About Progress

I used to be a cardio queen, until I was forced to change my habits and finally take strength training more seriously. I could not have done that on my own, and credit my personal success to several different women online. For many years one of those influences has been Amber Brueseke, who returns to the podcast to discuss the importance of strength training for women, especially as we age. Amber shares her journey and practical tips on how to get started with weightlifting, no matter your level of experience. From understanding the 'why' behind strength training to practical steps and five incredible tips you can implement right away, this conversation is packed with value. Tune in to learn how you can prioritize strength training, overcome intimidation, and start making progress today.Amber's workshopSign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes This episode is brought to you by Aquatru, use code 'MONICA' for 20% off and AirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm taking you behind the scenes of my 20-year high school reunion—a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected moments. As someone who helped plan the entire event in just a month, I had a unique perspective on everything that went down. In this episode I'm diving into the highs, the lows, and the heartfelt moments that made this reunion unforgettable. From pre-reunion jitters and outfit dilemmas to heartwarming reconnections and surprising revelations, this experience was anything but ordinary. I'll share how it felt to face old insecurities, witness the struggles and transformations of my classmates, and discover the profound impact this reunion had on all of us.Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the beginning of the summer I shared my "Summer Savers," which I can now confidently say really did allow us to have one of our best summers ever as a family. So, in a similar fashion, this episode is all about helping you and your family transition smoothly into autumn, even if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the changes ahead. I’ll share practical tips, personal stories, and actionable steps to reflect on what worked and what didn’t last fall, cast a clear vision for the season ahead, and create effective routines and systems. Whether you're looking to bring more order to your daily life or just want to enjoy the fall season more fully, this episode has something for you. Tune in to make this fall your best one yet!Get your Fall Fixers!Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes AirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiersLolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey.Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too!Links I reference: JCrew earrings, @broccoliraabSign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think about procrastination does it bring up some feelings of shame, maybe self-judgment? These complex feelings are common, so find out what your procrastination really means and how can you stop weaponizing it against yourself. By sorting out where your procrastination is coming from then you can see what your needs truly are and begin to develop healthy and supportive habits.Shirin shares her own story of perfectionism as an Iranian immigrant who relied on constantly outperforming others and even herself, but teaches now that that behavior is not sustainable. Instead, learn to live at the “intersection of getting it done and allowing yourself to have free time,” which she calls good enough work. Tune in to be, as Shirin says, encouraged to return to your values, your beliefs and what lights you up with purpose.For new weekly episodes during the summer months, sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes This episode is brought to you byAirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiersLolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabrielle Blair, mother of 6 blogging at Design Mom, co-founded Alt Summit 10 years ago and remains a champion for female entrepreneurship. Her motto could be described as dream big, then execute small. In fact, she admits in this episode that if she had known from the beginning where her dreams would have taken her she probably never would have attempted them.She opens up about the business “failures” turned important lessons, how she moved her family (of 8!) to France for years despite not even having passports to begin with, and speaks aloud her big personal dreams just like you’ve been encouraged to do this month.The size of your dreams doesn’t matter to anybody but you, and your ability to accomplish them isn’t up to anybody but you! See a pattern here? Tune in and be inspired to know how small steps take you big places.For new weekly episodes during the summer months, sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes This episode is brought to you byAirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiersLolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020 I put something on my Do Something List that I almost talked myself out of: have fun with fashion. I ended up loving the results so much that I’ve kept a version of it every year since. This year I came up with “explore my personal style.” And while I haven’t necessarily turned into a style expert, or even fashion blogger, I have enjoyed the way that exploring my personal style has helped me insert more of ME into my daily life.To be clear, your personal style should be a complete reflection of you, and should serve you in the season you are in. It does not need to be about fitting in, or reflect only the most popular trends. In today’s episode I’m sharing my conversation with Jenny Eversole of Style Space about why your personal style does matter and 5 steps to rediscovering it. Plus, you’ll hear about my own experience with their Stylist, Whitney Herrod Khader, and what I surprisingly learned from going through my closet with an expert.For new weekly episodes during the summer months, sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes This episode is brought to you byAirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiersLolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever found yourself in the position of feeling complete overwhelm, maybe even anxiety or depression, knowing you desperately need to take care of yourself but are simultaneously unable to? Whether it’s the small things like eating, or showering, to the big things like enjoying a creative hobby, we sometimes forget to support ourselves in those ways when we need it the most.Mia Hemstad is a mother of two and a self-care coach, who has dealt personally and professionally with severe depression and PTSD. She shares one of the scariest moments she realized how lacking her self-care had become, and it may be all too relatable to some listeners. Tune in for a very real examination of why you’re prone to neglecting yourself and how to change that in ways that actually matter.For new weekly episodes during the summer months, sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes This episode is brought to you byAirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiersLolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like it was too late? Too late for your goals, traditions, or habits? Or, maybe you feel it’s too late to create better relationships? Feeling like it’s “too late” can bring up a lot of emotions: anger, guilt, or sadness. You feel like you should have known better! (“I should have started this last week or years ago!”)How can you recover from these feelings when you can’t change the past?Instead of being stuck in these feelings, I want to teach you how to start where you are, even when you think it’s too late! In this episode, I share my own experiences of feeling like it was “too late” for me to start certain things. (Don’t worry, I definitely understand this feeling!)I then outline three ways you may be disqualifying yourself from starting over and cover mindset shifts you can embrace to move from feeling “it’s too late” to starting what you want.(Hint: this means starting exactly where you are! You don’t have to go back to the beginning . . . ) So, whether it’s a new habit, a different career, or more education (or, in my case, this is starting now to work on family scrapbooks!), it’s time for you to qualify yourself and start where you are!If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “It’s too late,” then this episode is for you. Join me to let go of regrets to create more for your life!For new weekly episodes during the summer months, sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes This episode is brought to you byFearless Finance, get $50 off your first planning meeting when you use the code PROGRESSAirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiersLolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have been surprised by something as an adult…I stink at friendship. When it comes to making new friends, or even staying connected with old friends, it has just become harder and harder. I also find myself become more and more introverted as I get older. And I think many of you can relate. Making and keeping friends as an adult has always seemed to be a hot topic, so if we’re all feeling this pull then why is it still so tough?Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Marisa G. Franco joins me today to offer the science backed reasons behind loneliness and relationships in a way that will have you nodding along in agreement. Honestly, you may even audibly gasp at some of her explanations – in a good way! The hard things you have been experiencing when it comes to friendship are real, and they have names, and there are ways to really support yourself through them.For new weekly episodes during the summer months, sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! Access exclusive supporter benefits Free DSL Training Waitlist for the next Sticky Habit Intensive Full Show Notes This episode is brought to you byFearless Finance, get $50 off your first planning meeting when you use the code PROGRESSAirDoctor, use code MONICA for up to $300 off air purifiersLolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the codePROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices