Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson

Welcome to Girls Night! We’re down to the final few episodes of the year, and today we’re diving into something so many of us feel this time of year but rarely say out loud: 👉 Why does the holiday season sometimes feel like one big “This is not what I ordered”? Maybe you thought you’d be spending Christmas with someone special this year, or reaching a goal you’d hoped to hit by December. Maybe family dynamics are messy or complicated, or your little family doesn’t look the way you imagined. Or maybe you had big dreams for a magical, cozy December… and somehow you slid into the holidays exhausted and overwhelmed, wondering where the magic went. If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is absolutely for you. Today we’re asking two big questions: ✨ How do we set ourselves up for delight — not disappointment — this holiday season? ✨ And how do we make Christmas magical… when we’re the ones responsible for the magic now? We’ll talk about the moment you realize you’ve gone from experiencing Christmas to creating Christmas, why so many of us approach December like college finals week, and the gentle, intentional steps we can take to build a season we actually get to feel and enjoy. We’ll walk through: ⭐️ noticing the expectations we’re carrying ⭐️ choosing the few meaningful things that matter to us ⭐️ putting them on the calendar so they actually happen My hope is that this conversation feels freeing, grounding, and hopeful — like a deep breath in the middle of a busy month. You deserve to experience the magic you’re so faithfully creating, friend. Let’s build a December that feels more like the one our hearts have been longing for. 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] Podcast Sponsors: - ⁠Antique Candle Co. ⁠ - ⁠BetterHelp⁠ - ⁠NIV Application Bible⁠ - ⁠Piper and Leaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Girls Night, we’re doing something a little different — and incredibly special. As my twins turn five (how?!), I’ve been reflecting on everything I wish I could go back and tell myself before becoming a mom. The fears, the hopes, the questions, the emotions — the moments when I looked around and thought, “This is not what I ordered.” So in today’s episode, I’m sharing four letters I wrote to the woman I was before motherhood — the woman who was wondering… 💌 Who will I be after I become a mom? 💌 What will kids do to our marriage? 💌 What if something goes wrong? What if the world is too scary? 💌 What if I mess this up? If you’re planning, trying, pregnant, or simply wondering if you’ll ever feel “ready,” these letters are for you. They’re honest, tender, hopeful, and full of the things I wish someone would have told me years ago. We’ll talk about what actually happens to your identity, how marriage shifts (and strengthens), how to navigate fear in a world that feels overwhelming, and why motherhood isn’t something you download — it’s something you grow into. And if these letters resonate with you, you can get the full series for free at StephanieMayWilson.com/letters — they’re yours to keep or share with a friend who needs them. At the end of the episode, I’ll also share more about Becoming Mama — the course my best friend Kelsey (a brilliant therapist) and I created to help you prepare emotionally, mentally, and practically for this huge transition. It’s the roadmap we wish we’d had, and enrollment is open for just a few more days. Wherever you are on the path to motherhood, friend — you’re not alone. I’m right here with you. 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] Podcast Sponsors: - Antique Candle Co. - BetterHelp - NIV Application Bible - Piper and Leaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All season long, we’ve been talking about what I call The Everything Era—that season when you have to make so many of the biggest, most consequential decisions of your life all at once. It’s full of possibility, but it’s also full of pressure—especially when some of those decisions don’t seem to fit together very well. And one of the trickiest examples of that is the tension between career and motherhood. What happens when the rhythm that used to work suddenly doesn’t anymore? When the version of success you used to chase doesn’t quite fit the life you have now? Or when your family needs you in one way, but your career seems to demand something entirely different? My guest today is Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever. Through her work, Neha is helping women rethink what it means to take a pause in their careers after having kids—showing that stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away from your ambition. She’s helping us reimagine this in-between space as a powerful, intentional season of reflection and realignment—a chance to build a life and career that actually work together, not against each other. Whether you’re already a mom, planning for motherhood, or just thinking about what your next chapter might hold, this conversation will give you permission to press pause—not out of fear or failure, but as a power move. Alright friends, let’s dive in. Here’s my conversation with Neha Ruch. Mentioned in this episode: 💛 The Power Pause 💛 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/] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/neha_ruch] 🌐 Website [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/] 💌 Join the Girls Night Community [https://stephaniemaywilson.com/email] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.