"I Should Have" Is Keeping You Stuck: This One's For the Women Living in the Aftermath

"I Should Have" Is Keeping You Stuck: This One's For the Women Living in the Aftermath

Michelle records outside her office unpacking two phrases that are quietly doing damage—one she never says, one she says a million times a day without realizing it. She doesn't say "I can't." She figures it out, she does the thing, she makes it work. But then she gets stuck in the aftermath, replaying everything she should have done differently, should have bought, should have said. Josh finally called it out: every "I should have" is just self-blame in disguise, keeping her mentally stuck in the past instead of planning for the future. The reframe? Replace "I should have gotten hot dogs" with "next time I'll get hot dogs." Simple, but it changes everything. If you're an "I can't" person or an "I should have" person—or somehow both—this one's the mirror you didn't know you needed. Timestamps: 00:00 Two Phrases, Two Problems 03:14 I Don't Say "I Can't"—Here's Why 06:28 But I Say "I Should Have" Constantly 09:42 What "I Should Have" Actually Does to You 13:17 Josh Called It Out 16:44 The Reframe: "Next Time I'll..." 20:33 What Happens When You're Both 23:18 Take It Out of Your Vocabulary If you know someone stuck in "I should have" or "I can't," share this—sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else before it actually lands. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle [https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle]

"We Only Have 13 Summers": This One's For the Moms Holding On Too Tight as Everything Changes

Michelle records from her driveway in pajamas on Canada Day, coffee in hand, waiting for the fog to roll in—and this episode is exactly that kind of morning. Raw, unfiltered, still figuring it out. She unpacks the week: Scarlet didn't make the tumbling team and handled it better than Michelle expected, Michelle got pulled on stage at the dance gala by her daughter's tiny fist and absolutely bombed it (and has been practicing in the mirror ever since), and somewhere between crying in a leadership meeting and flopping in the chair telling Josh she can't be all-in at work this summer, she landed on the thing she actually needs to let go of. Not just things in her calendar—but the version of summer she keeps holding onto that her kids have already outgrown. Timestamps: 00:00 Pajamas, Driveway, Canada Day 02:18 ChatGPT Told Me to Reflect More 05:44 Two of Us Can't Both Drive the Ship This Summer 09:12 Scarlet Didn't Make the Team (And Was Fine) 13:27 Have a Backup Plan Ready 16:48 She Pulled My Arm and I Said Yes 20:33 I've Been Practicing in the Mirror Ever Since 23:14 We Only Have 13 Summers, Not 18 26:07 What Do I Need to Let Go Of? If you're holding on too tight to a summer that your kids have already moved on from, share this with a mom who needs permission to slow down and let them lead for once. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle [https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle]

The Quarterly Crash: This One's for the Women Who Hold Everything Together Until They Can't

What happens when you come off a vacation high, try to pull off a birthday sleepover for six eight-year-olds, and then somehow completely fail at Father's Day? You hit your "quarterly crash". In this incredibly candid episode, Michelle sits down to process what burnout actually looks like when it sneaks up on a high achiever who has been doing all the "right things". She realizes that a lack of her usual over-planning is exactly what led to the weekend's chaos—from losing it at Ben over an iPad ranking, to floating stiffly at the pool instead of doing a cannonball. It all culminated in a Tuesday afternoon when she canceled her plans, closed the blinds, put on Scarlet's sleep mask, and slept for two hours in the middle of the week. Oh, and Josh came home with a cherry blossom tree because he didn't know what else to do to help. Timestamps: 00:00 Post Father's Day and Already Apologizing 03:14 Swimming Was Not the Plan 06:28 The iPad Incident 09:42 Why I Think It All Went Wrong 12:17 Lack of Control Is My Kryptonite 15:33 The Quarterly Crash Nobody Saw Coming 19:48 Josh Bought a Cherry Blossom Tree 22:06 Permission to Crash Before Summer Starts If you held it all together this school year and you're starting to feel the cracks, share this with a friend who needs permission to close the blinds and sleep—burnout doesn't care how many supplements you're taking. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle [https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle]

"We Finally Got It Out of the Group Chat": This One's For the Ladies Who Keep Talking About the Trip and Never Booking It

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Bombshell. In this episode, Michelle reflects on the emotional transition of returning to her daily routine after a refreshing girls' trip to Montreal. She describes the struggle of maintaining a "vacation high" while navigating the professional and personal pressures of running a business with her husband. She also emphasizes the importance of intentional self-care, such as morning walks and making choices that spark joy, to prevent feeling deflated by adult responsibilities. Throughout the episode, she highlights the value of female friendships and the shared experiences of "oldest daughter syndrome" among her peers. Ultimately, she encourages her listeners to reclaim their authentic selves and prioritize time away from work and family to recharge. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:30 Recording on the Road 01:08 Vacation High Crash 03:47 Recreating Vacation Energy 06:08 Back on the High 07:53 Friends and Busy Seasons 09:53 Trip Out of the Group Chat 11:52 Montreal Highlights and Vibes 13:53 Permission to Just Go 14:49 No Guilt and Feeling Alive 17:26 Solo Mornings and 5:51 18:09 Deep Talks and Oldest Child 20:13 Wrap Up and Next Trip 20:55 Outro and Final Thoughts If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle [https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle]

"Just Show Up and Do the Thing": This One's For the Ladies Who Keep Waiting Until They're Ready

Michelle records from the parking lot outside physio with Bambi whining in the backseat, coming off a dance recital weekend that cracked something open in her. Two things she can't stop thinking about: Scarlet shining on that stage—not because she was scouted or handpicked, but because two parents asked questions, took a gulp, and said yes—and the realization that she spent almost all of 2025 driving in complete silence, thinking it was self-care when really it was just her shutting down. Scarlet fixed that. Now it's Benson Boone on full blast, five minutes before school, singing at the top of their lungs, and Michelle wondering why it took her this long. This is a candid episode about giving people opportunities before they're ready, showing up before you know what you're walking into, and asking yourself what your life would look like if you just did the thing without overthinking it first. Timestamps: 00:00 Bambi in the Backseat, Supplement Update 03:12 Montreal Girls Trip Is Coming 05:18 Almost All of 2025 in Silence 08:44 Scarlet and Benson Boone Fixed Everything 12:27 Shelly Doesn't Need Alcohol to Come Out 15:33 Watching the Recital and Seeing What Almost Didn't Happen 19:48 What If We Never Asked the Questions? 23:16 Apply That Same Concept to Your Own Life If this hit home, share it with the woman in your life who keeps waiting until she's ready—remind her Scarlet had no idea what she was signing up for either. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle [https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle]