Who Do You Think You Are Talking To Podcast

79. What Belonging Does for a Child That Achievement Never Can

What does it actually mean for a child to belong somewhere? Not to succeed there. Not to be the best there. But to walk in and feel completely, quietly safe to be themselves. In this episode, I share the story of how a community of dedicated music teachers transformed my sons' experience of school — and of themselves. From a 2nd grader who almost missed his chance at the orchestra, to a senior year that could have broken my son Danny, to the word that stopped me in her tracks: haven. This episode is about what belonging really does — and why its absence is where so many adult patterns of people-pleasing, over-performing, and emotional exhaustion begin. What You'll Hear in This Episode → Jonah in 2nd grade — the moment I almost closed a door she didn't even see → Who Rachel Saldana is, and what she saw that I didn't → How belonging in the music department changed both boys — not just musically, but as people → Danny's senior year: the weight of it, and how his teachers reached in when it mattered most → The one word Danny used that I had never forgotten: haven → Why belonging matters more than achievement for long-term emotional health → How the absence of belonging in childhood creates the people-pleasing patterns I sees in her adult clients → The letter I wrote to the school district — because I wanted them to know what they had Resources & Links Join The Reset Info Session — free live event, June 16th: jennymcoaching.com/group Not sure if people pleasing applies to you? Take the 2-minute quiz: bit.ly/notapeoplepleaser Follow Jenny on Instagram and LinkedIn: @jennymcoaching This episode directly answers: 'Why is belonging important for children?' · 'What does belonging do for a child?' · 'How does childhood environment affect adult behaviour?' · 'Why do kids need emotional safety?' · 'Where does people pleasing start?' · 'How do teachers impact student wellbeing?' This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com

78. Why Pushing Kids to Be 'On Track' Creates Adults Who Can't Say No

What does it actually cost to raise a child on someone else's timeline? In this episode, I get honest about the pressure parents feel to keep their kids 'on track' - the sports schedules, the AP classes, the invisible race nobody signed up for. Drawing on my own experience watching my two boys find their own paths later than most, I explore what happens when kids are pushed to perform before they're ready — and why those early patterns of saying yes, pushing through, and ignoring what they feel show up decades later in exhausted, people-pleasing adults. This episode is for every parent who has quietly wondered whether they're doing too much — and for every adult who is only now starting to recognise where their people-pleasing patterns actually began. What You'll Hear in This Episode → Why nearly 70% of kids drop out of organised sports by age 13 - and what that number is really telling us → My sons Jonah and Danny: what starting late actually taught them (and why they still love their sports) → The real financial and emotional cost of over-scheduling children → How childhood pressure to perform plants the seeds of adult people-pleasing → The difference between reacting automatically and pausing to choose your response → What I actually wanted for her kids - and why it had nothing to do with grades or trophies Resources & Links Join The Reset Info Session — free live event, June 16th: www.jennymcoaching.com/group [https://www.jennymcoaching.com/group] Not sure if people pleasing applies to you? Take the 2-minute quiz: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/816991/188539643660076178/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/816991/188539643660076178/share] Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn: @jennymcoaching This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com

77. Why You Feel Stuck Right Now (And the Small Shift That Changes It)

Have you ever found yourself thinking: 👉 "I don't know what I want anymore…" 👉 "Why do I feel so stuck?" 👉 "I used to be decisive - what happened?" In this episode, I take you inside a real coaching conversation where a client said something that stopped me in my tracks: 👉 "I don't think I've had conviction about anything… since college." What we uncovered wasn't a lack of confidence or direction. It was a loss of connection to the version of her who trusted herself. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why feeling stuck doesn't mean something is wrong with you • How overthinking quietly replaces self-trust • The shift from "trying to get it right" → trusting yourself again • A simple way to start moving forward (without blowing up your life) The real shift: You don't need a full plan. You need to reconnect with the version of you who already knows how to take the next step. ✨ A simple question to take with you: 👉 Where have you started to believe "that's not me anymore"? 👉 And what would that version of you do next? 💛 Want to go deeper? If this episode resonated, the best place to start is my People Pleasing Quiz. https://forms.gle/hs6wa6N6Q6iqKYBt9 [https://forms.gle/hs6wa6N6Q6iqKYBt9] It will help you see your patterns clearly - especially if you tend to: • overthink decisions • say yes when you don't want to • feel stuck between what you want and what you "should" do You'll also get access to my emails where I share simple, real-life ways to shift from reacting to responding. Follow the show If this episode helped you, make sure you follow the podcast so you don't miss what's coming next. I'm sharing more behind-the-scenes coaching moments like this… and introducing a new way to work with me soon. This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com

76. How to Handle Life Transitions Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Life is full of transitions. Some we expect. Some we don't. And even when they're good… they can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share a personal moment I'm moving through right now: • my youngest graduating • my oldest starting her next chapter • and the shift into a quieter home Alongside that, I take you inside a powerful experience from an equine therapy workshop that brought everything into focus. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why transitions can trigger overwhelm—even when nothing is "wrong" • What actually causes that frozen, stuck feeling • How to stay grounded instead of trying to figure everything out at once • The unexpected lesson a horse named Pebbles taught me about trust The real shift: Overwhelm isn't about doing too much. It's about trying to hold everything at once. When you slow things down… and come back to one step… everything starts to move again. ✨ A simple question to take with you: 👉 What's one thing you're trying to figure out all at once? 👉 And what's the next small step instead? Want support with this? If you're in a season of change and feeling stretched, this is exactly the work I'm leaning into more right now. Start with my People Pleasing Quiz to understand your patterns around: • overthinking • overgiving • and trying to keep everything together https://bit.ly/notapeoplepleaser [https://bit.ly/notapeoplepleaser] You'll also get access to my emails where I share simple ways to reset and respond differently in real life. Follow the show If this episode resonated, follow the podcast. I'll be sharing more real-life moments like this… and opening up a new group experience soon. This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com

75. "I'm Bad at Art" (And Other Creative Myths)

Think you're "bad at art"? This episode will help you release perfectionism, reconnect with creativity, and use simple art practices to calm your nervous system. Have you ever said, "I'm not creative," or "I'm bad at art"? I have. And in this conversation with art teacher and creativity guide Jen Velansky, we explore where those stories begin - often in childhood and how they can quietly shape what we allow ourselves to try as adults. This episode is not about becoming "good" at art. It's about giving yourself permission to create without pressure, judgement, or perfection. Jen shares how art became an anchor through difficult seasons, how simple creative practices can help us pause before we react, and why creativity already exists in the everyday ways we solve problems, parent, cook, dress, garden, doodle, and connect. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in your head, this episode is your invitation to come back to yourself - one doodle, one pause, one small creative moment at a time. What You'll Learn • Why saying "I'm bad at art" can keep you stuck in an old story • How creativity helps you move from trigger-react to pause-respond • Why art is about process, not performance • How doodling can calm your nervous system in just a few minutes • How to reconnect with your child through curiosity about their creativity • Why creating, not consuming, can help you feel more grounded and alive Resources & Links Grab Jen's Doodle Sheet https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/PfFSz50 Connect with Jen Website: bewellbecomecoaching@gmail.com [bewellbecomecoaching@gmail.com] Instagram: @artwithjenniev & @arthappenshere.vt Share the Episode If this conversation reminded you that you don't need to be perfect to begin, share it with someone who needs permission to create again. Remember This is your reminder that you don't need fixing - you just need tools, space, and permission to come back to yourself. Work With Me 1:1 If you heard yourself in this episode - the "I'm not creative," the fear of getting it wrong, the old story that you're just not good at art, I currently have one space open for private 1:1 coaching in May. This isn't about being told to calm down or think more positively. It's about slowing things down enough to notice what's really happening underneath your reactions, so you can find simple tools that help you feel more grounded, connected, and in control. If you're curious, go to the link below or simply DM me on Instagram @jennymcoaching. No pressure. Just a conversation. https://jennymcoaching.com/contactme/ [https://jennymcoaching.com/contactme/] This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com