can live like you give a damn. I’ll add the link for you below so you can join us live. And in case you missed it, my new book Live Like You Give a Damn is officially out in the world — and I can’t wait for you to read it. In this episode, we’re taking a look at what it means to shed before we step into a new year. Since 2025 is the Year of the Snake and 2026 is the Year of the Horse, this moment naturally invites both release and momentum. I’m walking you through the questions, stories, and real-life moments that help you recognize what’s ready to fall away — and how that clearing creates space for aligned action. In this episode, you’ll hear: How the symbolism of the Snake (shedding) and the Horse (movement) can guide your personal reflection What shedding actually looks like in everyday life — with examples you’ll definitely recognize Why release is essential before you start planning or taking action for the new year The most important questions to ask yourself as you move toward 2026 How to free up emotional and energetic space without forcing resolutions A reminder that growth doesn’t require a full reinvention — just honesty and willingness As you listen, I hope you let yourself soften, get curious, and notice what’s quietly asking to be released. Sometimes the smallest things we put down make the biggest difference in how we step forward. PS: I’ll be guest speaking at Rhythmia Life Advancement Center in January, and if you’re interested in attending, click HERE.  Resources from this episode:  Free workshop and grab your copy of LLYGAD Download your free PDF that accompanies this workshop Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: http://andreaowen.com/podcast/707 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re talking about what it feels like to live in a world that just won’t let up and how to stay connected to yourself when everything around you feels chaotic. Returning guest Kate Swoboda is here to dig into fear, overwhelm, and the emotional fallout of constant crisis. Kate is the creator of YourCourageousLife.com, Director of the ICF-accredited Certified Life Coach Collective, and author of The Courage Habit. She’s spent years helping people break fear patterns and practice courage in real, everyday ways and she brings that wisdom straight into this conversation. Together, we unpack the toll nonstop stress takes on your nervous system, why doomscrolling feels like quicksand, and how courage has nothing to do with muscling through. Instead, it’s about capacity, self-regulation, and the internal stories that shape how you move through the world. Kate and I also talk about overwhelm, somatic support, and why the smallest emotional shifts often end up being the most life-changing. In this episode, you’ll hear: How to stay informed about a messy world without getting emotionally pulled under (3:44) What it really takes to build resilience and courage in daily life (14:53) Where to start when overwhelm takes over and you can’t see a way out of the spiral (21:01) What to consider if you’re drawn to becoming a life coach during your own growth journey (31:57) Resources from this episode:  Join me for my workshop: Live Like You Give a Damn (As the World Burns) Certified Life Coach Collective (CLCC) Insight Timer Kate’s website Kate on Instagram Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: http://andreaowen.com/podcast/706 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My new book, Live Like You Give a Damn, comes out December 9th, and I’m so excited for you to finally read it. And right after that, on December 18th, I’m teaching a free workshop to help you reset, reconnect with yourself, and head into the new year with clarity. In today’s episode, we’re digging into communication; specifically the two paths you have when things get tricky: the courageous, connection-building path of hard conversations, and the protective, peace-preserving path of grey rocking. Knowing which one to choose is the skill. In This Episode You'll Hear: Why hard conversations matter and how they’re the backbone of healthy relationships How to recognize when connection is possible versus when self-protection needs to come first What grey rocking actually is and why it’s not “cold,” it’s strategic How to choose the right communication lane instead of defaulting to old patterns An example of grey rocking with a difficult family member during gatherings Communication isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s about discernment. Some relationships deserve your clarity, vulnerability, and effort. Others require neutrality, distance, and zero emotional investment. The magic is learning the difference and choosing the approach that keeps you grounded, sane, and true to yourself. Resources from this episode:  Pre-order my new book, Live Like You Give a Damn and sign up for my free workshop!  Amy Smith’s podcast Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/705 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re talking about stress and the body, the kind that simmers under the surface until something forces you to finally pay attention. This week’s guest, Stacey Garcia, knows that story intimately. After a lifetime of movement through dance, wellness, and “doing everything right,” she was hit with a breast cancer diagnosis that changed the way she thought about stress, healing, intuition, and what it really means to care for yourself. What unfolds in this conversation is an honest look at how stress wakes things up in the body (and not necessarily in a good way), why so many women minimize their symptoms, and how energy healing, daily practices, and self-advocacy become lifelines when your world tilts. Stacey, a dancer, trainer, Reiki practitioner, and host of Never Miss a Monday, brings a grounded wisdom to this episode that I know will stay with you long after it ends. In this episode, you’ll hear: Stacey shares how dance, wellness, and a breast cancer diagnosis shaped the work she does today (4:14) Why chronic stress often shows up right before a major diagnosis and how Stacey began to recognize her own patterns (10:38) What Reiki actually is, how it works, and the emotional releases people experience during sessions (16:09) The one belief about food and bodies Stacey wishes we would retire for good (21:49) Simple ways to tiptoe into spiritual or nervous system practices without overwhelm (24:15) Why becoming the CEO of your own health matters, especially when doctors dismiss you (34:01) Her evolving relationship with control and how energy work helped her surrender during treatment (40:46) Resources from this episode:  Join me for my workshop: Live Like You Give a Damn As the World Burns Never Miss a Monday podcast Stacey on Instagram Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/704 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emotional intelligence is often reduced to “keeping your cool” or not reacting, which is only a very small part of the equation. The real work begins when you can understand why someone is behaving in a way that challenges you, stay grounded in your own truth, and respond with both compassion and clarity. In this solo podcast episode, I unpack the deeper evolution of emotional intelligence; the point where empathy meets boundaries, and self-trust becomes your emotional compass. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why emotional intelligence is more than just self-control or politeness The five core components of emotional intelligence and how they actually show up in real life The stages of emotional growth—from reactivity to true compassion How to hold empathy and boundaries without falling into self-abandonment What it looks like when your nervous system becomes emotionally mature As you listen, you’ll be invited to notice where you might be confusing compassion with tolerance, and how your relationships can transform when understanding doesn’t require self-sacrifice. Resources from this episode: Join me for my workshop: Live Like You Give a Damn As the World Burns Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/703 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s talk about pleasure. Yep, the thing women are taught to avoid, minimize, hide, or feel guilty about. And yet, as this week’s guest Dr. Kimberly Rose Pendleton says, “Pleasure has never been more radical, especially for women.” In a world that feels like it’s collapsing in real time (and let’s be honest, it mostly is), pleasure isn’t frivolous. It’s the way back into your body, your intuition, and your aliveness. Together, we get into how pleasure reconnects you to yourself when the world has trained you to disconnect, why so many women feel shame around wanting anything, and how small “what would feel good right now?” choices can quietly lead you home. Dr. Kimberly Rose Pendleton, intimacy scholar, trauma-informed coach, and founder of UNCOVER, brings her blend of research, real life, and hard-won wisdom to this conversation. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Kimberly shares the unexpected path that led her into intimacy work and how it shapes everything she teaches (5:30) Why knowing what you want starts with the tiniest daily choices (11:34) We talk about how vulnerability has challenged and transformed her relationships and career (20:21) Kimberly breaks down why pleasure feels so off-limits for women and how it can become a healing force (25:20) How grief shows up in intimacy work and why it matters (37:23) Simple ways to rediscover what actually brings you pleasure (42:22) Resources from this episode:  Sign up for my free workshop happening on December 18th! Rythmia Ayahuasca Retreat Dr. Kimberly Rose Pendleton’s website Kimberly’s book Kimberly on Instagram Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: http://andreaowen.com/702 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most of the time, I come into these solo episodes with a well-thought-out topic, complete with an outline and bullet points. But today, I wanted to riff organically with no structure. Just me talking about something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately: integration. Integration is one of those buzzwords that gets thrown around in personal growth, but it’s often misunderstood. It’s the moment where insight turns into embodiment, the thing I like to call the point of no return where you stop trying to “fix” yourself and start actually living what you’ve learned. Many people stay stalled or stuck here (me!), so I’m here to talk about it! In this episode, I talk about what integration really looks like, why emotions are at the center of it, and how to move through this phase with compassion and curiosity. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why integration is the bridge between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. The “point of no return” moment when personal growth stops being conceptual and starts being embodied. How emotions play a central role in integration—and why learning to name, feel, and move through them changes everything. What it means to witness yourself first before expecting anyone else to. How tapping into your childlike nature helps you see all the dimensions of yourself and stay connected to your wholeness. Integration isn’t glamorous or a mountaintop moment. It's the in-between space where you practice what you know and learn to trust yourself in the process. My hope is that this episode helps you soften into that space and recognize that this, right here, is where real transformation happens. Resources from this episode:  Sign up for my free workshop!  We Are the Stars by The Nunnery (on Spotify) Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/701 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m so excited to welcome Sabrina Bendory, author of Detached: How to Let Go, Heal, and Become Irresistible, for a powerful conversation about what it really means to stay grounded in yourself while building healthy, connected relationships. Sabrina shares what inspired her to write Detached and how learning to let go transformed her approach to love, self-worth, and emotional intimacy. We explore how fear and old conditioning keep so many of us stuck and what it looks like to show up as the fullest, most self-assured version of yourself in love and life. What you’ll hear about in this episode: What it means to be detached in relationships and how it actually creates deeper connection (4:44) The fear of ending up alone and how to get free from it (6:44) What emotional availability looks like in practice when you’ve been with someone for years and how to grow together (16:36) How to attract love and opportunities when you’re embodying your worth (you get to decide) (24:48) Shutting down or numbing out in relationships and how to come back home to yourself (41:44) Resources from this episode: Hop on my email list for updates on my books, programs, and more: andreaowen.com/free Sabrina’s Book Sabrina on Instagram Sabrina’s Podcast Sabrina’s Substack Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/700 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to my 2-part podcast episode, where I’m talking about how to “de-center” men (or really anything or anyone we’ve made the “sun” in our lives). We named the pattern: what it looks like to center men and the emotional, relational, and cultural costs when we orbit someone else’s needs at the expense of our own. Today we move from insight to action (Yay!). This episode is about how to stop self-abandoning without burning your life down, and what decentering looks like in real, everyday practice. I’ll walk you through a clear framework you can try this week—tiny choices, boundary language, nervous-system support, and specific drills for dating, work, and long-term partnership. You’ll also hear a couple of personal moments that show how these tools play out when things get clear, messy, and very human. This is what you’ll hear in this episode: A short recap of Part 1: a plain-language definition of “centering men” and why the costs keep adding up over time. How to spot the pattern in real time using quick questions (“Am I doing this for their comfort? For avoiding conflict? To not inconvenience someone else?”) and a pause before reacting. Relational autonomy in action: the “Two-Yes Rule”, and speaking your “why” without over-explaining. Exiting self-silence with nervous-system help: a scheduled anger/venting that doesn’t bleed into your relationships. Reframing “being disliked for having needs” as data—not disaster. Decentering drills for real life: speaking first and reclaiming your voice at work, and self-regulation + clear timing in partnerships. Shifting the ecosystem: auditing your media, re-centering women in your inputs, etc. Decentering isn’t about rejecting or hating men; it’s about reclaiming yourself in a culture that has taught us that centering men will keep us safe and it’s the only option. My hope is that this episode gives you a practical path: notice the old bargain as it’s happening, choose one small values-aligned action, and let your nervous system catch up as you practice new boundaries. And please try the homework! Pick one domain where you tend to self-abandon, run a tiny experiment this week, and reflect on what your body and inner voice tell you. If this landed, share the episode and let me know what shifted for you!  Resources from this episode: Episode 697: De-Centering Men Part 1: What it means and what it costs us Download a Free Digital Version of my upcoming book, Live Like You Give a Damn Hop on my email list for updates on my books, programs, and more: andreaowen.com/free My Ketamine Therapy Journey secret podcast series Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michele Capots joins me to share her deeply personal story of depression, recovery, and the lifelong journey of becoming. Michele’s experience of hitting rock bottom and finding resilience through it led her to help others reclaim hope and mental wellness on their own terms. Michele is a transformational coach, international speaker, and storyteller on the power of mental wellness and resilience. Throughout our conversation, we talk about the self-stigma that keeps so many of us silent, the patterns that hold us back even when we’re aware of them, and how transformation often requires grieving who we used to be. Michele also shares why rest is medicine, and how redefining wellness starts with learning to be instead of constantly doing. What you’ll hear in this episode: Michele’s story of depression, sobriety, and the moment that changed everything (5:26) How self-stigma shows up and what it takes to unlearn what we’ve internalized (10:42) The first step needed to break old patterns (15:54) The grief that comes with letting go of old versions of ourselves and how to navigate the messy middle (22:34) Practical ways to reconnect with your body through somatic work, rest, and sleep for mental wellness (30:42) Resources from this episode: Pre-order my upcoming book, Live Like You Give a Damn (out December 9!) Want to join me at a Rhythmia Retreat in 2026? DM on Instagram @heyandreaowen or email support(at)andreaowen.com for details. Michele’s website Michele on Instagram Michele’s Substack Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/698 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’ve been circling this topic for years in my personal life, and today I’m finally ready to name it out loud: what it means to center men—and the quiet, persistent ways it costs us. This isn’t a takedown of men. It’s a conversation about the water we swim in, how it shapes our choices, and why so many of us end up orbiting someone else’s needs while abandoning our own. In this first of a two-part series, I briefly unpack the language and the lived reality—androcentrism, “woman as Other,” the male gaze, compulsory heterosexuality, and self-silencing—and connect those ideas to everyday moments in dating, marriage, work, family roles, and even how we present ourselves. I also go deeper into patriarchal bargains,something I see over and over in my own life, the lives of my clients, and most (if not all) of the women I know. I weave in my own story and experiences from clients and friends so you can spot the pattern with compassion, not self-blame. This is what you’ll hear in this episode: A clear metaphor for “centering men” (the sun and orbit) and how it shows up in real life. Plain-language definitions of key terms (androcentrism, male gaze, “woman as Other,” patriarchal bargains, comphet, self-silencing). Why patriarchal bargains often feel like safety—and why the price tag grows over time. Everyday examples across dating, long-term partnership, work, family labor, and appearance. The emotional, relational, and cultural costs: confusion of identity, chronic anxiety, resentment, power imbalances, and internalized policing. How health can be impacted when self-silencing becomes a lifestyle (and why this deserves reverence, not shame). A gentle invitation to notice where you might be orbiting—and what questions to journal on before we move into solutions. Part one names the pattern and its costs so you can see it with clarity and care in your own life: centering men isn’t a personal failing—it’s a survival strategy many of us learned. Awareness is the first move.  In part two (in two weeks), we’ll focus on solutions: how to decenter without burning your life down, rebuild self-trust and voice, and practice relational autonomy in dating, work, and partnership.  Resources from this episode: Get updates on my new book Live Like You Give a Damn (out December 9!) Learn about Devotion and see if it’s for you The invention of “The Male Gaze” article by Laura Michelle Jackson Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/697 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m so excited to welcome back Beatriz (Béa) Victoria Albina to talk about something so many of us quietly wrestle with: emotional outsourcing. Béa is a master certified somatic life coach, UCSF-trained family nurse practitioner, and breath work meditation guide who helps humans socialized as women break free from codependency, perfectionism, and people-pleasing so they can reclaim their joy. A lot of what we cover in today’s episode shows up in her brand new book End Emotional Outsourcing. We dig into what emotional outsourcing really is, how we hand over our sense of safety, belonging and worth to everyone and everything outside of ourselves, and the ripple effect that has on boundaries, relationships and your nervous system. Béa explains why talk therapy alone can leave you stuck, what is actually happening when you freeze in the moment, and how perfectionism can sneak into healing and personal growth. And because you know I love practical takeaways, Béa shares simple somatic tools you can use right now to come back home to yourself. These small but powerful shifts help you rebuild self trust and stop outsourcing your emotional wellness. What you will hear in this episode: What emotional outsourcing really is and how codependency, perfectionism, and people-pleasing all fit under it (3:58) Béa explains what she means when she says, “you do this healing in relationship…” (25:36)  Practical somatic practices to rebuild self-trust and move away from outsourcing (32:32) How to begin to rebuild trust with yourself and hear what your body wants (38:30) Resources from this episode: Andrea’s email list:andreaowen.com/free Andrea on Instagram Andrea’s coaching and application page Beatriz’s book Beatriz’s website Episode 531: Navigating Triggers and Calming the Nervous System with Beatriz Victoria Albina Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/696 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Maureen first reached out to me, she was carrying more than anyone should have to juggle at once. She was stuck in a business that was draining her, driving hours to care for both parents as their health declined, and feeling the weight of all that stress on her marriage. To cope, she turned to drinking… which wasn’t exactly a new coping mechanism. On the outside she looked like a successful fitness professional, but privately she was stuck in shame, self-judgment, and the feeling that she was out of alignment with who she truly was. In this episode we do something a little different. Every once in a while I invite a former client to share how coaching shaped their life, not as an infomercial but as a window into what is possible when curiosity and compassion replace shame and judgment. You’ll hear how a single intake question asking, “Is there anything else you want me to know?” opened the door to self-honesty, how coaching helped Maureen finally set boundaries and leave a job that was crushing her, and how one art project I assigned to her revealed what she was hiding behind perfectionism, numbing, and people-pleasing. You can see a photo of Maureen with that project here. Today, Maureen is not only living alcohol-free but also coaching other women through the same struggles she once faced. Her story is proof that shame can lose its grip when met with curiosity, and that lasting change often starts with a single brave conversation. What you will hear in this episode: Why Maureen reached out for coaching: the job that did not fit, caregiving for sick parents, and rising drinking as a coping strategy The surprising intake moment, how a small answer on a form opened the door to talking about alcohol (and why that mattered) How curiosity and non-judgmental questions changed Maureen’s relationship with herself and her drinking The “Armor of Control” art project: turning pain into an image that shows the lies vs. the truth underneath The science that changed her: gray-area drinking, neuroplasticity, and the empowering truth that your brain can be rewired Practical hope: how you can get many of the outcomes you seek (social ease, down-regulation, fun) without alcohol If you found this episode helpful, forward it to a friend who has been quietly struggling. Sometimes hearing one human story is the nudge another person needs. Resources from this episode: Andrea on Instagram Andrea’s coaching and application page Maureen’s website Maureen on Instagram Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/695 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m back with a deep dive into a topic that many listeners have either asked me directly or perhaps quietly wondered about but may not say out loud: what happens when one partner is invested in personal growth and the other isn’t? Drawing from my own journey, years of interviews with experts, and Gottman Institute research, I explore in this solo episode how this dynamic plays out in relationships and what it can mean for intimacy, compatibility, and long-term partnership. Relationships don’t always end because of one big betrayal or crisis. Sometimes, they slowly drift apart as one person evolves and the other prefers comfort and predictability. I’m unpacking the tension between growth-oriented partners and stability-oriented partners—and ask the hard question: can these two ways of being coexist, or does the gap eventually become too wide? What you’ll hear in this episode: How growth-oriented and stability-oriented partners value relationships differently  The ways personal transformation can unintentionally feel like criticism  Why recurring arguments often reveal deeper, unspoken dreams  What happens when one partner turns toward—or away from—bids for connection  How couples can accept influence from each other without fully sharing the same goals  A framework for building a shared meaning system that balances stability and growth  The moment of clarity that comes from realizing you’re asking for more than the relationship can provide  Why leaving isn’t always failure, but sometimes an act of integrity At its core, this conversation is about honoring both your partner’s truth and your own. My invitation to you is to invite you to reflect on what you most deeply want in a relationship and to trust your intuition when the paths no longer align. Resources from this episode: Email me (support@andreaowen.com) or send me a DM on Instagram if you’re interested in deeper work in a new group program I’ll be offering soon! 691 When Growth Rocks the Boat668: Lesson 8: Leaving people behind to find yourselfSeven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/694 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m welcoming back Wendy Valentine, a pocket full of sunshine, reinvention expert, and empowerment coach, to celebrate her brand-new book, Women Waking Up: The Midlife Manifesto for Passion, Purpose, and Play. Whether you’re in midlife yourself or looking for a thoughtful gift for the women in your life, in this conversation and throughout her book, Wendy shares inspiration and tools you can carry into any season.  In this episode, Wendy brings frameworks, strategies, and encouragement for waking up to your fullest self. We explore what it means to move through the dark night of your soul, those heavy, disorienting seasons that can actually serve as a sacred initiation into your next chapter. Plus, we talk about self-reflection as the foundation for all of it, including simple ways to carve out space to check in with yourself, even when life feels overwhelming. What you’ll hear in this episode: The most common disempowering thought in midlife and how to overcome it (5:20) The Freedom Framework: Wendy’s seven-step process for creating lasting change (16:10) Midlife, menopause, and perimenopause and why these transitions are catalysts, not crises (24:48) The Stop, Drop, and Roll method as a practical tool to reframe negative thoughts (32:15) How to make self-reflection a priority, even when life feels too full (33:48) Resources from this episode: Andrea’s email list: andreaowen.com/free Wendy’s website Wendy’s book, Women Waking UpWendy on InstagramApp blocker ✨ If you’re in a season of stretching, expanding, or navigating complex emotions in your relationships, I’ve got something coming up just for you. This new, deeper program is designed to help you build shame resilience, reconnect to self-trust, and stop abandoning yourself for others’ comfort. It’s still brewing—but if you’re curious, DM me on Instagram @heyandreaowen or email us at support@andreaowen.com. I’ll personally reach out with more details to see if it’s for you.  Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/693 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith joins me to unpack procrastination, self-sabotage, reparenting, and the art of saying no, topics that shape how we show up every single day. Together we explore how these patterns are rooted in our nervous system from a young age, why they’re often survival strategies in disguise, and how compassion is the foundation for lasting change. As this conversation highlights, “There is another way of being, and I am going to be curious about it.” Elyssa’s stories and strategies will give you permission to start small, with what I call “turtle steps”, and remind you that self-compassion is always the key. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!  What you’ll hear in this episode: Procrastination: why it’s more than just a “bad habit” and how it often stems from trauma (4:26) Reparenting: practical and surprisingly simple ways we can support our own emotional healing (15:46) Self-sabotage: how it shows up, the role shame plays, and the importance of gratitude and self-compassion when facing it (29:59) Saying no: why choosing yourself is part of the healing process and how to start saying no without drowning in guilt (43:47) Resources from this episode: Elyssa’s Facebook Group: Stress Less Lounge Elyssa’s website ElyssaCSmith on Instagram Existential Kink, Carolyn Elliot PhD (book) ✨Interested in a future Rythmia Ayahuasca retreat with me? I now have details! Drop a DM on Instagram @heyandreaowen or email support[at]andreaowen.com with the subject line “AYA Interested” and I’ll share more information with you. Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/692 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the third and final part of a “series” that’s become a whole love letter to personal growth, grief, and what happens when those two things crash up against the realities of our relationships. If you missed episodes 687 (The Perpetual Pregnancy of Grief) and 689 (The Grief That Comes After the Relationship Ends), consider this the closing chapter of a conversation on becoming more yourself, and what that means for the people who’ve been walking alongside you… your partner(s), friends, and family.  This episode is about that challenging, complicated (and often painful) space where your healing starts to create tension in a relationship. Maybe you’re in a season of deep inner work, therapy, journaling, finally setting boundaries… and suddenly, something in your partnership (or friendship or family dynamic) starts to feel off. This isn’t just about romantic relationships—though that’s often where it hits hardest. It’s about what happens when one person evolves faster, deeper, or differently than the other. And what we do with the grief, the self-doubt, and the desire to stay connected without losing ourselves. What you’ll hear in this episode: The three outcomes that tend to happen when one person outgrows the relationship’s current dynamic How shrinking to keep the peace becomes a subtle form of self-abandonment What it looks like to “go back to old behaviors” to avoid rocking the boat Why love doesn’t have to be perfectly paced to still evolve together What happens when you give someone the dignity of their own process—even if it means walking away The real reason why some grief only shows up after you feel safe enough to grow Why your healing is not the villain (even if it feels like it’s causing a rupture) Reflection questions for your own growth  If you’re in a season of stretching, expanding, or navigating complex emotions in your relationships, I’ve got something coming up just for you. This new, deeper program is designed to help you build shame resilience, reconnect to self-trust, and stop abandoning yourself for others’ comfort. It’s still brewing—but if you’re curious, DM me on Instagram @heyandreaowen or email us at support@andreaowen.com. I’ll personally reach out with more details to see if it’s for you.  Resources from this episode: Episode 687: Carrying Grief: A Perpetual Pregnancy of the Soul Episode 689: The Love That Let Me Feel Again Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/691 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What really happens in your brain during an ayahuasca ceremony? I’m talking with Dr. Jeff McNairy, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Rhythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica, about the science, the spiritual side, and how plant medicine can support deep healing, if it’s right for you. Psychedelic therapy isn’t for everyone, and I get that. But when the soulful, spiritual side of healing meets actual neuroscience, I’m all in. At the end of the day, it’s about your health, your healing, and knowing all of the options available to you. Plant medicine is something I’ve been exploring, and it’s been profoundly helpful in my own growth. That’s why I’m bringing you this conversation with Dr. Jeff. We get into how trauma gets stored in the body, what’s really going on in your brain during ayahuasca, and why it’s not a cure-all (and not for everyone).  What you’ll hear about in this episode: How untreated trauma gets stored in the amygdala and shows up as anxiety and why our “push through it” culture makes it worse (7:38) Dr. Jeff’s path from running rehab and psychiatric programs in LA to working with plant medicine in Costa Rica (16:19) Why ayahuasca isn’t for everyone, what to consider before trying it, and how to know if you feel “called” (22:14) The neurochemistry of ayahuasca: what DMT does in your brain and how it can help release trauma (27:31) Common results Dr. Jeff sees at Rhythmia: from reduced anxiety and depression to long-term emotional shifts (49:26) My own “double reaction” during ceremony and Dr. Jeff’s take on what was happening physically and spiritually (56:56) Resources from this episode:✨Interested in a future Rythmia Ayahuasca retreat with me? Drop a DM on Instagram @heyandreaowen or email support[at]andreaowen.com with the subject line “AYA Interested” to be added to the interest list! My Ketamine Therapy Journey secret podcast seriesRythmia Retreat Andrea on Instagram @heyandreaowen Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/690 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I know, I know, I’ve been talking about grief a decent amount lately, and this week’s episode brings yet another angle—one we don’t talk about nearly enough. This is about the kind of grief that sneaks in long after the breakup papers are signed and the dust has settled. The grief that only makes itself known once you’ve created enough distance, or when—surprise!—you fall in love again and finally feel safe enough to feel. And this doesn’t just happen after a marriage ends and someone falls in love again. It can happen in our friendships, relationships with family, even jobs or careers.  In this episode, I’m sharing the surprising grief that surfaced two and a half years after leaving a long relationship. This isn’t the obvious “heartbreak grief” that hits you right after the end. This is the grief that comes from looking in the review mirror. From realizing how much you self-abandoned, finally feeling seen and loved, and grieving all the versions of yourself that didn’t get that. We’re also looking at what it really means to “grow apart” in a relationship, why you can’t prescribe someone else’s evolution (aka “how can I get my partner to be into personal growth more?”), and how love (new or long-term) can become an amplifier for healing if you let it. If you’ve ever asked, “How do I get my significant other  on board with my personal growth and their own?” or “Why does this new relationship feel so tender and terrifying at the same time?”—this one’s for you. Why “growing apart” is more than a vague excuse—and how to tell when it’s actually happening The quiet grief that follows clarity and hindsight How self-abandonment can masquerade as “keeping the peace” The sneaky ways we shrink to feel loved (and how that resentment creeps in) What happens when new love cracks you wide open in the best (and hardest) ways Why some grief only shows up after you feel safe How love can either be a bypass or an amplifier; and why the difference matters Interested in my next group program? It’s deep, intimate, and designed for this kind of layered, soul-level work. It's still in development (she doesn’t even have a name yet, but currently referring to it as “The Deep Work” 👀), but if you're curious, send me a message and I’ll personally reach out with more details when I have them soon.  Resources from this episode Leaving People Behind podcast episode DM me on Instagram @heyandreaowen and tell me what resonated most from this episode. Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/689 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s episode is all about spiritual deconstruction, what it is, why it happens, and what comes after. I’m joined by Brittney Hartley, an atheist spiritual director with a Master’s in Theology who has created a captivated following with her content. I love how Brittany talks about this topic with honesty, clarity, and depth. I wanted to bring this topic to the podcast because so much of what I teach is about deconstructing beliefs that no longer work for us and figuring out what does actually work for you. Religion is often one of those things. From both my personal experience and what I know so many of you have gone through, I think you’re going to love this conversation with Brittney. Here’s what really hit me in our conversation: spiritual deconstruction isn’t just about walking away from religion. It’s about rebuilding a sense of meaning that actually aligns with who you are, not who you were told to be. Brittney shares what helped her through the unlearning process, how religious trauma shows up in sneaky ways (especially for women), and why reclaiming your intuition and identity is deeply spiritual work. What you’ll hear about in this episode: Brittney’s spiritual deconstruction story from Mormonism to theology school to becoming an Atheist Spiritual Director (5:40) Personality traits more likely to lead to deconstruction (spoiler: empathy, curiosity, and authenticity play a big role) (13:27) The sneakier signs of spiritual trauma for women raised in patriarchal religions (15:33) Anchors and practices that helped Brittney rebuild her identity, including discovering core values (20:34) The biggest culprit of religious trauma for women (28:35) Resources from this episode: Interested in doing deeper work within a group setting and with me? Drop a DM on Instagram @heyandreaowen or email support[at]andreaowen.com with the note “Interested in your deeper work” and I’ll send you more details. Britt’s website Britt’s book, No Nonsense Spirituality Britt on Instagram @nononsensespirituality The Heroine’s Journey, Maureen Murdock Deconstruction, Dogma, and Spiritual Beliefs with David Hayward Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ Episode link: https://andreaowen.com/podcast/688 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices