Offense vs. Defense: Protecting Deep Work

What if the key to thriving wasn’t more grit—but sacred rest, radical honesty, and self-permission?

This week on Plenty, I sat down with the luminous Amanda Goetz—founder, author of Toxic Grit, and single mama of three—to talk about healing from hustle culture without losing your ambition or your edge.

Amanda and I dove deep into the cycles of burnout and rebirth so many of us experience as high-achieving women: how to rebuild after identity-shaking seasons, how to release toxic productivity patterns, and how to create boundaries that honor every version of who we are—CEO, mother, partner, sensual being, and everything in between.

She shares her refreshing concept of the 10 characters within us and how learning to let them take turns in the spotlight can transform our relationship with work, motherhood, and self-worth. We also explored what it means to practice “hustle with intention,” reclaim pleasure and sexuality as sacred sources of power, and build a life that feels abundant—not just busy.

If you’ve ever felt torn between your ambition and your well-being, or wondered how to pursue success without losing yourself, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The truth about “toxic grit” and how to replace it with intentional ambition
• Why compartmentalizing your roles can actually expand your joy and capacity
• How to communicate boundaries and priorities with those you love
• The importance of sacred rest as a catalyst for sustainable success
• How reconnecting with your sensuality can bring you home to yourself

This is one of those episodes you’ll want to revisit when you need a reminder that it’s safe to slow down, to shift, and to redefine what “having it all” truly means.

Listen to Toxic Grit, Sacred Rest & Reclaiming Sexuality with Amanda Goetz wherever you get your podcasts—and if it resonates, please share it with a friend who’s ready to trade exhaustion for alignment.

“The definition of toxic grit is hustle without intention.” -Amanda Goetz

🎤 Let’s Dive into the Good Stuff on Plenty 🎤

00:30 Introduction to Amanda Goetz and Toxic Grit
00:59 Healing from Hustle Culture
02:35 Amanda’s Journey and Background
04:22 Rebuilding After Divorce
11:23 Toxic Grit and Hustle with Intention
12:35 Setting Boundaries and Family Communication
16:54 Dealing with Projection and Expectations
23:16 Energy Management and Focus
27:54 Compartmentalization in Life Roles
36:50 The Importance of Writing and Newsletters
43:27 Exploring Sexuality and Identity
48:30 The Evolution of House of Wise and Personal Growth

Links and Resources:

Toxic Grit
Money Breakthrough Guide

Connect with Amanda Goetz:

Instagram
X
Linkedin

What if you could witness a story as it’s being born — before it’s polished, before it’s perfect, before the world sees it?

I’ve spent the past few years teaching, writing, and learning alongside thousands of women about how to live and work in a way that honors our bodies, our energy, and our truth. But this next chapter — both in life and in creativity — is something entirely new.

I’m inviting you into the room while the story is unfolding.

✨ Introducing The Inside Reader — an intimate, creative experience where you’ll join me as I write my next book, a narrative nonfiction about women, money, and the body.

Instead of waiting two years for the finished book, you’ll walk with me through the process itself — the messy middle, the sacred pauses, and the moments of breakthrough that shape what’s to come.

When you step inside, you’ll receive:

• 📖 Unfiltered early chapters as I write them
• 🎙 Live Zoom circles every few weeks to explore meaning and process
• 💬 A private space for conversation and reflection
• ✨ The chance for your story or insight to shape the book itself (with your permission)

This isn’t a course or a program. It’s a living, breathing creative relationship — between you, me, and the work that’s ready to be born.

You’ll not only witness a book coming to life, but also awaken something in yourself: your creative rhythm, your voice, your connection to your body and money.

If you’ve ever longed to be part of something real — not just the highlight reel — this is your invitation to pull up a chair by the fire and help midwife what’s next.

💫 Join me inside. The story’s just beginning.
👉 Learn more at katenorthrup.com/the-inside-reader