Ep 37: Your Breath Might Be Keeping You Stuck in Stress | Eileen McDonald

Ep 40: Why Your Doom Scroll Might Actually Be Guiding You Somewhere | Mary Ziegler

You know the feeling. It's late. You're fried. You pick up your phone just to check out for a minute — and suddenly it's been an hour. We've all been there. Most of the time it leads nowhere. But every once in a while, the scroll leads you straight out of the funk. That's exactly what happened to this week's guest. What started as a desperate attempt to decompress during one of the most overwhelming seasons of her life turned into something she never saw coming — and honestly, never would have planned for. Mary Ziegler joins Molly to talk about burnout, the moment everything shifted, and what it actually takes to give yourself permission to change direction — even when you have no idea where you're going. In this episode, you'll hear: * What it looks like to be deep in the funk — and not even realize you're searching for a way out * Why the thing pulling your attention might be more signal than distraction * The permission we don't give ourselves — especially as women — to change course * What imposter syndrome sounds like when you try something completely new * Why getting your brand into the physical world matters more than you think If you've ever picked up your phone to escape and wondered if there's something more waiting for you on the other side of the funk — this one's for you. Subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Connect with Mary Ziegler: Aunt Myrtle's Designs [https://auntmyrtlesdesigns.com/] Resources from Molly: Want to improve your sense of self-worth? Try this free 10-minute subliminal [https://nextbeststep.co/selfworth-rewired]:  Learn about releasing your emotional baggage without therapy [https://nextbeststep.co/emotion_code_home] Go deeper into this conversation in The WTF Breakdown Blog [https://nextbeststep.co/the-wtf-breakdown] Want to recalibrate your subconscious? Check out Molly's Inner Calibration Subliminal [https://nextbeststep.co/subliminal-inner-calibration]

Ep 39: The Surprisingly Simple Way Out of Burnout Nobody Talks About | Joey Chandler

Joey Chandler woke up one morning in January 2022 with nothing left. Divorce papers signed. Business struggling. Living alone for the first time in 20 years. And he was the coach — the one helping everyone else find clarity. In this conversation, Joey walks us through the surprisingly simple shift that pulled him out of burnout in about three months. No meditation retreat. No new morning routine. Just three words and a question he asked himself every single day. He breaks down his Refinement Engine framework, the science behind why values-based action works (hello, intrinsic motivation), and why your "spark word" might be the most important word in your whole life. What you'll take away: * Why traditional burnout advice didn't work for Joey — and what actually did * The Navy SEALs principle behind picking exactly three core values (not five, not ten) * The 6 questions in Joey's Refinement Engine that turn a fear-led day into a values-led one * The "spark word" rule and why fun, play, and curiosity are non-negotiable * How an electrical contractor added $150K to his business by leading with the word "contribution" If this episode hits you somewhere tender, hit follow so you don't miss the next one. And forward it to that one friend who keeps saying "I'm fine." Connect with Joey Chandler here [www.certaingrowth.com]. Connect with Molly: * Website: ⁠https://nextbeststep.co⁠ [https://nextbeststep.co] * Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/molly.positivepants/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/molly.positivepants/] * Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/molly.m.smith.90⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/molly.m.smith.90] Resources from Molly: Want to improve your sense of self-worth? Try this free 10-minute subliminal [https://nextbeststep.co/selfworth-rewired]:  Learn about releasing your emotional baggage without therapy [https://nextbeststep.co/emotion_code_home] Go deeper into this conversation in The WTF Breakdown Blog [https://nextbeststep.co/the-wtf-breakdown] Want to recalibrate your subconscious? Check out Molly's Inner Calibration Subliminal [https://nextbeststep.co/subliminal-inner-calibration]

Ep 38: How Self-Abandonment Turned Into Chronic Anxiety | Ciara Waterfield

In this episode of the WTF Podcast, Ciara Waterfield shares the deeply personal story of how years of people-pleasing, toxic relationships, and slowly abandoning herself eventually led to chronic anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and a complete loss of identity. From the outside, everything looked fine. But internally, she was unraveling. What started as anxiety eventually became a wake-up call—forcing Ciara to confront the patterns, beliefs, and survival mechanisms that had been running her life for years. In this conversation, we talk about: ✨ The connection between self-abandonment and anxiety ✨ Losing yourself in relationships and external validation ✨ Intrusive thoughts, nervous system dysregulation, and emotional overwhelm ✨ Meditation, yoga nidra, and awareness-based healing practices ✨ Learning how to reconnect with your body and rebuild self-trust ✨ What radical self-love actually looks like in real life This episode is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about coming back to yourself. Connect with Ciara: Instagram: @compassionate_awakened_living [https://www.instagram.com/compassionate_awakened_living/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] LinkedIn: Ciara Waterfield [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciara-waterfield-7198863a8/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Resources from Molly: Download the 2026 Confidence Resume [https://nextbeststep.co/confidence-resume] Learn about releasing your emotional baggage without therapy [https://nextbeststep.co/emotion_code_home] Go deeper into this conversation in The WTF Breakdown Blog [https://nextbeststep.co/the-wtf-breakdown] Want to recalibrate your subconscious? Check out Molly's Inner Calibration Subliminal [https://nextbeststep.co/subliminal-inner-calibration]

Ep 37: Your Breath Might Be Keeping You Stuck in Stress | Eileen McDonald

What if the way you’re breathing is quietly keeping your nervous system stuck in stress? In this Expert Series episode, Molly sits down with Eileen McDonald — creator of the BodyCue IQ™ system and a specialist in breathing behavior and nervous system regulation — to unpack the surprising connection between breath, stress, emotions, and the “funk” so many of us find ourselves stuck in. Together, they explore how breathing patterns are learned, why shallow breathing and breath holding are more common than we realize, and how your body may be signaling stress long before your mind catches up. Molly also shares what she discovered after tracking her own breathing patterns leading up to this conversation… and the insights were eye-opening. This episode will help you: * Understand how your breath impacts your nervous system * Recognize unhealthy breathing patterns * Learn why stress changes the way we breathe * Discover practical tools to regulate in real time * Use your breath as a tool to help pivot out of the funk Connect with Eileen: www.eileenmcdonald.com Resources from Molly: Download the 2026 Confidence Resume [https://nextbeststep.co/confidence-resume] Learn about releasing your emotional baggage without therapy [https://nextbeststep.co/emotion_code_home] Go deeper into this conversation in The WTF Breakdown Blog [https://nextbeststep.co/the-wtf-breakdown] Want to recalibrate your subconscious? Check out Molly's Inner Calibration Subliminal [https://nextbeststep.co/subliminal-inner-calibration]

Ep 36: When Success Is Built on Proving Your Worth | Spencer Jones

We don’t usually question success when everything looks good on the outside. You’re showing up. You’re doing the work. You’re checking all the boxes. But what happens when all of it is built on proving your worth? In this episode, I sit down with Spencer Jones, founder of Jonesin’ For, [https://wearejonesinfor.com/] to talk about what it really looks like when your drive to succeed is fueled by people-pleasing, validation, and the need to measure up. For years, Spencer was the one saying yes to everything, constantly pushing, constantly proving… and from the outside, it looked like he was doing everything right. Until it all came crashing down. We talk about the moment he hit rock bottom, the realization that he didn’t even know who he was anymore, and what it took to rebuild from the inside out. This conversation dives into the difference between confidence and ego, how early patterns can shape the way we show up for decades, and why success that’s built on proving yourself will never actually feel like enough. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of doing more, being more, and trying to earn your worth… this one will hit. Resources from Molly: Download the 2026 Confidence Resume [https://nextbeststep.co/confidence-resume] Learn about releasing your emotional baggage without therapy [https://nextbeststep.co/emotion_code_home] Go deeper into this conversation in The WTF Breakdown Blog [https://nextbeststep.co/the-wtf-breakdown] Want to recalibrate your subconscious? Check out Molly's Inner Calibration Subliminal [https://nextbeststep.co/subliminal-inner-calibration]