Send Carlene a text When’s the last time you really gave yourself credit, really celebrated yourself? Not just for what you did, but for what you overcame — or how much you’ve grown. I used to think that celebrating myself would come after I did something “big enough.” But what if celebration isn’t a reward for results — what if it’s actually fuel for the next step? Today I’m sharing some of the quiet ways I used to downplay my growth — and how I’m learning to claim my wins ...

Send Carlene a text I’ve been flooded with messages from you since last week’s episode — so many of you said, “This is me. This is what I’ve been feeling. And I had no idea what to call it.” You’re not alone. If you’re in your 40s or 50s, and your brain suddenly feels foggy, unmotivated, or like it’s just… off — this episode is for you. We’re talking about what’s actually happening to your brain in midlife, and why it’s not about aging — it’s about repetition, hormone loss, and disconne...

Send Carlene a text Brain fog? No motivation? Can’t remember anything? You might be wondering — is it ADHD… or menopause? And what does either one have to do with chasing a dream? In today’s solo episode, I’m unpacking what happens when estrogen drops, dopamine crashes, and your once-focused brain suddenly can’t finish a sentence — much less a creative project. I’ll also share my own experience with breast cancer and what it means to rebuild your rhythm when hormones aren’t an option. If you’...

Send Carlene a text I used to think recovery meant sleep, a long walk, or a girls’ weekend — but even after all that, I still felt drained. It didn’t make sense… until I learned what was actually happening in my nervous system. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real science of recovery — how your body toggles between go mode and rest mode, and why so many of the things that look restful still keep you stuck in performance mode. We’ll talk about what true recovery feels like, why yo...

Send Carlene a text Your dreams deserve more than scattered energy and half-finished to-do lists. They need your focus. In this episode, I’m sharing the exact 7-step focus routine I use behind the scenes to move my dream work forward — even when life gets full, messy, or distracting (which, let’s be honest… is most of the time). This isn’t about being more productive just for the sake of it. It’s about creating a rhythm that actually supports your creativity, your energy, and your...

Send Carlene a text Your companion guide for this special episode 👇 Start Dreaming Again: 3 Gentle Steps to Rediscover What You Really Want Here’s the thing no one tells you about “figuring out your dreams”… You don’t actually think your way there. You feel your way back. This episode isn’t about setting goals or chasing productivity. It’s a gentle, coaching-style mini-workshop designed to help you wake up the part of you that still wants something — even if that something feels blurry, burie...

Send Carlene a text Click here to hop on Dream Studio Waitlist and get founding member perks! What if chasing your dream didn’t have to feel so heavy? For a long time, I thought if I was serious about a dream, I had to make a Big Plan and then follow it perfectly. You know… map it out, get it right, make sure I really knew what I was doing before I even started. But the truth? That pressure kept me stuck. What finally helped me move forward was learning to treat my dreams like a series of exp...

Send Carlene a text What if all your “research” is actually a really sneaky form of procrastination? Let’s be real — I’ve spent way too much time thinking I was making progress just because I was learning. I had tabs open, courses saved, notebooks full of ideas… and still felt totally stuck. At one point, I even signed up for a course on how to code my own website. (Yep. Coding. Me.🙃) But here’s what I’ve learned — and am still learning: Gathering information only get's you so far. In this ep...

Send Carlene a text What if the thing you’re avoiding is the very thing that could change everything? Let’s be honest—there’s probably a task sitting at the bottom of your list that’s been there for weeks. The one that low-key haunts you. It feels too big, too scary, too uncomfortable. And if you're like me, you've probably moved that one thing from Monday… to Tuesday… to “someday.” I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit—staying busy with all the easy stuff while the one thing that...

Send Carlene a text When was the last time you let yourself be bored? Really bored? Growing up, boredom was a normal part of life — long car rides staring out the window, endless summer days of “go outside and play” with no plan, and doodles on scrap paper that turned into wild ideas. Out of those empty spaces came creativity, play, and daydreams. But somewhere along the way, we started treating stillness like failure. Daydreaming got labeled as “slacking off,” and boredom became something to...

Send Carlene a text Have you ever pushed through the week only to crash—your brain foggy, your body drained, your heart disconnected from your dreams? I used to fight those crash days, but I’ve learned they’re not failures—they’re signals. Our bodies are always whispering what they need, and when we ignore them, they shout. The good news? When we practice small, daily acts of self-care and recovery, those crashes get gentler, our energy steadier, and our dreams easier to hold onto. In t...

Send Carlene a text This episode is one I needed to hear as much as I needed to record. Because perfectionism? It’s still something I wrestle with almost every day. It shows up when I try to write. When I go to share something personal. When I wonder if what I’m doing is “enough.” And here’s what I know now: perfectionism is stealing our dreams. In this episode, I’m opening up about my own struggles with getting stuck in the “not good enough” spiral — and how I’m using three mindset shifts to...

Send Carlene a text I know what it’s like for the dream to feel so much harder than you imagined. I’ve been there—facing fear, self-doubt, unexpected curveballs, and the deep exhaustion that comes from caring so much. Because the hard parts make you want to throw in the towel, question everything, and wonder if maybe you were wrong for wanting it in the first place. That’s exactly why I wanted to have this conversation with you. Today, I’m opening up about the behind-the-scenes moments of my ...

Send Carlene a text Have you ever carried that quiet guilt—the kind that whispers you're not doing enough, even when you're doing everything? You're not imagining it. Parenting today asks more of us than ever before—and it’s leaving a lot of us burned out, overwhelmed, and riddled with guilt. I used to think the stress was just part of the job. But then I looked at the numbers. And I realized—this isn't a personal failing. It's a system that’s stacked against us. In this episode, I’m diving i...

Send Carlene a text While you're stuck in your head, someone else is taking the next step toward your dream— or a version of it. I've been there — stuck in my head, overthinking every move, waiting for the perfect moment to start. But this week, I looked around and realized... while I was overthinking my dreams, other dreamers were out there doing the the thing. Planting gardens. Writing books. Starting messy. In this episode, I'm calling out the fear that keeps us stuck and sharing how real...

Send Carlene a text Feeling stuck, scattered, or creatively off track? In this episode, I’m sharing the 7 D’s of distraction—seven sneaky ways we lose focus on our dreams without even realizing it. Distractions aren’t always loud. Sometimes they show up as quiet whispers, gently pulling us away from what matters most. Using a simple self-rating tool, I’ll help you gently name what’s really pulling your attention away. Because when you can name it, you can change it. You’ll leave w...

Send Carlene a text If you’ve ever felt like you missed your chance—or that it’s too late to go after what you really want—this episode is for you. I sat down with Alicia Staley Johnson—a friend, photographer, and creative soul who stopped hiding the most authentic part of herself and reclaimed her dream at 59. She finally went all in on a dream she’d tucked away for years. And WOW... what happened next blew me away. This isn’t just her story—it’s your wake-up call. Her journey is...

Send Carlene a text Have you ever felt that quiet ache of not measuring up—like you’re always behind, no matter how hard you try? You know those moments where it feels like everyone else is ahead—more successful, more creative, more together? I used to believe that if I just learned more, worked harder, or polished everything to perfection, I’d finally catch up to…well, everyone else. But here’s what I know now: comparison was keeping me stuck. It was robbing me of my voice, my creati...

Send Carlene a text If dreaming feels silly, selfish, or out of reach — you’re not alone. In fact, you might just be hearing echoes of childhood messages that told you to stay small, play it safe, and be realistic. The messages we absorbed in childhood — about obedience, achievement, and staying “realistic” — still shape the way we show up as adults. In today’s episode (our first with a guest!), I’m joined by my longtime friend and counselor Becky Stevenson to talk about why adults stop dre...

Send Carlene a text If you’ve ever whispered, “Who am I to charge for this?” or felt weird about putting a price on your work — this episode is for you. For so many of us creative dreamers — whether you’re offering personal services like coaching, selling a product you dreamed up, or sharing art you’ve poured your heart into — charging can feel deeply personal. In this honest conversation, we’re diving into self-worth, pricing, and the hidden fears that keep so many creatives undercharging. W...