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!

Everyone talks about the first six weeks after having a baby. But what if postpartum lasts much longer?

In this episode, we're having a raw and honest conversation about how long postpartum really lasts, especially when it comes to mental health.

My guest Alyssa Maio and I explore how the common narrative around "baby blues" can minimize the reality of what many mothers experience.

If you've ever felt like something wasn't quite right after having a baby, even long after the newborn stage, you're not alone. This conversation is about normalizing the reality that postpartum recovery can take much longer than anyone prepares you for.

In this episode, we cover:

• The myth that postpartum recovery ends at 6–12 weeks.
• How the phrase "baby blues" minimizes what mamas are going through.
• What postpartum anxiety, OCD, and intrusive thoughts can really feel like.
• Why these symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed.
• What I wish I knew about postpartum mental health before having my babies.

Resources & Links:

• What does maternity leave look like in other countries? Spoiler: most countries are doing more for moms than the United States.

Connect with Alyssa:

• Follow on Instagram

Connect with Christine:

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

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

In this episode I'm discussing the invisible labor and mental load that so many moms carry. From Elf on the Shelf expectations to middle-of-the-night to-do lists, this episode names the unseen work that keeps families running and why it so often falls on the mamas.

I break down what invisible labor and mental load actually mean, how traditional gender roles still quietly shape parenting dynamics, and why so many moms feel like their brains are stuck on an endless hamster wheel.

If you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering why it feels like everything depends on you, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• What invisible labor and mental load actually are, and why they drain you in ways you can't quite explain.
• How cultural expectations assign moms household responsibility we never signed up for.
• The unseen responsibilities millennial moms like you are quietly carrying every single day.
• One thing you can do today to start lightening your mental load.

Resources & Links:

• Here's a resource to help you uncover the invisible tasks that are weighing you down, so you can start making lasting changes today.

If you're ready to go deeper—untangling your mental load while making space for your creativity, your desires, your joy, and your purpose—I've got you.

Your Guided Journey to Self-Discovery + Fulfillment is designed to help you reclaim your time, reconnect with what lights you up, and rediscover who you are beyond momming.

DM me "Fulfillment" on Instagram to learn more.

Connect with Christine:

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

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

Intuition and faith don't have to be at odds. In this episode, I sat down with Jenn Barton, co-owner of Nickel City Moss & Moon and intuitive guide, to explore spirituality through a unifying, judgment-free lens.

Together, we unpack the idea that intuition is a universal human gift, not something mystical, taboo, or to be feared. Jenn opens up about discovering her intuitive abilities, and offers insight on how to recognize your own intuitive voice, nurture your gifts, and trust the path that brings you into alignment.

If you're looking for guidance but not sure where to turn, this conversation will empower you to stay curious, open, and confident in the Divine nudge already within you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Everyone has intuitive gifts. Here's how you uncover yours.
• How Divine guidance is an internal source of trust, clarity, and direction.
• Why intuition isn't woo woo or something to fear—it's something we're all born with.
• Vision boards. Spoiler: we've been doing it wrong. Jenn shares a simple, foolproof way to create alignment, not pressure.
• Jenn's #1 piece of advice for millennial moms seeking their most authentic, soul-aligned selves.

Connect with Jenn:

• Send her an email
• 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!

Today we're diving into one of the trickiest parts of modern parenting—raising kids in the digital age. From posting baby photos to getting them their first phone, the Internet is woven into every stage of our children's lives. But how do we balance sharing and connection with privacy and protection?

Joining me for this conversation is Professor Joana Gaia, Clinical Assistant Professor of Management Science and Systems at the University at Buffalo School of Management.

She shares why our online and offline lives shouldn't be treated as separate worlds, and how applying the same social rules to both can help us raise more self-aware, digitally responsible kids.

If you've ever second-guessed sharing that cute photo, felt uneasy about your child's screen habits, or wondered how to keep up with AI, this episode is your roadmap for navigating it all.

In this episode, we cover:

• The real risks (and realities) of AI, from deepfakes to data collection, and what parents can actually do to stay ahead.
• Don't panic! Joana breaks down what data fraudsters really want (and it's not what most parents think).
• The most overlooked online safety tool that can make a huge difference in protecting your child's privacy.
• Why "just say no to screen time" isn't the answer. And the guilt-free permission we've been waiting for!
• Plus, Joana shares the unexpected online game she uses in her classes to teach project management.

Connect with Joana:

• Through the University at Buffalo

Connect with Christine:

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

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

In this episode, I'm joined by Human Design expert Kristin Quattlebaum, who shares how this powerful framework can help us uncover our true selves and move beyond fear and conditioning.

Kristin not only reads my Human Design, but also reveals why I've always been driven to hustle yet never quite felt satisfied. Together, we explore themes of worthiness, courage, and building new pathways to trust ourselves and act in alignment.

If you've ever wondered: Am I on the right path? or Am I doing enough? This conversation will help you begin to boldly walk in fear, trust your inner nudges, and step into the life you were designed to live. Or as Kristin puts it, "be who the f*** you're supposed to be."

In this episode, we cover:

• The one powerful step you can take to begin answering: Who am I, really?
• The surprising way Human Design uncovers parts of you that feel hard to explain.
• How to trust those inner nudges guiding you to your true self, even when your mind resists.
• Masculine and feminine energetics: how both live in us and shape our relationships.
• Why worthiness isn't earned, and what Kristin says about stepping into it right now.
• What's secretly stopping you from taking action, and how to finally move forward with courage.

Resources & Links:

• Here's the Strength Finders Assessment Kristin mentioned if you're interested in taking it.
• This is the book Kristin referred to: How to Love Yourself (and Sometimes Other People): Spiritual Advice for Modern Relationships, by Lodro Rinzler and Meggan Watterson

Connect with Kristin:

• Follow on Instagram
• View 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!