37. The View Beyond Perfection w/ Susan Podbielski

37. The View Beyond Perfection w/ Susan Podbielski

Pressure is a part of life, but when does the pursuit of excellence begin to come at the expense of our wellbeing? In this episode of The Butterfly of Why, I sit down with psychotherapist and coach Susan Podbielski to explore the relationship between perfectionism, anxiety, and identity. Drawing from her own experience transitioning from a career in network television production to over a decade of clinical practice, Susan shares how high-performance environments can shape the way we see ourselves—and why so many people struggle to separate their worth from their achievements. Together, we discuss perfectionism, burnout, the growing impact of high expectations on today’s youth, and practical ways to build a healthier relationship with ourselves. This conversation is an invitation to rethink success, embrace the process over perfection, and discover the freedom that comes from seeing yourself through a different lens. To learn more about Susan and her work, visit susanpodbielski.com or reach out to her directly at susan@susanpodbielski.com [susan@susanpodbielski.com]. Susan also offers a collection of free downloadable resources on perfectionism and self-compassion designed to help you begin putting the ideas from this conversation into practice. She'd love to hear from you and hopes these resources will support you on your journey.

36. The Gift of Possibility: Creating Ripples That Last w/ Sabine Hutchison

What happens when a single act of generosity changes the course of a life? In this episode of The Butterfly of Why, I sit down with Sabine Hutchison—entrepreneur, co-founder, co-CEO of Seuss+, founder of The Ripple Network, and author of Beyond the Ladder, to explore the ripple effects of trust, opportunity, and human connection. Together, we discuss the balance between strategy and intuition, why asking for help is often harder than offering it, the importance of finding your people, and how meaningful leadership is built on trust rather than titles. Sabine also shares her perspective on creating lasting impact, empowering others to find their voice, and building careers that align with purpose rather than convention. At its heart, this conversation is about a simple but powerful idea: one act of generosity can create possibilities that extend far beyond what we can see in the moment. If you've ever wondered how small moments become life-changing ones, this episode is for you.

35. The Journey from Hypervigilance to Healer w/ Renée Zavislak

What happens when a young girl growing up amidst conflict, neglect, and trauma decides to spend her life helping others heal? In this episode of The Butterfly of Why, I sit down with trauma therapist, speaker, and podcast host Renée Zavislak to explore the experiences that shaped her journey, from childhood adversity and decades of personal therapy to becoming a specialist in trauma. Together, we examine resilience, the lasting impact of childhood experiences, why some people avoid pain while others choose to face it, and how healing often unfolds in ways we least expect. This is a conversation about trauma, meaning, purpose, and the remarkable ways human beings learn to transform survival into service.

34. Family, Finance, and the Future w/ Mark Halpern

Money touches every part of our lives—but we rarely stop to ask what it actually means to us. In this episode, we sit down with Mark Halpern, CFP, TEP, MFA-P, CEO of WEALTHinsurance.com, to explore the emotional side of financial planning, the lessons that shape our relationship with money, and how early experiences can define the way we think about security, responsibility, and legacy. From navigating fear and uncertainty to reimagining what it means to leave something behind, this conversation invites a deeper look at how we prepare, not just financially, but intentionally, for the future.

33. Between the Frames: Editing Truth from Chaos w/ James Barker

What does it really cost to chase success? To further explore this idea, we sat down with James Barker—filmmaker, editor, and founder of Edits Etc.—who opens up about his journey through filmmaking, mental health, and personal growth, sharing the lessons behind his philosophy of making it in business without killing yourself.