Action Before Inspiration (And Perfection, While We're At It!)

The Systems Quietly Shaping Your Life: Priya Sudarsanam Interviews Dr. Christine Petit

How much of who we become is shaped by systems we didn't consciously choose? In this episode, I join host Priya Sudarsanam on her podcast Unmute with Priya to explore the invisible systems that shape our identities, relationships, work, and sense of self — and what it looks like to reclaim your agency within them. As a sociologist, leadership coach, and organizational consultant working with women and leaders across sectors (including nonprofits, philanthropy, government, and business), I bring both a structural lens and a deeply personal one to this conversation. We dig into why life transitions crack people open, why so many women over 40 become expert over-functioners and burn out chasing purpose, and how to lead from your values instead of your exhaustion. We also talk about reconnecting with your own inner wisdom — including a simple three-minute writing practice that helps you access the answers you already have (if you haven't joined the June Inner Wise Self Love Note challenge, check out last week's episode!) — and how to get clear on what's actually in your sphere of control when the world feels overwhelming. Learn more about Priya: https://www.priyasudarsanam.com/home [https://www.priyasudarsanam.com/home] Let's Connect! www.drchristinepetit.com [http://www.drchristinepetit.com] LinkedIn: Christine E. Petit, PhD [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineepetit/] Instagram: @hereandnowjoy [https://www.instagram.com/hereandnowjoy/] | @ [https://www.instagram.com/drchristinepetit/]drchristinepetit.com [http://drchristinepetit.com] I'd Love to Hear From You! Leave a Message: www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast [http://www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast] Get Support for Your Goals and Intentional Action! Schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation [https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation] FREE Difficult Conversations Prep Guide: https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm [https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm]

Time to Level Up: Connecting with Your Inner Wise Self

In this episode, I'm sharing the Inner Wise Self-Love Note Challenge and inviting you to join me (it only takes three minutes!). I also share reflections connecting my past organizing work, burnout, and the support systems that helped me recover and grow, including: * The Inner Wise Self-Love Note practice I learned from SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) * My experience as a union president — the pressure cooker environment, lost friendships, and leaving burnt out * The therapy label "egodystonic" applied to my organizing work, and why it didn't help * Why Internal Family Systems (IFS) resonates as a non-pathologizing framework * The importance of finding peers who understand your work and building your own support network Join the challenge: Set a timer for three minutes and write from the perspective of your inner wise self. I'd love to hear what comes up for you! Connect with me and leave a voice message via SpeakPipe in the show notes. If this episode resonated, please follow, leave a five-star review, and share with someone who would appreciate it. Resources & Links mentioned: * Inner Wise Self-Love Note YouTube video: https://youtu.be/D7YJMbnciVQ?si=XI4_zb8OO3ZQQhYv [https://youtu.be/D7YJMbnciVQ?si=XI4_zb8OO3ZQQhYv] * SARK / Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy: https://planetsark.com [https://planetsark.com] * Episode with Katherine Golub: https://rss.com/podcasts/drchristinepetit/2864883/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/drchristinepetit/2864883/] * Stephanie Keiko Kong: https://www.instagram.com/ponyponytail/ [https://www.instagram.com/ponyponytail/] Let's Connect! www.drchristinepetit.com [http://www.drchristinepetit.com] LinkedIn: Christine E. Petit, PhD [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineepetit/] Instagram: @hereandnowjoy [https://www.instagram.com/hereandnowjoy/] | @ [https://www.instagram.com/drchristinepetit/]drchristinepetit.com [http://drchristinepetit.com] I'd Love to Hear From You! Leave a Message: www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast [http://www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast] Get Support for Your Goals and Intentional Action! Schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation [https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation] FREE Difficult Conversations Prep Guide: https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm [https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm]

Lead From Where You Stand: Katherine Golub on Conflict, Burnout, and Community Leadership

In this episode, I'm joined by Katherine Golub, conflict coach, city councilor, and host of the podcast Conflict Decoded. Katherine works with activists, organizers, and community leaders who are burnt out and wondering what's next. What she's found over 13 years of coaching might surprise you: burnout isn't just about overworking. It's about the interpersonal dynamics that often go undiscussed and unresolved. We get into systemic constellations, what it means to lead from your node in a movement, power dynamics in the workplace, and why clarity is the number one thing her clients are looking for. Katherine also shares how her own experience as a union organizer, a single parent navigating her partner's deportation and displacement, and a city councilor shaped the coach and leader she is today. It's been cool getting to know Katherine, and I think you'll get a lot out of this conversation. Connect with Katherine Website: https://callingsandcourage.com/ [https://callingsandcourage.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinegolub/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinegolub/] Conflict Decoded Podcast: https://callingsandcourage.com/podcasts/ [https://callingsandcourage.com/podcasts/] Here's the partial list of needs that Katherine mentioned (along with Priority Needs Wheel): https://callingsandcourage.com/wp-content/uploads/Priority-Needs-Wheel-and-List.pdf [https://callingsandcourage.com/wp-content/uploads/Priority-Needs-Wheel-and-List.pdf] Note: Katherine references a quote she attributes to Vanessa Machado de Oliveira (Hospicing Modernity). The closest match we found is from her more recent work Outgrowing Modernity: "a frequency that allows us to see ourselves as both insufficient and indispensable to this whole." Let's Connect! www.drchristinepetit.com [http://www.drchristinepetit.com] LinkedIn: Christine E. Petit, PhD [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineepetit/] Instagram: @hereandnowjoy [https://www.instagram.com/hereandnowjoy/] | @ [https://www.instagram.com/drchristinepetit/]drchristinepetit.com [http://drchristinepetit.com] I'd Love to Hear From You! Leave a Message: www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast [http://www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast] Get Support for Your Goals and Intentional Action! Schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation [https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation] FREE Difficult Conversations Prep Guide: https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm [https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm]

2% Braver: Getting to Know the Soul of My Business

Behind the scenes of my business right now: I'm planning a solo retreat week, working through some clutter shame, and letting myself dream a little bigger about what I want to create next, including groups, a course, and maybe even a book. People/resources mentioned in this episode: Sam Garcia - Regenerative Business Ecosystem: https://www.thedirtyalchemy.com/ [https://www.thedirtyalchemy.com/] Simone Seol - https://www.simonegraceseol.com/ [https://www.simonegraceseol.com/] Kenny Allen - Springwave Studios: https://springwavestudios.com/ [https://springwavestudios.com/] FREE Difficult Conversations Prep Guide: https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm [https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm] Let's Connect! www.drchristinepetit.com [http://www.drchristinepetit.com] LinkedIn: Christine E. Petit, PhD [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineepetit/] Instagram: @hereandnowjoy [https://www.instagram.com/hereandnowjoy/] | @ [https://www.instagram.com/drchristinepetit/]drchristinepetit.com [http://drchristinepetit.com] I'd Love to Hear From You! Leave a Message: www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast [http://www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast] Get Support for Your Goals and Intentional Action! Schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation [https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation]

No Bad Parts: Including the "Chill" Part That's Actually Trying to Control Everything

In this episode, I'm sharing what's been on my mind lately as I go deeper into Internal Family Systems (IFS) — the practice of getting to know the different parts of ourselves and leading from a place of self-energy. I talk about the eight C's of self, the difference between self-improvement and self-attunement, and a powerful "bridge sentence" for repairing relationships after a rupture. I also get real about my own parts, including the one that was pretending to be chill while actually trying to control everything. If you're curious about IFS, self-leadership, or just navigating difficult conversations with more compassion and awareness, this episode is for you. Resources/People Mentioned: Christabel Mintha-Galloway: https://www.christabelmintahgalloway.com/ [https://www.christabelmintahgalloway.com/] Dr. Richard Schwartz & IFS: https://ifs-institute.com/about-us/richard-c-schwartz-phd [https://ifs-institute.com/about-us/richard-c-schwartz-phd] SARK: https://www.instagram.com/theplanetsark/ [https://www.instagram.com/theplanetsark/] Let's Connect! www.drchristinepetit.com [http://www.drchristinepetit.com] LinkedIn: Christine E. Petit, PhD [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineepetit/] Instagram: @hereandnowjoy [https://www.instagram.com/hereandnowjoy/] | @ [https://www.instagram.com/drchristinepetit/]drchristinepetit.com [http://drchristinepetit.com] I'd Love to Hear From You! Leave a Message: www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast [http://www.speakpipe.com/rrlpodcast] Get Support for Your Goals and Intentional Action! Schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation [https://calendly.com/drchristinepetit/consultation] FREE Difficult Conversations Prep Guide: https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm [https://forms.aweber.com/form/92/55425592.htm]