She Left Her Old Life Behind to Start Over in Europe - Joanna Lay’s Story of Trusting Herself

Why I’m Pressing Pause: Healing, Reflection & Redefining What Matters

In this personal solo episode, I’m sharing why I’ll be pressing pause on The Feisty Heroine Podcast this summer as I prepare for surgery, focus on healing, and reflect on what’s next for this journey. As spring blooms across the Midwest, I’ve been thinking a lot about seasons of change, rest, legacy, and what it means to truly honor yourself. From the irises blooming around my family’s farm—flowers deeply tied to the women in my family—to a powerful story about how this podcast impacted a listener all the way in Albania, this episode is a reminder that our stories matter more than we realize. This conversation is for any woman navigating burnout, healing, life transitions, or the need to slow down and reconnect with herself. In this episode, I talk about: * Why I’m taking a break from the podcast this summer * Preparing for surgery and prioritizing healing * The emotional story that reminded me why I started this podcast * Family traditions, irises, and the women who shaped me * Why rest is not weakness * Creating space to reflect, realign, and begin a new chapter This isn’t goodbye and it’s simply a pause before what comes next. Make sure to subscribe to The Feisty Heroine Podcast so you’ll be the first to know when new episodes and inspiring interviews return. 💋 Stay feisty, stay free, stay you. Don't forget to check out my other channels: Instagram: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.instagram.com/thefeistyheroine/] Website: thefeistyheroine.com [https://www.thefeistyheroine.com/] YouTube: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.youtube.com/@Thefeistyheroine-q9r]

Feisty Fridays: Why I’m Choosing Self-Sufficiency Over Hustle Culture

In this episode of Feisty Fridays, I’m diving into a realization that stopped me in my tracks this week. I heard that we may soon have our first trillionaire. And instead of feeling inspired… I felt unsettled. Because while the world tells us to work harder, climb higher, and chase more, so many women are feeling burnt out, disconnected, and stuck in cycles that don’t actually fulfill them. In this episode, I share my personal shift away from hustle culture and toward a simpler, more self-sufficient way of living. From learning how to split wood and plant a garden to reconnecting with my roots, I’ve discovered something powerful: Self-sufficiency isn’t about survival, it’s about self-trust. And when you trust yourself to take care of your own life, everything changes, especially your relationships. I talk about: * Why hustle culture may not be the path to true fulfillment * How self-sufficiency builds confidence, independence, and emotional security * The connection between self-trust and breaking free from toxic relationships * Why more women are waking up and redefining what success actually means If you’ve been feeling the pull to slow down, simplify, and reclaim your independence, this conversation is for you. Because the more capable you become, the less you settle. Follow me on other platforms: Website: thefeistyheroine.com [https://www.thefeistyheroine.com/] YouTube: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.youtube.com/@Thefeistyheroine-q9r/videos] Instagram: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.instagram.com/thefeistyheroine/]

You Are Not Lost, You’re Just Looking for Home in the Wrong Places

What if the reason you’ve never felt fully “at home”…is because you’ve been looking for it in the wrong places? In this deeply personal solo episode, Rachel shares her journey through small-town life, big-city independence, and everything in between—from living in New York City and buying her first apartment to returning to her hometown and questioning what “home” really means. Inspired by the movie Elizabethtown and a quiet moment planting a garden with her father, this episode explores the emotional reality of feeling in-between versions of yourself—when you’ve grown, changed, and no longer fit where you once belonged. In this episode, we talk about: * Why “home” isn’t a fixed place or feeling * The identity shift that comes with growth and change * The pressure of timelines, relationships, and “where you should be” in life * What it means to feel lost, disconnected, or in-between * And how to finally stop searching and start feeling at home within yourself If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite belong where you are… or like you’re still searching for something you can’t quite name…This episode is for you. Because home isn’t a place. It’s something you build. And eventually…you realize you’ve been carrying it with you all along. Stay feisty. Stay free. Stay you. For more inspiring content, follow me here: Instagram: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.instagram.com/thefeistyheroine/] YouTube: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.youtube.com/@Thefeistyheroine-q9r] Website: thefeistyheroine.com [https://www.thefeistyheroine.com/]

Feisty Fridays: Women Are Done Performing. So Why Are We Still Being Judged?

Why are women still being judged… just for existing? In this Feisty Fridays episode, we’re diving into the pressure women face to look, act, and show up a certain way just to be accepted and what happens when we start opting out of that performance. From the recent backlash toward Lana Condor on the red carpet, to everyday expectations around appearance, behavior, and “being enough,” this episode explores how deeply these standards are ingrained—and why so many women are quietly done playing the game. Link to the article is here. [https://www.boredpanda.com/lana-condor-award-red-carpet-look-sparks-body-shaming-debate/] We also get real about: * The subtle ways women are taught to shrink, adjust, and perform for approval * How these patterns show up in relationships, self-worth, and over-functioning * The emotional toll of constantly being evaluated * What it actually looks like to stop performing and start choosing yourself If you’ve ever felt like you had to be “just right” to be loved, accepted, or chosen… this conversation will hit home. Because you’re not too much. You were just never meant to fit into a box that small. ✨ Stay feisty. Stay free. Stay you. Follow me for more inspirational content here: Instagram: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.instagram.com/thefeistyheroine/] YouTube: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.youtube.com/@Thefeistyheroine-q9r] Website: thefeistyheroine.com [https://www.thefeistyheroine.com/]

She Left Her Old Life Behind to Start Over in Europe - Joanna Lay’s Story of Trusting Herself

What actually happens after you finally choose yourself? Not the polished version. Not the “everything falls into place” fantasy. But the real, messy, in-between. In this revisit episode, I’m joined again by Joanna Lay, licensed psychotherapist and returning guest, whose life has completely transformed since our first conversation. (Make sure to listen to her first episode released on 9/10/2025) Eight months ago, she made a bold decision—leaving her life in San Francisco and moving across Europe with her dog. No perfect plan. No guarantees. Just a deep trust in herself. And what she’s learned since? This is the part no one talks about. In this episode, we explore: * What it really looks like after you stop over-functioning and chasing validation * The emotional reality of starting over (and why growth isn’t always graceful) * How to trust yourself when everything feels uncertain * Letting go of timelines and redefining success on your own terms * The quiet confidence that comes from living in alignment If you’ve been holding it all together on the outside but feel drained on the inside… If you’re craving a life that actually feels like yours… If you’re standing at the edge of a big decision… This conversation is your permission to trust yourself. Because choosing yourself isn’t the finish line. It’s where everything begins. Follow me for more inspirational content: Website: thefeistyheroine.com [https://www.thefeistyheroine.com/] YouTube: @thefeistyheroine [@Thefeistyheroine-q9r] Instagram: @thefeistyheroine [https://www.instagram.com/thefeistyheroine/]