Presence Over Performance w/Melanie Santos

Presence Over Performance w/Melanie Santos

In this episode, I’m joined by writer, creator, and guide Melanie Santos for a conversation about embodiment, intention, and what it really means to come home to yourself. We talk about Melanie’s journey from disconnection and navigating mental health struggles in silence to building a body of work rooted in presence, integration, and everyday healing. And together, we explore the tension between spirituality and real life, the pressure to perform wellness instead of live it, and how identity, culture, motherhood, grief, and transformation shape the way we access ourselves. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and consider what it looks like for your life to become the work. Connect with me: * Book your Clarity Call: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/somatic-coaching [https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/somatic-coaching] * Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free [https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free]  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/] * Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/ [https://shanetta.substack.com/]

Why “If I Can Do It, You Can Too” Doesn’t Work

This week, I’m unpacking the “work harder and you’ll succeed” narrative and why it keeps missing the mark. I break down the real reason this messaging doesn’t land for so many women, especially Black women and mothers. Spoiler, we aren't lacking ambition or discipline. But we are lacking acknowledgment around capacity. I explore what capacity actually means, how your nervous system impacts your ability to follow through, and why one-size-fits-all success advice often leads to burnout, shame, and self-doubt. I also share practical ways to start working with your capacity instead of constantly overriding it. This Sunday, May 3rd in LA, I'm also Gathered: Sunday In The Park a free event for moms where we slow down, regulate the nervous system, and intentionally enter the week ahead together. RSVP here [https://luma.com/cz2rytkw]. Connect with me: * Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free [https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free]  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/] * Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/ [https://shanetta.substack.com/]

Why You’re Not Going After What You Want

In this episode, I’m sharing a bit about the season I’m currently in and how it’s reflecting the same patterns I’m seeing with my clients. I also talk about the truth behind feeling “stuck,” why you probably already know what you want, and what actually gets in the way of going after it. Lastly, I'm opening up a few 1:1 coaching spots, beginning in April. Apply here [https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/the-embodied-woman]. Connect with me: * Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free [https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free]  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/] * Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/ [https://shanetta.substack.com/]

Who Gets to Heal? Access, Equity, and the Fight for Eating Disorder Care with Akiera Holloway-Gilbert

For National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDA), we’re going beyond awareness and into accountability. Today’s guest, Akiera Holloway-Gilbert, is a national speaker, mental health leader, and CEO of Project HEAL, the leading U.S. organization dedicated to equitable mental healthcare for people struggling with eating disorders. Under her leadership, Project HEAL has delivered millions of dollars in services, including free treatment placement for individuals who otherwise would not have access to care. Her work has been recognized by outlets like Forbes, Fortune, TIME, NBC, Refinery29, CNN, Yahoo, and The Washington Post. Before stepping into her current role, Akiera founded Body Reborn to support BIPOC communities navigating mental health challenges. She also serves as a Board Member of the Eating Disorders Coalition, advancing federal mental health legislation and fighting for systemic change. In our convo, we talk about what it means to lead in close proximity to suffering. How access to care is shaped by race, class, and policy. The emotional weight of advocating for change in systems that resist it. And how to hold rigor and humanity at the same time. This episode is about justice, who gets to be seen and what real healing requires, both individually and collectively. I’m also introducing No More Sunday Scaries [https://luma.com/calendar/cal-TrWRs8AwdoQHRnA], a free weekly space where we slow down, regulate the nervous system, and intentionally enter the week ahead together. Sign-up {HERE [https://luma.com/calendar/cal-TrWRs8AwdoQHRnA]} Connect with me: * Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free [https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free]  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/] * Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/ [https://shanetta.substack.com/]

No More Sunday Scaries: Why the Week Feels Hard Before It Starts

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down why Sunday Scaries aren’t a mindset problem or a motivation issue, but a nervous system response to how our weeks are structured and what they require from us. We’ll talk about anticipatory overwhelm, why “figuring it out” often keeps us stuck in survival mode, and what actually helps when your body is already bracing for what’s ahead. I also share why so many capable, thoughtful women — especially mothers — start the week depleted, and how preparing differently can change the way the week feels without adding more to your plate. I’m also introducing No More Sunday Scaries [https://luma.com/calendar/cal-TrWRs8AwdoQHRnA], a free weekly space where we slow down, regulate the nervous system, and intentionally enter the week ahead together. Sign-up {HERE [https://luma.com/calendar/cal-TrWRs8AwdoQHRnA]} Connect with me: * Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free [https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free]  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/ [https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/] * Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/ [https://shanetta.substack.com/]