Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson

Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we planned. The job ends, the relationship shifts, the dream unravels — and we’re left standing in the in-between, wondering how to trust again. In this episode of our Not the Life I Ordered series, we’re talking about what it looks like to start dreaming again after disappointment. We’ll talk about rebuilding hope, rediscovering curiosity, and learning to believe that the story of your life might still turn out beautifully — even if it looks nothing like you imagined. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling disconnected? You're not alone! This discussion explores why friendships fade and common reasons for disconnection. It highlights why loneliness doesn’t reflect anything personal. Discover the importance of social connections for a fulfilling life. Plus, Stephanie shares practical steps to rebuild your community, emphasizing that it's never too late to find your circle. With a heartwarming metaphor about elephant birth circles, she reminds listeners that you’re not behind — just between connections.

This season, we’ve been talking about what to do when you look around at your life and think, “Wait… this is not what I ordered.” Maybe things didn’t turn out the way you thought they would — and now you’re asking those big, scary, beautiful questions: Who am I now? What do I want? Where do I go from here? But for a lot of us who grew up in church, those questions can feel… complicated. Because somewhere along the way, we were taught that it’s wrong to want things. That it’s dangerous to trust ourselves. That being a “good Christian woman” means making yourself smaller — dying to yourself, staying quiet, and serving everyone else first. Today we’re having a conversation I think so many of us need — about what faith actually asks of us. Our guest is Dr. Alison Cook, a therapist, host of The Best of You podcast, and author of the bestselling book by the same name. Alison is an expert at the intersection of faith and psychology. She helps women heal from past wounds, develop a strong sense of self, and experience a loving God who is for them — not asking them to disappear. We’re going to talk about what self-denial really means, how to know when faith has turned into self-erasure, and what it looks like to follow Jesus without losing yourself in the process. You ready? Let’s jump into my conversation with Alison! Mentioned in this episode: 💛 Love Your Single Life [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/singlelife] 💛 Just Married [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/justmarried] 💛 Becoming Mama [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama] 🛒 Stephanie’s Journals & Guides [https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/] Stay connected: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ | https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/ 🌐 Website: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/ 💌 Join the Girls Night Community: https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever woken up one day and thought, “I don’t even know who I am anymore?” Maybe it’s after motherhood, a breakup, a big move, burnout, or even after finally reaching a goal you worked so hard for — and suddenly realizing it doesn’t feel the way you thought it would. Somewhere along the way, between the to-do lists and expectations, you lost touch with the person underneath it all. In this episode, we’re talking about how to find your way back. 💛 We’ll talk about: ✨ Why we lose touch with ourselves (and why it’s not a failure — it’s human) ✨ How to start hearing your own voice again ✨ Practical ways to rediscover what you love, need, and value in this season ✨ How to rebuild a life that feels like peace on the inside, not just success on the outside This isn’t a “self-care” conversation — it’s a coming home to yourself conversation. If you’ve been on autopilot, feeling disconnected from who you are, this episode will help you start to find your way back — gently, honestly, one small step at a time. So grab a cozy drink and join me — let’s reintroduce you to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the discussion focuses on a powerful introspection: Do you like your life? The host encourages deep reflection on various life aspects, challenging the notion that seeking joy is selfish. Using a relatable pants metaphor, listeners are guided room-by-room through their lives—examining relationships, work, and faith. Emphasis is placed on small, incremental changes rather than drastic overhauls. By evaluating what fits and what doesn’t, everyone can find more joy and authenticity in their daily lives.

Ever felt like you're stuck in someone else's script? This discussion dives into questioning authority and recognizing who deserves a voice in your life. Discover the origins of societal life formulas and how social media shapes our expectations. Learn a practical vetting process for finding advisors, and what to do when trusted leaders betray you. The conversation empowers listeners to reclaim their narratives and set personal boundaries, urging you to curate the influences in your life for a more authentic existence.

Season 22 kicks off with a thoughtful exploration of life’s unexpected twists in what’s dubbed the Everything Era. Stephanie shares insights on the pitfalls of following societal checklists and the pressure of people-pleasing. There’s a focus on finding clarity amidst chaos, emphasizing the importance of creating quiet moments to reconnect with your true self. A guided reflection offers listeners a chance to name their struggles, reminding everyone that it’s never too late to rewrite their story.

What happens when two of the biggest parts of your life collide—your career and your desire to start a family? That’s exactly what we’re talking about in today’s Girls Night episode. I’m joined by my dear friend Jena Dunay—a mom of two, business owner, and career strategist who has spent years helping women navigate big transitions in their work lives. Jena knows firsthand what it looks like to juggle both career ambitions and motherhood dreams, and she’s here to share the wisdom she’s learned along the way. In this conversation, we cover: How to prepare your career for baby before you’re even pregnant What to do if you love your job but also know you want to start a family soon Whether you should “pull back” at work before baby—or lean in until it’s time to pivot How to know if your workplace will really support you as a mom The truth about maternity leave (paid vs. unpaid, how it works, what to ask your HR team) When and how to tell your employer you’re pregnant Practical ways to set boundaries and actually enjoy your maternity leave How to define “success” in your career during different motherhood seasons This episode is full of encouragement and practical advice for anyone who’s in what I call The Everything Era—that stretch of life when so many big decisions seem to come at once. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold space for both a career you love and a family you’re dreaming of, this conversation will be such a gift. Resources & Links: Connect with Jena: Instagram / Company Listen to Jena’s past Girls Night episodes on dating, singleness, and career transitions. More encouragement + resources for navigating The Everything Era: stephaniemaywilson.com ✨ If you loved this conversation, would you take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? It means the world and helps more women find the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friend, welcome to Girls Night — a podcast for women who are figuring out what's next.  Whether you're focused on career, dating, getting married, having kids, or honestly just trying to figure out your life right now — this show gives you expert guidance and practical next steps to create a life you genuinely love, not one someone else thinks you should live. I'm Stephanie May Wilson — 9x author, TEDx speaker, and your host here at girls night and in each episode, we tackle the questions that keep so many of us up at 2 AM — like what to say when people ask invasive questions about your life choices, how to stop comparing your timeline to everyone else's, and most importantly, how to figure out what you actually want and what your next right step is to get there. As we’re trying to figure out our lives, you might find yourself running into some obstacles and wondering, “Is this normal?” Does everybody struggle with this or am I the only one?” Or maybe like me, you've had several friends receive ADHD diagnoses recently, and you're wondering,”What about me? Am I neurotypical? Or are there some things that are different and unique about my brain too?” Friend, in this episode you're going to hear from Greer Jones. Greer is the host of The Unfinished Idea podcast and a passionate advocate for neurodivergent families, helping others build lives that actually work for their unique brains.  I learned SO much from this conversation. I can’t wait for you to hear it.  Resources Mentioned: → "We Need to Talk" guide with scripts for 44 difficult conversations https://stephaniemaywilsonshop.com/products/we-need-to-talk-scripts-for-44-of-lifes-most-difficult-conversations → Love Your Single Life course for building confidence and navigating dating conversations https://stephaniemaywilson.com/SingleLife → Just Married course for newlyweds learning to navigate conflict and communication https://stephaniemaywilson.com/JustMarried → Becoming Mama course for advocating for yourself during pregnancy and early motherhood https://stephaniemaywilson.com/becomingmama → Create A Life You Love book https://stephaniemaywilson.com/create Connect with Girls Night: 🎧 New episodes every week: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girls-night-with-stephanie-may-wilson/id1278993781 📱 Follow @SMayWilson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smaywilson/ 💌 Weekly newsletter with exclusive content https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email 🌐 Show notes and resources https://www.girlsnightpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging conversation, coach Alexandra Kaval shares her expertise on helping ambitious women manage overwhelm and redirect their focus. She discusses the 'big rocks method' that prioritizes life’s essentials, and offers practical strategies to combat distraction. The topics of balancing productivity with relationships and establishing boundaries are explored, along with personal anecdotes that resonate deeply. Listeners will gain valuable insights to live more intentionally and reclaim their time, making this a must-listen for anyone feeling burned out.