There comes a moment when the life you worked so hard to build no longer feels sustainable. You’re successful, capable, and still showing up—but underneath it all, something feels off. The pace feels heavy. The pressure feels constant. And the version of success you’ve been chasing starts to cost more than you’re willing to pay.

In today’s episode, Rachel sits down with Alexandria Ott—founder and CEO of Chrome City Creative, creator of The Blank Table dinner series, and a woman who knows firsthand what it means to rebuild yourself from the inside out while leading, mothering, and navigating massive life transitions.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on what “having it all” really looks like behind the scenes: the seasons of burnout, the pressure to perform, the identity unraveling, the motherhood layers, and the strength it takes to build a career, a life, and a self you’re actually proud of.

Together, Rachel and Alex dive into:

• The internal shift that happens before an external change
• Why identity transitions feel confusing — and why that’s normal
• How to rebuild your life when the old version of you no longer fits
• The truth about balance, burnout, and the pressure to be “all things”
• The privilege, the sacrifice, and the support required to make big dreams work
• How to stop comparing your path to everyone else’s
• Creating a life you feel instead of a life you simply manage
• The role of rest, health, and internal grounding — especially for high-achieving women
• Why you must decide how you want your life to feel, not just what you want to accomplish
• The mindset shift Alex uses to keep fear and scarcity from running her life or business

This is the kind of conversation that gives language to what so many women are silently navigating: the unraveling, the rebuilding, and the courageous middle space between who you were and who you’re becoming.

If you’re in a transition season—or if you’ve been questioning your pace, your identity, or your path—this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

QUOTES:

“Not everyone is meant to be in the A-seat. You can thrive in the role that aligns with your soul—not the one the world tells you to want.”

“The middle isn’t a void. It’s a crossing. It’s where God does His deepest rebuilding.”

“What if the baseline is that everything works out? What if the default is abundance?”

“You can’t build a life you love by modeling someone else’s blueprint. You have to look within.”

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS:

I Am… Becoming - A guided identity journey for women navigating transition, rebuilding, or stepping into a new season. iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming

I Am… Enough Reset - A simple 10-minute reset to help you quiet the noise and return to yourself when life feels overwhelming. iamrachelbrooks.com/reset

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRIA OTT

Chrome City Creative: chromecitycreative.com

Instagram: @alexvott

The Blank Table + Wild and Wise Podcast: alexandriaott.com

CONNECT WITH RACHEL BROOKS:

Instagram: @iamrachelbrooks

Website: iamrachelbrooks.com