Why Trying New Things Is the Point of Your 20s with Rylee Thompson

Why Trying New Things Is the Point of Your 20s with Rylee Thompson

In this episode ofTwenty Something, Olivia sits down with Rylee Thompson to talk about why your 20s are not about having everything figured out. They’re about trying, changing your mind, following your curiosity, and becoming confident enough to trust your own timeline. Rylee shares how moving to a new state, pursuing her career, content creation, health and wellness, and deepening her faith have helped her build a life that feels more aligned, exciting, and true to her. Olivia and Rylee also talk about mental health, comparison, dating in your 20s, setting boundaries, learning to spend time alone, and what it actually looks like to become the version of yourself you keep picturing in your head. This episode is for anyone who feels behind, stuck, scared to start over, or unsure if they’re allowed to change their mind. Rylee’s reminder is simple: nothing is permanent, and changing your mind does not mean you failed, it might be the thing that helps you become who you were meant to be. In this episode, you’ll learn about: * How to stop waiting until you feel “ready” * Why trying new things is one of the most important parts of your 20s * How to change your mind without feeling like you failed * Why comparison can steal joy — and how to move through it * How to develop healthy friendship and dating relationships * How spending time alone can build self-love Connect with Rylee: Instagram: @ryleethompson1 TikTok: @rylee_thompson Connect with Olivia: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett

How to Build the Kind of Unshakeable Confidence No One Can Take From You With Eliza Smith

Self-doubt will keep you waiting for permission that is never coming. She was cut late in her sport. Many said she couldn't do it. Then she ended up at her dream school. How did she do it? In this episode of Twenty Something, Olivia sits down with Eliza Smith, a D1 soccer player at the University of Utah, to talk about what it actually takes to build confidence, chase big goals, and become the kind of person who follows through. Eliza shares her journey from getting cut, switching teams, showing up to ID camps, advocating for herself, and eventually earning the opportunity to play college soccer. But this conversation goes far beyond sports. It is about discipline, pressure, identity, resilience, and learning how to bet on yourself before anyone else does. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * How to stop letting self-doubt control your decisions * Why confidence is built by keeping promises to yourself * What athletes understand about discipline, pressure, and resilience * How to chase a dream without letting it define your worth * Why rejection is not the end of the story * How to become the kind of person people want to bet on Whether you’re an athlete, a former athlete, or someone trying to build the confidence to go after something bigger, this episode will remind you that you do not need the perfect path to become who you are meant to be. Connect with Eliza: Instagram: @elizajsmith11 TikTok: @eliza.smith7 Connect with Olivia: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett

What Happens When We Die? Near Death Experiences with Martin Tanner

What happens after we die? And what can near death experiences teach us about the way we live now? In this episode of Twenty Something, Olivia sits down with Martin Tanner to discuss the stories, patterns, and life-changing lessons he has heard from interviewing more than 700 people about their near death experiences. Martin is the host of the Religion Today podcast and radio show on KSL, co-founder of Utah’s International Association for Near-Death Studies, and a longtime researcher of near death experiences. Together, Olivia and Martin explore the common threads Martin has heard across stories from people of different ages, backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. From experiences with loved ones who have passed on, to life reviews, to encounters with divine love, these stories raise questions about purpose, healing, faith, and what may come next. Martin shares some of the most powerful near death experiences he has heard firsthand, including stories of people who came back with a deeper sense of urgency, a greater desire to love others, and a clearer understanding that their life still had meaning. Whether you fully believe in near death experiences, feel skeptical, or are simply curious, this conversation is an invitation to ask deeper questions about life, death, heaven, and why each life matters more than we may realize. In this episode, you’ll hear stories about: * Howard Storm, a former professor whose terrifying near death experience led to a complete life transformation * David Herod, a Marine in Vietnam who came back with a message about learning to love others * George Ritchie, whose near death experience with Jesus gave him a new sense of urgency about life * Don Wood, a man with cystic fibrosis who wrestled with the unfairness of life and what his suffering meant * Crystal Locke, a little girl who drowned at age seven and later shared what she said she experienced in heaven * Blind individuals who say they were able to see during their near death experiences * Jeff Olson, who lost his wife and son in a car accident * Dr. Ron Kennedy, who described being welcomed by loved ones after a violent attack * Ted Whiting, who saw a large gathering of family members and loved ones waiting for him on the other side This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered where their loved ones go, what happens after this life, or whether their life has a specific purpose. Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Connect with Martin: Religion Today podcast and radio show on KSL

The Power of Reinventing Yourself with Ruston Jones

In this episode of Twenty Something, Liv is joined by Ruston Jones and Kait Stone for a conversation about creativity, resilience, reinvention, and what happens when you give yourself permission to keep evolving. After a motorcycle accident shifted the way Ruston moved through life, he found his way into hot yoga and Pilates, eventually becoming the kind of instructor who makes people feel seen, welcomed, and brave enough to try. But his story doesn’t stop there. Ruston is also a filmmaker, author, and fashion designer who has built a life around curiosity, courage, and trying new things even when he isn’t sure how they’ll turn out. Together, they talk about starting over, meditation, learning how to be bad at something new, releasing the fear of being “cringe,” putting yourself in the way of luck, and how Ruston began sewing, upcycling thrifted and vintage fabrics, and eventually putting his work into fashion shows. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, afraid to try something new, or unsure if they’re allowed to become a different version of themselves. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * How Ruston’s motorcycle accident led him into yoga and Pilates * Why meditation is more practical than most people think * The courage it takes to be bad at something new * Why being “cringe” might mean you’re actually trying * How Ruston went from learning to sew to showing his designs in fashion shows * Why reinvention is part of building a fuller, more honest life Connect with Liv: Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Connect with Ruston: Instagram: @rustonj TikTok: @rustonj ⁠Purchase Ruston's Book⁠ [https://a.co/d/0fjkt5Jx]

How to Take Ownership of Your Health, Work, and Love with Lauren Dudley

Do you ever leave the doctor’s office and think, “Wait, what did they just say?” Or sit in your car afterward realizing you forgot to ask the one question you actually needed answered? In this episode of Twenty Something, Liv sits down with Lauren Dudley for a conversation about what it looks like to take ownership of your health, your work, and your relationships, especially in your 20s when you’re suddenly expected to figure so much of it out on your own. Lauren is currently living what so many of us talk about but few actually do: betting on herself before she has it all figured out. She is helping build Shepard, a health care app designed to make doctor’s appointments less overwhelming by helping patients prepare better questions, understand what their doctor is saying, and feel more confident managing their own health. Together, Liv and Lauren talk about the frustration of not knowing what’s going on in your body, how overwhelming it can feel to navigate symptoms or diagnoses, and why so many of us leave appointments wishing we had been more prepared. But this conversation goes beyond health. Lauren also shares what it was like to leave her job, build a business with her partner, navigate entrepreneurship in her early 20s, and create a relationship built on trust, communication, and shared vision. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How to feel more prepared before a doctor’s appointment • What to do when medical language feels confusing • Why advocating for your health matters, even when it feels intimidating • What it looks like to build a business in your 20s • How to bet on yourself without having it all figured out • Why abundance matters in dating, work, and life • How to put yourself in the way of luck This episode is for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by their health, embarrassed to ask a question, unsure what a doctor meant, or ready to stop living reactively and start taking ownership of their life. Connect with Olivia Instagram: @twentysomething_podcast TikTok: @twentysomething_podcast YouTube: @TwentySomething-OliviaBurnett Connect with Lauren: Instagram: @laurendudley Connect with Shepard Health: Instagram: @shepardhealth