Scenic Route, Social Change and Mental Health Conversations for Perfectionists

You know what to do. You’ve read the books, journaled the insights, maybe even coached others through the same thing. But when it comes to your own life, something still isn’t shifting. We’re diving into the psychology of the knowing–doing gap, that frustrating space between insight and action, and unpacking why even the most emotionally intelligent among us get stuck. Rooted in behavioural theory, trauma-informed coaching, and real-life experience, we explore the invisible forces blocking change, even when we’re desperate. You’ll hear about internal conditioning, emotional safety, nervous system responses, and the quiet ways our culture rewards burnout and self-abandonment. This isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about creating inner and outer infrastructure that finally supports the life you already know you want. We'll cover: * The surprising origins of the knowing–doing gap (and why it’s not your fault) * Why self-awareness is necessary – but not enough – for behaviour change * The role of emotional resistance, cognitive dissonance, and nervous system protection in keeping you stuck * Four powerful barriers that block action and how to gently dissolve them * Why change disrupts social dynamics, and how to hold your ground when others push back * Somatic and practical tools to help you pause, realign, and take brave, value-aligned action * Why midlife (or any life crossroads) is often the beginning of true freedom This episode is for you if: * You’re deeply self-aware but still repeating patterns that exhaust or resent you * You crave rest, clarity, boundaries—or visibility—but can’t seem to follow through * You’ve been told you’re “so strong” for too long, and you’re ready to be real * You want to understand not just why you’re stuck, but how to move forward 👥 Desire support? This is the exact work I do with clients in 1:1 coaching. We build safety, structure, and clarity around your inner resistance so you can actually live what you know. → Learn more or book a call [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/coaching] _____________________________________________________________________ Visit jenniferwalter.me [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/] – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change." 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION * Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itsjenniferwalter/] * Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjenniferwalter] * Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.net/@itsjenniferwalter] 🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations] is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us! 👉 Pull Your Free Card [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=buzzsprout] ⭐ LOVE THE SHOW? Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.

You did everything right. So why does it feel so wrong? In this episode of The Scenic Route, we dive into the quiet ache so many of us feel after building the life they thought they were supposed to want, only to realise it doesn’t feel like theirs anymore. We explore: * Why “success” often leaves women feeling hollow instead of whole * How Symbolic Interactionism explains the silent shaping of your identity * Erving Goffman’s Front Stage vs. Backstage selves—and when the performance becomes unbearable * What happens when applause stops feeling like affirmation and starts sounding like a trap * How to begin untangling the scripts you inherited—and start writing your own If you’ve ever thought, I don’t remember choosing this life, If you feel the weight of doing everything “right” but still feel wrong inside – This conversation is for you. ✨ To go deeper, sign up for my monthly letter, Soft and access the bonus self-reconnection exercise: https://jenniferwalter.myflodesk.com/ta75zo6jqm [https://jenniferwalter.myflodesk.com/ta75zo6jqm] 🎧 Follow The Scenic Route for more slow, soul-centred reflections on identity, midlife, social change and finding your way back to yourself. _____________________________________________________________________ Visit jenniferwalter.me [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/] – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change." 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION * Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itsjenniferwalter/] * Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjenniferwalter] * Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.net/@itsjenniferwalter] 🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations] is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us! 👉 Pull Your Free Card [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=buzzsprout] ⭐ LOVE THE SHOW? Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.

In this fierce and timely episode of The Scenic Route, we unpack the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that redefines “woman” based solely on biological sex, excluding trans women from legal protections, political representation, and basic recognition. But this isn’t just a courtroom debate. It’s a culture war dressed in legal robes. We follow the funding behind the ruling, expose the billionaire feminists fueling the backlash, and dismantle the persistent myths about biology, gender, and identity. This episode asks hard questions: Who really benefits from the binary? Why do so many defend it so violently? And what does it mean that we wreck Teslas, but not Harry Potter books? > “If you want to burn Teslas but not Harry Potter books… ask yourself why.” We draw insights from Judith Butler, bell hooks, Laurie Penny, Simone de Beauvoir, and others to examine why trans women are not a threat to womanhood: they are its most powerful proof. In this episode: * Why the UK ruling matters far beyond Britain * JK Rowling, Elon Musk, and the weaponisation of wealth * Why biological sex is a spectrum, not a binary * How gender is assigned, performed, and punished * The role of evangelical power and purity culture in gender politics * 10 takedowns of the “biological women only” myth See you on the Scenic Route, because sometimes the long way is the shortest way home. _____________________________________________________________________ Visit jenniferwalter.me [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/] – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change." 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION * Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itsjenniferwalter/] * Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjenniferwalter] * Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.net/@itsjenniferwalter] 🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations] is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us! 👉 Pull Your Free Card [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=buzzsprout] ⭐ LOVE THE SHOW? Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.

Why do we feel exhausted even when life looks “fine” on the outside?  In this episode of Scenic Route, we explore the quiet, invisible weight so many of us carry—and how our bodies often hold onto stress, tension, and emotional labor in ways we don’t even notice. Zurich-based body therapist Michelle Sabbatini joins Jennifer Walter to discuss the difference between having a body and being one and how tuning into our physical sensations can be the first step toward healing and resilience. What we unpack together: * The disconnect between how we feel and what we think we should feel * Why perfectionism, caregiving, and mental load leave us chronically depleted * The tension we don’t notice until it’s unbearable * Why it’s so hard to say “I need help”—and how to start * Two grounding breathwork practices to help you come back to yourself This episode is for anyone who's been feeling drained, disconnected, or “not quite right”— and wants to start coming home to their body in a grounded, compassionate way. See you on the Scenic Route. Connect with Michelle Michelle Sabbatini’s practice: bodylearning.ch [https://bodylearning.ch/] Follow her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellesabatini/] Book a session with Michelle [https://bodylearning.ch/contact-2/] Don't forget to mention "Scenic Route" to reclaim her special offer of a free session!  _____________________________________________________________________ Visit jenniferwalter.me [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/] – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change." 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION * Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itsjenniferwalter/] * Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjenniferwalter] * Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.net/@itsjenniferwalter] 🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations] is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us! 👉 Pull Your Free Card [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=buzzsprout] ⭐ LOVE THE SHOW? Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.

Why are women punished for being honest about motherhood? When Chappell Roan said her friends with kids are “in hell,” the backlash wasn’t about the words but about breaking the performance. In this episode of Scenic Route, sociologist and coach Jennifer Walter unpacks the emotional labour, mental load, and societal expectations that define modern motherhood. Why do we praise men like Seth Rogen for opting out of parenthood while vilifying women who name the cost of caregiving? Why do tradwife aesthetics trend while actual support for mothers disappears? This episode explores: * The mental load and invisible labour that mothers carry * Why motherhood is a performance, not just an experience * The backlash against Chappell Roan and what it reveals * Adrienne Rich on motherhood as institution vs. experience * Erving Goffman’s theory of social roles and the "good mother" mask * The rise of the trad wife movement and its political implications * Why unpaid care work is central to the global economy—and still invisible * The cost of honesty in a culture built on maternal silence 🎧 With insights on: * Call Her Daddy and Chappell Roan's viral statement * The cultural double standard around parenting and gender * How systems maintain control through emotional suppression Join us on the Scenic Route. New episode drops Tuesday. _____________________________________________________________________ Visit jenniferwalter.me [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/] – your cosy corner where recovering perfectionists, misfits, and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change." 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION * Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itsjenniferwalter/] * Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjenniferwalter] * Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.net/@itsjenniferwalter] 🔮 DAILY DOSE OF CHILL The Scenic Route Affirmation Card Deck [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations] is your online permission slip to trust your inner compass again. What does your card say? Share it with us! 👉 Pull Your Free Card [https://www.jenniferwalter.me/scenic-route-affirmations?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=buzzsprout] ⭐ LOVE THE SHOW? Leave a rating and review. Your words help other wandering souls discover the Scenic Route podcast.