PLAN GOAL PLAN | Goals, Transformation for Women, Mindful Time Management, Balance, Working Moms

Danielle McGeough, PhD | Burnout Recovery Strategist

** Top 1.5% Globally Ranked Podcast **

You know that feeling—when life looks full of achievement, but something inside still feels... off-script?

Welcome to the Plan Goal Plan Podcast, where we turn planning and goal setting into a ritual of self-revelation and intentional living.

I’m Danielle McGeough—professor, mom, recovering overachiever, and ritual nerd. After years of chasing big goals and crossing off endless to-do lists, I hit a milestone—and felt completely unmoored. That’s when I stopped planning to prove myself, and started planning to be myself.

Each episode offers tools, insights, and rituals to help you:

Set meaningful goals that reflect who you truly are

Create intentional routines that support joy and purpose

Turn everyday planning into a powerful personal growth practice

Feel focused and fulfilled—without the burnout

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a household, or navigating change, this podcast will help you reclaim your time, reimagine your goals, and build a life that feels lived-in—not just productive.

Let’s plan a life that feels like yours—on purpose, with heart, and one gentle step at a time.

Learn more: https://www.plangoalplan.com/
Email: support@plangoalplan.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mcgeough-phd-b673334

Episodes

Mentioned books

Feb 23, 2023 • 20min

Goals Got You Stressed?: How to Let Go of Anxiety and Find Delight in Goal Setting | Ep. 13

Does the idea of setting goals stress you out but you are looking for direction? Do you want to set goals but have no idea where to start? Or, perhaps have you set goals in the past only to have progress fizzle out and leave you feeling like a failure? And now fear and shame got you freaked out and shutting down. Maybe you equate goal setting with hustle culture? And you are done with that shhh-stuff. In this episode, Danielle discusses why goals can stress you out and then provides you with some ways to let go of anxiety and find delight in goal setting! FREE Planning Starter Pack Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 21, 2023 • 30min

Abundance, Creativity, and What to Do When Scarcity is Real | Ep. 12

Are you feeling like there just isn’t enough? Not enough time? Not enough money? A recession is on the horizon and, for some, it is already here and already has been here. In this episode, Danielle talks about her very slow journey to accepting and then adopting an abundance mindset. She tells you how when annoyed she was the first time she learned about abundance mindset and how her research and experience with creativity made her rethink abundance. Although beautiful things emerge out of necessity, Danielle talks about why it is important to acknowledge how our structures uphold scarcity for some more than others and offers some ideas for what to do when scarcity is real. Buy: The Daily Top 3 Guide: Worksheet to Help You Plan Daily Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 16, 2023 • 28min

Relationship Goals for a Stronger Partnership: A Discussion with Relationship Expert Dr. William Henninger | Ep. 11

Does your romantic relationship need a little attention this year? Perhaps you are seeing warning signs that your relationship is in trouble? If you are looking for ways to deepen your connection with the one you love, this episode is for you. Relationship expert Dr. Bill Henninger joins Plan Goal Plan to talk about relationship goals you can set for stronger partnership. We chat about what he’s learned about relationships from watching The Bachelor. He fills us in on what research says about healthy relationships, some signs to pay attention to that may indicate that your relationship could be in trouble, and ways to set goals to grow a stronger partnership. There’s so much good advice packed into this episode. You aren't going to want to miss this! Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: 2023 Couples Goal Setting Workbook Galentine's Day Party Planner plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 14, 2023 • 23min

In This Together: A Couple’s Guide to Goal Setting | Ep. 10

Are you looking for a way to connect on Valentine's Day? Or, perhaps you want to focus on relationship goals this year? In this episode, Danielle offers you a guide to setting goals together. How can you, as a couple, set goals to ensure you are in this together? And, how can setting goals together strengthen your relationship? Grab your sweetie! It is goal time. Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: 2023 Couples Goal Setting Workbook Galentine's Day Party Planner plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 9, 2023 • 15min

Relationships, Work, and Family: How to Use Categories to Set Goals | Ep. 9

It is February! This month, the Plan Goal Plan Podcast will cover all things relationships: friendships and romantic relationships. To kick-off this conversation, Danielle discusses how to use categories, or life domains, to set goals. She talks about why setting goals using categories is helpful, how different goal setting systems name different life areas and why this matters. Finally, she offers tips on how many life domains you should name and pushes you to ask yourself the hard questions. Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: 2023 Couples Goal Setting Workbook Galentine's Day Party Planner plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 7, 2023 • 36min

Can You Be Ambitious and Content?: Dopamine, Novelty, and a Discussion of the Book The Molecule of More | Ep. 8

To celebrate February, Danielle invites her first guest to her podcast: her husband Dr. Ryan McGeough. Together they discuss the book, The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity--And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race written by Daniel Z. Lieberman MD, Michael E. Long, et al. Danielle and Ryan talk about what dopamine is and why if you listen to a podcast on planning and goal setting you are probably more dopaminergic than most of the population. Dr. Ryan McGeough discusses the role of desire, dopamine, and self control in our brains and why the chemicals in our brains make being both ambitious and content challenging. They talk about novelty, value, and how your dopamine levels may influence your experience with goal setting and planning. Tune and see if this episode leaves you craving more! Or, maybe that's just the dopamine drip! Buy the book: The Molecule of More by Daniel Z. Lieberman MD, Michael E. Long, et al. Buy: The Daily Top 3 Guide: Worksheet to Help You Plan Daily Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 2, 2023 • 23min

You Vote With Your Time: How the Daily Top 3 Helps You Focus, Prioritize, and Align Your Actions and Values | Ep. 7

Are you looking to make up some time? Do you need a simple daily planning practice to help you prioritize? Or something to help you focus fast? Then keep listening. In this episode, Danielle describes the practice of setting a daily top 3. She explains the benefits and then walks you through several steps to set your daily top 3. Finally, she describes how you can use your daily top 3 as a way to collect data about how you spend your time. This super simple and quick practice will have you focusing, living your priorities, and aligning your actions and values in no time! Buy The Daily Top 3 Guide: Worksheet to Help You Plan Daily Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Jan 31, 2023 • 26min

It’s Not Too Late!:5 Steps to Set Your Goals | Ep. 6

You are right on time. You are right where you are supposed to be. And it is time to set your 2023 goals. Welcome. In this episode, Danielle lays out 5 steps to setting goals. You are going to: 1) connect to yourself, 2) imagine possibilities, 3) decide, 4) align, and 5) react, reflect, and refine. No SMART goals necessary. Grab a pen, jot down those goals, and go(al) get it! Get the 2023 Goal Setting Workbook Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Jan 26, 2023 • 23min

I Was Wrong!: 5 Things I Used to Think About Goals | Ep. 5

It is not too late to set your 2023 goals! So if you’ve been thinking that maybe you should jump on the goal setting train, all aboard! If you’ve set some goals but they could use some solidifying or refining, jump on in. This two part series has you covered. In this episode, Danielle talks about 5 things that kept her from setting goals in the past. She asks questions like: Is your life just fine without goals? Are goals about giving up things you love? Do goals even work? Do they produce shame? Are goals all about big achievement? Success? If you find yourself asking similar questions, tune in. Danielle will answer these questions and help you reframe the way you think about goals. Then, Tune in next Tuesday, and she will walk you through 5 steps to setting your goals. Weeeee! Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Jan 24, 2023 • 19min

Weekly Previews and Reviews: Two Types of Planning Every Working Mom Needs | Ep. 4

Do you find yourself buying a new planner but never using it? Do you load that shiny planner up with birthdays and appointments and then promptly forget about it? If so, this episode has you covered. In this episode, Danielle talks about the two types of planning every working mom needs: weekly previews and reviews. She helps make sure those beautiful planners don’t go to waste by explaining why you need to establish a planning ritual, what weekly previews and reviews are, and offers some tips for making them work for you. Buy: Printable Weekly Preview Printable Weekly Review Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

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