Your Kick Ass Life Podcast

This week, we’re talking all about anxiety, ketamine therapy, and how this treatment is helping high-functioning women finally feel emotional relief. You don’t need to stay in a perpetual state of anxiety - there are resources out there that can truly help. In addition to therapy and other healing modalities, ketamine therapy has been a game-changer for me in managing anxiety. So I invited Dr. Kristin Arden from Mindbloom and Stephanie Trunzo the CEO of MERGE for a roundtable discussion on what ketamine therapy really is, how it works in the brain, and why it’s worth considering; especially if you’re a high-functioning woman navigating anxiety and overwhelm. We dig into what actually happens during treatment, the emotional rewiring that takes place, and how to know when it's working. If you’ve tried everything and still feel stuck, I hope this conversation opens the door to a new kind of healing. What you’ll hear about in this episode: Why so many high-functioning women struggle with anxiety (6:13)

“You don’t just do Ayahuasca, you carry her with you forever.” The time is here, I’m ready to share more about my experience participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony. This episode isn’t a step-by-step rundown of every moment of my four nights in Costa Rica at Rythmia Retreat– I’ll save that for the private podcast series. In this episode, I am giving you the “quick and dirty”: what this medicine actually is, why I felt called to it, and how it changed me. Let me be clear: this is sacred. Not a wellness trend. Not a party drug. Not something you DIY with a dude named Chad who ordered a vine online. This is indigenous medicine, with a deep history and lineage that deserves reverence, not appropriation. I chose Rythmia specifically because of their relationship with respected indigenous leaders like Taita Juanito, a Colombian shaman who led one of the most profound nights of my entire experience. They do it right: sacred space, trained facilitators, traditional songs and prayers, deep intention-setting.  Ayahu

This week, I’m joined by Alanna Kaivalya, PhD,  author of The Way of the Satisfied Woman, expert on mythology, psychology, and spiritual empowerment. Alanna was someone I could’ve talked to for hours. From the second I learned her book title, I knew I had questions. She brings insight on what it actually looks like to live a fully embodied, empowered life as a woman, and how we can unlearn the conditioning that tells us we need to overfunction, overgive, and override our truth in order to be loved. Throughout our conversation, Alanna breaks down the truth about self-abandonment, why so many strong women end up in relationships that drain them, and how reclaiming our feminine energy is the key to living a life that actually feels satisfying.  What you’ll hear about in this episode: Why women tend to overgive in their lives and relationships and how to recognize self-abandonment when it's happening (4:49) How dropping the “mask of masculinity” led Alanna to reclaim her energy and live more authenti

I had a powerful conversation with a client this morning that led me here: the topic of guilt, and more specifically, what it looks like when guilt keeps us from choosing ourselves. This client shared that radical self-acceptance, for her, meant removing guilt when I make decisions based on what I want. This is so common. Especially for women. We are deeply conditioned to believe that putting ourselves first is selfish, that our value lies in how much we give, how selfless we are, how much we sacrifice. So in this episode, I’m breaking down what guilt actually is (and what it isn’t), why we often believe getting rid of it completely is the goal (hint: it’s not), and how we can begin to untangle our conditioning from the truth. In addition, I talk about practicing a little self-awareness when guilt shows up. What you’ll hear about in this episode: Guilt is woven into the tapestry of our social conditioning as girls and women The differences between guilt, shame, humiliation, and embarrassment and

I’m so excited for you to hear this conversation with Amina AlTai. She’s enthusiastic, warm, and wicked smart, and her work around ambition is deeply important. Amina is a holistic career coach and chronic illness advocate who helps leaders lead from their brilliance and truth. Her new book, The Ambition Trap, reframes what ambition means, and how it can be a tool for healing and wholeness instead of burnout and over-functioning. We discuss the two types of ambition: the kind rooted in purpose and values, and the kind that comes from pain, people-pleasing, and old wounds. Plus, Amina shares her own story about autoimmune diagnoses and near organ failure; and how they shaped the framework she now teaches.   As Amina says, “Ambition is the desire to grow,”and anything is possible with your ambition when it's coming from that place of purpose and wholeness. You’ll hear us talk about: Ambition rooted in purpose vs. ambition driven by family or societal expectations (aka purposeful ambition vs. painful ambi

I’m joined by Sharon Pope, Certified Master Life Coach and Relationship Expert, and we’re getting into why women often leave relationships emotionally way before they physically do, how to rebuild self-trust, and what it takes to get clarity when you’re stuck in the “should I stay or go?” spiral. We even discuss the topic of infidelity, and what it actually looks like to repair after betrayal. Sharon works with people who are stuck in the “What the hell do I do with this relationship?” phase. Whether that means healing it, improving it, or walking away from it. Whether you're married, dating, single, or “it's complicated,” this conversation is one you’re going to want to hear. You’ll hear us talk about: Why women often leave relationships mentally years before they leave physically (what Sharon calls “the quiet quit”) (6:12) Self-trust: what it is, how to build it, and why it matters (11:16) How to have hard conversations with more ease—where do you even begin? (27:46) Finding clarity

This episode was inspired by a question I brought into a recent ketamine therapy session: “What do I need to know to feel fully able to receive, to feel safe to do so?” What unfolded sparked a powerful exploration into the art of receiving. I’m breaking down what receiving really looks like (it’s not always graceful), why it’s so often tied to control and worthiness, and how you can begin to gently examine your own patterns. If you’re ready to reflect more deeply on your relationship with love, money, and support, this solo episode offers insight and questions to guide that process. You’ll also hear me read straight from my journal and revisit two childhood moments that shaped my beliefs about being “too much” and what happens when people can’t meet you where you are. These stories opened the door to deeper understanding; not just about my past, but about how those early experiences still impact my ability to receive today. What you’ll hear about in this episode: Receiving love or money can activate ol

I have a coaching session for you this week, and in these sessions, I aim to pick topics that are universal. Maggie is brave today and coming on the show with a topic many of us struggle with, resentment, self-abandonment, and the rocky road to self-compassion.  I wanted to give this topic a voice because it’s incredibly common. To normalize what it looks like when women find themselves stuck in cycles of indecisiveness, resentment, guilt, and burnout. Maggie’s story is specific, but the themes? They’re everywhere. In this session, we unpack what’s getting in the way for Maggie and work together to create small, actionable steps that bring her closer to showing up for herself in meaningful ways. Her willingness to do the work on herself offers something for all of us - especially if you’ve been taught to prioritize everyone but yourself. You’ll hear us talk about:  What it really looks like to explore resentments and why it matters (10:53) How self-abandonment sneaks into everything from parenti

You know what I used to call numbing out? A mini vacation. Whether it was wine at the end of the day (I’m now 13 years sober), scrolling endlessly, or just anything to avoid feeling the full weight of my emotions, it all came down to one thing: avoidance. And that’s exactly what I’m getting into in this solo episode, the real reasons we numb, what it costs us, and how to begin doing something different. This one goes beyond “just stop doing it.” I’m talking about the discomfort, the deep emotional wiring, and why it makes total sense that you’ve been avoiding hard feelings. But also, how the shift starts. (Hint: it’s not by beating yourself up.) I’m pulling straight from my book How to Stop Feeling Like Shit and breaking down specific tools to start feeling your feelings, even if you’re a beginner. What You’ll Hear: How numbing and avoiding are really about running from emotions What my therapist told me that I really didn’t want to hear (spoiler: she was right) The “holy emotions” we’re of

I’ve had the phrase “New level, old devil” in my notes for years. YEARS. And somehow, it never made it into an episode… until now. Apparently, it wanted to be the finale of minisodes. And honestly? It’s perfect timing, because this one runs deep. (And yes, this is the last minisode I’ll be airing, but don’t worry, the weekly podcast isn’t going anywhere! Just scaling back on the extra minisodes. You’ll get two episodes a month that are interviews, and the other two will be longer solo episodes, similar to the Coming Home to Yourself Series.)  Here’s the deal: every time you uplevel—whether it’s in your career, relationships, boundaries, or just giving yourself more damn rest—old stuff tends to come roaring back. Not because you’re doing it wrong, but because growth shakes loose the beliefs you’ve been carrying around since childhood. That family-of-origin stuff? It doesn’t just vanish. It waits in the wings until you're strong enough to deal with it.  The truth about those unconscious narratives is that th

I’m talking with award-winning neuroscientist and author Anne-Laure Le Cunff about how to stop letting goals run your life and start experimenting (in small ways) to a more fulfilling one. Her new book, Tiny Experiments, offers a practical, science-backed approach to navigating uncertainty, ditching perfectionism, and making real progress, on your own terms. We dig into how the pressure to always achieve can mess with your mental health, why your brain freaks out when things feel unclear, and how small experiments can lead to big shifts. Plus, we talk about the beauty in what these tiny experiments hold - data and feedback about what worked, what didn’t, whether to keep going, to stop, or to change something up. Anne-Laure’s challenge for you, after listening, is to ask yourself: “What tiny experiment can I try this week?” What You’ll Hear: How living in a goal-obsessed world affects our mental well-being and sense of self-worth (5:24) The reason we are so afraid of uncertainty in our careers (9:

Friend of the show Susan Hyatt returns, and we’re getting into it, from the fears that keep us quiet to the fire it takes to reclaim what we want. Susan is a Master Certified Life Coach, bestselling author, and TEDx speaker who helps women turn up the volume on their lives, whether that means speaking up, starting over, or finally saying yes to themselves. In this conversation, we unpack what it means to come home to yourself in midlife, how to navigate the overwhelm of today’s political and social landscape, and why movement isn’t just about fitness—it’s emotional fuel. Plus, Susan shares her Comeback Compass for bouncing back after setbacks and the real talk we need around menopause, the orgasm gap, and women’s health in 2025. What You’ll Hear: How to reframe the fear of “who do I think I am?” (6:28) The role of physical movement in personal growth (8:52) Why creating before consuming is key to staying grounded (18:33) Susan’s Comeback Compass framework for handling setbacks and bui

Hot flashes, brain fog, mood swings… sound familiar? If you’ve ever felt like menopause hijacked your body and left you wondering what the hell just happened (or concerned that it may in the years to come), you’re not alone. But as this week’s episode assures you, you’re definitely not powerless. I’m talking with Tamsen Fadal, author of How to Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better Than Before. Tamsen’s on a mission to flip the script on how we talk about menopause, less quiet suffering and more hope and empowerment. You’ll hear us talk about what your doctor probably isn’t telling you, how to advocate for yourself in midlife, and why menopause isn’t the end, it’s a damn evolution. In fact, for me, it was the path to coming home to myself. What You’ll Hear What surprised Tamsen most about women’s experiences once she started speaking up about menopause (5:17) A crash course on when to get tested for menopause symptoms (hint: you don’t have to wait until you’re mise

Before we jump in… if you’re feeling stuck in people-pleasing, perfectionism, or self-sabotage—this is your sign. I’m hosting a free How To Stop Feeling Like Shit 5-day challenge to help you stop abandoning yourself and start showing up like the confident, grounded woman you’re meant to be. One small (but mighty) shift each day. Five days. Big energy. Real momentum. Join us HERE.  ********** We’ve reached the final lesson in my 10-part series on Coming Home To Yourself, and this one brings it all together. If you’ve ever thought, “I should be further along by now,” you’re not alone, and you’re not failing. Growth is layered, not linear. It’s messy, spirally, and sometimes uncomfortable, but that’s not a problem, it’s the process. In this episode, I’m exploring what real healing and fulfillment look like. You’ll hear why chasing big, sexy goals can be a form of self-abandonment, how tiny experiments can shift everything, and why self-compassion is one of the most powerful tools we have.  Most of all, I’ll r

Today's lesson is radical self-acceptance, how to stop fixing yourself, and finally come home to who you are. Why did I choose this as one of the 10 topics? In my nearly 20 years of coaching women, self-acceptance comes up again and again. It’s a pattern I see so often. If you're in a transformational period, doing deep work, chasing self-improvement, and still not feeling like you’re enough... you're not alone. That push to grow while still feeling unworthy? That’s exactly why this topic matters. If you're someone who keeps chasing the next thing, thinking that will finally fix you or make you feel complete, and it’s still not landing, this is the episode I really want you to hear. To make this easy to follow and offer some reflection, I'm breaking the episode into five powerful parts, including the truth about why this is so hard and why it’s something we tend to circle back to again and again in our personal growth journey. Of course there is a worksheet for this episode! Download it at http://andreaowen

Have you ever gotten to that place in your life where you're carrying so much…plates are spinning in the air and at the same time, somehow you seem to be juggling all of them. And then, one of them falls. Maybe you get an annoying email, maybe you have a minor inconvenience, or maybe someone cuts you off in traffic. Whatever it is, big or small, it's the quintessential “straw that breaks the camel's back”. Then you fall apart. Perhaps a mental and emotional meltdown ensues. I found myself there last night, and wanted to jump on the podcast to record a short minisode to tell you if you're there, or it's recently happened, or even if you've ever been there in the past, I see you. Being in that place reminded me of the quote, “Don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle happens”.  It's not easy to do life, especially right now. There's so much stress and pressure upon us as humans, as women.  Listen to this short episode as I talk more about this, and offer a couple of small strategies to help you walk throu

Leaving people behind can be painful, but it’s often necessary when you’ve chosen growth, healing, and self-trust. There will be moments when you realize that not everyone will walk the path you’re on, and that’s okay. Even though it can feel like it, letting go doesn’t mean you’re too much; it simply means you’re stepping into deeper spaces that some people haven’t reached yet. Also, the depth of connection is not just about what you bring. For a long time, I thought what I brought would be enough because I could make up for what the other person lacked, but it’s also about how deeply the other person has explored their own heart and soul. Ending relationships while you're on a journey of finding yourself is one of the hardest things you'll ever do. It’s gut-wrenching, messy, and often feels like the universe is testing you. But it’s also a powerful lesson in choosing yourself, even when it feels impossible. In this episode, I’ll explore how to navigate the grief of leaving people behind, adjust to relati

When it comes to life, we’re all looking for various things that will ultimately lead to our fulfillment. But what I’ve come to realize is that at the end of the day, for most of us, it comes down to three things we’re all searching for: freedom, feeling alive, and wholeness.  And here's the truth: they’re not “out there.” These experiences come from within, and often, they require us to do the work. Whether it’s emotional freedom, reigniting your passion, or embracing your whole self, it’s a journey. By the way, this episode is part of a special series. There are six others you can check out (linked below) where I share the most impactful life lessons I’ve learned and lived, leading up to my 50th birthday. You don’t need to cannonball into exploring what it means to be free, alive or whole. Start small. Try a moment of honesty, do something you love, or simply journal about it. These are inner shifts, daily choices that matter. As you listen to this episode or afterward, ask yourself these questions: Where

I’m hitting pause on our Coming Home to Yourself series for a special conversation with a true kindred spirit and friend of the podcast, Shannon Kaiser. Shannon is back to talk about her newest book, 365 Happy Bedtime Mantras, and let’s be real, who doesn’t need better sleep these days?  If you’ve ever struggled with winding down at night whether it be due to stress, anxiety or something in between, having a tangible tool on your nightstand can be a game-changer. Shannon’s book is exactly that, a beautiful, accessible tool to help release stress and anxiety so you can finally get the rest you deserve. As Shannon reminds us, "Sleep is a necessary focus of our overall health." What you’ll hear in this episode: The difference between releasing stress vs. just managing it (and why that distinction matters) (6:52) How stress and anxiety are the biggest culprits keeping you up at night (8:04) Why a bedtime ritual is key to signaling safety to your nervous system (12:05) The hidden anxiety high-achievers ofte

I’m breaking down how I spent years approaching love from a place of fear, blaming past partners, blaming myself, and clinging to a story that had already been written. Even when I thought I’d moved on, parts of me were still holding on. Finding acceptance and trust wasn’t perfect or linear, but it changed everything. I’m sharing my full-circle journey, the power of radical acceptance, and how Ketamine therapy helped me finally, what I call, “land the plane”.  Love is risky because it’s vulnerable—but trusting ourselves is the key. When fear creeps in and I find myself getting squirrely, it’s curiosity that is my go-to tool. If you’ve ever felt stuck in old love stories, let’s talk about what it really takes to move forward. Download this episode’s worksheet at http://andreaowen.com/665 What you’ll hear about in this episode: The Realization: Fear Came from the Story, Not the Unknown: I thought my hesitation around love was about heartbreak, but it went deeper Why I Couldn’t Let Go: I wasn’t stuck on or h