You did all the things you were told would make you happy—you got married, had a family, built a stable life—but somehow, you're disappointed. Is there something wrong with you?

No. You're human. You have ambitions. You have purpose in this life, whether you've found it yet or are still seeking.

In this episode, I'm talking with Marissa Kula about her journey to finding fulfillment beyond motherhood, from returning to school to pursuing her love of scuba diving, photography, and nature.

We talk about the expectations that shape the lives we build, how easy it is to lose sight of what we want while trying to make everyone else happy, and the mom guilt that creeps in when we finally make time for ourselves.

Marissa's story reminds us: making space for the things that make us feel alive doesn't mean we're choosing ourselves instead of our families. It actually helps us show up as more fulfilled versions of ourselves.

Marissa Kula is a mom, wife, nature and wildlife photographer, scuba diver, and creator of The Mindful Diver—a platform at the intersection of conservation, creativity, and mindful living.

In this episode, we cover:

• You can love your life and still want more. So why does that feel so hard to admit?
• The expectations we've inherited about what a fulfilling life is supposed to look like.
• How people-pleasing can lead us to put our own dreams on the back burner.
• What happens when you reach your breaking point and finally start listening to the part of you that's been asking for more.
• The mom guilt that comes with choosing something for yourself—and why it's worth pushing through.
• And the message we send our kids when we stop putting our own dreams on hold.

Connect with Marissa:

• Follow on Instagram
• Check her out on YouTube

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram
• Check out my website
• Get the Future Self Reset

Be sure to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

Have you ever walked away from a conversation with your family thinking, Wait… did that actually happen the way I remember it? Am I being too sensitive? Am I overreacting? Am I crazy?

If you grew up being told you were dramatic, too sensitive, or remembering things incorrectly, you might spend a surprising amount of your adulthood trying to figure out whether you can actually trust your own feelings and perceptions.

In this episode, I'm joined by licensed trauma and relationship therapist Kayla Reilly, aka The Spicy Shrink, for a conversation about what happens when our reality is repeatedly minimized as children — and how those messages can follow us into adulthood.

We talk about dysfunctional family dynamics, the roles we learn to play to survive, and what happens when we finally start questioning the patterns we grew up believing were normal.

Kayla Reilly, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed therapist, entrepreneur, and founder of Evolution Wellness, as well as the creator of The Spicy Shrink and host of the Not Your Therapist podcast. She helps cycle breakers understand how emotionally immature and dysfunctional family dynamics can shape us long after childhood—and how to recognize and break those patterns with humor, honesty, and a little spice.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why being told you're "too sensitive," "dramatic," or "remembering it wrong" can make you question your own reality.
• Narcissistic personality or emotional immaturity? Why knowing the difference matters.
• How the traits we think are "just who we are" may actually be survival tactics we learned as children.
• The family roles we take on to survive, and the surprising ways they can follow us into adulthood.
• Why validation doesn't mean agreeing with someone's version of events—and why your experience still matters.
• Kayla's 3-part framework for healing: awareness, acceptance, and action.

Connect with Kayla:

• Follow on Instagram
• Take the survival role quiz
• Check out her website

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram
• Check out my website
• Get the Future Self Reset

Be sure to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we're talking about what resilience looks like in real life—not the polished version, but the gritty, painful, keep-going-anyway kind.

My guest, Lisamarie Pearson, shares her journey through a life-altering diagnosis, losing her grandmother, and the identity shift that followed. In the middle of it all, she rediscovered a skill her grandmother taught her: how to sew.

What started as an outlet quickly became a lifeline, and eventually, a purpose-driven business creating her now-beloved "octopals."

If you've ever felt lost in survival mode, unsure of who you are anymore, or craving something that feels like you again—this conversation will remind you it's never too late to start over.

Lisamarie is the founder of Scatterbrain Toys, where she creates sensory-friendly plush toys designed to inspire creativity and bring comfort and joy.

In this episode, we cover:

• The emotional toll of navigating cancer and grief at the same time.
• The identity shift that happens after trauma, and how to rebuild from it.
• How creativity can become a powerful tool for healing.
• The mental load of motherhood and running a business—and why time feels so limited.
• One thing all entrepreneur mamas should be doing.
• Lisamarie's favorite self-care routine. Full body cleanse anyone?

Connect with Lisamarie:

• Follow on Instagram
• Check out her website

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out my website

Be sure to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!