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267: The Mad Libs Method of Turning Overwhelm into Clarity

Oct 14, 2025

Feeling overwhelmed? Explore a creative tool inspired by Mad Libs that transforms vague frustrations into actionable steps. Discover why specificity matters and how it can reduce mental fog. Tune in for a practical fill-in-the-blank scaffold template to help define your issues. Michele illustrates the concept with plant-based living examples, guiding you from generic concerns to clear goals. Plus, take the listener challenge to tackle one stuck area and gain clarity on your journey!

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ANECDOTE

Overwhelm That Only Says 'Everything'

Michele describes a conversation with someone who felt overwhelmed and could only say "it's everything."
The story illustrates how vague distress blocks progress and conversation.

ANECDOTE

Mad Libs As A Teaching Tool

Michele recalls Mad Libs as a childhood word game used to teach parts of speech and spark laughter.
She connects that playful format to practical scaffolds used in education.

ANECDOTE

Office Hours Scaffold Story

Michele shares that professors used Mad Libs–style scaffolds requiring students to fill blanks before office hours.
The scaffold forced students to articulate the problem and what they'd already tried before asking for help.

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Ever felt so overwhelmed that when someone asks what’s wrong, the only answer that comes out is “everything?"

In this episode, Michele introduces a simple but powerful tool inspired by the classic game Mad Libs and adapted from education: a “fill-in-the-blank scaffold” that helps transform vague frustration into clear, actionable steps.

When we’re vague, we stay stuck. Specificity can feel risky, but clarity doesn’t need to solve everything—it just needs to shine a light on the next step.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why vague help requests create overwhelm and stall progress.
The origins of Mad Libs and how professors use scaffolds to guide students.
A practical “fill-in-the-blank” template you can use to get unstuck.
A plant-based lifestyle example: moving from “I’m bad at meal planning” to identifying a specific, solvable problem.
How clarity, even when imperfect, reduces the fog and opens up possibilities.

The Scaffold: Fill in the Blanks

I need help with: __________
One example of where I’m stuck is: __________
Three things I’ve already tried are:

_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

I don’t have trouble with: __________
So I think the main problem might be: __________
What I hope to achieve is: __________

Listener Challenge

This week, choose one area where you feel stuck. Your vegan journey or any other area . Use the scaffold prompts to fill in the blanks and read it back to yourself—or share it with someone supportive. Notice whether it feels clearer and whether it suggests one or two next steps.

Clarity doesn’t have to be perfect. It only needs to be specific enough to help you move forward—one step, one choice, one meal at a time

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