Comedian Jessi Cruickshank joins Barb and Michelle backstage at Lynn University for a raw, funny, and unexpectedly emotional conversation about motherhood, performance, anxiety, and becoming the women their mothers raised them to be.

From professional perfectionism to internet criticism, the conversation moves from hilarious behind-the-scenes moments into deeper reflections on identity, mindfulness, and the pressure women carry in public and private life. Jessi opens up about the comment she never forgot, while Barb and Michelle unpack what they inherited — and what they had to unlearn.

In this episode:

• Why perfectionism quietly controls so many women

• The emotional cost of always performing “fine”

• How humor and mindfulness actually serve the same purpose

• The parenting lessons they resisted most

• Why confidence is usually built through embarrassment

Learn how to stop performing perfection and start connecting honestly.

Connect with Jessi:

Follow her on Instagram & Facebook: @jessicruickshank

Follow her on TikTok: @jessicruickshanktok

Check out her Evening Club Tour: jessicruickshank.com/tour

Listen to her podcast: https://tr.ee/u6WMhIAnoi

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What happens after the book tour ends, the championship is won, and the calendar goes blank? Michelle opens up about the unexpected emptiness she felt after her biggest accomplishment, and Barb reveals something she has never experienced: a void. This mother-daughter conversation uncovers why success can feel like getting fired, what it means to live like you are running out of time, and why the quiet after the loud season might be the most important chapter of all.

This episode dives into the generational divide between pushing through and pausing, the difference between rest and avoidance, and how two very different people navigate the same transition. Whether you just graduated, finished a big project, ended a season, or closed a chapter you poured everything into, this conversation will help you understand why the void is not a problem to fix but a space to fill on your own terms.

What you'll take away:

• Why achieving your biggest goal can feel like getting fired overnight
• The generational difference between 'keep moving' and 'feel your feelings' after a big moment
• How Barb's micro-transitions throughout the day prevent her from ever hitting empty
• The connection between running out of time, grief, and never allowing a void
• How to recognize when sitting in the void becomes productive reflection vs. staying stuck

Don't let the quiet after the loud season convince you that the best part is over. Learn how to make the space count.

💬 We’d love to hear from you! What insight or moment resonated most with you in this episode? Share in the comments—we truly read every one.

🎙️ Hosted by:

• https://www.instagram.com/peaceful_barb/
• https://www.instagram.com/michellemaros/

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🎙️ New episodes of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle are released every Tuesday

0:00 — Intro: Michelle's post-book-tour void

0:58 — Welcome to Life Happens with Barb and Michelle

1:14 — It's bigger than a book: any major milestone

1:45 — Indiana football national championship & the "now what?"

2:44 — Barb's reaction: the joy of the unexpected

3:51 — Michelle's book journey and the feeling of the drop-off

7:39 — Barb never felt a void — a generational contrast

14:35 — What is rest? Defining it differently for everyone

21:32 — Vulnerable question: does living like you're running out of time come from grief?

24:28 — How will you know when you've done what you came here to do?

38:32 — Barb's Italy trip: sometimes the transition is fast

41:01 — Closing reflections & takeaways

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.