Sarah Albritton has spent over 30 years as the trusted catalyst for high-impact leaders who’ve achieved massive success but know something’s still missing. She works with CEOs, founders, and senior executives who look unstoppable from the outside yet privately feel their compass spinning. Her clients include billion-dollar business leaders and visionary founders who’ve realized the old playbook isn’t working anymore. But before she was coaching the world’s most accomplished leaders, Sarah was the woman who made everything look perfect while quietly crumbling inside. The high achiever with imposter syndrome who spent 20 years in a marriage where she wasn’t fully present. The capable woman who carried chronic back pain because her body was screaming what she wouldn’t say out loud. The leader who walked into rooms full of elite coaches and heard herself say ”I’m just a coach here, just like everybody else” in that high-pitched little voice, watching doors close behind people’s eyes. Until the day she couldn’t keep playing small anymore. In this raw, vulnerable conversation, Sarah reveals what it actually costs to make things look perfect when you’re not being real. The physical pain her body carried from years of inauthenticity. The devastating betrayal when her entire friend group turned on her during her divorce, not just walking away but actively trying to destroy her. The moment at a coaching seminar when she caught herself shrinking and made the conscious choice to show up bigger. And how learning to treat her body as her hero instead of her villain changed everything. Ready to stop playing small? If Sarah’s story hit close to home, it’s because you’re living some version of it right now. You’ve built something that looks good on the outside. People think you have it together. But you know the truth. You’re playing smaller than you’re capable of. Making things look perfect so no one sees how exhausted you really are. Shrinking yourself so others feel comfortable while your body carries the weight of everything you’re not saying. Here’s what that costs you: your energy, your presence, your health, your relationships, and your ability to actually feel the success you’ve built. You collapse into bed exhausted but can’t sleep because your mind won’t stop racing. You snap at the people you love most, then feel guilty for not being present. You know you should take better care of yourself but you always run out of time and energy. You’ve built a life people admire but inside it doesn’t feel congruent. The Congruency Audit is where we look at the gap between the success you’ve built on the outside and what you’re actually feeling on the inside. We’ll identify the exact patterns keeping you stuck in playing small, the wounds driving your need to make things look perfect, and what it’s going to take for you to finally show up as big as you actually are. This isn’t about optimizing the version of yourself you built to survive. It’s about creating congruence so the life you’ve built doesn’t just look good, it finally feels right. Book your Congruency Audit: lisacarpenter.ca/audit Success that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. If you listen on Apple Podcasts: 1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone or iPad. 2. Tap the Search icon at the bottom. 3. Type Lisa Carpenter in the search bar and select her podcast. 4. Scroll down past the episodes to Ratings & Reviews. 5. Tap Write a Review (it’s easy to miss — purple text on a black screen). 6. Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted. 7. Select your star rating, add a title and your review, then tap Send.

Hormones can change how you feel, but they don’t change who you are. And no prescription can fix a life built on burnout and self-abandonment. In this episode, I’m getting real about what’s happening in my own body right now, hormones out of whack again, depression, anxiety, fatigue, memory loss, and a complete loss of zest for life. My get-up and go has left the building. But here’s what I know: what I’m feeling is real, but it doesn’t make it true. I’ve been on HRT for years. I take amazing care of myself physically. I work with practitioners. I’ve done decades of emotional work. And I’m still navigating this. Because HRT can support your symptoms, but it’s not a magic bullet for all the emotional work you’ve been avoiding. Taking physically good care of yourself doesn’t mean you’ve taken emotionally good care of yourself. Your hormones don’t tank out of nowhere—they reflect how you’ve been living. The chronic stress, the over-functioning, the self-abandonment, the patterns you’ve normalized for so long you don’t even see them anymore. This episode is for high-achieving women in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering if they’re losing their minds. If you’re ready to blow up your life or feeling like a victim of your own body, this conversation will challenge everything you think you know about hormone health. I break down what hormones can do, what they can’t do, and the deeper self-leadership work your body is demanding you finally pay attention to. Because hormone therapy can change your chemistry, but only you can change your capacity. Key Takeaways The critical distinction: What you’re feeling is real, but it doesn’t make it true. Feelings are data, not facts Why HRT isn’t enough: Hormone replacement can stabilize physiology but cannot regulate your nervous system. That’s your job The real cause of hormone chaos: How chronic stress, over-functioning, emotional suppression, and self-abandonment drive hormonal decline Physical vs emotional self-care: Taking physically good care of yourself doesn’t mean you’ve taken emotionally good care of yourself Common perimenopause symptoms: Depression, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, dry eyes, memory loss, poor workout recovery, loss of zest for life The hormone-gut connection: Why your gut health directly impacts your hormones and moods. 95% of serotonin is made in your gut Foundations that matter: Sleep, protein and fiber at every meal, movement, minerals and hydration, downtime, and boundaries What separates women who blow up their lives from women who transform: Self-leadership, emotional responsibility, and the courage to examine your patterns The questions you need to ask yourself: What are you getting from staying in chaos? How long will you blame your hormones instead of admitting you’re a big part of the problem? Peri/menopause as invitation: This phase is asking you to finally know yourself more deeply and address the emotional work you’ve been avoiding Resources Mentioned Hormone & Health Practitioners: Ciara Foy (@ciarafoyinc) - Specializes in hormone health and weight management for high-achievers over 40 Jenn Pike (@jennpike) - Nutrition and exercise expert with extensive online resources Alyssa Morra (@alyssamorragutexpert) - Gut health specialist focused on digestive wellness and hormonal balance Take the Next Step If you’re exhausted from feeling like a victim of your own body, if you recognize yourself in this episode and you’re ready to lead yourself differently, book a free 15-minute Congruency Audit. We’ll identify exactly where you’re out of congruence with yourself and what needs to shift so you can navigate this phase with awareness instead of reactivity, with self-leadership instead of self-abandonment. Book your Congruency Audit

You’re afraid of not feeling good enough. Meanwhile, you wake up every day already feeling that way. So what exactly are you protecting yourself from? In this live coaching episode, I work with Laurie-Ann Murabito, a successful speaking coach who’s built a beautiful business but came to me feeling stuck. Not confident enough. Not getting the engagement she wanted. Not seeing the results she expected. So she stopped promoting her work and held back from the bigger vision she knew she was being called toward. Within minutes of our session, I exposed the pattern she was living: She was afraid of not feeling good enough, but she was already experiencing that feeling every single day. She was protecting herself from what she was already living. This is imposter syndrome in its most insidious form. Not the dramatic ”I’m a fraud” moments, but the quiet, daily erosion of confidence that keeps accomplished people playing small. Laurie-Ann had all the evidence she needed that she was creating real results. Clients hiring her out of the blue after listening silently for months. People telling her she was their only choice. But she wasn’t looking at that data. She was hanging her confidence on likes, comments, and downloads that would never be enough. Here’s where the coaching got interesting: I asked her what she was getting from staying stuck that she wouldn’t admit. What was the real payoff for playing small? Her answer shifted everything: ”I get to stay right here. I don’t have to step into that bigger role.” This is the work I do. I don’t coach to what you think the problem is. I coach to the operating system underneath that’s producing all those symptoms. While most coaches would focus on confidence-building exercises or mindset mantras, I go after the unconscious pattern that’s creating the lack of confidence in the first place. When Laurie-Ann described the vision she’s been holding back from, building a world-class speaking and communication company, tears came. That’s when I knew we hit the real issue. This wasn’t about confidence. It was about identity. Who would she need to become to step into that vision? And what parts of herself would she need to stop being loyal to? I guided Laurie-Ann to see that she was choosing evidence that kept her small because looking at evidence of her real impact would require her to step up. And stepping up meant leaving behind the familiar version of herself that feels safe, even when it’s exhausting. In this coaching episode, you’ll hear me guide Laurie-Ann through: Why she was making her confidence conditional on external results instead of recognizing that doing the work itself was enough The unconscious payoff of staying stuck and how it was protecting her from having to step into a bigger role How she was choosing to look at data that supported staying small while ignoring evidence that she was creating real results The exact question that exposed the paradox: being afraid of what she was already experiencing every day The practice of naming the part of her that believes she’s not enough so it stops running her life (meet Gertrude) The difference between acknowledging limiting voices and tolerating them How to stop protecting yourself from what you’re already living This episode is for you if: You’ve built success but don’t feel successful You’re accomplished on the outside but struggling with confidence internally You have a bigger vision but keep finding reasons to stay where you are You’re tired of waiting to feel ready before you take action You want to understand what it’s like to work with me This is what it sounds like to work with a Master Coach who sees the operating system underneath your surface symptoms. If you’ve been holding back from something bigger, tune in. Book a free 15-minute Congruency Audit at lisacarpenter.ca/audit. We’ll identify what’s working, what’s out of sync, and the single biggest opportunity to bring your life, work, and self back into congruence.

You tell yourself you’re being strategic. That you’re building collaborations, finding complementary skill sets, creating win-win partnerships. But what if the real reason you keep looking for someone else to do it with you is because you don’t believe you’re enough on your own? Andrea Janzen built a wildly successful leadership development company in one of the most male-dominated industries on the planet: construction. She’s coached over 1,000 construction professionals, works with multinational companies, hosts the Ambition Theory Podcast, and is a Forbes contributor. On the outside, she’s absolutely killing it. But for years, Andrea was running a story underneath all that success. A story that said she wasn’t legitimate without an HR background. That she needed partners to fill her gaps. That her energy and authentic approach weren’t enough to carry her business forward. The cost? She almost missed massive opportunities. She hid her greatest strengths. She exhausted herself trying to prove her worth. And even when she was achieving goals she’d journaled about years earlier, she couldn’t let herself feel successful. Until a client said five words that changed everything: ”We just want to work with you.” In this raw, vulnerable conversation, Andrea reveals: The ”not enough” story that drove her to seek business partners from scarcity, not strategy (and how to tell the difference) Why high achievers mistake imposter syndrome for missing credentials, when the real issue is hiding their genius The moment a client reflected back what she couldn’t see in herself (and why we need mirrors when building something new) How over-functioning and resentment are your body’s way of telling you you’ve abandoned personal responsibility Why she can journal about goals, achieve them years later, and still not feel successful (and what actually needs to shift) The practice of looking back at where you were five years ago as medicine for ”never enough” How setting a 3pm work boundary and a shutdown ritual actually accelerated her business growth Why Santa now deposits $100/month for mandatory date nights (and what her kids are learning about prioritizing relationships) The difference between partnerships built from lack versus partnerships built from abundance Why solo time in nature, crime novels at the library, and protecting her energy are non-negotiables for showing up powerfully About Andrea Janzen: Andrea Janzen is a Certified Executive Coach with an MBA, the host of the Ambition Theory Podcast, a Forbes contributor, and a top-rated speaker. She is passionate about coaching construction professionals to develop themselves, set leadership goals, and get results. Since 2018, Andrea has coached and trained over 1,000 construction professionals. Before becoming a coach, Andrea was a marketing leader who worked on some of the world’s best-known brands. Here’s what Andrea’s story reveals: The ”not enough” story doesn’t go away with more credentials, more partners, or more proof. It goes away when you finally see what’s been true all along, that your energy, your authentic approach, your unique way of seeing things, that’s not a gap to fill. That’s your genius. But most high achievers can’t see this on their own. We need someone to hold up the mirror, to name the pattern we’re running, to show us where we’re hiding instead of leading. That’s exactly what the Congruency Audit does, where we look at the gap between the success you’ve built on the outside and what you’re actually feeling on the inside. We’ll identify the exact ”not enough” story keeping you stuck, the ways you’re over-functioning or seeking external validation instead of trusting yourself, and what it’s going to take for you to finally create success that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. Book your Congruency Audit: lisacarpenter.ca/audit

What if the very thing you thought was keeping you safe was actually suffocating your soul? Tracy Goodwin had a gift she couldn’t deny. She could hear things in people’s voices that no one else could hear, seven layers of sound that revealed scars, wounds, and the real person buried beneath years of conditioning. But instead of stepping into that power, she played it safe. She taught traditional voice coaching while her radical insights screamed to get out. Then the hate came. International hate clubs. Requests to appear on national television to be humiliated on purpose. Daily emails telling her she was an ”effing piece of” nothing, that she shouldn’t exist, that she should be dead. Her life was literally threatened because she wouldn’t accommodate someone’s request, because she wouldn’t conform to what others wanted her to be. So she went into hiding. She refinished furniture for years, sanding away layers of old paint and varnish while God sanded away her excuses. Until she heard the voice she’d been running from: ”What are you doing? I didn’t put you down there to finish furniture. I need you back in the game.” Within 24 hours, the concept of psychology of the voice became crystal clear. In this raw, vulnerable conversation, Tracy reveals: The self-inflicted torture of knowing your truth but staying paralyzed by fear and people-pleasing How childhood wounds of being silenced before age five show up in the way you communicate today The moment she realized furniture refinishing was a metaphor for her real work: sanding away the fabricated layers of who people think they’re supposed to be Why staying safe in people-pleasing mode almost made her lose her mind The progression of redefining success from wanting to be a famous celebrity in her 20s, to chasing money in her 30s, to her mission at 50: touching every life that must hear from her before she’s gone How she went from taking months to recover from conflict to catching herself in minutes The hardest practice of all: meeting yourself with compassion when you’ve spent a lifetime being as hard on yourself as the world has been on you Why your voice is the literal orchestra of your heart, and there is someone desperately waiting for your message The five core wounds that stop high performers from owning their greatness: fear of judgment, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, sense of belonging, and worthiness This episode is for you if you’ve ever: Felt successful on the outside while quietly crumbling on the inside Known you had a gift but been too terrified to fully step into it Stayed small to keep others comfortable or avoid judgment Wondered ”is this all there is?” while everyone else thinks you have it all figured out Struggled to give yourself the compassion you so freely give to others Been paralyzed by the gap between what you know you’re capable of and what you’re actually doing Tracy Goodwin is a voice decoder, researcher, and voice behavioralist who works with the psychology of the voice. She helps high-performing leaders understand how their voice holds their scars, wounds, and power, ultimately getting them back to who they were put on this earth to be versus who the world told them to be. Find Tracy at: Instagram/TikTok: @‌captivatetherroom LinkedIn: Tracy A. Goodwin Ready to stop playing it safe with your own life? Book your Congruency Audit: lisacarpenter.ca/audit

You’ve achieved more than most people, but if you’re honest, it’s come at a cost — to your health, your relationships, your energy, maybe even your sense of peace. And here’s the kicker: no matter how much you do, it never feels like enough. In this very first episode of Congruent, Lisa Carpenter pulls back the curtain on the truth about success. Why do so many high-achieving men and women deny or downplay their success? Why does “making it” rarely feel the way we imagined it would? And what does it actually take to create success that sustains you instead of drains you? Lisa shares her own story of chasing achievement while never feeling successful, and how a life-changing season forced her to embody everything she’d been teaching for over a decade. She reveals the hidden costs of “do-er mode,” the patterns that keep ambitious people stuck, and the shifts required to build a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. What you’ll hear in this episode: • Why success often comes with hidden costs. • The gap between how others see you and how you see yourself. • The real reason nothing ever feels like enough. • The difference between numbing with busyness vs. living in congruence. • What congruent success looks and feels like. • What to expect from this podcast each week. If you’ve been chasing achievement but still feel unfulfilled, exhausted, or disconnected, this episode will help you see that you’re not broken — you’ve been conditioned. And there’s a different way forward.

Fresh off an incredible two-day retreat in the beautiful Okanagan, Lisa dives deep into the story that keeps so many driven, ambitious people trapped: ”I should know this stuff already.” If you’ve been drowning in personal development for years, reading all the books, taking the courses, working with coaches, and you’re still stuck in the same patterns, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn: The Truth About ”Should Know Better” Lisa breaks down why believing you should already have it figured out is the exact thing keeping you stuck. She shares how this story kept her trapped for years and why it’s actually keeping you from the transformation you’re craving. The Bus vs. Plane Analogy We don’t need coaches. We’re all capable of finding our way. But working with a one-to-one coach is the difference between taking a bus across the country versus hopping on a plane. Same destination, completely different timeline. Lisa’s Money Story Transformation For years, Lisa thought she had a money problem. The real problem? She was constantly holding her attention on what she didn’t have instead of recognizing the abundance that was already there. She shares the specific questions she asked herself that shifted everything. The Four Phases of Transformation Awareness - Discovering what’s really holding you back (spoiler: it’s not what you think) Acceptance - That hard pill moment when you realize the problem isn’t the problem Practice - The part nobody wants to do but everyone needs to do Embodiment - Where you become aware of your red flags and know how to bring yourself back to center faster The Real Cost of Playing Small Lisa challenges you to ask yourself: What is it costing you to get stuck in your stories? How much longer are you going to use ”I should know this” as an excuse to not make the investment in yourself that you need to make? She shares her own journey of learning to stop shrinking, to show up as a leader, and how working with coaches for two decades has allowed her to create the life and business she has today. The Dragon Unicorn Moment Lisa shares a powerful story about a friend telling her: ”You not standing out is like a dragon unicorn standing in the middle of a field, not standing out.” This became a turning point in her journey of accepting that she’s here to lead. Bottom Line You have information, but information is nothing without action. Nothing. The most successful, emotionally well people Lisa knows have worked with coaches, not because there’s anything wrong with them, but because they value personal growth and want to show up as more powerful leaders in their lives.

Lisa dives deep into the confusion around ”let it be easy” versus doing hard things. If you’ve been avoiding uncomfortable actions or pushing through everything with force, this episode reveals the difference between allowing and forcing, and why both approaches can keep you stuck. Many of Lisa’s clients are excellent at doing hard things. They’re masters at pushing through, putting their heads down, and forcing things to happen. But there’s a crucial difference between forcing and pushing versus allowing. The energy behind the action matters as much as the action itself. Lisa woke up with sore legs, knowing she had to train glutes that day. Heavy weights, high volume, very mental. She didn’t feel like it. But she’s committed to her outcome, and she knows that if she starts negotiating with herself based on how she feels, she’s already losing. Instead of wasting energy negotiating or switching to upper body, she went straight to the gym. While warming up, she shifted her energy from ”Oh my God, this is going to be so hard and take so long” to reminding herself that she’s strong, capable, and her body can do this. She tuned into her body’s yes or no signals, which is different than just not feeling like it. The key insight: she went in knowing it would be hard and asked ”How can I allow this to be easier?” Whether you’re trying to transform your body, lose weight, or grow a business, it’s going to be hard. Lisa can’t tell you how many face-down moments she’s had in business, how many hard decisions she’s made, how much adversity she’s faced. Being an entrepreneur isn’t for everyone and it’s definitely not a walk in the park. When you’re doing hard things, it’s confronting. You have to look at your limiting beliefs, the stories you’re telling yourself, your current identity and ways of being. You have to stare all of that down, and it’s really uncomfortable. Most people aren’t willing to do uncomfortable things. So Lisa asks: is it that it’s hard, or is it that it’s uncomfortable and we don’t want to do uncomfortable things? For many high-achievers, the hardest, most uncomfortable thing isn’t pushing through more activities. It’s learning to slow down, say no, make rest a priority, have more fun, take things off their plate, be in the discomfort of not taking care of everybody else, and actually making themselves a priority. When Lisa was learning to rest, she had to dismantle all her stories and beliefs: rest was lazy, rest was unproductive, rest was for ”those people.” She had things to do. It was tied to her identity as an overachiever who wore ”busy” as a badge of honor. She could do all the things and take care of everybody else while doing them. No wonder she burned out. To heal, she had to learn that slowing down was the hard thing for an over-doer. Most people would say slowing down isn’t hard, but when you’re wired to constantly achieve, slowing down is the most uncomfortable thing you can do. Lisa had to learn how to make rest feel easier. Resting felt torturous, so she shifted her energy by reminding herself what rest would bring: healing, strength, the ability to do more ultimately. Rest wasn’t going to take away from anything. She had to learn to honor and value rest, and that’s how she allowed the hard thing to be easier. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. The more you can get comfortable with being uncomfortable, that’s when the magic happens. In that discomfort, you can adjust your energy so that even when it’s uncomfortable, you still find a way to win and honor your energy. The question becomes: what feels hard that you’ve been avoiding? And what things are you doing that you’re telling yourself are hard that, if you shifted your energy around them, you could allow to be easier?

If you’re feeling drained despite all your efforts to manage your time and boundaries, you’re probably making these three critical mistakes that are actually robbing you of the very energy you’re trying to preserve. This episode reveals why your current strategies are backwards and what to focus on instead. Mistake #1: Waiting for Others to Change The biggest energy drain is believing that other people or circumstances changing is the solution to feeling better. You’re living in ”when then” mode. When your partner changes, when you have more time, when your kids are older, when you get a new job, THEN you’ll have energy for yourself. This is giving away your power entirely. External circumstances changing doesn’t automatically give you more energy or make you prioritize yourself better. If you believe your husband, kids, or schedule needs to change before you can feel better, you’re putting yourself in a powerless position where forces outside of you control your wellbeing. That costs you massive amounts of energy because you’re fighting what you can’t control. Mistake #2: Thinking It’s a Time Management Problem This is like slapping lipstick on a pig. You’re looking for a solution to the wrong problem. Time management is easy when you know how you’re prioritizing your time and what needs to get done. No system or strategy is going to give you more energy. The people Lisa works with are some of the most productive people she’s ever met. They’re so productive they don’t even realize they’re over-functioning way beyond what they need to do in a day. Here’s what’s really happening: you create organized systems and free up space, then immediately fill that space back up because you’re uncomfortable with calm. You say you want more time and energy, but you’re actually more committed to filling that time because you feel calm in the chaos. It takes serious nervous system regulation to get comfortable being calm in the calm. Most people feel more comfortable in chaos than in peace, so they’ll always create things to bring them back to busyness. Mistake #3: Using Worry as a Problem-Solving Strategy This is where Lisa gets really honest about her own patterns. Worrying and focusing on the problem as a way to fix the problem. Many of Lisa’s clients have unraveled the belief that there’s even a problem when often what they find is they’ve created a problem where none existed. Consider what worry is giving you. Many of us learned that the more we worry, the more responsible we’re being about handling things. But where did you learn that worry was the way to solve problems? You get more of what you focus on. Lisa shares her personal example with money worry. She didn’t have a money problem she had a worry-about-money problem. She spent tremendous energy worrying about debt, asking herself how she’d pay it off, if she’d be okay. Then she developed a strategy to break the worry cycle. Lisa’s Worry-Breaking Strategy She started asking herself: ”Is anything different today from yesterday?” The answer was always no. ”Did you spend all day yesterday worrying?” Yes. ”Did that change anything?” No. ”Is anything different today?” No. ”Did anything bad happen yesterday?” No. Day after day after day, she had evidence that worrying wasn’t changing anything and nothing bad was actually happening. No bill collectors showed up. Nobody took her car. Nothing bad was happening. In that moment, she’d tell herself to stop spending energy worrying and put that energy into being responsible for doing things that would support the outcome she wanted. If something had changed when she asked those questions, it still came back to: what do I need to take responsibility for in this moment? Then she’d do that thing and move on.

In a world bombarded with optimization strategies and endless to-do lists, Lisa challenges the conventional wisdom that more equals better. This episode cuts through the noise to reveal why high-performers often sabotage themselves with impossible standards and how to break free from the ”all or nothing” trap that keeps you stuck. We’re drowning in information about how to optimize everything, and it’s creating paralysis for high-achievers. When you can’t do something perfectly, you opt out entirely. This happens with health, relationships, business, and self-care. The result? Zero action equals zero results, even though some results are infinitely better than none. Lisa breaks down the core pillars that actually matter for performance: sleep, movement, nutrition, outdoor time, relationships (especially with yourself), and hydration. These basics don’t change, but we get distracted by every new optimization strategy instead of mastering what we know works. Everyone’s talking about cold plunging for nervous system benefits, but Lisa reveals why she doesn’t do it despite knowing the benefits. She’s already doing hard things and chooses different hard things that support her nervous system post-burnout. The lesson? Don’t do things just because others say you should. Choose what works for YOUR life and nervous system. What if you gave yourself permission to go to the gym once a week instead of five times? What if you committed to one healthy breakfast instead of overhauling your entire diet? What if you meditated for five minutes instead of aiming for an hour? The key is finding the minimum you can commit to and actually stick with it. For years, Lisa used being hard on herself as motivation. This worked until it didn’t. When you’re using self-criticism to move forward, you’re in an abusive relationship with yourself. The shift? You can achieve more through strategic kindness than constant criticism. Sometimes the answer isn’t adding more strategies—it’s consciously deciding what to stop doing. Put a pin in optimization techniques that don’t fit your current bandwidth. Schedule a reminder to revisit them in three to six months. Give yourself permission to let things go without guilt. Can you sit with yourself in silence for five minutes? If not, what does that say about your relationship with yourself? What are you running from? What stories are you telling yourself about what you ”should” be doing? These questions reveal the deeper patterns keeping you stuck. This episode is for high-achievers who feel like they’re constantly failing despite doing everything ”right.” If self-care feels like another job on your to-do list, if you opt out of healthy habits because you can’t do them perfectly, or if you’re ready to challenge the stories keeping you overwhelmed, this episode will shift your perspective. Choose one foundational area where you want improvement. Ask yourself what’s the absolute minimum you can commit to and actually stick with. Notice what stories come up when you consider doing ”less.” Then give yourself permission to let everything else go for now while you build this one sustainable habit. Success and fulfillment don’t come from doing all the things—they come from doing the right things consistently. When you master the basics and build on a solid foundation, you don’t need to constantly add more to feel successful. You’ll actually start enjoying your life instead of grinding through it.

Are you an overwhelmed parent who’s tired of yelling at your kids? Do you find yourself losing it with your children, then feeling guilty about your parenting afterward? If you’re a high-achieving mom or dad struggling with parenting anxiety, constant overwhelm, and the exhausting cycle of trying to control everything, this episode is for you. In today’s deeply personal episode, I share the real story of how doing my own healing work completely transformed how I show up as a parent, and how it’s breaking generational trauma for my children. What You’ll Learn: Why ”good parents” still lose it with their kids (and what’s really happening beneath the surface) The hidden cost of perfectionist parenting and how it damages both you and your children How emotional safety actually works in parenting (it’s not what most parents think) Why your kids’ anxiety isn’t really about anxiety - and what it’s actually telling you The one investment that changes everything for your family’s emotional health How breaking generational patterns happens through YOUR healing, not your children’s behavior Perfect for Parents Who: Feel like they’re always yelling despite wanting to be calm Struggle with mom guilt or dad guilt about their parenting Are overwhelmed by daily parenting challenges Want to stop repeating their parents’ mistakes but don’t know how Are high-achievers who can’t seem to ”achieve” at parenting Feel anxious about their children’s emotional well-being Are tired of walking on eggshells around their kids’ big emotions Featured Story: I share the raw, real moment when my 14-year-old son Jake dropped his brand-new phone in the river, and how our response became a powerful example of generational healing in action. You’ll hear exactly what we did differently (and what we used to do wrong) that’s creating emotional safety for our kids. The Investment Truth: Why parents will spend thousands on tutoring, sports, and schools but resist investing in the inner work that actually gives their children emotional security, self-compassion, and healthy relationships with themselves. If you’re ready to stop the cycle of overwhelm and create the emotionally safe family environment your children actually need, this episode will show you exactly where to start, and why the work begins with you.

You’re not needy. You’re not the damsel in distress. You get shit done. But what if I told you that your excellence, your leadership, your ”I’ve got this” attitude is actually a sophisticated form of codependency that’s keeping you emotionally trapped? In this raw, unfiltered solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the high-functioning codependency that disguises itself as strength but leaves you drowning in resentment while everyone else gets to rest. What You’ll Discover: The Real Face of Codependency Why it’s not about being needy—it’s about needing to be needed so badly you abandon yourself How your ”strength” became your prison The difference between being helpful and being codependent The Hidden Traits That Don’t Look Codependent You anticipate others’ needs before being asked (and call it leadership) You intellectualize feelings but avoid actually feeling them You see your value in what you do, not who you are You never ask for help but resent people who do How It Shows Up Everywhere: At Work: You’re the emotional air traffic controller managing everyone’s moods In Parenting: You over-function for your kids while under-functioning for yourself In Love: You choose potential over reality and call it commitment The Codependent Loop That’s Stealing Your Joy: Obsession (disguised as leadership) Control (disguised as being proactive) Resentment (disguised as martyrdom) Collapse (disguised as ”having a lot on your plate”) Hope (disguised as optimism) Repeat The Hard Truth: You’ve built an empire on ”not good enough.” You’re constantly chasing, constantly proving, constantly giving—but never arriving at that place where you feel genuinely fulfilled. Your life looks amazing on the outside. But on the inside? You’re exhausted, disconnected, and wondering why success doesn’t feel the way you thought it would. The Way Out: This isn’t about becoming selfish or uncaring. It’s about coming home to yourself. It’s about moving from codependency to sovereignty—knowing who you are without all the masks and coping mechanisms. The Three A’s: Awareness: Seeing these patterns without judgment Acceptance: The gateway to transformation Action: Detachment, boundaries, and reparenting yourself Real Talk: How much longer are you going to stay in this loop? How much longer will you pat yourself on the back for being ”so strong” while your joy slips through your fingers every single day? The cost of doing nothing isn’t just your well-being—it’s your relationships, your health, and the woman you’re meant to become. If This Hit You Like a Freight Train: This episode might be one to listen to twice. There’s a lot here. And if you’re sitting there thinking ”holy shit, this is me”—that’s your nervous system recognizing the truth. You have a choice right now. You can keep pretending these patterns are just ”being responsible,” or you can decide that today is the day you stop abandoning yourself for everyone else.

In this powerful live coaching session, Lisa works with Kasia, a former client who is navigating pregnancy in her 40s while running a successful coaching business. This conversation explores the profound shifts that come with major life transitions and how our definitions of success must evolve with us. Key Topics Discussed The Reality of Pregnancy vs. Expectations How pregnancy can shatter our carefully constructed ideas of how life ”should” go The guilt that comes when reality doesn’t match our dreams Learning to hold multiple truths at once: excitement and regret, joy and burden Redefining Success Moving from external metrics (revenue, client satisfaction, stability) to internal states Key insight: ”Success isn’t a measurement - it’s a feeling you get to embody” Success as an identity and internal state of being rather than external achievement Value Beyond the Dollar Recognizing inherent worth that isn’t tied to income generation The unpaid labor of motherhood, partnership, and family building Standing in your power when financial contributions shift Navigating Partnership During Transition Having difficult conversations about expectations and contributions Moving from 50/50 thinking to understanding natural ebbs and flows in relationships The importance of negotiation and honest communication Conflict Avoidance Patterns How childhood experiences with conflict shape adult behavior The difference between actual conflict and perceived judgment Learning to trust your ability to navigate uncertainty Key Takeaways Surrender as Practice: Major life transitions require us to practice surrender at levels we’ve never experienced before Internal vs. External Judgment: Often the harshest judgment comes from within, not from others The Value Question: Ask yourself and your partner: ”What would you pay me to be a mother to your child?” Presence Over Productivity: Some seasons of life call for being rather than doing Relationships as Long-term Reciprocity: Healthy partnerships aren’t tit-for-tat but involve carrying each other through different seasons Reflection Questions Where in your life are you trying to avoid conflict that may not even happen? How are you defining success, and is that definition serving you? What would change if you truly believed in your inherent worth, separate from what you produce? How might you honor the season of life you’re in rather than rushing to the next one?

This week, I’m flipping the script and taking the hot seat. In this special episode, I’m joined by my client Angela—a life coach and medical doctor from New Zealand—for a deep, heartfelt conversation about what it really means to choose your path, trust yourself, and evolve beyond who you used to be. We dive into the real behind-the-scenes of my journey: the career pivots, identity shifts, and uncomfortable-but-worth-it moments that led me to where I am today. From walking away from business models that no longer felt aligned, to navigating fear and self-doubt, this episode is an honest look at what happens when we stop performing and start living from our values. Inside this episode, you’ll hear us talk about: Why choosing yourself often means disappointing others Letting go of identities that once felt safe—but no longer serve What it really looks like to lead with integrity (even when it’s messy) How to stop outsourcing your power and start trusting your truth Why redefining success is one of the most courageous things you can do The quiet—but radical—act of living in alignment with your values This isn’t about “doing it all” or chasing the next goal. This is about you—getting honest about what you want, what matters most, and where you’re still stuck in outdated stories that are keeping you from living fully. This episode is for you if you are:  At a crossroads in your life or business Tired of chasing success that doesn’t feel good Ready to reconnect with yourself—and choose your next chapter with intention

In this powerful episode, Lisa shares an unedited coaching conversation with Greg, an airline pilot who has significant wealth on paper yet still wakes up at 3 AM worried about money. This is context coaching in action—addressing the story problem, not the money problem. What you’ll hear: The ”Just Enough” Identity Crisis Greg has substantial assets and multiple properties, but his relationship with money is still governed by childhood stories like ”money doesn’t grow on trees.” Despite his financial success, he operates from scarcity and wakes up anxious about lack. This disconnect between his actual wealth and his emotional experience with money is more common than you might think among high earners. Context vs. Content Coaching in Action Rather than coaching Greg on budgeting or cash flow management, Lisa immediately identifies that this isn’t a money problem—it’s an identity problem. She coaches to the pattern underneath his words, not the surface-level content he’s presenting. This is the difference between treating symptoms and addressing root causes. Real-Time Transformation You’ll witness the exact moment Greg has a visceral reaction to Lisa calling him ”wealthy” and how she uses that as a gateway to help him step into a new identity. Lisa introduces the concept of pattern interrupts and gives Greg specific homework to retrain his brain out of scarcity thinking. The conversation reveals how Greg’s scarcity mindset isn’t just affecting his sleep—it’s preventing him from doing more good in the world. He and his husband have already established endowments at his alma mater, but his ”just enough” identity keeps him from fully stepping into his role as a wealthy person who can create positive impact. Lisa helps him see that holding onto lack mentality is actually a disservice to those who need him to show up in his full financial power. The shift from victim to steward of wealth becomes not just personal growth, but moral responsibility. Lisa gives Greg specific assignments: calculate his total net worth and use that number as a pattern interrupt whenever scarcity thoughts arise. She also challenges him to define what wealth means for him personally and plan how he wants to give back from that place of abundance. The homework isn’t about managing money better—it’s about managing his identity and relationship with wealth completely differently. Why This Episode Matters This isn’t theory or feel-good advice. It’s real coaching happening in real time with someone who has significant financial success but is still trapped by old stories. If you’re a high achiever who feels financially stressed despite your success, this conversation will show you exactly how those patterns operate and how to break free from them. You’ll hear how quickly transformation can happen when you address the right problem. Greg doesn’t need more money—he needs to step into the identity of someone who already has more than enough.

Fresh off her second Camino walk, Lisa tackles the question everyone’s thinking but not asking: What’s the actual difference between coaching and therapy? And why do successful, exhausted people often find therapy keeps them stuck while coaching propels them forward? Here’s the real difference: Therapy is past-focused—diving into what happened to you, processing trauma, gaining insights about how things impacted you. You talk about the problem, get some insight, then leave. Coaching is future-focused—where are you now, where do you want to go, and what needs to shift to get you there? It’s about identity shifts, accountability, and taking action. Lisa’s approach is different because she coaches to your context, not your content. She’s not listening to your circumstances—she’s hearing the patterns underneath your words. Because the problem you think you have? It’s usually not the problem you actually have. Think about money. Instead of talking about your financial struggles, Lisa asks: ”If money were a person, what kind of relationship would you have with them?” Then you step into the identity of someone who treats money with reverence. That’s how she became debt-free—identity shift first, results follow. You might need therapy if: You’re dealing with clinical depression, trauma, or severe anxiety. You’re ready for coaching if: You feel stuck despite having it all, keep repeating the same patterns, have done years of therapy but aren’t gaining momentum, or you’re ready to stop being a victim of your circumstances and start taking responsibility for your future. The bottom line: Coaching isn’t something you need—it’s something you want because you love what it brings to your life and how it helps you expand into more.

In this deeply personal episode, Lisa takes you behind the scenes of her second Camino walk—and the powerful reminder that true transformation starts with one simple, uncomfortable truth: No one is coming to save you. You have to choose yourself. Lisa shares how the contrast between last year’s torrential, miserable walk and this year’s lighter, more connected experience reflects the deeper work she’s done to heal, let go, and lead herself. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in your own patterns, this episode will remind you: Change is possible—but only when you decide to choose it. What You’ll Hear In This Episode: How last year’s dark, rainy Camino mirrored Lisa’s internal struggles—and why this year felt completely different  The uncomfortable (but freeing) truth about choosing change for yourself  Why healing and letting go isn’t a one-time event—it’s a layered process that requires courage and patience  How your external world often reflects your internal state—and how to shift both  The role of rest, nervous system regulation, and community in sustainable growth  How to measure your progress without falling into perfectionism or self-judgment  Lisa’s invitation to the women who know they’re ready for more  You’re not stuck. You’re not broken. But you do have a choice. The question is: Are you ready to make it?

In this episode of the Full Frontal Living Podcast, we revisit Episode 42 where Lisa dives deep into the struggles many high-achieving women face when it comes to balancing their personal lives, business, and well-being. She shares insights on how perfectionism, people-pleasing, and overworking are often the same traits that keep women stuck in a cycle of burnout, feeling overwhelmed, and disconnected from their true desires. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Power of Choosing Yourself: Lisa talks about how important it is to make the decision to prioritize yourself, even when the world expects you to keep doing more. Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage: We dive into the importance of recognizing self-sabotaging behaviors and how they show up in high-achieving women’s lives. Lisa shares practical ways to break this cycle and embrace self-compassion. The Emotional Cost of Perfectionism: Understand how perfectionism and the need to please others are linked to burnout and emotional exhaustion, and how to shift from self-criticism to self-love. Redefining Success: Lisa encourages listeners to reevaluate what true success looks like for them—beyond the accolades and external validation—and how to build a life that truly aligns with their values. Finding Peace in the Chaos: Discover practical tools for quieting the noise and finding peace amidst the chaos of life. Lisa shares actionable strategies for creating more balance and slowing down without sacrificing ambition. Living with Purpose, Not Perfection: The episode closes with a powerful reminder that true fulfillment comes from living with purpose, not perfection. Lisa encourages listeners to show up authentically and stop chasing an idealized version of success. Key Takeaways: The role of perfectionism in keeping you stuck in burnout How to break free from the cycle of people-pleasing and self-sabotage Why choosing yourself and your well-being is the first step towards living a life you love How to shift your mindset from perfection to purpose The importance of creating space for peace, joy, and self-compassion in your life

In this episode, we revisit the raw and unfiltered episode 145 of the Full Frontal Living™ Podcast. Lisa Carpenter opens the door to a conversation most high-achievers avoid: what it really means to not be okay—and how to recognize when your so-called “coping” is just numbing in disguise. Whether you’re caught in perfectionism, scrolling your feelings away, pouring another glass of wine to take the edge off, or chasing one more accomplishment that still doesn’t feel like “enough,” Lisa’s here to call it out with love. This episode is a deep dive into emotional fluency, nervous system regulation, and how to build true resiliency when your usual go-to is to power through. What You’ll Learn: Why saying “I’m fine” is usually a lie—and how to tell when you’re not okay How overworking, people-pleasing, and emotional shutdown are socially rewarded forms of numbing The difference between nurturing vs. numbing behaviors (even “healthy” ones like exercise) How to release stuck emotions without spiraling Why your nervous system might be “redlining” even if your mind says you’re okay What real self-care looks like when you’re burned out, exhausted, and emotionally disconnected Tools + Resources Mentioned: Yoga Nidra + meditation for nervous system regulation Emotional awareness strategies to interrupt burnout cycles Tips on navigating identity loss, control patterns, and people-pleasing

What if the driving force behind your achievements isn’t about what you want, but what you’re desperately trying to run away from? In this raw and honest episode, Lisa gets real about the hidden addiction to achievement that so many high performers share—and why your relationship with success might actually be keeping you from the life you really want. What We’re Diving Into: The Achievement Trap: Lisa breaks down how the constant chase for more—awards, recognition, that next level of success—often becomes a way to avoid sitting with ourselves. Are you actually pursuing your dreams, or are you just trying to outrun discomfort? Your Power to Choose (Yes, Really): Here’s the thing—you’re not stuck in old patterns or at the mercy of external validation. Through awareness and honest self-reflection, you can choose how to respond, break the cycles that are keeping you small, and create new patterns that actually nourish you. Peace Without the Productivity Guilt: This isn’t about slowing down or doing less (Lisa knows that’s not realistic for most of us). It’s about learning how to let peace and satisfaction exist alongside your ambitions. You can have both. Success That Actually Feels Good: True fulfillment isn’t about what everyone else sees on the outside—it’s about how you feel when you’re alone with yourself. Lisa shares how to build that intimate, loving relationship with yourself where peace becomes your new normal. Living Enchanted: Drawing from Elizabeth Gilbert’s work, Lisa introduces the concept of an ”enchanted life”—not the Instagram version, but a sustainable way of being that’s grounded, balanced, and deeply satisfying. The Real Talk Moments: Why excitement and depression are often two sides of the same coin—and how many of us are actually addicted to the chaos How your body can become hooked on dopamine and adrenaline hits, making stillness feel scary or ”wrong” The hard questions you need to ask yourself about where you’re chasing intensity instead of actual fulfillment Why reclaiming your power of choice is the gateway to deeper presence, creativity, and connection Your Homework (Because Lisa Always Gives You Homework): Get Honest: Where are you mistaking busyness for productivity? When did you last choose to slow down instead of being forced to? Notice the Good Stuff: What are your moments of real enchantment? The ones that fill you up without requiring achievement? Can you let more of these in? Remember This: You deserve to feel as good as your life looks on paper. But that’s a choice you have to make from the inside out. Bottom line: Every single day, you get to choose—to let peace in, to honor what you’ve built, and to create a life that feels as incredible as it looks. The question is: will you?