

About Progress
Cloud10
All the self-help extremes out there seem designed for perfect robots. But what if progress doesn’t require perfection? Welcome to your gentle self-development hub: About Progress, a podcast and community devoted to progress made practical. Join host and coach, Monica Packer, and her special guests to get the hug AND kick in the pants you need to do something and grow in ways that stick.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 5, 2025 • 43min
AP 698: An eventful end to the school year, the garden is finally planted, learning a new craft from my DSL list, looking forward to my yearly “Me Day,” and the simple things I’m loving lately || Messy Middle June 2025
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!
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This episode is brought to you by Fearless Finance, use code PROGRESS at https://landing.fearlessfinance.com/ for $50 your first session; and by goPure Beauty, get 25% off @goPure with code PROGRESS at https://www.goPurebeauty.com/PROGRESS #goPurepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 2, 2025 • 52min
AP 697: Family Burnout Recovery Plan || How our shift from survival to FUN changed our family culture and relationships
Feeling burned out in family life? Discover how one family transformed their experience by prioritizing fun and joy instead of just survival. They share their inspiring shift by declaring a 'Year of Fun,' exploring activities that foster strong connections. Listeners will learn practical tips for integrating enjoyable moments into everyday routines, navigate challenges with grace, and the impact of simple games like Uno. This journey showcases how meaningful experiences can revitalize family dynamics and create lasting bonds.

May 29, 2025 • 1h 3min
AP 696: BONUS! Thrifty Tips: Ways We Like to Save Money || Preview from More Personal
This is a bonus episode from my premium podcast, More Personal, where we lean into the personal side of personal development. In today's episode, we dive into thrifty tips to help you navigate difficult economic times. Join me and my podcast manager, Taylor Rockwood, as we tackle the balance between saving money and enjoying life.
We share our own experiences and practical tips on secondhand shopping, managing grocery bills, evaluating monthly subscriptions, and redefining frugality. This episode is a continuation of our previous conversation on our relationship with money that resonated deeply with our subscribers.
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
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Check out my workshops!
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
This episode is brought to you by goPure Beauty, get 25% off @goPure with code PROGRESS at https://www.goPurebeauty.com/PROGRESS #goPurepod; and by AirDoctor, use code MONICA at http://airdoctorpro.com/ for up to $300 off air purifiers; and by Lolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod; and by Fearless Finance, chat with a planner for free to make sure it’s a good fit, and you’ll get $50 off your first planning meeting when you use the code PROGRESS at fearlessfinance.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 26, 2025 • 1h 1min
AP 695: Fad or Fact: The Truth Behind Protein and Fiber, Essential Nutrients for Women’s Health || with Jenn Trepeck
In this episode, I sit down with health coach and podcaster Jenn Trepeck to dive deep into the world of nutrition, focusing on the importance of protein and fiber. We debunk popular food myths, discuss the role of balanced macro and micronutrients, and explore how the modern food environment has shaped our eating habits.
Jenn shares expert advice on how to incorporate quality sources of protein, fiber, and fat into your diet, while also touching on the roles of supplements and whole foods. This enlightening conversation offers practical tips to help you feel more energized, think clearer, and improve your overall well-being. Join us as we unravel the complexities of nutrition in a way that's both informative and approachable.
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
Leave a rating and review
Check out my workshops!
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
This episode is brought to you by Fearless Finance, use code PROGRESS at https://landing.fearlessfinance.com/ for $50 your first session; and AirDoctor, use code MONICA at http://airdoctorpro.com/ for up to $300 off air purifiers; and by goPure Beauty, get 25% off @goPure with code PROGRESS at https://www.goPurebeauty.com/PROGRESS #goPurepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 2025 • 52min
AP 694: From Lice to Layoffs: How to Navigate the Unexpected Using the Curve Method || Wise Women Series with Anna Dearmon Kornick
In this episode we dive into how to handle life’s unexpected curveballs with the amazing time management coach, Anna Dearmon Kornick. We all know that life is full of surprises, and whether it’s dealing with small crises like lice or big ones like layoffs, Anna shares her powerful Curve Method to help us navigate through them with grace and intention.
Prepare to walk away with practical tips on maintaining control, understanding your situation, gathering the right resources, focusing on what’s vital, and enlisting help when you need it. Plus, enjoy some great personal stories and insights from both Anna and myself on staying adaptable and resilient.
BEST SUMMER EVER Workshop: aboutprogress.com/summerworkshop
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
Leave a rating and review
Check out my workshops!
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
This episode is brought to you by AirDoctor, use code MONICA at http://airdoctorpro.com/ for up to $300 off air purifiers; and by goPure Beauty, get 25% off @goPure with code PROGRESS at https://www.goPurebeauty.com/PROGRESS #goPurepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 2025 • 50min
AP 693: How to Get Unstuck in Restarting Your Career After Years of Staying Home with Kids || coaching call with Kate
Are you struggling with the idea of returning to work after years of being a stay-at-home parent? In this episode, I discuss the daunting process of going back to work after being a stay-at-home mom. I coach a listener named Kate, who has an 11-year gap in her resume and is dealing with fears and self-doubt about reentering the workforce.
Together, we explore practical steps and emotional hurdles, focusing on regaining identity, embracing vulnerability, and striving for personal fulfillment. If you're contemplating a significant life change or battling self-doubt, this episode is for you.
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
Leave a rating and review
Check out my workshops!
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
This episode is brought to you by Lolavie, Get 15% off LolaVie with the code PROGRESS at https://www.lolavie.com/PROGRESS #lolaviepod; and by AirDoctor, use code MONICA at http://airdoctorpro.com/ for up to $300 off air purifiers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 2025 • 11min
AP 692: What My Filthy Car Taught Me About How To Teach "Old Dog" New Habits || Growth Spurt
Car cleanliness was never a priority for me, especially after having kids, and I always blamed the obstacles I faced: the lack of convenient car wash facilities and my jam-packed schedule. However, after inheriting a nicer minivan and discovering a convenient car wash service, I managed to make car cleaning a regular habit using my special formula.
I delve into that formula, explaining how attaching new habits to existing ones and providing positive reinforcement can help make these habits stick, and encourage you to identify areas in your own life where they can prove your old self wrong and embrace the possibility of transformation.
BEST SUMMER EVER Workshop: aboutprogress.com/summerworkshop
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
Leave a rating and review
Check out my workshops!
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 12, 2025 • 50min
AP 691: Facing Faith Uncertainty: A Guide to Bold Questioning || with Erin H. Moon
Someone asked if I felt less certain but more at peace with my faith, and it got me thinking. Maybe "peace" isn't quite right; perhaps it's more about patience and accepting what I can't control. My focus feels drawn to the essentials: being present with my family, teaching my kids, my work, and loving my people.
Join me and Erin H. Moon, bestselling author, podcaster, and storyteller who helps people disentangle faith, as we discuss this complex topic. When it comes to big spiritual questions, I often find myself without definitive answers. Pretending otherwise feels inauthentic. I'm learning that it's about being honest about what I don't know and finding comfort in the relationship I do have.
BEST SUMMER EVER Workshop: aboutprogress.com/summerworkshop
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
Leave a rating and review
Check out my workshops!
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
This episode is brought to you by goPure Beauty, get 25% off @goPure with code PROGRESS at https://www.goPurebeauty.com/PROGRESS #goPurepod; and by AirDoctor, use code MONICA at http://airdoctorpro.com/ for up to $300 off air purifiers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 8, 2025 • 12min
AP 690: 3 BIG Recent Mistakes I Made and How They Revealed My Progress with Shame || Growth Spurt
Today I'm sharing some recent big mistakes I've made, and one of them I've made more than once. While frustrating and costly, these blunders highlighted my progress in dealing with shame. Instead of harsh self-criticism, I experienced guilt, frustration, and a greater sense of self-compassion, acknowledging my high mental load and rushing. This allowed me to learn valuable lessons about slowing down and double-checking.
Unlike shame, which hinders growth and ownership, compassion helps us move forward. Tune in to see how you can relate, and start giving yourself some more compassion when you make mistakes, too!
Summer Workshop,
Related Episodes: https://www.aboutprogress.com/blog/how-do-you-go-to-law-school-as-a-busy-mom
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
Leave a rating and review
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 5, 2025 • 29min
AP 689: 3 Keys To Make This Summer the Best One EVER || how to turn your summer dreams into reality with practical pointers
When you think about how quickly summer is coming, are you filled with excitement, dread, or a little bit of both? In this episode I share how I turned the summer of 2024 into an unforgettable season for my family. After learning from the challenges of past summers, particularly the tough summer the year before, I discovered the keys to creating an intentional, structured, and supported summer experience.
Whether you have kids at home or not, you'll find these tips on setting clear goals, building flexible routines, and prioritizing self-care helpful for transforming your summer. Plus, get details on my upcoming workshop designed to help you craft your best summer ever. Tune in and start making your summer dreams a reality!
Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!
Leave a rating and review
Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!
Book Launch Committee
Free DSL Training
Full Show Notes
This episode is brought to you by goPure Beauty, get 25% off @goPure with code PROGRESS at https://www.goPurebeauty.com/PROGRESS #goPurepod; and by AirDoctor, use code MONICA at http://airdoctorpro.com/ for up to $300 off air purifiers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices