Why is it that you can remember something embarrassing from years ago but struggle to remember something you accomplished last month?

In this solo episode of 52 Weeks, Steph explores the fascinating psychology behind negativity bias—the brain's tendency to remember failures, criticism, and awkward moments more vividly than our successes. She also dives into hedonic adaptation, why we quickly get used to our accomplishments, and the goal gradient effect, which pushes us to chase the next goal before celebrating the last one.

If you've ever felt like you're not making enough progress, this episode will help you understand why your brain works that way and remind you to pause, celebrate how far you've come, and appreciate the person you're becoming.

What if the secret to real change isn’t doing more exciting things, but doing the boring things consistently? In this episode, we explore why the habits that feel ordinary in the moment can be the very ones that build an extraordinary life over time.

What would your 80-year-old self thank you for today? And what would they beg you to stop doing? In this episode, Steph explores a simple mindset shift that can change the way you make decisions today. Drawing from her experience working in an assisted living community and the research behind future self-continuity, she shares why so many of us make choices that feel good now but create challenges later.

Steph discusses how connecting with your future self can help you make healthier decisions, worry less about the little things, and focus on building a life you'll be proud to look back on. Through stories, psychology, and practical exercises, this episode is an invitation to start making choices your future self will thank you for. Because every decision you make today is shaping the person you'll become tomorrow.

Have you ever looked up and thought, “Wait… how is the year already halfway over?” In this episode, we pause to reflect on why time feels like it’s flying by, what we’ve really made space for this year, and how a simple halfway reset can help us make the rest of the year count.

What if taking better care of yourself didn't require another complicated routine? Wellness coach Amanda Bearce believes lasting change comes from slowing down and making simple choices that actually fit your life. In this episode, Amanda shares why "self-care snacks," screen-free mornings, quality sleep, and even scheduling alone time can make a huge difference in how you show up for yourself and the people you love. After years of struggling with anxiety, poor sleep, and feeling reactive as a mom, she discovered that small, consistent habits create the biggest transformation. Amanda leaves listeners with a challenge for the week: once or twice each day, pause and simply ask yourself, "What do I need right now?" You don't even have to act on the answer immediately. Just begin noticing. Sometimes the smallest acts of self-care become the foundation for the life you want to create. Connect with Amanda Bearce

Website: https://www.simplywellnesscoach.com

Email: amanda@simplywellnesscoach.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplywellnesswithamanda

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandabearce

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplywellnesswithamanda

What if someone you consider wildly successful told you that 80% of their career was a failure?

That's exactly what surprised me after watching the Netflix documentary Marty: Life Is Short about Martin Short. Like so many people, I think of iconic roles like Father of the Bride, Three Amigos, The Santa Clause 3, and Only Murders in the Building. So hearing him describe most of his career as unsuccessful completely changed the way I think about failure.

In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lesson I took away from the documentary: failure isn't proof you're on the wrong path—it's often proof you're actually doing the work.

I also get honest about something I've been avoiding in my own business—finally launching ads for my podcasting courses—and why I'm choosing progress over perfection.

If you've been waiting for the "right time" to start the project, launch the business, record the podcast, or chase the goal, this episode is your reminder to take the next step anyway.

Because maybe success isn't about never failing.

Maybe it's about sticking around long enough for the wins to happen.

What happens when you unplug from almost all media for 50 days? In this episode, Steph shares her experience taking a break from social media, TV, movies, podcasts, and even music during her daily commute. What began as an experiment to break her phone addiction turned into a powerful lesson in focus, creativity, and intentional living.

Steph reflects on how stepping away from constant content helped her rediscover a love of reading, embrace silence, think more creatively, and find greater gratitude in everyday life. She also shares the unexpected ways disconnecting from media gave her the mental space to create, accomplish meaningful goals, and become more present.

If you've ever felt like your attention span isn't what it used to be, struggled to watch a movie without checking your phone, or found yourself consuming more than creating, this episode is for you. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to turn the noise off.

In this episode, Steph shares an important update about the 52 Weeks Podcast. After juggling multiple podcasts, social media, and a full-time job, she’s decided to take a two-month break from podcasting and content creation to focus her energy on building courses and running paid ads to grow the next stage of her business. Inspired by recent conversations about saying no, shame-free productivity, and focusing on what matters most—and reinforced by getting sick and realizing how stretched her schedule had become—Steph explains why stepping away for a short reset feels like the right move. While it’s a little scary to pause something she loves, she’s excited to come back with fresh energy and new ideas. The 52 Weeks Podcast will return June 1st with more conversations about goals, routines, and habits that help you build the life you want.