Keeping it Real with Zulma The Swearing Therapist Podcast

The Cultural Pattern of Patriarchy

Something happened at work that, a few years ago, would have destroyed me. I would have gone straight into self-blame, questioned my competence, and let impostor syndrome take over. I would have replayed the conversation a hundred times, convinced I had done something wrong. But not this time. This time, I listened. I recognized the familiar cultural pattern of patriarchy instead of automatically turning the blame inward. I refused to let someone else's bias make me question my integrity. And honestly? That is one hell of a fucking victory. This episode is about celebrating the quiet moments of growth, the ones where you realize you are no longer reacting the way you used to. Healing is not just feeling better. It is finally refusing to carry shit that was never yours to begin with.

The Universe Said, "Cute Speech." Then Reality Set In

Right after I recorded an episode about balance... I spent eight hours at the beach and ended up with sun poisoning. I was sick for two days. Talk about life saying, "Oh, you like talking about balance? Let's see if you actually practice it." Nothing like getting bitch-slapped by the universe to drive the lesson home. But that experience reminded me of something even bigger. We spend so much time obsessing over wha is missing that we completely overlook what is already incredible. The truth is, where you put your focus, your life follows. Focus on what is wrong, and you will find more shit that is wrong. Focus on your blessings, and you will start noticing how many you have been taking for granted. In this episode, I am sharing the irony of preaching balance and immediately getting humbled... and why gratitude is not some fluffy self-help bullshit. It is a daily decision to stop feeding what is lacking and start appreciating what is already amazing. Because what grows in your life is not determined by luck... it is determined by where the hell you choose to look.

Avoiding Extremes: Why I Am Choosing Balance

As I reflected on my birthday, one word kept smacking me in the face: balance. For most of my life, I lived in the extremes. All in or all out. Hustle or collapse. Work until burnout, then wonder why I was exhausted. I am done with that shit. Think about it. My birthday, June 29, is the middle of winter in Argentina and the middle of a brutal Las Vegas summer. Here in Panama? It is in the mid-80s all year. No triple-digit heat. No freezing winters. No daylight savings. No constantly changing clocks. The days are steady. The weather is steady. And I have realized...so am I. This episode is not really about the weather. It is about creating a life that does not swing from one extreme to the other. A life with intention, peace, and consistency. I used to think excitement came from chasing more. Now I know the real flex is building a life that feels so damn good, you do not need chaos to feel alive. Balance is not boring. It is badass. And I will choose it every fucking time.

I Do Not Want To Go Anywhere For My Birthday

For the first time in my life, I do not want to travel for my birthday. I do not have a bucket-list destination calling my name. I do not feel the need to escape, celebrate somewhere else, or chase the next thing. And that is a big fucking deal. Because it means I am exactly where I want to be. I created a life that I do not need a vacation from. A life that feels good on an ordinary Monday, not just during special occasions. In this episode, I reflect on what it means to finally arrive at a place you have spent decades building. Not through luck, chance, or magic, but through perseverance, difficult decisions, sacrifice, sweat, tears, and blood. This life did not happen to me. I fought for it. And sometimes the greatest success is not having somewhere else you want to go... it is realizing you are already there. Happy birthday to me!

Six Months Later: The Hardest and Best Decision I Ever Made

Six months ago, I packed up my life and moved to Panama. Has it been easy? Not even close. There have been frustrations, adjustments, moments of doubt, and plenty of "what the fuck was I thinking?" days. Moving to another country is a lot harder than the highlight reels on social media would have you believe. But while Las Vegas is hitting triple-digit temperatures, I am living by the ocean. I can hear the waves, walk to the beach, and jump into the water whenever I want. The life I spent years dreaming about is now my everyday reality. In this episode, I reflect on what I have learned during these first six months and why I would rather struggle building a life I love than stay comfortable in a life that was making me miserable. Sometimes the best decisions are the ones that scare the shit out of you... and turn out to be the best fucking thing you have ever done.